By Katelyn Petty
Batman’s LBMS Animal Rescue Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping animals in need throughout Long Beach. Rescue partners, along with the Long Beach Police Department Animal Control Division, and local veterinarians offer care to the stray animals of Long Beach, as well as no-cost or low-cost vet services to Long Beach residents who are pet owners. These services include microchipping, vaccinations, and spay/neuter surgeries for animals that are adoptable through the Long Beach Animal Control program.
“Our mission is to get medical aid for, rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals who have been abandoned, neglected, injured or abused,” said Wendy Wagner, Batman’s LBMS Annual Rescue Foundation owner, emphasizing that the focus is providing a comfortable and safe environment for all animals in their care.
Batman’s Animal Rescue Foundation also offers transportation assistance for rescued animals.
“Whether a resident needs help getting their pet to a vet or a resident is relocating, they are here to help,” said Wagner. The team is trained to handle animals of all sizes.
Wagner says partnering with the Long Beach Police Department Animal Control Division (LBPD ACO) provides a safe environment for animals that have been abandoned, abused or neglected; and working with other local shelters and animal welfare organizations provides the best care and support possible for animals to recover and thrive.
The rescue’s primary focus is on rescuing and rehabilitating animals in need. There is a foster program in place that allows the rescue to provide animals with a future within a loving home. The rescue also provides behavior training to the animals to ensure they will thrive with their forever family.
The team at Batman’s LBMS Animal Rescue and their partnership with LBPD ACO offers a variety of educational programs and resources regularly through workshops and events, while also collaborating with local schools to raise awareness about animal welfare; educate the community about responsible pet ownership; teach animal welfare laws, compassion and respect for animals; and explain how to help animals in need. The volunteers and people working with the rescue say they strongly believe education is key to preventing animal cruelty and neglect.
“Our animal control officer, Quentin Denney, has built his career on the ‘3 E’s’ of being an animal control officer: engage, educate and enforce,” said Wagner. “Batman’s LBMS Animal Rescue is committed to finding permanent homes with loving families for animals in their care at the LBPD Animal Care Facility. Pet adoption services are offered through an adoption process, ensuring each animal is matched with the right family.”
Wagner believes every animal deserves a second chance, and she says she and Officer Denney work tirelessly to ensure that animals receive the love and care they need to thrive. Proceeds of Batman’s LBMS Animal Rescue Foundation benefit the program, which also assists in approved emergency vet care for the animals of the Long Beach community.
For more information about Batman’s LBMS Animal Rescue Foundation, visit them on Facebook, or call 228-346-1854. Donations can be made to paypal.me/BatmansLBMS. To find out more about animals available for adoption in Long Beach, visit the LBPD animal adoption page on Facebook, LBPDMsAnimals or call 228-224-5584.
MEET BATMAN
Batman, a stray cat with unique markings and a distinct silhouette, wandered up to Wendy Wagner’s home one day in January 2019 looking for his forever home.
“He chose us as his family,” said Wagner. “As much as we tried to deny his request to join the family, he quickly grew on us. the only way we could keep him was for him to be neutered and up to date on his shots.”
That’s when Wagner met Officer Kerry Hall of the Long Beach Police Department, who offered to get Batman neutered and up to date on all his shots.
Although Batman started out as an outside cat, he became a loving, smart and domesticated indoor snuggle bug, says Wagner. Following the generosity of Officer Hall, Batman’s family wanted to give back and did so by creating the non-profit organization called Batman’s LBMS Animal Rescue Foundation. The foundation solely benefits stray animals of Long Beach and their new families, working with current Long Beach Animal Control Officer Quentin Denney to organize fundraisers, awareness campaigns, support for stray animals, and education for the community.
