In her previous life, “Lisa” the 1-year-old, 700 pound pig was abused and locked up on a Washington farm. Her owner, a farmer who planned to eat her, apparently didn’t like that Lisa would walk down the road to visit some horses, so he hit her in the face with a two-by-four.  The Humane Society intervened and took Lisa away, finding a home for her at a sanctuary in Oregon.  Sansa Collins, the sanctuary’s manager, says that Lisa shows no residual signs of having been abused.  She loves belly rubs, cuddling with her human friends and eating lots of PB&J sandwiches! For complete story click HERE.

On June 10, 2010 The Animal Welfare Commission in San Francisco will vote on a proposal to ban the sale of animals.  The ban would prevent pet stores from selling dogs and cats, as well as smaller animals including hamsters, rats and chinchillas.  Other cities including South Lake Tahoe and West Hollywood have already banned the retail sale of cats and dog.  San Francisco would become first in the nation to include the smaller mammals. For complete story click HERE.

A Sioux City, Iowa animal control officer responded to a routine injured animal call last week and found a cat that with a three and a half inch nail right in the middle of her head!  An X-ray showed the nail entered between her eyes and was thrust nearly all the way through her skull.  Although a veterinarian was able to safely remove the nail, if it had been just a millimeter in another direction, the cat probably would have died!   “Grace” is now recovering at an animal hospital and is doing amazingly well—purring, eating, and walking around.  The investigation into who may have done this is still ongoing and Animal Control has received several adoption offers from inquiring cat-lovers! For complete story click HERE.

Mercy for Animals, a not-for-profit group that publicizes what it calls cruel practices in the dairy, meat and egg industries just released a graphic undercover video showing workers at a dairy farm beating cows with crowbars, stabbing them with pitchforks and punching them in their heads.  The alleged atrocity took place at Conklin Dairy Farms, based in Plain City, Ohio about 25 miles northwest of Columbus.  The group presented the video and the evidence it collected to the prosecutor’s office in Marysville, OH. The prosecutor’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment late Tuesday. For complete story click HERE.

An internal government report says dogs are dying and living in horrific conditions due to lax government enforcement of large kennels known as puppy mills.  Investigators say the Department of Agriculture agency in charge of enforcing the Animal Welfare Act often ignores repeat violations, waives penalties and doesn’t adequately document inhumane treatment of dogs. The report recommends that the animal care unit at the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service immediately confiscate animals that are dying or suffering, and better train its inspectors to document, report and penalize wrongdoing. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that the department takes the report seriously and will force immediate action to improve enforcement, penalties and inspector training.  For complete story click HERE.

Title: Day in the Park – Festival and Adoption Event
Location: Sherman Oaks Van Nuys park – 14201 Huston St. Sherman Oaks
Description: The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council’s “Day in the Park” event is on May 30, 2010 from 2:00-6:00 p.m. at the Sherman Oaks Van Nuys park. There will be food, vendors, and live music, and hopefully lots of prospective pet parents for our AAA foster dogs! The park is located at the corner of Hazeltine and Huston in Sherman Oaks, which is a few blocks north of Ventura Blvd. between Van Nuys Blvd. and Woodman Ave.
Start Time: 14:00
Date: 2010-5-30
End Time: 18:00

Title: Baldwin Park Shelter Volunteer Day
Location: Baldwin Park Shelter – 4275 N. Elton St., Baldwin Park, CA 91706
Description: If participating for the first time, we will be walking, grooming, socializing, and photographing as many dogs and cats as possible, after which we will circulate an electronic flyer to a large distribution group for networking. You will need to complete the following LA County volunteer application and the shelter’s volunteer orientation to volunteer at the shelter: LA County Volunteer Application

Please also make sure to wear your county volunteer t-shirt or AAA shirt.
(you may purchase an LA County Volunteer t-shirt for $10 at the shelter following completion of orientation).

Additional Details:

*Please plan to meet around 9:00 a.m. The shelter address is 4275 N. Elton St., Baldwin Park, 91706. From any location west of downtown LA, take the 10 Freeway east, merge onto 605 North and exit Ramona – stay on left hand lane as you will need to make a Left turn once you pass the train tracks to make sure you stay on Ramona. Turn Left on Elton. Elton is a very small street (almost an alley), so it is easy to miss the street sign. Keep your eyes peeled!
* Wear comfortable shoes and clothing, and be aware that your clothes and shoes WILL get dirty!
* Try to eat breakfast, and bring along an energy bar or snack and some water for lunch, as we normally do not have time to take an extended lunch break

Thank you for challenging yourself to make the time to help wonderful shelter animals!

Start Time: 9:00
Date: 2010-06-05
End Time: 15:00

http://www.popeater.com/2010/05/17/john-travolta-dogs-killed-airport-accident/

For those of you who travel with pets, please be extra careful. Even the most famous of travelers can suffer a traveling tragedy.

“At approximately 1 a.m. on Thursday, May 13, 2010, an airplane carrying members of the John Travolta family landed at BIA. While there, two small dogs were taken for a walk by someone who is not a family member. An airport service pickup truck was approaching the airplane to service the airplane and did not see the dogs. Unfortunately, the dogs were struck and killed. The airport is investigating the accident. Out of respect for the family’s privacy the city will make no further comment.”

The article went on to say:

“Travolta, who starred in ‘Old Dogs’ in 2009 and voiced a computer-animated canine in 2008′s ‘Bolt,’ is a serious pilot who often flies himself into Bangor’s modest airport. The Bangor Daily News was unsure whether Travolta was flying the plane on the day of the incident.”

This is my nightmare. I travel with pets. It’s horrifying. How could the truck not see the person and the dogs? How the person walking the dogs not get out of the way? They were walking the dogs on a leash? I don’t understand how this could happen. What a horrible bummer.

Bernie started out with all the cards stacked against him. He was a forgotten soul at the Baldwin Park shelter and near death with a terrible URI and multiple other ailments when we came upon him at an off site adoption event. Fortunately, as a result of the persistence of a few volunteers, Bernie was rescued by AAA. After receiving many months of attention and love by a very caring foster and volunteer (Lisa), Bernie has now found his true family. The following is  an email we received from Bernie’s new mom.

“As I type this little note, there is an adorable little white munchkin with a flashy new red collar sitting by my desk, blowing hot air on my feet :p So far, I think his favorite spot is in the hallway…but he’s still surveying his options and getting the lay of the land. This morning I brought him up in bed with us for a snuzzle, and he rubbed his face into me and the sheets.

I am blown away at our good fortune in the gift that is my Bernie. Thank you both, and thank everyone along the way who brought our boy home to us at long last. It is my intention to spoil him rotten, to make up for some of the treatment he endured in his beginnings…we started with a little roasted chicken mixed in with his dinner. ;o) Life is good. And it tastes like chicken.

Please stop by anytime…he is receiving visitors for the foreseeable future…we’ve had 3 neighbors request an audience thus far with the newest superstar of Burbank Boulevard.

And all my love and prayers to those still in need…”

Simply amazing

Paco, a Dachshund/ Jack Russell terrier mix, found Josiah Allen and his girlfriend on the beach in Puerto Vallarta.  They decided to take the one-year-old stray home to Canada and keep him!   They flew AeroMexico to Mexico City. No problem. They re-checked the dog for their non-stop Delta flight to Detroit.  It was the last time Allen and his girlfriend would see Paco, their dog of just four days. In Detroit they were told the dog didn’t make the flight but not to worry, their pup would be shipped from Mexico City the next day to his home in Ontario. But Paco never arrived. After speaking with several different Delta employees, finally an airline representative acknowledged the dog was missing. Allen’s friend in Puerto Vallarta contacted the Mexico City airport and was told Paco had broken out of his crate and escaped, which Delta later confirmed. Delta has offered to reimburse the young couple $380 (what they spent on vaccines, flea treatment and supplies) plus a pair of $200 vouchers for a future flight.  Allen isn’t interested in the “vouchers” and only wants to know how this could have happened. For complete story click HERE.