MBTA Unleashes Bomb-Sniffing Dogs
Three bomb-sniffing dogs were led into service along the MBTA this week. The Metro’s Boston edition reported Monday the three dogs – Moxie, Shifty and Wire – completed tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, completing weeks of training to get them used to working around civilians. The Metro also published a photo gallery of the dogs with their transit police counterparts Tuesday. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Categories: Arrests Tags: BombSniffing, Dogs, MBTA, Unleashes
MSPCA-Angell: Watch Out for Dogs in Hot Weather
The following is a message from MSPCA-Angell, headquartered in Jamaica Plain: In anticipation of…warming temperatures, veterinarians at Angell Animal Medical Center are cautioning dog owners to take greater care in acclimating their pets to the heat, as the first few days of Spring bring the greatest risk of overheating. According to Dr. Kiko Bracker, a veterinarian in Angell’s Emergency & Critical Care Unit, dogs at the greatest risk of suffering heat-related illness during the Spring are older, brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds or those with existing illnesses affecting their respiratory tract or heart. Studies in humans repeatedly show that people need two to three weeks to acclimatize to warmer temperatures—and the veterinary community believes the same holds true for dogs. “It takes on average about two to three weeks for dogs to become tolerant of warmer temperatures,” said Dr. Bracker. “Now that the sun is shining and temperatures are warming it’s natural to want to head out for long walks or runs with our pets—but we must all take great care to avoid overheating our dogs, which can lead to heat stroke and, in some instances, death.” Dog owners unwittingly put their dogs at risk at this time of year by encouraging them to run, chase toys or just be with them in the sun. Dogs are always eager for this kind of activity, given their highly social nature, and they all too often will overexert themselves. Dr. Bracker offers the following tips to help dog owners acclimatize their pets to warmer temperatures while still enjoying time outside: Make sure your dog has a check-up! A Springtime check-up will reveal any heart or respiratory issues that should be addressed before pets become more active in the summer months. Ensure dogs always have ready access to shade, water and rest—parks with leafy trees and soft ground along with streams or ponds (in which dogs can cool off) offer wonderful recreational opportunities with plenty of space to rest and cool off Try to exercise dogs in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are lower Be especially cautious with dogs who have short noses, such as Pugs and Bulldogs, as these dogs are especially vulnerable to overheating Never leave pets inside a car—which can heat up to 110 degrees in 10 minutes on an 80-degree day even with the windows slightly open. For more tips on keeping pets safe during hot weather readers can click here. South End Patch
Categories: Arrests Tags: Dogs, MSPCAAngell, Watch, Weather
News Nearby: Off-Leash Areas for Dogs on Common, Second JT and Jay-Z Show at Fenway
While we do our best to focus on news and events directly concerning the South End, sometimes it’s nice to know what’s going on in other Boston neighborhoods. Welcome to the weekly regional news roundup, which will bring you the top news from other Boston neighborhoods this week. Beacon Hill: Parks Department OKs Off-Leash Dog Areas on Common – The city’s Parks Department approved a plan Monday to designate parts of the Boston Common for off-leash dog recreation areas, but a date hasn’t been set for when the program will begin. Back Bay: Back Bay Hotel Now Officially a Loew’s Property With a champagne toast, the iconic Back Bay Hotel officially became the Loews Boston Back Bay Hotel Thursday. The Loews Hotels & Resorts chain announced plans to buy the building, at the corner of Berkeley and Stuart streets, last month. It had been owned since 2009 by the Doyle Collection, a Dublin company specializing in upscale hotels. Fenway-Kenmore: Second Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z Show Added at Fenway The first concert sold out in about 20 minutes, prompting the organizers to announce a second show at Fenway Park in August. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Local Author Selling Children’s Book on Dogs in South End
When author and journalist Scott Fayner was trying to decide what his next project would be, he looked around him. And saw dogs. Lots of dogs. That’s because at the time, Fayner was working at a dog daycare facility. Talk about drawing inspiration from your daily life. Fayner said he grew up with dogs and knew a lot about dogs, so the idea just seemed natural to him. “I wanted to help children learn from a young age about breeds and their characteristics and energy levels, so when they grow up they’ll have a better knowledge about which ones to choose,” he said. “If you have a breed like a Jack Russel Terrier in an apartment when you work all day they will ruin your house, and they end up in pounds, so it was a great project to help try to prevent that.” His new book, written with co-author Katie Bazaz, is called the ABCs of DOGs, and takes children through all the different dog breeds from A-Z, with two dogs for each letter of the alphabet. On the last page is a place for children to imagine their own type of dog breed with the characteristics that they like the best. Fayner met his co-author Bazaz, through their job at the dog daycare center. Although Fayner had experience with writing, Bazaz did not, and neither had any experience with publishing. “Katie had never been a part of something like this, but and she was really great,” Fayner said. “I never could have done this without her.” Through his work on the book, Fayner said the most interesting thing he learned was more about smaller breeds of dogs. “I’ve always liked big dogs, so I looked at smaller breeds as one type, like they were all the same,” he said. “But they really are not and have all different personalities.” “I also learned it’s not easy to write a book,” he said. The book is currently on sale atSooki, a women’s clothing and boutique store owned by Fayner’s mother, Suzan Griffith. Fayner said besides Amazon.com, the store is the only place where you can find his book right now, and based on how passionate South End residents are about their dogs, he thinks it’s a good fit. “The South End community is passionate about their dogs and treating them properly,” he said. “It’s a good way for young people to get started loving dogs, and maybe they’ll want a career working with dogs one day.” And maybe it isn’t just for kids. “What’s funny is that a lot of adults read it and they’re like, ‘I learned so […]