New low-cost veterinary clinic opens in Cal Heights

Long Beach is home to more resources for pets than Queen Elizabeth had corgis. CAMP LA offers low-cost spay/neuter (booking appointments can be a challenge because of demands) and runs a mobile vaccine clinic that visits Los Angeles County neighborhoods, including weekly stops at Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS). Singer John Legend and Street Vet Kwame Stewart teamed up with the Long Beach Multi-Services Center to create a food pantry for people experiencing homelessness or who have to choose between feeding their pets and themselves. LBACS’ voucher program takes a considerable nip out of what can be an unaffordable cost to spay or neuter a pet. Volunteers who practice TNVR (trap/neuter [and spay]/vaccinate/return) on unowned street and backyard cats who multiply like supercalculators also have access the vouchers if they live in LBACS’ service areas.

Speaking of community cats, two local nonprofit rescues — Helen Sanders CatPAWS and The Little Lion Foundation (LLF) — have their own free/very-low-cost spay/neuter services for them. They also have clinic days reserved for people who have their own cats struggle to pay spay/neuter costs, which can run up to $700 at a private veterinarian, depending on species, breed and weight of the pet.

Visits to the vet for medical care will put a crimp in the kibble budget, too.

“Many and most clinics charge at least $50 for an exam fee, and some charge much more,” Claudia Otis, LLF’s founder and CEO said. “It also varies from clinic to clinic what the cost of medication for various ailments are.”

Basic low-cost wellness clinics for services such as vaccines, flea treatments and dewormers are available in the United States, including Long Beach. LLF started one in early 2025. Many clients told the staff and volunteers that they dearly wished that affordable veterinary medical care were available for their pets. Otis took that as a call to action.

“After scouring various clinics, I realized even the clinics that are labeled low-cost are often still out of a lot of people's ability to pay,” she said.

In late 2025, LLF used research and resources to organize the Community Cat Clinic’s Low-Cost Vet Care service “for friendly cats only.” As far as cats go, “friendly” runs a gamut of behavior, but the idea, Otis said, is to make veterinary care affordable and available to cats living in the homes of their target clientele:  people in the lower-income brackets. The new clinic is funded through service fees and fundraising.

No one will be turned away, but people who can afford private vets should leave the appointments open for those who can’t.

“This is for the people who really cannot get care,” Otis said. “If we get bogged down with people who can afford a regular vet, then it’s not accessible for people who can’t.”

Otis said that fees are kept low by not adding mark-up charges for services and supplies.

“We’re not trying to get rich off this clinic,” she said. “Our goal is to help those who cannot get the help otherwise. Since we are a nonprofit, we can fundraise to help cover the cost of certain things, which helps us to keep the costs at a minimum.”

LLF selected the types of treatments that the clinic offers by considering their own resources and abilities.

“We decided that since we do not have an X-ray machine, we can only offer certain services,” Otis said. “But can do lab work, and we have in-house abilities for certain testing.”

The treatment doesn’t include specialized treatment such as surgery and cancer therapy. If further treatment is needed, Otis suggested fundraising on social media. The Peter Zippi Memorial Fund Inc. features a resource page that includes organizations that offer financial assistance. The link at the end of this article has a couple of resources as well.

Yes, that’s the sad part, but more clear eyes and wet noses will curl up on couches than would have without the clinic. LLF held the first clinic on Jan. 15 and had a huge response, Otis said.

“We have only done one clinic, and we are already booked for the next two clinics!” she said.

LLF is looking into offering low-cost dental and adding more days to hold clinics. Otis said that the more options people have to keep their pets healthy — cats, in this case — the better chance that people can keep them in their homes.

“We love cats and the people who love them,” Otis said. “Times are hard for people, and their cats don't get what they need. We want to change that if we can.”

The Little Lion Foundation clinic is located at 1175 E. Wardlow Rd., Long Beach. Access the website for hours, programs and contact information. Donate here to assist the clinics and other programs.

YOURS DROOLY

Tonight, Friday, Jan. 23, LLF is holding their Drag Bingo Fundraiser at the Altar Society Brewing Co., 228 Pine Ave., Long Beach — an appropriate place for a cat-rescue event if you insist on making puns. Because that’s what LLF does — not make puns, but alter cats. Community cats and owned cats all get spayed or neutered at low cost or no cost, and now, the rescue is offering low-cost veterinary care to the community, as described in the article. They also adopt out the cats and kittens that they’ve rescued. They need food and medical care, too. The funds from the event help pay for all this stuff. Not surprisingly, it’s sold out, but if you meow at the door, they might have a cancellation and a bowl of tuna for you.

Here are three little hopefuls waiting for some special person to fill their bingo cards. To adopt any of them, complete the adoption application on this page. You’ll be able to see all the other cats and kittens waiting to yell, “Bingo!”

Read what their fosters say:

“Meet Picasso, a brave and resilient boy who has survived more than most cats ever should. Picasso is a Palisades fire survivor from last year and was rescued from a severe hoarding situation, where he lived among more than 35 cats in unsafe and overwhelming conditions. Despite experiencing fear, loss and instability at such a young age, Picasso’s gentle spirit has endured. Understandably shy at first, Picasso has been learning what it means to feel safe. As trust builds, his sweet personality begins to shine — he especially enjoys being brushed and absolutely melts for butt pats and gentle scratches. These quiet moments are when you see just how much love he has to give. Picasso is looking for a calm, patient home where he can continue to heal and grow at his own pace. With time, consistency and kindness, he will reward his adopter with deep affection and a bond built on trust. Picasso has already proven his resilience—now he’s ready for the forever home he deserves.”

“Meet Eevee! Eevee’s journey hasn’t been easy — she was surrendered when her owner contracted a fatal disease, and the stress of change made her wary of new faces. But her foster mom saw a spark of sweetness in her and decided to give her a chance. Once in her foster home, Eevee quickly showed her playful side, pouncing on her fish toy and enjoying pets. Her favorite pastime is chasing the wand toy, performing adorable tumbles and rolls. If she gets overstimulated, she lets you know when she’s had enough — or wants food. Eevee’s also incredibly smart — she knows words like “treat time” and “food time”! She also isn’t shy about sharing her opinions with loud meows, especially if something doesn’t meet her royal standards! Eevee is looking for a calm home where she can reign as queen (no other cats, please!). Her ideal adopter would be someone with experience caring for cats who have big purrsonalities — someone who understands that a little sass can come with a lot of love. With patience, respect for her boundaries, and plenty of treats, Eevee will reward you with trust, playfulness, and her unique charm. Could you be the one to give Eevee her happily ever after?”

“Abbie is a friend to all and would be a great mentor for younger cats! She's kind and gentle to her cat friends and humans. She can often be found curled up in a fluffy donut bed or cuddling next to the nicer one of my resident cats or me. Abbie was living outside before she was rescued. She had a horrible abscess at the base of her tail, and it had to be amputated. Through all this, she remained sweet as could be! She does dribble and leak urine, and sometimes, she doesn't make it to the litterbox quite fast enough. She will need to be fed prescription urinary food for the rest of her life. During times of extreme stress, she may develop bloody urine. Stress can agitate her condition (FIC, or feline idiopathic cystitis), so it's best to keep a strict routine and to have stability in the household. Abbie loves watching YouTube shows and has become super-close with another foster: a husky doggo. She would do well with any size dog that's not overly excitable in the residence. Abbie is a wonderful cat just waiting for someone to give her a forever home filled with love and patience.”

Maddie’s a bonus, kinda. An LLF volunteer found her in a parking lot — she appeared to be dead. The veterinary staff was packing up to leave for the day, but they gave the kitty emergency treatment, and she responded. Maddie’s recovering nicely. She’s about 10 years old and sweet as pie. Why they didn’t name her Lazarus is beyond me, but who cares what she’s called. Maddie’s not quite ready for adoption, but she will be, and what a lovely way it’ll be to end a claw-biting story.

TAIL-WAGGING AND NOSE-BOOPING EVENTS

Love, Marisol art show at Cool Cat Collective

The coolest gallery cum boutique cum rescue anywhere is hosting a show that features Valentine art by Los Angeles-based artist Marisol Muro. Cool Cat Collective says this: “Marisol’s art is like stumbling down a rabbit hole into a vintage wonderland populated by cats, their frog besties and bountiful flowers all colored with the artist’s incredibly distinctive color palette. Marisol’s world is one filled with joy, whimsy, love, friendship, and endless playful wonder.” Enjoy the love, and show some to the resident cats at the Collective. Make it permanent by adopting one!

Love, Marisol opens Saturday, Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. at Cool Cat Collective, 2741 E. Fourth St., #C, Long Beach. Free admission.

21^st Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest

There’s gonna be dogs as far as the eye can see at Rosie’s Dog Beach, when dogs of all breeds and mixes thereof — bulldogs, too, of course — trot and prance and run up to compete in a dog’s dozen’ worth of contests! The Beautiful Bulldog Contest has been billed as one of the largest gatherings of English bulldogs in the world, but every dog is welcome! Pups will parade down the red carpet while all the Miss and Mrs. Long Beaches judge them.

Register here to enter your best bud in contests like Best Small Dog, Best Large Dog, Best Senior Dog, Best Adopted/Rescued Dog (my favorite), and, of course, Best Bulldog and Best Frenchie. A Best in Show category will include a huge prize for the judges’ choice. Funds raised will benefit nonprofits Community Action Team and Haute Dogs as well as animal-welfare causes.

The Beautiful Bulldog Contest and the other competitions take place Sunday, Feb. 15, 9 a. m.–noon, at the concrete boat launch ramp at 1 Granada Ave., Long Beach, near at Rosie's Dog Beach. $10 online or $20 at the event; free to spectate.

Book a session at the Feline Good Social Club

No matter what you like to do — crochet, craft a bracelet, do yoga poses, take a sound bath — you’ll find it here, along with sociable, adoptable kitties who’ll get in your way in the best way possible. Book an hour with the cats — you’re sure to return!

Feline Good Social Club is located at 301 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach

Need a low-cost veterinarian, information about trapping community cats, places to volunteer, pet food, veterinary assistance, rescues and shelters to adopt from — anything pet related? Follow this link for resources. Please add your own ideas in the Comments section.