Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words

Articles written by Marcia Mayeda


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  • Adoption Fees Dropped for German Shepherds Thanks to WeRateDogs and the 15/10 Foundation

    Marcia Mayeda, DACC|Feb 26, 2024

    One of my favorite sites on social media is the site called WeRateDogs. WeRateDogs asks pet owners to send photos of their dogs, then posts selected photos with humorous comments. Dogs are rated on a scale of one to ten, but always get an above-ten rating. The posts are always enjoyable and heartwarming. WeRateDogs has over 20 million followers across all platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok. Matt Nelson, founder of WeRateDogs, expanded his support for dogs with his first...

  • Guide to Pet Insurance: Understand Your Dog or Cat's Needs

    Marcia Mayeda, Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control|Jan 18, 2024

    Several years ago, I was walking our three dogs at the time – Isabella, a Great Pyrenees, Rebecca, a Golden Retriever, and Lucy, a Bernese Mountain Dog. In the middle of our walk, Isabella began having difficulty breathing. Her gums turned blue, she began vomiting, and collapsed. I was several blocks from home and couldn't leave them unattended while I ran home for my van. I called my friend, who drove over immediately. We live about 15 minutes from an animal emergency hospital, and as we...

  • Health Care Vouchers Keep Pets and Their Economically Disadvantaged Families Together

    Marcia Mayeda, Department of Animal Care and Control|Jan 23, 2023

    Buddy's owner wrote:"I am so very thankful for the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation for saving my dog's life. Our dog was attacked by another dog and we had to choose between putting him to sleep or getting him medical care. Luckily the Foundation was able to help us with some medical bills and our dog and our children are now very grateful and happy as can be!!! Thank you!!!!" Animal sheltering has changed dramatically in the past ten years. What was once a mainly reactive approach to...

  • How Old is Your Pet, Really?

    Marcia Mayeda, Animal Care and Control|Jul 27, 2022

    July 20, 2022 - Some dogs and cats have lived remarkably long lives. In March, Guinness World Records named Chihuahua "TobyKeith" the oldest living dog at 21 years, 66 days old. The oldest dog ever recorded was an Australian Cattle Dog that passed in 1939 at the age of 29 years, five months. The world's oldest cat, Crème Puff, lived to be 38 years and three days. TobyKeith was adopted as a puppy from an animal shelter in Florida. DACC is proud to report that one of its own alumni is right...

  • Have you Found 'Lost' Kittens? Sometimes it's Best to Leave Them Alone

    Marcia Mayeda, Dept of Animal Care and Control|Jun 20, 2022

    My first cat was a beautiful black and white cat named Murphy. Murphy was born at the home of the "cat lady" who lived down the block and fed dozens of cats, with no sterilization plan in place to reduce their population growth. Murphy was first taken in as a kitten by our neighbors, but their established cat would not tolerate another cat in the house. So Murphy came to live with us, and I had him for the rest of his life. My favorite memory of him was how he would sleep in bed with me with...

  • Do Dogs Grieve?

    Marcia Mayeda, Animal Care and Control|Mar 21, 2022

    The other night my husband and I were talking about one of our past dogs, a Great Pyrenees named Isabella, who passed away several years ago at 14 years of age. When we mentioned her name, our Golden Retriever, Rebecca, raised her head and looked around the room. She clearly recognized Isabella's name and remembered her. Now eleven years old, Rebecca came to us as a rambunctious five-month-old puppy after she had been surrendered by her owners at our Lancaster Animal Care Center. She and Isabell...

  • The Do's and Don'ts of Buying a Puppy

    Marcia Mayeda, LA County Dept of Animal Care and Control|May 22, 2021

    Thirty years ago, I led an animal shelter in Topeka, Kansas and we were often called upon to assist when authorities raided illegal and inhumane puppy mills. These neglected, ill animals needed safe havens where they could receive treatment and ultimately be placed for adoption. We accepted this difficult and heartbreaking duty because of the compelling need to save these animals and help stem the fraud perpetrated on unsuspecting purchasers of their offspring. The memories of the atrocities I...

  • National Lost Pet Awareness Day

    Marcia Mayeda, Animal Care and Control|Apr 25, 2021

    Sometimes the unthinkable happens and no matter how secure your home, how mindful you are, and how careful of a pet parent you are, your beloved pet may get out and get lost. Each year, thousands of animals are brought into animal care centers as strays and only about 35% of dogs and less than five percent of cats are reunited with their homes. The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control recognizes April 23rd as National Lost Pet Awareness Day and encourages all pet owners to kn...

  • The High Costs of Pet Medical Care

    Marcia Mayeda, Animal Care and Control|Apr 22, 2021

    In my March blog, I discussed findings from the February 2021 Modern Pet Parent Report that highlighted the importance pets have played during the pandemic. This report also discussed pet owners' concerns regarding the ability to pay for their pets' medical care. The survey reported, "The thing that stresses pet parents out the most is their pet getting sick (76%), their dog/cat having a chronic/long-term illness (73%), and potential unknown health issues (73%). In addition, 77% of pet parents a...

  • What Will Happen to Pets Adopted During Loneliness of Covid as Lockdowns Ease? They'll be Fine!

    Marcia Mayeda, LA County Animal Care and Control|Mar 23, 2021

    We have now reached the one-year anniversary of the shutdown of society as we responded to the threat of COVID-19. However, the future is looking very bright. After a devastating holiday season with huge spikes in infections and deaths, Los Angeles County has now entered the Red Tier and is moving to reopen parts of society. Vaccines are being produced and distributed as fast as possible, and it is anticipated that by this summer we will have turned the corner and begin to see more...