As per usual, I’m floundering around trying to research and write decent articles while dealing with every obligation I have except cleaning the house, litter box not included (I have my priorities). Meanwhile, bios of abandoned and unwanted pets, mostly cats, as well as press releases for all sorts of neat activities have been piling up in the inbox, and I want to post them at least before next spring. Hope you go to a couple of events, and of course, I really hope that you have room in your heart for one of the following worthy little fur people.
Virtually Pets
The following animals are available at Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St. in Long Beach, on the shelter side of the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village.
Meet Amy (ID#A500393), Tristian (ID#A500330) and Oliver (ID#A500331). They’ve been at Animal Care Services for a month. Our officer picked them up as strays in a box at a Long Beach resident’s home. How lovely—more dumped kittens. They need someone with patience who can see potential in these young kids.
Three-year-old Mertyl (ID#A501184) could have been named after she batted around a couple of Scrabble tiles that represented the tree of the same name. This brown tabby has an extraordinarily sweet disposition, say shelter staff members. She looks like a Tenniel drawing of the Cheshire Cat, and she’s bound to make anyone smile.
Brody (ID#A502858) is an absolute goof. What a ball of energy he is! If you want a buddy to run Rosie’s Dog Beach with, he’s your guy. Just over a year old, with plenty of laps to run!
Here are a few more from indy rescuers:
Nuray’s rescuer said that he just manifested out of nowhere. It took the rescuer a little time to earn his trust, but Nuray is now neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and tested negative for feline leukemia and FIV. He’s now a lap cat who likes to be brushed—quite a transformation! He gets along pretty well with the other kitties in the area and even with the rescuer’s small dog, and his behavior continues to improve now that he’s neutered. Nuray needs a completely indoor home. White cats are susceptibleto skin cancer, and he deserves the best anyway! If interested, contact [email protected].
Kittens forever. Sigh. People problem—but not these people. A woman and her daughter living in a trailer park in Bellflower rescued three kittens and are trapping the mama. There are two orange (orange cats are special) and one dilute tortie, all over three months old. They’ve had their shots and have been combo tested, dewormed, spay/neutered and ridden of fleas. They’re sweet and friendly.
These women also rescued got litter of four younger kittens, now nine weeks old, who also need a forever home. There’s a Russian blue, a tortie, a black, and a black-and-white Holstein cow kitty. The mother has vanished—according to the rescuer, this is a really bad area for the cats. Donations are needed, but homes are needed more. Contact [email protected] if you can help either way.
Pet Projects
Alert: Pet Food Recall
The FDA has issued a notice of a voluntary recall by Procter and Gamble of a number of pet foods. The brands and dates included may carry the salmonella bacterium; labels include Eukanuba for dogs and Iams for both cats and dogs. For a list of ID numbers and expiration dates, click here.
Saturday, Sept. 14, Fix Long Beach 7th Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic, Silverado Park, 1545 W 31st St., Long Beach 10:30AM–4PM
Six clinics and over two hundred pets fixed! That’s an enormous number of unborn unwanted pets (you do the math, we’re bad at exponentials) who won’t crowd our shelters or be abandoned or abused in the future. It’s also exactly 207 lucky cats and dogs who will have longer, healthier lives! Fix Long Beach is a grassroots spay/neuter mobile clinic that provides free altering for low-income Long Beach residents, taking a big nip out of shelter overpopulation. Also available were inoculations for species-specific inoculations, flea treatment, and education from Fix Long Beach volunteers (including the veterinarian) and an officer from Long Beach Animal Care Services. Another event is scheduled for Aug. 24 at Drake Park and another for Sept. 14 at Silverado Park, 1545 W. 31st St. Meanwhile, please donate here to help fund additional clinics and reduce the animal overpopulation crisis.
Through August, Spay/Neuter Voucher Distribution, Long Beach Animal Care Services at Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 East Spring St., Long Beach, Wed–Fri 10AM–5:30PM; Sat–Sun 10AM–4PM (ACS is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and holidays)
Throughout the month of August, Long Beach Animal Care Services will be distributing spay/neuter vouchers in person at their facility at the PD Pitchford Companion Animal Village. Vouchers are only valid at participating veterinary clinics and will be distributed solely to residents of Long Beach and the four contract cities (Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Cerritos and Signal Hill), one per household. Additional vouchers may be distributed upon request and with supervisor approval.
“We usually offer a limited number of vouchers on the firstThursdayof the month; however, through the generous support of our community, we are able to increase this program for the entire month of August,” said ACS manager Ted Stevens. “In all five cities within our jurisdiction, dogs are required to be licensed. In Long Beach, cats are required by to be licensed with current rabies shots and spayed or neutered.”
The vouchers are redeemable only at participating local veterinary hospitals and clinics. In order to qualify for a voucher, pet owners must provide proof of address through photo ID or a utility bill. Owners must pay the remaining balance of the spay or neuter procedure directly to the veterinary hospital, and ACS will reimburse the veterinary hospital for up to $30 of the procedure. Availability and pricing will vary. Please call ahead for pricing and appointment information. A full listing of participating veterinarians can be found here under Spay & Neuter Programs.
In addition to the discounted cost of a dog license, Stevens added, spaying or neutering your pet helps reduce companion animal overpopulation. Furthermore, sterilization increases the chance of your pet having a longer, healthier life as well as a lower risk of developing a number of expensive and deadly diseases. Finally, sterilization can make your dog or cat a better pet, reducing their urge to roam and decreasing the risk of contracting diseases or getting hurt.
Every Sunday, F.O.O.D. (Feeding out of Devotion) for Pets food distribution, Saturday, Aug. 24, spcaLA Mobile Adoption event, PetSmart, Long Beach Towne Center, 7631 Carson Blvd., Long Beach, 10:30AM–3:30PM
Can’t make it to an spcaLA Pet Adoption Center? We can come to you! Meet our adorable adoptables at PetSmart!
Sunday, Sept. 1, Catalina Humane Society Dogathon and Dr. Denny Day, Joe Machado Field, Avalon, Catalina, 10AM–2:00PM
The Catalina Humane Society is gearing up for its first-ever community event: an outdoor Dog Festival and Dr. Denney Appreciation Day during Sunday, Labor Day weekend! Planned activities include a dog parade at 10AM, a dog show, contests and dog demonstrations. The Dogathon fund-raiser is simple and easy: no jogging, no cupcakes to bake, no wrapping paper or magazines to sell. Just pick up an entry form at Coney Island, the Steamer Trunk or DC-3 at the Airport-in-the-Sky and ask family, friends, neighbors and coworkers to donate whatever they can to the Catalina Humane Society. Whoever collects the most money (all donations are tax deductible) receives Best of Show honors. The winning dog may be the fund-raiser’s own pet or someone else’s dog, or you can select one of the dogs attending the event. Second- and third-prize winners also receive “titles.” All money raised helps CIHS with its trap-neuter-release, feral cat colonies, low-cost pet adoptions, school programs, therapy-dog training and much more. Also, join us in a citywide hug to our fantastic local vet, Dr. Richard Denney, and enjoy live music, food, vendors, fun dog contests (costumes, pet tricks, show categories, etc.) for the whole family, which of course includes The Dog! For more information, check out our CIHS Facebook page.
Volunteers Needed for Third Annual Holiday Bone-Anza Event, presented by Friends of El Dorado Dog Park
The Friends of El Dorado Dog Park, an all-volunteer 501c3 nonprofit, are looking for volunteers to assist with their November 17 event that will take place at Good Neighbor Park, 2800 Studebaker Rd. on Nov. 17, 10AM–4PM.
“With the dog park opening soon, it is going to be more important than ever to create a successful Holiday Bone-Anza fund-raiser,” said Mary Matthieson, FEDDP president. “We are all on the same goal of making our dog park a premier dog park.” Besides setting up and breaking down the event, volunteers will be needed to help with managing booths, helping with activities, flier distribution and a number of other things.FEDDP will send out an e-mail for the scheduling of a volunteer meeting at the first of October. For information, click here or send an e-mail to [email protected]
Every Thursday in August, Free Yappy Hour, Long Beach Museum of Art, 2300 E Ocean Blvd,Long Beach, 9AM–5PM
LBMA’s Architecture for Dogs is celebrating human’s best friend in the best way. Yappy Hour, sponsored by Pussy and Pooch provides doggie snacks, and leashed pets can play outside on models of the très modernes living spaces for dogs featured in the exhibit. Your dog is welcome to view the exhibit with you as long as you can carry him or her; a free pet valet by Wooftidoo is available for larger dogs to wait for their humans. There will be giveaways and much more!
Sunday, Sept. 15, Pet Foster Class, P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 East Spring St., Long Beach, 8:30AM–2:30PM
Help a pet better his or her chance at adoption! SpcaLA is looking for foster parents for pets of all ages and needs. Potential foster parents must fill out and submit an application, available here, prior to attending a foster class. We provide the food, materials and pet—you provide a temporary loving home! For more info, call (323) 730-5300 x300 or e-mail [email protected].
Sunday, Sept. 29, 8th Annual Pet Fair in the Park, Long Beach Marine Stadium, 5255 Paoli Way, Long Beach, 10AM–noon
Enjoy a day of frolicking near the water as you and possibly your dog enjoy opportunity drawings, Agility Dogs demos, pet talent contests, food and pet-product vendors, adoption information and disaster-information booths particularly for your pet. Living as we do in one of the quake capitals of the world, we’re used to hearing “It’s not if it happens, but when.” If you’re a Pet Post reader, you’ll want to include your cat, dog, rabbit, reptile, bird, fish or whatever critter shares your home. All proceeds go to SCART (SoCal Animal Response Team), which presents this event, to help them continue to help us provide for our pets in case of emergency. Click here for more information.