Friends of Willard's Woods Medallion Plan Proposal

The Friends of Willard's Woods do not like the ConCom proposed carve-up of Willard's Woods into dogs on leash, dogs off-leash, and no dog Zones.  Instead, they propose a medallion program.  Details here.

What would the medallions look like?  We don't know yet, but a handsome portrait of Joan of Arc would be a nice start rather than an obvious one showing a dog.  The Joan of Arc film we like is La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc, the 1928 silent version.

Important Willard's Woods ConCom Meeting on Tuesday May 25, 2010

The Lexington Conservation Commission will meet on May 25th, 2010 in Cary Auditorium. At 7pm they will discuss the Land Management Subcommittee Report on Willard’s Woods.  We do not know exactly what they will do at this meeting, but there is probably no opportunity for the public to speak at this meeting.  We need plenty of people to show up anyway - in my opinion they would have closed the Woods to dogs months ago if nobody complained. There may be a public hearing later (in June probably) if they decide to vote on something.  They may propose restrictions at Willard's Woods with respect to time, days, areas for dogs off-leash.  Later we will determine if we want to honk.

Or not honk.

Chicken Farm Partition Plan

The Lexington Conservation Commission is considering a partition of Willard's Woods into three Zones: No Dogs, Dogs on Leash, Dogs Off Leash.  This sounds unworkable and  unfair.  Instead, we propose a partition based on breed and national origin.

• British Zone: Welsh Corgi, Yorkshire Terrier, Bulldog, all Australian breeds and Dingos.  Plus all Italian Breeds as reparations (Italian Greyhound, Italian Hound, Italian Pointer, Italian Setter, Italian Spinone)
• Russian Zone: Siberian husky, Russian Wolfhound, Moscow Toy Terrier. Plus all German breeds as reparations (Schnauzers, German Shepherd, Doberman, Rottweiler, Dachshund)
• United States Zone: Coon hounds, retrievers, gun dogs, mutts, Boston Terrier, Carolina dog, mongrels. Plus all Japanese breeds as reparations (Akita, Tosa Inu, Shiba Inu)
• French Zone: Poodle and hybrid variants, Bichon Frisé
  

Arlington Passes Off Leash Dog Article 36

Quoted from www.arlingtondogowners.org/news

Article 36 Passes at Town Meeting By a vote of 78-70, Arlington Town Meeting passed a substitute motion sponsored by A-DOG Town Meeting Members. This will allow dogs off leash, under owner control, in parks under Parks and Recreation Commission authority. Certain areas will be excluded, including parks right next to school buildings, within 15 ft of playground equipment, and any other site by exclusion of the Parks and Recreation Commission, which may also set shorter hours. This bylaw change, after approval by the Attorney General, will go into effect in a few months, probably by September. A great step for responsible dog owners in Arlington!

BIAS ABOUNDS IN STUDY OF WILLARD'S WOODS

Dogs can be a real comfort when you feeling down. The Lexington Minuteman has graciously printed the Friends of Willard's Woods piece entitled Bias Abounds in Study of Willard's Woods on May 13, 2010.  You can read the whole thing online.

My favorite line, that I wrote, is:

... It is a lovely old chicken farm that should be managed for maximum recreational benefit to townspeople and their dogs — as it was originally intended.

My source for the fact that Willard's Woods was a chicken farm is Sileo, Historical Guide to Open Space in Lexington

Black Dog Syndrome and Guantanomo

Black dogs face considerable discrimination. According to MSNBC, there is a "Black Dog Syndrome"

• ... every person that has worked in a shelter can attest that in shelters animals with black coats can be somewhat harder to adopt out — or to even get noticed
• ... some people turn in their black dogs to the shelters because they've gotten new furniture and don't like the dark fur their pet sheds
• Black dogs might appear older; even when they're young, they have bits of facial hair that may be white or gray

But black dogs are great pets and also great working dogs.  Here are some snaps of various black dogs at Guantanomo, selected because they look just like my dog. You might think we have an all-volunteer military, but dogs are still drafted and don't get to volunteer for anything.

Perhaps some of them visit the the Mickey D's. The barbwire and concrete pedestals in the parking lot are simultaneously scary and reassuring.

Lots of security work at Gitmo.  Looking for contraband at the bowling alley.  Bowling shoe scents are very confusing.

This might be a canine-augmented reënactment of the David Byrne rendition of Girlfriend is Better in the big suit (from the band TA LKI N GHE ADS).  Pauline Kael commented on the movie Stop Making Sense

When he comes on wearing a boxlike 'big suit' — his body lost inside this form that sticks out around him like the costumes in Noh plays, or like Beuys' large suit of felt that hangs of a wall — it's a perfect psychological fit.

Properly trained, big black dogs can be both wonderful companions and fearsome security guards.

Support Arlington Dog Owners on May 3 or May 5

Arlington is still trying to get through the limited unleashed dog walking, Article 36, that was described here in a series of videos.  This was no-voted by the Selectmen. and will be coming  up on either May 3 or May 5.  Lexington dog owners are encouraged to show up, but you have to keep quiet and sit in the balcony.  Here is a letter from Sue Doctrow:

Date: April 29, 2010 7:48:50 AM EDT

To: arlingtondogowners@gmail.com
Subject: Article 36 Likely Up for TM vote next week and A-DOG Members' Letters to the Advocate

Dear Members,

We believe that our Substitute Motion on Article 36 will come up for a TM vote this coming Monday (May 3) or Wednesday (May 5). There is a good chance it will be on Monday. Some of you have asked about attending Town Meeting to support us. Please do! It is held from 8 to 11 pm in Town Hall (in the main auditorium). Only TM members are allowed on the floor to avoid confusion about who is voting. But, others sit in the balcony and can see and hear everything.

As a warning, the Moderator does not allow cheering, booing or signs being held in the balcony. But, you can stand outside as TM members enter and ask them to support positive action on Article 36. (You can even hold a sign in favor of off-leash recreation out there, even if you can't use it inside).

It is a little difficult to predict the pace of TM, but it has been moving quickly so far. Still, it is possible that you will come on Monday and it will not yet be voted. That's okay. It's important to demonstrate support for off leash recreation so if TM members see you as they enter that would certainly be helpful!

On another note, CONGRATULATIONS for our great showing in the Letters to the Editor in the Arlington Advocate today! It looks like there are six letters in support of off-leash recreation (out of ten total), and none opposed. I have pasted the letters in this link for your convenience:

Arlington Dog Owners Page
Wicked Local Opinions Page (Advocate)

When you write to your TM Members to ask them to support Article 36, be sure to include the link so they can read these letters! Not a bad idea to send the link to other Town officials you might write, as well.

all the best,


Sue Doctrow