Holy smoke, is this the last day of March already? Well, let's all enjoy it and, as we're enjoying, be thankful for small things. Like, for instance, our photo has never been on TV with the caption "missing in septic tank mishap" or "Lotto contestant says dog ate winning ticket."
I'm having a little trouble typing today because something has triggered Poirot the Cat's "ricochet mode" and he's bouncing all over the desk and living room -- he's made three surprise trips across my keyboard in the last couple of minutes and he's now walking down the hall while making a noise that sounds like a cross between an irritating kid imitating a jet plane and a human who's just landed the business end of a hammer on a thumb.
He's probably just sensing that his people are in orbit over the planet and have returned to take him back to his home galaxy. I don't know if there's a contest for "Strangest Cat" but I'll put Poirot up against anybody or anybody's cat.
Now, here are some activities to consider:
SOAP'S UP: Debbie New of the Plano Animal Shelter sent us a note that says "stinky dogs across Plano" will gather at SUDAPUP Sunday for a dog wash benefiting the shelter. Naturally, they don't have to be "stinky" dogs -- but why bathe them if they aren't?
The dog wash hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. SUDAPUP is at 1070 W. Spring Creek Parkway (that's at the intersection of Custer Road and Spring Creek.).
Volunteers will bathe the dogs while the dogs' humans stay "nice and dry," reports Debbie. Rates for a wash are $10.99 for dogs 30 pounds and under, $11.99 for 30- to 60-pound dogs and $12.99 for dogs weigh more than 60 pounds. No appointment needed. (Call the shelter at 972-769-4360 or SUDAPUP at 972-527-3800.)
Remember, a clean dog is a huggable dog. Of course, a dirty dog is huggable, too, but if you hug a clean dog, then you'll still be huggable. If you hug a dirty dog, only the dog is still huggable.
HELPING STRAYDOG: Kelli Geyer, who has Bert the "meatloaf-shaped cat," says at least 10 supporters of Straydog Inc, the shelter near Gun Barrel City, will be working Waterstop Number 15 at the Texas Marathon in Dallas on Sunday. "We get paid to volunteer," she writes. "The money goes to our favorite charity, Straydog." (You can learn about Straydog at www.straydog.org.) She says runners will vote for their favorite waterstop "so we compete for extra prize money as well. If you are in the race, remember us at mile 24ish."
If I'm in the race at 24 miles, put on your ice skates because hell has frozen over.
The stop is at Elm and Hall in Deep Ellum, Kelli says. (Visit www.texasmarathon.com for other race info.)
Also, Bert the cat will not be there. Kelli says it's too early in the morning and "it would interefer with his critical nap time."
DONATE A TRAILER: Here's a truth. The animal rescue community has the best "networking" of any element of society, surpassing even the "Gossip Grapevine" in beauty shops. An example: I heard from the folks at DFW Cocker Spaniel Rescue about a theft from the Humane Society of North Texas in Fort Worth.
Tammy Kirkpatrick, HSNT's director of animal care services, writes that "someone stole our only horse trailer....Although old, it was the only one we had."
It didn't just haul livestock. It was also used to pick up donations of cat and dog food and other bulky items.
If anyone has a trailer that needs an honorable home, call the Humane Society of North Texas at 817-322-4768. Visit www.hsnt.net. The shelter is at 1840 E. Lancaster Ave. in Fort Worth.
If you know who swiped the humane society's trailer, call the cops.
Thieves just don't get to spend enough time in jail, do they?
