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JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS
Mountain Views-News Saturday, September 12, 2015
LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND?
THE MAGNIFICENT
MIGRATING MONARCH
Happy Tails
by Chris Leclerc
Do you remember the movie by this name? We have our
own group of seven special dogs who found themselves
suddenly surrendered to the shelter when their owner
passed away recently. We don’t know the details of their
lives, or why there were not any friends or family able to
take them in, but they are being safely cared for in their
transition to the next chapter of their journey.
“The Seven” all appear to have been well loved and
cared for in their pre-shelter life. Some of them are
carrying a little extra weight, so it appears they were
regularly fed and rewarded with treats. The longer haired
dogs were in need of a good grooming session – a couple
of them have already received a professional grooming
donated by West Coast Grooming Academy in Pasadena,
and a couple more will be sent to WCGA when they have
adjusted a little more.
Let me introduce you to our Magnificent Seven dogs.
MAX – At 37 pounds, Max is the largest of the group.
Max is a Wheaten terrier mix, about 2 years old. He was
dirty and matted when he came to the shelter, and was
one of the first to get professional grooming. He is now
quite a handsome dog! Max is a happy boy who is easy
to harness and take for a walk. He is responsive to his
handler, sits for treats, and loves getting a good belly rub.
DAISY – Daisy weighs in at 21 pounds. She is a 4
year old Lhasa Apso mix who was also badly in need
of grooming when she arrived at the shelter. She got a
professional bath and haircut, and now is showing off her
beautiful white coat. Daisy is a friendly girl with a happy
disposition. She is easy to harness and walk on leash, and
she gets along well with her kennel mate.
PEBBLES – Pebbles is a terrier mix, about 3 years old,
weighing 22 pounds. Pebbles was shy and withdrawn
when she arrived at the shelter, but after a few volunteer
visits, she was able to take her first walk last week. That
seemed to lift her spirits so much that she is now friendly
with people, and loves to engage in chasing toys with her
kennel mate. Pebbles will greet you with a wagging tail
and smiling face.
BLACKIE – Blackie is another female terrier mix,
about 3 years old and weighing 13 pounds. Blackie also
was shy at first, but she has warmed up with more contact
with a variety of people, and was able to go on her first
walk last week as well. Blackie surprised us on a very hot
day by going into our small wading pool and lying down
in the water. She’s a smart girl and knows how to cool off.
Blackie also likes to give kisses in exchange for some pets
and belly rubs.
STYX – Styx is a handsome 2 year old terrier mix,
weighing about 22 pounds. He has a gentle nature and
has been timid when meeting new people, still adjusting
to life at the shelter. When volunteers sit quietly with
Styx, he will slowly approach and climb into a lap for
some love and petting. We think with a little more time,
his personality will blossom. Styx has the potential to be
a loving companion in a safe and secure home.
BUDDY – Buddy is being called a Chihuahua mix,
although at 17 pounds, he is larger than most of that breed,
and is most likely just “dog.” Buddy is about 2 years old
and volunteers report that he is a wonderful dog. He is a
friendly boy who seems to enjoy the company of people
and is equally happy receiving affection, and giving it
back. Buddy is easy to harness, and walks well on leash.
He also has a playful spirit and gets along well with his
kennel mate. Buddy would make a great family pet.
JUANITA - Juanita is a 2 year old Chihuahua mix,
weighing in at a petite 10 pounds. Juanita has a joyful
personality and is easy to harness and walk on leash. She
is friendly and affectionate with people, social with other
dogs and loves to play. Juanita is very agile and will jump
onto a chair or into a lap if she has the opportunity.
So you can see there is a lot of variety with this group
of lovely dogs, all deserving a loving forever home
where they are treated as part of the family. We think
that is the situation they came from and they should
have nothing less when they move on to their forever
homes. Please come in to meet “The Magnificent
Seven” to see if you have a place in your heart for one
or more of them.
Their individual adoption fees are $130 which includes
spay/neuter surgery, a microchip, first vaccinations and
a free wellness check-up at a participating veterinarian.
They currently reside 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
any of the magnificent seven, please stop by any time from
10:00am to 4:30pm Tuesday thru Sunday.
If you are interested in meeting them 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.
Readers are invited to join the San Gabriel ‘Strut Your
Mutt’ dog walking team and the ‘Race for the Rescues’
team to raise funds for shelter animals. The Walk is
Saturday, October 10th at Exposition Park and the Race
is Saturday, October 24th at the Rose Bowl. Go to the
shelter’s website at sgvhumane.org for more information
and how to sign up!
I have been seeing so many monarch butterflies
flitting about in Sierra Madre recently. They seem
to enjoy the flowers on the bougainvillea bushes
growing along the fence in my back yard, and like
a voyeur, I like to watch them through the window
as they pass from one blossom to another before
flying back up into the sky and on their merry way.
They intently investigate each blossom on the bush
with their bright orange wings striking a stark
contrast against the green fauna. The way they fold
their massive wings in and out with such grace
somehow gives me a sense of peace.
Seeing so many monarch butterflies in such a
short period of time reminds me of an experience
I had several years ago while visiting the beach in
Carpentaria. There was a huge colony of monarchs
lingering in clusters, hanging onto the bark and
leaves of a very dense and shady eucalyptus grove.
That was the first time I had ever seen so many
butterflies lurking together in one area at the same
time. I had to blink and take a second look before
I could be certain of what I was seeing. All those
butterflies clinging in clusters to the trees created
a surreal scene that, from a distance looked like a
colorful work of moving art. And, I guess that is
indeed what it was. God’s art.
Until I got close enough to see that the brilliant
orange menagerie was actually made up of
thousands of live butterflies, it crossed my mind for
a split second that perhaps someone had come along
and spray-painted that entire grove of trees with
some sort of sophisticated stencil. But, in reality
I was looking at a vast population of magnificent
migrating monarchs taking a break to rest and
restore their energies before resuming a very
long and treacherous
journey from their
original spring season
home, to their final fall
destination.
The monarch is the
only butterfly in North
America that is known
to migrate north in the
spring and south in the
fall, much like various
species of birds migrate
semi-annually. I find it
quite remarkable that
such a small and delicate creature could have the
energy and tenacity to travel so far without loosing
it’s way or falling from the sky to it’s death before
reaching the next resting spot. It is a phenomenon
of nature that I find hard to wrap my mind around,
and certainly one that is worthy of human attention
and appreciation.
The Monarch butterfly migrates for 2 reasons.
One, they cannot withstand the freezing weather
in the northern and central continental climates
during the winter months. And two, the larval
food plants do not grow in their over-wintering
nest sites, so the spring generation must fly back
north to places where the plants are plentiful. The
south-bound monarch migration usually starts in
about October of each year, but can start earlier if
the weather turns cold sooner than that.
When the weather changes again, and the
temperatures in the south start to rise in the
spring, the monarch knows that it is time to head
back north, and off they go once again on that long
journey to their next seasonal destination. This
magnificent migration pattern explains the sudden
appearance of the many monarch butterflies we
have been seeing in Sierra Madre recently.
It blows my mind to think that those little
winged wonders I have had the privilege of
observing in my own back yard will soon be living
in a place very far away from here, planning their
next move to survive the winter months! Nature
never ceases to amaze me, and it really brings
things into perspective for me when I take the time
to notice and appreciate all of it’s wonders.
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS AT ST. LUKE’S
MONROVIA SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4
Stuffed animal donations sought for children treated for exposure to violence
Monrovia, CA,
September 7, 2015
— On Sunday,
October 4, St. Luke’s
Episcopal Church
in Monrovia will
once again celebrate
one of its most
beloved traditions,
the Blessing of the
Animals on the Feast
Day of St. Francis of
Assisi. The church
invites everyone to
bring their pets to
the 10 a.m. service to
sit in the sanctuary,
share the experience
of worship and
receive a blessing.
Attendees are also invited to bring a stuffed
animal to donate to the Martin Luther King Jr.
Medical Hub, a South Los Angeles center that
provides medical and mental health care to
children exposed to
violence. St. Luke’s
Senior Warden, Dr.
Janet Arnold-Clark,
is Medical Director
of the Hub.
About St. Luke’s
With roots in
Monrovia dating to
the 1890s, St. Luke’s
Episcopal Church is
an inclusive church
that welcomes all
to its community.
The landmark 1924
Romanesque church
is located at 122
S. California Ave.
at Foothill Blvd.
Eucharist services are held on Sundays at 8 a.m.
and 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 12:10 p.m. The
Reverend Neil Tadken is Rector. For more, visit
saintlukesmonrovia.org
MOBILE SPAY/NEUTER VEHICLE APPROVED
LOS ANGELES COUNTY – On a motion by Mayor Michael D. Antonovich and Supervisor Hilda
Solis, the Board of Supervisors approved a public/private partnership to expand needed spay and
neuter services throughout the county.
“Access to spay and neuter services is vital to reduce the number of unwanted pets which are
abandoned, neglected, contribute to public health concerns and may ultimately be euthanized at
County animal care centers,” said Antonovich. “A mobile clinic can bring services to communities
where transportation to a stationary clinic may be difficult.”
The Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) has received a generous offer from the
Coalition for Pets and Public Safety, a local nonprofit animal welfare organization, for the donation
of a mobile spay/neuter clinic and half a year of operating costs to run the clinic. The motion
directed the Department of Animal Care and Control and the Chief Executive Office to pursue a
donation agreement with the Coalition for Pets and Public Safety for the development of a mobile
spay/neuter vehicle.
PET OF THE WEEK ATHENA: ANIMAL ID #A4865125
St. Luke’s Rector Rev. Neil Tadken gives a benediction to a
participant at last year’s Blessing of the Animals.
Cuteness comes in many forms, and in this case, it is
that of an adorable puppy! Athena (A4865125) is a
wiggly-butt 5-month-old chocolate-and-white female
Pit Bull Terrier mix whose owners left her at the Baldwin
Park Animal Care Center on August 10th. Weighing 35
pounds (and likely to get to around 55 pounds when
fully grown), Athena is all puppy. She has tons of energy
and the strength that goes with the Bully breeds, and she
loves everyone—people and dogs alike. Given her age
and size/strength, she requires exercise and attention,
plus the puppy basics and leash training to build both
her bond with her person and her attention-paying
skills. She’s quite beautiful, with a white chevron pattern
on the back of her neck and a wide white chest. She’s also
silly, displaying that puppy clumsiness and wiggliness
that’s so delightful. Shelter volunteers think Athena
will do best as an indoor pet in a home where people
understand and appreciate how strong and energetic
she is. She’s currently a “mouthy” (which training may
address) puppy, too, so we think it’s best that she not
be in a home with small children. To watch a video of
Athena, please visit the following link: http://youtu.be/
qlMnsLzBpS4
To meet Athena in person, please see her at the
Baldwin Park Shelter, located at 4275 N. Elton, Baldwin
Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-962-3577). She is currently
available now. For any inquiries about Athena, please
reference her animal ID number: A4865125. 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 Starlet 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
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