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How Can I Help?

Posted on March 19, 2020 by admin — No Comments ↓
We are so, so grateful for the outpouring of support during these trying times. This crisis has impacted so many people and companies. We’re trying our best to keep our vulnerable workforce safe, stable and
Receive Services Safely: Many of you are working from home and have decided to suspend services. Please know we are happy to continue walking your pups as while observing good social distancing practices. For those of you who have been traveling and are trapped, we are available to board pups in our homes if you need somewhere for them to go in the interim.
Help Us Support the Walkers: Our team would especially like to issue a huge thank you to the generous clients who have been able to continue paying for services they temporarily won’t be receiving, in efforts to mitigate the financial burden on the walkers and the company as a whole. If you would like to participate in that,  let us know at office@runningthepack.com
 
Keep us Updated Weekly: Getting people back to work will take notice, so checking in with us from time to time regarding your own status (even if just to say hi!) would be helpful. If at anytime we are thinking of fully closing the company, we will let you know that with as much notice as possible.
Posted in Uncategorized

I haven’t been visited by my usual dog walker. Will they be returning soon?

Posted on March 17, 2020 by admin — No Comments ↓

As many suspected, due to the influx of cancellations, many routes have been reduced to few or no walks. As walkers are paid per walk, this has left many of them with severely reduced paychecks.

In order to combat this, we have consolidated route to keep part of the team working as much as possible and laying off others so they may begin receiving benefits. Further, thanks in part to the incredible generosity of clients who have opted to halt service but continue to pay, walkers are receiving direct subsidies from RTP  bridge the financial gap.

It is impossible to say for sure whether everyone will be returning when the COVID-19 situation is concluded, but currently all walkers are working together and eager to return as soon as possible.

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized

What We’re Doing to Prepare for Covid

Posted on March 16, 2020 by admin — No Comments ↓

Dear Clients,

I hope you’re all doing well and staying healthy. We just wanted to take a moment to reach out amidst the growing COVID-19 crisis. Currently, we do not foresee any disruption in our ability to offer services. While you may be asked to work from home, we can continue our services as scheduled in order to keep your pet’s routine normal. This will aid in keeping your workday free from interruption by your four-legged friend.

Based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance for businesses and employers to respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Running the Pack has created the following internal action plan:

  • Actively encouraging sick employees to remain home until they are free of all symptoms.
  • Making hand sanitizer and sanitizer wipes readily available.
  • Reviewing proper hygiene procedures with employees.
  • Requiring any employee who displays respiratory disease symptoms or have recently traveled to the CDC Traveler Health Notice Locations, to return home and receive medical clearance before returning to work
  • Requiring that employees with sick family members or individuals at home notify us and remain home to receive medical clearance before returning.
  • Request that clients who show symptoms described by the CDC of COVID-19 to notify us as we are coming into your homes.

Additionally, due to the large number of cancellations we are seeing, routes will be consolidated. While we are actively doing our best to minimize the need to lay off any walkers, the financial burden COVID-19 is having on the company will likely make this unavoidable.

If you have any questions or concerns about this plan, please feel free to contact the office.

Sincerely,
Jill Hourihan
Running the Pack

Posted in Uncategorized

New! Running The Pack To Offer Training Classes At Cambridge’s The Pet Republic

Posted on August 7, 2015 by admin — No Comments ↓

We’ve had such a great response to the classes offered at our Natick location Metro Pets that we wanted bring the experience to our clients in the Boston area! Starting in September, Running The Pack will be offering a variety of classes at our Cambridge office The Pet Republic. Classes will include Basic Manners, Level 2 Manners, Puppy Class, Tricks, and Beginner Nosework.

 

Powertothepet

 

We will also be offering private lessons and behavior consults at The Pet Republic and in-home (Cambridge area only). Visit The Pet Republic website to view the full schedule. We are thrilled to be able to expand the services that we offer to our Boston-area clients. See you at The Pet Republic soon!

 

Power to the Pet!

 

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Posted in Dog Friendly Places, Puppy Training, Training techniques

Cambridge Scoop Alert AUGUST 6th: BYOP (Bring Your Own Pup) Wine Tasting Presented by Cambridge Local First

Posted on August 4, 2015 by admin — No Comments ↓

 ***Due to expected thunderstorms, the date of this event has been moved to Thursday, August 6th***

 byop large-01

Looking for a fun, free way to relax after work with your canine companion? Your friendly neighborhood dog walkers at Running The Pack will be scooping our famous doggy fro-yo at Cambridge Spirits in Kendall Square Thursday, August 6th from 5PM – 7PM as part of Cambridge Local First‘s Bring Your Own Pup wine tasting event! Relax and sip on some wine while you and your pup get to know local pet-centric business owners and other area pet parents.

Sound like fun? RSVP HERE

We’ll see you there!

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Posted in Animal Events, Dining Out, Dog Friendly Places, Rex in The City

Somerville Scoop Alert THIS WEEKEND: SomDog Pet Palooza at Assembly Row!

Posted on July 30, 2015 by admin — No Comments ↓

It wouldn’t be Pet Palooza without your favorite neighborhood dog walkers Running The Pack and our signature doggy fro-yo cart! Come grab a scoop of our ice cold sugar-free fro-yo for your hot dog and enjoy the festivities! We’ll be at Assembly Row for both days of SomDog‘s Pet Palooza along with local pet-centric businesses and vendors, Beantown Disc Dogs, dog aquatics, test-it-out activity areas, music, face painting, and more!

petpalooza2015

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Posted in Animal Events, Dog Friendly Places, Rex in The City

NATICK SCOOP ALERT JULY 19TH: Dog Days Of Summer Frozen Yogurt Party @ Metro Pets!

Posted on July 14, 2015 by admin — No Comments ↓

Mark your calendars, MetroWest – Your favorite neighborhood dog walker and pet sitter Running The Pack will be scooping our dog-friendly frozen yogurt at Metro Pets pet boutique! Stop by between 5:00PM and 8:30PM to give your hot dog a super cool treat. 

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And don’t worry about your pups tummy! Out sugar-free Greek frozen yogurt treats are made just for dogs so they will go down easy.

 

 

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Posted in Animal Events, Dog Friendly Places

Preventing Fleas and Ticks

Posted on July 1, 2015 by admin — No Comments ↓

Spring and summer bring lovely weather for walking and playing outdoors with your dog, but that also can come with some nasty pests intent on pestering your pet. Fleas and ticks are very uncomfortable for your dog, and can also carry disease. Here are some ways you can help keep your dog free of fleas and ticks.

"I used to have fun...Now I have fleas :( "

“I used to have fun…Now I have fleas 🙁 “

First, some signs of fleas in dogs:

  • Flea droppings (commonly referred to as flea dirt) in a dog’s coat – this will look like black or brown debris, but will turn red when exposed to water
  • Flea eggs on your dog or in her environment
  • Redness/rash
  • Excessive scratching, licking or biting at skin
  • Hair loss
  • Scabs and hot spots
  • Pale gums
  • Tapeworms

 

Please note that even if you only see a few fleas, there are likely many more that you cannot see. Just the presence of flea dirt can indicate an active infestation, even if you don’t see any live fleas.

Prevention and treatment:

  • Comb your pup regularly with a flea comb and wash her bedding weekly.
  • Vacuum carpets in your home frequently and dispose of the bags immediately. Mow your lawn regularly and remove tall weeds.
  • With the help of your veterinarian, choose a species-specific flea and tick treatment for your pet. This is commonly a chewable tablet or a topical, liquid medication applied to the back of the neck between the shoulder blades. Also keep in mind you should NEVER use products intended for dogs on cats, and vice versa.
  • Treat all of your pets for fleas, not just those who display signs of infestation. This includes cats!
  • Regularly check your pet for ticks. If you spot one, take care not to touch the tick or any bite wounds directly (use gloves!), as some diseases carried by ticks are also transmissible to humans. If you are unsure of how to properly remove a tick, ask your vet!

 

By keeping an eye out and doing some preventative maintenance, you can help to keep your dog flea and tick free, healthy, and comfortable through the warm months.

Jackie D. is a dog walker for Running The Pack, a certified Vet Tech, and a graduate of the Veterinary Technology degree program at North Shore Community College.
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Posted in Health

Celebrate Summer Safely With Your Pet

Posted on June 30, 2015 by admin — No Comments ↓

While many of these safety tips were written with Independence Day in mind, Running The Pack’s team of dog walkers and pet sitters think they’re relevant to ANY summer celebration where there might be crowds of people, loud noises, and unsupervised hot dogs 😉

From the ASPCA’s “ Fourth of July Safety Tips ”

“…Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.”

“…Do not put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it. While the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.”

From the MSPCA’s “Fireworks And Your Pet“

“…Their ears are far more sensitive than ours, so help them by drowning out the noise. Find a quiet, comfortable area for your pet indoors and turn on the TV or radio to help reduce the ability for him to hear the fireworks. This includes making sure all windows, screens and doors are closed tightly.”

“If your dog does not have a history of fear over fireworks or loud sounds, do not be complacent if they are outside with you. Make absolutely SURE they cannot get out of their harness or collar should they panic. A panic attack can happen suddenly in a pet’s life, even when it has not happened in the past. Sadly, many dogs become lost after running away from loud noises like fireworks.”

From the MSPCA’s “BBQ Safety Tips“

“Speak with guests about what your pet can and cannot eat. Several foods to avoid include fatty sausages (pancreatitis), chocolate from s’mores (chocolate toxicity), and wild mushrooms (mushroom toxicity can prove fatal to certain dog breeds).”

“…Before bringing your pet to a barbecue or allowing guests to bring theirs, make sure you know if all of the animals will get along. When it doubt, leave your dog where he is safest: at home!”

 

The below infographic from Petfinder.com also offers some great tips:

 

Source: Petfinder.com

Source: Petfinder.com

 

Have a safe and happy Independence Day!

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Posted in Animal Safety

June 13th Is National Get Outdoors Day!

Posted on June 10, 2015 by admin — No Comments ↓

This Saturday is National Get Outdoors Day! How will you and your pup celebrate? Running The Pack has some ideas that will be fun for the whole family!

 

Boston Dragon Boat Festival

MIT Pierce Boathouse, Cambridge, MA

7:00AM – 2:00PM

Enjoy a stroll with your pup along the banks of the Charles while taking in the sights of the 35th Annual Boston Dragon Boat Festival. Saturday will have the teams competing in time trials before Sunday’s races.

 

Pets & Pals Weekend

Prospect Mountain Campground, Granville, MA

Prefer to get out of town? While the campground always allows pets*, they have special events scheduled for this weekend including a pet parade and pet-friendly hayrides!

*See Prospect Mountain Campground’s website for specific rules and guidelines.

 

Visit Your Local Parks & Trails

For more info on dog-friendly parks and trails near you, visit the Running The Pack Service Map right here on our website! Click on any of the towns we service for a list of nearby places to explore with your pet.

Now, what are you waiting for? Get outdoors!

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Weekend filling up fast?  Your pup can still celebrate! Request a pet sitting walk with your neighborhood Running The Pack dog walker HERE.

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Posted in Dog Friendly Places, Hikes and Trails, Parks and Beaches, Rex in The City
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Running The Pack offers a variety of services for animals of all ages and abilities. A Maximum of two dogs will be run at one time.

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Your dog's not able to run or just needs extra walking services? Running The Pack's staff are also available as dog walkers.

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While you are away, Running The Pack offers pet sitting services so that you can feel safe & secure that your beloved pet is with a pet professional.

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Running The Pack walks my socially maladjusted dog twice a day M-F and they are fantastic.  She is not an easy dog to manage mainly because she doesn’t get along with other dogs.  I’ve tried many other walkers and Running The Pack has by far been the most accommodating and the most successful with her.
Nancy T.