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Animal lovers’ calendar: Weekend of May 15-16 and beyond

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We’ve got the details on a number of upcoming animal-centric events in Southern California; if you think we’re missing something, let us know by leaving a comment or tweeting the details to us @LATunleashed.

This weekend:

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Saturday-Sunday, May 15-16, local rescue group the Lange Foundation hosts its annual estate sale, with proceeds benefiting its work on behalf of needy L.A. pets, at 2134 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in West L.A. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Items for sale include jewelry, clothing, antiques and collectibles. A silent auction will take place beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday. More information at LangeFoundation.com.

Saturday-Sunday, May 15-16, the Mountains Restoration Trust hosts two one-day Rattlesnake Avoidance Training Clinics for Dogs, presented by trainer Tracy Jenson-Presson of High On Kennels. The clinics aim to teach dogs, whose keen sense of smell can distinguish between rattlesnakes and other types of snake, to avoid rattlesnakes when they encounter them. The clinics will be held at Tapia Park in Calabasas; classes on both Saturday and Sunday will last from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Mountains Restoration Trust assures interested dog owners that the clinics will be ‘conducted in a safe, humane, controlled environment ensuring the safety of your dog, as well as the safety of the rattlesnakes.’ Cost is $70 and registration must be made in advance. For more information or to register, visit MountainsTrust.org.

Saturday, May 15, the L.A. Department of Animal Services hosts mobile pet-adoption events at downtown pet store Pussy & Pooch, 564 S. Main St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and at Northridge’s Petco location, 8800 Tampa Ave., from noon to 4 p.m.

Saturday, May 15, the L.A. Department of Animal Services presents ‘100 Pits and Pals Day,’ a free spay-neuter service for low-income L.A. dog owners (defined as those whose annual household income does not exceed $31,700), at its South L.A. animal shelter, 3612 11th Ave. An appointment is required and can be made by calling (888) 349-7388.

Sunday, May 16, Sylmar-based exotic animal sanctuary Wildlife Waystation hosts its ‘Ride for the Wild’ fundraising event, in which motorcyclists and specialty car owners will ride from Glendale Harley to the Phil Smith’s Movie Animals facility in Piru. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at 11 a.m. at Glendale Harley, 3717 San Fernando Road in Glendale, after which ride participants will depart for Piru. Guests without motorcycles or specialty cars are encouraged to arrive at Phil Smith’s Movie Animals, 4311 Center Street in Piru, between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to enjoy lunch, live music, raffle prizes and more. A few of Wildlife Waystation’s animal residents -- including honorary grand marshal Temerin the golden eagle -- will also be on hand, as will animal actors from Phil Smith’s Movie Animals. Cost is $30; more information at WildlifeWaystation.org.

Upcoming:

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Wednesday, May 19, actor Taye Diggs hosts a reading to celebrate the launch of Alpo dog food’s new ‘Real Dogs Eat Meat’ handbook written -- get this -- by dogs, for dogs. (We have our doubts that these ‘paw-thors’ didn’t have help from human ghostwriters, but heck, if ghostwriters are good enough for the secretary of State, they’re good enough for dogs!) The event takes place at 10 a.m. EST (that’s 7 a.m. PST, kids) in New York City, but dog lovers from around the world can view it virtually through a website created to host the handbook, which will be available free to online readers. Those interested in virtually ‘attending’ the reading, during which Diggs will read excerpts from the book to real dogs, can sign up for an e-mail reminder at AlpoRealDogs.com.

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 Recreation Center, 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.

Saturday, June 5, FixNation hosts a low-cost vaccine, microchip and FeLV/FIV testing 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; FeLV/FIV Snap testing for cats is $30; 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 because of holidays. For more information or a full schedule, visit FixNation.org.

Monday, June 14, Riverside’s Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center (formerly known as the Riverside Humane Society) hosts Riverside County’s first-ever 100-hole golf marathon to raise funds for homeless pets. Confused about how a 100-hole marathon is possible? So were we (but then, we’ll be the first to admit that we’re confused about golf in general). The organizers explain that the event will be ‘a fast-paced 100 holes of golf played as a personal best-ball scramble. That’s 50 holes, two balls per hole ...100 holes.’ Whew! Sounds like a busy day, indeed. The event takes place at Riverside’s Victoria Country Club, 2521 Arroyo Drive, and begins with a breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Golf play begins at 8:30 and concludes at 5 p.m., with time out for a box lunch to be eaten on the golf course. The day ends with a buffet dinner, drawings and prizes in the clubhouse. Those who wish to help the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center’s furry residents without playing 100 holes can also sponsor a golfer. For more information or to register, visit PetsAdoption.com.

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Ongoing:

Every first Wednesday through October, Santa Monica’s Pourtal Wine Tasting Bar, 104 Santa Monica Blvd., offers ‘Wine Woof Wednesday’ from 7 to 9 p.m. During the event, guests can bring their dogs along to Pourtal and receive free dog-walking service with any purchase over $25. More information at Pourtal.com.

The Originsskin 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 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 Countywill 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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