This is Feb. 28. Last day of the month. February has moved quicker than a pair of scissors on Spay Day USA -- oh, yeah, that's today, too!
They're neutering Scooter for a nickel all over America today.
Now, thanks to a couple of hawkeyed tipsters, if you'll go to www.spca.org you'll see that March 1-31 the SPCA of Texas is offering $10 spay/neuter surgeries for residents in the Dallas Zip Code 75203.
In case you can't get a mental picture of that, 75203 is the area around the Dallas Zoo and -- is this irony? -- that means it's around the area of the City of Dallas Oak Cliff Animal Services Shelter, a place where a lot of unwanted dogs and cats go in but never come out.
A quick look at this site (Click here.)shows that Zip Code 75203 is one of the 100 poorest Zip Codes in the whole country.
The surgeries will be done at the SPCA's Village Fair Spay/Neuter & Wellness Clinic, 4830 Village Fair Drive -- that's at I-35 South and Ledbetter. You need an appointment. Call 214-372-9997.
CASUAL OBSERVATION: Probably nothing to read into this, but when I went to the PetsMart on Wheatland at I-20 to pickup dog and cat supplies Monday, all of the bird cages were empty and a sign on the window of the big display unit said the birds had been temporarily removed for health reasons. I’m sure there’ll be more to come on this if it turns out to be bird flu, which is, I understand, unlikely right now since all the outbreaks are overseas. Though, every time I see a big jet overhead en route to a landing at D/FW I think, "Carrier?"
DUMPED DOG: From out near Cedar Creek Lake in the land of Friends of the Animals, this report:
"Someone dumped this loving dog off. I don't know why people do such things. I am trying to find this pup a loving home. It is very nice, loving and gentle. I t has been good with our dog and children. Please take this loving puppy. Look at those puppy eyes."
Your contact to claim this obviously enchanting dumpee is [email protected].
NEARLY DUMPED DOG: Barb Staves, bless her heart, has been trying to find a good home for this dog -- and, of course, there's a story behind the dog's situation. Isn't there always a story?
Beaux, she says, was rescued after being hit by a car last fall in North Oak Cliff. He recovered from that horror and was placed with a "permanent home."
"Last month, he started experiencing separation anxiety and subsequently began destroying the home while his dad was away at work."
This isn't good, of course, and the dad was on the brink of dropping Beaux off at a kill shelter when he made a call to explain what was happening. Barb talked him out of that, bought a little time for Beaux and now the anxious dog is about to find his way into a foster home for a while.
The ideal home for this dog is still undiscovered, but, as you veteran rescuers know, that home is out there somewhere. All that has to be done is to spread the word about Beaux' availability and somehow, like magic, the link-up will occur. How's that for a blind statement of faith! (To see about fostering or adopting Beaux, e-mail [email protected].)
Barb says, "He is a great dog, really mellow most of the time. He just needs someone with patience and experience to help him through this rough patch dealing with this sudden onset of separation anxiety."
So, what kind of dog is this blue-eyed charmer? The range of guesses is wide -- Catahoula/heeler mix, Weimaraner mix and, as one person wrote "of no concern to me."
The guy does have a certain look that makes him appear to be very, very huggable.
Perhaps he is a blue-eyed huggerhund.
PASTA ON TAP: My funspouse Martha and my funson Bart spent Saturday evening in one of our favorite spots, the Italian Inn in Fort Worth's Ridglea neighborhood.
The waitstaff usually just sings, but Saturday night, one of the waiters crisply performed "Steppin' Out" and tap-danced.
(I say crisply because, as you know, "Steppin' Out" is Tony Bennett-cool. and the waiter kept puttin' a "g" on the end of all words endin' in "ing." I.E., "there'll be smooth sailinG 'cause I'm trimminG my sails...." )
Bart kept saying, "Wow. We had an Italian meal and a guy tap-danced next to our table, too. What's that worth!"
Yep, in Fort Worth, you never know what might happen. You might get a tap dance with your manicotti. If it's in Cowtown, I guess it's Cowtappin', or CowtappinG.
I'm pretty sure this is something you can't get in Dallas. If someone tap dances next to your table in Dallas, it's to distract you while someone else picks your pocket and runs off with your plate.
