The event, organized by Emily Haden of Love Life Animal Rescue<\/a>, community activist Justin Rudd and ACS was held at the Bay Shore Church in Belmont Shore, and Stevens was aptly preaching to the choir. Most of the attendees were spending every day of their lives, with some respite to clean the house and pay bills, in some aspect of animal welfare, and they so need help.<\/p>\n Besides the adoption events, rescues need dog walkers and kennel cleaners, organizations like Fix Long Beach<\/a> need help setting up for their monthly free spay\/neuter events, and ACS needs volunteers for transporting kittens and puppies to ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention and Cruelty of Animals)-approved shelters around the country that have a need for adoptive pets. They also need volunteers for the dog and cat kennels and the new Bunny Barn<\/a>, and for anyone stuck on the computer, there\u2019s a Facebook page<\/a> where you can read about and share adoptive animals and success stories.<\/p>\n And we\u2019re in the midst of kitten season. April showers and May flowers be hanged\u2014drought or El Ni\u00f1o, it still rains kittens annually from around early spring to late fall, and rescues and shelters are flooded with hundreds of furry little guys and the challenge to find homes or fosters for them all. Help is needed with trap-spay\/neuter-release (TNR) to fostering kindles of kittens and finding them homes.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it comes to volunteering, we all have jobs, we all have careers, things that fill up our lives,\u201d said animal advocate Seth Avergnon at the meeting. \u201cWhat we\u2019re trying to do with this program is to use as much time available\u2014if it\u2019s just one weekend a month, that\u2019s fine. One day a month, get involved in the social media side of things, posting pix and videos to try to find homes for all of them. Anything we can do to assist them, they\u2019ll appreciate. Whenever you can.\u201d<\/p>\n LRR stands for \u201clive release rate,\u201d which can be return to owner, shelter adoption, rescue pull or transport to another shelter for adoption.<\/i><\/p>\n There\u2019s been a call for a long time to make Long Beach a no-kill city, and according to the chart above, we\u2019re well on the way. Stevens said that shelter euthanasia rate is at an all-time low, but May\u2019s euthanasia stats are 779 too many, and that goes for any time in the year.<\/p>\n Anna Wong, who has \u201cone foot in the door of the shelter [in a non-employee status as project manager for the trap-spay\/neuter-release program] and the other with rescue [Stray Cat Alliance<\/a>, an organization dedicated to advocacy for all cats],\u201d nonetheless didn\u2019t pussyfoot around when she laid out the correlation between community support and shelter success.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need everybody <\/i>to be part of the solution,\u201d Wong said. \u201cThe shelter is a very small part of this giant mess we\u2019re in, and yet the shelter is the one that is getting attacked over and over again. And I don\u2019t believe the attacks are warranted. I used to\u2014I talked about the shelter only doing kill, kill, kill. But the fact of the matter is, the shelter in Long Beach is working very hard to change things.<\/p>\n Wong elaborated, imagining what it’s like to be a shelter worker. “I\u2019m there, and I have to look at myself and think about what it\u2019s like to get those 10, 20, 30, sometimes 100 phone calls a day from people who have kittens, puppies\u2014what would it be like for me to go to bed at night knowing that I can\u2019t help 99 percent of them?\u201d<\/p>\n As organizer Haden pointed out, success in all its humane forms has to be a community effort. I want not to invite you as animal lovers (if you\u2019re reading this column and the other two in this new category, I\u2019m assuming that you are) but to wheedle, plead and otherwise beg you to walk the talk with the rest of us. Whenever you can. And tell your friends.<\/p>\n Here are several volunteer opportunities:<\/p>\n ACS<\/strong> needs volunteers for kennel work, walking, transport\u2014lots of stuff. Contact Kathy Roddy, their volunteer coordinator, for info at Kathy.Roddy@longbeach.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA)<\/strong><\/a> is Long Beach\u2019s most venerable animal advocacy organization. FOLBA isn\u2019t a rescue, but they do help ACS in its effort to do so and uses its funds for the medical needs of shelter animals and, most importantly, to provide low-cost spay\/neuter vouchers to residents served by the shelter. They always could use help with theater events, Walks and other activities. Check their website for events or email folbamail@folba.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fix Long Beach<\/strong><\/a> is up at dawn and out until sunset once a month, providing free spay\/neuter procedures for low-income Long Beach-only residents. They need help setting up, donations, people who know dogs, and all kinds of stuff like that. To volunteer, e-mail info@fixlongbeach.com<\/a>, check out the Facebook page<\/a>, particularly since all kinds of needs show up there, or use the Get Info button<\/a> on the webpage, check \u201cOther\u201d box, and specify that you want to volunteer.<\/p>\n Spay-Neuter Release<\/strong> (SNR) helps keep the numbers down and your sardine tolerance up. Your help is especially needed now, with kitten season at its peak. From the volunteers I know, this is intense work and the satisfaction is just as intense. Contact Longbeach@straycatalliance.org<\/a> for info.<\/p>\n Long Beach Spay & Neuter Foundation<\/strong><\/a> also traps and fixes cats and puts socialized felines up for adoption, along with the occasional canine. Click the link for volunteer info.<\/p>\n Seal Beach Animal Care Center (SBACC)<\/strong><\/a> SBACC is an all-volunteer-run shelter committed to finding homes for every animal in its care. They need dog walkers, kennel cleaners\u2014the usual stuff! Contact contact@sbacc.org<\/a> for information.<\/p>\n West Coast Animal Rescue\/Sparky and the Gang<\/strong> (WeCARe) have taken some of the most hopeless canine cases and given them extreme hope and ultimately success in forever homes. Visit their Facebook page here<\/a> for information. They post volunteer hours Wednesday through Friday to walk and bathe dogs. Volunteers must be over 18 years old, bring photo ID with their current address, and sign a waiver. Needless to say, you need to wear comfy shoes and clothes! (No flip flops allowed.)<\/p>\n Because WeCARe often attends adoption fairs, they ask for volunteers to help bathe the dogs before an event. Also, just cleaning the kennel of a dog you walk is a big help! They have lots of laundry to ensure that their dogs always have fresh blankets\u2014taking just one load off their hands is huge! You can also look at the “Make a Donation” tab at the top of their Long Beach Dog Walker Volunteers Facebook page to see how you can make a one-time or monthly donation to the rescue or order something from their Amazon Wish List. Every little bit helps. And they can always use fosters.<\/p>\n Most Saturdays, WeCARe can be found at PetSmart in Seal Beach and on Sundays at Petco on PCH and Second Street in Long Beach. They\u2019re also at Gelson’s the second Sunday of each month. WeCARe can always use volunteers at these events, too. Please check specs on page and RSVP.<\/p>\n Helen Sanders CatPAWS<\/strong><\/a> fosters and adopts kittens. They always need fosters and bottle feeders, so click on the link if you can help. CatPAWS is also looking for a foster program coordinator. Any applicant needs to have solid experience with underage kitten care and basic medical knowledge, be able to give shots and fluids, take cats to vet, assess condition of intakes and make arrangements for care, support and recruiting foster care providers. Person needs to either be not working or have a very flexible job as it is somewhat on call, especially this time of year. The organization will pay $500-750\/month to right person. Contact catpawsdeborah@aol.com<\/a> for info. <\/p>\n Live Love Animal Rescue<\/strong><\/a> Fosters and donations for medical bills are needed here. Contact Emily@livelovepetcare.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n And you can contact Justin Rudd <\/strong>at his Haute Dogs<\/a> organization at Justin@justinrudd.com<\/a>. Rudd has it going with social media, and if you have something nonprofit and animal going on, he\u2019ll post it in his newsletter! Subscribers, expect to be bombarded with kittens.<\/p>\n My goal in life is to be a person as good as my dog already thinks I am. Virtually Pets<\/strong><\/p>\n Fred<\/em><\/p>\n Ethel<\/em><\/p>\n Fred<\/strong> and Ethel<\/strong> were bottle-fed as newborns by yet another \u00fcbervolunteer, Patty Williams, one of the local feline surrogate moms. The siblings are 11 weeks old and fully vetted. Adoption fee info and meet-n-greet can be obtained by e-mailing Patty at mydocuments2go@gmail.com<\/a>. Wish her Happy Mother\u2019s Day while you\u2019re at it.<\/p>\n Beauty and her babies<\/em><\/p>\n Sylvester<\/em><\/p>\n Mustachio<\/em><\/p>\n Phil Michelson (prefers golf bags, hence the name)<\/em><\/p>\n We call them Mary\u2019s Little Lambs<\/strong> because they\u2019ve been shepherded by a terrific 15-year-old by that name who found them in her backyard. Her first thought was to get mom fixed, so she contacted Fix Long Beach. Well, it wasn\u2019t long before Fix Long Beach volunteers got into rescue mode; now, with Mary\u2019s help, they\u2019re in a foster. Mom, whom Mary named Beauty, is about to be fixed, and we’ve adopted out two of them. There’s three left\u2014you must hurry. Email me at Kate@lbpost.com<\/a> and specify “Mary\u2019s Little Lambs.”<\/p>\n This is my favorite mandala. Told you about the rain of kittens, and this is one awfully cute puddle. They\u2019re chowing down with Anna Wong\u2019s people and will ready for adoption at the end of June. If interested, e-mail me at Kate@lbpost.com<\/a> and specify \u201cKitty Mandala.\u201d<\/p>\n Two sweet kids from West Coast Animal Rescue<\/a>. Minnie is a young Chihuahua\/Papillion mix with silky fur. She\u2019s crate trained and likes other dogs. To find out more about Minnie, email Lynda@lyndamontgomery.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Margo, seen here in her natural tutu, is a Yorkie\/Norwich terrier mix. She\u2019s current on vaccinations and is ready to dance her way into your life. To find out more about Margo, email sparkyandthegang@yahoo.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Oh, sweet senior Ralph. He is a boxer or mix thereof who was found as a stray. He is trained, knows sit and shake, and is non-reactive\u2014mellow, calm and gentle. He deserves to live out his golden years out of the shelter. He has medical issues\u2014which senior dog, cat or person doesn’t?\u2013so we\u2019re looking for someone who is comfortable taking on a senior. Please share to help save his life, A549010 at Long Beach Animal Care Services<\/a>. <\/p>\n Kibble<\/strong><\/p>\n See Reggie Run!<\/strong><\/p>\n Reggie is a perfect dog: perfectly adorable, perfectly sweet, perfectly amenable, He doesn\u2019t complain, he loves life, and he loves all other animals, including the human ones. Reggie was abandoned at Long Beach Animal Care Services because someone didn\u2019t know that he was perfect. He has special needs\u2014he was born with a deformity that keeps him from being able to run and play. He has no left front leg, and his right leg is too severely deformed to be useful, or to allow a life without pain. Reggie needs a partial amputation of the deformed front leg so that he can be fitted with a prosthetic leg. We hope to raise money for both the amputation and the prosthetic device, which would allow Reggie to run, jump, and play. Between the surgery and the prosthetic devices, we will need approximately $6,000. Besides accepting donations here<\/a>, you can mail a check payable to the amazing Long Beach nonprofit who rescued him: West Coast Animal Rescue. Your donations are tax deductible. Please specify that your donation is for \u201cReggie.\u201d<\/p>\n Mail it to:<\/p>\n The Samuel Turner Foundation We will keep you updated about Reggie\u2019s progress and close the request for monetary support after Reggie\u2019s needs have been met. You can also follow Reggie’s journey on his Facebook page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pet Projects<\/strong><\/p>\n Friends of Long Beach Animals Humane Education Program, Free, Ongoing until July<\/strong><\/p>\n Reserve a date for this necessary program now, as it will go on hiatus in mid-June. Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOL<\/a>BA<\/a>) stands by its word when it says it actively supports teaching children kindness to and respect for animals. FOLBA has provided several copies of humane books to all of the libraries in the Long Beach Unified School District, all the Public Libraries in Long Beach and Signal Hill, as well as to Raising-a-Reader and to Mary Bethune Transitional Center (assisting homeless children who need reading improvement so they can attend regular LBUSD classes). This interactive humane education program is free to all schools in the Long Beach Unified School District, Girl and Boy Scout Troops, Long Beach Parks and Libraries and Community Groups. Basic elements of the program are as follows:<\/p>\n For information, contact FOLBA’s office at 562.988.7647.<\/em><\/p>\n Monthly Mutt Mingles, Pussy & Pooch Pethouse and PawBar, 4818 East Second Street, Long Beach, third Wednesday of every month; and 222 East Broadway, third Thursday of every month, 6:00\u20138:00PM<\/strong><\/p>\n Join P&P for their monthly mixer, and enjoy special treats, toasts, and plenty of in-store tail-wagging. Mutt Mingles are a great way for your dog to learn valuable social skills. It\u2019s a chance for them to experience and interact in a social setting with food, drink and plenty of other distractions! It\u2019s important for your dog to learn how to behave around other dogs and people so that they\u2019ll be the stars of the dog park and the dog beach. The indoor facility provides for a very comfortable setting and fun atmosphere. Dogs may be off-leash if supervised closely by their owners. For their protection, we lock the front door so dogs are safe from the street traffic.<\/p>\n #PizzaRevPets Campaign, throughout June<\/strong><\/p>\n In celebration of National Pet Adoption Month, PizzaRev has launched the #PizzaRevPets campaign to help find forever homes for sheltered or abandoned animals. Throughout June, animal lovers are encouraged to share their favorite adopted pet photos and their adoption story via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, using #PizzaRevPets. PizzaRev will choose one grand prize winner to receive free pizza for a year. The winning photo will be displayed at PizzaRev restaurants across the country. Ten winners will receive a $100 PizzaRev gift card. PizzaRev, where you can craft your own pizza, has devoted time and funding to pet adoption, and many of the employees have adopted pets of their own; the Long Beach store is located in the Towne Center, 7551B Carson Avenue, near the movie theater.<\/p>\n Low-Cost Pet Vaccination Clinics, Saturday, June 18, 4:00\u20137:00PM, Scherer Park, 4600 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach<\/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. For more service information and pricing please visit Southern California Veterinary Vaccine Clinics<\/a>.<\/p>\n Priscilla\u2019s Puss \u2019n\u2019 Books Kitty Karnival, Saturday, June 20, 11:00AM to 4:00PM, Apostrophe Books, 5229 East Second Street, Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n Cats and books\u2014what more could you pussibly want?<\/p>\n SpcaLA Friends for Life Summer Camp, June\u2013August, spcaLA P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village & Education Center, 7700 East Spring Street Long Beach <\/strong><\/p>\n Paws down, this is the best summer camp around. Kids 8 through 13 will learn the basics of pet care and responsibility, respect for all animals, and the beginnings of dog training\u2014all while making the best kinds of friends\u2014those who care about animals! There are 10 sessions available, each running Monday through Friday. Enroll on our website, available at this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hounds on the Hill, Saturday, June 6, 11:00AM\u20132:00PM, Signal Hill Park, 2175 Cherry Avenue, Signal Hill, free<\/strong><\/p>\n At that hour, you won\u2019t see the sun going down but you\u2019ll definitely see a bunch of happy mutts and their people running round and round. Enjoy doggie demos, kids crafts, food and music, and take advantage of dog licensing and low-cost flea and tick meds and vaccinations.<\/p>\n spcaLA Pet Adoption Day, Saturday, June 6, 10AM\u20134PM, spcaLA P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village & Education Center, 7700 East Spring Street, Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n spcaLA\u2019s biggest pet adoption event of the year will feature meet and greets with Heidi and Frank of 95.5 KLOS and with KABC\u2019s Drive Home\u2019s Jillian Barberi and John Phillips, vendor booths, adoption specials, giveaways, family fun and possible your future best friend! Each adoption includes initial vaccinations, spay or neuter surgery, a free veterinary examination, microchip and an adopter\u2019s gift bag. Lots of specials, lots of rock, and you rock if you adopt one of these wonderful animals!<\/p>\n Pours for Paws, Saturday, June 27, 6:00PM\u20139:00PM, Howl Event Space, 237 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach, $50 single, $90 couple, $100 foursome<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Shelter](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Shelter-Stats.jpg\")
<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/i>~ Anonymous<\/i><\/p>\n![\"Fred\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Fred.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Ethel\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Ethel.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Beauty](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Beauty-and-her-babies.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Sylvester\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Sylvester.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n![\"Mustachio\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Mustachio.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Phil](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Phil-Michelson.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Mandala](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Mandala-from-Anna-Wong.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Minnie--Papillon](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Minnie-Papillon-and-Chi-mix-from-WeCare.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Margo](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Margo-see-Sherris-photo-for-details.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Ralph\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Ralph.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"REggie\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/REggie.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
PO Box 90993
Long Beach, CA 90809-0993<\/p>\n\n
![\"Kitty](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Kitty-Karnival-pdf-format.jpg\")
<\/p>\n