Animal fighting rings are "relatively large and relatively undetected," said District Attorney Steve Cooley. "We need to have more sources of information willing to cooperate with law enforcement."
People can report cases of animal fighting or abuse by calling Los Angeles County's hotline at 2-1-1.
To show what can happen to dogs used in organized fights, authorities brought Red, a 5-year-old pit bull, to a Thursday morning news conference. Red was one of 11 dogs rescued from a fighting ring two months ago. She is underweight and bares scars from the fights, but officials said she has a sweet disposition.
Other dogs are abandoned or abused once they are done fighting, said Eric Sakach of the Humane Society.
"We've seen many cases where the dogs have flammable liquids splashed on them (and) set on fire. We've encountered dogs that have been thrown into cages and left to starve to death," Sakach said. "The mind of the person who is involved in this sort of activity is really reaching into some depths where people shouldn't go."
In addition to animal cruelty, animal fighting rings often involve drugs and violence, Cooley said.
"There are going to be people who bring weapons to these public settings because of the amount of money changing hands. The presence of drugs and, of course, the very nature of the kind of individuals who are going to attend these kinds of events -- these are not the most savory of our citizens."
They have been exposed to both indoor and outdoor living. From their behavior and for their safety, I think they’d prefer to be indoor cats keeping the company of people.
They have all been using litter pans and eating dry food as well as canned food. Because of the amount of litter and food we've been purchasing for the past three months, I would appreciate a small adoption fee of $10 (cash) to help us cover that cost.
They haven't had any vet visits yet. We are really hoping they will go to homes that can afford vet care, including spaying/neutering. We would love to do it ourselves, but we just can’t afford to spay/neuter three kittens (we have two much older indoor cats who are ill). If for any reason the kitten doesn't work out in your household, we would be happy to have him or her back instead of seeing any of them go to a shelter.
Please email me with any questions you have or if you'd like to arrange a visit. Because of our odd hours and the fact we’re trying to keep our cell phone minutes down, emailing is our preference, but we aren’t completely against talking to people on the phone (:
Lulu is very fun and loving. She is about 11 months /already spayed/ she is a very happy and sweet girl. She is great with other dogs and would be a very good family dog. She is well behaved and just wants to find a forever home.
Breed: Boston Terrier/American Pit bull Mix
Size: 50 pounds Med
Color: White with Black - Beautiful black patched over eyes
Sex: Female - already spayed and up to date on shots. (She can go home today).
House trained * good with kids * good with dogs * Don't know about cats *
You couldn't ask for a more special girl.
Look how amazing she is: Go meet Lulu today, she would love to meet you : )
Princess: 1/2 Beagle and Daschund? VERY cute. Great with kids, happy and bouncy. Loves to play catch and go for walks. Knows how to sit and come. Protective yet scardy cat! Always greets you at the front door! Female, Neutered, healthy, shots and chipped.
Both dogs are medium/average height.
***Also included: food and water bowls, food, treats, and food bin.
IT's a complete Doggie package. Give the kids what they have always wanted for free!
I have two young cats, or more specifically one kitten and her young mom who really need a home. Precious, named by my daughter is very sweet and loves affection. She is a young spayed black cat who was abandoned and starving , pregnant when I first found her. She had her litter in my backyard and sadly due to freezing temperatures and a malnourished mother only one survived. Molly,after the unsinkable Molly Brown. She is a 4 month short hair gray tabby who is spunky and very playful. Molly is much like a comical active toddler. Both are short haired , litter trained and have been indoors. They are inseparable and would be lost without one another. They still sleep wrapped around each other and are always at each others side.
The only reason that they need a home is because we are loosing our home due to the housing market and our family needs to move into a rental which will only allow so many pets. We have provided a temporary home to these two and I have even bottle fed Molly around the clock when she was younger, but now we are quite attached and so worried as our moving date is quickly approaching. I already have two other cats and two dogs, but that is all my new landlord will allow me to bring with me, and that was hard to find.It would bring such relief to find a home for these two sweet fur babies.
I live in Lancaster, but my husband works in Thousand Oaks and can meet you with the cats if you are interested in giving them a permanent loving home. I can answer any questions if you want by e-mail at gatogirl75@yahoo.com call me on my cell at 805 512 1525 or contact me at my home number at 661 949 6374. I have attached a picture, which was taken a while back.
At what age should rabbits be spayed or neutered?
Females can be spayed as soon as they sexually mature, usually around 4 months of age, but many veterinarians prefer to wait until they are 6 months old, as surgery is riskier on a younger rabbit. Aside from preventing unwanted litters of kits, spaying or neutering has health and behavior benefits. Neutering males eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and can reduce aggression and territory-marking behaviors. Female rabbits have extremely high rates of reproductive cancers as they get older, but spaying them can eliminate those potential problems.
Males can be neutered as soon as the testicles descend, usually around 3-1/2 months of age, but many veterinarians prefer to wait until they are 5 months old.
When is a rabbit too old to be spayed or neutered?
veterinarians will have their own opinions on this, but in general, after a rabbit is 6 years old, anesthetics and surgery become more risky.
It is always a good idea, in a rabbit over 2 years of age, to have a very thorough health check done, including full blood work. This may be more expensive than the surgery, but it will help detect any condition that could make the surgery more risky. This is especially important if anesthetics other than isofluorene are used.
What are the basics of a good house rabbit diet?
A rabbit's diet should be made up of good quality pellets, fresh hay (alfalfa, timothy or oat), water and fresh vegetables. Anything beyond that is a "treat" and should be given in limited quantities.
What quantities of food should I feed babies and "teenagers"?
Birth to 3 weeks--mother's milk
3 to 4 weeks--mother's milk, nibbles of alfalfa and pellets
4 to 6 weeks--mother's milk, access to alfalfa and pellets
6 weeks to 7 months--unlimited pellets, unlimited hay, introduce vegetables and fruits
Add one vegetable to the diet at a time. Eliminate if it causes soft stools or diarrhea.
Alfalfa, radish & clover sprouts
Basil
Beet greens (tops)*
Bok choy
Broccoli (mostly leaves/stems)*
Brussels sprouts
Carrot & carrot tops*
Celery
Cilantro
Clover
Collard greens*
Dandelion greens and flowers (no pesticides)*
Endive*
Escarole
Green peppers
Kale (!)*
Mint
Mustard greens*
Parsley*
Pea pods (the flat edible kind)*
Peppermint leaves
Raddichio
Radish tops
Raspberry leaves
Romaine lettuce (no iceberg or light colored leaf)*
Spinach (!)*
Watercress*
Wheat grass
Apple (remove stem and seeds)
Blueberries
Melon
Orange (including peel)
Papaya
Peach
Pear
Pineapple
Plums
Raspberries
Strawberries
Sugary fruits such as bananas and grapes should be used only sparingly, as occasional treats. Bunnies have a sweet tooth and if left to their own devices will devour sugary foods to the exclusion of healthful ones.
Please do not feed anything else to rabbits!
Is it OK to keep my rabbit in a cage with a wire floor?
Rabbits were not designed to live on wire floors--they're hard on their feet (which have no pads on the, like cats or dogs). If you must use a cage with a wire floor, you need to provide your rabbit with a resting board or rug for her to sit on, otherwise she will spend all of her time in her litterbox.
You can find cages with slatted plastic floors, which are more comfortable, or you can use a solid floor. As long as your rabbit has a litterbox in the corner that he chooses as his bathroom, there shouldn't be much of a mess to clean up.
What size cage is best?
Bigger is better! A cage should be at least 4 times the size of your bunny--more if he is confined for a large amount of the day. You can build or buy your rabbit a two-storey "condo" with the floors connected by a ramp--they love this!
Can my new bunny run loose 24 hours a day?
An untrained rabbit probably should be kept in a cage while you're not home to supervise and at night when you sleep. Rabbits are crepuscular, which means that generally they sleep during the day and during the night but are ready to play at dawn and at twilight. Be sure to let them out during the evening when you are home, and if possible, in the morning while you get ready for work.
What can I do to make the rabbit's cage time more enjoyable?
A cage should be seen as the rabbit's "nest." A special place where he can feel safe and secure. Make the nest enjoyable and she will enjoy being there, even when the cage door is open! Keep it stocked with baby toys, a synthetic sheepskin rug, a piece of wood attached to the inside (like a baseboard), and when you put him to bed at night, a nice veggie or fruit snack.
When is it OK to let a rabbit run loose in the house?
When your rabbit is better trained, and when your house (or the part that your rabbit will have access to) has been sufficiently bunny-proofed, your rabbit can be allowed free run of the home (or part of it) even when you are not home. The more room your rabbit has to run around in, the more delightful you will find her as a companion.
Even when a rabbit has a lot of room to run around, he may still get bored. A bored rabbit is often a naughty rabbit. If you don't make every attempt to provide your rabbit with lots of entertainment, in the form of boxes, baskets, brooms, sticks, magazines, phone books, grass mats, etc., then he will make his own entertainment in your carpet, behind your couch or under your recliner.
Can I let my rabbit run loose outside?
Always supervise your rabbit when she's outside. It takes just a few seconds for the neighbor's dog to jump the fence and attack or frighten your rabbit to death.
Make sure that the grass has not been sprayed with pesticides or fertilizers. Check the yard for holes in the fence and poisonous plants.
Under no circumstances should rabbits be left outside after dark. Predators are possums, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, dogs and occasionally cats. If you have an outside enclosure that you feel is very secure, a rabbit can still die of fright while a predator taunts the rabbit from outside.
Bunny Bathrooms
Just like cats, rabbits can easily learn to use a litter box. Place a litter box in the cage to encourage this behavior. If your rabbit roams freely through multiple rooms of your home, it's a good idea to have litter boxes in several places. Many rabbits enjoy spending time relaxing in their litter box, so make sure that it is of ample size. For bedding (litter), stay away from clumping or dusty kitty litters, which can cause serious health problems if eaten. Instead, stick with organic litters made of paper, wood pulp, or citrus. Newspaper can work too, but may not be as absorbent. Be sure to put fresh hay in the litter box daily, as many rabbits like to have a snack while sitting in their litter box.