South End Archives - Animal Rescue League of Boston

Articles Tagged with: South End

March is Adopt A Rescued Guinea Pig Month!

There’s more than just cats and dogs at ARL shelters

Many people assume that animal shelters only have cats and dogs, but here at the ARL we have a knowledgeable staff and are able to accommodate a variety of animals including guinea pigs.

And they are just waiting for to find their perfect match!

Meet BooBoo, an adorable 5-year-old female guinea pig available for adoption at our Boston shelter. She’s a friendly, but shy gal looking for a family to call her own.

Her two favorite activities? Sitting on your lap to get a cheek scratch and snacking on tasty salads.

If you’d like to adopt a guinea pig like BooBoo from the ARL, make sure to bring a photo of the cage that your new pet will live in to make sure it’s a good size and shape for a guinea pig.

Adorable BooBoo strikes a pose during her photo shoot.

Just like any other pet, guinea pigs require special care and attention. Familiarizing yourself with their daily and long-term needs before adding one to your family is also an important step in the adoption process.

Learn more about guinea pigs

Guinea pigs can make great companions for both first-time or experienced pet owners, however they require a bit of patience and a gentle hand.

Once they are comfortable with you and their new surroundings, their personalities really shine through!

For more information on BooBoo or any of the other adoptable animals at our Boston shelter, you can speak with our shelter staff by calling (617) 226-5602. Our shelters are open Tuesday through Sunday 1pm-6:30pm, excluding some holidays.

ADOPT A RESCUE GUINEA PIG MONTH FUN FACT Guinea pigs communicate through a variety of behaviors and sounds. These small animals will make a squealing or whistling sound, for example, to communicate anticipation or excitement–usually before they eat! Meanwhile, a deep sounding purr indicates your guinea pig is comfortable and content.

Back to School for People AND Pups

Register for Fall Dog training Classes at ARL

Back to school isn’t just for kids! The fall is a great time to get you and your pup involved in dog training. As you figure out your fall schedule, be sure to save some time for enriching your dog’s life.

Why send your dog to school? Training your dog benefits him, your family, and everyone around you. Not only does it teach your pup rules and good manners, it also keeps him from getting bored.

Pets can become bored when left alone all day while the family’s at work and school. In a survey, Pet360 discovered that 20 percent of pet owners with school-age children said their pets showed signs of anxiety when everyone in the house went back to their normal routine at the end of the summer. Dog training classes are a fantastic way to bond with your pup and create a fun, challenging routine that will keep your pet active.

The Animal Rescue League offers a variety of dog training classes as part of our commitment to supporting positive relationships between people and their pets.

09-08-14 Dog Training Photo Our certified, experienced and caring dog trainers help you teach your dog basic and advanced commands, as well as house and outdoor manners. We also offer fun dog sports and agility classes if you’re looking for something more laid back.

All classes are held at our Boston shelter and we offer free on-site parking for your convenience.

Here are a few of our classes that start soon.

Puppy Kindergarten: Tuesdays September 09 at 6pm and Sunday September 28 at 10am
Good Manners: Tuesday, September 09 at 7pm and Sunday, September 28 at 11am
Advanced Puppy Training: Sunday, September 28 at 9am
Sniffing for Fun: Sunday, September 28 at 12pm
Canine Good Citizen: Sunday, September 28 at 1pm

Recent ARL alums receive a 25% discount. Boston Veterinary Care clients receive a 10% discount.

For more information and to enroll in a dog training class visit arlboston.org/dog-training.

ARL Invites You to Our Community Summer Social!

Bring your dog and enjoy our new K-9 play yard!

Join us Tuesday, August 19, 5:30 pm -7:30 pm at our 10 Chandler Street location in the South End as we welcome the community back to our newly renovated K-9 Play Yard and reception area.

Bring your dog and enjoy music by pop violinist and YouTube sensation Rhett Price along with a complimentary summer tasting menu for people and pets catered by local establishments. The ARL’s Boston Veterinary Care will give out pet-oriented swag bags and we’ll also have ARL summer merchandise including soft-plush beach towels available for purchase (all proceeds benefit the animals at our shelters).

This free, fun, casual event is a great way to reconnect with the Animal Rescue League, learn more about us, and mingle with pet-friendly people from the neighborhood.

Let us know if you are coming by RSVP’ing at arlsummersoc.eventbrite.com!

IN CASE OF RAIN: The summer social event will take place on August 26.

Special thanks to Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, who generously donated our new reception furniture, as well as Earth Rated, Fish and Bone, Polar Beverages, Polkadog Bakery, Petco Unleashed, Rhett Price, The Barkery and Whole Life Pet for contributions to our reception area and summer social event.

Thank You Thursday: Community Support Leads to Dog Play Yard Renovation

K-9 Grass Coming Soon to ARL Dog Play-Yard

We’re delighted to share that the Animal Rescue League’s application for permission to install K-9 grass in the Boston play yard was unanimously approved by the South End Landmarks Commission last week.

The proposed K-9 grass represents a huge improvement over the current stone/grass/dirt surface, which will be very good for dogs and for the appearance of the space.

Our application sailed through on both its merits and with the overwhelming support expressed by our South End neighbors and Mayor Walsh’s office. We were able to submit a total of 432 signatures expressing community support for our project!

There are many people to thank for organizing our presentation and collecting signatures.

Our volunteers as always stepped up in a big way. Thank you to Astrid and Peter Rapoza, Mal Malme, Maria Uribe, Michelle S, Marna Terry and Kerry and Gus Pena.

Along with our volunteers, several local businesses collected signatures including Berkeley Perk, Rome’s Pizza, Emelio’s Pizza, Billy’s Lunch Café and the Berkeley Barber Shop.

We’d also like to thank ARL staff, especially Bob Williams our Director of Facilities who was the champion of this project. Bob left no stone unturned from the research for finding the right surface material, to the presentation and overall coordination.

“I am very grateful for the above and beyond effort here; it will mean so much to ARL and dogs in our care,” said ARL president, Mary Nee.

Construction will start this summer! Stay tuned for details.

Dog Play Yard After

Registration is Now Open for Winter Dog Training Classes

Enroll with Your Pup Today!

Winter dog-training registration is now open. Our experienced trainers offer beginner and advanced level classes for dogs of all ages. The following classes are starting soon.

Classes starting: Saturday, 11/01, Sunday, 11/16, Saturday 01/03 and Sunday, 01/11.

Puppy Kindergarten. A six-week course for puppies 8-20 weeks old. Classes include: an off leash puppy play period for puppy socialization, training games for the enjoyment of both puppies and owners, basic commands, and discussions about puppy behavior problems, proper nutrition and veterinary care.

Good Manners. A six-week course designed for dogs 5 months and older. Basic commands such as sit, down, stay, loose leash walking, coming when called, leave it, and no jumping are all covered. Greeting skills both toward other dogs and toward people will also be worked on.

ADVANCED PUPPY: A six-week course designed for dogs 4 months to 11 months. Classes include: an off-leash puppy play period for puppy socialization, training games for the enjoyment of both puppies and owners, continuing basic commands such as sit, down, stay, loose leash walking, coming when called, leave it, and no jumping (with and without distractions). Requirement: must have completed Puppy Kindergarten

ADVANCED GOOD MANNERS: A six-week course designed for dogs 5 months and older. Your dogs will accompany you to all six classes and they will learn ‘go to your place’, train with distractions, attention and much more. Requirement: must have completed Puppy Kindergarten or Good Manners class.

Enroll in the Class: arlboston.org/dog-training/enroll-in-class/

Join the ARL at the South End Tree Lighting

Today at the BCA!

We’ll be at the South End Holiday Tree Lighting this afternoon from 3:30-5:30pm. Stop by and say “hi!” Several adoptable dogs will be with us spreading joy and holiday cheer! We love getting out into the community and sharing what the ARL is all about.

The afternoon will be filled with family-friendly entertainment and art-making culminating in the holiday tree lighting with Mayor Menino!

Enjoy live performances, holiday printmaking, festive music, refreshments and…Macy’s enchanted trolley with special guests from the north pole!

Yes, We Have Kittens…

… And Lots of Them!

If you’ve been waiting to adopt a kitten, now is the time to visit the Animal Rescue League of Boston! We currently have 18 kittens between the ages of 12 weeks and six months. By adopting one of these kittens you’re not only giving a good home to a deserving animal, but you’re also helping us reach our goal of adopting out 1200 cats and dogs by August 31. We have about 600 more to go, so please adopt!

Our adoption hours this weekend are Friday – Sunday 1p.m. – 4p.m. If you want to speed up the adoption process you can download and fill out our adoption application ahead of time. Here are just a few of the little cuties waiting to go home with you:

See the Video from Friday’s Sculpture Debut

Over two hundred people came to the League on Friday to celebrate art and animals at the sculpture debut! In case you couldn’t be here for the big event, we have a great video highlighting the day!

“Dancing with Spheres” by renowned sculptor David Phillips is now a permanent fixture in our dog play yard and in the fabric of Boston. “It is a special moment any time a new public work of art is unveiled in our beautiful city. To have that artwork at the League is truly an amazing gift” said president Mary Nee. This gift would not have been possible without the generosity of Tony Lopes who commissioned the sculpture and said it “was an honor to have been able to play a small part in bringing this iconic work to the League and to animal and art lovers everywhere.”

We are incredibly honored that so many people attended the event including the following city officials, Michael Galvin, Chief of Public Property, (including animal control), Councilor Felix G. Arroyo, Councilor John R. Connolly, Councilor Bill Linehan, and William G. Oates, Chief Information Officer.

Thank you to all of our sponsors, especially co-lead sponsors Boston Private Bank & Trust Co. and Kelly McKernan, Senior Vice President Investment Management & Trust and League Board Member and DKO Photography for capturing the day.

In the words of the artist himself “‘Dancing with Spheres’ is here to remind us of the love and care animals add to our lives,” so if you’re ever in the neighborhood, we encourage you to stop by and take a look at this beautiful reminder. While you’re here don’t forget to see some of our fabulous adoptable animals and help save 1200 animals in 12 weeks for the ASPCA Rachael Ray Challenge!

One Day Countdown to the Big Debut!

The grass is green, the sculpture is ready, the only thing we need is YOU! Don’t miss the exciting debut of Boston’s newest piece of animal public art this Friday at 10 Chandler St.! Be the first to see “Dancing with Spheres” by David Phillips. We’re keeping it a surprise until then. Can you guess how many animals are in the sculpture? Pop by on the 31st and find out!

The event will start on Friday at 2p.m. and go until about 4p.m. After the debut, join us for an open house and refreshments in our Boston shelter. This is a public event, so bring your friends and family. On-site parking is limited, but we are close to the T and several public garages.

If you plan on attending, please R.S.V.P. to Melanie Sheffield at msheffield@arlboston.org or 617-226-5622 before 10a.m. on Friday, so we can plan accordingly!

David Phillips is an award-winning artist known for his sculptures, which can be found throughout the United States and Japan. His distinguished portfolio of public art includes everyone’s favorite frogs at Boston Common’s Tadpole Playground among other works throughout Boston.

“Dancing with Spheres” was generously commissioned by Tony Lopes. Thank you to our friends Boston Private Bank & Trust Co. and Kelly McKernan, Senior Vice President Investment Management & Trust and League Board Member for being the lead sponsors for this event.

Happy Memorial Day!

You have two things to celebrate this week, Memorial Day and a new animal sculpture at the Animal Rescue League of Boston! Join us this Friday, May 31 for the big debut of “Dancing with Spheres!”

Where: Our dog play yard at 10 Chandler Street, Boston, MA 02116
When: Friday, May 31, 2-4p.m.
Why: Because you’re a part of our family and we want to celebrate this exciting day with you!

After the debut, join us for an open house and refreshments in our Boston shelter. The event will take place rain or shine and is open to the public, so bring your friends and family. R.S.V.P. on our Facebook event page!

“Dancing with Spheres” was generously commissioned by Tony Lopes. Thank you to our generous friends Boston Private Bank & Trust Co. and Kelly McKernan, Senior Vice President Investment Management & Trust and League Board Member for being the lead sponsors for this event.

12 3 4