So, I'm watching Channel 8's report on the Kenny Rogers Kick-the-Camera event last night and the reporter says Arlington police referred to the Texas Ranger as a "suspect." Why not, I wondered, call him "a pitcher of interest"?
I'll tell you why. The Rangers have no pitchers of interest -- unless you're batting for the opposing team. Sure, Texas won last night, but it was almost an accident -- bloop hit drives in winning run in 11th inning. But back to Kenny Rogers shoving around a couple of cameramen:
The cheap joke would go something like, "Ah, for a change, it's a Ranger pitcher that's hitting somebody." And, of course, every time ol' Kenny takes the mound in an opposing ballpark, expect someone to begin the chant, "Steroids! Steroids!"
If he's charged with anything, he ought to ask for a change of venue to Dallas County. Maybe a jury won't show up.
THE ANTIDOTE: Forget about a pitcher stalking a cameraman, consider this photo. These kittens are from a litter rescued by Chris Landry in Denton. And, we can enjoy this photo because they have a place to go. Chris said this morning that Plano-based All Texas Family Rescue has volunteered to take the kittens. (E-mail [email protected] or call 972-467-3550.)
Chris explained in his first e-mail request for help that "I can't keep them because I already have five cats and simply can't take in any more." (How many of us know that feeling! And, by the way, Chris' cats have been spayed and neutered!)
As you can see in this photo, the kittens have had plenty of room to be kittens while awaiting placement.
Where'd they come from? Chris says, "They were born to a stray cat that my father feeds. Although their mother is feral, all six kittens have been indoors ... are very friendly and will purr when being petted or held. They are litter box trained. Three are male and three are female. All of them are very active and appear to be healthy."
We can love these kittens -- but we also know that these kittens are lucky. Someone took them in. How many more didn't find a helping hand? My goodness, spay/neuter. It's the right thing to do.
WHAT'S UP WITH PRINCESS: Della Wallace reports that the dog that was once on the "somebody take this dog or we'll shoot it" list, Princess, "has now had all her shots, has been spayed and is ready for a loving home." (See June 21 entry. And to inquire about adopting Princess, e-mail [email protected]. This photo makes her look black and white, but she's more of a dark liver and white.)
Della says Princess "is very loving and loves to play with her squeaky toys. She is still a puppy and is learning fast. She is good with other dogs and so far OK with cats. She has been around children and is OK with them."
That last sentence may be what separates Princess from some animal rescuers. I know a few who'd rather be wrapped up by a 40-foot python than be trapped in a room for 10 minutes with an unruly or relentlessly yapping or inquisitive child. On the other hand, some of us enjoy teaching children to be kind to animals or else....oops, got carried away there.
VACCINATIONS: Here's a reminder: Rabies. That's a one-word reminder to get proper shots for your critters. Remember, this is Texas and rabies is nearly as common as nachos.
Here's the pertinent web site if you want to see what's up in Texas with rabies:
www.tdh.state.tx.us/zoonosis/diseases/RABIES/statistics/reports.asp
Why do I know about this site? Because a couple of years ago Jennifer Glick, the animal activist in Rowlett, took on rabies vaccination as a personal project. She wanted to remind people in the expanding urban areas of Texas that rabies is no respecter of city limits signs and that we should all make certain our animals are protected from this hideous thing.
You may think your little dog that only goes outside to "do its business" is not threatened, but you never know when a rabid bat will show up in the neighborhood. And Texas bats, like some Texas pitchers and politicians, are notorious for their rabid tendencies.
