Pet Literary Launch (Watch Them Enjoy Shaggy People Stories)
In the spirit of National Library Month and Long Beach Poetry Month, there will be two artistic events involving humans and dedicated to quality of life for animals this week. The first, Pet Literary Launch, takes place April 14 at Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring St. in Long Beach from 3–4 p.m. The event will focus on enriching the “village” atmosphere of the facility’s environment and increasing the adoptability of the animals. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the animal you take home with will quote Edna St. Vincent Millay or, worse yet, insist that you go out and purchase the full Harry Potter series in hardback, but it will help accustom them to the soothing voice of a human reader and add to their socialization with people. Anyone who’s read to children, including child readers, are well aware of the bond that’s formed between reader and listener, and most domestic animals are great listeners anyway (with the exception of “Quit clawing the sofa!”). Not only that, but anything that encourages any age or species to read is wonderful in our book, especially if it increases visits to our beleagured library system. To volunteer to read or just attend for the fun of it, contact [email protected] or call (562) 570-PETS at Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring St. in Long Beach, (562) 570-PETS.
Friends of Long Beach Animals ‘Benefit for the Animals’: Curtain Up, and No Clawing
Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA) has a delightful April evening planned at the Long Beach Playhouse that will entertain the public and at the same time help get out the word about spay/neuter and humane education. Enjoy a 7:30 performance of Sabrina Fair, a romantic love-triangle comedy set in the bon-vivant atmosphere of 1950s Long Island, New York. Enjoy the reception at 6:30 p.m., with an hors d’oeuvres spread and chocolate goodies of all sorts (including pretzels) for intermission dessert; a reception bar; piano entertainment by Ralph Brunson; and door prizes, including FOLBA’s famous Dine-out Package, with a value of $369. At 7:30, see a performance of Sabrina Fair, a romantic love-triangle comedy set in the bon-vivant atmosphere of 1950s Long Island, New York. Dr. Loren Eslinger, the veterinarian for Long Beach Animal Care Services, will be honored as the 2009 Hero to Animals. Pets aren’t invited to this one—they’ll jump up on the buffet table and lick the faces of the actors. Tickets are $25 on a donation basis; all funds will go toward spay/neuter and humane education.
For tickets, visit:
• Belmont Pets and LaunderPet, 3429 E. Broadway, (562) 433-3605
• Bixby Knolls LaunderPet, 4102 Orange Ave. # 113, (562) 427-2551
• Go Dogs Go, 3440 N. Los Coyotes Diagonal, (562) 421-9797
• Seal Beach LaunderPet, 318 Main St., Seal Beach, (562) 430-7196
• Wiskers, 4818 E. 2nd St., (562) 433-0707
• CosmoPAWlitan Boutique, 4107 Viking Way Long Beach, (562) 354-6040
Or call FOLBA at (562) 988-SNIP (7647)
Email: [email protected]
The Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim St. in Long Beach.
Tawny, shown here with her fond human companion Chris Torres, is the first-place winner of the Best-Dressed Dog award in Saturday’s Bunny Bash at Wiskers in Belmont Shore. A veritable Judy Garland in Easter Parade, Tawny nonetheless shows how she feels about parading about like the Flopsy bunnies. She may have been mollified by her gifts: an 11-by-14-inch portrait by Pet Photo Pros, a brushing and bath at the Pet Spaw at Wisker’s and, just what every—er, lady dog covets, a pearl necklace for pups from Mood Swings of Long Beach.
While we’re at Wiskers, we’d like you to meet Skittles, a calm little girl who slept and stretched her way through the doggie promenade through the store from noon to 5 p.m. The Friends of Long Beach Animals brought her in from ACS; she had too much “cage competition” while there, and FOLBA figured she’d do better at Wisker’s. Skittles seems to be saying, “Please, may I leave the room?” If a responsible forever family is willing, she won’t even need a hall pass. Visit her at Wiskers, 4818 E. 2nd St., (562) 433-0707.
Watered-Down Promise?
Yep, we’ve heard about President Obama’s adoption of a Portuguese water dog gifted by Massachusetts State senator Ted Kennedy. Yep, we’re disappointed. Nope, we’re not going to make a big deal out of it. Yep, he made a donation to the Humane Society instead of adopting. Nope, it’s not the same thing, but money makes the world go ‘round, don’t it? Just fix the economy and keep us safe Mr. Obama, and don’t send Bo back to the breeder as his previous human companion did.