COVID-19: 3 Years Later | $17 Humane Society Offers Adoptions | Biden Issues Gun Background Check EO | Bank Bailout | Another Atmospheric River Blasts California |

New Male Tiger Dumai at San Diego Zoo Safari Park (Taken 3.10.23)

It has been a mostly chill week for me and I'm loving this weather. I'm happy to report my dad is back home as of Sunday night, which I think most people in his circumstances would prefer, but it was also comforting to know he was under the care of medical professionals for a few nights and we were off the hook for driving to Chula Vista. Since he's been reclassified as hospice care, he will once again have more in-home assistance for my mom, and we'll go back to helping at night half the week. There's always an upside correlating with the downside and vice versa.  

Besides my usual zoo trips, on Thursday we went to Nova's Academic League competition and on Friday I went to Safari Park with Darren which was so nice. He recommended I take the Spanish tram and it was interesting to hear how some of the animals names and information translates...not exactly the conversational Spanish we learn in school and in my normal life I don't have much occasion for using Spanish so I would definitely do that again. On Saturday night we went to the EXTC show which was pretty fun to see Darren living in his 20-something dreams and it was nice to see so many old friends at the show. 

This week seems to already be spring break for a lot of people so the zoo has been packed which is why I kinda love when it rains...it definitely makes people change their plans, but when it is crowded, I can still duck away into an aviary or a quiet space when I need to. The next few weeks will probably be kinda crazy there, but I'll try and keep the habit - I feel healthier with it in my life than when I skip a day or two. 

This week is going to be a little busier with some work nights at the Casbah and Music Box but hopefully I can offset with the longer zoo and Seaworld hours and lots and lots of sleep. May you all find time for the things you love, too. If you're in the market for a new pet, all adoptions are $17 in honor of St. Patrick's Day for the whole weekend. 

Stay safe & healthy out there.  

CoViD-19 & Black Lives Matter| Balboa Park Events Reschulduling Tabled | Restaurant Week To Return | #WearOrange | Crisis Fatigue

Bea Evenson Fountain taken 6.4.2019
Balboa Park Central Mesa and All Lots Will Fully Reopen 6.12.2020

I meant to post this post on Thursday night, but I got caught up in the CRB meeting and then watched the Balboa Park Committee meeting on Youtube through our Roku, and then I had to record my presentation for the Virtual San Diego Music Awards (taking place on July 6) and then compose a Casbah newsletter for today and then I just never got back to publish my post here. But the biggest thing I want to say is that I was wrong about last night's march that took place from Downtown to North Park. I felt the demands missed the mark because they were already being addressed or addressing the wrong jurisdiction, but I can see now, that wasn't really the point nor the driver of why so many people turned out. One can never predict how things are going to go, but I saw hundreds of peaceful protesters walking together, saw dozens of photos and read numerous accounts and even watched some of the live streaming footage of the event and it looked like quite a beautiful thing. I imagine many of the people were the same people who submitted over 3500 comments to the Community Review Board, proving you can fight the same fight from multiple fronts simultaneously for more impact. I'm so impressed and I hope that marches, demonstrations, and protests and remain peaceful throughout the weekend.

CoViD-19: San Diego Humane Society Open By Appointment Only

As families are facing the unknown -- will I still have a job? will I lose my home? what am I going to do with the kids?--our pets can bring unconditional love and comfort. Two of my family's current three are San Diego Humane Society adoptees. (Kiwi came from a litter of cats born to a mom whose owner thought she was a he over 20 years ago.) And we just realized that today, 3/17 is the 5 year anniversary of the first time we met Ficus, named Sunflower at the time, before we finalized her adoption 4 days later, on March 21, 2015.

The whole world is really insane right now, but if you have stable living conditions for the foreseeable future, consider adoption via the San Diego Humane Society. Sadly, times of financial strife often result in pet relinquishments, so they will be extra busy. Pets will definitely be therapeutic companions for many who live alone and will be asked to shelter in place for the next several weeks or months, so if you're one of these people and you have stable housing, what are your waiting for?? You can even browse animals online.

Anyway, the San Diego Humane Society has been sending updates about their current status in light of the pandemic, and you can read the whole thing here. The TL;dr most important parts are below.

1. SDHS is open by appointment only. 78 animals came in on Monday alone to add to the over 1000 animals already in their care; finding homes for animals doesn’t stop. Call 619-299-7012 to make an appointment or drive up to any of our campuses and make an appointment from your vehicle.

2. There will be a need for fosters. Sign up here.

3. The 'neuter scooter' will cease operations for now.

4. Before relinquishing a pet, please consider rehoming.

5. Injured and/or orphaned wildlife can still be brought to Project Wildlife at 5433 Gaines St

(If you appreciate the posts on this site, please consider a small donation or tip via Venmo/sddialedin or Paypal.)

Purina Sponsors San Diego Humane Society Adoptions For $5

Thanks to a sponsorship from Purina, all adoptions through the San Diego Humane Society are only $5 from November 19-December 1st! We're celebrating our 'Gotcha Day' with Strawberry next week and we can't really imagine our little family without her. Ficus was also adopted through the Humane Society foster program. If you have room in your home and your heart, consider adopting this season. The Humane Society has three main campuses- Gaines Street in San Diego, Escondido, and Oceanside, and the hours are generally 10am-6pm (but check the website for special hours and satellite locations.)

10 Ways Pets Support Mental Health:

1.  Interacting with Pets Lowers Our Stress Hormones
2. Pets Protect Against Childhood Anxiety
3. Our Pets Make Us Feel Needed
4. Pets Increase Our Sense of Self-Esteem and Well-Being
5. Cats and Dogs Are Great Examples of Being in the Moment
6. Pets Support Recovery from Mental Illness
7. Pets Help Us Build Healthy Habits
8. Our Pets Help Build Relationship Skills
9. Pets Support Social Connection
10. Pets Give Us Unconditional Love

Saturday: Walk For Animals at Kit Carson Park

A Message From the Humane Society:

The Walk for Animals – North County is this Saturday, Feb. 23! We don’t want you to miss out on all the fun—or the opportunity to help create a more humane San Diego for animals in need. Prices will increase the day of the event, so be sure to register online!

Online registration will be available until 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22. But don’t worry if you miss the deadline! You can also register in person starting at 7 a.m. the day of the event.

By joining us at the Walk, you’ll help San Diego Humane Society care for nearly 50,000 animals in need this year. And did we mention there will be pancakes?

We can’t wait to see you there!

Pre-Event Pricing

$20 for Adults

$10 for Kids

Day-of-Event Registration

$30 for Adults

$15 for Kids

San Diego Humane Society Free Adoptions

If you have room in your home and your heart this holiday season, what better gift than being a forever home to a new pet? The San Diego Humane Society, with a sponsorship by generous donors, are offering FREE adoptions from now until Christmas Eve. Ficus was a Humane Society adoption and she has been an amazing addition to our family, and to be honest, filled the massive void left when Pascha died. We recently took advantage of a similar offer at the San Diego County Animal Shelter and came home with Strawberry, who is the sweetest little jerk you could ever hope for.

Get down to any of the three campuses of the San Diego Humane Society and find your new love in a cat, a dog, a guinea pig, chicken, or rabbit.

Make Seth Combs Get "The Bieb"

I'm very reluctant to align myself with charitable causes, because when it comes down to it, aren't we all worthy of a benefit?

However, tonight, while at the Casbah, my friend (and occasional sddialedin contributor) Bonnie Vanderwater was daring Seth Combs to cut his hair, and I was on board. Bonnie challenged Seth. If Bonnie can raise $300 for the Humane Society, Seth agreed that he would cut his hair like Justin Bieber. So when they were asking me to lay money on the line (my broke, unemployed ass), I wanted to know if that meant the beard, too. For $500 Seth said no. But, if we get $700 worth of confirmed donors, Seth will cut his hair in the style of Justin Bieber AND also shave the beard. So step up, San Diego. No donation is too small. Find me or Bonnie Vanderwater on Facebook. Make a financial commitment. 100% of the moneys raised will go to the San Diego Humane Society and then we can all be free of the threat of attacks from whatever wild animals have made Seth Combs' beard a home. Do it for the animals. Do it for San Diego. Do it for the poor Lesbians who look like Bieber.

Of course, Seth laid down some conditions. All of the money must be donated prior to the cut and shave date, so just saying you'd pay to see it doesn't count. We need cash. I am collecting no money, but I will put you in touch with Bonnie who is accepting responsibility for the collection. This could be really good. Let's do it! You know how to find me. And I know how to find Bonnie. If we get $700, I'm pretty sure we can make Seth's cut and shave happen in a public forum. This could seriously be awesome. It's for the animals. DO IT.