Fred Hesse Community Park, 29301 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes.
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday.
February 2012 Archives
Two dog show judges will give their opinions on whether Malachy, the Pekingese, should have taken Best in Show at this year's Westminster Kennel Club dog show at an open meeting of the South Bay Kennel Club at 8 p.m. Thursday (March 1)
.
The meeting is at the Nakaoka Community Center, 1670 W. 162nd St., Gardena.
First, the Best in Show judging segment will be viewed, followed by analysis by Pam Woods, secretary of the South Bay Kennel Club, and Roy Prado, a member of the club's board of directors and a licensed American Kennel Club best in Show judge.
They'll answer questions from the audience and discuss whether the "best" entrants really won, why the winners were selected and what goes into selecting a Best in Show dog.
The public is welcome. Admission is free.
Call 310-324-3549 or email SoBayKC@aol.com for information.
. The meeting is at the Nakaoka Community Center, 1670 W. 162nd St., Gardena.
First, the Best in Show judging segment will be viewed, followed by analysis by Pam Woods, secretary of the South Bay Kennel Club, and Roy Prado, a member of the club's board of directors and a licensed American Kennel Club best in Show judge.
They'll answer questions from the audience and discuss whether the "best" entrants really won, why the winners were selected and what goes into selecting a Best in Show dog.
The public is welcome. Admission is free.
Call 310-324-3549 or email SoBayKC@aol.com for information.
There's been a county Health Department policy change that now allows dogs into outdoor dining areas where restaurants permit it.
The revised rule has been around for 2 months now but was announced Monday at a news conference at the Lazy Dog Cafe at the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance. Lazy Dog carries menu items for your pooch -- cut up chicken or beef.
I'm not working this week, but my colleague Nick Green has posted a report of last night's City Council meeting on the Daily Breeze Pipeline blog.
Here's the full story.
I heard through the grapevine today that there was quite a big police "bust" a week ago or so of people who were off-leashing their dogs at the Joan Milke Flores section of Angels Gate Park in 
San Pedro.
San Pedro. Apparently dozens of off-leash citations were handed out as authorities converged (with a helicopter overhead?) on the area that's become used as an unofficial dog park over the years.
Was anyone reading this there at the time? How much are those tickets costing these days? What's been the impact of the "raid"? Are people still off-leashing there?
Talk to us.
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Meanwhile, Rancho Palos Verdes City Council members tonight will be considering the option of legally allowing dogs (on-leash or off-leash) on the 5-acre Rancho Palos Verdes Beach just below the cliffs at the Trump National Golf Course.
If you're interested in this issue, you can show up and offer your comments:
Here's a link to the Daily Breeze story that ran Monday. It includes some specifics from the staff report that will be put before council members tonight.
We neglected to post here about Malachy, the Pekingese who took Best in Show honors at last week's Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York. I personally prefer the larger breeds. But the small ones always fit so nicely in those silver cups, so it is actually fun to see them win.
Here's a good story on Malachy's triumphant return back home with his owner/handler David Fitzpatrick.
But seriously, I can't quite get over that gigantic ribbon.
Malachy enjoys his Best-in-Show bowl Friday at home in Washington Township, just outside of East Berlin. (Daily Record/Sunday News -- Jason Plotkin)
Meet Lu Lu.
Lu Lu, it probably goes without saying, has issues.
And that's where cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy, host of Animal Planet's "My Cat From Hell!" (8 p.m. Saturdays) comes in.
The show is casting for a new season right now and is looking for South Bay and other Los Angeles-area cat owners who are at the end of their ropes with their furry felines.
Among the problem behaviors Galaxy can tackle: excessive growling, meowing, nipping, scratching, biting, ruining furniture, tearing the house upside down, and escaping.
"Jackson will try to transform your cat back to the feline you love!" according to the show's flier.
So here's the deal.
If you have a problem cat that you think would be good for the show, you can send an email to: hellcatscasting@gmail.com
Lu Lu, it probably goes without saying, has issues.
And that's where cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy, host of Animal Planet's "My Cat From Hell!" (8 p.m. Saturdays) comes in.
From spastic cats that break up relationships to violent felines that put their owners in the hospital, cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy has seen it all. Follow Jackson as he brings his unique understanding of cats to desperate families on the verge of giving up on their furry companions.
The show is casting for a new season right now and is looking for South Bay and other Los Angeles-area cat owners who are at the end of their ropes with their furry felines.
Among the problem behaviors Galaxy can tackle: excessive growling, meowing, nipping, scratching, biting, ruining furniture, tearing the house upside down, and escaping.
"Jackson will try to transform your cat back to the feline you love!" according to the show's flier.
So here's the deal.
If you have a problem cat that you think would be good for the show, you can send an email to: hellcatscasting@gmail.com
The email should include: your name, age, city, contact phone number and who you live with. Tell them about your cat and how your life or relationships are being affected. Include your cat's name, age, breed, where you got the cat and tell them -- in detail -- about the cat's behavioral problems. and why you or your family need help. Include pictures of yourself, your family members -- and, of course, your cat. Applicants must live in or around the Los Angeles area.
The spcaLA is offering $20 female cat spay surgeries through the month of February.
It's all part of World Spay Day (Feb. 28) and is being co-sponsored by Petsmart charities.
You can make an appointment by calling 323-730-5303 or emailing spayneuter@spcaLA.com.
It's all part of World Spay Day (Feb. 28) and is being co-sponsored by Petsmart charities.
You can make an appointment by calling 323-730-5303 or emailing spayneuter@spcaLA.com.
According to the American Kennel Club, cases of dognapping are on the rise.
Most stolen dog in 2011?
"The Yorkshire Terrier," AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson told Fox 8 news in Ohio. "In the beginning, when I was tracking it, we were looking at pure-bred dogs that were being stolen. But now I see more and more mixed breed dogs, I see a lot of pit bull-type dogs being stolen, I see more dogs also being taken from shelters which is unusual."
The report says the AKC saw a 70 percent increase in dognapping cases over 2010.
In 2011, 432 dogs were reported as stolen. In 2007, when records started being kept, only 10 were stolen.
The AKC recommends that dogs not be left alone in a vehicle. And if you're gone during the day, leave the pet in the house (not always practical for many of us, obviously). The photo below is from a surveillance camera posted online from a case in the Pittsburgh area.
Most stolen dog in 2011?
"The Yorkshire Terrier," AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson told Fox 8 news in Ohio. "In the beginning, when I was tracking it, we were looking at pure-bred dogs that were being stolen. But now I see more and more mixed breed dogs, I see a lot of pit bull-type dogs being stolen, I see more dogs also being taken from shelters which is unusual."
The report says the AKC saw a 70 percent increase in dognapping cases over 2010.
In 2011, 432 dogs were reported as stolen. In 2007, when records started being kept, only 10 were stolen.
The AKC recommends that dogs not be left alone in a vehicle. And if you're gone during the day, leave the pet in the house (not always practical for many of us, obviously). The photo below is from a surveillance camera posted online from a case in the Pittsburgh area.
If you've taken your dogs to the so-called Trump Beach, you'll be interested in the upcoming
City Council meeting on
Feb. 21 in RPV.Council members will be considering whether to designate the unofficial dog beach area as an official off-leash dog beach.
The public is welcome to attend and make comments at the meeting that will be held at 7 p.m. at Hesse Park, 29301 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes.
Here are some of our earlier posts on dog beach issue.For more information, call the city's Rec and Parks Department at 310-544-5260 or go to the city's website at www.palosverdes.com/rpv/. And here's some background about the project on the city's website about the project.
A big thanks to photographer Gary Miereanu for shooting and sending us these these great photos of South Bay and other LA area dogs who competed in this year's Westminster show in New York.
While you may not have seen them in the televised finals, they all excelled in getting to Westminster.
Move your curser to the top of each photo in the gallery to see the caption information.
While you may not have seen them in the televised finals, they all excelled in getting to Westminster.
Move your curser to the top of each photo in the gallery to see the caption information.
So did you watch Westminster last night?
What did you think? Disappointed? Happy about the results so far?
Group winners from Monday:
Tonight's judging includes the Sporting, Working and Terrier groups -- followed by the grand finale, the Best in Show.
Detailed show information, including videos for stuff you missed, is available at the Westminster website. The group links above also give the runners-up and details about the winning dogs.
Fellow blogger Sandy Tomcho on the east coast is blogging live ("Sandy Unleashed" at HudsonValley.com/blogs) from the show in New York.
And Westminster also is live tweeting and posting results on Facebook as they happen:
https://twitter.com/#!/WKCDOGS
http://www.facebook.com/WKCDogShow
But if you enjoy watching the drama unfold on television, remember that the West Coast broadcast from 8-11 p.m. tonight is 3 hours behind the real event. So you might want to impose a social media blackout on yourself beginning at around 5 p.m.
What did you think? Disappointed? Happy about the results so far?
Group winners from Monday:
- Hound: Wirehaired Dachshund
- Toy: Pekingese
- Non-Sporting: Dalmatian
- Herding: German Shepherd
Tonight's judging includes the Sporting, Working and Terrier groups -- followed by the grand finale, the Best in Show.
Detailed show information, including videos for stuff you missed, is available at the Westminster website. The group links above also give the runners-up and details about the winning dogs.
Fellow blogger Sandy Tomcho on the east coast is blogging live ("Sandy Unleashed" at HudsonValley.com/blogs) from the show in New York.
And Westminster also is live tweeting and posting results on Facebook as they happen:
https://twitter.com/#!/WKCDOGS
http://www.facebook.com/WKCDogShow
But if you enjoy watching the drama unfold on television, remember that the West Coast broadcast from 8-11 p.m. tonight is 3 hours behind the real event. So you might want to impose a social media blackout on yourself beginning at around 5 p.m.
It's one of the most watched programs in the dog world. And tonight's the night.
The Westminster Kennel Club dog show in N.Y., which will be broadcast on USA & CNBC tonight and Tuesday (8-11 p.m.).
Here's a pretty good primer on what to watch for as the various breeds and groups are pranced out for judging.
Every dog entered in Westminster has earned its Championship title. But the judge can only choose one for Best in Breed. Photo: Westminster Kennel Club.
And here's some other helpful background information on the show.
Do you have a favorite breed you'll be rooting for?
The Westminster Kennel Club dog show in N.Y., which will be broadcast on USA & CNBC tonight and Tuesday (8-11 p.m.).
Here's a pretty good primer on what to watch for as the various breeds and groups are pranced out for judging.
Every dog entered in Westminster has earned its Championship title. But the judge can only choose one for Best in Breed. Photo: Westminster Kennel Club.
And here's some other helpful background information on the show.
Do you have a favorite breed you'll be rooting for?
The show airs tonight and Tuesday night.
But you can watch live as the judges make selections at the NY show:
And here's the details for the show's television broadcasts Monday & Tuesday nights:
There's a big Pet Lovers Event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Manhattan Beach Toyota, 1500 N. Sepulveda Blvd. (310-546-4848), that will include pet adoptions, contests (bring your pet), a low-cost vaccination clinic (11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) and training and grooming tips.
Vendors include the Lovejoy Foundation, PURRfect Partners and Centinela Feed and Pet Supply.
Celebrity pet expert Harrison Forbes will be on hand with signed copies of his book Dog Talk and there will be giveaways from Kurgo and Pedigree for the first 150 people who show up.
The first 200 people will get a gift bag worth $25.
Contests include best pet trick and best pet costume.
Oh yeah. And there's also a free barbecue thrown in also.
Vendors include the Lovejoy Foundation, PURRfect Partners and Centinela Feed and Pet Supply.
Celebrity pet expert Harrison Forbes will be on hand with signed copies of his book Dog Talk and there will be giveaways from Kurgo and Pedigree for the first 150 people who show up. The first 200 people will get a gift bag worth $25.
Contests include best pet trick and best pet costume.
Oh yeah. And there's also a free barbecue thrown in also.
You may know this area as the old "Trump dog beach," an unofficial, public off-leash dog beach below the famous golf course and country club.
The area last year was transferred from private Trump ownership to the city of Rancho Palos Verdes and now city officials are trying to decide the best use for it.
The City Council will be weighing the options in the next few months, including the question of whether to make the area a legal off-leash dog spot.
You're invited to send you comments (include your name, city of residence) to:
parks@rpv.com
You can also call 310-544-5260. The website is www.palosverdes.com/rpv
The area last year was transferred from private Trump ownership to the city of Rancho Palos
Verdes and now city officials are trying to decide the best use for it.The City Council will be weighing the options in the next few months, including the question of whether to make the area a legal off-leash dog spot.
You're invited to send you comments (include your name, city of residence) to:
parks@rpv.com
You can also call 310-544-5260. The website is www.palosverdes.com/rpv
Update 2/7/12: I received a call from Olive's owner today saying she turned up at the local animal shelter and now is safe back home. We love those kinds of endings. :-)
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Keep an eye out for Olive if you're in the vicinity of 159th & Hawthorne Blvd. in Lawndale.
The tan Chihuahua mix escaped through an open gate at around 5 a.m. today. She needs DAILY seizure meds and still has an IV port taped to her.
She is microchipped and is wearing bells around her neck.
Call Alice at 310-962-4815.
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Keep an eye out for Olive if you're in the vicinity of 159th & Hawthorne Blvd. in Lawndale.
The tan Chihuahua mix escaped through an open gate at around 5 a.m. today. She needs DAILY seizure meds and still has an IV port taped to her.
She is microchipped and is wearing bells around her neck.
Call Alice at 310-962-4815.
The SNP LA -- Spay Neuter Project of Los Angeles, formerly called Clinico -- will host an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 8) at its San Pedro site.
Door prizes, refreshments and a tour of the facility will be offered to the public.
offered in conjunction with the 18th annual Spay Day which is Feb. 28. Found Animals is assisting in the event.
The San Pedro clinic is located on the grounds of the Harbor Area Animal Care Center, 957 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro.
For more information, check out the SNP LA website. Or call 1-888-WE-SPAY-LA.
Door prizes, refreshments and a tour of the facility will be offered to the public.
SNP LA provides spay neuter services that are affordable and accessible to all pet owners in the Los Angeles area in an effort to create an environment in which animal shelters no longer rely on euthanizing animals as a way of controlling pet population.The open house -- along with others at the group's Pico Rivera and Van Nuys facilities -- is
offered in conjunction with the 18th annual Spay Day which is Feb. 28. Found Animals is assisting in the event.The San Pedro clinic is located on the grounds of the Harbor Area Animal Care Center, 957 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro.
For more information, check out the SNP LA website. Or call 1-888-WE-SPAY-LA.
February, according to the folks over at Vetstreet, is Dental Health Month. So they've posted some practical tips on how we can help keep our pets' teeth and gums clean and problem-free. 
Not only will they be healthier, but we'll save some money. The link above has some good tips on how to maintain good dental health in your dogs and cats.
Brushing your pets' teeth is still recommended as the best way to keep problems at bay, but I'm guessing not a lot of pet owners do that. I'll admit I've had good intentions in the past, but have not managed to work it into a regular health schedule for my 2 dogs and 1 cat.
But I may give it another try.
All three received good checkups at the vet recently -- only one, Cowboy, needed a teeth cleaning and they were able to do that anesthesia-free.
So I suppose now would be a good time to start a new brushing regimen.
Any of our readers bush their pets' teeth? Was it hard to get them used to it? Any special tricks to make it easier?
***Meanwhile, our friends over at i Love Dogs are holding a dog "teeth photo contest" this month.
Not only will they be healthier, but we'll save some money. The link above has some good tips on how to maintain good dental health in your dogs and cats.Brushing your pets' teeth is still recommended as the best way to keep problems at bay, but I'm guessing not a lot of pet owners do that. I'll admit I've had good intentions in the past, but have not managed to work it into a regular health schedule for my 2 dogs and 1 cat.
But I may give it another try.
All three received good checkups at the vet recently -- only one, Cowboy, needed a teeth cleaning and they were able to do that anesthesia-free.
So I suppose now would be a good time to start a new brushing regimen.
Any of our readers bush their pets' teeth? Was it hard to get them used to it? Any special tricks to make it easier?
***Meanwhile, our friends over at i Love Dogs are holding a dog "teeth photo contest" this month.
Are we all getting geared up for tomorrow's 8th annual Puppy Bowl?
Well, here's something to cheer about: This year's starting lineup features a Long Beach dog named Fumble.
From the Long Beach Gazette's story linked above:
Fumble, a young Chihuahua/terrier mix from the spcaLA in Long Beach, has just scored in the big time.
The puppy is set to make his television debut as part of the starting lineup on Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl VIII show - aired during Sunday's Super Bowl game.
TOP DOG. Fumble, who came from the spcaLA, will be playing in Sunday's 7th annual Puppy Bowl.
Ana Bustilloz, who is the director of communications and marketing for spcaLA, decided last year that Long Beach needed to find a cute, furry football player to star in the annual Puppy Bowl.
So all together now: GO FUMBLE!"I asked our wonderful staff to recommend some puppies," Bustilloz said. "Cuteness was a major factor, but the puppy would also need to handle a long plane ride to New York City... We saw Fumble, and he is just so cute. He was a good size and a beautiful puppy."
Did you read about how the NYPD is outfitting their canine units with infrared cameras?
"We're all sheepdogs looking for wolves, and my job is to keep my flock safe," Lieutenant (John) Pappas said.
About the Bloggers
Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
E-mail Donna at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(Video: Rocket the Dog) and is the least popular person on his block. He spends his free time in dog parks, pet shops and always has an extra plastic bag in his pocket just in case. He also has a cat.
E-mail Josh at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.