Small black Chihuahua with very pink tongue hanging out standing against a wooden slatted fence
Daisy (ID#A616759 ) is a female black-and-white Chihuahua, about 5 years old—note that Daisy will bond fast and firm to one person and anyone else is chopped liver. She'll need a human who'll understand her needs.

Lit-tle dogs, lit-tle dogs—everywhere you look, you see them…

Truly, you see Chihuahuas and Chi mixes on leashes on cold days in their little sweaters, peeping out the windows at you from passing cars, slung in carrier slings like newborns because they’re tiny enough and doggy enough to cuddle next to their indulgent humans while they’re walking (don’t you wonder how they manage puppy pit stops while they’re schlepping the dog)?

Chihuahuas and Chi mixes are also sadly plentiful in shelters. They’re annually listed among the top 10 breeds most commonly found in city facilities—their rank vacillates depending on which breed has gained popularity that year. Issues that certain breeds may have, backyard-breeding greed and unaltered dogs allowed to speed-date are three of the issues that contribute to shelters’ population. As of this writing, seven out of the 35 dogs available for adoption were Chihuahuas or Chihuahua mixes. They were outranked only by the nine pit bulls and mixes also waiting for homes—pitties are also consistently present on this sad shortlist.

Long Beach shelter’s videos show that while a picture may be worth a thousand words, a little movie is worth volumes. This week’s Pet Projects features a trio of doggettes. These three play well together in the shelter’s new Dog Play Yard, accompanied by volunteers and staff who ask if they might play, too. They’re available as a set, as singles or in any configuration as long as it leads to a safe, loving home.

https://www.facebook.com/LongBeachAnimalCare/videos/376202386530818/?t=2

In order of appearance:

Small black Chihuahua with very pink tongue hanging out standing against a wooden slatted fence
Daisy (ID#A616759 ) is a female black-and-white Chihuahua, about 5 years old—note that Daisy will bond fast and firm to one person and anyone else is chopped liver. She’ll need a human who’ll understand her needs.
Tan Chihuahua with tan ears, white mask and white legs stands on gravel-covered play area.
Charlie (ID#A616902 is about 7 and still plays like a little kid! He’s social and likes his other friends.
Light-tan Chihuahua faces the camera. She's on a gravel field.
Lil Bit (ID#A618139) is about 2 years old. Shelter staff says that she’s mixed with dachshund. Even with that little pawprint in her DNA, she stands tall among her fellows.

The shelter is located at 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, at the entrance to El Dorado Park. See photo for entrance signage. No parking fee for shelter visitors.

Things to do, pets to support

 Please send any Long Beach or Seal Beach pet-related events or projects to [email protected]. Posting subject to approval.

Valentine card made of heart shapes and shaped into a dog with pink ears, an upside-down red heart face, two black eyes with a pink heart-shaped patch over one, a black upside down heart nose, a pink tongue, and a white bone with "I love you" written in ink.

Valentine’s Card Contest and Yappy Hour: Saturday, Feb. 9, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, at entrance to El Dorado Park (no parking fee for shelter guests), free to enter

So, who’s your Valentine? Someone who’s completely dependent on you and gives you unconditional love, sprinkled with periods of indifference? That’s charming in animals, and fortunate are those who have good places to live. The pets in our shelter aren’t so lucky, and so the Community Action Team presents an annual contest for kids in kindergarten through 12th grade to create cards for these cats, dogs and bunnies as well.

Young people are invited to send cards to Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, CA 90808; volunteers will hang cards on kennel doors and judge them for creativity, originality and first impression, with the contestants’ ages taken into consideration. (Adults are encouraged to send cards as well, but their entries won’t be eligible for contest judging.) The winning card will reward the artist with a pizza party for his or her classmates, friends or organization and will be announced at the Yappy Hour at the shelter on Feb. 9. The real winners will be the pets at the shelter who’ll receive a lot of extra attention and will, it’s hoped, find their one true love. More info here.

Bulldog Beauty Contest and National Mutt Show: Sunday, Feb. 10, 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m., Marine Stadium, 5225 Paoli Way, Long Beach, free to stand and spectate, $5 to reserve a seat, registration $10 per dog.

Inclusiveness is the word for this romp by the lagoon. Bulldogs will be there in all their jowly glory, but there are 19 other contests featuring everything from Most Photogenic to Best Butt. Register your best buddy here—your $10 registration benefits spay/.neuter, adoption rescue, and Justin Rudd’s nonprofit Community Action Team. If you don’t have a dog, so what? There are vendors, food, music and a parade—and you can adopt one at the Adoption Fair. The event is produced by Haute Dogs and woofingly cosponsored by the office of District 3 City Council Woman Suzie Price.

a white dog paw with tan spots and a brown paw rest on two human hands

Mayor’s Animal Care Visioning Task Force meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., El Dorado West Community Center Social Hall, 2800 N. Studebaker Road, Long Beach, public invited.

Agenda TBA.

Giving Gala 2019: Wednesday, Feb. 13, 6 to 9 p.m., LBX The Hangar, 4180 McGowen St., Long Beach, ticket donation.

The Fifth City Council District will present a celebration in honor and support of Long Beach’s local nonprofits, youth organizations and education-based charities. Of course, animal rescues are included! Participants will stroll through The Hanger and purchase all-inclusive crafts and artisanal food while enjoying the festive and pre-Valentine’s Day atmosphere, including a live musical performance. Admission includes complimentary craft beer and wine tastings. Silent auction and opportunity prizes will go on throughout the evening. All proceeds are given in support to the non-profit of choice. If you can’t attend but would still like to support, your ticket, which you can purchase here, counts as a donation given to the selected charity.

a cartoon gray cat and a cartoon tan dog, both with tags and collars, look happily out o a circle with Friends of Long Beach Animals written on it and blue pawprint designs. The background shows photos of cats and dogs that have been rescued.

CAAAAT CLINIC! Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic, sponsored by Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA): Sunday, March 3, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., Cherry Park, 1901 E. 45th St., Long Beach, free spay/neuter for qualifying Long Beach residents; free microchips; shots, flea-med doses, dewormers and nail trimmings $10 each.

It’s the law to fix your pets in Long Beach and many Southern California cities. To add to this, cats can go into heat at 6 months old and have three litters a year, with an average of four kittens per litter. And those kittens have kittens. Who wants to do the math? Fix your cat instead! To provide this costly service to our Long Beach residents who otherwise couldn’t afford it, Fix Long Beach offers this service free of charge. Make an appointment through IM or email at [email protected];include (1) your name, (2) address, (3) phone number, (4) pet’s name, (5) age, (6) sex, (7) breed, and (8) weight. Standby available at 8:30 a.m. Vouchers are provided through Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) Spay/Neuter Assistance Voucher Program for pets without appointments or dogs too large to fit on the vehicle—they may be used at specified veterinary clinics. For both spay/neuter and vaccinations,all dogs must be on sturdy leashes and all cats must be in dedicated carriers.

Ongoing

The following pet-related businesses regularly feature cat, dog and rabbit adoptions. If you’re a Long Beach-area rescue and don’t see your adoption event listed here, please email [email protected].

Chase Bank, 5200 East Second St., Long Beach

 Gelson’s Market, 6255 E. 2nd St.

Kahoots Pet Store, 18681 Main St. #102, Huntington Beach

Petco Animal Supplies, Marina Shores, 6500 Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach

Pet Food Express, 4220 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach:

PetSmart Cerritos, 12741 Towne Center Dr, Cerritos

PetSmart Compton, 1775 South Alameda St., Compton

PetSmart Garden Grove, 9835 Chapman Ave, Garden Grove

PetSmart, Long Beach Exchange, 3871 N Lakewood Blvd., Long Beach

PetSmart Signal Hill, 2550 Cherry Ave., Signal Hill

PetSmart Seal Beach, 12341 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach.

Unleashed by Petco, 600 Redondo Ave.

tiny gray kitten sleeps in someone's hand

Long Beach Little Paws Project needs donations

The most vulnerable animals in the public shelter system are kittens under two pounds. These fragile babies, especially those not yet eating on their own, are typically euthanized on intake at most public shelters. In an effort to change the fate of far too many kittens, two non-profit rescue organizations, The Little Lion Foundation and Helen Sanders CatPAWS, have launched a joint effort to create and operate a kitten nursery. This nursery will give kittens too young to be adopted or those who need medical care a safe place to heal and grow. Newborn kittens are fragile and vulnerable. You can tell by those photos—if you look closely, you’ll see the beautiful cat that each of them will grow to be. Please read all about them here, and please, please donate.

Low-Cost Pet-Vaccination Clinics: For schedule, visit this link.

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.

Free Pet Food Distributions

Pet food is available at Beacon for Him Ministries, 439 West Anaheim St., Mondays from 9 a.m. to noon and Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. A dog-washing station with a stainless-steel tub is also available onsite at these hours. Donations and supplies such as shampoo, flea control meds and pet food are always gratefully accepted.

The Pet Food Bank is sponsored by Christian Outreach in Action, located at 515 E. Third St., Long Beach. Hours are Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m.

Pets of the Homeless provides many collection places across the country to help homeless people to feed and care for their animals. Please support them through a cash donation, or bring pet food to the Long Beach-area drop-off center, Trendi Pawz Grooming, 3726 E. Seventh St., Long Beach. Access this link for resources and donation areas in SoCal and across the country.

Shelter-enrichment supplies requested for ACS’s cats, dogs and rabbits: drop-off Wednesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., shelter side of P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach

Creamy peanut butter, yogurt, beef and chicken broth, pipe cleaners, toilet-paper and paper-towel rolls, catnip, canned pet food, wine-bottle corks (for cat toys) and ice cube trays all are needed. Donations are tax deductible.