EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY DEC. 7-8 2023 [PetPowellPress] On a beautiful Thursday, we report opportunities for human hearts to help animals. We’re pretty certain helpful human hearts are not just a myth that surfaces only during the holiday season.
MEANWHILE, THIS IS DODGER
AND HE WAS A TARGET…
PART I OF THE DODGER STORY
That first photo just below is the dog Dodger. Longtime visitors to our site will recognize the name Terry Lynn Fisher. She’s the animal rescuer/advocate who just about single-handedly turned around the despicable attitude of management at the animal shelter in Burns Flat, a town of about 2,000 residents in far west Oklahoma. Her motivation is in her email address: [email protected].
Many years ago, her young dog Oddball escaped from the yard and wandered gleefully along a street in Burns Flat until a patrol car came along. The officer rolled down his window and as Oddball romped up to say “hi,” the officer waited until the tail-wagging pup came up close to the open window and he shot him in the head.
You’ll see the connection to this guy Dodger as you read on. On Monday, Terry Lynn emailed a note with this subject line: “DODGER URGENT.”
She wrote, “This is Dodger. I gave him that name because for two years now he’s been able to dodge everybody from catching him. He can clear a fence like none other.
"He is a beautiful boy with that deep Coonhound bark. It’s got to the point where when he barks at people now they say he’s severely aggressive… The town wants him down. Since I no longer do the City Pound, but I still rescue dogs, I don’t hear what they are really talking about. But tonight at the Town meeting they got real quiet when his name was brought up. All eyes were focused on me.
“Someone has set a crate out, and he’s been sleeping in it, so I had hoped to replace it with a trap after he was real used to it, hoping to get him. He has a hound rescue in Tulsa but I’ve got to catch him first.
“If I don’t catch him by this weekend, I’m afraid it’ll be the end of his time. [One local authority] took seven puppies out one time and shot all of them in the head. I know for a fact he’s been fired from several other towns for killing dogs in the middle of the street. I have no doubt that he would gun Dodger down without a second thought.
“As for our town board members? They’re fine with it. That’s how they used to kill the dogs until I got involved”
After the fatal shooting of Oddball, Terry Lynn worked hard to change the town’s philosophy toward animals.
Terry Lynn’s note continues, “With my health, I cannot do this alone. There are trappers in Oklahoma, but they charge a fortune, and it’s not something I can just get done. I need people to help. My sons will help me as much as they can, but I need somebody that knows what they’re doing to get this dog. He lived a horrible life and was severely abused was dumped out the country. He made his way into town … He probably has 3 million puppies, because nobody gets their damn dogs fixed. Of course, that’s ‘Dodger’s fault’ and another reason they all want him dead…
“I need help ASAP. If I do not get him out of town by this weekend, they will probably gun him down. This is Oklahoma, y’all, they make their own rules.
“Please, if anybody has any advice, you can give me, let me know. My heart is breaking over this beautiful boy.”
[LARRY NOTE: Please read on and see if you can help these animals in the DFW area. Advocates are working for these animals but they still need some help. We’ll return to the story of Dodger in “Contemplations.”]
MEANWHILE IN EVERMAN,
THE CLOCK TICKS ON BROTHERS
As you can see, one of these dogs is DMX and the other is Dirk.
We got the tip on them from our longtime Everman Animal Shelter tipster Heather Harrison. She wrote, “Everman Shelter is now enforcing timed stays so all animals are in critical need!
“Dirk and DMX are 4-month-old male Lab mix siblings. Very goofy, curious & active. Love to romp & play. Vaccinated.
“To rescue, call the Everman Shelter at 817-561-5495.”
The shelter is at 3961 Bluebell Dr. in Everman, a town of around 7,000 just across I-20 from the southeastern side of Fort Worth. [LARRY NOTE: The roads are paved and the hearts are sincere about helping DMN and Dirk find homes that'll love 'em and keep them from becoming a couple of unnamed statistics at a crowded shelter.]
SOME WAITING ANIMALS
IN MESQUITE’S SHELTER
Among the many positive things you can say about volunteers at the Mesquite Animal Shelter is this: They keep hustling on behalf of the animals.
We’ll start with a tip on Pittie mix Jewel who came in as a stray on Nov. 29. Volunteer dog-writer Debra Chisholm says Jewel (Shelter ID #54865603) is a little different. “Unlike the other two pups I did evals for today who are confident, playful and happy-go-lucky, Jewel is shy and uneasy in the shelter environment. She seems underweight at 43 pounds and is about 10 months old. She has a mild-mannered demeanor and is a shy somewhat timid girl right now. She walks very nicely on a leash. … She spent a great deal of time in the yard playing Sherlock Holmes by sniffing out all the interesting smells. Jewel is athletic and easily
climbed our play equipment. … She did warm up after some interaction with me and her tail wagged, indicating she wanted to be friends and learn to trust all the other nice folks at the shelter. I will continue to socialize her as she has won a place in my heart.”
Use her ID number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected] to ask about rescuing or adopting (or maybe even fostering?) sweet Jewel. That system holds firm for any Mesquite animal mentioned in this edition.
This is Carmella (#54858389), a 31-pound, year-or-so-old stray who arrived on Nov. 28. Debra writes, “My Dog Scanner app suggests she is a Carolina Dog mix. She is a real charmer!! … She is a real ‘love bug.’ She is amiable, wants to cuddle and climb into your lap and be hugged. She is active and spunky and likes playing with toys. She does not jump on you. She is well-behaved, calm and gentle. Carmela appears to have
been well-cared for with her sleek, glossy shiny coat, with no skin issues or fleas and seems to have a healthy weight. She likes treats and is happy to receive them though I could not get her to sit for them. She has the most adorable face that matches her personality.”
Her bio by Debra also included this caution: “Our shelter is critically overcrowded with newcomers like Carmela and other dogs that have been there for months and months. So many highly adoptable and loving dogs in need of adoptions and rescues.”
Demi is #54841830, an “adorable and lively pup… listed as a Lab Retriever mix who arrived as a stray … on 11/25.” She’s about 10 months old, weighs 27 pounds and “is excitable and loves to play and romp. She has an exuberant personality. When she turns her bright shiny eyes on you imploring you to play, you can't resist! She is friendly and happy to have you pet her and show loving attention. Demi could use some manners training just as all puppies need in order to fit in with their family. … Please help Demi find a family that would provide these things and would be patient with some of the challenging puppy behavior that needs to be worked through.”
Smokie is a Rottweiler mix who came in as a stray on Nov. 25. He’s about 2 and weighs 70 pounds. [LARRY ASIDE: I’ve been a fan Rottie and Rottie mixes since I rescued purebred Texas Earl the Cheeseman out of Kiest Park in 2009 — he and other Rotties I’ve met have a genuinely sweet and loyal quality in relationships with loving humans. Heck, most dogs do. However, I have looked deep into the eyes of a Rottie and benefitted from it. Oh, OK, I always look deep into the eyes of dogs and cats -- if they're OK with it!]
Back to Smokie: Debra writes that “because of his size, he may look a bit intimidating but he is a sweet and gentle fellow. He walks OK on a leash but is a strong puller. He knows sit, paw and down, indicating that his owner had worked with him teaching him some commands. He also seems well-cared for and yet sadly his owner has not come to reclaim. Smokie spent a great deal of time in the shelter yard during his eval sniffing out all the interesting smells in the yard. In fact he covered nearly every square inch of ground.
"He was also alert to what was going on outside the confines of the yard, especially when he would spot a dog being walked in the field outside the yard. He is obedient and displays good manners. He has a low to medium energy level. Smokie likes treats and will sit for them. He is friendly and OK with a loving human touch.”
Smokie is #54842311 at the shelter. Use that number when you ask about him or tag him for rescue at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
You can see many more dogs and a lot of cats and kittens by going to the shelter’s website HERE.
Among the adorable cats you can see is this 3-month-old fellow named Oreo. He’s #54577947. Listed as 3 months old, he came in on October 12 and is currently waiting in the shelter’s Conference Room. [LARRY ASIDE: At readlarrypowell.com we have cats who believe EVERY room is a conference room.] Oreo, by the way, is that exquisitely rare breed, the Domestic Medium Hair Mix. [LARRY NOTE: Oh, OK, that may not be a rare breed, but he’s still a spectacularly coiffed cat. And think of the fun you’ll have sitting, watching TV and sharing an Oreo with Oreo. Well, probably he won’t be inerested, so enjoy that extra cookie, slim.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
A DREAM COMES TRUE?
THE LATEST ON DODGER
Around 6 a.m. Oklahoma/Texas time Thursday morn, I got an email from Terry Lynn Fisher with the subject line: “DODGER UPDATE.”
The note begins with some dreaming and has a climax representing the size of the hearts that power the nation’s animal rescue and advocacy efforts. Here’s what Terry Lynn wrote:
“I woke up this morning to a ‘dream’ of Dodger… He is the Coonhound I’ve been after for two years.
“The town decided they were going to ‘do away with him’ which in this town means ‘kill him.’
“I hired a professional trapper. She came in from Tulsa a couple days ago. She has a camera set towards the trap. He has gotten so close but this dog is smart.
“I’ve been going throughout the days placing fresh food in the trap. No luck at all.
“I’ve been so stressed out it’s not even funny
“So, back to the dream: I was driving a car and went around a curve… It wasn’t in Burns Flat, but there was Dodger, sitting in a Front yard. I pulled over and yelled at him to get in the car. He ran up and got right in. Then someone called me and said let that dog go. I just hung up and they kept calling back.”
AT THIS POINT, DEAR READERS… WELL, READ ON….
Terry Lynn, after writing about the call-backs in the dream, explains, “Than, I woke up and realized my phone was actually ringing. At a little after five, that’s never good. I saw it was Tina and I knew! Dodger was caught 💕💕💕💕!
“So now, I’ll be sitting down here watching the trap to make sure he stays safe while she drives the three-plus hours to get him. We don’t want him out of the trap until he is safe at rescue because, after this, he won’t go back in.
“So here I am: Sitting in the dark on the side of the road keeping watch. Y’all, I can’t explain how my heart feels right now I’m bawling my eyes out. My boy will be safe. ❤️"
And there you have it Dear Readers, a demonstration of how a rescuer with a big heart can benefit the life of a dog who was dumped on the side of a road. Email Terry Lynn at [email protected]. There'll be more animals you can help her save and place.
—- OFFER HOORAYS AND HELP BY CLICKING ON ‘COMMENT’ BELOW OR BY EMAILING [email protected] AND PUT ‘I LOVE DODGER’ IN THE SUBJECT LINE —-