Welcome to This Week's AV Paws & Hooves |
Halloween is almost here, the evenings are getting shorter, and the high desert is settling into fall.
This week we've got a free dog costume contest in Palmdale, an adoption day where you can meet rescue pets in person, tips for keeping pets and horses safe as darkness comes earlier, a biosecurity check-in for horse owners heading to fall shows, and a Lancaster animal hospital that local pet owners keep recommending. |
Trivia Question❓What common four-legged working animal was historically used to haul borax wagons across the Mojave Desert through the Antelope Valley in the late 1800s, inspiring a famous brand name still recognized today? Answer at the bottom of the newsletter |
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Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest |
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Palmdale's dogs are dressing up for Halloween
Palmdale Parks and Recreation is hosting a free Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest at Sam Yellen Dog Park, part of the city's Paws in the Park Holiday Series.
There are two contest sessions. Registration is onsite only, and each dog can enter one session:
Prize categories: Best Dog & Owner Duo, Cutest Costume, Best Homemade Costume, Tiny But Mighty, and Big Dog Energy.
Keep costumes safe and comfortable, and keep your dog leashed the whole time. The series wraps up with Santa Paws Pet Photos in December. Event details from the City of Palmdale. |
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Also this week
Hosting an animal event in the AV? Horse show, adoption day, clinic or fundraiser, we'd love to share it. Post your event here. |
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Linden was a Special Request from one of our Subscribers
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Meet rescue pets in person this Saturday Jill's Acres, a Palmdale nonprofit whose mission pairs housing homeless students with rescuing and rehabilitating homeless animals, is holding an adoption day this weekend.
West Palmdale PetSmart Adoption Day
Volunteers will be on hand to introduce you to the available pets, help you fill out an application and walk you through the adoption process. Can't make it Saturday? The next adoption days at the same PetSmart are Nov. 7 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Nov. 21 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
See Jill's Acres' available pets · Adoption event schedule
The county's Lancaster and Palmdale animal care centers also have dogs and cats waiting. Browse adoptable animals at both centers. |
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Darker evenings are coming: plan ahead for pets, poultry and horses Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, Nov. 1, when clocks fall back an hour. Overnight, the after-work dog walk, evening feeding and barn chores all move into dusk or full dark. That's also when coyotes and other desert predators tend to be most active, so it's worth adjusting routines now.
Want more on keeping animals safe from local wildlife? Read our guide to coyotes, bobcats and backyard animals in the AV. |
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Heading to a fall show? Bring good biosecurity home with you Fall is a busy season for shows, clinics and trail events, and anywhere horses from different barns mix is a place germs can travel. The good news: as of this week, the California Department of Food and Agriculture's alert page shows no active quarantines for neurologic equine herpesvirus (EHM) in the state. The most recent one, in Santa Barbara County, was released on March 20.
Equine herpesvirus usually causes mild respiratory illness, but it can occasionally lead to the serious neurologic form, and fever is often the first or only early sign. A few simple habits help keep your barn healthy:
Check current California equine disease alerts any time on the CDFA animal health alerts page. |
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| ★★★★☆ |
The full-service small animal hospital cares for dogs, cats, rabbits and other small animals. Services include wellness exams, canine and feline vaccinations, dental care, spay and neuter, soft-tissue surgery, digital X-rays and ultrasound, and in-house lab work, so many test results come back quickly. The team is led by Dr. Folse, the founder, and Dr. Melissa Brogan.
What stands out in reviews is access. Pet owners regularly mention being seen the same day, and the hospital offers urgent care during regular hours depending on doctor availability, with referrals when a pet needs an emergency clinic. Call ahead so the staff can advise you. Saturday hours are a big plus for working families.
Payment options include CareCredit and Scratchpay, and the hospital works with most major pet insurance plans. |
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New on AV Paws & Hooves this week
Vets, clinics and animal businesses: get listed The AV Paws & Hooves business directory helps local pet and horse owners find the vets, animal hospitals, farriers, trainers, groomers and boarding facilities that serve the high desert. If you run an animal business in the Antelope Valley, we'd love to include you. Add your business to the directory.
Know a pet or horse with a story to tell? Hit reply and tell us about them. Reader-nominated animals are featured in our Pet or Horse That Deserves the Spotlight section. |
A dry cough that won't quit could point to Valley Fever, a fungal illness that comes from spores in desert soil.
The Antelope Valley is one of LA County's hot spots, and dogs that dig and sniff in the dirt are especially exposed.
Many dogs never get sick, but others develop a cough, fever, low energy or weight loss, and serious cases can spread to the bones and joints.
A blood test can confirm it, and most dogs recover with months of antifungal medication.
It isn't contagious, but limiting dust exposure on windy days is the best prevention for pets and horses alike. Read More... |
Living in the Antelope Valley means sharing space with coyotes, bobcats, hawks, owls, snakes, and other wildlife. This article explains how local pet owners, ranch families, and backyard animal keepers can reduce risk without panic. Key safety steps include removing attractants like pet food and unsecured trash, checking fences and gates, securing chicken coops and rabbit hutches, supervising small dogs, keeping cats indoors or protected, and paying attention to signs of predator activity around the property. With layered protection and regular checks, AV residents can help keep domestic animals safer while respecting the wildlife that naturally lives here. Read More... |
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💡 Answer to Trivia Question: Mules (20-mule teams). The 20-mule teams hauled borax from Death Valley to the railroad at Mojave, on the Antelope Valley’s northern edge. |