Summertime isn’t summertime unless I’ve made some lame joke in my column relating to the dog days. So why break my record, especially since I’m glad to announce that every day until the end of August will be a dog day, not to mention a shed-load of advantages for cats. And their owners.
For a year, I’ve written about and volunteered for Fix Long Beach (FLB) and have praised this group’s efforts to help lower the euthanasia rate at the shelter and at the same time raise the consciousness of the community regarding the humane and health-related benefits of spaying and neutering pets. Founded by Long Beach animal rescuer Claudia Hoffmann and managed by enthusiastic teenage and adult volunteers, FLB had already fixed over 1,000 cats and dogs for free for low-income Long Beach residents. Now, in the space of two months, we’re attempting to bat 1,000 again in the spirit of FLB’S Free Summer Fix, sponsored by Hope for Paws, open to residents of Long Beach only.
In the past year, the clinic has operated in parks around the city, and FLB wound up with a still-growing waiting list of 400. This summer, through the auspices of Dr. Ajulie Voltin and the Uptown Animal Hospital in Bixby Knolls, procedures will be performed not just twice a month but every day, and they’re free.
“Their waiting list is crazy, so we decided to jump right in and give back to the community,” said Patti Hulse, Uptown’s practice manager. “We’ve never done this before, but I think it’ll be great.”
Because I can’t possibly be objective about FLB, because I’ve been too slammed to have gotten this written up two weeks ago, and because she’s done a smashing good job on reporting this, read Ashleigh Ruhl’s Grunion Gazette article here. Then, please let anybody you know who lives in Long Beach and needs to get his or her dog or cat fixed (needs in this case means “do it whether you’ve considered it or haven’t because the result of not doing it is thousands and hundred thousands of abandoned, mistreated and euthanized puppies and kittens”) but can’t afford it to click on this link to fill out the appointment form and receive other information. It’s free, so there’s no reason not to, although I imagine I’ll be reading a few attempts.
Donations are welcome and much needed; they can be made on the same page. “We are grassroots,” Hoffmann emphasized. “We also want people in other cities to be inspired by us and make this effort in their own communities.”
“And remember, folks, always spay and neuter your pets!”
~ Bob Barker
Kibble
Radical Yuth!
Speaking of enthusiastic teenage volunteers and unexpected positive publicity, one of FLB’s young volunteers, Wilson High School Student William Yuth (rhymes with youth, in fact) won the distinction of being one of ABC7’s Cool Kids. He was seen on the channel on July 17. Fix Long Beach volunteer Carla Carrarini nominated Yuth for his compassion, dedication, and desire to reach out to and educate the community about responsible pet ownership. Watch the video here.
Have You Seen Stewart?
This is the reason we wish people would quit setting off fireworks on the street. The last Scratching Post was about keeping your pets safe and sane on the Fourth of July, but I forgot to mention anything about the days surrounding the holiday, when fireworks are popping up everywhere. On July 3, Stewie jumped off his people’s balcony on the Peninsula at 9:30 at night when someone set off a blast. He’s a white pit bull terrier mix, 90 pounds and very sweet. He was seen that night running, frightened, on the beach and then spotted on the Fourth of July on Ximeno Avenue and Anaheim Street. He’s tagged and microchipped. His family misses him terribly, and there’s a little boy crying for him. If you know someone who may be caring for him or if you’ve seen him—those eyebrows are distinctive, e-mail [email protected]. The owners are offering a reward.
Rocky Mountain, Hi!
Long Beach Animal Care Services is sharing the wealth—or surplus—with other cities across the country. On July 2, shelter staff and volunteers transferred 42 kittens and three Chihuahua mixes to the Foothills Animal Shelter in Golden, Colo., which had a shortage of cats (can you imagine?) and small dogs and was having many requests for them (it gets chilly up there, and warm, breathing furry bodies do help). This was a first for the shelter but a real help to controlling ACS’s overpopulation and reducing the euthanasia rate, especially with that many cats.
The shelter effort was augmented by the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation, which paid for the van transport, and by the Stray Cat Alliance, which helped to coordinate the effort. Another transport is planned for later in the month. Everyone’s really delighted about this unique sharing effort, particularly the cats, who are speculating about the quality of the catnip grown in Colorado.
Volunteers Jessica Herrin, Darlene McInerney and Anna Wong with a kindle of kittens.
They got to ride in style, in an air-conditioned van with lots of food and water.
“Oh, yeeeeeeeeeeahhh. Can I have another pinch of that catnip?”
Happy Ending for the Peahen Family!
The patient efforts of ACS and resident Cleo DeMarco finally paid off, and Mama Hillary has been reunited with her family (click here for original story). I’ll let Cleo explain it:
Virtually Pets
Vanilla
Nut (and he is)
My cat-rescuing buddy had such good success on the last Scratching Post with adoption for her rescue kitties that she marched out of the house and brought back three more from the shelter (well, not exactly, but I don’t think that there’s an abandoned cat in Long Beach who hasn’t met her at least once). These guys are two of a set of triplets, one of whom has already been adopted. They’re both male kittens, just a few weeks old. They’ve been fully vetted with shots and checkups, and will be ready for a new forever home on July 29. E-mail [email protected] for information.
Pet Projects
Friends of Long Beach Animals’ Silver Anniversary Meeting, Wednesday, July 23, Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, 6:30 PM
Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA) invites you to join us in celebrating 25 years of supporting spay/neuter programs, humane education and our shelter through fund-raising, community activities and educational seminars as well as working toward zero euthanasia of any healthy, adoptable animal. The meet-and-greet with refreshments and entertainment begins at 6:30 p.m., and our business meeting and election of officers follow at 7 p.m. As a highlight, ME1 Ryan Cross, and his Coast Guard dog, Tomás, will make an appearance and tell us about the special job that they do. Cross and Tomás have been a team since 2009. Stationed at the Coast Guard base in San Pedro, their primary mission is the detection and deterrence of explosives in the maritime community. We’re actively looking to increase our membership with people who care as much about animals as we do. Become a part of our leadership team, and be a voice for our city’s animals!
Kittenpalooza, Saturday, July 26, spcaLA PD Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring St. (in El Dorado Park), Long Beach, 10AM – 4PM
Kittenpalooza is spcaLA’s annual cats and kittens adoption event. Adoption fees for cats and kittens are $18.77—a great rate to home one or more of these wonderful, needy babies—but adopters must meet adoption requirements.
FOLBA’s 20th Annual Benefit for the Animals, Thursday, Aug. 7, Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, 6:30PM–10:30PM (approximately), $30
Tradition? You want tradition? Have we got an event for you! It’s Friends of Long Beach Animals’ (FOLBA) long-running traditional evening of classical theater and entertainment. The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with a reception featuring “paw food” and wine, Ralph Brunson at the piano, a dine-out raffle featuring local restaurants, door prizes and a silent auction, with merchandise and services generously contributed by local businesses. The Playhouse production begins at 7:30 p.m. with Fiddler on the Roof, the Sholem Aleichim-inspired classic musical about survival in the face of changing family values and religious persecution. This year’s Hero to Animals will also be celebrated at the event.
All proceeds from ticket sales and auctions benefit Friends of Long Beach Animals, a nonprofit all-volunteer organization dedicated to humane education and the welfare of animals in shelters and homes in the Long Beach/Signal Hill area Tickets may be ordered by calling (562) 988-7647 or by visiting the following Long Beach vendors:
Belmont Pets and LaunderPet, 3429 East Broadway, (562) 433-3605
Bixby Animal Clinic, 3938 Atlantic Ave., (562) 426-4066
Bixby Knolls LaunderPet, 4102 Orange Ave., (562) 427-2551
Blue Cross Dog/Cat Hospital, 2665 East PCH, Signal Hill, (562) 494-0975
Go Dogs Go, 3440 North Los Coyotes Diagonal, (562) 421-9797
Pussy & Pooch, 4818 East 2nd St., (562) 434-7700
Wags to Whiskers, 5505 Stearns St., (562) 430-5161
“Furry Friends” Animal-Themed Art Show, Saturday, Aug. 23, Salon Pop, 2228 E. Fourth St., Long Beach, 6PM – 10PM
Enjoy art for animals’ sake at this hip location on an equally hip street! There will be drinks, refreshments and music. All proceeds—all—from the artwork will go to a local animal-rescue group.
Stray Cat Alliance Team Fund-Raiser for Strut Your Mutt, through Sept. 1, Online
Stray Cat Alliance (SCA) is presenting its major fund-raiser for the year as it calls for team members and supporters of the SCA team in Best Friends’ Strut Your Mutt fund-raising dog walk (click on the link). The walk’s mission is to help homeless dogs, and cats will not be left out. The walk itself will take place in the evening at Will Rogers State Historic Park; SCA’s Strut Your Mutt volunteer coordinator Debbie Rankin likes to call it “Date Night with your Best Fur-end.” Because cats prefer to stay at home, you can bring your dog or a friend’s dog to the event with a $30 donation, or if you can’t make it, you can join as a virtual team member or donate to the fund-raiser. Information about the fund-raiser can be found here.
The goal is to raise $25,000 by Sept. 1.
The walk is the only all-volunteer fund-raiser that SCA is holding this year to help offset operation costs and help as many cats as possible. Expenses were huge this year; they included Operation 74, in which SCA pulled 63 out of 74 hoarded cats from the shelter before they could be euthanized, vetted them and had them treated. Some are still being boarded. The organization also engages in daily trap/spay-neuter/ activities; those who can be adopted will be fostered; that takes funds, too. Rankin said that their working capital is at an all-time low.
To support or join, click here. Your donation is tax deductible, and SCA uses all funds to support their good work.
19th Annual Wag ‘n’ Walk Benefitting the Animal Care Center, Saturday, Sept. 27, Eisenhower Park at Seal Beach Pier, Main Street and Ocean Boulevard, Seal Beach, 9AM – 2PM. Registration Information Online
Join Grand Marshall Justin Rudd and his dogs Riley and POTUS in supporting the animals in residence at the Seal Beach Animal Care Center! Bring your two- and four-legged friends to stroll through Seal Beach and enjoy our animal expo, with fun for the entire family! Register online, or just come for the fun!