som|dog

Help som|dog WIN and Help Animals in Need!

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:07:00 GMT

Dear Somerville Dog Owners and Friends of Somerville Dogs,

Thanks to the positive responses from Amanda with Porter, Colleen with Bella, Jacki with Wendy and Khalid with Apple, som|dog will be participating in the MSPCA Walk for Animals and we have a chance to win a bowling party!

To join our team, go to our team page, and click on "Join Team" right above the list of names of the people already on our team. Registration is $25, which helps animals in need and gets you a free t-shirt at the event.

The Walk for Animals is a leisurely stroll around Boston Common on Sunday, September 12, featuring contests, freebies and demonstrations from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. There will be a Team tent at the Walk for Animals, where we will meet and get our team picture taken. Leashed dogs that enjoy the company of other dogs are very welcome!

If at least five dog-owner groups participate in the Walk, MSPCA will offer a prize to the dog-owner group that raises the most funds: a bowling party at Lucky Strike on Ipswich for 16 people. That's two hours of free bowling for 16 people w/complimentary shoe rental and complimentary chips and salsa (must be 21+; for use Mon - Thurs 6-8 pm. Not valid when sox are @ home game).

So far two other groups in addition to som|dog are participating: the Arlington Dog Owners Group (A-DOG), and the MSPCA Dog Recreation Space.

Since the prize is for the team that raises the most money in the Walk for Animals, if you can't walk with us, please consider supporting our team making a gift on our team page.

Everyone who helps animals in need is a winner. Be a part of our winning team!

Cheers,
Michele
with Strummer (standard poodle)

Michele Biscoe
Chairperson
Somerville Dog Owners Group (som|dog)
www.somdog.org

The Somerville Dog Owners Group promotes responsible dog ownership, safe and legal options for off-leash recreation, and open space for all in Somerville, MA.

MSPCA Walk for Animals - September 12

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:35:00 GMT

Dear Somerville Dog Owners and Friends of Somerville Dogs,

Please let me know by the end of August if you are interested in forming a som|dog team with me for the MSPCA Walk for Animals. The Walk for Animals is a a liesurely walk around Boston Common. Dogs that enjoy the company of other dogs are welcome.

I am looking for team members who will be willing

1) to register for the walk and join our team online (registration costs $25)
2a) to recruit friends to join our team and/or
2b) to commit to trying to raise $300 for the Walk for Animals

If there is interest, I will create a team page for som|dog on the Walk for Animals website.

Cheers,
Michele
with Strummer (standard poodle)

Michele Biscoe
Chairperson
Somerville Dog Owners Group (som|dog)
www.somdog.org

somdog - AT - somervilledog.com

Dog-Friendly Things to Do in September (Call for Volunteers)

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:56:00 GMT

Dear Somerville Dog Owners and Friends of Somerville Dogs,

There are two dog-friendly opportunities in September to benefit animals in need: The MSPCA Walk for Animals on Sunday, September 12, and the first-ever Somerville Dog Festival to benefit Northeast Animal Shelter on Sunday, September 19.

som|dog wants to support both causes. If you can help, please contact us at somdog - AT - somervilledog.com.

For the MSPCA Walk for Animals, we need people to help lead our team. Last year our team raised over $2700 for MSPCA-Angell! Check out the information about the event (a liesurely walk around Boston Common) at http://support.mspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=events_walk, and let me know if you're interested.

Admission is free to the Somerville Dog Festival (www.somervilledogfestival.org) which is being organized by Porter Square Veterinarian. The Festival will be held in Conway Park on Somerville Avenue (next to RiteAid). som|dog is helping to recruit volunteers to help set up before the festival begins at 10:00 and to help breakdown after it ends at 3:00. Let me know if you can help out.

Cheers,
Michele
with Strummer (Standard Poodle)

Michele Biscoe
Chairperson
Somerville Dog Owners Group (som|dog)
www.somdog.org

The Somerville Dog Owners Group promotes responsible dog ownership, safe and legal options for off-leash recreation, and open space for all in Somerville, MA

Nunziato Field Hosts OpenAir Circus: 7/30-8/1

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:04:00 GMT

Dear Somerville Dog Owners and Friends of Somerville Dogs,

This message is for all the good folks who plan to enjoy the off-leash recreation area (OLRA) at Nunziato Field with your dogs this weekend: As always please be courteous to our guests!

The OpenAir Circus returns for its annual performances at Nunziato Field Friday, July 30, at 7pm; Saturday, July 31, at 2pm and 7pm; and Sunday, August 1, at 2pm.

Be attentive to visitors who may not know that they cannot get to the main area of the field from the OLRA.
Be extra vigilant in helping to keep our dogs safe: Visitors may enter the OLRA "airlocks" without understanding how the double gates function to protect our pets from escaping from the park.
Make people feel welcome while helping them make their way to the big top!

Lets all cooperate to make Nunziato Field a park that everyone can enjoy with our pets!

Cheers,
Michele
with Strummer (standard poodle)

Michele Biscoe
Chairperson
Somerville Dog Owners Group (som|dog)
www.somdog.org

The Somerville Dog Owners Group promotes responsible dog ownership, safe and legal options for off-leash recreation, and open space for all in Somerville, MA

Sign the Fells Petition

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:23:00 GMT

Okay. There are over 600 people subscribed to this list. We need everyone to sign the petition for off-leash recreation at the Fells (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/legal-off-leash-dogs-in-the-Middlesex-Fells). Sign before Saturday if at all possible.

Even if you don't visit the Fells with your dog, a victory for off-leash recreation at the Fells will be a victory for everyone who enjoys off-leash recreation in Massachusetts.

If you want me to wax on about why this matters, send me an e-mail.

Cheers,
Michele
with Strummer (standard poodle)

Michele Biscoe
Chairperson
Somerville Dog Owners Group (som|dog)
www.somdog.org

The Somerville Dog Owners Group promotes responsible dog ownership, safe and legal options for off-leash recreation, and open space for all in Somerville, MA

Petition for off-leash recreation at the Middlesex Fells

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:53:00 GMT

Dear Somerville Dog Owners and Friends of Somerville Dogs,

Sign the petition for legal options for off-leash recreation at the Sheepfold and on the trails of the Middlesex Fells Reservation.

We need legal options for off-leash recreation at Middlesex Fells Reservation sooner rather than later! Our goal is to get 1000 signatures on the petition by June 20.

The petition, sponsored by the Middlesex Fells Dog Owner Group (FellsDOG), could also help salvage the Middlesex Fells Trails System Plan. Details are available on the som|dog website.

After you've signed the petition, please share the link with your friends and family members who support the recreational needs of all at the Middlesex Fells: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/legal-off-leash-dogs-in-the-Middlesex-Fells.

Thank you for your support!

Cheers,
Michèle
with Strummer (standard poodle)

Memorial Day Parade

Mon, 24 May 2010 11:45:00 GMT

Dear Friends and Somerville Dog Owners,

For the sixth year in a row the Somerville Dog Owners Group will be marching in the City's Memorial Day Parade! This is a lot of fun for both the people and the dogs that march with us. Please walk with som|dog behind our banner on Sunday, May 30!

Dogs that are leashed (no retractible leads please) and licensed and that enjoy the company of other dogs are welcome. Dogs are encouraged to wear patriotic colors!

The parade sets off from City Hall at 1:00. The parade route is 2.25 miles along Highland Avenue to Davis Square; Holland Street, to Teele Square and Broadway to Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

To begin the parade with us, please meet us at 1:20 Sunday afternoon, May 30, at the bottom of Putnam Street (across the street from the Nunziato OLRA).

We especially want to have a big group behind our banner when we pass the grandstand at the end of the parade route at Veterans' Memorial Cemetery on Clarendon Hill where Grand Marshal is World War II veteran, John W. Mattuchio, will be watching the procession along with Mayor Joe and other Somerville officials. To ensure that we have a large group marching with us at the end of the parade, we encourage Somerville dog owners to file in with us behind our banner as we proceed along the parade route.

NOTE: Walkers are responsible for their own transportation to and from the parade. There is parking at the end of the parade route at Dilboy Stadium. There will be NO PARKING at City Hall on the day of the parade.

Follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/somdog) or send us your cell phone number and we will text you up-to-the-minute information about our location on Parade Day!

Cheers,
Michele

Michele Biscoe
Chairperson
Somerville Dog Owners Group (som|dog)
www.somdog.org

The Somerville Dog Owners Group promotes responsible dog ownership, safe and legal options for off-leash recreation, and open space for all in Somerville, MA

2010 Memorial Day Parade

Wed, 19 May 2010 03:30:00 GMT

Dear Somerville Dog Owners and Friends of Somerville Dogs,

The City of Somerville's 2010 Memorial Day Parade is on Sunday, May 30. Walk with the Somerville Dog Owners Group! Everyone is welcome to walk with us whether you will be walking a dog or not. This will be our sixth year walking in the Memorial Day Parade!

The parade begins at 1:00 p.m. at City Hall and ends at the Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Clarendon Hill on Broadway. You can start the parade with us at City Hall or file in with us along the route. Please contact me (michelebiscoe - AT - somervilledog.com) for details and to sign up to walk with som|dog in the Memorial Day Parade.

Cheers,
Michele
with Strummer (standard poodle)

Michele Biscoe
Chairperson
Somerville Dog Owners Group (som|dog)
www.somdog.org

The Somerville Dog Owners Group promotes responsible dog ownership, safe and legal options for off-leash recreation, and open space for all in Somerville, MA

Groundbreaking at 0 New Washington Street and more in May

Thu, 06 May 2010 03:28:00 GMT

Dear Somerville Dog Owners and Friends of Somerville Dogs,

With great joy I share the news from Carlene Campbell, Director of Community Outreach and the City's Liaison to the Dog Owners Task Force, that on Monday afternoon, May 17th at 4:00, the the City will hold a ground-breaking ceremony for the Zero New Washington Community Park and Off-Leash Recreational Area at the park site. Bring your dogs to say "goodbye" to an overgrown, unused lot, and to offer a playbow to what will be a awesome park for the community to enjoy with our dogs!

Other upcoming events in May:

Saturday, May 8 - Citywide Spring Clean Up

For the past five years the Somerville Dog Owners Group has participated in Spring Clean Up Day. This year we are again encouraging dog owners to go out to your neighborhood clean-up headquarters, meet your neighbors, check in with your neighborhood captains (aldermen and school committee members), and help make Somerville a great place where we can all live with our dogs. Dog owners are especially encouraged to bring supplies (e.g. gardening spades, plastic bags) for cleaning up those pesky piles that have been left behind. After a morning of community service, volunteers are invited to a community barbecue at noon next door to the OLRA at Nunziato Field.

Volunteers should meet a ward captain at 10:00 A.M. at the following locations throughout Somerville:

Ward 1: Cross Street Senior Center, 165 Broadway; AND Capuano School
Ward 2: Union Square Parking Lot at SCAT Building
Ward 3: City Hall Concourse, 93 Highland Ave.
Ward 4: Blessing of the Bay Boat House, Shore Drive
Ward 5: Community Path at Cedar Street
Ward 6: Davis Square, Statue Park
Ward 7: Teele Square Fire Station

Saturday, May 22 - Mayor's Fitness Challenge Open Street Celebration

At the culmination of the two-month Mayor's Fitness Challenge, the City will close Shore Drive in Ten Hills to motor-vehicle traffic and open the street to community recreation--just like Memorial Drive in Cambridge in the Summer on Sundays. Dogs that are leashed (no retractible leads, please) and licensed and who enjoy the company of people and other dogs are welcome. We are looking forward to seeing a lot of Somerville dogs at the Open Street Celebration!

Sunday, May 30 - Memorial Day Parade

Help som|dog have our biggest and best group in the Memorial Day Parade this year! You can walk with your dog or without your dog. In fact we need people without dogs to help lead us in the parade by carrying our banner and to help pull the Waggin' Wagon with extra water and water bowls for the dogs. Our parade group is forming now! Please contact me (michelebiscoe@somervilledog.com) for more information if you are interested in walking (your dog) with the Somerville Dog Owners Group in the Memorial Day Parade.

Thank you for marking your calendar,

Cheers,
Michele
with Strummer (standard poodle)

Michele Biscoe
Chairperson
Somerville Dog Owners Group (som|dog)
www.somdog.org

The Somerville Dog Owners Group promotes responsible dog ownership, safe and legal options for off-leash recreation, and open space for all in Somerville, MA

Free Dog Training: Sunday at 1:00

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:01:00 GMT

If you haven't yet taken advantage of City Dog Training's Free Recall Clinics, or, if you have and you want a refresher on how to play the "Get It!" game to train your dog to come every time, please come to Ed Leathers Community Park, Sunday, May 2, from 1:00 to 2:00. Leathers Park is on Walnut Street between Pearl Street and Medford Street. Dogs that are leashed (no retractable leads please) and licensed and that enjoy the company of other dogs are welcome!

It's supposed to be 80 degrees on Sunday so bring water for your dog, and, please, leave no pile behind!

Note: Leathers Park is also the home of Somerville's second off-leash recreational area!

Check the City Dog website for weather cancellation: www.citydogtraining.com

Cheers,
Michele
with Strummer (standard poodle)

Help Propose Off-Leash Hours at Sheepfold and the Fells

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 03:23:00 GMT

Dear Somerville Dog Owners and Friends of Somerville Dogs!

The Fells Dog Owner Group has created a survey for people to provide information about when they like to visit the Middlesex Fells Reservation with their dogs.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FellsDOG

Based on the feedback we collect from this survey, we will propose to the DCR times during the week and/or on weekends for an off-leash pilot program in the Fells, including both Sheepfold and the trails.

Depending on your usage of the Fells with your dog, the survey can take anywhere from less than five minutes to no more than fifteen minutes. If you visit the Fells with your dog both off leash and on leash and you use Sheepfold and the trails, then you'll answer every question; otherwise you can skip the parts of the survey that are not relevant to you.

Currently, it is illegal for us to have our dogs off-leash in the Fells. Help us work with the DCR for legal off-leash hours!

Thank you!

With a playbow to your dogs from Strummer (standard poodle),

Cheers,
Michele