Please send any Long Beach or Seal Beach pet-related events or projects to [email protected]. Posting subject to approval.
Virtually Pets
Photo courtesy of Mary.
Meet Mary, one of the next-gen animal-rescue-team members. Mary’s still in high school and spends all the energy normally spent on cheerleading or whatever teenagers do these days in helping cats and dogs. Here she is with two of her second annual kitten-season rescues. They were born under her house, along with two siblings, of a mother who wasn’t having any pre- or postnatal care from any human-type caregivers.
Last year, Mary was able to rescue another single mom and her babies from her yard and get them all adopted out, with a little help from her friends at Fix Long Beach. This time, though, she couldn’t get Mom out from under the house, although the kittens were tractable. Enter Antje Hunt of the nonprofit Long Beach Spay & Neuter Foundation (LBS7N) with a trap and bait. Antje and Mary managed to trap the mother cat and also managed to track down the cat they suspected to be the father and hold him responsible as well. Both Mom and the Romeo have been fixed, and the kittens, who were old enough to survive on solid food, have been adopted out.
Mama’s babies have done well! Photos courtesy of Mary.
LBS&N volunteers have been trapping, spay/neutering (TNR) and returning cats since 1997. They were established as a nonprofit in 2004 and work to lower shelter overpopulation through both TNR and adopting out cats and a few dogs, too, that they’ve rescued from the streets and difficult home situations. They had major success with Mary’s lambies, but there are more where they came from. The following pets as well as several others can be seen here. Meanwhile, we’re looking to Mary’s being a a part of the solution in months to come.
Speaking of Romeo, meet Juliette, a young tabby lady of 2 or3. She’s very sweet and loving and gets along with other cats and also dogs! Juliette was rescued from an uncertain outdoor life and may have been left behind when the owner moved. She has been spayed, vaccinated, and microchipped and is very healthy. If you are interested in meeting this very beautiful girl please contact Antje at [email protected]. A tax-deductible adoption fee of $100 helps defray initial medical expenses.
The girl’s got legs! Betty Grable at 9 months is a beautiful “teenage” kitten. She loves to play, be picked up, and cuddled, and has a lovely purr. Betty was saved from a terrible, unsafe situation and has been lovingly cared for indoors since she was 6 weeks old. She’s good with dogs and children, and has been spayed, vaccinated and microchipped. She’s very healthy. Betty is hoping to find a forever home where she can give you her love and company. If you are interested in adopting Betty Grable please contact Antje at [email protected]. A tax deductible fee of $125 helps to cover the initial medical costs.
Jacob is a 5-year-old neutered boy who isfunny and playful loves to be on his present owner’s lap while watching TV or reading. Hehas never hissed, bitten or growled and is always in good spirits. He’s up to date with all his shots and is housetrained, and is good with children and other cats. Jacob would make a great pet for a nice family. His owner has to care for an elderly relative and needs to relocate to her residence, where pets are not allowed. If you’d like a great orange cat, as are all orange cats, e-mail [email protected].
To make a donation to LBS&N to help further their works, click this link.
Mark Your Calendars (the People Way)
The Amazing Acro Cats , with the Rock Cats
May 6–9, Friday through Monday, Art Theater of Long Beach, 2025 E. 4th Street, Long Beach
$26 general admission; $36 for VIP (service fees apply)
OMG, the circus is in town, and in the best possible way. Even though you may not be able to herd cats, they can be trained, and doubtless they enjoy every minute of it. You don’t have to be a cat nut like a lot of us to love watching these adorable rescue animals do tricks and play in their own little feline rock band! Learn more about them here. A portion of the ticket sales go to The Cat Club cat rescue. Tickets available here.
BARK Read with the Dogs Pajamarama Storytime
Friday, May 6; 7:00 PM, Barnes & Noble Marina Pacifica location, 6326 E.Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach
Free event
Beach Animals Reading with Kids (BARK) is an all-volunteer program that encourages children to increase their reading skills and self-confidence by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. There will be a couple of them wagging their tails as their young human friends read their way through everything from Goodnight, Moon to the Captain Underpants series.
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.
Fix Long Beach (FLB) Spay/Neuter Clinic, low-cost shots and free microchips.
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 x300 for more info. We can’t do it without you!
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 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.