Gracie's Bark | Pet Friendly Resource

A Local Siberian Husky's Will to Live

We were contacted by Carol & Steve Roberts, from Mansfield Massachusetts, to share their touching story of their beautiful dog Indiana "Indy".

"We wanted to thank everyone who knows and loves Indy for all of your thoughts and prayers. It’s working.

Indiana is beating the odds and has survived bone cancer for eight months now. Ever since Indy was only a couple of months old, I have been walking him every day for four miles around the “big block” surrounding Mansfield Center and the schools. Steve has joined in every weekend. Indy is well-known in Mansfield and has made hundreds of friends.

As some of you know, in January, we had to have his complete front left limb removed to save his wonderful life for at least five or six months, and then it would eventually go to his lungs and take him on his journey.

He was a perfect candidate for the surgery. After a couple of weeks, he was re-adjusting to his new way of life – and joining me with my walks. After a couple of months he worked his way up to the “big walk” with us. Everyone kept waving; honking and some stopped to say how beautiful he was and cheered him on.

At the end of May, Indy tore a ligament in his back leg and we had to stop walking him, as we did not want to put him through another surgery. As I walked without him, so many of you stopped me to see how he was and were so worried that he had passed away.

In July, I had to have my left shoulder operated on, leaving me and Indy with one thing in common — we both only had the use of our right arm and we both had to take it easy. As I have been recovering, I have had a chance to spend so many more cherished moments with our boy. This is why you haven’t seen me out there walking.

Indiana has been amazing through all of this – he lives each day to its fullest — as we all should. Every day has always been a gift with Indiana as he showers us all with so much love. Every day now is a greater gift and a blessing too because we keep having one more day to love him.

We hope and pray that our snow dog will lives long enough and beat the odds to see another snowstorm. Wouldn’t that be a gift to all of us.

Please pray with all of your hearts that he has a chance to live another day." ~Carol and Steve Roberts

There is a wonderful interview with Carol Roberts in the Sun Chronicle called One Step at a Time. To read more click here...

Carol & Steve: We are keeping Indy in our thoughts and prayers everyday. The emotional experience of sharing Indy's story supports his love for life and his will to survive. Keep sharing his story and know that he now has a special place in our hearts as well.  

Gracie's Spotlight Dogs

Bark Bark!

We are still looking for more Spotlight Dogs for 2010! Gracie spotlights a dog once a month and would love to add your dog to her bark blog family.

 

 

Please email your entry (short story) with a photo to [email protected] and tell her about your favorite pal! Additional pictures and video welcome, space permitting. 

Last month our Spotlight Dog was Daisy, the American Bull Dog. Click here... to hear more about Daisy.

Since January, we have been spotlighting a dog once a month on our bark blog. Check out our bark blog family spotlights below for 2010.

 

Hurry and email us with your dog's story. 2010 is coming to an end in just a couple of months. At the end of this year, we will be putting all our 2010 Spotlight Dogs into a doggie bag and picking one to win a special thank you gift from Gracie!

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

[email protected]

 

 

Gracie's Local Adventures this Past October Weekend

Gracie is still exhausted from a fun filled weekend of running in the sand and fetching sticks in the ocean. Since we had plans both Saturday and Sunday night that were not pet friendly...we needed to make sure Gracie got a chance to run and play each day.

On Saturday we headed over to Horseneck Beach State Reservation in Westport, MA and enjoyed a wonderful 2 hour walk along the beach. Gracie got a chance to run, fetch, and lay in the beautiful white sand. It was very windy out, but we managed to make the best of it. We pretty much had the entire beach to ourselves and loved every minute of it. 

Horseneck is now open to the public, free of charge, and pet friendly from October 15th through March 15th. 

On Sunday we headed over to Round Hill Beach in Dartmouth, MA and then Gooseberry Island in Westport, MA. The ocean was crystal clear. We had a chance to really enjoy the beautiful fall weather. Gracie had so much fun and was completely exhausted both days.

   

What did you and your dog do this past weekend? We would love to hear about your dog adventures! Please email us anytime at Gracie's Bark or just comment below!

Looking for a Pet Friendly Event this October Weekend?

Gracie is dedicated to helping pet owners and their dogs find fun places to go and fun things to do throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and beyond. Check out this weekend's pet friendly activities!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dog Trainer Victoria Stilwell

Friday, October 15, 2010

8:00 p.m.

Tickets: $25-$45 per person

Location: Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, MA

By working with family pets and local shelter dogs live onstage, Victoria will take the audience on a journey designed to ensure that you and your pet develop a relationship based on mutual trust, respect and love. This lighthearted family event will also feature exclusive behind-the-scenes scoop and outtakes from It’s Me or the Dog, audience participation, and the chance to have Victoria solve your own doggie dilemmas live onstage. NO DOGS ALLOWED AT THIS EVENT.

 

Celebration of Animals & Dog Walk

Saturday, October 16, 2010

(Rain date Saturday, October 23, 2010)

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Location: South Common, South Main Street, Mansfield, MA

Leashed dogs are invited but you don't need a dog to participate in the walk. For more information and sponsor sign-up sheets click here >>

 

QAS 2nd Annual Cause 4 Paws 5K Run & 1 Mile Dog Walk

Saturday, October 16, 2010  

Registration 8:30 a.m. Race Time: 10:00 a.m.

Location: Squantum Park, Quincy, MA

Pre-Register by October 1st, 2010 for $25.00 (per Runner) to reserve your QAS Cause 4 Paws T-Shirt Prizes, Raffles, Local Vendors, Refreshments Quincy Police Dept. K-9 Demo & More. Professionally timed and USATF Sanctioned! Register for the 1 Mile Dog Walk on the Quincy Animal Shelter's website >>

 

Find a New Best Friend!

Saturday, October 16, 2010

10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

 
Admission: FREE to attend

 
Benefiting: Local Rescue Groups

Location: Best Friends Pet Care, 15 Main St., Wakefield, MA

Join us at the Best Friends' Pet Adoption Fair! There will be pet adoptions with Northeast Animal Shelter, PAWS, Northeast Coonhound Rescue, Broken Tail Rescue, & More! Adopters will receive a package of goodies for their new pet, plus coupons for Best Friends services. For more information, please call 781-245-1237 or visit http://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/. 

If you are interested in posting a dog friendly event, please email Gracie at [email protected] with complete details of the event(s). Pictures and videos are welcome, space permitting. 

Gracie enjoying Crane Beach, a beautiful dog friendly beach in Ipswich, MA

For anyone in the SouthCoast and beyond looking for a beautiful pet friendly place to take their dog on a gorgeous fall day, Crane Beach is definitely worth the drive. We spent the day there yesterday and there were so many dogs running along the beach, it was so much fun. 

Crane Beach is The Trustees of Reservations’ most visited property and one of its most significant natural landscapes. People flock there year-round to play and relax in a magnificent place. For more than 50 years, they have welcomed dogs there, recognizing that our four-legged friends love to run and play there as much people do. 

The Trustees of Crane Beach have a Green Dogs Program. Although dog walking on the beach is not permitted year round, dogs are allowed there from October 1 through March 31. We recommend that you download a trail map before you visit.

Leash Free Zone for "Green Dogs"

As a “thank you” for dog walker’s compliance with the Green Dogs program, a portion of the beach to the left of the westernmost (town of Ipswich) boardwalk has been designated as a leash-free zone.

More information on becoming a Green Dog Walker can be found at Crane Beach Green Dogs Program. 

Green Dog Applications can be downloaded from the web; picked up at the Crane Beach front gate or by emailing them at [email protected].

Day Passes, which is what we did yesterday with Gracie, can only be obtained at the Crane Beach gate. Click here... for details on Crane's Green Dog Etiquette. 

We met up with our friends Michael & Erin and their Golden Retriever named Cali. For those of you who remember reading about our 4th of July Camping Trip this year, Gracie and Cali spent the entire trip together and had so much fun. 

Cali and Gracie loved Crane Beach. We walked with them for over 4 hours along a beautiful sandy landscape. The weather was picture perfect, not a cloud in the sky. The two of them ran, played and romped all over Crane Beach.

They dug several holes together and loved to feel the silky sand on their paws.

They both got so much exercise running all over the place.

Gracie and Cali both enjoy the ocean. The water was crystal clear and a bit chilly!

Gracie's tongue blowing in the wind. Now that's a happy dog!

Grace and Cali found another pup along the way.

Good girls.

Cali loves to roll in the sand.

Leash Free Zone

So take some time out of your busy schedule and make the journey over to Ipswich, MA. You and your dog will love it, Gracie and I guarantee it! For directions click here...

And don't forget to take some pictures of your dog having fun over at Crane Beach and share them with us on Gracie's Bark!

Gracie gives Crane Beach a 5 out of 5 paw star of approval!

           

Happy Birthday Oreo

Happy Birthday to You 
 

Happy Birthday to You 
 

Happy Birthday Dear Oreo

Happy Birthday to You.

From good dogs and true,


From old dogs and new,


May good luck go with you, 


And happiness too.

  

  
 Happy Birthday Oreo! 

Hugs & Kisses

Love Gracie

We will wish your lovable dog a Happy Birthday on Gracie's Bark. Please send us a picture and your dog's birth date to [email protected]. (Picture and date of birth need to be received at least 3 days before your dog's birthday)

Looking for a Pet Friendly Event this Weekend?

Gracie is dedicated to helping pet owners and their dogs find fun places to go and fun things to do throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and beyond. Check out Adoption Day at Mellisa's Pet Depot this weekend.

Forever Paws Animal Shelter Adoption Day

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Location: Mellisa's Pet Depot, 83 Faunce Corner Road, No. Dartmouth, MA

Join Mellisa's Pet Depot & Forever Paws Animal Shelter to help find loving homes for cats and dogs waiting to be adopted at the shelter. Come see the wonderful pets who need a good home! www.foreverpaws.com. 

There are also some great places in the SouthCoast Massachusetts area to take your dog to sniff, explore, run, play, and meet other dogs along the way. 

Since we could not find any additional pet friendly events going on this holiday weekend, Gracie decided to highlight some of her favorite pet friendly places in Massachusetts:

Gooseberry Island in Westport is a great place for year-round fun for dogs at the beach.

Dartmouth Natural Resource Trust has many beautiful walking trails in Dartmouth, MA. Dogs are permitted on quite a few of their trails. Visit DNRT's website at: www.dnrt.org.

Borderland State Park in North Easton is well worth the drive. This beautiful park encompasses 1773 acres of woodlands, fields, and ponds. Dogs are welcome on all trails.

Breakheart Reservation in Saugus is a 640-acre hardwood forest with jagged, rocky outcroppings, two fresh-water lakes, and a rambling section of the Saugus River. Breakheart Reservation also features Bark Place which is the only area in Breakheart Reservation where dogs are allowed off-leash, and is reserved exclusively for the use of dogs and their people. 

The SouthCoast is filled with many other great places to take our dog for some exercise. If you would like to add a favorite place of your own, please contact Gracie at [email protected]. 

Don't forget to check out all of our pet friendly places on our bark blog: Boston, Canada, Dartmouth, Easton, Fall River, and Westport! 

 

Howl-i-day Mini Photo Sessions for Dogs

Sheepish Grin Pet Photography will be offering howl-i-day mini photo sessions again this year!

Two dog photo sessions are now available on October 16 and November 6 which will take place at Borderland Park in Easton. 

There are two packages available. Your choice of four specially custom designed photo cards. Space is limited so book now!

Either call 508-838-5534 or email [email protected]

A 50% deposit is required at time of booking. 

 

The Jingle Bell Package ($150) includes: 

30 minute photo session

8-10 images to choose from

25 5x7 press printed photographic cards

One 8x10 gift print

1 Web watermarked image of your chosen card design

 

The Holly Jolly Package ($250) includes:

30 minute photo session

8-10 images to choose from

50 5x7 press printed photographic cards

One 11x17 mounted print

1 Web watermarked image of your chosen card design

10% of the package rate goes to benefit Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary, Nine Lives Cat Shelter & Black Feather Horse Rescue.

 

Gracie's Local Weekend Adventure at Gooseberry Island in Westport, MA

This past weekend we were quite busy but we still wanted to make sure Gracie got her much needed exercise and outdoor fun! We walk at Gooseberry Island quite frequently and we do talk about it a lot on our bark blog. We just can't say enough about it. We love going there and Gracie loves it too. It is one of our favorite places to walk and we are fortunate to have such a wonderful place so close to our home.

We wanted to share our pictures this past weekend of Gracie enjoying our favorite Island in Westport, MA.

On the way home, Grace could not keep her eyes open. She was exhausted! 

If you are interested in posting a dog friendly event, please email Gracie at [email protected] with complete details of the event(s). Pictures and videos are welcome, space permitting. 

Don’t forget to share your experiences with Gracie’s Bark! We would love to hear a “bark” back from all our friends in Southeastern Massachusetts and beyond! Email us anytime at [email protected].  

Looking for a Dog Friendly Event Today? Or Sunday?

Gracie is dedicated to helping pet owners and their dogs find fun places to go and fun things to do throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and beyond. Check out this weekend's pet friendly activities and maybe you will see Gracie!

 

Walk 'n' Wag

 

Saturday, October 2, 2010

10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Admission: Free; Dog Walk Registration $10 Parking: $3

Benefiting: German Shepherd Rescue of New England

Location: Borderland State Park, North Easton, MA 

GSRNE, a non-profit providing rescue services for German Shepherds will hold an All Breed Dog-Walk Fund-Raiser. Dogs must have current shots and license. Events include a demo of Schutzhund Obedience; the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Testing program; Rescue Dog parade, agility demo and more. Proceeds provide vet services, meds, surgeries, food and other necessities for rescued dogs prior to adoption.

 

Commonwealth Mall Pooch Parade

 

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Registration: 9:00 a.m.

Cost: $10 (cash only)

Location: Registration will be at the Garrison Statue on the corner of Dartmouth and Commonwealth, across the street from the Vendome in Boston. 

It’s time to step out with your best friend! 

Please join The Neighborhood Association of Back Bay for a morning dedicated to celebrating and showing off Man's (and let's not forget Women and children's) best friend - our beloved dogs! The Neighborhood Association of Back Bay is bringing back the tradition of the Commonwealth Mall Pooch Parade. They are also pleased to announce that the eminent veterinarian, Dr. Jake Tedaldi of Vetcall will be leading the proceedings. 

They are looking to simplify things this year. There will be no pre-registration by mail. Registration will begin at 9 am at the Garrison Statue on the corner of Dartmouth and Commonwealth, across the street from the Vendome. The cost to register will be $10 in cash only, plus the optional cost of raffle tickets which are $5 a piece.. If possible, please bring exact change. All dogs must be up to date on shots, and please keep any dog in heat at home. Each participating dog will receive a complimentary bandana plus other surprises. Thanks to the generosity of our commercial neighbors, they hope to have lots of goodies to raffle off. All proceeds will be divided between Buddy Dog Humane Society, a non-profit, no-kill shelter in Massachusetts and the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine which is doing significant research in the area of canine medicine. 

The parade will begin at 10 am and everyone will proudly march their pooches to Clarendon Street and back to the originating spot where they will hold the raffle. Let's introduce our canine-less neighbors to the wonders of dogs of all sizes and varieties -- and most importantly -- show them that dogs can be good neighbors and good citizens! 

They look forward to seeing you there. If you have any questions please email [email protected]. They are also looking for volunteers, so if you can help out, please let them know.

 

If you are interested in posting a dog friendly event, please email Gracie at [email protected] with complete details of the event(s). Pictures and videos are welcome, space permitting.