Recently in Upcoming events Category

I just received word that the CHRISTMAS BENEFACTOR has pledged to pay for up to 300 adoptions at all LA Services animal shelters instead of just the East and West Valley shelters. The drive ends until 300 adoptions have been made or by Christmas...whichever comes first.

Here's the press release:

Los Angeles - YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA "PAWS". A benefactor, wishing to remain anonymous, pledged to pay all adoption fees for 300 pets adopted between now and Christmas at any LA Animal Services Center. Santa stated, "I hope this offer will help empty the kennels and cages and gives these pets a real home for Christmas." Santa had one request of those adopting a pet; that they write a letter to LA Animal Services explaining how adopting the pet changed their lives. "We are awed by this compassionate and generous gift that will bring so much joy to so many families", said Ed Boks, general manager of LA Animal Services. "We are immensely grateful to our Silent Santa for exemplifying the true spirit of the season by giving so deeply to help those who need it the most - our homeless pets. Happiness is an empty animal shelter on Christmas morning."

The offer could not have come at a more perfect time. LA Animal Services has experienced a 20% increase in the number of owners surrendering their pets due to the foreclosure crisis. Santa has reversed the fortune of these newly homeless animals. In light of this amazing offer, both the East and West Valley Animal Care Centers will be open today, Monday, December 22, from noon to 5 P.M. (All Centers are normally closed on Monday.) All six LA Animal Care Centers will be open from 8 A.M. to 7 P.M. Tuesday and from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. Wednesday, Christmas Eve.

"We urge all those who hear about this exceedingly generous offer to paws to seriously contemplate the long term commitment needed to adopt a pet," Boks added. Decisions should not be made lightly and LA Animal Services reserves the right to refuse an adoption when we believe the welfare of the animal is not improved by the adoption. This offer is for individuals and families ready to make a 10-15 year financial and emotional commitment to a pet."

Pet adoptions include the spay/neuter surgery, microchip, vaccinations and in the case of a dog a license. You can find your true love at any one of the following locations:

North Central
3201 Lacy Street Los Angeles, CA 90031
MAP

West LA
11361 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
MAP

Harbor
957 N. Gaffey Street San Pedro, CA 90731
MAP

South LA
3612 11th Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90018
MAP

East Valley
14409 VanOwen St. Van Nuys, CA 91405
MAP

West Valley
20655 Plummer Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311
MAP

This Yorkshire Terrier and these Maltese dogs are among 10 puppies seized at the Los Angeles Airport as part of a puppy mill bust. They will be up for adoption at the East Valley Animal Shelter in Van Nuys. CLICK HERE for more information.

For more photos and video CLICK HERE! The dogs will be up for adoption via a silent auction. For more information on the silent auction, CLICK HERE!

L.A. Animal Services is looking for owners who can spend a significant amount of money to care for the puppy mill survivors as they tend to develop physical or behavioral issues as a result of improper breeding and poor living conditions.

WHAT: Puppy Mill Survivors Adoption
WHEN: 8:30 a.m. SHARP (be there on time or you'll miss out)
WHERE: East Valley Animal Shelter, 14409 Vanowen St., Van Nuys
MAP

For more events CLICK HERE!

Don't ask me why the previous post with this event was deleted because IT'S STILL HAPPENING!!

Take your cat, your dog, your ferret and any other furry you may have to the nearest PetSmart for a digital photo with Santa. Proceeds from the event benefit local PetSmart charities.

WHAT: Photos with Santa
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Dec. 20-21
WHERE: Your nearest PetSmart
COST: $9.95
Find your nearest PetSmart HERE!

Photo Package includes:

• A digital photo of you and your pet with Santa
• An exclusive holiday frame

For more events CLICK HERE!

Now I know this isn't in the Valley but how fun is this? Why not take your dog on a fun and luxurious doggy retreat while you shop in Century City!? Your pooch would love it.

This holiday season DreamWorks Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies are bringing "Hotel for Dogs," a Doggie Retreat, to Westfield Century City as part of a promotion for their upcoming film, "Hotel For Dogs." Through January 5th, shoppers are invited to check-in their beloved dogs at the "Hotel for Dogs" Doggie Retreat where pooches can socialize in the lap of luxury for up to four hours free while their owners take care of their holiday shopping needs.

The Doggie Retreat, built especially for the Westfield Century City customer experience, is an exact replica of the one seen in the film, "Hotel For Dogs." The film stars Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin with Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon and Don Cheadle, in a smart, funny, comedy adventure that shows how two resourceful kids use love and imagination to create a magical dog-paradise for their dog and all of his stray friends. The film opens nationwide on January 16, 2009.

Help Canoga Park-area Seniors and their Pets Fight Hunger during Season of Suppers, a "Pet Food Drive for Pets in Need."

National initiative encourages Canoga Park-area community to reach out and donate this season to help local seniors with Pets stay nourished year round.

For some seniors, getting around easily is not an option, their best friend and only companion is a loving dog or cat. The Season of Suppers campaign, now in its third year, calls attention to the importance of pets to the well-being of homebound seniors. Helping keep these companion pets well fed, healthy and part of the family for as long as possible became the motivating factor behind the partnership among Banfield, The Pet Hospital, the Banfield Charitable Trust and Meals on Wheels Association of America.

To help feed the pets of needy seniors in the community, the following locations will collect pet food and monetary donations until Dec. 31:

Banfield, The Pet Hospital of Canoga Park (located inside PetSmart), 21311 Victory Blvd., Canoga Park. MAP
Banfield, The Pet Hospital of Westlake Village (located inside PetSmart), 5766 Lindero Cyn. Road N., Westlake Village. MAP

Zootoo.com has launched it's Second Annual Zootoo.com Shelter Makeover Contest. So far California has the highest numbers of participating shelters. The grand prize in this contest, which will end on May 1, 2009, is a shelter makeover valued at up to $1 million*. 19 runners-up will share awards totaling $195,000.

To become one of the twenty Semifinalists in the competition, shelters must ask their supporters to register and earn points by being active on Zootoo.com, contributing reviews of pet products and services, sharing opinions and advice, bringing other pet lovers into the community and more. The twenty shelters that have accumulated the most points by March 13, 2009 will be named Semifinalists.

Zootoo.com and its advisors will then visit all twenty Semifinalist Shelters during the Tour Period and narrow them down to ten Finalists based on criteria established by Zootoo.com and its advisors. Once the ten Finalists have been chosen, pet lovers across America will be able to review the qualifications of the Finalists on Zootoo.com and determine the winner by voting for the shelter they think most deserves the makeover.

"Allowing America to vote for the winner of the Shelter Makeover will make this year's contest really exciting and totally democratic," said Zootoo.com founder Richard Thompson. "It'll also be a fun challenge for each of the Finalists to present their case to fellow pet lovers." Thompson added, "We learned last year that while twenty shelters got cash awards, every shelter that participated was a winner. According to a survey of the shelters that participated in the first Shelter Makeover Contest, donations increased by 21%, volunteers increased by 28% and adoptions were up 30%, all because of the attention they got from the contest. It's exactly what we hoped would happen - bringing shelters and communities together."

"The Zootoo.com Shelter Makeover Contest has been a dream come true for us," said Randy Grim, founder of Stray Rescue of St. Louis and Winner of the first Shelter Makeover Contest. "With Zootoo.com's help, we are building a facility that will not only be a Godsend for the needy animals of St. Louis, but we hope will serve as a model for what's possible in other communities."

Shelter Directors interested in participating in the Shelter Makeover Contest can visit www.zootoo.com/makeover or call (877) 580-7387.

Here is a partial list of some local participating shelters:

Paw Parent- Los Angeles

For a full list of participating shelters and for more information CLICK HERE!

Go ahead and join zootoo.com and support your favorite shelter.

Got this in my email and yes I'm too lazy to type up my own version so here's the press release! LOL!!

DAYTON, OHIO (Sept. 25, 2008) Propelled by a decade of success and having placed more than 2 million pets into homes since it began in 1999, Iams Home 4 the Holidays launches its annual adoption program and announces the campaign's most aggressive goal to date, which is to find loving homes for at least 1 million animals between Oct. 1, 2008 and Jan. 5, 2009. To bring greater awareness of and help curb pet homelessness, Iams Home 4 the Holidays has teamed with award-winning actress Felicity Huffman to serve as its North American Ambassador. Founded by Helen Woodward Animal Center in 1999, Iams Home 4 the Holidays harnesses the power of nearly 3,000 worldwide animal organizations in a global effort to raise awareness about the importance of pet adoption.

Because there are millions or orphaned pets around the world, with as many as 8 million* in the U.S. alone, Iams Home 4 the Holidays is working with Huffman to inspire others to open their hearts and homes to an orphaned pet during this adoption drive. Motivated by her own pet adoption experience, Huffman adopted her black Labrador mix, Tucker, as a puppy from a Los Angeles rescue group in 2006, she is committed to helping educate people about the amazing animals in shelters that are awaiting loving and committed owners. Huffman is encouraging people to get involved and learn more about pet adoption.

"I'm proud to be a part of Iams Home 4 the Holidays to help raise awareness about the importance of pet adoption so we can place 1 million animals in loving homes this holiday season," said Huffman. "When our family decided to get a new pet, we chose to adopt, and now, Tucker is more than a wonderful pet, he's part of our family."

By providing resources and information about participating rescues and shelters, potential pet owners are encouraged to visit animal shelters and rescues to adopt dogs, cats or other animals waiting for a home when they are considering a new four-legged family member.

"Felicity's first-hand knowledge and experience from adopting Tucker, coupled with her passion to educate people about the millions of homeless animals looking for homes, makes her an amazing ambassador and voice for Iams Home 4 the Holidays," said Dan Rajczak, General Manager, P&G Pet Care in North America. "Last year, our pet adoption drive found homes for nearly 500,000 animals, and this year, we've doubled our adoption goal. All of our partner animal organizations, including the team at Helen Woodward Animal Center and the pet passionate folks here at Iams are committed to working together to help place at least 1 million orphaned pets into new homes."

Important Facts

· There are as many as 8 million* orphaned pets in the United States.

· As many as 4 million* orphaned dogs and cats will be euthanized this year due to shelter overcrowding.

· For anyone interested in adopting a purebred dog, it;s helpful to know that more than a quarter of all dogs in animal shelters are purebreds.

· More than 15 countries participate in this adoption drive, making Iams Home 4 the Holidays one of the world's largest pet adoption programs. There are participating shelters in Canada, Iran, Australia, India, New Zealand, Iraq and more.

· Iams Home 4 the Holidays has helped more than 1,047,000 dogs, 962,000 cats and 66,000 other animals, such as rabbits, reptiles, birds and more, find homes over the past nine years.

The pet adoption campaign takes place October 1 through January 5, 2009 and anyone who adopts a dog, puppy, cat or kitten will receive an Iams Adoption Starter Kit, which includes a care guide loaded with tips and information about pet care, behavior, training and nutrition. The kit also includes the new pet's first meal as well as coupons for great savings on additional pet food, other supplies and animal health insurance.

To learn about the myriad ways to help an orphaned pet, including finding participating shelters, volunteering and making a donation to support animal organizations and pets awaiting new homes, visit www.Iamshome4theholidays.com.

About Iams Home 4 the Holidays (IH4TH)

As one of the most successful pet adoption programs in the world, IH4TH partners thousands of animal organizations dedicated to finding forever homes for orphaned pets. Founded by Helen Woodward Animal Center and supported by Iams, IH4TH began in 1999 with just 14 participating animal shelters in San Diego County. Since it began more than 9 years ago, IH4TH, along with nearly 3,000 pet adoption centers, has helped more than 2 million families experience the joy of pet adoption, including nearly 500,000 pet adoptions last year alone. For more information, please visit www.iamshome4theholidays.com.

About Helen Woodward Animal Center

Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where "people help animals and animals help people." Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 57,000 people and thousands of animals annually. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the international Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive and the Animal Center Education Services program, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world.