Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, November 26, 2016

11

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 26, 2016 


It’s BLACK FRIDAY time: “Don’t shop—ADOPT!” Forget 
the mall madness and meet SCOUT, age 6 and beautifully 
all shiny black.! Scout is a gentle and sweet little guy— a 
bit shy at first until he gets to know you, but after that he 
will love to be next to you and be petted or get a tummy 
rub. He was a great big brother to foster kittens, but now 
it’s his turn to have a 
forever home. We 
would love to find 
him a home soon 
to make it a true 
Thanksgiving. Won’t 
you please include 
a shy but sweet 
boy in your home? 
You never know--
we’ve seen miracles 
happen just with 
patience, treats, and 
gentle attention. See 
his video and more pictures on our website, including more 
info on black cats.

 Lifeline for Pets is a small no-kill rescue, and we know 
our cats well. 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, & vaccines. Our cats are negative FELV/FIV unless 
otherwise indicated. 

 See adoption info & application on our website, www.
lifelineforpets.org. Or call 626-676-9505. Sorry, we are not 
accepting cats at this time.

 GOOD NEWS! Several adoptions pending—updates 
next week!


Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

HEALTHY TIPS FOR HOLIDAY 
TIME WITH YOUR PETS

It’s that time of year again. A time when we 
Americans gather around the table to enjoy 
traditional holiday meals with family and friends. 
Although food probably shouldn’t be the focus 
of the good times we spend together with our 
loved ones during the holiday season, we do have 
a tendency to let it become a centerpiece of the 
festivities.

 Our focus on food for the holidays most likely 
comes from the early “hearth and home” mentality 
upon which many of our American traditions are 
based. Thanksgiving in particular has always been 
a celebration of the harvest season, so it stands to 
reason that we would expect to enjoy filling the table 
with all the delicious accoutrements of a fall harvest.

 Regardless of why we feel the need to stuff 
ourselves during the holidays, one thing is for 
sure; if you are a pet owner, your loved-ones of the 
canine and feline persuasion will most definitely 
want to take part in the food fun as well. Some 
traditional holiday foods are fine to share with 
your pets, in fact, in moderation some can make 
a tasty addition to the potentially mundane daily 
ration they typically find in their bowl.

 However, there are some selections on the 
holiday meal menu that your cat or dog might be 
better off doing without. Thanks to The American 
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 
(ASPCA) for sharing this tight and tidy list of 
holiday foods that their experts say are okay to 
share along with the foods that should be avoided.

 Talkin’ Turkey - If you decide to feed your pet a 
little nibble of turkey, make sure it’s boneless and 
well-cooked. Don’t offer raw or under-cooked 
turkey which may contain salmonella bacteria.

 Sage Advice - Sage can make your 
thanksgiving stuffing taste delish, 
but it and many other herbs contain 
essential oils and resins that can 
cause gastrointestinal upset and 
central nervous system depression 
to pets if eaten in large quantities. 
Cats are especially sensitive to the 
effects of certain essential oils.

 No Bread Dough - Don’t spoil 
your pet’s holiday by giving him 
raw bread dough. According to 
ASPCA experts, when raw bread 
dough is ingested, an animal’s body 
heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As 
it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, 
severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could 
become a life-threatening emergency, requiring 
surgery.

 Don’t Let Them Eat Cake - If you’re baking up 
Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their 
noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw 
eggs - they could contain salmonella bacteria that 
may lead to food poisoning.

 Too Much of a Good Thing - A few small 
boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a taste of mashed 
potato or even a lick of pumpkin pie shouldn’t 
pose a problem. However, don’t allow your pets 
to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case 
of stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse - an 
inflammatory condition of the pancreas known 
as pancreatitis. In fact, it’s best to keep pets on 
their regular diets during the holidays.

 A Feast Fit for a Kong - While the humans are 
chowing down, give your cat and/or dog their own 
little feast. Offer them Nylabones or made-for-pet 
chew bones. Or stuff their usual dinner - perhaps 
with a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try 
sweet potato or green beans) and dribbles of gravy 
- inside a Kong toy. They’ll be happily occupied 
for awhile, working hard to extract their dinner 
from the toy.

 Here’s wishing you and your loved ones a happy, 
healthy holiday season, including your beloved 
four-legged furry friends. And by the way, don’t 
forget to take a nice long walk after the feast. You 
will feel a lot better if you work off a few of those 
extra calories, and I guarantee your pets will be 
very thankful for it!


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