With 40 community members giving input; statements and presentations the mayor, city council, acting city attorney Charles Parkin, and Parks, Recreation and Marine director George Chapjian; and a PowerPoint presentation by Ted Stevens, manager of Animal Care Services, it was quite a marathon. We were all there for nearly two hours. (Backyard slaughter, I found out, is illegal, thankfully, but illegal never stops people.) During the council discussion following community speeches, a number of council members didn’t feel comfortable taking the package without more education and research on the topic.
Two substitute motions were introduced. One was made by Council Member O’Donnell, seconded by Council Member Austin; it asked to approve recommendation to include chickens only. The other was made by Vice Mayor Garcia and seconded by Council Member Lowenthal with the recommendation to pass the package with a review six months later. Although most of the community speakers supported easing the restrictions, all motions needed five votes to pass, and each failed 4–3 (Councilmember Schipske was not present and Councilmember DeLong had left the stage).
It seems, as with anything where passion is involved, that agripolitics has polarized the town to such an extent that Bill Maher could make a film out of it and title it “Chickenigulous.” I fully expect the issue of urban farm animals to not go away; there’s been plenty of cackle on the Internet. There’s fervor on both sides, seesawing on a fulcrum of, as Vice Mayor Garcia said, everyone in the room loving animals. I think that’s almost 100 percent correct, particularly after someone I know in Seattle who’s following this whole thing suggested that livestock is a degrading term because it involves commerce and slaughter. I agree, and if I’m wrong, we’re soylent green. However, no one’s letting go of the seesaw handles and sliding toward the center. My own concern, as I said in a previous article, can best be summed up by community member Ben Rockwell, who spoke in support but with some reservations: “Unless [chickens] are properly taken care of, they can cause quite a problem. On the other hand, I have worked around chickens and found that if they’re properly taken care of, it is not a problem to the neighbors.”
And both camps agree, but each on a different side of the statement. Stay tuned.
The City Council meeting can be viewed here.
“Farming with live animals is a seven-day-a-week legal form of slavery.”
~ actor George Segal
Virtually Pets
Frankly, right now, I’m more concerned about the number of unaltered cats roaming neighborhoods than I am about backyard farm animals. The result is a large number of kittens that wind up at the shelter. The lucky ones get taken in by rescues, the luckier ones are adopted, and the rest? Well…
Frick (brown tabby) A499801 and Frack (tortie) A499803
These two are a bonded pair, a shelter employee said. They crack me up and simultaneously break my heart.”
Sam (A501577), son Ellis (A501585), and daughter Ella (A501584)
Little Sam, a year old and already a mother, came in as an owner surrender with her two 4-month-old kittens. She’s been spayed and is well behaved and litter-box trained.
Curley (A501988) (top) and Larry (ID A501989) (bottom)
Moe (ID A501982)
These three kittens were all owner surrendered as well. Larry and Curley are 4 months old, and Moe is 3 months old. (That top photo is priceless. Maybe they’ll perform for you at home.)
Blue-eyed Tristan (ID A500330) and green-eyed Oliver, with their stripey sister (A500393)
These precious 2-month-old kittens were found as strays.
Pet Projects
Saturday, July 27, Volunteer at Fix Long Beach’s Fourth Mobile Clinic, Scherer Park, 4600 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach
Here’s a way to help fix situations like the ones above. Fix Long Beach regularly needs volunteers to help with the free mobile clinics that help low-income pet owners to alter their pets. FLB needs a few people to help load the supplies and unload and set up the event at 9AM. This is when the people who have appointments arrive, so it’s a very busy time. The majority of volunteers will meet around 10:30AM. The event runs until 4:30-5pm, so FLB is looking for people to volunteer for morning and/or afternoon shifts. “We really need some muscle to help us break down the event and load up the cars as well,” said FLB founder Claudia Hoffman.
Spanish speakers are desperately needed! If you would like to volunteer for this event, click here and then click Join. Feel free to leave a comment or ask any questions. Only people who have an appointment may bring their animals to get fixed. Drop-off for registered appointment is 7AM; pickup instructions will be given when the pet is dropped off.
Here is what the clinic provides with no appointment necessary:
DOG VACCINES
Rabies $10
DHLPP $15
Bordetella $15
CAT VACCINES
Rabies $10
FVRCP $15
OTHER
3pk Frontline $35
Deworming $15
Nail Trim $10
Microchip $10 (free for S/N patients)
In case you miss this event (I’m madly typing to make deadline for the Pet Post), another is planned for Aug. 10 at Cesar Chavez Park. S/N appointments are booked for this date, but volunteers are needed. You can call to make an appointment for one of our next events at (323) 413-SPAY (7729). Donate here.
Saturday, July 27, East Village Dog Stroll and Shop, East Village Arts District, Long Beach, 6PM
Long Beach’s Arts District will be a mecca for dogs and their people—not that it isn’t already—for a few hours this weekend. Free check-in at Yellow Volleyball /Sunning area across from Berlin (420 4th St.). There will be special illusion photo opportunities for all participating dogs to “appear” in New York, San Francisco and Paris. Bring your cameras. Dog clothing is optional, but a prize will be given to the best-dressed pooch .Dogs will gather at around 6PM on the corner of Linden Avenue and First Street. ALL dogs must be leashed and controlled by their humans. Doggie Strolling Maps will be provided at check in. First come, first served. For information, e-mail [email protected] and type “Dog Stroll” in the subject line.
Saturday, Aug. 3, Pets Are People, Too! Pet Safety and Health Fair, Hamburger Dan’s, 1155 E. 7th St. at Orange Avenue, 10AM–1PM.
Join pet lovers and advocates for a day of fun and education. Featured will be microchips for dogs and cats (first 25 to arrive only, one per household), pet gift baskets, healthy pet food, pet safety products and waste-bag dispensers. Parade and raffles are featured as well as contests for best dressed pet, most uniquely or exotically dressed pet, and the pet and owner who look the most alike. All pets welcome; leashes and carriers required. Say hi to Friends of Long Beach Animals while you’re there! Call (562) 310-8713 for information.
Every Thursday in July and August, Free Yappy Hour, Long Beach Museum of Art, 2300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, 9AM–5PM
LBMA’s Architecture for Dogs is celebrating human’s best friend in the best way. Yappy Hour, sponsored by Pussy and Pooch provides doggie snacks, and leashed pets can play outside on models of the très modernes living spaces for dogs featured in the exhibit. Your dog is welcome to view the exhibit with you as long as you can carry him or her; a free pet valet by Wooftidoo is available for larger dogs to wait for their humans. There will be give-a-ways and much more!
Buddy Black Is No Dark Horse!
Buddy Black is the new champion of the 18th annual Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals that take place at Los Alamitos Race Course as a fund-raiser for the Seal Beach Animal Care Center. Buddy Black is a 4-year-old rescued dachshund whose owner and “trainer” (if you’ve ever seen one of these hysterically funny events, you’ll understand the scare quotes framing trainer) are Shawn and David Black of Long Beach. Their Buddy won a $1,000 cash prize and that fabulous Wienerschnitzel house seen in the photo. Shawn said that it arrived the day of this writing and Buddy loves it! Mazel tov, Schatzi!