With sadness, the Pet Post announces the passing of Dr. Loren Eslinger, DVM, ABVP, on Dec. 10. Dr. Eslinger was the former owner of the Belmont Shore Animal Hospital and a volunteer for Animal Care Services (formerly Long Beach Animal Control) since the late 1980s. She expressly lived her work and passion, which was concern for the well-being of animals, from her heart outward.
Dr. Eslinger’s contributions to the welfare of animals included more than 20 years of volunteer work for the LBAC rabies clinic and acting as organizer of volunteer veterinarians, which she did up to her death.
“She set us on a new course,” said John Keisler, ACS bureau manager.
Dr. Eslinger conducted daily evaluations of impounded animals in order to diagnose conditions and recommend care, created new policies for medical record keeping and developed new veterinary protocols to improve herd health, vaccinations and humane euthanasia. Keisler said that she rebuilt strategic partnerships with the local veterinary community by establishing the first Veterinary Roundtable, which laid groundwork for the current spay and neuter program. Veterinary Roundtables meet biannually to discuss strategies to address pet overpopulation.
She also established the city’s first veterinary premise permit, which Keisler said put her vet license and DEA registration on the line at a critical point in the shelter’s history. In 2008, Dr. Eslinger left retirement and stepped in as ACS’s consulting vet. In this capacity, along with her work over the years, she “set us on a new course,” according to Keisler. Her work with spay/neuter education and outreach led to 600 fewer impounds, and there were 300 more adoptions, redemptions and rehabs than in previous years from 2008 to 2009 as well as a 14 percent improvement of live release rate from 2008 to 2009. Healthwise, there were no reported outbreaks of upper respiratory infection, otherwise known as kennel cough, this year and fewer animal euthanizations from health problems. During this time, she was wrestling with a second bout with cancer (she had successfully recovered from a previous fight), which had led to her retirement, but she put her health issues aside to be part of what she saw as a greater need.
“To give you a sense of her commitment and persistence, her condition was so severe that she often came directly from her chemotherapy or radiation treatments to see her patients daily at ACS,” Keisler said. “Her doctor warned that a bite or scratch could easily become infected and may be fatal. Sometimes, she labored just to take full breaths but was always optimistic and committed to ensuring that the animals were evaluated—for 18 months [she worked]! She did this up until just a few weeks before she was forced into hospice care. Dr. Loren Eslinger breathed life into this organization in its vision to make Long Beach the safest large city in California.”
During her final year, Dr. Eslinger received the 2009 Friends of Long Beach Animals Hero to Animals Award and the 2009 Long Beach ACS’s One Too Many Award for helping to reduce pet overpopulation. In all, she was a mentor to the community and staff, both human and animal.
“Dr. Loren Eslinger meant more to the animals then life itself,” said a close friend. “She will be sorely missed, was one of a kind and can never be replaced. She always went above and beyond to help the shelter animals for years, and all our lives will not be the same without her, a dear friend.”
A service and reception will be held at Covenant Presbyterian this Saturday, December 19, beginning at 3 p.m. The service is open to the public, and everyone connected to Dr. Eslinger in any way is encouraged to attend.
Contributions in honor of Dr. Eslinger may be made to the Dr. Loren Eslinger Spay and Neuter Fund. The fund will be used for the expressed purposes of supporting the following activities:
• spay and neuter procedures
• public education and promotion of spay and neuter
• professional development and/or research to end overpopulation
• development of a long-term program for spay and neuter in the City of Long Beach
It is not intended that these funds will be used for administrative purposes or salaries for existing services at Animal Care Services. To contribute, make checks payable to Animal Care Services and send to Long Beach Animal Care Services, Attn: Dr. Loren Eslinger Spay and Neuter Fund, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, CA 90815.
John Keisler, ACS bureau manager, contributed to this obituary.
The best doctor in the world is the veterinarian. He can’t ask his patients what is the matter—he’s got to just know.
-Will Rogers
Pet Projects
It’s heck week for holiday shopping, but there are still ways for you to bring peace and love to animal friends. Operation Santa Paws gift distribution takes place Saturday, 11:15 a.m., at Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring St., and continues to Seal Beach Animal Care Center, 1700 Adolfo Lopez Dr. in Seal Beach at 1:30 p.m. and ends at Orange County Animal Care Services 561 The City Dr., at 3 p.m.
Food Finders and Friends of Long Beach Animals have teamed up to provide food for humans and their animal family members. The project will continue through January. Visit longbeach.gov/mayor/ for a list of needed donations and drop-off locations.
Virtually Pets
Winston
Winston, a lynx point Siamese mix, is shown here recuperating, with a huge bowl of chow, from a successful eye surgery. Winston, a rescue, had entropion, a condition that folds the eyelids inward and irritate the eyes. He’s a “big teddy bear,” according to his rescuers, and is now ready for a forever home and a big cuddle. If you are interested, or want to help his rescuers with the surgery bill (which was pretty hefty), contact [email protected].