Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, June 4, 2022

Mountain View News Saturday, June 4,2022 B6 Mountain View News Saturday, June 4,2022 B6 
Happy Tails 

by Chris Leclerc 


LENDING A PAW FOR A NEW LEASH ON LIFE 

“Dogs are the most amazing creatures…They are the role model for beingalive.” ~ Gilda Radner 
“There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.” ~
Ben Williams 

Numerous accounts of physical and mental health benefits resulting from interaction with dogshave been documented throughout history. Indeed, loving and being loved by a dog is not onlya heart-warming experience, the fact is that canines can also play a huge part in prolonging andenhancing the quality of life for human beings. 

I would be hard-pressed to understand or try to explain just exactly how it all works, but I believethat dogs are God’s gift to mankind, and I take it for face value, based on my own experience. 

One example of how the canine can positively impact the health and well-being of the human isclearly shown by the work of a certified health-care therapy dog. The first documented therapydog was a Yorkshire Terrier named Smoky. Smoky had been abandoned on the battlefield in NewGuinea during WWII, when Corporal William Wynne took him in, cared for him and gave himhis name. 

Smoky proved to be a major asset to Wynne’s military outfit, lending comfort to the troops andplaying a part in saving their lives by running a telegraph cable through an underground pipe,
completing in minutes what would have been a 3-day, very dangerous operation for the soldiersresponsible for the project. 

Dr. Charles Mayo (of the famed Mayo Clinic) was Corporal Wynne’s commanding officer who 
allowed Smoky to join him on hospital rounds to visit injured troops. The pup’s popularity grew sostrong that he became the troop’s mascot and continued his work for 12 years after WWII. Whoknew a would-be abandoned ‘mutt’ would become a famous forerunner for a prolific program thatmakes a major positive impact on the lives of so many people today? 

A few years ago I had the privilege of participating in an American Cancer Society ‘Bark for Lifeof Arcadia’ event where I met Marianne Cortland, who greeted me with a warm smile at the NewLeash on Life ‘Lend a Paw Therapy Dogs’ information booth. Marianne was accompanied by ateam of volunteers and several therapy dogs along with their handlers, to help support the fundraising 
event. 

This was the first time I had the chance to meet therapy dogs in person and I must say it was thehighlight of my day. Marianne was kind enough to share the details about how their programworks. I write this article in honor of Marianne’s memory, as she and her beloved therapy dog,
Maggie have both since passed away due to cancer. 

The objective of New Leash on Life’s Lend A Paw Therapy Dogs program is to form a networkof caring individuals who are willing to share their animals to help others in need. Owners areresponsible for training and certifying the dogs that make their mission possible. Therapy dogsmust be at least 1 year old, they must meet the criteria of the required obedience training and becapable of consistent harmonious interaction with humans and other dogs. 

Lend a Paw Therapy Dogs’ volunteer animal assistance activities include visits to hospitals, specialneeds centers for seniors and children, nursing homes and schools. Requests for dog therapyservices can come from patients, family members or facility staff members. 

Often times, a dog therapy team will simply go from room to room to see who is up for a visit.
Interestingly, there are times when the therapy dog will let the handler know who needs their 
brand of therapy by pulling toward the door of their room! Group sessions are the typical scenarioat retirement homes, where patients or residents gather together in one room to enjoy the presenceof the dogs. 

Whatever the circumstances, therapy dogs always bring smiles and renewed hope to the folksthey visit. One stroke victim named Dorothy had not spoken for over a year, but after a visit fromMarianne and Maggie, she somehow found the energy and desire to speak. When she did finallyspeak, it was to say the name “Maggie”! That is what a caring canine can do for a stroke patient whomay have otherwise never spoken again. 

In addition to visiting special needs homes, hospitals and schools, Lend a Paw Therapy Dogsalso participates in community activities with the local fire departments and libraries. For moreinformation about Lend a Paw Therapy Dogs, visit the New Leash on Life website at nlol.org. 


LITTLE CUTIES! 

Only 5 
weeks old, 
these guys 
are soooo 
cute and 
sweet! Two 
brothers 
and two sisters. They’re healthy and excel 
at eating, playing and cud-dling. We 
are taking adoption applications now, 
at www.lifelineforpets.org/cat-adoptionapplication-
revised.html. They’ll come 
spayed/neutered, vetted, microchipped,
and more. C’mon—you KNOW you wantone (or two)! 

Pet of the Week

 Two-year-old Junebug is a super friendly cat who not onlyloves being pet, but even loves being held! This sweet gal canoften be seen “making biscuits” with her paws and purring 
up a storm. In addition to getting lots of attention, Junebugis a big fan of eating treats and playing with her featherwand toy.

 The adoption fee for cats is $100. All cat adoptions includespay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.

 New adopters will receive a complimentary health-andwellness 
exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as agoody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.

 View photos of adoptable pets and schedule an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.
org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption appointments are availableevery Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phonecalls or email. 

FREE FILMS AT SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE: SAVING 
FACE ON JUNE 1 AND CHINATOWN RISING ON JUNE 8

 In connection with its current mainstage production, King of the Yees, Sierra 
Madre Playhouse will present two FREE screenings of motion pictures: Saving Face 
on Wednesday, June 1 at 7:00 p.m. and Chinatown Rising on Wednesday, June 8 at 

7:00 p.m. Admission is FREE, but RSVP is required. 
Admission is FREE thanks to a California Humanities Quick Grant.

 Saving Face. Comedy/Romance. Written and directed by Alice Wu. Produced 
by Will Smith, James Lassiter, Teddy Zee. From Sony Pictures Entertainment. (Color, 
2004, USA, 91 minutes, rated R) Starring Michelle Krusiec, Joan Chen, Lynn Chen, 
Jin Wang, Guang Lan Koh, Jessica Hecht. In Manhattan, the brilliant Chinese-American 
lesbian surgeon Wil is surprised by the arrival of her forty-eight year old widow 
mother to her apartment. Ma was banished from Flushing, Queens, when her father 
discovered that she was pregnant. The presence of Ma affects the personal life of Wil, 
who is in love with the daughter of her boss at the hospital, the dancer Vivian Shing. 
Once her grandfather has promised that her mother would only return to Flushing 
remarried or proving that it was an immaculate conception, Wil tries to find a Chinese 
bachelor to marry Ma.

 Winner- Golden Horse Film Festival; San Diego Asian Film Festival; San Francisco 
International Asian American Film Festival.

 “The picture is nicely cast….Joan Chen registers strongly as the unwed mom 
caught between two generations.”----SF Gate.

 To RSVP for Saving Face, use this link: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35040/ 
production/1125334

 Chinatown Rising. Documentary. Directed by Harry and Josh Chuck. Produced 
by James Chan. From Caam. (Color, 2019, USA, 85 minutes, not rated) A 
documentary based on Harry Chuck's collection of clippings and period films about 
the issues that motivated members of San Francisco's Chinese American community 
to reject submissive stereotypes.
“A worthy reminder that each community that comprises the pulse of the city needs 
to see itself represented in the structures that govern urban life.”----POV 

To RSVP for Chinatown Rising, use this link: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35040/ 
production/1125336 

Covid-19 protocols in effect on the days of the events will be observed. As of this 
writing, it means that masks are required and vaccination record (card or digital) 
will be required. 

Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. in Sierra Madre, CA 
91024. This is just east of Pasadena. There is ample free parking in lots behind the 
Playhouse and across the street. 

For more information about our mainstage show King of the Yees, please go to http://
sierramadreplayhouse.org 

This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a nonprofit 
partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum. 
org. 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 
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