A shelter dog named Ava spent what could have been her last day finally feeling loved. An Instagram creator visited Ava at Lancaster Animal Care Center in Lancaster, California, after learning the two-year-old, 47-pound dog had been cleared for euthanasia.

The shelter offers a "best last day" experience for dogs on the euthanasia list — a chance to leave their kennels, receive affection, and feel valued one final time. The creator made sure Ava "got to feel like the prettiest girl in the world."

The emotional video, shared on Instagram by @evelyn.garces._, quickly became a plea for adoption. The creator describes Ava as sweet and full of potential, but notes that shelter stress makes her appear overwhelmed — causing many prospective adopters to pass her by without a second look.

The post is a reminder that kennel behavior rarely tells the whole story, and that a dog's life can change simply because someone chose to look closer.

The sign on your local vet's door may not tell the whole story. Corporate and private equity ownership of U.S. veterinary practices has surged — from roughly 10 percent a decade ago to estimates as high as 50 percent today, with specialty and emergency care approaching 75 percent corporate ownership.

California dog owner Francis Wong launched an independent tracking website after his dachshund, Pluto, died at a clinic he later discovered was owned by investment giant KKR. Wong declined a refund tied to a nondisclosure agreement and instead built a database to help pet owners identify who truly owns their vet.

Names, staff, and décor often stay the same after a sale, masking sweeping changes underneath. Mars Inc. alone now controls more than 2,000 veterinary hospitals globally, including Banfield and VCA chains.

Federal regulators have taken notice, requiring divestitures and filing suits over merger compliance. The message for pet owners: it may be worth asking who actually owns the practice caring for your animal.

Warmer weather means more hikers on the trails — and more rattlesnakes soaking up the sun alongside them. These venomous reptiles are most active from April through October, but as one herpetologist puts it, "snakes don't have a calendar."

The good news: rattlesnakes are not naturally aggressive and will almost always try to retreat first. Your job is to give them the space to do so. Stay at least ten paces away, resist the urge to photograph or handle one, and never throw rocks or try to move it yourself — studies suggest the majority of bites happen exactly that way.

Before hitting the trail, pack a hiking pole, skip the earphones so you can hear your surroundings, and keep dogs on a non-retractable leash. A little preparation goes a long way toward a safe and enjoyable hike.

High Desert Animal Care Hospital

This week’s vet spotlight is High Desert Animal Care Hospital, a full-service animal hospital serving Palmdale and the greater Antelope Valley with routine veterinary care, urgent care, surgery, dental services, diagnostics, and more.

High Desert Animal Care Hospital focuses on providing dependable veterinary care in a clean, comfortable, and efficient setting. Their clinic is designed to be welcoming for both pets and families, with a calm, kid-friendly environment that helps make visits less stressful for animals and their owners.

The hospital welcomes pets needing routine medical care as well as emergency and urgent treatment during business hours. For pet owners, that means having a local veterinary team available for everything from wellness exams and vaccinations to unexpected concerns that need faster attention.

The veterinary team includes Dr. Noemi Prieto, DVM, and Dr. Rimsha Malik, DVM, along with a compassionate support staff committed to helping pets receive quality care close to home.

High Desert Animal Care Hospital provides a wide range of services, including:

Vaccinations
Dental care
Surgery
In-house diagnostics
Microchipping
Urgent care
Cold laser therapy

One thing that makes the hospital especially useful for Antelope Valley pet owners is the variety of animals they may be able to see. In addition to dogs and cats, select veterinarians may also care for rabbits, pocket pets, reptiles, birds, and small farm animals. Pet owners should call ahead to confirm availability for non-dog and non-cat appointments.

The hospital also accepts emergencies anytime the clinic is open. If possible, pet owners are encouraged to call before coming in so the team can advise them based on the situation. For non-life-threatening urgent needs, the clinic may be able to work pets into the schedule between regular appointments.

High Desert Animal Care Hospital also offers discounts for senior citizens and local rescue groups, with pre-approval required for rescue discounts.

For local pet families, having a full-service veterinary hospital nearby matters. Whether your pet needs routine care, vaccines, dental work, diagnostics, urgent attention, or support from a team familiar with Antelope Valley animals, High Desert Animal Care Hospital is a local option worth knowing.

Vaccine Clinic Hours:
Saturday: 8 AM – 2 PM
Sunday: 8 AM – 12 PM

Why locals should know them: High Desert Animal Care Hospital offers full-service veterinary care, urgent care access, vaccine clinic hours, and support for a wide range of pets in the Antelope Valley.

Good for: Dogs, cats, routine vet care, vaccines, dental care, diagnostics, urgent concerns, senior pet owners, rescue groups, and select exotic or small animal care.

Fahnestock Ranch, Inc. : Rescue to New Home

Fahnestock Ranch, Inc. in Acton is more than an equine facility. It is a rescue, rehabilitation, training, and adoption organization built around giving horses, donkeys, and mules a second chance at life.

Since 2005, Fahnestock Ranch has worked to locate and take in equine that have been abandoned, neglected, abused, unwanted, or placed at risk of slaughter. Many of the animals that arrive at the ranch have experienced difficult circumstances and need time, care, structure, and patience before they can begin to trust again.

Once brought to the ranch, each horse, donkey, or mule receives the support needed to begin healing. Some arrive underweight, injured, fearful, or unfamiliar with gentle human handling. Their rehabilitation is handled individually, because every animal’s story and recovery timeline is different. Volunteers provide daily care, natural horsemanship training, and consistent attention designed to rebuild confidence and restore trust in people.

Fahnestock Ranch’s work follows a clear mission: rescue, rehabilitate, and adopt. The organization works with law enforcement, animal control, and other groups to identify equine in need. Once an animal is safe, the ranch develops a custom rehabilitation plan based on health, temperament, training level, and emotional needs. When ready, horses are posted for adoption, and potential owners are carefully reviewed to help ensure the right match. The ranch also stays in contact after placement to support the transition into a new forever home.

The ranch is led by Michael Fahnestock, whose lifelong passion for horses began at age 10 with his first horse. His training philosophy is rooted in natural horsemanship, mutual respect, trust, and developing a true partnership between horse and human.

 Fahnestock Ranch offers training for a wide range of needs, including colt starting, problem solving, refresher training, respect issues, and work with wild or untouched horses.

In addition to rescue and rehabilitation, Fahnestock Ranch offers equine services and activities that help support its mission, including trail riding, riding lessons, horse training, pony birthday parties, horse hauling, and other horse-related services throughout Southern California. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, funds and donations go directly back into rescuing, training, rehabilitating, and rehoming horses in need.

For those who want to help but may not be ready to adopt, Fahnestock Ranch also offers the opportunity to sponsor a horse. Sponsorship helps provide essentials such as food and water, shelter, grooming, foot care, veterinary care, medicine, equipment, and training. Sponsors receive the knowledge that they stepped in to help save a horse’s life, along with the opportunity to meet and ride their sponsored horse and receive updated newsletters and photos. Sponsorship proceeds are tax-deductible.

Fahnestock Ranch is a 100% volunteer organization and continues to rely on community support, donations, sponsorships, and hands-on help. At its heart, the ranch is about second chances — for horses, for people, and for the powerful bond that can form when both are given time, care, and respect.

Fahnestock Ranch, Inc.
4151 Pelona Canyon Rd.
Acton, CA 93510
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (818) 635-6180