Charlie's rabies test and other tales...

Welcome to Wednesday and, among our stories today is a skunk alert -- actually, it's more of a rabies alert. Serious business.
And, not to tease, but coming up on Readlarrypowell.com tomorrow, The Story of Norah, a rescued dog in Dallas. Seriously, stay tuned. But first, these newsy notes:
WHY IS THIS DOG BEHIND BARS? Oh, boy. Stand back. Charlie has been in contact with a skunk.
Normally that would be the subject of a cartoon or a bit of hilarity in a movie. But this is North Texas and skunks and foxes and bats and other varmints are known to be carriers of the dreaded rabies.
Because Charlie encountered a skunk, he’s in the lockup awaiting the all-clear.
We got his story from DeDe Whitcombe, the shelter walker and volunteer with Mazie’s Mission. She told us about Charlie. And she says, “Yes, Mr. Charlie reeks.” That’s not the only danger these days.
Those rabies shots aren’t just to make money for vets and vaccine companies. They exist to protect your animal friend and, thus, your kids and yourself.
You’ll say, “Oh, my dog never leaves the yard.” Maybe so. But you never know what’s coming into the yard and waiting when you let Fido out for his nightly walk. Bats? Heck, yeah, they pass on rabies.  (You can see rabies stats by linking to the Texas Zoonosis Control HERE. That’ll show you that Collin County had 10 rabies cases in 2010 – all from skunks. Dallas County had two cases in bats and one in a horse. That's the state's anti-rabies poster below. Click on it to make it larger.)
The story on Charlie is, according to DeDe, “Charlie's owners surrendered him to Collin County Animal Shelter when he was found eating a skunk.  Sounds strange, but you see there are lots of cases of rabid skunks in this area.  And Charlie's ‘owners’ said they had just found him, and there was no vaccination history and the skunk had been disposed of and was not available for testing. 
“State law dictates Charlie must be in ‘isolation’ for 90 days with a series of rabies shots given over that time. Well, Charlie's owners did not want to deal with that so they turned him over to the shelter to be euthanized.  I sent out a plea for him. It was a longshot, I knew.  However, two groups stepped up.  Now, due to events beyond their control neither is able to help him.  Well, we still just cannot give up on this sweet boy and want to give him every chance to live and be loved.
“So, we have a solution!”
DeDe’s longtime friend Carrie Taylor stepped up to help Charlie through this difficult period. She has, DeDe says, “bought all the supplies to build his enclosure to code, spent her personal money to make sure this sweet face that she has fallen in love with as this story unfolded has a happy ending.  She has approval from her county, her county sheriff, and the Collin County Animal Shelter.”
Charlie has gone through neutering, vaccination and assorted vet tests and is scheduled to go to his new “enclosure” today to wait out his isolation period.
DeDe is anticipating that he will come through that “with flying colors and we are praying that is the outcome),” she says. After that, he’ll go to a rescue group to find a home.
“The missing link that we need,” says DeDe, “is help with the funds needed for his special enclosure, vetting and food and supplies for his care. Carrie has already spent almost $500 for his enclosure. ... We are thinking $700.00 will cover everything total with the visits from the vet and shots and food and supplies.”
Yep, there’s a Chip In for Collin County Charlie HERE. And, DeDe says, donations can also be mailed to  Carrie Taylor, 1207 County Road 5005, Blue Ridge, TX 75424. Note that they are for “Charlie the Lab.”
Rabies shots are available in a lot of places and are often quite inexpensive. Usually if there’s an animal event, there’s a vet offering low-cost shots. Meanwhile, you might offer up a prayer or two for Charlie. You never know. If you’re a Baby Boomer, you’ve hated rabies since Tommy Kirk had to shoot Ol’ Yeller. Oh, my.
NEWS WE LIKE TO HEAR: This note came to us from Tina Nichols who reminded us, “You were kind enough to post a photo for me on our missing dog awhile back and he was found!”
Here comes Act II in Tina’s Dog Tales.
This has to do with a dog named “Bart” who was a longtime resident at the little Seagoville Shelter – as you know Sgt. Karl Bailey and a number of volunteers have begun transforming that shelter into an pro-adoption, volunteer-friendly shelter. That’s good for animals.
Tina reports, “I’m writing to tell you that this little guy named ‘Bart,’ now ‘Boss,’ has a new home. My husband found this beautiful little face and had to have him. 
“Boss was adopted this past Saturday from the Seagoville Shelter with the great help of Johnna Bigley.  She was extremely helpful in the process and our hearts go out to her and all rescue groups. It’s an amazing effort trying to save them all. We felt terrible when we left that we weren’t able to take more friends home with us. 
“However, Johnna can be assured that we will be returning to the shelter in the future for a new best friend and because of you, Larry, I now know about the ‘Chip-In’ site and I can tell you this: They need the help.”
For those of you who want to help (and can’t take a dog or cat but have some affection for people who are trying to hip animals), you can reach that chip-in site by clicking HERE.
But, the Bart dog now known as Boss was not the last dog in the Seagoville shelter. For example there are Bella (#105) and Bianca (#106), a pair of “bonded girls” who, the shelter says, “deserve to stay together.” They were found running down a service road together and they spend their days playing with each other or napping together.
Both are young Staffordshire Bull Terriers and “friendly with everyone, extremely well-mannered, walk well on leashes and get along with other dog.” The shelter assessment is, “You won’t meet a more loving couple of girls”
To ask about adopting any animal in the Seagoville shelter, e-mail Sgt. Karl Bailey at [email protected] or [email protected]. Call the shelter at 972-287-6838 or Johnna at 214-673-3844.
You can see a video of Bella and Bianca HERE.
THE MANY FACES OF BUDDYLICIOUS: Oh, these are only three – we don’t have room for all the photos snapped by Patricia Barrington, Animal Control Division Manager for The Colony.
She admits, “I’m slightly infatuated with this little fella. He’s just so darn photogenic!  He bounces around like a rubber ball and somehow harnesses that energy for 3 – 5 seconds when someone yells ‘SIT.’  He’s kind of Beagle-esque but has Schnauzery hair.
“Buddylicious definitely has plenty of character. This little guy is about 2 years old and is already neutered. Buddylicious has yet to make a mess in his kennel so I am guessing he’s house trained. Seriously, what a find!”
If you’d like to give Buddylicious a place to call home, call 972-370-9250 or e-mail [email protected].
And, of course, Buddylicious is not the only animal available at The Colony. You can see more animals in The Colony shelter by clicking HERE.
 FOUND AT WHITE ROCK LAKE: Ginny Booth is trying to help a neighbor find the place this pert dog belongs. The neighbor was taking a morning walk Sunday on the southeast side of the lake when he found this pup – believed to be a Pit mix about 9- or 10-months old.
Ginny says, “She has sort of become a neighborhood project, with several folks helping out with her care, but unfortunately no one is able to keep her longer than a few days due to different family issues (new baby, impending move, etc.)”
The dog is sweet, loving and “pretty calm” and gets along with other dogs and “didn't seem the least bit interested in the neighbor's cat, and loves kids.”
Because she rides well in a car and “did fine in the house,” the theory is she’s somebody’s pet and she just hasn’t been claimed.
“We have signs up and web postings, but no luck so far and she's a little on the thin side, so we're afraid she was dumped at the lake.”
Ginny says her neighbor took the pup to the vet Monday and the dog has a leg injury, “possibly from being hit by a car.” So the dog has some pain meds “which have given her a lot more spunk,” Ginny says. She was vaccinated and the vet confirmed she has not been spayed. Ginny says, “We're willing to contribute to her care if a group can take her. My neighbor may only be able to keep her another day or so.”
If no one comes forward to claim the calmest dog in the neighborhood, perhaps a rescue group will step up, Ginny suggests. To contact her, call 214-596-8045 or e-mail [email protected].
And she adds an FYI that some of you veteran rescuers will find amusing and will nod knowingly. She writes, “FYI, you posted another stray for me back in July 2008 – just wanted to let you know that one stuck and he's now happily living with me, my husband and our two other dogs!”
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FOSTER? You've got stories to tell, so you tell 'em. Mary Spencer, a member of the Dallas Animal Shelter Commission, has turned her fostering adventures into a book titled All My Fosters Are Rock Stars and subtitled Tails of Compassion. (Some may know her as a leading fixture in Dallas business with The Spencer Company.) The publication of the book will be noted with a wine and cheese reception and – of course! – book-signing from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at American National Bank of Texas, 2703 Oak Lawn Avenue, in Dallas. RSVP at 214-863-7315. Proceeds from the event benefit the SPCA of Texas
ROSES FOR RESCUE: The folks with Legacy Boxer Rescue, whose web address states the mission (www.savetheboxers.com) are hosting their annual Roses For Rescue Sale on Saturday at the Starbucks at 183 and Central Drive in Bedford from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Get the details at the website HERE.
IN BURNS FLAT, THE ONSLAUGHT CONTINUES: Our hardworking tipster Terry Lynn Fisher of Burns Flat, Okla., out in the western portion of the state, says that little city’s shelter is way overloaded and there are dogs that need an immediate out.
“They have been here way too long and really need a place to go by Monday, or they face going to the vet for a final trip,” she says.
She says the “sweet little Lab mix boy is a doll.” He’s 5 months old and “friendly, outgoing” and “loves everything.”
The boxer mix has a bobbed tail and he “loves to have his belly rubbed and really wants nothing but to be loved and held.” He’s about six months old.
Then there is the dog Terry Lynn calls “my sweet pit girl.” And, of course, there’s a “back story” to this dog. Terry Lynn explains, “This one is actually the daughter of one we had a long time ago. Emily [the mom] was dumped in the country, then shot in the face, only to somehow make her way back home. The owners called the ACO because they did not want blood in the house. She was rescued, but the family kept one of her pups. This is her. She has 8 week old babies that have been handed out and now, she too has been dumped by the family.”
So, in addition to needing homes and foster homes and the help of rescue groups, Terry Lynn says, “We are still in overflow. Yes, they are moving but coming in just as fast. I desperately need food, collars, and leashes. And already, the ticks are invading our town. Seriously, they are getting bad this early in the year.
“I can still use outdoor kennels. I now have the space at the pound to place up to SIX more pens. That would save so many lives over the years by buying them more time.
To help Terry Lynn with animals or supplies, call her at 580-330=1459 or e-mail [email protected]. You can write to Terry Lynn Fisher, P.O. Box. 578, 401 Chickasaw Tr., Burns Flat, Okla., 73624. Her PayPal address is [email protected].
TEEING IT UP FOR CRITTERS:  Coming on April 9, the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake Golf Tournament at Indian Oaks Golf Course at Peeltown, Texas, which is at Kemp, on the north end of the lake. This is a 4-person scram ($65 a person) and the players get lunch at noon with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. (Aside: For those who don’t play golf, a “shotgun start” means the golfers all carry shotguns and when they’re ready to play, they all fire their weapons into the air, then tee off. What? Oh I know it’s not that. I just wrote that for all the people from outside of Texas or the South who expect the “gun mentality” to prevail, even in golf.) Now, there will be a longest drive contest, a closest to the pin contest, straightest drive contest, “Hecklers’ Corner,” and a hole-in-one contest for a car. Plenty of room for more teams, they say. Call Joni Walker, president of the Humane Society, at 214-543-2250 or e-mail [email protected].
CREEK CRAZE: Once upon a time there was a thing at Lee Park in Dallas called “Easter in the Park.” Now it’s a festival known as “Creek Craze” and it’s scheduled from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on April 17 at the park – it’s sponsored by the Turtle Creek Association and Arlington hall Conservancy. Vendors, music, family-friendly, face-painting and other things including the Easter Bunny who, I guess, may have been renamed “Crazy Creek Rabbit.”
 We got the photo with this item from Tara Harper of Paws In The City who reports that the rescue group is hosting the Pet Costume Contests: Best Dressed Large Dog, Best Dressed Small Dog and Best Easter-Themed Dog. Pet “Glamour Shots” will also be available.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Which is more annoying when you're trying to write? The neighbor’s droning leafblower or the city’s bulk trash pickup truck parking in front of your house while the dogs bark a warning that “the Trasheater is coming to get us!”?. ... Worst American car ever? Chevrolet Vega? Ford Pinto? Oh, man, I’ve owned both, but that Vega. Oh, my. ... Presidential politics. Too early? Not soon enough? Answer may depend on whether your party is in or out.
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