About Us
Janice Costa
Janice Costa was only 11 months old when she got her first dog, a beautiful English Shepherd
named Fluffy who was (of course!) the Best Dog Ever. Before she even outweighed the dog
food bag, Janice had taken over care and feeding duties, and has enjoyed a lifelong love
affair with dogs ever since.
Janice has been blessed with several “Best Dogs Ever” over the years, from purebreds to
shelter dogs, and continues to marvel at how the laws of physics change to allow each one of
us to have the Best Dog in the World. In 2002, after losing her beloved black lab mix, Tiffany,
she decided to honor her faithful friend’s memory by getting involved in rescue work.
Today, Janice is active with animal rescue, advanced obedience work, service dog training
and agility (just for fun – competitions start too early in the morning!), and is a certified
Therapy Dog Test Examiner and AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. She also chairs several
annual pet food and supply drives to support various shelters throughout Long Island.
Janice runs the The Canine Club Meetup Group, and is active in a wide variety of dog
activities on Long Island and throughout New York State. She is proudly owned by a travel-
happy, scarily smart, ball-obsessed, 95-pound Belgian Malinois/Collie mix named Jessie and a
wild child Lab mix named Lexie, along with two very tolerant cats.
While Janice loves traveling, she hates leaving her dogs at home, so she conceived CCG as a
way to combine her passion for dogs and vacation with her desire to provide a place where
dog lovers could play, learn, relax, be pampered and just enjoy quality time with their best
friend.
When she's not planning dog events, Janice works in the home design industry, and has
authored two books, Grand Master Baths (Creative Homeowner, 2008) and Everything and the
Kitchen Sink: Remodel Your Kitchen Without Losing Your Mind (Andrews McMeel, 2005). She is
currently at work on a dog memoir, Jessie’s Girl, with the help of her best friend, who
happily dog stomps the pages. She dedicates Canine Club Getaway to her beloved (and never
forgotten) Tiffany dog, and to Jessie and Lexie, who every day leave indelible paw prints not
only on her clothing, but on her heart.
David Kralstein
When David was 13 years old, his parents brought home the family’s first dog (not to be
confused with the First Family’s Dog) a toy poodle named Bambi, and from that point on,
David was a “dog person.” Circa 1990, David met his friend’s Golden Retriever Shiloh, who
was one of the best looking and great natured studs ever. He and his wife Carole soon became
Shiloh’s official dog sitters, and before long, the Kralsteins decided to get their very own
Golden Retriever.
Barney, named in keeping with the Flintstones theme already established by their two
Cockatoos, Fred & Wilma, was the best couch potato of a dog ever, and was instrumental in
helping to raise their son, Max. When Barney was nine, the Kralstein Pack decided to get
what they lovingly called a “back-up dog.” Wanting another retriever, they decided to try
something different and chose a Flat-Coated Retriever named Scooter. He quickly became
David’s BFF.
Carole and David decided they liked having more than one dog at a time and wanted to get
another Flat-Coated Retriever. While waiting for a pup, they were approached by friends
who felt they had just the dog for them. “Miss Charity” was a seven-year-old Golden
Retriever who was a breeding bitch for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. After having
had three litters, she was ready to retire and needed a permanent home. Although David and
Carole weren’t looking for an older dog, they reluctantly agreed to meet Charity and
introduce her to Scooter. It was a marriage made in doggy heaven.
Of course two weeks later, a call came in from a breeder who had an eight-week-old Flat-
Coated Retriever available. Not surprisingly, the Kralstein family was soon adding another pup
to the pack. The new addition, Carole’s Sedgeblac Say Goodnight Gracie, was welcome
addition to the family.
By the spring of 2008, the Kralsteins were down to two dogs again, when David opened an e-
mail from Scooter’s breeder whose subject line read “Whoops.” The e-mail had a picture of
eight beautiful Flat Coated Retriever puppies, and soon George joined Gracie and Charity as
part of the family.
Today, David is actively involved with Lindenhurst Labrador & Golden Retriever Meetup
Group, volunteering at the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, working as a Therapy Dog
International handler with Gracie, and assisting new students as directed by the trainers at
Best Friends Dog Training. He can be seen on a regular basis at many of Long Island’s dog parks
and events.
David also volunteers in his local school district as a Parent Member for the Committee on
Special Education, and has served in leadership positions on the Special Education Parent
Teacher Association (SEPTA) and the Board of Education.
Carole Kralstein
Carole always loved dogs, but as a child, she was not fortunate enough to have one of her
own. Thankfully, her friend had a wonderful dog named Mr. Chips who became her “surrogate
dog,” populating her childhood with many happy dog memories. In fact, she often joked that
she went to her friend’s house as much to play with the dog as to play with her friend.
In college, Carole got her first dog, a sweet beagle named Hector, and the love affair began.
From that point on, her clothing was always “embellished” with hair from Hector, and later
from her dog Chumley. After marrying David, another dog lover, she knew she was destined
to have dogs all her life, and indeed, her home was quickly filled with dogs, from the sweet
and loveable Barney to the rambunctious Scooter to her current “pack of three.” She also has
passed her love of dogs onto her son Max, who is certified by Therapy Dogs International as a
handler for their dog, Gracie.
Today, Carole enjoys sharing her home with Charity, George and Gracie, and frequently
entertains visiting dogs, as well. As she laughingly points out, “My outfits would not be
complete without some dog hair!” When she’s not giving hugs and kisses to her four legged
kids, she teaches special needs students in a Long Island high school.
She currently lives on Long Island with her husband David, children Brandie and Maxwell, and
their pack of dogs Charity, George and Gracie.
Janice Costa
Janice Costa was only 11 months old when she got her first dog, a beautiful English Shepherd
named Fluffy who was (of course!) the Best Dog Ever. Before she even outweighed the dog
food bag, Janice had taken over care and feeding duties, and has enjoyed a lifelong love
affair with dogs ever since.
Janice has been blessed with several “Best Dogs Ever” over the years, from purebreds to
shelter dogs, and continues to marvel at how the laws of physics change to allow each one of
us to have the Best Dog in the World. In 2002, after losing her beloved black lab mix, Tiffany,
she decided to honor her faithful friend’s memory by getting involved in rescue work.
Today, Janice is active with animal rescue, advanced obedience work, service dog training
and agility (just for fun – competitions start too early in the morning!), and is a certified
Therapy Dog Test Examiner and AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. She also chairs several
annual pet food and supply drives to support various shelters throughout Long Island.
Janice runs the The Canine Club Meetup Group, and is active in a wide variety of dog
activities on Long Island and throughout New York State. She is proudly owned by a travel-
happy, scarily smart, ball-obsessed, 95-pound Belgian Malinois/Collie mix named Jessie and a
wild child Lab mix named Lexie, along with two very tolerant cats.
While Janice loves traveling, she hates leaving her dogs at home, so she conceived CCG as a
way to combine her passion for dogs and vacation with her desire to provide a place where
dog lovers could play, learn, relax, be pampered and just enjoy quality time with their best
friend.
When she's not planning dog events, Janice works in the home design industry, and has
authored two books, Grand Master Baths (Creative Homeowner, 2008) and Everything and the
Kitchen Sink: Remodel Your Kitchen Without Losing Your Mind (Andrews McMeel, 2005). She is
currently at work on a dog memoir, Jessie’s Girl, with the help of her best friend, who
happily dog stomps the pages. She dedicates Canine Club Getaway to her beloved (and never
forgotten) Tiffany dog, and to Jessie and Lexie, who every day leave indelible paw prints not
only on her clothing, but on her heart.
David Kralstein
When David was 13 years old, his parents brought home the family’s first dog (not to be
confused with the First Family’s Dog) a toy poodle named Bambi, and from that point on,
David was a “dog person.” Circa 1990, David met his friend’s Golden Retriever Shiloh, who
was one of the best looking and great natured studs ever. He and his wife Carole soon became
Shiloh’s official dog sitters, and before long, the Kralsteins decided to get their very own
Golden Retriever.
Barney, named in keeping with the Flintstones theme already established by their two
Cockatoos, Fred & Wilma, was the best couch potato of a dog ever, and was instrumental in
helping to raise their son, Max. When Barney was nine, the Kralstein Pack decided to get
what they lovingly called a “back-up dog.” Wanting another retriever, they decided to try
something different and chose a Flat-Coated Retriever named Scooter. He quickly became
David’s BFF.
Carole and David decided they liked having more than one dog at a time and wanted to get
another Flat-Coated Retriever. While waiting for a pup, they were approached by friends
who felt they had just the dog for them. “Miss Charity” was a seven-year-old Golden
Retriever who was a breeding bitch for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. After having
had three litters, she was ready to retire and needed a permanent home. Although David and
Carole weren’t looking for an older dog, they reluctantly agreed to meet Charity and
introduce her to Scooter. It was a marriage made in doggy heaven.
Of course two weeks later, a call came in from a breeder who had an eight-week-old Flat-
Coated Retriever available. Not surprisingly, the Kralstein family was soon adding another pup
to the pack. The new addition, Carole’s Sedgeblac Say Goodnight Gracie, was welcome
addition to the family.
By the spring of 2008, the Kralsteins were down to two dogs again, when David opened an e-
mail from Scooter’s breeder whose subject line read “Whoops.” The e-mail had a picture of
eight beautiful Flat Coated Retriever puppies, and soon George joined Gracie and Charity as
part of the family.
Today, David is actively involved with Lindenhurst Labrador & Golden Retriever Meetup
Group, volunteering at the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, working as a Therapy Dog
International handler with Gracie, and assisting new students as directed by the trainers at
Best Friends Dog Training. He can be seen on a regular basis at many of Long Island’s dog parks
and events.
David also volunteers in his local school district as a Parent Member for the Committee on
Special Education, and has served in leadership positions on the Special Education Parent
Teacher Association (SEPTA) and the Board of Education.
Carole Kralstein
Carole always loved dogs, but as a child, she was not fortunate enough to have one of her
own. Thankfully, her friend had a wonderful dog named Mr. Chips who became her “surrogate
dog,” populating her childhood with many happy dog memories. In fact, she often joked that
she went to her friend’s house as much to play with the dog as to play with her friend.
In college, Carole got her first dog, a sweet beagle named Hector, and the love affair began.
From that point on, her clothing was always “embellished” with hair from Hector, and later
from her dog Chumley. After marrying David, another dog lover, she knew she was destined
to have dogs all her life, and indeed, her home was quickly filled with dogs, from the sweet
and loveable Barney to the rambunctious Scooter to her current “pack of three.” She also has
passed her love of dogs onto her son Max, who is certified by Therapy Dogs International as a
handler for their dog, Gracie.
Today, Carole enjoys sharing her home with Charity, George and Gracie, and frequently
entertains visiting dogs, as well. As she laughingly points out, “My outfits would not be
complete without some dog hair!” When she’s not giving hugs and kisses to her four legged
kids, she teaches special needs students in a Long Island high school.
She currently lives on Long Island with her husband David, children Brandie and Maxwell, and
their pack of dogs Charity, George and Gracie.
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| Canine Club Getaway June 2 - 6, 2010 Lake George, NY Call: 1-888-K9-CLUBG Email: info@CanineClubGetaway.com We Accept Credit Cards! |
