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Plenty of animal events in April

Hello Sonoma! Finally some sunshine we can all enjoy. I was visiting a friend out of town recently who belongs to a potter's co-op. She told me their resident cat had just given birth the day before so we went to see the mama and her brood. It made me acutely aware of what is to come in our neck of the woods.

Day-old kittens are just the most precious things to behold.

Not surprisingly, however, all around the co-op, everyone I met (without knowing what I did) said they should have gotten her fixed months ago. They had talked about it, all agreed to chip in, but it never happened. This happens all too often.

So now that our feline friends are coming out to sunbathe and enjoy the less soggy outdoors again, please take action to get them spayed or neutered as soon as possible.

There is a countywide free feline spay day on Saturday, April 16, just go to our website and learn more about how to register for this once a year offer.

 

Also ask about our feral program, which is the only one of its kind in the area. It is a trap/neuter/release (TNR) program, where we teach you how to use the live trap, we spay/neuter the feral for $30 and you release it back to its colony.

That last part is key. We recently had a feral spay day at PLL where 11 ferals were spayed or neutered. With six females and five males fixed, we estimate a reduction of the kitten population by almost 700.

If you live in an area where you there is a feral colony, please contact us about the TNR program.

Now that spring is here (fingers crossed), we will be having our first dog training class at the shelter. By popular demand we added one more Polite Leash Walking and Recall workshop on Saturday, April 30, at PLL. Our spring dog classes will start sometime at the beginning of May, so watch out for the new spring schedule. Speaking of our canine friends, ''Dogs: the Musical'' opens at Andrews Hall at the Sonoma Community Center on Friday, April 15. Don't miss it and stay tuned for a Pets Lifeline night of "Dogs" in May.  

On Saturday, April 16, from 3 to 5 p.m. in Andrews Hall, Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States gives a reading and book signing of his new release, "The Bond.'' You can buy tickets to reading at the shelter for $6 ticket. The door proceeds will go to both Pets Lifeline and SVDOG (Sonoma Valley Dog Owners and Guardians).

Hey ladies of Sonoma, shall we do lunch? On Friday, April 29, the first annual Tailwags and Handbags, a Pets Lifeline ladies luncheon and fundraiser, will be held at our beloved Estate (thank you Sondra Bernstein).

We will have a silent auction of more than 30 high-end and one-of-a-kind handbags that have been donated by our generous friends and supporters. Just in time for some very cool Mother's Day shopping. Tickets are available at the shelter for $95 (a delicious catered lunch and wine from our favorite local vintners will be served). Space is limited so call 996-4577, ext.106, and get your tickets now before they are gone. You can buy tables for six, eight and 12, so call your girlfriends, sisters, moms and aunties for a fun afternoon and some carefree shopping.

Remember ... wag more, bark less. Au revoir!