June 2015
Wags and Tags
Celebrating the canine-human bond!

          This newsletter is brought to you by Arlington Dog Owners Group (A-DOG), a 501(c)(3) community organization promoting the rights and interests of responsible dog owners in Arlington, MA.  

If you're not already a member, we hope you'll want to  join A-DOG!


Wags and Tags editorial team:  Joan Black, Sue Doctrow, Ellen Leigh, Judy Weinberg 
A-DOG logos designed by Lisa Berasi for Arlington Dog Owners Group, all rights reserved

A-DOG's 2015 Dog Licensing Contest Winners!
 Our 2nd successful year promoting dog licensing in Arlington


 

Congratulations to the winners of A-DOG's 2015 (2nd Annual) Arlington Dog Licensing Contest!  Like last year, license numbers were selected at random from among all dog licenses issued up until March 1, 2015.  One prize was awarded to top one drawn whose owner is an A-DOG member, and the other was awarded to the top one drawn, regardless of A-DOG membership.  The A-DOG Member prize went to Kyra, Colleen and Shelby Donohue!  This prize consisted of a dog bed donated by Unleashed in Arlington Heights, a Friend of A-DOG as well as a handcrafted custom A-DOG pottery bowl, created by artist Melody Thomas and donated by A-DOG Vice President Ann Smith.

 

The prize going to any Arlington dog owner was a gift certificate for a free grooming, donated by Robin's Nest Pet Salon of Arlington, also a Friend of A-DOG.  This was awarded to Mary Mitri and family, with Sandy, Sarah and Peter Mitri are shown in the photo below.  (Sue Doctrow of our editorial board was delighted to find out that, as a volunteer, she had done a home visit years ago when Mary's family adopted lovely Sandy!)

 

Congratulations to our winners, and thank-you to those who generously donated the prizes. Please don't forget all the good reasons to license your dog in Arlington!

 


 

The "license and registration" cartoon is by Shunsuke Yamaguchi and the artist's fee was donated to A-DOG by Joan and Dana Black. Other photos:  (top) Kyra, Colleen and Shelby Donohue and (middle) Sandy, Sarah and Peter Mitri, our prizewinners!
A-DOG's Meeting Highlights from May 26
A summary of A-DOG's third board/member meeting of 2015

This meeting was facilitated by A-DOG Vice President Joan Black.


 

Brief Introductions (including each member's personal connections to A-DOG and one short dog tale ;-)


 

Membership Drive report.  The drive successful in terms of generating renewals. The new dog owners mailing produced limited results (and will be reconsidered for next year). (reported by Joan Black for Membership Committee) 


 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

  • WAGS & TAGS has an expanded editorial committee meeting informally each month. Judy Weinberg and Ellen Leigh have joined the team, along with Joan Black and Sue Doctrow. Other interested people are welcome. 
  • LOCATIONS for A-DOG membership brochures have been updated. Brochures will be displayed, with brochure holders where needed, to attract NEW members. POSTERS were recommended for parks, bulletin boards.
  • K9 RAC (K9 Recreational Activities Committee) with Joan Black representing A-DOG  met to plan FUN activities and to FUND Thorndike Off Leash Recreational Area. First event will be the K9 RAVE on July 18 from 7-9pm.
  • A-DOG will participate in SPRING FLING May 31 in collaboration with SOMDOG. Ann Smith and Joan Black volunteered to be at the A-DOG table.
  • WHINE & WINE TASTING MEMBERSHIP Celebration will be held on June 10th with Ann Smith, Roslyn Smith and Joan Black planning, publicizing and providing refreshments and prizes for drawing. (Volunteers were to be recruited as greeters and photographer.)

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

  • Discussion of Possible Events for Summer and Fall:

JULY 18: K9 RAVE: A-DOG will have a table: (Volunteers are needed that night)

AUGUST 23: DOG DAYS of SUMMER: K9-RAC/A-DOG will have a table (Volunteers needed that day)

FUTURE EVENTS Suggestions included: 

Park Meet Ups (Breed, Size or Age), Off Leash Guided Walks, Training Program Demonstration and  Author Visit (Doggie Investigation series includes bringing therapy dogs who are characters in the books)

Jessica Farman interested in "Breed Meet-ups"; Mary McCartney interested in a "Training Program" 

 

  • NEXT MEETING AUGUST 24, 2015  for the TOWN DAY PLANNING & FALL EVENTS; Budget to purchase prizes for Events games was approved. 

 

There was enthusiastic discussion and lively participation. Refreshments and conversation were enjoyed by all when the meeting concluded at 8:30. 


 

***** 

Photo:  A scene from A-DOG's 2014 Town Day booth, showing Janice Zazinski (Beloved Companion Animal Massage).

K9-RAC ROCKS AND WILL RAVE JULY 18

Inaugural event organized by Arlington's K9-RAC to benefit the Thorndike Dog Park!


 


 


 

The newly formed K9 Recreational Activities Committee held their first meeting in April of 2015 at the Community Safety Building's Community Room. The purpose was to plan

fun and exciting recreational activities for the canine community and their owners in Arlington. The ideas were flying for over an hour of brainstorming as a group of people were united by their love of animals.  It was obvious they shared an enthusiasm for providing positive and unique events for people and their canine companions. Together they are tasked with the goal of raising funds for maintaining Arlington's Thorndike Field Dog Park. It was decided that the first event would be held in July 18,2015 from 7-9 pm at the Ed Burns Arena.


 

"The K9-Recreation Activities Committee (K9-RAC) is off to a great start! We have a fantastic team of volunteers with a diverse background who all share a love and passion for dogs. This year our goal is to start creating fun events for Arlington dog owners. Of course, all are welcome to come - non dog owners as well! Our hope is that through these exciting events we can gather as a canine community socially, build a positive canine community, support the town of Arlington, and raise funds to maintain the Thorndike Dog Park." Daria Pannesi.We encourage everyone to bring your dogs and have some fun indoors on a hot July evening! Tickets are $5 per person preregistered

(http://www.arlingtonrec.com/info/) or $10 at the door. For more information or to

register please call 781-316-3880 or email [email protected]


 

Featuring:

  • Woofie Pie Eating Contest
  • Delicious Food Truck for Humans
  • Local  Dog Themed and Focused Vendors
  • Face Painting
  • Dog Demonstrations
  • Vendors: {just a sampling}
  • Scentwork Dog Willing
  • Last Hope Rescue with some "foster"dogs
  • Mess Haul Food Truck
  • Cod Aquad Food Truck
  • Whoopie Wagon Food Truck
  • Painted by Clover Face Painter
  • Color Me Funny by Etsco Face Painter
  • Sit Stay Beg, Cookie Company
  • Blue Sky Dogs
  • A-DOG
  • StrutnPup
  • Crate escape
  • 2DOG Treats
  • Bisher Products

and so much more

                                              



 

MEMBERS of K9-Recreational Activities Committee (K-9 RAC)


  


 

Daria Pannesi,  Director of K9-RAC, is also Founder of StrutnPup LLC, a local dog walking, pet sitting and pet transportation company. Prior to that Daria has managed teams of up to 30 writers and has substantial Marketing Communications experience spanning a wide variety of industries including technology, data analytics, healthcare, venture capital and gaming. Daria holds a Bachelor's of Arts in Public Relations and Marketing Communications and Master's of Science in Communications Management from Simmons College. She also has 3 dogs and a cat - all rescued from local shelters.

 

 

Eileen O'Shea is a resident volunteer and holds a MBA from Boston College and is recently retired from The Greater Boston Food Bank where she was the Director of Community Outreach and Compliance. She has lived in Arlington for 17 years and loves this community, particularly for its dog friendly environment and activities. Two years ago Eileen adopted a timid 6 week old rescue puppy whom she named Molly to share her life. With love and understanding and the help of her four grandsons ages 10, 8, 6 and 4  Molly has  become "one of the happiest little dogs ever" according to her vet.

 

 *Amanda Kennedy is Arlington's Animal Control Officer with a wide background working in animal welfare and dedicated to building community.


 

Jennifer Burns is Owner and Senior Canine Walkologist of Blue Sky Dogs, a dog walking and pet sitting company serving Arlington's pups and their families since 2005. Blue Sky Dogs' philosophy is to provide the highest quality care for each unique dog. "I'm looking forward to supporting Daria and Arlington K9-RAC in providing fun and unexpected events for Arlington's four legged and two legged residents." 


 

Joan Black is an Arlington Dog Owners Group (A-DOG) Board Member and Officer and a lifelong resident of Arlington. Dogs have always been an essential part of her life and presently she shares her home and family with three rescue dogs.  As a retired Arlington Public Schools teacher, mother of four, and grandmother of two little girls Joan believes the values of kindness, compassion and responsibility should be shared with each other and our companion animals in meaningful and FUN ways to enrich the Arlington Community. She is excited about working with K9-RAC along with her other community projects and activism. 

 

Nanette Bisher moved to Arlington three years ago from San Francisco and says, "HOWDY!"  She works at Unleashed on Mass. Ave. in Arlington as a dog trainer. Nanette feels that there is nothing better than seeing the bond between pup and human evolve and strengthen over the course of a class. During the day Nanette also rehabs houses transforming them into handsome homes. She feels that supporting K9-RAC is a privilege.

 


 

The K9-RAC  invites you to

SAVE THE DATE for K9-RAVE

SATURDAY, JULY 18th from 7-9pm



 

  Photos show (upper) the K9-RAVE poster publicizing the event around town and (lower) K9-RAC member Jen Burns with her dog Maxine.  
*Since the K9-RAC had its initial meeting, Amanda Kennedy has resigned her post as Arlington's ACO to become Director of Animal Care and Control for the city of Boston.  Congratulations to Amanda, though she will really be missed in Arlington! It has been wonderful for A-DOG to have worked with her.

"Two Front Paws Up" for Pawsome People and Awesome Dogs!
Congratulations to.....




 

SPRING FLING Somerville Dog Owners Group organizers and participants, including A-DOG representatives Joan Black and Ann Smith.  Here is Joan's report from the event:  Despite threats of impending rain and winds on May 31 from 11-4, many  well mannered canines brought their human companions to Somerville's Zero New Washington Park for the 3rd Annual Spring Fling. This year's theme was PICNIC BY THE PARK.  A-DOG was on hand to support the festivities of their sister organization SOMDOG. The event featured a beer garden picnic area sponsored by Crate Escape, local business friends and vendors, and activities for dog owners and their pups such as a "recall clinic" by Vera Wilkinson, agility with Leah Tremble and disc demos by Beantown Disc Dogs. Attendees were encouraged to bring donations of collars, leashes, dry dog and cat food, towels and blankets for Somerville Animal Control. The van was filled with generous contributions by the end of the day.  Both SOMDOG and A-DOG  had  tents for membership information.  A-DOG's booth was very popular as we provided information about Arlington parks. offered treats and water for visiting dogs, and encouraged people to play our ever popular "BREED GAME."  It is interesting to note that for safety no flex leashes or prong collars were allowed. We hope that Spring Fling is one event celebrating a growing partnership between SOMDOG and A-DOG. Thank you to Ann Smith for tabling with me through the wind and weather and to Brian Davis, President of SOMDOG, for sharing the event with A-DOG and for providing us with a tent and friendship. The Picnic by the Park was great fun and now we can all SWING into SPRING.

 


 

Jackie Benjes, 13 years old, who organized a successful local event helping a Massachusetts shelter. Jackie's story about the event:  "My name is Jackie Benjes, and I am 13 years old. I organized a 5K race to benefit the Northeast Animal Shelter the largest no - kill, non-profit shelter in New England on June 7 , 2015. It was a very fun event, and we had about 150 people and dogs of all breeds. We raised over $3,200! The 5K was dedicated to Mickey, my grandparents' dog. Mickey passed away in April 2015, and we have been missing him every day since then. He was a great dog with the sweetest personality who would always come right up to you at the door and make you smile when you came in. Graphic Designer Tina Strauss created a t-shirt logo, and at the event Roscoe from Airbrush Boston came and airbrushed names and pictures on the back! We had many different groups and activities at the 5K - Burlington Veterinary Hospital, New England Dog Training Club, the Northeast Animal Shelter, a raffle, and LOTS of food! We also had Graphic Designer Tina Strauss create a Paw Power t-shirt logo, and at the event we had someone come from Airbrush Boston and he airbrushed pictures and names on the back! The winners of the race received Lakota Bakery gift cards, a gift card to Wilson Farm, or a free grooming at Shaynedoro in Lexington, MA.  If you would like to donate to continue to help me raise more money for the Northeast Animal Shelter, please visit my website .  Thank you in advance for your support!"

 

 

Photos:  (top) Somerville Animal Control team showing donated items collected at Spring Fling; (center and bottom) photos from Jackie Benjies Paw Power Pet Jamboree!
 
PAWS to Mark Your Calendar!
Save the dates for coming events

  

  

APRIL MAY BE OUR OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP MONTH BUT WE NEED YOU ON OUR TEAM ALL YEAR!  If you haven't already, join the A-DOG Pack.  "NEW" or "RENEW", IT IS EASY TO DO...Sign up today here.  

 


Mark your calendar for SUMMER EVENTS  over the next few months including (*) those that involve A-DOG.  Please consider attending or volunteering for the events involving A-DOG.  Contact us if you're interested in volunteering at any of these events...we need you!

____________
 

Saturday, June 20 (10 am - 2 pm).  Stoneham Kiwanis Dog Show, The Green in Stoneham Center.  Details here.
 

 

*Saturday, July 18 (7-9 PM).  K9 RAVE 2015 is coming to the Ed Burns Arena at 422 Summer Street, Arlington.  Are you and your canine companion ready to have a ROCKING good time?  K9 RAVE will be a festival of FUN activities including music, food, demonstrations, vendors, dance and an "off leash" area. Pay in advance ($5) or at the door ($10) to benefit Arlington's Thorndike Off-Leash Recreational Area (our beloved dog park).  This is the first event organized by K9 RAC (K9 Recreational Activities Committee) under the leadership of Director Daria Pannesi. For questions or further information please contact the Arlington Recreation Dept.  A-DOG will have a table featuring Beloved Companion Animal Massage.  We need one or two more volunteers to help us spread the word about A-DOG!

 

 

*Sunday August 23 at the Arlington Reservoir (details/time to be announced).  DOG DAYS of SUMMER.  This is the 2nd annual event and last year it was a very popular swimming event for people and their dogs.  A-DOG will be participating and volunteers for our table/booth would be very much appreciated.  


 

*Tuesday, August 25 at Jefferson Cutter House 7:30-8:30 the A-DOG Meeting will focus on planning Town Day and other fall event planning. Come with ideas and enthusiasm.  


 

*Saturday, September 12 (10 am - 3 pm) TOWN DAY will find A-DOG's booth filled with information and FUN Activities for everyone with and without dogs.  Please volunteer to spend some time at the booth, helping to spread the word about A-DOG and responsible dog ownership in Arlington!

 

_____________

 

Future A-DOG Meetings:  Annual Meeting, Tuesday, October 27 (7:30 - 8:30 pm) Jefferson Cutter House Community Room, Arlington Center.  Town Day booth planning session, Tuesday, August 25, same time and place. 


 

Send us calendar items for possible inclusion in this section in future Wags and Tags issues!  

 

Photo from Jackie Benjes of two participants in her Paw Power Pet Jamboree, 2015.

 

 
Help Wanted: Your Dog's Face Here?
Wags and Tags Welcomes Your Contributions

A-DOG Members and supporters, Wags and Tags is YOUR monthly newsletter!  I f you have suggestions for an article, including one you'd like to write, for a future issue, please contact us ([email protected]) with "Newsletter" in the subject line.   
 
Maybe you'd like your dog to be one of our " Arlington dogs, or A-dogs ", like Molly, Remy. Tammy, potcake Lexi and others. You don't have to live in Arlington, but can be a neighbor who enjoys Arlington's dog recreation benefits, or otherwise supports our mission.  You can also suggest a special Rainbow Bridge memorial tribute to a beloved canine family member you've lost, like the moving tributes to Isabel, Raleigh, Strummer and Cita.  
 
Or, maybe you're a  Friend of A-DOG  Business and want to describe how you help A-DOG and what you offer to our community of dog owners and dog-friendly people.  Your business, too, can be featured like Bette Yip's Picture Perfect Pets, BlueSky Dogs, GoPlay!, Menotomy Beer Wine and Spirits,Your Wonderful Dog and Maida Pharmacy & Compounding Center.
 
Suggested article length for the newsletter is 500 words or fewer but this is only a guideline.  We will also need at least one photo, preferably a jpg or gif format, compressed to a size no greater than 1 MB.  (Please send the photo as a separate file, not imported into a Word document.) Depending on the topic, you might want to write a longer version for our website, with a link in the Wags and Tags article.

Articles on any other topic of potential interest to dog owners are welcome.  So are more volunteer editors and writers.  Please send us your story proposals!  Wags and Tags editorial team:  Joan Black, Sue Doctrow, Ellen Leigh and Judy Weinberg

Pssst...We are well aware that our members are not likely to have issues with spelling or grammar that's a little "ruff", but don't worry....our editorial team will edit your story, as needed.
 
The Irish Setter on the computer photo is reprinted from a website called "iget2work". The "Bad spelling...image was posted on Facebook by Grammarly.  

 

 
Our final  A-DOG meeting  for 2015
  
A-DOG has planned four meetings in 2015. Our Annual Meeting is on Tuesday, October 27 at 7:30-8:30 pm at the Community Room of the Jefferson Cutter House, 611 Mass Ave (at Mystic, in Arlington Center).  The Community Room is accessible via the rear entrance at the municipal parking lot.  Doors open at 7 and refreshments will be served.  

In addition, there will be an August planning session for Town Day.  Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are on the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Jefferson Cutter House.
 
 


 

A-DOG Membership!
 
A-DOG's membership year runs from April 1 through March 31, so some full memberships are up for renewal.  If your membership has expired, you should have received a reminder letter and there is Membership Drive information on our website.  If you join now, your annual full membership will be good through March, 2016.  As an A-DOG Full Member, you are entitled to discounts and benefits from our Friends of A-DOG businesses.  And, your dues and donations to A-DOG are tax deductible, to the full extent allowed by law.  
   
Shop for A-DOG!  

Please support businesses that support responsible dogowners in Arlington by patronizing our Friends of A-DOG Businesses.  Welcome to our newest Friends of A-DOG, Maida Pharmacy & Compounding Center and Joe Trains Dogs.  Also, when you buy from Amazon, please start at the Amazon Smile website and choose "A-Dog The Arlington Dog Owners Group, Inc" as your preferred nonprofit group.  Amazon will make a donation to A-DOG and your purchase will not cost any more!

A-DOG members, Business Friends of A-DOG and other subscribers receive Wags and Tags each month.  If this issue was forwarded to you and you'd like to subscribe to Wags and Tags without joining A-DOG, click here or click the green sign-up button on the front page of our website.  

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