Scratch This: Pets are family, too

Politics have really been affecting animals and humans. SNAP payments may be resuming, but in varying degrees of speed and completion, and who knows what else will happen to stop them again. And the promise to revisit negotiate health care premiums for millions of citizens? Promises, promises. A considerable number of the U.S. population, along with their pets, are likely to be both hungry and sick.

“As millions of Americans are impacted by SNAP benefits changes, many may be concerned about their ability to care for their pets as well as human family members,” said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society.

One of the reasons for abandoning pets or relinquishing them to shelters is the inability to afford food or veterinary care, even the low-cost kind. Some people in fact go hungry in order to feed their animals.

“We do know a lot of people will feed their pets before themselves,” Kristin Peek was quoted in a recent article as saying. Peek is spokesperson for Humane World for Animals (HWA), formerly Humane Society of the United States.

The article cited an estimated 20 million pets living in poverty with their families. SNAP benefits don’t cover pet food, so humans share their people food with their pets.

For many if not most of us, pets are family no matter the financial situation. Just as charity organizations are upping the effort to encourage donations for food, pet organizations and individual businesses are doing the same for furry family members. Long Beach Watchdog reporter Brandon Richardson included several resources in his article about SNAP benefits; several of them offer pet food as well as human food.

Here’s a list of food resources in and near Long Beach for people who need them. Some focus on pets only; others mainly help humans but occasionally have pet food. I wish I’d put this together a couple of weeks ago, but they’re going to be useful for a long time, sadly. Thanks go to the volunteers and donors who know what community and family mean.

• Animal Assistance League of Orange County Fill out the online form.
• Best Friends Access the link for resources for food and medical help in California.
• Christian Outreach in Action. Provides food for both humans and pets. Located in Long Beach.
• Food Finders The charity sends any pet food donated to partner agencies. Good for donations.
• Long Beach Community Table Provides food for humans in several locations and has pet food when available to them
• LA Regional Food Bank Provides an aggregate of food banks throughout California. Access the link to locate the banks in your area. It’s touch-and-go, but depending on donations, pet food is available
• Orange County Animal Allies No Empty Bowls program Call the number on the link.
• Pools of Hope Accepts pet food donations and gives them out when they have them.
• Rescue Train Pet pantry serves families with pets in the Los Angeles area.

For emergency resources in Los Angeles County, dial 211 for a multilingual directory.

The listing will go into the resource link at the end of the article. Please add any pet food resources not listed to the comments section, and they’ll be added to the link.

YOURS DROOLY

“It's concerningly ironic how many senior dogs have entered the shelter since the start of November, which is #AdoptASeniorPetMonth,” said a Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) staff member. “The shelter is the last place an elderly dog should be.”

Or cat, either. In honor of Adopt a Senior Pet Month, we’re announcing a shelter senior special. All these pets are entering their sunset years. The sun shouldn’t set on these guys for many years to come if they’re enjoying loving care and comfort! Please, please — if you’re looking for a pet, make LBACS or another municipal shelter your first stop. To adopt or foster any pet, email 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).

Toby or not Toby? We say Toby! Toby (ID#A749897) is a handsome brown tabby who happens to be blind. But sightlessness is not a drawback for him. He can find his food and litter box, of course, but what’s impressive about the fellow is his ability to sense wherever you are, even if you aren’t making a sound. It’s possible that Toby isn’t completely blind or that his other senses are heightened and he can hear things imperceptible to humans — a patient human will get him used to the lay of the land and enjoy his sweet company!

Dobby (ID#A752160) is a 7-year-old American bulldog/boxer mix who was picked up by animal control officers along with another dog for temporary safekeeping after their owner suffered an accident in the home and was hospitalized. Family members were able to take one dog, and poor little Dobby has been left shaking in his kennel with nervousness and wondering why he isn't home. Dobby presents himself like a shy, quiet ,gentle soul who doesn't want any trouble and prefers spending time in a quiet environment — the opposite of what you'll find at an overcrowded shelter. He’ll likely get along just fine with any low-to-medium-energy family as a solo guy or a new pack member.

Here's Stevie (ID#A751881) in all his autumnal glory and his snow-dusted muzzle. Stevie is an incredibly sweet, laid-back female senior cattle dog/German shepherd mix, about 10 to 12 years old. She was picked up by Animal Control Officers at the start of November, abandoned and alone. Sadly, no one has come to claim her or even ask about her, and with so many younger dogs coming in at a fraction of her age, she stands little chance of finding her way out of the shelter through adoption. Stevie needs our help to find a home or a rescue. In November, or any month, consider making a home for an older furry pet. during Adopt a Senior Pet Month.

TAIL-WAGGIN' AND NOSE-BOOPIN' EVENTS

Shop Small-iday festival benefit for The Little Lion Foundation

Shop small and support local businesses, artists and crafters for great gifts and ethically sourced global goods, and support cat rescue at the same time! The Little Lion Foundation presents a free, fun holiday-themed event with caroling karaoke, the Miss Purrfect Pinup Pageant hosted by Show Me Your Kitties Cabaret, an artisan food court, wine and beer, and raffles! Part of the sales will benefit the little lions at the rescue!

Shop Small-iday takes place Saturday, Nov. 22, noon–5 p.m. on the third floor of Sports Basement, 2100 N. Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach

Community Cat TNVR Coalition meeting

Here’s a stat for you: in seven years, one female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats. And 26 cats, give or take repetitions of male fertilization? The eyes cross, and Bastet only knows what kinds of lives they’ll have.

Just recently, volunteer trappers helped community members in North Long Beach get an entire community sterilized at Helen Sanders CatPAWS. Trapper King John Crouch led the effort to educate people on the literal ins and outs of TNVR — into the traps, out after they’ve stayed overnight and then been fixed and vaxxed and brought back to whence they came. Stray cat numbers in Long Beach are declining, thanks to these efforts, and you can join them! Come to the Community Cat TNVR Coalition meeting and learn how you can help trap, transport or share resources.

The Community Cat TNVR Coalition takes place Sunday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, at the entrance to El Dorado Park. No parking fees for shelter guests.

Programs for community cat TNVR education and certification

TNVR is the latest initialism for trapping, spaying or neutering, vaccinating and returning community cats to whence they came. Long Beach is making great leaps and pounces in the effort to make sure that our stray and abandoned kitties will go forth and breed no more in a concerted effort by our shelter at Long Beach Animal Care Services, rescues, volunteer trappers and just plain folks like you who organize, share resources and learn to trap. One of them is John Crouch, who is one of Long Beach’s biggest TNVR advocate and educator. He recommends the Community Cats Podcasts for anyone who wants to learn how to trap and take part in a certified program. Access this link for a wealth of information.

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.