Virtually Pets
Surf City Surf Dog 2015. Photo by Dominique Labrecque.
Until I hear different, Long Beach won’t be considered a destination for surfers, but there are enough of those places within earshot of a “Cowabunga!” Huntington Beach, officially designated Surf City (it’s debatable as to whether it was the location sung about by Jan and Dean in the eponymous hit song), is a short distance away, and this weekend, it promises to be literally bitchin. The eighth annual Unleashed by Petco Surf City Surf Dog Competition will take place this Sunday at the Huntington Beach Dog Beach, 100 Goldenwest (see Mark Your Calendars for the full description), and humans and their dogs from all over the planet will come to take the waves (wonder if they’ll use Biscuit models).
One Key aspect of the event is the fund-raising by the charity partners, which include rescue groups, animal welfare organizations and the Huntington Dog Beach itself. In that spirit, as always, Pet Projects encourages readers to rescue and adopt dogs housed locally in its shelters and rescues (cats, too, of course). The following candidates from Long Beach Animal Care Services may or may not be amenable to learning to surf for the next competition, but it’s pretty much guaranteed that they’d enjoy a romp in the sand at Rosie’s Dog Beach here in Long Beach.
Jackson is a sweet senior cocker spaniel. At 11 years old, he’s got a big personality and would love his day in the sun, watching all the babes in their sparkly collars romp in the water. Ask for ID#A576890.
Although he was found as a stray, 4-year-old Poncho knows all the pleasures of being a pet. Lifestyle could be his middle name. He’s a real lover dude and likes to balance his time looking for adventure and relaxing, with his beach companion rubbing his back. Ask for ID#A577196.
Mark Your Calendars (the People Way)
Stray Cat Alliance (SCa) ‘Celebrity Autobiography’ Fund-Raiser
Friday, September 23, 6:30–10:15PM, Creative Artists Agency, 2000 Avenue of the Stars, #100, Century City
General admission $125; visit link for other price levels
Want to hear Florence Henderson read Morris’s account of how he coughed up his first furball? Then attend SCA’s fund-raiser featuring a benefit performance of benefit performance of Celebrity Autobiography, a shameless comedic review in which actors, comics and other performers read and act out the memoirs of famous people. During the fund-raiser, cat advocates, activists and adorers have the opportunity to eat vegan hors d’oeuvres, participate in a silent auction with some glitzy items, clink cocktail glasses, meet some wonderful performers (bring your selfie sticks), and have some laughs. Purchase tickets here; if you cannot attend, donations are welcome and much needed. All proceeds will benefit SCA and its pointy-eared protégés.
SCA is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about all cats, particularly those in the streets and in feral colonies. The cats in the adoption photos in Virtually Pets comprise a tiny fraction of the number of felines in the Long Beach and L.A. area who have benefitted from their efforts. And whether it’s a glittering gala or yarn, SCA knows how to throw a ball.
8th Annual Unleashed by Petco Surf City Surf Dog Competition
Friday–Sunday, September 23–25, 8:00AM–3PM for Sunday’s main competition; Huntington Dog Beach and other locations; 100 Goldenwest Street, Huntington Beach
$64 registration fee, $10 of which will go directly to the charity of each participant’s choice.
Wurf’s up! Four-footed Gidgets and Moondoggies from California, Florida, Brazil, Australia and where everybody has an ocean will compete for the trophy in the second event of the Double Dog Dare Surf Dog two-part series, whose participants will be scored by World Surf League Judges. The competition will cap the three-day event that includes a photo exhibit at the Rainwater Gallery and Events Center, stand-up paddle-boarding with your doggie dude, and a vendor-filled Sur-Fur Expo. Registration is closed for the actual competition, but it’ll be a great spectacle of Grommetoids hanging eight or however many toes they have on their front feet. Access this link for a really neat schedule!
Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA) Yard Sale
Saturday, September 24, and Sunday, 8:00AM–3:00PM, 5817 East Rogene Street, Long Beach
Item prices vary
What a great opportunity for people with the “I Brake for Yard Sales” bumper stickers to pick up on some quality loot and benefit Long Beach’s most venerable pet-welfare organization! And even if you’re not a yard-sale hound, this particular one is a good opportunity to nose around and help our shelter pets. All funds go to FOLBA. See the flyer for information.
20th Annual Wag ‘n’ Walk Benefiting the Seal Beach Animal Care Center (SBACC)
Saturday, September 24, 9:00AM–2:00PM, Eisenhower Park at Seal Beach Pier, Main Street and Ocean Boulevard, Seal Beach
Adoption fees apply
Registration (with T-shirt) $30 adults, $20 children
Join us for our annual Wag ‘n Walk! Bring your two and four legged friends to stroll through Seal Beach and enjoy our animal expo, with fun for the entire family! Join Grand Marshall Justin Rudd and his bulldog POTUS in supporting the animals in residence at the Seal Beach Animal Care Center! Registration information here. All registration fees help the animals at SBACC!
Dog Adoption Event
Saturday, October 1, 11:00AM–3:00PM, Pet Food Express, 4220 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach
Adoption fees apply
Find your new best friend and everything that he or she could ever want or need, in one place. Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) and other rescues will be bringing some wonderful dogs ready to go home with their new people. Everything is high quality at Pet Food Express, and that includes the adoptive pets! Check out the Cat Adoption Center while you’re there!
16th Annual Interfaith Blessing of the Animals
Sunday, October 15, 5:40PM, Granada Avenue Boat Launch, 1 Granada Avenue (next to Rosie’s Dog Beach), Long Beach
Free event
Animals may be blessed already, but it sure doesn’t hurt to send good thoughts toward their treatment. Justin Rudd’s nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT) and Haute Dogs invite the public to bring their pets to this free event at sunset (if your pet hates to travel or has passed to the Rainbow Bridge, bring a photo). Farm animals, including ponies, alpaca, llamas, goats, sheep, bunnies, ducks and horses will be there, too. Free parking. See more here.
Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic
Saturday, October 22, 7:30AM–4:00PM, Houghton Park, 6500 Atlantic Avenue (near Jordan High), Long Beach
Free to qualifying residents; free microchips; low-cost shots ($10 each); $10 flea med doses
The grassroots free spay/neuter organization Fix Long Beach invites you to make an appointment for your unfixed dog, or get vouchers for free procedures for your dog or cat! These clinics are generously sponsored through Hope for Paws and Eldad Hagar.
Visit this link for qualifications and an application for your appointment. There is also a donation button to help Fix Long Beach continue their efforts. Click the organization’s Amazon Wish List link to donate items, or bring them to the event if you find a better deal!
Let’s continue to help make Long Beach no kill, one pet at a time!
Haute Dogs Howl’oween Parade and Costume Contest; Pet Adoption Fair
Sunday, October 30, 12:30PM–4:30PM, Marina Vista Park, 5355 E. Eliot Street (at the end of Marine Stadium, across from the fire station and by the tennis courts),Long Beach
Free to spectators; $5 for chair rental; $10 to reserve a seat. All proceeds go to Haute Dogs.
This is the biggest event of its kind anywhere and easily the most fun. Over 500 dogs are expected to be there in costume, with many of their humans dressed to match. Lots of contests, prizes and great times! The costume contests and parade starts at 2:25PM; register online or at the park. Please click this link for details and registration.
Ongoing
Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS): Free Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinics, once monthly; Low-Cost Vaccination Clinics, scheduled days Monthly. Locations vary.
See flyer on web page for pricing of services
Beginning this Sunday, February 21, the Society for California Veterinary and Vaccine Care (SCVVC) will offer free spay/neuter procedures and wellness services to residents of the cities served by ACS: Long Beach, Signal Hill, Cerritos, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach. During the remaining weeks of the month, Spay/Neuter Project Los Angeles (SNP/LA) will offer low-cost vaccines, nail trimmings and topical flea treatment for residents of the same areas. Click link for locations and times and click the links next to each event for vaccine pricing and other details.
Pet owners must be 18 years or older. All pets must be on leashes or in carriers. Only healthy and non-pregnant animals will be vaccinated. If you have a prior rabies vaccine certificate, license tag or license renewal notice for your pet, please bring it with you to the clinic. Vaccination and microchip services are provided for pets residing in any city. Licensing service is provided for residents within our jurisdiction. Microchips, flea treatment and nail trimmings also available.
Registration for Team spcaLA for the LA Marathon
Saturday, March 18, 5k; Sunday, March 19, Marathon; Dodger’s Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Avenue, Los Angeles
5k, $40; Marathon, $175
Join Team spcaLA for the LA Marathon or LA Big 5K and help stop animal cruelty with each step. Visit link for details.
BARK Therapy Dogs Library Appearances
Various area libraries (Long Beach events generally held on Saturdays)
Free event
Dogs love unconditionally. They don’t judge or criticize. And they love a good story. Bring your children to the library to read to these lovely therapy dogs, and watch their confidence in their reading ability grow.
BARK (Beach Animals Reading with Kids) is an all-volunteer group dedicated to increasing children’s reading skills as well as interacting with pets. Check the calendar page on the group’s website, and find out more about this terrific organization.
Free Pet Food Distributions
Food for Pets in Need provides pet food to senior, homeless, low-income and homebound residents in Long Beach who otherwise may not be able to afford adequate food to take proper care of their pets.
The Pet Food Bank is sponsored by Christian Outreach in Action. See flyer for details.