somerville dog: a weblog

Information about obtaining a dog license is available from the Somerville City Clerk's Office:

Residents of Somerville may obtain, in person or by mail, a dog license from the City Clerk?s Office at the following address:

City Clerk?s Office
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 625-6600 x4100

The City Clerk?s Office provides dog licenses Monday-Wednesday, 8:30AM-4:00PM, Thursday 8:30AM-7:00PM, and Friday 8:30AM-12:00Noon.

The fee is $12.00 for a dog license, or $6.00 if the dog has been spayed or neutered. The City accepts checks or money orders only by mail, and checks, money orders or cash in person. Checks should be made payable to ?City of Somerville.?

For requests in person at the City Clerk?s Office, bring the following information with you:

• the owner or owners? name(s), address(es) and telephone number(s).
  
• the dog?s name, breed, color, age or date of birth, and gender (male/female).
  
• evidence of the dog?s most recent rabies vaccine.
  
• evidence that the dog has been spayed (female) or neutered (male), if applicable.

For requests by mail, complete and submit an application, available from the City of Somerville website as a PDF file.

Posted by Michèle at 7:41 PM
Categories: Somerville
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Somerville has only one T station, the Davis Square Station on the Red line. Somervilledog would like to see the Green Line extended through Union Square into Medford Center. And wouldn't an Orange Line Station near Assembly Square that Sommervillians could walk to be great? The good news is that the MBTA allows pets on the T:

Certified service animals and guide dogs are allowed on the T at all times. For safety and convenience during rush hours, small domestic animals must be carried in lap-sized containers.

During off-peak hours, non-service dogs are allowed at the discretion of operators. Dogs must be properly leashed and are not allowed to annoy riders or take up a seat.

Posted by Michèle at 8:20 AM
Categories: Traveling with Dogs
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Dogs are not allowed in Somerville city parks (Code of Ordinances, City of Somerville Sec. 12-51. Dogs in parks and playgrounds).

The Dog Lover's Companion to Boston: The Inside Scoop on Where to Take Your Dog, 3rd edition, by Joanna Downey (Avalon Travel Publishing, 2002) lists dog-friendly things to do and places to go in Boston and surrounding areas. Unfortunately, the entry for Somerville is pretty short:

Okay, we looked. And looked. And looked. Where do you poor folks in Somerville take your dogs? Every park we found has a No Dogs sign big as day, and all the secret spots where locals told us we could go were given the big thumbs-down when we spoke to city officials (97)

Nearby, in Cambridge, according to that city's website, there are dog runs at "Fort Washington, located on Waverly Street between Erie Street and Putnam Avenue, and at Dog Park, at Mount Auburn and Hawthorne Streets. There are also leash-free zones at Danehy Park and at Fresh Pond Reservation. . . At all other parks, the City ordinance on leash control applies. And of course, dog walkers are required to pick up dog waste at all sites."

Posted by Michèle at 9:47 PM
Categories: Somerville
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