Finally, The Yellow Dog Project!

I really like this idea and I'm so glad someone put this together.  Apparently the project is getting national and international attention.  It just makes so much sense. So YAY! to The Yellow Dog Project.  Check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

https://www.facebook.com/TheYellowDogProject

Have you considered becoming a foster parent to a shelter dog or cat?

If yes, you are my hero! :-)  You already know how satisfying it is to help a wonderful animal that is waiting for a home in an over-crowded shelter system.

If no, why not?  The shelter picks up the tab and you get to socialize and even save the life of an amazing animal that will be grateful for your help.  The clock is ticking for each and every animal at the shelter. Only YOU can help them.

These are some of the dogs currently in the foster program at LA Animal Services.  Please consider fostering one of these worthy dogs or cats.  You will be helping these animals more than you can know!

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Gentle! Mellow! Amazing! These are just a few of the descriptions used
to describe IRIS, a spayed female Labrador/Chinese Sharpei. Iris is
about 2 years old who draws second looks from people when they see her
sleek black coat

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Maxine has a very sweet temperament and loving with people once she
has a chance to relax. Maxine has played in the yard with a large dog
and did just fine. Her previous owner commented that she was not good
with small dogs.

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June is a bundle of energy! She is a beautiful 1 years, 6 months old
unaltered female Staffordshire Bull Terrier with a beautiful,
expressive face and incredible ears.
June is young and has an abundance of energy.

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Mandy is a very sweet dog who walks well through the kennels. She is a
very attentive dog who follows commands and is able to sit, lie down,
do high fives and roll over.

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Boots is a spayed 6 year old cat who is very easy going and friendly.
Boots owner passed away and so she ended up at the animal shelter. She
has been to the L.A. Love and Leashes adoption store and is okay with
traveling.

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Sweet Pea is a spayed 2 year old cat who is very friendly and kind.
Sweet Pea’s owner decided that they didn’t have time for her any more
so they brought her to the animal shelter. 

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Chester is a spayed 6 year old cat who is friendly and longing for a
permanent home. Chester’s owner had to move and could not find a place
that accepted pets so he ended up at the animal shelter.

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Neo is a neutered 6 year old cat who is very calm and sweet. Neo’s
owner passed away and so he ended up at the animal shelter. He has
been to the L.A. Love and Leashes adoption store and is okay with
traveling. 

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Susie is a sweet, spayed 2 year old stray cat. Susie is friendly and
gets along with everyone. She has been featured at the L.A. Love and
Leashes adoption store.

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Sonora loves people. She is very affectionate and loves to be petted.
She walks well on a leash. She knows her sit and down commands and
responds to strong verbal correction that is sometimes necessary when
she gets too excited.

If interested please contact:

Shawn C. Colon

Animal Care Technician Supervisor

West Los Angeles Center

11361 W. Pico Blvd.

West Los Angeles, CA 90064

(310) 207-8976 (office)

(310) 207-4965 (fax)

shawn.colon@lacity.org

www.laanimalservices.org

Andy A0866359, lovely senior Gentle & Sweet!

He was turned into the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter on Dec. 22, 2011. .  Andy is a 9 yr. old, neutered,  German Shepherd mix who weighs 35 lbs.  Seniors have a particularly hard time at the shelter and finding a home.

 Poor Andy!

Andy is a sweet, gentle, easy going dog who, once out of his run, becomes very personable and friendly.  He really likes people.  He is housebroken and his loving spirit is hoping that someone will take him away from all of this sadness.  His previous “owner” said that he was the best dog ever, she just couldn’t afford keeping him any longer.  

The shelter scares Andy and that is why he hides out in the back of his run.  This is not the life that he wants or that he remembers. He remembers having a person. He remembers having a warm bed and being best friends with a human who promised to take care of him forever.  That is what we want for Andy.

Please help Andy!  He needs a home before it is too late.  Please adopt this wonderful boy.

 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 COORDINATOR

213-485-0494 / CELL  213-792-5811  aninewhopewla@lacity.org.

The Shelter Chronicles

Having a new work schedule is affording me the flexibility to go by the shelter at different times of the day. I'm often surprised by the number of people there in the middle of the day looking at dogs. I mean in addition to the rescue folks and homeless people... It really is surprising to see families and singles alike looking for a rescue dog on a Tuesday afternoon!

I just happened to stop by yesterday and happened upon this really nice lady adopting one of our little dogs who had some fear issues. I was so glad that I was there to tell her more about this little dog and to let her know more about how fear could affect this dog down the road. Not that she shouldn't adopt the dog, but to offer her the opportunity to make an informed decision based on my experience with this dog and others like her. The woman seemed appreciative and went forward with the adoption. Personally, I think it's a good match!

Fear is a huge factor for dogs at the shelter. I can't tell you all the times that I feel I must intervene on behalf of a dog who is FEAR aggressive. Fear seems to be the least understood issue for animals at the shelter by both the public and the staff. Many people seem to just see aggression as a one dimensional state of being. They don't give any consideration as to what is motivating the behavior. The dogs who are triggered by large objects, noise and confinement struggle on a daily basis to keep their sanity.

I would venture to say that most dogs are fearful when put into a high stress situation like being relinquished to a shelter. One of my dogs, a Rottweiler named Ace, was a shelter dog. When he got to the shelter, he was extremely fearful. He wouldn't come up to the gate at all for days. Once he acclimated, he did better. Thankfully he didn't have any dog aggression issues which helped him gain some confidence through his kennel mate. I didn't adopt Ace; actually, I sort of ended up with him after an adoption turned sour and the people pleaded with me to take him. Anyway, he's a good dog, but his fear still gets the better of him occasionally which manifests itself as "aggression." In this case it would mean that he may aggressively bark at someone, snap and/or growl. These displays are usually triggered by strangers coming to the house.

Not every fearful dog at the shelter displays "aggression" but when they do, it can really be a challenge to save the dog's life. Unfortunately, my observation is that the dogs tend to be much more fearful of shelter staff than volunteers, understandably. Staff are the people cleaning the runs and doing the stuff that makes noise and requires hoses and the like. The volunteers play with the dogs, give them treats, love them, etc. Volunteers don't have to freak the dogs out to do their job. It's not the fault of the staff but not the fault of the dogs either.

The sad part is that sometimes the fearful dog at the shelter is misunderstood and no attempt is made to resolve the problem between staff and dogs...