Please send any Long Beach or Seal Beach pet-related events or projects to [email protected]. Posting subject to approval.
Virtually Pets
Last year around this time, a bunch of populist shelter cats stormed City Hall as only cats will, mainly by lying around, licking their fur, and batting at anything dangling. They came to lobby for forever homes, and Mayor Robert Garcia, a heartfelt animal lover, saw to it that 14 of them, which was actually most of them, got their wish. This was all in a matter of a handful of hours.
From left: Kitten adopter Sandra, daughter, ACS Adoption Coordinator Jill Prout holding Batman—one heck of a lucky kitten, Prout said—and Mayor Garcia.
It didn’t take any caterwauling on the part of his pointy-eared constituents for the Mayor to grant another event. And so on Friday, July 8, from 11:00AM to 3:00PM, you can meet the little guys hoping to be successful candidates for a forever home. And you can cast your ballot for as many as your home and heart (and the city’s present limit of four) can provide.
“Our Animal Care Services are doing great work to save lives and find homes for our furry friends, Mayor Garcia said. “Kitty Hall is a fun way for people to meet and adopt cats that need a loving family, and I’m glad to be able to host this event again.”
Two’s company! Kelly (ID#A573100) and Sailor (ID#A573099 ) are 4-month-old calico sisters.
Lonan (ID#A572880) and Corra (ID#A572879) are a year old. They were brought in together to the shelter, surrendered by their owner, and they would appreciate having a place where they wouldn’t have to worry about leaving ever again.
Agnes (ID#A571478), 11 years old, is a gracious, social lady who is fully versed on the pleasures of being a companion to a great home.
If any of these cats isn’t at Kitty Hall, it means that someone saw them at the shelter and cast a pre-election ballot for them!
Mark Your Calendars (the People Way)
Dog Adoption Event
Saturday, July 2, 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!
spcaLA FUNdraiser
Wednesday and Thursday, July 6–7, noon–11:00PM, Zero Express, 1785 Palo Verde, Unit F, Long Beach
Menu prices
Wake up, smell the coffee, pick up an extra-large of everything, and mention spcaLA because 20 percent of your bill will go toward the pets at their facility at the P. D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village. Enjoy handcrafted coffee, tea, boba drinks and all the other people treats!
spcaLA July Foster Class
Saturday, July 9, 10AM–noon, P. D Pitchford Companion Animal Village & Education Center , 7700 East Spring Street at the entrance to El Dorado Park, Long Beach
Free event; no parking fees for Village visitors
We can’t do it withouth you! spcaLA needs foster parents for their hopeful little guys. Submit an application (available here) and come to our class. All supplies are free—you just provide the love and TLC!
Friends of Long Beach Animals’ (FOLBA) 22nd Annual Theater Benefit for Animals
Thursday, July 14, 6:30PM–10:00PM, Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 East Anaheim Street, Long Beach
$30 per ticket; raffle tickets $1 each or 6 for $5
Join the two-legged friends of our four-legged ones at Friends of Long Beach Animals’ (FOLBA) long-running traditional evening of great theater and entertainment. This year’s featured production isHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,a satirical musical comedy about the slippery rungs of the corporate ladder. The evening begins with a reception featuring “paw food” and wine, show tunes and favorites played by pianist Ralph Brunson,the Dine-Out Raffle featuring gift certificates for local restaurants, a door prize, and a silent auction featuring merchandise and services generously contributed by local businesses.
At 7:30 p.m., FOLBA’s canine volunteer, Ruthless McKenzie, fittingly opens the show by drawing the door-prize winner without the benefit of opposable thumbs. The audience will then enjoyHow to Succeed’s chicanery-and-caffeine-fueled chronicle that relates how a window washer rises to corporate executive by following the instructions of a self-help book.
All proceeds from ticket sales and auctions benefit Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA), a nonprofit all-volunteer organization committed to saving the lives of animals through spay/neuter programs, the low-cost spay/neuter clinic opening at the shelter, the Spay/Neuter Incentive Program (SNIP), humane education and the general welfare of our shelter’s pets.
Tickets for the play and reception may be ordered on FOLBA’s website here, by calling (562) 988-7647or visiting one of the local businesses below. Further information is available on FOLBA’S website.
Tickets available at the following businesses:
Belmont Pets & LaunderPet, 3429 E. Broadway
Bixby Animal Clinic, 3938 Atlantic Ave.
Bixby Knolls LaunderPet, 4102 Orange Ave.
Blue Cross Veterinary Hospital, 2665 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.
Go Dogs Go, 3440 Los Coyotes Diagonal
VCA Los Altos, 3080 Woodruff Ave.
Wags to Whiskers, 5505 E. Stearns St.
The Ark Pet Salon, Pacific Coast Hwy, #105
Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals
Saturday, July 16, 6:30PM, Los Alamitos Race Course, 4961 Katella Avenue, Los Alamitos
$3 general admission; free admission to guests 17 and under
Who’ll cut the mustard this year? In one of the most delightful animal events presented, a full card of 11 races of long doggies will compete for the championship with their version of racing. Each race will take place between the regularly scheduled horse racing; the championship race will take place at approximately 9:15PM. Audience members are encouraged to arrive early at about 5:00PM to secure seating. No ice chests, outside food or pop-up tents are permitted.
Full details are available at the Race Course’s website.
Quiz with a Cause with Geeks Who Drink
Tuesday, July 19, 8:00PM–10:00PM, The Blind Donkey, 8171 East Wardlow Road, Long Beach
Prices vary per item
Enter this neat pub quiz, and even if you make a donkey out of yourself and don’t win the cash purse, it’ll be satisfying to know that the rest of the proceeds for this event will help spcaLA animals and support the programs that help them.
Long Beach Love Art and Photo Show, Benefitting spcaLA
Saturday, July 30, 7:00PM–10PM, Underground Salon, 149 Linden Avenue, Long Beach
Prices vary per item
A truly hep-cat evening, with 10 percent of sales going to the spcaLA pets, features artwork from Outer Limits Tattoo Long Beach, and Photos from Krk Dominguez. The Record Truck record store on wheels will have vinyls; Master Droog (The SLOP STOMP) and DJ Polyester (The SLOP STOMP, Bad Reputation) will be spinning all night. Lots of raffle prizes as well as goodies from Delightful Crepes Cafe Pit Bull Bakery and Seal Beach Toffee. There will be items for sale from Lil Devils Boutique, LB Skate Co, New Flower Studio, Made by Adriane/Lucky Girl Handbags, and other local Long Beach businesses and designers.
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 here 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.
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.
Reserve a Humane Education Presentation for Your Classroom, Scout Troop or Anywhere That Pets and Kids Come Together
