On Sunday, Oct. 6, at sundown, a serene and beautifully solemn event will take place on the sand near the ocean. Justin Rudd’s Haute Dogs organization will host the Interfaith Blessing of the Animals, which honors every creature who’s ever lived on the planet.

An inclusive group of ministers will be present and may include representatives from Catholic and Protestant churches, mosques, synagogues, and feminist and earth-based creeds. All humans are welcome regardless of whether they adhere to any faith or belief, and all animals, who have their own thing going. Former pilgrims have included dogs, a few cats, parrots, lizards, snakes, miniature horses, rabbits, geese and, once, a llama. A duck I carried in the procession a few years ago ingested one of my earrings. The farm rescue promised they’d look out for it, but it never appeared.

Any pet lucky enough to live in a loving home or a rescue, permanent or adoption centered, is already blessed, and their humans are also blessed with them. But while you bless your furry, feathered or scaly friend or the memory of the ones who were fortunate to have lived with you and are now gone, ask also for a blessing for the ones who weren’t so lucky:

The ones beaten and neglected by the people who were supposed to care for them.

The ones with lives endangered by diseases that could have been prevented by vaccination.

The ones used to entertain or line their owners’ pockets and then are heartlessly killed when they can’t breed or race anymore.

The ones abandoned at their homes or at the shelter for being too expensive, too old or too inconvenient.

And so on. There’s a dark side to animal welfare, of which a lot of you are aware. The cats at our shelter, in fact, have been through a heck of a lot this year and could use a few blessings.

“Our cats need all the prayers they can get,” said Michael Fratino, the shelter’s marketing and communications specialist. “It’s been a tough season for all of these souls. From overpopulation and abandonment to ringworm and panleukopenia, some divine intervention might be just the cure!”

Fratino said that there are some healthy cats in the shelter outside the quarantine area, and they’re ready for adoption. Want to make a blessing happen?

tuxedo cat head-and-shoulder shot. Cat has a pink nose with a black spot and a harlequin mask over most of her face
Ada (ID#A630813) is a 6-month-old domestic shorthair female. She’s a wonderful bundle of joy who’s curious as heck and loves to be with people. She has her own ready-to-wear tuxedo, so no need to get her a Halloween costume. What she really needs is a home to call her own.
tuxedo cat with green eyes is crouching on a pink blanket. Cat has a goatee on left half of chin and a pink nose, white muzzle and nose stripe, and a blot on the leg.
Izzy (ID#A630733) is the outgoing half of the dynamic duo Izzy and Dizzy. Izzy’s is a very mellow black-and-white furball who begs to be held and cuddled. Staff and volunteers would love to see him and his brother adopted as a pair.
BEautiful black cat with a wide ear span looks out balefully at camera.
Aaaand, here’s Dizzy (ID#A630734)! Diz is the quieter of the brother act. Like a goth clad all in black, Dizzy is somewhat shy and reserved. He prefers to let his brother Izzy do the talking. Again, Izzy and Dizzy are bonded siblings, and it would be great for them to go home together.

Long Beach Animal Care Services is located at 7700 E. Spring St. in Long Beach, at the entrance to El Dorado Park. No parking fee for shelter visitors. Go through the entrance with the banner nearby.

Things to do, pets to support

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

Calendars

Seal Beach Animal Care Center 2020 Calendar: through Oct. 20, $1 for each vote, $5 minimum

Has your dog been waiting for that walk down the runway? Has your cat been waiting to be discovered as the star they know they are?  It is now their time to shine! The 13 cats and 13 dogs with the most votes will become a monthly model, with the top cat and top dog as cover pets. Whether you’re a winner or a beloved entrant, the pets at Seal Beach Animal Care Center will profit from your entry—all funds will go to their care. Details available here.

Events
Animals of all stripe, spot, scale and plume will gather at Rosie’s Dog Beach on Sunday for the Interfaith Blessing of the Animals. See below for details. Photo courtesy of Justin Rudd.

Subaru Loves Pets adoption event: Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E Spring St. at entrance to El Dorado Park, Long Beach, $20 minimum fee

Enjoy vendor booths, food trucks and, most importantly, lots of great cats, dogs and rabbits. Pick a fee above $20. Thanks to Subaru for this event, but remember, no trade-ins accepted!

Haute Dogs Interfaith Blessing of the Animals: Sunday, Oct. 6, 5:45 p.m., Rosie’s Dog Beach, 1 Granada Ave., Long Beach, free

Cats, dogs, bunnies, goats, lizards, mini-horses, ducks—voiceless creatures don’t need blessings as much as their human companions may. But this quiet evening on the beach as the sun sets is easily the most communal feeling anyone could have. A variety of clergy will be present to administer blessing to you both. If your BFF can’t come because of nerves in the crowd or if they’ve passed away, please bring a photo or something they loved to play with or wear. Justin Rudd’s nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT) sponsors the event.

Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic, hosted by District 7 councilmember Roberto Uranga: Saturday, Oct. 12, 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m., 1500 E Carson St # 1598, Long Beach, free spay/neuter appointments for qualifying people ; free microchips, shots, flea-med doses, dewormers and nail trimmings $10 each.

The best way to mitigate shelter euthanasia is to tamp the source, and that’s why we’re here. Our shelter and rescues are packed with cats and dogs, and everyone doing rescue is chasing their tail trying to get them all adopted. The best way for our community to help out is to turn off the taps at the other end so that more won’t be born. Remember: it’s the law to fix your pet in Long Beach, and Fix is here to help you do just that. Appointments are available for future clinics—make one at [email protected], or PM us on Facebook. More information is available here. We thank Councilmember Uranga and District 7 for seeing how important it is.

Boats n’ Barks Fundraiser Cocktail Pawty: Sunday, Oct. 13, 5–10 p.m., Boathouse on the Bay, 190 N. Marina Drive, Long Beach, menu and drink prices vary; auction prices vary

Join Live Love Animal Rescue and their sponsor, the Karen T. Hilburn Foundation, to help them float their boat and rescue as many pets as possible. Take a Duffy boat ride (all electric and won’t hurt the fishies), make a champagne toast, participate in a silent auction, and listen to heartwarming rescue stories!

Long Beach Imperial Court’s Villains for a Cause fundraiser:  Saturday, Oct. 19, Hamburger Mary’s, 330 Pine Ave., Long Beach, $10 at door

You never know what those Imperial Court witches are going to pull off next! This time, it’s a costume party that will benefit Sparky and the Gang dog rescue and the Cat Cove—cats, of course. Get ready for an evening of games, raffles and drag shows. Hamburger Mary’s has a dog-friendly patio, so costume up your cutie and enter them in the Lola the Royal Saint’s first-ever doggie parade!

Pit Bull Appreciation Day: Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Marine Stadium, 5255 Paoli Way, Long Beach, free

And it’s 2! $4! 6! 8! Who do we appreciate? Those silly, goofy, misunderstood-but-getting-better-by-the-moment pit bull dogs and mixes! Have fun rolling around with Rover on a yoga mat, trotting in a pack walk, learning about foster and pet care, purchasing raffle items and doggies to adopt. The event is brought to you by Blockhead Brigade, Live Love Animal Rescue and Lucky Dog Humane Education.

Haute Dog Howl’oween and Vendor Adoption Fair: Sunday, Oct. 27, 12:30 p.m., Marina Vista Park, 5355 E. Eliot St, Long Beach, $10 advance for each canine participant, $5 for a front-row chair, free to stand and spectate

OOOOOO! OWWWRRRROOO! Zombiedogs and pooch pirates and superhero mutts, all in the cutest costumes you’ll ever see! Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team (CAT) host what’s touted as the biggest Halloween pet event in the world! Shop for your best buddy at the vendors, or adopt one if you don’t have one or want a friend for your pal, and delight at a parade and judged contest featuring over 500 costumed dogs! The contest winner will get dog food for a year! Registration will open soon.

Sparky and the Gang’s Fourth Annual Black Dog Tan Chihuahua event: Saturday, Nov. 16, 4–10 p.m., Elinor, 250 N. Tribune Court, Long Beach, entrance TBA

Prohibition-themed event to raise funds for Sparky and the Gang dog rescue. Dress up in your dapper flappers. Can we say barkeasy? Al Ca-Bone, maybe? More information available here.

Sign saying "Animal Admissions" at left between two pillars in front of a blue building. At right is a banner saying "Adopt at Long Beach Animal Care. Adoptions Save Lives" in blue, black and white.
Long Beach Animal Care Services is located at 7700 E. Spring St., at the entrance to El Dorado Park. This banner marks the shelter’s entrance.
Shelter Shenanigans

Pick Your Price Adoption Promo at the shelter continues through Oct. 31, where you can bring home a new best buddy and cuddle during the cooling days of autumn. Cats, dogs, rabbits—and if your kid has been pestering you for a horse, don’t worry. We haven’t any.

Have an overnight with a kitty with Foster Fridays! The shelter has kittens coming out of the walls—literally. The shelter manager constantly has a few in her office! The shelter is at capacity, especially where cats are concerned, so fosters are sorely needed. Every Friday from 2-5 p.m., shelter staff is inviting residents who have the necessary accommodations—a safe space, time to feed them and play with them, and a propensity to say “Awwww!” every 15 minutes—to take a healthy, weaned kitten home for a while. Shelter will provide food, litter and a carrier and will cover any offsite medical. Time commitment is two weeks, with an option to adopt—of course! Foster fail! Have questions? Contact the shelter director at [email protected].

Other/ongoing
Strut Your Mutt
Strut Your Mutt takes place Oct. 26. Register now. See below for details.

Feline Good Social Club: 301 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, open daily 10 a.m.–7 p.m., $15 for an hour session, $8 for a “quickie” half-hour

There’s just too much stuff going on in this wonderland for moggies! Bring your lunch and socialize with the friendliest and most entertaining group of cats you’ll ever meet (especially Fancy Feet and his giant hamster wheel), or sign up here for one of the many activities: Cats and Mats yoga, Sound Healing, Kids Club—all of it. Fill out an application to adopt! All proceeds go to maintaining the Lounge and, of course, the cats!

Register for Strut Your Mutt Los Angeles

Best Friends Animal Society is teaming up with our partner rescue groups, shelters and animal-welfare organizations to help save the lives of homeless cats and dogs at Strut Your Mutt. Local Long Beach groups such as The Little Lion Foundation are participating, and animal advocates and lovers will be coming from everywhere. Register for the Walk or donate if you have a pet who just won’t be walked—cats come to mind. All funds raised go directly to lifesaving programs such as spay/neuter, adoption, and a KITTEN NURSERY! This year’s event is on October 26, 2019 at Exposition Park in Los Angeles—all information is available here.

Instructional Pack Walk: First Saturday of the month, 10–11 a.m., Bixby Park, 130 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, free, donations accepted

The public is invited to take part in a walk sponsored by Trot’s Dog Walking and Training that will help you and your best buddy learn proper leash manners and focus on each other instead of the distractions of the “real world.” Trot’s experienced pack leaders are there to guide you through the process. Meet at the park at the corner of Ocean and Junipero at 10am.

Donations accepted for Pets of the Homeless

Pets of the Homeless’ home page gives a self-description as the only organization focusing only on providing food and care for pets belonging to homeless people. Businesses and other organizations across the country receive in-kind donations of food and other needs that the dogs and cats’ human families can pick up at outreach locations. The following Long Beach businesses will accept your donations:

Trendi Pawz, 255 Redondo Ave., Long Beach

Belmont Heights Animal Hospital, 255 Redondo Ave., Long Beach

Paw Shoppe Pet Center, Inc., 6416 E. Spring St., Long Beach

Food and supplies are available at Beacon for Him Ministries, 1535 Gundry Ave. Long Beach, Mondays from 9:00 a.m. to noon and Saturdays from noon to 3:00 p.m.; and at Christian Outreach in Action, 515 E. 3rd St., Long Beach, Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Donations will be gratefully accepted at these locations as well.

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]. Click on the links for each rescue in case of updates or changes.

Chase Bank, 5200 E. Second St., Long Beach

The Farmer’s Marketplace of Long Beach, 5000 E. Spring St. (Spring and Clark), Long Beach

Gelson’s Market, 6255 E. Second St.

Kahoots Pet Store, 18681 Main St. #102, Huntington Beach

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

PetSmart Cerritos, 12741 Towne Center Drive, Cerritos

PetSmart Compton, 1775 South Alameda St., Compton

PetSmart Garden Grove, 9835 Chapman Ave, Garden Grove

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

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

PetSmart Signal Hill, 2550 Cherry Ave., Signal Hill

PetSmart Towne Center, 7631 Carson Blvd., Long Beach

Unleashed by Petco, 600 Redondo Ave.