November 2, 2007

Council member hosts animal fair

By Carol Rosen
Editor

Bascom Animal Hospital vet techs Danny Solomon, left, Candace Carson and Chris Moy hold Cabo.

More humans than beasts crowded the Willows Senior Center on Oct. 20 to view cats, kittens, puppies, dogs, bunnies, gerbils and hamsters. Most of them also filled out applications in hopes of offering a home to a potential new family member.

The animals were only part of the fair. There was plenty of information and veterinarian Dr. David Reed of the Bascom Animal Hospital was on hand for low-cost shots, clipping and nail clipping services as well as providing information on the care and feeding of the animals.

Adopting an animal is just like adopting a baby, said Joy Baker, who currently is fostering 17 cats that need families. These animals need to be treated like family, she added. In order to adopt, humans needed to fill out an application and following a home visit will be allowed to invite an animal into their home.

Another unique aspect of the fair was that all of the animals were inside various rooms within the senior center. One spry kitten, being held by an adult, climbed up the shoulder and jumped off ready to run away from all the people. However, the door was immediately closed and the kitten rescued and replaced in her cage.

Vet tech Kelly Pearce poses with Dr. David Reed, Benson and Benson’s owner Andrew Brunt.

District 6 Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio sponsored this fair, which brought in nearly 150 people. Nearly everyone filled out an application. One puppy, a fuzzy beige German shepherd puppy garnered 10 applications, although her brother only got one. Others took dogs for walks or held sleeping kittens and bunnies to get acquainted with, what may be for some, their first pets.

Some pets were very special. For example, someone abused a Chihuahua mix named Hardy by cutting his ears with a scissors. But despite his rough treatment he remained sweet and lovable covering most everyone with whom he came in contact with kisses. Another Chihuahua, named Mr. Willie, who is partially blind, was rescued from a shelter where he would normally have been euthanized. Both dogs are available for adoption through Silicon Valley Animal Control.

This is the fourth animal fair sponsored by city politicians. Mayor Chuck Reed held the first one earlier this year, followed by Councilmembers Forrest Williams and Nora Campos. Oliverio has plans to do another one next April, also at the Willows. Madison Nguyen has one set for March and Vice Mayor Dave Cortese and Councilmember Pete Constant have plans in the works to hold additional animal fairs.

Angelina and Sergio Fernandez pet Baby, a Persian Himalayan kitten. Both attend River Glen School.

Reed not only provides care and information, he also provides liability insurance in case anyone falls or gets hurt. “The city couldn’t provide liability insurance for these fairs, so I extended my coverage in case something happens. My vet techs and I have done all of them so far.

“While we provide shots and clipping, the real key to my being here is education and pet care. We provide the services but the essence is educating the public. I offer them all my business card and tell them to call me with questions. I honestly believe that much of an animal’s aggressive nature depends on how it is raised. People that socialize their animals and spay and neuter their pets don’t usually have aggressive animals. It’s child abuse to take something innocent, like a puppy, and intentionally hurt that animal,” he added.

Reed practically brings his entire office to the animal fairs. Five members of his staff joined him at the Willow Glen fair including Kelly Pearce, Chris Moy, Andrew Brunt, Danny Solomon and Candance Carson.