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

Friends of Long Beach Animals is Long Beach’s most venerable animal-welfare organization—so venerable, in fact, that it has whiskers. Literally. Since 1990, FOLBA has been looking after the needs of bewhiskered residents of Long Beach by facilitating adoptions, supporting our shelter’s pets, and providing big bites out of spay/neuter procedures for people who can’t afford high veterinary prices.

This year’s FOLBA float at the Belmont Shore Christmas parade has invited a number of local pet organizations to walk with them. You’re invited, too, to come by yourself or walk your well-behaved dog (it’s advisable to leave the cats at home) with FOLBA and the following rescues and shelters:

Please be advised, though, that there will be marching bands that include drums and all kinds of things that may upset your pet. Luckily, the float is situated toward the front of the parade—space 28—and the bands are toward the end (the Harry Bridges Marching Bulldogs, space 84, are a performance-dance group, not dogs marching in step). Use your judgement. And let’s hope that the rain gives parade-goers a break.

You may meet these good dogs at the parade as well. They’re from LBACS and would love to go home—forever—for the holidays.

King (ID# A551949), found as a stray, is 6 years old and loves a walk around the castle moat or a romp with little princes and princesses. He’s adorable even not considering his size, and loves to play with the volunteers at the shelter.

If we have a King, then by all means, we need a queen! Regina (ID#A616799), Latin for queen, is a 4-year-old terrier mix. Despite her size, she has quite the regal demeanor.

Then, of course, we need the rest of the court. Here’s Duke (ID#A347815), a 13-year-old wise fellow who’s still playful. Adopt a senior dog or cat from LBACS and bring the paperwork to Thai Silk Restaurant on Broadway and get $25 toward a delicious meal.

Darling little Buster (ID#A616873) is a male miniature poodle, about 6 years old. Poodles are smart and playful, and this guy would make such a lovely playmate and companion.

Fancy (ID#A616885) is a 5-year-old terrier mix. LBACS thought she was tan when she was found, and then she cleaned up. Fancy that! Or should we say “Fancy, that!”

And, finally, there’s Brooklyn (ID#A617663), and is that a face! He’s a male Chihuahua/terrier mix, about a year old. You’ll fall for Brooklyn in a New York minute.

See you at the parade!

Things to do, pets to support

Happy Meowur: Sunday, Dec. 2, 4:30–6 p.m., Kobe Steakhouse, 3001 Old Ranch Parkway, Seal Beach. Suggested donation $15.

Visit with the CatPAWS rescue and adoption team to find out what this wonderful adoption organization has done for cats and newborn kittens during the year, what they’ll do next year, and how you can help. Appetizers available. Humans only, naturally.

Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic, sponsored in part by the Rossmoor Woman’s Club: Saturday, Dec. 8, 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 that dogs and cats must be fixed, 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.

Timmons Subaru Adoption Event: Sunday, Dec. 9, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Timmons Subaru, 3950 Cherry Ave., Long Beach. Adoption fees apply.

Four-legged friends from our shelter at Long Beach Animal Care Services and at spcaLA are searching for their special forever homes this holiday, and you could be the one to bring them the gift of love, warmth and family. Join Timmons Subaru in helping to provide our tail-wagging, wet-nosed and fluffy buddies with a warm place to stay for the holidays and for the rest of their lives as a part of your family. Remember: absolutely no trade-ins.

Haute Dogs’ Operation Santa Paws: Saturday, Dec. 22, 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., Long Beach Animal Care Services,  7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach. Bring food, toys and supplies to distribute.

Santa Paws himself (you may know him as Justin Rudd) and his helpers (you) will bring toys and goodies to all the good cats, dogs and bunnies and cleaning supplies for the staff in three shelters: Long Beach Animal Care Services, spcaLA, Seal Beach Animal Care Center and Orange County Animal Care. (See the wish list here.) Participants will meet at LBACS’s parking lot, pass out items at the Long Beach locations, and either caravan to the other shelters or just do Long Beach, if preferred. If you or a business or organization you’re connected with wants to start an independent collection, download a poster here and follow the instructions on the Santa Paws website. All information is readily available there. Happy holidays to all critters and those of us who love them!

Ongoing

Adopt, adopt, adopt

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 Cerritos, 12741 Towne Center Drive, Cerritos

PetSmart Compton, 1775 South Alameda St., Compton

PetSmart Garden Grove, 9835 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove

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

Long Beach Shelter forgives license penalties: through Dec. 31

Merry Christmas! Long Beach Animal Care Services is forgiving all past license penalties and fines for Long Beach residents. If your pet’s license has lapsed, bring it, visit: 7700 E. Spring St. Long Beach, CA 90815, call: 562-570-PETS or online at: www.longbeach.gov/acs

Long Beach Little Paws Project needs donations

The most vulnerable animals in the public shelter system are kittens under two pounds. These fragile babies, especially those not yet eating on their own, are typically euthanized on intake at most public shelters. In an effort to change the fate of far too many kittens, two non-profit rescue organizations, The Little Lion Foundation and Helen Sanders CatPAWS, have launched a joint effort to create and operate a kitten nursery. This nursery will give kittens too young to be adopted or those who need medical care a safe place to heal and grow. Newborn kittens are fragile and vulnerable. You can tell by those photos—if you look closely, you’ll see the beautiful cat that each of them will grow to be. Please read all about them here, and please, please donate.

2009 Pet Calendars!

Deck your walls with vows to rescue! We have a growing list of calendars that feature rescued pets who’ve found great homes! Your purchase of a calendar will help each rescue continue its quest to provide the best possible world for animals! All proceeds go to the rescue, not to mention paying for the printing. These are nice calendars!

Ordering information is on the links.

Helen Sanders CatPAWS “Show Us Your Kitties” calendar

Jellicle Cats Rescue Foundation

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.