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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control's shelter is full of dogs and puppies needing homes this week.
The dogs range in age from 11-week-old puppies up to 10 years, with mixes of poodle, heeler, American Bulldog, pit bull, boxer, shepherd Catahoula Leopard Dog, terrier, Shih Tzu, Rottweiler and golden retriever.
Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.
In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .
The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).
'Jo Jo'
“Jo Jo” is a 3-year-old male terrier-Shih Tzu mix.
He has a long brown and white coat, and green eyes, weighs nearly 14 pounds and has been neutered.
According to shelter staff, Jo Jo – who currently is in a foster home – is very sweet but timid until he warms up to you. He would make a great companion for a lonely adult or home with not a lot of action. He is affectionate and is full of personality.
Shepherd-pit bull terrier mix
This female shepherd-pit bull terrier mix is of undetermined age.
She has gold eyes, and a short tan and white coat, and weighs 22 pounds. It was not reported if she has been spayed.
She's in kennel No. 2, ID No. 40343.
Rottweiler-golden retriever mix pup
This female Rottweiler-golden retriever mix puppy is 11 weeks old.
She has a short black coat and brown eyes, and has been spayed.
She's in kennel No. 3b, ID No. 40410.
Rottweiler-golden retriever mix pup
This female Rottweiler-golden retriever mix puppy is 11 weeks old.
She has a short black coat and brown eyes, and has been spayed.
She's in kennel No. 3c, ID No. 40411.
Rottweiler-golden retriever mix pup
This female Rottweiler-golden retriever mix puppy is 11 weeks old.
She has a short black coat and brown eyes, and has been spayed.
She's in kennel No. 3d, ID No. 40412.
Rottweiler-golden retriever mix pup
This male Rottweiler-golden retriever mix puppy is 11 weeks old.
He has a short curly black coat and brown eyes, weighs 12 pounds and has been neutered.
Find him in kennel No. 4a, ID No. 40405.
Rottweiler-golden retriever mix pup
This male Rottweiler-golden retriever mix puppy is 11 weeks old.
He has a short curly black coat and brown eyes, and has been neutered.
Find him in kennel No. 4b, ID No. 40406.
Rottweiler-golden retriever mix pup
These male Rottweiler-golden retriever mix puppies are 11 weeks old.
Both have short curly black coats and brown eyes, weigh 12 pounds and have been neutered.
Find them in kennel No. 4c and 4d, ID Nos. 40407 and 40408.
'Ocean'
“Ocean” is a 1-year-old male pit bull terrier mix.
He weighs 64 pounds, has a short black and white coat, and has been neutered.
As you can see by his picture, he's a festive fellow who enjoys dressing up for special occasions.
Find him in kennel No. 5, ID No. 40488.
'Mopsey'
“Mopsey” is a 10-year-old male poodle mix.
He has a short white coat and has not been neutered.
He's in kennel No. 6, ID No. 40522.
Female shepherd mix
This female shepherd mix is 1 year old.
She has a short tan and white coat and weighs 47 pounds. Shelter staff did not report if she has been spayed.
Find her in kennel No. 7, ID No. 40562.
Female whippet mix
This female whippet mix is of undetermined age.
She has a short gray coat and weighs 40 pounds. Shelter staff did not report if she has been spayed.
She's in kennel No. 9, ID No. 40453.
'Chief'
“Chief” is a 1-year-old Catahoula Leopard Dog mix.
He has a short black and gray coat, weighs 60 pounds and has not been neutered.
He's in kennel No. 10, ID No. 40505.
Female shepherd mix
This female shepherd mix is 9 months old.
She has a short coat and weighs 47 pounds. Shelter staff did not report if she has been spayed.
She's in kennel No. 11, ID No. 40445.
Shepherd-pit bull terrier mix
This male shepherd-pit bull terrier mix is a year and a half old.
He has a short fawn-colored coat, weighs 59 pounds and has been neutered.
Find him in kennel No. 13, ID No. 40584.
'Snap'
“Snap” is a 1-year-old male pit bull terrier-boxer mix.
He has a short white coat, weighs 67 pounds and has not been neutered.
He's in kennel No. 16, ID No. 40550.
Male shepherd-retriever mix
This male shepherd-retriever mix is 10 months old.
He has a short tan coat and has not been neutered.
He's in kennel No. 25, ID No. 40567.
Male heeler mix
This male heeler mix is of undetermined age.
He has a short black and white coat, and has not been neutered.
Find him in kennel No. 28, ID No. 40569.
'Precious'
“Precious” is a 6-month-old female American Bulldog mix.
She has a short white coat. Shelter staff did not report if she has been spayed.
She's in kennel No. 32, ID No. 40513.
Male pit bull terrier mix
This male pit bull terrier mix is 2 years old.
He has a short brown coat and weighs 68 pounds. Shelter staff did not report if he has been altered.
Find him in kennel No. 34, ID No. 40504.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Each year millions of birds migrate along the Pacific Flyway relying on a diverse string of habitats that stretch from Alaska and Canada to Central and South America.
While the wetlands of the Central Valley provide less than 5 percent of the habitat historically available, they are critical as a feeding area during the migration and wintering of these birds.
In following its mission, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has responsibility to provide habitat for these migrating birds.
Because habitat conditions on the northern breeding grounds have been good, a higher number of migratory birds have been reported across the Pacific Flyway.
The fall migration into California is anticipated to result in numbers like those seen in the 1970s, when record numbers of birds made their way to the state’s wetlands areas.
As California endures one of the worst droughts in recorded history, managers of state, federal and privately owned wildlife areas have been coordinating operational planning and the potential impacts of drought on the coming waves of migratory birds that depend on California habitats.
To support these birds during their long migration, these efforts will greatly improve our ability to maximize habitat and food resources over the fall and winter with reduced water supplies.
“As the drought continues, it will be of key importance to balance the habitat needs of migratory birds and other species with the overall needs of domestic and agricultural uses,” said CDFW Deputy Director Dan Yparraguirre.
“The situation is changing constantly so we will have to make some tough decisions ahead,” Yparraguirre said. “We will continue to work with our partners to provide much needed habitat for waterfowl. In doing so, we will be employing the most efficient water saving strategies we can that provide the highest benefit to wildlife. Throughout the state, CDFW staff is carefully developing the most effective actions to conserve water and provide critical habitat.”
Migratory birds begin showing up in the Central Valley as early as July, with peak populations typically occurring in December and January.
To accommodate the birds, wildlife area and refuge managers typically create habitat through water delivery to some wetlands in stages.
As a result of extremely limited water supply this year, habitat availability on public areas will be all the more critical for early migrating species and to maintain natural habitat to reduce depredation on agricultural lands.
Birds will congregate on fewer, smaller wetlands, likely increasing the effect of disease, which occurs even in wet years.
Recreational opportunities on some public areas may be limited and reduced managed wetlands may also increase depredation on nearby agricultural fields.
Some state wildlife areas and the National Wildlife Refuge System were established as long ago as 1937 to provide core habitat areas and offset crop depredation by migratory waterfowl.
State and federal agencies have relied on strong partnerships with nongovernmental organizations and private landowners to implement wetland habitat management and wildlife-friendly farming practices to meet the habitat needs in the Klamath Basin, Sacramento Valley, Suisun Marsh, San Joaquin Valley and the Imperial Valley regions.
Those partnerships and private lands programs have resulted in providing two-thirds of the wetland acreage while the wildlife areas and refuges provide the remaining one-third.
In support of the habitat needs and as part of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA), the federal water project dedicates water supplies to 18 state and federal refuges throughout the Central Valley and the Grasslands Water District in Merced County.
Due to limited water resources, these wetland habitats will be receiving only a portion of the water this year. Water supply quantities available to support the wetlands range from 30 percent at Kern National Wildlife Refuge south of the Delta, to 75 percent at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, north of the Delta.
Other refuges and private wetlands that do not receive CVPIA water are also facing significant water reductions.
While strong partnerships and coordination make maximizing water resources possible, the extremely limited water supplies are anticipated to result in a 25 percent reduction of all managed wetland and significantly larger reductions of wildlife-friendly farming which will likely impact birds and humans alike.
“Scientists are predicting one of the largest Pacific Flyway bird migrations this fall due to a wet spring and above average breeding conditions in the north. With California’s historic drought, this could be a devastating year for birds,” said Sandi Matsumoto, senior project director of The Nature Conservancy’s migratory bird initiative. “The Nature Conservancy is very concerned about protecting enough viable wetland habitat for the incoming migratory birds. We are working with partners, such as CDFW, to reduce the potential negative impacts.”
Sleeping late is one of the simple pleasures of summer vacation. This week, waking up early will be a pleasure, too.
Set your alarm for 30 minutes before sunrise. Venus and Jupiter are converging in the dawn sky for a beautiful conjunction that will wake you up faster than a cup of strong coffee.
To see it, you'll need a clear view of the east-northeastern horizon and … that's all. No telescope is required.
These are the two brightest planets in the Solar System, and they are visible to the naked eye even from light-polluted cities.
The show began on Aug. 15 with Venus and Jupiter little more than 2o apart. That means they would fit with ease inside the bowl of the Big Dipper, and you could hide the converging pair behind the palm of your outstretched hand.
Which is Jupiter and which is Venus? You can tell them apart by their luminosity: Venus shines 6 times more brightly than Jupiter, a result of Venus's super-reflective cloud cover and proximity to Earth.
As mid-August unfolds, the conjunction improves. The best morning to look is Monday, August 18th when Venus and Jupiter will be just two-tenths of a degree apart. Now you can hide them behind the tip of your outstretched pinky.
Although optics are not required to see this amazingly bright pair, if you have binoculars, use them. A quick scan of the sky around Venus and Jupiter reveals that the two worlds are not alone. T
he planets have converged right beside M44, the Beehive Cluster. Located about 500 light years from Earth, this busy cluster of stars is barely visible to the naked eye, but it is an easy target for ordinary binoculars.
At first glance it might seem that a pair of supernovas has gone off inside the cluster—but that's just Venus and Jupiter passing by.
After Aug. 18, the two worlds separate again. The mornings of Aug. 19, 20 and 21 still reward early risers with a beautiful view, but less so each day. Soon, the balance of pleasure will tip back to sleeping late.
There is, however, one additional morning to look.
On Aug. 23, a slender crescent Moon will join Venus and Jupiter, forming a wide but beautiful triangle approximately 7o on each side.
A cosmic triangle shining through the rosy glow of dawn is a nice way to start the day.
See the ScienceCast at http://youtu.be/yK57BMj2Vj4 .
Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A single-vehicle crash on Highway 175 between Cobb and Kelseyville has temporarily closed the roadway.
The California Highway Patrol said the crash – first reported at 12:50 p.m. Saturday – had blocked the road in the area of mile marker 9.5, which the agency also had identified as being in the 8400 block of Highway 175.
Initial reports from the CHP and firefighters on scene stated that a BMW was about 30 feet off the roadway.
Firefighters reported that the vehicle was on its roof and that the car had three occupants.
The crash sheared off a utility pole, which was blocking the highway, with lines also down, radio reports indicated.
The lines were reported to be phone and cable by units on scene. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is not reporting any power outages in the area.
One air ambulance was requested and was set to land at Kelseyville High School, radio reports indicated.
The CHP said Red Hills Road will be used as an alternate route for traffic in the area while the scene is being cleared.
Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A girl who police found at a downtown Lakeport bus stop early Saturday was reunited with her parent later in the morning.
The girl – believed to be 12 or 13 years old – was found by police with her scooter and a backpack at the bus stop at Third and Main streets at 12:30 a.m., according to the Lakeport Police Department.
Shortly before 10 a.m. Saturday, the agency reported that the girl's mother had been located and a Lakeport Police officer was taking her to meet with Child Protective Services to pick up the girl.
The Lakeport Police Department thanked the community for all of the calls and Facebook posts that provided information.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Despite a modest rise in Lake County's unemployment level in July, the new rate still remained below recession levels, according to the state's latest report on joblessness.
Lake County's July unemployment rate was 9.7 percent, up from a revised 9.1 percent in June but below the year-ago estimate of 11.5 percent, the Employment Development Department reported.
California's July unemployment rate was 7.4 percent, the same rate that was reported in June but improved compared to the 9 percent rate the state registered in July 2013.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the nation's July unemployment rate was 6.2 percent, compared to 6.1 percent in June and 7.3 percent in July 2014.
In July California's nonfarm jobs totaled 15,492,500, an increase of 27,700 jobs over June, according to a survey of 58,000 California businesses used to measures jobs in the economy. The year-over-year change, July 2013 to July 2014, showed an increase of 323,600 jobs, or an increase of 2.1 percent.
At the same time, a federal survey of 5,500 households used to measure the unemployment rate showed a decrease in the number of employed people.
That survey estimated that 17,209,000 Californians held jobs in July, a decrease of 31,000 from June 2014, but up 283,000 from the employment total in July of last year.
The number of people unemployed in California was 1,371,000 – down by 8,000 over the month, and down by 306,000 compared with July of last year, the Employment Development Department reported.
Lake County earned a statewide unemployment ranking in July of No. 40, while Marin County again had the lowest jobless rate, 4.4 percent, and Imperial County had the highest, 24.7 percent.
Lake's neighboring counties ranked as follows in July, according to the Employment Development Department: Colusa, No. 57, 13.5 percent; Glenn, No. 48, 11.1 percent; Mendocino, No. 14, 6.6 percent; Napa, No. 4, 5.1 percent; Sonoma, No. 6, 5.8 percent; and Yolo, No. 22, 7.3 percent.
The summer farming season in Lake County continued to add jobs in July, with the “total farm” category increasing by 33.6 percent over June while “total nonfarm” was down by 2.5 percent, according to Employment Development Department data.
Within the total nonfarm category, areas of growth included information, 6.7 percent; financial activities, 2.4 percent; other services, 2.1 percent; leisure and hospitality, 1.9 percent; and retail trade, 0.9 percent.
Declines were seen in government, -10 percent; mining, logging and construction, and goods producing, tied at -2.6 percent; and educational and health services, -0.5 percent, the data showed.
The Employment Development Department reported that there were 426,224 people statewide receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the July 2014 survey week, compared with 418,927 in June and 510,998 last year.
New claims for Unemployment Insurance were 56,565 in July 2014, compared with 62,749 in June and 67,382 in July of last year, the department said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at