MelissaHicksofBlueCross

MelissaHicksofBlueCross

Now that you’ve adopted a pet from one of the two rescuers mentioned in the last installments of Pick of the Litter or any of the shelters and rescuers in the Long Beach area, you’re going to need a vet. There are a number of excellent ones in the area and several of them got votes, but Blue Cross Veterinary Hospital in Signal Hill, possibly the area’s oldest veterinary, got the biggest percentage

Blue Cross was founded in 1923 by Dr. Pike, DVM. The practice stayed in the family for several years, was sold to another vet several years later, and was ultimately purchased in 1998 by Dr. Lynda Guenther, DVM. Dr. Gunther was later joined by Dr. Ralph Sellman II, DVM, and by Dr. Melissa Hicks, DVM, who came in as a partner in 2007.

Blue Cross is accessible from the PCH or by going north up Temple and turning into the alley and into the parking lot, which avoids slowing down for the driveway on the Coast Highway. The inside of the veterinary clinic, surprisingly, does not smell like a veterinary clinic. I can’t describe it, but it’s neither animal nor chemical—it’s just pleasant. Blue Cross treats mainly cats and dogs but has also given care to bunnies, rats, guinea pigs and other small fur-bearing creatures. She refers more specialized cases to veterinarians who treat certain species and illnesses, although she did handle an eight-foot boa constrictor—carefully, I imagine—and once turned down a request from a child who had a pet tarantula.

“He called and said, ‘I know that you treat furry animals, and he has hairy legs,’” Dr. Hicks said.

Dr. Hicks believes that Blue Cross’s popularity results from their excellent medical care, the capable long-term staff who treat patients as they would their own pets, and their willingness to work within the budgets of their patients’ families. However, I see their uniqueness inherent in another feature: the clinic’sMeditationGarden.

Formerly a neglected turtle pond installed by the previous owner, the Garden comprises a patio with synthetic grass, benches to sit on, a bubbling fountain, and murals of what is surely one small area of the fabled Rainbow Bridge. The artwork features all creatures wild and domesticated; it was painted by local artist Amy Fisher, who also painted frolicking pets on the restroom walls. Fisher comes in occasionally to touch up the mural.

“It’s one of my favorite spots,” Hicks said.

The Garden is used for breaks and staff meetings, but its special function is as backdrop and atmosphere for peaceful euthanasia procedures. Pets who no longer enjoy being cats, dogs or any creature, as the clinic’s Dr. Ralph Sellman, DVM, said in another Pet Post article, go to sleep on a blanket on the lawn while listening to the lapping sound of the fountain and with the humans who love them in attendance. It’s always hard to lose a pet, but leaving the mortal coil in the Meditation Garden beats going out on a cold metal table.

Hicks also creates urns for the ashes of departed pets if a client is interested in purchasing a fitting memorial (see samples here). “As a hobby, I started taking ceramics classes,” she said. “Meanwhile, my senior cat, Kitty Kahlua, died. Her ashes came back in a plastic container. She was such a special cat, and deserved more.”

While she was visiting her home state of Colorado, she came across a hollow cat figure with a cork in the bottom, which gave her the idea of making urns for pets. Each one takes several weeks to complete, but they’re worth the wait for anyone who shudders at relegating a beloved memory to an impersonal little white box, or a row of them.

urns

From left: Winley, Oaf and Rockabye.

Blue Cross it would seem, got Best Vet by embracing the term friends to the end.

“See me, feel me, touch me, heal me.”

~From the Overture of Tommy, written by Peter Townsend

Blue Cross Veterinary Hospital is located at 2665 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Signal Hill, 90755, (562) 494-0975

Virtually Pets

HEather smiley at Pet Post INc

Actress Megan Blake with rescued BFFs Angel and Super Smiley, her go-to PR guy

In this Pet Post, the adoption feature will be replaced with—an adoption feature. On Sunday, July 15, Good Neighbors Park on Studebaker Road was dripping in furs in the only good way possible. Pet Post USA (no relation to the Pet Post), an online pet media publication that serves the pet-owner community, hosted its inaugural Pet Adoption Event, meaning that there will be others to look forward to.

The event comprised over a dozen rescues and humane and welfare organizations for the biggest and most diverse adoption event the city has seen. Rescue and foster organizations for purebred dogs, mixed breeds and cats were abetted by TV and film actress Megan Blake, her dog Super Smiley (and he has good reason to be—he’s a lucky rescue as well) and their enthusiastic flash mob along with the hilarious comedy of Long Beach’s Lynda Montgomery, AMRT volunteer, who shared MC duties with Nicole Guillaume, president of Amazing Mutts. Doug Erickson, Pet Post USA’s founder and CEO, said that at last count, 20 adoptions were finalized, and he still has to hear from other rescues.

The adoption event was sponsored by Blake, LaunderPet, Alpha Pet Care and the law offices of Sharma Kliche.

These photos are examples of pets who went home or are still waiting:

 Husky adoption

Dan Johnson and Will Buckley with Athena, whom they adopted from Alleys Rescued Angels at the event.

Golden Retriever REscue

Brian, Daisy and Gary (those are the dogs, actually) from Golden Retriever Rescue. Brian and Gary were brought in from a rescue in Taiwan.

Dobiemix

Goofus, from The Dawg Squad, is a Dobie mix.

Long Beach Felines

Messo (gray, of the tufted ears), Doto (orange) and Kelso (tabby peeping out on bottom) at Long Beach Felines.

wrestling puppies

Pugsley the pug mix and Raphael the doxie mix from A Wish for Animals. One of their rescuers said that “they’ll take on anything and everyone.”

SAint Bernard rescue

Bruno and Bailey from Sunny Saints.

Click on the links for the following participating rescues and organizations to see if your new best friend might be waiting for you:

Pet Projects

City Council Meeting: Dogs and Outdoor Dining Policy Decision, Tuesday, July 24, 5 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers, 333 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach

At the next City Council meeting, the council will vote on a
recommendation to request that the city manager work with the city’s Health Department to create a policy that will allow restaurant owners to allow dogs to sit with their owners on outdoor restaurant patios. The policy will give owners the voluntary decision of allowing or denying pet dogs access to the patio. No matter what the ultimate decision, police dogs and service dogs will be allowed access to both patio and indoor dining. (Click here and scroll to file number 12-0302 for the full text.) Dogs are presently allowed access to outdoor patios in California towns with the exception of Long Beach and one or two others, and it’s all in how food service is defined, as explained in the text explaining the policy: “Food service normally includes assembling food ingredients, plating, portioning, pouring drinks and serving. Food service on an outdoor patio typically involves only the handing-off of a plate of food.”Whether you’re delighted (as I am), have concerns (as I do) or absolutely don’t want to dine with dogs, weigh in at the meeting or use the e-comment function on the link provided above.

Friends of Long Beach Animals Open Meeting, Thursday, July 26, 6–8 p.m., Signal Hill Community Center, 1780 E Hill St., Signal Hill

FOLBA’s short business meeting will be followed by a guest speaker from Shoestring City Ranch, Long Beach. If we can’t entice you with our excellent cookies, other snacks and wet bar (coffee only!), surely our floppy-earned guests from Shoestring will pique your interest! This meeting is open to the public.

Shoestring City Ranch Summertime Animal-Assisted Reading Program, Sunday, Aug. 19, 2–3 p.m., 1003   W. Carson St., Long Beach 90810.

If you watched ABC’s Secret Millionaire on July 8, you’d have seen Shoestring City Ranch receive an award for the wonderful programs they do for the city’s youth. One of them is the assisted reading program, which will take place next month (more sessions can be requested for weekdays). Experienced volunteers will work with kids on their vocabulary and help them to improve fluency, literacy and confidence as they read to farm animals. For information, call (562) 685-6270 or e-mail [email protected].

9 Lives for $9!

Boy, do we have a deal for you! During the summer months, for a limited time only, you can adopt an adult cat for $9. This program, sponsored by FoundAnimals.org, offers the low fee of $9 to adopt one of the many adult cats in shelters in Long Beach, the city of Los Angeles, and L.A.County. All of the cats have been altered, vaccinated and microchipped and may be seen on the program’s website. Ted Stevens, Long Beach Animal Care Services acting manager, said that this program will help the adoption rates of adult cats at the shelters and further lower the euthanasia rates. Kittens get homes faster than cats do because of the cuteness factor; with an adult cat, however, you know what you’re getting and won’t have as much of a chance of dealing with the difficult stage. Click the link above and chose your new BFF! (The full adoption process will be adhered to with this program.)

Donations Needed for Animal Care Services, Pitchford Animal Companion Village, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, (562) 570-PETS

ACS thanks everyone who provided donations for their wish list! The list has been further winnowed down; if you feel generous or just have any of the following items around your house, bring them to the shelter (and take home a pet, if you are so inclined!).

  • wet food for cats and kittens     
  • wet food for dogs and puppies     
  • Natural Balance Dog Food Rolls. See examples here.   
  • Hand sanitizers to carry in apron pockets (about 20)
  • Two trash cans for our play yards that open with a foot press. See an example here.

Breaking Pet-Lines

Hearts for Hounds Founder Pleads Guilty

Click here for the Press-Telegram’s update (Greg Mellen) on the tragic case of Bonnie Sheehan, fiounder of Hearts for Hounds in Long Beach. Sheehan pled guilty to all counts of animal abuse and received two years of probation and a $500 fine.

One Bill Up, One Bill Down, It’s All Good

Judie Mancuso, president of Social Compassion in Legislation (SCIL) communicated that the repeal of the Hayden Law, which would have eliminated a state requirement that municipal animal shelters hold stray dogs and cats for four to six days as well as the requirements for shelters to provide lost-and-found posting opportunities, record-keeping, and necessary and prompt veterinary care, was ultimately not signed by Gov. Brown. AB 1939 (Pan), a long, complicated law that among its provisions would have eliminated the differential licensing fee between altered and unaltered dogs (it is illegal to have an unaltered cat in Long Beach), was struck down. Mancuso thanks all the people who made their voices heard on both issues. The Pet Post wishes to thank Mancuso, Judy Crumpton who asked for city support on both issues, and our city council and Animal Care Services for their support. To read further, click on the link above.