{"id":291,"date":"2019-01-11T14:50:26","date_gmt":"2019-01-11T22:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/?p=999934138"},"modified":"2019-01-11T14:50:26","modified_gmt":"2019-01-11T22:50:26","slug":"hordes-of-hoarded-dogs-and-their-rescuers-need-our-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/pets\/hordes-of-hoarded-dogs-and-their-rescuers-need-our-help","title":{"rendered":"Hordes of hoarded dogs and their rescuers need our help"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pet Projects columns generally feature adoptive animals, usually from our shelter at Long Beach Animal Care Services<\/a> but frequently from independent rescues that struggle for funding. The Jan. 4 column<\/a> described efforts that local rescue Sparky and the Gang<\/a>, with considerable help from their friends, put into effect to clean up, vet, and foster 72 animals that they pulled from a severe dog hoarding situation. Dogs ready to go home forever were featured to make room for the many foster homes needed for these unfortunates.<\/p>\n

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Here we go again. Check out the photo\u2014another overwhelming multidog situation that Sparky and the Gang is presently handling. This one\u2019s a breeding situation. Imagine 81 Shih Tzu\u2014at last count\u2014in conditions like this, bred to be sold to gullible customers. Sparky and the Gang volunteers are still trying to gain access to the house to get the rest of the dogs who are in limbo inside and outside. Before any of them can be adopted, they need care and fostering, immediately and in quantity.<\/p>\n

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It was out of the question for the rescue to turn them over to the shelter. There\u2019s no room for them, and the volunteers didn\u2019t want to risk the possibility of euthanasia for anyone. So Sparky\u2019s founder, Sherri Stankewitz, mobilized her forces and spent weeks helping the wretched creatures. Groomers rose to the challenge, and other volunteers donated both time and money to help vet and feed the dogs. Veterinary and dental bills totaling hundreds of dollars still need to be paid.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe want to thank everyone that has come forward to help this horrific situation,\u201d Stankewitz said on the rescue\u2019s Facebook page. \u201cMy heart is happy to be surrounded by so many that have given up a Saturday night or a weekend to stop what they are doing and help the unfortunate\u2014people stopping by to give sweaters after they shed 10 to 15 pounds of matted hair and dirt, holding them after a 20-hour day of trauma.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stankewitz said she\u2019s exhausted beyond belief but has no regrets spending the last three weekends helping what she counted as 130 dogs in dire need. She and the other volunteers are asking for donations for vet bills, and they need fosters, and how.<\/p>\n

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These are only two individuals, but from them have come at least 130 dogs in pathetic shape. And you know there are others. I couldn\u2019t possibly comment on the thought processes and motivation of the people who were responsible for this situation, but I will say that if we seriously want to make Long Beach or anywhere else a no-kill city, and surely we all do, it\u2019s not the shelter we have to start with. It\u2019s with entire community. It\u2019s funds for enforcement to turn off these faucets operated by people who will not spay or neuter their animals. It\u2019s people like the many who supported a single abused dog and showed their generosity by donating and their hearts by offers of adoption, and whom we\u2019re begging to extend it to these animals. If you haven\u2019t and can, please show up.<\/p>\n

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Sparky and the Gang are up to their butts in dogs and matted fur and haven\u2019t had time to respond to all the requests for fostering, for which they\u2019re grateful, let alone name most of them. But they plan to answer them all as time and energy permit. If you can help these good people and the little dogs in any way, please see this information:<\/p>\n

To donate, please access the page and donate via Paypal.me\/sparkyandthegang<\/a>. There\u2019s also a Venmo option. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>To foster or for other information, call 510-708-9152 or email <\/em><\/strong>Sparky911@yahoo.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sparky and the Gang thanks the following groomers for their assistance: <\/em><\/strong>The Standard Canine Spa, <\/em><\/strong>Sudsy Dog Grooming Lakewood, <\/em><\/strong>Soggy Dog Pet Grooming, <\/em><\/strong>Seal Beach Launderpet, <\/em><\/strong>The Ark Pet Salon.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Things to do, pets to support<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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

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Voucher, flea meds, and nail-trim event, sponsored by <\/strong>Fix Long Beach<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong> Saturday, Jan. 12, 11 a.m.\u20131 p.m., Ramona Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Low-cost flea meds and nail trims as well as vouchers for free or low-cost spay\/neuter procedures will be available at this event. The spay\/neuter mobile van WILL NOT be there, but Fix volunteers will scheduling for the Cat Clinic at Cherry Avenue Park on Feb. 23 and the Dog Clinic at Bixby Park on March 9.\u00a0You can also PM Fix Long Beach on its Facebook page<\/a> to make an appointment.<\/p>\n

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Bell\u2019s Bugs at Turtle & Tortoise Care Society, CTTC Long Beach Chapter:\u00a0<\/strong>Friday, Jan. 18, 7:30 p.m., University Baptist Church, 3434 Chatwin Ave., Long Beach, free to member turtles and tortoises and their human companions<\/p>\n

Bell\u2019s Bugs, Etc.<\/a> will present about insects and arthropods that live in tortoise habitats. Enjoy 20 years of buggy lore from entomologists Lee and Bob Duff.<\/p>\n

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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

Petco Animal Supplies, Marina Shores,\u00a06500 Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n