Dogs

Police arrested three suspected car thieves Sunday after a barking dog alerted neighbors to the burglaries, Sgt. Joe Vargas said. Chamlong Hear, 18, of San Bernardino and two 16-year-old boys were taken into custody on suspicion of auto burglary and possession of stolen property. The incident occurred at 12:30 a.m. Sunday in the 8200 block of Birch Tree Lane, when the suspects allegedly broke into four cars parked across from a family's home.

Beach fun and beach safety go hand in hand, or is it hand in paw? To help ensure the doggy days of summer at the beach are good ones, the Southern California Medical Assn. offers these tips: * Before you head to the beach with your pooch, find out if dogs are allowed, what hours they are allowed and whether they have to be on a leash. Even if the beach doesn't require a leash, bring one anyway. Walking to and from the car will be easier if you have good control over your dog.

Where's Billy? Although there were 2,058 dogs at the 34th annual Kennel Club of Beverly Hills dog show at Cal State Northridge on Sunday, the talk of the show was the absence of one particular canine--a 6-year-old Welsh Terrier named "Anasazi Billy the Kid." Billy, the winner of 94 best-in-show titles, would have been the odds-on favorite to win had he been entered. It turned out that Billy's owner, Bruce Schwartz of Los Angeles, decided to give his champion dog a respite.

Mugsy is exactly the kind of Venice boardwalk visitor that the Los Angeles City Council is worried about. Short, stocky and looking very mean, Mugsy strides down the boardwalk in chains and spiked leather straps. Everyone stares. They can't help it. It's just that some gaze admiringly, while others watch in fear. "Isn't she beautiful?" boasts John Sanchez as he scratches the pit bull on its monstrous head. "She wouldn't hurt a thing."

Unwashed, unwanted, flea-bitten and with bloody paws, Merlin was one day away from death in a dog pound when a pair of collie-lovers rescued him. The dog, a classic sable and white collie, had had a terrible year. His owners had divorced and after being passed from one new owner to another, he wound up roaming the streets of Monmouth, Ore., homeless before being caught. Merlin's luck changed almost overnight.

Freewheeling, fun-loving Venice Beach has lost another of its beloved freedoms--the freedom to strut the boardwalk with your schnauzer, Shih Tzu or pit bull. The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday voted to ban dogs from the beachfront promenade on summer weekends and holidays, saying dogs are biting tourists, discouraging shoppers and terrorizing children.

Celebrating its 25th year of service, the Pet Orphans Fund continues to make being a dog without a home just a little bit easier. The no-kill private animal shelter recently opened two "real-life rooms," set up to help dogs cope with kennel stress. "It helps them relax," said Katie Peterson, a staff member who oversees the real-life rooms. "Basically, these rooms can really change a dog's personality for the better."

Kramer the dog came up short in his bid to win Heather Sievers' third-grade class a pizza party at last week's "Wiener Nationals" benefit race at Los Alamitos Race Course. But not all was lost. The Irvine students will get a party, but it'll feature hot dogs instead. Kramer, a ball-obsessed dachshund named after comedian Jerry Seinfeld's stumbling sitcom sidekick, won the first heat at Saturday's third annual wiener dog race, but came in fourth in a field of eight in the final run.

Puppy lovers come forward. As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the nonprofit Guide Dogs of America organization will open its doors to the public Saturday with tours of its facility, a silent auction and a demonstration of guide dog training techniques.