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Mountain Views-News SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2025

Mountain View News Saturday, September 20, 2025


Another Author Jane 
Austen Brother!

Around June 30, 6 
male kittens were 
born to a stray mama 
cat named Jane Pawsten. 
Her boys are 
all named, of course, 
for some of Austen’s 
characters. Last week 
we featured Mr. Darcy. This week we have Mr. 
Bingley. Mr. Bingley took awhile to be born - a 
little over an hour from the brother before him. 

He is the 3rd and biggest black kitten in the litter. 
Mr. Bingley will most likely grow up to be a 
big boy. Never one to 
miss milkshake time, 
he always got extra milk from momma Jane when his 
brothers had their fill. Mr. Bingley has a healthy appetite 
and a love for exercise. 

He likes to run on the exercise wheel in his room. Although 
the wheel is large and he’s tiny, he didn’t let that 
stop him! To apply to meet him and also see all of his 
brothers, visit https://www.lifelineforpets.org/gabbis-kittens.
html or use the qr code. 


CHRISTOPHER Nyerges 



[Nyerges is the author of “How to Survive Anywhere,” “Extreme Simplicity,” “Til Death Do 
Us Part?” and other books. He can be reached at www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com or Box 
41834, Eagle Rock, CA 90041]

THREE FISH 

I was sitting in a waiting room watching three golden fish in a fish tank. The tank was perhaps 3 
feet high and five feet wide, and maybe two feet deep. It was bigger than any fishtank I ever had as 
a child. 

I normally read a book or magazine when I’m in a waiting room, but something about these fish 
caused me to watch them. I watched them go back and forth and up and down, seemingly always 
looking for food. I do not know how long they had resided in that tank, but I figured that they knew 
the full scope of their world, every nook and cranny, around every rock and all the details of each 
plastic plant designed to look like real seaweeds. I watched to see if the three had patterns to their 
movements, or whether it was very random. 

As I watched, I thought of the German novel “The Wall,” where this invisible wall suddenly appeared 
in the countryside. You didn’t see it, but you could not pass beyond this wall. Because the 
wall kept people within certain parameters, people died. It was a depressing novel.

Then I thought about zoos, those places where we all visited as children and loved to get close to 
the “wild” ani-mals. I’ve heard both good and bad things about zoos, how certain animals are saved 
from near extinction in the wild because of the zoos. And as I continued to observed the meandering 
journey of the three fish, I thought about zoos and realized why I didn’t like the concept of a zoo, 
which imprisons animals in confined spaces so other people can come and look at them. 

From the animals’ perspective, it must feel like a life of futility and lost dreams. Yes, it’s true that 
some animals will live longer in a zoo and not go extinct. Still, I don’t like zoos. An animal can 
wander freely and fend for himself and probably live a shorter life than he would in a cage, but he’s 
living the sort of life that nature intended. Is the animal “happier” in the wild? Does the animal 
even think in those terms? Does the caged animal realize that he no longer can make certain 
choices? What’s the solution? You couldn’t very well just open all the cages and let the animals run 
free. Some would not survive on their own, far from home. Others would be a threat to the urban 
humans and their pets.

As I sat in the quiet waiting room while others read magazines or talked in hushed tones, I continued 
to wait my turn as I watched the fish. It occurred to me that zoos are the partners-in-crime 
with modern agriculture. Have you ever seen a modern chicken factory, with three chickens to a 
tiny cage so small that they cannot turn around, with lights on 24/7 so the farmer can extract the 
most eggs out the chickens before they are killed? While there are some free-range farms, chickens 
in small cages life-long is not unusual. It’s the price that is paid to have a surplus of eggs at every 
store. And it’s why I always buy free-range, or not at all.

The fish continue to swim back and forth and up and down, and I still do not see a recognizable 
repeatable pattern to their movements. They do not seem at all aware of my existence, and I wonder 
how long they have lived in the tank, and how much longer they will live.

The door opens and the receptionist at the doctor’s office calls my name. My last thought as I left 
the waiting room was that I would never want to be one of those fish. And then, for a split second, 
I began to consider all the limits and restrictions and repeatable patterns and comfortable routines 
of my own life. “Is it possible that my life is similar to those fish, without my even realizing it,” I 
pondered, as I depart the waiting room to see the doc-tor.


Pet of the Week

 
Meet Edie! Edie is a 4-year-old black 
and tan German Shepherd at Pasadena 
Humane with the sweetest heart. She’s 
well-mannered, potty trained, and even 
knows a few tricks! Her favorite things 
include squeaky toys, belly rubs, and plenty 
of attention from her people.

 This smart, strong girl loves exploring the 
yard, chasing lizards and squirrels, and 
showing off her speed when she plays. She’s 
also learning leash manners, enjoys lots 
of car rides, and settles nicely into a crate 
while in a home setting. She is gentle, calm, 
and is happiest when hanging out with her 
humans.

 If you’re looking for a sweet, playful, and 
affectionate companion who’s ready to join 
you on life’s adventures, Edie could be the 
perfect match for you. Come meet her and 
see why she’s so easy to fall in love with!

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 10:00 – 5:00. 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.


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