By Peter Sorkin
Lucille Markman has a knack for finding lost dogs – or maybe they find her.
Markman, the owner of Pet Wonderland at 66-18 Grand Ave. in Maspeth, is now looking for the owners of a male, black miniature poodle she and her co-workers found last week. It had been running across Grand Avenue after almost being hit by different cars.
Markman said she is convinced the dog has an owner because it is a pedigreed animal and looks like it had just recently been groomed. By checking his teeth, she estimated its age at about three years. It has not been neutered, however, and did not have a collar.
Two months ago, Markman also found a 1 1/2-year-old German Shepherd mix that had spent two days alone away from its owners in the Mt. Olive Cemetery in Maspeth. She rescued the dog with help from some local firemen, gave it its shots and put it up for adoption. Three weeks later, she and her staff found the dog a new home.
Markman, who has had much experience working with animals, said she often encounters lost dogs, but said it can be easy to find homes for them if they are younger. Before moving to Queens and opening up Pet Wonderland in November, she worked as an animal control officer in Rockland County for five years.
She and her staff also watch other dogs on their property in the back of the store for families who go away on vacation and cannot bring their pets along.
Markman, who has four dogs of her own, also runs an animal clinic from the store's property. She said she promised not to bring the dog to a shelter if no one turn sup to claim him, but instead would put him up for adoption.
Markman also said if the dog needed medical attention, she would take care of all the shots and deworm him. She said she is feeding the dog and walking him twice a day to keep him healthy and fit.
For more information on the missing poodle call Pet Wonderland at (718) 457-3389.
