Animal lovers’ calendar: Memorial Day weekend and beyond

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It’s Memorial Day Weekend, and we hope you and your animal friends will be enjoy some well-deserved relaxation (while observing the ASPCA’s Memorial Day pet-safety tips, of course). 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.

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. The organization 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, May 29, the Burbank Animal Shelter hosts a mobile pet-adoption event at the Burbank location of Centinela Feed and Pet Supplies, 1505 W. Olive Ave., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Monday, May 31, upscale pet hotel The Kennel Club LAX invites patriotic pet owners and their well-behaved dogs to the ‘Pack for Paws’ event at its airport-adjacent facility, 5325 W. 102nd Street, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event will honor dogs that serve in the military and guests will participate by creating care packages filled with beds, treats and toys for four-legged soldiers and books, snacks and toiletries for their human handlers. Refreshments for both dogs and owners will be served and guests will have the opportunity to have their pictures taken in what Kennel Club LAX describes only as ‘a patriotic setting.’ We’re envisioning red, white and blue balloons, but hey, that’s just us. For more information or to RSVP, visit Kennel Club LAX’s Facebook event page.

Upcoming:

Thursday, June 3, the Burbank Animal Shelter offers a free seminar on ways to be a better pet parent from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Buena Vista Library, 300 Buena Vista Street in Burbank. Topics include animal massage, joint care and tips for avoiding the hazards that come along with warmer weather. More information available in PDF format at the shelter’s website.

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.

Saturday, June 5, the Burbank Animal Shelter offers a pet first aid and CPR course taught by Denise Fleck of Sunny-Dog Ink at its 1150 N. Victory Place facility from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A $65 registration fee includes a handbook, handouts, a certificate of completion and a wallet card. Registration information is available in PDF format at the shelter’s website.

Saturday, June 5, the L.A. Department of Animal Services hosts a mobile pet-adoption event at the Canoga Park Petco location, 6615 Fallbrook Mall Ave., from noon to 4 p.m. See photos of adoptable pets at the department’s website.

Sunday, June 6, the Irvine Animal Care Center holds its fourth annual Orange County Super Pet Adoption event from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at its Irvine shelter facility, 6443 Oak Canyon Road. More than 60 area animal shelters and rescue groups will participate in the event and more than 600 adoptable dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and other small pets are expected to be on hand to meet potential adopters. The event also features live music, refreshments, games for children, demonstrations from pet experts, pet trainers and veterinarians to answer visitors’ questions, pet-themed vendors, a pet photographer and a special visit from Snoopy. More information at IrvineShelter.org.

Sunday, June 6, the L.A. Department of Animal Services hosts a mobile pet-adoption event at Moorpark Park, 12061 Moorpark Ave. in Studio City, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday, June 11, local feral-cat advocacy group the Stray Cat Alliance invites animal lovers to party for a purpose at its launch party for the ‘Snip or Die’ campaign to promote trap-neuter-return programs at Venice’s G2 Gallery, 1503 Abbot Kinney Blvd., from 7 to 10 p.m. The event features live music, fine art, a hosted bar, vegan food, raffle prizes and an auction. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at StrayCatAlliance.org.

Saturday, June 12, the L.A. Department of Animal Services hosts mobile pet-adoption events at the Lake Balboa Pet Care Fair, 6350 Woodley Ave. in Van Nuys, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; at downtown pet store Pussy & Pooch, 564 S. Main St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; at Fred Hesse Jr. Memorial Park, 29301 Hawthorne Blvd. in Rancho Palos Verdes, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; at the Canoga Park PetSmart location, 21311 Victory Blvd., from noon to 4 p.m.; and at the West Hollywood Petco location, 508 N. Doheny Drive, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Saturday, June 12, 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, June 12, 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.

Sunday, June 13, the L.A. Department of Animal Services hosts a mobile pet-adoption event at the Santa Monica Kiehl’s location, 1516 Montana Ave., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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.

Saturday, June 19, spcaLA offers a low-cost vaccination and microchip clinic for dogs and cats at its P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village facility, 7700 E. Spring St. in Long Beach, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The clinic will offer rabies vaccinations for cats and dogs ($5); DHPP vaccinations for dogs ($15); bordetella vaccinations for dogs ($10); FVRCP and FeLV vaccinations for cats ($15 each); and microchipping for cats and dogs ($25). More information at spcaLA.com.

Sunday, June 20, the L.A. Department of Animal Services hosts a mobile pet-adoption event at Moorpark Park, 12061 Moorpark Ave. in Studio City, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, June 26, spcaLA hosts a low-cost vaccination and microchip clinic from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. behind West Hollywood City Hall, 8300 Santa Monica Blvd. The clinic will offer rabies vaccinations for cats and dogs ($5); DHPP vaccinations for dogs ($15); bordetella vaccinations for dogs ($10); FVRCP and leukemia vaccinations for cats ($15 each); and microchipping for cats and dogs ($25). More information at spcaLA.com.

Saturday, July 17, spcaLA presents ‘Kittenpalooza,’ its annual cat and kitten adopt-a-thon, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at its South Bay Pet Adoption Center, 12910 Yukon Ave., Hawthorne. The event features a craft table for children, gift bags for adopters and booths from pet-related businesses including Natura Pet Products and L.A. Tails Magazine. More information at spcaLA.com.

Ongoing:

The L.A. Department of Animal Services offers low-cost vaccination, microchipping and licensing clinics every first Thursday at its Harbor animal shelter; every second Thursday at its North Central animal shelter; every third Thursday at its South L.A. animal shelter; and every fourth Thursday at its East Valley animal shelter. All clinics begin at 4:30 p.m. and end at 6:30 p.m. More information and pricing in PDF format at the department’s website.

Every first Wednesday through October, Santa Monica’s Pourtal Wine Tasting Bar, 104 Santa Monica Blvd., hosts ‘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 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 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