Garland vigil scheduled; other metro animal tales and tips...

As the world turns, politics goes on and conflicts continue and nobody has invented a cake without calories. Folks, where are our priorities?
Read on today and learn about a Garland vigil, a big ol’ drooler named Sarge and other opportunities to help animals escape the clutches of evil fate.
THE PUSH AGAINST GARLAND CONTINUES: Many members of the animal welfare community have acknowledged Garland’s elimination of gas shelters, but that doesn’t mean people are happy with the way the shelter is run.
(That photo is of a pup currently in the shelter.)
Dr. John Pippin and members of CRASH – Citizens for Reform of the Animal Shelter – will conduct a candlelight vigil “honoring the innocents killed at the Garland Shelter” beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday and running “as long as you want.” The site is the Firewheel Shopping Center (5301 N. Garland Ave., just south of the Bush Turnpike.) It’s bring your own candles and flashlights  -- flashlights are for use if wind blows out the candles, organizers say. Participants are encouraged to make their own signs.
The official announcement also reads, “Let’s mourn the most recent killing on January 18 of a friendly mother dog, whose unnecessary death left three unweaned puppies, despite multiple offers of rescue. She never had a name, but we call her Mother Mary.
“Despite getting the gas chambers out of the Garland Animal Shelter, the senseless killing continues. One innocent animal after another is executed, even when rescues have claimed them."
The announcement cites the deaths of several animals as rescue was waiting to claim them and blames the shelter manager Diana Oats for the "poisonous attitude."
Read more about CRASH HERE.
You can Google the Garland Animal Shelter and navigate your way to the adoptable animals such as the dog in the photo, a little Min-Pin pup who is among those listed on Garland's site at PetHarbor.com. 
MONITORING DALLAS: The “Now or Never” blog that monitors animal issues within the City of Dallas has a new web address. It’s this:  http://noworneverdallas.wordpress.com/ . Clip and save or bookmark or make a note – whatever you do in the century in which you prefer to live.
READY TO LEND AN EAR: The obvious Earhound in this collection is Captain, described as “a fun loving little dog,” at his current resident,  The Colony’s animal shelter.
Patricia Barrington, Animal Control Division Manager for The Colony, sent out a bunch of photos and tips on some critters in hopes of finding  homes or safe havens.
Captain, it is said, “loves mingling with the other dogs and romping around the yard.  He’s a social butterfly with a sweet face.”
And, of course, few faces are as sweet as those of a Rottweiler. The description of this dog reads, “This big ol’ droolin’ mess of a dog is Sarge. He’s a big baby. Sarge, the Rottweiler, sometimes forgets he isn’t a lap dog, but really does try hard to be good though, despite his efforts he usually ends up in someone’s lap slobbering on their face and begging for a pettin’!”
The contrast is, of course, this layabout cat, Fiona, described as “a lazy lump of fluff.” Yes, she’s an indoor cat.
To ask about any animal at The Colony’s shelter, e-mail  [email protected] or call 972-370-9250.
A WANDERING CAT AT REST: This is the winter pose of Victor, a former stray who now waits for either a home or a bad fate on Wednesday morning at the Carrollton Animal Shelter. He’s #23217.
You can see more of Carrollton’s several “on-the-list” animals by going HERE www.joesanimalhouse.com.
To ask about any of the animals, call 972-466-3420 or e-mail [email protected].
FOR THE GREYHOUNDS: Big annual Greyhound Adoption League of Texas “Greyt Gala” is coming Feb. 26 at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field. Among the celebrities scheduled to appear are former big league baseball players Jack Lazorko, Mike Bacsik, Don Stanhouse, John Knox, Jose Guzman and Mike Phillips. But the man with the most recognizable face and voice among the celebrities is probably Burton Gilliam, the actor. You’ve seen him in a zillion things including the infamous Blazing Saddles and TV commercials. And, some of you actual film fans may recall his hilarious moments in the Peter Bogdanovich film Paper Moon. Get details of the event at www.galtx.org.
FOR THE MANNERS: Texas dog trainer Joan Guertin is lining up her puppy training classes beginning Feb. 5 at A Pets Palace, 329 S. Gun Barrel Lane in Gun Barrel City. The cost is $125 per pup and a portion of the proceeds goes to Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. To ask about enrolling, call the trainer at 903-887-3803.
CONTEMPLATIONS: The NFL is dramatically concerned about concussions, but do you wonder why nobody worries about concussions in Congress? Something’s going on there. ... State of the Union Address is tonight. It’s being covered like entertainment reporters were chasing a story about who’s dating whom.  ... The sadness of the Super Bowl: It’s being played on Dallas Cowboys’ turf by two teams that have vexed the Cowboys for decades. Good to know poor ol’ Texas Stadium isn’t around to witness this.
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