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Southern California animal lovers’ calendar: Weekend of Sept. 25-26 and beyond

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Animal lovers, have we got good news for you. This weekend and the weeks ahead are full of fun opportunities to help charities focused on everything from pet adoption to farm-animal welfare, events where you can meet your next furry family member and a whole lot more. If you think we’re forgetting something, let us know by leaving a comment or sending us a tweet @LATunleashed.

Through Saturday, Sept. 25, Petfinder.com works to raise awareness about homeless animals that often fall through the cracks at animal shelters with its Adopt a Less-Adoptable Pet Week. (Examples of hard-to-place pets include senior pets, FIV+ cats, ‘bully breed’ dogs and black dogs that are the victims of so-called ‘black dog bias.’) ‘It breaks my heart to think that some pets are homeless for years when they are just as wonderful as the younger, fluffier puppy next to them. These overlooked pets often make great additions to a family -- but many people don’t even realize they are discriminating when they begin looking to adopt,’ Petfinder co-founder Betsy Banks Saul says. ‘The goal of this initiative is to bring the issue to the forefront and help find forever homes for these special animals.’ That’s a goal we can get behind!

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Saturday, Sept. 25, animal lovers can support Farm Sanctuary by participating in Walk for Farm Animals, a fundraising event that begins at Santa Monica City Hall, 1685 Main Street, at 8:30 a.m. The Santa Monica event is one of over 70 similar events around the country to raise awareness about farm animal welfare and Farm Sanctuary’s work. Though there are several Walk for Farm Animals events in Southern California over the next few weeks, the Santa Monica walk is extra-special because Farm Sanctuary co-founder and president Gene Baur will be in attendance. Registration on the day of the event for $20. More information at WalkForFarmAnimals.org.

Saturday, Sept. 25, the Whittier Community Foundation hosts ‘Paws 4 a Cause,’ a fundraising event with proceeds benefiting the Whittier Police Memorial, at Palm Park Greenway Trailhead, 5703 Palm Ave. in Whittier, from 9 a.m. to noon. Activities include a 3K walk/run for dogs and their owners, a shorter walk designed for smaller and older dogs, a dog fashion show, K9 police demonstrations, pet-themed vendors and more. Pets from area rescue groups and the L.A. County Department of Animal Care & Control’s Downey shelter will be on site to meet potential adopters. Cost is $15.

Saturday, Sept. 25, meet adoptable pets from the L.A. County Department of Animal Care & Control’s Baldwin Park animal shelter at Dog Days of Summer at the Santa Fe Recreation Dam, 15501 East Arrow Highway in Irwindale, from 9 a.m. to noon. See photos of adoptable pets at the department’s website.

Saturday, Sept. 25, the L.A. Department of Animal Services hosts mobile pet-adoption events at downtown pet store Pussy & Pooch Pet House, 564 South Main St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and at the Northridge Petco location, 8800 Tampa Ave., from noon to 4 p.m. See photos of adoptable pets at LAAnimalServices.com.

Saturday, Sept. 25, the Beverly Hills Pet Care Assn. holds an adoption event at Roxbury Park, 471 S. Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pets from area rescue groups and shelters including the Bark Avenue Foundation, Downtown Dog Rescue, the L.A. Department of Animal Services, the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority and the L.A. County Department of Animal Care & Control’s Carson shelter will be on site to meet potential adopters.

Saturday. Sept. 25, North Hollywood venue Kulak’s Woodshed, 5230 1/2 Laurel Canyon Blvd., hosts a night of music to benefit local rescue group Cat Crossing from 8 to 10 p.m. Suggested donation is $10.

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Sunday, Sept. 26, the Pasadena Humane Society hosts its annual ‘Wiggle Waggle Walk’ fundraising event at Pasadena’s Brookside Park, 480 North Arroyo Blvd. Help animals by registering to walk (both a 5K walk and one that’s just under a mile are available) and soliciting donations from family and friends or by sponsoring a walker. The event also includes a Family Fun Fair, complete with contests, entertainment, dog agility and K9 police demonstrations, prize drawings, refreshments, kids’ games, pet-themed vendors and adoptable animals. Registration for walkers begins at 8 a.m.; walk lasts from 9 to 10 a.m.; and Family Fun Fair begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. More information at PasadenaHumane.org.

Sunday, Sept. 26, meet adoptable pets from the L.A. County Department of Animal Care & Control’s Downey animal shelter at the Whittier PetSmart location, 15618 Whittwood Lane, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 26, the Bark Avenue Foundation hosts a mobile pet-adoption event at the Silver Lake Dog Park, 1850 West Silver Lake Drive, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 26, the Zoom Room and the Found Animals Foundation team up to present a low-cost microchipping event for dogs at the Zoom Room’s Hollywood location, 726 N. La Brea Ave., from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information or to register for the event, visit ZoomRoomOnline.com.

Upcoming:

Wednesday, Sept. 29, I Love Dogs, Inc., hosts ‘Mojitos and Mutts,’ a dog-friendly happy hour gathering at Long Beach’s Hotel Maya, 700 Queensway Drive, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mingle with other Southern California dog lovers and their pets (well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome), enjoy drinks and hors d’ouvres and let your pet sample snacks from Pussy & Pooch’s Pawbar. Guests are encouraged to bring food, pet toys and supplies to be donated to area animal shelters. (If you bring a Kong toy, available in most pet stores, all the better: the toy’s manufacturer will match each Kong donation.) Proceeds from the event benefit local rescue group the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation. More information at ILoveDogs.com.

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Friday, Oct. 1, local farm animal sanctuary Animal Acres hosts a Compassionate Cuisine Celebration at Cal State Long Beach’s Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., from 7 to 11 p.m. The event celebrates World Vegetarian Day and features animal-free food from around the world, including the creations of guest chef Tanya Petrovna; special guests, including Animal Acres founder Lorri Houston; live music; a raffle; and more. Registration is $35 in advance of the event or $45 at the door; proceeds benefit Animal Acres’ work on behalf of rescued farm animals. More information at CompassionateCuisine.net.

Friday, Oct. 1, celebrate the return of thousands of migrating Vaux’s swifts to downtown L.A. at a viewing party sponsored by the L.A. Audubon Society chapter. Get a good look at the birds from the top floor of Joe’s Auto Park, 440 S. Broadway, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Event is free but parking is $3. More information at LosAngelesAudubon.org.

Saturday, Oct. 2-Sunday, Oct. 3, the Manhattan Beach Fire Department hosts a two-day pet adoption event at its Fire Station 1, 400 15th St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Adoptable pets from spcaLA and other local rescue organizations will be present.

Saturday, Oct. 2, Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific hosts its inaugural Seabird Day in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors will learn all about seabirds through presentations, field trip opportunities and kids’ activities. Event is free with paid admission to the aquarium. More information at AquariumOfPacific.org.

Saturday, Oct. 2, Long Beach organization Haute Dogs hosts its 9th annual Interfaith Blessing of the Animals at Marine Stadium, 5225 E. Paoli Way in Long Beach, beginning at 10 a.m. The event also includes Cute Dog and Ugly Dog contests, a Chihuahua beauty pageant, Most Photogenic Dog contest, the National Mutt Show, animal adoptions and pet-themed vendors. Blessing ceremony is free and begins at noon. More information at BlessThePets.com.

Saturday, Oct. 2, Knott’s Berry Farm and the Orange County Transportation Authority invite service dogs and their handlers to a free training session designed to help the animals learn to calmly navigate the bus in a controlled environment. Service animals and their handlers will have the opportunity to board and disembark from a bus multiple times and ride for an extended period to help the animals become comfortable with the experience. For more information, contact Pam Peters at (714) 265-4387 or via e-mail at ppeters@octa.net.

Saturday, Oct. 2, Ventura farm animal supporters will have their chance to participate in Farm Sanctuary’s Walk for Farm Animals. Registration begins at 9:15 a.m. at Ventura’s Plaza Park; walk begins at 10:15. More information at WalkForFarmAnimals.org.

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Sunday, Oct. 3, desert residents can show their support for Farm Sanctuary at its Palm Springs Walk for Farm Animals event. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at Sunrise Park; walk starts at 10 and concludes, handily, at vegan restaurant Native Foods. More information at WalkForFarmAnimals.org.

Sunday, Oct. 3, Dawg Squad Animal Rescue invites Southern California pet-rescue supporters to its annual ‘Bowling for Collars’ fundraising event at AMF Mar Vista Lanes, 12125 Venice Blvd., from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets are $25 for a single bowler or $100 for a lane that accomodates up to five bowlers. Shoe rental, two games and gourmet food are included in the ticket price. The event also includes a silent auction, raffle prizes and chair massages. More information at DawgSquad.org.

Saturday, Oct. 9, the Desert Paws Animal Discovery and Education Center hosts its Power and Action for Animals 2010 Conference at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach. The event begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and concludes with a meet-and-greet from 5:30 to 7 p.m., with presentations and panel discussions from a wide variety of animal experts in between. Featured speakers include Elliot Katz, DVM, of In Defense of Animals; Eric Sakach of the Humane Society of the United States; Eric Mills of Action for Animals; Lorri Houston of Animal Acres; Laura Allen of the Animal Law Coalition; and more. Registration is $125 for adults and $75 for students; cost includes continental breakfast and vegan lunch. More information at DesertPaws.org.

Saturday, Oct. 9, kids and teenagers from ages 5 to 19 are invited to take part in the 2010 4-H Pet Symposium at the University of California Cooperative Extension office, 4800 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave. in L.A., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants will learn about pet care and ways to help animals in their communities; talk to adults whose work involves animals, like veterinarians, academic experts and members of the pet-rescue community; and listen to a talk by featured speaker Betty G. Birney, the author of the ‘Humphrey’ children’s book series. (If you’re lucky, you might even have a chance to recite the 4-H pledge: ‘I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty...’) More information at the UC Cooperative Extension’s website.

Saturday, Oct. 9, spcaLA hosts ‘Paws to Read’ at the Hermosa Beach Library, 550 Pier Ave., 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. More information at spcaLA.com.

Sunday, Oct. 10, Long Beach has its own Walk for Farm Animals event starting at Bixby Park (Ocean Blvd. and Cherry Ave.). Registration begins at 10 a.m.; walk starts at 11 a.m. More information at WalkForFarmAnimals.org.

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

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, 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.

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.

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.

Sunday, October 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.

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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.

Through Sept. 30, snack lovers can help animal-protection organization in Defense of Animals by purchasing chocolate! Handcrafted vegan, kosher candy company Rescue Chocolate will donate 100% of its profits during the month of September to In Defense of Animals. 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.

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.

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 Thursday, Oct. 2; Saturday, Oct. 16; Thursday, Nov. 4; and Saturday, Nov. 13. More information at LosAngelesAudubon.org.

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.

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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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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-- Lindsay Barnett

RELATED READER PHOTO GALLERIES:

Share your animal photos: Dogs | Cats | Birds | Zoo Animals | Animal Friends | Sleepy Pets

Top photo: A goat kid stands on top of an adult goat at a farm in Bakersfield, Calif. Farm-animal welfare organization Farm Sanctuary hosts a number of fundraising walks in Southern California over the next few weeks, including on in Santa Monica on Saturday. Credit: Casey Christie / Associated Press

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