Autumn has begun. Kids are back in school, and Halloween stores are squatting in retail spaces abandoned by former tenants. Come to think of it, Thanksgiving stuff’s in the dollar stores already, and likely by the time this is posted, Christmas merch will be jingling its way toward the shops’ aisles.

It’s all seasonal, but shelters have their shelves stocked all year, and sometimes, the overstock doesn’t meet with a good fate. Shelter staff and volunteers want to see these great cats, dogs and rabbits go home not for the holidays, but before them. Come by and adopt a critter to share your good times with, both holidays and beyond. Here are a few residents of Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS), and there are lots more. Neat thing about them is that no matter how long they stay, they don’t get shopworn. A little heartbroken, maybe, but you can fix that.

Oh, Purrkins! He may look as if he was about to swallow the canary, but he’s actually a playful, loving fellow (we wouldn’t extend that to canaries, but he’d sure like a tumble with a toy!). He’s a 5-year-old brown tabby who still has kitten in him! Ask for ID#A612108.

Cats with markings like Filigree’s are called torbies—part tabby and part tortie. Filigree’s only 11 months old, and she’s sweet and chatty as all get-out. Our photographer caught her at a rare speechless moment. Ask for ID#A614340.

Blondie (ID#A614011) is a 5-year-old female tan Chihuahua. Blondie has a tumor on her foot, but that doesn’t get in the way of her social, loving nature. She needs a human match for her personality!

Irma (ID#A614316), a 5-year-old female black poodle, needs a seeing-eye human! She has an ocular issue that gets in the way of her seeing clearly. She is very friendly, however, and she has enough of her other senses to know her best friend when she sees him or her. (If you’re interested in any pet with a medical issue, ask the shelter staff for information on care and needs.)

ACS is located at 7700 E. Spring St., at the entrance to El Dorado Park. No parking fee for shelter visitors.

Things to Do, Pets to Support

California Turtle & Tortoise Club, Care Society Chapter, presents ‘Wildlife and You: Their Hope for the Future’: Friday, Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m., University Baptist Church, 3434 Chatwin Ave., Long Beach $25 wristbands at the door; $20 at www.paypal.com, [email protected] Free event.

This month, the turtles and tortoises will remain in their shells for the sake of their wild, furry, brothers and sisters so that the California Turtle and Tortoise Club can present some practical advice and insight for those of you trying to deal with issues concerning coyotes, raccoons, skunks and opossums. The presentation delves into natural, cutting-edge and humane solutions and also reveals reasons why it’s best for these critters to remain in our midst, and what we can do better for our coexistence.

K9 Kismet Yappy Hour: Friday, Sept. 28, Baja Sharkeez, 211 Main St., Huntington Beach. $25 wristbands at the door; $20 at www.paypal.com, [email protected]

K9 Kismet is raising money for the puppies of one of their rescues. Kayla—Fiona now—has been diagnosed with a genetic disorder called urachal remnant abnormality, and three of her siblings are symptomatic, as is momma Salem. Their adopters are going through a series of diagnostics to confirm or rule out this disorder, including urinalysis, ultrasounds, medications and potentially corrective surgery. One expects healthy puppies at adoption, and the adopters aren’t prepared to financially tackle this type of condition. We feel it is our duty to stand by our adopters and help them get these babies healthy. So, come down and enjoy two-for-one drinks, appetizers, Jello shots, raffles, prizes and a 50/50 drawing. How could you have any more fun helping? K9 Kismet is a 501c3 rescue, and all donations are tax deductible.

Seal Beach Animal Care Center presents 22nd annual ‘Wag ‘n Walk’: Saturday, Sept. 29, Eisenhower Park, Main Street and Ocean Avenue, Seal Beach. Free to spectate; $30 to register (information here).

Bring your two- and four-legged friends (three, if you have a tripod!) to stroll through Seal Beach to kick off this annual fund-raiser! Enjoy our animal expo, with fun for the entire family! Grand Marshall Justin Rudd and his bulldog POTUS will again be leaders of the pack in support of the animals in residence at the Seal Beach Animal Care Center! We will showcase our adoptable dogs and cats and offer silent-auction and raffle items. The day will include contests, entertainment, food and shopping!

Pet First Aid and CPR Class: Saturday, Sept. 29, Bloomfield Animal Hospital, 20927 Norwalk Blvd., Lakewood

Free event; register online here.

Join up to learn how to administer CPR and first aid to your pet. This event could save your pet’s life.

‘Show Us Your Kitties!’ Calendar Contest, benefitting Helen Sanders Cat Paws. To Sept. 30, guidelines here $10 to reserve a date for your cat on the calendar; $1 per vote for an entire page, $5 minimum starting vote.

Want to help Helen Sanders CatPAWS raise money to save cats from public shelters? Submit a photo of your kitty and/or vote for your favorite kitties! Also, because CatPAWS believes in working with other groups toward our common goal of saving more lives, you may designate an organization other than Helen Sanders CatPAWS as a recipient when you enter. If you are one of the top three winners, a portion of the money raised after expenses will go to that group! For $10, you can also reserve a date for your own cat’s birthday. All funds benefit pets.

Glory Days Beachside Grill Fund-Raiser for Rescues: Friday, Oct. 5, Glory Days Sports Grill, 620 PCH, Seal Beach. Menu prices vary.

Three hearty meals are good for you, and they’ll be even better for pet rescues on Oct. 5! And your tummy, of course. K9 Kismet Dog Rescue, Long Beach Animal Care Services and Seal Beach Animal Care Services will be among the shelters and rescues that will receive 20 percent of the proceeds from breakfast, lunch and dinner! That’s right, all day! Just think—your one day to eat every meal out and feel good about it! Bring friends and family, and show your server the above Glory Days flyer (print or phone). See you there!

Fix Long Beach Free Spay/Neuter Clinic—sponsored by Justin Rudd and his nonprofit Community Action Team—Cats only! Saturday, Oct. 13, 7:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m., Long Beach Marine Stadium, 5225 E. Paoli Way, Long Beach.

Please bring donations for the AIDS Food Ban: nonperishable items such as peanut butter, pasta, cereal, tuna and granola bars. Socks are needed too.

Have your cat spayed or neutered free with appointment and qualifications; vet appointment with voucher, minimal charge for dogs and cats; flea meds $10; shots and dewormer $10 each; nail trimming, $10.

It’s now the law to fix your pets in Long Beach and many Southern California cities. To provide this costly service to our Long Beach residents who otherwise couldn’t afford it, Fix Long Beach offers this service free of charge.

Make an appointment through IM or email at [email protected] for your pet, and include (1) your name, (2) address, (3) phone number, (4) pet’s name, (5) age, (6) sex, (7) breed, and (8) weight, and Fix will see if they can schedule you. You can also come as a standby, but be there at 8:30 a.m. Make sure that your pet has had nothing to eat or drink past 10:00 p.m. the previous night.

Vouchers are provided through Long Beach Animal Care Services Spay/Neuter Assistance Voucher Program and may be used at specified veterinary clinics. They are available for pets who don’t have appointments or dogs too large to fit on the truck.

To donate, visit our page. In-kind donations such as leashes, collars and toys can be brought to our event or ordered through our Amazon wish list.

For both spay/neuter and vaccinations, all dogs must be on sturdy leashes and all cats must be in dedicated carriers. Fix thanks you in advance for being responsible for your pet’s health and for helping to reduce shelter overpopulation and euthanasia.

Pup-Crawl for Dog-toberfest, to Benefit Fix Long Beach, sponsored in part by “Long Beach Post”: Saturday, Oct. 20, 5–9 p.m., Red Leprechaun, 4000 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. Tickets: $50; includes drink tickets and appetizer.

Hop on The Big Red Bus for all the fun you can handle! Fix Long Beach’s fund-raiser will begin at Red Leprechaun and stop at Malainey’s Grill, Shenanigans and Gallagher’s. Your ticket includes a drink ticket for beer, wine or champagne, and appetizers at one location. Drink sales will continue on the bus for an additional cost. You’ll meet at the Red Leprechaun at 5:00 p.m., The Big Red Bus will pick up at 6:00 p.m., and you’ll return to The Red Lep at 9:00 p.m. The Red Leprechaun will be staying open late for dinner. We are looking for sponsors, so if you know a business or individual that would like to fly their banner on the bus, please email [email protected]. All proceeds will go toward Fix’s goal of spay/neuter and rescue in the LBC. And thank you, Long Beach Post, for sponsoring this wild ride!

Best Friends “Strut Your Mutt:” Saturday, Oct. 20, Exposition Park, 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles. Visit the registration page to join a team, form a team, or register as an individual

It’s that time again—time to strut to “Save Them All”! Please join Best Friends Animal Society and our partner rescue groups, shelters and animal welfare organizations as we walk to save lives at Strut Your Mutt in L.A. You can join a team or register individually to fund-raise for homeless dogs and cats in your community as you walk alongside animal lovers like yourself. The event starts with a celebratory walk (dog not required) and includes a family-friendly festival with food trucks, vendors and lots of fun activities. Last year, over 1,000 people raised more than $400,000 for lifesaving programs such as spay-and-neuter services and adoption events. With your help, we know we can set the bar even higher this year. Join us!

National Pit Bull Appreciation Day: Saturday, Oct. 27, Marina Vista Park, E. Colorado Street, Long Beach. Free event; adoption and vendor price rates apply

We (affectionately) call ‘em blockheads! Come help these funny, misunderstood doggies and their friends with our first annual National Pit Bull Appreciation Day! Live Love Animal Rescue is partnering up with Blockhead Brigade for this community event that features incredible local vendors, a pack walk, delectable food, pet portraits, a pit bull muralist, humane education, fostering info, training demos, yoga with your dog, a raffle, a photo contest and, best of all, adoptions! Help us build community around the dogs we love. All breeds, mixes and mutts are welcome—just bring love and your dog to enjoy a day at the beautiful Long Beach Marina with us! All breeds, creeds and loving humans are welcome.

Haute Dog’s 18th Annual Howl’oween Parade: Sunday, Oct. 28, near Colorado Lagoon, 5355 Eliot St., Long Beach.

Free to spectate; entry registration and seat reservation information available here; full schedule of information available here.

Will you go as a Hound of Baskerville? Or Cujo? Or a poodly princess in a pink petticoat? Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team will again host the biggest Halloween pet event in the world—and the most enjoyable one! Enjoy a vendor and pet-adoption fair from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., and don’t miss (as if you could!) the highlight of the day: over 500 costumed dogs (and maybe the pig will show up again) parading a few blocks in front of a few thousand gawkers and a panel of judges! The winner will receive dog food for a year from Petcurean. There’s a $10 advance for each dog who enters the parade, but there’s no charge for humans to walk in the parade with or without costumes and with or without pets. Free to spectate. Front-row chairs can be rented on-site for $5 cash or $10 reserved/advance. Third-district Councilwoman Suzie Price will co-host the event!

Please send any Long Beach or Seal Beach pet-related events or projects to [email protected]. Posting subject to approval.