ReadLarryPowell.com

Adventures in the in-box....

You never know what’s going to pop up on the screen when you check that inbox, do you? Could be anything from an attorney in Malaysia trying to get money into the United States via some sort of trick involving your Social Security number. Could be a found kitty, a lost dog, a wombat on the prowl. Anything.

Here’s today’s report from the inbox:

LONGRIDER HAS A DOG IN TROUBLE: We heard about this from our pal Debbie Ballard, the postmaster of Rowena, Texas.

Rowena is about 4 hours southwest of Dallas in what city people refer to as “the middle of nowhere.” Debbie’s correspondence takes is due North of Rowena by about six automobile hours to Wheeler, Texas, which is in the middle of a different nowhere.

What they have in common is that a woman named Bernice Ende has ridden a horse through both towns – she’s in the back half of a 7,000-mile-or so round trip ride from her home in Montana. She travels with two horses and two dogs Debbie says. You can read about her trailriding adventures at www.endeofthetrail.com.

That photo is of Bernice and her companions, taken a month or so ago when they came through Rowena, Debbie says.

And it is the dog in the photo who is in a bit of trouble.  An illness has befallen Francis the Dog and that has put a stall on the trail ride. Francis is currently under the care of the Wheeler Veterinary Clinic.

As of this morning, we’re waiting to get details on Francis’ undisclosed illness.

Debbie notes that both of Bernice’s dogs were found on the trail in Texas. She writes, “Can we help a fellow Texan out, Francis, and show Bernice just how big-hearted we Texans are?”

The clinic’s address is 1309 W. Oklahoma Ave., Wheeler, Texas. 79096-2406. Call 806-826-5821 or 806-826-5556. And you can also e-mail Debbie at [email protected]. 
YOUNG FELLOW FOUND: There are some people who almost can’t turn a corner in Dallas without finding a stray mutt or wandering cat. Laurel Hoitsma is one of those folks and snows she’s found this dog. She’s had success – found a Pom once AND found the owner, always a longshot in Dallas.

This, she writes, “Well, now I’ve found another little cutie – also in Preston Hollow while dropping Zane at school. He’s a super sweet un-neutered male – looks like a Heeler-Basset mix – maybe Heeler-Corgi.”

She corralled this guy about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday near Walnut Hill and Edgemere.

While, “Zane and his friends love him,” the family Dalmatian, Trixie, “isn’t so sure,” Laurel says.

She say the dog “has an orange collar and looks healthy, but possibly like he may have been roaming for a little bit. He was REALLY hungry.”

If you know where this dog belongs or if you want to give him a home, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-837-6204.

A TRIBUTE TO SARAH: Be sure to visit our Prayers & Passages page today to see a sweet tribute to a dog from Everman who, finally, had a home where she was loved.

ON THE CLOCK IN IRVING: There are a bunch of critters on the clock in the Irving Animal Shelter, but, somehow this one has a story that’ll touch the heart of anyone who has had a dog for a while.

This is Kaylee, a Chow-Lab mix, who has been in the shelter since March 20. And this photo is from Russell Posch, the note Irving shelter walker, who pinpointed her as one of the dogs in danger at the Irving shelter

She is at least 14 years old – maybe even older – and is an owner-surrender.

So, she’s sitting in a cage at a shelter wondering what in the world is going on.

To see how to save this dog or any animal at the Irving shelter, click HERE. The shelter is at 4140 Valley View Lane on the north side of the city. Call 972-721-2256.

PEOPLE LOSE HOME; DOGS DO, TOO:  We get the story of these two dogs from Lynn Gatlin who, with hubby Tony, operate Project Pawz in Corsicana.

These latest rescues she says, are part of “an all too familiar story. Family loses their rental home and dumps their pets. These two terrified little critters are currently being boarded at the vet's office since Tony and I don't have a single place to put another animal.  I'll get them vetted and groomed, as they obviously have been a bit neglected, not to mention ABANDONED. Poor babies. They have no idea what's going on. 

“I have a foster home for the black male lined up once we get the all clear from the vet, and am awaiting a reply from a potential foster home for the little blonde girl. They are extremely bonded to one another and I hate to split them up, but will just be grateful for foster homes even if they have to be separated.  “They need a little rehab and attention while awaiting forever homes and better lives. 

“What I'm in search of is a large dog crate for the black dog to use in his foster home. There will be 2 other dogs there, which is good since he loves other dogs.”

The ambition though is to find a permanent home for these two. To ask about helping Lynn and Tony help the dogs, e-mail [email protected].

PIT BULL CLINIC: Tipster and rescuer Becky Dodge reminds us that Respect-a-Bull will host a clinic that offers free spay/neuter for pit bulls in Arlington on May 2. All the details are at www.respectabull.com.

UPDATE ON SWEETIE PUP: Two days ago we told the story here of the rescue and medical challenges of Sweetie Pup, a dog that had apparently been struck by a car and needs surgery to fix the ball joint in one hip.

Veteran rescuer Debbie Farrell is acting as the spokesperson for Sweetie Pup’s cause and sends a thank-you note to all those who have helped. She writes, “I just wanted to thank you for running the story on Sweetie Pup .... We have received $1650.83 in donations.  We have a current bill of $840.01 so $810.82 is left over for the surgery.  Yea!  We are almost there!”

To offer to help,  e-mail [email protected] or contact Metro Paws at Metro Paws, 1910 Skillman St., Dallas Texas  75206. (Call 214-316-6604 to ask about Sweetie Pup.)  If you donate, be sure to not that the gift is for Sweetie Pup.

THE DOG WHO WOULD BE STONED: You may recall this recent story: A dog is tied to a tree in a Houston park and is stoned, but the job isn’t finished and the dog is rescued.  You may recall that Theresa Ojobaro fostered Sweetie after the rescue.

Here’s the follow-up. We get this from Houston tipster Alexandra Kelsey who reports that Sweeties “journey to get from disaster to rescue has taken a few extra turns. But, it has turned out well and this girl is en route to Colorado to Blue Lion Animal Rescue. Elise Flanders here in Houston knows Lisa Kavanaugh, the founder of Blue Lion, and first told me about Lisa's work.”

Alexandra suggests reading the history of Blue Lion HERE.

Back to Sweetie: She says Sweetie is in Dallas at the mid-point and on Friday will ride with a Houston-area Akita named Phoenix to Blue Lion at Yoder, Colo.

REMINDER: Niki Witham is teaching Pet First Aid and CPR classes at the Plano Animal Shelter. You never know when you might need to know how to help your animal through minor or major emergencies. Niki says the certification course can benefit rescue volunteers, veterinary employees, kennel technicians, Girl and Boy Scouts, animal lovers and pet owners.

Click HERE to see the Plano schedule. The class is 4 hours long and costs $45 – and there are group discounts. E-mail: [email protected].

ANOTHER KAUFMAN COUNTY SEIZURE:  Way early this morning we got a heads up about the SPCA of Texas teaming with the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Department on another seizure – at least 30 cats, seven horses and five dogs. More to come on this as events unfold.

CONTEMPLATIONS: Reading about movie news I saw a story that says the next James Bond film has been delayed by MGM’s economic stresses. And if there ever is another James Bond movie, Daniel Craig may not be 007. Holy double-o-smoke. Can’t ANYTHING be stable in this world? .... Can you pick a favorite Robin Hood: Kevin Costner, Patrick Bergin, Errol Flynn, Richard Greene, Cary Elwes, Sean Connery or, coming up shortly, stocky Aussie Russell Crowe? ... It’s Earth Day. I’d be more amused by Mirth Day.

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A midweek assortment...

Welcome to today’s edition of Readlarrypowell.com, the animal-friendly website that continued to fly throughout the entire Icelandic volcanic ash crisis.

Now, our report:

TEN BUCKS A CRITTER: It kind of amazes me when I run into these shelters that only charge $10 to adopt out an animal. Why do some charge tons and some charge a rational amount? Well, I’m sure there’s an explanation.

The Little Elm Animal Shelter is one of the low-cost adoption sites. Little Elm is north of Dallas.

Among the many animals available for adoption there this week are these two distinctive beings.

First up we have Poto, a black and white cat and as regular visitors to Readlarrypowell.com know, we believe that black and white cats arrive on the planet with a personality that is the perfect entertaining mixture of hijinx, determination and curiosity. (This is based on personal experience with two odd black and white cats, Poirot and Cyril, who amused our household for years.)

Poto is a neutered male who was an owner surrender. And in this photo, he appears to be looking skyward, perhaps awaiting the arrival of his interstellar transportation.

Now the dog is, yes, just one more big black dog in a city shelter.  His name is Buddy and he, too, was an owner surrender. He’s a Lab and he’s young and he’s very huggable.

To ask about these critters or any animal in the Little Elm shelter, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-975-0460. Or – get this! – you could get up out of your chair and drive to the shelter at 100 W. Eldorado Parkway in Little Elm.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT: We got this note about a loose dog in Temple from our longtime tipster Marla Margol of Legacy Boxer Rescue on behalf of the foster who was trying to get her into a vet’s office near Avenue H and 31^st Street in Temple.

The dog is about a year-and-a-half-old and is named Jasmine, though whether she’ll respond to it is anybody’s guess.  Her foster, Debbie Stitz, says that the dog “was nearly feral when I got her.” And when Debbie took her in, she says the dog, rescued from a kill shelter, also was in labor and delivered 10 puppies about seven weeks ago.

If you’ve seen Jasmine on the lam in Temple, call 254-913-7056 or email [email protected].

When I spoke to Debbie this morning, she said there hadn’t been a sighting since last Friday.

Debbie was working on earning Jasmine’s trust, but the opportunity to bolt and run was too much to resist and last Friday, as Jasmine was being moved from Debbie’s car toward the clinic where she was to be spayed, Jasmine ran off.

HANG ON A SECOND BURNS FLAT: Well, after we published the success stories from Burns Flat, Okla., yesterday, the earth slipped slightly out of orbit and something fell through with the Hoarder’s Dogs of Elk City.

A rescue group called our Burns Flat tipster Terry Lynn Fisher and confessed that the group had bitten off more than it could chew. It needs a place for a Jack Russell mix and four tan-and-black Dachshund mixes.

Terry Lynn says the dogs have to be moved today. She’s trying to hustle lodging for them.  To help her, e-mail [email protected] or call 580-330-1459.

Terry Lynn says the woman said these five dog “have bitten her fosters. Her group has decided they are unadoptable. She admitted she placed them with inexperienced people. She admitted the dogs were scared and they bit after the fosters cornered them.”

EULESS SHELTER DOG GETS A BREAK, NEEDS A HOME: This dog Margo got a break when she was taken into the Euless Animal Shelter and the students from the Euless Trinity High School GAP Club decided to sponsor her.

When she arrived, she was starving to death and needed socialization. She recently earned an obedience certificate.

So, to adopt this well-educated and health dog Margo, e-mail the GAP sponsors at either [email protected] or  [email protected] or call the shelter at 817-685-1594. Margo’s ID is ID #012045. Because Marga is a GAP Dog, her adoption fee is dropped to $75.

ONE DIVORCE, TWO DOGS: Gail Whelan sends us a note that reads, “A co-worker has just gone through a divorce and cannot keep her dogs with her where she has moved.  These guys are pretty bonded, so we'd like to keep them together if at all possible.  These guys only have a week or so to find a place or they will go to the shelter. “

The wide-awake dog is purebred Schnauzer Romeo – he’s 6 and weighs around 14 pounds. Total lap dog.

The snoozing girl is Lela, half-Schnauzer and half Bichon Frise. She’s 2 and likes to be with her pal Romeo and her human.

To offer to help these dogs, e-mail [email protected] or all 214-200-6236.

ABANDONED DOGS SEIZED: This was an ugly case, but it demonstrates that sometimes when animals are helped, people are helped, too. Yesterday, working with the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Department, the SPCA rescued three abandoned dogs from a property northeast of Terrell.

According to the SPCA,  Adult Protective Services managed to take the person living there to a hospital and contact the sheriff and the SPCA about the dogs. Relatives dodged claiming the dogs. And the sheriff’s department called on the SPCA to save the dogs – the dogs are now at the SPCA’s Dealey Animal Care Center in Dallas. You can see how to help the SPCA HERE www.spca.org.

BIG DAY IN THE PARK: We’ve gotten a tip on this from several people who are excited about the big Samuell Grand K-9 Classic II from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the park in East Dallas. Dallas Animal Services will be there providing low-cost dog vaccinations, micro-chipping, dog registration, owner education and, for those who don’t have a dog, there’ll be adoptables..

There’ll also be “Disc & Dancing Dogs”, free-styling dogs, and all sorts of pet-related attractions. Call the park at 214-670-1381.

COLLIN COUNTY HUMANE TOPICS: Coming up Saturday, the annual Collin County Humane Society Garage Sale – 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 5593 Emerson Court in Fairview, Texas.

And, as long as people are planning, the Humane Society is looking for a venue for its 2010 Gala – the date is Sept. 25 and our tipster, DeDe Boozer-Whitcombe says, “We are still looking for a venue that will either donate their location or discount their fees, so if you know of any place, give me a shout.”  E-mail [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS:  You’re at a family reunion and your beloved relatives insist that you eat at least one of two vegetables: Turnips or beets. You must choose one to stay in the will. Which do you pick? ...  If you were at a relative’s house and your beloved relative insisted that you watch a movie with her or get cut out of the will, would you choose Mamma Mia or From Dusk Till Dawn to stay in the will? ... Sorry about the two will questions, but I’m still reeling from last night’s last-bat emotional beating the Texas Rangers took in Boston.  They are, as of this morning, your last-place Texas Rangers.

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Life's many hustles...

You know what it takes to save critters these days? Hustle.

You have to hustle volunteers, hustle money, hustle foster homes, hustle real homes – you name it, you’ve got to hustle to get just about everything in the rescue world. Except you don’t have to hustle the animals – they show up, don’t they. Here goes today’s report on the hustle:

SWEETIE PUP'S SURGERY: Veteran rescuer Debbie Farrell sent us a note about this lad Sweetie Pup last night. He’s scheduled for surgery today and it’s time to hustle some money to pay for it.

The back story is that Sweetie was found flopped on the side of a road by one of Deb’s co-workers.  Turns out the dog had a broken “ball joint” in his back hip – lots of pain and surgery is the cure.

Debbie explains, “He is a 6-month-old Lab-Great Dane – Pit mix but he prefers to be known as a ‘Texan’ or ‘American dog.’ The staff at Metro Paws says he is a true sweetie and they named him Sweetie Pup.  They don't think he was hit by a car but was actually beaten. He had no other signs of injury.  If you raise your hand he will cower and start screaming but as soon as you call him sweetly then he crawls toward you with his tail wagging.”

To offer to help with this dog’s expenses,  e-mail [email protected] or contact Metro Paws at Metro Paws, 1910 Skillman St., Dallas Texas  75206. (Call 214-316-6604 to ask about Sweetie Pup.)  If you donate, be sure to not that the gift is for Sweetie Pup.

As Debbie says, “He’s another black dog and in rescue – there are already too many dogs and cats. It goes without saying that it can make it more difficult to find him a home. However, we just may be able to find that home if we can raise the money for his surgery.  He deserves the chance and he needs our help.”

THE FACE OF A FRIEND: Oh, boy, when I saw this picture, I couldn’t resist posting it for more people to see.

We got the tip on this dog from Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake who’d forwarded a note from rescuer Marilyn Allen.

She says the dog is “sort of at a neighbor’s. They don’t want her.” And she says, the neighbors are “not really feeling her well.”

The female Red Heeler mix is spayed, up to date on shots, heartworm negative and has recovered from birthing six puppies.

Marilyn writes, “She's living under a neighbor's house.  He works out of town, doesn't want her.  She loves children, plays with friendly dogs, is very submissive, but not fearful. She's desperate to be accepted somewhere. The neighbors all think she is a wonderful dog, but no one can give her a home.

“A tummy rub produces a smile with eyes closed in ecstasy.  I would love to keep her, but my dogs won't let her in my yard.”

To ask about helping this dog, e-mail [email protected] or call  903-675-9681 or 903-675-5697.

AND A CAT STORY: This one comes from rescuer Debbie Bryan, who describes herself as “usually a dog rescue person.”

Writing about this cat she says “this little girl really has my heart. We have new neighbors behind us and I noticed this beauty over at our front porch. She is declawed, thin, full of mats, and outside all the time! She is one of the sweetest little things I've ever seen; she absolutely cannot get enough attention!

“One evening I asked the neighbor if she was his. His answer was ‘Yeah, she is a sweet cat, but my fiancé is allergic to her so we had to put her outside.’ (Of course my thought was ‘I'd put the fiancé outside, but I refrained from saying that)  I asked him about putting her outside when she is declawed and he said ‘Oh, she runs fast!’

“I truly had to bite the end of my tongue to keep from screaming at him! Instead, I asked, ‘I'm in animal rescue and I'd be happy to see if I could find a good home for her.’ He said, ‘Well, if it was a good home, I'd do it.’”

So Debbie is “networking” to find a home for this cat. Contact her at [email protected].

FOSTER HOMES FALL THROUGH: We got a note from Gail Whelan of the Companion Animal Network that some foster homes had fallen through. That puts these three dogs in a bit of vise. So she’s looking for some help.

Bonnie is the 30-pound, year-old spaniel mix who is housetrained and very social. “Just a great dog,” she says.

Then, there’s the dog we posted on Friday, the little 8-week-old Rottie mix who “housetrained herself” but should go to a home experienced with puppies.

And there’s Lily, the Catahoula mix – 10 months old, 22 pounds and, Gail says, “much prettier in person.”

To offer to help them and help Gail, too, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-200-6236.”

IN THE RUNNING FOR $100K: Earlier this month we mentioned that the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is running a contests in which shelters compete for $100,000 by adopting out more animals than ever before. The Lone Star State rep in the contest is the Fort Worth-based Humane Society of North Texas. Get the details HERE.

LOOKING FOR A PUP: One of our readers is looking for some help. Here’s her note: “My husband and I are early retirees in our mid-50s and would like to adopt a dog that has been rescued. I have been looking for over a year for the right dog.  Do you know someone that matches people with rescue dogs?  “My husband has allergies so I need a mix that does not shed. We would also like a dog at least 20 lbs or more. I had a few I was serious about but the rescue group wanted to tour our home and my husband won't allow that. We are very private people and we don't allow strangers in our home.

“My husband is retired police so you understand his concern. I finally started to look for a puppy to buy but my best friend talked me into continuing to look for a rescue dog. I appreciate any help you can give us and I believe you and the rescue people are doing a wonderful job.”

If you can help with this project, e-mail [email protected]. You may also click on “comment” below and leave a suggestion for finding a good pup.

FROM BURNS FLAT: For years we’ve gotten desperate notes from tireless Burns Flat, Okla., rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher about critters in trouble. When I saw one of her latest notes, I thought it would a good thing to share it with the readers.

Here is what she wrote:
“Ox...the pit that was found with the 5 babies...SAFE!!!

“Lexi...the pretty Shepherd mix...SAFE!!!

“Timmy and Tina...the 2 little ones found by the elderly couple...SAFE!!!!

“Layla....the little Jack Russell mix that showed up at my house...SAFE!!!

“Old Guy...The 110 year old boy...SAFE!!!

:Cletus...the basset that found rescue 5 minutes after he got here...SAFE!!!

“AND THE GROUP OF LITTLE HOARDER DOGS FROM ELK CITY...ALL ARE SAFE!

“Now THAT is what I call a GREAT week!!!! Thanks to everyone for all they have done to save all these animals. ”

I left all those exclamation points in the text because, heck, Terry Lynn was excited!!!!

CONTEMPLATIONS: Pancakes or waffles? ... Did you learn about the Chinese dish Moo Goo Gai Pan from the Dick Van Dyke Show or from somewhere else? (That’s a Baby Boomer question.) ... Finish this sentence: Life’s good when you can reach the top shelf and grab.....?

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And Monday arrives....

It’s Monday morning and we’re wondering how long it will be before we see some shelter or rescue group naming an ash gray cat “Eyjafjallajokull.”

“Joe Cool” for short, no doubt.

Now, our daily report:

START WITH A CUDDLE: Monday is always such a tough morning – traffic, behind at work, and sometimes even the toaster won’t pop up right. So, here’s a chance to start the day with a cuddle.

This cuddled cat is Kara, one of many, many cats at the Denton Animal Control Shelter who is in need of a home.

How did Kara wind up in a city shelter? The official story is she was “owner released because they were moving.” Yep, a year –and-a-half old and out of a home. She is said to enjoy being petted.

And that other cat – with the distinctly colorful paw – is Kitty.

His story is he was “owner-released because [the owner] could not pay the pet deposit.” The owner told the shelter folks that “their kids loved him.”

And that third photo? Why that’s a crowd of the dogs at the Denton shelter.

They look like kids on a schoolground during recess, don’t they?
To contact the Denton shelter about the cats, e-mail [email protected]. To ask about the dogs, e-mail [email protected]. To reach the Denton shelter by phone call 904-349-7594. And to see more animals click HERE.

SOMEONE NEEDS TO HELP: Remember last week we mentioned the one-eyed momma and her litter of pups at The Colony Animal Shelter? Nobody has stepped up yet. “They need out PDQ,” says Animal Control Division Manager Patricia Barrington. Email [email protected] or call 972-370-9250. Sort of getting to be a tight situation.

A PUPPY UPDATE: You may recall that on Friday we showed photos of two puppies that looked kind of alike and mentioned that both could use some help. Here’s an update on the puppy that was dumped near Terrell.

Judy Williamson reports, “only good things” have happened to the puppy lately. He has been named Inky, by the way.

Judy writes, “My friend, Helen, the day after she found the puppy, went by their little country store on the way to work the next day and posted a note to see if anyone had lost a puppy.  She does this every time she finds one out there.  In the meantime she asked me and others to try to think of some place we could take her ... On Friday, Helen emailed ... that a girl had contacted her about Inky.  Come to find out she had found four puppies on the same road earlier in the day and had picked them up but missed the one that Helen found. She came right away and picked up the puppy (they were all from a litter) - can you believe it - she was a rescue person. By Saturday she had shots and was wormed and ... Helen emailed me to say that she got adopted !”

 Quick work during the puppy season. And, no doubt, someone else will now think rural areas near Terrell are great places to dump puppies.

OBVIOUSLY AN EARHOUND: We got the weekend report from Carrollton Animal Services Joe Skenesky and he reports that no cats are in danger right now, but there are some dogs that need a way out of the city shelter.

Among them is this dog, obviously an Earhound, who appears to be frisky and ready to romp. All he needs is a place to go.

And, who knows why, but for some reason his name is “Turtle.” He’s a small rat terrier who was a stray. According to his official story, some people found him and after a couple of weeks of being unable to find a home for him, delivered him to the Carrollton shelter in hopes of having better luck. He’s a 12- to 15-pound cuddler who probably is under 2 years old.

To ask about adopting any animal in the Carrollton shelter, call 972-466-3420 or e-mail [email protected]. To see animals at the shelter, click HERE.

IN GRAPEVINE, WINE AND CRITTERS: The Third Annual Canines, Felines and Texas Wines is scheduled from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday (April 25) at La Buena Vida Vineyards in downtown grapevine. The vineyard will be taking in cash, food, blankets, paper towels, bleach, litter and toys for animals.  The event includes a silent auction, critters and, of course, wine.  See www.labuenavida.com.

GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY: We got a note from Lacy Milani-Ingals about an animal/people event scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 pm. Saturday in Preston Center in Dallas – Duxiana and Shelton High School Volunteers will be celebrating Global Youth Service Day and there’ll be dog adoptions on-site. (It’s at 6134 Berkshire Lane (just west of Preston at Northwest Highway.) You can get all the details – there’ll be pizza! – at the Metroplex Mutts website, www.metroplexmutts.org.

VACCINATION IN GUN BARREL CITY: The Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake spay/neuter clinic in Gun Barrel City will be the site of an incredibly low-cost vaccination clinic from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. It’s at the corner of 198 and 334, “just behind and east of the Huddle House Restaurant.” rabies shots are $10, parvo/distemper vaccination is $15 for dogs; cat vaccinations are $15; microchipping $20 and heartworm testing $20. And there’ll be Frontline Plus for sale. Call 903-887-PETS for more info. Dogs have to be on a leash, cats must be in carriers. Some kids should be hobbled – I’m kidding.

HOOTER GIRLS DOG WASH ON THE WEST SIDE – The West Side Animal League’s annual Fido Fest is scheduled May 1. WSAL is looking not only for people to stop by and have fun, but also looking for volunteers and vendors. There’ll be games, contests, art projects and – easy boys – the Hooter Girls Dog Wash. The Fest site is Gateway Park, 1701 N. Beach, in Haltom City. They’re still looking for sponsors and vendor booths – e-mail [email protected] to ask about that. And to volunteer, e-mail [email protected] or call 817-320-0399.

CONTEMPLATIONS: Wouldn’t it be ironic if, instead of a manmade cloud of stuff stifling the planet, nobody could figure out a way to shut down that volcano in Iceland and we all had to learn to breathe ash through our gills? What gills? Well, we’ll see. ... The Texas Rangers. Ouch. Those New York Yankees weren’t all that nice to ‘em over the weekend. And surely the Rangers won’t be able to fire their manager – who knows who owns the team, so what manager would sign to replace him without knowing who he was working for? Are the Rangers currently the messiest franchise in big league baseball? ... We Googled for a pronunciation of the Icelandic volcano and this is what turned up: “AY-yah-fyah-lah-YOH-kuul” which almost sounds like, “Hi, ya fellow yokel!”  The name is said to mean “Island mountain glacier.” And, don’t you know there are some smarty-pants kids who score high this week on current events quizzes because they’ll be able to spell the name Eyjafjallajokull. What could be causing this volcanic activity? Might as well blame Wall Street, Congress or Lady Gaga. 

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Under the warming lamp...

 
Oh, boy, this is what you might call a “brood of cats.”

And I think you’ll see how we can apply a poultry term to a feline situation.

We get the stories of these nappers from Deborah Montana who nominated their photos for our weekend feature “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.”

Here’s her story:

“We have 4 outside/garage cats who all came up as strays. My husband, James, and I feel that if  ‘each one would take one’ we would nip this feral cat problem at Holly Lake Ranch.

“All four are outside cats who are fixed and receive their shots and have yearly vet checks. They live in a Shabby Chic Hilton we have set up for them in our garage. We leave the garage door cracked all the time and they come and go as they please.

“I realize that this sends chills up and down the spines of people who want all animals inside at night. I am one of those people, too. But we have tried to trap them to keep them inside the garage at night, but one or two escape before the door is closed and then they are left outside. They also run away. They are scared to come inside with our very large dogs.

“So our commitment to them is to offer them accommodations so cushy they will stay! They have several beds on high places all over the garage. Five bowls of food in high and low places, two water bowls.  

“In the pictures you can see the chicken heat lamps that warm them during the winter. We also do the warming disks and put them in their beds twice a day.  There were times this winter when they were warmer then we were. I told my husband that I was going to buy him his own chicken warming lamp for Christmas next year! 

“In the photos you will see Cotton, Teddy, and Little Black Cat roasting under the heat lamp in their beds.

“When Teddy came he had so many ear mites that his head was bloody from scratching and he had lost most of the fur around his ears which were black and oozing! He spent a week at the vet with his ears packed with antibiotics. He came home a new man and never left.

“I also included a photo of Thumbody asleep in the swing. But to appreciate his comical looks I threw in a picture of him ‘fixin’ to sleep.

“He came to us last summer just a big bag of bones with a bloody face and neck.  He was so tired he just plodded through the yard day after day. It was very, very sad.  

“I worked with him all summer long gaining his trust. I prayed and sang Jesus Loves Thumbody over and over to him. Finally one day he let me touch him and he was hooked.

“The vet says he is well into his double digits, sees some shadows, and he does not hear so well, either. He had been a real fighter Tomcat. He eats, goes potty just off the driveway in a little patch of woods, then sleeps in his bed or on the pillow on the swing when the weather is nice.

“He also likes the mat by the inside door..I put a bed there too, but he won't get in it!  I don't think he ever had a home.

“We hug and swing every day and I still sing to him. Teddy sits by my right side and Thumbody snuggles in my arms. The other two walk on the arms of the swing or roll around on the drive way pavement.  This is the good life for four guys who had nowhere to go.  

“Our four little cats are now a colony and while they will let other cats into the garage for a snack, they pretty much rule our property and stay right here.  It's a blessing to have them. We are so glad that they let us love them.”

(To nominate your snoozing critters for spotlighting in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send photos and info to [email protected]. As insomniacs, we are proud to promote the beauty of sleeping, something that generally escapes us. And, we learn from these sleepers and nappers. In fact, as soon as I hit the “go” button on this post, I’m on my way to a farm and ranch store to buy a chicken-warming lamp. I’ll try anything.)

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Puppies, pinheads and recollections

For some reason, we have a ton of puppies in the news today. Oh, wait, now I remember why: Because some people are idiots.

They either don’t care or they never quite caught the hang of that whole birds and bees thing.

It’s not that we don’t like puppies and kittens, but the situation is we do love them. We just hate to see them in danger because pinheads won't spay and neuter. Here’s our report:

ONE-EYED MOM AND A LITTER: Oh, brother, this is a tale that has to have a back story involving humans letting down animals.

We get the tale from Patricia Barrington, the Animal Control Division Manager for The Colony.

She says that “on the 13th, we had a pair of Black Labradors arrive at the shelter. They were found in the [Lewisville] Lake bottoms next to a soccer complex.

“The female was obviously pregnant and equally obviously had a single eye.  We named her Prego. 

“On the 14th, we all arrived at work to find Prego with two pups -- by 11 a.m., there were 8.  Eight little pitch black bundles, cute as can be and their one eyed momma … in a shelter. 

“Prego is available to leave the shelter on the 17th and we so hope that she will get that opportunity.  She’s a happy, affectionate girl and a loving attentive mother.  Pups are precious.  Both Mom and Pop appear to be Labs.  It’s a shame no one is hot on their trail, frantically looking for them.”

To ask about giving all these dogs (or any animals at The Colony) e-mail [email protected] or call 972-370-9250.

AND AT SEAGOVILLE: We got a note from veteran Rescuer Stephanie Mosby about an episode yesterday. “While at the Seagoville Shelter this morning, I was shown these WAY too cute 7- or 8-week-old puppies -- look like Black Labs, Hard to tell at this point if they're purebred but sure do look it!  They had just been brought in by a guy who said ‘he found them.’ No mama. Hmmmm.”

She says the puppies -- that's one on the left -- are all boys. “They look healthy but need to get out of that shelter.”

Stephanie says she’ll help with rescue and transport. E-mail [email protected].

VACCINATION CLINIC: Patty Sprong sends us a note about a Vaccination Clinic scheduled 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Hurst Animal Services, 891 Cannon, in Hurst. You can pay $5 for rabies shots and get microchips for $10. This is sponsored by Hurst Animal Control and HART (Humane Animal Rescue of Texas.)

WANDERING DOXIE: Well, my goodness, look at this sweetie. Yep, a wanderer. We got the first tip on her from Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake which operates the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic in Gun Barrel City, Texas.

The dog was found wandering the streets of Mabank, Texas, about 45 minutes southeast of Dallas on Highway 175.

The little guy is neutered and was found roaming. Gina Sullivan says nobody has claimed him and her famiy is trying to find a proper home for him. He’s good with kids, cats and other dogs.

To ask about helping this dog, email [email protected], or [email protected] or call 903-887-7564 or 214-632-4279.

IN SUCH A MOOD: We got a note from Pat Wright that began, “I need a bunch of 2 X 4's for the irresponsible people who allow these animals to be born and then won't care for them!”

You’ll note there are some puppy photos with this item. Pat lives in Bullard, south of Tyler, about 2 hours east of Dallas on I-20.

Here’s the rest of Pat’s frustration:

“Don't know what to do with the now 4 we have acquired this week!! Saturday morning our next door neighbor found a little injured female puppy laying in the grass in her front yard.  She was on her way to a church thing, so she brought the dog over to me.  Little dog seemed to be injured, sore ribs and back, very fearful and a ‘leaking problem’ when touched. She is getting much better and screams bloody murder when I get out of sight!
“Tuesday, while outside with her and our 4 male Chihuahuas, I saw 2 little dogs at the back of the fenced yard. Two more females, her mother and sister!!  Both very skittish, and very hungry. I finally got them in the yard. The first puppy seems to have a little Dachshund in her, so I named her Shelley (she's long), the mother looks like a pug -- -maybe a Chihuahua mix -- and looks like Roxie to me. The little one, whom we have to corner to catch, looks more Chihuahua, but has really long legs. Am waiting for a return call from Friends of the Animals to get Roxie spayed. Don't think the babies are much over a couple of months old.  A litter of puppies is the very last thing we need!

“In addition to these 3, we have the 4 dogs, 4 cats, feed about 8 feral/stray cats, and I have been feeding a pit bull living in the woods across the street for almost a year and still can't get too close to her. She waits for her food, but doesn't come back out to eat till I leave.  Several people have stopped and said they would like to have her. Anyone have any ideas to get her to safety?

“I would love to be able to find good homes for the mother and long-legged puppy, at least. They are all very bonded and love everybody, even though one is hard to get close enough to touch. To get them to go outside, we just go out and they quickly follow and go potty. They sleep in a crate at night and even though they have probably spent their lives in a backyard, there have been no accidents except Shelley is still having a little leaking problem.

“If anyone needs a little love bug, I can be reached at [email protected].”

Just FYI: After we got this first note from Pat, a second arrived: “Our mail lady just stopped to ask if I knew anything about the puppy (big dog puppy) that had followed her from the back of the subdivision and is now under our front porch!”

A BOY NEEDS SOME HELP: We’ve gotten a number of messages about helping this fellow. He’s a foundling who wound up with Laura Jost in Frisco.

And Kristin Riebel of Frisco Humane Society says the group is trying to find a home for him but needs some help. “We debated his breed\ but I see a big ol’ Lab tail and Lab ears – he’s just short the hair,” she says.

Yes, indeed, the guy has mange – the Demodex variety, according to the vet. And he’s also got a “light” case of heartworm.

He’s cute and friendly, he just needs a break.

To ask about him, email [email protected] or [email protected] or call 972-335-7332 or 214-683-6506.

Probably he was dumped because whoever had him just didn’t have what it took emotionally or financially to take care of his fixable health problems.

FUNDRAISER FOR FRIENDS: The Friends Night Club in Gun Barrel City is hosting a “dinner and fabulous show” today – tickets are $6 and the proceeds go to the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake Spay/Neuter Clinic, Dinner’s at 6 p.m. and the show is at 8 p.m.

AND HERE’S ANOTHER LITTER: It’s full-on puppy and kitty season at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake Shelter in Tool, Texas. And shelter manager Krista Mc Anally is working to find help for some terrier mixes.

She says, “Mom weighs about 20 pounds and looks like a small shepherd.”

You can see more about them HERE.

The puppies are named Natasha, Lara Croft, Zelda, Luke, Sonic and Mario.  Krista says, “They have had all three of their puppy shots, have been wormed and are healthy.  They have never been in the shelter.  They have been with a foster mom ..... This litter needs rescue to make room for other litters coming in.”

Krista will help with transportation.

To ask about helping these puppies, e-mail [email protected] or call 903-432-3422.

The only brown dog in the litter is Lara Croft – and she’s a cutie.

THEY ALL START TO RUN TOGETHER: I swear, sometimes I think I’m seeing a picture of the same dog over and over.

Here are two examples.

We got the first note on a puppy from Stephanie Jehle. She forwarded a note from her pal Judith Williamson. She reports that her friend “lives out in rural Terrell and people are always dumping puppies and dogs around her house.”

This is one of the dumpees. Sweet dog, quiet.

And she’s one of a parade of recently dumped puppies in the neighborhood. To help this dog, e-mail [email protected].

Then there’s this puppy – one of a number of animals that has shown up on the overworked radar of Gail “Whelan of Companion Animal Network.

The note reads, “One of my co-workers found this puppy at a Laundromat.  ... I have nowhere to put her.  Not sure of breed.  She is ‘scruffy’ around her chin and otherwise sort of fluffy.  About 7 weeks old.”

To ask about this foundling, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-200-6236.

CONTEMPLATIONS: An era is ending in Texarkana. I saw in my hometown paper the Texarkana Gazette that the family-owned La Casa Rosa Restaurant on State Line Avenue in Texarkana is closing this weekend after more than a half-century of serving “closed” fried tacos, enchiladas and other fare. La Casa Rosa was the first place I had Tex-Mex food – other than Mom’s chili out of a can poured over canned tamales and served with Fritos and ketchup out of a bottle and not out of a plastic. La Casa Rosa’s sauce for the chips was a salad dressing-like thick substance that came out of a squirt bottle. As I recall, for many, many years in Texarkana you could get restaurant Tex-Mex from only La Casa Rosa and a smaller place closer to downtown called La Villita. Both were on the Arkansas-side of State Line. I don’t know this for a fact, but I suspect that was because Arkansas allowed sale of beer and liquor in restaurants – Texas had yet to OK “liquor-by-the-drink” in restaurants. Pardon my walk down memory lane, but there also was a place near La Villita called “Spark’s Creamland,” an ice cream place owned by a guy named Sparks. There also was place called Al’s Grocery and it had a big owl on the sign out front – it was the only place in town where you could get a grilled owl panini or a Hootowl wrap. I’m kidding. Nobody had merchandized "wraps" back then. ... How old do you have to get to before you realize you’re totally tedious? I think I’m there.  But, it’s my website and La Casa Rosa deserves a passing note in honor of its longevity as a family-run business. ... Sometimes I wonder if growing up in a town split by a state line – part in Texas, part in Arkansas – is the reason I’ve never developed an identifiable personality and why I have trouble making decisions. ... One good thing I can say about Texarkana: Air travel in and out of Texarkana has never been stalled by volcanic ash. There might have been deer on the runway or drunks, but never volcanic ash.

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Requests for help, animals in need and a big green thing

It’s tax day. Please pay up. The rest of us taxpayers need help toting the load.

Now, as you contemplate listing your dog or cat as a dependant, let’s move on:

DESPERATE FOR HELP: We’ve told the story here before of Teri Reynolds and her husband, Tom – he’s fighting liver cancer and things are getting really tough as medical avenues are closing and hospice is involved.

While Teri works daily with Tom and his needs, they are hoping to find a temporary home for two of their dogs, Brae and Sassy. That’s Brae the Collie mix on the couch and the big somber sweetie is purebred Rottie, Sassy.

As Teri explains in her plea for help, “I really don’t have the extra money at this time to board them. Please find someone to help me out. I’m about to lose it all with this.”
Tom and Teri began this with several dogs and the “boys” are in a temporary home, but the girls are still in need of temporary placement.

To offer to help call 214-812-9247 or e-mail [email protected].

TEMPORARY SPOT FOR A DANE: I talked to Shane Barber yesterday about his attempts to find a temporary spot for his Great Dane Lexie.

For a while it looked as if he had a place for the dog to go, but that fell through, he told me.

So, he’s back to square one, looking for a home for three or four months for his beloved Lexie, a 4-year-old purebred who is “great with other dogs and children.”

Once Shane is “back on his feet,” he’ll be able to take Lexie back into his home.

As fans of Great Danes know, all you really need for them is a hug and a couch, maybe a big rug on the floor. They’re mostly lap dogs – well, within reason.

To help Shane, call 817-829-3634 or e-mail [email protected].

A NOTE VIA LEE HARVEY’S: Our pal Emily Sherwood of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth spotted this dog situation and dropped us a line about three dogs found near the Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff.

The dogs are spotlighted on the Facebook page for Lee Harvey’s, the now-legendary gathering place in Oak Cliff. You can read by them by clicking HERE.

Lee Harvey’s isn’t in the Bishop Arts District, but it is within driving distance, convenient to both downtown Dallas and the Bishop area.

These dogs are – surprise, surprise – little street wandering dogs in Dallas. The town is full of them – it’s not just an Oak Cliff phenomenon.

FROM BURNS FLAT:  In addition to the usual animal rescue stories from Burns Flat, Okla., our tireless tipster Terry Lynn Fisher has been involved in two extraordinary things lately.

First, there’s the case of the hoarded dogs at the Elk City animal shelter.

Terry Lynn and her daughter-in-law, Tara, visited the place and discovered that one of the “hoarded” dogs had delivered five puppies the night before. And there’s a pregnant dog whose “belly is almost dragging the ground and she is going to have them at any time.”

A rescue group n New Mexico is taking some of the many dogs in the shelter, but the other dogs are still out of luck – except that Terry Lynn is putting a spotlight on them in hopes of getting help.  She says only 501C3 groups can pull animals from the shelter. Contact Terry Lynn at 580-330-1459 to offer to help.

In the meantime, she has new photos of the “old” dog that ambled up in the street in front of her house. The first photo shows the pre-groomed, barely able to move dog with untreated ear infections. The second shows the groomed, livelier dog.

After a visit with the dog at the vet’s, she writes, “Oh my gosh, he is fantastic. He is doing so good. His little stubby tail just wagged and wagged. He will still need work on his ears, but overall, he is really in good shape. With love, I think he will have a happy life for several years.”
To offer to help Terry Lynn help any of these animals, call her at 580-330-1459 or e-mail [email protected].

ONE SAVED FROM THE STREETS: Yesterday we reported a brief, sad follow-up from Angel Hutto about a Blue Heeler trapped on an I-20 median at Terrell who “did not make it.”

Later in the day we got this note from Jeffrey Hartman. He writes, “Better ending than the Terrell Blue Healer, but close. I picked up Oscar Friday morning laying in the median on Big Town Boulevard.
“The Vet thinks he jumped out of pickup truck. Skinned up lip, broken tooth, bruised and swelled chest and probably strained wrist.

“Oh yeah, and a hairless ring around his neck where the collar should be. I had to carry him to my truck and then into the vet’s.

“Monday morning he was neutered and [the vet] removed the broken tooth, and being a young fellow, he rebounded very quickly from surgery.

“He’s excited and bouncing around when I walk him during my visits.

“I’ll start fostering him this Saturday to acclimate him to a home environment. He’s fully vetted, 55 pounds and will be adopted through www.Straydog.org or call Jeff at 972-978-3203.”

(Aside from Larry: Isn’t it against the law in Texas to drive around with a dog in the bed of your pickup? Am I misremembering?)

WHAT RESCUE GROUPS NEED: We get notes all the time from such vigorous rescue groups as Paws In The City, the West Side Animal League, Metroplex Mutts, A Different Breed, et al, regarding needs: homes for animals, foster homes, volunteers, money, etc.

It takes a village of volunteers.

For example, Joni McConnell, the volunteer coordinator of A Different Breed sent a note about needing volunteers for the group’s off-site adoption at Oak Cliff Earth Day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Lake Cliff Park (Zang at Colorado, just over the viaduct from downtown Dallas.)

Now, on Saturday ADB will be at its usual spot at Pepper Square at Preston and Beltline in far north Dallas. Here’s the odd request from Joni: “If anyone has an old coffee-maker they don’t use anymore, can you bring it up to Pepper Square? It’s our only source of hot water if we need it.”
To offer your coffee maker to a good cause, e-mail [email protected].

MEANWHILE IN EULESS:  Odd event at the Euless Animal Shelter, we hear from Stephanie Cronk, the advisor to Euless Trinity High School’s GAP Club, which had “adopted” the shelter. At the shelter on Tuesday, all the dogs were girls. Every last one of them a girl. No boys, she reports.

So, we took a look into the Euless shelter via the ol’ digital photo cybercam avenue and found, on Stephanie’s note, these photographs of distinct animals that are available for adoption via the Euless shelter.  To ask about any of the animals, call the shelter at 817-685-1594. The shelter is at 1517 Westpark Way in “Euless.  (Animals sponsored by the GAP Club get a price break on the adoption fees.)

Among the animals in the shelter is this dog Kira, described as a “female whippet/Australian Kelpie blend.”

(Larry aside: Yep, again, use of “blend” instead of mix. Sort of gives the critter a fashion edge, don’t you think?)

Ira is an energetic dog and needs someone active to take her in.

Now, while looking at the photos we also saw this incredibly artistic cat Theo. He’s described as a “cow kitty” because of the coat and said to be “hilarious.” He’s friendly and loves to be petted and, apparently, had been someone’s love bundle before he wound up in the shelter.

Regarding the third photo: Euless has a two-headed kitten....I’m kidding. Those two are Star (left) and Night, two of the many kittens in the Euless shelter.  One great thing about kittens is they are a lot of fun when they travel in pairs.

CONTEMPLATIONS: Have you caught the Timothy Olyphant lawman series Justified on FX yet? It’s like watching a young Clint Eastwood. Anyway, while watching this week’s episode I kept thinking that the woman playing tough-talking, knife-wielding, barfly-lookin’ Aunt Helen looked familiar. Sure enough, the actress is the gifted and fab Linda Gehringer who made her stage bones in Dallas before going on to many roles including the searing Fontana Beausoliel in Burt Reynolds’ hit sitcom Evening Shade. ... Dallas hosted a retirement ceremony for Police Chief David Kunkle, leaving after 5 years on the job. So, that’s two places you can retire after 5 years – major league baseball and Dallas police chief.

The average retirement in big league ball comes after 5.6 years according to this STUDY. And the average salary in big league baseball this year is $3.something million – click HERE. The police chief was making not nearly that much and probably not having as much fun, either, even though he was getting to play hardball every day. Click on the Texas Tribune site HERE.  ... That photo? It’s a magnificent creature that lit on the underside of a handrail on our back porch yesterday. I figure it’s a moth, but I have no idea what kind and if it’s normal to see it in Oak Cliff, Texas. (Anybody know?)  It was sure big – about the size of a hubcap. I’m kidding. Probably it was 3 inches across, still big in the world of moths, but small in the world of Mothra!

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Bad romance, sad situation & Mercy...

The City of Dallas brushy pickup people finally showed up yesterday afternoon and took the big pile of storm-victim limbs out of the front yards on our street. Just about three weeks past the scheduled pickup date, they were.

So I’ll be spending a good part of my day mowing the yard – in the part where the limbs were, it’ll be like taking a lawn mower on a safari and trying to flush wildlife out of the veldt.

One more thing we'll address -- some of you will recognize the dog in that photo -- Mercy. We have a contemplation about Mercy. First, here’s our midweek report.

USE YOUR IMAGINATION: We don’t have a picture to go with this, but you can surely use your imagination to illustrate the situation. We get the story from rescuer Mary Muller who is already out of room at her place and is looking for help.

She writes, “I have found out that one of my neighbors threw out his wife a few days ago,  and if someone doesn't find a home for the dogs by Saturday morning he is going to take her dogs ‘somewhere’ and set them loose.”

The dogs that need help are a 10-month-old purebred Black Lab female, a 3-year-old Pekinese male and a young female dog that is “quiet for a terrier.”

Mary says, “This guy is taking his anger out on these dogs. He won’t listen to anyone and will get rid of them any way he has to.”

The only way to reach Mary is via e-mail [email protected].

(Larry aside: One might remind this angry fellow that animal abandonment is a crime in Texas and no sense letting a fouled romance be complicated by a criminal charge. Take the high road. You’ll feel better about yourself and you won't be wearing a county-issued jailhouse jumpsuit.)

A MOM AND LITTER IN A FIELD: We get this note via Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake and it’s appropriate because here are some dogs who really need some friends. The original request for help comes from Lisa Malaby. It reads: “I work in a rural area between Athens, Canton and Eustace (actually Henderson County but near Van Zandt). There is a stray dog who has a litter of pups in a field out there. She comes to my job and on the days I am there I feed her. But since I'm not there all the time she may not get treated so nicely by other people.

“Last year she had a litter of pups and I would hear them crying and could not get to them, then there was no more crying. It is breaking my heart that she is so skinny, but nursing and she has to cross a pasture and county road to get food from me. I gave her some slices of bread. That was all I had, she ate a slice, carried some off, then returned buried a slice in the wooded area.”

To help Lisa save these dogs, call her cell at 903-286-0707 or home at 903-677-3479 or e-mail [email protected].

UPDATE ON A HEELER IN A MEDIAN: Angel Hutto, the veteran rescuer who was trying to get help for a Blue Heeler living in a median on I-20 near Terrell reports that the dog “did not make it.  His suffering has ended. The ones who threw him away like trash probably didn't even have a second thought. I wish they realized what they did that poor baby and it haunts them the rest of their lives."

CAT MAGNETS: Honestly, our Houston tipster Edna Taylor and her hubby Frank must absolutely be cat magnets. Little Walter is an example and about that photo of the hand encircling Walter’s face, that’s titled “Now this is one easy-going cat.”

Here’s the story from Edna: “Frank and I were walking last week and found Little Walter.  He was by the lake in Summerwood and when I sat down next to him, he crawled in my lap and just started purring. He did have a nasty old collar on with a bell but he was not neutered so someone didn't care too much about him.  Every time a car would pass by he would cower as if he was afraid. For all we know, his ‘family’ could have simply tossed him out in hopes that someone (like us) would come along and take him, so, we did.  Little Walter is a brown and white tabby boy, about 1 year old, only about 8 pounds and likes to have his nose kissed.”

Walter, who was neutered, tested and vaccinated earlier this week, is a “rough and tumble boy. He is no mamby-pamby Persian (no offense to Persians) because he likes to play and he likes to play rough so no children under 12 and/or no parents who are afraid that Walter may take a nip out of little Timmy's hand.”

Walter can be your cat because, Edna says he is “free to a good home --of course, that means a home visit, adoption application, and interview by ME.”

To ask about adopting Little Walter, e-mail [email protected].

CATCHING UP IN BURNS FLAT: Two things from our tipster, the tireless rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher of Burns Flat, Okla.

The old guy who hobbled up to the curb in front of her house is at the vet and he is “not 110; he is only between 11 and 14.” But he is continuing to improve and while still at the vet’s, he is “really improving,” says Terry Lynn. She’ll get us some after photos soon – her camera batteries died yesterday.

In the meantime, she’s hustling to find relief for a bunch of hoarder dogs that are currently in the Elk City animal shelter. She was told last week that the dogs were safe, but something fell through.

The dogs are all little dogs and were taken from a hoarder who had become overwhelmed. They’re all under 20 pounds, some are pregnant. And the clock is ticking. Only rescue groups can claim them, Terry Lynn says. She’s trying to find temporary housing and permanent safety for them. Call her at 580-330-1459. That’ll be quicker than e-mail today, but you can also e-mail her at [email protected].

COCO STILL NEEDS A HOME: Cathy Burk sent an update on Coco, the pit picked up with a poodle off the side of a road in Cedar Hill several weeks ago by a goodhearted friend.

Cathy reports that Coco “has had her shots, is heartworm negative and on preventative medicine, approximately 18 months old, 50 pounds and is not spayed yet.  She is very playful and loves rope toys!  She really loves anything she can play with.  We are trying to get her into a rescue, but so far no luck.  We will have to start boarding her soon as my friend will not be able to keep her much longer. .

You can see Coco’s photos on Facebook HERE.

To offer to help Coco, call 817-228-0899.

AND COYOTE REMAINS UNCLAIMED: We’ve mentioned Coyote before.  Alison Justice is trying to help a friend find a place for this dog, a victim of economic circumstances in that her people are having to move from a house into an apartment that isn’t friendly to dogs of this size.

Coyote is spayed “loveable and very gentle” and, as her current human says, “doesn’t deserve the pound as that is where she was adopted from 7 years ago. I would die before I would ever bring her there again.”

To ask about helping Coyote, e-mail [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS:  For some reason the name Deshawn Quattrail Brown went zipping through my largely idle brain earlier this week and I sent an e-mail to my pal Jonnie England, noted rescuer and animal protector, asking about him – he was 21 four years ago and, according to court testimony, a vicious young man. You may recall that he’s the guy convicted of dousing Mercy the Pit Bull with gasoline and setting her ablaze.  (That’s a photo of Mercy after initial treatment, before the all-over burns and inhaled fire got her. Her ears are burned crisp and her lungs are seared. A team of people rallied to try to save her, but the crime was irreversible.)

My justicespouse Martha and I were in the courtroom with Jonnie and a bunch of other animal lovers for this trial. Jonnie says his 4-year sentence in state prison “will be up later this year."

Jonnie is also accustomed to trying to help me figure out the things that dash through my brain. She explains, “You’re probably remembering that it was 4 years ago April 13 that he stabbed Mercy, doused her with gasoline, set her on fire, and left her to die.”

Jonnie, now the Director of Animal Advocacy and Communications for the Metroplex Animal Coalition, was executive director of Operation Kindness, the no-kill shelter in Carrollton back then. She recalls that it was four years ago on “April 14—which was Good Friday back in 2006—that she was found and taken to Operation Kindness.  And 10 days later, she died. Those are 10 long days I’ll never forget. “

Nobody should ever forget and each day someone needs to make a point to a creep somewhere that animals have the law on their side in this state and others. Maybe that’ll prevent some ugly things. And if the warning doesn’t work, well, make a call and help get some cells ready for the bad guys. Civilized people have to win -- for the sake of the animals, the children and the meek.

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Springtime and critters...

We’re fully involved in one of the most glorious springtimes ever around here. Some of us are stricken by the beauty of the bluebonnets and other blossoms. And some of us are stricken by the pollen. As we consider whether Spring 2010 is nothing to sneeze at, let’s move on into today’s report:

CLOSE CALLS IN DALLAS: There are a bunch of animals – dogs and cats – on the “urgent” list at the Dallas Animal Services shelter – they’ve got an April 26 “put to sleep” designation.

We’ve picked two cats for highlighting today. First up is Quesadilla (with the toothy grin for the camera) and then there’s all-dressed up in a tuxedo Quiche.

Why are they on the menu?

Quesadilla, a 1 ½-year-old tabby, came in as a stray. And Quiche, about a year old, was an owner-surrender.

Animals wind up in shelters for all sorts of reasons. And they leave the shelters in only three ways: Someone adopts them, a rescue group claims them or they fall victim to the traditional Texas method of handling animal “problems”: Let’s kill it.

You can see these animals and others at www.dallasanimalservices.com and you can see them in person by going to the Dallas Animal Services Adoption Center at I-30 West and Westmoreland on the western side of Dallas.

CLOSE CALL IN HOUSTON—A WOULD-BE FATAL STONING: We first heard about this ugly incident from Houston tipster Alexandra Kelsey. She began her e-mail, “Death by stoning is more of a process than an event.  Once the victim is well restrained, the attack begins.  The initial blows will cause pain to the victim.  The subsequent accumulation of blows will, in addition to causing pain, destroy tissues and break bones.  The amount of agony the victim endures before death will depend in part on the attackers' strategy.  In the case of Sweetie, the attackers were not able to carry their plan to its end; they were interrupted by a woman who was so horrified at the sight of high school students stoning a dog that she stormed out of her apartment and managed to rescue this Mastiff mix.”

As you can see from this photograph, Sweetie was saved. She is now living in a relaxed fashion with foster mom Theresa Ojobaro, but as Theresa told me this morning, Sweetie, underweight at 76 pounds, is recovering her energy and “becoming more than I can handle – she is  more than half my size.”

Theresa says nobody knows what happened to Sweetie’s puppies.

So, now, it’s just Sweetie depending on the kindness of people to “transition” her from abused dog to beloved family pet.

Theresa says Sweetie gets along great with her dogs, but not so swell with cats. And while she has been treated for all the usual parasites you’d expect to find in a neglected and abused dog and gotten her shots, she is still going to need heartworm treatment.

To help Theresa find a place to give Sweetie a good life, call 713-498-1663 or e-mail [email protected].

SLEEPERS/NAPPERS NEEDED: We’re looking for a re-supply of our inventory of snoozer photographs for our weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Remember, all we need is a picture of your critters sleeping and some info about them and you. At Readlarrypowell.com we see this as an ongoing project of inspiration – yes, sleeping and napping critters inspire us insomniacs to do the same, maybe. Send the photos and info to [email protected].

DISTINCT DOGS: One of these dogs, Noah, is new to our cyberpages, and the other, Faith, is inexplicably still unclaimed after months of fostering.

What they have in common is that both are under the wing of the Companion Animal Network. Here are their stories from CAN’s Gail Whelan:

Noah, described as “an older collie” even though he’s only 7,  “was found last Thanksgiving on a busy road.  His rescuer has had all his vetting done (neuter and all vaccinations), even having a blood panel run on him because of his age.  He is a healthy, happy dog who just needs someone willing to love a 7-year-old.  Noah is 62 pounds, house-trained and a total cuddle bug!  His foster mom has Noah on flea/tick and heartworm preventatives, as well as daily vitamins and fish oil.  His foster mom also has an L.L. Bean dog bed to donate, as well as a 2-step and 3-step stairs.  Noah DOES have one small medical issue -- he has arthritis in his hips.  But he gets around beautifully.  Stairs are just not the best thing for him.”

Now the dog in the fancy collar is Faith, a Boxer-Lab mix, has been in CAN’s care for a while and currently is boarded at “the Velvet Snout in Richards – they are very taken with her,” Gail says. “Faith goes to day care almost every day and is playing well with everyone.  She is very affectionate and will ‘hold and hug’ you.  While she is safe and loved at The Velvet Snout, we will not be able to continue paying for her boarding.”

To offer to help either or both dogs, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-200-6236.

ASSORTED NOTES:

--Here’s some inspiration for you folks who are involved a long-term foster situation that seems to be getting longer and longer. It comes in an upbeat note from our pal Sheri Olson about a former sleeper from our weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. She writes, “Well, it finally happened. Clancy (the Catahoula/Basset hound mix from ART) got adopted! We fostered him for over a year. He was one of your sleeping dogs stories last April with Jazzmyn our Great Dane mix. Keep the faith! Miracles do happen!”

--The annual Collin County Humane Society Fundraiser Garage Sale is scheduled for April 24 and our tipster DeDe Whitcombe says the society is still accepting donations for the inventory.  Details at www.collincountyhumanesociety.org and you can arrange to donate items to the sale by e-mail [email protected].

--You and your critter (dogs on leashes, cats in carriers) can attend the Blessing of the Animals from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Sweet Peas store on the square in Athens. The blessings will be administered by Pastor Kathy Bowser of Celebration on the Lake Church. And each blessed pets gets a “Certificate of Blessing” and a bag of homemade treats. We got this tip from Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake which operates the world’s most successful  spay/neuter clinic in Gun Barrel City.

CONTEMPLATIONS:  Here’s a shame of fate, perhaps: One of the greatest baseball players of the modern era, Ichiro Suzuki, has spent his career with the never-going-anywhere Seattle Mariners and never had a chance to play in the World Series.  Of course, he’s paid quite well to suffer in Seattle. ...  What’s the deal with all the earthquakes recently? Anybody else willing to blame the Large Hadron Collider in underground Switzerland? ... Summertime daydream for old-timers: Taking a  cruise on LaSalle’s Riverboat Adventure at Six Flags Over Texas.  This does two things: (1) Reminds us that Six Flags has changed since it opened in 1961 and (2) maybe it’s time we re-read our Texas History book and brushed up on the exciting history of Texas, a state where the amusement park once taught lessons other than “don’t eat a lot before you ride the Big Bend double-loop roller coaster.”

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Little dogs, big rodents and other things...

Seriously, did you rise early Sunday to watch the implosion of Texas Stadium? And did you wonder why nobody sold advertising on the roof just for that one event?

Well, human events aside, let’s look at some animal things:

MAY DAY EVENT: The Texas Animal Shelter Coalition is again sponsoring a giant adoptathon on the parking lot of the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington – it’s from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 1, and it’s called “Lone Star Pet Adoptathon: Tailgate ’10, Adopt & Win!” I think that’ll fit on a T-shirt, but it’s probably too much for a tattoo on your bicep.

Animal groups will be there with adoptables. And there’ll be vendors and other attractions.

Get all the details at www.sheltercoalition.com – you and your group can also sign up at that site.

DOGS IN DENTON: Oh, goodness, what a sight. We get the story on this dog from our Denton Animal Shelter tipster Amy Pelzel.

She reports that this Great Dane, now called “Slim,” was “found as a stray by the county officers. He is extremely thin and has blisters on his skin. He is about 2-4 years old and weighs only 70 pounds. He is a sweet boy who needs to go to a rescue before getting adopted. He is good with the other dogs we have had him with. He is VERY calm.”

You can read more about him and other animals in the Denton shelter by going to www.denton.petfinder.com.

Just FYI: Amy reports that on Saturday, the shelter adopted out 30 dogs, three cats and two ferrets. Still, she says, “many of our ‘old-timers’ – ones that have been here with us the longest – were not adopted.”

Those include the brown dog Meg, who is under 2 and gets along with people famously.

And there is Buddy(left), an 8-year-old Retriever mix. Amy says, “His family dropped him off at Dove Creek Vet Hospital a couple of months ago to be euthanized because they could not take care of him anymore. The vet there tried for 2 months to find him a home and was not successful so they gave him to us. We have had him now 2 weeks and his time is running out. He is fully vetted, heartworm NEGATIVE and GREAT with other dogs and people. He has a little arthritis but we have meds for that. He is just a great boy who has been through so much change lately and even through it all he is a great boy!”

To ask about any of these animals contact the shelter and e-mail [email protected].

THE CLOCK TICKS ANEW: It’s a new week and the clock is ticking again on animals at the Carrollton Animal Services shelter including Crinkle, the stray cat who likes to have his ears rubbed and his back stroked – but who among us does not like that sort of thing?

Then, there’s Chubs, the Husky mix, who may have some arthritis working and, rather than go to an adoptive home right away, should probably go into a rescue group that can treat him and get him into a more comfortable condition, as per the hopes of Carrollton’s shelter guy Joe Skenesky.

Then there’s 10-year-old Chihuahua mix Scamp, who, according to the official report, was “released to the shelter by his people who have lost their job, and could no longer afford to take care of this sweet boy. ...  He is a sweetheart of a fellow, and is on the smaller side of things weighing in at about 10-15 pounds or so.”

To ask about any of these animals, call 972-466-3420 or e-mail [email protected].

FROM EVERMAN: We got a pass-it-on note that originated at the Everman Animal shelter regarding a couple of dogs and a need for supplies, particularly bleach, Dawn, Lysol and laundry soap.

It’s obvious at first glance that Everman’s little dog Reba is today’s Earhound. She’s terrier mix – little dog – and has a set of ears that seem to be saying, “I hear ya, but let’s keep it on the down low.”

The story on Reba is she’s having to live in the cat room, but she may be allergic to cats.

Then, there’s Aussie mix Toby, a nice, friendly dog who has a great look and demeanor.

These photos come from Karen Dussell’s camera and this site HERE.

To ask about adopting any animal at the Everman shelter, call Shelter Manager Teresa Weldon at 817-561-5495 or e-mail [email protected].

OL’ TATER: Well, this cute dog is a dog in a fix, according to our tipster Tina Hamilton of Happy Tails of Gun Barrel City.

He’s a neutered male terrier who is affectionate.

But his elderly human has died and now he has no home and nobody.

To ask about him, e-mail [email protected].

SOME DOXIE NEWS: You may recall the case of Luci, the Dachshund turned over to the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake shelter in Tool when her human could not afford bladder stone surgery for the dog. We get a report from the Humane Society shelter manager Krista Mc Anally that Luci “has had the surgery and has returned home to her owner. She is on antibiotics and is recovering nicely from her surgery. We were able to raise the money not only for her surgery but also an HSCCL supporter donated a year’s worth of her special diet. And Texas Little Cuties Rescue donated a year’s worth of HeartGuard.”

And another older Doxie, Winnie, was picked up by Dachshund Rescue, Krista says, adding, ”Thank you to everybody who donated and supported these two girls.”

In case you wondered, there are still animals awaiting adoption at the shelter – see them at www.hsccl.org.

FERRIS UPDATE: For those keeping up with the animal shelter situation in Ferris, the Ellis County Press has a report HERE.

ANIMAL PEOPLE HELPING HUMANS: As we’ve often said here at Readlarrypowell.com, animal people are some of the best people people you can find. Here’s an example. Our pal Dianne Cole, who is a big fan of big ol’ dawgs, is also making an effort to fight arthritis. She’s hunting for pledges  to earn money for the May 15 Dallas Arthritis Walk. To pledge, click HERE. To read more about the Dallas walk, click HERE.

THE BIG HOEDOWN AND THE LITTLE HAMSTERS: Last week we mentioned that a “kind-hearted” volunteer named Janis has been overwhelmed by hamsters – started out with a small number, then, as the little rascals did what came naturally, the population grew. To offer to help foster these little guys e-mail [email protected].

In the meantime, if you’d like to learn about having hamsters, guinea pigs and other little rodent-type pets, the perfect venue is coming on May 2 in Grapevine – it’s the Fifth Annual Texas Guinea Pig Rescue Hoedown and it’ll feature piggy vet exams, costume contests and a “giant capybara.”

A giant capybara? Well, folks, a capybara is the world’s largest known rodent outside of Disneyland – the South American rodent generally weighs in at 140 pounds or so. I’m not sure how big this one is, but you can Google his name, Caplin Rous, and find all sorts of stories about this particular capybara who was born in captivity in Texas and lives in Buda down on the Gulf Coast.

You can get all the details about the Fifth Annual Texas Guinea Pig Hoedown HERE.

And that’s a photo of Caplin Rous lounging with a guinea pig on a sofa. Wouldn’t that startle the in-laws when they dropped by for a surprise visit.

CONTEMPLATIONS:  If you watched the Masters Golf Tournament, did you see all the sponsor’s patches on the shirts and think “NASCAR has taken up golf”? ... Rose early Sunday to watch the TV coverage of the implosion of Texas Stadium – in retrospect, wish I’d slept in. And I’m surprised the king of Cowboy implosions, Quincy Carter, didn’t get to push the button. ... Saw Date Night over the weekend. Don’t buy the hype. Rent any movie featuring William Powell and Myrna Loy. OK, maybe that’s an unfair comparison.  If you think the names of body parts are punchlines, you’ll love Date Night.

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