Virtually Pets
This section of Pet Projects is always reserved for adoptions, but there will be a request for help as well. If you’re on any page dedicated to the adoption, rescue or welfare of animals, you’ll feel horribly sad and frustrated at the number of animals who have been pulled from the streets or cruel situations by—the word angels irks me mainly because the people who save these poor creatures are human, and there’s nothing supernatural about their acts. It’s their nature.
The animals who are fortunate enough to get saved are just drops in a big bucket. Sometimes, the pets don’t make it, and this is devastating for everyone involved. There are needs for the ones who do as well—fosters, adoptive homes and help with medical bills. Everyone’s heart is big enough; not so for wallets and homes. But then, there’s the story about the starfish that my rescuer friend Darlene tells herself every day about the guy who was throwing starfish back into the ocean to save them from drying out in the hot sun. As he tossed one in, a passerby asked what he was doing, and the guy explained.
“But the beach is covered with hundreds of starfish!” the passerby exclaimed. “You can’t save them all! What difference will it make?”
The guy looked after the starfish he just threw in and answered, “It made a difference to that one.”
Want to make a difference to one? Here are a couple of candidates. They’ll need homes, too, when they’re feeling better.
This is Honor. Jellicle Cats Rescue Foundation was contacted by a woman looking for help for the cat on behalf of a neighbor. Honor looked as if she had a broken jaw—Heaven knows how. And she’d had kittens at the shelter as well, now in their foster home. The next day, Honor was brought to Long Beach Animal Care Services. Jellicle Cats pulled her and took her to Primary Care Animal Hospital where she was examined and X-rayed. To donate to Honor’s care (and maybe do her the honor of adoption or foster), donate through PayPal to Jelliclecatsrescuefoundation@gmail.com or contact Primary Care at 562.274.7776 for check information. Specify Jellicle Cats and Honor.
Before
After
It seems as if Fix Long Beach founder Claudia Hoffmann has rescued as many dogs as her organization has had spayed or neutered. A couple of them have stayed forever, of course, but Hoffmann knows her limits—sort of. The dog in this photo is one of a family of four—dad here, a mom and two puppies—that had been inside an apartment all day and night without once going for walks—not even to pee, Hoffmann said.
“The neglect these animals went through is something a regular person simply can’t comprehend,” Hoffmann said on her Facebook page. “They have never seen a vet and clearly no groomer either. Dad was somatted that he could barely move. I can only imagine the pain he must have felt covered in all these mats.”
He looks a lot better now—a face that someone will be able to love. The mom had had three litters, all of which were given away indiscriminately. They’re safe now in a foster. They’ve been spayed or neutered, given shots, dental care, vet exams and everything else they needed. Mom and dad were taken by Priceless Pet Rescue, the two puppies went with 4Life Animal Rescue, and a very hefty vet bill stayed with Hoffmann. If you’d like to help pay the bills, donate through PayPal to donate@fixlongbeach.com, or call Ambassador Dog and Cat Hospital at (562) 427-2889. The account is under “Claudia with Fix Long Beach.”
Mark Your Calendars (the People Way)
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.
Cat Cove Fund-Raiser
Saturday, August 20, 6:00PM–9:00PM, Hellada Gallery, 117 Linden Avenue, Long Beach
$40 per ticket
The Cat Cove is a nonprofit all-volunteer rescue that takes in cats and kittens from shelters and feral colonies and vets and grooms them for adoption. This event is a human-based version of the book Why Cats Paint. Guests will paint their own version of the picture on the above graphic while they enjoy appetizers and wine. With enough of the latter, the finished masterpieces may resemble the ones in the abovementioned book.
To attend, email CatCoveRescue@gmail.com to pay through PayPal, or attend one of their adoption events at the Towne Center PetSmart to pay cash. And take home a cat.
Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic
Sunday, August 21, 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!
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.
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.
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!
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.