July 5, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Dog Spas vs. Justice for Homeless Veterans

You’d be amazed at how many press releases we get promoting the darndest things.

Just read some of the verbiage from this press release promoting a holiday getaway for dogs:

“Pooch Hotel Santa Monica†, we’re told, is a “five star†fitness center for dogs, complete with poolside cabanas, “palace†suites, a spa, perfectly manicured grass, all enclosed by a white picket fence.

Amenities include DogTV, a custom swimming pool complete with floating dog beds, “Poochberry facials,†massage, aromatherapy, “paw-dicures†and – get this – a 6-foot tall fire hydrant!

Pooch Hotel is a “luxury, best-in-class hotel that just might be nicer than a human getaway,†we’re told. This is where dogs receive “celebrity treatment.â€

Now, maybe this gives some of you a last-minute gift idea, but it personally makes me sad: It’s true what they say in their press release: This place surely is nicer than many humans get to experience.

It has been reported in the news lately that homelessness is down, especially among veterans. The Cal State veteran retirement home on the VA campus is finally starting to staff up – probably the beneficiary of Prop. 30 passing – which will lead to filling the heretofore mostly empty rooms. Hooray!

And the VA campus will, by 2015, see an upgrade of Building 209, which will house 55 fairly down-and-out homeless veterans on the road to recovery.

This is all good news, but it’s hard not to think of homeless veterans as belonging to a special class. Many of these folks would probably be OK today had they not gone off to war, getting shot up in the process.

We can never forget that they did this for US. Sure, they knew the risks, but I doubt a single one ever expected to spend the rest of his or her life emotionally or physically disabled.

Their current condition is likely an offshoot of PTSD or some other mental health impairment that was brought about in a combat situation. And now, in an attempt to self-medicate, many have turned to drugs or alcohol. As they spiral downward, they end up on the streets.
This is an exceptionally tough problem, without a doubt. Many homeless are quite paranoid about coming in from the cold – and resist legitimate help.

Robert Rosebrock, a Brentwood veterans activist, can be seen every Sunday in front of the VA gates, protesting what he and “The Old Veterans Guard†view as a lack of help for homeless veterans.

He points out that a tent city on the VA campus could provide a lot more shelter a lot faster – and at a fraction of the cost – than the rehabbing of Building 209 ever will.

Robert Rosebrock is kind of a pain, I know this first-hand. Once a year or so, he and I practically come to blows.

But agitators for social progress often are a pain. At the time, abolitionists, suffragettes, civil rights activists and, in recent years, those pushing for equality for gays or animal rights – have all “irritated their way†toward a more just outcome. Over time, the new way of doing things simply becomes absorbed as conventional wisdom.

Just as people now have a hard time believing women couldn’t vote or black people were in chains, maybe, soon enough, people will be horrified that so many homeless veterans – the men and women who fought for our country – were left out on the streets for so long.

I look forward to the day when I get a press release showing that we have achieved housing and treatment for all homeless veterans who need it – and not just a few lucky ones who eventually find their way into Building 209.
For now, we’ll continue to sort through an in-box full of press releases for dog spas and other such things. I don’t mean to depress anyone during the holidays. And I’m all for happy dogs. But during the holidays, we all need to take a moment to remember those far less fortunate than ourselves – and our pets, even.

in News
Related Posts

Michael Madsen, Star of Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, Dies at 67 in Malibu

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Actor Remembered for His Intense Performances and as a Poet  Actor Michael Madsen, known for his distinctive gravelly voice and...

Los Angeles City Council Cracks Down on ‘Disaster Tours’ in Pacific Palisades

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

City Council Bans Commercial Bus Tours in Burn Zone Amid Community Backlash Tour buses that have been operating in fire-ravaged...

Tow Truck Scammers Target Crash Victims Across L.A.: Authorities Warn of Fraud at Accident Scenes

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officials Urge Drivers to Stay Alert After Collisions as Rogue Operators Demand Inflated Fees  Motorists involved in vehicle accidents are...

Woman Dies After Melrose Store Altercation: LAPD Launches Homicide Investigation

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Critically Injured Young Woman Died July 2, After She was Badly Beaten at Work  The death of a woman critically...

CHP Officer Dies in Culver City Crash: Medical Emergency Suspected Behind Tragic Incident

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officer lost consciousness while transporting a suspect before crashing into a tree California Highway Patrol Officer Miguel Cano died early...

L.A. Beaches Brace for Holiday Rush: Over 1 Million Visitors Expected This Fourth of July

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

County Officials Urge Beachgoers to Pack Out Their Trash and  Monitor Water Quality More than one million visitors are expected...

(Video) A visit to New York Bagel & Deli in Santa Monica

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Authentic NY Style Bagels with Extra Creamy Cream Cheese and Multi-Cultural Desserts. Located at 2216 Wilshire Blvd. A visit to...

Hot Dogs & Rosé: Something About Her and The Culver Hotel Roll Out Summer Specials

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Westside Venues to Serve Playful Bites and Seasonal Sips For the Holiday Weekend A bold new offering is making its...

NeueHouse Hosts Bold One-Night Dinner With Culinary Phenomenon Diego Argoti

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Acclaimed Chef Brings Culinary Mischief With a Five-Course Tasting Experience. NeueHouse Hollywood will host an exclusive, one-night-only dining event on...

(Video) Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Go To Homefrontbuild.com For More Information @home_front_build Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles Go...

405 Crash Near the Getty Sends Three to Hospital: Two Seriously Hurt Near Site Where LAPD Sgt. Died

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Early Morning Multi-Vehicle Collision Shut Down Lanes Near Brentwood Three men were injured and traffic was snarled for hours following...

(Video) Jikoni, the AfriCali PopUp from celebrated cookbook author Kiano Moju Has Been Extended Until July 3 at Citizen Public Market

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Bold Flavors and Spice Merge with Crisp, Chewy Chapati. Delicious With a Caring Chef and Staff. Jikoni, the AfriCali PopUp...

Pentagon Orders Troop Drawdown in LA: 150 National Guard Members Reassigned to Wildfire Duty

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Federal Forces Begin Partial Withdrawal From Protest Response as California Leaders Push Back U.S. Northern Command announced Tuesday that 150...

California Highway Patrol Deploys for Independence Day Enforcement Surge

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

All Available Officers to Hit California Highways for Holiday Weekend As Californians gear up for Fourth of July festivities, the...

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck  The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...