{"id":723,"date":"2018-06-08T17:23:39","date_gmt":"2018-06-09T00:23:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/?p=66830"},"modified":"2018-06-08T17:23:39","modified_gmt":"2018-06-09T00:23:39","slug":"zazzy-cats-helps-bail-out-flood-of-kittens-plus-new-listing-of-long-beach-area-adoption-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/pets\/zazzy-cats-helps-bail-out-flood-of-kittens-plus-new-listing-of-long-beach-area-adoption-events","title":{"rendered":"Zazzy Cats Helps Bail Out Flood of Kittens, Plus New Listing of Long Beach-area Adoption Events"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Virtually Pets<\/h1>\n

In last week\u2019s Pet Projects in the Virtually Pets section<\/a>, I mistakenly said that Zoey\u2019s Place Cat Rescue was a single-person operation, and it isn\u2019t. Founder Aurelie Vanderhoek, who named the rescue in memory of her late cat, quickly disabused me of the idea and said that she has a good number of volunteers. She highlighted one in particular, Jennifer Kanowsky, without whom Vanderhoek said that she couldn\u2019t have accomplished any of what she does…<\/p>\n

That\u2019s true for every rescue everywhere. They get by with a lot <\/em>of help from their friends, particularly during kitten season, which runs roughly between spring and mid-fall. Shelters try to deal with multiple litters that come in both with mothers and without, at times having been taken from the mother and either tossed in trash cans (we\u2019ve had one of those for years) or mistakenly turn in to the shelter because the mother was out hunting for food and the kittens were believed to have been abandoned. And there are some who actually were left orphaned. Some make it, some don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

One cat rescue that knows this very well is Zazzy Cats Kitty Rescue<\/a>. That was the second of my cat pratfalls\u2014I forgot to list them in the adoptions\/rescues. I\u2019d met one of the founders, Jimmy Naccarato, when he\u2019d just established the organization with his brother Dennis.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll love these people\u2014they bottle-feed newborn kittens,\u201d said Kelly Miott, ACS\u2019s then-outreach coordinator.<\/p>\n

They do all that and more. They grab high-risk cats from shelters and provide rehoming support and medical assistance to community cats. Everyone\u2019s welcome, be they pregnant mothers, seniors, cats with medical needs or naughty kitties with behavior issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cThree legs? Missing an eye? Doesn\u2019t have a tail? Old and cranky? Too fat or too skinny? No problem! We take in the cats that many won\u2019t and have great success in finding forever homes for some of the most difficult of our feline clients,\u201d Jimmy Naccarato said.<\/p>\n

Rounding out this group of cat-alysts for rehoming are a third sibling, Roni, Zazzy\u2019s Operations Manager and a coterie of cattery board members and volunteers. Zazzy has three permanent adoption centers in the PetSmarts in South Torrance, Compton and Downey, and they appear at Pet Food Express on alternate weekends (see Ongoing). Every cat is precious, Jimmy emphasized, and each deserves a home. Here are a \u201cprecious few\u201d:<\/p>\n

[Text dictated by the cats to Zazzy Cats surrogate mom Courtney Piscitelli. Creds to Board Member Laura Altmann for editing, collating it all, and somewhat successfully herding cats.]<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Hi! My name is Aslan<\/strong>, just like the lion from The Chronicles of Narnia<\/em>. I am a strong and fierce boy, but I was not always this way. You see, before I became strong, I was a tiny baby rescued out of a dumpster and then bottle-fed by Courtney. I am almost ready for my forever family. I have so much love and light to give to this world! Without dedicated volunteers and rescues, bottle babies like me wouldn\u2019t get a chance to grow up to be strong and fierce.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Hi, guys! My name is Tux<\/strong>. I’m just a chill dude who can be found sitting calmly while my siblings throw the real<\/em> party. I sometimes I act like a scaredy-cat because of being left on my own to climb on roofs and stuff so young. It made me grow up fast! Don’t tell anyone, but when my human mommy picks me up, I like to lay my head in her hand and melt into a purrrrr….<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I am Pea<\/strong>, as in Sweet Pea! My brothers and I were rescued off the roof of a vacant building that was located in a busy traffic area of Long Beach. We were starving! It had been raining, and we were so cold. A brave lady climbed the roof to bring us down to safety, and another nice lady, from Zazzy Cats Kitty Rescue, took us to a warm, safe and loving foster home. I earned my Sweet Pea name because one of my favorite things is to sit on your shoulders and snuggle with you endlessly! Even though I\u2019m a boy, everyone thinks the name fits me just fine!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And don\u2019t forget us big girls! I\u2019m Arrow<\/strong>, and I was once a kitten, too! After being TNR’d, I spent a year on the busy streets of Long Beach. Then, I was taken to my foster home with Courtney. I’m just too loving to be left behind\u2014I\u2019m the best lap cat a human could ask for! My foster mommy calls me a foster-fail (whatever that is) because I sleep on her pillow and she wants to keep me. But she cannot keep me because she has to help other cats in need. May I aim my Cupid\u2019s arrow at your heart\u2014or maybe just sleep on your pillow?<\/p>\n

Two things: if you own an unaltered cat, male or female (yes, those boys can get around\u2014litters have multiple fathers), get it fixed. Can\u2019t afford it? Get a voucher from Long Beach Animal Care Services<\/a> (ACS) to take a nip out of the cost, or get in touch with Fix Long Beach\u00a0<\/a>and get a free procedure or a voucher for one. Help the trap-neuter-return (TNR) effort here (see resources below). Help with the community cat maintenance. And please, if you find a litter, make sure that they\u2019re actually abandoned by the mother before you trot them in to the shelter. They may never have a chance, and you\u2019ve got a fertile female still running around.<\/p>\n

And as Zazzy Cats also says, be a life saver and volunteer to foster!<\/p>\n

As a friend said, the problem is bigger than the solution. However, if you\u2019re willing to keep chipping away at it, here are a few good resources. Please suggest any that I left out.<\/em><\/p>\n

Information<\/h2>\n

Stray Cat Alliance<\/a><\/p>\n

Alley Cat Allies<\/a><\/p>\n

Support Groups<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bottle Baby Feeders<\/a><\/p>\n

Vouchers and Free\/Low-Cost Spay Neuter<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fix Long Beach<\/a><\/p>\n

Long Beach Animal Care Services<\/a>\u00a0(vouchers provided by Friends of Long Beach Animals<\/a>\u00a0and clinic information only; the shelter\u2019s S\/N isn\u2019t open to the public)<\/p>\n

SNP\/LA Veterinary Clinic, San Pedro<\/a>\u00a0(call to inquire about feral spay days)<\/p>\n

Golden State Humane Veterinary Clinic, Long Beach<\/a><\/p>\n

Fosters, Bottle-Feeders, Help Needed from the Community!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Helen Sanders CatPAWS<\/a><\/p>\n

The Little Lion Foundation<\/a><\/p>\n

(CatPAWS <\/strong>and Little Lion <\/strong>to present bottle-feeding workshops_<\/p>\n

Jellicle Cats Rescue Foundation<\/a><\/p>\n

Zoey\u2019s Place Rescue<\/a><\/p>\n

Cat Cove<\/a><\/p>\n

Kitty Katchers<\/a><\/p>\n

Long Beach Spay and Neuter Foundation<\/a><\/p>\n

Making Biscuits Cat Adoption and Rescue<\/a><\/p>\n

Zazzy Cats<\/a><\/p>\n

Orphan Kitten Bottle Feeders and Fosters<\/a><\/p>\n

(If that seems like a lot of resources, multiply it exponentially\u2014cats X litters X litters X litters X litters\u2026. It isn\u2019t.)<\/em><\/p>\n

[easy-image-collage id=66856]<\/p>\n

Dedicated to Nightingale (left) and Noddy (right), who, thanks to initial human thoughtlessness, resisted all efforts to save them.<\/em><\/p>\n

Things to Do, Pets to Support<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

“What Goes in Your Pet\u2019s Emergency Kit?” Live-Stream<\/strong><\/p>\n

Monday, June 11, 12:30PM, City of Long Beach\u2019s Facebook page<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

June is Pet Preparedness month, and the City of Long Beach is presenting events and activities to help our residents prepare for any disaster. \u201cWhat Goes in Your Pet\u2019s Emergency Kit\u201d will inform viewers about which items to include in a pet\u2019s emergency kit; other pet-related disaster preparedness topics will be shared. \u201cWhat Goes in Your Pet\u2019s Emergency Kit\u201d will also be rebroadcast on the Department of Disaster Preparedness\u2019s website<\/a>; search the title to view it if you can\u2019t see it live or are not a Facebook member. See Pet Preparedness Scavenger Hunt for the department\u2019s second activity.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

FOLBA Annual Membership Meeting<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thursday, June 14, 6:30PM, Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 Anaheim Street, Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n

Free event<\/strong><\/p>\n

Join Friends of Long Beach Animals<\/a> (FOLBA)\u00a0for their Annual Membership Meeting, celebrating 29 wonderful years of caring for pets in the Long Beach and Signal Hill communities. Learn about the great things FOLBA has done and continues to do, including spay\/neuter assistance and the funding of the training for the dog play yard at the shelter. Coffee and cookies will be served, and the evening guest will be Canine Companions for Independence<\/a> (CCI), a national nonprofit that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. Along with an overview of their programs, a CCI volunteer will provide a demonstration and meet-and-greet with a \u201cpuppy in program.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Pet Preparedness Scavenger Hunt<\/strong><\/p>\n

Throughout Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n

Free event<\/strong><\/p>\n

To complement the live streaming of \u201cWhat Goes in Your \u00a0Department will host a Pet Preparedness Scavenger Hunt in which residents can search for free pet-preparedness items to put into their pets\u2019 emergency kits. Prize packs will be hidden around the city and can be found by following the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications and the Department of\u00a0Health\u00a0and Human Services<\/a> on social media. Links can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fix Long Beach Free Spay\/Neuter Clinic<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saturday, June 16, 7:30AM\u20133:00PM, Ramona Park, 3301 East 65th<\/sup> Street at Obispo Avenue, Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n

Have your dog spayed or neutered free with appointment and qualifications; vet appointment with voucher, minimal charge for dogs and cats; flea meds $10; shots and dewormer $10 each; nail trimming, $10<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s now the law to fix your pets in Long Beach and many Southern California cities. 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. The spay\/neuter truck will be at its new location at Ramona Park on this date.<\/p>\n

Make an appointment through IM or email at <\/strong>info@fixlongbeach.com<\/strong><\/a> for your dog<\/strong>, and include (1) your name, (2) address, (3) phone number, (4) pet’s name, (5) age, (6) sex, (7) breed, and (8) weight, and Fix will see if they can schedule you. You can also come as a standby, but be there at 8:30AM. Make sure that your pet has had nothing to eat or drink past 10:00PM the previous night.<\/p>\n

To donate, visit our page<\/a>. In-kind donations such as leashes, collars and toys can be brought to our event or ordered through our Amazon wish list<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For both spay\/neuter and vaccinations,<\/strong> all dogs must be on sturdy leashes and all cats must be in dedicated carriers. <\/strong>Fix thanks you in advance for being responsible for your pet\u2019s health and for helping to reduce shelter overpopulation and euthanasia.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fix Long Beach\u2019s Wild, Wild West Casino Night<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saturday, June 23, 6:00PM, Cosmic Brewery, 20316 Gramercy Place, Torrance<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tickets $25, available here<\/a><\/strong>; includes all-you-can eat buffet, drinks and \u201cfunny money\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Git along, little doggie\u2013uh, dogie, and we\u2019ll lasso up some great food, drinks, sounds and lots of yee-haw fun! Your $25 will grab you a taco dinner (we have vegan options for cowpokes who don\u2019t like to poke cows), mighty fine craft beers and handcrafted soda pop. Don\u2019t tell the sheriff, but we\u2019re giving you $100 in \u201cfunny money\u201d that you can use in the ol\u2019 saloon playing roulette, poker and blackjack. And y\u2019all can absquatulate with some durn fine prizes from gaming and in the silent auction (you gotta spend actual tin for that). Best of all, you\u2019ll be helping us round up pets to spay and neuter\u2014Fix Long Beach does that for free for folks who can\u2019t afford it\u2013all the greenbacks you spend will be used at Fix Long Beach!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Third-Annual Cut-A-Thon, Benefiting Sparky and the Gang Rescue<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saturday, July 7, 10:00AM\u20135:00PM, Encore Hair Studio, 1830 Redondo Avenue, Suite E, Signal Hill<\/strong><\/p>\n

$25 haircuts<\/strong><\/p>\n

You get your dog groomed, so why not yourself? And for a great cause\u2014top-rated Encore Hair Studio is offering cuts for $25, and the funds will go to Sparky and the Gang Animal Rescue<\/a>,\u00a0a magnificent organization that takes dogs from some of the worst conditions you can imagine and turns them into beautiful, healthy house pets. Enjoy pampering, vegan goodies, a bake sale and a raffle. And, best of all, doggies to adopt.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Friends of Long Beach Animals\u2019 26th<\/sup> Annual Theater Benefit, Featuring \u2018My Fair Lady\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thursday, July 12, 6:30PM, Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 Anaheim Street, Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tickets $30, includes a wine reception with finger food and dessert, Ralph Brunson at the piano, a raffle and a silent auction.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The rain in Spain they\u2019ll track in your domain\u2026by George, you\u2019ve got it\u2014a wonderful time viewing the classical musical My Fair Lady<\/em>, enjoying a buffet of goodies, bidding on auction items, listening to the piano music, and of course, we won\u2019t forget helping all the pets that Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA) helps spay and neuter and provide for! Tickets are can be purchased at the locations on the flier, or you can call FOLBA directly at (562) 988-7647. And be sure to get you to the show\u2026on\u2026time!<\/p>\n

Ongoing<\/h1>\n

Pet Adoption Locations<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of West Coast Animal Rescue https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WestCoastAnimalRescue\/<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\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 pets@lbpost.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Petco Animal Supplies, Marina Shores<\/strong><\/p>\n

6500 Pacific Coast Highway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Helen Sanders CatPAWS<\/a>,\u00a0permanent adoption center, store hours<\/p>\n

Rabbit Rescue Inc.<\/a>, adoptable rabbits daily, store hours<\/p>\n

Live Love Animal Rescue<\/a>, first Sunday of the month, 1:00PM\u20133:00PM<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Unleashed by Petco<\/strong><\/p>\n

600 Redondo Avenue<\/strong><\/p>\n

Foreverhome Pet Rescue, Inc.<\/a>,\u00a0Sundays, noon\u20134:00PM<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PetSmart, Long Beach Exchange<\/strong><\/p>\n

3871 N Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Cat Cove<\/a>, Saturdays, noon\u20134:00pm<\/p>\n

Jellicle Cats Foundation<\/a>,\u00a0Saturdays, noon\u20144:00PM<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PetSmart Signal Hill<\/strong><\/p>\n

2550 Cherry Avenue, Signal Hill<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kitty Katchers<\/a>, Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00AM\u20133:30PM<\/p>\n

Stray Cat Alliance<\/a>, permanent adoption center, store hours<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PetSmart Compton<\/strong><\/p>\n

1775 South Alameda Street, Compton<\/strong><\/p>\n

Zazzy Cats Kitty Rescue<\/a>, permanent adoption center, store hours<\/p>\n

Rabbit Rescue Inc.<\/a>, one adoptable rabbit daily, store hours<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PetSmart Seal Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n

12341 Seal Beach Boulevard, Seal Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n

Helen Sanders CatPAWS<\/a><\/p>\n

West Coast Animal Rescue<\/a>,\u00a0Saturdays, noon\u20134:00PM<\/p>\n

Dogs in Need<\/a>,\u00a0Saturdays, 9:00AM\u20132:00PM<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pet Food Express, 4220 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pet Food Express Cat Adoption Center<\/a>, permanent adoption center, business hours<\/p>\n

Zazzy Cats<\/a>, alternate weekends, 10AM\u20135PM<\/p>\n

Fix Long Beach<\/a>, occasional weekends<\/p>\n

Live Love Animal Rescue<\/a>, first Saturday of each month, 11:00AM\u20132:00PM<\/p>\n

Ozzie and Friends Rescue<\/a>, 11:00AM\u20132:00PM, alternate Sundays<\/p>\n

The Little Lion Foundation<\/a>,\u00a0alternate weekends, 11:00AM\u20135:00PM<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bank of America, 5101 East Second Street, Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n

Long Beach Spay & Neuter Foundation<\/a>,\u00a011:00AM\u20133PM<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

BARK Therapy Dogs Reading with Kids<\/strong><\/p>\n

See website<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>for information<\/strong><\/p>\n

Founded in 2007, BARK (Beach Animals Reading with Kids) is a nonprofit all-volunteer program that encourages children to increase their reading skills and self-confidence by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. Students sometimes find it intimidating to read in front of classmates but love to read to the non-judgmental, calming dogs. BARK now has\u00a0170 teams listening to kids in more than 100 schools and libraries in California\u2014Long Beach libraries visited monthly are Bach, El Dorado, Bayshore, Brewitt and Los Altos; outlying-area libraries include Hawaiian Gardens, Iacoboni and Los Alamitos. BARK teams also visit nursing homes, senior living facilities and veteran centers. They even de-stress college students during finals week! For all events, check out BARK\u2019s calendar<\/a>. To find information about volunteering your furry buddy or to arrange a visit to your school, library or other community, contact the group at barkreadingdogs@aol.com<\/a> or (562)235-8835.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

SNP\/LA Mobile Low-Cost Pet Vaccines<\/strong><\/p>\n

Locations and dates vary; visit link in text<\/strong><\/p>\n

For low-cost vaccines, visit this link<\/a>. Note that pet owners must be 18 years or older, all pets must be on leashes or in carriers, and only healthy and non-pregnant animals will be vaccinated. Please bring prior vaccination information with you to the clinic. Vaccination and microchip services are provided for pets residing in any city. Licensing is provided for residents within our jurisdiction at Saturday clinics; please bring your renewal notice and rabies certificate with you. Low\/cost spay\/neuter information is also available through SNP\/LA.<\/p>\n

Free Pet Food Distributions<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Papa, a big \u201cteddy bear\u2019 of a dog, sits with his human in Ashlee\u2019s Pet Care station at Beacon for Him.<\/em><\/p>\n

Beacon for Him<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0has extended an outreach for people experiencing homelessness and their pets. Pet food, primarily dog food, is available at their facility at 439 West Anaheim Street, Mondays from 9:00AM to noon and Saturdays from noon to 3:00PM. A dog-washing station with a stainless-steel tub is also available onsite at these hours. Donations and supplies such as shampoo, flea control and, of course, pet food are always gratefully accepted.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Pet Food Bank<\/strong> is sponsored by Christian Outreach in Action http:\/\/www.coalongbeach.org\/about\/<\/a>. COA is located at 515 E 3rd St, Long Beach. Hours are Thursday from 9:00AM to 11:00AM.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shelter-Enrichment Supplies Needed for ACS Dogs and Cats!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Drop-off: Wednesdays through Fridays, 10:00AM\u20135:30PM and Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00AM\u20134:00PM, 7700 East Spring Street, Long Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n

Individual donations requested<\/strong><\/p>\n

ACS is continuing our kennel enrichment activities for our canine\u00a0guests here and could use so more donations (there are plenty for the cats!). Here is what\u2019s needed:<\/p>\n