At the Jan. 21 council meeting, the Long Beach City Council approved a recommendation to authorize the city manager to make all preparations necessary for accepting a nonmonetary donation valued at $150,000 for the planning, labor, materials and equipment for a dual-purpose fully equipped veterinary clinic for Long Beach Animal Care Services. Before the motion was read in its entirety, councilmembers Dee Andrews and Suja Lowenthal created a moment by respectively and enthusiastically yelling out “Move!” and “Second!” with Lowenthal’s voice rousingly overpowered by Gary DeLong’s. The motion was passed 8-0, with one member absent.
Funding for the construction of the clinic has been made possible through a partnership with Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA), a venerable nonprofit whose mission includes educating the pet-owning public about responsibility and care for their animals, fostering humane treatment of all pets, and spaying and neutering community cats and dogs to help end shelter overpopulation, straying pets and gender-based illness.
“This new clinic will provide our medical team with a much larger space to provide treatment for animals of all sizes and make it easier to perform a higher volume of spay/neuter surgeries on adopted and rescued pets,” ACS manager Ted Stevens said. “I can’t say how thankful we are for the support of FOLBA in working with us on this endeavor.”
The specific dual-purpose aspect of the clinic comprises its use as ACS’s primary facility for vet care, including spay/neuter, during Wednesday through Sunday, the five days that the shelter is open. On Monday and Tuesday, FOLBA will operate a low-cost spay/neuter clinic to serve low-income Long Beach-area residents. The basic floor plan has been finalized and will consist of four rooms: a 160-square-foot surgical room, a 340-square-foot animal preparation and recovery room, office space and a storage area, totaling 800 square feet. The basic floor plan for the building has been finalized, and the sketches and graphics are in the process of completion. All aspects of the site evaluation, including electrical, water and sewage connections, have been completed. When construction is finished, the building will be shipped to the location in March. The clinic will be operational shortly after.
“By offering better health care and related services to shelter animals, the positive-outcome rate for shelter animals will increase. Along with low cost-free spay-neuter services, the quality of life for companion animals in the Long Beach area will be greatly enhanced,” the press release read.
The dual-purpose clinic is a classic tribute of a valuable partnership of our city-run shelter and a charitable animal-welfare organization. When the clinic is in operation, another goal will be reached that will advance the best possible outcomes for shelter pets.
“Do not think only of your own joy, but vow to save all beings from suffering.”
~ Dalai Lama
Virtually Pets
The two big guys pictured below have already been fixed and are available to go to a forever home. They’re available on the shelter side (remember to ask for the shelter side!) of the P. D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village at 7700 E. Spring St. in Long Beach, inside El Dorado Park.
Here’s Chaplin, a 1-year-old American bulldog mix. Chaplin is one of the many pit-bull-types and actually pitties that have been bred, abandoned and dumped at our shelter. Pit bulls have a reputation of being aggressive, but every one I’ve met has been sweet and a lot of fun. Want to be one of those owners? Come and get him! Ask for ID#A512635.
Sydney is a brown-and white neutered-male tabby. Nights are chilly and cold—what better companion than a big faht caht? Give him some warmth, too; ask for ID#A513610.
Pet Projects
Spoiled Paws Grooming Opens in East Long Beach
There’s a new location that’s just opened for your dog (or cat) to get pretty! Spoiled Paws Grooming has opened at 676 Redondo Ave. Their website is under construction, but you can get the menu and prices at (562) 433-3033.
spcaLA Friends for Life Spring Camp Registration, Beginning Monday, Feb. 3, P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village and Education Center, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, Beginning 10AM
Paws down, this is the best camp in town. Kids will learn the basics of pet care and responsibility, respect for all animals, and basic dog training. And the friends they’ll make!
Schedule:
Session 1: April 7–11
Session 2: April 14–16
Session 3: April 21–25
West Coast Animal Rescue and Long Beach Spay and Neuter Adoption Pet Adoption Day, Saturday, Feb. Gelson’s Market, 6255 E 2nd St, Long Beach, in the Marina Pacifica Mall Area,11AM–3PM.
Ok, you’ve got the fresh kale and quinoa, pasta, sauce and toilet paper, and you’re ready to check out. But you forgot something. Wheel to the pet adoption area and get a cat or a dog—or both—from the Long Beach Spay and Neuter Foundation or Sparky and the Gang — or both. Gelson’s will supply free samples from their pet partners and will give away a free reusable bag and store coupons with any donation to these groups. Gelson’s corporate works with local animal-rescue groups to hold adoption events at select locations. So far, they’ve helped find homes for more than 200 displaced pets. The ultimate goal is to educate first-time and existing pet owners about the growing need to adopt and/or foster dogs and cats that need a second chance as cherished members of the family.
Grand Opening of the El Dorado Dog Park, Sunday, Feb. 9, Main Entrance to El Dorado Park, at Spring St., 11AM–1PM
Bring your favorite arfer on a leash to the brand-new El Dorado Dog Park! The brand-new park will be the first on this side of town and will also be the largest! The park is ADA accessible. What a great place for play dates!
Haute Dogs Fifth Annual Student Valentine’s Day Contest for Shelter Pets, to Sunday, Feb. 9
Enter Haute Dogs’ Valentine’s Day Contest for Shelter Pets and win a pizza party! Long Beach Animal Care Services, Haute Dogs, Justin Rudd, and Westerly School are sponsoring the fifth-annual handmade Valentine’s card contest for Long Beach-area K–12 students to create lovable Valentine cards for the 120-plus dogs and 50-plus cats housed at the Long Beach Animal Care Services shelter. Hundreds of cards were submitted last year! Cards from adults are encouraged, too, but will not be eligible for the contest. The public is invited to view the cards on Sunday, Feb. 9 at Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring Street. Kids, be sure your cards are in by Feb. 9 at ACS before noon (hand delivery on Sunday!). Click here and scroll down for complete info.
Beautiful Bulldog Contest and Haute Dog Pageant, Sunday, Feb. 16, Marine Stadium, 5525 Paoli Way, 10AM–approximately 3PM
Only a face a mother could love? There will be bulldogs everywhere you look—it’s hysterical—along with their mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters (human) at the 10th annual iteration of this snorfly, slobbery event sponsored by Haute Dogs! There will also be contests for French bulldogs, mutts, senior dogs—everyone who wags its tail, barks and scarfs up the last of your sandwich when you’re not looking is welcome! There will be a talent contest as well! Please click this link for the entry form and all the details. Spectators are welcome—you can rent a seat in advance. All proceeds benefit Haute Dogs charities.
Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic, sponsored by Hope for Paws’ Eldad Hagar, Saturday, Feb. 15, MacArthur Park, 1321 E. Anaheim St. in Long Beach, 7AM–approximately 4PM
Spayed or neutered: 600-plus cats and dog! Accomplished: Fewer unwanted animals born, shelter overpopulation further exponentially reversed, and residents of all ages educated! (Check out the Facebook page for photos and donation information.) Fix Long Beach, a community grassroots organization dedicated to help end shelter overpopulation, invites you to visit our free mobile spay/neuter mobile clinic on Saturday, Feb. 15. The event, sponsored by Hope for Paws’ founder Eldad Hagar, takes place from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. approximately at MacArthur Park, 1321 Anaheim St. in Long Beach. Free spay/neuter procedures have already been booked in advance, but visitors are encouraged to come in person to make appointments for future clinics. If you arrive at 7 for the waiting list, make sure that your cat or dog hasn’t had food or water after midnight. Microchipping, deworming and flea-control products as well as nail trimming are offered at discounted prices, and appointments are not necessary to get required shots for dogs and cats. If you live in Long Beach and are of low-income status and want to get your pet fixed, or know someone who is and does, please join us and make an appointment to help provide every pet with a healthier, happy life and to help reduce shelter overpopulation!
Disaster Sheltering for Companion Animals Class, Monday, Feb. 24 and Tuesday, Feb. 25, P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring St., 7AM–4PM
Are you prepared for the next disaster, and are you including the pets? Join spcaLA for a two-day interactive workshop by Diane Robinson of Disaster Animal Shelter Education and Response. The community will look toward animal care and control officers, vets, humane officers and other responders for safe, secure shelter. Be ready. $175 for both days.