Mountain Views News     Logo: MVNews     Saturday, August 1, 2015

MVNews this week:  Page 8

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDSMountain Views-News Saturday, August 1, 2015 8 
LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND?

OLD DOG, NEW TRICKS 

Ever wonder if there was more you could have done, or could

Happy Tails 

be doing to keep your senior dog healthier and happier in it’sgolden years? Well, I often think about what I could have done 
by Chris Leclerc to provide a better quality of life for my beloved girl, “Tater”
when she started showing signs of her age before she passedaway last September. She was almost 13 years old when shecrossed the rainbow bridge and although I know for sure she

got plenty of tender loving care, I can’t help thinking that there was more I could have done to keep her comfortableas her final day approached.

I am so pleased to have the resources we now have available to us on the internet and I have learned a lot from myveterinarian Dr. Sylvia Domotor, who liberally shares the wealth of knowledge she has gained over the many yearsshe‘s been in practice. Dr. Domotor’s wise advice to owners of senior dogs is to recognize that they are indeed old andare unable to do many of the things they were able to do when they were young.

It is really no different from what happens when we humans get old. “Patience is number one” she said in aconversation we had regarding caring for older canines. “Sometimes we forget how old they are. Dogs are consideredseniors at 7 and that is when they begin to loose their hearing, their eye-sight and their olfactory senses. Understandingwhy an elderly pet might poop or pee in inappropriate places, or fail to respond to a recall is very important in havingpatience with them.”

Although manufacturers do tend to exploit the ever-growing market for elderly pet care products, statistics indicatethat dogs are living longer these days, presumably due to improved technology in veterinary care and the developmentof innovative products to help accommodate the specials needs of our furry senior friends, and keep them morecomfortable. 

Specially formulated kibble, therapeutic beds, specialized food bowl designs, ramps to help “Fido” get into the car,
restraining harnesses for the ride, diapers for incontinence, dietary supplements, herbs and holistic remedies designedto cosset a senior dog through its last years are among the many new products found on the shelves of most pet supplystores today. Doting pet owners find it hard to resist blowing the bundle to help their four-legged family member, andI am most definitely one of them.

While the many newfangled products now available do help when it comes to taking good care of a senior pet, thereis one not-so-new thing we can do to ensure that their golden years are happy ones. Spending quality time with anydog is important, but for an older dog, time spent coddling and snuggling is extremely important for their mental andphysical health. This is particularly true if the dog’s senses are waning.

I remember noticing that Tater had become much more demanding of my attention when she was about 11 yearsold and slowly loosing her eyesight, and fortunately I knew enough to attribute that extra neediness to her age. Herfavorite time of day was when I’d come home after walking several other dogs, and lay on the couch where she insistedon joining me for an afternoon nap.

I always let Tater lay with me, even though she was quite enormous and took up most of the couch, because I couldtell she needed that time with me. She’d crawl up slowly, work her way around my legs, let out a low groan, and lay herhuge head on my shoulder where she’d fall asleep and snore into my ear. Saying goodbye to Tater was one of the hardestthings I have ever had to do, but one thing I am grateful for is the fact that she went quickly and did not have to lingeron in pain.

I find it amazing how pet owners’ priorities change when it comes to caring for an elderly dog. I was truly touchedwhen singer Fiona Apple cancelled the South American leg of her tour a couple of years ago so she could fly back hometo be with her ailing 14-year old pit bull “Janet”. That says a lot about how much she loved her dog. In one part of aheart-warming apology letter to her fans, Apple wrote: “I know she is coming close to the time where she will stopbeing a dog, and start instead to be part of everything. She’ll be in the wind, and in the soil, and the snow, and in me,
wherever I go. I just can’t leave her now, please understand. If I go away again, I’m afraid she’ll die and I won’t have thehonor of singing her to sleep, of escorting her out. . .”

As dog lovers, I think we can all relate to what Fiona Apple was going through, and understand why she made it apriority to spend quality time with her beloved old girl, Janet versus continuing her tour. I can’t think of anything thatcould keep me away from my Molly when her time is close in coming. Our pups give us so much unconditional love,
and nothing - including money or fame can possibly compare to that!

Be kind to your canine, and pay close attention to their needs. They don’t complain and they can’t speak ourlanguage, so it is up to usto interpret the things theyare telling us in the waythey communicate. Don’tforget to give them all theattention they need. Showthem and tell them (yes,
in human language) that 
you love them. They’llunderstand, as they seemto be able to interpret our 
way of communicatingquite well. Love and letlive. 

PET OF THE WEEK REX: ANIMAL ID #A4856128 

No need to click your rubyyoutu.be/TsMWCgKM560heels together and wish for To meet Rex in person, please seean awesome puppy, for Rex ishim at the Baldwin Park Shelter, 
already waiting at the shelter forlocated at 4275 N. Elton, Baldwin 
you! Rex (A4856128) is a self-Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626assured 
1-year-old black neutered430-2378 or 626-962-3577). He 
male Scottish Terrier mix puppyis currently available now. For 
who was found in Altadena and any inquiries about Rex, pleasebrought to the Baldwin Parkreference his animal ID number: 
Animal Care Center on July A4856128. The shelter is open15th. Weighing 7 pounds, Rex isseven days a week, 12 pm-7 pma confident and dapper dog whoMonday-Thursday and 10am-5pmprances politely on leash and mayFriday-Sunday. This is a high-
be housebroken. He bears a striking resemblance tointake shelter with a great need for adoptions. For 
Toto from The Wizard of Oz, and his scruffy goodmore information about Rex or the adoption process,
looks are sure to attract attention wherever you takecontact United Hope for Animals Volunteer Adoptionhim—he is super-cute! He has a friendly attitudeCoordinator Samantha at Samantha@hope4animals. 
towards people and other dogs, approaching bothorg. To learn more about United Hope for Animals’with a wagging tail, shining eyes, and a broad smile.partnership with the Baldwin Park Shelter throughWe think Rex would enjoy the company of kids, too,its Shelter Support Program, as well as the many dogsprovided they are careful with his small frame. Rex is of all breeds, ages, and sizes available for adoption ina spectacular little guy and will be an ideal indoor petlocal shelters, visit http://www.unitedhope4animals.
and companion in any loving household. To watch a org/about-us/shelter-support-program/. 
video of Rex please visit the following link: http:// 

Who enjoys the lazy, crazy, hazy days ofsummer? Meet Papasito!

He is a sweet, young Chihuahua mixwho came to the shelter as a stray. He 
is around 9 months old, and weighs justless than 10 pounds. He has a beautiful 
tri-color coat of short fur, long legs,
and big ears. His appearance is quite 
striking.

When he was first brought into thekennels, Papasito was very frightened.
Then he was introduced to his new 
kennel mate, Butch – a one year oldBeagle mix. Within a couple of days,
Butch had helped Papasito adjust tothe shelter environment, and the two boys have sincebonded and become best friends. They can often befound romping and playing together in their kennel, orout on a walk. 

Papasito is still a little shy when he first meets newpeople, but each day finds him getting a little braverand more secure in his surroundings. He likes peopleonce he is comfortable with them, and he enjoysgetting attention in the form of pets and treats. He 
seems to warm up more quickly to women than men atthis point, although he is still learning how to trust andbuild his confidence. 

Papasito is easy to harness and loves to go on walkingadventures with shelter volunteers and his best friend 
and kennel mate, Butch. Papasito does not like Butch 
to get too far out of sight. 

Papasito is still a young dog, sohe needs a lot of exercise in the form of 
walks or playtime, as well as some basictraining to help him learn to be a greatfamily member. He would do well in 
an active household where he has a yardto play in, and is treated as part of thefamily. Papasito would especially loveto have Butch join him in a loving homethat has room for two dogs. Two dogsare often easier to adopt than one, as theywill entertain each other. Please consider 
a Buddy Adoption at a reduced fee.

Papasito currently resides at the

San Gabriel 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 Papasito, please stop 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 ata participating veterinarian. Feel free to call us at 

(626) 286-1159 for more information on Papasito andhis buddy, Butch. If you are interested in meetingPapasito or any of the other wonderful pets at theshelter, visit the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society at851 E. Grand Ave., San Gabriel, Calif., 91776, Tuesdaythrough Sunday. For more information, call (626)
286-1159. See our website at www.sgvhumane.org forinformation and photos of all our wonderful pets. 
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