Harley, Jenny, Elmer -- "all dogged-up"

We'll open today with one of these love-at-first-sight things, then segue into some other stuff, including an update on Elmer the Blind Dog.

And, the way things are stacking up in the in-box, we're going to have more than one edition today. It is, after all, summertime and (a) people dump dogs and cats and (b) people find dumped dogs and cats.

And, sometimes, they just happen to be walking by a cage when ... Well, here's the next story:

THE DOG THAT CAUGHT HER EYE: This story comes from Margaret Morin and it'll show you how these things happen. You may know Margaret through her animal work or her work with the Vegetarian Network of Dallas. And, she has, as you will see, been knocked right over by a homeless canine.

Here is her story (and see if you can relate): "Late Sunday afternoon, I went to an Animal Guardians of America dog adoption at PetsMart to drop off a few donated items.

"I stopped to look at the adoptable dogs, exhausted from having been on display since 11 a.m. One of them caught my eye. He was a striking young, black and white border collie mix who, unlike the other dogs, sat erect, attentive, and intently staring at me.

"When I approached his crate to pet him, his bright eyes suddenly clouded over and he ducked his head, not in submission but in obvious sadness.  I asked for his story and was told that he is a young dog named Harley, who was surrendered by his owner due to home foreclosure.

"I was in a hurry, but this smart, sensitive dog needed respite from the boredom of a crate, so I decided to take him for a short walk. Although Harley was clearly glad to be out of his crate, he walked calmly on his lead and looked at everything and everyone with friendly but restrained interest.  After our walk, we went back to PetsMart, where I sat in the shade in the front of the store for a few minutes, while Harley alternated between sitting in my lap and politely greeting everyone, person or dog, who walked by.

"When I took him back to his crate, he accepted that he had to go in even though he did not want to. But, just before stepping inside, Harley stopped and touched my hand with his nose. Harley was saying thanks for the walk and for treating him like he mattered. Then, he stepped in his crate, lay down, and resolutely stared at the floor. He did not look at me again. He knew he could not afford to start liking someone he would never see again. Harley is a smart dog and learns fast. He deserves better.
"I am all dogged- up so sadly, I cannot take this fine dog to live with me.  If you are interested in giving Harley a forever home where he will sleep inside and will also have a good-sized yard (border collies need exercise), please contact Animal Guardians of America at 214-718-6843."

And, there you have it, a veteran critter fan preaching the Gospel of Harley, the extra sweet and smart dog.

JUST WONDERING ABOUT THE FUTURE: In that preceding note, we saw a term that may become commonplace in Dallas under the proposed animal ordinance's six-animal limit: "all dogged-up."

And I guess that's a good thing if you are a collector or some kind of nut and not just a person who picks up free dogs and cats available on the roads, freeways, parking lots and parkland in Dallas.

"All dogged-up" sort of emphasizes how, in order to keep dogs and cats from meeting the needle, it really will take a new enthusiasm in rescue and in shelters to reach beyond the usual rescue circles into the hearts of "just plain folks."

Harley may be a stunningly individual dog, but there are thousands of dogs and cats who don't get this kind of attention every month in Dallas. The attention they get comes in this order: Found or surrendered, caged, then killed. Nobody takes a second look at them. Rescue groups have only so much room, rescuers have only so much money to take care of extra dogs and cats.

There are a lot of people who are oblivious to the daily crises in kill shelters. Be great if a big-time PR outfit -- or a PR outfit that wants to become big-time -- donated some high-dollar pro bono efforts to saving the lives of these animals.

In the meantime, spay and neuter and properly confine your pets, you pinheads. Ooops. My bad. See, that's why we need a PR person running the campaign. A good PR person can call you a pinhead and make you like it while simultaneously browbeating you into doing right by your animals.
Also, many's the time I've heard rescue folks, after a particularly unsavory episode with abandoned or injured animals, declare, "I hate people." Better knock that stuff off -- Dallas is about to enter a new era where a positive attitude is going to be important to animals.

Animals need people -- sometimes they need different people -- but they still need people and there are, I firmly believe, more good people than bad people. I hear from these good people all the time.

SAVING JENNY: Well, goodness, imagine this: a loose dog on a county road near Athens, Texas. Yep, happened again.

This time Melissa Singletary, one of our regular tipsters, happened across Jenny about three-fourths of a mile down the road from her home. "There isn't a lot of traffic but she was chasing cars apparently looking for her owner. Because of where we live, I could only figure that someone dumped her. There are many dogs who run loose but she's not one of the usual clan."

Melissa picked the friendly dog up and put her in the backseat of her car. The dog wagged her tail throughout the trip, but was "also whining a little bit so I assured her that she was going someplace safe and I would do everything I could to get her to a good home."

Jenny has been through a vet checkup. She's about a year old, weighs 55 pounds and is heartworm negative. She's believed to be a Lab/Husky mix "because she has a little mask on her face."

So, there's Jenny, a perfectly good dog, being boarded at a vet's office but in need of a good home. Melissa is, to use the theme of the day, "all dogged-up" with 10 already. Those dogs all get along and the addition of a new one might tip the balance on congeniality. "Plus," Melissa says, "There is no more room on the bed or I'll be sleeping somewhere else."

To help Jenny find a place to live, e-mail melsingletary1@yahoo.com.

ELMER'S STATE OF BEING: When Elmer the Blind Dog wandered into Gary Pryor's field of vision, he really was taking the right steps.

Carla Pryor has good news to report about the dog her dad found (we reported on this episode yesterday).

She reports that she's found "a wonderful lady" to foster Elmer while he goes through heartworm treatment.

This is a photo of Elmer turning Carla's dog Pita into an elbow pillow. "Whoever it is that makes him a part of their family is going to be so blessed with his presence," Carla says.

Carla would take Elmer, she says, but, to use the theme of the day, she's "all dogged-up." Got the limit at her apartment, already.

So, as soon as Houstonians Max and Noel Mosher foster Elmer through his heartworm treatment, he'll be available for adoption to an understanding home.

Max wrote, "While I initially hesitated to take in 'another' foster dog, my heart was saying something else. ... We're in the process of safe-proofing the backyard. My husband Noel is in the midst of building a temporary fence to protect Elmer from the pool."

And Max and Carla both promise to keep us up to date with Elmer's progress.

If you are interested in giving Elmer a good home, e-mail max@saltiresstaffing.com or carla.pryor@c2media.com or call 713-320-1120 or 713-320-5319.

AFTER THE STORM: Ever wonder what a pet store does when the power is out? At the PetsMart in Old Town on Greenville at Lovers, yesterday's storm kayoed the power Tuesday afternoon. Shoppers were greeted at the door by an employee with a lantern or a flashlight and led to their purchases. The employees wrote down the stock number and the shopper took it to the checkout stands where they were accepting only checks or exact change  -- or credit cards the old-fashioned way! That's right, putting the cards down on one of those gadgets that makes an imprint of your card on a piece of paper and carbon paper and sliding the imprint gadget. It was a sound that we thought was gone with the wind -- except it came back with the wind.

CONTEMPLATIONS: Oatmeal, plain or flavored? ... Three people who could get you to smile: Johnny Carson, Jerry Clower and Judy Holliday. ... OK, cue the day's music: Earth, Wind & Fire's Shining Star, followed by That's The Way Of The World. Now, somebody help me down off my platform shoes -- and my sequined jumpsuit is keeping the dogs awake and the cat's are going nuts chasing reflections. Ah, the '70s. Geez, that's a bad look for a post-middle-aged fat man. Heck, hand me down my walking cane HERE.