Dr. Patricia Turner, PhD, is a former Long Beach resident and the key figure behind Stayin’ Alive Long Beach, an initiative designed to make no-kill a reality in our city shelter. Turner has developed a 37-page report, which is available on the website if you click on the organization’s name, that ideates and details “the effectiveness of Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) and recommendations for change” (as stated on the page).
In the report, Dr. Turner criticized ACS operations and gave recommendations about how to drastically reduce euthanasia numbers. Her report was made public in several local media, including the Press-Telegram and the Grunion Gazette. I could also present a balanced article, but the advantage to having a column like this is the ability to express my own opinion, if I wish, and that’s what I’m going to do.
Stayin’ Alive Long Beach’s report is too lengthy to make an exhaustive critique, not for lack of space but for time as well as the fact that it’s going to be long enough without it. Dr. Turner’s paper is presented and written well, but as a shelter supporter for about 20 years, I have issues with it. At the same time, she had some good suggestions that included a sliding fee scale for redeeming a lost pet; a help line for animal issues; information on the ACS phone message that informs people that the shelter itself offers adoptions instead of directing them to spcaLA; and better and bigger signage on Spring Street and directly upon entering the park so that people looking for ACS can actually find it and understand that they won’t have to pay a fee to get in. It was a challenge for me the first time.
I recently spoke briefly with Dr. Turner, who declined an actual interview because of the nature of this column, which I was honest with her about. We have our hearts in the same place when it comes to the treatment and well-being of animals, and I admire her zeal and diligence for their sake. But we’re diametrically opposed on the way pet overpopulation can feasibly be addressed, if at all. Dr. Turner advocates no-kill, and I think that spay/neuter and shelter education have the best chance of decreasing animal population. And that will take a heck of a long time and a lot of patience with people who have a litterful of reasons why they won’t alter their pets and why they won’t keep the cat from roaming.
Do I like the idea of no-kill? Hell, yes—what animal lover doesn’t. But, like many ideals, I think that no-kill has as much chance of being effective as Nancy Pelosi and Ted Cruz going out on a date. For one thing, there’s no room at the inn, and the accommodations shrink as wildlife and unwanted pets are brought in. And no-kill rescues have their limits, too—housing and fostering cost money and take up space, and when they run out of either or can’t find foster volunteers, guess where the pets go. Stayin’ Alive Long Beach cites Austin, Texas, as a model for 90 percent no-kill, which it achieved in 2011, but a July report on My Fox Austin described a “cat crisis” that erupted after nearly two years of the program’s existence. The Austin shelter is pleading for help from the community because of the large number of cats and kittens available.
Our shelter’s underfunded, and several of the hardworking part-time employees have had their hours reduced further. Volunteers help out, but there never seems to be enough of them to handle the flood of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens—especially the kittens—that enter the shelter. One of the elements that Dr. Turner wants for the shelter is a neonatal foster program, particularly for the kittens that get born in great quantity to roaming cats, to help stop the major euthanizing. It would ideally be run by volunteers at no cost. In fact, according to Stevens, her predecessor had approached the shelter about starting one. When asked if she’d help implement it, she acquiesced and then was never more heard from.
Stevens also wonders how ACS will manage to alter, microchip and vaccinate over 1,500 for free. “We do have these volunteers she talks about. SpcaLA runs a neonatal foster program (for us),” he said. “They evaluate all the litters that come in, and based on the evaluation, they select the kittens for the program. So in a sense, we do have a program being run by volunteers for free, as I don’t pay them to run it for us and these are our kittens that they are taking. Otherwise, we end up like Austin. They stagger the number of kittens that go into this program to prevent them all from coming back to the shelter at the same time, which would take up all the space we have. They [spcaLA] are always looking for more people to sign up for this program. We actually just posted a bunch of info on our FB page along with a photo of a 3-week-old puppy that someone found in a trashcan and brought to us.”
ACS does euthanize pets and is upfront about it. There’s been a fairly steady downtick of euthanasia and an uptick in adoption rates, and of course, it’s not enough, and no one who works there is either delighted or complacent. An employee once told me how he was haunted by it and had to debrief himself psychically and emotionally each time he had to do it. Another told me that she can’t stand to work the front desk because she cries. So why does she do it?
“I think I can make a difference,” the employee said. “I want to educate people about breeding, microchips to get dog and cat owners reunited with their pets—I try as much as I can.”
So, is our shelter addressing pet overpopulation? Yes, it is, through education, by grassroots efforts like Fix Long Beach who step up to the plate and provide free spay/neuter to low-income people with pets; through groups like Helen Sanders’ CatPaws, Animal Match Rescue Team and any of the other 80-some volunteer organizations that the shelter works with who take animals from the shelter, foster them, and find good homes; through the shelter’s Facebook page that features “glamour shots” from Sara Cozolino, the photographer recently commissioned by the shelter to make pets even more adoptable (see a couple of examples in Virtually Pets); through the two veterinarians who work tirelessly to make sure that pets get and stay healthy; the vouchers given to the organizations that help trap, spay/neuter and release ferals. All of these things, said both the report and a response to ACS manager Ted Stevens’s comments in the Press-Telegram, our shelter lacks.
The shelter also doesn’t lack a current, sustained adoption program, as the report stated. Shelter animal adoptions were enabled several years ago, although I have to say that not enough people know about it, particularly the ones who listen to the aforementioned recorded phone message. There have been events to which ACS has brought pets; at a recent Friends of Long Beach Animals event, several dogs were brought in, and a friend of mine fell madly in love with one of the pit bulls while she was taking his photo. He’s now a lively, silly, beloved family member. Stayin’ Alive says that the shelter needs to participate more in such events—I agree, actually, although it’s incorrect to say that there haven’t been any.
And spcaLA does go into the shelter and pick out “adoptable” pets, but trust me, there are plenty of adorable and completely adoptable animals who remain behind are eligible for adoption. I know—we’ve had three of them. Click here for information.
The shelter’s spay/neuter voucher program was also misrepresented. Stayin’ Alive Long Beach reported that ACS has “steadily reduced its funding of spay/neuter in Long Beach, generally realized through a voucher program that subsidizes the cost of spay/neuter of the animals belonging to residents in the agency’s jurisdiction.” This is simply not true. According to one shelter official, the value of the vouchers was lowered, but it was done in order to reach more people. The value is still equivalent to a free procedure if the pet is taken to Golden State Humane Society, which offers low-cost procedures.
“When the program began in 2009 and through 2011, the vouchers were given away to everyone, with no limit,” Stevens said. “Also, Justin Rudd’s group donated $30,000 worth of $100 vouchers in 2010. Therefore, the amounts spent in those years are very high, especially in 2010. In 2011, before I started, it was determined that we could no longer sustain unlimited vouchers, as the money for the vouchers is funded by donations. I have been reviewing the program and looking for ways to increase funding. We have received more donations as well. In August we gave out unlimited vouchers. We ended up giving away close to 250 rather than only 100. I have also been approving additional vouchers often to people that really need them and come to us for help. Additionally, we paid $9,300 for three Fix Long Beach events through the last fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. I have plans to sponsor at least 8 more events this fiscal year as well as possibly increasing the voucher program in 2014. All told, I estimate we will at least double the $24,000 amount we spent in 2012.
“By the way, over 7000 animals have been altered through the voucher program since 2009.”
Third District councilmember Gary DeLong presents Veggie Grill manager Tony Ruiz with a community award for fund-raising. The Oct. 10 fund-raising event is the latest of several benefits for the shelter at the restaurant. Judy Crumpton, pictured with ACS manager Ted Stevens, said that the funds raised will go toward spay/neuter assistance, to be shared between Long Beach ACS Spay/Neuter Fund in memory of Lora Eslinger Fund and Fix Long Beach.
What really made my teeth itch were a couple of things that I took personally on both my own part and that of others who advocate for shelter animals. Dr. Turner’s call for “a compassionate director who works proactively to put the No Kill Equation to work” seemed to be an oblique reference to Ted Stevens’s character, which is not in question at the shelter.
“Is Ted compassionate? Absolutely,” said Kelly Miott, ACS’s outreach coordinator. “Ted shows compassion for the animals in our care by working directly with rescue groups, implementing new ideas to promote adoptions and embracing community members who have proactive solutions to reducing the number of homeless animals in our community. During his tenure, the cat kennels have been upgraded to reduce the spread of illness, low-cost clinics have increased, a cat-adoption program has been implemented in veterinarian offices in the community and at a local pet store, social media presence has grown on multiple platforms, and collaboration with Fix Long Beach has resulted in the free spay/neuter of 316 animals since its inception in June.”
And this—in the response to Stevens’s remarks in the Press-Telegram that’s posted on the Stayin’ Alive Long Beach website, Dr. Turner made a recommendation to “Establish a Citizens’ Animal Advisory Commission,” going on to say that the PAWS Committee that meets there once a month is a select group of people with “insider status.” That one really got me. The PAWS Committee is made up of some of the most rabid—perhaps that’s not the best choice of adjectives, but trust me, it fits—animal activists and advocates in the city and its surroundings. How did they achieve such a “status”? By descending upon John Keisler when he became ACS manager and telling him what they wanted to see change, and by involving themselves in all the procedure. [Disclosure: I’ve started to go, and it’s just people, people who love animals.] Judy Crumpton, my former co-writer and one with the most foam at her mouth, cited a number of things that I have already mentioned as a result of input from the committee members, including the voucher and rescue-partner programs. She’s seen enormous change and cannot understand why Long Beach should be receiving the brunt of the criticism.
“Sadly, there are a lot of shelters between Long Beach and Northern California [where Dr. Turner has moved] where greater improvement is needed than Long Beach—there are some horror stories,” Crumpton said. “Why is she picking on Long Beach? Why not help where it’s desperately needed?”
In the light of the upcoming elections, Dr. Turner is asking supporters to demand from the city council that the changes she proposes be mandated at the center. “If we don’t take positive, proactive steps to change, more animals will die at the Long Beach shelter.” Yeah, they will, but she’s preaching to the dog park. I feel that the people who need to take proactive steps are the ones we’re trying to reach: residents with unaltered pets. I’m not optimistic, but I plan to keep on trucking with like-minded folks, make as much beautiful noise as we can, and continue to work with our shelter and not against it. It’s a real bringdown when two entities who want the same result but don’t agree on the methods can’t work together for a solution, be it government or animal welfare.
A description of ACS’s accomplishments in the past year can be accessed here.
“Some days you’re the dog; some days you’re the hydrant.”
~ Unknown
Virtually Pets
The following are two glamour shots taken by ACS photog Sara Cozolino:
Moxie, ID#A504968
Moxie has plenty of it. This 4-year-old blue-eyed chocolate-point mix was found as a scruffy stray and was restored to her full beauty by shelter staff.
Kimmel, ID#A506438
According to shelter staff, 7-month-old Kimmel was named for his ability to make people laugh. Pit bulls, when properly friended, can be utter clowns.
Both pets can be found on the shelter side of the Pitchford Companion Animal Village at 7700 East Spring St., (562) 570-PETS.
Martin Needs a Foster—and Probably a Home
I’m a cat person. I love dogs, and I’ve loved dogs, but I’ve never fallen in love with a dog. This changed during our last Fix Long Beach event at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. park (yes, he was named after the great leader) when we found this little guy running around the busy streets with a collar but no tag or chip. Another volunteer and I picked him up—he was so friendly—and we brought him to a local vet. The entire time in the car, he looked at me and listened to me, and I felt as if he had an old, wise soul. He’s well named. He seems to be a terrier mix about a year old and 12 pounds in weight. He’s been neutered, given a much-needed bath, and has received all his shots. He seems to be a very good boy and needs out of boarding. My cats won’t let me keep him, so can anyone local foster this little guy until we know if he belongs to someone? If so, please e-mail [email protected].
Pet Projects
Saturday, Oct. 19, spcaLA October Mobile Adoption, PetSmart, Long Beach Towne Center, 7631 Carson Blvd., Long Beach, 10AM–3PM
Can’t make it to an spcaLA Pet Adoption Center? We’ll come to you! Meet our adorable adoptables at the Town Center PetSmart!
Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic, sponsored by Friends of Long Beach Animals, Saturday, Oct. 26, 1950 Lemon Ave., Long Beach, 7AM–approximately 3:30PM
We’re at our tenth clinic, and we seem to be making headway, with over 300 pets spayed or neutered and an exponentially (gad, I love that word) number pets not being born—animals who’ll wind up dumped, mistreated and/or euthanized. The clinic’s appointment list is filled for this session, but there is a waiting list at 7AM. No appointments are necessary for low-cost inoculations for dogs and cats, microchipping, deworming and defleaing meds, and nail trimming.
“The demand is so high that we can’t keep up!” founder Claudia Hoffman proclaimed in a Facebook post—and how encouraging is that?
These mobile veterinary clinics can cost up to $3,500, and donations are needed and appreciated. To donate, visit Fix Long Beach’s Facebook page or their website.
Saturday, Oct. 26, spcaLA’s Sixth Annual Howl-o-ween Spooktacular, spcaLA Marketplace at the Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, 1–3PM
Join the fun! Win prizes for the best, scariest, funniest and best homemade pet costumes. Pets will have their own trick-or-treat as well as bobbing for “apples” and hide-a-treat games (a pet’s answer to geocaching!). There will be free agility play with equipment like jumps, tunnels and the A-frames and, of course, vendors, giveaways and prize drawings.
Sunday, Oct. 27, Haute Dog Howl’oween Parade and Fair, Marina Vista Park, 5335 Eliot St. (by E. Colorado Street and Santiago Avenue), 12:30–4:30PM
After your pet has recovered from all the partying on Saturday, bring him or her to the world’s largest Halloween event for pets, with an expected attendance of over 500 pets and even more gawkers. Be your buddy a zombie, a political figure or a transspecies dresser, he or she is eligible for great prizes and a bagful of fun! There will be vendors, games, awards for best costumes for humans and pets and for floats, and a bulldog-kissing booth. Best of all, funds from the event go to spay/neuter programs, adoption/rescue groups, Operation Santa Paws and other Long Beach service projects. Registration is $10 per pet ($35 for VIP, which gives you and your pet placement in the parade’s forefront. Halloween will be here before you can say “Boo,” so click here to register your pet.
…and if you like Dr. Doolittle and how he talks to the animals, join Friends of Long Beach Animals at the Howl’oween parade!
Sunday, Nov. 10, Pet Foster Class, P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 East Spring St., Long Beach, CA, 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, prior to attending a foster class. We provide the food, materials and pet—you provide a temporary loving home! For more info, call (323) 730-5300 x300 or e-mail [email protected].
Sunday, Nov. 17, Third Annual Holiday Bone-Anza Event, Presented by Friends of El Dorado Dog Park, Good Neighbor Park, 2800 Studebaker Rd., 10AM–4PM
Join the Friends of El Dorado Dog Park for an afternoon of shopping, eating, music, opportunity drawings and playing in the snow (curb your dog). Click here for links to information and forms about the Draw Your Dog Contest for kids, vendor space and registration. The park is scheduled to open soon, so enjoy this great fund-raiser for it!