tan pit bull with adorable cow-eyed smile and white bib looks sideways.
Liam, a pit bull who is available for adoption from Live Love Animal Rescue.

The feline calendar pages have flipped over to kitten season, which comprises the months between late February and October. Unaltered cats dance by the light of the moon during this time and produce thousands of kittens. Rescuers are already anticipating another deluge, exacerbated by COVID-19 restrictions on shelter admissions, particularly those prolific felines; nonprofit rescues that are struggling for space and funding; and people abandoning unfixed cats to the streets or allowing them to run free at night. (Please spay and neuter your cats. Fix Long Beach and Sparky and the Gang have such a deal. See Help wanted, help given.)

“This confluence of events promises to make this kitten season one of the worst we have seen—I’m stocking up on chocolate ice cream and wine and bracing for it,” said Brandy Gaunt, founder of Jellicle Cats Foundation and the Chelsea Handler of rescue in the best sense.

Before The Scratching Post addresses kitten season with a weekly barrage of kittens, cats, rescue efforts, woes, tips and ear tipping, we’re giving a last panting gasp to our canine friends. Live Love Animal Rescue is a team of warriors for the woof who have teamed up with foster-based rescue Long Beach Animal Care Services for the past seven years, pulling dogs who would have had little chance of adoption, treating and training them, and placing them in fosters.

In 2020, Live Love was a major part of the effort to clear the shelters when Long Beach Animal Care Services closed to the public because of the pandemic. Live Love along with several other rescues placed the pets in foster homes, leaving the kennels eerily empty. Since 2016, with a couple of years off, the rescue has organized Foster the Fourth, sending shelter dogs to temporary fosters to make room for lost and injured animals who ran off terrified by fireworks noise.

“2020 saw a dramatic increase in adoptions, which was amazing, and for us, truly highlighted the need for our rescue services,” said Emily Ann Peters, Live Love’s founder. “You see, when all the adoptable dogs leave our local shelter, the final 5% to 10% are in need of extra services—advanced medical care, behavior rehabilitation and training, socialization, time and TLC, which cannot always be provided in a shelter or a kennel environment.”

Peters said that the Live Love volunteers are determined to continue efforts to save lives and accomplish them in greater ways. She thanks the community for its solidarity, compassion and all four paws on the ground “to make life-saving initiatives possible for the final 5% to 10%.”

Virtually pets

Meet a few of the percenters. Each of these dogs was rescued from Long Beach Animal Care Services. Atticus, Frannie and Rocky came from yet another shelter-clearing effort during the winter holidays; Liam was pulled from the Code Red list, which includes animals in danger of euthanasia if a rescue or adopter doesn’t pull them. These dogs are living with fosters and waiting for you to come get them. Apply for an adoption application here.

smiling gray pit bull wiht white chest smiles big on the seat of a car.
Meet Atticus, a 2-year-old cane corso/American bulldog mix. He’s just the right combination of energy and easy! He enjoys his treats and his car rides as much as his walks and naps. Atticus is a little bashful at first but connects quickly and will follow your lead. He has the makings of the perfect friend, and he’s looking for his own perfect friend who will confidently guide him through life. He cannot hear, so body language is very important for communicating with him. Once you know each other, you both can enjoy the fun and games that are a very important part of the Atticus lifestyle. Playing fetch is way up on the lists of musts, but so is a nap on the cot.

 

tan Chihuahua with huge ears wears a pink pullover and stands against a background of tall shrubbery, looking at camera.
Frannie is a 3-year-old Chihuahua, a sweet girl who loves a good adventure. If you’re doing something outdoorsy, then Frannie is your perfect buddy! She likes long walks through the neighborhood, hikes and outdoor excursions. Frannie is also a very happy and affectionate pup who loves to give kisses to her humans. She needs structure, though, and a strong leader to earn her trust. Frannie could live with a dog who does not invade her space, but we think she would prefer to be an only dog! She will not tolerate living with cats or kids under the age of 16! She’s crate trained, potty trained and ready to go home! [Bite Disclosure: Frannie has felt the need to stand up for herself and protect her space by communicating with her teeth. With the proper love, guidance and training plan (supplied by Live Love), the rescue believes that she will not do this again! She is a wonderful dog who just needs the right family to set her up for success. We believe in her!]
black Lab lies on wood floor looking at someone out of vision. His mouth is open, and his pink tongue hangs out.
Rocky is a senior Lab mix, 7 years old, who is as loyal as he is handsome. He seeks direction and guidance from his humans to help him navigate his new life. He is potty trained, crate trained, leash trained and basket-muzzle trained. His owner surrendered him to the shelter because of an altercation with a small dog while Rocky was running loose in the neighborhood. He can be reactive to other animals and needs slow, structured introductions after he’s established a relationship of trust with his handler. Rocky is outgoing with humans and respectful of boundaries—no jumping or anything of the sort. He seems to be well trained to heel on walks and knows several commands. He has advanced-training needs and needs a home with no children under age 16 or any small animals. Further details and professional training support will be provided to those who apply. We truly believe he deserves a second chance and hope you will help us give him that!

 

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Oooohhhh, that face. From the moment Live Love met Liam at the shelter, they were struck by his exquisite beauty and his quiet disposition. Liam is 2 years old and has been given special training through the rescue. When he first arrived at the shelter at about a year old, his ears had been recently cut and the sutures were still in them. He was likely used as either a stud or for sport, like pulling carts. Now, with extended first-class training under his belt, handsome Liam is crate, house and muzzle trained. He has also been trained on a remote collar and is very responsive at low levels. Liam would do well in a quiet home in a calmer area, with no children under 16 or other animals. Apartment living or a busy urban area would not be ideal for this sensitive boy. He’s energetic and playful, and he enjoys playing fetch and car rides. He is a regal dog with a muscular build made to work. He is no couch potato. Liam’s ideal home will be active enough that he gets a couple of walks a day and will enjoy his athleticism. After a walk, he loves to just sit between your legs and relax.

Just fur fun and fur-ther education

Jackson Galaxy’s Cat Camp: Saturday, April 10, 10 a.m., online event, register here

Following two successful virtual events in 2020, Jackson Galaxy’s Cat Camp, the acclaimed event for animal enthusiasts of all stripes, patches and solid colors is back for a springtime celebration to engage and inspire cat lovers around the world, thanks to a generous investment by Petco Foundation. Reinvented as a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cat Camp’s mission is to educate, entertain and empower by providing the right tools to every individual interested in helping kitties. It’s a lot of fun! Camp activities will feature interactive content, both entertaining and educational, that includes harness and clicker training—including how to teach cats to high-five, caring for kittens, fundraising ideas, how to best serve community cats and so much more, followed by an “After Pawty” full of cat-themed activities, games and prizes. Meet “My Cat from Hell’s” Jackson Galaxy along with Christina Ha, co-owner of NYC’s first Cat Café, Meow Parlour and its affiliates; and Hannah Shaw (aka “Kitten Lady”), who will focus on inspiring attendees to “level up” their skills on their journey to helping cats in the home and the community.

Help wanted, help given

Get lucky this month with a lower-cost Fix Long Beach spay or neuter!

It’s St. Paddypaws day all March! The first 300 to email will get pot o’gold in the form of a special discount rate because we love your pets! Book online at Fix Long Beach’s website with the code on the flyer, and mention the flyer in the comments section!

Feline Good Social Club needs willing subjects for its bewhiskered nobility

Feline Good Social Club has opened and is running and knocking things off shelves. The cat curators would love some volunteers for their furry residents. Want to be part of a kowtowing staff to cats because everyone knows that cats expect it? Email [email protected].

Fix Long Beach low-cost pet-services clinic: Wednesday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., 1749 Magnolia Ave., Long Beach, services available by appointment at www.fixlongbeachpets.com.

Fix Long Beach has reopened and is taking appointments for low-cost spay/neuter, dental, vaccines and other vet needs for cats and dogs. Visit their webpage or Facebook page for details.

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

Kitten season has begun, and soon, shelters and rescues will be scrambling to save their lives, get them fixed, get them adopted. 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. 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.

Spay/neuter appointments are available at SNP/LA

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.

3 piles of large bags of pet food wrapped in plastic sit on pallet, with more behind them.

If you can see the bottom of the kibble bag

Pets of the Homeless’s 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.

Belmont Heights Animal Hospital, 255 Redondo Ave.

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

Food and supplies are available at Beacon for Him Ministries, 1535 Gundry Ave., 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

two cats with closed eyes lie on dark bedspread. One cat is white with brown tabby patches; the other is orange tabby with white mask, chest and legs

CATastic adoption opportunity!

Adopters who march forth and take home the first 10 cats from The Little Lion Foundation throughout the month of March will pay no adoption fee! The generous volunteers at Friends of Long Beach Animals will pick up the tab—all you have to do is pick up the cat! Click Little Lion’s link to see the cats waiting to go home.

March is a great time to adopt a cat or kitten from our friends at The Little Lion Foundation! FOLBA will pay the adoption fees for you for the first 10 cats adopted in March. What are you waiting for?

Pet Food Express Cat Adoption Center: weekdays and Saturday 10 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Pet Food Express, 4220 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, adoption fees apply.

This adoption center is a much-needed satellite operation of Long Beach Animal Care Services. Julie and her team pull adoptable cats—”adoptable,” to these guys, means any cat in a shelter kennel! The team socializes the kitties until they’re adopted, which takes less time than you could imagine!

 Helen Sanders CatPAWS adoption center: viewable daily during store hours, PetSmart, 12341 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.

Links to loveables

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.