One of the ways you can tell Oklahoma is mostly flat is the prairie wind can really build up a head of steam by the time it hits North Texas.
How strong was that overnight wind? Check your GPS -- Dallas is 4 inches south of where it was yesterday.
And the temp dropped from nearly 90 into the low 40s. Be nice if we could get this in August.
THE IRONIC PUP: For many years now we've been writing about the activities of the Companion Animal Network, a small but determined group of rescuers that speaks up for as many animals as time and money will allow. This group is always -- ALWAYS -- in need of three things: (1) Foster homes; (2) Permanent homes and (3) Donations.
How can a rescue group's budget be blindsided? Here's an example of how. We got this from CAN's iron woman, Gail Whelan, reporting on a fortunate moment from Sunday.
She says that "as we were dropping off one of our seniors at his new home... the foster (Barbara Staves) had no longer driven away but saw this puppy in the middle of the street. She is in pretty bad shape as you can see. But we will make sure she gets the care she needs and gets adopted. Her name is Miss Ellie. We don't know WHAT she is right now - but we think a bulldog mix. At first Barb said Shar Pei, but I think it's just the severe infection."
Now, you can see in the photo that Miss Ellie has no trouble finding the feed bag. And, indeed, (I'm not a doctor but I have played one on stage)she looks as if she is ravaged by puppy mange. This is a needless condition and is indicative of neglect.
So, one small good deed results in an expensive obligation. That's the way it is in rescue. You may recall that a few weeks ago we mentioned an older dog at the Collin County Animal Shelter, Gina. CAN took Gina and it turns out she needs about a $1,000 worth of medical care. Another dog in CAN's care inexplicably began limping -- X-rays, bloodwork, emergency care -- totaled more than $1,000 and the dog was still lost to cancer.
As Gail points out, nobody really knows the story behind an animal's health until a vet takes a look at the critter. By then, the group has committed to the animal and the bill is growing.
Fundraising? Like many small groups, there is only energy and time to work with the animals. To take them in and to try to get them moved along to new homes. And, like most rescue groups, nobody is a professional fundraiser. So they do what they can.
At the CAN PetFinder site HERE you can see animals in CAN's care and see an electronic way to donate via PayPal.
CAN's regularly scheduled adoption event is the third Saturday of each month at the PetsMart in Old Town in Dallas (Greenville Avenue, just north of Lovers Lane.) The adoption fee is $150, but, as Gail notes, that doesn't begin to cover the expense of getting the animal ready for adoption.
And, just surmising here, but it's got to be pretty hard to keep the inventory down when you have a once-a-month adoption but you're picking up animals daily. So, the answer is "people." More people would help have more adoptions, would offer more foster homes and would offer more ways, perhaps, to raise money.
To help by adopting (Miss Ellie will need a home!), donating, fostering, etc., call Gail at 214-969-4831 or 972-686-8987.
And people who aren't inclined to help rescue animals probably can't read this, but they could help by spaying and neutering and by keeping their critters from wandering into tough spots.
THE WHITE SETTLEMENT PAIR: We go this e-mail this morning from Vicki Osbourn. It has to do with two dogs on death row in the White Settlement Animal Shelter. Her note:
"For some reason, I just can't get over these two dogs, now called Sarah and Sam, who scared a burglar off (and even got his shoe) from a house where they were apparently not even welcome, because now they're on death row in the White Settlement pound.
"I heard about them a few days ago, and thought surely some lonely person would be happy to take them on. But, here they are, not only still without a home, but about to be terminated.
"Poor Sam has a pain somewhere when he's picked up, according to the people who posted their story, which makes me think maybe he has pancreatitus (I have one with that). This situation is tearing me up and I find it hard to believe that no one wants such good guardians.
"I already have double digits of dogs, plus am fostering 2 more puppies that would've been dead if left any longer in the below zero weather they'd been in since birth with their 10-year-old mom (she had dried up and they were only giving them cow milk and Kal). Out of 12, these two were the only ones that survived, and they weren't much puppy when I got them at 6 weeks.
"They'll be going to their new home in mid-March, but right now I'm beyond capacity here (I also have two cats), so I can't do anything about this.
"Is there anyone out there that would be willing to give these dogs a shot at protecting their property? I'm not sleeping very well, and I don't think they are either."
Again, folks, Sam and Sarah are at the White Settlement Animal Shelter. White Settlement's adoption fee is $25 per animal, plus a $10 rabies fee and a $12 registration fee (if you live in the city). The shelter is at 209 Bollinger Blvd. Call 817-246-7070.
MISSING LABS, LUKE AND DUKE: Our reliable tipsters at Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake forwarded this note from Kay Miller. "My grandsons are missing their two Lab dogs. Luke is around 10 years ol, black, fat and friendly. Duke is around a year old. He is a light-yellow Lab. They live on the outskirts of Kaufman, going toward Kemp, right off of 175. These boys have lost their father and Luke was the father's dog. They love these dogs and the loss of Luke is just too sad. If anyone has seen these two Labs, please contact us." (E-mail [email protected] or call 903-451-5424 or [email protected].)
WILBUR NEEDS A HOME: We get Wilbur's story from our pal Della Wallace and it involves his brother Muttley and his sister Lydia.
Della explains: "We were at an adoption and a woman came and wanted to give up a couple of puppies. She said a few things we didn't like and so we said she had to give up all 5 or we couldn't take any. Of course, we would have, but she went home and brought us the other 3. We have adopted out 2 and the 3rd refused to leave David [Della's hubby]. She kept escaping from her new home and we had to go to Irving at midnight to try to find her. We did, she came to him right away. Sooooo, we have to keep Lydia as she just won't leave.
"But Wilbur and Muttley his brother are up for adoption"
Wilbur is about 4 years old. He and Muttley probably would do better if adopted together. They are shepherd mixes and "very sweet," Della says. They get along with dogs, but "we're not sure about cats although their brother Mooshie went to a home with a couple of cats and is very good with them."
And this photo? "Here is another 'thank you for the snack'," Della says. "My husband is really good at clicking the shutter at just the right time."
(To ask about adopting these pups, e-mail [email protected] or call 972-294-7415.)
CONTEMPLATIONS: We're at the outset of the Texas Rangers' 36th consecutive rebuilding season, though I don't know how you can rebuild something that's never been built. And the theoretical ace of the pitching staff Kevin Millwood already has a hurting hammy. Is it too early to declare the Rangers mathematically eliminated from the pennant race? ... Do some people concentrate on sports because politics makes them uneasy? ... Are the people on TV "entertainment news" shows and morning news shows entirely too chirpy for polite company? Sheesh, if those shows toned it down, the sale of headache tablets would drop 50 percent.
