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A multitude of stories on a Monday...

Over the weekend – the last weekend in January, n the middle of winter 2011 -- we turned the air-conditioning on in our house. Not that we’re heat-sensitive, but the summery temp warmed the house and we needed some cool air moving around.
Apparently we’re about to get more moving cold air than we deserve. That’s what the weather forecasts say, so, remind your neighborhood idiots to make sure the animals are properly protected from the elements. That photo? Oh, that’s a Rottie and a couple of Briards. Read on and you’ll find them in our long Monday morning report:
WAITING IN CARROLLTON: Joe Skenesky, the senior animal care specialist at the Carrollton Animal Shelter, generally issues a weekend adoption report. The latest one touched so many people that it may have “gone viral.”
Why? Because three old dogs on the euthanasia list are touching some hearts. (That's Lady on the left.)
As Joe wrote, the fact that they are seniors “is going to make it a difficult task to get them adopted or rescued, but they, too, deserve a chance. Imagine loving and living with a human companion for so long, then to be left, abandoned by the same people.
“Ethal and Tyra may have been picked up as strays, but someone cared for them, they are someone’s dogs, they have not been stray for the last 10 years.  The pain, and confusion they must be feeling would be unbearable to most people, yet they wag their tails and move forward happily going for walks and outside.
“Poor Lady, watched her younger companion get reclaimed as she was left behind  by the person she loved. The people simply said she is too old for them.  She barked for her younger companion; she wanted to go to.”
Lady (#23289) is a 13-year-old Rottie mix.
Tyra (#23234) is a retriever mix and Ethal (#23235) is a Shepherd mix.
These are big ol’ huggable, lovely dogs. Joe has a video of Tyra and Ethal HERE.
To ask about any of these dogs, call 972-466-3420 or e-mail [email protected] . You can see more Carrollton critters at www.joesanimalhouse.com.
As for the old dogs and their plight, Joe offered this one sentence with which many people may agree. He wrote, “I am not sure how some people sleep at night.
PRAYERS AND PASSAGES: We have the family-oriented story of Angel on our Prayers & Passages page today. (Click on the link on the upper right corner of this page.) Maria Valtadoros, who wrote to us about her sister Faye Magalios’ dog Angel, explained things perfectly in one brief passage: “We animals lovers love, lose, and rescue again and would have it no other way!”
A COUPLE OF PITS IN A FIX: Brindle Fair is seeking some help with some pit bulls in her neighborhood. The dogs are in trouble because their human died from heart failure in early September.
Zach is 9-to-11 years old and Maggie (the brown dog) is about 5. Zach is not cat tolerant and he may have some hip issues. Maggie gets along fine with everyone.
Brindle writes, “Their owner, our neighbor David Brantley, died of heart failure at the beginning of September 2010. These 2 dogs were his life and he walked them around the neighborhood four times or so a day. He knew everyone around here and was our grassroots crime watch all by himself. His dogs were always patient with him. As he aged, they slowed down their walks, too.
“Now the dogs are STILL living in David's empty rental house. David's landlords have been so great letting them stay there, and very generous and compassionate to take time each day to visit them and take care of them. But the time has come that they need to go. They've spent 6 months living in an empty house and it's just not healthy for them not to have companionship.
“I cat- tested these dogs last week. We are willing to take Maggie on as our foster dog since she is cat trainable. Zach is absolutely not cat tolerant, so he can't be in a home with cats. Zach also has some hip issues and seems to have some pain in his back end, but he is still quite vital and even runs happily. We would like to take Maggie on to foster asap, but we don't want to leave Zach alone in the house. We are looking for someone to take Zach for foster, or permanently. ... The generous landlords are willing to do the initial vetting and shots for the dogs. I also need a foster group from which to sponsor Maggie.”
To offer to help these two dog, call 214-293-5046 or e-mail [email protected]. You can see them on Facebook HERE.
TRANSIT HELP FOR BURNS FLAT: Tireless rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher continues to hustle to get animals out of the overcrowded town shelter in Burns Flat, Okla., out in the western part of the state, about 100 miles north of Wichita Falls, Texas.
She needs immediate help getting at least two dogs off the euthanasia list. These two dogs have a place to go in Hereford, Texas, but not a ride. A woman will drive from Hereford to Shamrock, but Terry Lynn needs someone to help get these two dogs from Burns Flat to Shamrock while she hustles to get more dogs out. Call Terry Lynn at 580-330-1459 or e-mail [email protected].
BE ON THE LOOKOUT: Please remember to scroll down and read the story from yesterday about the missing Pilot Point dog – rescued and then running away in Rockwall. And also the story of Naej, Bobby and Jean Bonds’ dog last seen in the Little Forest Hills area of Dallas a week ago Sunday. There are other missing dogs listed. Please scroll down after you finish reading today’s report – you’ll see them listed in last week’s posts.
TWO RESCUES: Operation Kindness, the no-kill animal shelter in Carrollton, has stepped up to help a dog in Denton and a cat in Casa Linda.
The dog is Charlotte, an older dog we mentioned last week because Karen Carter had seen her at the Denton Animal Shelter and decided to get word out to help the poor ol’ girl find a good place to live out her days.
The dog was already being pampered at Denton. As veteran Denton shelter volunteer Amy Pelzel wrote to Karen on Friday, “We took Charlotte today to have her nails cut and I promise you she was pampered at the shelter. Every day she followed me everywhere and I always gave her canned food in the mornings. I'm actually going to miss her terribly. She was one of those special little girls! Thanks for caring about her!”
Then there is Professor, the cat who was in the Casa Linda Animal Clinic in Dallas and was running out of time. Professor was fighting some odds. Late in the week, Dr. Nancy Vrla of Casa Linda, sent out a plea to help find a home for Professor who was scheduled for euthanasia Monday. The, as she wrote, “gorgeous, friendly, loveable, cuddly cat” had run out of time because “the person that rescued him can no longer continue to afford to board him.” Complicating things was the fact that Professor is FIV positive. But Dr. Vrla, working hard to find a place for Professor, explained, “He is neutered , vaccinated, and VERY healthy – however, he was also found to be FIV positive.  As most of you may know, most cats with FIV show no symptoms and this is only passed by kitties who bite. Many people have owned FIV cats and were shocked to learn that they had one, often years after the fact. Their lifespan can be as long as that of a kitty that does not have FIV.”
So, now, Operation Kindness has taken in two tough cases – an older dog and a younger cat. To ask about adopting either or donating on the behalf of these animals, go to www.operationkindness.org. Navigate to the appropriate spot.
A ROTTIE’S JOURNEY -- FROM LUFKIN TO TEXARKANA TO AVAILABLE: Diana Krygowski of my hometown, Texarkana, Texas, got in touch with us over the weekend about this magnificent Rottweiler Jubilee.
Those who are fans of Rotties know that “magnificent” is the generally accepted modifier. You can really hug these big ol’ mooseheads and they’ll wag their stumpy tails like Buddy Rich wagged drumsticks.
Diana tells Jubilee’s story with a graphic beginning. She writes, “Jubilee was picked up on a country road in Lufkin looking like a living carcass. Not much more than skin stretched over bones with a baggie underside declaring she's recently had a litter of puppies. The ACO could tell there was something special about her and rather than face certain death, she was slipped into rescue [East Texas Paws Rescue].
“She was food aggressive at first, thinking it may be her only chance to eat, but now she can be fed around other dogs. Her weight is near normal with beautiful bone structure and a big block head.”
[Aside from Larry: “A big block head” is a nice term in a Rottweiler, but a ‘big blockhead” is not what you want to find in a human, though there is ample opportunity.]
Jubilee is under 2 years old and, says Diana, “Her goal in life now is to please her person. This joy in her heart gives her that 'something special'.
“She is being fostered with cats and other dogs both large and small.  It is recommended she go to a home without cats or small dogs.
“Jubilee, AKA ‘Juby,’ is house-trained and crate-trained. She listens intently and is eager to learn. She knows a few commands.
“ Her heartworm test was ‘slightly positive’ and she is now taking monthly heartworm preventative.”
Here’s the big qualification from Diana: If you can provide a home where she will be treated like a Queen, call 903-277-3389.”
So, as you can see, Juby has charmed the family. Diana told me, “If we didn't already have 6 cats, 4 Dachshunds, 2 Briards, a Bull Terrier, an English Mastiff, Greyhound, and a ‘Doberwamer,’ she'd sure be a keeper. Mine are pretty much all seniors and this girl is practically a pup. ...
“She came here because a compassionate ACO said she was exceptional and didn't want her PTS.  I'm glad she did, but now it is time for her to find her place. I have a senior Collie from Houston waiting to come to the farm and take her place as a long-term foster.
It never ends. To ask about helping Diana, call that number above or e-mail [email protected]. She’ll probably respond between feedings – and some of you multiple-critter households know what I mean.
A FOUND DOG: Veteran foster Dawna Carabajal (she took in Sadie who then had 9 puppies) is trying to help her sister find either the actual home or a new home for this little dog. She writes, “My sister found a dog in Keller and we cannot find the owners. The dog does have a microchip but, of course, it was never registered, It is from another state, and the shelter it is registered to is no longer in business. The dog appears to be a senior Jack Russell Terrier or Smooth Fox Terrier. He is super friendly but has some sort of growth in his mouth. She really does not want to take him to a shelter, but she cannot keep him. Does anyone know this dog? If not, are there any rescue groups that would be willing to squeeze him in. We are afraid that due to his age he doesn't stand a chance in a shelter. He is super friendly with people, children and dogs. He knows commands, is house-trained and got very excited to see the leash. He was someone's baby.” To offer to help, e-mail [email protected].
CONTEMPLATION: Our longtime pal Diane Brandon is the vice president for marketing and public relations for the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau and we’ve been on her mailing list almost since before TV was anything but black and white. Her hands these days are Super busy, as you might imagine, and she issues daily reports as the Big Game stirs the area and the media into a frenzy. The latest note  opens with this: “Arlington CVB welcomes media to Cowboys Stadium for The Big Game, February 6, and several events and activities are planned to keep the area exciting.  The 50 Yard Line tent will open on Tuesday, February 1, at 10 a.m. with heaters, hot coffee, food and creature comforts to welcome those working in the cold.  Also available are camera platforms, telephone lines for broadcasting purposes and office supplies and services.  The 50 Yard Line tent is located at 1601 Randol Mill Road, in Richard Greene Linear Park, just west of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington and northeast of Cowboys Stadium.” When I read “with heaters, hot coffee, food and creature comforts,” I knew that Diane and the bureau are paying attention to the weather forecasts. I also know that the  fickle national and international media is about to be coddled in Arlington. This is the kind of treatment that will keep sportscasters and writers from referring to the “Super Bowl in Dallas.” Hospitality will help them make clear they’re reporting from Arlington, home of the American League Champion Texas Rangers. ... Texas Rangers pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Surprise, Ariz., in about 2 weeks. ...  Fort Worth’s Stock Show runs through the day before the Super Bowl, Feb. 5, hence, once again we make a reference to the legendary “stock show weather” that annually provides giant swings in temps and precip. And what’s happening in Super Dallas? Well, last night the big hoop over the new bridge across the Trinity River was lit up [that's a photo I shot from the neighborhood of the famed "Triple Underspass" near the Grassy Knoll in Downtown Dallas. Not prize-winning, but you get the drift as the gentle blue hoop appeared just down the river from the Dallas County Jail.]. Oh, in other super news last week, the cop who managed Dallas Crimestoppers was arrested for stealing money from the program. Big D, my, oh, Super yes.
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The momma dog's story continues...

BE ON THE LOOKOUT EAST OF RAY HUBBARD: Goodness, gracious, this dog’s story just keeps going. And so does she, apparently.
You recall that last week rescuer Stephen Plyler managed to get her out of the Pilot Point Animal Shelter where she was being held. She’d been picked up after being teased by some youngsters – she’d been living in a ditch where she’d given birth to puppies that had been recovered earlier. But Mom was elusive.
Metroplex Mutts took her in and delivered her to a clinic.
The dog, however, chews through leashes in a split second, says Metroplex Mutts’ Tammy Lewis. While the dog was being walked Saturday evening at the vet’s, she chewed through her leash, took off, wouldn’t respond to calls and vanished into an area near a creek, says Tammy.
The dog – who is now named Mona but doesn’t know it so she won't answer to it – was last seen near Highway 66 (aka Rusk Road) and the Rockwall side of the bridge, east of Dalrock on the east side of Lake Ray Hubbard.
If you know Mona’s whereabouts, call 469-767-9454 or call the vet’s office at 972-722-2262 (you’ll need to say “emergency” to get a response on the vet's line).
Phone calls are preferred this weekend, but you may also e-mail [email protected] or [email protected] late in the day and afterward.
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The slumbering situation...

You may have looked at a snoring ball of fur on your couch and declared, “That dog was born to sleep.” Or maybe you’ve watched a cat silently sleeping on a piece of furniture and lamented, “I wish I could nap like that.”
Janice Bennett’s home in Carrollton offers both opportunities and that is why her critters are the spotlight snoozers in this weekend’s Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Janice, who has been adopting older dogs since 1999, is a volunteer for both Straydog Inc. (the legendary sanctuary near Gun Barrel city) and Before The Bridge rescue. She also says she tires “to get towels and food to Angie’s Friends,” the rescue effort led by the legendary Fairy Dogmother of West Dallas, the remarkable Angie Manriquez.
You can see that Princess Rosie has no problem using Little Pumpkin, formerly known as “Thunder,” as a pillow. Princess Rosie came from Before the Bridge.  Janice says, "She is blind and deaf and has only three teeth. Not spayed, but is about 16 years old now....Little Pumpkin has very bad teeth, is not neutered and has some other issues.” He is at least 15.
“They live with a Schnauzer with a heart murmur,” says Janice. He is Benny Bugs Fellow and he is now 13 – he was adopted at 10.
That’s Benny Bugs next to Bossy the Cat who doesn’t look all that bossy when sleeping – Bossy, adopted at 10, is 16 now. (Janice’s youngest cat, Rosie Rover, is a 2 year-old who was found in a box in Highland Park with a sign that read “Free kittens.”)
The chubby Min Pin is 15-year-old Baby Josh, who was adopted at 11.
Stash Man is the youngest dog, a 9-year-old Schnauzer mix who likes to snooze under the covers.
And that is a houseful of –and I think I’m creating a word for the ages here -- slumberfurnation. That’s when everybody you know in the country in a naturally occurring fur coat is asleep in your house.
(To nominate your snoozing critter for the friendly spotlight of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send photos and info to [email protected]. Remember, at Readlarrypowell.com, we know the frustrations of the aging insomniac and we see promise in learning slumber techniques from honorable animals who understand the value of a power nap, even if it is a low-power nap.)

BE ON THE LOOKOUT DENTON: Usually Amy Pelzel, the tireless Denton Animal Shelter volunteer, knows where the dogs are. This time she’s trying to help find a dog.
Domino, who belongs to some friends of Amy’s, vanished from their yard Thursday and, Amy says, “They are torn up about it.”
Domino is a 40-pound pit bull with black, gray and white coloring. He was adopted from the Denton Animal Shelter about 2 years ago.
He’s wearing a collar, tags and is microchipped. His usual neighborhood is the area near University and Carrol Avenue in Denton.
“He is loved very much and his ‘parents’ want him back home,” Amy says.
If you know Domino’s whereabouts, call 469-879-3662.
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PM Editon: Trying to save Charlotte; Reminder: MAC meeting Sunday

Our Friday afternoon edition serves as reminder that there is more than one way to get a critter out of a shelter. Sometimes there's adoption, sometimes there is rescue, sometimes someone steps up and says, "Find a place; I'll help with the money."
And, don't forget: the Metroplex Animal Coalition member groups and public meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the SPCA of Texas, 2400 Lone Star Drive (west of downtown Dallas along I-30.) Speakers and door prizes.  Probably won't be postponed by inclement weather this time. Send your RSVP to [email protected].
And, now, here's the dog story:
AN OFFER TO HELP A DOG: Karen Carter, who already has five dogs and four feral cats. spotted Charlotte, a 10-year-old Rat Terrier, at the Denton Animal Shelter and has been perplexed because she can’t find a way to help the dog get out.
She’s on the clock and it’s ticking swiftly. (Contact the Denton shelter by clicking HERE or e-mail [email protected]). Charlotte came in as a stray and because she’s a “senior,” her adoption fee is only $60. And Karen has an offer.
Karen  wrote, “Could you get the word out that I will pay the other half of Charlotte's adoption fee at the Denton animal shelter? ... I just do not want to see her euthanized. Senior pets are wonderful and low maintenance!
"I met Charlotte on Saturday with thoughts of adoption but she did not seem interested at all in me! She is very sweet but seemed bonded with her volunteers....
“The animal control officer I spoke with ... would not let me pre-pay her adoption fee because they would feel like they had to hold her. ... He did indicate that if an interested party wanted to adopt her they could contact me for payment of the other half of her adoption fee. ... I am so concerned because their Petfinder listings grow longer everyday.”
You can contact Karen at 214-222-5110 or [email protected] to help her get Charlotte to safety.
SHELTERS AND OLD CRITTERS: Animal shelters all over have older dogs and cats that have been surrendered to shelters, abandoned, allowed to roam or just dumped in the streets. They don't get to be old without having been loved by someone at some point (you hope).
At a shelter, these animals that once slept on laps and couches and pillows find themselves in a cold foreign environment with no idea of what is going on. Once treasured, they've become trash. Sad but true.
It takes a kind heart to help these animals regain the dignity and love they once enjoyed. Otherwise, they feel the needle and that's that. The planet is suddenly without one more warm and loving soul. Look around today -- this planet can use all the warm and loving souls it can save.
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America, Joshua, Garland, Burns Flat, fostering, rescues, coati and clones...

Happy Friday, ladies, gentlemen and others. We have a number of topics today ranging from the above momma dog Amereica at Operation Kindness, a protest in Garland, missing dogs in Dallas, a need for fosters and on to a contemplation of pronunciation and music of the clones.
And we’ll have a note about this handsome fellow Joshua, too. He’s waiting for help in Burleson. First we’ll go to Garland. Read on:
THE GARLAND PROTEST: Members of CRASH (Citizens to Reform the Animal Shelter) and other folks will gather this afternoon in Garland for a candlelight vigil to protest the way the city’s shelter is run, claiming that shelter policies result in “needless killing of companion animals claimed by rescue groups.”
The CRASH folks cite instances in which they claim Garland shelter personnel knew rescue groups were claiming animals, but killed the animals anyway.
The protest begins at 5 p.m. at Firewheel Shopping Center, 5301 N. Garland Avenue, south of the George Bush Turnpike.
CRASH led the drive to get Garland to stop using a gas chamber to kill animals. In the instance of this protest, CRASH has named a euthanized mother dog “Mother Mary” and has confirmed through reliable sources that the dog was killed as her unweaned puppies were going to a rescue group that wanted to take her, too.
The CRASH goal, according to a statement from the group, is “Transition of the Garland animal shelter from the current ‘kill first, kill fast’ approach to an adoption and rescue-focused approach. Current shelter policies ensure that barely one-third of animals in the animal shelter leave alive, and local rescue organizations have repeatedly seen animals killed while the rescuers pleaded to pull them from the shelter.”
A NOTE ABOUT BURNS FLAT: Tireless rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher of Burns Flat., Okla., is facing a tough weekend. The little shelter in Western Oklahoma is overwhelmed and, for the first time in quite a while, euthanasia is a real possibility. There are several dogs that need a quick rescue to avoid the needle. Contact Terry Lynn at 580-330-1459 or e-mail her at [email protected]. She is a hustler, but she needs help.
JOSHUA’S PREDICAMENT: This fellow is named Joshua and he came into the Burleson Animal Shelter, south of Fort Worth, about a month ago after being whipped up pretty good by another more aggressive dog.  The shelter gave him vet care and got him all healed up and now he’s on the clock. All will be for nothing if no one takes him.
Shelter technician Anastasia Ramsey has been championing this handsome dog’s cause all over the area but so far there are no takers. The only thing Joshua is fighting is the reputation of “pit-type” dogs.
Anastasia says the dog is a year-and-a-half old, is heartworm negative, up to date on shots and “has a donor willing to sponsor his neutering.”
Here is his story. Anastasia writes, “ Joshua was called in as an injured dog, and when we arrived on scene we found a bloody mess.  Some other dog had gotten a hold of him and absolutely ripped him apart.  He had deep punctures and lacerations all over his rear end, and quite a few on his head and neck area.  Joshua’s’ wounds are all healed up now, and he has been waiting for a MONTH for someone to adopt him from our facility.  Despite his previous encounter, Joshua has shown absolutely no aggression while with us.  I easily take food out of his mouth, and he responds to the ‘drop it’ command; he has no other dog aggression and has regular play time with our large (and rather obnoxious) German Shepherd shelter puppy. While he is curious about cats, I have seen zero negative reactions from him, his tail continues to wag even as they hiss and spit at him and he goes about his business.  He does know his basic commands and should have no problem learning any advance commands anyone would want to teach him.  He really is a doll, and everyone here at the shelter loves him- he’s a true ambassador for this breed as he showcases every positive quality they exhibit.”
Call the shelter at 817-426-9283 or e-mail [email protected]  or [email protected].
LITTLE DOGS NEED FOSTERS: Rev. Melissa Wootton Bitting, founder and president of Recycled Pomeranian and Schipperke Rescue, has issued a desperate plea for foster homes. She writes, “We have been overrun with the rescue of two backyard breeders' dogs (read puppymill dogs rescued from south of Abilene and from Oklahoma), and an onslaught of owner-released Schipperkes.”
Foster homes get healthy dogs and the fosters “are responsible for loving and caring for the Pom or Schip and showing it to any potential prescreened adoption applicants.” The rescue provides any heartworm meds needed.
She says, “We currently have lots of great Poms and Schips (and some Chihuahua and Pomchi   puppies) that are just waiting for a wonderful foster home, and we have a Schip and a Schip mix that are boarding at the vet clinic due to no foster home space available.
 “If someone has always wanted to do something to help dogs, this is one way to do it!  They will make a world of difference to their foster dog's life!”
That little dog in the photo, by the way, is one of the dogs that needs a foster home.
To volunteer to foster, e-mail Cheri Fults at [email protected] or [email protected].
Rev. Melissa closes her request with this keen observation: “Fostering is a hard job as you have to love the dog like it was your own, but love it enough to let it go to the perfect home!”
BE ON THE LOOKOUT DALLAS:
--ROXY: This dog with the magnificent tail is 85-pound Roxy who dug out of her yard and was last seen on Wednesday near City Place in the Lemmon-Central Expressway area, according to her human, Bruce Solis.
Roxy is an indoor/outdoor dog who prefers the company of people, Bruce says.
He’s posting signs in the area and has been checking shelters.
Roxy is friendly, was wearing a collar and tags and is microchipped. She’s about 2 years old and Bruce has had her most of her life.
To report her whereabouts, call 214-202-6551 or e-mail [email protected].
--NAEJ: Bobby and Jean Bonds are looking for their lost husky mix, Naej, who somehow, inexplicably, escaped from her yard last weekend. She has been spotted in the generally area of Little Forest Hills near Dallas’ White Rock Lake most recently but may be wandering, Bobby says.
She’s a 6-year-old who is microchipped and has had “ACL surgery, so she sits sideways on her back legs.”
This dog, with one brown eye and one blue eye, is also athletic, likes to run and hike and “could be anywhere.”
To report her whereabouts, call 972-413-5657 or e-mail [email protected].
TWO NOTES CATCHING UP WITH DISTRESSED DENTON-AREA ANIMALS:
-- Denton Animal Shelter volunteeer Amy Pelzel sent around a note about an injured Doxie that had been struck by a car.  The note has been forwarded many, many times and Amy reports today that this rescued dog is now in the care of  All Texas Dachshund Rescue.
--Yesterday we told the story of a momma dog who had been teased by some kids and wound up in the Pilot Point Animal Shelter. Stephen Plyler, the rescuer who took a personal interest in her case, reports today that “I got a great response from your readers. Momma is SAFE and going to Metroplex Mutts today.”
A NOTE FROM OPERATION KINDNESS: Operation Kindness has a big fundraiser this weekend, but to demonstrate why fund-raising is important we need to turn not to humans but to a Rat Terrier Mix. The shelter is calling her "America."  (Her photo with her pups opens today's report and to illustrate the fundraising effort we offer this work of art from the famous Jimmy Ellis.)
Mark Cooper, the hard-working Dallas Animal Services rescue coordinator, sent out word that the shelter had a pregnant Rat Terrier mix that needed a safe place to go.
That was yesterday. Operation Kindness, the no-kill shelter in Carrollton, responded. Today we heard from Sandi Laird, the longtime intake manager at Operation Kindness, that the little dog had her puppies last night before the shelter could get her into foster care. “You are not going to believe how many she had.  She had TEN!  I can’t believe a dog that small could have that many babies inside her.  But, then again, her belly was huge. She is doing well this morning.” And, according to the Operation Kindness staff, so are all 10 puppies.
And that is why the Third Annual Operation Kindness Bark-n-Beer fundraiser Saturday is important. The money goes to help care for the unexpected arrivals – you know, like when you take in one dog and get 11.
The event is from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Duke’s Original Roadhouse, Beltline at Midway in Addison (not far from Operation Kindness!). Tickets are $25 per person and there are all sorts of dog-themed beers available with the “light buffet.”
Emcee of the event is radio personality Richard Hunter who, as you may have read elsewhere or heard on the radio, adopted a Michael Vick dog.  He probably can tell you some warm tales about a rescued pitty.
CONTEMPLATIONS: This segment has no breathless report about the Super Bowl and I’ll bet you’re relieved. Well, not a breathless report, anyway.... Call this story “The Value of Captain Kangaroo.” You Boomers will recall that the Captain was always bringing knowledge to the kids of the TV world. Earlier this week I was watching Channel 5’s late afternoon news and two anchors were so excited that a Fort Worth Zoo critter had picked the Green Bay Packers to win the Super Bowl and they kept referring to the animal as a “kwati.” Yes, a “Kwati.” So I turned from the keyboard to look at the screen and saw a coati mundi, a native Texas animal which, as anybody who ever watched Captain Kangaroo knows, is pronounced “coat-uh mun-dee.” You can look it up. One anchor referred to this member of the raccoon family as “some kind of squirrel” and said it was so cute she might have to get one for a pet.  Not a squirrel, not a pet, not a “kwati.” May be righta bout the Packers. ... Listening to WRR (101.1 FM), the city’s classical music station, I heard a rousing number this week and after it was over the announcer identified it as “The Attack of the Clones” from the Star Wars series and said “that was one for all you Trekkies.” Goodness. I may not know The William Tell Overture from the Theme to the Lone Ranger, but I do know the difference between Chewbacca and a Vulcan. Live long and prosper.

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Stories of animals and a carp

On the last Thursday in January 2011, let’s ask ourselves: What is the purpose of my life and does it have anything to do with milk chocolate?
Now, our daily report:
THE MOMMA WHO WAS TEASED: We get this story from Stephen Plyler, the North Texas rescuer. This time, he brings us a story from Pilot Point, about 50 miles north of Dallas and nestled against Lake Ray Roberts.
He reports that “animal control got a call saying some kids where 'teasing' a dog that was living in a ditch. My understanding is that there were 3-4 kids...riding bicycles by her in the ditch where she was living. They kept riding right by her.
“She seemed to be guarding the ditch where animal control found her puppies the week before.
“She did not bite them. According to the kids she chased them when they rode by. I think they were having fun with her chasing them until animal control showed up then they said they were scared of her.”
How Stephen became aware of this is he has begun helping out with the little Pilot Point shelter. He says it is “very tiny and has no heat or air.  On top of that, it is also built at the sewage plant and is behind a locked gate with no operating hours. So, as you can probably surmise, hardly any adoptions take place there. Basically, rescue is the only way out for the dogs at this shelter. “The AC is a super nice lady who is only part-time and does the best she can with limited support. So, I have recently started helping her place dogs.
"Last week, I helped place 8 puppies found without their mother.
Yes, the dog in the ditch is the momma. Because of the alleged chasing of the kids, the mother dog is “now available to 'rescue only’ and has very little time,” Stephen says. “She is very scared but I was able to hold her for about 30 minutes today [Wednesday] so I think with patience she will come around. This momma has been through so much -- first her puppies were taken away from her, then she was teased and now she faces death alone.
"I know there are so many dogs to rescue so why would anyone take on the challenge of a terrified black momma dog but I have faith that someone will see the hurt in her eyes and decide it is the right  thing to do to save this poor momma. Will you spread the word on Momma because I'm banking on a rescue miracle.”
To ask about helping this mother dog, e-mail splyler03@aol.
ROXY’S PLIGHT: Johnna Bigley, who is among the volunteers who works at the Seagoville Animal Shelter, is desperate to find help for this pup Roxy. She has already issued a special plea through the usual network, but, she says, “Not one person is interested in pulling or adopting this girl.  Some have offered to gather funds for medical help or even give a few of their leftover meds but the problem is there’s only one employee at the shelter, she’s swamped, and this sweet girl really needs medical attention.
Roxy has demodex mange and in a shelter it’s a death sentence.
She has been in the shelter “for almost a month,” Johnna says, “and really needs to get medical attention as soon as possible. Despite how she may look, she’s happy, friendly and such a wonderful girl. Please, is there anyone who can get her out of the shelter ASAP?”
The year-old Boxer mix weighs about 50 pounds and “her expressions will steal your heart away,” Johnna says.
To ask about her call the shelter at 972-287-6838 or e-mail [email protected] or e-mail [email protected] or call 214-673-3844.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT MESQUITE: This little Poodle mix is named Biscotti and he’s been missing since Jan. 23, we hear from one of our longtime sources, Niki Witham who is an online pal of the pup’s human via Yelp.com.
Biscotti dug under the fence about 9 p.m. on Jan. 23 and vanished into the neighborhood near East Kearney and Beltline in Mesquite. The 5 pound dog was wearing a collar and tags. The number to call is 214-957-0731. 
One theory is the cute dog was picked up by someone who doesn’t know where to return the pup. And, as you know, dogs rarely talk and generally can’t tell you where they belong.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT KAUFMAN COUNTY: This tip comes to us from our tipster Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. A big ol’ – 80 pounds – Rottweiler named Bolo has gone missing and there’s a complication.
The owner found the dog’s collar hanging on a fence gate. And, according to the tip, the “neighbor who has a female in heat informed the owner that he picked up the rottie and dropped him south of Wills Point near Broadmore. Kaufman County Sheriff’s Department and Animal Control have been notified.”
If you know this dog’s whereabouts, phone  972-551-9620.
[Aside to all involved in  this matter: The proper thing to do is get your dogs fixed. Oh, and don’t just drive off with a “visiting” dog and shove it out into a strange neighborhood. What a creepy thing to do.]
OWNER FOUND: Last week one of our Readers, Kristi Cameron, was trying to find the owner of a Great Dane puppy she’d found. She reports, “Found owner of lost Dane puppy. Love those happy endings. And, yes, the person who found the dog gave them an ‘education!’ LOL”
Hard to lose a Great Dane, but it happens.
A NOTE FROM MARSHALL: You may recall that Eva Sepulvado, former animal control officer at Marshall, continues to be active in animal rescue. She’s sent out a note on behalf of this little guy named Dexter.
She saw this guy Dexter at the Marshall Animal Shelter and he was, she writes, “cowering in a corner and quivering in fear – I just could not leave him there.”
She took him home but her house is overloaded, so he’s look for a home for the 8-year-old, 15-pound dog.
He’s crate-trained, uses a doggy door and is “so sweet,” she says. To ask about Dexter, call 903-926-1096 or e-mail [email protected].
HAPPY NOTE: This one arrived from the e-mail of Joe Skenesky of the Carrollton Animal Shelter. “Here is the kind of update I like to send out, it seems everyone has either gone to rescue or been adopted.” That took care of the euthanasia list for this week, but there’s always next week. You can see the available animals by clicking HERE.
One of the dogs is Betsy, a 50-pound, year-and-a-half-old  Lab with a story. According to the shelter, “This beautiful lady was released to the shelter by her people who refused to take her off of a chain in order to comply with state laws limiting the time period dogs can be chained. She is a very sweet lady, exploring her freedom and a life without a heavy chain around her neck probably for the first time in her young life. She is curious about everything and loves to be petted and loved on, getting excited at the very thought of being petted. ... She is looking forward to a life without a chain and her world being larger than the tiny circle she was allowed to walk.”
CONTEMPLATIONS: Here's my carp of the day. Am I the only person who finds this disturbing? The latest edition of Vanity Fair (the one with Justin Bieber on the cover – that’s not the disturbing part), has a 2-page “advertising section” sponsored by Turner Classic Movies titled “31 Days of Oscar -- What’s Your Cinema Savvy?” It presents several questions dealing with famous films and asks this one about Casablanca: “Producer Hal B. Wallis nearly made which character in the film a female, considering Lena Horne and Ella Fitzgerald for the role?” And that’s a fine question. It’s the answer in the TCM ad that just wrenches the soul out of a film fan. TCM’s answer is “Sam (played in the film by Louis Armstrong).” Yes, my goodness, have ever seen a more wrenchingly wrong answer? Louis Armstrong? Come on. Fans of Dooley Wilson know who played Sam and sang “As Time Goes By” for Ilsa and Rick. Oh, my.  You just don’t expect that sort of error to slip past in a TCM-related ad. Next thing you know we’ll be told that Rick didn’t come to Casablanca for the waters.
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Assorted stories and a Vick note

OK, let’s dive right into the day’s issues. This is Wednesday and we can see the weekend from our house.
AN EARHOUND NEEDS A HOME: Lacy Ball of the SPCA of Texas spotted this little girl and forwarded a note about the available sweetie.
“I have a cute ‘Earhound’ for you named Shonda. She is at our McKinney location, and she is a sweetheart! Her ears aren't standing up as much in these photos but outside of her kennel, she is one alert girl!”
And, as you can see, she knows how to flop on her back and wait for a tummy rub.
The official story from the SPCA is “If her name wasn’t Shonda, it would be ‘Happiness!’ When you meet her you can see happiness from the top of her head to the end of her tail. She loves to lick and wiggle around, and she’s such a sweet girl. She wags her tail like it’s going out of style!”
The 2-year-old, 35-pound terrier mix has been at the SPCA since Dec. 20. She’s heartworm positive but, the SPCA has arranged for her treatments to be free at a Metroplex-area VCA Animal Hospital” after adoption. She’s #12071604. Go to www.spca.org to see how to adopt this Earhound.
BABY’S WAITING: Cathy Horn still needs help with Baby -- you may recall from an earlier post that she picked up this year-and-a-half-old pit bull just before Christmas.
The older household Labs tolerated her youth exuberance for a while, but one (another rescue dog) became vexed and the result was Baby wound up at the vet's with staples. The older dog also got some patchwork but got to come home and Baby is being boarded and Cathy is running out of money and time. So, Baby, who has been vetted and loved, needs a place to go. Cathy would love to see her in a rescue group or in a new home. To ask about helping Baby, e-mail [email protected] or call 903-451-9274.
Where did Baby come from? Cathy says, “I found her in Payne Springs, Texas, on the corner of 198 and Leisureland Road eating something in the street. I pulled over on Leisureland Road, a residential street and called to her. She came running, fleas and all, and jumped into the front seat of my car as if she owned it. We went immediately to the vet at 4:30 p.m. since I did not just want to take her home with my dogs without first checking her out. I was given the OK to take her home. The vet de-fleaed her and home she went. 
“She has a puppy spirit, full of life and happiness. My older dog tolerated the playfulness most of the time. She loves to play and chew bones. She loves children. Currently I am boarding her. I am told she is as happy as a lark, laying in the grass sunning herself and chewing on her dog bones.”
And, just FYI, Cathy has already had Baby microchipped, had her spayed and updated her shots. This dog is good to go.
THE EMMY REPORT: Earlier we reported on the case of Emmy, an injured dog who was living in a “hole” next to a house. Dallas teacher Megan Sullivan and a student had spotted this dog and “rescued her.”
That’s Megan in the hat with Emmy. Renee and Paul Breitzman are fostering Emmy for Richardson-based Take Me Home Pet Rescue.
As you may recall, Emmy had a severe leg injury that resulted in an amputation. She is bouncing back well, according to a report from Renee forwarded to us by Rekka Melby of Take Me Home. Rene wrote that “Miss Emmy had a big day yesterday. She was by our side most of the day, in the same rooms as our dogs, and all was quiet. She went for a car ride to Allen where she met three of our grandkids and their little Chihuahua Madie. One of our granddaughter's name is Emmy, and, of course, she fell in love with Miss Emmy.  We came back to our house where Miss Emmy got to sit in the lap of our 12-year-old granddaughter, Cameron, for a couple of hours with no complaints.
“Paul and I went to a friend's house in the evening, and we brought Emmy along with us.  She sat in our laps most of the time and slept...quite happy to have a lap underneath her and hands on her.
“She really doesn't like to be left alone, so we try not to, but of course, it does happen some.  We let her sleep in a smaller crate ... in our bedroom last night and she liked that better than her big kennel in a separate room.
“She gets around at least as well as before her surgery.  It has been so cold outside that we just go out long enough to potty then back in, but I think she'll be glad to get some fresh air when it warms up.”
And, one more thing, Take Me Home Pet Rescue discovered that Ms. Sullivan the teacher didn’t just “talk” the owner into surrendering Emmy. The story goes, “Emmy's previous owners did not want to surrender the dog, but were willing to sell her. They wanted $20, which Megan gave them to be able to take Emmy.”
THE BURNS FLAT CRUNCH: Tireless rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher, whose mission is to keep the Burns Flat, Okla., animal shelter from killing a single critter, is in a bit of a numbers crunch right now. There are more dogs than just Desi (left) and Dino available. And Terry Lynn is hustling to find places for them to go so she can keep them safe.
Here is the way pressure builds in a small town shelter. Terry Lynn writes, “These are the two brothers that need out now. I had a kennel I was going to put them in, but got a momma and 8 newborn babies, so I had to put her there.”
Yeah, seems like “puppy season” is year round.
Dino and Desi are the products of a romance between a Boxer mom and a Yellow Lab dad. They are about 7 months old. Terry Lynn says, “They have been thrown away several times and still want to love and trust people.”
To help her place these pups, call her at 580-330-1459 or e-mail [email protected].
THE PREDICAMENT: Tabitha Wilkes of Corsicana travels between cities in her profession as a nurse and she spots situations with animals and tries to help them. We’ve reported before on her efforts.
This time she’s concerned about a dog she has been monitoring since late 2009.
She writes that a year ago a dog “was removed from a dog run at a junkyard. The dog had a broken hip and was nearly starved to death. This dog would get in and out of the dog run. I fed it and tracked it for a few months before the Animal Control Officer was able to catch it. It had the broken hip for all those months. The leg would swing and the dog would yelp as it walked/ran.
 “A day or 2 after that first dog was removed and destroyed, a new dog took its place in the same dog run.
“The dog quickly began to lose weight. I had the forethought to take photos of the animal in case they would be needed later. I notified the shelter of this neglect issue. I went over every night and threw hams over the fence to it and even placed straw in its house when the temps dipped below freezing in December of 2009. Animal control went out a few times and gave the dog’s owner warnings. He agreed to place the dog with his son, for better care.
“Long story short, I noticed that dog back in that dog run just 3 days ago. It is in horrible condition. In December of 2009 the dog appeared to be 2-3 years old. It looks 12 now. The shelter is going to try and trap the dog,  It escaped from the run to look for food. Our shelter does not provide any medical services for animals they pick-up. They put them down straight away if they have medical issues.
“The Humane Society of Navarro County has said they can help with medical bills but they do not have a place for the animal to go.
“The shelter has agreed to release the animal after they catch it if anyone will take it but if not it will be put down.
“This is a fine loving dog. I am feeding it again now. It knows me and comes eagerly to greet me. I cannot take the dog. I have no yard and far too many foster cats inside my apartment. I have tremendous guilt because I did not do more for the dog last year when it was in better condition. I wanted to do it the right way. I wanted to go through the system, but the system did not work.
“Can you help us find a place for this sweet dog to go? It does not have much time at all.”
There you have it – a dog in peril and someone willing to help. Call Tabitha at 903-874-4497 or e-mail [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS: People say, “Summer colds are the worst.” Sorry, winter colds are the worst. Or maybe it’s this: The cold of the moment is the worst. ... Silent films – yes or no? Is it the modern add-on score that makes some silent films almost unbearable? Too jaunty? Love those Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd films. And, of course, films starring The Orchid Lady of the Screen, Texarkana’s own Corinne Griffith..Ms. Griffith, by the way, was once married to Washington Redskins owner George Preston Marshall and she wrote the famous fight song, “Hail To the Redskins.” ... As long as we’re talking about football, here’s something to react to: the convicted dog-killer Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles has signed on as a spokesman for an outfit named Unequal Technologies which manufactures products such as shoe insoles and special padding for athletes. You can read about the company at www.unequal.com. You can click on “contact” and see how to reach the company. I’m sure the executives would be overjoyed to hear from you.
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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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On Monday, tails and tales...

Monday flops onto the unsuspecting like a big dog flops onto a sore toe.
Ouch, and we move on, chilled to the bone this particular penultimate January 2011 Monday.
You’ll find some happy endings and some possible happy endings in our daily report:
WAITING AT SEAGOVILLE: Small shelter plus big population equals ugly prospect for animals. That’s the report from Johnna Bigley, one of the volunteers who is trying to help the little Seagoville Animal Shelter place more and more animals.
Thie shelter has one full-time and one part-time employee, she says. It’s open by appointment only and that means, she says, “little foot traffic.”
Among the animals at the shelter is this little guy, Bailey. He’s #72. Johnna says the little guy “sits quietly in the front corner of his shelter cage, watching, waiting,....Not one single day goes by that I haven’t seen him in that very same spot. His spirit almost seems broken. He never barks, looks up at you with pleading eyes and wais patiently...”
There’s also a big dog with mange, Roxy, who needs a rescue to help her get back to prime adoptable condition.
To ask about any of these animals, call the shelter at 972-287-6838 or e-mail  [email protected],  [email protected] or  [email protected].
The basic Seagoville adoption fee is $15. Rescue groups get a break.
WHAT SHOWS UP: Veteran rescuer Dorrie Mowery sent out this note overnight:
“Came home the other night and this sweet girl greeted me when I got out of my car, lucky me, grrrrrrrrrr! She had a collar on, so I drove her up to Hillside [Vet Clinic], but we found no microchip, bummer. She seems very young, maybe a little under a year, 55-plus pounds, border collie-American bulldog mix, has been whining like she is missing someone, but I have driven the streets looking for signs, walked her around for hours, and no one seems to be missing her.”
This mannerly dog, who turned up near Woodrow Wilson High School around Abrams and Glasgow on Saturday evening, gets along with others and “loves to play fetch, too,” says Dorrie. “However, I cannot keep her, even as a foster, and need to find a foster for her ASAP!”
To ask about helping this pup and Dorrie, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-232-0082.
RELAX, THERE’S A HAPPY ENDING UNDERWAY: Karla Kirk sent out a call for help over the weekend and the Protective Animal League stepped up. You may have seen the request. A woman crashed her car near Karla’s house and as a police officer was taking the woman to jail, she asked Karla to take care of her dog, “Lady,” who had been in the car.
The dog is safe now, but in case you didn’t get one of the viral e-mails, here’s Karla’s report:
“The weirdest things always happen to me.  I don't know why!  Last night [Saturday], a drunk woman crashed into a ditch across the street from my house. She had a dog named Lady with her.  As her name suggests, she is quite a lady! 
“The woman was being taken by the police, and so she begged me to please take care of Lady since she was a good girl, and did not deserve to be sent to the pound where she would be put to sleep.  This is a very sad story. 
”I did not ask the woman's name, but the woman says that she has cancer and she is homeless.   Until two days ago, she lived in a hotel, but she was evicted after she was unable to pay rent.  She was in the area looking for a friend to spend the night, and she got lost and then crashed into the ditch.  She was crying the whole time and was begging me to please take Lady.
“I'm sure that really cares about her dog, and I'm sure Lady cared about her master even more.  Lady stayed outside of her owner's SUV the whole time just to make sure she was OK.”
TWO TAIL TALES IN CARROLLTON:  Euthanasia day is Wednesday this week at the Carrollton Animal Shelter and among the animals on the list are these two – each with a tail distinction.
The cat is Millie-Meter (#23212), described as a “fun-loving lady” who came in as a stray. She’s young and curious and “seems to be missing part of her tail as it is only about six inches long.”
Then, there is the rough-coated Jack Russell named Scrappy, No. 23198. The shelter says 20-pound Scrappy “may have been hit by a car while he was out and about looking for a new home. Although he doesn’t appear to have any injures related to possibly being hit by a car, we recently discovered that this little dog gets himself so worked up as he chases his tail, that when he catches it he keeps chewing.  This has resulted in an injury to the tip of his tail that will need treatment from a vet.”
To ask about helping or adopting any animal in the Carrollton shelter, e-mail  call 972-466-3420 or e-mail [email protected]  .
FULL AND WAITING: DeDe Whitcombe, the Mazie’s Mission volunteer who monitors things at Collin County Animal Services in McKinney, reports that the county’s shelter is “overfull” and that euthanasia is an imminent danger to the animals there. You can see the animals by clicking HERE and if you want to save one or more of them, e-mail [email protected] or [email protected] or call 972-547-7298.
THE BLIND DOG IN FORT WORTH: You may recall that several times recently we mentioned a blind dog that was being held at Fort Worth Animal Care & Control. Nothing was doing until Teresa Jennings contacted Texas Cattle Dog Rescue, which made room. There were transit challenges, but things worked out and over the weekend Teresa sent this photo of the “blind dog AKA Stevie AKA Willie.” As you may be able to tell, there are some little kids who enjoyed meeting this dog.
She reports that the dog “spent the night at [temporary foster] Donna Ozee's  house in Fort Worth.  The hand off at the Stockyards fell through.  The woman who was supposed to take him did not want a dog in her car or horse trailer!  Whatever!  His second option was to spend the night in a cold trailer all by himself and hitch a ride to Houston ... Donna and I were not going to let Stevie go through that so I drove him to Centerville Sunday afternoon and met a Texas Cattle Dog Rescue volunteer named Holly.  He is officially in their possession!  I know he will find a wonderful home!”
AND IN BURNS FLAT: Tireless rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher reports that the little city shelter in Burns Flat, Okla., in the western end of the Sooner State, is “still overloaded with dogs. All my kennels at the shelter are overflowing. The temporary holding kennels are full. I am facing losing several --all for lack of space.
” as always, we still need dog food and can really use some blankets. I had some food brought to us, thanks Amber and Anthony, but with so many, it will go fast. I know times are rough everywhere, but here, in this little town, I try to do this on my own...I am just overwhelmed again. If you can help save any of these innocent throwaways or donate blankets or food, please let me know. Also, if you have any kennels (outdoor ones) we can even just borrow, I would be so grateful.”
Contact Terry Lynn at 580-330-1459 or e-mail [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS: Please submit your own contemplations today. Monday came too quickly for me. All I can think about is this: Geez, I’d like some more sleep and aren’t there a lot of commercials on TV these days.
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Pom at the Top of the World...

When it comes to sleeping, there are some of us who are, to use a common phrase, right  on top of things.
Thus, Penny the Pom is our spotlighted critter for this weekend’s edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
Penny was nominated by Viki Chancellor of Duncanville who explains:
“This is my newest furkid, Penny, taking her nap. She's all of 5 pounds of feisty Pomeranian.
As with my other ‘fluffy butts,’ she came to me from Recycled Pomeranians.” (She “came into rescue off the streets at 4.4. pounds,” Viki explains.)
She also says that that Penny has a “Papillion little brother, Kirby, a big mix sister, Frannie” and other Pom pals, Miko, Mia and Colby. And they “all obey her.”
“Penny knows she's queen of the mountain, so she likes to sleep on top of her crate. She also bosses the other dogs without mercy.”
And, of course, she has the energy to do that because she gets her 40 winks in a comfy spot befitting her lofty position in life.
(To nominate your snoozing critter for the weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs  Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send the photo or photos to [email protected]. Remember, at Readlarrypowell.com, we cherish sleep and we are always on the lookout for new ways to get it, though we do not currently have a dog crate strong enough to support the household’s largest insomniac, Wide-awake Larry.)