Mountain Views News          Saturday, November 3, 2012

9

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

 Mountain Views News Saturday, November 3, 2012 


CLOSING THE GAP TO SAVE MILLARD CANYON

 I can’t think of a single friend or neighbor of mine here in Sierra 
Madre who doesn’t look forward to spending time trekking 
the trails, and checking out the birds and other local wildlife 
while exploring the forest as a means of relaxation during their 
evening and weekend time off. It seems for we foothill dwellers, 
there is no better way to find quiet time away from the hustle 
and bustle of city life than to head to the hills where the serenity 
of nature can bring healing to our hard-working hearts. Even 
people I know who are not what you’d call nature freaks admit 
they would rather be surrounded by the calm vibrations of the 
wilderness so readily accessible to us, than in any other place in 
LA, including the beaches. It pleases me to know that so many 
people appreciate nature and wildlife, but the people who invest 
their ‘time off’ actually doing what needs to be done to preserve 
those natural areas we all so enjoy, are the ones who impress me 
the most.

 The Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy is a fabulous network of 
nature-loving citizens, dedicated to preserving the wild habitats 
that some of us tend to take for granted, or are even completely 
unaware of. The group was born out of the need to prevent the 
development of foothill and arroyo natural areas that would 
otherwise become part of what I call the “progressive pavement 
process“. The La Vina estate development at the top of Lincoln 
Ave. in north Pasadena was in part what prompted the Arroyos 
& Foothills Conservancy to life. Unfortunately in spite of much 
effort and intervention, that project did move forward and we 
now see the results of what happens when an enormous natural 
land mass with a healthy vital ecosystem is suddenly replaced 
with human dwellings. I guess it’s a matter of perspective and 
those immediately affected were unable to voice their opinion 
in a language humans understand, because they are animals 
and plants, however time tells the true story and in the long run 
humans are also very much affected by the loss of wilderness 
land space.

 The Pasadena Audubon Society is a great group of people who 
love the outdoors and not only enjoy, but thrive on observing 
wildlife in it’s indigenous environment. Aside from their drive 
to learn and share their knowledge about nature and it‘s habitat, 
they are also self-appointed advocates of preservation for local 
natural areas, so it came as no surprise that they teamed up 
with Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy to help raise funds to 
save 13 acres of threatened land in Altadena’s Millard Canyon. 
The appropriately potentially protected property was relatively 
recently purchased by an individual with the intention of 
building private residential homes to market for sale but as it 
turned out the buyer decided that it made more sense to sell 
the property to the Conservancy, if they indeed could afford to 
purchase it.

 As a major part of the effort to procure and preserve the 13 
acres of natural wilderness in Millard Canyon, Mickey Long, a 
local resident and retired biologist/botanist who probably knows 
more about LA’s natural areas than most, offered to orchestrate 
a 12-week research study of bird species in the Millard Canyon 
this past Spring. Remarkably, 16 of the most knowledgeable 
local birders also volunteered to join in on the study, and the 
results were quite astonishing. The research team was successful 
in documenting 73 species of birds that either dwell and nest in, 
or annually frequent the area all of which strongly depend on 
the natural resources of the creek bed and the foliage it sustains. 
The results of the study ended up being extremely instrumental 
in gaining a government grant to help meet the $675,000 goal 
necessary to purchase and preserve the property, however a huge 
gap still remains to meet the goal even with the government 
funds that were granted.

 There are numerous reasons why Millard Canyon should be left 
alone and allowed to remain as it is, versus being invaded and 
developed for human residential consumption, but among the 
most delicate issues is the fact that it is a common connection 
between the hillside wilderness and the urban lowland sprawl 
where most of us live. Whether we are aware or not, there are 
very good reasons for nature to be allowed to thrive and survive 
as it typically does absent of human intervention. Secondly, 
Millard Canyon facilitates a major creek bed for the water 
that runs off the hills and down through the arroyo, which is 
essential to feeding the fauna that grows there, which in turn 
feeds the amphibians and other small species of wildlife, which 
ultimately feed the larger species of wildlife, all of which play a 
major part in the process of nature simply taking it’s course and 
ultimately keeping we humans healthy and happy. Without the 
natural resources that are provided by that particular area, the 
indigenous wildlife population would be expected to eventually 
migrate to a lesser appropriate location, such a into the urban 
areas, or potentially die out.

 The latest and greatest of good news about Millard Canyon 
came today, November 1 from John Howell Executive Director 
of the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy, who was very happy to 
report that the financial deficit for saving those 13 acres from 
potential destruction and urban development had dropped from 
$40,000 down to $27, 350 since mid October, which presents a 
promising hope for finally bridging the gap to save that area for 
the sake of the wildlife and ourselves.

 The Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy will meet 
their deadline for purchasing the 13 threatened 
acres in Millard Canyon on November 15, 2012. 
Hopefully by then they will find themselves in 
the position to celebrate and announce that 
those gorgeous acres of natural space indeed 
escaped the rape of the “progressive pavement 
process” and will be allowed to remain as they 
are; an healthy ecosystem where nature can to 
take it‘s course.

If you would like to take part in saving the 13 
threatened acres of natural space in Millard 
Canyon, spread the word with others in your 
community and visit the Arroyos & Foothills 
Conservancy website at: arroyosfoothills.org to 
make a tax deductible donation. In my opinion, 
there is no better way to invest one’s energy than 
to protect the environment that sustains them.


Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc


LENDING A PAW THERAPY DOGS” 
SPONSOR PET FOOD DRIVE

Lending a Paw Therapy Dogs is sponsoring a Pet Food Drive to 
support Foothill Unity Center’s Pet Food Bank as part of a pet 
wedding celebration.

On Sunday, November 18 at 10:00

Arcadia Congregational United Church of Christ

2607 S. Santa Anita in Arcadia

Therapy Dogs Ms.Margaret Rose Cortland and

Mr. Sundance Kid Melle

Will celebrate their wedding vows to be officiated by

Rev. Dr. Jolene Cadenbach

Because the happy couple is aware of how the poor economy has 
affected many pet owners’ ability to keep their pets, they are requesting 
donations of dog and cat brand name dry food for the 
Foothill Unity Center in lieu of wedding gifts; www.foothillunitycenter.
org. Donations by check (made out to the Foothill Unity 
Center) or cash also will be accepted. There will be a donation 
collection point at the wedding reception, or

contact Lending a Paw Therapy Dogs at 626-357-3575 to arrange 
a pickup. 

Foothill Unity Center serves the Foothill communities of the San 
Gabriel Valley and is headquartered in Monrovia. The Pet Food 
Bank helps people that would otherwise have to give up their pets 
because they do not have the money to feed them. In the first 
eight months of 2012, the Center has provided 671 unduplicated 
families with pet food. Lending a Paw Therapy Dogs has established 
a goal of at least 2000 pounds of pet food to be collected in 
order to sustain this program through the Holidays.

In addition, Maggie and Sundance would be honored to have 
you and your significant dog* attend the festivities. The reception 
will be on the church grounds immediately following the 
ceremony. The blessing of the animals will take place during the 
reception. (*It is extremely important that your pet is on a leash, 
friendly and have “church manners.” Clean up bags will be supplied 
if needed.)

Please RSVP to either twokuute@gmail.com or Immelle@aol.
com 

 

Our grateful thanks to this event’s generous supporters including: 
wonder Dog Ranch, Karren’s Kritters (Pet Rescue), Voice Communications, 
Cactus Communications, Happy Paws Dog

Grooming, and Monrovia Floral.

PET OF THE WEEK: PUMPKIN - #A4496749


Meet the amazing and adorable Pumpkin (A4496749)! Pumpkin is a phenomenal one year 
old brindle male Mastiff/Pit Bull mix puppy, found in La Puente and brought to the Baldwin 
Park Animal Care Center on October 8th. Weighing sixty-eight pounds, Pumpkin walks 
beautifully on the leash, sits on command and is undoubtedly housebroken. He seems to 
like other dogs, and we think he is the perfect playmate for children. Gentle and very treat-
motivated, he is a staff favorite who scored an “A” on his temperament test. Pumpkin will be 
an amazing indoor pet for an active individual or family living in a private home. To watch 
a video of Pumpkin please visit this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd6GYu1WxdM

To meet Pumpkin in person, please see him at the Baldwin Park lter, located at 4275 N. 
Elton St., Baldwin Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-430-2378 or 626-962-3577). He is currently 
available now. For any inquiries about Pumpkin, please reference his animal ID number: 
A4496749. 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 Pumpkin or the adoption process, please 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/.