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 Mountain Views NewsSaturday, August 24, 2024


Lifeline for 
Pets presents 
our newest 
lovebug: 

KIMBA, age 6. 

He has beautiful 
all white fur and 
big sunny eyes. He has an amazing, chill 
purrrsonality. He wants to be with with his 
human, making biscuits of love. He enjoys all 
his toys, and likes making cat friends. 

Kimba has a clean bill of health from our veterinarian, and is fully vetted and neutered. The 
vet and team told us they all loved him while there. He was such a good boy for them. 

 While he is acclimating to a safe, comfy, happy life, he loves to be petted on his head. 

If you think Kimba could be your kinda guy, please submit the application. See more pictures 
of Kimba and apply to adopt him at https://www.lifelineforpets.org/kimba.html


CHRISTOPHER Nyerges 

[Nyerges is the author of several books including “Self-Sufficient Home” and 
“How to Survive Anywhere.” He also leads wilderness classes every weekend. 
He can be reached at School of Self-Reliance, Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 
90041, or www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]


BOYS AND THEIR TOYS

It does seem that some guys can never get enough toys. Like knives. Not 
that knives are toys – they’re not – but grown men who are still children at 
heart want objects that are intrinsically useful, valuable, which can still be 
pulled out to impress a friend, or even a stranger.

I have long liked knives of all sorts. Even ancient cultures had their great diversity of broken 
and chipped rocks which were their knives. Those were used for money, to show tribal 
affiliation, and undoubtedly, the various craftsmen would compare and contrast two spear 
points, looking for nuances of meaning in the two points.

I find a knife indispensable. I presume that it has always been the most basic fundamental 
tool which distinguished mankind from the so-called lower animals who had lesser brain 
functions. And the idea that knives are beautiful, wonderful, and an intrinsic part of 
human life seems to be well accepted among the mainstream. My evidence: I saw a knife 
show on television, and all they did for more than an hour (before I turned it off) was to try 
to sell you a great deal on a special knife, but you had to hurry and buy now before the deal 
expired, or before they met their quota of “strictly limited to the first one million buy-ers.” 
Of course, there were no knives on that show that I would consider buying. Those were 
cheap knives for the masses.

I prefer to pay more for quality, or to buy from the maker. There’s something about knowing 
the person behind the knife, the person who has spent his (or her) life mastering the 
intricacies of knife-making and metallurgy who then goes on to actually produce beautiful, 
functional pieces of art.

Perhaps our knives are our ultimate mnenomic device, embodying all the things we did 
with it during last summer’s survival march, or the whole history of the evolution of that 
particular style of blade. There is much to talk about if you’re a boy with your toy. You pull 
out your knife, and a lot is evident immediately. Folder vs. sheath. Stainless vs. carbon. 
Leatherman vs. Victorinox. Big vs. small. 

From the obvious, many conversations emerge. 
If a folder, we look at the handle. Bone, plastic, 
wood, some sort of polycarbonate. Is one 
better than the other? Some folks think so. We 
open the various blades, and feel how it feels 
in the hand. Does it “walk and talk”? The 
walking – how well it opens without peeling 
off a fingernail, and we snap it open to hear it 
“talk.” Watch the boys as they compare their 
toys. This initial phase is like the opening of 
a sacred ceremony, and there is usually little 
talking, just observation and some “ahhs” and 
“wows.”

Yes, knives are the sacred objects of the boys who go to the woods. 

Do you have any questions about knives? Send your questions to me.

Pet of the Week

 
BAYLIE

 Baylie thinks that age is just a number, and we couldn’t 
agree more! This darling boxer may be 13, but she acts (and 
feels) much younger!

 This spry thing loves going for walks and will even run 
alongside you if you let her. She is always calm and quiet 
and makes fast friends with everyone who stops to say hello. 

 Baylie has lived with other animals- she is cat-friendly and 
has also shared space with rabbits and birds- she's been very 
gentle with everyone she’s met. 

 Baylie has been described as very demure and very 
mindful. She thinks that she’s not like other senior dogs 
and can literally run circles around them. Come meet this 
demure diva today!

 Baylie and all other pets over 5 years old can be adopted at no charge for anyone over the 
age of 60, thanks to Pasadena Humane’s Seniors for Seniors program!

 The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and 
age-appropriate vaccines. 

 Walk-in adoptions are available every day from 2:00 – 5:00. For those who prefer, adoption 
appointments are available daily from 10:30 – 1:30, and can be scheduled online. View 
photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org.

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

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


HOT TEMPERATURES CAN MAKE CONCRETE AND ASPHALT 
TOO HOT FOR YOUR DOG’S PAWS. 

Asphalt and concrete temperatures can usually be 20-40 degrees hotter 
than the ambient temperature. If the back of your hand can’t stand the 
heat on the concrete or asphalt for 7 seconds, it’s too hot for a walk.

When it's above 90 degrees outside, bring dogs and cats indoors.


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