Virtually Pets

Pick a Wallflower

Clyde

Darlene McInerney is a longtime (and hardcore) volunteer at Long Beach Animal Care Services. She socializes pets and advocates for forever homes for them, and it ain’t always easy. Today, she wrote me and asked me if I’d profile Clyde and put in a word for perfect dogs like him who are overlooked in shelters because they’re perfect. That may sound like question begging, but what Darlene means is that dogs like Clyde are so comfortable, well behaved and happy that they go unnoticed.

Trouble is, Clyde’s been there since May and is the longest-time shelter resident. The shelter goes the distance to make animals adoptable and get them into forever homes, but they can only keep animals for so long, and then you know what happens. Darlene loves this guy, and she’s begging—and not the question—and she’s not giving up. Can someone please go to Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 East Spring Street (through the Eldorado Park entrance—no parking charge for shelter and spcaLA visitors) on the shelter side, notice Clyde and a few other reserved souls, and take one of them home?

Clyde’s a nine-year-old neutered pit bull terrier. He’s been microchipped—his former owners never came for him—and has plenty of energy. He’s dog selective—he chooses his friends. His ID number is A547876.

A Harvest of Little Pointy-Eared Snugglers

SoCal seems to be still dealing with kitten season, with the warm weather, and it’s autumn. Kittens are showing up at shelters and rescues the way leaves fall off trees. On Saturday, October 3, Pussy and Pooch in Belmont Shore will be hosting a “Fall” in Love kitten adoption event (see Mark Your Calendars). Here are a few of the little guys from Zoey’s Place Rescue. And when you pick out your own, Pussy and Pooch has high-quality food, toys, litter and collars to round out a happy life.

Lucas is a 4-month-old tuxedo pulled from the shelter. He had a badly fractured leg, but he’s all healed up and the sweetest most energetic kitten ever.

Adele is a beautiful 1 ½-year-old Siamese mix found on the streets of LA. She’s very talkative and playful and enjoys belly rubs.

Sage is a 2 ½-month-old Siamese lynx point rescued from a backyard along with her sisters . She’s very outgoing and talkative and the ultimate cuddle bug!

Mandatory Spay/Neuter Effective as of Thursday

The Mandatory Spay-Neuter and Pet Shop Ordinances went into effect yesterday, October 1. Particulars of the ordinances are detailed in a previous Scratching Post, and the full text of both ordinances is available here; further information from Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) can be found on this link, with another link that lays out the exemptions.

ACS provides vouchers for low-cost spay/neuter clinics, provided by Friends of Long Beach Animals. Fix Long Beach offers free spay/neuter procedures for qualifying low-income Long Beach residents; see Mark Your Calendars for the October 17 clinic.

Mark Your Calendars (the People Way)

Kitten Adoption Event
Saturday, October 3, noon–4:00PM, Pussy and Pooch, 4818 East Second Street, Long Beach
Adoption fees apply

Low-Cost Pet Vaccination Clinics
Thursday, October 15, 4:00PM–7:00PM, Scherer Park, 4600 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach
Pricing information available here.

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.

Fix Long Beach (FLB) Spay/Neuter Clinic
Dogs and cats, Saturday, October 17, 7:00AM–4:00PM Houghton Park, 6301 North Myrtle Avenue (near Jordan High School), 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 cat! 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 9:00AM–4:00PM:

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.

For the next event, FLB needs bowls, small and medium dog collars, pet treats, large dog harnesses, and both dry and wet food for cats and dogs. 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 Howl-o-Ween Spooktacular
Saturday, October 24, noon–3:00PM, spcaLA Marketplace, 7700 East Spring Street, Long Beach
Entry donation of $5 for costume contest

Bring your dog and join the fun—prizes and contests to be won! Take part in a doggie costume contest with ghoulish rewards for categories including Best Homemade, Funniest, Best Duo, Most Original and Best Costume. Show us your dog’s best (or most dastardly) trick, bob for apples (or are they giant eyeballs?), see a “zombie doggie” agility demo, and create the next Edvard Munch-style Scream. And speaking of Munch, take him or her trick or treating at the Begging for Braaaaaains” stations. Lots of vendor booths, lots of howls!

Haute Dogs Howl’oween Parade
Saturday, October 31, 2:30PM, Marina Vista Park, 5355 East Eliot Street, Long Beach
Entry fees apply

This iconic Belmont Shore pet event is expected to include a few hundred kids and adults in costumes, followed by more than 500 costumed dogs with handlers. A few thousand human gawkers will line the parade route, including a panel of distinguished judges that will choose a few dozen human and canine costume winners. Haute Dogs will raise thousands for spay/neuter programs, adoption/rescue groups, Operation Santa Paws and other Long Beach service projects. See more here.

Ongoing

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

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.