Long Beach Animal Care Services and spcaLA await further eviction ruling
LBACS expansion plans are on hold while both sides prepare for a hearing at Los Angeles County Superior Court on April 23.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Los Angeles will remain on the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village campus for the present until an eviction order has been settled in court. Long Beach city officials announced the termination with the nonprofit on Feb. 24, citing three violations of the lease-to-leaseback agreements as the reason. SpcaLA was given 30 days to leave the campus by March 26, ending a 26-year partnership with Long Beach Animal Care Services.
LBACS and spcaLA acquired legal representation; a March 20 court ruling subsequently permitted spcaLA to remain on the property in its usual capacity until further ruling. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 23, at 9:30 a.m. in Department 19 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Meanwhile, LBACS’ plans for expanding their programs and operations have been put on hold.
“The City of Long Beach has received an outpouring of positive support from the animal rescue community, including locally based groups and organizations throughout the region, among other community members and stakeholders,” read a statement from city officials. “The City is extremely appreciative of this public support from our community.”
The city’s statement also stressed its intentions to defend its case.
“In the wake of last month’s announcement, the City was hopeful that a respectful and professional departure from spcaLA would ensue; however, that was not the case,” the statement continued. “The City stands firm in its reasons to terminate its contract with spcaLA, as set forth in its notices, and is prepared to defend its decision throughout the ongoing litigation process.”
Both shelters expressed their dedication to the animals in their care.
“As we navigate this legal process, our commitment to the animals and people in our community is unwavering,” spcaLA stated. “We continue to assert our right to remain in the spcaLA P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village Education Center — the Village — where we provide essential, lifesaving animal care services each and every day. In the meantime, it’s business as usual for spcaLA at the Village — our programs and services continue uninterrupted, ensuring the highest standard of care for those who rely on us.”
Operations and services at LBACS will also continue as usual.
“The safety, health and well-being of the animals that come under the City’s care has always been and will continue to be a top priority for Long Beach Animal Care Services,” the city’s statement read. “These core values are reflected in our mission and guiding principles and in the vital work LBACS performs daily to provide animal control and care services for Long Beach and adjacent service cities.”
YOURS DROOLY
Expansion of LBACS’ operations may be on pause, but the effort to get paws into homes isn’t. Meet a few of the good dogs who need out. Now. To adopt or foster, email PetAdopt@longbeach.gov or petfoster@longbeach.gov. You can also call (562) 570-4925. Better yet, visit them all — the entire population of dogs, cats, rabbits and so on is listed here. Shelter hours are Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 7700 E. Spring St. at the entrance to El Dorado Park (no parking fee for shelter visitors.
Meet Quincy (ID#A736205), 1 year old and emerging from the puppy phase! As such, she’s a playful pooch — she gets her energy out in the play yard by doing zoomies everywhere! Nonetheless, she’s easy on a leash and loves to walk. She was found at 10 months old as a stray, and her socialization has been impressive. But even though she’s been at LBACS for only two months, she’s exhibiting kennel stress. She spins and paces in her kennel, probably because the taste of love, affection and free play has made her hungry for a constant supply. Can you make it forever?
Radio (ID#A721516) is an energetic, sweet 2-year-old dog who would make a wonderful addition to a loving home. He doesn’t bark at other dogs when on walks — in fact, he’d like the pleasure of meeting them in person! He’s also a fan of running, playing fetch and rolling in the grass. Radio’s foster mom found him to be loyal and protective at home, but she said that it may take him some time to feel comfortable with new visitors. He’s a little shy and never aggressive, but his playful nature may overwhelm small children. Older kids or teenagers would have a ball tuning in to Radio, though! Radio would benefit from a structured home with owners who would give him quality time provide basic obedience training to address his two main challenges: separation anxiety and pulling on the leash. A healthy supply of chew bones and toys would round it off great!
Spike (ID#A729440) is a 7-year-old shy and sweet dog who’s a favorite among volunteers. He’s easy to handle, walks well on leash, and does he love to ride in the car! He knows some basic commands, too. He thrives in quiet, peaceful environments and could potentially share a home with another dog if introduced correctly. There, he’ll share long walks, playful times and of course, riding in the car. Spike has been in the shelter for six months and, like many dogs, is showing signs of kennel stress. This gentle boy urgently needs a loving adopter or foster to save him from an unhappy ending. Adopting Spike would not only transform his life but also bring boundless joy to his new family.
TAIL-WAGGIN' AND NOSE-BOOPIN' EVENTS
Low-cost vaccine clinics
Every pet deserves to be healthy and happy, and so Long Beach Animal Care Services and Community Animal Medicine Project are teaming up every Monday for low-cost vaccine clinics. No appointments; the clinic is open to the first 60 pets. You don’t have to be a resident of Long Beach or LBACS’ contract cities (Signal Hill, Los Alamitos, or Cerritos) to participate. Please bring all past vaccine records. Dogs must be on leashes, and cats must be in carriers.
Clinics are held 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. on Mondays in LBACS’ parking lot, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, at the entrance to El Dorado Park (no parking fee for shelter visitors. For a list of prices, services and CAMP’s full clinic schedule, please click here.
Doodle Night, with cats
Every third Thursday of the month, Cool Cat Collective invites you to get your mind off the rest of the world and create, craft, and hang with cool cats. You bring the art supplies, and Cool Cat Collective will provide tables, chairs and cats! Bring your well-behaved kids. All proceeds are donated to rescue partner TippedEars, whose adoptable felines will be knocking your pencils to the floor and making off with your paintbrushes. Sign up here.
Doodle Night takes place 6 p.m.–8 p.m., Thursday, April 17 and all third Thursdays thereafter at Cool Cat Collective, 2741 E. 4th St. C, Long Beach, $15 per person.
A month of fundays for cat people!
Long Beach has two cat lounges, which is fitting for a pet-loving city like Long Beach! Feline Good Social Club has been shaking the kibble bag and emptying multiple litter boxes for about 40 adoptable rescued cats since 2019. As if the cats weren’t entertaining in their own right, FGSC offers sessions of several types so that you can enjoy yoga, sound baths, crocheting (yeah, how does that work!) and just bringing your lunch or coffee and some work and, as the staff and volunteers say, getting giddy with a kitty. Check out this link to see the sessions!
Feline Good Social Club is located at 301 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, open Thursday–Monday,11:00 a.m.–6 p.m. Prices of sessions vary. People ages 7–15 must have an accompanying adult; children under 7 years old will have to wait until their seventh birthday to join in.
Need a low-cost veterinarian, information about trapping community cats, places to volunteer, rescues and shelters to adopt from — anything pet related? Follow this link for resources. Please add your own ideas in the Comments section.
We need your support.
Subcribe to the Watchdog today.
The Long Beach Watchdog is owned by journalists, and paid for by readers like you. If independent, local reporting like the story you just read is important to you, support our work by becoming a subscriber.
