Please send any Long Beach or Seal Beach pet-related events or projects to [email protected]. Posting subject to approval.
Virtually Pets
A lot of flap and snark about pit bull breeds has really gotten a lot of people cheesed off, me included. Mind, I’m a cat person and have no desire to own a dog, pit bull or otherwise, but I’ve acquired a taste for them over the years since I’ve met my first one that was owned by a loving human being who hadn’t adopted her to guard something nefarious or intimidate people. I’ve only met one I’ve been afraid of, and that’s because his owner’s a jackass. And I know a lot of great, goofy, silly ones.
It’s upsetting to hear people say that the entire breed should be banned—one soft-spoken lady at an adoption event gave me her strong opinion that they should all be killed. I held my tongue—the most soft-spoken reply I could think of to say was, “Don’t talk about my friends like that.” Of course, they’re a powerful breed and owners need to be able to handle their strength and enthusiasm, but yeah, if I wanted a dog, I’d consider one.
Here’s one for you to consider, and she was rescued by an entire organization of cat people.
Kitty Katchers of Lakewood found Pebbles tied to a shopping cart rack at the Signal Hill PetSmart in the pouring rain. She was sent to the shelter for four months and then moved to a boarding facility and lives in a dog run. She is approximately six years and very sweet to people. She needs a home where she would be the only pet. You, maybe?
And I’d be remiss to not include a couple of Kitty Katchers cats who also have special needs:
Lala and Sylvester are 6-month-old kittens with a non-life-threatening condition called cerebral hypoplasia (CP). They’re adorable and sweet, with ears forever, and real lap sitters. They’ll both walk like the Minister of Silly Walks for the rest of their lives, but in a loving home, these lives will be as long as that of any otherwise normal kitty!
To adopt any of these pets or see more of the ones who are beneficiaries of Kitty Katchers’ kindness, email [email protected] or call (562) 254-0558.
Countin’ the Days in Humane Ways
It seems as if every year, numerous pet calendars crop up faster than you can say “penthouse.” They aren’t the ones you can buy online or at bookstores—full-color glossies of strangers with fur, feathers or scales adorning each month. The pets in these calendars live in actual homes—maybe yours—and are selected through donations to pet rescues. I figured that a separate section is in order until the entry deadline. Pick your pet picture and enter!
Helen Sanders CatPAWS “Show Us Your Kitties” Calendar Fund-Raiser
To September 15, 8:00PM, at this link
$5 donation per initial entry, $1 donation for each subsequent vote
This is the last day to show us your kitties! CatPAWS’ annual Calendar Contest Fund-Raiser has begun! Submit photos of your beautiful cats and kittens for a chance to be featured in the 2018 Show Us Your Kitties Calendar! It’s simple—submit an entry photo of your cat or every cat that has touched your heart. The 12 cats that raise the most donations in the form of votes will have their photos featured as one of the months in the calendar, and the cat or kitten with the most total votes will be featured on the cover. All donations will cover CatPAWS’s rescue efforts and medical bills. Let’s honor all those cats or kittens we’ve been privileged to love and raise money for those who haven’t had the chance yet. Submit your photos here and read the full set of rules.
Friends of El Dorado Dog Park Holiday Bone-anza and Calendar Contest
Sunday, November 19, 10AM–4:00PM (Calendar Contest Entry Deadline September 30), El Dorado Dog Park, 7550 East Spring Street, Long Beach
Calendar Contest free to enter: Bone-anza free to attend
Friends of El Dorado Dog Park is announcing its third-annual Pet Photo Calendar Contest and fund-raiser. The top winner will be on the cover page, and the next 12 winners will each have their own calendar month. The Calendar Contest winners will be announced at 11:00AM at the Holiday Bone-Anza. The 2018 calendar will be available to purchase for $20 at the event. Even if your entry isn’t selected as a winner, every dog entered will be spotlighted in the calendar. Application is available here.
This year’s Bone-anza will be a fun-filled event featuring food trucks, vendors for your holiday shopping, contests, a DJ featuring Christmas sounds, elves, your doggie’s photo with Santa, and a silent auction and raffle featuring great gifts from our sponsors.
All proceeds from both the calendar and the event will go to support enhancements of the El Dorado Dog Park.
Places to Go, Pets to Support
National Adoption Weekend at PetSmart
Friday–Sunday, September 15–17, noon–5:00PM, Towne Center PetSmart, 12741 Towne Center Drive, Long Beach
Adoption fees apply—20 percent of fees will go to animals affected by the hurricane
Make life good for one pet and make the lives of others much better! Thank you, Little Lion Foundation!
Turtle and Tortoise Care Society Tortoise Show
Saturday, September 16, 10:00AM–3:00PM, El Dorado Nature Center, 7550 East Spring Street, Long Beach
Free to attend, $7 parking fee
Shellback lovers, enjoy a family-fun day at the Nature Center checking out and interacting with a wide variety of turtles and tortoises!
spcaLA September Foster Class
Saturday, September 16, 10:00AM–noon, P. D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village and Education Center, 7700 East Spring Street, Long Beach
Free event—they provide supplies, and you provide the home and love. No parking fee for Village visitors.
Want to help a cat or a dog become adoptable? Submit an application (available here) and then come to a foster class!
Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic
Saturday, September 23, 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!
Volunteer Meeting for the Friends of El Dorado Dog Park’s Holiday
Sunday, September 24, 1:00PM, El Dorado Bar & Grill, 3014 N. Studebaker Road, Long Beach
Free
Friends of El Dorado Dog Park (FEDDP) is gearing up for the sixth annual Holiday Bone-Anza, and we couldn’t do it without our star volunteers! So please mark your calendar, and let’s make this a fun and exciting day for everyone. Our goal is to get drinking fountains in the small and large dog park, and we need you to help get our doggies hydrated! The event will take place November 19 at El Dorado Park and will include vendors, crafters, Santa visits, a silent auction and, what else, elves. And we don’t mean Chihuahuas! Please help us make this great event happen! More details on our website.
Pet Adoption Event at PFE
Saturday, October 7, 11:00AM–3:00PM, Pet Food Express, 4220 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach
Adoption fees apply
Find your new BFF 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, featuring fine felines from Long Beach Animal Care Services and Stray Cat Alliance.
K9’s Uncorked Benefit for the Pups
Saturday, October 21, 5:00PM–8:00PM, Harvey Girls Gallery, 130 ½ Main Street, Seal Beach
Ticket prices $35 online, $40 at door
Who doesn’t love wine and food? Better yet, who doesn’t love animals? Join the K9 Kismet rescue for the fund-raising party of the year in the swell little beach community of Seal Beach! In addition to wine and food (human and dog) tastings, we will have live jazz music, adoptable dogs, a silent auction, a raffle, boutique shopping and a glass-etching class (bring your own wineglass)! Costume up yourself and your dog, and come on and paw-ty! Sponsorship donation and tickets can be purchased here. You do not want to miss this one!
Ongoing
Free Pet Food Distributions
Papa, a big “teddy bear’ of a dog, sits with his human in Ashlee’s Pet Care station at Beacon for Him.
Beacon for Him has extended an outreach for people experiencing homelessness and their pets. Pet food, primarily dog food, is available at their facility at 439 West Anaheim Street, Mondays from 9:00AM to noon and Saturdays from noon to 3:00PM. A dog-washing station with a stainless-steel tub is also available onsite at these hours. Donations and supplies such as shampoo, flea control and, of course, pet food are always gratefully accepted.
The Pet Food Bank is sponsored by Christian Outreach in Action. COA is located at 515 E 3rd St, Long Beach. Hours are Thursday from 9:00AM to 11:00AM.
Shelter-Enrichment Supplies Needed for ACS Dogs!
Drop-off: Wednesdays through Fridays, 10:00AM–5:30PM and Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00AM–4:00PM, 7700 East Spring Street, Long Beach
Individual donations requested
ACS is continuing our kennel enrichment activities for our canine guests here and could use so more donations (there are plenty for the cats!). Here is what’s needed:
- creamy peanut butter
- yogurt
- beef broth (canned or in the box)
- chicken broth (canned or in the box)
- incense
- carabiner clips (heavy duty)
- ice cube trays
Donations are tax deductible. Our pups say thanks so much!
Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) Information for Low-Cost Vaccinations and Spay/Neuter Clinics
7700 East Spring Street at entrance to El Dorado Park (no fee for shelter visitors), Long Beach
Prices vary
Vouchers that take a big bite, so to speak, out of the cost of spay/neuter procedures are available at ACS during their public hours. Visit this link for information on clinics that accept the vouchers and for other spay/neuter assistance.
For low-cost vaccines, visit this link. Note that pet owners must be 18 years or older, all pets must be on leashes or in carriers, and only healthy and non-pregnant animals will be vaccinated. Please bring prior vaccination information with you to the clinic. Vaccination and microchip services are provided for pets residing in any city. Licensing is provided for residents within our jurisdiction at Saturday clinics; please bring your renewal notice and rabies certificate with you.