Please send any Long Beach or Seal Beach pet-related events or projects to pets@lbpost.com. Posting subject to approval.
Virtually Pets
Last week’s Pet Projects featured two dogs, Alana and Lucy. Lucy had been at Long Beach Animal Care Services since March, and members of the animal community were campaigning like crazy to get her a forever home before shelter numbers increased and hers came up. After the Facebook posts and the column were published, Lucy took her freedom walk on Saturday! We’re all jubilant!
Moving on through the animal community, well-considered, respectful moves create great martial artists, and clever moves by animal rescuers bring about good homes. On August 20, Z-Ultimate Self-Defense Studio’s Long Beach location in partnership with Helen Sanders Cat Paws rescue had an educational event that taught their young students about cat care (see article). Flo and Carolina, two of CatPAWS pointy-eared adoption hopefuls, came along as visual aids. Sure enough, one of the instructors, Cathy, fell in love with Flo and adopted her. A terrific outcome. Carolina’s adorable, and she’ll find a home, too!
Flo on left with her new owner, Cathy, from Z-Ultimate. Friendly little Carolina is being cuddled by Cat PAWS’ Deborah Felin (yes, that’s really her last name). Photo by Kate Karp.
You can’t see Carolina too well in the photo above, so she has a full-body shot here. She and a couple of her foster mates are the focus of this week’s Virtually Pets. See them all on this link, and if you’re interested in adoption, email adoptions@helensanderscatpaws.com for de-tails.
Carolina is a true beauty, with her ever-so-slightly-crossed eyes and gorgeous black coat. She is soooo ready for her forever home! Carolina is about 4 months old, and we’re accepting applications now!
Taken to a shelter after her owner died, sweet Puff was scared and withdrawn, not knowing what had happened, where she was or why. She likely wasn’t going to make it out alive. All this senior lady wants is to hang out with a special person, watch some TV, and maybe hold a cheesecake pose like this one (if you’re a cat, you’re never too old). Please email us if you’re interested in giving this dear girl a quiet home!
This little cutie is Tabitha Marie. She is a quirky, funny and playful gal who was on her last day at a public shelter when we rescued her. She’s a cat’s cat—she likes to be near you and likes her own space, too!
Mark Your Calendars (the People Way)
Second Annual Woofstock Summer Bash
Saturday, August 27, 1:00PM–4:00PM, Healthy Spot, 6433 PCH, (in the Marketplace), Long Beach
Free event
Oh, bow-woooowww, man, there’s something in the air. Healthy Spot, the place for eco-friendly toys and organic food when your dog or cat gets the munchies, is putting on a groovy event for your dog. The end of summer celebration bash will include live music, food and beverages as well as a best dog trick contest, a doggie photo booth, pet-friendly giveaways and more. Does your furry best friend—or you—need a friend? Pet adoptions will be going on throughout the day. Talk about a summer of love, man! Preregistration, which is also free, can be done here.
Queen’s Best Stumpy Dog Rescue Dog Wash Fund-Raiser, August 28, 10:00AM–4:00PM, Centinela Feed and Pet Supplies, 4700 Pacific Coast Highway (in same complex as Staples and Circle Car Wash), Long Beach
$15 per bath
Even the queen’s little princes and princesses get dirty, so us folks’ commoner dogs do as well! Bring your dog to this event for a bath, and pick up a couple of goodies as well. All proceeds from the bath go to Queen’s Best corgi (i.e., stumpy) rescue. If you just come to shop, please visit the info table and help fill the donation jar. Rotti will make an appearance and would love some love.
spcaLA Dine and Donate Fish Taco Event
Thursday, September 1, 11:00AM–9:30PM, Wahoo’s, 6449 PCH, C-1 (in the Marketplace), Long Beach
See menu for prices
Have a mouth-watering taco, loaded quesadillas or any of the other items unique to Wahoo’s menu (there are even tofu tacos!), print out the above flyer, and 20 percent of your bill will go toward the pets at spcaLA’s shelter locations. This event is also going on at the Wahoo’s in Burbank, Torrance and Manhattan Beach.
Grisha Stewart Seminar: Building Cooperation, Confidence and Social Skills, September 2, 2:00PM–4:00PM, , PD Pitchford Companion Animal Village & Education Center, 7700 East Spring Street (at entrance to El Dorado Park Nature Center), Long Beach
$39 when you register here.
Looking for a great way to jump-start your dog training and have a stronger relationship with your dog? Or maybe you’re a professional trainer looking for better ways to train or explain? Professional dog trainer and author Grisha Stewart has a unique perspective on life with dogs. Her training style focuses on using clear communication and empowerment to teach behavior that improves the quality of life for everyone in the family, including the dog!
Dog Adoption Event
Saturday, September 3, 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!
Los Cerritos Wetlands Turtle Trek
Saturday, September 3, 8:00AM–10:00AM, First Street and PCH, Long Beach/Seal Beach
Free
Come join us for a guided nature walk and tour of Los Cerritos Wetlands, hosted by Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust and led by naturalists from Tidal Influence. We will look for wildlife sightings, learn about the rich ecosystems, reflect on history and see current restoration activities. Our walk begins with a brief orientation to our wetlands. We will discuss their history and see an important portion of them, including the Pumpkin Patch property, as we walk along the San Gabriel River and on across Second Street to view the sea turtles. On our return, we will stop at Zedler Marsh, where there is a nursery for wetlands plants and where restoration is in process. We will then walk on the levee back to our meeting place. Bring binoculars, if you have them; besides the turtles, we will observe many different kinds of interesting wildlife. Meet at the driveway near First and PCH; close-toed shoes are required; bring sunscreen and water. The event is family friendly, but no strollers, please. Event will be cancelled if it’s raining. For more information or to rsvp,
email Elizabeth@LCWlandtrust.org.
Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic
Saturday, September 10, 7:30AM–4:00PM, Houghton Park, 6500 Atlantic Avenue (near Jordan High), Long Beach
Free to qualifying residents; free microchips; low-cost shots ($10 each); $10 flea med doses
The grassroots free spay/neuter organization Fix Long Beach invites you to make an appointment for your unfixed dog, or get vouchers for free procedures for your dog or cat! These clinics are generously sponsored through Hope for Paws and Eldad Hagar.
Visit this link for qualifications and an application for your appointment. There is also a donation button to help Fix Long Beach continue their efforts. Click the organization’s Amazon Wish List link to donate items, or bring them to the event if you find a better deal!
Let’s continue to help make Long Beach no kill, one pet at a time!
spcaLA Veggie Grill Fund-Raiser
Saturday, September 10, noon–4:00PM, Veggie Grill Restaurant, 6451 Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach
Menu prices apply
Eat a healthy lunch and help animals keep their health! During the specified hours, mention spcaLA Fund-Raiser and Veggie Grill will donate 33 percent of the check to the organization.
Fix Long Beach’s Inaugural Half-St. Patrick’s Day Fund-Raiser
Saturday, September 17, 5:00PM–9:00PM, Timeless Pints Brewing Company, 3671 Industry Avenue, Lakewood
$25 a ticket
Hey, it’s always St. Patrick’s Day somewhere! OK, maybe that doesn’t apply here, but six months away from the day is as good an excuse as any to raise funds for spay/neuter, and who needs their arm twisted to have beer and dinner? That’s what the ticket price will get you—vegetarian options are offered, of course—and between that and the proceeds from the silent auction, with some great prizes, will help to provide free spay/neuter procedures, free microchips, and low-cost shots and flea meds to the pets of Long Beach residents who can’t otherwise afford them. Visit this link to buy tickets and for further information! To see what Fix Long Beach is all about, visit their Facebook page!
spcaLA Dancing with Dogs Recital and Classes
Recital Saturday, September 17, 7:00PM; Freestyle Classes Sunday, September 18, 10:30AM–4:00PM, PD Pitchford Companion Animal Village & Education Center, 7700 East Spring Street (at entrance to El Dorado Park Nature Center), Long Beach
$10 suggested donation at door, which benefits spcaLA
No date for next Saturday? Stay home and dance with Rover, or bring the dog to a dog-friendly patio and trip the light fantastic, probably over his tail. See pets strut their stuff at the recital; learn the moves yourself the next day! Light refreshments will be served. Please leave your pets at home; spcaLA has plenty
spcaLA September Foster Class
Sunday, September 18, 10:00AM–noon, P. D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village, spcaLA section, 7700 Spring Street (through entrance to El Dorado Park), Long Beach
Free event; no parking fee for Village visitors
Want to help pets? Become a foster parent by submitting an application and attending a foster class. spcaLA provides all the supplies; foster parents provide the home and the TLC. Applications are available here.
Ongoing
“Show Us Your Kitties” Fund-Raiser Calendar Contest
Through Wednesday, September 7
$5 per vote; $10 to reserve a date for your cat
Do you have a favorite photo of your cat? Whether it’s a cheesecake pose on a fake bearskin or a headshot gazing into the camera, you can have him or her featured on the 2017 Helen Sanders CatPAWS calendar and help the organization rescue kitties at the same time! You can also vote for your favorite tabby or tom at $5 a vote or reserve a special commemorative spot to remember your own bewhiskered friend by. See link for details! All funds raised go to CatPAWS.
Bodacious Babes Fund-Raiser Calendar Contest
Through Sunday, September 4
$5 entry fee, $1 per vote; $15 to reserve a date for your favorite animal
The never-ending task to raise funds to save lives. But we keep at it because we believe we can make a difference. Will you help 4Life Animal Rescue by participating in our calendar contest? We want all pets to join in—dogs, cats, horses, bunnies, hamsters, goldfish—whoever makes your life complete! Tell us of their many charms and why they’re your secret weapon for happiness. Together, we can save lives! Visit this link for the rules. Funds raised go to 4Life.
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.