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Stummer is adjusting to the new member of the pack: Kate, who is just nine days old today. Here is Strummer keeping an eye on Kate in the Pack 'n Play bassinet. Kate is also being supervised by Dad and Mamah, while Mom captures the moment.
via Progressive Democrats of Somerville
East Somerville Neighbors for Change invites you to an informal gathering with the candidates for Alderman at Large who will discuss issues relevant to the East Somerville Community.Please join us at 7:00 on March 15th at 165 Broadway.
Make sure the new city alderman has your interests in mind!
Be prepared with questions that you might like to ask the candidates.
Childcare and interpretation will be provided.
Questions? Call Meredith Levy at SCC: 617-776-5931 x242
Help the Fells Dog Owner Group (FellsDOG) clean up the Sheepfold in the Middlesex Fells, Saturday, March 24th, 2007 from 10am to 1:30pm!
Bring work gloves, a small gardening spade, and small plastic bags to help pick up poop.
As a special treat for volunteers, there will be drawings for prizes from the following pet-friendly businesses:
Healthy Dog Pet Co. (332 Main Street, Wakefield 01880; 781-245-PAWS)
The Dapper Dawg School of Professional Dog Grooming (62 R Montvale Avenue, Stoneham, MA 02180; 781-438-2900)
Paws Club (113 Central Street, Stoneham, MA 02180; 1-888-PAWS CLUB)
For more information visit the Fells Dog Owner Group (FellsDOG) online!
via the Somerville News:
The Somerville News presents: a Candidates Night for the city's Special Election for Alderman-at-Large hosted by Baratunde R. Thurston. Join us Monday, March 5th at the Independent Restaurant 75 Union Sq Somerville from 6PM - 7:30PM
Best Friends Pet Care, a national chain offering boarding, grooming, training and day camp, is improving the chance of survival of family pets in emergencies with their 'Cause for Paws' program, which provides pet resuscitation masks for community firefighters.
The Best Friends Pet Care Center in Sudbury, in partnership with Save A Dog, a Massachusetts-based all-breed, all-volunteer dog rescue group, recently donated two sets of specially designed oxygen masks for use on dogs and cats to the Wayland Fire Department.
According to an article in the Wayland Town Crier ("Helping pet rescue"), an anonymous Wayland pet owner donated to Best Friends Pet Care’s "Cause for Paws" program, which matches donated funds, then purchases the lifesaving masks for distribution to the fire departments targeted by the donor.
Susan Adam, manager of Best Friends Sudbury Pet Care Center, and Shirley Moore, president of Save a Dog and Wayland’s Emergency Animal Response team leader, presented the donation to the Wayland firefighter Alexiss Wheeler and her dog, Tiller, on behalf of the Wayland Fire Department.
The City of Cambridge has four officially designated areas were residents, "who have received resident sticker parking permits approved by the Water Board and issued by the Traffic Department" may allow their dogs off-leash in public space.1
To facitate enforcement at Fresh Pond Reservation, the Cambridge Water Department has proposed a pilot “medallion” program, according to an article in the Cambridge Chronicle today ("City puts out-of-town dogs on short leash at Fresh Pond"). In addition to having a resident sticker parking permit and a Cambridge dog license, Cambridge dog owners would also have to obtain a medallion collar tag. The Cambridge City Council must vote to approve the pilot program before it goes into effect.
Non-Cambridge families are welcome to enjoy the Fresh Pond Reservation with their leashed dogs. Leashed dogs and unleashed dogs, however, are a potentially dangerous combination.
Without freedom to negotiate a social encounter, a leashed dog can feel that it has no alternative but to attack an unleashed dog. Take away the opportunity for flight and all that remains is the instinct to fight.
Pace the Cambridge Water Department and the Cambridge City Council Ordinance Committee, but I do not trust Cambridge dog owners to prevent their unleashed pets from running up to defenseless, leashed, out-of town dogs. So I will continue not bringing my Somerville dog to Fresh Pond, which, I understand, is exactly what the Cambridge Water Department wants.
1 See the Cambridge Department of Public Works Frequently Asked Questions: "Where can I allow my dog to run without a leash?"
City puts out-of-town dogs on short leash at Fresh Pond
By Erin Smith/Chronicle staff
Thursday, March 01, 2007
If you want your dog to be able to roam Fresh Pond Reservation without a leash, you might need a new city-issued tag for your pet.
But you can only get the new doggy “medallion” if you’re a Cambridge resident. All out-of-towners will have to keep their four-legged friends on a leash that’s no more than 6 feet long, according to the new pilot program recently enacted by the city’s water department.
Sam Corda, managing director of the department, said the new rules also require all dogs to keep off mowed, grassy areas at Fresh Pond, and park rangers are enforcing the new measures. Those who don’t follow the rules could be prohibited from using the reservation.
Some dog owners argue their Fidos are getting dogged by the new rules.
“I think it’s awful. It’s ridiculous,” said West Cambridge dog owner Monica Strauss. “I understand there are people who don’t like dogs, but I don’t think the city should condone their attitude.”
Although the water department has already made up brochures with guidelines for the medallion program, the rules are technically not on the books yet. The City Council’s Ordinance Committee held a hearing about the changes last month, and the entire City Council must vote on whether to approve the new measures
Corda said the new rules are designed to help reservation staff manage the increasing number of dogs at Fresh Pond Reservation and protect the city’s drinking supply. The reservoir is a source of city water.
“My feeling is that as a strategy to enforce existing ordinances that allows off-leash for only Cambridge residents, it’s a pretty good solution,” said Helen Fairman, a dog owner who served on the medallion committee that designed the rules.
However, Fairman, who is also on the steering committee for Cambridge Dog Owners’ Group, a coalition promoting dog recreation areas, said she questions the rationale behind the program.
“Personally, I don’t think there are too many dogs there, but the advisory committee thinks there is,” said Fairman, who walks her standard poodle at Fresh Pond almost every day.
Strauss questioned why the water department has been adding more off-limits-to-dogs grassy areas, instead of trees.
“They’re coming up with more and more excuses and more places where dogs can’t go,” said Strauss.
Corda said the grass areas help absorb run-off water, and all fertilizers used on reservoir grass are approved by state and federal environmental agencies.
“As we’ve been going along in the years, we’ve been trying to restore the reservation and put it back to it’s natural habitat,” said Corda, citing new fencing, paths and plantings to prevent erosions.
Corda said dogs would still be allowed in wooded areas and areas where reservation staff is adding new plantings, once the vegetation takes root.
“We’re just trying to make sure that over the next 100 years the water supply remains the same,” said Corda.
Before dog owners can get the new medallion, they sign an agreement to follow all dog rules for the reservation.
To apply for the free medallion that allows off-leash privileges for pooches, Cambridge residents must go to the Fresh Pond ranger station in April or May with a city-issued dog license. Registered Cambridge canines must wear the medallion in a visible location on a collar or harness in order to be off-leash at the reservation.
How to apply for a dog medallion
Rules for dogs at Fresh Pond
