Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, February 11, 2017

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

8

Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 11, 2017 

LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND


BREAKING THE ICE 

TO GIVE ANIMALS A 
BREAK IN LIFE

Princess is a delightful 12-year old 
Staffordshire mix girl with precious 
looks that match her personality. 
She has a gorgeous tricolor brindle 
coat with black, white and tan 
streaks that perfectly compliment 
her chocolate puppy-like ears. What 
can be cuter than that? Her soulful 
and loving brown eyes! Princess 
loves her cuddle time with anyone 
willing to rub her belly and lend a lap 
to snooze on. She enjoys her walks 
around the park and is great on the 
leash. Princess also loves to spend 
time relaxing next to her human 
friends indoors or out.

 Princess came to our shelter 
when she was surrendered by her 
previous owner because they moved to a place where 
no pets are allowed. Despite this loss, Princess is 
ready to love and feel loved again by a family who 
is willing to give her the best golden years a doggie 
could ask for. If you are that special 
family, please come by to meet 
this petite Princess and whisk her 
away to her happily-ever after Miss 
Princess adoption fee is $145 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 Princess. 
ID#21534. 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 Princess, please stop by 
any time from 10:30am to 4:30pm Tuesday through 
Sunday.Website:www.sgvhumane.org. Princess 
also qualifies for our ‘Senior for Senior’ adoption 
program.


Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

Nothing makes me happier than to hear stories about 
people who go out of their way to assist animals in need, 
and with the mind-boggling number of shelter pets being 
euthanized in our country every day, I can’t think of a better 
way to help than to do what one can to save the lives of 
those animals waiting for their deadline on death row.

 To me it is especially heart-warming when celebrities 
use their fame and fortune to help benefit programs that 
can prevent shelter animals from meeting their ultimate 
doom behind bars. Indeed, actors, artists and athletes who 
take the time out of their busy lives to share their celebrity 
power and resources in order to benefit rescued animals are 
among my favorite humans. It would be so easy to ignore 
the need, and no one would judge them if they didn’t pitch 
in, yet they do it because they are truly compassionate 
about the cause.

 One man who chose to make a difference for the better on 
behalf of the animals is National Hockey League’s St. Louis 
Blues captain, Dave Backes. Although I have to admit I am 
not a huge sports fan, hockey is one sport that I do enjoy 
watching. That might be because my dad played hockey 
when he was growing up in Massachusetts, and later when 
I was young, he took me to several UAH hockey games 
in Huntsville, AL. They were the standing college league 
champs at the time, so it was a very exciting experience for 
me to witness their repeated victories, season after season.

 Dave Backes has used his sports celebrity status to help 
break the ice between would-be pet shoppers and shelter 
pets, by exposing the fact that, just because a dog or cat 
ends up in a shelter does not make it an undesirable pet. In 
fact, on the contrary most of the animals that are ultimately 
adopted from shelters turn out to be among the most 
grateful and loyal pets you could possibly hope to own!

 A veteran of almost 500 NHL games, Backes has 
succeeded in taking rescue to the next level, by becoming 
a tireless supporter of animal rescue and by setting an 
example and sharing his own personal experience with 
adopting shelter pets himself. Backes got his first taste of 
animal rescue as a young boy when his family took in a 
small Poodle a neighbor no longer wanted. With that seed 
planted early in his life, Backes’ interest in animal rescue 
truly took hold when he and his wife Kelly were students at 
Minnesota State University, Mankato. That’s when he began 
volunteering at a local shelter.

 When Backes and his wife moved 
to St. Louis, Mo., to be part of the Blues 
organization in 2007, they sought 
out ways to become involved in the 
community and found Five Acres Animal 
Shelter in St. Charles. During their time 
of involvement with the shelter, they 
worked on numerous projects, including 
a $1 million capital campaign to finance 
the construction of two new buildings. 
Recently, Kelly and David stepped away 
from their duties on the Five Acres’ 
board to concentrate on the next step; 
the formation of their very own rescue 
organization!

 Backes now shares his and Kelly’s good work in 
organizing an animal rescue as a template for players in all 
four major sports to use in starting more rescue facilities 
in cities throughout the United States. What an awesome 
way to play it forward! A major part of that good work is 
educating the public on animal adoption, and networking 
with others who are equally compassionate about the cause.

 At the heart of Backes’ goal to proliferate the idea 
of adoption, is his effort to convince people who are 
considering pet ownership that rescued animals actually 
make excellent pets. His desire is to prove through his own 
experience and that of millions of other Americans who 
have adopted rather than shopped, that shelter pets waiting 
for forever homes are equally worthy and valuable to any 
pet you might find by shopping from backyard breeders 
or puppy farms. Indeed, many adopted shelter animals 
have proven to have less health problems and even less 
behavioral issues than those bred and sold intentionally.

 I hope David and Kelly Backes will continue to succeed 
in breaking the ice to help countless more shelter animals 
find homes before it’s too late. The idea that a pet is better 
because it was bred from a well-known sire, or because it has 
all the proper marks for it’s breed is simply passe. It’s time 
for all of us to re-think the concept of pet ownership. We 
humans have allowed far too much “accidental” breeding 
to occur by not spaying and euthanizing, and we have also 
exacerbated the problem through encouraging intentional 
breeding by shopping and not adopting.

 Let’s all get on board with David and Kelly Backes and 
use whatever resources we have to help educate others on 
the value of adopting rescued shelter pets. I, myself am a 
witness to the fact that adopting versus shopping can be 
one of the most uplifting experiences in life. Knowing that 
I was able to save the lives of such grateful souls as my 
two girls, Tater (may she rest in peace) and Molly brings 
me an immense amount of joy. I only wish I could save 
more. We all need to do our part to turn the table on mass 
euthanasia in our country. Simply put, it is a cruel and 
unusual practice.

 Kudos to you, David and Kelly Backes, for using your 
celebrity powers for such an awesome cause. Keep up the 
good work, and thank you for having so much compassion 
for the animals! Love and let live.


Here’s your purr-rect Valentine! Naomi is a beautiful, 
healthy calico, about age 6. She is very sweet, with soft 
fur, and is a good cuddler! She will give you lots of love 
and kisses if you can make her your own, treasured 
little “Valentine” girl. Call 626-676-9505 to make an 
appointment to 
meet her. Or come 
to our “Find Your 
Furry Valentine” 
event, Sunday, 
Feb. 12, noon to 
3, at Vroman’s 
Bookstore, 3729 
E. Foothill Blvd., 
Pasadena.

 Adoption fee 
is $100 , which 
includes spay, microchip, exam & vaccines. A 
great savings! 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.

 GOOD NEWS: Adopted: Cherie, Chubby, 
Kumi, Ashton, Maggie & Chaplin!


HEALTHY LIFESTYLES


THE JOY OF YOGA


(SWEET) CHILD’S POSE

Child’s pose, or 
balasana, is one of 
the best poses in 
yoga. It’s a forward 
fold that stretches 
the lower back, 
improves digestion, 
and encourages withdrawal of the senses (Pratyahara).

 

Because it is such a useful pose, it’s important to know 
how to get comfortable in it. To begin, come onto all fours 
-- hands and knees. Inhale deeply and, as you exhale, lie 
your forearms down as you bring your bum back toward 
your heels. Your chest moves on top of thighs. This action 
requires deep flexion in the hips, knee flexion, and plantar 
flexion of the ankle and foot. It’s common for the upper 
back to be tight and rounded. Arms can stay outstretched 
in front or you can bring them alongside your body, resting 
on the top of the forearms and flipping the palms face up. 
Ideally, the forehead is resting on the floor. It is meant to be 
relaxing. To assist with comfort in this pose, here are a few 
modifications that can make ALL the difference: 

1. If your seat does not rest comfortably on your heels, 
place a folded blanket on the tops of your calves as an extra 
cushion between backs of thighs and calves. 

2. To provide more space and comfort for the belly, bring 
big toes together in the back and spread the knees wide. 

3. If your forehead does not rest completely on the floor, 
place a blanket or block underneath your forehead in an 
effort raise the floor up to meet your head. 

4. Try a variation. An alternate to the classic forward 
fold is reverse child’s pose—apanasana, or knees to chest. 
Come to lie on your back and simply bring knees to chest. 
Hug the arms around the knees. You still get all the great 
benefits of the pose: improved digestion, grounding, and 
nice, safe stretch for the lower back. 

5. Supported child’s pose is lovely. Place a bolster 
underneath the chest and belly. Come to sit on your heels 
and lay your chest onto the bolster. Look left and rest on the 
right side of your face, after several breaths, change sides. 

Enjoy child’s pose as a restful, calming forward fold. It’s 
a pose of letting go, surrender, and conscious resting. It’s 
the GO-TO for resting in a yoga class. Breathe steadily and 
freely in whatever modification you choose. Make sure to 
find comfort and what works for your individual body.

See you in class, friends! 

Namaste,

Keely Totten

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY - BARK FOR LIFE!

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017 - 10AM – 1PM

 WHAT: BARK FOR LIFE – A Canine Event to Fight 
Cancer

 WHERE: Arcadia Dog Park (Eisenhower Park) 
located on the corner of Colorado Boulevard and 
Second Avenue: 601 N. Second Avefnue, Arcadia, CA 
91006.

 WHO: All dog owners and (and lovers); the Hope 
Can Cure Cancer Club from Arcadia High School; 
the American Cancer Society Relay for Life; and the 
City of Arcadia’s Recreation and Community Services 
Department.

 WHEN: Saturday, March 4, 2017

Registration begins at 9:15am; Opening Ceremonies 
start at 10:00am

 Registration: $15.00 per dog, $10.00 for the second 
dog!

 The City of Arcadia along with the Hope Can Cure 
Cancer Club from Arcadia High School is hosting a 
Bark for Life Event. Bark for Life is a noncompetitive 
walk event for dogs and their owners to raise funds for 
the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer. Bark 
for Life is directly related to Arcadia’s Relay for Life and 
shares the theme, “Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.” 
So bring your best canine friends and join us for a fun-
filled day starting with a walk, and continuing with 
demonstrations, contests, and games. Please remember 
dogs must be on a leash and please be ready to clean up 
after your four legged friends.

 By supporting Bark for Life, you help the American 
Cancer Society save lives, and that helps us move closer 
to our ultimate goal of creating a world with less cancer 
and more birthdays. To register your dog, please visit: 
www.relayforlife.org/barkarcadiaca. The cost is $15 for 
your first dog and $10 for your second dog.

 For information contact: City of Arcadia, 
Recreation and Community Services, 626.574.5113 or 
Carter L. Spruill at barkarcadia@hotmail.com or call 
323.309.3954.

About the City of Arcadia

Nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, 
Arcadia is an 11.38 square mile community with a 
population of just over 56,000. Located approximately 20 
miles east of downtown Los Angeles, Arcadia is known 
for combining small-town charm with the conveniences 
and amenities of a mid-size city. Arcadia is a full-service 
charter city governed by a five-member City Council, 
elected at large. Recognized for exceptional education and 
recreation opportunities and beautiful neighborhoods, 
Arcadia is also defined as the “Community of Homes” and 
has twice been designated the “Best City in California in 
which to Raise Kids” by Business Week Magazine.


THE MISSING PAGE

Real Life Tips from LIfe's Instruction Manual

A PATH TO KINDNESS

Have you ever had an 
argument with someone that 
you love? I have. The field of 
relationships can be daunting. 

Whenever we seek to meet and connect with 
another, we can sometimes feel at risk. The 
risks are myriad. We risk rejection, being 
misunderstood, being hurt or being used. 
Focusing on the negative is tempting. When 
your beloved has said or done something that 
you find hurtful, it’s hard not to take the most 
negative point of view. In the field of possibility; 
the opposite viewpoint could also be true. There 
could be another way to look at the issue, another 
perspective. Or we could let go of our anger. We 
could seek connection, friendship, and support.

In exercising our freedom of choice, may I 
recommend developing the habit of scanning 
for joy? Rather than looking for everything 
that is wrong or could go wrong, why not look 
for the things in your life and relationship that 
is going well? Cultivating the habit of looking 
for something to appreciate in your beloved will 
extend the life of your relationship and deepen 
the passion. If we can learn to do this when times 
are good, it will be easier for us to lean toward 
kindness when we experience disappointment, 
frustration or anger.

One way to express kindness during an argument 
is to pause and remember that this is your 
beloved, then perhaps rather than focus on the 
negative behavior consider their intention behind 
the activity. It is unlikely that your beloved is 
trying to hurt or annoy you. So consider if there 
is another way to interpret their behavior?

Today I’m grateful that I can seek and choose the 
path to kindness.

Did you like this article? Please share it with 
someone you love.

-- 

Lori A. Harris is a gratitude empowerment coach 
and activist. She helps women in the second half 
of life create lives that matter to them and make 
the world a better place. She believes in radical 
gratitude. Find out more about her at www.
LoriAHarris.com and download her app free in 
the App store and Google Play.


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