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 (managing editor), Jen Burns, Sue Doctrow, and Ellen Leigh. Contact our
managing editor
if you'd like to submit an article. (Guidelines: 500 words or fewer, with 1 or 2 photos of 1 mb or smaller.)
Articles in Wags and Tags represent the opinions of the author(s) not necessarily those of A-DOG or the editorial team. A-DOG logos designed by Lisa Berasi for Arlington Dog Owners Group, all rights reserved
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- Paws for Calendar
- Chairful Where You Sit returns: heads up!
- Pet First Aid & CPR: Back by PAW-pular Demand
- Why Not Welcome Spring with an A-DOG Membership?"
- ACO Diane's Critter Corner: Of Feather and Fur
- New Online Shop for A-DOG Apparel by QRST's
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- Tuesdays 3:30-4:30 on listed dates are FOX "Reading Dogs” Benny, Penny, & Rufus. All levels of readers welcome. Sign up 30 minutes before session for 15 minutes of a warm, furry personal experience. 2019 Tuesday Dates: Feb 26, March 12, 26, April 9, 23, May 7, 21, June 4 &18
- Tuesday March 26 A-DOG Members Meeting, Arlington Senior Center, 27 Maple St (corner of Maple and Academy St, behind Town Hall), lower level Mural Room; on street and limited lot parking. Enjoy "Winter Warmer" of soup, bread & snacks beginning 6:30. Business meeting 7:00-8:00pm. Agenda includes: Membership Drive & Volunteer Menu, ACO & AHS DOG Enthusiasts Club Connections, Planning for Patriots Day Parade, FIDO Fest Video Outreach, Bark for Life & other Initiatives. Come with appetite and your ideas.
- Thursday March 28 6:30–8:00, Pet First Aid & CPR Program. Arlington Senior Center, 27 Maple Street. Co-sponsored by Arlington ACO Diane Welch & A-DOG. Do not miss this multimedia presentation by Amy Newfield of Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners (shown above with Meeko) features sweet & patient "demo" dogs. Please note: Only certified service dogs, no pet dogs, permitted. Program free & open to the public as community service.
- Saturday, April 20, 13th Annual Animal Rights Day: Mass School of Law, 500 Federal St., Andover, MA : Live Animal Demonstrations, Crafts, Vendors, Workshops.Free & Open to public.
- Sunday, April 28, NEADS Spring Graduations, 2-4:00pm Montachusetts Regional Vocational Technical School, Fitchburg, MA. Congratulate the graduating NEADS service dog teams. Celebrate with cake. Admission free with suggested donation of $5.00. Certified service dogs only. More information here.
- Saturday, May 11, Bark for Life (Relay for Life with dogs) Arlington Reservoir, 10:00am–noon. Join team A-DOG:Roslyn’s Rovers for the 6th year. We walk in celebration of survivors, in honor of those fighting & in memory of loved ones lost to cancer while raising much needed funds. Registration $15.00 per dog or as individual $10.00 w/o dogs.Registration fee is a donation. Bella and The Firefly walk with me (Joan) in hope. Come join our team or PLEASE consider making a donation here.
- Thursday, May 23 “Care of Senior Pets & Hospice" with Dr Becky Schoenberg of Autumn Care & Crossings at 7:00, Jefferson Cutter House. Co-sponsored by A-CAT, A-DOG and the ACO. Come join us for an intimate presentation & discussion. Learn how to adapt home surroundings for aging pets and monitor pain and discomfort with at home veterinary care and consultation.This is valuable information to have, even before it is needed.
- Tuesday, May 28, A-DOG Members Meeting, Arlington Senior Center (second floor) accessible 27 Maple Street with on street parking and lot behind, Enjoy "Spring Surprise" social and potluck dinner beginning 6:30. Business meeting 7:00-8:00pm. Agenda includes: Membership Drive & Volunteer Menu, ACO & AHS DOG Enthusiasts Club & Recreation Connections, Planning for Chairful, Porchfest, Feast of East & FIDO Fest Video Outreach, Review of Pet First Aid & CPR, Bark for Life and Care of Senior Pets& Hospice Care, Consideration of other initiatives. Come with appetite & your ideas.
Looking Ahead: SAVE The Dates:
- Saturday, June 8, “Chairful Where YOU Sit” at 11:00am, Uncle Sam’s Garden/Massachusetts Avenue. A-DOG will award Prize for Best Animal Themed Chair
- Saturday June 8, Porchfest 3:00-6:00pm. A-DOG Meet up at Menotomy Beer, Wine & Spirits, 80 Broadway. Come enjoy music, wine tasting, appetizers & visits with A-DOG Members.
- Saturday August 3, FIDOfest. Details will follow
- Saturday August 24, DOG Days of Summer, Arlington Reservoir 10:00am–2:00
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Chairful Where You Sit returns
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Intro by Sue Doctrow
Chairful Where You Sit
, a fundraiser for Arlington Public Art, is returning again this year. More details below (we've just reprinted a copy of a notice sent by co-chair Dana Silva):
A couple of years ago, A-DOG collaborated with the Chairful committee by offering a special award for the best animal themed chair. The A-DOG award winner was decided by a panel of judges. The winner of that first A-DOG Chairful award was Pam Shanley, shown here receiving her award from A-DOG's Sue Doctrow (herself a serial chair artist and, also, on the Chairful committee that year).
We just learned that this year, the theme is "Flora and Fauna" so there will be many animal-themed chairs! Again, A-DOG will appoint a panel of judges and contribute an award for an animal themed chair.
A-DOG members and supporters...if you feel creative, consider painting and donating a chair yourself. It's a fun event and a great cause. Also, please attend Chairful Where You Sit, and consider purchasing a chair. Each is a work of art, one-of-a-kind and the $100 purchase price benefits public art in Arlington.
Chairful Where You Sit was started by Adria Arch who, we are proud to say, is also a longtime A-DOG member!
Here is the notice from the Chairful committee:
"Greetings all! I know it's early, but I wanted to let you know that we're bringing back Chairful Where You Sit this spring.
Chairful will be part of Arlington Porchfest on Saturday, June 8 from 11 to 6 pm at Uncle Sam Plaza in Arlington Center. Just one day, but we'll still be selling all chairs for a donation of $100 and the funds will all go to our steadily building, exciting public art
programming.
In the past six Chairful events, we've rescued over 500 chairs from the trash! We love this recycle/reuse aspect of our event.This year, we have a theme to inspire your work, Sustainability: Flora and Fauna. We will accept all chairs, but we especially want chairs that speak to this timely theme.
Here is the link
to find out more and to submit an application. Please feel free to spread the word to anyone you know who might like to participate this year. Read here if you want to see past entries, need inspiration or how-to information. FAQs and guidelines are also listed below. As always, we truly appreciate your support and your creativity!
We prefer that you use the online portal on the Town of Arlington website to submit your $10 entry fee, but if necessary, please send a check made out to the Town of Arlington, mailed to me: Dava Silvia, c/o Chairful Where You Sit, 46 Oxford Street, Arlington, MA 02474.
A reminder that chairs may be submitted by anyone ages 14 and older, and children are welcome to participate as long as they partner with an adult.
Many thanks,
Dava Silvia
co-chair, Chairful Where You Sit committee"
***************
Sue Doctrow is an A-DOG board member.
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Pet First Aid & CPR: Back by PAW-pular Demand
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by Mary McCartney and Joan Black
The 4th "Pet First Aid & CPR" Program will be Thursday March 28 from 6:30-8:30: Arlington Senior Center, 27 Maple Street (2nd floor) co-sponsored by A-DOG & ACO Diane Welch. Presentation features emergency medicine expert Amy Newfield, CVT, VTS (ECC) of Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners. Workshop is free and open to the public as community service. This multimedia presentation includes demo dogs. (Amy's own dogs).
PLEASE: No pets other than certified service dogs permitted.
Some Topics will be:
* Find a pulse and count a heart beat
* Check gums and identify signs of emergency
* Perform Hands on CPR
* Bandage a wound
* Respond to choking
* Set up First Aid Kit
There will be opportunity for Q&A with Amy & Diane as well as handouts on several topics. In addition Diane will address Rodenticide Poisoning and Marci Cemenska (A-DOG Member) has prepared an informational Dog Bite FAQ document for distribution. Enter a free survey drawing for prizes and enjoy a selection of gifts and samples compliments of Blue Pearl.
No need to preregister. Admission is free. Donations for
Frankie's Friends
appreciated. Frankie's Friends assists with grants for life saving treatment for families who cannot afford cost of full care.
Be prepared for an evening filled with information & demonstrations of life saving techniques. Come with questions, concerns and do invite family, friends and neighbors. Come by A-DOG Membership Table to say,"Hello." Thank you to Volunteers from Arlington High School DOG Enthusiasts Club: Sierra Curro, Eileen Tucci, and Katherine Klosterman.
Whether or not you are able to attend "Pet First Aid & CPR,"
A-DOG members and friends: At the meeting, we will be able to check and update your A-DOG memberships or sign you up to join!
Photo shows demo puppy in training. Mary and Joan are A-DOG board members.
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Why Not Welcome Spring with an A-DOG Membership?
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by Joan Black
Warmer temperatures and longer hours of daylight mean more time outside to play and explore with family, friends & canine companions. New or Renew, A-DOG Wants YOU to join the pack. Help us continue our mission of providing free educational & recreational programs as a community service.
Being a Facebook Group member or receiving WAGS & TAGS does not necessarily mean you are an A-DOG member.
If you have not yet considered joining A-DOG, we hope you will. We have dues free {Associate member} and dues paying (full member) options. A-DOG is a 501(3)(c) nonprofit, all volunteer organization. Our programs, workshops and advocacy efforts are funded by our memberships and powered by volunteers. Please join and consider volunteering for one or more events.
More information here.
Photo: Ajna races along Lighthouse Beach at the moment of sunset & moon rise. The Equinox signals longer hours of daylight. Ajna is encouraging YOU to celebrate spring with an A-DOG Membership. Photo taken by Greta Bro.
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ACO Diane's Critter Corner: Of Feather and Fur
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Rodent Control: The Effects of Rodenticide Poisoning
Introduction by Joan Black
ACMI Talk of the Town
James Milan interviewed Brevis Andrews from Orkin Rodent Control & Arlington Animal Control Officer Diane Welch concerning "Rodent Control: The Effects of Rodenticide Poisoning." The first interview is with Brevis who is an environmentalist working with a pest control company in the process of going green. He described the history of rodenticides and its disastrous effects in the food chain. His informative was extensive with many alternative approaches to using rodenticides. Diane's section begins16 minutes into the program and she described her personal experiences with poisoned animals and her work. Rodenticides KILL and poison more than the intended rats. Domestic pets, natural predators and even children are at risk. Once it gets into the food chain its effects are far reaching. Diane's hope is Arlington be "Poison Free" and learn about alternatives. Always request Material Safety Data Sheet {MSDS Sheets} when using any pest control. Both Brevis and Diane likened the issue of rodenticide poisoning to the crisis with DDT before it was banned. Rodent control takes community cooperation, neighborhood efforts and sharing of information. In this case every person can make a difference. The following is the interview with Brevis and Diane. Here is the interview:
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Diane recently gave a presentation to Arlington High School Dog Enthusiasts Club with the help of Red Tail Hawk Autumn (see photo above) and canine partner Smitty. In addition ACO Welch is co-sponsor with A-DOG of "Pet First Aid & CPR" Program on March 28 at Arlington Senior Center at 6:30 where she will address effects of rodenticide poisoning. Diane is also a founding member of
Poison Free Arlington MA.
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Diane Welch is Arlington's Animal Control Officer (ACO) and contributes this regular column in collaboration with Joan Black, A-DOG board member and officer.
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New! Shop for A-DOG Apparel
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Introducing our new
ONLINE SHOP
for buying A-DOG apparel (T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats) and coffee mugs.
Your A-DOG products will be printed and sent to you by
QRST's
of Somerville!
Wear your A-DOG colors!
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A-DOG Meetings in 2019
A-DOG holds five meetings per year, in January, March, May, July and October. Unless otherwise noted, meetings are on the fourth Tuesday of the month. The next meeting (after tonight's) is May 23, 2019 at the
Arlington Senior Center/Central School building, Academy and Maple (behind Town Hall), lower level Mural Room
(6:30–8 pm). Schedules and locations of 2019 meetings will be announced in
Wags and Tags
.
A-DOG Membership
A-DOG's membership year runs from April 1 through March 31, so some full memberships are up for renewal each spring. If your membership expired, you should have received a reminder letter during our Membership Drive. 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. If you are not an A-DOG member,
join here
anytime! (If you join after Sept 1, expiration will be extended to the next membership period so you don't miss out.)
Shop for A-DOG
NEW!! Buy A-DOG apparel and other goodies at our
A-DOG ONLINE SHOP
, sponsored by QRST's in Somerville!
(If you are not a full member, please sign up and pay your dues at the link above for joining A-DOG. If you are unsure if your membership is still active, or need another membership card as proof, you can email us to check into it.)
Also, when you buy from Amazon, please start at the
Amazon Smile website
which should get you directly to our donation link. If not, be sure to 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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Arlington Dog Owners Group | www.arlingtondogowners.org
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