Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
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When a kid hears a parent say, "Walk the dog", I imagine he sees a looming item on a dreaded to-do list; it just sounds like a chore. To the contrary, when kids learn young, the intrinsic value of taking a routine walk alongside their best four-legged friend, they're more likely to carry the practice into adulthood as a chosen activity. While at first walking the dog may seem like an obligation that cuts into web-surfing or video game-playing time, at some point the feel-good aspect of the...
As a dedicated group of animal rescuers, trainers, and community educators, we at Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue hold fast to a vision...that someday, very soon, our organization will have a "forever home" of its own. Marley's Mutts' Rescue Ranch will be a facility like none Kern County – or possibly the world -- has ever known. Our facility will be a sprawling compound that covers multiple acres of land, and holds within it the infrastructure crucial to the expansion and evolution of our unique p...
Have a Heart Humane Society if offering free dog training classes to 20 lucky Tehachapi kids beginning this January. Local dog training expert, Rosemary Evans, will be conducting the classes. Each class consists of two sessions, the first one covering things dogs need to thrive and be happy such as proper nutrition, exercise, training, attention and love. During the second session, kids will be invited to bring their family dog and learn some simple tricks and play some crate games. Classes...
As we approach the end of another fruitful year at Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue, I’m moved to reflect upon how far we’ve come in the last two years, and the bright, potential-paved road that lies ahead in 2016. In addition to the (literally) thousands of dogs Marley’s Mutts has saved through rescue, and spay and neuter, we, the Miracle Mutts Crew, feel our influence can become a “preventative measure”. We strive to ensure that the animal caregivers of tomorrow understand the role each plays in ma...
Adopt a Pet at Edwards Team (APET) Rescue got its humble start in the summer of 2001. The rescue was originally developed to support the Base Animal Control Facility in rehoming animals that were found as strays and to assist military personnel in rehoming their animals if they were unable to take them when the family transferred. Before the rescue was established, all of these pets were sent to Kern County Shelters. While our facility is located at Edwards Air Force base, we do not receive any funding from the Air Force or the Federal governme...
The benefits of canine intervention in so many activities with children are well-documented. Dogs in library programs motivate kids to open up and read aloud, lending soft, nonjudgmental ears; service dogs help children with autism and other disabilities or illnesses navigate their world with a sense of comfort and connectivity; facility dogs become part of incentive-and-rewards systems at schools, motivating kids to practice exceptional behavior; and comfort dogs provide loving security to chil...
Well, I guess the "dog days" of summer are over now, but there's still good news to share and great stuff to do here in Tehachapi! First, I would like to thank all the humans who bought raffle tickets at my booth at the Gran Fondo. The lucky raffle winner, and now the proud owner of a Tehachapi Dog Park/Cash the Wonder Dog paw print jersey, is Scott Detillo of Chino Valley. I am grateful that so many people bought raffle tickets, and I also appreciate the people who just made a donation for the...
Miracle Mutts is Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue's Outreach and Education division, and involves the community at many levels. First of all, we offer dogs with the right temperament -- who are able to pass the Canine Good Citizen and Community Canine tests through the AKC -- a spot on our Miracle Mutts Therapy Dog team! Marley's Mutts is the first and only dog rescue sanctioned by the American Kennel Club to certify therapy dogs through their titling program! In order to be eligible for the title...
Brodie, a little red Chihuahua mix, who was born without eyes, is to be the new spokesdog for Have A Heart Humane Society, replacing the founding spokesdog, Oscar, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge this summer. The emotional announcement was made Saturday, October 3, at 10 am, just before the Gone To The Dogs 5K Fun Run/Walk began at Meadowbrook Park in Tehachapi. Have A Heart's founder/president, Chelley Kitzmiller, remembers the tearful phone call from Brodie's former owner whose divorce was...
The next Tehachapi Humane Society Fix Your Pet (FYP) clinic dates are planned for Nov 11 & Dec 10 with Dr Billingsley, and Oct 28 with Tehachapi Vet Hospital. These clinics are for very low income individuals residing in Tehachapi. Co-payments are $20 for canines and $10 for felines which includes the pain meds, rabies shots and DHLPP for dogs and FVCRP for cats if needed. Pets will be kept overnite and picked up the following morning by the owners. No pets over the age of six, no cryptorchid or pyrometra pets. No one will be seen without appoi...
Another season of tours is coming to an end and I can’t believe how fast it has gone by. We are always so excited when the season begins, but by the end, I think all of us breathe a sigh of relief. We try every year to add something to make it more enjoyable for visitors. This year, it was camel rides. If you got a chance to sit high atop Mac and tour the ranch, I am sure you had an experience you will never forget. Sadly now, we do not have enough volunteers to finish the year out with camel rides. (No more pony rides either). In fact, we a...
Greetings, Mutt Fans! In this month's article, I get to make a very special announcement, geared especially to Marley's Mutts' oldest and dearest friends and supporters in Tehachapi and Bear Valley. Our successful canine-assisted reading program, Barks & Books, has come to the Tehachapi Library! Our program of the same name, which we've run at Beale Library in Bakersfield for almost two years, has been a huge success! Every second and fourth Wednesday of the month, kids come to Beale to snuggle...
I was never a "dog person" growing up. We always had cats. Dogs avoided me, and I avoided them. It wasn't a big deal I just didn't "get" dogs, or so I thought. That all changed when I met Ruthie in 2011. I was 42 years old and she was 12. We became fast friends. She was only in my life for a couple of years but we bonded pretty quickly. It was a moment I'll never forget. I was reading a book to her. Well, I wasn't reading to her, but she would lay next to me while I'd read my stories and one...
Since moving to Oak Creek Canyon in 1986, we've always wondered where these wild horses came from, how long they've been here, what breed are they, etc. In all my years of researching to find answers, it seems we now have at least one major question answered. A recent X-ray on one of the horses shows that these have 5 lumbar vertebrae. Morgan and Arabian horses have 5 lumbar vertebrae, while other breeds have 6. They certainly don't look like Arabians, so must be the Morgan just as we have alway...
I am not sure how many of you remember when Rodney King said those famous words. It was a time of tremendous strife, just like today. Los Angeles had burst into flames and violence. Racial tensions were boiling over. Can’t stop thinking about how little has changed. Watching the news is, well, depressing. More hate. Blacks hate whites. Muslims hate Christians and Jews. ISIS seems to hate everyone. And the victims seem lost somewhere in all this: Children being washed up on shore after trying to escape persecution. People fighting over i...
Begin the Fall Season at Exotic Feline Breeding Compound (EFBC) Twilight Tour Rosamond, California on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 5:30 p.m. EFBC’s Feline Conservation Center is hosting its third (and last of the year) Twilight Tour event to showcase what its wild cat residents do at night. Visitors will have a chance to see one of the world’s largest collections of rare wild feline species during evening hours (their most active period) and will be witness to animal behaviors not ordinarily seen during normal zoo experiences. The Twilight Tours are...
During the month of September, Have a Heart Humane Society will be increasing the number of spays and neuters that we can take during our Wednesday mini clinics. Dogs of any size are just $35 and cats are $25. The co-pay includes either spay or neuter, rabies vaccination if needed, pain injection and a microchip (mandatory). Pet owners will need to borrow or purchase a cone for dogs to wear following the surgery or any one of the products that discourages licking. Pet owners may purchase cones and additional vaccinations from the vet. There is...
During the month of September, Have a Heart Humane Society will be increasing the number of spays and neuters that we can take during our Wednesday mini clinics. Dogs of any size are just $35 and cats are $25. The co-pay includes either spay or neuter, rabies vaccination if needed, pain injection and a microchip (mandatory). Pet owners will need to borrow or purchase a cone for dogs to wear following the surgery or any one of the products that discourages licking. Pet owners may purchase cones and additional vaccinations from the vet. There is...
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 resu...
I was lucky enough to meet this butterball of love when he was just a four month old, roly-poly chocolate puppy. The moment I laid eyes on him, I knew two things: (1) that I would love him with all my heart; and (2) that he was going to be a BIG BOY. With paws the size of a brown bear's, and an already hulking frame, I realized when we began puppy training that Moku would soon grow to outweigh his human mom, Val, who is about my size. Right around 5 feet tall and 105 lbs. Based on the huge...
I have seen so many stories in the news lately centering around animal rights, it kind of leaves me wondering who these advocates are and what their motives might be. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has fought for years to end the use of elephants in the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Baily Circus. They have filed multiple lawsuits for animal cruelty. You have probably read about these; they draw a lot of media attention. What you have not read is that each of these lawsuits has...
Fred is the beautiful yellow lab I raised and trained to be a service dog two years ago through Good Dog Autism Companions, while simultaneously working as Animal Assisted Activities director for Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue. Fred, named after Mr. Rogers, is now called Courage; because when asked what he wanted a service dog to bring to his life, thirteen year-old Caleb replied, "courage". Last Saturday, Good Dog Autism Companions held their inaugural ceremony to celebrate graduating service dog...
Tehachapi-Have a Heart Humane Society is excited to announce the publication of "Touched By A Furry Angel," with a book signing featuring 25 Tehachapi pet lovers/writers on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, 10 am – 4 pm at Tehachapi's Railroad Park during the Springtyme Faire. (Group photo on Saturday at noon.) The book is the brainchild of New York Times bestselling author and publisher (Bell Bridge Books), Deb Smith, who volunteered her time and publishing expertise to create a heartwarmi...
Just the other day I was flipping channels since I couldn’t find anything on and stumbled across the PBS show Nature, reshowing the episode “My Bionic Pet”. This concerned the lives of several animals using prostheses. There were dogs with three (or two) legs, a pig with a wheel chair, and even an alligator with a prosthetic tail. While some people probably think it odd to do this for pets, I thought that this was a very good sign. At its least empathetic, people are working at developing bette...
Goodbyes are never easy. I've lost a lot of animals over the years, and each one brings its own pain: Oscar, the white fallow deer whose presence changed my life. Wesley, my first bouvier dog who left a hole so big in my heart it will never be filled. And now Walter. Walter died on Mother's Day. He and I fought for his life for almost 7 months. It was a hard fight marked by ups and downs, and finally surrender. I guess the truth of it is that Walter was dead when I brought him home, but neither...
