{"id":270,"date":"2019-01-25T10:15:10","date_gmt":"2019-01-25T18:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/?p=999936123"},"modified":"2019-01-25T10:15:10","modified_gmt":"2019-01-25T18:15:10","slug":"little-paws-project-poised-to-raise-healthy-adoptable-kittens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/pets\/little-paws-project-poised-to-raise-healthy-adoptable-kittens","title":{"rendered":"Little Paws Project poised to raise healthy adoptable kittens"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Little Paws Project kitten nursery<\/a> is getting ready to roll out bottles, blankies, heating discs and kittens by the dozens. The City Council approved a $50,000 grant<\/a> from Long Beach Animal Care Services<\/a> that will provide starter funds to keep the kitties fed and housed, and the nursery will receive much of its necessary revenue from donations. Little Paws\u2019 conditional use permit has just been signed, and one more inspection for the building needs to pass.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s time to contact volunteers and set up scheduling!\u201d said Jessica Ruth, cofounder of The Little Lion Foundation<\/a>. Little Lion and another nonprofit cat rescue organization, Helen Sanders CatPAWS<\/a>, are working in tandem to save as many cats as possible, hence, the nursery\u2019s name. Volunteers from both organizations regularly rescue and care for neonatal kittens as well as pull older cats from shelters to rehome, and the nursery will offer them a single dedicated location for saving as many as possible.<\/p>\n

Why a kitten nursery?<\/p>\n

Every year, thousands of kittens are born during kitten season, when warming weather causes female cats to go into heat. The period runs from approximately late February to mid-October and it\u2019s coming up pretty soon. Because there are limited resources to care for these fragile babies, thousands also face euthanasia at shelters. There aren\u2019t enough people who can bottle-feed. The Little Paws Project will be a 24-hour facility and will give more neonatal, orphaned and sick kittens a safe place to thrive.<\/p>\n

Because, as the Little Lion Foundation\u2019s motto states,\u00a0\u201cEvery cat deserves to roar.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sign up <\/em>here<\/em><\/a> to volunteer at Little Paws, or make a donation <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>. Or both. See Ongoing for more details.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Also, know that while the nursery will save more little lives, and more effectively, it\u2019s imperative that as many cats, both domestic and in the community, are spayed and neutered. The shelter offers vouchers, and organizations like Fix Long Beach<\/a> and SNP\/LA<\/a> will help with costs. Also, if you cannot engage in trapping, altering and release, support organizations like Stray Cat Alliance<\/a>, which offers resources and education for the project.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Kittens so well cared for have a better chance of growing into independent kittens and adult cats, who\u2019ll make good housemates. Here are a couple from both rescues.<\/p>\n

\"Brown
She may not be the Talented Ms. Ripley but she sure is the loving one. Ripley was rescued from a shelter where her owner dumped her. CatPAWS pulled her when her days were numbered. She’s only 6 years old and has been declawed (sigh). She needs a patient adopter in a quiet home. She may be prone to some asthma, but it’s easily controlled. It seems to flare up with stress, so she needs a low-stress environment.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Brown-tabby
And here’s the book cover! Ripley has stunning, rich espresso swirls and stripes. She has the cutest little tufts right on the tips of her ears! She is friendly, loves to be petted, purrs and cuddles. She’s a great lap cat and would be perfect for someone who just wants one low-maintenance kitty to hang with.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tuxedo
Speaking of literature, CatPAWS has its own Daisy Buchanan, the object of Jay Gatsby’s affection and certainly of the volunteers here. She’s about 2 years old.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tuxedo
And Daisy wasn’t always this full of play.
This tuxedo beauty is Daisy. She is a young adult, around 1 or 2 years old. When she was rescued, she was far too skinny. Every day, though, she’s gaining more weight and energy, thanks to her loving foster mom. She loves to play with feathers, give head butts, and snuggle in the covers. She cannot wait for her forever home!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To adopt Ripley or Daisy, or to check out any of the CatPAWS cats, access this adoption application<\/a>. All cats are spayed or neutered, have their shots, and are otherwise vetted.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Black
These two are such good friends that Little Lion included them in the same photo. Emmett, the black kitten, was saved at 5 weeks old from the Long Beach shelter. He’s happy to be a Little Lion! Boomer, the lovely calico, got her name from the Boomers mini-golf, where the Little Lion volunteers trapped her. How nice for them if they could go home together!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To adopt Emmett, Boomer or any of the Little Lions, complete the adoption application<\/a>. All cats are spayed or neutered, have their shots, and are otherwise vetted.<\/em><\/p>\n

Things to do, pets to support<\/h4>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Please send any Long Beach or Seal Beach pet-related events or projects to\u00a0pets@lbpost.com<\/a>. Posting subject to approval.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fourth Friday with Zoey\u2019s Place Rescue and Moon Cat Cafe:\u00a0<\/strong>Friday, Jan. 25, 6 to 9 p.m., Artistic Edge Gallery, 410 St. Louis Ave., Long Beach. $20 includes pastry, beverage and a visit with some swell cats.<\/p>\n

Grab a rideshare, bike or walk (parking is a pain in the neck) to a celebration to revitalize Retro Row. Stop by the Moon Cat Caf\u00e9, which has some of the best coffee ever drunk and even better cats. Moon Cat will be partnering with local nonprofit Zoey\u2019s Place Rescue<\/a>, which will receive 10 percent of the profits. Sweets to the sweet!<\/p>\n

\"Valentine<\/p>\n

Valentine\u2019s Card Contest and Yappy Hour:\u00a0<\/strong>Saturday, Feb. 9, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, at entrance to El Dorado Park (no parking fee for shelter guests), free to enter.<\/p>\n

So, who\u2019s your Valentine? Someone who\u2019s completely dependent on you and gives you unconditional love, sprinkled with periods of indifference? That\u2019s charming in animals, and fortunate are those who have good places to live. The pets in our shelter aren\u2019t so lucky, and so the Community Action Team presents an annual contest for kids in kindergarten through 12th grade to create cards for these cats, dogs and bunnies as well.<\/p>\n

Young people are invited to send cards to Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, CA 90808; volunteers will hang cards on kennel doors and judge them for creativity, originality and first impression, with the contestants\u2019 ages taken into consideration. (Adults are encouraged to send cards as well, but their entries won\u2019t be eligible for contest judging.) The winning card will reward the artist with a pizza party for his or her classmates, friends or organization and will be announced at the Yappy Hour at the shelter on Feb. 9. The real winners will be the pets at the shelter who\u2019ll receive a lot of extra attention and will, it\u2019s hoped, find their one true love. More info here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Bulldog Beauty Contest and National Mutt Show:\u00a0<\/strong>Sunday, Feb. 10, 9:30 a.m.\u20133 p.m., Marine Stadium, 5225 Paoli Way, Long Beach, free to stand and spectate, $5 to reserve a seat, registration $10 per dog.<\/p>\n

Inclusiveness is the word for this romp by the lagoon. Bulldogs will be there in all their jowly glory, but there are 19 other contests featuring everything from Most Photogenic to Best Butt. Register your best buddy here<\/a>\u2014your $10 registration benefits spay\/.neuter, adoption rescue, and Justin Rudd\u2019s nonprofit Community Action Team. If you don\u2019t have a dog, so what? There are vendors, food, music and a parade\u2014and you can adopt one at the Adoption Fair. The event is produced by Haute Dogs and woofingly cosponsored by the office of Councilwoman Suzie Price.<\/p>\n

\"a<\/p>\n

Mayor\u2019s Animal Care Visioning Task Force meeting:\u00a0<\/strong>Tuesday, Feb. 12, 11 a.m.\u20131 p.m., El Dorado West Community Center Social Hall, 2800 N. Studebaker Road, Long Beach. Public invited. Agenda TBA.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Giving Gala 2019:\u00a0<\/strong>Wednesday, Feb. 13, 6 to 9 p.m., LBX The Hangar, 4180 McGowen St., Long Beach, ticket donation.<\/p>\n

The 5th City Council District will present a celebration in honor and support of Long Beach\u2019s local nonprofits, youth organizations and education-based charities. Of course, animal rescues are included! Participants will stroll through The Hanger and purchase all-inclusive crafts and artisanal food while enjoying the festive and pre-Valentine’s Day atmosphere, including a live musical performance. Admission includes complimentary craft beer and wine tastings. Silent auction and opportunity prizes will go on throughout the evening. All proceeds are given in support to the non-profit of choice. If you can’t attend but would still like to support, your ticket, which you can purchase here<\/a>, counts as a donation given to the selected charity.<\/p>\n

\"a<\/p>\n

CAAAAT CLINIC! Fix Long Beach Free Spay\/Neuter Clinic, sponsored by Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA):\u00a0<\/strong>Saturday, Feb. 23, 9 a.m.\u20133 p.m., Cherry Park, 1901 E. 45th St., Long Beach, free spay\/neuter for qualifying Long Beach residents; free microchips; shots, flea-med doses, dewormers and nail trimmings $10 each.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the law to fix your pets in Long Beach and many Southern California cities. To add to this, cats can go into heat at 6 months old and have three litters a year, with an average of four kittens per litter. And those kittens have kittens. Who wants to do the math? Fix your cat instead! To provide this costly service to our Long Beach residents who otherwise couldn\u2019t afford it, Fix Long Beach offers this service free of charge.\u00a0Make an appointment through IM or email at\u00a0<\/strong>fixlongbeachinfo@gmail.com<\/a>;<\/strong>include (1) your name, (2) address, (3) phone number, (4) pet\u2019s name, (5) age, (6) sex, (7) breed, and (8) weight. Standby available at 8:30 a.m.\u00a0Vouchers are provided through Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) Spay\/Neuter Assistance Voucher Program<\/strong>\u00a0for pets without appointments or dogs too large to fit on the vehicle\u2014they may be used at specified veterinary clinics.\u00a0For both spay\/neuter and vaccinations,all dogs must be on sturdy leashes and all cats must be in dedicated carriers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mayor\u2019s Animal Care Visioning Task Force meeting:\u00a0<\/strong>Tuesday, Feb. 12, 11 a.m.\u20131 p.m., El Dorado West Community Center Social Hall, 2800 N. Studebaker Road, Long Beach, public invited.<\/p>\n

Agenda to be announced.<\/p>\n

Ongoing<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Adopt, adopt, adopt<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The following pet-related businesses regularly feature cat, dog and rabbit adoptions. If you\u2019re a Long Beach-area rescue and don\u2019t see your adoption event listed here, please email\u00a0pets@lbpost.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Chase Bank, 5200 East Second St., Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n