Shelter week, bolting dogs, etc.

We’re smack-dab in the middle of National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week and I don’t know if “smackdab” is one word, hyphenated or two words.  We’ll have a contemplation on the week later in this presentation.

So, as you ponder the smackdabedness of life, let’s get on with the day’s business.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FORT WORTH: We got the first note about this running rescue pup Tiffany from Kate Watts of August Dog Rescue.

Tiffany is a dog who was at an adoption on Saturday, but during a skittish moment at an apartment complex in far north Fort Worth, she took off, completely bolted right out of custody, according to volunteer Lauren Dereta.

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Around 2 p.m., we got a note from Lauren saying Tiffany has been found and she included the photo of Tiffany with a new neckerchief taking it easy at the home of the woman who found her on Fossil Creek Golf Course. Lauren wants people to know she is very appreciative of their help in looking for Tiffany and volunteering to look for her. More to come later on the Adventures of Tiffany.)

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The dog was last seen at an apartment complex, The Club at Fossil Creek Apartments, di_35 and Western Center Boulevard, next to the Fossil Creek Golf Course.

Lauren says the dogs weighs under 8 pounds, has short legs and “big beautiful ears.” She’s “white with some blonde highlights on her back,” Lauren says. “The right side of her mouth kind of gets stuck on her tooth ... I have never heard her bark and only barely whimper, but that was it. She is very timid but once she feels comfortable, she just wants to cuddle.”

As you can imagine, there some angst in this story. Lauren says, “Her background we don't know a whole lot about but we are to assume she may have been abused/mistreated by a man. My husband was working on gaining her trust and the day she went missing it seemed that she was warming up to him. He said she allowed him to love on her and she relaxed enough to go for a walk. Later in the evening they went again and he said all was well until they approached our stairs and some kids kind of spooked her and she isn't fond of our stairs completely yet, either. So she started to panic, yanking around, trying to run off and her collar came loose. My husband tried to chase her and lost her, He came back home to change his shoes and when he came outside to go looking again she was standing at the base of the stairs but again as he approached her she darted off and another chase began. We have been searching ever since.

If you know the whereabouts of Tiffany the Skittish Chihuahua, e-mail katemwatts@gmail.com or ldereta@firstam.com or call 817-699-3782 or 817-808-7368.

CONTINUING TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT: On Oct. 29 we told the story of Cindy Lou Who, this dog who slipped her collar at her Lewisville vet’s office and vanished into the neighborhood near Main at Civic, close to Lewisville High School.

We checked in with Kandace Foley to see if there had been any luck finding Cindy Lou Who, an indoor dog completely unaccustomed to outdoor survival and strangers. “Haven’t found her yet,” says Kandace. “Still calling and visiting the shelters. We put out over 300 flyers.”

She says the Cindy Lou Search Team continues to visit shelters, vet offices, boarding places and “anyone who might care. We went all the way out to Denton.”

If you’ve seen this 5-year-old, 65-pound red-nosed dog, call 972-800-1348 or 214-675-6634 or e-mail westkandace@yahoo.com.

AND SOME ARE FOUND, THEN LOST: In this case, Courtenay Bass reports that she “found this sweetie” on Sunday in the park at Shorecrest at Lemmon in Dallas’ Bluffview area.

The youngish dog appears to be in good health and “may be part pit bull, but like so many of them is as sweet as she can be,” Courtenay reports. “She was wearing a black collar with no tags and trailing a red leash, like the kind you get at the vet. One of the neighbors in the area told me she had been there for at least the weekend.”

Then there is this complication. A couple of neighbors were keeping the dog and Courtenay was handling communications regarding the lost and found dog. Then, the neighbors reported that the dog dug out of their yard. Where is she now? Who knows? Found, then lost. Maybe found again.

So, if you know where this dog belongs or know where she is, you could set some minds at east by e-mailing the info to CLBmediate@aol.com or call by calling 214-303-4513.

She is exactly the kind of big ol’ dog who has virtually no shot at getting a happy home if she gets into a shelter

THE FUTURE: Perhaps that is too ominous a word, but it does catch the tone of this latest note from Stacy Smith, president of the North Texas Chapter of the Texas Humane Legislation Network.  Rejuvenation is in the future for this particular chapter of the group that describes itself as a “mainstream voice for the animals of Texas.”

Specifically, THLN lobbies the state’s legislators in such matters as improving animal cruelty laws.

The North Texas Chapter’s meeting is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at the ACCA office at 2008 E. Randol Mill Road, No. 106, in Arlington.

Stacy says the chapter is “regrouping after several months without a meeting – we all needed a break after that legislative session!”

She says this meeting will “introduce the new leadership committee and go through our goals for 2010.” (Aside from Larry: I nearly had a typo there but I caught it. I wrote “go through out goats for 2010" then I caught it – but that’s fine, because farm animals are animals, too.)

The meeting is supposed to last for an hour and the Dallas Cowboys game isn’t until 7 p.m. Sunday, so your conflicts are few. And you’re probably not going Christmas shopping this early, anyway. Stacy says the meeting will last an hour.

Other items on the agenda include discussion of the new “new volunteer director position that I’m excited about,” fundraising activities and other things.

To RSVP to Sunday’s meeting or to ask questions about getting involved with the North Texas Chapter, e-mail dogsave@earthlink.net.

A RINGER FOR OL’ YELLER: Oh, goodness, is it my eyes or could Hank really star in a re-make of Ol’ Yeller? Well, here’s the skinny on Hank. He’s one of Pound Pals’ pups and, as regular readers know, health and life’s upheavals are forcing Kerri Hass to close Pound Pals rescue.

For a month or so now, she has been desperately trying to find homes for the dogs in her care. Hank happens to be staying at Waggin’ Tails in Plano but his funds are vanishing and he needs a home or foster now.

He was placed at Waggin' Tails, we’re told, because it was a good place to socialize him – he was such a terrified dog that he visibly quaked around people. Brings tears to your eyes, doesn’t it, to think about this big ol’ yeller dawg being so caught up in fear that you could see him shaking and cringing.

Too bad we can’t find the person who did that to him and deliver some ...hang on. Nearly got caught up in emotions when the real reason we’re here is to find a home for Hank.

Hank has enough money in his account to stay at Waggin’ Tails until Nov. 9. Call the facility at 972-398-6008 – they’re e happy to help Hank if you want to donate extra time for him. And to ask about adopting or fostering him, e-mail pound_pals@yahoo.com.

IN THE CATEGORY OF ‘BE CAREFUL WHO YOU GO HOME WITH’: We get this dog Raven’s story from our tipster, the tireless rescuer of Burns Flat, Okla., Terry Lynn Fisher, who succinctly tells the story of how Raven wound up in the city pound.

“Sweet Raven followed the wrong man home. Yes, the same idiot that has turned MANY dogs in to the shelter.

“She is a sweet and very pretty girl, probably under a year. She just wants to be loved. She is very gentle and well behaved. Her time here is short, so please, if you think you have a place for this black beauty, let me know.”

E-mail remembering_oddball@yahoo.com or call 580-330-1459.

Yes, the aforementioned Texas theory of handling animal problems has a foothold in Oklahoma, too: “Got an animal problem? Let’s kill it.”
A CONTEMPLATION ABOUT NATIONAL ANIMAL SHELTER APPRECIATION WEEK:  Wednesday is put-to-sleep day for some shelters.  Around here, the shelters are crowded.  May be the same way in other parts of the country, too.  If there’s one unwanted animal in a shelter, that’s too many.

Yesterday I got e-mails with loads of photographs of adorable dogs and cats from Denton, Carrollton, Dallas Animal Services....the list goes on. These animals are all marked “urgent.” They have been in the shelters for a while or they’ve been there long enough that they need to be moved out to make room for the next load that will arrive. Yes, shelters become like factories – bring ‘em in and process ‘em.

This is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. How those people handle the emotion is beyond me.  I’ve talked to them – their hearts soar when a favorite animal is adopted, but, good grief, don’t they sink when one goes unclaimed or one is brought back and never claimed again.

 I get torn up just looking at the photographs marked “urgent.” They walk with these animals every day.

 When no just plain ol’ non-rescuing citizens don’t adopt animals and when rescue groups are already bursting at the seams, there is only one way for taxpayer-supported  shelters to avoid being overloaded to the point of inhumane treatment. Yep, the ol’ Texas rule: Got an animal problem? Let’s kill it.

There has to be a better way. Let’s see, “Spay and Neuter” has been around a while. People know they’re supposed to restrain their animals and keep them from wandering. Everything should be just ducky, right?

So, where is the flaw in the system? Ah, free-roaming nitwits allowed to operate as if there is no consequence for their actions. That’s how many of us got full houses of dogs and cats – the free-roaming nitwits embrace irresponsibility. 

Hang on. It’s only Nov. 4 and I’m already in a bad mood for the month about this animal thing.

It isn’t animal overpopulation that’s the problem, it’s the nitwit overpopulation. So, following this logic, the thing to do is spay-and-neuter nitwits. Hang on. I’ve stepped over the line. Please forgive me and help me down off this soapbox before the boards snap and I break a leg and they have to shoot me.

--- To comment, click below. ---

Comments

[Jonnie England]

Bravo for an excellent commentary, Larry. As usual, you hit the nail on the head. I just wish we could hit the "nitwits" on their heads to try to knock some sense into them.

Those who work in animal shelters do an amazing job providing care and love to those that they know will soon be put to death. Too often, the higher-ups--who never have to look into those haunted, hopeful eyes--issue the "catch, cage and kill" order: "Let's just get round 'em up, get 'em off the streets and keep our City Council happy." In their minds, stray animals, unwanted animals are no different from high weeds, junk cars and litter. As a society, we should hang our heads in shame.

[Roxanne Wingo]

Larry, I agree with Jonnie's remarks, and would like to add something that I've observed: I firmly believe that the animals in the "shelters" (oh, if only that could be a true word for these facilities) know what's about to happen to them. The folks who work in that environment day after day and look into those animal eyes, need all the help and support they can get--I know I couldn't take it! God bless them & their many charges!

[Dianne]

I agree with Jonnie as well. I think working in an animal "shelter" would be the hardest job ever and my heart and prayers are with those workers. I tried several years ago to be a volunteer at the Dallas SPCA. As much as I loved working with and loving the dogs there it was just too hard for me to continue...I'd go out to my car after my shift and just cry my eyes out because I wanted to take every dog home with me...I lasted about 3 weeks. My hat is off to all shelter workers and volunteers. It's easier on my heart to help financially which I do regularly.

[Stacy Smith]

Larry, all I can say is "if only" we could spay and neuter nitwits! All kidding aside, you are so right that prevention is the key to putting an end to all the misery our animals friends endure. In rescue we so often spend 90% of our time on adoption efforts because those faces and stories are so compelling, but if more people would focus some attention on education (through the efforts of groups like Companions for Life) or legislation (through THLN and HSUS--thanks for listing the info on the North Texas Chapter), we could make so much more progress. Animal shelters as a rule do a great job with what few tools they have and it's up to us as a society to ease that burden.