The calendar tells us that we're moving toward a holiday weekend and that means traffic, fun, more traffic and gasoline prices soaring like, well, the balance in a gouger's bank account.
Now, let's move on with our day's items:
FOUND AND IN TROUBLE: We're working on getting a photo with this one, but for now you can probably visualize the situation. And if this helps, the e-mail from longtime dog rescuer Chuck Snakard is pretty vivid and his subject line was "The Michael Vicks of the World and the Evil They Do." This has to do with finding a small female pit bull Tuesday on Greenbriar in Oak Cliff -- and as Michael Vick, the former quarterback returns to his home in Virginia, perhaps he is learning what a shadow he and his actions cast on the land.
Now, about the foundling: "She has numerous old scars, new punctures and cuts, canine teeth that have been ground down, mangled ears--generally the appearance of a dog sacrificed to train other dogs to fight. She is very sweet but her biggest problem is she seems to have suffered nerve damage to both her front legs. She is unable to put any weight on them. She has developed the ability to stand on her back legs, but she still has a hard time getting around. Do you know of anyone who may be on the cutting edge of treatment for this type of nerve damage? ... Also, any suggestions on an organization that might take her? I'd be willing to make a substantial donation to help cover her care. She needs more intensive care than we can give her over the long run."
This 30-pound dog is underweight right now, Chuck says. "She is "white with a couple of large black spots, including one over her eye like the Little Rascals' dog."
Chuck and neighbor Shannon Love were involved in the rescue. It appeared to them that the dog had been "dumped during the night. She spent all day by the side of the road. She can scoot a little, but she was very emaciated and thirsty when Shannon and I got to her. I don't think she had the energy to move."
To offer to help or to offer advice on a specialist, e-mail [email protected].
NOT FOUND AND IN TROUBLE: Marnie, an Old English Mastiff, was being transported by Friends of Rescued Mastiffs Wednesday morning when she slipped away during a "doggy bathroom cleanup" episode at a gas station on Highway 114 between Roanoke and Southlake.
This is a recently rescued dog who is skittish when on the run, but sweet and loving when not running. "She's never snapped or bitten," reports Kelly Lindstrom of Friends.
Marnie probably still be dragging a black leash -- she has a microchip. If you've seen this year old, big, fawn and black dog, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-417-5152. Kelly Lindstrom
Why is Marnie, this big beautiful dog, in the care of a rescue group? Kelly has the answer: "She was just found in a dumpster with a leash tied around her neck and is learning to trust again."
A COUPLE OF FORT WORTH DOGS: Tireless Ginger Leach of Fort Worth Animal Care and Control tips us to these two dogs.
First up is Hyatt, who she calls "a miracle boy" because he has "dodged the needle twice since I posted that he was put to sleep on Sunday, May 3. It was discovered he had a microchip, so back to the kennels he happily went. The chip search led to nothing. So, while I was gone on vacation, he got put back on the PTS list, but someone took him off. This boy wants to live, so, PLEASE, can someone take him in. I was told I should have named him Wyatt Earp since he has dodged so many bullets."
The 4-year-old Rottie/Lab/Shepherd mix gets along well with other dogs and is healthy and playful.
The other "must move out of the shelter NOW" dog is Sassy, a little Schnauzer. Ginger writes, "Sassy has been with us since February. She was adopted at the clinic grand opening and brought back." The returners said "She was too big," Ginger reports.
"She has lots of energy but is a sweet and happy girl. She is fully vetted and just needs someone to find her a home. She is quite the barker when in her kennel, which is not very appealing to customers but once out she is a wonderful and quiet girl, though she lets everyone know she is the BOSS (not in a mean way)."
To ask about these dogs, call Ginger at Fort Worth AC&C at 817-392-7087 or 817-680-0849.
CRISIS AT THE COLONY: Our pal Patricia Barrington, The Colony Animal Control Division Manager, reports, "We are completely packed here at the wee-little The Colony Animal Control Shelter … completely packed. At one point this week instead of taking potty breaks and soda breaks, we were taking breaks from running calls and picking up critters to bottle-feed 3 litters of kittens. Good news is kittens made it into rescue. Bad news is we’re still full."
Now, among those many animals is this Rottie girl Buttons. "Buttons is a lucky girl who just also happens to have an unflinching will to survive. Buttons and three other dogs /puppies were impounded on Monday. All four were lethargic and vomiting with bloody, tar-like stool. All four tested positive for Parvo. Sadly, the other three dogs / puppies were so severely sick, they were euthanized. Buttons could manage to walk a short distance and would drink water for us. Plus, she had on a shiny, new blue collar with daisy flowers all over it. We were sure she had an owner… but, it doesn’t look like her owner is coming to her rescue.
" Buttons was isolated and given antibiotics and I.V. fluids and force-fed small amounts of food on Monday and Tuesday. She was patient and kind through all the torment we put her through trying to get her better."
On Wednesday morning, Patricia says, "Buttons met us at the gate, jumping and begging to be petted. She ate a whole half-a-can of dog food on her very own and lapped up a good portion of chicken broth. She hasn’t had bloody stool since Monday night and hasn’t vomited or had fever since Tuesday morning. I really think she is going to beat this nasty virus and go on to thrive in a loving home. "That’s the part I could use some help with; the loving home. We’ve got to find Buttons a home. Not just any old home; a loving home full of people who adore her. This is a very, very special dog. If tested on Friday and the Parvo test is negative, she’ll be available for adoption on Monday. If not, we’ll wait – but at some point, she will need a home. ... She’s very special to me and I have promised her I will do all that I can to secure a great life for her."
And if a picture is worth a thousand words, look at the nose on that cat? She is Theena, and she, too, is in The Colony Animal Shelter. "She’s really sweet," says Patricia.
Heck, she looks like she belongs in an art museum. That's one striking face on that cat!
To ask about Buttons or Theena or any of the animals at The Colony, e-mail [email protected] or call 972-370-9250.
SLEEPER AND NAPPER NOTE: The weekend edition of Readlarrypowell.com, better known as "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap," is looking for photos of any sleeping critters to spotlight. Send the pictures and info about the animal and yourself to [email protected]. The feature is read world wide and we don't know if Hollywood agents read it, but you never know -- you could be one sleeping photo away from being stage parent to a drowsy Labradoodle or a napping pack of usually rowdy kittens.
CONTEMPLATIONS: We have many good stories to report, but not enough time this morning to whip them into shape. I'll shorthand them: Miracle the Cat rescued from a Fort Worth freeway has a new home; Lady, the Great Dane in trouble in a shelter near Waco, has been rescued; the world continues to turn (working on getting a photo). We'll update these situations later. ... This is really America when we have a morning of dueling speeches -- a President and a former Vice President jawing at each other about what makes America safe. Dialogue -- it's the heart of democracy. ... Ever notice that the woman who does the TV commercials for a mattress company is so painfully thin that when she sits on the edge of the bed to make a point she doesn't even make an impression?
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