LORI’S CORNER: DOWNTOWN DOG RESCUE S.O.S. TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE
Last week, writer and friend of Downtown Dog Rescue, Ryan Vaillancourt, wrote and posted and article on the Downtown New blog about Downtown Dog Rescue losing our home after 14 years. LA DOWNTOWN NEWS LINK TO ARTICLE This is a true but sad fact. My company, Modernica, which has generously donated the land where our kennel is located, in back of our wood shop, will no longer be available because Modernica is moving to Vernon. I’ve known about this move for several months and applied for a kennel permit with the City of Vernon. I was denied, no kennels of any type are allowed, despite several letters of recommendation and an outline of the services and programs that we provide the communities that we serve.
While we are not in a panic about where to move 20 rescue dogs, we do need to consider the long term future of DDR and we ask for your help. My dream has always been to create a true rehabilitation center where the DDR rescue dogs could live and play, getting ready to be adopted, not very different than what we have now, but place where we could expand our existing programs. What would be different is that we would be located in the community that we primarily serve, South Central Los Angeles. Dog owners could rely on us for more, including a puppy boot camp, puppy vaccination clinic, more mobile spay/neuter clinics and dog training to mention a few of the services that would reduce unwanted litters of puppies, put adoption and re-homing into the hearts and minds of dog owners who might otherwise “throw their dogs away” while promoting owner retention, all aspects of our Operation Safety. We would be taking it up a notch. Part of the reason for wanting this rehabilitation center is to provide job training and jobs for the youth and the unemployed and underemployed in SLA, Watts and Compton. Many young men who love […]
PITStop SUPPORTS COMMUNITY BUSINESS: SKATE CAFE’
The story is that skateboarding was probably born sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s, when surfers in California wanted something to surf when the waves were flat. Now, reports reveal there’s more than 18.5 million recorded skateboarders in the world, but this radio broadcast will be about more than skateboarding.
Skate Cafe’ and the guys involved are about providing a refuge for those appreciating the art of skateboarding; a place for expressive artists to congregate; and a refuge for young creative minds to communicate and celebrate their diversity. Last, but not least, Skate Cafe’ is a site where two distinctly different communities — loft-dwelling, upscale, downtown residents and visitors conjoin with Skidrow eclectic and artistic minds, to shop, converse and have free coffee/tea (hence, the name Skate Café).
The founders of Skate Café are professional skater Cato Williams, skater David Nussman and Soulful Commandoe designer Nicholas Mayfield. Professional athlete, Crushow Herring (artist and Skidrow activist) is collaborating with the Café, bringing artist and community programs to the shop.
Find out more about the Skate Café in a featured article in the Los Angeles Downtown News (May 14, 2010)
JOBS WITH DOGS – Los Angeles Downtown News Article
Read full article here:GOING TO THE DOGS: Los Angeles Downtown News