It's a morning that calls for honesty in the workplace: Nothing's worse than a Tuesday morning that feels like a Monday.
Ooof. Thank heavens it'll be a 4-day week.
Just when you get accustomed to taking days off, you have to jump back into the fray. Ah, at least there's a fray into which we can take a flying leap.
So, school's out in Texas and the Texas Legislature has ended its session. There must be a punchline there somewhere -- perhaps the word "detention" can be applied.
SHELBY CHARMS A VETERAN: Shelby, the one-eyed Aussie who was on the clock at the Garland Animal Shelter, was claimed on Friday. Lou Olinger, the veteran rescuer, reports, "I got her out in time on Friday. I took her home and I have had many options as to fostering, rescue groups and possible adoptions from as far away as New York. She is not going anywhere. She is mine!
"At first, it did not look like it would work, as Basil my 2- to 3-year-old Lethal White Aussie, deaf but not blind, tried to attack her. But she is very street smart for a year old ... and they are now fast friends. Basil needed a playmate, as all my others are either too old or too small. She is a living doll. So beautiful and so very sweet. She can see well out of her one eye. The other eyeball is in there, but the eye is a slit and no sight at all. She hears very well. We already love her dearly.
"It was a month on May 24 since we lost our beloved Ziggy. Shelby nor anything or anyone will ever replace Ziggy, but I think Zig is happy that we saved Shelby and that we will give her the wonderful home that our Zig enjoyed for his 11 years."
THE JACKSBORO REPORT: They're working under a deadline -- the Jacksboro Animal Shelter has to be rid of its animals by the end of the week -- but they are having some good fortune, reports Jacksboro Council Member Keri Lane who also happens to be a veteran 
rescuer of critters. "I have been able to arrange placement of quite a few of the dogs here in the Jacksboro shelter," she reports. But stay tuned, she says. There may be some dogs that need placement. These are photos of some of the dogs that are in the shelter. They range from good ol' mutts to purebreds such as these two Jack Russells. (To offer to help, e-mail [email protected])
I am almost certain the town was not named because its official municipal dog is the Jack Russell. Jacksboro may not even have an official dog. But the Jack Russell would be appropriate, don't you think? I mean, geez, Texas already has dog-related names: Colleyville, Pittsburg and Chihuahua Springs, the famous resort for small, hairless dogs.. I'm kidding about Chihuahua Springs, but some developer with land on the outskirts of Dallas just thought, "That might sell to out-of-towners ...."
A HOME FOR HOLLOWAY? There's got to be one out there somewhere. You may recall the story of Holloway. Wendy Anderson of the Southeast Dallas Humane Society was at a vet's office when someone brought the "lost" dog in -- his tags had a number but the number didn't match to a human who knew him.. (Scroll down to May 22 to get the "back story" on this foundling.)
At any rate, Wendy reports, "I still have this dog but not the room for him. If anyone can take him, I will have all his medical done at my vet. Or if someone can foster for me, I do provide all the food and medical he needs."
To help this dog, e-mail [email protected].
RESCUE DOG FACES CRISIS: Marla Margol with Legacy Boxer Rescue has an update on Missy, the dog formerly known as Mrs. Fielder because she was living in an open field, next to an AT&T building at I-30 and Cockrell Hill Road in Dallas.
"Missy's health is deteriorating & she has vets baffled right now. Meanwhile, the donated funds we had originally received for Missy's spay & heartworm treatment, are being utilized for her treatment in hopes of getting her healthy to even withstand the heartworm treatment. We have set up a donation button (click HERE ) on our website and would so much appreciate it if you can find the open space to tell her story, so that word can spread for these much needed funds. Her story can be found on our website www.savetheboxers.com. Missy is listed on LBR's site as a courtesy listing. Any funds/donations thus far have come from the AT&T employee, friends & my own finances. She is far from being out of the woods. We've come too far with this girl and overcome so many obstacles. It would be inhumane to let her down now at her worst."
VOLLEYBALL TO HELP ANIMALS: The folks with Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake send us many tips about animals and, now, we get one from them about volley ball. This, I think, is the first animal-related volleyball tournament we've reported -- first EVER.
But before we get to that, we'll explain this photo. Joey Waters reports, "My wife found this puppy in the middle of the Seven Points intersection this past Wednesday. We have taken him to the vet and was treated for an eye infection; worms; cleaned his ears out; and got his first rabies vaccination. We named him Wylie because he looks a lot like a coyote but he has a lot of Malamute blood. We would keep him but we already have 2 dogs and 2 cats." (To ask about adopting this little fellow, call 903-340-6641 (cell) or 903-432-3327 (home) or e-mail [email protected].
Back to volleyball: The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake will host a 4-on-4 coed volleyball tournament June 2 at Kemp City Park. Winners get tee shirts and trophies thanks to the sponsorship of Dr. Lisa Jones and Trophies Inc. Entry fee is $40 per team -- proceeds go to the Humane Society. Play begins at 7 a.m. -- isn't it still dark at 7 a.m.? To register or ask questions, call Shorron Rankin at 903-880-2201 or Krista McAnally at 903-288-5943.
FROM BURNS FLAT: The tireless Terry Lynn Fisher, monitor of the Burns Flat, Okla., Animal Shelter, sends a note about Bailey. "She is about 4 1/2 years old and is an owner surrender. Almost a year ago she was left at a groomer's and this family felt sorry for her, so they took her home. For whatever reason, they feel they can no longer care for her so at the end of this week she will be one of my pound babies."
Bailey is purebred, up-to-date on shots but no spayed. She's shy, but "very good with children, dogs and cats," says Terry.
"This sweet girl will be terrified at our pound. Please, if you know of a rescue or someone that can save her from the ordeal of ending up in our pound, let me know."
She has until the end of the week, Terry says. Call Terry at 580-660-1344.
FROM THE HOUSTON AREA, A STOCK-MINDED FOX TERRIER: Our Houston-area tipster Dana Dicker reports that the LaPorte Animal Shelter is loaded with dogs and, especially, cats -- including many mommas and their litters and some cats about to become mommas.
E-mail Dana at [email protected] to ask questions and click HERE to see the LaPorte inventory of critters.
Dana notes that LaPorte has a "gorgeous English Setter that has been there for two weeks already. His name is Petey and he is fabulous and already neutered."
The shelter also has Nasdaq the Fox Terrier. "He moves as fast as the market," she says.
Nasdaq the Fox Terrier -- believe that's the first time I've seen a dog named for Nasdaq.
WEATHER REPORT: We've got more rain in the forecast for today in North Texas. Seems like only a few weeks ago that we were lamenting the lack of rainfall around here. There were giant cracks in the earth, lakes were low and the Texas Rangers stunk. Now the cracks in the earth have closed, lakes are full and the Texas Rangers still stink. It can't rain enough to wash away that much stink.
