![\"Dog-Friendly](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/Dog-Friendly-sign.jpg\")
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I couldn\u2019t wait for the sun to rise on this category. Few people knew about or paid attention to the fact that Long Beach was one of the comparatively few places in California where dogs could not legally dine on outdoor patios until Councilmember Garcia led a recommendation to work with the health department to craft such a policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n The recommendation, which gives restaurant owners the flexibility to choose the dining option, passed on July 24 and was welcomed by the many dog-loving restaurateurs who\u2019d wondered why there had to be so much yap about it in the first place. They included the joint winners of the Pick of the Litter categories for Patio Dining and Biggest Suckers for Pets, husband-and-wife team Lawrie Byrnes and Donnie Larson, owners of Shillelagh on Temple Ave. and 4th St., \u201cwhere dogs always eat free.\u201d<\/p>\n Donnie Larson, co-owner of Shillelagh, with the family’s Bernese mountain dogs, Loki and Otter.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s great! It doesn\u2019t change anything for me,\u201d Larson said at breakfast on the rustic tucked-away patio in back of the restaurant, where dogs have lunched and breakfasted with their humans since its opening six years ago.<\/p>\n The patio is furnished very much like an extended backyard in Seattle or the Adirondacks\u2014I imagine that if I\u2019d come in wearing pajamas and slippers, no one would have noticed. The place practically howls for the dawg to set hisself a spell. And many do. Byrnes keeps a basket filled with pet treats for all the good dogs who accompany their people to Shillelagh.<\/p>\n Shillelagh is open every day except Monday for breakfast and lunch until 2PM and later for dinner from 5PM until 9PM (unless they get busy and people keep coming in). The eatery is physically connected to but not affiliated with O\u2019Connell\u2019s bar next door, although food is served to its patrons. Shillelagh\u2019s philosophy of fresh cooking is very much like that of Chuck and Toby\u2019s, Pet Post\u2019s Pick of the Litter for boutiques<\/a>, in that what\u2019s sauce for the pet is sauce for the person, only in reverse.<\/p>\n Byrnes and Larson\u2019s nutritious menu is the dog\u2019s opportunity to eat what you do without stealing it from your plate. If the dog (or, more likely, you) is not a carnivore, there are numerous vegetarian choices, including a veggie burger made from the owners\u2019 personal recipe. I had the Green Eggs and Tofu (the green being tasty spinach), which had perfect consistency and was solicitously served up by the excellent Russell.<\/p>\n If I had a dog, I wouldn\u2019t share, but luckily, they get their own, in their own little doggie dishes. Besides innumerable cups of good coffee, I was impressed to see shillelagh\u2014<\/em>which is a cudgel stick used frequently in Ireland for self-defense and to thwack disgruntled kvetchers upside the head\u2014spelled correctly everywhere in the restaurant. That\u2019s always a plus for me.<\/p>\n Speaking of disgruntled kvetchers, none have been to Shillelagh and complained about the dogs. Byrnes said that they\u2019d be invited to go inside and eat if they had an objection.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone knows dogs are welcome here and everyone comes here because of a dog,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Photo: Baby brings Julia (standing) every chance she gets.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Generally, the take on the new policy isn\u2019t 100 percent positive in Long Beach cities. La Palapa del Mar, a runner-up in the canine-patio-dining poll, has its own doggie-dinner menu and is also a longtime popular dinner spot for dogs and their humans.<\/p>\n Elizabeth Noecker\u2014whose mother, Bear DeLaHaye, owns La Palapa\u2014said that there hasn\u2019t been much opposition but that she\u2019s had several complaints such as \u201cI don\u2019t want to eat near doggie hair\u201d or \u201cThat\u2019s disgusting.\u201d But DeLaHaye is a dog advocate and does what she can to make everyone happy. Sometimes it goes a little overboard\u2014the staff have to remind customers to keep dogs off the seats or from running around unleashed, both of which the city policy does not permit.<\/p>\n After reading some of the comments in the local papers, I feel that I have company in saying that I\u2019ve had far more experience with misbehaving children in restaurants than with dogs. There seems to be no policy for dealing with kids, but badly behaved dogs, said Noecker, \u201cget 86\u2019d.\u201d Shillelagh has never had to enforce its No Badly Behaved Doggie policy. \u201cWe\u2019ve been lucky with that,\u201d Larson said. \u201cBut anyone baring teeth to another customer or another dog must leave.\u201d I somehow felt that Larson wasn\u2019t referring specifically to dogs.<\/p>\n Pet Post<\/em> readers did vote Shillelagh the best place to dine with your dog, but it\u2019s also a darned fine place to go even if you don\u2019t have one, as long as you behave yourself, of course. I plan to go as frequently as I\u2019m able\u2014I want to try more of the veggie offerings as well as get to share space with some of the finest people on four legs.<\/p>\n Shillelagh is located at 2742 E. 4th<\/sup> Street in Long Beach. Call (562) 916-3288 for information. <\/em>Meanwhile, you can now take your best buddy to lunch at any restaurant that permits it.<\/em><\/p>\n In front of Lucille’s o<\/em>n Second Street.<\/em><\/p>\n Max and Chuck Herrington on the side of Hot Java o<\/em>ff Broadway<\/em><\/p>\n Tallula with Greg and Kathleen on La Palapa’s patio<\/em><\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n No animal should ever jump up on the dining room furniture unless absolutely certain that he can hold his own in the conversation.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u2014Fran Lebowitz, author<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n 9 Lives for $9!<\/strong><\/p>\n This project, sponsored by FoundAnimals.org, has been doing a great job in making adult cats available to loving homes. There\u2019s still time to adopt your own\u2014it\u2019s not that that shelters are running out of cats but that there\u2019s no sign of there ever being a dearth of unwanted pets. During August, at the low fee of $9, you can adopt one of the many adult cats in shelters in Long Beach, the city of Los Angeles, and L.A.County. All of the cats have been altered, vaccinated and microchipped and may be seen on the program\u2019s website<\/a>. Click the link above and chose your new BFF, or check out the candidates below from Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach 90815 (The full adoption process will be adhered to with this program.)<\/p>\n Annie, ID#A471624<\/em><\/p>\n Friend, ID#A473224<\/em><\/p>\n I was listening to the car radio the other day and heard a guest tell the host about a chance encounter with a coyote at 6 in the morning, I think somewhere near Glendale, while he was walking his two little dogs. One of the dogs was dressed in a sailor suit, and the guest made light of the issue, saying that the coyote just stood there, licking his chops and he didn\u2019t think the animal was impressed with the sailor suit. He said that he yelled and stomped his feet, but the coyote didn\u2019t run off and actually followed them until a car scared it off. I was mildly amused and also greatly unnerved to realize that coyotes\u2019 desperation to find a meal in what used to be their territory combined with their cleverness and familiarity with humans has caused scenarios reminiscent of Curse of the Werewolf <\/em>and The Howling. <\/em>Coyotes have recently killed pets in many Long Beach neighborhoods in which people never expected to see them. Until someone figures out a humane situation for transporting them and \u201ckeeping them wild,\u201d keep your pets indoors and by your side at all times when you walk them. For more information visit the Department of Fish and Game<\/a> and Long Beach Animal Care Services<\/a>. See next item for an important workshop.<\/p>\n Living with Urban Coyotes, Thursday, Aug. 16, 1\u20133:30PM, P.D. Pitchford Companion Village Auditorium, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, and 6:30\u20138:30PM, Skylinks Golf Course, 4800 E. Wardlow St., Long Beach. RSVP to (562) 570-3072<\/strong><\/p>\n Lynsey White Dasher, Urban Wildlife Specialist with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), will be the featured speaker.<\/p>\n BARK for the Body Shop, through Aug. 24, 5013 E. 2nd<\/sup> St., Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n The Body Shop is teaming up with the all-volunteer nonprofit BARK (Beach Animals Reading with Kids), to help collect books for children who will read them to the BARK dogs. Anytime during August, drop off new or gently used picture books (dog related are best!), dog beanie babies or dog stickers and receive a Night of Beauty on Friday, Aug. 24, from 6:30 to 8PM with free makeovers, skin-care consultations and a small gift. Apostrophe, located a couple of blocks away at 4712 E. 2nd St., has entire displays of books about pets to choose among. BARK has 115 dog-handler teams in 90 elementary schools and libraries inSouthern California. Donated books will be given to children who read to the dogs. <\/p>\n SpcaLA August Mobile Adoption at PetSmart, Saturday, Aug. 11, 10:30AM\u20133:30PM, PetSmart, Long Beach Towne Center, 7631 Carson Blvd., Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n Can\u2019t make it to an spcaLAPetAdoptionCenter? Come to PetSmart in Long Beach to meet our adorable adoptables! For more information visit www.spcaLA.com.<\/p>\n Shoestring<\/strong> City<\/strong> Ranch Summertime Animal-Assisted Reading Program, Sunday, Aug. 19, 2\u20133PM 1003 W. Carson St., Long Beach 90810<\/strong><\/p>\n If you watched ABC\u2019s Secret Millionaire <\/em>on July 8, you\u2019d have seen Shoestring City Ranch<\/a> receive an award for the wonderful programs they have for the city’s youth. One of them is the assisted reading program, which will take place next month (more sessions can be requested for weekdays). Experienced volunteers will work with kids on their vocabulary and help them to improve fluency, literacy and confidence as they read to farm animals. For information, call (562) 685-6270 or e-mail shoestringcityranch4kids@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Many Long Beachers delighted in watching Secret Millionaire <\/em>on July 8, when three of the city\u2019s great charitable organizations, New Hope Grief, Love in the Mirror and Shoestring City Ranch, won windfalls to continue their good works. On Thursday, July 26, manager Karen Thompson and associates Kelly Huston and Mary Kelly presented the ranch\u2019s programs to the membership and guests of Friends of Long Beach Animals. With them came four extra-special guests, doe goats Lila and Lily and bunnies Freckles and Princess, all four of whom are spayed. Besides having fun petting and playing with the little gals, we learned more about how Thompson used the $50,000 for the good of the Ranch animals and youth-education programs while at the same time madly scrambling to keep the secret of where she got it until the day of the episode\u2019s broadcast. The personnel from the production posed as college students wanting to make a video of the ranch (with a suspiciously high-quality camera, Thompson said), and Hilary Decesare, the Secret Millionaire herself, arrived one day in a \u201cjunky car\u201d asking to volunteer and was put right to work.<\/span> In all, the horses got many pounds of fine sand for their arena and the Ranch itself got plumbing, housing, signage, an apple orchard and educational materials for the children.<\/p>\n FOLBA members get their goat on with Lily (front) and Lila<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Donations Needed for Animal Care Services, Pitchford Animal Companion Village, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, (562) 570-PETS<\/strong><\/p>\n ACS thanks everyone who provided donations for their wish list! The list has been further winnowed down; if you feel generous or just have any of the following items around your house, bring them to the shelter (and take home a pet, if you are so inclined!).<\/p>\n![\"Donnie](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/Donnie-Larson-Loki-and-Otter.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n![\"Julia](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/Julia-and-Baby.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"In](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/In-front-of-Lucilles.jpg\")
<\/em><\/p>\n![\"In](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/In-front-of-Hot-Java.jpg\")
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Virtually Pets<\/h3>\n
![\"Annie\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/Annie.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"GRey](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/GRey-tabby.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBreaking Pet-Lines<\/h3>\n
Pet Projects<\/h3>\n
![\"Coyote](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/Coyote-Flyer-single-page.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Mavis](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/Mavis-and-Marsha-in-love-wiht-the-goats.jpg\")
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![\"Donnie](\"http:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/Donnie-Larson-Loki-and-Otter.jpg\")
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