Putting Their Best Paw Forward

Local Organizations Paws-itively Impact Pacific Palisades With Animal Services

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

From grooming services to spearheading a no-kill movement across Los Angeles’ animal shelters, local organizations are hard at work, ensuring the well-being of Angelenos’ furry friends.  Here is a round-up of paw-ssionate organizations to look out for.

Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Animal Society is described as a leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters by 2025.

“Founded in 1984, Best Friends is a pioneer in the no-kill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from an estimated 17 million per year to around 355,000,” the organization said to the Palisadian-Post. “Best Friends runs lifesaving programs all across the country, as well as the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary.”

Best Friends launched the No-Kill Los Angeles initiative in 2012, an initiative to serve as a model for shelters to become no kill.

NKLA also has a Pet Adoption Center located at 1845 Pontius Avenue—in the heart of West LA—and takes in pets from coalition partners.

Best Friends recently partnered with shelters and rescue organizations for an Adoption Weekend, where adoption fees were waived at both Best Friends’ locations—LA and Mission Hills—and LA Animal Services, LA County Department of Animal Care and Control and more, from July 22 through July 24.

“Recent data released by Best Friends showed in 2021 U.S. shelters saw an 8.1% increase in animal intakes that pet adoptions couldn’t keep pace with,” according to Best Friends. “As shelters continue to fill up with adoptable pets this summer, often exceeding their capacities, Best Friends and its participating partners have put together the adoption promotion to address the urgency.”

The organization had its first Adoption Weekend in May, which resulted in 4,529 pets finding their fur-ever home.

“The summer months, and July in particular, is one of the highest intake months for animal shelters in America, so we really encourage anyone who’s looking for a pet to adopt now,” CEO of Best Friends Animal Society Julie Castle said in a statement.

bestfriends.org

Wags & Walks

Wags & Walks is a Los Angeles- and Nashville-based dog rescue that has secured homes for over 9,000 dogs since 2011. Founded by Lesley Brog, Wags & Walks is a nonprofit organization, featuring a community of dog lovers dedicated to “working to reduce euthanasia in local shelters and increase awareness of rescue dogs being wonderful pets,” according to its website.

The organization’s main goal is to break the stigma around rescue dogs and decrease the number of dogs euthanized in local shelters.

Wags & Walks’ adoption process allows pet lovers to browse adoptable dogs, submit an application and after an application review, meet with the dog in hopes of a match.

Dogs are homed on-site at its Adoption Center, located at 2236 Federal Avenue, or at foster homes.

“We know that, like amazing dogs, loving families come in all shapes and sizes,” according to Wags & Walks. “Our goal is to find every pup an adopter whose home, family and lifestyle are a perfect fit for a lifetime of love and happiness.”

Available dogs can be found on the website, along with some about them: their background, breed, age, vaccination history and more.

Amalfi Estates recently collaborated with Wags & Walks to welcome paw-ty animals to Palisades Recreation Center to support the rescue.

The goal of the Park Paw-ty in May was to bring the community together, highlight the work Wags & Walks is doing, and promote Amalfi and Wags & Walks’ presence in the Palisades.

Wags & Walks is one of Amalfi’s six charity partners, and founder of Amalfi Estates Anthony Marguleas said the team started its partnership with the organization about a year and a half ago.

wagsandwalks.org

Voice For The Animals

Santa Monica-based Voice For The Animals Foundation is an animal protection organization, “devoted to creating respect and empathy for animals through education, rescue, legislation and advocacy,” according to the website.

Voice For The Animals Foundation was founded in 1999 by Melya Kaplan who wanted to empower individuals to help more animals.

“I’ve always loved animals, and I realized there were many other people who did too,” Kaplan said. “But I also realized the problem was huge, multi-leveled and very … overwhelming. I decided I really need to create different kinds of approaches that were innovative and effective.”

The nonprofit assists with the reporting and prosecuting of abused and neglected animals, has an adoption program, maintains sterilized feral colonies across Los Angeles, and more.

Voice For The Animals Foundation was a recipient of a grant from the Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club this year that fell into the Community & Charitable Groups category.

Voice For The Animals plans to use the grant to help rescue and rehome elderly ailing cats and dogs.

vftafoundation.org

Paws N’ Claws Grooming Salon

A fixture in the community, family-owned Paws N’ Claws has been serving Westside residents and beyond for over 20 years.

The business was purchased from a previous owner, and has been operating under Palisadian Leslie Buck and her family since 1999.

“We take pride in being a small business and knowing our clients personally,” according to the website. “As residents of Pacific Palisades, the Buck family [takes] pleasure in being a part of the community and treating everyone that comes through the door like family.”

Groomers are trained to keep up with current styles and trends, “leaving your pet’s coat at its very best.” The salon offers a variety of cuts, styles and trims, shampoos and non-toxic dyes, and tools, toys and treats.

Paws N’ Claws is also recognized in the community for sponsoring the Patriotic Pups that strut in the annual Fourth of July Parade in the Palisades—a tradition that has been upheld since 2001.

pawsnclaws-pacificpalisades.com

Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control

The County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control operates seven animal care centers, from Agoura Hills, Baldwin Park and Downey to Lancaster, Palmdale and beyond.

DACC manages its animal population closely to avoid overcrowding and operates under the guidelines of Socially Conscious Animal Sheltering, “a compassionate, transparent and thoughtful model for how animal shelters can best support vulnerable animals in their care and in their communities,” according to a press release.

DACC was recognized by Best Friends Animal Society in June, ranking 10th out of 100 shelters nationally for its effort to save the lives of animals.

DACC welcomes visitors to its care centers, and private adoption appointments are currently available for personalized adoption services.

lacountyanimals.org