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

Virtually Pets

Black cats have long been equated with tales of terror and bad luck. There are several classic horror stories that feature black kitties, such as the Edgar Allan Poe tale that featured a hapless midnight-furred feline and, of course, the countless occult films and stories in which black cats trot after witches, supervising their spells and advising them about important stuff, like where the best sale on canned tuna is.

But the only recipient of bad luck is the black cat itself. Cats of this color—and cats in general—fell a long distance from the worship they enjoyed in ancient Egypt and other civilizations of antiquity when the Middle Ages reared a collective ugly head and new beliefs usurped the old.  Cats as well as people suspected of practicing dark arts were burned alive; then, in a touch of irony, the kitties were saved by the Black Plague when they were recruited to kill rats, which were believed to carry the disease.

Even today, black cats are what David Markham, the mad puppeteer behind the Midsummer Scream horrorfest, likes to call the “black sheep, like all of us.” Markland was referring to horror fans. Contrary to my initial fear that a black-cat adoption at a convention center full of creepiness and creepy fans would bode ill for the cat, there are in fact myriad animal lovers who adore cats of all colors. I too love horror stories, after all.

And black cats, despite the belief that they’re used for cruel purposes during Halloween, are more likely to be adopted for the scary season, the way baby chicks and cute bunnies are at Easter, and then dumped somewhere when the candy’s put away and the jack-o’-lanterns begin to rot. To make matters worse for the beautiful basic blacks, when adopters visit shelters and rescuers, the superstitious among them avoid black cats like the Black Plague, again ironically.

Last year’s Midsummer Scream featured the Black Cat Lounge, an interactive space in which people could play with a black kitten and perhaps take one or two or three or four home. The little guests are there courtesy of the all-volunteer Kitten Rescue in Los Angeles, and believe me, this bunch checks out adopters with a fine-tooth flea comb.

Midsummer Scream will be lurking within the thresholds of the Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Ticket-sale and general information are available here. If you’re going, be sure to meet up with these denizens of the Black Cat Lounge and their glossy little cohorts.

The unholy trio comprises Baldwin, Britt Nicole and little Poblano. Poblano is making a guest appearance—he was adopted right after the photo was taken! But the other two will be there, plus plenty of other black kittens. Britt Nicole is super-outgoing and loves people; Baldwin is sweet but very independent, and he likes to spend his time playing more than cuddling. All in the photo are 4 months old.

Baldwin insisted on a headshot–he wants to be the next Pyewacket in your palace.

Ebony likes to know who her visitor is before she does any palm reading or rubbing—she’s quiet at first, very sweet and friendly. Once she gets comfortable in her environment and around people, she becomes very bold, outgoing and adventurous.

What—not going to Midsummer Scream? Never fear (and you will, if you’re at the event). We have locally sourced black kitties as well as the imports. Long Beach Animal Care Services , 7700 E, Spring St. at the entrance to El Dorado Park (no parking fee for shelter visitors) has put together this trailer so harrowing that you’ll be awwwwwwwwwwstruck!

https://www.facebook.com/LongBeachAnimalCare/videos/1974889399198366/

And to quote another icon, the late Jade (Judith DeFrain) of the venerable Eye of the Cat on Broadway, “familiars pick you. If an animal chooses you, it was meant to be.”

Things to Do, Pets to Support

Moon Cat Café at Fourth Friday

Friday, July 27, 6-9 p.m., Artistic Edge Framing, 410 St. Louis Ave., Long Beach

Moon Cat Cafe is as excited as a calico in a bed of catnip to participate for the first time in Fourth Friday, hosted by the Fourth Street Business Association! The unique mobile cateteria will partner with the amazing local nonprofit cat rescue Zoey’s Place Rescue to feature adoptable cats onboard. You can socialize with them (and perhaps even bring one home forever!) while enjoying a cup of fresh-brewed gourmet coffee and a delicious pastry! [Butt-in disclaimer by the author: some of the best coffee and goodies I’ve had. Of course, the cats supersede even that quality]. Zoey’s Place Rescue will receive 10 percent of the proceeds to support their incredible work of fostering and providing urgent medical care to cats in need. (If you’ve been to Fourth Street even when an event isn’t in progress, you know how limited the street parking is, so bring your bike, take the bus, hail a rideshare, or walk. Of course, you can arrange to pick up your new kitty!)

Scoop Up a Cat at P. D. Pitchford

Through Sunday, July 29, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Wednesday–Friday and 10 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Saturday–Sunday, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach (at entrance to El Dorado Park; no parking fee for shelter guests)

Pick your price!

ACS and spcaLA have cats of all shapes, sizes and temperament (primarily sweet). Come down to find your new foot and heart warmer, and pick your own adoption price! Adopters must still meet all qualifications.

Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic—CATS THIS MONTH, sponsored by Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team!

Saturday, August 11, 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m., Ramona Park, 3301 E. 65th St. at Obispo Avenue, Long Beach

Have your cat spayed or neutered free with appointment and qualifications; vet appointment with voucher, minimal charge for dogs and cats; flea meds $10; shots and dewormer $10 each; nail trimming, $10

It’s now the law to fix your pets in Long Beach and many Southern California cities. It’s also kitten season, still burgeoning and blooming, and crowding shelters with cats and kittens that will likely be subject to euthanasia if a rescue doesn’t pull them or people come to adopt them.

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. The spay/neuter truck will be at Ramona Park on this date to fix cats.

Make an appointment through IM or email at [email protected] for your dog, and include (1) your name, (2) address, (3) phone number, (4) pet’s name, (5) age, (6) sex, (7) breed, and (8) weight, and Fix will see if they can schedule you. You can also come as a standby, but be there at 8:30 a.m.. Make sure that your pet has had nothing to eat or drink past 10:00PM the previous night.

To donate, visit our page. In-kind donations such as leashes, collars and toys can be brought to our event or ordered through our Amazon wish list. 

For both spay/neuter and vaccinations, all dogs must be on sturdy leashes and all cats must be in dedicated carriers. Fix thanks you in advance for being responsible for your pet’s health and for helping to reduce shelter overpopulation and euthanasia.

Saving Kittens’ Lives workshop and fundraiser, with Kitten Lady Hannah Shaw

If you’re expecting an eccentric cat person raving about kitties, yes. But you have no idea where her whimsies will take you or how much you’ll learn about cat care! Hannah Shaw can captivate an audience the way that little birdie does to the cat on the other side of the window—she’ll teach you how to care for underage, orphaned kittens so that more lives will be saved. Best of all, your ticket purchase will help The Little Lion Foundation do just that as well! Purchase tickets here.

2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, El Dorado Park West Community Center, 2800 Studebaker Road, Long Beach. $39.95; a portion of ticket sales will benefit The Little Lion Foundation.

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].

 

Photo courtesy of West Coast Animal Rescue.

 

Petco Animal Supplies, Marina Shores

6500 Pacific Coast Highway

Helen Sanders CatPAWS permanent adoption center, store hours

Rabbit Rescue Inc., adoptable rabbits daily, store hours

Live Love Animal Rescue, first Sunday of the month, 1-3 p.m.

 

Unleashed by Petco

600 Redondo Ave.

Foreverhome Pet Rescue, Inc., Sundays, noon–4 p.m.

 

PetSmart, Long Beach Exchange

3871 N. Lakewood Blvd., Long Beach

The Cat Cove, Saturdays, noon–4 p.m.

Jellicle Cats Foundation,  Saturdays, noon—4 p.m.

 

PetSmart Signal Hill

2550 Cherry Ave., Signal Hill

Kitty Katchers, Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Stray Cat Alliance, permanent adoption center, store hours

 

PetSmart Compton

1775 South Alameda St., Compton

Zazzy Cats Kitty Rescue, permanent adoption center, store hours

Rabbit Rescue Inc.,  one adoptable rabbit daily, store hours

 

PetSmart Seal Beach

12341 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach

Helen Sanders CatPAWS permanent adoption center, store hours

West Coast Animal Rescue, Saturdays, noon–4 p.m.

Dogs in Need, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

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

Pet Food Express Cat Adoption Center, permanent adoption center, business hours

alternate weekends, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Fix Long Beach, occasional weekends

Live Love Animal Rescue, first Saturday of each month, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Ozzie and Friends Rescue, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., alternate Sundays

The Little Lion Foundation,  alternate weekends, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

 

Bank of America, 5101 Second Street, Long Beach

Long Beach Spay & Neuter Foundation, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

 

Register for Best Friends’ ‘Strut Your Mutt’ Walk Event

Imagine this: You’re surrounded by animal lovers just like you. Everywhere you look, there are dogs of all shapes and sizes, all happy with tails wagging. Excitement is in the air.

You don’t have to imagine it. That’s what Best Friends’ Strut Your Mutt is all about! This year’s L.A. Strut takes place Oct. 20 (time to be announced) at Exposition Park. This fur-filled festival not only rallies friends, family and neighbors to help save the lives of homeless pets in your community but it also supports the lifesaving work of Best Friends Animal Society. You can find everything you need to know right here.

BARK Therapy Dogs Reading with Kids

See website for information

Founded in 2007, BARK (Beach Animals Reading with Kids) is a nonprofit all-volunteer program that encourages children to increase their reading skills and self-confidence by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. Students sometimes find it intimidating to read in front of classmates but love to read to the non-judgmental, calming dogs. BARK now has 170 teams listening to kids in more than 100 schools and libraries in California—Long Beach libraries visited monthly are Bach, El Dorado, Bayshore, Brewitt and Los Altos; outlying-area libraries include Hawaiian Gardens, Iacoboni and Los Alamitos. BARK teams also visit nursing homes, senior living facilities and veteran centers. They even de-stress college students during finals week! For all events, check out BARK’s calendar. To find information about volunteering your furry buddy or to arrange a visit to your school, library or other community, contact the group at [email protected] or 562-235-8835.

SNP/LA Mobile Low-Cost Pet Vaccines

Locations and dates vary; visit link in text

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. Low/cost spay/neuter information is also available through SNP/LA.

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 W. 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 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. Third St. Long Beach. Hours are Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m.

 

Shelter-Enrichment Supplies Needed for ACS Dogs and Cats!

Drop-off: Wednesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach

Individual donations requested

ACS is continuing our kennel enrichment activities for our canine guests here and could use 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
• pipe cleaners
• toilet paper/paper towel rolls
• cat toys
• corks from bottles (for cat toys)
• catnip
• canned cat and dog food

Donations are tax deductible. Our pups and kitties say thanks so much!