somerville dog: a weblog

via FellsDOG

In January 2010, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will host a Stakeholder and Public Planning Workshop, open to the public, to get direct input on developing a new trail system plan for the Middlesex Fells Reservation. The purpose of the workshop is to allow park users to collaboratively discuss and resolve constraints, issues, and problem areas that will have been identified this fall in the process of an inventory of the entire Fells trail system, including GPS tracking of each trail. Public review of a draft plan will take place next Spring, with the new plan being in place as early as May 2010.

People with dogs are among the most frequent (if not the most frequent) visitors the Middlsex Fells, in particular the Sheepfold area in the Reservation: It is critical that dog owners participate in the workshop in January 2010.

Please contact your State Senator and Representative and ask them to notify you when the time and location are set for the Stakeholder and Public Planning Workshop for the new trail system plan for the Middlesex Fells Reservation. Be sure to let them know that you enjoy visiting the Middlesex Fells together with your dog, that you respect the rights of all park users, that you care about the environment, and that the time has come for legal opportunities for off-leash recreation in the Middlesex Fells!

The DCR announced its plans for developing and implementing a comprehensive Middlesex Fells Trail System Plan on Thursday, September 24, 2009, at a meeting attended by representatives of the Greater Boston Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA), the Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation, and the Middlesex Fells Dog Owners Group (FellsDOG).

State Representative Jason Lewis attended the meeting last week (send e-mail to Jason Lewis)), as did representatives from the offices of State Senator Patricia Jehlen (send e-mail to Patricia Jehlen), State Senator Richard Tisei (send e-mail to Richard Tisei), State Representative Katherine Clark (send email to Katharine Clark), and State Representative Paul Donato (send e-mail to Paul Donato).

Posted by Michèle at 2:31 PM
Categories: D.O.G.s (Dog Owner Groups), Destinations, Massachusetts, Off-Leash Recreational Areas—i.e. "Dog Parks"
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"The park is an artificial space necessary to the urban setting, with raked gravel instead of soil, piped water, and escape-proof gates, but that does not prevent the dogs from returning, for the span of our visit, to a state of nature that soothes even those of us who are mere observers."

James Carroll's beautiful and moving column today makes me feel really good about my advocacy for off-leash recreational areas in public open space.

Socializing and exercising our dogs off-leash fulfills an evolutionary promise that we made made generations ago when we allowed wolves to scavenge food and shelter from our dwellings in return for services rendered.

"[T]his bond is what we contemplate in beholding dogs as wonders, recognizing creatures who would lead humans back into the natural awareness on which Earth’s survival now depends."

Posted by Michèle at 12:17 PM
Categories: Dogs and Culture, Dogs in the News
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UPDATE 5:00 p.m. Happy news! Leyla is home! Her owner is very appreciative to everyone who offered advice or helped looked or just kept an eye open for her.

Name: Layla, Australian Sheppard mix, ~30lbs
color: Black/light brown

Got loose from her collar so is not wearing her tags, although IS micro chipped. Very calm tempered, sweet girl but may be disoriented after being lost. Last seen on Washington st. near McGrath Highway in Somerville.

She went missing on Wed. Sept. 2nd and is still missing. Please contact Kristen @ 248-379-7666 with any information. Thank you!

Posted by Michèle at 7:56 AM
Categories: Lost and Found, Somerville
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