Please send any Long Beach or Seal Beach pet-related events or projects to [email protected]. Posting subject to approval.
Virtually Pets
We’re going to be featuring senior pets from the shelter for the entire month of March because Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a $20 adoption fee for senior pets—animals 7 years or older. Good reasons for adopting senior pets were laid out in last week’s column, “Adopt a Knackered Little Ol’ Beastie for St. Patrick’s Day”—if you didn’t see it, take a look and check out the other seniors there.
At last glance, there were 46 dogs, 41 cats and three rabbits at ACS. None of the rabbits are 7 or older, but six of the cats are and a pretty disturbing 16 of the dogs—about a third—are seniors. Why do people dump older pets? Because they’re seen as disposable, as no longer being “fun” and they want to “start over” with a younger pet or a puppy—“ahhh, a puppy.” (The scare quotes were stuff we actually heard from people.) They’re not as alert as they were. They’ve been bred until they’re dried out and are no longer “useful” for breed greed. The pet’s become too dependent on the human. We once ran into some guy who barefacedly told us that he was going to breed his dachshund to get the puppies and then turn the mother in to the shelter. I hope they all find a pot of you-know-what at the end of the rainbow.
In short, it’s all about them—the owners. The pet’s something disposable. After living in a safe home for years, dumped cats and dogs get to watch their former companion inexplicably leave them at a shelter or worse, in a parking lot or park. They watch them drive or walk away, never to return. And there they’ll linger or roam until they die.
These pets didn’t deserve this. Frankly, the former owners don’t deserve them. Maybe you do. Here are three candidates, not necessarily related but looking as if they came out of the same kiln and were painted at Color Me Mine.
Diamond (ID#A517847) is 9-year-old female pit bull. She was—you guessed it—an owner surrender.
https://www.facebook.com/LongBeachAnimalCare/videos/1795370870483554/?t=3
She came in with cuts, scars and rashes that the medical staff has done a phenomenal job of taking care of. She’s very sweet, and just wants to be held like a big baby!
How can we have a Diamond without a Jubilee? Jubilee (ID#A603989) is an 8-year-old female boxer who was found as a stray. She’s well trained, loves to play with tennis balls, and most importantly loves hanging out with people. She’s so friendly and sweet!
“His name is Tiger, but he has the heart of a lion,” reads the quote on ACS’s Facebook page. Tiger (ID#A485430), a 6-year-old male pit bull, was found as a stray in August.
https://www.facebook.com/LongBeachAnimalCare/videos/1626434354043874/?t=0
He was abandoned, and the staff and volunteers have the heartfelt belief that he deserves to know and feel love. He participates in all of the playgroups and does beautifully with other dogs. He’s a medium-energy pooch—he runs and gets the “zoomies” in the new Dog Play Yard and then rests right by the “pitcher’s” side.
Things to Do, Pets to Support
St. Patty’s Day Pup Party Fund-Raiser
Thursday, March 15, 5:00PM–11:00PM, Tavern on 2, 5110 East Second Street, Long Beach.
Menu prices apply; $5 donation for each contest entered; 20 percent of the tab benefits Live Love Rescue
Get a little hair of the dog on early, and you can sleep it off during the usual day of havoc. This party promises to be full of luck and love. There will be good food (vegan/vegetarian/gluten-free available), strong drinks, appetizers and more. Enjoy contests like Kiss Me, I’m Irish (best dog kiss), Lucky Leprechaun (best costume), and Trick Me to the Pot o’ Gold (best pup trick), and enter the Paw-some Raffle and Super Silent Auction! All of this fun will benefit Live Love Animal Rescue!
Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic
Saturday, March 17, 7:30AM–3:00PM, Scherer Park, 6430 E 49th Street (enter from Del Amo Boulevard across from the YMCA), Long Beach
Spay/neuter 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. 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 its new location at Scherer Park on this date.
Make an appointment through IM or email at [email protected] for your dog, and include (1) your name, (2) address, (3) phone number, (4) dog’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 8:30AM. 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.
Raiden’s Luck of the Rescue St. Patty’s Day Party
Saturday, March 17, 1:00PM–4:00PM, The Hounds Grounds, 6021 Warner Avenue, Huntington Beach
$5 entry; buy tickets here
Celebrate a rescue and a life with a party—food, drinks and fun! Let’s start by saying that with the most wonderful, most amazing, loving forever foster family, this boy has had a new lease on life that many don’t have the opportunity to enjoy. Raiden was given two to four months of life, but on this day, we joyously celebrate an entire year! If Raiden could talk, he’d tell you that having cancer and being blind hasn’t gotten in his way—he’s enjoying a great life filled with play, walks, parks, dog play dates and an abundance of love. Without the extraordinary relentless efforts of K9 Kismet’s life-saving pull, none of this would have happened. This festival is for humans only—please don’t bring your doggies!
Signal Hill Dog Park Grand Opening
Saturday, March 17, 2:00PM–4:00PM, 3100 California Avenue, Signal Hill
Free Event
Surrounded by Long Beach and its 10 dog parks and one dog beach (see list and locations here), Signal Hill has missed catching the Frisbee until now! Have fun with your buddy at the grand opening of the new Signal Hill dog park! Note that only vaccinated and licensed dogs may participate, but if you don’t have one or both, there’ll be an opportunity to get them!
Helpful Honda Pet Adoption and Doggy Wash Event
Sunday, March 25, 11:00AM–3:00PM, Rosie’s Dog Beach, 1 Granada Avenue (and Ocean Avenue), Long Beach
Free to participate; adoption fees apply
In an effort to help SoCal’s two-legged residents find new four-legged friends, the SoCal Honda Dealers and their Helpful Guys in Blue are hosting their seventh-annual Helpful Honda Pet Adoption events with local shelters and rescues throughout March. The local one will be a hang-16 (not counting the dewclaw) event at Rosie’s Dog Beach. Participating rescues include Love Leo Rescue, German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County, Southern California Bulldog Rescue and I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue. Paw-some pooch perks will include free dog washes, a fun pet-photo booth, complimentary leashes, food bowls and doggy bags to those who visit and adopt! Best, a supplies donation will also be made to each participating local shelter or rescue group.
Furry Friends Faire
Saturday, May 19, 10:00AM–1PM, Los Cerritos Park, 3750 Del Mar Avenue (across from Los Cerritos Elementary School), Long Beach
Free to attend
Don’t miss our all-things-animal event! We’ll have fun contests to enter your furry friends in, such as pet tricks, largest pet, smallest pet and most unusual pet. The poetry-award winners from Los Cerritos Elementary students will be reading their poems. We’ll have an array of service providers you can meet at the event for your pets: groomers, trainers, pet food, dog walkers and more! For more information and updates, visit us here!
Ongoing
Kitty Catchers Adoption Event
Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00AM–3:30PM both days, PetSmart, 2550 Cherry Avenue, Signal Hill
Adoption fees apply
Despite the name, Kitty Catchers catches doggies, too, and some will be there along with the lovely fosters at this event! You’ll find your best friend there and anything else you’ll need to give him or her a good life from then on.
Pet Adoption Event at PFE
Saturdays and Sundays, Pet Food Express, 4220 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach
Adoption fees apply
Find your new BFF and everything that he or she could possibly want or need, in one place. Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) and other rescues bring great cats and dogs ready to go home with their new people. Everything is high quality at Pet Food Express, and that includes the adoptive pets! Check out the Cat Adoption Center, featuring fine felines from Long Beach Animal Care Services and Stray Cat Alliance. For more information about which rescues will be present on any particular day, follow this link.
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 West Anaheim Street, Mondays from 9:00AM to noon and Saturdays from noon to 3:00PM. 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 http://www.coalongbeach.org/about/. COA is located at 515 E 3rd St, Long Beach. Hours are Thursday from 9:00AM to 11:00AM.
Shelter-Enrichment Supplies Needed for ACS Dogs and Cats!
Drop-off: Wednesdays through Fridays, 10:00AM–5:30PM and Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00AM–4:00PM, 7700 East Spring Street, Long Beach
Individual donations requested
ACS is continuing our kennel enrichment activities for our canine guests here and could use so 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!