Our wiggly lovable Larry has a new foster home. A volunteer with Stella’s Hope who is a lover of his breed fell in love with him at an adoption event. He is doing well there and has a lap to lay his head in after long walks on the beach. Thank you to his new foster mom Karen, Stella’s Hope,and our client Mrs. Combes who connected us with the rescue group on Larry’s behalf. Larry is luck to have so many angels.

Original post: Larry has been through so much but he has remained a sweet loveable dog through it all. Somehow he got from Louisiana to a shelter in New Mexico after the hurricanes. He was diagnosed with heartworm (which about 80% of the Katrina survivors had) and along with 22 other survivors was at risk of being put to sleep.

After being contacted by a network of animal lovers working to save these dogs, we volunteered to take Larry and two other dogs. We committed to getting them healthy and finding them good homes. Larry’s heartworm treatment was successful and he was given a clean bill of health. Later that same year a wonderful family with small children adopted Larry and we have had the chance to see him flourishing with them as they are our clients.

Sadly, the family is splitting up and with very heavy hearts they need to find him a new home. They wanted to keep him but the sad misconceptions about this breed are preventing them from finding a place to live. The family would be happy to speak with anyone interested in adopting him.

He is a 60-pound neutered male Pit/Lab mix who is estimated to be about 5 years old. He is a very smiley, sweet, wiggly dog and everyone who has met him loves him. Our hospital staff who handled Larry while he was with us, even during his medication for heartworm, said that he is the poster child for all things good about Pit Bulls. Still, he needs owners who understand the energy these dogs can have and how to channel it. He was judged to be a case-to-case dog in terms of getting along with other dogs but he loves every human he meets. He has not been socialized to cats.

Please consider making this special dog a part of your family. To set up a visit with Larry, call 949-472-3555 or send us an e-mail.

LAGUNA BEACH ANIMAL SERVICES reported recently that a cat killed a bat that tested positive for rabies.

• The cat was not up-to-date on rabies vaccination.
• No current rabies certificate could be furnished.
• As a result, the cat must undergo a six month rabies quarantine, per state law. Had the rabies vaccine been current, only a one month quarantine would be required.

And the owner is going through post rabies exposure treatment.

Please take the time to appropriately counsel your clients on the risks of rabies in this area, the risks and benefits of rabies vaccination, and to submit rabies certificates to your appropriate animal control office.

• Rabies is local and active!
• Rabies does exist in So Cal.!!
• Rabies vaccinations are safe and effective!!!
• Failing to vaccinate for Rabies has its own set of unintended consequences.

For further information about Rabies prevention and requirements contact your local veterinarian or animal control.

In Los Angeles, visit the public health website at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/vet/index.htm

A map for 2011 rabies cases is posted at: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/vet/rabiesmap2011.htm