Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 28, 2016

11

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS

Mountain Views-News Saturday, May 28, 2016 

FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett


THAT BEACH IS FOR THE BIRDS

Every now and then, we dog lovers are forced to forfeit 
one of the many privileges we enjoy with our precious 
pampered pets, for the greater good of the wildlife we 
share our space with. No better example comes to mind 
than that which recently occurred at an Orange County 
off-leash, dog-friendly beach some of us have been 
known to frequent on the weekends with our furry four-
legged friends.

At the mouth of the Santa Ana river, where Huntington Beach and Newport Beach meet, there 
is a stretch of sand that has come to double as a seaside play park for those who bark, but how 
long it will stay that way is currently unknown.

This came as a result of an inherent threat posed by our unwitting canine companions, to two 
at-risk species of birds that rely on the unique conditions created by the mixture of fresh and 
salt water at that particular location. Although the location has been unofficially utilized by dog 
owners as an off-leash beach for some time, county supervisors made it legal by a unanimous 
vote back in April.

Soon after the beach was voted in as a legal off-leash area, the Sea & Sage Audubon Society out 
of Irvine, along with the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy collectively wrote letters to 
the county supervisors asking them to reconsider their decision, in order to protect the site as a 
nesting place for the endangered California least turn and a winter roosting spot for the threatened 
western snowy plover.

It is a dog’s nature to chase after birds, and with so many birds to be chased and harassed at 
this particular location, it becomes quite a frenzied game for the playful pups. Unfortunately, 
however, the birds do not see the fun in the game and have taken it upon themselves to disperse 
from the safe haven of a habitat they so depend upon. There are limited such areas in Southern 
California, and to be chased away by dogs at play only serves to put the birds at further risk of 
extinction.

While the two groups advocating protection of the birds acknowledge that dogs have been 
present at the beach for a good amount of time, they hold fast to their concern that the risks 
are greater than their desire to allow off-leash activities to continue. Numerous local citizens of 
Huntington Beach and Newport Beach have come forward to state their strong opinions that the 
presence of their beloved pets have yet to cause a problem for the birds, therefore they should 
continue to be allowed to visit the beach in the future.

The Newport Beach city council was expected to meet last week to discuss their stance as to 
whether the beach should continue to be made available as a sea side dog park and it remains 
unclear as to when Orange County supervisors will again consider the issue of reversing the 
ordinance.

This situation is one of several that have emerged from the up-rise of dog ownership in Southern 
California. Another example is a constant conflict we deal with right here in our foothill village. 
Just last year a small dog was attacked and killed by a big wild cat in the canyon. As sad as it was 
to hear, I couldn’t help thinking the tragedy may have been avoided if the owner of the small dog 
had been more cautious and not allowed their pet to be out alone knowing they live in an area 
where wildlife can pose dangers to small domestic pets.

In the case of the O.C. dog beach, a similar thought comes to mind for me. Dogs will be dogs, 
there is no doubt about it. Regardless of how much training or structure they may be exposed to 
in their domestic settings, they will react with their God-given instincts and behave like a dog.

In this scenario that means taking chase after flitting feathered creatures that will suffer or die as 
a result of the dog‘s playful behavior. It is never the fault of the animal involved. Indeed, we humans 
must be the responsible ones when it comes to a potential confrontation between our pets 
and the wildlife we live with.

I love dogs, I really do and I certainly want the best for every one of them, but my feeling about 
the situation in Orange County is that the birds need that beach area where the river meets the 
sea in order to survive. The 
dogs enjoy the area as an 
added pleasurable experience 
in their lives.

Common sense says we must 
allow the threatened birds to 
thrive in the unique environment 
they require, and if that 
means we have to sacrifice 
one of the many privileges 
we enjoy with our canine 
companions, then so be it. 
Love and let live!


Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

DONATE EMPTY PILL 
BOTTLES TO HELP 
OTHERS

 

 When we pick up our prescriptions, we take 
the containers for granted. By contrast, in many 
countries medicine containers are very difficult 
to come by. Simply put, qualified medical 
care is scarce and expensive in impoverished 
communities.In developing countries, medicines 
when actually obtainable are often dispensed 
into hands, pockets, leaves or any other available 
container.

 Charitable organizations have started collection 
efforts to help those less fortunate than us. One 
example is the Malawi Project. The goal of the 
project was to provide clean, used pill bottles for 
reuse in Malawi, Africa. The method was simple: 
Collect your used pill bottles, remove the labels 
fully, then send them to the project’s headquarters 
in Indianapolis, Indiana. The program ceased 
operation at the end of 2015, but M25m continues 
its collection of this typically disposable resource, 
giving new purpose to something many of us take 
for granted.

 Animal shelters and boarding kennels often also 
need prescription bottles to facilitate caring for 
animals. These organizations often lack adequate 
resources to purchase bottles for medication 
distribution.

 While it may seem inconceivable that something 
as small as a pill bottle is worth much, its value as 
a basic medical resource can make a significant 
difference to people and animals all over the world.

This ties into estate planning because I believe 
estate planning is about much more than simply 
passing on your money to the next generation. 
Instead, it’s a whole lifestyle shift towards looking 
at how you can do the most good in the world 
while you are living and leave the world a better 
place after you are gone. 

 And if you are a parent of young children, getting 
your little one’s involved in efforts such as these 
early in life teaches them what you value and how 
even small contributions can have a big impact. 
Passing on your values begins with conscious 
choices made on a daily basis and estate planning 
is one of the best ways I know of to consciously 
plan for a life that truly matters. 

 Think about it.

 Dedicated to your family’s health, wealth, and 
happiness,

 

 A local attorney and father, Marc Garlett is on 
a mission to help parents protect what they love 
most. His office is located at 49 S. Baldwin Ave., 
Ste. G, Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Schedule an 
appointment to sit down and talk about ensuring a 
legacy of love and financial security for your family 
by calling 626.587.3058 or visit www.GarlettLaw.
com for more information.


LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND?

Jenga is a cute girl with an under bite that gives her a 
unique look and adds to her already abundant charm. 
She came to the shelter as a stray from Rosemead, 
badly matted and needing her coat shaved. Her fur 
is growing back soft and silky, and she looks more 
beautiful with each passing day. Jenga is a Shih-Tzu 
mix, about 5 years old, and weighs just under 10 
pounds. 

 Jenga is a very affectionate girl who appears to love 
people. She is quite happy to find a lap to cuddle in, 
and is just the right size 
to snuggle close where 
she can quietly pass the 
time. Jenga prefers to 
have all the attention 
to herself, and would 
probably do best as the 
only dog in the home.

 Jenga loves going for 
walks and is very easy 
to harness and handle 
on the leash. She trots 
along happily at a 
comfortable pace and is 
a pleasure to walk. She 
enjoys taking a break on 
the grass where she can 
have some lap-time and 
maybe a treat or two 
before continuing on her way.

 Jenga just wants to be loved. If you can offer this 
sweet girl a loving home, come in to meet her. You 
just might want to take her home with you. Her 
adoption fee is $130 and includes spay 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 Jenga. 
She 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 Drive. To 
arrange a ‘Meet and Greet’ with Jenga, please stop by 
any time from 10:30am to 4:30pm Tuesday through 
Sunday. Website: www.sgvhumane.org 

 Have a great photo of your best friend? Enter 
our 2017 Calendar 
Photo Contest! Check 
out this link for more 
details http://www.
sgvhumane.org/blog/
calendar-photo-
contest/attachment/
dog-2017-calendar-
ad/. Send in your 
favorite pet photos and 
yours could be one of 
twelve lucky pets to be 
featured in our 2017 
calendar. Submission 
deadline is June 18, 
2016! Email your photos 
to sgvhscalendar@
gmail.com.

 We are always 
looking for hard working, dedicated animal lovers 
to join our team to fulfill our goal of ‘Putting People 
and Pets Together’. If you have what it takes to 
succeed in our life-saving work, we want to meet 
you! Check out our employment opportunities at 
http://www.sgvhumane.org/career-opportunities/


CLASSIFIED

PROFESSIONAL OFFICE SPACES FOR 
RENT IN SIERRA MADRE. 

Please email your type of business and space requirements to: 

sierramlaw@cs.com