Help Protect Human and Animal Victims of Domestic Violence
Please take a moment to contact your Representative—in Somerville Denise Provost and Carl Sciortino—and ask them to support H.1499, a bill that would help protect victims of domestic violence and their companion animals in Massachusetts.
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.
The stories about animal abuse and domestic violence that this legislation would help to prevent are horrifying. More information is available from the MSPCA about current legislation about pets and abuse prevention.
A Multifaceted Story about the Middlesex Fells Trail System Plan
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is hosting a public meeting and trail planning workshop for the Middlesex Fells Trail System Plan this evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the McGlynn School auditorium, 3002 Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford. (Follow directions to Hormel Stadium, and continue past the stadium to the school.)
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."
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.
Lexington Dog Owners Make Some Noise About Willards Woods
The Lexington Minuteman was inundated with letters this week about the upcoming Feb. 23, Conservation Commission hearing about whether dogs should be leashed at Willard's Woods. There were too many letters to publish
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".
Support of Off-Leash Recreation at Sheepfold and the Middlesex Fells
If you enjoy walking or hiking together with your dog on the trails of the Middlesex Fells or socializing your dog with other dogs in the Sheepfold, write today to request that the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) include safe and legal options for off-leash recreation in the Middlesex Fells Trail System Plan.
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:
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.
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.)
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?)
What would you describe as some of the problems with the trail system at the Fells that affect your trail experience there?
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.)
If you could make three changes in the Fells trail system, what would they be?
What other comments would you like us to consider as we develop our trail system plan for the Middlesex Fells?
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.
National Park Service Recognizes Legitimacy of Off-Leash Recreation
In a letter dated October 15, 2009, Michael D. Wilson, Chief, State and Local Assistance Programs, National Park Service, Unites States Departement of the Interior, writes
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!
UPDATE 5 November 2009: The pilot program for off-leash hours in Melrose was not approved. The municipal ordinances in Melrose do not allow dogs to be off-leash: Before the Melrose Parks Commission could approve off leash hours, an amendment to the municipal ordinances would be necessary, which requires a vote of the Aldermen. More information is available from the Melrose Canine Control weblog.
The Melrose Dog Society (MDS), in partnership with the Melrose Parks Department and Melrose Canine Control has developed a proposal to allow people to enjoy the benefits of socializing and exercising their dogs off leash during designated hours in specific city parks. The Green Dog Program for off-leash hours will be presented at a public meeting, Thursday, October 15, 2009. The proposed two-month pilot program, if approved, would run from November 1 to December 31 and would include the following parks: Melrose Common, Hesseltine Field and Franklin Field.
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!
Marshall and I took Strummer to Yappy Hour in "the Yard" at the Liberty Hotel in Boston this evening. The Liberty Hotel raises the bar for "dog-friendly" businesses. It's hard to convey in words how good every single staff person at the hotel made us feel.
We drove, because the T only allows dogs during off-peak hours at the discretion of the operator.
I have never felt so welcome, with or without my dog, by a valet as the valet staff at the Liberty Hotel made me feel. When the valet saw Strummer in the back seat, he was delighted to learn that we were there for Yappy Hour. Then he asked her name--always a direct way to a dog owner's heart. He gave us directions to find the Yard twice—once by way of the escalator and then, realizing that the escalator might not be safe for Strummer, by way of the elevator behind the bell desk. Then he followed us into the hotel and directed us to the elevator and gave us directions to the stairs to get back down to the yard level from the second floor. I was glad to pay $15 for valet service.
Even before she took our order, the bartender gave Strummer a Polka Dog Bakery biscuit--her favorite. As we waited for our martinis, we met a Boxer puppy and a Schipperke puppy, both named Roxy. The Yard quickly filled up with dog lovers and their dogs: dogs were allowed off leash at the discretion of their owner.
A couple with a Pug named Lily sat down in the sofa across the table from us. They are engineers who design buildings and they bring Lily with them to their office in Downtown Crossing. They had ordered Veal Sliders and French Fries, and Marshall and I wasted no time following their lead.
As we enjoyed our food, three women—the owner of a mini schnauzer, the owner of a Bichon Frise and their friend—sat down across from us. We marveled at how nice it is to be able to go out with our dogs: When you go to a bar with your dog, you connect with other people; without your dog, you only talk to the people in your party. We invited them to the dog-friendly Outdoor Music Festival at Precinct in Union Square on September 13: It turns out one of the women lives in Davis Square and loves Precinct!
Before leaving, one of the receptionists showed us one of the guest rooms in the former cell block (the Liberty Hotel was formerly the Charles Street Jail).
A couple with a greyhound and a woman with a Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog waited with us outside for the valet to return our cars. We're up for a carpool next time!
Yappy Hour is every Wednesday from 5 to 7 in the summer, weather permitting.
Strummer and I have a cameo in the promotional video for the MSPCA Walk for Animals. There's a photo of us about thirty seconds into the video which originally appeared here, on the somervilledog weblog, on October 19, 2004.
Somerville Mayor, Joe Curtatone, was a guest on Radio Boston this afternoon for a show about "Dog-Friendly Boston." Asked about allocating public money for dog parks, the Mayor laughed: "The last time I checked, we weren't writing checks to dogs." In all seriousness he explained, "people want to live in the urban core and you have to provide them with amenities and services". "Like New York,"he said, "we need to maximize and have the most flexible, dynamic open and recreation spaces."
Curtatone addressed complaints that he has heard but, "overall," he said,
the response has been extremely positive. Whether it's from residents who have just moved here, or have been here for a long time who have pets--and I have two dogs--or people from out of town who visit here and say "That's an incredible commitment to urban living!" I think that, if we want Somerville, like NY does, to be a model of urban living, you need to have those amenities. It's a great use of tax dollars.
In addition to the Mayor's comments, I especially liked the sequence with Adam Ragusea, Associate Producer for Radio Boston, who adopted his first dog a few months ago. Ragusea's story is the familiar story of city-dwellers who become dog owners. Since he adopted his dog, he has begun to visit parks he never visited before. Rausea and his border collie mix, Lucy, visit the off-leash parks in their Cambridge neighborhood: Pacific Street Park as well as Fort Washington Park. They also travel to visit parks: They take the Red Line to the Joe Wex Dog Recreation Space at Peters Park in Boston's South End, and they visit participating parks in the Green Dog Program in Brookline.
I was interested to learn more about the Boston Dog Owner Group's proposal for expanding off-leash privileges in Boston Common. In addition to a designated area in the Common for off-leash recreation, they are working with the Beacon Hill Civic Association on establishing a secondary off-leash area that would rotate on a six-month schedule around three different sites in the Common.
There's been a lot of brouhaha and hubbub in the local media about the pilot off-leash area at Cold Springs Park in Newton. It was refreshing to get a reality check from Amy Koel, Chair of the Newton Dogs Off-Leash Advisory Committee, who said that by reputation it's a lot more controversial than it is in reality. Koel's verdict on the pilot area: "it is working." (I thought it was cheesy on the part of Radio Boston that they played up Koel's PhD in human psychology, which has no bearing on her volunteer work in her community.)
One caller from Somerville said that he was a former dog owner but would never own a dog again because he thinks that it is inappropriate to own dogs in the city. Matthew Parker, Vice-President of the New York Council of Dog Owner’s Groups (NYCdog, pronounced "nice dog") had a great reply: Parker sees people who are visiting from either other countries or the suburbs walk past the dog park in his neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY, and they marvel at how the dogs, both off leash and on leash, are very calm with each other and around people. That's a direct result of socialization, which dogs get a lot more of in the city than they do in the country.
In an editorial that ran on July 20, "Where dogs run free," the Boston Globe supports off-leash recreational areas. Citing "friction" in the relationship between dogs and people, the Globe proposes that "the solution to the problem is more controlled freedom for dogs, not less."
It can only help to promote a change for the better that the Globe has taken a stand in support of open space that serves the many and diverse needs of all residents. In the community of dog owners in Boston and environs, it is much bemoaned that, among comparable metropolitan areas in the country, Boston lags in providing safe and legal areas where people may enjoy the benefits of socializing and exercising our dogs off-leash.
I am surprised, however, that the Globe puts the onus on the public "to come up with sites for several more off-leash areas, and make a commitment to put up signage and self-police the sites."
It is the case that local cities and towns and the DCR have historically failed to provide both sites for off-leash recreation as well as rules that accommodate off-leash recreation. Across the Commonwealth, local dog owner groups have formed to work with together with government at the local and state level to correct these failures. I appreciate that the Globe acknowledges the voluntary efforts on the part of the citizens that make up these groups; at the same time, I wish Globe had taken a stronger position in favor of cities and towns and the DCR working together with dog-owner groups and supporting our efforts.
Does the Globe demand that the public come up with sites for basketball courts, softball fields and playgrounds? People who enjoy off-leash recreation are citizens and tax-payers just as people who enjoy basketball. It is the responsibility of cities and towns, as well as the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to work together with park users to ensure that the many and diverse recreational needs of the the metro area are met.
Must softball players make a commitment to put up signage on public fields? The same as playing fields, when off-leash recreational areas are sited on public property, it is the responsibility of the local government to post appropriate signage to inform park users of rules that have been established to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all park users.
Somerville leads the pack when it comes to municipal off-leash recreational areas. The Board of Aldermen, together with the Administration, convened a Dog Owners Task Force to involve citizens in the process of siting off-leash recreational areas (OLRAs) and in determining the rules that safeguard public health and public safety. Somerville plans to construct third OLRA this fall to open in Spring 2010.
The Boston Globe is running a nice story today that features community-based initiatives for off-leash recreational areas in Dorchester, in Boston Common and in Charlestown ("Dog park plan has bark, and bite," by Meghan Irons).
The article focuses on the efforts of the Friends of Ronan Park to address crime in the their neighborhood, Fields Corner in Dorchester, by getting neighbors who own dogs out on the streets. Specifically, the group is working with the City of Boston to build a dog recreation space in the park.
“This is considered a crime hot spot in Boston,’’ said Paige Davis, who lives near Ronan Park, where the dog run will be located. “People who are out walking their dogs are going to meet everyone using the park. If you want to know what’s going in the neighborhood, it’s the dog owners who know everything.’’
The Boston Dog Owners Group and the Friends of the Charlestown Dog Parks make similar arguments about the happy correlation between off-leash recreational areas and deterring crime. They are working for dog recreation spaces in Boston Common and in Paul Revere Park, respectively.
In addition to community-building benefits, off-leash recreational areas deter crime in their neighborhoods. As we have seen in Somerville, now that there is an off-leash recreational area at Nunziato Field, there are people with dogs in the park—and out in the neighborhood—365 days a year at all hours when the park is open.
The City of Somerville has plans to construct two new off-leash recreational areas: one in East Somerville and one near Inman Square.
People who have been excluded from open space in Newton finally have a place where they can enjoy the benefits socializing and exercising their dogs off-leash. So why is Ben Terris's article in the Globe negative?
Here was an opportunity to share with his readers the voices of residents who may have been enjoying a public park for the first time. Here was an opportunity to tell the story of people who worked with their community and their elected officials to make their city a better place to live, a story about people who spent hundreds of hours working for the right to enjoy the benefits of socializing and exercising their dogs off-leash, hours they could have spent flying under the radar, breaking the law, taking advantage of the lack of enforcement of the leash laws and spending time with their dogs. It appears that Terris doesn't have the heart to write a compelling and uplifting story about a grass-roots movement that resulted in an improvement to the city parks system. Instead he creates a tempest in a teapot: by quoting only the anger and opposition of a few loud neighbors, he'd have us believe that Newton did a bad thing.
I'd be really interested to know how Newton families felt when they unleashed their dogs legally for the first time at Cold Spring Park. Instead what I learned is that whenever I see Ben Terris' byline, I can expect a a biased story that does not reflect what is really happening and what really matters in my community.
Cold Spring Park is located on Beacon Street in Newton Center. Take your dog, and have a good time!
I missed this, but as early as three months ago (December 2008) the City of Melrose began discussing safe and legal opportunities for off-leash recreation. Speaking thoughtfully in support of park users whose needs are often ignored by urban parks departments, Melrose Alderman Monica Medeiros said,
It’s like having a skate park when you have skateboarders. You can’t really kick them off the stairs at City Hall if there’s no place for them to go.
A lengthy article about the Melrose Board of Aldermen meeting at which off-leash recreation was discussed is availble online from the Melrose Free Press: "Dog park study underway."
A shepherd mix with fluffy fur around the head was seen this morning in the Middlesex Fells near the Long Pond parking lot on the cranberry pond path.
Hi all,
I came across a lost dog this morning on the cranberry pond path, near
Long Pond Parking lot. It looked to be a shepherd mix. He/she was
about the size of a shepherd but extremely skinny. I could see the
ribs and pelvic bone clearly. He/she had tags I could hear clinking
but couldn't get close enough to read them. Wouldn't even come close
for a treat. Seemed to like my dog though. It could've been an older
dog but the fluffy fur around the head made it seem younger. Other
than the skinnyness seemed to have good energy as he darted one way
for a while then came back and proceeded down the trail.
I tried to report it to the Winchester animal control thinking someone
would've called there first but they were closed until Monday. I saw
this dog @9:30 on Sunday Jan 4th.
I figured one of you may know the dog or the owner. He/she is still
out there in the Fells.
Thanks.
The Newton Park and Recreation Commission voted 5-3 to to designate a section of Cold Spring Park as Newton's first off-leash park. The park will open at the ball field at the end of Duncklee Street for a nine-month trial as soon as rules for off-leash recreation are posted.
As part of the Mezzo Design Lofts project, the developers created a neighborhood park for people and pets on Caldwell Street in Charlestown. The park is just over the Somerville City Line at the end of Broadway, in the shadow of I-93.
The developers are to be commended for improving public open space in the neighborhood. Strummer checked out the park on Labor Day, and, we found some problems that will have to be addressed for the park to succeed. I made a little video documenting the problems.
I learned about the park from friends who live in East Somerville with two small dogs. When they told me about the park, they raised concerns for the safety of their dogs: There are gaps in the park's fencing through which a small dog could easily escape to the heavy traffic of Broadway.
About one-quarter to one-third of the off-leash recreational area is landscaped with low plantings and small trees. The landscaping limits the space that can be used for off-leash recreation; Moreover, the grasses, shrubs and flowers will not withstand the use of the area by dogs, and will become an eyesore.
Celebrate Bunker Hill Day with Friends of Charlestown Dog Parks!
Cheer on the Friends of Charlestown Dog Parks in the Bunker Hill Day Parade on June 15th, 2008. Charlestown dog owners will be walking just behind the Mummers in the parade.
Charlestown's Bunker Hill Day Parade will begin Sunday at 12:30 PM on Chelsea Street, between Medford and Fifth Streets.
For more information including the parade route, see:
There will be a public hearing concerning House Bill 4753, An Act Prohibiting the Renting of Pets, Thursday, June 5, 11 to 1, in Room A-1, at the State House.
Hello Canine Companions and Compadres!
Don't sit on the sidelines.
Don't be an armchair quarterback.
Don't be a backseat driver.
We've worked hard--now it's our time to be heard (and seen) on behalf of dogs and cats. Please make every effort to attend and bring other animal lovers: Those opposing our bill will be there! You can help ban pet rentals.
Thursday, June 5, 11 to 1
Room A-1
State House
FlexPetz is a business that rents dogs--by the hour or day--to people who want the fun of a pet without commitment. FlexPetz calls it "flexible ownership." But callousness by any name still hurts. If we open the door in Massachusetts, other dog and cat rental businesses will follow.
Why It's Bad for Pets
- Dogs and cats need stability and consistency. Rental pets are handed off to a succession of people, spending a few hours with one, a day or two with another--subjected to renters' different personalities, environments, routines and rules, which is confusing and stressful. They spend the rest of their time in animal day care.
- "I see a lot of dogs who have severe behavioral issues resulting from inconsistency. It is nearly impossible for people to be consistent with rented pets," according to Certified Dog Behavior Consultant Jo Jacques, CDBC, CPDT, CPCT.
- Constantly breaking a dog's bonds with humans is cruel, says Ray McSoley, who founded the Animal Behavior Clinic at Boston's acclaimed Angell Memorial Veterinary Hospital.
- And it could ruin their chance for a "forever home" when the business is done with them. "These animals will become distrustful of humans. They will withdraw," says Jo Jacques. If they're not adopted or it fails as a result? Off to a shelter, but older, more confused--and more likely to be euthanized or spend the rest of their lives in cages.
- Even well-mannered pets are more apt to bite when stressed. And constant change is very stressful, the experts say. What happens to the pet who bites after being passed from renter to renter?
- What about the rental pet who becomes chronically ill? No business can hold inventory
that costs instead of pays. And who will adopt a sick or unbalanced animal?
- Pet rental PR suggests this business model is beneficial for shelter animals. Not so. Obviously, the most rentable pets are the most adoptable. Do you think a rental business will take timid, old or scruffy pets who won't command its hefty fee? Or friendly, adorable young animals it can readily rent--who otherwise would have had the best chance for adoption? Instead of getting a "forever home," they become profit centers.
- Renting encourages us to think of all pets--rented, adopted or purchased--as "things" we enjoy till they're no longer cute, fun or convenient, then return, like DVDs or cars.
- "Disposable pet syndrome" encourages animal abandonment and abuse.
- Pet rentals and dog fighting are on the same continuum: They trade on desensitization of humans, commoditization of animals. One business conditions us to tolerate the other.
Why It's Bad for Humans
Consumers may not appreciate the risk of injury and litigation to which renting a pet exposes them. If your stressed rental pet sends just you to the ER, you're lucky. If it's your child, not so much. And if he bites or otherwise injures a stranger, consider this: Personal injury lawyers cast a wide net. While the rental business may be insured, what homeowner's policy covers "rental pet attacks"?
Why It's Bad for Massachusetts
The "disposable pet" mindset pet rental businesses promote may ultimately strain public and private resources. It is akin to the dumbing down of America--except it's our perception of and responsibility to companion animals that will erode. That can only lead to increased pet abandonment, adoption returns and abuse. And that hurts all of us, including taxpayers who don't have an affinity for animals.
"Relationships with dogs and other companion animals have numerous benefits to individuals of all ages, and to the community at large." This is the guiding principle of the Arlington Dog Owners Group, and it resonates in the film by Arlington resident Alice Dungan Bouvrie, who will be available to answer questions about the film at the screening.
Prison Pups is a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the life of four inmates at New England Correctional Center, a minimum-security facility in Concord, as they raise and train assistance dogs for the NEADS (Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans) program based in Princeton, MA.
By taking on the responsibility of caring for a puppy, the inmates develop self-confidence and the capacity for nurturing and affection. This film, produced in cooperation with WGBH, won Best Documentary Award and has been the official selection at several other festivals.
Corrections consultant, Kathleen M. Dennehy will introduce the film. Dennehy was the first woman appointed Commissioner of Correction in Massachusetts.
Superintendent Lynn Bissonnette of MCI-Framinghm, who appears in the film and was instrumental in bringing the prison dog program to Massachusetts will also be available to answer questions.
Tickets are available in advance for $8 from the Regent TheatreRegent Theatre box office at 7 Medford Street in Arlington Center (call 781-646-4849 or visit their website) or at the door May 22. Proceeds will benefit A-DOG and NEADS (Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans).
Proposed Off-Leash Hours and Dog Ban at Menotomy Rocks (Arlington)
[via e-mail]
Arlington Dog Owners Group (A-DOG) supports the substitute motion on Article 28 presented by Michael Ruderman (Town Meeting Member, Precinct 9) which would change the maximum leash length in Arlington from six feet to twenty feet and would establish off-leash hours from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and p.m. in public parks and open spaces.
The Town of Arlington will most likely vote on the substitute motion at Town Meeting tonight.
Also on the agenda tonight for the Arlington Town Meeting is a vote on Article 29 which would ban dogs at Menontomy Rocks Park.
This weekend is the last weekend to enjoy Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea with dogs until October 2008. Dogs are allowed on Singing Beach from October 1 - April 30.
At the 2008 Annual Town Meeting this evening, the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea voted to continue to allow families with dogs to enjoy Singing Beach from October 1 through April 30. A motion seeking to ban dogs year round was defeated as were two secondary amendments, one that would have extended the current five-month prohibition of dogs on Singing Beach by two months and another that would have given families with dogs two more weeks to enjoy Singing Beach together. Ain't democracy grand?!
My favorite part of the discussion was when a representative from the Board of Health told the Meeting that the Board of Health cannot recommend that dogs should be disqualified from beaches any more than they are from streets and parks! Feces in sand, he explained, poses no greater public health risk than feces on asphalt, concrete or dirt!
Early in the proceedings of the Town Meeting, a voter introduced a motion to take up Article 30 out of order.
Being a nonresident with no stake in the other articles on the Town Warrant, I wasn't paying close attention. I think the motion to take up article 30 was introduced after article 3. The motion was seconded and prevailed with more than two thirds of the meeting voting for it.
Patricia Morely who petitioned to put the year-round dog ban on the Town Warrant introduced a motion to amend Article X Section 28 (c) 3 of the General By-Laws of the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea to prohibit dogs on Singing Beach throughout the year
Ms. Morley's motion was seconded, but in the course of her comments on the necessity of banning people with dogs from Singing Beach, she asked if the matter could be placed on the ballot for the Town Election in May. On the advice of the Town Moderator Morley withdraw her original motion and introduced a new motion.
Susan Thorne, Chairwoman of the Board of Selectmen, then introduced a motion to amend the By-Laws to prohibit people from bringing dogs on Singing Beach from April 1 through November 1.
Another resident by the name of Brown introduced another motion to amend the By-Laws to prohibit people from bringing dogs on Singing Beach from May 1 through September 15.
There was relatively little discussion, largely because a motion to end the debate on the matter was carried by a necessary two-thirds vote.
Mr. Brown's amendment, which would have allowed us to enjoy Singing Beach with our dogs from September 16 through April 30 did not prevail.
Ms. Thorne's amendment, which would have abbreviated the time when dogs are allowed on Singing Beach by two months—from November 1 through March 30—did not prevail.
And Ms. Morley's motion did not prevail.
Thank you, Manchester-by-the-Sea, for welcoming people with dogs on Singing Beach.
Dogs are permitted to be on Singing Beach from October 1st - April 30th.
Dog owners must always clean up after their dog - No excuses!
Dog owners must maintain effective verbal control of their dogs and always be able to see their dogs~~~~when they are off-leash.
Dogs must wear a collar with identification at all times, be licensed and vaccinated.
An owner is personally liable for any damage or injury his dog inflicts or sustains.
Each person is limited to two dogs.
Violators of these rules are subject to removal from the beach and a $10 fine for the first offense and a $25 fine for each subsequent offense.
UPDATE 8 April 2008: Patrick Anderson, reporter for the Gloucester Daily Times, got the vote tallies on the three amendments. For details see "Town Meeting backs keeping dogs on Singing Beach".
Selectmen suggest amendment to proposed dog ban at Singing Beach
The Board-of-Selectmen recommends by a vote of 5-1 that families be banned from enjoying Singing Beach together with our dogs for two more months of the year from April through October. The Gloucester Daily Times is calling the suggested closing of the beach to beach-goers a "compromise".
Susan Thorne, Chairwoman of the Board of Selectmen, believes that by allowing families with dogs to enjoy Singing Beach during the off-season, the town is going out of its way to accommodate nonresidents.
The insularism on the part of Chairwoman Thorne is more hurtful to residents than it is to nonresidents. As a nonresident, I visit Singing Beach about a half-a-dozen times during the off-season. Most people I meet at Singing Beach, however, are Manchester residents. Extending the dog ban will keep Manchester residents off the beach every day.
Chairwoman Thorne's insularism hurts more than families who come from other towns and cities to enjoy Singing Beach; It also hurts the local businesses we patronize when we visit Manchester-by-the-Sea between October and April.
To add insult to injury, Manchester-by-the-Sea wants a piece of money that residents of other cities and towns pay to support our municipal programs and services: Manchester-by-the-Sea supports state revenue sharing, a proposal that would let Manchester-by-the-Sea receive a portion of the property taxes that residents of other cities and towns pay to our local municipalities.
The Board of Selectmen's recommendation to extend the current five-month dog ban at Singing Beach by an additional two months is bad business for Manchester-by-the-Sea.
The Singing Beach Committee opposes a year-round dog ban, and the Vice Chairperson of the Committee says that the Selectmen's amendment does not improve upon the original proposal. The high season at the beach is between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The current rules, which prohibit dogs on Singing Beach from May 1 through September 30, ensure that there is a month before the majority of beach-goers appear and another month after they disappear when the beach is without dogs.
According to an article in the Gloucester Daily Times, the Singing Beach Committee of the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea voted on Monday not to recommend passage of the article at Town Meeting that would ban dogs year-round at the beach ("Committee pans dog ban at Singing Beach," by Patrick Anderson).
That's the good news. The bad news is that
Town Selectmen last week voted not to issue a recommendation on the article in the printed warrant. They can still vote to offer recommendations before Town Meeting.
The proposed year-round ban on dogs at Singing Beach is unneighborly. The only time that some people visit the beach is during the off-season when we can enjoy the beach together with our dogs. A year-round dog ban would prevent some residents from ever having an opportunity to enjoy Singing Beach.
If you live in Manchester-by-the-Sea or if you know anyone who does, please (have them) contact the Board of Selectmen and ask them to issue a recommendation against the unneighborly proposal on the Town Warrant that would ban dogs year round at Singing Beach. Contact the Board of Selectmen c/o Wayne Melville,Town Administrator, Town Hall, 10 Central Street, Manchester, MA 01944.
UPDATE 17 March 2008: Thanks to Traildogs for posting that the Board of Selectmen met on Monday, March 3 and decided to wait to make a recommendation on the article that would extend the existing summer prohibition of dogs on Singing Beach year round. The Gloucester Daily Times reports that the Board
decided to issue their recommendation on the article the day of Town Meeting because of lingering questions about whether the article needs to reference the town's canine bylaw and to give Thorne a chance to have her say.
Susan Thorne, chairwoman of the Board, was out of town at the time. "Thorne" according to the article, "was one of the residents who signed the petition to place the dog ban on the warrant" ("Selectmen take wait-and-see approach," by Patrick Anderson).
UPDATE 21 March 2008:The 2008 Annual Town Warrant for the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea is now online on the Town website. The unneighborly article that would ban dogs at Singing Beach is Article 30:
To see if the Town will vote to ban dogs from Singing Beach year round, or take any other action relative thereto.
Per petition of Patricia Morley, et al
My daughter, Kate, will turn one year old in March. She has been to the beach three times since she was born. Each time the beach has been Singing Beach at Manchester-by-the-Sea, and each time Strummer, our standard poodle has been with her.
A resident of Manchester-by-the-Sea is asking her fellow townsfolk to deny my daughter the enjoyment of the beach.
According to an article in the Boston Globe today (creatively titled "Some fear town's beach is going to the dogs"), the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea will be voting on banning dogs from Singing Beach year round at its annual Town Meeting on April 7. Patricia Morley, a resident of Beach Street and employee of the Town gathered the necessary signatures to introduce the dog ban at Town Meeting.
Currently the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea allows dogs at Singing Beach from October through April. Especially during the colder months, most people at Singing Beach are accompanied by their dogs. A year-round ban on dogs will deny hundreds of families the opportunity to enjoy the beach together.
UPDATE 12 March 2008: The Singing Beach Committee of the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea voted on Monday not to recommend passage of the article at Town Meeting. Residents will vote on the proposal to ban dogs year-round at Singing Beach at Manchester's annual Town Meeting, Monday, April 7 at 7:00 p.m. at Manchester Memorial School, 42 Lincoln Street, Manchester, MA 01944 (map)
UPDATE 21 March 2008: The 2008 Annual Town Warrant for the Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea is now online on the Town website. The unneighborly article that would ban dogs at Singing Beach is Article 30:
To see if the Town will vote to ban dogs from Singing Beach year round, or take any other action relative thereto.
Per petition of Patricia Morley, et al
UPDATE 2 April 2008: The Board-of-Selectmen recommends by a vote of 5-1 that families be banned from enjoying Singing Beach together with our dogs for two more months of the year from April through November. The Gloucester Daily Times, is calling the suggested closing of the beach to beach-goers a "compromise".
The Newton Board of Aldermen has voted to establish an advisory committee that is responsible for recommending to the City's Parks and Recreation Commission and Conservation Commission possible sites for designated off-leash recreation. It is up to citizen groups to submit proposals for off-leash recreation at specific locations. The committee will not make any specific recommendations until it has received different proposals from several citizen groups.
Newton's "off-leash" ordinance is bad legislation. Unless organized citizen groups are waiting in the wings with proposals, two years will pass quickly without any areas being designated for off-leash recreation. What is especially insidious is that, even if there were a citizen group organized on behalf of off-leash recreation at one park, without similar organization at other parks, its hands are tied.
The new legislation was drafted by an off-leash task force on which only disinterested parties were invited to serve. Members of Newton's dog owner group, NewtonDogs, were were specifically excluded from the task force. Excluding interested parties from the process of crafting legislation guarantees an unsatisfactory outcome and, moreover, demonstrates a profound misunderstanding of what democracy is.
A Newton resident provided somerville dog with some historical background:
When developing this ordinance, the task force was concerned that designating only one or two areas for off-leash activity would be problematic in a city the size of Newton. Their intent was that the advisory committee would need to receive proposals for off-leash areas in a number of different wards or neighborhoods before they made a recommendation to either of the commissions, in order to avoid overuse of a limited number of legal areas. This means that before any off-leash areas are designated a number of citizen groups must come forward with proposals before any areas will be considered.
There is a two year sunset clause on the ordinance. Within the next 18 months the off-leash advisory committee must prepare a report on how well the program has worked, and if the aldermen do not vote to extend or make permanent the ordinance before the end of two years then the ordinance becomes obsolete and the current laws are reinstated.
Newton dog owners have four options:
Organize existing dog-owner communities to submit proposals to the advisory committee for legal options in the places where you already socialize and exersize your dogs off-leash against the law.
Contact your representatives on the Board of Aldermen and tell them that for the safety and enjoyment of everyone who enjoys open space, Newton needs legal areas where residents may enjoy the benefits of socializing and exercising your dogs off-leash now, not two years from now.
Over the next two years, while you are waiting for the "off-leash" ordinance to expire, work together and with your elected representatives on the Board of Aldermen for real options for off-leash recreation.
Continue flying under the radar: unleashing your dogs in your parks and accepting the incumbent risks (fines, accidents, feeling like pariahs in your own community).
Newton residents interested in the issue of off-leash recreation are welcome to join the Newton dog owners group's e-mail discussion group: NewDogsChat at: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/NewDogsChat/.
Tell them what you’re going to tell them, then tell them, then shut up.
For example:
I’m going to speak for 60 seconds. Please cut me off if I go over.
< a few claps, and general good cheer >
I’d like to make three points:
1) I heard a lot earlier about how dogs “were not originally part of the plan”. Well, this area has been inhabited for over 400 years. Harvard was founded over 350 years ago. This place used to be a forest, then a farm, then a dump, then a park. Uses change. People change. Opinions change.
2) The master plan did not use the word “dogs”, true. It used the word “recreation”. However, I note that it also did not use the words “soccer balls”, “Frisbee”, or “tricycle”. People recreate in various ways, and dogs are one of those ways.
3) I live about 30 feet from the park, and I think that dogs there are a great idea.
Discuss Off-Leash Recreation at Menotomy Rocks in Arlington
Am I mistaken, or does the Town of Arlington's Green Dog Pilot Program proposal call for creating "off-leash and fenced dog areas" and restricting usage of the areas to the hours between dawn and 9:00 am for eight months of the year?! Does Arlington really want to cordon off public open space and not let anyone in for twenty-one hours of the day in Spring, Summer and Fall?!
If this seems like a crazy idea, Arlington dog owners, please let Town officials know.
The Town of Arlington is holding a public meeting Wednesday evening, November 28, to introduce the proposal for the Green Dog" pilot program and solicit input from users and neighbors of Menotomy Rocks Park. The meeting will be held in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room in Arlington Town Hall beginning at 7:30.
The meeting Wednesday evening is the third of seven meetings intended for users and neighbors of specific parks in Arlington "where there is already dog walking activity":
The "Green Dog" Pilot Program for Arlington, allowing controlled off-leash activity in Arlington, will be refined based on the public input received and will be presented at the next Town Meeting in Spring of '08.
For additional information contact Leslie Mayer at BLMayer@msn.com.
Congratulations Friends of Peters Park on the Grand Opening of the Joe Wex Dog Recreation Space in the South End, Sunday, November 4, 2007.
The Boston Metro ran a story about the grand opening with the clever headline "City unleashes dog park."
Last month, an article in Boston Globe featured architect David Hacin, who designed the off-leash recreational area ("All that's missing are the biscuits").
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)
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.
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.
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.
This was the scene at Sheepfold in the Middlesex Fells early this Saturday afternoon. The temperature was around 25° F; the wind was out of the NW at 16 mph, gusting to 24 mph. Not many a public park in New England can boast this kind of usage on a Sunday afternoon in January.
So why does the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation want to end "companionship recreation"1 in the Sheepfold?
As posted yesterday to the FellsDOG Google Group, Richard Stewart, Fells District Manager, has confirmed that the DCR is planning to create a half-acre dog park at the Fells to the east of the ten-acre Sheepfold.
The DCR has consulted with the Friends of the Fells and the New England Mountain Bike Association; both groups support removing park users with dogs from the ten-acre Sheepfold to a half-acre fenced-in area to the east.
Until now, the DCR has not consulted with the hundreds of Massachusetts residents who enjoy the Fells with their dogs.
Off-leash recreation is a healthy and normal social activity, and it is wrong that Fells park users are criminalized for participating in it. After years of no enforcement of the leash law at the Sheepfold in the Middlesex Fells, a wonderful community of park users has come together to enjoy the benefits of socializing and exercising our dogs off-leash in the ten-acre Sheepfold. Now the DCR is proposing to pen us up in a one-half acre area.
Access to the dog park will be off Rte. 28, about 50 yards beyond the entrance to the Sheepfold: Fire gate #25. This picture is taken from the entrance of the access road looking south: You can see the entrance to I-93 and a mini van waiting to pull out of the Sheepfold access road.
The access road leads to an old bathhouse that will be demolished: a gazebo with picnic tables is proposed in its place.
The width of the proposed dog park is restricted on two sides by ledge:
Ledge, looking to the SW from the bathhouse.
Ledge, to the NE of the bathhouse.
There is long area between the two ledges. Given budget constraints, the proposed plan is to fence in one half acre with the option to extend the length of the area in the future.
To get to the proposed site, take the fire road that heads east (toward I-93) from the lower parking lot at Sheepfold. About 500 feet from the parking lot the fire road comes to a T: go left and you will come to
the old bath house in about another 500 feet.
Fells Dog Owners have requested to meet with Richard Stewart to share their concerns about the plan to restrict off-leash recreation in the Fells to one-half acre. To get involved please join the Fells Dog Owner Group (FellsDOG).
It appears to have come back on line concurrently with news that the Boston Parks Department will be closing the Dog Recreation Space (DRS) for renovations to Peters Park. At the same time, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation is proposing to suspend off-leash recreational hours on Boston Common for turf restoration. Where will Boston off-leash recreation enthusiasts go when the Boston Common and Peters Park are closed?
In response to an inquiry, I learned that the Friends of Peters Park expect to learn more about the timeline for the renovation of the whole park, including the construction of the new DRS, pending the successful outcome of the DRS Hearing on January 19.
Community Meeting about Boston Common off-leash hours
BostonDOG is holding a Community Meeting tonight about the suspension of Boston Common off-leash hours until 2008. The meeting is at 7:00 p.m. at Hill House, 127 Mt. Vernon St.
The Boston Parks and Recreation Department in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, Beacon Hill Civic Association and Councilor Michael Ross’s office is meeting with interested groups and organizations to discuss events, the off-leash dog area, and related issues on January 23, 2007, at the Hill House at 7 p.m. For more information, please see the Boston Parks Department's post on the Boston Dog Owners Group Forum.
In an article that ran in the Brookline Tab on November 30, 2006, Correspondent Lara Farrar contributed a story about off-leash hours at Winthrop Park, in which she spoke with people from neighboring communities about successful off-leash recreation programs.
Ward Three Alderman, Thomas Taylor, commented very graciously about the partnership of the City of Somerville and the Somerville Dog Owners Group.
Thomas Taylor is an alderman in Somerville who advocated for the city's first dog park. He said what has made a big difference is the Somerville Dog Owners Group, an independent group that has rallied for off-leash spaces, even raising money to fund the projects.
"If you can create a group, that could make a big difference," he said.
Thanks, Alderman Taylor. Somerville's Ward Three, the only Ward with an Off-Leash Recreational Area, gets my vote as the Best Ward in the City!
Tyler B. Reed, writing for the Framingham TAB, has a very balanced article about responsible dog-owner behavior as the critical ingredient for multi-use parks that permit off-leash recreation: "Teaching your dog to listen" (December 14, 2006). For his article, Reed interviews pet professionals whose voices were noticeably absent from the discussion about off-leash recreation at Callahan State Park at a public meeting in Framingham earlier this month.
Darlene Arden, a Framingham resident and member of the Dog Writers’ Association of America, Inc., observes that "the people who are really responsible with their dogs are suffering." She articulates a point-of-view that many responsible dog owners and responsible dog owner advocates share:
I love the idea of people out exercising with their dogs and having fun. [. . .] I have no problems with having areas where dogs can go on-leash and off-leash, but I want everybody safe.
Reed also speaks with Bryna Davidow, a trainer and owner of Framingham-based Must Love Dogs.
Davidow also supports off-leash recreation but is realistic about the necessary skills that dog owners must master before responsibly allowing their dogs off-leash in public open space.
It's certainly very scary when a dog is running up to a person who doesn't like dogs," she said. "I think being off-leash in a place where other dogs are also off-leash and having the dogs learn to play appropriately is a fabulous experience.
Is there a license that municipalities could use to reasonably assure that people have mastered the skills and the rules to recreate with their pets off-leash in public open space? In fact, there is. Arden points to the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen certification program. Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification has two requirements: 1) the owner must sign the Responsible Dog Owners Pledge, and 2), the dog, working in a team with his owner, must pass a test that covers ten skills that are necessary for dogs and their owners as upstanding members of their communities.
Summary of Callahan State Park (Framingham) Meeting
Five Somerville dog owners were among over 150 people who attended a public meeting held by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Framingham, MA about off-leash recreation at Callahan State Park
The turnout was impressive and largely dog-friendly, favoring Callahan State Park being maintained as an off-leash park. The Callahan Canine Owners Association did a great job of getting people to attend the meeting. People entering the meeting room were offered red pieces of paper that read "Keep the trails at Callahan State Park open to off-leash dogs." A few people had "My Dog Votes" signs.
Also in attendance were State Representative Tom Sannicandro (Seventh Middlesex, consisting of the town of Ashland, and precincts 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16 and 18, of the town of Framingham, both in the county of Middlesex) and State Representative-elect Pam Richardson (Second Middlesex and Norfolk, consisting of Ashland, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton and Natick, precincts 1 to 5, inclusive, and 8, in the county of Middlesex; Franklin, precincts 1 and 5 to 8, inclusive, and Medway, in the county of Norfolk).
At the meeting the DCR was represented by Callahan State Park Supervisor, John Dwinell; Chief of the Bureau of Recreation, Gary Briere; and Regional Director, Susan Hamilton. The DCR did a good job of facilitating audience response. They said that the draft proposal would be put up on the web at www.massparks.org (which redirects to the DCR main page), and that they would continue to accept written comments into February.
Dwinell presented the draft proposal of the new leash restrictions at Callahan Park explaining that the DCR's goals in drafting the new policy were to protect the perimeter of the park and the abutters' properties and to maintain a multi-use park. In its draft proposal, the DCR has tried to create two loops of trails, one accessible from the South Entrance and one accessible from the North Entrance, where dogs would have to be on leash, ostensibly to afford users without dogs an improved park experience.
Dwinell confirmed that the DCR has received complaints and that they have banned [individual] dogs from Callahan State Park.
During Dwinell's presentation, there was a lot of unruliness in the audience—people interrupting the presentation to comment on flaws in the proposal and other people in turn replying about the merits of the interruptions. Indeed Dwinell had to go over the presentation a second time. Members of the audience felt that the DCR was not entirely familiar with the draft proposal.
Gary Briere, Chief, Bureau of Recreation, facilitated the greater part of the meeting, dedicated to discussion, and, for the most part, the audience was respectful and spoke in turn for the remainder of the meeting.
Briere said that, according to DCR regulations, dogs are not allowed on properties except under conditions set by the Director. There are places where the DCR does not want dogs, and there are other places where it is taken for granted that people will have their dogs off-leash. Callahan State Park, he said, is the most dog-friendly park in the park system. It the only park in the system where dogs are allowed off-leash on the entire property. The Park was all off-leash until this summer. Now it is all on-leash: the proposed policy would relax the leash restrictions at Callahan. He also clarified that whereas changes to regulations require a public process, changes to policies do not.
A park user observed that a brown board at the south entrance to the park establishes a policy of voice control over pets at the park.
Public Meeting to discuss off-leash recreation at Callahan State Park
Callahan State Park is an 820-acre park located in Northwest Framingham. Park uses come from many different cities and towns to exercise and socialize their dogs off-leash there.
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will hold a public meeting to discuss off-leash recreation at Callahan State Park, Tuesday evening, December 5, at 7:00 in the Lower Level Meeting Room in Framingham Town Hall, 150 Concord Street, Framingham, MA (directions).
Please come to the public meeting and support the efforts of Callahan park users to work with the community and with the DCR for options that serve the needs of all Callahan park users and neighbors.
The DCR is in the process of revising park regulations. Massachusetts dog owner groups are concerned that the DCR will establish a blanket policy requiring that dogs be on leash on DCR properties. We are asking that the DCR include in the regulations a provision for off-leash recreation in designated areas.
Dog owners who enjoy off-leash recreation (or would like to be able to do so legally) at DCR parks—e.g. Sheep Fold in the Middlesex Fells Reservation—must act now to ensure that the DCR includes provisions for off-leash recreation in the new park regulations. This concerns us intimately in Somerville: 60% of public open space in our City is maintained by the DCR (Alewife Brook Reservation [Dilboy Field], Draw Seven Park, Foss Park, Mystic River Parkland, and Shore Drive Parkland).
Toast to a fenced dog run in Ronan Park (Dorchester)
RoDogRun is sponsoring their first fundraiser to build a fenced dog run in Ronan Park, located on historic Meetinghouse Hill in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston.
Make a toast to the dogs, Saturday, December 2, 2006, 5-8pm at the Blarney Stone, 1505 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester (2 blocks from the Fields Corner T Station).
$20 cover includes appetizers and a donation to help build a fenced dog run in Ronan Park.
There will be raffle prizes and dog-friendly gift bags.
RSVP by November 28.
The Blarney Stone welcomes all humans. Please make other arrangements for your canine companions.
See Prison Pups, a documentary about the Concord Farm prison's training program for service dogs, tomorrow, Saturday, November 4, at the Museum of Fine Arts!
via e-mail
Filmmaker Alice Bouvrie's documentary, PRISON PUPS won the Best Documentary Award at the Berks County Film Festival in Reading, PA! (See below) Here are the upcoming screenings for PRISON PUPS. We hope you can come to one of them!
Produced in association with the Filmmaker-In-Residence Lab at WGBH, Boston
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Saturday Nov 4, 2006 at 2:40pm
Remis Auditorium, 465 Huntington Ave, Boston
(617) 369-3306 Tickets will go on sale mid-October
Studio Cinema, Belmont, MA
Monday, Nov. 13, 2006 at 7:30pm
376 Trapelo Road, Belmont, MA (617-484-1706)
Berks County Film Festival, Reading, Pennsylvania
Saturday Nov. 11 at 12:00pm Prison Pups is the "Best Documentary" winner!
The Abraham Lincoln (A Wyndham Historic Hotel) The Washington Room
(www.berkscountyfilmfestival.com)
Asheville Film Festival, Asheville, N.C
Saturday, Nov. 11 at 11:00AM
Asheville Community Theater, 35 E. Walnut Street, Asheville (828-254-1320)
I recieved an e-mail from State Representative Denise Provost (Twenty-seventh Middlesex) about a dog-friendly event at the State House on the occasion of the proclamation of September 2006 as Responsible Dog Owner's Month in Massachusetts:
Today, September 21st, please join Representative Jennifer M. Callahan (Eighteenth Worcester), the MSPCA, AKC Chapter Members, responsible dog owners and their dogs as we proclaim September to be:
"Responsible Dog Owner's Month"
If you have a dog that is friendly and can handle the excitement of a press event with other dogs, you are both welcome to join us!
Thursday, September 21
1PM
State House steps (Beacon Street)
In honor of Governor Mitt Romney declaring September 2006 "Responsible Dog Owner's Month, " Representative Jennifer Callahan will be presenting the Governor's proclamation. Dozens of dogs and their owners will be gathered for the event. The MSPCA will be highlighting dogs that are available for adoption. Nationwide, throughout the month of September, the AKC holds events to educate the public on how to responsibly care for their dog. This is the first time the State of Massachusetts has declared "Responsible Dog Owner's Month."
Massachusetts dog owner groups have been holding special events in celebration of Responsible Dog Ownership all month. The New England Dog Training Club is holding a "Meet-the-Breeds" event Saturday afternoon, September 30, 2006, from 2:00 p.m - 4:00 p.m. at the Cambridge Armory, 450 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138.
To all the reponsible dog owners in Somerville and all of Massachusetts, thank you, and have a happy Responsible Dog Owner's Month in September 2006!
The Gobshites, acousticelticore band beloved to Harpoon Brewery's Brewstock and those who celebrated the summer birthday of the owner of Somerville dogs, Granby and Chloe, are playing a pet-friendly show Saturday, September 9, to benefit the Mansfield Animal Shelter: the 11th Annual Celebration of Animals.
The 11th Annual Celebration of Animals takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday, September 9, in the South Common, South Main Street, Mansfield, MA (map). Acousiticelticore by the Gobshites from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Leashed dogs welcome!
Pet Rock Fest Eight is scheduled for Sept. 10 at Quinsigamond Community College, 670 West Boylston St. in Worcester, MA from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $12 at the gate; a coupon for $2 off admission is available from the Pet Rock website.
For $10, your dog gets a full service wash and dry from the professionals at Laundromutt, followed by make-your-own doggie sundaes courtesy of Polka Dog Bakery!
I received an e-mail today from someone who is interested in an off-leash recreational area in Paul Revere Park in Charlestown. A google search found this article in the The Charlestown Bridge from June 15, 2006:
The Charlestown Mothers Association recently proposed an enclosed dog run for Paul Revere Park, which would allow children and pet owners to harmoniously coexist in the space.
“I understand the need to let a dog run off the leash, and no law is going to stop it,” said Melissa McGaughey, a CMA member and dog owner. “Dogs aren’t going anywhere, so let’s find a solution that works for every body.
McGaughey and Ken Stone, president of the Friends of City Square Park, drafted a petition to build a gated, fenced-in dog run near the retaining wall at the park. They plan to submit the petition to the Department of Conversation and Recreation, which has jurisdiction over the park, once they have obtained enough signatures in support of the project.
The need for a dog run in Charlestown is now greater than ever, said McGaughey, since the Monument is presently not available to dog owners because of ongoing renovations. And dog runs are becoming more commonplace in and around Boston: Somerville and the South End both have dog runs, she said.
While some insist that dog owners sometimes neglect to pick up after their pets and free-roaming dogs can prove to be a nuisance for families hoping to enjoy a picnic at the park, McGaughey believes that dogs actually can make Paul Revere Park a safer place.
“If you have dogs around, crime goes down,” she said.
Stone, meanwhile, thinks having a place in the park designated specifically for dogs would be the best possible solution for everyone.
“I think it’s a win-win situation because a lot of dog owners go down there,” he said. “It’s a great place to congregate and exercise dogs. It’s a great place for everyone to enjoy a large, open space.”
If you are interested in signing the petition in favor of building a dog run at Paul Revere Park, Melissa McGaughey can be reached via email at brsmmlg@comcast.net.
Realtors have begun telling property owners they must make their buildings and apartment rentals more hospitable to the growing number of dog owners,
according to an article about the South End by Cristina Silva in the Boston Globe yesterday ("Lapping up luxuries").
Boston.com also has a slideshow featuring some of the dogs and the dog-friendly amenities of the South End, including the dog park at Peters Park, Tremont 647, which offers a doggie lunch on the patio every Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m., and Polka Dog Bakery.
UPDATE 1 January 2007: In addition to their Yahoo! group, RoDogRun has a website at www.rodogrun.org/.
Citing benefits for park safety and park stewardship, not to mention an improved sense of community, the Ronan Park Dog Run Group is preparing to submit a Dog Recreation Space proposal to the City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department, according to an article that ran in the Dorchester Reporter, today ("Pooch-lovers push for Ronan Park paradise," by Demetra Chornovas).
The Friends of Ronan Park, a park stewardship group, welcomes the inclusion of a dog run as an improvement that will benefit all users.
Boston Mayor Menino signed the Dog Recreation Space (DRS) Ordinance in January 2005. The Friends of Peters Park submitted the first DRS application in January 2006.
Friends of Peters Park submits Boston's first Dog Recreation Space Application
In the Bostondogs Yahoo! group the Friends of Peters Park anounced today that they have submitted the first Dog Recreation Space (DRS) application, in accordance with the DRS ordinance that Mayor Menino approved over a year ago.
Especially for those who worked tirelessly for many years to lobby for, create, and ultimately ensure enactment of a Dog Recreation Space ordinance for the City of Boston, I thought that this interest group would be pleased to know that the first formal submission under the new ordinance guidelines has been made by the Friends of Peters Park in Boston's South End....
This proposal is a testament to the dedication and persistence of the Friends of Peters Park in crafting a DRS application that, in my opinion, not only meets both the letter and spirit of the ordinance, but also clearly establishes a necessary standard by which other submissions can be both fashioned and judged. Kudos to the Friends of Peters Park for their hard work, forbearance and for leading the way in Boston.
The Friends of Peters Park have made their application available as a .pdf file.
War is declared on the canine species in New-York, and they being strangers, and not having formed alliances for self-defense, but on the contrary, distressed and friendless may have been exposed not only to war, but to pestilence and famine also (George Washington to William Grayson [his assistant secretary and aide-de-camp during the American Revolution], August 22, 1875, quoted by Mark Derr in A Dog's History of America, p. 74).
Washington was concerned about foxhounds he had "adopted" from the Marquis de Lafayette that were in the care of John Quincy Adams, who had brought the dogs to New York from Europe.
Washington's dogs were safe at home at Mount Vernon when he was supervising the construction of an earthenwork forts at what is now Fort Washington Park, located on Waverly Street in Cambridge. Today the park is one of four in the City of Cambridge where dogs are allowed off-leash.
Combining historical considerations with consideration for the people who live in Cambridge today, the Cambridge Historical Commission has approved the temporary installation of fencing that will make the legal off-leash recreation area a safe area for off-leash recreation. The new fencing is not historically accurate; therefore with its approval of the temporary fencing, the Commission has stipulated that, within five years, the City must come up with a more harmonic alternative.
"A dog's life is not very long," said Commission member Jo Solet. "And if we put off putting up the fence, it really is a sacrifice for the dogs and the people [who own them]."
The creative compormise was reported in the Cambridge Chronicle on January 12.
Laundromutt invites you to celebrate with them at their ?Dogs Gone Wild? event at Hotel Marlowe...bring your pet to a one of a kind New Year?s Celebration where man?s best friend is our best friend...
Come.
...join us December 31st for a night of fun, libations, merriment, and delight in the sophisticated and hip Hotel Marlowe from 8pm-1am...
Sit.
...feast on a sampling of tasty appetizers from Bambara Restaurant, and other traditional new years fare in the comfort of Hotel Marlowe?s private setting. Package includes a midnight Champagne Toast, "Party Animal" Party favors, Raffles and Prizes plus special "Doggie Bag" for pet and owner...
$50.00 per person
Stay.
...spectacular rate of $99.00 for deluxe overnight accommodation and complimentary wine hour from 5?6pm...
Rollover.
...and join us for hearty breakfast in Bambara Restaurant for some much needed "Hair of the Dog." Enjoy a complimentary Bloody Mary or Mimosa with purchase of any entree
***Package does not include alcoholic beverages or applicable taxes
***Overnight rate is for December 31, 2005, only and is subject to availability. Rate is exclusive to guests of "Dog Gone Wild" event. Room rate does not include applicable taxes
Here on the somerville dog weblog, I gave holiday shoppers this little thought experiment: "Imagine a puppy with a bow around its neck on Christmas morning. Now, imagine it's President's Day: Where is the puppy? Where is the person who got the puppy as a gift? How about on the fourth of July? Where is the dog next Christmas?"
If you're thinking of giving someone a puppy as a present, please use your imagination and think of something else.
That being said, if you're thinking about bringing a member of the species canis familiaris into the family, December in Boston is a great time to start doing research. This year, the annual Bay Colony Cluster Dog Show—a series of shows presented by five Boston area AKC dog clubs: Eastern Dog Club, Ladies' Dog Club, Middlesex County Kennel Club, Concord Dog Training Club and the Yankee Golden Retriever Club—runs from Thursday, December 8, through, Sunday, December 11, at the Bayside Expo.
Check out the family-oriented dog demonstrations Saturday and Sunday from 11:30a-1:30p: Northeast Search and Rescue and the Department of Homeland Security Beagle Brigade will demonstrate their "dogs on the job" skills.
Local breed rescue organizations will celebrate dogs with a new "leash on life" in the "rescue parade."
Agility trials hosted by the Yankee Golden Retriever Club run all four days (until 2 p.m. only on Saturday and Sunday).
And if you're shopping for the dogs and dog lovers on your list, check out 100 concession booths displaying every type of "doggy bling-bling" imaginable: hand-knitted sweaters, specialty t-shirts and hats, grooming supplies, exercise equipment, digital photography, gourmet treats, handmade toys, safety products, bedding, custom clay pottery, fine jewelry and dog antiques.
MSPCA-Angell Walk For Animals - Saturday, September 10
It's not too late to support MSPCA-Angell by joining the Somerville Dog Owners Group in the Walk for Animals, tomorrow, Saturday, September 10, 2005. There are two ways that you can help:
Sponsor our team by making a donation on our team page
Somerville dogs and their friends will enjoy a leisurely one-and-a-half mile stroll around Boston Common in the Walk for Animals. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. and the walk begins at noon. There will be other fun activites during the day, too:
American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen demonstrations and testing
When I make hotel reservations, I love to be able to say that my dog is a certified AKC Canine Good Citizen. Get your dog's Canine Good Citizen certification Saturday at the Walk for Animals!
Canine Agility Demonstrations
Boston Police K-9 Demonstration
som|dog team members are meeting Saturday morning at 10:00 in "the pit" outside the Harvard Square T Station and will be taking the T to the Walk for Animals. We will rendezvous at 11:00 in Boston Common at the entrance to the parking garage (at the corner of Beacon Street and Charles Street).
Off-leash recreation at Bunker Hill Community College. Free for dogs. Adults $15.00; Children (8 yrs. and under) $8. One day only: Saturday, August 06, 2005, 10.00 am - 5.00 pm. Rain Date: August 13, 2005.
DoggieFest Boston will feature four fully enclosed leash-free playgrounds:
Puppy Playground - for dogs less than 6 months
Small Dog Playground - for dogs less than 30 pounds
Medium Dog Playground - for dogs weighing between 30-59 pounds
Large Dog Playground - for dogs weighing over 60 pounds
The following rescue organizations will be present at Doggiefest: Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue, Greyhounds of Amercia, Colonial Basset Hound Rescue, Underdog RESQ. The organizers are waiting to hear back from others and encourage nonprofit organizations that would like to participate to e-mail info at doggiefest dot com as soon as possible. There is no charge for non-profit sponsors to have a booth at Doggiefest Boston. All non-profit organizations present at Doggiefest Boston are eligible to receive a donation from the proceeds from the admission fees. The amount of the donations will be announced and the donations will be presented at Doggiefest Boston immediately following the Waggin' Wear Adopt-a-Dog Fashion Show.
I have also been informed that
Certain vendors have elected to charge a nominal fee to attendees to offset their cost. However, the vast majority of activities at Doggiefest Boston are offered for free. You can enjoy a great day without spending any money once you get into Doggiefest Boston or you can elect to receive personalized instruction and use the dog agility course for $5.
The founders of Doggiefest Boston promote the event as a way "to address their concern with the lack of available leash-free park space and other opportunities to socialize their dogs." Lots of other dog owners who share this concern are working with our local govenrments to redress the lack of off-leash recreational opportunities in public open space. If you can afford to spend $15 to take your dog to DoggieFest Boston to enjoy off-leash recreation for one day, why not donate $15 dollars as well to a local dog owners group that is working for safe and legal options for off-leash recreation in our communities? Why not donate $15 to the City of Somerville's Somerville Unleashed fund?
Strummer had the pleasure this morning of making the acquaintance of several Brookline dogs, who welcomed her at the Brookline Avenue Playground during off-leash hours.
One of twelve parks in the Town of Brookline Green Dog Pilot Program, the Brookline Avenue Playground has off-leash hours from dawn to 1:00 pm, April through November, and from dawn to dusk, December through March. At the Annual Town Meeting on May 25, 2005, the Town of Brookline voted to extend the Green Dog Pilot Program to June 30, 2006 (Article 17 of the Town Warrant).
When we arrived at the "playground" at 10:00 this morning, a soccer game was ending. Also, during off-leash hours, a volley-ball game was played. It seems that, though off-leash recreation is not allowed during hours that are not designated for off-leash recreation, other kinds of recreation are allowed during hours that are designated for off-leash recreation. At almost four acres, however, the Brookline Avenue Playground was able to accommodate this mixed usage this morning.
Austin, Benny, Buddy, Ethan, Murphy, Otis, Samson: Strummer hopes to be able to repay your hospitality some day soon!
I'm all for the involvement of private citizens in the stewardship of neighborhood parks. A park with an active "friends" group is a park that is safer and cleaner than a park in which neighbors do not take an active stewardship role. A fantastic local example is the Foss Park Neighborhood Association (FPNA), which has been actively working with both City and State representatives to improve (dog-friendly) Saxton J. Foss Park on Broadway and McGrath Highway. FPNA was featured last month in an article in the Somerville Journal, "Foss Park gaining popularity."
[T]he group has drawn the support of State Rep. Carl Sciortino, D-Somerville, and of the staff of State Sen. Charlie Shannon, D-Winchester, who died in April, in getting the DCR to finally face Foss Park problems. More recently, State Sen. Jarrett Barrios, D-Cambridge, has also joined forces with the neighbors. . . .
The neighborhood association met last week with Patrick Flynn, director of Urban Parks and Recreation for the DCR, to share 24 issues they would like the state to address. . . .
Bill Roche, the Ward 1 alderman, said the neighborhood association is doing great work and should expect to see a safer, more beautiful space over time.
Another option for Friends groups frustrated by a lack of public resources and governmental support is to assume responsibility for neighborhood parks. The Boston Globe ran an article on June 17, "Neighbors go green, raising cash for parks," about parks friends groups in Boston, among them the Friends of Hayes Park:
Joe Park and his wife formed the Friends of Hayes Park, whose members devote 1,400 hours a year to mowing lawns, tending roses, and maintaining playground equipment by agreement with the city. . . .
[T]he Friends of Hayes Park raise $15,000 to $25,000 annually through fund-raisers and donations. They squirrel away whatever they can for an endowment fund.
"The theory was that one day, I would be able to retire from this fund-raising business and that the interest that we generated from these fund-raisers would in essence pay for the maintenance of the park," he said. "Well, that hasn't happened yet. What we're finding is obviously, as we get older, more things can go wrong, [or] just have to be maintained."
Both the Foss Park Neighborhood Association in Somerville and the Friends of Hayes Park in Boston are demonstrating great civic responsibility, but, as every good civics student knows, responsibilities do not guarantee rights. There is a reason that the government is responsible for the open spaces which are the citizens' right. Even communities that do not have private resources to retain a gardener for their neighborhood parks have a right to safe and well-maintained open spaces. I am deeply concerned about the attitude of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino that neighborhood organizations should take an increasing role in maintaining parks. It is reckless for the government to delegate back to the public the very responsibilities for which governments were created in the first place.
Wash and dry service is being provided by LaundroMutt for a $10 donation, which also allows you to make your own doggie sundae compliments of Polka Dog Bakery. People treats courtesy of Hotel Marlowe.
I've been racking my brain trying to figure out why dog owners in particular would want to support the Trust For Public Land. Lots of dog owners are conservationists, but given the "no dogs" policy on many conservation lands, it behooves us to choose carefully where we give our charity dollars.
In the Somerville Dog Owners Group Forum MrGranby posted a link to an excellent article, "Creating dog parks - without rancor," by Peter Harnik and Cerise Bridges. Peter Harnik is director of the Trust for Public Land's Center for City Park Excellence. Cerise Bridges is a former researcher for the center.
So there is some consideration for dog friendly urban parks at TPL!
Also, the charity dog wash is a good excuse to check out Hotel Marlowe, a dog-friendly hotel in Cambridge.
...not Mr. Murphy (or Ms. Murphy for that matter), but Murphy, a golden retriever who was walking with his owner in Newton Centre. Murphy did not have a leash.
Seems you don't have to be human to be subject to the laws of Newton, MA.
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) announced an emergency order today to strengthen the regulations pertaining to animals brought into the Commonwealth from other states. . . . to prevent rescue organizations, shelters and other groups from bringing animals into the state that pose risks to human and animal health (Department of Agricultural Resources Press Release, May 26, 2005).
The Canine Coalition, "Fighting for the Right to Rescue," opposes the new restrictions.
Last year around this time, the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA) issued a press release about an unnamed Massachusetts animal shelter bringing a rabid puppy into the state from Puerto Rico. I spent a month researching the incident, which was not publicized by MDAR, and posted the results of my research on July 2, 2004.
Also around this time last year, NAIA, along with the Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners (MASSFED) and the American Kennel Club (AKC), succeeded in defeating legislation, which would have imposed restrictions on breeders of dogs and cats. As far as I could tell, breeders' groups opposed the legislation not out of their concern for the welfare of their animals but out of concern for the business interests of their members.
The NAIA has scored a victory in getting the emergency order passed. MASSFED also supports the new regulations. The AKC has not yet put anything about the emergency order on their website.
A good way to gage whether or not a breeder is responsible is whether or not she is active in breed rescue. I'd like to know what breeder organizations like the AKC, MASSFED and NAIA are doing to help the animal rescue organizations and shelters comply with the requirements of the new emergency order.
Here is a suggestion. Breeders, you clearly have the facilities to temporarily accomodate additional animals: When you are not raising a litter, why not donate your facilities to a shelter or rescue for the 48-hour isolation period required for every animal coming into Massachusetts for adoption?
On January 5, 2005, Mayor Menino signed the City of Boston's Dog Recreation Spaces Ordinance, which provides for community groups to apply for a designated dog recreation space (see City of Boston Municipal Code 11-10.2 Dog Recreation Spaces).
Today the Lincoln Journal is running a story about the third public hearing regarding the new regulations regarding dogs at Mount Misery in Lincoln that was held on May 18.
Readers will recall that last week's meeting was the continuation of the second public hearing that was held on April 27.
A letter from dog owners in Somerville and Boston was printed in the Lincoln Journal last week. Additional materials from the Journal have been archived on the Mt. Misery Organization website.
Jonathan Ralton is a responsible dog owner and lives in Brighton. In June 2003 he set up a yahoo group for neighborhood dog owners. Today the Ringer Playground Dog Owners Group includes ninety-two members who have posted over 600 messages.
1Additional information about the activities of the Ringer Park Crime Watch Group is available on the website of Emerald Necklace Budo Martial Arts.
The efforts of Ralton and the Ringer Playground Dog Owners Group, both behind the scenes and on the front line, to make their neighborhood and their neighborhood park a better place are worthy of both praise and support. Instead of praise, however, the community newspaper blames the group for the tension between dog owners and other members of the community who enjoy the 12.38 acre park:
Noreen Kennedy is shocked that dog owners are allowing their pooches to dig holes in the softball field, where she practices with the Allston-Brighton Women's Softball League.
"When these dogs are off leash, they're out of control of these people," said Noreen Kennedy. "Their attitude is if anyone is bothered by it, all they have to do it ask me."
But Kennedy, who owns two shiatsus [sic] herself, said that unfairly puts the responsibility on parents and other park users.
. . .
Kennedy blames the problem on a local dog owner Web site started in 2003.
Kennedy probably owns a pair of Shih Tzus, not a pair of massage therapists, and she has a point: It is the responsibility of everyone who owns a dog to ensure that her or his dog never greets a person without that person's explicit consent. What is so insidious about the Allston-Brighton TAB's reporting, however, is that it implies that Ralton disagrees with her.
On the contrary, it is because of the passion of Ralton and the Ringer Park Dog Owners Group that more and more dog owners in Allston/Brighton understand the responsabilities of dog owners both to their dogs and to their community.
Though it gets "three paws up" from the Dog Lover's Companion to Boston, we have never been to Mount Misery. I hope we haven't missed our chance.
This spring new regulations were approved relating to dogs at Mount Misery: "effective Monday, April 4, all dogs at Mt. Misery and the neighboring fields will be required to be on a leash at all times. In addition, dog walkers will be required to remove all feces deposited by their dogs in this area" ("New regs proposed for Mount Misery," the Lincoln Journal, March 10, 2005, via the Mt. Misery Organization website).
Note: The majority of the articles and letters that have been printed in the Lincoln Journal with regard to these regulations are no longer available on the Journal's website, but they have been archived by Lincoln dog owner, Dick McWalter on the Mt. Misery Organization's news page. In addition to the Mt. Misery Organization another group, Friends of Mt. Misery, has also formed to faciltate communication between people who enjoy Mount Misery and the stewards appointed by the Town.
Mount Misery comprises "more than 200 acres of woods, trails and agricultural fields bounded by Route 117, Route 126 and the Sudbury River in Lincoln" ("New dog regs at Mt. Misery," March 24, 2005).
the Mt. Misery lands were purchased with state and federal funds as well as local funds. Lands purchased with public funds must be open to all persons in the Commonwealth for passive recreation. However, the commission is still the entity responsible for the stewardship of these lands and as such may limit use or limit access as necessary to protect the land and the ecosystem it supports, so long as we do not discriminate or give priority to our own residents ("Commentary: Can co-existence be achieved?," April 21, 2005).
In response to the organization of a local dog owners, the Commission postponed the implemation of the regulations until after a public hearing could be held to discuss them ("Leash rule postponed," April 7, 2005).
"More than 100 residents of Lincoln and of surrounding towns filled the Hartwell multipurpose room April 27 for the hearing. . . . A follow-up meeting, at which commissioners are scheduled to make a decision on the regulations, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18" ("Dog regs disputed," May 5, 2005).
I am very encouraged that the townspeople of Lincoln and the Lincoln Conservation Commission are cooperating to find a solution that "will protect the land and the ecosystem it supports" and ensure that Mount Misery continues to serve the many and diverse needs of "all persons in the Commonwealth for passive recreation."
Responsible dog owners have ten good reasons to clean up after our dogs every time. We appreciate the courtesy of mutt mitts afforded at some dog-friendly places, and we find the amenity of adequate trash receptacles preferable to "carry away" policies.
We also support leash laws. In a perfect society we would be able to allow our dogs off-leash: Responsible dog owners understand that, even off-leash, dogs have no more right to "run free" than people do. After all, people stay to the right when we walk on sidewalks, we look both ways before crossing the street, and we do not walk in our neighbors' flowerbeds. Even if I could keep Strummer in a perfect heel every day when we walk along Somerville's streets, leash laws protect us from the owners of other dogs who cannot.
Like our dogs, society is not perfect. We need leash laws, and that is why we also need options for off-leash recreation. (Analogously, we seem to need laws against playing ball on streets [City Ordinance 12-13], which is why we also need ball parks.) Our dogs need to socialize with other dogs and with people. A properly socialized dog does not bark or lunge at other dogs. Moreover, a properly socialized dog can easily be trained to walk appropriately on a leash. And, a tired dog is a good dog. Local options for off-leash recreation benefit every community in the Commonwealth.
The town of Belmont, MA gets it: A city is comprised of the citizens, and city administrations are established to serve the citizens.
Check out the official website for Belmont. Their Animal Control Department (part of the Health Department) has a page where lost and missing pets can be listed and a page of pets available for adoption. It also has a page for the Belmont Dog Owners Group.
Here's a recent picture, taken by a local resident:
The photographer has contacted the DCR and has sent the photo to the Boston Globe's Photo Desk. He observes that the park, has "become a dump and has been like this for months. It is an ugly contrast with Storrow Drive, The Bridge and the Esplanade and hardly enhances the new banners put up for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater."
"This is an example of a dog run designed to fail," says Penny Cherubino, a back bay resident and dog owner. "The run is too small, has no group to support or maintain it and was designed without a plan for trash removal. What you are seeing in that photo is from the homeless people who drove the dog owners out of there. The waste is human waste. There is a homeless community under the nearby bridge and they use the park as their bathroom and trash bin."
The stated mission of the Department of Conservation and Recreation is "to protect, promote and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural and recreational resources for the well being of all." Judging by the recent photo of the Charlesgate Dog Run, I would say that, in this case, the DCR is not fulfilling its mission.
Fifteen-year-old, "Sarah" is a member of 4-H. "The first thing they teach you is dog responsibility" her mother says. "Members know they don't leave the house without some plastic bags in their pockets."
Animal Control officers, Health Departments and other city officials in Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Marshfield, Middleborough, Pembroke and Plymouth discuss enforcement of pooper-scooper laws in a Boston Globe article, "Region's pet waste laws have bark, but little bite."
A letter printed in the Globe today, in response to the latest electrocutions of dogs in Boston, points to the scope of the problems that endanger us and our pets in public spaces ("NStar is only part of problem"). Monica Ponce de Leon, Associate Professor of Architecture at Harvard University explains that there are no safety standards regulating construction work in public open spaces comparable to the safety standards to which workers are held accountable in the construction of buildings.
We have safety mechanisms that protect the public from faulty work in the construction of buildings; not so for the construction of our streets. When we build a home, a business, or even a public building, electricians must be certified and comply with drawings designed by engineers. Moreover, their work is reviewed by Inspectional Services before completion and the spaces can be occupied. Not so in our public spaces.
Ponce de Leon commends Boston City Councilor and mayoral candidate, Maura Hennigan, for introducing a bill that addresses these issues.
Here in Somerville, Aldermen Dennis Sullivan (At Large) and Robert Trane (Ward 7) recently submitted an order
that the Superintendent of Lights and Lines immediately survey all roadways for possible electrical shocks to pedestrians or animals, and work with the utility to immediately rectify any problems (Agenda for the Board of Aldermen Meeting, March 10, 2005).
With all due respect to Aldermen Sullivan and Trane (and I do respect them) for their initiative, if the claims made in the letter in today's Globe are true for Somerville, and there are no standards in place to insure that future work is completed with regard to public safety, the risk to residents and our pets may not be mitigated by surveying and rectifying existing problems.
If these claims are true, I'm going to think twice whenever I have to cross a bridge. -Canis Major
Beverly considers off-leash options at Bessie Baker Park
Friends of dogs in Beverly, MA formed the Beverly Animal Resource Coalition (BARC) in 2002, around the time that their Parks and Recreation Department proposed an ordinance change that would ban dogs from Lynch Park (see "No dogs, no spirit," by Brian McGrory, Globe Columnist, 9/24/2002).
More than two years later, Beverly is still having trouble identifying viable options for off-leash recreation. Bob Gates writes for the Beverly Citizen that there is at least as much concern about off-leash recreation at Bessie Baker Park as there is support.
The [Newton] Board of Aldermen voted in favor of establishing a task force on Feb. 22 which would be charged with coming up with the guidelines for an off-leash pilot program. Members of the task force are expected to be named by the end of this month.
Update 15 January 2007: The name of the person who originally provided the story to the Medford Transcript has been changed in response to threats and harassment. In the interest of consistency, the name of the author of the letter to the editor dated February 24 has also been changed. Also of note: all materials related to this incident have been deleted from the online archives of the Medford Transcript.
The Medford Transcript ran a story on February 10 about an incident that occurred at Sheepfold on January 30. John Smith told reporter Jesse Kawa that his four year old son was bitten by a dog. Smith did not see the incident because he was pulling his son on a sled behind him, and Smith found no bite marks.
Massachusetts State Police Spokeswoman Lt. Sharon Costine said
as the weather begins to improve the state police will be starting up its mounted unit again. She said hopefully, having officers out there will help combat some of these issues and produce a safer environment for everyone that visits the area.
In the same edition the Transcript printed a letter from Smith's wife, Jane: "Dog owners need to leash their pets." Like her husband, Jane Smith did not witness the incident (she had not accompanied him to the Fells with their son).
In fact, the Transcript neglected to interview anyone who witnessed the incident. The witnesses, incidentally, were the people who were enjoying off-leash recreation at Sheepfold that day.
Mr. Smith pulled his 4-year-old son face-down on his sled through a crowd of dogs and their owners. . . .
Maybe Mr. Smith's son doesn't like dogs or was disconcerted by the attention of a few dogs at once, because he whined - not screamed - to his father that he wanted to go home. I was standing very close to this scene and was watching the events unfold and at no time did any dog bite this boy. The boy didn't scream or cry at all.
Mr. Smith . . . . started swearing and hollering and seemed to randomly single out a dog as the supposed culprit (because Mr. Smith had his back to all the dogs that were near his son) and started screaming that this dog had bitten his son.
He asked whose dog it was and a gentleman answered that the dog in question was his. Mr. Smith began shouting, "Your f---ing dog bit my son!"
The owner of the dog calmly stated that his dog did not bite Mr. Smith's son and asked him to calm down. Another man intervened and reminded Mr. Smith that it was a family place because of Mr. Smith's liberal stream of obscenities and because he appeared as though he would become violent at any minute. . . .
Mr. Smith did not examine his son for injuries. He didn't seek medical attention for his son, nor did he use a cell phone to contact the police. . . . What Mr. Smith chose to do . . . . was to sled with his son for about an hour, dogs and all.
In their own editorial on the issue, the Transcript wastes no time calling families who enjoy off-leash recreation at Sheepfold scofflaws. They also concede that Medford
has no specific place where dog owners can go to let their pets run without a leash. This may be a good time to open a discussion about providing some sort of enclosure or open space specifically designated for pet owners, so that everyone can enjoy the great outdoors.
In the February 10 story the Transcript also reports that Rep. Carl Sciortino, D-Somerville, said
it would be great if areas like the Sheep Fold could have various areas designated for dog walking and others for families.
Sciortino represents Somerville's ward four (precincts one and two) and ward seven (all precincts).
I take issue with the intimation that families with dogs are somehow not families, but the comment is not a direct quote and Sciortino's heart is in the right place. Families do need spaces where dogs are not allowed for activites that do not include dogs; families also need safe and legal spaces for off-leash recreation.
Please take this opportunity to contact your Massachusetts representatives about the need for options that that serve the many and diverse recreational needs of Massachusetts residents in parks like the Middlesex Fells that are managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. DCR parks (Dilboy Field, Draw Seven, Foss Park, Mystic River Parkland and Shore Drive Parkland) account for more than sixty-percent of open space in Somerville. It is high time that the State provide options that serve the recreational needs of all Somerville families.
An article in The Boston Globe on February 6 explains how a group of concerned dog-owners in Allston are improving the quality of life of all residents:
Normally, crime watches in Boston (there are more than 1,000) focus on a block or two, but the Ringer Park dogs and dog-lovers bit off a little bit more: not just the park itself, which includes a playground, a ball field, and a small corner of urban wild at its southern end, but also several residential blocks around it. This widening of scope was vital, says [co-organizer Jonathan] Ralton, because the park has often been used as a launching point or getaway route for break-ins and vandalism and because disturbances in the park have an adverse affect on the quality of life of its neighbors.
Yesterday Mayor Menino signed the Dog Recreation Space Ordinance in the City of Boston. On the Boston Dogs message board, Stephen Fox writes:
I'm delighted to let my fellow Southenders (as well as many interested folks citywide) know that the Mayor has today signed the Dog Recreation Space Ordinance.
By signing this legislation, the Mayor has lent his considerable support to moving Boston forward on an issue that has been festering and controversial for some time. By endorsing this ordinance, the Mayor has encouraged dog owners and non-owners citywide to begin to work together to craft reasonable and sensible neighborhood specific solutions to Boston's growing urban dog recreation needs.
While enactment of the ordinance is really just a first step in the
process, it is essential to creating, for the first time in Boston's
history, a framework for sanctioned, legally recognized dog recreation spaces. We are grateful to the Boston City Council, who passed the ordinance without objection, Councillor Mike Ross, the original ordinance author, and Mayor Tom Menino, together with many supportive staff from his administration (including the Parks Department, Animal Control, and the Mayor's Office itself).
This is a real step forward, and we should all be encouraged. Special
thanks are due to the scores upon scores of dog owners and non dog owners who worked tirelessly to help to bring this legislation to fruition. The support of so many thoughtful and energetic people who lent their ideas and voices to the entire process was key to its ultimate success. Together with the Council and the Mayor, give yourselves a well deserved pat on the back.
More information about Boston's Dog Recreation Space Ordinace, can be found under "Legislation."
A fun holiday treat for dog lovers (and a great source for gift ideas) is the annual Bay Colony Dog Show, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, December 2 through Sunday, December 5, at the Bayside Exposition Center (LocalNews).
Every day offers a unique mix of competitions, demonstrations, and special events, and each day is presented by a different prestigious AKC dog club resulting in one "Best in Show" trophy each day.
The weekend offers family-oriented dog demonstrations by the Boston Police K-9 Unit, Northeast Search and Rescue as well as the annual "rescue parade" spotlighting pooches who found a new leash on life through breed rescue clubs. (Press Release)
The City of Cambridge website has an announcement from the Animal Commission about two separate incidents in which dogs were attacked by rabid wild animals--in one case, by a rabid raccoon and, in the other, by a rabid skunk. One attack occurred at the Fresh Pond Recreation Area, a popular off-leash destination, and the other in the Lake View Avenue area nearby.
Oct 25, 2004
Animal Commission Advises Caution Regarding Area Wildlife Following Two Attacks on Dogs
The Cambridge Animal Commission report [sic] two separate incidents in the past few weeks in which a rabid raccoon and a rabid skunk attacked two dogs, one occurring at Fresh Pond and the other in the Lakeview Avenue area.
The Commission urges residents to exercise caution and offers the following tips to minimize the risk of encounters with area wildlife, including raccoons, skunks and opossums.
Make sure your pets are current on their rabies vaccination. All dogs and cats over the age of 6 months are required to be vaccinated against rabies. The recommendation for an unvaccinated animal that encounters a confirmed rabid animal would be humane euthanasia.
Keep garbage cans securely closed and clean up trash spills quickly. To further discourage animals from entering your trash can, add a rag soaked with ammonia to the garbage with each new load of trash; tie old stockings filled with mothballs or flakes to the handles of the garbage can; or sprinkle the contents of the can with cayenne pepper.
Secure your home or apartment by capping chimneys, checking vents, gables and eaves and pruning tree branches that overhang your roof.
Never feed your pet outdoors. Never feed wildlife.
Do not allow pets to wander loose. There is a citywide leash law for dogs, and the Animal Control office also recommends that all cats be kept indoors.
Teach your children not to approach stray or wild animals, including baby animals.
If you see a normally nocturnal animal, such as a raccoon, out during the day and behaving abnormally by moving slowly or exhibiting obvious signs of illness, call the Animal Control office at 617-349-4376.
If you suspect rabies in Somerville, please call the Animal Control Department, Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., at 617-625-6600, ext.2190. After hours please dial 9-1-1.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires that dogs, cats, and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies. Dogs and cats must be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian against rabies by the age of six months or, if the owner acquires the animal when it is over six months of age, within 30 days of acquisition, unless proof of previous vaccination is available. Furthermore, all dogs and cats shall receive booster vaccinations at the intervals recommended by the manufacturer of the vaccine. Detailed Rabies Information for residents of the Commonwealth is available from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
The 24th Annual MSPCA-Angell Walk for Animals turned out to be a great oppoutunity for a field trip. On Sunday, October 17, som|dog, the Somerville Dog Owners Group (represented here by the human companions of King, a greyhound, and Cinder, a lab/pointer mix), took a moment to research the City of Boston's off-leash pilot program in Boston Common.
The Pilot Program extends off-leash privileges in Boston Common from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m and establishes the following rules for off-leash recreation:
All Dogs Must Be Licensed
Owners Must Pick Up After Their Dogs
Discourage Digging of Lawn Areas
Dogs Must Be Under Control At All Times
Only One Dog Off Leash Per Owner
Only Adult Owners May Use the Prescribed Area
Across Charles Street, in the Public Garden, dogs are allowed on leash, as they are in Boston Common. And, as in Boston Common, in the Public Garden, the City of Boston provides doggie-bags.
Eight Somerville Dogs walked with twenty-two human companions comprising team somervilledog.com in the twenty-fourth annual MSPCA-Angell Walk for Animals on a chilly but sunny Sunday morning, October 17, in Boston Common. Somervilledog.com thanks the people and dogs that walked on our team, everyone who bought team T-shirts, our top (and only) corporate sponsor, Pet Spa, and our co-workers, friends and families for their generous contributions to support MSPCA-Angell!
As Yukon's human companion explained, when I apologized for the team's getting separated when the Walk began at 10:00, "once the walk started, we just started walking. That's what he likes to do and it was his day!"
Team somervilledog.com (from left to right) Shannon with Cinder (a Lab/Pointer mix), Peter (from Blue Hill, ME), Genevieve, Stuart with King (a Greyhound), Adrienne, and Michele with Strummer (a Standard Poodle). Not pictured are Deborah and Rob and their two children with their dog Anna (a Husky/Shepherd mix); David and Nora with Austin (a Pomeranian); Janice with her dog Patsy (a Shepherd mix) and her nieces with their Corgi, Winnie (from Lexington); and Michael with Yukon. The following Somerville dogs had to stay home but were with us in spirit: three-legged Dash, Stu's second Greyhound, who is recovering from chemotherapy; Rosie, Genevieve's Pit Bull, whom she adopted last month from a shelter in Rhode Island and who is still getting used to being a beloved pet; and Willy, a Miniature Poodle whom Adrienne adopted last year and who was recently treated at Angell for heart problems.
Yukon (Siberian Husky) and teammates meet and greet.
Strummer: "I thought this was supposed to be a Walk for Animals."
A team member checks out some early Halloween costumes.
UPDATE 31 October 2004: Added the Team somervilledog.com picture.
About forty people and their dogs enjoy the annual Dog Walk at the Forest Hill Cemetery. Leashed dogs are welcome in the Cemetery, which is open to the public every day, from 8:30 a.m. to dusk.
Saturday, October 2, 10 am
$10 per human
Raindate: October 9
The Dog Walk is a unique annual expedition for sociable dogs and their owners. Historian Dee Morris leads this lively walking tour of monuments of interest to our canine friends. Certificates and treats are awarded upon completion. $10 admission for each human.
Reservations are strongly recommended as attendance is limited; call 617.524.3354.
Make your reservations today to enjoy this year's walk!
The admission fee covers the cost of the walk guide, Dee Morris, a social historian who recently conducted a tour of Medford Square and, this summer, conducted the Cambridge Discovery Walk, "Side by Side: A Cambridgeport Ramble." Morris will be leading a tour of the Mount Auburn Cemetery on September 26, "Memories of the Civil War at Mount Auburn Cemetery: Personalities of the Times."
We took Strummer to the Pet Rock Festival, yesterday. I failed to take any good pictures, but Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs has a couple of photo galleries of the festival on their website. Sean Hamor took the pictures posted here.
I think Strummer thought she had died and gone to doggie heaven. Unlike the real world, where most people a dog meets when out for a stroll are not with dogs, in doggie heaven almost every person is with a dog! They even have squirrels on leashes in doggie heaven! Strummer noticed the ferret before I did, but fortunately someone gasped, "Oh my gosh," and caught my attention before Strummer had a chance to pounce. (The ferret, a fineanimal, probably would have had Strummer for lunch.)
When we arrived at the festival grounds at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, the Blue Dog Group a was beginning a Canine Frisbee show. One of the amazing Border Collies that performed is a rescue. The Pet Rock Festival benefits Massachusetts-based animal welfare organizations, including shelters, cruelty watchdogs and rescue leagues. There are nearly 100 rescue groups and shelters listed on their site.
Strummer, who doesn't retrieve (she's a meta-retriever and likes to chase dogs that are playing fetch), really, really wanted to play with the fabulous Border Collies in the Canine Frisbee exhibition. She actually barked. Twelve times. Since we adopted her in April she has barked twice.
We visited the booth of the Friends of the Sharon Dog Park. Opening Day of the Sharon Dog Park is October 9, 2004. The Friends of the Sharon Dog Park are accepting donations to cover the cost of fencing, which must be installed before opening day.
Our friends at Poodle Rescue of New England had the booth right next to the Sharon Dog Park booth. We met other rescued poodles--Bonnie, a chocolate standard, and the elegant and gregarious Diva, a small white standard. Keah, an apricot standard, who is available for adoption, was relaxing in the shade with her foster mom.
We arrived too late to see the Weston Whirlwinds flyball and Gemini Dog Training & Daycare agility demonstrations, but Strummer and I enjoyed an agility course walk-through with one of the Gemini trainers.
The National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA) issued a press release on June 1, 2004 regarding a "rabid Puerto Rican 'rescue pup' imported by a Massachusetts animal shelter" and calling for tighter regulation of dog and cat imports.
Shipment of Dogs into the Commonwealth is regulated by the Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR), chapter 330 section 3.00. If you are adopting a dog from out-of-state, you would do well to familiarize yourself and comply with this section of the CMR, which requires that
all dogs shipped or in any way transported into the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from any point outside thereof must be accompanied by a health certificate approved by the Livestock Official of the State of origin showing that they are free from all symptoms of infectious, contagious and communicable diseases; that they have not been exposed to rabies and if vaccinated the certificate shall include the date of vaccination.
Any dog which originated in an area where rabies has been known to exist within a period of six months prior to importation shall have been properly vaccinated with rabies vaccine within 12 months prior to date of importation and may, at the discretion of the Director, be subject to quarantine at destination for a period of not less than 14 days following arrival within the Commonwealth.
According to the code, a dog that enters the Commonwealth without the required health certificate,
shall be segregated at the risk and expense of the owner or the person, firm or corporation in whose charge the dog or dogs are held and placed under quarantine for a 90-day period or may be released by order of the Director provided the owner or his authorized representative shall agree to return said dog or dogs immediately to the State in which shipment originated.
A health certificate is not required for dogs travelling through the Commonwealth nor for "performing dogs kept under direct control during their stay in the Commonwealth."
Additional information about the rabies incident in Boston in May circulated widely by e-mail at the time:
Info from Public Health Veterinarian, Vermont
Brief Summary of Report: Six persons in Boston required rabies prophylaxis. Investigators are looking for others exposed to this dog. It came from a Puerto Rico organization which has also shipped dogs to NJ, CT, VT, and TX.
Description: On May 20, 2004, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) State Laboratory Institute confirmed the presence of rabies in a 3-month-old puppy that had been imported from Puerto Rico on May 18. The puppy and 5 other dogs had been flown to an animal shelter in Boston, Massachusetts from San Juan, Puerto Rico as part of a stray animal relocation program. Upon arrival at the shelter, the puppy was observed with an unsteady gait. The following day additional neurological signs developed and the dog was euthanized and subsequently tested positive for rabies virus antigen; variant typing is pending. None of the animals are reported to have been vaccinated against rabies.
At present, it is unknown how this puppy was exposed to the rabies virus. In Puerto Rico, the mongoose is the dominant terrestrial reservoir responsible for transmission of rabies virus to domestic animals. The dogs came from an organization known as Save a Sato (www.saveasato.org) in Puerto Rico that rescues stray dogs. This organization has arrangements with several animal shelters in Massachusetts and other states (including NJ, CT, VT, and TX) for importation and adoption.
The airline, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Puerto Rico Department of Health were notified for further follow-up of persons who may have been exposed to this rabid puppy, and to identify other potentially exposed animals. MDPH has identified six people at the Massachusetts animal shelter who were exposed to the rabid puppy and required post-exposure prophylaxis.
In Massachusetts, interstate animal importations fall under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources [MDAR] which requires that dogs and cats have a valid health certificate indicating non-exposure to rabies prior to importation. Imported dogs or cats that are not currently vaccinated for rabies must be vaccinated within 90 days of entry or acquisition or upon reaching the age of 6 months. The importation of this rabid puppy illustrates the need to be vigilant for signs of rabies in animals of unknown exposure history. Persons adopting animals imported from another state or U.S. territory should be informed of the source of the animal and should also be educated about rabies and other potential zoonotic health risks unique to the animal's area of origin.
For more information, persons may contact Dr. Fredric Cantor at the MDPH, 617-983-6804.
The e-mail quoted above reveals ambiguity in the CMR that seems to allow dogs to enter the Commonwealth without certification of non-exposure to rabies before they are six months old. Prevention of the Spread of Rabies is regulated by 330 CMR 10.00, which requires that
Any person acquiring a dog or cat shall have the animal vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian against rabies by the age of six months or within 30 days of acquisition if the animal is over six months of age, unless proof of previous vaccination is available.
Perhaps the ninety-day quarantine period provided for in the regulation of the Shipment of Dogs into the Commonwealth covers the apparent discrepancy in the CMR. Given the recent incident of rabies involving a three-month-old puppy imported into Massachusetts, it would behoove the Commonwealth to clarify its regulations concerning the shipment of dogs under six months of age into the Commonwealth, and to communicate these regulations to animal shelters and other orgnaizations in Massachusetts that import young dogs.
Human communities have no reason to tolerate any dog that has, unprovoked, attacked a human being. That a dog that "mauled" a six-year-old boy yesterday, according to the stories in today's Globe and Herald, was shot and killed by Boston Police is entirely appropriate. It is also unfortunate.
CBS 4 Boston also did a story on the shooting of the dog this morning. The story, "Another pit bull attack in the Boston area," is available online in the CBS4 Video Library .
Karen Pryor explains, in her book, aptly titled Don't Shoot the Dog (New York: Bantam, 1999), that "shooting the animal" is one of eight methods of getting rid of undesirable behavior exhibited by the animal. She points out that, with this method, "you will never have that behavioral problem with that subject again" (100). And indeed, "Beaver" or "Joe" (as the dog is alternately called in the Globe and Herald articles) will never attack another human again.
But shooting the dog does nothing to change the behavior that put "Joe" in the position to "maul" a six-year-old boy in the first place: the irresponsible behavior of Joe's owner. Joe's owner failed to adequately socialize his dog: an adequately socialized dog does not maul six-year-old boys--or anyone else, for that matter--unprovoked. Joe's owner failed to adequately restrain his dog: What was Joe doing, unsupervised, where he had access to a six-year-old boy? What was Joe doing, unsupervised, in an outdoor pen from which he could escape? And last, but not least, Joe's owner failed to protect his dog. What was Joe doing, unsupervised, in a place where the boy, according to the Herald, "often threw rocks at the animal in his pen."
Responsible dog ownership means raising your dog in such a way that he behaves appropriately in the human community in which he lives. It also means protecting your dog from being abused by sociopaths. No dog should ever be left outside unsupervised.
Update (30 June 2004): Mayor Menino ill-advisedly signed the breed specific legislation yesterday, as reported in the Globetoday.
Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) will do little to protect people and dogs from being attacked by other dogs. Nonetheless, yesterday, the Boston City Council voted 7-4 in favor of "some of the most comprehensive restrictions on pit bull ownership in the state," according to Donovan Slack's, article, "Council approves pit bull restrictions," in today's Boston Globe. "Mayor Thomas M. Menino pledged to sign the measure when it reaches his desk."
The same author reported on the question, Muzzle or nuzzle? yesterday.
If Boston pit bull owners are going to change their mayor's mind, it is in their best interest to practice and promote responsible dog ownership now. It certainly does not help the breed's cause in Boston that, yesterday, the same day that the Council voted in favor of the ordinance, a Boston police officer's pit bull, missing since the night before, attacked a Shiba Inu inflicting a broken leg and puncture wounds, according to Elisabeth J. Beardsley and Sheila Halloran's story, "Deadly attack puts pit bulls in doghouse," in the Boston Herald.
Last week, "police shot and killed a pit bull after the dog attacked an exterminator, a dog catcher and a cop and killed another dog yesterday afternoon in Roslindale" according to David Weber, writing in the Herald ("Raging pit bull killed by cops after vicious attacks on 3"). Dog-owners, please, if your dog will be home when a contractor will be doing work in your home, restrain your dog and advise the contractor that there is a dog on the premises.
It is unacceptible when a dog of any breed attacks people or other dogs. It is also illegal (see Code of Ordinances, City of Somerville, Massachusetts, Sec. 3-33. Disturbance of the peace by dogs.) Breed specific legislation will not stop dog attacks; responsible dog ownership and enforcement of existing laws will. If you are the victim or the witness of a dog-attack, please report the incident to the local authorities. I did.
One piece of advice that is frequently given to prospective dog adopters is to attend local dog shows to learn more about different breeds and talk to people who have experience with them. If you are considering adopting a poodle, you will be interested to know that The Poodle Club of Massachusetts is holding their annual show tomorrow, Friday, May 28, 2004, at Borderland State Park.
Other upcoming dog shows in Massachusetts are listed on Infodog. There are quite a few breed specialty shows this weekend:
There are also two all breed shows, the Ladies' Dog Club show on Saturday and the Framingham District Kennel Club show on Sunday, both at Crackerbarrel Fairgrounds in Wrentham.
Although beyond the scope of somervilledog.com, pending legislation in the city of Boston may be of interest, given the comments posted to my account of the attack on Strummer last week.
On Wednesday, April 28, 2004, the American Kennel Club issued a legislative alert regarding an ordinance that, they say, would require
residents to register their "pit bulls" with the city at a cost of $50 annually. Pit bulls are defined as American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, or any mix of those breeds. The measure also limits residents to two pit bulls and requires owners to leash and muzzle their dogs when in public. Additionally, owners must display a sign on their property stating that a pit bull is located on the premises. Violators will be subject to a $100 fine and the pit bull will be immediately impounded. Exemptions are provided for animals participating in contests, shows or exhibitions within city limits, but animals may not remain for more than two weeks.
Boston City Council conducted a public hearing to consider the proposed legislation on Thursday, April 29. Both The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald reported on the hearing in their editions the following day.
The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is considering the House Bill (HB 4600) making appropriations for the fiscal year 2005 and has adopted an amendment (1053) to section 45 of the bill that would amend the Massachusetts General Law Chapter 129 section 39A Pet shops; licensing operation; animal health inspections.
The House Bill making appropriations for the fiscal year 2005 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions and certain activities of the Commonwealth, for interest, sinking fund and serial bond requirements and for certain permanent improvements (House, No. 4600, amended) was considered.
Pending the question on passing the bill, as amended, to be engrossed . . .
.
.
. Mr. Kujawski of Webster then moved that the bill be amended by inserting after section 45 and other members of the House [sic] the following section:
SECTION 45A. "Massachusetts General Law Chapter 129 section 39A is hereby amended by striking the word "selling" in the second paragraph and adding the following paragraphs at the end:
Any breeder or breeder's organization who breeds more than one litter per year of any breed of dog or cat and places any of those animals for sale, must register with the department of agriculture resources and report the sale of any such animals to the department. Included in this reporting shall be the name and address of the party or parties to whom such sale was made and the date of such sale.
Failure to register and report in compliance with this section and any promulgated regulations shall subject the offending party to a fine of five hundred ($500.00) dollars for each failure to report a birth of an animal and five hundred ($500.00) dollars for each sale of an animal.
The department shall promulgate rules and regulations at the earliest possible convenience to insure compliance with this section by such breeders...
Pending the question on adoption of the amendment, the same member moved that it be amended, in line 2, by striking out the word "one" and inserting in place thereof the word "three".
The further amendment was adopted, and the pending amendment, as amended, then also was adopted.
As far as I understand, the House Bill making appropriations for the fiscal year 2005 (HB 4600), has yet to be "engrossed," "typed on special parchment by the Legislative Engrossing Division and certified by the clerk." It would then have to be approved and enacted by both the House and the Senate, prior to being sent "to the governor, who may sign the bill into law, allow it to become law without signing it (if the governor holds the bill for ten days without taking any action while the legislature is in session, it becomes law without his or her signature), veto it, or return it to the legislature with recommended changes." (See Law Making in Massachusetts).
requiring breeders to report . . . the names and addresses of . . . buyers [of individual anamals] to a state agency is an invasion of privacy. Some breeders sell to families out of state or to other breeders throughout the USA, Japan, Europe and elsewhere.
According to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 140: Section 137 Registration and licenses, a person who owns a dog is required to license her or his dog. Miller is justifiably concerned about the privacy of those who are not residents of Massachusetts who buy pets from Massachusetts breeders. Massachusetts residents who wish to adopt a dog that is well adapted to live with humans in our communities, however, would do well to adopt their next dog from a local breeder who produces no more than three litters per year.
Under the proposed legislation "any breeder or breeder's organization who breeds more than three litters per year of any breed of dog or cat and places any of those animals for sale, must register with the department of agriculture resources [MDAR] and report the sale of any such animals to the department." The American Kennel Club, which opposes any restrictions on the rights of breeders and owners who take their responsibilities seriously, opposes the breeder regulation provisions of the budget bill and argues that the MDAR does not have the resources to register every breeder or breeder's organization who breeds more than three litters per year. It seems to me, however, that the demands that the proposed legislation puts on the MDAR are mitigated by the fact that the proposed legislation would encourage breeders to limit their annual number of litters produced to three or fewer in order to avoid having to register with MDAR.
Please contact your senator and tell her or him that the breeder regulation section of the budget bill (Section 45A of the House Committee on Ways and Means Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Recommendations) is good legislation for the Commonwealth because it provides strong disincentives for breeding practices that not only contribute to the problem of dog overpopulation but also produce dogs that are not adapted to live with humans in our communities. (For somerville dog's opinion on breeding practices that produce dogs that are well adapted to live with humans in our communities, see "MA legislation and your next dog.")
Somerville Senators (from the listing of state legislators by city/town on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website):
Senator Jarrett T. Barrios: ward one (precinct one) and ward two (precinct one) Senator Charles E. Shannon: ward one (precincts two and three), ward two (precincts two and three), ward three (all precincts), ward four (all precincts), ward five (all precincts), ward six (all precincts) and ward seven (all precincts)
Senator Shannon is a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, his constituents' phone calls, letters and e-mails are especially important.
UPDATE 4 May 2004: Changed paragraph beginning "Joan Miller, of The Cat Fanciers' Association..." to include discussion of privacy concerns.
Good luck to the runners in the 2004 Boston Marathon! And Go Sox!
The forecast for today is for high temperatures in the 80's. Even if your not going to run (or watch) the Marathon or watch Red Sox game this morning, it's a good day to play hookie...
The Boston Phoenix featured dog-friendly outings in the Outdoors 2004 Supplement (April 2). Genevieve Rajewski's article, Dog Days, is a good reference for some twenty day-trips. Somervudlians may not even have to get in their cars to visit Fresh Pond Park, in Cambridge, or Sheepfold, a field in the Middlesex Fells Reservation in Medford. But the article includes plenty of destinations for pups whose favorite words are, "Wanna go for a ride?!" Take 'em for a hike in Harold Parker State Forest on Route 119 in Ashby, or take em for a swim at the dog-friendly (the park has "poop-bag dispensers"!) Stodder's Neck on Route 3A in Hingham.
Whether or not you presently have a dog or dogs in your family, you may in the future wish to adopt a dog into your family. Whether you adopt your next dog from a shelter or rescue organization or a breeder, you will want to adopt a healthy dog that does not have a genetic propensity to diseases and other expensive health problems. You will want to adopt a dog that is well socialized. The socialization period in developing puppies is between four weeks and twelve weeks in age, give or take.1 This does not necessarily mean that you have to socialize your dog before she is twelve weeks old: you can adopt a well socialized adolescent or adult dog. What this does mean is that the human caretaker of the four-to-twelve-week-old puppy--whoever that may be--has many responsibilities. Among these many responsibilities are the responsibility to socialize the puppy to other dogs (her mother and littermates are the obvious candidates, but there are, of course, situations in which a puppy can be raised in the company of other dogs) and the responsibility to socialize the puppy to humans. A puppy who is raised in a human home as a member of the family, such that the puppy is adequately socialized through sufficient individual attention from humans in their own sanitary and safe home, grows into a dog that is well-adapted to living with humans in our communities.
1 Fogel, Bruce, The Dog's Mind: Understanding Your Dog's Behavior (New York: Macmillan [Howell], 1990), 69-70, see also pp. 79-95.
An act relative to breeder licensing has been presented to the Massachusetts House of Representatives (H 4537). The American Kennel Club reports (from the Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners) that "on March 24, 2004, H4537 was voted out of the Steering Committee and sent to the House floor listed with low priority, not requiring a vote for approval. Rep. James Eldridge (D - Acton, [Boxborough and Shirley]) blocked it so the next time it is presented a vote will be required."
Eldridge has graciously supplied (in a personal e-mail) the text of H 4537:
H 4537, AN ACT RELATIVE TO BREEDER LICENSING
Section 1: Chapter 129, section 39A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2002 Official Edition, is hereby amended in line 2 by inserting after the words "pet shop" the following:-
'or engaged in the incidental breeding and subsequent sale, barter or exchange of litters of more than three breeding females'
The statement from the Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners (included on the AKC Legislation page) opposes the bill because its wording is seen to be ambivalent in failing to distinguish between females that are kept intact in order to be eligible for AKC titles and females that are kept intact in order to be bred. It is my understanding that a person who shows as a hobby but does not want to ever breed a litter would not be "engaged in the incidental breeding and subsequent sale, barter or exchange of litters of more than three breeding females:" neither the current law nor the proposed amendment to it appear to apply to such a person. The point of AKC dog shows, however, is, at least in small part, to determine which individuals are the best breeding stock: In the AKC's words "conformation (overall appearance and structure)" is "an indication of the dog's ability to produce quality puppies."
An inquiry to the AKC Canine Legislation Department regarding their position on the proposed legislation and how it impacts owners of dogs competing for AKC titles remains unanswered. The AKC's Canine Legislation web pages include their position statement on breeding restrictions:
The American Kennel Club strongly supports and actively promotes a wide range of programs to educate the public about responsible breeding practices and the responsibilities of dog ownership.
The American Kennel Club opposes the concept of breeding permits, breeding bans or mandatory spay/neuter of purebred dogs. Instead, we support reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of purebred dogs and do not restrict the rights of breeders and owners who take their responsibilities seriously.
One fancier has explained by e-mail:
Hobby breeders oppose [MA 4537] and similar laws because they make no clear distinction between the commercial breeder, AKA puppy mills, and the person who keeps intact purebred dogs to show and breed as a hobby as opposed to a money making venture. Most hobby breeders keep only a few dogs, who live in the house and are personal pets as well as show and breeding dogs. Limiting them to three does not take into account that such breeders need to keep young dogs to see how they develop, and who keep older retired dogs. Then there is the fact that many toy breeds have very small litters, often only one, so if such breeders are limited to only three bitches, and one is a retired show/breeding dog, and two are youngsters too young to breed, who can they breed? Then there are the breeds, including standard poodles, who cannot get final clearance on much of their needed genetic health testing before the age of two.......These must be held back from breeding until then, so can't be bred yet. Most breeders need more than three bitches, at least some of the time to support a viable breeding effort.
Responsible hobby breeders acknowledge that these statements are true only of most hobby breeders and that there are some hobby breeders, who--perhaps because they have failed to adequately educate themselves on responsible breeding practices, or perhaps because they are unethical--engage in irresponsible breeding practices resulting in sickly dogs that are not adapted to live with humans in our communities.
The ambiguity that I find in the proposed amendment to MGL Chapter 129, section 39A is that it would extend the licensing and inspection requirements of the law to persons "engaged in the incidental breeding and subsequent sale, barter or exchange of litters of more than three breeding females," but the current version of the law specifies that it does not apply to "persons selling, exchanging or otherwise transferring the offspring of their personally owned animals." The ambiguity that the proposed amendment introduces into the current law appears to enable both the legal defense and the prosecution of hobby breeders. A lawyer defending an unlicensed hobby breeder would emphasize that the defendant sold, exchanged or otherwise transferred the offspring of her or his personally owned animals. A lawyer prosecuting the unlicensed breeder, on the other hand, would emphasize that the defendant engaged in the incidental breeding and subsequent sale, barter or exchange of litters of more than three breeding females.
It is the considered opinion of somervilledog.com that MA H 4537 falls short of the goal of insuring that the litters bred in Massachusetts produce dogs that are well adapted to live with humans in our communities in that the bill fails to address whether or not "every person engaged in the business of operating a pet shop or engaged in the incidental breeding and subsequent sale, barter or exchange of litters of more than three breeding females" can meet their responsibility to adequately socialize each puppy he or she produces. Furthermore, the ambiguity that MA H 4537 introduces MGL Chapter 129, section 39A would allow irresponsible and unethical breeders to continue to evade state licensing and inspection on the grounds that they personally own the animals whose litters they are selling.
Please contact your representative and tell her or him that MA H 4537 is bad legislation for the Commonwealth because it introduces ambiguity into the current law and would allow irresponsible and unethical breeders to continue evade state licensing and inspection on the grounds that they personally own the animals whose litters they are selling. The Commonwealth has a responsibility to its citizens to insure that the dogs we adopt as pets have been bred responsibly and have been socialized to other dogs and humans when they are puppies between four and twelve weeks old. MA 4537 does not advance responsible breeding practices.
Somerville Representatives (from the listing of state legislators by city/town on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website):
Vincent P. Ciampa: ward four (precincts one and two) and ward seven (all precincts)
Patricia D. Jehlen: ward two (precinct three), ward three (all precincts), ward four (precinct three), ward five (all precincts) and ward six (all precincts)
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Bureau of Animal Health regulates the licencing and operation of pet shops in the Commonwealth and provides information for residents who are interested in Buying a Dog in Massachusetts.
The Department will conduct two public hearings on Wednesday, April 7, 2004 to consider the proposed regulations as follows:
9 a.m. ? 11 a.m. Waltham 4-H Center (also known as Waltham Field Station), 240 Beaver Street, Waltham, MA in the Auditorium
2 p.m. ? 4 p.m. Natural Resources Conservation Service, 451 West St., Amherst, MA in the Conference Room
MDAR is also accepting written comments at the hearings and thereafter until close of business on April 14, 2004. Comments may be addressed to Mr. Kent Lage, Department of Agricultural Resources, 251 Causeway Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114 by regular mail or by email Kent.Lage@state.ma.us, or fax 617-626-1850.
Please vote tomorrow in the special primary election for the U.S. Senate.
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Access to the dog park will be off Rte. 28, about 50 yards beyond the entrance to the Sheepfold: Fire gate #25. This picture is taken from the entrance of the access road looking south: You can see the entrance to I-93 and a mini van waiting to pull out of the Sheepfold access road.
The access road leads to an old bathhouse that will be demolished: a gazebo with picnic tables is proposed in its place.
Ledge, looking to the SW from the bathhouse.
Ledge, to the NE of the bathhouse.
The 
Once again 
Check out the family-oriented dog demonstrations Saturday and Sunday from 11:30a-1:30p: 
The photographer has contacted the DCR and has sent the photo to the Boston Globe's Photo Desk. He observes that the park, has "become a dump and has been like this for months. It is an ugly contrast with Storrow Drive, The Bridge and the Esplanade and hardly enhances the new banners put up for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater."
The 24th Annual MSPCA-Angell Walk for Animals turned out to be a great oppoutunity for a field trip. On Sunday, October 17, 
Team somervilledog.com (from left to right) Shannon with Cinder (a Lab/Pointer mix), Peter (from Blue Hill, ME), Genevieve, Stuart with King (a Greyhound), Adrienne, and Michele with Strummer (a Standard Poodle). Not pictured are Deborah and Rob and their two children with their dog Anna (a Husky/Shepherd mix); David and Nora with Austin (a Pomeranian); Janice with her dog Patsy (a Shepherd mix) and her nieces with their Corgi, Winnie (from Lexington); and Michael with Yukon. The following Somerville dogs had to stay home but were with us in spirit: three-legged Dash, Stu's second Greyhound, who is recovering from chemotherapy; Rosie, Genevieve's Pit Bull, whom she adopted last month from a shelter in Rhode Island and who is still getting used to being a beloved pet; and Willy, a Miniature Poodle whom Adrienne adopted last year and who was recently treated at Angell for heart problems.
Yukon (Siberian Husky) and teammates meet and greet.
Strummer: "I thought this was supposed to be a Walk for Animals."
When we arrived at the festival grounds at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, the Blue Dog Group a was beginning a Canine Frisbee show. One of the amazing Border Collies that performed is a 