New Year's resolutions for pet roommates

Us animal people can be tedious busybodies, but we mean well. You may have — heck, you undoubtedly have — told them, or wish you had the nerve to tell them — a couple of things about what they need to do for their pets.

On that note, I asked shelter and rescue volunteers, animal professionals and the community at large to weigh in with New Year's resolutions. If any hit home for anyone you know, have them change them to first person and insert “I resolve to …”

Melanie “Dr. Wags” Wagner, manager at Long Beach Animal Care Services: Resolve to help just one animal in your community that isn't yours — rescue, shelter, foster, adopt, donate.

Resident Stephanie W. wrote: Give your kitties enrichment and sunshine. [Stephanie herself plans to play it safe for her own cats and resolves to build them a catio.]

Liz C. said: Remember, dogs are pack animals, and it breaks their spirit if you go to work and leave them home alone. Please, day-board. [Note: pet-sitters are also great for walkies and playtime.]

Kelly Lopes, Helen Sanders CatPAWS board member and creator of the Wrigley Kittens community Facebook page, suggests two: First, resolve to have on hand one or two specific resources, e.g., the name of a low-cost pet clinic that accepts city vouchers and a link to their website to easily share on social media. [Note: a link to a few of them is at the end of the column.] Second, if a dog or cat is found: have the animal scanned for a microchip if possible. Network for a temporary foster to hold the animal while attempts are made to locate the owner.

Resident Amy Y. came up with two good ones: Don't make decisions about how to proceed with treatment of an injured or ill stray cat or dog based solely on posts on social media sites without conducting additional research; if you care about the quality of your pet's life, care equally about its effect on neighbors, such as with barking.

Resident Paty B. advised: Don’t leave your cats and small dogs in your backyard. They may become coyote food.

Feline Good Social Club said: Be kind — pick up your dog's poop! Debbie Fawcett, event planner extraordinaire for Helen Sanders CatPAWS, echoed: Pick up the dog's poop from the neighbor's yard before they step in it when they water.

Ewa E., TNR cat volunteer extraordinaire, offered a sad truth for clowder caregivers: Don’t make calls for trapping cats that are beyond help and need to be euthanized immediately to end their misery. Some people wait for a miracle instead of helping when they notice a cat injured beyond help or declining. Ewa also had a resolution for herself, which takes a lot of self-control: I’ll try to not get upset with the ignorance of people not sterilizing their animals.

Resident Susiy R. said: Put a collar with info on your pet, and chip your pet so they can get home to you quickly. Also, the finder can call them by their name while waiting for you, making things a little less stressful for the pet.

Cat lover Rita S. tersely barked in all caps: SPAY/NEUTER! Matt Carr from Cool Cat Collective added: That’s the best way to help animals amidst this overpopulation crisis.

Resident Susan Horesji said: 1. Don't give pets as presents. 2. Keep your pets safe, vaxed and chipped. 3. If you MUST rehome them, charge a fee, or even better, work with a rescue.

CatPAWS cofounder Deborah Felin-Magaldi advised: Make a plan as to who will care for your pet(s) in the event of incapacity or death. Put it in writing, get agreement from designated parties and provide adequate funds for lifetime care.

Courtney Campbell, DVM, owner and head doc at Stitches Veterinary Surgery, has what amounts to a syllabus for the pet roommate:

• “Emergency preparedness”: Create a comprehensive emergency first-aid kit for your pet. Include essentials like bandages, antiseptic wipes, tweezers and any medications your pet may need. Regularly check and update the kit.
• "Surgery Savvy": Educate yourself about common surgical procedures your pet might face. Take the time to learn about the pre- and post-operative care required so you can be the best advocate for your furry friend during their recovery.
• "Paw-sitive Playtime": Dedicate at least 10 minutes each day to engage in interactive play with your pet. Whether it's fetch, tug-of-war, or a fun new toy, make it a daily ritual to strengthen your bond!
• "The Great Adventure": Plan at least one new outdoor adventure each month, whether it’s a hike, a trip to the beach or exploring a new park. Discovering new places together will create lasting memories! [I don’t know about the cat, but the dog will adore this!]
• "Grooming Guru": Set a monthly grooming day to pamper your pet. Not only will it keep them looking their best but it’s also an excellent opportunity for bonding and checking for any health issues.

YOURS DROOLY

Here are my resolution suggestions: 1. Don’t flush used cat litter down the commode; 2. If you want a pet, please go to a shelter or a rescue. Don’t buy online, from a backyard breeder, or a flyer posted in the street.

Nonprofit animal rescue Sparky and the Gang has volumes of backstory about the nastiness of irresponsible animal breeding. In November, eight dogs were dumped in different locations around the Inland Empire. Each animal had pounds of fur matted to their little bodies — it was so painful for the dogs to shave the fur off that shelter staff had to sedate them. Because of the similarity of the dogs’ size and condition, shelter staff believed that they came from the same source.

Sparky and the Gang took in one of the dogs, whom they named Peaches. You’ll meet her in the adoption section. The rescue is offering a $1,000 reward to find the person or persons who did this heartless, nasty thing.

Louise, Sherri Stankewitz’s rescue partner at Sparky and the Gang and Fix Long Beach, sent me photos of dogs who need to go home. The dogs don’t bite, but Louise does, as you’ll read in her resolutions. Few could have said them better. Louise has earned her snark stripes through many years of dealing with abused dogs.

“If I could grant a new year’s resolution to the [expletive deleted] who spun this little dog around by his leg and broke it, I would hope that he get some psychiatric help. Macaroni Mac now has a plate in his leg, and the abuser was charged with animal cruelty. Thankfully, Mac is loving and sweet — hand shy, of course, but we’ll do all we can to find him a forever home. He is a year or so old and is fully vetted, good with other dogs and a little sweetheart.”

“Resolution number 2 is that this backyard breeder will find another career. We call this dog Peaches, and she is gentle and sweet, loves attention, and just needs some TLC. We shaved her down, and our very own Sherri Stankewitz did the best she could with the matted, painful dreads on her.”

Meet Cannelloni and Tortellini “If you are breeding doodles or anything else, please STOP! There is absolutely no reason to breed — our little group alone currently has two purebred English bulldogs; two huskies; three doodles; one Pomeranian; Tibetans, Maltese, French bulldogs galore — we hardly ever get ‘mutts’! Rescues continue to attempt to clean up after backyard breeders, breeders who deem themselves ‘respectful,’ and the people that do not spay and neuter.” I can’t tell which pasta is which, but you can request a meet-and-greet.

Louise told me that many people in rescue are making resolutions to leave the rescue world.

“They are struggling with broken hearts and finances,” she said.

If you can manage it, make a resolution to give a tax-deductible donation to a rescue or a shelter. If you have the time and energy, resolve to volunteer. It seems to be a losing battle for animals and the ones who love them, but the more involved the community, the better the situations for animals will get. That goes for everything, of course.

TAIL-WAGGIN' AND NOSE-BOOPIN' EVENTS

Ring in the new year with a new fur friend!

Meet the Sparky and the Gang dauntless volunteers and the good doggies this Sunday with their wonderful volunteers at the Marina Pacifica Mall. Take your new buddy home, and spend New Year’s Eve on the sofa watching the ball drop and New Year’s Day snuggling in the sack with a warm, waggy pal!

Marina Pacifica Mall is located at 6346 Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach. Sparky and the Gang will be there between Ralphs and Club Studios on Sunday, Dec. 29, 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Long Beach TNR and Community Cat Coalition January meeting

Do you conduct TNR (trap/spay-neuter-vaccinate-microchip-release of stray cats) with a passion and want to share resources with and get support from an equally engaged community? Are momcats having kittens in your neighborhood, and are dadcats yowling at them to make more? Are you on your last shred of yarn trying to figure out what you can do? Get some answers at this grassroots meeting, the first in Long Beach to focus on combining forces to humanely stop the birthing of unwanted kittens in the urban wild. Includes demonstrations from rescues, experienced trappers, and LBACS cat coordinator Lindsie Merrick.

The Coalition meeting takes place Saturday, Jan. 4, 10 a.m.–noon (approximately) at the Education Center at Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, at the entrance to El Dorado Park. No parking fee for shelter guests.

Low-Cost Vaccine Clinics at Long Beach Animal Care Services

Make a new year’s resolution to keep your pet healthy! Veterinary visits can be expensive, so Long Beach Animal Care Services and Community Animal Medicine Project (CAMP) have teamed up to provide humans and their furry companions with low-cost vaccines. Anyone, regardless of whether you live in Long Beach, is welcome. No appointment is necessary, but get there early because the clinic is open to the first 60 pets. All dogs must be on a leash, and all cats must be in carriers. Please bring your pet’s previous vaccine records. Price list and types of vaccines are available here.

The low-cost vaccine clinics take place Mondays and alternate Fridays, 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St. (at entrance to El Dorado Park), Long Beach. No parking fee for shelter visitors. The full calendar for clinics is available here.

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.