Animal lovers' calendar: Weekend of Nov. 21-22 and beyond

Is it animal-inspired art that interests you?  Helping homeless pets that floats your boat?  We've got you covered with options like these (and many more) in the coming days and weeks.  (Are we forgetting something?  Let us know by leaving a comment!)

This Weekend:

Saturday, Nov. 21, multimedia artist Rachel Schmeidler hosts the art exhibition "Hollywood Least Wanted 3D" at downtown art gallery Rivera + Rivera, 1100 S. Hope Street, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Schmeidler aims to raise awareness about homeless pets facing euthanasia at animal shelters with the exhibition, which showacases her anaglyphic 3D photos of shelter dogs.  Adoptable pets from L.A. Dept. of Animal Services shelters will be present, as will special guests Zachary Quinto ("Heroes"; "Star Trek") and his dog Noah.  Schmeidler's earlier series, "Hollywood Most Wanted," will also be on display for the first time in 3D.  Attendees are encouraged to RSVP online and make a $20 donation in advance of the event (you'll receive a raffle ticket and 3D glasses).  All donations and 50% of art sales will benefit the Animal Welfare Trust Fund, which provides support, supplies and veterinary equipment to L.A.'s municipal city shelters.  More information at HollywoodLeastWanted.com.

Animal lovers' calendar: Weekend of November 14-15 and beyond

The weekend ahead is full of events for animal lovers, whether you want to adopt a pet, help animals battling cancer, rid your closet of decidedly unfashionable fur or see live music while helping wildlife.  (Are we forgetting something?  Let us know by leaving a comment!)

Saturday, Nov. 14, join VPI Pet Insurance and approximately 500 other L.A. and Orange County pet owners for the third annual K9K Pet Cancer Awareness Walk.  Pet owners and their dogs will walk a scenic course just shy of two miles long around Long Beach's Shoreline Village Lighthouse Peninsula to raise funds for the Animal Cancer Foundation (ACF).  Cost is $30; check-in at Catalina Landing begins at 9 a.m., with the walk starting at 10.  For more information or to register, head to PetInsurance.com.

Saturday, Nov. 14 through Earth Day (April 22, 2010), secondhand-clothing store chain Buffalo Exchange and the Humane Society of the United States jointly host "Coats for Cubs."  Animal lovers are encouraged to clean out their closets (or parents' and grandparents' closets, or Cruella de Vil's closet) and donate any tacky real-fur items found there (including fur trim, accessories and shearling) back to the animals.  Of course, it's too late to give the fur back to its original owner, but it can still be used as bedding for orphaned and injured wildlife -- and it doesn't do your conscience any harm, either.  Fur in any condition is accepted and can be brought to any Buffalo Exchange location.  (If you'd like to claim your fur donation as a tax deduction, you'll need to mail it directly to the Humane Society rather than dropping it at Buffalo Exchange; mailing information is available at HSUS.org.)  More information at BuffaloExchange.com.

Animal lovers' calendar: Weekend of Nov. 7-8 and beyond

Whether you're looking to adopt a pet, help animals in need or just gawk at some neat-looking spiders, the coming days and weeks are full of events for animal enthusiasts.  (Are we forgetting something?  Let us know by leaving a comment.)

This Weekend:

Saturday, Nov. 7, 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, Nov. 7, L.A.-based pet rescue group the Brittany Foundation hosts its "A Day in Their Paws" event.  During the event, volunteers will spend a 24-hour period living alongside a rescue dog at the group's Agua Dulce sanctuary, located at Anthony Road and Sierra Highway.  From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., guests can join these volunteers at an open house where they can meet adoptable pets, participate in a raffle and silent auction and enjoy refreshments from Margo's Bark.  (Guests can also sponsor a volunteer's freedom from the kennel facility -- read: bathroom breaks -- at a rate of $1 per minute, with proceeds benefiting the Brittany Foundation's work on behalf of homeless animals.)  More information at the Brittany Foundation's website.

Halloween fun for a good cause: Costumed pets strutted their stuff, got new homes at shelter event

We were honored to help judge Long Beach's Howl'oween dog-costume contest Saturday, but while we were having a blast with L.A.'s most pampered pets, our colleague Lu Parker of KTLA News was busy helping homeless pets find new adoptive families. We had a great time -- but three guesses on which of us had a more fulfilling Halloween! Here's Lu's account of the adoption event:

A spider, a cop and a hot dog. Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but what I'm about to tell is no joke. It's reality. For thousands of homeless dogs, reality means living in a cage day and night. It's a fact that keeps me awake many nights, but I'm happy to say that for one special day this past weekend things were different.

It was billed as Howl-O-Ween at the South Los Angeles animal shelter, a day to come see the beautiful dogs and cats who need a home. We wanted to spread the word: Adopt; don't buy. What it turned into was a day of many moments we will never forget.

For this one day, dozens of dogs got a chance to leave their cage and feel sunshine on their faces. They got a chance to smell the grass and to experience a little affection outside the cage. Volunteers and employees gathered to make it all possible. Local firefighters showed up to line a parade route. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa led the pet parade. We all ate candy. I was lucky enough to be able to emcee the event, and as I was talking on the microphone about each dog passing in front of me with a human attached to them, I couldn't help but smile inside.

Animal lovers' calendar: Halloween (and beyond) events for pets

If you love animals and Halloween, man oh man do you have a great weekend in store for you!  From dog-friendly cocktails to Halloween pet adoptions to parades of costumed canines (and more!), the coming days and weeks are full of great events for animal lovers. (Are we forgetting something? Let us know by leaving a comment!)

This Weekend:

Friday, Oct. 30 (that's tonight, folks!), Westwood restaurant and lounge Blvd.16 hosts its "Sit, Bark, Sip" happy hour from 6 to 9 p.m.  The event includes a Halloween doggie-costume contest and $3 to $5 snacks for both humans and dogs.  (Human visitors can also avail themselves of the beer and cocktail specials.)  And maybe -- just maybe -- visitors will break a world record for the most dachshunds in costume.  Directions at Blvd. 16's website.  (Thanks to our colleagues at Daily Dish for the heads-up about this event!)

Saturday, Oct. 31, celebrate Halloween with the needy pets awaiting new homes at the South Los Angeles animal shelter, 3612 11th Avenue, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  A Halloween parade begins at noon and will include adoptable, costumed pets from the South L.A. shelter.  Those fine folks who adopt a pet will receive a bonus -- a special picture of them with their new furry friend (not to mention free candy!).  Visitors can enter a raffle to win Clippers tickets -- and just might get a chance to meet one of L.A.'s biggest celebrities, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. 

Animal lovers' calendar: Weekend of Oct. 24-25 and beyond

Whether you want to celebrate Halloween with the animals or simply help some local pets in need, the coming days and weeks are chock-full of events sure to appeal to Southern California animal lovers. (Are we forgetting something? Let us know by leaving a comment!)

This Weekend:

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 23-25, the Santa Barbara Zoo hosts its Wild West-themed Boo at the Zoo event, an opportunity for kids to go trick-or-treating in an animal-centric (and traffic-free) environment.  Each night of the event, the zoo will be closed for general admission and open for the Halloween-themed event from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.  Zookeepers will be on hand to give talks and allow visitors to interact with animals.  Tickets are available at the zoo's box office and are $11 for adults and $9 for children aged 2-12.  (Children must be accompanied by an adult.)  More information available at SantaBarbaraZoo.org.

Saturday, Oct. 24, celebrate the all-American pit bull (or your lovable pit mix) on National Pit Bull Awareness Day.  The event was founded in 2007 by a Tennessee-based pit bull rescue group called Bless the Bullys, and since then, according to the Best Friends Animal Society, "the concept has taken off like wildfire."  This year, pit-centric organization ROVERlution hosts a march on the much-maligned dogs' behalf right here in Southern California -- in the Orange County city of Brea to be exact -- beginning at 9 a.m.  More information on the Brea march at ROVERlution.org; to find another National Pit Bull Awareness Day event, try the state-by-state search tool at NationalPitBullAwarenessDay.com.

Halloween dog costumes go couture for two Huntington Beach pugs

Olive and Mochi are pugs with a passion for fashion. No wonder Halloween is their favorite time of year.

They've been dressed up as geisha girls, surfer girls and even pieces of sushi over the years. They may not understand the tradition, but "pugs understand positive energy," explains dog owner, partner and costume designer Lisa Woodruff of Huntington Beach.

Ten years ago, it was hard to find a Halloween costume for a cat, dog or duck. Today they are everywhere, from the dollar stores to Beverly Hills boutiques. Online or off, there are costumes galore.

A little bling or properly draped scrap of fabric can transform your pet into almost any animal, character or celebrity, says Steve Major of All the Same Wild and Tame, an animal sanctuary that sells pet accessories in Sherman Oaks.

The most popular ready-made pet costumes this year are Superdog, bee, jockey rider, hot dog, pirate, devil, prisoner, Yoda, cowboy rider, Batman and groom, according to public relations manager Lori Samsoucie of Wisconsin-based buyseasons.com, the largest online costume retailer in the country.

Upcoming events for animal lovers

Whether you're a cat lover, a dog lover or simply a fan of Halloween and the costumed chicanery it brings along with it, events right up your alley abound in the coming weeks.  (Are we forgetting something? Let us know by leaving a comment!)

This Weekend:

Friday, Oct. 16, remember less fortunate kitties on National Feral Cat Day.  Want to do more than that to help local feral cats?  L.A.-based Kitten Rescue is holding a cat-food drive to help feral caregivers continue their important work at three area pet stores on Saturday, Oct. 17 and Sunday, Oct. 18, in honor of National Feral Cat Day.  Any brand of dry or moist cat food is appreciated; for a list of participating pet stores, hours of participation and directions, check out Kitten Rescue's website.

Saturday, Oct. 17, L.A.-based natural pet food company Dogswell holds its inaugural Homeward Hound Hike, a family-and-dog-friendly hike along Griffith Park's scenic East & West Observatory Trails.  All proceeds from the event will benefit the Friends of Animals Foundation, a nonprofit, no-kill shelter here in L.A.  Following the hike, participants are invited to a party with music, food and beverages (both for humans and for dogs) and raffle prizes.  Adoptable dogs from the Friends of Animals Foundation will be on hand as well.  Registration for the hike begins at 9 a.m., with the walk beginning at 10 a.m.  Cost is $20; more information and directions at Dogswell's website.

Your morning adorable: Dogs compete for charity at Huntington Beach's Surf City Surf Dog event

Over the weekend, some of Southern California's most talented animal athletes turned out for the first-ever Surf City Surf Dog competition in Huntington Beach. During the event, dogs ranging in size from tiny, such as Bobby Gorgeous (above, a Pomeranian), to extra-large competitors, such as Nani, a Bernese mountain dog, turned out to compete in weight-based heats. 

Each dog was allowed to catch as many waves as possible during a 12-minute period with judging based on the best three waves caught during the period. Scoring was based upon length of ride, size of wave and the dog's ability to stay on his or her surfboard. Proceeds from the event benefited a number of charities, including several area pet rescue groups.

See more shots from the Surf City Surf Dog competition at The Times' photo gallery.

RELATED:
Your morning adorable: Buddy the Surf Dog

-- Lindsay Barnett

Photo: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Animal lovers' calendar: week of Oct. 4-10

Pet owners, potential adopters and even arachnid enthusiasts have a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks.  (Are we forgetting an event?  Let us know by leaving a comment!)

This Weekend:

Saturday, Oct. 10, the L.A. County 4-H Youth Development Program hosts its pet symposium from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of California Cooperative Extension, 4800 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave.  L.A. County kids will learn about responsible pet ownership, animal-related community service opportunities and pet-centric careers.  This free event focuses not only on garden-variety dogs and cats,  but also rabbits, turtles, chickens and bees. For more information, contact Dawn Fuller at (323) 260-3859 or dafuller@ucdavis.edu.

Saturday, Oct. 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.)