Friends of Long Beach Animals, formerly established as Friends of Long Beach Animal Shelter is a nonprofit organization dedicated to responsible pet ownership, education and humane treatment of all animals.
FOLBA is committed to reducing the population of shelter animals in the Long Beach and Signal Hill area. We accomplish this through humane education in local schools and in the community, as well as by working closely with local rescue groups.
Since its inception in 1989, FOLBA has sponsored the spaying or neutering of over 18,000 animals, thus preventing millions of pets from being born, only to be euthanized or subjected to cruelty. Our Humane Education Program, started in 2001, has provided humane education classes to over 100,000 students at no cost to the school or organization. During the current pandemic FOLBA is focusing on bringing these education classes to an online platform.
FOLBA also works to promote the adoption of animals from the Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) animal shelter and other trusted local rescues. FOLBA has assisted in the adoption of more than 500 animals from the shelter and local rescues and has subsidized or paid thousands of dollars in adoption fees to help out our community members.
We also fund and help injured or sick animals in our community under special circumstances. We have provided life saving surgeries to dozens of animals in need.
During the coronavirus pandemic, FOLBA organized a Pet Food Drive where they distributed more than 9 tons of free pet food to the local community.
FOLBA also supports FIX Long Beach and has funded a surgery suite at their upcoming spay and neuter clinic that will be opening soon. In addition we support the Little Paws Project of Long Beach from the Little Lion Foundation, a kitten nursery that has rescued over 1,000 kittens since inception. In March 2021 we participated in their Free Pet Wellness Event where offerings included microchips, vaccines, food and flea medication for area pets.
FOLBA is currently working on a community outreach program through PAWZ TV, an online television program designed to increase awareness of the organization and the needs and care of our local animals. The first program is geared toward kids and teaches children about a rescue dog named Sam and how to be kind to animals. We continue to produce online segments of our events under the Pawz TV brand.
Friends of Long Beach Animals strives to live up to its name. We hope that you’ll join us in our endeavor. FOLBA is an all volunteer organization run by a dedicated team of Executive Board Members.