Animal lovers’ calendar: Weekend of April 24-25 and beyond

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Southern California residents can celebrate their love of animals by participating in a great number of events over the coming days, weeks and months. (Heck, we can even help animals by shopping -- count us in!) We’ve got the details on a number of upcoming events; if you think we’re missing something, let us know by leaving a comment or tweeting the details to us @LATunleashed.

This Weekend:

Saturday-Sunday, April 24-25, Clinico sponsors low-cost spay and neuter surgeries for pit bull and pit-type dogs at its Harbor/San Pedro clinic, 957 N. Gaffey St., in an effort to reduce the overpopulation of pits and pit mixes in area animal shelters. During the two-day event, spay/neuter surgeries will be offered for $30. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (310) 241-0768.

Saturday, April 24, all Buffalo Exchange locations host a Dollar Day Sale in celebration of Earth Day, with proceeds from sale items benefiting the Humane Society of the United States’ Don’t Trash Wildlife campaign. More information at BuffaloExchange.com.

Saturday, April 24, spcaLA hosts PAWS to Read at the Redondo Beach Public Library, 303 N. Pacific Coast Highway, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Through the PAWS to Read program, children practice their reading skills by reading to a decidedly nonjudgmental audience: certified therapy dogs. Participation is free; sign-up begins at 9 a.m. at the Children’s Information Desk. More information at spcaLA.com.

Saturday, April 24, the L.A. Department of Animal Services holds a mobile pet-adoption event at Northridge’s Petco location, 8800 Tampa Ave., from noon to 4 p.m. See photos of adoptable pets at LAAnimalServices.com.

Sunday, April 25, support local rescue group Take Me Home while eating your lunch or dinner at the Woodland Hills location of T.G.I. Friday’s, 5919 Canoga Ave., from noon to 8 p.m. When diners present a flier (downloadable in PDF form on Take Me Home’s website), T.G.I. Friday’s will donate 20% of food-purchase proceeds to Take Me Home.

Sunday, April 25, the L.A. Department of Animal Services holds mobile pet-adoption events at Centinela Feed & Pet Supplies’ Rancho Palos Verdes location, 28901 Western Ave., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and at the Valley Glen Community Event and Pancake Breakfast, held at LAFD Fire Station #102, 13200 Burbank Blvd. in Van Nuys, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Upcoming:

Monday, April 26, celebrate the ways pets help children -- and vice versa -- on National Kids and Pets Day. (If you know a special kid-and-pet pair, show us by sharing a photo of them together at The Times’ photo-sharing site, Your Scene.)

Friday-Sunday, April 30-May 2, PetSmart Charities presents its ‘Second Chance for Love’ adoption weekend, with events scheduled for each of PetSmart’s locations with the goal of finding new homes for more than 18,500 pets. More information at Adoptions.Petsmart.com. (Thanks to reader Miss Picky for giving us a heads-up about this event. Her rescue group of choice is the Capistrano Animal Rescue Effort, which will set up shop from noon to 4 p.m. Friday-Sunday at PetSmart San Juan Capistrano.)

Friday, April 30, take stock of your cat’s digestive tract on National Hairball Awareness Day. We’re not exactly sure how one would celebrate hairballs, or the lack thereof, but we feel it’s our duty to point out that this holiday exists. (Thanks to the good folks at Furminator for giving us a heads-up on this unorthodox event.)

Saturday, May 1, FixNation hosts a low-cost vaccine and microchip clinic for dogs and cats at its Sun Valley location, 7680 Clybourn Ave., from 9 a.m. to noon. Rabies vaccination is $12 for dogs and cats; FVRCP for cats is $8; DHLPP for dogs is $8; and microchipping is $25 for dogs and cats. The clinic is open to the public on a walk-in basis only; reservations aren’t accepted. FixNation will hold a low-cost vaccine and microchip clinic on the first Saturday of each month in 2010, with a few exceptions due to holidays. For more information or a full schedule, visit FixNation.org.

Saturday, May 1, spcaLA invites potential ‘foster parents’ to learn about its fostering program from 10 a.m. to noon at its South Bay Pet Adoption Center, 12910 Yukon Ave., Hawthorne. ‘Foster parents’ are needed to care for puppies and kittens that are too young to be adopted, as well as older dogs and cats with special needs. More information at spcaLA.com. (The L.A. Department of Animal Services offers a similar program for underage puppies and kittens; more information on that program is available at the department’s website.)

Saturday, May 1, eyewear company Kaenon Polarized presents SUP for a Pup, a sample sale of surf apparel, accessories and equipment to benefit rescue group A Wish for Animals. (If you’re wondering -- we certainly did -- what the ‘SUP’ of the event’s title means, it’s an acronym for Stand Up Paddle, a type of surfing.) Visitors will find deals on surf gear and meet adoptable pets; entertainment will be provided and Wahoo’s Fish Taco will be on site with food and beverages. Event takes place at Kaenon Polarized’s Newport Beach store, 864 W. 16th St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information at SUPForAPup.com.

Saturday, May 1, farm animal sanctuary Animal Acres hosts its Compassionate Cooking Extravaganza from noon to 5 p.m. at its Acton facility, 5200 Escondido Canyon Road. Presenters including vegan chef and cookbook author Colleen Patrick-Goudreau will teach students how to make vegan cheese from scratch, prepare raw foods and create delicious dairy- and egg-free desserts. Tickets are $50 and must be purchased in advance. For more information or tickets, visit AnimalAcres.org.

Tuesday, May 4, support the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority‘s shelter pets -- by eating pie! From 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Polly’s Pies locations in Montebello and Cerritos will donate 20% of food-purchase proceeds to the organization when supporters present a flier. (You can download the flier in PDF form on SEAACA’s website.)

Wednesday, May 5, local charity Operation Blankets of Love, which provides blankets and toys to pets housed in Southern California shelters, hosts a bingo fundraiser at West Hollywood landmark Hamburger Mary’s, 8288 Santa Monica Blvd, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For a $20 suggested donation, guests will receive bingo cards for 10 regular games and two grand-prize games. The event also includes raffle prizes and a live auction. Reservations aren’t required, but organizers suggest arriving about 30 minutes early to snag the best seating. Valet parking is available.

Saturday, May 8, radio station 95.5 KLOS hosts its fifth annual Mark and Brian Pet Adoption Day at spcaLA’s P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village & Education Center, 7700 E. Spring St. in Long Beach, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can meet adoptable pets from spcaLA, have their questions answered by an spcaLA trainer and a VCA Veterinary Hospitals veterinarian, bid on items in a silent auction, visit pet-themed vendors and enjoy refreshments. More information at spcaLA.com.

Saturday, May 8, spcaLA hosts PAWS to Read at the Hermosa Beach Library, 550 Pier Ave., from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Beginning and independent young readers up to age 12 are eligible to participate; the program is free, but advance registration is recommended. More information at spcaLA.com.

Saturday, May 8, the L.A. Zoo invites visitors to celebrate Mother’s Day with an informative presentation about motherhood in the animal kingdom. The event begins with a reception at 10:30 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. presentation by naturalist and zoo docent Joleen Lutz. Docent-led walking tours showcasing the zoo’s most interesting mothers and their offspring begin at 11:45 a.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children under 12, plus the price of zoo admission; tickets for zoo members are $10 and $5 for children under 12. For more information or to make a reservation, visit LAZoo.org.

Saturday, May 22, spcaLA hosts PAWS to Read at the Redondo Beach Public Library, 303 N. Pacific Coast Highway, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Participation is free; sign-up begins at 9 a.m. at the Children’s Information Desk. More information at spcaLA.com.

Sunday, May 23, Best Friends Animal Society holds its annual Spring Super Adoption Festival at Westchester Park, at the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Manchester Avenue in Westchester, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hundreds of pets from area animal shelters and rescue groups will be on hand to meet potential adopters, and the event will give special attention to senior pets, which are often overlooked in favor of younger animals. (Take it from us, kids: Adopting a senior pet is great, particularly if said pet is already house-trained!) More information at BestFriendsEvents.net.

Saturday, May 29, spcaLA invites baseball fans to purchase discounted tickets to the 1 p.m. game between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Seattle Mariners at Angels Stadium. In advance of the game, spcaLA is also hosting an online auction of Angels memorabilia and other items, with all proceeds benefiting its work on behalf of needy animals in Southern California. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit spcaLA.com.

Ongoing:

SpcaLA is taking registrations for its ‘Friends for Life’ summer camp for animal-loving kids ages 8 to 13. Participants will learn the basics of companion animal care, respect for animals and beginning dog training skills during one of eight weeklong camp sessions. (The first camp session begins in late June, and the final one concludes in early September, meaning kids with all manner of summer schedules can be accommodated.) Cost is $250 if registration is received before June 1 and $300 if received on or after June 1. For more information or to register your child, visit spcaLA.com.

The Origins skin care store at The Shops in Mission Viejo has partnered with the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center to offer free mini-facials, gifts with purchase and a chance to win a $100 Origins shopping spree in exchange for items donated to the animal services center. Taking Origins up on this offer is simple: Just head into the retail store located on the second level of The Shops in Mission Viejo and drop off an item on the animal services center’s wish list. Wish-list items include blankets, towels, newspapers, heating pads, unused collars, bottles for unweaned kittens and dog and cat toys. More information at MissionViejoLife.org.

Mark Your Calendar:

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County will open its newly restored 1913 Building with a brand-new ‘Age of Mammals’ exhibition beginning July 11.The exhibition traces the history of evolution ‘from the extinction of the dinosaurs to the rise of humans -- within the context of epochal changes in the Earth’s geology and climate,’ John Harris, the Natural History Museum’s head of vertebrate studies and chief curator of the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits, told our sister blog Culture Monster. Visitors will get to see specimens like the Simi Valley mastodon, a saber-toothed cat and a brontothere (a species with possibly the most rock ‘n’ roll-sounding scientific name: ‘thunder beast’).

-- Lindsay Barnett

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