In the six years since its establishment, the nonprofit, all-volunteer organization Fix Long Beach has provided free spay/neuter procedures to Long Beach residents who couldn’t afford them for their pets. Fix Long Beach was established in 2013 and has expanded its services to include free microchips, low-cost vaccines and pet-icures, fostering and adoption, vouchers to take a chomp out of the price of spay/neuter, and charitable efforts.

Volunteers also educate people about good animal care, ways to keep pets in their homes if their situation seems overwhelming, and reasons to spay or neuter a pet, particularly regarding animal health and prevention of shelter overpopulation and euthanasia.

Fix Long Beach has spayed and neutered over 8,000 pets since its first mobile clinic rolled into one of the city’s parks. You know the old math problem: If a cat has an average of six and if a dog—depending on breed—has five to eight puppies, and all the kittens grow up and have kittens and all the puppies grow up and have puppies, ad infinitum—you do the math. That’s how many unwanted animals haven’t been born.

The clinics have had a positive effect on Long Beach Animal Care Services’ efforts to prevent euthanasia of healthy pets. Since 2010, when John Keisler took over the shelter’s management and redirected its practices toward an increasingly humane direction, shelter intake and euthanasia procedures have indeed taken a steady decline. They took even sharper dips in 2013 and in the following years; past manager Ted Stevens and present director Staycee Dains have given credit to Fix Long Beach as a contributor to the hoped-for drop.

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 , sponsored a couple of summers ago by councilwomen Suzie Price and Suja Lowenthal.

 

Fix Long Beach hasn’t scheduled any spay/neuter clinics during the summer months as the board of directors has been working with the veterinarians on a plan to provide weekly events instead of monthly or bimonthly. In the meantime, the organization has been concentrating on animal safety and herd health. Two clinics that offer free microchips, and vaccines at a cost of $10 each—huge savings—will take place on Friday, Aug. 28 from 4 to 7 p.m., and on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 9 to 11 a.m., at 1749 Magnolia Ave. The vaccines will keep pets safe from any species-specific contagious diseases, and the microchips will provide identification and increase the chances of a quick return to their humans if an animal becomes lost or injured. The clinics are first come, first served, with no appointments. All dogs must be on sturdy harnesses and leashes, cats must be in dedicated carriers, and humans must be behind face masks.

While you’re at the clinic, you might get a glimpse of one of our favorite doggie rescues, Sparky and the Gang, and their adoptables. Here are a few of them. To adopt, request an application here, or email [email protected].

small, squat white dog with gray ears stands on blue surface
Keaton is a lively senior. A genuine Mr. Personality, he likes to be right in the middle of all the action. Keaton and two other pups were surrendered to Sparky and the Gang. they had been living in a backyard and were dirty, matted, unvaccinated, unaltered, no microchips—all the basics that every dog should have were disregarded. Keaton has been let down, and we want his senior years to be extraordinary.

 

small brown pit-bull mix with one white paw and chest and a pure-white pittie mix stands, both in a blue swimming pool.
Fred and Snoopy are waiting for the pool to be filled up so they can splash around and make a big muddy mess. Fred, the reddish-brown dog, and Snoopy, (aka Fonzi) the white one, are from the same litter. Their mom is done with motherhood and is relaxing in a nice foster home until she is spayed and ready for her forever home. Apparently, dogs aren’t overindulgent like some people and know when it’s time to kick the kids out—once they’ve put in their 12 weeks, it’s “Bye-bye, Baby”! Puppies are wonderful additions to an active family that is prepared to go to obedience classes, follow through with training, and make a forever commitment.

 

small min-pin mix with black mask and body and tan muzzle and legs lies, looking at camera, on a white towel.
Poor Monty found himself homeless at the tender age of 2. He is sweet and fun and is ready for a forever home. He weighs around 15 pounds and is great with other dogs and people.

 

To donate to either Fix Long Beach or Sparky and the Gang, visit the links highlighted on their names and click Donate. You can also make a donation to either or both through Long Beach Gives on Sept. 24 (see Help wanted, help given).

Pet projects

A stray black and white cat at the street.

Safety alert for cats

There have been several reports of a deceased, mutilated cat or cats found in the vicinity of Bellflower Boulevard between E. Eliot Avenue and Loynes Drive. There’s nothing conclusive, but please do the following if you see any pets in this condition:

  1. Take a photo if you can handle it, or find someone with a thicker skin to do it
  2. Report it to Long Beach Animal Care Services, [email protected] and to the police.
  3. Please, please, please, have your pets microchipped and keep them indoors. Coyotes are on the roam.

Long Beach Animal Care Services is presently looking into all reported incidences. Long Beach Post will alert readers about further developments.

Mainly fur fun

Feline Good Social Club reopening day: Tuesday, Sept. 1, and Wednesday, Sept. 2, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., 301 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, $15 per hangout.

 The cats and kittens are slowly creeping back into their comfy home-away-from-the-home-that-surely-will-be-theirs-someday! Feline Good Social Club is excitedly gearing up to open the cat door to you after a long absence (during which they managed to adopt out over 80 cats!). The humans are updating the Lounge and have some new COVID-19–related safety precautions that you can read about here when you book your session, which you can do right here for Tuesday and here for Wednesday. Looking forward to a roll on the rug with you!

Best Friends Strut Your Mutt Day: Saturday, Oct. 24, register or donate here

The annual Strut Your Mutt dog walk, which has raised thousands of dollars for lifesaving projects, is going virtual like everything else. Best Friends has teamed up with local rescue groups, shelters, animal-welfare organizations and pet-community members for a virtual community walk and fundraiser to benefit homeless dogs and cats across the country. During this period of relative isolation, raising funds is more important than ever, so join up and participate in engaging opportunities to help throughout the season and build a virtual no-kill community. All funds raised go directly to lifesaving programs such as spay neuter services and adoption—and it’s all off leash!

Help wanted, help given

Fix Long Beach free microchip and low-cost vaccine clinic: 4–7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 28, and 9–11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 29, 1749 Magnolia Ave, Long Beach, vaccinations $10 each, no appointment necessary

Fix Long Beach returns to hosting vaccination and microchip clinics, with free spay/neuter clinics coming soon, all to support the pets of our community members who need help caring for them. Flea meds for $10 are also available. In order to comply with COVID-19 recommendations and for the safety of our clients and volunteers, everyone will be required to wear a mask. Dogs must be on sturdy leashes, and cats must be confined in dedicated carriers. Enter the clinic from the front parking lot. Volunteers will handle drop-off and pickup. Appointments aren’t needed for vaccines and the other services. Appointments for spay/neuter procedures and for other information available on website.

Second Annual Long Beach Gives: midnight–11:59 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 24, details here

Long Beach Gives started as a grad student project in 2018. In short, it’s 24 hours of donating to any of the 153 Long Beach charities in their aggregate. Last year’s inaugural event earned a combined total of over $822,000 for 93 local organizations, surpassing the initial goal of $350,000 by 300%, according to its website. This year’s impressive list of charities includes the following pet-related nonprofits: Fix Long Beach, Golden State Humane Society, Helen Sanders CatPAWS, Live Love Animal Rescue, Long Beach Spay & Neuter Foundation, Sparky and the Gang Animal Rescue, spcaLA and The Little Lion Foundation. Show your love and support for pets and the organizations that spend their money and themselves to help them—donate on Thursday, Sept. 23, between midnights.

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

It’s kitten season—the time of year when cats give birth. It starts in the spring—sometimes before, depending on the weather, peaks in midsummer, and ends in autumn. It occurs because so many cats are not spayed or neutered, and soon, kittens flood our shelter. 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.

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.

Calendars—save the date, and save some pets!

Helen Sanders CatPAWS Show Us Your Kitties 2020 calendar contest: through Sunday, Sept. 20, register your floomf here

Sick and tired of 2020 already? Let’s build a new year and help cats at the same time. Helen Sanders CatPAWS Show Us Your Kitties calendar contest is back, and it’s time to submit your photos! This year the rescue’s goal is to reach $10,000 so they can continue the lifesaving work to make sure every cat gets the best life (and home) possible. The rescue will try its best to place every photo they receive somewhere in the calendar, even if not in the top 13. Because times are tough and CatPAWS wants to encourage people to share their beloved kitty photos, they have waived the usual entry fee this year! You can reserve a day for your cat for $10—a birthday, a memorial, St. Gertrude’s Day… Read the full rules here.

 Southern California Bulldog Rescue’s No Bulldog Left Behind calendar contest: through Monday, Aug. 31, register your slobbery baby here.

 Southern California Bulldog Rescue provides shelter, rehoming assistance, and funds for medical treatment for over 250 bulldogs each year coming from animal shelters, other rescue groups, and owners who wish to surrender their purebred pets. They rely on donations for support, and this calendar of jut-jawed beauties is their biggest fundraiser. Do you and your adorable, squatty little friend want to reserve a day or strive for an entire month? Of course you do! Find out how here.

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

spcaLA Are You Kitten Me? adoptions: Through Sept. 30, shelter hours at all spcaLA locations, $20 adoption fee for all felines

Help the community raise kittens born during kitten season and shine a spotlight on the adult cats passed over for their younger counterparts. Because of closures to the public, spcaLA will conduct all adoptions virtually, so check out these pointy-eared cuties here and complete an application on any of the adoptables’ pages. An spcaLA adoption counselor will contact you to complete the adoption. (This adoption special is for qualified adopters; exclusions may apply.)

 Helen Sanders CatPAWS adoption center: Daily, store hours, 2341 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.

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.