Neighborhood Paws

❄️ POTENTIAL WINTER WEATHER CLOSURE ALERT ❄️

Our girl Lexi has been keeping an eye on the weather report this week, and it looks like we are due for our first major snow storm of 2021 tomorrow. Reports are currently predicting 3-6 inches falling between 6am and 11am which could severely impact driving for the remainder of the work day depending on road conditions (thankfully we don’t expect any 24+ hour traffic jams on the highway 😳🤞). If weather reports remain consistent or worsen we may make the decision to close for the day to ensure everyone’s safety. We’ll be sure to let you know as soon as a decision is made so please keep an eye out for updates. As always, thanks so much for your continued support and understanding!

Have you or a loved one been the victim of inadequate treat dispersion? If so, you may be entitled to edible compensation through a class action lawsuit represented by the Law Offices of Lexi, Willis, & Roxy. Call today at 1-800-ITS-MY-TREAT-AND-I-WANT-IT-NOW to ensure you receive your just dues. Pupperators are standing by for your call.

Happy Halloween weekend! As you can see, Watson is a dress up enthusiast with options galore! Which one should he be for the big day?

Make sure to tag us in your costume photos! We love seeing all of our furry friends in their spooky/silly/witty/creative/etc looks!

We will be closed this upcoming Monday, October 11th, in celebration of Indigenous People’s Day

We are lucky and grateful to be able to spend the majority of our days outdoors enjoying the beauty of the land we live on, and it is both impossible and irresponsible to not reflect on the people from whom it was stolen. Growing up in Massachusetts, you are endlessly subjected to lessons in and school field trips to Plymouth Plantation (a problematic name for multitude of reasons) with barely a mention of the Wampanoag people beyond a very overly whitewashed version of what actually happened. You learn nothing of their history, customs, languages, and general way of life. Nothing about how they survived and thrived on this land for generations. Nothing about who they are as a people. Nothing about the variety of the tribes across all of Massachusetts and greater New England. Nothing beyond how they could serve the Pilgrim colonizers.

We can not know the things we don’t actively chose to know. Because of that and the systematic erasure of Native American history, it is on us to educate ourselves on the reality of how we came to be living on stolen land and what the ramifications have been for the people it was stolen from. Use this time to answer the questions that were never asked so we can better understand how we got to where we are and how we can move forward with the respect and equality that all humans deserve.

1. Original painting by
2. Image and info provided by
3. Google images

A few resources to learn more:

The shot vs the aftermath

INTERNATIONAL DOG DAY part III

INTERNATIONAL DOG DAY part II

🎶 It’s the best day of the year 🎶

INTERNATIONAL DOG DAY!!

To say we love dogs is the understatement of the century. Being able to spend our days loving and learning with all of our amazing pups every day is truly the greatest, and we’re so grateful for each and every one of our clients. It really is the best job in the world, and it’s an easy job to love when you spend your time with the best companions a person could ask for. So here’s to all of our furry friends, especially the ones who are no longer with us but still live on in our hearts. Thank you all for letting us love your dogs, we couldn’t do it without them or you! Belly rubs for everyone!

Hi all, as you may have heard there’s been a large outbreak of kennel cough circulating it’s way around the area. Due to the highly contagious nature of kennel cough, we want to ensure that we are being as careful as possible and keeping all of our pups safe and healthy. So if your dog is experiencing any of these symptoms please let us know so we can work out the best plan of action, especially if they’ve recently boarded or attended daycare as those tend to be the main epicenters of breakouts. As always, thanks to all of our dog and human friends for being the best clients we could hope for!

🌭 HOT DOG ALERT 🌭

Despite what July made us think, summer is still in full bloom and is making a show of it over the next few days. With the heat index reaching upwards of 110 tomorrow and Friday, we will be shortening all of our outings accordingly and sticking to the shade as much as possible. If you are more comfortable keeping your pups at home just let us know and you can cancel free of charge. Stay safe, cool, and hydrated out there!

Back in October/November, our walker, Clark, was hit with some serious health issues that landed her in the hospital for a week and took a huge toll on her physical strength that she is still recuperating from 6 months later. While she was in the hospital, SSI inexplicably canceled her insurance and benefits and have been of zero help in getting those reinstated. This has left Clark in an extremely difficult financial position while she tries to keep up with those previous and current payments for her various health related requirements. The physical, emotional, and mental toll of dealing with chronic illness would be enough to weigh down any person, and to throw the financial stress of everything on top of that is unfathomable. This is not how things should be, but unfortunately at this time in this country it’s the reality.

If you are financially capable, please consider donating to Clark’s medical fund which can be found through the link in our bio. Clark is an extremely driven, hard working, and strong individual who has provided so much love and care for so many of our clients. She would like nothing more than to be back full time giving all of her love to your pups, and in the meantime please help us show her some of the love and support she so freely gives out to others.

Neighborhood Paws is hiring!

We are a dog walking company that is dedicated to using force free methods with our pups, and positive reinforcement. We are also an inclusive, diverse team, and are dedicated to creating a safe space for the people who work with us. We believe in supporting our community and raising our voice in the fight for social justice.

We are currently looking for a new walker or two to join our team. Ideally, we would love to find someone who is interested in starting at part-time, and working their way up to full time. At the moment, we really need a walker who can work part-time, around 4 hours/day Monday-Friday (also open to an employee who could work 3-4 days a week). We would need you from around 10-2, or 11-3. If you're interested in working Saturdays, those are available as well. Our ideal candidate will need to be comfortable working with 2-3 dogs at a time, be willing to learn the ins and outs of positive reinforcement and force free dog training, have their own vehicle for transporting dogs, be comfortable going to dog parks, and be willing to work as part of a team.

This is a rough and tumble kind of job--you'll be running around with dogs, walking them on leash, and taking them to local parks for playgroups. We also offer small group hikes, so this is something our new hire can also participate once they're comfortable. We go out rain or shine, and we do our best to stay active and upbeat with our pups :)

Previous experience is great, but not required. We are looking for someone who is compassionate, energetic, and willing to learn. Good time management skills and consistent communication are absolutely necessary.

Pay will start at $17/hour. Weekend and Evening walks, Overnights, and Cat Sitting are also available, and are compensated at a higher rate.

Please send a thorough email explaining your interest in the position and any relevant experience, along with a resume. Applications without a resume and thoughtful response will not be considered. For more information about our business please check us out at: www.neighborhoodpawsonline.com

Our friend and client (mom to Captain), Melissa McCue-McGrath did a podcast interview! Melissa is the author of Considerations For The City Dog, and is one of our all-time favorite dog trainers--both in Somerville and beyond. Give it a listen and support your local dog experts 😀

EPISODE 12 IS UP!!!!

Howdy Doody Bookshelvers!

It's Episode 12 time. Melissa McCue-McGrath CPDT-KA is just amazing. We hit it off like a house on fire and we have all decided to move in together (ok that last part isn't true but we could!) Do your good selves a favour and find her on the interwebs and beyond you will not regret it. Her book "Considerations For The City Dog" opened our eyes to some unique challenges facing dogs living in our urban jungles. Written partly in response to a dog nearly killing a 6'4" man and his German shepherd in her home city. She consulted with veterinarians, rescue volunteers, behavior specialists, certified dog trainers, dog daycare providers, groomers and more to identify why urban dogs are failing, and what we need to do to help these dogs succeed.

As a added bonus Steve & Nat try to 'one up' themselves in a wildlife spotting competition and Steve forgets what day it is! I mean come listen it's a no brainer right?!?!

As ever please share with anyone who might be interested and feel free to write us a review on itunes as this helps us get a wee bump up the rankings.

We really hope you are enjoying our shows and are keeping safe. Please remember if you fancy dropping us a question, review or anything else please get in touch at....

[email protected]

Link To The Episode On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5LdwylezrQfi093gq5L9Wf?si=1uZQLAxzTRe7dHCmCD-Gew

Link To The Episode On Apple Music

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/barks-from-the-bookshelf/id1490703799

💜

Nirvana officially launched her dog training business today! She's been working hard on developing her model, and has come up with wonderful training programs for her clients and their pups. Over the last couple of months she has also done several hours worth of virtual dog training sessions for clients up and down the East Coast...so even if you're not Atlanta based, she'll be able to work with you and your dog!

PupSense Dog Training Science-based dog training focused on compassion, consent, and cooperation. Offering private coaching and remote consultations for pups of all ages, backgrounds, and pedigrees.

The perfect quarantine read for dogs and their owners!

MuttStuff Media The home of Melissa McCue-McGrath's books, podcasts, blog and virtual classes!

Since teaming up with PetPocketbook, our business has felt more streamlined and efficient than ever! Seriously couldn't be more grateful for their amazing, communicative, outgoing, and all around awesome team!

Hey ladies, it’s International Women’s Day Sunday! So this week we’re celebrating you.
Did you know that back in 1972, there were only 402,000 women-owned businesses in the United States? Today, there are 12.3 million, including many in the PetPocketbook community (not to mention PetPocketbook itself!) – a vivid reminder that women have become a powerful economic force to be reckoned with, and we at PetPocketbook are proud to be playing a role in helping women entrepreneurs pursue their dreams of building their own businesses.
But the world still has a long way to go. As Australian activist G.D. Anderson famously said, “Feminism isn’t about making women stronger. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.”
We couldn’t agree more – so here’s to our ever-growing community of strong women who are working hard everyday to better the lives of our pets and changing the way the world perceives our strength! We wouldn’t be here without you. 🙌💕💪

Auntie Molly's in home pet sitting Beantown Hounds Beast Masters LLC Bonehemian Wags Boston for the Dogs Canine Excellence Carrigan's K-9's Dogs Gone Sane Dogs Of Charm City Downward Dog Ducky Paws FitPet Boston Fran's Petsitting and Daily Walks Furry Gentle Dog Walking & Sitting Girl Friday ACK Goldie-Walks Pet Care Happy Pet Care Happy Tails Dog Playgroups & Pet Care Happy Tails Pet Care Harbor Hounds Helderberg Pet & Equine Services Hiking Paws Intrepid Tails Jill's Pet Sitting Services KATE PERRY DOG TRAINING Neighborhood Paws Noble Beasts pet care O’ahu Dogs On the Run Paw Princess Pet Sitting Paws In the 'Ville Peace and Paws Petiquette Pooch Concierge Pets N People Pets On Parade Roo Dog, LLC Sandy's 4PAWS Care,LLC Second Chance Dog Walking and Sitting See Spot Run Pet Care, Inc. Sky's the Limit Pet Service LLC Smoochie Poochies Boston Sue's Pet Services Tails n' Trails The Cape Cod Dog Walker The Happy Dog Tracey's Dog Walking Trail Rompers WAGS Charlestown West End Walkers Wet Nose Villa Boarding & Daycare

We’re looking for a couple new members to join our thriving team of dog walkers in Somerville and Cambridge! The job includes picking up small groups of dogs for leash walks around town, playgroups at local dog parks, and hikes through the Fells and other nearby locations. We take a force free approach to working with dogs, and practice positive reinforcement with each of our pups. It’s a physical job where you’re outside rain or shine—and running around with dogs all day makes it a lot of fun.

A little about us: We are an LGBTQ+ friendly, equal opportunity business. We pride ourselves on the positive and supportive environment we've created over the years, and seek to grow our business with people from all backgrounds and walks of life. We’re committed to maintaining an open mined and supportive team—one that works together to give our pups the best possible experience each day. Our goal is to create a safe space for our employees, and a job that they can feel proud of.

We’re open to all levels of experience—we just ask that our walkers have a willingness to learn and a commitment to force free practices. A vehicle is required. Starting pay for full time walkers is $31,200 with paid vacation and sick time. Our hours are 9:30-4:30 Monday-Friday, and there are opportunities to earn more by doing evening/weekend walks, cat sitting, and overnights. If you’re interested, we’d love to hear from you!

We’re Hiring!

We’re looking for a couple new members to join our thriving team of dog walkers in Somerville and Cambridge! The job includes picking up small groups of dogs for leash walks around town, playgroups at local dog parks, and hikes through the Fells and other nearby locations. We take a force free approach to working with dogs, and practice positive reinforcement with each of our pups. It’s a physical job where you’re outside rain or shine—and running around with dogs all day makes it a lot of fun.

A little about us: We are an LGBTQ+ friendly, equal opportunity business. We pride ourselves on the positive and supportive environment we've created over the years, and seek to grow our business with people from all backgrounds and walks of life. We’re committed to maintaining an open mined and supportive team—one that works together to give our pups the best possible experience each day. Our goal is to create a safe space for our employees, and a job that they can feel proud of.

We’re open to all levels of experience—we just ask that our walkers have a willingness to learn and a commitment to force free practices. A vehicle is required. Starting pay for full time walkers is $31,200 with paid vacation and sick time. Our hours are 9:30-4:30 Monday-Friday, and there are opportunities to earn more by doing evening/weekend walks, cat sitting, and overnights. If you’re interested, we’d love to hear from you!

One of our clients, Laurie (aka Otto’s parent) just let us know about an awesome contest that’s going on in Cambridge right now. The city is going to place prints of local artists’ work in empty store front windows, and they’re letting the community vote on which pieces will be used. It seems like a great way to brighten up the city, while also supporting local artists. The link below will get you more information on the contest!

http://www.cambridgema.gov/storefrontcontest

Vacant Storefront Creative Design Contest - CDD - City of Cambridge, Massachusetts This page describes the City of Cambridge's Vacant Storefront Design Contest.

UPDATE: These guys were found and reunited with their family on 12/25 :)

These pups are missing near Lyme, NH. Please share this post if you have contacts out that way!

Want to help your dog do some good for the holidays? Does your pup enjoy dressing up to catch that festive spirit? Then you need to enter this contest from PetPocketbook! We love PetPocketbook and are so grateful to be a part of their network. Happy Howlidays, y’all!

🚨CONTEST ALERT 🚨 Our first snow days have come and gone. A9 string lights are sold out in stores. And Jingle Bell Rock is on the air everywhere you go. There’s no mistaking that the holiday season is upon us, which must mean… it’s time for our annual holiday contest! This year, we’re adding a twist so that we can bring some holiday joy to animals in need 🙌


TO ENTER.
1️⃣ Post a photo of your pets showing off their festive holiday spirits on Instagram (or Facebook if you don’t have Insta).
2️⃣ Follow us on Instagram (or Facebook, if you don’t already) and tag your pet care company in a comment below. Make sure to tag us on your post and add .
3️⃣ Donate $1 to our holiday fund via Venmo ( or 347-901-1672) with the note “PP Holiday Contest (or Facebook username)”
🎉 Ta da! 🎉


TO WIN.
🌟 The PetPocketbook (or “PP”) company with the highest % client participation (i.e. entries divided by clients in PP) wins the right to decide which nonprofit to donate our entire holiday fund to. The only criteria is that the organization must be a registered 501(c)3 benefiting animals in need.
🌟 Of the winning company's entries, the post with the most likes wins $25 off their next PP bill.


GIVING BACK.
1️⃣ Qualifying participants pay an entry fee of $1 as a donation.
2️⃣ Participating PP companies (tagged below) will match their clients’ entry fee donations at the end of the contest.
3️⃣ PP will match the total amount raised by our community (including the amount matched by participating companies).

📢 Even if your pet care company is not participating in our matching program, PP will still match all qualifying entry fees! Limited to 1 entry per family.


❗ Contest ends at 11:59PM EST on Sunday Dec 29th! Open to any pet parent who is an active client of a PetPocketbook company.

❗Winner will be notified via DM. We’ll be featuring the winning family, business, and the non-profit beneficiary in our first Insta post in the new year (Jan 2) to kick off 2020 with a bang! 🍾


**A BIG THANK YOU to our donation matching participants**

Bark Around Boston
Beantown Hounds
Dogs Of Charm City
Fran's Petsitting and Daily Walks
Furry Gentle Dog Walking & Sitting
Goldie-Walks Pet Care
Neighborhood Paws
Neighborhood Paws ATL
Neighborly Dog Walking
O’ahu Dogs
Peaceful Playful Pets
Pet Pals
Roo Dog, LLC
Smoochie Poochies Boston
Sticks & Bones NYC
The Happiest Hounds
Tracey's Dog Walking & Sitting
Uncle Phil's Pet Care

PS. If you're a PetPocketbook company not listed above, but would still like to participate, let us know!

We must mention this is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Facebook. By entering, entrants confirm they are 18+ years old, live in the U.S. or Canada, release Facebook of responsibility, and agree to Facebook's terms of use.

We're Hiring! Know any dog lovers who would like to join our team? Send them our way. We are looking for folks who enjoy working outdoors, playing with dogs, and walking several miles a day. Having your own vehicle is a must, as well as a positive attitude and willingness to be an active part of a wonderfully supportive team. If interested, just send along your resume and some info about why you'd like to join our pack. We can't wait to hear from you!

As a local small business, we’d like to ask you to whenever possible. When you spend your dollars at a local business, that money gets filtered into the local economy in ways that benefit the community where you live. So if you can swing it, get out there and support your local pet store, the plant shop down the street, the coffee shop in your neighborhood. Tomorrow is but there’s no reason you can’t skip the big box stores and start buying local today. We’ll post some of our favorite Somerville and Cambridge stores in our story today. *
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Fess the Pumpkin Doodle has some serious business to discuss, and he’s broken it down into just three words: Trick...or...Treat! That’s right—it’s Halloween, and we cannot wait to see all of your costumes. In fact, we’re having a Costume Contest for our clients.
How to enter: Just tag us in your Instagram posts of your pup in their costume between now and November 3. We’ll choose winners on Monday 11/4. We will also accept pics of dogs surrounded by festive decor...acceptable mediums include autumn leaves, apple trees, pumpkins, etc.
We’re excited! Have a happy and safe Halloween. .
Pumpkin, pumpkin hat, and photo courtesy of Anne 🎃

Anyone in Somerville, Massachusetts recognize this kitty? A friend of one of our clients found her this evening in the parking lot across the street from the Catholic Church at the corner of 176 Summer Street and Spring Street in Somerville. Anybody recognize her?

Some thoughts from one of our clients/friends on walking in the Ten Hills neighborhood!

SITTING IN: Keep talking, Somerville residents are still trying to walk in Ten Hills Want the news delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletter here!This is a series about walking out of Ten Hills, a neighborhood cut off by

Buckle in, folks. We’ve got some thoughts to share on the increasingly dangerous & harmful traffic conditions in Somerville. We’re a local business that’s been part of the Somerville community for the past 8 years. We walk dogs, we spend time outside every day, & we love our job. However, the recent lane changes on Broadway combined with the constant construction, harrowing intersections, and more have had a drastic effect on our business each day. Our employees are working harder than ever, only to find themselves stuck in traffic, & overwhelmed with their previously manageable routes.

The other piece is that we’re constantly faced with angry & frustrated drivers—this is a major problem both for folks in cars, & even moreso for pedestrians. As dog walkers, we cover a lot of ground on foot every day, & honestly, it feels dangerous out there. The car traffic is so stressful, that drivers hit a breaking point and begin disregarding the rules of the road. Everyday we see cars running red lights, zooming into the opposite lane to get around a roadblock, drivers ignoring crosswalks & speeding through even when the walk light is on, etc.
Somerville used to feel like a very walkable, friendly, community oriented town. We’re all about reducing the number of cars on the road, & increasing the number of pedestrians & cyclists—heck, we walk for a living, & our environment needs this. However, the changes in Somerville have made the city truly dangerous for pedestrians & cyclists alike. In talking with my friends & staff, the misplaced anger towards pedestrians & people on bikes is astounding, & honestly, frightening. I worry a lot for my friends on bikes, my staff walking our dogs, & my pals with children who just need to walk to school without worrying about road rage.
Somerville is becoming unlivable for many of its long term residents, & unfriendly to small local businesses. Community has always been important to us, but the turmoil on the city’s streets has created a nasty, & upsetting situation. Somerville needs to do better. We need safer roads for the people (& dogs) who live here, & we need that soon.
Somerville, Massachusetts
More info in comments!

Some tips on Flea&Tick prevention from our friends at PetPocketbook. Take a look!

Fleas and ticks! Once they were seen primarily as a nuisance. But with the rise in flea- and tick-borne diseases – from Lyme to Ehrlichiosis – the need for protection has taken on greater urgency. As health concerns have grown, so has the variety of products designed to protect our furry pals from those nasty parasites. Which ones are right for you? The essential first step is to consult your veterinarian, but we thought it might still be helpful to share a few tips from our dog experts. So we ran a poll. Turns out, an overwhelming majority of our community uses Seresto; but aside from a mainstream brand, we were excited to get a few out-of-the-box suggestions to try out.

Emily Lagasse, owner of Petwell Supply, recommends Wondercide’s flea and tick spray as a complement to a vet-recommended preventive. She also suggests adding a flower essence and probiotics for pets who have already contracted Lyme.

Pat Dains with On the Run developed a creative, homemade remedy, filling a spray bottle with a mixture of rose geranium oil, distilled water, and vodka (seriously!) and spritzing it liberally on pups and their beds.

Jordan Clements is taking it one step further, making her own all-natural concoction exclusively available for sale to her dog walking clients at Neighborhood Paws (and now also Neighborhood Paws ATL!). Her solution is a blend of a neutral “carrier oil” mixed with essential oils effective for flea/tick prevention, such as clove, rose geranium, lavender, cedar, eucalyptus, or citronella. If your pet already has a tick latched on, Jordan recommends getting a TickKey International Inc Tick Key or similar device for safe removal.

Danielle de Wildt of Bark Around Boston cautions folks never to share mainstream flea and tick preventives between dogs and cats, noting that some products (such as Frontline for dogs) can be fatal to cats. Great advice!

Thank you to everyone who’s offered their input! To our readers, what’s your preferred protection? We’d love to hear your ideas so that we can help all our furry loved ones avoid being tick wagons and flea motor homes! 😅