Los Angeles, Ca.CJ Arabia

It's not something we want to think about, but it happens from time to time -- a dog fight. They can happen at the dog park, when you are out for a walk, or in front of a crowded patio restaurant. Our reaction is often to freak out, yell, grab for the dogs' collars -- which, it turns out, may be all the wrong ways to react, putting ourselves in harm's way without even realizing it.

Getting involved in a dogfight is dangerous and it's not something we recommend. But we also know that when your dog is at risk, protective instincts kick in. That's why we asked dog safety expert Melanie Monteiro, author of "The Safe Dog Handbook - A Complete Guide To Protecting Your Pooch, Indoors and Out" to find out what she does to prevent and deal with dog fights.

1. Know the Dangers
The first thing Monteiro notes is that you must understand that it is likely you will be hurt. "You're always putting yourself in physical jeopardy when you go in to break up a dog fight," she says. "I've been injured doing it and several of my friends have been injured doing it." But there are general ideas to consider that will make you more informed if you do wade into a fight.

2. Be Alert
When you're out in public with your dog, be very aware of your surroundings. "Pay attention to your dog. If you're out walking and distracted by texting, or talking on the phone, you might not be prepared when a dog jumps out of an open garage door, or comes around the corner," says Monteiro.

Dog owners are always on the lookout for fun, friendly places they can take their pets. We were recently invited by Chevrolet to tool around with their pooch-loving pros to check out the Best of Dog-Friendly Businesses Tour of Los Angeles. Here are four L.A. destinations that welcome furry friends.

Pussy & Pooch
564 S. Main St., Los Angeles, 90013
If you're in the downtown area, Pussy & Pooch is truly one of the best pet stores in Los Angeles. Not only does it stock awesome pet toys, beds and clothes, the Pawbar has a daily selection of raw meat meals, simmered stews and meaty bones, in addition to gourmet treats, snacks and more. With prices ranging from $3 for a quick snack to $7 for a full-size meal for a large dog, you can't go wrong. My pup enjoyed the beef stew -- so much so that I had to get her a second bowl!

Silver Lake Dog Park
1873 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles, 90026
If you want a quiet place to reflect with your dog, this isn't it; this is more like a 1.25-acre nightclub of dirty, furry fun. There are always lots of other dogs and a few shady spots to sit on a sunny day. The people are cool, and it's a great place to spot celebs and their pups!

Thinking about getting a dog or a cat but not sure if you can handle the commitment? You might make the perfect foster parent. As Sarah Oren of Foster Dogs in New York notes: "So many people don't know what they'll be doing next year, let alone let week, so it's a wonderful option for some to foster rather than adopt."

Ranelle Black, a Los Angeles foster mom who works with Linda Blair's World Heart Foundation says "It's possibly the most rewarding thing I've ever done. First, you are involved in saving a dog's life. Then, you get to help bring the dog out of its shell. You can imagine how shut down they become living in a shelter, frightened and alone, fighting for their share of food." The love of a foster home can transform a dog and make them more adoptable.

The basics of foster parenting. While every situation is different, rescue groups with homeless animals are looking for temporary parents to provide love and care until a permanent home can be found. Every group handles fostering in their own way, but many provide basic food, and cover all medical costs for the foster dog in your care. You may need to invest in a collar, leash, food bowl and a few toys or treats. If you can't afford these things, there are many groups that will provide them for you. Web sites such as FosterDogs.com, Dog Foster Mom, and The Foster Dog Blog have lots of valuable information for the potential foster parent.

What organizations look for in a foster parent. Lee Goldberg of The Animal Advocates Alliance says, "Our ideal foster parents are those that are committed to providing an animal with a stable loving environment, which includes proper nutrition, exercise and socialization." You may need to take your foster to the vet, the dog park, on hikes. You may have to potty train your foster dog, leash train, and help to socialize the animal.

How to get started. If you're interested in fostering, contact a local shelter or rescue group. You can find one near you on Adopt-a-Pet.com and Petfinder.org. If you have experience with a particular breed of dog or cat, there are breed-specific rescues you can contact. Tamar Love Grande, a foster mom and writer for the L.A. Dachshund Examiner fosters dachshunds exclusively, for example.

The Humunga Stache by Moody Pet may be better in theory than it is in execution. In theory, your dog will hold the ball in his mouth, giving off the appearance of a handlebar moustache. In actuality, my dog never picked it up in her mouth like the dog in the advertisement. Note: The toy is very heavy and best-suited for larger dogs -- my smaller dog couldn't fit it in her mouth!

I imagine that if a dog could carry the Humunga Stache around as shown in the promo pics, it would thrill any passersby who caught a glimpse. And if it's possible to get a dog to use the product as intended, I'd agree with the copy on the packaging that it would make for a hilarious group photo. But to my utter frustration, I never got my dog to pick the thing up in her mouth by the ball and create the promised illusion of a hearty handlebar. I even filled the ball with delicious treats, but still, my dog mostly just likes to chew on it.

The Humunga Stache is brought to you by the makers of Humunga Tongue and Fling-Ama-String, and can be found in your local pet store or at MoodyPet.com for approximately $12.

In honor of National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, we've asked our bloggers to share their stories of adopting shelter dogs and cats.

We were walking past a pet adoption event in the park when a woman threw a leash at us. "You've got to help this dog; she's going to be killed on Thursday," she cried. It was a dramatic tactic, but it worked. That's how we got the dog we call Tacos. I became friends with the ladies who ran the adoption event, and soon began volunteering at the event myself.

Every other Sunday, anywhere between 20 and 40 shelter dogs from various local canters are trucked down to Moorpark Park where they are bathed, brushed, fed, walked, played with and loved from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and if they're very lucky, they find a home. It's far less depressing than seeing them in cages at the local animal shelter, and it's great for the dogs.

It was at one of these events that I saw Molly. She was adorable, the fattest thing I had ever seen. She barely could walk and it was clear that she wasn't feeling well. I had promised my boyfriend, "No more dogs." But I was heartbroken when nobody had adopted Molly by the end of the day. I couldn't let her go back to the shelter, so I adopted her myself.