Virtually pets

The gateway days to the holiday shopping season are bookended by two days of gratitude and benevolence: Thanksgiving, when you sit at the family board or at your laptop for Zoomsgiving and remind one another of what you’re thankful for, and then tucking in to a meal; and Giving Tuesday, when you donate money that you’ve hopefully put aside for people and organizations that need something to be thankful for—and there are unarguably a lot more of those this year.

An opportunity to both buy stuff and benefit others this season is going on at Sparky and the Gang’s Puppy and Product shop-by-appointment event. The rescue is headed by a creative bunch of people who come up with great ideas to help pets—dogs in particular—who have been dumped, injured, abused or neglected to the point of irreparable damage to their bodies and spirits.

six puppies peer out of an enclosure, with the mother dog cowering in back.
“People’s dogs have puppies, and they think it’s fun for their kids to watch them being born,” Sherri said. “Then they want to keep a puppy and get rid of the rest of them, and the mom.” The poor mother had 11 puppies, and the family kept four of them and the dad. Sparky and the Gang didn’t leave it there—they had a chat with the family, and the remaining dogs will be spayed and neutered.

Sparky and the Gang was going to host a holiday shopping event a couple of weeks ago, but the Grinch of a pandemic put an end to that. Nary a daunt, the volunteers have turned the event into a veritable brick-and-mortar fur-Etsy to help pay the bills and turn unwanted animals into adoptable, happy pets. Handmade antique jewelry, rescue-themed medallions and dog tags, succulents in little handmade containers and unique hot sauce gift sets from Long Beach’s The Spicy Kitchen are set off by quirky wreaths that Sparky’s founder, Sherri Stankewitz, put together with odds and ends (check out the cat one!).

To make a “personal shopper” appointment, email [email protected]. You might even pair your purchase with a pet, as Sherri’s done in these videos. Contact the rescue at the email to take home a friend, too!

No concept of “handicapped” affects River!

https://youtu.be/as_2Nz9QEQs

Sparky and the Gang usually rescues dogs, but the gang couldn’t turn away two momcats and their litters. The Cat Cove has offered to foster these babies; contact them at the link to adopt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3hsHdTK6T4

 

And now for a Christmas cookie. Oh, save me, please!

Just fur fun

Courtesy photo

Sparky and the Gang’s Puppy and Product holiday shopping: 1749 Magnolia Ave., by appointment only, prices vary.

Sparky et al canceled last Sunday’s holiday fundraiser, but savvy shoppers can support a small rescue on Black Friday and thereafter until the goodies go. Whimsical handmade wreaths, beautifully crafted antique and rescue-themed jewelry, succulents and all manner of stuff to make things merry are on display at Sparky’s location. Prime among the goodies are the barbecue and hot sauces and gift sets from The Spicy Kitchen in Long Beach. Visit Sparky and the Gang’s Facebook page to see video presentations of all the neat things, and send a message to make an appointment or text Sparky at 310-809-6374.

Jackson Galaxy’s Cat Camp, Home for the Holidays: Saturday, 10 a.m. register here.

The holidays are here, and we’re all sequestered. What do we need to make the season bright? That’s right—cats! “My Cat from Hell” host and cat-behavior expert Jackson Galaxy, fresh from his virtual Cat Camp with nary scratch on him, will curl up with us under the tree, accompanied by Christina Ha, co-owner of NYC’s first Cat Café, Meow Parlour and president of its affiliated non-profit adoption group, Meow Parlour Cats. You’ll enjoy a virtual event guaranteed to make you roll over and claw the air with glee! Kitten Lady Hannah Shaw will join other guests for a trencher loaded with a feast consisting of creating holiday-themed cat toys and an outdoor winter shelter for community cats, a cat-themed ugly sweater contest and a fireside chat by a yule log. The free event is sponsored by the Petco Foundation.

Bulldog-themed safety-mask preorder: Southern California Bulldog Rescue, $11 each.

What better way to protect yourself and others from those coronavirus cooties than with a faithful bulldog guardian at the gate! They’re 2-ply non-medical grade protection that feel good and comfy. They’re also hand-washable. Best of all, these whimsical wearables support Southern California Bulldog Rescue! Order them here.

 

Help wanted, help given

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

Kitten season is just about up, but kittens still enter shelters. 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.

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.

If you can see the bottom of the kibble bag:

Helen Sanders CatPAWS offers, through 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, 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

 Long Beach Animal Care Services’ Adoption Waggin’: Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Salud Juice, 1944 E. Fourth St., Long Beach, adoption fees apply.

This event and all public shelter events has been cancelled.

 Pet Food Express Cat Adoption Center: weekdays and Saturday 10 a.m.–8p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., 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 center: viewable daily during store hours, PetSmart, 12341 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach, adoption fees apply.

Window-shopping’s a neat pastime that 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.

Links to loveables

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.