Virtually Pets
August is a great time to think about adopting a rabbit, mainly because it’s far enough from Easter in either direction and the bunnies won’t be looked at as seasonal decoration.
Rabbits make swell pets. They can be housetrained and are very affectionate. They also have special needs, e.g., they like to chew, and if they have the run of the house, it’s vital that electric cords and other wiring be covered with tubing or otherwise made inaccessible; their front teeth don’t stop growing, and they have to be periodically filed down.
You can meet the little guys at the Bunny Barn, built as an Eagle Scout Project and headed by Lead Rescue Partner Daniel Marolda and a herd of volunteers. The Barn is located at the shelter side of Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 East Spring Street on the shelter side of the P. D. Pitchford Animal Companion Village. Go through the El Dorado Park entrance and tell the gatekeeper that you’re visiting the shelter. No parking fee for Animal Village visitors.
Photo by Kate Karp
Here are a couple of candidates:
Scooter is a fine-looking male shorthair tuxedo specimen, complete with cravat and spats. Ask for ID#A570876.
Domino is a spayed female American with black ears and cute black spots on a white “background.” Ask for ID#A57417.
Mark Your Calendars (the People Way)
Photo courtesy of the Integer Group and IBRCC
International Bird Rescue’s 45th Birthday
Saturday, July 30, 11:00AM–4PM, Angels Gate Park, 3601 S. Gaffey Street, San Pedro
Free event
Happy birdie to you! Dawn dish soap is celebrating their wildlife partner’s 45th year International Bird Rescue’s (IBRRC) 45th Anniversary, and IBRRC would love for you to join them! The organization will open its doors and host a community fair with the theme “Preserving Wildlife Through Images.” National Geographic photographer and author Joel Sartore will present his photos and a message about wildlife conservation, and there will also be food trucks, family-friendly activities and behind-the-scenes tours. For over 40 years, Dawn has been supporting wildlife rescue rehabilitation centers, including IBRRC, with its product to clean animals affected by oil pollution. As such, Dawn is the only dishwashing brand trusted by wildlife rescue experts for decades.
Long Beach Love Art and Photo Show, Benefitting spcaLA
Saturday, July 30, 7:00PM–10PM, Underground Salon, 149 Linden Avenue, Long Beach
$5 entry fee and bar menu prices
A truly hep-cat evening, with 10 percent of sales going to the spcaLA pets, features artwork from Outer Limits Tattoo Long Beach, and Photos from Krk Dominguez. The Record Truck record store on wheels will have vinyls; Master Droog (The SLOP STOMP) and DJ Polyester (The SLOP STOMP, Bad Reputation) will be spinning all night. Lots of raffle prizes as well as goodies from Delightful Crepes Cafe Pit Bull Bakery and Seal Beach Toffee. There will be items for sale from Lil Devils Boutique, LB Skate Co, New Flower Studio, Made by Adriane/Lucky Girl Handbags, and other local Long Beach businesses and designers.
Dog Adoption Event
Saturday, August 6, 11:00AM–3:00PM, Pet Food Express, 4220 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach
Adoption fees apply
Find your new best friend and everything that he or she could ever want or need, in one place. Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) and other rescues will be bringing some wonderful dogs ready to go home with their new people. Everything is high quality at Pet Food Express, and that includes the adoptive pets! Check out the Cat Adoption Center while you’re there!
El Dorado Audubon Society Birds and Butterflies Field Trip
Saturday, August 13, 8:00AM–10:00AM, Gum Grove Nature Park, Crestview Avenue and Avalon Drive, Seal Beach
Free event
Butterflies may not be pets and the birds you’ll encounter on this lovely outing likely won’t ride around on your shoulder, but they are animals, and this is an exercise in appreciation. We meet in the parking lot near Avalon Drive and Catalina and walk toward this long, narrow park overlooking the Los Cerritos Wetlands to enjoy songs of summer. We will be looking for house wrens, song sparrows, black phoebes, swallows and raptors. We can see the bike path along the San Gabriel River and on clear days the local mountains, Palos Verdes and the downtown Long Beach skyline. Hat, sunscreen, water and binoculars are advised, and be forewarned that there are no restrooms on the site.
Ongoing
Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS): Free Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinics, once monthly; Low-Cost Vaccination Clinics, scheduled days Monthly. Locations vary.
See flyer on web page for pricing of services
Beginning this Sunday, February 21, the Society for California Veterinary and Vaccine Care (SCVVC) will offer free spay/neuter procedures and wellness services to residents of the cities served by ACS: Long Beach, Signal Hill, Cerritos, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach. During the remaining weeks of the month, Spay/Neuter Project Los Angeles (SNP/LA) will offer low-cost vaccines, nail trimmings and topical flea treatment for residents of the same areas. Click link for locations and times and click the links next to each event for vaccine pricing and other details.
Pet owners must be 18 years or older. All pets must be on leashes or in carriers. Only healthy and non-pregnant animals will be vaccinated. If you have a prior rabies vaccine certificate, license tag or license renewal notice for your pet, please bring it with you to the clinic. Vaccination and microchip services are provided for pets residing in any city. Licensing service is provided for residents within our jurisdiction:. Microchips, flea treatment and nail trimmings also available.
BARK Therapy Dogs Library Appearances
Various area libraries (Long Beach events generally held on Saturdays)
Free event
Dogs love unconditionally. They don’t judge or criticize. And they love a good story. Bring your children to the library to read to these lovely therapy dogs, and watch their confidence in their reading ability grow.
BARK (Beach Animals Reading with Kids) is an all-volunteer group dedicated to increasing children’s reading skills as well as interacting with pets. Check the calendar page on the group’s website, and find out more about this terrific organization.
Free Pet Food Distributions
Food for Pets in Need provides pet food to senior, homeless, low-income and homebound residents in Long Beach who otherwise may not be able to afford adequate food to take proper care of their pets.
The Pet Food Bank is sponsored by Christian Outreach in Action. See flyer for details.
spcaLA Friends for Life Summer Camp
June through August, Monday through Friday; Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring Street, Long Beach
Details on website
Paws down, it’s the best camp around! spcaLA Friends for Life Summer Camp™ is for kids 8 through 13 years old. At camp, kids learn the basics of pet care and responsibility, respect for all animals, and the beginnings of dog training, all while making new friends on a number of legs! There are several sessions still available, each running Monday through Friday. Registration details and session schedule are available here.