Nearly 63 percent of American households have at least one pet.   In 2008 Americans spent more than $41 billion on their pets. Being allowed to use these expenses as deductions would positively affect the tax burden on a majority of American households.  Additionally, a tax exemption for pets would bring an added incentive to responsible prospective pet owners.  Given the benefits pets provide to our emotional and physical health, the time has come to include pet exemptions in the tax code.  To read more of what actor Robert Davi has to say about this, click HERE.

Title: PUPPY MILL PROTEST!
Location: AQUARIUM & PET CENTER 826 WILSHIRE BLVD. 8TH & WILSHIRE
Description: We need to all come out again this Saturday at 1:00 pm to show the owner of Aquarium and Pet Center we are not going away until he goes humane. We were seen by everyone driving by on Wilshire Blvd. great location to get the word out about puppy mills and pro-adoption/shelter dogs & cats. It’s just 2 hours a week to do something to help the voiceless, not much for dogs & cats suffering everyday in wire cages with no human care or touch. It’s getting cold soon for all the mothers & father of the puppies this store sells in the Midwest where Hunte Corp. gets most of the puppies then transports them all over the country by truck – many don’t make it. Bring your friends, dogs, dogs that need homes, kids, let’s make some noise again!!!

Meter parking available
Start Time: 13:00
Date: 2009-10-24
End Time: 15:00

Title: 3rd Annual Veterans Day Celebration
Location: Los Alamitos Joint Forces training base – 4522 Saratoga Ave, Los Alamitos CA 90720
Description: A few AAA volunteers will be joining Pets for Vets at this event to provide educational materials and find homes for 5-7 dogs.

Start Time: 11:30
Date: 2009-11-11
End Time: 16:30

CNN news was invited to take part in the raid of a dog fighting ring in Georgia this week. It was top secret. The news crew checked into the hotel under alias and had to hide their cameras and equipment. Turns out that the man running the dog fighting ring is a very popular and influential man in the area and he’d been tipped off about a previous raid which prompted him to move the dogs, foiling the last raid, so everything had to be kept very top secret this time. It’s amazing who is willing to help a criminal these days.

The dogs were found in the woods behind a home, chained with large two and three inch chains. Chained to trees, with barrels for homes. The dogs were filthy, hungry, injured and showed the scars of fighting. Pretty much all of the dogs were pit bull and pit bull mixes.

Their conditions were atrocious, according to Terry Wolf of the Dublin-Laurens County Humane Society.

“Their chains are too short to reach shelter, those who have shelter. The water that they have seems to be recent rainwater with algae in it, and I’ve seen no food bowls. Most of them are very timid,” Wolf said. “They seem to be human-friendly, but they’re attention starved, and they’re definitely not socialized. You can tell they’ve been living hidden in the woods, out of sight.”

The next step for these dogs is to determine which ones are healthy enough to possibly be adopted. Some, sadly, won’t share that good fate. Sadly, many will have to be put down.

CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO: http://www.vimeo.com/5606758?hd=1

This is some amazing video of the Kuroshio Sea, the 2nd Largest aquarium in the world. The main tank called the “Kuroshio Sea” holds 7,500-cubic meters (1,981,290 gallons) of water and features the world’s second largest acrylic glass panel, measuring 8.2 meters by 22.5 meters with a thickness of 60 centimeters. Whale sharks and manta rays are kept amongst many other fish species in the main tank.

This video is amazing and beautiful and you should definitely take a few minutes to watch.

After being alerted to a property in rural Georgia suspected of housing dogs used for dogfighting, authorities staged a raid with very surprising and upsetting results. Although they could not find any direct evidence of dogfighting authorities did find nearly one hundred pitbulls chained up in the forest behind the house. The dogs were malnourished, scared, unsocialized and many of them have scars that could be from dogfighting. The owner of the property and dogs was arrested and charged with animal cruelty. Attorney Helton 478.272.1998 is representing the accused.  Watch video below and for complete story click HERE.

You have just got to see this video of this amazing animal odd couple. You may need a tissue.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFz-FMj-9Ps

When you think of a service animal you usually picture a dog.  But many other kinds of animals, such as goats, rabbits and even spiders are being used as service companions.  The existing law does not clarify what types of animals can and can’t be considered service animals and it does not have any training standards and requires no animal identification or certification. Business owners can’t deny access, ask the nature of the person’s disability or demand extra money to accommodate the animal.  Many feel that unusual service animals are discrediting people with standard service animals.  The Department of Justice has plans to better define guidelines concerning service animals which has elicited mixed emotions from the public, especially those whose service animals would become excluded from service animal status. For complete story click HERE.

It only took an appearance on the Univision pet segment for AAA volunteers to realize what an incredible little buddy Donte is. Donte is a 3-4 year old male Chiweener (Chihuahua-Dachshund mix) who loves to play with other dogs of all sizes. He’s a happy, intelligent and friendly boy who loves to walk on leash and go for rides in the car. Despite his short legs, Donte loves to run and jump. Weighing about 11 pounds, he is athletic yet portable. And now Donte has found his perfect home! CONGRATULATIONS TO DONTE!!!

Title: Best Friends Animal Society Adoption Festival
Location: La Brea Tar Pits, 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90036
Description: Super Adoption Event and Pet Fair

Start Time: 11:00
Date: 2009-11-15
End Time: 16:00