Here we go with a Wednesday report in the middle of February.
My next-door neighbor was out mowing his grass at 6 p.m. yesterday. There was sunlight, the grass needed mowing. Texans may not have to pay for heating oil, but we do have to pony up to fuel our winter mowing. Let's move on:
BE ON THE LOOKOUT: We've got a rescued boxer who bolted at Lake Whitney and a yellow Lab who disappeared near White Rock Lake in Dallas.
THE LAB: Sasha is the yellow lab in this photo. Jennifer Rauch reports that "Sasha got out of my sister-in-law's yard (on Feb. 7) which is near White Rock Lake (Northwest Highway and Buckner). We have repeatedly searched the surrounding area, shelters, etc., and have not found her.
"She is approximately 13-years -old, believed to be wearing a collar with City of Dallas registration tag at the time she got out."
If you know the whereabouts of this dog call 214-505-5689 or e-mail [email protected].
THE BOXER: This dog, missing from its new home at Lake Whitney, was recently adopted from Legacy Boxer Rescue, we hear from Sharon Sleighter of Legacy.
Cami, a 2-year-old brindle female, "escaped from her new lake house" on Feb. 18 at about 10:30 a.m. She was last seen in Laguna Park near Uncle Gus's Marina. If you're familiar with the area, you may recognize those landmarks -- or Uncle Gus, I guess.
Sharon reports that Cami "can be very skittish, but she is not a fear-biter, just very scared of new people."
To report Cami's whereabouts, e-mail [email protected] or call 1-877-5BOXERS.
STARLA: Here at Readlarrypowell.com, we are enamored of whimsical dog ears. This is known here and there, so a couple of readers sent me photos of Starla. I don't know how many channels she picks up, but she does have a look on her face that says, "I'm listening to satellite radio."
The rest of that story is that Starla is needing a home. According to Stacy Hiebert Greer, Starla "appears to be a Dachshund mix -- maybe with 
Basenji? Cute little thing, maybe 13 pounds. Long, lean and ready to go."
Stacy describes Starla as "active, but just moderately so. She is a year old, spayed, up-to-date on shots, crate-trained fully. ... She does OK with dogs but was given to me because she started to pick on the owner's Beagle. She is not aggressive. She just needs to learn how to act around other dogs. ... She's completely ignored my dogs while they are in their crates and my Great Dane runs freely in the house and she has completely ignored him."
Stacy says Starla and her ears are "free to a good home that is willing to do training with her."
To ask about adopting Starla, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-731-3191, ext. 4.
A CHANCE TO VOTE: Oh, admit it. Some of you are aching to vote, itching to cast a ballot. You can't wait until March 4 or November. Here's your chance. We get this from our pal Rebecca Poling with Companions For Life, the educational animal outfit.
"A very special CFL volunteer took this photo of her kitty Monty, and she's entered it into the HSUS Spay Day USA 2008 photo contest! Not only is this contest a great way to promote spay/neuter, but also adoption -- Monty was adopted from Dallas Animal Services' new Adoption Center on Grand Opening Day!
"And with enough votes, Monty could win a variety of great prizes, including the privilege of awarding a $5,000 grant for spay/neuter services to one of the nonprofit organizations participating in Spay Day USA! Monty is a big fan of Metroplex Animal Coalition, so if he gets enough votes, it means a big donation to spay/neuter in the Metroplex!
To vote for Monty, go to www.spaydayusa.org/bin/Rate and search for Monty in the "pet name" list. When the page of critters named Monty shows up, why vote for Monty the Cat -- this photograph will be right there on the site. Remember, it's a good cause.
TWO CATS NEED ONE HOME: These cats are obviously in no imminent danger -- they've already been through a lot. But if one person could adopt Marmalade The Big Orange Kitty and Mocha The Gray Striped Cat well, that would be a great thing, we hear from Ann Balaban of New Beginnings Cat Rescue.
When they arrived at NBCR, they were in rough shape.
"Marmalade was already blind with one ruptured eye. Mocha is blind but her eyes are in better shape," Ann says.
And Mocha's situation was further complicated by the fact that she had a broken hip -- no one knows why. She had hip surgery to correct the condition. They're both doing fine now -- they're "very affectionate," Ann says. (Their care drained the New Beginnings budget of around $1,200.) They 
need to go to one home since they've developed a close relationship.
Ann says, "What's really strange is when you pick up Marmalade and hold him close to your face, he puts his paws up and pats your face like he is seeing what you look like--including the eyes!"
Mocha's working on adjusting to her new life and Marmalade's presence helps her.
To ask about adopting them, go to the New Beginnings site HERE or e-mail [email protected] or call 214-448-4484..
In a note about the extra efforts to heal these cats, the NBCR stance is, "Sometimes after meeting the cat, we see that they have a special personality or strength of will that is hard to ignore. We know they've already survived the worst that can be done to them and will fight to overcome the injuries or illness ..."
All these two need now is a good human.
HELPING MS. PAIGE: Holly Turnage, with help from a veteran rescuer, is working to save an abandoned dog named Ms. Paige.
"My neighbors moved out and left their dog behind. She keeps getting into my backyard because I was dog-sitting her before they moved and she knows I will feed her and let her in the house out of the cold.
"She is a good dog, great with kids and people. She gets along with my male pit just fine, but not sure of other breeds or dogs.
"I know she is not fixed. ... I think she has had her shots, but, obviously, because she was abandoned I don't have any records.
"I don't want anything for her, I just want her to have a loving home."
To offer to help Holly with Ms. Paige, e-mail [email protected].
And, maybe, someone can pursue the people who abandoned the dog and offer them an opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of the legal system -- after all, abandoning an animal is against the law in Texas.
SET YOUR DIAL FOR TAMMY GRIMES: Leigh Foster of The Pawz Cauze computer/radio talk show has scored a scoop and you'll be able to listen to it. At 2 p.m. Dallas time on Thursday she'll do a live interview with Tammy Grimes, founder of Dogs Deserve Better, the anti-chained dog rescue group. (To tune in, go to www.thepawzcauze.net. For an hour you'll be able to call 646-716-9947 and comment, ask a question or offer support.)
Tammy, you may recall, was convicted of theft last year -- she had bundled up a dog named Doogie that couldn't stand, was staked out in a yard and was suffering and spirited it away to safety and medical care. The owners claimed theft. The court agreed.
As Leigh writes, "The owners were never charged with the cruel act of animal abuse and are allowed to keep their other 2 dogs in the same filth that they kept poor Doogie. We, here at The Pawz Cauze, feel this is a grave injustice of our legal system and we support Tammy 100%. She faces jail time as she will not pay the fines nor do the suggested community service. Why? You ask…..find out live on Thursday afternoon."
The Dogs Deserve Better site has an accounting of the case and photos of Doogie being rescued -- click HERE.
ASSORTED RESCUE WORLD NOTES: Our pal Sigrid Mureen, a former newspaper colleague who also happened to run Sheltie Haven rescue, continues to encounter medical adventures at Doctors Hospital in Dallas -- dialysis, etc. She's in need of something to make her smile and you know how picky hospitals are about letting dogs assist in certain procedures. So, here's an idea: E-mail a note and photos of your dog -- doesn't have to be a sheltie -- or cat -- also doesn't have to be a sheltie -- to [email protected] and it'll be carried to Sigrid. Nobody likes being in the hospital away from their critters, but, maybe just knowing that other people love their animals, too, will be a spirit-booster. ...
Speaking of boosting spirits, usually when we hear from Terry Lynn Fisher of Burns Flat, Okla., it's about saving critters from the local pound. Not this time. The announcement is staggering. Terry wrote, "Had to share the news. I am a grandma." Yep, as of 8:44 p.m. Monday, when Chase Alan Fisher arrived. He's the son of Scott Alan and Shayna and weighed in at 5 pounds, 13 ounces. Terry wrote, "He is my first grandchild and I am the happiest person in the world."
READING TIP: Good story in the Los Angeles Times about the guy who went undercover to explore the way that slaughterhouse in Chino, Calif., was treating animals. His work led to a massive recall -- but may lead to significant changes in the industry.. Click HERE. (Full disclosure: I'm a vegetarian -- I feel bad for the cattle AND for the people who may get sick from eating them. I'm a vegetarian, but I'm not all that kind -- don't expect a card that reads "Sorry you bit into that burger.")
CONTEMPLATION: Last Friday night my delightful in-laws, James and Donna Hunter, drove us to Winstar Casino to see the great Tom Jones in concert. Martha sat next to her sister and they were, suddenly, giggly, grinning teenagers again. Tom's voice is robust, on target and he's got a great show. We sat about 10 rows back from the stage. Before the show began a woman in a beige suit asked an usher for help finding her seat. The red nameplate on her beige jacket said "Psychic Reader." How good a psychic are you if you need help finding your seat?
