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Mountain Views News Saturday, April 25, 2020
A WORD FROM THE PASADENA HUMANE SOCIETY
Dear Friends,
With the developing news regarding coronavirus COVID-19, I wanted to take a moment to share
how Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is addressing the concern at our shelter, as well as our community
programming and events.
We are taking all the necessary steps to protect the health and well-being of the animals in our care,
our staff and the community we serve by modifying our services. At this time, our Adoptions Center
will be closed to the public - but if you are interested in adopting a pet you have seen on our website,
we will be open by appointment only during our normal business hours.
We have also temporarily suspended the following activities:
Community outreach programs (including our mobile outreach events). If you are a current event
registrant, we will communicate with you directly regarding any changes, so please watch your
email. Updates will also be shared on our social media pages and website.
Humane Education activities which include our Kids Club, Animal Adventure Workshops, Scout
Sundays, group tours, Sunday Morning Helpers, and Barks and Books program.
Public spay/neuter and vaccine clinics
Dog training classes
Pet Boarding, except in case of emergency.
The following services will also be available by appointment only:
Reclaiming your lost pet AND Relinquishing your pet
Please limit calls to our Field Services Department to emergencies only.
There have also been questions about whether pets can get sick from COVID-19 or if they can make
us sick. According to the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, there is
no evidence that companion ani-mals such as cats and dogs have been infected or could spread the
virus that causes COVID-19.
While animals may not be at risk from this disease, we urge all pet owners to have plans for how
to care for their animals in case of emergency. COVID-19 is no different, and serves as an excellent
reminder to pull that plan together now if you don’t already have one. Click here for more
information.
Right now, more than ever, we need your help. We have a tremendous need for community fosters.
As the virus spreads, the number of animals in shelters and rescues will continue to increase. At
the same time, we anticipate de-creased interest and ability to adopt a new pet. So if you’re able to
foster a dog, cat, or rabbit for the next several weeks, you could help give animals a break from the
shelter and make room for more animals who are in need. For more information about fostering,
email foster@pasadenahumane.org.
Thank you for your support!
REFLECTING ON EARTH DAY 2020
April 22 marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. On that first Earth Day, 10% of Americans, nearly 20
million people, participated in coast to coast rallies. This movement ushered in the most consequential
and comprehensive environmental regulations in our nation’s history – significant amendments to the
Clean Water and Clean Air Acts, the Endangered Species Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act, just to
name a few.
This week cities throughout Los Angeles County and the nation would have held activities and rallies to
educate and courage residents to protect and preserve our environment. In fact, the City of Sierra Madre
had plans for just such an event. Unfortunately, the challenges faced by COVID-19 means we all face to
face Earth Day events have been canceled. However, this offers us a unique opportunity to reflect on what
Earth Day means; what previous generations have done to make the planet a better place; and what each of
us can do. Below are suggestions of things we can all be doing this month in celebration Earth Day while
following the Stay at Home orders and social distancing requirements.
Get out in the garden
Many people are growing this century’s version of the World War II Victory Garden. It is the perfect time
to plant almost any warm weather vegetable right and many nurseries will deliver dirt, seedlings, and
fertilizer right to your door. As you plan for your summer harvest of delicious, fresh vegetables, consider
planting heirloom vegetable varieties like the Cherokee Purple tomato, Dragon’s Tongue bean, or Straight
8 cucumber. They are delicious, easy to grow and encourage genetic diversity in our produce.
Read about the environment
Since we are staying at home, many people are catching up on their reading lists. Below are a few great
environmental reads.
• The Lorax – This classic is great for all ages. It reminds all of us speak up and stand up for those
who can’t.
• A Sand County Almanac – This 1949 non-fiction book was written by American ecologist,
forester, and environmentalist Aldo Leopold. It contains easy-to-read chapters about his travels through
the outdoors in Wisconsin, Iowa, Arizona, Sonora, Oregon, and Manitoba. Leopold highlights the
responsible relationship all people have with the land we inhabit.
• My First Summer in the Sierra – In this classic book, John Muir recounts his early travels in the
Sierra. In the summer of 1869, Muir set out from California’s Central Valley and hiked all the way to
Yosemite Valley where he stayed for four months. His visit to the Sierras spurred him to make Yosemite
a National Park and create the Sierra Club.
• Climate of Hope: How Cities, Businesses, and Citizens Can Save the Planet – This book was co-
written by former New York mayor and presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg and former Sierra
Club executive director Carl Pope. It details the benefits of taking action to reduce the impacts of climate
change. Each chapter switches between authors and explores concrete solutions that will make the world
healthier and more prosperous.
Renew Your Energy
No matter where you live in the San Gabriel Valley, you have an option to get your energy from renewable
sources. Residents of Altadena, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena get their renewable energy from the
Clean Power Alliance and residents of Arcadia, Duarte, Pasadena and San Marino get their power from
Southern California Edison. No matter where you get your power, all electricity providers have options to
provide you with electricity from 100% renewable sources. And if you are on a budget right now because
of the pandemic, there are programs that can offer you discounts, even on renewable energy programs.
This is also an excellent time to think about replacing those light bulbs with something more efficient.
LED light bulbs use very little electricity, have dramatically come down in price and last much longer then
incandescent bulbs. If you are shopping for light bulbs, just don’t buy too many, lighting tends to innovate
quickly, and many companies have been able to save money by upgrading their lighting every five years.
Even if you have an antique looking bulb or odd socket type, there is likely an LED that will fit it.
Reflect and Plan for the Future
It’s the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and we are facing a once-in-a-century pandemic – both events are
causing many of us to reflect on our lives. If you have read the new about cases recently, you may have
noticed that the COVID-19 infection graph looks a lot like the graphs of carbon dioxide concentration in
the atmosphere.
Before this crisis, I was wondering how we could transition to a zero-carbon economy. Now we know what
it looks like when we dramatically reduce air pollution – the Himalayan Mountains are visible from Punjab
for the first time in decades; air pollution has dropped by 30% in many Northeastern cities; and on April
7, Los Angeles saw some of the cleanest air of any large city around the world. In fact, US EPA data shows
that this March broke the 1995 record for consecutive days with clean air in the Los Angeles air basin.
Once we start to re-open the economy, what will it look like? What should it look like? What could it look
like? As I think back to the 20 million Americans who held teach-ins and sit-ins during the first Earth Day
in 1970 that launched the modern environmental movement, I wonder what we can do to reshape the
post-COVID economy.
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
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