Los Angeles Base
Welcome to Skid Row and South Central Los Angeles...
Posted by jennifer on November 20, 2008.
Hello everyone-
Just recently I started a research project documenting feral dog behavior and the homeless person's relationship with their animals in Downtown Los Angles. I wanted to find out some very important elements. One of which includes the way a homeless person acquires their dogs and their specific relationship when it comes to food, etc. I was eager to research this as both dog and owner had a very different understanding of one another than some of my clients that live in wealthy communities with dogs. My interest was also to find a better understanding of the domestication of wolves from the beginning of our interactions with them. What I saw and found here was unbelievable. It goes beyond my words and the pictures you are about to see. I finally found a link between the out of control dog problem in L.A.- where it's coming from and why. In two hours, I documented 17 dogs roaming free in South Central. Half had collars with identification and the other half were completely feral. Not one dog that I came across was fixed. Two females had just had puppies and one was pregnant. My quest was a dangerous one as I was roaming as a white woman with a Caucasian female assistant through these streets. Crossing gang territories and witnessing first hand the drug trade. I visited a pet store filled with everything from chains for pit bulls to harnesses, big leather collars with spikes like you've never seen before, unhealthy puppies, dirty and smelly fish tanks to probably over 50 chicken and bird coops located in the back. I saw 5 golden retriever puppies kept in a small dirty run and guinea pigs with scabs all over them. The dogs we saw ranged from missing an eye to completely useless legs from being hit by cars. Not one cop car, not one police officer was anywhere to be seen. I have discovered that dogs that are being owned and left to roam the streets are breeding with feral ones. I interviewed a homeless man in Skid Row who told me that the homeless person's dog always matches their owner's personality. If they are grumpy and/or mean, their dog is usually mean. They also lure the dogs in with food, take them searching for food and the two become a team of survivors- both outcasts in our society. The majority of people who are getting these dogs are usually lonely. Some of which have a hard time communicating to people so they have an unseperable bond to their dog.
There is also a cat problem down there. One woman who is referred to as "The Cat Lady" is using her welfare checks to feed all the cats. The problem has gotten so out of control that they are now joking that there are more cats than rats and because sometimes the rats are bigger than the cats, the cats aren't killing the rats. lol
So if we are to change the feral dog problem in Los Angles, we need to educate those who allow their dogs to roam freely through the streets. Diseases are being spread, more puppies are being born and as much as spaying and neutering is high on the list, for those that refuse, their animals should be kept on their property and not left to roam. Obviously, the new law of all dogs being spayed and neutered in L.A. is not being implemented or enforced.
I will be conducting this study over the next several months so stay tuned for more informative updates based on my findings. In the meantime, here are some pictures from the streets...
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Greetings From Downtown Los Angeles...
Posted by jennifer on November 15, 2008.
Hello All-
I am currently working on a research project involving feral dogs in South Central Los Angeles and Skid Row. I am also researching Pit Bull's in and around these areas and their relation to the feral dog problem. My study will continue into next month and I can't wait to include this new and valuable information in our client sessions and classes. I'll post some pics. soon! Until then, be well :-)
Woof,
Jennifer
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A Day At the Gym in Los Angeles...
Posted by jennifer on October 08, 2008.
Today after some clients in L.A., I decided to venture for my weekly workout routine at the gym. I'm usually there about 3-5 times a week depending on my schedule. When I come to the city, it's always a bit challenging the first few days to adjust from mountain lions to traffic and cars. Today however, I learned not to go to the gym around 5 p.m. when their is an in house DJ blasting music into my ears and a spin class in the darkness of a room that's shaking the windows to it's own beat. People wearing sunglasses to work out in just doesn't make much sense to me either. I sometimes feel like a lone wolf in the midst of a Hollywood scene far from her natural environment.
What I am doing though is amazing- showing city folks a different side of life that they may have never experienced or have paid much attention to before. Through each animal is a conversation that is quiet and un-spoken. There is a language being spoken out there in the woods through predator and prey. I'm out here on a Mission to spread this message and get people away from worrying so much about the economy and what's happening in the future. To be quite honest, if we had to survive outside, with nothing, we would still be o.k. Always remember what the animals do- live in the moment.
- Jennifer
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Hello From LAX!
Posted by amy on April 07, 2008.
Hi Everyone~
I'm on my way back to the ranch after a very successful week with L.A. clients. I also did a TV show for Bravo that will air in August so stay tuned for more exciting news about this... With the warm weather approaching, everyone is in the mood to get outside. Come on over to see us this summer for lots of classes and agility starting this spring at the Ranch in Colorado. In the meantime, if you're in Los Angeles and are in need of my services, have no fear- I will be back the first week in May. I'm advising clients to book early because my schedule is getting very hectic out here ;-) See you soon!
All my best,
Jennifer
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Residents Threatened By Southern California Fires Encouraged To Include Pets In Evacuation Plans
Posted by amy on October 24, 2007.
Jennifer McCarthy World Class Dog Training send thoughts and prayers out to those affected by the wildfires in California. Below you will find information on how you can help leave "no animal behind" with ways to donate, prepare and find emergency shelter.
SACRAMENTO (October 22, 2007) – As more than a dozen fires burn in seven Southern California counties, United Animal Nations (UAN) is encouraging residents to take their pets with them if they evacuate. Animals left behind during fires can get injured, fall ill, starve, die, and hamper human evacuation and rescue efforts. Families who must evacuate are encouraged to:
Assemble an animal disaster kit that includes food, water, medications, a leash or cat carrier, and photos of animals with family members to prove ownership if they are lost. Visit www.uan.org for more disaster kit tips. Identify all animals with a tag and microchip so they can be more easily reunited if separated. Make special preparations for large animals like horses. See our “Horse Evacuation Tips,” below, for more details.
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Wild Wolf Spotting 101 & New L.A. Office Taking Off!
Posted by jennifer on October 22, 2007.
Sandrine & I will have to wake up very early this next week. Luckily we have access to those with radio collar info. but we'll need binoculors to see the wolves from a distance at Yellowstone.
Aside from that, the L.A. office is now in full swing. We're going national now with media outreach and a focuss on the Los Angeles market. I will be traveling there quite a bit after the holidays but have no fear- Colorado will stay my home base for now and forever... I love it out here.
So, with that said, look for Amy blogging about celebrity dog spotting in the City of Angeles on Speak! (www.jmdogtraining.com/blog) It's always a new adventure around here so fasten your seatbelts for an exciting ride into the world of dogs & wolves (and anything else that happens to be related to them- lol)...
Have a great day!
- JMc
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New L.A. Office Being Set Up!
Posted by jennifer on October 10, 2007.
Well, it looks like the City of Angels will be pulling me back every month for a week. I'll be traveling there to meet more freqently with celebrity clients new and old as well as saying hello to some of my most favorite people- my closest friends :-) Amy- who was in charge of World Class Dog Training for two and a half years will be taking over all business outside the Colorado area. Some of which will include organizing travel dates, booking clients, handling all communication with clients in other cities as well as taking over the "Dog Dish" newsletter. Welcome back to the pack Amy! We're very excited to have her on-board again and I have a feeling she's going to do an outstanding job. Keep yourselves refreshed with www.jmdogtraining.com for more exciting news to come ;-)
- Los Angeles Base Posts
- Welcome to Skid Row and South Central Los Angeles...
- Greetings From Downtown Los Angeles...
- A Day At the Gym in Los Angeles...
- Hello From LAX!
- Residents Threatened By Southern California Fires Encouraged To Include Pets In Evacuation Plans
- Wild Wolf Spotting 101 & New L.A. Office Taking Off!
- New L.A. Office Being Set Up!