McMillan, who owns a top dog training facility in Los Angeles, said training your dog at a young age teaches it obedience because it is when the owner’s “basic manners of control” get instilled in the dog before they get used to getting away with bad behavior.

“If you neglect them of basic education when they are a puppy, or even an adolescent, then yeah they are going to have behavioral issues when they are older because you didn’t send them to kindergarten,” McMillan said.

So, how should you go about training your new puppy? Let’s break down McMillan’s three points to know for new dog owners.

1. Safety always comes first

Dogs, like humans, have personalities that may not always match with an owner. McMillan said prospective dog owners should talk to the shelter they are adopting from about the dog’s personality, and how it gets along with other dogs, children and cats, in particular.

“If you don’t do your prep work there (shelter), then you might bring the dog home and find out” your new dog does not get along with your kid or other pets, McMillan said.

2. Set them up for success

Bringing a new dog home can be stressful for the dog, and if they are untrained puppies they are sure to get into trouble if they are left to roam around a home alone.

“So when I say set them up for success, don’t drop them off at home and leave right away. You want to spend some time with the dog at home. You want them to feel comfortable and know this is home,” McMillan said. “And if they are a very young puppy, I would not give them free range of the house when you leave.”

“There’s no way on Earth you’re going to leave a puppy alone in a house for a few hours and it not get in trouble,” McMillan added.

3. Training builds trust

Dogs, as pack animals, naturally look for leadership.

“In pack animals, there is always a hierarchy in the pack,” McMillan said. “And they are always looking for some form of leadership.”

Dog owners should strive to be both the parent and the friend of their pet, and that is where training comes in.

“Training will not only build trust, but it builds a bond, a friendship,” McMillan said.

“If they don’t trust you, they are not going to learn one thing from you,” McMillan added. “You always want to make sure you form that bond, form a trust with a dog, and they are going to learn whatever you throw at them.”

Several local shelters have lots of dogs, cats, rabbits and other critters to choose from.

Some of them already come with some pretty interesting names. Take a look at some of these adorable pets named after popular foods that you can adopt today:

Pasadena Humane Society

Churro

Macaroni

Frito, Cheeto and Dorito

Biscuit

Honorable mentions: Boba, Mac N Cheese and Popcorn.

Ventura County Animal Services

Cookie

Dim Sum

Prosciutto

Marshmallow

Honorable mentions: Muffin, Lollipop and Cofffee

Long Beach Animal Care Center

Tomato

Oreo

Gumbo

Peaches

Honorable mentions: Cornflake, Popcorn and Latte.

Several local shelters have dogs, cats, bunnies and other critters looking for a forever home. 

These animals are in search of a loving home where they can grow and play. And although some of them have not yet been named, others already come with unique ones. Take a look at some of these adorable, adoptable pets with not so ordinary names.

Pasadena Humane Society

Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss.

Jabarkus and Chewbarka

Some other honorable mentions are Skillet, Forklift, Wi-Fi, Jimothy and Moto-Moto.

Burbank Animal Center

Cardi B and Nikki Minaj

Ventura County Animal Services

Penelope Pillow – 6-year-old Labrador Retriever Mix

Pocket – 5-month-old Domestic Shorthair

Dr. Pepper – 1-year-old Domestic Shorthair

Rainbow Brite – 7-year-old German Shepherd

Balto – 4-yrar-old Siberian Husky

But what is a “bonded pair”? According to Doreen Jakubbak, the executive director at Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary, a New Jersey-based animal shelter, it all boils down to the bond both animals have developed with each other.

“It is the term we use for when two dogs come from the same home or owner and we make a commitment to not separate them.”

Bonded pets come in all shapes and sizes. They could be a dog pair, a cat pair, or even a cat and dog pair. They may be littermates, come from the same household, or just developed a strong bond after being rescued.

When a shelter labels a pet pair as a “bonded pair,” it means both animals have a healthy relationship and usually sleep and play together so they want the pair to be adopted as a pair instead of separate.

“The one constant was them having each other so we believe that (separating them) would create unnecessary anxiety and further trauma to break that bond,” Jakubbak said.

What are the benefits of adopting a bonded pet pair?

Despite being a major commitment to adopt two pets, a bonded pair does come with its benefits, some experts say.

For starters, adopting bonded pairs has been proven to reduce separation anxiety, barking, destructive behavior and even potty accidents among some pets.

Similarly, bonded pairs might tend to learn quicker than single ones.

“Pets adopted together continue the learning cycle they experienced with their mother and siblings by watching what each other does,” said NOCO Humane, a Colorado-based nonprofit animal shelter. “As they socialize, play, and observe, they see how to behave along with associating the consequences of their actions.”

Lastly, if you’re in the market for two new pets, a bonded pair might be a better choice than adopting to separate animals since the pair is already comfortable together and no introduction is needed.

Visit ClearTheShelters.com between now and Sept. 30, 2024, to find out how you can adopt a pet virtually or donate online to help a shelter near you.

That’s why the city of Mission Viejo is offering training sessions for certain overly excited puppies and young dogs.

Porter, a 1-year-old German Shepherd mix, and Whisper, a Husky, are two of the adoptable dogs for whom the city of Mission Viejo is offering free training, paid for by DAWG, a non profit that raises funds for animals at the Mission Viejo Animal Shelter.

Porter is ready for next adventure

The 1-year-old pup is already showing intelligence, confidence and courage, according to the city.

Porter, an active boy, would make an “exceptional hiking companion.” 

As the pup loves to play with other dogs, families who are looking for a second or third dog would be great for Porter.

“(Porter) would benefit from having a canine friend with a similar temperament and energy,” Kelly Tokarski with the city of Mission Viejo said. “He has been enjoying daily playgroup time with other dogs and loves every minute.”

Whisper is ready to spread love with forever family

Whisper, who arrived at the shelter as a stray in June after being found at a middle school, is loving and vocal as any Husky lovers would know and adore.

The fun, friendly and active pup enjoys receiving back scratches and kisses.

Like Porter, Whisper is available for adoption for only $20 in addition to a free training session.

Interested people can visit Porter and Whisper at the shelter at 28095 Hillcrest to meet Porter.

For more information, visit cmvas.org or call 949-470-3045.

Not only did Giorgi adopt Chester, he also founded the sanctuary in the dog’s honor to ensure that as many special needs senior dogs as possible receive love and care.

Nestled in Stamford, Connecticut, the sanctuary is managed by Giorgi and his wife Anna Giorgi. The family, which includes Anna and Todd’s daughter, Jagger, and son, Lennon, offers unwavering love and support to senior dogs in need.

“I just get to be engulfed in love on a daily basis,” Todd said.

Clear the shelters Aug 27

Adopting a shelter dog? Celebrity trainer offers these 3 tips

Clear the shelters Aug 12

How to donate to the Clear The Shelters campaign

At the sanctuary, neglected, senior, elderly, abandoned, sick, and hospice dogs can spend their remaining days in a secure and loving environment.

“We both had this passion to rescue senior dogs and make this their final home,” Anna said.

The organization’s operations depend on generous donations to meet expenses such as vet bills and medication.

With the help of social media campaigns, the sanctuary has received donations that help the Giorgi family continue rescuing and caring for senior dogs in need of a fur-ever home.

“The gift I give is I try to hold every single dog in my arms, kiss their head, and tell them that they’re a good boy or girl and that they’re gonna see all of our other dogs at the rainbow bridge,” Todd said. “What they give back in terms of gratitude is ten-fold.”

Of course a new dog owner will be beaming at the prospect of adding an adorable, fun-loving best friend to their everyday life. But that new bond requires responsibility and commitment, especially during the dog’s transition period from a shelter or foster to their forever home.

So what are the keys to making that transition go as smooth as possible for both the owner and dog? Celebrity dog trainer Brandon McMillan has three tips:

1. Do homework on your dog pre-adoption

Just like studying for a test, it’s important to find out as much as possible about a dog before bringing them home. Ask the shelter or foster questions that are pertinent to your situation. These could be questions like: How does the dog interact with cats and other dogs? What about with kids and other humans? How are they on walks? Are they chewers?

McMillan says gaining this knowledge ahead of time, rather than on the fly, will lead to a safer transition period.

Clear the shelters Aug 13

Dozens of pets board flights to find forever homes

Clear the shelters Aug 12

How to donate to the Clear The Shelters campaign

2. Help your dog adapt to their new home

Yes, an owner will eventually have to leave their dog alone for an extended period. But the first time doing so shouldn’t be immediately after bringing the dog home.

“Don’t get a dog from a shelter, put them in your house and then go out and party all night,” McMillan said.

Instead, McMillan suggests spending time with the dog to help them get comfortable in the new environment. And it probably isn’t wise to give a dog free rein of the house right away when they are left alone, especially if they’re a puppy.

3. Build trust with your dog through training

Once the dog is home, it’s time to start building that special bond. And McMillan says one of the best ways to do so is through training.

“[Dogs] naturally look for leadership,” McMillan said. “So, you being the mommy or daddy, you want to be the teacher, but you also want to be the parent.

“Training, it will not only build trust, it forms a friendship. And the one thing you can guarantee with a dog, they will not learn off you if they don’t trust you…You always have to make sure you form that bond, form trust with a dog and they’re gonna learn whatever you throw at them.”

McMillian cautions owners that dog training is like the stock market, “it doesn’t always go up” and “it’s going to have little crashes, little bumps in the road.” But if an owner does it right and forms that trust with a dog, they should eventually see a big return on investment.

But despite how intimidating they may look, behind the façade they are known to be lovable and well-behaved dogs.

That is exactly what celebrity dog trainer Tom Davis thinks.

“My absolute favorite breed to train is the pit bull,” Davis said.

For years, Davis, who founded the New York-based Upstate Canine Academy, has specialized in behavior-based dog training aimed at tackling challenging pet behavior.

According to Davis, pit bulls are so easy to train because they are bred to do anything for the humans they work with, which makes them naturally obedient and disciplined.

“In my experience pit bulls are some of the most loyal, trainable, and fun dogs to work with,” Davis said. “They also have a really good working drive and an off switch.”

The history of the American Pit Bull Terrier lineage is over 200 years old and can be traced back to 19th-century British bulls and terriers, according to the American Kennel Club.

Though they were initially bred to hunt, protect and drive livestock, the breed eventually turned into a family dog due to its loyal and enthusiastic nature.

“They like to go out and work with you, have fun and train but they also like to go home, cuddle and be a couch potato,” Davis said. “They are a really diverse dog.”

Why do pit bulls have a bad reputation?

According to Davis, it all boils down to the breed’s bond with its owner.

“The pit bull breed is so loyal and extraordinary that unfortunately it has given them a bad rep because of how loyal they are for their owners,” Davis explained.

“If the pit bull ends up in the wrong hands, that person can ultimately tell that dog to do anything they want. It’s one of the only breeds in the world that I’ve ever worked with that would literally die and do anything for their owner.”

Similarly, the AKC said pit bulls are “confident” and “strong” dogs, but “require an owner who will carefully socialize and obedience train the dog.”

Ultimately, any dog is what the owner makes of it, Davis explains. If the dog is not appropriately trained or disciplined, any good breed can turn into a bad pet.

“It always comes back down to training, whatever hands the dog is in is ultimately what the dog is going to act like,” Davis said. “It’s very important for dog owners out there to understand that if your dog is mean or aggressive or not listening when pulling on the leash, it’s a good chance that it’s because of you as the owner,.”

“There are no bad dogs,” Davis concluded.

Clear the shelters Aug 15

2-time Super Bowl champ George Karlaftis' dog, Ralph, ‘is family'

Pets Jul 25

Glen Powell says his rescue dog is ‘greatest addition' to his life. What to know about Brisket

Expert dog trainer Tom Davis says it is ok to let your dog sleep on the bed, but there is a potential problem that owners need to make sure to avoid.

“My answer is, it doesn’t really matter as long as you can get your dog off (the bed) when they are older,” Davis told NBC Local.

Dogs who become accustomed to sleeping on the bed as puppies will want to do the same when they are fully grown, which could be as big as 100 pounds or more.

“Making sure that you can (say) ‘get off,’ or ‘down,’ and that your dog will actually do that so that you don’t have a fight when they are 100-plus pounds,” Davis added.

Clear the shelters Aug 15

2-time Super Bowl champ George Karlaftis' dog, Ralph, ‘is family'

Clear the shelters Aug 8

Thinking of adopting a dog? Here's some advice from an animal communicator on what to consider

A big part of clearing the shelters is keeping animals out of shelters in the first place, and that happens with the help of dedicated rescue groups and volunteers.

Rescue groups say people often bring kittens – just days old — to shelters, but the shelters don’t have the resources to care for animals that young. 

Volunteers with the Helen Sanders Cat Paws Rescue Group provide “kitten kits” to shelters year round. They also spay and neuter and find fosters. 

“If they need that kind of bottle feeding around the clock and they’re not rescued, they can’t let them starve obviously – so sometimes, end of day is end of kitten,” Felin-Magaldi said. “All these homeless kittens are being born and people are finding litters of kittens so this is a particularly bad time of year.”

“We probably have people coming in with a box of kittens – so a litter is four to six kittens,” Alma Vera-Lima, superintendent of the Long Beach Animal Care Services, said. 

Just as Felin-Magaldi and another volunteer were dropping off kits to the Long Beach Animal Care Center, a woman brought in a beanie filled with newborns, no more than a few days old.

The woman who found them can’t care for them and the hope is that someone else can foster them, and eventually find them a forever home.

In the meantime, rescue groups like Felin-Magaldi’s will try to fill in the gaps. 

“It speaks to me of these cats or kittens born into this world, not asking to be abandoned and left to die – I don’t think that should be a death sentence, they should get a chance,” Felin-Magaldi said.

Do you want to spend five hours or more in the kitchen cooking for your pets? That is about the average amount of time a pet owner might spend making homemade pet food.

Many pet owners believe cooking their pets’ food will be easier and cheaper than buying commercial food. But according to Dr. Lindsey E. Bullen, a veterinary nutritionist, that’s not the case.

There is a “misconception about one being able to create nutritiously balanced pet meals from human ingredients. That is just not possible,” she said.

How to find the right recipe for your animal companion

Rather than finding a random recipe online, Bullen recommends working with a board certified vet to create the right recipe for your furry friend.

“Food preparation done incorrectly could cause long-term damage to be borderline lethal to your pet,” Bullen said.

How about feeding your pets kibble?

Kibble might not be so attractive, but it could be a better option for many.

Even though pet owners might think commercial food is less healthy, Bullen reminds them there is no equivalent in the human world.

If you want to make your own pet food, make sure to research and work with the right professionals.

Bullen said she doesn’t see the benefit of cooking over feeding pets commercial food because every pet is so unique and it’s humanly impossible to get every ingredient right.

Clear the shelters Aug 12

How to donate to the Clear The Shelters campaign

Clear the shelters Aug 8

What to know as Clear The Shelters kicks off its 10th annual adoption campaign

Track and field athletes at West Ranch High School in Stevenson Ranch have been supporting the “Run with Dogs” initiative since their coach Karen Cirricione started the campaign this year. 

As the high school runners hit the trail for their morning run, they run alongside shelter dogs that are ready for adoption from the Castaic Animal Care Center. Then the teens share the information and/or pictures of dogs they ran with.

“They’re great runners, great athletes. They’re also good with social media, so I thought, let’s bring that together,” the cross county coach at West Ranch High School said. 

Based on their interactions with the dogs, the student volunteers write what they know about the animals on social media, and their posts are often shared dozens, if not hundreds, of times. 

“ I don’t have a dog of my own so I don’t necessarily know what it’s like but it was really nice to have that bond with the dogs running with each other,” Braulio Castillo, a West Ranch High junior who volunteers for the program said.

The “Run with Dogs” initiative held three events, and Cirricione said he hopes to host more. 

“I hope this event is shown as many times as possible, shared as many times as possible, to help clear the Castaic shelter.”

Clear the shelters Aug 15

Amanda Seyfried to host this year's Clear The Shelters TV special

Clear the shelters Jun 25

Clear The Shelters campaign returns for 10th straight year

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This year, he’ll bring his cat expertise to NBCUniversal Local’s 10th annual nationwide pet adoption and donation campaign as the “Clear The Shelters” advocate for Hill’s Pet Nutrition, the initiative’s national sponsor for the last seven years.

Galaxy, who was the host and executive producer of Animal Planet’s “My Cat from Hell” for nearly a decade, has worked with cats and their guardians for more than 25 years. Along with authoring two New York Times best-selling books, he posts educational content on his YouTube channel and social accounts. 

Prior to that, Galaxy worked at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley in Colorado 31 years ago — and believe it or not, he wasn’t naturally drawn to the cats. Galaxy, who was born and raised in New York City, grew up with dogs and didn’t have an “immediate bond” with cats.

His coworker at the shelter, however, quickly noticed the felines’ “immediate attachment” to Galaxy and started calling it out.

“Every time I walked into a room and I’d sit down, all the cats would come to me,” Galaxy said. “They picked me, and I went along for the ride. But then, of course, it was pretty quick that it became bigger than that.” 

Whether at animal shelters or in people’s homes, Galaxy has worked with thousands of cats to improve their behavior and wellness. Each one of them, no matter how short the time, is meaningful to him. 

Galaxy credits his work with his feline friends for helping him overcome his alcohol and drug addiction. 

“I got sober, in part, because I valued this work,” he said. “I could tell that I was only getting so far with the animals I was working with. But then it bled over to relationships with humans. Any time you shine a light back onto yourself in terms of your own pluses and minuses in a relationship, you get better.” 

This life-changing relationship between cats and humans informs Galaxy’s approach to teaching other guardians how to care for their animals. He says it’s not about “technique,” but rather, giving love to cats so that they can confidently accept humans and other animals into their lives.

Clear The Shelters

Clear the shelters Aug 12

How to donate to the Clear The Shelters campaign

Clear the shelters Aug 8

What to know as Clear The Shelters kicks off its 10th annual adoption campaign

Clear the shelters Jun 25

Clear The Shelters campaign returns for 10th straight year

After working with countless animal rescues over the years, Galaxy has observed one of the greatest obstacles for shelters nationwide: “the public’s perception of what a shelter is.” 

“We’re communicating the message to the public that we’re not just there to put lost animals in cages,” Galaxy said. “We are a refuge of information and, oftentimes, supplies when times are tough for you.” 

Galaxy said he is “honored” to join this year’s Clear The Shelters campaign, which runs Aug. 10 to Sept. 10., in partnership with NBCUniversal Local and Hill’s Pet Nutrition. 

Since its inception in 2015, Clear The Shelters has worked with more than 1,400 shelters across the country to help over 1 million animals find their forever homes. Galaxy, who has worked in partnering shelters, has seen the impact of the annual campaign on individual rescues and homes.

“If you just look at Clear The Shelters as a phenomenon in itself, over 10 years, a million animals have gone home. A million families have been forever changed,” Galaxy said. “It takes campaigns like this, eye-on-the-prize campaigns to get us to the next place.”

The next place, according to the Cat Daddy? Clearing the shelters — and keeping them cleared.

“We’re giving new adopters and old adopters alike tools so that if an issue crops up … we’ll find ways to keep them in their homes,” Galaxy said. 

Galaxy encourages those interested in the campaign to support it in whatever way they can. 

“Help us out in adoption events. Come on in here and spend some time with the animals, getting to know them with no pressure whatsoever,” he said. “Can’t do that? Help us donate. Can’t do that? I mean, there’s this whole wonderful chain that you can participate in, and it doesn’t have to just begin and end with adopting.”

To learn more about Clear The Shelters 2024 and search for adoptable pets in your area, visit cleartheshelters.com. You can also donate to your local animal shelters and rescue groups by visiting clearthesheltersfund.org.

Check out Jackson Galaxy’s website to learn more about him. 

Follow Clear The Shelters on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on this year’s pet adoption and donation news:

Hashtags: #ClearTheShelters & #DesocuparLosAlbergues

The Kansas City Chiefs defensive end, who grew up in Greece before moving back to the U.S. when he was 13, said he always loved animals but could never have a dog growing up because his mom was allergic.

Fast forward to the present day, and he and his girlfriend have their very own flandoodle (a Bouvier des Flandres mixed with a poodle), Ralph, who the NFL star says is “amazing” and has “taken up the personality” of the couple.

“He’s big, you know, most of us are larger human beings,” Karlaftis told NBC Local. “He’s pretty lazy around the house — he likes to relax and just hang out. He’s awesome. Everyone loves him.”

“Ralph is family to me,” the 2021 All-American added. “You know, getting back home after a game, or after a long day of work, you know, to him, is awesome because you can’t be mad at him.”

The 30-minute show celebrates NBC and Telemundo stations’ 10th annual nationwide pet adoption and donation campaign, which began Aug. 10 and continues through Sept. 10. Since its 2015 inception, Clear The Shelters has led to more than one million pet adoptions and raised more than $4.5 million.

Who is hosting this year’s Clear The Shelters special?

This year’s Clear The Shelters special is hosted by actor, producer and singer-songwriter Amanda Seyfried.

Seyfried has earned more than 70 acting credits since 2004, including the films “Mank,” “Mamma Mia!” and “Les Miserables” and series “The Dropout” and “The Crowded Room.” She is starring in and executive producing the upcoming Peacock series “Long Bright River,” based on the Liz Moore book, in which she plays Mickey, a police officer who patrols a Philadelphia neighborhood hard-hit by the opioid crisis.

What are some highlights of this year’s special?

This year’s show marks the 10^th anniversary of Clear The Shelters with a look back at some of the adoption stories the initiative helped establish throughout the years. A feature from The Dodo, the animal and pet brand and longtime Clear The Shelters media partner, will highlight one of their “Dodo Dream Dates” featuring actor Maggie Q and a shelter dog. 

The program will also highlight Little Shelter’s “Silver Seniors” program, which pairs older pets with loving homes, and the Niagara SPCA’s pizza box and field trip initiative, which “thinks outside the box” to find their shelter pets new homes. Plus, NBC 4 New York’s Lauren Scala details how fostering a shelter pet can be a life-changing experience. 

As part of the monthlong milestone campaign, NBC and Telemundo stations nationwide are partnering with more than 1,400 animal shelters and rescues in their communities to promote pet adoption and raise critical funds to support their operations. The 2023 campaign resulted in more than 158,000 adoptions – lifting the all-time adoption total past one million – and raised over $575,000.

Clear the shelters Aug 12

How to donate to the Clear The Shelters campaign

Clear the shelters Aug 8

What to know as Clear The Shelters kicks off its 10th annual adoption campaign

How to watch this year’s Clear The Shelters special

The special will air on NBC-owned and affiliated stations nationwide and on stations’ streaming platforms. Check local listings for dates and times in your area.

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McMillan, who owns a top dog training facility in Los Angeles, said training your dog at a young age teaches it obedience because it is when the owner’s “basic manners of control” get instilled in the dog before they get used to getting away with bad behavior.

“If you neglect them of basic education when they are a puppy, or even an adolescent, then yeah they are going to have behavioral issues when they are older because you didn’t send them to kindergarten,” McMillan said.

So, how should you go about training your new puppy? Let’s break down McMillan’s three points to know for new dog owners.

1. Safety always comes first

Dogs, like humans, have personalities that may not always match with an owner. McMillan said prospective dog owners should talk to the shelter they are adopting from about the dog’s personality, and how it gets along with other dogs, children and cats, in particular.

“If you don’t do your prep work there (shelter), then you might bring the dog home and find out” your new dog does not get along with your kid or other pets, McMillan said.

2. Set them up for success

Bringing a new dog home can be stressful for the dog, and if they are untrained puppies they are sure to get into trouble if they are left to roam around a home alone.

“So when I say set them up for success, don’t drop them off at home and leave right away. You want to spend some time with the dog at home. You want them to feel comfortable and know this is home,” McMillan said. “And if they are a very young puppy, I would not give them free range of the house when you leave.”

“There’s no way on Earth you’re going to leave a puppy alone in a house for a few hours and it not get in trouble,” McMillan added.

3. Training builds trust

Dogs, as pack animals, naturally look for leadership.

“In pack animals, there is always a hierarchy in the pack,” McMillan said. “And they are always looking for some form of leadership.”

Dog owners should strive to be both the parent and the friend of their pet, and that is where training comes in.

“Training will not only build trust, but it builds a bond, a friendship,” McMillan said.

“If they don’t trust you, they are not going to learn one thing from you,” McMillan added. “You always want to make sure you form that bond, form a trust with a dog, and they are going to learn whatever you throw at them.”

In addition to some 200 dogs along with cats as old as age 9, the shelter even has bunnies, tortoises and a rooster for those looking for unconventional pets.

“The rooster, Chopstick, arrived to us close to 30 days ago. The rooster was found crossing the street,” said Alex Su with the OC Animal Care, which is one of the Southern California shelters that are partnering with NBC Los Angeles and Telemundo 52 for the Clear the Shelters campaign.

“We are bursting at the seams too much like the other shelters in the area.” Su said. “It’s just that time of the year where we are experiencing an influx of animals coming in.”

The loud fireworks around the Fourth of July brought nearly 100 stray animals – mostly dogs – as they joined the already crowded kennels. 

The Orange County shelter is also offering a foster-to-adopt program, which allows foster families to adopt pets they had temporarily cared for. The expedited process allows animals to be with their forever families in about two weeks.

“Who doesn’t fall in love with a dog after two weeks, right?” Su said.

Here are some of the animals available at OC Animal Care

See here for adoptable animals from OC Animal Care.

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The “Good Flights” airlift, which was conducted by Greater Good Charities in partnership with Clear The Shelters, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and The Animal Rescue Site, involved dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters in Alabama and Louisiana. Some of the rescued pets are considered to be harder-to-place or vulnerable, such as large dogs, homeless cats and asymptomatic heartworm-positive dogs.

The 100-plus pets traveled on a flight from New Orleans to Morristown in northern New Jersey, where representatives from new shelters were there to take them in.

The receiving shelters — based across New Jersey, New York, Delaware, New Hampshire and Rhode Island — will provide the pets with any needed medical care before placing them for adoption.

“Good Flights is so important because they’re able to provide transportation for pets in need from areas of the country [where shelters] are at crisis-level capacity and bring them to areas where the pets have a better chance of getting adopted,” said Yvonne Hsu, president of Hill’s Pet Nutrition U.S. “And that’s really critical, because we want to make sure we find a forever home for every pet.”

This was the fifth airlift from Clear The Shelters, NBCUniversal Local’s pet adoption and donation initiative. More than 600 dogs and cats have been transported since the first airlift in 2021.

The latest iteration came days after Clear The Shelters kicked off its 10th annual adoption campaign.

“This flight and this campaign we hope will bring more eyes on these pets and these people that care for them,” said Erin Robbins, VP of Pet Programs for Greater Good Charities.

“If we can get the word out to more people: Go to your shelters…Whatever you can open your home and your heart to is there waiting for you and all they want is love.”

Hill’s Pet Nutrition and The Animal Rescue Site funded the airlift and each presented Greater Good Charities with a donation to the Clear The Shelters Fund. Greater Good Charities is the fundraising partner of Clear The Shelters.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition, the national sponsor and partner of Clear The Shelters, made a $50,000 donation, while The Animal Rescue Site donated $25,000. Hill’s Pet Nutrition is also donating 5,000 pounds of food to the shelters in Alabama and Louisiana where the pets were sent from.

For more information on Clear The Shelters, visit ClearTheShelters.com and the Spanish-language site DesocuparlosAlbergues.com.

Follow Clear The Shelters on social media:

• X: @ClearTheShelter
• Instagram: cleartheshelters
• TikTok: @cleartheshelters
• Hashtags: #ClearTheShelters & #DesocuparLosAlbergues

This year’s campaign is a month-long event from Aug. 10 to Sept. 10 and culminates in crescendo events the weekend of Sept. 7. 

Leading up to and during the campaign period, Clear The Shelters, in partnership with Greater Good, will host digital fundraisers to raise money for participating animal shelters. 

Hill’s Pet Nutrition is once again the lead national sponsor of Clear The Shelters.

Here’s how to donate through Clear The Shelters’ social platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Clear the shelters Aug 8

What to know as Clear The Shelters kicks off its 10th annual adoption campaign

Clear the shelters Jun 25

Clear The Shelters campaign returns for 10th straight year

How to donate on Facebook

Click to donate on Facebook or follow the steps below.

1. Find the fundraiser you want to donate to through a Facebook post or by visiting the Clear The Shelters page.
2. Click “donate to nonprofit.”
3. Type the dollar amount you want to donate.
4. If you agree, check the “cover donation processing fees.”
   1. Note: The processing fee is no longer paid by Meta. The fee will be deducted from your donation.
5. Click “continue.”
6. Fill out the donation form, include your contact information, credit or debit card number, expiration date, CVV and zip code.
7. You also have the option to donate through PayPal.
8. Confirm your donation.
9. You can also set up a PIN for additional security when making donations on Facebook.
10. Troubleshooting instructions from Facebook.

How to donate on Instagram

Click to donate on Instagram or follow the steps below.

From Aug. 10 through Sept. 10, the Greater Good Charities Instagram donation fund will be delegated/directed to Clear The Shelters. 

There are several ways to donate on Instagram, including to a nonprofit fundraiser in a post, during an Instagram Live video, or through a donation sticker in a Story:

• Donate to a nonprofit fundraiser in a post
  • Open the post, tap the banner on the right, tap Donate on the fundraiser details page, enter the amount, tap Continue, and then tap Donation visibility.
• Donate during an Instagram Live video
  • Tap Donate in the bottom left, enter the amount, tap Next, select a payment method, and then tap Donate at the bottom.
• Donate through a donation sticker in a Story
  • Eligible nonprofits can create a Story, add the donation sticker, and supporters can donate without leaving Instagram.

How to donate on TikTok

1. Click the + button.
2. Record a video, go live or post an existing video.
3. Tap the stickers icon on the right rail.
4. Select the “Donation” sticker.
5. Search for “Greater Good Charities” and select it.
6. Place the sticker on your video.
7. Add a caption and post, or continue live streaming.

To learn more about Clear The Shelters 2024 and search for adoptable pets in your area, visit cleartheshelters.com. You can also donate to your local animal shelters and rescue groups by visiting clearthesheltersfund.org.

Follow Clear The Shelters on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on this year’s pet adoption and donation news:

Hashtags: #ClearTheShelters & #DesocuparLosAlbergues

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Embracing imperfection

As the saying goes, good things take time, and building a lifelong bond with a new furry friend is no different.  Pet parents are often consumed with the initial excitement of bringing a new pet home, but that excitement can fade as a pet experiences the normal challenges of adjusting to a new environment, sometimes leading adopters to return pets to the shelter.

However, the Hill’s Pet Nutrition 2024 State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report showed that 2 out of 3 people who did surrender a pet said intervention, like shelter support or pet food pantries, could have prevented the surrender. Consequently, many shelters and communities are responding with support that focuses on pet retention, however, the best strategy to reducing pet surrenders is through education and awareness: pet parents should approach adoption with knowledge and understanding that there will be bumps in the road. As you welcome a furry friend into your home, remember that your pet is experiencing a big change. And though adopted pets will come with varied backgrounds and temperaments, pet parents can use the handy 3-3-3 rule as a framework to set expectations and work towards realistic goals for a smooth transition: 3 days for adjusting, 3 weeks for training and bonding, and 3 months for routines and socialization.

The First 3 Days: a period of transition

The initial 72 hours in a new home are often the most stressful for a pet. Don’t be dismayed if your pet exhibits signs of anxiety, such as hiding, whimpering, or even refusing to eat. After having adopted three dogs from Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League, vet technician Rafael Valle Del Río knows exactly what to expect: “The first three days after being adopted, an animal is still decompressing. They may not want to eat their food or show signs of being lethargic. And that’s just basically him not being used to a new world.” Focus on factors you can control, and the measures you can take to create a sense of comfort for your new pet, like providing a quiet place to sleep and maintaining a consistent, science-led diet. “Keeping any consistency is really good for them,” says Dr. Alyssa Comroe, Director of Veterinary Medicine at Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League, which partners with Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love Program. The initiative provides science-led nutrition to feed pets in more than 900 animal shelters across the U.S. as well as free Adopter Bags to go home with all new dog and cat adopters at partner shelters.“ Every time a pet is adopted from our shelter, they go home with a bag of Hill’s food, and we recommend that they continue on that food–let’s keep some consistency with leaving a shelter and going to a home, which is so exciting, but it is still a big change.”

3 Day Tip: Stay consistent with the shelter’s food and feeding schedule.

The First 3 Weeks: establishing a routine

After the initial transition, pets begin adjusting to their new environment. As your new pet settles in, their personality traits and any training needs will become more apparent. “That’s when your pet is starting to learn your routine. They’re starting to become part of the family and figuring out what you are about and settling in,” asserts Dr. Comroe. Begin with basic training commands and continue to focus on consistency in feeding times, bathroom breaks, and exercise; the next three weeks are critical for establishing a routine that helps pets feel secure. “Keeping a consistent diet is definitely a big part of the adoption process; keeping the consistency of the food that was being fed at the shelter and going home with it,” says Valle Del Rio. In addition to maintaining a science-led diet like Hill’s Science Diet or Hill’s Prescription Diet, you can begin gradually socializing your pet with other family members and pets, along with positive reinforcement to aid in the transition. By the third week, the pet will feel more comfortable and confident, allowing for more focused training and routine building in the coming weeks. Throughout this period, patience, love, and attention are essential to help the pet feel at home and ensure a smooth transition into the family.

3 Week Tip: Habits are taking hold. Establishing a routine is key.

The First 3 Months: feeling at home

By the three-month mark, most pets begin to feel truly at home. Adopters can expect their pet to be more settled and comfortable in their new environment. This newfound comfort allows more time for building trust and understanding each other’s quirks and habits, enabling deeper bonds to form. “Three months, that’s when they’re a part of your family, and you’re going to see their true personality shining through, because that’s really who they are,” shares Dr. Comroe. Now that your pet feels safe and comfortable, you can advance their training and expose them to new experiences and environments like car rides or a park excursion where they can interact with other dogs and people. Overall, the adopter can expect a more harmonious and integrated relationship with their pet, marked by trust, affection, and mutual understanding.

3 Month Tip: The bond with your pet emerges now. Continued training and patience will strengthen it.

3 Months and Beyond

Throughout the first three months and beyond, persistence and patience will be rewarded in profound and lasting ways. “You got to focus on the positive, right?” says Valle Del Rio, “because nothing that’s great is going to come easy.” With some effort, not only will your pet feel safe, comfortable, and bonded with you as a parent, but you’ll have an integral new family member who offers unconditional love. “All four of my dogs are rescues. Being able to provide them a second chance and a home has been super fulfilling,” said Valle Del Rio. “A shelter animal will love you unconditionally. They have been through many things. They can’t speak, but they can definitely give you all of their heart.” 

Among the purrs of curious cats and barks from attention-ready pups were families excited to participate in the free adoption event. NBCUniversal’s annual adoption campaign, Clear the Shelters, has returned for its 10th year, aiming to get as many adoptable animals into loving and responsible homes as possible.

Clear the Shelters

Clear the shelters Jun 25

Clear The Shelters campaign returns for 10th straight year

Clear the shelters Aug 9

NBC4 and Telemundo 52's ‘Clear The Shelters' pet adoption & donation campaign returns for 10th year August 10 to September 10

At the Riverside County Animal Services’ Jurupa Valley shelter, participants were eager to increase their household size with a few paws or claws.

“We’ve been looking at cats for like, weeks or something,” said Abby Ribota. “We heard about Clear the Shelters so we came today and we decided to adopt today.”

The waived adoption fee gets new pet parents more than just their new animal companion.

“In that free adoption, you’re getting microchipping, all of their vaccines and spay/neuter so this dog is leaving good to go ready to hang out with your family and live a good life,” said Alison Chavez, who works at the Jurupa Valley animal shelter.

To learn more about Clear the Shelters, and for a map of participating animal shelters, click here.

Since its inception in 2015, NBC4 and Telemundo 52’s local Clear the Shelters campaigns have helped more than 107,000 pets find new homes. Nationally, more than one million pets have been adopted and millions of dollars has been raised for participating shelters and rescues over nine Clear The Shelters campaigns.

The 2024 fundraising effort will again be led by Greater Good Charities, a global nonprofit and longtime campaign partner. Donations can be made Aug. 1 to Sept. 30 at ClearTheSheltersFund.org. Through the online platform, built by Fundraise Up, donors have the option to cover transaction fees so that 100 percent of the funds go directly to the shelter or rescue of their choice.

Virtual pet adoptions are also returning for the sixth consecutive campaign through WeRescue. The WeRescue website and app enable users to browse adoptable pets in their area by breed, gender, size and other factors, submit their adoption applications, and ask questions directly to shelters.

Tune in to NBC4 daily throughout the campaign for special coverage and reports beginning with Today in LA from 4-7 a.m., followed by the newscasts at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m., and 11 p.m. In addition, the station will feature content on the NBCLA app and on its streaming TV local news channel NBC Los Angeles News as well as the station’s lifestyle show California Live.

Audiences can tune-in to Telemundo 52 throughout the campaign for pet-related stories and coverage across its Noticiero Telemundo 52 newscasts at 5 a.m., 6 a.m., 12 p.m., 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m. 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., during the station’s lifestyle and entertainment show Acceso Total, which airs weekdays at 11:30 a.m., and via its digital and streaming TV local news channel Noticias California.

For more information and to find a participating shelter, click here.

Follow the latest updates on social media @NBCLA and @Telemundo52 using #ClearTheShelters and #DesocuparLosAlbergues.  

If you’re big into exercise, you might want a furry friend who can keep up on some long trails. If you work in an office full-time, having a pet that doesn’t get separation anxiety is another aspect to consider.

Most importantly, when you enter an animal shelter, you should bring lots of positive energy, according to animal communicator Lydia Hiby.

Hiby, who has been working with pets for the past 38 years, says “positive affirmation” is important because even with the pets you don’t adopt, you’ll be able to project a positive aura that will influence their lives.

Here are a few things Hiby recommends considering before adoption:

How much exercise does my breed need?

Hiby says it’s important to know the potential temperaments of the dog breed you are adopting.

She says owners should ask themselves, “What’s going to work for me energetically, and what’s going to work for me physically?”

For instance, if your home has stairs and you adopt a senior dog, are you able to carry it up and down?

How often will my dog need someone to be at home?

This one is tricky.

Our furry friends have gotten used to having their owners home with them during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, many workplaces have switched over to a hybrid system instead of a full-time in-office policy,

Hiby recommends owners ask themselves how often they will actually be at home before choosing a pet, as some are better on their own than others.

The last thing owners want is for their lovable pets to feel increased separation anxiety.

Take time to reflect before entering the shelter

When it comes to actually selecting a dog to adopt, Hiby recommends that people search deeply within themselves to figure out which breed would be the best fit.

“I always suggest that you close your eyes for a minute and tell your higher self, ‘I want be able to go in and know confidently whose the best animal for me,'” Hiby said.

Sleepovers, the kind of stay-the-night gatherings that friends have held for, well, ever, have their sweet staples: Stories told, snacks shared, and, just maybe, a little snoozing before the first rays of dawn appear.

Sometimes, though, a sleepover can transform into something else: The adorable opportunity to meet, and get to know, a four-footed buddy.

Best Friends Animal Society is hoping that a few pup-loving Southern Californians are ready for the return of Doggy Date Night, which is all about inviting an adoptable pooch into your home for one night.

You’ll need to fill out some fostering paperwork — you can do that ahead of time online, to move things along — and then stop by the Pontius Avenue center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the tenth of August to meet your sleepover pal.

Your task? “Give them love, comfort, and companionship for the night,” advises the animal group.

And once the night is done?

“Bring them back the next day so they can continue their journey to finding their person.”

But wait… might you be the pup’s perfect person? That could be discovered during your kind-hearted sleepover.

If you do make a true connection, Best Friends will waive the adoption fees.

Animal rescues have long been creative in helping pair pups with people interested in potentially fostering, and Doggy Date Night is an upbeat example.

For while fostering an animal traditionally involves a time commitment, sometimes a summer sleepover can tell a human within an hour, or even less, that their new sleepover buddy needs to keep sleeping over forever.

Clear The Shelters, NBCUniversal Local’s nationwide pet adoption and donation campaign, is kicking off its 10^th annual adoption initiative on Saturday. The adoption campaign will run for one month until Sept. 10.

The donation initiative, which began Aug. 1, is on an extended run until Sept. 30 in celebration of Clear The Shelters’ 10^th anniversary. But starting Saturday, donations can now be made to a participating shelter or rescue of your choice.

Here’s what to know as Clear The Shelters’ adoption initiative gets underway:

What is Clear The Shelters?

Clear The Shelters sees NBC and Telemundo stations nationwide partner with animal shelters and rescues in their local communities to promote pet adoptions and to fundraise.

Last year, over 150 NBC and Telemundo stations teamed up with 1,400-plus shelters and rescues located across 49 states and territories, including Puerto Rico and Guam.

How many Clear The Shelters pets have been adopted?

Clear The Shelters surpassed a landmark of 1 million all-time adoptions last year. The total currently sits at over 1.02 million.

Clear The Shelters helped over 150,000 pets find homes in 2023 while also raising more than $575,000. The campaign has raised millions of dollars for participating animal shelters and rescues.

What’s the closest Clear The Shelters location to me?

Clear The Shelters has hundreds of participating shelters and rescues across the nation. Check out the interactive map below to find the location nearest to you:

Virtual pet adoptions are also available through WeRescue, which allows prospective adopters to search for pets in their area, submit adoption applications and ask questions directly to shelters.

What are some of the special events during this year’s Clear The Shelters campaign?

Good Flight Pet Airlift: On Aug. 13, NBCU Local, Greater Good Charities, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and The Animal Rescue Site will conduct a pet airlift to transport more than 100 cats and dogs from overpopulated shelters in Louisiana and Alabama to New Jersey, where they will be received by several shelters, provided with any needed medical care and placed for adoption.

MEGA Adoption Event: A Clear The Shelters adoption event will take place Aug. 17-18 in North Texas, the birthplace of Clear The Shelters, to help celebrate the campaign’s 10th anniversary. In partnership with NBC5 and Telemundo 39, dozens of area animal shelters will convene at the Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Hall in Fort Worth, Texas, to help find new homes for more than 1,000 pets.

Clear The Shelters Television Special: Actor, producer and singer-songwriter Amanda Seyfried – who has starred in acclaimed films such as “Mank,” “Mama Mia!” and “Les Misérables,” and hit series “The Dropout” and “The Crowded Room” – joined this year’s campaign to serve as the host of the Clear The Shelters half-hour television special, which will premiere on NBC stations and COZI TV nationwide on Aug. 16.

“As a lifelong animal lover who has rescued and fostered pets, I know the life-changing impact of welcoming pets into your life and understand the growing challenges faced by animal shelters and rescues,” said Seyfried. “That’s why I’m so proud to participate in the 10th annual Clear The Shelters and support its mission of promoting pet adoption and raising funds that benefit animal welfare.”

More about Hill’s Pet Nutrition, national sponsor of Clear The Shelters

Hill’s Pet Nutrition, a global leader in science-based pet nutrition, is serving as the national sponsor and partner of Clear The Shelters for the seventh consecutive campaign. During the campaign, Hill’s Pet Nutrition will provide adoption kits to new pet parents. Available at participating shelters, the adopter kits include starter bags of Hill’s Science Diet, coupons, pet-parenting tips and other supplies.

For more information on Clear The Shelters, including participating animal shelters and rescues, along with details on local events, visit ClearTheShelters.com and the Spanish-language site DesocuparlosAlbergues.com. Follow Clear The Shelters on social media:

• X: @ClearTheShelter
• Instagram: cleartheshelters
• TikTok: @cleartheshelters
• Hashtags: #ClearTheShelters and #DesocuparLosAlbergues

Clear the shelters Jun 25

Clear The Shelters campaign returns for 10th straight year

Clear the shelters Jul 22

Hill's Pet Nutrition returns as lead national sponsor of Clear The Shelters

Throwing a splashy, over-the-top International Cat Day party for your cat, the sort of celebration that’s packed with decorations, presents, games, and feline-inspired fun?

It’s true your cat may purr over your efforts and show his appreciation by rubbing his head against your leg. But cats can also be amazingly cool-headed about our human displays of enthusiasm, meaning he might only respond with a flick of his tail.

Either way, cats are incredible.

Aug. 8, which is indeed International Cat Day, is all about celebrating the awesomeness of our feline friends.

But the occasion is also a purr-tastic and important prompt for people, too; it helps us to remember that thousands of cats and kittens require our adoring aid.

Literally thousands, just in Southern California, where shelters are full of felines as summer heats up.

If you are not throwing your own cat an International Cat Day bash — and a loving ear scratch may suffice, truly — consider assisting a local rescue group with their many urgent needs.

Aug. 8 does arrive in the heat of kitten season, when shelters are facing a heartbreaking influx of tiny animals that require plenty of TLC.

LA Animal Services has several routes for us to take should we want to provide some TLC to these tiny, loving cats. (Nope, that’s not what TLC traditionally stands for, but we’re going to go with it because it totally fits.)

Fostering a kitten, or a few kittens, is always an emotion-filled option. It’s a good way to lend a hand, and a bottle, if you can’t offer the little one a permanent home.

There’s also a Kitten Wish List, which includes items like food, feeding implements, and toys.

Happy International Cat Day, feline friends; give your own furry roommate a scritch, then help LA Animal Services, or a local rescue group, as they help cats in countless ways.

While people oftentimes turn to a puppy to take home, there are so many advantages to having an elder companion.

As a matter of fact, dogs aged seven and older are typically housebroken, less destructive, and calmer than younger dogs. The devastating reality, however, is senior dogs have a 25% adoption rate, compared to a 60% adoption rate for younger dogs and puppies, according to ASPCA.

“After about 12 years of volunteering in animal shelters, what I noticed was the older dogs that I fell in love with were getting passed over for puppies,” said founder and CEO of Muttville Senior Dog Rescue Sherri Franklin.

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Franklin vividly remembers when of her favorite dogs at the shelter — a cheerful 8-year-old Beagle Basset — was euthanized for space because she wasn’t considered adoptable.

“I knew I had to do something,” Franklin said. “I started taking home dogs one at a time, fixing them up, getting them to see my vets and finding them homes on my own.”

It was such a large mission, which led Frankin to start a nonprofit in 2007. In the past 16 years, Muttville Senior Dog Rescue has saved over 9,000 senior dogs.

“I like to say we made senior dogs sexy,” she said.

Did you know older dogs often end up in shelters after their owners pass away, get sick, or transition to assisted living?

“I know for me personally, one day I’m going to grow old, or older, and I hope at some point in time when I need it, there will be someone out there that’s going to provide the assistance that I need,” said Doreen Jakubcak of Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary.

While there are many benefits to adopting senior dogs, be prepared to accommodate semi-annual veterinary checkups, special diets and decreased mobility.

The key is to address any and all health issues as early on as possible, Jakubcak advises. Catching any health ailments before they worsen can oftentimes rectify the issue or at least save the dog before it becomes untreatable.

“People often ask us how do you do it when you have to say goodbye?” Jakubcak said. “We focus on that quality of time, we focus on knowing that we did our best and we gave that dog the best care we could during that period of time they were with us,” Jakubcak said.

So what are you waiting for? This is your sign to run to a shelter and take home a loyal senior dog today.

Volunteers at a Riverside County duck sanctuary are fighting to save as many hatchlings as they can after a “horrible situation” in which hundreds of fertilized eggs were abandoned in Orange County due to a shipping delay.

The eggs were picked up by about 20 volunteers at a Walmart parking lot in Brea on Saturday, after The Duck Sanctuary in Winchester was contacted by a woman in possession of about 300 so-called “balut eggs.” Considered a delicacy in some cultures, balut eggs are duck eggs that are incubated almost to the point of hatching and then boiled and eaten.

“The story turned out that is was a company that sells balut eggs to clients and that the shipment to them was late and in turn her clients bought them from a different supplier,” sanctuary founder Howard Berkowitz wrote in a social media post. “They were left with several hundred fertilized duck eggs and they were starting to hatch.” 

The odds were against the animals, since they were not provided with the proper humidity for hatching.

“When you properly hatch eggs you are always controlling the humidity for them to be ready for life,” he said, adding that “they were not given any food or water after they hatched. … We lost quite a few after picking them up and we continued to lose them as the day went on.”

Some of the eggs started hatching in the Walmart parking lot, prompting volunteers to run into the store to buy water and dishes in a frantic effort to get the newborns hydrated.

“We started giving them water and food and quickly most of them started perking up. Unfortunately at the same time we lost over 30 that just couldn’t make it,” Berkowitz said.

Berkowitz told City News Service on Tuesday that 120 babies were still alive, with 85 at the sanctuary and another 35 in the care of fosters.

The survivors were doing a lot better Tuesday, he said.

“They are doing really, really well. They’re all up and running around and cleaning themselves, which is not what they were doing on day one and day two,” he told CNS. “They look really good today. Getting them the electrolytes really helped.”

The sanctuary is seeking donations to help fund the continuing effort to care for the hatchlings and find them homes.

Donations can be made at theducksanctuary.com.

Those interested in fostering a baby duck are advised to contact the rescue. Berkowitz said he provides the food, and the animals require minimal care. They need to be outdoors during the day and indoors at night, and of course they need access to water, which can be provided with a chicken waterer of the kind sold at farm supply stores.

Berkowitz, a biochemist, founded the sanctuary 10 years ago. He’s had to move locations a few times due to complaints from neighbors. The Winchester location also is temporary; Berkowitz told CNS he’s trying to raise the funds to buy a 20-acre property in Aguanga, where he wouldn’t have restrictions on the number of animals he could keep.

The sanctuary, which rescues abandoned ducks and geese, has six regular volunteers and another three staff members.

The effort to save so many hatchlings is taking its toll on Berkowitz and the volunteers, who’ve had to watch so many of the young ducks perish.

“Tonight I laid all of those beautiful little souls to rest,” Berkowitz wrote Monday in a post accompanied by video of a burial in his yard. “… It took everything I had to say goodbye to these sweet innocents, they shall be free from all the evil that this world offered them. Some only lived 1 day, some 2, and some 3 … no food, no water, no love … only to wind up in the hands of the sanctuary and then food, water and most of all … love was given … if only for a brief time.”

“Hill’s Pet Nutrition is an incredible, longstanding advocate for vulnerable pets and the shelters and rescues in communities across the nation that care for them,” said Bruce Kallner, SVP of Business Development, NBCUniversal Local. “Their sponsorship of Clear The Shelters has been a key driver of the campaign’s expanding impact and the milestones we’ve celebrated. As we embark on our 10th year, we’re again thankful for Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s contributions and remarkable collaboration.”

To support the 10th anniversary of Clear The Shelters, Hill’s Pet Nutrition will provide adoption kits to help new pet parents and their pets get a healthy start on their new life together. Kits containing starter bags of Hill’s science-led nutrition, coupons, pet-parenting tips and other supplies will be available at select shelters during the campaign.

“Tackling the growing challenge of the over capacity crisis happening in our nation’s shelters requires a team effort, which is why Hill’s Pet Nutrition is proud to continue our support of the Clear The Shelters campaign,” said Yvonne Hsu, US President and General Manager at Hill’s Pet Nutrition. “Supporting the significant work animal shelters do for the pets in their care is a priority for Hill’s as we work toward our collective goal of connecting more shelter pets with loving families.”

Clear the shelters Sep 13, 2023

Clear The Shelters celebrates 1 million pet adoptions

Clear the shelters Jun 25

Clear The Shelters campaign returns for 10th straight year

Clear The Shelters directly aligns with Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s mission to support shelter pets in need through the Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program, which partners with shelters 365 days a year by providing science-led nutrition to feed the pets in their care, as well as financial support and other needed resources such as pet food for community food pantries. For more than 20 years, the Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program has provided more than $300 million in food to shelters across North America, and has helped more than 14 million pets find new homes. To learn how Hill’s Pet Nutrition supports shelters and pets, visit Hill’s Food, Shelter and Love.

As part of the Clear The Shelters initiative, NBC and Telemundo owned and affiliated stations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico will partner with animal shelters and rescue services in their communities to promote pet adoption and raise needed funds. To mark the campaign’s 10th anniversary, donations to participating shelters and rescues can be made at ClearTheSheltersFund.org from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30.

The 2023 Clear The Shelters campaign led to more than 158,000 adoptions – lifting the all-time adoption total past one million – and raised over $575,000. More than 1,400 shelters and rescues representing 49 states and territories, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam – along with 152 NBC and Telemundo stations – participated in last year’s campaign between Aug. 1 to 30.

For more information on Clear The Shelters, including participating animal shelters and rescues, along with details on local events, visit ClearTheShelters.com and the Spanish-language site DesocuparlosAlbergues.com.

Follow Clear The Shelters on social media:

X: @ClearTheShelter
Instagram: cleartheshelters
TikTok: @cleartheshelters
Hashtags: #ClearTheShelters & #DesocuparLosAlbergues

The dog, estimated to be 7 years old, was diagnosed with lymphoma and is being treated by a medical team at Saddleback Animal Hospital in Tustin.

The good news is that Argon is in better spirits, and his lymph nodes are going down after arriving at the hospital a week ago.

But doctors are still trying to determine what’s next for the dog.

“We’re waiting for the type of cancer it is, what type of lymphoma, whether it’s B cell or T cell. Once we know that, then we can readjust his treatments more appropriately,” Michael Kavanagh, a veterinarian at the animal hospital said.

In addition to being shy and withdrawn from people after having gone through a traumatic experience, Argon is also being treated for skin trauma, Kavanagh said.

“He had swelling in his back legs and down his abdomen that were pretty significant. He had an ear infection. And he was pretty emaciated, and all his lymph nodes were elevated on his whole body.”

Caregivers are hopeful the dog’s conditions improve as he’s already exhibiting progress.

“He’s doing a lot better. He’s really responsive. He’s responding to things around him rather than hiding in the corners. He’s really good with the staff [who is] trying to reacclimate him.

Once Argon is fully diagnosed and doctors determine what his treatment will look like, the German Shepherd will be available for adoption. 

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As the dog recovers, an animal protection group called In Defense of Animals has been raising money for a reward for anyone who can identify the person or persons responsible for abandoning argon. It’s raised $25,000 so far to offer it as a reward.

“We are determined to see a measure of justice for this dog because he could so easily have died. It’s very clear that whoever abused him is a danger to other members of society,” Fleur Dawes from In Defense of Animals said. 

“There’s no excuse for what happened to him,” said Maria Dales, the founder of German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County. “We’ve seen a lot of sadness in our work. I’ve been doing this for 30 years and there’s no end to some of the cruelties that we’ve seen, but this is a first for me.” 

German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County is accepting adoption applications and taking donations to help with Argon’s medical bills.

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After being rescued from the backyard of an abandoned house that caught fire last Memorial Day, the resilient Pitbull mix has been in the care of Pasadena Humane for almost a month.

“We were really hopeful that the owner of the home would come forward or we’d be able to make contact with his prior his family, but no one has come forward,” Kevin McManus with Pasadena Humane said, adding it’s not clear how he ended up in the backyard of a vacant home alone.

Staff at the nonprofit named the dog, who is estimated to be about 7 or 8 years old, Sparky while taking care of his medical needs including treading him for an old fracture on his leg and bringing him up to date on his vaccines and microchips.

Pets Jun 21

The ‘World's Ugliest Dog' contest has announced its 2024 winner

animals Jun 21

Top dogs compete at canine sports contests in Huntington Beach

Now that the caramel-colored pup is in better shape, the group is trying to find a loving family.

“Sparky is like the nicest dog out there as you get very, very attached to people,” said Kevin McManus with Pasadena Humane. “This is one of his favorite things to do is just like, sit next to you and cuddle.”

Sparky has made a full recovery from his injuries and is back to chasing balls and cuddling.

“He is like everyone’s instant BFF,” McManus said. “We’re really confident that he’s going to find a great home.”

The nationwide pet adoption and donation campaign from NBCUniversal Local is returning for the 10th straight year this August, the company announced on Tuesday.

The monthlong adoption initiative will take place from Aug. 10 to Sept. 10; and in honor of the 10th anniversary, the donation initiative will have an extended run of Aug. 1 to Sept. 30.

Clear The Shelters’ landmark anniversary comes after the campaign surpassed 1 million all-time adoptions in 2023.

“Surpassing the one millionth all-time adoption last year and now celebrating our 10^th campaign are not just milestones, these numbers help quantify the incredible support Clear The Shelters has received from communities around the nation and the impact it’s had on vulnerable animals and the shelters that care for them,” said Meredith McGinn, NBCUniversal Local’s Executive Vice President of Diginets & Original Production, in a release.

Clear The Shelters sees NBC and Telemundo stations nationwide partner with animal shelters and rescues in their local communities to promote pet adoptions and to fundraise. The campaign has raised millions of dollars for participating animal shelters and rescues since launching in 2015.

Last year, over 150 NBC and Telemundo stations teamed up with 1,400-plus shelters and rescues located across 49 states and territories, including Puerto Rico and Guam. The 2023 campaign helped over 150,000 pets find homes while raising more than $575,000.

Details on highlights, activations and initiatives for 2024 will be announced at a later date.

Clear The Shelters has multiple partnerships that will be extended for the 2024 campaign. For the seventh straight year, Hill’s Pet Nutrition will serve as the campaign’s national sponsor and partner.

Meanwhile, virtual pet adoptions will be available through WeRescue for a sixth consecutive year. WeRescue allows prospective adopters to search for pets in their area, submit adoption applications and ask questions directly to shelters.

Clear the shelters Aug 12

How to donate to the Clear The Shelters campaign

Clear the shelters Jul 22

Hill's Pet Nutrition returns as lead national sponsor of Clear The Shelters

The campaign’s fundraising efforts will continue to be led by longtime partner Greater Good Charities, while animal and pet brand The Dodo will return as a media partner for an eighth campaign.

“It’s a privilege to partner with participating shelters, affiliate stations, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and our employees, to continue to grow and expand this initiative,” McGinn said.

For more information on Clear The Shelters, including participating animal shelters and rescues, along with details on local events, visit ClearTheShelters.com and the Spanish-language site DesocuparlosAlbergues.com. Follow Clear The Shelters on social media:

• X: @ClearTheShelter
• Instagram: cleartheshelters
• TikTok: @cleartheshelters
• Hashtags: #ClearTheShelters and #DesocuparLosAlbergues

Staycee Dains, who was appointed as the LA Animal Services General Manager nearly a year ago, said while she understands putting down some of the animals “may not be everything that everyone wants to see happen,” shortening the timeline for when animals are euthanized is a temporary policy change to get the shelters back to a state of safely operating.

“The animals that are authorized for euthanasia that are on that list are animals that we cannot safely care for anymore, and what they need is to not be in our care. They need an adopter, a rescue or foster care, but these are animals that we have are no longer safe for us to house,” Dains said. 

After the shelter employee was severely injured in the attack, LA Animal Services replaced their “red list” — which gave dogs a three week timeline to be euthanized if they had medical or behavioral issues — with a new “72 hour” list. Now, shelter dogs have 72 hours to be rescued from an authorized rescue group if they present dangerous behaviors — before being euthanized. 

Los Angeles Jun 13

Dog slated for adoption mistakenly euthanized an hour before scheduled pick up

San Pedro Jun 5

‘My thigh is half gone.' LA Animal Services employee mauled by dog

The six city-run shelters have more than 1,400 dogs but have space for only half of them, forcing some animals to double up in kennels or be placed in crates.  

“There are definitely animals that can have amazing interactions out in a play yard or a walk, but we also have to be really conscientious for that animal to live in its kennel for a week or two weeks never getting out.” the director said.  “We want to save lives absolutely, but we cannot force animals through unremitting suffering to do that.”

Volunteers, staff and rescue groups have also complained the shelter doesn’t provide any written guidelines for their policies, which they said leads to confusion.

In response, Dains said a “much more formulated plan” is in the works. 

“We hope to create [a plan] in the coming weeks or months, those directions will be shared with our volunteers and community members,” she said.

Dains, who finally spoke with NBC4 after canceling previously planned interviews, admitted there will not be a simple solution to solving the overcrowding crisis. 

“I think our community has a lot of work to do, the individuals in this community, we all have opportunities to do better, and so does Animal Services,” Dain said. “We have a lot of different ways we can do better, and we are. I know we have been efforting since I started.”

As of Friday afternoon, LA Animal Services was at 205% capacity, with more than 1,500 dogs spread across their six city-run shelters. In an effort to help with the overpopulation, California shelters will be participating in a first-ever statewide free Adoption Day Event on June 1. This includes LA City, LA County, Orange County and San Bernardino County shelters.

There is an overwhelming number of unwanted animals entering the shelters at a rate higher than they’re coming out. It’s a critical issue that animal rescue groups and shelters are working to address, with the resources available.

Inside the North Central LA Animal Shelter, many kennels are doubled up with dogs due to the limited space and resources.

“We’re probably one of the more underfunded departments but we have to care for all these animals,” said LA Animal Services Public Information Director, Agnes Sibal.

Sibal explained how their six shelters are doing their best to keep up with the demand.

“They are having to kill a lot of dogs for space and we should be open and honest about that because that will only help people want to do better by their dogs. That will only help people want to rescue these animals,” said Animal Rescue Mission Founder, Shira Scott Astrof.

Astrof is concerned the city-run shelters are unable to properly handle the overcrowding crisis and claims they’re putting adoptable dogs on a “Red List,” which gives the animals a two-week window until they’re scheduled to be euthanized. However, LA Animal Services strongly denies they put down any animals for space.

“A lot of the animals that are on the red list are there because they have medical issues or a safety or behavior concern,” said Sibal.

The stress of overcrowded shelters is a problem across the country, which is why the California Animal Welfare Association, also known as CalAnimals, and ASPCA are hosting a free adoption event at more than 170 California shelters.

“People are struggling with lack of access to veterinary care or pet-friendly housing. And so, animal shelters and what’s going on in animal shelters is really always just a symptom of what’s going on in a general community,” said CalAnimals CEO Jill Tucker.

NBC4 reached out to LA Animal Services General Manager Staycee Dains about the concerns from volunteers and rescue groups.

Dains provided a written response saying she was focused on saving the lives of animals and working to address the overcrowding crisis and would be happy to do an interview. However, Dains has not been available when NBC4 requested interviews, and recently canceled two scheduled in-person interviews.

Park, who represents the 11th City Council District on the Westside, is a vocal advocate for the anti-camping law and RV parking ban, while Hernandez of the 1st City Council District, which includes Pico-Union and MacArthur Park, has been critical of the policies, which, according Hernandez, criminalize homelessness.

But it turns out the two officials, who were both elected in 2022, had one thing in common: their love of animals. 

Their passion for animal advocacy along with the overcrowding conditions they witnessed at the city’s shelters motivated them to push for a temporary moratorium on dog breeding permits, Hernandez and Park said. 

The Los Angeles City Council passed the temporary moratorium on dog breeding permits last month in an attempt to address overpopulation at the six city-run animal shelters.

‘We both love animals!’

When LA’s homelessness problems made headlines in the past couple of years, the public may have read or heard about the two council members’ opposing views on how to offer housing to the homeless population or whether to ban RVs from parking overnight in certain neighborhoods.

But Hernandez and Park said, behind the scenes, they learned more about each other and their shared passion for animal advocacy.

“[Park] was bringing in cats for adoption at City Hall, and I was bringing in dogs for adoption at City Hall,” recalled Hernandez. “I’m just grateful that there’s another person on the council that cares as much for animals as I do.”

Park said their common bond over animal advocacy made it easy to come together to look for solutions for the city’s crowded animal shelters that are overwhelmed with un-adopted animals with some forced to euthanize healthy dogs.

“When we discussed what could be done to ease the burden on our shelters and find homes for the animals, we easily knew what we needed to do moving forward,” Park said.

‘They refuel me’

Park and Hernandez may be influential decision makers who are faced with heavy and challenging tasks of solving homelessness, but they are no different than other pet parents when asked about their fur babies.

“They are the loves of my life, and they bring me a lot of joy,” said Hernandez, who is a dog mom to three boxers, Ringo Rosie and Coco. “They refuel me because they have endless love.”

Park is also a proud pet owner with two rescue cats.

“Bad Frances loves to chase the feather wand, and Cheddar, my adventure boy, likes to go for walks on his leash,” Park described, saying she chose to adopt because there were countless animals out there in need of loving homes.

Park also said she has been partnering with the LA Animal Service to provide updates on shelter animals to her constituents.

“I initiated an ‘Adopt a Pet’ feature in my weekly newsletter… with personalized write-ups,” said Park whose coastal district has been seeing sick marine mammals and birds in the past year. “Whether it’s collaborating with my colleagues in council or groups like the Marine Mammal Care Center, I intend to use my team in office to ensure we get support for the comprehensive protection and well-being of all our animal neighbors.”

‘Our animals need partners on this council’

When Hernandez and Park first started the discussion of proposing the breeding moratorium, they were informed about potential opposition from LA residents, some of whom make a living by breeding dogs.

“I understand that everybody’s trying to make their way into trying to survive. But what’s happening is that we are getting purebred dogs that are being dropped off and surrendered at the shelters or being found in the streets, Hernandez explained. “We cannot keep up with the number of pets coming in with the inflow.”

Under the ordinance, the moratorium would be lifted once shelters are at or below 75% capacity for three consecutive months, and could be automatically reinstated if shelter capacity rises above 75%.

Park, who also acknowledged the ordinance may not be a “silver bullet,” said this would be one of the solutions needed to clear the shelters in the city.

“We need to use every tool we have available to us to bring the shelter population down,” Park said during the April City Council meeting. “Hopefully it’ll stem the inflow of dogs into our shelters and alleviate burnout among shelter staff and some of the suffering experienced by animals in our community.”

Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, who seconded the motion, noted during the meeting that the moratorium would also save taxpayers’ money as it has become increasingly costly for housing and even euthanizing un-adopted dogs.

“Get your Labradors, Bulldogs, Corgis from the shelter,” Blumenfield said.

More work to be done to clear the shelters

As Hernandez noted she and Park wanted to “create a barrier to try limit the inflow of animals” with the moratorium on dog breeding permits, the City Council is taking a “multipronged approach” to improve the conditions at the shelters, according to Hernandez.

She said a new plan is in the works to encourage people to foster shelter pets with financial incentives. 

“We’re putting a report together on figuring out how we can pay stipends to our foster volunteers because they’re giving time, they’re giving food, they’re giving their love,” Hernandez said. “We want to be able to support them in fostering our pets through stipends.

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“We are at a point in this ongoing investigation where we are able to reach out to residents and rescue groups that would want to help rescue or adopt and care for these animals and give them the quality of life that they deserve,” Riverside County Department of Animal Services Director Erin Gettis said.

According to agency spokesman Lt. James Huffman, the 60-plus horses and nearly four dozen canines were seized on March 28 from two different properties operated by the same individual, whose name was not disclosed.

Clear the Shelters

Riverside County Apr 12

113 dogs up for adoption after being rescued from Riverside County hoarder

Clear the shelters Apr 11

Overcrowding at LA County animal shelters is leading to euthanization of healthy pets

Huffman said the seizure stemmed from an 18-month investigation that has not yet led to the filing of criminal charges. No one has been arrested in connection with the neglect case.

According to officials, most of the horses are untamed, so they will require breaking in by experienced handlers.

They include Aztecas, Friesian crosses and quarter horse crosses, mares and stallions, ranging from days old to their mid-20s. Some of the mares may be pregnant.

“Guarantees cannot be made regarding their condition, train-ability or ride-ability. All of the horses require teeth floating and hoof trimming,” according to an agency statement.

Along with the equines, animal control officers seized the canines at the two properties at the same time.

“They are mostly mixed herding breeds, such as Australian shepherd, border collie and German shepherd-type dogs, ranging from adults, puppies, to moms with puppies,” the Department of Animal Services said.

The canines can be seen anytime at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, 581 S. Grand Ave. The horses are accessible at the location by appointment only.

Inquiries should be directed to shelterinfo@rivco.org.

As Southern California residents continue to grapple with the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, leaders in the Southland’s animal shelters say more and more pet owners are surrendering their animal companions due to costs.

“People are having a hard time keeping their pets because of the economy, because of the increased cost of caring for pets,” said Marcia Mayeda of the Los Angeles County Animal Care.

And while more pets are being surrendered, more animal shelters are having to make the difficult decision to euthanize adoptable animals to make more space. The economy is only part of the issue contributing to overcrowding at animal shelters.

According to Mayeda, SoCal is experiencing a shortage of veterinarians.

“It’s more difficult for (pet owners) to get a veterinarian to get their pets spayed, or they can’t afford it,” she said. This is leading to an increase in backyard breeding, which further contributes to over-population at shelters.

“A lot of people started getting into breeding of animals and people who really didn’t know what they were doing,” Mayeda said. “Again, more unwanted puppies ending up in shelters, along with seniors and dogs that are sick.”

Some of the hardest-hit shelters in Los Angeles County include Lancaster and Palmdale. According to Mayeda, the county’s Palmdale animal shelter needs more staff and 80 more kennels to meet the demand of the animals it receives. However, the county’s limited funds have made it impossible to obtain those feats.

“Our Palmdale care center wasn’t really built large enough for what they need,” Mayeda said. “It was built as big as it could be with the money that was available at the time.”

With so many animals arriving daily at these shelters, the burden falls on staff to decide which dogs will have to be euthanized in order to make room for new animals.

“When you are already over capacity and you get 20 dogs and 30 cats, what do you do, right?” said Nikole Bresciani, President of the Inland Valley Humane Society & SPCA. “There is realy compassion fatigue and burnout.”

It’s an issue that shelter managers say makes them and their team feel villainized.

“Nobody gets into animal welfare because we’re hoping to euthanize an animal. That’s a by-product of a lot of issues,” Bresciani said.

“To be in this business, you have to make a hard decision in getting overcrowded and then the spread of disease,” said Madeline Bernstein, President of spcaLA.

In an effort to prevent an animal from being euthanized, LA County Animal Care said it now sends two 24-hour notices for dogs at risk of euthanasia. The goal is to give volunteers and social media influencers a chance to share those dogs’ image online in hopes an adoption will be made before their scheduled euthanization.

While the county works to find solutions to prevent animal euthanizations, LA County Animal Care is sharing as many resources and information as it can to help people keep their pets. They advise all pet parents to spay or neuter their animal companions and to visit its website for more information.

They say that what begins as a well-meaning gesture often leads to abandoned animals when the novelty wears off and families realize they’re not equipped to properly care for the pets.

“We do see bunnies brought to the shelter after the holiday fun wears off,” Riverside County Department of Animal Services spokesperson Kerri Mabee told City News Service.

“We encourage parents and anyone who is considering the idea of gifting a bunny on Easter to do their homework. Bunnies, like any pet, require a commitment of care to include special food and supplies. They will need exercise and a clean and comfortable environment,” Mabee continued. “So, it’s important to make sure there is a shared awareness of the responsibilities and expense of caring for a bunny as a pet. It’s a responsibility that will extend past the holiday, for sure.”

Mabee added that the department plans to conduct social media outreach on the issue this week.

Instead of a live animal, rescue groups recommend buying a stuffed toy bunny or chocolate candy rabbit for kids’ Easter baskets.

Retail sales of rabbits, dogs and cats are prohibited in California, but direct sales are still permitted, including online, and illegal street sales also occur in which baby bunnies are sometimes deceptively marketed as adult “dwarfs.”

Jude Ferguson, who runs Kribs for Kritters, a rabbit rescue group based in Lake Elsinore, says her group always sees an increase in dumped rabbits after Easter.

“The increase usually comes in the summer after baby buns start growing up and getting hormonal,” she told CNS in 2023.

Ferguson advises people who do keep their rabbits to reach out to local rescues for resources on low-cost spay and neuter surgeries.

“That’s a big deal for people who are trying to do the right thing and simply call their local vet and are surprised by the sticker shock,” she says. “I know I help many people with spay/neuter referrals.”

“Every year, shelters report an influx of rabbits who were bought for Easter and then discarded once their cuteness or novelty wore off,” PETA’s Catie Cryar told City News Service. “Some of them are bought to put in children’s Easter baskets, whereas others are purchased by family photographers to be used as props for Easter photos. Rabbits are reportedly the third-most commonly surrendered animals to our nation’s shelters, and it’s estimated that about 80% of them bought for Easter will die or be abandoned within the first year, so this is a life-and-death issue.”

The animal rights group is running a public service announcement on some radio stations and spreading the message on X and other social media accounts that “rabbits are someone, not something,” Cryar added. “We also like to remind everyone that adding an animal to the family should come with a lifelong commitment to them. If someone is truly prepared to provide a rabbit with a lifetime of specialized care, the answer is to adopt — not shop.”

Rabbits are not low-maintenance pets. They require a specific diet, cleaning and humane indoor housing in a bunny-proofed room, and veterinary care can be expensive, advocates note.

They’re also not ideal pets for small children, as they respond best to quiet energy and can be easily spooked by the hyperactivity of a child.

Animal advocates offered a series of basic tips:

• Domestic rabbits should be kept indoors at all times.
• Rabbits need to be spayed or neutered as soon as they’re old enough (between four and six months) to avoid unnecessary breeding and to aid their health.
• Once they’ve been spayed or neutered, bunnies should be paired with a mate who’s also been spayed or neutered for lifelong companionship. Single bunnies can be lonely and depressed.
• They should be fed a diet of unlimited timothy hay (or alfalfa hay for rabbits under 6 months), plus a daily portion of leafy greens and limited pellets.
• They should never be kept in cages, as they need room to hop around and exercise their legs.
• They need to be thoroughly groomed every two to three months to remove excess fur and have their nails trimmed.
• They’re aggressive chewers, and need to be kept away from electrical cords and anything that can be dangerous if ingested, such as taped or glued boxes.
• Bunnies who stop eating or appear to be in pain can die within 36 hours, and need immediate care from a veterinarian trained in rabbit care.

Those who are prepared to make the 8- to 12-year commitment to caring for one or more bunnies were encouraged to consider adopting from a local rescue group or Riverside County shelter, which are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The pit bull mix, whom city staffers named Priscilla, was found living under a house in Perris with 15 puppies.

After the homeowner sought help from Mission Viejo’s Animal Services, Priscilla and the 15 puppies were transferred from the Inland Empire to Orange County. 

As doctors examined the dogs, X-ray images revealed Priscilla, who is estimated to be about 2 years old, was shot by a BB gun more than 25 times with many of the pellets still lodged under her skin.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Adrian Enriquez, an animal control officer with the City of Mission Viejo, said. “They are defenseless for the most part. They can’t tell you if they are in pain.”

While officials do not know how Priscilla ended up in the Perris home with the pups, they said it’s “kind of a miracle” that the pack survived. 

“You get mixed emotions,” Enriquez said. “I’m upset and angry at the situation, but I’m also very happy that we can assist Priscilla and her puppies.”

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Retired K-9 officer has cancer. Now Fullerton Police is rallying for support

Clear the shelters Mar 6

Who rescued who? Angel, a dog found tied to a tree, finds forever home

Despite having gone through rough periods in her life, Priscilla is being described as “friendly and docile” as she gets used to being around people and getting attention. 

While four of the smallest and least social puppies are being taken care of by foster families for now, Priscilla and the remaining pups are available for adoption. 

Mission Viejo officials credit a nonprofit named DAWG for providing resources and paying for the medical bills for the dogs.

Anyone interested in adopting the pups, contact 949-470-3045 or visit cmvas.org.

Anyone who has lost a beloved pet would understand the sorrow the Hinshaw-Gratin family in Murrieta felt. They have been carrying a hole in their hearts after losing three beloved pets within a year. 

Then last week, Dee Hinshaw-Gratin and her husband saw the story of Angel, a 1-and-a-half-year-old Siberian Husky and German Shepherd mix, on NBC Los Angeles, they felt an immediate connection. 

“We looked at each other and said, “Yeah, we’re ready,” Hinshaw-Gratin recalled. 

The family was heartbroken and motivated to bring Angel home after hearing her harrowing tale. 

Angel had been under the care of the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center since she was found abandoned at Iglesia Park in Aliso Viejo at around 9 p.m. on Jan. 28. Officials said Angel was tied to a tree with her seven puppies in a box next to her.

“Can you imagine what happened to her? Tied to a tree at a park with her puppies. No food or water with her puppies, so she couldn’t even feed her puppies,” Hinshaw-Gratin said. 

Mission Viejo officials said just hours after NBC Los Angeles aired and published Angel’s story, there was a “surge” in adoption applications. But they decided not to look far and go with the Hinshaw-Gratin family, moved by their love of animals.

“The family members believed Angel would be their beacon of hope,” Kelly Tokarski, a public information specialist with the city of Mission Viejo, said in a statement. “This sweet young pup found her forever home with the caring family, residing on a spacious property, surrounded by love for the rest of her days.”

Tokarski also credited the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center’s nonprofit, DAWG, for saving Angel and her seven puppies.

Hinshaw-Gratin said she feels the family is complete once again.

“You’re a true angel girl,” Hinshaw-Gratin told the pup. “We lucked out, didn’t we?”

Arcadia Feb 27

It's a first: LA Arboretum will welcome dogs inside the garden for a fun Fido event

Mission Viejo Feb 28

Search for forever home for dog abandoned in Aliso Viejo, tied to a tree with her pups

Bunny World Foundation, an all-volunteer foster-based animal rescue that finds homes for hundreds of abandoned domestic rabbits each year, said they are struggling to single-handedly assist the L.A. Animal Services Department with re-homing the animals.

Lejla Hadzimuratovic, founder and president of BWF, called the situation a “nightmare.”

“I am extremely distraught having to witness yet another horrible backyard catastrophe,” Hadzimuratovic said in a statement. “This was your typical situation where things got out of hand due to ignorance of rabbits’ gestation period, which is 28 days.”

Hadzimuratovic added, “When will people learn that it only takes two unfixed rabbits to create a tragedy of mass proportions and impose a hefty financial burden on Los Angeles rescue organizations operating on a zero budget? It’s heartbreaking to see many painfully neglected and severely matted rabbits living in filth, exposed to hawks, owls, coyotes, raccoons, other wildlife, and harsh elements.”

On Feb. 20, an LAAS supervisor from the West Valley Animal Shelter in Chatsworth contacted BWF seeking assistance rescuing a large number of rabbits found on a private property in Granada Hills. The owner had called for assistance after the fast-breeding rabbits began to proliferate in his backyard.

Four days later, the BWF team visited the scene and reported babies, nursing mothers, juveniles and adult rabbits running across several yards.

“Once we arrived at the scene, we worked diligently to trap and sex as many rabbits as possible. The bunnies we encountered were mainly adults, with many pregnant and potentially nursing females,” said BWF adoption manager Jane Stonnington.

The organization trapped and sexed 50 rabbits that day and took them to the West Valley Animal Shelter. Most of the females were pregnant, BWF officials said.

Among other ailments, many of the rabbits were severely matted due to long-haired breeds, which can be extremely painful to rabbits. After the shelter staff processed the rabbits, BWF took the babies and placed them into temporary foster care.

The adult rabbits have been spread out between the city’s six animal shelters as animal control continues to visit the property and confiscate more rabbits.

On Tuesday, the West Valley Animal Shelter contacted the BWF again regarding further assistance with determining the gender of an additional 30 rabbits taken from the location by animal control officers.

LAAS and BWF are uncertain whether more births are on the way before female rabbits can be spayed, and any more pregnancies could threaten to increase the number of rabbits to upward of 300-plus, the said. The process may take weeks to resolve due to the mature system of underground burrows dug by the rabbits, with multiple litters quickly hiding underneath the house.

Before any hopes of adoption, each rabbit will need medical care, spaying/neutering, vaccination, deworming and professional grooming, Hadzimuratovic noted.

According to BWF, this situation comes at a challenging time when local shelters and parks will be overrun with bunnies who have nowhere to go after the spring breeding and post-Easter dumping season.

Those willing to foster or adopt rabbits are asked to email info@bunnyworldfoundation.org, with “I will foster an LAAS bunny” in the subject line.

For the first time in 47 years, the Adams County SPCA kennels are empty because all of its animals have been adopted and strays have been reunited with their families, the organization shared in a Facebook post.

The kennels were nearly full two weeks ago, but now there are no dogs remaining and only one cat that came as a stray, according to the animal shelter.

The Adams County SPCA shared a joyous photo of its employees smiling in a hallway filled with empty kennels.

“This is the first time in 47 YEARS that the Adams County SPCA is empty let alone at Christmas time, it is a true miracle!” the organization wrote. “To say that we are beyond excited is an understatement! The staff and volunteers have worked VERY hard to take care of the animals in our care and to make sure they got adopted to the right home!”

Adams County SPCA kennel technician Tonya Hays tells TODAY.com the organization moved between 15 and 20 animals either as adoptions or strays returned to owners in the last two weeks to empty the kennels.

“We had to get all them spayed and neutered, vaccinated, and tested for heart worms and tick-borne illness while also processing a lot of (adoption) applications, so the staff worked really hard,” Hays says. “It was pretty cool. It was quite a feat.”

The Adams County SPCA adopted out 94 animals and returned 26 strays to their owners since Nov. 1 and not one of them has been returned, officials told TODAY.com.

Shelter officials wrote on Facebook that the organization has adopted 598 animals this year and reunited 120 pets with their owners. It’s now pitching in to help other shelters in Pennsylvania that are filled.

While it may seem like the holiday spirit motivated more adoptions to help empty the shelters, Hays said they actually discourage people from giving pets as gifts because of the years-long commitment it requires.

Many of the owners who adopted pets from the shelter responded in the comments with photos of their lovable pooches and felines.

The organization also shared “happy tails” on Facebook sent by owners who have recently adopted pets from the shelter, including an adorable cat named Bootsie.

“All of our children adore him but he has been the biggest game changer for my four-year-old autistic daughter,” the owner wrote to the SPCA. “Hope cuddles Bootsie when she’s upset instead of having full-blown meltdowns, cuddles him and practices her verbal expressions of compassion, love and affection. Thank you so much for all you do!”

The Adams County SPCA wrote in a follow-up Facebook post on Dec. 26 that it has “received an overwhelming response” from shelters across the country and in Canada and Mexico, as well as members of the public, asking them to take in animals to shelter.

“Even though our hearts break from them and the situation they are in we need to help our members of OUR community members first,” the organization wrote.

The shelter is only taking animals surrendered by residents within the county as well as surrounding counties and any “overwhelmed shelters” in Pennsylvania.

“We are going to do the best we can to help as many animals and people we can,” the Adams County SPCA wrote.

The ASPCA estimates that 6.3 million animals enter shelters every year, split almost evenly between cats and dogs, and about 4.1 million of them are adopted each year. Approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized each year, the majority of them cats, according to the ASPCA.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• Costco shares update on raising its membership prices
• What December’s full moon in Cancer means for your sign
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The workers spotted the orange cat curled up near the center divider of the freeway mistaking it for a deceased animal. Upon further inspection, they realized the kitty was just frightened and injured, too weak to move.

The Caltrans employees acted quickly grabbing whatever articles of clothing they could find inside their work truck and took the cat to the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center for much-needed care. The feline’s paws and nails had severe road rash from scurrying, as well as a limp on her rear left leg, a burn on her back and a scratch on her nose.

The cat was named Callie in honor of her rescuers.

She is expected to make a full recovery and will be up for adoption once she is completely healed and spayed.

The treatment was all thanks to Mission Viejo Animal Services Center’s nonprofit DAWG, which paid for the cat’s care.

“Sometimes it takes a village to help homeless pets in our community, and this is certainly the case with Callie,” said Animal Care Supervisor Brynn Lavison. “We appreciate the compassion of the Caltrans employees, the hard work of Dr. Fahrtash, and the generosity of DAWG for helping to save Callie’s life.”

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The Inland Valley Humane Society (IVHS) said its staff found the puppy on its premises the morning after it was dumped overnight. Surveillance footage from the animal shelter showed a person carrying the pooch and then leaving it on the property, ditching the dog after hours.

Medical personnel from the shelter examined the pup and found swelling and injuries on its body that prevented him from being able to walk. The puppy, who was named “Tiny Tim” by shelter staff, is currently being treated at the animal shelter.

IVHS said it’s investigating possible acts of cruelty in the case.

Anyone with information on the puppy is asked to contact the shelter’s investigative team at 909-623-9777 x677. It can also be contacted via email at investigator@ivhsspca.org.

Olive Avenue Market rests near downtown Redlands and is co-owned by Sonya Rozzi. She’s become familiar with her regular customers and their beloved pooches.

“We have a lot of people who walk their dogs and a lot of dogs in the neighborhood, and I live right next door so they’ve all become neighborhood friends,” she told Rozzi.

For that reason, she and other nearby business owners wanted to do a good deed and organized an event that would have benefited shelter animals. Unfortunately, due to a canine disease that is highly contagious and at times, deadly the event was canceled.

“We had a lot of fun and awesome things planned, but this virus came about and we don’t feel comfortable doing it right now,” Rozzi said. “It’s too risky to have all these animals congregate in one location.”

Veterinarians warn the canine respiratory illness usually begins with a cough that’s persistent and could last for several weeks. That cough has been found to develop to severe pneumonia in some cases and does not respond to antibiotics.

“What vets are finding right now is that it’s not responsive to the antibiotics that we typically reach for first to treat a typical pneumonia,” Dr. Kristian Joyce, Veterinarian Medical Director of the Humane Society of San Bernardino, said. “A lot of times, vets are having to reach for a stronger antibiotics to treat these pets.”

While Olive Avenue Market and other businesses involved in the fundraiser wait for cases to decline to reschedule their event, Rozzi encourages the public to adopt from their local animal shelters.

“You know, they just want a home, too.”

The Best Friends Animal Society hosted a pet adoption drive at LA State Historic Park, where locals welcomed animals in need into their households. Numerous animal rescue groups and organizations banded together to take adoptable pets for the event in hopes of finding them their fur-ever homes.

“Our mission is to help every single shelter in the country get to no-kill by 2025,” said Holly Sizemore of Best Friends Animal Society.

A total of 60 dogs and 82 cats were adopted during the event Saturday and those who are still looking to add some more love to their life can do so on Sunday.

The second day of the drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at LA State Historic Park on Sunday. Animals of all ages – from puppies and kittens to senior pets – will be available for adoption. Each animal at the event will already come either spay or neutered, and be microchipped and vaccinated.

Lucy, a pooch who was awaiting adoption at the Baldwin Park Animal Shelter, is now with her fur-ever family after she was found by staff abandoned and tied to a gate at the shelter. Lucy was a long-term resident at the animal shelter and was running out of time to find her forever home. Now, fellow shelter dog Pondy is eagerly awaiting adoption.

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Both dogs were described as staff favorites and although Lucy’s story has a happy ending, Pondy is running out of time to find his new home.

With it being Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, adoption fees are waived for dogs at all County Department of Animal Care and Control’s animal care centers. For more information, click here.

Those who are interested in adopting Pondy can find him at the Baldwin Park Animal Shelter. His shelter ID is A5571809.

At any given animal shelter, rows of kennels house dogs seeking their fur-ever families. As they wait to be whisked away and welcomed into a loving household, animal networkers, volunteers and fosters do all they can to help make their lives comfortable until these animals get adopted.

“Our goal is to get every dog out there every day and it’s great when potential adopters come in they can see their personality,” said Don Belton of the LA County Animal Care and Control.

With shelters beyond capacity, many dogs are limited on time in joining their forever household. In an effort to truly showcase the dogs’ true temperaments, LA County does what it can, such as hosting events around the region.

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“You get to see the personality of an animal far beyond what they may look like in a kennel,” Belton said.

As hundreds of dogs in the county wait for their adoptions, those running the animal shelters are in need of any help they can get. That assistance comes in the form of volunteers and low or no-cost veterinary services.

“There’s many people on the front lines who work so hard every day to get one single dog out of the shelter,” said Viola Sator, an animal networker.

Sator runs Pawlyamorous, a website selling dog-themed clothing, and donates a portion of her profits to animal rescues. She also has a passion for networking dogs to get them adopted.

“Every now and then one gets to me really badly and I try my best to network them and somehow get them seen,” she said.

Viola tries to help dogs that don’t show well in their kennels or get little or no interest – like Lucy and Pondy, two longtime residents at the Baldwin Park Animal Shelter. Although these two pups are staff favorites, they’ve yet to find their own homes.

“They are so gentle. They take treats very gently,” Lisa Lindberg Arnold, a volunteer, said.

In all the months they’ve been at the Baldwin Park shelter, these pups have truly blossomed thanks to the hard work of the staff and volunteers.

“The first time we saw her tail wag, it brought tears to our eyes,” Arnold said.

So if you have space in your heart and in your home, just know there are people doing their part to help you find that perfect pet.

With it being Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, adoption fees are waived for dogs at all County Department of Animal Care and Control’s animal care centers. For more information, click here.

Those who are interested in adopting Lucy and Pondy can find them at the Baldwin Park Animal Shelter. Lucy’s ID is A5571807 and Pondy’s ID is A5571809.

McMillan, who owns a top dog training facility in Los Angeles, said training your dog at a young age teaches it obedience because it is when the owner’s “basic manners of control” get instilled in the dog before they get used to getting away with bad behavior.

“If you neglect them of basic education when they are a puppy, or even an adolescent, then yeah they are going to have behavioral issues when they are older because you didn’t send them to kindergarten,” McMillan said.

So, how should you go about training your new puppy? Let’s break down McMillan’s three points to know for new dog owners.

1. Safety always comes first

Dogs, like humans, have personalities that may not always match with an owner. McMillan said prospective dog owners should talk to the shelter they are adopting from about the dog’s personality, and how it gets along with other dogs, children and cats, in particular.

“If you don’t do your prep work there (shelter), then you might bring the dog home and find out” your new dog does not get along with your kid or other pets, McMillan said.

2. Set them up for success

Bringing a new dog home can be stressful for the dog, and if they are untrained puppies they are sure to get into trouble if they are left to roam around a home alone.

“So when I say set them up for success, don’t drop them off at home and leave right away. You want to spend some time with the dog at home. You want them to feel comfortable and know this is home,” McMillan said. “And if they are a very young puppy, I would not give them free range of the house when you leave.”

“There’s no way on Earth you’re going to leave a puppy alone in a house for a few hours and it not get in trouble,” McMillan added.

3. Training builds trust

Dogs, as pack animals, naturally look for leadership.

“In pack animals, there is always a hierarchy in the pack,” McMillan said. “And they are always looking for some form of leadership.”

Dog owners should strive to be both the parent and the friend of their pet, and that is where training comes in.

“Training will not only build trust, but it builds a bond, a friendship,” McMillan said.

“If they don’t trust you, they are not going to learn one thing from you,” McMillan added. “You always want to make sure you form that bond, form a trust with a dog, and they are going to learn whatever you throw at them.”

Whether it’s a loyal companion or pet, a service animal, a police dog, or a rescue dog, these amazing creatures have been playing a crucial part in humans’ lives. They offer unconditional love to us humans and make our lives fuller and more joyful.

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International Dog Day: History

International Dog Day has been observed since 2004, when a pet lover, Colleen Paige, celebrated the day as a way to raise awareness about dog shelters. Since then, International Dog Day has become a global celebration for all pet lovers who participate in events and activities to honor their pets and also to raise awareness about humans’ best friends. Paige is also the founder of National Cat Day and National Pet Day.

International Dog Day: Significance

International Dog Day is observed to highlight the conditions of hundreds of dogs who are in need of being rescued as they are deprived of proper care. The main aim of International Dog Day is to encourage people to take care of these needy animals.

On this day, people are encouraged to adopt stray dogs and also raise awareness about the problems facing them. Additionally, the message that this day conveys is to tell people to provide a safe, loving and caring environment for all dogs.

If you’re an animal lover who wants to adopt a furry friend, you should understand some key points prior to making such a crucial decision.

Here are some of the necessary considerations that one needs to make before adopting a dog:

• Make sure that you will be able to handle the financial expenses of keeping a dog.
• Take your time with the pet, as they will become a part of the family after the adoption.
• No more last-minute weekend getaways, as you will have a pet to take care of. Otherwise, you’ll need to plan and find a dog sitter or dog boarder in your vicinity.
• Dogs need to get outdoors and in the backyard, so you will need to take care of your pet’s walk every day for the betterment of their health.
• You’ll likely have to bear with dog hair everywhere in your house when you adopt a dog. If you are a cleanliness freak, then you might find it irritating.
• Visit cleartheshelters.com if you are interested in adopting a new furry friend!