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Southern California animal lovers’ calendar: Weekend of Oct. 16-17 and beyond

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Whether you want to adopt a pet, party to help animals in need or just chow down on candy for a good cause, the coming days and weeks are full of fun opportunities to help animals. Think we’re forgetting something? Leave a comment on this post or send us a tweet @LATunleashed.

Saturday, Oct. 16, spare a thought for cats in need on National Feral Cat Day, originated 10 years ago by the advocacy group Alley Cat Allies. Check out a list of events around the country and ways to help feral cats near you at the group’s website.

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Saturday, Oct. 16, the L.A. Department of Animal Services hosts mobile pet-adoption events at downtown pet store Pussy & Pooch, 564 S. Main Street, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and at the Canoga Park PetSmart location, 21311 Victory Blvd., from noon to 4 p.m. See photos of adoptable pets at LAAnimalServices.com.

Saturday, Oct. 16, Camarillo-based Animal Resources Inc. hosts a Champagne and Tiara Party to raise funds for its Animal Rescue Rig. The event is to be held at a private L.A. residence; location details will be provided with advance registration. Festivities begin at noon and last until 7 p.m. Guests are encouraged to wear a tiara; if you don’t have one (and really, who does?) they can be purchased at the event for $25. A Louis Vuitton diamond bracelet, valued at $2,000, will be raffled. Tickets are $50; for more information or to purchase tickets, visit AnimalResourcesInc.com.

Sunday, Oct. 17, Farm Sanctuary hosts Walk for Farm Animals, a fundraising event, in Claremont. Registration starts at 10 a.m. at Memorial Park, 810 North Indian Hill Blvd.; walk begins at 10:30. Vegan cookies are provided. More information at WalkForFarmAnimals.org.

Sunday, Oct. 17, local rabbit rescue group the Bunny World Foundation hosts an adoption event at the Urban Pet, 4475 Santa Monica Blvd. in Silverlake, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. More information at the group’s Facebook fan page.

All month long:

The American Humane Assn. has designated October Adopt-a-Dog Month! Find pet adoption information and resources at AmericanHumane.org.

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Snack lovers can help farm animals by purchasing chocolate! Handcrafted vegan, kosher candy company Rescue Chocolate will donate 100% of its profits during the month of October to Farm Sanctuary. Better still: Each candy bar flavor has special packaging that highlights an issue facing companion animals (example: ‘Peanut Butter Pit Bull’ aims to tackle ‘bully breed’ stereotypes, and ‘Foster-riffic Peppermint’ touts the need for foster homes to help rescue pets). Other charities that have benefited from Rescue Chocolate’s delicious generosity include United Animal Nations, Philadelphia PAWS and the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti. Eat up! More information at RescueChocolate.com.

Upcoming:

Monday , Oct. 18, chat about humane legislation efforts in California with Assemblyman Cameron Smyth (R-Santa Clarita) and Jennifer Fearing, California state director for the Humane Society of the United States, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at a Porter Ranch Starbucks location. Smyth is a co-chair of California’s Animal Protection Caucus and has authored bills on animal-related legislation. The event is free (except the price of your coffee), but advance registration is required. For more information or to register, visit the Humane Society’s website.

Tuesday-Wednesday, Oct. 19-20, the Humane Society of the United States hosts two Lobbying for Animals 101 seminars at its Hollywood office, 820 Moraga Drive, from 7 to 9 p.m. The seminars cover basic lobbying techniques and an overview of animal-related issues currently on California lawmakers’ radar. Events are free, but space is limited. RSVP for the Tuesday session or Wednesday session at the Humane Society’s website.

Saturday, Oct. 23, ROVERlution commemorates National Pit Bull Awareness Day with a march through downtown Brea designed to draw attention to the issue of breed-specific legislation. March begins at Brea’s Arovista Park at 9 a.m.; more information at ROVERlution.org.

Saturday, Oct. 23, spcaLA hosts a low-cost vaccination clinic and pet adoption event at Moorpark Park, 12061 Moorpark Ave. in Studio City, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Low-cost pet vaccination clinic runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; adoptions begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. More information at spcaLA.com.

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Saturday, Oct. 23, OC Animal Care holds a special adoption event for its littlest dog residents, the Chihuahuas, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its shelter facility, 561 The City Drive in Orange. The event features a parade of adoptable Chihuahuas, and all Chihuahuas adopted will receive free spay or neuter surgery, if applicable, and free flea treatment. More information at the shelter’s website.

Saturday, Oct. 23, party for a good cause at the Stray Cat Club, a Halloween-themed masquerade party at a private Beverly Hills estate, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. The event celebrates the 10th anniversary of local charity the Stray Cat Alliance and features a costume contest, catered vegan food, a hosted bar, a silent auction, raffle prizes and more. Tickets are $100 if purchased before Oct. 16 and $125 after. More information at StrayCatAlliance.org.

Sunday, Oct. 24, lace up your jogging shoes to participate in the 5th annual Race for the Rescues, a fundraising event to benefit pet rescue organizations A Dog’s Life Rescue, Animal Alliance, Best Friends Animal Society, the Four-Legged Friends Foundation, the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation, Molly’s Mutts & Meows, Operation Heroes & Hounds, the Ozzy Foundation, Stray Cat Alliance and the Rescue Train. The event takes place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and includes 5K and 10K run/walks and a kids’ fun run. Participants can register as a group, join an existing group or register as an individual to collect pledges from friends and family. On-site registration begins at 7 a.m.; 5K and 10K run/walks begin at 8:30 and 1-mile kids’ race begins at 9:30. The event also includes pet adoptions (animals from L.A. Department of Animal Services shelters and the Pasadena Humane Society will be in attendance), a silent auction, dancing dog demonstrations and more. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome. For more information or to register or sponsor a participant, visit RaceForTheRescues.org.

Thursday, Oct. 28, the Barks of Love rescue group invites golfers to an 18-hole golf tournament, proceeds from which benefit its work on behalf of homeless Orange County pets, at Coyote Hills Golf Course, 1440 E. Bastanchury Road in Fullerton, from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Cost is $145 per player and includes food. More information at the Facebook event page.

Saturday, Oct. 30-Sunday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 6, L.A.’s Audubon Society chapter hosts a three-day Introduction to Birdwatching class, which includes a workshop and two days’ worth of field instruction. Cost is $30 for chapter members and $50 for non-members (non-member registration fee includes chapter membership). More information at LosAngelesAudubon.org.

Saturday, Oct. 30, Orange County rescue group Barks of Love hosts an adoption event and costume contest at Jabez Salon, 18513 Yorba Linda Blvd. in Yorba Linda, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Sunday, Oct. 31, dress your dog in his or her silliest getup and head to Long Beach for the 10th annual Haute Dogs Howl’Oween Parade event at Livingston Park, 4900 E. Livingston Drive, from noon to 5 p.m. Parade begins at 2:30 and is sure to be spectacular; last year’s event attracted 400 costumed canine participants. The event also includes pet-themed vendors, animal adoptions and a bulldog kissing booth. For more information or to register, visit HauteDogs.org.

Sunday, Oct. 31, spcaLA hosts its third annual Halloween pet parade and dog costume contest at its spcaLA Marketplace, 7700 E. Spring Street in Long Beach, beginning at 2 p.m. More information at spcaLA.com.

Sunday, Oct. 31, indoor dog agility and training center the Zoom Room refashions its Hollywood location as the ‘Doom Room’ for a dog-friendly Halloween party from 2 to 4 p.m. Event includes a costume contest for dogs and refreshments for both dogs and their humans. Cost is $5 per dog. For more information or to RSVP, visit ZoomRoomOnline.com.

Saturday, Nov. 6, vegans, rejoice: L.A. will have its first-ever Vegan Beer Fest at West Hollywood’s landmark Roxy Theatre. Cost is $35 for general admission and $45 for VIP entrance, and admission price includes unlimited pours of dozens of vegan-friendly beers. (Why wouldn’t a beer be vegan-friendly, you ask? Some are filtered using animal products like gelatin or isinglass; some contain honey.) For more information or to purchase tickets, visit LosAngelesVegan.com.

Thursday, Nov. 11, take in an L.A. Kings hockey game at Staples Center and help needy pit bulls find loving homes all at the same time at Pucks for Pit Bulls. Game starts at 7:30 p.m.; tickets can be purchased online, with prices starting at $32. A portion of proceeds benefit local groups Dawg Squad Animal Rescue, Downtown Dog Rescue and Karma Rescue.

Ongoing:

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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 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.

L.A.’s Audubon Society chapter hosts free guided nature walks at Dockweiler Beach in Vista del Mar on selected Thursdays and Saturdays through mid-November. Upcoming dates are Saturday, Oct. 16; Thursday, Nov. 4; and Saturday, Nov. 13. More information at LosAngelesAudubon.org.

Through December, Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific will host Shark Lagoon Nights, in which its famous shark exhibit will remain open until 9 p.m. on most Fridays. Visitors will have the chance to touch bamboo sharks and see larger sharks and rays up close. For more information and a complete schedule, visit the aquarium’s website.

Every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Volunteers for the Burbank Animal Shelter host a mobile pet-adoption event at Centinela Feed & Pet Supplies, 1505 W. Olive Ave. in Burbank. See photos of adoptable dogs and cats at the Burbank Animal Shelter’s website.

Every Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Dawg Squad Animal Rescue hosts a mobile dog-adoption event at Centinela Feed & Pet Supplies, 7600 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester. See photos of adoptable pets at DawgSquad.org.

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Every Saturday from noon to 6 p.m., Kinder 4 Rescue hosts a mobile dog-adoption event at Book Star, 12136 Ventura Blvd. (just west of Laurel Canyon) in Studio City. See photos of adoptable pets at the group’s Petfinder page.

Every Saturday from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., Forte Animal Rescue hosts a mobile dog-adoption event at Centinela Feed & Pet Supplies, 3860 S. Centinela Ave. See photos of adoptable pets at the group’s AdoptAPet.com page.

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. Participation is free; sign-up begins at 9 a.m. at the Children’s Information Desk. More information at spcaLA.com.

Every second Sunday, Evidence of Love Animal Care hosts a mobile pet-adoption event at the Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Recreation Center, 14201 Huston St., Sherman Oaks, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 130 dogs and cats from area animal shelters and rescue groups come out to meet potential adopters -- oh, and there’s a gourmet food truck, too. More information at EvidenceOfLove.org.

-- Lindsay Barnett

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Top photo: Feral cats in Downey. Saturday is National Feral Cat Day. Credit: Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times

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