The exterior of the new Adopt and Shop at Lakewood Center Mall, where shelter animals can be adopted.
6:01pm | We never thought that we’d be telling readers to shop in a pet store as an alternative to going to a shelter. Nearly all animals sold in pet stores come from overbred, sick mothers housed in puppy mills (click here for more information), but the one we’re recommending features adoptable cats and dogs from shelters.
Adopt and Shop at the Lakewood Center Mall in Lakewood was rebuilt specifically as a retail adoption center and boutique by the nonprofit animal welfare foundation Found Animals in partnership with the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority, the animal control and adoption organization serving a number of Los Angeles-area cities including Lakewood and Downey. Adopt and Shop is an alternative to visiting a shelter for a pet.
“Some people find animal shelters to be intimidating and depressing, and the hours don’t always work,” said Aimee Gilbreath, executive director of Found Animals.
The shop has an inviting atmosphere for folks who want to adopt a shelter animal and readily buy anything necessary for the health and comfort of a new furry family member: cat litter, dog beds, pet toys, leashes, collars, harnesses, bowls and grooming products. All animals have been spayed or neutered and vaccinated, and microchipping is offered for $5. The pets are all well groomed — the cats take care of themselves, of course — and Zachary Simon, owner of Sparkle Mobile Dog Grooming, gives bimonthly and sometimes weekly kindness cuts to help the dogs at the shop. Adoption fees range from $125 for dogs under 6 months and $100 for those over 6 months to $75 for cats under 6 months and $60 for those over 6 months. Fees are refunded to SEACCA, and all items sold provide revenue to offset costs.
“This replaces the traditional pet store model so as to make adoptable animals available to the people,” said Becky Hass, Found Animals’ program manager.
Gilbreath said that bringing shelter animals into a retail environment isn’t a new concept. There are a few of them scattered around the country, and Dr. Gary Michaelson, Found Animals’ founder, wanted to put the concept into reality in the Los Angeles area. Hass and other staff members visited a couple of such concept shops in New Mexico and spoke to others throughout the country. And, as of April 30, Adopt and Shop has been up and wagging.
“This is fantastic,” said John Kelsall, president and CEO at the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce. “It’s wonderful — a win-win-win, for the animals, for SEACCA and for the mall.”
Kelsall is the proud housemate of a rescued cat.
We attended the grand opening, and it was terrific. Vendors and animal organizations set up booths outside the store, offering everything from grooming to medical attention. There was a microchipping station set up for people who didn’t want to lose their best friends now that they’d found them. Nothing could compete, however, with the cats and dogs waiting to be taken home.
At left, Vicki Mallard with not a duck, but Dot, her tiny white-and-fawn Chihuahua. Dot was only 12 weeks old when Mallard found her running around the San Pedro streets. Now a healthy 6-month-old, Dot was at the event getting her microchip.
Sure does make us feel better about singing “How much is that doggie in the window?”
Or kitty; at right, the cats aren’t easily seen in the photo because the kennel is so roomy. You’ll have to go see them for yourself.
Donations, of course, are welcomed to help support Found Animals and their projects. Click here for information. Adopt and Shop is located at 353 Lakewood Center Mall in Lakewood and can be reached at 562-531-2871. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
Click here to see some of the fine pets waiting to go home.
Virtually Pets
Besides the dogs and cats you can find at Adopt and Shop and on the Found Animals website, we’re featuring two others.
Little Chi
On May 4, a fire blazed through a structure on the 1400 block of Cherry Avenue, and 30 cats who were housed in the building were found inside. One cat that was badly injured in the fire had to be euthanized. The causes of death of all the cats, whether by the fire or otherwise, is still being investigated by Animal Care Services. While ACS was in the area, they picked up two dogs loose in the neighborhood and apparently not connected with the fire. One has gone to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals side of the Pitchford Companion Animal Village and the other, seen above, is at ACS on the shelter side. She’s a 1-year-old female Chihuahua, Kennel 722; ID# A435560. Visit the Companion Animal Village at 7700 E. Spring St. or call 562-570-PETS for information on giving a safe home to either dog.
Freedom
One of the best ways to support our soldiers is to make sure that their families are safe. One of our brave SEALs (who doesn’t want to help them out?) is returning to training in the August-to-September period and feels it would be best for his 3-year-old husky/shepherd mix, Freedom, to be permanently adopted. The serviceman’s name is Eric, and he expects a long haul in the Navy. Freedom is well-behaved, microchipped and neutered. He’s housetrained and weighs about 70 pounds. Any prospective parent must fill out an application, agree to a home check and provide a veterinary reference. Contact e-mails: [email protected], [email protected].
Pet Projects
Spay/Neuter License Plates (exclusive to state of California)
There’s still time to preorder the California Spay/Neuter license plate designed by actor Pierce Brosnan. All proceeds from the plates will provide funding for free or low-cost pet-altering surgeries in shelters across California. Funds will also help raise awareness about the importance of spaying and neutering to reduce pet overpopulation. Visit CASpayPlate.com for information and ordering.
ACS Low-cost Vaccination and Licensing Clinics
Low-cost pet clinics are scheduled every month in Long Beach to provide residents with a one-stop shop for vaccination, microchipping and licensing services. The next Animal Care Services clinic will be held Saturday, June 11, at Cesar Chavez Park, 401 Golden Ave. Clinics will provide low-cost vaccinations and licensing clinics to Long Beach residents and pets. No reservation is necessary. Credit cards and checks are accepted for licensing, but only cash is accepted for vaccinations. A state-licensed vet from Southern California Veterinary Vaccine Clinic will be onsite to provide the shots, and residents can process their license renewals onsite. Click here and here for schedule, services available and a full list of prices.
The Bite Really Is Worse than the Bark
Last week was National Dog Bite Prevention Week, and the L.A. County Department of Public Health states that reports of dog bites and bites from other animals in the county have increased over the past few years. In 2009, 7,623 dog bites and 939 bites from cats were reported to the county, compared to 5,066 dog-bite and 786 cat-bite reports in 2006. Emergency room visits due to dog bites also increased, from 7,054 in 2006 to 8,353 in 2009.
The department believes that these figures could be higher because, said Jonathan E. Fielding MD, MPH, only 5 percent of animal bites in the county are reported. Fielding stressed the importance of reporting bites for health-related reasons, including rabies control and assisting health authorities in tracking trends in animal bites. He also said that most bites aren’t considered dangerous and that animals are treated on a case-by-case basis.
A dog bite, while not always a health issue, can be dangerous, especially when children and smaller animals may be the target. Call ACS at 562-570-7387 regarding any dangerous animal; dial 9-1-1 or 562-435-6711 for immediate response to an animal-bite emergency.