pA:11, v10.44 — Just for Best Friends

Just for Best Friends

Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, October 29, 2016

MVNews this week: Page A:11

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

Mountain Views-News Saturday, October 29, 2016

Meet FERN & WILBUR! Age 2.
Super sweet, friendly, happy and
healthy! Named after the beloved
characters of the children’s classic, Charlotte’s Web,
these two are precious. Fern is tabby/white, and
Wilbur is all white, with the look of the oriental cat
breed. They were previously owned and loved, but
now must be rehomed together. They qualify for
our Twofur Discount of $100 for both. Snap them
up--they’re too sweet and happy to wait long!

Lifeline for Pets is a small no-kill rescue.
We show some cats most Sunday afternoons at
Petsmart, 3347 E. Foothill Blvd. in Pasadena,
12:30-3:30.

Adoption fee is $100, which includes spay,
microchip, exam & vaccine. Our cats are negative
FELV/FIV unless otherwise indicated.

See more pictures, adoption info & application on
our website, www.lifelineforpets.org. Sorry, we are
not accepting cats at this time.

LATIN AMERICA’S
FIRST SANCTUARY FOR
ELEPHANTS

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

A couple of years ago, an article I’d written about The
Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee was featured
in this weekly column. It was a real heart-string-tugger about
an Asian elephant who’d lost her mate to an untimely death
and for a period of time following her loss had become very
depressed.

The happy ending to that tale was that the elephant was
able to find a new forever friend in the form of a kind canine
residing alongside the elephants at the sanctuary. It is my
understanding that today the previously depressed elephant
and the dog are still best buds and are rarely seen, one
without the other.

I mention that article in this week’s column because last
week my husband brought to my attention an Associated
Press piece he saw printed in the LA Times. The piece was
about Elephant Sanctuary Brazil, a new refuge facility co-
founded by Scott Blais, the same gentleman who founded
the sanctuary in Tennessee.

The Brazilian sanctuary is Latin America’s first. Located
in rural Mato Grosso , it will provide the most appropriate
and picture-perfect setting for elephants (with the exception
of having been left alone to roam in their own natural
surroundings to start with, of course) to live out the rest of
their lives doing what they were intended to do…simply
roam free.

Asian Elephants are familial creatures, meaning they
maintain a monogamous partnership with a life-long mate
until death do they part. They work together as a team to
raise their young, and they share the tasks of foraging and
“housekeeping”, with their common number one priority
being the welfare of the family as a whole. They form bonds
much like we do, and they grieve the same, if not more
intensely. When an elephant looses their mate, he or she will
eventually seek out a new friend, mainly to avoid being alone.

Historically, most of the innate behavioral characteristics
of the Asian elephant have gone either unnoticed or totally
disregarded and disrespected by those humans in our society
who’ve exploited them for financial gains. This is a very
unfortunate fact for the elephant and for the human as well.
It is certainly not a fact that makes me proud to be human.
However, according to Blais, things are starting to change for
the better.

In his own words, Blais states, “Societies around the world
are starting to become more aware of the trauma we have
caused these animals.” And to that I say, “It’s about damn
time!” I’m not sure who was first to decide
it would be a good idea to cage and train
an elephant for entertainment or for any
other purpose, but I think it is the most
cruel thing one could possibly do to such an
innocent and wild gentle giant.

But again, on a more positive note, Blais
points out that things are getting better.
Finally, people are beginning to recognize
their own personal responsibilities to act
as stewards on behalf of the elephants, and
more-and-more folks are getting on board
with the quest to make reconciliation for
the damage that has been done. “We need
to build solutions. It’s not enough to simply
say they need a different life.”, says Blais.

Scott Blais and his wife are among the solution-oriented
with regard to righting past wrongs. They’ve dedicated their
lives to rescuing and protecting retired working elephants
and providing them with a healing, nurturing, natural
roam-free environment in which to live out the remainder of
their lives.

I imagine the Blais’s probably work tirelessly on a regular
basis, leaving them exhausted at the end of any given day. But
I also have to assume they sleep soundly at night knowing
their efforts have made a difference, not only for the elephants
but for the greater good of our planet in general.

After years of planning and drawing on his experience
as founder and CEO of US-based Global Sanctuary for
Elephants, Blais moved to Brazil about two years ago to begin
the process of preparing the 2,800 acres of rural undeveloped
property as a retirement refuge for overworked, exploited
and mistreated captive elephants. So far, two elephants,
“Maia” and “Guida” have been transported to the property
with many more to join them in the future.

There are an estimated 50 other elephants in South
America that are in similar situations to that of Maia and
Guida and sanctuary officials hope to eventually bring
them all to the refuge where they can reclaim at least some
semblance of their natural-born freedom and be kept safe
from the hands of those who had the audacity to take that
freedom from them.

Few worthwhile things in this life can be bought with
money, in my opinion. And what can be purchased should
be limited only to things inanimate and replaceable. One
thing that most certainly cannot be replaced is the beauty
of an age-old wildlife species being left alone to thrive in it’s
own natural environment.

For countless Asian elephants, this reality will never be.
But at least now there is a chance that many of them will
have the opportunity to enjoy the remainder of their lives in
a place where the shackles are removed and they can, at long
last, rest their weary bones.

No financial gains will ever compare to the inherent
dignity of a free-roaming Asian elephant, and very foolish
is the man whose need for monetary gains would cause the
pain of God’s wondrous creatures. I encourage my fellow
humans to take up hobbies and pursuits in life that do not
involve the exploitation of animals or the environment.
There are so many alternatives. Love and let live.

LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND?

Valentino is a handsome 6-year-old gentleman who
wears his tuxedo with style and grace worthy of the
designer with whom he shares his name. He is a little
timid on approach but quickly accepts attention and
loves to have pets that turn into massages of his
soft fur. Valentino is a calm boy and is happiest just
hanging out with people.
His wish is for a bed next
to a window to watch the
world go by. His play style
is slow and go. Valentino is
a smart guy and knows he
can’t catch the laser red dot,
so he usually doesn’t bother
to chase it. He likes to have
a toy or feather fly by for him
to swing at.

Valentino will do fine in
a multi-cat family, or love to
be your sole companion. If
you’re looking for a calm, loving guy, then Valentino
is the Bachelor you should choose! Please come in
to meet him. His adoption fee is $99, which includes
neuter surgery, a microchip, first vaccinations and a
free wellness check-up at a participating veterinarian.
His adoption fee is $99, which includes neuter surgery,
a microchip, first vaccinations and a free wellness
check-up at a participating veterinarian. Feel free
to call us at (626) 286-1159 for more information
on Valentino. ID#12117. She currently resides at
the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society located at
851 E. Grand Avenue in San
Gabriel which is located off
San Gabriel Blvd, north of
Mission and south of Las
Tunas Drive. To arrange
a ‘Meet and Greet’ with
Valentino, please stop by
any time from 10:30am to
4:30pm Tuesday through
Sunday.Website:www.
sgvhumane.org.

Go to smile.amazon.
com and find the San
Gabriel Valley Humane
Society and every time you buy something 0.5%
will be donated to the shelter! It’s easy to do and
helps the shelter with every purchase you make!
Let your friends know about this simple way to
make a difference!

We’d like to hear from you!
What’s on YOUR Mind?

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AND Twitter: @mtnviewsnews

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