Big day for Rangers; a matter of leashes; and assorted notes perfect for midweek

Middle of the week, and, yes, big game tonight.  First game for the Texas Rangers. First game for Texas Rangers’ fans, too.
Anybody know the protocol?
We turn to Greta The Pug for the definitive answer: Suit up.
Greta rooms with my pals Roy and Lee Zethraus and for as long as I’ve known her she’s had her game-face on. And she wears the Rangers’ gear proudly.
I think Greta can probably do “The Claw” but I’m not sure she can get those “arms” up high enough to do “The Antlers.”
A QUESTION OF SAFETY AND MANNERS: As you can see from the photo, there’s been an unfortunate incident involving a dog.
That dog is Rosie. And we get the story of this dog’s situation from her human, Sara Wright, a vet tech at Operation Kindness, the no-kill shelter in Carrollton.
What happened to Rosie, she says, was a “really unfortunate experience and I don’t know where to turn to try and make some good come of it.” I told Sara we’d present this on Readlarrypowell.com because our readership has some people who actually know things and know how to make things better.
Here’s the story from Sara. Last Friday she was walking her two dogs in Dallas when “one of my dogs was brutally attacked by two off-lead dogs while we were walking our regular walk route through our neighborhood.  My dog is going to be OK, if a little ugly, thankfully.  I'm fortunate to have a great relationship with my vet, and I happen to be a vet tech myself, so the dog was in ‘better than average hands,’ but it brings to light an issue of great frustration for me.
“The area we were walking by is a large, open field to the right of the northbound Matilda Bridge.  I walk by it every day.  About every third day, I see people running their dogs off lead in the field.  There is no fence.  This is NOT an off-leash dog park.  At times past, I have contacted the city regarding the loose dogs, but they refuse to enforce the law.  I suppose they have bigger fish to fry, this being Dallas and all.  “My argument has always been, and will continue to be ‘Someone is going to get hurt.’  Well, someone did.  I just don't see anything being done about it any time soon.
“This was a terrible, terrible experience.  I have 2 large pit bulls.  The attackers were 2 large pit bulls.  Their owner was more than a football field away.  We never had a chance.  I spent at least a full minute screaming, ‘Someone please help me!’  Nobody came.
“ I want to be clear: this was an attack, not a dog fight.  My dog almost lost her ear and her eye-- the dogs attacked at a full run; there was no "standoff" and after all was said and done they didn't have a mark on them.  My second dog appears to be having some behavior ramifications as a result.  Hopefully, that will resolve itself through ‘walks without incident.’ 
“After the owner finally was able to pry her dog's grip from my dog's skull, she literally packed her dogs up in her car and drove away.  She never offered to help me at all. 
 “Clearly, people think using this field as a dog park is appropriate.  How can I use this experience in a positive way to help raise awareness that leash laws exist for a reason?”
There’s the question. The city has a leash law – how do you enforce it? How do you promote it?
In the meantime, as you can see in the second photo, Rosie’s ears are no longer a match. Sara shot that photo Monday. She says she has some photos of the ugly, pre-suture situation, but on Monday she was able to take this “great pic...of her begging for my breakfast that let me know she was going to be just fine.”
Rosie had “seven sutures in her ear; it will never sit right on her head again, and the vet said she was about as close to losing that whole ear as anything she'd ever seen.“
The dog is about 6 and Sara adopted her about 4 years ago from Animal Guardians of America where she was fostered by our ol’ pals Bob and Natalie Blankenship and known as “Chi-Chi.”
Sara says, “She is a wonderful dog- the best foster mama on the planet, and a sweet, sweet cuddler.  Everyone who meets her loves her, and she's changed a few people's minds about pit bulls- I'm very proud of her. ...
“I feel pretty strongly about this leash issue.  ...  My hope is that like-minded people can begin to really make a difference and be heard, and that offenders will think twice about where they allow their dogs to run.”
To offer support or help to Sara and this cause, e-mail her at blonde_357@hotmail.com.
FOLLOWING UP:
---Carrollton Animal Shelter’s Joe Skenesky reported last night that the dog Chaney and the Transylvania Hound Hugo, mentioned here earlier this week, had found safe havens – Chaney into rescue and Hugo into a home. And Sushi, the big ol’ senior cat with the great whiskers, also was adopted. When evening arrived, the only two dogs left on the euthanasia list were Blanca and her pal Sandy. And Joe has a “last resort” spot for them, but they still need a good place to go. You can see more Carrollton critters by clicking on JOE’S ANIMAL HOUSE.
--Dianne Watson, the Panhandle-based member of Friends of Arlington Animal Services and West Texas Chow Rescue, is still giddy over the rescue of Clifford from Arlington’s shelter earlier in the week. The sends out “an especially big THANK YOU to Linda Hamzy for her sponsorship, and to Jan and Dana of Doggie Kamp Rescue and Rehab in McKinney for believing in us all and coming to Clifford's rescue. I just knew this boy was NOT aggressive and I am so happy that Clifford now has the opportunity to show the ‘world’ what he's really made of! Many hugs and well wishes for Clifford, that he soon finds happiness with a new family who will cherish and spoil him. He deserves to live the good life this time around!”
And, late last night we got a note from Dana Payne (of Doggie Kamp) who wrote, “I picked him up today and I have to tell you, he is the absolute sweetest dog! He was a perfect gentleman during our 80+ miles on the road today. He curled up on the passenger seat with his nose to the air conditioner vent and then put his head on the center console to be petted. He has been vetted and is heartworm negative… a big woooo hooo on this. He will be neutered on Thursday and hopefully one of the individuals who was interested in adopting him will come forward. Till then he will be with Jan at Doggie Kamp Rehab and Rescue”
TRAIN DOG IN HOUSTON: Oh, brother, here’s another dumping story. We get this from our Houston contact Alexandra Kelsey. She writes, “Eva Beléndez was in a part of town which is the end of some very bad roads for dogs.  Usually it's pits, out of luck and dumped.  It turns out that October 24^th was Mommy Dog Day in Eva's area, when Eva got an emergency call from the manager of a trailer park about puppies in danger.
“A sweet brown and white patched dog, dumped out on the railroad tracks a week ago while heavily pregnant, sat and waited in that exact spot, only leaving briefly to eat at the trailer pack before returning to keep vigil for her people.  That is, until nature called and she had to find a place to give birth.  Can you imagine if the very best you can do in that situation is to lie in a sandy ditch, wedged under the noisy, vibrating railroad tracks and deliver your babies?  But, that is exactly what happened. 
“This is a very friendly dog, not very large, who deserves better than she has gotten so far in her life, and she has puppies who need to be inside.  This is not a safe area for a dog family, in any way.  Because this dog is a good mommy and is protecting her babies, Eva saw a near miss involving a male passerby and a large piece of wood.  Do the math…this dog will be beaten to death for protecting her babies and then they will be at the mercy of other animals or worse, people.
“Eva recently had Parvo in her house and cannot take these dogs in.  Parents walk kids to school by this location and the mommy dog needs to be moved immediately.”
To offer to help these dogs, e-mail evabelendez@sbcglobal.net or call 713-344-4328.
VICKI NEED A HOME: The principal of full disclosure forces me to tell you at the outset of this note that our household has had nothing but happy experiences with dogs rescued from Oak Cliff’s Kiest Park – we’ve got Hambone Jack the Dane/Lab, Inky the Cocker Spaniel and Rosie the Chihuahua.
David Spence of Good Space, the real estate concern in Oak Cliff, sent us this photo and note last night about Vicki, so named ”in honor of Vicki Fitzgerald, patron saint of Oak Cliff Strays.”
Vicki, a 38-pound well-behaved “adolescent mongrel” was found dumped in the park. She’s now spayed, cleaned up, vetted up and fattened up and “ready for a loving permanent home.”
And, as David’s poster for Vicki reads, “Don’t be put off by the trace of pit bull in her lineage. Vicki has been well-behaved in the company of other dogs, small children and even the veterinarian. Eager to please, travels well in a care, of age to begin training. But still very much a puppy.”
How urgent is finding a place for Vicki? “Soon,” David writes. “I already have two dogs.”
Call 469-233-5088 to ask about giving Vicki a loving home.
PLANNING AHEAD: Time for a reminder: To get your animal-related events (fundraisers, contests, sing-alongs, etc.) listed in the winter edition of Urban Animal Magazine, send those brief announcements to me at dallrp@aol.com with EVENTS in the subject line. Keep it short. Like on Dragnet, “Just the facts.” Keep in mind, this is FREE ink, it stays on the newsstands for three months and it’s on the Urban Animal website HERE. Click on “current issue” and get a gander at Daffy the Rescued Duck – the Urban Animal staff, like the magazine, is dedicated to animals.
--PLANNING FOR NOV. 6 IN RICHARDSON, it’s Richardson City-Wide Pet Day, sponsored by Purina Pro Plan Rally to Rescue. We get word of this from Donna Bean of the Coppell Humane Society because the society is “the Rally to Rescue Ambassador for this event. Part of our responsibility is to advertise this great event. ... There will be lots of activities going on – train rides, bounce house, pet parade, microchipping for $14 and at least 19 pet adoption groups.” Richardson City-Wide Pet Day is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Owens’ Spring Creek Farm, 1401 E. Lookout Drive, Richardson.
--Remember, the Golden Retriever Rescue of North Texas annual picnic is scheduled Saturday at Lake Grapevine. Inclement weather forced the postponement from last Saturday.  Get the details at the rescue group’s site HERE.  
This may be the only picnic in the nation that doubles as a “spectator sport.”
When they throw balls into the lake, the Goldens go after them in “schools,” not packs. Throw in another ball and they change directions, like minnows in a bucket. It’s an amazing thing to see. Then, when they come out of the water, grab a towel because nobody shakes off water with the artistic enthusiasm of a Golden Retriever.
GASSING IN GARLAND: Perhaps my math is off, but we may be approaching the end of the first year of public campaigning against gassing animals at the Garland Animal Shelter. What’s new in the campaign? Keep up with it at the anti-gassing site HERE.
ANOTHER SEIZURE: The SPCA of Texas and the Grayson County Sheriff’s Department teamed up Monday to seize 31 horses, two dogs and two goats from bad conditions on a property at Sherman. Starving animals, horses with bad hooves, etc. Custody hearing is set for 10 a.m. Nov. 1 at the Grayson County Courthouse, 200 S. Crockett in Sherman. See photos HERE.
PERSONAL NOTE: As my fellow 10/27s recall, this is the sixth anniversary of a most unpleasant day.  I just didn’t want you 10/27s to think that day would pass without someone paying respect to many fine journalists dismissed that cold, sad day in Dallas. No punchline here. Just a recollection of a wrenching event.
CONTEMPLATIONS: President Obama is supposed to be on Jon Stewart’s show tonight – sorry, fellas, the TV will be tuned to something significant: the World Series. ... Last week the big flap was over football injuries caused by big tough guys wearing suits of armor and this week the big injury is Tony Romo’s collarbone, snapped when he was knocked to the turf. The answer, this week, is not to change pads, but to make the artificial turf softer – memory foam or marshmallows.  ... The only thing that keeps this political season from being the ugliest season we’ve seen is the current Dallas Cowboys season. As our pal and Greta The Pug’s companion Roy Zethraus says, the Cowboys (1-5 now and 0-11-1 in 1960) “are marking their 50^th anniversary with a throwback record.”
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Go, Rangers, win the opener.---