Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 9, 2013

10

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

 Mountain Views News Saturday, February 9, 2013 


PET OF THE WEEK 

LEO: #A4536199 

DIRT DIAMOND DIGGING DOGS

 My beloved mutt Molly was wandering 
around in the backyard recently, sniffing 
about and nosing in on certain points of 
focus, as she often does. Eventually she found 
a particular spot that interested her enough 
to dig a deep hole in the dirt. She then stuck 
her entire face down into the hole with her 
front legs bent low and her tail held high, 
wagging intensely. After about a minute of 
pressing her pointy nose down into the soft 
soil, she finally emerged and turned to me 
with a messy, muddy mustache and a look 
of disappointment on her face. I always get 
a kick out of watching Molly’s curious antics 
as she meanders between the trees and 
bushes digging what appear to be random 
holes in our yard, and I wonder exactly what 
it is that she thinks she might find in that 
subterranean playground of hers.

 When I mentioned Molly’s peculiar 
behavior to my husband he said, “Maybe 
she’s looking for truffles.” That gave me a 
good chuckle, as I am sure there are none 
in our yard, and besides, until recently I 
thought only pigs were used to find truffles, 
but I must admit that‘s what it looked like 
Molly was up to. The fact is, I am sure Molly 
smells the moles that burrow and nest 
underground on our property, and that‘s 
why she is so intent on digging in the dirt 
like a mud monkey.

 Ironically enough, just a few days after 
Molly‘s backyard mud mauling adventure, 
I happened to come across an article about 
dogs that hunt truffles entitled Diamonds 
in the Dirt, in the January issue of Sunset 
Magazine. Apparently truffles have become 
real big business in the culinary industry 
and it is no trifle task finding the rarest most 
desirable specimens, some of which can 
fetch thousands of dollars per pound in the 
European and American auction markets. 
In fact, locating truffles underground 
would be a nearly impossible task without 
the amazing skills of a trained truffle-
hunting dog, making a good truffle-sniffing 
canine no trifling commodity. Or, as the 
Truffle Hunting Dogs website so aptly puts 
it, “Truffle dogs are worth their weight in 
gold”!

 It fascinates me that a dog is able to sniff out 
a truffle nestled deeply under the dirt. I have 
never seen, held or smelled a truffle myself, 
so I’ve always assumed they were similar to 
mushrooms; some a bit tastier than others 
but, for the most part, rather flavorless and 
therefore equally scentless. Well, boy oh 
boy, was I ever wrong. Apparently most 
truffles have a in intensely potent scent, 
some quite spicy and exotic tasting, so in 
light of that I guess it makes more sense to 
me that a dog could run randomly through 
a forest and pick up the distinctive scent of 
a hidden treasure-truffle wafting up to the 
surface from below. You see, the canine’s 
olfactory senses are exponentially keener 
than that of the human. The average dog 
has 220 million olfactory receptors in its 
nose while the human has only 5 million, 
allowing the dog to detect even the slightest 
scents that would go absolutely unnoticed 
by the human being.

 So, what kind of dog makes the best 
truffle hunter, and how do you go about 
training a dog to sniff 
out those valuable 
nuggets hidden beneath 
the earth’s surface? 
Well, apparently a 
variety of canine breeds 
have proven to succeed 
in truffle-hunting. From 
what I understand the 
training techniques are 
somewhat similar to 
those used in preparing 
canines for police or 
search and rescue work. 
One truffle enthusiast 
who was featured in the Sunset Magazine 
article goes truffle hunting with his curly-
coated canine, Tom, a 35-pound Lagotto 
Romano and as a team they have succeeded 
in finding some pretty amazing Piedmont 
White truffles in northern Oregon. The 
Lagotto Romano is an Italian bred poodle-
spaniel that dates back the 16th century. In 
France, where Perigord Black are the truffles 
of choice, the desired pup of pursuit is more 
likely to be a prick-eared terrier type of no 
discernable breed. Hey, maybe Molly has a 
little of that blood mixed in with her doggie 
DNA.

 Being the ultimate equal opportunity 
dog-lover that I am, I imagine just about any 
canine with a good snout and a willingness 
to learn & obey could be trained to hunt 
truffles just as they could be trained to do 
anything their master desires. Who knows, 
maybe someday Molly will go to school for 
truffle hunting training and make us a fat 
fortune finding ugly yet very tasty and very 
expensive “dirt diamonds”! OK, so I won’t 
hold my breath, and hopefully neither will 
she. After all, we wouldn’t want her to loose 
her inherent drive for sniffing things out in 
the dirt now would we?


Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

Meet an awesome 
little gentleman, Leo 
(A4536199). Leo is a 
charming one year old 
white neutered male 
Poodle puppy who 
was dumped at the 
Baldwin Park Animal 
Care Center on January 
23rd because his former 
owner had more than 
the three dogs permitted 
under his community’s 
law. 

Weighing thirteen pounds, this happy puppy has not had any 
leash training, but he is quite well socialized. Great with other 
dogs, we think Leo will be fantastic with children. Leo is a playful 
puppy who is going to make a marvelous indoor pet for anyone 
in any living situation. He is just a gem. To watch a video of Leo 
please click here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfp-Qu3b7eM

To meet Leo in person, please see him 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). He is currently available 
now. For any inquiries about Leo, please reference his animal ID 
number: A4536199. 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 Leo 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/.


Molly


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! 
DENTAL DISEASE IN PETS – PART II

Prevention of dental disease is crucial to the health of 
your pet. This starts with your pet’s annual wellness visit 
to your veterinarian. Every year, and twice a year if your 
dog or cat is 7 years or older, your pet should be examined 
by a veterinarian and have a complete blood count, blood 
chemistry, heartworm test, intestinal parasite detection 
test, a urinalysis and a thorough oral exam; this is often 
where dental disease is first diagnosed. Part of the dental 
exam should include a new test called OraStrip that can 
be used right during your visit to determine the severity of 
periodontal disease. This test is more accurate than a visual 
exam alone, but should be used in conjunction with the oral 
exam. Owners can see the result of the test right then and 
there.

If your veterinarian finds broken teeth, red, swollen or 
bleeding gums, loose teeth, a foul odor, gingival masses, 
oral masses, and calculus on the teeth, a dental diagnostic 
and therapeutic procedure should be performed. This 
requires anesthesia. Owners should be careful not to be 
conned into the myth that anesthetic dental procedures are 
dangerous and to fall for teeth cleaning at grooming places 
and pet store personnel. These procedures are done illegally 
by unlicensed and untrained people, who can do more 
harm than good to your pet. Just ask yourself, would you 
let your hairdresser do your dental work? Anesthesia allows 
the veterinarian to do a thorough exam, explore around the 
teeth for periodontal pockets, and perform dental x-rays 
to find disease not visible above the gum line. Pets can 
benefit from every dental procedure available to humans, 
including implants, orthodontia, root canals, crowns, and 
cavity restorations. A careful chosen anesthetic protocol 
and vigilant monitoring of the patient during anesthesia 
and recovery make this a very safe procedure.

Your veterinarian will counsel you on preventive dental 
home care. Just like for humans, tooth brushing at home is 
the mainstay of home care for dogs and cats. Ask to receive 
information about toothpaste, tooth brushes, oral rinses, 
and dietary products that can help you maintain oral health 
in your pet. Home care can’t replace dental care by your 
veterinarian when needed, but it can lengthen the intervals 
between procedures. Good oral heath will greatly extend 
the life span as well as the quality of life of your pet.

LOVING HOME NEEDED ASAP!!!

My name is Cliff and my 
human parents have to 
move to a senior community 
that doesn’t allow dogs 
my size, (I’m 20” tall and 
weigh about 60 lbs.) so I 
have to find a new, loving 
home to bring my unique 
style of love and devotion 
too.

Even though I’m bigger 
than most, I am a Blue Merle, slightly larger than a Mini, Australian 
Shepherd. I was born Jan 7, 2008 making me 5 years old and 
I’m in very good health. 

Here are some things you’ll want to know about me:

1. I am house/potty trained 

2. I’m used to being able to go in and out of the house through the 
doggie door whenever I want.

3. I sleep indoors in the room with my parents.

4. I am a graduate of the Pet Smart basic obedience class. 

5. I take my owners on a 2-mile walk every day.

6. I like kids

7. I like other dogs (more so when I’m off my leash)

8. I do bark at the mail carrier and others when they come to the 
door. 

9. I just got all my shots up to date last Sunday, uck!

10. And I think cats were put on earth for the joy of being chased 
by dogs.

To learn more about me call Mark at 626 355 1951 or email me: 
markwebb9@gmail.cm