Virtually Pets
I’m so glad to be a part of the animal community in Long Beach and the surrounding areas. The level of empathy and passion among rescuers, volunteers, neighbors and everyone who loves animals seems to be unequaled—I trust and hope that it isn’t.
Last week’s Pet Projects illustrated the way any sane animal advocate (seems like an oxymoron sometimes, but so what?) works with the parable of the guy saving starfish one at a time because it makes a difference to that one. Not that “one at a time” is ever enough for any of these people or that any of them is saving only one at any time, but boy, do they pour their hearts and souls into certain cats and dogs they focus on. Here are two notable pets who’d love a forever home—they’ve been waiting.
Alana, as you can see, has not only a personal Facebook page but also her own Royal Court. Alana, who weighs 65 pounds and is between 4 and 6 years old, was pulled from the Long Beach Shelter in the nick of time and is now in boarding. She’s safe and loved, but really needs a home of her own. Alana’s royal, loyal subjects are looking for a loving home where she can be the only pet. If you have such a heart and hearth, she’ll be by your side day and night. She loves walks and hikes—she’s a great jogger. She also loves belly rubs and playing with her ball. Most of all, she loves people and will love you more than anything. She’s spayed and has had all her shots. If you wish to serve the most adoring monarch in the world, contact [email protected].
Time may be running out for Lucy, a favorite at the shelter—but she’s been there since March 28, and it’s summer. That means that the shelter’s filling up and they may no longer have room.
This girl is so well loved that Sara Cozolino, the shelter’s former transport coordinator, who moved away a couple of months ago, is still campaigning to find her a home. I couldn’t say it better than the way she has:
“Now village, please let’s do something about this dog! Here we go, LA/LB rescue village! Lucy is the last animal still at City of Long Beach Animal Care Services who was there when I was there. She arrived March 28—I remember her well. She always greeted at the front, happily wagging her tail, but at the time with a shy look of apprehension on her face. I knew I would worry about her, and it’s definitely time to worry; her time is up. You can tell by her length of stay that she is a favorite and is perfection; middle-age dogs don’t stay at a shelter for five months otherwise. She is 7, already spayed, always smiling, walks well on leash, knows ‘sit,’ is very treat motivated—a gentle giant. She barks when appropriate and is always up for a hug and some Lucy love! Please, please share to save her life. It would be a shame for her final days to be at the shelter after all this time looking for her perfect home. She has years left. Call and email the shelter directly if interested.”
Contact [email protected], [email protected], 562.570.3061 or 562.570.7387 to rescue Lucy. Specify ID#A567809. She is such a good, good girl.
Mark Your Calendars (the People Way)
Cat Cove Fund-Raiser
Saturday, August 20, 6:00PM–9:00PM, Hellada Gallery, 117 Linden Avenue, Long Beach
$40 per ticket
The Cat Cove is a nonprofit all-volunteer rescue that takes in cats and kittens from shelters and feral colonies and vets and grooms them for adoption. This event is a human-based version of the book Why Cats Paint. Guests will paint their own version of the picture on the above graphic while they enjoy appetizers and wine. With enough of the latter, the finished masterpieces may resemble the ones in the abovementioned book.
To attend, email [email protected] to pay through PayPal, or attend one of their adoption events at the Towne Center PetSmart to pay cash. And take home a cat.
Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic
Sunday, August 21, 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!
Second Annual Woofstock Summer Bash
Saturday, August 27, 1:00PM–4:00PM, Healthy Spot, 6433 PCH, (in the Marketplace), Long Beach
Free event
Oh, bow-woooowww, man, there’s something in the air. Healthy Spot, the place for eco-friendly toys and organic food when your dog or cat gets the munchies, is putting on a groovy event for your dog. The end of summer celebration bash will include live music, food and beverages as well as a best dog trick contest, a doggie photo booth, pet-friendly giveaways and more. Does your furry best friend—or you—need a friend? Pet adoptions will be going on throughout the day. Talk about a summer of love, man! Preregistration, which is also free, can be done here.
spcaLA Dine and Donate Fish Taco Event
Thursday, September 1, 11:00AM–9:30PM, Wahoo’s, 6449 PCH, C-1 (in the Marketplace), Long Beach
See menu for prices
Have a mouth-watering taco, loaded quesadillas or any of the other items unique to Wahoo’s menu (there are even tofu tacos!), print out the above flyer, and 20 percent of your bill will go toward the pets at spcaLA’s shelter locations. This event is also going on at the Wahoo’s in Burbank, Torrance and Manhattan Beach.
Dog Adoption Event
Saturday, September 3, 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!
Los Cerritos Wetlands Turtle Trek
Saturday, September 3, 8:00AM–10:00AM, First Street and PCH, Long Beach/Seal Beach
Free
Come join us for a guided nature walk and tour of Los Cerritos Wetlands, hosted by Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust and led by naturalists from Tidal Influence. We will look for wildlife sightings, learn about the rich ecosystems, reflect on history and see current restoration activities. Our walk begins with a brief orientation to our wetlands. We will discuss their history and see an important portion of them, including the Pumpkin Patch property, as we walk along the San Gabriel River and on across Second Street to view the sea turtles. On our return, we will stop at Zedler Marsh, where there is a nursery for wetlands plants and where restoration is in process. We will then walk on the levee back to our meeting place. Bring binoculars, if you have them; besides the turtles, we will observe many different kinds of interesting wildlife. Meet at the driveway near First and PCH; close-toed shoes are required; bring sunscreen and water. The event is family friendly, but no strollers, please. Event will be cancelled if it’s raining. For more information or to rsvp, email [email protected].
spcaLA Veggie Grill Fund-Raiser
Saturday, September 10, noon–4:00PM, Veggie Grill Restaurant, 6451 Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach
Menu prices apply
Eat a healthy lunch and help animals keep their health! During the specified hours, mention spcaLA Fund-Raiser and Veggie Grill will donate 33 percent of the check to the organization.
Fix Long Beach’s Inaugural Half-St. Patrick’s Day Fund-Raiser
Saturday, September 17, 5:00PM–9:00PM, Timeless Pints Brewing Company, 3671 Industry Avenue, Lakewood
$25 a ticket
Hey, it’s always St. Patrick’s Day somewhere! OK, maybe that doesn’t apply here, but six months away from the day is as good an excuse as any to raise funds for spay/neuter, and who needs their arm twisted to have beer and dinner? That’s what the ticket price will get you—vegetarian options are offered, of course—and between that and the proceeds from the silent auction, with some great prizes, will help to provide free spay/neuter procedures, free microchips, and low-cost shots and flea meds to the pets of Long Beach residents who can’t otherwise afford them. Visit this link to buy tickets and for further information! To see what Fix Long Beach is all about, visit their Facebook page!
spcaLA September Foster Class
Sunday, September 18, 10:00AM–noon, P. D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village, spcaLA section, 7700 Spring Street (through entrance to El Dorado Park), Long Beach
Free event; no parking fee for Village visitors
Want to help pets? Become a foster parent by submitting an application and attending a foster class. spcaLA provides all the supplies; foster parents provide the home and the TLC. Applications are available here.
Ongoing
“Show Us Your Kitties” Fund-Raiser Calendar Contest
Through Wednesday, September 7
$5 per vote; $10 to reserve a date for your cat
Do you have a favorite photo of your cat? Whether it’s a cheesecake pose on a fake bearskin or a headshot gazing into the camera, you can have him or her featured on the 2017 Helen Sanders CatPAWS calendar and help the organization rescue kitties at the same time! You can also vote for your favorite tabby or tom at $5 a vote or reserve a special commemorative spot to remember your own bewhiskered friend by. See link for de-tails! All funds raised go to CatPAWS.
Bodacious Babes Fund-Raiser Calendar Contest
Through Sunday, September 4
$5 per vote; $15 to reserve a date for your favorite animal
The never-ending task to raise funds to save lives. But we keep at it because we believe we can make a difference. Will you help 4Life Animal Rescue by participating in our calendar contest? We want all pets to join in—dogs, cats, horses, bunnies, hamsters, goldfish—whoever makes your life complete!Tell us of their many charms and why they’re your secret weapon for happiness. Together, we can save lives! Visit this link for the rules. Funds raised go to 4Life.
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.
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.
spcaLA Friends for Life Summer Camp
June through August, Monday through Friday; Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring Street, Long Beach
Details on website
Paws down, it’s the best camp around! spcaLA Friends for Life Summer Camp™ is for kids 8 through 13 years old. At camp, kids learn the basics of pet care and responsibility, respect for all animals, and the beginnings of dog training, all while making new friends on a number of legs! There are several sessions still available, each running Monday through Friday. Registration details and session schedule are available here.