Mountain Views News     Logo: MVNews     Saturday, May 16, 2015

MVNews this week:  Page 9

9

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

Mountain Views-News Saturday, May 16, 2015 


LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND?


A FEW FUN FACTS ABOUT 
OUR FELLOW BEINGS

To share the Spring with? So is Mr. Red. He is a 
beautiful Chow mix, about 6 years old and weighing 
42 pounds. His fur is the most gorgeous reddish 
bronze color, although he has a bit of hair loss that 
may have been caused by hot spots or allergies. He 
is getting medicated baths at the shelter, and his fur 
is filling in. In spite of this, he is a very handsome 
boy.

 Mr. Red is a lovely, sweet dog with a very mellow 
temperament. He is a gentle boy who is friendly 
with people and with other dogs. He will greet you 
when you pass by his kennel with a smile on his face 
and a wag of his tail. Mr. Red is easy to harness and 
handle on leash, and he walks at a calm, leisurely 
pace. He enjoys getting out and socializing with 
the rest of his pack – both humans and dogs. Mr. 
Red is so well behaved, he was chosen to go to an 
adoption event at PetSmart, and he did very well 
meeting new people. He likes to get pets and 
attention from people, and will happily sit, or stand 
on his hind legs for a treat. And in return, he will 
give you a gentle kiss of thanks.

 Beautiful Mr. Red deserves to find a loving family 
to give him a comfortable, secure home. Come in 
to see if Mr. Red is the companion you are looking 
for. He is waiting to meet you! 

 He currently resides at the San Gabriel Valley 
Humane Society located at 851 E. Grand Avenue 
in San Gabriel. We are located off San Gabriel 
Blvd., north of Mission and south of Las Tunas. To 
arrange a ‘Meet and Greet’ with Mr. Red, please 
stop by any time from 10:00am to 4:30pm Tuesday 
thru Sunday. 

 His adoption fee is $135 and includes neuter 
surgery, vaccinations, microchip and a free wellness 
exam at a participating veterinarian. Feel free to 
call us at (626) 286-1159 for more information on 
Mr. Red. If you are interested in meeting Mr. Red 
or any of the other wonderful pets at the shelter, 
visit the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society at 851 
E. Grand Ave., San Gabriel, Calif., 91776, Tuesday 
through Sunday. For more information, call (626) 
286-1159. See our website at www.sgvhumane.org 
for information and photos of all our wonderful 
pets. 

 He currently resides at the San Gabriel Valley 
Humane Society located at 851 E. Grand Avenue 
in San Gabriel. We are located off San Gabriel 
Blvd., north of Mission and south of Las Tunas. To 
arrange a ‘Meet and Greet’ with Puppers, please 
stop by any time from 10:00am to 4:30pm Tuesday 
thru Sunday. 

 Pupper’s adoption fee is $120. This includes his 
neuter surgery, vaccinations, microchip and a free 
wellness exam at a participating veterinarian. He 
is also eligible for the shelter’s reduced-fee ‘Senior 
For Senior’ adoption program. 

 

 If you are interested in meeting Puppers or any of 
the other wonderful pets at the shelter, visit the San 
Gabriel Valley Humane Society at 851 E. Grand Ave., 
San Gabriel, Calif., 91776, Tuesday through Sunday. 
For more information, call (626) 286-1159. See our 
website at www.sgvhumane.org for information and 
photos of all our wonderful pets. 

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

Just when I think I’ve heard it all regarding the non-
human creatures we share this planet with, I come 
across yet another new interesting fact about how 
animals survive or why they behave the way they 
do, and I am again reminded of how little I actually 
know. Few things stimulate my mind as much as 
learning the how’s and why’s pertaining to our 
fellow life forms, and this week I thought I’d share 
a few fun (new-to-me) animal facts that I hope will 
stimulate your mind as well.

 For example, did you know that penguins use 
their feces to create cozy coves in which to breed 
their young? That’s right, when the time comes 
to lay their eggs, they gather closely together 
and intentionally deposit their poop within the 
proximity of their partners in order to melt the ice, 
so their eggs and subsequent hatchlings will have a 
nice warm spot to hatch and mature in. Talk about 
recycling, penguins put us humans to shame in 
their practice of the old adage, “Waste not, want 
not”!

 Another interesting tidbit that you’ve probably 
never before been privy to is one that the average 
grown man is bound to admire. We all know that 
snakes are, by nature, active breeders. But did you 
know that male snakes spend mega calories just 
doing “the deed”? The fact is, every spring, red-
sided garter snakes leave their hibernation burrows 
to engage in a frenzied jumble of mating, and 
studies show that this is no easy feat for the males. 
Indeed, this particular type of male snake spends 
up to a whopping 18% of his daily energy to ensure 
his personal mating success.

 Male red-sided garter snakes use all that energy 
to create gelatinous copulatory plugs that they put 
on the female after they mate, to trap the sperm 
inside and to prevent other males from penetrating 
and interrupting the process of their own sperm‘s 
procreation. Pretty amazing, eh? Unlike many 
humans who question paternal identity after 
the birth of their baby, red-sided garter snakes 
apparently don’t have to worry about taking a DNA 
test to determine “who’s the daddy” when their 
hatchlings arrive!

 And here’s a fun fact about bats 
that I thought was pretty amazing; 
It’s no news to most of us that bats 
are excellent flutterers, hoverers and 
dive-bombers. This is quite obvious 
to anyone who has observed them 
flitting about in the local skies, 
and scientists have known for quite 
some time that bats owe most of 
their incredible aerial agility to 
echolocation. However, recent 
research results attribute their 
remarkable navigation skills not 
only to the brain’s ability to sense 
space through echolocation, but also to sensors 
instilled in the bats’ wings themselves.

 In the April 30 issue of the journal, Cell Reports, 
bat wings are described as sporting a unique 
touch-receptor design. The design consists of tiny 
sensory cells associated with fine hairs that enable 
the animal to change the shape of it’s wings in a 
split second, granting them impressive midair 
maneuverability that our modern-day man-made 
drones would die for, if indeed they were alive to 
die. Oh the wonders of nature!

 Here’s one more new-found fact that doesn’t 
exactly fit into the category of fun, but it 
is interesting, and could help save a senior 
feline’s life. The United Kingdom based charity, 
International Cat Care recently reached out to 
veterinary specialists after receiving surprising 
complaints from cat owners that their feline 
friends were apparently having seizures in 
response to high-pitched sounds.

 A scientific survey of the cats’ owners revealed 
that the sound-induced seizures were more 
common in older cats, and the most common 
triggers were crinkling tinfoil, hitting a ceramic 
bowl with a metal spoon and tapping glass. Senior 
cat owners, this may or may not be a prevalent 
epidemic, but it certainly can’t hurt to be cautious 
and aware.

 In my constant quest to learn more about animal 
behavior and nature’s way of working its wonders, 
I am amazed on a daily basis and I hope you are 
equally impressed with these off-the-beaten-trail 
fun facts about our fellow beings. Take the time 
to enjoy nature and the wildlife it inhabits. Try to 
spend a short bit of time each day, away from the 
stresses of rushing traffic and hurried bustling we 
humans tend to engage in, and sit quietly; simply 
absorb the peaceful sanctuary of nature and it‘s 
ways. Love and let live.

Credited Source: www.livescience.com 


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 TACO: ANIMAL ID #A4827986

Looking for a great pup to lounge on the couch 
and eat popcorn with while watching old movies? 
Taco is your dog! Taco (A4827986) is a laid-back 
5-year-old gold and white male Chihuahua mix 
who was found in Whittier as a stray on May 7 
and brought to the Baldwin Park Animal Care 
Center. Weighing 12 lbs, little Taco is a friendly 
and easy-going dog with an affable personality 
and great temperament. He is a curious fella and 
enjoys being out and about meeting new people 
and other canines. His favorite activities include 
going for long walks (which is a real pleasure 
since he has such good leash manners), admiring 
nature, and having his butt scratched. Taco will 
be an awesome addition to any loving home. 
Visit Taco today! To watch a video of Taco, 
please visit the following link: http://youtu.be/
bWwR8wMDp90

 To meet Taco 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 Taco, please reference his 
animal ID number: A4827986. 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 Taco 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