Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, November 5, 2022

Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 5, 2022 

Happy Tails 

by Chris Leclerc 


A WHISPER SPEAKS LOUDER 
Learning from the Heart of a Horse 

When I was about 12 years old, I remember begging my parents to let me have a horse. I’d been fortunate 
enough to have had lots of pets and small farm animals throughout my childhood, and I enjoyed spending 
time at the local barn with my friend’s horses, but my lifetime dream was to have a horse of my own. My father 
had left his job in the aerospace industry years before, to pursue his dedication as a Christian missionary, 
so we were living on what they called a “shoe-string“ budget at that time. 

When I think back on those days, growing up as the baby of seven children, it amazes me that I never realized 
how poor we were. It never mattered because my parents always ensured that we had everything we needed, 
and most importantly we were wealthy in love. My mother sewed our clothes, my father did the yard work 
and home improvement projects himself, and we kids were expected to perform chores to earn our weekly 
allowances. As far as my memory serves me, we never experienced a lack of affection or compassion in our 
home, so I guess we just assumed we were as “rich” as any of our friends were. In retrospect, I realize what a 
wonderful childhood I had. 

When I was 13, my father finally gave in and bought me a pony. Unbeknownst to me, he’d been watching 
the classified ads in the local newspaper, hoping to find one we could afford, and finally came across a Welsh 
pony for sale at a nearby farm. The owner wanted $75 for “Coco”, and even at that rock-bottom price, I know 
my dad was going out of his way to accommodate my desire to be a horse-owner. 

Coco came with nothing more than a halter and a lead rope, so I learned very quickly to ride bareback and 
handle him without the force of a bit and bridle. My sister, Vicki and I had such fun doubling up on Coco 
and trotting around the rural parts of our area, riding on the local mountain trails and playing in the back 
woodlands surrounding our town. Those are some of the best memories I have from my youth and I would 
trade them for nothing. 

When I realized how much responsibility went into owning a pony, it was a rude awakening for me. Every day 
after school, I had to go out and find Coco in the field, rope him and bring him back to the barn, groom him, 
clean out his stall, feed him, and let him rest a while before I could finally enjoy the fun of taking him out for 
a ride. Coco was a bit of a curmudgeon, so it was a challenge and a physical work out for me to perform the 
daily ritual with him at the barn. 

I later learned that Welsh ponies are known to be head-strong compared to other equines. They require a lot 
of patience and loving discipline to help keep them in line. According to my memory, I suppose I did okay 
working with Coco, considering he was my first pony and I had little previous experience with horsemanship 
and all that went into it. I bonded with Coco immediately when I brought him home, which made it easier for 
me to be patient and understanding when he tried to buck or throw me. 

Little by little the two of us had an understanding of what to expect and how to respect each other. 
Caring for Coco and learning about his way of thinking was such an important part of my life as a youngster. 
My folks used a good balance of encouragement and discipline in raising us kids, and I was lucky enough to 
have had an excellent school education, but there is nothing like working with a horse to teach a human how 
to live gracefully. 

All these memories flooded back to me one day, after watching a documentary titled “BUCK”, a bio-pic 
focused on the life of a gentleman named Buck Brannaman, who inspired the story behind the film, “Horse 
Whisperer”. I remember seeing the film, when it first came out and being very impressed and emotionally 
affected by the story, but until I watched the ‘Buck’ documentary, I had no idea that “Horse Whisperer” had 
been based on a real life character named Buck Brannaman. 

Horse Whisperer was about a man who had a unique ability to communicate with horses, and he used it to 
train and handle horses in a humane manner. Ultimately, the character in the film succeeds in bringing new 
life to not only his equine subjects, but also to the humans involved. It was such a heart-warming story for me 
because it validated what I always believed to be true about my relationships with the precious animals in my 
life. I came to realize that if we humans would be willing to take the time to understand the minds and hearts 
of our fellow species, we would be far more apt to succeed in living our own lives with grace and dignity. 

Many important lessons can be learned while sitting in a classroom with curriculum and instruction, but 
some of the most important lessons in life can only be learned by spending time in a dusty field under an 
open sky with beautiful beasts of burden who have ages of knowledge ready to share with those of us who are 
willing to show due respect and listen to what they have to teach us. 

I truly believe that if one has the desire to know, and the willingness to listen patiently and calmly, they’ll 
benefit greatly from what horses and other animal species have to offer. I don’t know about you, but I myself 
am on a constant quest to learn from the animals, and I believe it is best to communicate calmly and show 
due respect to gain age-old knowledge that can come only from the heart of a horse. Thanks to my pony, 
Coco, and to Buck Brannaman for the inspiration. Love and let live! 


PRETTY “PERSIMMON” 

Our 
fosters 
found 
this little 
cali co 
floof under 
a Persimmon 


tree on the side of their house meowing 
very loudly for help under a window. 
She was scared, lost, alone, but 
very brave. Thankfully they scooped 
her up and she immediately turned 
on her purr motor. She has lots of 
love and kisses to give. A little warrior 
princess ready for her forever home with purr-haps another little feline pal 
for her? She’s only 2 months old and a total delight! Find the adoption application 
on our website where you'll also find more adorable pix on our Very Young Cats 
page. www.lifelineforpets.org. 


Pet of the Week 

Luna (A501939) 

If you’ve seen our Wiggle Waggle Wagon 
around town lately, it’s likely that you’ve also 
seen rockstar Luna. She has a cult-like following 
amongst our staff and volunteers who 
have all fallen in love with this sweetheart. 
Here is just a sampling of their praise: “Luna 
is really great with people!” “She shows off 
her sit, shake, down & does auto sit for treats. 
She settles for long stretches, laying calmly & 
observing her surroundings.” “Super mellowand calm all day!” “She was surrounded by a 
middle school girl scout troop, and she loved 
the attention.” “What more wonderful things 
can I say about Luna?”
This seven-year-old pup is at the perfect age to be playful and adventurous, then chill out for 
a nice long nap. She LOVES toys, people and butt scratches. She’s also free for any adopter 
over 60 thanks to our seniors for seniors program!
Luna has been patiently waiting for her forever home- could that be yours?
The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and 
age-appropriate vaccines.
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. 

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

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


rador, Thurber, makes me laugh out loud at least five times every day. 


HOW DOGS MAKE US LAUGH 

My 23-month-old Lab-

As I write this column — attempt to sit at my desk and write, that is — my silly puppy keeps 
dropping his ball at my feet, hoping to get me to play with him. 
Which makes me laugh out loud. 

My Mornings Start with Dog-Induced Laughter 
I knew getting a dog would change my daily routine, but I had no idea how much he would 
improve my life and make me feel so cheerful. 

In fact, it wasn’t until he arrived 21 months ago that I realized that several days would pass 

in my life in which I did not laugh a whit. 
A lack of laughter is bad for us, our families, our friends and our entire civilization, if you 
ask me. 

And, I dare say, as a civilization, we are taking ourselves way too seriously right now at the 

expense of cheerfulness and laughter. 
As we laugh less, we become more anxious, agitated and angry and our civility towards our 
fellow citizens suffers. 

Which is why I wish everyone could experience the joy of having a dog. 

Every morning, after Thurber eats breakfast and does his business, I lay back down to read 
the news on my phone and to ease into the morning. 
And Thurber jumps up on the bed with a ball or bone in his jaws, tail wagging with mischief 

in his eyes, as he dares me to try to take it from him — which causes me to laugh out loud. 
Dog-Induced Laughter Promotes Civility and Empathy 
Thurber’s antics make me laugh so hard and so often, I can only imagine how much public 

civility would be improved if everyone in our country could experience the daily joy he 

brings me. 
Civility is “the foundational virtue of citizenship,” developmental psychologist Marilyn 
Price-Mitchell wrote a decade ago in Psychology Today. 

It’s behavior “that recognizes the humanity of others, allowing us to live peacefully together 

in neighborhoods and communities.” 
She explained that the psychological elements of civility include awareness, respect, self-
control and empathy — the very characteristics a professional dog trainer is currently helping 
me develop in Thurber. 

Empathy — the ability to understand and share the feelings of another — is certainly a skill 
we Americans are losing in our increasingly isolated, angry, social-media-driven world. 

But pets like my best buddy Thurber can help bring us together and help us restore our argumentative 
nation to a civil, well-functioning republic. 

Child development specialist Denise Daniels explains in The Washington Post that “emotional 
intelligence,” or EQ, is a measure of empathy. 

She points to the findings of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, which researches 
EQ and teaches people how to improve it, and notes that a high EQ score is the best indicator 
of a child’s success — as well as an adult’s. 

Which brings us back to the value of pets. 

Daniels writes that a variety of research in the U.S. and U.K. has shown a correlation between 
attachment to a pet and higher empathy scores. 

I know my buddy, Thurber, has certainly improved my empathy and EQ score. 

How to Promote a More Cheerful World 

I didn’t realize that my emotions for my puppy would run so deep, or that I would work so 
hard and do so many things to give him the happiest, healthiest life he can experience. 

Plus, everywhere we go — and he loves few things more than jumping into the backseat of 
my truck — he makes total strangers smile, laugh and converse with me. 

His simple presence can bring human strangers together. He not only makes us forget the 
petty human world — for a little while, at least — but he reminds us that a simple but magnificent 
creature like him can turn the most hardened souls back into empathic, laughing, 
happy children. 

As I work hard to train Thurber to be a great dog who exhibits compassion, self-discipline, 
courtesy and empathy, he is training me right back to improve all of those very same skills. 

I can no longer imagine what my world would be like without my lovable Labrador enriching 
it for me — and everyone else who meets him every day. 

As I said, I wish all of my fellow citizens could become more cheerful by inviting a furry 
family member into their homes. 

It wouldn’t solve all of the world’s problems, but we’d certainly be more cheerful and civil as 
we work to solve them! 

Tom Purcell is creator of ThurbersTail.com, which shares helpful pet-care tips and funny 
stories and videos featuring Tom’s beloved Labrador, Thurber. Email Tom at Tom@TomPurcell.
com. 

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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