Maxwell is a male Corgi mix Male about seven-months old. He's a handsome brown-brindle and available at Redlands Animal Control, 504 N. Kansas Street, Redlands. Information: 909-798-7644.

Jessica is a short hair female black cat about two-years old. She's a real sweetheart and available from Redlands Animal Control
, 504 N. Kansas Street, Redlands. Information:
909-798-7644

Bushy is a tiny male tan Chihuahua who is 8 years-old. He's looking for a forever home. He's available at Redlands Animal Control
, 504 N. Kansas Street, Redlands. Information:
909-798-7644.

Due to increased sightings of coyotes in Southwest Riverside County, Animal Friends of the Valleys has prepared this informational guide:

Coyotes are curious but timid animals and will generally run away if challenged. However, remember that any wild animal will protect itself or its young. Never instigate a close encounter.

If a coyote ever approaches too closely, pick up small children immediately and act aggressively toward the animal. Wave your arms, throw stones, and shout at the coyote. If necessary, make yourself appear larger by standing up (if sitting) or stepping up onto a rock, stump, or stair. The idea is to convince the coyote that you are not prey, but a potential danger.

Where coyote encounters occur regularly, keep noisemaking and other scare devices nearby. A starter pistol can be effective; so can vinegar-filled water guns or a powerful spray of water from a hose.

Solutions to Problems
Humans increase the likelihood of conflicts with coyotes by deliberately or inadvertently feeding the animals, whether by handouts or by providing access to food sources such as garbage, pet food, etc. When people provide food, coyotes quickly lose their natural fear of humans and become increasingly aggressive. They also become dependent on the easy food source people provide. Once a coyote stops hunting on its own and loses its fear of people, it becomes dangerous and may attack without warning. Prevention is the best tool for minimizing conflicts with coyotes and other wildlife.

Don't leave small children unattended where coyotes are frequently seen or heard. If there are coyote sightings in your area, prepare your children for a possible encounter. Explain the reasons why coyotes live there (habitat/food source/species adaptability) and what they should do if one approaches them (don't run, be as big, mean, and loud as
possible). By shouting a set phrase such as "go away coyote" when they encounter one, children will inform nearby adults of the coyote's presence as opposed to a general scream. Demonstrate and rehearse encounter behavior with the children.

Never feed coyotes. Coyotes that are fed by people often lose their fear of humans and develop a territorial attitude that may lead to aggressive behavior.

Don't give coyotes access to garbage. Keep garbage can lids on tight by securing them with rope, chain, bungee cords, or weights. Better yet, buy quality garbage cans with clamps or other mechanisms that hold lids on.

Feed dogs and cats indoors. If you must feed your pets outside, do so in the morning or at midday, and pick up food, water bowls, leftovers, and spilled food well before dark every day.

Don't feed feral cats (domestic cats gone wild). Coyotes prey on these cats as well as any feed you leave out for the feral cats.

Prevent the buildup of feeder foods under bird feeders. Coyotes will eat bird food and are attracted to the many birds and rodents that come to feeders.

Keep dogs and cats indoors, especially from dusk to dawn. If left outside at night in an unprotected area, cats and small to mid-size dogs may be killed by coyotes. Pets can be easy prey for coyotes. Being raised by humans leaves them unsuspecting once they leave the safety of your home. If you suspect losing a dog or cat to a coyote, notify your
neighbors. Once a coyote finds easy prey it will continually hunt in the area.

Bella is a female short-hair black tabby with white. She's a year old and is available from the Redlands Animal Control, 504 N. Kansas Street, Redlands. Information: 909-798-7644.

Want to participate in a fun, family-friendly event and help homeless pets at the same time? Then register to participate in Putt 4 Paws. On August 21st from 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. the Rancho Cucamonga Animal Care & Adoption Center will host a miniature golf tournament at Boomer's and the Be Bop Cafe in Upland. Golfers can choose from two courses, Storyland, decorated with colorful characters beloved by children of all ages and Cosmic golf, a unique visual environment complete with black lights and neon colors. In addition, there will be an all you can eat buffet, free goodie bags, great raffle prizes, and lots of contests and games.

Behind all the fun is the chance to benefit the over 5,000 homeless pets which depend on the Rancho Cucamonga Animal Care & Adoption Center for the life changing services and compassionate care, medical treatment, and behavioral rehabilitation that they so desperately need.

In addition to registering to play, there are a range of sponsorship opportunities to publicize your business, association, or a special person or pet. To pre-register or sign up as a sponsor, call Suzanne at (909) 481-1822 or e-mail Linda at pmblsb@earthlink.net. Every foursome that registers before August 13th will get one free Pet Flashie which will further assist in protecting your family pet during evening excursions.
For More Information - For additional information, please visit our website www.rcpets.info or call the Rancho Cucamonga Animal Care and Adoption Center at (909) 466-7387.

We are happy to announce the selection of our Grand Marshall for our event Corona Bark For Life August 28, 2010 at Lee V. Pollard High School. Our Grand Marshall is Doc-Barker, the National Canine Ambassador for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We will have pre-event Celebrity Pet Appearances at Corona Regional Hospital and Corona City Hall August 23, 2010. The proceeds of the event on August 28th will go to the American Cancer Society. The event is a side event for the Corona Relay for Life which was held in June of this year. Papa's Pit Crew, or for the Bark for Life, Papa's Bark Crew is hosting the event.

An ordinance that would make spaying and neutering pit bulls mandatory in Yucaipa is scheduled to go before the Yucaipa City Council tonight.

Mayor Pro Tem Allan Drusys proposed the local ordinance.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted the same measure on July 13. That ordinance applies to unincorporated areas in the county and goes into effect 30 days after it was adopted.

Tonight's meeting is 6 p.m. at Yucaipa City Hall, 34272 Yucaipa Blvd.

-- ERIN WALDNER
ewaldner@pe.com

Spike, a 7 year old neutered male Chihuahua and his companion, Lucky, a 2 year old neutered male Maltese/Chihuahua Mix, find themselves homeless through no fault of their own. They are looking for a new home together. These great, sweet, cute doggies are housebroken, current on vaccinations, and they get along with children, cats, and other dogs. $150 adoption fee for both; cash only. Location: Quail Valley, Southwest Riverside County. Local adoptions only; within 25-30 mile radius because we deliver animal to its new home. If interested, please email us at rescueandrehome@aol.com with a little info about yourself, where you live, your family, and your other pets, etc.

Procter & Gamble (P&G), makers of Iams, has announced a voluntary recall of two specific lots of their prescription dry renal cat food due to possible Salmonella contamination. According to the Procter & Gamble News Release, the following products have been recalled:

Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal, 5.5 lbs
Lot Code: 01384174B4
UPC Code: 0 19014 21405 1

Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal, 5.5 lbs
Lot Code: 01384174B2
UPC Code: 0 19014 21405 1

This product is often recommended for cats with kidney failure or kidney insufficiency. It is available by prescription at veterinary clinics throughout the U.S.

No illnesses have been reported. A FDA analysis identified a positive result on the lot codes listed above. Lot codes can be found in the lower right corner on the back of the bag.

Consumers who have purchased this food should discontinue feeding it to their cats and discard it. People handling dry pet food may become infected with Salmonella so it's important to thoroughly wash your hands and all surfaces that have come into contact with this product.

The symptoms of Salmonella in humans include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever, and headache. People who are experiencing the symptoms of Salmonella infection after having handled the pet food product should seek medical attention and report their use of the product and illness to the nearest FDA office.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

For further information or a product refund call P&G toll-free at 877-894-4458 Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST.

Leopard Geckos make great pets. They have tons of personality all packed into a small package. They come from desert regions of Southeast Asia including Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Iran. They are nocturnal insectivores that spend most of their days in underground burrows.

In the wild Leopard Geckos come in a few standard color patterns but in captivity the color patterns are endless do to selective breeding, which has created some really great color combinations. Do to their small size and mild temperament, as well as ease of care, Leopard Geckos are one of the best first time pet reptiles. They have amazing temperaments and are exceptionally playful little animals. Also because of their small size they can spend their entire life in a ten-gallon tank, making housing one of these little guys very affordable without taking up a bunch of space.

With proper care a Leopard Gecko can live upwards of thirty years. You just need to follow a few simple rules and avoid a few common mistakes most first time Leopard Gecko owners make (me included).

One of the first and most severe mistakes new owners make with these guys is lighting, Leopard Gecko's are nocturnal and spend most of the day in underground burrows waiting till night to emerge and start hunting. This being said putting your little Gecko in a tank with a bright basking bulb or even a UVB bulb (there is a debate on whether they need a UVB light source or not, but from my experience they do not.) can be extremely stressful for them.

By Jill Coleman
MSRPAC Pet Adoption Counselor

With all the lives saved and adoptions realized each month at the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center (MSRPAC), it's not hard to have good stories to tell. Yet, in June there were two extra-special stories of love lost and then found again.

Sweet kitty Faith, who last year was found in a church parking lot by a Good Samaritan and brought to MSRPAC, was reunited with her original owner, Marie Roth of Riverside. Faith was spotted on the center's web site by a friend of Marie's who recognized her due to her missing tail and special-needs story.

Marie had found Faith three years ago in a parking when she was just a few weeks old. She was bloodied and injured from getting caught in a car engine. After life-saving surgery, Marie took her in to become part of her family. Then, a year ago, when Marie was moving, Faith somehow went missing in all the confusion. That was the last time she saw Faith until their wonderful reunion at the Pet Adoption Center.

The odds of Marie finding Faith, who had no microchip, are unusual enough, but there's more. When Marie took in this kitten and nursed her back to health, she had named her Faith! Subsequently, she became known as Harley because she purred all the time. But later on, because she was the smallest of Marie's cats, she started calling her Baby Kitty, which is the name she has once again.

Marie reports that Baby Kitty is doing well and acts like she had never been gone. And, even though she received a microchip at the Adoption Cener, Baby Kitty will NOT be going outside anymore.

Then there's the story of big boy Ty, who never completely adjusted to shelter life. He, too, was reunited in June with his original owner, Candy Blokland of Riverside.

She had found Ty at her doorstep, with some nasty injuries. She took him in, healed him, and decided to keep him. But her other three cats had different ideas. They didn't accept Ty, so Candy thought it would be best to find him another home. That's when she brought him to MSRPAC.

Over the last several months, two of Candy's older cats passed away (as it happens, the ones who did not like Ty). Candy had never been able to forget Ty and had been watching him on the Pet Adoption Center's web site. When she saw that he was still available for adoption, she went to see if she could adopt him. (Of course she could. MSRPAC loves happy endings!)

The staff had never seen him respond to anyone the way he did to Candy when she went into his condo to pet him. He was a very happy boy. And the staff is very happy for him!

Turning around aggression is not the hard part. It's identifying aggression and admitting there is a problem.

In many cases, people might have their dog at the park - a child comes running by, and the dog begins barking and doing a bunny hop. The child is startled and the owner will quickly say, "Oh he's not showing aggression, he's only trying to play." This behavior continues for weeks, months, or maybe even years - and because it has been going on for so long - and the dog has never really bitten anyone, or caused injury so the owner continues to justify its actions.

Another common chain of events that produces chaos is interaction of dog on dog, or other animals. Your dog spots something in the distance - maybe a flash of movement and it's gone or it could be another dog approaching. Instantly your dog starts barking and has a strong desire to chase or take control. Your dog might run up to the other dog, stand over it, holds it down or cut off it's opportunity to escape.

Another example could be a dog can be playing with its owner or romping with another dog, and once again your dog jumps into action. Again it's common for the owner to create excuses of why their dog should be allowed to display this behavior.

Obviously, our affection for our dogs, mixed with the pleasant interactions with the other members in your family, and the need to bark at anything that goes by is what has clouded an owner's ability to recognize proper and improper social behaviors.

Bugsy is a beautiful, 4 year old, faded Tortoiseshell/Persian cat! She passed me this note she wrote about herself, if anyone is interested: "Sitting on the corner of this big, greenish cage I can see the lobby, then the door, after that...there, I see the sun! A whole world waiting for me, I hope. With your help, I can experience life & love. Months have passed and I am still here hoping & wishing someone will come and share their time, love and dreams with me. I am one of the many cats & kittens that have been brought here. Many have come and gone, but I am still here...wishing for love. I am part Persian Tortoiseshell - I look grayish/orange, my picture shows you how beautiful I am. I have a puffy face & I purr alot. Just give me a chance - look at my big, Persian eyes. If you are looking for love, I have so much to give, PLEASE, let me show you! I was raised in a one cat household, I vaguely remember now, it's been so long. No one has given me a fair chance at all to show how wonderful I can be. I am Bugsy, please give me a chance. Save me from the uncertainty of a shelter life."

Bugsy's owner had to give her up because they had to move. They did say she is totally litter-box trained & doesn't make mistakes. You can find Bugsy in the Kitty Korral!
She is 4 years old, up to date on shots, spayed and is all ready to do to her forever home!

R138264

Ramona Humane Society
690 Humane Way
San Jacinto, Ca 92582
(951) 654-8002 - Press 0 for the operator
ramonahumanesociety@yahoo.com

North America's largest non-profit pet-adoption web service, Adopt-a-Pet.com, expressed hope today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would include qualified shelter dogs in its plan to add 3,000 new sniffer canines to its ranks, and offered to head up a nationwide search on behalf of the Department.

Commenting on the Los Angeles Times story, which outlines the Department's plans to purchase 3,000 additional sniffer dogs at an average cost of $4,535 each, Adopt-a-Pet.com executive director Abbie Moore said, "There are thousands of wonderful, energetic, and highly-trainable dogs in U.S. animal shelters who would be perfect for the Department of Homeland Security's current needs. In addition to saving 3,000 worthy lives, recruiting shelter dogs makes fiscal sense and stands to save taxpayers well over $1 million. I can't think of a downside to adopting versus buying these dogs. It's the humane and prudent thing to do."

The Department of Homeland security has expressed a preference for Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, German shepherd dogs, and Dutch shepherds. A search of the Adopt-a-Pet.com site alone reveals over 4,000 purebred adoptable dogs matching that criteria, and another 12,000 qualified mixed-breed shepherds and retrievers. Says Moore, "We at Adopt-a-Pet.com would be honored to assist the Department of Homeland Security in locating and screening potential canine candidates in animal shelters nationwide."

About Adopt-a-Pet.com:
Adopt-a-Pet.com (formerly 1-800-Save-A-Pet.com) is North America's largest non-profit pet adoption website, helping over 7,000 animal shelters, humane societies, SPCAs, pet rescue groups, and pet adoption agencies advertise their homeless pets to adopters for free. Adopt-a-Pet.com displays photos and descriptions of adoptable pets, to over 1.5 million people seeking to adopt a pet each month, and is funded by the passionate pet lovers at Purina and North Shore Animal League America. Aside from being able to find dogs for adoption and cats for adoption, Adopt-a-Pet.com visitors may now also adopt a rabbit, horse, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, farm-type animals and other small pets.

A good example of why you shouldn't let your dog roam was provided today by the Riverside County Dept. of Animal Services.

During the late afternoon Wednesday, July 21, a one-year-old pit bull was hit by a car near the intersection of Jacaranda and Evan St. in the Casa Blanca area of Riverside. The poor dog was dragged about 20 yards and somehow one of it's legs got wrapped underneath the front of the car.

Control officers assisted the Riverside Fire Dept. by tranquilizing the dog and Animal Control Officer Jenifer Kidd brought the dog into the Riverside shelter.

Amazingly the dog suffered only scraps, cuts and abrasions but RCDAS has advised the owner to take the pet to their own veterinarian. Bruno is one very lucky dog.

Courtesy nydailynews.com:

Stem cell transplants, state-of-the-art image-guided radiation, sophisticated diagnostic procedures to pinpoint everything from cancer to lung disease. New and improved health care for the uninsured or underinsured? Nope. Medical treatment for the nation's pets, some of whom have a better shot at being healed than people living in the same state.

Last year, Americans spent $12 billion to pay their vet bills, according to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. That's twice what pet owners spent just 10 years ago.

For many people, investing in an ailing pet's life "improves the quality of a human life immeasurably more than, say, buying a luxury car," Dr. Patty Khuly, a vet at Miami's Sunset Animal Clinic, told the AP.

The Upland Animal Shelter will hold a Pet Adoption Extravaganza from July 30 through August 1. During this time adoption fees for both cats and dogs are reduced. The cost of dogs will be $35 and cats will be $25. The adoption fees include spay/neuter, microchip, first vaccines and a free vet check.

On Saturday Alley Cat Allies, a group dedicated to feral cats, will be on hand with information on "Living with Feral Cats."

The shelter is located at 1275 San Bernarndino Road, Upland. Information: 909-931-4185

It was a long awaited day for the JPA and Animal Friends of the Valleys when both entities voted to accept the operations agreement for the new Southwest Communities Animal Center.

"We are very excited about this partnership. It is truly a day of celebration. The animals, our employees, volunteers and the communities are going to benefit from this beautiful shelter. We are honored and proud to be the operators of a shelter we have been so involved in for over 14 years. We have worked with the JPA to make this dream a reality," said Willa Bagwell, executive director for Animal Friends of the Valleys.

The construction of the building is anticipated to be finished by the end of August, but won't be open to the public until September/October. Animal Friends of the Valleys is required to purchase all the equipment, cages, furnishings, and computers for the 32,000 square foot facility. Time will be needed to set up kennels, adoption rooms and administrative office plus train employees. "Animal Friends will be very busy raising funds and purchasing the needed equipment & supplies for the shelter. We are hoping that now, more than ever, the public supports AFV and helps raise the funds to purchase the needed equipment," said Kristine Anderson, AFV's board president.

Animal Friends of the Valleys is grateful to the cities of Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore, Murrieta, Temecula and Riverside County for providing the funding to build the much needed shelter. The shelter will allow the animals to be housed indoors where the temperature can be controlled, where disease will not be spread and where the animals will be safe.

A dream has finally come true!

According to Willa Bagwell, Executive Director of Animal Friends of the Valley, Animal Control officers were retrieving 20 more bags of animal parts in Wildomar. The exact location was not available.

Animal parts in bags were also left in Anza area and on Highway 79 south in Temecula.

Courtesy ABCnews.com:

When Kendra and Travis Parks moved last month from Hawaii to Seattle, they sent their 6-year-old Great Dane Tucker in a custom-made kennel in the cargo hold of a Continental Airlines plane. Unfortunately for Tucker, it wasn't a smooth trip.

When he arrived in Seattle -- after a layover at Continental's Houston hub -- Tucker was covered in vomit, feces, saliva and blood, according to the Parks. He could barely lift his head and didn't respond to any stimuli, the couple said. He was "in such grave condition" that he had to be euthanized a few hours after arriving.

"Our dog was in perfect heath before we left," Kendra Parks told ABC News, adding that their veterinarian checked him out and signed off on the travel a few days before the trip.

When she picked up Tucker in Seattle, "He looked like they dragged him behind the plane," Parks said.

Continental offered to refund the $900 the couple paid to fly Tucker and the cost of euthanizing and cremating the Great Dane. Continental also offered to fly the couple a new puppy from anywhere in the country.

Parks said she just wants the airline to take responsibility, change its policies and stop treating animals "like luggage."

"This dog saw me through everything," she said. "Every day I cry. It breaks my heart every day not to have my dog with me. I wish we had never flown back. I wish we had never left Honolulu. They will never know what they took from me."

Though rare, hundreds of air travelers have experienced the trauma of losing a dog during a flight.

During a four-plus year span from 2005 to 2009, U.S. airlines killed, injured or lost 224 dogs, according to the Department of Transportation.

And just like with arrival times, baggage handling and customer service, some airlines were much better than others at ensuring your pets arrive alive.

Read more

In the past several days, Riverside County sheriff's deputies and Animal Services officers have found animal carcasses and parts wrapped in plastic bags and dumped along Highway 79 as well as Anza Road east of Temecula and Murrieta.

The 29 finds have been identified as turkeys, emus, goats and parts of other unidentified animals, the Sheriff's Department said in a news release. A dead pig was found butchered, wrapped in plastic and dumped in a large trash bin in the Murrieta Hot Springs area of the city of Murrieta.

The Sheriff's Department said it has received numerous calls of possible dead bodies based on odors detected throughout the area, but investigations have found only dead animals.

Authorities ask that anyone who may have witnessed the dumping of any of the animals or has any other information on the case call the Sheriff's Department at 951-696-3000 or county Animal Services at 951-358-7387.

--Steven Barrie

sbarrie@PE.com

An attempted dognapping led to two stabbings and the arrest of a 58-year-old Cathedral City man last weekend in that desert city, police say.

The violence erupted at 2:12 p.m. Sunday along the 67600 block of East Palm Canyon Drive. Officers set up a perimeter and began searching area businesses.

As officers approached one of the businesses, a man fled out a back door and was apprehended. The victims told police that their assailant tried to steal their dog at knifepoint.

"One of the victims fled with the dog as the suspect chased and stabbed him in the back," investigators said in a written statement. "The second victim tried to intervene and was stabbed in the arm."

Jeffrey Emerson Gray was arrested at 2:42 p.m. for investigation of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, jail records show. His bail is $25,000.

-- RICHARD BROOKS
rbrooks@PE.com

Tina is a seven-year-old female chihuahua/ Miniature Pincher mix. She loves being around everybody and gets along with other dogs too!

She's available from Redlands Animal Control, 504 N. Kansas Street, Redlands. Information: 909-798-7644