Authorities Tuesday looked for a possible animal cruelty suspect who may be leaving foods that are toxic and often deadly to dogs on the streets of Pasadena.

Video shared by the office of Supervisor Kathryn Barger showed a person leaving chocolates and grapes as well as rice and noodles on Foothill Boulevard near a dog daycare and boarding shop called Dogtopia of East Pasadena

Grapes are known to cause kidney and renal failure while chocolates can lead to a heart attack, stroke or seizure. 

Junior Hernandez, who trains dogs at at the Pasadena business, said the person in the video has been leaving out toxic foods, including M&Ms, to entice dogs for several months.

“It’s deliberate. It’s planned,” Hernadez said. “It looks like whenever he does do that, he’ll go up and down Foothill and do that to a bunch of locations where he knows there’s high traffic for people who walk dogs.”

Dog owners and walkers in Pasadena were urged to stay vigilant to keep their dogs safe.

“While you’re on walks, please keep a short leash,” Jacks Vasquez,  General Manager of Dogtopia of East Pasadena, recommended. “Make sure you know what your dog is sniffing, looking at you. I would hate for a dog to eat a couple grapes. Next thing you know, you’re having to rush your dog to the emergency room, pay thousands of dollars in vet bills and possibly lose your precious fur baby.”

Supervisor Barger urged anyone with information about the suspect to contact authorities.

“I am outraged that someone is going out of their way to hurt dogs and their unsuspecting owners who are just enjoying a trot down Foothill Boulevard,” said Barger. “This person needs to be immediately identified and stopped, animal cruelty should never be tolerated. This is just plain wrong.” 

The Pasadena Police Department said it will investigate this to the full extent as any case  linked to animal cruelty is taken seriously. 

Anyone with information should contact the Pasadena Police Department immediately at (626) 744-4501or go to cityofpasadena.net/police and click on the “Report A Crime” link. 

Authorities Tuesday looked for a possible animal cruelty suspect who may be leaving foods that are toxic and often deadly to dogs on the streets of Pasadena.

Video shared by the office of Supervisor Kathryn Barger showed a person leaving chocolates and grapes as well as rice and noodles on Foothill Boulevard near a dog daycare and boarding shop called Dogtopia of East Pasadena

Grapes are known to cause kidney and renal failure while chocolates can lead to a heart attack, stroke or seizure. 

Junior Hernandez, who trains dogs at at the Pasadena business, said the person in the video has been leaving out toxic foods, including M&Ms, to entice dogs for several months.

“It’s deliberate. It’s planned,” Hernadez said. “It looks like whenever he does do that, he’ll go up and down Foothill and do that to a bunch of locations where he knows there’s high traffic for people who walk dogs.”

Dog owners and walkers in Pasadena were urged to stay vigilant to keep their dogs safe.

“While you’re on walks, please keep a short leash,” Jacks Vasquez,  General Manager of Dogtopia of East Pasadena, recommended. “Make sure you know what your dog is sniffing, looking at you. I would hate for a dog to eat a couple grapes. Next thing you know, you’re having to rush your dog to the emergency room, pay thousands of dollars in vet bills and possibly lose your precious fur baby.”

Supervisor Barger urged anyone with information about the suspect to contact authorities.

“I am outraged that someone is going out of their way to hurt dogs and their unsuspecting owners who are just enjoying a trot down Foothill Boulevard,” said Barger. “This person needs to be immediately identified and stopped, animal cruelty should never be tolerated. This is just plain wrong.” 

The Pasadena Police Department said it will investigate this to the full extent as any case  linked to animal cruelty is taken seriously. 

Anyone with information should contact the Pasadena Police Department immediately at (626) 744-4501or go to cityofpasadena.net/police and click on the “Report A Crime” link. 

The Los Angeles Lakers have always carried a deep reverence for their legends, and for the 2024-25 season, they’ll be honoring one of the greatest to ever wear the purple and gold—Jerry West.

A towering figure in the history of the NBA, West will be commemorated with a No. 44 jersey patch on the left shoulder of every Lakers jersey throughout the season. It’s a fitting tribute to a man who defined an era of basketball, not only as a player but also as a coach and executive, shaping the future of the game.

West, who passed away in June at the age of 86, leaves behind a legacy that few can match.

For 14 seasons, he dominated the court as the Lakers’ floor general, a force who never missed an All-Star game and averaged a staggering 27 points per contest. His contributions led the Lakers to the 1972 NBA title, cementing his place as an icon. But West was more than just a champion. He was named NBA Finals MVP in 1969, an honor even more remarkable given that his team lost the series. His nine trips to the Finals and induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980 further underscore his status as one of basketball’s all-time greats.

The man who inspired the NBA’s iconic logo didn’t stop influencing the game when he retired. West transitioned into coaching, spending three seasons on the Lakers’ bench before taking the reins in the front office.

There, he built the “Showtime” Lakers, a juggernaut of the 1980s that delivered five championships. His eye for talent didn’t end with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. West was also the architect of the Lakers’ early 2000s dynasty, anchored by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, which brought home three consecutive titles from 2000-2002.

West’s impact wasn’t limited to Los Angeles. His genius extended to the Memphis Grizzlies, where he reshaped the franchise as a front-office executive. Later, he served as a board member with the Golden State Warriors, contributing to their rise as an NBA powerhouse, and had a stint with the Los Angeles Clippers.

It’s only fitting that West is set to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame again—this time as a contributor—making him the first individual to enter the Hall in both player and contributor roles. In 2019, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the nation’s highest civilian honors.

The outpouring of love and respect for West since his passing has been immense. The NBA held a commemorative courtside seat in his honor during the Summer League in July, and teams like the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks paid tribute to him during the NBA Finals.

The Lakers’ decision to wear his No. 44 on their jerseys is yet another reminder of how much West meant to the organization and the game itself. Fans can also look forward to a special Jerry West jersey giveaway during the Lakers’ season opener in October—a small token of appreciation for a legend who gave so much to the franchise.