Title: Pet Preparedness Fair – Adoption Event
Location: Clover Park – Santa Monica (25th & Ocean Park Blvd.)
Description: A smaller group of volunteers needed to assist with an adoption event at the Pet Preparedness event. Other volunteers to participate at shelter volunteer day
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2009-08-01
End Time: 16:00

Title: Pet Preparedness Fair – Adoption Event
Location: Clover Park in Santa Monica (25th & Ocean Park Blvd.)
Description: A smaller group of volunteers needed to assist with an adoption event at the Pet Preparedness event. Other volunteers to participate at shelter volunteer day
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2009-08-01
End Time: 16:00

According to CNN, Sen. Al Franken, D-Minnesota unveiled his first legislative goal Monday which will be to provide funding to train dogs to work with wounded veterans. Trained dogs can assist in detecting medical issues with the veterans such as changes in respiration.  To learn more please click HERE.

Title: Camarillo Branch – Adoption Event
Location: PetSmart, 5766 Lindero Canyon Rd., Westlake
Description: AAA’s Camarillo Branch will be hosting a pet adoption event at Petsmart. May wonderful dogs currently in foster care will be looking for their forever home! Come out and find your match.
Start Time: 12:00
Date: 2009-08-02
End Time: 16:00

Title: Shelter Volunteer Day
Location: Baldwin Park Shelter – 4275 N. Elton St., Baldwin Park, CA 91706
Description: Bi-Weekly shelter volunteer day where we walk, socialize and photograph dogs and cats
Start Time: 09:00
Date: 2009-08-15
End Time: 15:00

Lance Hunter, the Animal Control Manager at the Baldwin Park Los Angeles County shelter, delivered the following recommendation letter congratulating the accomplishments and continued efforts of Animal Advocates Alliance and its team of dedicated volunteers. Thank you Mr. Hunter!

The New York Times had a really interesting article on “Pill Popping Pets.” I know that I feel better when I’m taking my Celexa and Abilify, so it only makes sense that animals could also benefit from the use of psychoactive drugs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/magazine/13pets-t.html

I know a couple dogs that could benefit from a doggie version of Atavan. I don’t know where you stand on the whole “medicating dogs” issue, but I can tell you that I am on antidepressants and they are a modern miracle. My quality of life has been greatly improved with the aid of antidepressants, so it completely makes sense to me that our four legged friends could benefit from the same medical technology that makes so many “human” lives better.

I would warn you to be careful with medications, like you are with yourself but I would say that if you have a dog with aggression or anger issues… if your dog cries a lot, whimpers or shows signs of being depressed… you may want to consider talking to your vets about some kind of doggie antidepressant or anti-anxiety pill. We have such a limited time with our pets on this planet, it only makes sense that we’d want that time to be as joy filled as they can be for both us AND our pets.

We feed them. We keep them warm, clean and healthy. It only makes sense that we’d want them feeling as emotionally and physically well as possible. Read the NY Times article if you want to learn more. It’s really interesting.

I’m curious if anyone else has any experience in this area? Have you put a pet on psychoactive drugs? What was your experience?

Some people think of pigs as food animals, yet many others consider them to be companion animals, including Lisa Pia and her autistic son, Anthony, of Fayetteville, North Carolina. The family has had Loopey, a one-year-old Vietnamese potbellied pig, since he was 8 weeks old. Loopey and Anthony have since built a very special relationship that his mother describes as a “blessing.” However, that relationship has been threatened by a local ordinance that classifies pigs as “livestock” and therefore not permitted to reside within city limits. Lisa plans to challenge the ordinance, relying in part on the USDA’s recognition of pigs as companion animals. For complete story click HERE.

Weather you have a show dog or mutt, summer means that it’s time for a good old fashioned trim… or a crazy new hairdo!

Here’s a collection of crazy cuts on some crazy dogs and some normal ones too.

According to the ASPCA, “nationally 5 out of 10 shelter dogs and 7 out of 10 shelter cats are euthanized because there is no one to adopt them from the shelter.” Please educate yourself and those within reach of the reality of animal relinquishment.