The tragedy behind the cute...and other opportunites to help

[PM UPDATE: The SPCA of Texas found room for these puppies and the mom is being fostered by a kind soul. More to come on this family as things progress.]
Yeah, it’s a cute photo, little pups trying to get a grip on Mom’s spigots, but if you look at this photo and say “How cute” and move on, then you don’t really know what this photo represents.
It represents the prevailing tragedy of North Texas. Failure to spay/neuter resulting in puppies and kittens born just to be killed.
Yep, that needle may be in the future for these dogs – unless things work out and, as we published this morning, veteran rescuers were trying to get the gears to mesh so these puppies wouldn’t wind up just more bodies in the huge pile in the City of Dallas.
Thanks to longtime rescuers Nancy Underwood, Maeleska Fletes and Becky Haisma (of Paws In The City) we know some of the story.
Becky reports that this stray had puppies in someone’s yard and a volunteer talked the people into giving up the whole family to rescue.
There is a chance that they’ll be taken to Dallas Animal Services, already overwhelmed with unwanted dogs, cats, kittens and puppies. Maybe they'll go elsewhere. Depends on circumstances.
Now, mentioning these days brings up not only the plight at the city shelter, but also the rough way things can go in the non-profit rescue community. And, as you know, these days city shelters are partnering with more and more rescue groups in an attempt to help more animals avoid the needle.
Becky reports that Paws In The City cannot take any of these animals. Here’s why:
”We took in 4 litters in last 2 weeks, had a dog die from severe heartworms, another from birth defect on esophagus and another from distemper this week alone. Just found out 2 new puppies have parvo and did a surgery for a gunshot wound to another stray today [Monday]. … Our isolation area has parvo now, I cannot take them there and have no puppy fosters open.  We've been making pleas on Facebook all week for the other litters so maxed out.”
You think this is an unusual report? Not at all. Rescue groups are overwhelmed, underfunded and desperate for cash and volunteers. (See how to help Paws In The City by clicking HERE and you can Google rescue groups and shelters and see how to help quite easily. Remember, every time the price of gasoline goes up, it cuts into not only your travel but into rescue efforts, too. Nobody’s in rescue to get rich.)
Perhaps this photos of all the puppies trying to get food from mom is symbolic of the many forces pulling on the rescue groups and shelters around here: Too many needs and not enough help.
How can this be changed? It has to begin in the hearts of people who aren’t involved in shelters and rescue efforts. It has to begin with people who have the choice of getting their dogs and cats fixed.
We’ll let you know what happens to this mom and her pups. Either people will step up to save them or I’ll be giving you the euthanasia figures for the shelter. And that is grindingly sad.
FOUND ON THE STREET: Jonnie England, the Director of Animal Advocacy for the Metroplex Animal Coalition, practices what she preaches and, thus, this big ol’ black and white freeroamer is now awaiting a new home via Dallas Animal Services.
”I found this guy trotting up and down 8th and Bishop in front of Vera Cruz at lunch today [Monday].  He’s a real Tom cat, with those big jowls (and big things on the other end).  But a total love bug.  He was rolling around on the sidewalk, and people were talking to him and petting him.  I ran out of Vera Cruz and asked them to keep an eye on him while I got my carrier from my car. “
A check in the neighborhood failed to turn up anyone who claimed the cat or anyone who knew where the cat might live.
He looks as if he’s been eating pretty swell in the renowned Bishop Arts entertainment, shopping and dining area in Oak Cliff.
” He’s had a tussle or two (or hundred), but isn’t he a handsome fellow?” Jonnie wrote, then added a personal note: “I was thinking you knew someone who’s fond of these tuxedo guys. “
Well, of course, we adore them at Readlarrypowell.com but, alas, we are at the city limit and cannot take him, though, seriously, what’s one more cat? Well, up to a point, what’s one more cat?
To ask about giving this fellow – might as well call him Tom Bishop (uses that as an alias, maybe) – e-mail  jonnieengland@att.net.
THE WHITE ROCK TO GARLAND DOG: I don’t know, maybe I’m just an old sap. But this photo of this dog reminds me so much of Mercy, the dog that became cause celebre after she was brutally beaten, stabbed and burned, then died.
Maria Llano first spotted this girl roaming near White Rock Lake and followed her to a Garland Road business where animal control picked up the dog.
Maria reports this morning, “This girl is still at Garland! Her donations have gone up to $450 but no rescue has stepped up yet!”
She has had a brief reprieve at the shelter in order to give someone a chance to move her into a rescue group. The money will go only to a reputable rescue group, Maria says.
To tag the dog at the shelter, e-mail rescue@garlandtx.gov. And you can also e-mail mariallanoblue@gmail.com.
AT SUNNYVALE: We were forwarded a list of several animals at the Sunnyvale Animal Control Shelter east of Dallas and among those dogs is this extraordinarily friendly and tall 9-month-old fellow Dirk who is believed to be a German Shepherd/Anatolian Shepherd mix. Dirk – yep, Dallas Mavericks tie-in.
However the shelter bio reads, “Dirk was an owner-surrender because apparently they didn’t realize how much you have to take care of a new dog.”
To ask about adopting Dirk, e-mail Sunnyvale Animal Control or call 972-203-4138.
STAGGERING NEWS FROM CARROLLTON: We opened an email from Carrollton Animal Rescue Enterprise – that’s the city’s animal shelter – and stunningly read, “No Adoptions today, everyone is still here at the shelter waiting for help."
There are several animals on the list for Wednesday.
Among them, this dog. Star.
Now, she’s not the kind of dog you’d see at Westminster or any of the dog shows. She’s the kind of dog you see on death row at an animal shelter. She’s #25419.
She’s thought to be a Pit/Catahoula mix and she’s friendly with people and other dogs after she overcomes her initial shyness – that’s probably the result of improper socialization in the hands of a nitwit.
To ask about Star, call the shelter at 972-466-3420, or email CARE@cityofcarrollton.com.
THE ART OF RAISING MONEY: Ah, Animal Rescue of Texas (ART) will benefit when people dine at  Buffalo Wild Wings, 5000 Beltline in Addison,  from 11 a.m. to midnight Wednesday – they just have to hand over a copy of this “golden ticket,” they’re calling it, so that the waitstaffer knows the proceeds go to ART.
There some other Facebook-related app or something – look, I can’t explain it, but I’ll aim you toward ART’s Facebook page HERE and maybe you can figure it out.
The dwindling goodness in my heart leads me to post a copy of the coupon here. But, honestly, I’m bewildered by the cacaphony of Facebook, where everyone talks at once (in my brain), so best of luck. But enjoy the wings and help ART help animals, some of which will be at the restaurant from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. (Larry aside: Trust me, I know I've fallen off the train of progress and been left behind by Facebook at its easy access and no fact-check philosophy.)
TEMPS AND CHARITY: This one I can understand. Show up and drink for charity. No need to jump through hoops.
Anyway, I’d just heard a radio guy announce that the temp later this week will jump up into the 80s when I opened the e-mail with this poster for a Backyard Beach Bar event benefiting several animal groups.
In Dallas, you might as well adopt a beach attitude even if we have no oceanfront – the city has everything you need for a beach environment except a beach.
We’ve got bars, we’ve got scantily clad people and, of course, we’ve got sharks.
CONTEMPLATIONS:  My tunedinspouse Martha was driving to work while listening to KSKY (660 AM) this morning and the news guy mentioned “a spat of destructive storms.” We’re pretty sure he meant “spate” of storms, but, upon further review it’s possible he may have been thinking about cats in a disagreement or a conversation at home before leaving for work. And, in reality, “a spat of storms” makes sense. Maybe this is how word usage evolves. And when the storms are leaving an area, they become a “scat of storms.”  … Seriously, temps in the 80s this week? This is going to be the second time this winter I’ve had to mow the lawn. Just when the price of gasoline goes up. …Quick: You’ve just survived being trapped in your car by snow and ice for two months (you’ve seen the news story from Sweden, no doubt). Rescuers pop open the door, you fall out right in front of a suburban Swedish El Fenix. You race in side and you immediately order (a) enchiladas, (b) tortilla soup or (c) a glass of iced tea? Hint: If you are a native Texan, you get the iced tea and eat chips and salsa while you contemplate the menu. It’s just the natural way no matter what the temp.
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