Photo courtesy of Animal Liberation Front
Two recent cases of extreme, repulsive animal cruelty have underscored the need for education on the subject—not so much for the perps but for the public.
In February, two cats were killed over a period of two weeks with a bow and arrow in North Long Beach. The first cat was found on the 400 block of E. 51st Street and was so badly wounded that it had to be euthanized. The second, a cat named Princess, came crawling home to her owner, her side pierced by an arrow. She was rushed to Long Beach Animal Hospital, and despite emergency surgery by Dr. Carl Palazzolo, DVM, Princess’s organs were so badly damaged that she, too, perished from her injuries.
Long Beach Animal Hospital’s veterinary staff posted an x-ray (see below) of Princess’s internal organs to show the damage in the hope that a suspect could be identified. The post was met by scores of postings by horrified readers, but so far, there are no suspects.
“The arrow is obvious. It has penetrated through the liver, marked in three different locations. The white arrow points to the diaphragm on the left side of the cat. You cannot see the diaphragm on the cat’s right side because a lobe of the liver has ruptured through the diaphragm and literally resides inside the chest. That is the liver lobe above the other two. The dark areas are normal air inside the lung. The liver inside the right side of the cat’s thorax is compressing the lung on that side and making it non-functional. The arrow had such tremendous force it penetrated through the body wall on the left side of the abdomen, went completely through a lobe of the liver, and pushed another lobe of the liver through the diaphragm into the chest.” —Long Beach Animal Hospital’s Facebook page
Photo and text courtesy of Dr. Carl Palazzolo
Both Palazzolo and Animal Care Services manager, Dr. Ted Stevens, were shocked by the heartlessness of both acts, which seemed to be connected since Princess’s owner lived only a couple of blocks away from where the first killing occurred. It may be difficult to come up with a motivation to do such a thing—hatred of cats, the devaluation of an individual life for its use as target practice—but to simply say that it’s a good reason to keep your pets indoors is to minimize the enormity of not only the act but also the underlying menace and sickness that’s present in other acts of animal cruelty.
“There is a person at large who clearly is troubled and needs to be evaluated and held accountable for their actions,” said photographer and animal advocate Diana Lejins, who submitted the picture below.
These archery targets, formerly set up at the range in El Dorado Park, would be non grata for animal lovers. They present a disturbing countenance in the light of the deaths of the two cats. Gladys Kaiser, manager of Parks and Rec’s Community Recreation Services Bureau, said that the staff was made aware of the targets and told the archers group to take them down, which they voluntarily did. Photo taken by Diana Lejins
But even prisoners of love confined to the house aren’t immune to being so horribly targeted. In January, Long Beach resident Steven Ullery was arrested by the LBPD and arraigned on four counts of animal cruelty for his possible involvement in the deaths of several housecats belonging to him and his wife. Two of them were returned dead to the spcaLA’s Long Beach facility by Ullery, who had adopted them and claimed that they were “defective.” He was released on $60,000 bail.
Ullery pled not guilty at his court appearance. At his pretrial hearing, deputy DA Alexander Bott, who is assigned to the case, said at the time of the crime, Ullery was living with his wife, who owned several cats. Between March and August 2013, five of the cats, including the two adopted from spcaLA, died. During the court appearance, the prosecutor said that an spcaLA investigation revealed that in March and May 2013, the Ullerys brought three other dead cats to the Uptown Animal Hospital. One of these cats died from blunt-force trauma to the face. Another was choked to death.
Judge Laura Laesecke granted a protective order that prevents Ullery from being around any cats at his residence [shameless editorializing note: May any cats living there be long removed from said residence] or owning or caring for any other animals.
The trial process is ongoing. Any developments will be posted on this page.
It seems naïve to prescribe education for either of these people or for anyone sick enough to do such terrible things to helpless pets. These aren’t examples of ignorance but dangerous mental illness—animal abuse is often just prep school for serial killers. Public education for the community is always called for, though, and there will be an excellent opportunity for it on May 17 in Silverado Park, 10AM–1PM, as part of a major animal-oriented event. City prosecutor Doug Haubert in tandem with Long Beach Animal Care Services will present the third annual Animal Care and Cruelty Prevention Conference on this date (here’s a link to the preview of last year’s event). Haubert has been instrumental in helping to prosecute cruelty cases since he was elected to office in 2010, and this third conference will again be held in conjunction with Long Beach Animal Care Services.
“My office works closely with a number of city departments, including Animal Care Services,” Haubert said. “Of course, we handle animal cruelty cases after ACS investigates, but we have also partnered with ACS on our annual Animal Care and Cruelty Prevention Conference to better educate the public and report abuse. I’ve been to the shelter and have seen animals receiving great care. I give them a lot of credit—the staff there work hard, and they care about Long Beach and its pets.”
Attendees will learn about signs of abuse and how to report and help prevent everything from tragedies such as those described in this article to dopes like the one I saw this afternoon on 2nd Street and Redondo Avenue performing a veritable one-person Idiotarod, mushing his big dogs through a stop sign and whizzing right in front of me as he balanced himself on a skateboard. The conference is free and will include booths and vendors as well as the presentations, and the Fix Fest will be there to set a record of the most spay and neuter procedures performed in one day (see Pet Projects)! More about it all in future posts. You’re invited to attend; please do.
“Animals do have a voice. If you don’t understand them, I will translate. If you don’t hear them, I will be their voice. If you ignore their suffering, I will remind you of it. You may silence them, but you will not silence me.”
~ Anita Mahdessian, vegan and animal advocate
Virtually Pets
Zobi
It’s said that everyone has a doppelganger—an exact copy of himself or herself, and when they meet, weird stuff happens. This 5-year-old Chihuahua-something is as close Bradley Cooper can get to one of himself. If Bradley doesn’t come for him first, Zobi’s sweet and playful and is sure to win over your heart, if not an Academy Award. He’s waiting at ACS at 7700 Spring St. in El Dorado Park; his IMBD—uh, ID number is A517068.
Smitten
Wanna see cuteness catsonified? Check out this cat. Smitten the kitten was rescued from the street, along with two siblings and her mom, by Jorge, a young Fix Long Beach volunteer. Mom and two of the siblings found homes, and this medium-hair tortie baby is waiting for her chance. She’s been fixed, has had her shots, and is residing at Long Beach Felines http://www.longbeachfelines.org/. Contact [email protected], or visit Centinela Feed and Pet Supply at 4700 PCH in Long Beach every Saturday from noon to 4PM.
Pet Projects
Check Out These Articles
Thank you, Ashleigh Ruhl for a heartfelt Grunion Gazette article that shows the heart of animal shelter worker Erin Kelleher. Thanks also to the Press-Telegram’s Tim Grobaty, who in this column more than intimated that if you’ve never met a pit bull whom you didn’t like, it’s because of the human companions.
spcaLA Opens New Kittenry
Last week, the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Los Angeles (spcaLA) opened its new nursery created to foster the health and enrichment for the great number of kittens that arrive during the multiple birthing seasons. The facility resembles a kitty daycare, with its kitten-size ecofriendly Wall Walker products that include newborn beds and nap nets for older kittens and “teenagers.” In addition to donating items for the Kittenry, Wall Walkers will donate 10 percent of its product sales to spcaLA when customers purchase on the website and enter “spcaLA” in the “company” box at checkout. “We are so excited to have created a special open-air area just for our kittens,” said spcaLA president Madeline Bernstein. “We are especially grateful to Wall Walkers for their generosity”
Unidentified young Kittenry resident, impressed by someone actually understanding what cats like to do
Wall Walkers Cat Habitats CEO River D and spcaLA President Madeline Bernstein cut the ribbon on the new Kittenry.
Lost Cat
Have you seen this cat? She’s a 7-year-old female Bombay who’s been missing for more than two weeks. Her person has checked shelters and cruised the neighborhood (Wrigley), but she hasn’t turned up yet. If you’ve seen her, contact [email protected].
A Second Chance Pet Adoption and Pet Fair, Sunday, April 13, Good Neighbor Park, 2800 Studebaker Rd., Long Beach, 10AM–3PM
The Pet Post (the other one, founded by my buddy Doug Erikson!) will be presenting an exciting community event to support an important cause:pet adoption. This is the seventh pet adoption event presented by The Pet Post since spring 2012; to date,the events have helped save the lives of nearly 300 displaced pets throughout Long Beach, Signal Hill, Cerritos, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach. A dozen nonprofit dog and cat rescues groups have been invited to attendA Second Chance, making more than 100 pets available to secure and loving homes. Highlights will also include a pet education table, music, a pet photo booth, vendors and food. Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) will provide 200 pets with free microchips for residents of Long Beach, Signal Hill, Cerritos, Los Alamitos, and Seal Beach between 11 AM and 1PM. Former Pet Post (this one) co-writer Judy Crumpton will host a humane education table at which she is asking for donations of Natural Balance Dog Food Rolls for ACS, to be used as training treats, and a special pet food and pet supply drive will take place, with donations helping FOOD for Pets in Need,a unique organization that helps care for pets of homeless people living in Long Beach.
“These events are not only important for the sake of saving the lives of displaced pets but also an important opportunity where nonprofit entities, and hundreds of volunteers can gather as a united front; showing casing their dedication and commitment to make a difference for thousands of animals in our communities,” Erikson said. Event sponsors include Friends of Long Beach Animals; Long Beach Animal Care Services; First Bank; Stephen Coates, DDS; CanvasPet; and Alpha Pet Care.
Pet Adoption Day, Sunday, April 13, Gelson’s Market, 6225 E. 2nd St. (and PCH), Long Beach, 11AM–pM
Gelson’s is once again showing itself to be a market with a mission of serving the community by co-hosting the second West Coast Animal Rescue and Long Beach Spay and Neuter. Pet Adoption Day, featuring pets from West Coast Animal Rescue, a local all-volunteer dog adoption network of friends, professionals, volunteers and local organizations that spays and neuters homeless dogs, walks and socializes them, gives them medical care and finds them forever homes; Long Beach Spay and Neuter, also all volunteer, which engages in feral and free-roaming cat trap/spay-neuter/release and finds homes for the tame kitties; and our shelter at Animal Care Services (ACS). The ultimate goal is to educate first-time and existing pet owners about the growing need to adopt and/or foster dogs and cats that need a second chance. Long Beach Animal Care Services will be there with adoptable pets, and Friends of Long Beach Animals and Fix Long Beach will host information tables. Gelson’s will be supply free samples from their pet partners and will give away a free reusable bag and store coupons with any donation to these groups. For more information, contact Gelson’s Marketing Department, 818-377-6494.
Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic, Sponsored by Hope for Paws http://www.hopeforpaws.org/ Founder Eldad Hagar, Saturday, March 29, MacArthur Park, 1321 Anaheim St., Long Beach, 7AM–3PM
Fix Long Beach, a community grassroots all-volunteer organization, is back, helping to reduce the number of unwanted animals and improve pet health. And with over 700 fixes, that’s a lot of baby animals who won’t be dumped on the streets or subject to shelter euthanasia. Free spay/neuter procedures have already been booked in advance, but visitors are encouraged to come in person to make appointments for future clinics. If you arrive at 7 for the waiting list, make sure that your cat or dog hasn’t had food or water after midnight. Microchipping, deworming and flea-control products as well as nail trimming are offered at discounted prices, and appointments are not necessary to get required shots for dogs and cats. If you live in Long Beach and are of low-income status and want to get your pet fixed, or know someone who is and does, please join us and make an appointment to help provide every pet with a healthier, happy life and to help reduce shelter overpopulation!
Fix Long Beach is all-volunteer and operates through donations. Clinic costs range from $2,900 to $3,500 depending on the number of cats against the number of dogs and each pet’s gender and weight. For more information or to donate to Fix Long Beach, call (323) 413-7729, visit Fix Long Beach on Facebook.
Fix Long Beach’s Fix Fest and Pet Fair, Saturday, May 17, Silverado Park, 1545 W 31st St., Long Beach, 7AM–3PM
What a jubilee day for pets! Fix Long Beach plans to celebrate its one-year anniversary by fixing over 300 pets—Long Beach residents only—through mobile spay/neuter clinics and thus preventing the birth of unwanted animals in a number that’s impossible to figure without an advanced TI Titanium calculator. FLB invites all area mobile clinics to join in by contacting [email protected]; all participants and sponsors will be named on the flyer. Please contact Claudia if you know of any clinics that will join in. The Fix Fest is held in collaboration with the third annual Long Beach Animal Cruelty Conference, presented by the office of City Prosecutor Doug Haubert and by Animal Care Services (see article).
spcaLA Foster Class, Sunday, May 19, P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, 10AM–noon
Help a pet better his or her chance at adoption! spcaLA is looking for foster parents for pets of all ages and needs. Potential foster parents must fill out and submit an application, available here, before attending a class. For more information, call (323) 730-5300.
Friends of Long Beach Animals’(FOLBA) WALK for the Animals, Saturday, May 31, Marina Vista Park, 5355 E. Eliot St., Long Beach, 9AM–3PM
In its 13th year, this WALK will be a fun fund-raiser for responsible pet ownership, education and humane treatment of animals—all part of FOLBA’s mission. In addition to the 5K WALK, the event will feature animal demonstrations and exhibitions, animal rescue and adoption groups, entertainment, vendors of all kinds, food, a kidzone, special guests and many more features all designed to further the mission statement! Vendors are encouraged to print out and submit the form found on this page. FOLBA is a nonprofit all-volunteer organization in its 23rdyear of serving Long Beach and Signal Hill with its commitment to saving animals’ lives through spay/neuter and education programs. For more information, visit FOLBA’s website.
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