Friday Collection: Animals to Army

Before we get to assorted Friday things, did anyone else see that lightning in the sky east of Dallas last night? Atmospheric disturbances -- rain's coming to town. Or maybe sleet. Maybe snow. It's Friday the 13th -- might be volcanic ash.

Well, as we await the development of either a nice rainstorm or a lava-belching tourist attraction, let's continue on topics from the animals to the Army.

THE REBOUNDING DOG: Tawana Jurek, who has pulled quite a few dogs to safety, was driving along I-35 in Dallas last April and saw a dog that had been hit by a car and left to die.

"I saw the black and white dog sitting up in the grassy area on the side of thre freeway," Tawana recalls. "I exited and got on the service road where I looed for him. At this point, he was lying down in the grass and you could not see him. Had he been lying down when I drove by the on the freeway, I would not have seen him.

"Both his back legs were broken, his face was swollen, his body was 'sideways' and he could not move. He had scars, mange, heartworms, etc., You name it, he had it.

"People took pity on poor Jessie, as we named him, and donations came in to save him. He underwent three surgeries for his broken legs and back area. He never complained and just went along with what was done to him.

"Now, almost a year and 5 foster homes later, all the fosters agree that it is time to find Jessie a permanent home."

Tawana says he's been rejected by at least one shelter and "he most likely will be turned down an3wyehre he goes. He is a sweet dog that likes to lay in the bed with you. The problem is tht he is a pit bull and does not have a good chance right now."

Tawana tells the story of Jessie better than anyone -- she was there to see him when he was just a bewildered dog, battered and left for dead.

To give Jessie the good home he deserves, e-mail tawanajurek@yahoo.com.

As Tawana recalls from that day in April, "He sat up on his broken body -- in pain -- just to try to survive. I believe he has a purpose."

MAX AT THE SPCA: On Jan. 11 we wrote about Max, the Springer spaniel/dachshund mix, being in dire need of a home. He suffers from "severe separation anxiety" though he is sweet-natured and good with kids. Humans have let him down when it comes to spending time with him and helping him learn to be a good dog. (When will people realize that dogs are not all alike? That each personality is different and each dog needs a different amount of affection and attention? Help me down off this soap box.) Anyway, Max the dog has now been taken to the SPCA of Texas in Dallas. See www.spca.org for adoption info or call 214-651-9611. And if you want to see him and he is still there, the address is 362 S. Industrial Boulevard -- that's just across the big freeway on the western edge of downtown Dallas. There are plenty of dogs and cats awaiting a home at the SPCA. If Max doesn't match your personality, maybe one of the other critters will.
THE SIGNS: A local rescue group that stages a regular adoption at a particular site was warned by the police about putting up signs. Now, I understand that cities don't want signs cluttering up the telephone poles and medians. I also understand that cities need money. A lot of them seem to have worked out deals with Realtors so signs can be put up on weekends. Perhaps cities could offer modestly priced permits to rescue groups so that the groups, also, could take advantage of the "free speech" aspects of the United States. Just a thought.

Most rescue groups are so strapped for money, it's unlikely that they would put out a sign and not pick it up. And the idea that these signs would encourage other signs is bunk -- scofflaws already tack up signs on anything that'll bind with tape, glue or staples.

FREE WILDLIFE SEMINAR: Yesterday we mentioned a DFW Wildlife Coalition two-day class that costs more than a hundred bucks, but today we'll mention a free seminar from the group, "Call of the Wild." It's from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Living Science Center, River Legacy Park, 703 NW Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington. The seminar is and it's an introductory-style class touching on "rewards and challenges of working with wildlife." See www.wildlife.org.

A COUPLE OF SITUATIONS: These come to us via the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake (www.friendsoftheanimals.org).

(A) First up is a puppy who was dumped. In a note written as if it were from the puppy, we read, "It jut happened Sunday night and my head and heart are still reeling. he led me tdo beleive that we'd live happily ever after and then left me high an dry on thee people's front porch. I don't understand. I'm more than just a pretty face. I have personality. i hve tyle. I even have my own chew toy. It's not like I'm too old -- I'm only 6 weeks old. I have beautiful black hair with tan highlights and just a smudge of white here and there. ... My favorite things to do right now are pretty much party 'til I drop and catch 40 winks in the old man's or woman's lap. I know the right family will come along for me. Someone who will need my heart and bravery and add it to their own to create the best animal/human alliance ever done. If you think you are the one, please call 903-498-3111 and talk to the woman or try the internet (e-mail) at tlrhodes@direcway.com."

(B) Then there's this one, dear readers, which probably involves more details than I have energy to pursue. But if even a smidgen is accurate, it's a woeful occurance. This obviously is a "small town situation" because, as we know nothing remotely like this sort of willful inattention could ever happen in the big metro sprawl (dang, there I go hitting the sarcasm key again).

OK, here's the deal: A woman wrote to Friends of the Animals for help. "Do you know of someone who would like a male poodle? I had placed it in a home and the lady took it to Wal-Mart and tied it to an outside shopping cart while she shopped and it ran away.

"After two days of searching for it, he came back to me.

"She also kept him in her car. I was lied to by her about everything and how she was going to care of him. She asked for him back and I am not going to do that, so she called animal control and turned me in for having over the limit of 4 and they are coming Friday at 8 a.m. to write me a ticket. I am beside myself! Help!"

By now, of course, a ticket may have been written.

But the dog probably is still available and obviously some help is needed. So, e-mail TinaTinaH1201@wmconnect.com or call 903-880-4124 or 214-789-0265.

There's not enough time in the world to investigate all the she said/she said aspects of this situation, but there may be enough time to simply make a call and move a boy poodle to a happier place today.

FINALLY, ARMY RECRUITING MAKES SENSE: One of our favorite people is Lil England, mom of Jonnie England, executive director at Operation Kindness, the state-of-the-art animal shelter in Carrollton. You may have run into her at assorted animal-related events around town -- she's very supportive of rescue work.

She's also being recruited.

Jonnie says her mom, "who turned 87 last month, just received an invitation to join the U.S. Army."

Yep. Finally, the Army is going after people who have experience and organizational skills and understand the "responsibilities of command." This is what the Army needs: the "Mother of All Generals."

Jonnie writes that the recruiters say tht "as a solider in the U.S. Army or Army Reserve, she'll 'face incredible challenges every day' (That's good, because right now her greatest challenge is which book to read.). ... Among other things, they promise her guaranteed training in over 150 careers. (I wouldn't have thought that, at 87, she'd have that many opportunities available to her, but maybe I was wrong); up to $20,000 enlistment bonus (that will really come in handy since she's been on a fixed income for years), and medical and dental care (Super! Medicare just doesn't cover it all).

"If she joins the Army Reserve, the benefits aren't quite as great, but not bad. She can train close to home (I like that; he can still come over and let the dogs out for me) and be ready to serve when needed. There's guaranteed training in over 120 careers (I wonder which 30 she doesn't get in the Reserves?) and up to $20,000 to pay back qualifying student loan (now she can take Computer 101 at Mountain View!).

"And, as a bonus, if she sends in the information card, they'll send her a free Army knit cap! Pretty cool, huh? I think she should do it"

So, Jonnie, who got the mail for her mom that day, told Mom about the enlistment offer and Lil said, "Well, I didn't know the Army was interested in me! And here I've just told you I've had a nothing day, just sitting around in my chair most of the day. But, then, in the government, that's what a lot of them do -- just it around all day."

Jonnie says Mom's excited about the free cap. "I'll be waiting for that cap," she said. "I've been wanting one of those."