Recently in adoptions Category

September is shaping up to be a busy month for pet-related events in the South Bay. Here's an early heads-up on a few of them:

• Sept. 10, 10:30 a.m. to noon:  PAWS to Read Program will hold a reading-aloud session for youngsters at the Hermosa Beach Library, 550 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach (310-379-8475). More info at www.spcaLA.com.
  

• Sept. 15, 10 a.m. to noon: spcaLA presents a foster class for volunteers interested in temporarily taking in pets waiting to be adopted into a permanent home. The class is free and applications are available at www.spcaLA.com. "We provide the pet, you provide the home." Pets that have been fostered in a family environment have a much better chance of being adopted. Class meets at the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village (in the auditorium), 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach. Call 323-730-5300, Ext. 300, or email foster@spcaLA.com.

• Sept. 18, 1-3 p.m.: Dog owners can celebrate back-to-school month by picking up some education for themselves at the Responsible Dog Ownership Day presented by the South Bay Kennel Club. The free, AKC-sponsored event will take place at Arthur Johnson Park, 1200 W. 170th St., Gardena, with the stated purpose of educating "first-time dog owners about the responsibilities of dog ownership and helping current owners enhance their relationships with their pets." San Pedro's Barbara Millman, obedience chairperson for the South Bay Kennel Club, will provide information about the AKC's Canine Good Citizen certificate. She will also administer the test for those who want to apply for the certificate. Members of the Southwest Obedience Club of L.A. also will provide information about obedience classes and give demonstrations. Dogs of several breeds and varieties also will be on hand in a mini "Meet-the-Breeds" show. Call 310-324-3549 or email sobykc@aol.com for information; also, www.akc.org. The public also is welcome to attend the South Bay Kennel Club's meeting at 8 p.m. Thursday (9/1) at the Nakaoka Community  Center, 1678 W. 162nd St., Gardena. There will be a discussion about the upcoming event. We'll be sure also to post a reminder when the time gets closer.

• Sept. 18, 4-5:30 p.m.: A concert for the animals -- Animal-Loving Musicians Support will donate a performance to help raise funds for Diamonds in the Ruff, a nonprofit animal rescue organization based in Los Angeles (310-699-2747). The benefit concert will feature jazz and pop standards performed at The Strings Connection, 716 Deep Valley Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. Call 310-377-0803 or email alms4animals@hotmail.com for details. 
  

My friend Dolly, who (brilliantly, as it all turned out) matched me with up Annie the cat a couple years ago, had invited me to stop by the Petco in the Crossroads Torrance center on Sunday to take a look at some of the babies available for adoption through A Cat's Tale.

So after church I went by and, yeah, my heart melted.

There are so many good kittens and cats needing homes right now. And they have some real beauties.


Among those up for adoption at A Cat's Tale are a couple Russian blues and kittens that are three days and three weeks old, rescued from what would have been a life as ferals. (The 3-week old kittens, shown below, had been abandoned and were covered in maggots. A litter mate died, but three of them survived. They're still on bottles, but will be ready for homes shortly. They're active scamps. They kept trying to climb out of their screened playpen):

Another cutie.

From the Noah's Bark email:

Tilly is a female, 2-year-old spaniel mix. She is fun loving, playful and walks well on the leash. Loves going to the dog park. Housebroken. This little gal was originally from Florida -- guess she came to L.A. to *make it big*!

To meet Tilly -- and other great adoptable dogs -- visit Rover Rescue at www.roverrescue.com. Or call 310-379-0154.

Rover Rescue's next mobile adoption event:

• Saturday, Aug. 27, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Centinela Feed & Pet Supply, 413 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach
  

It's a busy weekend for pet-related events. We've posted about these events previously, but as a reminder here's what's going on:

• America's Family Pet Expo starts today and runs through Sunday (4/15-17) at the Orange County Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Among the local rescue groups that will have booths are Animals Rule (San Pedro) and the Peter Zippi Fund for Animals (Hermosa Beach). Look for them and stop to say hi. Tickets are $12 general admission.

• A Wilmington church, In His Power Christian Center, will sponsor a community "Pack Walk"  from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday (4/16) to  raise awareness for spaying or neutering your pets. Walkers meet at the church, 602 Broad Ave., and will walk to Pacific Coast Highway and Avalon Boulevard. So leash up your dog(s) and join them to "walk for a cause."

• A pet adoption fair and community barbecue will be presented from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday (4/15) at the Silverado Senior Living facility (for Alzheimer's patients), 514 N. Prospect Ave., Redondo Beach. There also will be information about the facility's pet therapy program.

• And for those of you who have followed the saga of Sweet William, the gentle, one-eyed pit bull who found happiness with a loving Torrance family, you can stop by to offer your moral support and encouragement from 1-3 p.m. Saturday (1/16) at the Petco store in the Crossroads shopping center (at Crenshaw and Lomita boulevards in Torrance). Sweet William has been undergoing cancer treatments and would love to receive some pats on the head and hugs. His family would appreciate it as well, and it would give them a chance to meet those of you have been following the story and rooting for Sweet William.

And don't forget all the regular pet adoptions this weekend sponsored by our South Bay and Harbor Area rescue groups. Most of the local pet stores usually feature weekend adoptions by these hard-working nonprofits.

So enjoy the weekend! And email me your photos if you get to any of these events, we'd be glad to post them on the blog next week.

A special Adopt-a-Pet event and barbecue will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday (April 16) at the Silverado Senior Living facility at 514 N. Prospect Ave., Redondo Beach.

In the spotlight will be the facility's pet therapy program. A collection also will be taken for local rescue groups and adoption organizations. Bring non-perishable pet food, treats and toys to donate.

Participating vendors include Nature Network, Whiskers and Tails Foundation, Dirty Dog Squad, St. Anthony's Canine Rescue, Southern California Greyhound and Adoption Legion. For information, call 310-896-3100.



Silverado facilities specialize in treating people with Alzheimer's and other memory disorders.


Here's a 2010 story out of Salt Lake City about Silverado's unique use of kangaroos as therapy animals.

PURRfect Partners, a cat rescue based in the South Bay, will hold a yard sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday (April 8 and 9) at 4716 W. Bulova St., Torrance.

Proceeds will benefit spaying and neutering for cats. Items for sale also can be donated by dropping them off at the above address today or Thursday. Email cats@purrfectpartners4cats.com.

Items for sale include kitchenware, glassware, clothing, household furniture, office supplies, lounge chairs, Hello Kitty merchandise, books, DVDs/videos and gardening tools.

The group holds adoptions from noon to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday at Centinela Feed & Pet Supplies, 413 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach.

Sisters of Loyola Marymount University's Delta Zeta will volunteer at Sunday's (April 10) pet adoption sponsored by Marley's Pit Stop Rescue at the Petsmart at Plaza El Segundo, 730 S. Sepulveda Blvd., El Segundo.

The adoption is set from noon to 4 p.m. and fundraising events that day will include a "kissing booth" with three of the group's special needs dogs, along with a walk around the plaza (open to the public) to show off some of the adoptable dogs.

The kissing booth will raise funds to cover some of the medical expenses for the dogs currently in the rescue.

The group has its regular adoption events from noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at the Petsmart in El Segundo. Visit their website for more information.

Yes, we know, their adoptions are every Saturday.

But we like to give a little extra plug sometimes to our many local rescue groups that labor year-round to re-home some really great animals.

Animals Rule holds adoptions from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays outside Creative Pet Supply, 305 N. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro.

Among the dogs currently listed on the group's website are Jake, a very cute black, mixed breed puppy (that's him at the left), and Tiny Tim, a 4-pound Yorkshire terrier (right) whose owner had to give him up to move into an assisted living facility.

The group also has a number of Chihuahuas right now. Check out all their dogs at the website.

It's helpful to fill out an application in advance for a specific dog (applications are available online). The website also has some helpful advice in deciding to adopt a dog. For information, email info@animalsrule.org

SACI - ID#A1192010 My name is Saci and I am a neutered male, black and white Shih Tzu. The shelter thinks I am about 6 years old.I weigh approximately 16 pounds. I have been at the shelter since Feb 27, 2011 Nothing wrong with this handsome little boy, that a good bath and a bit of grooming didn't take care of.  He still looks a bit dazed in this photo at having all of that awful, matted hair removed, but he's ready to go -- just needs a rescue to help him find a new home!!!

TOFFEE - ID#A1178488 My name is Toffee and I am a neutered male, tan Pit Bull Terrier mix. The shelter thinks I am about 8 months old. I weigh approximately 32 pounds. I have been at the shelter since Feb 13, 2011 Is it a bird, is it a plane??  No, it's a very cute puppy with great big ears!!!  Adorable little pitbull mix.  But one eye is damaged and, I believe, blind.  Hey, nobody's perfect! ---  He looks a bit bull terrier-ish, so he's a smaller build than a regular pitbull.  He is now out in the general kennel population, but needs your help, please?

The folks at Basset Rescue are sending out a plea for donations to help a dog named Rex, recently taken in by the group and being treated.

The dog was one of two hounds reportedly dumped near Acton in September. But no one could catch them. When a new family moved into the neighborhood, one of the children was able to leash Rex to a bush and contact rescuers.

He was brought in on Thursday and has eaten several small meals but is very underweight and the prognosis is "touch and go." A veterinarian is working with Basset Rescue as they try to nurture him back to health.

You can read more about Rex at their website. There also is a place where people can contribute to his ongoing care.