Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, February 23, 2019

4

BEST FRIENDS & MORE 

Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 23, 2019 


SMILE FOR THE CANINE

I spend a lot of time hanging out with animals. I’ve always 
enjoyed (perhaps even preferred) the company of my furry four-
legged friends, and I kind of like to think they enjoy spending 
time with me as well. While I do appreciate the presence of all 
animals, I have to admit that the dog has become my favorite. 
Dogs make such great friends. They can make me laugh out 
loud, and at times they can make me cry. But regardless of what 
the mood of the moment may be, they are always there for me.

I used to have a dog named Lady. She was unique in that she 
would smile when you looked at her. I don’t mean the kind of 
smile that only shows through the eyes from inside, I mean she 
smiled the same way we humans smile. Well, maybe her smile 
looked a little different because of her long snout and pointy 
teeth, but as far as the way our lips curl upward, and our eyes 
get squinty during a smile, Lady actually smiled like people do. 
I had to explain it to folks we’d meet on the street, that she was 
not baring her teeth as though she might bite. No, that girl was 
sporting a big fat, happy grin!

I smile at dogs all the time. I’m pretty sure I have always smiled 
at dogs, but I suppose it’s possible that it could be a relatively 
new habit for me; One that I’ve developed over the years from 
spending so much time with canines. Lately I often find myself 
smiling at dogs I don’t even know, like ones riding in the back 
seats of cars looking out at me through the window. I smile and 
wave, as if I’m trying to engage a small child to wave back. I don’t 
even care if people see me doing it. It just seems like the natural 
thing to do.

Now I have a dog named Molly. She’s a very attentive and 
somewhat sensitive pup. She uses facial expressions all the 
time, and they help tell me what she’s thinking. I’m sure of 
this, because she consistently repeats the same expressions in 
response to what is going on at the time. For example, if I reach 
for my keys and head for the front door, she’s right on my heals, 
staring up at me intently with her hopeful look…the one that 
says, “You’re taking me with you, right?” It’s similar to the look 
she gives me when I’m eating a meal, only the latter is a bit more 
desperate - it’s clearly an appeal for a nibble of what’s on my 
plate, versus a walk around the block.

It wasn’t until after a couple of years living with Molly that I 
realized how much attention she actually pays to my facial 
expressions. I don’t have to say a word. I can be sitting across the 
room from her when I give her a real silly look. I open my eyes 
wide, lift my eyebrows into tall arches, twist my mouth sideways 
and poke out my tongue, just to get a rise out of her. That’s when 
she immediately jumps up, runs to her toy basket, picks out a 
favorite plushy and carries it over for us to play 
with. She knows, by the look on my face, that I am 
inciting her to play.

On the other hand, if I frown and look down when 
Molly is around, she is sure to pause a moment. 
Then, slowly and somewhat tentatively she will 
begin to walk in my direction with a somewhat 
anxious look on her own face - one that seems to 
say, “Are you okay?” Now, how in the world does 
that dog know something is up with me, just from 
looking at my face?

Over the past 10+ years, animal behaviorists in the 
scientific research field have placed much focus on 
studying the canine’s capacity to recognize human 
emotion through facial expression. The results of a 

2014 study conducted by the Messerli Research Institute at the 
University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria indicate 
that dogs are indeed able to discriminate emotional expressions 
in human faces.

What this means is that, not only can a canine tell the difference 
between a smile, a grimace or a frown, but can also interpret 
the inner emotions those human facial expressions represent…
happiness, anger, sadness. (Source: www.cell.com/current-
biology)

What made the Messerli study and it’s results unique to all others 
before it, is that there were no ulterior cues used to encourage 
the dogs’ responses, as had been applied in previous, similar 
research projects. The 2014 study’s peer-reviewed results state, 
“Here, we show that dogs use the emotion of a heterospecific 
(organism of another species - in this case a human face) as a 
discriminative cue.”

The scientists at Messerli used only picture pairs showing parts 
of human faces - some only the mouth, some only the eyes, and 
some only a half-face - with either an angry or happy expression, 
as cues for the canines‘ responses. Interestingly, each of the 
subject dogs were more than willing to approach and nose-
nod the pictures showing happy expressions, while consistently 
resisting the images showing angry or sad expressions. The 
researchers involved attribute their results mainly to the amount 
of time people now spend with their canines.

Regardless of how or why dogs are able to interpret our moods 
simply from looking at our faces, I think it is awesome that my 
Molly knows how I am feeling by the expression on my face. 
I imagine most humans would rather run away than stay, 
if they see me looking sad. And I’m sure Molly doesn’t like it 
much either, but I have yet to see her run the other way when 
I’ve expressed myself in a sad way. In fact, she’ll do quite the 
opposite. She’ll approach - perhaps slower usual - but approach 
she will, and give me a lick on the hand, or a pat with her paw as 
if to say, “I love you, ma!”


Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc


BEST FRIENDS


Loki is a Pit Bull terrier mix that came to the shelter as 
a stray from Rosemead. He is 4-years old with a black 
and brindle coat. His ears are closely cropped. As he 
got to know staff and volunteers, Loki has showed his 
true gentle nature. He has become a shelter favorite, 
and volunteers report that he is easy to walk and 
shows a lot of affection. This goofy boy would love 
to be your lapdog. Loki deserves a fresh start in a 
loving home. If you can offer Loki the life he should 
have, come and meet him soon. His adoption fee is 
$145, 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. He 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’, please stop by any time from 10:30am to 4:30pm Tuesday through 
Sunday. Website: www.sgvhumane.org.

CAT OF THE WEEK


ONE SINGULAR 
SENSATION!

Meet spunky “Zsa Zsa,” 
age 2. She’s friendly, 
playful, healthy, and 
good with other cats. 
We would also see no 
problem with dogs, if 
introduced as advised. 
This little darling’s 
owner went into 
assisted living, and Zsa Zsa is now residing at Whiskers 
to Tails Cat Hospital. Please call them to make an 
appointment to meet Zsa Zsa, 626-795-4134. Zsa Zsa 
will come spayed/neutered, current on vaccines. See her video and more pictures at www.lifelineforpets.org & click 
on our Young Cats page. 

Good News: We found a great foster home for Parker & Charlotte, which may even turn into an adoption! More 
fosters still needed!


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