Please send any Long Beach or Seal Beach pet-related events or projects to [email protected]. Posting subject to approval.

Virtually Pets

Last week’s Scratching Post described kitten season, during which unspayed cats as young as 5 months old are having litters and there often isn’t enough space or human resources to care for them (HSUS has a full explanation of kitten season on its website). Long Beach, along with other areas across the country continues to do a terrific job in mitigating the problem, with such projects as trap/neuter/return (TNR) headed by such groups as Stray Cat Alliance and Long Beach Spay and Neuter Foundation, adoption projects headed by Long Beach Animal Care Service (ACS), Fix Long Beach’s spay/neuter program, Friends of Long Beach Animals’ voucher program, and volunteer bottle feeders. The list goes on, and the results are telling in the stats for the shelter’s euthanasia and impound rates.

Impounds and euthanasia procedures have nearly continuously decreased monthly and annually. No, it’s not enough, but hopefully those lives that are still in danger will increasingly inspire people to  work toward a no-kill result. Graph courtesy of ACS.

This month, the Scratching Post will be highlighting a number of cat rescues who go the distance as much literally as figuratively to rescue cats (and the occasional dog) from the street. These guys (mainly cat ladies) are all volunteers and deserve recognition and gratitude. In-kind and monetary donations are always welcome; click on any of the links above. The column’s adoption platform will be used to feature adoptive cats from these organizations so that readers may take one or more of them to a loving home and making room for another in the process. A win-win at the very least.

Last week, we featured Helen Sanders CatPAWS and a few of their hopefuls. This week, it’s Jellicle Cats Rescue Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit named for the T. S. Eliot poem “Song of the Pellicles.” The organization’s founder, Long Beach resident Brandy Gaunt, had been a wildlife rescuer for many years when she discovered the need for a cat rescue during a brief period of unemployment.

“Wildlife rescue turned into cat rescue purely based on the needs of my community,” she said. “It wasn’t until I was out of work for a week home during the day that I even became aware that I had community cats in my neighborhood. I bought traps, started doing TNR and rescuing the local kittens, and then it just grew from there. My 500-hour-per-year wildlife volunteer gig became a fulltime passion for cats, whether doing TNR, rescue, fostering or outreach to help people keep their pets in their family.”

Jellicle Cats, as Eliot said, are small, but the needs of the rescue are big—food, medical, bedding and all those horrible sardines for the traps. You can donate all kinds of stuff on Jellicle’s Amazon Wish List.

Here are a couple of friends in need, ready for homes. Contact Brandy at [email protected] or PM Jellicle Cats on the Facebook page to meet them. All photos courtesy of Jellicle Cats Rescue Foundation.

I met Lulu at the Pet Food Express/adoption event that took place in March—she was cuddling the stuffed mouse like a kid does a teddy bear. Lulu was pulled from a shelter when she was several weeks old. She was covered with oil and had an eye that turned out to be scarred. Jellicles cleaned her up and did a fund-raiser for her eye surgery, which was recently done along with a spay. As soon as she’s healed, she’s ready for a home. This little girl has more Facebook photos than Rhianna, and she’s just as pretty.

Porsche is a couple of months old and so named because of the purring of her engine. She was also ill when the Jellicles found her, but as you can see, she’s bright and shiny now. You can’t keep a secret with Porsche around—she can obviously hear everything. She and Lulu are buddies, so if you’re interested and can take two….

Speaking of the occasional dog, Honey’s anhonorary cat. She was found on the 110 (!), clearly neglected and infested with fleas. She’s about 8 weeks old and is now clean and enjoys dressing up and playing with cats. Can you be more LBC?

Mark Your Calendars (the People Way)

spcaLA Friends for Life Summer Camp
June through August, Monday through Friday; Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring Street, Long Beach

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.

‘Pups on the Promenade’ Pet Adoption Event
Saturday, April 9; noon–3:00PM, Pussy & Pooch’s Downtown location, 222 East Broadway, Long Beach

4Life Animal Rescue has the pets—Pussy & Pooch has everything to make him or her well nourished, in high style and happy. See flyer for details.

Fix Long Beach (FLB) Spay/Neuter Clinic, dogs only for spay/neuter; cats and dogs welcome for shots and microchips. This month’s clinic is generously sponsored by the Second and Third districts
Saturday, April 23, 7:30AM–4:00PM, Bixby Park near the beach, 2100 E. Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach

Free to qualifying residents

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 them! These clinics are generously sponsored through Hope for Paws and Eldad Hagar.

Guidelines for FLB clinics are as follows:

• Low-income Long Beach residents only unless you have a pit bull! (We offer free spay/neuter for pitties in surrounding cities.) If you don’t qualify (annual salary $30,000 or lower), please Google “low cost spay/neuter” along with your zip code, and have your pet fixed at one of the suggested clinics.
• Book an appointment ASAP. Standbys are welcome. Vouchers will be given to any attendee whose pet cannot be served that day.
• If you have called or made a previous appointment, please check your voice mail for messages (be sure that it’s set up). You must call back to confirm your appointment or your spot will be given away.
• If you are 15 minutes late for your appointment, your spot will be given to someone waiting on standby. If you fail to show up for two consecutive appointments, you will be denied future service.

Fix Long Beach also offers the following services from 9AM–4PM:

• low-cost vaccines for dogs and cats $10 per shot, cash only!
• low-cost flea meds for dog and cats $10 per dose/application, cash only!
• nail trim $5, cash only!
• free microchips for pets of Long Beach residents
• free supplies for anyone that gets their pets fixed!

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (323) 413-7729

When you come, bring proof of income and Long Beach residency (these events are for Long Beach residents only.) Whether you come as standby or with an appointment, do not give your pet anything to eat or drink after 12:01AM. Dogs must be on leashes and cats must be in carriers that are specifically pet carriers! No paper bags or suitcases, please! There are no walls in the park, and we want you to ensure your pet’s safety! If you don’t own a carrier, pet supply stores like Petco and PetSmart carry inexpensive cardboard ones; they run on the average of $8.

Fix Long Beach also has a wish list for pet items to give to our client as a thank-you for helping to lower our shelter euthanasia rate and prevent the birth of more unwanted kittens and puppies.

Click the 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!

Bark for Life of Long Beach
Saturday, April 23; 9:00AM, Los Cerritos Park, 3750 Del Mar Avenue, Long Beach

No matter who you are, there’s a place for you at Bark For Life. Each dollar you raise will help save lives. Your reasons for walking in the Bark For Life are as unique and special as the story that motivates you. This is your opportunity to not only honor cancer survivors and remember people we have lost but also to raise funds and awareness to help save lives. Because of your support, we are creating a world where cancer can’t claim another year of anyone’s life. For information on signing up and directions to the park, visit this link.

 

‘Bigs and Littles’ Pet Adoption Event
Saturday, April 23; noon–3:00PM, Twig and Willow Bixby Knolls location, 4130 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach

4Life Animal Rescue will be outside this stylish boutique to suggest the perfect accessory for your outfit and home! See flyer for details.

BARK Read with the Dogs Pajamarama Storytime
Friday, May 6; 7:00 PM, Barnes & Noble Marina Pacifica location, 6326 E.Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach

Free event

BARK (Beach Animals Reading with Kids) is an all-volunteer program that encourages children to increase their reading skills and self-confidence by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. There will be a couple of them wagging their tails as their young human friends read their way through everything from Goodnight, Moon to the Captain Underpants series.

 

Helen Sanders CatPAWS Bowling Fund-Raiser
Saturday, May 14; 2:00PM–5:00PM, Westminster Lanes, 6471 Westminster Boulevard, Westminster

Donations requested

Hit a strike for the “spare” kitties that Helen Sanders CatPAWS has waiting with their foster humans! You don’t have to be a champion bowler to join in–every ball can go into the gutter as long as you’re there to have a great time, enjoy an opportunity drawing, and fund-raise for these wonderful cats, many of whom were pulled from shelters to find them permanent, loving homes. Check out the information on the flyer.

Ongoing

Volunteer at the Cat Adoption Center at Pet Food Express

Choose from two shifts a day–8:30AM to noon and 2:00PM to 7:00PM. Duties include cleaning condos and showing cats for adoption. For information, email [email protected].

 

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.

Reserve a Humane Education Presentation for Your Classroom, Scout Troop or Anywhere That Pets and Kids Come Together