Results tagged “rancho palos verdes” from South Bay Pets

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I was enjoying a startingly beautiful sunset at a friend's house on the Palos Verdes Peninsula the other night. We were enjoying a glass of wine and watching a dolphin dancing in the water.

 All of a sudden, I heard this horrible screaming sound. It sounded horrible. It sounded like somebody was pulling the hair out of a child's head. It sounded exactly like my dog, but multiplied by a hundred.

What's that ghastly sound? I asked my friend.

"Oh," she said, "that's just the peafowl. They do that all the time."

It seems that others have noticed the noise (and the constant pooping too). My colleague Melissa Pamer has an article about the horrible animals. They're causing problems again in Rancho Palos Verdes. Here's the start:

While some locals appreciate their rich coloring and luxuriant plumage, other complain about their ear-splitting shrieks and copious excrement.

Today, peacocks and peahens are back in the spotlight on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, where the birds have been known to ruffle feathers.

The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council tonight will consider what to do about the creatures known collectively as peafowl.

In recent years, the city has seen an uptick in complaints about the birds. A recent peafowl "census" showed the population up 53 percent since a count in 2000.

 

 

 

While some locals appreciate their rich coloring and luxuriant plumage, other complain about their ear-splitting shrieks and copious excrement.

Today, peacocks and peahens are back in the spotlight on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, where the birds have been known to ruffle feathers.

The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council tonight will consider what to do about the creatures known collectively as peafowl.

In recent years, the city has seen an uptick in complaints about the birds. A recent peafowl "census" showed the population up 53 percent since a count in 2000.

The animals, heads buried in dried mustard and the green shoots of non-native oat, munched along quietly. One horned specimen gave in to curiosity and tried to nibble a reporter's notebook.
"They're very hungry animals," Gonzalez said. "They're just going like crazy."
Trucked over from Gonzalez's Ranchito Tivo Boer Goats in Chino, the animals are regularly employed across the region to reduce brush for fire prevention.
This year, they were hired for the first time by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy to clear invasive species as part of a multiyear restoration of part of the 99-acre reserve, which is between McCarrell and Barkentine canyons and is accessible only by a steep trail.

Photo by the incomparable Steve McCrank.

My colleague Melissa Pamer found this really sweet story. A stray dog -- a Gordon setter -- was found wandering in a Rancho Palos Verdes neighborhood.

Someone took in the dog, but it hopped over a fence and fell 30 feet to the ground below.

Firefighters were summoned. But nobody wanted to pay the vet bill for a stray.

Well, those firefighters may be tough and brave, but they were no match for a pair of pleading eyes. One of them took the pup home with him after a local vet fixed it up for free.

The firefighter named the dog Spot, even though it has no spots. I guess if you're a fire dog, you HAVE to be named Spot.

I'm kinda ruining things by publishing the end of the story here, but it'll only want to make you read the rest of it.

On Wednesday, Berro picked Spot up at the animal hospital and took him to visit fire Station No. 2 in Palos Verdes Estates. From there it was on to Berro's Orange County home, where the dog would be a surprise for the fire captain's wife and two children, who he said have been begging for a new pet.

The dog, trembling with anxiety and lingering pain, gently rested his head on any knee that was offered.

"I'm getting lucky here," Berro said. "He's a real sweetheart."

Here's a video taken by ace photographer Sean Hiller.

 http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1631255545/bctid7332520001

Me, I don't know the difference between a mule and a donkey. Sure, I could look it up on Wikipedia, but I'd just forget again five minutes later.

Fortunately for mules, they don't have me watching out for their interests. Instead, they have a man named Vic Otten of Rancho Palos Verdes.

A lawyer by trade, Vic is the mastermind behind STOMP, an organization dedicated to stopping discrimination against mules.

STOMP, by the way, stand for Society to Obliterate Mule Prejudice. Their motto: No mule left behind.

Here's what he has to say about it in his manifesto:

In most cases, you know it when you see it- someone states: "what kind of a half ass job is that?" Or someone refers to a person as "stubborn as a mule" or uses the phrase "there's another mule kicking in your stall (an allegory that means your woman is messing around on you with another guy)". These are examples of associations with the mule that contain negative connotations.  And while they may seem harmless and even funny, these stereotypes, based on a negative and irrational attitude or opinion about mules formulated without a factual basis, can have profound impacts on mules, their owners and society.

I'm not sure how serious Vic is with all this. Clearly he's a fan of mules. But I also guess he's having a little bit of fun.

If you want to learn more about helping the cause of muledom, click here.

You always have to be on the lookout for snakes while walking through the brush that dots t he South Bay -- especially on hot days like today. They like to sun themselves on open pathways.

But snakes are quiet, sneaky and low to the ground. They're not always  easy to spot.

So this morning, me and the idiot dog were walking out on the trails in RPV when I looked down and noticed that Rocket was STANDING ON A SNAKE! He was standing right on top of its little snake body.

I yanked him hard and beat a hasty retreat into the other direction. The snake and the dog never seemed to notice each other.

Thank you Mr. Snake for not biting my dog. I owe you one.

The city of Rancho Palos Verdes is offering dog training classes through the Parks and Recreation Department for all of those dogs out there who could use a little help in the good boy (or girl) department.

Two levels of classes, Basic Manners and Canine Good Citizen, will be conducted by Pawsitive Partners, a positive training company that focuses on strengthening the relationship between you and your dog.

Basic Manners, an eight-week class for dogs older than 16 weeks, will focus on commands such as sit and stay, walking nicely on leash, and handling at the vet. These are areas considered to be what your dog needs to live happily in your home.

The Canine Good Citizen class is a six-week class focusing on helping your dog pass the Canine Good Citizen test developed by the American Kennel Club. The test has 10 parts that showcase the dog's obedience and temperament. On the final week, an AKC evaluator attends the class and tests the dogs. Those that pass are certified through the AKC, the first step in doing therapy work such as visiting hospitals and convalescent homes.

Classes will be at Ladera Linda Park, 32201 Forrestal Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes starting at 10 a.m. (Basic) and 11 a.m. (Good Citizen) Saturday.
Classes are $120 and $160. Call Melinda at 866-787-9481 E-mail melinda@pawspartners.com or log on to www.pawspartners.com.

It's been a while since I riled things up by writing about dog beaches.

But yesterday someone left this comment to a post I made a few months ago about the secret dog beach, which, as you know, can be found by parking next to the club house at the Trump Golf course in Rancho Palos Verdes and walking down the trail.

This letter accomlishes two things: It dredges up one of my favorite blogging topics and it says nice things about me!

 You people are so selfish with your beaches! How is he destroying a community?! It seems to me he is bringing it together! You people probably think because someone who comes up there and isn't wearing designer clothes and sunglasses isn't worthy of being there! Thank you Josh Grossberg! These annoying, self centered PV people who think that just because they have money that they should be the only ones allowed up there at that beach. I'm sorry but my dog loves to run and play just the same as yours. So Kudos to you Josh! You are not ruining this beach for anybody except self centered snobs. As a matter of fact, I am going to tell everyone I know who has a dog to come down there!

That's the spirit! But let me caution my readers that taking dogs off leash at the beach is illegal. And always be courteous and clean up after your dog.

Fall is coming, which is a great time of the year to take your dog for a hike and a romp on the sand. I'll write more about dog beaches soon. 

I stirred a bit of controversy last month when I wrote a post about a secluded beach in Rancho Palos Verdes where people often take their dogs.

Some bozo who lives a beach away was mad at me for ruining his privacy. I guess his own private beach isn't enough.

Some dog owners were upset that I even mentioned the beach, even though I never said exactly where it was.

Well, here's exactly where it is: Go to the Trump National Golf Course at 1 Ocean Trails Drive. There's public parking next to the club house.

In fact, the clever leaders of RPV mandated that parts of the course remain public. So you can walk through there any time you want. Just stay in the public part and you'll be fine.

This is from the city's Web site:

Founders Park was formally accepted by the City on January 17, 2006 and named in honor of the City's founders who led the effort to incorporate the City of Rancho Palos Verdes more than 30 years ago.  This 5.5-acre parcel is located adjacent to the Trump National Clubhouse and offers patrons an attractive sight with breath-taking ocean views, picnic tables, a gazebo, nearby restrooms, coastal access and adjacent walking and biking trails.  Dogs must be on a leash.

Walk around until you see a small trail that leads away from the manicured golf course. There are trails on both sides of the park, but the one on the north side is a more difficult climb.

Follow the trails down and you'll get to the beach.

And that's that. Make sure your dog stays on a leash. People were getting tickets a few weeks ago, even though nobody goes down there except for hikers and dog people. It's a stinky, rock-strewn beach and not really a good place to go sun bathing.

More on dog beaches coming later this week.

There's an update to an item we posted a few days ago about a woman in Rancho Palos Verdes who was bitten by two loose German shepherds in her backyard while she was breaking up an attack on her own dog.

The Palos Verdes Peninsula News, a sister paper to the Daily Breeze, provides a full and more recent account from today's April 28 edition. Included are some comments from the German shepherds' owner, Renata Heindl. There also are comments from emergency and animal control authorities regarding how dog attack calls are handled and from neighbors.

Heindl's dogs remain under quarantine at her home. Maria Lyons told reporter Ashley Ratcliff that she is still "unsure" if she will press charges against Heindl.