In case you wondered, 2008 is the International Year of the Potato -- as declared on Oct. 18, United Nations World Food Day.
Who controls this? Well, no need to whisper "Mafia" but when you think "potato" you almost can't help thinking "Solanaceae Family." One does wonder if 2008 will also become the International Year of Butter & Sour Cream.
GAGE'S STORY: We get this story of an unchained dog from Kimberly Jenkins of the Education and Animal Rescue Society (EARS). The dog is Gage and he came to EARS via the Tri City Animal Shelter, the facility operated by Cedar Hill, Duncanville and DeSoto.
The 10-month-old Australian Cattle Dog mix (Beagle is in there, too) "lived on a chain" for his entire life. "Thankfully, the wonderful ACOs at Tri City were able to seize the dog as he had a chain imbedded in his neck and he was headed down the horrible road of perishing in such a situation," Kim writes. "But what to do with a dog that had such a horrible beginning? Would you believe it -- this torture did not ruin Gage. He has the most wonderful personality and truly loves everyone."
The pup has been given proper medical care and is now living in a foster home, but needs a place to live for the rest of his life. He gets along with the two dogs in the foster home, we're told. (EARS doesn't adopt dogs into families with kids under 5. To apply to adopt Gage, go to the EARS site HERE or e-mail adoptions@earstexas.org.
DENTON DOG: This one comes from tipster Amy Pelzel who is working to find a home and medical donations for a girl named Onyz.
The dog was struck by a car and her left rear leg was broken. She wound up in the care of Denton Animal Services which got her into vet care. She's about 9 months old and appears to be a purebred Lab. Amy suggests that people who want to help defray the $1,000-plus medical cost contact Dr. Granville Wright at Animal Hospital on Teasley Lane, 3517 Teasley Lane, in Denton (Call 940-382-6939). Or, Amy says, contact Debbie Lhotka at Denton Animal Services (940-349-7594).
"We had her at the animal shelter for about an hour before we could get her to the vet's office," Amy writes. "She just laid on her bed and wagged her tail every time someone would talk to her or even look her direction. She has the happiest tail we've seen around here in quite a while! Once we got her to the veterinary clinic, she was still very good and loving with all the staff there."
How'd she wind up in the custody of a city shelter? Amy explains, " The owners gave it up because it had been hit by a car and they decided they could not afford to fix it or take care of the dog any longer."
WHAT DAY IS IT IN FLOWER MOUND? You'll know if you buy one of these calendars. It's the Humane Society of Flower Mound 2008 calendar and it honors HSFM alumni, we hear from our pal Dot Lott.
The calendars are $15 each and can be bought at any HSFM event or online at the Humane Society of Flower Mound site HERE. (There may be a temporary computer glitch on the website, but things are being tweaked, so don't be alarmed. In the meantime, the rest of the site works and it's worth a visit to see the animals that have benefited from the HSFM Mercy Fund.)
All of the proceeds from the calendar sales go directly to the Humane Society's mission "of promoting respect, responsibility, and compassion for all animals."
YEP, IT'S A TEXAS STORY WITH AN ELVIS FLAVOR: I'm mentioning this situation not just because the dog needs a home or because the tip came from our pal Sydney Busch at Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. Read on.
The dog is a 3-year-old (or so), un-neutered 40-pound beagle-mix. The story is he was "picked up while trying to cross Highway 175 -- almost didn't make it." And, "he is very loving and absolutely the handsomest guy ever," the original tip reads.
To ask about adopting this fellow, the note reads, "Call Rose at the Blue Burrito" at 903-887-5600 or at 214-205-6951.
Call Rose at the Blue Burrito -- that may have been a Marty Robbins song.
But, suddenly, ladies and gentleman, it is all becoming clear. This is a Hound Dog. Elvis recorded Hound Dog. Elvis recorded Blue Christmas. If you take the name of the restaurant at 237 S. Gun Barrel Lane in Gun Barrel City and apply it to Elvis' biggest Christmas hit, you learn (a) where Elvis is living and (b) what he likes to eat as he endures his heartbreak. Sing along now, "I'll have a Blue Burrito without you."
ARLINGTON UPDATES: Diane Watson, who has kept us up-to-date on the life of Captain Jack, a Chow of undeniable charm, has taken the time to let us know what's going on in "my neck of the woods" as she says.
Lucky Dog Rescue, which had pulled Captain Jack from Arlington Animal Services for her, is now in need of foster homes in a big way. There are some dogs that are being boarded that are eating up Lucky Dog's funds. "I realize 
that all of the "groups" are seeking "foster" homes, but these two particular dogs need a foster home more than most. They have NEVER had the opportunity to live with a foster, so while they are making strides with their medical issues, they are still 'stuck' in a kennel environment."
Lucky Dog Rescue, which was founded by Arlington Police officer Bernadette Rankin, is considering assorted ways of getting these two dogs socialized -- possibly even weekends-only fostering. The idea is to socialize the dogs and help them live happy lives.
The dogs are: Hazel, a year old Lab mix found by the side of a highway by Bernadette. The pup had a severe ear infection, but she's healthy now and energetic and needs a place outside of a kennel to enjoy her life.
Luke is a Boxer/Lab mix, about 8 months old, who had a bad skin condition. That's under control and now he's Mister Love Puppy. He likes playing fetch, but also likes just being with a human.
Lucky Dog is a non-profit that faces the usual rescue challenges of too many animals and too little money, Dianne says. To help the group out or to ask about adopting or fostering Luke or Hazel, e-mail mailto:bernadetterankin@sbcglobal.net or go to the Lucky Dog website HERE.
And that brings us back to Captain Jack -- he's "fat and sassy," Dianne says and "if he never gets adopted, he will live with us. Still, I would love to see Jack find a family or person where he doesn't have to share his human's attention with four other dogs." Jack has references and is, she says, "the perfect gentleman."
(To ask about Jack, e-mail RetMasterSgt@aol.com. That's Jack in his summer cut just a few months ago.)
REGARDING THE COWBOYS: Been hearing a lot of Dallas owner Jerry Jones on the radio as the big game with Green Bay looms Thursday. Nothing makes an NFL owner sound like a bona fide gridiron genius quite like a 10-1 record. Not to insist that people keep their feet on the ground, but here are some counter-points to being an owner genius: He hired Dave Campo, Chan Gailey, Bill Parcells, the only Dallas Cowboys coaches never to win a Super Bowl -- or a playoff game.
