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This weeks Scratching Post goes up on Boxing Day, and Friends of Long Beach Animals, or FOLBA, has boxed up a good one for both adopters and shelter pets. Through Dec. 31, the venerable Long Beach nonprofit is sponsoring adoption fees for anyone who qualifies as an adopter to take home cats, dogs or rabbits from Long Beach Animal Care Services. A $25 gift card will serve as a little lagniappe for food, toys or anything that their new friends furry little heart and tummy desires.

As a board, we felt that there are still too many animals spending their holidays at the shelter that really deserved to share their friendship and love with a new family in their forever home, FOLBA board president Lauren Campbell said. Theres also a lot of humans who in return need that love and companionship right now.

Campbell emphasized that only people able to give an animal a solid, forever home may adopt from the shelter.

Since 1998, FOLBA has been booping its cold, wet nose against every need that animals and the humans who care for them have. Over the years, the nonprofit has sponsored the spaying and neutering of over 18,000 animals to prevent the birth of unwanted pets, provided free humane education to local schools, and built a dog play area and a veterinary clinic at the shelter. Board member Tom Hanberg said that FOLBA plans to continue the adoption-fee-sponsorship program for other approved rescues in the coming months and are finalizing those details now. The Little Lion Foundation and Live Love Animal Rescue will likely be the first benefactors.

We only ask that you please remember that an adoptable animal is not a Christmas presentits a lifelong commitment! reads another reminder on FOLBAs website. That also goes for birthdays, anniversaries and St. Swithens Day. If animals are gifts to humans, the reciprocal is essential to remember.

Photos of the shelters pets and details of how to make appointments to adopt are available here. Heres a greeting card depicting four of them.

Leo (ID#A652229), seen here with volunteer Ricky, is a 1-year-old male Leonberger mix. Leonbergers have an interesting but uncertain historythey were reportedly bred in Germany and used as farm dogs as well as heavy-materials carriers in the war. The breed was also said to be bred to have a lions mane, and our Leo has one! Never mind pulling farm cartsLeo wants to have fun! He knows all the basic commandssit, paw, downand will lovingly display any of his gestures for a treat or two! He is quite the character, but hes still somewhat a puppy and will require some training. What could be better than ringing in the new year with this guy?

Just fur fun

Feline Good Social Club pads off to hibernate

Feline Good Social Club will be closed to the public for at least a month. The cat curators said that in the interest of public safety, the kitties will be curled up in foster homes and will hopefully be back Jan. 28. We are so sad that we have to share this disappointing news during this holiday season, read their social-media posts. Stay tuned and pawsitive, friendswe will be back!

Sparky and the Gangs Puppy and Product holiday shopping, by appointment only: 1749 Magnolia Ave., by appointment only, prices vary

Sparky et al cancelled last Sundays holiday- fundraiser, but savvy shoppers can support a small rescue on Black Friday and thereafter until the goodies go. Whimsical handmade wreaths, beautifully crafted antique and rescue-themed jewelry, succulents and all manner of stuff to make things merry are on display at Sparkys location. Prime among the goodies are the barbecue and hot sauces and gift sets from The Spicy Kitchen in Long Beach. Visit Sparky and the Gangs Facebook page to see video presentations of all the neat things, and send a message to make an appointment or text Sparky at 310-809-6374.

Bulldog-themed safety-mask preorder: Southern California Bulldog Rescue, $11 each

What better way to protect yourself and others from those coronavirus cooties than with a faithful bulldog guardian at the gate! Theyre 2-ply non-medical grade protection that feel good and comfy. Theyre also hand-washable. Best of all, these whimsical wearables support Southern California Bulldog Rescue! Order them here.

Help wanted, help given

Operation Santa Paws goes virtual

Haute Dogs beloved sleigh ride to the animal shelters is, like everything else, going virtual this holiday. Santa Paws (who bears a striking resemblance to both Justin Rudd and Peter Krause) is asking us animal lovers to collect itemstoys, food, treats, shelter cleaning suppliesand taking them in your own sleigh directly to the shelters and rescues. Dont want to venture outdoors? No probmake your list and check it twice or more in the Links to loveables section at the end of The Scratching Post. Each of the shelters and rescues listed has a donation button, and many have wish lists for food, toys, supplies and other needs. Visit Santa Paws for more information.

DIY Kitten Care Kits available free at Long Beach Animal Care Services

Kitten season is just about up, but kittens still enter shelters. It isnt unusual to find nests of young, seemingly abandoned kittens during kitten season. It is a natural reaction to want to help, to save them. But before you jump in, consider these steps outlined here. If you are interested in obtaining a Kitten Care Kit made possible by Helen Sanders CatPAWS, please email [emailprotected].

Spay/neuter vouchers available at shelter

Long Beach Animal Care Services has spay/neuter vouchers available. Theyll take a healthy nip out of the cost of a procedure. Residents of any of the five cities served by the shelter(see above)can telephone the general number at 562-5707387 to request a voucher.

The Spay/Neuter Project of Los Angeles (SNP/LA) is back in business for free and low-cost spay/neuter services, and theyre extending the hours of their vaccination clinics. The San Pedro clinic, located at 957 N. Gaffey St., will give shots every third Thursday between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Call 310-5745555 to see if you qualify for services.

If you can see the bottom of the kibble bag:

Helen Sanders CatPAWS offers, through specific private donors, e-gift cards for people struggling during the crisis to buy food for their pets. The CatPAWS Spay/Neuter Fund, also privately funded, has vouchers available for anyone not able to go to the shelter for them. They also accept donations.

Pets of the Homeless home page gives a self-description as the only organization focusing only on providing food and care for pets belonging to homeless people. Businesses and other organizations across the country receive in-kind donations of food and other needs that the dogs and cats human families can pick up at outreach locations. The following Long Beach businesses will accept your donations:

Trendi Pawz, 3726 E. Seventh St., Long Beach

Belmont Heights Animal Hospital, 255 Redondo Ave., Long Beach

Paw Shoppe Pet Center, Inc., 6416 E. Spring St., Long Beach

Food and supplies are available at Beacon for Him Ministries, 1535 Gundry Ave. Long Beach, Mondays from 9 a.m. to noon and Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m.; and at Christian Outreach in Action, 515 E. Third St., Long Beach, Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. Donations will be gratefully accepted at these locations as well.

Adopt, adopt, adopt

Animal-advocacy nonprofit will sponsor shelter adoption fees through December

Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA) is the longest-running local animal nonprofit in Long Beach. Over the years, FOLBA has done a lot of great work in the community, especially by supporting pet owners get their pets spayed and neutered. The nonprofit has offered to sponsor adoption fees for pets adopted from Long Beach Animal Care Services until the end of December as part of the shelters Home for the Pawlidays event. All adopters will continue to be screened as usual. To schedule an appointment to meet one of the shelters cats, dogs or bunnies, check out the pets on their adoption page and then email [emailprotected].

Pet Food Express Cat Adoption Center: weekdays and Saturday 10 a.m.8p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.7 p.m., Pet Food Express, 4220 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, adoption fees apply

This adoption center is a much-needed satellite operation of Long Beach Animal Care Services. Julie and her team pull adoptable catsadoptable, to these guys, means any cat in a shelter kennel! The team socializes the kitties until theyre adopted, which takes less time than you could imagine!

Helen Sanders CatPAWS adoption center: viewable daily during store hours, PetSmart, 12341 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach, adoption fees apply.

Window-shoppings a neat pastime and likely has become more common during the pandemic. Helen Sanders CatPAWS has applied window-shopping to cat adoption; you can peer at several of the fine felines through the windows of the PetSmart adoption center in Seal Beach. Sadly, no ear scratching or chin rubs at this time, but volunteers can answer questions and provide you with adoption information! Be sure to wear a mask. You can find adoption applications and all the kitties here.

Links to loveables

The following pet-related businesses regularly feature cat, dog and rabbit adoptions, but as of now, adoptions are mainly by appointment. Click on the links for each rescue in case of updates or changes. These organizations operate through donations and grants, and anything you can give would be welcome. Please suggest any Long Beach-area rescues to add to the list.

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Longstanding animal-welfare group sponsors shelter adoption fees through December - Long Beach Post