Pet’s Name

God (Zilla)

Guardian

Robert Vega

Hometown

Santa Monica

Age

15 months

Breed

Min-Pin

Favorite Toys

Fuzzy stuffed toy animals

Favorite Playtime

Anytime

Why your pet is so special to you.

Best spooning companion

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.

Pet’s Name

Dot

Guardian

Allison Fussell-Louie

Hometown

Los Angeles

Age

3

Breed

Purebred Mutt

Favorite Toys

Blue Octopus

Favorite Playtime

Walks in Elysian Park

Why your pet is so special to you.

Best snuggler ever!

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!”

Pet’s Name

Toby

Guardian

Barry Selbst

Hometown

Simi Valley

Age

6

Breed

Westie

Favorite Toys

“Purple Baby”

Favorite Playtime

After dinner

Why your pet is so special to you.

He’s warm and loving. Toby doesn’t have a mean bone in his body, except when it comes to chasing squirrels and possums out of the yard.

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.