July lost and found pets

• July 3- found parakeet, mostly white, near Beech and Meridian Sts.
• July 7- lost cat, grey tabby with a lot of white on face, chest and paws, Renwick Rd./Highlands train station area.
• July 12- found cat, calico, medium haired, Maple St.
• July 13- found cat, DSH tortoiseshell, south end of Main St. OWNER FOUND!
• July 13- found cat, young Maine Coon with a lion cut, double paws, Slayton Rd.
• July 21- lost cat- black and white DSH, black face and white paws, Melrose/Wakefield line.
• July 25- lost cat- brown tiger DSH, black spot on nose, white chest and neck- Pearl St.

• July 29- lost cat- grey and white DSH- Oakland St.- see photo above.

Upcoming presentation on dog play

The City of Melrose and the Melrose Dog Society present:

Dog Park Discussions:     ”Dog Play”

Tuesday, June 26th
6:30-8:30pm

Melrose Memorial Hall – GAR room
590 Main Street, Melrose
Want to make the dog park a happy, healthy and safe place for your dog and others? Learn about good dog play, how to help your dog be the best of the buddies at the park and when to intervene to prevent problems before they happen. We will look at video of healthy and unhealthy play and discuss ways to make the dog park fun for all. Liz Shaw CPDT-KA, owner of Magical Mutt, will lead the discussion.

Suggested donation $5 per person. Proceeds to go toward the speaker’s fee and to dog park improvements.

No pre-registration required.
FMI: call Melrose Canine Control 781-979-4102

This is a human only presentation, please leave your canine friends at home.

                   Responsible Neighbors.  Happy Dogs!

Hot weather safety tips for pets

As we enter our first hot weather of the summer, let's take a moment to review hot weather safety tips for our pets. Though it all seems like common sense, this office still gets several calls each year about pets left in hot cars. Never leave your pet in the car in hot weather- even with the windows rolled down, even in the shade, even with a dish of water. You may think you'll only be gone for a minute, but you could get delayed. The temperature inside a parked car can kill a pet in just a few minutes.

The following safety tips come from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency:

Caring For Your Pets in the Hot Weather


As the summer heat approaches, here are some preparedness tips to consider when caring for your pets:

• Never leave pets in a car, even with the windows down. The inside of a car can reach temperatures in excess of 150 degrees in a matter of minutes.

• If possible, pets should be kept indoors during excessive heat.

• If keeping a pet outside, make sure that pets have adequate shelter from the sun and plenty of fresh water at all times.

• Plan outside activities with your pets during the cooler parts of the day: early morning and evening. Limit the outside activity of your pets during the heat of the day.

• During hot weather sidewalks and pavement radiate excessive amounts of heat and can be too hot for the pads of your pet's paws. Consider that if the sidewalk is too hot for you to walk barefoot, it is too hot for your pet to walk on.

• Allow access to the coolest part of your home. If you don’t have air conditioning, or you turn it off while at work, make sure your pet can get to a cool place, such as a basement.

• Take extra precautions in hot weather for dogs that are elderly, overweight or snub-nosed.

• Always have a disaster plan in place for you, your family and your pets.

• Remember, WHEN YOU GO, THEY GO. DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM. If you are told to evacuate, take your pets with you. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND.

June lost and found pets

• June 1- found dog- small female terrier, tricolor, Grove St. Call Melrose Canine Control 781-979-4102
• June 1- lost cat- small female Siamese, Black Rock Rd.

• June 1- lost dog- small brown female (not the one found in Melrose), lost from Medford. FOUND!

• June 1- lost rabbit- mostly brown and black, Ashburton Place.
• June 10th- lost cat- male DSH orange cat, no white markings, First St./Sewall Rd. area. FOUND!
• June 12th- found cat- brown tiger with white on nose, chest and paws, DMH. Found on Melrose St.
• June 19th- lost cat- DSH, grey tiger with white nose, paws and belly, Crystal St.
• June 24th- lost cat- DSH, female, black with white nose and belly, Swains Pond Ave. near Malden border.
• June 25th- found dog- black and white male Lhasa or ShihTsu, Sheffield/Sharon Rd. OWNER FOUND!
• June 28th- lost cat- white and grey Siamese, Rowe St.

An excellent resource for outdoor information

Commonwealth Conversations: The Great Outdoors

Sharing ideas and working together to protect and enjoy our environment.

05/25/2012

Rapids are always changing

Tim Purinton

Director, Department of Fish and Game's Division of Ecological Restoration

View Tim's Bio

At last spring showers are falling and rivers are back on the rise. Rising water is often the trigger for our migratory fish to start swimming upstream in search of spawning grounds. It is also the trigger for many paddlers to start paddling downstream through the rapids.
Massachusetts offers a bounty of paddling opportunities. Though it is the whitewater paddlers who will don a drysuit or wetsuit, life jacket and helmet this early in the season when water temperatures may be hovering just above freezing. Fortunately, there are opportunities in Massachusetts to enjoy a whitewater paddling excursions throughout the summer and fall.
Regardless of whether you explore rivers in the company of a professionally trained raft guide, as part of a fishing and boating tour, by renting a canoe or inflatable raft or simply grabbing your kayak and paddle in your garage, there are several things you should keep in mind.
River recreation has certain risks that can be minimized with proper judgment and equipment. Safety is an attitude and awareness, as much as a set of rules. Have an honest knowledge of your skills and experience, and only attempt activities within your ability.
RIVER SAFETY:

• Because whitewater releases from the hydropower dams can raise water levels quickly, visitors are advised to be alert to changing conditions. River flow forecasts and water level reports for several river segments in Massachusetts may be obtained by phone and online at http://www.h2oline.com/.
• Practice extra caution above and below dams. Do not paddle close to the tops of dams, or approach the outfall below the dam. Despite a seemingly benign appearance, the hydraulic created by the outflowing water can create a deadly trap.
• Brush, fallen logs, bridge pilings or anything else which allows the river current to sweep through but pins you or your boat against it can be dangerous. This is especially true due to recent storm events and fallen trees. Keep in mind, fallen trees provide many benefits to fish and wildlife. Check out DER's and Appalachian Mountain Club's Trees, Paddlers and Wildlife: Safeguarding Ecological and Recreational Values on the River brochure and video for guidance on ways to assess and ways to address obstacles in the river created by woody vegetation.
• Do not stand up in fast water if deeper than mid-calf. Your feet and legs could be trapped, allowing the current to push you under. Instead, float on your back with your feet on the surface "in front of you" or "downstream of you."  Hold your boat downstream of you so you do not become trapped between your boat and a rock or barrier. Wait to stand up until the current slows or the water becomes shallow.
• If you hear thunder and see lightning, get off the water. Take shelter in a thick stand of trees if lightning strikes nearby.
• Know without a doubt what poison ivy looks like. In some areas of the river it is plentiful as some of us outdoor enthusiasts have come to know all too well.

Be a well-prepared paddler:

• Wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD), especially if you are in rapid current, are a weak swimmer, or the water is cold. By law children are required to wear a properly fitting PFD, and each adult is required to have one in the boat. Think of it as a seatbelt—it only works when you are wearing it.
• Wear footgear to protect against sharp rocks or other hazards, and sunscreen and a hat to protect from the sun.
• In case the boat tips over (mishaps do happen), stow your items neatly in a waterproof bag, so they can be retrieved easily. A duffel or backpack lined with plastic bags that is secured to the boat works well.
• Be aware of the signs of hypothermia. Symptoms include: uncontrollable shivering, mental confusion, physical sluggishness, pale complexion, and an inability to get warm. Hypothermia can occur even during the summer if you're not equipped properly.
• Don't drink any surface water unless it has been chemically treated or physically filtered.

Now that you are well-prepared (or, if you prefer, being a spectator), then you might want to check out some river events happening this spring listed in the DER's Rivers and Wetlands Month calendar.

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05/21/2012

Weekly Outdoor Events 5/21/12

Madeleine Barr
Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
View Madeleine's Bio

This is the week to take a good look around and enjoy the beautiful nature that surrounds you.  There are paddle trips this week on the DCR's Blackstone River, the Ipswich River, and a special sunset paddle along the Slocum River in South Dartmouth.   Each of these trips will allow you the unique opportunity to interact with nature and mosey right down the middle of a watershed reservation that is bursting with bird and animal life. Then, on Friday you can join ecologist Julie Richburg to search for the Juniper Hairstreak butterfly along the banks of the Connecticut River and through the hills above Holyoke.   We found 41 Hairstreaks in 2009 but none in 2010.
On Saturday, May 26, at 10am starts Glendale Falls Scenic Work Day.  We are looking for some wonderful volunteers to help us repair nature trails and spruce up the scenic area.  Some of the most stunning waterfalls in Massachusetts are located here, and you can be a part of their preservation.   If you are not able to make any of the river tours, the butterfly hunt, or nature restore day, I challenge you to take note of at least two beautiful things you find in the nature around your own home.  Feel free to share with us in the comment section below!     
And remember to check out the Great Outdoors interactive calendar for a complete listing of outdoor events in Massachusetts. Bookmark the MassWildlife events page too, for wildlife related talks, events, hikes and more!

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May lost and found pets

• May 15th- lost cat- black with white paws, whiskers, belly and forehead, Pleasant St. FOUND!

• May 15th- lost dog, older black lab mix, lost from Cedar St. Stoneham. See poster above.
• May 25th- lost Cockatiel- yellow with orange cheeks and grey on the wings. FOUND!
• May 28th- found rabbit- black, lop-eared, with white markings., West Emerson St.
• May 28th- lost cat- large orange tabby, Stoneham/Melrose line- has microchip.
• May 28th- lost cat- white and grey Ragdoll, Stoneham/Melrose line. Found.

• May 31st- found dog- medium sized brown female, Upham Street.
• May 31st- lost cat- medium-haired orange female, Main St. Wakefield on the Melrose border.

April Lost and Found pets

• April 10th- Found cat- small, female black DSH. Chestnut Park area. Owner located.
• April 11th- Lost dog- male Shiba Inu, wearing purple collar with tags. Forest Dale cemetery, Malden. FOUND!
• April 13th- Found cat- grey tiger with white paws and nose. Dyer Rd. area.
• April 18th- Lost cat- small female dilute calico (grey, tan and white). Derby Rd. area.
• April 20th- found dog- neutered male chihuahua/doxie mix, brown and white.