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Soggy kitten needs a home

The Labor Day weekend is coming and it got here way before I expected it, so I'm posting this on Thursday afternoon because I suspect some of you readers are going to take Friday off and stretch this 3-day holiday into a 4-day weekend.

While you're doing that perhaps some of you can find room in your heart to help this good citizen and this cat. The story comes from Rebecca Poling, our pal who is president of the Companions For Life group that educates people about animals.

Rebecca reports that a senior citizen, with the help of a younger neighbor, rescued an 8-week-old kitten Sunday. "The kitten was soaking wet and clinging to a tree - evidently he'd been there since earlier in the day when the storms rolled through and somehow survived.

"So this Good Samaritan made some inquiries and found the owner. He'd gotten the kitten from a friend, but when it chewed on his houseplants he decided he didn't want it anymore and put it out. She was furious -and still is - at how callous this person had been! An 8-week-old kitten all on it's own in a strange place! 

"Anyway, the Good Samaritan is not able to keep him - she's making him as comfortable as possible in a borrowed dog carrier on her patio, but she's elderly, living on Social Security, and she's afraid to leave the house and leave him alone out there.  She's trying so hard to do the right thing -- calling all the groups she can find, but hasn't had any luck."

So, what we have here is a dumped, friendly, smart black-and-white medium-haired kitten -- omigoodness, is this a tuxedo cat? -- that needs a home. Rebecca says she'll donate to any group that'll take him to help cover expenses. Contact her at [email protected] and she'll help you get an audition to adopt.

As for the person who put the cat out, it could be that we've run across someone who needs to be taught a good lesson, but not in the organized, thoughtful, gentle way that Companions For Life promotes.

I'm thinking it's more along the lines of Harrison Ford teaching a lesson to the town bully in the movie Witness. Involves a big, quick fist to the nose holes and a meaner-than-the-devil, red-eyed glare. But that's just one person's opinion and not representative of all rescuers, many of whom are much kinder and unlikely to be locked up for dispensing justice on their own.

Assorted human, critter notes

Last day of August. Hard to believe.

Let's see if we can sum up the month: It was hot, there was rain, Tom Cruise hit a career bump, Mel Gibson hit a personal bump, the Dallas Cowboys built up hopes with "practice game" victories and the Texas Rangers, as is tradition, broke the hearts of their fans for the 35th consecutive season.

Ah, yes, the Rangers will be playing the entire month of September under the team's traditional flag: a weathered, worn pennant that reads "Wait 'til Next Year."

CELEBRATING SOME SPECIAL CRITTERS: Our friends at the no-kill shelter in Dallas, Dog and Kitty City, are celebrating a first -- their first Adopt-a-Tortie Month, all of September. But you might be able to jump the gun and pick up a tortie today if you're interested. In the meantime, click here to get to the website. Call the shelter at 214-350-7387 or visit the shelter at 2719 Manor Way in Dallas.

And, if you want a dog or a different kind of cat or a tortie AND a dog and a different kind of cat, the folks at Dog and Kitty City will try to help you find compatible critters.

Tortoiseshells aren't really a breed -- they're more of a "state of mind" accented by a wonderful festival of shades of red, black, orange and brown. And personality. (We've got one, Benchley, who adds warmth and affection to the Powell household.)

HEADS UP, IRVING: We hear from sources in the animal rescue community that folks have grown weary of dealing with the hired hands in trying to get changes at the Irving animal shelter and will soon be dealing with the elected officials to try to get more sensitivity to care of animals and cooperation with rescue groups. Stay tuned.

Latest big complaint was the shape in which this little dog, Henry, was recovered from the shelter. (See his story in the Aug. 28 post.)

Our hope is that everything will be settled in a fashion that works for the animals, works for the rescuers and works for the city. Irving is losing the Cowboys, but could add to its image by becoming an extraordinarily sensitive city when it comes to animals. Just a thought.

ONE MORE AUGUST NOTE: So, having assessed August in the most basic of North Texas terms, (sports, show biz and weather), it would just be too boggling to ask why gasoline was $3 or thereabouts a gallon at the first of the month and $2.57.9 a gallon as the month drew to a close. There must be powers at work that mortals do not understand.

Politicians, dogs and horses

Here we go with a midweek posting.

Big story on the assorted news screens: Republican Gov. Rick Perry helped a fallen jogger in an Austin park. Woman tripped over her dog, if I read the story correctly.

To be fair, here's what would have happened if other candidates for Texas governor had been there:

Carol Strayhorn, Independent (Cloaked Democrat): Forced bystanders to cough up money to buy bandages for jogger and all Texas teachers while scolding the dog for not buying Lotto tickets to support education. Dog (don't know if it was an old, yellow dog) refuses to "Come to yer ol' tough Grandma."

Chris Bell, Democrat (Uncloaked): As aides bandage jogger, urges crowd to support laws forcing dogs to follow specific dog lanes on jogging trails, appoints a blue-ribbon committee to study the incident and provide possible solutions, then fires off flares to get attention of crowd while shouting "REALLY, I'M THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE! WE REALLY HAVE ONE! REALLY!" Flares scare dog.

Kinky Friedman, Pure Independent: First checks the dog to make sure it's OK because, after all, the human was already bouncing up and talking. Invited jogger to join campaign as "soon as you're healed." Notes, "We don't trip up on the Kinky campaign trail" and "Is that dog registered? We need all the help we can get."

Not that we ought to be suspicious, but does anyone with such good hair as Gov. Perry's actually go jogging?

And, don't forget, the last time a Texas governor had a noteworthy jogging incident, George W. nearly got hit by a garbage truck.

CHEWY: Eva Macowski in Fort Worth is looking for help placing this dog. His name is Chewy.

"He is still a pup," she reports, "and likes to play and chew on rawhides. I gave him one of my old house shoes for something for him to play with....(I know it was probably a bad idea, but he hasn't even torn it up)."

He's under a year old, weighs about 50 pounds an appears to be in good health.

He gets along with Eva's two Weimaraners and is "constantly wagging his tail. ...Very friendly will the other dogs in the neighborhood that come up to our fence. He barks to let me know if someone is walking on the street. He is very good with people. Doesn't seem to be afraid of anyone, and he's very friendly.  He is very docile and submissive. Rolls on his back for a belly rub, walks well on a leash, and rides well in the car."

To ask about adopting Chewy (and his favorite red shoe), e-mail [email protected] or call 817-595-8509.

FROM BURNS FLAT, OKLA.: Small city shelter, amusing city name. So, obviously, we have to mention this dog. From Terry Fisher we hear that there's a border collie mix there that needs a home. (Keep in mind that the "official" method of dispatching unwanted dogs at the Burns Flat city shelter is a gunshot. Ain't that swell.)

Terry reports that the dog was dumped by her family because she -- get this -- didn't stay a puppy. That's right. Grew up.

This dog "is very hand shy and just terrified of the world.... They picked her up Friday and as of this morning [Tuesday] she still had NOT eaten or used the bathroom. She is so sad. I sat in the run and just read out loud and she finally came up and sat in my lap. She is really sweet but very timid."

There are other dogs that need rescuing from the Burns Flat area, including one that was "turned out" when the family had a baby. She's trying to live at the house, but the house isn't that hospitable, any more. Terry thinks "it's a matter of time" until this dog winds up in the city pound. Arrangements can be made to acquire this dog, also.

Terry says, "I need fosters and rescues...." So, if you can help, e-mail [email protected].

Yes, that dog with the tip of her pink tongue sticking out is in custody and that pit bull mix being held on its back in someone's arms is in need of a permanent place to be someone's baby doll.

HELPING THE HORSES: Thanks to ever-vigilant animal pal Jennifer Glick in Rowlett, here's a place to help fight horse-slaughter -- this one's at the federal level. Click HERE. This issue is bound to be heating up as September approaches -- and as Texas' legislators prepare to return to session in January.

REMEMBER: Award-winning Urban Animal magazine is looking for your October, November, rest of the year events -- never too early to mention next year's events, either, in the monthly events list in Urban Animal. Send the info (Keep it short and to the point, but include a phone number and e-mail address) to [email protected].

A STRAY THOUGHT: Do people have a fear of jogging during an election year because they don't want to run into a politician on the prowl for votes? That's my excuse.

Good dog Gracie...

Some mornings a person just has to ask, "What in the world is going on? Why can't this good dog find a home?"

Take, for example, this dog Gracie, a three-legged German Shepherd. We got the tip on her from noted rescuer Kathleen Moore who'd forwarded the request for help from the person who's currently fostering Gracie.

How'd Gracie lose a leg? The story is she "lost one of her legs to a school bus accident after walking her master to the bus stop." That sentence asks more questions than it answers, but, the bottom line is no matter what happened or why, Gracie needs a home. (If you can give her a home, call 214-914-5795 or e-mail [email protected].)

Her foster, now tending to 5 dogs, writes, "She needs a good home where someone can give her lots of love.  She likes to snuggle, play, go for a walk or just lay beside you while you watch TV. She is current on her shots, fixed and healthy. She loves kids and other dogs as long as they aren't too small. Everyone who meets her falls in love with her."

Trust me, the world of three-legged dogs is usually a happy, affectionate world -- not just for them, but for their humans.

BEAST AND TINA: These two cats are in a tough spot. Beast and Tina live with a guy who has been stricken with a dire illness. So, they need homes, reports Sarah Garza.

"Although my friend is improving slightly, should he recover completely, he will still be unable to have the two cats in his home due to permanent health issues."

Sarah says her friend has "had the cats since they were kittens and desperately wants them to go to good homes.

"Beast is very sweet and affectionate -- loves giving and receiving attention. he's an interesting character and very adorable. he walks with his front paws pointed out.

"Tina is shy...but she is also sweet.

"They are both over 10 years old, declawed, litter-box trained, current on their vaccinations and in good health." (To apply to adopt Beast and Tina, call 214-738-4316 or e-mail [email protected].)

DRIVING IN DALLAS: If you're headed south off the Dallas North Tollway, you can't help but see the giant billboard as you exit toward I-35. It reads "YOU JUST MISSED A NASTY POTHOLE" then in smaller letters, "Luck changes. Strike while you're hot."

The billboard is advertising Winstar, the casino one hour north of Dallas on I-35, the highway that is under perpetual repair.

And, if you've ever driven in Dallas, you know that potholes are like jackpots. Every now and then you hit one. 

Rain...so rare...

It's Monday, the Emmys are over, Tiger's won another golf tournament and there was rain falling on the Metroplex Sunday. And, oh, goodness, it's coming down in buckets on Oak Cliff, Texas, on Monday, too..

To folks away from North Texas, this may be ho-hum, but in North Texas, where the grass is crinkly when you step on it and where ducks on the pond are hiking not paddling, rain is big news.

Of course, as soon as the rain and the thunderstorms move through, we'll begin getting calls and e-mails from people whose dogs and cats, frightened by thunder, lighting and raindrops the size of Purina pellets, have vanished. Happens every time there's a storm.

If you think teaching a stubborn dog to "stay" is hard, try teaching humans to wise up about animals.

Back to the weather report: After the noon hour, my umbrellainhandspouse Martha reported from her office, "People downtown are walking around in the rain without umbrellas. They don't seem to mind it."

That's a nice thought, given all the heat and cracked soil of the Summer of 2006.

Now, slogging along:

LITTLE GUY: Small Paws Rescue now has custody of this little 2-year-old fellow, Henry. He was pulled from the Irving shelter. And he's being treated for malnutrition, dehydration, anemia and other problems, reports Vicki Furstenberg of Small Paws, "the largest Bichon Frise rescue effort in the country."

At some point, if all goes well with Henry, he'll be up for adoption. Hard to think this little guy has been so close to perishing at the age of just 2. (See www.smallpawsrescue.org or call 214-762-1860.)

LOOKING FOR SYDNEY: Margaret Morse e-mailed over the weekend about the so-far futile effort to find the beautiful cat Sydney.

"She snuck outside Tuesday night [Aug. 22] and we haven't seen her since.

"We live near the intersection of Royal Lane and Midway Road in Dallas, 75229.

"Sydney is an indoor cat but has been outside while supervised, therefore she is familiar with her house surroundings."

If you're in the neighborhood, you'll see signs have been posted. All the right steps are being taken to look for this wandering cat.

Sydney weighs about 7 pounds, is described as a grey tortie (grey with blond and white patches) who is "short and stocky". She has green eyes and no front claws. (To report the whereabouts of Sydney, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-358-4403, 214-684,4169 or 214-476-6333.)

MORE CATS FOR PAT:  Back in early July we reported about Pat Wright's cat adventure along the Anderson County/Henderson County line in East Texas. Pat picked up a wayward cat off a grocery store parking lot and the cat gave birth to a litter that didn't really have a chance -- mom was probably too young and was certainly not healthy at that point.

That cat, Lottie, has found a home. Pat's. Here's the story, but there's more. Read on:

"Lottie is apparently here to stay and is a very sweet cat, but is young and has a tendency to play hockey all night with her jingle balls.  Seems easier to wait till she gets tired, than to get up and find them and put them out of reach.  Besides, I figure she  would get into something else until she is ready to settle down.

"We also have Hannah, who lives with my mother next door.  She came up a couple of years ago and refused to believe she didn't belong here, so I had her spayed and 'gave' her to my mother. Our son lives with mother too, along with his cat, Heidi.

"We have Max, someone dropped him off one night several years ago, when he was a tiny kitten. We have had Gabby, for a couple of years now--some neighborhood kids came up one day carrying their cat in a suitcase.  After I had thoroughly berated them, they put her back in the suitcase and took her home.  A few days later, she came back on her own and has been here ever since. She is the first cat that has ever come along already spayed, but she also has had her jaw broken in a couple of places and seems to be a little bit brain damaged too, but very sweet and talkative, hence the name Gabby.

"AND there is Kirsti Alleycat, the stray who lives under the neighbor's shed along with her four feral kittens.  I managed to trap her and had her spayed a few months ago, but time is getting of the essence in trapping the kittens and getting them fixed.  Wish me luck.

"NOW-- this morning [Saturday] about 2:30 -- we aren't insomniacs, ,just night owls -- one of the dogs was wanting back outside, although we had already made our bedtime outing.  I looked out the door and there were 3 little kittens coming up the steps to the door!  It was just as if someone had dropped them off and said, 'Go to the light, they will take you in!'

"There was no doubt in their minds where they were headed. There are two houses here, houses all around, but they were unerring in their direction!  They really wanted to come in the door, but didn't figure the other cats would welcome them.  I put them some food and water out, and looked out about 30 minutes later and they were still eating.

"They are skinny, probably 8-10 weeks old, but very tame and apparently used to being in the house.

"I know there is an overabundance of cats, and homes are hard to come by, but this makes 13 we are feeding now, so if you know of anyone who needs a solid black kitten, or two, or a black and calico kitten, let me know.  I know they will make perfect little lap cats, they like to be held and petted."

As you can see Pat and Family are doing all they can to help these cats -- the goal now is to help them find homes for the cats. To help Pat, e-mail [email protected].

There you have it, folks. We know where kittens go: Pat's House. So we must be pretty close to figuring out where kittens come from -- must be from somewhere East of Dallas.

RAINY DAY, PERFECT FOR GOLF: The Richardson Humane Society is looking for golfers and sponsors for the Oct. 7th Fifth Annual Canine Classic Golf Tournament at Waterview Golf Club in Rowlett. E-mail [email protected] for info.

NUMBERS RACKET: Writing about pet ownership responsibility in a recent edition of the Oak Cliff Tribune, Paul Curington, the interim director of Dallas Animal Services, wrote that "21 percent of Dallas' residents relinquished their pets in the year 2000, compared to a national average of just 8 percent."

The crush of puppies and kittens and adult dogs and cats in local shelters and rescue groups seems to indicate that might not have changed for the better in six years.What can be done to change this? Let fewer people have pets? You might as well try to slow down the divorce rate by making people buy a marriage license first.

Muggs, Authentic Napper

What we have here is a sneaky dog. And he's particular about how he sleeps. Thus, he's earned the spotlight this week's Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.

Muggs is a rescued dog. He's currently in the care of Kristin Riebel of the Frisco Humane Society and Kristin is, I think, just a little bit fond of the guy.

As you can see he knows how to sleep so that the sun comes through the window and warms his tummy.

In the second photo, he obviously is concerned that the naptime paparazzi snapped some shots and disturbed his slumber. He'd prefer that the photographer let the sleeping dog lie!

And you can see he has a love of the pool. Quite the handsome dog with a championship set of ears.

Here's his story, according to Kristin: "He loves to sleep on my bed.  In fact he likes it so much he has learned to pull down the covers so he can sleep on the nice cool sheets!  I thought I was losing my mind until I caught him in the act.  I kept straightening the bed only to come back and find it a mess again. 

"Muggs is my foster and has been since March.  He came to me from the Tri-Cities Animal Shelter.

"His family gave him up because he would dig in the yard when they left him out there all by himself all day -- gee, what a surprise.

"Exactly what he is we aren't sure but the best guess is German Shepherd and corgi/basset/dachshund.  It was not a gentle melding of genes for poor Muggs. 

"His head would fit on a 100-pound German Shepherd but he's only got the body of a 32-pound dog.

"His front legs make a perfect heart shape when he stands."

The year-old dog is, Kristin says, "a big teddy bear of a dog. He's definitely a big dog crammed into a smaller dog body. 

"For anyone interested in adopting him his likes are June bugs because they are crunchy, madcap runs around the yard bowling over the other dogs because the back end doesn't always follow the front end."

He also likes "bubble baths --not for him, but he does enjoy watching others, so, if having a dog see you naked is a problem he's not the dog for you.  Muggs loves other dogs and cats and his biggest wish is that someone will finally let him sleep with them on the bed, in the cool sheets all night."

(You can ask about an audition to adopt this guy by e-mailing [email protected].)

"He's going to need a special home," Kristin says. His vets recommend corrective surgery for his front legs to avoid "elbow" problems -- that'll cost $5,000 to $6,000, they say.

"I know the right home is out there," Kristin says. "Being only a year old, we don't want to attempt surgery until he's not growing and right now a few weeks of Rimadyl eases any limping he has. He just wasn't built for speed -- but try to tell him that!"

(If you have a photo of a sleeping dog, cat or some other kind of critter, send the photo to [email protected] and nominate it for our weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Kristin, a veteran at trying to find homes for animals, included ALL the info we'd need in her note about Muggs. So, please, remember, when you send the photo, send all the info -- name of the animal, names of people involved, name of your city. It's a journalism thing. Who, what, where, etc. We need that information because playing detective and ferreting out the information takes up time -- speaking of ferrets, anybody ever photograph a sleeping ferret? Yes, so be sure to include the pertinent information or I'll have to start making it up and then, well, we'd all be in trouble. Entertained, but in trouble.)

A dog in need, indeed...

This dog is Missy Shiloh. It is obvious that this chow mix has been well cared for -- she is accustomed to being in the company of a woman who loved her, but that woman, now 80, after about having Missy for all her 7 years, has moved into an assisted living center.

Missy went to the woman's son and family. But, the transition from only dog to "one of the dogs" has not worked well for Missy.

And the family is trying to find a home for this great dog. We heard about this from Debbie Farrell at A Different Breed. (E-mail Debbie to help at [email protected] or call 214-316-6604.) Missy will be at the ADB adoptions 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Pepper Square Shopping Center, Preston at Beltline.

This is a bit of a serious situation.

The family that has Missy is not keen on keeping her at all. In fact, there has been talk of dumping the dog at a city park or shooting her. I'm hoping this is a case of a non-rescue person thinking he can frighten someone into solving his problem by threatening to shoot it. A spectacularly unpleasant way to behave.

But, the bottom line is we can't change minds, but we can save dogs. And this dog needs to be saved.

She was born in May, 1999. She's missing her tail -- her official report says it was either bitten off by another dog or cut off during a "prank." (I don't know who thinks this is a "prank," but I hope they get a lifetime of similar pranks in their own lives.)

As Debbie says, "The only thing this pup has done is live longer than his owner could take care of her."

Catching up and a movie review

We've reached Friday and, here at Readlarrypowell.com, we're in the mood for a few hours away from the keyboard. Looks like a good day to take a 10K or 15K run through the streets... wait...What nut wrote that? OK, let's walk back through the Archway of Sanity and start over. We've reached Friday and it looks like a good day for air-conditioning and quiet contemplation. So, let's gently step into the day's activities:

ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A KITTEN:  And that kitten's name was Bob, but upon further review, the ref declared Bob to be Bobette.

You may recall that way back in early July, someone tossed a kitten out of a moving truck in East Texas and that kitten miraculously landed in the bed of a passing truck driven by Gary Myers who took it home and began to take care of it and find a good spot for it.

So, what's happened to Bobette? Here's the report from Joyce Hester via the folks at the Van Zandt County Humane Society. The photo of the little kitten was taken right after Bobette first arrived. The other photo was taken Aug. 10, right after Dr. Dwayne Collins of the Edom Veterinary Clinic removed her eye -- the one that had been ruptured in her rough landing in the pickup.

Joyce writes that the doctor "did a great job 'aligning' her markings. He used dissolvable stitches so no further medical care is needed beyond what her foster mom can administer.

"Bobette was perky and full of herself, as usual, the day after surgery. ... Her appetite never lessened. She weights 4 pounds -- is much heavier than she looks! She is a very solid little kitty cat. She rules the roost around her foster home and gets along happily with all the other dogs and cats that she lives with. She is a bit shy with strange people but not a bit so with the household humans.

"She tells her foster mom when she wants kitten chow added to her food dish and also when she wants to go to 'her' room (foster mom's bathroom) for some 'quiet time.' She makes it know that she wants the door shut for her quiet time, too.

"When Bobette drinks, she has always and still does put her right paw on top of the water before lowering her head to drink -- very much as blind folk do to test the temperature and depth in the  vessel of whatever they drinking.

"Her lack of sight on her right side doesn't slow her down at all -- her sense are keen and she doesn't miss a trick. She is an affectionate gal and readily purrs upon human contact. She knows her name and comes when called -- if she feels like it. She is a real survivor--considering all she has endured in her short life...Her attitude is 100 percent feline -- 'entitled' is the word that comes to mind. And this little kitty is definitely entitled to a long life with loving humans who can appreciate her unique personality and empathize with her early trials and tribulations."

THE RED MOON PARTY: Don't forget that Chrystie's Kids, the Ellis County charity that helps kids who need school supplies and victims of domestic violence, will benefit from a fundraiser Aug. 27 (that's Saturday) at the Red Moon Cafe in Ennis.

Proceeds from the auction/raffle/dining-and-dancing will benefit the organization's Victims of Domestic Violence Program.

What does Chrystie's Kids do? The official answer: "Our mission is to aid those who are less fortunate. We are dedicated to providing services to help the less fortunate, to assist law enforcement's agencies with domestic violence victims, and child abuse awareness."

Kids, animals and other people -- no sense being mean to any of them.

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REMINDER: They're calling this Dog-a-Poolooza. In case it's still hot Saturday and you're looking for a cool pool, the Garland Bark Park folks will benefit when you pay $5 to visit Holford Park Pool between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday at 2322 Homestead in Garland. There'll be contests, etc. Gotta have proof of vaccinations and city pet license. (See www.garlandbarkpark.org.)

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THE DUSTIN REPORT: Earlier this week we spotlighted Dustin, a Weimaraner who had been so neglected that mange and starvation just about killed him.

He's now in Houston in the foster care of Mary Kay Wolfshohl of Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas. Mary Kay reports, "Dustin is a doll. He is very gentle, sweet and loving. It is amazing to me that he is so trusting after the way he has suffered. however his tail is constantly wagging and he is always ready to give a gentle kiss."

She also says that though he is progressing, he is still fragile. His weight is inching up. "He gets several small meals a day, but always wants more. We have to take it slowly, but Dustin doesn't want to! He should have been named 'Oliver' as he always wants some MORE!"

Dustin gets moisturizing baths, special oils on his raw hide and lots of loving.

Mary Kay says that Dustin is being given Seacure, used to "help malnourished people" and now used in pets with nutrition problems. She says, "I think it is one of the main reasons he is responding so well."

Eventually, Dustin will need a new home. Keep with him at the Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas.

And, for crying out loud, if you see someone with a mangy dog, get that dog some help. Get that human some help, too. If they don't care, that's one thing. If they don't know they ought to care, that may be fixable.

BOTTLE BABY HELP WANTED: Rhonda Barrientos, a volunteer at the Irving Animal Shelter, is looking for a few good bottle feeders. Too many kittens, too few bottles. That's the problem.

"I am one of the volunteers who works with the cats," says Rhonda, "and lately a lot of our time is spent trying to get bottle babies rescued so that they don't get euthanized. The shelter doesn't have the staff or the resources to keep babies that need bottle feeding, so if we can't get them saved, they have to euthanize. That's why there is so much urgency to get them into qualified foster care when they end up at the shelter."

She says that "we've only had about 4 people we could call on and they're getting maxed out on kittens, what with it being kitten season."

If you'd like to volunteer to join the Irving Bottle-Feeding Brigade, e-mail Rhonda at [email protected] or call 972-438-6079 or e-mail [email protected].

MONTHLY CHIPFEST: Operation Kindness hosts its regular "Last Sunday of the Month Microchipping" from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the no-kill shelter in Carrollton. The cost is $15 per critter and that includes "lifetime registration."

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE There's not that much traditional sunshine in Little Miss Sunshine, but if you've got a wicked sense of humor and appreciate finely tuned performances by adults AND children, you may enjoy this movie.

We did, and I'm sure that'll count against us when "the roll is called up Yonder," as they say in the churches in which we both grew up.

So, today we present a "Scraped Barn Movie Review" of Little Miss Sunshine. As usual, this review answers the question, "Should I go scrape the paint off an old barn or spend some coin to see this movie?" And, as usual, this review is brought to you on behalf of Barncats Inc., the group that places mousers in barns and outbuildings and gives the rascals something to do, much to the chagrin of varmints and rodents. If you know of a barn that needs cats, get in touch with Barncats Inc.

Back to Little Miss Sunshine: The nearly always entertaining Greg Kinnear is the leader of this family and he drives the bus, literally, a VW Microbus. (The only movie in which he wasn't really entertaining was that Bob Crane movie, Auto Focus, and he was just creepy in that oddity. Loved him in The Matador, though.)

Toni Collette as the mom, Alan Arkin as Grandpa, and Paul Dano as the teenaged, angst-ridden son are superb. Steve Carell as Kinnear's suicidal brother-in-law Frank, the nation's most preeminent Proust scholar depressed because he's lost his boyfriend to the second-most, is a riot.

And the absolute spot-on kid part is played by Abigail Breslin. It's not an easy part to play. And she nails it. Right down to the you've-got-to-be-kidding-laugh-out-loud end which I'll not reveal because some of you may actually pay to see this film.

It's a really clever tale of a family road trip -- dirty language, ugly thoughts, conflict, bad luck, challenges to personal dreams, etc.

After you've seen it, you have stuff to think about other than "how'd they'd they do that -- computer generated?"

Some thought went into this film and you may actually carry some thought out of the theater. So, if your brain doesn't mind thinking about family crises, you don't mind some really dirty words and you need some off-beat laughter in your life, Little Miss Sunshine is your ray of hope.

Depending on personal standards of what'll you'll listen to in a theater (you could just step out for popcorn during a couple of scenes), some people will prefer scraping the barn. Others will put off the barn and let the theater air-conditioning trump outdoor activity.

Gas, dogs, cats & Bigfoot

An explanation, please. Why is the price of regular gasoline in my neighborhood down from about $3 a gallon to about $2.74? Should we be alarmed?

Now, as we puzzle over that without complaining, let's move into the day's activities which will include a note about Bigfoot in Texas. A surprising note. Read on:

PLUTOVIANS ARISE: Breaking news. Word from Prague this morning is that the International Astronomical Union has declared that Pluto is no longer a planet. Not sure this is valid in a non-union state such as Texas. Don't know if there'll be a recount. No story gives details of the voting. Don't know if Jimmy Carter could be flown in to observe the recount. Is Disney's control of the universe slipping?
And, follow the money: Did someone donate enough booze to the IAU Convention Closing Night "Get Out of Orbit" Party to affect the vote on Pluto?

Pluto isn't a planet, it's a state of mind. As Mickey Mouse might say, "Semper Fido."

AN EXTRACURRICULAR RESCUE: Debbie Stout, president of Garland Bark Park Advocacy is pretty up front about this. "We don't do this on a regular basis, but occasionally one of our members finds out about a dog in need of help."

In this case, along about the beginning of the month someone contacted a volunteer about a dog that had apparently been dumped on a country road near upscale Sunnyvale. (Note how her legs are dirty -- there's a pond nearby -- might have done some wading in the heat.)

Several Bark Parkers went out to find the dog. They did. Rex Bailey patiently began to feed the dog in the same place so she could be "controlled." Finally some sedatives were added to her food and on the morning of Aug. 23, she found herself groggily in the custody of the Bark Parkers.

They immediately called Dr. Charles Proshek of Kingsbridge Animal Clinic, says Debbie, "and he was standing in the entry way to his clinic and took Sheba from my arms directly to the exam room. Special thanks also go to grooming services donated .... by Diane Johnson who worked with Rex for two hours... pulling ticks and starting Sheba's grooming."

So, what they've got custody of now is a 44-pound (should weigh 55 to 60), 8-year-old husky-type dog with heartworms and a mammary gland tumor.

Once she's stable from her outdoor adventure, she'll get the medical care she needs. Some of that expense has already come from her rescuers, but there's a lot left to go. Debbie says she hopes people can "open your heart and your wallets -- even $5, $10 from multiple people would help." Send donations to Kingsbridge animal Clinic, 725 Beltline Road, Garland, Texas, 75040, c/o Sheba Stout Fund. Or, e-mail [email protected] or [email protected] and Debbie can instruct you regarding a PayPal link.

Sheba, once she's in tip-top shape, will be available for adoption -- the adopter will have to pass a very careful audition. You'll have to be liked not just by Sheba, but the Bark Parkers, too.

WHAT'S UP WITH DAISY? The bill, for one thing. You may recall Daisy -- hit by car, rescued off a Dallas street. Barbara Dillard saw it, jumped out of her car, helped get Daisy to safety. Then Daisy got into the care of Operation Kindness.

And, now, Daisy being tended to by a vet because of her leg injuries. When Barbara first got Daisy into medical care, she chunked $200 into the Daisy bucket. The bill for her care will go beyond $1,000 -- she has to be sedated so that dead tissue can be removed from the injuries on her legs.

So, Daisy, by virtue of her misfortune, has qualified for funding via the Mercy Fund, established in honor of Mercy, the dog fatally burned and stabbed earlier this year. To help Daisy's cause, send your donation to Mercy Fund For Daisy, c/o Operation Kindness, 3201 Earhart Drive, Carrollton, Texas 75006.

THE TOUGHEST JUDGING JOB: Never mind wrangling a big lawsuit sure to come from the Paramount/Tom Cruise dust-up, the toughest judging job so far in 2006 has been the SPCA PetFlix film festival. You can see the top three films at www.spca.org. And we got a nice note from Katy Daiger of Austin whose film, La Chienne Noir,  won second place. It's a black-and-white moody piece that speaks to love of a man and his dog and a dog and his man. First place went to Wendy Woody and Tara Chadwick of Richardson for World Cat 2006, a really funny feline send-up of the recent World Cup soccer title game -- it took a lot of cat wrangling. Third place went to the hardworking youngsters with the International Thespian Troupe from Pioneer Heritage Middle School in Frisco -- these young actors showed how to adopt from the McKinney SPCA. It was a fun evening at the theater Sunday. Good for dogs. Good for cats. Good for people. Sold out, too.

AMEWSING PROSPECTS: These guys need homes. Tammy Ardolf reports, "My neighbor found three baby kittens in his back yard a couple of weeks ago. I've been fostering them since then -- bottle-feeding, the whole nine yards. They are now 5-weeks-old, weaned and litter-boxed trained."

One of the kittens has found a home, but these two boys are looking. The vet says they're "very healthy."

Tammy says, "they've been introduced to my Anatolian dog and male cat and would do well in a home with other cats, children or dogs.

"Because they are being hand-raised, they are very loving, sweet kittens." The tuxedo kitten is prone to purring. Both are "outgoing and confident."

And to audition to adopt one or both, call 214-418-5943 or e-mail [email protected].

HORSE NOTE: Jennifer Glick sends us a note about a place where you can stand up on behalf of the new anti-horseslaughter bill. Here's the link: www.agritalk.com. Scroll down at that site to vote. And go to the Texas Humane Legislation Network site at www.thln.org to see the progress of HR503.

FOUND DOG ON WALNUT HILL LANE: Another found dog turns up in Dallas. This one is a "sweet young male golden retriever mix" who was wearing a red collar but no tags.

A rescuer called "Tlee1017" says the dog is "very sweet and we have two huskies, an Italian Greyhound and two cats already and can't take in another dog. We are animal lovers and we almost hit him on Walnut Hill, so he does not have a clue on street smarts, but is a very kind dog who gets along with out dogs and cats and has great retriever traits."

Tlee1017 says "We know the no-kill rescues are all full and so we are trying to find a good home for him....My 13-year-old daughter already loves him, but I have told her we just can't keep him."

To help the family find a great place for a dog that's already loved, e-mail [email protected].

"SCARED": Our Plano Animal Shelter tipster Debbie New knows a thing or two about animals and she says, "This dog is scared here."

Yes and she's facing the bitter fate that animals will face in municipal shelters, so Debbie has been working to get her into a rescue group's care.

"We had a lost report, but the owner denies the dog is his," Debbie writes.

The dog is young -- a year or two old -- and housebroken. But, she's really terrified of shelter life and needs to be tenderly cared for in a rescue group foster home before she's adopted. (If you can help, e-mail [email protected].)

SADIE'S SITUATION: You may recall that back on the 18th we wrote about Sadie, the lab/cream chow mix. Here's an update from Connie Holubar:

"Abandoned in 105-degree heat and left wandering a busy country road, 'Sadie' was lucky enough to be rescued by a family with air conditioning, food and water.  But this family has no fence and is not able to take in a dog on a permanent basis. After an overnight at the rescuers, Sadie thankfully spent the weekend in a wonderful foster home."

Sadie has since been spayed. (Dr. Glen Campbell and the staff and volunteers at the Friends of the Animals Clinic in Gun Barrel City took care of this.)

Now, she's recuperating and working on basic obedience training and learning to deal with cats.

Connie says, "Sadie already knows her new name, knows what 'no' means and is working on 'sit."

She minds her manners and "does not show signs of having been abused."

Connie reports that Sadie "is heartworm negative, has had all her shots, has an official rabies tag, does not have fleas, and is on heartworm preventives.  She comes with a new harness, collar and leash, a bag of food, a chew toy and a stuffed penguin.  Rescuers will deliver her within a 60-mile radius of Gun Barrel City or provide a $50 allowance for future food and necessities." (To ask about an audition to adopt this rescued dog, e-mail [email protected] or call 903 880-8217.)

OH, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! As a fan of cocker spaniels, it astounds me that someone might just dump a couple of these rascals. Of course, it stuns me that anyone could dump any dog or cat, but, I'm relatively young (not quite as old as dirt, anyway) and it hasn't quite settled in my brain that humans can be real stinkers.

This note comes to us via Sydney Busch at Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake who forwarded it from P.A. Geddie, editor of the Van Zandt County Line Magazine (www.vzcountyline.com).

She reports that these "two adorable cocker spaniels...were found between Van, Ben Wheeler and Colfax about one month ago. After listing them in the newspaper, and sending out e-mails to vets, groomers and animal groups, and having them scanned for microchips, no owner has been located."

As you can tell from the photo, they cleaned up pretty good. The black and white is a boy, the blond is a girl -- they may be two or three years old.

If you have a spot for this pair, e-mail [email protected] or call P.A. Geddie at 903-963-3788.

CATS, A DOG AND KINDNESS: Jackie Gorka writes, "Because of my living situation now and my health -- I am on chemo therapy for the third time -- I can no longer take care of my beloved cat, Twinkles."

Twinkles is a 4-year-old, neutered and healthy Siamese mix. to help Jackie, e-mail [email protected].

Oh, boy, imagine this. More kittens. In this case, three kittens -- two Siamese and one tortie -- are available via Friends of the Animals. Call 903-887-1510 or e-mail [email protected].

And in the middle of all those cats that need help, there's a 3-year-old "100 percent beagle" who likes kids, other dogs and needs a home. (E-mail [email protected].)

THE NEWS ABOUT BIGFOOT: We got a gracious note last night from Craig Woolheater of the Texas Bigfoot Research Center. Craig reports that "with great sadness" the center is canceling the 2006 Texas Bigfoot Conference in the bayou-side East Texas tourist town of Jefferson.

"Ironically," he writes, "the cancellation decision was not the result of declining interest. In five brief years, the annual conference grew quickly to become the largest event of its kind, attracting over 500 attendees in 2005."

The attention of Craig and others involved with Bigfoot in Texas is about to be taken up by establishment of the Texas Bigfoot Museum in Jefferson.

And, the date has already been set for the 2007 Texas Bigfoot Conference in Jefferson -- the weekend of Oct. 20 which, Craig notes, is "the 40th anniversary of the Patterson/Gimlin film." (Click here for info.) That is the famous bit of film -- some say manufactured, some say real -- that shows Bigfoot walking through the woods near Yakima, Wash.

If you've ever been near Jefferson or near Fouke, Ark., or in that extra-woodsy area of Northeast Texas/Southwest Arkansas/Northwest Louisiana on a really dark night, you'll not doubt the existence of some freaky creatures. And some of them will be humans. Just kidding any of my relatives who may still be trying to emerge from the swamps.

The photograph of the dog?

As regular readers may recall, that is Inky, the Cocker Laureate of Texas and my constant cocker companion. And he not only writes exquisite poetry, he also does impressions.

His assignment this time was "Do an impression of Bigfoot looking through a kitchen window and seeing a platter full of meatloaf on the dinner table." Captured it perfectly, didn't he?

He's never actually seen Bigfoot -- at least he tells me he's never seen Bigfoot, though, sometimes, on a particularly eerie night, he will bark oddly in his sleep.

A chill in the air?

Here's our report for the day based on casual observation:

On the front porch this morning, the four feral cats enjoyed a nice breakfast, mewing an occasional "thanks, fella" toward me. I sipped hot chocolate from my "I Believe" Santa mug and enjoyed the chill in the air.

I could see the fog of my breath now and then and that's a reminder to grab a sweater next time I go out. From across the way. I heard the lads at Smitty's Swift Lift working on the big mechanical wheel and pulley system that will take skiers to the top of the slope. There was some clanging of wrenches on metal and an occasional "Ouch! Son of a croissant!" The boys are mannerly. They saw me and waved. Ed, in his denim overalls, yelled, "Pardon my French, Mr. Powell. They say there's a blizzard comin' and we've got to get crackin'."  Ed's always been optimistic.

Truthfully, everyone in the neighborhood is jolly as we are certain that within weeks, perhaps, all of the majestic slopes of North Texas will be covered with the beautiful white fluffiness that says "Have some fun, flatlanders." Across the valley a herd of elk grazed and down by the chilly stream, a trout fisherman in waders worked his line through the air.

And, as I relaxed, sincere men in an ambulance quietly arrived to medicate me because, apparently, I was hallucinating in the heat. (Thanks to this site for that photo.)

The front porch feral cats, ignoring the lark buntings in the nearby meadow, continued to enjoy their breakfast. Oh, wait. those aren't the Colorado state birds. They're the Texas state birds -- living up to their name. Mockingbirds. Hand me a cold compress and a sedative.

PUMPKIN'S PLIGHT: We've been monitoring the situation of Pumpkin the cat. He's going to need a good home -- probably an "only cat" home because he seems to stir "attitude" in other cats. On his own, he's probably a swell fellow.

This happens sometimes. Not that cats are like people, but sometimes relationships just don't work out. To give Pumpkin a good home, get in touch with his foster at [email protected]. She is currently tending to Pumpkin and his needs while juggling her older, more sedate cats, and their needs.

STILL LOOKING FOR A HOME: You may recall the story of Dodge from way back in July. Vet tech Regina Bohannon at Central Expressway Animal Hospital in Dallas is working to find this "repaired" lad a new home. (E-mail [email protected] or call 972-768-9225.)

Back in mid-June a man picked Dodge up off a Dallas street after the dog fell out of one pickup, then was struck by another one.

He had a lot of leg damage. But he's being treated and is being fostered right now just to get him out of a kennel situation, Regina says.

And, this is one of his early photos. He's a little more active now, but needs a permanent home in which to be his really active self. And, swears Regina, he won't be going to anyone who puts their dogs in the bed of their pickups.
Now, read this next note.

WISE UP, PINHEADS: (Sorry, that's my message. It's your basic "blanket message" that fits all people in all situations. Now, let's move on to the actual note.)

The folks at Companions for Life, the educational animal group, have a message reminding drivers that it's just not safe to let dogs ride in the bed of a pickup. They fall out. They jump out. They're thrown out when the idiot driver plays demolition derby on a freeway.

(Think this doesn't happen? Check with animal shelters who've spent buckets of cash on dogs that fell out of trucks.)

Besides, in Dallas, it's against the law to drive around with your dog in the back of the pickup. Here's the link.

ABOUT AMARILLO: Earlier this week we mentioned the fine city of Amarillo, out in the Texas Panhandle. And that reminded me that it is the home of the Big Texan Steak Ranch -- I'm a vegetarian, but I understand places such as these exist. Anyway, the Big Texan is the home of that challenge: Eat the 72-ounce steak and trimmings in a hour and you get it for free.

What if you fail? What's it cost?
I made a call to the Big Texan -- $72, it costs.

Years ago, when my thengiddynewbridespouse Martha and I were on our honeymoon, and were both carnivores, we stopped at the Big Texan en route to New Mexico and beyond. That 72-ounce steak is as big as wheel. At www.bigtexan.com you can read about people who have met the challenge.

We didn't even try. We had the bargain petite sirloins, as I recall. I think they were called the "Dallas Specials" back then. That's probably in honor of all the thin people in Dallas. Or the thin wallets. Or the lousy tippers from Dallas. Who knows?

The Big Texan -- with saloon, wandering cowboy band, theater and theme motel -- is an amazing place. Salad was good, as I recall.

But Amarillo is not exactly a day-trip from Dallas. It is, however, on the way to a lot of other places.

DIAL TONE: Our pal and former colleague at the big paper in Dallas, Jon Kinslow of Grand Prairie, sent out an e-mail that contained this note: "Law of the Telephone: When you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal."

Think about this: In the age of voice mail, answering machines and call waiting, when's the last time you got a busy signal? When you were sitting in your own house and dialed your own number by mistake?