Virtually pets
The P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village and Education Center sits on 6 acres within El Dorado Park and houses two animal shelters: Long Beach Animal Care Services, which is the city’s intake facility, and spcaLA, a private, independent nonprofit animal-welfare and -adoption organization. The way it works is this: spcaLA leased the building from the city back in 2001 and sublet a part of it to the city shelter. Confusion has reigned ever since about which entrance is whose, where you go once you’re inside, and whether you can also adopt pets from Long Beach Animal Care Services as well as from spcaLA. A firm and simple yes to the last query, by the way.
Both entities are now closed to the public. There’s only one door you need to look at if you want to get your pet’s license renewed, get vouchers for spay/neuter, relinquish an animal, or anything shelter related, and that’s through animal admissions. It’s all done by appointment. Adoptions are also done by appointment only and are dependent on online presence and word of mouth.
The city has proposed to add a full-time veterinarian position will be added at a cost of about $300,000 in agreement with the Compassion Saves model that shelter manager Staycee Dains and the Mayor’s Long Beach Animal Care Vision Task Force spearheaded. That gift, however, goes in tandem with the fact that funding to enable increasing the number of animals spayed and neutered annually by 3,000 as well as medical supplies and pharmaceuticals has an estimated (and uncovered) cost of $400,000. Definitely paradogsical and maybe a cat-22.
The pandemic has also put a kibosh on fundraising events for shelters and rescues. Long Beach Animal Care Services’ silver linings have been mainly created by strong community effort and passion, particularly the recent and ongoing emptying of the shelters by the hard work of a few rescues, a lot of fosters and an overextended staff. The spcaLA is among the rescues that has regularly pulled pets from Long Beach Animal Care Services since 2001, according to a partnership agreement.
“We are grateful to our fellow animal-welfare professionals who actively seek to take animals from our shelter into their adoption programs—the spcaLA and many others,” Dains said.
It would be disingenuous to not mention the criticism and condemnation that animal advocates and activists have directed at spcaLA practices, particularly a perception that they select only the most “adoptable” animals to pull from the shelter and place in their kennels. The fact is, though, that empty kennels remain at Long Beach Animal Care Services. One of the main functions of the shelter is as intake for Long Beach and four other cities, and space is always needed for pets that people bring in. By the way, there are plenty of adoptable pets at Long Beach Animal Care Services—I’ve lived with a few of them.
And it’s ultimately about the animals, all of whom deserve forever homes no matter where they’re housed. Here are nine of them living under the same roof but in different neighborhoods.
The following five felines reside at spcaLA. They’re all Long Beach Animal Care Services alumni and are available through spcaLA by checking out their adoptable pets and filling out an application.
From Long Beach Animal Care Services come the star players in these videos. To adopt one of these pets or any pet from our shelter, check out their fun Facebook page or the adoption link, and then contact [email protected] or 562-570-4925.
Chocolate (ID#A644578)
https://www.facebook.com/LBAnimalCare/videos/997843937337903/?v=997843937337903
Charlie (ID#A646232)
https://www.facebook.com/LBAnimalCare/videos/220743669232285/?v=220743669232285
Thor (ID#A577670)
https://www.facebook.com/LBAnimalCare/videos/320538422434321/?v=320538422434321
Frisbee (ID#A644694)
https://www.facebook.com/LBAnimalCare/videos/629979074290918/?v=629979074290918
SpcaLA is taking part in the nationwide Clear the Shelters effort with a $20 adoption fee for qualified adopters throughout August and is extending it for cats and kittens to the end of September (see Adopt, adopt, adopt). Dains said that Long Beach Animal Care Services will also participate in some way this month as well—stay tuned.
Pet projects
West Coast Toyota of Long Beach bought $3,000 worth of pet food last month to deliver to people in need in our community. If anyone you know is in this position, take a photo of the food you give to your pet, and include your name, contact information and a brief description of your work situation to [email protected]. Fix’n Fidos will deliver the food to you or arrange for you to pick it up.
Helen Sanders CatPAWS offers, through specific private donors, e-gift cards for people struggling during the crisis to buy food for their pets. The CatPAWS Spay/Neuter Fund, also privately funded, has vouchers available for anyone not able to go to the shelter for them. They also accept donations.
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, 3726 E. Seventh St., 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. Third St., Long Beach, Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. Donations will be gratefully accepted at these locations as well.
Mainly fur fun
Amsterdam the Bulldog raffle fundraiser: through Aug. 7, details on Facebook link
Now, seriously, can’t you just picture this lovely sconce on your wall? It’s called Amsterdam the Bulldog, and it can be yours for as many $10 bids as you want to put in. This year, Southern California Bulldog Rescue was unable to host its Brunch for the Bullies because of COVID-19 restrictions, and so they’re making up for the donations through a raffle. This jowly object d’arte is rendered in white fiberglass and resin, with three lightbulbs and some frayed rope for good measure. No Facebook account? Access a friend’s. If you win, you might want to go a little Amsterdam to fully appreciate the guy.
Benny’s 3rd birthday celebration and fundraiser: Monday, Aug. 24, 7 p.m. Register online here.
Last year, The Scratching Post published a story about Benny, a little cat who, at a year old, had apparently been through some awful abuse and yet kept his sweet disposition Benny was brought to Long Beach Animal Care Services in 2018 with a shattered jaw and other trauma-related injuries. Long Beach resident Beverly Leifer’s heart went out to him when she saw him, and it wasn’t long after that her arms also reached out and brought him home, forever. Last year, Benny and Bev both vowed to give back to the community and had a birthday bash like no other to raise money for the shelter and to Helen Sanders CatPAWS, the feline rescue that paid for Benny’s surgeries. This year, undaunted, the two have planned a virtual celebration that’ll be virtually awesome. This year, funds will go to CatPAWS again and also to WISEPlace, an Orange County center that empowers homeless and abused women. Benny hopes to help victims of abuse across species lines. More details are available here.
Helen Sanders CatPAWS Show Us Your Kitties 2020 calendar contest: through Sunday, Sept. 20, register here
Sick and tired of 2020 already? Let’s build a new year and help cats at the same time. Helen Sanders CatPAWS Show Us Your Kitties calendar contest is back, and it’s time to submit your photos! This year the rescue’s goal is to reach $10,000 so they can continue the lifesaving work to make sure every cat gets the best life (and home) possible. The rescue will try its best to place every photo they receive somewhere in the calendar, even if not in the top 13. Because times are tough and CatPAWS wants to encourage people to share their beloved kitty photos, they have waived the usual entry fee this year! You can reserve a day for your cat for $10—a birthday, a memorial, St. Gertrude’s Day… Read the full rules here.
Best Friends Strut Your Mutt Day: Saturday, Oct. 24, register or donate here
The annual Strut Your Mutt dog walk, which has raised thousands of dollars for lifesaving projects, is going virtual like everything else. Best Friends has teamed up with local rescue groups, shelters, animal-welfare organizations and pet-community members for a virtual community walk and fundraiser to benefit homeless dogs and cats across the country. During this period of relative isolation, raising funds is more important than ever, so join up and participate in engaging opportunities to help throughout the season and build a virtual no-kill community. All funds raised go directly to lifesaving programs such as spay neuter services and adoption—and it’s all off leash!
Help wanted, help given
Second Annual Long Beach Gives: midnight, Wednesday, Sept. 23–midnight, Thursday, Sept. 24, details here
Long Beach Gives started as a grad student project in 2018. In short, it’s 24 hours of donating to any of the 153 Long Beach charities in their aggregate. Last year’s inaugural event earned a combined total of over $822,000 for 93 local organizations, surpassing their initial goal of $350,000 by 300%, according to their website. This year’s impressive list of charities includes the following pet-related nonprofits: Fix Long Beach, Golden State Humane Society, Helen Sanders CatPAWS, Live Love Animal Rescue, Long Beach Spay & Neuter Foundation, Sparky and the Gang Animal Rescue, spcaLA and The Little Lion Foundation. Show your love and support for pets and the organizations that spend their money and themselves to help them—donate on Thursday, Sept. 23, between midnights.
DIY Kitten Care Kits available free at Long Beach Animal Care Services
It’s kitten season—the time of year when cats give birth. It starts in the spring—sometimes before, depending on the weather, peaks in midsummer, and ends in autumn. It occurs because so many cats are not spayed or neutered, and soon, kittens flood our shelter. It isn’t unusual to find nests of young, seemingly abandoned kittens during kitten season. It is a natural reaction to want to help, to save them. But before you jump in, consider these steps outlined here. If you are interested in obtaining a Kitten Care Kit made possible by Helen Sanders CatPAWS, please email [email protected].
Spay/neuter vouchers available at shelter
Long Beach Animal Care Services has spay/neuter vouchers available. They’ll take a healthy nip out of the cost of a procedure. Residents of any of the five cities served by the shelter—(see above)—can telephone the general number at 562-570-7387 to request a voucher.
Free and low-cost spay/neuter services and vaccinations
The Spay/Neuter Project of Los Angeles (SNP/LA) is back in business for free and low-cost spay/neuter services, and they’re extending the hours of their vaccination clinics. Beginning June 18, the San Pedro clinic, located at 957 N. Gaffey St., will give shots every third Thursday between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Call 310-574-5555 to see if you qualify for services.
Adopt, adopt, adopt
spcaLA Are You Kitten Me? adoptions: Through Sept. 30, shelter hours at all spcaLA locations, $20 adoption fee for all felines
Help the community raise kittens born during kitten season and shine a spotlight on the adult cats passed over for their younger counterparts. Because of closures to the public, spcaLA will conduct all adoptions virtually, so check out these pointy-eared cuties here and complete an application on any of the adoptables’ pages. An spcaLA adoption counselor will contact you to complete the adoption. (This adoption special is for qualified adopters; exclusions may apply.)
Helen Sanders CatPAWS adoption center: Daily, store hours, 2341 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach, adoption fees apply.
Window-shopping’s a neat pastime and likely has become more common during the pandemic. Helen Sanders CatPAWS has applied window-shopping to cat adoption; you can peer at several of the fine felines through the windows of the PetSmart adoption center in Seal Beach. Sadly, no ear scratching or chin rubs at this time, but volunteers can answer questions and provide you with adoption information! Be sure to wear a mask. You can find adoption applications and all the kitties here.
The following pet-related businesses regularly feature cat, dog and rabbit adoptions, but as of now, adoptions are mainly by appointment. Click on the links for each rescue in case of updates or changes. These organizations operate through donations and grants, and anything you can give would be welcome. Please suggest any Long Beach-area rescues to add to the list.
- Bunny Bunch
- Cat Cove
- Friends of Long Beach Animals
- Fix Long Beach
- Foreverhome Pet Rescue, Inc.
- Feline Good Social Club
- Helen Sanders CatPAWS
- Jellicle Cats Foundation
- Kitty Katchers
- Live Love Animal Rescue
- Long Beach Animal Care Services
- Long Beach Spay & Neuter Foundation
- Pet Food Express Cat Adoption Center
- Seal Beach Animal Care Center
- Sparky and the Gang Animal Rescue
- spcaLA
- Stray Cat Alliance
- The Little Lion Foundation
- Zazzy Cats
- Zoey’s Place Rescue