Virtually Pets
Pet Projects, The Scratching Post and The Vet Is In all focus on pets and pets that should have been pets but wound up on the skids. Trying to be objective in a news article is a challenge, and I attempted it the other day in one that I wrote about an effort by volunteers to maintain several colonies at Knott’s Berry Farm at no cost to the park itself (“LB Volunteer Goes to Bat for Knott’s Berry Farm Mousers,” October 5, 2016).
Now, I’ll cut to the jingle-bell-ball chase: Knott’s management is being deliberately opaque in its dealings and seems to be taking a pretty heartless approach for a park that touts itself as providing “quality, wholesome family activity.” Maybe it takes the magic of a certain nearby kingdom where the cats are cared for to make this happen.
I did visit the park with the volunteers during the day when the cats aren’t so much in evidence. I did see a couple, but boy, howdy, I also smelled them. The telephone tower area that Kristi Louie, her family and others took such pains to clear up, was locked. Volunteer Christine Lee had described it as a litter box back then, and it’s reverted to its stinky state. Why prevent people from accessing the grounds and surroundings to keep it clean and the cats spayed or neutered, fed and cared for? And I won’t mention the roosters, hens and one bird that I cannot identify (can anyone?) that are outside the park (oh dear, I’m afraid I did). Some are in deplorable condition; according to the volunteers, there are too many roosters for the number of hens there. Yes, I’m tempted to make some crack about the chicken restaurant there, but I won’t. Oops, there I go again. Naughty me.
This is real fowl play: Where did this gorgeous bird come from? Photo by Kate Karp
Alley Cat Allies has designated October 16 as National Feral Cat Day, and there will be observations all over the country (click the link to see what everyone’s doing). There are opportunities for helping and learning.
Mayor Robert Garcia has shown his support of National Feral Cat Day in this declaration. Courtesy of the office of Mayor Robert Garcia.
And if you’re glued to the screen watching election news, navigate over to the links to sign the Change.Org petition that asks Knott’s Berry Farm management to allow the volunteers to care for the cats, and if you have any money, dark or light, left over from campaign contributions, to support the effort, there’s a YouCaring fund.
If you want to go a step or two further, these guys had ignoble beginnings or unfortunate ownership issues. They were found as strays and have earned their stripes, so to speak, on the street. They’re available for adoption into loving, forever homes at Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 East Spring Street (at the entrance to the El Dorado Park Nature Center) in Long Beach. No parking fee for shelter visitors. Be sure to go through the admissions door with the 1 Too Many sign over it and go for the cat cottages. There are so many good cats!
Klondike is a domestic shorthair brown tabby, just a little guy at five months old. It would be so much fun to play with him, care for him, and raise him into the beautiful adult he promises to be. Ask for ID#A575451.
Three-year-old Bobbi, as you can see, loves to pose seductively and give visitors a come-hither look. Bobbi is ready for her close-up, and not necessarily with a camera. She wants to cuddle up close to a forever owner. Ask for ID#A576308.
Mark Your Calendars (the People Way)
16th Annual Interfaith Blessing of the Animals
Sunday, October 15, 5:40PM, Granada Avenue Boat Launch, 1 Granada Avenue (next to Rosie’s Dog Beach), Long Beach
Free event
Animals may be blessed already, but it sure doesn’t hurt to send good thoughts toward their treatment. Justin Rudd’s nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT) and Haute Dogs invite the public to bring their pets to this free event at sunset (if your pet hates to travel or has passed to the Rainbow Bridge, bring a photo). Farm animals, including ponies, alpaca, llamas, goats, sheep, bunnies, ducks and horses will be there, too. Free parking. See more here.
Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic
Saturday, October 22, 7:30AM–4:00PM, Houghton Park, 6500 Atlantic Avenue (near Jordan High), Long Beach
Free to qualifying residents; free microchips; low-cost shots ($10 each); $10 flea med doses
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 your dog or cat! These clinics are generously sponsored through Hope for Paws and Eldad Hagar.
Visit this link for qualifications and an application for your appointment. There is also a donation button to help Fix Long Beach continue their efforts. Click the organization’s Amazon Wish List 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!
Haute Dogs Howl’oween Parade and Costume Contest; Pet Adoption Fair
Sunday, October 30, 12:30PM–4:30PM, Marina Vista Park, 5355 E. Eliot Street (at the end of Marine Stadium, across from the fire station and by the tennis courts),Long Beach
Free to spectators; $5 for chair rental; $10 to reserve a seat. All proceeds go to Haute Dogs.
This is the biggest event of its kind anywhere and easily the most fun. Over 500 dogs are expected to be there in costume, with many of their humans dressed to match. Lots of contests, prizes and great times! The costume contests and parade starts at 2:25PM; register online or at the park. Please click this link for details and registration.
Dog Adoption Event
Saturday, November 5, 11:00AM–3:00PM, Pet Food Express, 4220 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach
Adoption fees apply
Find your new best friend and everything that he or she could ever want or need, in one place. Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) and other rescues will be bringing some wonderful dogs ready to go home with their new people. Everything is high quality at Pet Food Express, and that includes the adoptive pets! Check out the Cat Adoption Center while you’re there!
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.
P. D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village and Education Center Milestone Anniversary
Various locations; to October 13
spcaLA President Madeline Bernstein celebrates the 40, 000 dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and other homeless animals who have found new families through the spcaLA P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village & Education Center in the past 15 years.
“In September 2001, a group of visionary donors and animal-welfare experts came together with your spcaLA and the City of Long Beach to open the first and finest example of a public-private partnership: the spcaLA P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village & Education Center,” Bernstein said. “We’ve officially declared the space between September 17th and October 13 Barktober, and we’ve got celebratory events planned all over town! On behalf of the 40,000 animals who found their families at the Village and the millions more your spcaLA has protected from cruelty since 1877, I thank you.”
spcaLA and Long Beach Animal Care Services share the Pitchford Companion Animal Village space. To make a special anniversary donation to spcaLA, the shelter or both, click the links on each entity’s name.
Registration for Team spcaLA for the LA Marathon
Saturday, March 18, 5k; Sunday, March 19, Marathon; Dodger’s Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Avenue, Los Angeles
5k, $40; Marathon, $175
Join Team spcaLA for the LA Marathon or LA Big 5K and help stop animal cruelty with each step. Click here for details
BARK Therapy Dogs Library Appearances
Various area libraries (Long Beach events generally held on Saturdays)
Free event
Dogs love unconditionally. They don’t judge or criticize. And they love a good story. Bring your children to the library to read to these lovely therapy dogs, and watch their confidence in their reading ability grow.
BARK (Beach Animals Reading with Kids) is an all-volunteer group dedicated to increasing children’s reading skills as well as interacting with pets. Check the calendar page on the group’s website, and find out more about this terrific organization.
Free Pet Food Distributions
Food for Pets in Need provides pet food to senior, homeless, low-income and homebound residents in Long Beach who otherwise may not be able to afford adequate food to take proper care of their pets.
The Pet Food Bank is sponsored by Christian Outreach in Action. See flyer for details.