“I get driven crazy by people decorating shelter and rescue kennels—for whom are we doing it? Does it make the animals feel better?” a friend of mine asked recently.
Good point. It makes us feel better, of course, but do our pets know that it’s the holiday giving season? I dunno—they certainly react the same way people do to gifts, from insane gratitude to sniffing at it and wondering how it can be regifted. And if the presents are wrapped, the more domestically artistic among them get creative with the paper.
We know it’s the holidays, though. It’s the time to emphasize how much we’ve loved them throughout their lives. I assume that every member of the pet community from the advocates to the person who bags the kibble is going to gift their best buddy big this year, but I was curious about what the rest of Long Beach is giving their cuddly freeloader this year, if anything, and what they think about the whole idea. Here’s a small sample:
Sarah Bennett, Long Beach Post executive editor: “I tend to buy really stupid stuff for my cat around the holidays because it’s pretty stupid to buy Christmas gifts for animals anyway, so what’s the difference? My last cat, Fred Savage, became an outdoor kitty when I moved to my fourplex in Downtown Long Beach, so just to spite him a little, I bought him a tie that velcroed around his neck and made him wear it around the house (and for our Christmas card!).
Virginia DeMoss, executive and director of the Found Theatre: My dog Petey has no regard for flashy clothes or the latest toy. The only way to his heart is through his stomach, so he’ll be receiving high-quality American-made treats in his stocking. Unless he pees on the dining room floor one more time, and then it will be lumps of coal. He is a family member (or, in his mind, head of household), so why shouldn’t he receive gifts like everyone else?
Kerstin Kansteiner, proprietor of the Portfolio Coffeehouse and Berlin Bistro: Many of my friends and business acquaintances have pets these days, and instead of giving small meaningless gifts to their human partners, I have decided to honor our animal friends. It usually makes both parties very happy. Local bakeries often carry pet cookies, which look great and make great gifts and support the Shop Local concept.
Blair Cohn, executive director of the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association: I am planning to give Annie Love her own USC blanket, antlers to chew on, and play dates at goFETCH throughout the holidays! She will be spoiled, as always.
Jeff Givens, bartender at the Pike Restaurant and Bar: I got my dog a stocking full of dog treats and Christmas toys as well as that dog frozen ice cream—no dairy for the dog! Also, a giant chocolate Santa that isn’t chocolate.
Tammy Centanni, server at Park Pantry for 16 years: We have a little cat, Kayla, and we’re getting her a scratching post and a little ball. She’s so much fun!
I also thought it would be amusing to ask the mayoral candidates the same question. Here are the responses, in alphabetical order by last name, from the ones who took time to answer. (The following is in no way a political endorsement or an attempt to influence you.)
Robert Garcia: I always get my pets gifts and treats—they are part of the family. This year, my dog, Anakin, is getting his favorite treats and a couple of new toys, and our cat, Tommy, is getting a new cat tree.
Bonnie Lowenthal: While I have shared my home with some wonderful pets in the past, my current schedule being split between my home here in Long Beach and the state capitol doesn’t allow me to provide the care needed. It is something I miss, but I will be helping those at our Animal Care Services by donating for the holidays a case of hot dogs, which they use to administer pills, and a case of Dawn liquid soap for removing oil from birds and furry friends.
Kareem Muhammad: Season greetings to the Pet Post and all the Greater Long Beach community who own pets and advocate for pets in general! I enjoy pets, especially cats, birds, fish and turtles. May this Season continue to bring love and joy to your pets, whom you care for.
Doug Otto: We will be on our own this Christmas with kids and grandkids visiting out of the area, so we plan to take Dewey on a long hike, likely up to Mount Wilson. He loves nothing better than trekking alongside us when we take long walks.
Dewey and Doug Otto
Jana Shields: My old-lady cat needs a new set of teeth. What I will give her is plenty of time to eat.
Whether you’re giving your pet the moon and sixpence or think that the whole idea is birdbrained, please remember, as we do with our human brothers and sisters, that there are cats, dogs, rabbits and so many other voiceless creatures who are homeless, abused, abandoned and overbred all year long. Donate to the many Santa Paws locations around town (see Pet Projects), or make a contribution to the animal charities that exist locally and nationally. Here are favorites of my friends and me. If you know of any others, please post them, along with how you plan to convince the cat or dog that it’s Christmas.
Long Beach Animal Care Services (click link for names of individual funds)
“Mistletoe hung from the gas brackets in all the front parlors; there was sherry and walnuts and bottled beer and crackers by the dessertspoons; and cats in their fur-abouts watched the fires.”
Dylan Thomas, “A Child’s Christmas in Wales”
Virtually Pets
To help reduce our shelter’s euthanasia rate, please visit ACS when you’re ready to adopt a pet! People may be surprised that there are animals up for adoption at our shelter as well as next door at spcaLA. The P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village is shared between ACS and the spcaLA, and the spcaLA also has adoptive pets, all of which come from our shelter. Be sure to ask where the shelter pets are, because they’re adoptable, too. Enter through the door that says Animal Admissions: City of Long Beach Bureau of Animal Control and ask at the front desk to see the adoptive animals.
Our shelter has some wonderful cats, dogs, rabbits and, occasionally, other pets for adoption—they have a couple of turtles today—who all deserve a chance for a forever home. Besides the sweethearts below, several more grace the adoption page, which can be accessed RIGHT HERE or on the new app (see Pet Projects).
Animal care service is presently working on some alternative solutions for dealing with community cats in an effort to prevent the births of thousands of kittens. More later.
Katniss, spayed female medium-hair calico, 13 weeks old, ID#A509279
Declan, neutered male black-and-white domestic shorthair, 5 months old, ID#A510830
Winter, spayed female lab, 5 years old, ID#A222139
Pet Projects
Animal Care Services Introduces Its Mobile App
Local pet owners and animal lovers can now easily search for adoptable cats and dogs, find local dog parks, search impounded animals, and locate emergency and after-hours veterinary facilities with the new Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) mobile application. And it’s free. The app is titled “Long Beach Animal Care Services” and features social-media feeds, videos, and other services and programs from ACS. App users can also receive notifications about news and as well as updates about upcoming low-cost clinics and special events. I just downloaded it and clicked on the buttons for photos of adoptable cats and dogs, ones who may have been lost and are waiting at the shelter, and emergency vet clinics so that if, Heaven forbid, your pet should need one, you’ll know where they are. There are links to ACS’s Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest pages as well as videos of petworthy interest. This plus information on news, urban wildlife, low-cost clinics and the predictable “and more” make this an invaluable application for all pet lovers.
The Long Beach Animal Care Services app is available on iTunes and Google Play stores (search for it by name). The app joins the rest of the Go Long Beach family of apps that includes Go Long Beach, Go Long Beach Public Library and Go Long Beach Police.
Paw Project Movie DVDs Available for Purchase
For a $10 (or more) donation, you can receive as a thank-you gift a DVD production of the Paw Project’s documentary to stop the practice of declawing cats. Click here to request your DVD. Limited-time offer.
Operation Santa Paws, sponsored by Community Action Team, Dec. 1–20, with pickup and delivery Dec. 21 at various locations in Long Beach as well as throughout California and the United States
Please drop off packaged food, toys, cleaning supplies and anything to help the comfort of our shelter pets, none of whom will receive the grateful love of a forever friend this holiday season. Please visit the Operation Santa Paws webpage for a wish list and the many drop-off locations in our community. The items will be delivered to the shelters on Dec. 21. The pets may not know that it’s Christmas, but we do, and we want to make their season bright.
Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic, sponsored by Hope for Paws’ Eldad Hagar, Saturday, Dec. 21, MacArthur Park, 1321 E. Anaheim St. in Long Beach, 7AM–approximately 4PM
What’s on your wish list for the holidays? Here’s ours: Steady reduction of shelter overpopulation through spaying and neutering our animals and continuous education of the human population about why the procedure is so necessary. Only two items, but it’s not a simple task, and we need all the help and support we can get. With 479 pets fixed since June, we’re about to hit the 500 mark—and we will this Saturday! That equals an enormous number of unborn, unwanted pets who won’t crowd our shelters or become abandoned or abused in the future and who will have longer, healthier lives! Oh—we forgot to add one thing to our list: That these efforts will inspire other communities nationwide and globally to follow suit. These mobile veterinary clinics can cost up to $3,500, and donations are needed and appreciated. To donate, visit Fix Long Beach’s Facebook page or their website.
‘It’s a Bad Kitty Christmas’ Photo Op, Sunday, Dec. 22, Apostrophe Books, 4712 E. 2nd St., Long Beach, 1PM.
To celebrate her latest in the series of Nick Bruel’s hilarious Bad Kitty series, the little feline scapegrace herself is making an appearance in one of our neighborhood indie bookstores! Bring the kids for autographs and to buy a copy of A Bad Kitty Christmas. Never has an alphabet—or a naughty cat—been so cleverly and delightfully represented!
SpcaLA Foster Class, Sunday, Jan. 12, P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, 10AM–noon
Help a pet better his or her chance at adoption! spcaLA is looking for foster parents for pets of all ages and needs. Potential foster parents must fill out and submit an application, available here, before attending a class. For more information, call (323) 730-5300.