We're at the middle of the week and for some people it was a quick trip because they didn't start the journey until Tuesday.
Which reminds me, I need to ask this question: How much happier would this nation be if we all had three-day weekends every week. You could actually get some sleep, get some enjoyment out of your life. If you work a traditional Monday-Friday week, you're dog tired on Friday, worn out on Saturday and anxious about going back to work all day Sunday. No wonder we're the Psychiatric Pharmaceutical Association's Favorite Nation year after year.
Having said that, there is a chance that some local vets will be worn out by the time evening comes today. The SPCA of Texas reports that for its Neuter Scooter for Nickel program -- part of the Spay Day USA nationwide event -- there have been at least 700 tomcats scheduled for surgery in the three SPCA facilities.
By the way, in case you wondered about the photo of this cat, take a good look at it and see if you can tell if he's neutered or irritated. The answer is, Griffin is both. He's an example of a neutered cat -- and if you suspect he's not active, you should see him launch himself to the top of the breakfast counter when he hears the cat treat packet rustling. I snapped this photo while he was sleeping on his usual perch next to the computer. He wasn't happy about that. So he gave me the "One-Eyed Glare." He's a grand cat, big as a moose and with a purr that's nearly as loud as Inky the Cocker's snore.
While the SPCA is neutering today, most groups mark Spay Day USA on the actual day. For example, the Richardson Humane Society volunteers and the Richardson Animal Shelter employees recently gathered to watch as Mayor Gary Slagel signed a proclamation declaring Feb. 28 "Spay Day USA in Richardson." The idea is to encourage residents to be responsible and have their pets spayed or neutered. And it's OK with these folks if the idea flows outside of the Richardson city limits, too. Why? Because dogs and cats are no respecters of city limits and litters and unwanted dogs and cats from other cities can wind up in anybody's shelter.
About those 700 surgeries, I hope that's enough to make a dent around here. You get the feeling sometimes that every year after Spay Day, there's a board meeting of the Virile Cat Society in Dallas and they announce that they're going to have to work harder to make up for "those cats who only want to lay around and talk about their operations."
DOGGIE THE DOG: We get this from Erin of Straydog Inc., the rescue facility out near Gun Barrel City. You may recall that last week we reported on the case of Doggie, a stray dumped in Dallas with a gunshot wound that shattered the bones in her right front leg.
Erin says the report from Pet Vet Animal Hospital is that Doggie's leg was amputated Saturday. Vet tech Nicole took her home on Sunday "because I felt sorry for her and she was jumping around like nothing happened! She wanted to chase my cats, too. The people that wanted to adop her really wanted to take her home, so she's with them now. ..."
Doggie got all the usual vet treatments and was, amazingly, heartworm negative.
Still no word of her puppies. Poor baby.
To help Straydog continue its mission of protecting and saving dogs such as Doggie, go to www.straydog.org and check out the ways to donate. This facility is miles and miles and miles and miles from Dallas, yet so many Dallas dogs wind up there.
We're a mobile society and some of us use their cars and trucks to drive "out to the country" and "set dogs free."
Of course, some cads just shoot the dog. It's good to know that Doggie the Dog is out of that sort of environment.
A GREAT BIG WHEW! We've been monitoring the situation of Rodney and Lady, a couple of dogs that were turned in to a kill shelter, then rode the roller coaster right up to the brink before Gail Whelan and Companion Animal Network were able to pull them out and save them.
There was something about this pair. Gail sends this update:
"Just FYI to everyone who was so concerned about these two. Special thanks to Martha Powell and Pam Rody for their donations toward boarding and heartworm treatment for Lady.
"A wonderful, loving couple, Matt and Marisa Miller, stepped up to foster Rodney and Lady. We took them over last evening and I have attached a picture of them in the Miller kitchen settling in for the night. We are forever indebted to Matt and Marisa for opening their hearts and their home to these two deserving dogs. Please continue to help us find a permanent home for these dogs."
You can do that by e-mailing [email protected]. Visit the website.
And, yes, that is my sweetspouse Martha who helped out. And, yes, that Pam Rody is the same Pam Rody who, a few months back, spotted some puppies near the 18th teebox at Stevens Park Golf Course and managed to arrange a rescue. (All three pups found homes via Operation Kindness.)
Ah, but Rodney and Lady, don't they look like they belong in a home? They have that look of "We're the staff" on their faces. "We're the staff. How may we assist you?"
