Southern California animal lovers’ calendar: Weekend of July 31-Aug. 1 and beyond

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If you want to adopt a pet, visit with native Southern California butterflies, attend an art show or meet like-minded animal lovers, this weekend and the days and weeks ahead are full of events you’re sure to enjoy. Think we’re forgetting something? Let us know by leaving a comment on this post or sending the details to us in a tweet @LATunleashed.

Through Sunday, Aug. 1, Claremont’s Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden invites Southern California residents to its temporary Butterfly Pavilion exhibit, which features hundreds of butterflies native to the area. Admission to the exhibit is an additional $2 with paid Botanic Garden admission, which is $8 for adults, $6 for adults over 65 and students with a valid student ID, $4 for children ages 3 to12 and free for children under 3. Exhibit hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. More information and directions at RSABG.org.

Saturday, July 31, the L.A. Department of Animal Services hosts mobile pet-adoption events at Centinela Feed & Pet Supplies’ Rancho Palos Verdes location, 28901 Western Ave., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; at downtown pet store Pussy & Pooch, 564 S. Main St., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and at Northridge’s Petco location, 8800 Tampa Ave., from noon to 4 p.m. See photos of adoptable pets at LAAnimalServices.com.

Saturday, July 31, more than 60 fine artists will present their work at an art show and silent auction at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium, 3485 Mission Inn Ave. in Riverside, with proceeds benefiting the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The event also features a special appearance by Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson and guest DJ sets by the Crystal Method and DJ Diabetic (aka artist Shepard Fairey). Cost is $20, payable at the door. VIP admission is also available for $110 per person. More information at SeaShepherdArtShow.com.

Sunday, Aug. 1, the L.A. Department of Animal Services hosts a mobile pet-adoption event at Moorpark Park, 12061 Moorpark Ave. in Studio City, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Upcoming:

Throughout the month of August, adopt a cat or kitten from the Palm Springs Animal Shelter and the organization will waive its normal adoption fee. According to the shelter, it is facing an influx of kittens and needs to find homes for its felines as quickly as possible. Adopters will still be responsible for the cost of spay/neuter surgery for adopted cats and kittens, an estimated charge of $30 to $40. For more information, shelter hours of operation or to see photos of adoptable animals, visit its website.

Friday, Aug. 6, the L.A. Zoo hosts ‘Music in the Zoo’ from 6 to 9 p.m. Up-and-coming local artists are featured, including the Happy Hollows, Walking Sleep, the Lonely Wild and more. Tickets are $12.50 for adult zoo members; $7.50 for child members ages 6 to 15; $16.50 for adult non-members; and $10.50 for child non-members ages 6 to 15. Children 5 and under enter free. Guests are encouraged to RSVP in advance. For more information or to RSVP, visit LAZoo.org.

Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 7-8, the Mountains Restoration Trust offers rattlesnake avoidance training clinics for dogs, presented by trainer Tracy Jenson-Presson of High On Kennels. The clinics aim to teach dogs, whose keen sense of smell can distinguish between rattlesnakes and other types of snake, to avoid rattlesnakes when they encounter them. Training sessions are available in the morning and afternoon on both days and will be conducted at the Mountains Restoration Trust’s 23075 Mulholland Highway facility in Calabasas. Dog owners are assured that the clinics will be ‘conducted in a safe, humane, controlled environment ensuring the safety of your dog, as well as the safety of the rattlesnakes.’ Cost is $70 and registration must be made in advance. For more information or to register, visit MountainsTrust.org.

Saturday, Aug. 7, spcaLA offers a low-cost vaccination and microchip clinic for dogs and cats at its South Bay Pet Adoption Center, 12910 Yukon Ave. in Hawthorne, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The clinic will offer rabies vaccinations for cats and dogs ($5); DHPP vaccinations for dogs ($15); bordetella vaccinations for dogs ($10); FVRCP and FeLV vaccinations for cats ($15 each); and microchipping for cats and dogs ($25). More information at spcaLA.com.

Saturday, Aug. 21, spcaLA invites potential ‘foster parents’ to learn about its fostering program from 10 a.m. to noon at its South Bay Pet Adoption Center, 12910 Yukon Ave., Hawthorne. ‘Foster parents’ are needed to care for puppies and kittens that are too young to be adopted, as well as older dogs and cats with special needs. More information at spcaLA.com. (The L.A. Department of Animal Services offers a similar program for underage puppies and kittens; more information on that program is available at the department’s website.)

Saturday, Aug. 21, animal-loving baseball fans are invited to spcaLA’s ‘Bark in the Park at Dodger Stadium’ event beginning at 5:10 p.m. Human guests and their dogs will sit in a special section of the stadium and have the chance to participate in contests and a ‘pup rally,’ watch Tillman the skateboarding bulldog in action and cheer on their team in a Dodgers-Cincinnati Reds matchup. Tickets are $25; a signed release waiver and current vaccination record for canine attendees are required. For more information, to download a printable release form or to purchase tickets, visit spcaLA.com.

Sunday, Aug. 22, the Orange County Animal Rescue Coalition hosts a wine-tasting event at Hi-Time Wine Cellars, 250 Ogle St. in Costa Mesa, from 1 to 6 p.m. The event benefits OC-ARC’s Purrs Fund, which pays for veterinary care for severely injured cats rescued by the organization, and includes a silent auction and raffle. Cost is $25 and can be paid online in advance of the event or at the door.

Wednesday, Sept. 8, Much Love Animal Rescue hosts a bingo night at West Hollywood landmark Hamburger Mary’s, 8288 Santa Monica Blvd., beginning at 9 p.m. Proceeds benefit the group’s work on behalf of needy animals in Southern California.

Saturday, Sept. 18, Last Chance for Animals invites Southern California pet lovers to its Puppy Mill Awareness Festival at Hancock Park, 5801 Wilshire Blvd. (near the La Brea Tar Pits), from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature educational speakers, animal advocacy and animal welfare information booths, adoptable pets from area rescue organizations and shelters, live entertainment, pet-themed vendors and activities for children.

Sunday, Sept. 19, Best Friends Animal Society hosts ‘Strut Your Mutt,’ a walk to raise funds for Best Friends and local animal charities and rescue groups, beginning at the Santa Monica Pier. The event includes pet-friendly vendors, a doggie massage booth, a canine cafe, training demonstrations, a pet psychic, games, contests, an after party and more. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m., with the walk beginning at 8:30. More information at Best Friends’ website.

Sunday, Sept. 19, athletic dogs will take to their surfboards for the second annual Surf City Surf Dog event in Huntington Beach. For the competition, dogs will be placed in a division determined by their size and experience level, then will compete in heats to advance to a final. The event also includes a costume contest and a ‘Woofin’ Walk,’ where dogs and their owners can complete a 1- or 2-mile course, with proceeds benefiting one of Surf City Surf Dog’s animal-related charity partners. For more information or to register, visit SurfCitySurfDog.com.

Ongoing:

Through Sept. 30, the Found Animals Foundation offers a special discount on cat adoption fees at the L.A. City and County animal shelters and the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority shelter in Downey through its Summer Buddies program. Adopt two cats or kittens and Found Animals will pay the second adoption fee (that’s a two-for-one deal, kids -- and it comes at just the right time, because it’s kitten season and area shelters are filled to the brim with adoptable kitties). More information and a list of participating shelters at FoundAnimals.org.

The L.A. Department of Animal Services offers low-cost vaccination, microchipping and licensing clinics every first Thursday at its Harbor animal shelter; every second Thursday at its North Central animal shelter; every third Thursday at its South L.A. animal shelter; and every fourth Thursday at its East Valley animal shelter. All clinics begin at 4:30 p.m. and end at 6:30 p.m. More information and pricing in PDF format at the department’s website.

Every Saturday from noon to 6 p.m., local group Kinder 4 Rescue hosts a mobile dog adoption event at Book Star, 12136 Ventura Blvd. (just west of Laurel Canyon) in Studio City. See photos of adoptable pets at the group’s Petfinder page.

Every first Wednesday through October, Santa Monica’s Pourtal Wine Tasting Bar, 104 Santa Monica Blvd., hosts ‘Wine Woof Wednesday’ from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. During the event, guests can bring their dogs along to Pourtal and receive free dog-walking service with any purchase over $25. More information at Pourtal.com.

Every last Wednesday through October, I Love Dogs, Inc. hosts dog-friendly ‘Mojitos and Mutts’ happy-hour gatherings at Long Beach’s pet-friendly Hotel Maya from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Eat, drink, be merry and meet fellow dog lovers while helping Southern California pets (each event will be geared toward helping an area animal charity). More information at ILoveDogs.com.

Every fourth Saturday, spcaLA hosts ‘PAWS to Read’ at the Redondo Beach Public Library, 303 N. Pacific Coast Highway, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Through the PAWS to Read program, children practice their reading skills by reading aloud to a decidedly nonjudgmental audience: certified therapy dogs. Participation is free; sign-up begins at 9 a.m. at the Children’s Information Desk. More information at spcaLA.com.

-- Lindsay Barnett

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Top photo: A butterfly in California’s San Fernando Valley. Credit: derfy via Your Scene