It is Friday, so let’s get busy and keep in mind that one of the positives about my life is I get to meet a lot of great dogs. Some of them are in show business. Here goes: THE STARS ARE SPOTTED: Now, there’s a sentence you can read in a couple of ways – either you spotted some stars or, as in this case, the canine stars of 101 Dalmatians actually are spotted.
Alas, yesterday when we went to a media briefing for the musical (opens Dec. 1) at Fair Park Music Hall, we did not see the human star, Rachel York.
We did, however, see Jada and Bella who did their best to play for the cameras.
That’s Bella giving a big leaping spin at the behest of trainer Shannon Dennison. Trainer Jessica Schiffhauer accompanied Jada. More than 300 Dalmatians were auditioned for roles in the production. (While real dogs appear in the show, humans dressed as dogs also perform – probably a union deal, you think?)
You know, a dog actor is like a human actor (and I say this having spent time with dogs and actors): On stage, you hit your marks, you bark your lines.
Just FYI: There’ll be 15 Dalmatians – actual dogs, many of them rescued dogs, as are Bella (left) and Jada – on stage during the production. (Those mug shots are courtesy of the show.) The dogs are trained to do specific
bits of business that kick off action on stage. The trainers take advantage of a dog’s tendencies – if the dog likes to jump up and pull on things, they’ll teach to the dog to jump up and yank a door open or pull a book off a shelf, etc. Heck, I guess one of them could even be trained to yank the wig off Cruella DeVille – don’t know if that happens in the play.
These trainers adore working with the dogs – and they also travel with them on a big custom-made 101 Dalmatians bus. The humans get about a quarter of the bus and the dogs travel in the rest. They also eat on the bus and their carefully monitored food is prepared on the bus.
And, each of these trainers has dogs at home, so they stay in touch with them while on the road. Shannon says she and her hubby even hook up the computer cam and she gets to talk to her dogs via the streaming camera.
Now, old hands at rescue know there is this 101 Dalmatian Syndrome -– for lack of a better term. The movie got popular, people wanted Dalmatians. People discovered Dalmatians are not for everyone, shelters got a bunch of dumped Dalmatians. Happened to Italian Greyhounds. Happened to Chihuahuas. (Aside: You wonder what’ll happen if they ever make a cute film about Gaboon Vipers.)
Each of these trainers cautions that though Dalmatians are adorable, they are not for everyone but are for people who have time and energy to devote to the dogs.
For this production, Dallas Summer Musicals is working on animal education projects with both the Kaufman County Animal Awareness Project and Dalmatian Rescue of North Texas.
And at 5 p.m. Friday, says the DSM’s Christine Whiteley, the Dalmatians will lead a parade inside the Shops at Willow Bend near the food court. (You can probably trust Dalmatians at a food court -- one more reason the show isn't 101 Cocker Spaniels. No offense to my cocker pal Inky.)
You can see clips from the stage production by clicking HERE and you can read the dogs’ biographies by clicking HERE.
Jada and Bella were perfect for the PR effort Thursday. Though politicians may be tempted, the dogs did not bite any of the reporters.
URGENT IN DALLAS: This morning I got an e-mail with a bunch of dogs’ photos, including this collie mix Brayden. In bright red letters was this sentence: “These dogs will be put down SUNDAY, NOV. 8, if they are not rescued or adopted.”
Can’t get much plainer than that. Adopt or rescue these animals or they die. Brayden and others are on the clock at the Dallas Animal Services Shelter. Thought you might want to see the face of a dog that is likely doomed. Maybe people who sit on the sidelines and go “Tsk, tsk” will take action. To ask about these animals stop by the Dallas Animal Services Adoption Center at I-30 and Westmoreland. Email teresa.cleek@dallascityhall.com or call 214-671-0249. To pull animals for rescue, contact mark.cooper@dallascityhall.com or 214-670-8298.
THE FACE OF A DOG: Is that not a great face? Somebody call Hollywood.
We learned of Jumbo, as he’s known, from our Arlington tipster Dianne Watson who moved to Amarillo earlier in the year but maintains her concern for animals everywhere, especially in her ol’ hometown. Dianne says that apparently due to crowding at the shelter, the euthanasia dates have been shuffled and Jumbo has been moved from Nov. 10 to Nov. 9. One day less – no fault of his own.
Dianne says that Jumbo came into the shelter on Oct. 19 and “Jumbo's eyes sparkle when anyone shares a few minutes of their time with him and you know how hard it is for the big boys and girls to keep their spirits up in such a confined area for long periods of time. But, Jumbo is still the same sweet and affectionate guy that was he was when he arrived!”
The rescue contact Friday and Saturday, Dianne says, is Debra Delaney, the Community Services Supervisor for Animal Services. The shelter is at 100 S.E. Green Oaks Blvd. and can be reached at 817-459-5898.
Jumbo weighs in at 74 pounds and is said to be “handsome, loveable and appreciative.”
And he’s on the clock.
FORMER FREE-ROAMER; This Chocolate Lab, Tessa, formerly ran free in a neighborhood. It folks a while to catch her, says Companion Animal Network’s Gail Whelan, but now the dog is “fully vetted and healthy” and needs a home. She’s under 2 and “has a great personality.” And, of course, she is safe, but has been living at a vet clinic and really needs to go into either a foster home or a permanent home, Gail says. Boarding eats up a rescue group’s budget. To offer to give Tessa a place to live, call 214-663-4710 or e-mail can_rescue@yahoo.com.
THE ANIMALS’ DAY IN COURT: In a hearing in Kaufman yesterday, Peace Justice Johnny Perry awarded custody of four cats, four horses and a dog seized Nov. 3 from property in Crandall to the SPCA of Texas. He also ordered the people who had the animals to pay the SPCA $2,179 in restitution. The family got to keep two dogs, two sugar gliders and a cat but the judge ordered that law enforcement “must visit and observe the property on a regular basis” and if any improper care is detected the animals will be seized again.
One of the horses was found on the floor of its stall and unable to rise. A veterinarian was immediately called to the scene and, SPCA spokeswoman Maura Davies says, thanks to that quick work, the horse is improving.
To report animal cruelty, go to www.spca.org.
TRAGEDY AT SECOND CHANCE SHELTER: We can't get the Fort Hood tragedy out of our thoughts -- just a kick in the gut. It hasn't been such a good week in Killeen for man or animals. The Second Chance no-kill animal shelter in Killeen suffered from a devastating fire earlier this week and the management and volunteers, no doubt reeling from news at Fort Hood, too, are struggling to put things back together for these animals. Go to www.centexhumansociety.com to see what they need.
PRAYERS & PASSAGES: Sometimes it doesn’t take long for a dog to find a place in a human’s heart. Read the story of this rescued dog by clicking on our Prayers & Passages Page.
THE BURNS FLAT CHIHUAHUA PAIR: Our tipster, the tireless rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher of Burns Flat, Okla., reports that two surrendered Chihuahuas on the clock at the city pound have been saved and will be going into rescue on Saturday. There are plenty of other animals in Burns Flat that need help. E-mail remembering_oddball@yahoo.com and ask Terry Lynn what she needs.
FREE PUBLICITY: Remember, Urban Animal Magazine wants to help you publicize your events for December, January and February (and beyond!). Send the simple notices – who, what, where, when, how much, and how to contact you or your group – to OUR SPECIAL MAGAZINE EVENTS ADDRESS (can i make that any plainer?) lrpmail@aol.com and put EVENTS in the subject line. Deadline approaches rapidly. Remember, you’ve got Santa photos, fundraisers, sweetheart photos in February, etc.
CONTEMPLATIONS: This is for my fellow cat lovers. Which makes you spring up quicker in the middle of the night: a knock at the front door or someone trying to hurl a hairball at the foot of the bed? Both are wrenching. ... The weekend looks promising – feels like my lucky Lotto numbers may finally be lucky. ... And, in case you wondered, today is National Nachos Day. I’m not kidding. Look it up HERE
and I think it’s a public holiday we can all agree to celebrate. American's can unite when the chips are down.
I so hope Jumbo will get adopted. He just hit a very tender spot in my heart as I LOVE big black dogs...I have two big black dogs that I rescued plus a rescued yellow lab mix and can't take on any more now. I'd snap Jumbo up in a heart beat if I could. Someone please take him in!
Posted by: Dianne | November 06, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Regarding the Kaufman animals - why would a judge or a justice of the peace or anyone let people keep any animal when they are at the same time found guilty of abuse severe enough to seize others? This is what we have experienced with Dallas Municipal Judge Michael Acuna who determines what animals are seized or returned to abusive owners in Dallas. It is very strange. By the way - what is a sugar glider?
Posted by: Beverly Fyfe | November 06, 2009 at 02:21 PM