And, now, looking at our calendars we find that it’s Friday and we’re still, generally, without a clue for the entire week.
Having established our position, let’s proceed. And keep in mind that these are only a few of the stories of animals in trouble or animals being helped or triumphs of rescue over idiocy. Read on:
REGARDING FRANCIS: The news of Francis, the trail-riding dog, is sad. Shortly after 9 a.m. we got a call from Lisa Eades of Garland who has been in touch with Bernice Ende, the “long-rider” whose horseback trip around the nation has stalled in Wheeler, Texas, because of concerns about her dog Francis. (See yesterday’s lead item.) Lisa says Francis is going into surgery this morning. Sadly, around 1 p.m. I got a call from Lisa saying that whatever the little dog was facing was too much and she did not survive. We're attempting to find a way to send sympathy notices to Bernice out on the trail and will let you know as soon as we find a way.
A DOG NEEDING A BREAK: This gorgeous dog is in an ugly situation.
We get the details of the story from our rescue pal Deana Hanson of Weatherford. She reports that Cassie was adopted via a shelter “courtesy listing” into a home. And the adoptors were warned that the dog had never been around cats and cautioned to watch the dog carefully for at least three weeks to determine the dog’s tendencies.
Yesterday this dog attacked the family cat (the cat has a broken jaw and spent yesterday on IVs and is being treated). The guy took the dog to the new Chuck Silcox Fort Worth Animal Care & Control Shelter where she is being monitored by veteran shelter worker Ginger Leach who was tipped to the story.
So, that’s the deal with this dog. And we know how awful it can be when animals attack other animals – it’s a nerve-wracking experience and you never want to go through it again. But there are ways to avoid these things. First off, we, as people, as humans, ought to wise up.
Now, to ask about getting this dog into a safe spot, e-mail [email protected]
This is a good time for a patient rescue group to squeeze in one more dog.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT NEAR DOWNTOWN DALLAS, M STREETS: Well, goodness, Reno has gone missing in Bryan Place, the residential area just west of Central Expressway on the edge of downtown Dallas.
Denver Smith says that two weeks ago his dog was “in my front yard doing his normal business. I went in real quickly to pour his food, came back and he was gone. He has never run off before. I’ve checked animal services every 72 hours, had search parties, I look every day, posted hundreds of flyers, etc. etc. He was seen seven times in the M Streets area 4 days after he left, but no one grabbed him. He is microchipped and very friendly, so I think someone has him.”
If you’ve seen this 55-pound dog or know his whereabouts call 214-477-5292.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT LITTLE ELM: Melena Mesta has been searching for her Chihuahua Peanut since April 10 when he vanished on Witt Road in Little Elm. We published a “found” Little Elm Chihuahua photo on Wednesday and that led to this note from Melena.
She says she “took off work and went to see if [the dog in the Little Elm shelter] was my missing Peanut and it was not , but, I still could not help crying for whoever lost that puppy. I am still holding onto hope that the person who took my dog will return him to us or drop him off by our home and Peanut will find his way back. I just know he would....I have posted him on every website I know of...I do have a reward for whoever returns my dog – no questions asked.”
If you know Peanut’s whereabouts, e-mail [email protected] or call 817-938-0997.
TWO HOMELESS DOGS: These dogs have nothing in common except they are dogs and they need homes and they were lucky enough to fall under the protective umbrella of Bekki Harvey and her goddaughter Amanda.
Brandy is a 3-year-old female German Shepherd who was surrendered to Dallas Animal Services when the owner “could no longer care” for her.
And McNugget is a 10-week-old Alaskan Malamute male who “was found with his five littermates in a cardboard box on a very, very, cold day” at a McDonalds in Martinsburg, W.Va., a little over a month ago. Each of the puppies had been individually wrapped in plastic. Yet all survived.
Shelter intake people initially told Amanda that McNugget was blind and would have to be euthanized. But Amanda, at 17, has a history of animal rescue and care, so she took McNugget home and got a vet to look at him. Just as the vet predicted, the little guy improved dramatically and isn’t blind and is healthy.
Amanda has been in town this week visiting Bekki. This photo of Brandy and McNugget was snapped this week in the play area of VCA Preston Park Animal Hospital. To ask about adopting either of these two rescued pups, e-mail [email protected].
A CAT RESCUE’S COCKER: Usually Keli Halteman is working to save down-on- their-luck cats and kittens with her rescue organization, Halteman’s Haven.
But the Cocker Spaniel breed rescue groups were full and Keli says “I had to help – especially when my fav vet called to ask me.”
The story is that a mother of 5 brought the sick puppy to the VCA Beltline East Hospital where Keli works. The dog hadn’t been eating or drinking for several days, the family had no money and rather than euthanize the dog for the sake of expediency, Dr. Paola Lott said she would take care of the dog for free. The family then decided they wanted to take the dog home and “let him die there with them,” according to the story we got from Keli. Dr. Lott called Keli and Keli said she’d take the dog into Halteman’s Haven. The transfer was negotiated and that’s how the cat group got the cocker.
Now, Curley isn’t out of the woods. He’s being treated for parvo.
Keli is raising money to offset the expense of the treatment. To offer to help Curley, contact Keli at [email protected]. Or you can write to VCA Beltline East Hospital, 2555 N. Beltline Road, Sunnyvale, Texas, 75182. Or you can call Keli at 972-375-8709.
Late last night we got a note from Keli who reports that Curley “is doing great. He is a cool little dog. I have NO IDEA about Cockers, but I am going to learn.”
FOUND IN MINERAL WELLS: Johnna Bigley, who has spent a lot of time helping clear out the abandoned dogs on Mallooy Bridge Road in southeast Dallas, sent us a note about this fellow found “emaciated” and wandering the streets of Mineral Wells.
Ginger Barnes of the rescue group They’re All God’s Creatures is trying to find a foster home for him because, Johnna writes, “the people who found him can’t keep him and they’re about to turn him back out on the street.”
To offer to help Ginger and this dog, e-mail [email protected] or call 254-592-7311.
A PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST AND SOME EARHOUNDS: We spotted these on a long, long note about all the animals currently awaiting either homes or euthanasia in the Denton Animal Shelter. Long, long note. Lots of animals.
And in this first photo I think you can see why Ozzy was named the shelters “Diamond In The Ruff Pet of the Week” – he looks like he’s just so darned glad to see ya. Because of his special ranking, he can be adopted for only $50. He’s about a year and a half old and is a Yellow Lab. He’s pictured with some buddies who also need homes.
There’s a boatload of dogs at this shelter right now.
However, we were able to spot today’s Earhounds without a problem. They are Stephen and two young female goats, Cathy and Gayla. They’re available for adoption and the official report reads: “They are all cute as can be, very sociable – sweet and friendly.”
And, of course, as goats they have special privileges. I’m not sure what they are, but people generally let goats do what they want to do, within reason.
To ask about any animal at the shelter, e-mail [email protected].
BURNS FLAT REPORT RE: ELK CITY: Terry Lynn Fisher, the tireless rescuer in Burns Flat, Okla., continues to work to find homes for some little hoarder dogs – a Jack Russell mix and three black-and-tan Dachshund mixes – who came from a home in nearby Elk City, Okla. The rescue group that was taking these dogs rejected them – Terry Lynn says all are now terrified, but she thinks they can be saved. To help her, e-mail [email protected] or call 580-330-1459.
FOLLOWING THE CASE: You may recall that Tina Hamilton, founder of Happy Tails animal rescue group, and Gun Barrel City have gotten crossways on things and are headed to court. There’s a new wrinkle involving the FBI and you can read all about it on David Webb’s journalistic website, The Rare Reporter HERE.
YESTERDAY’S KAUFMAN COUNTY RAID: We mentioned yesterday that the SPCA of Texas and the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Department were seizing neglected animals from a property in Kaufman County.
Sure enough, the seizure of animals on property in Mabank was completed and, according to the SPCA, authorities seized 39 “cruelly-confined cats, six horses, three dogs and two squirrels” that were apparently being kept as pets.
There’ll be a custody hearing at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Kaufman County Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Court, 103 N. Main, in Kemp.
This is one of the cats who was kept in a filthy barn with horses and dogs. All the animals are now in the care of the SPCA. To see how to help the SPCA help these animals, go to www.spca.org.
FOR YOUR PLANNING PURPOSES: Here are a couple of things:
--Unleased Indoor Dog Parks has scheduled its summer garage sale and pet fair for May 15 and is looking for participants, according to Beth Bowers, the general manager.
The park is looking for sponsors for the event, donors and volunteers – and for participants in the bake sale!
[Aside from Larry: Just the words “bake sale” make my dieting taste buds quiver with anticipation, then collapse with disappointment. But you folks go ahead and buy some things – enjoy them on behalf of those of us who can’t.]
To volunteer to work with Unleashed or to ask about participating, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-388-0701, ext. 304, or 214-476-9938. Read about the parks at www.unleasheddogparks.com.
--Pet Supplies Plus , 4100 Legacy Drive in Plano, is hosting a “Healthy Pet Expo” from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. It’s free. Nutrition experts and advisors will be on hand, says Kris Westman, spokesperson for the store.
CONTEMPLATIONS: OK, VCR or DVD? (I’m sure I’m nuts, but the videotape seems to be less annoying.) ... You walk into a restaurant. The greeter welcomes you warmly. You’re given a choice of tables – the one near the aquarium or the one near a table of executives celebrating a successful layoff at their company and the rise of its stock. It comes down to this: Do you sit next to the eels or next to the bottom-feeders? Third choice: Take the table next to the aquarium and dare the executives to walk on the water. You know some will try. ... Enjoy your weekend with your critters. Forget a movie and go to a park. It’s cheaper and, unless you’re allergic to pollen, you’ll be healthier for the experience. Besides, you know how you react to hot-buttered popcorn – it makes you swell in areas that don’t need to get any bigger.
