Best Friends Los Angeles Brigade

Volunteers Plant 25 Pepper Trees

angelpaws — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:04:10 GMT

On July 19th, members of Best Friends Animal Society’s Los Angeles Brigade made the long drive out to Bassett Hound Rescue (www.bassetrescuenetwork.org) in Acton CA to help plant 25 donated pepper trees. It was a super hot day, and a lot of hard work, but this dedicated group knew that by helping to plant these trees, they would be providing much needed shade to the 100+ dogs who call BHR their temporary home.

It was a pretty fun day for the volunteers despite the heat. They arrived around 8:30 am and met with Ha, from Rescuer’s Helper, who had coordinated getting all the donations and volunteers for the day. There were detailed instructions on what to do, as well as a general (and continual) reminder of the snakes and spiders that were afoot.

Dawn, the owner and manager of BHR, gave the volunteers a nice tour of the facility and talked about the special care that Bassets usually need, as well as the hard-luck cases that have come her way. Two of the dogs were using “wheels” because of really bad rear legs. Besides Best Friends, there were the normal cadre of volunteers who come by to help walk and keep the site neat and to give the dogs play time.

As the volunteers were planting the last 5 trees, they heard a call from the main house. One of the recently acquired dogs, Ind-e, had just had a stroke and passed on. They cut off some tufts of hair and placed them in the tree hole being worked on out in the 3rd pen. It was a sad moment as they had been watching that particular dog since the volunteers had arrived that morning.

All in all, it was a very successful day for the Best Friends Brigade, as the temperatures in that area can get over 100 during the summer/fall days and there is a fierce wind that starts blowing around noon. The newly planted trees will provide shade to the dogs and act as a wind-breaker to stop the dust storms from sending dry dirt and sand into the dog’s eyes. The BHR group was very happy with the volunteers’ hard work and dedication!

Photo and story by Jameson Yu, Brigade volunteer

Basset Rescue Network needs help with tree planting on July 19

angelpaws — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:10:21 GMT

Basset Rescue Network (www.bassetrescuenetwork.org) in Acton needs help with a tree planting project on Sunday, July 19, beginning at 8:00 am.

25 donated Pepper Trees will be planted in pre-dug holes in order to provide much needed shade for the 100+ dogs housed at the facility. If you would like to help out with this project, e-mail BrigadeBFLA@gmail.com for more information.

photo courtesy of Basset Rescue Network

Resources

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:06:59 GMT

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Links

Volunteers Bathe 60-70 Dogs

angelpaws — Thu, 07 May 2009 01:37:28 GMT

60-70 Dogs Bathed in Preparation for Westchester Super Adoption

On Saturday, April 25, approximately 25 Best Friends volunteers headed out to 5 LA City shelters and the Baldwin Park County shelter to bathe dogs in preparation for the Westchester Super Adoption. Working closely with LAAS and LA County volunteers, they were able to bathe between 60 and 70 dogs, greatly improving their chances of adoption. Several dogs were even adopted that very day, right out of the grooming room!

Because there was such a good turnout of volunteers, the dogs were able to have a walk before and after their baths, allowing them time to burn off some energy and get a bit of exercise. Then it was into the grooming room for a good brushing and a bath that left them shiny and clean. One of the dogs, Snoopy, needed some extra TLC, and 3 dedicated volunteers worked for over an hour pulling more than 70 ticks from the patient little guy.

The Shelters were very impressed with all the volunteers hard work and dedication and have asked the Brigade to come back soon to help groom and bathe more dogs. Way to go!!

Story and photo by Robin Skov, Brigade Coordinator and Shelter Liaison

Big Sunday Project a Huge Success

angelpaws — Tue, 05 May 2009 23:42:06 GMT

Big Sunday at the Lancaster Animal Shelter is a huge success!

By Robin Skov, Best Friends Brigade Coordinator

Dedicated Best Friends’ Brigade members headed out early in the morning on May 3rd to the Lancaster Animal Shelter to participate in Big Sunday, the largest regional community service event in America. http://www.bigsunday.org/index.html

The ambitious plan for the day included an incredible amount of much-needed repairs, upgrades, sanitizing, and beautification for one of the LA county shelters that houses hundreds of animals, including dogs, cats, horses, and bunnies.

The Brigade was given the task of cleaning and sanitizing the spay/neuter clinic. At first glance, the task did not seem to be all that daunting. Then we started moving kennels and crates and it became clear that we would need to completely scrub down the walls and sweep and mop the floors multiple times. Armed with bleach, gloves, mop, and the desire to help the animals, the Brigade team had the entire clinic virtually spotless in just hours.

Special thanks goes out to the Volunteer Coordinator of the Agoura County Shelter who realized that the Lancaster Shelter was in such need of refurbishment and repair and willingly lent her support, expertise, and volunteers to help out with this amazing project.

Photo by Robin Skov

Big Sunday Project at Lancaster Animal Shelter

angelpaws — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:42:58 GMT

Big Sunday, the largest regional community service weekend in America, is almost here!! Best Friends' Brigade has been invited to help with one of the projects – repairing and refurbishing the Lancaster Animal Shelter. This is an exciting opportunity for us to make a real difference in the lives of the many animals housed in this LA County facility.

Some of the things they would like help with include:
- Sanitizing their clinic from top to bottom
- Roof repair
- Horse corral repair
- Art mural project
- Play yard repairs and expansions
- Adding mister systems
- Sorting donations

The project takes place on Sunday, May 3, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The Lancaster Shelter is located at 5210 W. Avenue I, Lancaster, CA 93536. The shelter will be closed to the public that day. We will carpool from the Best Friends office in Sun Valley – leaving by 7:30 am.

Please rsvp your participation to BrigadeBFLA@gmail.com by April 20. This is a great opportunity to get dirty for the doggies! Hope to see you there!

Robin Skov
Shelter Liaison
Best Friends Brigade - LA Programs

Helping Hands Needed to Groom Shelter Dogs!

angelpaws — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:02:28 GMT

Helping hands are needed to bathe and groom LAAS and LA County shelter dogs on Saturday, April 25, to get them shiny and clean and ready for their debut at the Westchester Super Adoption event!

Thank you in advance to our long-time LAAS groomers for your help and support, and welcome to the new bathers and groomers!

Help is needed at these city shelter locations:

* West Valley in Chatsworth
* East Valley in Van Nuys
* North Central in Los Angeles on Lacy St
* South Los Angeles on 11th St
* Harbor in San Pedro

And at this county shelter location:

* Baldwin Park

Hours will be 10 - 4 and can be broken down into shifts if needed (10 - 1, 1 - 4).

Please e-mail your participation, with responses to the questions below, to BrigadeBFLA@gmail.com by April 15. Confirming details will be sent shortly after.

1) Your 2 preferred locations
2) Hours available
3) Grooming and bathing experience
4) Are you an LAAS or LA County volunteer?
5) Are you willing to be a Team Leader for the day (responsible for overseeing set-up and clean-up and acting as liaison with the shelter staff to get the dogs in and out of the grooming area)?

Please understand that the grooming and bathing will take place at the city and county animal shelters and that we need to be respectful of the shelter staff and their policies at all times. These are facilities that euthanize animals for space. We are actively working towards a time when every dog and cat will have a suitable home, and the grooming program helps animals who are currently in shelters to be more adoptable as we move closer to our goal of No More Homeless Pets.

Thank you!

Robin Skov
Shelter Liaison
Best Friends Animal Society, LA Programs Brigade

Thanksgiving for Cats at Kitten Rescue

laurat — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 23:40:18 GMT

Always ready for a challenge and to lend helping hands, Brigadiers set out early Sunday of the holiday weekend for our second Kitty Scrub-A-Thon!

By Andrea Lewis, Best Friends Brigade Coordinator

When Los Angeles’ largest rescue group for cats contacted the Best Friends LA Brigade with a project, we rose to the occasion and assembled a group of our hard-working volunteers.

Kitten Rescue, founded in 1997, has rescued and placed more than 5,500 stray and 11th-hour shelter cats into loving forever homes. Their impressive facility is a well-organized kitty haven. Large, open areas furnished with cat beds, tunnels, scratching posts, shelves, cubbies and rafters (a favorite hangout of the felines) provide comfortable residence for one hundred plus cats while they wait for their lucky adoption day. Other areas are dedicated to ferals and cats with various heath issues and chronic ailments – most of which will live out all nine lives being cared for at the Kitten Rescue sanctuary. In all enclosed areas, cats play, snuggle, watch curiously and wander...you cannot turn a corner or peer into any room without seeing a furry creature. With the size of the facility and the number of cats, things can get, well, hairy. It was time for a major scrub-down. Enter the Brigade.

Armed with scrapers, sponges, mops and brooms we washed and sanitized cages, walls, floors and windows. Top to bottom, inside and out, our volunteers climbed and crawled their way through the facility to get every inch as clean as possible. When done with the inside areas, we were able to assist in cleaning and organizing dozens of carriers. A midday pizza break, courtesy of the kind folks at Kitten Rescue, and we carried on cleaning and vacuuming accumulated hair from wire enclosures. I did say every inch – and the Brigaders worked tirelessly to get it done.

The timing of the Scrub-a-thon was well-planned, falling a week prior to Kitten Rescue’s Open House where the general public can come visit and view the amazing efforts of this rescue group first hand.

And by the way, they are not species-biased - Kitten Rescue rescues the odd dog in need, too!

Kitten Rescue relies on volunteers, fosters and of course, donations. To learn more about the organization and to see the beautiful animals up for adoption, please visit Kitten Rescue's website at www.kittenrescue.org.

Photos by Andrea Lewis

Posted by Laura Thompson, Best Friends Volunteer

Sunday Nov. 30th Scrub-A-Thon at Kitten Rescue

laurat — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:02:26 GMT

Finally, something for cat and kitten lovers - join the Brigade on Thanksgiving weekend for this kitty care event!

Hello Brigade Volunteers,

We have received a request from Kitten Rescue for a fun and soapy day of deep cleaning at their facility in Atwater Village. We're calling this the big Brigade Scrub-A-Thon!

Some of you were involved in this project last year and know what a great success it was. The folks at Kitten Rescue were so pleased and impressed and hope to replicate it this year.

Sometimes one of the hardest aspects of planning our Brigade events is finding a convenient date. Kitten Rescue are really hoping to get this job done as soon as possible in advance of their next event, so after bouncing around a few dates, we've concluded that November 30th may work best.

We understand that this falls on the long Thanksgiving weekend and expect that some of you may be out of town or otherwise engaged. We're hoping, however, that a handful of you may be around and willing to hang out with some cool cats and happy to get your hands wet - and well, soapy! - for this amazing rescue and all of the beautiful cats and kittens there awaiting forever homes.

Further details are in the works, but we anticipate the day to start at 9 or 10am until maybe 3 or 4pm.

If you are available and can help - even for part of the day - please contact us at Brigadebfla@gmail.com at your very earliest convenience so that we can confirm this date.

Please take moment to check out Kitten Rescue's website here for the incredible work they do and the many successes they have achieved since their inception in 1997.

As always, we really consider our volunteers the best of the best and are grateful for everything you do.

Many Thanks,

Andrea Lewis
Best Friends Brigade Coordinator - Rescue Groups
Brigadebfla@gmail.com

Photo from the Kitten Rescue website

LA Volunteers Groom 75 Shelter Dogs for October's Super Adoption

laurat — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:28:41 GMT

October and November were busy months for LA volunteers! Thanks to those who went to LA Animal Services shelters to prepare dogs for adoption at La Brea Park.

Estimates are that almost 75 dogs were bathed at West Valley, East Valley, North Central, South LA, West LA and Harbor shelters. Here are the reports from team leaders at each:

South LA: “I wanted to send you a recap of our grooming day at South LA today. I arrived at 11:00, and we were able to start washing dogs at 12:30. Tania and an LAAS volunteer arrived at 1:00, so we really got moving at that point. We washed, walked, played with and loved on 12 dogs today! They were all amazing, and I am so excited they have the opportunity to find homes tomorrow. They are all small, so my hope is that at least some of the rescues will step up for those that don’t get their forever home tomorrow. The Best Friends volunteers are the best! Both Ursula and Tania came with supplies and ready to get dirty. We had a nice little system going, so all the dogs got a lot of attention, treats, walking and love. I also want to say everyone (especially Ansinee) at the shelter was so helpful! I have yet to be at that location and come across someone who doesn’t love the animals there or want to help them get homes.” – Melissa Migdal

East Valley: “Things went really well on Saturday. We finished all 12 of the dogs for the adoptions by noon! All had been spayed/neutered the day before, so we could only damp towel "bathe" them and give them cologne. We clipped some nails and cleaned ears, too! Then we went and picked those who looked like they needed a good cleaning/brushing. Jackie is sweet, and the staff was as helpful as they could be on such a crazy busy Saturday. Please count me in for next time. ALL of the other volunteers were cheerful and ready to work. We were a great team.” - Jeanne Develle

West Valley: “We had a great team of Best Friends and LAAS volunteers working together to get 17 dogs bathed. Everyone was ready to go at 10am, and we worked out a system that allowed us to not only bathe the 17 dogs (some of whom were quite energetic!) but to also give them some much needed playtime in the yard. This was a great example of two groups pulling together for the good of the dogs.” – Robin Skov

North Central: “I think we did about 15 dogs - hard to tell, as Pauli and I were working on a couple of really matted guys. We had help from a group of high school kids - they helped Faith wash, they set up two drying stations, and they brushed and walked everyone. I normally keep better track, but Faith took charge of the kids, and they just did their thing while Pauli and I worked on matts, matts and more matts. Both our ‘problem children’ got adopted! Pauli actually handled one of them until he was ‘picked’. – Gayle Alexander

Posted by Laura Thompson, Best Friends Volunteer

Inspired by Best Friends, Paw Parent Starts a Sanctuary in the Antelope Valley

laurat — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:05:55 GMT

Bringing its skills and sensitivity, Best Friends LA Brigade helps to build a desert oasis for dogs.

By Andrea Lewis, Best Friends Volunteer

Dharma. A spiritually recognized belief in one’s virtuous path – following what is in your heart.

Isabell Csaki is living this notion, and with inspiration and information from Best Friends, she has founded her own animal sanctuary, Paw Parent (click here). The mission of the sanctuary is to provide lifetime care for pets whose guardians are no longer capable due to old age, illness or death. Paw Parent also rescues abused and abandoned animals and finds them permanent, loving homes.

Isabell has been working toward this dream, rescuing stray animals for years, and after attending Best Friends’ “How To Start An Animal Sanctuary” workshop in 2007, was ready (and anxious) to make her dream a reality. With her amazing energy, sheer will and determination, Isabell took the necessary steps toward becoming a 501(c)(3) organization, began fundraising and found five acres of picturesque landscape in the West Antelope Valley to begin building Paw Parent.

Isabell, a member since the early nineties, credits Best Friends as being a “huge role model” and is a great admirer of the operation and attitude of our amazing organization – and so it was only natural that she approached the Best Friends Los Angeles Brigade when she was ready to start the laborious work on the grounds. With dozens of donated trees, Isabell needed a bunch of extra hands to get them planted for wind protection and shade, so on an early Sunday morning in September, a group of dedicated volunteers headed to Paw Parent.

It was great fortune to have Barb Halcomb and Audrey Brooks with us that day. Both avid gardeners, they took the helm and gave us all instruction and direction for the planting of the trees. We began by digging small trenches around the front and side perimeter of the fence. The hard ground proved to be quite challenging but aided by water and our muscle man for the day, Jerry Benjamin, we starting making headway. His wife, Monica, worked in tandem with Jerry, and in no time we had the two dozen or so holes needed for the trees.

Next task was to drive wooden stakes (some hand-sawed by our volunteers) deep into the ground and surround each hole with a pliable basket-type fencing to secure the small tree saplings – and, hopefully, keep the resident dogs from digging! Erika Pena grabbed some shears, then measured, cut and assembled each little basket and so began the actual planting of the trees.

While we worked diligently to get the planting done, the day was not without its breaks, often to stop and snuggle one of the many dogs living with Isabell – some hers, others for adoption (check out the Paw Parent site to see the angels looking for homes - cats, too!). Monica had an affinity for Bella, while Willow, a beautiful baby terrier, puppy-eyed his way into the hearts of others. I, the pit lover, couldn’t resist Valentine – one of Isabell’s dogs.

And being the gracious host she is, Isabell brought us into her home and satiated us with drinks and yummy vegan snacks!

The whole environment of Paw Parent is charged with love, inspiration, compassion – and the promise of a beautiful sanctuary that will help and house countless animals for years to come. There’s still a lot of work to do, but our day was a productive one, and we were all quite proud with the job we did!

The Brigade hopes to make another trip to Paw Parent to help with more planting, installation of a drip system and in any other way we can be of service. Thanks to our amazing volunteers for your dedication and spirit.

Paw Parent is being built and operates on donations. If you would like to help, please visit the website www.pawparent.org, and click on “Support” to contribute items or monetary funds.

Posted by Laura Thompson, Best Friends Volunteer

Photos courtesy of Andrea Lewis and Isabell Csaki

Labor Day Weekend in Topanga Canyon for Malibu Dog Adoptions

laurat — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 08:13:18 GMT

Truly putting the "labor" back into this holiday weekend, Brigadiers work like dogs to help a rescue in need.

By Andrea Lewis, Best Friends Volunteer

People in Hollywood know Bernie Williams for his extensive list of movie production credits – he’s produced dozens of films in the last 30 years, including Charlotte’s Web and Daredevil - but the dogs he has rescued and placed with loving families since 1999 know his best work is Malibu Dog Adoptions.

Recognized by Best Friends for their stellar group of volunteers, the rescue has run into some challenges in recent years. Bernie was finding it increasingly more difficult to get his dogs out to show at adoptions and for his volunteers to maintain the dogs' living conditions at the boarding facility. So Bernie contacted Best Friends Los Angeles for help in getting kennels cleaned and newly graveled – and the Brigade answered the call.

On August 31st, a group of amazing volunteers offered their time (and muscles) to help Malibu Dog Adoptions with this mission. While others were enjoying a long weekend and Labor Day barbeques, the Brigade was only too happy to spend the day working to make the doggie-homes a little brighter and more comfy…and to give them all some extra love and snuggles.

Guided by two of the rescue’s lead volunteers, Adriane and Kathleen, we delegated the work among us, and each focused on our task.

Some took the job of removing the big igloo doghouses to wash them down, while others loaded and shoveled gravel into each run. A few more, including yours truly, grabbed Exacto knives to carefully cut rolls of carpeting into individual pieces for doghouse bedding.

The process was a well-choreographed assembly line, enthusiastically manned by our hard-working volunteers. Thanks to volunteer Darla Brunner for donating our pizza lunch that refueled everyone enough to finish the job with the kennels. Then we spent extra time walking and playing with some of the pooches before sending them back into their beautiful new spaces!

The day was a great success, and all enjoyed the beautiful scenery and peaceful environment…but most importantly, we left Topanga Canyon content in having helped Bernie and his dogs.

To learn more and see the beautiful dogs up for adoption, please visit www.malibudogadoptions.org. Bernie and his team of volunteers hold adoptions in Malibu, Sundays 12-3pm.

Posted by Laura Thompson, Best Friends Volunteer

Photos courtesy of Jameson Yu, Best Friends Volunteer

Brigadiers Bathe Over 20 Dogs (and Care for Cats, too!) at Baldwin Park County Shelter

laurat — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 08:36:02 GMT

On Sunday, August 24th, Brigadiers were back at Baldwin Park for another day of Soap, Suds and Fun.

UPDATE: More photos!

By Laura Thompson, Best Friends Volunteer

Before our third Sunday morning at Baldwin Park even began, we spotted a white Chihuahua running through the parking lot. Such is often the case at this shelter, unfortunately, where many dogs are dumped outside the gates, and stray cats roam freely about the area. Fortunately for this scared little Chi, on a day when Baldwin Park's normally closed, there were six Best Friends volunteers ready to rescue him. With some peanut butter crackers as a lure, we quickly captured him, and a little rescue remedy on his ears lulled him to sleep like a baby.

Then we continued with a brief orientation led by Best Friends LA Volunteer Manager Robin Harmon, but it was already pretty clear that this was an experienced group! Special thanks go to our professional groomer, Juliette May, for her patience and hard work on some very matted dogs. Appreciation goes out to all my fellow volunteers who will be unnamed here but are pictured below with the animals they helped.

Rather than tell the exhaustive story of our day, I'll let these photos of happy doggies speak for themselves:

For quite awhile, Juliette worked on this Husky (above) who, though beautiful, was very matted on his underside. He absolutely loved the brushing and attention, as do most of the dogs there.

A dirty and tangled Cocker Spaniel (before, left) doesn't show too well in a shelter, but see what a bath and a haircut (after, center and right) can do for a dog's attitude?

Jessica and Karen hosed down outside those dogs who needed only to cool off on this hot summer day (left).

Proof that there are purebred dogs in shelters and many at Baldwin Park, this friendly and very handsome young Basset Hound (above) was one of Robin's favorites.

Christine bathed this white Poodle mix, then Hiroko took him out to the play area to dry (left). Of course, another purpose of our being at Baldwin Park is to network these dogs, especially after working so hard to bathe and groom them - and all the time we've spent with them.

This sweet, older gentleman (right) was one of my favorites.

Baldwin Park has many beautiful cats as well, so I'd be remiss if I didn't mention them here. They also have birds, pigs and, despite their limited shelter space, even a couple of horses.

As always, we look forward to returning to Baldwin Park - taking photos and networking more animals - again soon.

Photos courtesy of Jessica Cliver, Best Friends Staff, and Robin Skov, Best Friends Volunteer

Sunday Sept. 21st at Paw Parent Animal Sanctuary

laurat — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 06:29:28 GMT

Best Friends LA Brigade has been asked to help out at Paw Parent Animal Sanctuary as word gets out about all of our good work so far.

Paw Parent is an animal sanctuary located in the Antelope Valley. In addition to rescuing and placing animals, their mission is to provide lifetime care for pets whose guardians are no longer capable of doing so, due to old age, illness or death.

Still in the early stages of development, this is a great opportunity for the Best Friends Brigade to help build this caring and important facility.

We have scheduled a date at Paw Parent for Sunday, September 21st. Some of the help needed this day will involve planting tree saplings and installing a drip system - not as difficult as it may sound!

We recognize that there have been a lot of projects in recent weeks and are so appreciative of the time you are willing to give. All of this activity just proves there are more and more people working hard to help animals in need.

If you are available to help this day, please contact us. Once we get some of you confirmed we can arrange for carpools to this destination.

Robin Harmon
Volunteer Manager
Best Friends Animal Society, Los Angeles
RobinH@bestfriends.org
http://network.bestfriends.org/laprograms/news/
http://network.bestfriends.org/losangeles/news/

From the Paw Parent website at www.pawparent.org:

"Paw Parent Animal Sanctuary is the brainchild, greatest aspiration and most precious dream of Isabell Csaki. Her vision and enthusiasm have single-handedly drawn a select group of concerned citizens to her cause.

Emigrating from Stuttgart, Germany, to Los Angeles as a young woman, Isabell established herself first as a hairdresser. Later on she became one of Southern California's leading animal rights advocates, with an impossibly long list of needy individuals to foster.

Isabell is greatly concerned about those creatures who are suddenly left homeless with no provisions for the future. The idea for Paw Parent Animal Sanctuary came to her after reading 'hundreds of emails on the Internet.' Pleas from desperate or dying pet owners were everywhere, seeking last-minute peace of mind and security for their loved ones with no hope to be found.

Until now! Thanks to Isabell, Paw Parent Animal Sanctuary is here. Today, Isabell sends out a message that is both urgent and timely. Make a plan for your pet to ensure his/her future. Join Isabell and all of us in celebration of 'Happy Endings...New Beginnings' at Paw Parent Animal Sanctuary."

Paw Parent logo and photo of Isabell Csaki courtesy of Paw Parent.

Soap, Suds and Fun Day at Baldwin Park County Shelter

laurat — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 06:41:40 GMT

Best Friends LA Brigade is having another day of soap, suds and fun with the dogs at Baldwin Park County Shelter.

WHO:
Best Friends LA Volunteers who are comfortable working in a shelter environment and, either have experience with dog washing and brushing, or want to learn.

WHEN:
Sunday, August 24 from 9am to 4pm. Please note that we will have a shelter Orientation meeting at 9am and will be starting the grooming around 10am. Shifts are available.

WHERE:
Baldwin Park County Shelter, 4275 N. Elton, Baldwin Park, CA 91706. Exit 605 Freeway at Ramona Blvd going east. Travel several miles and follow Ramona as it curves to the left at the light right after the railroad tracks. Elton is the 3rd street on the left after the curve.

WHY:
The Brigade was developed in response to the ever-present need for help at LA City and County shelters and the many local rescues whose tireless work is never done. Every little bit we do makes a difference in the life of an animal waiting for a home in a shelter or rescue. Walking and playing with a dog expends pent-up energy and improves social interaction. Grooming not only makes animals more attractive to potential adopters but also provides individual attention for animals desperate for human touch. All of these efforts make animals more adoptable and shelters more inviting.

HOW:
At this time, we are not sure if we will have a professional groomer available to work with us for the day. However, there is a huge need for just basic clean-up of these dogs, consisting of washing and brushing. We will divide up the various duties as follows:

• Pre-Wash brushing and untangling
• Shampooing and rinsing
• Towel Drying
• Brushing
• Taking a dog to the exercise area for short playtime
• Operating washer and dryer for towels used
• Grooming room clean-up

(Opportunities are also available for cat caregiving and clean-up as well.)

Please email Robin Harmon at robinh@bestfriends.org if you can attend and answer the following questions:

What experience with dog grooming do you have?
Hours you want to volunteer?
Any preference for the above duties?

A confirmation will be sent to all who have responded with any further details and also with suggested clothing for the event.

Thanks in advance to all Brigadiers for your interest and participation in this event!

Photo courtesy of Jessica Cliver, Best Friends Staff

Sunday Sept. 7th Yardsale to Benefit Best Friends LA Programs

laurat — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 04:43:23 GMT

Best Friends LA Brigade has been asked to help make this event a smashing, moneymaking success!

The Yardsale will be held at the new office location:

Best Friends LA Programs
7680 Clybourn Ave.
Sun Valley, CA 91352
818-377-9711

More information will follow in the coming weeks, but in the meantime:

• Sale Items can be dropped off at the office on weekdays and on Saturdays August 16th and August 23rd from 10am to 2pm. Please call the office first to confirm Monday through Fridays.

• Several Drop-off Locations are needed. Please let us know if you can be a drop-off place and would be able to deliver the items to our office.

• Helping Hands are needed the week before the Yardsale to organize and put price tags on sale items, etc.

• Smiling Faces are needed to help work the day of the Yardsale on September 7th.

• An Online Flyer advertising the Yardsale will be sent out next week that you can forward to your friends and contacts.

Please contact Robin Harmon with any questions:
robinh@bestfriends.org

LA Animal Services Volunteer Orientation Training

laurat — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 08:43:38 GMT

Best Friends LA Brigade volunteers are encouraged to attend an LA Animal Services (LAAS) Orientation Training.

In order to volunteer with LAAS, interested Brigadiers must submit an application directly to LAAS and attend one of the orientation trainings held monthly at any one of six LA City animal care centers: East Valley, West Valley, North Central, South LA, West LA or Harbor.

The next orientation training will be Saturday, August 16, from 1:00 to 4:00pm, at the South LA Shelter, 3612 11th Avenue, LA, CA 90018.

Although this isn't required for volunteers at any of the LA County shelters, including Baldwin Park, it will be necessary in order to volunteer for the LA City animal care centers. It will also serve as the basis of instruction for LA Brigade volunteers at Baldwin Park and other LA County shelters.

WHAT:
LAAS Volunteer Orientation Training

WHEN:
Saturday, August 16, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm

WHERE:
South LA Shelter, 3612 11th Avenue, LA, CA 90018

(Other locations, dates and times TBA).

WHY:
"Attending an orientation is extremely important. It is the time to learn our policies, procedures and programs, learn about basic animal behavior, and gain a thorough understanding of the many ways you can truly make a difference – and ultimately help find homes for the animals in our Animal Care Centers. You may choose to work with any or all of our animal populations: dogs, cats, rabbits, exotics and/or livestock." - http://www.laanimalservices.com/volunteer.htm

HOW:
The LAAS Volunteer Application can be found through the LA Animal Services link above or here in the Brigade Community as a pdf attachment under the "Resources" tab or with this event announcement in the "Calendar" tab.

Please fill out, print, sign and fax back the LAAS Volunteer Application to the designated number on the form. You may also indicate at the top of the form which shelter or orientation training you prefer.

A volunteer liaison will call or email to schedule or confirm your request to attend a specific orientation.

July Brigade Bash at Baldwin Park County Shelter

laurat — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:54:44 GMT

For our first official Best Friends LA Brigade events, volunteers spent Sundays July 6th and 13th helping at Baldwin Park County Shelter.

By Laura Thompson, Best Friends LA Brigade

As everyone in animal rescue knows, July 4th is one of the worst days of the year for shelters with the influx of animals that results in overcrowding. Anticipating this, while also dealing with a shortage of staff, Baldwin Park shelter sent out an urgent plea to Best Friends for assistance in feeding animals, cleaning kennels, grooming dogs and providing care and comfort for cats over the holiday weekend.

Sunday, July 6th
Best Friends LA Brigade volunteers met at Baldwin Park and began by helping the two staff members on kennel duty in distributing food to some of the over-200 dogs. Due to a shortage of bowls, some would've had to wait to eat, but quick thinking on the part of volunteer Andrea Lewis led to a trip to the nearby 99-cent store for thirty extra plastic bowls. While these didn't last long in the kennels of some of the bigger, more boisterous dogs, they met their immediate needs for food and, emblazoned with the LA Lakers logo, brightened the kennels temporarily with purple and yellow pride.

Brigade volunteers, working in tandem, then coralled dogs indoors so that we could do the hard and dirty work of hosing and scrubbing down the outdoor kennels. Robin Skov and I took on a few rows and spent almost an entire four hours washing them. Karen Cruz and Robin Harmon did the rest and still somehow managed to have time for bathing and grooming dogs as well. How do they do it?

Meanwhile, Lucy Kadota tirelessly trimmed, using scissors, no less, the matted fur of a poodle mix until she could lift it off like a rug. The little dog sure didn't seem to mind all of this attentiveness as it was probably the most she'd had in long time, poor thing.

Gayle Alexander bathed dogs with Robin H. in the decent-sized tub of the small but well-apportioned grooming room that Baldwin Park has. Jessica Cliver and Andrea spent time in the back room with the cats, cleaning their crates and giving them some much needed affection.

At the end of the day, after some last minute visits to certain animals, we took a few of the dogs into the small, grassy meet-and-greet area, where we rested, and the dogs played. Those pictured here (Saber, in main photo above and, from left to right here, Babyface, Greatwhite and Wonder) were all adopted out or pulled by Coastal German Shepherd Rescue, thanks to Jessica's Myspace skills and clever networking.

Sunday, July 13th
It's hard to stay away from Baldwin Park for long, since as a County shelter, there's only a five-day hold on the animals. So back we were for another day of dog grooming and walking, kennel cleaning and cat care. Lore Herek came prepared to work in the cat area, feeding ferals and tending to the ISO. Robin H. fed dogs and hosed down the kennels in the back building with Faith Truax and Shawn Cunningham, then later Robin and Faith bathed and groom dogs together, while Shawn came up with the good idea to do some of the laundry. Thanks, Faith and Shawn for your flexibility and willingness to do just about anything! Lucy, once again, spent most of the time tending to another extremely patient matted poodle mix. We've got to get her some electric clippers next time.

Lisa and daughter, Lori, spray washed and disinfected a couple of kennel rows themselves, then took care of some of the puppies and smaller dogs in ISO. I joined Jameson Yu and Hiroko Baba for washing of other kennel rows, though we worked fast enough to have time left over for other activities, including dogwalking for me and playtime with puppies in the grassy area for Jameson and Hiroko.

Thanks again to Robin Skov, Karen Cruz, Lucy Kadota, Gayle Alexander, Lore Herek, Faith Truax, Shawn Cunningham, Lisa and Lori , Hiroko Baba, Jameson Yu, Jessica Cliver and, of course, Andrea Lewis and Robin Harmon for all of your efforts on one or both days.

We look forward to seeing everyone again at the next Brigade event.

Photos courtesy of Jessica Cliver, Best Friends Staff, and Jameson Yu, Best Friends Volunteer

LAAS volunteer_application.pdf

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:37:52 GMT

Welcome the Best Friends LA Brigade!

laurat — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:26:14 GMT

Hello Best Friends volunteers!

The Best Friends Los Angeles Brigade has been busy reorganizing our program and planning new efforts and events. Whether you are a longtime Brigade volunteer or new to Best Friends altogether, we hope that you will consider joining us.

The Brigade was developed in response to the ever-present need for help at Los Angeles city and county shelters and the many local rescues whose tireless work is never done. Committed to helping these groups build stronger relationships with each other and in their respective communities, the Brigade aims to motivate a network of people working toward this common goal. We hope to schedule one or two events per month – and more if the demand is there.

Brigade volunteers will lend a hand doing whatever is within our capabilities, including:

 Walking and grooming animals
 Cleaning kennels and washing blankets, towels, toys
 Painting and general repair of facilities
 Planting and yard work

Every little bit we do makes a difference in the life of an animal waiting for a home in a shelter or rescue. Walking and playing with a dog expends pent-up energy and improves social interaction. Petting and cuddling a cat eases stress and anxiety. Washing kennels and crates creates a more comfortable environment. Grooming not only makes animals more attractive to potential adopters but also provides individual attention for animals desperate for human touch. All of these efforts make animals more adoptable and shelters and rescues more inviting.

Brigade projects may involve a lot of physical labor and handling of animals in potentially difficult or emotional situations. For Brigade volunteers who would like to help in other ways, shelters and rescues may also need office organization and paperwork, networking of animals and photography, plus donations of supplies and materials.

We have tentatively planned an upcoming fundraising event to help kick off the Brigade and support Best Friends Los Angeles Programs. More information on this, as well as other events, will be available at the Brigade Community on the Best Friends Network http://network.bestfriends.org/bfbrigade_la/news/. We are also in the process of establishing a main Brigade email contact address, but in the meantime, please contact Robin Harmon, Volunteer Manager for Los Angeles Programs, at robinh@bestfriends.org, with any questions.

As Coordinators for the Brigade we, ourselves, are Best Friends volunteers and truly appreciate any and all contributions our fellow volunteers can make. Best Friends has become a leader in animal rescue and welfare, driven by the hard work of all its many volunteers. We have many great ideas and goals and hope to achieve more great successes but can only do so with help from volunteers like you.

We look forward to doing great work with all fellow animal-lovers to better the lives of our furry, four-legged friends. For your interest in the Brigade, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts – and all of the animals raise their paws to you!

Your Brigade Coordinators,

Andrea Lewis
Laura Thompson

Robin Harmon
Volunteer Manager LA Programs
Best Friends Animal Society
RobinH@bestfriends.org
http://network.bestfriends.org/laprograms/news/
http://network.bestfriends.org/losangeles/news/

Photo courtesy of Jessica Cliver, Best Friends Staff