The following are a number of events, shout-outs, announcements and adoption opportunities, all related to pets, of course!

Long Beach Animal Care Services 2013 Open House, Saturday, Jan. 26, noon–3 PM, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach

ACS invites Long Beach residents and their friends and guests to their annual open house to see and discuss the shelter’s innovations, accomplishments and future goals. No RSVP is necessary.

“The past year was a tremendous year of growth and positive change,” says George Chapjian, director of Parks, Recreation and Marine. “The coming year promises to be an exciting year for building on the vision of becoming California’s safest large city for people and animals.”

ACS reports that Long Beach’s live-release rate has steadily increased to an all time high in 2012. Residents and guests will be informed as to how and why this happened and how this progress will continue this year. Attendees will be given a report card on the past year as well as an overview of new programs and technologies available to residents in 2013. Refreshments, tours and discussion will be included. Information on animal adoption, licensing, spay and neuter programs, and other animal care information will be available, so if you see someone you like…

ACS public health associate Debra Brubaker communes with a friend.

For more information on this or other Animal Care Services opportunities, please call (562) 570-PETS (7387), or click here.

Long Beach Reads One Book, March 12–19, Various Long Beach Venues

Author Garth Stein will highlight a week of dog- and racing-themed events when he appears March 19 at the Carpenter Center for Performing Arts. An original orchestra piece based on the book and composed by celebrated conductor, arranger and composer Sean O’Loughlin will be performed by Long Beach Poly’s High School Symphonic orchestra and directed by Andy Osman. Long Beach Reads One Book is in its 12th year of featuring books for both young and old, with twin goals of promoting the joy of reading and community building.

“We are one of the longest-running programs of its type in the country and certainly one of the most popular,” said Susan Redfield, Book Week’s chair.

Tickets to the Carpenter Center event may be purchased for $30 each by calling the Carpenter Center at (562) 985-7000. Additional events throughout the city will include the following:

• an appearance by author Garth Stein at Wilson High School, during which time he’ll discuss The Art of Racing in the Rain with LBUSD high school students (see accompanying photo)
• a major family-friendly dog celebration at Good Neighbor Park at Eldorado Park that includes a multi-prize geocaching challenge, an “I Look Like My Dog” contest and a marathon reading of the book
• an expert panel on the benefits of pet ownership and the human-animal bond, with an appearance by Dr. Mona Rosenberg, DVM and CEO and chief of staff at Veterinary Cancer Group,and by Dr. Wayne A. Jensen, DVM, PhD, MBA and chief scientific officer at the Morris Animal Foundation (not named after the cat but for its founder, veterinarian and humanitarian Dr. Mark Morris),to be held at Cats and Dogs animal hospital at 627 Redondo Ave. (adults-only event)
• literacy encouraged and enabled Enzo-style by the wonderful dogs from BARK (Beach Animals Reading for Kids), who’ll be attending a Pajama Read-In with children at the Marina Pacifica Barnes & Noble (it hasn’t been as yet disclosed as to whether the dogs also will be in pajamas)
• an event celebrating the racing history of the city event hosted by John Morris (speaking of Morris) at McKenna’s on the Bay, featuring a special appearance by Parnelli Jones
• dog-themed events for children to participate in and enjoy to be held at all branches, including the main branch, of the Long Beach Public Library

Dr. Greg Perrault, DVM, of Cats and Dogs animal hospital on Redondo Avenue in Long Beach, stands with Wilson librarian Lia Ladas and a number of eager Wilson students holding up copies of “The Art of Racing in the Rain.” Perrault donated 167 copies of the book for the students of the three high schools participating in the book discussion with Garth Stein.

Additionally, Enzo has his own blog for discussion of everything Enzo.

Details will be posted as they are confirmed on the Long Beach Reads One Book website, on Facebook at Long Beach Reads One Book and here on Pet Post.

Virtually Pets

On Jan. 15, 50-year-old cyclist Susan Curtis was hit by a vehicle and killed as she crossed against the light on Bellflower Boulevard and Atherton Street. Curtis, described in Sarah Bennett’s Long Beach Post article as one who was “an avid animal supporter and lover, rescued animals and also worked for a dog-walking and dog-sitting service,” left behind six cats, a boxer-mix dog and several small pets. Ms. Curtis did not have any family or anyone who could take in the pets, and so they were relinquished to ACS. The pets haven’t been released as yet for adoption, but the descriptions and ID numbers in the article are as follows:

• Loki, white male cat (#A486019)
• Belle, black female cat (#A486020)
• Polo, black-and-white female (#A486021)
• Spotty, gray male tabby (#A486022)
• Sadie, black boxer-mix (#A310283)

I don’t know if the other two cats, Luke and Rufus, are at the shelter, but when all of them have been released, their photos will be posted in Pet Post.

Sad Old Larry

“Saddest face I’ve seen in a long time,” said Larry’s rescuer. Larry was found on Pacific Avenue in August, unneutered, no microchip and teeth in deplorable condition. He was also terrified of adults. Thanks to his rescuer, he’s been neutered and chipped and has had most of his teeth pulled. Larry’s about 10 years old and would do well in a quiet home, although he seems to like gentle children and even cats. If you can’t resist this face either and are interested in giving Larry a forever home, contact hoffmannclaudia@hotmail.com.

Pet Projects

Haute Dogs Doggie Contests, Saturday, Feb. 9, from 9:45 AM, Marine Stadium, 5225 E. Paoli Way, Long Beach

Do you have a bulldog? A Chihuahua? A poodle? A dachshund? A dog who does tricks? A dog who’s a fashionista? An ugly dog? A dog? Somewhere in this plethora of pageants, there’s at least one for you and your best friend. Visit the contest’s website for details and entry form, and we’ll see you there for a full day of romps!

spcaLA Adoptions, Saturday, Feb. 23, 10:30 AM–3:30 PM, PetSmart, 7631 Carson Blvd., Long Beach

Come meet the adorable adoptables who need and deserve forever homes, and purchase anything you need to make your new friend healthy, well cared for and happy.

Homeless with Dogs Gives Thanks, and Needs Help!

Homeless with Dogs, a wonderful grassroots effort to help the pets of homeless owners and, it’s hoped, their owners as a result, regularly reaps the benefits of its efforts. They’ve received honors and recognition and recently have been blessed with a load of food not only from their Facebook followers but also from Nutro. Furthermore, The Pet Post USA’s Doug Erickson (no relation to the Long Beach Pet Post except by interest and goals) is now working with Homeless with Dogs to work on their nonprofit status. But they still need volunteers to help bag the dog and cat food on Sundays from 2–4 PM and help hand it out; donations are also more than welcome. For information, click on their website link or e-mail homelesswithdogs@gmail.com.

School Is In!

While we’re on the subject of dogs in books and kids reading to dogs, here’s a wonderful opportunity for educators to teach students about humane education! Enzo would be proud; so would Wheely Willy, whose mom is the power behind this effort.

Chuck & Toby’s Closing

Our wonderful dog bakery is leaving the LBC at the end of the month. Owners Scott Rinehart and Jim Poer will be relocating farther south. You can get some goodies at the closing sale, or just drop by to say goodbye and thanks.

Thank Newark Mayor Cory Booker

I was watching Morning Joe on MSNBC  and saw this video of Newark’s mayor responding to multiple tweets about a dog left out in the freezing cold. One of the guests on Morning Joe suggested that the mayor had “jumped the shark,” but it’s a mystery to me as to how demonstrating humane treatment of animals and responsible pet ownership is extreme. You can thank the mayor (along with everyone else) on his Facebook page or send a tweet to @CoryBooker. You may also want to mention spay/neuter (check the video)!

FreeHand Dog Food Helps Shelters and Rescues

FreeHand dog food has announced that it will be on sale at a number of outlets in Long Beach, including the Marketplace at spcaLA, Pupazzo Dog Grooming and Pet Supplies, and Your Elegant Pet. For every pound of FreeHand purchased, the company donates an equal amount to rescues, including Long Beach’s spcaLA Friends for Life, the Fuzzy Pet Foundation and Kitty and Doggie Katchers.