Making a Difference in Your Community : Animal Lovers Can Help With Advice Line

Dogs ending up in Southern California animal shelters don’t have much of a chance of getting out. Only one out of eight finds a permanent home. Cats don’t fare that well.

Overpopulation of animals have created these “warehouses of unwanted animals,” say members of the Pet Assistance Foundation.

The foundation, including its San Fernando Valley chapter, is trying to reduce this unwanted population by encouraging owners to spay and neuter their animals.

The local chapter uses a volunteer-run telephone service for pet owners to call and ask for referrals of veterinarians who sterilize animals, many of whom offer discounts to people referred by the foundation.

Peggy Wilder, who has volunteered with the foundation for 10 years, said she’s gotten calls on “everything from ‘I found this kitten. What do I feed it?’ to ‘I found a opossum. Can I bring it to your house?’ to ‘How long does a cat stay in heat?’ ”

Volunteers, now numbering seven, call the foundation’s answering service throughout the day. They then find answers to questions left with the service and return the calls.

“We help people find out any information they need,” said Wilder, 60.

The foundation needs volunteers willing to work half-days or full days, said Wilder, who returns calls one full day and two half-days each week.

“You don’t have to sit home and do it all day,” said the Reseda resident.

Many of the questions that volunteers can expect to answer refer to myths about sterilizing animals, Wilder said. Some owners think pets will become obese and sluggish after spaying or neutering. That’s not so, Wilder said.

“It makes the animal healthier,” she said. “It’s proven they live longer.”

Wilder said she volunteered because of her love for animals and the wish to help them without becoming emotionally attached to individual pets.

“I’m just very fond of animals,” she said. “I tried working in the pound and I lasted one day there.”

Louisa Jacobs, who has volunteered since 1969, said the foundation began in Los Angeles in 1955. Despite all the work, the overpopulation problem still looks pretty bleak.

“There was a problem in 1955,” she said. “There is still a problem.”

For more information, call the foundation’s answering service at (818) 709-0900 or the Volunteer Center of San Fernando Valley at (818) 908-5066.

Other volunteering opportunities:

The Foundation for Children’s Dental Health needs volunteers. The group was founded last year to provide low-income, elementary school-age children in Santa Clarita Valley with free dental services. Twenty-two dentists have volunteered their services. The group, in conjunction with the University of Southern California mobile dental unit, will serve 120 children at St. Stephen’s Church Dec. 10 through 17. The group needs volunteers to help with the dental unit and children. Contact Mary Caravalho at (805) 253-2484.

Heads Up Inc., a Saugus organization that helps disabled children feel confident and able through equestrian therapy, needs volunteers. They must be at least 14 years old, able to lead horses and walk beside the horse and disabled rider during therapy lessons. Volunteers are particularly needed on weekends, said Nancy Pitchford, who with mare Dusty, began the program eight years ago. Call (805) 297-7433.

Valley Women’s Center Inc. in Tarzana needs volunteers to work in its office, which is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. weekdays. Volunteers are asked to commit three to four hours weekly at the nonprofit counseling center answering telephones, typing and doing computer work and mailings. Call (818) 757-2188.

Getting Involved is a weekly listing of volunteering opportunities. Please address prospective listings to Getting Involved, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, 91311. Or fax them to (818) 772-3338.