Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 2, 2013

9

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

 Mountain Views News Saturday, March 2, 2013 


PET OF THE WEEK 

SEYMOUR: #A4542903 

MAN’S BEST FRIEND

 As owner & 
operator of Canyon 
Canine Dog 
Walking and Pet 
Sitting in Sierra 
Madre, I spend a lot 
of my time hiking 
the canyons and strolling the sidewalks of our small town with my 
furry, four-legged clients. On any given day, during the course of a 
dog walk in this tiny burg, it is not unusual to stumble across at least 
ten or twelve other dogs walking with their humans. Of the several 
dogs that I might come in contact with in such a short period of 
time, it is rare that any two are anything alike. The wide variety 
of colors, shapes, sizes and behavioral patterns among the many 
breeds of dogs in today’s society truly amazes me. My most recent 
internet search for how many dog breeds there are currently in 
existence rendered a result of 164 purebred canine types registered 
with the American Kennel Club. If you add the list of un-registered 
breeds that have been officially named and propagated throughout 
the US and other parts of the world, the total count comes to 
somewhere around 200 canine breeds and I must say, that blows 
my mind! Especially when you consider the fact that the variety 
of characteristics from one breed to another are the direct result of 
nothing more than a minute .2% genetic difference.

 For the past two centuries, man has been asphyxiated with the 
concept of forming the “perfect” dog through the applied science 
of eugenics, the intentional practice of “improving” or somehow 
altering the genetic composition of a given population. In this case 
the population happens to be the canine species, or what we dog-
loving Americans like to call “Man‘s Best Friend“. What lead to 
the human’s insatiable desire to create the ideal specimen of a dog? 
How did man come to rely on the canine to be his “best friend”? 
Well, there are various schools of thought on how it all came about, 
however a combination of extensive research & scientific studies 
have left little room for argument that the domestic dog we are so 
familiar with originated from the grey wolf, scientifically known as 
Canis lupus. The mainstream theory among most canine history 
research scientists is that man’s first one-on-one contact with the 
grey wolf occurred unintentionally. It is said to have happened 
sometime around 7000 BC (+/-), when the human population began 
to grow, moving away from an extremely primitive way of life, to 
occupy previously un-developed territories where they built living 
structures and established unprecedented property perimeters 
between themselves. The grey wolf was already in residence in the 
forests and other natural pristine spaces where man made claim to 
the land as “home“, therefore the interface between the two species 
became inevitable.

 Remains of the earliest known domesticated dog, scientifically 
known as Canis lupus familiaris, were discovered at the Jaihu 
archaeological site in China, dating back to the early Neolithic 
period (7000-5800 BC). Needless to say, a lot of changes occurred 
between that time and two hundred years ago, when intentional 
breeding resulted in the various varieties of the domestic dog that we 
know and love today. By the early 17th century, the dog had become 
a very important part of everyday human life. In fact, without the 
assistance of the dog, one can’t help but wonder where man would 
be today, in terms of basic survival and “progress”. During the 
earlier stages of canine breeding, the main focus was to develop a 
dog that would make life easier for the human. The hunting dog 
helped by keeping food on the table. Herding dogs helped control 
livestock, and perhaps the more loyal yet aggressive breeds served 
to protect the home and the family. Around the mid 19th century, 
man’s effort to refine the specific qualities and characteristics of the 
domestic dog had become far more focused on aesthetic values 
than practical needs, and by the turn of the twentieth century the 
dog had become well known as a symbol of social status.

 While the dog has proven to be man’s best friend over many 
years of change, man has proven to be somewhat less than a best 
friend to the dog. While the side effects of breeding were certainly 
not intentional, they definitely have taken their toll. One example 
of eugenics gone bad is in the case of the Dalmatian, sometimes 
known as the “Firehouse Dog”, mainly used as a carriage dog in 
its early days. The Dalmatian’s white and spotted coat are what set 
this breed apart from the others, however it is the white beneath 
the spots that is directly associated with its tendency for blindness, 
due to a gene that will not allow vitamin A to nourish the retina. 
Other examples of experimental breeding’s side effects include 
hip dysplasia in the German Shepherd and obsessive compulsive 
disorder in the Bull Terrier. Eye & ear allergies in the Bloodhound 
are other examples of undesirable results of intentional breeding of 
dogs for a specific purpose. Yes, man has benefited immensely from 
the efforts made to create the perfect pup. But there has been a high 
price to be paid.

 Fortunately, there is a proverbial pot of gold at the end of the 
eugenic rainbow. Scientific research on how to reduce the side 
effects of breeding have had a double benefit to human society. By 
studying the problems that prevail as a result of canine eugenics, 
we are also learning how to treat some of the diseases that we as 
humans fall victim to. So, the dog has indeed been man’s best 
friend through thick and thin, from the beginning to the end. In 
earlier days, the dog helped us move from the “cave to the castle”, 
now it helps lend knowledge and understanding for our own health 
as human beings. 

 Still, I stand for the ideal of adopting and not shopping for 
domestic pets. I dream of a day when there will be fewer animals 
held and euthanized in shelters throughout our country. All the 
beautiful breeds are amazing to behold, but until we humans get a 
grasp on the responsibilities that come with that beauty, I believe we 
should refrain from breeding and focus on finding forever homes 
for the millions that are now being held captive behind bars, hoping 
someone will care enough to love them and give them a good life.

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

Meet a stunning 
puppy, Seymour 
(A4542903). 
Seymour is a 
gentle giant - an 
eight month old 
tan and black 
Black Mouth 
Cur puppy who 
was forsaken 
at the Baldwin 
Park Animal 
Care Center on 
February 12, 
2013 because his 
former owner 
claimed he had 
such a busy life 
he had no time 
for his puppy. 

 Weighing forty two pounds, Seymour sits on command, is 
learning to walk on leash and is responsive to treats, which he 
takes politely. His former owner says he gets along well with 
other dogs, and that he is good with children. This handsome boy 
scored an “A” on his shelter-administered temp test. Seymour is 
the perfect indoor pet for an active individual or family living in 
a private home. To watch a video of Seymour please visit: www.
youtube.com/watch?v=1VGQRWoRbh4

 To meet Seymour 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 Seymour, please 
reference his animal ID number: A4542903. 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 Seymour 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/.


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