In the last Pet Post, I reported that the spcaLA had accepted the pets of Susan Curtis, the bicyclist who had been killed when crossing at Bellflower and Atherton, from our shelter, Animal Care Services (ACS). I promised to post their photos as soon as they were made available, and I just got the info. The dog, Sadie, was adopted a couple of weeks ago (great!), but her cats are waiting, likely wondering where their loving Susan is and when she’ll come to get them. If you’re interested in giving one or more of them a forever home, click the link under the photo for the bio. SpcaLA is located next to ACS at the Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring St. Good luck to them all, and thanks to everyone who is interested in their well-being.
13-02052 Spotty, 10-year-old male
13-02053 Polo, 10-year-old female
13-02054 Bell, 10-year-old female
Pet Projects
Coyote Alert
A couple of days ago, part of a family of coyotes were seen outside a home licking their chops at the (totally indoor cats) as though they were staring through a butcher shop window. Should you encounter any, move your arms and make a lot of noise (seriously) and call Animal Control immediately at (562) 570-PETS. Keep your pets indoors and your garbage cans covered, and don’t leave food outdoors. Coyotes gotta eat, too, but you don’t want them to make a nosh out of a family member. Visit ACS’s ”Living with the Urban Coyote” webpage to learn more.
Bird rescuer and healer Dan Lubniewski, here with Miss Long Beach 2012 Monica Samreth, was honored with a Long Beach Hero Award on Feb 4.
Judy Crumpton, who was the heart and legs behind the Pet Post for three years, received an IMPACT award from the city prosecutor’s office for inspiring City Prosecutor Doug Haubert to create an annual conference on animal care and cruelty prevention. Haubert intimated that The Jude wouldn’t leave until he did. It was so successful that there’s another planned for March. See below, and please attend.
Homeless with Dogs Looking for New Look and Name
Homeless with Dogs LB (HWDLB) has a new Facebook page (please Like and like them—they help abandoned and abused animals as well as the people who have very little else than the love of a forever friend. HWDLB is inviting rescuers and finders of lost pets to post on this page and is looking for suggestions for a new name. “Although we do help homeless people with their pets, we also help low-income and also seniors who are on a budget with their pet, providing meals and also extras like collars, leashes, beds ,blankets—anything that a dog would need. We also help people who have cats,” said cofounder Liz Reyes. “If someone has a good idea for a name that could include everything we do, that would be great, Let us know on our new FB page .”
GoFETCH Finds (Forever) Home, 3434 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach
You go to the gym, the spa, and the salon, and no doubt you want to extend this privilege to your best pal, who may have had one Milk Bone too many. GoFETCH, the in-home dog-training company that established itself in 2007, has expanded to a brick-and-mortar facility that includes daycare and grooming as well as training. They also carry a full supply of Blue Buffalo dog and cat products. They also are introducing the Fitness with Fido boot camp hour for your dog, followed by an hour of yoga, human only. These classes will take place each Sunday from 10AM–1PM. Pad Camp is a Wednesday activity that features a specific command that the dogs and staff work on in a group setting. The Clean Canine Club offers a seventh free grooming for each six purchased. They have three S-paw packages to choose from: Basic, Deluxe and The Works. For more information, visit the Facebook page or call (562) 621-6215.
SpcaLA Adoptions, Saturday, Feb. 23, 10:30AM–3:30PM, PetSmart, 7631 Carson Blvd., Long Beach
Come meet the adorable adoptables who need and deserve forever homes, and purchase anything you need to make your new friend healthy, well cared for and happy.
Cat-Celeb Meetup, Saturday, Feb. 23, 11AM–12:30PM, P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach
Meet Lil Bub, whose “permakitten” status has made him an Internet celebrity. She’s accepting donations of cat litter, unopened cat food, and monetary donations for photos and kisses. All proceeds benefit spcaLA. Lil Bub merchandise will also be available; a portion of the proceeds will also benefit spcaLA.
A Second Chance Pet Adoption Event and St. Patrick’s Day Pet Pageant/Pet Fair, Sunday, March 10 , 10 AM–3PM, Good Neighbor Park (2800 Studebaker Rd., Long Beach
The Pet Post USA in partnership with Pet Sit Pros pet sitters and dog walkers, will host a fun and exciting community event created to support a very important cause: pet adoption. The pet-loving community will enjoy music, entertainment, shopping food vendors, and a special St. Patty’s Pet Pageant. Nearly a dozen nonprofit dog and cat rescues groups will be onsite, seeking to find homes for hundreds of displaced pets. A special pet food and pet supply drive will take place and the collection, along with remaining proceeds from the event, will be donated to Homeless with Dogs (yay!), a unique organization that helps care for pets of the Long Beach homeless society.
Long Beach Reads One Book, March 12 – 19
We’re excited about the dog-themed Bark Twice event activities planned for March 17 at Good Neighbor Park, 2800 Studebaker Ave., from noon to 4PM! Activities will feature a marathon reading of The Art of Racing in the Rain by a number of Long Beach luminaries; a geocaching game with great goodies; a juried “My Dog Looks Like Me” contest, with such qualifications as apparent personality, coloring, facial expression and features, and ears—there will be two prizes, one for the aforementioned qualifications and the other for Best Dressed for St. Patrick’s Day canine and human pals; a silent auction; a Blessing of the Animals; and a seminar by therapist Dr. Bill Benson regarding canine therapy and why our dogs look like us (!). The Long Beach Public Library and Friends of the Library will be there to sell gently previously appreciated books, there will be a cozy corner in which kids can read to their dogs, and Animal Care Services will show off a couple of their candidates for forever homes. There will be pet agility demonstrations, appearances from Pets for Vets (veterans, not veterinarians!) and Guide Dogs for the Blind, and lots of booths. The Grilled Cheese Truck will be there to tempt you, and Dr. Greg Perrault, DVM, will be on hand in case of emergency. More features will be added as planning continues.
Several of the LBROB events and activities were posted in a previous article; they are encapsulated as follows:
- an appearance by Garth Stein at Carpenter Center (tickets $30 each; call the Carpenter Center at (562) 985-7000
- Garth Stein will also appear at Wilson High School to discuss his book with LBUSD high school students
- an expert panel on the benefits of pet ownership and the human-animal bond, to be held at Cats and Dogs animal hospital at 627 Redondo Ave. (adults-only event)
- a Pajama Read-In with children at the Marina Pacifica Barnes & Noble, with guests including the BARK! therapy dogs
- an event celebrating Long Beach’s racing history at McKenna’s on the Bay, hosted by John Morris and featuring a special appearance by Parnelli Jones
- dog-themed events for children to participate in and enjoy to be held at all branches, including the main branch, of the Long Beach Public Library
For more information, click here.
Animal Care and Cruelty-Prevention Workshop, Thursday, March 21, time and location TBA
The Long Beach City Prosecutor’s Office will host its annual conference in response to the great success from Long Beach and the surrounding communities. The conference will address two subject areas: humane education and legal issues for animal care professionals, prosecution statistics, conviction rates and stats about the animals housed in our local facilities. Deborah Knaan, deputy DA in charge of animal cruelty prosecution and Rebecca Johnson, sergeant of investigations with ACS, will speak, along with other professionals.
My cat, Woodbine, watching the Kitty Halftime Show during Animal Planet’s “Puppy Bowl” on Super Bowl Sunday. He sat glued to the set until it was over.