Service Animals are already permitted on Santa Monica Beach. Here's how lifeguards are directed to approach people with service dogs on the beach:
Service Animals are already permitted on Santa Monica Beach. Here's how lifeguards are directed to approach people with service dogs on the beach:
Missy (top) and Oscar are local Service Dogs. Note that, according to the policy, they need not be "in uniform" to be on the job.
MY DOG JUST FINISHED A GOOD BOOK
Daniel Gutierrez and Jessica Perez share a book with Oscar
by Jack Neworth
If the peace movement in America really wants to end the war in Iraq they ought to stop focusing on things like the $400,000,000,000 (whew, that’s a lot of zeros) the cost of the war so far, or the 2273 dead American G.I.’s, or the 48,100 American wounded, or the estimated 100,000 Iraqis who have died while being liberated. If they’re serious about stopping the war machine, they ought to focus on how many Pomeranians have perished, or poodles or Chihuahuas.We Americans have a special place in our hearts for our pets, that may even be greater than the place we have for our fellow human, unless that human is a missing coed in Aruba. An example of this was a poll which suggested of all the footage of Katrina victims, the images that seemed to affect us most were of the helpless pets. Lest you think I’m being snobbish, let me admit, I’m no different, although my interest in Natalee Holloway has long since dissipated.I live in a high rise apartment building in Santa Monica which doesn’t allow pets (not even a goldfish.) My neighbor Colleen, however, is disabled and as such, is allowed a medical dog, a golden retriever named Oscar, whose exploits have graced these pages before (columns: "Rebel With Four Paws", "Oscar’s Big Day in Court.) Well, it seems Oscar has a new adventure and it involves his taste in books. No, I’m not referring to a book he chewed up, but rather one he has read. (To be technical, a book he has read to him.)You see Oscar is involved in a wonderful Santa Monica Police Activities League after school program, "America Reads" where young kids read books to specially licensed therapy dogs. If at first this sounds a little odd, I can only say you must observe it yourself. There are ten kids, two amazing dogs, and three volunteers. The book readings are every Wednesday after school and take place at the Police Athletic League Center located at 1401 Olympic Blvd, just in front of Memorial Park. The kids each read a page of their favorite children's story to the dog, who if you didn't know better, was listening. Sometimes I almost expect Oscar to say, "Run that paragraph by me again."If you have any interest in enrolling your child, or volunteering either yourself or your therapy dog, feel free to contact Eula Fritz at (310) 458 8988 or email to: eula.Fritz@smgov.Net. I guaranty the look of joy on the kids' faces is worth the price of admission (were there an admission charge.)I am a little concerned however, if this program takes off and gets really popular. I can envision an "Oscar's Book Club of the Month," perhaps rivaling Oprah's? And God forbid if one of the authors of the children's books might fabricate a detail or two, a la James Frey, it could turn into a "Million Little Problems." Those concerns aside, however, pry yourself away from what's going on in Aruba and check out "Read America. It'll do your soul good.
