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End-of-the-month non-rush....

Holy smoke, last day of June and there are still animals without homes. Can you imagine?

How does that happen?

Oh, and before we go further, Meg, the dog we featured in a "be on the lookout" yesterday, was found sleeping on the front porch at 4 a.m. today. We posted that story earlier -- read it after you finish today's post.

ABOUT ANIMALS WITHOUT HOMES: Remember a couple of weeks ago when every charitable heart jumped through hoops to replenish the food supply and step up adoptions at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake in Tool, Texas? How in the world, you may ask, can that little shelter stay so full of dogs?

We'd like to enter as evidence this morning's note from Krista Mc Anally, manager of that shelter. She writes:

"I was called this morning about two black Lab moms with 15 pups dumped on the side of the road in Payne Springs which is in Henderson County. Tina [Hamilton] with Happy Tails is going out to see if she can locate them. I do not have room at the shelter. We will need a foster home for both moms and pups."

So, if you can help in this emergency situation, e-mail [email protected] or call 903-432-3422. (Check out the shelter's adoptables at www.hsccl.org.)

AND FROM CARROLLTON: The week has been slow on the adoption front, reports Joe Skenesky of Carrollton Animal Services. We've featured several of these animals before -- there's a cocker spaniel named Rose, a wacky little black dog named Boomerang. We mentioned Mr. Kitty, the cat with the long face, here. He, Princess and other cats are in the shelter because their human died. Relatives couldn't do anything else with the cats, so they wound up in a shelter.

And, there's this dog -- one brown eye, one blue eye -- named Chloe. Yeah, the eyes are odd, but the dog is a boy and that makes the name odd. Swear. The people who turned in Chloe had found him as a stray, but after a while, they could no longer care for him, so, he's now a shelter dog.

To ask about adopting any of these animals, call Joe at 972-466-3420. Or e-mail [email protected]. These animals are on a very short clock this holiday week. See the Carrollton inventory HERE.

And for those of you not familiar with the ways of your fellow humans, some people, when they can't find a pet sitter or don't want to find someone to take care of their animal while they're on vacation, will simply dump the pet in a kill shelter and drive off.

A NOTE ABOUT SEAGOVILLE: Our tipster and veteran rescuer Deborah Trevino reports, "Todd Brisbon, the director of the Seagoville Shelter, is holding a meeting tonight for all those interested in volunteering for the animal shelter, and also, to inform of upcoming events.  The meeting will be at the Seagoville Tattoo Shop, located at 1404 N. Highway 175 at 7 p.m.  For more information, call 972-287-5600. 

"Todd is a tattoo artist in his spare time. The shelter doesn't have anywhere to hold a meeting, due to the building itself being the size of a double-car garage..Literally tiny."

Deborah says she'll be at the meeting and that afterward she'll be going to the infamous Malloy Bridge Road dog dumping ground to check on Charlie and other dogs living there. She may need some help, if any volunteers are available. E-mail [email protected].

AND IF YOUR IN BURNS FLAT: I mention this in case someone is planning a Fourth of July trip that will take them anywhere near Burns Flat, the outpost in western Oklahoma. Our tipster Terry Lynn Fisher is hustling to get animals moved out of the Burns Flat City Shelter and among them is today's Earhound.

This dog is "Brindle" who was left behind with a Boston Terrier a couple of days ago when some people moved out of a home in Burns Flat. They just up and moved and left the dogs. Brindle's timid, Terry Lynn says, but has a great set of ears. And Brindle also is sort of missing his pal, the Boston, who went into a breed rescue group.

The other dog is Molly, who "was taken from some boys who were abusing her," Terry Lynn says. "she is very shy at first, but once she knows you will not hurt her, she is loving and friendly."

To offer a place for Brindle the Earhound or Molly the Sweetie, e-mail [email protected] or call 580-330-1459.

SHEPP NOTE: Last week there was a demonstration for justice in Corpus Christi on behalf of Shepp, a dog that died from neglect and abuse at the end of a chain. TV station KRIS reports that Daniel Luna, the human in the case, plead guilty and has been sentenced. You can read the TV station' story HERE.

CONTEMPLATIONS: My ol' former newspaper colleague Jean Nash Johnson, whose byline is surely familiar to readers at the ol' former big paper in Dallas, has some thoughts on Michael Jackson at her blog HERE. Jean's of the Young Michael era. ... As June 2009 closes, we are reminded that we probably squandered many days and we will vow to do better in July. ... Driving vacations: Fun or torture. I vote fun, but I'm not a flyer and, unless those earthquakes in Cleburne get more severe, I'm not going to be taking any luxury cruises out of the Port of Dallas on the Gulf of Mexico, either. But you never know about earthquakes. People are always saying Dallas needs a good shaking up.

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Meg -- came home ...

Late in the afternoon we published this Be On The Lookout for Meg, a big shepherd mix in a pink collar. An early morning e-mail from Carolyn Coleman tells us "Meg came home. She was asleep on the porch at 4 a.m." This was, as you may imagine, a load off for Carolyn and Richard -- they were petsitting for their traveling daughter when Meg bolted yesterday.

And, by the way, Meg didn't have a note explaining where she'd been, but at mid-morning she was getting a really vigorous shampooing. She apparently had not spend her "away time" paying attention to her grooming.

Here's yesterday's report, now, fortunately, no longer valid.

We have a late afternoon Be On The Lookout because of the circumstances.

The dog is Meg, a large tan and black females shepherd mix who "ran away this morning" in the Mockingbird/Abrams area in North Dallas. She was wearing tags and a collar. Call 214-827-3699 or 214-693-9965.

"The dog belongs to our daughter, who is on vacation," says Carolyn. "That is the saddest part; we are dog-sitting."

The dog lives about five miles north of the pet-sitting site, we're told. Signs are up, flyers are printed, doors have been knocked on. The folks are doing all the right stuff.

Richard Coleman said he went to the Dallas Animal Services shelter this afternoon and "looked at 200 dogs. They have a lot of dogs." He's going back again, he says.

Or, perhaps someone in the area will spot Meg taking it easy in the shade under some shrubbery.

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The approaching holiday...

Look, folks, this is a holiday week. People will be bailing out of town Thursday evening. Maybe earlier. Maybe they've already gone over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's swimming pool..

Because it's a short week, we're told, some shelters have moved up euthanasia days -- has to do with employee scheduling, the load of unwanted animals and who knows what else.

Keep that in mind this week as you wonder about helping animals. And, please, you have permission  to print out this daily report and put it on the bulletin boards of every office in the world. You know, just as a reminder to help some animals.

In the past few days we've had readers not only from the mainland, but also from Hawaii, and we've had readers click in from Ireland, Chile, Costa Rica, Ghana, India, Australia, New Zealand, Saskatchewan and Quebec.

So, if someone in Quebec or Chile sees a dog or cat on this site and wants to adopt, there are volunteers who will make darned sure that critter gets a good ride to a safe place in those countries. If someone in Australia wants to get a Texas-rescued Aussie, why, put another shrimp on the barbie because that dog will get a safe ride to Oz.  Rescuers work miracles.

That dog in the photo? That's Cruz, currently in the Denton Animal Services. The story is the owners of the young shepherd mix moved and abandoned him. Someone brought him to the shelter because, according to the shelter folks, "They told us that people were going to shoot the dog if the shelter would not take him." (To ask about adopting Cruz or moving him out of the shelter, e-mail [email protected]  or visit the shelter on-line HERE.

Rescuers work wonders. And this is the time to pull off some miracles in animal shelters.

WENDY'S CATS AND OTHERS: Oh, goodness, we have encountered several instances lately of cats that have been left behind not because their humans abandoned them, but because the humans have succumbed -- natural causes, unexpected instances, etc.

            -- First today we have the cats that had belonged to our pal Wendy Rains, the former researcher librarian at the big paper in Dallas. Wendy, just 50, died a couple of weeks ago. Her husband, U.S. Army Sgt. Brian French, was serving in Iraq -- he was in the Army for Desert Storm and Desert Shield, left the service for a while, and was back in the combat zone in Iraq when Wendy died. He's trying to find homes for two grey and white "tiger cats" -- Prudence is a year-and-a-half old and Jude is about a year old. To offer to help this young soldier at a tough time, call 214-605-5348 or e-mail [email protected]. Wendy was a cat person all her life. A cat person and a good person.

            -- Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake sends us a note from Barbara Buck who is trying to find homes for three cats whose owners have either died or whose owners cannot care for them any longer.

            These cats include a red-orange, 5-year-old Tabby named Moses who "was a companion to an elderly gentleman," Barbara writes. "When he died, the family just turned the cat loose. He is very lonesome...."

            Cleopatra, who also answers to "Cleo," is a "calico, or tortoiseshell, with black eye-lined eyes." "She was abandoned when she was a kitten, but managed to survive to be about 2 or 3. She wants to be loved but is scared of her shadow. She bonds with a man the best."

            Miss Kitty, a 3--year-old black cat, has "been living with an elderly lady who cannot take care of her anymore. She is used to a walker...and is very attentive to her owner....She is not used to any other cats around, but rubbed noses with a friendly dog."

All of those cats will come with a litter box, litter and cat food. To ask about adopting them, e-mail [email protected].

LOST OR 'PICKED UP' IN FORT WORTH: This little Corgi (a Pembroke Welsh with no tail) vanished from a yard Saturday near Elizabeth and Ramona -- that's on the west side near Alta Mere and Camp Bowie, north of the Weatherford Traffic Circle.

Shorty, is an 8-month-old guy who is "friendly with everyone," reports his human, Shannon Dejten, "And we fear someone picked him up and decided to keep him. .... We found the remnants of a collar, but are not sure if it is his, so he may be collarless."

You hope these dogs show back up overnight or at the end of a weekend, but no dice on this Corgi (the name is being withheld at the request of the dog's human).  To report the whereabouts of the dog, call 817-939-6174.

Shannon says he's "the best dog I have ever had" and "he has never done anything wrong and is super smart."

She writes, "This weekend has been a blur of tears for me. I have posted about 70-80 flyers in the area he went missing, spoken to neighbors, and surrounding neighborhoods, posted signs in some retailers surrounding, posted ads on craigslist and anywhere else anyone referred me to. I also left flyers at 5 Petsmarts and their vets, and all of the vets and groomers in the surrounding area where he was lost. I also called shelters.

"I have not received one call, I am so discouraged and worried that someone picked him up intentionally and wants to keep him."

TODAY'S EARHOUND: Oh, for crying out loud, isn't that the cutest set of ears. Yes, here is today's earhound. His name is Wolfie. And we learn about him from veteran rescuer DeDe Whitcombe of the Collin County Humane Society.

He had a broken leg when she pulled him from the Collin County Animals Services Shelter in McKinney.

Wolfie's cast is off now and he's a romper. And DeDe says she's had only one application for adoption. "Just don't understand," she says. "he is so adorable."

He's about 3 months old, weighs in at 11 pounds for now and is a "German Shepherd and Schnauzer mix, we think!"

He's also a typical puppy -- going through the puppy chewing and "needs-training" stages. But he's healthy and undergoing some physical therapy to make sure his leg is properly exercised and strengthened.

To apply to adopt Wolfie and his ears, click HERE to get an application from the Collin County Humane Society.

DeDe says Wolfie is "about the calmest, sweetest-natured puppy you could ask for" -- and our observation is that he's gifted with a championship set of ears."

CONTEMPLATIONS: The world isn't as comfortable when the Texas Rangers aren't in first place. Maybe they can sweep the next three games from new division leaders, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim or whatever their tricked up name is now. ... Big city hall corruption trial going on in Dallas. Judge put a gag order on it. Our pal Jeff Crilley of RealNewsPR.com issues a daily advisory sheet for news editors. Today he sent out a tip on finding someone to talk about the gagged trial and offered a great quote from Dallas lawyer/observer Clint David: "This has to be the biggest trial in Dallas since Jack Ruby. You have the best lawyers in town squaring off against each other." ... About that famous deaths in threes: Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Now, pitchman Billy Mays, sitcom and singing star Gale Storm and impressionist Fred Travalena. Starting to believe in the Trio Theory.

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When good cats nap...

The assignment "Take cute photos of sleeping animals" is easily accomplished in some households. Everywhere you look, there's a photo subject.

And that is why Robynn Rushing's cats are the featured critters in this weekend's "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap."

And there's another reason. A few weeks ago we posted photographs of Gail Marshall's sleeping critters. This prompted a note from Robynn. "I saw the article on your website about my Mom's sleeping pets and I thought I would send you mine...which I believe are so much cuter...<smile>!!"

Thus, this weekend, we offer evidence of a new phenomenon: Sleeping Pet Envy Syndrome (SPES).

So, enjoy this collection of photos of her rescued cats from Robynn. You can read more about them by clicking HERE and going to Robynn's petsitting site.

My funspouse Martha was a petsitter for four non-stop years -- if a petsitter has time left in a day to snap a photo, it's a miracle. And, I swear, a petsitter, at the end of a long day, can pick up the camera, push the button and be asleep before the shutter snaps. Petsitters -- America's unsung workers. (If they had time, I'd get a chorus of "Amens" from the petsitting community.)

Now, the explanations of the photos:

The cat sacked out on the tree is Cleo.

The kitten cuddling with his mom is Curly Tail.

And that is Curly Tail making certain that the TV doesn't float off and that, against the screen, he's in high definition.

Napoleon and Molly are asleep in the window -- perhaps after a day of monitoring the migration habits of springtime birds. Or, perhaps, they've been taunting neighborhood squirrels.

That's Princess in the basket. It's a bed. It's a comfort zone.

And Sasha can sleep normally, of course, stretched out across the back of the couch. But, she is also a technical cat and is, obviously, comfortable around modern communications equipments -- she's right on top of things.

(Your critters can also be spotlighted in our weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Just send the photos and the information to [email protected]. We're so proud to be able to have a place for people to brag on their animals -- or their photography. Or to continue a rivalry with their relatives.)

 

ONE MORE NOTE: Please take time to visit our Prayers & Passages page (Click on the button on the right side of this page). You can leave comments there about three great friends of people and animals: rescuer and Straydog Inc volunteer Consuelo "Dr. Chelo" Murray; my former co-worker at the big paper in Dallas, Wendy Rains, survived by "two special cats," the preacher said; and our dear friend and companion to cat diva Tasha, Jane Bainbridge, a Brit who was a fit in Texas.

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Friday's late PM edition....

This afternoon we're going to do a bit of a "don't forget" edition. As in: Don't forget that shelters are full and have plenty of animals that can be adopted and some that can be saved ONLY by rescue groups.

The odds may be against these "rescue only" pups, but just in case someone with a magic key to the shelter is reading, here's the info.

THE SHELTER IN TOOL: Last week we mentioned the food/euthanasia situation at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake at Tool. And people responded in dramatic fashion, as has been reported.

Now, we mention the pit bull crisis at the same shelter. And Krista Mc Anally, the shelter manager, spells it out plainly, chillingly:

"We do not adopt out Pits because of the fighting in our area. Therefore the only way they will leave the shelter is rescue or euthanization.

"We have had Jackie (left) and Beau (right) for several months.  They are the most urgent. 

"Titus (lower right) is an 8-month-old-male that weighs about 70 pounds.  He is a very friendly and well-socialized. He does well with other dogs. And he wants to be a lap dog.
"Jackie is about 3 years old.  I have had Jackie since last October.  She is very dog aggressive.  I have been working for 6 months to get her into Best Friends with no luck.  Jackie loves people and is our favorite dog here. We would keep her here forever but she needs help with her dog aggression that she can not get here and she deserves a chance at a normal home.  Jackie is heartworm positive but it is very light and the vet said that she could be treated with Heartguard.  We have had her on Heartguard since January.
"Casper (lower left)is 10 months old. He is deaf. He is completely vetted and HW negative.  He is housebroken.  He does not get along with other male dogs. He has been through obedience classes.  Casper was originally adopted here at 4 months old and was returned because after he was neutered, he and the 13-year-old dog started picking at each other and 3 trainers could not make them get along.
"Beau is about a year old.  He is only about 13" at the shoulder and weighs about 35 lbs.  But he has the heart of a lion. He is well socialized and good on a leash.  He gets along with other dogs.  In my opinion, Beau would be the easiest to adopt because of his size and he has no behavioral issues."

So, if you have a place in your rescue group or your heart or your sanctuary, take a look at Beau, Jackie, Casper and Titus. Call Krista at 903-432-3422.

AND IN CARROLLTON: Oh, goodness, Carrollton Animals Services always has a substantial inventory of cuties and friends. This afternoon we offer some of the cats and dogs that could use a decent break from the public. They need homes. (You can ask about giving them homes by checking with the Carrollton shelter at 972-466-3420 or by e-mailing [email protected].)

These animals, by the way, are on a clock that'll stop ticking on July 1. You know what that means.

Our spotlighted Carrollton animals are:

The handsome Mr. Kitty (left) who came into the shelter after his person died and no relatives could take the cat into their homes.  Maybe its the angle in the photo but I want to ask, "Why the long face?" The Carrollton report says Mr. Kitty " is a shy fellow who is a bit confused about all the recent changes in his life. He would like a quiet home where he can live and reflect on his life and that of the ones he loves."

This dignified bob-tailed cat is Princess, an owner-surrender. Same story as Mr. Kitty's. Owner died; nobody would take her. She's another cat that is living in confusion because of upheaval in the lives of humans.

Rose is a cocker spaniel who came in a s a stray. She's listed as a "senior" but may be only about 7 years old which is barely middle-aged in the life of the well-kept cocker. She weighs about 30 pounds and is in need of professional grooming. But Rose, like most cockers, is obviously adorable and very friendly. (Aside: As regular visitors to Readlarrypowell.com know, we endorse cocker spaniels because ours, Inky, is a great companion and because of him we have met other cocker spaniels -- of them have been congenial and adorable. Most do not have vast wealth -- Inky is helping a prince move his late father's fortune from a bank in Ghana to Switzerland and is very excited about the payoff. I've got to keep that dog off the internet. Actually, there's evidene that cockers spend their fortunes on grooming. That's my way of saying that if you're going to adopt a cocker, budget for grooming. It's not fair to the dog if you don't.)

And there is this dog on the lower right -- she's named Boomerang, but we don't know if that's because of the fact that she always comes when called or because of the shape of her ears. Whatever, she's a Corgi mix who came in as a stray. She was on the loose, saw someone walking their leashed dogs and "decided to follow them home." Those folks tried to find he a home, but couldn't, so they brought her to the shelter in hopes that she'd find a home.

Again, there are dogs and cats in every shelter across this continent. They all need homes. Their only hope is humans. Though I'd hate to be in that fix, the dogs don't have much of a choice. Maybe one of these photographs will charm a human and convince them that their home no longer needs to be pet-free.

Personally, you can't beat the charm of waking in the morning and the first thing you see is the hairy muzzle of a cocker spaniel and a giant pink tongue jetting out to lick your nose as a "hello" gesture. I'm kidding. Usually the cocker spaniel is already up making coffee and doing Pilates.

OK, before we leave this Friday PM edition, do something good for the world and go adopt a new friend.

CONTEMPLATION: Don't you hope your money lasts through the weekend? Or are you too old for that sort of wild behavior?

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A Friday collection...

Welcome to Friday. Indeed, the final Friday of June, 2009. If June had moved any faster, the Dallas Cowboys would have drafted it. Now, here's our report for Friday.

We will try to move swiftly, too:

SURPRISE, SURPRISE:  The folks with A Different Breed took in a little bitty dog from among the unwanted critters in the Cleburne Animal Shelter, we're told.

Now, picking up a shelter dog is not all that unusual.

The little dog's name is Priscilla and she's in good care -- she is heartworm positive and the rescue group will take care of her, of course.

They discovered she was heartworm positive when she was about to be spayed. So they called off the spaying to avoid the added stress. And, ADB's volunteer coordinator Joni McConnell told us that "the cute little dog" stunned everyone after her vet visit by delivering a brand spanking new puppy. "No one even knew she was pregnant."

Nobody knows what gender the puppy is because Priscilla has created a "nest" and is being protective and no one wants to stir her up considering her conditions and her responsibilities as a mom.

By the way, A Different Breed will benefit when you dine at the Tin Star at 3301 Preston Road north of 121 in Frisco from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on June 30. Ten percent of sales will go to the group's building fund. They'll probably need to build an extra room onto Priscilla's house.

THE DISTURBING DALLAS CASE: We're not exactly certain of all the details in a case of allged abuse and neglect that is stirring people in the animal rescue community in Dallas. We don't know for sure what happened that caused apparently neglected animals to be returned to the person who was not caring for them properly. KTVT (Channel 11) did a report and you can read it HERE. And KXAS (Channel 5) did a report, too, which you can read HERE. It is clear that the dogs were neglected, that there was a chance that they could have been protected and that there's a shortcoming somewhere. Whether it's a shortcoming in people or in the system or both probably will be determined by an investigation or at least some relentless questioning.

ADOPTING IN CORSICANA: You may have read recently of Corsicana's problems with staffing the animal shelter -- volunteers and folks from the Humane Society of Navarro County stepped up to help. Coming up on Saturday starting at 10:30 a.m., a special adoption "event" at the shelter at 617 S. 12th Street. The Society and the City are teaming to sponsor it. And, according to a Society release, "All adoption fees and the $7 license fee have been waived so these animals can be easily adopted." Basically it's drive to Corsicana and get a free friend. And the Society hopes visitors will chip in on paying for flea treatments for the shelter animals. That dog? Why, that's Bud the Free Poodle, waiting for a family.

IRVING'S GOT A BUNCH: This particular dog, gleaned from shelter walker Russell Posch's nightly report, is Annie the Terrier. Young and 12 pounds, how could such a cute dog wind up on a euthanasia list? But there she is. You can rescue her and many others from the Irving Animal Services Shelter in the 100 block of Briery east of the Rock Island/Belt Line intersection just south of Airport Freeway in Irving. Call the shelter at 972-721-2256 or 972-721-2257. And click HERE to see photos of the "urgent" cats.

SMARTEST THING EVER SEEN IN AN ANIMAL-RELATED E-MAIL: The West Side Animal League, which devotes the bulk of its time to helping animals in the White Settlement Animal Shelter, has issued a call for volunteers (If you want to help, e-mail [email protected].)

The shelter is, by the way, currently overcrowded, we're told.

Among the West Side league's accomplishments, according to the latest note: "We've had 336 dogs adopted, 58 dogs reunited with their families and maintained a 1% euthanasia rate for adoptable dogs.  Only those animals who are so sick or severely injured that they have lost their quality of life or those who pose a safety risk to the general public are considered 'not adoptable'.

Now, that "smartest thing" in an e-mail? When asking for responses regarding volunteering, the writer wrote: "Please reply directly to me, let's avoid those 'reply alls'!"

Can I get an "Amen" from every other rescue group on the planet?

That dog? That's Stan the Man whose family tree includes many breeds. He's a long-timer at the White Settlement Animal Shelter, 209 Bollinger. Call 817-246-1043. Click HERE.

A DEMONSTRATION FOR SHEPP: In Sept. 2008, a dog named Shepp was found starved and wounded and staked out on the end of a chain at a residence in Corpus Christi. He did not survive. There'll be a demonstration in his honor beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday in McCaughan Park in Corpus Christi. A hearing in the case of the two people charged in his death is scheduled for the next day. Details are HERE.) -- that is a link to Shepp's story on the website for the anti-chaining group Dogs Deserve Better.  The pictures are not pleasant. But the mission of Dogs Deserve Better is a good one -- get dogs off chains.

ASSORTED NOTES: Noah's Ark in Gainesville has a bunch of cats that need rescuing. The clock is ticking on them. Click HERE. ...

            --A former co-worker of mine has a daughter who has decided she wants to have a "fancy rat" for a pet. So I got the question, "Do you know of a rattery in Dallas?" I had a quick answer, but it wasn't kind. So, does anyone know of one? I thought there was one downtown. The way things have gone, it seems like there'd be one downtown to handle the outflow from Reunion Arena's demolition, doesn't it? If you know of one, let me know and I'll forward to the lucky mommy.  ...

            -- Another former co-worker, Chef Jeanette of Crosby Coffee & Catering, will be offering vegan dishes from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Summer SolstiCelebration at the Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther Drive, at White Rock Lake. Among those dishes, Vegan-style Nachos, which means they have no dairy or meat products. They're described as "Crunchy tortilla chips covered with Crosby's famous cream 'uncheese sauce,' chopped fresh tomato, diced onion and jalapenos." Look, kids, as a vegetarian I can tell you this, the food Chef Jeanette fixes doesn't require that you pick up a container and try to read the tiny print that includes the ingredients.

            -- Speaking of vegetarians, on Sunday the Vegetarian Network of Dallas will host its regular "Fourth Sunday of the Month Compassionate Lunch" with folks from Concerned Citizens For Jenny. Dining is from noon to 2 p.m. at the Veggie Garden Restaurant, 516 W. Arapaho Road, Suite 112, in Richardson. Jenny, as you may recall is the more well-known of the Dallas Zoo's two elephants (Gypsy, a newcomer, is the other). How did these two groups get together? Margaret Morin is the founder and organizer of both the Vegetarian Network of Dallas and Concerned Citizens For Jenny. (Aside from your daily reporter Larry: Elephants are vegetarians and as long as there's an elephant in town, I am not the largest vegetarian in Dallas.)

DOG DAY AT THE BALLPARK: The Texas Rangers host Dog Day at the Ballpark Sunday -- game time is 7:05 p.m. and the opponents are the San Diego Padres. You cannot walk up and buy Dog Day tickets, according to the Rangers website, so you have to go HERE to pursue tickets for you and your dog to watch a big league baseball game. I am wondering if the heat will hold down the crowd. 

CONTEMPLATIONS: Yep, the Michael Jackson thing knocked me over, too. Didn't see it coming. I once did a musical review in which I wore one work glove covered with sequins -- got a laugh. Thanks, Michael. (I didn't sing, so I know they weren't laughing at that.)  ... The Drudge Report insisted on the headline "The King Is Dead." Sorry, Drudgeans, not the king, the King of Pop (after he signed a big Pepsi contract, if you'll recall, hence King of Pop.). And while he wasn't The King, he was the King's one-time son-in-law. ... Elvis, if you are in town and reading this, please get in touch. Norma's is still selling cheeseburgers in Oak Cliff. After yesterday, almost nothing would surprise a rational person. We've just got to find that rational person.

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Trying to save Blue

ONE OF THE DOGS AT GLEN ROSE: Like most other shelters in North Texas and nearby areas, the Glen Rose Animal Shelter has more animals than it can handle. If there are no adoptions, then there is a euthanasia list and it must be used to make room for the next load of unwanted dogs.

But you'd think this would be a wanted dog.

This distinct girl "Blue" is on that list for tomorrow.  But people with the Shelter to Rescue Group are trying to save Blue. We've gotten several notes today, including one from Kimberly Fairchild of Shelter to Rescue.

Kimberly write, "Blue is a little girl, with crystal blue eyes, currently at risk in the Glen Rose shelter. She's had her 5-way and rabies vaccinations. ... If any rescue could help with this girl, we can help with transport. there are other beautiful dogs there as well that need help. It's a very small shelter and they euthanize when they run out of cages."

The liaison with the shelter is Liz Jeffcoat who also is anxious to help save Blue. If a rescuer, a group rep or just some good soul wants to definitely save this dog, call Liz at 214-616-6128.

The dog's time will be up at some point on Friday.

She weighs about 20 pounds -- a smallish dog with a big visual presence.

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Finding a home for Chelo's Dolly

Many, many people in the rescue community -- and other segments of society, too -- knew Dr. Chelo, Consuelo Murray.

Cancer finally beat her last Saturday. It was a long, tough fight but she kept going throughout -- boosted other folks along the way, too.

We've heard from veteran rescuer Wendy Anderson who says friends have rallied to find places for Dr. Chelo's dogs and this one, Dolly, needs "the perfect home." Dolly, whose hair has grown out since this photo, "has to have Ivomec every three days, needs to be in a home with no children or an older child (like 11 or so who is laid back and not loud) and will need regular grooming." (To ask about helping Dolly, email [email protected].) 

As Wendy wrote, Dr. Chelo "made it to the [Rainbow] Bridge to be with her critters."

Memorials may be made to Straydog Inc., where a couple of her dogs may go. You can visit www.straydog.org and see Dr. Chelo with assorted rescue dogs.

And, please visit our Prayers & Passages page (click the button on the right of this page) to see notes about some friends of Readlarrypowell.com we've lost in recent days. There'll be opportunity for comments below the entries.

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KPost dog day; Tool shelter's aid

If we were in some kind of courtroom situation we'd just stipulate three things around here: (1) It's hot; (2) All shelters and rescue groups are packed full and need help and (3) sweat is not the same as "glisten."

Now we have two things we'll start with: (a) the commercial roofing company KPost has a charitable, open-to-the-public  Take Your Dog To Work Day set up for tomorrow and (b) the Humane Society of Cedar Creek shelter at Tool, Texas, has a lot of friends. We start with the shelter:

IT TAKES A BIG VILLAGE TO HELP A SHELTER: Last Friday, Krista Mc Anally, manager of the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake shelter at Tool, Texas, sent word that circumstances of not enough food and too many animals were threatening dogs at the facility. The euthanasia rate would almost certainly have to be increased. We immediately posted the note, e-mails were blasted around, a local TV station picked up the story. Things fell together.

Krista, who has been busy, since that time, sent us a note today and when I say "us" I mean not just this website but you readers, especially. She writes, "We have had a great response and we are so thankful it goes beyond words for the outpouring of support from the Dallas/FW area.  Approximately 60% of the donations we received came in from the Metroplex. And the DFW Rescue community has helped save 20 dogs. I am taking 3 more to Dallas rescue today.  Since we began receiving donations last Sunday, we have had 27 adoptions out of the shelter.  On an average week, we might have had 3 or 4. We have collected approximately 2 months worth of food. And we expect more this Saturday. Please tell all of your readers how much we appreciate their help and support. And of course we want to thank you for supporting us always.  But your article regarding this situation was a huge help.  A lot of people that came into the shelter said that they saw it on Larry Powell.  Thank you for everything."

Now, you might wonder about the dogs you're helping. This photo is of Chester the Terrier Mix. Yep, lots of mixed breeds, some big, some small. Cats now and then, too. And purebreds. Click HERE  to see more animals and shelter info. Or call 903-432-3422 to offer to help.

THE DOGS HAVE THEIR DAY AT KPOST: Coming up Friday is KPost Commercial Roofing Company's "First Annual Bring Your Dog To Work Day" -- the day is, after all, officially declared nationwide by Petsitters International.

Now, we've talked to Jayne Williams of KPost who is as excited about this as almost anything the company has done -- though I must confess that she was really excited to tell me that KPost is the company that put the roof on the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. So, as you can see, when these people do something, they do it big.

On Friday, they'll host this Bring You Dog To Work thing and it's open to the public. There'll be contests for the company's employees' dogs (owner look-alike, etc.) and the judging will be in the early afternoon. They've planned treats for all visitors -- humans get dog-bone shaped cookies. They're really into this.

And one of the reasons is that they're using this special day to collect donations for the Flower Mound Animal Services Adoption Center. (Jayne has four big ol' shelter dogs and two of them came from the Flower Mound center.)

Among the donations they're seeking (and you can stop by any day this week to donate): large towels, bath mats, small-size dog treats, doggy chew toys, Pedigree Adult Small Bites food, wet dog food, AA batteries and money. The collection boxes are in the KPost office at 1841 W. Northwest Highway -- that's across the street from Mercado Juarez restaurant, if you need a landmark.

You can read about the Flower Mound Animal Services Adoption Center by clicking HERE  and you'll see they have big dogs available, such as Rebel the Rottweiller pictured here. And if you're in the mood for a cat, they've got this one -- the cat's name is Amore, but the photo shows she could easily be Catwoman with the naturally occurring cowl. (I don't know if there's a Take Your Cat To Work Day, but if you're doing that famous Tennessee Williams play, they can probably fix you up with a hot tin roof.)

TODAY'S EARHOUND AND PAL: Veteran rescuer Debbie Farrell provides us with today's earhound and, frankly, this was a "surprise" to her. In fact, her subject line in her e-mail reads "Saturday night surprise."

Here's her story:

"Last Saturday at 8 p.m. these two strolled down my driveway. They were covered in fleas, matted all over, dirty. The little one with the ears ( Schnauzer?, Scottie?) is in heat.  The male may be a poodle?

"Either way,  they are adorable, lost or dumped. 

"I need to find a foster home or, better yet, a home for these two. They will need to be vaccinated, spayed and neutered.."

The boy dog weighs under 10 pounds and the female under 15. And, Debbie theorizes that no doubt they've been, as the old song says, "doing what comes naturally" and there "may be puppies on the way."

To offer to help with this cute pair of Metrowanderers, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-316-6604.

CONTEMPLATIONS: Air-conditioning. Something from the 20th Century that belongs in the 21st. Mercifully, the federal government hasn't figured out a way to make it digital and force us to buy a/c converters. ... Anybody else remember Ed McMahon's live Alpo commercials on the Tonight Show? ... Whoa. Just when you think Texas or Louisiana will reign as owners of the most "colorful" governors, up steps South Carolina's Travelin' Mark Sanford. My favorite part of his statement? When he said he let his staffers down by "creating a fiction." The rest of us just "lie."

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A fire drill cat, a Lee Harvey's dog, a Mesquite trio and other tales...

OK, here we go with a dynamic load of reports. Call it the Wednesday collection. Too late to call it the Tuesday collection. Lots of exceptional opportunities to acquire a friend, reunite some critters with their people and ... well, you'll see:

ONCE UPON A TIME: This surely isn't in the official guidelines: Leave your office for a fire drill and come back with a cat.
That's exactly what happened Monday morning at the office of The Society of Petroleum Engineers in Richardson.

Toni Steger reports, "As employees began returning to the building, we gained a new 'employee.'  She was found in the bushes next to the front doors being as friendly as she can be and has the loudest purr I have ever heard.

" One of our HR managers took her to a vet to see if she is micro chipped.  Fortunately she is chipped!   Unfortunately that is about all we know.  We know is that she was adopted from the McKinney SPCA.  The microchip records did not have an owner's name. We contacted the SPCA but they have no record of who adopted her.  Since our office is adjacent to the Canyon Creek subdivision, we have posted a notice on the Homeowners Association's web site and also with the Richardson Animal Shelter but so far no responses."

When it came to getting a picture, Toni says, "A cat napping pose was the best I could do. When she is a awake, she is one of those types that has to see what you have in your hand so all of the awake shots I got of her were of her nose.

"She is about 10 pounds, short hair and mostly white on her legs and chest and orange tabby on her head and back. She does not like to be picked up but she loves to be petted. She is also declawed.

"If we do not find her owners though, she is not without a home. Our HR Manager has room for her at her home but she is such a sweet and loving kitty that we just know that her family must be missing her very much.  If anything, this can be a lesson for everyone to keep those microchip records up to date."

To claim this cat or to audition to adopt, e-mail [email protected].

 Oh, and for now the HR Manager "is calling her Rhett," Toni writes. "Her other cat looks similar to this one and is named Ashley, so there is a cross-gender, Gone With The Wind theme with the cat's names."

FOUND AT LEE HARVEY'S: For those who don't know, there is a place south of Downtown Dallas and just a block or two east of the Dallas Police Station that is known as Lee Harvey's.

From the outside, it looks like an old house with a fenced yard and a liquor license.

That may be an accurate description. It's the kind of comfortable, funky place to drink, listen to music, philosophize and chat that looks as if it ought to be in Austin. No doubt it is the shame of every misguided soul who wants Dallas to be more "New York" and less Texas.

But the big challenge related to Lee Harvey's this week is not sociological, it is canine. Amanda riley reports that the dog was "found napping in the street" as the bar opened on Sunday afternoon.

On Sundays, Amanda says, Lee Harvey's "closes the gates to the fence surrounding the yard and invites people to bring their dogs up for a huge dogpark-like environment, only with burgers and drinks."

She says, "I just happened to be up there meeting some friends when this dog turned up. She's currently staying with my friend Jeff Smith. He took her to his vet's to check for a microchip and she got a bath and flea treatment there.

"We potentially have a home lined up for her, but since it's only been a couple of days, I really hope we can find her family if she is really just lost. I know I'd be worried sick if she were my dog."

If you know where this dog belongs or if you want to audition to give her a good home,

call 214-454-6872.

A MYSTERY OF LIFE: People have been pitching this dog Corey for adoption since May 21 and still no takers. He's the son of a Chow dad and a Jack Russell mom and is described as the "cutest cuddle-bear ever," by one of his promoters, veteran rescuer Nancy C. Underwood.

Now, if the eyes are the window to the soul, the tongue is the reflection of a dog's heart, though I'm not always certain "You look lickable" is a compliment. That's Corey with the brown beard peeking out beneath his muzzle.

And in the second photo, it is so obvious that if dogs were allowed to be swimsuit models in Vanity Fair, Corey would be the first dog in front of the camera. That's Corey ambling beside a pool.

Nancy says he's under a year old, weighs just 35 pounds, is house-trained, crate-trained and leash-trained. If he can drive a car and paddle a canoe, he's omni-trained.

His story is his mom the terrier gave birth to him and several other pups in a DFW kill shelter. Mom and all pups were adopted, but Corey came back to the shelter when his owners decided, Nancy explains, that the dog was "more trouble than he was worth."

Shelter staffers and volunteers who knew Corey's story made sure he got proper attention and his foster mom took him in. He doesn't bark much, likes to play with his toys and loves to be praised. He also loves to "sit and snuggle."

To offer Corey a proper home, e-mail [email protected].

A VOTE FOR TESSIE: Well, a vote for Tessie would make Sharon Hyde a very happy person. She sent us a note asking for help promoting Tessie, her rescue Border Collie, in the Fox 4 "Pet of the Week" contest. Tessie is a majestic dog -- you can see her photo at the place you can vote HERE. Sharon adopted Tessie through Border Collie Rescue and since then the dog has become a "much loved family member" who competes in agility and loves swimming and boating. "At agility events," Sharon writes, "She has earned many titles and has gone from 'Unwanted to Undaunted'."

(Note to readers: You might asked why we'd mention this contest. Here's why: I'm partial to Border Collies, to rescued dogs, to agility dogs, to the people who love them and I wanted to work that phrase into print for others to see -- "Unwanted to Undaunted." )

TWO SOCIAL EVENTS: Oh, there more this weekend and you can see a lot of the listings in a copy of Urban Animal Magazine. (Hint. Hint. Send your Sept., Oct. and November events to [email protected]  and put EVENTS in the subject line. Keep it short.) You can also see the events at the Urban Animal site, www.urbananimal.us, and click on "Current Events."

-- BEFORE THE BRIDGE AT THE BIKE PLACE: The rescue group, Before The Bridge, will be showing off its adoptable dogs Saturday at Dallas Harley-Davidson's Summer Kickoff Party. The group's president, Marsha Fleming, says that "Before the Bridge will be there from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with several of our adoptable dogs. We'll also bring our photo book so folks can look at the other available dogs." The actual party is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Harley dealership at 1334 W. Centerville Road at LBJ in Garland. (Party details are at the dealership website, www.dallashd.com, and you'll see that one of the featured events is the Ms. Dallas Harley-Davidson Bikini Contest -- pretty sure Donald Trump isn't involved in this pageant.)

            -- PREMIUM POUR FOR PAWS: That's what they're calling the July 19 wine tasting Southlake's Farpointe Cellar is hosting on behalf of the Greyhound Adoption League of Texas. I'm quoting here because I know nothing about wine except that sometimes it's hard to unscrew the tops on those cans. Here's the description of the event:  "Enjoy light hors d’ oeuvres and a flight of Cabernet, Chardonnay, and Merlot specially selected from the acclaimed Seavey Vineyard in Napa, Calif. A surprise Pinot Noir will also be sampled." Anyway, you people who speak glossovino will comprehend it. (Tickets are $50 a person before July 12, $60 at the door. See www.galtx.org  or call 972-503-GALT.) 

SHELTERS: Tipster/rescuer DeDe Whitcombe reports that the Collin County Animal Services Shelter in McKinney is "beyond full." As you may know the SPCA of Texas's McKinney shelter handles adoptions from this shelter, but the shelter works with rescue groups to get adoptable animals to safety. It's apparently time to do some sincere juggling, shuffling and praying. Among the dogs on the current euthanasia list is this young yellow Lab. The photo sort of has an appropriate dark tone for the topic, doesn't it? You can read about the shelter and see its animals by clicking HERE. I don't know, however, if they're putting new animals up as quickly as they're having to put the old animals down. None of these shelter people is built to endure such a relentless tragedy and they are trying to get word out to help them save lives.

In all my years of reporting, that's the consistent attitude I've found in shelters. Arlington, Fort Worth, Ferris, Little Elm, Dallas, Texarkana, Houston, Burns Flat, Okla.... pick a town, pick a shelter.  These days they're full and personnel are being emotionally battered by circumstances beyond their control. 

For example, our Burns Flat tipster Terry Lynn Fisher has a pal in Purcell, Okla., who is trying to save this big boy Buck. He's a Doberman/Greyhound mix (maybe, they say) and he's trying to beat the odds at Purcell. He was all vetted up and ready to go when his adoption fell through. A victim of mistreatment prior to being put in the shelter, he's now finding himself a little kennel-nutsy. Terry Lynn's friend says the odds aren't good for this dog, but she's reaching out where ever she can to find help for this fellow. She says, "He is a different dog when he is outside his kennel and I just want him to have half a chance at happiness." And she wrote to Terry Lynn, "I will give him to either an individual or a rescue if you can try to work some of your magic for him..." So, to ask about helping this dog you can e-mail [email protected] or you can e-mail Terry Lynn at [email protected] or call her at 580-330-1459.

THE MESQUITE TRIO: Denise Victor has been e-mailing all over the place looking for help with three dogs she picked up in Mesquite during the weekend. "They were running together, possibly living together at some point," she writes.

They did not appear to have been "street dogs" for very long.

She writes, "If anyone would be interested in fostering until we can determine we can't find their owners I would be grateful. If you're looking for a new family member please think about these guys. They are very comfortable with each other but still not sure how they came to be together. The beagle may a bit sight impaired as he has film over both eyes. The pictures don't do the small black one justice. He's an angel, very cute. All have great temperaments."

Right now, Denise says, the animals are "at Mesquite Animal Shelter in hopes the owner locates them. As of yesterday afternoon no luck." She says they're being held through today in case the owner does show up, then they'll be available for adoption beginning tomorrow."

Mesquite has a very short adoption period, so the dogs are on the clock and it's moving rapidly. Denise says she is "hoping I can buy them some time."

Click  HERE for Mesquite Animal Shelter information. Or for info about the dogs e-mail [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS: True or false? The lateness of the hour is a great excuse for many things. ... Martha spotted this story about more people giving their animals non-critter names than are giving them traditional critter names. Click HERE.  We have traditional animal names at our house. Larry and Martha, for example.  My middle initial is "R" as in "Rrrrrrruff" and her maiden name is Muse. ... How much longer is it going to take American TV viewers to get fed up with "reality" TV? Geez, aren't you sick of all these artificially aggravated crises? Whatever happened to grace and dignity? Oh, yeah, they don't sell. I think I blame PBS -- anybody else remember the groundbreaking 1973 series An American Family? Lance Proud? Delilah Proud? Ah, you should have seen TV back then. It wasn't ALL racket.

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