Tag: laws

Frequently Asked Questions About Real Service Dogs

A Boston Globe article this week has the headline, "Pretending your pet is a service animal? That could soon be illegal."

It talked about the problem of people who buy service dog vests and certificates online to obtain some of the accommodations meant for real service dogs. This, of course, makes if even more difficult for those who actually need the assistance their service animal provides.

Here's an example of the real thing. We met Dodie back in 2011 when he was in training to be a hearing ear dog.

This weekend Dodie and other hard working service animals hope you will read this page of Frequently Asked Questions from the American's with Disabilities Act about real service animals.

Then when you see a dog off-leash and are told that she is a service dog, you'll know that is very unlikely. When you see a dog wearing a service vest acting up, you'll have your doubts. And, perhaps, you'll speak up when an acquaintance tells you they are going to buy a vest and get a certificate.

The Globe article is actually about a piece of legislation filed this session in Massachusetts. As originally proposed, this says, “A person who violates this section commits a civil infraction, punishable by 30 hours of community service for an organization that serves individuals with disabilities, or for another entity or organization at the discretion of the court, to be completed in not more than 6 months and/or pay a fine no more than $500.”

We will be following this bill and trying to think of ways to address this problem.

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

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Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2011 Penny & Ed Cherubino

March 19, 2017
Duchess Poppy Welcomes New Boston Dogs and Fills Them in on What They Need to Know!

Duchess Poppy Whitehead here! (Once we're friends, you can call me Poppy.)

Every year around this time, I find myself "sniffing-up" with a lot of new members of my Boston Canine Court. So every year I try to let them, and the rest of the dogs who are new to Boston, know what they should put on the to-do list of their human servants.

License

Just like you have to make sure your chauffeur has a valid driver's license, you have to be sure one of your human staff members gets you a Boston dog license (if Boston is your main residence and you are more than six months old).

You can sit them down at a computer and send them to the Animal Care and Control page for more information. Here is the link for your secretary to get your license done on line.

Leash Laws

Please don't come running up to me on one of those long, thin, dangerous strings with a pulley. I'm a bit shy and I don't trust those things. You'll make me stamp my little paw down!

Boston's leash law is clearly stated on the city’s site, “When your dog is off your property, it must be on a leash.” City ordinance calls for a leash of 10-feet or less. That makes most retractable leashes technically illegal in Boston. If a person tries to attach one to you, growl at them.

One more interesting aspect of Boston’s dog rules is that while out with you, your retainers, if asked, must be able to show that they are carrying something to pick up dog waste. This makes city dog walks a prime reason to attach a roll of pick-up bags to your leash.

Even if your people use recycled bags to do the majority of clean ups, the roll will give them a back up supply if you are stopped after your business is done, but the walk isn’t.

Sir Felix is one of my special knights. He prefers a leather leash or halter when he escorts me around the pond.

Dog Parks

I must admit, I'm not much of a dog park dog. I prefer a nice chat on a park bench or a picnic lunch under a shady tree.

But, for those who like to romp, the legal exceptions to the leash law are: the “official off-leash hours” on the Boston Common, and inside the fences at dog parks like Peter’s Park in the South End, DeFilippo Park in the North End, and Ronan Park in Dorchester.

Emergency Services

The one bit of guidance you must be sure your humans note is that Angell Animal Medical Center Emergency Services are available, as they say, “… every day of the year, 24 hours each day.” My people have their number on all our cell phones in case of an emergency. And it can't hurt to have your chauffeur practice a drive to the location so he or she will know where you are going in a stressful time. You don't want to be giving the driver directions if you have an upset tummy.

Questions?

If you have questions about living in Boston, have your people send them to my people and I'll try to dig out answers. (I do love to dig.) Add your thoughts in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email.

Get to know all of the wonderful 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: The Most Noble Duchess Poppy of Whitehead. (Dictated to her humble servants Ed & Penny)
Photography: © 2013-2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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September 18, 2016
Duchess Poppy Welcomes New Boston Dogs and Fills Them in on What They Need to Know!

Duchess Poppy Whitehead here! (Once we're friends, you can call me Poppy.)

Every year around this time, I find myself "sniffing-up" with a lot of new members of my Boston Canine Court. So every year I try to let them, and the rest of the dogs who are new to Boston, know what they should put on the to-do list of their human servants.

License

Just like you have to make sure your chauffeur has a valid driver's license, you have to be sure one of your human staff members gets you a Boston dog license (if Boston is your main residence and you are more than six months old).

You can sit them down at a computer and send them to the Animal Care and Control page for more information. Here is the link for your secretary to get your license done on line.

Leash Laws

Please don't come running up to me on one of those long, thin, dangerous strings with a pulley. I'm a bit shy and I don't trust those things. You'll make me stamp my little paw down!

Boston's leash law is clearly stated on the city’s site, “When your dog is off your property, it must be on a leash.” City ordinance calls for a leash of 10-feet or less. That makes most retractable leashes technically illegal in Boston. If a person tries to attach one to you, growl at them.

One more interesting aspect of Boston’s dog rules is that while out with you, your retainers, if asked, must be able to show that they are carrying something to pick up dog waste. This makes city dog walks a prime reason to attach a roll of pick-up bags to your leash.

Even if your people use recycled bags to do the majority of clean ups, the roll will give them a back up supply if you are stopped after your business is done, but the walk isn’t.

Sir Felix is one of my special knights. He prefers a leather leash or halter when he escorts me around the pond.

Dog Parks

I must admit, I'm not much of a dog park dog. I prefer a nice chat on a park bench or a picnic lunch under a shady tree.

But, for those who like to romp, the legal exceptions to the leash law are: the “official off-leash hours” on the Boston Common, and inside the fences at dog parks like Peter’s Park in the South End, DeFilippo Park in the North End, and Ronan Park in Dorchester.

Emergency Services

The one bit of guidance you must be sure your humans note is that Angell Animal Medical Center Emergency Services are available, as they say, “… every day of the year, 24 hours each day.” My people have their number on all our cell phones in case of an emergency. And it can't hurt to have your chauffeur practice a drive to the location so he or she will know where you are going in a stressful time. You don't want to be giving the driver directions if you have an upset tummy.

Questions?

If you have questions about living in Boston, have your people send them to my people and I'll try to dig out answers. (I do love to dig.) Add your thoughts in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email.

Get to know all of the wonderful 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: The Most Noble Duchess Poppy of Whitehead. (Dictated to her humble servants Ed & Penny)
Photography: © 2013-2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Elevator Etiquette & Safety: A Sunday Dog Alert

Dogs on Public Transit, Boston: 101

Spread the Word on The Yellow Dog Project & DINOS!

September 18, 2016
Duchess Poppy Welcomes New Boston Dogs with What They Need to Know!

Duchess Poppy Whitehead here! (Once we're friends, you can call me Poppy.)

Lately, I've been sniffing up with a lot of new members of the Boston Canine Court. So I thought I might let them, and the rest of the dogs who are new to Boston, know what they should put on the to-do list of their human servants.

License

Just like you have to make sure your chauffeur has a valid driver's license, you have to be sure one of your human staff members gets you a Boston dog license. (If Boston is your main residence and you are more than six months old.)

You can sit them down at a computer and send them to the Animal Care and Control page for more information. Here is the link for your secretary to get your license done on line.

Leash Laws

Please don't come running up to me on one of those long, thin, dangerous strings with a pulley. I'm a bit shy and I don't trust those things. You'll make me stamp my little paw down!

Boston's leash law is clearly stated on the city’s site, “When your dog is off your property, it must be on a leash.” City ordinance calls for a leash of 10-feet or less. That makes most retractable leashes technically illegal in Boston. If a person tries to attach one to you, growl at them.

One more interesting aspect of Boston’s dog rules is that while out with you, your retainers, if asked, must be able to show that they are carrying something to pick up dog waste. This makes city dog walks a prime reason to attach a roll of pick-up bags to your leash.

Even if your people use recycled bags to do the majority of clean ups, the roll will give them a back up supplies if you are stopped after your business is done, but the walk isn’t.

Sir Felix is one of my special knights. He prefers a leather leash or halter when he escorts me around the pond.

Dog Parks

I must admit, I'm not much of a dog park dog. I prefer a nice chat on a park bench or a picnic lunch under a shady tree.

But, for those who like to romp, the legal exceptions to the leash law are: the “official off-leash hours” on the Boston Common, and inside the fences at dog parks like Peter’s Park in the South End, DeFilippo Park in the North End, and Ronan Park in Dorchester.

Emergency Services

The one bit of guidance you must be sure your humans note is that Angell Animal Medical Center Emergency Services are available, as they say, “… every day of the year, 24 hours each day.” My people have their number on all our cell phones in case of an emergency. And, it can't hurt to have your chauffeur practice a drive to the location so he or she will know where you are going in a stressful time. You don't want to be giving the driver directions if you have an upset tummy.

Questions?

If you have questions about living in Boston, have your people send them to my people and I'll try to dig out answers. (I do love to dig.) Add your thoughts in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email.

Get to know all of the wonderful 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: The Most Noble Duchess Poppy of Whitehead. (Dictated to her humble servants Ed & Penny)
Photography: © 2013-2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Elevator Etiquette & Safety: A Sunday Dog Alert

Dogs on Public Transit, Boston: 101

Spread the Word on The Yellow Dog Project & DINOS!

September 6, 2015
Duchess Poppy Welcomes New Boston Dogs with What They Need to Know!

Duchess Poppy Whitehead here! (Once we're friends, you can call me Poppy.)

Lately, I've been sniffing up with a lot of new members of the Boston Canine Court. So I thought I might let them, and the rest of the dogs who are new to Boston, know what they should put on the to-do list of their human servants.

License

Just like you have to make sure your chauffeur has a valid driver's license, you have to be sure one of your human staff members gets you a Boston dog license. (If Boston is your main residence and you are more than six months old.)

You can sit them down at a computer and send them to the Animal Care and Control page for more information. Here is the link for your secretary to get your license done on line.

Leash Laws

Please don't come running up to me on one of those long, thin, dangerous strings with a pulley. I'm a bit shy and I don't trust those things. You'll make me stamp my little paw down!

Boston's leash law is clearly stated on the city’s site, “When your dog is off your property, it must be on a leash.” City ordinance calls for a leash of 10-feet or less. That makes most retractable leashes technically illegal in Boston. If a person tries to attach one to you, growl at them.

One more interesting aspect of Boston’s dog rules is that while out with you, your retainers, if asked, must be able to show that they are carrying something to pick up dog waste. This makes city dog walks a prime reason to attach a roll of pick-up bags to your leash.

Even if your people use recycled bags to do the majority of clean ups, the roll will give them a back up supplies if you are stopped after your business is done, but the walk isn’t.

Sir Felix is one of my special knights. He prefers a leather leash or halter when he escorts me around the pond.

Dog Parks

I must admit, I'm not much of a dog park dog. I prefer a nice chat on a park bench or a picnic lunch under a shady tree.

But, for those who like to romp, the legal exceptions to the leash law are: the “official off-leash hours” on the Boston Common, and inside the fences at dog parks like Peter’s Park in the South End, DeFilippo Park in the North End, and Ronan Park in Dorchester.

Emergency Services

The one bit of guidance you must be sure your humans note is that Angell Animal Medical Center Emergency Services are available, as they say, “… every day of the year, 24 hours each day.” My people have their number on all our cell phones in case of an emergency. And, it can't hurt to have your chauffeur practice a drive to the location so he or she will know where you are going in a stressful time. You don't want to be giving the driver directions if you have an upset tummy.

Questions?

If you have questions about living in Boston, have your people send them to my people and I'll try to dig out answers. (I do love to dig.) Add your thoughts in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email.

Get to know all of the wonderful 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: The Most Noble Duchess Poppy of Whitehead. (Dictated to her humble servants Ed & Penny)
Photography: © 2013-2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Elevator Etiquette & Safety: A Sunday Dog Alert

Dogs on Public Transit, Boston: 101

Spread the Word on The Yellow Dog Project & DINOS!

September 6, 2015