Bobby, tell me it isn't so! ID#A0903035 The big black dog syndrome.

I am just worried sick about Bobby ID#A0903035.  He's a gorgeous and large guy who is wonderful.  All the volunteers think he's great. Here is what they are saying:

Bobby is an easy going 7 yr. old neutered male, all black Rottweiler/Labrador Retriever mix, who weighs in at 102 lbs, AND IS HOUSETRAINED (what a plus). In spite of his size and weight, he iseasy to walk on leash. "Took him for a walk around the block and he couldn't be easier to handle; when he started pulling ahead, I merely tugged on the leash, gave him a verbal command and he immediately responded" (notes of a volunteer who weighs only 10 lbs more than Bobby). One volunteer describes him as "very chill". He is non reactive to other dogs as can be seen in the video. Even when provoked by other dogs he simply barks at them.

Bobby just enjoys hanging out with people. When being bathed he tolerated all of the fussing that went on and probably enjoyed the extra attention.

Click here to see his video:  Bobby's video
His friend Princess got rescued, but poor Bobby is still waiting and time is running out on this fabulous dog.

Here is a flyer to disseminate far and wide:

Tank A1230660 & Bobby A0903035, dogs who need homes NOW!

Tank & Bobby are living on borrowed time! They are both VERY friendly, dog friendly and would make a great companion. They have been at the shelter for far too long and they may die there. Why are they not being adopted? Bobby is a big black dog and Tank is a Pit Bull, nuff said... If you can help them, PLEASE, now is the time! You won't be sorry! Happy July 4th!

Looking for a dog friendly dog? Meet Princess & Bobby at WLA shelter now!

People are always looking for dog-friendly dogs, right?  Whether you want a friend for your dog-friendly pooch or maybe you want to frequent the dog park, or your mom has a friendly Fido... Whatever the reason there is nothing bad about a dog-friendly dog. West LA is full of dogs who desperately need a home and are also very friendly with other dogs, so rather than looking through Craigslist, just mosey over to the WLA shelter and meet these terrific dogs who are both people friendly AND doggy friendly!!!! 

Urgent adorable seniors at SLA need a friend today!

Sweet seniors in danger at SLA

Meet Jake (14 yrs Lab), Ginger (16 yrs GSD), and Tito (10 yrs Chi). You might not have heard of them before, they may not be famous, but they're a package of three very much worth saving. These unlucky dogs had a mother once. She was a vet tech who saved every animal dumped at the vet. Her family had 16 pets because of her. This kind woman died - leaving a grieving husband and son behind. Their home was foreclosed. And these two men worked hard to find homes for 16 pets. They found homes for 13 of them. But yesterday, hours before they took the rest of their things from the house they once loved, they dropped Tito, Ginger, and Jake off at SLA Shelter. And they wept.

I know it's a lot to ask for three dogs. I know it's a lot to ask for three seniors. I know it's a lot to hope that three black seniors will come out alive. But faith is all we have. If ANYONE can give these three best friends who cried and barked as they were separated into different kennels (SLA is trying to put them together if possible) a chance at a noble ending, an opportunity to live out their golden time as they should - warm, safe, loved - PLEASE RUN TO SLA TO SAVE THEM. They do not have much time left: owner surrendered, black, and old.

They are all neutered and spayed, up to date on shots, healthy, and get along with cats and dogs very well (they lived with 13 others!) In the interest of full disclosure, please note Tito, the Chi is a fear snapper does need someone to go slow with him. Thank you for caring, thank you for networking, thank you for trying to help these three worthy lives. They're good dogs - nothing is wrong with them. Just their luck.

PLEASE HELP:

SLA SHELTER: (213)-485-0117
3612 11th Avenue, 90018

Beautiful Simone A1138137: a great girl OUT of time at West LA

SIMONE- A1138137

In shelters across the country black dogs have a difficult time finding forever homes. "Black dog syndrome" where people attach superstitious beliefs onto dogs like Simone results in these dogs frequently being the first ones to be euthanized. Simone is a great BLACK dog who deserves a good life. She is a 6 yr. old spayed American Staffordshire bull terrier who was found as a stray on August 1, 2010 and now calls the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter her home.

The volunteers who have worked with Simone have nothing but good things to say about her. She is described as being very attentive. She responds well to voice commands. She likes her treats and knows "sit and come". She walks well on leash and loves to play fetch. She is the happiest in the play yard where she can run and be free for a few brief moments. She has met both large and small dogs and has been fine with them. She was recently shown to two different families with children and did very well with both an 8 yr. old and a 10 yr. old child.

A "very great dog" was the comment made by one of the volunteers. Simone would fit into just about any kind of family situation. She is a sweet, friendly, loving dog who happens to be black. Finding a "forever home" before her time at the shelter runs out is her fervent wish and one that everyone who knows Simone hopes comes true.

West LA City Shelter 310-207-3266 Tues-Sat 8-5, Sun 11-5 11361 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064 Contact: Samantha Westbrook, NEW HOPE COORDINATOR213-485-0494 / CELL 213-792-5811 aninewhopewla@lacity.org.

Moose is shopping for a new home, is it yours???

Moose is a wonderful dog our family rescued from the North Central Animal Shelter in December. He is approximately 1 ½ years old, microchipped, neutered and up-to-date on all vaccinations.

Moose loves people! He is great on a leash, sits, downs, shakes. Although he gets along with most dogs, he should be an only dog. Moose has been living with 2 male dogs about his size and he started going after one of them. He may get along with females but this has not been tested.

We are heartbroken that we cannot keep him. If you can open up your heart and home, he’ll be a loving companion. We think he is a terrier/lab mix. Moose weighs about 86 +/- pounds.

If you have a loving home for Moose, mail Michi at: michi.knight@gmail.com

Simone has a message: black is beautiful! A1138137

Simone has a message: black is beautiful!

by Mirja Bishop (LAAS volunteer)

In shelters across the country black dogs have a difficult time finding forever homes. "Black dog syndrome" where people attach superstitious beliefs onto dogs like Simone results in these dogs frequently being the first ones to be euthanized.

Simone is a great BLACK dog who deserves a good life. She is a 6 yr. old spayed American Staffordshire bull terrier who was found as a stray on August 1, 2010 and now calls the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter her home. Simone was at the Best Friends Super Adoption event

The volunteers who have worked with Simone have nothing but good things to say about her. She is described as being very attentive. She responds well to voice commands. She likes her treats and knows "sit and come". She walks well on leash and loves to play fetch. She is the happiest in the play yard where she can run and be free for a few brief moments. She has met both large and small dogs and has been fine with them. She was recently shown to two different families with children and did very well with both an 8 yr. old and a 10 yr. old child.

A "very great dog" was the comment made by one of the volunteers. Simone would fit into just about any kind of family situation. She is a sweet, friendly, loving dog who happens to be black. Finding a "forever home" before her time at the shelter runs out is her fervent wish and one that everyone who knows Simone hopes comes true.

West LA City Shelter 310-207-3266 Tues-Sat 8-5, Sun 11-5
11361 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064
Contact: Samantha Westbrook, NEW HOPE COORDI NATOR
213-485-0494 / CELL 213-792-5811 aninewhopewla@lacity.org.

The Happy Ending Project: Eli's coming...

Another in a series of stories written by volunteers about dogs they helped save. These stories illustrate the wonderful outcomes that are produced through our volunteers' commitment to saving these animals. I hope you will find them inspiring!

Eli*

Eli’s Allies

Eli was the typical big black dog, stuck at the shelter because he just didn’t have the looks that people were after, maybe a little too scary. Other than his being big and black (statistically the hardest dogs to re-home), he also looked like a Pit bull. What other reason could explain why he languished for so long at the West LA Shelter?

It all started at the old West LA shelter when Eli first arrived. When one of the volunteers took him out for the first time, they noted that “he seems like a great family dog!” Hey, that’s a good start for a shelter dog!

But somehow he went unnoticed by all the families who came to adopt from the shelter. After a few MONTHS of sitting around, Eli started getting what we call “kennel crazy” which means a dog is becoming more anxious, neurotic and sometimes aggressive. Eli was even charged with “unnecessary roughness” one day playing with a volunteer (even though he really meant no harm).

Once a dog is labeled as unpredictable at the shelter, it can be extremely difficult to get him adopted, especially a big black Pit Bull looking dog. That said, the shelter was patient and the volunteers kept campaigning for him in hopes that he would suddenly connect with the right person.

Nevertheless, time marched on without mercy. Eli was headed towards the red list.

Once Eli was on the red-list, things started looking pretty grim for our boy. He was more nervous than ever and he seemed miserable being confined to his kennel. This is about the time we start to wonder if it is too cruel to keep a dog in captivity for that long. He was so unhappy and was not getting the attention that he so desperately needed. Yet, we kept networking and hoping that Eli’s ship would come in…

Finally, good news! One of the shelter employees found someone who was willing to take Eli. He would be living on a big property with lots of freedom to roam around outside. With high hopes, we bid Eli good-by and good luck…fingers crossed!

We kept getting updates about Eli and although it didn’t sound like the perfect situation for Eli, it was certainly better than the alternative! A few weeks later, he was back. It turned out he had some issues with chickens…

Sadder than ever, poor Eli sat alone staring out of his kennel.

sad Eli at the shelter

Weeks went by and Eli did not get adopted. This second round was more brutal than the first. Sure, a few people looked at him but he just wasn’t the right fit and at this point he just seemed like a square peg. We all worried about what would become of him?

Scheduled for death, we all held our breath. Would all the networking help? Did he have a chance?

At the eleventh hour, Fresno Bully Rescue came to his rescue and swept him off to his new temporary home. The greatest thing was that he was going into a foster home and apparently that’s what this boy really needed!

Human companionship was the key to Eli finding a home. He LOVED being a house dog, being with his person and sleeping on soft beds. He quickly calmed down and became himself again; just like the Eli we first met at the shelter so many months before.

Eli at his foster home

Eli did great in his loving foster home. It didn't take very long before he had a permanent home and loving family. Eli, the big black Pit Bullish dog, was now someone’s pet, companion and the love of their life!

Eli chillaxing at his new home!

Thinking about Eli always gives me hope for our long termers at the shelter… There is a home for EVERY dog, we just have to find it!

*beautiful picture of Eli by photographer Seth Casteel

www.laanimalservices.com

Adopt don't shop!!!

Dogs of the Week! girls girls girls

It's really hard to narrow it down to a few dogs to post this week. I mean there are a slew of black doggies who have been at the shelter too darn long. Also some pitties. But then I have a couple of incredible females that may not be the most glamorous but they are the sweetest!

I'm going with the chicks...

Annie A1081536 Rottweiler Female 5 years old

Who is cuter than Annie? NO ONE! She is such a good girl and so so chubby! She's definitely overweight, but it doesn't stop her from being adorable and playful. She has such a terrific personality! She loves a plush squeaky toy and will even run... a little bit... to play with it! Of course, she is loving the belly rubs! She is a riot!

A couple of things, Annie does have a strong prey drive so cats and small dogs are probably not going to work with her, unless YOU really know what you are doing. She would do best with a male dog friend.

Otherwise, she loves all people and being in the spotlight. Please give this girl a chance to show you how sweet she is!

Tofu A1082182 Terrier mix 2 years old

This girl is crazy cute! She looks like something out of a Star Wars movie. She's all fuzzy like a stuffed toy. Her hair color is a melange of brown, black, gray, white... Then her eyes are this impossible shade of brown! She doesn't look like any other dog that I've seen. She is super cool!

Her personality has evolved quite a bit since she first arrived at WLA. Hey, she was a little upset that she was now in doggie jail, what happened??? Tofu has made a lot of progress since then. Now she loves everyone and wags her tail happily. She's also gained a little weight! She loves to sit on my foot, so I know!

Very neat dog, not sure how she does with kids or cats but she's good around other dogs. She's very responsive to correction and food motivated. She's ready to be trained and be your new best friend... What do you think?

Jenny 1085117 Lab mix 8 years old

Jenny definitely has her fans. She is the sweetest lady, just so easy going and nice. She's very happy to see you any time! Boy and she loves her food! This is a lovely dog who could be a wonderful companion for any person with a heart. Seniors would love her as she is calm and delightful to be around.

Admittedly, she has her flaws. Her mouth is a little hard, but that's workable just watch your fingers! She also has a growth on her face that may need to be removed. Come on, are you perfect????

This girl deserves a home to live out her best years! Don't let this chick die at the shelter.

www.laanimalservices.com

Peyton's place shouldn't be the shelter!

Peyton participated in the K9 Connection program!

He was assessed to be safe around kids to be part of this program working with at risk kids.

This is a beautiful and intelligent dog. Please consider him as a potential family member!

Big Black dogs rule!

www.laanimalservices.com

The Shelter Chronicles: A Few Good Doggies

Sorry to report but, more bad pix...(except for Sophie)

First some updates from the WLA shelter, Paulo, our one and only, was finally was adopted by a really nice guy who seems to "get it." We are keeping our fingers crossed on that cause you never know how it's all going to pan out in the end. Seriously, I don't take any adoption for granted. That said, good luck Paulo!!! Huge thanks to Bound Angel for making that great video for Paulo!!

Here are some terrific dogs who are currently at the shelter and who REALLY need a home. Some new, some not so new. All of these dogs are favorites of the volunteers.

Charlie A0895899, Australian Cattle Dog mix, young

Charlie is a real character. He is full of fun and energy. The first words out of his mouth would be "let's play!" He's an adorable boy around 1 1/2 years old. He was turned in because he was "eating the furniture." That tells you something, this dog needs exercise, activities and boundries. You can't leave an Aussie at home all day with nothing to do. Plan and simple. Charlie is so much fun! He loves to chase that ball and then another ball, all sizes and shapes. He's got boundless energy. He's also a really nice boy. Gentle and sweet natured, he really likes people and is totally un-reactive to other dogs. He's got great focus. He's a dog for someone who wants to do stuff with their dog like agility for example. What a terrific temperament this guy has! Plus he grew up around a cat so, it seems like he could assimilate to a multitude of situations. I hope you activity junkies come out to meet Charlie, he needs you NOW!


Samson, A0934223, Shep mix, Adult

Samson is a big guy. A macho dude, so to speak. He's a chill dog who really needs to get out of the shelter. He seems un-reactive to other dogs. He's very handsome and is looking for someone who can handle his size and give him a comfy bed where he can relax. I don't think Samson requires tons of room as he's over the bouncing off the walls part of his life. He does need regular walks of course, but he's not like a young playing machine. The volunteer who works with him says he's a doll. If you want a big chill dog, here he is!


Mike, A0981757, Shep mix, Young

Mike is like a dog's dog. He's regular, nothing too fancy, but very nice. He's got energy, but not too much. He's on the larger size, but not huge. He's sweet, but not needy. I really like him. He likes people and will tolerate all their poking and fussing with him. He wants to do what you want to do. I think anyone would like this dog's personality. His one issue, that may just be inexperience, is his over zealousness towards other dogs. He gets a little worked up. Not aggressive just super duper excited. I think with the proper experience he'll get over it and have fun with other dogs. Patience and training is what will help Mike with this problem. Otherwise he is just what a dog is expected to be, a good even tempered friend.


Duke, A0690792, Shep mix, Adult

Duke is a real champ. He's been at the shelter a while and has actually turned out to be a terrific dog according to his volunteer friends. He's friendly and easy to handle. More to come on this guy, but the word out at the shelter is that he's a great dog! More to come on Duke...


Star, A0980454, Rottweiler, Young

What a cute girl this Star is. She is really submissive and just a lover girl! Pretty mellow, she enjoys being with her person. Other dogs don't bother her and she would like to play if the other dog is as polite as she is. She's a smaller version of a Rottie so she's very manageable. Here's an easy one for you Rottie lovers!


Bea, A0975236, Whippet mix, Young

Bea came into the WLA direct from the SLA shelter. She was so scared that she was lashing out towards people in between hiding in her cubby. She's a gorgeous girl with her sleek lines and delicate features. She definitely has that Whippet look to her. She's on the smaller side of medium so she's quite manageable. We are currently trying to get her to be less defensive when she's in her run. She seems a little vicious in there! However, she really isn't. Outside of the run, she becomes her regular self who is just sweet as pie albeit it a little fearful. I fell in love with this girl instantly. Bea is so elegant and has some of the best ears I've seen in a while. This is a TERRIBLE picture so please don't go by this. She is gorgeous, I promise you. She doesn't know obedience but seems fairly mellow on leash and easy to teach. I think she is a good dog for someone who will train their dog and has worked with shy dogs before. She could become protective of her domain so it's important she gets the leadership and training she needs to overcome this behavior. Outside of that, she's a love.


Sophie, A0936867, Pit Bull mix, Young

I just love Sophie (formally Skully). What a terrific girl! She is a lot of fun and full of energy. Sophie was adopted but returned due to no fault of her own (landlord issue). Apparently she did really well in her short-lived home. In fact they said she was mellow in the house. She's a pretty easy dog so don't let the Pit Bull name scare you. She's a sweet dog with no aggression issues towards people. Sophie is a smaller medium size dog. She really enjoys playing with toys and balls. It just makes her so happy!! Her main issue has been her dog reactivity which the volunteers have been working on and seeing improvements. I don't think it's aggression but rather frustration. She is starting to learn to be more relaxed when other dogs are in her line of sight. For that reason, she may not be a great choice for a newbie. However, if you are someone who wants to train their dog, she's a great choice.

Come see and meet all these fantastic dogs at the West LA Animal Shelter!!

The Shelter Chronicles: Updates

We've had loads of adoptions of late, not all great, but some have been good. I always feel sad when I hear that one of our sweetest dogs has been adopted to be a "guard dog." But unfortunately there isn't a whole lot I can do to stop that from happening. Anyone reading this blog, I would assume, would already know that dogs need to be part of a family, not just thrown in a yard and forgotten or, even worse, left outside tethered.

Sigh, on the happier side there have been terrific rescues at the 11th hour by Karma Rescue. Cole was scheduled to be PTS and right in the nick of time was put in contact with a trainer and then in a foster home where he's doing great. Yay! Thanks Karma!

Other adoptions: Sui, Missy, Coqueta, Angel, Wendy, and I'm sure there are lots of others that I can't think of right now.


Still Waiting and getting URGENT!


Tiger A921702
Wonderful little pittie girl. Young. Well behaved, happy, calm, great with other dogs. What more can I say? Needs a home NOW!

Paolo A922555 Medium Pittie boy, high energy, very playful, a real character, needs training but very willing and good natured! Give this guy a chance!

Cooper A910483 large Pit mix, young, great dog, wonderful with people, needs some training with other dogs, just a real sweetheart of a dog. NEEDS OUT NOW!

The Shelter Chronicles: The Shelter Explodes with the Cutest Dogs!

Come visit us over the 4th of July weekend!
wonderful new pix by Seth Casteel of Little Friends Photos!

Dillon A0949614
Shepherd mix, under 1 year. Gorgeous and sweet puppy. Great with other dogs. Fearful at the shelter and has had some issues with re-directing when he's afraid. Terrific otherwise. He's responded very positively to training. We've introduced him to other dogs and he is submissive with them! This guy just needs a chance to learn and grow up in a normal environment. Probably best in an all adult environment.

Marvin A0929318
What a pretty dog! He looks like there's some kind of Spitz breed in there, maybe Chow? Taller than a Chow though. Probably around 3 years old or less. He's got tons of energy and just wants to have fun! Great dog for an active person looking for a fun-loving companion. Right now he's working on his obedience training. He's really a sweet guy, just needs a little guidance to get him on the right track!

Scully A0936867
This girl's got some crazy ears! So cute!! Scully is a great size dog, definitely medium! kind of Lab mix or something? Such a striking girl, she has a lustrous black coat. Apparently her only issue right now, is that she's a bit dog reactive. Could just be lack of socialization and a treatable behavior. Hey, who needs another dog anyway, when you have this groovy chick?!

Hazel A0926394
What a perfect black Lab type dog. I'm guessing she's around 6 years old. She is the sweetest kid, all belly rubs and kisses. What a doll. A pleasure to be around. At the shelter, she's been very reactive to other dogs so, possibly an only dog situation. Really an easy girl and would be great with older folks or people who just don't want to go to dog parks and such. Great dog!

Casper A0936967
Casper is a fascinating creature. He's a young Pit Bull. He has an amazing face with piercing blue eyes. When he came to the shelter he was labeled as "aggressive." Naturally, after a little patience by one of our amazing volunteers, it was discovered that Casper was indeed a friendly ghost (just a little fearful) AND he is deaf. So our volunteer continues to work with him and he's doing great! What a sweetie. He's coming out of his shell and making great strides. He is a dog for an experienced dog person and preferably someone who either knows how to work with a deaf dog or willing to learn. He should be the only dog.

Bones A0945595
Bones is so sweet just a big puppy. He loves people and is crazy for playing fetch. What a doll. He is a beautiful Pit mix, nice size with dazzling green eyes! He can't be more than 2 years old. He has lots of energy and wants to interact with people as much as possible. Such a fun dog for a family who wants to have fun with him!

Luna A0838820
Luna is a Rottweiler mix who is under 3 years old. This girl is so wonderful! She's at the shelter due a home foreclosure! So sad... Luna is great with other dogs. She is incredibly easy on the leash. This is as close to a perfect dog as it gets. I love her! Plus, she's smaller than a Rottie so she's a great size. She's a winner! Luna came in with her daughter who is under 1 year, see below.

Star A0955310
Okay, if you don't think this dog is adorable, you are nuts! She looks just like her pretty momma Luna, just smaller as she's not full grown yet. Star seems to be a lot like her mom in personality however, she is very frightened at the shelter. She is very loving and sweet, just a little nervous, but in a totally non-aggressive way. It would be so cool if Luna and Star would get adopted together, but it's not mandatory. She's a doll!

See you there!

The Shelter Chronicles: More Big Black Dogs...

This is just a sampling of the BBDs at West LA right now!

There are so many great dogs who happened to be black or mostly black just waiting and waiting at the shelter. It drives me crazy!!! These dogs need homes and they will be great companions for whomever takes the leap of faith. (sorry for some of those sad photos...)

One of the things that I notice at the shelter is that when I have a dog out and it is running in the yard or walking on leash, people are so much more interested in that dog just because they can see it outside their kennel. This is exactly how we got Rocco #1 adopted. His new family saw him on leash and thought, WOW! No one had even noticed him much before because he didn't seem like the calm and intelligent dog that he really was when he was behind bars. Walking on leash he seemed regal and proud, which of course he was and is, but it is amazing to me that people don't see that when the dog is in a kennel. Be sure and ask to see a dog outside of his kennel if you are interested!

Dog behavior in the shelter situation is very interesting and often tragic. It's such a high stress environment due to the sites and sounds bombarding the dogs every day that it's a miracle that any of them can acclimate. The dogs who don't, can become very depressed or incredibly restless and neurotic. Some dogs also develop separation anxiety from the trauma of being at the shelter. Of course, not all the dogs are doomed to have post traumatic stress disorder! Some do fine and make the shelter their home. But what a difference we see when they get adopted into a REAL home where they are loved and nurtured. It's truly miraculous how they blossom in the right environment. We see it all the time. Patience and understanding with a good portion of training seems to do the trick for most shelter dogs.

Hey, save the date, MARCH 15, Dog adoption event to take place at Mar Vista Park on Sawtelle and Palms Blvd. It's the Mayor's Day of Service in Mar Vista so lots of events are happening around the neighborhood. The WLA Shelter is bringing a bunch of dogs down to the park, so here is your chance to adopt a shelter dog without having to go to the shelter! I know a lot of people find the shelter too sad to visit (which is silly, but...), so now you can just mosey down to the Mar Vista park and take your pick of gorgeous and wonderful dogs to adopt. We will have plenty of dogs from which to choose, big, small, tall, short, long hair, short hair, you name it. Most, if not all, will be pre-neutered or spayed so that you can take that dog home the same day! Oh yea, we are all about the spay and neuter....

MARCH IS SPAY AND NEUTER MONTH, PEOPLE!!!!