Puppies, whiskers and Orion the Wander-up Pit...

Well, that was all holly jolly! What a weekend. And now, with a take-it-easy holiday week facing us as the New Year advances steadily, here at Readlarrypowell.com we’re going to be a little less intent with our postings this week.
There probably won’t be on each day, but there will be some and we’ll try to make them count.
Thanks to all of you for continuing to support not only Readlarrypowell.com but our wonderful advertisers, loyal and strong on behalf of animals and the people who love animals.
Now, we have some news of the puppy season, a dog named Harry who may have a special head scar and a dog name Orion who just wandered up.
And we’ll find a cat or two to spotlight, too. Why? Because we like cats here at Readlarrypowell.com. We’re very partial to black and white cats, believing that they may not have originated on Planet Earth. This cat Hope, 7 pounds and young, was left in the overnight drop cages at Dallas Animal Services. Can you imagine surrendering a cat with such a championship set of whiskers? A cat with whiskers like that ought to have an advertising career. “I may not always drink milk, but when I do, it’s ...” Well, you get the drift. More on DAS cats later.
THE ARRIVAL (BIRTHIN’ BABIES): Remember last week when Rekka Melby of Take Me Home Pet Rescue sent around an e-mail about a dog named Carmello who was being cared for by a family that faced financial challenges this year?
Tammy Lewis volunteered to foster Carmello, now known as Carmelita. And at 10:30 this morning, Tammy sent out an e-mail reading “Well, folks, we have a puppy.”
[UPDATE: By 6 p.m., Carmelita was nursing all four of her puppies. Tammy says things went well and everybody seems to be doing fine. More later. Read the rest of today's report by continuing to scroll. But you probably already knew that. -- Larry]
As the morning continued more notes announced subsequent arrivals. We’re waiting to get the final count.
But, rest assured, the dog is experiencing multiple births. By 11 a.m., two more had been more.
To help with subsequent vet bills and expenses, e-mail rekkamelby@yahoo.com or canadatl@hotmail.com.
SOME PUPPIES ARE ALREADY HERE: These pups, in fact. They are Lab/Boxer mixes, according to Allison Roberts, the volunteer shelter-walker at Collin County Animal Services in McKinney.
You don’t think the Spirit of Christmas is alive? Get this.
These EIGHT puppies were “dumped on the side of the road on Christmas Eve” and picked up and taken to safe haven in McKinney.
Yes, some knucklehead dumped puppies on the side of the road. What on earth was wrong with that person on Christmas Eve? And is it wrong the other days in the year, too? You shudder to think what they did on Christmas Day. Probably smiled and pretended to be a pillar of the family and didn’t let on that they’d dumped puppies and driven on.
To offer to help these puppies, e-mail ldrummonds@co.collin.tx.us and animalshelter@co.collin.tx.us and call  972-547-7292.
If you recognize these dogs and know who used to have them, contact the authorities. Such behavior is illegal in Texas.
IS HARRY A CANINE WIZARD?: As regular visitors to Readlarrypowell.com may recall from a pre-holiday posting, Harry the Lab Mix apparently got clocked by a car on Harry Hines in Dallas and wound up under the care of the vet staff at Dallas Animal Services. It took 15 staples to close his head wound.
Good Samaritan Robin Loveman was the person who saved Harry’s life after the collision. And Rekka Melby (mentioned earlier in her role with Take Me Home Pet Rescue) sent out an e-mail fretting that because Harry was in Dallas Animal Services’ shelter, his luck may have run out. But the folks at DAS stepped up for Harry and noted a number of “holds” that would keep a good distance between him and the needle.
Then, Rekka felt like she just couldn’t take a chance that things wouldn’t work out – come on, how many rescuers have that “Canine Anxiety Gene”? Lots of us! So, Rekka reports her decision in this note:
“I couldn't get him off my mind so went and pulled him at 5p.m. Christmas Eve.  He was really scared when we were trying to get him out of his kennel, when I put the leash on him he flailed himself back into the corner of the kennel and was shaking and panting, poor guy.  I don't think he realized that he is one lucky dog.  It was so hard seeing all the others there and having to leave them behind, it just sucks.  The staff was great, they got him loaded into a crate and then into my car.  Once we got home he stuck his head out of the crate to eat within about 45 minutes and within another hour he came out and was following me around.  By Christmas morning he was coming up to get petted and to hug me so he's definitely warmed right up now that he's safe.”
Harry’s been at the vet’s this morning and he’s not happy about it. Report due later.
In the meantime, Rekka says, “My friend reminded me that Harry Potter has a lightning bolt scar so looks like Harry might now have a last name.  He is available for adoption through TMHPR so folks can email info@takemehomepetrescue.com for more info.”
ORION NEEDS A HOME: If you ask the question, “Where do dogs come from?” your answer probably isn’t “They all just wander up.”
But, indeed, that’s what can happen. Anna Hurst sent out a note asking for help placing the guy on Dec. 21 and says today that Orion still needs a place to go. This “wander-up” happened in the TCU area of Fort Worth and the dog has drawn a sponsorship from the Gap Club (Girls Awareness Program) at Euless Trinity High School.
Here’s the story, according to Anna’s note on the 21st: “A stray pit bull walked up to my husband about an hour ago. He is barely a year old, if that. His ears have been crudely cropped. I don't know how he is with other animals, but he is extremely friendly towards people. We cannot keep him, as we already have 5 dogs and 5 cats, but I do not want to take him to the shelter. either, as his chance of survival there would be slim. He seems to adore people, men in particular. He would be a wonderful friend to someone that has some experience with pit bulls or any other powerful breed. He would be a great companion to someone active, as he is a young and powerful dog. He lives to be with people and after some training you could take him anywhere with you, as we do with our pit bull.”
Now, here’s a curious note. Anna writes, “Whoever cropped his ears, did not bother to even take the sutures out. They are sticking out about 3 inches out of his ear. ... He's got a lot of scars and scabs, but he is a gorgeous dog and super friendly, at least towards people. I spent the last 30 minutes sitting by the fire with him curled up in a ball lying on my feet.”
As you can see in this photo, Orion is quite handsome and very familiar with the concept of “napping on the couch.” You can see more photos on his Facebook page HERE. To ask about adopting him or helping him, e- mail a.hurst@yahoo.com.
ANOTHER CAT: Among the felines favoring the Dallas Animal Services with their presence is not only Hope (the opening photo today) but this Russian Blue-type cat named Frost who may actually be a Russian Blue, I guess. Frost was an owner-surrender -- couldn't take care of the little guy, they said.
He's available now -- not the only one at Dallas Animal Services. Stop by -- it's at I-30 and Westmoreland -- and visit them in the get-acquainted rooms. Look for adoption directions and more adoptables online at www.dallasanimalservices.org.  
There has been a bargain adoption rate on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in December. Call it a "year-end close-out."
CONTEMPLATION: Note to the Dallas Cowboys who got whipped like a junior high team Christmas Eve by the Philadelphia Eagles: You have to practice winning. You can’t just write off a game. Is Jesse Holley the only guy who is trying on that ridiculously inconsistent team? Here’s a line: You ruined Christmas for everybody. OK, maybe that’s too sweeping, but for crying out loud. ... Haven’t seen a darker Christmas since Jimmy Carter was in the White House. Anybody got a different take? ... Remember those hats on the royal cousins at the William/Kate wedding? Know of anyone who got one for Christmas?
--- To comment, click below. ---