Adopt a Special Senior!

Please send any Long Beach or Seal Beach pet-related events or projects to [email protected]. Posting subject to approval.

Virtually Pets

Photo by Jim Nista

As you can see, I’ve fallen madly in love. This guy’s name is Tigger, and he’s a 13-year-old senior male tabby. He has a few medical issues—the cauliflower ear is a mystery but not a part of the issues; in fact, it adds to his charm. And the veterinary staff at Long Beach Animal Care Services has been working hard to get him completely well.

Tigger, ID#A562027, Photo by Sara Cozolino

And since you’ve asked, I have three cats at home and cannot take on a fourth, so we need a home for this swell senior. Senior cats and dog are as entitled to a loving home as are kittens and puppies. People who turn their older pets in because they’ve become tired of them and want a “new model” are a step below people who trade in their spouses for flashier models—the pets have absolutely no option other than euthanasia or adoption. Tigger was one of these—he was a shelter surrender who wasn’t cared for or obviously about. This should change.

The video featuring a canoodling scene between Tigger and ACS Adoption Coordinator Jill Prout says more about what kind of a companion Tigger would be than I ever could. If you can give him a good home, visit him in the shelter’s cat room in the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 East Spring Street, Long Beach. Enter through the El Dorado Park entrance; no charge for ACS parking.

Video by Jim Nista 

Going Up and Down in the Right Direction

Nobody likes statistical charts, but these stats are too good not to post. There will be a full report on ACS’s open house, but these were too good not to make available right now.

Graphics courtesy of Long Beach Animal Care Services

 

ACS has Although the live release rates—adoption, owner return and transport have shot up sharply by more than half since 2001 and the euthanasia numbers have tumbled by nearly 4,000 since 2005, Shelter Manager Ted Stevens emphasized that what remain in the shelter to be euthanized are still more than one too many. ACS has more projects in place for this year. And really, really, it takes a community to make it happen.

Mark Your Calendars (the People Way)

Fix Long Beach (FLB) Spay/Neuter Clinic
Saturday, January 23, 7:30AM–4:00PM, Houghton Park, 6500 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach
Free to qualifying residents

The grassroots free spay/neuter organization Fix Long Beach invites you to make an appointment for your unfixed dog or get a voucher for your cat! And we have lots of spaces for male dogs! Come and get ‘em!

Guidelines are as follows:

• Low-income Long Beach residents only unless you have a pit bull! (We offer free spay/neuter for pitties in surrounding cities.) If you don’t qualify (annual salary $30,000 or lower), please Google “low cost spay/neuter” along with your zip code, and have your pet fixed at one of the suggested clinics.
• Book an appointment ASAP. Standbys are welcome. Vouchers will be given to any attendee whose pet cannot be served that day.
• If you have called or made a previous appointment, please check your voice mail for messages (be sure that it’s set up). You must call back to confirm your appointment or your spot will be given away.
• If you are 15 minutes late for your appointment, your spot will be given to someone waiting on standby. If you fail to show up for two consecutive appointments, you will be denied future service.

Fix Long Beach also offers the following services from 9AM–4PM:

• low-cost vaccines for dogs and cats $10 per shot, cash only!
• low-cost flea meds for dog and cats $10 per dose/application, cash only!
• nail trim $5, cash only!
• free microchips for pets of Long Beach residents
• free supplies for anyone that gets their pets fixed!

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (323) 413-7729

When you come, bring proof of income and Long Beach residency (these events are for Long Beach residents only.) Whether you come as standby or with an appointment, do not give your pet anything to eat or drink after 12:01AM. Dogs must be on leashes and cats must be in carriers that are specifically pet carriers! No paper bags or suitcases, please! There are no walls in the park, and we want you to ensure your pet’s safety! If you don’t own a carrier, pet supply stores like Petco and PetSmart carry inexpensive cardboard ones; they run on the average of $8.

Fix Long Beach also has a wish list for pet items to give to our client as a thank-you for helping to lower our shelter euthanasia rate and prevent the birth of more unwanted kittens and puppies.

Click the link to donate items, or bring them to the event if you find a better deal!

Let’s continue to help make Long Beach no kill, one pet at a time!

Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) Explorer Academy Recruitment Meeting, Friday, January 29, 7700 E. Spring Street, Long Beach, 5PM

If you’re 15 to 19 years old and won’t be 20 until the start of this project, and are interested in a career in animal welfare, ACS invites you to become an Animal Care Services Explorer. The purpose of the Academy is:• To provide interested young people exposure to careers in public safety and the humane treatment of animals, with opportunities to grow personally and professionally through a program of community service.

• To provide young people with the necessary knowledge and skills of animal care and control services as they pertain to serving the public as animal care professionals.
• To provide a climate emphasizing leadership and responsibility.

Visit this page for details and more information. Parents are encouraged to attend. No RSVP necessary—looking forward to meeting you!

Team spcaLA for the LA Big 5K Run/Walk and Charity Relay, Saturday, February 13 (, and Sunday, February 14, Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Avenue, Los Angeles, 8AM

Run or walk to prevent animal cruelty with Team spcaLA! Whether you’re inspired to run to protect scruffy puppies, tiny kittens, great big pit bulls, fluffy bunnies or majestic peacocks, you’ll be allowing spcaLA to prevent cruelty to all animals! Click here for details and registration. Registration closes at 11:59PM on February 5.

Ongoing

Low-Cost Pet Vaccination Clinics

First and Third Sunday of each month, 4:00PM–6:00PM, Scherer Park, 4600 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach

See flyer for pricing of each services

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. Microchips, flea treatment and nail trimmings also available. 

Monthly Mutt Mingles
Pussy & Pooch Pethouse and PawBar, 4818 E. 2nd Street, Long Beach, third Wednesday of every month
222 E. Broadway, third Thursday of every month, 6:00PM–8:00PM

Join P&P for their monthly mixer, and enjoy special treats, toasts, and plenty of in-store tail-wagging. Mutt Mingles are a great way for your dog to learn valuable social skills. It’s a chance for them to experience and interact in a social setting with food, drink and plenty of other distractions! It’s important for your dog to learn how to behave around other dogs and people so that they’ll be the stars of the dog park and the dog beach. The indoor facility provides for a very comfortable setting and fun atmosphere. Dogs may be off-leash if supervised closely by their owners. For their protection, we lock the front door so dogs are safe from the street traffic.