SAN FRANCISCO ANIMAL CARE & CONTROL
1200 15th Street
415-554-6364, www.sfgov.org/acc

Sept. 12 – Low Cost Rabies, License & Microchip Clinic: The S.F. Veterinary Medical Association hosts a low-cost rabies clinic from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Rabies vaccination charge is $6. Dog licenses can be purchased at ACC’s front counter with proof of dog’s rabies vaccination. Microchipping is free for City residents with proof of dog’s licensing; $20 per chip for nonresidents.

Sept. 16 – Free Spay/Neuter Clinic: The Peninsula Humane Society teams up with ACC to offer free pet fixes for needy S.F. pet owners every third Thursday of the month. Pets will be accepted from 8–9 a.m. on a first-come first-served basis. For more information, call 650-340-7022 ext. 387.

Sept. 16 – Life’s a Ball at a.Muse Gallery: Lap up a drink, fetch some delicious bites, and score a toy or two from the silent auction at this fundraiser for shelter dog enrichment. SFACC’s behavior and training staff will discuss their newest programs. $20 per person (sorry, no pets allowed) at the door only, 6–9 p.m. at a.Muse Gallery, 614 Alabama Street.

THE SAN FRANCISCO ZOO
1 Zoo Road
415-753-7080, www.sfzoo.org

Sept. 19 – Interactive Rainforest Maze Opens: Inside the recently restored South American building you can jump like a frog, swing like a monkey, play the species quest game, and welcome back the anaconda to its former home.

Oct. 2 – Zoo II Fur Ball 2010: Enjoy delectable bites, delicious cocktails and dancing from 8 p.m. till midnight. San Francisco’s favorite DJ Solomon is sure to get things elevated on the dance floor during this exclusive evening event! VIP tickets include a 6 p.m. Champagne reception. Tickets $65–$120, VIP tickets $85–$120.

THE RANDALL MUSEUM
199 Museum Way
415-554-9600, www.randallmuseum.org

Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m. – Helping our Most Famous Butterfly: The Mission Blue on Twin Peaks: In 2009, the Natural Areas Program of S.F. Recreation & Park Department collaborated with U.S. Fish and Wildlife to fulfill part of the 1976 recovery plan for the endangered Mission Blue butterfly. Leading S.F. lepidopterist Liam O’Brien was a part of the team that relocated and monitored 22 females from San Bruno Mountain. Since butterfly relocation is a recent science, this evening promises glorious photography and stimulating conversation. Geared for adults, but all ages are welcome. Free (donations encouraged).

Saturdays, 11 a.m. – Meet the Animals: Every Saturday, a special selection of the museum’s animal ambassadors venture from their cages, pens and perches to greet visitors up close. Meet rodents and amphibians; check out a Harris’s Hawk; and maybe even touch a tortoise. The Randall Museum is home to over 100 animals that can no longer survive in the wild. At the museum, these animals can help visitors learn about and appreciate California’s diverse and disappearing wildlife. Free (donations encouraged).

MORE THINGS TO CROW ABOUT …

2nd Annual Bone Appétit
Sept. 20, 2–7 p.m.
CCI Schulz Campus (2965 Dutton Avenue, Santa Rosa)
Spend the afternoon on the beautiful 13-acre Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) campus with gourmet food and wine pairings, dog training demonstrations, and a silent auction. Proceeds enable CCI to continue to provide assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities, free of charge. Tickets are $75 each/$125 per pair – call 800-572-BARK or visit www.cci.org/boneappetit to order.

2nd Annual Zoom Zoom Woof Woof Classic Car Show
Sept. 11, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
El Dorado Hills Town Center
(El Dorado Hills, CA)
Over 1,800 people and 100 beautiful classic cars attended last year’s event. Enjoy great wheels, food and drink to benefit Canine Companions for Independence. Call 916-933-3558 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

Extreme Mammals
Through Sept. 12
California Academy of Sciences
Visitors have a chance to see the biggest, smallest and most amazing mammals of all time. A whale that could walk? A bat the size of a bumblebee? Mothers who are pregnant for almost two years ... or just 12 days? Fossils and reconstructions alongside recent specimens and live animals will explore the surprising and extraordinary world of extinct and living mammals. 415-379-8000, www.calacademy.org

Woofstock 2010
Oct. 3, 3–6 p.m.
Marin Humane Society (171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Novato)
A benefit for the Marin Humane Society featuring music by the Zydeco Flames, Third Rock and Big Bang Beat. Win fabulous prizes including Grammy tickets and a guitar signed by Sir Paul McCartney! There will also be vendors, raffle prizes and a Kids Zone. Food and drink available for purchase; guests are also invited to bring their own picnic. $25 per person/$10 for kids 6-15/kids under 5 and dogs are free! 415.506.6265, www.marinhumanesociety.org