Virtually Pets
Tomorrow, August 19, NBC4 Southern California and Telemundo 52 Los Angeles will culminate their monthlong campaign to get as many SoCal shelter animals as possible adopted out to good people. Clear the Shelters is a campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of pet adoption and reduce shelter overpopulation by sending shelter pets in droves into loving homes. It’s presented nationally by Petco and NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations, the parent company of NBC4 and Telemundo 52. Since 2015, shelters across the country have adopted out over 73,000 pets on one single day. Last year, in the more than 60 shelters that comprise the SoCal effort, 8,200 went home.
“We look forward to launching the effort for the third year and seeing thousands of people in Southern California come together for a single day of action,” said Celia Chavez, president and general manager of Telemundo 52 Los Angeles. “I encourage everyone to join us and help ‘Clear the Shelters’ and give thousands of homeless animals the chance of a new life.”
The campaign has been going on for a month, and tomorrow is the main event. News anchors and reporters will visit some of the shelters to highlight families and their new family members, and the day will be recapped on the evening news. Additionally, VCA Animal Hospitals’ health teams will be at the shelters to offer a limited health guarantee and a certificate for a free first exam to all new pet owners to ensure a healthy start.
The title “Clear the Shelters” bears a sense of crisis or urgency, and indeed, to animal advocates in every community, there is one. Even with the reforms and the creative efforts here in Long Beach, any pet abandoned to possibly die in a shelter is, as Long Beach Animal Care Services’ (ACS) slogan states, “1 Too Many.” It’s hoped that with the special $20 adoption fee, people will come to adopt many if not all of the beautiful cats, dogs and rabbits at ACS and at spcaLA, both located in the P. D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 East Spring Street in Long Beach, at the entrance to El Dorado Park.
And clearly, “Clear the Shelters” isn’t an attempt to dump the pets on people the way they’ve been dumped at shelters—requirements for adoption will be honored, and all pets will be medically examined, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. An additional bonus for adopters: $25 off a meal at Thai Silk restaurant, 1506 Broadway in Long Beach if you take home a senior pet (7 years or older) and bring the paperwork to the restaurant within 30 days. Hey, if Rover, Fluffy or Flopsy can have a treat, so should you.
Just for fun, enter your pet’s photo on SoCal’s new social-media campaign. You can upload here. And maybe during next year’s campaign, you’ll be showing off a photo of one of these guys from ACS or any of the ready-and-willing four-legged (and sometimes three-legged) furry creatures from the P. D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village!
Get ready for a Toga party! Toga, age 3, is the life of any party and is a lovable airhead. He’s pretty goofy—he got his name here at the shelter because he couldn’t catch treats for the life of him! He was brought in as a stray during the shelter’s busiest time of the year, and we know there has to be a home out there for him! Are you interested in a dog that will make you laugh, walks gently on leash, and enjoys endless belly rubs? That’s Toga! Come on down and meet this boy! Ask for ID#A592428.
London’s calling, and he’s hanging on the line for a home. London, age 5, is a dapper gentleman who would love nothing more than to be your best friend! He came in as a stray, and unfortunately, his owner never came to look for him. When he’s in his kennel, he just lies down and daydreams about the family he once had. He’s calm, but gets very excited about going on an adventure with you! He waits patiently at the kennel door for you to slip his leash on him, and he does need some help and training learning how to walk nicely on leash, but what he lacks in leash skills, he makes up for in his personality! London wishes that a special family will see him and take him home. Ask for ID#A588486.
Hey-o, Hank! Want a loyal friend? Look no further than this dashing 5-year-old German shepherd! Hank knows sit and down, but what he really loves to do is play fetch. We’ve got lots of dog parks and a great dog beach for Hank to indulge his passion at! Ask for ID#A594602.
Meet Owen, everyone! This little darling 6-year-old came in as a stray, but he was neutered so he was definitely someone’s loving pet. He was severely malnourished but he’s putting on weight now. He’s getting treatment for dermatitis and looks a lot better. He’s happy and chipper 24/7, and he even knows a few tricks, too, like “shake paw.” He’s always so pleased with himself when he does a trick and wants to show off his cool moves to as many people as possible! Shelter volunteer Mary says that Owen’s her favorite dog at the shelter—she said that he also knows “sit” and will happily shake one or both paws endlessly even long after you’ve run out of treats. If you’re looking to adopt the sweetest dog in the world, come get Owen. You’ll make Mary’s day! Ask for ID#A592032.
Molly has a sad story, and we’re crossing our fingers for a happy ending. She came into the shelter as a stray, though she had a microchip registered in Sacramento, with her name on it. She was very weak and malnourished and had trouble walking. We see very neglected or abused animals in our shelter often, but the officer who picked Molly up said that she had the worst flea infestation she had ever seen. Her entire backside was hard to the touch from scabs and dried blood. As you can see, she’s lovely now and is very deserving of a home where she will receive endless amounts of love and care. Molly enjoys being outside with you and playing with her toy, but she also seems to enjoy resting in her kennel, probably because of her time on the streets. We would love nothing more than to see a photo of her in her loving adopted home resting on a dog bed or a comfy couch! Ask for #A593406.
Mark Your Calendars (the People Way)
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 1 at this link
$5 donation per initial entry, $1 donation for each subsequent vote
Hey, CatPAWS Community and all fellow Cat Lovers! It is time for you 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.
‘I Rescued My Humans!’ K9 Kismet Calendar Fund-Raiser
To September 1 at this link
$12 entry fee; $1 per vote
Want to make your pet feel special? Reserve a day for them! Your pet’s photo will appear on the day or days of your choice. Just choose your favorite photo, choose the day or days, and donate $12 per day. First come, first served—once a day has been reserved, it will no longer be available. You can donate to vote for your favorite entry at $1 per vote—the pet with the most votes will be the “cover pet”! The next 12 top-vote recipients will become the K9 Kismet Calendar Pet for each calendar month between January and December 2018. A great twist is that people can submit pictures of any pet and include humans in the picture, which is optional. Follow this link to submit your photo and to 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
Sgt. Pepper’s Dueling Pianos Fund-Raiser for spcaLA
Fridays in August, 6:00PM–2:00AM, Sgt. Pepper’s Dueling Pianos, 91 South Pine Street, Long Beach
Free Admission with donated item
Donate an item from spcaLA’s wish list, found here, and enjoy a fun evening. Maybe you’ll hear “Doggie in the Window” or “Kitten on the Keys.”
spcaLA ‘Are You Kitten Me?’ Special Adoption Rates
Weekends in August, 10AM–4PM, spcaLA at P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Center, 7700 East Spring Street, Long Beach
$20 per cat, or $20 for a pair—not necessarily matched
Come find the cat or cats of your dreams for a rate so low that you’ll be able to double up on the toys! Guidelines for qualified adopters available here. Kitties may be seen here.
Canine Wellness Fair
Saturday, August 19, 10:00AM–2:00PM, Bixby Park, 130 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach
Free event
Longtime Long Beach resident JoJo Stanford started her dog-walking-on-steroids (figuratively speaking) association back in 2009. This event will be a fund-raiser for Stanford’s dream: a dog-training facility in Long Beach, with structured daycare and boarding that accepts all dogs regardless of temperament or behavior by educating staff, dogs and owners. This event will feature professionals in the field of energy healing for dogs and will also be a fund-raiser for the opening of a dog-training facility that will, as Stanford says, “utilize our successful training philosophy and techniques to create well-behaved, happy dogs and empowered, confident owners” (see fundraiser details below in the Ongoing section). Canine attendees and their peeps will experience and learn about reiki, acupuncture, massage and raw diets, creating as much of a “whole dog” as these techniques do to treat the whole person. Trots’s free instructional pack walk, normally closed to the public, will take off at 10AM—please, no flexible or retractable leashes. Guests will then enjoy the valuable information, products and services from vendors as well as a raffle at 1PM. Check out adoptable dogs from Live Love Animal Rescue; grooming services by The Standard Canine Spa’s mobile vehicle; Reiki and massage by Core Essence Wellness; nonpsychoactive pet cannabis by Vet CBD (who says cats should have all the fun, with catnip?); Tama Do sound, color and movement healing with Deidre Brooker; Tone Zone / Health and Life Coach, Adelajda Child, health and life coach at Tone Zone, giving new meaning to “It’s a dog’s life”; and lots of more types of unconventional fun. If you can’t make it but still want that dog-training facility, donate here!
Summer Events with Shelter Pets!
Friday, August 18–Thursday, August 24, Band events’ van arrival at approximately 4:30PM, Movies in the Park’s van arrival at approximately 6:00PM. See schedule for locations.
Events are free; adoption fees apply (senior pets are discounted at $20!)
Don’t you love previews of coming attractions? At this year’s Summer Events at our parks and beaches, you can preview our pets and make room for some of them in your home! ACS’s new mobile vehicle will be attending all of these events before they start and leave when they begin. A heads-up—and a tails up—for you!
Municipal Band events start at 6:30-Van will arrive around 4:30-5:00pm
Movies in the Park start at Dusk (approximately 8:00pm)-Van will arrive around 6-6:30pm
Van is estimated to leave when the event starts.
August Events
8/18—Friday—Silverado Park, 1545 W 31st Street, Long Beach (Movie in the Park)
8/24—Scherer Park, 430 E 49th Street, Long Beach (Movie in the Park)
Clear the Shelters!
Saturday, August 19, 10:00AM–3:30PM, P. D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village and Education Center, 7700 East Spring Street, Long Beach
Reduced adoption fee of $20 at Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) and at spcaLA, both located in the Village. No parking fee for Village visitors.
Thank you, NBC4! The TV conglom (KNBC and Telemundo 52 Los Angeles/KVEA) is producing its annual event that focuses both camera and attention on shelters and the pets that live there, with emphasis on getting them all loving homes so that they can curl up and watch the tube with you! Clear the Shelters involves more than 60 animal shelters and rescue organizations throughout Southern California, offering a reduced adoption fee of $20 on Saturday, August 19. Clear the Shelters raises awareness about the benefits of pet adoption and aims to reduce the animal overpopulation at local shelters. You may have noticed stories on their channel to spotlight the importance of spaying and neutering, the benefits of microchipping, and helping families find the right pet for their homes. The campaign culminates on August 19 on a live broadcast on NBC4’s Today in LA at 7AM and Telemundo 52 at shelters throughout the Southland, continuing all day. News anchors and reporters will be present at several shelters to celebrate with families and their new pets. The evening newscasts will recap the day with success stories and highlights. VCA Animal Hospitals’ health teams will be at the shelters to offer a limited health guarantee and a certificate for a free first exam to all new pet owners to ensure a healthy start. For more information about this ambitious project, visit the website.
Eat Thai and Support the Great Pyrenees!
Saturday, August 19, 10:45–1:00AM, and Tuesday, August 22, 11:00AM–11:00pm, Thai Silk Restaurant, 1506 East Broadway, Long Beach
Menu prices apply
Enjoy delicious Thai food while help save the Great Pyrenees dogs. You pay us half and donate other half thru National Great Pyrenees rescue by voting for “The 3 Stooges”! Every cent of your donation is tax deductible and goes to a rescue you can trust.
Pet Adoption Event at PFE
Saturday, September 2, 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.
Grand Opening of the Long Beach Bee Sanctuary
Saturday, September 9, 10:00AM–noon, Orange Avenue, north of Willow Springs Park between Spring and Willow streets, Long Beach
Free event
The Long Beach Beekeepers invite you to the grand opening of our new sanctuary—a collaborative project betweenEagle Scout candidate Mauri Lathouwers, his family and Boy Scout Troop 105 and the Long Beach Beekeepers. Visitors’ parking is on the street or in the park. Light refreshments, shade and restrooms will be provided. Speeches will be few and short.—very little buzz and lotsa honey! For their help in turning our vision of a municipal refuge for bees into reality, Long Beach Beekeepers thanks the City of Long Beach, current and former City Council members, the city Office of Sustainability, the city Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine and its current and former commissioners, Long Beach attorney David M. Zeligs, and Mauri Lathouwers, his family and Boy Scout Troop 105.
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!
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!
IndieGoGo Fund-Raiser for Trots Dogs Incorporated
Until beginning of September
Individual donations
Long Beach resident Johanna “JoJo” Stanford started Trots Dogs Inc. in 2009 after being inspired by Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer. Stanford says that her goal is “to provide Long Beach with a dog-training facility with structured daycare and boarding that accepts all dogs regardless of temperament or behavior by educating staff, dogs and owners. Our mission is to create a community of people who understand their dogs and want to have a loving, balanced relationship.”
Stanford’s group is looking to purchase about 10,000 square feet of warehouse space with a potty area and are partnering with a design group. Click on the link in the header to find out all the details of this enterprise.
“You’ll be helping us fund a model that could turn a ‘dog-friendly city’ into a city of friendly dogs,” Stanford said. “Imagine the possibilities of having an entire city of balanced dogs who are happy, obedient, well behaved and pay attention.”
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.