Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, December 10, 2016

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JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

Mountain Views-News Saturday, December 10, 2016 

 
Two’s company with siblings BUZZ & BO PEEP, age 
3. These are two of the friendliest kitties! Buzz, male, is 
the lighter orange and white, and Bo Peep, female, is 
the tabby/ calico. They are the most purr-fect kitties to 
have as pets, and get along with everyone. Since they are 
siblings and have been together since birth (3/2014), they 
will be placed together in their forever home, qualifying 
for our Twofer Discount. Their adorable “synchronized” 
video is a must-see 
on our website.

 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 for both, which includes 
microchip & exam. Our cats are spayed/neutered, 
current on vaccines, and 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.

 Facebook: www.facebook.com/lifelineforpets.
pasadena. Email: info@lifelineforpets.org 

NO MORE WOOF

Too weird for words, or too precious 

to pass up?


Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

Technology is terrific. Until it’s not, right? Actually, I think 
the instant accessibility to information made available to us 
through high technology is great, and I am typically willing 
to try any new idea that might make navigating through life 
a little easier. However, I also believe that some of today’s 
technological advances have the potential to, slowly but 
surely, rob us of our ability to think for ourselves.

 What ever happened to using one’s head to work out a 
problem rather than relying on a random room of virtual 
strangers on-line for the answer? How much has this 
relatively new access to the super-highway of data exchange 
taken from our self-reliance and our ability to solve 
problems on our own?

 I agree that some of life’s challenges have been made 
much more surmountable in recent decades now that 
we can get instant answers to questions and solutions to 
problems that used to take a lot more time and energy to 
solve. But, is it really necessary to reinvent every cog in the 
wheel of human thought? One thing’s for sure, I do love 
being able to shop on line, particularly this time of year!

 Seriously though, I think there is a fine line between what 
we’ve come to rely on as a staple source of information, and 
what could easily become an addictive means for getting 
from point A to point B with little or no effort on our 
own part. By the way, who’s to say the answers we gain 
through Google or on Wikipedia are worth their weight 
in gigabytes? A wise web-user will surely include a healthy 
helping of common sense when asking the net to solve a 
problem that truly matters in life.

 My mulling over of these concerns about the potentially 
problematic results of depending on high-technology 
was prompted by an ad I saw (on the net, of course ) for 
a new doggie device called “No More Woof”. The device 
is designed to read the mind of a dog and interpret it’s 
thoughts into human language, allowing the human to 
know and respond to what the dog is thinking.

 That’s the claim anyway, and I know how silly it may 
sound. But from what I understand, it’s been proven 
effective. No More Woof is comprised of an oversized, 
tightly-fitted headset with EEG censored appendages that 
curve around and press down on the dog’s forehead where 
they reportedly pick up on and interpret a dog’s thought 
patterns.

 Theoretically, the data gathered by the sensors is then 
transferred to an electronic voice device located elsewhere 
on the headset which interprets the data and sends out an 
audible message through a tiny speaker. 

 For example, if the animal is thinking 
fearful thoughts of abandonment, the 
verbal response might be, “Where are you 
going? How long will you be gone?” Or if 
the dog is having stressful thoughts due to 
a change in the typical daily routine, the 
message might be, “What‘s going on? Are 
you (we) OK?”.

 Although the inventor/manufacturer, 
a Swedish group known as The Nordic 
Society for Invention and Discovery, is 
careful to iterate that the product is still 
in the developmental stage; “a work in 
progress“, as it were, they clearly claim that 
the EEG micro-sensors are able to pick 
up on what the animal is thinking and that the resulting 
messages are accurate interpretations of those thoughts, in 
human language.

 When I first heard of this new canine mind-reading 
machine, I was (and, admittedly still am) really quite 
skeptical. And even if the thing does work the way they say 
it does, I already know my dog is going to wonder where I 
am going and when I’ll return if I pack a few bags and head 
for the front door. This is made clear by the look on her face 
and the change in her body language.

 Still, like many other pet owners, I’ve always wanted to 
know what my dog is thinking. Would it not behoove us 
both for me to know if she is stressing out about something, 
such as an impending storm or an earthquake soon to 
occur? Yes, some thoughts my dog may have are made 
all-too obvious by her behavior and facial expressions, but 
some are not so clear.

 One thing that would sure be great is to know instantly 
if my dog is experiencing pain. I understand that most 
animals have a pretty high threshold for it and most dogs 
definitely do a great job of hiding it from us humans. If I 
could have known years ago that my previous girl Lady was 
hurting months before I had to “let her go”, I might have 
made that difficult decision much earlier, for her sake.

 Anyway, the idea of having a device that can read a dog’s 
mind and interpret it into human language is certainly 
intriguing, but at the same time kind of creepy. Say, just 
say this thing takes off and every dog owner goes out and 
purchases one for their pet. How might it change the way 
we interact with the animals we now think we understand 
and already love so much?

 And, what about the dog’s perspective on wearing a 
device that tells all it‘s inner thoughts and secrets? Will the 
constant human voice response to every thought they have 
drive them crazy? It might even drive the human crazy 
to hear some strange voice calling out the dog’s thoughts 
every time they come to mind. Who knows, maybe the dog 
would like to keep some of his private thoughts just that…
private!

 Time will tell if the No More Woof device, or one like it 
will become yet another must-have pet accessory to add 
to the growing list of gadgetry littering our every day lives. 
Meanwhile, we’ll just have to assume what our dogs must 
be thinking when they look up at us with those precious, 
pouting pup’s eyes, tilt their head sideways and place a paw on 
our lap. After all, who doesn’t already know what that means? 

LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND?

Cracker is a little Chihuahua mix, about 8 years 
old, and just over 5 pounds, – a perfect size to fit 
on a lap or to carry with you everywhere you go. 
She has a pretty reddish coat 
with a black “saddle” and lighter 
highlights on her face. Her 
stylish appearance is topped off 
with her big brown eyes.

 Cracker is a friendly girl 
with a calm energy level and a 
spunky, outgoing personality. 
She enjoys going for a walk 
and is easy to handle on 
leash. She likes to explore her 
surroundings, but then finds her 
way back to the nearest lap for 
some affection. She appears to 
be very comfortable with people, 
and greets each new person in 
a friendly manner, welcoming 
them into her world, and maybe 
even sharing a kiss.

 Cracker gets along well with 
her kennel mate, and with other 
dogs in her social circle at the shelter. She sometimes 
takes on the role of “mother hen” when other dogs 
are playing, checking to make sure everyone is 
okay, having a good time and behaving with good 
manners. 

 If you are interested in having a loving companion 
with a happy disposition, 
Cracker might be a good choice 
for you. Come in to meet her 
and her charm just might melt 
your heart. For the month of 
December Cracker’s adoption 
fee is only $40, which includes 
spay surgery, a microchip, first 
vaccinations and a free wellness 
check-up at a participating 
veterinarian. She will be a great 
gift to her new family. Feel free 
to call us at (626) 286-1159 for 
more information on Cracker. 
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 Puzzle, please stop by any time from 
10:30am to 4:30pm Tuesday through Sunday.
Website:www.sgvhumane.org. 


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