This past Saturday and Sunday, over 4,000 animal lovers converged on Marina Green Park to attend the second annual Long Beach Summer Pet Adoption & Craft Fair. The weather was lovely the entire weekend—not a minute of dog-day heat.
Three animal organizations—The Little Lion Foundation, The Cat Cove and Long Beach Animal Care Services—stacked together a furry funfest of vendors catering to cats, dogs and humans; presentations and demonstrations; information tables; an enormous selection of raffle prizes; and every rescue within barking distance. There were way too many organizations and rescues to list or photos to post, and that’s a good thing.
Everyone who came seemed to think that the gnarly parking conditions were well worth dealing with to walk their dogs (and at least one cat) around the greenbelt and shop, learn about spay/neuter and pack walks, network with other rescuers, treat their pets to goodies, participate in contest and raffles, and meet adoptable cats and dogs and possibly take one or two home. As one attendee put it, it was a much-needed in-person-to-animal connection.
And for some, that connection will last forever; a total of 39 cats and 14 dogs were adopted over the two-day fair.