{"id":3922,"date":"2013-04-30T16:54:36","date_gmt":"2013-04-30T16:54:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lbpost.com\/articles\/life\/pets\/boots-on-the-ground-a-ride-along-with-acs\/"},"modified":"2013-04-30T16:54:36","modified_gmt":"2013-04-30T16:54:36","slug":"boots-on-the-ground-a-ride-along-with-acs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/pets\/boots-on-the-ground-a-ride-along-with-acs","title":{"rendered":"UPDATED – Boots on the Ground: A Ride-Along with ACS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

UPDATE – May 2, 2013 |<\/strong> The following message was sent to the Post<\/em> on behalf of Long Beach Animal Care Services:<\/p>\n

Thank you everyone, for networking these sweet pups.  If everything goes as planned, all three of them will be leaving the shelter by Sunday.  At this point, we are taking back-up adopters\/rescues.  If you are a 501c3 rescue group or a potential adopter, please contact us at animalcare@longbeach.gov<\/a> and we will contact you if things fall through.  If you aren’t already approved to pull from our shelter and would like to be able to assist in future rescues, you can get our rescue application http:\/\/longbeach.gov\/acs\/groups.asp<\/a>. Please follow us on Facebook at City of Long Beach Animal Care Services, where we post all our animals available for adoption\/rescue.  Thanks for all your hard work and for understanding why we want the best for these dogs. We work hard to find the BEST homes for them, not just any home.  <\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
With gratitude, <\/div>\n
The Adoption Team<\/div>\n

ORIGINAL |<\/strong> I was getting a couple of articles ready\u2014one about the Universalist Unitarian Celebration of the Animals and the other for the third and final part of the Animal Cruelty Prevention and Care Workshop–when the following popped up in my inbox. It’s an account by Deborah Turner<\/a> describing a ride-along she took with an Animal Care Services (ACS) officer.<\/p>\n

Deb’s a humane educator and author better known as the late little Wheely Willy\u2019s proud mom. She’s a longtime friend of mine and is one of those people who continuously impresses and sometimes astounds me with a dogged advocacy of dogs, cats, rabbits, ducks and anything animal. We\u2019ve had a rough couple of weeks human-wise on the national front, and I wanted to put in a piece of fluff and place Deb’s communication in the Virtual Pets<\/strong> section after an article, but it merits more than a nod. This is a column about pets, and Deborah\u2019s someone who power-walks the talk when it comes to humane treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn April 19, 2013, I participated in a ride-along with an animal control officer from Long Beach Animal Care Services. It was a very valuable learning experience and one that I won’t forget. From the beginning of the officer’s shift to the end, they are in constant demand dealing with a multitude of animal related issues. The officer that I rode with was professional, calm, confident and thorough in all her decision making and actions. None of the animals we encountered throughout the day were spayed or neutered. We dealt with birds that had fallen from trees, animal cruelty, dogs left in vehicles, abandoned cats, a cat left in a small trap in the burning sun, and a postman threatened by stray dogs, but for me, the most deplorable situation was three pit bull-mix puppies abandoned in a fenced area in a dog park on the west side of Long Beach. There was no food, water or shade. Besides being badly sunburned, on the verge of starvation and severely dehydrated, all three dogs suffered from demodectic mange. (This form of mange is not contagious, is treatable and the dogs can recover fully.) The two male dogs were in better condition than the smaller female dog. The female was down on the ground and could not lift her head or open her eyes, which were swollen closed. Her body was covered with bloody scabs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe three dogs are obviously brothers and sister and their ages are guessed to be between 6 and 9 months. The shelter did temperament testing on all three and found them to be extremely sweet and friendly. On March 25, their time was up at the shelter and they were scheduled for euthanasia. Because of my persistence, which included nagging and begging, the dogs have been given a short reprieve (two days) to allow me to write this letter. I am writing to all of you, my friends, fans and followers, seeking your assistance in rescuing these three dogs. The two males need fostering and some medical care to allow them to heal, and the female will require more extensive care and nurturing. I am sure that these dogs were born in a backyard, have never been inside of a house, left to survive on their own, having experienced the worst forms of neglect and cruelty. Since they are not microchipped, there is no tracing the guilty party.<\/p>\n

\u201cAgain, time has run out for these dogs at the animal shelter, and they need your help NOW! In addition to responding to this immediate need, please use all of your social media resources to get assistance for these three innocent animals who have never known kindness until coming into the shelter where they have been fed and cared for.<\/p>\n

To meet these sweet puppies, visit our shelter at 7700 E. Spring St. Ask for the numbers under each photo. Call (562) 570-PETS for more information.”<\/p>\n

\"pittie1493495\"<\/p>\n

ID#1493495<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"pittiea493493\"<\/p>\n

ID#1493493<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"pittiea493494\"<\/p>\n

ID#1493494<\/strong><\/p>\n

Virtually Pets<\/h3>\n

Here are a couple of cats sponsored by people who also spend their own time and energy on rescuing pets\u2014cats this time. If I didn\u2019t have two already (I believe in planned felinehood), I\u2019d take one of them, especially the tiger. He looks like my childhood pet, Mrs. Fineman. If you know anyone, or if your laundry basket is in need of a cat to curl up inside it, contact these people.<\/p>\n

\"jills<\/p>\n

This sweet 3-year-old boy needs a loving home. He was found as a stray and had an abscess, and needed medical attention. He had surgery for the abscess and was also neutered, given a flea treatment, dewormed and inoculated. His blood work was good, except that he was FIV positive, which is transmissible through bites to other cats. Because of his temperament and condition, he needs to be the only cat in the home\u2014and be fully indoors, of course\u2014although dogs are fine. He\u2019s a very sweet and loving boy, and needs someone to accept him in their lives for being just that. It\u2019s hoped that someone out there will open their heart to this little guy since he\u2019s already had a rough start. He\u2019s currently boarded at the rescuer\u2019s vet, but time is running out and she can only keep him there until Friday. Contact the rescuer at jill.m.malarky@boeing.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"sammy\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sammy<\/strong> is a 6-year old tuxedo cat who looks as if he’s wearing lipstick. He\u2019s shy but full of energy. Sammy has his shots and has been neutered. He’s a good eater, but he can be picky at times! His present human is going into the Peace Corps and they do not enlist cats. She was able to place her other two cats and desperately wants a good home for Sammy. Contact pewat776@hotmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pet Projects<\/h3>\n

Sunday, May 19, spcaLA May Foster Class, P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village and Education Center, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, 10AM\u2013noon<\/strong><\/p>\n

Foster pets need temporary loving homes. This will help better their chances of adoption, and you can help! Potential foster parents (of all ages!) must fill out and submit an application, available here<\/a> before attending class.<\/p>\n

Thursday, June 6, Friends of Long Beach Animals Little Shop of Horrors <\/em>Benefit for the Animals, Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., 6:30\u201310:30PM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Feed your pets good things, feed yourself tasty finger food at the 6:30 reception, but\u2014don\u2019t feed the plants! Join Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA) for an entertaining musical evening on June 6 featuring the wonderfully way-out musical Little Shop of Horrors, <\/em>written by Howard Ashman, scored by Alan Menken, and based on the 1960 B movie of the same name. Our 19th annual Benefit for the Animals at the Long Beach Playhouse begins at 6:30 p.m. with a reception featuring\u2014oh, feed me, I\u2019m hungry!\u2014a delicious selection of finger foods, with coffee and cookies at intermission, and tuneful pre-musical music by our favorite pianist, Ralph Brunson. You\u2019ll have time to socialize with fellow animal lovers and browse and bid on silent auction items. Raffle tickets will also be on sale.<\/p>\n

At 7:30, beloved Press-Telegram <\/em>scribe Tom Hennessy will be honored as our Hero to Animals 2013. Then, look out, look out, look out, look out! Here comes Audrey II  along with the Little Shop of Horrors <\/em>cast of real characters to tell a funny, offbeat tale and sing some of the catchiest songs to have ever graced a stage on or off Broadway. <\/em>Keep the dogs and cats inside, and remember: Don\u2019t feed the plants!<\/p>\n

Tickets are $25 and are available at the following locations:<\/p>\n