Whew, it's Wednesday morning and I have to remember to buy a winning Lotto Texas ticket. I keep using my "lucky numbers" and so far I'd have to say they're not all that lucky.
All of our attention today is not aimed at critters. Read on and you'll see before we start working on the animal stories.
Speaking of animal stories, I caught Inky the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas relaxing on an end table as I was writing Tuesday afternoon.
He stayed in this half-on/half-off position for about a half-hour, so he must have been really comfortable. I envied him.
He wrote this:
For my afternoon nap I found
an o so wondrous angle,
climbed atop a nearby table
and enjoyed a restful dangle.
A COOKBOOK: Oh, that got your attention, didn't it? Read on.
Many of you rescuers know Audrey Merritt -- she's loosely retired from the North Ellis County Animal Adoption Program -- NECAAP, pronounced "knee-cap." (Nobody ever really retires from rescue, do they?)
Audrey has a project that is very dear to her heart. It is the Chrystie's Kids Foundation, named after her daughter who was killed several years ago in a hit-and-run incident. Chrystie loved animals and kids and Audrey has continued to honor Chrystie's life by trying to help both.
The Ennis-based foundation, which distributes clothing and gifts and necessities to Ellis County children and elderly folks at Christmas,
Three things:
(1) Audrey is organizing a fund-raising raffle -- "We have a location that we can hold a raffle...but nothing to raffle at this time," she says.
(2) The group needs, Audrey says, "sponsorship of a new office and equipment and we are also in need of a small minivan for transport of families and supplies. Transport? Chrystie's Kids delivers box fans to the elderly and disabled who don't have air-conditioning and, in the fall, socks, pajamas and gowns. And needy kids, Audrey says, get school supplies and "this year the school district has voted to go to uniforms and we have several applications already for assistance to provide uniforms."
(3) Here's where you cooks come in. Chrystie's Kids also has an emegency fund for families involved in domestic violence and child abuse. To raise money for that fund, Audrey says the foundation is putting together a cookbook. They need recipes from folks -- and they need sponsors to advertise in the cookbook starting at $25 for a quarter-page age, $50 for a half-page and $75 for a full page.
To help with any of this -- from buying box fans to submitting Grandma's Sweet-as-a-Chihuahua Jalapeno Taffy recipe (or one of your own) for the cookbook, call 972-875-1597 or write to Chrystie's Kids, P.O. Box 432, Ennis, Texas 75119.
SAFE: Regarding yesterday's report, Legacy Boxer Rescue reports that the brindle female who was facing the needle unless someone stepped up has been saved. (See www.savetheboxers.com for boxer info.)
SPOTTED IN NEED: Here we go with some of those great spotted dogs that need help. This comes to us from Ann Rutledge of Dalmatian Rescue of North Texas. (www.dalpal.com)
Katy is a 4-year-old former breeding female dumped in San Angelo. She arrived at the shelter with an upper respiratory infection, but "months of tender care" led to a full recovery. Her poor care as pup, however, led to "a compressed disk" in her back and she's a "special needs lady," DRNT reports. She's loving, gentle and house-broken.
Six-year-old male Landry has spent most of his life being ignored and neglected. Still, Ann's note says, "He has a heart of gold. He needs someone to love him and let him live out his life with love and good food and a warm and loving home."
Dalmatian Rescue of North Texas' mailing address is P.O. Box 866081, Plano, 75085. Call 972-250-DALS. E-mail [email protected].
Remember, Dalmatians are not cartoon dogs. Of course, no need to tell people in rescue that -- they hear about it every time somebody films a Dalmatian movie.
RODNEY AND LADY ARE BACK: Oh, good grief. In all my time of writing about animals -- throughout several presidential administrations and many disappointing Texas Rangers seasons -- I may never have run across two dogs that come more highly recommended than Rodney and Lady.
For a while it looked as if this pair had finally found a home.
Alas, no. Becky Delgado of the Companion Animal Network writes again on their behalf, oting that "you may remember them" and that my bigheartedspouse Martha even paid to help board them earlier this year when they were in dire straits.
Rodney and Lady were originally dumped into a kill shelter when, Becky recalls, "their former 'owners' decided that they didn't want Rodney and Lady any more."
CAN rescued them. Rodney and lady aren't related, "but they have been together since the beginning," Becky says. "they need each other like they need aire to breathe, which is why they have to be adopted together."
Just when things had gotten to the crunch point on boarding these two, a couple stepped up and volunteered to foster them. things have changed and now the dogs need a permanent home soon. Real soon.
"I know you get hundreds of e-mails every day with pleas for this dog or that dog, all in great need, but I hope that you will consider printing a plea for a 'forever' home for Rodney and Lady."
To ask about adopting this beautiful pair, e-mail [email protected].
Becky says, "They are such wonderful dogs -- and NO ISSUES! That's the amazing thing. A lot of rescue dogs have some type of issues due to what they've suffered in the past. it's not often that you run across two beautiful dogs who are fully trained, healthy, loving, social, don't bark, don't chew don't pee in the house, get along with kids, etc. Talk about the best of everything!"
THE PASSING OF 'EDDIE': Word hit the world yesterday that Moose, the Jack Russell who played "Eddie" on the TV show Frasier, has died in Los Angeles at age 16. Just thought he deserved some mention here. He made a lot of people smile. Maybe we ought to hope that, when we go to the big Dog Park in the Sky, people will say such a thing about us. Be nice to hear St. Peter say, "He made a lot of people smile."
Good dog, "Eddie," good dog.
My theory about these angels isn't "All dogs go to Heaven," it's "All dogs go back to Heaven."
