California Archives - i Still Love Dogs

How to Help Pets Displaced by the Devastating Northern California Wildfires

The deadliest wildfires in state history continue to burn in California’s wine country, destroying more than 120,000 acres. Over 30 people have died so far, and hundreds remain missing.

Thousands of people have lost their houses, and shelters are taking in their pets until they have a place to call home. Here are some of the ways you can help them.

Sonoma Humane Society

The Sonoma Humane Society has been overwhelmed by the generosity of donations of pet food and other items, which are being distributed to displaced pet owners. It currently does not need additional supplies. “We are thankful for the outpouring of support we are receiving,” it stated on its website Oct. 12.

Veterinary care for burn victims is also being offered free of charge. “Owned or stray animals affected by the fires can come to Sonoma Humane for basic treatment,” its website states. “If the care required is greater than we can provide, we will recommend referral to a critical care facility.”

You can help by:

Adopting a dog from the shelter to make room for incoming strays and injured pets.
Making an online cash donation, which is especially needed and appreciated. “You can choose to restrict your gift to ‘NorCal Fire Relief’ or consider giving a gift to ‘Help where it’s needed most’ to ensure we have the resources to support our fire relief efforts as well as the animals who were already in our shelters,” Sonoma Humane said.

Napa Humane

“We are so proud of our community and the way that everyone has come together and the outpouring of love and support,” stated Napa Humane on its Facebook page Oct. 12. “So many have lost so much and many are still here to help their friends and neighbors. Please stay safe.”

The humane society is providing temporary housing for an evacuated pet hospital. “Several kitties have come to us with burned paws, but most of them are still purring and allowing us to love them up,” according to an update.

Napa Humane also has a mobile unit available at the Napa County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center that’s being used to house evacuated pets.

You can help by making an online cash donation.

Petaluma Animal Services

“Our employees are sleeping in their cars, rescuing in the fire area, staffing the evacuation center and handling the shelter,” Petaluma Animal Services reported on its Facebook page Oct. 12.

While it currently has enough supplies, what it needs most is “monetary donations for fuel and overtime costs plus supplies needed in the field (hardware). Any amount is helpful and we appreciate your support right now.”

You can help by making an online cash donation.

Marin Humane

Marin Humane has been offering emergency boarding for pets free of charge. To reduce the stress on this and other shelters in wine country, its animal control officers in fire zones are helping non-injured animals “shelter in place” in burned areas, “meaning we leave food and water for them and record the animal’s location,” according to the Marin Humane Facebook page Oct. 13. “Injured animals are brought to veterinary hospitals or shelters.”

As with the other animal shelters impacted, thanks to generous donations, Marin Humane currently has enough food and supplies.

You can help by making an online cash donation so Marin Humane can continue offering free emergency boarding.

Photo via Petaluma Animal Services/Facebook

Losers Break into 2 Animal Shelters Just to Harm Dogs

SEPT. 17, 2015 UPDATE: Jason Johnson, the suspect in the Riverside County Animal Services shelter break-in, has been arrested.

Some pathetic excuses for human beings have broken into animal shelters in Tennessee and California over the past few days, apparently for the sole purpose of harming and killing dogs.

Intruder Starts a Dog Fight in Tennessee Shelter

Late Thursday night, one or more intruders broke into the Best Friends Sanctuary in Jamestown, Tenn. The loser(s) removed a Pit Bull named Sam from his locked cage and placed him in a cage with a Boxer named Bucky.

Then the intruder(s) encouraged the dogs to fight each other. It must have taken a lot of persuading for Sam. Shelter volunteer Chrissi Colquitt told WBIR Sam is “the sweetest dog you could imagine.”

When she and other shelter staff arrived for work Friday morning, they found Sam and Bucky bloody and covered with puncture wounds. Bucky had to be euthanized. It will take several weeks for Sam to recover from his injuries.

“It’s just sad to see that someone would be that evil and put two dogs to watch it for a show, you know, to put them through that,” Sharon Cravens, president of the shelter, told WBIR.

The Best Friends Sanctuary is a nonprofit run by volunteers. A crowdfunding page that was originally created to raise money for a fence upgrade is now asking for funds for surveillance cameras. As of early Sunday afternoon, about $600 of the $3,000 goal has been raised.

There is currently a $1,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the loser(s) who did this. Anyone with information is asked to call the Jamestown Police Department at 931-879-5871.

3 Dogs Dead, 12 Missing after Southern California Shelter Break-In

“We found blood spatter everywhere,” John Welsh, spokesman for Riverside County Animal Services, told KTLA today, describing the horrific scene this morning at its shelter in Jurupa Valley, Calif.

Staff arrived around 6:30 a.m. to find seven dogs roaming free. Two dogs — a Chihuahua and a Yorkshire Terrier mix — were dead.

“Their deaths do not appear to be consistent with bite wounds — in other words, the bigger dogs causing the injuries to the dogs,” Welsh told KTLA.

“There were some blood markings that were about 3 feet off the ground. We don’t know exactly what caused that, but we don’t suspect that an animal jumped into the air and caused that blood splatter.”

Dr. Allan Drusys, Riverside County’s chief veterinarian, will perform necropsies on the two dogs to determine the cause of their deaths.

The Press Enterprise reports that one of the two victims had been brought to the shelter yesterday to be spayed. My heart goes out to that dog’s owner, who has been notified.

A German Shepherd that had been in the shelter was also found dead about a mile away. It had been hit by a car.

Fortunately, this shelter does have security cameras. Surveillance footage shows a man in dark clothing cutting through the locks on the cages. This creep broke into a total of 22 cages, leaving 15 of the locks stacked neatly in a pile.

Welsh told the Press Enterprise the incident was extremely upsetting for Riverside County Animal Services.

“We’re in the business of trying to save lives, we’re in the business of getting animals back to their rightful owners,” he said. “Our team was devastated.”

This afternoon it was announced that two non-profit organizations that work with the shelter — Animal Solutions Konnections (ASK) and Shelter Transport Animal Rescue Team (START) — are offering a $20,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to a conviction. To contribute to the reward amount, call ASK at 951-777-5341.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the case. Anyone with information is asked to call the department at 951-776-1099, or to fill out the Crime Tips form on the department’s website.

Photos via Facebook; Facebook

Milk-Bone Survey Ranks the Most Puppy-Loving US States (Congrats, California)

California pet parents are the most loving to their dogs, according to the Milk-Bone “Doggy Love Index.” (Woo hoo! As a resident, that’s no surprise to me.)

The ranking is based on a December 2014 survey of 3,000 pet parents across the country, conducted by PRH Data Insights. The results were calculated “by averaging the percentage of a state’s dog parent population that says they regularly engage in seven different loving behaviors with their dog,” according to Milk-Bone.

Those “loving behaviors” included:

Telling their dog “I love you” at least once a month — Once a month? More like once an hour! Am I right, my fellow Californians?
Buying their dog a gift at least once a month — Um, premium dog food counts as a gift, right?
Allow their dogs to sleep with them at least once a month — Again, once a month?!

Congrats to California and the other nine states that made the top 10 puppy-loving list:

2. New York
3. Washington
4. Tennessee
5. Florida
6. Massachusetts
7. Texas
8. Missouri
9. Ohio
10. Arizona

Here’s a Milk-Bone infographic with detailed results of the Doggy Love Index…and an ad for Milk-Bone products. (Incidentally, Big Heart Pet Brands, the company that makes Milk-Bones as well as Pup-Peroni, Kibbles ‘n Bits and Meow Mix, is being bought by J.M. Smucker, the Washington Post reported yesterday.)

If you want to be extra loving to your pup, google “homemade dog treats.”

Photo credit: Eric Danley

California Restaurants Just Got Dog Friendlier

If you live in California and like to dine out with your dog, you’re in luck.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill yesterday that will allow dogs to join their pet parents in restaurants’ outdoor areas, as long as the dining establishments and local ordinances are into it.

(I suppose this almost makes up for the governor subjecting his dog to the Ice Bucket Challenge.)

Many areas of California, including Los Angeles County, already allow doggie diners in restaurants’ outdoor areas. And some restaurant owners in not so dog-friendly areas have been letting canines join their two-legged customers, even though it’s illegal.

The new bill will allow Chows, etc., to chow down in restaurants statewide, as long as health codes and local ordinances are followed.

Dogs (with the exception of service dogs) will still not be permitted inside restaurants. They will be required to enter the outdoor dining area through a separate entrance. And there will be no wandering around and begging other diners for handouts — dogs must be kept on a leash or in a carrier, and won’t be allowed to sit on chairs or benches.

The bill was introduced by Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada. It goes into effect Jan. 1.

“With Governor Brown’s signature, restaurateurs in California will see more businesses catering to their customers and the canine companions they love,” Yamada stated in a press release.

“I wish everyone ‘bone-appétit.’”

Photo credit: Taro the Shiba Inu