Pet of the week
Zane has lived all across the United States, from Hawaii to Florida, but he can't wait to settle down in San Diego for good. This sweet, rotund 6-year-old kitty is looking for a new, loving home where he'll be a true member of the family. Zane is friendly once he gets to know you and rushes out of his favorite sleeping spot for petting and love. In addition to petting, some of Zane's favorite activities include playing with string and feather toys and spending quiet time with his people friends. Zane's adoption fee is $100 and includes his neuter, current vaccinations, permanent microchip identification, a certificate for a free veterinary exam and more. Meet Zane at the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA at 5500 Gaines St. Adoption hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call (619) 299-7012 or visit www.sdhumane.org.
Pet events
Saturday and Sunday. The Parrot Education and Adoption Center will sponsor four talks at the Marina Village Conference Center, 1936 Quivira Way, Room D-6, San Diego. Saturday's talks will cover “Behavior Problems” from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and “Sex & the Single Parrot” from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday's talks will cover “Avian Gourmet” from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and “Excessive Screaming” from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Registration at the door is $15. Information: (619) 287-8200 or www.peac.org.
Wednesday. When you leave your dog alone, do you return home to a gigantic mess? Then the Home Alone Workshop, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the San Diego Humane Society's main campus at 5500 Gaines St., San Diego, can help. The workshop can supply answers for people who want to better manage their dogs and prevent troubling “home alone” behaviors. Cost is $35, and preregistration is required. Information: (619) 299-7012, ext. 2247, or www.sdhumane.org.
Compiled by Robert Muldowney. Send adoption/pet event information at least two weeks in advance to: Currents/Pets Calendar, The San Diego Union-Tribune, P.O. Box 120191, San Diego, CA 92112-0191; fax (619) 260-5093; or e-mail
pets@uniontrib.com.
Adoptions
Every day. Cats and kittens, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., PetSmart, 1740 University Drive, Vista. Sponsor: Baja Animal Sanctuary, (760) 727-5369.
Tomorrow. Kittens, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Petco, 925 Orange Ave., Coronado. Sponsor: S.T.O.P., (619) 422-7240 or www.petfaire.net.
Saturday. Small dogs, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Petco, 2749 Via de la Valle, Del Mar. Sponsor: Foundation for Care of Indigent Animals, www.petfinder.org/shelters/CA09.html or (619) 466-0426.
Dogs, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Petco, 13375 Poway Road, Poway. Sponsor: FOCAS, www.focas-sandiego.org or (619) 685-3536.
Saturday and Sunday. Cats and kittens, noon to 4 p.m., PetSmart, 8657 Villa La Jolla Drive, La Jolla. Sponsor: Cat Adoption Service, www.sdcats.org. Kittens, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Kmart, 875 E. H St., Chula Vista. Sponsor: S.T.O.P.
Sunday. Boston terriers, 1 to 4 p.m., Muttropolis, 227 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. Sponsor: Boston Brigade Rescue, www.bostonbrigade.com or (760) 634-3262.
PET Q&A STEVE DALE
DEAR STEVE: We just adopted a pit bull-type dog from our local shelter. Our neighbors loved our previous dog, which looked like a Labrador/spaniel mix. You'll have to take my word for it, but Chauncey, our new dog, is great with kids, and just fine with other dogs. Our children are 11 and 14.
Our neighbor's kids are 8, 10 and 14. Their parents have freaked, asking that their kids never come to our house anymore because of Chauncey. Our kids are confused and hurt by this. Any suggestions or places I can go for further information on pit bulls?
– A.C., Cyberspace
ANSWER: Congratulations to you for saving a life. Now, here's the one-minute pit bull story: Increasingly, particularly in urban areas, many dogs in the pound are pit bull-types. Unfortunately, some individuals are bred to be aggressive, or are abused. However, in general, a dog is a dog is a dog.
Obviously, your neighbors are basing their preconceived notions on news accounts or stereotypes. They should know that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, no longer tracks the breed responsible for fatal dogs attacks in America, because the breed involved is irrelevant. What's important are the conditions that cause an attack in the first place – regardless of the breed or mix of breeds. The American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) are among many organizations that agree.
In looking at what causes the most serious dog attacks in America (which I've done based on CDC data): Dogs involved in criminal activities, trained to attack, or dogs belonging to gangbangers and/or involved in dog fighting; dogs that roam and even threaten neighborhoods where complaints about them are ignored by police or animal control officials until something bad happens; unaltered male dogs; and dogs that are chained or tethered.
For the time being, try to work out a compromise with your neighbors. Show them this column. Invite them over for Chinese food or pizza, so they can meet Chauncey. Meanwhile, make yourselves a promise – and mean it – that if the neighbor kids are allowed to visit, they won't be left with Chauncey without adult supervision, and if they're in the yard playing, you'll keep them in view or within earshot.
Here are some pit bull resources on the Internet:
www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/
www.happypitbull.com
www.pbrc.net/breedspecific.html
www.pbrc.net/misc/PBRC_presspack.pdf
www.goodpooch.com/BSL/failedBSL.html
www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html
I also suggest reading, “Dogs Bite: But Balloons and Slippers Are More Dangerous,” by Janis Bradley.
Write to Steve Dale at Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, N.Y., 14207. Send e-mail to
petworld@aol.com.
