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Gator and the art of sleeping

One of the great things about our mission at Readlarrypowell.com is we get to hear how much people love their dogs and cats.

By now you have probably noticed this fantastic photo of Gator. And you may have said to yourself, "Now that's a dog who should be spotlighted in 'Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.' "

You are correct. And we are appreciative of Cari Weinberg for sending the photographs of her good dog Gator. You'll note that in the sleeping photo, Gator has a special glow. If sleeping is an art, Gator is an artist.

For you shutterbugs interested in taking art photographs of your critters, I asked Cari to explain the situation. She says, "I had a dim lamp on and took the pictures without a flash. It created a rosy glow in the pictures but in real life it's a little brighter."

(Aside from Larry: In real life I like to think I'm a little brighter, too. But, probably not.)

Now, here's Cari's note about Gator, our dynamic sleeper in this week's edition of our popular Readlarrypowell.com feature, "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap."

She writes: I love reading your blog and this week's story about the lost and found Pyrenees brought tears to my eyes." [Rex, Jan. 23]

"We found one wandering in traffic in East Dallas a few months back. His owner never surfaced, but we were able to finally place him with a young man in the Dallas Police Academy who gets up every morning. Someday we can't wait to have a house big enough for a Pyrenees (having 3 dogs and a cat in an 800+-square-foot house was a tight squeeze!).

"But on to my point: I have a candidate for 'Let Sleeping Dogs Lie.' My black lab, Gator, naps with reckless abandon. I am convinced that there is no creature who naps with greater enjoyment, louder snores and greater tenacity than Gator. He is fond of sleeping on his bag, arched in to a C-shape with his legs in the air or if he's has a day of running and fun he hits the ground and conks out. I've also attached a photo of Gator when he's feeling goofy, happy and alert, too.

"I adopted Gator from a rescue group in Arkansas five years ago. He was already a middle-aged gent then, but my belief is that the older labs, with a little gray on their muzzle make the finest friends. They are over the stage where your shoes look like an appealing snack, but they are still good-natured, curious, loyal and the best possible companion for snuggling and of course, napping."

(You, too, can testify about the slumberness of your dog, cat or other critters in Readlarrypowell.com's weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. All you have to do is send a snoozer photo and info about the critter or yourself to [email protected]. Remember, at Readlarrypowell.com we are insomniacs but we believe in cat naps and sleeping dogs and we hope someday to discover the secret of a successful power nap.)

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A full Friday report...

Last Friday in January already and Super Bowl weekend, finally. Please slow the year down in a gentle fashion so we can enjoy the days. As a reminder, we realize that we're going to have to eventually take down our Christmas tree.

In the meantime, consider these notes including one that demonstrates how far away from home a lost dog may be found.

SAMANTHA FOUND: A couple of evenings ago -- on Tuesday in the middle of the wintry mix --  we published a "be on the lookout" for Samantha, a young Lab who had slipped out of the backyard of her home in Arlington.

This was in the Randoll Mill Road/Fielder Road area on the southside of Interstate 30.

Our tipster, veteran rescuer Lorraine Bryda, who was helping in the search for Samantha, reported just after 3 p.m. on Wednesday that Samantha had been found.

What can we learn from this? OK, here goes.

The bare facts: Samantha lost on south side of I-30 in Arlington in the middle of the Metroplex is found in a city animal shelter in Euless on the north side of the, for lack of better word, the Middleoplex of the Metroplex. Miles and miles away from home and in a city shelter with no ties to her hometown.

Lorraine explains, "After all the posting, a rescue person out of Euless' daughter saw her playing in traffic and brought her home! Her other rescues weren't too fond of her so she was being held at the Euless shelter. The mom [Samantha's] just went over there and texted me 'OMG its HER!' "

The middle of this story -- the how did these people connect part -- goes this way, according to Lorraine. "We  did EVERYTHING possible we could to help find her (100 flyers, faxing and calling every local Arlington Vet AND vets in surrounding areas, alerting all local shelters, posting on Petfinder and other sites along with posting to the rescue community. Had my neighbor NOT thought to look on craigslist at the last minute, she may have never found her dog." (The person who'd found Samantha had posted a "found" notice.)

Samantha's mom "called and faxed the Euless shelter and they didn't know they had her dog," says Lorraine. "Once she got her baby back she took both of her dogs straight to the vet to get them chipped and get new tags on Samantha."

(Aside: The late Joe Cranford, who ran the now defunct service Find-a-Pet, always had two good words of advice for people looking for missing animals: "Check everywhere.")

This Samantha story is an example of why: You never know, in our mobile society, where a rescued dog or cat will wind up. And, as Lorraine suggests, microchip your critter, put a collar and tags on your dog, make sure the backyard is escape proof -- just take precautions.

And, in an area where the weather is so fickle and the storms so sudden, make your dogs and cats inside critters. It will add years to their lives and joy to both your lives. Sure, you might have to give up your spot on the couch, but your feet will be warm at night.

A SPECIAL MOMMA DOG NOTE: This dog Belle is getting special notice from local rescuer Lacy Milani. She says Belle is in the Irving Animal Shelter, 3 years old, 45 pounds and her puppies have been adopted.

Lacy writes, "Belle is a pit/boxer mix as far as anyone can tell. She is scared and skinny and just lost all of her puppies to a great foster home. But she is still alone in the shelter! She needs out ASAP!  Now that her pups are safe, she needs to be nourished back to health.  She has a sweet disposition and is very calm." To help Lacy help Bell, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-228-7936.

CATS NEEDING HELP IN FORT WORTH: We got the original tip on this from reliable Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. She'd gotten the note from Donna Pitts, who works with Friends and the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake.

The search is on for someone who can foster two cats. Donna says, "Right now they are in the apartment by themselves and it is in Fort Worth, so I am trying to find someone in that area to go see about them. It is a very long story, but these cats deserve better than to be left alone with food and water."

The cats' two owners have encountered some health issues -- both are in the hospital, one with two strokes and the other with hip surgery complications and heart issues, Donna says.

The cats are a small grey and white cat named Luci and a big black cat named Ozzie. Donna says she'll help with transport. Call 214-535-8714 or e-mail [email protected].

SPOTLIGHTING ARLINGTON: We've gotten some requests to help some animals in the Arlington Animal Services Shelter. The note came from several people but the recommendations regarding these dogs come from our reliable longtime tipster Dianne Watson who is a hands-on type rescuer. And, of course, the clock is ticking down on these dogs and many others in Arlington.

Teddy (ID 7094412) is a 2-year-old Chow/Lab mix. Dianne reports that when she entered the kennel with Teddy he was initially upset to the point of shaking, but she was able to pet him. A day later, she brought him a homemade burger and the newly charmed dog took the treat with a "soft mouth" and stopped shaking. "He's just scared as are most chows or mixes when they are in a shelter environment," writes Dianne. He's sure got a great face -- one of those photogenic mugs that, in a family photo, makes people go "oh, what a sweetie."

Then there is Brutus (7069982), a big ol' Lab mix. "Definitely one of the biggest Lab mixes I have ever seen," Dianne writes. "Something about his face reminds me of a mastiff. he's very nice, accepted hamburger gently from my hand. Not sure why he's in danger other than he's big and mostly black."

The Arlington Animal Services Shelter is at 1000 SE Green Oaks (in Zip Code 76018). Call 817-459-5898. Click HERE to reach the shelter's home page.

Oh, and if you adopt these animals, it may be possible to contract with Dianne to cook her famous burgers for your new dog. Just thinking outside the box.

MEANWHILE IN COLLIN COUNTY: Reports from the Collin County Animal Services shelter in McKinney are that the facility is loaded with big ol' dawgs. Always the case in any shelter -- big dogs move slow.

And, this shelter handles its adoptions through the SPCA of Texas' McKinney facility, so if the folks at the SPCA don't pick a dog or cat, then it stays in the McKinney shelter until its original owner claims it, until a rescue group claims it or until ... well, you know.

Now this dog isn't a big dog, but its ears qualify for big dog status. In fact, if you had this dog in your home, you might not need a converter for your TV...just get this dog to aim it's ears at a satellite in orbit and pick up the signal. Oh, she doesn't have a name right now: She's a shy 4- or 5-year-old dog whose number is 151225. She's described as "very sweet but scared."

You can see the shelter's home page HERE. Call 972-547-7292. E-mail [email protected]. The people there work to keep the inventory moving in a good way.

FROM SOUTH OF HOUSTON: Word is circulating that the folks at the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office Animal Control have a load of critters in danger today, including "two small ones that are precious" and "seven Labs, some are purebred" and "lots of cats." This info comes from Tammy Grable of the shelter.

Offer to help by e-mailing [email protected]  or call 979-388-2365 or 281-756-2365. You can see the inventory by clicking HERE.

This is one of the dogs -- neither small nor a Lab nor one of the "lots of cats," but needing a home, nevertheless.

CUTE GUY BARKLEY: We get the story on Barkley from Tina Hamilton of Happy Tails of Gun Barrel City. He's a well-behaved sweet dog.

How did he wind up in the care of Happy Tails? Somebody tossed him from a moving car and someone else picked him up.

The incident, Tina says, "did not break [Barkley's] spirit at all." Also, she says, don't let the name scare you. He's not a barker. (To ask about auditioning to adopt Barkley, e-mail [email protected]  or call 903-880-4124 or 903-288-4952.

REPORT FROM BURNS FLAT: OK, as the temperatures warm, the city pound at Burns Flat, Okla., finds itself overloaded, we hear from reliable Burns Flat tipster Terry Lynn Fisher.

Among the critters are Biscuit and Pirate. By looking at the photos you can probably guess which is which.

Biscuit was first in a home where she was ignored. That home gave her to a relative and she had to be rescued from that home because of an unpleasant alpha dog situation that had repeatedly resulted in fatalities, Terry Lynn says. Biscuit is under a year old and is believed to be a Dachshund mix. She's "sweet, housebroken and just wants to cuddle."

Pirate, about 10 months old, "belonged to a family that doesn't speak English," Terry Lynn says. "We tried to tell them that he could not run free like he did. Pirate has been shot with pellets, attacked by other dogs, hit by a car....What really scares me is that he lives and runs free next to the psycho lady that beat the pup with a bat late last year. I fear for his life. He is a doll...has the Jack Russell personality, so is very full of life."

The third dog today is Nicky, who was mentioned here back in December. He'd been struck by two cars and saved by a couple of Good Samaritans. He had road rash, a mangled leg and a broken pelvis. The vet said the cost to surgically repair him would be quite hefty, Terry Lynn says. she got advice from a veteran rescuer to keep him tightly confined and "see if he would heal. He is great and runs like crazy. He has a wonderful, lovely personality and is a very loving boy. Now, as his foster has other obligations, he needs a safe place to go. If he isn't placed in a week, he'll be sent in the Burns Flat pound.

To help Terry Lynn with any of these animals, call her at 580-330-1459 or e-mail [email protected].

THE BOOMER REPORT: You may recall that on Monday we reported the story of Boomer, the dog saved while attempting to cross a busy North Dallas freeway.

Here's the latest update from the woman who got him (She prefers to remain unnamed.) She says the vet says Boomer is (knock me over with a feather) heartworm positive, emaciated and suffering from infected wounds resulting from "pressure points," i.e., wounds that developed because he was kept in a tightly confined area. He also needs to be neutered. That'll have to happen after Boomer is rid of the heartworms. He'll be at the vet for a while, according to the report. To donate to the Boomer Fund, contact Blackstone Animal Hospital at 972-668-0807. Or write to Boomer Fund, Blackstone Animal Hospital, Dr. Troy Lindsey, 111510 Teel Parkway, Frisco, Texas, 75034.

Also, when you donate, send a note to [email protected] and you'll get reports and photos of Boomer through his recuperation.

One more note from his rescuer: "This possibly was a dog that was much loved at one time and even perhaps stolen or given to someone that has been mistreating him. He adores people and they tell us at the clinic this dog is SO HAPPY to be there.  Lays his big lovable head in anyone's lap that will give him a chance."

CONTEMPLATIONS: This morning I awakened to find Martha watching Doris Day movies on the American Movies Classics channel. One of the films, Pillow Talk, is launched by Doris' character and Rock Hudson's character sharing a party line. It occurs to me that some of you may think a "party line" is a number for people to call when they are ready to, uh, party. But, by cracky, in olden days, the phone company sometimes put two numbers or more on one groundline (all we had then) and people always had to check to see if the neighbor was using the line before they could make a call. So, that, I guess, is why we'll never see a remake of Pillow Talk. No more party lines. ... Speaking of lines, here's a funny line from a reader with a rescue habit: "When the weather was really bad, all the dogs were in the den on every stick of furniture. My husband called me and said it looked like Noah's Ark in there." .... OK, the Super Bowl is this weekend. Who'll win? We turn to our usually spot-on sports predictor, Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas.(That is a photo of Inky taking this task seriously.) He is very careful with his predictions and, based on his observations of the National Football League and the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense, he suggests that Pittsburgh will win if the Arizona Cardinals don't. And by "don't" he means "won't win unless quarterback Kurt Warner gets luckier than he is and the Arizona defense, in dog piles, manages to slap sedative patches on the Steeler blockers." Steelers by two TDs, Inky says, then adds, "What idiot listens to a cocker spaniel when placing bets?"

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A pit, a missing sheltie & a Lab's pain

Freezing fog? Freezing fog? That's what's covered North Texas this morning. Yesterday ice. Today freezing fog. Tomorrow? Heat wave?

Well, while the roads may be foggy, our vision is clear on some things. And we'll have some photos that'll be disturbing -- you are warned -- but might inspire people to get involved with a dog they've never met.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE FAIL A DOG: Mange, heartworm, starvation.

Oh, good grief. The photos got to me and I think every now and then people should see what happens when a human doesn't live up to the responsibility of taking care of a pet.

What has happened to this dog until now is all totally unnecessary. But as veteran rescuers know, it happens frequently.

A dog is neglected until disease takes over. Then the dog is dumped. This one, bless her heart, was found by a good soul who brought her to the Arlington Animal Services shelter. That was her good fortune. In other shelters, she's an "automatic put-down."

There is a relatively new, small rescue group, Respect A Bull Inc., that "was formed to help Arlington Animal Services address the pit bull over population in Arlington," says Kristie Miller of Respect A Bull. "We work exclusively with AAS because of the overwhelming number of pits in need in Arlington. Our group is made up of Arlington residents who volunteer at the shelter."

Earlier in the week, the group encountered this dog. She has no name. Yet. But she has been relatively safe for the past 24 hours. You can't say completely safe because she has some health issues, a few of which have yet to be explored.

Respect A Bull learned about the dog  during a conversation with shelter walker Gina Piner at the shelter's Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on Sunday, Kristie says. 

"At first we thought she was a 10- or 12-week-old Pit pup, however, she has adult teeth so she is a young adult," Kathie says. "The shelter vet doesn't think she will get any bigger -- just put on weight. She weighs 11.6 pounds, her ears were cut off at her head, she has demodectic mange and a skin infection."

I'm betting she's also heartworm positive -- testing is scheduled later this week. Obviously, getting her well will challenge Respect A Bull Inc.'s medical fund.

And, of course, we think we know why her ears were cut off -- keeps other dogs from biting them in the fight ring. Isn't that sad?

Where is she now? Awaiting her next vet visit, for one thing. And, says Kristie, "She is safe at my house and our group will do whatever it takes to get her healthy and happy. She has the sweetest personality in spite of what she has been through."

The photos, with various lighting, show the dog's face, horrible skin condition and "scared" posture. She appears to be "waiting for what's going to happen to me next."

To offer to help this dog, e-mail [email protected]. The rescue group's U.S. mail address is Respect A Bull Inc., P.O. Box 170711, Arlington, Texas, 76003. Online, they're at www.respectabull.com.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT: There is a hunt underway today in the area of Fair Oaks Park in North Dallas for Zoe, a 6-year-old blue merle Sheltie who is, as her shaved side suggests, undergoing radiation therapy for cancer.

She's been on the run since Jan. 20, when she slipped away during a building evacuation at the vet clinic, reports out tipster Becky Ramsey of DFW Sheltie Rescue.

Though Zoe is not a rescue dog, she is drawing a crowd of people trying to help find her. She made her break in the 12100 block of Greenville just north of Forest Lane. Becky says a tracker (from Dog Gone Detectives in Lewisville), "determined that she followed Greenville Ave. south to the park area at Greenville and Royal, crossed into the park to the southeast, continued to Walnut Hill, crossed further into Fair Oaks Park, using the bike and walking trails. At about the tennis courts on Merriman, she apparently doubled back, perhaps more than once. the trail was lost there."

Zoe is "very sweet, but frightened and shy," Becky says. "She will likely not go up to anyone (except possibly a child)

If you've seen Zoe or know her whereabouts, call her home at 682-225-2107, the clinic at 972-437-9499 or Sheltie Rescue at 469-569-7102. There's a reward.

YELLOW LAB CONTRAST: You wouldn't think there'd be a contrast in the category "Yellow Lab" but the difference comes in the stories of their lives. Perhaps you saw the story about a couple paying $155,000 to clone their Yellow Lab -- they've got the puppy and he appears to be a regular ol' friendly Lab puppy. And we're happy for them.

But consider this story of a rescued Lab now named Ol' Yeller"  and wonder how $155,000 would help a rescue group, where, of course, one may adopt a Yellow Lab without any exotic lab work -- oh, that's "exotic laboratory work," not "exotic Labrador work.".

In Marshall, Texas, about 2 hours east of Dallas on I-20, there is a hardworking animal control officer, Eva Sepulvado of Marshall Animal Services. This week she has been hustling some help for a wounded Yellow Lab that was found living with a Black Lab, a red dog, "one pitty mix looking dog" and others -- total of 10 adult dogs -- in a two-bedroom duplex that was so junked, filthy and awful that it staggered the people who went into it. (In these photos, you can see that Ol' Yeller is very thin, very sweet. Great ears, too. Might be some hound in the family tree. And he obviously knows how to make friends with staffers -- he's captured vet tech Christy McBride's heart.)

Eva writes, "Both his feet were swollen and looked 3 times their normal size.  The smell from the infection was horrible! ... Please see if we can get some financial assistance to help cover the medical expenses of this sweet and wonderful dog! He was so sweet and when I went to see him ... at the vet's office he tried to stand and come out of his kennel.  The vets says the amount of pain he must have been in was tremendous!"

To donate to this dog's cause, write to McClendon's Veterinary Service, 7379 Highway 59 South, Marshall, Texas, 75672. (Put Ol' Yeller on the check or envelope. You can reach the vet's office at 903-938-1117.)

To ask Eva about helping, e-mail [email protected] or call 903-935-4530 or 903-935-4530.

Earlier today, a court ruled that the Marshall shelter will retain custody of the dogs. And that means, Eva says, that "we will need help placing all of these dogs."

Just FYI: Ava says, "I have submitted my paperwork to the Criminal Investigation Division of the Marshall Police Department and am awaiting notification they have processed an arrest warrant. "

So, there's your contrast, for $155,000 someone got a cloned Yellow Lab and for no where near that much, someone may soon be able to get a Yellow Lab who has had a rough journey. Click HERE to read the Miami Herald's cloned dog story.

CONTEMPLATIONS: Consider this week's meteorological turmoil in North Texas. We've often mentioned the reason for these late January-early February outbreaks: Stock Show Weather. Every old-timer in Fort Worth knows about stock show weather. Keep your jackets, umbrellas or summer duds handy. The stock show runs through Feb.8. Perhaps there is time for two blizzards, a heat wave and a 100-year-flood. ... Elephant news in Los Angeles: The zoo is ignoring many protests and building an elephant enclosure and NOT sending its elephant to a sanctuary. Click HERE to read the Los Angeles Times story. ... On Sunday afternoon, we drove out to Arlington to Nizza Pizza near the UTA campus. Nizza Pizza sells pizza in two sizes: Large, which is giant, and medium, which is large. There is no small. Only large and medium, begging the questions,  "Is medium the new small?" and, "How can you have a 'medium' with only two sizes?" Eat enough pizza and huge will be the new large.

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Ice, animals and opportunities...

We're having an ice day in the North Texas area, so our topics will be include things that go good with ice: hockey, Coca Cola, tea. Things that don't go good with ice: Dallas drivers.

Of course, Dallas drivers don't go so good without ice, either. Now, let's carefully move on with today's presentation. Those photos? Well, the boy dog overflowing the bed is our wide-bodied shortster Cosmo, a less-than-knee-high-on-a-leprechaun gentleman with impeccable manners and such a sweet demeanor that he is generally regarded as an "angel on earth." The photo of Griffin, the big ol' cat, was snapped a few minutes later after Cosmo, weary of the camera flash, moved to his "den" under a cabinet in Martha's bathroom and opened up the bed spot. They may have some sort of time-share arrangement on that bed. Almost everyone in the house naps in it at some point.

We've had Cosmo for more years than I can remember -- he was picked up off the side of the road at I-30 and Ledbetter in Oak Cliff after a rain. Until Cosmo, I'd only ever had girl dogs. Cosmo is the first boy dog I ever loved -- so, on a day when Martha isn't going to the office until noon, Cosmo is sleeping in with her and three other dogs and a couple of cats. Cosmo's motto is "Never miss a nap." Griffin's motto is "Never miss a meal."

THE STORY OF DEWEY: Be sure to look at our Prayers & Passages page today to read about a little dog who was in a home only a short time, but long enough to capture hearts.

MEANWHILE IN THE COLONY, A DOG AND A PARTY: Our reliable tipster Patricia Barrington,  The Colony's Animal Control Division Manager, is still looking for a good home for Gabby. -- Hold on. We've got a mid-afternoon update. The pup has been adopted! She's a 2-year-olld Shepherd Chow mix who is "well mannered and treat motivated." (Hmmm, sounds like me and my sons.)

(Surprisingly, Gabby was not the last remaining dog in the shelter. There are still some available -- act quickly! To ask about adopting, call 972-370-9250 or e-mail [email protected].)

Now, there is also another need at The Colony. On March 14, the shelter will host its Second Annual St. Paddy's Pooch Party. And organizers need vendors for the pet-friendly, family oriented celebration. Patricia says, "I need a barkery, a doggie stylist who can work on location, rescue groups with adoptable pets (vaccinated and spayed or neutered, dog, cat and people apparel, doggie day cares, trainers, etc. I can't have too many of any one area of expertise, so it's sort of first come-first served, but it is FREE." (Email [email protected] or call 972-370-9250.)

Since we're iced-in today, thought I'd mention something that warms the heart, the thought of well-traveled St. Patrick, who was never coated in ice in Dallas -- that we know of.

LOST IN CADDO MILLS OR THEREABOUTS: Now, this dog isn't always in a pink sweater, so don't focus on that. But Hannah is a Vizsla, about 6 months old, and she's gone missing in Caddo Mills, about an hour northeast of Dallas.

Nadia Bartu says she and her mom have posted flyers "everywhere near where Hannah was last seen. She is a Vizsla, 6-months-old and is a 'scardy cat.' She is a hunting dog, so we are not sure why she did not simply return to the house in Caddo Mills. We believe someone has found Hannah and may not know where to return her."

If you know Hannah's whereabouts, call 972-639-8600 or e-mail [email protected].

A ROUNDUP OF SORTS: Terry Lynn Fisher of Burns Flat, Okla., reports that this one-time family dog was left in the backyard when the family moved. Apparently a neighbor saw the family leaving, the little boys crying and pointing at their dog left without food in the yard. When ice began falling on the unsheltered dog, the neighbor got him and took him to the Burns Flat pound where Terry Lynn, the tireless monitor, met him and is trying to find a home for him. To help place this dog, call Terry Lynn at 580-330-1459

or e-mail [email protected]. ... Click HERE and it'll take you (if I did the technostuff right) to Irving shelter walker Russell Posch's latest lineup which includes an adorable Chihuahua named Thunder and a flock of chickens. Yep, a flock of chickens in Irving -- who knows what else Jerry Jones was raising in Texas Stadium during the off-season? I'm kidding. But there are chickens at the shelter. ... And we got an e-mail in which the subject line informed us that it is "raining Labs in Collin County." Sure enough, the Collin County Animal Services shelter, which releases animals only to their owners, to the SPCA of Texas via contract, or to bona fide rescue groups, has a load of Labs of varying colors. And other animals, too, of course. You can read the rules and see the inventory by clicking HERE  or you can call 972-547-7292. If you want some guidance through the Collin County system, contact volunteer shelter walker DeDe Whitcombe of the Collin County Humane Society at [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS: I got an e-mail from a travel business in Minnesota today. How I got on that mailing list I'll never know. But the note from the frozen north to the frozen southwest began, "Escape the cold with all-inclusive packages to Mexico from $1099.99." Geez, just add the penny and stop pretending that it won't take at least $1,100 to get out of the ice storm -- if you can get to the airport. ... The sun is shining on our yard, the ice is melting, some of the dogs and cats are on the back of the couch and napping in the warmth. I'd join them if they'd make room. ... My little dog, Rosie, a black-and-tan, graying Chihuahua mix with the face of a character actor, just came over and stretched up to put her front paws on my knee. It is time for me to go cuddle Rosie and await the day's thaw. Perhaps we'll visit again today at some point, but for now, know that my heart is enjoying a bit of "we time" with a wee dog. I'm honored that she'd ask me.

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Arlington wanderer....

BE ON THE LOOKOUT: This might seem like an impossible task on a night like tonight, but be on the lookout for a black dog in the wintry mix. Imagine her to be about six months older than in this photo, apparently taken last summer on the backyard deck.

Her name is Samantha and she slipped out of a backyard in Arlington today -- last seen near Randoll Mill and Fielder. That's a busy traffic area and maybe some driver will spot this year-old pup.

She has no tags -- we're told she slipped her collar at some point. She has no microchip.

Our pal, veteran rescuer Lorraine Bryda, has been out in the cold helping the Samantha's human look for her. About 6 p.m., Lorraine e-mailed, "I just spent the past hour Lorraine scouring neighborhoods, flagging down cop cars and running in and out of local businesses and my vet offices. She's got to be somewhere."

If anyone's seen Samantha or knows her whereabouts, e-mail [email protected].

Duncan, Doris, & Bubba

It's Tuesday, let's do something good for somebody as the brainiacs of the world try to figure out how to stop financial bleeding while simultaneously celebrating big spending at the Super Bowl.

STRAYDOG INC.'S DUNCAN: A few weeks ago my funspouse, Martha, and I drove down into East Texas to see the folks at Straydog Inc. and deliver a second-hand doghouse to the sanctuary.

We also got a pretty good tour of the place and one of the dogs we met was a big wolfhound of some kind named Duncan -- since that sounds Irish, so maybe Irish Wolfhound. Whatever he is, he's big. And he's got a face that'll melt an iceberg heart. Great face, white paws, and big enough to hug.

And, our reliable tipster Mary Garrett points out to us, he's got some hip problems.

Straydog's relationship with Duncan began last spring when the office got a home from someone saying there "was a dead mother dog with two pups hanging around by their mothers' body."

Next to a road near Straydog, the staffers found a dead mom dog with two pups -- the pups ran off into the woods. Duncan was caught. (You can read all about the rescue and subsequent challenges at the Straydog website HERE.)

Now, here's the latest crisis. I can't read an x-ray, but if you can, this one supposedly shows Duncan's hip problems. Surgery is necessary and it's going to cost around $2,500. Maybe more. To prepare the big guy for surgery, they're monitoring his diet.

Straydog needs financial help all the time, but this is one of those extraordinary situations -- big dog, big surgery, big bill.

This information -- and some fantastic photos and stories about many animals -- is available at www.straydog.org. I'll repeat it here: Straydog Inc., Box 1465, Gun Barrel City, Texas, 75147. Call 903-479-3497. E-mail [email protected].

Duncan is a big dog, but he's a fellow who trusted people and they're helping him.

FROM EAST TEXAS TO WAY OUT WEST: Bubba is living at Winters, Texas, home of the high schoo team, the Winters Blizzards.

Winters is 42 miles south of Abilene and 54 miles northeast of San Angelo and, somehow, dumped dogs still manage to find there ways out to Winters. I'm not saying someone from Dallas drives out there to dump dogs, but I'm not saying it doesn't happen, either.

This one is named Bubba and he "is pretty much ready to go now," says his rescuer, Debbie Ballard.

She's had him for a while now. "I found Bubba near death in the ditch near our house. He was so weak he could not stand more than a few seconds. I rushed him to our veterinarian. Bubba is a Treeing Walker Coon Hound according to someone in town."

Let me stop there to say that this may be a frustrated dog -- I've been out there around Winters and I can't recall any trees for treeing. Not sure there are any raccoons, either. But one time on the way to San Angelo my car blew a water pump and there was some walking.

Anyway, Debbie says Bubba should weigh about 70 pounds, but on Dec. 29 he weighed only 51 pounds. He'd lost most of his hair due to dehydration, malnutrition and fleas."

Nowadays though, he's a normal 2-year-old dog. "He's such a nice dog," Debbie says. "He gets along well with all kinds of dogs and cats. He doesn't have any special needs. His hair is still thin, but it's growing back."

Amazingly, he's heartworm negative and he's been gaining "almost a pound a day back on his big frame."

Now, here's the thing that'll nearly break your heart -- especially if you think he might have belonged to a birdhunter and gotten lost. Debbie writes, "He loves people and loves sitting in the back of the pickup. On pretty days when we are outside, we let him out of his pen and goes straight to the pickup and jumps into the back of it and stays there. He's just a sweet boy and we love him, but we are lover our limit. It's not fair to him, either, because we cannot give him the attention he deserves."

Perhaps a rescue group could take this boy in, Debbie suggests, or someone who just needs a good dog. Email her at [email protected]. Bubba's vet expenses went past the $300 mark -- there's a Bubba Fund at the Pioneer Vet Clinic. Call 325-754-5487 and ask about the Bubba Fund or send donations to Bubba Fund, Pioneer Vet Clinic, 619 East Broadway, Winters, Texas, 79567.)

Now, some of you will recognize this predicament. "I have to find this boy a home or maybe a group home. We have six 'permanent' dogs and three cats. Most of them came to the same was as Bubba. They live in the house with us -- all nine of them. It's crowded. They've taken over our furniture."

LOOKING FOR A HOME FOR DORIS: Well, of course, my pal Aline McKenzie, my former cubicle-mate at the big paper in Dallas, is helping her beloved Doris look for a home.

It's a result of the changing things in life.

"Just before last Christmas ('07),  I adopted Doris, a terrified abused stray. She was exactly what I needed while undergoing my cancer treatment, and has transformed into a loves-everyone, let's-play, pretty-well-trained girl who is undergoing more training.

"Since then, however, I've also acquired the love of my life, who is terribly allergic to dogs to the point of it being a major health issue."

Aline says she has made "the heartbreaking decision to re-home Doris." This was not done without a lot of consideration and concern for Doris and the humans involved.

"Doris is roughly 2-years-old, just over 50 pounds, and is probably mostly shepherd mixed with Doberman, with a little white-tailed deer. (We have no other explanation for her butt.)"

Now, Aline says this dog has good points: loves everyone, plays "until she drops," has some basic manners, etc.

She has bad points, Aline confesses: She chases cats and might be too rowdy for small kids. Then there's this from Aline: "She is a cardboardivore, and will shred any book, cardboard box, or anything similar you leave lying around (however, she's also crazy for Nylabones and can be distracted with them)

There are other positives and negatives, but Aline will tell you about them. And she'll also make sure you know that Doris is accustomed to affection.

"Her ideal home," Aline says, "would be one with active people, no cats, another dog and older children, who are familiar with dealing with an imperfect rescue dog who will nevertheless give you her whole heart."

To ask about auditioning to adopt Doris, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-240-9625.

CONTEMPLATIONS: It's not too early for a good baseball joke and we heard it last night on Conan O'Brien's show. On the topic of former New York Yankees manager Joe Torre's new book, Conan says that it reports that Alex Rodriguez "once took a swing at Torre, but since it was October he missed." ... We have an ice storm looming over Dallas. The change of weather has given me a headache. And it has made the dogs reluctant to go outside. To all of you who are facing the challenge of reluctant dogs, bless your hearts. If this was an ice cream storm instead of an ice storm, there'd be no reluctance. ... Today we appreciate heat in Dallas. This is not always the case. An ice storm almost makes August look good.

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Missing and missed...

We have an afternoon edition of Readlarrypowell.com because there's bad weather in the forecast and because we've just learned of efforts to find a lost cat.

LOST IN FRISCO: Diane Paulsen has been looking for this cat since Dec. 10. She's not giving up hope. And, as we all know, cats are famous for adopting new homes for a while, then showing back up where they belong.

The cat goes by Sheebah or Mz. Kitty. Diane writes, "Our beautiful 10-year old cat has been missing since December 10.  We live in Frisco (bordered by Coit, Hillcrest, Rolater and College).  "We have posted pictures twice, walked the neighborhood, contacted the Frisco Animal Control, visited the McKinney Animal Control, offered a reward, posted ads in the Frisco and surrounding area papers, contacted vets in the area. She is now on PetsNet, Craigslist and another website -- I'm sorry I cannot remember the name at this point.  There are wonderful people looking for her."

All the right steps have been taken. "She is our precious baby-- a member of our family."

Sheebah's front paws are declawed. She's in good health. And she has a soft voice.

(If you've seen Sheebah, call 817-797-5376 or 817-846-9654 or e-mail [email protected].)

This is an indoor cat, but she enjoyed her outdoor visits.

 "I had taken the dogs out for a final potty break and Sheebah came out with us.  We've never let her go out without a leash but she loves the little yard in Frisco and we let her go out to sniff and eat grass occasionally. It is entirely fenced.  

"I thought they were all three in - the dogs and I went upstairs to bed - Sheebah always slept on the couch downstairs and would occasionally come to bed with us in the middle of the night.  The next morning she didn't show up for treats, we started looking at all her hiding places and then I realized I must have left her out.  I have been heartbroken because it was my fault. ... It was the night it was so very, very cold.  I'm sure she was mewing but she has a very soft voice and we didn't hear her."

Diane is not the first person who thought everybody had come back into the house. Many of us do a dog and cat census several times a day.

NEEDING HELP FOR A FERAL CAT: Caprice Guidry lives in an apartment complex in Lake Highlands in Dallas and as is so often the case there is also an apparently feral cat that has made the complex its home.

But there's a complication. Caprice writes that the cat has "a badly broken back leg. I need to locate a kindness trap for him, and then I'll need help with advice on what to do next. Putting him to sleep is not an option to me, although I have very limited income.

"I found a number on 311 that I've called and left a message to, but want to make sure I get him caught as soon as possible. Also, I don't want to deal with people who will pressure me into putting him to sleep...He's wild and he won't let anyone near him."

Caprice's e-mail is [email protected]. Call 214-341-3960.

 

ONE MORE NOTE: We'll use the approaching bad weather to remind people who insist on making their pets live outside that this is not a good time for that sort of behavior. Bring the dogs and cats in. Protect them. You may find that you like each other's company.

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E-mails, dogs, cats and newshounds...

Today we'll discuss, among other things, e-mails. One has been circulating all weekend about a freeway pit bull that needs help and the other has gotten so much mileage that "Stop!" is now the operative word. Crazy world.

We'll also mention a newspaper development -- we loved newspapers in the glory years.

ANXIETY ON THE FREEWAY: At least one animal person spent the weekend knee-deep in anxiety because of a freeway rescue.

Happens all the time around here, but when it happens to you, it's quite a wrenching experience. You immediately start looking for help and you also think what you'd like to do with the person who put the dog in this situation. Or maybe you think, based on this dog's behavior, "Someone may be looking for this dog."

The dog, probably 3 or 4 years old, is now called "Boomer." Our rescuer Debbie (who doesn't want her last named used)rescued him from a busy freeway in North Dallas at rush house on Friday evening. This morning, Debbie tells us she's got a vet appointment for the dog today and will get a work up.

The dog didn't arrive in top shape, as you can tell from the photos. There appears to be a wound on the dog, possibly a bite wound. The ears look like they were cropped by somebody with a pair of scissors. The dog may have been too sweet for the owner and he "ran him off" or "threw him out to wander." Or, the dog could have gotten lost after wandering out an open gate. Who knows?

Whatever went on in the past, the dog spent the weekend "hiding in my garage," Debbie says. It was the only place she had -- her apartment complex doesn't allow pits.

How she got the dog: "I was driving home from work Friday evening in 5:30 rush hour ... . I found out that the traffic jam was not a wreck but this poor dog that was all the way in the HOV lane – he’d already crossed the whole freeway.  One man stopped ... and tried to help guide the dog to leave the highway -- by some miracle the dog did make it back across all the lanes & back to the grassy area beside the road. 

"I drove my truck into the grassy area – the first time I got out, he ran away toward the fence line - but he couldn’t find a way out. I followed him on the grass a little more, got out again, and to my shocked surprise, he came around my truck right past me & jumped in the driver side door and hopped right into the passenger seat -- curled into a ball and went to sleep. I literally cried at the sight of him and what I just witnessed.

"This poor baby is in horrible condition – emaciated, spine and ribs and leg bones sticking out everywhere, a couple open wounds. 

"Surprisingly, no fleas or ticks visible on this boy.  He had a collar, no tags, no microchip.  Not YET neutered.

"He has a very good demeanor – but he is scared, and mostly stays curled in a ball.  But he walks readily on a leash and rides well in the truck."

To offer to help Debbie help Boomer, e-mail [email protected].

THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSE: You can stop asking about these puppies now. Back on Jan. 8, we published a note about Diedre (DeeDee) Pratt trying to find homes for these puppies. Word got around about these dogs -- in fact, the word was spread so successfully that DeeDee has had to set up a website to try to stop the e-mail responses.

She writes to us, "I appreciate the article you published on your website (it's been puppy crazy and I can't remember if I thanked you or not).  With all the 'publicity'  all puppies have found their forever homes. I have gotten reports on some of them and they are doing well. I still have mom (Lady).  I took her to the vet last weekend and got a full work-up.  She is heartworm positive.  Other than that, she is doing great. I am going to start looking for someone that knows that this isn't a death sentence...

"Here is where I need your help.  I have gotten such a response to one simple e-mail that I can't manage all the e-mails, let alone the phone messages. I have over 750 e-mails that I haven't even looked at and probably 200-300 that I have looked at and haven't been able to respond to. I set up a quick website (www.deedeesanimalnews.com) in the hopes that I would be able to update that and direct people there....  

"I don't have the time (or energy) to invest full days into this project.  Is there a better way to direct my efforts? I will foster again, just need a little time to get my house back in order. I know that this can become a full-time job and I am working full-time PLUS already."

So, there you have it, folks, once overwhelmed with puppies, now overwhelmed with e-mails. Overwhelmed, but grateful.

A WEEKEND ADOPTION: Over the weekend we featured, in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, the handsome Buster, the great sleeper who has charmed the Nelson Family -- he was a foster of Patty Spring's with Humane Animal Rescue Team of Texas.

We also mentioned that Patty was fostering a little dog named Spinner -- a former HART dog, he'd been dumped by his family after 4 years and HART got him back. As things worked out Saturday, Spinner had been very charming during a visit to Patty's office and, she reports, "The CEO of my company fell in love with him, and he and his wife, son, and grandson came today [Saturday] and adopted him.

"He could easily have been a keeper, so I'm glad he got a good home. Plus, I'll be able to get updates on how he's doing.

"I wasn't planning on rescuing another dog for a few days, but I had to go to the Lewisville shelter to pick up a cat or two, and, well, I ended up with a Chihuahua mix!"

So Patty continues fostering. And, also, she noted the item we posted last week about a donkey that needs a home (the tip on that came from Sydney Busch at Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake). Patty says, "Also, I think I have found a home for the donkey. I will forward the info to my husband's friend who has land down by Glen Rose."

Well, goodness, some days it all flows together.

THE FACES OF CARROLLTON: When I first took a glance at Tinker the dog, I thought, "Gee, why the long face?" Well, of course, it's the breeding, but also, Tinker is on the clock at the Carrollton Animal Services shelter.

And, so are Mimi the fluffy cat and Clementine, whose face is surely the work of a gifted artist.

Tinker is a Doberman -- purebred, the shelter says -- and he "was found running stray throughout the city with no place to go and no one to see." He's gentle, maybe younger than 2, has a docked tail and is underweight -- possibly because of a medical issue. And, while he was out and about, he appears to have injured his left back leg. He's available for adoption.

Mimi, the fluffy cat, is a 5-year-old owner-surrender. The cat's family took in a "an adult houseguest on a permanent basis and for some reason Mimi did not like the idea." Either she didn't like the new person or she didn't like the idea of change in the household. The shelter says Mimi reacted by not going to her litter box -- instead of the intruder leaving, however, Mimi got the thumb. The shelter says she'd do well in a quiet, stable household with no kids.

Clementine is 2. The shelter report reads that she was a stray " being taken care of by an elderly lady in our city. The caretaker had her spayed and brought her here fearing the cold weather might be too  much for her. Clementine is a sweet, but shy lady, not quite sure of her new surroundings. She like to sit back and watch the people go by hoping one will be right for her."

To ask about these good souls, call Carrollton Animal Services at 972-466-3420 or e-mail Joe Skenesky at [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS: I can't believe there'll be a time when newspapers don't exist -- but I also once thought The Beatles would be together forever, that Michael Jackson was an act and not an exhibit, that the Cotton Bowl game would always be in Dallas on New Years Day and that the Miss America Pageant would always be broadcast from Atlantic City in September (It was on TLC on cable from Las Vegas Saturday night.) Things change. ... My lifelong pal David House has started a journalism blog called "House, hunting.". Our careers were birthed at a very cheap hourly rate in the newsroom of the Texarkana Gazette way back in the 1960s. David's most recent newspaper job was as ombudsman at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. New ownership came in and starting chopping the paper down and David was out. All good journalists have stories to tell -- sometimes it is their own story. You can click HERE to see his blog. He'll appreciate hearing from journalists and readers. Maybe his blog will become a meeting place for those who loved newspapers -- not to write papers off, but, geez, they do seem to be whittling themselves down to insignificance. ... I saw an episode of I Love Lucy this week in which Lucy is trying to get a job. Exasperated, she declares, "Apparently you can't get a job in this town unless you can do something." That's the difference between the 1950s and the 21st Century -- nowadays you can get that job without being able to do something. But it has nothing to do with newspaper management, I'm almost certain.

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Buster finds a sofa...

Some dogs just look like that belong where they flop.

Perhaps you'd agree that is the case with Buster, our featured pup in this weekend's Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap presentation. And he's got a story.

Patty Sprong of HART -- the Humane Animal Rescue Team of Texas -- sent us the photos on behalf of Buster and his new family. Patty had been Buster's foster mom.

"I got the cutest pictures of my foster dog sleeping in his new home. I just had to share. His name is Buster, and he was one of the litter of Lab puppies from a stray dog in Ennis. I also placed one of his sisters."

What we have in these photos are examples of Buster's new life. That's Buster sacked out with Andrea on the couch. And, that's him with Gabbi as he focuses on matters at hand  -- as you can see, Buster loves a treat.

Patty tell us that "the family that adopted Buster ... is head over heels in love with him. They sent me these pictures the very night they took him home and it made me cry. Wow, what a great match."

She included a note from mom Cathy who wrote, "Just wanted to let you know how much we are enjoying Buster. These are pictures of his first night in his new home and he seems to have seamlessly made the transition.  We e-mailed photos to Daddy [a pilot] who can't wait to get home to meet him.  After a few 'runs' in the yard, I think we finally tired him out!  He decided he prefers the sofa and our laps over the doggie bed.  What a perfect match for our family!"

Now, once Buster moved out of Patty's home, that left an open spot.

"It's a good thing that Buster got adopted," Patty says. "Because the very same day we ended up rescuing a dog from the Irving shelter that we adopted to a family in Irving four years ago. Evidently they didn't want him anymore and just left him there, covered in flea bites, hack-job haircut, etc. What a mess. He's now clean, flea-free, groomed and sleeping on my couch (again). And so it goes and goes."

That re-rescued dog is Spinner who, though not asleep in this photo, does nap. You can ask about Spinner by e-mailing Patty at [email protected].(We're proud to promote slumber in our weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. We do it with the help of readers who send photos of their critters and information to [email protected]. The pursuit of sleep is a sacred mission at Readlarrypowell.com -- it is a rare commodity and we are envious of those who can nod off.)

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Rex returns; its Pie Day, etc.

Several things to address today: a national celebration, a national adoption drive and a nice note from the people with the Oregon Humane Society in Portland. But, first, Rex is home. Yes, Rex, the big dog pictured with Lucky the Kitten on Readlarrypowell.com two days ago.

THE RETURN OF REX, PLUS ONE:  We got the e-mail late last night from Patricia Melton. "He's home safe!" the subject line declared. And Patricia also declared, "Nancy Taylor. Most wonderful lady ever."

Here's how it worked out. Nancy found Rex the Great Pyrenees. Patricia went to get the dog and came home with Rex and a puppy.

You may recall the details of the first story we published. While driving from Alvarado toward Burleson on Monday, Patricia became carsick. When she stopped to get out, Rex got out, too, and bolted and vanished.

"In the last few days," Patricia says, "I had gone and looked at every dog whose picture even remotely looked like my Rex. Shelters, fosters, and even people who had found dogs. ... If it looked like him, I got in my truck and drove.

"Well, this evening [Thursday] I got a call from an older lady in Grandview saying she thought she had my dog and didn't have a picture of him to send me. I had already driven to see 5 or 6 other dogs today and I had my doubts, but my friend and I climbed into my truck and headed out that way anyway.

"The whole time I just kept saying there is no way he could have ended up in Grandview. It's a 30 minute drive from Burleson and why hasn't anyone seen a 150-pound white dog running around? I just couldn't understand why, he's so ... well big!

"By now I have the meet and greet down to a tee. Get out of the car, knock on the door or sign in a shelter, inform them it is not Rex, look in all the other cages just to be sure he isn't there, talk for maybe 5 minutes, leave, and cry the whole way home.

"Well needless to say this one went a little bit different. By the time she had the door open and my friend Jennifer had walked into the house after me I was on the floor crying and hugging not just any big lug of a dog, but MY BIG LUG!

"I just sat on the floor like a big doof crying into this dog's fur, and all I heard the woman say after about 2 minutes was, 'Well, I guess he's yours then' and chuckle at me. I got up, hugged her and said thank you at least a million times. We talked for awhile and she informed me that when I walked in was the first time she had seen Rex wag his tail at a human since she had found him.

"Apparently he had made some doggie friends there and would wag his tail with them but as soon as a person would walk up he would stop and cower, which he does with all strangers.

"Turns out the women rescues GP dogs and saw Rex in the Wal-Mart parking lot the evening he was lost. She said, 'He looked scared and extremely disoriented' and that it took her almost two hours to convince him to get in her car. But she worked on it and I'm so glad she did! I'm so happy my baby wasn't out in the cold or wandering the streets at night. No wonder no one saw him running around -- LOL, he wasn't! But it gets better...

"As I said earlier the women who took Rex in rescues Great Pyrenees. Turns out Rex became VERY good friends (to the point he was whining when he jumped in the car and the puppy didn't) with one of her rescues who just happened to need a home, too.

"So not only did Rex come home safe and sound, but all that kept going through my head on the ride home was how much harder could two dogs be? We have the room...

"Before Rex took off we had even been talking about maybe getting another dog and Rex really seemed to get along with him. I had already made my mind up I wanted the dog, I was just trying to come up with an excuse to convince Jennifer. All I got out was 'Well what do you think of getting another...' and she blurted out, 'It took you long enough!' "Needless to say, halfway home we turned around, drove back to the lady's house and adopted his buddy, a 13-week-old Great Pyrenees puppy who was born to one of her rescues, who we have now named Charlie. And if I thought Rex was a big dog, I'm gonna be in trouble when Charlie grows up! At 13 weeks he is at 45 pounds!

 "As I sit here now watching Rex sleeping on the couch (on top of the remote no doubt, since it seems to be missing) and Charlie, Lucky, and Maggie (our other cat) wrestle together (I just keep waiting for them to tire out. It doesn't seem it will be happening anytime soon) I just can't help but think of how wonderfully blessed we are! Thank you to all who sent there prayers and help! Not only did you help me get Rex home safe and sound, but you helped another dog get the home he deserves, too! Thank you so much!"

In the photos you can see Rex on the couch. And that's Charlie nosing around with one of Patricia's lamas and Charlie with is duck.

"Lucky is too cute -- he keeps going to Rex like he's making sure he's there, but, then, just spazzing out and taking off at Charlie. It's wonderful to have everyone home where they belong!"

A SLICE OF CELBRATION: To most people this is merely Friday, but to some of us it is a far more important day and we often wonder why we don't put up trees with twinkle lights and hang garlands. Oh, my fellow Americans, this is National Pie Day.

This is a day we can all celebrate. Somewhere there's a pie for everyone. We certainly celebrate it here at Readlarrypowell.com.

And that is, of course, Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas and our staff impersonator. Here he gives his impression of a clear-thinking newshound  rushing into an all-night diner and realizing that the daily special is big steaming serving of Mom's Midnight Meatloaf with two sides, an aged cornbread muffin that you could use as a baseball, and a slice of pie for dessert. He'll take the last piece of coconut cream pie in the vertical storage unit on the counter next to the waitress who has been told she can leave if she can sell one more serving of the daily special. After all, it is National Pie Day and she'll want to get home and celebrate with her family.

PRAYERS & PASSAGES: On our Prayers & Passages page today we have a memorial to a big dog named Kane, a Rottie who charmed DeDe Whitcombe's household. Click on the button in the right column.

ON SATURDAY, A BARGAIN: A number of shelters and rescue groups around the country had joined with Hill's Science Diet to schedule Change a Pet's Life Day . On this particular day, the first 10 adoptions at participating shelters and rescue groups will be free and the adoptive folks will get a Science Diet kit for their critter. In North Texas, participants include the SPCA of Texas, Denton Animal Services, and Lone Star Miniature Pincher Rescue.To read more about this project and to see the list of participating shelters across the nation, click HERE.

END PETLESSNESS SHIRTS: For the last few months we've been marketing some shirts with "End Petlessness" as the theme. If you have one of them, you have a collector's item. Turns out the Oregon Humane Society hired a firm to come up with a phrase and several years ago the society did all the paperwork to get ownership of that slogan.

Independently in Dallas, my sharpspouse Martha had developed End Petlessness -- we figured nobody else had come up with that or we'd have seen it before. We've been around rescue for a long time and hadn't seen it.

But, we don't get to Oregon -- ever. So,  we'll come up with another slogan or two and the good folks with the Oregon Humane Society can continue to market things with "End Petlessness." They're a non-profit, so we're proud that their using such a good slogan on behalf of animals.

Now, how good is this Oregon outfit? We get the story from Barbara Baugnon, the PR/Marketing director who gives credit for the End Petlessness campaign to Leopold Ketel & Partners who did the ad work pro bono.

The Oregon Humane Society, founded in 1868, is the nation's third-oldest humane society, Barbara says. "In 2008 we found homes for 9,229 pets with an overall adoption rate of 95% which we are very proud of!  In September 2007, OHS opened the Animal Medical Learning Center (AMLC) adjacent to the existing shelter.  The medical center is a state-of-the-art animal hospital that provides a full-range of medical services for all shelter animals. The new behavior center, open to the public, addresses the main reason why dogs come to shelter: frustrated owners who cannot deal with canine behavior.

"We now serve the needs of over 11,500 animals each year. With over 100 staff members and a volunteer force of over 1,000,  OHS is dedicated to adopt 100 percent of the animals admitted to the shelter."

You can see more about the society at www.oregonhumane.org and more about the End Petlessness campaign by clicking HERE.

So, there you have it. Things are set in Oregon, but here at Readlarrypowell.com, it's back to the drawing board. We may try "Yes, we can ADOPT." Or, "Help! I've fallen for a dog and I can't get up off the couch." Or maybe, "Adopt a cat. The paws that refresh us."

OK, we've got Inky the Cocker Spaniel firing up our research and development team. Stand by, we'll come up with something that promotes giving your heart and home to an animal or two. Ah, "Adopt two critters: Pairadise." Inky is so patient with me.

ASSORTED NOTES: From Burns Flat, Okla., tireless rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher reports that the Chocolate Lab that had been struck by a car, is "safe. Thanks to all that worked at saving her." There are other animals in Burns Flat that need help. If you want to offer a home, transportation, anything except more animals to the critters Terry Lynn is monitoring, e-mail [email protected].  .... Pegasus News, the Dallas online phenom, carried a story yesterday about the Burleson Animal Shelter partnering with Meals on Wheels to make sure animals don't go wanting for food. Click HERE ...

SULPHUR SPRINGS KEEPS HUSTLING: Yesterday a bunch of e-mails flew around about saving a Chocolate Lab named Megan, a heartworm victim being held in the Sulphur Springs Animal Shelter. She'd been hit by a car, then neglected, then surrendered. That dog was saved -- and according to the Sulphur Springs Animal Control Officer Denise Stinson, it was done in "a 4-hour time frame. I got the total amount of money raised (for heartworm treatment), she had her first treatment for HW done, she was rescued by Take Me Home Rescue in Richardson and I transported her party of the way -- I can only go so far in the city truck. So this was a sad story turned happy fast.

Now, Officer Denise Stinson is working on finding help for Nelson, a sweet, gentle dog who loves kids. He weighs in at 40 pounds and stands 17-inches tall, we're told. How would we know how tall this dog is? "He stood there and let Denise measure him with the tape measure," the story goes.

To ask about adopting Nelson call 903-348-3122 (cell) or 903-438-9369 (shelter) or e-mail [email protected].

THE CAT GANG GROWS: Back on Jan. 5 we mentioned Sissy Coco's newly arrived cat. Well, the new arrivals have increased to three in her far north Dallas neighborhood..

So now she's tending to the standoffish crew -- orange and white cat Fluffy, a black cat named Halloween and an unnamed black and white cat with an injured leg..

"She's limping pretty badly and trying to keep it from touching the ground. I tried to get close to her to check it out, but she wouldn't have anything to do with it. But she didn't look as frighten of me...She hung around the bushes and groomed herself for a few minutes before limping away."

Sissy is trying to find a rescue group that can help her catches these three and move them into good homes. To offer to help, e-mail [email protected].

Sissy is worried that the "guests" need more than just the presence of square meals and loving looks from a distance. Keep in mind that the orange cat is a "talker."

CONTEMPLATIONS: Ever seen a Dalmatian ride a bicycle? To see a story in a British paper click HERE. ... Unless the weather pattern changes, along about April we can begin to brace ourselves for story-after-story about the drought that's emptying North Texas lakes. It may be time for Dallas to put a rainmaker on the city staff. Did it before. You can look it up. ... If you click HERE you can read about National Pie Day.  Chocolate, coconut cream or, maybe, apple.  You can read about it, but I plan on doing something about it.

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