Fuzzy brown dog with colorful colar and floppy ears sits looking longingly at camera.
After spending a few scary days alone on the streets, Kona has become quite the distinguished grande dame. She’s really come into her own while in foster care, and Live Love can hardly wait to see what lucky family adopts this playful girl! Like any lady of the manor, Kona can be a little bossy with other dogs, but she’s also friendly. A male dog who doesn't mind her sassiness would likely be the best match for her if she's not your one and only. She is really affectionate and adventurous, too. Hiking, camping, road trips—you name it. This girl will be your constant companion! She walks like a dream on a leash, and she knows her basic obedience tricks. Kona is ready to enjoy the finer things in life with her best friend: you!

Virtually pets

Feline opportunist that I am, I took advantage of the Halloween season to feature black cats one week and orange ones the next. Now, I’m giving you—dogs! I may be a cat person but not to the exclusion of dogs, bunnies, turtles, birds and everything else. Except for mosquitoes and fleas. I’m not sufficiently spiritually advanced to love mosquitoes and fleas.

The end of Halloween begins the “giving (read “shopping”) season” and the time to connect with extended family. Sadly, the connections remain mostly virtual. You know what’ll help get you through the holiday blues? A dog!

Dogs will be your friend forever and won’t be afraid to show it. Imagine the delight of your 6-year-old nephew, your aging Aunt Yetta, or Grandma and Grandpa saying hi to you and Cooper or Princess or Dogzilla as you enjoy a Zoomsgiving dinner (don’t feed the dog from the table). Speaking of grandparents and aging relatives, senior dogs make great companions, too, and best of all, if you adopt one of these treasures, you can not only make their day but also the rest of their life.

Besides, you could probably use some lightheartedness now, no?

All these senior doggies are in foster homes provided by the loving volunteers at Live Love Animal Rescue here in Long Beach. Click on each pet’s name to see details and to apply for adoption, which is all done by appointment.

gray pit bull mix with white muzzle and chest lies, tongue out, on a soft blanket
Hagrid was rescued for behavior— he just needed some training for how to meet new people. Now relaxed and well behaved, Hagrid has perfected hanging out. He wants to be with his humans and needs to be close to them. He’s more than happy to lie by your feet and go wherever you go. Occasionally, he’ll remind you that he’s there by booping you with his nose and giving you that “Belly rub, pleeeeze?” look. He’s also a good walker with mellow energy, but show him a toy, and he’s a 6-year-old kid! If you’re looking for love, Hagrid has got you covered—his foster says that he has “inner peace on speed dial”!

 

beige medium-size dog with black collar stands next to human legs in tan pants. Both are on a green lawn with trees in back.
Milan spent her entire life in a backyard before she was rescued. It took her a little time to adjust to her new foster home, but patience and love have won out. She’s loving it as an indoor doggie and knows her routine: potty, play, get pets, eat, take a snooze, repeat. Milan is living the good life now, and she appreciates it! Once she knows you she really warms up, and just likes to hang out and be around her people. She, too, loves belly rubs and squeaky toys, but she has energy adjustment for either a good, long walk or just hanging by your side. Milan is ready to be your loyal sidekick!

 

white dog with tan upper mask and fly-chewed ears stands on a hardwood floor
Churro was not cared for in his previous life. He has limb weakness, alopecia and fly-bitten ears, but these medical needs are being addressed. His nature is intact and is as sweet as his name! He may be shy at first, but once he warms up, his inner goofball emerges. He knows a couple of commands, like “paw”—who wouldn’t want a handshake from those fluffy bear paws? And he’s smart, too—he can even press a button to earn a treat! Churro’s favorite thing is the outdoors. If you need a fellow adventurer on a walk or hike, he’s the one for you. If you’re staying in, that’s OK—Churro will gladly keep you company at home and not want to leave your side. Churro is ready to shake the hand of his forever hooman!

 

Fuzzy brown dog with colorful colar and floppy ears sits looking longingly at camera.
After spending a few scary days alone on the streets, Kona has become quite the distinguished grande dame. She’s really come into her own while in foster care, and Live Love can hardly wait to see what lucky family adopts this playful girl! Like any lady of the manor, Kona can be a little bossy with other dogs, but she’s also friendly. A male dog who doesn’t mind her sassiness would likely be the best match for her if she’s not your one and only. She is really affectionate and adventurous, too. Hiking, camping, road trips—you name it. This girl will be your constant companion! She walks like a dream on a leash, and she knows her basic obedience tricks. Kona is ready to enjoy the finer things in life with her best friend: you!

Just fur fun

Holiday Boutique, presented by Sparky and the Gang Animal Rescue and Fix Long Beach: Sunday, Nov. 22, noon–5 p.m., 1749 Magnolia Ave., Long Beach, $20 donation.

Support local artists selling handcrafted goods, which make awfully good holiday gifts or just a splurge for you! The $20 donation at the door will get you vegan chili with corn bread, vegan tacos from OZO, warm apple cider, hot cocoa and a gift bag for your pooch that includes a holiday sweater, dress or collar. Santa will be there to take photos of you and your doggie, and Sheena Metal will do a spiritual reading and bless your pet. Enjoy the sounds of Corday as well as the adorable adoptable kitties from The Cat Cove! And snow! Snow will fall! A portion of the funds from the event will support Sparky and the Gang Animal Rescue. Masks are required, but we have it on good evidence that one of the vendors will be selling some cute ones if you forget yours—or even if you don’t!

Bulldog-themed safety-mask preorder: Southern California Bulldog Rescue, $11 each.

What better way to protect yourself and others from those coronavirus cooties than with a faithful bulldog guardian at the gate! They’re 2-ply non-medical grade protection that feel good and comfy. They’re also hand-washable. Best of all, these whimsical wearables support Southern California Bulldog Rescue! Order them here.

Help wanted, help given

smiling woman in sunglasses, cap and a lot of tattoos holds her brown dog. Red pop-up and volunteer in background
One of Fix Long Beach’s grateful clients and his human at at a Fix Long Beach clinic held at the beach near Bixby Park and sponsored a couple of summers ago by councilwomen Suzie Price and Suja Lowenthal.

 

Fix Long Beach microchip/vaccination clinic: Saturday, Nov. 7, noon–5 p.m., 1749 Magnolia Ave., Long Beach, free microchips, $10 for shots and treatments.

Fix Long Beach will present a free microchip and low-cost pet-vaccine clinic this Saturday, which will take place at a private business—enter from the front parking lot. Street parking only available on Magnolia Avenue and Esther Street. Masks are required, but appointments are not, and you don’t have to be a Long Beach resident to participate. Microchips are provided by the Michelson Foundation. To save some time, you can download a microchip form from this link and then fill it out and bring it along. No rabies shots this time, but we will have DHPP, Bordetella, canine flu and FVRCP for $10 each) as well as flea meds and dewormers, also $10 each. We’re out of the flea meds for kittens under 5 pounds, however. Cash, credit, Venmo, PayPal and Zelle are all accepted. You can prepay at this link. Stay tuned for our free spay/neuter clinics!

DIY Kitten Care Kits available free at Long Beach Animal Care Services

Kitten season is just about up, but kittens still enter shelters. It isn’t unusual to find nests of young, seemingly abandoned kittens during kitten season. 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 can telephone the general number at 562-570–7387 to request a voucher.

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. 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.

If you can see the bottom of the kibble bag:

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 a.m. to noon and Saturdays from noon to 3 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.

Adopt, adopt, adopt

Calico cat poses near cat tree with smiling woman in brown bangs and blue V-neck looking at her.
Jeannette Meers and Tyra: “With kittens, if there’s a rescue, you do it for just a month, and then they go to someone else or get adopted. You get to enjoy kittens and not have 25 cats in your house!” (This is a problem?)

 

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.

Long Beach Animal Care Services monthly adoptions: Every second Saturday of each month, store hours, Pet Supplies Plus, 2086 N. Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, adoption fees apply.

Long Beach Animal Care Services shows up with its fabulous Adoption Waggin’ equipped with air conditioning, running water and comfy kennels with cats, dogs and bunnies waiting to go home. Masks and social distancing required for visitors.

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.