If you’re not done with your holiday shopping—even if you think you are, you probably aren’t—and the gift list includes a pet for a loved one, hold on a minute. The general wisdom is that pets aren’t presents in the sense that you don’t squash them into a stocking, wrap one up in a box—imagine the little creature’s terror, even with holes poked in the container—or foist one on someone as a surprise. Chances are that the surprise won’t be a welcome one and the cat, dog or rabbit will wind up in a shelter, passed from house to house, or dumped somewhere.

But what a gift it would be to promise to pay the adoption fee for a pet that someone dear to you has been pining for. You wouldn’t be purchasing a present as much as you would be facilitating what’s hopefully a forever relationship. Great deal for everyone involved, including you.

Every year, The Scratching Post offers this coupon that you can print and hand to the friend, relative or kid pining for a pet. Download it and print it out, or email it to the lucky recipient.

Coupon for a pet adoption, with silhouettes of a dog, a cat and a rabbit, offering to pay adoption fee

Art by Michelle Manion

Then, tell them to scan the photos of animals in a rescue or a shelter (see the end of this column under Adopt, adopt, adopt for a pretty comprehensive list of local organizations). If the person has their heart set on a particular breed or type of pet, send them the link to Petfinder.com to find adoptable purebreds or mixes thereof. (Don’t hit Craigslist, please. Plenty of needy pets already exist in shelters and rescues.)

After your friend or relative has squealed and gone ballistic over a photo or video of a cat, a dog or a rabbit, make an appointment to meet the pet. Toodle down to the rendezvous, coupon in hand, watch the lucky human and animal get all warm and cuddly, wipe a tear away, and pay the adoption fee. If you’re feeling exceptionally magnanimous or just think would be nice to do it, spring for food, toys, leashes, litter boxes and anything an animal needs to feel at home.

Luckily for you, Home for the Pawlidays takes place this Saturday at the PetSmart at the Long Beach Exchange, and you can scotch the appointment step for one day. The event is a joint effort of The Little Lion Foundation and The Cat Cove rescues, Long Beach Animal Care Services, the Long Beach Exchange and District 4 City Councilwoman Stacy Mungo.

Long Beach Animal Care Services’ Adoption Waggin’ will roll in, and the volunteers will show you all the wonderful animals aboard.

 

You can do a lot of holiday stuff there—shop for arty, crafty stocking stuffers and larger gifts; meet cats and dogs in person and adopt them; and buy everything said pet will need at the PetSmart. Raffle baskets and goodie bags will be available, and well-behaved pets and children can also sit on Santa’s lap and ask him for a better world (or the chew bones, the little catnip mice to lose under the refrigerator, or the Pokémon battle deck, if they insist).

“I’m so inspired by the volunteers of Little Lion and the Cat Cove that I had to lend a hand and support this special event that will bring families together with pets up for adoption,” Mungo said. “Pet adoption is a passion of mine, and this fun event will brighten anyone’s day and hopefully result in some extra cheer by folks bringing a new pet home for the holidays!”

Get details about Home for the Pawlidays under Deck the bowls with bones and tuna, print out that coupon, and do some early gifting for both a loved one and a to-be-loved pet.

Virtually pets

 Here are a few candidates from The Little Lion Foundation and The Cat Cove. The Little Lion foundation is also doing a promo during December that offers a 50% discount on black or tuxedo cats, with the purposes of getting them out in their evening dress for New Year’s Eve.

For adoption applications and a look at all the adoptables, click on the links on the rescues’ names.

 

The Cat Cove

tortoiseshell cat sits up on a blue blanket and looks at camera. Shelves of books are in the background.

Penny is a very sweet 1-year-old little girl. She loves attention from her foster family and will climb into their laps and cuddle with them. Penny was found with a cloudy eye. She has been to Cat Cove’s vet, who said that it’s either a birth defect or a very old injury that does not require any further care as of right now. It hasn’t stopped her from enjoying literature; she’s just finished “Leap of Faith” and will take one right to your lap.

black kitten in litterbox turns around to look at camera. The box is in a kennel.
Lilith was born April 2021. Her foster finds her mellow and sweet. She loves pets and cuddles and actively seeks out human love. She’s also mellow with the dogs, cats and kids in the home. Lilith will want someone who loves to give and receive love and cuddles, and she’ll need a kitty friend to play with in her new home.

 

cat with black ears, mask and nose and white chest and face sits in a container on a Halloween blanket.
Wilbur was a community cat who showed up at a Cat Cove volunteer’s home (they always know who, don’t they?). Wilbur is estimated to have been born in 2011, making him around 10 years old. He had to have an eye removed and 21 teeth removed and he’s FIV positive. With all that, he’s a happy, healthy boy now looking for his forever indoor home. Wilbur will be happy as an only kitty so he can get all your attention, too!

 

The Little Lion Foundation

 two sealpoint Siamese cats, one squatting on a shelf and looking down and the other sitting bowling-pin style and looking outward.

Mack and Amelia, like Si and Am in “Lady and the Tramp,” are a bonded pair but are a good sight nicer than their film counterparts. This dynamic duo comprise a perfect pair! Mack and Amelia are each a year old and do everything together. They love to play and will keep you entertained for hours! Their favorite things include fetching their favorite toys, snuggling, and playing throughout the house!

brown tabby with green eyes lies on her side on a gray surface and looks upward.
Willow is a beautiful 9-month-old kitten that was rescued from the shelter with two broken legs! She’s had a few surgeries to repair them, and now, she’s faster on her four feet than ever! Her foster mom calls her a wild child. When she’s not begging for attention from her, she’s running around the house and wrestling with her foster sister. She loves cuddles and giving kisses and love nibbles. She even follows her foster parents around the house for attention. Although she may take a little while to acclimate, she’d love a home with another playful kitty to help her burn off her energy, but if you play with her a lot and give her attention, she’ll be fine as a solo cat. She doesn’t like dogs—her foster mom has tried!

 

black and white kitten with white chin, chest and paws sits on a green and red pattern bed. He has one eye, the left one.
Shamu is a slender, handsome, 4 ½-month old tuxedo kitten ready to hit the New Year’s Eve hot spots. When he was rescued from the shelter, an infection had permanently damaged his eye, which was removed to prevent further issues and pain. Shamu is an independent and playful little boy—he will snuggle with you on the couch, but only on his time. His favorite toy is the feather wand, climbing and chasing. He’d be best in a home with another cat who needs interaction and a playmate. He loves to play with his foster sister, Dawn, but they are not bonded. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take her home, too!

 

Deck the bowls with bones and tuna: Festivities featuring fur friends

 

Second Annual Home for the Pawlidays pet adoption and craft fair: Saturday, Dec. 11, PetSmart@Long Beach Exchange, 3871 N. Lakewood Blvd., Long Beach, free to attend, item prices vary

District 5 councilwoman Stacy Mungo has joined fur-ces with The Cat Cove and The Little Lion Foundation pet rescues to present this wonderful opportunity to do some holiday shopping and, of course, to take home someone furry and adorable to share your season with! Shop for crafts and check out a few adoptables from these two rescues and others. Long Beach Animal Care Services will be there with their famous Adoption Waggin’! Spaces are still available for local crafters who may want to take advantage of this prime shopping location in a high-foot-traffic area. Space is limited so reserve yours today. Find out space and cost details, and fill out an application here.

Clicker alerts

Long Beach shelter dogs have been vaccinated against canine influenza and leptospirosis

An animal-health alert was recently sent out in regarding outbreaks of both canine influenza (CIV H3N2) and leptospirosis in Los Angeles County. Both diseases can have symptoms anywhere from mild to fatal. Canine influenza cannot be spread to humans but can, in rare occasions, be contracted by cats. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that humans can contract.

“We haven’t seen any cases in our shelter, and to prepare for potential cases, LBACS Medical Team has vaccinated and boosted the majority of our dog population against canine influenza over the past couple weeks, in addition to giving chips and rabies shots to those dogs who needed it,” said Long Beach Animal Care Services director Staycee Dains. “It was an amazing team effort, and everyone was so focused and efficient. We will continue to vaccinate dogs for CIV as they enter the shelter, whenever we are able to administer vaccines.”

The director of Veterinary Public Health has made these recommendations for pet owners:

  • If you think your pets have influenza, keep them away from other animals and contact your veterinarian.
  • Vaccinate dogs against canine influenza H3N2 before they enter boarding kennels, dog day care or dog parks or engage in dog-group activities. This vaccination is also advisable for dogs that may occasionally encounter other dogs.
  • To prevent spread of disease, do not let sick pets share their food bowls, leashes, toys or other supplies with other pets.
  • Wash your hands after touching your pet [or any pet].

Updated information about the spread of the disease is available here.

 

Help wanted, help given

Volunteers of many stripes needed at Helen Sanders CatPAWS

Want to spend a few hours playing with cats? How about brightening the day of a bunch of senior citizens with kitten visits? Fostering cats because you aren’t sure you want to keep one but wish you could have one ever so briefly in your life (and yes, you could change your mind and keep them forever). Delivering pet food to needy shelters? Assembling do-it-yourself newborn-kitten-care kits, and maybe bottle-feeding a few? Kennel cleaning (whee!)? Lend a paw to CatPAWS—fill out the volunteer application at this link.

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 562-370-3548.

Fix Long Beach low-cost pet-services clinics: selected days and times, 1749 Magnolia Ave, Long Beach, services available by appointment at www.fixlongbeachpets.com.

Fix Long Beach 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 is still in bloom, and shelters and rescues are scrambling to save little 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) offers 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

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 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

Blond woman in pink shirt and gray pants sits on bench next to white pit bull with brown ears and patch on back, who sits on grass.
Photo by Dee Glick

In-furson events, etc.

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 centers: viewable daily during store hours, playtime Saturdays and Sundays between noon and 3 p.m., PetSmart, 12341 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach; Petco Marina Shores, 6500 Pacific Coast Highway, third Saturday of every month between 1 and 3 p.m., Long 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, and now, you can finally visit with them, scratch their little ears, and rub them under their chinny-chin-chins on Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. Visitors to Petco  Marina Shores every third Saturday of the month can see them running around their playpens and cuddle them, too. Volunteers will answer questions and provide you with adoption information! Be sure to wear a mask. You can find adoption applications and all the kitties here.

Nota bon-e—fosters are needed everywhere!

two dogs and a cat on one border, two cats and two dogs on other. Caption says, "May we couch-surf at your place?"
May we couch-surf at your place?

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. Every one of the organizations listed below is in desperate need of fosters who’ll social them and help save their little lives. Who knows—maybe one of those lives will change your mind about the not-ready-for-roommate thing!

These nonprofits also regularly feature cat, dog and rabbit adoptions. 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.