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I\u2019m taking a few spare minutes to bang out the yearly reminder of suggestions for easing pet discomfort from July 4 pyrotechnic bangs. Independence Day is no doubt the most nerve-racking day of the year for pets in general; most of them would probably prefer the annual (recommended) trip to the vet for shots.<\/p>\n
Although personal use of any fireworks is illegal in Long Beach, you and I both know that things will be a-poppin\u2019 in every corner, backyard and alley, so it\u2019s best to prepare your four-legged buddies. Here are suggestions:<\/p>\n
Thanks to Tails <\/i>pet magazine<\/a> and spcaLA<\/a> for suggestions for this column. Sane <\/i>may be too much to ask for, especially regarding us pet nuts, but definitely keep it safe!<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve seen a look in dogs\u2019 eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts.\u201d Even if politics disagree slightly, the more stuff printed here (or anywhere) concerning animal welfare, the better! Long Beach Post <\/i>writer Asia Morris wrote a great story of a community effort to rescue a dog abandoned on a local freeway median (geez, can you freaking believe people? And they wonder why some of us prefer animals) and its subsequent acceptance to a local rescue. The dog\u2019s adorable; his name is Abe, and if you know someone who may want someone like him, click on this link to the story<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tara, Animal Care Services (IDA524151) <\/em><\/p>\n This good news is that Butch and Dude from the last Scratching Post<\/a> went home. The not-so-good news is that our shelters and rescues are still crowded with virtual pets. The good news is that our shelter\u2019s live-r release-rates (i.e., adoption, rescue pulls, owner retrievals) have increased, and Scratching Post readers as well as other community members have been responsible for that. Here\u2019s a likely candidate, and talk about sane! Well, not with this face. Shelter staff say that Tara\u2019s<\/strong> insanely happy, all wiggles and kisses. She is all wiggles and kisses! She is energetic when she\u2019s out of the kennel, but if you calm down, she does. If you play and run around, she does. She is a gorgeous, wonderful dog. Meet her on the shelter side of Animal Care Services<\/a>, 7700 Spring St. in El Dorado Park. Tara-rah-boom-<\/i>de-ay!<\/p>\n spcaLA July Foster Class, Saturday, July 19, spcaLA PD Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring St. (in El Dorado Park), Long Beach,10 AM\u2013Noon, FREE<\/strong><\/p>\n Help a cat or dog better his or her chance to be adopted by offering a temporary loving home. SpcaLA is seeking foster parents for pets of all ages and needs. Anyone interested should complete and submit the application available at this link<\/a>. SpcaLA provides the supplies\u2014you provide the love and care.<\/p>\n FOLBA\u2019s 20th Annual Benefit for the Animals, Thursday, Aug. 7, Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, 6:30PM\u201310:30PM (approximately), $30<\/strong><\/p>\n Tradition? You want tradition? Have we got an event for you! It\u2019s Friends of Long Beach Animals<\/a>\u2019 (FOLBA) long-running traditional evening of classical theater and entertainment. The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with a reception featuring \u201cpaw food\u201d and wine, Ralph Brunson at the piano, a dine-out raffle featuring local restaurants, door prizes and a silent auction, with merchandise and services generously contributed by local businesses. The Playhouse production begins at 7:30 p.m. with Fiddler on the Roof,<\/i> the Sholem Aleichim-inspired classic musical about survival in the face of changing family values and religious persecution. This year\u2019s Hero to Animals will also be celebrated at the event.<\/p>\n All proceeds from ticket sales and auctions benefit Friends of Long Beach Animals, a nonprofit all-volunteer organization dedicated to humane education and the welfare of animals in shelters and homes in the Long Beach\/Signal Hill area Tickets may be ordered by calling (562) 988-7647 or by visiting the following Long Beach vendors:<\/p>\n Belmont Pets and LaunderPet, 3429 East Broadway, (562) 433-3605<\/p>\n Bixby Animal Clinic, 3938 Atlantic Ave., (562) 426-4066<\/p>\n Bixby Knolls LaunderPet, 4102 Orange Ave., (562) 427-2551<\/p>\n Blue Cross Dog\/Cat Hospital, 2665 East PCH, Signal Hill, (562) 494-0975<\/p>\n Go Dogs Go, 3440 North Los Coyotes Diagonal, (562) 421-9797<\/p>\n Pussy & Pooch, 4818 East 2nd St., (562) 434-7700<\/p>\n Wags to Whiskers, 5505 Stearns St., (562) 430-5161 <\/p>\n Stray Cat Alliance Team Fund-Raiser for Strut Your Mutt, through Sept. 1, Online<\/strong><\/p>\n Stray Cat Alliance<\/a> (SCA) is presenting its major fund-raiser for the year as it calls for team members and supporters of the SCA team in Best Friends\u2019 Strut Your Mutt<\/a> fund-raising dog walk (click on the link). The walk\u2019s mission is to help homeless dogs, and cats will not <\/i>be left out. The walk itself will take place in the evening at Will Rogers State Historic Park<\/a>; SCA\u2019s Strut Your Mutt volunteer coordinator Debbie Rankin likes to call it \u201cDate Night with your Best Fur-end.\u201d Because cats prefer to stay at home, you can bring your dog or a friend\u2019s dog to the event with a $30 donation, or if you can\u2019t make it, you can join as a virtual team member or donate to the fund-raiser. Information about the fund-raiser can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The goal is to raise $25,000 by Sept. 1.<\/p>\n The walk is the only all-volunteer fund-raiser that SCA is holding this year to help offset operation costs and help as many cats as possible. Expenses were huge this year; they included Operation 74, in which SCA pulled 63 out of 74 hoarded cats from the shelter before they could be euthanized, vetted them and had them treated. Some are still being boarded. The organization also engages in daily trap\/spay-neuter\/ activities; those who can be adopted will be fostered; that takes funds, too. Rankin said that their working capital is at an all-time low. <\/p>\n To support or join, click here<\/a>. Your donation is tax deductible, and SCA uses all funds to support their good work.<\/p>\n
~ John Steinbeck<\/i><\/p>\nKibble<\/h2>\n
Virtually Pets<\/h2>\n
![\"Tara\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Tara.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPet Projects<\/h2>\n