ReadLarryPowell.com

Looking for the lost, helping the found

It's Monday and the sleepin' was so good this morning that I thought I was kid out of school in the summer until about the 8th time the alarm went off.

Among other things today, we'll mention two missing Labs: Big Jake in Fort Worth and Beau in University Park. Here we go:

BE ON THE LOOKOUT IN FORT WORTH: We got a note this morning about a black Lab named Big Jake who has been missing since Friday when the stormy weather knocked a tree limb down onto his fence and, being a dog, he went through the opening in his backyard near 8th Street and Forest Park in Fort Worth.

Our tipster, Carole Sanders of Animal Angels in Jacksboro, says Big Jake left with his pal, Quannah, but Quannah has returned to the home of Stan and Valarie Hanna.

Big Jake is microchipped and was wearing a collar but no tags when last seen. He's got brown speckles on his feet and legs and he weighs in at 106-plus pounds.

If you know Big Jake's whereabouts, call 682-551-3382 or e-mail [email protected].

Over the weekend we posted Bob and Linda Livingston's missing black Lab Beau in University Park -- you can scroll down to look at that story. Both the Livingstons and the Hannas have been doing all the right things to find their dogs -- checking shelters, making calls, getting more eyes involved in the searches.

CELEBRATING VOLUNTEERS: The SPCA of Texas sent out a note of appreciation this morning honoring its volunteers -- April 19-25 is National Volunteer Appreciation Week. According to the SPCA, last year more than 600 volunteers gave 35,540 hours of time to the SPCA -- "well over $640,000 in monetary value," the SPCA says. To ask about becoming a volunteer at the SPCA of Texas, click HERE.

DASH THE CAT: Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake has sent us a note about this blind "very handsome male brown tabby." First, he needs a home. Second, he second a special home.

"It was thought he is blind and we did some very unscientific tests when he was at our clinic to be neutered and I believe he is," she says. As you may recall, Friends of the Animals operates (so to speak) a successful spay/neuter clinic in Gun Barrel City.

Dash came in via the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake which operates a shelter in nearby Tool, Texas. And that is where Dash is currently residing. To ask about adopting Dash, contact shelter manage Krista Mc Anally at 903-432-3422 or drop by the shelter.

SPEAKING OF ART IN TOOL, TEXAS: OK, we weren't really, even though Dash, snuggled up against the volunteer's neck, is a work of art. At any rate, the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake will benefit from its Third Annual Art Auction Friday at the Whatz Up Fun Center in Seven Points, Texas. The doors open at 6 p.m. for previewing and the bidding starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and in return you receive "$4 Million Dollars in Fuzzy Bucks." Use the "Fuzzy Bucks" to bid on the art. Ticket are available at the Greater Cedar Creek Area Chamber of Commerce. Call 903-451-0159 or 903-432-3717 for info.

REGARDING JENNY THE ELEPHANT: As billboards pop up around town and the SaveJennyNow.com folks (formerly Concerned Citizens For Jenny) get involved in local politics, the Texas Humane Legislation Network has named Margaret Morin it's "Shining Star." Margaret is the founder and the determination behind the movement to get Jenny moved from the Dallas Zoo to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Go to www.thln.org to read about the "Shining Star" honor.

YOU HAD TO KNOW THIS SUSAN BOYLE THING WOULD HAPPEN: Yes, Susan Boyle, the singer who has become a YouTube sensation thanks to the TV show Britain's Got Talent, is now being mentioned in notes about saving animals. We got an e-mail with the subject line "Susan Boyle -- hidden talent in the UK" and when we opened it, there was this sentence: "Hidden treasurers in the Carrollton shelter -- these guys deserve attention, too."

That note was atop a "kind soul's" forwarding of dogs and cats that Carrollton's Joe Skenesky is trying to help.

This girl's name is Michichi -- she's #19444. And she's a 9-year-old Bichon Friese who came in as an ungroomed stray. According to the Carrollton shelter, "when her people came in to look for her, they decided they were unable to afford the care she needs. Luckily for her, a groomer decided to donate some time and skill and gave her one heck of a haircut, freeing her from the matted hair that has pulled at her skin. She is a very sweet lady who gets along very well with other dogs. She stood to be groomed without any trouble at all."

She is said to be 9 years old -- just barely middle-aged in a small dog. She weighs less than 20 pounds.

To ask about giving Michichi or any other Carrollton critters a home,  call 972-466-3420 or e-mail [email protected].

A MALLOY BRIDGE DOG: Oh, goodness, how about that stretched out puppy! On a fluffy bed right in front of the refrigerator. Yep, no longer scrounging for food and serving as the daily buffet for parasitic bugs in the weeds near the Malloy Bridge Road in southeaster Dallas County.

We got the story Sunday evening from our reliable Malloy Bridge Road tipster Deborah Trevino. She writes, "Today, with the help of a Rockwall Animal Control officer, who helps rescues off duty, the 3 month old pup, Fluffy, was rescued. He had her in literally 5 minutes. She is a little sweetheart. She is very calm, doesn't bite, cry, but is very scared. I have her in my kitchen right now, and she hasn't moved from the dog bed I have out for her. Take her outside, she just freezes in one spot and won't move. Of course, she has no clue what the leash is. She was covered in burrs (not sticker burrs, weed burrs). And I removed several small ticks from her ears.  I'll be keeping her for a few weeks, then she will need a new home.
"The other dogs on the property still need rescue.  But, first, we have to find where to take them once they are caught."

To help with this continuing Malloy Bridge Road wayward canine recovery project, e-mail [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS: The Texas Rangers aren't even playing .500 ball yet, but that walk-off homer by Michael Young on Sunday may prove to be the catalyst that finally brings a World Series to Texas and I may be a Rockette by Thanksgiving. ... Saw the movie State of Play on Sunday -- still don't understand the title. It does a good job of showing why editors eat more antacids than any other profession. And it does a good job of holding suspense as a story moves toward a deadline that seems to be as solid as a bowl of pudding. ... Finish this sentence with five things: "Life's good when ...."

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Lola and Punkin -- separate sleepers

When the weekend arrives, Readlarrypowell.com anticipates a smile.

Why? Because on weekends we feature some sincere snoozers in our feature "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap."

This week we have a photo of a worn out dog. But Martha Hardwick Hofmeister can explain why Lola is flat out on the floor.

She writes, "Meet Lola Hofmeister, worn out after a long day in East Texas, where she's on constant deer, squirrel, and duck patrol.  Lola is a 2 1/2-year-old Husky/Samoyed mix (both parents were purebreds who took a walk on the wild side with one another)."

There was something about this pup that grabbed the attention of Martha and her husband Kent. And, of course, a Husky/Samoyed mix has got to be an ultrahuggable dog. Lola's also photogenic -- how about that glow in the "standing" photo?

"We met Lola and one of her littermates at a dog show in January of 2007," says Martha. "A trainer of dogs being shown there also breeds Huskies and Sammies, and had the then-3-month-old puppies with her. We showed interest (they were super-cute), talked to the owner for 45 minutes, and came home with a puppy! 
"Lola loves her brother, Punkin, a 17-year-old cat (the feeling is not returned), her ever-increasing collection of Nylabones, walks with her dad, and cooling off during the summer in a wading pool."

We suspect "Attitude of The Cat" is why we don't have a photo of Punkin snoozing with Lola. However, Kent did send us some great photos of Punkin solo -- that mug with the wonderful eyes and the distinct ears. And that big ol' wad of fluffy cat hair is Punkin snapped while sleeping. You can almost hear the purr even if it takes a while to figure out where Punkin's face is.

Now, as you can see, Lola is a very photogenic dog. And, according to Martha, Lola "is SUPER cute, and VERY sweet.."

She also loves "every human" and is a "terrible guard-dog. When there was a crew of people working on our landscaping earlier this year, she should have thought they were stealing our bushes and grass. All she did  was watch with interest, tail wagging."

In these photos you may see why we here at Readlarrypowell.com envy this dog. Look at the total comfort exhibited in the photos of Lola at the door. She's just zonked and in one photo, one leg is held up for inexplicable reasons -- maybe, in her dreams, she's preparing to leap through the East Texas pines in pursuit of a fleet-footed deer.

  And she's in total slumber with her little pal, whatever it is. How great it must be to sleep with such abandon. Might just be a really happy dog.

(Remember, we're ALWAYS looking for photos of sleeping critters for our weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. We'll also take photos of sleeping marmots, hedgehogs, lizards, rodents, winged creatures (feathered and otherwise) and, of course, relatives with uncivilized tendencies. Send the photos and info to [email protected]. This feature is read around the world and, as insomniacs, we're glad to know that because we like to think that whenever we're awake, we're not alone.)

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Be on the lookout

BEAU IS MISSING: This guy, Beau, who belongs to Bob and Linda Livingston,  is a former Lone Star Lab Rescue dog who went through a dislodged gate at his University Park home and vanished on April 15 -- as if that day doesn't have enough burdens.

A neighbor reports that he's almost certain he saw a man in a white SUV wrangling Beau into the vehicle. But nobody can really be certain that the dog was Beau, so there is a chance that Beau is still on the romp in the area near Lovers Lane and Turtle Creek. He has a history of "visiting" other property given the opportunity.

There are plenty of places to hide in that area. And, if someone did pick him up, it may have been a Good Samaritan trying to keep the lively guy from dashing into traffic.

Whatever the case, Beau has a good home to go back to -- he  apparently slipped out because a real estate lock box on a fence gate wouldn't allow it to close properly. He took advantage of the situation. As we have frequently preached at Readlarrypowell.com, dogs are often too clever for their own good.

Linda says Beau made his escape sometime between 12:30 and 2:45 on the afternoon of the 15th. "When I got home and found out he wasn't here, I started looking around for him." She has since been in touch with a number of lost pet sites and the Lone Star Lab Rescue folks.

As a part of the family for more than a year, he is, as you may imagine, missed a whole bunch.

Beau is described as a 2-year-old, 78-pound "large 'block' head" Lab. He's energetic but knows some commands and proudly sits and stays. He's microchipped and was wearing his collar and tags when he left. To report Beau's whereabouts, call 214-363-5754 or e-mail [email protected]. There is a reward.

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Joan, Ming, events and streamlining...

On Friday, we're going to show off a story of "cooperation" and faith. And we'll touch on some other things, too. Opportunities to help abound. And we'll mention the "streamlined age." Read on:

JOAN'S JOURNEY: This is a rare story these days. It is without pirates, without politics and there may not even be a real bad guy -- though there may be. Only this Dachshund Joan can tell her complete story and, well, you know how dogs are at spilling the beans.

Right off you need to know that this Dachshund has been helped in the past month and she is no longer the frail, skeletal dog in the photo.

Here's what we have: Someone spotted this starving Doxie flopped near a street in Denton -- she appeared lifeless, a victim of starvation, another casualty of the hard life some dogs encounter in North Texas.

According to our tipster, Denton Animal Shelter volunteer Amy Pelzel, the shelter transferred the extremely ill dog to the care of Dr. Granville Wright of the Animal Hospital on Teasely Lane in Denton. After intense, stabilizing care, this tough little dog was transferred to the Noah's Ark Shelter in Gainesville.

Debbie Lhotka of Noah's Ark tells us that when "Joanie came to Noah’s Ark; she was severely underweight. She was starved, dehydrated and extremely weak she could not even stand up for more than a minute or two. The vet said she was the worst case of emaciation that they have seen in a living dog. She has no visible muscle mass, and is just skin and bones at this time. We are not sure why she or any other animal have to suffer such abuse, but they do. She was nervous when she first came to the shelter and she is still afraid that people will hurt her."

She has learned in the past month that there are people who will not hurt her, that there are people who will be patient and properly reintroduce her to food and loving care.

And this week, the little dog now known as "Joan of Ark," went to a home that is caring for her as she completes her recovery.

The amazing thing is that, Debbie writes, "She was even heartworm negative, much to everyone's surprise. She has improved so much over the past 3 1/2 weeks; she is now taking walks outside for brief potty breaks, walking around the office area, then settles down for a nap."

Earlier this week, the shelter turned Joan over to a foster from All Texas Dachshund Rescue. Now, Joan is living in a loving home and being allowed to recover at a healthy pace.

As long as Debbie had our attention, and as long as Joan was in a loving home, Debbie focused our spotlight on a dog known as "Momma." She immediately became "one of the staff favorites." And, Debbie says, "When she came in she was just skin and bones, full of milk and no puppies could be found. She was just as sweet as could be, tail-wagging happy for any attention you would give her."

That was more than two months ago. Since then, no one has given a second look at this well-behaved, happy, friendly dog. And, look at that face! 

"She loves every dog she has met, especially puppies. She would lay on the outside play porch and the puppies would jump all over her, biting her ears, tail, etc.

Right now Momma is suffering a case of kennel cough and needs to be helped, needs to be rescued or adopted. And Debbie is trying to find someone who'll help Momma lead a long and happy life outside of a shelter -- inside of a shelter, the clock is ticking.

To ask about adopting Momma, call Debbie at Noah's Ark, 940-665-9800 or e-mail [email protected].

THE MING RECOVERY: Well, here's another one where you wish the dog could talk. Last night we got a note from Martha Denton of the Richardson Humane Society about this fellow Ming who has been missing since November.

She picking the little Peke up from a Frisco vet today. It seems a Good Samaritan picked the dog up off the streets and took him to a Frisco vet where his microchip linked him to the Richardson Humane Society.

This was not a dog that was not hunted. As Martha told us for a Feb. 4 post, "Our poor foster and her sweet teenage daughter plastered that side of the world with flyers - vets' offices, shelters, neighborhoods, went door to door, went to the finders' house a few times.... nothing. They are devastated."

Until this week, the people who'd been looking for Ming had not seen her since Novembere when she vanished from the 2000 block of Plymouth in Providence Village, north of Lake Lewisville and south of Aubrey.

What's next for Ming? "He was never adopted," says Martha. "We had just had him neutered and microchipped back in November when he got out of his foster's fenced yard. He's going back into foster care; probably in an apartment since he seems to be a 'fence Houdini'."

Get in touch with the Richardson Humane Society HERE to ask about adopting Ming.

TWO THINGS TO NOTE: One is a get-acquainted session and the other is a get fixed session.

            -- If you're near Jacksonville, Ark., on Saturday, you can stop by DuPree park for the Arkansas For Animals first meet and greet, reminds our Dardanelle contact Molli Corbin. Speakers include Mitzi Rankin O'Dell, president of the Association of Certified Cruely Investigators and photogrpahers Teresa Ellington and Dan Limke. Molli describes this as a "very casual" meeting with a picnic lunch and peole and their dogs and rescue groups and conversation. Ask for info at [email protected].

            -- The Metroplex Animal Coalition and the SPCA of Texas are teaming for their first DFW Spay Day on April 26 at the Martin Spay/Neuter Clinic on Village Fair -- that's at I-35 and Loop 12 (Ledbetter) in southern Oak Cliff. (Aside: It's near our house and we've had more than a few feral cats fixed there and we've all be quite happy with the primary result -- fewer kittens, though we love kittens but we know there are too many for their own good.) MAC and the SPCA hope to spay or neuter 100 dogs and cats in one day. (They've already filled the dog reservation quota, but there's still room for cats.) MAC's animal advocate Jonnie England says all pets will get an exam and can be spay/neutered and vaccinated for rabies and distemper for just $42 each. To get a reservation, e-mail Susan Kilgore at [email protected] by April 23. More info is at www.dfwspayday.org.

NEEDING TO LEAVE: Terry Lynn Fisher, our tireless tipster in Burns Flat, Okla., tells us that this fellow Roscoe needs to be out of the city shelter ASAP. He's been there a while and the clock is ticking. Obviously, in that first photo, you can see that Roscoe is interested in what's going on outside his kennel.

Terry Lynn says that Roscoe "is the sweetest, most loving little guy ever -- but the city sees 'just another stray.' ... He is not very big. He just needs a way out other than death."

To ask about adopting Roscoe or rescuing him, call 580-330-1459 or e-mail [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS: Friday is the gateway to the weekend. Those of us who are fortunate to have the weekend off appreciate those of you who will be on-the-job Saturday and/or Sunday. It's a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week world and somebody has to staff it. Police it. Preach to it. Patch it up. I worked nights and weekends for years. It's tough to watch as the rest of the world, i.e., your kids and loved ones, enjoy a traditional weekend that you will only hear about. ... It's raining on Oak Cliff right now -- looks like I'll have to mow the yard after all. I had banked on a sudden arrival of Texas heat killing the grass before I had to cut it. ... This is particularly appropriate in today's newspaper climate. Ever see the opening scenes of the 1941 Frank Capra movie Meet John Doe? A guy hammers a plaque off the entrance to a newspaper. The plaque being shattered reads "A Free Press Means A Free People." The new plaque reads, "A Streamlined Newspaper For a Streamlined Age." Kind of a sad thought, isn't it, looking at it from the vantage point of today's streamlined age.

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We'll start with cute...

OK, here we go with a report for Thursday, April the 16.

There's enough stuff in the world that'll make you go "oh, yuck" or "ouch" so I'm going to start this report with one of the cutest earhounds that ever wandered into somebody's yard.

We had mentioned earlier that our Arlington tipster Timi Hazle had brought a little visitor into her home. The dog had simply shown up in her West Arlington yard. So, she brought the little rascal into safety and got the mats and tangles removed and, well, as you can see, the little guy certainly deserves to be declared our daily "earhound."

He is still looking for a home. Email [email protected].

Timi says the little guy may be a Yorkie/Poodle mix. Whatever he may be, he's all cute and a gentleman, too.

"The longer he's with us, the better he gets," Timi says. "He seems to be completely house-trained and a competent trainer of people himself.  He's now settling in our laps from time to time but doesn't jump on the couch without being invited."

(Aside: I didn't know they made dogs like that.)

COAT HANGER DOG? Yes, sometimes those subject lines in the e-mail will catch your eye. Oh, goodness, you read something like that and you start to cringe at the possibilities of  "coat hanger dog."

I won't linger over this. I'll just tell you that the dog is called this because she has a broken right back leg that heeled in an odd position. Doesn't seem to impair her mobility all that much, however.

We heard about this girl first through Laura South of the Mid-Cities Humane Society who sent us the note on behalf of Butch Cappell of K-9 Country Kennels in Burleson. "He helps rescues by giving us reduced rates and also he takes in dogs," Laura explained.

According to the note that is making the rounds, here's the story. The break was months ago and someone decided to put a splint on the leg rather than taking the pup to a vet. Whoever did it, didn't set the broken bone. The person used a coat hanger as the "splint". The bad splinting and the bad wrapping combined to allow the dog's leg to heal in a permanent upright position. The puppy's leg also grew around the wire splint. All of that has been removed and she's now a lively, alert dog -- "possibly a Schipperke or Spitz mix," the note says.

So, after all that, she needs a home. To contact Butch about her, call 817-483-2026. You can write to him at 4901 E. FM 1187, Burleson, Texas. 76028. (Donations are tax-deductible, we're told.)

THE ONE-EYED DOXIE: Sounds like a mystery novel, doesn't it? Well, it's a situation that needs solving. Denise Stinson, the animal control officer at the Sulphur Springs Animal Shelter, is trying to find a rescue group or individual to take Sammy, the year-or-two-old male dachshund. He's only got one eye -- the rest of him is all dog.

He was found dodging cars in the middle of a busy Sulphur Springs street. the official report says, "He is just the best little guy to have around as a sweet companion. It appears he may be housebroken and the shelter has also noticed he is good with cats. ... There is no adoption fee or any type of fee to a rescue group that would pull .... Sammy deserves a wonderful life after what apparently has been a rough start."

To ask about Sammy, call the ACO at 903-348-3122.

JENNY NEWS: You may have seen that Ruth Buzzi, an actress whose work history takes her back to Laugh-In with noted Jenny supporter Lily Tomlin, was in town yesterday to speak on behalf of Jenny the Elephant. This is one of a flurry of things on the Jenny front -- additional Jenny supporters in the news this week include singer Emmylou Harris and future governor of the Great State of Texas, and the heart of Utopia Rescue Ranch, Kinky Friedman.

Margaret Morin, the hardworking leader of the Jenny movement, sends notes about other things. As you know the Jenny website was recently changed to www.savejennynow.com -- Margaret is seeking some help wrangling the website. Also, around town keep your eyes open for Jenny billboards. And, at www.savejennynow.com, you can read city council candidates' stance on moving Jenny to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. You'll have to navigate to the Take Action For Jenny Now button.

THE BURNED DOGS VIGIL: Night before last, the vigil for the two mortally burned Pleasant Grove pit bulls drew a couple of hundred people to Dallas City Hall plaza, we hear from one of the speakers, Jonnie England, the animal advocate for the Metroplex Animal Coalition.

There were also about 100 dogs there, Jonnie says, from her little, less-than-lap-sized Muffin to pits and pit mixes to "a jumbo-sized husky mix."

All of those dogs and people were there to commemorate the lives of two pit bulls who had been set ablaze by a couple of teenagers in Pleasant Grove.. This vigil came as the anniversary arrived of the death of Mercy, a young pit bull who died after her owner poured gasoline on her and beat and kicked her in April, 2006.. The case got international attention.

Speakers at Tuesday night's vigil included David Alex, the Dallas County assistant district attorney who prosecuted Deshawn Brown in the Mercy case. Other speakers included Jonnie, Rebecca Poling of Companions for Life, Kent Robertson of Dallas Animal Services, Dr. John Pippin and Shannon Morgan of ACT.

YOUNG LAWYERS RAISING MONEY TONIGHT: The Dallas Association of Young Lawyers' Animal Welfare Committee will be hosting the "Silent Auction For Mercy's Sake" tonight at Manny's Uptown to benefit Operation Kindness. The even honors Mercy, the dog that was fatally burned (see preceding item). The event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door (that gets two drinks) and you get to shop the silent auction for a good cause. (Click on this illustration to increase its size to "readable" -- if I programmed it right.)

STILL AVAILABLE: Bless her heard, DeeDee Pratt is still trying to find homes for this bunch of puppies. They're 7 weeks old now and need homes. Why? Because that many puppies in one place is not just a "joy" it is a "challenge."

"Not that I don't love them and care for them," DeeDee says, "But there's just something about a home of their own."

The puppies are elbowing each other for attention at her home in Lancaster on the south side of I-20. Email  [email protected].

A NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE: Well, what Dallas neighborhood doesn't have varmints of some kind? In this case, we're talking about the four-legged critters that treat the Little Forest Hills neighborhood as if it's their home. Oh, wait, it is. But that doesn't mean things can't be handled nicely, with diplomacy. The folks with the Little Forest Hills Animal Alert neighborhood info and rescue site, are worried about the wild animals so they'll host a wildlife program at 7 p.m. on April 21 at White Rock United Methodist Church, 1450 Old Gate. The speaker will be from Wildlife 911 and will discuss coping with coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, opossums and other naturally occurring critters. (Call LFHAA at 214-930-5910 or visit www.lfhanimalalert.org.

THE REPORT FROM BURNS FLAT: One thing you can depend on from Terry Lynn Fisher, our hardworking tipster in Burns Flat, Okla., is that she'll show her heart at the wag of a tail.

One of her recent e-mails begins, "I am sitting here in tears. The police just called me and said that while they were up there [at the shelter], a lady brought a little dog in. She said she saw some kids kicking it down the street like a ball.

"She is tiny, just a little baby. She is holding her back leg up....The pound is full. The kennels are full. There is nowhere for her to go." (At mid-morning Thursday, Terry Lynn reported that a vet check shows the dog's leg is broken. She also says the dog has been properly tended to and that she's now in a foster home and is called "Lacy.")

And, Terry Lynn sent this odd note, too, about how a dog wound up in custody.

"This little cutie followed an idiot home and is now in jail."

I'll bet you've never read that sentence before.

Terry Lynn explains, "Yes, an idiot. There is a man who walks all over town and if a dog follows him home, he puts it in his back yard, then calls the doggie police. I won't even get into what I think of him."

The dog's owners decided they didn't' want him. So, he's stuck in the Burns Flat shelter and needs someone to help him get out before it's curtains.

To ask about the little puppy and the beagle, e-mail Terry Lynn at [email protected] or call 580-330-1459.

CONTEMPLATIONS: How about those Texas Rangers, whipping the Baltimore Orioles, 19-6? That's one way to avoid a bullpen crisis. ... At this time of year, is it wrong to miss the scent of a holiday kitchen -- the dressing in the oven, i.e.? We're going to have to eventually take down our Christmas tree. ... Best day of spring? The one where nothing bothers you -- not pollen, not bugs, not chirping birds, not telemarketers that give it four beats before they respond to your "Hello."

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Tax day, Shar Pei & things

OK, folks, I know some of you are caught up in official government paperwork today. Bless your hearts. And remember, each time you're sitting in a traffic jam on an interstate highway, each time you're taking your shoes off in an airport, each time you've accidentally tuned to a cable channel in time to see a congressman speaking to an empty house, there's your tax dollar at work. Er, tax dollars. Now, let's move on.

THIS FACE LOOK FAMILIAR? Oh, goodness, gracious, is there anyone reading this who was around in 1983 when the Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog made big news by offering two "rare" Shar Pei puppies for $2,000 each.

It was a big deal, the availability of these two little "wrinkle dogs" from China.

Why, heck, you don't have to order a Shar Pei from Neiman Marcus these days. You can just stop by the Irving Animal Services Shelter and adopt this one. He's Mike, a year-old, friendly 36-pound Shar Pei that someone didn't need any more.

Adoption fees at Irving run from $70 to $100. Way short of the Neiman Marcus price.

The shelter is at 100 N. Briery, just east of the Belt Line-Rock Island intersection on the south side of Airport Freeway.

Credit for spotting this pup and many others at the Irving shelter goes to veteran shelter-walking photographer Russell Posch. Click HERE for today's photo report on dogs. And click HERE for the cat link.

ASSORTED NOTES: Here's a quick roundup, a situationer in some area:

-- Karen Langston of the West Side Animal League, which concerns itself with the White Settlement Animal Shelter, reports, "All the runs are full, all the cat cages are full and a cat couple and their two kittens have just been dropped off at the shelter. If you can foster, adopt, rescue, please swing by the shelter as soon as you can. If you can't, please forward this info on to anyone you think might be able to help." Click HERE to go to the League's site and link up with the shelter where you can find this orange and white gent, Ricky, who is "quiet and relaxed" most of the time.

            -- How about that Straydog Inc.!To see a recent report on Duncan, the big dog whose hip dysplasia surgery was financed by you Readlarrypowell.com readers with a Valentines Day fundraiser, click HERE.  It's great to see that the hearts of both Straydog Inc. and you readers have combined to help a big ol' dawg romp again. He'll be available for adoption pretty soon if you want to explore giving him a home.

            -- The Texas Humane Legislation Network has organized several "chapters" around the state and meetings are scheduled throughout this month as the Network pressures the Texas Legislature to toughen laws regarding animals. Puppy mills, cruelty laws, etc. Go to www.thln.org to see how to get involved.

CONTEMPLATIONS: As I was typing this, the President was discussing his tax plans and he said, if I heard correctly and I believe I did, that tax cuts will "reach 120 million families and put $130 billion directly into their pockets." I'm sure I don't understand, but this does make me wish I'd paid more attention in math class, particularly the "division" portion.  ... It's too early in the season to give up on the Texas Rangers. Of course, it's never too early for the front office to remind us to "Wait 'til next year." ... Spotted on a supermarket magazine rack next to the checkout stand: A 96-page booklet titled: The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Middle East Conflict. Only $.2.95. And only 96 pages? It's the perfect companion piece to the 4-page pamphlet, "Succeeding in Marriage."

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Rewards, vigil, found, handsome, etc.

Here we go with Tuesday's roundup, a collection of information about people and animals.

SPEAKING OF PEOPLE: You read in yesterday's report that there is a candlelight vigil tonight honoring those two Pleasant Grove pit bulls that a couple of teenagers are suspected of setting on fire.

Those suspects vanished after the incident. But someone knows where they are and if they are, indeed, responsible.

Sometimes adding a little money to the mix will turn up some clues. The SPCA of Texas is now offering a $5,000 reward in the case of the two dogs set afire in Pleasant Grove. It'll go to "any individual who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators." If you know anything about this case, Call Dallas Police Det. Tommy Weesner at 214-671-0118.

There is also a $5,000 reward still standing for information that'll solve the case of the Valentine's Day death of Pablo, the big mix who was thrown off the Spur 408 overpass over I-20.

To report suspected cruelty or abuse to the SPCA of Texas, call 214-742-SPCA (7722) or visit www.spca.org/abuse

Tonight's vigil -- candles will be provided -- starts at 8 p.m. at Dallas City Hall. Sponsors are Metroplex Animal Coalition, Animal Connection of Texas and Texas Animal Defense Coalition. Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome, we're told.

TEAM BROCK SURROUNDS SAVES THE WAYWARD DOG: Last week we reported that this dog Brock had bolted when startled at his apartment complex in North Dallas. Susan McBride, who had fostered Brock for Paws In The City, tells us that her ol' foster is back at his home now. Here's the story:

On Saturday evening, Susan says, Brock's new mom, Leah, "was walking in her neighborhood handing out fliers when two little girls, who had seen her walking Brock and knew her somewhat, offered to help. As they walked and talked with other children, who also joined them, one little boy said he had seen her dog in some bushes by a fence.  "They went where he thought he had seen Brock and Leah started walking and crawling through the area and spotted him. He ran out into the open area, the kids surrounded him, and at that point, surrounded by nine or ten of them, he gave up and just stood there.  Leah was able to get a leash on him. 

"She has already purchased a new 'no escape' harness to prevent a recurrence and we can breath normally again. He seems happy to have been caught."

That last quote: "He seems happy to have been caught." Isn't that just like a man?

MISTER HANDSOME NEEDS A HOME: Holy smoke, is this not a handsome dog? And yet, he appears to be homeless. And not of his own doing.

We heard about him from Erin Arnold Johnson of Straydog Inc. who put us in touch with Traci Orr, at whose home the big dog is being kept for now.

Traci says the dog just showed up at the intersection of Swiss Avenue and Grigsby and sat there as if he were waiting for whoever dropped him off to come back and get him. No one has returned for this dog. And, so, he and Traci's 11-year-old "territorial" Great Dane are sharing the house without actually seeing each other.

The story on this handsome guy is that he's about a year old, is healthy in most respects, and is, naturally for North Texas, heartworm positive (but Traci says she's willing to help out with that bill for anyone who gives this dog an exceptional home).

His arrival was quite heartbreaking. "He was terrified and didn't want to leave
> that corner," Traci says. "I got him to trust me with food and this morning coaxed him into my backyard ... He's great in the house and has a lovely, if not a bit worried, demeanor. I'd call him smart and loyal (and nervously looking out the front door at that corner).

"If I had to guess, I'd say he is a Keeshond or Australian Shepherd/German Shepherd mix."

Now, if you've had dogs, you'll appreciate Traci's next comment. "Oh, and he has great breath! Take it from someone who has lived with an old great Dane with bad teeth for a long time. This is a bonus."

To ask about adopting this dog with good breath, call 214 228 5853 or e-mail [email protected].

SOME QUICK REPORTS (IF I TYPE SHORT ENOUGH): Patric, the 3-legged cat who is in the care of Halteman's Haven and a veterinary team, is going through procedures that will lead to a final "cleaning up" of the ragged area around his leg that was amputated because it had been strangled by placenta during and after birth. Keli Halteman reports that Patric is "eating like a Dallas Cowboys linebacker, his eyes are open and he purrs like a very happy kitten should." (To ask about helping Hatleman's Haven pay for Patric's expenses, e-mail [email protected].)

            -- Krista McAnally of the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake is looking for some help with cats. "We have had great success in getting our cats adopted at the Mesquite PetCo.  In the last three months we have adopted out approximately 30 cats.  And that is thanks to Sue Ann Nuemeyer and Katherine McMoran who transport and clean the cages up there for us.  Their work and dedication to this project is to be commended. However, Katherine is about to go back to school and Sue Ann is going to have surgery.  Therefore we need someone to help keep this success going." To offer to try to fill the void left by the personnel changes, e-mail Krista at [email protected] or call 903-432-3422.

            Oh, and today's "earhound" is a cat, McGregor, a 6- to 8-year-old Scottish fold in the HSCCL shelter at Tool. Click HERE to see available animals.

            -- You may recall Queenie, the dog rescued from terror, bracing herself against the median on Airport Freeway in Irving. And Irving police officer blocked off traffic and saved her life. She had some sort of awful back-ripping injury. And Nancy Underwood arranged to get her treated at East Lake Veterinary Hospital in Dallas. During Easter weekend, Nancy says, Queenie's "entire original wound re-opened." and she was rushed back to Eastlake for surgery to re-connect the tissue and put in a "drain." Through it all, Queenie remains "sweet as ever." The Queenie medical fund -- with this development -- has shrunk to just $35, Nancy says. The expectation is that the expenses will top out at about $500. Donations can be made to the Queenie Underwood Fund at East Lake at 214-342-3100. For info about Queenie, e-mail [email protected].

            -- Now, about Bo the White House Dog. By now you can't not know that he came from a kennel in Boyd, Texas. Here's the great thing about the Internet. I Googled Art Stern and Portuguese Water Dogs and found a story in the Abilene Reporter News from a month or so ago in which he suggests and such a dog would not be a good fit for first-time dog owners in the White House. Click HERE. I guess Sen. Ted Kennedy and the White House may be a little tough to resist.

            -- For some time we've been following the story of Dallas photographer Brad Kirby and his stolen Huskies. You may recall that incident. Here is the latest from Brad. "I will be going back to the Dallas City Counsel this Wednesday to speak about the problem we have with our dogs getting stolen in Dallas. There were over 300 dogs stolen in Dallas in the last year. The Dallas police are not doing anything about it, not even trying. I know who stole Huskies and they got away with it and are still stealing dogs and selling them for fighting. If you would like to speak or stand with me, please contact me." Call Brad at 214-336-4229 or e-mail [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS: Bluebonnets are great, aren't they? Texas, our Texas. .Ah, the signs of a Texas highway in spring: plastic grocery bags struggling to stay earthbound by holding onto the necks of the bluebonnets. ... Pick a favorite: The Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew? ... We were taking a shortcut through the Dallas neighborhood Oak Lawn over the weekend and spotted a duplex -- one side holds an insurance company and the other side is the office of a psychic. My fully insured and unpredictablespouse Martha suggests there's opportunity for collusion. Imagine your psychic looking into the crystal ball and saying, "You need to think about increasing your coverage."

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Monday PM edition...

OK, it's mid-afternoon and we've still got things to report, so, here's our afternoon edition:

NEEDING FOSTER HELP NOW-- LIKE RIGHT NOW: The folks with the Companion Animal Network are looking for quick help in fostering a couple of dogs, Brandi the Chiweenie (yep, Chihuahua-Dachshund) and Riley the female rat terrier mix. That's Brandi with the giant ears.

CAN's Gail Whelan explains, "One of our members and foster is having surgery on Wednesday, April 15th.  She will not be able to walk for a few weeks. ...Brandy cannot be in a home with any larger dogs, so it would need to be someone who has only small dogs or no dogs."

To offer to help CAN with Riley and Brandy, e-mail [email protected] or call and leave a message at 214-808-3238.

LITTLE DOG FOUND: Our dog-finding pal Timi Hazle has found another one -- she just almost didn't even have to try to find this dog. And now she's looking for help in placing the tiny foundling. The story from Timi: "Late last night I found a little lost puppy in my yard in West Arlington (near the lake). He's young and not neutered so right now he's just one quivering hormone. Thank God my 3 dogs are all males.  I think he may be Yorkie and Poodle.  He's very light in color, almost white but with darker Yorkie shadows. 

"We immediately bathed him.  He was a matted mess when I left home this morning, but I'm betting my groomer daughter was chomping at the bit to give him a make-over. We're crating him for now except for yard breaks and he seems to be doing fine the in kennel. 

"If any of your readers have lost this little bundle, please have them email me at [email protected]. 

"Since we have 3 dogs and 1 cat of our own and now 2 grandbabies under the age of 1 who live with us, we cannot handle one more thing that we have to take care of."

We'll post a photo soon as we get one. In the meantime, this little dog has Timi's endorsement and that's a solid plus in the world of wayward canines.

FROM OUR PAL JEFF CRILLEY: You may recall Jeff Crilley as a dependable, animal-friendly reporter on Channel 4 in Dallas. And you may know him these days as the president of Real News Public Relations. 

Over the weekend, Three Dog Bakery in Southlake staged an "Easter 'Begg' Hunt" at the store. About 100 people and dogs showed up to hunt for 800 plastic eggs filled with dog treats and coupons. You can see the report on the hunt by clicking on this YouTube link HERE.

"The rule was," Jeff explains. "That the dog's nose had to touch the plastic egg -- and if the dog wouldn't cooperate and the owner wanted to help, the owner had to get on all fours and touch the egg with their nose."

Ah, what we'll do for our dogs. Or, in plain talk, "Oh, my, how our dogs have trained us."

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A vigil for two victims; chances to help; two dogs find homes

We greet Monday with the groan of the man who said, "Five more minutes" and accidentally got an hour and five, putting him an hour behind for the entire day.

Practical reminder: A cocker spaniel is not an alarm clock; a cocker spaniel is a sleeping aid.

Now, here's the daily report::

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR BURNED DOGS: Three groups have organized an open-to-the-public Candlelight Vigil for the two burned Pleasant Grove dogs for 8 p.m. Tuesday at Dallas City Hall.

The three organizers of the vigil are Animal Connection of Texas, Metroplex Animal Coalition and Texas Animal Defense Coalition. Candles will be provided.

The vigil honors the blue female pit bull an the black-and-white male pit bull who, on April 4, were mortally burned when two teenaged suspects set them ablaze. The dogs were euthanized because of their injuries.  (I cannot run the photo of the female because it is too gruesome. From this photo, you can see how severely the black-and-white dog as affected.)

Apparently only the suspects know the dogs' actual names and the suspects have made themselves scarce, so organizers of the vigil are calling them Hope and Justice. City Hall is at 1500 Marilla St. on the north side of Downtown Dallas.

Speakers will include Shannon Morgan of ACT,  Jonnie England of MAC and Dallas Animal Services' director Kent Robertson. (DAS has "protective custody" of seven pit bulls confiscated from the neighborhood of the burn incident. A hearing on the future of those dogs is scheduled April 15.)

According to a news release, participants are invited to bring their dogs to the vigil. Also, ACT will have several adoptable pits at the vigil.

OUR EARHOUND IS A PIT: Well, goodness, this dog has everything going for her except the word "pit." She's currently in the Carrollton Animal Shelter where Joe Skenesky works hard to find homes for all the animals. That's a big plus.

So, we're spotlighting, as today's earhound, this closely-cropped pit named Bonnie. She's #19416. And she can go to rescue only.

She's a "blue pit bull" who "works well with other dogs" and is a "real people pleaser." She's under 3, is "medium to large" and has a distinct coat. And she's microchipped.

She came in as a stray. But she had been in two homes. The people from whom she strayed have not come to get her. A year ago, she had been stolen from her original owners' home, but those folks already have another dog and there's no room for Bonnie.

the story is she was stolen from her owner's back yard about a year ago. So, through no fault of her own, she's on death row.

And if no one claims her, she will be just as dead as the two burned Pleasant Grove dogs.

In the meantime, Carrollton also has a collection of endangered cats -- endangered because the clock is ticking on their lives. This one is "Dorthy," #19388.

Dorthy also came in as a stray. She was cold and frightened and remains timid. She will enjoy being petted, but isn't that keen on being carried or picked up. It may take time to convince her that she's not about to be harmed.

But she is a black and white cat -- they are ALWAYS interesting. And she has a great face.

To ask about helping animals at the Carrollton shelter, call 972-466-3420 or e-mail [email protected].

THE BIG NEWS STORIES: Well, there are two big news stories we're discussing in this item. One is in Washington and the other isn't.

            -- First, as anybody who turned the TV on during Easter weekend knows, the White House has a new dog. (That photo of Bo meeting President Obama and the family is from www.whitehouse.gov -- the official White House website.)

So, this is sort of an open letter to the White House kids, Malia and Sasha Obama.

We know they are getting plenty of advice regarding their new dog, Bo, a Portuguese Water Dog whose kennel roots are in North Texas. And we know there's plenty of media attention.

But the deal is, this is the perfect opportunity for the White House  kids to film some public service announcements to help America become a kinder place for animals. Malia and Sasha remind America to adopt from shelters or to adopt second-hand dogs. That sort of thing.

All of that aside, we have to remember that this dog is going through a period of adjustment and while the First Kids will have plenty of help from their side, Bo the Dog is on his own. But one suspects there isn't a behaviorist on the planet who wouldn't happily claim the crown of White House Whispering Dog Cuddler. And anybody who has adopted a dog knows Bo will need help learning the rules.

So, here's our message to the president's kids: Love your dog so much that when your dog needs help, you immediately get it. Don't let anything slide. Bo wasn't born to be in the spotlight. He was born to be someone's friend. Luckily, he got two famous little girls as friends.

Help him feel at home -- you will love it when he wags his tail when you walk into the room.

We're rooting for Bo to be the perfect White House dog. And we're rooting for you two to be the perfect White House dog friends.

The second item of note? Over the weekend we got to meet our newest family member, adopted last week from the Hurst Animal Shelter. His name is Willie and we think he may be a Wheaten Terrier.

He was a stray and has been in the shelter for a few months. Our grandkids -- and they are grand -- Hannah Rose, Emily Grace and Connor "Crash" Powell -- had been saving their money to get a dog from a shelter. Boy, did they hit the jackpot!

Willie is the perfect dog. Well-behaved, affectionate, alert, neutered and lap-sized -- well, lap-sized if you're an adult. If you're a kid, he's "really big," according to Connor, who isn't.

We adored Willie (aka Willie T. Matlock) from the moment we met him on Saturday. Bart told me that as he was filling out the paperwork last week, one of the Hurst shelter workers stopped by to congratulate him and told him that the dog, then known as "Spike," was her favorite and she couldn't believe no one had claimed him before. He'd been in the shelter for several months. Bart made sure the kids met Willie and got to know him before the deal was done. I think Bart may have had an immediate affection for "Willie T.", too.

Here's the thing: Sometimes fate has a hand in these things. All the circumstances came together so that two girls and their little brother in Texas would have a new best friend.

It's kind of the same thing that happened to the White House kids. Fate worked things out so that a "returned" Portuguese Water Dog would be available.

As you can see, my shutterspouse Martha immediately began snapping photos of Willie. She caught him "stacking" as if he were trying to impress a dog show judge. Then she snapped him in the arms of Bart, father of the grandkids, and, as a demonstration of the contrast between "cute" and "not cute" she snapped me holding Willie and Willie watching his three kids romping out of the photo.

The three of them were trying to move some giant landscaping rocks in Arlington's Randoll Mill Park. Or, as Martha explained it, "Willie is really interested in the kids' geological explorations."

He seemed to prefer the company of his kids. We hear he likes to pile up and nap with them. Good dog. And if the kids are always kicking over rocks, you never know what they'll find. A good dog will be with them, just in case.

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A silence of Chihuahuas...

LITTLE SLEEPERS: There are some sincere people who swear that they have never seen a Chihuahua that wasn't yapping.

Here are two that aren't. Now, I don't know how they reacted after the snap of the shutter -- it could have been Katie-bar-the-door.

We got this photo from Erin Arnold Johnson of Straydog Inc., the legendary sanctuary near Gun Barrel City, east of Dallas and near Cedar Creek Lake. You can look up Straydog's daily activities HERE. You can also volunteer to help or to adopt or to foster.

Obviously, if we were able to get our hands on a photo of non-yapping Chihuahuas, we wanted to let people see it. So that is why Missy and Mackey are our spotlight critters in this weekend's Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.

To some people, a photo of a pair of quiet Chihuahuas would be like seeing a film of Bigfoot doe-si-doeing with a Chupacabra while a Leprechaun plays the fiddle. (Full disclosure: We have had two of these little dogs. Our late Vera was fun every day of her life and our current little girl, Rosie, has delicate manners and only yaps when you are trying to sleep.)

The dogs, Erin tells us, "are Straydog Hospital residents. Missy came to us with older Vern. Mackey came to us when an elderly lady died, then he was adopted and came back to us when the guardians had to move and couldn't take him."

Erin says Mackey "lovvvvvvvves" Missy and they "sleep next to each other all the time."

Even lapdogs need some shut-eye. And don't we insomniacs envy them -- look at the way they're just out like lights. Maybe we insomniacs need some human-sized dog beds to help us sleep. Just a thought.

(To nominate a critter -- furry, feathered, scaled or whatever else -- for spotlighting in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send the photo and info about the animal and yourself to [email protected]. We believe in sleep -- it's like Santa Claus. We haven't seen him, but we know he exists. Somebody is buying all those anti-snore gadgets.)

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