Mountain Views News          Saturday, June 13, 2015

9 Mountain Views-News Saturday, June 13, 2015JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS 9 Mountain Views-News Saturday, June 13, 2015JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS 
LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND? 


COPING WITH CANINE 
AGGRESSION 


Is your Dog a Pain, Due to Pain? 

Have you ever wondered why your dog “acts out”
unexpectedly? It’s not an uncommon scenario;
you’re in the house or your yard minding your ownbusiness, when you reach out to pet your dog playfullyand she or he yelps and gives you a bit of a growl asif to warn you to stay away. I had that experiencewith my bloodhound on several occasions, and atfirst I blamed it on her purebred genetic make-up.
In fact, one of my lesser endearing nick-names forTater was “In-bred Re-tread”, because I assumed that 
her unpredictable behavior was due to inbreedingthroughout the history of her ancestry.

However, after having read articles on the subject,
and having consulted with my vet and a few dogtrainers, I later learned that there are many otherpotential reasons why a dog becomes aggressive. Inone article posted on the “science daily.com” website,
I read that a much more common, yet less recognizedreason for canine aggression is undiagnosed and,
therefore, untreated physical pain.

In a 2010-2011 study, research scientists fromthe department of Animal and Food Science atthe Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) inSpain, analyzed 12 dogs with aggressive behaviorissues (Giant Schnauzer, Irish Setter, Pit-bull,
Dalmatian, 2 German shepherds, NeapolitanMastiff, Shih-tzu, Bobtail, Catalan Sheepdog, Chow-
chow and Doberman) and remarkably enough, all 12were diagnosed with aggression due to physical pain.

Equally remarkable was the fact that 8 out of the 12were found to have hip dysplasia, as was outlined byTomas Camps, author of the study published in theJournal of Veterinary Behavior. The study focused on4 main points; the most frequent circumstances, themost characteristic positions, the most frequent targetof aggression, and whether the dogs showed signs priorto an attack or attacked suddenly and impulsively.

Several deductions were drawn during the UABstudy, but one general observation made was thatdogs known to be aggressive for whatever reasonbefore the onset of pain, typically gave warningsuch as a raised lip or a growl before attacking andwere most apt to attack when food was taken away,
when they were moved from their rest area, or whenthey were made to do something. On the otherhand, dogs with no history ofaggression prior to the onset ofpain typically reacted in such away when an attempt was madeto control them, in which case 
they gave no warning, ratherthey reacted on impulse.

This information is valuable 
to an owner whose dog responds 
with aggression, because it helps 
determine the reason behind 
the behavior, prompting the 
owner to look into potential 
physical conditions that may 
need treatment. In the case of 
my bloodhound, I am quite 
sure some of 

PET OF THE WEEK CHARLIZE: ANIMAL ID #A4832899 


Meet a lovely lady with endless charm, Miss 
Fabulous herself, Charlize! Charlize (A4832899)
is a snazzy 3-year-old gray-and-black female 
Siberian Husky mix who came to the Baldwin 
Park Animal Care Center as a stray from La 
Puente on May 21st. 

Weighing 57 lbs, Charlize has a medium energy 
and is sure to settle into a stylish, knockout beauty 
once she gets the care and love she deserves (she 
seems to have been kept in a yard and has fly-
strike marks on her ears to prove it). Charlize will 
also benefit from some leash training to correct 
her pulling and to teach her to stride like the good 
canine citizen and athlete we know she can be. 
She showed us that she’s okay with other dogs—
nonreactive and, in truth, not very interested. She 
is curious about her surroundings and people, 
however, and she’s big on treats, so we assume any 
training will go easily. We think the best future for 
her would be as an indoor pet with an individual 
or family that understands the Husky breed and 
wants to provide Charlize with the love, care, and 
activities she needs to be one movie-star pup!
Volunteers love this girl, and feel she would be a 
great companion to anyone. To watch a video of 
Charlize please visit the following link: https:// 
youtu.be/C9IVIeOZI5A 

To meet Charlize in person, please see her at the 
Baldwin Park Shelter, located at 4275 N. Elton,
Baldwin Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-430-2378 


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 
her aggressive 
Happy Tails 

by Chris Leclerc 

behavior was due to the pain she felt when her ears 
got infected. For this reason, I took her to the vet 
frequently for ear cleanings and medication, and 
I avoided rubbing the area under her floppy ears 
when I knew she was fighting an infection.

One of the most common causes of canine 
discomfort is hip dysplasia, as shown in the 20112012 
UAB study as well as in numerous other 
research studies conducted over the years invarious countries. Hip dysplasia is an hereditarydegenerative bone disorder that occurs in the hip/
femoral head joint and affects more than 40% ofGolden Retrievers, Labradors and Rottweilers as well 
as several other large dog breeds. It is a very painfuland debilitating disease, and dogs who suffer fromit can, understandably become aggressive whenhandled or even touched. 

Knowing this can be very helpful to an owner whowants to be sensitive to their dog’s condition andavoid causing them more pain. The key to helpingprevent the onset of unnecessary pain and potentialaggression due to hip dysplasia is early diagnosis. If 
you suspect that your dog might be at risk for thispainful disease, keep an eye on his gate while youare walking him on leash, and watch the way hemoves about in the house and yard. The signs of hipdysplasia in a canine are pretty obvious; you’ll seeless freedom of movement in the hips and stiffness 
and awkwardness when the dog sits or attempts torise from a lying position.

There are several nutritional products on themarket said to help prevent hip dysplasia, so it can‘thurt to add the recommended supplements to thedog’s daily diet. Also, consult your veterinarian ifyou do see such signs, for diagnosis and treatment ofthe problem in it’s early stages.

Finally, if your typically easy-going dog is walkingand moving about just fine, but has started to showsigns of aggression unexpectedly, you might considera general check-up with the vet, just to make sureeverything is OK, even if it’s just for your own peaceof mind. After all, our beloved canine companionsgive so much of themselves to us, the least we cando for them is to keep them healthy and happy. Loveand let live! 

DogWalking & Sitting ServicesSierraMadre, Californiawww.canyoncanine.comchris@canyoncanine.comChris LeclercCanyonCanine626-355-8333 626-533-9536CCConCaCanyonCanineCanineeeieCCChris LeclercChris Leclercae,
chris@canyoncani.canyoncawwwnCaSierraMadrae, CaliforCaalking&SonDogWalking & Sitting ServicesonCa626-355-8333 62onCayeclercinnia6-533-95362eclerccanine.comanine.comani,CaliforinanineSittingServiceseaninee
or 626-962-3577). She is available now. For anyinquiries about Charlize, please reference her 
animal ID number: A4712251. 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 Charlize 
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/sheltersupport-
program/. 

To enjoy the summer with? Butch is a 
young Beagle mix who wonders how 
he ended up in the shelter. He was 
found as a stray dog in San Gabriel and 
found the whole shelter experience 
overwhelming at first. He was given 
some extra time to get used to his 
new surroundings before becoming 
available for adoption. Once he got to 
know the staff and the shelter routine, 
he warmed up quickly, and is making 
great progress in adjusting to this new 
situation. 

Butch is a little less than one year oldand weighs 16 pounds. He has a veryshort velvety coat in shades of grayand black, with some white highlights and even a few 
spots. He’s quite handsome and has a charming wayof wrinkling his forehead when he is curious aboutnew sights and sounds around him.

Butch is easy to harness and loves going for walks. Heis interested in all the new smells in the neighborhood,
as well as all the people and dogs along the way. Butch is 
a smart boy and has a healthy curiosity about the world,
taking it all in. He will sit or stand on his hind legs whentempted with a treat, and he would most likely be easy totrain. 

Butch may be a little shy when first meetingsomeone new, but once he has a few minutes to getacquainted, he will be climbing into your lap andgiving you a kiss or two. He’s a friendly boy who likes 
people. Butch also seems interested in other dogs,
and gets along well with his kennel mate.

Butch has a happy, friendly spirit that he radiatesto those around him. He is sure to bring joy to the 

lucky family that gives him a foreverhome. If you think you might beable to give Butch the loving, securehome he deserves, please come in tomeet him soon. 

He currently resides at the SanGabriel Valley Humane Societylocated 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 Butch, pleasestop by any time from 10:00am to4:30pm Tuesday thru Sunday.

His adoption fee is $120 

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 Butch. 
If you are interested in meeting Butch 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 andphotos of all our wonderful pets. 

SGVHS Calendar Photo Contest: Pet photos 
wanted! If you have some great pet photos and want 
to share, the shelter welcomes your best photos in 
their second annual calendar contest. It’s easy - just 
email your landscape (horizontal) format photos 
to sgvhscalendar@gmail.com. Tell your friends, 
family and co-workers! Everyone is invited to 
compete. The submission deadline is Saturday, July11, 2015. 

YOUR AD COULD BE HERE!
Call Patricia at 626 818 2698 Today!