Toucher & Rich: Fred’s latest dog situation unveils unexpected twist

Fred Toucher, co-host of the highly rated and Marconi award-winning Toucher & Rich radio program, found himself once again tangled in the conundrum of his beloved four-legged companion, Deuce. Fred couldn't resist sharing the hilarious tale that had unfolded during a recent escapade with his dog Deuce at a friend's abode. 

The focal point was Deuce's momentous decision to christen the friend's welcome mat with an impromptu bathroom break, leading to Fred's "friend" getting very upset over the decision. As Fred, regaled the on-air audience with the incident, finding laughter in the absurdity and chalking it up to a remarkable feat that Deuce managed to hold his bladder until they were outdoors.

Not everyone shared Fred's attitude, as the "friend" saw it an act of discourtesy on Fred's part and accused him of not taking the matter seriously. With an air of bewilderment, Rich Shertenlieb, tried to shed some light on the aftermath of the incident, insisting that the lingering smell of urine might not be as trifling as Fred imagined. However, Fred stood his ground, steadfast in his belief that the incident was no more than a tempest in a teapot.

Little did Rich, Ted Johnson (who was filling in for Jon Wallach) and the audience know, the twist in this uproarious tale awaited. It turned out that the very welcome mat Deuce had unwittingly marked with his canine flair was no ordinary outdoor accessory but rather an extravagant, Amazon-bought gem, handpicked by none other than Fred's ex-wife. And so, the conversation that began with a mischievous pup and a pee-soaked welcome mat concluded with a revelation.

Fred also faced criticism for not cleaning up after his dog during walks. However, he took the negative feedback to heart and has now committed to properly disposing of his dog's waste, showing his dedication to following societal norms of cleanliness and respecting public spaces. His willingness to listen and adapt to audience feedback highlights his genuine effort to rectify the situation.

Nick Gemelli is a Producer for the Toucher and Rich program and contributor for 985thesportshub.com. you can follow Nick at @NickGemelli on Twitter.

Follow @Toucherandrich on Twitter, @Toucherandrichofficial and @fredtoucher on Instagram to keep up with the show!

We all love the feeling of freedom. The freedom of warm weather; ditching the parka, opening the windows in your car and letting the breeze blow your hair. We love the freedom of a day off from work, with time on your hands. Our fur babies are no different. Most of them appreciate a walk in a park, woods or beach area. And Some live for  the freedom of a stroll alongside, without a human attached to the other end of the leash. If this is your pup, they will certainly appreciate these 9 awesome places in Massachusetts to walk your dog off leash.

As the owner of a dog who loves to run free, I am always in search of places that allow dogs off leash. Here, I am sharing the information I gathered from research and personal experience. With the help of Mass.gov, and Wickedlocal.com, you will find a list of some great spots to be free outside in beautiful surroundings. Some are near water, some are in woods, others in park settings. Check out these 9 awesome places in Massachusetts to walk your dog off leash.  Or should I say 9 pawsome places?

Keep in mind, with freedom comes responsibility. You have to keep an eye on your dog, always have him/her near you, pick up after yourself and obey the rules of the parks. Some of these places have off leash areas within the park, others are more open. There are some time and day restrictions on a few of these places as well. Always good to plan ahead.

457 Lincoln St., Hingham

Stodder's Neck & Abigail Adams Park is a penninsula in Hingham that's located at the mouth of the Back River. I love this place because it has it all. Beach walking with water for the dogs to swim, wooded trails and even a hilltop view. There is plenty of parking too.

https://www.mass.gov/locations/stodders-neck-abigail-adams-park

4 Woodland Road, Stoneham 

Middlesex Fells Reservation offers an off leash hiking area for dogs at Sheepfold Meadow

https://www.mass.gov/locations/middlesex-fells-reservation

259 Massapoag Ave., North Easton

As stated in mass.gov, at Borderline State Park, "there are trails for hiking, biking, or horseback riding, fishing and boating in the pond, and facilities for tennis and disc golf. There is also an historic mansion open for tours (without the dog)."

https://www.mass.gov/locations/borderland-state-park

165 North Road, Carlisle

You want space? You will certainly find it here at Great Brook Farm State Park in Carlisle. There are over 1,000-acres with more than 20 miles of trails, here. There's also plenty of history, with Native American sites and 17th-century cellar holes from English settlers. There is also an active dairy farm you can tour on the weekends. Dogs are allowed off leash, with the exception of the parking lot and ice cream stand. They must be leashed in these areas. 

https://www.mass.gov/locations/great-brook-farm-state-park

Off Dunklee Street, Newton 

There is a large off leash area for dogs in the 65-acre conservation and recreation area at Old Cold Spring Park in Newton. There are picnic tables here for you, too. The off-leash are is accessible from the Beacon Street entrance. Off leash dogs aren't allowed on the trails. 

https://www.newtonma.gov/government/parks-recreation-culture/off-leash-dog-parks/-fsiteid-1

Route 97, Georgetown

At Georgetown-Rowley State Forest there are more than 1,000 acres to explore. Plenty of hiking and biking areas here. 

https://www.mass.gov/locations/georgetown-rowley-state-forest

Access at Winchester Drive and Summer Street in Lexington, and from Philemon Street and Skyline Drive in Arlington.

Whipple Hill is Lexington's second-largest conservation area. There are 120 acres and 3.9 miles of trails. From Wicked Local: "The town of Lexington provides a list of rules of bringing dogs to conservation areas. At Willard's Woods: Dogs may be walked off leash on weekdays, but they must remain under the immediate restraint and control of their walker, either by leash, or voice and sight command."

https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7088110/whipple-hill-loop

Trotting Park Road, Lowell

The Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest spreads across 3 towns and features over 1,000 acres to explore. There are plenty of ponds, swamps, and wetlands here as well. According to the Chelmsford Dog Association, "Well-behaved dogs are allowed off leash here. This is a massive place, so take care if you decide to let your dog explore off leash. The walk we took starts at Trotting Park Road in Lowell. This is a dead end street with parking for the state forest."

https://www.mass.gov/locations/lowell-dracut-tyngsboro-state-forest

40 Kexiahs Lane, Orleans (Access from and parking on Frost Fish Lane)

Kent's Point is my favorite place, so far, to take our dog in the summer. It's not an enormous space but it's beautiful, and the water is so nice, the dogs and people love it. The walk has coastline, on Pleasant Bay, and woods to walk. The views are incredible and people are always so friendly. There is parking, but it fills up quickly in the summer.

https://capecodwave.com/kents-point-orleans-slideshow/