Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 2, 2013

10

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

 Mountain Views News Saturday, February 2, 2013 


PET OF THE WEEK 

PIKA: #A4533348

ANIMAL ADVOCATES ALLIANCE MAKING A 
DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THEIR LIFE MATTERS

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

Meet a young girl 
with a big heart, Pika 
(A4533348). Pika is a 
well-adjusted one and 
one half year old black 
and white female Pit 
Bull puppy who was 
brought to the Baldwin 
Park Shelter on January 
12th. Weighing forty 
pounds, Pika walks well 
on the leash. She is fine 
with other dogs, but 
what volunteers think she will really adore are children! Pika 
has never met a face she did not want to kiss, and she will be a 
fantastic indoor pet for an active individual or family living in 
a large condo or private home. To watch a video of Pika please 
visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ize804HfCvY

To meet Pika in person, please see her at the Baldwin Park 
Animal Care Center, located at 4275 N. Elton St., Baldwin 
Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-430-2378 or 626-962-3577). She 
is currently available now. For any inquiries about Pika, please 
reference her animal ID number: A4533348. 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 Pika or 
the adoption process, please contact United Hope for Animals 
Volunteer Adoption Coordinator Samantha at Samantha@
hope4animals.org. 

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/.

 
OK, true confession ~ I just celebrated my 
50th birthday last week, and as most people 
do, I guess I consider this to be a landmark 
year! One thing I can say about getting 
older is that age seems to have instilled in 
me a stronger desire to pursue those things 
that I have always been compassionate 
about, and one of those things is to be 
proactive on behalf of the animals we share 
this remarkable planet with. Ever since I 
was a kid, I have had an intense sense of 
compassion for animals, wild and domestic, 
and as an adult I have shared what resources 
I could to make a change for the better by 
donating to select animal rights and animal 
rescue organizations. Well, with all that said 
I must say that with a half-century under 
my belt I can’t help thinking it’s time to do 
more. I know there are a lot of well-meaning 
groups out there that do good things to help 
animals, but I am on a constant quest to find 
the best in my area to invest in. During a 
recent search for a favorite rescue group, 
I was very pleased to have discovered an 
organization with the very same compassion 
and intention as my own.

 Animal Advocates Alliance (AAA) 
is a 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to 
promoting the humane treatment of 
animals through legal advocacy, humane 
education initiatives and animal rescue. 
AAA has made it their mission to reduce 
the animal euthanasia rate through humane 
education, spay/neuter initiatives and 
rescue/adoption programs. With the help 
of numerous animal-loving volunteers, they 
carry out their mission by implementing 
various practical projects. They rescue at-
risk animals from high-kill shelters, then 
provide veterinary care for and promote 
adoption of those animals by posting 
photos and descriptions on their website 
and linking that information to social 
network websites; they provide educational 
presentations in LA area schools with an 
emphasis on spaying & neutering as well 
as proper care and humane treatment of 
animals; they hold on-site pet adoption 
events and they advocate legislature for 
more humane animal treatment. Honestly, I 
can’t think of a more balanced and practical 
approach to making a change for the better 
on behalf of the animals.

 So, getting back to my inherent childhood 
compassion, one of my best memories is the 
time when I was about 5 years old and my 
dad took me and a few of my siblings to the 
local animal shelter so we could pick out 
a dog to be our pet. I remember choosing 
what most people might have considered 
to be a “mongrel”. He was a multi-mixed up 
mutt that I thought was the most beautiful 
beast I‘d ever seen. He was a long-hair black 
and tan shepherd sort of mix with chocolate 
brown eyes and a perpetual puppy-faced 
smile. Being the “baby of seven“, I guess I 
must have related to that poor little fella 
in some special way, and also being “the 
baby” I had some influence in the selection 
process, so we did end up adopting that 
pathetic little pup and 
we called him Rex. 
About a year later, Rex 
snuck out of the back 
yard and ran into the 
road where he was hit 
by a car. I thought my 
world had ended, but 
miraculously my dad 
was able to rescue him 
from the street and set 
his leg with some wood 
and masking tape we 
happened to have on 
hand at the house. We 
nursed him back to health and he gave us 
many years of the kind of happiness only a 
precious loving pet knows how to give.

 Regardless of why I became such an 
animal lover and advocate for their rights 
and humane treatment, I would not know 
what to do without the others who care 
as much as I do about giving potentially 
euthanized pets a second chance at life. 
Animal Advocates Alliance has wiggled 
their way into my heart by being the kind of 
people who remind me of my daddy when 
I was a little girl. They are the ones who will 
go out of their way and forego their own 
personal selfish desires in life to ensure that 
an animal is treated humanely. They’re the 
ones who will make all the difference in a 
world where many humans do not respect 
or even acknowledge the fact that God put 
animals on this earth for a very express 
purpose, and that we humans were given the 
responsibility to watch out for them. Indeed 
they are the ones who will also recognize 
the fact that if we fail to respect and care 
for the animals who share our space on this 
planet, we humans may not survive at all! 
For that I want to say thank you, Animal 
Advocates Alliance, for being the kind of 
people you are. People who love and respect 
God’s other creatures, and are willing to go 
out of your way to make sure all animals are 
given an equal chance at having a happy & 
healthy life.

 If you are interested in adopting a dog 
from Animal Advocates Alliance, visit 
their website adoption page at: http://
animaladvocatesalliance.org/category/
adopt-now-menu/ where you can view 
recently posted photos and descriptions 
of the furry four legged friends they have 
currently available. Or, you can attend one 
of their up-coming adoption events to be 
held on Sunday, February 10th and Sunday, 
February 24th at Pan Pacific Park, 7600 
Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles.

 For more information about AAA 
you can visit their website at: info@
animaladvocatesalliance.org. Or, you can 
write to them at: Animal Advocates Alliance, 
137 N. Larchmont Blvd. #708, Los Angeles, 
CA 90004

Support Rhae Rhae's Rescue 
Train and Marina Sanctuary 
Buy raffle tickets for an Avon gift bas-
ket, donated by Lisa Samaniego 
The value of the gift basket exceeds $50 
Purchase tickets by mail by cash/check to 
P O Box 971 
South Pasadena, CA 91031 
Include note with name and phone number so we can 
contact you if you win. Prices are $1 each 
6 for $5 
20 for $10 
50 for $20 
We will also be selling tickets in the Monrovia/Duarte 
area, with the prize basket available for viewing. 
Email us for location information, or with questions: 
DAVIDLUVS2ACT@GMAIL.COM 
DRAWING IS FEBRUARY 7th, in time for Valentine's 
Day!!! Winner needn't be present to win. If you buy 
some raffle tickets, YOU WILL SAVE LIVES! 
TIPS TO KEEP PETS HEALTHY

(StatePoint) Just as you can become tense and stressed out by your 
daily life, so too can your dog or cat. And pet anxiety is not only 
unpleasant for your pet and potentially damaging to your home 
and belongings; it can also lead to a host of other health and wellness 
problems.

With some simple lifestyle tweaks however, you can make scratching, 
digging, clawing, whining and crying a thing of the past. Here 
are some tips to reduce your dog or cat’s anxiety and make their life, 
and yours, a bit more comfortable:

Keep Pets Active

“Often, the source of a pet’s anxiety is lack of activity,” says Brian 
Atkinson, Director of Pet Training at Invisible Fence Brand. 
“Whether you have a dog or cat, regular exercise is crucial for a 
happy, anxiety-free pet.”

Be sure to give pets plenty of opportunities for outdoor exercise. 
Play games with your cat or dog that are both mentally and physically 
stimulating.

Grant More Freedom

If you’re like many pet owners, your schedule means leaving your 
dog or cat alone for long stretches of time. Granting safe access to 
your yard while you’re busy can alleviate this burden. Consider installing 
a pet door combined with a pet containment system.

“With proper training, dogs and cats can safely learn to understand 
and respect the boundaries of the yard,” says Atkinson.

Highly recommended by veterinarians, professional dog trainers, 
behaviorists and other pet experts, a pet door can reduce accidents 
inside the home, increase exercise, stimulate a pet’s senses and provide 
a change of scenery.

Opt for a programmable electronic pet door that’s customizable. 
For instance, the Invisible Fence Brand Doorman, which is completely 
secure against unwanted visitors with an automatic locking 
device, allows you to set different schedules, boundaries and rules 
for each pet. More information about such devices is available at 
www.invisiblefence.com.

Make Separation Easier

If your pet cries or misbehaves when you leave the house, you may 
need to take steps to reduce his or her separation anxiety. Desensitize 
your pet to anxiety-inducing pre-departure cues like putting 
your shoes on or packing your bag, by regularly doing these actions 
and staying put.

When you do leave, keep the radio on to keep your pet company 
throughout the day. Keep your absences short initially, gradually 
building up the length of time you’re away. And try to avoid making 
grand entrances and exits. The act of leaving and returning 
home should be as much of a non-event as possible.

Maintain their Space

Be sure to regularly clean litter boxes and keep your pet well-hydrated. 
Automatic litter systems, pet feeders and drinking fountains 
can help you maintain your pet’s living conditions, even when 
you aren’t there to do it yourself.

Don’t ignore your pet’s anxiety. A few household changes can take 
the stress out of being a pet, giving you peace of mind that your 
furry friend is happy and healthy.