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

Games of chance are fun, and they’re even better when you’re extending the chances of a good life to cats, dogs, rabbits and other pets. This Saturday, Nov. 10, two of Long Beach’s rescues—The Little Lion Foundation (cats, of course) and Live Love Animal Rescue (they take in dogs, but they’ve been known to pick up a kitty or two) are joining up with event host FAR Side Journey for a journey of their own for you!

A fun bus will run a bunch of pet-loving people from Norwalk to the Harrah’s casino in Rincon. (See Inaugural Puppers Catsino Turnaround Fundraiser in Things to do, pets to support—tickets are still available!) The $50 donation to the rescues will help the animals, and they need to get those funds up front before you fritter the rest of your money away at the craps table.

FAR Side Journey is a remarkable all-volunteer organization led by the equally extraordinary India Griffin. Its mission is to find fosters and eventual permanent homes for dogs and cats pulled from shelters. FAR Side Journey focuses solely on senior pets and those with medical needs. Sometimes, that’s both.

Even the most progressive shelter is no place for an animal. Ultimately, a kennel is a kennel, and they’re so much better off in a home, albeit temporary, with loving humans until they find their forever one (sometimes, they turn out to be one and the same, trust me). Poker and slots are one thing, but security and a life for pets should never be a gamble.

At odds for something to do this weekend? Come raise a little heck as well as the odds! Meanwhile, here are a few little lickers from Little Lion and FAR Side Journey!

Yesterday as the FAR Side Journey rescuers were leaving Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS), a 13-year-old dachshund named Angus was being surrendered by his owner. The woman had had him for his entire life. She was absolutely beside herself with grief. The rescuer didn’t want to go into the specifics, but the owner was in a horrible situation and had to make a very difficult decision. FAR Side Journey decided to take Angus “before his paws ever made it into the shelter,” as the rescuer stated. Angus is FAR Side’s very first shelter diversion, and they’re overjoyed that they were able to keep him safe. Angus is looking for a new home. Perhaps it could be yours?

Is this a face to love, or what? Spots is a sweet little Chihuahua who was attacked by a large dog and ended up in the shelter. FAR Side Journey pulled Spots from a shelter and put him with a foster while he receives treatment for the puncture wounds in his neck. When he’s all healed up, he’ll be ready for his forever home. Spots is about 7 years old and weighs 8 pounds. You can meet him!

Visit this link to meet or adopt either dog or fill out an application for FAR Side’s dogs and cats. Want to foster? Apply here.

Young Atticus was pulled from LBACS with a complete break to his femur when the poor thing was only 8 weeks old. He’s now a snuggly, playful and vocal 6-month-old big-eared little fellow, thanks to multiple surgeries and TLC he got from Little Lion.

Persephone is a stunning princess, and like all those tortie-attitude felines, she knows it! She is a sweet and docile girl who prefers to lounge around all day. She is the last of her litter to be adopted and would certainly make a house a home. She’s also 6 months old.

To adopt either or both kittens and to donate, email [email protected] or call (562) 212-4411. Learn to bottle-feed foster newborns here.

 Things to do, pets to support

Join Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA) at the Long Beach Veterans Day Parade: Saturday, Nov. 10, 10 a.m., Houghton Park, Atlantic Avenue between 55th and South streets, Long Beach. Free event; dogs welcome.

You are invited to march with or without your dog to help FOLBA honor and appreciate the Veterans and Canines who have fought so bravely to give us our freedom. Well-behaved and licensed dogs are welcome to join in—keep in mind that there are loud bands, cheerleaders and horses. Volunteers are encouraged to bring shelter dogs up for adoption. For information, text (562) 881-5156.

Inaugural Puppers Catsino Turnaround Fund-Raiser: Saturday, Nov. 10, 10 a.m., Green Line Station, 12901 Hoxie Ave., Norwalk. $50 donation per seat.

Long Beach rescues The Little Lion Foundation and Live Love Animal Rescue team up with foster-care organization FAR Side Journey for a fun run to Harrah’s in Rincon. Enjoy raffles and games on the bus and five hours in the casino. Proceeds go to the rescues.

Long Beach Animal Care Vision Task Force meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 11 a.m., Recreation Park, 4900 E. 7th St., Long Beach. Public invited.

The 20-member task force will identify next steps to formulate a strategic plan and give an update on the new shelter director hire.

Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic: Saturday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., Ramona Park, 3301 E. 65th 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 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.

Pedro Pet Pals “Petsgiving”: Saturday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., 336 W. Anaheim St. (in front of Food 4 Less), Wilmington, free vaccines and microchips to first 100 cats and dogs

Bring your pets for free shots and microchips—first come, first poked. Be sure that your dog is on a sturdy leash and your cat is in a dedicated carrier.

Ongoing

Pet Adoption Locations

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].

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

Unleashed by Petco, 600 Redondo Ave.

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

PetSmart Signal Hill, 2550 Cherry Ave., Signal Hill

PetSmart Compton, 1775 South Alameda St., Compton

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

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

 Gelson’s Market, 6255 E. 2nd St.

Chase Bank, 5200 East Second St., Long Beach

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. 3rd St., Long Beach. Hours are Thursday from 9 a.m. 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. 7th St, Long Beach. Access this link for resources and donation areas in SoCal and across the country.

Shelter Enrichment - Copy

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.