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09/03/2010

Riverside pet adoption center to host comedy fundraiser
The Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center is hosting its 13th Annual Comedy Night fundraiser Sept. 10 at the Riverside Convention Center.

The show's headliner is standup comedian Tom Ryan, who has opened for Jerry Seinfeld and Tim Allen, among others, and has appeared several times on television. The opening act is versatile comedian-magician-musician Pete McLeod.

09/02/2010

Some Inland restaurants now offer menu for diners' canine companions
Three Dog Bakery has teamed up with an Inland Johnny Rockets franchise to offer gourmet treats to canine visitors in two locations.

08/30/2010

Is your pet in the altered state?
Most local shelters and rescues are either at or over capacity in the Inland Empire. Pets are being abandoned and turned in at record rates.

When asked what will help alleviate this situation the most common answer I receive from shelter staff is that people should spay or neuter their pets to reduce the overall pet population.

08/28/2010

Blues for the Zoo 'success on many levels'
Earlier this month Moonridge Animal Park in Big Bear held its biggest fundraising event marking this year's 50th anniversary.

Proceeds raised went to the animal sanctuary and rehabilitation center's programs. Bill Treadwell, board member of event sponsor Friends of the Moonridge Zoo, said the event was a huge success. Here's the scoop from Treadwell:

08/27/2010

Dogs can help fight cancer with walk in Corona
Dogs and their owners can walk together to fight cancer.

The American Cancer Society's Bark for Life event is at 9 a.m. Saturday at Lee Pollard High School, 185 Magnolia Ave. in Corona.

08/25/2010

Humane Society observes Responsible Dog Ownership month
The Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley and Dances with Dogs Training Center will celebrate AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Month from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 25 at the Humane Society offices, 374 W. Orange Show Road, San Bernardino.

08/24/2010

Riverside waives penalties to encourage pet licensing
Animal control officials say they have seen a spike in Riverside residents applying for dog licenses during an amnesty period that began in July and was just extended through September.

State law requires people to license their dogs as a way to ensure the animals are protected against rabies, because dogs must be vaccinated to get a license.

People go wild over pet chickens, ducks
When Linda Woodward dresses her poultry, hold the sauce and gravy. She's not preparing her birds for a meal, but for a photo shoot.

She clothes her three chickens to pose them for the family's annual Christmas calendar.

For the 2011 pictorial spread, Woodward, 67, even hired a seamstress to costume her chickens as characters from "Gone with the Wind."

Video: Riverside couple dolls up chickens in costume

08/23/2010

Legacy of a Cat
There are 75 resident cats at the Room 8 Cat Foundation facility in Riverside and Debbie Marks knows each one by name.

These are not stray cats picked up off the street but cats who once knew the warmth of a loving home. Some of their owners have passed away and others were no longer able to care for them for health or financial reasons.

08/22/2010

Temecula ride will raise money for animal group
For those who ride motorcycles and like poker, the Animal Friends of the Valleys is holding a second annual fundraiser that combines both.

The Save a Stray Poker Run will be held Sept. 11, starting at Chopper Gallery, 28860 Old Town Front St., B6, in Old Town Temecula.

08/21/2010

Spaying, neutering event set for Banning park
Animal Samaritans will be at Repplier Park in Banning on Tuesday to pick up and drop off dogs and cats for spaying and neutering.

Up to 16 dogs and cats will be taken to their newveterinary clinic in Thousand Palms, and delivered back to the park the same day for no additional fee.

Animal Samaritans' spay and neuter fees are $72 for cats, and $95 for dogs.

08/19/2010

YMCA membership also nets pet adoption
The Riverside YMCA is celebrating Homeless Animal Awareness Month from Saturday through Sept 21. Members who join the YMCA during that time will receive a $40 animal adoption voucher good at the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter.

There will also be a poster contest, and the winning poster will be used during the 2011 awareness campaign.

The YMCA is at 4020 Jefferson St. in Riverside.

08/17/2010

Group to provide free pet transport in Banning
A nonprofit group from the desert is expanding its free pet transport program to Banning.

Animal Samaritans will send a van to Repplier Park on Aug. 24 to pick up owners' cats and dogs. The driver will take the animals to the group's veterinary clinic in Thousand Palms to be spayed and neutered and will return them to the park the same day.

08/16/2010

Dog keeper in court over licenses
An attorney for Riverside dropped a majority of more than 200 citations against self-described animal rescuer Charlotte Spadaro, but he argued Wednesday that Spadaro should be made to answer for 30 counts of having unlicensed dogs.

Thousands raised for horse ranch stung by bee removal cost
Horse enthusiasts in western Riverside County are warning property owners to be on the lookout for hives, as they help out a local ranch reeling from the deaths of two horses and a plethora of so-called "killer bees."

Baseball's going to the dogs
We've had a pretty mild summer so far but if you've lived in the Inland Empire for a while you know that September and October can bring some pretty high temperatures. We can crank up the air conditioner and get out of the heat but how about our pets?

08/15/2010

Wild horse, burro adoption event held in Redlands
Riverside resident Victor Ruiz is a changed man. Suits and ties used to be the preferred style of dress for the real estate agent. Now, he dons western attire.

Ruiz, 49, was once fearful of horses. Now he has three, including a dark bay wild horse that he recently adopted to join his two previously adopted wild horses.

08/11/2010

Golfing for the dogs in Hemet
Their golfing friends want to play another round for the animals, so octogenarians Dee Holman and Madeline Nestor have organized the second annual Dawgon Good Golf Tournament for Aug. 19 to benefit the nonprofit Ramona Humane Society.

08/09/2010

EAT, DRINK AND ADOPT
Planning is under way at Animal Friends of the Valleys for its annual Wines for Canines fundraiser to be held at Wilson Creek Winery, but some of the planning is very hush-hush. Why the big secret?

08/08/2010

Dog license fee increase proposal set for Riverside County hearing
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors has set a Tuesday public hearing on a proposal to raise dog license fees in unincorporated areas of Riverside County.

Under the new fee schedule being proposed by the Department of Animal Services, the cost of licensing a dog would double from $8 to $16 for an altered canine. Residents who own an intact animal would see the one-year license fee rise from $50 to $100.

08/07/2010

Tiny horse's fate brings anger, then tears
Malissa Bodor could never forget Gunner even if she wanted to.

The ill-fated miniature horse who was stolen -- not once, but twice this summer -- from the Agriculture Department farm at Rubidoux High School and was found dead in a flood control channel July 20, was born and raised at Bodor's Majestic Ranch in the Woodcrest area of Riverside.

08/06/2010

Transgender dog saved by surgery
A Pomeranian puppy found wandering San Bernardino streets and born with partially formed male and female reproductive organs has been saved from possible euthanasia after one woman's donation allowed for a $1,165 gender reassignment surgery.

Red, as the dog is being called until it is adopted, needed the surgery to prevent infection and reduce the risk of developing cancer.

Video: Dog gets gender reassignment surgery

08/04/2010

Horse adopted by witness who saw it abandoned in Nuevo
Riverside County animal control officers used a license plate number to track down someone suspected of abandoning a 2-year-old horse Monday in Nuevo, a rural community east of Perris.

08/03/2010

County explores options for opening shelter in San Jacinto
Construction of a new Riverside County animal shelter in San Jacinto should be finished in September, but how the facility will be operated remains undetermined until later this year.

The original target opening time was early summer, but construction overruns and budget uncertainties pushed completion back.

08/02/2010

Ex-Marine on front lines of terrier rescue
It was one of those sizzling hot days in Moreno Valley when Tom Quady noticed two youths going door to door with two tiny terriers. Initially, he thought maybe they were trying to see if they could find the dog's owners, but after inquiring he discovered they were trying to sell them.

08/01/2010

Some Inland horse owners dump animals at stables
Norco Councilman Kevin Bash thought something was strange about the woman who dropped her horse off at his stable a few years ago.

"She was telling it how much she loved it. She kind of drove away and said, 'I'm going to be gone for a couple of weeks,' " Bash said.

He never saw her again and later learned she gave a fake name and address.

07/31/2010

Allure of mini horses can also be curse
To those who know miniature horses best, the traits that make the tiny equines so popular can be a blessing and a curse.

They are described as friendly and inquisitive, with a gentle nature that appeals to adults, senior citizens and children.

Photo Gallery: Miniature horses at DeBruce Ranch

07/30/2010

Search for Rubidoux High mini horse ends sadly
The carcass of a miniature horse found in a San Bernardino County flood control channel July 20 was positively identified Thursday as Gunner, the mascot reported missing from the Rubidoux High School Agriculture Department on July 19.

Riverside County Sheriff's Sgt. Joe Borja said photos taken of the tiny equine before it was hauled away were used to make the identification.

Wine, dog fashion show highlight Temecula-area fundraiser
The seats closest to the stage are not necessarily the best in the house.

07/29/2010

Moving day will be sad and happy for Animal Friends of the Valleys
For Animal Friends of the Valleys, comparing its current shelter in Lake Elsinore to the new shelter in Wildomar will be as different as night and day.

The new shelter under construction on Mission Trail will be a 32,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility. It will replace several mobile homes and outdoor kennels, storage and work areas at the Bastron Street shelter.

Banning contracts with Beaumont for animal control service
The Banning City Council signed off Tuesday night on an agreement for the city of Beaumont to provide Banning with animal control services through June 30.

Beaumont is charging Banning $30 per call-out for service. Banning has already budgeted for the expenditure. Calimesa is contracting with Beaumont for animal control service, as well.

07/28/2010

Yucaipa City Council set to adopt pit bull spay/neuter ordinance
A proposed ordinance mandating pit bulls in Yucaipa be spayed or neutered received preliminary approval from the City Council on Monday night.

The City Council approved the first reading 4-1, with Councilman Tom Masner voting no.

07/27/2010

Rubidoux High mini horse is missing -- again
When Gunner, the Rubidoux High School Agriculture Department's miniature horse and de facto mascot, was stolen and returned in June, his caretakers secured his stall with a chain and padlock to keep him safe.

Despite those precautions, Gunner has been taken once again. He's been missing for more than a week.

07/26/2010

Music will benefit animal park in Big Bear
Music will reverberate in the mountains to benefit critters in the area when Blues for the Zoo is presented at Big Bear Lake on Aug. 7.

"This is the first time we are doing this," said Bill Treadwell, event coordinator and vice president of Friends of the Moonridge Zoo. "It's a bold step forward but if it's a great success we will do it again next year."

Dog aggression a serious problem
Someone recently sent me a link to the Potentially Dangerous Dog List on the Animal Friends of the Valleys website.

I was surprised to see so many dangerous dogs in Southwest Riverside County. Murrieta led the list with 16, Lake Elsinore had seven, Temecula had six and Wildomar, two.

07/24/2010

Lake Elsinore looks at increasing animal license, impound fees
A proposal to increase animal license and impound fees will go before the Lake Elsinore City Council on Tuesday.

07/22/2010

Non-profit group to run animal shelter in Wildomar
The nonprofit Animal Friends of the Valleys won a five-year contract Wednesday to run the new animal shelter being built in Wildomar.

The contract will pay the agency up to $1 million a year to operate the shelter, which includes the cost of food, veterinary care, utilities and other overhead.

More animal parts found in southwest Riverside County
Animal control officers picked up 15 black plastic bags filled with butchered cow parts Wednesday morning on a rural stretch of Baxter Road, about a half-mile east of Interstate 15 in Wildomar.

Adoption fee slashed temporarily at Riverside County Animal Services shelters
The Riverside County Department of Animal Services is slashing prices on adoptable dogs and cats at all its shelters.

The special temporary rate -- $20 for dogs and $15 for cats -- applies to stray pets that have been at the shelter at least seven days without being adopted. The fee includes spay and neuter surgeries, vaccinations and microchipping.

07/21/2010

FERAL CATS GET BUM RAP
Each week, local shelters send me photos and write-ups on adoptable pets that I post to our website, hoping each will find a happy home. Actually the success rate is pretty high for these lucky animals that get the special attention.

Wildomar animal shelter agreement on authority agenda
The Southwest Communities Financing Authority Wednesday will consider an operations agreement for the new Animal Friends of the Valleys shelter in Wildomar.

The 12:30 p.m. meeting is at Murrieta City Hall, 24601 Jefferson Ave.

--Jeff Horseman

07/20/2010

Riverside man won't stop looking for beloved, missing macaw
Don't try to tell Anthony Smith that if you love something, you should set it free.

In the past few weeks, Smith said he has handed out about 1,000 fliers around his Riverside neighborhood, called pet shops and animal rescuers and posted messages online in a tireless, but so far fruitless, search for his missing blue-and-gold macaw.

Video: Riverside man has knack for exotic birds

Photo Gallery: Search for a missing Macaw

07/17/2010

Temecula Dog Wash to benefit K-9 unit
A charity dog wash will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Dogtopia, 27629 Commerce Center Drive in Temecula.

Proceeds will benefit equipment and medical care for the Temecula Police Department K-9 Unit.

--Jeff Horseman

07/16/2010

Beaumont takes on animal-care services for Calimesa, Banning
Calimesa and Banning have decided to contract with Beaumont for animal-care field services.

"It's one of those services that lends itself to a regional approach," said Kirby Warner, Banning's interim finance director.

Beaumont has its own animal-care department. Calimesa and Banning do not. They previously had a contract with Riverside County.

A timid but beautiful cat
Isabella was left in a cage outside the animal shelter when she was only 2 months old. This beautiful cat is still very shy and overwhelmed. She needs someone who will adopt and be patient with her. She is a long-hair, with big orange eyes and beautiful markings. She is now 9 months old, spayed, up to date on shots and litterbox trained. Her ID number is R135341 and she's available at the Ramona Humane Society, 690 Humane Way in San Jacinto. For information, call 951-654-8002 or e-mail ramonahumanesociety@yahoo.com

07/15/2010

Learn about cold-blooded pets at PETCO's Reptile Rally
Some say the best pets are the cold-blooded kind.

Reptile owners, potential owners and those who are simply curious can attend a Reptile Rally at PETCO on Saturday to learn about care, feeding, costs and personality traits.

07/13/2010

Kids get bug-eyed at summer nature camp
You could say the kids at the Jurupa Mountains Cultural Center were a tad "bug-eyed" during their Tuesday morning Nature Camp session.

Video: Summer camp students learn about bugs

Photo Gallery: An interactive lesson on insects

Animal Services fundraiser to feature classic cars and more
Hot cars and cool pets will be on display Saturday at the Riverside County Department of Animal Services' first "Park and Bark" event.

Park and Bark will feature a classic car show, raffles, food, vendors and kid bounce houses. Available pets will be offered for adoption at special rates.

'Dog Days' benefit to raise money for Redlands shelter
Residents who want a professional portrait of their pet and a chance to help out the city's animal shelter can sign up for "Dog Days of Summer."

On July 24 and 25, photographer Stephen Wormser will offer pet portrait sittings for $50, with half of the proceeds from the 5-by-7 photos going to the Redlands shelter, said Animal Control Supervisor Bill Miller.

07/12/2010

Bees that killed Menifee horses becoming common, dangerous sight
Cherie Linnemeyer and daughter Sierra still get chills recalling the image of thousands of bees blanketing two horses from ear-tip to hoof on a Menifee ranch.

One horse, overwhelmed by bee venom, died within 20 minutes of the attack. The other horse lasted until 4 a.m., throwing himself down and thrashing every time a veterinarian's painkillers started to wear off.

QUEEN ANNE IS HOLDING COURT
Royalty is now in residence at the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center. Last Friday a Harlequin Great Dane staff named Queen Anne gave birth to 12 puppies of which 10 survived.

07/11/2010

Redlands council allows overnight pet-boarding businesses downtown
A downtown Redlands pet store can offer overnight dog boarding, but it took an amendment to the city code to make the service legal.

Not everyone on the City Council thought it was a good idea.

Even after changes to shrink the amount of space where boarding would be allowed, Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Bean voted against the amendment during Tuesday's council meeting.

07/10/2010

Hemet woman creates healthy products for pets
The Holistic Pooch is a line of homeopathic supplements and remedies for pets that are also suitable for people. Tina Slayton conducted years of research before starting her business about six months ago.

Riverside offers dog license amnesty
The city of Riverside will waive penalty fees during July and August for people who have let their dog license lapse or failed to get a license.

The amnesty is being offered to encourage people to license their pets. Dog owners also can get a one-year credit for their dog license if they bring proof that the animal is microchipped and spayed or neutered.

07/09/2010

Crackdown sought on off-leash dogs in Menifee
As Teresa Simonetti's three panting German shepherds trailed her across the parking lot after an impromptu dog park romp, she started to apologize.

"I usually don't do it. I didn't have my leashes with me though," the 35-year-old said, explaining why her dogs were momentarily off-leash as they hopped into the back of her SUV. "We just made a pit stop."

Free vaccinations offered for Corona seniors' dogs
The Corona animal shelter if offering free vaccinations for dogs that belong to older residents.

Canines receiving shots must be at least 4 months old and belong to Corona seniors 50 and older.

Birthday bash set for famed Norco mustang
The public is invited to a sixth birthday celebration in Norco for a well-known, once-wild Mustang.

Hail Yeah is turning 6 this week and sponsors of World Equestrian Games 2010 are throwing him a party that includes a drawing for tickets to the games, airfare and accommodations. The games start in September in Lexington, Ky.

07/08/2010

Snakes are a good thing, says expert
Kim McWhorter is an unabashed snake fan.

Even when discussing some of the world's deadliest snakes -- the black mamba or the king cobra -- McWhorter is careful to inform her audience that the cold-blooded reptiles play an important role in the ecosystem.

Video: A lesson on Inland snakes (courtesy of Riverside County Department Animal Services

07/07/2010

Horsemanship class offered near Temecula
Villa Chardonnay, a sanctuary for neglected and abandoned horses, will hold a basic horsemanship class from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 24 at the villa, 42200 Calle Barbona just outside Temecula.

Open to adults and children, the class will cover the care of horses and is geared toward anyone considering buying a horse or working with the animals. A donation of $25 per person or $40 for two is requested.

07/05/2010

San Jacinto, Yucaipa animal shelters have trained pets
Elvis was left in the night drop at the Ramona Humane Society. He could have been left there by a kind person getting him off the street where he might have been killed or he could have been left by owners who no longer wanted him.

07/03/2010

Moreno Valley Animal Shelter closed today
The Moreno Valley Animal Shelter will be closed today in observance of Independence Day. The shelter will reopen to the public on Monday from 10 a.m.to 6 p.m.

Menifee switches animal services contract
In a money-saving move, the city of Menifee earlier this week contracted with two area non-profit organizations for its animal control and shelter needs for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

07/01/2010

Animal control office opens today in San Jacinto for valley cities
A new Ramona Humane Society animal control office serving the cities of San Jacinto and Hemet opens today in San Jacinto, which is the first day the nonprofit provides field services to the city of Hemet.

Ramona began providing field services to San Jacinto in mid-May. The cities formerly relied on Riverside County Department of Animal Services for field services, but they switched to save money.

Yucaipa Animal Placement Society to distribute spay/neuter vouchers
Starting Friday vouchers to spay or neuter cats and dogs will be available at the Yucaipa Animal Placement Society. The vouchers are $25 to offset the cost of altering a male cat and $50 for altering a dog or female cat.

06/30/2010

Yucaipa extends agreement with San Bernardino County for animal control, services
The Yucaipa City Council voted 4-0 Monday night to extend the city's contract with San Bernardino County for animal services and control.

Councilwoman Denise Hoyt was not at the council meeting.

The city's agreement with the county is set to expire June 30. There are no changes in the extended agreement.

Riverside County dog license hike to get public hearing
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors has set a July 27 hearing date on a proposal to raise dog license fees in unincorporated areas of the county.

Tuesday's vote was 4-0. Supervisor Marion Ashley was absent.

The county's Department of Animal Services is seeking approval to raise license and contract fees.

06/28/2010

Temecula-area woman's life is deliberately a 'zoo'
Jill Stafford has a lot of mouths to feed. Quite a few beaks, too.

In between shifts as a cocktail waitress at Pechanga Resort & Casino, the 45-year-old runs "Jill's Zoo" on her 10-acre property just outside Temecula's eastern city limits.

Video: Jill's Zoo in Temecula

Trained owners make happy dogs
I'm happy to announce that I've graduated from dog behavior classes. That's right! It was I and not my dog, Malcolm, who had the problem. According to Rick Belmonte, or as he's known at our house now, "Uncle Rick," our dogs never had a problem. It was my husband and I who weren't really stepping up to the alpha dog plate.

06/25/2010

Wine event to benefit Lake Elsinore animal shelter
"Wine for Canines," a benefit for Animal Friends of the Valleys, is set for late August Wilson Creek Winery.

Paul Jolly, vice president at Petco, will be the guest speaker at the Aug. 28 event in Temecula Valley Wine Country. The benefit is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

06/22/2010

San Bernardino county supervisors OK pit bull ordinance
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors gave preliminary approval on Tuesday to an ordinance requiring pit bulls in unincorporated areas to be spayed or neutered.

The 3-0 decision, with supervisors Josie Gonzales and Paul Biane absent, is subject to a second vote on July 13. It could become law in August. The city of San Bernardino and Riverside County require all breeds of dogs to be sterilized.

Video: Pit bull neutering proposal earns preliminary OK

06/21/2010

Miniature horse gets loose on Highway 60 before being corraled
A miniature horse somehow got loose on the westbound Highway 60 in Rubidoux on Sunday, and a boy was seen chasing it down.

The brown-and-white horse was eventually snagged, and Riverside County Animal Services took it away after it was moved to the parking lot of the Farmer Boys restaurant on Valley Way.

06/19/2010

What is That?
What it is: Regional animal shelter

Where it is: The new facility will be on Mission Trail and Corydon Street in Wildomar

When it will open: It is scheduled to open in the fall.

How big it is: It will be about 32,000 square feet.

06/17/2010

World Equestrian Games saddles up in Norco
Sponsors of the World Equestrian Games have come to a place known for horse to celebrate a countdown kick-off to the September event

06/16/2010

4-year-old attacked by pit bull
A 4-year-old boy is in the hospital after being attacked by a pit bull at a relative's house Wednesday morning, San Bernardino police said.

The boy and his mother, residents of Taylor, Mich., were visiting family members in the 1500 block of West Windsor Street, Lt. Jarrod Burguan said by telephone. The child was in the backyard when he picked up a toy and, without warning, the dog attacked.

Riverside passes spay/neuter law, limits number of pets
A new animal protection ordinance in Riverside won't result in mass forced spaying and neutering, or pets being seized, city officials told residents Tuesday.

The Riverside City Council unanimously approved a rule that will require most cats and dogs to be microchipped and spayed or neutered once they're 7 months old.

06/15/2010

Riverside council to consider spay/neuter rules, cap on number of pets
Riverside residents could be required to spay or neuter their pets and have them microchipped, under a proposed rule the City Council will discuss Tuesday.

The new ordinance also would cap the number of dogs and cats people could keep without a special kennel or cattery permit.

06/14/2010

Redlands RUFF Brings Community Together
Summer's here and dogs are begging to go to their local dog park. There's nothing like a little sniffing, ball chasing and running around to make your canine pal wag its tail for joy.

06/12/2010

Adopt a Pet
Panzer is a 1-year-old male shepherd mix described as friendly and lovable. He and other dogs are available at Sun City K9 Adoptions, 26510 Murrieta Road, Menifee. Information: www.sck9adoptions.org or 951-679-6444.

Adopt a Pet
Tyson is a 5-month-old chihuahua/doxie mix. The black-and-tan male is not yet neutered. He is described as sweet and lovable. He is housebroken and in good health. He and other dogs are available at Animal Friends of the Valley, 29001 Bastron Ave., Lake Elsinore. Information: 951-674-0618 or www.animalfriendsofthevalleys.com.

06/07/2010

COMING CLEAN ABOUT CATS
June is Adopt-a-Cat Month. Don't stop reading just because you consider yourself a dog person. That's exactly what I would have done last year before Lulu came into my life.

One rainy night my husband came home with a tiny half-dead ball of fur and an expectant look on his face. We always considered ourselves dog people but as soon as a little squeak emerged from the fur ball I was hooked.