Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
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"The Jolly Routine" is a term coined by the renowned canine behaviorist William Campbell. It means a pet parent "acts" relaxed and happy, even in moments they may feel otherwise, as a way of convincing their dog that no threat is present. My dog Fred had developed some reactivity issues toward other dogs (as they move toward him, in tight, indoor spaces). When Fred was first released from his duties as a service dog (for a child with autism), we had several incidents during which another dog...
As a dog trainer, I find my job is both freshly challenging with each new case, and simultaneously, somewhat predictable. While each individual dog and dog guardian are unique and different, similar issues tend to arise in households across the board, such as, "Our dog goes crazy whenever anyone comes to the door, and won't stop barking and jumping!" I believe what causes this kind of issue – and the remedy for fixing it – are two sides of the same coin: Individuals' behavior is, in part, the...
When someone mentions therapy dogs, naturally called to mind are scenarios in which dogs bring comfort to people in need of a little extra. While this aspect of therapy dogs’ job description is accurate, the story doesn’t end there. In this two-way street of giving and receiving love, the dogs are just as fulfilled by the community service they provide as are the people they serve. Therapy dogs are selected based primarily on temperament. While it is important for any working dog to have som...
1. We reached our 1000 visitor on the weekend of November 12. 2. Every month since July, we have had visitors from Germany. Germans ask awesome questions, too. 3. We have had international visitors from the following countries: Australia, Canada, Chile, Denmark, El Salvador, England, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Malta, New Zealand 4. The farthest distance traveled is pretty much a tie: Malta is approximately 6,660 miles; Auckland, New Zealand is 6,560 (thank you, Google). 5. We have had guests...
Get your Halloween Spirit going at the Audubon-Tehachapi meeting Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. in the Golden Hills Elementary School Cafeteria, 20215 Park Road. Don Richardson, Animal Curator for the California Living Museum (CALM), and Erika Noel, Biological Field Leader for McCormick Biological, will be our featured speakers covering bat ecology, conservation, and the bat rehabilitation efforts at CALM. The primary goal of CALM, a permitted wildlife sanctuary in Bakersfield, is to rehabilitate and...
As most regular readers of our column know, I am the director of Marley's Mutts' community outreach, education, and therapy dog certification program, also known as "Miracle Mutts". Zach and I started the program just over three years ago, and it has evolved in leaps and bounds ever since. I've been very fortunate to have almost limitless creative license to develop and expand; to innovate in alignment with the program's natural inclination to "face the sun" and grow. Our program has many...
Have a Heart Humane Society is pleased to once again offer a family pack of 4 Park Hopper Disneyland (Anaheim, Calif.) tickets. These one day Park Hopper tickets are valued at over $600. We are looking to raise $2000 through an opportunity drawing of only 100 entries for $20 per entry, which means you have a one in a hundred opportunity to get the family pack, and those are some pretty good odds. Our goal here is to begin a special building/buy fund account geared only for one thing, to buy property in Tehachapi to build our own adoption...
Fall is here and the birds are moving from their summer breeding grounds in North America to the wintering grounds in Central and South America. As birds fly south they need places to rest and replenish on their way. One of the largest concentrations of migrating Turkey Vultures in North America comes down the Sierra Nevada, through the Kern River Valley and the Tehachapi area. Look up and you may see "kettles" of vultures swirling up into the sky. We know that some of our readers don't know why...
I hate them. Here at the ranch they happen. There are times when no matter how hard you try, how much you spend, in the end, you must say goodbye. Over the past few years, I have embraced and let go of so many animals I loved that it seemed fitting to remember them in this, my last article of the season. For those of you who honor me by following these articles, some of these critters may sound familiar. Walter, the dromedary camel came to the ranch so full of parasites, he was literally dying....
Mark your calendar! Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. There will be signs all over Tehachapi pointing the way. If you and your family love to have fun with your dog, then the Gone to the Dogs Fun Run/Walk and Pet Festival is an event you don’t want to miss. Have a Heart Humane Society volunteers have been busy planning their annual Gone to the Dogs Fun Run/Walk and Pet Festival. Helping Tehachapi become a “pet friendly town” has been a goal of the organization’s board and of hundreds of pet owners. This event is geared to help achieve that goal. T...
Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue has an extended community of impassioned supporters that spans the globe. Affectionately branded "The Mutt Militia", this group is nearly a million strong, its members' allegiance to dog rescue is a growing force in bettering conditions for animals worldwide. A primary goal of Marley's Mutts' Outreach and Education division is to instill, in a younger legion of animal advocates, the same lion-hearted drive to make lasting change, right here on their home soil. Through...
When the Supervisory staff at CDCR California City came calling, Marley's Mutts was ready. Lisa Porter, our lead trainer and energy specialist, took the point position and worked tirelessly on assembling a training team, and the other components necessary for a successful program. Lisa, who also works at Cesar Millan's Dog Psychology Center, recruited Lia Marques, the interim Director at the DPC, as well as Kim Eriksson to join our team. With Lisa at the helm, we set out to create a curriculum,...
The Tehachapi Humane Society (THS) celebrated “Dog Days of Summer” with a Silent Auction at the Souza Family Winery Friday July 15. The Silent Auction was a success bringing in over $1,700 for the Spay and Neuter programs that the Tehachapi Humane Society funds. This was made possible due to the generosity of the Tehachapi’s wonderful big hearted citizens. We had donations of original art work, handmade jewelry, brand new kitchen appliances like pressure cookers, and so much more. It was really fun watching the bidding become heated on some...
From May to September, Souza Winery hosts the Dog Days of Summer. Once a month people and their furry friends come out and show their support to a nonprofit organization which helps dogs (and cats). Souza then donates a portion of the wine sale proceeds to the organization. Pictured are some of the members of the Tehachapi Humane Society at the July 15 Dog Days. More photos of this event are available at www.facebook.com/Tehachapi-Life-Photography....
A Facebook plea for donations went out to Have a Heart Humane Society followers for pets in the Lake Isabella fire area. All day Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Tehachapi pet lovers dropped off dog and cat food, pet beds, goat and chicken food, pet toys, cat litter boxes and so much more at the Radio Shack. The pile got bigger and bigger. Have a Heart volunteers went into their barn storage of donated items and pulled out large and small traveling carriers, wire cages, and exercise pens. Naomi...
The " Miracle Mutts" program – Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue's Outreach, Education, and Therapy Dog Certification endeavor – continues to spread joy across Kern County, reaching ever-farther into the community in a variety of unique and meaningful ways. Our new class at The Mission at Kern County is called "Moving Forward With Dogs: 12 Steps at a Time"; it integrates dog handling, walking and training into addiction recovery work. Both the Men's and Women's programs are benefitting, as are the the...
Driving home from work, on April 20, 2016, I saw a bird in the middle of the road, and assumed it was a Raven, which would normally fly away as cars approached, but this bird didn't. As I got closer, it was apparent that this was a red tailed hawk, and it looked right at me as I slowly drove by. It was apparent that he needed help, so I turned my truck around. After pulling off the road, I ran out to pick him up and brought him to the truck. Both of us safely seat-belted, I headed home. Once we...
At Windswept Ranch, this time of year, we get more calls about fawns from Bear Valley than from any other area in Tehachapi. I think that just shows how much Bear Valley's residents care about their deer, so this seems a great time to remind everyone how to act when encountering deer. First, and foremost, please remember that these animals are wild! That cute spotted fawn, is a very important part of California's eco-system. They are animals native to our region and have been here longer than...
Tehachapi High School had an adorable visitor on May 27; 16-week-old pitbull puppy Trinity. She, along with veterinarian Dr. Mayuri Kerr and Marley's Mutts founder Zach Skow, arrived at the THS robotics lab at 2 p.m. for one of many special fittings. The pup is named Trinity due to her having only three legs. High school junior Blake Olson has been working for months with Trinity, Dr. Kerr, and Marley's Mutts to develop a prosthetic back leg for Trinity. She has been to several fittings...
Calling all my Wiener Dog friends: if you have been sitting around on the comfy couch instead of getting that well-paid spokesdog job, here's how you can win some money and make your humans proud! Enter the Annual Wiener Run and race to be the best! The Wiener Run is part of the fabulous Fourth of July festivities at Tehachapi's Phillip Marx Central Park, and the winning dachshund will take home $200. The second, third, and fourth place dogs will receive $100, $50, and $25, respectively. This...
We at Marley's Mutts have had a lot of amputees, but none of them quite like Trinity. Trinity was found by a homeless man after he heard cries coming from the bushes. She was only 5 weeks old, very skinny, suffering a severe amputation to her leg and near death. Fearing for her life, the man walked for miles and miles until he found a vet. From there, Trinity was stabilized and transferred to Kern County Animal Services. KCAS immediately contacted us to see if we could help save her. Without a...
Some animals are just special. That perfectly describes Valentine. Who knew you could love a bison? But from the moment I saw Valentine, it has been that way. It was early February when I got the call. A ranch in Cuayama had sold its herd of 300 bison for slaughter. One of the cows had dropped a calf the week before and the owner was looking for someone to take it. Thankfully he didn't feel right letting the baby go off to slaughter. And so on Valentine's day, 9 years ago, I headed to Cuayama,...
Would you love an easy, no cost way to help our Tehachapi pet rescues? Tehachapi Pet Lodge owners, the Andersons and the Komins, invite our customers to designate a favorite local rescue/shelter to receive an amount equal to 10% of their purchases May 14-21, 2016. The money will benefit Doberman Pinscher SOS, German Shepherd Rescue, Have-a-Heart Humane Society, Marley’s Mutts, Save Tehachapi Orphaned Pets (S.T.O.P) and Tehachapi Humane Society. Pet lovers who shop at The Pet Lodge will get to choose the local pet rescue to donate to. The Pet L...
Saturday, May 7, 2016. The Rescued Treasures resale store was crowded with cats, dogs, kids and adults. Girl Scout Troop #3405 sat quietly to hear a talk about rescued pets from Rhoda Voda. Afterwards, the girls presented Have-a-Heart with a generous donation from their cookie sales. Then, the girls were treated to a visit from Blu, the cat who had been paralyzed after being thrown from a car. Blu assured the girls that he was healing and that his vet is confident he will walk again in the...
Mutt Fans, put your hands and paws together for little Miss Vivi, who has just surpassed fifty hours of community service, and earned her Therapy Dog certification! This sweet girl was found wandering the streets in Mexico just a little over a year ago. When I met her, she was terrified of everyone and everything. She cowered and tucked her tail and bared her teeth when other, got too close. Then she got involved in our Miracle Mutts program, and to see her today, you wouldn't recognize her as...
