For the last 25 years, Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA) has dedicated countless resources and programs to the community in order to help educate the public about the importance of responsible pet ownership.
Formed in 1990 and formerly known as Friends of Long Beach Animal Shelter, FOLBA’s main aim is to reduce pet overpopulation and, in turn, pet euthanasia through community education and incentive programs.
“The education program is very important,” said Shirley Vaughan, president of FOLBA. “We just saw a need, and you have to begin with the children. We have a humane educator, and her curriculum was accepted by the Long Beach Unified School District, and she sets up classes and goes into a school and teaches different subjects.”
FOLBA’s Humane Education program is led by organization educator Deborah Turner, who was a school teacher in Florida. She teaches free classes for LBUSD and other community groups, like the Girl and Boy Scouts, Long Beach Public Libraries. She also offers classes to parents. Her interactive classes emphasize the importance of treating animals with kindness and respect and also include information on basic pet care and how to be responsible with and around animals.
“All kids are born loving animals, I think, but it depends on the parents,” Vaughan said. “[The parenting classes] are something that Deborah developed because the parents need education as much as the kids. So, once they’re educated about pet care and all that, it will help to change that negative mindset so more animals can find homes.”
Another program offered through FOLBA is SNIP, the Spay Neuter Incentive Program. SNIP began in 1998 as a direct effort to combat pet overpopulation and euthanasia and is the only incentive of its kind in Long Beach. The program partners with Long Beach Animal Control to distribute low-cost or free vouchers to city residents who may need financial assistance with getting their pets fixed. As a result, over 18,000 animals have been spayed or neutered to date.
While FOLBA is not a rescue group (although it does rescue an animal every so often), it actively promotes and support the adoption of rescued pets from Long Beach Animal Care Services, especially after the City passed the Pet Shop ordinance last October. The ordinance prohibits the sale of dogs bred in puppy mills, therefore promoting adoption.
“We have to work on the education part of our group and get the word out that this law is in place,” Vaughan said. “The general public doesn’t know, but the shelter itself is doing an education campaign about the new ordinance.”
For more information about Friends of Long Beach Animals visit folba.org or call (562) 988-SNIP.
