Recently in spca Category

The SPCA-LA will host a low-cost vaccination and microchip clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at the South Bay Pet Adoption Center, 12910 Yukon Ave., Hawthorne.

The clinic offers rabies vaccinations for cats and dogs ($5); DHPP vaccinations for dogs ($15); bordetella vaccinations for dogs ($10); FVRCP and leukemia vaccinations for cats ($15 each); and microchipping for cats and dogs ($25).

Visit the web site for more information.

 

The ASPCA has come up with a unique way to determine which pet people should adopt.

It's a color-coded system where pets are given a personality and trait "color" that you can then match to your own personality and preferences -- using criteria based on lifestyle, levels of activity and other traits that will make for a good match.

Dogs, for example, come in "Couch Potato," "Constant Companion," "Teacher's Pet," "Wallflower," "Busy Bee," "Goofball" and "Life of the Party."

Cats come in colors labeled "Private Investigator," "Secret Admirer," "Love Bug, "The Executive," "Sidekick, "Personal Assistant" and "MVP."

 

We received this from the SPCA of Los Angeles regarding a class this Saturday (May 2) for those volunteers interested in providing foster homes and care for pets awaiting adoption.       spcaLA Foster Parent Class
Why:	spcaLA's Fostering program is in need of volunteers to assist with the care of pets of all ages.
When:	Saturday May 2 10:00 am- 12:00 noon
Where:	South Bay PAC 12910 Yukon Ave. Hawthorne CA  90250   For more information call (310) 676-1149 ext. 222 or visit www.spcala.com.  The SPCA also offers low-cost spay and neuter services in Los Angeles.

There are all kinds of ways to remember a special pet. One of the best and most meaningful -- and one that does a lot of good for other animals -- is making an SPCA-LA donation, which is what some friends did for my dog Ellie when she died just about a year ago at the age of (almost) 14. (The memorial donations aren't just for pets, either -- a group of us at the dog park also purchased one of the donations in honor of Judy McDonald, a dog park regular who died late last year after a short illness.)

But personal momentos and keepsakes of our pets also are so important for many of us as owners. Keeping a pet's ashes or ordering one of those garden stones that look like grave markers just aren't my style.

I do have all the old license and name tags from dogs I've lost through the years. One of my favorite tokens, though, are a couple of pet paw print plaques I had done for Ellie (shortly after I'd adopted her from the Long Beach shelter) and Fritz, the remaining terrier I'd "inherited" after my mom's unexpected death in 1990.

A couple who lived in Long Beach, I think, had their own home business making the plaques and conducted sessions at the Doggie in the Window pet shop in Long Beach back in the mid 1990s. Owners would bring their dogs, they'd take the paw prints in wet clay (there were a couple different plaque designs available you could choose from), then they'd fire them in their kiln at home and you'd pick them up at the store when they were done.

 

 

I tried finding the couple later when I had different dogs -- my idea was to get the prints for all of the dogs I had -- but I guess by then they were out of business as I coulnd't find them and the store had no recent contact with the company.

I still treasure the plaques with Ellie and Fritz's prints on them, I think especially because they were made during such a happy time, when both dogs were healthy and we had years ahead of us together.  

A company I found online called Precious Paws and Claws makes the prints, but it's a crematorium -- so the prints are made from your pet's body when you or your vet turn it over to them, I guess. Kinda creepy.  

It's better to make what will be future keepsakes when the animals are young & healthy, I think. Seeing them on my kitchen wall makes me smile, not feel sad, because I remember how fun it was to try to cajole the dogs into putting their paws into the wet clay (not easy). It was a day of happy memories, not something I received after they'd died and I was still grieving the loss. And they've been on my wall for years, going back to when both dogs were still very much alive.  

The prints should be fairly easy to do on your own at one of the many ceramic shops, however. I've also seen kits for something similar that you can buy at places like Joann's and Michael's.

 

I found a Web site called Pawprints Jewelry makes pendants out of your pet's pawprint, which would be a different way to go.

(Slightly off-topic, but here's the Sandy's Paw Prints web site, operated by someone who takes imprints of animal tracks found around their property and makes all kinds of things out of them, from spoon rests to refrigerator magnets.)

So what are some other special ways you've found to remember your pets?  What are your favorite keepsakes? So often it's the simple, even mundane things -- like their old tags or special collars.

Anyone know of a good pawprint kit or instructions online? I've missed getting prints on three of my dogs already -- Muffin, Mercy & Pilgrim -- but I would love to resume the tradition again and make  pawprints for Cowboy & Tess.

  

If you're ready to adopt a new pet, be sure to check out the special Valentine's weekend adopt-a-thon at the Harbor Area Animal Shelter in San Pedro.

There's going to be a spcaLA event in Redondo Beach on Saturday. Here are the details from their Web site:

Bring the kids and spend the afternoon with spcaLA, PAWS to Read, and the Redondo Beach Library.  Join us as we team up with the upcoming movie, "Hotel For Dogs" and Fox 11 newscaster, Mark Thompson, to champion children's literacy. 

Through PAWS to Read, children practice their skills by reading to a therapy dog in 15-minute sessions.  By reading aloud to an attentive and uncritical audience, children gain confidence while strengthening the human-animal bond.  PAWS to Read utilizes certified spcaLA Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) dogs who have been trained and tested for health, saftey, and temperament.  

Fox 11 newscaster Mark Thompson will be on hand to read from the popular children's book, "Hotel For Dogs," written by Erica David.  Free bookmarks, sticker sheets and movie posters will be available while supplies last.  A drawing will be held to win copies of the book, "Hotel For Dogs."   

This comes from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. I'm cutting and pasting their original press release because I'm feeling lazy. But basically, they're hosting a fundraier for animals in need. Who can argue with that?

 

Los Angeles -- Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (spcaLA) has joined forces with the LA Kings and some pet friendly celebs to raise money for animal in need.  Beginning Monday December 8th on spcaLA's eBay page, spcaLA will auction pet bowls designed and autographed by famous personalities like, Tori Spelling and Carrie Ann Inaba (from "Dancing With the Stars") as well as the chance to get up close and personal with the LA Kings.  100% of the proceeds benefit spcaLA. 

Up for auction are one-of-a kind pet bowls designed and decorated by a variety of stars.  Tori Spelling, Jenna Fischer (from "The Office"), AnnaLynne McCord (from "Beverly Hills 90210), Alison Sweeney (from "Days of Our Lives" and "Biggest Loser"),  Carrie Ann Inaba (from "Dancing with the Starts") and many more were generous enough to participate in this spcaLA fundraising opportunity.  Also available to eBay bidders, a chance to win a Zamboni ride or a seat in the LA Kings' penalty box during warm-ups, which make unique Holiday gifts.  These prizes are redeemable at spcaLA's Night with the LA Kings on January 8^th.

spcaLA's Night with the LA Kings on January 8^th is a chance for sports lovers and animal lovers to come together, enjoy a great game (LA Kings vs. Anaheim Ducks!) and raise funds for animals in need.  During the game, a silent auction of pet bowls designed and signed by Kings players and Kings memorabilia will be held.  To purchase tickets for spcaLA's Night with the Kings, please go to http://www.spcala.com/ or call (323) 730-5300, x232.   Proceeds from the silent auction and a portion of ticket sales benefit spcaLA. 

spcaLA's ebay page is http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/spcaLt  

CNN is reporting that the Iraqi dog Ratchet, the subject of our earlier post,  has received clearance to come home with the soldier who rescued him. Ah, but, wouldn't you know it. The dog missed his flight. (Like it hasn't happened to you.)

From the CNN Wire story:

A U.S. soldier's adopted dog missed his flight out of Baghdad Wednesday when his U.S. military clearance to leave Iraq arrived too late, leaving the dog -- and the soldier -- unsure when he might come to the United States.

....................

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International, which has been trying to retrieve Ratchet since Oct. 1 ...., said it would make another attempt to bring him to the United States as early as Sunday. 

The SPCA announced this afternoon that it has rescued 56 horses from the wildfires in the San Fernando Valley through the efforts of its Disaster Animal Response Team (DART).

Team members were dispatched to the area to help relocate horses out of harm's way. Members also went door to door checking for other animals in cirsis and providing fresh food and clean water to those not in imminent danger.

"Like everyone else, we're watching the winds and the current fires," said Madeline Bernstein, SPCA Los Angeles president. "As one of Southern California's oldest residents, spcaLA is committed to helping our community until the threat is over."

To donate or assist DART operations, go to www.spcaLA.com.

 

Update: Here's an amazing photo posted at  LA Unleashed. It shows members of the Los Angeles Animal Services as they helped evacuate 276 horses and 132 small animals from the Sesnon and Marek fires in the north San Fernando Valley.

According to the report, 159 horses were taken to Pierce College, 46 to Hansen Dam, nine to Peter Pitches Honor Farm in Castaic and 62 to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.

Smaller animals -- chickens, goats, sheep and rabbits -- were taken to the Mission Animal Care Center and the West Valley Animal Care Center.

 

Photo: Ann Johansson / Getty Images

Call them the Puppy Professors.

This Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, the dogs from PAWS to Read will be at the main Redondo Beach Library for a new Animal Assisted therapy children's literacy program.

Children can practice their reading skills by reading to one of the dogs in 15-minute sessions. "Dogs in the program help children overcome their fears by providing an attentive, uncritical, non-intimidating ear," said Madeline Bernstein, president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, L.A. chapter. "The kids are then free to proceed at their own pace, leaving with a positive reading association."

The program, which is free and open to all readers, will be offered at the RB Library on the fourth Saturday of each month (Sept. 27, Oct. 25, Nov. 22, and Dec. 27). The library is at 303 N. Pacific Coast Highway. For information, call 310-318-0675, Ext. 6.

 LA.  for children