Let's get into the day's activities. The top part may stir you to anger, but toward the end you'll see opportunities to enjoy life.
HERE'S AN ODD ONE: Two dogs are found in a 20-foot deep pit. How did they get there?
We're trying to find out.
Ginger Leach of Fort Worth Animal Care & Control reports that the dogs were in the pit "with another dog who had perished a long while back -- only bones were left."
The recovered dogs are a male Dalmatian and a female shepherd mix.
Ginger says, "They are in relatively good shape, they are somewhat underweight -- the shep mix gal more than the Dalmatian boy."
How long they'd been in the pit, no one is sure (except maybe the person who put them there). But, says Ginger, she gave the Dalmatian a bath and he's "still not white.. Poor baby, who knows how long they were in that hole.
(To offer to help these dogs, e-mail [email protected] or call
817-392-3737, ext. 1865.)
THE CLOCK IS TICKING: This is Layla, described as a "sweet female pit bull with burn scars."
She'll need to be pulled from the Little Elm Shelter in order to avoid a 4 p.m. date with death on Friday.
Isn't that nice?
She's described as a "4-year-old female pit owner-surrender" who is "sweet as can be" and "has major scarring on here right side as a result of burns. She also has scars on both knees from knee surgery."
The Little Elm Shelter has been sensationally overcrowded lately and needs relief.
What's the adoption fee for this dog? Ten dollars. That's right. Just ten bucks. (To help save this girl, e-mail [email protected].)
FROM THE COURTHOUSE: One of our reliable tipsters has been attending the Dallas trial of Ryan Coleman who pled guilty Tuesday to animal cruelty in the case of Tiger the Cat. The trial is now in the punishment phrase, which means that evidence is being presented and that evidence will be used by a jury to determine what punishment should be applied. Tiger was mutilated before being killed in Nov. 2003 and it took a while to make the case, it seems.
As often happens in criminal cases, defense attorneys summoned family members to testify on the bad guy's behalf. The father of the accused, we're told, "first made sure that the courtroom knew he and his family were Mensa members and that the son he raised was a DISD chess champion -- 'a prodigy,' according to him."
The father also said he thought the son's killing of the cat stopped his bipolar son's out of control spiral. (Aside: Mensa member? I'll bet Mensa's reviewing those membership rules.)
The father, noting that his son had been in jail since February, testified that "enough is enough," says our courtroom monitor, who adds, "I wonder how much little Tiger thought was 'enough' as he was being tortured, shot, had his ear and tail cut off and was set on fire."
OKLAHOMA STORY # 1: We got this courtesy of tipster/rescuer Kim Tharpe in Dallas.
She is looking for help in "getting justice for two purebred Huskies shot in Oklahoma for killing a chicken."
A woman named Angie Ruckman is attempting to develop a legal case against the neighbor who shot her Huskies at Altus, Okla., about 100 miles southwest of Oklahoma City. She's got someone helping with research on gunfire and bullet trajectories.
She has arguments with other elements of the man's story, too. He is scheduled for trial on Oct. 19 on a charge of "discharging a firearm in the city limits," she says.
And, Angie says, "I was asked by the city attorney to bring the vet bills in hope that he has to reimburse the fees."
She writes that the shooter told police he shot the female pup twice "when she was caged in the chicken coop," Angie says. "There was no way for her to get out. When I arrived on the scene, I actually had to unlock the cage. The male (the larger one in the photo) was shot in the forehead at point blank range. The shooter stated that he was being attacked by the dog, but a point blank shot is unlikely if a dog is attacking you and there are no physical bite or scratch marks on the man."
The female was beaten and shot twice at while caged, we're told. She underwent surgery Tuesday.
Angie's husband is currently serving with the military in Iraq. (To help Angie or offer support, e-mail [email protected] .)
In the middle of her heartbreak, Angie asks, "What are my options? I can get statements and I have video that these dogs are not aggressive. Husky's were not bred to be aggressive, they were bred to be family dogs."
OKLAHOMA STORY #2: This comes from Judy Arledge at Hitchita, Okla., about 100 miles east of Oklahoma City. "I am trying to get some justice for Scrappy, a very gentle pit. he belonged to my neighbor and her kids and grandkids."
Judy says that as some of the kids were walking Scrappy, one particular neighbor shotgunned the dog. "He has shot several people's dogs and the law says there is nothing they can do," she writes.
Scrappy was shot on Sept. 20. the kids were riding a power mower that was pulling a trailer. It was loaded with brush and they were riding along the road. Scrappy, who went everywhere with the kids, was trotting along behind them.
The kids said the man fired once in the air, then aimed and the dog and fired.
"Scrappy walked about two blocks and collapsed on their grandpa's lawn. When their grandma and I got there, Scrappy was nearly dead," Judy says. "I called my vet and we piled into the car with Scrappy and tried to make the 16 miles to the vet to try and save him, but he died in route."
Judy is asking people to contact McIntosh County Sheriff Terry Jones and influence him to "do something" with this shotgun-toting neighbor "or it'll be the kids next." Write to Sheriff Jones about Scrappy at 110 No. 1st, Eufaula, Okla., 74432. The office phone is 918-689-2526. To contact Judy to help her with this project, e-mail [email protected].
Judy says the guy with the shotgun told a deputy that Scrappy was in his yard; the kids say the dog was in the road.
I'm a city guy, so, maybe I don't understand why a guy would be lounging in his front yard with a 12-gauge just in case a dog wandered past. I'm sure he has a good reason -- and it's probably outlined in a psychiatry book somewhere under the chapter heading, "Send To State Hospital For Observation."
SOME GOOD NEWS: Whew, about time today. And it's a pleasure to remind people that the folks at Paws in the City have scheduled a sensational fundraiser with stars for October 14 -- it's called "The Dog Days of Hollywood" and it'll be hosted by Dallas Cowboys great Preston Pearson and you'll be able to meet and mingle with the "Emmy Award-winning cast members of The Young And Restless" Christian LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin) and Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Abbott) and “All My Children” Star Ian Buchanan (Dr. Greg Madden).
Music will be by the Ricki Derek Band and the Phonophreaks Trio. There'll also be a casino set up, cocktails, buffet, live and silent auctions (a signed Anne Rice book!) and awards to people who have helped animals and Paws in the City.
The event (too bland a word -- how about "dazzling theme party") is at 7 p.m. October 14 at Splashlight Studios, 2410 Farrington in Dallas. Dress is "cocktail attire" and tickets are $100 -- get 'em online at www.pawsinthecity.org or call 214-522-5112.
AND BACK IN ODESSA: You may recall that earlier in the year many folks around here helped Jim Bates, stricken with a serious illness, move scores of dogs out of his sanctuary in Odessa. Sandra Terrazas, who worked to spread the word about this need for help, reports that Jim still has 45 dogs that need placement so he can close the shelter and get on with his medical treatment. Sandra writes, "I am praying that each one of you will forward this on to all who may be able to help as the situation here grows more desperate daily. ... He (Jim) is very worried about the coming cold weather and even though there are dog houses, he cannot get out and do as he used to because of his illness."
If you can help, e-mail Sandra at [email protected].
SOMETHING HAPPY: If you think you had trouble reading all the misery outlined in today's post, trust me, putting it together was no picnic. Such abominable behavior by humans. The bright spots include Sandra trying to help Jim out in Odessa and the note about Paws in The City's gala!
But, I feel we need one good dose of "normal behavior" to help get our minds right today.
And to get that happy treatment, we must summon the skills and charm of The Cocker Laureate of The State of Texas, Inky the Cocker Spaniel. (Yes, this is his Official Action Portrait.)
I have awakened Inky to ask him to write a poem that gives us a view of the world that we might not ordinarily consider. He is, after all, barely shin-tall on a 6th grader and when you trot that low everything is always looking up.
So Inky presents us with what he calls
"Paean to Prone"
A mystery dog barks on TV
The loyal spaniel looks up
He gives off a low bark
Toward the television pup.
The cocker has his habits
He is a dog who's barked
He also intends to stay
Exactly where he's parked.
