BostonZest

Check the Chip Day for Sunday Dogs & Cats & Birds & All Is August 15th

This week the American Veterinary Medical Association is sponsoring an official Check the Chip Day to remind all of us who are guardians for companion animals to be sure the microchips that would help return our furry friends to us, if lost, are working. 

We have "Check the Microchip" at the top of our list of information and questions we bring to every visit with our veterinarian. Poppy is due for her annual check up and we'll have Courtney, her lovely vet tech, check to see that her chip is working at the start of the visit. 

This is also an opportunity to write down that ID number in case you need it to update your contact information. 

Think about anything else that may have changed over the past year that might require an update on the registration form for that chip and make the changes needed with your registry. If you can't remember which it is, your vet can tell you that from the ID number. 

Here's a video that will help you understand how microchips are inserted into an animal, how they work, and why each animal that could escape from your home should have one. Did you know that your vet can even microchip your birds?

The Animal Rescue League of Boston is having an August special to encourage you to get those microchips in place. There is also more information about the topic at their link below.

Special monthly offer August 2015 – 25% off your pet’s microchip!

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

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: Courtesy of American Veterinary Medical Association

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Protecting the Very Sensitive Toes of a Famous Boston Elm with FlexiPave

In 2010, a century old elm in Boston’s Back Back gained notoriety after a group of residents worked to save the towering giant.

 

As one of the neighborhood’s original street trees planted more than 125 years ago, this aging beauty had stretched its toes up and through the brick sidewalk. To smooth passage over the roots, an experimental macadam was installed but didn’t work out. It was time to try another alternative.

After extensive talks with the city of Boston and the Back Bay Architectural Commission, the previous material has been replaced with a more durable and aesthetically pleasing product called KBI FlexiPave – a rubber and aggregate surface that is ADA certified, the color of brick, and extremely water permeable.

  
(Once the main walkway was in place, the FlexiPave surface was extended over the tree's protruding roots to widen the path)

The Garden Club of the Back Bay generously fronted the $1,400 to install the new surface before winter set in. Now they are asking for donations to refill their coffers for the next project.

 

The tree is on Marlborough Street near the corner of Fairfield. Take a test stroll or roll over the new surface. It’s smooth and has a bit of cushion to it. If you like this treatment, don’t be shy, consider making a tax deductible contribution. It’ll be greatly appreciated.

 

Checks should be made out to The Garden Club of the Back Bay and mailed to: Margaret Pokorny, 384 Marlborough St., Boston, MA 02115.

 

 

Watch our 1-minute video to see how FlexiPave changes from a loose aggregate to a solid surface, plus a demonstration of how extremely water permeable it is.

 

Here’s an article that Penny wrote about the first attempt to solve this problem and save the tree.

 

Here is an article and video Boston.com prepared on the first attempt.

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!

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino

Video: © 2014 Ed Cherubino

Photos: © 2014 Penny Cherubino  

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Is Your Dog a Snow Lover? Ours Is!

While the first big snow of the new year may have you reaching for the shovel, a lot of Sunday Dogs can only think of one thing, PLAYTIME! So, in the true spirit of fun, we'd like to take your mind off of the druggery of winter with a reminder of just how much fun all that white stuff can be!

Here's one of our favorite posts – Is Your Dog a Snow Lover? 

 

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!

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 - 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

My Dog Is Cool

 
Instead of featuring a specific dog this Sunday, we want to be certain everyone can say, “My Dog Is Cool.”

It’s an education program from the animal protection organization RedRover designed to draw attention to the dangers faced by dogs left in cars in warm weather.

With air conditioned vehicles, people sometimes forget just how quickly the inside of a car can heat up. The group cites a Stanford University study, “... even on comparatively cool days, such as 72 degrees, a car's internal temperature will rocket to 116 degrees within 60 minutes. And keeping the windows open a crack hardly slows the rise at all.”

Someone who just intended to run into a shop for a quick errand could come out to find their dog in trouble. Or, they could come out to find their car window broken by a police officer who was trying to save the pup. Remember, those walking by a car don’t know how long the dog has been left there or how long you will be.

What To Do
Suppose you see a dog in a hot car, what should you do? First, observe the dog. Is she showing any signs of distress such as excessive panting or drooling, stumbling, disorientation, or loss of consciousness?

Write down the car’s license plate, make, model, and specifically where it is located and call 911. See if you can get someone else to check nearby shops to locate the driver while you wait for the police.

Veterinarian in a Hot Car
Dr Ernie Ward, a veterinarian, made a video of himself sitting in a car on a warm day with all four windows cracked. He explained, as he went along, what would be happening to a dog left under those conditions as the temperature in the car reached triple digits. If you have a few minutes, it’s definitely worth a look.

And, please, spread the word to anyone who thinks they can safely leave a pet in a parked car on a warm day, even for a short time.

 

Get to know all of our 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: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: courtesy of RedRover  

Is Your Sunday Dog a Snow Lover?

Does your canine companion drool at the thought of a walk in the snow? Or do the four-paw brakes go on when the door opens onto a scene wet with wintry white?

Our 10-month-old puppy, Poppy loves playing "Queen of the Snowbank!" You can see the smile on her funny little face in this photo.

But, some of her neighbors are not fond of wet or snow.

For example, our pal Smudge loves to Pose but not on wet days. Then, he will do his business in record time and try to get back inside. He thinks kids like Poppy, who like being out in it, are a bit looney tunes.

Elvis Lives Next Door, and that's where he prefers to stay on snowy days. He doesn't like wet. He's not even into cold and declines to go out and play in the wet with Poppy.

What do the dogs in your life think of snow? What do they do that makes you laugh when confronted with a few inches of the white stuff? In her first year, Poppy has become a champion "snow hopper" and that makes all three of us smile.

Get to know all of our 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!

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Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2011-2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

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Here’s How to Do the “Kobe Krawl”

Of all the Sunday Dogs we’ve featured, Kobe is the first (as far as we know) who can crawl on command! Now we realize that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very bright, but this little one is only four months old!

It’s also worth mentioning that despite his tender age, Kobe holds down a full-time job! This inspiring overachiever works locally at Google– a company that obviously values a canine point of view. When Kobe’s at the office, he mostly assists when needed which often means there’s a lot of downtime to fill.

Kobe Assisting Jenny at the Office

Besides his superior learning skills, Kobe also excels in other ways. This happy, inquisitive ball of energy is already building quite a reputation for himself as an all-around friendly guy.



Getting to know the neighbors his high on his to-do list. Kobe loves all dogs and their four-legged companions too!



As tongues go, we were fascinated by Kobe’s– has to be great for scooping up water!



We learned that Kobe can’t get enough soft, squeaky toys and who can blame him! He also likes to gnaw on bully sticks.



Puppies don’t come any cuter than Kobe and we’re looking forward to watching him grow. And, we can’t wait to see what trick he masters next!

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

What's on your Summer Fun shopping list? Shop Amazon Everything You Need for Summer Fun and support this site!

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino
Kobe & Jenny at the Office: courtesy of Jenny Kelemen

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

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How’s the Patient Doing? Air Spading Project Update!

Just as you might require further tests after a medical procedure, there is a Boston landmark park getting a follow-up health exam of its own. So, how’s the patient doing?

After undergoing a thorough air spading one year ago, a block of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall is beginning to show signs of recovery.

We had a chance to follow arborist Chuck Sherzi Jr., this spring, as he performed a series of tests to assess the health of this historic park between Mass Ave & Hereford Street. (map)

(Once the video starts, you can select the HD video option for higher quality viewing.)

Using Cornell University’s Soil Health Assessment guidelines, Sherzi demonstrated how he checks the physical, chemical, and biological condition of the soil with special emphasis on compaction– a major threat to this area. He stressed the need for turf management that includes: irrigation, mowing, reseeding, aerating, and a yearly top-dressing with compost, to help minimize the problem.

As we await analysis of all the data gathered, Sherzi told us he was encouraged by what he’d found during his day of testing. And, what’s more, he said results from this demonstration project will benefit not only parks like this, “but also smaller spaces, the backyard garden, commercial sites, among others.”

For a look at how this pilot restoration effort began, see the first video in this series: Air Spading a Boston Landmark.

If you are a serious gardener, parks advocate, or farmer, here are links to download copies of two publications that Chuck Sherzi recommends:

The Cornell Soil Health Assessment Training Manual

Building Soils for Better Crops: Sustainable Soil Management 

To donate to this project or for more information, click this link to: Send an email to the Commonwealth Avenue Mall Committee @[email protected].

The Commonwealth Avenue Mall Committee is a joint effort of the Friends of the Public Garden and the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay. 

What's on your Summer Fun shopping list? Shop Amazon - Get Ready for Summer - Everything You Need and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny Cherubino
Videography: © 2012 Ed Cherubino
Written, Produced, and Narrated by Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.