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Midweek report...

Well, let's see what we've got on the last day of February, 2007.

Astonishingly, not all of the world's problems have been solved in the first two months of the year, and, heck, maybe even a few new ones have been added.

PIT BULL INCIDENT: Usually if you see "pit bull" and "incident" in the same sentence in a news story, you expect some biting to have occurred. But this is not the case with Oreo, a 25-pound, probably year-old black and white pit bull mix. Still, it is not a happy ending. This little dog was "put to sleep" Tuesday afternoon.

The dog is a victim of a system, a casualty of humanity -- sentenced to death by a political climate and a reputation.

The story begins last week when a woman, trying to do the right thing, turned the "found" dog into Garland Animal Services. Several people tried to get the dog out of the Garland shelter. And there's a bunch of "they said this" and "she said that" and "I'm so upset" and unpleasant fiery rhetoric aimed at the Garland shelter. Repeating all of it doesn't help any of the dogs -- and that is, of course, the main objective.

This is a tough time for pit bulls and pit bull mixes. Still, virtually everyone who has ever been involved in rescue knows of pit bulls and pit bull mixes who are as gentle and sweet as your sainted mother for their entire lives.

But now and then you run across pit bulls who have not been properly socialized or who have not been loved and they become the "problem dogs" that ruin the situation for all pit bulls. They kill children and adults, rampage through neighborhoods, kill animals that wander onto their turf. The stories are horrible and memorable and all pit bulls pay for the sins of the few.

Since 1984, the Garland Animal Services policy has been that it does not adopt out pit bulls without an OK from the shelter manager, says Diane Oats, the city's shelter manager for the past year. An owner can reclaim a stray pit or turned-in pit-type dog, but manager Oats says Oreo's actual owner never made an attempt to reclaim the dog. So, on Tuesday, Oreo joined the long-line of dogs that didn't make it.

When a pit bull-type is brought into Garland, that dog is at a disadvantage because, says Ms. Oats, "we only have them here for a short time. We don't have time to evaluate their behavior. We don't have their history. And these dogs are notoriously unpredictable."

For the past three years, Ms. Oats says, pit bull-type dogs have been "the number one biter in Garland." Also, she says, city records show that while the number of dog bites in Garland has declined the number of pit bull bites has increased.

Garland's Abe J. Tuggle Animal Shelter has 78 kennels and 26 cat cages, says Ms. Oats. "We normally run 100 percent." There are days when half the dogs are pit bulls or pit bull mixes. The Garland shelter is at 600 Tower Drive.

According to figures compiled by the Metroplex Animal Coalition, more than 200,000 animals are put to sleep in shelters in North Texas each year. They're not all pit bull mixes, but many of them are.

As Mrs. Oats says, "If everybody was a responsible pet owner, we wouldn't have a job -- and that would be fine with me."

Lately, the Garland city government has been examining this problem of aggressive dogs. And, on March 6,  Garland will consider asking the Texas Legislature to give it some leeway in dealing with "aggressive" dogs. This is not exactly a breed-specific ban, but, instead, addresses safety issues and the issues just happen to involve aggressive dogs. If given the OK, Garland would be allowed, says shelter manager Oats, "to make a breed containment and management ordinance."

If this came to pass and people obeyed the law, then "aggressive" dogs would be, by law, properly restrained and not a threat to the public -- if people followed the law.

And if people obeyed the speed laws, municipalities would never write speeding tickets. But there's obviously a reason traffic cops carry entire books of tickets.

Basically, no matter which way you look at almost any animal problem -- strays, turn-ins of unwanted litters, aggressive behavior -- you will find a human who has failed to act responsibly.

With the death of Oreo, we see a great battle of one small dog facing such mighty opponents as policy, bad reputation and an overwhelming lack of concern on the part of the non-rescue, uninformed public.

All of these things can be corrected -- policy can be changed, responsible humans can socialize dogs and you can attempt to get the attention of the non-rescue public. The only ingredient that can't be changed is that Oreo cannot be made to live again, to wag his tail, bark a greeting or look up to see a human who might be there to help him.

HELPING A FARMERS MARKET DOG IN DALLAS: Jan Gifford, veteran rescuer and longtime tipster, is among the people who are trying to find help for this dog, currently known as "Blackie."

She says she sees him "periodically on my way to work and have stopped to try to check him out, but he usually runs back into one of the greenhouse areas across from the Farmers Market."

So, once again, we have a dog that is too clever for his own good.

Here's the consolidated report from witnesses: "Blackie, a beautiful, black lab (probably under 2 years), has been living as a stray for over 7 months in the Farmers Market area of downtown. He is not neutered! The shop owners at Farmers Market feed him, but do not keep him safe or on leash and this free spirit is left to roam the streets. He frequents the downtown dog park usually between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day. He’s loving and gets along with anyone who takes the time, dogs, too. However, he is scared of getting caught and will run if he doesn’t know you and can jump a chain link fence in a single bound, and he’s street smart about crossing streets (looking both ways). Once he knows you, he rolls over for tummy rubs and affection.  He’s is in great condition and has shown no signs of any aggressive behavior … he just needs to be in a safe home."

To help get Blackie into a safe environment, e-mail [email protected].

NOW, HERE IS A DAWG: This smiling dog is known as "Chuy." Her tale comes to us via Cary Birdwell at Adopt-a-Dallas Pet. She's in a foster home right now in Arlington, but really needs to move into her permanent home because the foster person reports "I already have my limit on pets!"

Chuy is about 6 months old, weighs around 50 pounds and is "really, really sweet," according to the foster. "she knows and obeys basic commands and goes to the door when she needs to 'go outside.'

"She loves to play and gets along well with other cats and dogs. She also welcomes stdrangers!"

To ask about adopting Chuy, e-mail [email protected].

Remember, big ol' dawgs are big ol' friends.

TINKERING AT THE LAKE: Our pals at the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake -- that's east of Dallas -- have been tweaking their website and have introduced a "Volunteer Profile" to the opening page. If you're at the office, turn your speakers down to a more personal level because there's a great, brief burst of cartoon music fun when you open the site.

Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake runs a splendid low cost spay/neuter clinic in Gun Barrel City. The town was incorporated in the 1970s as a beer and wine oasis.

The town motto is (click HERE ) is "We shoot straight with you."

If we weren't drought-prone around here, maybe they'd have named the town (chartered in the 1970s) Rain Barrel City.

From Spring to Stadiums...

Let me assure you folks reading in the snowy Northeast that spring is practically here. I mowed the front yard yesterday and there were birds chirping and things flying that'll make you sneeze. Might just be dust. We're kind of dry around here.

A PIT BULL NEEDS A HOME: Our pal Patricia Barrington, Animal Control Division Manager for The Colony, has at least two animals that need some help in the city shelter.

We mentioned one, Titus, on Friday (scroll down but come right back). He's still needing a home.

And now, there is this dog. Tricia writes: "Now, I’ve got another one – she just came in, typically, this would be a hopeless situation … but I’m going to work for this girl and put in some extra effort because she deserves better.  Turkey is a pit – yes, she’s a pit and she’s 7 years old.  She is social, but she is the alpha female.  When she isn’t oblivious of the office cat, Slim, she’s friendly with him.  Turkey is terribly tolerant and trustworthy. She loves love … the toddler who came in with her this morning, explained to me that Turkey is a therapist of sorts; ‘When I get mad I give Turkey a bear hug – she just lets me feel better.’ – my eyes welled up a little, because poor Turkey’s future isn’t too bright.

"Turkey’s official name is ‘Omega’ and she was called ‘Meg’ until the tot started talking and he called her ‘Turkey’ – that name stuck and that is what she answers to now.  If there wasn’t a 7 year old alpha female at my house, watching out the window waiting for me to pull into the driveway, Turkey wouldn’t have a worry in the world; we’d enjoy ‘Boston Legal’, together every Tuesday night and my kids would use her as a pillow and share cereal with her during Saturday morning cartoons…she’s so much like my Leo, it just pains me to think of her life ending in a shelter.

"Turkey is 7 years old, she’s spayed, house broken and spoiled.  She misses her tot terribly and struggled to stay at his side as I took her back into the kennel.  She was surrendered due to divorce – Dad, who was responsible for the dog is leaving (going into some branch of the military) and Mom just doesn’t feel she can accommodate Turkey in her new 3rd story apartment.  Turkey and the tot got the raw end of this whole divorce deal."

To ask about helping Turkey, contract Patricia at 972-370-9250 or e-mail [email protected].

OTHER PIT BULL STORIES: You may have missed this story on TV station CW33 in Dallas/Fort Worth. Dawn Tongish, during one of yesterday's newscasts, focused on efforts to strengthen animal cruelty laws in Texas. Go to the station's SITE and click on the story "Animal Abuse Cases Heading To Trial." And go to the Texas Humane Legislation Network site www.thln.org to see how you can help.

Operation Kindness Executive Director Jonnie England is featured in the TV report. And she reminds us that two cases of abuse of pit bulls are headed to court soon.

First up is the misdemeanor cruelty case in which Ester Baker is accused of fatal neglect and abandonment of a pit bull named Sweet Charity -- that's scheduled March 27. The felony cruelty case against DeShann Brown is scheduled April 23 -- that's the case in which the man is accused of pouring gasoline on Mercy the Dog and setting her ablaze.

FAITH AND HOPE: Yesterday we reported that Faith and Hope had been saved from an unpleasant fate -- you may recall that the tireless Fort Worth Animal Care & Control shelter worker Ginger Leach had worked hard to find a place for these two dogs.

Things came together and Catahoula Rescue Inc. stepped up, delivered the dogs into the custody of veteran rescuer Nancy Twitty and the dogs have been vetted and are on their way or ways to being adoptable pups with adorable faces.

To ask about adopting these two or helping with their bills, e-mail

[email protected] or mac.netxrep.cri.gmail.com -- that e-mail goes to Mac MacAlister of Catahoula Rescue Inc. To snail mail a donation, write a check to Catahoula Rescue Inc with "Faith and Hope" in the memo line and send it to L.M.B. MacAlister, 207 Harpole Road East, Argyle, Texas, 76226-3909.

A COUPLE OF TERRIERS: I'm combining these two dogs because they seem to look like cousins or, maybe, they're nothing alike. Either way they have a common need: a home.

The dog on the left is Princess, pulled from the Houston city pound (BARC -- Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care).

the story is that Princess is a "rare" breed, the Decker Rat Terrier. Click HERE to read about the breed. And if you're interested in Princess, e-mail Dana Dicker at [email protected] or call 713-502-4002.

In the meantime, the blind dog in the photo on the right is a terrier -- not a Decker, but maybe a Dallas Countier -- currently in the custody of the Garland Animal Shelter, a municipal shelter (that means the dog is at peril).

To help this dog, contact Garland Animal Services kennel attendant Lynette Flynt at 972-205-3570, ext. 2.

Terriers -- they're determined, they're big on affection. They need humans.

NEWS OF CLARISSA: On Friday we mentioned that this cat Clarissa needed a special home -- she has feline leukemia. Animal Allies of Texas, which had pulled her from the Terrell Animal Shelter, was working to make sure this cat had a great shot a long and happy life.

Wendi McDonald of Animal Allies reports that help has arrived thanks to the folks at the Humane Society of Dallas County's no-kill shelter. "The wonderful volunteers at Dog and Kitty City have a small colony (about 7 cats) of Feline Leuk kitties and they were generous enough to take Clarissa into their program for us.

"It is encouraging and heartwarming when rescue groups work together. We are very happy for Clarissa and grateful that Dog and Kitty City was able to help us save her."

THE FUTURE OF THE COTTON BOWL: The Cotton Bowl football game is moving to Arlington to the new Jerry Jones/Dallas Cowboys whizbang facility. No doubt the Texas-OU game will follow, as will other football games usually played in the big stadium in Fair Park. So what is to thappen to the big Cotton Bowl stadium? Do the same thing with it that usually happens to big empty buildings in downtown Dallas. Turn it into lofts and jack up the rent. It already has bathrooms and showers. Turn the football field into a dog park. Use the proceeds to fill potholes, repair streets and fund a project to lure the Dallas Cowboys back to Dallas and bring an actual major league baseball team to the area.

Monday morning potpourri

Good grief, what a weekend. This time of year some places get a dusting of snow. North Texas got a dusting of dust.

We didn't have to go to the Panhandle. It came to us.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that the National Weather Service said the dust cloud was "up to 400 miles long and up to 70 miles wide, stretching from Lubbock to the Metroplex and from Ardmore, Okla., to Comanche."

That's a lot of flying dirt. I blame this on the early start of presidential politics.

What was it like? Grit in your teeth, dirt on your pickup, the sun obscured by a thick yellow haze and sounds muffled by the cloud. It was a lot like an early Larry McMurtry novel.

If it ever rains again, we'll have mud on top of dirt.

The picture? My photos of the dust storm didn't turn out, so I offer this photo of a George Strait soundtrack album -- the movie was "Pure Country" (exactly like the stuff that blew into town Saturday). George played a character named Dusty.

CAT SURVIVES: This is Leilana, whose photo was sent to us by Cary Birdwell on behalf of the Humane Society of Dallas and its no-kill shelter, Dog And Kitty City.

She is, the story goes, "a gorgeous medium-haired calico who was thrown out of a moving car. She was a nursing mother was disposed of in front of the shelter without her babies.."

That's pretty sad. At least the bad guys tossed her out at a shelter -- you have to wonder if they knew it was a no-kill shelter. Or if they cared.

According to the shelter report, "She has long conversations with the people caring for her at the shelter. She is an angel with a kind heart."

To ask about adopting or helping Leilani, e-mail the Humane Society of Dallas at [email protected].

REMEMBER THESE DOGS? Faith and Hope were in the Fort Worth Animal Care & Control Shelter and facing a sad fate. But the tireless Ginger Leach sent out a call for help and the dogs have been moved into a foster situation.

Here's a description: "Hope's blue eyes are almost crystal clear.  They are magic eyes.  She is a bit shyer than Faith. They weren't real thrilled about the crates the first time in, but after eating and going out in the backyard, with a little help they went back into their crates to settle down for the night.  These are extremely sweet dogs."

The dogs, thanks to Catahoula Rescue Inc., were moved into a long-term foster home and are currently at a vet's office in Denton where they're being spayed and given routine care.

OTHER STUFF: Most boring Oscars telecast ever? And The Departed won the Best Picture Oscar? I saw The Departed. It was the story of a bunch of ugly people in ugly situations and it ended as if the scriptwriter said, "Look, I don't have any more. We're painted into a corner. Let's just kill them all, shut this down and have a wrap party."....Speaking of movies: Three big parts for actresses coming up. Who'll play Britney Spears, Anna Nicole Smith and the Lovesick Astronaut? This stuff sort of makes you glad the cameras don't follow you around, doesn't it?... Clunkiest new radio slogan? From KLIF (570 AM): "Stimulating talk." Makes listeners sound like they bleed chlorophyll. The slogan is just so close to "Simulating Talk," you have to wonder why they picked it. I'm not listening to this particular station -- except after midnight when the flying saucer/ghost/space alien show is on. Now, that's stimulating. I suspect a "focus group" was involved in picking the slogan. Focus groups: at the heart of all that is wrong with America, according to an informal survey.

The Faces of Tranquility

It is not often that you catch a photograph that contains two great symbols of American tranquility.

Yet, our pal Christie Hansen, a regular tipster to Readlarrypowell.com, has managed to present us with a picture that has both symbols in the frame -- a sweet baby and an adorable cocker spaniel.

Thus, we are honoring this photo as the selection for this weekend's presentation of "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap." (Click on the photo to make it larger.)

As people who live with cocker spaniels can tell you, they are natural sleepers.

Babies? Well, as a former baby myself, I urge this child to enjoy napping before he grows out of it.

But, enough personal lamenting about the inability to sleep. Here's Christie's explanation of the photograph:

"This is Rosie, my cocker spaniel, 8 years old. The baby is my new grandson, Cannon, 7 months old. Rosie is the ultimate lap dog and Daddy's girl. She had no problem with the grandbaby visiting. She just got right in the middle of it all."

Grandson Cannon hails from Amarillo -- his parents are Lauren and Michael. And Christie's husband (the "Daddy" of Rosie's "Daddy's Girl") is Thom.

What about Rosie? She's from the streets.

"Rosie was a rescue, of course," says Christie.  "She ran across a busy intersection and I nearly hit her. I turned around, pulled over and opened my door and called her and she jumped right in my lap.

"She was about 8 months old then and you could tell she had been living on the streets for a very long time. She smelled awful and had embedded mud on her belly that I swear is part of her skin now."

Thus you have the story of this photograph: Cannon, beloved grandson, and Rosie, beloved cocker spaniel.

And, of course, anyone who knows either babies or cocker spaniels knows that babies sleep with their eyes open and a bottle in their faces and cocker spaniels can slightly open one eye and be so deeply asleep that when you move them, it's like picking up a bag of rice, just going with the flow.

(To nominate a snoozing critter for Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, e-mail the photo and the info to [email protected]. Remember at Readlarrypowell.com, we believe the ability to nap is a gift that should not go wasted. We also believe that some of us were not gifted with the elusive nodoff gene.)

Critters and blessings...

We've reached the end of an interesting week. Time for celebration, contemplation and appreciation. You know where you fit into the mix. You're either a cause for celebration, a cause for contemplation or a cause for appreciation. Let your conscience be your guide.

Now, let's move on with items about helping dogs and cats and trying to fathom how things work in the restaurant industry.

PRAYERS AND PASSAGES: If you click on our Prayers and Passages page (the button is on the right side of this page), you'll see a story of a stunning weekend -- it is a story of friendship.

HELPING A CAT: Wendi McDonald of Animal Allies of Texas sends us this note about Clarissa, who, obviously, knows how to curl up in a fashion that cat-lovers describe without fail as "cute."

Clarissa is a Siamese mix who is a "special needs" cat -- special needs beyond the intense desire to be a lap cat. She is positive for feline leukemia.

That means she needs to be either an only cat or adopted into a home in which the other cats are fe-leuk positive. She was pulled from a kill shelter -- it was after that rescue that Animal Allies discovered she was positive.

There are many fe-leuk positive cats who live long and affectionate lives. Clarissa is a young cat. She probably has many, many years left.

To volunteer to adopt or foster or help Clarissa, e-mail [email protected] or call 972-967-2266.

"THIS LITTLE OX": That's the loving term The Colony's Animal Control Division Manager Patricia Barrington used today to describe this pup. As you can tell, he wants to get right into the camera, so a helper has to hold him back to keep him from climbing right into the mechanism and licking everybody silly.

"This little ox," says Tricia, "is likely a pitbull and Australian cattle dog (heeler) mix of about 9 weeks old. He is going to be a beefcake -- but even beefcakes need a place to call home. I call this little man 'Titus' but he will answer to pretty well anything.

"He loves attention and gets most of his exercise running in and out of the leg stride of whoever happens to be walking him."

Though he's "sweet, cute and loveable," she says he is "having a tough time finding a home. But I know there is one out there for him."

To offer to give Titus, the little ox, a good home, e-mail [email protected], call 972-370-9250. Or stop by the shelter at 4720 E. Lake Highlands.
ADOPTION NOTES: Remember, many rescue groups will have off-site adoptions this weekend -- check listings in Urban Animal magazine or go to your favorite group's website. If you're looking for a dog or cat, don't forget to visit the city shelters -- you may be able to pull a new friend off death row. ... Down in Corsicana, the Humane Society will have an on-site adoption from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Corsicana Animal Shelter, 612 S.12th St. The Humane Society will give certificates for grooming and spay/neuter. Yep, more sweet bargains in Corsicana than just the world famous Collin Street Bakery fruitcake.

ABBY'S LOOKING FOR A HOME: Jim Stembridge reports that he's got someone interested in fostering Abby, the Lab/greyhound mix, but still is looking for a home for the 6-year-old dog. The family is moving overseas. Jim that "we are on a plane Saturday night and she cannot go with us and we would really like to see her go to another home if at all possible."

To offer to help with Abby, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-336-7929.

Abby is an 80-pound bundle of fun and sweetness. She's an indoor dog.

REMINDER: We're already gathering event notices for the upcoming issues of award-winning Urban Animal magazine. If you have an animal-related event coming up in April, May or beyond, mail the basic details to [email protected]. Please just include the basics: who, what, where, when and phone numbers or e-mails where you can be contacted for double-checking.

Remember, go Joe Friday with the information: Just the facts. Thanks.

RESTAURANT TRENDS: Some restaurant is ballyhooing its "chipotle shrimp" in TV ads and it reminded me of how chipotle flavoring had become the rage a few years back -- it was so popular that our beloved El Fenix was forced to introduce chipotle dishes.

Perhaps my memory fails, but prior to chipotle, the big rage may have been "blackened" or "Cajun." Maybe "Mesquite smoked" or "hickory smoked" preceded all that.

"What's going on now?" you may wonder. Glad you asked. More and more restaurants are crowing about their "applewood" flavoring, in particular "applewood smoked bacon."

What is chipotle? Smoke-dried jalapenos. And what is applewood bacon? It is bacon taken from pigs that have been allowed to languish in orchards. I'm kidding. But, seriously, how many more gimmicks do restaurants need?

Oh, wait, the Associated Press reports that Kentucky Fried Chicken has asked the Pope to bless the "Fish Snacker Sandwich" for Lent. I guess they couldn't figure out a suitable Eggs Pope Benedict sandwich.

What's next? Food protestations? Will cafeterias serve pie made iwth the Billy Graham Cracker Crust?

This world has a lot of strange ingredients.

Big cat, podcasts and pups...

Before we get to podcasting for pets, a note of explanation:

This photo is of the backside of our big cat Griffin. We got him from a carnival sideshow where he was working as "The Giant Radiating Cat From Chernobyl."

I'm kidding. He wandered up in Oak Cliff when he was a tiny kitten. Tiny. Barely a handful. He's no longer tiny and you need a forklift to pick him up.

He's quite handsome from any angle.

I caught this photo as he lounged atop the back of the couch in a space usually occupied by either a hefty cocker spaniel, a big heeler mix or two normal-sized cats.

And when I saw this pose, I thought, "Wonder if I could charge billboard rates for advertising on that broad backside?"

It's almost big enough to handle "When in Hollywood Visit Universal Studios" or, perhaps, the traditional high school yearbook ad, "This space provided by a friend."

We have advertising on Readlarrypowell.com. Be sure to visit our advertisers. They're good people who work hard. Without them, you couldn't be reading about happy endings or opportunities for happy endings. (To ask about advertising on our site and helping publicize animal issues, e-mail [email protected]. Our account executive will respond.)

I began today's report with Griffin's photo because, frankly, it makes me smile and maybe you'll enjoy a smile, too. Griffin's a good example of how you can be walking along and suddenly find your universe changed.

A NICE REPORT FROM THE LAKE: We got a copy of this note sent out by Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. We mention these folks periodically because (a) they're doing good work and (b) they sometimes have dogs and cats that need a happy ending. The Friends operate a spay-neuter clinic in Gun Barrel City -- it's open on Tuesdays and it's busy. Here's the note from Sydney:

"I want to let everyone involved with Friends of the Animals Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic know about the latest good news.

"First of all, we just completed our 10,000th surgery.  This means that literally millions of little unwanted lives will not be born – it’s something we can all take pride in.

"Secondly, due to adding new products for sale at the clinic, several new grants that have come in, and the hard work of our fundraising efforts, we have been able to fund three part-time paid jobs to our staff."

And, the note continues, "Our wonderful volunteers are the backbone of Friends of the Animals.  You are all the reason for our success!"

Those of us who are mostly observers of animal efforts know that no special event, no off-site adoption, no holiday photo session, no fundraising event and virtually no routine business -- heck, let's just say almost nothing -- gets done without volunteers.

I'm working on getting Congress to double your current pay.

PODCASTING AND YOU: Leigh Foster of Rose City, Mich., has an amazing array of animal-related things at The Pawz Cauze, including podcasting -- basically, in terms a Baby Boomer would understand, podcasting is a radio show on the computer. Heck, it can even be a TV show if you've got one of those little camera hook-ups for your computer.

Mercifully, when Leigh and I discussed animal rescue and issues last week, there was no camera focused on me. So, you're safe to go to this link and listen to Leigh and I talk without having to look at me.

You'll also see that Leigh has interviewed Dallas area animal noteables Jonnie England of Operation Kindness and Dr. Shawn Messonnier.

(Aside: Dr. Messonnier has a radio show on Sirius Satellite Channel 112, 8-10 p.m. Tuesdays, and that show, Dr. Shawn -- The Natural Vet, has been declared Best Pet Radio Show by the Dog Writer's Association. The good vet practices at Paws & Claws Animal Hospital in Plano.)

When you click onto Leigh's podcast interview with me, remember that I'm doing the interview while surrounded by our dogs, cats and their attorneys. Just wanted to set the scene for you.

FOUND IN FORT WORTH: This dog and I have something in common. We've both been lost on the Rockwood Municipal Golf Course in Fort Worth. It's on the north side, right along the Trinity River and adjacent to Jacksboro Highway. I don't know how this pup came to be lost on the golf course, but I was looking for golf balls I'd struck and sent flying off into weeds or gullies or other naturally occurring out-of-bounds obstacles.

At any rate, Diane Heath sent us a note about this pup. She says, "He is safe and will be easily placed if no one comes forward, but we would prefer to get him back to his rightful owner. He does not have a microchip nor was he wearing a collar or tags." (If you know this dog and know where he belongs, Diane says call Lisa at 817-271-2727.)

A BASSET NEEDS A HOME: Our reliable tipster Christi Hansen spotted this situation and asked about getting some "find-a-home" help.

The story is that the Brennan Enos Family in Fort Worth has three bassets (Emmitt, 13; Opie, 8; and Daphne, 7) -- they love all the dogs, but one of the dogs has been having some difficulties getting along in the multi-dog household.

So, Opie, who is quarreling on a regular basis with Emmitt, is now in need of a new home.

The Enos' first child arrived six months ago and in case Opie's situation arises from jealousy, they want to take proper precautions and save the dog and the family from unnecessary stress. No need to have two dogs stirring things up around an infant.

The kindest thing is to find Opie a home where he's happy. Brennan describes Opie as a "very sweet, very loving dog. He loves to be around people and to cuddle with them." He's housebroken, neutered, his shots are up to date and he "has a healthy appetite and loves any kind of treats."

To ask about adopting Opie, call 817-419-7019 or e-mail [email protected].

A POINTER-MIX: As we noted in an earlier item, the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake often tip us to dogs in need. This is one of them: Justice, a 6-year-old, 85-pound pointer mix.

The story from Lisha Snyder is that Justice is "a super sweet dog who thinks he is a lap dog. He is best with older kids and is good with other dogs." He's not recommended for a home with toddlers and small children. To ask about adopting Justice, call Lisha at 972-747-9288.

Now, he is a pointer-mix and, as you know, the pointer is generally regarded as an outdoor dog. But Justice is a mix -- and that part may explain this description from Lisha: "He is an indoor dog who loves to get out and run and sit in the sun, but is afraid of the rain and hates the cold."

Sounds like a smart dog who'd be perfect for a middle-aged sedentary man with enough sense to come in out of the rain.

Shaving heads, saving dogs, the herkie

Oh, readers, let's just go ahead and mention this. We've been wanting to talk about it. Britney Spears shaved her head.

No big deal if you're a guy. Look around. Lots of "hip" young men shave their heads under the mistaken theory that it will make them look "cool."  All they demonstrate is that the Good Lord knew some lumpy noggins needed camouflage and that there are some ears that need to be disguised. And the backs of some heads have more wrinkles than a championship Shar-pei.

On the other hand, there is Patrick Stewart -- but only ONE Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the universe.

I knew a guy once who was in the middle of a horrible, horrible cold and, in an attempt to break the hold it held on him, he shaved his head. Didn't work. And he made an even uglier face when he sneezed.

Britney needs help. That love-sickened astronaut needs help. Everybody caught up in the Anna Nicole thing needs help. Heck, the whole world needs help. But shaving your head is never the answer unless the question is, "How bad do I hate this new hair-do?".

The photo? Oh, that's the day's Scene of Serenity. On the back of the couch we have Inky the Cocker Spaniel, Annabelle Bob the Black Cat, Poirot the Cat from Another World and Hambone Jack, aka Hammy. They are reacting to news that Britney shaved her head.

TWO REAL ESTATE STORIES: Oh, goodness, we've found contrasting tales.

             Left behind: We got this story from Gail Whelan of Companion Animal Network. She says she's been contacted "by a young woman who is trying to help this dog. The dog's owners moved and left him at this house.  He is still waiting for them to return. (GRRRRRRRRR)  He is about a year old.  This young woman will pay for shots and neutering, but we MUST find a safe place for this dog.  The owner of the house does not want him there.  PLEASE PLEASE can you post and beg for some wonderful rescue types to catch him and give him safe harbor?  His vetting will be paid for!"

To help, e-mail [email protected].

Not left behind: These dogs are in a housing crisis, but they have not been left behind. We get the note from our tipsters at Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. The original note comes from Realtor Don Averitt in Dallas. The dogs involved are Becky, left, and Sebastian.

Here's the story: "Two loving and well adjusted dogs need a new home. Their family is being transferred soon and will be unable to take them along. Becky is a 7-year-old Border Collie and Dalmatian mix with a lot of intelligence and energy. Sebastian is an 8-year-old  German Shepard and Labrador mix that loves playing with Becky or just hanging out as the sweet, calm dog he is. Both are outside dogs and would like a nice yard to play in with a new family that will keep them together and give them lots of love and attention. They have been cared for by a local Dallas vet and the owners will be glad to insure that both are current on vet matters as part of the adoption. I’ll be happy to put you in quick contact with Becky and Sebastian’s family." To offer to help Becky and Sebastian, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-502-9070.

FOUND:  Mary Irwin has the story: "My roommate and I were driving home from dance class last Monday night. We got on the [Dallas North] Tollway about 10 p.m. and saw this poor dog huddled up to the fence on Alpha and the Tollway. So we turned around and parked. She was curled up to the fence in a ball, completely terrified. Some other kind people had already stopped and tried to get hold of Animal Control, the tollway authority, anyone -- but no one would come out and help. We happened to have dog food in the car (and maybe some leftover fast food burger, but we won't admit to that!) and finally got her to follow me along the fence line to the on-ramp."

They were able to get the dog into their car and now they are facing the same challenge faced by everyone who picks up an animal these days: All the shelters are full, what do we do next?

In this case, Mary says, "We've already got 3 animals and 3 people in an apartment." So they're doing their part. Anyone out there who can help?

They've decided Deja is a Chow/weimaraner mix. She weighs 30 pounds and may be as young as 9 months or as old as a year-and-a-half.

To help Deja find a home or a place to wait for her next home, call Mary at  817 629 9012 or e-mail [email protected].

HAPPY PAWS ON THE PRAIRIE: Those folks at the Prairie Paws Adoption Center in Grand Prairie must have a professional photographer on the staff. Apryl Bristow forwarded the LINK to the "Pets of the Week."

Consider this photo of young Duke, a Bassett/Boston terrier mix who has a tendency toward playfulness and is, obviously, photogenic.

The Prairie Paws Adoption Center is at 2222 W. Warrior Trail on the south side of Grand Prairie. Phone 972-237-8575.

Yes, dear readers, I know: We'd adopt every one of them if we could.

NEWS FROM CORSICANA: We get this from our Corsicana tipster Julie Maupin. It has to do with a found dog (Bess, from yesterday's report) and a "found" free-roaming lab.

Julie's report: "Good news!  Matt and Misha Parker's lost Schnauzer, Bess, is now safe at home!!!  Shannon Milligan found Bess as he passed by Jester Park this morning."

Then, Julie says, Dave Roberts is dealing with a "super friendly, small female Yellow Lab" who "wandered up to Bowie Elementary School ... Dave said that 100 children surrounded the happy dog during recess!  Rather than call Animal Control, Dave would like to get the word out about this wonderful, loving dog.  She is on the small side - perhaps about 30 lbs.  She is wearing a collar but no tags. Dave says that she is obviously someone's wonderful pet.  The dog has a million dollar disposition and loves the children.  Please spread the word and give Dave a call at Bowie or email me if you hear of someone looking for a lost Yellow Lab girl." The school number is 1-903-872-6541 and Julie's e-mail is [email protected].

CULTURAL NOTE: Never mind bringing the George W. Bush Presidential Library to town, we've got more important things to consider. The AP reports that an ex-Dallas Cowboys cheerleader is attempting to set up a National Cheerleading Hall of Fame. Why should it be in Dallas? Because Dallas is where the "herkie"   was invented. Lawrence "Herkie" Herkimer invented the "leap" when he was a cheerleader at North Dallas High School. It became a traditional cheerleader maneuver. Mr. Herkimer was founder of the National Cheerleader Association and instrumental in the development of the cheerleader industry.

Say, you know, President George Bush was a cheerleader at Andover. If SMU could clear off a lot for the cheerleader hall of fame next to the presidential library... well, it just goes without saying: If you build it, they will herkie.

There's a sentence I never thought I'd write.

Fat Tuesday, a protest and flying

There are two days of the year that I kind of lay low. One is April Fools Day -- some people see me as a prankster and I don't want to get blamed for any expensive or stupid or, as the lawyers say, "actionable" pranks.

The other lay low day is today.

It's "Fat Tuesday." I don't like it when people say, "Hey, congratulations on your day!"

OK, moving along. We saw a story on TV last night that some wayward climbers on Mount Hood had been saved because Velvet, the Lab that was inexplicably with them, kept them warm.

(A) Congratulations to the dog for being a hero -- we know that it is the nature of those big ol' dawgs to be heroic.

(B) Let's get cruelty officers looking into what kind of people would take a water dog mountain climbing in the dead of winter. Has common sense ever prevailed in this country?

THE FACE OF A BEAUTY: This dog is Lana. She's a yellow lab mix who weighs about 50 pounds and is friendly and is available at the Irving Animal Shelter -- she is also on the "put to sleep" list.

Click HERE to see other dogs in the Irving shelter -- this is courtesy of the "independent rescuer" Russell Posch who works to find homes for the animals coming into the city shelter in Irving. Roll your cursor across the dog's photos and you can read about them.

Irving is a big city. There are lots of dogs and cats. That is the curse of urban growth. The more people you have, the more unwanted dogs and cats you have.

Spread the word to non-rescuers about the availability of these great dogs and cats. The shelter is at 100 N Briery Rd, Irving, 75061. Call 972-721-2256 or, after hours, the rescue hotline is 972-721-3597.

SCHNAUZER DAY: Oh, goodness, we have two schnauzer stories. One found, one lost.

First the found:

This little guy's story comes to us from Sydney Busch at Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. "Scottie is 18 pounds of love and cuddle," goes the story. He was found wandering the streets of Tyler, Texas, and "after much effort at trying to find his family, a kind person brought him to us to help place."

Scottie has cataracts, but seems to see well. He's being neutered today and tested for heartworms. His adoption fee will be to reimburse the medical expenses.

To ask about adopting Scottie, call John or Barbara Kennedy at 903-451-3093 or Sydney at 903-451-4701.

Now the lost:

This story comes to us from Julie Maupin, our Corsicana contact. The Parker Family's mini-schnauzer, Bess, dug out of a new stockade fence and took off on Feb. 14. The 10-pound, salt-and-pepper dog was last seen romping down 24th Street near the Parker's new home on Elmwood.

Year old Bess was not wearing a collar and was in need of grooming, but the family wants people to know that she's loved and was shaggy because the family had been in the process of moving to the new home and mom is expecting the family's third child in just two weeks. "The Parkers are worried that someone will think that Bess is not well cared for when, in fact, the dog "is much loved and sorely missed -- especially by the Parker's other two very young children and the Parkers' other family dogs."

If you've seen Bess, contact Matt or Misha Parker at 903-641-9463 or call the Corsicana Animal Shelter at 903-654-4928.

PLANNING AHEAD: Our longtime tipster Judy James reports that the Help for Helpless Animals folks are hosting the "Sip! Savor! Share!" wine-tasting fundraiser from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on April 21 at Premier Wines, 4709 W. Parker Road, Plano.

Activities and entertainment will include a wine class plus sampling of 14 different wines, hors d’oeuvres, silent auction, and door prizes.  Dress code is casual. Buy your tickets in advance and pay just $25 -- at the door it'll cost you $30 a ticket. Call Help for Helpless Animals at 972-424-4860.

A SITE YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN: There's a move afoot to stamp out something called the "Buckeye Dog Auction" in Millersburg, Ohio, we hear from our Midwest tipster Mary O'Connor-Shaver.

She says the organizations People Against Puppy Mills, Columbus Top Dogs and "concerned animal welfare activists from Cleveland, Akron, Canton and Columbus" are joining for a "peaceful protest against this auction." (E-mail [email protected] to offer long-distance support.

The auction is scheduled Feb. 23-24 at the Amish Flea Market in Millersburg, Ohio.

The protestors are targeting the unscrupulous puppy mill operators who treat animals in a shabby fashion and often "store" the inventory in deplorable conditions.

WEEKEND OBSERVATION: After the big NBA all-star game in Las Vegas over the weekend and the subsequent travel jam, we have come up with this version of the current ad slogan for Vegas: "What happens in Vegas can't get out of the airport in Vegas."

What a nightmare. Another reason not to fly.

Slogans and names...

This is Presidents' Day in the United States and your friendly neighborhood critter writer is going to take on a light load of animal business today and may go to a movie with his takingthedayoffspouse Martha.

What will probably happen is at some point during the day, Annie the Dog, daughter of Calamity, the dog in the photo in the upper left corner of this site, will crawl up in the window and go to sleep. (Click on the photo of Annie to make it larger.) Note how she lets her tail run along the window sill before it appears to climb right up the edge of the window like a strand of ring-tailed furry ivy.

Annie cannot name any of presidents -- but she is only three and she is still working on sounding out her consonants and vowels..

SO YOU'VE GOT SOME IDEAS, EH? We got this tip for a way to help a worthy outfit from noted dog assessment guru and hardworking rescuer Cary Birdwell of Adopt-a-Dallas Pet. (Check out this dog at this SITE.). Back to the project:

Here's the deal: Dog and Kitty City, the no-kill shelter run by the Humane Society of Dallas County, is looking for a few good words. And there is a prize involved.

They want a slogan, a memorable pitch. Coke already has The Real Thing. Dr Pepper is already the Friendly Pepper Upper at 10, 2 and 4. I forget what Pepsi uses, but I seem to recall that Miller Lite was once "Tastes great! Less filling!" which just doesn't seem to be appropriate for an animal shelter.

Neither does, these days, the old Peter Pan Peanut Butter line, "It's the peanuttiest."

One good pitch is worth a million bucks -- maybe even in the world of non-profit animal shelters and if you should happen to have that good pitch for Dog and Kitty City, you'll win a wine-tasting for your friends at Tony's Wine Warehouse in Dallas. Deadline for entering is Feb. 28. The winner will be announced at the shelter on March 17.

If you have a good slogan for Dog and Kitty City, where the dogs are cute and the cats are pretty, e-mail your entry to [email protected].  And, remember, for crying out loud, put your name and a phone number on the entry so they can call you.

This could turn out to be a really good thing for this shelter -- a good slogan can help fuel fund drives and draw the attention of the adopting public.

Dog and Kitty City -- Animal Magnetism. Nah, keep working on it. Dog and Kitty City -- Our Team Has Won As Many Playoff Games This Century As the Cowboys.

Dog and Kitty City -- When You've Got It, Flaunt It. Oh, wait, that's Braniff Airlines, no longer flying. Although, the old -- was it Continental Airlines? -- slogan, "We Really Move Our Tail For You" fits dogs. And, never mind, cats. Someone's already using "Got milk?"

AT RISK IN FORT WORTH: Our contact at Fort Worth Animal Care & Control, the tireless Ginger Leach, describes Faith and Hope as "two very special girls" and notes that the shelter staff has been so enamored of them that they've been working out reprieves to give the dogs a chance to be adopted or claimed by a rescue group.

Hope is heartworm positive. I'm not sure which of these dogs is Hope and which is Faith, but I suspect you'll be able to figure it out when you take them into your home and read their paperwork.

In the meantime, to save their lives, e-mail [email protected] or call 817-392-3737 ext. 1865 or drop by thee shelter at 4900 Martin St. in Fort Worth.

THREE DOGS NEEDING HELP: Oh, goodness, look at this trio.

We got the tip on them from Rebecca Poling of Companions for Life who says that the dogs are currently in the care of Paws in The City.

The dogs are Rhett, Ruby and Rose -- that's a boy and two females. You may recall reading about them here. They'd been living on some pipeline property when Paws in The City managed to get them.

Rebecca says they're being boarded right now, but, she adds, "What they need most is a home where they can learn the simple things - what it's like to sleep indoors, how to walk on a leash and ride in a car, the joy of having a family to care for them, and the peace of not having to worry where the next meal will come from or whether they'll be shot at again."

Naturally, because this is North Texas and they were neglected, they have heartworms. A donor is going to pick up that cost once they're in a foster home. So the quicker someone agrees to foster, the quicker these dogs can get on with the treatment.

Rebecca says the girls seem to really love people, but the boy is not all that keen on humans. He'll need a patient, understanding family. And he "still carries beads in his back from the last time he was shot."

To volunteer to help one or all of these dogs, e-mail [email protected] or call 972-233-4444, ext. 247.

ANYBODY GOT ADVICE? A nice young woman named Penny, who lives between Terrell and Quinlan, east of Dallas, has written to us asking for help.

You'll see that the situation is not uncommon. But before you say, "Dump the boyfriend," read the whole note. This is not a standard "It's me or the dog" thing.

Now, here's Penny's note:

"Hi I have two black lab puppies I need to find a home for. I am getting married and together we will have 4 dogs and I don't think that is fair for them.  I have a male and female they are about maybe 4 months old. Right now we have them in a pen with my boyfriend's dogs and I want more for them. Can you please tell me where I can take them? I don't want to call a regular shelter because I want them to have a good home. They are great puppies. Please let me know.  Thanks. Penny."

We've suggested a few places -- all of which involve getting on a waiting list. If you've got ideas, send them along to [email protected].

NAME GAME: The folks at Legacy Boxer Rescue have begun a name game -- they're looking not just for financial help, but for names for a bunch of puppies that have come into the care of the organization.

Heck, after a while you just run out of names.

At the Legacy website there are many opportunities to help. Click HERE to see how you can get involved.

That's one of the nameless pups. Too cute to be nameless for long, don't you think?

BASEBALL: The pitchers and catchers are already practicing out in Surprise, Arizona, spring home of the Texas Rangers. And light reading about the team will show you that the "buzz" term this season is "PFP," i.e., "pitcher fielding practice."

I can only assume that the new skipper, Ron Washington, is trying to teach the Rangers pitchers to jump about 30 high so they can catch those long fly balls before they leave park at inopportune moments.

PFP: "Pitcher Flying Practice." Well, whatever works.

Show dog & sleeper...

Sometimes to catch a few winks, you have to be extraordinarily dedicated to the art of sleeping amidst noise and excited circumstance.

And that is why our presentation in this weekend's Let Sleeping dogs Lie and Napping Cats Nap has photographs that are focused on a waking dog.

Kristin Riebel, longtime rescuer with the Frisco Humane Society, sent the photos, taken earlier in the week as the USA Cable Network broadcast the Super Bowl of Dogdom, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show from Madison Square Garden.

The dog standing on the couch and trying to get as close to the action as possible is Bridgette. She came from the Richardson Humane Society. Kristin says, "She was fortunate that her mother was pulled from the shelter just 24 hours before she delivered 5 puppies. We adopted her at 8 weeks old and she'll be 4 this April. We're not sure what she is but her momma was perhaps a schnoodle.

"Bridgette is most definitely one of a kind.

"She loves the TV. She gets up on the couch and barks and growls and hunches down in the play position. We can't watch dog shows after we go to bed because she makes so much noise. she likes most anything on the Animal Planet, but she also sat through the entire episode of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

Now, you may have noticed that there is another dog. That's Hoops walking through the frame and, in the second photo, qualifying as the "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" element of this presentation, that's Hoops on the couch in the lower right corner.

While Bridgette is excited on the arm of the couch, Hoops is content to say, "Dog show? That's nice. I'll be napping here. Try to hold it down."

Hoops was adopted from Homeward Bound Animal Rescue. The name? She gives credit/blame to her husband, Rob. Hoops "was adopted during March Madness and it was my husband's turn to name the dog....You can't be surprised that our other dog was named Sport."

Kristin describes Hoops as a "WHDOQO." That, she says, "is my favorite breed -- Wire-Haired Dog of Questionable Origin. You won't see any of these at Westminster."

So, there you have it, a genuinely excited fan of the Westminster broadcast brought to the edge of her seat by the competition.

In fact, in that third photo, it looks like Bridgette may believe that the fancy TV has "Terrier-Sniff-o-Vision."

"We're hoping for some re-runs of the show," Kristin says. "Perhaps we can teach Bridgette to use the TIVO."

(Remember, your sleeping critters can find a place on the world wide web if you'll snap a photo and e-mail it and info about the animals to [email protected]. We're happy -- proud, in fact -- to feature these photos in our weekly weekend feature, "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie and Napping Cats Nap." We're happy to showcase slumbering beasts of all sorts though no one has yet submitted a photograph of a Komodo Dragon napping after enjoying a nice meal of deadbeat brother-in-law. And remember, at Readlarrypowell.com, we're 100 percent supportive of sleepers and nappers no madtter what political party.)