Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 18, 2015

9

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 18, 2015 


LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND?

WHAT’S THE BUZZ?

BEES GET A BREAK FROM 
THE EPA? REALLY?

Bandit is a Jack Russell terrier mix 
with a lot of happy energy and a 
friendly disposition. Bandit is about 
10 years old and weighs around 22 
pounds. His coat is short and easy 
to care for, mostly white with some 
tri-color highlights.

 Bandit was surrendered to the 
shelter by an owner who could 
no longer care for him. It seems 
that Bandit spent most of his time 
tethered by a chain in his yard. As a 
result, Bandit has a sensitive throat 
and coughs when he is excited. 
Shelter staff and volunteers use a 
harness that does not put additional 
pressure on his trachea, and he does 
not wear a collar. 

 Bandit has a lot of energy for an older dog, and he 
loves to go for a walk. He will meet you at the gate of 
his kennel, smiling and wagging his tail, eager to go on 
new adventures. Bandit likes to sniff and explore the 
world and is very happy on his walks.

 Bandit is very friendly with people, and appears 
to get along well with other dogs he has met at the 
shelter. He is also quite playful, and enjoys fetching 
and chewing on soft toys. Bandit is a smart boy and 
will sit on command for a treat. He would probably 
respond well to additional training, as he seems eager 
to please.

 Even though Bandit is a senior dog, he is a spunky 
boy with a good energy level and he has a lot of life left 
to share with his forever family. He deserves a yard 
of his own where he roam freely and 
a soft bed where he can relax after 
playtime. Please come meet Bandit 
and you just might fall in love with 
him! Maybe he can be your new 
best friend? He qualifies for our 
‘Senior For Senior’ reduced-fee 
adoption program.

 His adoption fee is $120 which 
includes his neuter 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 Bandit. 

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

 To arrange a ‘Meet and Greet’ with Bandit, please stop 
by any time from 10:00am to 4:30pm Tuesday thru 
Sunday. Maybe you’ll see Bandit in the doggie high 
fashion show on the Promenade at Westfield Santa 
Anita this month. Mark your calendar for our 4th 
annual ‘Tea for Tails/Taste of Westfield’ event on April 
26th featuring Warren Eckstein and Garth Kemp. 
Guests will enjoy great food, swag gifts, raffles and a 
fun-filled silent auction. Call the shelter to reserve 
your tickets. See our website at www.sgvhumane.org 
for information and photos of all our available pets 
and more details on ‘Tea for Tails’. 


Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

It’s been a long time coming, and it may be just a drop 
in the bucket, but earlier this month the Environmental 
Protection Agency finally announced new restrictions 
on the manufacture and use of neonicatinoids, the class 
of pesticides implicated in causing the dieing-off of bees, 
contributing to colony collapse disorder (CCD). For those 
who have been even slightly tuned in to this on-going 
issue, you know how epic this new FDA restriction is. 
Well, they are calling it a restriction but in reality it is a 
temporary moratorium.

 In letters to companies that apply neonicatinoids 
outdoors, the EPA warned that it won’t be likely to issue 
new permits for their use until they can determine 
they won’t cause “unreasonable adverse affects on the 
environment”. While this first step toward protecting 
pollinators is good news, there is still much more to be 
done in terms of making changes for the better on behalf 
of the bees.

 The fact is, the US is way late to the party in terms 
of addressing adverse affects of toxic chemicals being 
used on our crops. The EU (European Union) put a 
moratorium in place back in 2013 when the scientific data 
was made available. What took us so long? Clearly our 
governing agencies move more like slugs than bees when 
it comes to protecting the environment. Why is this so? 
I am guessing it has to do with the fact that money talks 
louder than nature. If you travel down the rabbit hole of 
history, you will probably agree that bureaucracy is one 
beast that will never make it’s way to the endangered 
species list. Allow me to elaborate, and bear with me as I 
take a deep breath in order to do so.

 In September 2012, the Office of Chemical Safety & 
Pollution Prevention, the Office of Pesticide Programs, 
and the Environmental Fate & Effects Division in 
Washington DC got together with the California Dept. 
of Pesticide Regulation and a few environmental groups 
in Ottawa, Canada to draft a document entitled the 
White Paper in Support of the Proposed Risk Assessment 
Process for Bees, and submitted it to the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 
Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) for review. WHEW! I’m 
overwhelmed with red tape already, and I’m just getting 
started.

 So, the FIFRA and the SAP were given the White Paper 
document to review in consideration of coming up with a 
plan to begin assessing the effects of neonicatinoids. After 
all, what‘s the big rush, right? Remarkably, the very first 
sentence in the White Paper document reads, “Over the 
past 60 years the number of managed honey bee (Apis 
mellifera) colonies in the US has been in decline and 
recent reports have indicated that the 
numbers of insect pollinators have been 
in decline both in North America and 
Europe.” So in 2012, they knew there had 
been a problem for at least 60 years, and 
they were just getting around to doing 
something about it. One has to wonder 
what happened 60 years ago to initiate 
the mass death of pollinating bees.

 I am no chemist, nor am I a farming 
expert, but I can’t help thinking that 
Monsanto’s 1970 introduction of a new 
chemical called glyphosate to their 
pesticide products had something to 
do with it. Interesting timing, don‘t 
you think? Monsanto claimed the new 
chemical was environmentally friendly 
and would enhance crop renderings, so naturally the 
farmers, desperate to mitigate their losses, wanted to 
give it a try. Later discoveries resulted in the farmers 
begging to differ with Monsanto‘s claims. Indeed, the 
new products changed the way crops could be grown in 
most farming regions, forever. But by that time it was too 
late. The horse was out of the barn.

 The growers became disgruntled because Monsanto’s 
new pesticides, along with the synthetically altered 
seeds designed as proprietary partners to the pesticides, 
eventually prevented the effective propagation of purely 
organic seed crops due to wind and other forces of nature 
spreading the invasive synthetics throughout their lands, 
without discrimination.

 Don’t let the semantics confuse you. It’s really not all 
that complicated. Basically, Monsanto created a corner 
on the farming market when they convinced desperate 
growers that their new product was the answer to crop 
loss due to acts of God, when in reality the invasive 
seed and pesticide partnership took control of the 
farmers’ ability to choose which seeds they preferred to 
plant.

 What does this have to do with the bees? I believe it 
was the beginning of their demise. Knowing how much 
influence Monsanto has over our country and globally, 
and considering the timing, it just makes common sense. 
Our government has probably known neonicatinoids 
helped cause the bees demise for years, but until the 
profit loss of farm crops exceeded the potential loss to be 
sustained by Monsanto if their products were taken off 
the shelves, they refused to listen to the scientific data. I 
am really not a paranoid conspiracy theorist, but some 
things just seem obvious to me. Money talks, nature 
walks and unfortunately the bees get caught in the 
middle.

 So, this new “breakthrough” we are hearing about - 
the EPA addressing the diverse affects of toxic chemicals 
on honey bees - may sound like an epic event to some, 
but to me it sounds like a baby step in a valley of giants. I 
don’t know if the political powers in this country will ever 
get real with what’s causing colonies to collapse because 
unfortunately their lust for power and fortune dictates 
their behavior. Monsanto seems to be controlling the 
agencies that are supposed to be controlling them. It’s 
been going on for decades, about 60 to be exact. One 
thing is for sure; The environmentally conscious in the 
US will continue pressuring our government to do the 
“right thing”. Who knows? Maybe our voice is finally 
being heard on behalf of the bees. We can only WAIT 
and see.

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY - BARK FOR LIFE!

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2015 - 10AM – 1PM

A Canine Event to Fight Cancer

The City of Arcadia along with the Hope Can 
Cure Cancer Club from Arcadia High School 
is hosting a Bark for Life Event. Bark for Life is 
a noncompetitive walk event for dogs and their 
owners to raise funds for the American Cancer 
Society’s fight against cancer. Bark for Life is 
directly related to Arcadia’s Relay for Life and 
shares the theme, “Celebrate. Remember. Fight 
Back.” So bring your best canine friends and join 
us for a fun-filled day starting with a walk, and 
continuing with demonstrations, contests, and 
games. Keynote Speaker is Dr. Domotor from Dr. 
Domotor’s Animal Hospital. Please remember 
dogs must be on a leash and please be ready to 
clean up after your four legged friends.

By supporting Bark for Life, you help the American 
Cancer Society save lives, and that helps us move 
closer to our ultimate goal of creating a world 
with less cancer and more birthdays. To register 
your dog, please visit: www.relayforlife.org/
barkarcadiaca. The cost is $20 for your first dog 
and $10 for your second dog.

 WHERE: Arcadia Dog Park (Eisenhower Park) 
located on the corner of Colorado Boulevard and 
Second Avenue: 601 N. Second Avenue, Arcadia, 
CA 91006.

 WHO: All dog owners and (and lovers) and 
people who would like to help the cause.

 WHEN: Saturday, April 25, 2015 Registration 
begins at 9:00am; Opening Ceremonies start at 
10:00am

 For information contact: City of Arcadia, 
Recreation and Community Services, 626.574.5113 
or Carter L. Spruill at barkarcadia@hotmail.com 
or call 323.309.3954.

About the City of Arcadia

Nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel 
Mountains, Arcadia is an 11.38 square mile 
community with a population of just over 56,000. 
Located approximately 20 miles east of downtown 
Los Angeles, Arcadia is known for combining small-
town charm with the conveniences and amenities 
of a mid-size city. Arcadia is a full-service charter 
city governed by a five-member City Council, 
elected at large. Recognized for exceptional 
education and recreation opportunities and 
beautiful neighborhoods, Arcadia is also defined 
as the “Community of Homes” and has twice been 
designated the “Best City in California in which to 
Raise Kids” by Business Week Magazine.

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 Coco: Animal ID #A4816458

Coco is the type of sweet and deserving creature 
you just want to love forever! Coco (A4816458) is a 
gorgeous and graceful 6-year-old white spayed female 
Parson Russell Terrier mix. She came to the Baldwin 
Park Animal Care Center as an owner surrender on 
April 9th because her former owners could no longer 
care for her. Weighing 17 pounds, Coco is a loving 
girl whose beautiful looks turned heads during a 
recent glamour shot event! With her elegant frame 
and classic eye patch, Coco sure is a stunner. She has 
a great personality too: She is curious, calm, and an 
indiscriminate lover—dishing out kisses to everyone! 
She has a wonderful, medium energy level that makes 
her a great exercise companion. She walks capably on 
leash, too; but she could use some additional training 
to truly perfect her skills. Volunteers also saw her 
react non-aggressively towards the other dogs she 
interacted with at the shelter (even when one acted 
aggressively towards her!). Coco has a small growth 
on her thorax that will need to be examined by an 
outside veterinarian once she is adopted. She will 
make an exceptional family companion—perfect for 
outdoor excursions and rainy days indoors alike. To 
see a video of Coco, please visit the following link: 
https://youtu.be/hEJ0W2Uria0

 To meet Coco 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 currently available now. For 
any inquiries about Coco, please reference her animal 
ID number: A4816458. 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 Coco 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/.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com