Mountain Views News          Saturday, July 21, 2012

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

10

 Mountain Views News Saturday July 21, 2012 


THE SHABBY DOG PRESENTS ITS 
NEW PET TAXI SERVICE

 
The Shabby Dog, Sierra Madre’s premiere pet retailer will soon offer transportation services 
for pets. To unveil the new pet taxi, The Shabby Dog invites the community of Sierra Madre 
and its outlying sister communities to come see and experience the new “Shabby Cab” on 
Saturday, July 28, 2012. 

As part of The Shabby Dog's current summer events series, this event will also feature a hot 
dog cookout and a pet adoption.

Guests are invited to check out the Shabby Cab, which will be parked at its Shabby Dog

headquarters. Pet owners and visitors have an opportunity to look at the van and know

for themselves that their pets will be in a clean and safe vehicle.

Since pet owners often lead busy lives and are often pressed for time when it comes

to daily care for their pet, the availability of pet transportation brings peace of mind.

The Shabby Dog’s new van will provide home pick-ups and drop-offs. Like a taxi or

shuttle service for humans, the "Shabby Cab" will drive pets to and/or from grooming

appointments, doggie daycare and/or boarding services provided exclusively by The

Shabby Dog.

“This service is all about convenience for customers. I have pets, and I know what busy

is, even with my home and businesses in close proximity to each other,” says Shabby

Dog owner, Sandy Lewis-Duvall. “I want my customers to experience ease and a little

bit of pampering when they know that the Shabby Cab will drive their pets to and from

their designated appointments.”

The Shabby Cab services will begin its official first run of pick-ups and drop-offs in

the week of July 23, 2012. Transportation requests must be made at least 24 hours in

advance.

About The Shabby Dog:

The Shabby Dog offers luxury pet accessories including collars, leashes, apparel,

bags and carriers. The Shabby Dog also offers full-service and a la carte pet grooming,

doggie daycare and pet boarding. To shop or get more information on the daycare

and/or boarding services, contact The Shabby Dog at 626-836-5452 or go online to

www.theshabbydog.com.

SWEET TATER

As the youngest of seven children, I spent my 
childhood growing up in the rural deep south, with 
loving parents who taught me to be a sensitive, 
caring person. I had a charmed life, with a big 
yard, peach trees and a sustainable fresh vegetable 
garden. We raised chickens & rabbits, and had 
many pets including dogs, cats and horses.

When I was 6 years old, we had a neighbor who raised hound dogs that he used for the 
sole purpose of hunting. I remember feeling so sad for those hounds next door, because 
the owner would nearly starve them between hunting trips, to peak their senses and make 
the most of their tracking abilities. At times those poor hunting dogs got so thin, you could 
count the rib bones on either side of their pitiful empty stomachs. When our neighbor would 
leave his house to go into town, my sister Vicki and I would sneak into his back yard and feed 
his dogs left-over scraps our mother saved from the dinner table. It broke our hearts to see 
them snap up the scraps within a few short seconds , then look up at us with those sad eyes, 
begging for more. It wasn’t long before my parents called the humane society and reported 
our neighbor for animal neglect, and the dogs were taken away.

The memory of seeing those hungry hounds in my neighbor’s back yard as a young child 
stayed with me all of my life. I promised myself I would somehow find a way to make up 
for the cruelty those dogs had been subjected to, and I decided that one day I would have a 
bloodhound of my own who would receive the love that they had been denied.

A few years ago, I finally found myself in the position to pursue my long awaited pilgrimage 
of finding a bloodhound in need of a good home. Before I started my quest, I read a lot 
about the breed, and I consulted with people I knew who were familiar with their specific 
characteristics and peculiarities. Within a week after I started my search, I came across a 
non-profit breed rescue agency called “Bloodhounds West” and I called them to see if there 
were any dogs available for adoption. The volunteer told me there were no hounds on hand 
at the time, but when she realized how determined I was, she told me about a young AKC 
registered female bloodhound that had been bred for show, but had proven to be less than 
promising in the ring. Apparently the owner/handler had become quite fond of the dog, 
but had been forced to make the difficult decision to give her up to a loving home when the 
right person came along. She went on to say that this particular bloodhound was special, 
and would require more love and attention than most typically do. Well, I could not have 
custom-ordered a more perfect match! After all, I had set out to find a hound dog in need 
of lots of tender loving care, and this one apparently needed way more than most! That 
weekend I drove up to a gorgeous canyon ranch in Saddleback, where I met “Tatertotts” 
for the first time. When I arrived at the ranch she was in a kennel, cantering back and forth 
under a huge canopy of old California Oak trees. The excitement that glowed through her 
big brown eyes stole my heart! I knew I had to have her. Upon arrival at her new home in 
Sierra Madre, Tatertotts was quite nervous about being suddenly transported to a strange 
place with people she did not know. It took me about an hour to convince her that it was 
safe to go inside the house, but once she was in, there was no getting her out! Little by little, 
Tatertotts became familiar with her new surroundings and eventually gained full trust in her 
new owner. Within a few short weeks, we were best buddies!

I like to call her “Sweet Tater”, because she really is very sweet and because she makes those 
“poor pitiful me” kinds of looks on her face when she gets hungry or wants her way. My 
Sweet Tater is indeed a special girl, with very specific, special needs. Most bloodhounds 
are pretty easy going and for the most part very social, from what I understand, but Tater 
is different. She is selective when it comes to who she chooses to allow in her personal 
space. Ironically though, Tater is way more sensitive to the feelings and thoughts of other 
beings than many other dogs, therefore she reacts more intensely to those who approach her. 
Regardless of her individual idiosyncrasies, that floppy-eared, sloppy-faced hound dog has 
made her way into my heart, and become a major part of my life. Each day I am comforted, 
knowing that Tater receives the unconditional love that my childhood neighbor’s dogs did 
not receive, and I benefit from knowing that I chose to be driven in a positive way by the 
emotional impact that early childhood experience had on me. And I tell you what, Sweet 
Tater appreciates that very much!

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc


PET OF THE WEEK: NIGEL: Animal ID #A4460836

SPAYING AND NEUTERING IS A WIN WIN “FIX” 
FOR PETS AND PEOPLE

 

(NAPSI)—Pet owners can help put an end to a sad situation: 
Each year, thousands of kittens and puppies wind up in shelters 
as a result of accidental litters from pets that are not spayed 
or neutered. While they may be small in size, these unplanned 
offspring have a giant impact on a community, including higher 
costs to taxpayers for the community to trap and transport 
homeless litters to shelters, higher costs for shelters to house, 
feed and care for these pets and shelter overcrowding—which 
increases euthanasia rates. 

An estimated 11,000 pets in this country are euthanized daily, 
according to a PetSmart Charities study—that’s half of the 8 
million pets that land in shelters each year. 

Not all of these pets start out homeless. Half of U.S. pet owners 
who’ve had a pregnant dog or cat say the pregnancy happened 
“by accident,” according to statistics from the study. These accidental 
litters could be easily avoided by early spaying and 
neutering.

Philip Bushby, a veterinarian and professor of shelter medicine 
at Mississippi State University, believes that spaying and neutering pets at an early age not only 
reduces the economical and societal impact of pet homelessness, but also improves the long-term 
health of the pet. 

“Most puppies and kittens can safely be spayed or neutered at as early as 8 to 10 weeks of age. If you 
wait longer, you’re risking an unplanned litter,” Dr. Bushby said, adding that early spaying and neutering 
is good for pets, with benefits such as:

• Reduced aggression: Cats and dogs that have been spayed/neutered are less aggressive than unaltered 
pets, which means fewer fights, less risk of contracting contagious diseases and lower vet bills. 

• Wandering: Pets that aren’t fixed are more likely to stray away from home in search of a mate. Spaying 
and neutering reduces this urge, keeping your pet close to home and out of harm’s way.

• Less marking: Dogs and cats mark with urine when they are trying to “claim” their territory—like 
your couch. After a spay/neuter operation, pets become less territorial, and this behavior decreases 
dramatically. 

• Fewer health problems: “Pets that have been fixed are less likely to develop mammary and reproductive 
cancers, as well as some potentially fatal infections,” said Dr. Bushby. And, there’s evidence that 
the earlier it’s done, the better. “Contrary to belief, having the surgery performed before your pet’s first 
heat period actually amplifies these benefits.”

Convinced that spaying/neutering is right for your pet, but worried about the cost? An online spay/
neuter services locator can help you find clinics that perform high-quality, affordable spay/neuter surgeries 
in this area. Go online to www.PetSmartCharities.org and click on Spay/Neuter. The site also 
provides resources to combat pet homelessness and to donate to programs that support local shelters.

Meet an affable and distinguished gentleman, 
the charming Nigel (A4460836). Nigel is a 
handsome four year old black and white male 
English Springer Spaniel who was discarded 
at the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center on 
July 11th after his former owner moved and 
made no provision for his dog. Weighing thirty 
pounds, this active boy will be flawless with some 
supplemental training. He is very interested in 
other dogs and should be introduced carefully so 
his eager approach is not mistaken for aggression. 
With people he warms up slowly but surely, and 
we think he will be good with older kids. He’s 
an awesome dog looking for a new loving family. 
Nigel will be a wonderful indoor pet for an active 
individual or family living in a large condo or 
private home. To watch a video of Nigel please 
visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr-4uWjjpCk

To meet Nigel in person, please see him at the 
Baldwin Park Shelter, located at 4275 N. Elton, 
Baldwin Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-430-2378 
or 626-962-3577). He is currently available now. 
For any inquiries about Nigel, please reference 
his animal ID number: A4460836. The shelter is 
open seven days a week, 12 pm-7 pm Monday-
Thursday and 10am-5pm Friday-Sunday. This 
is a high-intake shelter with a great need for 
adoptions. For more information about Nigel 
or the adoption process, contact United Hope 
for Animals Volunteer Adoption Coordinator 
Samantha at samanthasayon@gmail.com or 661-
309-2674. To learn more about United Hope 
for Animals’ partnership with the Baldwin Park 
Shelter through its Shelter Support Program, as 
well as the many dogs of all breeds, ages, and 
sizes available for adoption in local shelters, visit 
http://www.unitedhope4animals.org/about-us/
shelter-support-program/.