Category: Boston Dogs

Poppy Says, “Time for Some Emergency Planning”

Here's Poppy with her bright red emergency bag ready to go out the door. It's also her pre-packed travel bag with everything she needs, except food and water, when we travel. (We have an emergency backpack that has a supply of food and water for all of us.)

The heart of hurricane season is here. If you have companion animals, you need a plan because, should a storm or other disaster strike, you are on your own when it comes to finding shelter for your entire family.

The City of Boston ReadyBoston program says, “Don't forget your pets! If your family needs to go to a shelter, please know that all Red Cross shelters and many others do not allow pets unless they are service animals. Talk to your veterinarian now to determine where the closest emergency animal shelter is located to ensure your pet's safety.”

Make Your Own Plan & Emergency Kit

I doubt your veterinarian will have a satisfactory answer to that question. You have to make plans for a safe place to go with your animals in case of an emergency. While large scale disasters come to mind, it could also be a water leak or fire in your building.

If you have a friend or relative who will shelter you for a few days, that is ideal. You should also have the phone numbers of a few pet-friendly hotels, both near your home and in the surrounding areas, where you might reserve a room until the immediate danger has passed and those charged with emergency management begin to offer solutions for families with animals.

MSPCA Emergency Resource Pages

The MSPCA has set up a very complete and helpful collection of disaster planning resources on their website.

They break down what you need to do into three sections:

Preparedness Before the Disaster

Evacuation Essentials

After the Disaster

Support Pending Legislation

Perhaps the most important thing you can do is act to change the current situation that leaves those of us with companion animals on our own in disaster situations.

State Senator Karen Spilka has introduced, “An Act ensuring the safety of people with pets in disasters.” It is bill number S. 1172. Contact your state senator and representative and ask them to support S. 1172. The MSPCA has a page explaining what this legistation will do and why it should be supported.

Ask the Mayoral Candidates

Since we have a mayoral race underway in Boston, you might ask those candidates what they'll do to change the city’s emergency plans to include those of us who consider our animals part of our family.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

August 25, 2013
Sunday Dog, Maddox – A South End Fan!

The strangest thing happened last weekend, Poppy took us for a walk to the South End. I mean, the journey started out normal enough, but somehow our puppy, who’s visited this neighborhood many times in her young life, was actually leading the way.

After several direction changes, we turned a corner and ran right into a small, dark, and handsome Cockapoo named Maddox! Serendipity? I think not.

As it turns out, he’s a BostonZest fan who’s followed us for years! (And, apparently, Poppy has figured out how to follow those twitter feeds.)

Maddox is a pretty easy going guy who often enjoys sleeping in. In fact, his person usually has to wake him up in the morning, which they both seem to like.

At 10-and-a-half, Maddox still has fun with his favorite toy, a 5-legged octopus – which has obviously been through a lot of playtime. Every once in awhile he gets a super-squeaky but, of course, only breaks that out in the middle of the night.

As we said goodbye, this little guy pulled a face. Then, I swear, Poppy whispered something in his ear and he perked up again. Something tells me we’ll all be “walked” this way again, soon.

See ya, Maddox!

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

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

August 18, 2013
Sunday Dog, Maddox – A South End Fan!

The strangest thing happened last weekend, Poppy took us for a walk to the South End. I mean, the journey started out normal enough, but somehow our puppy, who’s visited this neighborhood many times in her young life, was actually leading the way.

After several direction changes, we turned a corner and ran right into a small, dark, and handsome Cockapoo named Maddox! Serendipity? I think not.

As it turns out, he’s a BostonZest fan who’s followed us for years! (And, apparently, Poppy has figured out how to follow those twitter feeds.)

Maddox is a pretty easy going guy who often enjoys sleeping in. In fact, his person usually has to wake him up in the morning, which they both seem to like.

At 10-and-a-half, Maddox still has fun with his favorite toy, a 5-legged octopus – which has obviously been through a lot of playtime. Every once in awhile he gets a super-squeaky but, of course, only breaks that out in the middle of the night.

As we said goodbye, this little guy pulled a face. Then, I swear, Poppy whispered something in his ear and he perked up again. Something tells me we’ll all be “walked” this way again, soon.

See ya, Maddox!

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

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

August 18, 2013
Sunday Dog, Maddox – A South End Fan!

The strangest thing happened last weekend, Poppy took us for a walk to the South End. I mean, the journey started out normal enough, but somehow our puppy, who’s visited this neighborhood many times in her young life, was actually leading the way.

After several direction changes, we turned a corner and ran right into a small, dark, and handsome Cockapoo named Maddox! Serendipity? I think not.

As it turns out, he’s a BostonZest fan who’s followed us for years! (And, apparently, Poppy has figured out how to follow those twitter feeds.)

Maddox is a pretty easy going guy who often enjoys sleeping in. In fact, his person usually has to wake him up in the morning, which they both seem to like.

At 10-and-a-half, Maddox still has fun with his favorite toy, a 5-legged octopus – which has obviously been through a lot of playtime. Every once in awhile he gets a super-squeaky but, of course, only breaks that out in the middle of the night.

As we said goodbye, this little guy pulled a face. Then, I swear, Poppy whispered something in his ear and he perked up again. Something tells me we’ll all be “walked” this way again, soon.

See ya, Maddox!

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

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

August 18, 2013
Sunday Dog, Nika – A Stunningly Gorgeous Siberian!

Nika is a stunningly gorgeous Siberian Husky whom we’ve had the pleasure of knowing for years. And, while it doesn’t seem possible, at eleven, she has become even more beautiful.

But, Nika’s allure goes well beyond her ice-blue eyes. It’s a fusion of many admirable bits that sets her apart. Even as a very playful puppy, “she was able to sit and be quiet,” her person recalled. “She had this kind of regal look.” There’s a centeredness, what some might call a Zen quality, about her.

“Because she’s a Siberian Husky, I felt she needed to have a Russian name.” We agree that Nika suits her well. It’s pretty with just the right amount of mystery and calmness to it.

The American Kennel Club describes the Husky as: “agreeable and outgoing … suitable for anything from sledding to therapy work … a great all-around dog.”

Others use words like: “intelligent … affectionate … more companion than pet.” Her best friend, who writes short stories, put it best, “Nika will sit with me, just be with me. She’s wonderful company.”

No wonder we all love you so much, Nika. Thanks for being this week’s Sunday Dog!

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

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

August 11, 2013
Sunday Dog, Nika – A Stunningly Gorgeous Siberian!

Nika is a stunningly gorgeous Siberian Husky whom we’ve had the pleasure of knowing for years. And, while it doesn’t seem possible, at eleven, she has become even more beautiful.

But, Nika’s allure goes well beyond her ice-blue eyes. It’s a fusion of many admirable bits that sets her apart. Even as a very playful puppy, “she was able to sit and be quiet,” her person recalled. “She had this kind of regal look.” There’s a centeredness, what some might call a Zen quality, about her.

“Because she’s a Siberian Husky, I felt she needed to have a Russian name.” We agree that Nika suits her well. It’s pretty with just the right amount of mystery and calmness to it.

The American Kennel Club describes the Husky as: “agreeable and outgoing … suitable for anything from sledding to therapy work … a great all-around dog.”

Others use words like: “intelligent … affectionate … more companion than pet.” Her best friend, who writes short stories, put it best, “Nika will sit with me, just be with me. She’s wonderful company.”

No wonder we all love you so much, Nika. Thanks for being this week’s Sunday Dog!

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

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

August 11, 2013
Sunday Dog, Nika – A Stunningly Gorgeous Siberian!

Nika is a stunningly gorgeous Siberian Husky whom we’ve had the pleasure of knowing for years. And, while it doesn’t seem possible, at eleven, she has become even more beautiful.

But, Nika’s allure goes well beyond her ice-blue eyes. It’s a fusion of many admirable bits that sets her apart. Even as a very playful puppy, “she was able to sit and be quiet,” her person recalled. “She had this kind of regal look.” There’s a centeredness, what some might call a Zen quality, about her.

“Because she’s a Siberian Husky, I felt she needed to have a Russian name.” We agree that Nika suits her well. It’s pretty with just the right amount of mystery and calmness to it.

The American Kennel Club describes the Husky as: “agreeable and outgoing … suitable for anything from sledding to therapy work … a great all-around dog.”

Others use words like: “intelligent … affectionate … more companion than pet.” Her best friend, who writes short stories, put it best, “Nika will sit with me, just be with me. She’s wonderful company.”

No wonder we all love you so much, Nika. Thanks for being this week’s Sunday Dog!

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

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

August 11, 2013
Sunday Dog, Zoey’s New Life in Boston

Not long ago, Zoey was saved from a last stop shelter in Arkansas and given a new life in Boston. Now, at about 14 months old, this charming little Dachshund is settling into her city home with ease. And, that means exploring, sniffing, and tasting every bit of her world!

“She’s a goat,” her person told us. “Anything that falls on the floor she’ll eat … all the sticks, acorns from the squirrels – she loves to eat!” Of course, when you’re a growing puppy, it’s behavior often seen as a right of passage, a way of testing boundaries, and learning about your surroundings.

And, for Zoey, learning also means “training!” This very bright, little hound is currently attending Good Manners Class at the Animal Rescue League.

How’s she doing? We were told, that when the trainer walks her around, she is perfectly obedient, but when the leash comes back to her regular companion, Zoey steals everyone’s treats because she’s food driven. "She passes, but I fail," her friend told us.

Hmm … sounds familiar to us. We know that with our feisty little Poppy there’s a lot of 2-legged training to be done on the other end of any leash. Teamwork will win out in the end.

Heel, Zoey! And, thanks for being this week’s Sunday Dog.

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

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

August 4, 2013
Sunday Dog, Zoey’s New Life in Boston

Not long ago, Zoey was saved from a last stop shelter in Arkansas and given a new life in Boston. Now, at about 14 months old, this charming little Dachshund is settling into her city home with ease. And, that means exploring, sniffing, and tasting every bit of her world!

“She’s a goat,” her person told us. “Anything that falls on the floor she’ll eat … all the sticks, acorns from the squirrels – she loves to eat!” Of course, when you’re a growing puppy, it’s behavior often seen as a right of passage, a way of testing boundaries, and learning about your surroundings.

And, for Zoey, learning also means “training!” This very bright, little hound is currently attending Good Manners Class at the Animal Rescue League.

How’s she doing? We were told, that when the trainer walks her around, she is perfectly obedient, but when the leash comes back to her regular companion, Zoey steals everyone’s treats because she’s food driven. "She passes, but I fail," her friend told us.

Hmm … sounds familiar to us. We know that with our feisty little Poppy there’s a lot of 2-legged training to be done on the other end of any leash. Teamwork will win out in the end.

Heel, Zoey! And, thanks for being this week’s Sunday Dog.

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

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

August 4, 2013
Sunday Dog, Zoey’s New Life in Boston

Not long ago, Zoey was saved from a last stop shelter in Arkansas and given a new life in Boston. Now, at about 14 months old, this charming little Dachshund is settling into her city home with ease. And, that means exploring, sniffing, and tasting every bit of her world!

“She’s a goat,” her person told us. “Anything that falls on the floor she’ll eat … all the sticks, acorns from the squirrels – she loves to eat!” Of course, when you’re a growing puppy, it’s behavior often seen as a right of passage, a way of testing boundaries, and learning about your surroundings.

And, for Zoey, learning also means “training!” This very bright, little hound is currently attending Good Manners Class at the Animal Rescue League.

How’s she doing? We were told, that when the trainer walks her around, she is perfectly obedient, but when the leash comes back to her regular companion, Zoey steals everyone’s treats because she’s food driven. "She passes, but I fail," her friend told us.

Hmm … sounds familiar to us. We know that with our feisty little Poppy there’s a lot of 2-legged training to be done on the other end of any leash. Teamwork will win out in the end.

Heel, Zoey! And, thanks for being this week’s Sunday Dog.

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

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

August 4, 2013