Oh, boy, folks, we have a load of things today. From a gravel pit in Seagoville, to a recovered boxer in Sansom Park, to shelter dogs and cats and wandering critters and Kinky Friedman and ... well, the list goes on. We'd better start typing. Here goes:
THE GRAVEL PIT CRISIS: We'll start with "People are idiots" and go from there. Thank heavens there are people who are willing to pick up the slack left by the idiots.
And, by the way, abandoning or dumping an animal at a gravel pit is against the law in Texas.
On the South side of Malloy Bridge Road, just outside of Seagoville, on the southeast side of Dallas, there is a gravel pit. Some unscrupulous people have turned it into a dumping ground for animals.
Our tipster, Johnna Bigley, teamed with her pal Christi Davis to pull a black puppy (now named Seymour) out of the area last week (see last Friday's report) and things just sort of snowballed. More and more dogs were found, including this border collie and the smaller cattle dog. They're in the weeds not far from the busy road.
Johnna says that theses dogs and the others " live in the trees and bushes next to the gravel pit. I think sometimes they seek refuge under some of the equipment or buildings out there. ... The cattle dog is actually a little smaller than the border girl. The little border girl is pretty thin. They seem to be newly abandoned as they're fur is still somewhat clean and soft. Both are females, look to be full grown, probably weigh around 30-40 lbs. and are just as sweet and lovable as can be.
"They won't leave the roadside and last night were sleeping in the road. We actually thought they were tires on the road as they were all curled up. No doubt waiting the poor babies are hoping that 
their master will return....They are definitely in danger of being hit and killed. I pray this hasn't already happened to the third one that I couldn't find today but I'll get it's picture if it shows back up."
In her exploration of the area, Johnna says she's "found out that there are actually a few other dogs abandoned not far from where the little gravel pit dog [Seymour] was ... There are six puppies (all female - all look to be no more than 3 or 4 months old) and three younger adult dogs (two female and one injured male - he's the tan one holding his back left leg up). All have great dispositions. They were all also abandoned in two different locations and a very good friend of mine is taking food to all them when she can."
If you click on the small photo, it should expand to a large collection of photos of some of the animals dumped at the gravel pit.
To help with these cases, contact Johnna at 214-673-3844 (cell) or 972-476-8663 or e-mail [email protected].
NEAR MISS: Yesterday we told the story of this dog -- rescued from living at an abandoned house in Oak Cliff, south of the Dallas Zoo.
And, yesterday, says Liz Baer, a woman drove down from north of Lewisville to meet the dog and take him home.
It was a short try-out.
Liz reports that the woman has "three acres of land and she rehabilitates dogs and finds them a new home."
Before the evening arrived, however, the heartworm-positive dog was back in a pickle. He wasn't fitting in with her other dogs -- "seven Chihuahuas and some other small dogs.
"She has the space and the money to take care of him, but she doesn't want to take the risk of him hurting the other dogs. Apparently he has a loud bark and she is really intimidated by the possibility of what he can do."
So, Liz and her friend Pat Rodriguez are going to continue to look for a good place for this dog. He's got a lot of positives and he's got the saddest eyes in the dog world. (To ask about helping [email protected] or [email protected] or call 972-375-2026.)
BEYOND CAPACITY: Our White Settlement tipster Marybelle Denton of the West Side Animal League tells us that the Fort Worth suburb's animal shelter is woefully overloaded -- lots of cats and kittens, dogs and puppies.
Among the animals is this beautiful cat -- looks a bit Maine Coonish to me. Her name is Mercedes. And her story is bittersweet. She "helped mother 
four baby kittens at the shelter that were not even hers -- she'd miscarried her own litter and was grieving. Such a wonderful cat deserves to have a great home."
then there is Max, this "goofy, loveable dog."
There are others. Click HERE to see the animals at the shelter To save Mercedes or the happy to be held Max, call the shelter at 817-246-1043 or 817-205-8650. To get in touch with the West Side Animal League and get involved with helping these animals, e-mail [email protected].
ROSIE NEEDS A RESCUE: This dog Rosie, seen here either on patrol or on a recreational jaunt, needs some help. Our tipster at the Plano Animal Services shelter, Debbie new, says Rosie should go to rescue only.
The story on 2-year-old Rosie is that she lost her home when her owner died. She was brought to the shelter. Then she was adopted. Then, because of a landlord issue, she was returned.
She likes dogs, likes cats, has had some obedience training and knows sit, stay, come and lie down. And she's facing the clock this weekend.
To ask about getting her into a rescue group, contact Debbie at [email protected]. Remember, if you know someone in a rescue group, you can always cut a deal to foster the dog until you can adopt her.
SPOTTED IN BURNS FLAT: Yep. Dalmatians. So, yes, they are spotted in Burns Flat, Okla. Our tireless tipster Terry Lynn Fisher says they were brought in yesterday "skinny and dirty but so full of love and kisses."
They had initial care, but need to put on some weight. "The good thing is no fleas or ticks -- for those of you that have dealt with Oklahoma dogs, you know that is a wonderful thing."
To help Terry Lynn get this pair of Dalmatians out of the pound, e-mail [email protected] or call 580-330-1459.
LORALEI'S SITUATION: Earlier in the week we mentioned that the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake is collecting funds to help fly Loralei to a Lab rescue group in California on May 3.
There are several good reasons why Loralei is busy right now. She's got her own litter of 7 pups and an adopted litter of 6 Heeler/Spaniel pups. Their mom "had to be put to sleep" so Loralei took over the mothering chores, says Krista McAnally of the Humane Society.
So, its time now to find homes for these puppies so Loralei can leave for California and her heartworm treatment. To adopt a dog, offer a hand or a suggestion for helping these pups, contact Krista at [email protected] or call the humane society's shelter in Tool at 903-432-3422.
SHELTER NOTES WITH DOGS NEEDING HELP: Renee Brown, who usually focuses on animal situations in Mansfield, was looking at the Dogs In Danger website HERE and spotted a situation in Borger, Texas, northeast of Amarillo in the Panhandle. "I know it’s far away," she says "But this shelter seems to need some help. On death row, they have a miniature schnauzer, 3 blue heeler puppies, a Dachshund mix puppy, a border collie puppy, etc. Thought they could use some help." Click HERE to go to the Borger shelter's site. ... Our tipster Mary Ann Nastro has spotted "another unfortunate dog" in the Collin County Animal Shelter. This dog can be seen by clicking HERE. "This beauty will soon be living on borrowed time as the SPCA will not take her and there are no public adoptions at this facility," says Mary Ann. the dog will need a rescue group to save her -- the SPCA has first dibs on adoptables at this shelter and the shelter doesn't adopt to the public, so if the SPCA turns the animal down and no rescue group steps up, the dog is dead. Mary Ann can help you with contacts -- email [email protected]. ... Earlier in the week we pitched a dog named Lateshift (left) who was on the short clock at the Carrollton Animal Services shelter. What has happened to Lateshift? We asked Carrollton's Joe Skenesky about the fate of Lateshift and were relieved to hear back that the good dog had gone to a Lab rescue group.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT: Our pals at Legacy Boxer Rescue have posted a followup on the theft last fall of three boxers in Sansom Park. Go to www.savetheboxers.com and you'll see that one boxer has been recovered and two are still missing. More eyes looking for the dogs might help find the other two.
A COLLECTION OF THINGS: Jennifer Glick, the tireless Rowlett animal protector, sends us a note about a campaign to end chimp research. Click HERE. ... Kinky Friedman, perhaps some day again a gubernatorial candidate in Texas, continues to raise money for the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch. Click HERE to read about the Legends and Puppies Tour 2008 with the Kinkster, Steven Fromholz and Little Jewford.; all of the shows are for the benefit of Kinky's Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch (501c3). ... We hear from Julie Maupin, our Corsicana and Humane Society of Navarro County contact, that there's a "fun family show" at the Warehouse Living Arts Center in Corsicana. The Corsicana Children's Company production of Beauty and the Beast opened Thursday to rave reviews (from grandparents, I suspect!). The play is on again at 7 tonight, 3 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets range from $3 to $7. Call 903-872-5421 for reservations. Remember, this is going on during Corsicana's Derrick Days and on Saturday the city animal shelter and the Humane Society of Navarro County will have a special animal adoption event. ... The Vegetarian Network of Dallas is urging folks to attend a showing of Blinders, the movie about the New York City carriage horse industry. It shows at 5 p.m. Sunday during the USA Film Festival at the Angelika, 5321 E. Mockingbird at Central Expressway. Tickets are $8 a t the door or available through Ticketmaster at 214-631-2787.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Our big dog Hambone Jack, the Great Dane Lab mix, after years of spending his mornings on the living room couch, has decided he prefers going back to bed in the bedroom. Such change in behavior always is a puzzler -- he is reading more, however. ... Gasoline fix: If we keep buying gasoline as the price goes up, the suppliers raise the prices to pay for the elevated cost of transporting the gasoline to market, etc. If we were to stop buying, the suppliers would raise the prices to reflect the lack of demand. Is there a solution? ... People who speak in cliches don't bring a lot to the table.
