Whoa, it’s just one game. And, of course, that first World Series game was played in 47-degree temp, about 50 degrees lower than the temp the Texas Rangers are accustomed to. Yes, blame the weather.
I’d like to write more about that game but I’ve got to get the daily report done so I can go to the 1:30 p.m. meeting of the Dallas Animal Shelter Commission meeting at the Dallas Public Library. I’ll save you a seat. Sometimes it’s like the Midway at the State Fair – so crowded you won’t believe it...and I am high-kicking with the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.
Not going to mention Ghaddafi/Kadaffi/Khadafy/Qdaffi – not relevant in our world. Never learned to spell the name. No need now, I guess.
Speaking of Dallas and animals, our first item has to do with Dallas Animal Services. Read on:THE POM’S PROBLEM: Last night the Dallas shelter’s rescue coordinator Mark Cooper sent out a note about this little fellow he’s trying to help – Mark is looking for a rescue to take over care of the “nervous Pom” who was struck by a car. That explains the “nervous.”
Mark writes that “our vet staff believes he has a fractured right rear leg. Our amazing vet staff has been treating his pain and providing antibiotics and the dog is doing wonderful. However, I have been working to rescue this poor boy since the 12th and had no luck. I can no longer hold this handsome boy and allow him to suffer any longer. Can anyone please help him?? His ID# is A697894 and he is located in Inj19 kennel. I will suggest that he be euthanized by the close of business tomorrow 20th unless someone steps up. If you can help, please let me know ASAP!
E-mail him at Mark.cooper@dallascityhall.com or call 214-670-8298.
And, FYI, DAS has 3 cats and 3 dogs from the VSP (Very Special Pet) list scheduled for euthanasia on Saturday. No telling how many other DAS animals are going to be euthanized between now and then. (You can get the stats on the city’s euthanasia rate at today’s Animal Shelter Commission meeting.) Go to www.dallasanimalservices.org to see adoptables and how to get them.RUFUS: In Seagoville’s little shelter, the pressure is on for Rufus. He’s become a “project” for Sgt. Karl Bailey, the police officer in charge of the city’s shelter.
From Sgt. Bailey’s report: “Sunday I got called to pick this boy up. He looks to be about 5 years old and a Rottie mix. He’s very friendly but when I picked him up he was very emaciated, had trouble with his back legs and has a knot on his right front shoulder. He also seems to have the Demodex mange and is probably ridden with fleas and ticks. People said he’s been wandering around the bottoms on Malloy Bridge Rd between Seagoville and Forney for several days. We really don't have anywhere to put him but he’s in dire need of rescue from someone who can help him. He was obviously someone's pet with his lack of aggression and gentle demeanor. He never growled, barked, whined or snapped even though I'm sure he's in a lot of pain. Please, can anyone help this sweet boy ASAP? Unfortunately, I can't guarantee his safety after Thursday and he really deserves the chance to live a happy and healthy life.”
To help Rufus call 972-287-6838 and leave a message or e-mail talvarezsheltervolunteer@yahoo.com. AH, THE TUXEDO CAT AND CHRISTMAS: Those folks with C.L.A.W. --- that’s Citizens League For Animal Welfare in East Texas – have hit the jackpot this week: They’ve got a tuxedo cat AND a Christmas sale.
The tuxedo cat is Midget, 6 years old and spayed, litterbox-trained and adorable. Not declawed, but she’s “not a scratcher,” says the note forwarded by C.L.A.W.’s prez, Stephanie Mosby. She explains the situation that forced Tracey Ingram to give up Midget. “She is devastated to have to give this girl up, but has recently found out through allergy testing that she has become highly allergic to animal dander!! :( (This is the same thing that happened to me in my early 20's, despite being raised on a farm, being around animals all my life, and working for a vet! It truly is devastating!)”
So, Midget needs a home – the contact info is e-mail tbingram@sbcglobal.net or call 972-672-9953.
[Larry aside: At readlarrypowell.com we endorse all cats – we’ve had a bunch of ‘em – and we particularly note that in our experience we’ve never met a tuxedo cat that wasn’t entertaining and interesting and affectionate. Also, the American Tuxedo Cat Marketing Foundation gives us a nickel for every tuxedo cat that is adopted in America. That’s why we’re so stinking rich.]
About Christmas and C.L.A.W.: Stephanie says this is the “First Annual Make It A C.L.A.W. Christmas FUNraiser.” It’s from 1 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Van City Park. It’s a Christmas sale so, naturally, “Halloween costumes welcome.”AUCTION AND GALA NEWS: Molly Peterson, president of the Collin County Humane Society, reminds us that the non-profit group’s auction is Friday. It’s an on-line auction associated with the Friday night “Give a Dog A Home Gala” (7 p.m.-midnight at City Place in Dallas.)
The society is raising money to build a shelter.
The auction link is www.gtego.com/collin .
You can get Gala information at the society’s site HERE.
GOLDEN PICNIC: Oh, boy, one of the happiest events in the world is Saturday – it’s the annual Golden Retriever Rescue of North Texas picnic at Meadowmere Park on Lake Grapevine. You can get all the details at the GRRNT website HERE. Picnic begins at 10 a.m. and runs (really!) until 3:30 p.m.
These dogs enjoy the water. And they enjoy romping. And some of them enjoy being costumed for the contests.
Lots of tail-wagging. The first time she saw this gathering, my funspouse Martha declared, "There's so much happiness in this park, I'm surprised it's not against the law." Then she was overrun by gleeful Goldens, dog spit flying everywhere and tails in full wagging glory. Share the happiness, you know?
HALLOWEEN AT THE SPCA: From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, the SPCA of Texas will host its Howl-O-Ween Spooktacular as a special preview of the new Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center at 2400 Lone Star Drive in Dallas. It’s a family thing open to people in and critters in or out of costume. Admission is free but you can buy assorted items to support the SPCA. There’ll be all sorts of games and “fall family festival favorites” (bounce house, face-painting, etc.) operated and monitored by the Junior League of Dallas.
FOUR GSDS: It took me about three years to figure out that GSD wasn’t Government Supplied Donuts but German Shepherd Dogs. There are four of them – at least four – at the Collin County Animal Services Shelter in McKinney, according to our tipster, the shelter walker Allison Roberts. Dooney and Burke (you guys know that name, right) are two dogs and the female may be pregnant. Ask about them by e-mailing ldrummonds@co.collin.tx.us and animalshelter@co.collin.tx.us. Call the shelter at 972-547-7292.REMINDER FOR LITERATE PEOPLE: Arlington Branch of the American Association of University Women opens its book fair today in the Arlington Museum of Art, 201 W. Main in downtown Arlington. Books, collectibles, animal books, kid books, textbooks, CDs, DVDs – all kinds of things.
In fact, you may find things for sale at this Fair that are not available anywhere else – signed copies of out-of-print books, for example. And, there are books by popular authors, unpopular authors, authors who want to be popular, etc.
Runs through Sunday. Get the details HERE.
A REPORT FROM THE FRONTLINE OF RESCUE: This comes from Tawana Couch, the founder of the Society For Companion Animals and a longtime rescuer and author. In this report, she outlines efforts to help some dogs in what is regarded as “a tough area.”
Tawana writes, “I have spent months working with 3 dogs in South Dallas, winning their trust. They would move around to different locations so it was hard to pen them down. I finally had them at a school and would get up at 5 a.m. in the dark to go and feed them. I think I am the only crazy person that would risk going this time of day. I had sent out an email a few months back how one of the dogs protected me and barked at a guy in the dark -- he took off. A few days later the other one did the same. This time this guy did not want to back off and I started yelling at the guy to get away. Between me and my dog friends we have survived the very rough area.
“About a month ago I had gotten a trap and was ready to try to trap these dogs. For 4 days at 5 a.m. a friend of mine and I drove the trap to the school. We had them all eating out of our hands but they were still not ready to be caught so therefore a trap was needed. Our hearts were broken because each morning no dogs. We drove for hours looking for them -- no dogs. I went to DAS daily and made sure they were not there. For the next 3 weeks I spent night and day driving for hours looking for them. I would ask people had they seen them and it was a no.
“My hope to ever see my dog friends who protected me in the dark from strangers had vanished. Where did they go? Why did they leave? The questions were never answered.
“This morning I had to drop off some dogs to fly out at 4 a.m. [via the Society For Companion Animal program that spirits endangered Dallas dogs to other areas of the country.]
“I decided on the way home to go to the school. I drove up and no dogs and I thought ‘Tawana keep driving around the school.’ My car is an old noisy car so no one can not hear it and the dogs knew the sound of the clunker car. All of a sudden the 3 dogs came running as hard as they could. Talk about a happy reunion. What little food I had in the car they swallowed it whole.
“I don't ever want to lose these guys again and worry as much as I have. I am going to try to trap them this weekend I hope.
“I am reaching out to the animal community in hopes of fosters for these dogs. It is ok to foster just one dog if you can. They still need a little socializing. They deserve a home.
“These dogs hold a special place in my heart I have never worried about a group of dogs like these when I thought I would never see them again. Please find me foster homes.
To help Tawana place these dogs in a safe haven, e-mail tawanacouch@mac.com.
CONTEMPLATIONS: What’s that photo? That’s a coming attraction. That’s a picture of the actor/playwright Kurt Kleinmann as his stage persona, detective and would-be actor Harry Hunsacker.
He’s appearing in a new Living Black & White production at the Eisemann Center from New Year’s Eve through Jan. 22. Name of the production? The Frequency of Death – it’s a murder mystery set at radio station WKIL. Get tickets HERE or call 972-744-4650. Read about Pegagus Theatre’s Living Black & White productions HERE. And why is this in Contemplations? Because these shows always make me think about how much I enjoy the theater – live theater is a trip. Especially when the show is written to make an audience laugh. That’s quite a gift – take something out of the air or your brain (possibly that’s the same place, I confess) and create a world that, on stage, tickles the audience. How cool is that? ... Speaking of laughter: Best double-feature I ever saw at a drive-in movie was back in the late 1960s: The Odd Couple and The Graduate. Don’t have what it takes to sit through a double-feature these days. Too restless and no close drive-in, either. Besides, they don’t make ‘em like they used to -- by cracky we didn't have computer generated villains and $10 popcorn. ... OK. Enough show biz, though I have been working with Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas, on a one-act play based on frequent e-mail subject lines called “The Mystery Shopper’s Enhanced Bedroom Moods And Best Rates Ever On Loans and Car Insurance.” Inky says he was hoping to get Lindsay Lohan to star as a member of a royal family trying to find a way to launder money left by a rich relative, but she may be engaged elsewhere now.
--- To comment, click below. Oh, come on, Rangers. Go! ---
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October 20, 2011
October 19, 2011
The daily challenge and other stories...
As we prepare ourselves mentally for tonight’s Texas Rangers performance in the 2011 World Series, here is today’s Readlarrypowell.com report.
It is tough typing with pine tar on your hands after you bat, but I do feel safer in this catcher's mask in case somebody fouls off some consonants or vowels.
Our topics will range from advertising, to the Kaufman County Animal Awareness Project, to dogs in fields, dumped dogs, and beyond. Just glad people aren’t setting cows and horses free in city parks. Likely to happen, though.
THINGS YOU SHOULD REMEMBER EVERY DAY: Rekka Melby of Take Me Home Pet Rescue sent an interesting reminder note yesterday and now that I’ve had time to think about it, perhaps it is time for the animal rescue world to examine (one more time) the concept of that elusive dream: public involvement. How do you get it? How do you keep it?
While lamenting the huge number of animals that don’t make it out of the Dallas Animal Services Adoption Center (and other shelters), Rekka asked how in the world can we remind the general public that there are hundreds and hundreds of adoptables at the shelter?
Where is the switch that turns on the “concern gene” in people? It’s hidden somewhere, surely.
Last time the Dallas Animal Services Animal Shelter Commission met, we found out that the city’s marketing budget for the shelter is around $30,000 – know what that’ll buy in 2011? Two ads on Readlarrypowell.com and a T-shirt that reads “My Cocker Spaniel is smarter than your grad student.” I kid the beancounters and some of the grad students.
Here is the somber truth: Thirty-thousand dollars won’t correct the slaughterhouse effect.
I’m not sure how much money would make the general public pay attention. Most people live their lives without ever going to a city shelter. Most of the remaining smidgen of residents go once or twice to get a dog or cat or dump an unwanted load of puppies or kittens.
So, public concern is limited by exposure and need. (Perhaps this concept of promoting the Dallas Animal Services Adoption Center as if it were a business will come up at some point. It’s just like a business – already had layoffs and a manager indicted for bad behavior. )
FYI: Remember, the Dallas Animal Shelter Commission meets at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the Dallas Public Library across from Dallas City Hall. There’s a public comments segment at the end of the meeting.
A city animal shelter is an element of municipal government that is as far from the daily consciousness as is the murky tank that stores effluent. You only think about it when something goes bad.
So, here we are, left with this question: “Is the best way to handle the load of unwanted animals the traditional Texas method? Got an animal problem—let’s kill it.”
Surely there’s a better way.Stop a stranger on the street and I’m betting that 9 times out of 10 that stranger would step up to stop someone from hurting a dog or cat. Tell that same stranger that his/her tax dollars are spent killing thousands of animals a year and you get, “Gee, really?” or “That sounds bad. I’m late. Gotta run.” Nobody wants to hear about it.
Look, this animal situation isn’t new in Dallas. People have been working for years and years to stop this madness of “euthanasia to make room for the next load of unwanted animals.”
The only thing that works even slightly is the involvement of rescue groups. The rest of the time, the only thing that saves animals’ lives is adoption. Not a big percentage.
That cat? Why that cat just happens to be one of the animals in the Dallas Animal Services shelter who, by virtue of the method of arrival, is on death row.
Left in the night box. That means “owner surrender.” No vet history (not that there was one), so the kitten is facing a dynamically uncertain future. One of a boatload of kittens in the shelter, you know.
We learned about this one from Jonnie England, the Director of Animal Advocacy and Communications for the Metroplex Animal Coalition. Jonnie knows this kitten.
“ Her name is Lee Lee, and she’s extremely cross-eyed, but as sweet as can be. She’s about 16 weeks and was left in the night cages. She’s very friendly and affectionate and loves attention. She’s available for adoption at DAS,” Jonnie writes, then adds, “I’m crazy about her, but, of course, I’m (legally) over my limit; otherwise, I’d just have to adopt her myself. “
You want this cat? Go to Dallas Animal Services and get her. If you’re a rescue group, you know the routine. If you’re a resident reading about this for the first time, go to www.dallasanimalservices.org and see how to adopt.
The adoption fee? Fifty-five bucks. Yep, $55 for this cross-eyed kitten. Nobody claims her and it’s curtains.ALONG THE RIVER BOTTOMS: For all the years – decades now – that I’ve been writing about animals in Dallas, among the constants is this: Dogs roam the neighborhoods along the Trinity River Levees. That’s both sides of the levees and in between, too.
In this particular case, we’re citing Jennifer London’s concern about some strays that have been living on city property in West Dallas near a recreation center that is just over the levee from the river. Who knows where these dogs came from? Could be from the neighborhood. Could have been dumped there.
Whatever the case, they shouldn’t be roaming free – they face disease from neglect and they face death from society.
Jennifer writes, “Hopefully, getting the word out will save the lives of these four dogs. Just to give you a little background info my husband and I moved back to Dallas in April and since then have rescued a total of 13 animals (8 dogs and 5 cats), They all have gone to no-kill rescues, fosters or have made it into their forever homes. As I'm sure you know, with each homeless animal it is tough to get them somewhere you know they'll be safe, but I'm determined to help the ones I find.”
Just over a month ago, she says, “I noticed a dog sleeping in a field/park area just a couple of miles from my neighborhood, so I of course drove over and called to him, but he wouldn't come. So I went and got some dog food and came back and he and another dog came out of a flower bed and ate it up. Since that day I've been going daily to feed the dogs. Then about a week ago a third dog joined them (I had seen her previously on her own, but she has since become a part of the pack). I go and feed them breakfast and dinner. About a week ago when I came to feed them, one of the dogs was covered in I could not tell what, it looked as though he had curdled milk all over him....he decided this was the day he was going to trust me and he walked up to me. Up close I could see that he was covered in hundreds of sticker thorns ... He sat lovingly in my lap for four hours while he let me pick as many off as I could get. We call him
Henry, he is black and brown and has long fur like a collie and he is the most affectionate dog I have ever met. Henry is the pack leader of the three and is extremely intelligent. Since he was the only one willing to let us touch him at the time...I decided to take him home as he willingly wanted to get in the car with me, but I tell you it was amazing -- we put him in the backyard and I went in to get him a bowl of water and when I came back out he was gone. I immediately got in the car and headed back to the field--sure enough within a matter of minutes he was over half way back to the field to his friends. It never fails
to amaze me how faithful dogs are. So as soon, as this happened I realized these three were going to be tough--because I can't seem to take just one.”
Henry is the top dog photo. Hank is the curbside dog stretched out in a dangerous place.
If you can help Jennifer with these animals e-mail her at jennifer@wblondon.com.
UPDATES: Big Blue, the handsome Pit we featured earlier, has been saved – more on him later. .... The little puppy from Arlington, dumped in a neighborhood, has been adopted. We’ll do more on this one later, too. Only so much time and typing in a day! Got to keep working on the novel, “The Implant Diaries.” I’m kidding. Good title, though. Marketable. A PUPPY DROPOFF: Nothing unusual in this story. A dog is dumped. We got the tip from Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake, which operates the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas.
Sydney’s note explains that the puppy was simply dropped off in a neighborhood near the lake. “She is young, black and white, cute spotted belly.” That last one is the selling point!
At any rate, the puppy is at the Henderson County Humane Society in Athens. Call 903-677-7387.
Yep, only puppy ever dropped off to fend for itself near Cedar Creek Lake – and I am dancing with the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes this Christmas season. Seriously – find a rural area, find a puppy/kitten dumping ground. Probably goats, pigs and horses, too, if people think they can get away with it.
A KAUFMAN COUNTY CRISIS: Deb Elkins, who lives in Kaufman County, about 30 minutes east of Mesquite, send us this photo of a pretty normal-looking dog. Except the story is all too common in our part of Texas. Neglect. Deb explains, “This is my neighbor's dog. I don't see her often, but occasionally she comes over for a treat. Most of the information I have on her is second hand. She is young. Had a litter during the summer. Her owner didn't understand the concept of giving the dogs water during the heat wave and the pups all died. I have told the family about KCAAP and the special program they have for pits and was told their plan is to breed her and sell the pups.”
[SOAPBOX MOMENT: Let’s stop right now to note that the plan to breed this dog and sell the pups is stupid. Stupid. And anybody who has a plan like that is stupid. Why would you bring more unwanted ol’ brown dogs into the world just so they can be neglected or surrendered to shelters to be killed or dumped out by the lake?
Stupid. Stupid Stupid. And I’m being kind.
Also, we must note that KCAAP is working hard to prevent this sort of behavior all over North Texas. We’ve been promising Dallas Animal Shelter Commissioner Deborah Hicks for more than a month now that we’d do a story about the KCAAP’s programs – she’s the KCAAP’s Spay Dallas Coordinator. Before I could get to the actual story, we got this testimonial from Deb Elkins. We’ll eventually do more on KCAAP because (a) it’s the right thing to do and (b),because people named “Deb” endorse the program.]
Now back to the neighbor’s brown dog: There’s a medical complication.
Deb Elkins continues: “Yesterday I noticed she has a prolapse. [Her insides are being pushed out of her body through an orifice.] ...I took the picture to the vet and he said it is caused by the dog being chained up. I doubt this dog is vaccinated or had any worming meds. Also doubt she is on heartworm preventative. I can't see these people paying for a surgical repair.
“At this moment she is a good weight and friendly. Once they [the neighbors] realized she needs surgery, her care could deteriorate.”
Deteriorate is probably a kind word. Vanish is likely. Heck, the dog may vanish. Just takes one bullet.
If you can help Deb help the dog, e-mail elkinsdeb@gmail.com.
To learn more about the Kaufman County Animal Awareness Program, click HERE.
CONTEMPLATIONS: I keep seeing headlines “Boy Mauled By Pet Cougar” or “Boy Mauled By Family’s Pet Mountain Lion” and I think, “No. Not a pet.” What does it take to see the difference between domesticated cat and not domesticated cat? ... Every have one of those mornings when the computer just isn’t working quite right? Welcome to my world. Inexplicably my fingers are faster than the word processing program this morning. Hang on, let me hit a button or two. OK, now we’re rolling. No telling what the problem was – my routine was the same. I took the dogs out on time, fed the cats, turned the TV and radio on in the right order, killed out overnight nag messages from the Mystery Shopper people, poured my coffee the same way. Nothing is ever easy when you’re not from the current century. .... Chilly in Dallas? I’m typing this in a stocking cap and thick socks while waiting for the World Series to begin and wondering who has the worse odds: C.J. Wilson on the mound or a dog or cat running loose in Dallas?
---To comment, click below. Go, Rangers. ---
October 18, 2011
A meeting, critters and books...
Let’s just start this report with some heads-up notices. Two big things on Thursday: a meeting about animals and a book fair opens.
On Thursday, the City of Dallas Animal Shelter Commission meets at 1:30 p.m. at the Dallas Public Library and, out in the City of the American League Champions, at 4 p.m., the Arlington Branch of the American Association of University Women opens its 29th Book Fair. More on both in a moment.
Animals and books – we live in blessed times. The coincidence? The Fair offers thousands of unwanted books at bargain prices and the shelter annually offers thousands of unwanted animals at bargain prices.
That photo? Proof that animals and books belong together. That is Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas, in the photo that’ll be on the jacket of his next volume of poetry (available soon if things work out). Working title is “The Knee High Eye: A Spaniel’s View of Love, Life and Comfortable Footwear.”
THE ANIMAL SHELTER COMMISSION MEETING: You can get the agenda for Thursday’s Dallas Animal Shelter Commission meeting by clicking HERE. The meeting starts at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the O’Hara Exhibit Hall on the 7th Floor of the Dallas Public Library, 1515 Young St., across from Dallas City Hall.
Topics include catching up on previous issues (dangerous dog ordinance, outsourcing animal cruelty investigations, the air-conditioning situation at the shelter, etc.). There’ll be a public comments segment, also, and, perhaps, if they haven’t been mentioned earlier, someone will ask about the dead dog in the porch rails on Aransas street or about the Maltese thrown out of a 19th story window in downtown Dallas or the upcoming trial of Tyrone McGill, former shelter manager accused of animal cruelty for allowing an escaped cat to die inside a shelter wall. SOAPBOX MOMENT: The commission doesn’t have a specific responsibility in those areas, however, each commissioner is appointed by a city council member and the city council has an influence over how much energy and money are designated for animal care issues in the City of Dallas.
You people do understand that, right? You are familiar with the democratic system of government, right? Surely you've heard that it’s that style where the people tell the government what to do not where the dictator tells the people what to do? Do you not see your responsibility to our system of government? When the majority rules by silence, the majority isn’t in charge. You want more attention paid to animal issues? Make more noise.
Usually the city has to bring in riot control to manage the crowd at animal shelter commission meetings...yeah, and I’m a high-kicking Rockette. Seriously, there’s always plenty of room for spectators at these meetings.
FYI As this is being typed, hundreds and hundreds of animals are in the Dallas Animal Services Adoption Center waiting not for adoption or rescue, but for the needle. That’s right – it’s a wholesale slaughter annually in the City of Dallas. Ask yourself two questions: (1) How can we stop this? and (2) Do I really give a flip? OK, help me off this soapbox before it caves in and I find myself plunging into the magma.)
THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE: Our tipster Debbie Bryan wrote this touching note. “Normally a message like this would make me furious. /this one just makes me sad. I met this gentleman through my son. He is also a high school coach at the school where my son teaches and coaches. He is having to move and the home they leased REFUSES to let him bring his dogs. He's tried everything from offering them to be outside dogs to paying a deposit, all without success. If anyone can help with a home or even fostering them for John, please do. He was in tears talking about having to place the dogs. His contact information is johnherrick7@gmail.com. Thanks so much..”
Debbie included the photo that shows these older dogs, Bandit, and Smokey, in their natural state – yep, snoozehounds.REMEMBER THIS DOG? On October 14 we wrote about this pup. She just showed up at a house in southwest Arlington.
Do you realize that no one has offered to take this dog? A 15-pound dog, clean, not hungry – did someone just dump her in a neighborhood that looks animal friendly?
Cheryl Stewart who has been keeping the pup in hopes of finding a home, has sweetened the offer this way. She writes, “Hi, Larry – just wanted to update you on the puppy I’m keeping until someone adopts her. I took her to the vet this weekend and they spayed her and made sure she has all her shots and tested her for heartworms [negative!] and also did an I.D. chip implant. I’m picking her up after work tonight. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know if anyone shows any interest, she has all her shots and is spayed and is ready for a family to adopt her. “
To ask about adopting this dog, e-mail suzanne45@sbcglobal.net or call 214-215-3437 or 817-557-0565.REMINDERS: The Greyhound Adoption League of Texas Pub Crawl and Poker Run is Saturday in Deep Ellum in Dallas. Get the details at www.galtx.org. October is Greyhound Awareness Month. ...Paws In The City will benefit from Thursday night’s “Delish At
Galleria Dallas.” Details are on that poster – click to make it larger. Or go to the Paws In The City site HERE. ... Shelby Bobosky reminds us of Saturday’s “Bad to the Bone” benefit for Operation Kindness and the Texas Humane Legislation Network. The event is in celebration of passage of the anti-puppy mill bill during the last legislative session. Click on the poster to make it larger.
HERE’S A RE-RUN FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MISSED IT THE FIRST TWO TIMES: A REMINDER FOR PLANNERS AND RESCUE GROUPS: Award-winning, well-read, informative and enjoyable Urban Animal Magazine is compiling its events list for the next edition. You have just about 10 days to provide information about events in December, January and February so we can list them. Please send the info in a simple paragraph to dallrp@aol.com . Don’t send big downloads, please, just send simple sentences with active phone numbers and e-mail addresses so we can double check times and dates. And, for crying out loud, it’s FREE – free ink to help the animals you’re trying to help.
CONTEMPLATIONS: We’re going to focus on books in our Contemplations section. Why? Because books matter. They help people contemplate their futures. Maybe you’re inspired by a book. Perhaps educated. Or maybe you just flat get some entertainment out of one.
What inspires this is Thursday’s opening of the 4-day American Association of University Women Book Fair in Arlington. Get all the details, including a partial list of the inventory, HERE. The sale’s opening night (4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday) asks for a $5 donation to defray costs of setting up this fair and sending the organizers to Acapulco. Kidding about that last part. But they might buy some liniment for their backs – lugging boxes of books isn’t easy work. (Other houses, you get in free. That’s 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Books are priced at remarkably low levels – and the proceeds go to educational projects in Arlington. Cash or check, no credit cards.)
Now, what’s in the sale? OK, we’re going to tell you that everything is in the sale. We haven’t missed one in decades – we’ve bought music books, history books, text books, mysteries, biographies, keepsake volumes by local authors, record albums, sheet music....You never know what’s in the stacks. It’s a treasure hunt.
And speaking of treasures, here are some of the special items in the online catalogue:
--For $10, a 1942 first edition of noted female pilot Beryl Markham’s book West With The Night.
--Underpriced at $25 the book Marty Jurow Seein’ Stars: A Show Biz Odyssey – this is from 2001 and outlines the high points of the career of producer Martin Jurow who lived in Dallas. It is co-written by my former colleague at the big paper in Dallas, the fabulous film critic Philip Wuntch.
--An 1897 first American edition of Rudyard Kipling’s Captains Courageous: A Story of the Grand Banks is priced at $42.
--For $8, you can pick up a copy of Oak Cliff author Rose-Mary Rumbley’s 1995 What! No Chili! (Plenty of cookbooks at the Book Fair!). And What! No Chili! isn't your ordinary cookbook.
-- Appropriate for the organizers of this book fair, Women in Texas: Their Lives, Their Experiences, Their Accomplishments by Ann Fears Crawford and Crystal Sassy Ragsdale. Published in 1982, it looks at 30 influential Texas women. Cost you ten bucks.
Look, there are a lot more. Take some time to click HERE and look at the catalogue. It’ll remind you of how much you love reading. Savor some words now and then, don’t just let yourself sit still for quick cuts and odd logic on the small and big screens.
--- To comment, click below. GO, RANGERS! ---
October 17, 2011
Monday -- from critters to cookies...
Monday arrives and the Texas Rangers are about to go into their second World Series in a row – who would have thought it?
Now, as we consider other longshots, i.e., the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs or a set of winning lotto numbers at one particular Oak Cliff address, here are some other items of note:
THE GANG IN MCKINNEY: That collage is of available dogs at the Collin County Animal Services Shelter in McKinney was provided to us this morning by Allison Roberts, the shelter walker.
Thought you might want to see the number of dogs on “the list” at the county shelter. How did so many great-looking friendly dogs wind up on death row in a county-run shelter? Human failure. How do they get out? Human triuimph. Three ways – Adoption, saved by rescue group, needled and bagged. See how to contact the Collin County shelter HERE.ONE MORE MCKINNEY NOTE: Earlier in the month we mentioned an old and blind Heeler who’d been surrendered by his owner to the Collin County shelter. Odds were bad for this old guy. After all, who wants to adopt an old blind dog who has been dumped by his owner?
Rescuers Becky Delgado and Angela Snider stepped up and claimed Lobo.
Here’s a photo of the old fellow enjoying what he loves to do these days – flop down in the grass and enjoy the sensations of the world.
In the background is his new pal Daisy, sniffing around. As Becky reports, Lobo loves to be outside and lay in the grass. He has a big back yard and enjoys sniffing the perimeter of the fence. He’s learning the layout of the house and is content to plop down wherever he feels comfortable.” (Aside: Sounds like a teenage boy, doesn’t he?)MEANWHILE IN DALLAS: The clock continues to tick on the Very Special Pets list – but it has been moved to Saturday. The
number of animals has dropped from more than a dozen to 3 cats and 5 dogs including these two.
That cat is Rianna, possibly part Maine Coon but 100 percent feline.
The dog is Adena, just over a year old and nearly 50 pounds.
Both have been in the shelter for 45 days, are healthy, friendly and totally adoptable – just one ingredient missing: human element. No human has stepped up.
To adopt or for more information e-mail Catherine.baxter@dallascityhall.com or teresa.cleek@dallascityhall.com or call 214-671-0249 or 214-670-8312. Contacts for rescue groups are mark.cooper@dallascityhall.com or 214-670-8298 or janet.henderson@dallascityhall.com. Check the animals in the shelter at www.dallasanimalservices.org.
A DOG WHO NEEDS AN ESCAPE ROUTE: Our reliable tipster Maeleska Fletes, usually associated with the Little Forest Hills Animal Alert, has sent a note regarding a pal and a dog in Royce City, east of Dallas on I-30.
She writes that her friend says "a neighbor’s dog runs loose and now is killing chickens. He will be shot if he is not removed from there. He is 9 months old, not fixed and not sure he has had any shots. He gets along with other dogs and is a real sweetie. If you are interested in this sweet boy please call Melissa 214-232-0263 or Vara 214-607-7585. Please help this boy before his is shot!”
Ah, good to see that small-town Texas embraces the tried-and-true Texas philosophy of handling an animal problem: “Let’s kill it.” Humane failure -- tough challenge.
THE PUPPY AUCTION IS HALTED: Oh, boy, what a flurry Friday evening. Word went out via e-mail and other methods that the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce was going to auction a puppy at the chamber gala on Saturday night.
Stirred a storm, it did. A petition was started to stop the auction. Phone calls were made. People were “enlightened.”
Stacy Smith of the Humane Society of Flower Mound kept us up to date on this situation and, eventually, the Chamber canceled the plan to auction the puppy. (Such auctions are outlawed in some municipalities – rescuers see these events as not reflective of respect for the domestic animals.) Stacy says that “our next step will be to work toward an ordinance in Flower Mound.”
After some initial pushback and what can most pleasantly be described as “testy” dialogue, the Chamber changed its mind.
Here’s the post-flap note from Cindi Howard, the chamber’s executive director of operations: “The Flower Mound Chamber would like to thank the citizens for their concern about the puppy we have for our event. The Chamber would never be a part of putting a puppy in harm’s way. This puppy has been removed from the auction and adopted by our Chairman of the Board. He and his wife are dog lovers and have a rescue dog in their home to be a companion for this little guy. The Flower Mound Chamber is a responsible partner to the community and to its members and we appreciate and share being supportive of taking proper care of our pets.”
That’s one small step for a puppy, one giant leap for a chamber.
UNRESOLVED SEPTEMBER ISSUES: The dog found dead on the front porch on Aransas -- head stuck between ornamental iron bars . Who did it? Why? ... Frisco, the Maltese thrown from the 19th floor window of a Dallas building during a domestic dispute. Any charge – no doubt the suspect has been identified, but will this go any further than nowhere? ... What incidents am I forgetting?
CONTEMPLATIONS ON THE BIG PIGTURE: I’m sorry, did I type “pigture” I meant picture. This is just one table of many tables of cookies that were entered in the State Fair of Texas’ annual cookie baking contest. It is the table of ice-box cookies. There are nearly 2 dozen entries. My cookiespouse Martha and I were judges of this segment.
Being a cookie judge is not something to be taken lightly – and I am not light. We judged on taste, texture and appearance. We read recipes to make sure all rules were followed. You find out things about these bakers. First time ever, I saw a recipe that instead of “directions” listed “game plan. ”
Some people entered virtually identical recipes and we wondered if maybe a husband and wife had decided to challenge each other’s skills. It happens.
Our cookie server was Jo Bowen, who has been at the Fair for 27 years and served us for many, many of the 20 years we’ve been judging cookies – Jo’s handed us more cookies than our mommies. She’s seen a lot of recipes and knows how to keep the entries coming toward us in a steady but unrushed fashion. You’ve got to give each cookie a fair taste – perhaps cleanse your palate with a pickle or a cube of cheese and some water and taste the next one.
We had some great cookies – our winner was an orange zest frosted delight with sprinkles coating just the rim – it was vibrant and perfect. Only someone who wants to punish himself could resist eating a dozen of them. I swear, they were good. (Other great ones included a couple of chocolate cookies with peanut butter toppings, a mocha pinwheel that jolted you from the first taste, and several shortbread-type cookies. I could go on and on.
We even had a nice gooey cookie designed to look like it’s name “Cow Patty.” Tasted better than how I assume an actual cow patty tastes. If you click on that photo you may be able to blow it up enough to see the cow cookies on the right side of the screen.
As for Best of Show, we thought sure we’d picked it this year, but, nope, when the two dozen or so judges finished sampling all the winners of the 7 categories, the winner was a bar cookie that tasted like a really great pecan pie – it was even gooey like a pie.
Once again our annual visit to the State Fair of Texas was a joy. And if you don’t think there is pressure to being one of the food judges, sit there chewing and tasting while the contestants stare at you from the stands. You know that someone is going to be disappointed and someone is going to be overjoyed and surprised. All of the contestants should know that if I could order a dozen from each of you, I’d do it this morning – and perk some fresh coffee, too.
One year, someone entered a cookie that was made with Clementine zest. Martha, no slouch in the cookie kitchen herself, got the recipe and made the cookies. It took the best part of a long morning to do all the preparation and execution. In the end, those cookies went fast. But you couldn't just slice the dought, slap it on a cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes -- this took artistry in the kitchen.
When you see all the things that go into making these entries for the State Fair of Texas, you know exactly why the contest is held in the “Creative Arts Building.”
There are some really creative people who don’t work with paintbrushes and words, but who can speak happy volumes with flour, fruits, nuts sugar, patience and, every now and then, a dash of vinegar or a splash of bourbon.
Congratulations to all and, of course, thank you for establishing a whole new bunch of unrequited cravings for your neighborhood cookie eater.
--- To comment, click below. And, “Go, Rangers.” ---
October 14, 2011
Sugar's transition to Martha -- a little dog's big break
This photo, obvioulsy, could be from a major home furnishings catalog.
It’s got texture, tone, mood and a sleeping dog! It’s has classic artistic catalog composition>
So, what is the story? Thanks to our pal Diane Combs we’ll be able to tell you and, in doing so, Readlarrypowell.com will aim the spotlight of our weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, right at this dog and her new family.
All of Diane’s friends have been kept up to date on this little girl’s progress through a series of “Martha Bulletins,”
As Martha was beginning to adjust to her new home, Diane’s friend Colleen Gasiorowski of Philadelphia arrived for a long-planned visit. Colleen took the “catalog” photo. We’ve mentioned Colleen here before.
She is such an animal fan that she has sworn off her hometown Philadelphia Eagles because they’ve got the felonious, dog-fighting quarterback Michael Vick. She hasn’t watched a game since he joined the team.
And if you wonder “What’s in a name?”, the dog formerly known as “Sugar” is now “Martha.” Yep, there’s a reason. Keep reading.
You may have seen Sugar/Martha before. On Sept. 27 we published a request for help placing the dog from Darcy Hall of Athens. The note was forwarded by two really reliable tipsters: Julie Maupin of Corsicana and the Humane Society of Navarro County and Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake.
Darcy explained that this 15-pound dog needed a home. Her human had died a week earlier and nobody had stepped up. Sugar, 7, is spayed and “very good” with other dogs.
Here is what happened. Our dear pal Diane Combs, the veteran rescuer and longtime SPCA of Texas volunteer, adopted the dog. If you were a dog you’d pay somebody to wind up at Diane’s house.
Not that Diane was excited, but everybody on her mailing list got updates about the progress of this dog Martha. After all, Martha was making a very sensitive transition – she’d lost her human of 7 years and she’d moved and she was living with a whole new family of dogs.
Some things are meant to work out. Call this “Martha’s First Diary.” And the reason we’re including this “diary” is it shows how patience and thoughtfulness are so important when introducing a dog to a new environment. You have to be sensitive to the dog’s emotions -- Diane explains the anxieties in her reports:
October 1
Discussing the Sept. 27 note on Readlarrypowell.com Diane explained, “Normally I would have just thought ‘awww’ and then proceeded to the next story. However, then I saw the picture of Sugar. OMG! It was the spitting image of Jingles! Same coloring, same size, same ears, same big round eyes, and same smile!” [She’d lost Jingles to congestive heart failure in early 2007.]
She got in touch with Darcy and connections were made. Sugar had everything – especially a congenial nature when dealing with other dogs.
Arrangements were made to meet the dog at Darcy’s stepdad’s home in Dallas and, Diane wrote to her friends, “Right away I saw Sugar and IMMEDIATELY felt a connection. I was so glad. I was afraid I wouldn't have that feeling but I DID, and she did look SO much like a smaller version of Jingles. She came right up to me. She is extremely gentle and loving - definitely a ‘people person.’ I actually think she'd make a good therapy dog or one who would do great in a nursing home visit. I knew the minute I met her that without question that she'd end up going home with me.”
Both sides had questions and things all worked out for the people and the dog.
Diane wrote, “She got in the car with me, no problem.”
They went straight to the vet who said she’s probably Pom and Spitz and is a tad overweight at 21 official pounds (Jingles had weighed 23). And the doc gave her a heartworm test – results would come later.
Guess how her previous family had acquired her. Yep, adopted her from the SPCA of Texas. Diane wrote, happily, “So that’s neat that she came from ‘my’ SPCA.”
When they arrived at Diane’s home, everybody met everyone in a caninely fashion. There was some “greeting” but whenever it got too intense, Sugar just sat down. Everybody got along. And the neighbor across the alley was “having some kind of garden show and there were people going up and down the alley constantly, but Sugar never made one peep.”It took Sugar about an hour to learn how to use the doggie door – the other dogs showed her and, Diane wrote, “Of course, I gave her lavish praise.”
On this first day, Sugar was busy following Diane and looking at her “just like Jingles used to do. I know Sugar is her own ‘person’ and there will never be another Jingles, but it’s very comforting to me, and she makes me smile just looking at her. I love her already. Right now she's lying quietly on the rug next to my feet.”
In this note to friends, Diane explained changing Sugar’s name. “For about the last 2 to 3 years, I've had in the back of my mind two names that I really wanted to name my next two dogs - thinking I'd probably get them close together after Fred and Ginger were gone. Larry Powell's wife, Martha, is into animal rescue as much as Larry and serves on the Board of Directors of a local agency called Paws in the City. I have come to know both of them in person over the years, love them both, and admire so much all the good they have done for so many animals. Therefore, I wanted to name my next two dogs Larry & Martha! ...
"Well, looks like I've found my Martha. I know it will take a little time for Sugar to adjust to her new name, but for awhile I'll call her ‘Sugar Martha’ and then eventually drop the Sugar. As you probably know, there is a plant/herb called 'Sweet Myrtle,' and from time to time that's what I call Myrtle. So now I'll have Sweet Myrtle and Sugar Martha.”
There’s a chance Sugar Martha will become “Martha Belle.” Has a nice ring.
{Aside from Larry: Diane exaggerates about us – one of is not all that likeable.}
[About the two smaller photos: One is a photo of Jingles on his 14th birthday next to the picture of Sugar from the Sept. 27 column. The other is Martha on the bed – posing similar to Jingles and showing off her pretty tail. “It's actually pretty freaky. I think Jingles sent her to me,” Diane wrote.]
OCTOBER 2
Diane wrote, “Well, now I'm starting to get worried. She didn't eat much last night at dinner, and she didn't act interested in Milkbones either. I thought it was just the stress of being in a new environment. I did mix the food she was used to eating with the other food I give my dogs (and they aren't that different).
“This morning - same thing. She just showed no interest in eating. I put all my other dogs outside and let her eat by herself in the kitchen, but she just ate halfheartedly and quit after a few bites. She may still just be in mourning for her owner, but she may be sick. I sure hope it's not heartworms.”
And, Diane continued, “As for sleeping last night - she chose her own dog bed, which I had brought home with me. I've got one dog bed in the den (which she is in right now where she can see me and I can see her), but I put her own dog bed in the bedroom close to my bed. A couple of times she got on my bed and stay just a little while, but then she would return to her own bed - which is fine, wherever she feels the most comfy.
“I will tell you something weird however. Jingles always slept on the corner of the bed - at the foot of the bed - next to the window. That was HIS place. Even after he died, I put up a little wind chime hanging from the ceiling about that spot. The dog on the wind chime can look out the window.
“Well last night, the few times Martha got on my bed, she went right to that same spot and lay down. Spooky, huh?
Today I'm going to take her to PetSmart and pick out a new collar. I'm also going to try and get a group shot of the 5 of them, but that may be tough. If she can't be bribed with Milkbones to stay still for a camera shot, not sure what I'll do. The group shot may have to wait.”
Also on Oct. 2, Diane was anxious about Martha’s health and wrote, “It would relieve my mind to know that all her organs are functioning properly. It's still a GOOD possibility that she's not eating out of grief for her ‘dad.’
“Left about 10:30 to do some errands - leaving Martha at home alone for the first time on purpose, but I knew I'd be back by about 12:30 at the latest. When I got home, I had a message from Cindy [Diane’s sister who lives next door] to call her. ... Cindy said Martha went to the front gate and sat there and howled ‘Whooo Hoooo Hoooo.’ She said it sounded like "Where are you?" AWWWWWW.
“When I got home, Martha was there to greet me and wagged her tail. She didn't seem sick at all - just relieved I was home. Hopefully she'll eat better tonight.
“In the meantime, I took a lot of group shots of them but I knew it was pretty much a waste of time because Martha was not cooperating. She's not a ham in front of the camera like my other four are. I was lucky to get ONE shot out of the many that came out semi-okay.”
In that group shot are, from left, Martha, Betty Lou, Myrtle, Ginger and Fred. “For some reason, it came out in black & white rather than color - have no clue why,” Diane wrote.
In the afternoon Diane took Martha to the vet for assorted tests. “She's just TOO calm and I want to rule out illness. If she's not sick, it's bound to be grief. I'm sure she was very attached to her dad. She seems like the type to get attached to a person. She already seems attached to me - follows me around all the time, but she just doesn't seem happy. I want to make her happy.
“There is no problem between my dogs and her, but she has no desire to play with them. Myrtle tried to get her to play this morning - play bowing, making inviting sounds, and wagging her tail. Martha just looked away. Sigh.
“She is eating a little better, but I still have to feed her separately - maybe always will because she's so slow when she eats. She ate all her breakfast this morning, which is good, but I had to encourage her and hand feed her the last few bites. She certainly doesn't gobble it down with gusto like my others do.
“I've never had a dog before whose owner had died, so I guess I really didn't know what to expect.”
A few minutes later, Diane wrote another note explaining that “Myrtle and Betty Lou started playing together. All of a sudden, Martha seemed to express some interest. She didn't join in, but she did stand up, stare at them playing, and wagged her tail for about 2 seconds. “That's a baby step, but it's a step. She also got a Nylabone out of the toy box and started chewing on it - another first since she's been here. I have to leave shortly. Sure hope she doesn't howl when I'm gone like yesterday.
“Oh - I just introduced her to Ruth (my across the alley neighbor). Ruth happened to be out in the alley watering her plants. She said ‘I saw her yesterday and came up to the fence. She came right up to me. She's SO SWEET and gentle! I love her!’ Awww. Yes, she is extremely good with people.”
And later that same day, Diane sent out a note with the subject “Heartworm test – NEGATIVE!!”
When Diane called the vet’s office the staffer had to look up the test results and, Diane wrote, “Scared me at first because the gal went to look it up and when she got back on the phone she said ‘Yes’ (UH OH), but then she finished the sentence with ‘She's negative.’ Whew! I made an appointment for her this afternoon to get a blood test, and I won't get those results till tomorrow, but let's hope they turn out as good as the HW test. That appointment is at 3:30. After that I'm taking her to work so she can meet everybody there.”
OCTOBER 3
In the morning, Diane came home from an errand and Martha “was waiting for me at the door WAGGING HER TAIL! At that point it was so pleasant outside weather-wise, I went out back with all my dogs and sat in my swinging lounge chair on my patio. She got in my lap and we rocked together. She seemed very content.”
Later in the day, at the vets, Martha “didn’t flinch at all when” the vet too blood.
After the vet visit, Diane wrote, “I took her to work and she was a HUGE hit. EVERYONE described her as SO SWEET!...
“Then I brought her home and fed them all. I tried putting Martha's bowl in the dining room which is next to the kitchen, and I blocked the dining room off with baby gates. That worked very well. Not only did she eat all her food without any encouragement from me, but she ate quite a bit faster than she's done since being here - not gobbling it down but definitely faster. So all these things really make me think she's NOT physically sick and I'm feeling that her blood test tomorrow will come out with good results. I'm also very encouraged that she's on her way to HAPPINESS again.
OCTOBER 4
In a note posted at 12:45 p.m., Diane wrote, “Well, it took four days but I finally heard her bark. This was after I came home from the dentist this morning. I heard some sounds out front - no clue what they were, but Martha definitely barked several times and went to look out the front window. Sure enough, it was my tree man - Chuck - who was there planting a new bush. I knew he was coming sometime this week, but I didn't have to know when exactly since it was in the front yard and I didn't necessarily have to be there when he came.
“It made me feel good because I thought that now maybe Martha feels secure that this is her ‘home’ and she now has a duty to protect it and/or me. She's still a very quiet dog, but I certainly would not discourage her barking at strangers in our yard! I told Chuck (who is a dog lover) and he said he felt honored that he was part of one of her ‘firsts.’
At 1:50 p.m., Diane wrote, “After I got all the dogs home from vet and groomers (BL & Ginger look so pretty), I went out to lunch for some Chinese food. Sometimes I read what's in the fortune cookies and sometimes I don't. Even when I do, I NEVER pay attention to what they say - they are all so generic. BUT guess what my fortune cookie prediction said today: ‘You will find your treasure within the month.’ Oh wow. Since this month is October, and I got Martha on October 1st, don't you think that means something? Even if it doesn't, I KNOW I have found my treasure - actually my FIFTH treasure (all with 4 legs)!”
OCTOBER 5
“First of all, before we left, I had a heating/ac service man over (just a minor deal). Normally I always have all the dogs blocked off from the area where they work, but as a test, I let Martha stay in the living room with me. I wanted to see how she acted when he came in the door. She was WONDERFUL! She did bark when he pulled up in the driveway (of course my others were barking, too, and that probably triggered her barking). But as soon as he came to the door, I told her to ‘stay’ and she did. He came in and she greeted him very quietly. He gave her some loving and said, ‘I love dogs. I have a Boston Terrier and a Shih Tzu/ Yorkie mix - Sammy and Delilah. This one looks like she has some Pom in her.’ Good call - a real dog person for sure. She definitely made a new friend. I told him that Martha was missing her daddy. Awww.
“When he left, she did not try to bolt out the front door at all. GOOD MARTHA!
“Then we went to the dog park. Honestly, she did not seem to feel very comfortable there. She stayed right by me and didn't venture out much, and when another dog approached her, she bared her teeth. Oh, dear. She never snapped at any dog, but she wasn't very friendly. Darnit.
“ I'll take her again and try some more but she may not be one I take to many dog events, but actually, Jingles wasn't either - but that's because he would bark so much at other dogs. Martha is a lot more quiet than Jingles was, but she's happier being with people and I think Jingles was, too.
" One good thing happened at the dog park. One of the guys there happened to be someone I knew 30 YEARS ago! That was fun running into him again AND I found out he has two Dachshunds at home. He had his Corgi with him today - Pickles.
" Well - I'm off today to have lunch with Lane - my great aunt - and help her do stuff this afternoon. I'll be gone for several hours. Hope Martha doesn't howl too much “
OCTOBER 6
“Well, for the first time, she slept with me in my bed ALL night last night. Before, she was sleeping down by my bed in her doggie bed, but last night when we all went to bed, she hopped right up on the bed and settled in on the pillow next to mine. She was still there when I woke up this morning. I reached over and rubbed her on her head and then stopped. She pawed my hand like ‘Don't stop!’ So of course I didn't stop.
“I went to the fair today and bought a bumper sticker that says "I love (heart) my rescue". I love all my rescues - including Miss Martha.”
OCTOBER 7“ I took her on another walk today. I want her to get to know the neighborhood in case, heaven forbid, she ever gets out (which I really don't ever expect to happen). BUT she definitely walked faster than she did on her walk the other day, and she had a smile on her face the whole time. I definitely believe her depression is lifting - on its way out. Right now she's sitting in ‘her chair’ in the den happily chewing on a Nylabone.
“That little throw pillow in the chair says ‘Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet.’ And, by the way, she slept on my bed again all night last night.
“I'll be leaving in about 45 minutes to pick up Colleen at the airport. Can't wait for her to meet the gang (although she’s already met Fred & Ginger).”
OCTOBER 9
Diane wrote, “Martha doesn't howl any more when I leave the house. That's good she's feeling more secure that I'll return. Tomorrow I'll be gone all day for the first time, but I think she'll be OK. She seems a lot more confident now than she did a week ago.”
OCTOBER 11
“For the very first time since I got her about a week and a half ago, she expressed a desire to play with my dogs! This just happened within the last 15 minutes and I had to write. Myrtle and Betty Lou were playing in my bedroom as I was getting ready for work - like they do almost every day. Always before, Martha would either just stay on the bed or come over to me for some loving. But not today. She actually went up to Myrtle and barked a friendly bark and wagged her tail. It was almost like she was saying ‘Please play with me, too.’ Myrtle looked at her (also wagging tail), but then Betty Lou kept trying to get Myrtle's attention. Myrtle would then turn back to Betty Lou, but Martha would bark again and wag her tail. Then Myrtle and Martha did start to play. It was GREAT. That has been my only disappointment so far - that Martha did not feel comfortable enough to play with them, but apparently now she does. Yea!”
Yea, indeed!
[To nominate your sleeping or napping critter for our weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send photo and info to dallrp@aol.com . Remember, at Readlarrypowell.com we endorse sleeping, but insomnia keeps us awake worrying about when we’re going to nod off. A very special thanks to our pal Diane for keeping a diary of Martha the Dog -- it just seems that people can learn from this experience.]
---To comment, click below. ---
On Friday, from Ordinarys to Supernaturals and Lawyers and Earhounds, too
Good day, ladies and gentlemen, let’s go to cyberpress.
It’s Friday and we’ll try to squeeze in as many items as possible and in no particular order.
That dog? Keep reading. He’ll show up.
AN ORDINARY APPROACH: Now, this is kind of something different and, maybe, it’s catching."
On October 22, The Colony’s Save A Life Express Adoption Program will “set up with remarkably ordinary looking pets.”
Ordinary? Yep. This comes from Patricia Barrington, the Animal Control Division Manager of The Colony, a person who sees a parade of animals into a shelter and then sees people coming in looking for the purebreds and beauties. She explains, “Rest assured, there won’t be any fluffy, white 5-pound dogs or Himalayan kittens at this event – no sir, just unremarkable, ordinary yet perfect pet companions who tend to get overlooked time and time again in shelters.”
The Save A Life Express event is from 10 a.m. to noon on the 22nd at 5 Star Sports Complex in The Colony.
As Director Barrington will attest, “ordinary” is in the eye of the beholder – one person’s ordinary is another’s extraordinary. Being the unfortunate owner of an orange tabby coat should not be a death sentence...” Also expected to be at the “ordinary” adoption, “Bennet the darling Dachshund and Baby the adolescent Heeler/Lab mix and many other plain jane pets.”
Click HERE to see The Colony’s ordinary and extraordinary pets.
And, remember, all shelters have animals that appear to be “ordinary” – but you can’t judge a cat by the cover and, applied to a dog, “ordinary” is still better than “human.”NANCY TWITTY, FRIEND TO ANIMALS, ESPECIALLY SADIE: Tina Cantell Lovett sent us a note overnight about the passing of the great rescuer Nancy Twitty, the tough soul behind the Lake Whitney Humane Society. We wrote about her now and then through the years – even in tough medical times she was a determined animal advocate. Most notably we wrote about Nancy and this sweet dog known as “Sadie the No-Nose Dog.” Some creep had shotgunned her the face – Fort Worth Animal Control’s Ginger Leach saw the dog in the shelter and linked up with Nancy. To Nancy, it was not so much reconstructing the dog’s nose as it was rebuilding her trust. Nancy saw a special spirit in Sadie and brought her back from terror. You can see Nancy’s obit in The Fort Worth Star-Telegram HERE. Tina wrote of her “mentor” that “Nancy always said she couldn't wait to get to Heaven because no animals there were hurting, starving, or being abused.”
BAILEY BOGGINS: When you take an animal into your home, chances are that little soul moves into your heart, too. That is what Darlene and Steve Berry discovered when they adopted little Bailey Boggins. You can read the tribute to Bailey on our Prayers & Passages page today – just click on the “button” in the upper right corner of this page and it’ll take you to the page.
(FYI: We provide this site to honor the animals that have improved the human condition. When you have a need to say “thank you” or to honor an animal in your life, send your tribute to dallrp@aol.com. Sometimes the human just needs to say a few more things about their friend.)
TAKE ME HOME FROM THE GARAGE SALE: We’ve mentioned Take Me Home Pet Rescue quite a bit lately --- those folks keep taking animals home. It takes money to run a non-profit, so there’s a garage sale scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday to benefit Take Me Home Pet Rescue. All the goods are on display and for sale at 561 Campbell Road, Suite 303, in Richardson. Proceeds go to the rescue group’s building fund.
PLEASE NOTE: I may have missed some animal activities scheduled this weekend. If so, please click on comments at the bottom of the report and write a line or two. We’ll all appreciate it. Keep it short, to the point and, above all, include no poetry about pumpkins.
FROM COLLIN COUNTY: Here’s a one sentence report from Allison Roberts, the volunteer shelter walker at Collin County Animal Services: “Shelter is extremely full - absolutely no open kennels.” For those who don’t know, this doesn’t mean that they stop taking in animals. They just kill animals to make room for more unwanted animals. It’s the ol’ Texas theory: “Got an animal problem? Let’s kill it.”
DALLAS: Four cats and seven dogs are still on two lists at Dallas Animal Services – one is the Very Special Pets List because they are adoptables who have been there for 45 days without drawing any interest and the other is the euthanasia list for Tuesday because, indeed, they have been there 45 days without drawing any interest. Go to the shelter to see them. Click on www.dallasanimalservices.org.
SPEAKING OF THE STATE FAIR OF TEXAS: You may recall that Dallas Animal Services and DFW Rescue Me are hosting a canine kissing booth and adoption center outside the Centennial Building at the State Fair of Texas.
We may get to see it Sunday – my fairfunspouse Martha and I will be in the Creative Arts Building on Sunday morning to help judge the cookie baking contests. It’s always a challenge because the entries are great – never had a bad cookie at the State Fair of Texas. And, fyi, you can get the championship recipes in the State Fair’s annual cookbook. Not a bad recipe in the bunch.
Besides, I’ve been practicing for this cookie contest all year – nibble, chew, contemplate, repeat. Say "Mmmmm" until you need bigger pants.
HERE’S A RE-RUN FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MISSED IT THE FIRST TIME: A REMINDER FOR PLANNERS AND RESCUE GROUPS: Award-winning, well-read, informative and enjoyable Urban Animal Magazine is compiling its events list for the next edition. You have just about 10 days to provide information about events in December, January and February so we can list them. Please send the info in a simple paragraph to dallrp@aol.com . Don’t send big downloads, please, just send simple sentences with active phone numbers and e-mail addresses so we can double check times and dates. And, for crying out loud, it’s FREE – free ink to help the animals you’re trying to help.
A POSING EARHOUND: Oh, brother, can this dog work the camera or what? This is Tortilla, obviously a Photogenic Earhound. Shelter walker/photographer Russell Posch caught this guy Tortilla posing at the Irving Animal Services Shelter. He’s #14280260, about 2 years old and came in as an owner surrender. Tortilla is available right now. And what sort of evil forces would make someone give up a dog like this?
You can see more of Russell’s photos of available dogs HERE. And you can see how to adopt Tortilla and other animals HERE.
LAWYERS, ANIMALS AND LEE HARVEY’S: We’ve been writing about the Animal Welfare Committee of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers for so long that some lawyers no longer qualify for the “young” part. Anyway, attorney Alyson Vrana reports that the Committee is hosting its Third Annual Dog Day Afternoon from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Lee Harvey’s, 1807 Gould St. Live music by Rahim Quazi and the Supernaturals, raffles, pet-costume contest – admission is $15 and you get two drink tickets. Kids get in free.
The announcement cautions that pets should be well-behaved and, please, hold off on the joke about lawyers should be well-behaved, too. This year’s celebration, sponsored by US Legal and Green Eagle Graphics, benefits Habitat 4 Paws and Take Me Home Pet Rescue. JUST SHOWED UP AND NOBODY CLAIMED: Cheryl Stewart sent us a note this morning about this obvious Earhound – no known name, but she was found, possibly abandoned, in a neighborhood on Pierce Arrow in southwest Arlington south of I-20 and west of 360.
Cheryl says the dog weighs about 15 pounds, was clean and wasn’t hungry “so I think she may have just been left....No collar. ...I think she may have some Beagle in her, so she may not get very big.”
And, FYI: “Some of the neighborhood kids took her from house to house to see if anyone recognized her.” No dice. But the kids deserve notice for being responsible and working on behalf of the dog.
To ask about adopting this dog, e-mail suzanne45@sbcglobal.net or call 214-215-3437 or 817-557-0565.. AND NOW WE GET TO BIG BLUE: How is that for a pose!
handsome guy. Kara Lifka, a volunteer with Denton Animal control and Ruff ‘n’ Ready Adopt-a-Bulls sent the note about him and wrote, “If I wasn't over full at the moment this dog would be with me. He's AWESOME!”
She’s trying to find someone who can help him get out of the crowded shelter. She says, “This guy is going to die Monday morning if we don't get him out. I believe Blue has Superstar potential. He knows some basic commands, walks great on the leash and is a big LOVE. His only crimes are: he's found himself at a kill shelter and he's an unaltered dominant male.”
He’s a friendly guy with people, Kara says.
To adopt him call Denton Animal Services at 940-349-7594 or e-mail amy_pelzel@yahoo.com. To foster him call Kara at 940-594-6182 or e-mail ruffnreadyrescue@yahoo.com.
He looks pretty healthy – some human somewhere let him down.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Think this will work? When the world gets too busy for you, drop a Rod McKuen album on your turntable and “Listen To The Warm.” Rod McKuen? Oh, you children. Look him up and click HERE. He’s a friend to animals. ... Looks like the NBA’s theme for 2011 is going to be “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” No contract, no dribble. No telling what the NBA arrest rate will be if they don’t play. ... Enjoy the weekend. One hesitates to jinx the Texas Rangers by mentioning their efforts to get back to the World Series, so, we’ll mention that the Dallas Cowboys are playing the New England Patriots. The Cowboys appear to be jinxed already.
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October 13, 2011
Can't sleep with a dog; overnight with animals; Scooter's note and Cleo and Lobo...
Before we get to updates on the old dog Cleopatra and the dog with the note on his collar Scooter, we’re going to marvel at this tale for a moment:Yesterday a plea went around to help a little dog get out of the Garland Animal Shelter. Someone has saved the dog, we’re told, but why was the little dog in the shelter? On the official intake sheet this answer: “CAN’T SLEEP DUE TO DOG.”
This is the little fellow (and we’re told someone rescued the dog already -- we'll be happy to give him more publicity, just send us the info.).
Seriously,that now nameless dog looks like a cuddly sleeper to me. Maybe this dog has bad habits: Watching TV after midnight, practicing the drums at odd hours, singing opera....
Maybe there were "circumstances" – the human could have an ailment, could work nights, etc. But, still, in our world, we can’t sleep WITHOUT a dog in the house.
I’ve slept with a Cocker Spaniel for 14 years – he’s more important to a good night's sleep than a cool pillow. more comforting than the comforter. He may have bought the bed, I can’t remember -- he has the records somewhere.
I guess this episode points out something that doesn’t need pointing out: People are different. Some of us need the assurance that at least one being on the planet will cuddle with us.SHELTERS, RESCUE GROUPS, ETC., AND THE MAZIE’S MISSION ADOPTATHON: As we move along toward the Scooter and Cleopatra stories, let me remind all of you of something of which you don’t need to be reminded: Shelters and rescue groups are overloaded. Tell your friends who have no animals that they don’t have to go “buy” a dog or cat. They can adopt them from shelters and rescue groups – the fees range from “nothing but a promise to love the dog” at some smaller “pounds,” to a respectable fee at large facilities where the money goes to support the huge effort it takes to operate a big facility. Most of all, remind your friends without animals to pick by personality and congeniality, not by breed or color. You’d want to live with a human who makes you happy – give the dog or cat the same break.
And, of course, there are rescue groups that try to make it easy for you and the animals to match up – our pal Patty Sprong sent us this info so we are able to cite the Mazie’s Mission Fall In Love Fur-Ever Adoptathon from 9 p.m. Friday to 9 p.m. Saturday at The Village at Fairview, Stacy Road at Highway 75. Click on that artwork to make it larger and you can get more details. Hundreds of animals with reduced fees will be available from several local rescue groups and shelters. (Click HERE and you can read about such things as the “special” on those hard-to-adopt black dogs.)SO, THERE’S THE DOG, NOTE ON HIS COLLAR...: Oh, for crying out loud. This little guy is called Scooter and someone attached a note to his collar and dropped him off on Lookout Drive in Richardson.
Yeah, that’s the note, too. Click on it to make it larger.
He’s safe – now – with Take Me Home Pet Rescue. The group’s Rekka Melby tells us that little Scooter was picked up by a family named Barker.
(Larry aside: A dog saved by the Barkers. You can’t make this stuff up. If Scooter had been a cat, maybe the Purtles would have saved him.)
The Barkers told their friend Ashley Kish who is a Take Me Home Rescue volunteer and also works at the group’s preferred vet’s office. And, thus, Scooter wound up in the care of Take me Home Pet Rescue.There were disturbing elements to the note, including a reference to other dogs who may also have been “set free” somewhere. We may never know.
But, animal abandonment, even with a note on the collar, is a crime in Texas – if I interpret the law correctly.
Here’s the text of the note: “My Name is Scooter. I like to chew on nylabones. I'm good with other dogs (lab and blue heeler) I am faithful and will follow you from room to room, i also like to say hi by giving kisses to your ankles, I eat dry dog food. Sam’s brand. I am an inside/outside dog, i will sit at your feet and look at you or make a noise when i need to go outside.”
Imagine a dog that good suddenly being dumped out on a street. He must have been terrified -- I'm mad all over about it. What in the hell is wrong with people?
OK, if you want to help Scooter, get in touch with Take Me Home Pet Rescue by e-mailing info@takemehomepetrescue.com .
(Special request: A note to the person who dumped Scooter: I don’t want to judge you harshly – you may have been backed into a corner or been under horrible stress or thought this was the best way to get help for Scooter. If you are reading this – which I doubt – please e-mail me at dallrp@aol.com . I’d really like to have an understanding of your situation and of your thought processes. I’ve never been in such a position and I can’t imagine what it took to do this in hopes of helping Scooter. Seems like the odds were long. Please respond. Kindly, larry.)
THE STORY OF CLEOPATRA: A couple of weeks ago we ran this photo and told the story of part of Cleopatra the Dog’s life. She was on “the list” at Carrollton Animal Services and the folks there were hustling to find a place for her to go.
She’d been found in the middle of a street, as I recall, terrified and unmoving. She’s deaf. She’s old. She was on death row.
And, by golly, she touched hearts.
Becky Delgado, who we met years ago through the Companion Animal Network, and CAN founder Gail Whelan, teamed to speak up for Cleopatra and save her.
Do people care? You bet. We’ve gotten notes from local folks asking about Cleopatra’s fate and also from such exotic locals as Wisconsin (say hello to Liz Zelandais who tells me she rode her bike to work in a nice autumnal rain this morning in Madison).
At any rate, Becky has the report on this beautiful old dog: “Cleo is doing well. She is currently being fostered by my friend and fellow rescuer Michelle Raskeiwicz. According to the vet, Cleo is between 10-13 years. of age. She is deaf. She has gotten all her shots. She currently has an ear infection for which is she is being treated.
“For a senior dog, she is doing relatively well for her years. She does have some trouble sitting/laying down and getting back up. Possibly arthritis joint pain.
“Michelle has scheduled another vet appointment for her to see about possible x-rays and getting her on some meds to help with her joints. Cleo does sleep a lot. “
[Larry aside: Cleo not only looks like our late beloved dog Baby Jane Doe, she sounds like every human who lives in our house. And if we weren’t already at our limit for dogs...well, you know.]
So, what’s in Cleo’s future?
Becky says that “Cleo does not have a permanent home yet. There is a possible home that Michelle is checking into, but she definitely will talk with anyone who is interested in giving this grand lady a forever home. Michelle wants to make sure that she goes to the best home possible, someone who is willing to commit to Cleo and her special needs. Inquiries can be made directly to Michelle at michelleraskiewicz@yahoo.com. Anyone who wishes to help with Cleo's medical care can make a donation thru Companion Animal Network (click HERE) or they can contact Michelle directly."
And, FYI, last week we also wrote about the senior blind dog Lobo in the Collin County Animal Services Shelter in McKinney – you may recall that he was surrendered by his human because the dog was “old and blind.” I wisecracked that it was a good thing that Helen Keller hadn’t wandered up to that guy’s house.
Mercifully, Becky reports that “last Friday my friend and fellow rescuer Angela Snider and I went to McKinney and Angela adopted him! ... Aside from being blind, Lobo is in good health for his age. He has 2 doggie siblings, a Staffie named Daisy and another Blue Heeler named Drover. Lobo has adjusted very well with Daisy and Drover. He's not into playing, the "old man" prefers to take naps instead, but Daisy and Drover are OK with this. Lobo LOVES to be outside and lay in the grass. He has a big back yard and enjoys sniffing the perimeter of the fence. He's learning the layout of the house and is content to plop down wherever he feels comfortable. “
And Becky adds, “For whatever days Cleo and Lobo have left on this earth, they will be loved and cared for. My heart is happy.”COMING UP AT DAS: Holy smoke, is it Halloween time already? Click on this poster to get all the info about the celebration at the Dallas Animal Services Adoption Center. Some of you already knew about this but, of course, that's because you are psychic.
[SOAPBOX MOMENT: Remember, there was a time when "Dallas Animal Services" and "celebration" couldn't be used in the same sentence. Things have changed and the partiipation of citizens in public events will guarantee that there's no back-sliding and that the elected officials know the electorate is paying attention to things that make a city a better place to live -- like a responsible attitude toward animals. Help me off this soapbox before I cave it in and catch my Peter Pan costume on a nail. I know that, unlike Peter, I cannot fly, but I can plummet.]
TIPS FOR HELPING WITH ANIMALS: Oh, I’m so kind this morning I almost can’t stand myself. But, here goes:
(a) If you are going to forward a plea for help, check with the originator of the note to see if the dog or cat still needs help – you may be saving everyone a lot of time if you don’t forward an already-solved problem. And wouldn’t it be nice if you sent around a note that actually helped a dog or cat?
(b) If you write a note that says “A dog/cat has been wandering our neighborhood,” tell us which neighborhood in which city. Do you know how many neighborhoods there are in America? Do you think everyone who’ll get your note enjoys solving a mystery? And, for crying out loud, sign your complete name -- you're probably not wanted by the authorities and you're probably not in a witness protection program and this isn't a high school yearbook. Sign your whole name.
(c) If you send out a note that says, basically, “Somebody else better help this dog/cat or we’ll have to have it put to sleep,” don’t expect me to think good thoughts about you. Again, I’m so kind this morning I almost can’t stand myself, but if I were not in control of my emotions, I’d hunt you down and beat you to a bloody pulp with my bare hands, then kick your still-flopping ears down the street into the gutter for the carnivorous mice. Again, I am being too kind this morning. Don't threaten me with the death of a dog or cat -- I'm going to begin writing about you for the jerk you are.
ONE LAST CONTEMPLATION: I could swear I heard a caller to a talk show this morning declare that the government needs a “spending cat.” I know he meant “spending cap,” but now that I think about it, would it be a bad idea to have a “spending cat”?
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October 12, 2011
A rainy day season's greetings and things...
Today’s report is a lot like Inky was this morning during our 5:30 a.m. walk in a thunderstorm. He hardly knew where to start and neither do I.
Our grandkids are all 10 or younger and live around here – I’m not sure they’ve ever seen rain.
Now, perhaps you’ve noticed that photo of the dog. That is a high school yearbook photo if I ever saw one – this is Cecilia, who attends the exclusive and expensive Lone Star Finishing School for Adorable Children. I’m kidding. She’s one of the “Very Special Pets” at Dallas Animal Services and we’ll tell you more in a minute. Read on.FIRST CHRISTMAS NOTICE: And the winner of the First Christmas Notice of 2011 Award is (cue “Silver Bells”) Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake, operators, so to speak of the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic in Gun Barrel City, Texas.
Our pal Sydney Bush of Friends sent us the info about this event. From 10 a.m. until noon on November5 you can have your pet’s photo taken with the ol’ fellow Santa Claus himself. The site is the Jamye Perelli Photography Studio in Gun Barrel City.
For more info, e-mail sydney@friendsoftheanimals.org or call 903-451-4701.
That dog? That is our Holly Jolly Cocker Inky, preparing for his role in the traditional pageant A Foggy Night in Gun Barrel City. They’re hoping to take the show to Radio City Music Hall – it is Inky’s dream to dance in a kick line with the Rockettes.A REMINDER FOR PLANNERS AND RESCUE GROUPS: Award-winning, well-read, informative and enjoyable Urban Animal Magazine is compiling its events list for the next edition. You have just about 10 days to provide information about events in December, January and February so we can list them. Please send the info in a simple paragraph to dallrp@aol.com . Don’t send big downloads, please, just send simple sentences with active phone numbers and e-mail addresses so we can doublecheck times and dates. And, for crying out loud, it’s FREE – free ink to help the animals you’re trying to help.
NETWORKING THE BLACKMOUTH CUR: I looked up “Blackmouth Cur” on the internet and while there are several varieties, none of the major registries seems to acknowledge the dogs as a “breed.” These people may never have actually met a Blackmouth Cur. Of course, the word “cur” would seem to work against breed recognition.
At any rate, today we’re going to recognize a Blackmouth Cur named Ralph. Why? Because he’s being networked all over the place from Deb Elkins and Pam Mitchell and Stephanie Mosby in East Texas to Nancy Underwood in Austin and lord knows where else.
Deb met Ralph and, as you can see, he’s a big dog with a black mouth and his family tree may have a couple of branches so they’re pretty sure he fits the description of “Blackmouth Cur.”
He also is big and friendly and, though generally healthy, has the curse of North Texas, heartworms.
Stephanie writes, “This very cool big boy wandered up to a fellow rescuer's home in Terrell.She is at her city's maximum # of animals and cannot keep him, but says he is extremely friendly. He has a previous injury all the way down his back, from neck to tail, that looks like a ‘burn’ of some kind. It is mostly healed and doesn't seem to bother him. Not sure what in the world he has endured, but he holds no animosity towards people.
“He is a very sweet dog and with Terrell being an extremely high-kill shelter, there will be no hope for him there. Can anyone please help Pam Mitchell with this big ol' teddy bear? She has offered to neuter him for anyone that can take him!”
Deb says Ralph is a “big, friendly guy” and she asks, “Is there a breed specific group that takes in ‘big, goofy, boy dogs with ugly old scar on its back’?”
To offer to help this fellow, e-mail smosby_claw@yahoo.com or elkinsdeb@gmail.com or pam.mitchell@medassets.com.AT DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES: The city’s weekly “Very Special Pets” list of long-time residents on the list for euthanasia includes a whole bunch of Earhounds this time, but also the fantastic Eyedazzler, Cecelia, #690649, said to be a Lab mix. She’s a year old and weighs 47 pounds and, obviously, has a way with the camera.
That cat is Rianna, #690496 (Yep, her number has the same numbers as Cecelia's – don’t know what that means.) Rianna is about two and though she is initially stand-offish, she warms up. Here she gives us her impression of a lioness flopped on the veldt and awaiting the day’s next challenge. She’s said to have Maine Coon in her family tree.
Four dogs and 13 cats are on the VSP euthanasia list for Oct. 18 – keep in mind that these dogs and cats have been in the shelter for at least 45 days without drawing a nibble from the visiting public. There are, of course, many, many, many, many, many other animals in the shelter awaiting the needle.
To adopt or for more info here are the contact points: Catherine.baxter@dallascityhall.com or teresa.cleek@dallascityhall.com. Phone 214-671-0249 or 214-670-8312.
Rescue groups should contact these folks: mark.cooper@dallascityhall.com or janet.henderson@dallascityhall.comm or call 214-670-8298.
CONTEMPLATIONS: The anxiety of getting the Texas Rangers BACK to the World Series is more intense than the anxiety of getting them to the World Series for the first time – true or false? ... Animal rescuer-types know what overnight thunderstorms mean: Lots of dogs got out of backyards trying to find a place to hide from the downpour and the lightning and thunder. And why is that? Because people are idiots – anybody want to argue that point?. .... An explanatory weather note for people not from Texas: Around here you ask a kid “You want some galoshes for your birthday?” and the kid responds, “Why?”
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October 11, 2011
A collection of circumstances...
First, how about those Texas Rangers, Still gasping from that game-ending grand slam.
Whoa, Nellie!
Now, moving along, probably you’ve noticed the photo of the cat that accompanies this opening segment.
The first two words that come to mind are “Got milk?”
Is that cat not perfectly marked for a career in milk commercials?
The cat’s name is Miss Shapely. Too bad she’s scheduled to die Wednesday, eh? More on her later.
Now, for those of you (and there are quite a few) who tell me you can’t read this website without crying, I’m right there with you. But, here’s my advice: stop it. Don’t get weepy. Get mad. Your fellow humans are letting you and the animals down. Needlessly.
Rise up in anger. Don’t melt down in tears. Cry for happiness later when we’ve managed to change the minds of the don’t-care population one two-by-four at a time. Wait, I meant “one heart at a time.” Sorry for the outburst.
Now: our report. Some situations will be reduced to one sentence or one short passage because, well, my fingers are tired from typing already and I’m out of tequila.
If we had a theme for today it would be “How in the world do these animals wind up on death row?” The human factor. TWO DOGS WITH STORIES: Well, of course, it’s no secret that the Collin County Animal Services Shelter in McKinney always has an overload of animals. And because it is a taxpayer-supported shelter, it is a kill shelter. Sad, but true and not the staffers’ fault. There are two significant factors that make a shelter a kill shelter: (1) the governing body (city council, county commissioners court) wants it that way because it doesn’t know what to do with all the animals and (2) the residents dump animals, let them roam free and generally don’t give a fig about the animals.
Anyone want to argue that?
So, a system is in place that works to save as many animals as is possible. Rescuers, shelter walkers and animal activists team to work on behalf of these animals. Here are a couple – and we learned about them from shelter walker Allison Roberts.
First up is this Cattle Dog, Number 320046. He was a stray, picked up in Princeton and he’s on stray hold until Thursday. But here’s the deal. When he arrived, he was limping. Allison reports, “This boy came in limping on his front leg. The shelter had him checked out at the vet and he said there are old healed fractures on both a back leg and a front leg. Back leg is from a gunshot!!! Amputation is a possibility but the vet does not think it is necessary and doesn't believe the dog is in pain.
For the shot dog and the next dog or any animal in the Collin County shelter, e-mail both ldrummonds@co.collin.tx.us and animalshelter@co.collin.tx.us and or call 972-547-7292 and press 1 to leave a message.
About this lively face-licker. Allison reports, “The shelter sent this pup to the vet Saturday morning and he has parvo. He is recovering and the vet thinks he will be ready to leave on Wednesday. But he can't go back to the shelter. ... He is a doll, and they worked so hard to save him.”
He’s about six months old and answers to the number 319040. MEANWHILE, IN THE CARROLLTON SHELTER: Yes, Miss Shapely, the Got Milk Cat, is in the Carrollton Animal Services Shelter – and she, like a bunch of other cats and dogs are on the list for Wednesday.
How does this happen? Again, the human factor.
Miss Shapely came in as a stray. She was just wandering the streets. This big, friendly “lovely lady” even had a microchip. It had never been registered, so, the shelter was unable to make a connection to get her back to the home that wanted her at one time.
Now that fawn-toned dog is Samantha. She’s a Shar-Pei – the Chinese wrinkle dog.
I’ve mentioned this before, but it drives home the point about how irresponsible humans are when it comes to animals. In 1983, the Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog offered two Shar-Peis as the fabulous His ‘n’ Her gifts -- $2,000 each. Oh, my, they were rare in the states back then.
Today, of course, they might as well be pit bulls – they’re tossed out just like all the other breeds on the AKC list of registered dogs. Tossed out.
Samantha the Shar-Pei wound up in the shelter because her people said they couldn’t take care of her. She’s an adult, about 40 pounds and suffering from a skin issue. That’s common in these dogs around here, I’m told. Could be grass, could be pollen, could be carpet. Who knows? Might just need a good diet and a bath.
Now, yesterday we’d have been writing about trying to find a home for Honey, but Honey found one – got adopted. But why was Honey in the shelter? Some people found Honey roaming the streets – he was wearing a T-shirt (yes, a T-shirt) and a collar. Yes, collar and a t-shirt. And the reason he was turned over to the shelter was the people who found him left him alone in the backyard and he barked too much, so the neighbors complained and the people who found him dumped him, confident that she’d find a home. He was on the euthanasia list when someone claimed him. Close call.
To ask about any animal on the Carrollton list or in the Carrollton shelter, call 972-466-3420, or email CARE@cityofcarrollton.com. STATE FAIR NOTE: As you may recall, DFW Rescue Me and Dallas Animal Services are teaming to operate an adoption booth near the Centennial Building at the State Fair of Texas – dogs from both the rescue group and the city shelter are available.
Our tipster Helene Shikoff of DFW Rescue Me sent us this photo of what has turned out to be a “kissing both” – kind of a cute concept and it might be helping animals find homes.
So, in addition to shoving dollar bills into collars, people are signing up to adopt these homeless animals. Helene says that as of the weekend, DFW Rescue Me had placed 20 dogs and Dallas Animal Services had totaled 25. Probably more by now.
SOME SHORT TAKES IF I CAN CONTROL MY TYPING IMPULSES:
--Jean Fox reports that two cats we mentioned, Ringo and Gus, left homeless when their human lost her home, have been adopted into one home thanks to the work of Cattailz in Fort Worth and the adoption event at the Westover Hills Petco.
--Planning ahead is good for you and that’s why you need to know that Straydog Inc. will benefit from its first golf tournament on Nov. 11 at Twin lakes Golf Course in Canton and you can see the details at www.straydog.org and this concludes an amazingly informative run-sentence.
--Arlington’s animal shelter is loaded with cats and today is euthanasia day, according to a number of e-mails, and there are a bunch of dogs, too. You can Google the shelter to look at the animals.
-- Dallas always has plenty of adoptables in the Dallas Animal Services shelter and you can see them HERE. VEGETARIANS UNITING IN DALLAS! OK, it’s true. I’m a vegetarian. Not a vegan – my standards are not quite as high as a vegan’s.
But, yes, I am a vegetarian. I do not eat meat or anything with meat in the ingredients – no yogurt with gelatin, nothing with “beef powder,” no vegetable soup that uses a chicken stock starter...I mean, honestly, how can you people sell something as vegetarian when you use a dead animal to start the recipe? And I found ONE brand of Worcestershire sauce that doesn’t use anchovies – hard to find but worth the effort.
OK, sorry, I got distracted. But I am the world’s largest vegetarian – my problem is I consider the following items to be classified as non-meats: biscuits, apple fritters, donuts, cakes, pies.. "See what I mean?" he asked heftily.
OK, let’s move on to the topic at hand, the Texas State Veggie Fair.
Our reliable tipster and animal activist and vegetarian Lisa Lipton sent us a note about the Texas State Veggie Fair which runs two days – Oct. 22-23. (Details are HERE.)
The first Fair event is at 1 p.m. on the 22nd at the historic Texas Theater – is a full-length documentary, Vegucated, which featured at the recent Toronto Film Festival. Filmmaker Marisa Miller Wolfson will be at the Texas Theater for a special post-show Q&A. Get details and tickets HERE.
Then, from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Sunday the 23rd the Texas State Veggie Fair will be in full bloom at White Rock Lake’s Winfrey Point. Admission is free. There’ll be games and prizes, guest speakers, music and entertainment and, of course, food vendors and food samples.
Don’t know if they’ll have deep-fried beets on a stick or other such vegetable offerings or deep-fried bananas on a stick.
But it is funny that if you’re enjoying some fried tofu and offer it to a carnivore, they nearly always pull back as if you’ve said, “Hey, let this rattlesnake bite your nose.”
You’d think vegetables and vegetable dishes would be regarded as “friendly” wouldn’t you --- after all, before you can eat them, you don’t have to slam them in the head with a hydraulic gun.
CONTEMPLATIONS: My son Bart is taking night classes at a local college (more guts than I have) and last night we were text messaging as the Texas Rangers game progressed. He’d left class early to go to the nearest TV. We were both anxious about the game and he typed, “I am at the student union watching the game with people half my age who think the Rangers have always been a good team.” That really captures the personal history of being a fan of this franchise since it moved from Washington and began play as the Texas Rangers in April 1972. ... Half the world I don’t understand. The other half, I do understand and that’s not much comfort either. ... I keep getting these e-mails about the bedroom. Today I got one with this subject line “Boost your bedroom performance to the max” and opened the e-mail with such hope that it was a cure for insomnia and would help my sleeping performance.
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