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Road Trip For Good: The 7 Greatest Things To Do With Your Dog In Massachusetts

Written by: Dr. Katy Nelson

July 18, 2016

This article is part of our Road Trip for Good series with the incredible humans behind the popular 2 Traveling Dogs! Each week they will share their adventure in a new state, and their pups, Peanut Butter Brickle and Digby Pancake, will pick their favorite “Marked Territories.” Each state will highlight one special rescue organization that is doing fantastic work to help the dog community. For more detailed coverage, be sure to visit 2TravelingDogs.com!

When you decide to visit Massachusetts with your dog, your choices are endless. A state known for its rich history, its six major regions appeal to almost any traveler with two legs or four. Adventure, relaxation, great food, culture and history await you and your dog!

Brickle and Digby’s Pawpicked Massachusetts Rescue: Scituate Animal Shelter in Scituate, Massachusetts

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People or places sometimes touch your heart immediately, and you feel welcome and fortunate to have crossed their paths. That is how we felt when we walked in the door at The Scituate Animal Shelter in Massachusetts. This is the kind of shelter that makes you feel good the moment you enter.

We were so happy to choose this shelter for our Road Trip For Good Massachusetts stop, and so were Brickle and Digby, who were greeted with dog treats and presents within minutes of our arrival!

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The Scituate Animal Shelter of Massachusetts’ tagline is, “The Lucky Ones Come To Us.” After meeting many of the animals in their care, we see that is true, but also realize how lucky we were to have found them.  Ashley Davis, the shelter’s director, graciously played the latest game of “Stop Hounding Me!” to start us off on our tour. Ashley’s care and concern for her staff, animals and volunteers shows through in every word she speaks.  Part of this shelter’s success is certainly due to her!

We received the privilege of an in-depth tour of their facility and were impressed at the cleanliness and care that went in to even the daily operations of this shelter. Volunteers even make sure that the grounds of the shelter are welcoming and beautiful. A handmade donation bin, meticulous flower gardens and benches make any visitor feel welcome and open to the possibility of finding their new, forever friend. What a treasure this shelter has in its community of caring and talented people!

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Everyone who works at the rescue knows more than the cleaning routines, and the volunteers’ walking schedules, they know the personalities and needs of each of the animals in their care intimately.  They are the reason they can guarantee that all the animals are given the care they deserve.

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They know that their days will be filled with much work, but their happy attitudes and spirits are apparent. Each of the staff members and volunteers we met knew what their strengths were and used them for the betterment of the shelter. From their Facebook page updates, to website maintenance, to general operations, they each have a job and do it well. Do the animals in their care know everything they do for them? Of course not. But they know that they are being cared for in a loving way and that’s what makes this shelter feel like a home.

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Do they only care for animals? No, they care for the elderly in their community as well! On our tour, we saw food set aside for qualifying, elderly residents in their community. They call this program, HELP. This program provides pet food, supplies and other assistance to elderly people with pets. This program allows these residents to properly care for and keep their pets. How awesome is that?!

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We also had the privilege of meeting Moira on our visit, a daughter of one the amazing shelter volunteers. Children like Moira are learning how to properly take care of animals and are involved in many of the shelter’s programs for children as well. The Scituate Animal Shelter reaches over 4,000 school children in Massachusetts through classroom visits and even guided tours of the shelter. So from the very young, to the very old, this shelter involves so many in the community. It’s no doubt because of what they’re doing that we believe that is why they are so successful and so special.

You know this the moment you walk through the door; and you will know it when you leave with your new best friend, too.

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Of course, every shelter and rescue we have visited on our Road Trip For Good needs help. In order to save more animals, they must have fosters, volunteers and donations to keep going. The Scituate Animal Shelter is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, no-kill animal shelter that is primarily volunteer run and funded solely by private donations. The Shelter is staffed by two full-time staff members and five part time staff members, but a large portion of the work is done by their volunteers. They receive no state or federal government funding, and rely solely upon donations. If this shelter feels like “home” to you too, consider a donation to their work, whether that be your time, food donations or monetary donations. We want them to continue not only for the betterment of the animals in their community, but their residents as well.

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Donate Now To The Scituate Animal Shelter
Learn How To Get Involved
Visit Their Website For Adoptable Animals
Visit Their Facebook Page For Updates And Happy Endings

Is this rescue “wicked awesome”? Of course it is, and Massachusetts is “wicked awesome” too! Get your dog and travel to this expansive state loaded with dog-friendly, 2 Traveling Dogs approved destinations!

1. An Evening Swim At A Lighthouse

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After visiting the Scituate Animal Shelter, head over to Scituate Light  for an evening swim with your best friend! This lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in New England and welcomes four leggers after 6 p.m. in the summertime. Catch the sunset and then head over to Pete’s Mediterranean Fresh for authentic greek food while sitting outside with your dog enjoying this small, historic seacoast town located halfway between Boston and Plymouth.

2. Run In One Of Boston’s Most Beautiful Parks

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Boston Common is the oldest park in the country! At almost 50 acres in size, Boston Common is the anchor for the Emerald Necklace which is a system of connected parks that wind through many Boston neighborhoods. The Common even allows well-behaved dogs to be off leash in areas during certain, specified hours. Check for local updates. They are allowed on-leash anytime during the day and always remember to clean up after your dog.

3. Take An Enchanted Walk Through The Woods

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Beebe Woods, located in Falmouth is a charming historic forest with dog-friendly hiking trails, ponds to swim in, and a beautiful estate to gaze at. Named after the Beebe family that created the Highfield estate, Beebe Woods is 383 acres of land that allows you to truly explore picturesque surroundings and steep-sided hollows with your dog. Don’t forget to pack a picnic and take a break after a refreshing swim in one of the ponds here.

4. Take A Ferry With Your Dog To Martha’s Vineyard

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If you want a day to truly remember with your dog, buy your ticket for the Island Queen and plan a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard with your dog. A truly dog-friendly ferry, the Island Queen allows your leashed dog to be with you and enjoy the boat ride to one of Massachusetts’ most beautiful areas. After gazing at many of the beautiful mansions for hours, we felt the need to hike. Pick one of the preserves here on the island to truly experience a different beauty before catching the ferry back to the mainland.

5. Take A Walk With The Kennedy Family

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Visit Hyannis with your dog and follow the Kennedy Legacy Trail in downtown Hyannis and Hyannis Port. Walk the 1.6 mile trail to uncover stories and history of the Kennedy family. Grab a map at the JFK Hyannis Museum, and before hitting the trail, swing into Pupcakes to get your dog some fuel for the tour with fresh baked dog treats. After your walk, head to Cape Cod Beer, a local brewery with fresh beer on tap. Go into the dog-friendly tasting room and find a new, Massachusetts favorite!

6. Waste Away The Afternoon With Your Dog At A Winery

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End your tour of Massachusetts at Truro Vineyards in North Truro. You may love their wines, but you will love relaxing with your dog more at this dog-friendly winery. Waste away your afternoon at one of their picnic tables or Adirondack chairs with a picnic, a glass of wine in hand, and your dog at your feet. With a friendly staff and atmosphere, you can have Massachusetts in a glass and celebrate a trip worth remembering with your dog.

7. Cook Your Dog A Boston Treat

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We had to wonder when we visited Massachusetts why Boston baked beans are called “Boston” baked beans! We found out that Boston has been tied to molasses since colonial days, when the city was a trade center for rum from the Caribbean. Molasses is used for rum production and is a by-product of sugar refining and was easily available to the colonists. So, mystery solved. “Real” Boston Baked Beans must have molasses!
Make your dog an authentic Massachusetts side dish which is always baked slowly. Take your time, bake your beans, give your dogs a side item that they will love. Slowly savor your time in Massachusetts and plan another trip to come back with your dog because there is so much to see.

Be sure to check 2 Traveling Dog’s pupcoming schedule to see if Brickle and Digby will be in your neighborhood!

Next stop…New Hampshire!

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Written by: Dr. Katy Nelson

July 18, 2016

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