Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 17, 2013

11

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

 Mountain Views News Saturday, August 17, 2013 


PET OF THE WEEK

A STREET CAT NAMED BOB

A Best Seller Inspired By A Best Friend

KEITH: #A4614639

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc


Behold an 
amazing dog, 
friend, and 
playmate, 
all in one 
stunning 
package! 
Meet Keith 
(A4614639). 
Keith is a staff 
favorite, a 
brilliant three 
year old black 
and brown 
brindle male 
Labrador Retriever/Shepherd mix who was found in El Monte on 
August 2nd and brought to the Baldwin Park Shelter. Weighing 
seventy pounds, the very affable Keith walks okay on the leash, 
but this well socialized boy could use a bit more training. An 
intelligent dog with a sense of humor, this playful pup adores 
children and belly rubs, and is good with other canines. Keith 
is the ultimate family dog who will make a tremendous running 
buddy and indoor pet for an active family living in a private 
home. To watch a video of Keith please visit this link: www.
youtube.com/watch?v=QvIm8OAGs3I

 To meet Keith 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 Keith, please reference his animal ID 
number: A4614639. 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 Keith 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/

Anyone who denies the fact that animals play 
a very important role in the lives of humans 
has a heck of a lot to learn about animals, and 
about humans for that matter. I was taught, and 
quickly convinced at a very young age that God 
created all animal species and placed them on 
this earth for very specific purposes, not the 
least of which is to help bring joy to the hearts 
and wisdom to the minds of humans who need 
it most. Throughout my life, I’ve heard numerous 
accounts of animals helping people heal, both 
emotionally and physically, so although the true 
story I am about to share is a remarkable heart-
warming example of this fantastic phenomenon, 
it came as absolutely no surprise to me.

James Bowen was a homeless heroin addict 
trying to eek out a sparse living playing guitar for 
tourists and passers-by on the streets of London 
for a decade, when in 2007 he moved into a 
government-sponsored apartment building 
where he came across a sickly kitty, equally as 
desperate as himself. The pitiful but hopeful 
orange tabby cat he found wandering the hallways 
of his new dwelling was riddled with fleas, and 
hungry as could be. It was clear at first glance that 
the cat he’d just met had no home and probably 
spent it’s days roaming about town, foraging and 
begging for necessities to sustain it’s life. he could 
so relate to that lonely little guy.

In spite of the dire circumstances that could 
have caused that poor cat to resist interacting 
with a human being, he chose to humble himself 
and make it clear to Bowen that he was open to 
establishing a long term friendship with his new-
found two-legged acquaintance. And rather than 
refusing the furry feline’s friendship, considering 
his own limited resources and personal problems, 
James Bowen chose to take that little kitty in and 
do what he could to restore him to good health. 
Bowen recognized the striking similarities in 
both of their circumstances, and felt compelled 
to connect by their common need for two basics 
in life; love and companionship.

That proved to be an excellent choice on that 
desperate man’s part, because the needy cat that 
found him that day did indeed get healthy, and 
became a catalyst for some desperately overdue 
positive changes in Bowen’s own life. You see, 
when a person is “down on their luck” or having a 
tough time surmounting the challenges of life they 
often tend to pull away from others, distancing 
themselves from successful individuals whose 
lifestyles might strike a vivid contrast to their 
own, causing even more discouragement and 
deeper depression.

We all like to think we are OK, don’t we? And 
we all hope to be accepted by others, whether we 
admit it or not. But, when we view ourselves as 
inferior to other people, it is easy to put ourselves 
down and slip into the chasm of chaos that 
comes with having a sense of being a misfit in 
society. Fortunately, cats don’t think in terms of 
comparing themselves to other people, nor do 
they judge others the way humans do. So, when 
Bowen caught up with that furry feline that day, 
no condescendence or rejection was exchanged 
between the two, therefore there was no need to 
retreat from pursuing a closer companionship. 
They took to each other right away, and Bowen 
decided to name his new-found friend “Bob”.

When Bob got healthy enough to tag along, he 
began to accompany Bowen on his sidewalk 
concert trips each day, perching himself on 
Bowen’s shoulders where he could keep up with 
him, without getting lost in the crowd. As Bowen 
played guitar in the streets for tourists and other 
passers-by, Bob entertained them with little 
tricks and using his easy demeanor and positive 
vibrations, he drew the crowd in. It wasn’t long 
before Bowen‘s street art musical act became quite 
the attraction in the neighborhood, and the tips 
landing in his hat showed it. Bowen recognized 
that his new friend, Bob was the main reason for 
the growing interest and growing income. Bowen 
had also been working very hard at cleaning up 
his own act since he and Bob found each other. 
After all, when you have someone else besides 
yourself to be responsible for, you can’t afford 
to waste money on drugs and you will always be 
more willing to keep yourself healthy when you 
know you have a loved one who is depending on 
you.

Ultimately, to this day James Bowen has remained 
clean and sober and he even wrote a book about 
how Bob saved his life. The book, entitled A Street 
Cat Named Bob, published in 2012 (Hodder & 
Stoughton - UK) became a best seller, so use your 
own imagination to guess how Bowen’s life must 
be very different these days compared to how it 
was before he met Bob when he was a homeless 
addict barely surviving in the streets.

Now, if you are still not convinced that animals 
can play a major role for the better in the lives 
of we humans, I have to say that your theory will 
get you absolutely nowhere, and you will miss 
out on the amazing blessings animals can bring 
to your life. There is a passage in the Bible that is 
often condensed in a phrase that goes something 
like this: “Pride goes before the fall.” Well, I 
believe that is very true and I also believe that 
human pride is why God knew we would need 
the animals to help humble us for our own sakes. 
Take it with a grain of salt, show respect for all 
species, enjoy life to it’s fullest and last but not 
least, love and let live!

 Consumer products maker Procter & 
Gamble is recalling some of its dry food 
for dogs and cats due to possible salmonella 
contamination.

 No illnesses have been reported to date.

 The company said the recalled products 
include certain Eukanuba foods for 
both puppies and adult dogs, and some 
Iams puppy and adult dog foods and 
kitten and adult cat foods. The products 
were made during a 10-day window at a 
single manufacturing site.

 For a list of the specific types of food 
recalled, visit www.eukanuba.com or 
www.iams.com .

 If their food is contaminated, salmonella 
can affect not only the pets 
that consume the tainted products, but 
also the owners who handle the tainted 
kibble.

 Pets with salmonella may be lethargic 
and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, 
fever and vomiting. Some pets will have 
only a diminished appetite, fever and 
abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise 
healthy pets can be carriers and infect 
other animals or humans. Owners 
whose pets display symptoms should 
contact their veterinarians.

 Salmonella symptoms in humans in

clude nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or 
bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping 
and fever. In rare cases, there can be 
more serious ailments such as arterial 
infections, endocarditis or heart infection, 
arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation 
and urinary tract symptoms. Anyone 
with symptoms should seek medical 
treatment.

 Consumers who have any of the recalled 
products should stop using them 
and throw them away. Consumers are 
also advised to contact Procter & Gamble 
at 800-208-0172 or at www.iams.
com or www.eukanuba.com.


DOG & CAT FOOD RECALL: 

Some Eukanuba, Iams pet foods recalled over salmonella