This is the third or fourth consecutive Scratching Post article aimed at featuring pets at the Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) shelter. It’s not that other shelters and rescues don’t need the spotlight—they emphatically do, and there’s a whole list of them at the end of the column. At the moment, though, LBACS is bursting at the seams with cats and dogs. The shelter is also short-staffed, and although the hiring process of a new rehoming team and other staff members is in the process, it’s not a swift process. The staff members who remain are gnawed to the bone trying to meet the needs of some 200 pets.

Shelter volunteers, bless their huge hearts and determination, are picking up the slack. As with the staff members, they’re fewer in number than they were before COVID-19 hit. They’ve returned to volunteer stuff like walking and socializing dogs, cuddling and playing with cats, and understanding and working with all their backstories to give them trust in people again. They’re also doing a lot of work usually assigned to paid staff. They’re hosing out piles of poop from the dog kennels, changing litter boxes for the cats, scrubbing down and disinfecting living and play areas, and refreshing food and water.

The training program for new volunteers has also been suspended thanks to the pandemic. The core volunteers teamed up with staff members to contact those who didn’t return after the volunteer team was invited back.

“Only a handful responded, not because of lack of desire but life circumstances, and plenty brought on by COVID,” shelter director Staycee Dains said. “It was clear that we’d have to open our new volunteer program—safely with regards to COVID.”

First, though, a volunteer coordinator needs to come aboard, as does the rest of the rehoming team.

“We are currently hiring four new full-time positions,” said Christine Kucenas, the shelter operations supervisor. “The behavior and rescue coordinator and the adoption coordinator positions had recruitments a little while ago, and we are finalizing candidates now. The volunteer coordinator and the foster coordinator are being recruited right now.”

Adoption appointments likely here to stay

Since the pandemic began, LBACS has joined other public shelters in conducting adoptions through appointments. Here’s how it works at our shelter: People visit the shelter’s adoption page or Facebook page, which has a lot of nifty videos of the animals interacting with the volunteers. If they see a cat, a dog or a rabbit they like, they send an email to [email protected] or call 562-570-4925. Fosters can also apply to take a pet on a temporary basis, which offers the animals a better environment than a kennel. Dains recently said that LBACS has about 150 pets in foster homes.

“Like many animal care centers, Best Friends Lifesaving Center in Mission Hills transitioned to adoption and fostering by appointment only,” said Michelle Sathe, Best Friends Animal Society’s public relations manager. “This helped reduce the amount of foot traffic, allowing us to give our best care to the animals onsite as well as ensure the safety of our staff.”

Sathe said that appointment-based adoptions allow the team to review a potential adopter’s information in advance and determine a good fit between animal and human. She added that the appointment method also allowed potential adopters to connect with anyone fostering an animal. People can the pets in a home environment and ask questions through virtual meet-and-greets.

Adoptions by appointment also allow the Best Friends team to manage their time more effectively and provide good customer service.

Ah, but therein lies the tummy rub. The present shortage of staff members doesn’t help here, either. Some would-be adopters also take issue with it. Sathe said that adoptions by appointment could be a challenge for people who aren’t computer savvy, particularly with all the forms to fill out and the back-and-forth emails. She also said that people miss the immediacy of going to the shelter and being able to check out the pets in person instead of online, which is limiting.

“I don’t like that you have to ‘choose’ a dog online to apply for and set the appointment,” one social-media poster. “I wish we could walk the kennels like before . . . just limit how many people enter at a time.”

Other people who have wanted to adopt at the shelter have reported frustration at not having their emails or calls addressed promptly or of receiving appointments that were too far in the future. Several said that they gave up and adopted somewhere else.

“I tried to adopt a dog twice!” read another post. “Both times, they told me I had to make an appointment—when I finally did try to make an appointment it was weeks ahead. By then my brother got impatient and rescued another dog in Apple Valley the same day.”

And even after a year of opening to the public through appointment only, people still aren’t aware of the new procedures and show up at the shelter door, confused about why they can’t come in.

Not everyone walked away empty handed and dissatisfied, and some reported that the process worked for them. But everyone agrees that nothing beats personally meeting a cat, a dog or a bunny. In this light, LBACS is going to have a managed version of just that. This Saturday, Nov. 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. the shelter staff and volunteers will present an actual in-person adoption event. Masks will be required indoors and outdoors. The last open-adoption event went wildly well, and hopes are as high for this one.

Adoption by appointment is likely here to stay. When the shelter is fully staffed, it will likely go more smoothly. Furthermore, Dains suggested that there will be more weekend open adoptions planned in the future. With this “new normal,” though, it’s important to remember, as Sathe said, that “shelters and adoption centers are doing the best they can under difficult circumstances. They need the public’s support now more than ever, so try to be compassionate and understanding as you go about the adoption process.”

Virtually Pets

You can meet these lovable furries and plenty more on Saturday! Remember—you can not only adopt, but you can foster, too! (Sometimes, those fosters turn into forevers, which is a good thing, I can personally tell you.) If you can’t come Saturday, you can make an appointment to adopt or foster by emailing [email protected] or by calling 562-570-4925.

Appointments may be made during these hours:

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays

10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays

 

Lovely Lisa (ID#AA656420) is a happy hippo—a 2-year-old gal who, the volunteers say, is “simply adora-bull!” She’s been waiting patiently at the shelter since April for her special someone to find her. Here she is enjoying rubs, snacks and instruction on hand-shaking etiquette from volunteer John. John’s the cat guy at the shelter, so Lisa has to be pretty special to get him so involved!

Gray pit bull with white chest, muzzle and forehead stripe stands on grass with tennis ball hanging out the side of her mouth.
Imagine waking up in the morning to this sweet face looking at you! At 8 years old, Tiger Lily (ID#A665874) is considered a senior, but that’s not even shuffleboard age. Tiger Lily is as loving as she appears in this photo and will make you a fine companion!

 

fluffy cat with white muzzle and back and tabby markings gets chin scratch from gloved volunteer inside kennel
Ever wanted to be on the cover of one of those old-time children’s storybooks? You know, the kind where someone’s sitting reading in an armchair and a fluffy calico cat is purring away on their lap? Well, the shelter has the cat, so you’re off to a good start! Brooke (ID# A664298), 5 years old, was found as a stray. She needed a lot of dental work, which the shelter took care of, so now she can grin like the Cheshire Cat. She’s affectionate toward humans and loves to be brushed. No matter whether you’re reading classic literature or the latest bestseller, she’ll make a warm companion.

 

tabby-patch cat with white face, chest legs and right side of face and with tabby markings on the rest of his body, and a cute spot next to inside of right eye stands on newspaper in kennel
This is Utah. He’s 10 years old and was in a horrible state—snicker—when he was found hoarded away in an RV in Long Beach. He used to be a hand shredder and a recluse, but volunteer Susan has been his rock and has convinced him to come out of his hermitage, as volunteer John put it, and get used to the idea that the awful chapter of his life is over. He’s a sweetheart and enjoys human contact. Check out his bliss in Susan’s video. Hard to record a cat with one hand when you’re massaging his head with the other!

 

https://youtu.be/OEMwRtarrpY

 

To make an appointment to adopt or foster a pet, please email

Beginning June 30th, pet owners may reclaim their pets during regular business hours without an appointment.

 Clicker alerts

Canine influenza and leptospirosis reported as spreading locally

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. 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.

white dog dries off in blue-patterned towel, on truck seat
Flipper, renamed Siren, dries off in an LBFD vehicle after her effortful rescue. Photo courtesy of LBFD Marine Safety Division

 

Siren the swimming doggie floats to a new home!

On Oct. 25, the Long Beach Post ran a story about a successful effort between passersby and Long Beach Marine Safety to rescue a little dog who’d appeared out of nowhere and swum to a buoy in Alamitos Bay. Dubbed Flipper by LBFD Marine Safety Chief Gonzalo Medina, the little 2-year-old was brought in to Long Beach Animal Care Services by animal-control officers. She was renamed Siren in honor of those who were lured by her predicament and put on a stray hold. When the hold period had ended, shelter staff went through around 40 applications and chose one. Siren likely now has her own backyard pool, a floating raft with a water-bowl holder on it, and the real dude life.

Just fur fun and fur-ther entertainment

Comedy and Cats: 8–9 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 13, Feline Good Social Club, 301 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach,, $25, reserve your seat here.

Here we go again! The Salty AF crew of comedians and the Lounge cats will wrestle for the microphone and spotlight in which the only competitive element is who’s funnier, cats or comics. The group cannot wait for another bout with the kitties. Along with MC and Salty creator Holly Anabel Brown will appear Neel Nanda, featured on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Comedy Central and Amazon Prime’s “Inside Joke”; international touring comedian Dalia Malek, winner of multiple comedy festivals; ABC and YouTube performer Jose Barrientos; Chris Bryant, who appeared on Netflix’s “Cooking on High” and Amazon’s “Out on Stage”; and Hannah Rose, LA’s “Top Comic Competition” finalist.

Whiskers in Wonderland: 4–6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 5,, Boathouse on the Bay, 190 N. Marina Drive., Long Beach,, $65, order tickets here.

The pandemic has brought with it so many struggles for independent rescues along with the rest of our community near and far. The Little Lion Foundation, which rescues and raises newborn kittens and their “teenage” and adult counterparts, is one of the all-volunteer organizations that has not been stopped from answering the call for help time and time again in an effort to lend a hand to as many cats as possible. During the giving season, Little Lion is hosting this event to celebrate the volunteers that ask for nothing but good for the cats and to raise funds for the rescue to continue in its efforts. The event will be held outdoors at the restaurant and will include a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres, bar drinks and a chance to meet some of our Little Lions.

Second Annual Home for the Pawlidays pet adoption and craft fair: Saturday, Dec. 11, The Hangar at the Long Beach Exchange, 4150 McGowen St., 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. 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.

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. 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

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 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 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

In-furson events

Photo courtesy of PetSmart Charities

 

PetSmart Charities National Adoption Week:: Nov. 8–15. PetSmart locations, adoption fees apply.

Once again, PetSmart Charities hosts its weeklong campaign to adopt out thousands of cats and dogs in PetSmart adoption centers across the country. Many of the rescues listed at the end of this article, including Helen Sanders CatPAWS, Sparky and the Gang, The Little Lion Foundation, The Cat Cove and Zazzy Cats, have pets available at local PetSmart adoption centers. Adopting at one of these locations will help support these rescues. Most importantly, of course, a pet will find a loving home. Find nearby locations and more information here.

Long Beach Animal Care Services’ Adoption Waggin: 10 a.m.–2 p.m., second Saturday of each month, Pet Supplies Plus, 2086 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach; 10 a.m..–2 p.m., last Saturday of each month, VBurger, 420 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, adoption fees apply.

 The shelter’s favorite glamping vehicle for cats and dogs has been making the scene twice a month. Adopt at the locations and find either everything you need for your pet or a fine vegan lunch.

 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.