Proposed Dog Run at Church Being Voted on June 4

A proposed pilot program to turn an unused space at the First Church in Jamaica Plain into an unleashed, membership-based dog run will be voted on at the church board's annual meeting on June 4. The proposal is to take approximately 13% of the burial ground, about 30 feet by 90 feet nearest to Eliot Street, and make it into a fenced in space for a limited number of dogs to run off leash. The space is about 10 feet away from any monuments or markers, and 10 feet away from the crypts on the north side. Membership will be restricted, and there will be limits on the number of dogs allowed at any one time, and there will be limited hours of operation. A dog-owners group will decide membership by accepting applications, providing an orientation for guidelines of use, and also monitor the space.

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Next Flaherty Playground Renovations Plan to Include Dog Area at Feb. 7 Meeting

So far the plans to renovate the Flaherty Playground have not included a dog area. But after hearing from residents through an online survey and public meetings, it has been made clear to Boston Parks and Recreation personnel that a dog area is desired. With that in mind, a single plan that incorporates that feedback heard thus far, particularly with a dog area, which hadn't been incorporated into designs before, will be presented at the next community meeting about the playground's renovations. The meeting will be held on Feb. 7 at 6 pm and can be attended via Zoom at this link bit.ly/Flaherty4.

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It’ll Be a Grrrreat Time: Jamaica Plain’s Annual Canine Costume Parade on Saturday

Ruth Barker Ginsberg, dogs dressed as bumblebees, Harry Potter, and so many more awesome dog costumes have strutted the red carpet at the annual JP Canine Costume Parade through the years. Who knows what the dogs will be wearing this Saturday! Dogs and their owners are invited to wear costumes starting at the First Baptist Church and down Centre Street parade route to the Loring-Greenough House. Then the dogs (and their people) will walk the red carpet as judges decide the top three participants who receive prizes. The event is helmed and emceed by Blue Frog Bakery owner Brad Brown.

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Letter: You Should Support a Dog Park in Jamaica Plain

We are your neighbors. We all share the same love for Jamaica Plain and Boston
and we also have dogs. For over 20 years, the dog community in JP has tried again and again to have dog parks built in the neighborhood but each time we get close, the project is shutdown. As urban dwellers, we rarely have fenced yards and much of the parkland restricts dog
play. The need for a safe place to exercise our pups has only grown over time and now we are at a crossroads where the city has finally agreed to consider a designated section of the Flaherty Playground redesign to include a small dog park.

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Most Popular Dog Names in Boston & Dog Licensing Deadline is March 31

All dogs in Boston require a new license every year from the city, and the deadline to get one for this year is March 31. There's been a significant increase in dog adoptions during the COVID pandemic, and the city wants to inform all dog owners that it's required to get a dog license every year. All dogs six months or older need to be licensed. The fine for unlicensed dogs is $50. “A license is your dog’s fastest ticket home if they become lost, and it’s the law,” said Animal Care and Control Director Alexis Trzcinski.

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17 Chihuahuas Taken From JP Home, Up for Adoption at MSPCA-Angell in Boston and Cape Cod

On the heels of last week’s surrender of 45 Ragdoll cats -- the MSPCA-Angell’s largest single-home cat surrender in five years -- the organization is now the temporary home of 17 Chihuahuas taken from a Jamaica Plain home after their families were forced to leave, the MSPCA announced Wednesday. The dogs, six males and 11 females, range in age from one to four. They are described as very active and in good health, but not without their challenges. “Our sense is that these dogs may never have left the apartments in which they lived and, as a result, will need time to learn how to walk on a leash, obey some basic commands and so on,” said Anna Rafferty-Arnold, associate director of the MSPCA’s Boston adoption center. “But we’re committed to working with them -- and their new owners -- to ensure they become excellent canine citizens,” she added.

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Annual JP Dog Parade, Costume and Fashion Show on Oct. 26

Ruth Barker Ginsberg and 50 Shades of Grey(hound) were two of the best costumes at last year's annual Jamaica Plain Canine Costume Parade. What will dogs be sporting this year?? The 16th Annual JP Dog Parade, Costume & Fashion Show will take place on Saturday, October 26, starting at the First Baptist Church (633 Centre St.,) with signups starting at noon. The rolling rally parade will make its way down Centre Street with a police escort -- no word on whether the K-9 unit will be participating. The parade will finish at the Loring-Greenough House where costumed dogs (and their owners/guardians/life coaches) will strut on the red carpet.

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Missing Dog: Have You Seen Cindy Lou?

Cindy Lou the dog has been missing Jan. 19 and she needs your help to get home! "Cindy Lou has possibly been spotted multiple times in the neighborhoods around Brookside and Ophir Streets. It's possible she may be trying to get home towards Greenough," said Mary Lou Stock of Missing Dogs Massachusetts to Jamaica Plain News. "We've had amazing experiences with dogs surviving every type of weather including cold like this and believe Cindy Lou is resourceful enough to find a way home.

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Bow Wow! Dog Park Site Chosen for Southwest Corridor

After years of Jamaica Plain residents battling to get a dog park in the neighborhood, it looks like that dream will come to fruition -- and it's going to be an impressively big one, too! The dog park will eventually be built by Oakdale Street near the train tracks. and an initial proposal was for a 60,000 sq. ft. site.

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