{"id":4901,"date":"2011-11-02T10:38:00","date_gmt":"2011-11-02T10:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lbpost.com\/articles\/life\/pets\/man-s-and-woman-s-best-friends-have-their-day\/"},"modified":"2011-11-02T10:38:00","modified_gmt":"2011-11-02T10:38:00","slug":"man-s-and-woman-s-best-friends-have-their-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/pets\/man-s-and-woman-s-best-friends-have-their-day","title":{"rendered":"Man\u2019s – and Woman\u2019s – Best Friends Have Their Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

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10:26am | <\/strong>The organization Pets of the Homeless reports that 5 percent to 10 percent of homeless people have pets<\/a>. Although this year\u2019s Homeless Count data<\/a> didn\u2019t include pets in its tally, anyone who pays attention has seen dogs and an occasional cat keeping company with people who are living on the streets, in their cars and in encampments. Some people may question the wisdom or safety of that, but Patricia Zaid and Liz Reyes understand the bond. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe homeless rescue the dogs, but in turn the dogs rescue the homeless,\u201d Zaid said. \u201cThey\u2019re someone to love, to communicate with, to care for.\u201d <\/p>\n

Zaid and Reyes are the founders of Homeless with Dogs<\/a>, a recently organized arm of the Drop-in Center program of the 501(c) nonprofit Urban Community Outreach<\/a>. The organization serves the downtown homeless community by gifts of pet food for dogs and cats as well as other donated items such as leashes and collars. Their mission is \u201cto make connections with angels and donors to provide food for dogs (and cats) in downtown Long Beach that live with their homeless companions.\u201d <\/p>\n

On Saturday, Oct. 17, one such band of angels set up camp at the Downtown Dog Park in the City Center. Nutro Pet Food, part of the Mars (as in the candy bars with their tongue-lovin\u2019 nougat centers) family, and several representatives hosted an event as part of its Mars Volunteer Program<\/a>. Bags and cans of nutritious food for pets, little doggie sweaters, leashes, vaccinations and microchipping, and information about low-cost spay\/neuter were given to the pets. The humans also were given lunch, supplied by Subway and Fresh & Easy, as well as warm blankets for the winter, donated by Operation Blankets of Love. <\/p>\n

Alissa Sablan, an associate at Nutro and Long Beach resident, met Zaid and Reyes at Justin Rudd\u2019s Giving Project<\/a> earlier this year and decided to adopt the organization for the Volunteer Program. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe do a project every year, and I was brainstorming, trying to figure out what to do for the program,\u201d Sablan said. \u201cThis worked out perfectly\u2014we get to help homeless people and pets.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Homeless with Pets cofounder Liz Reyes and ACS adoption coordinator Debra Brubaker with Reyes\u2019s stroller full of her pups. <\/em><\/p>\n

Kelly Miott and Debra Brubaker from Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS); Bradford Lara-Gagne, the Drop-in Center\u2019s executive director; outreach workers Lucinda Hayes and Leonard Adams from the Multi-Services Center of Long Beach; Dr. Katie Marrie, DVM, medical director of the Spay\/Neuter Project of Los Angeles<\/a>; and Signal Hill Mayor Larry Forester were among the participants in the park with the Nutro crew. They helped attendeess with inoculations, licensing, assistance, supplies and information about low-cost spay\/neuter and ruffled lots of friendly fur. People left with goodies for their pets and a few things for themselves. <\/p>\n

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Kilo poses in her new warm sweater with her human companion, Stephanie <\/em><\/p>\n

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Inoculations can be traumatic\u2026 <\/em><\/p>\n

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But Misty has a big smile afterward! Dr. Marrie has a soft touch. <\/em><\/p>\n

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The team effort for this project involved an equal amount of work and generosity, and it is hoped that the results will be in kind. All individuals and organizations deserve a huge thanks. An upcoming article will feature the Homeless with Dogs effort. <\/p>\n

More Canine Capers <\/strong><\/p>\n

No way in a bag of dog biscuits would we have missed all the boo-ful bowsers at the Haute Dog Howl\u2019oween Parade. But we were both so busy either helping volunteer or tending a booth that we got to see only the odd photo op. Here are a couple from the parade; you can find more and better here<\/a> or here<\/a> as well as who won which title. No word on whether they broke the record, but it sure looked like it. <\/p>\n

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\"\" And one very patient cat. Her name\u2019s Monkey. Kate\u2019s favorite, of course. <\/p>\n

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This photo isn\u2019t from the parade. It\u2019s one that got left out of the Friends of Long Beach Animals event spread. This is Shauna Enders and her iguana, Lolo, both of whom are staunch members of the Southern California Herpetology Association<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Virtually Pets <\/strong><\/p>\n

Max Goes Home <\/p>\n

The special-needs cocker spaniel, Max, whom we told you about a month ago<\/a> has been adopted by a family in Utah!<\/em> He\u2019s been dolled up and has started his journey home. Princess, the overweight mini pin, wasn\u2019t so lucky; she had medical issues and had to be euthanized. For those of you who expressed such loving thoughts about Max and Princess, please let your friends know how important it is to spay and neuter pets. It helps to shrink pet overpopulation numbers. We can\u2019t say that often enough. <\/p>\n

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Sterling <\/p>\n

Eighteen-month-old Sterling\u2019s rescuer says that he\u2019s proud to be an American\u2014pit bull. He was found in pretty bad shape, wandering the streets. Sterling\u2019s in desperate need of a good home\u2014he\u2019s been boarded for over a year! The boarding place is closing down in December and he has no place to go. Sterling is shy at first but warms up quickly as soon as he gets to know you. He loves kids! He also gets along with other dogs when introduced properly (not sure about little dogs). He weights about 55-60 lbs and is a charming and handsome young man. No cats please! He needs a yard to run around. He loves to play and get his ball. He takes treats gently, is good on a leash and loves car rides. Sterling is neutered, microchipped and up to date utd on shots. Interested people can contact hoffmannclaudia@hotmail.com. Home check and adoption fee apply. If you need convincing, watch this video<\/span>:<\/p>\n

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Pet Projects <\/strong><\/p>\n

Chuck & Toby Treats for Pets Announces Grand Opening of Grooming Salon

<\/strong>Chuck & Toby Treats for Pets by Wiskers, located at 191 Park Avenue in Belmont Shore is pleased to announce the grand opening of its new grooming salon with the return of former Wiskers groomer Stacey Lynn Witner. Ms. Witner has over seven years of experience grooming many breeds of dogs and cats in the Los Angeles area, from pampered celeb purebred champions to rescued buddies as well as work as a veterinary assistant in Manhattan Beach. She worked for years as a pet groomer with Scott Rinehart and Jim Poerof Wiskers in Belmont Shore (now Chuck & Toby Treats for Pets) before moving on to run her own salon, The Paw Spa, in Lomita. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very excited to have Stacey back on board to service the beloved Long Beach fur-friends and their parents!\u201d Rinehart said. \u201cStacey has always prided her work on her relationship with the pet, always treating him\/her with the compassion and care that she would of her own rescue dog, Albert.\u201d <\/p>\n

Chuck & Toby\u2019s pet salon is always kennel free and offers hand drying as opposed to cage drying. Every bath or full service groom always includes the basic services–ear cleaning, toenail trimming and gland expression. Tooth brushing is also available upon request. First-time clients will receive one free treat and complimentary blueberry facial (we assume they mean your dog) with any grooming service. Call (562) 434-8085, or visit them on Facebook<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Sat., Nov. 5, Walk with FOLBA at the Veterans Day Parade, Atlantic Avenue and Harding Street, near Houghton Park in Long Beach, 9:30 a.m. <\/strong>
Honor our war dogs! All licensed, well-behaved and vaccinated dogs are invited to join Friends of Long Beach Animals at the Veterans Day Parade and march in support of our four-legged soldiers, their bravery and their sacrifice. Arrive as early as possible to find parking on local streets and go to the check-in booth in the park near Harding and Mytle and look for the FOLBA entry area. Parade starts promptly at 10 a.m. Please bring water for your pets and remember there will be loud bands playing and horses marching, both of which may upset your dog, so take your dog\u2019s sensitivities into consideration. <\/p>\n

Nov. 6\u201312, National Animal Shelter (and Adoption) Appreciation Week <\/strong>
The Humane Society of the United States<\/a> wants to remind everyone who loves animals about Shelter Appreciation Week and hopes that you can do one or more of the following things for your local shelter: <\/p>\n