Ultra-Orthodox vs. Animal Rights Activists: Should Chicken-Killing Ritual Continue?
Animals rights activists have cried fowl at kapparot (also called kaporos), a 2,000-year-old Orthodox Jewish tradition involving ritual chicken slaughter. In preparation for Yom Kippur, practitioners — including thousands of members of Brooklyn’s Orthodox community — hold a chicken by its wings and swing it over their head three times while praying. Then the chicken is killed with a knife.
Adherents say it’s an act of atonement and purification. Activists say it’s animal torture. But what do you think?
Brownstoner Pets: Farfel Washes the Dishes, Fezz Luna Watches Birds
“Farfel Frishberg lives in a Park Slope brownstone. He likes chicken, tummy rubs, and lying on top of the couch cushions. Farfel is 10 years old.”
Brownstoner Pets: Brooklyn Cats Snooze in the Sun and Sit Pretty
“This handsome 13-year-old boy loves to cuddle with anyone who’s willing (and even those not so willing). His favorite activities include playing with his catnip mouse, lying in the sun and stealing his owners’ spot on the couch.” Marcus, domestic short-hair cat, East Williamsburg.
Brownstoner Pets: Jack Russell Lounges on Velvet, Cat Is Voting for Rand
“We live in a brownstone in Bed Stuy. Here is a photo of my lazy Jack Russell mix, Jack, on our new couch.”
Brownstoner Pets: A Prospect Heights Pup and Boerum Hill Pondfish
“Zoe (black and white cat) and Spoons (grey cat).” Prospect Heights.
Brownstoner Pets: Spoon, Tyberius and Hutch
“This is Spoon. We live on Halsey Street in Bed Stuy. Spoon, a girl, likes to talk but doesn’t like to be held. Those eyes as you can see are very expressive.”
Pet Adoption Fest in Prospect Park Saturday
If you’re thinking about taking in a four-legged roommate, we’ve got a word for you: Adoptapalooza. That’s the name of an event held by the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals that will bring 150 dogs and cats in need of adoption to Prospect Park tomorrow.
Similar adoption events have been held in Union Square, but this is the first one in Brooklyn. Over a dozen animal welfare groups will bring some of their available dogs and cats — and there may be a rabbit or two in the mix. All of them have been spayed or neutered. Adoption fees vary by group.
One Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Poop Problem
So here’s a little nice little story to go with your morning coffee. You know One Brooklyn Bridge Park? That big condominium complex in an old printing factory between Pier 5 and Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park? Where a two-bedroom apartment costs about $2,500,000?
Hallways full of poop.
According to the New York Times, there are around 175 dogs that live in the building, and dog feces is a persistent problem. An incident report for December tallied up 52 occurrences:
…a mix of diarrhea, feces, urine and vomit: found on virtually every floor including the main lobby and north and south lobbies; found in all five elevators and with the staff cleanup time ranging from 10 to 50 minutes (average time roughly 20 minutes) per incident.
Brownstoner Pets: Meet Coco, NOLa, Rascal and Bluebonnet
Meet Coco Robicheaux, NOLa, Rascal and Bluebonnet. They live in a beautiful brownstone on Macon Street in Bed Stuy.
The two dogs, Coco and NOLa, like to romp in Saratoga Park.
Brooklyn Goes to the Dogs
The dog days of summer are upon us. At least that’s how it seems looking at a pair of canine-related events this weekend: a dog fashion show in the South Slope on Saturday, and Barkfest, a daylong event in Williamsburg Sunday.
First up: Freddy’s Bar on 5th Avenue in the Slope holds its Doggy Fashion Show, a street party with a runway where furry models will display the finest in canine fashion. It’s the second year for the event, which Freddy’s owner Donald O’Finn created in memory of his late pit-bull mix Xena, a former fixture at the bar.