By Aiko and Jim Hill

Looking Back, Moving Forward

Two years ago, our 11-year-old daughter, Kie, announced that she was starting a business, pet-sitting. She explained that nearly every neighbor had a pet and that she was going to help take care of them.

After observing pet traffic for an hour or so, you’ll argue Kie was right. Everyone seems to own a pet. You might also think that nearly every local dog is a golden retriever. Our old neighbors and friends, Steve and Lisa Newton, have four of these beauties.

There is little doubt that Los Altos is a pet paradise. From a dog’s vantage point the area has it all: loving owners, room to roam, and numerous parks where the canines can cavort with their compadres.

We know that besides being great family friends, dogs and other pets provide therapeutic value to our lives. They help people relax, reduce stress, and provide an incentive for patients to recover. In fact, many patients who check into the Los Altos Sub-Acute & Rehabilitation Center bring their pets.

For empty nesters or people who find themselves alone, pets provide loving companionship and an opportunity to cuddle. In 1996 one local dog, Tonto, was designated as an official “hug-a-pet.” Back then, he and his owner, Lisa Powell, spent much of their time visiting nursing homes and other facilities to provide a little snuggle to those undergoing care.

Some of our dogs perform more serious duties. After the Oklahoma City bombing, local dogs like Torrey and her owner, Gail LaRoque, aided in the rescue. In fact, at the time, Torrey was one of only 24 dogs in the country to be federally certified for national disaster search and rescue.

There are other rescue teams that reside in the Los Altos area. They are all members of the California Rescue Dog Association, the largest such group in the nation. Many of these dogs were called to aid in the New York City efforts.

It’s clear that we love our pets. So much so that we have a parade each year to honor the services they provide. Children and adults, individuals and clubs, all join together for this festive and casual affair.

So if you have a pet, Los Altos is the place for you. For those interested in adopting a pet into their family, a visit to the Palo Alto Animal Services center is recommended.

Send comments and suggestions to aikohill@aol.com.