Tag: spcaLA

The ‘Betty White Challenge’ Honors this Amazing Woman

Millions of hearts were broken on New Year’s Eve with the sad news that the lovely and amazing Betty White had left us.

As a way to honor the lifelong animal lover, the #BettyWhiteChallenge asks everyone to donate $5 to their local animal shelter or rescue on January 17, which would have been White’s 100th birthday. (If you can afford to, it would be extra special to donate $100.)

You know that somewhere out there, White is thrilled about this.

I’ll be donating to spcaLA. White was a longtime supporter of this Los Angeles nonprofit and a friend of its president, Madeline Bernstein. On a personal note, my very first dog was a German Shepherd mix adopted from spcaLA. A couple of decades later, I adopted an amazing Pit Bull named Sophie from the same shelter.

If there isn’t an animal shelter or rescue in your area, you might want to consider donating to one of the following organizations that White supported:

  • The Morris Foundation, with which White was involved for over 40 years. This nonprofit works “to improve and protect the health of animals through scientific innovation, education and inspiration,” according to its website. White sponsored its animal health studies that resulted in major breakthroughs in pain management; information on genetic mutations that cause bone cancer in dogs; and using ultrasound to manage canine congestive heart failure.
  • The Seeing Eye, whose mission is to “enhance the independence, dignity and self-confidence of people who are blind, through the use of specially trained Seeing Eye® dogs.” White was involved with this nonprofit for over four decades.

What animal shelter or rescue will you be donating to? Please leave a comment (and a link!) below.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Betty White!

Photo: @RexChapman/Twitter

Last of Dogs Rescued after 2016 Freeway Chase Finally Has Forever Home

Back in January 2016, as California Highway Patrol officers approached a car parked on the side of the 710 Freeway in Los Angeles, the woman behind the wheel, Tiffini Tobe, took off and lead the officers on a slow-speed chase. It ended in Long Beach when officers used the PIT (precision immobilization technique) maneuver to make Tobe’s car spin around and stop.

Tobe got out of her car along with three of the six Pit Bull mixes who were inside it. After they ran up to Tobe, was lying face down on the freeway and about to be arrested, the dogs started running around, their tails wagging. They were soon joined by the other three dogs in the car.

What could have been a terrible situation was avoided, because the CHP officers were able to stop traffic on both sides of the freeway. (My sincere gratitude to those CHPs, considering that some cops would have likely shot the loose dogs). Animal control officers from City of Long Beach Animal Care Services were able to corral all six dogs.

“This gives a whole new meaning to the term PIT maneuver,” ABC7 cleverly wrote on its Facebook page at the time.

The six Pit Bulls corralled after the car chase, including three puppies, their mother and two other dogs, had “no obvious signs of significant injury or illness,” Ted Stevens, manager of Long Beach Animal Care Services told NBC Los Angeles. “So far they’ve shown no aggression. They appear bright, alert, responsive, friendly.”

Being taken to the Long Beach city animal shelter may have been the best thing to ever happen to Tobe’s dogs.

The previous year, Tobe had been charged with a misdemeanor count (that’s all?!) of failing to provide veterinary treatment after one of her dogs had chewed the skin off a rear foot, exposing the bone. The 4-year-old Pit Bull was suffering from hypertrophic osteopathy and had to be euthanized. Tobe was ordered at the time not to have any pets.

When she failed to show up for a hearing a few weeks before the car chase, a warrant was issued for her arrest. After she was arrested by the CHP, Tobe was charged with a felony count of reckless driving and misdemeanor counts of DUI, resisting an officer and driving without a license.

Sadly, one month later, Tobe died after she jumped from a moving bus.

But Tobe’s dogs had much more fortunate outcomes. The puppies and one of the adult dogs were all soon adopted. The remaining two dogs, sisters Brittney and Honey, were transferred to the spcaLA P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village & Education Center in Long Beach.

Brittney became involved in spcaLA’s award-winning violence prevention program, Teaching Love and Compassion (TLC). She spent a month visiting a middle school with five other shelter dogs, helping the students learn to treat animals and all living beings with kindness and compassion.

In January, one year after the car chase, Brittney was finally adopted. “It is a true testament to the dedication of the spcaLA staff and volunteers that Brittney has found her forever home,” Madeline Bernstein, spcaLA president, said at the time. “They regained her trust in humans as they helped her overcome her inhibitions. For her to finish her shelter stay working with kids is truly extraordinary.”

As a further testament to the dedication of spcaLA, Brittney’s sister, Honey, has also just been adopted, 15 months after the car chase.

“It couldn’t be a better situation for her,” Bernstein said. “A true Hollywood ending.”

Photo via YouTube

Conscience-Lacking Loser Burglarizes spcaLA Headquarters

A young man apparently suffering from a lack of conscience broke into the headquarters of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA) last week and stole much-needed equipment, tools and security cameras.

“It is shameless and cowardly to steal from a charity—especially a local organization like spcaLA, dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals,” spcaLA President Madeline Bernstein said.

Surveillance video on the night of Sept. 29 shows a young man with what Bernstein described as a “distinct gait, possibly a limp,” forcing open a door to the administration office.

“He broke in, despite, or maybe to spite, a sophisticated security system including video surveillance and razor wire,” Bernstein said.

The burglar, wearing long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, a mask and goggles, was first seen on video trying to break into the building’s garage around 1:30 a.m. He returned with a long crowbar to the other side of the building a few hours later.

Over the past few months, a thief who may possibly the same man has attempted to break into the shelter three times, Bernstein said. Some spcaLA vehicles and structures have been damaged in the process. Fortunately, no animals or people have been harmed.

spcaLA’s headquarters have been located near the intersection of La Brea Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard since 1947. From this building, Los Angeles’ first animal welfare organization operates programs and services such as animal cruelty investigations, violence-prevention initiatives and pet adoptions.

Anyone with information about the loser who broke into the headquarters is asked to call the Los Angeles Police Department’s Southwest Station at 213 485-2582.

“The costs to fix property, increase security, and the time spent away from the fulfillment of our mission are the most damaging and costly aspects of these crimes,” Bernstein said. “If you are able to help us repair, rebuild, and reinforce that which was damaged, please make a donation.”

You can make a donation to spcaLA on its website or by calling 888-772-2521.

WTH: Loser Caught on Video Beating German Shepherd Gets Probation

Last January, Victor Almendariz of Huntington Park, Calif., crouched over his 2-year-old German Shepherd, Sam, and repeatedly punched him in the head. Hard.

The beating was captured on video by a witness, who notified the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA).

But today Almendariz didn’t get so much as a slap on the wrist for pummeling his poor dog.

After the loser pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor (nope, not a felony) count of animal cruelty, Judge Gustavo Sztraicher sentenced him to five years of probation that includes 500 hours of community labor and 48 weeks of animal abuse counseling, spcaLA reports.

Almendariz can’t own animals for five years, but after that, best of luck to his new punching bags — er, pets.

The case was investigated by spcaLA, which took in and provided medical treatment for Sam and two other German Shepherds belonging to Almedariz.

Thank goodness the witness took a video of Sam’s beating and notified spcaLA. Take a look at it, if you can stomach it. Do you think Almendariz’s sentencing was fair?

Photo via YouTube

What the What? Cat Wins spcaLA 2015 Hero Dog Award

For the first time in the award’s 33-year history, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA) has given its annual Hero Dog honor to a cat.

That’s right. Tara, a 7-year-old Tabby from Bakersfield, Calif., received the prestigious award today, along with a year’s supply of cat food.

You’ll probably remember this amazing cat from a viral May 2014 video. As 5-year-old Jeremy Triantafilo played in his front yard, a neighbor’s dog ran at him, bit his leg and pulled him off his bicycle. Before Jeremy’s mom, Erica, could do anything, Tara pounced on the dog, scaring him off.

The entire incident was recorded on the family’s security camera. Jeremy’s dad, Roger, uploaded the video to YouTube, where it’s been viewed more than 24 million times.

“We were so impressed by Tara’s bravery and fast action that the selection committee decided that a cat this spectacular should be the National Hero Dog,” spcaLA President Madeline Bernstein said in a press release.

“A cat who was abused, forgotten, or neglected by her family would not have been as likely to perform selfless, heroic acts to save her companion.”

Jeremy needed 10 stitches on his leg, but if not for Tara, who was a former stray adopted by the Triantafilo family, it could have been a lot worse.

The dog, an 8-month-old Chow/Lab mix, was surrendered by his owner to the City of Bakersfield Animal Care Center. Although several people offered to adopt and rehabilitate him, and thousands more signed online petitions asking that his life be spared, he was euthanized by the shelter per the owner’s request, the Bakersfield Californian reported on May 27, 2014.

The spcaLA National Hero Dog Award “continues to be a testament to how being kind to animals can be rewarding in so many ways,” according to the non-profit organization.

Good dog — er, cat — Tara!

Photos: spcaLA

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