Dogs, cats and the media's frenzy

Today we're going to stir up a potpourri of items, from the continuing hunt for Steffi the German Shepherd to a golf tournament for dogs.

And, as this is being typed, I heard an MSNBC interview with one of the shuttle astronauts who was asked if there were things the spacefolks were missing and replied that there were cravings for pizza.

There are places pizzas aren't delivered, I guess. Not just certain Zip Codes, but certain orbits.

Now, as a taxpayer, I'm wondering if some of the pizza outfits on earth might stop buying athletic fields and start sponsoring space launches or shuttle components.

"This heat resistant tile brought to you by Pizza Hut, coolest meal in space." Decorate that shuttle like a racecar -- it's OK with me as long as the cash spends.

OK, enough of that. But, some advertising guy ought to be working on a commercial that shows a puzzled shuttle commander chewing on a slice and asking, "NASA, is someone else up here? We've had a pizza delivery." and an exasperated shuttle cook shouting from the galley, "It's not delivery, it's DiGiorno."

Space cravings. Now there's a whole 'nother neurosis for the insomniac to fret about late in the night. Another reason for this lad not to volunteer for a Mars mission.  In space, no one can hear you scream for pizza.

STEFFI REPORT: Goodness, there have been "sightings" that didn't pan out. And there are people intensely searching the Hillsboro area for the missing German Shepherd Therapy Dog, Steffi, who bolted from the scene of a traffic accident along I-35 on Sunday.

Our reliable source Stella Moore of the Dog Training Club of Dallas County, a friend of Mark Malone, Steffi's human, is monitoring this and keeps us updated on progress. (See yesterday's posting about the plight of Steffi, an award-winning dog with Therapy Dogs International.)

One of the things to admire here is the energy and devotion these searchers are demonstrating. Steffi's story is heartbreaking. Her people -- Mark and Nancy Malone -- are upset. But there is hope because more and more eyes are looking for Steffi.

SPCA DEPARTURE: Word has reached our news-site today that SPCA Vice President of Operations/Rescue & Investigations Dave Garcia, so active in recent cases involving animal cruelty, will retire at the end of August. This comes on the heels of some controversy in Smith County where the DA dropped animal cruelty charges against a woman because Mr. Garcia’s credibility in other areas was called into question. While these charges -- resulting from claims she improperly cared for many animals on her property at Tyler -- were dropped, an earlier misdemeanor case had resulted in a conviction. The Tyler Morning Telegraph (www.tylerpaper.com) has been covering these cases.

Animal fans no doubt hope this will not affect the SPCA's enthusiasm for pursuing other cruelty cases. No matter what the human politics, the animals still need help.

BRIEF EDITORIAL REACTION: It is hard to believe that America has kept South Korea free all these years just so the world can have (a) imported cars undercutting domestic prices and (b) clones of Afghan hounds. There are enough naturally born dogs on this planet.

Remember the great sigh of relief when Texas A&M proved it could clone that other rare species: the housecat? Oh, my. It's like a bait and switch thing or a magnificent misdirection. "Doctor, we've got people dying of heart disease and cancer all over the planet!"

"Never mind that, sonny, I've cloned a dog!"

SOME CATS NEETING HOMES: We've mentioned Graciela before (See July 15 entry.) She's the cat that came to Nancy Seaberg's, had a litter, and stayed. But it is time for Graciela to move on because Nancy already has a houseful of cats and a calendar loaded with activities. (To give this cat a good home, get in touch with Nancy at www.adfwwedding.com.) As Nancy was e-mailing the photo to www.readlarrypowell.com, she says Graciela was "having a grand time knocking everything off my desk, playing with the keyboard, and chasing a pen across the room." This is a cat that needs a human to make happy.

SO VERY ELEGANT: Cary Birdwell is working on finding a home for this tuxedo cat. So, Cary has forwarded this note from the cat known as Montague. "I'm ever so desperate to find a new estate in which to dwell," writes Montague. "Cats of my position are quite acclimated to a life of leisure and I'm jolly good at lazing about.

"I wandered away from my previous estate but some very nice chaps have been paying for my upkeep. However, I must find a home very soon, very soon indeed. I am a classic black and white tuxedo cat, around 2 years old, neutered and perfectly healthy. If you think you'd like to share your life with a proper gentleman such as myself, please call me on the 'tele' soon. Cheerio!"

(Aside: We know that "telly" is British for television. We're not sure "tele" is British for telephone. But, this is a cat trying to make a point in order to find a home, so who can quibble? Besides, we Americans have developed low standards for English.)

Now, to audition to adopt Montague, call 214-521-3611 or e-mail adoptadallaspet@yahoo.com.

Personal testimony regarding tuxedo cats: My catfanspouse Martha and I have had two. Cyril, now romping in the hereafter, and Poirot, now dozing somewhere in the house. Here is a truth about these tuxedo cats: They aren't normal. For some reason, their personalities are endearing but not quite all-cat. Like, maybe, alien DNA is in there somewhere. But, by golly, they were both affectionate.

CLUBBING ATTRACTIONS: I got a note yesterday from Michelle Sickles at Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas about the 5th Annual Gray Ghost Golf Tournament on Sept. 24. And that reminded me that it is time for shelters, rescue groups and other folks to send your September and October events to dallrp@aol.com for listing in the upcoming issue of Urban Animal magazine. Act quickly! We don't want to miss the Aug. 15 deadline.

By the way, Michelle says the Gray Ghost tournament still can use sponsors, helpers and players. E-mail golf@weimrescuetexas.org. The tournament comes with a silent auction benefiting the rescue group -- so if you have good stuff to donate, here's your chance to help these wonderful dogs. (Check the site at www.weimrescuetexas.org. I got a kick out of the photo of the big dog's nose!)

I've always thought that using a golf tournament to help dogs was representative of how opposites attract. Dogs are such pleasing companions and golf is the meanest game on earth.

PHOTO REMINDER: This weekend, www.readlarrypowell.com will again feature a Sleeping Dog/Napping Cat. Remember, you can nominate your slumbering buddies for an appearance on the World Wide Web by sending a digital photo of your sleeping critter to dallrp@aol.com. Be sure to include the journalistic info of who, what, where, etc.  Since we started this weekly feature in May you've seen sleeping Boston Terriers, Mastiffs, Beagles, Great Danes, kittens and Cavaliers. Next up: Bichons at rest! You don't often see that.

IKEA AND THE MISSION OF THE MEDIA: After watching the breathless media’s enthusiastic reports about the arrival of an Ikea store in the area, one would have thought the store wasn’t just selling furniture, it was also handing out cures for cancer.

You've got to wonder what would have been revealed to taxpayers had local media covered the behind-the-scenes stories of the Dallas Plan Commission six months or a year ago with the same enthusiasm that it has covered the grand opening of a Swedish furniture store.