Happy New Year, fellow animal advocates. Our 2024 resolutions include doing more to help animals in need.
We don’t like to crow, although we do admire the Corvidae — but we’re jazzed to tell you that since we published our first installment of this column last week, three of the five animals we posted about have been adopted.
If you have an animal needing rescue, foster or adoption, email [email protected], and we’ll do our best to publish your notice promptly.
And even if your plans for the new year do not currently include embracing the responsibilities and joys of a new pet, please consider donating to the animal rescue of your choice. All costs associated with pets have spiked in recent months, so even a modest donation – as little as $5! – it really does make a difference.
Here’s to a new year of healthy pets and happy humans who care for them!
We Yabba-Dabba-Do Love Us Some WILMA
Pasadena resident Bonnie Barron operates an independent rescue, Hope for Sweet Homes, and she calls Wilma a diamond in the “ruff.” Bonnie rescued Wilma from the stressful and overcrowded city shelter of San Bernardino in October 2023. Wilma was picked up as a stray but is friendly with other dogs and people. Bonnie says, “Wilma can ‘read the room’ and adjust her play style accordingly.”
- Female black/caramel Shepherd mix
- Age: 2 years old
- Weight: 60 lbs.
- Spayed, microchipped and vaccinated
Wilma needs a foster or adopter. She’s currently being boarded on a ranch in Hesperia, where she demonstrates perfect canine etiquette when romping with other dogs of many differing breeds.
Email for an appointment to meet Wilma: [email protected]
Gingerbread
Gingerbread is in a safe place for now but needs to find a foster or adopter soon because of his current human’s long-term travel plans.
- Male DSH cat
- Orange-tabby stripe and white fur
- Age: 3 years (approximate)
- Litterbox trained
- No microchip
- Needs to be neutered
Manish says, “He’s active, friendly. Very cuddly cat. Highly food-motivated. I am looking to find him a loving home that he deserves since I am unable to take care of him much longer.”
Email for an appointment to meet Gingerbread at: [email protected]
¡Aye, Papi!
Poppy was rescued by www.stacyhoperescue.org from the high-kill Lancaster shelter minutes before she was to be put down because of overcrowding. Tim Mathern and his wife foster Poppy, and they say this: “She is sweet and long-legged little girl with a passion for outdoor adventures. Whether it’s a morning jog, an afternoon hike, or an adventure-filled camping trip, Poppy is always ready for the next exciting activity!”
Poppy “gets on famously” with other dogs and “offers unwavering companionship, sweet kisses, and a joyful demeanor every day.”
- Female Border Collie/Husky/cattle dog mix
- Age: 2 years old
- Mostly-white fur with cinnamon accents
- Ginger freckles, blue eyes
- Spayed, current on vaccinations
- House-trained
- Knows obedience commands
Tim adds, “We are deeply committed to finding Poppy, a forever family where she can continue to bring joy and love. As much as we adore her, we want to continue saving lives. We believe in the power of fostering to save lives. By finding loving homes for our foster dogs, we can continue our efforts to rescue more dogs in need. We already have two dogs and two parrots, and if Poppy finds her forever home, we can open our doors to another deserving soul.”
For adoption inquiries or more information about Poppy, please contact Tim at [email protected] or you may fill out an application at stacyhoperescue.org
Great Expectations
Gemma Mae #A790498 is a pregnant kitty at San Bernardino’s Devore Animal Shelter who urgently needs a rescue, foster or adopter. The shelter reports that she is about 5 to 6 weeks into her pregnancy, meaning she will deliver her kittens in 3 to 4 weeks from this publication, between January 25 and February 1 (feline gestation typically lasts about 63 to 78 days).
To inquire about Gemma May, call (909) 386-9820. Press 2 for Devore Shelter, then press 3 to speak with a shelter agent.
GEMMA MAE, #A790498
- Female calico DSH
- Case #A790498
- Age: 3 years old
- Tan and gray mackerel tabby-pattern, mostly-white fur
- Pregnant kitten delivery expected between January 25 and February 1
- Has conjunctivitis, currently taking Clavamox (broad-spectrum antibiotic) and being treated with BNP (ophthalmic antibacterial) ointment
- Adoptable with medical waiver
- Not spayed
- For more details, visit https://animalcare.sbcounty.gov/pets/#adoption-requirements
Why Get a Pet?
Okay, let’s keep it real. Pets mean work…birds and mammals in particular. They shred (upholstery) and shed (hair and dander) and leave their mark in many other ways on your carpet and your debit card. They often complicate human vacations. Some pets are crepuscular, meaning they are most active (noisy, nosy, needy) at dusk, dawn, or any other time you might be trying to sleep.
Yeah, we get it. Pets guarantee a certain X-factor in your life. They can be unpredictable. They can be inconvenient. They can become expensive.
And if you don’t want a pet, you most definitely, absolutely should not have one!
However, Dave Kinnoin of South Pasadena places these complaints in the same general category as “too many peacocks” or “leftover eggnog.”
This songwriter/animal advocate adopted his dog Oreo from Pasadena Humane in September 2023, and his original song, “My Dog Brings Out the Best in Me,” will be featured in an upcoming Pasadena Humane video promoting pet adoption.
