ANIMAL WATCH

ANIMAL WATCH-On January 9, Commissioner Roger Wolfson of the Los Angeles Animal Services Commission requested discussion of a horse racing ban in the City of Los Angeles be agendized soon, in view of the recent deaths of horses at nearby Santa Anita.

ANIMAL WATCH-Los Angeles Animal Services General Manager Brenda Barnette’s plaintive media pleas for pet lovers to “foster” impounded dogs from the City's six shelters during the Fourth of July holiday week touched the hearts of  LA drummer Noel Jasso and his wife, Tori, who opened their home on July 7 to a two-year-old Pit Bull named Mugsy.(Photo above.) 

ANIMAL WATCH-On July 8, LA Animal Services GM Brenda Barnette sent out a media release to the LAAS social media mailing list inviting the public to attend a joint program with UCLA on July 19 on Dog Bite Investigations, taught by Jim Crosby, (photo above) an "expert in canine behavior, dog bites and attacks and shelter management and operations." 

ANIMAL WATCH-Los Angeles Animal Services' General Manager Brenda Barnette states on the LAAS website “Coyote page” that the department's goal is "to educate the public by fostering a relationship of mutual respect between wildlife and the community so we can live together safely," but apparently Southern California coyotes have a much different definition of respect and safety...AND they are known vectors for rabies. 

ANIMAL WATCH-This is not the article I planned to write for the Fourth of July.

ANIMAL WATCH-On Tuesday, June 25, the City Council will vote on Los Angeles Animal Services General Manager Brenda Barnette's ordinance to allow any stranger to pick up a stray or lost dog or cat and keep it, with the City's blessing. After 30 days, Barnette proposes, the finder could adopt it through LAAS, although it was never in the shelter.