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The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) joins many domestic violence organizations in supporting this legislation. As an alternative to contacting Representatives Provost and Sciortino directly, you can take action by entering your contact information in the MSPCA'a web-based form which will automatically send a letter of support to your legislator. If you prefer to contact your Representative directly, you can find out who your legislators are by entering your address at wheredoivotema.com: Contact your "Rep in General Court."

According to the MSPCA

This bill would specifically allow judges to include pets in temporary restraining orders (issued pursuant to Chapter 209A). If a judge finds reason to include a companion animal in the order of protection, the petitioner is given exclusive custody, care and control over the animal.

When Dogs Snowboard from Mountain High Resort on Vimeo.

How can you tell if the person with an off-leash dog is an irresponsible dog owner who will not prevent her pet from jumping on you, or if she is a responsible dog owner who, without a leash, can prevent her pet from approaching you?

1. If the person with the dogs says, "Don't worry! He's friendly!" you can expect with high certainty that the dog will jump on you.


2. If the person with the dog is not paying attention to her dog, you can expect that the dog will approach you.


3. If the person with the dog is paying attention to her dog and makes eye contact with you and greets you, you can expect with high certainty that the dog will not approach you unless you have asked the owner for permission to greet her dog.

A responsible dog owner will never let her pet greet a person unless the person has asked to meet her pet. Many of us need a leash to be responsible.`

The DCR expects to complete a draft trails plan by April 2010, according to a press release.

The Fells Dog Owner Group has been leading efforts to get families who enjoy Sheepfold and the trails of the Middlesex Fells with their dogs to come to the meeting to support safe and legal options for off-leash recreation at the Fells. The Somerville Dog Owners Group is among the dog-owner groups that are supporting the efforts of FellsDOG. At least ten Somerville dog owners have already submitted written comments to the DCR for the Plan, and the Somerville Board of Aldermen passed a resolution "that this Board supports off leash dog areas in the Middlesex Fells and requests that DCR designate such areas."

The Greater Boston Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) has also been involved in the trail-planning process. In the interest of "all muscle-powered trail users" Greater Boston NEMBA has posted on their website "An Open Letter from the New England Mountain Bike Association Regarding the Middlesex Fells Trails Evaluation."

With more people and more different groups than ever before participating in the public process for public open space at the Middlesex Fells, it is curious that Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the Friends of Middlesex Fells, feels that there is "insufficient information" to proceed with the Plan. Globe Correspondent, Alix Roy, spoke with Ryan for an article that ran in the Sunday Globe: "State seeking opinions on future of the Fells."

According to NEMBA, "for the past twenty years, many of the trail use policies at the Fells have been heavily influenced by a single user group, the Friends of the Fells." NEMBA accuses the Friends not only of "publicly misrepresenting" NEMBA but also of "derailing" projects that would preserve the natural resources of the Fells while enabling the trails to better accommodate a more diverse group of park users.

I join the Greater Boston NEMBA in encouraging all true friends of the Middlesex Fells, including dog owners and mountain bikers, to come to the public meeting tonight to work together for ways that everyone can enjoy public open space in the Middlesex Fells.

Excerpts from the letters were published online by the Lexington Minuteman: "Residents sound off over dog leash proposal."

The Lexington Conservation Commission is considering enacting "new regulations that could limit off-leash areas at Willards Woods or ban the practice altogether," according to an article in in the Boston Globe today ("Lexington considers curbs on dog owners" by Brock Parker).

According to the Lexington Code § 9-2A, dogs must be "in the immediate restraint and control of some person by means of a leash or by effective command".

Skinny chocolate lab named Luca escaped fom his collar near Digity Dog day care on Somerville ave in union sq tonight. If found please call 617-967-7879 or 860-729-6603. Luca is a skinny male chocolate lab and is not wearing a collar but he does have a chip.

A black French Bull Dog disappeared on Tuesday evening in the area of Concord Avenue in Somerville (map). He was wearing a turquoise sweat shirt and had a plaid collar on with moose on it.

He answers to the name of Louie.

Please call the dog's owner, Courtney (512-755-4286), or her father, Doyle (512-755-4351), with any information.

The DCR has begun the process of developing a Trail System Plan for the Middlesex Fells and is soliciting comments, experiences, goals and concerns from people who use the Fells.

The Middlesex Fells Dog Owner Group (FellsDOG) is encouraging people who enjoy the Middlesex Fells in the company of their dogs to contribute to the planning process for the Middlesex Fells trail system. This is an opportunity for dog owners to make a strong case for the need for opportunities to enjoy the benefits of socializing and exercising our dogs off-leash without breaking the law, without interfering with other park users' enjoyment of the Fells and without threatening wildlife habitats.

To support off-leash recreation in Sheepfold and the Middlsex Fells, send a letter or e-mail to:

Middlesex Fells Trail Plan
136 Damon Rd
Northampton, MA 01060
Paul.jahnige@state.ma.us

You may wish to respond to some of all of the following questions, offered by the DCR as a guide for the kind of input that is especially helpful at this stage in the process.

1. How do you (and your family) use the trails at the Middlesex Fells? (i.e. what parts of the Fells; how often; what kinds uses; what times of day, week and year; etc.)
2. What would you describe as some of the highlights of the Fells trail system? (i.e. what scenic, natural or cultural resources and destinations are important to you?)
3. What would you describe as some of the problems with the trail system at the Fells that affect your trail experience there?
4. Can you describe the “recreational experience(s)” that you find most enjoyable at the Fells? (This might include the level of difficulty, interaction with other users, length of the use, type of use, etc. Feel free to write about your best Fells experience.)
5. If you could make three changes in the Fells trail system, what would they be?
6. What other comments would you like us to consider as we develop our trail system plan for the Middlesex Fells?

More information is available online:

Middlesex Fells Trail System Plan FAQ

Invitation for Public Input and Guiding Questions

DCR’s Trail Guidelines and Best Practices Manual

Please support FellsDOG!

Please vote tomorrow in the special primary election for the U.S. Senate.

The City of Somerville Election Department allows voters to bring our dogs with us to the polls: dogs must be on leash, remain close to their companions at all times and must not bother other people.

Polls are open 7am to 8pm.

The coveted “Mutt of the Year” honor was awarded to Granby, a Lab/Husky mix. Granby’s owner Julie Roix adopted him eight years ago. Since then, with the help of Angell, he has conquered several medical challenges. He successfully underwent two Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgeries, and after developing glaucoma and having both eyes removed, he has adapted with wonderful canine resilience. Julie is amazed that he can still work his way into the child-proofed cabinets to get into the trash, and can fetch as if he has no limitations. He has overcome obstacles that make him an outstanding Mutt of the Year.

Congratulations, Granby! You're a good dog!

dog parks are a use for which there is a growing demand at public outdoor recreation facilities and can, in and of themselves, be construed as a form of recreation for dog owners.

The letter, released by the Newton Dogs Off-Leash Advisory Committee, is addressed to Peter F. Harrington, Harrington & Harrington, in response to his argument that the off-leash recreational area at Cold Spring Park in Newton was a violation of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act and that the approval of the US Secretary of the Interior was required to change the use of the park to something “other than public outdoor recreation uses”.

Harrington claimed that the city took money from the federal government to develop the land for specific uses and that off-leash recreation is not one of those specific uses.

In its response to Harrington the National Parks Service (NPS) explains the federal, state and local roles in the management of LCWF-funded parks. Accordingly, the NPS cc'd Ian Bowles, Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA), Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and asked him to address "the status of the dog park experiment and [Harrington's] clients concerns with the city of Newton."

In a letter dated October 26, 2009, Melissa Cryan, Land and Water Conservation Fund Coordinator, EOEEA, replied to the National Park Service saying that she found that "the city is not in violation of its agreement with the National Park Service." "As a side note," she concluded,

the park was found to be in good condition, with the trails well maintained and the main entrance a welcoming place for the park's visitors.

I am greatly pleased that the US Secretary of the Interior does not interfere with the ability of cities and towns to make decisions about how local parkland can best serve citizens' recreational needs. I am delighted that NPS has made an official statement acknowledging that enjoying the benefits of socializing and exercising our dogs off-leash is a legitimate recreational use of public open space!

Somerville Community Access Television held forums for the contested elections:
Alderman At Large
Ward Six Alderman
Ward Four School Committee
Ward Five School Committee

The Somerville Journal also ran stories on the race for Alderman At Large, Ward 6 Alderman and School Committee.

A complete list of certified candidates for municipal offices is available from the City of Somerville Elections Department.

The City of Somerville Election Department allows voters to bring our dogs with us to the polls: dogs must be on leash, remain close to their companions at all times and must not bother other people.

Polls are open 7am to 8pm.

Howloween at the Boston Center for the Arts
12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
$7.00 for adults; $3.00 for kids; Free for dogs

The Cyclorama will be transformed into a canine compound complete with treats, play areas, costume parades, random acts of art and haunted happenings.

There will also be libations, tasty treats and surprises for those of the people persuasion

Mike FM's 3rd Annual Howl-oween at Faneuil Hall
Free

Win $500 for simply putting your pooch in a costume.

Registration begins at Noon with the Contest and Pet Parade kicking off at 2PM.

There will be prizes for categories including Bad-2-the-Bone, Ugliest & Most Creative. Best in show wins $500 with 2nd grabbing $350 and a cool 100 bones for 3rd.