Southern California native Teresa Morrison, a former magazine editor, has been volunteering in the PAWS/LA food bank for the past 4 months.  She first heard of PAWS/LA during her 10-year career in LGBT publishing when she worked for HIV+ magazine.  When the economic recession and crisis in print publishing lead to layoffs, Teresa’s job was eliminated leading to a life-changing career move.

With ample free time on her hands, Teresa decided to spend it constructively.  Previous volunteer experiences with Project Angelfood and APLA, along with her HIV activism lead to a natural interest in helping PAWS/LA.  Additionally, Teresa was interested in helping animals.  Living on a fixed income while looking for a new job, she understood the dilemma PAWS/LA clients face when choosing between caring for their pets and eating.  Teresa herself currently cares for two cats and two dogs, all rescued from shelters.

Teresa works in the PAWS/LA food bank every Friday afternoon.  She calls the work “zen like”; after working in an office for years, using her hands is a welcome change.  While in the food bank, Teresa assists clients with their monthly food pick ups, bags cat and dog food into monthly allotments, and keeps the warehouse neat and tidy.  Her volunteer work also gives her an excuse to come to downtown Los Angeles, an area of town she hasn’t explored much lately.

Teresa’s prior work in LGBT publishing and her volunteer work at PAWS/LA helped her realize that meaningful work is extremely important to her.  With the amount of time that we give to our jobs, she says, she wants to be doing something that helps people.  Teresa will be starting a combination teaching credential and Masters in Education program at Cal State-Northridge this fall.  She plans to teach English to special needs kids.  Though we will be sorry to lose Teresa as a regular food bank volunteer, we wish her luck in her new career.

www.lapetsitting.com

Cats may have as many as 130,000 hairs per square inch in their coat! Though kitties usually do a meticulously excellent job at grooming and caring for their fur, there are some things we can do to help. As cats get older they may need more help with grooming. Try a fine toothed comb to reach dull, dead hairs. Senior cat’s coats should brighten up when those are removed along with any dirt or particles. Bathing should not be done too frequently, and should be followed with a conditioning rinse made specifically for cats.

Diet can be a big factor in coat appearance. Cats need more protein than dogs, along with complex carbohydrates and healthy fats. If a cat’s coat becomes dull or dry, check the ingredients and protein content in his/her food. Supplements such as fish or flax oil can also be added. It is a good idea to consider the quantity of food your cat is eating each day. Dandruff down the center of the back or around the base of the tail may be a sign that your cat is too overweight to reach these areas when grooming. In addition to counting calories at meal time, be careful with the quantity of treats. Catnip and cat grass are low calorie, green treats that are easy to grow at home and may also encourage exercise and activity. Use treats to train and reward your cat…and not just for being cute! Try to be sure they make up less than 10% of your cats diet.

PAWS/LA does not endorse nor take responsibility for accuracy of the facts and/or statements above.

Tuesday | October 12. 2010

Avalon Hollywood

1735 Vine Street

Get the real, inside-Hollywood story as shared by 50s heartthrob, Tab Hunter. A product of Hollywood’s golden age, Tab Hunter became Hollywood’s golden boy and one of cinema’s most sought after romantic leads.

PAWS/LA is proud to present “An Evening with Tab Hunter” — an up-close-and-personal conversation with this Hollywood icon. Tab will share revelations from his recently published autobiography Tab Hunter Confidential which became a national best seller and garnered critical raves and praise from the New York Times, Daily Variety, San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post, Vanity Fair, New York Post and dozens more.

Come and join us for what promises to be a lively look at the life of one of Hollywood’s most popular movie legends.

Funds raised from the event will help underwrite PAWS/LA’s expenses to provide veterinary care to more than 2,000 animal companions of our clients.

Advanced ticket prices*:

General Seating

• Individual ticket – $115
• Table of 10 – $1,100

VIP Seating**

• Individual ticket – $185
• Table of 10 – $1,800

*Tickets must be purchased by August 31, 2010.

Ticket prices after August 31st:

General Seating

• Individual ticket – $125
• Table of 10 – $1,200

VIP Seating**

• Individual ticket – $200
• Table of 10 – $1,900

**Includes preferred seating and private reception with Tab Hunter.

To reserve your tickets in advance, please complete the form below.

The Morris Kight Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual whose lifetime of work has left a lasting major imprint on the LGBT community. 

To make a lasting impression on an individual takes a special person. To make a difference in the lives of many takes a lifetime of work and a tremendous amount of selflessness. Nadia Sutton makes a difference in the lives of the people that she encounters every day. 

Nadia is described by her peers as a champion and as an individual constantly working to help others. In 1989, Nadia founded PAWS/LA (Pets Are Wonderful Support), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those affected by HIV/AIDS who had difficulty caring for their pets. Nadia saw a need and wrangled a team to make sure that those in need were not forced to lose their cherished animal companions. Since then the organization has expanded its scope and currently serves nearly 2,000 low-income seniors and those living with terminal illness.

Nadia is passionate about fighting against injustice and for equality. She is among the first to mobilize teams of people to show up at a march or demonstration. She hits the streets for youth, seniors, pets, and those outside of the LGBT community as well. Nadia is a social activist, volunteer, and inspiration. Her tireless giving and constant contributions do not go unnoticed. One nominator wrote, “Nadia embodies the true attributes of a heroine. She has committed herself to the LGBT community for decades and asks for nothing in return!”

PAWS/LA is thrilled to be a beneficiary of PetCo Foundation’s Pet Food Bank Collection Program that launched in PetCo stores nationwide late May 2010.  Pet food collected at designated Los Angeles area stores will be donated to PAWS/LA in support of our Pet Food Bank for the companion animals of low-income senior and disabled animal guardians. PAWS/LA’s pet food bank distributes free pet food to more than 400 clients and their companion animals every month. Currently, we are in particular need of canned dog and cat food.

According to PetCo, the goal of this program is to help prevent pet abandonment by supporting pet parents in economic stress through collecting pet food and supplies for local pet food banks.

“Today, more than ever, pets are part of the family; and we don’t believe anyone should have to go through the pain of giving them up because of financial distress,” said Paul Jolly, the PETCO Foundation’s Executive Director. “With PETCO stores across the country visited every day by people who love and care for pets, we saw a huge opportunity to help prevent people from having to make such a heart-wrenching choice.”

Paul Jolly’s sentiment echo’s PAWS/LA’s mission to preserve the loving bond between people and their companion animals.

The pet food bank bins are clearly marked and designated for pet food donations/supplies and serve as a collection point for customers to drop off food or cat litter donations brought from home or purchased during their shopping trip.

Pet Food Collection bins at the following Pet Co. locations are designated specifically for PAWS/LA:

12800 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604-2367
818-506-6416

5347 S. Sepulveda Blvd
Culver City, CA 90230
310-390-7255

200 S. La Brea Ave Ste C
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-934-8444

1475 S. Robertson Blvd.
LA, CA 90035
310-282-8166

508 N. Doheny Dr.
West Hollywood, CA 90048
310-275-6012

(If you would like to contribute to the Pet Food Bank and these stores are not conveniently located for you, your cash donation for the purchase of food is greatly appreciated. Click here to donate.)

The program is an extension of the Pet Co. Foundation’s existing “We Are Family, Too” fund, which already provides seed funding for animal welfare programs to help pet parents who are in financial crisis, including food banks, product donations, referral lists of pet friendly housing, short term foster care and veterinarian services. While the Foundation also has programs in place to help feed pets in shelters, this program is specifically designed to support local food banks and families in financial crisis.

For more information about donating to the PAWS/LA Pet Food Bank, please contact Steve Wayland at 213.741.1950 x 114 or swayland@pawsla.org.

With the generous support and donations of Pet Co customers, PAWS/LA can continue fill its food bank with much needed food and supplies for its clients and the animals they love.

www.lapetsitting.com

We’ve all seen cats rub their faces on people, things and each other, but did you know this is a feline way of greeting and there is a scientific explanation to it? They have scent glands in their temples, mouths, and base of their tails which are used to mark their territory, essentially claiming their favorite people, objects and pets. Cats also pick up smells in this manner, which explains the funny, open mouthed expression you may see a cat make.

Cats may give gentle bites when happy that are similar to human kissing. Some other signs of affection are purring, arching the back when pet, and licking. Watch out for harder bites though, since that may be a sign that kitty is tired of being pet and would like you to leave him alone. Aggravation may be expressed if purring stops, eyes and pupils widen, tail twitches and thumps, and ears point backward.

Tails are part of cat language in other ways as well. A tail held high and straight up is a sign of happiness and a greeting if you are approached this way. Half raised, shows less pleasure, and a tail held low indicates unhappiness. Of course, puffed up tail and back fur is a sign of fear and aggression.

Head-butting with the top of the head is strictly for expressing affection and the highest compliment a cat will pay you. They will greet their best feline friends this way by bumping their head near their face or chest area. Don’t be confused if your leg is the object of the bump, it’s only due to the height difference.

PAWS/LA does not endorse nor take responsibility for accuracy of the facts and/or statements above.

Jenny Kriendler is a new volunteer at PAWS/LA, but with her big heart and compassion for animals she has already been recognized by the agency for her hard work.

Jenny is a long-time animal lover who grew up with dogs, parakeets, guinea pigs, chinchillas, fish, turtles, rats and even hedgehogs. Her two family dogs live in Arizona with her parents, but she still gets to see her furry friends a few times a year. In the near future, she also plans on adopting her own dog from a shelter in Los Angeles.

As a new member of PAWS/LA’s volunteer team, Jenny commits about six hours a week assisting the agency. She helps out wherever she is needed, whether it is delivering pet food to clients or serving as the PAWS/LA receptionist. She also shares her background in social work to counsel clients on occasion. When needed for critical cases, she helps clients find additional services outside of PAWS/LA. And, she has created a resource guide that provides information to clients about other supportive services they may need. Her next project will focus on a research study about the benefits and effects of PAWS/LA’s PetCo Place.

Jenny was introduced to PAWS/LA while volunteering for an animal assisted therapy organization. While at a special event, she visited the PAWS/LA information booth and learned about the agency. The moment she found out about the PAWS/LA mission, she knew she wanted to devote all of her extra time to the cause.

“There is no agency out there servicing people’s pets like PAWS/LA does. I see the organization as a social service agency for animals,” Jenny said. “There are so many groups in our community that help people in need, but their pets are so often overlooked.”

Jenny understands the importance of having a loving companion animal, especially for the underprivileged and underrepresented population that PAWS/LA targets. Having a pet provides therapeutic benefits for owners, especially when they are coping with life struggles.

“PAWS/LA supports and recognizes the importance of the bond between animals and humans. I fully believe in this bond,” Jenny explained. “I also believe that it is crucial to get involved in the community and take time out of our busy lives to help others.”

Jenny attributes her choice to volunteer at PAWS/LA to the fact that she “gets to help people and animals all in one fell swoop.”

Her experience at PAWS/LA thus far has been a rewarding one. Volunteering brings her a sense of relief because she knows clients’ animals are getting the care they need. She is happy that her work is appreciated.

Ultimately, Jenny’s life goal is to incorporate animal assisted therapy into her social work.

“As humans, it is our duty to appreciate and value the benefits that animals bring our world. We cannot abuse the power we have to control their lives,” Jenny, clearly passionate about the subject, elaborates. “People have become more and more desensitized to the fact that animals positively contribute so much to us. We rarely take time out of our day to thank the animals that have given their lives for either human food or because we destroyed their habitats to build new homes. Without animals and pets, we would not be the species we are today.”

www.lapetsitting.com

Have you ever noticed your cat or dog incessantly licking at his or her fur day and night? There could be several explanations. Pay attention to get to the root of the problem since your pet could end up with an unsightly coat full of patches and you could end up cleaning up more hairballs than ever.

One cause could simply be boredom. A good test to determine if your cat or dog just isn’t getting enough attention is to try distracting him/her during a vigorous grooming session. If your pet ignores his favorite toy or treat and keeps on licking, then it may be a medical problem. If the grooming stops when offered a distraction, try working more pet playtime and exercise into your schedule and try giving more frequent brushing…a great bonding activity! The extra attention can also help to ease stress-related grooming brought on by moving or adding a new family member…pet or human…to the household.

If your pet ignores your attempts at distraction and continues furiously grooming, allergies or another medical condition may be the cause. Excessive grooming is a common symptom of flea allergies, which can be remedied by a bath and flea treatment. I’ve found it can take some time for the grooming to lessen even after these steps have been taken, and herbal calming shampoos and sprays can help to expedite recovery and soothe your pet in the meantime. Just one flea bite can cause this type of allergic reaction, so prevention is always best. If the problem persists, see a veterinarian to check for mites, dry skin, fungus, or a medical problem.

PAWS/LA does not endorse nor take responsibility for accuracy of the facts and/or statements above.

www.lapetsitting.com

I recently discovered that my two cats both love to eat garbanzo beans! Of course, before giving them an unanticipated treat like that, I had to check to be sure it was cat-safe. I found some interesting and useful information, and was relieved to know that my cats aren’t the only ones who go crazy for chick-peas!

As we all should know, chocolate is toxic to cats as well as dogs. Cats usually know instinctively to stay away from it, but be sure to keep human treats like this away from pets. Onions and garlic are also toxic to cats, destroying red blood cells and causing anemia. Keep grapes and raisins away from both cats and dogs. Milk is not toxic, but adult cats are lactose intolerant…a better choice is Catsip or similar products made with a special enzyme that aids in lactose digestion.

Pet owners should also be selective and do research before purchasing houseplants. At the top of the list of plants to stay away from are Lilies and Marijuana!
For a detailed list of poisonous plants for cats click here:

http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.html

PAWS/LA does not endorse nor take responsibility for accuracy of the facts and/or statements above.

On Sunday, March 20, 2010 PAWS/LA participated as a destination along the fourth annual Los Angeles Great Urban Race course.

The event called for the nearly 700 racers to navigate the streets of downtown Los Angeles and West Hollywood as quickly as possible using only public transportation. Split into teams of two, the pairs solved clues and completed twelve challenges before they crossed the finish line. One of the clues led participants to the PAWS/LA Food Bank.

It read: “PAWS LA is dedicated to preserving the loving bond between people and their companion animals.  Make your way to the parking lot behind PAWS on W. 12th St. between S. Grand Ave. and S. Hope St. and get ready to lend a helping hand!  Each teammate must fill one five-pound bag of either dog food OR kitty litter using the materials provided.  Once full, seal the bags and place them on the rolling cart.”

For five hours, teams stopped by the food bank to scoop pet supplies. PAWS/LA volunteers directed racers to one of ten stations that were pre-setup with the packaging materials. Alan Campbell was the PAWS/LA lead volunteer. A slew of volunteers from Kohl’s, a major GUR sponsor, also showed up. By the end of the day, at least 200 bags of litter and 300 bags of food were filled.

“This is an event we want to do again. We got a lot done and had fun at the same time,” Scott Dunlevie, the PAWS/LA Client Services Coordinator said. “We really enjoyed participating.

While at the PAWS/LA Food Bank, many racers also checked off another task on their list. One of the other clues was to “take a picture of six people total making a 3-2-1 human pyramid” using only teammates and strangers. Dunlevie explained that the PAWS volunteers went above and beyond, and were willing to build the stunt with teams. A piece of cardboard was put on the concrete because volunteers got down on their hands and knees so many times during the day for the challenge.

Some of the clues were obviously straightforward, but others were more of a puzzle. Examples included: “My birth month’s flower is the violet. My birth date is the smallest composite number. My birth year is the same year the movie “American Graffiti” was released. Take a picture of all teammates in front of my statue in Los Angeles.” Another read: “Make your way to the photography shop in West Hollywood that boasts the slogan ‘It’s where the pros go’ and prepare for your GUR mugshot!”

After completing all 12 clues, team “Now You Know” was declared the winner of the race for finishing in a mere two hours and eight minutes. To keep things fun, there was also a costume contest. Team “Happy Birthday Felicia” won dressed as a birthday cake and a piñata.

The Great Urban Race is held in major cities across the country to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and other local charities. The top 25 teams from each city qualify to compete in the National Championship in Las Vegas later this year.