Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 10, 2015

10

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 10, 2015


LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND??

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

GRAY WOLVES HAPPILY 
HOWLING, YET AGAIN

Looking For A Best Friend??

To start the year off right? 
Samantha is very sweet terrier 
mix girl, about 1 year old and 
weighing 10 pounds. She has 
medium length white and cream 
wiry fur that is easy to care for.

 Samantha loves people and is 
very friendly and affectionate. 
She is quite happy in a lap, being 
petted, or lying quietly by her 
companion. She will come to 
you and put her paws on your lap 
asking for some love. Samantha 
is a smart girl and has already 
learned the “sit” and “down” 
commands.

 Samantha gets along well with her kennel mate 
and seems to enjoy socializing with other dogs she 
has met at the shelter.

 Samantha has calm, gentle energy. She still 
needs some leash training, but she enjoys going 
on a walk and each time she is out she gets a little 
more comfortable with her harness and leash. She 
can be a little unsure of herself in new situations, 
but with a little encouragement, she is fine.

 Come in and meet sweet 
Samantha and see if she would 
fit into your family. She would 
be a good companion for an 
individual, couple or family, and 
would do well with another dog 
in the home.

 She currently resides at the 
San Gabriel Valley Humane 
Society located at 851 E. Grand 
Avenue in San Gabriel with 
her roommate. We are located 
off San Gabriel Blvd., north of 
Mission and south of Las Tunas. 

 To arrange a ‘Meet and Greet’ 
with Samantha, please stop by 
any time from 10:00am to 4:30pm Tuesday thru 
Sunday. 

 Her adoption fee is $120 which includes her spay 
surgery, a microchip, first vaccinations and a free 
wellness check-up at a participating veterinarian. 
Feel free to call us at (626) 286-1159 for more 
information on Samantha. 

 

 See our website at www.sgvhumane.org for 
information and photos of all our wonderful pets. 


The gray wolf has been an indigenous inhabitant 
of what we now call North America, since way 
before Euro-settlers came into residence and 
began documenting the history of this amazing 
continent. In that way, I guess we modern-day 
Americans could say wolves are our predecessors. 
In fact, the gray wolf has contributed enormously 
to the human’s success in occupying natural spaces 
globally, in all areas where they lived before us.

 When European settlers began to show up on 
the shores of North America, and proceeded to 
travel from one side of the continent to the other, 
the gray wolves and all other wild animals who 
lived here were forced to migrate and acclimate 
as necessary, in order to survive and keep their 
populations in tact. Eventually, as the natural 
spaces became more occupied by humans, most 
wolves and many of their wild counterparts were 
forced completely out of their natural habitats, 
only to find themselves on the opposite side of a 
fence, peering over at a new type of animal they’d 
never before been privy to - domestic pets and 
livestock.

 While the new American settlers were going 
about their business of taking over this continent’s 
natural landscape and bullying the indigenous 
people out of their way, they soon realized that the 
wolves could provide pelts for protection against 
the elements. And so, the wolf became the new 
American’s friend and their potential enemy all 
at the same time. The new-comers considered the 
wolf valuable for it‘s coat, but it was also a nemesis 
because of it’s desire and ability to eat their 
delicious livestock and pets. That is when man’s 
advantage of having guns and ammunition helped 
create a natural imbalance for all species involved, 
and sadly enough, the battle between wolf and 
human still continues to this day.

 In recent years, the gray wolf has been revered 
as friend by some and as foe by others, and I 
believe that our government is rather stuck in the 
middle. Unfortunately, many our federal folks 
are too easily influenced by the color green, and 
I don’t mean the environmental kind of green. 
Indeed, some of our elected officials on capital 
hill are vulnerable to the influences of lobbyists 
who are willing to pay to get their way on behalf 
of those who hired and pay them handsomely to 
pound the pavement for the mission. Fortunately, 
however, there are some “powers that be” who still 
maintain a standard of morality, 
and care about nature’s balance and 
understand how it effects all of we 
humans in both the short, and long 
run.

 One current “person of power“ 
who understands and cares about 
the balance of nature is U.S. District 
Judge Beryl A. Howell. In fact, she 
cared enough to use her power to 
overturn the 2012 decision made 
by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service that the gray wolves in 
the Great Lakes region should be 
removed from the list of protected 
endangered species. Last month, Howell made her 
would-be-but-not clandestine call based on the 
fact that the federal government had not complied 
with the Endangered Species Act of 1973 in their 
2012 decision. I am so pleased that we still have 
leaders who pay attention to the details, and care 
enough to bring important facts to light, and in 
this case I know it made all animal and nature 
lovers extremely happy! Kudos to our beloved 
Judge Howell.

 Now, let’s get down to the true reality that 
abides, and can bite when it comes to protecting 
wildlife in this country. Lobbyists will do and pay 
anything possible to get their way on capital hill. 
It’s a fact that most people apparently don’t like 
to address. I guess it’s because it sounds wrong 
in a nation that we want to think of as being so 
strong and morally sound. Well, the truth does 
bite at times, so let‘s keep it real. The wolves in the 
Great Lakes Region are protected from hunters 
and other killers for now, but they still need our 
support. Soon enough, there will be a swing of the 
pendulum. There will be more lobbyists snuggling 
up to our leaders to get what they want to satisfy 
the other side of the fence. So, those of us who 
understand and care about what is happening with 
the wolves and, ultimately, with nature’s balance, 
need to be vigilant.

 It takes a nation to save a wolf, so it seems. I 
beg all of you to please do your part by keeping 
yourselves informed of current and proposed 
legislation. Take a moment to contact your elected 
officials regarding issues of importance, when 
they arise. Conduct frequent internet searches on 
what’s happening with wildlife in America, and 
pay attention to what our leaders are doing on 
capital hill.

 I know we Sierra Madreans don’t live near the 
area immediately affected by this new switch of 
legislation - Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan 
(aka: Great Lakes Region) - but we should be 
supportive of any decision made to protect wild 
animals on our continent, and globally. We have 
our own battles to pick here in California, but the 
same mentality prevails for all states, which is the 
need to preserve nature’s balance, and all species 
that play a collective part in keeping it that way.

 Here’s to another wonderful win for the wild 
wolves ~ Love and let live! 


DogWalking & Sitting ServicesSierraMadre, Californiawww.canyoncanine.comchris@canyoncanine.comChris LeclercCanyonCanine626-355-8333 626-533-9536CCConCaCanyonCanineCanineeeieCCChris LeclercChris Leclercae,
chris@canyoncanine.com.canyoncanine.comwwwnCaSierraMadrare, CaliforCaalking&SonDogWWalking & Sitting ServicesonCa626-355-8333 62onCayeclercinnia6-533-95362eclerccanine.comanine.comani,CaliforirnanineSittingServiceseaninee
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY 

SEEKS THE PUBLIC’S HELP TO LOCATE 

ANIMAL CRUELTY SUSPECT(S)

WHAT: Animal Cruelty Victim 

WHEN: Sunday, January 4, 2015, 1:00 p.m.

 

WHERE: 700 E. Marshall St. (at San Gabriel 
Blvd.) 

 Vicinity of St. Anthony Catholic Church

 San Gabriel, CA 91776

 

WHO: Good Samaritan found severely abused 
male terrier mix dog with a rubber band tied 
around its snout causing deep painful lacerations 
and preventing it from eating or drinking

 

WHY: On Sunday, the dog was transported to the 
San Gabriel Valley Humane Society at 851 E Grand 
Ave. San Gabriel, CA 91776 by the Good Samaritan 
who found the stray and badly injured dog. The dog 
had a blue rubber band tied tightly around his snout 
resulting in lacerations that completely severed 
the dog’s muzzle down to his gums. Unable to eat 
or drink the dog was also malnourished. The dog 
weighs approximately 9 pounds but is substantially 
undernourished. He has long black hair with a small 
white blaze on the chest and flop ears. He is not 
neutered and has no microchip. He was wearing a 
blue collar with a rhinestone pattern.

 The dog is undergoing medical treatment at 
the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society and an 
investigation is underway to determine who is 
responsible for this act of animal cruelty.

 Animal Control Officers from the San Gabriel 
Valley Humane Society are asking for the public’s 
help to identify the dog and any possible suspects. 

ADDITIONAL: Photographs of the dog and its 
collar are attached to this News Advisory

CONTACT: For more information, please visit our 
website at HYPERLINK http://www.sgvhumane.
org or contact Doreen Hudson of the San Gabriel 
Valley Humane Society at (818) 378 0607. 

PET OF THE WEEK Winnie: Animal ID #A4786629 


Meet Winnie, a sweet little pup who is eager to 
please! Winnie (A4786629) is a regal 10-month-
old tan female Italian Greyhound and Chihuahua 
mix puppy who was found in West Covina and 
brought to the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center 
on December 23rd. Weighing 8 lbs, Winnie is a bit 
overwhelmed in the busy shelter environment and 
prefers being carried to walking on a leash at the 
moment. We expect that once she is out of the shelter 
and in a home environment she will be more eager 
to stretch her legs, and will blossom into a fun and 
loyal companion. Winnie has a long, sleek body, a 
medium-energy level, and seems to enjoy the 

company of other dogs. With her soulful face and 
cooperative disposition, Winnie will be an excellent 
best friend for either a first-time or experienced pet 
parent. To watch a video of Winnie, please visit the 
following link: http://youtu.be/I0x6VhC_1pU

 To meet Winnie in person, please see her at the 
Baldwin Park Shelter, located at 4275 N. Elton, 
Baldwin Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-430-2378 
or 626-962-3577). She is available now. For any 
inquiries about Winnie, please reference her 
animal ID number: A4786629. 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 Winnie or the adoption 
process, 

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/.