Long Beach Animal Care Services Offering Spay/Neuter Vouchers in August

Throughout the month of August, Long Beach Animal Care Services will be distributing spay/neuter vouchers in person at the PD Pitchford Companion Animal Village.  Vouchers are only valid at participating veterinary clinics and will only be distributed to Long Beach residents and the Long Beach Animal Care Services contract cities of Los Alamitos, Cerritos, Seal Beach and Signal Hill.  Only one voucher will be distributed per household.  Additional vouchers may be distributed upon request and with supervisor approval.

"We usually offer a limited number of vouchers on the first Thursday of the month, however through the generous support of our community we are able to increase this program for the entire month of August," says Ted Stevens, Manager of Animal Care Services.  In all five cities within our jurisdiction dogs are required to be licensed.  In Long Beach cats are required to be licensed with current rabies shots and spayed/neutered."

In addition to the discounted cost of a dog license, spaying or neutering your pet helps reduce companion animal overpopulation.  Sterilization increases the chance your cat or dog will have a longer healthier life and have a lower risk of developing a number of expensive and deadly diseases.  Finally, sterilization can make your dog or cat a better pet, reducing their urge to roam and decreasing the risk of contracting diseases or getting hurt.

Spay/Neuter vouchers are only good at participating local veterinary hospitals and clinics. In order to qualify for a voucher, pet owners must provide proof of address through photo ID or utility bill. Owners must pay the remaining balance of the spay or neuter procedure directly to the veterinary hospital.  Animal Care Services will reimburse the veterinary hospital for up to $30 of the procedure. Availability and pricing will vary. Please call ahead for pricing and appointment information.  A full listing of participating veterinarians can be found at www.longbeach.gov/acs under Spay & Neuter Programs. 

The goal of Long Beach Animal Care Services is to make Long Beach the safest large city in California for people and animals through the promotion of responsible pet ownership and recreation. LBACS serves 600,000 residents and pets in Long Beach, Cerritos, Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and Signal Hill.

Animal Care Services is located at the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village at 7700 East Spring Street in Long Beach. The Village is open Wednesday through Friday 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and is closed on Mondays, Tuesday and holidays. 

Weekly Crime Summary

A new Weekly Crime Summary is available for July 14 - July 20.

The most recent Weekly Crime Summaries will be listed on the homepage of our website, http://www.losalamitospolice.org/

Coyote Safety Guidelines

The City of Los Alamitos contracts with Long Beach Animal Care Services for Animal Control.  The following press release was issued by Animal Care Services as a public safety reminder:   

PRESS RELEASE - July 23, 2013

Contact: Ted Stevens, Manager, Animal Care Services, Ted.Stevens@longbeach.gov, 562.570.3051
For immediate release

Long Beach Animal Care Services Provides Coyote Safety Guidelines

Coyotes are part of the natural habitat in California, and they are increasingly adept at searching for food in cities because their natural habitat has increasingly been encroached by development. Coyote conflicts with humans are extremely rare, even though coyote activity is higher during this time of year as this is the season when they are raising their pups.

The City of Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) would like to remind the community that they can decrease their chances of a coyote conflict and protect their pets and family by following the these guidelines.

·        Never feed any wildlife, especially coyotes, intentionally or unintentionally. Do not keep pet food outside, secure garbage cans and pick up fallen fruit from trees. Keep and feed your pets indoors, especially at night.

·        If you walk your dog in or near any of the known coyote habitats, keep your dog on a leash at all times as required by municipal codes. If possible, avoid walking dogs in the early morning or at dusk, which are prime feeding times for coyotes. Keep small pets indoors, especially cats - they are an easy favored prey

·        Educate children how to recognize a coyote and train them on what to do if they see one.

·        Coyotes and other predators may be attracted to areas that provide protective cover. Remove hiding spaces by keeping brush and weeds from around buildings cleared.

Many coyotes have lost their natural fear of humans. The best thing that you can do if you see a coyote is to “haze” them. This involves standing tall and making yourself look big while waving your arms; yelling at them to go away; throwing objects toward them; or spraying them with water. It is essential that coyotes retain their natural fear of humans. Never run from a coyote. Keep constant eye contact with the coyote and continue to move toward other people, a building or an area of activity.

It is also important to remember that coyote attacks on people are extremely rare, with an average of only 10 coyote attacks on people a year in the United States and Canada, according to The Humane Society of the United States. To our knowledge, there has never been an attack on a person in Long Beach.

In the event of a life-threatening emergency please call 911. LBACS advises residents to report coyote attacks, threats and aggressive behavior at 562.570.7387. If coyotes are sighted in areas where there are children (schools, parks, etc.) or if the coyotes are acting aggressively, an officer will be dispatched immediately. Additionally, LBACS takes reports of coyote activities and forwards any threats to pets or people to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife so that they may respond appropriately. To report a coyote incident online and for further information on reducing conflicts and hazing techniques, please visit www.longbeach.gov/acs/wildlife

Weekly Crime Summary

A new Weekly Crime Summary is available for July 7 - July 13.

The most recent Weekly Crime Summaries will be listed on the homepage of our website, http://www.losalamitospolice.org/

Weekly Crime Summary

A new Weekly Crime Summary is available for June 30 - July 6.

The most recent Weekly Crime Summaries will be listed on the homepage of our website, http://www.losalamitospolice.org/

Los Alamitos Police Department Announces Promotions

Press Release
July 9, 2013
 

Following the recent retirements of two veteran Police Sergeants, the Los Alamitos Police Department is excited to announce the promotions of four of its personnel.

Corporals Chris Karrer and Rick Moore will be promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant, and will serve as patrol Watch Commanders for their respective patrol teams. Officers Kain Gallaugher and Paul Barbieri will assume leadership roles in the organization as they are promoted to the rank of Police Corporal.  These four members of our department were selected for promotion following competitive internal testing processes.   

 Chris Karrer, a 12-year veteran of the police department, has served as a patrol officer and detective, and has had several ancillary assignments, which include field training officer and working on the multi-agency Serious Traffic Accident Response (STAR) Team.  Karrer was the Los Alamitos Officer of the Year in 2008.

Rick Moore, who has been with the Police Department since 2000, has worked as a patrol officer, detective, and in an administrative capacity in which he coordinated the training of personnel, facilitated the pre-employment process for new officers, and was the city’s coordinator for emergency preparedness.  Rick has also been a field training officer, and was a member of the West County SWAT team.  Moore was the Los Alamitos Officer of the Year in 2004.

Kain Gallaugher began his law enforcement career when he became a Los Alamitos Police Officer in 2006.  After working as a patrol officer, Kain has spent the last four years as the department’s motorcycle officer, with an emphasis in traffic safety.  Kain also serves as a field training officer, member of the Serious Traffic Accident Response (STAR) team, and is a member of West County SWAT.  Gallaugher was the Los Alamitos Officer of the Year in 2011.

Paul Barbieri, a 12-year veteran of the Los Alamitos Police Department, has served as a patrol officer and detective.  Paul is a field training officer and member of the Serious Traffic Accident Response team.  Barbieri was the Los Alamitos Officer of the Year in 2009. 

An Oath of Allegiance ceremony will take place in the Los Alamitos City Council Chambers on Monday, July 15 at 4:30 PM.

Contact: Captain Bruce McAlpine

(562) 431-2255, extension 420

Do You Have a Teen Driver In Your Home?

WHAT IS THE START SMART PROGRAM?

The California Highway Patrol's Start Smart program is a FREE driver safety education class which targets new and future licensed teenage drivers between the ages of 15 - 20 and their parents/guardians. CHP officers will discuss traffic collision avoidance techniques, collision causing factors, driver/parent responsibilities, and seatbelt usage.

Our goal is to help young drivers and their parents/guardians understand the responsibilities associated with driving a motor vehicle, show how a poor choice behind the wheel can change the lives of everyone involved, and to reduce the number of teen-related injuries and deaths due to collisions.  To learn more about upcoming classes, please clink here.

Weekly Crime Summary

A new Weekly Crime Summary is available for June 23 - June 29 .

The most recent Weekly Crime Summaries will be listed on the homepage of our website, http://www.losalamitospolice.org/