Fireworks used to be seasonal and not a year-round source of terror, trauma and frustration for people and pets. The past year or so has been hell on nerves locally and elsewhere for humans with PTSD, people whose sleep is interrupted by things that go bang in the night, and the poor cats and dogs whose sensitive ears and systems are shaken and shocked by the noises and vibrations. The only people who seem to be doing OK—and I’m not counting the knuckleheads who get their charges by lighting them off and making everyone else miserable—are the businesses that flood inboxes with deals on anxiety shirts and CBD concoctions for pets.

“Fireworks are stupid, to say the very least!” said Markelle Pineda, founder of SAFE Rescue Team. “My own personal dog is deathly fearful of fireworks, so I make sure I stay home with him, put the TV on loudly, give him some Sileo [a prescriptive veterinary medication for noise aversion], and lie in bed and hold him all night. Aside from that, we make sure that all our animals are safe and secure with tags, collars and updated microchips in case, God forbid, one gets loose somehow.”

Pets get loose somehow or other during the couple of days before and after the Fourth of July—more than any other time during the year. It’s not clear whether there have been more of them fleeing in terror during the past year’s extended “season,” but the holiday itself brings outdoor barbecues and booze-fueled parties, and the revelers may not attend to the animals. People sometimes bring dogs along on beach-path walks to spot any big displays, and social media posts pop up the next day with messages like “We found this cute little guy wandering around on the sand near Bixby Park, is he yours?”

Animal control officers are extra-busy retrieving cats and dogs who are lost or, unfortunately, injured or dead. Shelters become full and are extremely busy, especially on July 5 when people come in to look for their lost pets. Shelter director Staycee Dains said that officers from Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) will be active in the field for intake on July 4 and, although July 5 falls on a Monday when LBACS is normally closed, will be open for animal redemption only.

Long Beach animal advocates have always been proactive and creative during this time. Live Love Animal Rescue has carried out several Foster the Fourth projects in which the volunteers sent virtually all the shelter dogs home with trained fosters to make room for the Independence Day influx. Some of the fosters were permanently adopted, a veiled ploy that gets a blessing. Live Love’s Head “Woof” Agent, Angela Robinson, said that this year, the rescue has chosen to instead to focus on year-round shelter diversion in which dogs surrendered to the shelter will instead go to fosters and later permanent homes. This frees up kennel space, too.

“We think that’s still a good way to support LBACS and other local shelters since it allows them to focus on stray and adoptable dogs already in their care,” Robinson said. So far this year, Live Love has taken in 80 dogs, more than half of which would have stayed in shelters.

Sparky and the Gang dog rescue sealed a partnership with Fix Long Beach earlier in the year, and with it came a permanent venue. The clinic, located at 1749 Magnolia Ave. will become July 4 Central for a two-day microchip clinic today and Saturday (see Help wanted, help given). In case your pet gets freaked by fireworks and disappears, the microchips will provide sure identification. Even if your pets are indoor prisoners of love, you never know what’s going to happen.

Sparky and the Gang and Fix Long Beach are both notorious for putting together out-of-the-box projects, and the latest one is no exception. It’s called Safe Haven for the Night and will involve a satellite holding tank for lost pets.

“We’re going to be open overnight on July 4 so that people who have found animals on the street will have another safe place to bring them,” said Sparky’s founder, Sherri Stankewitz. “We have scanners [for microchips] to see if we can locate the owners. This way, if you can’t keep the animal at your place overnight, we can do it, and we’ll contact LBACS on July 5. We’re assisting the shelter that way.”

Sparky and the Gang and Fix Long Beach need volunteers to help with both the microchip clinic and Safe Haven for the Night. To apply, email [email protected]. Anyone finding a pet on July 4 can call Sparky and the Gang at 562-337-8268.

“Come hang out with us for Safe Haven!” Stankewitz invited. “We’ll make a pajama pizza party out of it!”

Virtually Pets

These pets are adoptable through the great rescues mentioned in this article. Love one forever, safe inside your home. Donations are always needed and appreciated.

Visit Live Love Animal Rescue to fill out an application and to make a donation for these dogs.

small white chihuahua mix wearing harness stands on hind legs on boardwalk with houses in background and sand in front
Lambchop weighs 46 pounds and is 2 years old. She’s a very sweet, playful and happy-go-lucky young dog but is at her happiest when she’s with her people. She loves to play with her toys by herself, but she especially loves it when you want to join in the fun! Tennis balls are her favorites, and she loves a game of fetch. Like a typical pup, she has her fun, and then she’ll crash out and enjoy a nice snooze on her bed. Lambchop had a skin infection that has vastly improved. She is just finishing up her treatment, and Live Love would like to cover the cost of any further skin care while she settles in with her forever family. This energetic pup is happy in the shape of a dog, and she is ready to share her joy with you!

Read more about Lambchop here.

terrier mix with fuzzy face and wearing pink harness stands on cement smiling at camera
Mosley, 7 years old and 30 pounds, is a friendly and relaxed terrier who would love to be your best friend. He has big, warm eyes and a cute chestnut nose that makes it hard to say no to him when he begs you for your food and attention. He has three brown paws and one white one, plus a mohawk! Mosley is affectionate and mellow, and he loves everyone. Although he’s deaf, he is treat motivated and very intelligent. He will wait until you tell him he’s allowed to eat his food. He understands basic hand commands and loves to be petted, which he’ll ask you to do it by putting his head next to your hand. Mosley is fully house-trained, has basic behavioral training, enjoys car rides, and would do best in a home where he is the only dog. If you’re looking for a good hang, Mosley is your man!

Read more about Mosley here.

These dogs are from SAFE Rescue Team. Complete an application for a  dog or make a donation here.

Pomeranian mix with black ears and mask and white muzzle and chest looks mournfully into camera. He's lying on his back.
Cashew (gesundheit) is an older gentleman rescued from LBACS, looking for his forever home.

 

woman in leopard-print face mask and peaked cap holds small Chihuahua with tan ears and forehead and a white body. The dog is wearing a black harness.
Something new for your dogcabulary: Pomsky. That’s a Pomeranian/husky mix, and 2-year-old Kai, a rescue from WAGS in Westminster, is just that.

 

To adopt any or all of this trio or any other pet from Long Beach Animal Care Services, email [email protected]. Donations can be made on the website link.

white pit bull mix with one side of face and ear a light-brown color stands sadly against a purple background
This American bulldog/pittie mix threesome came in together because of housing problems that their owner had. They were quite scared and shy but have come around beautifully. They enjoy walking and getting attention from the volunteers. The shelter recommends an experienced owner; they’re not super-bonded and can all be adopted separately. This first dog is Kona, 6 years old, ID#A567243.

 

pit bull mix with white legs and back and a light-brown mask and saddle stands smiling, tongue out, against a purple background.
This is sweet Bernard, also 6 years old, ID#A567244.

 

smiling pit bull mix with brown ears, a brown patch under her left ear, and a white body stands smiling against a purple background.
Dottie, ID#A658193, is 3 years old. She’ll need an extra-dedicated human to help her with chronic otitis (an ear infection), chronic flea-allergy dermatitis and a mammary mass that needs surgical excision.

 

Here are two of the many pets fostered by Sparky and the Gang volunteers. A full slate of animals—yes, there are puppies aplenty—and the adoption application are available here. You can donate there as well.

Puppy with expressive face sits on floor. She is dark brown with lighter eyebrows, muzzle, legs and chest.
Kiwi is a lovely mix of two popular breeds: Chihuahua and French bulldog. At 4 months old, she’s the best of all possible worlds, of course, and promises to continue to be so.

 

tiny black kitten sits with one paw on a red purse--he's only a little bigger than the purse. He's on a tan chair with a tan pillow against someone's legs.
As one volunteer said, what dog rescue doesn’t have the odd cat? Robespierre is about 2 months old and isn’t particularly odd, as kittens get. He was found in a rosebush by an employee. Since then, he’s hoping for a rose garden with no thorns, and yes, we promise him one.

 

Just fur fun and fur-ther education

Sound Healing, presented by Illuminate Life: 4:30–6 p.m. Friday, July 30, Feline Good Social Club, 301 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, $30, buy tickets here

Unless your cat’s a water freak, you probably haven’t taken a bath with them. Sound baths—well, different story. Join Illuminate Life and a kindle of kitties for a relaxing 45-minute Sound Bath, and afterward, you’ll have a bonus sound bath of purring and light meows with the Feline Good Social Club cats! What a way to cultivate your inner contented kitty! Feline Good Social Club asks everyone to arrive up to 10 minutes early. Bring mats, blankets and pillows, and dress for comfort.

Help wanted, help given

Free microchip clinic; 3 months of flea meds free with vaccination/deworming: 4–7 p.m. Friday, July 2, and 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday, July 3, Fix Long Beach, 1749 Magnolia Ave., Long Beach, no fee.

Fourth of July comes with its own fun for humans, but some of that fun doesn’t make your pets happy. Animals terrified by fireworks explosions fill shelters during this time and sadly get hit by cars and injured as well. Please keep your pets safe—for an extra layer of protection, take advantage of the free microchip offer and the vaccination/flea med deal, which will protect your best friend in other ways!

Fetch the paper for Long Beach Animal Care Services

If you still get the paper the old-school way instead of online, the shelter can use anything you have stacked up to line the kennels with. No slick-paper ads, because they’re nonabsorbent. Drop it off in front of Animal Admissions at 7700 E. Spring St. in Long Beach, at the El Dorado Park entrance. No parking fee for shelter guests.

Foster2Furever needs foster homes for large-breed dogs

If you love big doggies and want to help socialize one for a forever home, fill out the application here, and Foster2Furever will contact a respected rescue who’ll match you to a king-size lovebug. Big homes and big yards aren’t required—just big hearts and a big desire to learn. Contact Foster2Furever here with any questions.

Volunteer walkers needed for senior citizens’ dogs

Ida’s Walkers is a program of The Heart of Ida, a 501c3 nonprofit organization serving the older-adult population in and around Long Beach. Ida’s Walkers offers dog-walking services to low-to-moderate-income seniors who are hospitalized, have limited mobility, or are at risk of falling. If you want to help senior citizens keep their beloved pets as long as they are able to live at home, call 562-570-3548.

Fosters needed at Long Beach Animal Care Services

If you’ve always wanted a pet but aren’t sure if you’re ready for a lifetime (the animal’s) commitment, or if you’re past the pet-roommate days for any reason, fostering might be a great way to go, especially with one or more of the kittens popping up during kitten season. Long Beach Animal Care Services now has a foster program aimed at saving some little lives and socializing them. Who knows—maybe one of those lives will change your mind about the not-ready-for-roommate thing.

Fix Long Beach low-cost pet-services clinics: 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Wednesday–Saturday, 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. Vaccination clinics take place on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. 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 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 will give shots between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. every third Thursday at 957 N. Gaffey St. Call 310-574–5555 to see if you qualify for services.

If you can see the bottom of the kibble bag

homeless man with longish brown hair and beard in old clothing sits on street closely cuddlinghis large tan-and-gray dog

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

Adopt, adopt, adopt

Long Beach Animal Care Services Pick of the Litter month

Don’t miss your chance to adopt a kitten, or an adult cat, or a sweet, sweet senior! Many cats and kittens are available for adoption, and they are going to new homes fast! Email Long Beach Animal Care Services at [email protected] to make an appointment to bring home your new, pointy-eared best friend. Adoption fees are waived; all other procedures are still in place.

 Pet Food Express Cat Adoption Center: 10 a.m.–8 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m.–7 p.m .Sundays., 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 lovables

The following pet-related businesses regularly feature cat, dog and rabbit adoptions. As as of now, adoptions are mainly by appointment. Fosters are needed for kittens as well. 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.