Open to the public at no cost, Picasso Pets offers pet owners a chance to engage in animal-friendly activities and pick up event keepsakes while supplies last. Note that the pet caricature portrait station is fully booked, but attendees can still explore a variety of offerings, including booths from pet care organizations.
Pets must remain leashed and supervised by their owners at all times. Cats are welcome, though for their safety, organizers recommend using carriers, pet backpacks, strollers, or harnesses with leashes. If rain occurs, the event will relocate indoors to the Doheny Room on the second floor of the West Hollywood Park Aquatic and Recreation Center, adjacent to the park’s surface level.
Introduced by the West Hollywood City Council in 2022, the Pet Mayor program allows the city’s mayor to appoint their pet—be it a dog, cat, or other companion—as an honorary figure during their term. The initiative seeks to bolster support for local animals and their caregivers while spotlighting the city’s ongoing animal welfare efforts.
Shadrach, a pioneering feline, steps into the role as West Hollywood’s inaugural Cat Mayor. Known for her advocacy and spirited personality, she will represent the city’s pets and push for enhanced animal well-being. Her duties include attending community events, backing pet-friendly projects, and advocating for resources, especially for Community Cats.
Born under a guava tree in West Los Angeles, Shadrach is the eldest of three siblings—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who share a close connection. Her brother Meshach will serve as honorary Deputy Pet Mayor, keeping the administration a family effort. A nature lover and safety enthusiast, Shadrach patrols her surroundings and has earned local fame through mentions on NextDoor and the HomeAway “Missing Pets” portal.
As Pet Mayor, Shadrach brings a clear agenda: supporting tenants’ rights to secure housing, expanding protections and resources for community cats, and ensuring access to fresh treats and prompt breakfasts. With a “think globally, act locally” approach, she aims to address hunger and promote care for all community cats, starting in West Hollywood.
West Hollywood has long championed animal rights, a commitment dating back decades. In 1989, the City Council passed Resolution 558, declaring the city a “Cruelty-Free Zone” for animals, followed by policies ensuring no-kill shelters for strays and promoting adoption through local fairs—a practice that persists today.
In 2004, West Hollywood became the first North American city to ban cat declawing via ordinance. In 2008, it endorsed Proposition 2, setting statewide standards for chicken caging, and in 2009, it opposed puppy mills by restricting sales of mill-bred dogs in local stores. A 2011 ordinance, effective from September 2013 and later amended in 2015, banned fur sales within city limits.
Recent efforts include adopting a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program to manage cat overpopulation humanely. In 2019, the City Council initiated a spay/neuter program, and by May 2022, expanded TNR services to provide free, local support for West Hollywood’s community cats, reinforcing the city’s dedication to animal welfare.
We have a Nazi in the White House. Homeless folks sleeping anywhere they can. The world is in chaos. Global warming. Rioting everywhere. And the enlightened city of West Hollywood is swearing in a “Cat Mayor!!!!! I love cats. And this might be charming event in a small burg in the toolies, but seriously folks. This is such a “look at me” playground event. It must require some outlay of money. Just curious…who invented this ceremony? Who chose the candidates and why????(And by the same token..perhaps this cat will do far better job of governing our city. Be careful what… Read more »