The last thing that Shoestring City Ranch’s Kelly Huston wrote us in her e-mail inviting us to the little sanctuary was “Let me know if you need directions.” After about an hour with a clueless GPS, we finally found the place when a passerby told us to look for the tunnel (shown below, for your benefit, should you wish to visit).
The tunnel was an apt metaphor, we realized, after we drove up and down urban avenues with liquor stores on every corner and through the industrialized district only to fall through a virtual rabbit hole and wind up in a Wonderland for farm animals. Shoestring City Ranch is a 4 ½ acre parcel of land leased from Southern California Edison. Before Shoestring took over managing it three and a half years ago, it was a 4-H Club site. Then volunteer Karen Thompson unexpectedly found herself riding the hay wagon as manager for the long haul.
“They asked me to help, and before I knew it…,” Thompson trailed off.
Thompson’s management maintains sustainability and frugality. The hillside garden, designed by landscaping volunteer and CSULB student John Thompson, is drought tolerant. The goats and sheep are the lawnmowers and weed whackers, and there’s no electricity, no nuthin’. The comforts of home are reserved for the animals.
And there are plenty of them: sheep, chickens, guinea hens, rabbits, doves, ducks, goats of various caprine persuasions, and Poncho the donkey all live and thrive at the Shoestring City Ranch. Horses, both quarter horse and thoroughbred, comprise a good deal of the population. All the permanent equine residents have been gelded, i.e., neutered, as are all the mammals on the ranch; the horses feel okay about that, anyway, as the Gallop Poll we took strongly indicated.
Some of the live-ins are refugees from the Los Alamitos Racetrack; their owners had been caught illegally drugging them, and Thompson rescued them as soon as she heard about the situation. Still others were found wandering the street (yes, it happens) or surrendered by people who no longer want them or are able to care for them.
Respectively, Karen Thompson and Kelly Huston with rescued horses
A number of horses are boarded, and the money paid helps to fund the ranch and feed and care for the animals. The trainer of a troupe of Portuguese dance horses, the Lusitano Stallions, comes out daily to the ranch to train his horses. The Mounted Assistance Unit (MAU), an equestrian patrol program featuring celebrities in their own right, is a volunteer group that supplements the regular ranger coverage of theL.A.Countyparks by patrolling areas in parks accessible to horses, have their four-footed soldiers there. One, Moe (aka the Little Gentleman) had been found, severely neglected, in a backyard. MAU member Mary Kelly patiently and successfully tamed Moe, developing him into a beautiful certified MAU patrol horse. Kelly has since adopted Moe.
Mary Kelly and Moe
And then there’s Kona. Kona’s mama died birthing him. To give the foal a decent chance for survival, a goat was regularly milked to nourish him and was given a bed in the stable to keep the little horse company. The school kids who milked the goat decided to change her name to Life. Know any children’s story writers?
Goats, too, either live permanently at the ranch after abandonment by owners tired of the novelty of owning a spirited pet or are boarded. All animals help to educate program participants, particularly children and young adults, but there have also been learning experiences for ex-gang members, terminally ill people and homeless people, all of whom resonate with the needs of helpless creatures.
Every Sunday at 2 p.m., church groups, field trips, school children, Scouts and other groups actively participate in learning about the animals. There’s no charge for the programs, but donations are requested to help keep the ranch going. This is no petting zoo but the old-fashioned work ethic in an outdoor schoolhouse, which teaches animal husbandry. These experiences work particularly well for children who are haven’t experienced much outside an urban setting.
“Long Beachkids have no access to farm animals,” Thompson said.
The weekly Youth Horse Program is particularly impressive. It educates young people who have an active interest in the history and care of what Thompson calls man’s real best friend. The program involves active participation based on the Certified Horsemanship Association Program. Moe the MAU horse is a popular “instructor” because of his gentle demeanor.
Children also come for school projects and credits. They learn to feed the animals, milk the goats, and even walk them (do you say “hoof” instead of “heel?). Kids also learn that bunnies and baby chicks aren’t Easter novelties. The rabbit hutch has a library from which to learn about and read to the bunnies. The APA-ABA Youth Poultry Club’s philosophy and program inspires the bond between the little human chickadees and the little feathered chick’s who would rather be scratching around in the dirt than foraging in a front yard near traffic. At Shoestring City Ranch, the guinea hens and chickens are observed before and after they hatch, and each participating child gets to adopt one and care for him or her on the ranch.
“And,” Thompson said, “we don’t eat our friends.”
Goats need walking, too! Chickens scratch happily in their pens
Thompson and the crew didn’t name the ranch Shoestring for nothing. Aside from the horse-boarding income, there are in-place donations and additional funding to keep the horses stable within the stables, but they welcome donations to keep the ranch in its wonderful state. The ranch’s wish list includes such things as barn equipment, horse tack and special food for the animals, not to mention manure pickup, which is win-win for all, especially serious gardeners. A renewal of the lease would also be nice.
As important as funding is, the ranch needs active volunteers. It’s relatively easy to shell out a cash donation, but the spirit of the ranch, as with any worthwhile project, lies with the Karen Thompsons and the Kelly Hustons and everyone else who works hard to make the Shoestring City Ranch a home on the range.
“Use the skills you have to make something great happen for us,” Thompson said.
If you’re tempted to go over the hill and down the dusty road to the Shoestring City Ranch, the address is1003 West Carson St.As soon as you get to the corner ofWest Carson Streetand Via Oro Avenue, dump the GPS and look for the magic burrow. Say hi to Moe for us.
Allá en el rancho grande, allá donde vivía
Había un rancherita que allegre me decía…
(Out there on the big ranch, out there where I used to live
There was a rancher girl who happily would tell me…)
Traditional Latino children’s song
Virtually Pets
Charlie
Charlie, 12 years old, is the ultimate lap cat and likes nothing more than to snuggle in while someone reads to him, preferably a feline-oriented book. Charlie’s former human companion passed away, and the staff of Animal Care Services has been looking for a special home for him—he has URI and needs a lot of care and to be on a a strict diet. Can you provide one for this dear elderly fellow until eternity? If so, visit Animal Care Services at thePitchfordAnimalCompanionVillage, 7700 E. Spring St. inLong Beach. Ask for ID# K937.
Some folks think that the best way to control animal overpopulation is to abandon the offspring. These cute little guys were thankfully rescued and are available for adoption.
Pet Projects
Coyote Warning
Last issue, we issued an alert about coyotes becoming increasingly bold, and we urged everyone to keep pets inside, especially at night. Click here to read the particulars and get tips on protecting yourself and your family from predatory urban wildlife.
Donations Needed for Animal Care Services, Pitchford Animal Companion Village, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, (5620 570-PETS
We just got a specific wish list from ACS. If you’re getting new stuff around the house and want to get rid of some old stuff, or if you know someone with any of the following items, or if you’re just feeling generous, here’s the list:
- cat nail clippers
- Natural Balance Dog Food, Rolls
- A plastic picnic table/chairs (or table and chairs) for the back parking lot area of the shelter (under the trees, so no umbrella needed necessarily)
- A bench or two or three, we will put them to use
- Plastic aprons for grooming so we don’t get soaked when bathing Saint Bernards (true story, check out Bear on our FB page—we bathed him!)
- Plastic chairs (need to be easy to clean and handle direct sun). Need 10 of these
- Two canopies for the play yards (10’x10′)
- Hand sanitizers to carry in apron pockets (about 20)
- Two trash cans for our play yards that are opened by pressing your foot. See an example here.
- Two toy containers for the dog play yard (plastic bins that can be sealed when the sprinklers go on at night)
- Two plastic pools for the play yard (for doggie dips!)
“At least I’m not eating the sofa!” Ashk, with loving parents Goksun and Marcela, pose with Terri Steuben
Secrets of a Pet Whisperer signing
Pet communicator Terri Steuben appeared at Pussy and Paws in April to sign her book, Secrets of a Pet Whisperer and answer questions that clients had about their dogs—and vice versa. Here, Ashk (pronounced Ahshk, meaning “love”) informs Terri that his parents, Marcela Ramirez and Goksun Ergur, need to understand that sofas are for everyone to sit on, including her.
Foster Pet Class, Sunday, June 3, P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village Auditorium, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, 10 a.m.–noon
Foster pets need temporary loving homes to give them a better 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 prior to attending a foster class. The application is available here.
SpcaLA Mobile Adoption at PetSmart, Saturday, June 9, PetSmart,Long BeachTowneCenter,7631 Carson Blvd., Long Beach, 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
Can’t make it to thePitchfordCompanionAnimalVillageinLong Beach? SpcaLA will come to you! Meet the pets, adopt one or two, and get everything they need in one stop!
Pet Adoption Day Featuring KLOS Radio Personalities Mark and Brian, Saturday, June 16, Pitchford Companion Animal Village Auditorium, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Let KLOS radio personalities Mark and Brian help you find a friend for life! Enjoy a live broadcast from spcaLA’s Companion Animal Village in Long Beach, with vendor booths, refreshments, silent auction, family fun and, of course, wonderful pets to adopt!
Low Cost Vaccine and Microchip Clinic, Saturday, June 30, Pitchford Companion Animal Village Auditorium, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, 10 a.m.–2p.m.
Keep your pets safe and healthy by having them vaccinated and microchipped. Prices are as follows:
Microchips: $25 (does not include registration)
Rabies: $5
Bordetella: $10
DHPP: $15
FVRCP: $15
Leukemia: $15
Dewormimg: $25
Bark for the Park!
Friends of El DoradoDogParkneed your help! Vote for Long Beachto win $100,000 dollars for our dog park at the PetSafe site. The cost for the park is estimated at a cost up to $200,000, and $100,000 will help us hugely. Just click and vote—it’s as easy as wagging your tail! (You can vote on Facebook as well.)
Pet Lovers License Plate Wins Extension
Social Compassion in Legislation’s president, Judie Mancuso, reported that Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 610 (Solorio) into practice on May 2. The bill extends the deadline an extra year, to July 1, 2013, so that the Veterinary Medical Board can gather the 7,500 orders needed to begin production of the plate. The governor promoted the Pet Lover’s License Plate at a press conference at Petco in West Los Angeles. According to the website, 5,201 plates have been ordered as of May 20. Visit the website to learn more and to order a plate. Funds are specified for spay/neuter only.