Please send any Long Beach or Seal Beach pet-related events or projects to [email protected]. Posting subject to approval.
Virtually Pets
This week, Pet Projects takes a brief break in the kitten-season adoption feature because, shocking as it may seem, some folks go into kitten overload, particularly people who (again, what are they thinking?) don’t like cats or aren’t even in the least interested in them.
So, how about pit bulls? I quite like them, and I’ve grown to do so over the years. Pit bulls are goofy, slobberly loving, and in too many numbers at the shelter. They get bred for sales, get dumped by their owners, and are turned out into the streets, where they’re found wandering. If they wind up at ACS, they get treated to care from as loving a bunch of volunteers and staff members as you could find. They get homemade treats thanks to the enrichment programs and interact with humans and other dogs on walks, in the brand-new play yard, and on the grass in extreme cuddles.
And because there are so many in waiting, Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) and spcaLA got the idea of throwing a monthlong “Pittie Party,” with party favors amounting to the adoption fee: any price from $1 to $1,000,000 would be acceptable. And anyone who qualifies as an adopter (the same qualifications apply to adopt a pittie) pays the fee would come home with a prize: a goofy, slobberly loving pittie boy or girl who’d see himself or herself as a winner, too. Check these guys out, and remember to visit Droopy (see his bio in the Ongoing section, and watch how un-droopy he is here!)
https://www.facebook.com/LongBeachAnimalCare/videos/1850583554962285/
These dogs are waiting for you on the shelter side of the Companion Animal Village at 7700 East Spring St., (562) 570-PETS.
Ah, the King (ID#A551949) and You! King, found as a stray, is 6 years old and loves a walk around the castle moat or a romp with little human princes and princesses. Meet his majesty at the shelter.
Easter (ID#A604228) is an 8-year-old Staffordshire who just wants to be your BFF!
https://www.facebook.com/LongBeachAnimalCare/videos/1835039979849976/
She’ll love being your constant companion and will absorb all the love that she can soak up. Easter absolutely LOVES playing with a tennis ball and can easily be entertained with it for hours. Let’s just say that she’s a good egg! Check her out here!
Lucas (#A461041) is a 10-year-old pit bull who plays well with other dogs and enjoys being with people.
Nikee (#A598433) is a shelter favorite who is quiet in his kennel and very mellow. Nikee would make a great companion for someone who wants to lay back with a big feller. But don’t be fooled by this 7-year-old senior! He also loves to run and play. He’s treat and toy motivated!
And remember—all the pitties except for King are seniors, so if you adopt one and bring the paperwork to Thai Silk Restaurant on Broadway, you’ll get $25 off a delicious meal. The party goes on!
Things to Do, Pets to Support
America’s Family Pet Expo
Friday, April 27, 10:00AM–6:00PM; Saturday, April 28, 10:00AM–7:00PM; and Sunday, April 29, 10:00AM–6:00PM, OC Fair and Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa
$15 general admission, 13 seniors, $10 children 6–12, free to children under 5 and to active and retired military members with valid ID
The 29th annual America’s Family Pet Expo is the largest pet and pet-product expo event anywhere! Exhibits include retailers, groomers, hobbyists, rescue organizations, breeders and pet experts. BARK Therapy Dogs will be appearing there as well! It’s a great show of dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, and small and large animals, plus top-notch entertainment and attractions. For more information, visit this link. Oh—and please leave your pets at home!
California Turtle and Tortoise Club, Care Society Mini-Show
Saturday, May 5, 10:00AM–3:00PM, El Dorado Nature Center, 7550 East Spring Street, Long Beach,
Free for club members; $7 parking fee
Learn about turtles and tortoises of all kinds! Many will be there to meet you. The club will be supplying a lunch, probably pizza. All ages welcome!
BARK Therapy Dogs Pajamarama Event
Thursday, May 10, 6:00PM–8:00PM, Barnes & Noble, Marina Pacifica Mall, 6326 Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach,
Free event
Kids—put on your favorite pair of pajamas and have a great read with BARK dogs who will also be in their pajamas—more than likely with Scooby Doo or Beethoven. What could be cozier, more adorable or likely leading to more reading?
Furry Friends Faire
Saturday, May 19, 10:00AM–1:00PM, Los Cerritos Park, 3750 Del Mar Avenue (across from Los Cerritos Elementary School), Long Beach
Free to attend
Don’t miss our all-things-animal event! We’ll have fun contests to enter your furry friends in, such as pet tricks, largest pet, smallest pet and most unusual pet. The poetry-award winners from Los Cerritos Elementary students will be reading their poems. We’ll have an array of service providers you can meet at the event for your pets: groomers, trainers, pet food, dog walkers and more! For more information and updates, visit us here!
Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter CAT! Clinic
Saturday, May 19, 7:30AM–3:00PM, Ramona Park, 3301 East 65th Street at Obispo Avenue, Long Beach
Have your CAT spayed or neutered free with appointment and qualifications; vet appointment with voucher, minimal charge for dogs and cats; flea meds $10; shots and dewormer $10 each; nail trimming, $10
Fix Long Beach thanks our shelter, Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS), for giving us the means to sponsor this month’s clinic. The more cats that get fixed, the fewer unwanted kittens that will be put to sleep.
Putting on these events costs in the thousands, and it couldn’t happen without the generosity of our donors.
It’s now the law to fix your pets in Long Beach and many Southern California cities. To provide this costly service to our Long Beach residents who otherwise couldn’t afford it, Fix Long Beach offers this service free of charge. The spay/neuter truck will be at its new location at Ramona Park on this date. The spay/neuter procedures this month are for cats only.
Make an appointment through IM or email at [email protected] for your dog, and include (1) your name, (2) address, (3) phone number, (4) pet’s name, (5) age, (6) sex, (7) breed, and (8) weight, and Fix will see if they can schedule you. You can also come as a standby, but be there at 8:30AM. Make sure that your pet has had nothing to eat or drink past 10:00PM the previous night.
To donate, visit our page. In-kind donations such as leashes, collars and toys can be brought to our event or ordered through our Amazon wish list.
For both spay/neuter and vaccinations, all dogs must be on sturdy leashes and all cats must be in dedicated carriers. Fix thanks you in advance for being responsible for your pet’s health and for helping to reduce shelter overpopulation and euthanasia.
Pets Ahoy Wine Fund-Raiser for Seal Beach Animal Care Center http://www.sbacc.org
Sunday, May 20, 1:00PM–4:00PM, Seal Beach Yacht Club, 255 North Marina Drive, Long Beach
$50; proceeds help to fund SBACC
Toast the animals at SBACC with wine, soft drinks and a buffet lunch. Enjoy silent auctions, a super-opportunity drawing for a $1,000 Visa card, and the knowledge that cats and dogs at SBACC will thrive and find good homes, thanks to you! Ticket sales information is available here.
Ongoing
Pittie Party at Pitchford!
Entire month of April, P. D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 East Spring Street at entrance to El Dorado Park, Long Beach
$1 to $1,000,000,000! No parking fee for shelter guests
Bust out the party hats and crack open the Perrier! Long Beach Animal Care Services and spcaLA are having a Pittie Party this weekend with “Pick Your Own Price” adoption fees for qualifying adopters (exclusions apply)! The last party was successful enough to extend it throughout the month, so anyone who qualifies as an adopter can pick their own price to take home one of these goofy, sweet dogs like Droopy here! Participating pooches’ profiles will be printed in purple. Click the links above for shelter hours.
BARK Therapy Dogs Reading with Kids
See website for information
Founded in 2007, BARK (Beach Animals Reading with Kids) is a nonprofit all-volunteer program that encourages children to increase their reading skills and self-confidence by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. Students sometimes find it intimidating to read in front of classmates but love to read to the non-judgmental, calming dogs. BARK now has 170 teams listening to kids in more than 100 schools and libraries in California—Long Beach libraries visited monthly are Bach, El Dorado, Bayshore, Brewitt and Los Altos; outlying-area libraries include Hawaiian Gardens, Iacoboni and Los Alamitos. BARK teams also visit nursing homes, senior living facilities and veteran centers. They even de-stress college students during finals week! For all events, check out BARK’s calendar. To find information about volunteering your furry buddy or to arrange a visit to your school, library or other community, contact the group at [email protected] or (562)235-8835.
Kitty Catchers Adoption Event
Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00AM–3:30PM both days, PetSmart, 2550 Cherry Avenue, Signal Hill
Despite the name, Kitty Catchers catches doggies, too, and some will be there along with the lovely fosters at this event! You’ll find your best friend there and anything else you’ll need to give him or her a good life from then on.
Pet Adoption Event at PFE
Saturdays and Sundays, Pet Food Express, 4220 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach
Adoption fees apply
Find your new BFF and everything that he or she could possibly want or need, in one place. Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) and other rescues bring great cats and 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, featuring fine felines from Long Beach Animal Care Services and Stray Cat Alliance. For more information about which rescues will be present on any particular day, follow this link.
SNP/LA Mobile Low-Cost Pet Vaccines
Locations and dates vary; visit link in text
For low-cost vaccines, visit this link. Note that pet owners must be 18 years or older, all pets must be on leashes or in carriers, and only healthy and non-pregnant animals will be vaccinated. Please bring prior vaccination information with you to the clinic. Vaccination and microchip services are provided for pets residing in any city. Licensing is provided for residents within our jurisdiction at Saturday clinics; please bring your renewal notice and rabies certificate with you. Low/cost spay/neuter information is also available through SNP/LA.
Free Pet Food Distributions
Papa, a big “teddy bear’ of a dog, sits with his human in Ashlee’s Pet Care station at Beacon for Him.
Beacon for Him has extended an outreach for people experiencing homelessness and their pets. Pet food, primarily dog food, is available at their facility at 439 West Anaheim Street, Mondays from 9:00AM to noon and Saturdays from noon to 3:00PM. A dog-washing station with a stainless-steel tub is also available onsite at these hours. Donations and supplies such as shampoo, flea control and, of course, pet food are always gratefully accepted.
The Pet Food Bank is sponsored by Christian Outreach in Action. COA is located at 515 E 3rd St, Long Beach. Hours are Thursday from 9:00AM to 11:00AM.
Shelter-Enrichment Supplies Needed for ACS Dogs and Cats!
Drop-off: Wednesdays through Fridays, 10:00AM–5:30PM and Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00AM–4:00PM, 7700 East Spring Street, Long Beach
Individual donations requested
ACS is continuing our kennel enrichment activities for our canine guests here and could use so more donations (there are plenty for the cats!). Here is what’s needed:
- creamy peanut butter
- yogurt
- beef broth (canned or in the box)
- chicken broth (canned or in the box)
- incense
- carabiner clips (heavy duty)
- ice cube trays
- pipe cleaners
- toilet paper/paper towel rolls
- cat toys
- corks from bottles (for cat toys)
- catnip
- canned cat and dog food
Donations are tax deductible. Our pups and kitties say thanks so much!