Joy Goldschmidt

Mayor Tom Bradley has presented the city's St. Francis of Assisi Award to Joy Goldschmidt, who organized a campaign that has spayed and neutered thousands of cats and dogs. "I can't imagine animals having a better friend than Joy," said City Councilman Joel Wachs, who nominated the Hollywood Hills resident for the prestigious award. Goldschmidt was honored for securing more than $800,000 in free billboard advertising for the sterilization campaign.

Mayor Tom Bradley has presented the city's St. Francis of Assisi Award to Joy Goldschmidt, who organized a campaign that has spayed and neutered thousands of cats and dogs. "I can't imagine animals having a better friend than Joy," said City Councilman Joel Wachs, who nominated the Hollywood Hills resident for the prestigious award. Goldschmidt was honored for securing more than $800,000 in free billboard advertising for the sterilization campaign.

A three-month free spaying and neutering program for dogs and cats will begin at three Los Angeles city animal clinics Sept. 26, an aide to City Councilman Joel Wachs said Monday. Wachs aide Mark Siegel said the project resulted from an ordinance sponsored by Wachs at the suggestion of the Cassidy Foundation, which is devoted to the adoption and preservation of stray animals. During the program, spaying and neutering will be offered without cost at city clinics at 215 W. Ann St., 3612 11th Ave.

He's the perfect mutt. A survivor. His fur is ermine with golden patches. The eyes are onyx. If you trust, he loves--as this Australian shepherd mix once trusted and loved just one man. Man and dog were homeless. Nobody knows how long they'd traveled together. Or from where. Or how the dog had lost one leg somewhere along the way. But they were often in the North Hollywood area, man shuffling, dog hopping, the infirm and the handicapped with disability their inseparability.

U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, thanks to Bill and Diane Hendricks, who started the program for needy Los Angeles children during Christmas, 1947. Diane Hendricks had collected some toys and had knitted a red and white rag doll to give to some underprivileged children who probably wouldn't receive a toy for Christmas. But she couldn't find anyone collecting toys, so she turned to her husband, Bill, for help.