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To sleep, perchance to sprawl

The word “sprawl” seems to fit this photograph.

This is Mattie and she has the spotlight for our regular weekend feature, “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap” because she is in a deep slumbering sprawl.

Her human, Melissa Singletary nominated her.

Mattie seems to be like one of those sweet relatives who used to drop by the house for a surprise visit back in the ‘50s and ‘60s – before 24-hour TV. They’d say, “Oh, just give me a quilt and I’ll pile up somewhere and be quiet.” So, there’s Mattie, piled up and quiet on a quilt.

This is Mattie’s first time in the spotlight, but Melissa has been here before.  Her cavalcade of pups was featured in October of 2007 in “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.”

I’ve included one of those photos – it’s the one that shows the whole gang snoozing on the bed. Among those pups is a little senior Schnauzer named Buffy, who passed away in December of 2008.

Melissa says, “I was down to single digits for a period of time until Mattie came -- which put me back to 10."

Mattie is a 4-year-old Poodle/Yorkie mix who once belonged to Melissa’s daughter, then came to live with Melissa about two years ago. “A friend of mine rescued Mattie when she was about four months old and being abused by some children who lived across the street.  They would put her in a metal bucket, swing it around and let it loose.  Fortunately, Mattie made it through the doggie underground to my house, then my daughter's and back to me.  She loves her tennis ball and will chase it until my arm falls off.  She is such a sweetie who plays hard and sleeps hard.  She has three doggie brothers and six doggie sisters, and is the youngest one of my group.”

And, they are all championship sleepers.

“I envy my dogs,” Melissa confesses. “Without Ambien, I am a fellow insomniac.”

(To nominate your slumbering critter for worldwide presentation in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, e-mail the photo of the sleeper or napper or hibernator (if it’s an in-law) to [email protected] – be sure to include information about the animal, the in-law and yourself. Remember, we publish these photos so that insomniacs, such as myself, may find inspiration in the animal kingdom and hope that we, too, may be able to nod off at some point in our lives. Can I get an amen?)

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PM Edition: Lacy news; boy in a spot...

We have an update and a newcomer for our Friday afternoon edition:

BLUE LACY UPDATE: The little broken-pawed Texas Blue Lacy who was at the Denton Animal Shelter has been claimed by the Coppell Humane Society. Our Denton tipster Amy Pelzel called with the happy news just after the noon hour. You can read the earlier story by scrolling down to this morning’s edition – it’ll explain the breed Texas Blue Lacy which, as you’ll read, is the official State Breed, much to the surprise of those of us who weren't paying attention with the Texas Legislature was doing serious work.

CUTE DOG UPDATE: Oh, boy, we got a note this afternoon from Claire Vrana, a veteran rescuer and adoptor and fan/volunteer with Straydog Inc. Claire says this is a case of it looked like everything was working out, but, nope.

She says that “this little guy needs a home.  We found him outside of St. James Church in South Dallas –  it was raining and he was trying to get into the church.”

More people should take a lesson from that, I guess.

Anyway, the little guy was severely matted and limping. Claire says that he cleaned up pretty nicely and the vet gave him a clean bill of health. The limp was because he was missing a toenail.

The theory is he’s an under-2-year-old Pom mix. He weighs in at about 16 pounds – but Claire says he “did not seem like he weighted that much to me.” So, obviously, he’s a lap dog who is light on his feet.

“Well, I thought I had a home, but the gentleman who took him is needing to bring him back.  I cannot take him I have 4 pit mixes. [The man] said he did not get along with his cat, and that he chewed something… Well all dogs chew and you need to give it more than a day and a half time --but that is another story.

“My friend cannot take him -- her dog is dog aggressive.  We thought we had a happy ever ending, but not the case.”

The guy who has the dog says either he goes somewhere else or “he is going to take him to the pound, which I cannot let happen,” Claire says.

To ask about helping this little guy, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-405-5980 or 972-661-5136.

CONTEMPLATIONS: The weekend is such a busy time for rescue groups and shelters – there are adoptions scheduled at pet store, next to dog wash “salons,” at the odd address throughout Texas. These rescue group things are nearly all run by volunteers – the fuel of these organizations is what we romantics call “heart and soul.” The commodity is also “heart and soul,” whether it be feline or canine or in some cases rabbits, rodents and other beasts of the earth. They all deserve a place where they are not threatened by mankind. Who knows, if man keeps behaving like he does, there’ll come a time when the animals have this planet to themselves.

If you happen to drop by a shelter this weekend browsing for a friend, you should probably look with a bit of admiration at the shelter employee who is on the job. They aren’t getting rich. They see some unpleasant things each day and they also get to see some happy things now and then when a dog or cat labeled “shelter favorite” dodges the needle and makes it into a good home.

Remember to say something nice to those workers – they probably can’t depend on the city council to thank them for being kind to animals in dire circumstances. And if you run into a city official, why, heck, be nice to them, too. Probably nobody ever just says hello without having a bone to pick, a point to make or a palm to grease. 

Aw, heck, spend the weekend being nice to each other. Maybe it’ll spread into next week.

Now, help me down off this soapbox before it caves in and I say something unkind.

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On Friday, some happy news...

OK, we’re going to start today’s report with good news. Did you see that? “Good news.” Doesn't mean animals aren't still in shelters or in need -- goes without saying around here. But we have had enough angst and anxiety and finally, I’ve got a couple of good news stories to report.

And, of course, we’re going to do some discussing today of a special breed of dog: the Texas Blue Lacy. Ever hear of it? I hadn’t – and I’m a native Texan who was once able to name all 254 counties. But this dog breed...well, read on and you can help this Texas Blue Lacy and other critters.

THE DOG WHO WENT TO COLLEGE: The first time Dianne Cole sent us a photo of the Mountain View College dog (above) you practically needed a set of binoculars to see the skittish rascal.

I’ve included that campus photo here. Stand-offish, you might say.

But Dianne, who works at Mountain View and has a tendency to rescue the tough-to-rescue, got the word out and sure enough, someone was interested in this beautiful dog.

That someone is Phyllis Tallett, who also works at Mountain View. And, now, she and her husband, Tal, have a brand new member of the family at their Waxahachie home.

As you can see from the photo, the once-skittish dog has taken to living the poolside life.

Dianne says that Koa “is one stunning looking dog -- just needs to gain a few pounds.  He has the most beautiful golden eyes I've ever seen.  I only spent a few minutes with him on a couple of occasions, but he seemed to have a great easy going temperament.  Phyllis' husband is from Hawaii, hence the name Koa.  It looks like he's living the life lounging by the pool, huh?  He's got two doggie siblings to run and play with as well as two doggie cousins that are spending some time with them while their Mom is on vacation.  He's one lucky dog.”

How did this happen?

For a couple of weeks, Dianne says, several of the Mountain View employees fed and watered the dog and gained his trust.  Phyllis and Tal even drove up on the weekend to check on the dog.

“Poor thing was so scared for a while that if you even looked like you might take a step toward him, he’d run off. But he’d always come back to the same area.”

On Wednesday of last week Dianne was sitting under a tree with the dog and talking to him and trying to entice him with treats. She’d toss them and he’d eat them. But he wouldn’t get much closer than about 4 feet and he “never relaxed enough to lay his head down, but he closed his eyes and seemed to enjoy my company and the cool breeze. I was sitting right next to his water bowl and he got up and got a drink.  I wanted to reach over and pet him, but was afraid I'd startle him and he'd take off so I just watched.  He went back and lay down.  I almost cried when I had to leave as he followed me a short way and then went back and lay down in the same spot.

“On Thursday afternoon I took him the salami and cheese out of my sandwich -- which he LOVED.  LOL!  I also had more treats for him.  He ate everything right out of my hand and I continued to sit there and talk to him and he finally let me love on him which was quite an accomplishment, although Phyllis had already been able to pet him a little.  He finally got brave enough to walk all around me and was sniffing my clothes and hair (guess he could smell my dogs).  When I walked back to my car he was sitting there watching me go.  I got to the car and when I turned around he was right behind me and I was completely surprised.  When I opened the car door he went back to his spot under the tree and lay down and that's the last I saw him as I was off [the next day].”

A week ago tonight, Phyllis was able to get the dog. Dianne says that she “said it was quite a challenge as the storm was coming in and once she got him in the car she sat with him and then had to climb over the seats because she was afraid to open a door or he might bolt!  LOL! 

“Anyway, she has two dogs at home and she told me this morning they are getting along great.  She says he wags his tell now and seems so happy.  Her daughter is going on vacation and they are keeping her two dogs for a week and one of the daughter's small dogs and the Aussie have decided they really like each other.  “Phyllis says it's really cute to watch them kissing each other.”

Now, here is the key. Diane says, “All it took was patience, a little TLC and some animal lovers to help a beautiful dog get a great home.  I'd almost bet that he's full blood Australian shepherd with the most beautiful yellow eyes I've ever seen and he's probably only a year or two old.  Sorry I rambled so much, but I'm just so happy this dog has a good home.”

Phyllis says that her hubby Tal had been reading “the Pets for Adoption feature every week in our Waxahachie paper for quite a while, so I knew he'd be open to this dog if I was able to gain his trust. It took me 7 days of going out during my work breaks, sitting on the ground, talking gently to him, coaxing him to come closer with bits of bacon. Anyway, being born and raised in Hawaii, Tal wanted to give the dog a Hawaiian name. We searched for Hawaiian dog names and their meanings online and settled on Koa, because it means strong, highly prized, & beautiful, like Koa wood and just like our new sweet dog.”

WRONG EXIT, RIGHT STOP: We recently told the story of how longtime rescuer Stephanie Mosby was traveling on a highway near Terrell and missed her exit. When she went that extra bit of highway, she found a momma dog, a live puppy and a dead puppy. It was a poignant discovery.

If you wonder what has happened to Mom and her surviving puppy, we have what is the beginning of a happy ending for this pair.

Ashley Pickering writes to us, “They are now both safe and cozy in my home. I am a foster for Collin County Humane Society. The Momma is now known as Sarafina (meaning ‘fierce one’ - because she had to be fierce to protect her baby in the wild and against the Texas weather) and her pup is known as Zeus. 

“Both are getting acclimated to ‘family’ life as I have 4 dogs of my own, 1 other foster puppy from a truck-yard litter we rescued, 2 cats, 3 kids, and one husband. 

“Sarafina is doing very well. She loves to rest on the nice big, comfy dog bed and Zeus loves to play with all our dog toys.  They are both gradually putting on weight. Zeus is definitely a gawky little puppy that is doing his best to figure out how to get on couches, go up stairs and get on beds.

“The only thing left to do is to find them a forever home that will hopefully take them both together - because they are completely bonded, Zeus won't sleep in a crate by himself. He just cries until we put him in with his Mom. She makes sure he is always within sight of her - such a great Momma!”

You can ask giving these two dogs their best home ever by going to the Collin County Humane Society website HERE or by e-mailing [email protected].

And, you just have to look at this as an instance where an angel was meant to miss an exit on a Texas highway.

WILLOW AND OLLIE REPORT: You may recall the Yorkie in the Farmers Branch animal shelter – young, blind, afraid. Tossed out in the shelter parking lot, Kathy Nichols reported. A woman came to the shelter and adopted Willow yesterday. “Despite the fact that Willow had an awful night of seizures or some sort of neurological episode, this lady was undaunted and willing to do whatever it takes to give her the very best care, and life, possible. Of course, I asked to be updated constantly....”

On the Ollie front (you recall Kathy’s Italian Greyhound, Ollie, vanished from her yard)...She reports that she “went by the local PetsMart in Addison tonight [Thursday] to post a flyer and it turns out that a regular customer was there a couple of days ago talking about the ‘stray’ that his wife had picked up this week. They were trying to decide if he's a Whippet or an Italian Greyhound. Well, that sounds like Ollie and I have my hopes up that we can make contact with these folks. They sound like good people who think they're providing a home to a stray.” (Click on the poster to make it larger.)

BLISS IS THE NAME: Bliss is a Canaan Dog and she’s got a story about how she wound up in the care of the Companion Animal Network. She’s one of the many dogs that CAN’s Gail Whelan is trying to find a good home for before she shuts down the rescue network. As many readers may recall, Gail, who has labored hard and long to keep CAN vibrant, has been laid off from her job and the burden of rescue is now more than her finances and strength can handle.

She tells me that she still will insist that the dogs go to the right home – you’ll have to pass an audition.

The story on Bliss is she was adopted from the SPCA of Texas. “Within a few months, her adoptive owners took her to a vet clinic to be boarded and never came back,” the report goes. “The clinic tried to find a home for her but was unsuccessful, so Bliss was headed to the pound.”

Gail got Bliss. She found a good home and at the age of 2 Bliss was adopted. Then tragedy struck and, according to CAN’s story, “One day, Bliss' mom went to sleep, but never awakened.  Bliss stayed by her mom's side, just hoping someone would come and help her wake her mom up.  After several days, someone finally found them.  And once again Bliss was alone. “

Bliss is 5, weighs about 55 pounds and is good with cats, dogs and kids. She’s house-trained, leash-trained and crate-trained and she is healthy and current on all shots. She’s also micro-chipped.

She just doesn’t have a home. To give her one, call 214-200-6236 or e-mail [email protected]. Gail has many other dogs she can offer, also, just in case you have a friend who needs a dog.

FROM HEMPSTEAD: Yesterday we wrote about four dogs who’d been “stored” in a horse trailer and threatened with shooting near Hempstead. Angela Sera of Downtown Ranch Sanctuary, Recue & Rehab reports, “Smiling Dog Farms stepped up to take these guys! Give them a round of applause, please.” Smiling Dog Farms is a sanctuary at Wharton.

THE ROADSIDE CAT: Usually Deborah Trevino is writing to tell us about dogs such as Sadie and Charlie and Hambone who are the victims of dumping on a stretch of Malloy Bridge Road

This time she’s got a photo of a cat. Chloe is the name. “She is one of four adult cats, along with 4 kittens on the property where Charlie is. In fact, when he sees the cats beating him to the food, he charges up. Anyway, this little girl has separated herself from the others. According to the man living nearby, she was dumped on the property with an already existing injury to her left eye.  There is no eyeball in the socket.  But, it is an old injury or birth defect which is clean with no infection.  Can anyone take her and give her a forever home?  After working with her for several weeks, I can now catch her.  She puts up a small fight but soon calms down after being picked up.”

To offer to help this one-eyed cat in the land of roaming dogs, or to offer to help the roaming dogs in the land of the one-eyed cat, e-mail [email protected].

A NEW ONE ON ME AND AN OLD DUMPING PROBLEM WITH A TWIST: In the opening today, I mentioned a Texas Blue Lacy. And, as it turns out, the Texas Blue Lacy is the State Dog Breed of Texas. I had to look it up and the Texas Almanac  notes that the 79th Legislature voted to designate the official breed in 2005. It is a Texas breed – but it is not an American Kennel Club breed – though fans of the breed are working on getting the AKC label.

How this comes up is that Readlarrypowell.com got an e-mail from Amy Pelzel, the vigorous volunteer at the Denton Animal Shelter. “Yesterday we picked up the cutest Texas Blue Lacy mix puppy near Dallas Drive in Denton. He was limping badly so we took him to our vet. Turns out, his paw was broken. The Doctor splinted his arm/paw and it is expected to heal in a few (3) weeks. He is about 3 months old, super sweet and loves people.  Simply adorable. We need a great home or rescue for him to go to.”

What’s his name? What else – Blue.

Now, Denton also has a dog with a hard luck case – and this is one of those stories where you just can’t believe what has happened. (Is that not a great jailhouse dog photo? I don't know who took it, but someone at the Denton shelter caught a moment that speaks volumes.)

Amy says, “We have a sweet girl named Hoku who was adopted from us about a year ago when she was a 3-month-old cute little puppy.  

“The family had her for a few months then decided they were going to move to Hawaii and had to quarantine their dog for over 6 months before taking her there. 

“Their plans changed.”

Hoku spent “almost 7 months in a tiny cage never to have seen sunlight outside,” Amy says.

The family retrieved the dog from quarantine last week. “They now don't want to ‘deal with her,’ Amy says.

Why is that? They said, “She has changed,” Amy tells us. “She is now scared and frightened.

“Can you imagine having spent almost half of your life in a cage?

“Good thing is she is out of that home!  We have her and now are looking for a new forever, safe, loving home for her.  She is fully vetted, heartworm negative and ready to go to a home today.

“She is warming up to all of us and does well with the other dogs at the shelter. She will need some love, attention and basically TLC over the next few weeks or months.”

To ask about either of these dogs or any critter at the Denton shelter, e-mail [email protected].

And Google that Texas Blue Lacy – you’ll find out it is a breed that allegedly comes from a happy hookup in Marble Falls – the mix of breeds that gave the state the Blue Lacy, the Texas Almanac says, is Greyhound, scent-hound and “coyote stock.”

CONTEMPLATIONS:  Exercise is a boring event – I had a TV in front of my treadmill in the garage, but the United States of America changed the method of broadcasting and now I can’t watch TV on the treadmill without spending a bunch of money on a converter.  The White House is against fat people, it is apparent. I wonder if there’s a White House program to fund TV converters to help fat people lose weight on treadmills. ... Ask yourself: Do I really care about the Dallas Cowboys’ football practice? Ever been to a football practice of any kind? Turns a game into tedium. Wait, I’m going to take liberties with the language and say it turns a game into tedia – that may be the plural of tedium and we need it because football practice is more than one kind of tedious. ... I’m still chuckling about being a native Texan and never having heard of the Blue Lacy. I just wonder how in the world that got through the Legislature when so many animal-related bills can’t.  You can see other official Texas State Symbols by clicking on this Texas Almanac LINK. Texas has two state peppers, two state mammals and a Legislature that meets only every other year. That’s probably a good thing.

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Thursday: Shelters and shooters and Scouts...

Welcome to Thursday. Named for the Roman god of shopping, Thriftus Urgentus....OK, maybe that’s not right. So, before I continue my lecture on mythology, let’s get into the day’s activities.

GETTING A BREAK AT DAS: There were apparently more adoptions and rescues at the Dallas Animal Services shelter, so, according to the latest DAS bulletin, manager Kent Robertson has given seven dogs a reprieve and they’re safe until Tuesday morning. There had been 22 dogs and a number cats scheduled for the needle this week.

Among the dogs who got the extra time are a couple we’ve featured here before, Abbott, the dog who looks like a high school yearbook photo, and Chino, the dog with the startling eyes. You can see more available animals by going to the DAS website HERE. 

Maybe you won’t adopt Chino or Abbot, but if you adopt another dog, maybe that’ll give Chino or Abbot or one of the other five a break.

Rescue groups should e-mail [email protected] or call 214-670-8298. To adopt, e-mail [email protected] or [email protected] or call 214-671-0249 or 214-670-8312. The shelter is at I-30 at Westmoreland and there’s plenty of parking and the shelter has areas where you can get to know the animal you’re considering.

WHERE THE BIG DOGS ARE WAITING: These two big ol’ dawgs – one a purebred Rottweiller and the other may be a mix -- are waiting in Tool, Texas, at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake Shelter. Indeed, shelter manager Krista Mc Anally is hustling to find homes for them.

Fans of Rotties usually describe them with one word: “adorable.”  Such great faces.

Roxie (left) is a 2-year-old who came into the shelter via animal control and that means her background is a mystery.  But the shelter assessment is she “really, really” likes people. She may have some Doberman in her family tree.

And Estrella, at 4 or 5 years old, is a hefty girl who “walks on a leash and is well-behaved.”

Here’s the rub. Krista reports, “Roxie is heartworm positive and I simply cannot treat any more dogs. I have not tested Estella yet.  If I cannot find rescue for them, they will be PTS 8/4.”

I’ll translate: “Put to sleep on August 4.” That’s next week. Not much time to find homes for two big ol’ dogs.

Krista says that if someone or some rescue group will step up for the dogs, “I will help with transport and whatever else I can.”
Call Krista at 903-432-3422 or e-mail [email protected]. See other adoptables at www.hsccl.org.

A FACE IN IRVING: Sometimes an Earhound has a sad, pretty little face. And that is the case with Barclay, described by Irving’s animal shelter folks as “Poodle(?)-X.”

Could be. Might be a little spaniel in there. Who knows? What is known is that Barclay is 2 years old, weighs 10 pounds, is friendly, healthy and on death row. He’s an owner-surrender and that means someone said, “I don’t want this dog. Do what you have to do.

We got the photo courtesy of Russell Posch, the noted shelter walker who monitors things at the Irving Animal Services shelter. There are scores of dogs and cats at the shelter. Click HERE to read about the shelter, see more animals, learn how to contact shelter personnel. The phone numbers are 972-721-2256 or 972-721-2257.

THE TANK AND MILAN STORY: Many, many people have been fretting over the case of Tank (left) and Milan, a couple of dogs who were losing their home because their family was dealing with a severe health problems.

The good news is they will not be going to a city shelter.  We get the story from Molly Peterson, president of the Collin County Humane Society, who has been helping the family hunt for a safe place for their beloved dogs after the man of the house had a heart attack.

She writes this morning, “Milan was adopted by the friend of a CCHS foster and has another family on stand-by in case that home doesn't work out... but all seems to be going well so far! “Tank is still in need of a home, BUT, since the family is only down to one of his dogs (he had 3) they have all now been fully vetted and they are not so stressed w/ the initial scare of his heart attack. They are now able to hold onto him until he finds a forever home. We do have one offer to transport him to a rescue group in Maine, an offer for someone else to pay for boarding, and an offer for another family to foster home. SO, he is not going to the shelter no matter what.... but he does still need a forever home!”  (To offer more help or a forever home for Tank, e-mail [email protected].)

HOUSTON, WE’VE A CAT PREDICAMENT:  Oh, goodness, not only are dogs plentiful in Houston-area shelters and rescue groups and big-hearted homes, but so are cats and kittens. And we’re going to spotlight a few of them today.

--Our reliable tipster, the veteran rescuer Edna Taylor, has a couple of youngsters who need places to live other than Edna’s house. They are Little Walter (left) and Baby Milton.

Now, you can look at these photos and pretty much guess who is whom.  Or is that who is who? Or should I write around that and say “which is which.” Whatever.

Edna says, “Little Walter is going to be a hard cat to place because, well, he's crazy but Baby Milton is CUTE as a bug in a rug and REALLY need a home.  He only weighs 3 pounds and is 4-5 months old so he will never be a big cat and he gets along well with everyone -- yes, they (the other cats) have taught him all their bad habits already.”

Of course, Baby Milton didn’t get such a great start in life. Edna says, “A family was feeding him dog food in their back yard but would not let him come inside. Then one day he was lucky enough to be scooped up and placed in foster care.”

Little Walter was the kitten Edna and her husband Frank came across during a healthy walk around a lake and took him in. He’s an individual, as you can see in the way he posed for his promotional photograph.

To ask about Milton or Walter or Milton AND Walter, call 713-882-2011 or e-mail [email protected].

--And there’s this situation which Edna tipped us to: Brian Shoemaker has these three cats that have been rescued and he’s trying to find a place for them. He’s approached the usual Houston rescuers and the story has been forwarded to Readlarrypowell.com. After all, they’ve built highways between Dallas and Houston and sometimes people can even drive cats across county lines.

Now, it would figure that the orange cat is Opie (no offense to Opie Taylor of Mayberry). The other young adult is Church. And the kitten is awaiting a name.

Brian writes, “Opie is a male and we had him neutered and he does have his shots. Church is female and she has been spayed and she also has had her shots.  The third one my wife rescued Friday evening at a Starbucks and appears to be close to four weeks old judging by his or her size and this one is just getting to the point he or she is steadier on the feet.”

Opie and Church, says Brian, were “neutered/spayed as a measure to help find them a home faster, but that didn't work out as thought.”

Then the third one came along. And juggling the cats with the family’s two Siberian Huskies is getting to be a challenge.

He says that “we have bent over backwards in trying to find a home for the two older kittens.  They live my garage and I can no longer keep them there ... because of a city ordinance and neighborhood deed restrictions, but most of all it’s not fair to them to have to live in a garage.”

To ask about helping these cats, call 281-710-7464 or e-mail [email protected].

OUT OF THE TRAILER, OUT OF THE GUNSIGHT BUT...: From Hempstead, northwest of Houston, Angela Sera of Dogtown Ranch Sanctuary, Recue & Rehab says there’s still a crisis involving four dogs rescued from a horsetrailer a couple of nights ago. Three of them are brown (that’s one of them) and the other is black.

And, says Angela, “they are still in harm’s way.” She says they are in a temporary location but they need to be in a better location. “They are out of the trailer and not at risk of being used for target practice anymore.”

Target practice?

Here’s the backstory: The dogs had been abandoned at a property when the renter was evicted weeks ago. The property owner locked the dogs in a horse trailer and “told the homeless man they were going to be shot if they were not removed by [Saturday] night. There are now only 4; originally there were 6, a Mom and her pup were not found. This homeless man was being helped with transportation by a friend of his, and they ended up at my front gate desperate for help, I gave them food and crates to move the dogs ... They said they could keep them crated at another abandoned place till I could contact rescue for help.”

Local shelters are full and one county animal control office, says Angela, “implied they would better off shot and killed... It’s very heartbreaking to see a grown man in desperation and near tears needing help like this and nowhere to turn.”

So, as a new day dawns for these dogs, here is the situation according to Angela,
“They are out of the trailer and not at risk of being target practice any more.  Very sad.  We dewormed them and have $250 towards their care ($200 from California and $50 from Houston). They are in an enclosed area with little shelter from sun and rain and 3 of the dogs bully the little 6-month-old pup so he does not get his fair share of food. We are trying to go once a day to feed and give them water, but they really need a place.
“ To get them away from the maniacs who wanted to use them as shooting practice, this was the only place we could find. .... If someone can just take 1 or 2 that would be helpful.  They do not have to go together.  I am concerned for the 6 month old in the heat and the others bulling him/her.”

Call 979-826-2480 or e-mail Angela at [email protected].

NEEDS FEEDING BOWLS: Tina Hamilton, the rescuer who takes in animals from the general area of Gun Barrel City via her non-profit Happy Tails of Gun Barrel City, is looking for some dishes – specifically, she needs a donation of mostly large (but will take all size) stainless steel feeding bowls.

“I am setting up ‘Animal Holding Facilities’ in small towns around here and working with them to find their strays foster homes or a new forever home.”

Donations of bowls and bleach will be very helpful, Tina says. Call 903-880-4124 or 903-275-5990 or e-mail [email protected].

CONTEMPLATION: Sort of hate to see the President of the United States not go to the 100^th anniversary celebration of the Boy Scouts of America. I was a Boy Scout – maybe not such a great advertisement for the organization – but I know a lot of other guys who were Scouts (Cub, Boy and Explorer) who are fine, responsible Americans. There are worse gangs to hang with. In Scouting you learn how to be a good citizen. A salute, by the way, to all the Scouts from Texarkana, Texas, Troop 22, First Methodist Church. Thirteen Scouts – with help from our parents and a great Scoutmaster, Bob Curtis – founded the troop in the late 1950s. Our Scoutmaster is gone and some of our fellow Scouts, but the ideals of manners, loyalty and country live on.  And that’s why the President should have made time for the Boy Scouts of America.  Help me down off this soapbox before it caves in and I have to use some of the life-saving techniques I learned while earning my First Aid merit badge.

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Rd this, gt smrtr, hlp anmls, b knd...

At midweek, a busy calendar faces us and we’re pressing to get things done. If you spot typos, be kind. Remember, I cld b txt msgn the whle tng & tht wld pzul a ton of pepl incldng me. Jst pas ths on to yr frnds & lvd 1s: Dgs & cts n trble evrywhr. That is the long and short of it. Dogs and cats are in trouble everywhere. Shelters are loaded. Rescue groups are bulging.

And wandering dogs are all over the place. What? You say that’s against the law? People MUST restrain their animals? It’s the law? Yeah, and the existence of a law keeps Texas drivers from speeding and changing lanes without signaling. The problem is a lot of people think “law” is a synonym for “suggestion.”

ON THE ROAD – AND IN A TOUGH SPOT: This photo and this note came last night from Johnna Bigley who is among the people who hustle to try to save the dogs dumped in the area of Malloy Bridge Road in southeastern Dallas.

Everybody who works with these dogs is already full up with critters, so, Johnny writes that she is begging for help before “this sweet stray girl” gets hit by a car. She’s new to the ways of the road and may not understand the danger.

“We spotted her last night [Monday] and she's still there tonight ... hopefully we can get her off this incredibly dangerous street. It's heavily traveled by 18-wheelers and dump trucks and they could care less about a dog in the road.

“She's at Beltline and Simonds Road just off Hwy 175 East (near Seagoville). She's so very sweet and comes right up to your car, tail wagging and wants to get in! She runs after you when you leave. It's so heartbreaking!  Can anyone please, please find room for her -- even if you just get her to safety while we continue to network her? ....

“Sadly, there were two other little dogs, one black and one brown, hanging out with her but we weren't able to get their pictures before they trotted away.”

To offer to help with these dogs contact Johnna via 214-673-3844 or [email protected]  or Deborah Trevino  at 214-546-2772 or [email protected] .

A BLIND DOG IN FARMERS BRANCH NEEDS AN UNDERSTANDING RESCUER: Our Farmers Branch Animal Shelter tipster Kathy Nichols began her story of Willow with “Grab tissues – this one’s a real heartbreaker.”  Here’s the story:

“Willow is a 3-5 pound, 3-year-old Yorkie (my guess) mix who was literally tossed out in our shelter parking lot. Willow is blind, and she is absolutely, completely terrified. She will, of course, bite because, well, what else has she got? I got to know Willow today [Tuesday] and her situation just rips my heart out.

“She was in a regular-sized kennel, exhausting herself because it was so huge to her that she couldn't get her bearings. She couldn't figure out where to step, where to lie down, where to do anything. As soon as I picked her up and wrapped her up in a towel and held her close to me, she fell fast asleep. I fixed her up in a smaller cage for the night and tried to set it up so that she could navigate better with her sense of smell, but you can see from the video (link HERE) that she is trying to feel her way around with her front paws, and it makes her very unsteady. The vet checked her out and said that she has no other physical problems besides blindness.

“Well, I'm not going to put poor Willow up for adoption. I can't let her end up in some random and potentially bad situation. I'm putting out the word that she is available for rescue or experienced adopters only. She is just too delicate and needs someone who will absolutely put Willow's needs way high on the totem pole.”

To ask about helping Willow, e-mail [email protected]  or [email protected]  or call the shelter  at 972.919.8770 or her cell at 469.831.7632.

Just FYI: Kathy continues to look for her Italian Greyhound Ollie who vanished last week. She says, “There have been zero sightings, which makes me think that you're spot on about him hanging out at a neighbor's house. Now I hope the neighbor will do the right thing and at least check to see if anyone is looking for him.”

THE REPORT FROM CARROLLTON:  All week e-mails with photos of dogs and cats from Carrollton’s animal shelter have been zipping around the community – dogs such as Luke, on death row because his human was in jail, and the puppies Minnie and Dixie, on death row because they were innocent passengers  in a stolen car that crashed during a police chase. Loads of cats, too. Last evening, Carrollton’s Joe Skenesky sent out a report that read, “OK, here is the final update for this week. All of the dogs are good, most have left and Collin County Humane Society has committed to pulling Buster tomorrow [Wednesday]. Some of the cats have been adopted but there are still a few left needing homes. The Momma cat has a rescue to take her and her kittens.”

Next week, there’ll be another load of unwanted animals at all shelters. If you want to send a note of thanks or encouragement to the Carrollton folks for hustling to save lives, or if you want to see if there’s anything else you can help with, e-mail [email protected] or call 972-466-3420.

SAFE BUT NEEDS A HOME: Diana Phillips, who lives in Haslet, just a little north of Fort Worth, is trying to find a home for Duke who is “such a sweetheart.”

Here’s how he came to be at the Phillips home: “We have taken in a beautiful (approx) 2 year old male (neutered) dog who was found running down the middle of the road near our house on Saturday. He has no tags and is not chipped. He looks like a Rhodesian Ridgeback but does not have the clear cut ‘ridge’ down his back. He has gorgeous yellow eyes! He is so sweet, not aggressive, and smart and very playful and loving! He does not appear to have been taken care of very well so I am glad he was not chipped as I did not want to return him to his owner! We will keep him until we can find him a GOOD home or a place in a no-kill shelter.”

To offer to help Duke, e-mail [email protected]

CATCHING UP: We’ve recently mentioned a couple of dogs that needed some help. Sometimes we never hear what finally happens to the animals we mention, but we always hope to have a report other than “saved” or “didn’t make it.” We prefer the happy endings. Here are some follow-ups:

--Amy Pelzel, who tips us to critters in the Denton Animal Shelter has some good news about the formerly chained German Shepherd Mike (See July 23 edition of Readlarrypowell.com). “Wanted you to know Mike got adopted to a wonderful family! He will have a second chance at a happy life.” (Still plenty of animals in the shelter needing help – you can see them HERE. E-mail [email protected]m to offer to help save some lives.

-- Dallas Animal Services’ Mark Cooper reports that Cruz, the dog with the Batsignal on his tongue, has been taken in by a rescue group. Other dogs and cats still need some help to escape a sad fate. Click on www.dallasanimalservices.org   to see the animals that need a human to step up on their behalf.

--We called him “The Middle of the Road Chihuahua” because that’s where he was found. Little Frankie, the torn and battered Chihuahua mix rescued off a Dallas street and taken to the Carrollton shelter. is “on to his new life,” reports Erin Johnson, our tipster from Straydog Inc. who got involved in his case. She says that he has a financial backer and “is getting everything he needs done, which isn't that much for now. His bite wounds have healed up fine too. ...  What a handsome boy he is. He didn't bite the vet (who was soooo good and kind), and Frankie was a good boy, too, even though he was so scared!”

--The momma and the puppy Aussies that Stephanie Mosby picked up off the side of a road when she missed her exit near Terrell have been taken in by the folks at Collin County Humane Society and soon will be available for adoptions. (Click HERE.)

A FISH SITUATION: We got the story and the photo from Jonnie England, the Director of Animal Advocacy and Communications for the Metroplex Animal Coalition.

She was at the Prestonwood Wal-Mart, 15220 Montfort, (north of Beltline, east of the Dallas North Tollway) about 4 p.m. Saturday. She says she “found tank after tank filthy, cloudy and barren, with many dead and dying fish. Walmart has no business selling live fish. They obviously don't know how to care for them and apparently don't care about them.” She suggests that animal lovers contact the store manager at 972-233-0438 and “ask that they not carry live fish. Also, please contact Wal-Mart’s corporate headquarters at the following address: http://walmartstores.com/contactus/feedback.aspx.“

Johnny reports, “After I complained to two supervisors, I walked out without purchasing anything.  I won't shop at Wal-Mart stores that have live (or in this case, dead and dying) fish for sale.”

Jonnie provided several photos of murky aquariums and others of dead fish.

NEWS FROM THE NET: Animal activists around here have long known of Dawn Rizos’ dedication to saving critters – now she and her business, The Lodge Gentleman’s Club, are getting attention on the East Coast thanks to a visit from the writer of the Ohmidog blog, ex-newspaperman and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter John Woestendiek. He was in Dallas last week with his dog Ace as part of their trip across America project. Read about it all by clicking HERE. You’ll see photos of Ace inside the club – photos you could take to church, in case you’re afraid to click.

CONTEMPLATIONS: Back to school time. Bless you teachers. Get all your shots. As a loving teacher griping about pay and danger in the classroom told me 35 years, “Children are notorious carriers of disease.” ...  How about those Texas Rangers! Did you see that walk-off homer last night? Did you hear the radio broadcast? Could this be the greatest Rangers season ever? Lord knows how much the Rangers Ballpark will charge for a beer next year in one of those World Series cups. Perhaps I am getting too far ahead. ... I was alive when there were just three TV networks, maybe 3 network stations and an independent in a big city, I remember when AM radio played music and FM was rare. Cars had small speakers. People minded their manners. It was a really quiet world. At any time nowadays, there must be a hundred people on TV and a thousand on radio talking into microphones about issues, bargains and sports. This is a loud world. I’ll bet you can stand on Mars and hear the noise.

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When you encounter a sad sight...

WONDERING WHAT TO DO: A few minutes ago we got a note from Marci Diehl and I had no answer to her question other than call 311 or perhaps check with her local police substation and ask an officer to meet her and help her.

Here’s her note: “I am out driving with my one year old son and foster dog and saw a dog lying in the grass next to Northwest Highway and Charring Cross in East Dallas (East of Plano Road).  It looks like a boxer or pit that someone hit and moved to the side. ... is near a neighborhood. I do not think she is alive. It is very upsetting and I am with my young son and scared to approach alone.  I just wondered if someone in East Dallas might be able to at least collect it. He or she does not deserve to lie there with no dignity or love.”

If anyone has a suggestion, click on comments below.

A cool morning in Texas...

For those of you accustomed to hearing Texans complain about the pore-flushing heat in Texas in July, we’ve awakened in Dallas to temps in the 70s. The SEVENTIES.  Neiman-Marcus must be rushing the new line of fall sweaters into its windows.

The earth is surely off its axis.  We’ll try to stay balanced here. That’ll be a first.

THE BEATEN DOG:  “OK, this little girl had me in complete tears today,” DeDe Whitcombe wrote to me last night.  She is a beating victim.

DeDe is with the Collin County Humane Society and she also is a walker/tipster at the Collin County Animal Services Shelter in McKinney.

The dog is a Malinois mix {250064), she says, probably 6 to 8 months old.

“She clearly has been severely beaten. The minute I went into her run she ran and faced a corner, head crouched.  I sat down for a minute and then gently extended my hand, and before I even touched her she started crying and wet herself.  Once I finally touched her she cringed with every stroke.  I left her some hot dogs and came back a bit later with a Capstar and Frontline because she had some ticks.  She ran back to the corner, but did not cry, flinch, or pee when I touched her this time.  She let me apply frontline, ate the hot dog with Capstar and even let me rub her belly.  I think she will come around in no time, and is a gorgeous doggie.”

The contact at the shelter is Lisa Drummonds (Call 972-547-7298 or 972-249-7327 or e-mail [email protected].)

And keep Lisa’s info handy because you may need it to help save another dog that she has embraced. DeDe writes that this 2-year-old dog was on yesterday’s euthanasia list but Lisa stepped between the dog and the needle and put her heart on the line to try to save this 25-pound dog.” Ask about #249104.

DeDe writes, “We are losing so many wonderful babies, it would mean the world if we could save this girl and the Malinois puppy girl.”

BLESSED EVENTS: Well, my goodness, there’s just no accounting for this population explosion except to declare that there are people who just don’t get the spay/neuter campaign. Here are two instances:

--Krista Mc Anally, the director of the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake Shelter at Tool Texas, says there’s a little family that needs “immediate rescue” from the facility. She says the “Aussie mom came into HSCL Friday and delivered 7 puppies” on Monday. The mom is 3 or 4 years old, Krista says, “and she has some very bad scars on her back. It is an old injury, but at some point she was injured very badly.”

Krista’s looking for a rescue or foster to step up for this family and she’ll help with transporting the family. (Call 903-432-3422 or e-mail [email protected].) One more thing: You might recall that the HSCCL is involved in long fund-raising effort to build a new facility with a puppy room.  Click HERE to help.

--We recently told of Deborah Trevino’s rescue of an expectant pit from the traditional dumping ground on Malloy Bridge Road in southeastern Dallas. Here’s the latest. Deborah says that “my little pregnant pit bull girl rescue, Sadie, is the proud mom of 9 pups this evening [Monday]. She and the pups are doing fine.” Sadie’s at a foster home and she and the pups will all need homes at some point and maybe even a little financial support for basic vet stuff. To offer to help, e-mail [email protected].

(Larry aside: Nine puppies. Nine pit puppies. Welcome to Dallas and may angels watch over you.)

A HIMALAYAN NEEDS A HOME: Elise Bissell of Take Me Home Pet Rescue says she had a potential adoptor for this gorgeous cat, but it fell through.

Haley the Himalayan has a story with a few facets. Elise says the cat was “dumped outside of Garland near a country home. She wondered up to a farm house where a nice lady took her in and discovered her covered in fleas and mats and called us to help. 

“After being cleaned up and spayed she was adopted immediately by a lady who also agreed to adopt another cat we had named Cocoa. Cocoa was a 13-year-old Himalayan we had rescued out of the Denton Shelter. He was a victim of a divorce where the wife moved out leaving him with the husband who tossed him outside where he was attacked by a wild animal leaving him pretty banged up. 

“So, since everyone wanted Haley, the deal was a two for one.  Cocoa lived another year and passed away due to kidney failure and the owner is now moving and not able to take Haley along. Haley is about two years old ... and is known to get along with other cats and cat-friendly children. Based on her personality she is likely to do fine with a cat friendly dog if properly introduced. Haley will be adopted through Feral Friends and her information and photos can be found at www.feralfriends.org. “

For more info, call 214-908-0074. Take Me Home Pet Rescue works with Feral Friends’ adoption program – through that adoptors get 30 days of free pet insurance and life-time microchipping registration, Elise says.

STILL NEEDING A PLACE TO GO: The folks with the Collin County Humane Society are still trying to find a home for Tank and Milan. The people who currently have the dogs are going to take them to a shelter at week’s end, says Molly Peterson of the Humane Society. So the society is hustling to find a good spot for these big dogs.

Milan is a 5-year-old, 75-pound Golden Retriever who is healthy, spayed, and, like her buddy Tank, “good with everyone.”

Tank is a Dalmatian/Lab mix who is 7 years old and tips the scales at 91 healthy, friendly pounds.

You can get an adoption application HERE or e-mail [email protected].

People have been trying to help these two dogs for weeks and weeks. Their human had a heart attack and has been moved into an assisted living facility. Finding a home for his pups would lift a lot of spirits.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR BRYCE:  This guy, Bryce, an Australian Shepherd/Border Collie Mix, was last seen by his human on July 21at his home near Province Drive and Hebron Parkway in Carrollton. Cynthia Brewer says she is “not sure how he got out. All gates were shut and there are no holes. Either he managed to jump the fence or he was stolen.”

He was wearing collar and tags. And Cynthia has blanketed the area with posters and knocked on doors, visited shelters and vets. Still no Bryce.

So, the more eyes looking, the better the chance of finding her friend.

“I am absolutely devastated by this. I have physically gone to all the animal shelters in the area, vets, put 250 flyers in surrounding mailboxes and posted flyers.”

If you know Bryce’s whereabouts, e-mail [email protected].

TIPS: Inexplicably, something technical has fouled up and I can't do a direct link to the items in this note. So, you'll just have to copy and past in your browser bar. I think it'll work then. Here goes: In case you wondered if your town’s animal shelter policies are the best they can possibly be, here’s a tip from a Reader who spotted this in Delaware paper. Click HERE

http://www.middletowntranscript.com/newsnow/x1849233809/Shelters-praise-new-standards-bill-hope-for-progress-on-euthanasia  ... The Texas Humane Legislation Network is gearing up for its approach to the next session of the Texas Legislature and will host a conference in September featuring Humane Society of the United States President Wayne Pacelle. Click HERE. www.thln.org. You’ll note that the THLN is working for anti-puppy mill legislation. And, should you wonder if anyone is against this puppy mill legislation and thinks the THLN is “anti-pet,” visit the Responsible Pet Owners Alliance HERE www.rpoatexasoutreach.org and read that these folks want to, among other things, “Expose the extreme agenda of the ‘Animal Rights’ Movement to end all use, breeding and ownership of animals for any reason, including pet ownership.” Should be an interesting legislative session on the animal front.

CONTEMPLATIONS: I saw the most amazing back-to-school ad on TV this morning. It was for the Snuggie Varsity. Just when you think science could not improve the original Snuggie – surely you’ve seen the fleece robe you put on backwards – some genius, no doubt due for a Nobel Prize, puts one of those “Property of Snuggie XXL” logos across the chest and sews a pocket for a cell phone on the front. Snuggie Varsity! The video shows happy collegians enjoying dorm time in a Snuggie Varsity. And at that point I thought, “Surely not. Surely it’s not designed for college boys needing “quick access” during their  experiences with beer...” Then I went to the official Snuggie site online and found not only a dog Snuggie, but also a surefire seller for my beloved East Texas, the Snuggie Camo. Yep, for hunters, I guess, or guys hiding in the woods from their angry wives or angry wives stalking their no-good husbands. Yes, I wish I’d thought to turn a fleece robe backwards. I’d be writing this from a much nicer property and wearing my special Grammar Snuggie that keeps the letters warm while you type.... Never mind today’s cold snap in North Texas, some things remain the same. The Dallas Cowboys are taking publicity to new heights: I site the Naked Cowboy and the Rookie Who Wouldn’t Carry The Vet’s Shoulder Pads. Ah, the comfort zone.  ... And the Texas Rangers have a 71/2-game lead in the American League West – that explains the cold snap because, surely, hell is freezing over.

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On Monday, issues and animals...

It’s a Monday and I hardly know where to start. Loose dogs.  Lost dogs? Shelter dogs and cats? Criminal situations? It’s all here today. We’ll start with these two bits of unfinished business.

(a) What’s going to happen with the Dallas Stolen Dog Ordinance that makes law-breaking chumps out of good-hearted people who save dogs off the streets?

 (b) What’s going to happen to the people who allowed a cat to die inside a wall of the Dallas Animal Services shelter? What’s going to change at the shelter to make sure people who would do that are not allowed on the payroll or in the building?

We have to wait. No striking while the iron is hot in Dallas. The summertime in Dallas is a “recess” period for the Dallas City Council. The next official council meeting is at the end of August. Check out the city calendar HERE.

Be a shame if these two issues slid off the council’s radar.  Click HERE to reach the City of Dallas’ website and get addresses for your council member and the mayor.

Incredible, isn’t it, that a city in a climate so hot moves at a glacial pace. Sometimes you think BP is running the place.

THE DALLAS ANIMAL SHELTER: At the Dallas Animal Services shelter, there are 18 dogs scheduled for euthanasia Tuesday morning.  They’re all healthy.  Taxpayer money has been invested in making sure they are healthy and adoptable. And if no one claims them, well, taxpayer money will be used to kill them so they can be piled up and moved out to make room for the next load of unwanted dogs.

Perhaps people would look at these dogs and declare that there’s nothing remarkable about them.

But the truth is, there is something remarkable about each dog on the planet. You just have to take some time to get to know the dog.

That's Abbott with the big yearbook grin and, to the left, with the Batsignal on his tongue, that's Cruz. We've mentioned them before, but they're still there, waiting for either a loving pat or the sting of the needle. It's up to people to make the call.

You can look at Dallas’ death row dogs by going to the shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland, or by clicking on http://www,dallasanimalservices.org.

To help save any of the Dallas dogs, email [email protected] or [email protected] or call 214-671-0249 or 214-670-8312. If you’re a rescue group trying to pull a critter, e-mail  [email protected] or call 214-670-8298.

COUNTDOWN IN CARROLLTON: There is a list of dogs and cats scheduled for euthanasia in Carrollton’s animal shelter for Wednesday morning. But as the new workweek arrives, Carrollton’s Joe Skenesky and the rest of the shelter workers are hustling to find homes for the assorted dogs.

We mentioned this one last week. But, the poor guy deserves a second mention. He’s named Luke and he’s in the shelter because his human is in jail.

Now, his human is not facing capital punishment, but Luke is. Luke’s crime? Being the dog of a criminal.

To ask about Luke or any of the many animals in Carrollton’s shelter, call 972-466-3420 or e-mail [email protected].

Like his human, Luke has a number: 22352 The shelter says Luke is “a sweet, gentle boy who is a bit on the large side at 82 pounds, and is about 7 years old. He has not let this experience bring down his spirits though and he is ready to get on with his life as soon as he can. He does have a bit of arthritis in one his rear legs and is taking medication for it to relieve any discomfort for him. Luke has lived with cats before and done fine however his previous owner says that he is not good with children.”

See more Carrollton animals HERE.

WAITING IN THE SHELTER AT THE LAKE: Holy smoke,  we’ve got a big dog in a cage.  Look at this photo of Trace. He’s a 3- or 4-year-old Great Dane, says Krista Mc Anally, the manager of the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake Shelter at Tool, Texas.

Trace is large and will be neutered shortly but needs a place to live where he can stretch out, or curl up, and maybe watch a little TV.

Also at the shelter are Wrangler and Bella, a couple of owner-surrenders, brother and sister, “given up by their family because they were too energetic.”  They’re young. People just need to know that the energy thing wears off soon as dogs realize the couch is really comfortable.

For information about any animal at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake shelter, call 903-432-3422 or e-mail [email protected].

A DOG IN NEED ON THE STREETS:

(We interrupt this paragraph to issue this bulletin: Just around rush hour Monday evening we got a note from veteran rescuer Dorrie Mowery about the unkempt Oak Cliff dog. “She has been caught, and now desperately needs vetting, grooming and fostering ASAP.”  The pup weighs about 10 pounds and is “matted beyond belief” – of course, we don’t know how much of that 10 pounds is hair. The dog is believed to be a Poodle/Spaniel mix, about 4 years old.  Call 214-232-0082 to help. And now, the rest of the report as posted earlier today.)

 

Veteran rescuer  Dorrie Mowery is trying to help a pal save a dog in Oak Cliff. The dog is living on the streets near Colorado at Bishop, just a few blocks north of the famed Bishop Arts District

Dorrie says they “desperately need to find this pitiful dog a place to be vetted, groomed, and fostered ASAP. ...  My friend has been trying to catch her and is getting very close. If there are any rescuers in Oak Cliff that would like to try and help catch her please let me know!  She is severely matted, starving, and might have just had pups.” (Call Dorrie at 214-232-0082.)

BE ON THE LOOKOUT IN FARMERS BRANCH: One of our regular tipsters, Kathy Nichols, sent us this note and poster about her little Italian /Greyhound Ollie.

“I can't believe I'm writing this, but one of my dogs got out yesterday here in Farmers Branch. I'm attaching a flyer and a photo. Anything you can do to get the word out is greatly appreciated. Ollie is my baby, sleeps next to me on my pillow every night. If no one has picked him up and he's out there on his own, he will not have a clue what to do. He's had a very sheltered life. If anyone sees him or picks him up, they can call me at Farmers Branch Animal Services (972-919-8770) or my cell (469-831-7632).”

Click on the picture to make it larger.

LADY COMES HOME: As we entered the weekend we told the story of the disappearance of Lady, the King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, who dug out of her backyard in Bent Tree West near the Dallas North Tollway at Frankford. Yesterday, her human, Heaven Jent, sent us this happy ending note:
“Lady has been returned to us! She was scooped up by a nearby family that was going to keep her for their children, who fell in love immediately.
“They had fed and bathed her and even bought her a bed for two nights. When they saw the signs we had posted, they knew to do the right thing.
“She is in great spirits and is so happy to be home with her brother, Duke.
“In return for our baby being home, we offered to find them a companion of their own and take care of the fees for them, so they can experience the joy we have in our hearts for Lady and her brother Duke.
“Thank you for running our story.”

(If anyone knows of a good family dog for this do-right family,  leave a comment below. Dogs are so hard to find around here.)

PERHAPS A READER CAN HELP WITH A GROOMING TIP: We got a note with a grooming question and I’m hoping some Reader will have a good answer for Eddie Morgan of Dallas. He reports, “I am a 56-year-old disabled man. Sometimes I and my neighbor have a problem paying for grooming.  Are there any disabled prices for grooming?”  Eddie has a 50-pound Husky/Chow mix. Call Eddie at 469-233-8072 or leave a comment below.

CONTEMPLATIONS: Our Chihuahua Rosie snores in the summer. Not in the winter. Just in the summer. ... One day last week, in the middle of a hot afternoon, I saw a guy and his kids happily walking their huffing and puffing English Bulldog. Bad human. Bad. Bad. Short-nosed dogs – Pekes, Pugs, English Bulldogs, etc. – shouldn’t be exercised in this dismal heat because they don’t have a breathing system built for the fiery hell of North Texas and they’re susceptible to heat stroke. Just go ahead and Google “brachycephalic” or ask your vet. Don’t ask the dog – dogs will say, “Yes” because they love you.  ... Remember to remind your favorite Dallas city council member that the council may be on recess but the rest of the animals in this city are still on a 12-month calendar.  And some of them are on a short clock.

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Sleeping like babies...

The spotlight beamed worldwide by our feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap falls on what can be regarded as a family album this weekend.

We’ve got photos of babies, photos of pre-teens, photos of mom and the kids – the only thing we have missing is a photo collection of these snoozers as adults in their happy homes. And we hope some day to publish that follow-up story on the happy little critters and mom. (Also, you'll note that the puppies who are our focus, are sharing their bunk with fellows from another litter -- already adopted. And, of course, click on the photos to make them larger.)

For now, Jenny and her pups are bunking in Diana Arnett’s puppy-happy foster home.  She’s a volunteer (and on the board) of the Humane Animal Rescue Team of Texas – HART.

She first told us of this batch back in June when the puppies were about 8 weeks old. You can tell in the two middle photos that they've grown. And you can see in one of the photos that one of these pup's is a natural-born public relations specialist -- look at that happy smile and that "glad to see ya" stance.

Jenny, the Mom is a mixed breed dog. And when HART says “mixed breed,” they mean it. “Believe it or not,” Diana writes, “Mom is a Min-pin, Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu mix.”

Now, what about those puppies? “Based on the genetic profile we received,” she says, “Daddy was probably a full-blood Rottweiler.

“If anyone is looking for a mini-Rottweiler, these pups should fit the bill.”

So that makes these pups ultra-mixed. Or, four of a kind -- the only four of their kind, perhaps, in the world.

And, of course, they arrived with a knack for napping – natural born nappers.  As you can see in the photos, they’ve aged, but they haven’t lost the knack.

The pups are Blanche, Patty, Vicki and Meg. (That's Jenny with one of her pups -- but I'm not sure which one.)

These kids are three months old now.

Diana says, “They really are beautiful with the black and brown Rottweiler markings. But they will be about half the size. They have the typical puppy personality: happy, playful and rambunctious. Jenny, the mom, is very sweet and has a wonderful disposition. She also is very smart. She only weighs 17 lbs. (The pups will be bigger than her about another week- they are at 14 pounds now). When we rescued her she was only 15 pounds pregnant.

“She was on the euthanasia list at Arlington and the shelter did not mention that she was pregnant in her bio. Blanche Carpenter, our founder, went to go pick her up for me and called me with the news with Jenny in the back of her car. Oh well, what can you do? I had her 4 days before she gave birth.”

And, of course, the puppies immediately began sleeping, sometimes in groups, sometimes in pairs, sometimes with Mommy.

Cute just isn’t a big enough word, is it?

All of these snoozey rascals and mom are available for adoption through HART. You can get info about adopting them at www.hartoftexas.org.

Who knows, you might be able to adopt one or two of these puppies and learn how to sleep.

(To nominate a slumbering critter for Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap,  send sleeping or napping photos to [email protected]. We love publishing the photos – when properly observed, these sleeping dogs and napping cats give us a sense of peace on the planet.)

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The Friday afternoon edition...

BE ON THE LOOKOUT, BENT TREE WEST AND BEYOND: We got the tip on this dog from Patricia Barrington, The Colony’s Animal Control Division Manger, who told us about a voice mail she got from a woman who’d lost her King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, Lady.

Now, you might think Bent Tree West, near the Dallas North Tollway at Frankford, is not that close to The Colony, but as Patricia points out, the dog was “lost on the border of a few jurisdictions” and it’s smart of Heather Jent to check all shelters “within miles and miles” because you never know if someone picked the dog up and drove it to their town’s shelter, or a neighboring shelter, or “maybe even somewhere else depending on what they thought was the best thing to do or what was the easiest thing to do.”

What is NOT the easiest thing to do is to find a little lost dog. And that is why you can hear the desperation in Heaven’s voice.

Lady is about 2 ½ years old, a mostly brown and white little dog who has no collar but does have a chip.

Heaven says Lady dug out of the back yard. “We found the place under the fence where she dug out,” she says.

Meanwhile, she’s knocking on doors, making calls, searching the area and has notified the homeowners’ association for help. The more eyes the better.

If you know Lady’s whereabouts, call 972-824-3248.

CARROLLTON’S BUNCH AND THE JAILHOUSE GANG: Lots of dogs and cats available at the Carrollton Animal Shelter this weekend. Joe Skenesky, the hard-working staffer who hustles to get attention for all of the animals, sent us so many of them that we just can’t post all the photos, so I’ll post a few and some stories and suggest that people who are looking for good friends can find them at animal shelters.

The thing that struck me when I read through the list was how many of these dogs are on death row at a shelter because their human was involved in a police incident.

Take for example, this poor, big ol' white dawg Luke – he looks bereft of hope, doesn’t he. The official story reads, “This poor fellow’ person went to jail for a very long time and Luke had to come here since no one else was able to care for him. He is a sweet, gentle boy who is a bit on the large side at 82 pounds and is about 7 years old. He has not let this experience bring down his spirits though and he is ready to get on with his life as soon as he can. He does have a bit of arthritis in one his rear legs and is taking medication for it to relieve any discomfort for him. Luke has lived with cats before and done fine however his previous owner says that he is not good with children.”

Daisy and Minnie are a couple of six-week-old female pit bull-type dogs who are described as “small now.” They’re available to rescue only – and they’re in the doggie slammer because their human was on his way, apparently.

The shelter says, “These two darling girls found themselves in the middle of a high speed chase with police all around when the driver of the vehicle they were in crashed.  No one was hurt but these two ended up here at our shelter in hopes of finding a new home that would be less exciting than their last one.  They are adorable little ones that each have one blue eye.  They are quick to come up and say hello.” (They’re available to rescue on July 27.)

Yep, Buddy is a Westie. A West Highland Terrier. Fifteen years old and “released” to the shelter by his people. Buddy has lived with a cat and with senior citizens and is housetrained. He’s neutered, quiet, gentle, loving and tops the scales at 14 pounds.

Finally I’m running Devon’s photo because it is a great picture of a dog in a great moment.

She’s a Border Collie mix, perhaps under 2 years old. Devon “was brought to the shelter by a person who had found her a while back and was unable to find her original people, or take care of her themselves. She is a sweet, but shy lady who has taken a day or two to adjust to life at the shelter but now is settling in fine. She loves to meet new people and keeps a watchful eye out her window for the chance to say hello to people walking by.”

To ask about any animal in the Carrollton shelter, e-mail [email protected] or call 972-466-3420.

And, for crying out loud, if you think you’re going to be arrested, make sure your critter has a place to go. And a bail bondsman. And a good mouthpiece. I’m not saying you don’t deserve to be locked up, but your dog or cat probably doesn’t.

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