Scratch this: Meet the pets and their grateful humans at the new pet food pantry!

Last Friday, July 12, 40 pets and 22 of their human family members took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new pet food pantry. The pantry, located at the Long Beach Multi-Service Center, will help people feed and care for the animals who love and protect them and who may be their only friends. Read Alicia Robinson’s Long Beach Watchdog article for a full account of the pet food pantry event.

“The pantry is entirely funded by donations,” said Jennifer Rice Epstein, the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services public affairs officer. “Project Street Vet has provided the actual pantry itself, and they have committed to keeping it stocked with food. We also take donations — we have drive-thrus where you can bring food and treats and leashes. Kismet has donated 2,500 pounds of dog food to get started, and Project Street Vet has committed to keeping it filled.”

Project Street Vet is a nonprofit public charity that provides free veterinary care, treatment and support to the pets of unhoused individuals and people who are at-risk of becoming unhoused. The charity was founded in Los Angeles and now has branches in Georgia, Florida and other California cities.

Long Beach resident Diana Geosano had read a story about Project Street Vet’s founder, Dr. Kwane Stewart, receiving the 2023 CNN Hero of the Year award. She contacted the charity to do outreach in Long Beach. A successful event in July 2023 at the Multi-Service Center led to more in December of that year, and Project Street Vet is now one of the 10 communities that Project Street Vet serves. Geosano has been named Project Street Vet Long Beach Ambassador!

The pet food pantry is a combined charitable effort of Project Street Vet and Grammy Award-winning musician John Legend. Legend and his wife, Chrissy Teigen, recently launched their Kismet brand of high-quality dog food. A percentage of retail sales goes to Project Street Vet and other charities.

The pantry’s installation at the Multi-Service Center gives unhoused people an immediate resource for pet food. They can drop in to the Multi-Service Center during its hours of operation to access the pantry.

Legend was at the ceremony along with Stewart, who is also Kismet’s chief veterinary officer.

“Cat food, too, right?” I asked Legend.

“Not yet!” he replied.

But Geosano and her troop of volunteers had cat food all bagged up and ready to hand out, along with leashes, toys, informational brochures and other goodies. Pets and their humans lined up at the vet table for exams, vaccines, and other veterinary services from Dr. Kwane and his staff. Those who wanted their pet spayed or neutered were referred to low-cost vets, with Project Street Vet paying for the services. Sometimes, Dr. Kwane suggests the service to his patients, with no lecture attached.

“It’s a message that a lot of them haven’t heard before, so it’s a delicate conversation in some cases,” he said. “I let them know that for overpopulation, and for the work that I’m doing, it’s ever so important. I don’t want them to feel that they’re forced to do it, but I give them all the information so they can make the best choice, which, in my opinion, is always spay/neuter.”

Pets seem to make their humans comfortable enough to tell their stories. Here are a few of them.

Visit this link to volunteer for Project Street Vet. Donations and other forms of support are accepted here.

Information about donations to the Multi-Service Center and support for the residents  is available here. Donations can also be dropped off at all public library locations during operating hours; the Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach, 3635 Long Beach Blvd., weekdays, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; and Scherer Park Community Center, 4654 Pasadena Ave., weekdays, 3 p.m.–6 p.m.

Yours drooly

Time to give more than hope to our dogs at Long Beach Animal Care Services, many of whom have been in kennels for almost a year. Make our shelter your first stop for a dog, cat, rabbit or whatever came in. Long Beach has made great steps toward being the best shelter anywhere, with the greatest volunteers and staff. The next step is a human taking a pet home from a confining kennel. Please adopt, don’t shop.

Speed the process to adopt or foster any LBACS pet by emailing PetAdopt@longbeach.gov or petfoster@longbeach.gov. You can also call (562) 570-4925. 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).

Yet again, it’s Showtime, folks (ID#A702831). He’s been at LBACS since last July, and someone needs to change the channel for him. Showtime lives up to his name — he knows sit and fetch, plays tug-of-war, and rests with the hoomins on the shelter bench. He’s also extremely high energy — he’s the guy at the party who has to be the life of it. He’s a 2-year-old border collie mix, so whaddya want? He was adopted once, but he drove the other dogs in the home nutty. He did, however, get on great with the kids and even figured out how to use the trampoline. In today’s world, we need some solid entertainment. So does Showtime.

Gumbo (ID#A705236) has been twiddling his nonexistent opposable thumbs at the shelter since last August. He came in as a stray with severe skin issues, but that’s been long cleared up. In fact, he’s so comfy that he allows the volunteers to dress him as a leprechaun or Santa Claus or whatever the occasion calls for. He's also the blueprint for the family dog—he loves to play fetch and obey commands, especially if there’s a treat to be had. He loves his toys to their literal death, but he’ll love his humans for life. He’s only 3 years old and deserves many more years in a loving home.

Gallant (ID#A717488) is a 2-year-old puppy in an adult’s body. Everything interests Gallant: lizards, squirrels, other dogs. His attitude brings out the puppy in the adult volunteers — walks are always adventures. Gallant was found as a stray, wearing a harness and a leash. He might have bounded away from his human on a walk, but no one came to claim him. He needs a forever person at the other end of that leash.

Tail-waggin’ and nose-boopin’ events

Dog Yoga and Fun

First it’s cats, then goats, and now dogs! Come to Signal Hill Park for a free “doga” session! All dogs welcome, but they must be on a maximum 6-foot leash and compatible with other dogs. Bring a yoga mat. For 18 years and older (that’s humans, of course).

Dog Yoga and Fun takes place July 27 from 10 a.m.–11 a.m. at Signal Hill Park, 2175 Cherry Ave., Signal Hill.

LBACS and CAMP low-cost vaccine and microchip clinics

Our city shelter, Long Beach Animal Care Services, has teamed up with CAMP (Community Animal Medicine Project) to bring weekly affordable vaccine clinics to pet parents. Visit CAMP’s website for a full list of vaccines and wellness treatments offered at each clinic. The shots include rabies inoculations, a requirement for all dogs and cats four months or older as stated in Long Beach Municipal Code 6.12.110. The clinics also offer microchips, which are essential for identification if your pet should run off or become lost, particularly during the July 4 season. Clinics open to the first 60 pets, no appointment necessary. All are welcome, whether you’re within or outside of the shelter’s contract cities. Remember to have your dog on a strong leash and your cat in a carrier, and please bring your pet’s vaccine records.

Access this link for dates, locations and times for LBACS clinics. No clinics Labor Day, Sept. 2. Additional clinics will take place at one of the city’s contract cities, Signal Hill, at the Signal Hill Public Library parking lot, 1800 E. Hill St., Signal Hill, on the following dates and times:

·         Friday, July 19, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

·         Saturday, August 17, 8 a.m.–noon 

Life Is Better with a Bulldog calendar contest

Enter that lovely, drooling face to be Southern California Bulldog Rescue’s cover grrrrl or goo’ boy! Winners can also take home prizes like harnesses and gift cards. You can purchase a special day for your doggie, too — not that anyone could forget a face like that anyway! All proceeds to toward the dogs in the rescue who’ve been given up or abandoned and are hoping for a forever home.

Entries accepted until Tuesday, July 30. Rules and information available here.

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