The Fourth is upon us, so get your pet microchipped

The Fourth of July is generally a day of partying and celebrating for people, but for pets, it can be dog-awful. The bedlam can go on for them for days before the holiday.

“July 5th is the busiest day of the year for animal shelters, which fill up quickly with animals who panic and flee the bright lights and loud noises of holiday celebrations,” reads a statement on the website of the Michelson Found Animals Foundation (MFA).

Fireworks noise wreaks bedlam weeks and even months before the actual holiday, sending anxiety levels through the roof for military veterans with PTSD, waking up babies, and scaring the crap out of pets.

For some reason this year, there haven’t seemed to be as many loud explosions where we live or as many complaints about them. But it’s by no means as quiet as a church, and even one pop can send a dog running. Setting off your own fireworks is illegal in some jurisdictions, including Long Beach, but despite the yearly reminders by Long Beach city officials, some fools can’t seem to help themselves. So, it’s up to us to protect our pets.

MFA has helped people do that for years. Dr. Gary K. Michelson, a Southern California orthopedic spinal surgeon, was troubled by the number of pets who got lost during disasters and noisy celebrations. In 2005, he launched the first free microchip registry and subsequently founded MFA.

“Hurricane Katrina was the catalyst,” said Jana Brennan, program manager for MFA’s Spay-and-Neuter Initiative. “He heard so many stories of pets getting separated from their humans, so he wanted to offer a free microchip registry for owners so that they could be reunited with their pet families.”

MFA has since branched out to include projects and events that directly benefit communities in need of resources. The Better Neighbor Project distributes free pet food to people that may have trouble feeding the entire family, pet owners and trap/neuter/return (TNR) volunteers benefit from the Spay and Neuter Initiative, and the Pet Inclusive Housing Initiative focuses on helping renters keep their pets with them.

This year, MFA donated more than 2,000 microchips across Los Angeles and Long Beach before July 4, the time of year when most pets get lost. The donations included 400 chips each for Paws for Life K9 Rescue’s Free Microchip Day and for The Little Lion Foundation’s free microchipping event in Long Beach. Both events took place in late June.

“Microchips dramatically boost the odds of lost pets being reunited with their families,” an MFA blog post reads. “At a time when LA’s animal shelters are already stretched past their limits, keeping pets and families together is a vital part of the solution. … While we celebrate this summer, let’s also make space to care for the furry family members who depend on us to keep them safe.”

Microchips will greatly increase the chances of a safe return for pets — 52% for dogs and 38% for cats, some statistics report. If your pet hasn’t received a microchip yet and you missed the free events, Brennan suggested visiting your pet’s veterinarian to get one implanted. Low-cost options are available in clinics such as Fix Long Beach and through CAMP’s mobile clinic, which sets up in various locations in Los Angeles County. The clinic visits Long Beach Animal Care Services on Mondays and at occasional times during the week. For times check the mobile clinic’s schedule.

The most important thing to remember about microchips, Brennan said, is that you need to register them online with their individual service as soon as your pet receives theirs. Registration instructions are included with the chip. If you misplaced yours, contact the clinic that implanted it. The microchip won’t work without registration!

MFA’s blog shares several ways to keep your pet safe during this holiday, including microchipping. Even if no one’s setting off illegal fireworks where you live, a blast from the legally sanctioned displays can cause pet panic. And for pet’s sake, don’t take the dog with you to watch fireworks on the beach.

Have a safe Fourth!

If you live in Long Beach and know where people are setting off illegal fireworks, call the Long Beach Police Department at 562-435-6711 and fill out a report here.

YOURS DROOLY

“Cats are always microchipped as part of their fully vetted status when they come into the lounge,” said Mikki Raye, business manager of Feline Good Social Club in Downtown Long Beach.

Us cat people are lucky to have two cat meetups in Long Beach, each unique in character. Feline Good Social Club has cats running everywhere, whether you’re doing yoga at one of their group sessions and find yourself downward facing cats, attending a Crochet with Cats session and dividing your attention between creating something with yarn and stopping a cat from using the yarn for their own purr-pusses, or just spending time with the kitties. You can book all kinds of sessions here — food and drink aren’t served, but you can bring your own food. July 10 is National Kitten Day; sessions are half-price.

All the cats who live in the Lounge are up for adoption, too! Adoption applications are available on this link.

Here are three pretty ladies that you can meet when you visit the Feline Good Social Club.

Bebe was found pregnant and abandoned in a carrier on the sidewalk two summers ago. She was still young and petite at the time, so no one could guess how many babies she might be carrying. As she came to term, Bebe was struggling with labor and had to go to the vet for a C-section because one of her kittens was blocking the birth canal.

Although two of the eight kittens unfortunately did not survive, Bebe dutifully raised her remaining six kittens in foster care. Four months later, Bebe came to the Lounge with her kittens and saw them each get adopted. Now retired from motherhood, she generally prefers the company of people to cats, but occasionally she finds a playmate who can handle her spice.

Self-assured and determined, Bebe will gladly walk over to an outstretched hand or when she hears her name called. She can also be incredibly silly, especially when her favorite bouncy ball is out, and she enjoys kicker toys and, occasionally, tunnels. The volunteers wouldn’t classify Bebe as a lap cat, but she does love to stick close to people on the bed or sofa, inviting pets.

Overall, Bebe just wants to find someone that will spoil her and let her relive the kittenhood that was taken from her. Her new family will quickly realize they found an absolute treasure of a cat.

Mama D.D. and her daughter, Emily, have waited for their forever home for two years. Mama was a local stray being fed by a community member, who brought her indoors when they realized she was pregnant. Mama had four kittens of her own plus two foster babies she raised alongside them. Almost all have found homes; only Mama and daughter Emily are left. Soft as a bunny with a round face and big green eyes, Mama is a gorgeous little lady with a beautiful personality to match. She is easygoing, kind and loves affection. From time to time, she’ll climb into a lap and settle in for a while, content to be in your presence.

Emily, on the other hand, is a spunky and playful girl who loves wire and wand toys and will swat away any cat in her path when on the hunt. Like her mother, Emily enjoys pets and gently rubs against your hand when in the mood for some affection. When she bonds with someone, she will constantly seek them out. Emily isn’t usually interested in spending time with other cats, but her Mama D.D. is the exception. They have a special bond — the two are often seen curled up together, cuddling or grooming each other. Wherever one is, the other is never far. These girls are sure to bring warmth and life wherever they go and would make wonderful companions for a family!

Feline Good Social Club is located at 301 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach. See website for hours of operation and session booking.

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

LA Superior Court puts city's lease termination with spcaLA on hold

On June 25, the Los Angeles Superior Court granted Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA)’s motion for a preliminary injunction, allowing spcaLA to remain on the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village & Education Center, where it has shared campus space with Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) for over two decades.

On Feb. 24, the city of Long Beach gave notice of termination of its agreement with spcaLA, ending 26-year partnership between the city and the nonprofit rescue. The city gave spcaLA 30 days to vacate the premises, stating several areas of noncompliance with the partnership agreement as reasons. Given the June 25 court grant, spcaLA and LBACS will continue with their respective operations with no change because of continuing litigation.

“This ruling may be a roadblock in our plans, however the City is committed to enhancing the LBACS operations so that we can provide the best quality care for the animals and communities we serve,” read a press release from the city of Long Beach. “Going through the full litigation process will give us the opportunity to further defend this decision in court.”

You can find background on the legal battle 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.