Please send any Long Beach or Seal Beach pet-related events or projects to [email protected]. Posting subject to approval.
Virtually Pets
Usually, the weekend Pet Projects features shelter or rescue animals up for adoption. This time, it’s pets found on the street by good guys who are going the extra step—sometimes entire blocks—to get the cats and dogs vetted and find them loving homes with equally dedicated humans.
Whether it’s a factor of increased social media, more pets being abandoned or born in the wild, or public awareness, there seems to be a growing lot of them. Posts on community websites like NextDoor have subject heads reading “Anyone Missing This Cat?” and “Found Dog,” and the thread can wind up as much with trying to adopt out the animal as finding the pet’s person. Facebook page Community Bulletin Board: Cats Needing Homes features abandoned cats and found litters of kittens, particularly now during kitten season; other FB pages devoted to lost and found pets feature as many animals who’ve been picked up from the streets as it does lost pets; again, it often ends up with finding a home for the pets. That’s always the case for kittens.
Here are three examples of foundlings rescued and cared for by good people who regularly find themselves doing this for no reason other than the welfare of a cat or a dog. If any of these little fellows win your heart, please contact the rescuers below.
Gratitude and admiration go out to everyone in the community who has rescued at least one pet from an unfortunate ending. Sadly, these animals are only a small sample of ones that are abandoned to or born on the street. Thankfully, there also seems to be a growing number of good guys.
These pretty little kittens were rescued from a pallet of cardboard; if they hadn’t been, they would have been crushed by the refuse company. However, a refuse employee pulled them out, and a volunteer from the Shoestring City Ranch brought them over to the ranch. The personnel and volunteers bottle-fed the kittens and kept them warm and healthy. They’re now ready to go home, particularly the little guy who seems ready to kiss a hand.
Shoestring City Ranch is located on Carson Street in Lakewood. The ranch is an educational organization that permanently houses rescued horses and farm animals, cares for them, and invites the public—urban schoolkids in particular—to learn about care and experience a way of life that they wouldn’t otherwise have seen. Their good works extend to other animals, and the kittens are an example. Karen Thompson, Shoestring’s founder and director, had only one comment: “Please spay and neuter your cats!” Nothing more needs to be said.
If you’re interested in adoption or foster, text 562.818.7930 or contact Thompson at [email protected].
This sweet boy was found in North Long Beach by a couple of young good Sams—and his caregivers named him Sammy. The vet that they brought Sammy to said that it was his lucky day as he would not have lasted much longer on the street alone.
Sammy’s a senior dog who has been suffering from extreme malnutrition and severe arthritis. He’s in constant pain. He’s also looking for someone with a heart to give him a warm, loving home and live the rest of his life pain free. He also has a donation page for vet bills; if you want to help in this effort, please visit this link. If you want to adopt Sammy, please e-mail the rescuers at [email protected].
This funny little face just appeared on a local cat person’s doorstep one evening. She opened a can of food for him, and of course, you know what happened next. His rescuer got him to a vet immediately to have him neutered, and they also tested him for the feline FIV/FELv (he was negative on both). He also has gotten his starter vaccination and an appointment for his next vacs next month. He is very sweet and a little on the timid side, but he’s a true lover and seems to get along with his rescuer’s other three cats. Four is too many, and she’d love to find him a good home.
The rescuer named him Felix for obvious reasons. Felix is a 10-month-old tux and doesn’t respond to his name yet, so if you’re interested in him, you can give him one that sticks. Email [email protected] if you’re interested in adopting him.
Once again, thank you, everyone who act as more than a voice for animals.
Mark Your Calendars (the People Way)
Friends of Long Beach Animals’ (FOLBA) Student Essay/Poetry Contest
Entries accepted until June 1; email entries to [email protected]
Free to enter
If you know a young person who has a passion for animal welfare, this competition is a great way to start him or her on the path to communicating the importance of it to others. This year’s theme, “Be Kind to Animals,” is open to students in two categories, and cash prizes of $100 for first place, $50 for second place and $25 for third place will be offered for each category. Each entry may be no more than 250 words and one page in length; only one entry per student will be accepted. Be sure to include the following: first and last names, home address, phone number, grade level and school name (indicate if homeschooled).
All winners will receive award certificates, and all participants will receive certificates of participation. Winners will be contacted by June 10 and will be invited to read their essay or poem at the FOLBA membership meeting on Thursday, June 16. Winning essays and poems will be published on the FOLBA website.
CATalina Wine Mixer
May 14, Saturday, Pussy & Pooch Pet Lifestyle Center, 9388 S. Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills
$50 general, $75 VIP
Want to hobnob with the coolest cats in town? Pet boutique and veritable animal social club Pussy & Pooch is presenting this elegant (the cats will have it no other way) fund-raiser for FixNation, another great TNR organization, located in Sun Valley. Sip the night away, listen to some good jazz, participate in raffles, and know that your donation is making a difference to the lives of cats who frequently don’t have the option of enjoying a good home. The flyer says that cats are welcome, but you’d better check with Fluffy first—cats usually like to stay in their pajamas at home. Tickets can be purchased here.
Helen Sanders CatPAWS Bowling Fund-Raiser
Saturday, May 14; 2:00PM–5:00PM, Westminster Lanes, 6471 Westminster Boulevard, Westminster
Donations requested
Hit a strike for the “spare” kitties that Helen Sanders CatPAWS has waiting with their foster humans! You don’t have to be a champion bowler to join in–every ball can go into the gutter as long as you’re there to have a great time, enjoy an opportunity drawing, and fund-raise for these wonderful cats, many of whom were pulled from shelters to find them permanent, loving homes. Check out the information on the flyer.
Frostbites Fund-Raiser for spcaLA
Wednesday and Thursday, May 18 and 19, noon to 11:00PM, Frostbites, 1827 Ximeno Avenue, Long Beach
Prices according to menu
Oh, ice cream, ice cream! Who doesn’t love it! This is the greatest way, aside from adopting one yourself, to support the pets at spcaLA at the Pitchford Companion Animal Village. Bring in the flyer below or show it on your mobile device from the cashier, and 20 percent of your purchase will be donated to spcaLA. Get four scoops!
Fix Long Beach (FLB) Spay/Neuter Clinic, dogs only for spay/neuter; cats and dogs welcome for shots and microchips. This month’s clinic is generously sponsored by the Second and Third districts
Saturday, May 21, 7:30AM–4:00PM, Houghton Park, 6500 Atlantic Avenue (near Jordan High), 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 vouchers for free procedures for them! These clinics are generously sponsored through Hope for Paws and Eldad Hagar.
Guidelines for FLB clinics 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!
spcaLA May Foster Class
Saturday, May 21; 10:00AM–noon, spcaLA PD Pitchford Companion Animal Village and Education Center, 7700 East Spring Street, Long Beach
Free event—spcaLA provides all the supplies. Foster parents provide the home and the TLC.
Want to help pets? Become a foster parent by submiting an application and attending a foster class. Application available here. Please call 323.730.5300, ext. 300, for more info. We can’t do it without you!
Sunday, May 22, 10:30AM step-off, Ocean Boulevard at Cherry Avenue, Long Beach
Free
Support Pride in your connections with two-legged and four- (and sometimes three-) legged creatures who share the planet. Long Beach Animal Care Services will be marching in the Pride Parade again this year. The route will continue down Ocean Boulevard and end at Alamitos Avenue.
Friends of Long Beach Animals’ Sixth annual Hounds on the Hill Event
Saturday, May 28, 11:00AM–2:00PM, Signal Hill Park, 2175 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach
Free
Join Friends of Long Beach Animals for a terrific pet-friendly event that features contests, live music, demonstrations, children’s activities, pet adoptions, and vendors of pet supplies and accessories as well as a low-cost pet-vaccination and microchip clinic. At that hour, you won’t see the sun going down, but the eyes in your head will be delighted.
Divas for Doggies (and Kitties, Too) Drag Show Fund-Raiser
Sunday, June 25, 3:00PM–6PM, Hamburger Mary’s Long Beach, 330 Pine Avenue, Long Beach
$5 donation
Glitter for the pets! Anderson Real Estate Group is putting on a drag-show fund-raiser at Hamburger Mary’s to benefit spcaLA hosted by the one and only Jewels. Proceeds from the donations and silent auction will benefit the spcaLA P. D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village & Education Center in Long Beach.
Ongoing
Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS): Free Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinics, once monthly; Low-Cost Vaccination Clinics, scheduled days Monthly. Locations vary.
See flyer on web page for pricing of services
Beginning this Sunday, February 21, the Society for California Veterinary and Vaccine Care (SCVVC) will offer free spay/neuter procedures and wellness services to residents of the cities served by ACS: Long Beach, Signal Hill, Cerritos, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach. During the remaining weeks of the month, Spay/Neuter Project Los Angeles (SNP/LA) will offer low-cost vaccines, nail trimmings and topical flea treatment for residents of the same areas. Click link for locations and times and click the links next to each event for vaccine pricing and other details.
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:. Microchips, flea treatment and nail trimmings also available.
Reserve a Humane Education Presentation for Your Classroom, Scout Troop or Anywhere That Pets and Kids Come Together
spcaLA Friends for Life Summer Camp
June through August, Monday through Friday; Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring Street, Long Beach
Details on website
Paws down, it’s the best camp around! spcaLA Friends for Life Summer Camp™ is for kids 8 through 13 years old. At camp, kids learn the basics of pet care and responsibility, respect for all animals, and the beginnings of dog training, all while making new friends on a number of legs! There are several sessions still available, each running Monday through Friday. Registration details and session schedule are available here.