Recently in volunteers Category

I received an email this week asking about volunteer opportunities with dogs that would be open to a 12-year-old girl in the South Bay.

The email was sent by her mom who said her daughter loves animals and is looking for a place or a group that would offer her some volunteer opportunities. This also would be used for service hours at her school in Manhattan Beach. They'd checked with the ASPCA, but that group needed a yearlong commitment and minimum hours each week, which the mom says is tough due to juggling homework, sports and other extra-curricular activities.

She has already been volunteering with the Peter Zippi Foundation at Coast VCA Hospital working with cats, but now is looking for something that would provide some work with dogs as well.

I suggested the various animal shelters and rescue groups listed among the resources on this blog.

But what ideas do you have to which she could devote an hour or two a week? Therapy dog programs? Rescue dog groups? Shelters? Special school programs?

Any leads out there for this girl and her mom?

As we reported Sunday, an elderly woman suffered serious injuries when the home in the 2900 block of Dalmead was destroyed by fire.

But this e-mail was forwarded from a block captain, asking people to not only help the family, but also the family pet, which was also seriously injured.

This is the e-mail:

Thankfully, the family survived the horrific fire, but their home was destroyed and they LOST EVERYTHING!.  The family dog, Gemini,  barely survived.  The fire department carried Gemini out of the home and neighbors came together to resuscitate the dog. The fire department then stepped in and gave Gemini oxygen.   A neighbor volunteered to take the dog to the vet.   Gemini was taken to Animal Emergency, 3511 PCH, 310-325-3000.  The medical care for Gemini will be expensive, but necessary.  The family loves this dog.

Gemini's lungs were filled with smoke, he was wet and dirty and had a gash on his nose.  The vet, Dr. Brown, said the next 48 hours are crucial.  He  is not eating, but is doing well considering what he's been through.  He had high levels of carbon (I'm sorry, I forget the long word the Vet used) in his blood and received 6 hours of oxygen treatments. He has already had one x-ray and will need another in 48 hours to determine if there is permanent damage to his lungs.  The low end of Gemini's medical expenses will be $1,976.69.  The bill can get up to $2,474.66.
 If you would like to contribute to Gemini's medical fund, you may go directly to Animal Emergency at 3511 PCH.  Please tell them that you are there to give a donation to Gemini Cummings.  Or, you may leave a check at the home of Susan Burns 25215 Weston Rd. Please make checks out to Animal Emergency.  If you donate, please let us know so that we can properly thank you.

The family is well, from what I understand.  Everyone is alive.  Mrs. Cumming's sister is stable but is 85 years-old.  Doctors are concerned about her lungs and the threat of pneomena.  Keep the family in your prayers.



This is a list of donations that the family needs, put together by Valerie and Patrick Carnaham, who live two doors down from the Cummings.  Both children have special needs.  Josh is Autisic and Laurie has Down Sydrome.  If you can help with any of the items listed below, please leave them on the Carnaham's door step with your name and address.  They live at 2822 Dalemead  THANK YOU!!!

RICK, YOKO, LAURIE AND JOSH CUMMINGS

CLOTHING AND SHOE SIZE

YOKO - TENNIS SHOES 7.5 TO 8 WOMENS

PANTS - 12 WOMENS

TOPS - LARGE

 

RICK - SHOES 11 WIDE/FLIP FLOPS

T SHIRTS - XXL

 

LAURIE - SHIRTS 16

YOUNG MISS MEDIUM TO LARGE PANTS OR SHORTS

TENNIS SHOES - 4 WIDE /FLIP FLOPS (SLIP ON ONLY)

TOYS - DISNEY MOVIES VHS OR DVD/BARBIES/ETCH A SKETCH

 

JOSH - PANTS AND UNDERWARE - BOYS 32

TENNIS SHOES - 6-7 /FLIP FLOPS (SLIP ON ONLY)

MEDIUM SHIRTS

 

NOTE: JOSH IS AN EXTREMELY BRIGHT AUTISTIC YOUNG BOY AND LIKES TO SPEND TIME ON THE INTERNET, THE MOTHER (YOKO) IS ASKING IF ANYONE HAS A LAPTOP W/WIRELESS CAPABILITY FOR TEMPORARY USE.

Kudos to volunteer Theresa Sardisco and Capt. Daniel Pantoja & staffers Martha Lopez, Mercedes Grey -- and I know I've left out a bunch of others.

And kudos to the nearly 30 people who turned out Saturday afternoon for an informal "meet and greet" session designed to launch a new volunteer effort to assist San Pedro's new city animal shelter. Many of those attending have never volunteered at the shelter before.

The eventual goal is to start up a nonprofit group patterned after the successful "Friends of the Library" groups that operate in so many communities, including throughout the city of Los Angeles. That will make it easier to raise funds in the community that can go specifically to the San Pedro facility.  

Volunteers willing to devote 8 hours a month can indicate preferences for the work they want to do -- bathing dogs, walking dogs, answering telephone calls in the office, helping with mobile adoptions, working with cats or other animals, assisting customers. Training is available. All you have to do is download an application from the city's volunteer information page. Applicants must be 16 or older.

At its heart, volunteerism is all about working on behalf of others without motivation for gain. Commitment, enthusiasm, humility and being a team player are all vital qualities.

Some years ago I volunteered at a Christian soup kitchen in downtown Los Angeles. While being assigned by those in charge to hand out the meals was considered the "best" job, most of us volunteers wound up washing or drying dishes in the back kitchen the entire time. But that was OK. The idea was to do even the smallest chore with cheerfulness, as a service to God and others.

As a first step you might want to visit the shelter (open Tuesday through Sunday) at 957 N. Gaffey St. You can also call the shelter at 1-888-452-7381, Ext. 143 or Theresa, who got the ball rolling on the new volunteer program, at 310-386-7932.

Oh, and by the way -- if you want to jump right in, volunteers are needed to help staff the shelter table at the Taste in San Pedro Aug. 2 & 3.

The animals will thank you!  

San Pedro now has a spanking new animal shelter.

It's bigger and way nicer than the former facility, which was half a century old and cramped beyond reason.

But with the city of Los Angeles undergoing budget cuts, the shelter at 957 N. Gaffey St. is in need of your help.

Shelter volunteer Theresa Sardisco tells us there will be a meeting for prospective volunteers at 1 p.m. Saturday at the shelter. The new Harbor Volunteer Coordinator, Mercedes Grey, will be on hand to talk about the needs and how local volunteers can help.

Meanwhile, a Daily Breeze story has been published regarding the installation of a cooling misting system at the shelter. The misters, costing the city about $50,000, are expected to be in place by the first week of August.

"The misters are provided at other shelters," Kiran Vohra of the city's Bureau of Engineering explained to me in an email. "Because a climate study completed earlier indicated comparative milder weather in San Pedro for most days of the year, the misters were omitted for this shelter. However, maybe because of the micro-climatic conditions in different parts of San Pedro, it is currently determined that the misters will add to the comfort of the animals and the visitors." .