Animal lovers’ calendar: Week of Sept. 13-19

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Angelenos, there are more animal-friendly events than we can shake a stick at (not that we’d want to shake a stick at an animal-friendly event) in the coming weeks. Are we forgetting something? Let us know by leaving a comment!

This Week:

Saturday, Sept. 19, spare a thought for the countless dogs and puppies suffering for pet stores’ profitability in the nation’s puppy mills. It’s Puppy Mill Awareness Day, and events are scheduled for towns and cities around the country and the world. The main event takes place in Lancaster County, Penn., but even here in L.A., we can hear the message. More information at AwarenessDay.org.

Saturday, Sept. 19, you’ll have your one and only opportunity this year (unless you run in very different circles than we do) to see a parade of dogs dressed as lobsters and other creatures of the sea. To celebrate the Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival, Peninsula Dog Parks Inc. hosts the 11th annual Lobster Dog Pet Parade at San Pedro’s Ports O’ Call Village beginning at noon. Pet costumes must be homemade and entries are judged on creativity and originality. Prizes will be awarded for small dogs (under 30 pounds) and medium and large dogs (30 pounds and over). Entry fee is $20 per dog. Learn more and find information on early registration at DogParks.org.

Saturday, Sept. 19, pet rescue group the Lange Foundation hosts an adoption and fundraising event at every music-loving Angeleno’s favorite record store, Amoeba Music Hollywood, beginning at noon. Adoptable dogs from the Lange Foundation will be on hand to meet potential adopters, and an auction begins at 4 p.m. with proceeds benefiting Lange’s work with needy pets.

Upcoming:

Sunday, Sept. 27, the Pasadena Humane Society hosts the Wiggle Waggle Walk and Family Fun Fair, an annual event benefiting homeless pets. The Wiggle Waggle Walk runs something like a cancer walk, with participants (whose leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome) gathering pledges in exchange for walking either a short (just under a mile) or long (approximately 3.2 miles) course at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl. Those interested in helping but unable to walk the course can also raise funds from home. Walker registration begins at 8 a.m., with the walk itself beginning at 9. The Family Fun Fair (featuring refreshments, games, pet-themed vendors, drawings, a pet talent contest and a doggie fashion show) begins at 10 a.m. More information available at the Pasadena Humane Society’s website or by e-mailing events@phsspca.org.

Sunday, Sept. 27, Dawg Squad Pet Rescue holds its annual Bowling for Collars event from 1 to 3 p.m. at AMF Mar Vista Lanes, at 12125 Venice Blvd. in West L.A. The event is a fundraiser for the group’s work on behalf of needy dogs, with proceeds going toward food, medical care and rehabilitation costs. Tickets are $25 for an individual bowler or $100 for a bowling lane, which includes shoe rental and two games each for up to 5 bowlers. More information and tickets available at Dawg Squad’s website.

Saturday, Oct. 3, Best Friends Animal Society celebrates its 25th anniversary at its annual Lint Roller Party. Proceeds from the event benefit Best Friends’ L.A.-based programs. The party is 1980s-themed in honor of the group’s 1984 launch year and features music, awards, a veggie buffet and open bar, raffles and both silent and live auctions. General admission is $275 and includes a free CD featuring songs from animal-friendly musicians including the divine Neko Case and Emmylou Harris; a Founder’s Reception ticket, which includes admission to a pre-party reception in addition to the main event, will set you back $350. More information and tickets available at Best Friends’ website.

Saturday, Oct. 10, the L.A. County 4-H Youth Development Program hosts its pet symposium from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of California Cooperative Extension, located at 4800 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave. L.A. County kids will learn about responsible pet ownership, animal-related community service opportunities and pet-centric careers. This free event focuses not only on garden-variety dogs and cats, but also rabbits, turtles, chickens and bees. For more information, contact Dawn Fuller at (323) 260-3859 or dafuller@ucdavis.edu.

In Theaters:

‘The Cove’ tells the horrific story of wild dolphins that are systematically rounded up and slaughtered in a tranquil Japanese port village. ‘Unlike their larger cetacean brethren whales, dolphins are not protected by the worldwide ban on commercial whaling that has been in effect since the 1980s,’ our colleague Rachel Abramowitz explains -- and because the dolphins aren’t protected, they’re seen as fair game for fishermen, who round them up for sale to marine parks around the world. The dolphins that aren’t sold have an even worse fate; they’re butchered for food. Times film critic Kenneth Turan calls it ‘a powerful and effective piece of advocacy filmmaking,’ but be forewarned: It’s extremely graphic. Check Zap2It for theaters and showtimes.

[Correction: An earlier version of this post noted a date of Saturday, Oct. 10 for the Best Friends Lint Roller Party. The Lint Roller Party is actually scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3, and we’ve corrected the error. Thanks to astute readers Jon and claudia Perrone for pointing out the mistake!]

-- Lindsay Barnett