What's New Updated July 2, 2008   1. Foster Homes Needed! 2. Friends of Torrance Animals Adopt-A-Classroom Program 3. Police Department Seeks Volunteers for Animal Disaster Team 4. LA County Carson Shelter Statistics FY 2005-2006 5. Licensing: MAROON License Tags Now In Style for Torrance Dogs & Cats! --------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Foster Homes Needed! The City of Torrance now has two city-based Animal Control Officers, and is providing field patrol 7 days a week. But the City of Torrance does NOT have an animal shelter. The City of Torrance contracts with LA County for animal sheltering services. In special circumstances, the officers of the Torrance Police Department's animal control program turn to rescue and adoption organizations, and volunteers, to provide foster homes for animals rather than taking the animals to the LA County shelter. Recently, a 13-year-old dog was placed in a temporary foster home after her caretaker was rushed to the hospital. As a 13-year-old dog used to a quiet environment with no other dogs, she would not have done well at the crowded county shelter. Sofi, a kitten, was only a few weeks old when she was taken into a foster home and then adopted to her "forever" home. California state law allows shelters to euthanize newborn animals that need maternal care and have been impounded without their mothers, without holding them for owner redemption or adoption (Food & Agriculture Code 17006). The euthanasia rate for cats impounded at the LA County animal shelter that services Torrance has exceeded 75% annually for several years (current through fiscal year 2005-2006). Foster homes provide better experiences for the animals, but they are time-consuming and difficult to arrange. If you can provide temporary home for a special animal in need, or would like to help find homes for homes, please visit the Fostering page, or call the animal control office at (310) 618-3850 to be added to their list. ---------------------------------------------------- 2. Friends of Torrance Animals Adopt-A-Classroom Program 'Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar.' - Bradley Millar Thanks to donations from individuals throughout the South Bay, more than a dozen teachers in schools across Torrance are participating in the Friends of Torrance Animals Adopt-A-Classroom program at no cost to the teacher, student, or school. Each classroom is receiving a subscription to KIND News, an award-winning classroom newspaper published by the youth education division of the Humane Society of the United States. Every month, from September through May, a bundle of 28 copies of the newspaper is delivered, along with a teacher's guide. In addition, Friends of Torrance Animals has provided teachers with: Share the World videotape, teacher's guide, and wall poster Making the Connection: What Educators Need to Know (the connection between animal cruelty and human violence). The KIND Workshop Leader's Guide Farm Animal Story and Activity Book (the 3rd week in September is 'Farm Animal Awareness Week') Saying no to dissection: a handbook for elementary school students KIND News mini-books: Dr. Kind Answers Kids' Questions about Animals; KIND News Book of Critter Views; KIND News Book of Critter Clues A description of books, videos, and games available for loan from Friends of Torrance Animals Teachers who would like to join the program can e-mail FTA@onebox.com, leave a message on our message line, (877) 571-4189, or send a request to Friends of Torrance Animals, PO Box 10123, Torrance CA 90505. Requests should include the number of students, number of classrooms, grade level(s), and contact information. -------------------------------------------------- 3. Police Department Seeks Volunteers for Animal Disaster Team In the event of an emergency, the Torrance Police Department encourages all pet owners to evacuate with their pets. In cases where that isnít possible, the Police Department is forming an Animal Disaster Team (ADT) to provide care and sheltering of animals impacted by local disasters. Lt. Jon Megeff is seeking volunteers, adults 18 years or older who live or work in Torrance, who are interested in joining the Animal Disaster Team. Volunteers will complete an application and be fingerprinted for a background check. All equipment will be provided by the city, and training is being planned. ADT volunteers who have passed the background check and have been issued credentials will feed, clean up after, and take care of, pets during a disaster under the direction of Torrance Animal Control. This will allow disaster responders, including animal control officers and veterinarians, to concentrate their efforts on public safety. Volunteers who have a special affinity for only a certain type of pet (reptiles, small dogs, rabbits, birds, big dogs, or cats) are encouraged to apply. You do not have to be able to handle all types of animals to help. Volunteers do not have to commit to certain number of hours of service, and will not be required to perform veterinary treatments. For more information or to request an application, please e-mail Lt. Jon Megeff at jmegeff@torrnet.com or call (310) 618-5670. ---------------------------------------------------------- 4. LA County Carson Shelter Statistics FY 2005-2006 The City of Torrance does NOT have an animal shelter. The City contracts with LA County for sheltering services. Animals without ID tags who cannot be returned to their homes are taken to the LA County/Carson shelter, located at 216 W. Victoria Street in Carson (two blocks east of Figueroa & 190th). According to information provided by the LA County Department of Animal Care & Control, they took in more than 85,000 animals in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2006, including nearly 17,000 at the Carson shelter (which services Torrance). On average, every day in FY 2005-2006, 7 dogs and 3 cats were adopted from the Carson shelter; 8 dogs and 12 cats were euthanized there. For complete statistics on the number of dogs, cats, and other animals impounded, returned to owner, adopted, and euthanized for FY '03-'04, '04-'05, and '05-'06, please go to Shelter Statistics. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Licensing: MAROON License Tags Now In Style! To help protect human health and safety, dog licenses are required by the State of California and the City of Torrance. Proof of rabies vaccination, effective through the term of the license, is required for a dog license. (Cat licenses, which also require proof of rabies vaccination, are available as an option in Torrance.) City of Torrance residents must obtain a City of Torrance (not LA County) dog license, every fiscal year. The fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, the City of Torrance license tag is maroon colored. The fee is $40 per year for an unaltered dog, and $20 per year for an altered (spayed or neutered) dog, with late fees if not paid on time. Fees, and penalties for failure to license a dog, are determined by a vote of the Torrance city council. Licenses are processed by PetData, www.petdata.com. Applications for dog licenses should include the age, sex, color, and breed of the dog for which the license is desired and the address of the owner. Residents should mail proof of rabies vaccination (valid through the following June 30th), proof of spay/neuter (for reduced fee), and a check payable to the City of Torrance to: Torrance Animal Licensing c/o PetData 222 W Las Colinas Blvd, Ste 1345 Irving, TX 75039 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Animal control is a public health and safety function that covers all animals and benefits all residents. It includes field patrol (law enforcement), licensing, and sheltering. Friends of Torrance Animals is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which encourages effective animal control, responsible pet ownership, and humane treatment of animals in our community, through education. We are not an adoption agency or animal placement agency.   For more information, please go to From the Media or How to Help. To be added to our e-newsletter, send your name, address, and e-mail address to FTA@onebox.com