Tag: rabies clinics

Dutchess Poppy Says, Time to Get Your Dog License for 2017

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

Here is something you need to put on the to-do list of your human servants.

GET YOUR 2017 DOG LICENSE

In Boston it's so simple even a human can do it. I nagged a bit when I spotted the envelope from Inspectional Services in the mail pile, sat Penny down at her computer, and I already have an official 2017 dog tag from the city.

License

Because I already had all my information in the system, the city sent a reminder to my staff. But, this year, it arrived early in February instead of late March or April. Good work dog license crew.

My new tag arrived in a week!

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 online.

Should you require an updated rabies vaccination before you can apply for a license, there are a few low-cost rabies clinics scheduled. Here's the list. Or you can Download 2017 Boston Rabies Clinics.

Staff Training on 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, g-r-o-w-l 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 during 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.

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Details:

Words: The Most Noble Duchess Poppy of Whitehead. (Dictated to her humble servants Ed & Penny)
Photography: © 2013-2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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February 12, 2017
Changes in Boston Dog Licensing for 2015

We decided that all the changes around the topic of Boston dog licensing this year made a weekday post the best way to get the information out to our widest audience. If you have a dog or have friends with dogs that count on you for information from social media, here's what you need to know.

This postcard from Inspectional Services arrived in our mailbox this week. We already have our dog license because we applied online when our own annual reminder came up on our calendar on March 1st.

No form and no return envelope were supplied with this mailing. An increased fee was announced effective May 1st but I was already charged this fee in March. And, no mention was made of the department's move to 1010 Massachusetts Avenue that you will learn about below.

As we said in one of our Sunday Dog posts, "Massachusetts law requires that all dogs be licensed with their city or town by April 1st of each year. To apply, you must have proof of a current rabies vaccination.

"Normally, Boston officials send out packages reminding people with dogs to renew. I called Animal Care and Control to check if the mailing had gone out and found that it's been delayed this year and that the city of Boston plans to delay enforcement.

"I don't know what this does if you are in another city or town with your dog, since it's a state law that requires a license. Better apply online today and I would carry a copy of the receipt from the city until your tag arrives. Then, you would have something to show if you are stopped."

Apply & Pay Online

Here's the link to apply for a dog license in Boston. (Check your city or town to see if it offers this convenient service.)

Here is a copy of the application if you want to mail it. Download 2015 dog License Application.

Animal Care and Control is Moving

If you want to apply in person, you should know that the Animal Care and Control department is moving. Here is the city's announcement on that.

"2015 Dog licensing notes: We're Moving!

Effective March 30, 2015– the administrative office of Animal Care and Control will be moved to 1010 Mass Ave. Boston, MA 02118. The Animal Care and Control Animal Shelter will remain at it's current location, 26 Mahler Rd. Roslindale, MA 02131. Thank you for your patience during our transition."

Facebook Instead of information on the City site

When we searched for information about low cost rabies clinics on the city site, we found only a stale 2014 list.

Apparently the department is now using Facebook to announce important information like this.

That's not great for those who try to avoid this particular social media outlet and silly since not all items posted there will be seen by the people who are following the page. What is shown to each individual is up to Facebook.

"All posts from pages you 'Liked' are not showing up in your Facebook news feed. Only 10% of you will see posts unless page administrators pay to promote them. Since pages like ours are run exclusively by volunteers, we do not have a budget to pay for advertising." More here.

You'll also notice that this is a much shorter list of clinics. Five are listed here, while there were fourteen scheduled last year.

Editorial Page!

Early on, we had hopes that this administration would be dog friendly when we heard that the department was renamed Animal Care and Control and was moved under the direction of Human Services and Felix Arroyo.

Now, it seems it has been put under Inspectional Services, a department historically understaffed and with a record of less than user friendly performance. This is all very disappointing. Lets hope the city gets its act together, schedules more clinics, and puts more CARE and COMMON SENSE into services for people who have animals.

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: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino with screenshots from the city outlets.

March 30, 2015
Changes in Boston Dog Licensing for 2015

We decided that all the changes around the topic of Boston dog licensing this year made a weekday post the best way to get the information out to our widest audience. If you have a dog or have friends with dogs that count on you for information from social media, here's what you need to know.

This postcard from Inspectional Services arrived in our mailbox this week. We already have our dog license because we applied online when our own annual reminder came up on our calendar on March 1st.

No form and no return envelope were supplied with this mailing. An increased fee was announced effective May 1st but I was already charged this fee in March. And, no mention was made of the department's move to 1010 Massachusetts Avenue that you will learn about below.

As we said in one of our Sunday Dog posts, "Massachusetts law requires that all dogs be licensed with their city or town by April 1st of each year. To apply, you must have proof of a current rabies vaccination.

"Normally, Boston officials send out packages reminding people with dogs to renew. I called Animal Care and Control to check if the mailing had gone out and found that it's been delayed this year and that the city of Boston plans to delay enforcement.

"I don't know what this does if you are in another city or town with your dog, since it's a state law that requires a license. Better apply online today and I would carry a copy of the receipt from the city until your tag arrives. Then, you would have something to show if you are stopped."

Apply & Pay Online

Here's the link to apply for a dog license in Boston. (Check your city or town to see if it offers this convenient service.)

Here is a copy of the application if you want to mail it. Download 2015 dog License Application.

Animal Care and Control is Moving

If you want to apply in person, you should know that the Animal Care and Control department is moving. Here is the city's announcement on that.

"2015 Dog licensing notes: We're Moving!

Effective March 30, 2015– the administrative office of Animal Care and Control will be moved to 1010 Mass Ave. Boston, MA 02118. The Animal Care and Control Animal Shelter will remain at it's current location, 26 Mahler Rd. Roslindale, MA 02131. Thank you for your patience during our transition."

Facebook Instead of information on the City site

When we searched for information about low cost rabies clinics on the city site, we found only a stale 2014 list.

Apparently the department is now using Facebook to announce important information like this.

That's not great for those who try to avoid this particular social media outlet and silly since not all items posted there will be seen by the people who are following the page. What is shown to each individual is up to Facebook.

"All posts from pages you 'Liked' are not showing up in your Facebook news feed. Only 10% of you will see posts unless page administrators pay to promote them. Since pages like ours are run exclusively by volunteers, we do not have a budget to pay for advertising." More here.

You'll also notice that this is a much shorter list of clinics. Five are listed here, while there were fourteen scheduled last year.

Editorial Page!

Early on, we had hopes that this administration would be dog friendly when we heard that the department was renamed Animal Care and Control and was moved under the direction of Human Services and Felix Arroyo.

Now, it seems it has been put under Inspectional Services, a department historically understaffed and with a record of less than user friendly performance. This is all very disappointing. Lets hope the city gets its act together, schedules more clinics, and puts more CARE and COMMON SENSE into services for people who have animals.

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: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino with screenshots from the city outlets.

March 30, 2015