Adopt a cat or big...

PAGE 10 bills directly, they are offering direct assistance to consumers and can advocate for them in conflict resolutions and cases. Additionally, PWC is able to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate assistance for the Filipino community with workers speaking fluently in Tagalog or Filipino, Bisaya and other dialects.

PWC also provided $20 gift cards to the first 200 attendees of the events who brought bills. It will continue to provide assistance and resources to San Diego residents who are in need. Inquiries can be made by telephone through these numbers: (619) 316-7996 or (619) 601-8855.

The Team and Changes is a community assistance program brought by the California Public Utitlities Commissions (CPUC) with assistance of communitybased organizations. The TEAM (Telecommunications Education and Assistance in MultipleLanguages) program provides services to Limited English Proficient (LEP) consumers with telecommunications issues by focusing on three service components – consumer education, care assistance, and program outreach. Assistance is provided statewide through community based organizations that work with LEP consumers in their preferred language and with cultural sensitivity.

CPUC’s CHANGES (Community Help and Awareness of Natural Gas and Electric Services) program provides services to Limited English Proficient consumers who need help with energy issues. The program provides consumer education, case assistance, and program outreach.

Founded in 1997, Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) is a grassroots non-profit that organizes, educates, and mobilizes worker and immigrant Filipinx communities. Through culturally and linguistically appropriate programs and services, PWC aims to build collective power in order to change non-inclusive and oppressive systems to secure the dignity, safety, and economic stability of the Filipinx community. For more information visit www.pwcsc. org. (PWC Release) n beneficial effect on the adopted animal’s physical and mental health as well.

Find your new cat or bigger dog, as in 50+ pounds, by browsing through the county shelters’ animal inventory. Kittens, smaller dogs, pigs and bunnies are also available for regular adoption now on the Adoptions page. Pick a second and third choice too, just in case your first choice is already adopted.

Walk-in hours are from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at both the South Shelter, 5821 Sweetwater Road in Bonita, or the North Shelter, 2481 Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad. People can save time by completing a pet adoption application in advance.

The County Department of Animal Services’ top priority is providing excellent care in its shelters while finding good homes for every healthy and treatable animal. While the goal is to find the right fit for animals and their permanent adopter to form a lasting and loving bond, animal fostering is another opportunity for animals to learn how to be in a home and socialize with people and other animals.

(Yvette Urrea Moe/County of San Diego Communications Office) n

They just want your money or personal information.

Another common text scam promises a “free gift”— if you click a link. But then they ask you for payment information to cover the “shipping cost.” If you give it, you’ll get unauthorized charges on your account…and no free gift. So how do you avoid these and other text scams?

• Don’t click on links or respond to unexpected texts. If you think a text might be legit, contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real. Don’t use the information in the text message.

• Report text scams. Forward them to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your wireless provider spot and block similar messages. And if you spot a text scam, the FTC wants to hear about it. Tell us what happened at ReportFraud. ftc.gov. (Art Lazarus/Consumer Education Specialist, FTC) n