We get the story from Michael Gregston of MARS Rescue. It's a story that came onto the horizon a little bit late in the game for these two dogs, but perhaps there's a rescue group that can help. We're in "deadline weekend" for this pair.
Michael writes, "These two wonderful dogs were the cure to a man’s addiction to alcohol. After finding and rescuing these dogs he got sober and stayed sober to be able to care for them properly.
"Knowing he was on the end stretches of his life he paid his rent in advance and when he died the house was left for them until the end of this month until someone could find a home for them.
"He requested for both of his dogs to stay together but it is difficult to find a foster or an adopter willing to take both of them."
To help these two dogs, call 817-880-5858 or 559-303-4715 or e-mail [email protected]. Visit the MARS site at www.marsrescue.org. MARS is Mobil Animal Rescue Service and is based in Grapevine.
HELPING THE MAN WITH THE DOGS: You may recall that a week ago, five dogs were taken into custody after biting a woman in East Oak Cliff. Two sides to every story and one side is the woman had removed a board from the fence and was swinging it to irritate the dogs and it worked. Six dogs didn't go after her, apparently. Yes, the man had 11 dogs -- all Ridgeback-heeler mixes.
The five dogs were taken into city custody and will likely be euthanized.
After looking into the situation at the man's home, the Metroplex Animal Coalition decided to help the homeowner repair his fence, find homes for several dogs and give the dogs vaccinations and other treatments so they would be in "compliance with new city ordinances."
MAC's Director of Animal Advocacy and Communications, Jonnie England, spent a lot of time talking with the dogs' owner, 76-year-old widower R.J. Whitmill about the situation at his house.
On Friday MAC announced that Mr. Whitmill is the recipient of the first MAC Animal Code Compliance Project.
Volunteers are scheduled to be at Mr. Whitmill's home from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday to do this work on his property and for his dogs.
According to the MAC press release:
"Whitmill was cited by Dallas Animal Services for having his dogs tethered and for not having them spayed or neutered, vaccinated for rabies and registered with the city. The Dallas City Council passed ordinances last June prohibiting dogs from being tethered and requiring that they be spayed or neutered if the owner does not have an Intact Animal Permit. Vaccinating companion animals against rabies is a State law.
"The Metroplex Animal Coalition has arranged for local animal groups to take four of Whitmill’s remaining six dogs, including one pregnant dog. Saturday the volunteers plan to vaccinate, worm, treat for fleas and ticks, test for heartworms and bath all of the dogs and also to make repairs to the fence so that those that remain will not be tethered. MAC will pay for all six dogs to be spayed/neutered and vaccinated for rabies through its free program for low-income pet owners.
"Local groups that will be taking four of the dogs to find new homes for them are Flower Mound Humane Society, Paws in the City and Riff’s Friends Dog Rescue."
So, the story isn't over, but it's moving along.
MAC has 50-plus groups in its membership working to save animal lives. And, since 2003, MAC has arranged more than 11,000 free spay/neuter surgeries for pets in low-income homes. Visit MAC a its website HERE www.metroplexanimalcoalition.com
STOP SENDING THE BANDIT NOTE AROUND: You've probably seen the heartbreaking e-mail with this dog's photo and a story of marital disruption and blood platelet problem, etc.
Don't send it again, I'm begging you on behalf of all American's susceptible to viral e-mails sent by good-hearted people who just don't have time to check things out before they clog other folk's in-boxes.
We hear from White Settlement and our West Side Animal League contact Mary Belle Denton that someone who is friendly with the league has taken the animal into her care and is gracefully trying to find a good home for Bandit. More later.
White Settlement is on the northwest edge of Fort Worth.
Now, please, stamp out viral e-mail now. How? Don't forward without thinking. Instead, trace back to the originator and ask if the situation has been resolved.
Efficiency in communication will save lives -- viral mail clogs the system. Inefficiency -- circulating an e-mail about a problem that is already solved -- steals time from active causes and may cost lives. Take the time to check it out before you forward.
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