Southern California animal lovers’ calendar: Weekend of Jan. 22-23 and beyond

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There are countless ways to help animals and have a great time doing it over the coming days and weeks. We’ve got the details on a number of them, from pet adoption events to opportunities to help animals simply by shopping or snacking on chocolate. Think we’re forgetting something? Leave a comment on this post or send us a tweet @LATunleashed.

This Weekend:

Saturday, Jan. 22, the L.A. Department of Animal Services hosts mobile pet-adoption events at the Redondo Beach Petco location, 537 N. Pacific Coast Highway, 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 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 22, the City of Long Beach Animal Care Services Bureau invites the public to an open house at its shelter facility, 7700 E. Spring St., from 10 a.m. to noon. The shelter saw its adoption rate increase in 2010; the open house will highlight that accomplishment, as well as the achievements of Long Beach residents and charities in the field of animal welfare over the past year. The event also includes tours of the facility, information about the bureau’s programs and refreshments. More information at LongBeach.gov.

Saturday, Jan. 22, local rescue group the Bark Avenue Foundation hosts a mobile pet adoption event at Los Feliz pet store For Pets Only, 1903 Hillhurst Ave., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. See the group’s available dogs and cats at its website.

Sunday, Jan. 23, L.A. animal lovers host a yard sale to raise funds for Animal Rescue Media Education (ARME) and the Beagle Freedom Project at a private residence, 12218 Hartsook St. in Valley Village, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 23, 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.

Throughout January:

It’s Adopt a Rescued Bird Month! Wondering if a bird is the right pet for you? Check out Petfinder’s article ‘10 Things You Need to Know Before Adopting a Bird,’ and if you’re still interested in bringing a bird into your life, search Petfinder’s listings of adoptable birds or contact local rescue groups like Parrots First and the Lily Sanctuary.

Snack lovers can help needy animals by purchasing chocolate! Handcrafted vegan, kosher candy company Rescue Chocolate will donate 100% of its profits during the month of January to the Humane Society of Miami. 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 generosity include Farm Sanctuary, Austin Pets Alive, In Defense of Animals, United Animal Nations, Philadelphia PAWS and the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti. More information at RescueChocolate.com.

Upcoming:

Saturday, Jan. 29, the L.A. Department of Animal Services hosts a mobile pet-adoption event at the Northridge Petco location, 8800 Tampa Ave., from noon to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 29, local rescue group the Amanda Foundation and design company Janus et Cie host a pet adoption event at West Hollywood’s Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., Suite B193, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy refreshments, enter to win prizes and meet the Amanda Foundation’s adoptable animals. More information at AmandaFoundation.org. (Thanks to reader Jackie R. for letting us know about this event!)

Sunday, Jan. 30, the L.A. Department of Animal Services hosts a mobile pet-adoption event at Centinela Feed & Pet Supply in Rancho Palos Verdes, 28901 Western Ave., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 1, spcaLA offers a special discounted rate of $10 on neutering procedures for male cats at its Specialty Spay/Neuter Center in honor of Spay Day USA. This discounted rate is available only to the first 50 people who make an appointment for their cat’s February neuter surgery. SpcaLA is taking appointments now; call (323) 730-5303 to schedule. More information at spcaLA.com.

Saturday, Feb. 5, the Capistrano Animal Rescue Effort (CARE) and the San Juan Capistrano Rotary team host the 8th annual CARe Show, a car show that benefits both CARE’s pet rescue efforts and the Rotary club’s work with Orange County youth and military families. The event also includes live music, vendors and a disc dog demonstration. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome. Motorcycle riders can also participate in the Dr. Cortese Poker Run, a ride from Orange County Harley-Davidson through the back country of Orange County that ends at the CARe Show site. Registration for the Poker Run includes lunch and admission to the CARe Show. For more information or to register your vehicle for exhibition, go to CapoAnimalRescue.com.

Wednesday, Feb. 9, pet-services company Bark & Clark offers a Valentine’s Day-themed ‘Pooch Parade’ training session designed to help dogs become more calm and focused while walking through L.A.’s bustling downtown. The ‘walking workshop’ takes participants and their dogs on an informative tour of downtown L.A., finishing up with a visit to Pussy & Pooch’s Paw Bar treat station and the dog-friendly veranda of Portofino Cucina. Event begins at 7 p.m. Cost is $40 and advance registration is required. For more information or to register, visit BarkAndClark.com.

Saturday, Feb. 12, spcaLA invites potential ‘foster parents’ to learn about its fostering program at its P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E Spring St. in Long Beach, from 10 a.m. to noon. ‘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. Potential volunteers must be over 18 and complete an application before attending a fostering class. More information at spcaLA.com.

Sunday, Feb. 13, the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Assn. presents ‘Sex and the City Zoo,’ a lecture about love in the animal kingdom just in time for Valentine’s Day, at its Witherbee Auditorium. The event begins with a wine-and-chocolate reception from 5 to 6 p.m., with the hourlong lecture to follow. This event is designed for adults only. Cost is $25 for zoo members and $35 for non-members. For more information or to register online, visit LAZoo.org.

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 Tuesday at its North Central animal shelter; every third Tuesday at its South L.A. animal shelter; every fourth Tuesday at its East Valley animal shelter; and every fourth Thursday at its West 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 LAAnimalServices.com.

Every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the L.A. Department of Animal Services hosts a mobile pet-adoption event at the Van Nuys Petco location, 5850 Sepulveda Blvd.

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.

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 second Saturday, spcaLA hosts ‘PAWS to Read’ at the Hermosa Beach Library, 550 Pier Ave., from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Through the program, young readers can practice their skills by reading to a decidedly nonjudgmental audience: certified therapy dogs. Due to limited time and availability of dogs, spcaLA recommends that parents or guardians register their children in advance by calling (310) 379-8475 to ensure a spot. More information at spcaLA.com.

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 Sunday, Animal Acres offers hourlong guided tours of its Acton facility at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Visitors can meet Animal Acres’ resident cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens and other animals and learn about the sanctuary’s work. Cost is $5 per person over age 3. More information at AnimalAcres.org.

Every Sunday, the Gentle Barn invites the public to visit the rescued horses, donkeys, cows, pigs, llamas, sheep, goats, turkeys, chickens and other animals that call its Santa Clarita sanctuary home. The rescue farm is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (except in case of rain), and guests are welcome to bring a meat-free picnic lunch. A $5 donation per guest is requested. More information and directions at GentleBarn.org.

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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