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

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

City shelter cat wins top spot in the world

A small white kitten with black spots was abandoned at the City of Sacramento Animal Shelter in late spring; a frightened, lonely little girl without much hope. Today shelter staff learned that the same kitten should now be the poster child for a true rags-to-riches story.

In October the kitten, named Butters, was adopted by a wonderful man from Santa Clara. They met at the two-day Jazzy Cats Cat Show in Sacramento, where several of Ken’s show cats were competing in various categories. The show is a sanctioned event by The International Cat Association.

Butters and other adoptable City Shelter cats and kittens were also there competing in the Household Pet (HHP) categories, on the invitation of Jazzy Cats show manager Gloria Mahan. Competing in the show allowed them to be seen by a large number of people – more than 1,000 members of the public visited the show – thereby increasing their chance of adoption.

What increased their chances the most, however, was the treatment they received at the City Shelter. Like all other animals at the shelter, the cats and kittens had received top-notch treatment, vet care and socialization from shelter staff and volunteers.

Ken Kershaw stopped in at the City adoptables area before the Jazzy Cats show started on the first day and immediately fell in love with the now bubbly, playful and happy Butters. He filled out her adoption papers even before seeing her in action in the competition.

Butters and her fellow City kitties surprised everyone by performing like real pros in the competitions; they earned a total of 50 awards during the two-day show. One kitten even won “Best HHP Kitten in Show” and they all seemed to enjoy the process.

Butters is now named “Feral Faucet” and has been competing in shows across the West Coast since Ken adopted her in October. Kershaw says she loves showing off and strutting her stuff in front of the judges and crowds, and is the happiest and most friendly feline around.

Today Kershaw let City of Sacramento Animal Shelter acting manager Gina Knepp know just how well things have been going for the formerly frightened and lonely little ragamuffin kitten.

“Currently” says Kershaw, Feral Faucet is the “#1 International” Champion in her category, as well as being in the first place position within the Mid-Pacific region.

Knepp is proud of how her shelter staff and volunteers treat the animals in their care. She says that Feral Faucet is living proof that “extraordinary pets can be found in shelters.”

The next Jazzy Cats show is coming up on January 6-8 at the Doubletree Hotel in Sacramento. More adoptable Sac City shelter cats will be there, and Feral Faucet herself will return for her first showing as an adult cat. Click here for more information about the show and a coupon for $2.00 off the admission price.

Want to see Feral and the other City kitties during the October show? Click here to see the You Tube video of their Jazzy Cats weekend.

Get Cash and Batman for Christmas

There is still time to find the perfect gift for that special someone on your holiday list. Cash is always a favorite gift and Batman is hugely popular as well; both are available to lucky shoppers in the Sacramento/Folsom area.

For the record Batman is a very social and chatty guy; while he is a “bigger” hero than he used to be, he is currently on a diet.

To get hooked up with Cash or Batman, simply contact Blue Ravine Animal Hospital and see about adopting them. Blue Ravine provides shelter for adoptable animals for the City of Folsom Animal Services Division, and the facility is very overcrowded.

Cash is a handsome, highly intelligent and energetic Jack Russell Terrier; he is 8 months old and has been neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated for rabies and kennel cough.  He has already received a DAP vaccination as well, which protects against distemper, hepatitis and parvo.

The City of Folsom’s Animal Services Division is managed by the Folsom Police Department.  The animal services division is staffed with one officer, Cindy Walden.

Walden said today that many of the animals have been at the shelter for an extended time and “desperately need forever homes”.  For example, Batman has actually been at the shelter for 10 months; this is a sad, stressful situation for him, even at a good shelter like Blue Ravine.

Batman is a stunning young short-haired black cat with a glossy coat, golden eyes and a loving personality. He is great with children and gets along with other cats. Batman’s owners turned him in to the shelter simply because he had gotten overweight; ironic since they were the ones who choose to give him too much food. He has lost weight now that his food has been regulated appropriately and is eager to find someone to love him.

All animals at the shelter are available during December at 50% off the typical adoption fee, go get in there now.

For photos and information about some of the adoptable pets, click here.

• City of Folsom Animal Services Division
• Blue Ravine Animal Hospital
• 1770 Prairie City Road, Folsom 95630
• (916) 984-0990
• Holiday hours: Thur/Fri December 22 to 23/open – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday Dec 24/open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Closed Sun – Mon December 25 to 26
• Tues – Fri December 27-30/open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Closed Monday January 1, 2012

Holiday shopping; businesses that support animal rescue – part 3

Want to find the perfect gift for the pet lovers – and the pets – on your holiday list? You can do it fast, easy and with plenty of heart by shopping at businesses that support the same causes that are important to you.

Rather than wait in long lines at corporate chain stores, Sacramento pet-lovers can shop at small businesses that are full of unique gifts and great selections of pet supplies. Best of all, you can choose a business that puts their money where their mouth is by donating generously to charities in their community.

Sacramento pet rescue groups were asked on Monday which small businesses help them out, and they had some very good suggestions for shoppers.

Trends-n-Treats Pet Supply Spa and Boutique and owner Millie Finch give generously to nonprofits that help both people and animals in this area. Just a few of the many groups Finch assists are Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Senior Gleaners and Titanic’s Pantry.

HART volunteer Bill Bonini doubts that anyone can walk into Trends-n-Treats without finding plenty of unique gifts, healthy pet foods and special services that are perfect for animal lovers.

Rachele with Pawsitive Attention Pet Services is another small business owner who “walks the walk”, or in her case walks the dog. Her business offers traditional services but also unique ones such as pet transport, moving-care, house-training and end-of-life care; she can even help if you would like your favorite pet to be part of your wedding ceremony.

But Rachele also gives back to her community by volunteering many hours every day to Chako Pit Bull Rescue and the Sacramento House Rabbit Society. Purchasing a gift certificate from Pawsitive Attention makes you a giver in more ways than one.

Western Feed and Pet Supply offers a wide range of goodies and foods for animals, and they donate to a wide range of local charities as well. Volunteers from many rescue groups sing the praises of Western Feed, including the City of Sacramento Animal Shelter, HART, Cats about Town Society and The Sacramento Pet Food Bank.

Gina Knepp with the City shelter also appreciates the generosity of Grateful Dog Day Care and the Animal Den Pet Resort and Spa.

Elk Grove’s Pets To Go has won the gratitude of the City shelter’s Karen Dickinson, who says that the owner has always been a big donor and supporter of area rescue groups.

Besides having a really cool name, Groovy Doggy offers artisan pet coats and owner Vanessa donates a portion of the sales of every coat to Chako.

Don’t spend the holiday season in crowded parking lots and longs lines; shop at small businesses that support the causes you believe in.

I see Fido kissing Santa Paws – this weekend

Santa is famous for assisting a certain ruby-nosed reindeer gain the affection of his peers, but his philanthropy doesn’t end there. The jolly fellow also works to get pets adopted and to raise money for worthwhile animal rescue groups.

Santa is particularly glad to help LAPCATS, a nonprofit organization created to help special pets from the Sacramento County Animal Shelter. To raise funds for LAPCATS, Santa is happy to pose for a keepsake photograph with your beloved pet.

Since he will be quite busy next week, this is the final weekend that the big man is available for pet photos.

He requests all to dash away, dash away, dash away to the PetSmart in Elk Grove on Saturday 12/17 or Sunday 12/18/11. Being an equal opportunity fellow, Santa has been known to pose with dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and even pet rats.

Within minutes, you will receive one quality printed photograph along with a special Christmas picture frame.

A donation of $10.95 is all it takes; guests with a free PetSmart “PetPerks” card get an even better deal of $9.95 for the pose, photo and frame.

LAPCATS understands how precious our pets are, and is pleased to email you a copy of the photo for an extra $5.00 donation to the rescue group.

During Santa’s visit, you will also have the chance to win unique prizes and gift baskets by participating in the annual raffle. This is a great opportunity to save money and time by winning the perfect gifts for someone on your list.

Proceeds from the photos, raffle and optional email go to support the work of LAPCATS in the Sacramento and Elk Grove area.

Some of the group’s adoptable cats will be at PetSmart during the event and you’re sure to be impressed with these sweet, beautiful animals. All of the cats and kittens have been fully screened to learn about their personality, temperament and health. Placement in temporary foster homes has also given LAPCATS more insight into how each cat interacts and reacts to day-to-day life with people and other pets.

Before joining LAPCATS, each animal has been spayed or neutered, microchipped, given flea/tick/worm treatment, vaccinated, and tested for FELV/FIV.

Please join Santa and an elf or two in celebrating the holidays with your pet.

• Photos with Santa Paws to benefit LAPCATS
• Saturday 12/17 and Sunday 12/18/2011
• 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. both days
• PetSmart Elk Grove
• 8215 Laguna Boulevard
• Elk Grove, CA 95758

A month of free dog food for 2011 adopters

Did you adopt your dream pooch from an animal shelter or rescue group at any time during 2011? Pedigree wants to thank you for rescuing a needy dog, and they’re ready to put their money where their mouth, well, where your dog’s mouth is.

As part of Pedigree’s adoption reward program, rescue groups learned today that eligible adopters in the Sacramento area can get coupons for a free one-month supply of dog food. In the current economy that is an especially nice gift for your wallet as well as for your dog.

The Pedigree coupons are redeemable for one bag (up to 20 pounds) of dry dog food and four 13.2 ounce cans of wet food. Unless the dog you adopted loves to binge and is the size of a bull Mastiff or a giant Newfoundland, that amount of food should last a month for one dog.

Judy Kent of Sacramento nonprofit Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue was pleased to hear that Pedigree is so supportive of animal rescue groups. While Pedigree may gain some new customers who continue to use the product after the freebies, Kent acknowledges that adopters likely have more to gain than the company.

Did you adopt your dream pooch from an animal shelter or rescue group at any time during 2011? Pedigree wants to thank you for rescuing a needy dog, and they’re ready to put their money where their mouth, well, where your dog’s mouth is.   As part of Pedigree’s adoption reward program, rescue groups learned today that eligible adopters in the Sacramento area can get coupons for a free one-month supply of dog food. In the current economy that is an especially nice gift for your wallet as well as for your dog.   The Pedigree coupons are redeemable for one bag (up to 20 pounds) of dry dog food and four 13.2 ounce cans of wet food. Unless the dog you adopted loves to binge and is the size of a bull Mastiff or a giant Newfoundland, that amount of food should last a month for one dog.   Judy Kent of Sacramento nonprofit Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue was pleased to hear that Pedigree is so supportive of animal rescue groups. While Pedigree may gain some new customers who continue to use the product after the freebies, Kent acknowledges that adopters likely have more to gain than the company.

Kent says that “those who adopt animals are special, generous people, and it’s great that a large company is willing to give back”.

To receive the coupons for free food, people simply need to complete a short form and mail it in with proof of adoption, such as a copy of the adoption certificate or receipt for the adoption fee payments.

The company will not be able to return any of the adoption documents they receive, so they request that people only send in copies rather than originals.

If you do not have any of the original adoption documents, contact the shelter or rescue group from which you adopted the dog to see if they are able to provide a copy of it.

This offer is valid for dogs or puppies that were adopted at any point during 2011; unfortunately the exceptional people that bring in stray or abandoned canines are not eligible. Certain restrictions apply, and only one form can be completed per household.

All requests for coupons must be received at Pedigree by January 31, 2012 in order to be eligible.

• Pedigree Adoption Drive – Free Dog Food for 2011 adopters
• Click here for details
• Click here for get the form that needs to be completed.

Holiday shopping; businesses that support what you believe in – Part 1

During the holidays people rush to crowded malls and mass retailers for gifts that often end up being pretty generic and uninspiring. But there are some great gifts available that fill the heart and soul in addition to filling those empty Christmas stockings.

The key is shopping at a place that supports the causes you believe in and that have special and really fun gift options. Suddenly the holiday season will become merrier for everyone involved.

While some mega-monster corporations have their paid staff give help to charities, they operate with multi-million dollar budgets to publicize and market their good works. By contrast, small businesses that help do so without the fanfare or the big money.

If you (or the person you are shopping for) love animals, here is some jolly holiday news.

• Sacramento-area animal shelters and rescue groups have identified small businesses that voluntarily go the extra mile to help them, and there are plenty of options for gift seekers.

This series of articles will profile some of the businesses that put their money where their heart is; part 1 begins with Ned Buratovich, owner of the busy one-man shop imagiNed Web Design

Buratovich is also the creator of the fun and inspirational 100-year “One of These Days” calendar poster.

One of Buratovich’s dearest childhood pals was his short-haired fox terrier named Lucky. When long-time friend Suna Kneisley needed assistance for her Sacramento nonprofit group C.A.T.S. (Cats about Town Society), Buratovich immediately jumped in and offered his talents for free.

Kneisley describes Buratovich as one of the most “boundlessly creative, dynamic and whimsical” people she knows, and is grateful for the large amount of time he has volunteered to create and maintain websites for animal rescue.

She encourages people to visit the sites he does for C.A.T.S. and for the nonprofit Spay It Forward to see just a few examples of his talents.

So what does his passion for the under-dog (or cat) have to do with holiday shopping? The 100 year calendar makes a perfect present and is available online – with no long lines, crowded parking lots or desperate shoppers – for only $15.00. And this gift is a lot more than a blank canvas with numbers on it.

Buratovich describes it as “a long-term project planner, a dream vacation scheduler, the ultimate bucket-list calendar, a lifetime timeline, an anniversary keeper and birthday reminder, a historical push-pin map, a chronological chart AND a work of conceptual art”.

The calendar is an entertaining way to help people appreciate every day of their lives, and comes with a 14-page user’s guide booklet.

Best of all, the calendar is a great present in more ways than one. In addition to being something special they can keep forever, the giver and receiver are partnering with someone who donates his time and talents to help needy animals.

Beats a box of reindeer-decorated socks from a mega-corporation any day.

• LifetimeCalendars.com (or its “evil twin” ProcrastinatorsCalendar.com)
• Both are the same item, created by Ned Buratovich, but “pitched with different spins.”

Happy hour party to benefit Sacramento Pet Food Bank

Put together music, wine and beer, hors d’oeuvres and a chance to win money, and it sounds like a good time. Wave a magic wand; it turns into a party for a great cause and becomes a downright excellent plan.

The event, set for Friday December 9 is a benefit for the Sacramento Pet Food Bank (Titanic’s Pantry) and the City of Sacramento Animal Shelter.

The $5.00 entry fee includefs one drink, wine, beer, water or soda.

There will be a raffle and items for sale, including unique jewelry, artwork and pet supplies. One particular raffle item will appeal to the dog owners on your holiday shopping list; a gift certificate from Trends-n-Treats Pet Supply, Spa and Boutique for a full-service dog bath and grooming.

Bring a donation of cat or dog food, cat litter, toys or other pet care items for Titanic’s Pantry, and get a free ticket to the raffle. The more donations you bring, the more raffle tickets you can get.

“Keys to the Kennel” according to Gina Knepp, Acting Animal Care Service Manager for the City of Sacramento. Knepp said today that the kennel keys are $5.00 each and the winning key will open the lock on a $100.00 prize.

Party attendees should bring either cash or their checkbook, as credit cards can not be used at this event.

There will also be gift certificates from the City of Sacramento Animal Shelter available for sale; this is your opportunity to give a holiday gift that really counts. Certificates can be redeemed for animal adoptions or other services at the shelter.

The benefit will take place in the Garden Room at the Sierra 2 Center for the Arts and Community, part of the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association.

• Titanic’s Pantry Party
• Friday December 9, 2011
• 5:30 P.M. – 7:30 P.M.
• Sierra 2 Center Garden Room
• 2791 24th Street, Sacramento, CA 95818
• $5.00 entry fee includes one drink (Wine, beer, water or soda)
• Raffle tickets are $1.00 each / $5.00 for six; free raffle ticket for donations to the Pantry
• $5.00 for each kennel key for a chance to win $100.00

County shelter tells how to get what you want in life

As of this morning, the Sacramento County animal shelter is caring for 368 animals, including cats, dogs, rabbits, horses, chickens and more. Although some are sick, injured or otherwise not ready for adoption, there are plenty of healthy, fixed and loving pets that need to find homes before their time runs out.

With so much to do and so little time to do it in, our lives can be very stressful these days. Sometimes it seems like there is no time to just get a little happiness for ourselves.

The County animal shelter wants to help you get what you want out of life, while helping some of the needy animals at the same time.

Multiple studies over the years have shown the emotional and physical benefits of pet ownership, and there is no better time than now to bring some fun and peace into your life.

There are plenty of dogs and cats available at the shelter that can do just that for you.

According to volunteer Barbara Bowen-Doty, there are especially plenty of cats available to meet your individual taste and interests.

Bowen-Doty says they have a declawed cat named Paws and several polydactyl felines; the latter have more than the five standard toes on their paws. Ernest Hemingway enjoyed polydactyl cats, and his estate still reportedly has 26 such animals living there.

The shelter has “many breed-specific cats like Siamese, Maine Coon, Russian Blue, Turkish Van, Turkish Angora, Bengal, just to name a few”, reports Bowen-Doty.

Check out the video to the left of this story to see just a few of the beautiful cats and kittens from the Sacramento County Animal Shelter that are currently looking for homes.

To learn more about the shelter, their pricing, gift shop and other services, visit www.saccountyshelter.net.

•    Sacramento County Animal Shelter
• 3839 Bradshaw Road, Sacramento
• Open Wednesday through Friday – 12:30 P.M. to 5:30 P.M.
• Open Saturday & Sunday – Noon to 4:30 P.M.

Barks or bites – changes to L.A. animal control law

For many dogs, barking is part of their job description; they bark to warn off intruders and to keep their human and animal family members safe. But spending a little too much time on the job can land the pet and their owner in the dog house, at least for some living in Southern California.

On Tuesday the Los Angeles City Council amended the city’s existing law about barking dogs. The original version, similar to statutes in Sacramento and other cities across the country, referred to “excessive barking” without explaining exactly how much is too much.

The amended version defines barking for ten minutes, or for 30 minutes during a three-hour period, to be excessive.

The first citation issued to the owner of an excessively barking dog in the city of L.A. now comes with a minimum penalty of $250.00; by the third citation the cost is up to a minimum of $1,000.00.

By contrast, L.A. County’s barking dog statute carries penalties for the owner of up to six months in jail on misdemeanor public nuisance charges.

Some complaints are true cases of disturbing the peace; other complaints appear to be made for the sole purpose of getting a disliked neighbor in trouble. Regardless, the complaint and resolution process requires a large amount of time on the part of an Animal Control Officer (ACO).

City of Sacramento Chief Animal Control Officer Dan Torres says that the staffing needed for such complaints locally is “a resource I don’t have”.

Torres leads a team of seven ACOs handling issues in the city, far below the 22 to 30 officers needed for the area according to a study done in 2000 by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

The population of the city has grown by more than 60,000 residents since that determination was made.

Funding cut-backs have caused the low number of ACOs for the city, but the number of issues they need to handle has done nothing but grow.

Torres says that the most critical issue that City ACOs must respond to is dog or cat bites, due to the possibility of fatal rabies infections. Next are reports of “loose, aggressive strays at schools”, another immediate and serious safety concern.

Then there are sick and injured animals on the roadways, coyotes, raccoons and skunks in residential areas, potential abuse and cruelty cases, strays on the street, getting animals out of locked vehicles, transporting injured strays and wildlife for veterinary care, removing deceased animals and assisting the Police, Fire Department, Highway Patrol, SPCA and Sacramento County Animal Services with larger cases. Just to name a few.

Oh, and complaints about barking dogs. Many hours of an ACO’s time must be used for the investigation, follow-up and required paperwork of a barking dog complaint, particularly if an appeal is filed by the pet owner.

Each Sacramento City ACO is responsible for a specific area and each officer’s typical day starts with a list of 40-60 calls they must respond to. More issues and complaints come in throughout the day and night.

It is understandable then, why complaints about how much noise an animal is making had to be looked into after public health and safety issues are handled.

As of July 1, 2011 City complaints about barking dogs are routed to Sacramento Mediation Services; doing it in-house was simply a poor use of very limited resources.

Unless Los Angeles has a full contingent of Animal Control staff and a small number of issues to handle – which are highly unlikely – the newly amended barking dog law may not help solve any problems.

Click here for tips from the City of Sacramento Animal Shelter on how to help your dog bark less.

Talking dog makes shocking confession; Sacramento listens

During a packed press conference in California’s capitol city today, the world’s first English-speaking dog made a brief, direct and indisputable statement. Rupert Smithson, a handsome pooch of undetermined lineage, spoke firmly and without need for a microphone.

“I’m hungry”, said the reddish-brown canine, “and I expect that I will want to eat again tomorrow as well”.

California’s “First Dog” Sutter Brown stepped in to add his support; the Corgi manfully admitted that he also felt the urge to have food on a daily basis.

A petite Persian cat in a flowing white fur coat, dark sunglasses and jeweled collar joined  Smithson and Brown at the podium and faced the crowd defiantly.

“I have an eating disorder”, she said. “Trust me, if I don’t get food every single day I become disorderly in the extreme”.

Although none were asked, she left the podium insisting that she would not answer any further questions.

Upon her departure a stream of pets surged onto the stage in solidarity, confirming that they share the same addiction as Smithson. Despite failed attempts at rehabilitation, all of the animals admitted to craving and essentially requiring food every day of the year in order to survive.

Smithson announced that he was going to a 12-step meeting and left the audience in shocked silence.

Okay, so maybe a bit of the above reporting isn’t completely accurate. In the interest of full disclosure, the Persian’s sunglasses weren’t actually very dark and the press conference wasn’t really all that packed.

But those little fibs did get you to read this far, so please stick around for a moment more.

Real or not, the message of the press conference comes through loud and clear. Just like people, pets need food every day, no matter what the weather is like or how the economy is behaving.

The need for food, whether for children or kittens, has a way of leveling the playing field. As living beings we all need it, and as a community we can help each other get it.

In this community, pet owners needing a little assistance can turn to The Sacramento Pet Food Bank.

Also known as Titanic’s Pantry, the all-volunteer-run nonprofit has helped thousands of families get a portion of their pet’s monthly food at no charge. Without assistance from the Pantry, many would have been forced to surrender their pets to already overburdened animal shelters and rescue groups.

This Saturday there will be a special pet food drive for Titanic’s Pantry, hosted for the third year by the Sacramento Cat Hospital.

Donations of unopened and unexpired cat and dog food (both canned and dry), leashes, collars, cat litter, bedding, and other pet supplies will be gratefully accepted by volunteers at the event. Monetary donations are also welcome, as they can be used to purchase whatever items are most needed.

By the way, Rupert really is hungry every day and the Persian diva can be difficult even after being fed.

• Pet Food Drive for Titanic’s Pantry
• Saturday November 19, 2011
• 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
• Sacramento Cat Hospital
• 4115 Manzanita Ave. Carmichael 95608
• For more information about the pet food drive, contact the Sacramento Cat Hospital at (916) 488-4161 or email info@sacramentocathospital.com.

Tricks, treats and cat dreams – free party at City animal shelter

Have you ever wondered what cats dream about? Perhaps they dream of candy and great music, of pets and clowns and special prizes. If you do too, the City of Sacramento animal shelter is just the ticket with a free Hooowloween party this Sunday.

A haunted house, munchies and plenty of animals will be on hand for the kids, and there are many surprises planned for adults as well.

Get a special, behind the scenes look at the shelter and meet the people and animals that keep the place going. Many people have negative notions about public shelters; this is a great opportunity to see just how positive a well-run shelter can be.

And to finally answer that all-important question, renowned artist Michael Knepp will be showcasing a series of comical paintings about cat dreams.

Costumes are encouraged but not required; rumor has it that shelter director Gina Knepp will be there representing a certain saucy feline.

A prize drawing at the party offers the chance to win artwork, jewelry, pet supplies and goodies for the kids. Tickets are $1.00 each or six for $5.00, and all proceeds benefit community animals in need.

Knepp leads the all-volunteer Sacramento Pet Food Bank, also known as Titanic’s Pantry. The pantry gives animal food and supplies to pet-owners who are having financial difficulties. The goal is to allow people to keep their pets rather than having the animals end up in a shelter.

Everything the Pet Food Bank gives out is donated by members of the community or by local businesses. Unfortunately business is slow for many people and work is hard to find – so the food bank is always in need of donations.

Anyone that brings a bag of pet food, cat litter, canned food or other pet supplies to the Halloween party of Sunday will receive two free tickets to the prize drawing.

Monetary donations to the Pet Food Bank are always gratefully accepted as well.

• Free Hooowloween Party for kids and adults
• City of Sacramento Animal Shelter
• 2127 Front Street (near Crocker Art Museum), Sacramento 95818
• Sunday October 30, 2011
• Noon – 4:00 P.M.

Sacramento’s Catch 22 – either way too much or way too little

Today the Sacramento Pet Food Bank is little more than a bare floor with dusty corners, as its stock of pet food, cat litter, collars and pet beds is all gone. On the flip side, the Sacramento County animal shelter – one of the groups that help coordinate the food bank – is full to bursting with adoptable animals.

Having far too much and far too little is a very bad combination, particularly with these two organizations.

When times are tough economically, more people give up their pets because they simply can’t afford to care for them. A large number of those animals ultimately end up at the Sacramento County and City animal shelters.

In too many cases the animals have not been spayed or neutered, so the shelters end up with entire pet families to handle and find homes for. Adopters, of course, are hard to come by because of the very same financial woes that filled the shelters in the first place.

Talk about a Catch-22. 

The biggest concern is that this no-win situation keeps multiplying.

The volunteer-run Pet Food Bank, also known as Titanic’s Pantry, gives pet food and supplies to people who need some help economically. The hope is that those people can then keep their pets rather than having the animals end up in a shelter.

• Click here to learn about donating to the Sacramento Pet Food Bank.
• Click here to learn about adopting from the Sacramento County animal shelter.

Everything the Pet Food Bank gives out is donated by members of the community or by local businesses. Unfortunately business is slow for many people and work is hard to find – so the food bank can barely get enough donations to stay open.

With less pet food available from the food bank, more people give up their pets and take them to shelters. With fewer people able to afford pet care, there are fewer pets adopted from the shelters.

With more animals and less adopters, employees at public shelters are forced to do the thing they hate the most – they must euthanize healthy, loving animals.

The Pet Food Bank and the Sacramento County shelter need help today. They are asking people to donate what they can, even just a little bit of pet food, supplies or money to buy them. Every bag of kibble helps to keep a pet with their family instead of a shelter.

And if you can provide a loving home to a pet or two, please visit the shelter or check out their adoptable animals on Petfinder. 

Let’s work together to reverse those numbers and have empty shelters and fully stocked food banks.

A thank-you gift for veterans and their pets

There are many reasons to be thankful for two of the mainstays of American life; our soldiers and our pets. Companion animals help bring us peace of mind, and regardless of one’s politic leanings, soldiers help bring us peace.

This Veteran’s Day, the Sacramento County Animal Shelter is offering a truly unique opportunity to honor both.

Armed forces veterans and current service personnel are invited to have a professional portrait taken of them with their beloved animals. Each participant will receive a 5×7 print of their portrait.

There is no fee for the portrait; the shelter is simply asking for a donation of pet food, blankets, pet toys, or money, anything that would benefit the shelter animals. Service members and their families are also welcome to participate without a pet being present.

The portraits will be taken by Dr. Nicole McArthur, who is not only a veterinarian and professional photographer but is a dedicated volunteer at the Sacramento County Animal Shelter. 

McArthur says that print will be either mailed or available for pick up at the shelter 2-3 weeks after the event.
 “We want to do something special for those who are and have served our country,”says Dave Dickinson, Interim Director of the shelter. “We are officially closed that day because of the national holiday, but we have dedicated people who are volunteering to provide this service.”

• Vets and Pets portraits
• Friday, November 11
• 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.
• Sacramento County Animal Shelter
• 3839 Bradshaw Road, Sacramento 
• 916-368-7387

Bunny rab’ts and LAPCATS part 2

This weekend is a great time to find the perfect loving, beautiful pet to adopt for your family. Both LAPCATS and the Sacramento House Rabbit Society are having adoption events to help you meet that special cat or rabbit.  

For more information on the LAPCAT adoption event, click here.

The Sacramento House Rabbit Society will be holding an adoption event at the Petco onArden Way on Saturday, September 10, 2011.

Rabbits make wonderful pets but are not necessarily the appropriate animal for a household with small children, as bunnies need different care than a dog or cat might.

Brandon Chee, a SHRS volunteer, board member and resident web guru, says that the group will be there for adoptions, but also to “educate the public on the care & behavior of these” so-called  “exotic” animals.

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The Sacramento House Rabbit Society is a volunteer-run non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing and finding forever homes for abandoned rabbits. SHRS is also committed to educating people about the proper care of these unique, intelligent companions.  

The SHRS also has a Facebook fan page and a Twitter site, in order to keep rabbit-lovers aware of local issues and adoptables.

Chee encourages the public to come and meet the fabulous foster rabbits they have for adoption.

All of the rabbits are already spayed (females) or neutered (males) and litter box trained. An adoption fee of $50.00 includes a wonderful, healthy rabbit and a copy of “The House Rabbit Handbook”.  

Current bunny parents are should bring their rabbits to adoption clinics if they are interested in finding a friend for their rabbit.

All current and prospective bunny enthusiasts are welcome to stop by the adoption event for lively conversation, problem-solving and free information on the wonderful world of rabbits.

This adoption event takes place on the second Saturday of each month between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm and the locations may vary by date. 

• Sacramento House Rabbit Society Adoption Event Petco
• 1878 Arden Way,Sacramento
• Saturday September 10, 2011
• 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

 

LAPCATS and bunny rab’ts part 1

Adorable, sweet little fuzzy creatures that are full of love – we all hate them, right?  No, not true at all. And anyone seeking to enrich their family and their lives with a joyful, furry pet will find theSacramentoarea is the best place to be this weekend.

PetSmart stores across the country are celebrating a National Adoption Weekend beginning today and running through Sunday. On those days, every PetSmart store in the US will be hosting animal rescue groups in the hopes of finding permanent loving homes for thousands of pets. 

The PetSmart in Elk Grove will be perfect place to find your dream cat or kitten during this weekend, with adoptables from LAPCATS in attendance.

LAPCATS is a non-profit organization which rescues some of the special felines who have been brought to the Sacramento County Animal Shelter but have not yet found homes.

All cats up for adoption through the group have been screened thoroughly for temperament and health while in the shelter, and while they are in sponsor (foster) care. The sponsor family evaluates the cats to learn their personalities, as well as seeing how the cats react to normal day-to-day situations with other people and pets.

According to Barbara Bowen-Doty, a volunteer with LAPCATS, this is a great weekend to find the ideal pet for you and your family. She particularly hopes to find good homes for “diva cats”, such as Serena, a gorgeous and incredibly loving long-haired tuxedo cat. Serena earned her diva status by expressing her opinion about other felines. 

Bowen-Doty says that Serena “LOVES people but she HATES cats”, so she needs to be the only cat in the family.

To see Serena and other adoptable animals from LAPCATS, click on the slide show.

The Sacramento House Rabbit Society is also having an adoption event this weekend; see part 2 of this story for details.

• LAPCATS Adoption Weekend
• Friday September 9 through Sunday September 11, 2011
• PetSmart – Elk Grove
• 8215 Laguna Boulevard,Elk Grove,CA95758
• Friday 12:00pm – 4:00pm
• Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm
• Sunday 10:00am – 4:00pm

Shopping, reptiles and faces only a mother could love

Most yard sales offer gems like deflated basketballs, stained baby car seats and faded clothes from the back of some grandmother’s closet. Not many of them sell heating and UV lighting equipment, cages, food supplements and oh, yes, snakes and lizards.

Actually the snakes and such are up for adoption, not for sale. And best of all, everything you do buy is tax-deductible.

At least that is the case with the Northern California Herpetological Society’s (NCHS) yard sale taking place this Saturday. The Sacramento-based nonprofit will be selling reptile supplies, books and many other items for reptile and amphibian enthusiasts.  

On-site adoptables may include pythons, boa constrictors, a Chinese water dragon, crested geckos and a gorgeous Savannah Monitor named Max. Some are shown in the attached slide show, but all adoptables can be found either on Petfinder or the group’s website.  

Don’t be put off by traditional notions of such creatures; they can be very intelligent and enjoyable pets.

Just ask Mark Plotnick of the NCHS, who “knew nothing about reptiles” until some friends needed a new home for a ball python snake.  Later he volunteered with the SPCA doing cat adoptions and ending up taking home a red-tailed boa constrictor that was found outside the shelter.

Plotnick attended an “alternative pet expo” about ten years later and met volunteers from NCHS, and the rest is history.

Today, Plotnick says, “my house is nothing but reptiles”.  This includes a permanent resident; a 150-pound, 16-foot long Albino Burmese python named Anna Banana.

All proceeds of the sale go towards paying the large vet bills that the group incurs when providing proper housing, diet, and medical care to animals that are abandoned, abused, neglected, picked up by animal control agencies or found by the general public.

• Reptile supplies yard sale
• Northern California Herpetological Society
• Saturday, September 10, 2011
• 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM – No “early birds” please
• 1913 Woodstock Way,Sacramento,CA

For more information please call Mark at (916) 283-4499 or e-mail mslither@gmail.com.

Groovy dogs, hot licks, Woofstock is outta sight baby

 

Bring your tie-dye and love beads but don’t trip out; Sacramento’s Woofstock is a primo party for pets and people. Live music, great food and free activities abound, with fun for everyone from the tiniest Chihuahua to the mightiest Mastiff.   

Energetic pups and people can begin checking in for the Grateful Dog Fun Run/Walk at 8:30am, while others who prefer to relax can enjoy the Weiner Dog Race later in the morning.

A “pawcake” breakfast for people and dogs runs from 6:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. and contests throughout the day include Best Pooch Smooch, Ugliest Dog and Best Tail Wagger.

Drag out your bell-bottoms and fringe and make sure your dog will wear a flower in its hair; you might just be the winners of the 60s costume contest.

Many local animal rescue groups will be represented at the event, including Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary, West Coast Mastiff and Large Breed Rescue, Sacramento Independent Animal Rescuers, Scooter’s Pals and Greyhound Friends for Life.   

Vendors will be on hand with food choices galore and with every type of merchandise imaginable for pets and the people who love them.

Sacramento’s own Cats about Town Society (C.A.T.S.) and HART (Helen’s Animal Rescue Team) will be selling gifts, goodies and low-cost Advantage and Frontline+ flea control products; all proceeds go directly to fund the two groups’ animal services.

Well-behaved, immunized and leashed dogs are welcome to attend the event; although dogs must be at least 6 months old and have current identification (license, tags or microchip), rules about the decorum of their owners has not been specified.

Live music will be provided by Vibro Counts and Rockin’ Down the Hiway.

This year the proceeds from Woofstock will be donated to Chako Pit Bull Rescue, Second Chance Cocker Rescue,  All American Daschund Rescue and The Chester Foundation.  

• Woofstock 2011
• Admission is free
• Sunday August 28
• 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
• Johnson – Springview Park
• 5480 5th St, Rocklin, CA