Reprieves and pressure -- it's Monday

Let’s take it easy on Monday.
Last Monday of March 2011. The Texas Rangers season opens at the end of the week. There’s some kind of basketball tournament going on. And I’m still unclear about how to figure out when Easter arrives, though I’m sure the best way to tell if it’s approaching is to watch the candy on drug store shelves. It’s that old chocolatier’s wisdom: “When eggs replace elves, Easter draws nigh.”
Oh, and that dog is Tonka. He's up for anything! Read on and you learn more about him.
A BRIEF REPRIEVE: Eleven dogs were scheduled to die on Wednesday at the Dallas Animal Services Shelter, but they have been given a break – they’ve been rescheduled for April 1.
These are dogs that have been at the shelter for more than 45 days and are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and in good health. (There are other animals at the shelter, but they haven’t been there so long that they’ve been put on this list)
Among them is this Cattle Dog Shepherd Mix Tic who is 4 months old and weighs about 22 pounds. Her face reminds me of some kind of high-art heart mask. Maybe she’s left over from Valentine’s Day.
To go with Tic, I searched and searched for either a Tock or a Tac or a Doh, but found none. There is, however, this dog Doris, a 49-pound, year-old heeler mix with a gentle array of spots on her side and exclamation points for eyebrows.
To adopt any of the animals or ask about them, e-mail [email protected]  or [email protected] or call 214-671-0249 or 214-670-8312.  Rescue groups should contact [email protected] or [email protected] or call 214-670-8298.
The shelter is at I-30 and Westmoreland west of downtown Dallas. See www.dallasanimalservices.org.
SEAGOVILLE: Johnna Bigley, who volunteers at the Seagoville Animal Shelter, says folks keep hustling to help the animals, but there were only two adoptions over the weekend. Plenty of animals left.
The little shelter is full and Sgt. Karl Bailey, the shelter manager, says Johnna, “is trying so hard to keep his dream alive of a no-kill shelter but with very few pets leaving while others are still coming in...well...it’s getting critical and he really needs our help to do it!”
Among the animals are the dog with the great face, Sammy, and the black-and-white girl cat with the great whiskers, Princess.
Johnna also says the shelter needs donations to help with medical care. This shelter is taxpayer-supported in that it is owned and run by the City of Seagoville, but as everyone who has ever been inside a city shelter knows, there are always needs that never show up in a projected budget.  So, she’s created a “chip-in” for the shelter HERE.
To offer to help in any other way – including adoptions and fostering and volunteering – e-mail [email protected] or [email protected].
BACK IN THE SHELTER: DeDeWhitcomb, the Mazie’s Mission volunteer who also walks the Collin County Animal Services Shelter in McKinney, says this dog has “no time. He was originally a stray and after his hold was adopted, and then returned because they could not keep him in a face.”
The solid white dog is possibly a Great Pyrenees/Lab mix “hence he roams,” she says.
Still, he’s a sweet dog, about 5 years old and in need of a home.  To ask about ID 286704, call the shelter at 972- 548-7292 or e-mail [email protected].
TONKA AND MOUSETRAP: We come now to the Carrollton Animal Shelter, which has scheduled many animals for euthanasia on Wednesday. Time is of the essence, as the old timers say.
Among the animals on the list are these two who offer, in these photos, countenances that are somewhat fetching.
Tonka looks like he’s up for anything the human wants to do – he’s excited about life and ready to help. And he’s got Pit Bull in the family tree with Shar Pei, so he is a “rescue only” dog at the shelter. Only a rescue group can save his life. He’s #23529 and the shelter says he’s a young adult at about 62 pounds. And, the report is, “He seems to think everyone is his friend and that everyone wants to pet him. He also appears to be house-trained and does well with other dogs.” (See Tonka’s video HERE.)
The cat with the tough-guy look is Mouse Trap. He was a stray who had a collar but no ID tag. Mouse Trap is older, appears to have a cataract in his right eye and likes to be petted and cuddled. You can see Mouse Trap’s video HERE.
To ask about any Carrollton animal, call 972-466-3420 or e-mail [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS: Frozen blueberries or fresh blueberries on your oatmeal? Or oatmeal at all? ... Saw the space alien movie Paul – adult humor, grown-ups’ version of E.T. The Extraterrestrial. I am starting to worry that my sense of humor – because of the way the world is this days with war and mayhem everywhere – is devolving into a junior high range.  My witspouse Martha preferred to stay home and watch videos of old Poirot mysteries with David Suchet in the lead. ... Is this a sleepier Monday than usual?
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