And now, a word about a handy-dandy little gadget.
A while back, I saw a man traveling down the sidewalk in his wheelchair, his little dog on a leash ahead of him. The dog stopped to do what dogs do, and I wondered how the man was going to clean it up. He didn’t.
I found out how little an excuse he had (none) last week when I saw the woman in the photo cleaning up the pile that her dog had left with a mere snap of a gadget. This handy contraption will no doubt be known to many of you as a pooper scooper, but this was new to me, being a cat person and not having the need of such a thing.
The woman, Jeannie, showed me how easy it was to scoop the stuff up. She said that she holds the jaws closed until she finds a disposal can on the route they take, then opens the device over it and lets the chips fall where they may. Using the scoop, she says, is a relief for her back pain.
“We used to see people walking and either not cleaning it up or just throwing the bag and missing the can. People stepped in it, cars run it over,” said Jeannie’s husband, Greg.
Left: Jeannie and Shadow taking care of business
The scooper is a thing of good ordure. First, there’s no waste—other than the waste itself—of resources natural or nonbiodegradable. Second, no one can claim a stiff neck, a knee replacement, or even a wheelchair as an excuse not to pick up after a dog. Third, the more people using the device, the fewer will be the rest of us who’ll step in it. And it’s readily available online and in pet and department stores. The only drawback I could see was the fact that the waste, once dropped in the receptacle, is odoriferous and on display for anyone else tossing something away. But after Googling “pooper scooper,” I found all sizes and shapes as well as scoopers with rakes, scoopers that fold up to take along on trips, scoopers with dustpans and brooms, and—bless us all—scoopers with bag attachments. Martha Stewart even makes one.
There are, I know, people who will not be able to use this device because of a specific disability; walking companions (who may also like the device) are an excellent solution. Otherwise, if you can think up any other excuse not to pick up after your pet, just post it here. Should be interesting.
“The waste is a terrible thing to mind.”
~with sincere apologies to the UNCF
Virtually Pets
The Kitten Saga Continues
This beautiful little tiger was neutered at the last Fix Long Beach event and was given up for adoption. If you’re as struck as I was by his beauty and don’t own a snotty little former feral who’d make mincemeat out of him if he dared enter the premises, contact [email protected] at Long Beach Spay and Neuter.
These three kittens were born to a stray female who has since been adopted and spayed. Now, her kids need to find forever homes as well: two girls (the one with half a mustache is Victor/Victoria and the one with the beauty mark is Molly), and one boy, Mr. Bo Jangles (aka Bo), with his back to you. Please contact [email protected] if you’re interested.
Loving Home Needed
This rescuer is very picky about the perfect home for this miniature poodle/shih tzu. He has separation anxiety and needs to be with a retired person or a stay-at-home mom or cad. He loves and kisses everyone he sees, has no issues with other dogs or cats, and loves kids. When he’s around friends, he’s quiet and mellow. He’s approximately between 2 and 3 years old, has sparkling white teeth, and is in very good health. A rehoming fee applies, as his vaccinations, neutering and microchip have been paid for. Contact [email protected] if you’re interested in this little fellow.
Pet Projects
Through August, Spay/Neuter Voucher Distribution, Long Beach Animal Care Services at Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 East Spring St., Long Beach, Weds.–Fri. 10AM–5:30PM; Sat.–Sun. 10AM–4PM (ACS is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and holidays)
Throughout the month of August, Long Beach Animal Care Services will be distributing spay/neuter vouchers in person at their facility at the PD Pitchford Companion Animal Village. Vouchers are only valid at participating veterinary clinics and will be distributed solely to residents of Long Beach and the four contract cities (Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Cerritos and Signal Hill), one per household. Additional vouchers may be distributed upon request and with supervisor approval.
“We usually offer a limited number of vouchers on the first Thursday of the month; however, through the generous support of our community, we are able to increase this program for the entire month of August,” said ACS manager Ted Stevens. “In all five cities within our jurisdiction, dogs are required to be licensed. In Long Beach, cats are required by to be licensed with current rabies shots and spayed or neutered.”
The vouchers are redeemable only at participating local veterinary hospitals and clinics. In order to qualify for a voucher, pet owners must provide proof of address through photo ID or a utility bill. Owners must pay the remaining balance of the spay or neuter procedure directly to the veterinary hospital, and ACS will reimburse the veterinary hospital for up to $30 of the procedure. Availability and pricing will vary. Please call ahead for pricing and appointment information. A full listing of participating veterinarians can be found here under Spay & Neuter Programs.
In addition to the discounted cost of a dog license, Stevens added, spaying or neutering your pet helps reduce companion animal overpopulation. Furthermore, sterilization increases the chance of your pet having a longer, healthier life as well as a lower risk of developing a number of expensive and deadly diseases. Finally, sterilization can make your dog or cat a better pet, reducing their urge to roam and decreasing the risk of contracting diseases or getting hurt.
Saturday, Aug. 8, Volunteer at Fix Long Beach’s Fifth Mobile Clinic, Cesar Chavez Park, 401 Golden Ave., Long Beach, 7AM–5PM
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)
You can call to make an appointment for one of our next events at (323) 413-SPAY (7729). Donate here.
Saturday, Aug. 24, spcaLA Mobile Adoption event, PetSmart, Long Beach Towne Center, 7631 Carson Blvd., Long Beach, 10:30AM–3:30PM
Can’t make it to an spcaLA Pet Adoption Center? We can come to you! Meet our adorable adoptables at PetSmart!
Sunday, Sept. 1, Catalina Humane Society Dogathon and Dr. Denny Day, Joe Machado Field, Avalon, Catalina, 10AM–2:00PM
The Catalina Humane Society is gearing up for its first-ever community event: an outdoor Dog Festival and Dr. Denney Appreciation Day during Sunday, Labor Day weekend! Planned activities include a dog parade at 10AM, a dog show, contests and dog demonstrations. The Dogathon fund-raiser is simple and easy: no jogging, no cupcakes to bake, no wrapping paper or magazines to sell. Just pick up an entry form at Coney Island, the Steamer Trunk or DC-3 at the Airport-in-the-Sky and ask family, friends, neighbors and coworkers to donate whatever they can to the Catalina Humane Society. Whoever collects the most money (all donations are tax deductible) receives Best of Show honors. The winning dog may be the fund-raiser’s own pet or someone else’s dog, or you can select one of the dogs attending the event. Second- and third-prize winners also receive “titles.” All money raised helps CIHS with its trap-neuter-release, feral cat colonies, low-cost pet adoptions, school programs, therapy-dog training and much more. Also, join us in a citywide hug to our fantastic local vet, Dr. Richard Denney, and enjoy live music, food, vendors, fun dog contests (costumes, pet tricks, show categories, etc) for the whole family, which of course includes The Dog! For more information, check out our CIHS Facebook page.
Volunteers Needed for Third Annual Holiday Bone-Anza Event.
Presented by Friends of El Dorado Dog Park
The Friends of El Dorado Dog Park, an all-volunteer 501c3 nonprofit, are looking for volunteers to assist with their November 17 event that will take place at Good Neighbor Park, 2800 Studebaker Rd. on Nov. 17, 10AM–4PM.
“With the dog park opening soon, it is going to be more important than ever to create a successful Holiday Bone-Anza fund-raiser,” said Mary Matthieson, FEDDP president. “We are all on the same goal of making our dog park a premier dog park.” Besides setting up and breaking down the event, volunteers will be needed to help with managing booths, helping with activities, flier distribution and a number of other things.FEDDP will send out an e-mail for the scheduling of a volunteer meeting at the first of October. For information, click here or send an e-mail to [email protected].
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 giveaways and much more!