We haven't talked chickens in a while. I am sure that their numbers in Echo Park have dropped dramatically in recent gentrification years. And not just in terms of representation at Chicken Corner. But they're not all gone. My daughter has a few favorites that she likes to tease through the chain link fence of their home. She likes to say "Cucuy!" to them. I also know a few people who keep them, and occasionally I hear roosters, though not constantly as I used to when I lived on Sargent Place. And a couple of days ago I saw a brown and black hen. She was on Whitmore. Strutting along on the sidewalk. I slowed the car to look at her. I thought about driving on, but then I thought of loose dogs and the like, and so I pulled over to see if I could help the chicken back to her pen or yard. Whichever the case. She hurried ahead of me to a driveway. There was a woman nearby, on the street, and I asked her for information regarding the chicken. She'd never heard of any chicken. So I knocked on a door. An amiable Latino kid answered. He was about 13, had a big chain around his neck and a buzz cut. He didn't know anything about a chicken, though he did come down to the sidewalk to see if he could get a look at it. The next people I asked were some anglos getting out of a white van. Didn't know anything about a chicken, but the guy did go back to the van and ask a guy in the driver's seat. At which I heard an English accent. "He (sic) goes everywhere," said the accent. "He's fine" roaming the sidewalks of Whitmore. So I left our feathered flaneur to her perambulations and went clucking about my own business.

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I had never heard this before, but apparently dog and cat fur is sometimes used for clothing sold as "faux" fur. According to the Humane Society of the United States, our local U.S. representative in the House of Congress, Xavier B., is a member of a committee now considering the Dog and Cat Fur Prohibition Enforcement Act. Last I heard, Becerra had an office in the former Caltrans Building -- right above the Brite Spot on Sunset. I was thinking about walking over to this outpost with my dog to urge the Honorable do the humane thing. Then I was going to go downstairs and order eggs for breakfast. But then I decided that, rather than tie up my dog outside the Brite Spot, I would drop the letter in the mail. Or email. (Cheerios it is.) And how could Becerra not co-sponsor such a bill? Don't tell me trade with China depends on dog fur.

The following comes by way of the political arm of the Humane Society, by way again of an energetic Los Angeles animal services worker named Laura Weekes. Dear folks, the letter says:

Your U.S. representative, Xavier Becerra, is a member of a key committee that is now considering the Dog and Cat Fur Prohibition Enforcement Act, and therefore your help is critical in this important effort:

H.R. 891 would help keep dog fur off the racks and protect you and your family from thinking it's faux and accidentally buying it. As you may know, a recent investigation by The Humane Society of the United States found jackets trimmed with dog fur sold by some of the biggest names in fashion. Much of this fur trim is coming from China, where dogs, cats, and raccoon dogs are skinned alive. Consumers were outraged by these findings, and now Congress needs to stop this cruel deception.

PLEASE TAKE JUST A MOMENT RIGHT NOW to call Rep. Becerra at (202) 225-6235. Making a call is easy. All you need to say is:

"I am a constituent and I am calling to ask that Rep. Becerra please protect animals and consumers by co-sponsoring H.R. 891, the Dog and Cat Fur Prohibition Enforcement Act. It is outrageous that fur-trimmed apparel is being falsely advertised as fake fur when it is really dog fur. I hope Rep. Becerra will co-sponsor this important bill and help to pass it quickly. Thank you.

After you have made your phone call, please send a quick follow-up email.

Sincerely, Wayne Pacelle >President & CEO >The Humane Society of the United States