Before we get into the more difficult things today, I want to take a moment to tell you about a chance encounter at a Red Bird-area auto repair shop in Dallas.
My fullychargedspouse Martha and I were there to get a new battery and tires for the minivan. This particular day, though, it wasn't the bargain price on tires that was the highlight of the visit.
A young woman at the checkout counter had a baby carrier and we looked inside to see one of the most beautiful babies ever born on this planet. Such a tiny baby. Four pounds, Mom told us. A boy. His twin sister is still in the hospital, growing daily from her starting point of right at 2 pounds. Six pounds of babies. Both kids vibrant. Just tiny.
And such a beautiful face on that baby boy. Beautiful tiny hands. Wonderful jet black hair. Such a gentle vision. In a world sometimes too rough on people and animals, we had a few minutes away from the challenges. We saw a new mother's love. We saw a beautiful child.
Maybe we saw some hope for the future. Maybe I'm just a sap for babies. But for a little while on a staggeringly hot day in Dallas, we felt the cool breeze of promise and grace.
Bless that Mom, she's going to have quite an adventure.
AN EARHOUND WHO IS A CAT: Yep, we've selected Evander to be one of today's "earhound" and there's good reason. And, yes, he's named for the heavyweight boxer who famously had a chunk of his ear bitten off by opponent Mike Tyson.
Evander is a 4- or 5-year-old declawed fellow currently under the care of the folks at The Colony. Animal Control Division Manager Patricia Barrington says, "We are told he was born minus half an ear. It's a very distinguishing trait and just adds to his overall worn, tattered, ragged, stuffed-animal-type personal. Evander is such a love. He never misses an opportunity to be petted and if he can’t find a willing hand, he’ll find a shelf, or a doorway and he’ll manage to pet himself. He’s super affectionate. To adopt this lovely boy, one simply needs to pay in advance at a vet clinic for his rabies shot and pay a $20 adoption fee; a heck of a deal for a friend of a lifetime."
To make arrangements to adopt Evander, e-mail pbarrington@thecolonytx.gov or call 972-370-9250.
AN EARHOUND WHO IS A DOG: What are the chances that we'd happen upon a dog with a missing ear the same day we're told about Evander? Never mind the odds on finding these animals, it's the long odds of getting them to safety that we ought to worry about.
Kahlua is one of the many animals in the Carrollton Animal Services shelter. He's #20030 and he's described as a shepherd mix who is "missing his right ear flap." He's a medium-sized dog. And the scouting report reads, "This gentle older fellow was found running stray. He is a friendly fellow who gets along very well with other dogs and loves to be with people. He is a very out-going dog and though he may be a bit older on the inside he still thinks he is a puppy."
To ask about Kahlua or any of the dogs and cats at Carrollton, 972-466-3420, or e-mail Joe.Skenesky@cityofcarrollton.com.
TWO FROM CAN: The Companion Animal Network has a couple of dogs that have been rescued from shelter situations and, now that they're off death row, they need homes.
We get their information from CAN's Gail Whelan.
Dexter (left) is the Blue Heeler, under 2 years old and "fully grown at 46 pounds." He's in a foster home right now, but that family already has two large dogs and "to make matters worse," Gail says, "the young woman is horribly allergic to sweet Dexter."
As is the nature of his breed, he has abundant energy and curiosity, Gail reports, "but is also happy to lounge on his bed and while away some dog day afternoons." He knows basic commands, gets along with other dogs and people and is healthy, though he may have been abused in the past and is slow to warm to new people.
Also, Gail says, CAN has been disappointed by the lack of response to the dog Luckey. If nothing comes up soon, Luckey "is headed for a shelter," she writes.
He's 18 months old, good with other animals and kids and healthy. He's just not finding a home. And if you are interested in either of these dogs, e-mail her at can_rescue@yahoo.com or call 214-808-3238.
LITTLE TIME TO MOURN: On Sunday we ran an "emergency" listing for a dog named Pumpkin in the Denton Animal Services shelter and Pumpkin got no reprieve and was euthanized Monday morning. Afterward I was lamenting this awful occurrence with our tipster, rescuer Amy Pelzel, who is a volunteer at the shelter.
And Amy, who has the wisdom of experience, replied, "It's always sad" and then she noted that the shelter had "like 30 new dogs!" that morning. All of them face the same fate as Pumpkin if people don't respond.
Later in the day, Amy sent this note about the dog in the photo. "We have the most amazing dog at the shelter now. She was found as a stray with one tiny puppy. Her puppy got adopted on Saturday. Gina, the mama, is left at the shelter and because of her recent 'childbirth look,' everyone keeps passing her by.
"Everyone at the shelter calls her my 'assistant' because I let her out when I get there each day and she follows me EVERYWHERE with a sweet smile all over her face. She is simply amazing!"
Gina is a Catahoula mix, probably 2 years old.
The rest of the story: "Our Animal Control Officers went back to where they found the mama and the first puppy and we found the remaining ones in someone's fenced-in yard. We contacted the owners and they said they would find homes for the puppies but could not afford to take care of Gina anymore...
"Please someone help with this one.. She only has until Thursday morning. She is by far the best dog at our shelter. She has NEVER shown any aggression and never even barked. She gets along with ALL of the other dogs at the shelter and simply LOVES people. If you know someone looking for a new loyal best friend, its Gina. Please let me know ASAP if you can help her! Ill pay half of the adoption fee on this one if someone wants to adopt her!"
The usual adoption fee is $120, as you can see at www.denton.petfinder.com. To ask about Gina, e-mail amy_pelzel@yahoo.com.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Is that a hint of Autumn in the air or is it an e-mail from the State Fair of Texas in my inbox? Ah, it's from the Fair, not that I wouldn't enjoy an autumnal breeze. The e-mail notes that the Creative Arts Competition Handbook is online at www.bigtex.com. Some of the deadlines are at 5 p.m. on July 31. The fair runs Sept. 25-Oct.18. ... My son Bart was driving home from work Monday evening when he glanced at a truck in the right lane next to him. The company logo "Mister Glass" was emblazoned on the side, but a bit of equipment was hanging down so that as the truck rolled down the road, the "G" and the "l" were covered up. You never have a camera when you need one. ... After I cough up whatever it'll take to see the next Harry Potter movie this week, I think I'm going to retire from going to the movies. The prices have finally ticked me off. Lousy movies don't deserve a $9 or $9.50 ticket. It used to be that the price of the popcorn was an insult, but now, having seen some of these movies in which "crude" is mistaken for "wit," I think the films are the biggest ripoffs in theaters. It pains me to write this. I love movie theaters. But, there is a limit.
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I take it from your remarks about recent movies that you must have been to see "Bruno"...looks very crude & tasteless, from the commercials on tv...sigh...where are Cary Grant & Katharine Hepburn when we need them?
Posted by: Rocky | July 14, 2009 at 11:08 PM