Celebrate July 4. Celebrate saving lives!

Summer is here; a holiday is upon us; family and friends will be gathering to feel the love.  Imagine the love you will feel if you can save the life of a homeless pet, or two!  Even if you are unable to bring a pet into your home at this time, you can show your support of the animal rescue organizations and animal shelters by spreading the message that all animals, especially those we domesticated, deserve compassion and care in exchange for their loyalty and love.

Get started this Saturday, July 2.  At 10:00 a.m., you are invited to march in the Best Friends Animal Society’s Independence Paw’rade to raise awareness of the plight of puppy mill dogs.  The kick-off begins at Chase Bank at the corner of Laurel Canyon and Ventura Blvd., in Studio City, and will end at Maxwell Dog, where you can meet and adopt wonderful pets from our shelters.

For more information on this event, please visit http://pawrade.bestfriends.org/ and for information on Best Friend’s Puppy Mill Initiatives, please visit http://puppymills.bestfriends.org/.

Just a couple of blocks east of Maxwell Dog, near Pier 1 Imports, kinder4rescue will be holding its regular Saturday dog adoption.  The majority of dogs are on the smaller side, but there are also a few larger ones, and they are all hoping to find loving homes.  For more info, go to www.kinder4rescue.org.  Come by and say hello.  Find out if you qualify to foster a pet, if you cannot commit to adopting at this time.

Every weekend you can find a mobile pet adoption near you.  And you can visit any of the city and county animal shelters (www.laanimalservices.com, www.petfinder.com) during the week.  Speaking of which, if you are considering a pet, first do some research.  Learn about which type pet might best be suited for your lifestyle.  If you like a particular breed dog, for instance, find out if it will require a lot of exercise; how often does it need to be groomed; how will it do if you live in smaller quarters; are there health issues you might need to be aware of.  If you can't afford a vet, don't get a pet.

If you think you can only train a puppy or kitten, please know that “you CAN teach an old dog new tricks.”  If you are not a jogger or do not particularly enjoy a lot of exercise, then do consider an adult dog as a companion.

Oops, I am getting ahead of myself.  My intent here, first and foremost, is to enlist everyone, everywhere, to join me on my mission to change the way too many people see their pets.  If you feel I am saturating you with my messages, so be it.

For now I want to say to those of you with pets, please take special care of them on July 4.  Do not leave them unattended in a yard, even a fenced one.  When they hear fireworks, they may panic and break out to look for a safe and quiet site to hide.  Try to keep them in a room with no windows, because some dogs have gone through glass to escape, and play soothing music.  Of course, make sure they have water and perhaps a piece of clothing that smells of you.  If you have not yet done so, get your pets microchipped and keep a collar with tags on them.

Think how wonderful it will be when you come home to find your pet safe and sound.  You will truly feel the love.

Start spreading the message NOW, and thank you for participating in my mission.  Let’s go save lives!!