Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 17, 2015

10

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 17, 2015


LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND??

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

CLASSICAL FOR 

THE CANINE

Melba will be there for you! 
She is a happy, friendly terrier 
mix girl, about 4 years old and 
weighing 10 pounds. She has 
medium length white fur.

 Melba has an average energy 
level. She enjoys going on walks 
and is very easy to handle on 
the leash. She walks at a steady 
pace and is responsive to her 
handler.

 Melba loves people and 
enjoys getting attention. She 
is quite happy in a lap, being 
petted, and will roll over for a 
belly rub. 

 Melba is a very social girl 
who enjoys the company of her 
kennel mate as well as other dogs she has met at the 
shelter. She has a playful nature and often initiates 
friendly interaction with other dogs.

 Come in and meet lovely Miss Melba 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 Melba, 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 Melba. 

 

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


It is a well-known fact that music can play a major 
part in altering the mood of the human being. 
When I am feeling a little low on the energy level 
and I need a boost, all I have to do is tune in to one 
of my favorite classic rock or bluegrass channels 
on Pandora, let it play away, and before I know it I 
am up and about, dancing in my living room and 
cleaning my house like a white tornado! On the 
other hand, if I am feeling a little stressed or edgy, 
I turn on some of my favorite old gospel hymns or 
listen to a few of my best baroque buddies, Chopin 
and Mozart, whom I know will calm my nerves 
and settle my soul by serenading me with beautiful 
sonnets on the piano, clarinet and violin.

 Music inspires me in so many ways, but what 
does music do, if anything, for a dog? Numerous 
research studies have been conducted over the 
years, to determine how sounds might effect 
the behavior of the canine. Among the more 
scientifically important research studies is one that 
was performed by Belfast-based psychologist and 
animal behaviorist Dr. Deborah Wells in 2002. Dr. 
Wells undertook a research program to determine 
the influence of five types of auditory stimulation 
on the dog: human conversation, classical music, 
heavy metal music, pop music, and a silent control 
(no music at all).

 The results of Dr. Wells� study clearly indicated 
that classical music had a marked soothing effect 
on dogs in animal shelters when compared to 
the other types of auditory stimulation. In the 
discussion section of her published research, Dr. 
Wells stated, �Classical music resulted in dogs 
spending more of their time resting than any of 
the other experimental conditions of auditory 
stimulation. This type of music also resulted in 
a significantly lower level of barking. Research 
suggests that calming music may have a beneficial 
effect on humans, resulting in diminished 
agitation, improved mood and lower levels of 
stress. Although the specific effect of classical 
music on dogs remains unknown, the findings 
from this study suggests that it may, as in humans, 
have a calming influence.�

 Wells also observed that heavy metal music 
tended to agitate the dogs, which was mainly 
manifested by increased frequencies of standing, 
fretting and barking. Upon completion of the 
project, Dr. Wells stated, �Further work is still 
required to unravel the specific acoustic elements 
that dogs respond to.� Dr. Wells� 
research results inspired a small 
group of American scientists 
& musicians to embark on a 
subsequent study of their own.

 Their mission was to take 
bioacoustics research to a higher 
level, where no man had gone 
before. In 2005, neurologist Susan 
Wagner initiated and directed 
the Bioacoustics Research & 
Development (BARD) project, and 
working closely with her associates 
Joshua Leeds (sound researcher) 
and Lisa Spector (concert pianist), 
she came up with some very interesting and 
enlightening results which she and Lisa Spector 
later documented in a book entitled Through 
a Dog�s Ear. Sound is a complex phenomenon, 
consisting of energy waves, the speed of which are 
measured in units called hertz (one wave cycle per 
second).

 The normal range of sound heard by the 
human is about 20-20,000 Hz. Although audible 
frequencies varies from one species to another, 
we know that most animals have a much higher 
range of perception than that of the human, and 
dogs can receive up to at least 50,000 Hz. Volume 
or loudness of sound is measured in decibels (dB). 
A whisper is measured at a range of about 30 dB�s 
and a normal conversation occurs at about 50 dB�s, 
while the average rock concert is measured in at 
around 130. Perception of sound is what we call 
hearing. Dr. Wagner refers to the hearing side of 
sound as the science of psychoacoustics, which 
involves an individual�s psychological and physical 
orienting response to incoming Hz frequencies. 
In lay terms, it is the way one perceives what one 
hears, both biologically and mentally (and perhaps 
even spiritually).

 Although I typically prefer to refrain from using 
technical terminology, I describe these terms to 
help explain the overall point I wish to emphasize, 
which is the positive impact that calming, classical 
music can have on animals - particularly dogs. 
Interestingly enough, the final outcome and end 
results of Dr. Wagner�s 2005 study on how sounds 
effect the behavior of the dog, re-confirmed the 
findings of Dr. Wells� research project back in 2002. 
In short, because of physical sound receptors and 
ability to interpret what is heard, a dog�s response 
to sound is much like that of a human, but perhaps 
more intense.

 Therefore, because of the way a dog hears and 
responds to sound, it is safe to assume that classical 
music is an excellent choice to bring relaxation and 
rest to our canine companions. Not that it took a 
scientific study to prove that point to me. I�ve seen 
the results in my own home on a regular basis 
when Tater (RIP) used to go from baying at the 
leaf blowing landscaper across the wash, to laying 
still on her pillow on the porch in a moments 
time, because I tuned in to Bach or Beethoven on 
Pandora. Still, it is nice to know that even scientists 
agree that canines do love their classical music.

ABANDONED CHRISTMAS PUPPIES FIND HOMES

The first of the Christmas puppies go home! Yes, 
Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and he works 
year round. On Sunday morning the week 
before Christmas, 14 puppies were abandoned in 
two cardboard boxes at the San Gabriel Valley 
Humane Society. Fortunately, they were found by 
a volunteer dog walker and quickly taken to the 
clinic where they were examined and vaccinated. 

Word has quickly spread of the puppies and dog-
lovers have been eagerly waiting for them to be old 
enough for adoption. That happy day was Tuesday, 
January 13th and the shelter was flooded with calls 
from interested adopters. That was good news 
for Cassey and Cozette who were the first to be 
adopted and went home with their new families, 
followed by four more of their siblings before the 
end of the day. Two of the puppies happily pose 
with their new best friends!


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
PET OF THE WEEK Felix: Animal ID #A4789022

Meet Felix, a great pup that would make an 
awesome best friend! Felix (A4789022) is a 
wonderfully well-rounded 7-year-old male apricot 
Miniature Poodle mix who was found in Baldwin 
Park and brought to the Baldwin Park Animal Care 
Center on January 4th. Weighing 11 lbs, Felix is a 
friendly and outgoing boy who has been described 
as �perfect� by his handler on glamour shot day 
at the shelter! Not only does he have a gorgeously 
colored, hypoallergenic coat (that he sits calmly to 
have groomed), he also has a wonderful disposition. 
�Go with the flow� is this guy�s mantra. He seems 
suited to just about any situation, and he gets along 
happily with just about everyone. He enjoys the 
company of other dogs (both big and small), and 
he eagerly places his paws on human laps to kindly 
ask for more attention, please! He also walks well 
on leash and is highly treat motivated, so he will 
make an excellent walking companion for just 
about any individual or family around. To see a 
video of Felix, please visit the following link: http://
youtu.be/cViWvHjo9iw

 To meet Felix 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 available now. For any 
inquiries about Felix, please reference his animal 
ID number: A4789022. 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 Felix 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/.