ReadLarryPowell.com

As July ends, the beat goes on...

We'll close out the sizzling month of July with a bit of cynicism that has nothing to do with critters.

In the past couple of weeks we've seen TV ads and billboards that crow that the Texas Lottery has given $8 billion to education in Texas. They're probably using it to cover the credit card bills in the Dallas school district. Maybe more on this later...

HELPING A COUPLE OF DOGS: This is one of those situations that really grinds your heart. Don Armstrong has two 7-year-old female dogs that need homes. Why, we learn from Patty Armstrong who says she is "trying to help out a friend."

Don is undergoing bone marrow transplant treatment and is "no longer able to stay in his home or take care of his dogs," Patty writes.

She says  Don has no family in the state "that he is able to get help from and he is really desperate to find a good home for these two. The dogs have been together for seven years and it would be great for them to stay together -- but being separated would be better than the alternative. I have called most all of the rescue and no-kill adoption facilities and they are filled to their limits."

Samantha (the light-colored dog) and Minnie were adopted from a kill shelter as puppies, Patty says. "Together Sam and Minnie have grown up loving each other and their man friend. ....They haven't spent much time with their man friend for the past 7 months. He has been away a lot, long stays at hospital."

Someone told Don that the SPCA shelter in McKinney was a "no-kill shelter," so, Patty says, he loaded the dogs up and drove them from Fort Worth to McKinney where he "reads on the wall a notice that it IS a kill facility." Don put Sam and Minnie back in the truck and took them back home.

Patty says a staffer at the American Cancer Society is also trying to find a home for the two beloved dogs. If you can help place Sam and Minnie in one good home, call Patty at 682-551-3777 or Don at 817-519-5919.

WHEN RADIO WAVES COLLIDE: We've mentioned Kelli Geyer and her husband Wayne here before, but you may be more likely to remember their cat, Bert, once described by Kelli as "meatloaf-shaped." Here's Kelli's latest report:

"There are still good people in the world," she writes. "How often are you driving down the road and something catches your eye and you think 'Please be a sock or a glove or a bag.'? More often or not, for me, it's an injured bird."

But Friday morning, while stopped at the light at Douglas and Lemmon during Dallas rush hour, Kelli got a surprise. "I saw a tiny kitten lying on the middle lane. I started to unbuckle my seat belt. then a woman darted out, scooped it up and ran back to her car.

"I whipped my car around and followed her. She was talking to her son, saw the kitten and had to stop. her name is Deborah and she was taking it to her office at CBS Radio."

So? Kelli works at ABC Radio in Dallas. She told Deborah that she was willing to foster the kitten. Saying this out loud may have reached Bert back home. "Somehow, Bert felt a disturbance in the force," Kelli kids. "And he meatloafed extra hard!"

"The kitten was adorable," Kelli says. "Dark gray, big blue eyes. A face ready to show you love. No signs of injury. I wondered how it got there. I turned the car around and a few blocks from its rescue point, I saw a big Siamese dead in the median. Was that its mom? Had it wandered? My heart broke a little.

"Then I get to work and I see all the Texas Radio Hall of Famers on your blog. That Bud Buschardt -- he's a good guy. Radio people -- they're good to animals. Most media people are. And right now I'm thankful that someone else stopped. Thankful for another compassionate person. Someone else doing the right thing."

Kelli also says she was elated to see that the rescuer had things under control and that "for once, someone wasn't passing an animal off on me! Shocking!"

The bottom line is, as Kelli says, "There are still good people in the world."

WHAT OF SOLOMON? When you read about an animal in a dire situation, you live in fear of the unhappy ending. You can relax.

Solomon has been rescued from the Irving Animal Shelter.

Russell Posch, the rescuer who monitors Irving's situation, reports, "an angel from Heaven named Susan McBride pulled Solomon from the shelter and is getting him checked out and neutered at the vet. She will foster him until we can find a permanent home for him.

"If someone contacts you who would be interested in adopting him, please give him/her my contact information. Thank you for helping Solomon with your web log. So many people are touched by it and lots of animals are saved because of it."

To see about giving Solomon a permanent home, call 214-529-2920. (And remember, Readlarrypowell.com is just the conduit for getting information to the angels and angels to the animals. Other people (the angels), like Russell and Susan, do all the heavy lifting.) 

A VOLUNTEER: OK, I'm helping Jackie Villalobos fill her free time. Jackie e-mailed this request last week and I figure it's best to let the "experts on animal volunteerism" respond to her.

Her note: "I would like to get more information on how I can volunteer my free time to a shelter or any organization that is really short-handed with volunteers. I just don't know how to go about it. I am particularly interest in dogs. I work full-time in an advertising agency, so my time would only be on weekends and some week nights if needed. I am not able to foster because I live in an apartment and I, myself, am about to adopt a dog at the end of August. But I would like to know what shelter or organization is in need of the most help."

(Aside: That's probably a dead heat for first place. They ALL are in need of the most help.)

Jackie says, "I love dogs and would love to offer my services to anyone who really needs an extra hand." To contact Jackie about getting her into the grasp of your group, email either [email protected] or [email protected].

I just thought it was refreshing to get an e-mail from someone offering help rather than needing it. Happens, you know. Bless the helpers and the helpees.

REMEMBER: Please look at our Prayers & Passages page. You'll see some wonderful tributes, including the latest honoring a spectacles-chewing, 4-legged alarm clock named Barney.

EAST OF DALLAS: Two things from the folks at Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. One is photo-related, one is very photographable.

The photo-related thing is the group needs "a photo printer with a built-in card reader that can handle a compact flash -- it should print 4 x 6 paper." I have no idea what any of that means, but I know that the printer will be used Sept. 16 at the Dog Fest. (To offer a printer or a tip on one, e-mail [email protected].

Now, this "very, sweet girl" wandered up to a home in the general area of Cedar Creek Lake and "made herself at home," according to the report. The man with the dog will "probably end up taking her to the Canton shelter," but Stephanie Mosby is attempting to find the dog's rightful spot. (If you recognize this dog, call 214-232-3644.) She was found on FM 2132, just off Highway 64, about a mile south of I-20 in Van Zandt County. She's friendly, has 4 white socks, a white chest, a white-tipped tail and a need for a permanent place to live.

A DALLAS SITUATION: Beverly LeRoux sends us this note and says no photo is available yet, but they're working on it. Fact is, this is a pretty vivid situation without a photo.

Beverly writes: "Cathi Wood [of Paws in the City] has found a female shepherd mix pup, approximately 4 months old. She was crippled in all four lets, covered with ticks and starving. At first the vet thought she was dying with parvo. Turns out, she is parvo free and after a week in the hospital she is doing much better. The vet believes she will be able to walk eventually with good nutrition.

"She is being boarded at Hillside Veterinary Clinic. They have to carry her out to go to the bathroom because she cannot walk on tile -- she slips. She needs a foster with a backyard she can go out in and learn to walk. She is beautiful and her name is Penny."

To help this pup "get back on her feet," Beverly says call her at 214-321-0341 or Cathi at 214-202-2208.

CATS ABANDONED: Tawana Jurek, the noted Dallas animal rescuer, says she was out walking her dogs in her neighborhood when a cat "literally came up to me meowing for help." Tawana asked around and discovered that an elderly man in the neighborhood had died three months ago and left behind a trio of cats. "The relatives apparently did not want the cats, but wanted his money for his house when they sold it."

Left behind unattended are a tortie, a gray tabby and a white cat. They were apparently on their own for three months and the white cat may have "gone feral." They are about 3 years old, Tawana thinks. (To help with these cats, e-mail [email protected].)

ABOUT TEXAS SCHOOLS: I'm sure the 4.5 million or so public school students in Texas are getting every last dime of that $8 billion in lottery dough -- or that at least some of it goes to investigating "irregularities" in the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills -- the dreaded TAKS tests.

Of course, it's tragic that a grown-up's job security may depend on the attention span of a kid -- who among us could live like that? Bless the teachers. And the kids.

I swear, today's students get tested more than an American cyclist in the Tour de France. (Codger alert!) Remember when you could tell the progress of your kid or yourself with a report card every six weeks. Sometimes all it took to nudge a D to a B was a booster shot of "tough love," not an entire bureaucracy. (Example: Turn off that TV and do your algebra! Wait, do they still teach algebra or do they just show you how to change the batteries in the machine that does algebra for you?)

Help me down off this soapbox before I fall on my stack of worthless lottery tickets.

Moxie's quiet summer

The idea of keeping a border collie/Australian cattle dog mix still is -- well, it's as likely as using a half-dozen sandbags to shut down Niagara Falls.

Talk about a challenge.

But, Rachael Brooks of Lewisville has been up to it. And because of her devotion to this dog, we are highlighting her precious Moxie in this weekend's "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap."

She was able to catch Moxie in the flat-out sleeping position next to the sofa. It was a rare shot. And that yellow thing, folks, is not a dog toy. It's a cast on Moxie's foreleg.

Rachael says her "usually active" 7-year-old dog "has been KO'd this summer with a broken leg."

She says that Moxie is a "very special dog. She was rescued six years ago from Grapevine animal control and survived heartworms and a variety of other illnesses related to neglect.

"She was very sick when I first brought her home, so I gave her a strong name, something that said, 'This dog's a fighter' so that she would get better. I believe there is something in a name."

Rachael might have named the dog "Extrahelpful" or "Whatthedoctordered."

"Moxie is a people dog," says Rachael, "So much so that she and I began volunteering together in our first year as a pet partner team for the Delta Society in nursing homes, the Denton State School, hospitals and prisons.

"Moxie loves being a therapy dog and we continued our work South of the Border in an orphanage for children with physical and mental disabilities.

"Moxie is responsible for my choice of career: social work. When she and I began volunteering together, I discovered that I had a passion for helping people. I was a student at the University of North Texas at the time and changed my major from English to Social work.

"Today I work for a non-profit organization called Future Without Poverty that works in global communities to reduce poverty and provide opportunity to marginalized communities.

"Moxie and I, natives of Texas, made the move to Mazamitla, Jalisco [Mexico], six months ago. We returned when Moxie was injured in June."

Moxie took a fall off a balcony, Rachael says.

"Keeping Moxie still, per the doctors orders, is no easy task. This is a dog on the go, used to going everywhere with me. In the six years I have been blessed to have her, we have seldom been separated for more than a few hours. She is my partner.

"She has something about her that reaches people where other people can't get in." (That's Moxie, after the cast was removed, getting some therapy work done in her personal "hydrapool.")

While the leg was healing, Rachael says, Moxie lived with "her Grandmama and Uncle James and four cats; Kobie, Mocha, Thurstan and Puzzles."

And probably not one time did Moxie think about trying to herd the cats.

(To nominate a sleeping critter for spotlighting in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats nap, e-mail the photo and info to [email protected]. Remember, at Readlarrypowell.com, we adore sleeping critters and hope someday to learn how to be among them.)

A happy report on Sadie

Back in June we published a story and some photos of Sadie, a dog whose nose had been "bitten" nearly off.

You may recall that she was in Fort Worth Animal Care & Control and that FW's Ginger Leach was able to get this charming dog rescued.

How have things worked out? Ah, there's good news. We get it from Sadie's "Keep-me-anonymous" benefactor. And, so we'll refer to her as "Sadie's Mom." The important thing is, of course, the progress of Sadie, the nose-bitten dog.

You can tell from the before photos that Sadie was a bit of a mess. Emaciated, for one thing, and suffering from a dreadful wound, for another.

A vet, bless his heart and the hearts of Sadie's "sponsors," took on the challenge of reconstructing Sadie's face. It was already pretty clear that she'd never have a career in pictures, but the vet has done such a good job that Sadie is able to breath nearly normally and thrive. She's gaining weight and resting comfortably.

This week, Sadie's Mom says, "One irrigation tube has been removed from her newly formed nostrils. She is still on antibiotics and doing great." In two weeks, she'll go back to the vet.

What breed is Sadie? "She has the legs, tail and body of a Great Dane, but looks pit on the head," Mom says.

This might account for Sadie's condition. It is possible that someone tried to turn her into a fighting dog and discovered that she's just not the fighting kind.

She's more the "influential" kind. It has to do with, her Mom writes, "her shoe fetish. Always wants my house shoes. She has made me a better shoe picker-upper."

Sadie is still a bouncy puppy, Mom says. but when she is calm "she lays her head under my chin or against my chest while I am scratching her back. She is such a loving dog."

When Sadie got a new light, dusty pink collar, "Sadie knew it looked pretty. Remember the song 'I Feel Pretty, I feel Pretty'? Yep, that is Sadie. She pranced around and did the catwalk thing."

When she goes outside, Sadie is a "Velcro dog," sticking to mom at all times.

Maybe she's insecure because she feels she needs a protector. After all, something awful had happened to her. "The vet is pretty sure something bit the nose off, especially after finding the hard palate in the condition it was in."

The hole at the top of her nose -- where it connected to the rest of her face -- went through to the hard palate, Mom says. "He had to remove not only dead skin, but bone, dead cartilage, plus everything else, even food and other debris. Four teeth were also damaged beyond saving, but repairing the hard palate and nose were labor intensive and he decided not to pull the teeth nor spay her at that time. He did not want her under anesthetic longer than necessary.....Depending on how the hard palate heals .... she may require more surgery. The hole in her palate was over an inch long and almost an inch deep."

It's possible that this horrible injury occurred because Sadie was being used in dog fights or as "bait" so jerks could train meaner dogs to kill.

So if some jerk tries to tell you it's a sport, call the cops and turn him in for being terminally stupid.

Mom expresses what many folks may think. "I wish -- oh, how I wish -- that Sadie could verbalize in language I could understand. i would love to know her whole story and who did this to her. I could easily kill them for doing this to this absolutely loving dog."

But, of course, Mom wouldn't. "Decent" isn't likely to trump "mean." "Mean" doesn't play fair.

What you should know, readers, is that Sadie's Mom is offering aid and comfort to this dog while undergoing treatment for cancer. She's at the end of chemo and still doing radiation therapy.

Sadie "loves to go," Mom says. "Just wish I went anywhere but radiation to where I could take her for a ride.  I look forward to fall and winter when it isn't so hot and I can take her. ... I have not found too many rescue dogs that don't like to ride once they learn that they are not going to be dumped again."

Now, after all the surgery, Sadie is breathing fine though her nostrils go to just one breathing channel. And one of the rebuilt nostrils may close as she heals. "Her nose is not normal looking for a dog," Mom writes, "But who cares?"

When she went to sleep at home that first night, she snored. "And loudly," Mom says. "But it was a wonderful sound to me."

HELPING IS A DAILY THING: The shelters in Little Elm and Carrollton and LaPorte continue to be "overbooked," as do all other shelters and rescue groups. Don't know how this can be solved other than reaching OUTSIDE the rescue community to promote adoption as a solution to the problem and spay/neuter as a preventative. .Remind all of your friends -- whether they have critters or live lonely lives -- to be on the lookout for homes that may deserve the blessing of a dog or cat. Seriously, reach outside of the traditional animal circles.

Public interest always swells when the media pinpoints one suffering animal, but the truth is, animals are killed every day because of municipal budgets and crowded conditions in shelters.

There has to be a way to get the word across that there are animals that need help every day -- the term "time of crisis" is easily interpreted as "around the clock."

PROFIT MOTIVE: Dear Exxon, How about donating some of those record profits to some non-profit animal rescue groups? Maybe create an "Exxon No-Kill Critter Ranch" somewhere in North Texas and help maintain it, too. Just a thought.

All these astounding Exxon profits remind me of the era when Humble Oil, before it became Exxon in 1973, marketed three different brands: Enco, Humble and Esso. Until recently I didn't think much of that old joke that asked the question, "What do you call a bee that buzzes around filling stations?" "An Esso bee," 

CHIPS ON SUNDAY: Yep, it's time for the Operation Kindness monthly low-cost microshipping clinic. Noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday at the shelter, 3201 Earhart Drive, near Keller Springs and Midway Road in Carrollton. (Call 971-418-PAWS or go to www.operationkindness.org.) Remember, if you feel like getting a chip but don't have a dog or cat, you can still stop buy and see about adopting a chipworthy critter.

Suddenly I'm wondering if my sweetspouse Martha regards me as "chipworthy."

WOLF BREEDER NEWS: Back on July 10 we mentioned that PETA was investigating a situation involving a wolf-hybrid breeder in Kaufman County. Word comes to us from a tipster out that way that Geraldo Rivera on behalf of Geraldo at Large has been in the neighborhood, met with folks in the area and will air a report at 10:30 tonight on KDFW-TV, Channel 4. It'll show again on Aug. 17. Maybe there'll be a positive update by then

REMINDER: Award-winning Urban Animal magazine is already collecting a list of animal-related events for September and October for publication in the September edition. The deadline is Aug. 15. E-mail info to [email protected].

RADIO WAVES: Baby Boomers from the era of Elvis and The Beatles knew one true kind of electronic entertainment: the radio. Radio told us who was hot, what songs to try to sing. We had relationships with radio stations.

Maybe that's why this animal-friendly website has a fondness for the Texas Radio Hall of Fame (www.texasradiohalloffame.com) . Larry Shannon, the former Fort Worth DJ who founded it and who publishes a daily radio blog (http://www.radiodailynews.com/rdndaily.htm), has distributed the names of the folks who'll be inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame at a banquet later this year.

Here's the list:

Jody Dean – KLUV 98.7, KRLD 1080, KVIL 103.7 Dallas-Fort Worth

Misty Fincher – KXOL 1360 Fort Worth and KLBK Lubbock

Ken Grant - KNUZ Houston

Bob Guthrie - WOAI 1200 San Antonio

Dan Halyburton – KLIF 570, KPLX 99.5, KTCK 1310 Dallas-Fort Worth

Bruce Hathaway - KTSA 550 San Antonio

Hal Jay - WBAP 820 Fort Worth-Dallas

Kidd Kraddick – KHKS – KISS 106.1 Dallas-Fort Worth

LaBella and Rody (John LaBella and John Rody) – KZEW 98 FM Dallas-Fort Worth (John Labella is deceased)

The Light Crust Doughboys - WBAP Dallas-Fort Worth and many other Texas radio stations

Murphy Martin - KRBA Lufkin, WFAA 570-820 and KRLD 1080 Dallas-Fort Worth

Glenn Mitchell – KERA FM Dallas-Fort Worth (deceased)

Brother Jon Rivers – KNUS FM, KFJZ, KLTY Dallas-Fort Worth

Mike Selden – KLIF 1190, KXOL 1360, and KVIL 103.7 Dallas-Fort Worth (deceased)

The East Lake Pet Orphanage Kindness to Animal award is named for Mr. Labella. His partner John Rody (and his wife Pam Steele) are big time animal folks.

Also the Hall will induct people into it's Hall of Honor including these folks: 

Clarence Bruyere – WFAA 570-820 Radio Dallas-Fort Worth

Bud Buschardt – KVIL 103.7, WFAA Radio, ABC Radio, Dallas-Fort Worth

Irene Runnels – KBOX 1480 Dallas (deceased)

Jody Denberg  - KLBJ 590, KGSR Austin.

PLANNING AHEAD: On Friday, it's 63 days until the State Fair of Texas opens (Sept. 29-Oct. 22). Check it out at www.bigtex.com. Thought I'd mention that in case you need a morale booster. Yes, soon the winds will be cooler, leaves will begin to turn from dried green to beautiful orange and the air will be filled with the sounds of stadium's filled with cheering people. A portion of this may not be true in Arlington where the stadium is occupied by a baseball team that cannot beat the New York Yankees.

Years ago, former all-star pitcher and Cy Young award winner Dean Chance was discovered running a pitching booth at the State Fair of Texas. The Rangers should be so lucky as to have a late-innings pitcher who even qualifies for working on a carnival midway. And, of course, usually the season is pretty much kaput by the time the State Fair opens, so there wouldn't be a conflict with playoffs.

Bitter?

Yes. We've put up with this "Yeah, we lost, but didn't we look good doing it" attitude for 35 season. The Rangeers have turned baseball into the game you half-heartedly watching while waiting for the Dallas Cowboys to make bail and open training camp.

Rescuers & Superman...

Ah, it's Thursday in July -- it must be hot. Hot Thursday. Hot dang, let's move on.

ABOUT ALL THOSE DOGS: By now you know that custody of 247 dogs --mostly Jack Russells and rat terriers -- has been awarded to the SPCA of Texas. There were 271 dogs confiscated in a raid on a giant "holding facility" (for lack of a better description) in Wise County.

Sherri Jo Berend is getting one dog back and there are contingency plans for the remaining 24 (See www.spca.org for details.)

SPCA spokeswoman Maura Davies says that some rescue groups have already been contacted regarded taking in some of the dogs, "but should any JRT rescue individuals/groups be interested in helping us out by fostering any of the dogs, they can contact Ann Barnes at [email protected]."

The dogs will have to go through the usual clearing process before they are available for adoption -- some are not socialized, others aren't good with larger dog.  "The bottom line is that we want to place all of them with just the right homes," Maura says.

THIS IS LOUIE THE BOXER: Well, the folks at Legacy Boxer Rescue have him now. The story is, thanks to reporting by Legacy's Marla Margol, we know this: Louie was found "roaming the streets in River Oaks, Texas." He's about 4 and has been with Legacy for about a month. And he's in a little bit of a medical fix.

He was in a shelter when the folks with Legacy pulled him out and saved his life. But he seems to have "something going on" with his health and there are medical procedures in his future. It's possible that he's about to run up a $2,000 medical bill.

The folks at Legacy set up a Louie Fund which you can access by going to www.savetheboxers.com. When you look at the gauge, you'll see that they topped their goal. But, you never know exactly how much money will be needed, so there's a little extra in the fund. And you should know that if Louie turns out to not need ALL the money, it'll be used to help other boxers that find their way into the state's premier boxer rescue group.

Remember, as soon as Louie is in the pink of health, Legacy will be looking for the perfect home for him. You can see other boxers at the Legacy website, too.

If you're wondering whether a boxer is the pup for you, you might check with the Legacy folks about volunteering as a foster. All rescue groups need foster homes.

Not all dogs and cats need foster homes, though, this summer it sure looks like most of them do. Such staggering numbers of turn-ins and dumped critters, it seems. Maybe it's just an illusion, I hope. Anybody have time to keep up with the numbers?

SPEAKING OF NUMBERS: Julie Lindsey is experiencing a population explosion and it's one of those that could have been prevented if someone had fixed a boy dog and someone had fixed a girl dog.

(For you people who don't understand where puppies come from, please visit a physician and ask for the lecture on "Birds and Bees." I know some people don't know the way things work. I also know some people don't care how things work. It will be easier to inform those who don't know than to repair the dimwits who don't care. Sometimes it's not the animals that need to be fixed. Help me down off the spay/neuter soapbox, will ya and we'll get back to Julie's situation.)

Julie has a place "in the country" in Wills Point about an hour east of Dallas. Two stray dogs wandered up. The dogs got fed and "looked after" because the female was preggers.

She had the pups. Last week, the momma moved the pups from beneath the neighbor's porch over to Julie's place. "We think the puppies are about six weeks old. They are eating soft food and lapping water on their own.

"The father is a border collie/blue heeler/shepherd mix and the mother is a red heeler/something mix.

"The puppies are adorable and she had 11 of them."

Eleven. And all survived. Counting mom and dad, that amounts to 13 unwanted dogs at one time.

But someone wanted one of the puppies. And that just leaves the 10 puppies and the parents.

"We have three dogs and two cats (all are spayed and neutered) of our own," says Julie, "Plus barbado sheep and a donkey. We cannot keep any of them.

"The mother will not keep the puppies in a fenced-in area. She digs out and moves them -- or they follow her out. Therefore, they are venturing further and further away from safety as they get older and more curious..

"We are on acreage and we fear that they will wander away and get lost and a coyote will get them. We are going to have to do something in the next week or so or we will be forced to box them up and take them to a shelter."

These, then are the photos of the three boys and seven girls and their parents.

If you can help place these pups call 903-560-1151 or 214-212-0282.

Hard to believe that so many cute offspring can wind up in one family -- it hasn't happened in mine. No offense to my aging sons, but we usually have to marry to get the cute people into the family.

ASSORTED NOTES: Coming up on Aug. 1 -- that's a Tuesday -- is a fundraiser at Fish City Grill at Preston and Royal. It benefits the Protective Animal League -- a portion of the day's proceeds will go to the rescue group. This is part of Fish City's "First Tuesday" program benefiting certain charities, and as the website says, the program has "a special fondness for children and animals." ... Dana Dicker, who works tirelessly distributing e-mails on behalf of animals in the Houston area, reports that the little LaPorte shelter is overflowing again. Here's the link: http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/TX645.html. ... If you're interested in volunteering with the Richardson Humane Society, the group is hosting a general volunteer meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 1 in the Richardson East Church of Christ, 1504 E. Campbell road. (See www.richardsonhumanesociety.com.) ... Those folks at Companions for Life have escalated their educational approach in the rescue/pet world to the kingdom of blogging. CFL President Rebecca Poling says the site is http://companionsforlife.blogspot.com.  CFL recently distributed "I Love Animals" workbooks to 15 Send A Kid To Camp youngsters who, Rebecca says she thinks the books will help the kids "grow up to be responsible, respectful and compassionate toward pts and wildlife."

THE DRESSING QUEST: Thanks for all the responses to my plea for Roquefort salad dressing info in yesterday's post. We've got several recipes and one good lead on an actual bottled Roquefort dressing from a company in California. You'd think someone in Texas would be manufacturing Roquefort dressing -- this is a big-time dining state. How many different brands of ranch do we really need?

SCRAPED BARN MOVIE REVIEW:  If Superman returns again, I hope he brings a script.

Yes, Superman Returns has been out a while, but your friendly neighborhood film critic only has so much spare time and this week he cleared out an afternoon to go to the cinema with his son, Bart, with whom he'd seen the first Christopher Reeve Superman in 1978. Bart and his brother, Bret, are both schooled in Superman, including, the George Reeves TV version.

So, today you're getting a belated Scraped Barn Movie Review of Superman Returns. As you know, this Scraped Barn review answers the question, "Should I spend time on this movie or should I go scrape the paint off an old barn?" And, of course, the review is brought to you on behalf of a real Super Hero, Barncats Inc., the agency that finds super homes in barns for cats that need a place to live.

Alas, Superman Returns is not quite exciting enough to keep you from looking at your watch. The deal is Superman has gone off on a 5-year mission to find his old world, Krypton, and search for himself. And while he's gone, Lois Lane, known as "Superman's Girlfriend," has a baby and finds a new man, and Lex Luthor beats the rap on some badness because the prime witness, Superman, was flying off in the deadness of space when he should have been in court.

To borrow from Herman Hupfeld's fabulous "As Time Goes By" from Casablanca, "It's still the same old story, a fight for love and glory, a case of do or die." But this ain't Casablanca. It's Metropolis.

The new Superman (Brandon Routh) looks pretty darned good in the new Superman outfit (though the boots look as if they were borrowed from a sanitation worker.) Lois Lane is OK. Parker Posey, as Super Villain Lex Luthor's strange assistant, is OK. Poor Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor is OK. Perry White is portrayed by the great Frank Langella -- and Perry's nephew is Lois' love interest.

Langella has some good lines. Looks the part of a make-believe editor, too -- they look like real editors except when you poke 'em with a sharp stick, they expel hot air.

Langella has a line in the film about Superman standing for "truth, justice and all of that other stuff." And that's disappointing because every Baby Boomer can tell you that Superman stands for "truth, justice and the American way." Just shouldn't have left out the "American way." Guess they were hoping to make a buck overseas where, as I recall, a great many people can go to theaters and see movies like this because, in deed, the American way bailed their backsides out in The Big One.

But, back to the film: These characters just don't have much to work with. Poor Superman is almost an action figure, rather than an action character. The flying scenes, though, are like ballet in crimson cape.

And there are so many crystal-growing special effects that there's just almost no room for humans or superhumans in the film.

It comes down to this: If you've never seen a Superman film before, read a comic book or watched the TV show, this will be a good movie to you. If you've seen previous versions of Superman, you'll say to yourself, "They're really setting us up for a sequel. That's where all the action is going to be."

But, there's no guarantee that there'll be a sequel. It would be too bad if one doesn't develop because Brandon Routh looks great as Superman and I can't imagine him getting any other parts that require emoting. He plays the light comic scenes nicely. He's almost passable as Clark Kent.

For crying out loud, this is Superman. He deserves better.

So, if you haven't seen the film yet, scrape the barn and wait for the DVD. I hate to say that. Superman Returns is worth seeing, but only at matinee prices or with a coupon and only because it should be seen on a giant screen. And that, folks, is the indicator: it's not a big enough film to play well on the small screen. 

From Rescues to Roquefort

As you may suspect, guys who devote their lives to the written word spend a lot of time alone. Just you and the keyboard. So, when you get a chance to be around people, sometimes you have a tendency to be absolutely quiet. Sometimes you talk.

My patientspouse Martha suggests that I talk to make noise. One recent evening as we drove to a bookstore, I was explaining to her that I'd spent part of the morning reading about how vanilla is grown, that the vanilla plant is an orchid, that it may take 3 years to get vanilla beans off a plant, etc. I was just about wrapping up my vanilla lecture when we parked in front of the book store.

As we were getting out of the van, Martha begins, "As long as I have you, sweetheart...." then she shut the door for dramatic effect and finished, "I'll never miss that guy Cliff on Cheers."

GOOD NEWS FROM FORT WORTH: Well, that terrier mix has been saved. Kind of a miracle. Orchestrated by Ginger Leach of Fort Worth Animal Care & Control and Kristin Riebel of the Frisco Humane Society. McDuff the terrier has been taken off death row by Pat Cox of 24 Karat Rescue in Fort Worth.

Or as Ginger wrote last night, "I want to say 'Thank you' to Pat Cox with 24 Karat Rescue for being the BIG WINNER TODAY and taking away the GRAND PRIZE!"

Ginger also says, "I can't tell you how many e-mails I have gotten because of Readlarrypowell.com. Heck, I even got one from someone in Australia."

So, readers, thank you so much for responding to this great dog and helping to get him off death row.

Ginger also has a round of thanks to "my wonderful co-workers" Rachael and Carla.

We'll keep up with McDuff's progress. Obviously, a dog that inspires this much activity doesn't just have a "future," he has a "destiny."

If you'd like to thank Ginger for her work, e-mail [email protected]. And if you'd like to help 24 Karat, e-mail Pat at [email protected]. You can see other 24 Karat animals at http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/TX842.html.

ANOTHER SITUATION IN COWTOWN: Eva Mackowski writes, "I work with a small group of volunteers in the Fort Worth area.  We are constantly rescuing dogs of all breeds, and finding them homes.  I have run into a situation that I need help with. 

"I have emailed numerous rescues, but have not had positive results because everyone is full.  I don't really want to take these guys to a municipal shelter at this time.

"My neighbor across the street travels a lot, and while he was away, this momma dog had a litter of puppies. This was sometime in the fall.   All the puppies in the litter died, except one."

That photo is of the pup -- you can tell he's happy by the wag on that tail. He looks exactly like Mom who was a little too camera shy for a good photo.

Eva says they may be part chow. "The pup is friendly to people and dogs. The momma dog is a bit more shy, and takes a little while to warm up to you.  It is hard to say at this point if she gets along with other dogs, because sometimes she is friendly to them through the fence, but then other times, she doesn't like them near her space.

"My neighbor contacted me the other day to let me know that they are planning to put their property across the street up for sale, so the 2 dogs must go. He plans to take them to the Humane Society soon. I'm in contact with him via email, and am trying to find out how long I have to find them homes."

Eva also wonders if there's any other place on the web that will allow posting of adoptable animals. I'm not sure, but, probably, some readers will know. In the meantime, if you can help Eva place these two dogs, e-mail [email protected]. Or call 817-595-8509.

ASSORTED NOTES: The Little Elm Animal Shelter is facing some crowding problems -- population growth in the area means more dogs and cats in the shelter. To help pull animals from the Little Elm Shelter (several are on death row with the clock ticking), e-mail [email protected] or contact Cynthia Medrano at the shelter (2214-975-0460.) ... Tuesday marked the one year anniversary of Burt, the little dachshund who's death set off a lawsuit against the manufacturers of "Greenies," the dog treats. (See details at www.burtscause.com.) Burt's human, Michael Eastwood, sent out the notice coast-to-coast.

ART -- IT'S A HELPING THING: Animal Rescue of Texas will benefit from the 2006 Art to the Rescue Soiree Friday at Kismet Lounge, 3707 Greenville Ave., in Dallas.

This logo appears on the official invitations. It's called "Hound Dog" and it is by Robyn Rayner of Victoria, Australia.

The first time I saw the art, I thought, "I've seen that look before." Yes, it's on the face of Hambone Jack, the Great Dane/Lab mix, when he thinks he's about to get to go for a ride in the minivan. Happiness is a warm engine and a cool air-conditioner.

Tickets to the Art to the Rescue Soiree are $65 each. Space is limited, so the organizers advise buying in advance. Go to www.animalrescueoftexas.org or call 214-594-7878. Cocktails begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday and the silent auction is at 7 p.m.

Style of dress for guests? "Artistic chic attire," they say. To borrow from an old line, "I'm not sure what artistic chic attire is, but I'll probably know it when I see it."

PERSONAL REQUEST: Anybody know of a place to buy Roquefort salad dressing? I'm planning a surprise for someone, but Roquefort dressing doesn't seem to be readily available on local shelves. Roquefort, as you may know, is referred to as the "King of Cheeses." It is made from the milk of ewes.

(See today's opening paragraph for explanation of personality disorders that result in the unrequested announcement of facts regarding vanilla, cheeses and other topics of limited interest in a sane marriage.)

The sheep is unidentified, but her photo is from the page you get when ewe click here.

Pumpkins, pups and show biz

Each year about this time I plant pumpkins in hopes of having a crop in time for Halloween.

Last year I got a crop of jack-o-lantern style and Jack-Be-Little pumpkins. I thought I was going to have to hire people to help me with the harvest, but I managed to finish it in one day -- two pumpkins is not much of a crop.

I let them both sit out all year in a big pot and now I have new pumpkin plants rising up from the seeds of that big old pumpkin which collapsed and fell apart about 3 months ago. Monday afternoon, I was delighted to see that seedlings were growing in that pot. So, I planted more seeds in more pots. Jack-Be-Littles, Jack-O-Lanterns, etc.

The pumpkin seed packets always have the same warning: Wait until danger of last frost has passed before planting."

I'm pretty certain we're in the clear.

ONE MORE ATTEMPT: Lots of people -- most of them with a double-houseful of dogs already -- have been pulling for this terrier boy who is currently being held at the Fort worth Animal Care & Control Center.

Ginger Leach says that after yesterday's note about him, she "got a couple of calls, but no commitments. I went ahead and pulled him off the euthanasia list for one more day."

The dog can't be in a holding pattern forever. And he wouldn't be featured if there weren't something extra special about him.

If he is not adopted today, he will probably be killed on Thursday. Killed. And that face will never again light up when a human walks into the room. The tail will not wag. The heart that would have loved someone will be stilled forever. No room, out of time.

So, folks, if you know someone who can take one more dog, someone who needs a dog but doesn't know it, someone who has a need for a real friend, have them get in touch with Ginger. Call 871-392-3737, ex. 1865 or page her by calling 871-392-3737 and punching in 1830 or 1831. Or e-mail [email protected].. Or go to the shelter at 4900 Martin St.

DOGS AND MOVIES: Remember last week when the SPCA of Texas and Wise County authorities confiscated more than 270 dogs -- mostly Jack Russells and rat terriers? The hearing on that case is scheduled Wednesday.

In the meantime, on the GOOD side of animal things, don't forget that the SPCA is seeking films for its SPCA Pet Flix Film Festival on Aug. 20. The deadline for submitting films is Aug. 4. (See the rules at www.spca.org.) Word is there are fantastic films already entered in the competition. The winners will be revealed at Studio Movie Grill-Addison at a film party beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20. tickets are $10.

HELLO, HUTTO, WHERE THE HIPPOS MEET THE BOXERS: Yes, the Hutto High mascot is the Hippos. (The photo is from the Hutto High website.)

But on Saturday, there'll be boxers on display in Hutto, north of Austin. Legacy Boxer Rescue will be at Snuffy's Bar & Grill, 204 W. U.S. Highway 79, for the Hawgs For Dogs Benefit Motorcycle Run. The event begins at 8 a.m. with a vaccination clinic, dog registration, pet photos and an agility course in nearby Fritz Park. Then at 9 a.m., Snuffy's offers breakfast tacos. Other attractions (as if breakfast tacos and boxers in a Hippoland bar named Snuffy's were not enough) include an all-day dunking booth, moonwalk, auction, and raffle. There's an auction from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. benefiting the Hutto Humane Society. After the auction, there'll be live music at Snuffy's. No, I'm pretty sure the Harmonious Hippos will not be performing hippo hop.

BUCK, SEYMOUR AND KATIE: These notes come via Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. First, two dogs that need homes. We don't have a photo of Buck, but he's a 2-year-old husky mix who weighs about 45 pounds, plays well with others (human and animal), has a "great personality and travels well." (Call Donnie Tindell at 903-887-1865 or 903-880-0863.)

We do have a photo of Seymour, a 2-year-old male pom/Chihuahua mix who is "housebroken but is not neutered." The story goes that he "needs a home with lots of patience and love" and might work better as an only dog. "He sleeps under the covers by the feet and is very loveable." Now, that is high praise indeed. (They're so anxious to find a home for Seymour that there are three numbers to call: 903-451-9008, 214-908-1333 and 903-498-4710.)

In the meantime, we have an update on our old dear friend Katie, once inadvertently described here as a 156-pound terrier. As you can tell from this photo, Katie is not quite 156 pounds -- more like 16 pounds.

As you may recall, Katie became homeless when a truck drove into a subdivision, opened a door and tossed out the small wire-haired terrier. Lovely, eh?

Now she's in the good care of some foster folks whose vet thinks Katie is 4 or 5 years old. The report is: Katie "is fabulous with young children. No hyper at all. Very calm, very quiet. Just wants to be cuddled and loved."

Katie is heartworm-positive and her treatments have begun. That means she'll get to be "very calm, very quiet" for several weeks while the treatments take effect. (Numbers to call to ask about Katie: 903-451-3093 or 903-451-4701 or e-mail [email protected].)

CELEBRATE -- AND FIND SOME HOMES: Our pal Gail Whelan has been looking for a job and looking for homes for dogs and, you know, sometimes things work out. On Monday we got an e-mail in which Gail announces, "I HAVE A JOB!!!!" Yep, caps and four exclamation points! (As you may guess, unemployment was unfamiliar territory for Gail. So congrats!)

In the meantime, here are some dogs that need homes. You can ask about them by e-mailing [email protected].

Here's the rundown of these pups:

Aurora is a purebred Yellow lab, about 4 years old, formerly used as a "breeding" dog and that means she'll need a "committed, calm family to teach her about toys, people and the world. Aurora needs to be in an only pet household..."

Paige is a 4 1/2 month old puppy who knows basic commands and is "90 percent housetrained."

Floppy-eared, loppy-tongued Prudence -- get this -- is Paige's sister.  That's evidence of the ol' "variety pack" litter. "Pru" is said to be "very smart and responds beautifully to her commands."

And there is Bliss, who "loves everyone and everything." The year-old dog's personality is described as "Happy, happy, happy!" She's even happy with cats.

What an array of dogs in need. As we all know, there's a good home for each of them. It's just a question of making sure the right person sees the right dog at the right time.

And if you can't keep the dog forever, you can always help the CAN folks out by volunteering to foster. Remember, e-mail [email protected].

PUPPIES NEEDING HOMES: Now, this is a passel of puppies. They began life with a bit of a difficulty. Their mother died within 24 hours of giving birth -- there was a complication.

These things don't always go well. And the little pups were, obviously, lovingly cared for and have been raised to this point. I can't even count them in this photo -- it's a still shot, but they sure seem to be moving around that feed pan!

What sort of personality will they have? Who knows? The word is "the mother was gorgeous and sweet as a lamb.

To see about adopting a motherless puppy, call Margie Lindley at 214-979-9029 or 972-743-1183 or e-mail [email protected].

Aside to veteran rescuers: Let me just go ahead and say it for you. "Oh, boy, more homeless big, black dogs in Dallas. We don't have enough of those!" We have three big formerly homeless black dogs at our house -- if we didn't have them, our lives would be rotten to the core and there'd be entire weeks and months without sunshine. That's how much we adore our big ol' black dawgs.

DOG DAYS OF HOLLYWOOD: Paws in the City, the rescue group, is planning a Dog Days of Hollywood celebration on Oct. 14 with special guest Preston Pearson, the former Dallas Cowboy and an animal advocated. Also at the party (get your autograph books ready, soapfans): Christian LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin) from The Young and the Restless, Ian Buchanan (Dr. Greg Madden) from All My Children and Ricky Paul Goldin (Gus Aitoro) of Guiding Light.

Tickets are $100 -- there'll be mingling with celebrities, casino games, live and silent auctions and a buffet and cocktails.

Paws in the City spokeswoman Becky Haisma says proceeds "will be used to help increase adoption rates at the City of Dallas Municipal Shelters, pay medical expenses of our foster animals and raise funds for sterilizing dogs and cats."

They're still looking for sponsors and partygoers. E-mail [email protected] or call 214-336-8847 for sponsorships. Call 214-522-5112 or go to www.pawsinthecity.org.

FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE: We've been on a roll lately, seeing movies. Two in two days, both at the finely appointed, wide-seated Cinemark Cedar Hill. Comfort is always important.

Yesterday we reviewed Monster House, today we'll take a critical look at My Super Ex-Girlfriend. It doesn't have a deep meaning. But it does have Eddie Izzard, fabulous transvestite British comedian in the roll of a subdued, masculine supervillain.

Remember, this "Scraped Barn Movie Review" is brought to you on behalf of Barncats Inc., the organization that finds barns for cats that need something to do. And the review answers the question: "Should I spend some time watching this movie or would I be better off scraping the paint off an old barn."

Depending on your sensitivities, either pick up or put down your barn-scrapers. If you're a person who thinks sexual jokes are either indicative of a weak sense of humor or weak moral fiber, you'll want to avoid My Super Ex-Girlfriend.

If, on the other hand, you have low standards, you may enjoy this film. The lead actors (Luke Wilson of Dallas and Uma Thurman who used to be married to the grandson of the former Tarrant County County Judge Howard Green) are certainly appealing. Mr. Wilson is a natural comedic actor. Ms. Thurman has become an "action actress" -- this probably isn't possible, but she seems to be taking on the "action" roles that made Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis rich. And why not? Some chicks are tough -- especially if the script calls for it.

Frankly, after seeing Ms. Thurman as "G-Girl," I'm prepared to say nobody plays "crazy" like she plays "crazy." She's got to be an heir to Bruce Dern's nutso characters.

The rest of the cast says the lines and hits the marks. Wanda Sykes, as usual for flicks, is wasted. So much potential, such skimpy roles. Rainn Wilson has the most curious part -- is he gay, is he not; is he in this movie; is he just a prop? Toward the end he inexplicably shows up waving baseball playoff tickets in the middle of a romantic crisis. Don't ask me. Theater of the absurd?

So, in summation, if you've got no barn to scrape and you enjoy watching Luke Wilson and wondering how he and his brother Owen developed their styles of delivering lines, maybe you'll have a good time at My Super Ex-Girlfriend. Maybe you're in your early 30s and dating. You'll fit right in.

For people who don't mind a little saltiness with the sweet, this was an enjoyable afternoon at the movies with some pleasant smiles. I can't remember any of the funny lines, but I do remember that a woman sitting several chairs over and back in the theater was laughing her head off. It was dark. I couldn't see. She may have been listening to somebody on a cell phone.

It's Monday: Help critters, see a movie...

Good Monday to you all. Nothing better than a happy Monday. Smile on your face. Happy to be at the office. Happy to stay at home. Happy to be on vacation, perhaps? Now, our days activities:

VERY SERIOUS SITUATION: Last week we mentioned this terrier as a favor to the folks with Fort Worth Animal Control. Good dog, no home to go to. You know what that means in a city shelter. It means curtains. Curtains for this dog -- if only there were a production of Annie in town, he'd be the perfect Sandy.

"I must have a commitment for someone to take him by tomorrow," Ginger Leach of FW Animal Control messaged Sunday. "He is having a typical shelter bout with kennel cough but otherwise he is great. Thanks for posting and helping with this cutie."

To save this dog, get in touch with Ginger Leach at Fort Worth Animal Care & Control at 817-39-2337, ext. 1865, or call 817-392-3737, ext. 1830 or 1831 to have her paged. E-mail her at [email protected].

To be on the safe side, just go to the shelter and get the dog. The shelter is at 4900 Martin St. in Fort Worth. You can Google a map to get directions.

NEEDS OUT NOW: This is a late, last-minute, desperate request from both Cary Birdwell at Adopt A Dallas Pet and Irving Animal Shelter "independent rescuer" Russell Posch. Today was to be "disposition day" for Solomon, this dog with his paw on the cage. "Disposition" is bureaucrat for "death."

Solomon has bought a little more time by virtue of charm and grace and his demeanor.

Russell's note from this morning reads, "Solomon was left at the shelter by his owner. Now he needs a REAL friend. He's a sweet dog....just a bit large and has ordinary looks. He has a lot of love to give, sweet disposition.

"He's about out of time. His disposition day was 7/24, but he has received an extension."

The Irving Animal Shelter is a 100 North Briery Road in Irving -- near Belt Line at Rock Island. The phone number is 972-721-2256.

But to get help in making sure you can save Solomon, Russell says call him at any time at 214-529-2920. Russell worked all weekend to try to find someone to take Solomon. The work continues -- for now...

PUPPY NEEDS A PLACE: Cary Birdwell of Adopt A Dallas Pet reports that he's trying to help a woman in Dallas place a puppy with a rescue group or shelter. "The current family does not seem capable of caring for the dog and is willing to surrender it," Cary writes. "He constantly escapes the back yard and they have never taken him to the vet.

"The dog keeps going over to a neighbor's house. This neighbor has had the first round of shots done, and the original family offered to give it to them.

"However, they care for their elderly parents, and they have another dog that won't allow the new dog on the premises."

So, this sweet, friendly dog needs help. He's been neglected, but his personality has risen above the conditions. to help out, call 214-521-3611 or e-mail [email protected].

What kind of dog? Why, look at him, it's pretty clear. He's just what he's listed as being: "Unknown mixed breed." Oh, yeah, plain as the nose on his face! He's a pedigreed huggable.

LOST IN FAIRFIELD: We got this tip from the folks at Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake.

Billy and Medra Patterson are looking for their beloved Gracie, a Boston Terrier who was last seen about 1 p.m. on July 9 near Oak Forest subdivision in Fairfield. Gracie had a collar with ID tags. She's on a special diet and needs to be home. She's blind in her left eye. If you know Gracie's whereabouts, call 903-389-2588 or 903-391-2380.

PREDATOR ITEM NO. 1: Our first predator warning comes from rescuer Kim Polen who forwarded a note from Karin Fox of Treasured Friends. It seems there has been a coyote sighting in her neighborhood in the White Rock Lake area. This warning is targeted at people who let their little dogs out by themselves or who allow their cats to roam. The sighting was in the Little Forest Hills neighborhood on Daytonia -- and that is about 7 blocks away from the relative wilderness of White Rock Lake. Remember, coyotes can be dangerous -- they can carry mange and rabies and they can see your animal friends as prey. They're just doing what comes naturally, so you have to be the guardian of your animals. Be smart.

The City of Arlington has a page of coyote information and warnings. Click here. The page includes tips on how to keep your animals safe and keep the coyotes disinterested in your property.

PREDATOR ITEM NO. 2: One of our regular "eagle-eyed" readers who was appalled at this spotted this warning about a different kind of predator. Apparently, this guy is a genuine hazard to the animal world. Notices of "do not adopt to this man" have been forwarded to many, many organizations and websites. If you feel like reading some awful stuff, Google "Shon Rahrig" -- he's a guy who currently lives in Bonita Springs, Fla., according to assorted websites, and has a history of being adjudicated for severe abuse of animals. Check him out at www.pet-abuse.com or you can just Google his name. A caution: This will yield horror stories. Ugly reading. But people, shelters and rescue groups need to know the names of the people who are on these warning lists.

NOT PREY, BUT STILL A PREDICAMENT: This dog according to tipster "Mary Lynn" on behalf of neighbor "Jane," "has lived on a chain with a padlock for the past two years -- since he was a puppy.

"The owners are willing to release him if Jane, the Good Samaritan, can find him a good home. According to Jane, he is very sweet. He seldom has enough water, but there is an elderly neighbor that brings him water. Jane does not have a securely fenced yard and is unable to take him and would like for someone in rescue to help this guy. she is willing to donate $150 to any group that will take them into their program."

To help this dog, call Jane at 817-923-2193 or e-mail [email protected].

The dog is in Fort Worth, is about 2 years old and isn't neutered.

Chained dogs develop bad problems. And when they get off those chains, sometimes bad things happen. There is a woman, Tammy Grimes, who has a national movement to get dogs off chains. Check it out at www.dogsdeservebetter.com. Bookmark that site and tell your non-animal-friendly friends to check it out. Tammy does a lot of work -- the organization is based in Tipton, Pa. You'll find some inspiring stories on that website. Let's hope the story of this dog will wind up there, too.

SCRAPED BARN MOVIE REVIEW: Why in the world is a Halloween movie, Monster House, coming out in the middle of a steaming summer? Who knows? Money? Maybe Hollywood figured all the kids would show up. All the box office reports are that someone sure showed up. But when we stopped by the Cinemark Cedar Hill Saturday to see Monster House, adults far outnumbered the kids in the stadium seating.

So, we are proudly adult in our presentation of today's Scraped Barn Movie Review, the critique that answers the question, "Would my time be better spent in seeing this movie or scraping the paint off an old barn?"

And it is brought to you on behalf of Barncats Inc. (www.barncats.org) the organization that places "mousers" in barns and is always in need of barns and out-buildings that need a mouser or two.

Here's the deal: This is one of those odd animation movies -- all the humans look human, but they're cartoon humans. All the scenery looks great, but it's cartoon scenery. And it all looks autumnal. In fact, it'll give you a chill, it's that "orangey."

The story is fun. If you're a Baby Boomer, you'll relate to kids facing a neighborhood "cranky old man" -- voiced by the great Steve Buscemi. Jon Heder voices a character, too -- it's like having Napoleon Dynamite back onscreen (a little bit, anyway). The plot has a neighborhood house being possessed by the spirit of a woman who consumes anything that touches the front yard -- people, a dog and especially toys.

Also, there's a great rivalry between the boys, D.J. and Chowder, over the fetching neighbor girl, Jenny, the three main players in the Halloween adventure.

There are some funny lines. It's not wasted time, but you do wonder why they didn't just go ahead and film it with live actors. Maybe someone will remake it. In the meantime, enjoy such voices as Kevin, Catherine O'Hara, Fred Willard, Kathleen Turner, Jason Lee and other adults. The kid voices are provided by kids, including "D.J." by Mitchell Musso, who hails from Garland, Texas, and, according to his bio on www.imdb.com, has a dog named Stitch.

Our verdict? If it's 95 or above degrees outside or inside or if you have the slightest sense of fun and enjoyed a childhood musing about the scary old guy who lived in that odd house in the neighborhood, forget scraping the barn and go see Monster House. You won't have to think or feel guilty about world affairs and maybe you'll just wonder whatever happened to that scary old guy. Chilling, eh? Unless you've grown up to be the "scary old guy."

The Office Helper...

The mystery: Who did this cat capture? And, now, your clues:

Debbie Bryan's nominee for this week's "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap" is a "working cat."

"Is that possible?" you may ask. "A working cat?"

Yes, indeed. And this cat is Colonel Mustard. He lives with Debbie and her private investigator husband Craig. Ah, a clue. Private investigator. Colonel Mustard. It all begins to fit together.

"Here is our 10-year-old rescue, Colonel Mustard, helping my private investigator husband, Craig, with his office duties.

"We took him in two years ago when we finally got his trust. He had been dumped and we thought he was feral.

"Colonel Mustard has been a 'Bryan' for two years now. He is one of the sweetest cats I have ever had and he definitely does not want any part of outside!

"Craig is the P.I. who works with [Fort Worth attorney] Randy Turner and worked the investigation of the case of the rescuer [in Mansfield] last year.

"If you remember, she was the one who was charged with stealing the dog she rescued."

We also recall that the case didn't exactly jell for the prosecutors. Seems the dog had been left chained in a yard and without food or water, as I recall. The rescuer actually rescued it. Sometimes decency wins.

P.I. Craig has also worked for several cities, for rescue groups and "is a tremendous advocate for fair treatment of all animals," Debbie writes. "Colonel has been his right-hand cat for the last two years. I thought you'd enjoy seeing him 'in action'."

As you can tell from the pictures, Colonel Mustard can be photographed while sleeping, but a simple snap of the camera and he's wide awake. Well, at least his eyes are open. He looks as if he could, if called upon, "spring" into action. He apparently is not interested in wasted movement, however..

But wouldn't you love to just pick that rascal up, hold him like a baby and rub that tummy!

The solution: Colonel Mustard captured the Bryans in the office with a disarming appearance and sweet nature. He didn't need a candlestick in the library.

(We've had a lot of sleeping cats in a row and we're needing some slumbering dogs -- don't tell me they're not sleeping in this heat. They're smarter than humans -- you won't find them jogging with iPods and short pants. Send your slumbering photo and info to [email protected]. At Readlarrypowell.com, we celebrate sleeping as a treasure more valuable than gold. Not as valuable as chocolate, of course.)

Some saved; some thugs

The Fridays of July are dwindling -- just one more after today and already some stores are caught up in their back-to-school sales. Give the kids a break, will ya? Let 'em have a summer off.

Sure, some schools have "uniforms," but what they really need is a two-week transition period where kids gradually change over from their summer clothing to their school duds. Nobody likes wrenching change in a life -- why inflict it on students? Of course, what do I care? I've been out of public school for quite some time now and I don't see myself going back -- can't fit into the chairs. Besides, we're way beyond worrying about the first day of school -- my festivespouse Martha did some of her Christmas shopping last night.

A SEASON OF JOY FOR COCO: Marsha Duncan saw the photo of Coco published here two days ago and set the wheels in motion to claim the pup. (That's Coco the Pit Bull at play.)

Wendi McDonald of  Animal Allies of Texas first tipped us to this dog being watched over by Laura Wise at the Sachse Animal Shelter. And, on Thursday, she e-mailed this message to Readlarrypowell.com: "I just wanted to let you know that a wonderful woman (an angel in my book), has stepped up and is going to take Coco into her home."

Wendi also wrote, "I have been in a funk for the last two days, so worried about what was going to happen to Coco. Now I know she is going to be saved."

On Friday morning Wendi e-mailed that the Coco connection had been made and that "When we got to the shelter there was another one of your reader's waiting to save her if needed." (Bless you readers!) 

I'm pretty certain that the halos of Wendi and Marsha (and some other folks, too!) are glowing so much that they almost match the glow on Coco's naturally occurring halo.

Marsha sent me this note, "My late husband used to tell me I was just a 'saint.' He also said, 'Marsha, you can't save them all.' He was right. But I can save this one."

A SCRUFFY DOG NEEDS A HOME: There are, sadly, a zillion dogs -- yes, a zillion -- in area shelters and sometimes one of them catches the eye of an animal control officer. Maybe it's a look, a greeting, an attitude that shows through from the other side of the chain link fence. Whatever it was, this boy dog caught the eye of Fort Worth Animal Control's Ginger Leach. And that's how we wound up getting this note from Kristin Riebel of the Frisco Humane Society.

Kristin writes, "This boy is at the Fort Worth shelter and his time is running short. Ginger ... is begging for rescue or adoption for this scruffy guy. Ginger is an excellent judge of dogs and if she's begging, this guy is a gem.

"We have two offers to transport him out of FWAC and get him into a safe foster or permanent home. If someone help [giving him a home or place to stay] they can contact me or the FWAD."

To reach Ginger, call 817-392-3737, ext. 1865, and leave a voice mail or call  extensions 1830 or 1831 to have Ginger paged. You can e-mail [email protected]. Or you can call Kristin at the Frisco Humane Society at 214-263-6271 or e-mail [email protected]. That's a lot of ways to reach people who are interested in a dog -- must be a good dog.

Hard to believe a dog like this would have any trouble at all finding a good home. Or, perhaps, a role in a motion picture. Looks like a movie dog to me. Rather see a real collar rather than a number, though.

THIS DOG WITH A DEADLINE: The note came from Careen Carson and she's doing all she can do to try to find a home for (look at that photo!) This Dog and its shadow. (I'm using the caps on This Dog just to give him a name.)

"This Dog came to our house and won't leave," Careen writes. "I have run ads to try to find his owners but no luck. My husband has said that he must go by this weekend because we already have two dogs, a cat, a bird and 10 fish. Clay is now referring to me as Elly May Clampett. The SPCA does not have space to take him."

I'm sure the "him" refers to the dog.

She says the dog is "really sweet and great with children and other dogs. We think he is a border collie/blue heeler mix. ... Clay and I are will to help with the cost of neutering and shots."

To ask about a dog that Carson calls "sweet" and "well-mannered," call 214-207-5037 or e-mail [email protected].

This Dog looks like a fellow who will be really grateful to have some people to adore. Maybe he'll show them how to make shadows.

A COCKER'S RESCUE: DFW Cocker Spaniel Rescue has managed to save this pup, Anise. The young adult dog was pulled from the Richardson Animal Shelter.

As you can tell, her coat is savaged. But not by mange, Beverly Miles points out. By fleas. that's right, fleas were allowed to run rampant on this pup and afflict her with blood loss, hair loss, anemia and a big ugly coating of "flea dirt."

She was gently shaved and tenderly cared for and, after all her medication is taken care of,  she'll be available for adoption. In the meantime, the rescue group -- like all groups -- could use some "sponsors" for its tougher cases, such as Anise. Go to www.dfwcockerrescue.8m.com to help or to volunteer to give this dog a proper home.

BOBETTE'S LATEST DEVELOPMENT: Carol Whatley of the Van Zandt County Humane Society has an update on Bobette -- you may recall that Bobette was hurled out of a vehicle on an East Texas highway and wound up bouncing into the bed of a truck driven by Gary Myers who took the kitten in and immediately got her some help. They were calling her Lucky Bob until the vet conducted a "further review."

As it turns out, the vet says there is no chance of saving Bobette's right eye -- it was apparently ruptured in the "tossing" incident. The surgery will cost between $150 and $175, Carol says.

"This little kitty is a survivor. She is currently being fostered by a member of the VZCS who reports that Bobette is happy, health -- other than her ruptured eye -- and rapidly becoming a beloved member of her foster family."

She's playful but skittish around strangers. Carol says, "She especially enjoys perching and purring on her foster mom's shoulder or in her lap while she reads. Bobette is learning to get along with the small dogs that live in the house with her."

To help the VZCHS finance Bobette's surgery, you can donate to VZCHS, P.O. Box 4, Grand Saline, Tx., 75140. "Donations will be gratefully acknowledged upon receipt," Carol notes.

ANOTHER PIT BULL STORY: Regina Bohannon, a registered vet tech at Central Expressway Animal Hospital in Dallas, sends us the story of this great-looking dog, shown here in his recuperative state. (He's under the care of Dr. Troy Cobb.)

Regina writes:

"On June 20, a man brought in an injured pit bull puppy -- about six months old. He said that the pup fell out of one pickup (the guy didn't stop) and was hit by a second pickup (the guy didn't stop). This unidentified man stopped and brought him to us. I have named him Dodge....After his evaluation, we discovered that he had at least two fractures of the radius and ulna on the left front leg. the right front leg has radial nerve damage ... He had numerous facial and body lacerations, most of which have pretty much healed now.

"He has made some good progress. His left leg is healing nicely. He'll need about 2 more weeks in the splint. the right leg is working a little bit -- I've been told any improvement in a nerve damage situation is cause for celebration. He may recover full use of that limb with time.

"Here is our dilemma: He has been at our clinic for four weeks. I am not able to give him the time and attention he needs. All of the employees, including me, have WAY too many critters already. This is the price we pay for being in the industry.

Could you put the word out to your readers that this little guy needs to be placed in a home -- foster or forever?

"I'd like to get him out of the kennel situation. I don't believe that being in a kennel for an extended period of time is very kind to the personality of a dog. Mostly, I need help finding this guy a forever home, so if anyone would be able to have him come to an adoption day, or something...." (To help you can e-mail [email protected] or call 972-768-9225.)

So, once again, here's evidence that letting a dog ride un-tethered or un-crated in the back of a pickup is just plain stupid -- in fact, isn't it against the law? Of course, some people are determined not to get any smarter -- often at the expense of others.

OUR OLD PAL BOGART: Just a reminder that Bogart is still looking for a new home. You may recall that Niki Whitham of Dallas had him for a while, but he's just not an apartment dog and he needs some "guidance" and a human with some time.

Bogart is in the care of the Companion Animal Network. To ask about adopting him e-mail [email protected].

This is nearly a Hollywood press agent photo of Bogart, don't you think?

As long as you're thinking about Bogart, here's another reminder: The Companion Animal Network is desperate for foster homes and help with juggling animals.

It's a tough thing, being a rescue group in Dallas -- there are no "off days."

HELPING THE HORSES: Jennifer Glick of Rowlett reminds us that HR 503 -- known as the "Horse Protection Act" -- is up for a hearing in Washington on July 25. A vote is likely. The bill would "amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling or donations of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption and for other purposes."

Check out the details, send a message to congress (literally, you can send a message) at the Humane Society of the United States site, www.hsus.org.

CELEBRATION OF SOY: Ah, soy -- since I left my carnivorous ways behind more than a decade ago and moved to the soy side of life, I've quit having migraines and developed a healthy almost daily craving for a double-meat-and-cheese Whataburger with fries and a jalapeno on the side.

But those fastfood burger days are gone. And now I have a healthy respect for soy products and soy chefs.

Our longtime pal and former colleague at the big paper in Dallas, Jeanette Prasifca is the executive chef/owner at  Crosby Cafe & Catering. She knows her way around vegetarian recipes and she's willing to share this knowledge.  Upcoming at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 29, is her class "Tofu & Tempeh: An Asian Celebration of Soy." She'll teach it at the Good Samaritan Episcopal Church in East Dallas. Classes are $50 (ask about the discount) -- to reserve a spot, call 214-770-5573 or e-mail [email protected]. Recipes in the curriculum include Chinese Take-Out Soup, Penne Pasta With Spicy Szechuan Sauce, Asian Slaw and Lettuce Wraps (mmmm, with tempeh or tofu and spicy peanut sauce.)

OH GOOD GRIEF! BAIT? MY GOODNESS: Becky Haisma of Paws in the City reported in an e-mail, "This adorable Jack Russell was pulled [from a shelter] today [July 15]. People were trying to come and adopt him at the city shelter to use as bait for fighting dogs! They were sending friends in to get him, etc. So, we did not want him going back to the shelter."

Becky says he's sweet and mellow and needs either a foster home or a real home.  Maybe you have a place in your home for this lad. Visit www.pawsinthecity.org or call 214-336-8847. If someone has already claimed him, ask about some of the other animals who need help.

I know we can't stamp out speeding around here, or cheating on taxes, but, for crying out loud, surely we can stamp out dog-fighting. It isn't like those people at dogfights immediately leave there and go to church or to build a home for Habitat for Humanity. They are thugs, creeps, users, dealers and all-around bad guys -- that's the profile. If you know someone who is participating in this illegal activity, call the cops or the sheriff or the SPCA of Texas.

OK, help me down off this soapbox. I think the boards are getting weak. I think I'm hearing what's known informally as "splintering."

KITTIECO NEWS: Lots of news from Kittico Cat Rescue, including opening a new spay/neuter clinic site on Monday and planning the KittiCo CatWalk for 7:30 a.m. Nov. 11. And, KittiCo just opened an online store at www.cafepress.com. (See http://www.kittico.org for all the details.)

BEFORE I GO TODAY: Talking about school clothing in the opening paragraphs reminded me of something: Is "duds" still an acceptable term for clothing? I'm having trouble keeping up with the modern lingo and I don't want to accidentally set off a shooting in a Dallas nightclub.

Which reminds me: I find it staggeringly laughable that these punk gang leaders are under the impression that they can declare a "peace" for one night in a club. Here's the deal, fellas: The good people of American society have already arranged the peace -- It's not up to you to arrange a truce. It's already exist. You can't create it. All you can do is violate laws and break it. You don't have a separate nation. Thugland is not a separate state. Gangs are not representative government.

OK, one of you nice fellows put down your guns and help me down off this soapbox again.

Thursday wake-up call

This bit of today's report is directed at folks with multiple dog households.

Ever notice that if one dog decides to get up early on a Thursday morning, they ALL have a tendency to rise and shine? Or, as it happens at our house, rise and yip?

There is no snooze alarm on our pack. It's like living with coyotes. Everybody get up and hunt breakfast! Yip! Yip! Yip! BARRRRRK! (That last bit is from the cocker spaniel, Inky. He's too sophisticated to yip like a coyote.)

And, that is why we were up way before sunrise today. A special thanks to Baby Jane who has been able to yip the household awake, have a nice walk, a splendid breakfast and is back asleep on the cool tile of the front hallway. Ah, the good life.

All I can figure is Baby Jane wakes up early every July 20 to bark skyward in honor of Neil Armstrong's first step on the moon. What? You forgot this is the anniversary of mankind's moon landing in 1969? Slips our minds, doesn't it? Well, of course, it isn't like Tranquility Base has become a big tourist destination. Gas prices keep people away.

HOPE'S QUEST: The folks at A Different Breed are pitching a pup named Hope. Caroline Felps writes, "She's a wonderful dog...Poor Hope has been boarded for a very long time, though, and we would love for her to enjoy the comforts of a foster or permanent home."

Hope's a "pure white Staffordshire Terrier," ADB says. She's around a year old and weighs about 45 pounds.

She is also deaf. So, her new home would need to be patient and work with her on learning hand signals. To ask about adopting Hope, e-mail [email protected] or [email protected].

SOME NEEDS: Regular tipster Cathie Desell points out that Straydog Inc. (www.straydog.org) is facing a financial crisis again -- those folks do a lot with what they have and sometimes they run a little short of funds. "I volunteer at a campground in Caddo Mills," Kathy writes. "And we have a customer that comes in occasionally. He related to me that he couldn't pay the cash at that time because he spent all his money on the stray cats that populate his home across from the Caddo Mills Airport.

All shelters and rescue groups need funding, volunteers, foster homes, more room and, in many instances, just plain ol' box fans to keep the critters cool in this miserable weather. Check with your favorite shelter or rescue group and see what you can do to help. Paper towels, old newspapers, cleaning material, elbow grease...it's all needed.

FROM CADDO MILLS: Kathy Deatherage sent this note from Caddo Mills in Hunt County, northeast of Dallas. Maybe someone can help:

"It appears that all the cats were thrown out at or near his property and being the kind-hearted person that he is, he feeds all of them. He has even taken one in that became very ill at a cost of hundreds of dollars. That really hurt him for a while.

"His problem now is that a couple of the cats are very pregnant, so this will complicate the problem. He doesn't know what to do, but can't really afford to start fixing them all. He'll continue to feed the cats the best way he can, but if someone has any ideas on what he could do for the benefit of the cats, they can contact me and I'll relay the information."

I'm sure some people will be able to help this situation. E-mail [email protected] with your advice.

TRAINING: The Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake, the dedicated group that runs the low-cost spay/neuter clinic in Gun Barrel City, will benefit from some dog training sessions. A portion of the proceeds from two sessions of "Basic Adult Dog Training" will go to the group. The sessions will be taught by veteran trainer Joan Guertin. Training sessions start Aug. 1 and Sept. 5, are for dogs 5-months-old and older and cost $85 for each 5-week session. (Call 903-887-3803 or 903-340-7087.)

The topics covered in each session include "basic obedience, problem solving, behavior issues and management of problems."

I'm not sure "Go back to sleep, Baby Jane," fits into any of those areas, though, of course, if you're an insomniac trying to get just a few more minutes of precious sleep, "management of problems" might be the category in which you find, "Hush! Go back to sleep!"

As you may guess, this is a photo snapped just seconds after the "sleeping photo" that opened today's presentation. Baby Jane woke up long enough to blink her eyes and stick her tongue out at me. Then she went back to sleep and dreamed that her human had won the lottery. Her front paws were moving as if either I'd won the lottery or she was chasing rabbits. Though, I'm pretty sure she's never seen a rabbit. She's also never seen a lottery winner, but one can hope. Then one might sleep easier.