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The end of the month...

Last day of January. That'll knock your hat in the creek. Haven't seen a month move this quickly since December.

OK, moving on now:

FROM THE LAKE: I just darned nearly got nostalgic this morning when I read the subject line on a note from our pal Sydney Busch at Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake.

It read "Gorgeous Black Chow needs forever home."

Oh, kids, let me tell you, there was a time when most subject lines didn't begin "Pit bull mix desperate...." Yes, chows used to be the "unwanted" dog of choice. But, to quote the great Kinky Friedman, "There are no bad dogs, only bad people."

And this little guy is way too young to be a bad dog. He's only six months and is available. Call  the Eustace Vet Clinic, 903-425-7281, and ask for Louise.

Only good and decent people need apply to adopt the little guy. Remember, chows need grooming, so when you get the dog, you also get more responsibility than just feeding and watering and sheltering.

One more note from the lake: Jacqui Callaway reported to Friends about 10 a.m. that "I just picked up a lost yellow Lab, wondering behind city hall -- a large male very placid, not a real young dog and can sit and shake for a treat. He was very wet and smelly and has a white tip on his tail. ... Maybe he ran away because of the thunder last night. Here's hoping we find his owner."

E-mail [email protected] if you know the dog or want to get in line to adopt the dog.

THE TWO LAB SITUATION: We get this from our reliable tipster Dana Dicker in Houston. The situation exists in the Rosenberg animal control shelter on the southwest edge of the Bayou City (that's Houston, for you who don't study city nicknames.)

Here's the deal, there are two yellow labs.

One is a big girl -- about 130 pounds, they're guessing. That's about 50 pounds overweight. And her coat is such a light yellow that it is "almost white," her rescuers say. That's her on the right. She was found running with a slimmer, more active female Lab -- smiling at the camera. "She has a lot of energy and just wants to play, play, play," the note on her says.

Both are available for adoption from the kill shelter in Rosenberg. To ask about them call Jackie at Rosenberg Animal Control at 832-595-3490.

UPDATE ON THE MESQUITE HEELER: Lorraine Bryda, who made the first attempts to say the heeler from death in the Mesquite Animal Shelter, now has the dog again and is monitoring her during a 10-day quarantine. Because the dog, called "Pepper," nipped someone during rescue -- you may recall that some pinhead had tied the dog to a stop sign at a busy intersection and abandoned her.

At any rate, Lorraine says Pepper is, because of the circumstances, available ONLY to a bona fide rescue group. An individual cannot adopt her from the animal shelter, but a rescue group that will socialize her and get her the proper vet care may take her in.

Lorraine says, "So, I am trying to line up some 501c3 organizations that may be willing and able to come forward..."

To help save Pepper the heeler, e-mail [email protected] or call 682-622-9057.

THE ALVARADO DOG: Brittany Mitchell is organizing a group to try to save the dog that has been living at the I-35/U.S. 67 intersection in Alvarado. We first mentioned the dog yesterday and now the attempts to save this dog are becoming more intense. .

She has been joined on the strip by another dog, we're told -- a male dog which, as Brittany says, means "she must have come into heat." As you may recall, she and her puppies were dumped at that site months ago, so her nightmare continues.

Brittany says, "We need to catch her (1) to save her from being hit by a car and (2) so she stops breeding."

If you can help Brittany with this capture attempt, e-mail [email protected] or call 817-395-2860

THE CORSICANA CROWD: As you recall, Tony and Lyn Gatlin, who helped rescue NINE puppies from a house behind a law office in Corsicana, have been carefully adopting these puppies to people for the past week or so. And Lynn has been e-mailing what she calls "pupdates" on the situation. We've combined a few of them today. And we'll start with Timmy.

Lynn says, "We started calling him Timmy the night he was rescued simply because he seemed so quiet and timid.  The name just seemed to fit.  Since then, a lot has certainly changed and little Timmy's personality has emerged with a bang. This little dynamo doesn't have a timid bone in his body!  He's very energetic and personable.  In fact he's so energetic, I could barely get pictures of him.  By the time I'd snap the pic, all I got was his tail leaving the frame! Timmy loves to play with his toys and also loves to steal toys away from his littermates.  He enjoys running and wrestling, but also needs regular naps.  He has a cute scruffy little face and coat, and probably has some terrier in him.  Timmy is the smallest of the boys, weighing 3.9 lbs on his January 18th visit to the vet. " (To ask about adopting Timmy, e-mail mailto:[email protected] or call 903-874-3722.)

The first of the pups adopted was a little guy known at first as Whitey. You can see why. But he's now known as "Captain Jack" and is living with Pattie Joyner, Lynn says, and Pattie was "part of the rescue efforts of all nine of the pups behind Moe & Dunn [law firm] on the evening of Jan. 17."

Captain Jack now lives with cats and goes to work with Pattie now and then and is "being spoiled by the gang there and loves every minute of it," Lynn reports.

As previously reported here, a Dallas family adopted two of the pups. They went to Tony and Lynn's to get one dog, but left with two. Lynn says, "The Duffee girls fell in love with Dottie (now named Bear) and Boots. Since they couldn't decide which puppy to adopt ... with a little persuasion directed toward Mom, they took both."

Lisa Duffee, the mom, reports that everyone is "settling in just fine."

HELPING THE BOXERS: You can still get the less expensive online tickets for Saturdays Blanc & Blush for Boxers benefiting Legacy Boxer Rescue. It's from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Premier Wines, 4709 W. Parker Road #420, in Plano. Tickets are $35 per person, or $65 a couple online -- add five bucks to each fee at the door. And go to www.savetheboxers.com and you'll see some of the boxers that your donation will help.

Who will you be helping by attending this event? Why, bunches of boxers, including the dog pictured here: That's 3-year-old Salty, a deaf boxer who likes to play, contrary to the indication in his photograph. Go to the Legacy site HERE to see the current collection of rescued boxers.

CONTEMPLATIONS: We cannot let this moment of pride pass. On Jan. 31, 1961, the first American was sent into space: Ham the Chimp in a Mercury capsule. He died at the age of 27 in 1983 and is buried at the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo, N.M. .... I'm kind of tired of getting e-mail from on-line universities. Today I got one that read "Whatever your goal, we can help you achieve it." Here's my response: "Dear Online University, My goal is to complete my bachelor's degree by the time I am 25. I am no longer in my 20s. Can you still help me?"

One's dumped, one's tied to a sign...

We're a little late out of the gate today -- blame a long night of sleeping.

It happens sometimes. You get up when your spouse and the dogs get up with all their barking -- the dogs, not my sweetspouse Martha -- and then you put the TV on something and you nod off and forget to re-set your alarm. You're aided and abetted in this folly by dogs and cats who believe their mission is to catch up on all the sleep that's missed around the world. (That's Hammy in a springtime photo with bluebonnets -- thought we might need some spring today.)

NETWORKING TO RESCUE A DOG ON THE HIGHWAY: Tipster Barb Staves forwards a note about a white-and-tan spotted dog -- the dog note was handed along by cat people at Kittico.

Celia Orr's note tells us that Kittico got "a call from a woman in Alvarado whom we are helping regarding stray and feral cats ..."

So we called Sharon Castillo, the woman who had called Kittico. Sharon's worked with other rescues, she says, but this is a tough case.

The dog is living on the median near the U.S. Highway 67/I-35W crossing in Alvarado.

She was dumped -- with her puppies -- right there. The site is near a Chicken Express restaurant, Sharon says, "and everyone there took one of her puppies."

But the mom is still waiting for someone to come back and get her.

"She looks like some kind of terrier mix -- not a pit. Not very big.....They've tried to drug her with food. ... She never leaves there -- she's very smart."

If you can help save the dog, call Sharon Castillo at 817-655-0588. 
A HEELER CRISIS: This dog was found tied to a stop sign at a busy intersection in the cold rain -- you can understand why she's jumpy and timid.

We get her story from Lorraine Bryda. She stepped in to take the dog from the Mesquite Animal Shelter, but the story just isn't that simple. Lorraine is now "hoping to find "someone that can take this poor dog. I am told she is a Heeler mix. She is incredibly timid and very scared."

As you can see from the photos, this dog is a reluctant subject for the camera. She may not have had the best relationship with people -- I mean, geez, she was tied with a rope to a stop sign. What kind of creep does that?.

Lorraine continues, "I picked her up at the Mesquite Animal Shelter hoping to be able to foster her. She jumped out of my car once I got home and nearly choked to death because her leash got caught, I got a nip in the process but only because of how incredibly scared she was. After that she got very anxious (understandably) so I could not bring her in my home with my other animals.

"She slept outside all night with a bed, food and water."

With dropping temperatures forecast, Lorraine says she "made the VERY hard decision to bring her back to Mesquite after they agreed to keep her in quarantine for 10 days in which I would have some time to find her a foster or rescue group that would take her.

"She was found a few days ago, someone had tied her to a stop sign with a rope at a busy intersection inches away from the road. She was in the cold and the rain scared out of her mind."

Lorraine wants to find someone who will spend time with this dog, get her back to a less-anxious state of mind and allow her to be the "wonderful dog" that she might be.

"It was very sad for me to have to bring her back because she did start to finally warm up to me (licking my hands and letting me pet her all over). I can't even explain how hard it was. She has potential, I can see it in her little eyes, I just hope there is someone who sees  this that can come to her aid."

To help this dog get in touch with Lorraine at [email protected] or call 682-622-9057. Lorraine says, "I am willing to transport just about anywhere to help this along."

THE ROLE OF HUMANS: As anyone with half-a-brain would expect, the courts have given the SPCA custody of the "menagerie" from Marshall and the fighting dogs from Jefferson. This ruling occurred yesterday.

The rescued animals are undergoing assessment and testing at the SPCA's Perry facility in McKinney -- except the coatimundi, a "protected" critter that is being sent to a sanctuary. Other uncommon animals -- the hissing cockroaches, for example -- will probably also go to species-specific facilities.

When I asked Maura Davies, the SPCA's senior director of communications, about these cases, she gave an answer that should be encouraging to all rescuers and all animal lovers.

"The most important issue these cases bring up is that all it takes is one concerned human to save so many animal lives. In each case, it was an individual that made the difference for these neglected and abused animals. So many people think that just one person can't possibly make a difference, but as you know, we all have loud voices...most especially the animal-loving folks."

There you have it, folks, those big voices on animal people can mean more than just a bit of noise.

ANOTHER REMINDER: If you have animal-related events upcoming and you want to take advantage of the free listing in Urban Animal magazine, now is the time to send those notices -- keep 'em simple -- to [email protected]. We're expanding out reach each issue to at least three months in the future, so send us what you can for March, April and May -- and beyond for our "Coming Attractions" list. (If the mail box fills up, keep trying -- I'm working through the incoming mail like a bunny rabbit sipping away at a thermos of coffee and a case of Jolt cola.)

CONTEMPLATIONS: Back to my late morning. It was an unsettling awakening. Rather than the sound of my alarm, I was awakened by the sound of Neil Young singing. I thought, "Geez, I'm late for class," then I realized it's not the 1960s, that's the TV not a vinyl record on a stereo, I'm not a student and I've already lived through the Truman, Ike, JFK, LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton and other Bush years. Throws the whole day off. ... About coffee: I got an e-mail this morning, a come-on for someone that promised to give me, for completing a survey, a chance to win a $250 Starbucks gift card. Turned it down -- a two-hundred-and-fifty dollar Starbucks gift card...what do I need with a card that'll only buy 3 cups of Starbucks coffee.

A Tuesday assortment

Here we go with Tuesday's report.

But, first, a viewing tip: If you have trouble changing the channels or getting your DVD player to respond, first check your batteries, then check your cat.

In this case, the cat is Poirot who, sometimes, manages to sack out with his tail drooped across key areas on the front of the DVD player.

It is a known fact that a cat atop a VCR, DVD player or TV does not respond to the shout: "Hey, you! Move!"

FROM EAST TEXAS: Earlier in the week, the SPCA of Texas joined in the recovery of more than 200 animals -- from hissing cockroaches to a coatimundi -- at a property near Marshall in Harrison County.

Yesterday in Marion County -- just one county to the east -- the SPCA joined the Marion County Sheriff's Department in taking custody of 11 dogs confiscated when deputies raided a dog fight in progress near Jefferson.

Several people were arrested, 11 live dogs were found and $10,000 in cash was confiscated, the SPCA reports.

The Marshall News-Messenger's online site has a slide show of the scene HERE. Be warned. It is graphic.

LOOKING FOR HARLEY: Dianna Starks, who lives in Smith County south of Tyler, is looking for Harley, the family's beloved cockerpoo.

He vanished on Jan. 15, she says. "My husband and I are devastated by his disappearance."

As you can see from the photo, Harley is a well-groomed indoor dog.

He lives at 10811 County Road 1299, between Flint and Gresham. There's a reward for his recovery. If you know Harley's whereabouts, call 903-245-7815 or 903-245-7847.

ROXY NEEDS A HOME: Our reliable tipster Patricia Barrington, The Colony's Animal Control Division Manager, is making a pitch these days for Roxy.

"She was left in the bedroom of an apartment to fend for herself when her owner decided to bail out on a lease," Patricia says. "When I met Roxy, she gingerly nosed into the hall, gave me a good sniffing and decided we were friends."

During the time Roxy was left in a room in the apartment, she had "restrained" herself dramatically. But when Patricia and Roxy "got to the bottom of the 3 flights of stairs, we had to navigate to get to grass ... well, we were there for some time! And the look of relief on poor Roxy's face, you should have seen it. Obviously, Roxy hadn’t eaten much in the past couple of days either; that’s her head in the Scooby Snack box in the backseat of the truck on the ride to the shelter."

Patricia describes Roxy as "a sweet, tender soul. She loves all people, but is somewhat selective about her canine friends. Roxy has been an apartment pet and is accustomed to not having a backyard.  She is an agile, attentive girl and would make an active person a wonderful companion and running/biking buddy."

To ask about adopting Roxy, call The Colony's Animal Control Division at 972-370-9250 or e-mail [email protected].

THE COOPER SAGA: We've checked back with Donna Dutkofski about this fellow Cooper. Still looking for a home. We've been pitching him on Readlarrypowell.com for a while now, but Donna's been taking him to adoption events for weeks.

What's happening is either the potential adoptors "are not the right home (i.e., have a 16 year old Chihuahua that he'd terrorize
because he's SO playful and dog oriented)," says Donna. "Or they are plum wacky (He's perfectly dog-door trained and one lady had a dog door for her cats but didn't want the dog to use the dog door or go in the yard and she wanted to know how hard I thought it would be to 'un-dog door train' him. ... We have considered keeping him because he fits in so well and is such a great boy, but that means I'll have to drop out of the fostering biz for a while."

To ask about adopting adorable Cooper, e-mail [email protected]. Pass it on.

KIRBY'S STILL AVAILABLE: Our Arlington Animal Services reliable tipster Dianne Watson is working hard to find a home for this guy Kirby. He's a red heeler mix who has been in the kill shelter for three months. "He has little time left," she says.

He's got a "wonderful" temperament and is "highly adoptable. But sometimes, in spite of that, a dog is constantly overlooked..."

Kirby came in as a stray on Oct. 28. "He actually 'smiles' when you stop by his kennel and he knows how to 'dance,' " Dianne tells us.

He's got one blue eye, one brown eye, and white fur "speckled with flecks of red. ... Kirby is jut a pleasure to spend time with; he thrives on human companionship. It would be a shame if all our efforts to save Kirby's life fail."

You can see Kirby at Arlington Animal Services, 5920 W. Pioneer Parkway on the west side of Arlington. Call 817-451-3436.

MORE ON THOSE PUPPIES: Lynn and Tony Gatlin continue to work to find homes for those nine puppies found beneath a house in Corsicana. There's some success and some are still available.

Lynn's latest pitch is for this dog, Curly Sue. "this precious girl has the most beautiful wavy, soft blond coat." She's around 5 pounds and is among the largest girls in the litter. " Curly Sue is a smart pup," says Lynn. "She's the pup who seems to be catching on to potty training the fastest.  Of course she's too young to be completely trained, but most often if she's in her crate and she needs to go, she'll give you a little tiny "yap".  We've learned this "yap" means "take me out NOW!"........come to think of it, maybe SHE'S training US!"

]Now, Miss Dottie and Boots have both been adopted into one family, Lynn says. "The nicest family came down ... from Dallas. She's a trial lawyer, been married for years, have 2 teenage daughters that also came AND they have a housekeeper that's home 24/7 (except for Wednesdays) to care for the pets when they're not home.  They were delightful!  I had a really good feeling about them from visiting with her on Saturday, so I sent Tony to the store for a crate and extra bag of Science Diet 'just in case.' Well, they left with my precious Miss Dottie AND Boots! They came for one, but left with two!  We are so happy for the pups. Of course I've cried since they left. You can't help but get attached."

But, Curly Sue and some others are still available. And Tony and Lynn, batty from lack of sleep, are hoping to find good homes for them. Call 903-874-3722 or e-mail [email protected].

CONTEMPLATION: Is it possible that HOV lanes are set up backwards? If the rule was that lone drivers had to use the HOV lane and leave the other three or four lanes to car-poolers, would that encourage carpools and ease rush-hour congestion except, of course, in that one lane? ... Oh, what do I care about traffic? My daily commute is about 60 feet from the bedroom to the computer. The highway department hasn't figured out a way to put up construction cones in our hallway -- yet. Of course, I do ask the cats to stay in their lane in the hallway -- you may recall the Eagles' hit, "Life in the Cat Lane." Of course, cats pay no attention to hallway traffic requests. They will, however, "watch for ice on bridge." Cats do that, you know.

Smart cat, needy dogs...

Whoa, hello, Monday.

I spent a good part of the weekend away from my computer -- suffered a little withdrawal, I guess -- and the in-box filled up. So, begging your patience, we're whittling away at the mail. In the meantime, here's our daily report -- and a warning. Further down in today's column, we're running graphic photos of a Chihuahua with a chain that had become imbedded in its neck. Perhaps this will help other dogs from encountering such cruelty.

And we'll do a follow-up on this 11-year-old blind rat terrier who was in the Grand Prairie animal shelter. Read on:

SMART CAT IN IRVING: Rhonda Barrientos of Citizens for Irving Animals tells us today that the Irving Animal Shelter -- the taxpayer supported kill shelter -- is loaded with black cats.

Among those black cats is this one, Midnight. (You can see more by clicking HERE.)

According to Rhonda's note, Midnight is "an amazingly intelligent girl" who is "problem-solving smart."

Rhonda writes, "The cat cages are not overly easy to open, and we have never had a cat who was able to open one from the inside before -- until Midnight came along. She is able to open her cage at night, roam around, return to it long enough to eat or use her litter box, and she is found sitting on the top of the cat cages in the morning. They tried moving her to a cage that  is VERY difficult to open, even for a human, and she can open that too. So this is a very bright girl!"

To meet Midnight, visit the Irving Animal Shelter at 100 N. Briery Road, just east of Beltline at Rock Island Road. Call 972-721-2256.

DEAF PUP IN GRAND PRAIRIE: We were tipped to this dog by noted shelter walker Debbie Barclay. The dog's name is Poindexter.

She says it's not easy to get a photos of Poindexter because he "is so happy for someone to visit with him, he is quite exuberant! Not only is he gorgeous, he's a very friendly boy, loves other dogs and people and really needs someone who knows how to work with or train deaf dogs."

He's a year old. And his shelter number is A063995.

The shelter is at 2222 W. Warrior Trail in Grand Prairie. Call 972-237-8576. (It's closed Sundays and Mondays, but opens at 9 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Closes at 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and at 5 p.m. on Saturdays.)

THE MARSHALL STORIES: The city animal shelter in Marshall has had a couple of heartbreaking stories going recently. One involves a dog we first mentioned on Jan. 7, Angel the Pit, and the other is a little Chihuahua with a chain problem.

You may recall that Angel is a dog that Animal Control Officer Eva Sepulvado kept running into in bad situations and the dog finally wound up being rescued. She was starved, abused and left for dead next to the body of a gray pit bull that had died from neglect. (See Jan. 7 post.) Still, Angel survived and is a friendly, appreciative dog.

Eva says that she's had no calls to help Angel -- neither from the general public nor from rescue groups. To ask about adopting or helping Angel, e-mail Eva HERE or call 903-935-4530 or visit the shelter at 607 E. End Blvd. in Marshall.

Now, we get to the chained Chihuahua.

Eva says the 8-pound dog and 6-pound sister have been taken in by Furever Friends in Dallas -- but the trip to safety involved a visit to an operating table first to remove the chain that had become imbedded in his neck.

Who's to blame for this disgusting situation? Eva tells us that "the circumstances were too confusing to determine who needed to be charged. After further investigation, the grandmother, who is now dead, has been blamed for putting the dog on the chain to begin with." One grandson said he wasn't aware that the chain was "in the dog," and another said he knew it and quickly go the dog to the shelter. "The DA will have to decide if charges will be filed," Eva says. "All I can do is present and ask."

In the meantime, the dogs are safe and the chain has been removed and the little dog was being called "Link" by the vet tech. Probably won't wind up being his real name, but it's kind of cute and gives some humor to a situation that needs a smile.

Sometimes we ought to see what happens -- might make us work harder to keep these things from happening. You don't turn away in disgust, you turn away in anger and with resolve.

NOTE THESE THINGS, PLEASE: At Urban Animal magazine, collecting has already begun for the March-April (and beyond) events list. Send your information to [email protected] by Feb. 15 to get into the March edition of Urban Animal. Keep it simple -- just the facts. ... We've been tipped to a horrible story in Memphis about abuse of a pit bull -- click HERE  to see the report from WMC-TV. ... And for those who wondered about the surviving dogs found on Michael Vick's property after the big dog fight scandal, the folks at the Best Friends Sanctuary in Utah have them and they're calling them the "Vicktory Dogs." That's right. Vicktory. Visit www.bestfriends.org.

THE RAT TERRIER'S TALE: We were first tipped to the story of the 11-year-old, blind, pregnant rat terrier by Stacy Smith of the Humane Society of Flower Mound. It was such a sad thing -- abandoned and in distress and blind.

Ratbone Rescues, the rat terrier people, stepped up to claim this dog known as "Mystie."

She has had her babies.

Caroline J. Wood, president of the nationwide Ratbone Rescues, tells us, "Mystie gave birth in my sister's home in East Dallas. the sneaky girl waited until everyone was at school and work and it was all done by the time they arrived home...My sister [Susannah Garza] says she appears to know what she's doing -- and she does look as if she's been bred a lot. She is also very tolerant of the babies being handled as long as they don't 'squeak' while out of the nest. The little brown one is a girl."

Mystie and the pups will all be available for adoption -- once the pups are weaned and all are declared healthy.

Mystie is going to have eye surgery, too, and may regain her vision -- Caroline says the group is looking for a good deal on eye surgery in the Dallas area so the dogs won't have to be transported to Ratbone headquarters in Florida. (If you can help these dogs via adoption, fostering, donations or medical care, go to Ratbone Rescues HERE or e-mail [email protected].

CONTEMPLATION: The Dallas droopy pants crisis is hitting the big time -- even going to be addressed on Dr. Phil today. Time for some new city limits signs for Big D: "WELCOME TO DALLAS. PUT DOWN YOUR WEAPONS. PULL UP YOUR PANTS."

Sweet Polly Purebred

This weekend the Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap spotlight reaches Phoenix, Ariz., and illuminates one of the most relaxed dogs you'll ever encounter.

She is also camera shy, says her mom, Roxanne "Rocky" Wingo.

Let me rephrase that: "says her PROUD mom, Roxanne 'Rocky' Wingo."

Now, the first photo of Sweet Polly Purebred out like a light on the couch is what won the spotlight. That is one relaxed dog.

One envies her ability to "crash on the couch."

THE STORY: Rocky has put Polly's story into prose for us. Here we go with the story headlined "Sweet Polly Purebred":

            "Bleary-eyed and barely awake, I’m standing at the kitchen counter at 5 in the morning, chopping carrots and apples for the guinea pigs and hamsters.

            Since I’m looking downward, I can’t miss seeing the tennis ball that drifts gently past my foot and comes to rest against the base of the cupboard.  It makes me laugh – it’s Polly’s 'subtle hint' that she wants me to throw the ball for her. She loves to catch the ball, performing amazing acrobatic feats, at times, to catch it in the air. 

            Because this is hardly an indoor activity, an essential part of the game is for me to scold her playfully, “what’s this ball doing in my kitchen?!  I’m gonna throw it OUTSIDE!”  Whereupon she runs out through the open arcadia door and takes up her “ready” stance in the grass beyond the patio. 

            I stand at the door and throw the ball toward her.  We vary the throws (high, low, underhand, overhand, slow, fast) so she has more challenge in making the catch.  I’d say she’s 80% or better.

Then, there are the instances where she bops it back at me with her nose, rather than catching it, so I can throw it again more quickly. She can and will do this for as long as she has a willing thrower. Since I’m doing my morning chores at the same time, I usually turn around and start on another task when I’ve thrown the ball, so that she must bring it back into the kitchen.

            I’ll look down and it will be next to my foot, or resting in the dog food bowl, someplace she knows by my routine that I’ll see it right away.  This necessitates an interruption as I exclaim, “what’s this ball doing in my kitchen?!”  And here we go, again!

            Who would have thought that the tiny puppy I brought home that October afternoon would balloon into a 70-lb. mass of solid muscle?  I’ve never owned a pit bull, or even known one, personally, until now. Well, it’s already been 5 years, now.

            If asked, I would have said that I never planned or intended to own one.  It was the soft spot in my heart (head?) that caused me to bring her home, that day.  I’d taken my bull terrier, Juliet, to the Franciscan Festival at “The Casa” in Paradise Valley, to be blessed. 

            There were a number of rescue groups, there, with adoptable pets.  Juliet and I wandered around and visited with many of them.  The AZ Humane Society’s mobile adoption van was there.  They had a dozen or more dogs & puppies of various breeds, ages sizes. Shortly after the blessing, it started to rain, and all the vendors and rescuers literally began to fold up their tents and prepare to leave, earlier than scheduled.  As Juliet and I were leaving, we passed the Humane Society station, and saw that only 1 tiny puppy was left un-adopted in the ex-pen in front of the van…the tiny brindle and white girl was not adopted because she was “tainted” with the stigma of being a “pit bull”.  

                 Well, I couldn’t walk away and let that tiny baby be the only dog returning to the shelter…so Juliet and I took her home with us. Since nothing was known of her origins, having been a “stray” at less than 8 weeks of age when turned in to the Humane Society, and listed by them as a “pit bull mix”, it seemed appropriate to (ironically) give her the name “Sweet Polly Purebred.”

            Besides her obsession with playing ball, Polly, as she grew, proved to be smart, sweet, and very comical.  She is almost always happy, unless she thinks she’s in trouble, whereupon she seems totally crushed with misery at the thought.
            She loves to have her belly rubbed, to the extent that we have declared her belly to be “World Famous.”  Polly often will sprawl on her back in the floor, which is another one of her “subtle hints” that she wants her belly rubbed. 

            If she is sitting or lying on the floor and someone says, “Show me the Famous” or “Show me the World” she will obligingly roll over to display her fabulous belly, ready for rubbing.

            Polly has welcomed more than one pup into the household/pack, since becoming a part of it, herself.  She is always sweet and friendly with puppies, and teaches them to play ball.

            When I throw the ball to her and she has caught it, she will allow the pup to wrestle it away from her, and let the pup bring it back to me, and I throw for her again.  This way, we have a 3-way game going, and the pup doesn’t get left out.  She developed this when Boris, my 2nd bull terrier, was a puppy, and I have seen her repeat the pattern with other pups joining the household. 

            I had wondered if Polly could be considered a watch dog, other than the fact that she loves to bark when any other dogs in the neighborhood start barking, or if she hears noises in the alley or the street.  She barks at the doorbell ringing or when people come to the house to visit, etc. 

            But, she is invariably friendly (though too strong and rambunctious for most people) with people."

            Now, we'll interrupt Rocky's story here to tell you that Polly does have a problem with smaller dogs. That's just the way it is.

            But there was one time when she demonstrated she "could be protective when necessary." Rocky says that Juliet, the bull terrier, knocked my mother down and was attacking her in an effort to kill the Peke my mother had been carrying.  It was Polly, along with my shar pei, Charlotte, who drove Juliet off of mother so she was able to get up and escape further injury.  Needless to say, Juliet is no longer with us, but Polly remains.

            Polly is, Rocky says, "so strong and enthusiastic that she has been known to jump up on us or climb in our laps, resulting in scratches, bruises, etc., all unintentional on her part.  In our house, we say that “Polly is love, and love hurts.”

            All in all, adopting Polly is one of the impulsive decisions I’ve made that I’ve never regretted.  She saved my mother from serious injury or worse.  She is goofy, loving, and gives me several reasons to laugh just about every day.  There aren’t too many things in life that I can say that about!"

            (Your big or small critter can be spotlighted in our weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, if you'll just send the slumberer's photo and information about your and the rascal to [email protected]. At Readlarrypowell.com  we're fond of sleep -- it's like a high-calorie apple fritter to your friendly writer: I  don't eat many apple fritters, I don't get much sleep. Sometimes I am awake craving apple fritters.)

One little dog, one big menagerie

Oh, goodness, just as we were about to shut down things for the weekend here at Readlarrypowell.com we got two notices. They demonstrate that sometimes one animal needs help, sometimes many. The range goes from a dirty, small white dog chained in the weather in Pilot Point to a property with 200 animals including hissing cockroaches and a coatimundi in Marshall in Northeast Texas.

THE LITTLE DOG: This unsigned note arrived and it is plaintive -- I normally don't report on these unsigned notes, but I figure this might be an instance where we can err on the side of caution for the dog rather than caution for journalism.

The note reads "URGENT!!!! Can you help? I want to report a terribly neglected dog. I do not know who to contact. Preferring a 'no kill' rescue."

The writer says the dog is at an address on Jacob Street in Pilot Point, northwest of Denton. And, according to the note, the "small, white dog" is "chained to a dog house."

So, there is shelter and that dodges the law, right?

"The dog looks extremely matted and neglected. With skin so dirty it looks black through the tangled mats. It looks horrible and miserable. Please hurry. The weather is freezing and the dog appears to have no blanket or bunting. I cannot tell if the dog is fed and watered properly. From the look of things I suspect extreme neglect."

The e-mail address of the letter-writer is [email protected]. I don't know if this person reads e-mails on the weekends or is just someone who spots stuff, sends out e-mails and waits for someone else to do the dirty work.

But, the dog may need help -- if you happen to be in the neighborhood.

THE MENAGERIE: Maura Davies at the SPCA of Texas sent this report late Friday afternoon -- earlier in the day the SPCA and the Harrison County Sheriff's Office confiscated more than 200 animals from a "property" in Marshall.

That's on I-20 about 2 hours (if you drive fast) east of Dallas.

The news release arrived about 6:30 p.m. and they authorities were still counting the assorted animals. But as of "press time" the list included:

68 Dogs, 26 Hissing Cockroaches, 16 Rabbits, 15 Guinea Pigs, 13 Gerbils, 12 Mice, 12 Rats, 7 Doves, 7 Horses, 4 Hamsters, 3 Chickens, 3 Parakeets, 2 Bearded Dragons, 2 Dwarf Hamsters, 2 Hedgehogs, 2 Cockatiels, 2 goats, one Lovebird, one African Grey Parrot, one Sheep, one Pot-Bellied Pig, one Opossum, one Frog, one Pink Toe Tarantula, one Millipede and one White Nose Coatimundi.

Some were found in pens, some in sheds, some inside a double-wide trailer. Living conditions were lousy and the health of some animals was questionable.

The SPCA and the Sheriff's Office gained access to the property through a warrant based on alleged medical neglect of the animals.

The custody hearing will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Harrison County Courthouse, 200 W. Houston St. in Marshall, according to the SPCA. When the animals are finally catalogued sometime late Friday, they will all be transported to the SPCA's Perry Center in McKinney.

In the meantime, you can visit the SPCA website HERE to keep up with new developments.

And, just fyi, those hissing cockroaches originally hailed from Madagascar and that white-nosed coatimundi? Why, it might even be a native Texan -- the species roams the desert portions of state.

.

A Friday collection...

OK, it's Friday and the weather looks lousy around here. So, it's January, what did we expect?

Now, with open minds toward humans and tender hearts toward animals and hope for a weekend without slick streets, let's proceed:.

KNEE NEED: Reader Carole Walsh of Murphy, Texas, tipped us to this situation at Straydog Inc., the sanctuary near Gun Barrel City.

"They have yet another dog that needs expensive knee surgery," Carole writes. "They recently put out a request for help with getting Lady this expensive surgery and were able to get it for her and now Nikki needs it too.  It is not a want -- it is a 'need.'

"Because they struggle so much just to get enough donations to cover their most basic necessities, they worry if they even should ask for this most necessary surgery. I know your readership will rally. When I read something you write about I try to send something (even if it's only $5 in an envelope)."

So, folks, that's the dog Nikki. You can read more about her and how to help her by going to the Straydog site HERE.

LEFT BEHIND: This is one of those Burns Flat, Okla., dogs. We get her story from tireless Burns Flat rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher.

"This sweet, sweet little girl is just a baby. She is so friendly and loving." Terry Lynn says the dog loves dogs, cats, people and even the pig that's currently bunking at the house.

Apparently a family moved and dropped her at the local kill shelter. So, Terry Lynn's trying to find a home for her. To ask about adopting this dog, call 580-330-1459 or e-mail [email protected]om.

FOUND IN KRUM: Susan Karr of the Kim Dawson Agency in Dallas reports that "Dari has yet another 'stray' at her home in Krum. Dari is Dari Pickle and her report is that a young female pug was found on Jan. 20 in Krum. "No collar, no tags. Has some sort of injury or defect in her right rear leg." If you know this dog or know where it belongs, call 214-638-2414, ext. 122.

ASSORTED THINGS: Just a note to remind people to visit Cary Birdwell's blog to see some really cute available critters such as this one: Devon the Dachshund, a ward of Dachshund Lovers of Texas. How about the size of those paws? Click HERE. ... Operation Kindness' monthly low-cost micro-chipping of dogs and cats is from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Carrollton shelter. The $15 fee includes lifetime registration. ... Reliable tipster Jennifer Glick sends a note about getting people to go to the Animal Rescue Site (www.theanimalrescuesite.com) and click on "fund food for animal" -- your free click helps determine how much food is donated to animal groups. (I checked this on Snopes.com, the urban legend site, and Snopes says it's true.) ... If you don't have a dog or cat, visit a kill shelter this weekend and get a friend and save a life.

THE PUPPY REPORT: Sometimes I think the word "cute" was invented just so there would be a word that described puppies accurately. And that brings us to the ongoing puppy project at Tony and Lynn Gatlin's house in Corsicana -- you know the story by now: stray dog gave birth to nine healthy puppies under a house. The pups were rescued, the mom's still at large. Tony and Lynn are fostering the puppies -- only the puppies are getting enough sleep, we're told.

The first photo is of B.B, also known as "Chunk" -- B.B. stands for "Bottle Baby," Lynn says. "This little 'chunk' is the pup that kept me up until 4 a.m. on the night/morning of his rescue. he just refused to eat or drink anything at all. He was withdrawn and lethargic. We were determined not to give up."

Tony, she says, "made a midnight run to the grocery store of a baby bottle, evaporated milk and Karo syrup, which seemed to do the trick.  Now we can't drag him away from the food bowl."

He's become a "social butterfly," is inquisitive and "plays hard and sleeps hard, too." (To ask about adopting B.B., call 903-874-3722 or e-mail [email protected].

And that second puppy with the soulful look? That is Tiny. And she's been adopted by David and Mary Beth Wilson in Corsicana. Tiny is the litter's smallest female. "She would rather be held and carried than walk on her own," Lynn says.

Tiny is going to be called Grace in her new home and Lynn says that "suits her perfectly."

She went to her new home with a crate, her bed and a bag of her favorite food.

And how has Grace adapted to her new home? That photo of sleeping Grace arrived this morning -- she's obviously embraced the comfort zone at the Wilson Home.

How's the fostering experience been -- nine puppies at a time? Lynn says, "I think Tony and I have both agreed that we probably won't ever take in nine at one time again. Famous last words, huh?"

CONTEMPLATIONS: Radios and our computers are about the closest things we have to time machines. So, the folks at the online KNUS here are firing up the time machine this weekend and taking us back in time. On Sunday night on radio station KMNY (1360 AM), musicologist Bud Buschardt, longtime familiar voice in DFW, will present a replay of his 1974 program on "The Day The Music Died," a tribute to Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper who died in a plane crash on Feb. 3, 1959. Heck, some of you may have heard that program when it was brand new back in '74 on WFAA-AM (570), a station that's long gone. We were tipped to this courtesy of former Fort Worth disc jockey Larry Shannon's site www.radiodailynews.com. Anybody else old enough to remember when AM radio ruled and wasn't all talk shows? .... Things have been gloomy ever since Dallas tanked in the playoffs, though, scientifically, it's difficult to blame the lousy weather on the Cowboys. Still, here we go: All the tears, including those from Terrell Owens at his press conference, created a humid condition and this met up with the chill that developed between Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson. Combine those two factors with the fact that there's always some kind of hot air rising at Valley Ranch and making room for colder air at lower altitudes and you have a rock-solid scientific explanation that this whole winter storm is the Cowboys' fault.

Winter, critters and Oscars...

Sometimes as I type this daily report I wear earphones and listen to music or local radio stations. I just heard a newscaster say the magic words: "Glaze on the roads."

The sun is shining on my yard right now. The Fort Worth Stock Show is underway. All the signs are there: Blizzard.

As the UFO watchers in Stephenville say, "I'll believe it when I see it."

DOG IN TROUBLE: Oh, boy, how does this stuff happen with dogs?

Debbie Barclay, the noted shelter walker, spotted this rascal in Grand Prairie's Prairie Paws Adoption Center. He's available -- but ONLY to a rescue group that can make sure he's socialized before adopting him out to someone willing to carry him everywhere he goes. I'm kidding. Levi likes to walk, too, but some people just like to hug-n-hold these rascals.

Oh, wait -- a quick note about Misty, the 11-year-old, pregnant blind rat terrier we featured earlier in the week. Debbie says Misty is in the care of Ratbones Rescue and, as of last night, still had not given birth. We'll monitor this. Now, back to the dog in these photos.

As you can tell, Levi is two armfuls of trouble. What? He looks like two armfuls of sweet huggable.

Levi is a 3-year-old, 30-35-pound, neutered Australian Cattle Dog/Beagle mix. I guess that makes him a scent and sight hound with a tendency to be adorable. How did he wind up in a kill shelter?

According to the note from Debbie, his "family said he bit their 2-year-old toddler at 2 in the morning. Not sure what the toddler was doing up at 2 a.m. alone with the dog. The staff [at the shelter] has found him to be nothing but sweet and loveable."

The Prairie Paws shelter can be reached at 972-237-8575. The shelter is on the south side of Grand Prairie at 2222 W. Warrior Trail. And, you can e-mail Debbie at [email protected].

AN UPDATE ON ANDY: The photograph looks like an ugly story -- and it is, but there is a nice side to it.

You may recall we told the tale of Andy the Dog yesterday. Shawn Bryant had picked this injured dog up from his "resting spot" next to a Dallas freeway.

Being a decent guy, Shawn made sure the dog got immediate medical care. The surgery was yesterday.

"His pelvis was broken in several places and had to be repaired," Shawn says. "I think screws were involved. That is about as technical as I can get without passing out."

But, Andy is up and "walking normally," says Shawn. "If it weren't for half his backside being shaved and the big zipper on his hip, you would never know anything had been done."

While the doc was in the neighborhood of Andy's hip and has some sharp instruments handy, well, of course, he just went ahead and neutered Andy.

So, now, the vet has given Andy the all-clear and Shawn is attempting to find a good home for this roadside dog. To help him, call 972-463-4899 or e-mail [email protected]. Remember, you'll have to pass a pretty tough audition to qualify to adopt Andy.

YES, A CAT WILL FIT INTO A SINK: You've heard of a lap cat. Schweers, obviously, is a "lav cat."

He's a Houston cat -- "all boy and loves to rumble and tumble around with the other kitties in foster mom’s house," we're told. The story of Schweers comes to us via our Houston tipster, Dana Dicker.

He's a snuggler and, according to the note, "His favorite activity is batting at the pointer on the monitor screen, and he is quite proficient in helping you send your emails! He’s used to a 27-pound doggie and a screaming parrot doesn't bother him.  Schweers was rescued with his siblings from an overcrowding situation. Despite his rough start, he is a happy, healthy, precocious, energetic and fun little boy! He was born approximately August 15, 2007, has had all his shots, and is neutered and microchipped."

To ask about adopting Schweers, e-mail [email protected] or call 713-858-5600 or email Dana at [email protected].

ONE OF THOSE PUPS: In our continuing parade of Corsicana puppies, we present Miss Dottie, courtesy of Tony and Lynn Gatlin who are sleeplessly fostering the 9 pups rescued from under an old house.

"We named her Dottie because she has a white dot on her coat between her shoulder blades making her easily identifiable when in the 'dog pile' with her siblings," says Lynn. "Dottie is one of our more energetic pups who really enjoys her outside potty time.  We sometimes have a hard time focusing on the task at hand because she'd rather be exploring the yard or visiting with the neighbor's dog! She bolts out the door with her tail wagging in anticipation of what adventure lies ahead.  She exhibits that same gusto on the return trip back inside...always happy, always wagging her little tail just as fast as it will go! Dottie is very personable and will crawl up in your lap only after she exhausts herself from playing with her littermates."

To ask about adopting Miss Dottie or any of her siblings, call 903-874-3722 or e-mail [email protected].

NOTE FROM OKLAHOMA: Our reliable Burns Flat, Okla., tipster Terry Lynn Fisher reports, "There is an 8-month-old pure Blue Heeler that the owner actually took out to the country to shoot because his son did not want it any more. An elderly couple saw this and talked the idiot into letting them take the poor dog. They are not able to keep it, but they could not let it be shot. Please, if you have room for this young, beautiful, healthy dog, let me know." (E-mail [email protected] or call Terry Lynn at 580-330-1459.

TWO STANDARD POODLES WITH UN-STANDARD NEEDS: Mary Spencer asks that we give these dogs a bit of space because they "have definitely touched my heart and need a special home so badly."

Here is the note from Mary:

"I rescued these two female Standard Poodles from Fort Worth Animal Care & Control last week. They are approximately 2 years old and came from a puppy mill where they were terribly neglected and malnourished. It appears that they have had puppies – but they are so thin – I wonder how. They have obviously been kept in a cage because they did not even know about grass and they have no social skills.  The worst part of this is that they are both blind.  My vet could not figure out why they are blind;  there is no infection and no cataracts.  And they are both so young.  Obviously their 'Breeder' owner saw no other use for them – and discarded them... one of the most pathetic and horrible conditions I have ever seen. 

"They are both so sweet and loving and they recognize the sound of my voice. After having them for just a day – their tails are wagging and they are acclimating to their new environment. They LOVE being in the grass. They don’t know how to walk on a leash and their social skills are low. They are not housebroken but after a few days, they are already going to the bathroom outside – and they have learned about puppy training pads. They are very good with other dogs and cats and have no aggression at all. During their grooming sessions, the groomer said they were so sweet and gentle. They love to be talked to and touched. When I see them – and call them by their names and talk to them, their ears perk up and they wag their tails and are so affectionate.  Their new names are Priscilla (the white one with beige markings) and Molly Magoo (the white one with grey markings). 

"They are on the small size for Standard Poodles – weighing 35 pounds, but according to the vet – they should be 55–60 pounds. They are heartworm negative and have had their shots. They are not spayed – but were not in good enough health to do that until they put on some weight and are not so stressed.

"I would welcome any information on blind dogs and any thoughts on placing them.  In the meantime, I am hoping to find a special home for them soon – so that they can get used to their new home and environment."

To offer advice or a home, e-mail [email protected] or call any of these three numbers 214-543-5255 (cell), 214-321-3508 (home) or 214-720-0345 (office).

CONTEMPLATIONS: If there are no Oscars on TV this year, it will really be a sad thing for America. The Miss America Pageant is gone from traditional TV, the people in Hollywood have picked a new Captain Kirk (yet the old one is still with us), and now, there's a chance that Oscar won't show up on our home screens. The foundation of America is beginning to crack. Next thing you know, they'll take I Love Lucy off the air and try to introduce New Coke again. 

Jonnie England resigns...

This stunning news has just arrived via e-mail. Thought you readers should know that the longtime guiding hand and the voice and heart of Operation Kindness is leaving the no-kill shelter.

Here is her graceful exit note -- it was distributed just a few minutes ago .

"Dear Friends,

"I apologize for letting you know via an impersonal mass email, but it seemed the quickest way to let you know that I have resigned as Executive Director of Operation Kindness effective February 15.   

"As you can probably guess, this was an incredibly difficult and painful decision.  The board of directors recently decided to reorganize Operation Kindness and bring in a General Manager who would report to the board and take over the day-to-day operations.   While I would retain my title and continue to serve as spokesperson for the shelter, my job description was rewritten as a development director, with the primary focus on fund-raising.  After much soul searching and deliberation, I decided that this was not a job I wanted. 

"This comes at the end of what was, in every respect, one of our most successful years ever.   Among our achievements in 2007:

"--We adopted 2,869 animals—an increase of 11%, or almost 300 adoptions over the previous year.

"-- Our endowment reached $1 million. 

"-- Canines, Cats & Cabernet netted over $100,000 for the first time ever—up more than 65%. 

"--We received unprecedented media coverage that kept our name before the public all year long, and established Operation Kindness as the leader in seeking justice for animals that have been abused and cruelly treated.   

"--We ended the year with $432,000 in our operating account.    

"--Our total cash assets on December 31 were $2,465,000 – up almost $400,000 from the year before. 

"I started volunteering with Operation Kindness in January 1986, and was immediately hooked. I was elected to the board the following year and became vice president in 1988.  A year after that I became board president, a position I held for almost 9 years until I resigned from my job as Vice President of Corporate Communications at KERA to become Operation Kindness’ first Executive Director in 1997. the goal I set for myself was simple, although not easy:  To raise the money for our new shelter, and to see the building built.  "That was accomplished two years later when we moved into our wonderful facility.

"Operation Kindness has been my life—not just my life’s work—for over 20 years.  Over 45,000 homeless, unwanted, neglected or abused dogs and cats have been saved, cared for, adopted and given a second chance at life during those years.  I am immensely proud of all that I have accomplished for Operation Kindness, and of the organization that I have led for almost two decades.  I’m also proud that I leave when the organization is at its zenith—the most financially stable it’s ever been, the most well-known and the most respected. 

"I plan to take a few weeks to consider my options for the future and then pursue my next challenge.   Although I doubt that my next position will be in animal welfare, my commitment to the animals remains as strong as ever, and I will continue to work for them in any and every way possible.

"I have had the privilege to work with some immensely dedicated and talented people, and I thank them for their hard work and absolute devotion to the animals that we care for.   

"Thank you, too, for your friendship.  I wish nothing but the best for Operation Kindness and the animals so deserving of our help and support.   

"Warm regards,
"Jonnie"

***

Aside from Readlarrypowell.com: The Operation Kindness website is HERE. You can find a mailing address to send thank you cards, notes of admiration, etc.

This is a staggering day in the history of animal welfare in North Texas -- and across the country. Under Jonnie, Operation Kindness became the state-of-the-art pattern for establishing a community-based shelter.

Like Jonnie suggests in her note, the past has become a remarkable foundation upon which Operation Kindness may continue to build a future for unwanted dogs and cats and other critters that have been cast aside or abused by humans. The personnel may change, but the mission remains.

Midweek and moving along...

OK, we've reached Wednesday in the coldest week of the year.

Who knew we'd need more than one pair of thick socks in North Texas this winter?

Now, moving along:

THE ROADSIDE DOG: Well, this happens around here. Fortunately this dog was spotted by someone with a heart.

We were forwarded the note from Shawn Bryant who wrote that last Friday "I noticed dog laying in the grass between the service road and I-30 during the height of rush hour.  I circled back around to check on this poor fellow. He was able to stand up and hobble towards me. I managed to get him into the back of my car, and I took him to my veterinarian. He had obviously been hit by a car. He has a broken pelvis and will require surgery.

"The doctor tells me that he will make a full recovery. ... I am covering all his medical costs, but I need help finding him a home.  I will see to it that he gets all of his vaccinations and is neutered.  My wife and I already have two dogs and aren’t able to take in another. 

"This dog, I am calling him Andy, is a male mixed breed. He has a beautiful red coat and has a docked tail. ... He is big -- 66 pounds. The doctor thinks he is around five years old.  He has been very gentle and well behaved, even though he was frightened and in pain.
The number to call to ask about adopting Andy is 972-463-4899.

ROSE, THE BRITTANY: Our pal Suzy Hlavinka from Texarkana tipped us to the effort to find a new family home for Rose.

Isn't she a beaut?

This dog is a year-and-a-half old and is purebred, but has no papers. She's spayed and has had her dew claws removed. Though she is said to be from "good hunting stock" she's just really not interested in field work.

Rose does well on a leash and is "very sweet and loving -- would be a wonderful pet for a young boy with a fenced yard. She loves to run and play chase; gets along well with other dogs."

To ask about adopting this dog, call 903-832-1744, ask for Claudia or leave a message. Or e-mail [email protected].

FYI: This is a Brittany, not a Britney. You're unlikely to need a lawyer with this Brittany.

THEY SAYS SHE'S A DREAM DOG: Now this one isn't a purebred, we're told. She's Molly the Mix, the Golden Retriever Mix.

We're tipped to her by our canine assessment pal Cary Birdwell of Adopt-a-Dallas Pet. The story on Molly is she's 5 and, they says, "She is a dream dog. Perfect in every way -- sweet natured, calm and laid back. Molly doesn't bark much and is perfectly behaved. She would be ideal for a less-active couple or for someone who wants a dog to hang out at your feet."

To ask about adopting this pup, call Animal Guardians of America at 972-398-2123 or e-mail [email protected].

HELP NEEDED AT THE LAKE: Well, goodness, Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake sent us a note about the continuing crisis faced by Penny McCan.

A recent housefire has placed her in a position of having to find homes for some of her dogs.

Among those are two Chihuahuas, mother and son ages 5 and 4 -- they should be adopted together, she says. And there's a 3 year-old German Shepherd, a year-and-a-half-old Shepherd/Lab mix that is a "big teddy bear" and a 10-year-old female shepherd mix.

To ask about adopting any of these and setting Penny's mind at ease, call 903-275-7925 or e-mail [email protected].

You can read about this situation and others by going to the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek site HERE and clicking on "adopt."

ONE OF THE CORSICANA NINE: Oh, boy, this is Terry. Isn't that a face?

Lynn Gatlin is sending us photos of the pups rescued from beneath a house behind a lawyer's office and here's part of the inside story.

Lynn writes, "I'm going to be featuring a rescued pup each day so they can each have their own individual time in the spotlight. I'll try to actually show you some 'awake' pictures of our temporary boarders instead of pics where they're all asleep!!!  Bear in mind that with so many babies thrust upon us so abruptly, Tony and I had to come up with names to distinguish just exactly 'who was who' to make sure each one had been appropriately fed, watered and had ample opportunity outside for their 'potty' break.  Their temporary names aren't very creative, but they've helped us keep track of things in multiples around here!!!  I'm sure they'd love to have new names when they move into their forever homes.  A privilege left for the new owner, of course!

"This little cutie pie is Terry. We call him Terry because his face looks more like a terrier than any of his littermates.  Terry is your typical pup, enjoying eating, sleeping, and playing.  He's transitioned over from mama's milk to Science Diet with no problems at all.  In fact, he dives for the pan at mealtimes!! 

"He's very affectionate and really enjoys a nap in your lap. He's 6 weeks old and has had his first parvo vac and worming.  He weighed 4.4 lbs at his vet appointment last Friday. This little guy could be your next best friend!"

To ask about adopting Terry -- you'll have to pass an audition -- call 903-874-3722 or e-mail [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS: Let's try this one. True or false? One way you can tell the political season is heating up is husbands and wives stop watching late show monologues together. ... I'm not going to say I'm hip to modern technology, but for a little while I was almost certain that Blu-Ray was one of William Wegman's dogs. That is our staff impressionist, Inky, the Cocker Laureaute of the State of Texas, in one of his blue moods. Not to be cheesy, but in this particular instance he decided to refer to himself as "Bleu-Ray."