brown hound mix relaxed on a sofa
Tasha was found pregnant and dumped in a ditch. She had eight puppies. Tasha's since been assured that she won't have more brushes with motherhood. As you can see, she's more than ready for a permanent rest in a loving home.

If you have concerns about the new coronavirus and choose not to attend any of the events mentioned here but want to support the rescues and shelters, click on the link associated with the organization to donate. Pets likely aren’t at risk of catching the virus, notwithstanding the instance of the dog in China in question. Make sure, though, that your animals have all their immunizations in case of a disruption of medical-supply delivery for anything they might require. Also, protect yourselves and any other human companions by not petting any animal that isn’t your own or allowing others to touch yours. Stay current with the latest COVID-19 developments on the Long Beach Post’s live blog.

We can all use some luck now, whether o’ the Irish or o’ our own making. I don’t know which would be more effective, but any good fortune must be shared with adoptable pets. The ones featured this week are fostered through Sparky and the Gang, a small rescue with a huge heart for saving seemingly hopeless cases and turning them into beautiful, loving house pets. In the spirit of the season, Sparky is their pot of gold, and there are huge returns for them!

On Tuesday, St. Patrick’s Day, Sparky and the Gang will throw a huge green-beer-soaked fest to fund their rescue (see Things to Do, Pets to Support below). The dogs in the photos below will be the beneficiaries. If you can’t make it, you can donate to the rescue here and, of course, check out the critters who are the real treasure at the end of the rainbow right here! To adopt any of them, email [email protected] or call 310-621-1417.

brown hound mix relaxed on a sofa
Tasha was found pregnant and dumped in a ditch. She had eight puppies. Tasha’s since been assured that she won’t have more brushes with motherhood. As you can see, she’s more than ready for a permanent rest in a loving home.
Steel-gray pit bull with short ears and white paws lies on a patterned floor.
This poor guy was found abandoned and was taken to a shelter. Sargent is an English bulldog, but little ears have been cropped and are crooked, making him all the more endearing. He looks like a little pocket pit with a bulldog half-tail. He has an old injury, possibly from being hit by a car. Sparky is looking for a foster home for this guy or a foster-to-adopt. He does well in the car and loves belly rubs, napping and snoring.
shaggy white dog on leash stands on grass near human in jeans, only legs show.
Kenny is a dear little Westie mix. He was left at a shelter with an injury to his front leg. The people that owned him walked away and left the medical up to rescue! Kenny spent six weeks in a splint and bandage for a dislocated elbow, abandoned and left in an unfamiliar surrounding. The vet staff at Stonecreek Animal Hospital and VCA Specialty worked hand in hand to get him back up on his paws, and he now has a clean bill of health. Kenny loves people and is anxious to get back to regular walks and interaction with other dogs–he does well with small dogs. His world has been rocked, but he’s hoping for a second chance. He’ll need someone with training experience and patience.
Small dog with tan muzzle and paws and black ears and black mask rests in someone's arms
Bittle is well-named, because she’s so itty-bitty! She’s a 2-year-old Papillon and wants desperately to be a lapdog!

Here are three from our shelter. The Helpful Honda people were going to have their Pet Adoption and Dog Wash this Saturday at Rosie’s Dog Beach, but that got washed out as well, thanks to concerns over the coronavirus. Well, joke’s on the germ—it’s probably going to rain anyway, and these dogs deserve a day in the sun. You can adopt them from Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St. in Long Beach, at the entrance to El Dorado Park. You don’t even have to pay a parking fee to visit.

large husky with white legs and chest and black face and back.
Tom Tom (ID#A640502) is a 1-year-old male Siberian husky, a lovely smaller version of the breed and an ideal-size companion. Tom Tom has lots of energy and drive, perfect for someone that loves the outdoors and wants a dog to partake in similar activities.
steel-gray pit bull with blue collar stands on grass
Mary Jane (ID#A639261) is a 6-year-old female pit bull who is happy, loving and kind. One look at her innocent smile, and you realize how well her name fits her! A shelter favorite, she’s the kind of dog that lights up a room when she walks in. Pure happiness!
female gray pit bull with large ears stands on green grass looking at camera.
Those ears! Bunny (ID#A635539) is a 5-year-old female pit bull. She’s a very friendly dog that loves to be petted and touched. She’s a leaner, so get ready for a loving shove! She’ll want to give you her full attention when she’s beside you. Just a lovely dog looking for a home to call her own!

Not to make light of it, but whether you’re in isolation or are not, dogs, cats and rabbits make darn good company. Watch out for their health as well, and don’t allow others to touch them. Check out the links at the end of the column for more places to adopt.

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.

Events

Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter CAT!!! Clinic: Saturday, March 14, 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m., Somerset Park, 1500 E. Carson St., Long Beach, free spay/neuter appointments for qualifying people; free microchips, shots, flea-med doses, dewormers and nail trimmings $10 each.

Kitten season is on its way, and we want to help reduce the number of unborn, unwanted kittens who have a good chance of dying before they can even open their eyes. 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.

MOD Pizza Fundraiser for Fix Long Beach: Sunday, March 15, 10:30 a.m.–10 p.m., MOD Pizza, 4230 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, menu prices vary

Have a slice, an entire pizza, a salad—any menu item and mention Fix Long Beach, and MOD will give 20% of the “pie” to the organization. Tastiest way ever to help prevent unwanted pets!

Get Lucky on St. Pawdy’s Day Party: Tuesday, March 17, 6–9 p.m., Long Beach Tap House, 5110 E. Second St., Long Beach, $5 suggested donation

Wanna get real lucky on the 17th? Join up with a bunch of dog lovers for a full three hours of, green burger buns and, of course, green beer. Long Beach’s own Corday will entertain the revelers, and there’s a dog-friendly patio (why else would this group choose the Tap House!) for canine guests! ($25 tab minimum for seated guests.) For every beer purchased, the Tap House will donate $1 to Sparky and the Gang Animal Rescue, so the pot o’ gold will go to all the lucky dogs living at the rescue’s foster homes.

Kitten Shower: Saturday, March 21, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Seal Beach Animal Care Center, 1700 Adolfo Lopez Drive, Seal Beach, donations requested

In forecasting another torrential deluge of newborn kittens over the next few months, Seal Beach Animal Care Center is having its own shower, of the baby kind. A bake sale, raffles and a boutique will set the scene for a shelter tour and…foster signups. A shower wouldn’t be a shower without gifts, so the Seal Beach shelter is asking for monetary donations or gifties from their wish-list suggestions.

Paint & Purrs fundraiser event: Sunday, March 29, 3:30–5:30 p.m., Feline Good Social Club, 301 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, $45, tickets available here

The cats won’t be creating masterpieces, but you will. The adoptable and resident kitties will be there to help you in the same way that they do when you’re trying to see the monitor. No using the tails as brushes.

CatPAWS Bowling Fundraiser: Saturday, April 25, 3–5;30 p.m., Westminster Lanes, 6471 Westminster Blvd., Westminster, tickets $40, includes shoes and lunch

Want to show your cat that you can knock more things over than they can? Join the CatPAWS team and bowl, bid on a diversity of prizes, and in all, know that your donation will help hundreds of cats and kittens pulled from our shelter and cared for until they also hit a strike and find a forever home. include bowling, refreshments, raffles and a silent auction. Tickets available here.

tiny black newborn kitten with white paws and white marks on chest sits up with his legs splayed out as he's fed from a bottle

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 S. 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.