Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 17, 2015

10

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

Mountain Views-News Saturday, October 17, 2015 


LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND?

DEER CROSSING

AND A BUNCH OF OTHER 
REASONS TO SLOW DOWN!

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

To be your best buddy? 

 Flash is a spunky, independent terrier mix, almost 
10 years old, weighing about 14 pounds. Flash has a 
coat of reddish blond fur that can be worn longer or 
short. He has had a couple of professional grooming 
sessions during his time at the shelter, and looks 
very handsome with his summer cut. When you 
first meet Flash, you will notice that he has a unique 
“one ear up, one ear down” look. He most often has 
a smile on his face and will greet you with a friendly 
welcome bark.

 Flash was surrendered to the 
shelter because his family had to 
move to a home where pets are 
not allowed. It is often a hard 
adjustment for a dog coming from 
a family home to a shelter, but 
Flash is resilient, and has made 
the best of it. He has made new 
friends and gets along well with 
staff, volunteers, and other dogs he 
has met during his time with us.

 Flash is easy to harness and 
enjoys going for walks to the 
park with our volunteers. He is 
interested in the outside world and 
likes to sniff and explore when he 
gets out, taking in all the activity 
going on around him. He is happy 
to take a break at the park, get some petting, and 
especially some treats. Flash is very motivated by 
food and will sit on command if there is a reward 
offered. He is not known as a lap cuddler, but he 
does like to get attention, and has been known to roll 
over for a belly rub.

 Flash has had several different kennel mates 
during his time at the shelter. He seems to want to be 
the Alpha dog, and does not enjoy sharing his food 
with another dog. Although Flash usually takes the 
dominant role, he has met his match with Roy, his 
current partner. Roy seems to have the upper hand 
most of the time, but in a friendly manner, and often 
gives Flash a kiss after letting him know that Roy is 
the boss.

 Flash has known the feeling of being a family pet, 
and would love to spend his senior years enjoying the 
security and comfort of his own home again. He has 
a lot of personality, and would be happy if he could 
show what a great dog he is to the right family. Why 
not come in to meet him soon? Flash qualifies for 
our ‘Senior for Senior’ discount adoption program.

 He currently resides at the San Gabriel Valley 
Humane Society located at 851 E. 
Grand Avenue in San Gabriel. We 
are located off San Gabriel Blvd., 
north of Mission and south of Las 
Tunas. To arrange a ‘Meet and 
Greet’ with Flash, please stop by 
any time from 10:00am to 4:30pm 
Tuesday thru Sunday. 

 His adoption fee is 
$130 and includes neuter surgery, 
vaccinations, microchip and a free 
wellness exam at a participating 
veterinarian. Feel free to call 
us at (626) 286-1159 for more 
information on Flash. If you are 
interested in meeting Flash or any 
of the other wonderful pets at the 
shelter, visit the San Gabriel Valley 
Humane Society at 851 E. Grand 
Ave., San Gabriel, Calif., 91776, Tuesday through 
Sunday. For more information, call (626) 286-
1159. See our website at www.sgvhumane.org for 
information and photos of all our wonderful pets. 

 Celebrate the season with our ‘Fall is for Felines’ 
promotion. All cats one year and older are available 
until October 31st for a $39 adoption fee. 

 

 Readers are invited to join the San Gabriel ‘Race for 
the Rescues’ team to raise funds for shelter animals. 
The Race is Saturday, October 24th at the Rose Bowl. 
Go to the shelter’s website at sgvhumane.org for more 
information and how to sign up! 

I’ll never forget the first time I saw a family of deer 
wandering around on the property where I lived when 
I moved to Sierra Madre 24 years ago. I had heard there 
were wild deer that lived in the foothills, and that they 
often came down into the canyons and neighborhoods 
while foraging for food during the day. But until that 
morning when I awoke early and saw them nibbling 
away on the weeds in my yard, I had no idea how 
majestic that sight would be.

 I was amazed at how peaceful they were, roaming 
free among the humans as we bustled about to get out 
of our houses and into our cars, then swiftly down the 
hill to the freeway and eventually to work, hopefully 
on time! Those deer gave me a sense of serenity. Just 
knowing they were there, trusting us to show them 
respect and bidding that we allow them to carry on 
with their simple daily routine. It made me realize all 
the more, how fortunate I was to live in this unique 
and special place.

 Many years have passed since my first deer sighting 
in Sierra Madre and much has changed in our town, 
but one thing that has stayed the same is my looking 
forward to the next time I’ll get to see deer passing 
through my neighborhood. I tend to keep an eye out 
for them, in hopes that they will indeed come around 
and I will be blessed with that majestic moment of 
serenity that they have a way of bringing to my day.

 I drive on Grand View Avenue daily, and often, 
when I am headed east toward Santa Anita Blvd. I’ll 
catch a glimpse of some darling deer grazing in the 
huge yard on the north side of the street, or in the city 
yards on the south side. I always slow down when I see 
them because I know there may be a young straggler 
still trying to scale the fence to cross the street and join 
the others, or perhaps one of the adults taking up the 
rear to ensure that everyone else made it safely across.

 It only takes a couple of seconds for me to slow down, 
just in case, and for me it is always such a pleasure to 
see them. This is why I am completely mystified by 
the many motorists I see speeding across Grand View 
on a daily basis, with the pedal to the metal as if they 
are on a freeway somewhere in LA rather than on a 
residential street in Sierra Madre. The speed limit on 
Grand View is 30 miles per hour, just in case that is not 
made clear enough by the signs. I’m just saying.

 One might argue that Grand View is such a wide 
open road, it is tempting for even a good driver to go 
over the limit a bit because of the steep hill and wide 
range of visibility. I get it, I do. But 
still, the law is the law. Please abide by 
it when you are driving through our 
town. I sense that there are numerous 
drivers these days who somehow feel 
exempt from such “petty” traffic laws 
as ‘going the speed limit’ or stopping 
at a stop sign‘, so allow me to clarify; 
You are not exempt! No one is exempt, 
so get with the program and drive 
accordingly! There really are reasons 
why those laws have been put into 
place. It’s ok if you don’t understand. 
Just do it. 

 And then there are the tiny winding 
roads up in the canyon where residents 
wish to enjoy a peaceful, quiet lifestyle and they pay 
dearly for it. Did you know that the speed limit on 
most canyon roads is 15 miles per hour? Yep, just like 
the signs say…FIFTEEN, not fifty! As a dog walker 
who often has no choice but to walk along the short 
shoulders of those tiny canyon roads, I know for a fact 
that there are far too many people who apparently do 
not know the speed limit up there, or again, perhaps 
they think they are exempt.

 Please read and acknowledge the speed limit signs 
in the canyon, even if 15 mph may seem ridiculous 
for you drive in your speedy new vehicle. And if there 
happens to be a pedestrian walking on the road where 
there is no sidewalk, you might have to slow down 
enough to allow them to get to a place where they can 
get off the road onto someone’s driveway or yard to 
allow you to pass by. Don’t threaten them by revving 
your motor or pressing in so close they feel forced to 
climb a boulder or a tree to get out of your way. Basic 
common sense, right? One would think.

 Then there are those who, in lieu of showing the 
courtesy of slowing down and allowing the pedestrian 
enough time to get off the road, choose to speed up 
even more and zoom around them with a scowl as if 
that person intentionally set out to conspire against 
their morning commute. Anyone who is in that much 
of a hurry might want to consider leaving the house 
earlier and allow for enough time to accommodate 
the canyon-dweller slash LA-commuter lifestyle they 
chose for themselves. Just a thought.

 The other day I had to laugh when a “friend” asked me, 
“Why do people need to walk their dogs on the streets 
in the canyon anyway?” There once was a time when 
I could have had a field day with that one and left him 
feeling like a real moron, but not anymore. I just smiled 
on the outside and laughed real hard on the inside before 
backing away slowly and leaving him apparently still 
waiting for an answer. No, it wasn’t a rhetorical question, 
and no, he wasn’t kidding! I had to laugh.

 Now I realize this little rant doesn’t quite qualify as 
a “Happy Tail”, but I do hope it may have brought on 
a little giggle or smile to lighten the day for those who 
‘get it‘. Most importantly, though, I hope the message 
hits home with at least one reader who is ready to 
admit he or she needs to slow down when driving in 
town. Peace and tranquility…if I remember correctly, 
these were top on the list of many reasons why most of 
us moved here.


PET OF THE WEEK: MAX: ANIMAL ID #A4883372


Senior dogs rock! Meet Max (A4883372), a sweet 
15-year-old neutered male white and brown 
Miniature Poodle whose owner surrendered 
him to the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center 
on October 1st, because they were moving. 
Weighing 12 . pounds, this handsome senior 
walks great on leash, is well mannered and is 
possibly housetrained. He is a gallant gentleman 
who is happy-go-lucky and enjoys humans as well 
as other dogs’ companionship. He is adorable 
and will make a great 
television-watching, 
couch-cuddling and 
walking buddy. This 
little guy may be a senior, 
but he has lots of love 
to give and has plenty 
of energy. Walking on 
leash seems to be one 
of Max’s favorite past 
times. On glamour shot 
day, he loved prancing 
around the shelter 
introducing himself to 
all the volunteers and 
other canines. Max is 
a sweet, kissy lap dog 
looking for some good 
food, a comfy bed and 
a loving owner. He will make a great addition 
to any household (volunteers recommend older 
children that can respect his small stature). To 
watch a video of Max please visit the following 
link:https://youtu.be/qrzdJvIa4DE

 To meet Max, please see him at the Baldwin 
Park Shelter, located at 4275 N. Elton, Baldwin 
Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-962-3577). Max is 
currently available now. For any inquiries about 
Max, please reference his animal ID number: 
A4883372. The shelter is open seven days a 
week, 12 pm-7 pm Monday-Thursday and 10am-
5pm Friday-Sunday. This is a high-intake shelter 
with a great need for 
adoptions. For more 
information about 
Max or the adoption 
process, contact United 
Hope for Animals 
Volunteer Adoption 
Coordinator Samantha 
at Samantha@
hope4animals.org. 
To learn more about 
United Hope for 
Animals’ partnership 
with the Baldwin 
Park Shelter through 
its Shelter Support 
Program, as well as 
the many dogs of all 
breeds, ages, and sizes 
available for adoption in local shelters, visit 
http://www.unitedhope4animals.org/about-us/
shelter-support-program/.


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