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Opportunities and observations...

Holy smokin’ calendar pages. Last day of March. Staggeringly swift year so far. If we don’t slow down and enjoy the days, why, by the time I get to the end of today’s report, you’ll be hanging Christmas lights.

So, to adjust your life to a reasonable pace, we recommend these three things: (1) Sit in a recliner and pet a dog or cat or both; (2) Plan a vacation for the end of August (you’ll feel like it’ll never get here) or (3) exercise – nothing makes a day longer than exercising against your will.

Now, let’s move on:

A BREAK ON THE HEARTWORM TREATMENTS: This could turn out to be a significant life-saving development. Dallas Animal Advocates has established a program to help rescue groups pay for heartworm treatments.

The hope is, according to the Advocates, that with this financial aid, more rescue groups will be able to pull more heartworm-positive dogs out of the Dallas Animal Shelter. There’s a maximum of $200 per dog and funds are limited.

Here’s the key paragraph from the website: “Dallas Animal Advocates wants to help. In order to defray these medical costs and offer the opportunity for more highly adoptable but heartworm positive dogs to be rescued from Dallas Animal Services, we offer a large percentage of the treatment costs to groups that pull these heartworm-positive dogs into their rescue programs. (The amount will differ based on the dog's size and type of treatment.)”

You can read about the program HERE.

THE REYNOLDS’ DOGS:  We’ve been monitoring this situation for a couple of months now. The background is Teri Reynolds’ husband, Tom, is caught up in a battle with a mean problem, liver cancer, and they’ve been trying to find places for their dogs.

The two big boys, Teri says, have been “placed with a lady in Blue Ridge. I have the option to see them and get them back when we are able to.”

The challenge now is finding a place for the two girls, Brae, the Border Collie mix, and Sassie, the Rottie. “I need the same thing for them and want them to stay together. ... I have had them since they were tiny, tiny.” (To offer to help, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-457-0128 (cell) or 214-812-9247.)

Teri says that her husband Tom was taken off the transplant list last Friday because “his tumor markers have doubled in the last six weeks since they took him off the chemo.” Teri and Tom are now going to Arizona to discuss a transplant with a medical center that “specializes in high-risk transplants,” she says.

The fight is tough, but they are determined.

AND IN GAINESVILLE: Today’s Earhound barely has enough “ear” to qualify, but sometimes it’s the way the ears are used that earn the title. Take, for example, this little Yorkie/Pomeranian mix Max.

He’s among the critters awaiting a home at the Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter in Gainesville, north of Dallas right up there next to the Red River.

As you can tell from his photos, Max has an expressive face. He also has expressive ears -- they're nuanced, one might say.  He’s tiny, crate-trained and loves kids and cats.

And, he’s got a great coat. Some might say he has a “lion-like pompadour” but, frankly, when I first saw that profile of little Max, I was moved to recite a line from the great Warren Zevon’s hit, Werewolves of London: “I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic’s; his hair was perfect.”

Now, they don’t all have movie star hair at Noah’s Ark, but they do have magnetic appeal.

Consider this cattle dog, Buckjack.

He’s about 5 months old. Why is he in the shelter? The official report: “Someone just abandoned this poor baby at the shelter after hours leaving him no chance. “

Of course, he gets along with other critters – you can see that puppy peeking over his left shoulder.

To ask about adopting any animal at Noah’s Ark, e-mail [email protected] or call 940-665-9800. See the inventory by clicking HERE.

PRAYERS & PASSAGES: On our Prayers & Passages page today we have a magnificent tribute to a great big ol’ dawg, the fabulous Bouncer who was both a friend and a father-figure. Click on the Prayers & Passages “button” in the upper right corner of this page.

ISN’T IT ALWAYS SOMETHING: Oh, for crying out loud. Here’s yet another story of canine adventure from our reliable tipster and longtime rescuer Debbie Farrell who got this info from Candice Brekke, the wife of a coworker.

This dog’s name is Little Bit and he’s about 2.

Debbie says, “One of her [Candice’s] students mentioned they went out of town for the week of spring break. Candice knew they had a puppy so she asked who kept him. She replied that they just left him outside on the patio. They live on the 2nd floor. From what Candice could find out the pup did not have shelter and no food and water to last a whole week. She offered to take the dog and they gave him up without a fuss.  Thank God!

“...They are hoping to find a group or a home for him. He hasn't been to the vet yet so we don't know if he is heartworm negative and they can put some money toward his vetting. They are hoping a group could get him into one of their vets for a discount. He is staying at a friend’s and can stay there until he finds a home so a foster isn't necessary.”

To ask about helping Little Bit (and giving him a place to stay other than a second-story balcony, email [email protected].

(ASIDE: What are the dangers of leaving a dog on a balcony? Raptors, bugs, meaner people, might slip through the railing, dehydration, terror, violent weather – and that’s just what ought to happen to the people who leave a dog on the balcony. Oh, I left off “two-by-four brain adjustment.”  OK, I need to seek forgiveness for ugly thoughts about idiot people. Somebody help me off this soapbox before I need to hunt down my insurance card.)

COOL CASH FOR OPERATION KINDNESS: Maybe you saw this on the TV news, but it’s still worth repeating in print. The kids at the Dealey International Academy of Dallas participated in the Common Cents: Pennies from the Heart Program and collected $1,078.25, all of which they donated earlier this week to Operation Kindness, the no-kill shelter in Carrollton.

To raise the money, the students held bake sales, car washes, garage sales, etc.

According to Operation Kindness, the money will be used to help spay and neuter animals and vaccinate them in anticipation of adoption. You can read about Operation Kindness at www.operationkindness.org.

Among the critters who may benefit from this donation is this black and white female kitty, Naya, who is 4 years old, very adoptable and blessed with half-a-moustache and a full set of whiskers.

A GARAGE SALE OPPORTUNITY: Cathie Desell, who organizes periodic garage sales to benefit the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary at Boyd, says the spring sale has been postponed but there are some items in the inventory that she’d be “glad to donate to another animal rescue group” if anyone is having a sale in the next month or so. “It is nothing exciting but everything is ‘decent’ and already priced and will bring in a few dollars,” she says. To ask about getting this booster shot for your group’s garage sale, e-mail [email protected].

COOKING AT THE MOUNTAIN: People who go to Canton for the flea market experience know about the Old Mill Marketplace and The Mountain. Those entities are hosting an Easter egg hunt and the 11^th annual ASI Chili Cookoff Saturday in the Old Mill Marketplace Complex in Canton, an hour or so east of Dallas. Read all about it (time, place, other details) HERE.

According to the Citizens League For Animal Welfare (CLAW), “Entry fees, as well as all raffle, auction, and sales money goes to CLAW, so whether you enter, buy an auction item, or taste all the chili....you will be donating to a good cause.”

CONTEMPLATIONS:  Our wisteria is blooming. Years of neglect and an odd invasive vine have taken a toll on the robust nature of the wisteria, but, still, the cascades of blossoms are providing a wonderful front yard fragrance these days. ... This morning I woke before Baby Jane Doe could shriek the household awake. It’s like I beat the dog at the game – though she has had no trouble going back to sleep. Of course, I had to rise at 4:38 a.m. to beat her at her game. Then I did some laundry and – well, she snoozed on. Baby Jane is no help with laundry. ... And this brings us back to our opening paragraph. Make the day longer by rising earlier, doing laundry and taking great pleasure in seeing your neighborhood greet the sunrise.  And take an afternoon nap or you’ll go nuts. Insomnia, the obsessive/compulsive’s best friend.

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Available dogs; a flying cat...

We’re convinced today that the world is a beautiful place no matter how much pollen fills the atmosphere in our part of Texas.

And now, our daily report:

MIXES AND PUREBREDS: It’s no surprise to anyone who has spent a dime’s worth of time at a shelter that the cages on death row hold not just the ol’ basic mutts and odd cats, but purebreds, too. And, there are purebreds who find themselves living in backyards, neglected and unloved, just like the big ol’ dawgs nobody ever wanted in the first place.  Mercifully, there are people who will step up and try to save these down-on-their-luck critters.

And that brings us to two dogs currently in the care of Companion Animal Network. We get their stories from Gail Whelan of CAN.

We’ll cite the purebred first. That’s a Shar Pei, once a very rare dog in the United States, so rare that the 1983 Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog offered two of them as His ‘n’ Her gifts -- $2,000 each. Nowadays, you find the dogs wandering the streets, dead in shelters, dying in backyards.

And this is one that was, according to Gail’s note, “horribly neglected and left outside.” The dog, under 2 years old, is ready for a foster home or a good home and is “very sweet and laid back.” He’s also unfixed and heartworm positive, but CAN will take care of those two situations.

As for that hound mix, that’s 5-year-old Roxanne, a 45-pound hound mix who “doesn’t bark or bay” and is “fully vetted, housetrained, calm, loyal and loving.”

Ah, but there’s more to the story. Gail explains, “She was adopted almost 3 years ago from our organization.  Her owner has now had a ‘change of lifestyle’ (read:  new boyfriend) and no longer wants her.”

Gail says, “The new boyfriend actually told me I needed a reality check -- that people have lifestyle changes all the time.

“This is a GREAT dog!  She was her running companion and loyal friend.   Five years of age is nothing for a dog.  That translates to about 35 years of age for a human.  I doubt anyone 35 thinks of themselves as old or lacking in worth!...

“She is so sad at my house.  She doesn't understand what happened to her home.  She still loves to run with you.  She is playful and sweet - but is also calm and laid back.  She deserves so much better than this. “

To offer to help either of these dogs, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-663-4710.

To offer to help change someone’s attitude about “lifestyle,” well, there is spay and neuter but I’m not sure it’s legal in this case.

ROSES AND BOXERS: The Legacy Boxer Rescue fundraiser “Roses for Rescue” is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Starbucks, at 2104Airport Freeway (183 at Central Drive) in Bedford. Read more about this rose plant sale at www.savetheboxers.com.

PRAYERS & PASSAGES: Click on our Prayers & Passages page to get an update about Sadi, the dog fighting lymphoma.

MILITARY MAN NEEDS HOMES FOR ANIMALS: Carol Whatley of the Van Zandt County Humane Society sent out a note on behalf of Greg Babb who is in the military is soon leaving for duty in South Korea and, perhaps, other places.

He has a boxer and a dachshund who need a home. He writes, “The Boxer is about 6 years old, house-broken and is as sweet as they come.  She is the one who tells the other dogs as well as me that it's time to eat.  My lap dog is about 12 and she still runs  with the big dogs as long as she still gets her nap.  Both are spayed and in need of good homes.
Call him at 214-528-0860 or e-mail [email protected]. Or e-mail Carol at [email protected] or call 903-479-4040.

A BLESSING AND A CALENDAR: Two notes from Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake, the rescue group that operates the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic in Gun Barrel City, Texas.

First, for your calendar, the Blessing of the Animals is scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon April 17 in Sweet Peas on the square in Athens. Presiding over the blessing will be Pastor Kathy Bowser of Celebration on the Lake Church. Each blessed animal gets a certificate and homemade doggie treats. Dogs on leashes, cats in carriers, of course.

Second, it’s only the end of March, but Friends of the Animals is preparing for its 2011 Pampered Pets of Cedar Creek Lake calendar. There’ll be a supporter dog page and supporter cat page for photos at $40 each. Space goes quickly. To ask about reserving a spot on the calendar, call 903-451-4701 or e-mail  [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS: People are bent out of shape over singer Eryka Badu stripping down in the street in front of God, the Grassy Knoll and everybody else. Does seem to show a lack of respect for other people in order to commit a selfish artistic act. But, this isn’t the first time someone’s gotten naked at Dealey Plaza, is it? Yes, that person knows who I am talking about. ... It’s a crazy world. It’s a funny world. It’s a world that, generally, needs clothing. ... This morning I noticed two dogs sitting at the patio room door and looking into the cat area intently. I looked into the room in time to see our giant orange and white cat Griffin (that's him in his natural big state) flying through the air about four impossible feet off the ground with one big-clawed paw in “swat” position and eyes as big as saucers.  Inexplicably, a small, brown, long-billed bird was in the room and Griffin was using all of his feline skills to try to correct this situation the old-fashioned way. I quickly slid open the door which let three dogs and another cat in to join in the pursuit. I was determined to beat the animals to the bird. Fortunately, the tiny bird lit and before anything awful could happen, I slapped a golf cap down over the bird and gently lifted it, took it outside and set it free. The bird admires me, but Griffin keeps sitting next to my desk and glaring. I think I’m safe. But he’s already surprised me once today by launching himself into the air  oooof!. THIS IS GRIFFIN. I HAVE KNOCKED THE FAT MAN OVER AND TAKEN CONTROL OF HIS COMPUTER. MY SIDE OF THE STORY IS I WAS TRYING TO RESCUE THE BIRD. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO KNOW, TALK TO MY LAWYER. MEANWHILE, I’M GOING TO GO SNACK.

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As the world turns and wobbles...

As crises swathe the world and everybody looks for a brighter Monday, we have a good news story and some other things to report.

For me this Monday, good news is a great thing to start with.

THE FLYERS WORK: Over the weekend we’d gotten an e-mail about the Pie situation.

As longtime readers know, we’re partial to pie at Readlarrypowell.com, so when we saw that a dog named “Pie” was missing, we were immediately concerned.

Time to relax, fortunately.

Pie is back with his human. “This dog is the air that I breathe,” says Elise Flanders. She and Pie live in Simonton, Texas, west of Houston.

She was visiting her sister in Arlington and, while they drove into Dallas to the Farmer’s Market, Pie was placed in the backyard. But Pie, a 100-pound Boerboel (that’s a South African Mastiff) just doesn’t do backyards and vanished.

Flyers were handed out, doors knocked on, people put on alert and, sure enough, someone had seen the big dog wandering and called the number on the flyer.

Yep, just like our late pal Joe Cranford of now-defunct Find-a-Pet preached: Paper the town with flyers. You’ve got to let people know that you need help.

PRAYERS AND PASSAGES: We have two passages from one household on our Prayers and Passages page today. Gizmo the Cat and Dylan the Dog -- two beloved friends of DeDe Whitcombe, the veteran rescuers. Click on our Prayers & Passages Page to read about these friends.

REPORT FROM BURNS FLAT: Oh, boy, Terry Lynn Fisher has another one to talk about in Burns Flat, Okla.  Her latest report begins, “I got back to town from taking 5 pound dogs towards New Mexico, and as soon as I got into town, I received a call from a friend. She works at a store in Elk City and this poor little girl was dumped about 4 days ago. She has fought the traffic and people kicking at her as she was trying to get into a car to go ‘home’ with someone... “ So, here she is, in jail in Burns Flat. But at least she is off the street. “She appears to be about 1 to 2 years old. and possible pregnant -- yes, I am dumb enough NOT to know for sure. Shes’ a VERY sweet and loving girl; she just loves being cuddled and loved.” The dog also has what appears to be an 8-inch-long wound on her back. “I really do not know what happened to her back, but it is old, and already scabbed over, but it looks awful, poor thing.” The 10 pound dog needs a home. To help her find one, e-mail [email protected] or call 580-330-1459. SHELTER CRITTERS: Dallas has a lot of animals. Little Elm is overloaded. Pick a town, it’s got more shelter animals than it needs. We’ll use these animal as representative of all shelters – you can probably find similar stories in every shelter. The big cat is Hercules – what else, right? He’s at the Carrollton Animal Services shelter. Came in as a stray. The official bio reads, “This ol’ boy looks like he has been around the block a few times and has the bumps and scars to show for it. He is a handsome boy who is friendly and a bit shy at times. He likes to have his ears rubbed and will offer a slight, almost bird-like ‘meow’ for the effort.” The dog is Panda.  He’s an “owner-release” because he just couldn’t be kept in the yard. He’s 3 years old, weights about 60  pounds and enjoys leaving his yard. He wasn’t neutered which contributed to his wandering ways – and, no doubt, so did nearby females who weren’t spayed. Panda and Hercules are both among the Carrollton animals on the clock for a Wednesday date with the needle. To offer to save the lives of any animal in the Carrollton shelter, call 972-466-3420 or e-mail [email protected]. ANIMAL CONTROL SITUATIONS: --Tipster Sarah Hays spotted this note about training for animal control officers in Texas. “If you're still trying to help get some training for those animal control officers who couldn't get it from their municipalities due to budget reasons, please send them this link: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/region1/documents/dshshrs1-zoo-Jan-Feb2010.pdf.  That's from Region 1, but Region 2/3 will have a similar connection. The main website is www.texasaco.org.” --And, we’re getting e-mails regarding the way the tiny animal shelter is being run in Ferris. You may recall the city dumped its animal control officer Misty Clark in a big flap – she’d been working to get animals adopted rather than euthanized. Now, word is the shelter is overcrowded and animals aren’t getting proper attention. Stay tuned. CONTEMPLATIONS:  For years I worked with a nice Microsoft Word program that was easy to handle and easy to fix when you suffered from a self-inflicted error. Now I’m saddled with a version of Microsoft Word that has “table tools” in the menus and inexplicably they sometimes activate and I can’t stop them. They turn text into a table. Why, I don’t know. I hate to sound harsh, but, yes, I’d kill the table tools if I could. Every now and then it would be great if a computer outfit actually improved something rather than enhancing it. ... Life’s good. But it’s puzzling. Debate that.  ... Made a trip to Texarkana this weekend on I-30. That highway rides like they paved it during an earthquake. --- To comment, click below. ---

Don't let the snoozing fool you...

We’re turning to the staff at Readlarrypowell.com today for a sleeper.

Trust me, there is a certain joy when we discover that Porche has worn down and become a prime subject for our weekend feature, “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.” Porche will let sleeping dogs lie – sometimes -- but she displays a great and vigorous curiosity about napping cats and the cats aren’t all that happy about it.

And, frankly, we’re not sure what is “wrong” with this dog – we call her the Eerie Clown Dog. She looks like she belongs on stage with a weeping clown in a late 19^th Century Italian opera.  Her name is Porche because she showed up on our front porch to eat the feral cats’ food on a cold winter day. She has more odd behavior than a truckload of distant relatives who heard you just won the lottery.

The camera caught her sleeping to the left, then sleeping to the right, in one of our ol' rattie dog chairs (since retired from all usage). Then, finally, we snapped her waking up not with bed hair but with bed ear. It’s one of those “Hey, what are you doing?” pictures.

(To nominate your slumbering critter for our weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send photos and info to [email protected]. Remember, we entertain breed specific pictures. And we’ll take mutts, mogs and mixes, too. And reptiles and relatives. Nobody’s too good to sleep on our page.)

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The world rolls on...

The world continues to turn. We might as well go along with it.

Here’s our Friday report and our hope that you enjoy the entire weekend no matter how early you start it.

THE BIG EVENT IN IRVING:  Oh, my, the partners -- City of Irving and D/FW Humane Society -- are scheduled to open the city’s new “animal campus” on Saturday. The official opening is from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the new facility at 4140 Valley View Lane on the north side of town.

In addition to the dignitaries and critters who’ll show up, the special guest star of the grand opening is animal lover, musician and writer Kinky Friedman – he’s basically a Texas folk hero to many primarily because of his involvement with Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch.

Details of the grand opening are HERE and you can see some of the animals at the shelter HERE.

Among the available critters is this cat Baxter. Obviously, he looks as if he is prepared to make a speech on the momentous occasion.

MAKING THE ROUNDS: Lots of e-mails whizzing about with a reference to a St. Louis Better Business Bureau study of the burden of puppy mills in Missouri. You can read it HERE. Lots of different Google-able stories on the topic of “Missouri puppy mills” so take time to take a look. Then, if you’re in Texas, be sure to check out the Texas Humane Legislation Network site at www.thln.org and read about how you can help influence the Legislature to force irresponsible and cruel breeders out of business. (FYI: Pay no attention to the way “representative” is spelled on the THLN website. Heck, who hasn’t left a “t” out of a word now and then. I mention this because I’ve got a lifelong collection of mistspelled words in my glass house.)

AND IN DALLAS: Whoa, there are a whole bunch of animals available to take home from the Dallas Animal Services Adoption Center. Heck, Dallas is a big city and when you have a big city, you have big jerks who let fertile and randy animals roam and romp. And you have people who move from place to place and either dump their critters or “set them free” in parks and yards and alleys.

So, yes, dogs and cats in Dallas often wind up as temporary guests of the city. They’re locked up just like scofflaws and criminals only the scofflaws and criminals have a better chance at making bail.

Still, people can drop by the adoption center at I-30 and Westmoreland and pick up a new friend.

Among those this week are these two dogs. 

I picked these two to highlight because they seemed to have “human” qualities in their pictures. Sasha is the Pointer mix whose picture looks as if the caption should read “Promoted to new position at local bank.” Is that a corporately somber mugshot or what!

And that other dog – whew, that is the Springer Spaniel mix Minnie who is, so very obviously, in the public relations field. She’s got that “I’m so happy to see you” look expressed by people who really enjoy their jobs and their lives. Be a shame for all that good will to wind up unused and jus t a statistic at a shelter.

To save these two dogs or any of the Dallas animals contact the shelter – to see more of the City of Dallas animals online go to www.dallasanimalservices.org. That site has all the info you’ll need.

THERE’S LEGAL, BUT THEN THERE’S RIGHT:  Back on March 2, the Van ZandtCounty Sheriff’s Department and the SPCA of Texas took over care of 63 starving longhorns and three donkeys seized from a rural property. In court yesterday in Canton, the state and the defendant Jim Clair reached an agreement that the owner would get the animals back and be subject to monitoring by the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Department.

There was an error at some point.

According to a press release from the SPCA of Texas, “The SPCA of Texas, which was acting under the authority of the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Department, was not a party to this agreement.The agreement was reached once a motion was filed by the defense attorney regarding a procedural error on the part of the DA's office.”

So, a technicality results in returning animals to a property where they had been declared to be at peril. The animals, who had been malnourished (some dead animals were found on the property), have been nursed back to health at the SPCA’s McKinney facility and are now back in the custody of the guy who had them when they were in bad shape. The SPCA, because of the court ruling, will not be reimbursed for its expense in caring for the ailing animals.

CONTEMPLATIONS: Any normal guys out there watching this Sandra Bullock/Jesse James thing? She’s always fun on talk shows, entertaining in films and she has links to Austin and this whole deal with her husband makes an otherwise sane man want to grab the guy and go irate big brother all over his sorry backside. How can anybody betray America’s sweetheart? Crazy world these days. ... The U.S. Postal Service wants to stop delivering mail on Saturdays. OK, but only under these conditions: (1) Bring back the olive drab mailboxes and put them on every corner like they used to be when “service” was part of the postal deal. (2) Sell stamps from machines at post offices. Did you know there are post offices without stamp machines? That means if you want to buy stamps, you have to get in the snake line with everyone who is picking up certified mail, buying money orders or sending cookies to a relative in prison. If you go into a post office after hours, you can’t buy stamps. For crying out loud, consumers are part of any successful business equation not just an annoyance, right? ... I’m stealing this from a friend of mine who agrees that there are some totally dumb things said and done in this country: “I wish we could export our stupid. If there was a world demand, we’d all live like Saudi princes.”

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Helping & a farewell to Irving...

Every bloomin’ day, every blasted day, every cotton-pickin’ day Readlarrypowell.com gets a load of cries for help from shelters and rescue groups and just plain folks who either need help with an animal or are trying to find help for an animal.

It’s relentless and that would be overwhelmingly sad except for one thing – the help is relentless, too.

So, here we go with our Thursday report and you’ll see opportunities to help and, now and then, a case of someone who has been helped.

And, in contemplations, we’ll also mention a little fellow named Irving who once turned an entire city on a dime. Read on:

THE MYSTERY OF RAZZLE’S TAGS: Cheri Fultz, veteran rescuer, sent a note asking for advice regarding the disappearance of Razzle, a 4-year-old, 10-pound male Pomeranian, from the Southmark Drive area of Frisco two weeks ago.

There’s a bit of a mystery.

Cheri is with Recycled Poms and Schipperkes.

Here’s the story. Maybe someone in the Readership has an idea that will help reclaim Razzle. Cheri writes:

“Razzle was adopted by someone who ended up losing him when he ran out the front door.

 “Razzle was found by some guy in Frisco. He took Razzle's tags off of him and put them on a Pug.  He sold the Pug (at a Gaston flea market [in East Dallas]) and told the buyer that the pug was fully vetted. The new owner called our vet to get the records for her Pug and was told that those tags belonged to Razzle. 

 “Our vet called us and gave us the scoop. We went to the Gaston flea market where the Pug was purchased to inquire about Razzle. We did not tell them we were the owners.  I asked for a red male Pom and the gal there said they had one. She took my number and said she would call me.  She has not called me back and it's been several days.

 “I've asked the adopter to put up signs offering a $100 reward for Razzle.  I am hoping that the guy that has him will return him for a fee since he is asking $100 for Razzle. 

“I am worried.  This man is very unethical because he took Razzle's tags right off of him.  So if Razzle gets loose again, he will have no identification.”

Cheri also says that a woman at the pet area within the flea market “said her friend had a Pom for sale. She described Razzle perfectly. Her friend lives in the neighborhood where Razzle was lost. The tags on the Pug are what sent us there. The guy sold the Pug with Razzle's tags on the dog. He told the buyer that the Pug was up-to-date on his shots. He was lying. The tags belonged to Razzle.  As far as I know, Razzle is still with this guy and he is trying to sell him.”

If you know Razzle’s whereabouts or the person who has Razzle, e-mail [email protected].

HELPING A SOLDIER: We got a note yesterday from Kevin Blake, a soldier who is trying to find a “reliable long-term pet foster for my two cats and Shih Tzu. I am looking at being able to get them moved back in with me around August or September. Do you know of any services or have any advice.”

Kevin is in the Army. He says he is “relocating to Alabama for a short time before being based oversea. I work with the Patriot Missile Systems and E.O.D. (Explosive Ordinance Disposal).” To help Kevin find a spot for his critters, call 817-233-7303 or e-mail [email protected].

MOLLY GETS A PLACE: Yesterday we reported that Joe Skenesky of the Carrollton Animal Services shelter was trying to help a man down on his luck find a place to keep his pit bull Molly so she would not be at peril.

Here’s the result in a note from Joe:

“I wanted to thank everyone for all the help with Molly, she has been picked up and taken to Paw Paw's House in North Arlington which has offered to board her until her person gets back on his feet....Just when he thought there was no hope the rescues of DFW came together and gave him and her hope for a future together.”

This is a photo of Ronald Holder and his senior pit girl Molly. Things are looking up for both of them, Joe says.

He adds, “I have to tell you this whole thing made my day between the support of the community and the gratitude of Mr. Holder, It is days like this that remind me as to why I stay in this field. Tonight I will sleep a bit better knowing for at least one man and one dog the world will be a better place.”

There are still animals left in the Carrollton shelter. You can see some of them HERE.

TABBY’S AVAILABLE: Deborah Howe is looking for a home for a rescued dog. Now.

“This is Tabitha (Tabby) and she is a small terrier mix that I need to find a home or foster home for by this weekend. My husband rescued her from a bad home situation on the spur of the moment where she was in fear and worse. We have had her for 4 days now and she is very sweet- natured with adults. Don't know how she does around kids. She is house-trained and crate-trained. Tabby is approximately 2 years old, weighs about 8 pounds and appears healthy.

“She does not do well around other dogs. I think she may be best being the only dog unless someone has the time and patience to work with her and help her accept another dog around her. We have 3 dogs, all of them larger than her from German Shepherd to Aussie, and she does not get along with them. Our home is a little crazy with this situation hence my plea for help.  ... I will have to do something.” To offer to help with Tabby, call 817-933-4307 or e-mail [email protected].

A WACO CAT: We got the tip on this Waco cat via Houston tipster Alexandra Kelsey.

The cat is Simon, described as a “sweet Siamese mix.” He’s #A09592535 at the Waco Humane Society.

Amy Oakley writes, “We have a gorgeous, affectionate Siamese mix named Simon. He is a staff favorite (mine included!) but he is just not doing well in the shelter environment. He’s been here since Feb. 10, and we cannot believe this gorgeous kitty is still here, But he is. We need to get him out of here ASAP – either adopted or into a foster home. We are pretty sure he’ll perk up as soon as he’s not having to deal with the stresses of shelter life, which can be hard on a cat.

“He’s only a couple of years old and loves to lounge, play with feather toys and receive affection. If you can foster him for a couple of weeks, we promote him as PET OF THE WEEK and aggressively look for him a home on PetFinder. Our foster program, which provides temporary homes for shelter pets, includes medicine, vet care as needed, and can also provide food and supplies to get started.”

To offer to help Simon, call Fallon or Amy at 254-754-1454 or email Fallon at [email protected].

PUPPY SEASON? Holy smoke. Holy fertile smoke. This plea for help came from Sulphur Springs Animal Control Officer Denise Stinson yesterday. She hustles to keep the dogs and cats from facing a sad fate in the city shelter – now a gassing shelter, but converting to a more humane system in the near future, we’re told.

These nine pups are just over two months old. They are Lab/Border Collie mixes and there are four girls and five boys. “They are very sweet and just babies,” Denise writes, noting that “the shelter is filling up.”

To help these pups or any animal in the Sulphur Springs shelter, call 903-348-3122 or e-mail Denise at [email protected].  

Sulphur Springs is about two hours east of Dallas on I-30.

COURT REPORTS:

--Yesterday in Quinlan, the Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Hershey Barnett OK’d a deal in which Ralph Schreck, owner of property where 65 dogs and a cat confiscated in a raid last week, signed them over to the SPCA of Texas. The agreement with the Hunt County District Attorney and the court says that Mr. Schreck agrees to “not have any animals, intentionally or knowingly, on his property overnight nor may he run a shelter or rescue, directly or indirectly, for one year.” You can read more about the situation and see photos at www.spca.org. He may still face criminal charges, the SPCA says.

-- In Gun Barrel City, the court date for Tina Hamilton of Happy Tails rescue, accused of keeping an unlawful number of animals on her property (one too many), has been postponed. You can get the story by going to journalist David W. Webb’s site http://therarereporter.blogspot.com. This appears to be a situation of a small town not wanting a do-gooder in the city limits.

EVENTS FOR PEOPLE AND ANIMALS:

--In a recent edition of Urban Animal magazine we wrote about North Dallas Dog Rescue and Sara Shepperd and her foster son, Charlie Frasier, a strapping youth who loved hockey and animals. He was co-founder of the rescue group. Then, astoundingly, Charlie died of natural causes in January.  But his drive to help animals and his love of hockey both live on – this weekend the Allen Americans professional hockey team hosts Pucks and Paws hockey night in honor of Charlie and the rescue group. The Americans’ Central Hockey League playoff match against the Laredo Bucks is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Allen Event Center. Special tickets are available for supporters of North Dallas Dog Rescue. Get all the details in Rebecca Polings’ report on the Examiner site HERE.  Check out the Americans online HERE.

-- This is the week for Easter photos in Arlington in honor of pit bulls. Click on the artwork to make it larger and get all the details. Photo sessions are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Arlington Animal Services shelter at 1000 SE Green Oaks Blvd. This event is sponsored by Respect-a-Bull Inc. and proceeds from the $5 photos go to helping spay/neuter pits.

-- The first Pooches on the Parkway is scheduled Saturday at the Village on the Parkway at Belt Line and the Dallas North Tollway. It’s a gathering of animal fans and rescue groups and vendors. Hours are from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday.

-- The Henderson County Humane Society will offer critters for adoption from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Athens Organic Supply Spring Festival at 3730 Highway 31 East in Athens.  See the inventory of adoptables at http://www.hchstx.com.

-- The Vegetarian Network of Dallas’ regular Fourth Sunday of the Month Compassionate, Animal Friendly Lunch is from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Veggie Garden Restaurant, 516 W. Arapaho in Richardson.  According to the news release from Margaret Morin, “You don’t have to be a vegetarian to enjoy good company, animal-friendly conversation and an all-you-can-eat delicious oriental buffet.” No doubt the topics will include the Dallas Zoo’s new Giants of the Savanna Exhibit and Jenny the Elephant.  And, beyond politics, the Network also helps supply animal food to area food banks. To ask about helping with that or to ask about the Vegetarian Network e-mail [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS: Our thoughts today are aimed at a little fellow named Irving who changed the way a city animal shelter does business. We first met this little dog in 2006 (and wrote about his plight several times) when he was an emaciated shelter inhabitant and he was afflicted with pain from bladder stones and just not in a very good spot.

We got the note yesterday about the death of Irving from Vicki Furstenberg who works with the group that joined the fight with the City of Irving to save dog.

She wrote, “I wanted to let you know that "Irving", the little dog with the ‘Bark Heard ‘Round the World’ has passed away due to advanced liver disease. His devoted Mom, Jane McDonald, myself, and a friend, Phil were by his side as he crossed over The Bridge. We hugged him, kissed him, talked to him, and prayed over him until he took his last breath.

“When Small Paws Rescue got him from the Irving shelter 3 1/2 years ago he was at death's door even though the vet at the shelter deemed him healthy and adoptable. No need to rehash that nightmare because I can go on and on about it ... It's ironic that Irving passed away days before the new Irving shelter opens. Irving's legacy will live on for years. Godspeed, sweet Irving. You are truly missed.”

We’ve posted a tribute to Irving the Bichon on our Prayers & Passages page. Click on the button on the upper right corner of this page.

And, as you negotiate the events of your day, contemplate how one little dog inspired a number of people to change the direction of a city shelter. Sometimes these little creatures have a voice even though they cannot speak.

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A crisis for a couple...

Ah, mid-week. Let’s see what’s on the agenda today.

A CRISIS BECOMES MORE PRESSING: Back on Feb. 16 we published the story of how Teri Reynolds and her husband, Tom, are trying to find homes for their dogs. Yesterday a note went around the rescue world that things are become more unsettled with Tom’s medical condition and the dogs C.J. and Buddy Boy need a home desperately now.

Earlier today I contacted Teri who said, “I thought I had C.J. placed this morning, but he lady called and said they found one already. Things are getting worse with my husband, so I’m going to have to do something quick.

“We found out yesterday that his tumor markers are higher than when he got sick, so they’ve put having a transplant on hold and are going to start radiation treatment.

“Please see what you can do [to help place the dogs]. I am trying to see if I can get him into M.D. Anderson in Houston and, if so, we’ll have to go down there and I won’t have ac choice as to what I do with my babies.

“I do not want to take them to a shelter because I know what will happen, but Tommy is what’s really important now.”

Dear Readers, you don’t need to be told this is such an awful situation to be juggling – maybe someone knows someone who can help make things easier for these rescuers who are facing a terrible challenge.

This photo is of the two dogs when they were rescued off a TXU electric station parking lot nearly two years ago. Tom and Teri took the dogs in after that rescue and helped them.

To offer to help these dogs, e-mail [email protected]  call 214-457-0128 (cell) or 214-812-9247.

A NOTE FROM CARROLLTON: Last night Joe Skenesky, the Carrolton Animal Services fellow who pushes hard each week to get animals adopted, sent out a note saying that all the animals on the list he’d sent out “have been or are going to be rescued or adopted.”

Then he adds, “Now, onto another favor if I may ask. A resident recently lost his job and recently his house, causing him to have to move into a friend’s home where he could not bring his 13-year-old pit bull named Molly. He has come to visit Molly several times and is really heartbroken about having to surrender her, especially now that he has another job and soon will have a new home. What he needs is temporary housing for her.”

This will be for six to eight weeks and the man will provide food and other needs. Joe can hold the dog at Carrollton “until next Tuesday at the latest.”

Molly is “a beautiful lady,” says Joe. No photos yet. But he says she’s OK with older dogs, house-trained and fixed.

To offer Molly a temporary home, call Joe at 972-466-3420 or e-mail [email protected].

Her “back story” Molly was adopted after being in a home that neglected her and this guy stepped up to save her.

WAITING AT THE COLONY: There are a number of dogs and cats at The Colony Animal Shelter and all of them have great potential – heck, all animals have great potential except, ironically, assorted human animals. But that’s another story.

Now we’ve picked three to spotlight from The Colony today. Why these three?  Oh, call it a matter of faces and a name. These two dog faces are fetching and the countenance of the cat is that of a gentleman sophisticate.

Molly Mae is the 8-month- old Pit Bull Terrier who is described as “a very sweet, submissive girl.  She loves other dogs, belly rubs, and is treat-motivated.  This little girl is an oversized lap dog!”

Then there is Mady, “a lovable, well-mannered Chow mix” who, at a year old, “knows basic commands.” She’s friendly with other dogs and sweet with humans.

Now, the cat, Rutherford is a 4-year-old who has manners. And he got his name Rutherford because he is a “stately fella,” says The Colony’s Animal Control Division Manager Patricia Barrington who is responsible for the monikers.

To ask about adopting any animal in The Colony’s shelter, call 972-370-9250 or e-mail [email protected].

A CAT NEEDS A HOME: WE got this from reliable tipster Sydney Busch at Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake.

The story is a family with a number of cats has begun to spay and neuter them and “first up was this beautiful little girl. The problem is her back legs are very deformed and she can move, just not very fast. She is an outside cat with them and thus easy prey for coyotes, dogs, hawks or most anything else that would do her harm.

“So right now she is in a loving foster (read: VERY TEMPORARY!) home looking for a forever family. She MUST be an inside cat obviously.  She gets along great with other cats and is a very cuddly little girl. She is now spayed and vaccinated for rabies.”

To ask about adopting this cat, e-mail Kay McAdams at [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS: For today we’re going to focus on the Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, who may have trumped former Vice President Dan Quayle for public misspeaking. You probably have heard or heard of VP Joe’s declaration to President Obama as the health bill was being signed. He said a word that you just don’t say in front of a live mike. And, yep, there was a live mike. So, today, our Readlarrypowell.com colleague Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas, offers this verse in both recognition of the incident and advice for the esteemed Vice President of Mangled Oration, Mr. Biden. Inky's poem:

"The Right To Remain Silent."

 

O, Joe thou devil-tongue

doth slip the leash and run

We ask the frisky puppy,

O, my, what hath ye done?

 

Advice for you Mr. Veep

when wading into the muck

Bridle your tongue and

just quack like a duck.

 

You’re not a star rapper,

not a drunken sailor in a bar

You’re the veep of the U.S.,

watch your mouth, knucklehead.

 

Couldn’t rhyme bar,

nothing seemed to fit,

so I went with knucklehead,

O, who really gives a quack!

 

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The Tuesday report...

Let’s start the day with a soundtrack. Someone drop Kris Kristofferson’s The Silver Tongued Devil & I album onto the stereo, lay a red silk paisley print scarf over the lampshade and hit the go button.

If we’re not here to enjoy the planet, why are we here?
Now, let’s see what’s on the agenda:

A DOG IN IRVING: As we noted yesterday, Irving is in the midst of moving its animal shelter operations from the south side of town to the north side of town. Among the animals needing a place to go before things go awry for the unhealthy and unlikely to be adopted is this dog Suzie,

Needs a home, they say. But right now, because the shelter is in flux, only rescue groups can get her out of trouble. The shelter-walking tipster/photographer Russell Posch spotted Suzie and knows the score. He says to ask about her, e-mail [email protected] or e-mail him at [email protected] or call 214-529-2920.

LOVIN’ MOLLIE: Here’s the deal. Mollie is a year-old Australian Shepherd/Blue Heeler mix who needs a home.

We learned about her from Dwana Carabajal, whose big dogs we spotlighted a couple of weeks ago in our weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.

Dwana is now trying to help a neighbor find a place for this dog Mollie.

She says, “I met Mollie a couple of weeks ago when she got out of her yard. I was walking my dog and she ran straight to me and followed me home. I kept Mollie for several days until I was able to locate her family. When I reunited Mollie with her owner, Shannon, she told me she is trying to find her a new home.

“Mollie was rescued by Shannon when she was just a few weeks old. A man was going to shoot Mollie because he could not ‘get rid of her’. Shannon took Mollie home with her right then and there.

“However, Shannon was not prepared for the energy of a cattle dog. Mollie is home all day by herself outside, so she is bored and lonely. Because she is bored and lonely, she is trying to find ways to escape her yard, which could be very dangerous. Mollie would thrive either on a farm/ranch to work on (she is a natural herder) or with a family that already has a dog or two for her to play with.

“She yearns for human contact, so she must be an inside dog but have a backyard to play in. Mollie will need exercise and attention every day.”
She’s healthy and scheduled to be spayed in April.

Dwana says, “To be sure Mollie goes to a good home, we are requesting either a veterinarian reference (preferred method) or a $50 re-home fee (that will be donated to a rescue group – you can choose which one).”

To audition to adopt this beauty, call 214-415-4322. You can see more photos of Mollie HERE.

MEANWHILE IN BURNS FLAT: Oh, boy, the population continues to grow in Burns Flat, Okla. More and more critters arrive and some of them wind up in the city shelter.

But tireless rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher continues to try to beat the taxpayer-financed Grim Reaper.

The Jack Russell, neutered and about 5 years old, wound up in the shelter this week because his human is moving on Friday and “for whatever reason cannot take him.”

Then there’s the other little girl – described as “just as sweet as can be” and Lord knows how many breeds were involved in producing a dog who looks as if you could have won her in the form of a doll on the Midway at the State Fair of Texas.

And, of course, there’s the little family. Terry Lynn managed to convince neighbors to responsibly re-home this litter of pits rather than just hand them over to any clown who happened to walk buy looking for a dog he could make mean or he could turn into “bait” for a dog fight.

She’s got the litter, now she just needs some help placing the little pups.

To ask about these dogs or any animal in the Burns Flat animal shelter, e-mail Terry Lynn at [email protected] or call   580-330-1459.

PET PSYCHIC AND BARK-ALIKE CONTEST: Now there are two things that ought to draw your interest – they’re both among the attractions at the April 3 CLASP Pooch ‘n’ Pals Event from 10 a.m. to 20 p.m.  at Family PetCare, 1501 Handley Drive, in Fort Worth.

CLASP is “Cowtown Loves Animal Shelter Pets” and is a non-profit “formed to be the voice for homeless, abused and neglected animals at the Chuck Silcox Animal Care and Control Center and the surrounding Fort Worth Community.

Read about CLASP by clicking HERE and click on the art work to make it larger so you can see the assorted contests.

CONTEMPLATIONS: Let’s just do some choosing today: Navy beans or Lima beans? ...  Newspaper crosswords or crosswords out of a book? ... Darren McGavin as Mike Hammer or Stacy Keach as Mike Hammer? ... El Dorado or Rio Bravo? ...Chris Pine or William Shatner as James Kirk? ... Cher in Moonstruck or Cher on Will & Grace.  ... Ballroom dancing or the two-step. ... America’s Funniest Videos or Candid Camera with Allen Funt. ... Jack Benny on the radio or Jack Benny on TV? ... Name your favorite star on Friends. ... Best Cheers episode. ... Favorite Michael Crichton book. ... Favorite John Grisham book. .... Books or movies. ... TV or movies. ... AM radio from the 1960s or FM radio from 2010? ...Pushbutton transmissions or four-on-the-floor. ... This could go on all day. Or stop now.

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Assorted topics on a Monday...

Here’s how to tell your age, I guess:  Did you watch the NCAA basketball tournament over the weekend or did you watch the proceedings around the health care bill?

Or did you bury yourself in NASCAR or the Tiger Woods interview?

There were alternatives: books, Kindles, DVDs, movies, music, catching up on bills, preparing taxes, shopping online, shopping at malls and power centers, writing letters to friends and relatives, writing letters to Congress. Oh, yes, it was Sunday so I guess there was church, too.

Or, in the case of Dallas and North Texas, marveling at the beauty of yet another snowfall. We’ve had three odd snowfalls in the last few months: one on Christmas Eve, the Unexpected Blizzard of February 2010, and the Spring Blizzard of 2010. This is a photo of the neighborhood around the corporate headquarters of Readlarrypowell.com. It’s an ungated community with forgiving neighbors. And all of this snow was gone by early afternoon Sunday and we have, for now, moved on in anticipation of a spring made beautiful by extra moisture from a beautiful winter.

SOME ANIMALS ARE MOVING: This is the week the Irving Animal Services folks move shelter operations from the old building at 100 N. Briery on the south side of Airport Freeway to a new “campus” at 4140 Valley View Lane on the north side of town.

Over the weekend, veteran shelter walker Russell Posch reminded rescue groups and others that when the shelter moves, not all of the animals will be going to the new quarters. He says he was told “that dogs with health issues such as kennel cough and mange will not be moving to the new shelter.” They’re going to be euthanized early this week. The shelter is closed to the public this week, but he says “rescues can still pull dogs and cats that have reached their available date.”  The rescue hotline is 972-721-3597. To read about the Irving shelter, click HERE.

A TIP ON REPORTING CRUELTY CASES: Over the weekend we got an e-mail from Elaine Munch, president of the Metroplex Animal Coalition, about some tips on the ASPCA web site for reporting animal cruelty cases to authorities. . Click HERE to read the tips.  Elaine wrote, “I always recommend keeping copies of all local animal ordinances in your vehicle because if you have occasion to call 311 or the Police, quoting the ordinance you are complaining about will sometimes get attention.” (Most state and local ordinances are available online – just Google your city or state and “animal ordinances.”)

ON THE CLOCK IN CARROLLTON: The folks at the Carrollton Animal Services shelter have been moving dogs and cats into homes and into rescue groups but still on the clock for Wednesday (along with a Beagle and some just plain ol’ mutts) is this handsome cat Pac-Man. Once again, a personal testimony based on years of observation: Black and white cats tend to be merry pranksters of the feline set. I swear! We’ve had all kinds of cats and our black-and-white fellows, Cyril and Poirot, brought extra mirth to our household.

Pac-Man is an adult cat who, though leaning against a cold metal cage wall, probably is more at home on a pillow or comforter or couch.  He was a wanderer picked up by the animal services people. To ask about adopting Pac-Man or any critter in Carrollton, call 972-466-3420 or e-mail [email protected].

A MOM WORKING EXTRA: Veteran rescuer and longtime tipster Patty Sprong sent us this note about what she called a “good save by Blanche Carpenter, the founder of HART (Humane Animal Rescue Team of Texas).”

Here’s the story: “We rescued a momma cat with four babies about two weeks ago. On Tuesday, All Care called and asked if HART had any nursing momma cats. I told them we did and they asked if we could take 5 newborns whose mother had just died that afternoon. They were going to put them all down, but Michelle told them to wait until she called first.  I went and got them, and took them immediately over to Cyndy's house (she is fostering the mom and babies) The momma took the five new ones in and has been feeding, cleaning and keeping them warm. The mom's name is Sadie and we think she is terrific.” (Not sure who Michelle and Cyndy are, but it takes a village to save a litter.)

MUTTS AND LEE HARVEY’S: For your calendars, Metroplex Mutts hosts its monthly happy hour fundraiser from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Lee Harvey’s, the garden spot at 1807 Gould Street in Dallas. And by “garden spot” I mean that it’s a converted house with a yard that looks like it could be plowed and planted. Cover charge is $10. Guests of Metroplex Mutts get special pricing on drinks and there’s a raffle for “doggie necessities.” See www.metroplexmutts.com to buy tickets online.

TWO PALS: On Friday we mentioned the passing of Fess Parker, the actor, winemaker and businessman who’d played two American heroes on television, Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone.

This inspired animal fan Jeff Stuart to send this photo and a special memory of his pal Mr. Parker. Jeff writes, “Some of the losses are adding up the older I get. In today's column you mention my friend and childhood hero, Fess Parker. I grew up like everybody else did in the late fifties and the sixties, and I never missed his shows.

“I had the good fortune of getting to know Fess since 1996 and over the years got to know him as a friend. I got to see him every time he came to Dallas and enjoyed several lunches and dinners with this mountain of a man. He was one of the nicest men I have ever met, and always so humble.

“I talked to him on the phone last back in November right before Thanksgiving, and he mentioned that 'he didn't get around anymore like he used to', but seemed upbeat and OK. Needless to say I was quite shocked at yesterday's news. He will be missed by many, and by me who was so proud to be able to tell people that a childhood hero was now my friend. Rest in Peace, my friend.
Jeff says this photo is from a visit with Mr. Parker in 2005. “I’m 6-2 and he still almost towered over me.”

CARD COUNTERS: We’ve gotten a lot of odd requests through the years, and every now and then they’re perfectly understandable. For example, this one came from Sydney Busch of the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. She writes, “I have about 50-60 decks of cards that we use for the Bridge Luncheon... Need to count each deck to make sure they are complete. Anyone available to come by the clinic on a Tuesday soon for about an hour or so to do this?” Yep, they’ll be counting cards at the Friends of the Animals Spay/Neuter Clinic in Gun Barrel City. E-mail [email protected]. The cards will be used in the annual Friends of the Animals Bridge Luncheon later this spring. More to come – it’s in the cards.

CONTEMPLATIONS: Based on the numbers in assorted health care-related polls, you’d have to say that nearly half of America is mad this morning and nearly half of America isn’t mad. And of course, some people who weren’t mad are, some who were mad aren’t. And some who were blissfully unaware are still blissfully unaware. That’s the way America works or doesn’t work, depending on your point of view, I guess. ... Treat for the day: Nachos or ice cream? (I’m having an apple – but I’m not happy about it.) ... Something to be missed: The great bass sound you could get from a console-style stereo that was more furniture than “electronic appliance.” Don’t you miss the sound of an LP slapping down onto the turntable?

I also miss the sound of typewriter keys, but not the sound of chalk on a blackboard. Yes, the world has different noises today.

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A napping cat to envy...

Once again, a reason to envy a slumbering critter: The absoluteness of the nap.

This is Fiona, presented during the first weekend of Spring 2010.

Her human, Carolyn Perkins, describes her as “a world class relaxer.”

Obviously when we saw this photo there was no doubt that we had our spotlight cat for the weekend’s feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.

This cat knows how to nap. And don’t we wish we could achieve this level of naptification. Is that a word?

Carolyn says, “Fiona is my 3-year-old calico adopted from Dog ‘n’ Kitty City -- like most rescues she savors everything about living the good life--not the least of which is lying in the afternoon sun on couch pillows now permanently indented with her plump silhouette.”

Now, Fiona was not the last cat available from Dog ‘n’ Kitty City, the no-kill shelter in Dallas. And there are plenty of dogs there, too. If you want to get your own extraordinary sleeper, click HERE to visit the shelter site and see the inventory.

(To nominate your slumbering, sleeping, dozing, napping or snoozing critter for Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, email the photo and info to [email protected]. We enjoy seeing the pictures and, as insomniacs, we envy the sleepers and nappers. If I could nap like Fiona, I might never get the indentation out of the couch. )