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Pet Talk Newsletter

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03/11/2010

Fugitive buffaloes roam streets, smash fences in Wildomar
A pair of bison on the loose in Wildomar on Tuesday touched off a chaotic four-hour corralling effort involving several bystanders and a sheriff's helicopter.

World's tallest cat turns 2 Friday in Corona
Scarlett's Magic, a Savannah breed that holds the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's tallest domestic cat at 18 inches from shoulder to toe, is turning 2 Friday in Corona.

Her owner is holding a birthday party that she will be attending from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Savannah Cat Shoppe, Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos, 2780 Cabot Drive, Corona.

03/10/2010

Woman author resolves why horses sleep standing up
Audrey Pavia's life has had two constants - her love of animals and writing.

She has written 23 books on pet and animal care. Pavia, of Norco, is a technical writer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, also in Norco.

She lives with husband Randy Mastronicola and three horses, five cats, seven chickens, two rabbits and one dog on their half-acre ranch.

03/08/2010

Truckers come to dog's rescue
Jackson, a sweet Weimaraner mix, found himself on hard times. Just days away from euthanasia, he was adopted at the Susanne Spirit USA Road Show held at a truck stop in Ontario. The Rancho Cucamonga Animal Care agency brings adoptable dogs to the shows.

03/07/2010

Race horse rehab farm gets grant
California Equine Retirement Foundation in Winchester in Riverside County is among six facilities to receive funding from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the group announced.

03/06/2010

Riverside pet adoption center is renamed
The Riverside Humane Society Pet Adoption Center is now the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center.

Teresa Rhyne, a director of the center, this week announced the change to more than 100 supporters at a reception honoring the family of Duane Roberts held at the Historic Mission Inn in Riverside.

Mary S. Roberts was the mother of Duane Roberts, owner of the Historic Mission Inn.

03/05/2010

Teacher gets probation in animal-cruelty case
A Riverside high school agricultural teacher was sentenced to probation Thursday after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge in an animal-cruelty case.

Tracy Michele Putnam, 48, of Norco, was sentenced to a year of probation for failing to euthanize an animal in a timely way. Prosecutors dropped three felony charges of animal cruelty originally filed against the Norte Vista High School teacher.

03/03/2010

New animal shelter, library complex set to open in Jurupa
Riverside County's Economic Development Agency is finishing work on two multimillion-dollar projects in the Jurupa area that are set to open in mid-April.

Suspect sold sickly puppies, deputies say
Deputies on Tuesday arrested a woman being sought by San Bernardino animal cruelty investigators on suspicion of animal cruelty. Authorities say she was selling sick and underage puppies on an Ontario corner.

03/01/2010

Class outing for guide dogs in Old Town Temecula
Harmony is a 4-month-old Labrador retriever, but the puppy's life is about much more than toys and treats.

Harmony is training to become a guide dog with Guide Dogs of the Desert, a nonprofit group that breeds and trains guide dogs to help the blind.

Horseback is big in Temecula's Wine Country
Forget home on the range.

Many horseback riders are feeling at home in Temecula Valley Wine Country, thanks to recent amenities such as installing hitching posts, discounts and setting aside areas for horse trailers.

Robert Renzoni Vineyards even has a special stand-alone wine bar so riders don't have to leave their horses.

Menifee Valley Humane Society helps dog with surgery, home
A few months ago, we had a story on our blog about Riley, a once-homeless street dog who needed leg surgery. He was rescued and cared for by the Menifee Valley Humane Society for almost a year while the group raised funds for his treatment.

02/28/2010

Riverside County animal rescuers warn of quicksand in Santa Ana riverbed
Renee Power sank into quicksand up to her knees while desperately tugging at a horse buried up to its belly in dangerous pockets of the Santa Ana riverbed in Riverside County.

The scene nearly two weeks ago teemed with urgency as about 30 rescuers frantically shoveled out the animal as it squirmed, the suction pulling it down.

02/26/2010

Honors for the animals who also served
An annual event took place on Feb. 13 honoring war heroes.

These were the four-legged variety.

Emotions were high as the 10th anniversary of the War Dogs Memorial was marked Saturday at March Air Field Museum in Moreno Valley. Some participants left flowers or hugged the memorial.

New Riverside shelter tours set for Saturday
Tours of the new Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter are on tap tomorrow but appointments are required, a Department of Animal Services news release said.

The tours are hosted by the ASK Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed to raise awareness and money for the facility which is set to open this spring. ASK is an acronym for Animal Solutions Konnection.

02/25/2010

14 goats killed by pack of dogs
Riverside neighbors Delfino Reyes and Christine Harbour woke up to a gruesome scene Tuesday morning after another neighbor's dogs got loose and killed 14 of the 24 goats Reyes kept for his son.

Harbour's yard, on Gramercy Place in the La Sierra area, abuts Reyes' parcel on Bushnell Avenue, and she lets his goats eat her grass.

feathered guests
They won't hop onto your breakfast plate as might have happened in years past, but a pair of colorful macaws is again in residence at the Mission Inn, continuing a tradition started by inn founder Frank Miller.

The San Bernardino city shelter's high euthanasia rate brings rescuers from other states
A network of animal rights and rescue groups is saving dogs from euthanasia at the overburdened San Bernardino city animal shelter by ferrying them out of state on planes and in converted RVs.

Hundreds of dogs have been moved to Canada and New York, Oregon and other states for adoption.

Norco shelter offering animal adoption specials
Norco Animal shelter officials are offering cat adoption specials and issuing warnings for horseback riders.

02/23/2010

Dog adoption center opens in Hemet
PetSmart Charities opened a dog adoption center earlier this month in the Hemet PetSmart store with its partner, the Ramona Humane Society.

Society volunteers will staff the center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays through Mondays, according Jeff Sheppard, Ramona Humane's executive director.

02/22/2010

Struggling Lake Perris riding stable will close
Three years ago, Phil Edmondson opened an equestrian-riding stable overlooking the grassy plains of Lake Perris State Recreation Area with high hopes for a brisk business.

Video: Horse stables at Lake Perris closing

Business picking up for pet-waste companies
Armed with nothing but a bucket on a pole, a rake, some doggy treats and his wits, Joel Osborne entered the territory of a 175-pound Great Dane named Maggie.

The dog barked and paced but kept her distance as Osborne went about his business. That is, as he went about picking up Maggie's business.

Video: Pet Butler cleaning service

Photo Gallery: Pet Butler cleaning services

Economy especially difficult for horses
We're not surprised to see people "will work for food" signs, especially in the current economy, but horses? It seems our horse blogger, Pattie Roberts of Save the Animals Today, put her rescue horses to work last Saturday with "Will work for feed" signs on Los Alamos Road in Murrieta. Their task? They had to pose for photos with people willing to donate a few bucks for their care. Pretty tough job.

02/20/2010

Indio's National Date Festival still draws crowds after 64 years
Sixty-four years into the National Date Festival, people still call the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio asking organizers how they go about finding a romantic match.

"I have to tell them that it's not that kind of date festival," receptionist Hattie Johnson said with a laugh. "These are the edible dates."

Photo Gallery: Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival

02/19/2010

Lake Elsinore fundraiser assists animal shelter
A January fundraising event collected $2,884 for the nonprofit Animal Friends of the Valleys, which runs an animal shelter. Held at the Links at Summerly golf course in Lake Elsinore, the event featured a prime rib dinner and tips and donations for Animal Friends. Raffles and a silent auction also helped raise money.

02/18/2010

Birds in cockfighting case to remain at Yucaipa home
Nearly 650 roosters and hens will remain on a 10-acre parcel in Yucaipa until the resolution of a potential criminal cockfighting case that prompted this week's raid and the seizure of five birds as evidence, San Bernardino County sheriff's officials say.

Prosecutor: Animal-control officer threw kitten that injured his child
A suspended Riverside County animal control officer threw his family's 12-week-old kitten off a second-floor balcony after the animal scratched or bit his child, a San Bernardino County prosecutor said this week.

"It appears he threw the cat in anger ... and that the cat was found with a broken leg, wet and cold in a (nearby) storage facility," Deputy District Attorney Melinda Spencer said Tuesday.

02/17/2010

Photographer chronicles desert dogs
Photographic artist John Divola spent six years documenting the roving dogs that chased his car when he drove through the isolated desert at the east end of the Morongo Valley.

Divola is an internationally known contemporary artist and is considered one of the top artists living in the Inland Empire.

Hemet taking closer look at pit bulls, reports of problems
Hemet is closely monitoring reports of dogs running loose, barking excessively and acting aggressively in the wake of a woman's plea for the city to ban pit bulls.

Inland home raided in cockfighting investigation
Agents of several law enforcement and other agencies raided a home in an unincorporated area near Yucaipa on Tuesday, seizing five chickens they believe were being trained and sold for cockfighting.

No arrests were made. The homeowners were not present, and investigators believe they are in Mexico.

02/16/2010

Ramona shelter program helps financially struggling pet owners
The Ramona Humane Society's shelter accepted 1,674 pounds of pet food from McSweeny Elementary School students on Friday that will mostly be distributed to pet owners arriving daily who say they can no longer afford to feed Rover and Mittens.

The shelter on Humane Way in San Jacinto cares for 300 cats and 400 dogs.

02/15/2010

PET TALK COLUMN -- 02/15
Last week, students at Davidson Elementary School in San Bernardino worked with officers from the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley to make Valentine's Day a bit brighter for dogs that spend their lives chained up. The valentines were sent to Dogs Deserve Better, a Pennsylvania nonprofit group, which sends the valentines to owners of chained dogs along with literature about alternatives to chaining and coupons for pet treats.

02/13/2010

Adopt a Pet
Rudy, a 2-year-old male dachshund mix, is being cared for by a foster family. He is described as cheerful and energetic. He and other dogs are available at Sun City K9 Adoptions, 26510 Murrieta Road, Menifee. Information: www.sck9adoptions.org or 951-679-6444.

Campaign to stop use of chains to leash dogs begins
Dogs deserve better than chains is a message being taken to school children, with a Valentine's Day theme.

The campaign in local school is part of an effort by The Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley and the nonprofit Dogs Deserve Better group. The education program includes local children preparing Valentines about the harm using chains to leash dogs.

Man steals dog from Highgrove crash victims
Riverside County sheriff's deputies are looking for a man who used the confusion of a traffic accident to steal a dog involved in the crash.

A vehicle driven by a 24-year-old woman struck a median and flipped over about 3 p.m. Wednesday in the 100 block of Iowa Avenue in Highgrove, a Riverside County Sheriff's Department news release said.

Hemet Valley Bird Society invites families to join
The Hemet Valley Bird Society welcomes families with children to their monthly meetings. The next is scheduled for March 7.

Membership cost is $20 per year per family. Meetings include a raffle for children under age 16, speakers, activities and refreshments. Past activities include an ice cream social, Birdie Bingo and movies.

Members may bring their pet birds.

02/12/2010

Four dogs destroyed; children they mauled in Fontana recuperating
Four dogs were destroyed Thursday for mauling a 5-year-old Fontana girl and severely biting two of her siblings Feb. 1 while their mother was taking the girls for a walk, police say.

Fontana police Sgt. Jeff Decker said the case will be sent next week to the San Bernardino County district attorney's office, which will decide what criminal charges, if any, to file against the animals' former owners.

Pet adoption fees waived at Corona shelter
Corona Animal Shelter is waiving pet adoption fees in celebration of Valentine's Day.

The $15 adoption fee is free in the days leading up to Valentine's Day from Feb. 12 and 13. Adoption baskets tailored to the pet and that include treats, toys and care items are provided free for all pet adoptions.

New adoption center offers more space to showcase adoptable dogs in Hemet
The Ramona Humane Society will get more room to showcase adoptable dogs in a Hemet pet store's new adoption center that opens Saturday.

The grand opening will be at 10 a.m. at the PetSmart store at 2771 W. Florida Ave., one of three centers in the country being opened by PetSmart Charities, according to a release from the nonprofit that works to save lives of homeless pets.

Riverside County animal services officer guilty of cruelty
A Riverside County animal services officer has been placed on administrative leave and told that his bosses plan to fire him in the wake of his prosecution on animal cruelty allegations in San Bernardino County, officials announced Thursday.

02/10/2010

Sun City woman, now 90, still has passion for pets
Elizabeth Mardin celebrated her birthday a day early this year, enjoying dinner with friends on Sunday evening at an Italian restaurant in Lake Elsinore.

The meal was great, but she had some cooking of her own to do the next day.

02/09/2010

Walk your dogs...and they'll walk you, too
If you love to walk your dog, hang out with other pet people and help out animals all at the same time sign up for the Riverside Humane Society's Walk with the Animals scheduled for March 20 at Riverside's Fairmount Park.

It begins with a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. and the walk begins at 9.

02/08/2010

Questions are raised about the Humane Society's longtime practice of euthanizing hundreds of animals a month
Volunteers and donors to the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley said they were surprised to learn that the organization had been euthanizing close to 10,000 animals per year.

Most of the euthanasias were performed after hours by a small group of people.

Former employees said even some who worked at the Humane Society were unaware of the activity, which has gone on for years.

02/07/2010

Family bids final good night to Midnight the dog
When my wife Joanne first thrust him into my arms, my reaction was an emphatic "No!"

We already had one dog and that was enough. Despite my most strenuous objections -- and if you know me, you know I can be strenuous -- Midnight became a part of our family.

His first reaction to me? He peed on my shirt.

02/06/2010

So there is this really tall cat in Norco
Scarlett's Magic, a Savannah breed cat that holds the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's tallest domestic cat, made a visit to the Norco Library on Thursday and was a hit with about 20 people who traveled to see her and her owner, Lee Draper.

The breed is a cross between an African Serval and domesticated cats such as the Egyptian Mau and Bengal.

02/05/2010

San Bernardino County plans to build equestrian center
San Bernardino County is hoping to draw more visitors to Glen Helen Regional Park in Devore with plans to build an equestrian center.

The county put out a request last week asking interested firms or individuals to submit proposals by March. The county could select a project by June and have it open by next year, said Maureen Snelgrove, interim director of the regional parks department.

02/04/2010

Humane society seeks walk sponsors
Riverside Humane Society Pet Adoption Center plans 18th Annual "Walk with the Animals" Saturday, March 20, from 8 .m. to noon at Fairmount Park in Riverside.

Taking place at the band shell area, the event will include a two-mile pledge walk around Lake Evans, food, entertainment, raffle prizes and exhibits

Animal shelter in Wildomar on track to be done in September, official says
A long-awaited animal shelter serving southwest Riverside County is expected to be complete this fall, a project official said.

The 72,000-square-foot shelter is under construction in Wildomar, at the corner of Mission Trail and Corydon Street. Work was held up some by recent heavy rains, but it is still on track for a September completion, program administrator Dean Deines said.

Animal shelter in Wildomar on track to be done in September, official says
A long-awaited animal shelter serving southwest Riverside County is expected to be complete this fall, a project official said.

The 72,000-square-foot shelter is under construction in Wildomar, at the corner of Mission Trail and Corydon Street. Work was held up some by recent heavy rains, but it is still on track for a September completion, program administrator Dean Deines said.

Dogs in Fontana attack to die
Four dogs will be destroyed next week after they mauled three Fontana children, including a 5-year-old girl who was placed on life support, police said.

"After the 10-day quarantine period, they'll be euthanized," said Sgt. Jeff Decker, spokesman for the Fontana Police Department. "They cannot be adopted ... because they have already shown their aggressiveness by biting someone."

Redlands shelter gets check from Stater Bros.
The Redlands Animal Shelter on Tuesday received a donation of $3,500 from Stater Bros. Markets.

The check was presented during the afternoon City Council meeting, when shelter staff introduced Papaya, a white silky terrier available for adoption.

--Jan Sears

Animal care clinic set for Saturday
Low-cost animal vaccinations, micro-chipping and dog licenses will be available 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Albert A. Chatigny Community Recreation Center.

This is a monthly service provided by the city.

The recreation center is at 1310 Oak Valley Parkway.

Information: 951-769-8500.

- Erin Waldner

02/03/2010

Man and his truck and his dog liven up Old Town Temecula
Yes, Denny McCoy concedes, he has some ham in him.

Some? How about an entire pig farm? When he cruises through Old Town Temecula on a busy Saturday in his dog-themed 1929 Ford Model A pickup -- complete with its own pooch -- it seems everybody takes notice.

02/02/2010

Fontana girl on life support after dog attack
A 5-year-old Fontana girl was placed on life support Tuesday after she, three siblings and her mother were attacked by a pack of pit bulls that crawled under the fence of their owner's home.

02/03/2010

Murrieta woman has passion for saving pets
Reba is a 7-year-old Golden Retriever who had been used for breeding most of her life.

When the kennel where she lived closed, she and a litter of puppies were the only dogs left. Thin and sick, she could hardly raise her head.

Today, Reba lives with her new owner, Michael Donahoe, who is retired and gives her the love and attention she was denied as a puppy.

Wildomar animal shelter is meeting topic
The Southwest Communities Financing Authority will meet Wednesday in Murrieta to discuss the Animals Friends of the Valleys shelter being built in Wildomar.

02/02/2010

Group offers pet-care grants
Senior citizens in the Yucaipa area struggling to afford the cost of caring for a pet may be eligible for financial assistance.

The Yucaipa Animal Placement Society has received a gift of $10,000 to bankroll grants for senior citizen pet owners. Grants of up to $200 are being distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

02/01/2010

Hemet woman wants pit bulls banned from city after attack
A Hemet woman whose dog was maimed by two pit bulls has pleaded with the city to ban the breed, an action taken by at least a half-dozen cities nationwide.

Animal Protection Caucus aims at getting tough on people who hurt pets
Willa Bagwell, executive director at Animal Friends of the Valleys in Lake Elsinore, wrote to me a few weeks ago about the outcome of an animal cruelty case and she was upset.

01/30/2010

Riverside pet adopt hours extended
The Riverside Humane Society Pet Adoption Center is now open until 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.

Hours on Saturdays and Sundays remain 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Dog rescued from Romoland manhole
A dog that, as a pup, survived a house fire that killed her parents and siblings was rescued Friday by firefighters after another close call -- two days trapped in water under a manhole in Romoland.

Verizon workers heard barking and whimpering about 1:15 p.m. in a utility vault near Sherman Road and Highway 74, Capt. Rick Griggs of the Riverside County Fire Department said.

Dog food sales benefit Inland animal aid groups
Stater Bros. Markets and a dog food company have donated $72,000 to 14 animal shelters, including some in the Inland area.

A percentage of sales of Pedigree brand dog food in a recent promotion was donated to animal shelters and rescue groups, a news release from the San Bernardino-based supermarket chain stated.

01/26/2010

Inland pet owners get creative with names
From a dog named Stinky to a horse named Horse, Inland residents find colorful names for their pets.

Buddy and Max are the most popular names for dogs nationwide for the third consecutive year, according to Petfinder.com, with Lucy and Smokey topping the list for cats. Bella made the top 10 lists for both animals.

01/25/2010

YAPS is barking on behalf of Inland pets
The pet community has been hard hit by the woes of the past economy and the Yucaipa Animal Placement Society, or YAPS, has done its best to save as many pets as possible. This, according to Executive Director Nicole Laffey, is not easy.

01/24/2010

Orphaned pets at Moreno Valley shelter find homes
Van Tessa, Tessa for short, is a lucky dog.

Erich Bonilla and his wife, Shanifa Lila, adopted the puppy three months ago from Moreno Valley Animal Services.

They returned several weeks ago to rescue a 2-year-old cat they named Shadow.

"There are animals out there that need our love and help," Bonilla said.

01/23/2010

Grand Terrace agrees to extend animal control pact
San Bernardino will continue housing stray animals from the city of Grand Terrace, but the city will have to pony up more money.

The Grand Terrace City Council voted recently to approve an 18-month extension of its animal-sheltering contract with nearby San Bernardino.

01/22/2010

Ex-firefighter re-enacts puppy's beating in his trial
A Woodcrest man sitting on the witness stand Thursday raised a 12-pound rock and re-enacted how he used it to beat a puppy that latched onto his thumb.

Glynn Johnson, 55, a retired Los Angeles County assistant fire chief, testified in his own defense during his trial on felony animal cruelty charges.

01/18/2010

What's that, Tabby? I've got the answer
I'll bet you didn't know that Friday is "National Answer Your Cat's Question Day."

I didn't either until my two cats, Lulu and Isobel, gently reminded me because they, of course, had a question. And, as with everything cat, the timing was impeccable. Not only was there national recognition of their curiosity but also InlandSoCal Pets now has a cat expert, Linda Bailey.

01/16/2010

Villa Chardonnay, a Temecula sanctuary, cares for neglected and abused horses
Monika Kerber calls them her babies. If only their former owners treated them as such.

Instead, many of the 22 horses at Villa Chardonnay/Horses With Wings just outside Temecula were abused, neglected or abandoned. For them, the 6-acre gated compound is a permanent oasis where they'll never go hungry, untreated by a veterinarian or unloved.

01/14/2010

Pit bull project under way in Riverside
Cool, damp weather didn't stop pit bull owners from throughout Riverside County from flocking to the county's Department of Animal Services shelter to get their dogs spayed or neutered for free.

"She's good enough," dog owner Kris Carrico said about his 7-month-old pit bull Keystone. "We don't want eight more of her."

Photo Gallery: "The Pit Bull Project"

01/13/2010

Police bloodhounds practice catching the scent of the missing
Inga gets the scent from a pair of gloves.

With her nose to the ground, the slobbery, floppy eared bloodhound then runs vigorously through knee-high brush, finally ending up at the fugitive decoy, hiding behind a tree several hundred yards away.

Video: Search dog training in Mountain Center

Photo Gallery: Police bloodhounds' annual winter training

01/12/2010

Lake Elsinore council to discuss dog play area at park
What to do with the dog play area at McVicker Canyon Park will be discussed tonight by the Lake Elsinore City Council.

The council will consider whether to end the trial period for the play area, extend it indefinitely under the same conditions or extend it at McVicker Park until the permanent dog play are opens next month at Rosetta Canyon Park. The trial period will expire on Thursday.

Traveler 8 being groomed in Hemet
She's calm, obedient, smart and even at 5 years old, she's majestic.

In other words, she has the ideal qualities to fill some very big horse shoes.

Her registered name is Betica, but this Andalusian filly is waiting in the wings on a Hemet ranch for her debut as Traveler, one of the most celebrated college mascots.

Photo Gallery: Training Traveler

01/11/2010

Owners line up for Riverside County pit bull spay-neuter clinics
An overwhelming response by residents has prompted Riverside County's Department of Animal Services to add two free spay-neuter clinics for pit bulls and pit-bull-mix dogs.

The department has a list of 200 owners waiting to get their canines sterilized at no cost through the "Pit Bull Project," said spokesman John Welsh.

When it's time to say good-bye to a pet
Fifteen years ago the Van Allens of Sun City went to Animal Friends of the Valleys in search of a new pet. In the parking lot they saw a man in tears standing by the back of his car removing a dog in its carrier.

He had come to turn the dog in because they could no longer keep his little Corgi mix . The Van Allens adopted her.

01/08/2010

New Riverside County animal shelter will open in San Jacinto in summer
A new Riverside County animal shelter is expected to open this summer in San Jacinto around the corner from the nonprofit Ramona Humane Society, which has housed animals from the region for years and will continue to operate as an adoption shelter.

The construction site is on South Grand Avenue just north of West Seventh Street in the city's industrial area.

'Hummingbird Lady' to speak in Temecula
If you head to the Community Recreation Center in Temecula on Jan. 12, be aware that the Temecula Valley Garden Club meeting there will be about the birds -- specifically, hummingbirds.

The club's general meeting, beginning at 9:30 a.m., will feature Marion Stacey, known as the "Hummingbird Lady."

01/04/2010

Financial help available to treat sick, injured pets
Josh Hathaway never thought much about his cat getting out of the house until Bohdi didn't return one evening. When Bohdi was found the next day, Hathaway was shocked to see his injuries.

Unemployed nearly a year, the Menifee resident didn't know how he would pay the veterinary bills to treat the broken jaw and severely damaged left hind leg Bohdi suffered when he apparently was hit by a car.

Pet Talk: Good News for the New Year
Several weeks ago, I got an e-mail from Mary Wills in Hemet in response to one of the Pets of the Week listed on our site. Mary has multiple sclerosis and was looking for a dog large enough to pet from her wheelchair.

I sent a quick e-mail off to Denise Glass, a volunteer with the Ramona Humane Society, and she had just the right dog in mind. So Mary and Kookie are now best of friends.

01/02/2010

Inland equestrian group survives cold night for ride with the Roses
It had been a long and chilly night with little sleep for an Inland area equestrian group camping with their horses on a closed strip of the Long Beach Freeway in Pasadena while waiting to march in the 2010 Rose Parade.

Photo Gallery: Equestrian group prepares to ride in Rose Parade

01/01/2010

San Jacinto veterinarian reaches 100,000-surgery milestone
Lounging in a crate, the small mostly white dog was a bit woozy from surgery but became the center of attention as the 100,000th spay-neuter patient of Dr. Don Popa, the veterinarian for Ramona Humane Society's low-cost clinic in San Jacinto.

12/30/2009

New Riverside County program tackles pit bull population
Riverside County animal control officials are launching a program to offer free spay-neuter services for pit bulls and pit bull mix dogs to stem the flood of these high-profile canines into countywide animal shelters.

12/28/2009

High-profile pets found homes...many, many more did not
In the pet world, it's been a year of the good, the bad and the cuddly.

In May a Weimaraner was found wandering in Gavilan Hills after being shot in the muzzle. The Riverside Humane Society, who named him Noah, raised funds to get his jaw repaired and found him a forever home.

12/27/2009

Riverside youth to hit big time of dog shows
Trenton Hollenkamp has secured his goal of competing in the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

'It's all about the chase' in English fox hunts
On a December afternoon near Lake Hemet, members of the Santa Fe Hunt donned scarlet, black and navy coats and saddled horses while a pack of English foxhounds sniffed eagerly at brush on the snow-covered ground.

At the sound of a horn, the hounds took off with riders close behind. Fences, forest and a wavering scent stood between them and their quarry. This time, they came up empty.

Video: Riders go out on fox hunts

Photo Gallery: Riders go out on fox hunts

12/24/2009

San Jacinto veterinarian reaches 100,000-surgery milestone
Lounging in a crate, the small mostly white dog was a bit woozy from surgery but became the center of attention as the 100,000th spay-neuter patient of Dr. Don Popa, the veterinarian for Ramona Humane Society's low-cost clinic in San Jacinto.

12/22/2009

Off-road dog has need for speed, owner says
Sit. Stay. Pop a wheelie. Good dog.

A southwest Riverside County man has trained his 8-year-old Australian shepherd, Opee, to ride motorcycles and endure the jumps, turns, dust and mud pits of motocross.

Video: Meet motocross-riding dog Opee

Photo Gallery: Opee, the motocross-riding dog

12/21/2009

Keep those holiday gifts safe for pets
The big day is almost upon us and even the pets are looking forward to their gifts. From new beds to chew toys the list of possibilities is endless. Do be careful and check to make sure the items are safe for pets. There are several blog entries on our site about recalled chews and foods that are unsafe for furry friends.

12/17/2009

Animal advocates raise money for dog’s surgery
Rusty the dog was found Dec. 8 in San Bernardino, malnourished and limping along on a broken leg. He was adopted by a woman who works for San Bernardino County schools so a happy ending arrived.

When people trim holiday spending, animal friends stay in picture, Inland shoppers and store managers say
Holiday shopping requires some tough decisions for pet owners like Jose Zavala, 22, of Riverside. He uses coupons whenever possible, and sometimes even picks a lower grade of food for his fish, to make sure he can get his 4-year-old Chihuahua, Reese, her favorite soft dog food.

Sled dogs cheer young leukemia patient in Loma Linda
A small army of volunteers moved mountains Wednesday to fulfill the wish of a 5-year-old Sun City boy battling leukemia in a Loma Linda hospital.

Tristen Crouser, who had hitched stuffed animals to a laundry basket at home and pretended he was a dog-sled musher, told his parents he wanted to go dog sledding in Alaska.

Photo Gallery: Tristen's 'Lucky' Day

Vet van makes encore visit to Mira Loma mobile home park
The Riverside County Department of Animal Services mobile veterinary van is its own best advertisement.

When the 55-foot mobile clinic - with lettering that proclaims "The Answer on Wheels" - rolls into a community, residents flock to it, asking about low-cost spay-neuter and vaccination programs for their pets.

Photo Gallery: Riverside County mobile veterinary clinic

12/16/2009

Pig loose, then captured in Loma Linda, and now likely to die
An aggressive and apparently wild pig, which was sedated and captured Wednesday in Loma Linda, will be euthanized to protect the public, a California Fish and Game Department official said.

"It charged a wrought-iron gate and did damage. It's 200 pounds of muscle," said Mike McBride, an assistant chief with Fish and Game. "A (sheriff's) deputy had reports that the animal was charging the public."

12/15/2009

Woman with 92 dogs on Woodcrest property is convicted of animal cruelty
A Woodcrest woman who was arrested in 2007 and had 92 dogs impounded from her property, including about 40 Great Danes, was convicted Monday of a dozen misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.

The conviction of Antonia Angel White, 51, in Riverside County Superior Court came after a five-day trial, court records show.

12/14/2009

Program helps seniors and their animals
Riverside's Meals on Wheels program has gone animal style.

The charity known for delivering food to homebound senior citizens has teamed up with the Riverside Humane Society and started delivering pet provisions right along with meals for humans.

Warm up those pets -- kittens can't wear mittens
As the temperature drops we can pull out the scarves and mittens but our furry friends can't do much -- except to depend on us to watch out for them. Pets can definitely feel the effects of the cold and wet weather. We've got some good tips on our blog from the SPCA on how to help your pet stay warm and healthy.

THIS WEEK'S FACE YOU COULD LOVE
This adorable kitty has his bags all packed and he's ready to go. He's a 1-year-old who is current on his shots and has a wonderful personality. His intake number is R129778. Adopt him today at the Ramona Humane Society, 690 Humane Way, San Jacinto.951-654-8002, press 0 for the operator or e-mail ramonahumanesociety@ya hoo.com

12/12/2009

Norco to address manure disposal concerns Wednesday
Concerns voiced by several residents in Horsetown USA about manure pick-up in the city known for having more horses than people have prompted company officials responsible for disposing of the waste to deliver a presentation Wednesday at a City Council meeting.

Dog missing a month rescued from canyon
A dog that was discovered trapped on a foothill ledge had been missing more than a month and, through some sleuthing by a San Manuel tribal employee, has been reunited with its owner.

"When I received the call, I felt as though my heart stopped," said Angelina Rotolan, of San Bernardino.

Hemet resident eagerly enters prized German shepherd in dog show
His name is Asgard Harley Davidson v. Plamark, HT, PT, CGC, TC, HIC, OFA (Hips & Elbows).

You may call him Harley.

Harley's co-owner, Hemet resident Paula M. Cooke, calls him her constant companion and "the epitome of the German shepherd dog I have wanted all my life."

Cooke will show Harley in the Eukanuba National Championship today and Sunday at the Long Beach Convention Center.