Batmobile, adoptable pets join forces this weekend in Sacramento

What do wine, the Batmobile, DIY lessons and pets all have in common? They are all part of the action at the California State Fine Living Expo, running from tomorrow through Sunday at the Sacramento Convention Center.

Attendees can learn how to make the perfect garden and outdoor kitchen, how to redo their bathroom or even take a class in painting with faux-finishes. If do-it-yourself projects are not in your summer plans, the Fine Living Expo is the best place to find the experts who can do it for you. Check out antique travel trailers and two fully operational replica Batmobiles, then enjoy fine wine, art, vendors and sensational live music.

And since no home or life is complete without a loving companion animal or two, three local shelters will be bringing adoptable cats and dogs to the Expo. Visit the Outdoor Living area to meet pets from the City of Sacramento’s Front Street Shelter, the nonprofit group Animal Outreach of the Motherlode and the City of Folsom Animal Shelter.

“I’m a dog person” says Fine Living producer Sherry Larsen, who was happy to welcome adoptable pets to the Expo. Larsen has spent 30 years rescuing and showing Brittany Spaniels, and is the current secretary of the Central California Brittany Club.

In addition to meeting adoptable animals, the Expo is a great opportunity to learn more about pet health and the services offered by local animal shelters and programs.  Given the large number of homeless and stray animals in the Sacramento region, pet reproduction is a hot topic for shelters.

Kim Smyth, Canine Foster and Rescue Coordinator for the Front Street Shelter, says that “Bob Barker had it right; we can help save the world by spaying and neutering pets!”.

The Fine Living Expo has plenty to offer the whole family, and don’t be surprised if you end up adopting and taking home the furry love of your life.

• California State Fine Living Expo
• Sacramento Convention Center
• 1400 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
• Fri 4/27 – noon to 7 p.m./Sat 4/28 – 10 a.m. to 7 p.m./Sun 4/29 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Admission – adults $7/ages 17 and under free/Friday only seniors 62+ only $3.
• Click here for $2 off coupon

Free or low-cost rabies shots in Folsom tonight

Raccoons and skunks can be found all over the Sacramento area, and these fuzzy little creatures can potentially cause extreme illness or even death for your cat or dog. A quick vaccination can protect your pet, and local residents can have that done tonight for little or no money.

The City of Folsom Animal Services is offering a special rabies vaccination clinic this evening at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary. At the clinic Folsom residents can bring their dog for a free shot as long as the dog is licensed – as required by law – or if they get them licensed at tonight’s clinic.

People living outside of Folsom can get the rabies immunization for their dogs at the clinic for the small fee of $5.00. Microchips are also available for any animal for $20.00.

Rabies is a highly infectious viral disease that can result in death for both animals and people, and is spread easily through the saliva of an infected animal. Any mammal can get infected although raccoons, skunks and dogs are the more common carriers. The disease causes radical changes in health and behavior, so a normally loveable mutt could suddenly attack adults or children. Infection causes great pain and illnesses, and can ultimately result in death.

Cats and dogs over the age of 4 months in Folsom are required to be both licensed and rabies- vaccinated, according to Folsom Animal Services Officer Cindy Walden.

Walden says that they have held “low cost vaccination clinics since 2003, offering a low cost alternative for owners to come into compliance and protect their pets and families”.

Low-cost rabies clinics are held on the 4th Wednesday of nearly every month, but tonight is the clinic when it is completely free with a license.

• Folsom Rabies Clinic
• Wed, April 25, 2012
• Hours: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary
• 403 Stafford Street
• Folsom, CA 95630
• Animal Services Officer Cindy Walden (916) 439-2268

• For lost and found pets in Folsom and pet adoptions:
• Folsom Animal Shelter in Blue Ravine Animal Hospital
• 1770 Prairie City Rd.
• (916) 984-0990
• Shelter Hours: M-F 8-5, Sat. 9-5

Local animal rescue qualifies to compete for $100k

A Sacramento area animal rescue has qualified to participate in a national shelter competition, officials with the nonprofit announced Tuesday. Animal Outreach of the Motherlode is one of only two Northern California groups that qualified for the ASPCA and Rachael Ray $100k Challenge.

The nonprofit is small and relatively unknown as compared to the Marin Humane Society, the closest competitor by distance to Animal Outreach. Public voting over a 12-day period helped winnow a larger national list down to only 50 groups that are eligible to be in the performance-based competition.

Due to the number of votes received from April 5 to April 16, Animal Outreach placed 4th in the Western states and 15th overall in the country. More than 14,000 votes came in for AO; Marin Humane Society placed 22nd overall with 11,771.

Animal shelters often must operate with too little money, too little time and with too many animals in need. This annual competition offers shelters guidance and innovative ideas about marketing, fundraising and adoption programs. Groups that show significant growth during a 3-month period are eligible for financial awards from $1,000 to $100,000.

So how is such growth measured? Kathy Anderson, AO’s Community Outreach and Operations Manager, says that there are several ways. First, each group must adopt out at least 300 more pets from August to October 2012 than they did during the same period the prior year.

During those three months in 2011, Animal Outreach found great new homes for 569 animals. While finding good adopters for 869 pets during the same period this year will require plenty of work and outside-the-box thinking, Anderson resolutely states “We can do that.” She and the staff and volunteers of AO say they are humbled by the strong, positive response and support the shelter has received from the public.

The group that finds home for the largest number of pets during the period will win the $100k prize, but additional amounts will be awarded for things such as growth in community involvement.

Animal Outreach’s shelter is located in an out-of-the-way business park in Diamond Springs, a bit south of Placerville. In addition to that location, AO brings adoptable pets every weekend to PetSmart stores in Citrus Heights, Folsom and Rancho Cordova. In Diamond Springs they offer no/low-cost spay, neuter and vaccination services to pets from all over. In 2011 this small group provided the latter services to more than 10,000 animals; Anderson has big plans for expanding those services in the future.

Big dreams and an exciting future are clearly not out of reach for Animal Outreach, as their very small budget and limited resources haven’t slowed them down yet. In fact AO adopted out around 900 more pets last year than did the Humane Society of Central Washington, the group that earned the top spot nationally in the ASPCA and Rachael Ray $100k Challenge

• Animal Outreach of the Motherlode
• Low Cost Spay/Neuter Vaccination Clinic & Adoption Center
• 6101 Enterprise Dr.
• Diamond Springs, CA 95619
• (530) 642-2287

Senate okays 1 year delay for spay/neuter license plate

The California Senate unanimously passed AB610 yesterday, a bill extending the chance that an animal-related specialty license plate will be made available. Sales of the Pet Lover’s license plate would help provide funding for spay and neuter programs in California.

To become a reality 7,500 plates must be pre-sold; to date around 4,000 of the $50 to $98 plates have been reserved and paid for. Santa Ana Democratic Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s AB610 bill would provide a 1-year extension for the plate’s presales. The bill will be heading to Governor Jerry Brown after some minor editing is done.

The bill is sponsored by the California Veterinary Medical Board; a CVMB spokesman said today that funds from the proposed plate’s sales would be available for municipal agencies that apply. The local agencies would then determine how best to distribute the funds within their community.

Any 501(c)3 nonprofit that administers spay and neuter services may be eligible to receive funds as well, generally when there are not municipal services for such available in the area.

Funding of spay and neuter programs is critical, supporters say, to address a massive pet overpopulation problem. More than 1 million pets are reported to enter California animal shelters each year and around half are ultimately euthanized, due in part to the lack of adopters.

Pet overpopulation is particularly a hot-button issue this time of year, when “kitten season” has just begun filling shelters with the end results of unspayed animals. According to Nikki Barnett of the City of Sacramento’s Front Street Shelter, 13 litters of kittens have ended up at the facility just within the last two weeks.

Cats as young as 4 months old can get pregnant and they can have up to 5 litters per year. In other words, all of one mother cat’s female kittens could be weaned and pregnant themselves by the time the mother delivers her second litter.

For more information about pre-buying a California Pet’s Lover’s License Plate click here. Donations to the 501(c)3 nonprofit fund can also be made on the site; people donating $25 or more can receive a Pet Lover’s Pack which includes 6 items made with the license plate’s artwork.

The Kings, a dog, a disease and the man of the year

What do Sacramento’s professional basketball team, a dog named Bozo and leukemia have in common? They are all part of the life of Delbert Stapp, a candidate for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Man of the Year”.

Stapp is a veteran volunteer who has raised money for charities including the Shriner’s Hospital and March of Dimes for many years. Today he is around the mid-point of a ten-week competition to support research into curing leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other blood cancers.

During the competition, teams of volunteers raise money to support different candidates for Man or Woman of the Year. The team that raises the most money by the end of the ten weeks will have their candidate win the title.

“Team Delbert” is working to raise $50,000 by the Grand Finale Celebration on May 12 and have many events planned over these next four weeks. The public is invited to Zocalo for a Cure, a special benefit brunch this Sunday at Zocalo restaurant.

Good Day Sacramento will have a special telecast from the event. Sacramento Kings players will be there signing autographs and the Danza Azteca Native American Dancers will perform.

So where does Bozo come in? About 5 years ago Stapp purchased Maya, a beautiful pit bull terrier, as a companion pet. Shortly after that, a stray male pit bull showed up at the home of a friend who couldn’t keep the dog. Animal lover Stapp took him in and started posting signs, canvassing the neighborhood and putting ads in the paper searching for the dog’s owner.

No one came forward, so Stapp decided to keep the dog that both he and Maya now loved. He originally named him BoGo, because he “bought one dog then got one free”. But Stapp says laughing that Bogo’s exuberant, happy and goofy personality led to the name change, because “he really is a complete Bozo”. Stapp happily shows videos on his phone of Bozo proving the name is a perfectly accurate fit.

To make a donation or learn more about Stapp and the 10-week competition, click here.

A full schedule of Stapp’s fundraising events – including everything from bingo and a huge garage sale to an Autocross event, Latin dancing and Cinco de Mayo – can be found here.

• Zocalo for a Cure Brunch for Delbert Stapp
• Benefit for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
• Sunday, April 15, 2012
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• 1801 Capitol Ave.
• Sacramento, CA 95811
• $30 per person

Use your mouse from April 5-16 to help local animal rescue win $100k

When I win the lottery I’m going to buy a big place and rescue a ton of animals.” If that sentiment has ever crossed your lips or mind, you are going to love this news. From today through April 16, you can help win $100,000 for animal rescue with just a click of the mouse a day.

Fifty animal rescue groups and shelters were accepted for the 2012 ASPCA and Rachael Ray $100,000 Challenge; only ten spots were available for each designated region of the United States. One sole Sacramento-area organization made the cut; the 501c3 nonprofit Animal Outreach of the Motherlode.

Animal Outreach provides low-cost spay/neuter, vaccination and adoption services for cats and dogs. They are based in Diamond Springs, but work with animals from all over Sacramento and Northern California.

The ASPCA and Rachael Ray Challenge is performance-based, although votes from public are part of the initial round of the competition. Groups that get enough votes to make it through the qualifying round will participate in the actual contest from August 1 through October 31, 2012.  Different monetary awards will be won based on criteria including how many animal lives are saved as compared to the same August-October period last year.

In 2011 Animal Outreach provided low-cost spay/neuter or vaccine services to more than 10,000 cats and dogs, as well as finding wonderful new homes for more than 2,500 needy pets.

Kathy Anderson, AO’s Community Outreach and Operations Manager, said that from January 1, 2012 until today they “have already provided low-cost spay/neuter or vaccination services to more than 2,000 animals”.

And today and the following 11 days are when AO needs the public’s help to qualify for in the first round. Every day between now and April 16, people can click here to vote for Animal Outreach.

Votes can come from any confirmed email address and do not have to come from residents of the region; anyone in the world can participate.

• Check out the short, funny video about the vote by clicking on the link to the left.

“Winning this grant will help us spay and neuter more animals at no or low-cost to everyone; we do not have income restrictions”, said Anderson.

The nonprofit is having several off-site adoptions and other events that will also encourage people to vote; a full list of events can be found on the Animal Outreach website by clicking here.

Animal Outreach is part of the $100k Challenge’s Western Division, which includes Alaska, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Nevada, Washington and Wyoming.

• 2012 ASPCA and Rachael Ray $100,000 Challenge
• Vote for Animal Outreach of the Motherlode by clicking here.
• Each email address can vote once a day from Thur April 5 – Mon April 16, 2012
• Visit AO’s website and Facebook page
• Please share this information with others around the country and the world in person and on email, Facebook, Twitter and other social media and communication sites

• Animal Outreach Low Cost Spay/Neuter Vaccination Clinic & Adoption Center
• 6101 Enterprise Dr.
• Diamond Springs, CA 95619
• (530) 642-2287

Long lost sister of Robert DeNiro found in Sacramento

“Who Do You Think You Are”, the NBC show which researches the family trees of  famous people, recently discovered a sister that Robert DeNiro never knew existed. Although significantly younger than her famous  brother, anyone seeing her face can see the family resemblance.

Also in show business, “Hashi” goes by only one name like her close  friend Charo.

The two ladies, along with star Demi Moore, form the  underground performance art group known as “The Strays”.  Their shows include high-wire Zen acrobatics, sensuous ten-pin bowling frames  and a mysterious act involving shaving their legs and blending pomegranate  margaritas while bouncing on a trampoline held steady by albino attorneys.  

DeNiro was visibly shocked by news of his sister, particularly since he had  been the anonymous moderator for a “Strays” fan club and on-line bingo parlor  web site for years. One of his blog entries mentioned that while Hashi “looks like a real dog”, he was inspired by her tenacity and the way  she fills out her red go-go boots.

DeNiro described Demi as “a sweetheart and a true pussycat” and Charo as“the type of entertainer you want to roll around with in the  mud”.

While being driven to Hashi’s residence by his devastatingly handsome  chauffer Bentley, DeNiro appeared to be as giddy as a schoolgirl. Bentley later  confided that DeNiro was eager to learn if his sister shared his love for “bubble-gum cigars, humming Elvis songs backwards and frozen-turkey  soccer”.

Okay, so some of the above is not completely true.

Actually the only bits that are true are that Hashi is a  dog, Demi is a sweet pussycat and Bentley is devastatingly handsome. Oh, and  Charo is a lot of fun to play with in mud.

In reality, all four of them are wonderful, loving pets that are up for  adoption from local animal shelters.

Charo is a shaggy cream-colored poodle-mix, currently waiting for you in the City  of Sacramento shelter on Front Street.

Hashi is a pretty caramel and cream Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix at the City of  Folsom’s shelter in Blue Ravine Animal Hospital. And while they may not  share the same lineage, Hashi and DeNiro do sport similar birthmarks on their  high, sculpted cheekbones. 

Demi is a beautiful brown-striped Tabby cat with golden-green eyes that glow  as brightly as her smile.  She is at Animal Outreach of the Motherlode and wants very much to be  the love of your life.

Like the car he was named for, Bentley has a sleek, classic line. The  handsome male cat is a brown/gray Tabby with white and his “motor” really purrs.  The City  of Sacramento guest is a gentle and companionable fellow that just wants to  be with you.

Adopting a shelter pet may not make you as famous as Robert DeNiro, but it  will certainly make you a hero to those really count.

• City  of Sacramento Front Street Animal Shelter
• (916) 808-7387
• 2127 Front Street, Sacramento 95818
• Wed to Fri – 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m./Sat and Sun – 12:00 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• City  of Folsom Animal Shelter at Blue Ravine Animal Hospital
• (916) 984-0990.
• 1770 Prairie City Road, Folsom 95630
• Mon – Fri – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m./Sat – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Animal Outreach of the Motherlode
• (530) 642-2287
• 6101 Enterprise Dr.Suite B, Diamond Springs 95619
• Adoption hours available in various locations; see site for  details

 

Is your BFF a real dog? Come celebrate on Friday

Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian may believe that a “best friend forever” means someone who will only be around a few months, but Sacramento pet lovers  know better. In celebration of the true, lasting bond between pets and humans,  two local animal rescue groups are inviting guests to enjoy a special happy hour  party this Friday night.

The Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association is hosting the one true BFF event,  the Best Friends Friday fundraiser is a benefit for  the City of Sacramento’s Front Street Animal Shelter and for the nonprofit Chako Pit Bull Rescue.

For a $5 entry fee, guests can enjoy gourmet appetizers, music and lively  conversation while perusing unique raffle items. Entrance also includes one  drink of beer, wine, water or soda; subsequent beverages are available for  purchase.

Both the City Shelter and Chako are working hard to find good homes for  animals in need. This mission has become increasingly more challenging since  economic issues in recent years have caused an increasingly large number of  pets to be surrendered or abandoned.

Gina Knepp, Acting Animal Care Services Manager for the City  of Sacramento, has reported an impressive increase in the number of pets leaving  the shelter for new homes since new adoption, foster and rescue programs have  been instituted.

As one example, Knepp said that yesterday’s “Neighborhood Pit Bull  Days” event offered free services such as rabies, immunizations, ID tags,  microchips, collars and even spay/neuter surgery to more than 450  Sacramento area dogs.

The same event held only a few weeks ago served 300 dogs; the huge increase  in such a short time is just one indication of the need for such services in  this area.

“The secret to success for shelters”, Knepp says, “is how involved they choose to be in their  community”.

The City shelter works with dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals;  Chako focuses on helping the always-smiling Pit Bull dogs in the area.

Guests to this Friday’s BFF event will also have the opportunity to  participate in “Keys to the  Kennel”. Each $5 key purchased gives another  chance to open the lock on a $100 cash prize.

• Best Friends Friday
• Friday March 23, 2012
• 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Sierra 2 Center – Curtis Hall
• 2791 24th Street, Sacramento, CA 95818
• $5 entry fee includes appetizers and one drink (Wine, beer, water or  soda)
• Raffle tickets- $1 each /$5 for six/$10 for 12/$20 for 25; get one free  ticket for each 10 pounds of pet food brought to the party as a donation to  Titanic’s Pantry (Sacramento Pet Food Bank.

 

Enjoy the “Luck of the Irish” with reduced adoption fees

What are the odds of finding true love with just a toss of the dice? Starting  today the chances are very good, thanks to a St. Patrick’s Day promotion at the City  of Sacramento Animal Shelter.

Through Sunday, pet lovers can toss one die to determine the adoption fee for  their wonderful new family member. Roll a one and the fee is only $10, roll a  two to pay $20 and so on.

Not only do people get to take home a pet that will love them forever; they  get to save money in the process.  

Adopting from the City Shelter is always a smart move financially,  even when this special is over and normal adoption fees of $65 for  cats and $85 for dogs apply.

All animals adopted from the shelter are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and  microchipped, and go home with a free collar, personalized ID tag and one bag of  Science Diet pet food.

By having all of those important services and items included, the new  owner saves hundreds of dollars they would have had to pay if they got  a “free” pet somewhere.

According to Dan Torres, Chief Animal Control Officer for  the shelter, there is a wide variety of cat and dog breeds available  for adoption right now.

Torres, the proud owner of several animals including Riley the Pit Bull, says  that “there are even puppies up for adoption, starting  today”.

Among them are four Black Labrador mix puppies and a beautiful blue Pit Bull  puppy.

Fans of felines are encouraged to come to the shelter as well. Torres says  the cattery is full of “our champion cats”, referring  to the shelter’s  recent success at an internationally sanctioned cat show.

During the St. Patrick’s Day promotion rabbits at the shelter will be  available for half-off the normal $35 adoption fee.

Check out the slide show to see a few of the pets looking for homes, then  head out to get “lucky” at the City of Sacramento Animal Shelter.

• Luck of the Irish Adoption Special
• Wed March 14 – Sun March 18
• City  of Sacramento Animal Care Services
• 2127 Front Street
• Sacramento, CA 95818
• (916) 808-7387
• Open Wed – Fri from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sat – Sun from 12 p.m. to 5  p.m.

 

City shelter breaks record at international cat show

When a 3-day cat show ended on Sunday, ten adoptable cats from the City of Sacramento Animal Shelter had earned a record  breaking number of awards. This was the shelters third foray into the world of  competitive showing.

The shelter cats won a total of 81 awards over the course of  the 3-day show, during which they competed against professionals from all over  the west. This topped the already impressive 50 awards won by City of Sacramento  shelter cats at a previous  Jazzy Cats show, an increase of 64%.  

You might wonder why a municipal animal shelter would want to have plain old  rescue felines compete against professional show cats. The answer is simple; it  is a tremendous opportunity to find great homes for adoptable pets.

Jazzy Cats is the  west coast chapter of The International Cat Association (TICA). TICA maintains the world’s largest genetic registry of  pedigreed cats, but their sanctioned shows also include equally-competitive show “Household Pet” categories for non-pedigreed cats and kittens.

In addition to the ten competitors, the shelter brought non-competing  adoptable cats and kittens to the show simply to find good homes. The City  Shelter offered to take adoptables from other area shelters as well, so there  were also cats being adopted at the show from City of Folsom Animal Services, Shellden Shelter and Animal Outreach of the Motherlode.

A total of 18 cats and kittens were adopted into loving new homes  during the show.

This particular Jazzy Cats show had a casino theme, so many of the adoptable  cats were given names to suit the occasion. Sparks, Monaco, Keno Kimmie,  Bellagio, Atlantis and Queen of Hearts were among the cats attending the  event.

Mr. Las Vegas, an outgoing brown tabby, won 14 awards against the  professionals including “Best Allbreed Kitten”. He also won the  hearts of the family who ultimately adopted him.

Suzi Slots won 15 awards and was chosen as the best long-haired  competitor in the non-pedigreed category; the black and white kitten  acted like she was born to compete and clearly loved being a star.

Suzi was adopted by Linda Johnson, a Jazzy Cats member who has been very  vocal in her appreciation of the City Shelter and of rescue pets in  general. Johnson said that several other professional competitors and show  judges had hoped to adopt Suzi, but she had beaten them to it.

Pit Boss, a lynx-point Siamese kitten, won 15 awards. He was adopted at the  show by a family who then learned they could not keep him, so Pit Boss is  actually available for adoption now.

He is a beautiful 8-month old blue-eyed boy with a very sweet personality; he  has been neutered, immunized, tested and microchipped. Pit Boss will be  in demand due to his looks, personality and show awards, so anyone interested in  adopting him should visit the shelter as soon as possible.

The City Shelter’s staff and volunteers again received high praise throughout  the event from numerous judges, exhibitors, competitors and members of the  public.  One Jazzy Cats member said that the shelter is literally being  talked about around the world on websites, blogs, social media and professional  competitor message boards.

The world-wide buzz is all very positive and the shelter is being  lauded as one of the better U.S. shelters ever seen by members of the  animal community; this is due to the health care, socialization and overall  treatment the animals receive and to the enthusiasm and commitment of the  shelter’s staff and volunteers.

One of the shelter employees, Nikki Barnett, received a  boisterous public accolade and standing ovation at the show. Barnett handles the  shelter cattery as well as the other cat-related services and  programs.

She is widely credited as the driving force responsible not just for the  shelter cats’ success at shows, but for consistently helping needy pets become  happy and healthy members of their adoptive families. Barnett and the cattery  volunteers work tirelessly for the long-term good of the animals in their  care.

Jazzy Cats and TICA actively promote the care of animals from shelters,  rescue groups and feral colonies; they are as focused on that as they are on  pedigreed show cats.

A video of the City Shelter’s first Jazzy Cats event called “Ordinary  Pets and Extraordinary Shelters” was posted to the ASPCA blog and has been  on the front page of TICA’s website for over 4 months.

“Pit Boss”  was a big winner at the Jazzy Cats competition; he is available for adoption at  the City of Sacramento Shelter

      Credits:    

        Hope Harris/www.hopeimages.com     

Video: Ordinary  Pets & Extraordinary Shelters

Rating for City of  Sacramento Animal Shelter and the Jazzy Cats cat show:

5

 

 

 

Free dog vaccines, microchipping and supplies

Dog owners have much to celebrate this Sunday during the first Sacramento Neighborhood Pit Bull Day. Although the event is  geared towards owners of Pit Bulls, all dog breeds are welcome to receive  services and supplies at no charge.

The free event is being held as a joint venture of the City of Sacramento  Animal Shelter and the nonprofit groups Chako Pit Bull Rescue and 4R Friends  Rescue.

While supplies last, dogs can be vaccinated for distemper and rabies as well  as getting microchips, food samples, halters, collars, leashes and engraved  identification tags.

This is part of a series of free programs put on by the groups to address  important health and safety issues for dog owners. Wambui Prouty, Volunteer  Coordinator for the City shelter, says that during a recent event in Rio Linda “nearly 100 dogs received their shots for free”.

Dogs that reside in Sacramento City and have already been fixed can receive  free City dog licenses at the event. Information about low-cost spay and neuter  services for all pets will also be available.

Chako founder Dawn Capp said yesterday that there are special ways to ensure  that Pit Bull ownership is a positive experience for the whole family. A lawyer  and published author, Capp also teaches Pit Bull owner education classes  throughout Northern California.

 

Capp says that “brief behavior consultations will be offered on Sunday,  as well as giving dog-owners access to educational opportunities and  resources”.

 

Animal rescue groups and shelters are in continual need of volunteers to  provide temporary foster-care for adoptable pets. The economic downturn has  caused that need to skyrocket, as more people are giving up their pets or not  getting them fixed. The ultimate result is that more unwanted pets are in need  than ever before.

As with other local rescue organizations, Capp knows that people get  frustrated when Chako can not accept dogs they wish to surrender.

“But we can only take in as many dogs as we have foster homes  for” says Capp, asking that anyone interested in fostering contact the  rescue group of their choosing.

To meet a few of the wonderful pets currently available for adoption from the  three rescue groups putting on the event, click on the “Love Me Forever” video  link here: http://youtu.be/XrSiYf6uGN0

 

• Sacramento  Neighborhood Pit Bull Day
• Sun Feb 19, 2012
• 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. – services offered on a first come, first serve  basis while supplies last
• Colonial Heights Library
• 4799 Stockton Blvd.
• Sacramento, CA 95820
• Price: Free
• (916) 572-4748
• City  of Sacramento Animal Shelter
• Chako Pit Bull  Rescue
• 4R Friends  Rescue  

 

Valentine pet portraits and tax breaks this weekend

What do you get when you cross a dear, fuzzy face and an amazing  photographer? You get the purest celebration of unconditional love that  St.Valentine could have ever envisioned.

Professional portrait photographer Michael Kressner is donating his artistic services this  weekend to the Sacramento County Animal Shelter during their “My  Furry Valentine” promotion.

For a $10.00 tax-deductible donation to the shelter, Kressner will take a  special Valentine’s Day-themed portrait of you and your pet. You will  receive a 4” x 6” print on that day, and additional copies can be purchased for  an additional $5.00 donation each.

To participate, bring your pets to the shelter between 12:00 noon and 4 p.m.  on Saturday or Sunday.

Anyone wishing to make Valentine’s Day even more special can get an  especially great deal during the promotion

• Adopt a pet from the County shelter any time between today and  Sunday, and Kressner will take a beautiful portrait of you with the new  member of the family at no charge.

Kressner has been taking professional photos of weddings, events, people and  pets for more than 20 years. A long-time animal lover, Kressner is  currently assisted by a rescue Corgi named George that reportedly “rules the  world”.

Yesterday Kressner introduced Naish, the latest family addition that he  adopted several weeks ago.  Kressner says that the dog, named after  windsurfing legend Robby Naish, is “the purest mix in the  world”. He suggests that Naish is part cat and part Shepherd,  among other things.

 

• My Furry  Valentine with Michael Kressner
• Sat 2/11 – Sun 2/12/12 from noon to 4:00 p.m.
• Sacramento  County Animal Shelter
• 3839 Bradshaw Road
• Sacramento, CA 95827
• 916-368-7387
• Regular shelter hours:
• Wed – Fri from 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• Sat – Sun from noon – 4:30 p.m.

 

Valentine’s gifts for pets and people

Flowers and candy are always nice, but they have become something of a cliché  on Valentine’s Day. If you want a more creative way to express your affection  for a pet or for the person who loves them, Sacramento offers plenty of other  options.

Know someone with an open, giving heart and plenty of love to share? Consider  giving them a gift certificate from an animal shelter or rescue group. Showing up with a puppy, cat or rabbit wearing a big red ribbon may  sound cute, but it is better to let the person pick out the pet that is just  right for their interests and life style.

For the sake of the people and animals involved, all regular adoption  guidelines and screening done by the shelter still apply when gift certificates  are used.

And gift certificates don’t have to be for an adoption; many shelters and  rescues offer gifts and other pet supplies and services.

Cindy Walden, Animal Services Officer for the City of Folsom animal shelter,  says that a certificate could be “for a rabies vaccine ($5.00) or  microchip ($20.00) at our monthly clinic “.

Pet owners would also appreciate certificates for spay/neuter services,  immunizations, dental care, nail trims and health check-ups. Keeping their furry  family members healthy is a top priority and they will think of you fondly every  time they look at their pets.

Many groups sell t-shirts, toys, calendars, hats and other fun gifts that an  animal lover will enjoy; check out Homeward Bound’s “Golden Mall” for some great examples.

In addition to shelters there are many small area businesses that voluntarily  support local animal rescue groups. Buying gifts, services and certificates  allow you to find a perfect and unique gift while also giving back to the  community.

To make a special statement to a loved one this Valentine’s Day, these are a  few of the options available to Sacramento area gift givers:

Adoption and pet service certificates:

• City  of Sacramento Animal Shelter
• Sacramento  County Animal Care
• City  of Folsom Animal Shelter
• Shellden Shelter
• Animal  Outreach of the Motherlode 
• Homeward Bound  Golden Retriever Rescue
• Chako Pit Bull Rescue
• Pawsitive  Attention Pet Services
• Sacramento House Rabbit  Society
• LAPCATS

Fun and pampering gifts:

• Trends-n-Treats Pet  Supply-Spa-Boutique  
• Groovy Doggy
• Shanti  Lounge – Face and Body
• Lifetime  Calendars from imagiNed
• Hair By Debra – call 916-723-7786
• Hope Harris  Photography

 

 

Help dog without front legs curb pet overpopulation

Joey was only a few weeks old when her owners took her to a vet; they asked  that the tiny Chihuahua born without front legs be euthanized. The vet noted  that the puppy was very healthy otherwise, and convinced the couple to let an  animal rescue group take over Joey’s care.

Sacramento area resident Ashley Dunleavy stepped up to foster Joey and contacted OrthoPets, a company that  designs adaptive devices for pets. The healthy, now 4-month-old Joey comes from  small parents and only weighs 1.5 pounds. Dunleavy says that she is “so  small that she can’t use just any wheelchair”.

Yesterday Dunleavy learned that the pup was quickly learning how to maneuver  the second incarnation of their custom design for her.

The nonprofit Sacramento Area Animal Coalition (SAAC), the Yolo County SPCA, Fox 40, CBS 13 and local animal rescue  people assisted in getting Joey’s story out, and helped raise money to get a  mobility cart built for the dog. OrthoPets offered to custom-build a device and  to foster Joey at their operation in Denver, Colorado until the design worked  perfectly for her.

Great news, but how does that translate to helping pet  overpopulation?

Dunleavy, a board member for SAAC, wanted a special way to thank the  community that had helped Joey get the help, health and love she deserves.

SAAC is one of the country’s largest programs involved in Spay Day USA,  providing very low cost spay/neuter services to pets in low-income households.  The 2012 Spay Day Sacramento campaign  is currently in action; for more  information click  here. 

Dunleavy learned that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) was  co-sponsoring a photo contest that would raise funds for spay/neuter  services. The World Spay Day Pet Photo Contest began on  February 1,2012.

Dunleavy entered a photograph of tiny Joey; funds raised by her participation  would go to SAAC.

This is how you can help pet overpopulation right in  your own neighborhood.

Click here to enter votes for Joey; each vote costs $1.00 and  all money raised by the votes will go to SAAC. Other local pets are  also entered with SAAC as their designated charity; the same voting process  helps them earn money for SAAC.

Animals from across the country have their photos entered in the contest; the  photograph receiving the most votes will win an additional $5,000 for their  charity. 

You can vote as many times as you wish until the voting period ends at 2:00  p.m. (PST) on Wednesday, February 29, 2012.

 

Beautiful, loving cats in search of laps

Kittens and cats can light up a room with their crazy antics; zooming around,  tumbling like gymnasts and stalking the ever-illusive prey known as catnip mice.  But wouldn’t it be nice to have a cat that is happy sitting with you, purring  and peaceful?

Animal rescue groups in the Sacramento area have many adoptable indoor cats  that are very people-friendly, content and cuddly; especially somewhat older  adult cats that are happy and playful but might prefer a less hectic  lifestyle.

A few cats that would be perfect for you are listed below; all have been  health-checked, spayed/neutered and are current on their immunizations.

The volunteers at LAPCATS, a nonprofit group supporting the Sacramento  County Animal Shelter,  say that Miss Chloe  is “the ultimate lap cat”.  She is a beautiful gray Persian mix who wants nothing more than to be with you.  She loves to sit in your lap and will even cuddle and keep you warm when you lay  down. Miss Chloe is 12 years old, healthy and her front paws have been  d

Or consider Greta,  a very sweet and loving girl up for adoption through HART (Helen’s Animal Rescue  Team).   She is 3-1/2, a short-haired black and white with huge,  gorgeous green eyes. Greta is a lot of fun but does has one “pet” peeve; she  doesn’t like to share a lap, so she needs to be the only animal in the  family.

Billy is a handsome, long-haired steel-gray, chocolate and  cream fellow from the City of Folsom Animal Shelter. Officer  Cindy Walden of the Folsom shelter says that 10-year-old Billy is “more of a  mellow cuddling companion than a raucous playful guy. If you’re into watching  DVDs on the couch…so is he”.

Gypsy  from FieldHaven Feline Rescue, Indie  from Happy Tails and Choya  from Purrs For You are all  beautiful, mellow cats who love people and just need a warm lap and some  attention.

Interested in a gorgeous, big silky gray long-haired cat with beautiful blue  eyes? His name is Blue-Blue and he loves to be brushed and petted. His roommate  Midnight is a big black male cat who also adores lap time and cuddles.  Foster-mom Betty says that Midnight is “a very good gentleman” and is relaxed  and very patient with children. For more information on Blue-Blue or Midnight,  you can contact Betty at 714-3473.

For information on the other cats listed here, click on their name to see  them on Petfinder.com. Check out the slide show to see how beautiful this loving  lap cats are

TV, Facebook bring stolen dog home

When their beloved Pit Bull was stolen several weeks ago, his panicked owners were afraid that the happy, non-aggressive Griffin would be used as “bait” for fighting dogs. However, television reports and extensive social media efforts resulted in the dog being rescued safe and sound on Friday night.

On January 9 Gene Cuesta had stopped at the Safeway store on Alhambra Avenue and tied Griffin securely a few feet from the entrance; when he returned 5 minutes later the dog was gone. Cuesta and his wife Carissa immediately began a relentless search to find him, but had no success.

A Safeway surveillance video released later showed a man and woman untying the dog, pushing him into their car and speeding away.

When Rachele Salvarvidas, owner of Pawsitive Attention Pet Services and longtime Chako Pit Bull Rescue volunteer, learned that Griffin had been stolen, she knew there was a “one in a million chance he would ever be found”.  But she met with the Cuestas and was impressed by their devotion and love for Griffin; she then began an extensive search campaign that ultimately paid off.

Using Facebook, craigslist, Twitter and email, Salvarvidas rallied volunteers from the public, Chako and other area rescue groups. They forwarded the posts and Tweets to everyone they knew, canvassed neighborhoods, posted flyers and tried unsuccessfully to get the television media interested.

Finally Gina Knepp, acting manager of the City of Sacramento Animal Shelter, was notified and she was able to get television coverage on the situation from Fox 40. Gwendolyn Cusseaux saw the Fox news report when it aired Thursday night; she emailed the station on Friday morning to say that the stray dog she had found the previous week might just be Griffin.

Cusseaux stated that she had found a friendly Pit Bull matching Griffin’s description in front a convenience store off Gerber Road, some 10-15 miles away from the store where he was stolen. The owner of the convenience store verified that the dog had been hanging around for several days before Cusseaux rescued him.

She took the dog home and began posting flyers herself, knowing that a dog as friendly and outgoing had to belong to someone. When she saw photos of Griffin on Fox 40 she knew she had finally found the owners. The dog was picked up and transported to the City Animal Shelter until the Cuestas could be notified.

At the time Griffin was stolen, the family was in the midst of packing to move to South Dakota in three weeks. Gene Cuesta says they were terrified that they would have to leave California before their “goofy little boy” could be located. Then a death in the family forced the Cuestas to leave for South Dakota sooner than planned. When Griffin was found on Friday they were contacted; the couple was thrilled. They are currently working out how to get Griffin to his new home in South Dakota.

The Cuestas initial worry that Griffin might be used as “bait” was no idle concern; submissive canines are often used to hone the violent tendencies of fighting dogs. Essentially bait dogs are the living version of the punching bag a human fighter might train on.

Rachele Salvarvidas says that large, neutered dogs are less likely to be used as bait dogs; she believes that the good-looking dog was probably snatched by people wishing to breed him. Once they saw that he had been fixed, they likely dumped him off on the side of the road.

“Being neutered probably saved his life” says Salvarvidas.

After spending an hour with Griffin at the shelter yesterday, she understood why the Cuestas love him so much. She joked that so many people helped to get Griffin home that “he belongs to all of us now”, not just to the Cuestas.

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