Before I write anything else, please note that someone is desperately crying for her stolen dog, and I desperately hope that she gets her back.
On January 15, a car with the family dog inside was stolen from the parking lot of a North Long Beach shopping center on Cherry Avenue and 68th Street. Jody Thompson had run into the Target to grab a prescription for her daughter’s medical conditions. Thompson was inside for only four minutes, but it was long enough for a truck to drive up beside the Thompsons’ Nissan Maxima and a passenger to get out and make off with the car.
Sandy
The car was recovered that evening, but the dog, a tan Chihuahua mix named Sandy, wasn’t in it, and she hasn’t been found as of this writing. There’s no explanation for how the car was made off with so quickly, but one comment on the Long Beach Post article made reference to the lack of ID on Sandy and another asked whether the car was left unlocked and running.
Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) is on watch for Sandy. According to ACS, Sandy was not microchipped and there’s no indication whether she was licensed, as the Thompsons live in an area outside ACS’s jurisdiction. The situation adds up to the perfect storm for dog theft.
And therein hangs the tale—a cautionary one, and I hope they find the dog who belongs with it. Several animal-advocacy institutions, including Last Chance for Animals and Petfinder.com, report approximately two million pets stolen each year from yards, cars, burglaries and other places. The Thompsons may have made it easy for Sandy’s theft, but had the dog worn an ID or had a microchip, the chances of her returning home would have been greater.
In Long Beach, cats and dogs must be licensed. There are a number of reasons for licensing a pet, and the relative ease of getting him or her back to the owner is one of them. And microchipping is, as far as I’m concerned, a must. When a pet is turned in to ACS, the first thing that they do is scan it for a microchip to see whom it belongs to. Most vets and many rescues are similarly equipped with scanners. Petfinder.com cites a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association that gives a return-to-owner rate for microchipped pets as over 52 percent for dogs and 38 percent for cats. Considering that only 22 percent of lost or stolen pets are reunited with their humans, those are pretty good odds.
Your vet can equip your cat or dog with a microchip. Anyone with financial hardship can get one at a reduced price from ACS (see the schedule here or under Pet Projects) or free at any Fix Long Beach event (visit their Facebook page for the schedule). If you live outside ACS’s jurisdiction in L.A. County (Long Beach, Signal Hill. Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and Cerritos), click here. If you know of any other microchip programs in the area, please post them.
No matter how much responsibility the Thompsons may have had Sandy’s theft, they don’t deserve this grief. That was a horrible way to learn a lesson. I hope that the Thompsons read this and use the information for any pets they may have. If your own pet hasn’t been licensed or microchipped, please make it happen—it’s no guarantee, but you want as many odds in your favor as possible.
And remember, the Thompsons want nothing more than to have Sandy back, and I can imagine that if Sandy’s roaming the streets and more or less uninjured, that poor girl has no idea of what’s going on and wants her people as badly as a good dog can. This video from KTLA has a good video of that truck, and Sandy’s photo is above. Best of luck to all three of them.
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
~ Josh Billings, American humorist
Virtually Pets
We’re featuring two residents of ACS today. To see more, visit this gallery, or better yet, take a trip down yourself. The shelter shares a location with spcaLA at 7700 E. Spring St. Look for the Animal Care Services entrance.
Tupac is a gorgeous, goofy American Staffie puppy who is quite playful. He will need training but seems responsive to it. He was an owner surrender because they were moving. He does not seem to react to other dogs. He is just a pup, already neutered and ready to go! Ask for ID#A526961.
Oy, that face! Can you resist it? We have trouble! Sebastian is a 7-year-old neutered male tabby who was found as a skinny, bony stray. Thanks to the care he’s received at ACS, he’s filled out quite nicely and his true personality is beginning to shine through. He has the most expressive face, is very affectionate and friendly, and likes to be held. Ask for ID#A538817.
Kibble
Major pet-specialty retailer Petco rang in the year by pulling from its brick-and-mortar and online stores all cat and dog treats made in China. By March, 2015, PetSmart will no longer sell dog and cat treats manufactured in China.
“This is something that we’ve been working on for some time and feel that it’s the right thing to do for our pets and customers,” said Erin Gray, spokeswoman for PetSmart. Gray clarified that there is no recall in place; like Petco, PetSmart will no longer stock treats from China.
Locally, Centinela has not removed any of the items made in China from their shelves and has expanded its U.S.-made selection http://www.centinelafeed.com/products/product-news/. Neither Pussy and Pooch nor LaunderPet carries items made in China.
All the treats in the Belmont LaunderPet store are good and good for your pet. Probably you, too.
“The past few years have brought headlines of tens of thousands of American pets becoming ill after eating Chinese-produced pet food, and over 1,000 pets have actually died after consuming these contaminated treats,” read a press release from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation is ongoing—the results are as yet inconclusive (read the AVMA’s report here). AVMA says that “the safest bet is to purchase domestically produced pet food and treats. Your vet will be able to give you safe and appropriate recommendations for your pet’s diet.” If your pet shows signs of unexplained and continuous vomiting, decreased appetite and movement, increased urination, and water consumption. Some of the more severe symptoms have led to the diagnoses of kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, and pancreatitis.
Pet Projects
Friends of Long Beach Animals Humane Education Program, Free, Ongoing
Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA) stands by its word when it says it actively supports teaching children kindness to and respect for animals. FOLBA has provided several copies of humane books to all of the libraries in the Long Beach Unified School District, all the Public Libraries in Long Beach and Signal Hill, as well as to Raising-a-Reader and to Mary Bethune Transitional Center (assisting homeless children who need reading improvement so they can attend regular LBUSD classes). This interactive humane education program is free to all schools in the Long Beach Unified School District, Girl and Boy Scout Troops, Long Beach Parks and Libraries and Community Groups. Basic elements of the program are as follows:
- Humane treatment of all living creatures
- Basic pet care
- Proper behavior around animals
- Responsibilities and rewards of pet ownership
- Handouts and study materials
- Follow-up activities
For information, contact: FRIENDS’ Office 562-988-7647 or Deborah Turner 562-985-3459
Low-Cost Pet Vaccination Clinics, Jan. 31, 10:00AM-11: 30AM Arbor Dog Park, 4665 Lampson Ave. Seal Beach
Pet owners must be 18 years or older. All pets must be on leashes or in carriers. Only healthy and non-pregnant animals will be vaccinated. If you have a prior rabies vaccine certificate, license tag or license renewal notice for your pet, please bring it with you to the clinic. Vaccination and microchip services are provided for pets residing in any city. Licensing service is provided for residents within our jurisdiction: Long Beach, Signal Hill, Cerritos, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach. For more service information and pricing please visit Southern California Veterinary Vaccine Clinics.
2015 Haute Dogs Bulldog Beauty Contest and Haute Dogs Pageant, Feb. 7, begins 9:30AM, Marine Stadium, Long Beach, 5225 E. Paoli Way, Long Beach
So many dogs, so many contests! Do you have a beautiful bulldog? a dog with a great smile? a super senior? Does your pooch have fashionistic tendencies? This long-running annual event is one of Haute Dogs’ most successful and promises a great time. Spectators are more than welcome! Don’t have a dog? Adopt one at this event—cats, too! Click here for event information, including registration and contests. Event benefits shelters and rescues.
Haute Dogs Long Beach Shelter Valentine’s Day Card Contest; ongoing up to Feb. 8; judging at noon, Feb. 8; Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach
Awww, who’s yer baby? Haute Dogs, Justin Rudd and Westerly School are sponsoring its annual Valentine’s Day contest for the nearly 200 pets at our shelter at Long Beach Animal Care Services. They deserve affection as much as any animal lucky enough to live in a loving, caring household, and this is an opportunity to not only provide it for pets but also to teach children this valuable lesson. Any interested K–12 student is invited to create a handmade card (with no specified pet) and send or deliver it to the shelter’s address (see headline above) before noon, Feb. 8, specifying the contest on the envelope. Entrants must write their name, grade level, the teacher’s name and school name on the back of the card. Cards will not be returned. Justin Rudd and the Long Beach Beauty Queens will host the event; the winner will receive a pizza party for his or her classmates or group of friends. And what’s Valentine’s Day without a dating service? In addition to the contest, the public is invited to come view the cards and their creators, spend time with the animals and fall in love during the special Yappy Hour from noon to 1 p.m., where punch and cookies will be served to human guests by students at Westerly School! If you’re looking for love, you’ve come to the right place. Click here for more info.