Fourth of July is a fading memory, revived only by the occasional bang of some dope setting off a lone pyrotechnic followed by the dog running into the bedroom, tail between his legs ki-yi-yi-ing all the way. Someone on a Facebook post observed that you could tell and you could say but people will do it anyway.
But at Long Beach Animal Care Services, people were obviously taking care of their own pets because only a handful were brought in—sadly, four of them were dead on arrival. But the Foster the Fourth program went wonderfully well, with 14 dogs going for sleepovers at homes generous enough to take them and leaving empty cages to put the lost souls in while their families were being hunted up. We’re all kind of hoping that the dogs don’t make it back because their foster parents couldn’t give them up.
But the cats are still coming in—kittens, mainly. It’s the time of year known as kitten season—it started for us around mid-March and I can’t believe I’m still writing about it. This is the time when mothers give birth to numerous litters, and people find the nursing mothers and bring them in to the shelter or (often erroneously, and with tragic results) find kittens that may or may not be orphaned and take them in. The shelter offers free Kitten Kits, donated by Helen Sanders Cat Paws to people who might want to help nurse the babies and get them adopted, but more than often, the shelter becomes overwhelmed with many kittens and fewer resources, and the rescues that pull some of the kittens to nurse are also strapped for resources, both financial and volunteer.
The Scratching Post and Pet Projects have given detailed explanations and resources for finding nursing mothers or apparently orphaned kittens.
Six Characters (and They Are) in Search of an Offer—of a Forever Home
Starring:
Ronnie, ID#A610646 14-week-old male, and wait till you see the ears
Sebastian, ID#A610648, male, age is unknown, but rub his head and he’ll stay under your thumb forever
Jethro, ID#A610077, 3-year-old male, stately and fluffy, ready for his close-up
Baby Gir, ID#A609393, darling little 8-year-old tortie-tabbie, female
Plumeria, ID#A608247, 2-year-old female with calico patches who craves affection
Nane Nae (whadda name!), ID#A601283, cream-and-white 1 ½-year-old female who looks as if she was caught with her snout in a can of pumpkin pie filling
https://www.facebook.com/LongBeachAnimalCare/videos/1950875811599725/?t=27
On the private side of the rescue fence, a well-known community rescue, Live Love Animal Rescue was recently awarded a grant from Grey Muzzle Organization, a national nonprofit that improves the lives of at-risk senior dogs by providing funding and resources to animal shelters, rescue organizations, sanctuaries and other nonprofit groups nationwide. The grant is awarded annually to animal-welfare groups such as Live Love that help local senior dogs. Over the past decade, Gray Muzzle has provided nearly $1.5 million in grants to support its vision of “a world where no old dog dies alone and afraid,” as founder Julie Dudley of Seattle stated.
Live Love is one of 66 groups selected from 300 applicants to receive the grant.
“This will help us give senior dogs like sweet 15-year-old Roxy the veterinary and dental care she needs so she’ll be ready to go to her forever home,” said Emily Ann Ghosh of Live Love Animal Rescue. “Roxy was surrendered by her owner, as both of them had become homeless and were living in a car. Little Roxy had five large bladder stones that needed to be removed, as she was in a great deal of pain. Despite the pain, Roxy is so sweet and loving with everyone, especially kids. No one is more grateful or loving than an old dog, and we’re looking forward to helping more senior dogs like Roxy get the second chance they all deserve.”
Things to do, pets to support
Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic:
7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 14, Ramona Park, 3301 E. 65th St., Long Beach. Have your dog spayed or neutered free with appointment and qualifications; vet appointment with voucher, minimal charge for dogs and cats; flea meds $10; shots and dewormer $10 each; nail trimming, $10
It’s now the law to fix your pets in Long Beach and many Southern California cities. To provide this costly service to our Long Beach residents who otherwise couldn’t afford it, Fix Long Beach offers this service free of charge. The spay/neuter truck will be at its new location at Ramona Park on this date.
Make an appointment through IM or email at info@fixlongbeach.com for your dog, and include your name, address, phone number, pet’s name, age, sex, breed and weight, and Fix will see if they can schedule you. You can also come as a standby, but be there at 8:30 a.m. Make sure that your pet has had nothing to eat or drink past 10 p.m. the previous night.
To donate, visit Fix Long Beach. In-kind donations such as leashes, collars and toys can be brought to our event or ordered through our Amazon wish list.
For both spay/neuter and vaccinations, all dogs must be on sturdy leashes and all cats must be in dedicated carriers. Fix thanks you in advance for being responsible for your pet’s health and for helping to reduce shelter overpopulation and euthanasia.
Big Dog and Cat Pet Adoption event, co-hosted by Live Love Animal Rescue:
Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 15, Long Beach Towne Center Promenade, 7575 Carson Blvd., Long Beach.
Long Beach Towne Center and Live Love Animal Rescue will co-host a pet adoption event to find forever homes for deserving animals. Live Love is a unique animal rescue organization that offers a range of pet-related services from dog walking to pet sitting. Proceeds from these services and from donations are used to fund the group’s rescue efforts. In just five years, Live Love has come to the aid of more than 500 deserving animals all with the goal of finding each pet the perfect fur-ever home. During the Long Beach Towne Center event, both dogs and cats will be available for immediate adoption.
23rd Annual Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals:
6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday July 21, Los Alamitos Race Course, 4961 Katella Ave., Cypress. $3 adult admission; under 17 free. Parking is free.
Saddle up your little doxie, and don’t forget the mustard and relish! Los Alamitos will host one of the most entertaining pet activities and some side-splitting fun as dachshunds once again prove that racing them is second in difficulty to herding cats. Proceeds will benefit the Seal Beach Animal Care Center a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a home for stray animals in the Orange County area. Since 1996, the Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals has helped raise more than $250,000 for the Care Center. Last year’s event raised $18,000 through ticket sales and T-shirt sales on the day of the event.
Saving Kittens’ Lives workshop and fundraiser, with Kitten Lady Hannah Shaw
If you’re expecting an eccentric cat person raving about kitties, yes. But you have no idea where her whimsies will take you or how much you’ll learn about cat care! Hannah Shaw can captivate an audience the way that little birdie does to the cat on the other side of the window—she’ll teach you how to care for underage, orphaned kittens so that more lives will be saved. Best of all, your ticket purchase will help The Little Lion Foundation do just that as well! Purchase tickets here.
2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, El Dorado Park West Community Center, 2800 North Studebaker Road, Long Beach. $39.95; a portion of ticket sales will benefit The Little Lion Foundation.
Ongoing
Pet Adoption Locations
The following pet-related businesses regularly feature cat, dog and rabbit adoptions. If you’re a Long Beach-area rescue and don’t see your adoption event listed here, please email pets@lbpost.com.
Petco Animal Supplies, Marina Shores
6500 Pacific Coast Highway
Helen Sanders CatPAWS, permanent adoption center, store hours
Rabbit Rescue, Inc., adoptable rabbits daily, store hours
Live Love Animal Rescue, first Sunday of the month, 1:00PM–3:00PM
Unleashed by Petco
600 Redondo Avenue
Foreverhome Pet Rescue, Inc., Sundays, noon–4:00PM
PetSmart, Long Beach Exchange
3871 N Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach
The Cat Cove, Saturdays, noon–4:00pm
Jellicle Cats Foundation, Saturdays, noon—4:00PM
PetSmart Signal Hill
2550 Cherry Avenue, Signal Hill
Kitty Katchers, Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00AM–3:30PM
Stray Cat Alliance, permanent adoption center, store hours
PetSmart Compton
1775 South Alameda Street, Compton
Zazzy Cats Kitty Rescue, permanent adoption center, store hours
Rabbit Rescue, Inc., one adoptable rabbit daily, store hours
PetSmart Seal Beach
12341 Seal Beach Boulevard, Seal Beach
West Coast Animal Rescue, Saturdays, noon–4:00PM
Dogs in Need, Saturdays, 9:00AM–2:00PM
Pet Food Express
4220 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach
Pet Food Express Cat Adoption Center, permanent adoption center, business hours
Zazzy Cats, alternate weekends, 10AM–5PM
Fix Long Beach, occasional weekends
Live Love Animal Rescue, first Saturday of each month, 11:00AM–2:00PM
Ozzie and Friends Rescue, 11:00AM–2:00PM, alternate Sundays
The Little Lion Foundation, alternate weekends, 11:00AM–5:00PM
Bank of America
5101 East Second Street, Long Beach
Long Beach Spay & Neuter Foundation, 11:00AM–3PM
Register for Best Friends’ ‘Strut Your Mutt’ Walk Event
Imagine this: You’re surrounded by animal lovers just like you. Everywhere you look, there are dogs of all shapes and sizes, all happy with tails wagging. Excitement is in the air.
You don’t have to imagine it. That’s what Best Friends’ Strut Your Mutt is all about! This year’s LA Strut takes place October 20 (time to be announced) at Exposition Park. This fur-filled festival not only rallies friends, family and neighbors to help save the lives of homeless pets in your community but it also supports the lifesaving work of Best Friends Animal Society. You can find everything you need to know right here!
BARK Therapy Dogs Reading with Kids
See website for information
Founded in 2007, BARK (Beach Animals Reading with Kids) is a nonprofit all-volunteer program that encourages children to increase their reading skills and self-confidence by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. Students sometimes find it intimidating to read in front of classmates but love to read to the non-judgmental, calming dogs. BARK now has 170 teams listening to kids in more than 100 schools and libraries in California—Long Beach libraries visited monthly are Bach, El Dorado, Bayshore, Brewitt and Los Altos; outlying-area libraries include Hawaiian Gardens, Iacoboni and Los Alamitos. BARK teams also visit nursing homes, senior living facilities and veteran centers. They even de-stress college students during finals week! For all events, check out BARK’s calendar. To find information about volunteering your furry buddy or to arrange a visit to your school, library or other community, contact the group at barkreadingdogs@aol.com or (562)235-8835.
SNP/LA Mobile Low-Cost Pet Vaccines
Locations and dates vary; visit link in text
For low-cost vaccines, visit this link. Note that pet owners must be 18 years or older, all pets must be on leashes or in carriers, and only healthy and non-pregnant animals will be vaccinated. Please bring prior vaccination information with you to the clinic. Vaccination and microchip services are provided for pets residing in any city. Licensing is provided for residents within our jurisdiction at Saturday clinics; please bring your renewal notice and rabies certificate with you. Low/cost spay/neuter information is also available through SNP/LA.
Free Pet Food Distributions
Papa, a big “teddy bear’ of a dog, sits with his human in Ashlee’s Pet Care station at Beacon for Him.
Beacon for Him has extended an outreach for people experiencing homelessness and their pets. Pet food, primarily dog food, is available at their facility at 439 West Anaheim Street, Mondays from 9:00AM to noon and Saturdays from noon to 3:00PM. A dog-washing station with a stainless-steel tub is also available onsite at these hours. Donations and supplies such as shampoo, flea control and, of course, pet food are always gratefully accepted.
The Pet Food Bank is sponsored by Christian Outreach in Action. COA is located at 515 E 3rd St, Long Beach. Hours are Thursday from 9:00AM to 11:00AM.
Shelter-Enrichment Supplies Needed for ACS Dogs and Cats!
Drop-off: Wednesdays through Fridays, 10:00AM–5:30PM and Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00AM–4:00PM, 7700 East Spring Street, Long Beach
Individual donations requested
ACS is continuing our kennel enrichment activities for our canine guests here and could use so more donations (there are plenty for the cats!). Here is what’s needed:
- creamy peanut butter
- yogurt
- beef broth (canned or in the box)
- chicken broth (canned or in the box)
- incense
- carabiner clips (heavy duty)
- ice cube trays
- pipe cleaners
- toilet paper/paper towel rolls
- cat toys
- corks from bottles (for cat toys)
- catnip
- canned cat and dog food
Donations are tax deductible. Our pups and kitties say thanks so much!
Please send any Long Beach or Seal Beach pet-related events or projects to pets@lbpost.com. Posting subject to approval.