Pets

Q. I would like to get a new dog, but wonder if it is a good idea at my age. I live alone. What do you think? You've probably noticed that when you pet a soft, warm cat or play fetch with a dog whose tail won't stop wagging, you relax and your heart feels a little warmer. Studies have shown that owning and handling animals significantly benefits health, and not just for the young. In fact, pets may help older owners live longer, healthier, and more enjoyable lives. Seniors that have pets tend to have better physical health and mental well-being than those that don't.

Ernie, # A210770 This 50-lb cutie went out with the Pasadena Humane Society's Mobile Unit on April 7 where he enjoyed being brushed and playing with squeaky toys. He had a grand time playing with the two other dogs, though he does like to be the boss. As he takes treats eagerly from your hand, he'd likely be best in a home without small children. With his short legs and adorable whiskers, he might be a schnauzer mixed with basset hound, and he was estimated at 8 years old, but he acts like a much younger dog. He also seems very housebroken as he will wait to be taken out for his walk.

Penelope’s Café is filled with dogs, cats, and adorable children this month — well, some pretty realistic renditions of the kids and pets — as local artist, Sarah Prescott displays her watercolor artwork along the walls of the popular La Cañada venue. The exhibit runs through April 30 at Penelope’s, 1029 Foothill Blvd. Larry Moss, who owns Penelope’s with wife, Penny, said he’s excited for Prescott’s work to be on display in the café.

Roxy, # A123207 Roxy, available for adoption at the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA, loves going for walks. This active girl is very friendly with all the people she meets. Her prior owner says she is housebroken, good in the car and has had some obedience training. She should have tall fencing if left alone in a yard. The regular dog adoption fee is $85, which includes medical care prior to adoption, spaying or neutering, vaccinations, and a follow-up visit at participating vets.

Pets are invited to pose for photos with Santa Claus in the One Colorado Courtyard, Thursday, December 14, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Hundreds of dogs, cats and exotic pets (and their owners!) attend this quirky critter event every year, which has become a holiday photo tradition. Pets receive a free holiday treat from "Santa Paws" courtesy of Three Dog Bakery, a One Colorado boutique specializing in all-natural ingredient pet treats. Photo proceeds benefit the Charles Cherniss Tournament of Toys, which benefits needy children throughout the San Gabriel Valley.

Local residents heeding orders Saturday to leave the path of the Station fire found shelter and a place to put their pets at La Cañada High School on Oak Grove Drive, where the Red Cross operated an evacuation center and the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA cared for animals. ?Fifty people came here last night and hundreds have been coming in and out,? Mary Schnecter, Red Cross public information officer, said Saturday afternoon. ?They?re just getting some water and something to eat. This is a place where people can come in and think about what to do next.

The faithful at St. George’s Episcopal Church in La Cañada, Montrose’s Holy Redeemer and La Crescenta’s St. James the Less Catholic Churches were among those who focused their spiritual attention and blessings on pets this past weekend. St. Francis of Assisi was a French aristocrat born in 1182 who, after years of taking advantage of his family’s wealth and position, had a life-changing experience while in the military. He turned to ministering to those less fortunate, gave away all his worldly possessions and devoted himself to God. He was recognized for his kindness to those less fortunate, extending to all creatures, and resulting in his being canonized in 1228.

When Katrina hit the Gulf Coast the news showed how badly it affected people and their animals. I knew right away I was going to go help with the animal rescue effort. The first night I slept on the floor of the airport. Little did I know that it was going to be the best night's sleep I would have for the next two weeks. Over the next two weeks I worked day and night trapping pets that were lost due to the storm. I saw more devastation than I could have ever imagined. Miles and miles of nothingness surrounded me. I met people who lost literally everything, their home, job, cars, pets and all of their personal belongings.

Protecting Pets Glory be!! At last I have common ground with Bob Tanabe! I commend him for his concern for the well-being of pets affected by Hurricane Katrina, and for bringing to our attention our local agencies helping to care for some of these animals. It is estimated that nearly 500,000 cats and dogs were directly impacted by the hurricane, and untold hundreds (probably thousands) have been left to die a slow, miserable death in the heat of the Gulf Coast. The heroes are the many volunteers from animal rescue agencies such as Best Friends, ASPCA, Alley Cat Allies, HSUS and Noah's Wish, and I urge you to visit their websites for information about how you can help and for reports of rescues and reunions of pets with owners.

Q. I would like to get a new dog, but wonder if it is a good idea at my age. I live alone. What do you think? You've probably noticed that when you pet a soft, warm cat or play fetch with a dog whose tail won't stop wagging, you relax and your heart feels a little warmer. Studies have shown that owning and handling animals significantly benefits health, and not just for the young. In fact, pets may help older owners live longer, healthier, and more enjoyable lives. Seniors that have pets tend to have better physical health and mental well-being than those that don't.

Every Thursday, Maggie Crawford outfits her golden retriever, Kai, in a harness and a neckerchief adorned with four gold stars. After that come the name badges, which identify Kai as a dog with a mission. “ID#59773—Pet Assisted Therapy at Huntington,” one badge reads. By the time the day is done, Crawford and Kai will have made their weekly rounds at Huntington Hospital, through the pediatric unit and the brain mapping department where patients’ seizures are tracked. They will have stopped by the medical records office to visit employees more than happy to ignore the filing long enough to sneak in a hug or a scratch behind the soft folds of Kai’s ears.

Brandy, a beautiful, 6-year-old Australian cattle dog mix, is friendly and likes to play. She is good with kids and looking for an active home where she will receive plenty of attention. Brandy knows several commands and earned the coveted Blue Ribbon in the Shelter School program. The regular dog adoption fee is $120, which includes medical care prior to adoption, spaying or neutering, vaccinations and a follow-up visit with a participating vet. For more information on Brandy, call (626)

Re: “The farm comes to school,” Feb. 10. You’d think that the educators at St. George’s Preschool would be aware that petting zoos are hotbeds of E. coli bacteria, and that numerous children have been infected with the potentially deadly bug after contact with animals. Infections can spread through direct animal contact or simply by touching the surroundings near an animal exhibit. Hand sanitizer does nothing to prevent spread of E. coli by inhalation, nor through indirect contact.

Veterinarian Steve Sallen, founder of the Rosemont Pet Hospital in La Crescenta, has spent nearly three decades caring for animals in the Crescenta-Cañada community. After a recent motorcycle accident, however, it was his turn to be cared for. On July 11, Sallen and his son Dustin, then 13, set out from the family’s vacation house in Gunnison, Colo. on Honda dirt bikes for a routine day of riding. Steve’s wife, Donna Sallen, was at their full-time home in Ojai.

Forget about lions, tigers and bears. It will be violins, flutes and trombones at the Musical Circus, an annual youth education program run by the Pasadena Symphony Association. Musical Circus will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at The Americana at Brand shopping center in Glendale. Eight subsequent dates have already been scheduled through September 2010. Jerri Price-Gaines, director of education and community engagement for the Pasadena Symphony Association, said the program is designed to expose young children to orchestral instruments and live performance music.

The minute I saw the smoke, my heart sank. My worst fear realized — a fire was burning in the hills above our home. Ten years earlier, when we bought our house in La Cañada Flintridge, it was solely for the highly ranked schools; the city light views and proximity to nature were just a bonus. Of course we noticed that our new backyard was the Angeles National Forest, but we were more concerned with being able to pay our mortgage than with the possibility of fire. After a few Santa Ana-driven fire seasons however, my husband and I started to worry.

Authorities are cautioning residents to beware of animals fleeing burned areas of the Angeles National Forest and moving into neighboring communities. With more than a quarter of the forest burned, animals displaced by the Station fire may find their way into nearby streets and homes as they search for food and comfortable surroundings, officials said. ?If you see a wild animal, be safe and keep your distance and keep your pets away from it until it leaves,? Jonathan Fielding, Los Angeles County?

Local residents heeding orders Saturday to leave the path of the Station fire found shelter and a place to put their pets at La Cañada High School on Oak Grove Drive, where the Red Cross operated an evacuation center and the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA cared for animals. ?Fifty people came here last night and hundreds have been coming in and out,? Mary Schnecter, Red Cross public information officer, said Saturday afternoon. ?They?re just getting some water and something to eat. This is a place where people can come in and think about what to do next.

Girl Scout Kelly Arthur, 17, looked to her passion when deciding what volunteer project she’d like to explore for her Gold Award. Arthur is a member of Troop 2801 and she received the award, which is similar to becoming an Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts, in June. “It’s a culmination of all you’ve learned in Girl Scouts and you apply that to a project,” she said. The La Cañada High School senior has raised funds to purchase cleaning supplies and toys for the Glendale Humane Society since ninth grade as an officer of the Animal Aid Club, a campus organization, she said.