Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, April 25, 2020

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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