Before I leave for work each morning, I spend about an hour checking all of my personal and business e-mail. Last Thursday I opened a personal message from my friend Shirley Vaughn of Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA) in which she gently shared the news of Fred Bergendorff’s passing. Fred was local television’s host of the cable show The Pet Place. Through his show, many of us learned the importance of spaying and neutering as he introduced his television audience to homeless animals who were available for adoption through various shelters. [See page 1 for the full story].
Steve and I had the chance to chat with Fred on several occasions, as we would often run into him at this or that pet function such as America’s Family Pet Expo or FOLBA’s annual Walk For the Animals.
Back in 1993, Fred was looking for someone to speak about snakes and other reptiles on his show. Steve being quite involved with Southern California Herpetology Association (at the time) jumped at the chance to help out and spread the word about the proper care and feeding of the (sometimes misunderstood) creatures. The show was a great success and Steve was proud to have helped Fred create the unique episode.
We will remember Fred as a kind and gentle man who helped us understand our roles on this planet filled with pets. He will be missed.
I have been told that there will be no service for Fred. However Shirley says she thinks there will be a “Celebration of Fred’s Life” in about a month. We will do our best to keep you posted on the exact date, time and place. In the meantime check www.petplace.org for more on Fred Bergendorff and the legacy he has left behind.
