Virtually Pets<\/h1>\n
Whether you\u2019re a confirmed cat person or find them annoying but somehow appealing, you\u2019ve probably cooed and oohed and aahed at photos of rescue kitties. But behind every adorable image is a story that the picture doesn\u2019t usually tell. When rescuer Brandy Gaunt, founder of Jellicle Cats Rescue Foundation<\/a> pointed me in the direction of Henry, it got me thinking about how many appealing, adorable adoptive pets have had really crummy beginnings.<\/p>\n Henry, a five-month-old orange kitten, was dumped in Gaunt\u2019s yard along with a bag of food a few days ago. Actually, Henry had immediately left without Gaunt having known he was there in the first place, and the bag of food was a mystery until her neighbor informed her that a man had brought Henry by and dropped him off\u2014no carrier, no note, no nothing. He walked off without a backward glance even after the neighbor called after him.<\/p>\n Gaunt located Henry in a tree. After she\u2019d coaxed him down, he snuggled in her arms and purred incessantly. The next day, she noticed with some incredulity that Henry couldn\u2019t see well. His eyes were in terrible condition\u2014after a visit to the vet, it turned out that he has a condition called eyelid agenesis<\/i>, which is a partial or complete absence of eyelid layers, and his eyes themselves are ulcerated. Gaunt said that Henry is the second kitten with this condition abandoned in her yard.<\/p>\n Henry. Photos courtesy of Jellicle Cats Rescue Foundation.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHow he got out of my yard and found the safety of the tree, I will never know,\u201d Gaunt said. \u201cHis managing to not get eaten by the local hawk is also a miracle.\u201d<\/p>\n Gaunt doesn\u2019t know if Henry\u2019s owner dumped him because of the condition of his eyes, but she wishes that he\u2019d taken advantage of other options.<\/p>\n \u201cHenry was clearly loved, and whoever dumped him thought they were doing the right thing by leaving him with me, even if they did it all wrong,\u201d she said\u2014Gaunt has a more generous nature than a lot of the rest of us. \u201cIf the person had reached out to me\u2014or to other rescues, maybe\u2014we could have found a way to help the family keep him. They didn’t have to dump him, and I want to get the message out that there is help out there. They just need to ask.\u201d<\/p>\n Henry will require surgery in the neighborhood of $1,000, and Gaunt has set up a fund for him. If you can spare change, Jellicle Cats has a PayPal account at <\/strong>jelliclecatsrescuefoundation@gmail.com<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n As you can see, Henry is a sweetheart and will be up for adoption as soon as he\u2019s been vetted and neutered and his condition has improved.<\/i><\/p>\n Every adoptable pet has a story, and rescuers like Brandy Gaunt and adoptive humans like us write any happy endings. Read Henry\u2019s story here, and while I\u2019m on the subject of stories, here are a couple of more characters waiting at Jellicle Cats Rescue Foundation for theirs to end well.<\/p>\n Young Rockwell, six months old, reaching for his dream of a forever home. He, his six siblings and his mama were brought to Jellicle by a dog rescue.<\/i><\/p>\n Apple, six months old, is ready for Halloween, dressed as her favorite cat sushi. Apple\u2019s mom was also a stray kitty, pregnant, who was taken in by a kind person. She couldn\u2019t keep the kittens, though, so Jellicle has them. Apple\u2019s silly and talkative and plays fetch and tag.<\/i><\/p>\n spcaLA Howl-o-Ween Spooktacular<\/strong><\/p>\n Saturday, October 24, noon\u20133:00PM, spcaLA Marketplace, 7700 East Spring Street, Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n Entry donation of $5 for costume contest<\/strong><\/p>\n Bring your dog and join the fun\u2014prizes and contests to be won! Take part in a doggie costume contest with ghoulish rewards for categories including Best Homemade, Funniest, Best Duo, Most Original and Best Costume. Show us your dog\u2019s best (or most dastardly) trick, bob for apples (or are they giant eyeballs?), see a \u201czombie doggie\u201d agility demo, and create the next Edvard Munch-style Scream. And speaking of Munch, take him or her trick or treating at the Begging for Braaaaaains\u201d stations. Lots of vendor booths, lots of howls.<\/p>\n Haute Dogs Howl\u2019oween Parade<\/strong><\/p>\n Saturday, October 31, 2:30PM, Marina Vista Park, 5355 East Eliot Street, Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n Entry fees apply<\/strong><\/p>\n This iconic Belmont Shore pet event is expected to include a few hundred kids and adults in costumes, followed by more than 500 costumed dogs with handlers. A few thousand human gawkers will line the parade route, including a panel of distinguished judges that will choose a few dozen human and canine costume winners. Haute Dogs will raise thousands for spay\/neuter programs, adoption\/rescue groups, Operation Santa Paws and other Long Beach service projects. See more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Low-Cost Pet Vaccination Clinics<\/strong><\/p>\n Thursday, November 5, Scherer Park, 4600 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n Pricing information available here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n 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: Long Beach, Signal Hill, Cerritos, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach.<\/p>\n Veteran\u2019s Day Parade: Walk with Friends of Long Beach Animals<\/strong><\/p>\n Saturday, November 7, 10AM, Houghton Park at the intersection of Harding Street and Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n Free<\/strong><\/p>\n Join Friends of Long Beach Animals<\/a> in celebrating our veterans as we walk in the Long Beach Veterans Day Parade.<\/p>\n Fix Long Beach<\/a> (FLB)<\/strong> Spay\/Neuter Clinic<\/strong><\/p>\n Dogs only, Saturday, November 14, 7:30AM\u20134:00PM Houghton Park, 6301 N. Myrtle Avenue (near Jordan High School), Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n Free to qualifying residents<\/strong><\/p>\n The grassroots free spay\/neuter organization<\/strong> Fix Long Beach invites you to make an appointment for your unfixed dog or cat! Guidelines are as follows:<\/p>\n For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 323.413.7729<\/p>\n When you come, bring proof of income and Long Beach residency (these events are for Long Beach residents only.) Whether you come as standby or with an appointment, do not give your pet anything to eat or drink after 12:01AM. Dogs must be on leashes and cats must be in carriers that are specifically pet carriers! No paper bags or suitcases, please! <\/strong>There are no walls in the park, and we want you to ensure your pet\u2019s safety! If you don\u2019t own a carrier, pet supply stores like Petco and PetSmart carry inexpensive cardboard ones; they run on the average of $8.<\/p>\n Fix Long Beach also has a wish list for pet items to give to our client as a thank-you for helping to lower our shelter euthanasia rate and prevent the birth of more unwanted kittens and puppies.<\/p>\n![\"Henry1\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Henry1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Henry2\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Henry2.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Rockwell](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Rockwell-is-always-reaching-out-for-a-new-home.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Apple\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Apple.jpg\")
<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\nMark Your Calendars (the People Way)<\/h1>\n
![\"Fix](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Fix-Long-Beach.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
\n