Scratch This: And away they go — wherever they want to!

This Saturday, the running of the wiener dogs will see over 100 dachshunds competing for a championship prize and the adoration of a grandstand packed with fans. The 28^th Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals will return to the Los Alamitos Race Track for a much-needed evening of whimsey and silliness as dachshunds at various stages of coordination, training and bewilderment perk up their ears at the sounds of their humans’ voices and favorite squeaky toys.

It's truly awwwwww-inspiring. And Evelyn Avila and Bryan Gateley, both from Long Beach, do have a dog in this race — or rather, two dogs. Veteran racer Dash, a black-and-blue longhair dapple, and his little “brudder,” Dunkin, a mini-English cream longhair, will participate in several of the 15 races at the track.

Dachshunds and their humans get a taste of the races at the practice meets. “It’s a typical race — some are gonna go, some are gonna stop,” Orlando Gutierrez, Los Alamitos’ marketing and publicity director, told the participants’ people.

The Wienerschnitzel Nationals are a huge annual event. Dachshunds of all ages, sizes and flavors come together to race for the championship prize — a Fastest Wiener in the West trophy, a check for $1,000 and a doghouse in the shape of a Wienerschnitzel restaurant.

All proceeds from the event help pay the medical bills, room and board at the volunteer-run Seal Beach Animal Care Center.

Contestants include dachshunds from Seal Beach, Cypress, Los Alamitos, Hollywood, Huntington Beach and all throughout Southern California, including 10 Long Beach longsters. The races themselves comprise 50-yard dashes on the dirt; most of the races are straightforward trials, but some spicy relish is added with the Diaper Dash for dogs under a year old and the Long in the Tail Race for “seniors” 6 years old and over. The Championship Race includes winner wieners from each trial; the winner of that race wins the grand prize.

Seal Beach racer Sisi, age 14, is the oldest competitor at the event. She’ll trot in the Long in the Tail Race, said her human Kiley Majeski, seen here with partner Jason Ghareebo. Sisi is in her third year and is the event’s official Ambassadog.

Majeski rescued her when she was surrendered at nearly 9 years old and staying in an animal hospital. Now, she’s having a great time with her real family. “She’s struggling a little this year, but we expect her to finish,” Majeski said.

Gateley’s first impression of the Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals was disbelief.

“My friend said that this is the biggest event at the race track every year, and I’m thinking, no, way, It’s just some dog thing!” he said. “And then, I get out on the track, and I look up at the stand, and I see the place just literally has not even any standing room. I was so impressed with how well the event was put together, how big it is, and just seeing all the different flavors of dachshunds.”

Dash entered the event as a puppy and had a typical run the first year. The second year, he proved himself a closer.

“He was a little lost during the Diaper Dash,” Gateley said. “Then, in the second year, he got off to a late start, but he actually caught up to the pack and got second place, after the pack was halfway along the track. As long as he gets out of the gate, he’ll probably do well.”

Dash and Dunkin’ follow a strict training regimen during racing season — actually, it sounds delightful! The dogs’ training diet consists of a high-protein combination of beef and protein, certainly with occasional bits of Snackin’ Bacon. Training sessions incorporate creativity.

 “We’ve been training Dash with me holding him, and he has to find Bryan,” Avila said. “With Dunkin, we’ll use toys because he gets attached to certain toys. You hold up something big and bright for him to see.

“And we may have to bring along some Snackin’ Bacon!” she added with a smile.

The second year that Dash was in the Nationals, Avila’s dad built him a race box — a smaller version of the one used in the Wiener Nationals races.

Like every dog at the Wienerschnitzel Nationals, Dash and Dunkin’ are first and foremost family members, not racing dogs. They have a wonderful home life.

“Dash is a homebody — he loves to stay home and play in his backyard,” Avila said.

“Dash is all about vibes,” Gateley said. “Dunkin’s always up to something with his brother—he takes his bones, hides one of his toys. They battle like gladiators—we call the bedroom the Colosseum.”

Each human at the Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals hopes their own little buddy will emerge as the Fastest Wiener in the West. But they go mainly for family fun.

 “That’s all there is to it — that’s why we come,” one entrant’s person said.

The 28^th annual Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals will take place Saturday, July 12, at Los Alamitos Race Track, 4961 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos. Event opens at 4:30 p.m.; the first race, the first of two qualifiers, starts at 6:00 p.m. General admission tickets on the day of the event are $3 each; humans 17 and under get in free. VIP seating to enjoy the event is available by calling 714-820-2681. Free general parking. For more information, follow this link or call 714-820-2690.

YOURS DROOLY

As the Los Alamitos Race Track’s biggest annual event, the Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals brings in a huge pot of money. No betting is placed, though — the cash all goes to Seal Beach Animal Care Center (SBACC), the volunteer-run shelter where all cats and dogs get to live until they go home!

“Proceeds from the Wiener Nationals will go towards the ongoing costs of dogs like Athena and Azalea, and the many cats and kittens that we have rescued from dangerous situations," board member Chris Miller said.

Those dogs and cats are the real winners of the Nationals, especially when they get to go home forever with someone like you! SBACC is located at 1700 Adolfo Lopez Drive, Seal Beach. To adopt any of the resident pets, follow these instructions. SBACC’s loving staff and volunteers will tell you about Athena and Azalea and their kitty colleague, Lyon.

Our neediest medical case on the dog side is our adorable little meatball, Athena. The money raised at the Wiener National, in support of our shelter will make a world of difference for her. Athena came to us in rough shape — she was thrown out of a car and taken in by an unhoused woman, who brought her to us. We had to address Athena’s skin issues and eyes and get her spayed. Then, bigger issues surfaced. She’s now under the care of an internal medicine specialist for her inflammatory bowel disease, which is managed with a special diet and medication. This past week, she had to have knee surgery to correct a grade 4 luxating patella, which was causing her pain and putting her at risk for a worse injury if she tore a ligament. Yet she’s so full of personality and love and is worth every single penny! We will continue to take the best care of her until she finally finds a forever home of her own, where we know she’ll thrive!

Meet Azalea, a 10-year-old lab mix who was dumped by her owner at a grooming facility. Her skin and ears were a mess of infections, and it’s taken quite some time to get her clear of them. Azalea was finally healthy enough for us to spay her and remove some masses, which were sent out for a biopsy. When her vet performed the spay, they found a litter of deceased puppies still inside her, which confirmed our suspicions that Azalea had been overbred her whole life. Azalea is much happier now! This girl has lots of friends and feels better than ever. She has learned how to play with toys and finally can just be a dog! Never too old for a fresh start!

Meet Lyon, our FIP survivor. He was about 4 months old when he came to SBACC. He was in critical condition, dehydrated, malnourished and not very responsive. He couldn’t sit, stand or eat, and his pupils were dilated. He probably would have died in another few days. He was immediately sent to the vet, was hospitalized, and had tons of tests that ruled out lots of different disorders. It was finally concluded that he had FIP, which not too long ago was a death sentence. It’s now treatable and curable thanks to a new antiviral medication, which Lyon was started on. In a few days, he started to get better. It took 84 days of daily medication — Lyon continued to gain weight and get better. He was soon looking and acting like a normal kitty! He’s finished his meds and has completed an additional 84-day period of observation. He’s now considered cured and is a playful, friendly and affectionate young cat who is ready to find a forever home. Whoever adopts Lyon will need to take him for yearly checkups. If you come meet him, we bet you’ll fall in love with him!

TAIL-WAGGIN' AND NOSE-BOOPIN' EVENTS

Film showing: ‘25 Cats from Qatar’ at Art Theatre of Long Beach

The producers of “Cat Daddies” presents a new film, “25 Cats from Qatar,” about a Milwaukee cat café owner’s unsanctioned mission to rescue 25 cats from the little-known cat crisis in Qatar. Tickets are $15; sales benefit The Little Lion Foundation. Ticket price includes giveaways; a meetup with the filmmakers and the rescuer herself, Katy McHugh; and a reception party at Cool Cat Collective, where you can cuddle kittens after your emotions get stoked from watching the film. Cat-rescue influencer Sterling the Trap King will host the film, and the audience will be every cat person who can make it. Access this link to find out more about the film — even the trailer will tug at your heart like a cat after your knitting.

Screening takes place Saturday, July 12, 2:45 p.m. at the Art Theater in Long Beach, 2025 E Fourth St., Long Beach. The after-party reception will be held at 5 p.m. at Cool Cat Collective, 2741 E Fourth St., C, Long Beach. Purchase tickets here.

Frost Fund’s Sweat to Protect event

Frost Fund, the little nonprofit that could and does provide support to shelter dogs, will host another of their Sweat to Protect workout fundraisers. A few of our Long Beach Animal Care Services pups and their doting volunteers will showcase themselves, and you can adopt or foster any of them (the dogs, of course, and not the volunteers). This Sweat to Protect event will take place in an Orange County park.

Sweat to Protect takes place Saturday, July 19, 9 a.m.–11 a.m. at Grijalva Park, 368 N. Prospect St., Orange, donation based

Benny’s Birthday and Love Your Pet Party

Benny the Cat is turning 8 years old this year, and that’s reason to celebrate! After the abuse he received at just a few months old, at the hands of a heartless owner, it was doubtful that he’d see even his first birthday. But his now-mom Bev, the staff at the shelter, and Helen Sanders CatPAWS provided the care he needed, and he made it. Read his story here.

To celebrate Benny and all the little lives he’s had an impact on, CatPAWS throws a party for him every year! Read the little flyer above for information, including ticket sales, and join Helen Sanders CatPAWS for fun, games, prizes and celebrating Benny’s survival of abuse and leading his best life!

Benny’s Birthday takes place Saturday, Aug. 23, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at Seal Beach Marina Community Center, 151 Marina Dr., Seal Beach. See flyer and visit this link for all information.

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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.