Category: Boston Dogs

Keep it to Yourself, Don’t Spread Canine Diseases

Last summer as we approached Howie, one of our neighborhood’s sweetest, best-behaved dogs, his guardian stopped us from allowing our dog to get close to his. The gentleman told us he was keeping Howie away from others because the pup was being treated for kennel cough.

Naturally, we thanked him for being so proactive, considerate, and helpful. He is exactly the kind of person we all hope to have as part of our dog community. He has raised a dog to be a good citizen, he follows the rules that govern being out and about with a dog, and he is as careful with our dog as he is with his.

Happily, Howie made a quick recovery and our Poppy was able to have a sniff fest with him again.

It helped that Howie pays attention to his person when asked and we were able to slip by without contact.

Know What Is Contagious

You should not only know what is contagious among dogs, but also how the disease is spread and what you can do to prevent your dog from becoming sick. For example, Mary Fuller, DVM, writing about Kennel Cough for Vet Street wrote, “This extremely contagious respiratory disease, also known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis, isn’t always caused by a single organism.” Your dog can get it from inhaling the virus or bacteria left behind by a sick dog at places where dogs congregate.

Other highly contagious canine diseases include: distemper, adenovirus [hepatitis], parainfluenza, and parvovirus. These all have vaccines that your dog may have been given by your veterinarian. Once initial immunity is established, you can do titer testing for all but rabies to be sure your pup is protected from one year to the next.

Our cat friends should also be protected from contagious diseases. (photo courtesy of American Veterinary Medical Association)

You may be offered vaccinations for other contagious diseases including coronavirus, leptospirosis, bordetella, lyme disease, and canine influenza.

There are also parasites that one dog can pass to another. We know that fleas and ticks love to ride on one dog and jump over to another like subway riders switching from the Red Line to the Green.

Other unwanted guests like roundworms, hookworms, sarcoptic mange, and giardia can be transmitted via feces, on soil, or in standing water including shared bowls.

Puppies like this one plus elderly and frail dogs need special protection from contagious diseases.

Doing Your Part in Prevention

In general, it’s a good idea to keep your dog away from other dogs when he is not feeling well and ask your friends to return the favor when their dogs are a bit under the weather. Something that a very healthy pup can shake off could be a death sentence for a frail or elderly dog.

We are often alerted when some sort of canine gastrointestinal issue that may be contagious is going around the area. You just have to observe the smears on the sidewalk where people with the best intentions try to pick up after a sick dog.

While our little Poppy has been a very healthy girl, we did face more health issues with our last dog Maggie Mae. Because of this, we know how difficult it can be to clean-up after your dog if they are suffering from an upset tummy or diarrhea.

We found that slipping a newspaper or a couple of paper towels under her would often catch most of the what she released. We’d then deposit the mess in a plastic bag and take it to the trash.

Today we still carry small absorbent puppy pads to do this sort of job just in case we ever need one. We have used these at home and in rental places to keep from soiling furniture and carpets, just as when Maggie was ill.

Thanks to all who do their best to alert us to sick dogs and clean-up as best they can when out and about.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

(Adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns.)

October 15, 2017
Try Touch Therapy for Your Sunday Dog

At Poppy’s last annual check-up, her doctor was concerned because our dog’s heart rate was low. We had a quick explanation. While we waited for our appointment, Poppy was on Penny’s lap getting a Tellington TTouch massage.

Petting, massage, or touch therapy are all good ideas if you and your dog both enjoy the experience. (photo by: yannick974 used under creative commons license)

Over the years, we’ve used TTouch on our own dogs and with some of the skittish rescue pups we have fostered. Mardi Richmond described the classic TTouch massage in an article in Whole Dog Journal, “… your fingers are slightly curved and you use the pads of your fingers to create the circles.” She has found this “particularly useful for anxious dogs.”

Petting, massage, or touch therapy are all good ideas if you and your dog both enjoy the experience. Some dogs melt into your lap or snuggle up beside you and soak up strokes like arid soil in a gentle rain. Others squirm and can’t wait to get away and get on with more interesting things.

Some people can’t help but automatically stroke any willing dog within reach. Others will have to work at sitting still and giving their dog a massage when needed.

Even as a tiny pup, Poppy was very relaxed at Vet visits after some gentle massage.

When to Apply Touch Therapy

Obviously a reassuring touch in a scary setting, like a veterinary office, may help calm an anxious animal. Again this will only work for critters who are receptive to it. Trained experts in TTouch may be able to work with reluctant and highly agitated dogs, but most of us have to choose which dogs we massage with foresight and knowledge of their personality.

How do you tell if the dog is willing? Start with a few gentle rubs. If the pup settles in and seems to enjoy it, continue. There are some dogs that will lean into anyone willing to give them some pats. That’s another sign that they are okay with some gentle massage.

Once you have established that massage is welcome, you can think about using it for anxious situations like a thunderstorm or when company comes.

If your dog is like Chip and willing to curl up on your lap, you can use that as an opportunity to do a gentle check of his body.

Daily Check Up

We bet you’ve used a gentle massaging technique to see if your dog is injured. Carefully running your hands over an animal’s body when they are limping or showing pain is how most of us find out what’s hurting.

If you were to spend a few minutes each day giving your pet a slow, gentle massage, you would quickly learn to recognize what is normal for him or her. Then when the daily session turns up a sensitive spot, swelling, or change in skin or coat, you’ll be able to monitor it and take action.

Before and After Exercise

A nice massage may be the perfect warm up or cool down for an exercise session. If you and your dog are about to take a long hike, an all over rubdown can warm up the pup. And who wouldn’t like a massage after hours of walking and running?

Naturally this calm session of meditative, slow, gentle, physical contact with another living creature will also benefit you. You’ll find yourself relaxing. Your own heart rate should slow, your blood pressure may decrease, and your breathing will fall into a slow, steady pace.

You can start out simply patting your animal gently. If, from there, you want to learn more tested and advanced techniques, there are books, videos, and classes that will help you learn more about simple massage or something like Tellington TTouch.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

September 17, 2017
Judith Jones on Cooking for Her Dog
Penny is a longtime fan of food writer and editor of many of her favorite cookbooks, Judith Jones who died recently. One of her books Penny bought before it disappears from stock was "Love Me, Feed Me: Sharing with Your Dog the Everyday Good Food You Cook and Enjoy."

As you may know, from our newspaper columns and some posts here, we feed our dog Poppy homemade food. Her diet is raw because of the many issues a Westie can have with food. Judith Jones, on the other hand, cooked meals that she shared with her dog Mabon.

This book is a great place to begin a discussion about what we're feeding our dogs and if we have fallen for the marketing efforts of the dog food industry. Jones worked with her veterinarian who supported this alternative feeding style.

Here are a few quotes from reviews of this delightful book:
- “Delightful….This sensible book reminded us of food writers like Elizabeth David and M. F. K. Fisher: recipes plus a pinch of life itself.”
  – The Bark
- “Clever tips abound.”
  – BookPage
- “As much about the unconditional friendship pets offer as it is about braised beef shanks and omelets, kasha and corn cakes, and as much about the nutritional requirements of caninehood…as about the companionable requirements….A loving salute to the dogs [Jones] has known and to a life filled to the brim with what they brought to her.”
  – Booklist
- “An ingenious recipe collection…What’s fascinating about Love Me, Feed Me is that the recipes are relatively simple and good, prepared daily by Jones for herself and her dog Mabon, an adorable white curly-haired Havanese straight out of central casting.”
  – The Faith Middleton Show
We highly recommend "Love Me, Feed Me" for you and your Sunday Dog or as a great gift anytime you visit someone who loves their dog.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Legendary Editor Judith Jones has Passed Away

" Judith Jones Memorial – August 26th, 2017
September 10, 2017
Judith Jones on Cooking for Her Dog
Penny is a longtime fan of food writer and editor of many of her favorite cookbooks, Judith Jones who died recently. One of her books Penny bought before it disappears from stock was "Love Me, Feed Me: Sharing with Your Dog the Everyday Good Food You Cook and Enjoy."

As you may know, from our newspaper columns and some posts here, we feed our dog Poppy homemade food. Her diet is raw because of the many issues a Westie can have with food. Judith Jones, on the other hand, cooked meals that she shared with her dog Mabon.

This book is a great place to begin a discussion about what we're feeding our dogs and if we have fallen for the marketing efforts of the dog food industry. Jones worked with her veterinarian who supported this alternative feeding style.

Here are a few quotes from reviews of this delightful book:
- “Delightful….This sensible book reminded us of food writers like Elizabeth David and M. F. K. Fisher: recipes plus a pinch of life itself.”
  – The Bark
- “Clever tips abound.”
  – BookPage
- “As much about the unconditional friendship pets offer as it is about braised beef shanks and omelets, kasha and corn cakes, and as much about the nutritional requirements of caninehood…as about the companionable requirements….A loving salute to the dogs [Jones] has known and to a life filled to the brim with what they brought to her.”
  – Booklist
- “An ingenious recipe collection…What’s fascinating about Love Me, Feed Me is that the recipes are relatively simple and good, prepared daily by Jones for herself and her dog Mabon, an adorable white curly-haired Havanese straight out of central casting.”
  – The Faith Middleton Show
We highly recommend "Love Me, Feed Me" for you and your Sunday Dog or as a great gift anytime you visit someone who loves their dog.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Legendary Editor Judith Jones has Passed Away

" Judith Jones Memorial – August 26th, 2017
September 10, 2017
Into the Woods with Your Sunday Dog

We all have favorite forms of recreation with our dogs. Ours happens to be long walks on a beach and seaside vacations. But, we realize that for some of you, a long hike or camping in a the woods is the way to go. Knowing that, we’ve done some research on that topic and will share what we’ve learned.

Occasionally, friends can tempt us to take a quick walk in the woods. However this was at Halibut Point where we knew our beloved ocean views were just a few steps away.

Are Dogs Welcome?

The first task is to locate hiking trails where dogs are welcome. When people ask about this, we always point them to the Trustees of Reservations. They have clear guidelines on their website www.thetrustees.org where you can select "Dog Walking" after choosing options on this page to help you choose a place where you and your dog are welcome.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation (DCR) has made a start on helping residents find dog-friendly spots in the state’s park system. They now have one webpage that outlines the dos and don’ts for enjoying state property with your dog. Unfortunately the don’ts and “no dogs allowed” list is far longer than the places where we are welcome.

For those of us in the Boston area, the list of places where dogs are NOT allowed, on or off leash, include: City Square Park in Charlestown, Boston Harbor Islands, DCR buildings (administrative offices, visitor centers, restrooms), all DCR playgrounds, all DCR parking areas and all DCR coastal beaches and designated swimming areas of inland beaches from May 1 through September 15, unless otherwise posted.

The look of total enjoyment on Gunner’s face is reason enough for a day in the woods. (Photo courtesy of http://indirectimages.weebly.com/)

What Are the Rules?

The basic rules of dog etiquette: keeping your dog under your control even if off leash; picking up dog waste; preventing your dog from harassing people, wildlife, or other dogs; and doing as little damage to the area as possible will serve you well in woodlands.

You will also have to check specific rules for the property you visit. Some trails may be open to your dog while others are not, and there may be special date restrictions or wildlife warnings. For example, the Blue Hills Reservation comes up on many searches for dog-friendly hiking in Massachusetts. Before you go, you should be aware that the state site map warns, "The reservation boasts a rich variety of plants and animals, including several rare and endangered species, such as the Timber rattlesnake and Eastern copperhead found nowhere else in the Boston area."

We really miss our little pal Swiffer but can't resist sharing this photo from a happy day we spent with him years ago.

Special Precautions

Naturally you’ll want to be sure you and your dog are healthy and up-to-date on disease prevention before you set off on a woody adventure. You’ll also want to make frequent and complete checks for ticks along the way.

Since you may be away from resources, you should add a few dog specific items like self-adhering bandages and a tick removal tool to your first aid kit.

Special Places

Here again we recommend turning to the Trustees. They even have a smartphone app to keep information about your destination in the palm of your hand. You can begin by finding properties near you via GPS.

Suppose you choose World’s End in Hingham to visit. The overview page on the app has a paw print to show that dog walking is allowed.

You can get directions to the location by car or public transportation, other activities the site offers, details on facilities, and a description of the place. Finally, you can pull up a map of the trails. It’s everything you need for a great adventure with your pup right on your phone.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

(Adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns.)

August 20, 2017
Into the Woods with Your Sunday Dog

We all have favorite forms of recreation with our dogs. Ours happens to be long walks on a beach and seaside vacations. But, we realize that for some of you, a long hike or camping in a the woods is the way to go. Knowing that, we’ve done some research on that topic and will share what we’ve learned.

Occasionally, friends can tempt us to take a quick walk in the woods. However this was at Halibut Point where we knew our beloved ocean views were just a few steps away.

Are Dogs Welcome?

The first task is to locate hiking trails where dogs are welcome. When people ask about this, we always point them to the Trustees of Reservations. They have clear guidelines on their website www.thetrustees.org where you can select "Dog Walking" after choosing options on this page to help you choose a place where you and your dog are welcome.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation (DCR) has made a start on helping residents find dog-friendly spots in the state’s park system. They now have one webpage that outlines the dos and don’ts for enjoying state property with your dog. Unfortunately the don’ts and “no dogs allowed” list is far longer than the places where we are welcome.

For those of us in the Boston area, the list of places where dogs are NOT allowed, on or off leash, include: City Square Park in Charlestown, Boston Harbor Islands, DCR buildings (administrative offices, visitor centers, restrooms), all DCR playgrounds, all DCR parking areas and all DCR coastal beaches and designated swimming areas of inland beaches from May 1 through September 15, unless otherwise posted.

The look of total enjoyment on Gunner’s face is reason enough for a day in the woods. (Photo courtesy of http://indirectimages.weebly.com/)

What Are the Rules?

The basic rules of dog etiquette: keeping your dog under your control even if off leash; picking up dog waste; preventing your dog from harassing people, wildlife, or other dogs; and doing as little damage to the area as possible will serve you well in woodlands.

You will also have to check specific rules for the property you visit. Some trails may be open to your dog while others are not, and there may be special date restrictions or wildlife warnings. For example, the Blue Hills Reservation comes up on many searches for dog-friendly hiking in Massachusetts. Before you go, you should be aware that the state site map warns, "The reservation boasts a rich variety of plants and animals, including several rare and endangered species, such as the Timber rattlesnake and Eastern copperhead found nowhere else in the Boston area."

We really miss our little pal Swiffer but can't resist sharing this photo from a happy day we spent with him years ago.

Special Precautions

Naturally you’ll want to be sure you and your dog are healthy and up-to-date on disease prevention before you set off on a woody adventure. You’ll also want to make frequent and complete checks for ticks along the way.

Since you may be away from resources, you should add a few dog specific items like self-adhering bandages and a tick removal tool to your first aid kit.

Special Places

Here again we recommend turning to the Trustees. They even have a smartphone app to keep information about your destination in the palm of your hand. You can begin by finding properties near you via GPS.

Suppose you choose World’s End in Hingham to visit. The overview page on the app has a paw print to show that dog walking is allowed.

You can get directions to the location by car or public transportation, other activities the site offers, details on facilities, and a description of the place. Finally, you can pull up a map of the trails. It’s everything you need for a great adventure with your pup right on your phone.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

(Adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns.)

August 20, 2017
Preventive Care for Your Dog Can Save Money and Decrease Stress

Are you doing all you can to keep your pets healthy and save money? Preventive care, early diagnosis, and good home health habits are a few ways to save both lives and money.

Dental Care

Daily dental care is one way to save substantial money over the course of your pal’s life. It can also help you avoid treatment for chronic illness that can come about from untreated dental problems. Brushing your cat or dog’s teeth once a day is a help. Twice a day is even better. Make it part of your morning and evening routines.

Poppy’s dental routine began the day she joined our family. She’s already a cooperative partner in her twice daily brushings.

Either your veterinarian or groomer can give you tips for gaining your animal’s cooperation with tooth brushing. There are videos and pages of tips on the internet and most pet care books cover this topic.

Here's one good example, so take 5 minutes to watch this video on how to do it.

An examination of the mouth and a report on its condition should be a routine part of veterinary care. When the time comes to have a professional dental cleaning performed, always ask about the price, shop around for the best value, and the most experienced team.

For example, Angell Animal Medical Center has a dedicated “Dentistry Specialty Service.” Because this team performs more procedures and has the resources of the teaching hospital at hand, they can even treat some high-anesthesia-risk patients. They take referrals from veterinarians or you can make an appointment yourself.

Feed High Quality Food

Just as junk food can have an impact on human health, poor quality food can cause health issues in animals. Over the past few years, we’ve heard horror stories about the pet food industry.

Food is one area where pet guardians need to educate themselves. Read about your options, make your best decision, and feed your dogs and cats the highest quality food possible. If you decide on a homemade diet, either cooked or raw, be sure to have the nutrition checked by a professional and add supplements if needed.

Careful selection also applies to treats and ingestible chews. Obesity is a major health risk for dogs and cats. While you may measure meals and keep track of that caloric intake, you should also add the calories from treats and chews.

Try giving fresh vegetables as treats. Our Poppy loves raw cauliflower. She’ll sit quietly gnawing at a piece and not move until she has cleaned up every tiny bit.

Yes, higher quality food with fewer strange ingredients costs more. But, if you pay more for food now, you may pay less in future veterinary bills.

Exercise for Physical and Mental Health

The other half of the “keeping healthy” equation is exercise. Not only is it good for your dog or cat to have a regular exercise routine, but it’s also good for you. Taking a dog for regular long walks or runs will benefit both of you.

Keeping a dog well socialized means that you are making contact with members of your community on a regular basis. Study after study shows that this is a healthy thing to do and it makes your dog happier.

Some robust playtime with your cat and the laughs you’ll have during that activity will lighten your mood and supply a big dose of healthy endorphins.

All of this does take time and effort, but that is part of the commitment you made when you adopted an animal. And the thought that doing things for and with your pal will save money should be an added incentive.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

(Adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns.)

Related articles

Getting Us Outside: Another Way Dogs Are Good for Us

August 13, 2017
Preventive Care for Your Dog Can Save Money and Decrease Stress

Are you doing all you can to keep your pets healthy and save money? Preventive care, early diagnosis, and good home health habits are a few ways to save both lives and money.

Dental Care

Daily dental care is one way to save substantial money over the course of your pal’s life. It can also help you avoid treatment for chronic illness that can come about from untreated dental problems. Brushing your cat or dog’s teeth once a day is a help. Twice a day is even better. Make it part of your morning and evening routines.

Poppy’s dental routine began the day she joined our family. She’s already a cooperative partner in her twice daily brushings.

Either your veterinarian or groomer can give you tips for gaining your animal’s cooperation with tooth brushing. There are videos and pages of tips on the internet and most pet care books cover this topic.

Here's one good example, so take 5 minutes to watch this video on how to do it.

An examination of the mouth and a report on its condition should be a routine part of veterinary care. When the time comes to have a professional dental cleaning performed, always ask about the price, shop around for the best value, and the most experienced team.

For example, Angell Animal Medical Center has a dedicated “Dentistry Specialty Service.” Because this team performs more procedures and has the resources of the teaching hospital at hand, they can even treat some high-anesthesia-risk patients. They take referrals from veterinarians or you can make an appointment yourself.

Feed High Quality Food

Just as junk food can have an impact on human health, poor quality food can cause health issues in animals. Over the past few years, we’ve heard horror stories about the pet food industry.

Food is one area where pet guardians need to educate themselves. Read about your options, make your best decision, and feed your dogs and cats the highest quality food possible. If you decide on a homemade diet, either cooked or raw, be sure to have the nutrition checked by a professional and add supplements if needed.

Careful selection also applies to treats and ingestible chews. Obesity is a major health risk for dogs and cats. While you may measure meals and keep track of that caloric intake, you should also add the calories from treats and chews.

Try giving fresh vegetables as treats. Our Poppy loves raw cauliflower. She’ll sit quietly gnawing at a piece and not move until she has cleaned up every tiny bit.

Yes, higher quality food with fewer strange ingredients costs more. But, if you pay more for food now, you may pay less in future veterinary bills.

Exercise for Physical and Mental Health

The other half of the “keeping healthy” equation is exercise. Not only is it good for your dog or cat to have a regular exercise routine, but it’s also good for you. Taking a dog for regular long walks or runs will benefit both of you.

Keeping a dog well socialized means that you are making contact with members of your community on a regular basis. Study after study shows that this is a healthy thing to do and it makes your dog happier.

Some robust playtime with your cat and the laughs you’ll have during that activity will lighten your mood and supply a big dose of healthy endorphins.

All of this does take time and effort, but that is part of the commitment you made when you adopted an animal. And the thought that doing things for and with your pal will save money should be an added incentive.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

(Adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns.)

Related articles

Getting Us Outside: Another Way Dogs Are Good for Us

August 13, 2017
Dealing with Your Block’s Dog Waste Pick Up Scofflaw in Boston
A while back we received an email from a reader of our City Paws newspaper column who loves dogs but is having a real problem with one irresponsible neighbor with a dog. Rather than properly disposing of bags of dog waste, this person is leaving the bags on the sidewalk where they multiply for days at a time.

The vast majority of people with dogs do pick up and properly dispose of dog waste. Many of us carry a container of pick up bags right on our leashes, like the ones shown in the photo above. However it only takes one scofflaw on a block to give all dog people a bad name.

Our block has had our share of scofflaws and, in addition to picking up after them ourselves, we have joined with neighbors to identify the culprits and try to deal with their behavior.

Proper Disposal of Dog Waste

First you should know the legal grounds for a complaint to authorities in any case that involves disposal of dog waste. If you go to the city’s webpage on the topic, you’ll find links to the regulations.

While written in legal language, the city ordinance requires that those who are out and about with a dog:
1. Must remove all feces left by the dog on public property and on any private property that they do not own or occupy.
2. Must be able to show that they have a means of removal with them at all times. That means carrying a supply of pick up bags, not the one or two you thought you might need.
3. Must transport, “… such feces to a receptacle or other place suitable for the disposal of waste, trash, or debris.”
Sadly, if the irresponsible person happens to be over age 65, he or she is exempt from the ordinance and may get away with not picking up after a dog. However they still can't leave bags of dog waste in front of a building.

Action Steps

If you have a similar problem, first try to identify the person responsible, note their address and a description of the dog or dogs. Spread the word to neighbors to help with this step. In one case on my block, it was a woman who stood in her doorway and let her dogs out, off leash, to do their business every morning.

Call Animal Control with the address and a description. If the dog is licensed, they may be able to identify and warn the scofflaw. If you can give them a sense of a pattern of walks or the times when they might catch the person in the act, it might encourage them to send out an officer.

In the case of bagged dog waste, contact Inspectional Services and they can cite the building for improper garbage disposal.

Finally there is the 311 line by phone or the 311 app on a smartphone. If you and your neighbors keep sending in complaints, the city will be forced to respond. Having multiple complaints from other abutters will strengthen your case.

Unfortunately experience has taught us that confronting someone who would do something like this is unlikely to help. This type of behavior often seems to point to a wider issue of a person who is lacking in appropriate social skills or who is arrogant enough to believe that rules do not apply to them.

If you carry an ample supply of bags, (we buy them by the thousand!) you can offer one to someone when it looks like they are not going to pick up after their dog. Our favorite way to address this situation is to say, “You dropped something!” When they spin around to see what possible treasure they lost, we offer a pick up bag.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino
(Adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns.)
August 6, 2017
Dealing with Your Block’s Dog Waste Pick Up Scofflaw in Boston
A while back we received an email from a reader of our City Paws newspaper column who loves dogs but is having a real problem with one irresponsible neighbor with a dog. Rather than properly disposing of bags of dog waste, this person is leaving the bags on the sidewalk where they multiply for days at a time.

The vast majority of people with dogs do pick up and properly dispose of dog waste. Many of us carry a container of pick up bags right on our leashes, like the ones shown in the photo above. However it only takes one scofflaw on a block to give all dog people a bad name.

Our block has had our share of scofflaws and, in addition to picking up after them ourselves, we have joined with neighbors to identify the culprits and try to deal with their behavior.

Proper Disposal of Dog Waste

First you should know the legal grounds for a complaint to authorities in any case that involves disposal of dog waste. If you go to the city’s webpage on the topic, you’ll find links to the regulations.

While written in legal language, the city ordinance requires that those who are out and about with a dog:
1. Must remove all feces left by the dog on public property and on any private property that they do not own or occupy.
2. Must be able to show that they have a means of removal with them at all times. That means carrying a supply of pick up bags, not the one or two you thought you might need.
3. Must transport, “… such feces to a receptacle or other place suitable for the disposal of waste, trash, or debris.”
Sadly, if the irresponsible person happens to be over age 65, he or she is exempt from the ordinance and may get away with not picking up after a dog. However they still can't leave bags of dog waste in front of a building.

Action Steps

If you have a similar problem, first try to identify the person responsible, note their address and a description of the dog or dogs. Spread the word to neighbors to help with this step. In one case on my block, it was a woman who stood in her doorway and let her dogs out, off leash, to do their business every morning.

Call Animal Control with the address and a description. If the dog is licensed, they may be able to identify and warn the scofflaw. If you can give them a sense of a pattern of walks or the times when they might catch the person in the act, it might encourage them to send out an officer.

In the case of bagged dog waste, contact Inspectional Services and they can cite the building for improper garbage disposal.

Finally there is the 311 line by phone or the 311 app on a smartphone. If you and your neighbors keep sending in complaints, the city will be forced to respond. Having multiple complaints from other abutters will strengthen your case.

Unfortunately experience has taught us that confronting someone who would do something like this is unlikely to help. This type of behavior often seems to point to a wider issue of a person who is lacking in appropriate social skills or who is arrogant enough to believe that rules do not apply to them.

If you carry an ample supply of bags, (we buy them by the thousand!) you can offer one to someone when it looks like they are not going to pick up after their dog. Our favorite way to address this situation is to say, “You dropped something!” When they spin around to see what possible treasure they lost, we offer a pick up bag.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino
(Adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns.)
August 6, 2017