“Coldwell Banker doesn’t just say ‘go rescue a dog,’” said Realtor and longtime animal activist Jennifer Peterson in an interview. The real-estate firm goes the distance nationwide for animal adoption—dogs in particular, but cats and rabbits are welcome, too.

Coldwell Banker’s national adoption advertising campaign, Homes for Dogs, includes videos, resources and education for your dog’s new home. The annual events, Home at Last, invite local rescues to bring their fosters so that pets can have new homes as well.

This year’s Long Beach Homes for Dogs will take place in front of Centinela Feed & Pet Supplies, 4700 Pacific Coast Highway, near the Traffic Circle (see Things to do, pets to support). The event will feature $1 raffle tickets for great prizes like restaurant gift cards, doggie baskets and kitty furniture, and branded goodie bags. Every cent will go to the participating rescues.

Here are a few of them—no reading between the lines needed to appraise all the cozies, charmings and quaints; the hidden gems; the lovingly maintained. Bring one or two home to your location, location, location.

https://www.facebook.com/LongBeachAnimalCare/videos/2510151299100333/?t=2

Ruby, Long Beach Animal Care Services

Videos are great tools to show who a pet really is. Ruby is a 9-year-old Lab mix who runs and plays like a girl half her age. She’s a happy family-type dog who’d love to meet you and play.

Bruiser, Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Someone had a sense of humor when they named this dog. Bruiser’s about 7 and is a terrier mix. He’s thoroughly adorable, as you can see.
small terrier, brown, with cataracts, stands on floor and looks at camera
Little Stevie Wonder, Live Love Animal Rescue
Little Stevie has a lot in common with his namesake: a total star, determined, but eyesight that’s less than perfect. He wants to find his own Cherie Amour and be the sunshine of their lives. Stevie gets along with other dogs but needs in particular an emotional-support human. A Senior Pet Adoption Assistance Grant from the Petfinder Foundation will cover this 13-year-old’s medications for a year, signed, sealed and delivered!
black-and white mix with blue scarf and white belly, on green leash, stares at camera.
Panda, K9 Kismet Dog Rescue                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Panda’s rescuers don’t think that his name is terribly creative, but they assure you that he stands out in other ways. He’s exuberant and likes to live in the moment. He became part of the Third Chance Program in Irvine, which means that they’d found someone to rescue him after being in a home and then a shelter. Now he’s looking for a fourth chance, preferably in a home with adults who enjoy hiking. He has a head start on his education thanks to Brian Agnew of the Balanced Dog Training.
brown terrier/dachshund with tan legs stands on floor. Johnny Cash is written underneath.
Johnny Cash, Sparky and the Gang
Yet another musical moniker! This little fellow and his siblings had a hard beginning, too. Their mom, a poodle mix, was hit by a car when she was pregnant and had what Sparky and the Gang call five very mix-mix pups! They’re all adorable. Dare I say it—Johnny’s loyal and will (sigh) walk the line for whoever takes him home. He’s good with other dogs and cats.
brown tabby with white vest on pink chair.
Blake, Zazzy Cats
Blake is 7 months old and seems to want to be a famous explorer when he grows up. He goes for sports, too—he jumps high and goes after the rolling things. He lives for adventure and discovering new and exciting things but is always up for quality lap time. He’s extremely social and loves hoomans as well as other cats. Zazzy thinks he’s pretty purr-fect!
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.

Calendars

Helen Sanders CatPAWS Show Us Your Kitties calendar photo contest: through Sept. 30; $5 per vote, $10 to feature your cat on a specific date

Helen Sanders CatPAWS rescues cats and kittens from shelters and finds each of them loving homes. You’ll see quite a few of them on next year’s calendar, but your kitty doesn’t have to be a CatPAWS alumnus or alumna to be a part of this 2020 vision (heh). Choose a date for $10 for a thumbnail, or enter the contest to feature your little buddy. You can enter as many votes as you like for your cat, and perhaps he or she will be the Moggie of the Month! Details available here.

Seal Beach Animal Care Center 2020 Calendar: through Oct. 20, $1 for each vote, $5 minimum

Has your dog been waiting for that walk down the runway? Has your cat been waiting to be discovered as the star they know they are?  It is now their time to shine! The 13 cats and 13 dogs with the most votes will become a monthly model, with the top cat and top dog as cover pets. Whether you’re a winner or a beloved entrant, the pets at Seal Beach Animal Care Center will profit from your entry—all funds will go to their care. Details available here.

Events

Home at Last! pet adoption event: Saturday, Sept. 28, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Centinela Feed and Pet Supplies, 4700 Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, adoption fees apply

Coldwell Banker’s fifth annual pet-awareness and –adoption event will help raise awareness about the situation of cats, dogs and rabbits in our shelters and rescues, and will give the community an opportunity to take one (or two) home. Enjoy games and raffles, the proceeds of which will fund the participating shelters and rescues.

Music for Mutts and Cats: Thursday, Oct. 3, 5–9 p.m., Steelcraft Long Beach, 3768 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, in-kind and monetary donations accepted

Actually, the music is for you, and the benefits will go to Long Beach Animal Care Services to help care for the dogs, cats and bunnies who are waiting there for homes. Bring along pet toys, cat litter, blankies, towels, food and anything you think a pet would like. Cash donations, of course, are welcome. Steelcraft will donate 10% of the evening’s tab to the shelter.

Community Action Team Interfaith Blessing of the Pets: Sunday, Oct. 6, 5:45 p.m., Rosie’s Dog Beach, 1 Granada Ave., Long Beach, free

Cats, dogs, bunnies, goats, lizards, mini-horses, ducks—voiceless creatures don’t need blessings as much as their human companions may. But this quiet evening on the beach as the sun sets is easily the most communal feeling anyone could have. A variety of clergy will be present to administer blessing to you both. If your BFF can’t come because of nerves in the crowd or if they’ve passed away, please bring a photo or something they loved to play with or wear. Justin Rudd’s nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT) sponsors the event.

Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic, hosted by District 7 Councilman Roberto Uranga: Saturday, Oct. 12, 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m., 1500 E Carson St. # 1598, Long Beach, free spay/neuter appointments for qualifying people; free microchips, shots, flea-med doses, dewormers and nail trimmings $10 each.

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. We thank Uranga and District 7 for seeing how important it is.

Boats n’ Barks Fundraiser Cocktail Pawty: Sunday, Oct. 13, 5–10 p.m., Boathouse on the Bay, 190 N. Marina Drive, Long Beach, menu and drink prices vary; auction prices vary

Join Live Love Animal Rescue and their sponsor, the Karen T. Hilburn Foundation, to help them float their boat and rescue as many pets as possible. Take a Duffy boat ride (all electric and won’t hurt the fishies), make a champagne toast, participate in a silent auction, and listen to heartwarming rescue stories!

Pit Bull Appreciation Day: Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Marine Stadium, 5255 Paoli Way, Long Beach, free

And it’s 2! $4! 6! 8! Who do we appreciate? Those silly, goofy, misunderstood-but-getting-better-by-the-moment pit bull dogs and mixes! Have fun rolling around with Rover on a yoga mat, trotting in a pack walk, learning about foster and pet care, purchasing raffle items and doggies to adopt. The event is brought to you by Blockhead Brigade, Live Love Animal Rescue and Lucky Dog Humane Education.

Haute Dog Howl’oween and Vendor Adoption Fair: Sunday, Oct. 27, 12:30 p.m., Marina Vista Park, 5355 E. Eliot St., Long Beach, $10 advance for each canine participant, $5 for a front-row chair, free to stand and spectate

OOOOOO! OWWWRRRROOO! Zombiedogs and pooch pirates and superhero mutts, all in the cutest costumes you’ll ever see! Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team (CAT) host what’s touted as the biggest Halloween pet event in the world! Shop for your best buddy at the vendors, or adopt one if you don’t have one or want a friend for your pal, and delight at a parade and judged contest featuring over 500 costumed dogs! The contest winner will get dog food for a year! Registration will open soon.

Sparky and the Gang’s Fourth Annual Black Dog Tan Chihuahua event: Saturday, Nov. 16, 4–10 p.m., Elinor, 250 N. Tribune Court, Long Beach, entrance TBA

Prohibition-themed event to raise funds for Sparky and the Gang dog rescue. Dress up in your dapper flappers. Can we say barkeasy? Al Ca-Bone, maybe? More information available here.

Other/ongoing

Feline Good Social Club: 301 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, open daily 10 a.m.–7 p.m., $15 for an hour session, $8 for a “quickie” half-hour

There’s just too much stuff going on in this wonderland for moggies! Bring your lunch and socialize with the friendliest and most entertaining group of cats you’ll ever meet (especially Fancy Feet and his giant hamster wheel), or sign up here for one of the many activities: Cats and Mats yoga, Sound Healing, Kids Club—all of it. Fill out an application to adopt! All proceeds go to maintaining the Lounge and, of course, the cats!

Register for Strut Your Mutt Los Angeles

Best Friends Animal Society is teaming up with our partner rescue groups, shelters and animal-welfare organizations to help save the lives of homeless cats and dogs at Strut Your Mutt. Local Long Beach groups such as The Little Lion Foundation are participating, and animal advocates and lovers will be coming from everywhere. Register for the Walk or donate if you have a pet who just won’t be walked—cats come to mind. All funds raised go directly to lifesaving programs such as spay/neuter, adoption, and a KITTEN NURSERY! This year’s event is on October 26, 2019 at Exposition Park in Los Angeles—all information is available here.

Instructional Pack Walk: First Saturday of the month, 10–11 a.m., Bixby Park, 130 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, free, donations accepted

The public is invited to take part in a walk sponsored by Trot’s Dog Walking and Training that will help you and your best buddy learn proper leash manners and focus on each other instead of the distractions of the “real world.” Trot’s experienced pack leaders are there to guide you through the process. Meet at the park at the corner of Ocean and Junipero at 10 a.m.

Donations accepted for Pets of the Homeless

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, 255 Redondo Ave., 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.

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.