Tracey Zysk – February 2013 If you haven’t already received a bill from your town for your dog’s 2013 dog license, you will be receiving it soon. People ask me all the time, “Why do I even need to do this?” or “Why is the town making money off of my dog?” This isn’t about […]
By: Tracey Zysk – January 2013 As the season changes and the snow and cold approaches us, we must consider how this affects our dogs. Like humans, dogs can experience hypothermia and frostbite. They can also become victims of inappropriate shelter, lack of water and become poisoned by heating oil and antifreeze. When going […]
By: Tracy Zysk- December, 2012 Matt Davis and the North Andover Fire Department will be hosting their “4th Annual Toy Drive for Local Children.” Firefighter Matt Davis started this drive four years ago with a vision that every child would wake up Christmas morning with a toy. No child should go without. Working with […]
By Tracey Zysk – December, 2012 During the holidays, your household might be a little more crazier than usual with kids anticipating the BIG VISIT, house guests stopping over, decorations everywhere and lots of extra excitement. In fact it can be quite chaotic. Animals feed off of all the extra energy. Take a few extra precautions […]
By: Tracey Zysk, Doggie Columnist – November, 2012 Traveling for the holidays? Leaving your pets in the care of family, friends or a pet care service? Or if you are just staying at home during the storms: Please plan ahead for what mother nature may send our way. This past week when Hurricane Sandy hit, […]
By: Tracey Zysk, October 5, 2012 The North Andover festival committee is pleased to announce that the Methuen High School Ranger Band will be performing in this year’s Santa Parade Saturday, November 24th Officer EJ Foulds, NAPD and festival committee parade organizer was thrilled to receive the call from Methuen. “This is such a […]
By: Tracey Zysk, Valley Patriot Doggie Columnist – September, 2012 In the past few months the Merrimack Valley experienced the unexplainable and unbelievable. The loss of four very well established and experienced K-9 dogs. Three to cancer and one to retirement. It normally doesn’t happen this way, but in this case it did. This is […]
By: Tracey Zysk – April 2012 On March 23, 2012 Chelmsford Police K-9 Axel took his final ride in his police cruiser. Axel, a 5yr old Czechoslovakian shepherd passed away from a strong fought battle with cancer. A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Axel’s handler Officer David Leo. In that interview […]
By: Tracey Zysk – April, 2012 Spring is here and with the sun, warm weather, and fresh air comes the ultimate SPRING CLEAN. As you are beginning to tear apart those closets or starting all those lawn routines, we must not forget our pets. Those sneaky snoopers can and probably will sniff, lick or even […]
By: Tracey Zysk – November, 2011 As a dog walker with a majority of my dogs on Waverly, Mass Ave and the side roads in between, I instantly got a really sick feeling in my stomach. I knew, I didn’t know which one, but I knew by the feeling I had, one of my […]
By: Tracey Zysk – October, 2011 Well when you have three animal writers for the Valley Patriot all PRO ADOPTION…you know we are all very excited about the month of October being the American Humane Association Adopt a Dog Month. Why adopt? Well why wouldn’t you? There seems to be many misbelieve and stereotypes […]
By:Tracey Zysk – October, 2011 On September 24, 2011 I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Karen Smith of the Massachusetts Animal Coalition at the New England Pet Expo in Wilmington MA. When I stopped at Karen’s booth, which was well decorated and nicely organized, but more importantly, it was more informative than I ever […]
By: Tracey Zysk – September, 2011 Ten years later…it is as if it was yesterday. After the buildings went down, the search started. Images of firefighters, police, military, New Yorkers and tourists all helping out, looking and searching. As a viewer watching this unravel on TV, I still couldn’t fully comprehend or maybe believe […]
By: Tracey Zysk – September, 2011 Back-to-school time can be a really hard time on your family dog. After having the children to play with all summer, your pup is suddenly alone most of the day and that can give him a case of the “back-to-school blues”. Dogs get use to having the kids […]