somerville dog: a weblog

Boston Dogs is encouraging families with dogs to get out to Mayor Menino's Neighborhood Coffee Hours with their dogs and tell the mayor that

we need his commitment to paying for dog recreation spaces. We now have an ordinance, but no money. We need the funding to build dog recreation spaces. We need openness on the part of the mayor and the commissioner to share park space with taxpayers who choose to recreate with dogs.

Three of Mayor Menino's Neighborhood Coffee Hours are scheduled in playgrounds where people may not be allowed to attend with their dogs. They can stand outside and look mournful, though! That's just what we'd do if Mayor Curtatone scheduled coffee hours in Somerville parks: all our parks are posted "No Dogs Allowed."

Posted by Michèle at 10:55 AM
Categories: Somerville
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… or how dogs may be smarter than wolves (and chimps, for that matter).

"The human world is the dog's natural environment."  —Vilmos Csányi, Chair, Department of Ethology, Loránd Eötvös University, Budapest, Hungary.

Posted by Michèle at 3:15 PM
Categories: Dogs and Culture
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Every woman learns how to protect herself from being the victim of a purse snatcher. The following suggestions are from the Volusia County (FL) Sherrif's Office:

• Don't carry a shoulder bag over your shoulder. This makes it easier for a thief to grab your bag, knock you down and injure you.


• Carry a small clutch-type handbag underneath your arm.


• "Fanny packs" are a safe alternative to the traditional purse. They're worn tight and close to the body, making them harder to grab.


• Don't leave your purse in shopping carts or on counters—even for a moment. That's an invitation to a thief.

Responsible dog owners in San Diego might want to review these safety tips: Earlier this week a San Diego dog owner's poop bag was stolen at gunpoint. Fortunately, neither the dog owner nor the dog were hurt during the incident. The woman recovered her poop bag. The perp is still at large.

Thanks to Maya's Adam for sharing this story.

Posted by Michèle at 7:04 AM
Categories: Shooting the S--t
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