Pet calendars — hair of the dog for morning blahs
Whatever 2024 brings — and our hackles might bristle at some of the possibilities — a daily peek at any of these calendars and a deep breath will take the edge off.
Besides the delight factor, pet-rescue calendar sales help the organizations with food and vet bills for their furry charges, all of whom are waiting to turn the page to a happy future. To order any of the following calendars, access the links below for each rescue. And make sure to enter your housemates’ birthdays when the calendars arrive in your mailbox!
Helen Sanders CatPAWS’ 13-month calendar features beautiful photos and stories of adopted, much-loved kitties. Proceeds from sales go directly toward helping rescued cats live the lives they deserve. Each calendar is $15 plus tracked priority shipping. Ordering three or more gets you free shipping. Place your orders here.
There’s no way that you can snarl at the sunrise, even before coffee, after a look at the month’s featured slobberface from SoCal Bulldog Rescue. Order your No Bulldog Left Behind calendar here.
Seal Beach Animal Care Center has two calendars to choose from, one for cute canines and another for cuddly kitties! If you can’t choose between them, what the heck, order both — $17 for one or $15 each for more than one. Buy them in person at SBACC, 1700 Adolfo Lopez Dr., Seal Beach; send a check; or order online. Get detailed instructions here.
Speaking of gifts, the Long Beach Post and its sibling pubs are now a nonprofit, meaning that we’re there to serve our community (you!). If you want to make a gift to support the Long Beach Journalism Initiative, read all about it here.
As an added bonus to our pet community, a portion of the funds specifically from subscription to the Scratching Post newsletter will go to Long Beach’s venerable Friends of Long Beach Animals.
Pets to adopt or foster
The Seal Beach Animal Care Center, located at 1700 Adolfo Lopez Drive, Seal Beach, is one of many options for someone who wants a pet as a holiday gift (download this coupon as a promise to pay the adoption fee, and accompany the lucky human to the rescue).
SBACC is a private, volunteer-run shelter for cats and dogs. They don’t euthanize for space and take in all the pets they have space for. Check out hopefuls at the “Adoptables” tab on their website, and complete applications for adopting cats on this link and dogs on this one so that the volunteers can find a good fit between human and pet.
Grady, a thin, little terrier mix approximately 15 years old, came to SBACC as a stray. He is a sweet boy, but he’s had heartaches both figuratively and literally. He was abandoned in a parking lot at a local shopping center and had a heart condition that the cardiologist felt was caused by malnutrition. Over time, Grady’s heart condition stabilized with the help of meds and supplements. He spent a year at the center and was adopted twice, but the first adopter became too ill to care for Grady and the second one passed away. Grady has not lost hope, though, and neither have the shelter volunteers. He’s waiting patiently in an area reserved for our senior dogs, looking for a third chance to find his fur-ever family.
Charlotte originally came to SBACC in 2012 when she was just 5 weeks old. She was adopted as a kitten and had a home for nearly 10 years. She was used to lots of attention, lap time and cuddles. But that changed when her mom and dad had kids — she became aggressive when they bothered her. Mom and Dad put up with it for quite a while but then decided it wasn’t working, so they made the difficult decision of returning her to SBACC. They said she can be very loving but needs a quiet home without small children. She would love to spend her senior years with a human who will love and dote on her.
Maverick, a 9-year-old Lab/shepherd mix, is very smart and knows his commands: come, sit, down, stay, heel, place and leave it. He is a confident, playful boy, is food motivated and likes new tricks. But like many mavericks, he needs structure and proper leadership. He’s social with other dogs but can be bossy, so he’d do best as a solo dog or with a submissive female. He would thrive in a quiet but active home with no children or cats. Maverick would make a great companion for an active dog owner, but any potential adopters must be willing to reinforce his training to ensure that his next home is his forever home and set him up for success, and not failure.
Pet events and announcements
Feline Good Social Club’s Ugly Sweater Days
Compete with the Social Club residents for who can look the funniest, most adorable and most annoyed at having to wear an ugly sweater (guess who’ll win that one). Hourly raffle prizes, and lots of shedding!
Friday, Dec. 15; Saturday, Dec. 16; and Sunday, Dec. 17; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Feline Good Social Club, 301 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, tickets $19.99 per 50-minute sessions available here
Emergency vaccination clinic at Fix Long Beach
Cases of parvo and kennel cough are on the rise, and Fix Long Beach is here to help with their low-cost vaccines. Make an appointment here, or call (562) 337-8268. Dogs must be on leashes, and cats must be in carriers.
Sunday, Dec. 17, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fix Long Beach, 1749 Magnolia Ave., Long Beach, prices available here
Haute Dogs Santa Paws collection
Here’s something for the animals who probably don’t know that it’s Christmas, but because we do, it’ll feel wonderful to know that they’re getting a Christmas, too. Individuals, organizations, businesses, classrooms, scout troops and any group or person can collect items and take them directly to their favorite shelter or rescue before Christmas at any time they are open. Food, toys and treats made in the U.S. as well as cleaning supplies will be appreciated. Access this link to set up a collection box and download posters.
To see a list of local animal rescue groups, click here.