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Southern California animal lovers’ calendar: Weekend of July 10-11 and beyond

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Whether you want to listen to music while relaxing in the company of zoo animals, watch a fashion show for dogs, compete for the chance to appear in a cat-lovers calendar or watch a posse of dachshunds zoom around a race track, the coming days and weeks are loaded with fun events for Southern California animal lovers. Think we’re forgetting something? Let us know by leaving a comment on this post or sending the details to us in a tweet @LATunleashed.

Friday, July 9, the L.A. Zoo hosts the first of its ‘Music in the Zoo’ summer events from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Guests can wander the zoo while listening to live Irish, Japanese, Zimbabwean, Middle Eastern, Mexican and salsa music. Tickets are $12.50 for adult zoo members; $7.50 for child members ages 6 to 15; $16.50 for adult non-members; and $10.50 for child non-members ages 6 to 15. Children 5 and under enter free. For more information or to RSVP, visit LAZoo.org.

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Saturday, July 10, the Found Animals Foundation holds an open casting call for male cat owners who think they (and their pets) have what it takes to be featured in a calendar called ‘6 Packs/9 Lives.’ The casting session runs from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Matrix Theater, 7657 Melrose Ave. Calendar-model hopefuls, please bring a photo of yourself with your cat (leave the actual cat at home) and proof of ownership, such as a vet bill or those dozen kitty photos you keep in your wallet. There is no pay for participation, but the top 12 dreamy cat owners will have the chance to be photographed by celebrity photographer Adam Bouska. Proceeds from the calendar will benefit Found Animals’ work promoting pet adoption, low-cost spay/neuter surgeries and microchip programs. More information at FoundAnimals.org.

Saturday, July 10, 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, July 10, the L.A. Department of Animal Services hosts mobile pet-adoption events at Fred Hesse Jr. Memorial Park, 29301 Hawthorne Blvd. in Rancho Palos Verdes, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and at the West Hollywood Petco location, 508 N. Doheny Drive, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. See photos of adoptable pets at LAAnimalServices.com.

Saturday, July 10, the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center hosts Rabbit Day, an event designed to find new adoptive homes for an influx of bunnies the organization has recently received, at its shelter facility, 28095 Hillcrest, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. During the event, rabbits will be available for a discounted rate of $25, plus an additional $20 for microchipping services. A rabbit expert will be on hand to answer questions about rabbit care and to help adopters pick just the right bunny. For more information, call (949) 470-3045.

Saturday, July 10, it’s time again for Wiener Nationals -- the annual event in which speedy dachshunds compete in a series of 50-yard dashes for the chance to be crowned Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals Champion (and take home $1,000 and a fancy trophy). The event, held at the Los Alamitos Race Course at 4961 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos, begins with a series of 12 heats in which the field of 98 dachshunds will be narrowed down to 12 finalists. Gates open at 4 p.m.; racing begins at 6:15 p.m., with the final race scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Cost is $3 for general admission; visitors 17 and younger enter free. VIP seating is available for an additional charge. There is no charge for parking. Proceeds benefit the Seal Beach Animal Care Center’s work on behalf of homeless animals. More information at LosAlamitos.com.

Sunday, July 11, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County will open its newly restored 1913 Building with its ‘Age of Mammals’ exhibition. 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’).

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Sunday, July 11, the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Assn. (GLAZA) holds an informational meeting for potential high school student volunteers from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.at the zoo’s Witherbee Auditorium. Students entering grades nine, 10 or 11 in the fall are eligible to participate in this program, which includes a 10-week training course. High school student volunteers must commit to 60 hours of volunteer work per year for two years. Applicants are required to attend the July 11 meeting, which includes a presentation, group activities and interviews. GLAZA requests that a parent or guardian attend the morning informational session. Potential volunteers should RSVP in advance of the event by calling (323) 622-8114.

Sunday, July 11, the Found Animals Foundation offers a low-cost microchipping event for dogs at West Hollywood pet store Healthy Spot, 8525 Santa Monica Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For this event, microchipping services will be offered for $5 per dog, with a limit of two dogs per person. Pet owners must pay in cash. More information at FoundAnimals.org.

Sunday, July 11, the L.A. Department of Animal Services hosts mobile pet-adoption events at Moorpark Park, 12061 Moorpark Ave. in Studio City, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and at the Santa Monica Kiehl’s location, 1516 Montana Ave., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Upcoming:

Thursday, July 15, the Pacific Design Center hosts Patterns for Paws, a doggy fashion show that benefits local rescue group The Amanda Foundation, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the design center’s Blue Lobby. Celebrity guests, including host Nigel Lythgoe, ‘Dog Whisperer’ Cesar Millan and cast members from ‘Glee,’ ‘Weeds,’ ‘True Blood’ and more, will be on hand to walk couture-clad dogs down the event’s ‘grass carpet.’ Cast members from ‘Glee’ will also give a special performance. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased through AmandaFoundation.org or by phone at (310) 550-0101 or (310) 278-2935.

Saturday-Sunday, July 17-18, Humane Society University and the Surf City Animal Response Team host a two-day workshop on emergency animal sheltering at UC Irvine Healthcare, 101 The City Drive South in Orange. The workshop is designed to help members of the public learn the skills necessary to volunteer at emergency shelters in the event of a disaster and includes both classroom instruction and hands-on learning exercises. Cost is $95. For more information or to register, visit HumaneSocietyUniversity.org.

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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.

Sunday, July 18, Santa Ana’s Church of the Foothills, 19211 Dodge Ave., hosts a guest lecture on animal rights by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals as part of its ongoing lecture series beginning at 11 a.m. For more information, visit the church’s website or call (714) 544-1319.

Friday, July 23, the L.A. Zoo hosts the second of its ‘Music in the Zoo’ summer events from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The musical theme for the evening is classic rock, and guests can wander the zoo while listening to cover bands performing the hits of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Doors, Led Zeppelin, the Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimi Hendrix and more. Tickets are $12.50 for adult zoo members; $7.50 for child members ages 6 to 15; $16.50 for adult non-members; and $10.50 for child non-members ages 6 to 15. Children 5 and under enter free. Guests are encouraged to RSVP in advance. For more information or to RSVP, visit LAZoo.org.

Saturday, July 24, the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Assn. (GLAZA) holds an informational meeting for potential volunteer docents from 10 a.m. to noon at the zoo’s Witherbee Auditorium. Docents serve as volunteer teachers at the zoo and must complete a training program offered by the zoo each fall in conjunction with UCLA Extension. Docents must be 18 or older and able to commit to 100 hours of volunteer work per year for a minimum of two years. Applications for the program will be accepted through Aug. 14.

Friday, Aug. 6, the L.A. Zoo hosts its final ‘Music in the Zoo’ summer event of the season from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Up-and-coming local artists are featured, including the Happy Hollows, Walking Sleep, the Lonely Wild and more. Tickets are $12.50 for adult zoo members; $7.50 for child members ages 6 to 15; $16.50 for adult non-members; and $10.50 for child non-members ages 6 to 15. Children 5 and under enter free. Guests are encouraged to RSVP in advance. For more information or to RSVP, visit LAZoo.org.

Saturday, Aug. 7, spcaLA offers a low-cost vaccination and microchip clinic for dogs and cats at its South Bay Pet Adoption Center, 12910 Yukon Ave. in Hawthorne, from 10 a.m. to 2 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.

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Ongoing:

Through Sept. 30, the Found Animals Foundation offers a special discount on cat adoption fees at the L.A. City and County animal shelters and the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority shelter in Downey through its Summer Buddies program. Adopt two cats or kittens and Found Animals will pay the second adoption fee (that’s a two-for-one deal, kids -- and it comes at just the right time, because it’s kitten season and area shelters are filled to the brim with adoptable kitties). More information and a list of participating shelters at FoundAnimals.org.

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 Wednesday in July, area animal sanctuary the Gentle Barn offers a class on deep-tissue massage for animals, which can help provide comfort and pain relief. Cost is $300. More information at the Gentle Barn’s Facebook fan page.

SpcaLA is accepting registration for several training classes for dogs. The organization offers agility training and ‘nose work’ training classes for beginner, intermediate and advanced dogs, with sessions beginning in July. More information at spcaLA.com.

Every first Wednesday through October, Santa Monica’s Pourtal Wine Tasting Bar, 104 Santa Monica Blvd., hosts ‘Wine Woof Wednesday’ from 7 p.m. 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.

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Every fourth Saturday, 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 aloud 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.

I Love Dogs, Inc. hosts dog-friendly ‘Mojitos and Mutts’ happy-hour gatherings at Long Beach’s pet-friendly Hotel Maya from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. every last Wednesday through October. Eat, drink, be merry and meet fellow dog lovers while helping Southern California pets (each event will be geared toward helping an area animal charity). More information at ILoveDogs.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.

Editor’s note: An event listed in a previous installment of the animal lovers’ calendar, the jazz brunch fundraiser for area rescue groups scheduled for Sunday, July 11, has been canceled.

-- Lindsay Barnett

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Top photo: Dachshunds race toward a finish line at the national finals of Wiener Nationals in 2006. Credit: Robert Benson / US Presswire

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