Furry fellows find forever families

Pierce College couple saves several dogs om euthanization & helps them nd a loving home

Salazar

Woofs, whines and whimpers can be heard in the distance.

A tall, white picket fence blocks the scurrying legs, wagging tails, slobbering mouths and dirty paws that welcome anyone who crosses the gate.

A calm, sturdy young man looks over the yard and suddenly shouts, “Shepard, stop that.”

Standing up, he separates a German Shepherd puppy from a brief, rough and tumble puppy brawl.

A smaller dog springs to the man’s lap as he sits down and begins petting it. A broad smile crosses his face at the sight of the white, curly haired creature.

This is a typical Sunday afternoon for Jose Barrera.

The 27-year-old has been a fulltime automotive student at Pierce College for the past two years.

Growing up in North Carolina, Barrera owned many dogs of all breeds and sizes, Pit Bulls being his favorite. His current Pit Bull Terrier and “little body builder,” Oreo, was one of his first dogs that he rescued from a shelter in 2006.

“He loves them and he loves proving people wrong when it comes to the stereotype people have of them,” Barrera’s wife Silvia Gutierrez said.

Barrera moved to California in 2005 after meeting Gutierrez through a mutual friend. They both share a love and passion for dogs.

The two canine lovers married in July of 2007 and are expecting their first son this July. Their passion for caring for animals has turned into a lifestyle.

Together they own a house in Van Nuys, California. Besides attending Pierce College, Barrera works as a full-time mechanic at Tri Star Auto

Center around the corner from his house, making it easy for him to check in on the many attentionloving puppies that he fosters.

Gutierrez, 24, former veterinarian major at Pierce, works at a plasma center to help support Barrera in finishing his education. Once finished, he hopes to eventually support her to do the same.

At a glance, it might seem like a simple young couple’s life but these two generously dedicate their free time to 10 furry and rambunctious creatures that have taken over their front yard.

“I guess you could say that she’s the one to blame,” Barrera said It all began when Gutierrez’s no longer in his cage. He was about to be put down. Barrera immediately asked if he could adopt the dog. The shelter said yes. beloved German Shepherd puppy ran away in 2006.

Volunteering at the shelter became a routine for Barrera. Being around the helpless little lives gave Barrera a sense of purpose knowing that his action may be small, but it was worth it. He began adopting a more dogs during his time there.

Recognizing the passion and dedication of Barrera, the shelter began to call him asking if he would want to take any dogs that were about to be put down. Barrera would refuse at first but after seeing the puppies, he caved in and would take them home.

“In the process of looking for him, going to shelters here and there looking for him, that’s when I came across Oreo,” Barrera said.

The small Pit Bull was a “bait dog,” thrown into a group of larger dogs to fight for its survival.

Barrera described Oreo as a mean looking dog with scars and scrapes tattooing his bulky black and white body.

In order for Barrera to adopt this gentle giant, he had to prove that he could handle him. Day after day, Barrera volunteered walking, feeding, playing and doing anything he could to win him.

After one month of volunteering, Barrera one day saw that Oreo was

The couple naturally decided to let what was once a hobby become a home to numerous street dogs of all sizes. They work in and out of their schedule to care for these dogs as if they were their own, knowing that the puppies will eventually leave to their “forever home.” Gutierrez and Barrera understand that just because they are troubled dogs does not mean they have be euthanized. “Kinder for Rescue,” founded by Laurel Kinder, a well known dog rescuer, is the organization that the couples work with to give their dogs the best process in finding a home.

“We try to make them easier to adopt. We don’t want to them to be returned for something so small as to they don’t know how to walk on a leash,” said Gutierrez. “So we’ll get them trained. We’ll take them for walks and get them used to a normal dogs life.”

Gutierrez explains they are not like other fosters.

“It’s not just about keeping them and giving them food every morning and night. We end up keeping them until they go to their future home. We will stay there the whole day [at the shelter] until they got adopted,” said Gutierrez. “And if they didn’t get adopted we would take them back home, which not a lot of fosters do.”

Modern mechanization aides students

Assistive techology instructor helps enable disabled students

colleague and a Pierce College Sign Language Interpreter Specialist. “But he also has a playful side.”

Club 411: International Students Club

Foreign students nd sanctuary with fellows who share similar experience

His hands ceaselessly glided across a black notebook disguised as a tablet, showing the intricacies of modern technology.

His index finger pointed to the screen, clad in graph sensors and buttons with sensitive microchips, acting as a surface for writing on with a smart pen.

He demonstrated that it transcends what you write from this special paper to cell phone applications by recording and taking pictures of what had just been written.

In his office, tucked in the Special Services castle of the Student Services kingdom, this smart pen becomes his magic wand – a tool that could change note taking in the waking moment.

This 37-year-old man is none other than Suleman Ishaque, the instructional assistant of assistive technology for disabled Student Services at Pierce College. Holding this position since 2012, his first start on campus was as a student studying computer science.

“In a nutshell, I’m the computer geek at the department,” said Ishaque with a genuine interest after his smart pen demonstration.

Originally from Pakistan, Ishaque moved to Simi Valley at the age of 24. Upon moving from one country to another, he enrolled at Pierce as a full-time student.

From there, he was hired onto a temporary assignment within the Special Services Department and as luck had it, he was hired immediately for his position.

“He has a very specific job that he does,” Pierce College Interpreter Coordinator Louise Sulka said. “He is very personable and helpful.”

Instructional assistant of assistive technology for Special Services

Having an older sister who is blind, Ishaque grew up understanding the challenges of her depending on him and his family for various tasks. She ultimately became his inspiration for the work he is currently involved in – to use technology as a tool for learning disabilities.

“Once I came in as an office assistant, I saw what difference I could make,” said Ishaque.

After spending more time with him, it quickly became apparent that he not only deeply cares about the Special Services Department, but he is passionate about technology.

With a childlike excitement, he elaborated on his home devices in his tech-driven world. In his apartment, a Roomba vacuum roams the carpet and within his reach, he holds the power to change the thermostat settings on his phone without actually having to be home.

“When it comes down to business, he is very serious,” said Nicholas Sumandra, Ishaque’s

At Pierce College, Ishaque is the go-to man who trains Special Services students how to use hitech hardware that ranges from smart pens to an adaptive mouse to a refreshable braille display. He is one of the workers who transcribes books into alternative media for easier access.

“Honestly, I am a very lazy person,” Ishaque jokingly said. “I use technology to make life easier.”

As you sink in deeper into his technological world, you learn that he is also interested in deepsea fishing and was chosen to be a union delegate for The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

This position allows him to “carry a voice” for public colleges in California. Not to mention, Ishaque is a political coordinator for the entire district.

“I carry the voice at the state level,” said Ishaque.

This voice that Ishaque talks about has battled sanctions in colleges, expressed arguments for more school funding, and has fought for the rights of the American Federation of Teachers.

One of the propositions that he was involved in was to stop class cuts during summers at public colleges – the reason why there are three summer sessions at Pierce.

He also mentioned that he is pushing for more technology use within the classrooms, as the smart pens are only available for personal purchase and are not publicly provided by the Special Services Department due to low funds.

“Technology, gadgets and that sort of thing are what I’m interested in,” Ishaque stated. “When this position opened up, I was like, ‘wow, I can do what I love.’”

The Chelsea Lately Show, Six Flags Magic Mountain, hiking to the Hollywood Sign, and going to the movies are just a few things that the International Students Club plans to do.

The club likes to plan different events throughout the semester so club members can get a taste of what Los Angeles has to offer.

“They are one of the more active clubs on campus,” said Curtis Smith, adviser of the Associated Student Organization (ASO).

The International Student Club is an active club on campus that aims to promote diversity and create lifelong friendships with students of different countries, according to the ASO webpage.

The club meets in the business building in room 3201 on Thursdays at 1:00 p.m.

“Anyone can join the International Students Club,” said Abby Sandico, director of the International Student Program and adviser to the club. “The club was started to assist international students and get them acclimated into a diverse community.”

“We all get along despite having different backgrounds,” 21-yearold Kariann Coe said. “We still talk to former members of the club, which is cool.”

This close-knit group of students may have found it easier to adjust to their new life with the club, which acts as an extension of the International Student Program, according to Sandico.

“It may be harder for those who come from different countries,”

-Abby Sandico Director of the International Student Program and Club Adviser

Sandico said. “Many of them are here by themselves and do not have family members here.”

Some travel from as far as the Middle East for an education, which is what 29 year old Abdullah Alawaja did. He is the current vice president of the International Students Club, and moved here to Los Angeles three years ago.

Now Alwaja is a film major and vice president of the International Students Club.

The International Students Club has a wide range of events throughout the semester. Some events they are involved in, such as Diversity Day, are open to all students who wish to attend.

Alwaja also showed a video clip about Saudi-Arabia. The video showed tall buildings decorated with mosaic tiles, which turned out to be mosques.

Men were praying inside them and reading scripture from the Quran, the sacred scripture of those who practice Islam.

Every summer, Alwaja returns to visit his family in Saudi-Arabia.

“If you’re not an international student, it’s ok, just join,” 21-yearold Sabrina Walangare said.