Cats Versus Computers

Cats versus computers.  Computer loses. Doesn't matter where the computer is.  On the desk - on the kitchen table, on your lap, or next to you in bed.  Computer goes on, cat goes to work.

And by "cat goes to work," I mean, cat goes into "hyper-annoy" mode, or "HA" for short.  Each cat has their own version of HA.  For Darwin, HA means getting as close as possible to the keyboard so that, the very instant my fingers stop typing, he spreads himself like peanut butter across the keys.

Lillie-Belle is much sneakier.  She lies next to me in bed, pretending to be uninterested.  And slowly but surely, her body worms its way beneath my arm, over my stomach and ever closer to the keyboard.  I push her away and soon she is once again worming her way towards the keyboard.  Over and over again, until I finally get up and move to the couch.  Where I encounter ...

Twink.  Who in all of her Twink-torti-HA boldness just waddles over and plops herself on my lap.  My lap on which I am trying to work on my laptop.

So I have no choice.  I must teach them all to type.

Crystal, Supervisor's Favorite Chi - Needs Rescue ASAP!

Date: Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 9:26 AM
Subject: SUPERVISORS FAVORITE: CRYSTAL - ID#A1267189 female, brown and white Chihuahua 4 lbs

CRYSTAL ID#A1267189My name is Crystal and I am an unaltered female, brown and white Chihuahua - Smooth Coated.
The shelter thinks I am about 4 months old.
I weigh approximately 7 pounds.
I have been at the shelter since Nov 23, 2011. Getting over URI Very sweet lap dog or pocket :)

http://www.petharbor.com/pet.asp?uaid=LACT4.A1267189

Anna HernandezNEW HOPE COORDINATORLos Angeles Animal ServicesNorth Central Division3201 Lacy St.
Los Angeles Ca. 90031Shelter (213)485-5767 Fax (213)847-0555
Cell (213)305-4096
Business Hours Tues-Sat. 8-5
Email: Ani.newhopenc@...
www.laanimalservices.com
You can now follow NOCs' Adoptable pets on http://www.facebook.com/pages/North-Central-Shelter-City-of-Los-Angeles-Animal-Services/151616524918787 &

http://twitter.com/AnnaLAASNOC

A Bull Mastiff Goes From Bait Dog to Cuddle Buddy

"... from bait dog to cuddle buddy."  How could those words (Happy Tail:  A Bull Mastiff goes from bait dog to cuddle buddy) not grab the attention of a dog lover?  This is the story of Tank, a Bull Mastiff living a dreadful existence, a bait dog who was either "working" or chained up.  What does it tell you that the best thing that ever happened to Tank was that his owners moved away and left him?

When a local shelter took Tank in, he was 35-40-lbs. underweight.  And needless to say, the public isn't lining up to adopt beat-up Bull Mastiffs.  When Tank's time was up, he was rescued by Love Me, But Left Me Animal Rescue.  Karissa Christopher of Harrison, AR saw Tank's listing on Petfinder and immediately fell in love.

"Once home," Karissa says, "he was shy, but with time, he came around. We have had him for 10 months and he has gained 55 pounds (making his weight 155 lbs.). He loves to lie around the house, play tug of war, and swim. He is the ultimate survivor."

The shelters are full of "diamonds in the rough."  Don't pity the shelter dog.  Adopt him. 

"The Best Cuddle Buddy in the World"



Karissa's Own Words

TWO TINY CHIs WITH POSSIBLE PELVIC FRACTURE NEED RESCUE ASAP

PLEASE CONTACT KELLY AT kellyfentonrescue@gmail.com ASAP if you can help these little ones!

 2 MEDICAL URGENTS - SMALL CHI'S - POSSIBLE PELVIC FRACTURES - BOTH HAVE DONATIONS -EAST VALLEY SHELTER

**URGENT**  RESCUE NEEDED ASAP  - PLEASE CROSS-POST!!!
GENTRY - ID#A1263268 - HAS $210 IN DONATION PLEDGES SO FAR
POSSIBLE PELVIC FRACTURE
My name is Gentry and I am an unaltered female, tan Chihuahua - Smooth Coated.
The shelter thinks I am about 4 months old.
I weigh approximately 8 pounds.
I have been at the shelter since Nov 07, 2011.
East Valley Animal Care and Control Center at (888) 452-7381

East Valley EXTREMELY URGENT * Dogs, Van Nuys, CA

CHA CHI - ID#A1256313 - HAS $50 IN DONATION PLEDGES SO FAR
POSSIBLE PELVIC FRACTURE
My name is Cha chi and I am an unaltered male, black Chihuahua - Smooth Coated.
The shelter thinks I am about 2 years and 1 month old.
I weigh approximately 10 pounds.
I have been at the shelter since Oct 10, 2011.
East Valley Animal Care and Control Center at (888) 452-7381

East Valley Care & Control14409 Vanowen St, Van Nuys CA 91405
888-4LAPET1 or 888-452-7381

 

Top Ten Movies That Have Negatively Impacted Animals

A new Top Ten list is posted every Monday. If you have a suggestion for a Top Ten, send it to petpurri@gmail.com. If we use your suggestion we'll send you a prize!

1.    Jaws (1975) Responsible for the slaughter of millions of sharks.

2.    101 Dalmatians (1961) This film had a terrible effect on
       the breed, Dalmatians filled shelters for years.

3.    Legally Blonde (2001) Turned Chihuahuas into pocket pets.

4.    Cujo (1983) Ugh.

5.    Willard (2003) Killer rats.  Really?

6.    Rottweiler (2005) So why do people think rotties aren't nice?

7.    Orca (1977) See Jaws.

8.    Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008) The most euthanized dog in
       shelters doesn't need another movie (and sequel) turning it
       into a disposable fashion accessory.

9.    They Only Kill Their Masters (1972) And so began the
       "Dobermans turn on their owners" mythology

10.  All the Jaws sequels.  If Spielberg is not funding shark research

       and recovery efforts, he should.

   

Lillie-Belle - Fabulous on Friday

 

Lillie-Belle is one of those cats that doesn't take no for an answer.  And though she is the youngest of all my cats, she might be the most alpha cat I have ever known. 

Lillie-Belle is one of those cats that will follow and rub against you all day long.  And all night long.  She wants attention all the time.  Her timing is not always perfect.  She doesn't know that when one is trying to cook, or type (or sleep), it's not the best time to have a cat in your face.  But LB doesn't care.  She is right there - purring up a storm, making cookies, and rubbing against your face.

There are times when LB is exasperating. There are even times when you want to push her away to stop her incessant neediness.  And then there are times like tonight, after an especially tough day at work followed by two hours in rush hour traffic because people in LA can't drive when the wind blows, when LB gets it just right.  Having Lillie-Belle jump into my lap as I collapsed onto the couch made me forget how bad my day was.  I have a little one-eyed wonder who loves me.  And I don't care how much the wind blows.

And that is why my Lillie-Belle is Fabulous on Friday.



When Fluffy is The Cure

"Landlords have to put out the welcome mat for animals that help renters with depression or other disorders" wrote Dinah Eng in the L.A. Times.  The 2006 article is more timely than ever in the wake of record numbers of owner surrenders at animal shelters.

The Federal Fair Housing Act (1968) added disability provisions by way of amendment.  "Federal housing laws prohibit discrimination against people with physical and mental disabilities, and those certified to need an assistance animal of any kind must be allowed reasonable accommodation - even if the housing complex has a no-pets policy," wrote Eng.

Court cases involving assistance animals are becoming more commonplace, and although the court's rulings most often have been applied to condominium and apartment dwellers, the same principle applies to assisted-living facilities.

A staggering number of animals are surrendered to shelters due to "landlord" reasons.  So does your furry friend help you through your depression but your landlord wants him gone?  Get a doctor's note.  See, the 2004 "Pooky" ruling in Auburn, California in which the 3rd District Court found that the condo association had discriminated against Pooky's owners, a couple diagnosed with severe depression.  Pooky Prevailed.

Pooky Court Ruling

For more information on housing law, contact the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing at (800) 233-3212; www.dfeh.ca.gov; the Housing Rights Center of Los Angeles at (800) 477-5977 or (213) 387-8400.