Pet Store

Robert Blechl MAGNOLIA PARK -- With no suspects surfacing, anonymous donors have offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the gunman who killed a pet store owner in cold blood, Burbank police said. In what authorities are calling an execution, Glendale resident Sarkis Antonyan, 27, was shot multiple times Sept. 14 inside the former Pets R Us at 409 W. Victory Blvd. The business was recently sold and is now called Millennium Pets, said investigating detective Dan Mayreis.

I hate animal controversies, I absolutely hate them. It's impossible to get the whole truth, all sides make dramatic, inflammatory claims, and the "victims" are no help in getting to the truth. Despite those realities, I'm passionate about protecting animals, and can't ignore calls about alleged injustices or cruelties toward them. That's what happened last weekend. The calls started Friday, continued Saturday, and on Sunday frantic readers were still announcing, "The city wants to kill dozens of dogs and cats on Monday!"

Larry, a 3-foot-long tawny nurse shark, is in its new home today after a six-month campaign by Burbank resident Stephanie Field to move it from a local pet store. His new digs are at the Birch Aquarium, a public aquarium and museum, at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, which is part of UC San Diego. Assistant Curator Fernando Nosratpour picked up Larry on Tuesday at Millenium Pets store in Burbank. “It went smoothly,” Nosratpour said, after Larry was transported from his aquarium to a tank of clean sea water in his truck.

Larry the shark has survived the move. The nurse shark went from a Burbank pet store to the Birch Aquarium, a public aquarium and museum, at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, which is part of UC San Diego. The nurse shark was moved from Millenium Pets to the aquarium on July 7 after a six-month campaign conducted by Burbank animal rights activist Stephanie Field who made many calls to find a new home for him. Following a monthlong quarantine, Larry settled in quite well, said Nigella Hillgarth, executive director of the aquarium.

Kitten adoption fair coming this weekend The Burbank Animal Shelter will host its kitten adoption fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the shelter, 1150 Victory Place. All the kittens have been raised and cared for by the shelter?s Kitten Foster Care Program volunteers and are ready for immediate adoption. Because of an overwhelming number of kittens, the shelter needs people to take a kitten home more than ever this year, said Alisa Cunningham, a member of the shelter?

Karen S. Kim Chamber to host network luncheon HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- The Burbank Chamber of Commerce will host a business connection luncheon Feb. 14 at The Castaway. Members and prospective members are invited to have lunch, mingle and meet with other local business owners between 11:30 and 1:30 on Valentine's Day. The event costs $13 for members and $20 for prospective members who register by Feb. 11 and costs $20 for members and $25 for prospective members who purchase tickets after Feb. 11. The Castaway is at 1250 Harvard Road.

The following information was taken from police reports: MEDIA DISTRICT WEST 3500 block of Warner Boulevard: A 21-year-old North Hollywood man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of driving while under the influence after allegedly striking a parked car. 4000 block of Riverside Drive: A bookstore worker reported to police Thursday that the front door of the store was forced open and a flat screen computer monitor...

Lolita Harper MEDIA CITY CENTER -- The legendary Houdini was famous for getting himself out of seemingly impossible situations. But Houdini the dog found himself trapped at an animal shelter with little hope for adoption. In the last hour of the Adopt-A-Pet program, Houdini's life as an orphan disappeared when a young man, looking for a dog to watch football with, adopted him. "We were on a mission to get this dog adopted," said program director Ellie Knapp.

?Hotel for Dogs? is a winning entry by DreamWorks that will delight dog lovers, children and adults, for its heartwarming story based on the book by Lois Duncan. Screenplay credits goes to Jeff Lowell, Robert Schooley and Mark McCorkle. The film is directed with obvious love by Thor Freudenthal, and the first-rate production design by William Sandell is full of wondrous invention. Music is upbeat soft rock, perfectly suitable to the action portrayed, original music by John Debney.

Jenna Bordelon BURBANK -- When Sarkis Antonyan of Glendale was gunned down Sept. 14, 1999 at his Burbank pet store, no one was talking to police. More than a year later, detectives are no closer to solving a case that may have involved armed robbery, gang members and gold. Unable to sort out the complex set of circumstances surrounding Antonyan's slaying, detectives acknowledged they are discouraged by a lack of cooperation. "The investigation is at a standstill unless further information becomes available," Det. Matthew Miranda said.

Larry the shark has survived the move. The nurse shark went from a Burbank pet store to the Birch Aquarium, a public aquarium and museum, at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, which is part of UC San Diego. The nurse shark was moved from Millenium Pets to the aquarium on July 7 after a six-month campaign conducted by Burbank animal rights activist Stephanie Field who made many calls to find a new home for him. Following a monthlong quarantine, Larry settled in quite well, said Nigella Hillgarth, executive director of the aquarium.

Larry, a 3-foot-long tawny nurse shark, is in its new home today after a six-month campaign by Burbank resident Stephanie Field to move it from a local pet store. His new digs are at the Birch Aquarium, a public aquarium and museum, at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, which is part of UC San Diego. Assistant Curator Fernando Nosratpour picked up Larry on Tuesday at Millenium Pets store in Burbank. “It went smoothly,” Nosratpour said, after Larry was transported from his aquarium to a tank of clean sea water in his truck.

I hate animal controversies, I absolutely hate them. It's impossible to get the whole truth, all sides make dramatic, inflammatory claims, and the "victims" are no help in getting to the truth. Despite those realities, I'm passionate about protecting animals, and can't ignore calls about alleged injustices or cruelties toward them. That's what happened last weekend. The calls started Friday, continued Saturday, and on Sunday frantic readers were still announcing, "The city wants to kill dozens of dogs and cats on Monday!"

Robert Blechl MAGNOLIA PARK -- With no suspects surfacing, anonymous donors have offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the gunman who killed a pet store owner in cold blood, Burbank police said. In what authorities are calling an execution, Glendale resident Sarkis Antonyan, 27, was shot multiple times Sept. 14 inside the former Pets R Us at 409 W. Victory Blvd. The business was recently sold and is now called Millennium Pets, said investigating detective Dan Mayreis.