Recently in Best Friends Animal Soceity Category

We received some more photos taken a few weeks ago at the Best Friends Animal Society's well-attended "Strut Your Mutt" on the Santa Monica Pier (see our earlier post about the Sept. 19 event).

These come from the sharp-looking black-and-white battalion, Border Collies in Need, with funds raised to help with medical costs for Angel and for Ferris, a 5-month-old border collie pup who was hit by a car. One of his rear legs had to be amputated. Both dogs' stories are on the website under "adoptions."

The group raised almost $4,500 at the walk with 23 walkers participating on their behalf.

Good job, guys.

Below is actress Emmanuelle Vaugier with Sundae, who also participated in the walk. Sundae was adopted from Border Collies in Need by Ariella Reisner. These pics turned out so nice that the organization said they might use Sundae for the Best Friends magazine promotion of next year's event.

We'd second that idea.

So it was a busy weekend with the Strut Your Mutt walk in Santa Monica.

Among those participating was Julia Sarah Silver Warady of San Pedro, founder of Happy Hound Helpers (a new pet-sitting business ready to launch in the Harbor Area in early October) and her super-cute bassett hound, Barkley:

I'm told Barkley wasn't so keen on wearing the flowers at first. But he adjusted. Looks like he was a pretty good all-around sport about it all. 

Julia was walking on behalf of Bassett Hound Rescue at Daphneyland.

Held on the Santa Monica Pier, the event was sponsored by the Best Friends Animal Society to raise funds for local rescue groups.

Friends from Border Collies in Need, founded by San Pedro resident Suzanne Strauss, and Rover Rescue based in the South Bay (Redondo Beach) also were among groups participating and partnering for funds raised.

Send in your pictures from the walk if you took some! We'll post them.

The recession is taking its toll on shelter animals, according to an Associated press story that ran in the Daily Breeze today. From the article:

Animal rescues and shelters have suffered during the recession, particularly in states like California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona where the real estate boom busted the loudest, said Stephen L. Zawistowski of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

So it's good to hear about how some groups are finding creative ways to make their dollars stretch.

Border Collies in Need, a group founded by Suzanne Strauss of San Pedro, has joined the "Double Your Impact Challenge" fund-raising drive, which is being sponsored by the Best Friends Animal Society. Donations made from Nov. 9 through Dec. 4 will be doubled by Best Friends, helping the rescue groups of your choice. I'm sure other local groups have signed up as well.

Under a new Best Friends  program called Network Charities, the campaign promotes collaboration among nonprofit shelters and rescue groups working to solve the problem of homeless pets.

Check out the Border Collies in Need page with Best Friends. 

Border Collies In Need (BCIN) also will attend the Best Friends Adoption Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Sunday (Nov. 15) at the La Brea Tar Pits, 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.

Here are 3 of the dogs currently available for adoption from the BCIN (you can contact them at bcrescue@cox.net or download an application from their web site):

This is "Cash."

Cash is beautiful, but on the thin side. He gets along well with small and older dogs and has a really nice disposition ... Cash is about 11-months-old and grew up on a 50,000 acre ranch in Northeastern Oregon chasing cows and everything else that moved! He fell as a puppy and dislocated his hip which had to be surgically replaced. He tends to favor his left rear leg every once in a while but has no pain. ... Cash NEEDS room to run!

And here's Shayna.

Shayna is a 1 year old purebred Border Collie. A traditionally marked black & white semi rough coated girl, she has one blue eye. Shayna is of very athletic build and we are working on adding a few pounds. ... Shayna is medium to high drive, thus we do not recommend her for the first time BC owner. She will need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to keep her engaged. A bored BC is not a good thing!

And Glynn.

Glynn is an 18 month old male Border Collie with a high drive. He is a gorgeous traditional black & white with semi rough coat. Glynn was found stray after being struck by a vehicle. Lucky for him there were no fractures.