Calendar of Events

Comprehensive list of local and national events for the Year 2003.

To have your event listed, send an email message to: sos@west.net.

January 2003

Sunday, January 5 - National Bird Day.

Tuesday, January 14 - Albert Schweitzer born, 1875.

February 2003

Saturday, February 1 - National Prevent-a-Litter (P.A.L.) Month begins.

Saturday, February 1 - National Wild Bird Feeding Month begins.

Sunday, February 2 - Groundhog Day.

Sunday, February 2 - Southern California Labrador Retriever Rescue (SCLRR) Adoption Fair. 11:00 - 2:00 pm. Come meet our adoptable Labrador Retrievers and our volunteers at 209 W. Sola St. Look for the yellow, black and 'chocolate' colored balloons. For more information, call SCLRR at 1-888-55-4ALAB or send an email message to: sclrr@sclrr.org

Friday, February 14 - National Pet Theft Awareness Day. Happy Valentine's Day!

Monday, February 17 - General Motors ends animal crash tests, 1993.

Tuesday, February 25 - Spay DAY USA. Visit the Doris Day Animal League Web site for more information.

March 2003

Saturday, March 1 - National Pig Day.

Saturday, March 1 - International Day of the Seal.

Tuesday, March 4 - Cambridge, MA, the first U.S. city to ban the LD50 and Draize tests, 1991.

Friday, March 7 - March Mouse Mixer, a benefit for Catalyst for Cats, Veteran's Memorial Bldg., 112 W. Cabrillo Blvd, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. $25.00 per person includes food and drinks. A silent auction will take place. Call 685-1563 for ticket information.

Tuesday, March 18 - Burger King celebrates the first birthday of the BK Veggie Burger. Join ALL FOR ANIMALS' Founder, Karen Lee Stevens and friends at the Santa Barbara Burger King, 3707 State Street, for a lunch celebration. You buy your own veggie burger, we provide free cake and party hats! Noon. RSVP to 682-3160.

Thursday, March 20 - 17th Annual Genesis Awards. The 2003 Genesis Awards will take at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA. The guest of Honor will be Sangduen "Lek" Chailert, Founder, Elephant Nature Park in Thailand. For ticket prices or to receive an invitation, call (818) 501-2275 or send an e-mail with your name and address to genesis@hsushollywood.org.

Thursday, March 20 - Great American Meatout Day. First Day of Spring!

Sunday, March 30 - The Lint Roller Party, to Benefit The Los Angeles Programs of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, UT, Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Ave., near the Santa Monica Airport. For more information, call (310) 202-4336 or email LRP@bestfriends.org.

April 2003

Tuesday, April 1 - Colgate-Palmolive announces a moratorium on animal testing,1999.

Tuesday, April 1 - Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month begins.

Sunday, April 6 - The Wildlife Sanctuary Awards and Silent Auction, to benefit the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network, Noon Luncheon, Four Seasons Biltmore, 1260 Channel Drive, Santa Barbara, $60.00 per person. RSVP by March 27. For more information, please call (805) 687-5660.

Thursday, April 10 - ASPCA chartered, 1866 (first U.S. humane organization)

Sunday, April 13 - BUNS (Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter) is holding an Adoption Day at the Courthouse Sunken Gardens in downtown Santa Barbara. There will be bunnies to meet, a bunny class for children, and Andrea Bratt will be bringing the "Hoppers" to introduce people to bunny agility. It is from 1-4pm. For more information, call BUNS at (805) 683-0521.

Monday, April 14 - National Dolphin Day - remembrance of all sea creatures.

Monday, April 14 - National Wildlife Week begins.

Monday, April 21 - John Muir, forest and wilderness conservation advocate born, 1838.

Monday, April 21 - National World Week for Animals in Laboratories begins. Sponsored by In Defense of Animals.

Tuesday, April 22 - Earth Day. For more information, visit the Earth Day Network Web site.

Saturday, April 26 - John Audubon born, 1785; celebration of the birds.

May 2003

Friday, May 2 - Russian Federation bans steel-jaw leghold traps, 1995.

Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4 - Pet Adoptathon 2003 - Santa Barbara County Animal Services is teaming up with ASAP, K-9 PALS and BUNS to sniff out good pet parents for homeless pets. Thousands of animal welfare organizations in cities across the United States and around the world are teaming up for this event designed to unite pet-loving adopters with homeless pets that are in need of quality homes. Saturday hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday hours from noon to 3:00 p.m. at Santa Barbara County Animal Services, 5473 Overpass Road. For more information, call (805) 681-5285.

Sunday, May 4 - "Humane Sunday". Sponsored by the American Humane Association.

Sunday, May 4 - MayDay for Mutts, a national observance day to promote the adoption of mixed-breed dogs and to honor those past and present. An estimated 75% of all dogs entering U.S. shelters each year are mixed-breed. For more information, click on: http://www.maydayformutts.org/

Monday, May 5 - Be Kind to Animals Week begins.

Saturday, May 10 - "International Migratory Bird Day".

Sunday, May 11 - National Veal Ban Action Day. Mother's Day!

Saturday, May 17 - Animal Disaster Preparedness Day - Sponsored by the Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS), the goal of this nationwide event is to remind people that disasters pose a life-threatening danger for animals, too, and that the family cat, dog, bird, horse or any other animals being cared for need to be included in family disaster plans. For more information, contact EARS.

Saturday, May 17 - Pet First Aid and CPR Class for dogs and cats - Sponsored by the American Red Cross, 2707 State Street, Santa Barbara, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, $25.00. Call for Pre-registration now at (805) 687-1331.

Monday, May 19 - National Dog Bite Prevention Week begins.

Friday, May 23 - Sunday, May 25 - Farm Animal Forum-Advocating for Change. Join Farm Sanctuary in New York City for this exciting day of activist training. Learn from noted experts in the animal rights field who will lead workshops about investigating, exposing, and stopping farm animal abuse. Click here for more details and registration information. For other exciting events offered by Farm Sanctuary, click here.

Saturday, May 24 - Marine Mammal Freedom Weekend begins.

June 2003

Sunday, June 1 - Adopt A Shelter Cat Month begins.

Monday, June 2 - Avon first major U.S. company to stop animal testing, 1989.

Monday, June 2 - Pet Appreciation Week begins.

Saturday, June 7 - 9th Annual Big Dog Parade and Canine Festival sponsored by Big Dog Sportswear. Begins at 8:00 am. 2,000 dogs and 2,500 will parade from De La Guerra Plaza, down State Street and into the Old Chase Palm Park. Register on-line at www.bigdogs.com. Call parade hotline at (805) 963-8727 x1398 for further information.

Tuesday, June 10 - National Institute of Health (NIH) Revitalization Act mandates development of research methods using no animals, 1993.

Friday, June 20 - National Bald Eagle Day.

Friday, June 20 - National Take Your Dog to Work Day. For more information, visit the Pet Sitters International Web site or send an email message to: ellenr@petsit.com.

July 2003

July 1 - National Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month begins.

Saturday, July 12 - USDA bans face branding of cattle, 1994.

Sunday, July 13 - Wheel of Fortune bans fur prizes, 1990.

Friday, July 18 - Federal funding canceled for baboon head injury experiments at University of Pennsylvania, 1985.

Sunday, July 20 - "Affaire of the Heart," a benefit for Santa Barbara Animal Rescue, Art, music, entertainment, pet adoptions, Comic Steve Day and special Guest Cathy Lee Crosby. Featuring over 50 booths of well-known artists and designers. 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, Crane School, 1795 San Leandro Lane, Montecito. For more information, call 969-1001.

Sunday, July 20 - Bunny Basics Class, 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm, Goleta Public Library. Volunteers from BUNS will show you how to properly care for a rabbit. BYOB (Bring Your Own Bunny!).

August 2003

Saturday, August 2 - Dog Days of Summer, hosted by Dog PAC Santa Barbara, Elings Park, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. This year the event will be bigger and better than ever and our co-sponsors include the Elings Park Dog Owners Group (EPDOG) and the Santa Barbara Flyers flyball and agility club!

This dog party will feature agility, flyball, and obedience run-through rings, a raffle for many dog-related prizes, micro-chipping, vaccination clinics, K-9 massage, vendors, a Flying Dog Beer Garden and more!!! (Plus Dog PAC's 6th Annual Meeting and Elections.) No Elings Park dog tags are required for this event and, of course, dogs are more than welcome!

Saturday, August 2 - CalTech bans using animals in student activities, 1993.

Sunday, August 17 - Homeless Animals Day.

Wednesday, August 20 - Humane Slaughter Act, 1958.

Sunday, August 24- Animal Welfare Act, 1966.

Sunday, August 24- The Humane League's 6th Annual Pooch Parade, Dog Walk, and Pet Expo, Seaside Park, Ventura, CA, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. For more information, call (805) 488-7533.

September 2003

Tuesday, September 9 - Silver Spring (Maryland) monkeys rescued from Institute for Behavioral Research, 1981.

Saturday, September 13 - "My Therapist Has Four Legs," a workshop hosted by the Santa Barbara Adult Education Omega Program. Enjoy this opportunity to learn more about the therapeutic possibilities of animals in our lives. Karen Lee Stevens, founder of ALL FOR ANIMALS, will discuss animals' impact on our physical, mental and emotional well-being. In attendance will be two registered therapy dogs to lend a helping paw. Wake Center, Room T4, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.

Sunday, September 14 - National Pet Memorial Day.

Monday, September 15 - National Farm Animal Awareness Week begins.

Monday, September 22 - National Dog Week begins.

October 2003

Wednesday, October 1 - National Cut Out Dissection Month begins, sponsored by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Wednesday, October 1 - National Animal Safety and Protection Month begins.

Wednesday, October 1 - Vegetarian Awareness Month begins.

Wednesday, October 1 - Adopt a Shelter Dog Month begins.

Wednesday, October 1 - World Vegetarian Day.

Thursday, October 2 - World Farm Animal Day.

Thursday, October 2 - Mahandas K. Gandhi born, 1869.

Saturday, October 4 - St. Francis of Assisi's Feast Day.

Sunday, October 12 - "A Romp in the Park," an annual dog faire to benefit DAWG. The Faire will take place from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm at MacKenzie Park on the corner of State St. and Las Positas Rd. Lots of fun contests and demonstrations by Santa Barbara Flyers, search and rescue dogs and the K9 Unit of the Sheriff's Department. For more information, call 681-0561.

Monday, October 13 - National Wildlife Refuge Week begins.

Thursday, October 16 - National Feral Cat Day, sponsored by Alley Cat Allies.

Sunday, October 19 - Bunny Festival sponsored by Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter (BUNS). Festivities include various vendors, exhibitions, a silent auction and shelter bunnies for petting and adoption. Courthouse Sunken Gardens, 12-4 pm. Call (805) 683-0521 for more information or visit the BUNS Web site.

Tuesday, October 21 - Marine Mammal Protection Act, 1972.

Saturday, October 25 - "Puttin' on the DAWG" in the legendary Gardens of the El Mirador Estate in Montecito. This is Tita Lanning's Estate and she and her three rescue dogs will be hosting this event as a fundraiser for DAWG. There will lots of good food, Comedian Elayne Boosler will be on hand, and there will be some amazing auction items to bid on. 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm. To reserve your tickets, call 681-0561.

Sunday, October 26 - Halloween Pug Party sponsored by Santa Barbara Pug Rescue. Contests, raffle prizes, refreshments, socialize with other pug fanatics. 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm, 821 Coronel Street. Park in the McKinley School parking lot at 350 Loma Alta Rd. on the Mesa (across from City College). $10.00 admission, kids under 12 free. For more information, call 564-7202.

Monday, October 27 - Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act, 1980, creates "Dolphin Safe Tuna" labeling.

November 2003

Saturday, November 1 - Adopt a Turkey Month begins, sponsored by Farm Sanctuary.

Monday, November 43- National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week begins.

Monday, November 17 - Benetton stops animal tests, 1988.

Friday, November 28 - Fur-Free Friday (always the day after Thanksgiving.)

Friday, November 28 - "God's Messengers: What Animals Teach Us About the Divine," a discussion and book signing given by contributing author and ALL FOR ANIMALS founder Karen Lee Stevens. Three Dog Bakery, 727 State Street, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm. For more information, call 682-3160.

December 2003

Tuesday, December 2 - International Whaling Commission, 1946.

Friday, December 5 - Sunday, December 14 - Catty Corner, a holiday boutique to benefit ASAP Cats. Grand opening: Friday night, December 5 (6:00 pm - 9:00 pm). Open from 10:00 am - 7:00 pm every day from Saturday, Dec. 6 through Saturday, Dec. 13, and from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm on Sunday, Dec. 14, Goleta Valley Community Center. Call 683-3368 for more information.

Tuesday, December 9 - Horse Protection Act, 1970.

Monday, December 15 - Free Roaming Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act, 1971.

For other Santa Barbara events, visit Imago's Community Calendar.