Animals and pets

Escondido Mounted Posse memorial service for Diana Cavender (UPDATED)

A memorial service for Diana Cavender took place at the Escondido Mounted Posse’s regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 26 at the Mitchell Room, Escondido City Hall, 201 N. Broadway. She was killed Saturday after falling from a spooked horse at a Lakeside Western Days Parade staging area off Channel Road. Cavender, 52, an Escondido resident and horse trainer, was considered the most experienced rider in…


It’s a butterfly jungle out there

(Editor’s Note: To order tickets, go to the Butterfly Jungle sidebar ad to the right and click.) San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s Butterfly Jungle is roaring back into life through April 10. Immerse yourself in a flutter of delicate wings. Each spring, Hidden Jungle gets an added dose of color during the Butterfly Jungle event, when thousands of colorful butterflies hatch and add their fluttering…


Animal control or out of control? San Diego Humane Society and SPCA has law enforcement powers, huge war chest

San Diego Humane Society and SPCA has law enforcement powers and huge war chest In addition to having a warm and fuzzy public relations profile, The San Diego Humane Society and SPCA has a few items on its non-profit resume that comes as a surprise to most people. The Humane Society and SPCA has a large, and growing, state-authorized law enforcement arm and more than…


Roosters seized and euthanized during Pauma Valley cockfighting sweep

Quail Drive was an unfortunately named location for the place where San Diego Sheriff’s swooped in on Sunday, Feb. 21 to break up an alleged cockfighting operation. The 18200 block of Quail Drive at Pauma Valley to be precise, and when the operation had ended, San Diego county Animal Services had seized nearly 100 rooster while euthanizing 183 birds. The property owner’s identity was not…


Escondido Christmas Bird Count results

Greater Escondido definitely is going to the birds as attested by the latest Audubon Society bird count. Palomar Audubon Society president and bird count compiler Ken Weaver flew in Valentine’s Day with the official results of the Escondido Christmas Bird Count (CBC). This was part of the 116th CBC in national Audubon Society history. “Seventy-one observers participated in the Escondido Christmas Bird Count held on…


Of mice, free Chick-fil-A and Stone Brewing

What’s in a brewery name? This just in from the Escondido company that used to be known as Stone Brewing Co.: We’ve changed. Not the fabulous beers, fear not, but a wee bit change of name. Once quite particular about what they were called, then-CEO Greg Koch was known to correct wayward correspondents who referred to the entity as Stone Brewery or Stone Brewing Company…


Living with dogs; Why I like monasteries

LIVING WITH DOGS Yes, yes, I’ve moved again. The last place didn’t work out even though it was incredibly beautiful. The tribe that lived there was, well, not my cup of tea (to the say the least.) Well-meaning, maybe but from another universe I think. Anyway, I’ve relocated and am living with two, and sometimes more, of the cutest dogs, both personality-wise and physically, the…


Upon further review: Mayflower Dog Park is back for the holidays

As with Mark Twain’s famous refutation of his publicly reported death, reports of the Escondido Dog Park’s demise were greatly exaggerated, according to Escondido officials. Closed last week due to fears of the presence of the highly contagious parvovirus, Escondido dog officials re-opened the park today, Wednesday, Dec. 16. Dog park lovers beware, however. Despite reports of parvovirus at the park, Escondido officials did nothing…


Thanks to Parvo, no fun at the dog park

Thinking about going to Mayflower Dog Park, 3420 Valley Center Road, between now and Jan. 2. Think again. It’s closed due to suspected Parvo, not a dog’s name, unfortunately, but a canine disease. The closure was “a precautionary measure after a report of a dog who visited the park in late November came down with a case of Parvo,” city of Escondido spokeswoman Loretta McKinney…


Do animals reincarnate?

My soul was hurting. I had just lost my companion of seven years, a red toy poodle, Sammie, whom my daughter had given me. We had become inseparable. Additionally, I was coming out of a 26-year marriage and feeling lonely. Frankly, that particular day, I was inconsolable and wondering if I would ever get over it. I turned over to my Higher Power and started…