ReadLarryPowell.com

On Friday, a reminder and a load of tales from the world of animals...

First, we have a political announcement: This is your reminder that at 2 p.m. Sunday in the downtown Dallas Public Library across from Dallas City Hall, the four Dallas mayoral candidates are scheduled to be at a free-to-the-public forum organized by the Metroplex Animal Coalition.
The four will be asked questions about the way they’ll handle animal issues in the city. Important? If you want to know how much respect the new mayor will have for animal issues and animal people, this is the forum to attend. If you want to show the new mayor that the “animal people” in the city are paying attention to the way he’ll perform in office, this is the day to fill the seats.
A mayor who doesn’t care about animal issues or respect the people who work on behalf of animals will be the cause of frustration and irritation for a whole backward term. A mayor who does care will be a big help in saving the lives of animals and improving the city’s image. It’s just that simple. 2 p.m. Sunday. Dallas Public Library auditorium. It’s free. It’s democracy at work.
THE RINGWORM CHALLENGE: Back in early March, a dog who was living on her own near Harwood and Grand, south of downtown Dallas, was taken off the streets by rescuer Tomi Jasso.
The dog went to Dallas Animal Services and the folks at the shelter realized she was expecting big time. Rescuer Jean-Paul Bonnelly realized she was one of the dogs who’d been eluding his usually successful capture technique for a while. So he volunteered to take her in through the delivery phase and, sure enough, she delivered and she and her nine pups, went to Operation Kindness, the no-kill shelter in Carrollton.
A couple of days ago Tomi asked me if I’d heard about these pups lately. So, I checked with Sandi Laird, the Director of Animal Care at OK and I’m itching to tell you what’s going on with these pups. Itching, that’s the key word.
Sandi reports, “There is good news/bad news. The good news is that they are happy and friendly and in a cage in observation wagging their tails at me at this minute.  The bad news is they are covered in ringworm.  We gave them their third Lyme dip yesterday [Wednesday].  God, the whole shelter smelled like rotten eggs.  They all seem to be getting over it now; however, it will be another week or so before we put them up for adoption.”
She also says, “I  HATE dealing with ringworm. It takes so long to clear it up. Right now, we have nine darling Poodle puppies and all of Sasha’s pups.  The Poodle pups were from a puppy mill who did not want to fool with the ringworm.  We finally got the RW cleared up on two litters of kittens.  Generally it takes four to six weeks depending on how bad the lesions are.”
I asked Sandi if Operation Kindness has a “Ringworm Fund” so that people can donate specifically to curing Sasha’s pups or other animals afflicted with the really “catching” fungal infection. There isn’t a specific fund, but, she says, “The best help we can get is just to make donations to Operation Kindness animal care budget.  This is a donation that is going to help every animal in our care whether they are here for two days or two months.”
It isn’t that the treatment is so costly, says Sandi. “The major cost is actually caring for them for so long in the shelter. They are being kept in the hospital area with daily medical care given to them as well as weekly dips. We are treating nine Cockapoos and five of Sasha’s puppies.  It takes about a dozen disposable gowns each day and lots of latex gloves plus topicals, not to mention the time involved in medicating and caring for them. The fulvacin suspension medicine that we give them is a little expensive, but not terribly so.”
Where do ringworm dogs and cats come from? Ah, there’s a story of expense trumping life. Some shelters pass an ultraviolet lamp over an animal and if it lights up a ringworm, that critter is a goner. That’s just the way it works – shelters, on limited budgets, cannot afford to spend time and money tending to such a contagious problem.
Sandi says, “In many cases, Operation Kindness is the last chance that some of these babies get. All the Cockapoo pups were scheduled to be euthanized because the shelter that got them could not do medical treatments. Last year, about 53% of all the animals that Operation Kindness took in were from city shelters and other humane rescue groups and shelters.  Over 50% of those animals required special attention whether it was treatment for heartworm, broken bones, illness or behavior.  Any and all donations received help us help them. I have attached a few pictures of the Cockapoos and of Sasha’s pups.  I love the one where one of the Cockapoos is sitting by the “Caution – Ringworm” sign.”
Operation Kindness is at 3201 Earhart Drive in Carrollton (off Midway near Addison Airport.). Call 972-418-PAWS or visit www.operationkindness.org.
NOW IT’S A BIG WHITE DOG: The last time we wrote about Steve Hurst he was organizing the “Big Black Dog” adoption special for Animal Guardians of America and now he’s got another big dog challenge only this one is totally white.
This is Magoo, an American Bulldog/Mastiff mix born in January 2010 and, as Steve explains, “a special case.”
Why is that? “He suffers from social anxiety, probably due to abuse that we believe he suffered. He is a loving dog that needs structure and a quiet home until he learns to trust. He does very well with an adult family with no children, as both children and strangers frighten him. He has been in two foster homes with children. In both situations he was frightened by the children when they were playful and noisy. He barked and growled at the children but did not harm them. 
“In spite of his anxiety, when Magoo is comfortable and relaxed, his real personality comes out. He enjoys playing with his adult family and he absolutely loves to play with other dogs of all sizes. He has the energy and personality of a puppy while at play. If there is no other dog to play with, he chases squeaky toys, rolls around on the grass or tries to crawl into your lap for a nap. We are looking for the right person or adult family willing to devote the time to Magoo that he needs in order for him to learn to trust people. Only then will his true personality fully blossom.” (To ask about adopting Magoo, e-mail [email protected].)
SHE WAS LIVING UNDERNEATH A CAR: Yep, Haley the Pit girl was a stray until about 19 days ago, says our Denton Animal Shelter tipster Amy Pelzel. the shelter got a “call from a lady that a white dog was living underneath her car and she was afraid she would start her car one day and run over her. It was not in the best area of town.”
The dog “was so filthy when she came in that we had to wash her three times to get the grime off her.”
Underneath the grime was this dog Haley and Amy personally is looking out for Haley’s future. “I really want her to go to a home – not a pit sanctuary, etc. I don’t’ want just anyone to get her. I want a special home. I love her (and have a back-up recue). I really want someone to meet her and fall in love and want her...”
Haley, probably 2 years old, is healthy, heartworm negative, great with dogs, people, children and, during a weekend visit to a volunteer’s home, did great with the three cats.
What else?
She is deaf. And she isn’t house-trained yet, but she’s learning. Deaf dogs watch for signals, so that’s no big deal as long as you’re patient.
Amy says, “I’m at the shelter everyday and everyday she waits for me then follows me in the office and relaxes. She is just a wonderful dog that needs someone with patience to train her and treat her well.”
To ask about Haley, e-mail [email protected].
MEANWHILE IN BURNS FLAT: Geez, it’s turning out to be a family affair at the animal shelter in Burns Flat, the little town out in western Oklahoma. We get the story from our longtime, reliable tipster and hardworking rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher.
“This has me so sick,” she says. “We received a call about two babies that were full of ticks. I went and it was the same house where we have pulled SEVERAL dogs. Last year, they had Emily --- they threw her away. She tried to find her way home and was shot in the face. Her face ripped apart, bloody and tired, she found her way back to her babies. Once there, her wonderful owners called us, for they didn’t want blood in the house.
“Two weeks ago, we picked up Emily's daughter -- the same wonderful rescue that took her momma, took Edna. We then went and took what we thought were the remaining babies.  Well, now I found the remaining two babies. They are 7 weeks old and they are dying a slow, painful death. The life is literally being sucked out by the hundreds of ticks that cover their tiny, skinny little bodies.   I have NO PLACE to put little ones...My vet cost $15 a day to board a dog, and I still have an outstanding bill there, so they can't even go there to be safe.”
So, Terry Lynn is juggling these dogs in hopes of getting a rescue group interested in saving them. Email her at [email protected] or call her at 580=330-1459.
BUMPER CROP AT THE COLONY: Yep, plenty of great animals in The Colony Animal Shelter – that includes young dogs, old dogs, cats, kittens, puppies. You never know what’ll show up at a municipal shelter.
For example, currently at The Colony is this big ol’ sweetie Maxine. The Colony’s Animal Control Division Manager Patricia Barrington says Maxine is a “10-or-so-year-old” who is a Catahoula-type dog. “She’s well-mannered and laid back.”
There is an Earhound, too, Franklin, described as “a fragile little guy. He is really insecure and needs a patient and kind person to help him adjust.”
The puppy? One of nine. Mom’s a Pit and the pups are Lab/Pit mixes. “We are currently housing 9 of these little things.”
Manager Barrington says, Chances of seeing life outside this shelter are slim, but we have to give it a shot.”
To ask about any of these animals, or any animal in The Colony Shelter, e-mail [email protected] or call 972=-370-9250.
BLACKIE NEEDS SOME HELP: Our pal Dianne Cole, who works at Mountain View Community College in Southwest Dallas, continues to look for help with Blackie, a Chow who was dumped on the campus a while back and has been surviving thanks to good-hearted staffers who make sure he has meals and doesn’t get into any trouble other than that he’s already in these days.
He needs a place to go. And Dianne, ever hopeful that he’ll find one, has set up a “chip-in” to help pay for the grooming and vet care he’ll need once a rescue group finds a spot for him. You can chip in by clicking HERE. To ask about helping or adopting, e-mail [email protected]. 
Blackie is slowly coming around on the social front, but he’ll need to rebuild his confidence in the human race – heck, don’t we all?
ANNIE’S STORY: Kara Lifka of Ruff ‘n’ Ready Rescue says that Annie “was on death row at Denton Animal Control when I pulled her back in December. Annie is a wonderful dog but the poor girl is completely miserable here at the rescue. She needs out of the rescue and into a home with a wonderful family for her to love. She's been great with the other dogs but not good with cats.”
To offer to help this dog get out of her misery and into a good home, e-mail [email protected] or call 940-594-6182.
Kara says that Annie “appears to be a Lab/German Shepherd/Boxer mix” and she has “adorable little speckles on her ears and a pink nose.” She’s spayed, up to date on shots and both crate- and house-trained.
She says Annie “had been picked up as a stray and had apparently recently had a litter. Unfortunately we don't know what happened to her babies. She was in pretty rough shape at the time but so incredibly sweet. I don't understand how anyone let this little girl go.”
PUPPIES WITH PROMISE: Sherry Duncan says “these four little cuties” were dropped off at her home last Sunday evening by some Dallas Police Officers who knew they could depend on her to take care of them and get them into a good spot.
“We gave them warm baths, lots of food and plenty of TLC. We have no idea what flavor these cuties are,” she says. Two are males and two are females.
They had been “seized from a South Dallas crack house” and connections were made and that’s how the puppies wound up safe.
Now they need places to go – either into new homes or into a rescue group or shelter.
To offer to help, call 214-690-9625 or e-mail [email protected].
AFTER THE SAD EVENT, TWO PALS NEED A HOME: Lily Milkovic-Jakal is trying to find one home for two old friends. Lily’s mom recently died from liver cancer. “She is survived by my father, who is ill with Parkinson's Disease, myself, one sweet diabetic kitty named Sammy and one old small lab mix named Bailey.  With my mother's passing and my father's illness and upcoming move (he cannot live alone) poor Sammy the cat and Bailey the dog have no place to go.  I live in LA with my soon-to-be husband in a very tiny one-bedroom apartment with a cat and dog of my own and my landlord won't allow us anymore pets.”
So, Bailey and Sammy of Plano, Texas, need a place to go.
Lily writes, “Bailey was born in 1998 and Sammy was born in 1999. They are close friends and I would love to see them find a new home together but really just want to keep them out of a shelter. I have spoken to some shelter personal who have informed me that they may not even accept them since they are elderly and since the kitty is diabetic and considered ‘special needs’.  I cannot bear the loss of my mom as well as the idea that these sweet pets may be euthanized! They are both well-behaved and easy going and do well with other people and other animals.”
To offer to give a loving home to Sammy and Bailey, e-mail [email protected] or call 310-467-3721.
THE GROOMING SPECIAL: The Friends Grooming shop rents its space from Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake which, as you may know, operates the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic in Gun Barrel City, about 55 miles southeast of Dallas. During April, the shop is running a $15 bath and dip special and some of the proceeds will go to the non-profit Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. Call 254-716-5842 or 903-340-0335 for an appointment.
I mention this in case anyone in Dallas wants to drive for an hour or so with a dirty dog bouncing all over you, then drive back with a clean dog. Might be fun to see how the dog reacts – once the dog is clean, he or she might refuse to ride back home with someone who smells like a dirty dog.
A COMMUNICATIONS REQUEST: If you need to reach Readlarrypowell.com and me, in the name of all that is organized and comprehensible, don’t send me a note via Facebook. E-mail me at [email protected] . Use traditional e-mail. Facebook is a social network and, as such, when I go onto Facebook it is like I’ve stepped into a large room where everyone is talking at the same time and nobody is listening. Maybe it’s my age. Maybe it’s my inability to follow more than 10 or 15 things at a time. Again, old school e-mail me at [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS: I was sad to learn of the death of Johnny Harra, perhaps the definitive impersonator of the “older Elvis.” The first time I saw him live was only a few years after the real Elvis died – someone organized an “evening of fake Elvises” with maybe a half-dozen or more performers at Fair Park. Johnny closed the show and stole it, too. (Google Johnny Harra and watch some of the performances through the years. I saw the real Elvis in the early ‘70s in Fort Worth and Johnny was a great Elvis.) When I was a columnist at the Big Paper in Dallas and mentioned Mr. Harra, he always responded with a handwritten thank-you note no matter how silly what I’d written actually was. I didn’t know him personally, but I will say something that is a tribute to the man: For a pretender to the throne, he was a great King. ...As I’m sitting here assembling today’s report, the TV is on and I’ve just heard a commercial for BallBike.com announce that the device “ignites your fat-burning oven.” I’m not sure all of us came equipped with a fat-burning oven, though, apparently, there is room in our pants for an oven. ... In the mail yesterday – the kind the postman brings – I got a slick card from a funeral home company and the e-mail contact began “funeraldoctor@...” I sent a note to a friend of my suggesting that such an address indicated a conflict of interest and my pal, known here as Laurel Lande, replied, “He makes hearse calls.”
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Border Collies; Greyhounds; shelter dogs, shelter kittens and a Yorkie

Every morning I awake to the same thing: barking dog beating the alarm by quite a distance, slopping the livestock and monitoring the entrance/exit strategy of the dogs at the back door and sitting down at my desk to look at my e-mail.
The cyberstack of e-mail is always robust with people needing a break to help animals and animals needing a break in shelters. That is how I know good hearts survive on this planet. The government may shut down, but the goodhearts will keep working.
So, here we go with today’s report:
THE JEFFERSON DOG RESCUE: The evacuation of Border Collies continues at a site near Jefferson, Texas, in Marion County in Northeast Texas. There may be as many 200 rescued dogs when it’s over by the end of the week.
We spoke this morning with Shari McChristial, usually a Lassie-type collie rescuer who responded to a request for help from Caroline Wedding of the Humane Society of Marion County last weekend. By virtue of that response, Ms. McChristial has become involved in all sorts of elements of this event from fostering, to fielding offers to help with the dogs, to catching flack from people who perceive this event as a move against dog breeders everywhere.
According to Ms. McChristial, though some of the critics claim the family of the breeder is against this seizure, the whole incident was triggered when a member of the family who is in law enforcement told the family something needed to be done to help the neglected dogs. The man who owned the dogs has been in a mental institution for a couple of months, Ms. McChrstial says. His family went to the Marion County District Attorney to arrange a surrender of the animals, she says.  At that point, Marion County Humane Society President Caroline Wedding sent out a request for help.
The project continues to need help with fostering and medical care and adoptions. Ms. McChristial is serving as the “clearinghouse” for these offers to help – e-mail her at [email protected].
There were, according to reports,  dozens and dozens of dogs living on the property –  some were living in cages suspended off the ground and an unknown number were running free on the property. They were not being fed regularly and they suffer from ailments associated with neglect.
Ms. McChristial is particularly concerned about the dog pictured here, Carli, a breeding female from the property. She says the dog has “filed-down teeth so she can’t defend herself or hurt the males that come for her when she is in heat.”
Carli is also missing a paw, much of the hair on her backside but not any sweeteness and is affectionate toward people. How she lost the paw is a mystery – but the theory is it happened several years ago when it became “hung-up” in one of the elevated cages.
While many rescue groups are involved in finding foster homes and adoptors for other dogs, Shari is focusing on finding a permanent adoption home for Carli and has set up a “chip-in” HERE.
AN EARHOUND AND A MONTH OF DOGS: Yes, this is an Earhound and, yes, this is April, known far and wide as “National Adopt a Greyhound Month.”
The Earhound is Chloe, whose kennel name was “M’s Midnightmesa.” She’s 9 years old and, according to the folks with Greyhound Adoption League of Texas (GALT at www.galtx.org), Chloe was a racing dog from March 24, 2004, in Florida to Sept. 4, 2004, in New Hampshire.
And now this girl with the great ears is available for adoption.
GALT has many things going on during this special month – the group will be at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine open house Saturday. Go to www.galtx.org to get details of the group’s activities and see the available animals.
And, if you’ve wondered about Greyhounds in the home, the theme of their lifestyle is “Make room on the couch.”
COLLIN COUNTY SHELTER: Our reliable Collin County Animal Services tipster, the shelter walker DeDe Whitcombe, reports that a plumbing problem in one area of the shelter in McKinney has disrupted the routine. It may also have contributed to moving up some scheduled euthanasias because cages are not accessible during repair work.
Among the dogs at the shelter right now, is this dog -- described as an infrequently seen "Spanish Cattle Dog." He's said to be cuter than his picture with the odd ears and the fluffy tail. And he's available at the shelter, as are many, many other dogs and cats.
You can ask about this dog and other animals by calling 972-547-7292 or e-mailing [email protected].
HORSE CRISIS IN DALLAS? Denise Piel says she is hoping “that one (or many!) of your readers can help” with a horse situation visible from I-20 on the southern side of Dallas between Lancaster and Bonnie View Roads.
“The past 3 months on my drive home from work I have observed a number of horses being tethered to posts and flat bed trailers in this backyard ... From what I can tell - this goes on 24/7 and the people that are doing this do not live on the property - it may even be an abandoned house.  I've only seen people there a few times within the past few months.
“The number of horses varies from day to day, week to week. There is no access to food or water and they are made to stand, tied in a backyard full of junk.  There are one or two make-shift shelters but they can't get in them because of being tied.
“I wrote to you one other time - it was in March of 2008. It was the same address and situation that I'm asking your readers for help on today. The horse in question at that time was removed due to help by one of your readers.
“I made a cruelty case report to the SPCA approximately 3 weeks ago but I know they are swamped.
“I'm not sure what is going on w/this situation but it looks miserable and I don't have a good feeling for these horses. If ANY of your readers have connections that could help these poor animals that would be great!”
There you go, readers. Any ideas of how to help horses?
DALLAS DOGS AND CATS: As of late Wednesday, Dallas Animal Services still had 7 shelter-veteran dogs (more than 45 days) waiting to see if they beat the Grim Reaper on April 12.
Maybe they’ll make it; maybe not. You never know if adoptors will drop by or if rescue groups can find room. That’s one of the dogs, Dawn.
To adopt or for more information contact [email protected] or [email protected] or call 214-671-0249 or 214-670-8312. If you’re with rescue, contact [email protected] or 214-670-8298 or [email protected] or 214-671-0308.
Cats? Heck, yeah, they’ve got cats. I’m just going to quote from one of Janet Henderson’s reports to rescue groups: “CLF13 – DSH TORBIE WITH 3 BABIES;  CLF71 – DSH BLACK WITH 4 BABIES; CLF73 – DSH TUXEDO WITH 3 BABIES; CLF35 – DSH BLUE TABBY WITH 6 BABIES; VT – DSH – TUXEDO? WITH 4 BABIES; CQ – DSH – MOMMA WITH 4 BABIES.”
I’m not sure what all the codes mean, but I do know that “babies” means kittens. And that’s a lot of kittens. See them at the shelter, Westmoreland at I-30 west of downtown Dallas.
CATS IN NEED: Christi Lee is trying to find help for some cats that are homeless in Grand Prairie because their human died.
“I have come into possession of  four 5-month old green-eyed beautiful kittens and their young mama cat that need a home. Their owner, a dear friend of mine, passed away and the family was going to ‘get rid of them’—and not in a good way!
“Simply put, I am an animal lover and I couldn’t let that happen to my friend's pets.  They need to be adopted or rescued as I am not financially able to take care of them -- and I live in an apartment and have my pets of my own. 
“They have never been outside—they  are healthy, playful, loving and sooo precious!”
Here are photos of a couple of the cats – four are all black, three of those are male and that black cat is the only girl.
To help, e-mail [email protected].
MISSING YORKIE, A POSSIBLE SIGN AND SOME HOPE: Stephanie Evans says her little teacup Yorkie Babee is missing from their home in the 2100 block of Lake Fork Lane in Little Elm, north of Dallas. “On Saturday, April 2, I was out of town only to return on Sunday to notice that my back door was open and my 4-year-old teacup Yorkie got out through the gate. She is only 3 pounds... I just purchased a new phone, so I don’t have a picture of her. She is gray with blondish paws. She has not been fixed.
“I’ve put up flyers throughout the neighborhood and actually as we’ve been searching we were told that there was a sign put up stating that a dog was found, however, with the storm that occurred on Sunday, the sign was no longer there on Monday when we went to get the information. I am desperately looking for her and anything you can do to assist me would be greatly appreciated --as well as any suggestions that you might have to help find her quickly.”
If you know Babee’s whereabouts or have some suggestions that will help Stephanie find her Babee, call 469-766-4458.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Government is always scary and those who govern should always be scared of those who vote. That’s what makes democracy work. ... Blueberries – better in oatmeal or in a muffin? ... The Texas Rangers – I hate to mention them because I don’t want to jinx the winning streak. But, every now and then I think I get a whiff of playoffs in the air blowing  from Arlington to Dallas. Smells better than the Trinity River which, I swear, probably will turn that new white bridge green.
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Dallas Mayoral forum Sunday and other other midweek notes...

As we reach the midpoint of the week and you begin to plan your weekend, Readlarrypowell.com feels that it is appropriate to remind readers to block out some time at 2 p.m. Sunday to attend the Metroplex Animal Coalition Mayoral Forum.
The four candidates for mayor of Dallas are scheduled to be in the auditorium at the Dallas Public Library, downtown, across from City Hall, for this question-and-answer event.
The candidates are, in alphabetical order, former Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle, Councilman Ron Natinsky, real estate consultant Edward Okpa, and Mike Rawlings, former Pizza Hut CEO and Dallas Homeless Czar.
Animal policies and budgets won’t be the only challenges the next mayor faces, but they are part of the city’s quality of life. A city that is kind to animals may actually be kind to its residents, too. And, do we really want Dallas to be known as a city that solves animal problems the old-fashioned way, “Let’s kill it!”?
That dog is, of course, Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas and he is NOT a candidate for mayor, but he endorses the American political system because it allows all voices to be heard – even those of animal people. You could not always have said that in Dallas. It has taken years of hard work by dedicated animal people to get the respect required to get all of the mayoral candidates in one place to discuss Dallas Animal Services, rescue efforts and attitudes as genuine municipal issues. Stray dogs, feral cat colonies, euthanasia, taxpayer expenses, etc. These things all figure into the city budget and the city image.
You may ask, why bring up that goofy Cocker Spaniel in this serious political note. Here’s why: He’d been dumped in a Dallas park back in the late 1990s. He was suffering from nearly total loss of hair from mange and was nearly blind in one eye. He is the kind of dog who, if picked up by animal services back then, would have been euthanized almost immediately. Too many “issues.” But, because of the attention paid to Dallas Animal Services by not-easily-discouraged (interpret that as “hard-headed”), politically savvy animal people, these days dogs such as Inky was back then have a better chance of survival and finding a happy home. It's "people power for the animals."
That is why this mayoral forum is important – a full-house of interested parties in that Dallas Library auditorium will demonstrate that there are voters who care what this city does to and does for animals. It’s as simple as the old saying “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” By showing up, you're being squeaky.
Animal people have compiled the list of questions that will be asked of these candidates.
And, by the way, your friendly neighborhood animal writer (that's me, maybe not all that friendly, I guess) will be the moderator for Sunday’s forum. Rules are being determined and the candidates will be encouraged to answer the questions without rambling. Not that any would ramble, of course. They’re running for mayor, not for president.
Now, somebody help me down off this soapbox before it collapses and I break something besides the boards. Remember: Metroplex Animal Coalition Mayoral Forum, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dallas Central Public Library auditorium, 1515 Young St. Show up and pay attention.
CAMPAIGN NOTES:
-- The Dallas Observer’s story on Candidate Ron Natinsky’s “Priorities for Dallas” can be read HERE.
 The story does not mention animal issues as a priority of any sort. But, maybe he wasn’t asked.
--Last week, Candidate David Kunkle did something perhaps no other Dallas mayoral candidate has ever done: He issued a “white paper” regarding efforts to make Dallas a “no-kill” city.. Read it HERE.
--Like Candidate Natinksy, neither Candidate Ed Okpa nor Candidate Mike Rawlings has issued an animal-related statement. Readlarrypowell.com will be proud to link to their statements should they post one.
REMEMBER: The attitude and leadership of the mayor will determine whether Dallas Animal Services continues to evolve into a national role model for municipal shelters and enforcement and whether the city has a reputation as a loving place for animals or a place that would rather kill them than look at them.
It’s up to the voting citizens.
MANGE IN COLLIN COUNTY: Pitiful face. This is one of several Shepherd mix puppies who, afflicted with rampant mange, have been handed over to the Collin County Animal Services shelter in McKinney.
“What hair they have is Shepherd type,” the note reads.
And, they are eligible for early release in order to get treatment.
To ask about helping the mange puppies in Collin County’s shelter, call 972-547-7292 or e-mail [email protected].
You may see more Collin County shelter animals HERE and on Facebook HERE.
Mange, by the way, is easily beaten with loving care and veterinary attention. It just requires human intervention.
A CAT IN A SPOT: This story of tragic human behavior comes to us from veteran rescuer and animal activist Kathleen Moore.
She writes that his cat needs a place to go. Here’s the story:
“This cat was declawed at the age of 12 (!!) two months ago, then abandoned as she watched her sister killed by a neighbor's dog after being placed outside.”
The “irresponsible behavior of this woman who claims to have been the owner:” came about because of a romance, Kathleen says. “The woman  did this to make her boyfriend happy and he has since abandoned her.
“Fortunately, the daughter took control of the situation and the cat is temporarily safe but needs a permanent home!”
Kathleen writes, “Sadder than words can express.”
To offer to help this cat, e-mail [email protected].
DUMPED LIKE TRASH: Johnna Bigley, the veteran rescuer who is a volunteer at the Seagoville Animal Shelter, is trying to find a place for this dog who was “dumped like trash” in a traditional dumping area of Southeast Dallas.
Johnna writes, “This sweet girl wandered up to an old man's house out in the country and he's trying to find help for her. I took this picture in hopes of helping him because, trust me, I could tell he barely has enough means to feed himself much less this sweet girl. Our local shelter is packed so I asked the old man if he would please keep an eye on her as long as he could.
“This girl is not safe and surely going to starve or get hit by a car or killed by coyotes out in this area. He tells me she's friendly and gets along well with others. Is there anyone who will open their heart, home or rescue to this beautiful girl? I'll try to help with transport if someone can just take her in.”
To offer to help, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-673-3844.
SLEEPING DOGS, NAPPING CATS: We’re in need of photos of snoozing critters for our weekend feature, “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.” Send photos and info to [email protected].
URBAN ANIMAL’S FREE PUBLICITY: We’re beginning to organize the summer edition of Urban Animal Magazine including the list of events coming up during the summer and fall and winter months. Send that info in a short note to [email protected]. Deadline approaches.
CONTEMPLATIONS: A good night’s sleep is better than a cup of coffee and an energy pill. True, false or don’t bother me I’m sleeping. ... How far off is Thanksgiving? How much will gasoline cost by then? You'll be able to go toward the river, but not over it and on to Grandmother's house. ... Quick! Whose face is on a dime?
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Border Collies, ol' Busta on Death Row, foundlings, etc.

Good morning. It’s a Tuesday. And if the sun came up, there must be animal stories around – and there are, from a Border collie seizure in northeast Texas to a dog named Busta waiting on a suburban death row. And a campus dog, too. Here goes:
BORDER COLLIES IN NEED: The story making the rounds is that 200 dogs – some said to be “Irish Border Collies” – were surrendered to the Humane Society of Marion County near Jefferson.
The ripple effect is the people leading this effort need rescue groups to help find safe havens for these dogs.
Shari McChristial, a Dallas-based rescuer, participated in the April 2 recovery of the animals. She wrote, “There are no words to describe what I saw yesterday. ... They had to get a bulldozer yesterday morning to clear the drive of the house so we could get to the dogs. They are mainly border collies and sheltie mixes. These dogs live in filth. I pray for their little souls.”
Shari told Readlarrypowell.com that the recovery was led by the Humane Society of Marion County with permission of the breeder’s family. (The Humane Society president is Caroline Wedding.)
Shari said that the breeder had been hospitalized. “The family turned over custody while he was in the hospital with a guarantee from the District Attorney that no charges would be filed.”
Shari, who responded to the human society’s request for help on Saturday morning, has become the “rescue group coordinator” for this effort.
“We could use free boarding space to hold these dogs until rescue groups can get them. I have 70 more [dogs] spoken for in addition to the 34 pulled yesterday. We are reaching out to Best Friends [Sanctuary in Utah] to see if they will take the dogs that are unsocialized and live in the wooded 25 acres.”
Genia Capps, who has been working with Shari, e-mails that the coordinated effort will include vaccinating the dogs before they can be taken to boarding where they’ll stay a week until the rescue groups can take custody. She writes, “We will have to pay for the boarding, vaccinations, dog food and gas for transporting them. We have set up a chip-in fund so people can donate.” The link is HERE.
To ask about joining the effort, contact Shari McChristial at 214-208-7071 or [email protected] or Genia Capps at 903-331-8766 or [email protected].
Oddly, there is at least one blogging person who, though admitting “I am still unsure of all the facts ...” adds that “I’m publishing this for documentation and, of course, to state my opinion.” That person describes this as a “theft” and not a rescue and the chip-in as a fraud. This may be a reflection of political differences over attempts to get the Texas Legislature limit backyard breeding in the State of Texas. Expect to hear from both sides.
BUSTA’S FACE: Yesterday we mentioned four dogs in the Carrollton Animal Shelter and overnight we got a note from our pal Susan Oviatt who has been monitoring the “EU list.”
She is concerned about Buster who is on the clock for Wednesday.
“Busta appears to be a pure-bred chocolate [Lab], mellow senior guy who shows signs of having been house-trained, and gets along with other dogs. Busta looks to have spent much of his life on hard surfaces, since his elbows have large calluses. In spite of that, he has apparently not given up on people, sitting and shaking for his shelter care taker, and lying calmly by both of us, chillin' and reveling in the human contact. He even entertained us by chasing a few balls.
“Busta, a former stray, has a few health issues with a couple of little things to be removed, and a few spots with skin issues, but he's enjoying the regular meals the shelter serves and is putting on a little much needed weight.”
You can see Buster’s video HERE.
The shelter says Buster may be as old as 8 and he weighs in at 90 pounds – he’s the largest dog in the shelter right now.
Here’s the rule of thumb: Big dog, big heart.
Susan sent the note about Buster because, as she wrote in a note to him, “Hope this gets you the attention and another chance you deserve.”
To ask about saving Buster from death row, e-mail [email protected] or call 972- 466-3420. You can stop by at 2247 Sandy Lake Road. See more animals online HERE.
FYI:  The shelter sent around a note last night about yesterday’s long list of Death Row animals that read “sadly, no one has been adopted and/or rescued as yet.” Euthanasia starts Wednesday morning.
THE CAMPUS DOG: Blackie, the Chow who has taken up residence on the Mountain View College Campus in Southwest Dallas, continues to enjoy the kindness of people who are growing to adore him.
It is possible that Mountain View is worthy of the title “Most Dog-Friendly Campus in Dallas County.” Blackie isn’t the first dog to find some help after getting dumped there.
Our pal Dianne Cole, who works at Mountain View and shares our devotion to big ol’ dawgs, is keeping tabs on Blackie. She has had no luck finding a home for the dog, but has been in touch with Dianne Watson, the veteran chow rescuer, in hopes of finding a safe place for Blackie.
“I’m fairly sure he's a purebred Chow, or very close to it.  My cousins had chows when we were growing up so I've been around them enough to know what they look like.  His tongue is black with no pink on it that I can see, his ears are the prick-pointed ears of a chow and if he was a happy fella I feel sure his tail would curl over his back.
“Poor baby, right now he is so matted I feel sorry for him.  With a good trim and bath he will be beautiful and if it weren't for the three spoiled brats I have I'd bring him home with me, but I just don't think it would be a good fit.  I can't tell his age, but do know for sure he is not neutered.
“I call him Blackie and we've already become friends.  A number of people on the campus are feeding him.  I bought a bag of dog food because I thought it would be better for him.  He is definitely not starving and at the rate we're going, he's going to have to be put on a diet soon.”
E-mail [email protected] to offer a good home or a safe haven and maybe some pound-dropping canine exercise for Blackie.
FOUND IN FARMERSVILLE: It’s just hard to imagine how two such lovely dogs could wind up “lost” – maybe they’re dumped. Oh, wait, yes, that turns out to be the case. We learned of this from Wynda McGarity who is looking for help placing them.
She writes, “I rescued two approximately 4-month-old female Border Collie mix puppies that had been dumped in my neighborhood and I need to find homes for them. They are very sweet but apparently had no attention and are very shy. 
“I've got the black one (who I call ‘Sweetie’) where I can pet her, but she's still not sure she likes it.  The black and white one (Freckles) has to be cornered to be petted, but she allows it and has shown no aggression in doing so.
“I have taken them to the vet for worming and shots and they've been started on Frontline and heartworm preventive. If necessary, I can continue to foster them, but we are going on vacation 4/23 and would like to find homes for them by then -- plus the longer I have them the more attached I will become!  We have four dogs of our own and just can't take two more in or I would in heartbeat!”
To help with these dogs, e-mail  [email protected].
And, if anyone knows who dumped the dogs, contact the authorities. Dumping dogs is against the law in Texas.
CONTEMPLATIONS: How about those Texas Rangers? Starting the season 4-0. And in one game you see two extraordinarily rare events: Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus hit a home run and Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki made a fielding error. Those are two things formerly in the category of “Never happens.” So the odds that you’d see both in one game must have been astronomical. ... Coffee – if you grind it yourself, what’s the best grind for the best taste? Yeah, I don’t have a clue and I can type really fast right now. Whatever grind I’ve got now, it’s like rocket fuel for my fingers. ... You’re on vacation – a road trip across Texas – and it’s early in the morning. For breakfast do you get eggs or pancakes? Waffle or biscuits? Orange juice or a bloody mary? Drive friendly. And soberly, of course.
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Labs: An adopted dog, the Sandwich crew and Bindi in serious trouble...

On a chilly, bright and windy Monday afternoon, Readlarrypowell.com offers an afternoon edition with some critical Labrador retriever situations. The first is a household and the second is a shelter and is connected to THREE other dogs on death row at the Carrollton Animal Shelter.
NEEDS OUT OF A HOME: We get the story of this dog (yep, that’s a little boy’s arm draped around that dog’s neck) from Amy Hays who is trying to save the family dog’s life.
She writes, “I have a 9- to 12-month-old black lab that I adopted in November from the Irving Pound. She is a great dog: housebroken, fixed, vaccinated.”
There is a behavior problem. Though Sadie gets along fine with the family cat and the neighbors' dogs in the Keller-area neighborhood.
Amy writes, “She has nipped at my 4-year-old a few times and actually bit (breaking the skin in several spots) another 4-year-old girl that was playing in our home yesterday. The little girl did hit her before she bit her. 
“We love the dog to death and do not want to see her put to sleep. I know she would be great in a family without small children. She adores my 10-year-old son and has never shown any aggression toward him or any of us.
“We have small children here a lot and just can’t take the risk of her biting again. If you know of any options for her please contact me asap. My husband wants her out of the house today. I have called all of the rescues I can find and several animal shelters. They either won’t take her because of the bite or will just put her down.”
To ask about helping this dog, e-mail [email protected] or call 817-713-9979.
NEED INTO HOMES: These dogs are scheduled to be euthanized on Wednesday.
They are all connected and waiting on death row at the Carrollton Animal Shelter.
Carrollton has taken the personal identifications of shelter workers out of its procedures, so if you want to save any of these dogs, here’s the shelter’s explanation of “how-to” try to save the animals. You e-mail “[email protected] or call us at 972-466-3420. If you email or leave a message, please be patient as one of our team will respond at our earliest convenience.”
So, how are these dogs connected? Three of them – Subway, Quiznos and Blimpie – were found in a field watching cows and the fourth, Bindi, was in the shelter and got into a dustup with Blimpie, so, now, Blimpie is on the “rescue-only” list. That's her "death row picture" at the outset of this item.
(The other dogs are adoptable to anyone, but the aggressive issue put Blimpie on the “rescue-only” list.)
Blimpie’s shelter description reads, “This very good girl was found with two of her companions watching some cows graze in the fields ...  She is a great lady, will sit if you ask, and loves to play fetch. She appears to be house-trained.” She weighs nearly 75 pounds and may be as old as 7. Here video is HERE.
  Also in the field with Blimpie was Subway (left) who seems to be a little on the shy side initially. She’s about 6 and weighs around 43 pounds. Here video is HERE.
And Quiznos (upper right)is a Mastiff mix who was in the field with his pals. As befits the gray on his muzzle, he is an older dog. He weighs 84 pounds and is a tall dog. he’s also “a calm ol’ boy,” says the shelter. To see his video, click HERE.
And that brings us to Bindi (right), who is about 7 and overweight at 86 pounds. She appears to be house-trained and gets along with other dogs except for Blimpie who gets along with other dogs except for Bindi.
These things happen.
You can see the Carrollton animals HERE. And you can also go to the shelter at 2247 Sandy Lake Road in Carrollton. Call 972-466-3420.
CONTEMPLATION: Be interesting to see if all this wind affects tonight’s Texas-Seattle game in Arlington. Be interesting to see if the chill affects the crowd. Or the Rangers’ arms and bats.
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Stormy Monday...

We’ve awakened to a number of weather warnings – all barked vigorously about 4:30 a.m. when thunder and lightning accompanied ferocious rain into our neighborhood.
The rain was so heavy the animals began lining up two-by-two. Every now and then I like to use a Biblical reference. I hope it enhances my image.
Baby Jane Doe, who usually wakes the household with her shrill barking, is hard of hearing and slept through the storm. Good that someone could sleep.
Now, our Monday report, if the wireless system can function through the storm:
HOW CASSIE GOT WHERE SHE IS TODAY: Over the weekend we got an e-mail from Debbie Anderson of the Humane Society of Lewisville about a hard-luck dog named Cassie.
That’s her in the cone and cast.
She is, Debbie says, “ a great dog...with an extremely expensive injury. She broke both bones in her right front foreleg and it is taking 2 surgeries and many vet visits to get her back to running in the backyard.
Cassie’s story began, according to Debbie’s note, “in a Denton home with 2 other dogs including her daughter (also an HSL rescue). That was before her owner passed away. Three long days passed but no one came to visit. Finally, the police and animal control were called. After so long, without their beloved owner, all the dogs were loyally protecting their owner who had passed.
“No family came forward to care for them so off to Denton Animal Shelter they went. Cassie and Bindy, who had been through so much found safety with Dusty, her foster mom. Shortly after settling in to her foster home is when Cassie broke her leg while playing rough with the other dogs.”
Yes, there were complications after surgery to insert a pine and wires. “A week later when changing her splint and wrap, a secondary wound was found. The damage caused her skin and tissue on her wrist to become necrotic. The tissue, when removed was so deep her wrist tendon was left exposed. Cassie is enduring multiple follow up appointments.”
The tissue is growing, but therapy continues. Eventually, the bill will exceed $4,000, Debbie says.
The non-profit Humane Society of Lewisville has a PayPal arrangement at hsltexas.org or you can mail donations to Humane Society of Lewisville, 1565 W. main, Suite 208246, Lewisville, Texas, 75067. To volunteer to foster or adopt, e-mail [email protected].
THE VOLUNTEER SITUATION: All rescue groups need volunteers. Fact of life in the mission. For example, because we’re on a lot of mailing list we get to see these pleas from a number of organizations. 
The Dallas Animal Services website, once a plain take-it-or-leave-it site, has become one of the nation’s more active (and user-friendly) sites – you can see how to volunteer by clicking HERE. The main site is www.dallasanimalservices.org and from there you can navigate to (among many things) adoptable animals, volunteering and “report a concern.”
(Just FYI about Dallas Animal Services: Last week there were 10 dogs on the April 1 euthanasia list, but, as you may recall several groups pitched in and claimed them -- DFW Rescue Me, Metroplex Mutts, Paws in the City and Operation Kindness. The new list was supposed to include two cats and 11 dogs, but that has evolved into a list of no cats and 10 dogs, including these two, Lab mix Dawn, under 2, and this year-old Shepherd/Collie mix appropriately named Blackeye. Don’t be misled, though. There aren’t just 10 dogs at the shelter – these are simply 10 animals that have been there for 45 days or longer, are healthy and have been passed over many times by visitors. There are plenty of available animals at the shelter.)
As long as we’re talking about volunteers, the folks at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake (a shelter that has a number of Dallas connections) is looking for volunteers. For example, on April 9, HSCCL needs volunteers for an adoption event at a car show in Irving and for the 5th annual HSCCL Golf Tournament at Indian Oaks in Kemp. Then on April 16, there’s the garage sale at McDade's Nursery in Tool, a microchip clinic in Gun Barrel City at Family Resource Center and an adoption event in Fate and another in Malakoff.
To volunteer, call the shelter at 903 432-3422 or e-mail [email protected]. That Boston Terrier is Domino, who is a Humane Society dog currently in the care of Texas Little Cuties which has a foster arrangement with the shelter.  Click HERE to see assorted adoptables.
SACHSE HAS A BUNCH: Lesha Stull, who e-mails us now and then about critters, began this latest note, “I normally only contact you in special circumstances for a specific dog. This time I am sending you an email on an entire shelter.”
The City of Sachse’s Animal Shelter is “totally full,” she says.
The current population includes:
--Dexter, a Treeing Walker Hound who is a “fence-jumper” and a “big ol’ dopey hound.”
--Two Black Labs: One named Smokey and another who came in as an unclaimed stray (he “may have just been left in a back yard with no attention.” Both are young.
--An unclaimed stray female pointer who is “relaxed.”
--A Golden Retriever who is “very sweet” and “not a jumper.”
--A brown Chihuahua – “very scared, fearful. ... About 10 pounds.”
--A White and Black Chihuahua/Rat Terrier mix who s only about 7 pounds of dog and is “very sweet, playful, loves everyone, everything, likes to kiss, snuggle, sit in your lap and chill.”
--A couple of Pits, one Brown and one who is white and brindle. Both need behavior training.
--Katie the Siamese Cat, is described as “the prettiest cat t come along in a long time.” She’s expected to get over her shyness.
The Sachse Animal Shelter is at 7436 Sachse Road in Sachse. Call 972-495-2271 (ext. 1). And, of course, if you want to get involved in helping save these animals, e-mail [email protected] and she’ll help point you in the right direction.
THE FACE OF A DOG: Holy smoke, look at that mug.
This is Toby – he’s currently in the Collin County Animal Services Shelter in McKinney. And, our usual Collin County tipster DeDe Whitcombe, the shelter walker, visited  Toby, an owner-surrendered dog, and sent out this e-mail early this morning:
“Toby is a typical chow. Today he urinated on me in fear when I first took him out by lead of his kennel. Once I got him away from barking dogs back into the livestock area he seemed to relax a bit and want to walk and explore. i took the leather collar off that was practically cutting off his circulation and we walked around for a bit. By the end of our walkabout he was coming to me for pats. I put him back in his kennel, and when I came back through later I called his name and he came straight too me. He is very sweet boy, like a little teddy bear, does not seem to be bothered one bit by other dogs, either.”
He’s coming up all-too-swiftly on the Collin County euthanasia list, DeDe says.
To ask about adopting him or rescuing him, call the shelter at 972-547-7292 or e-mail [email protected].  See more Collin County animals by clicking HERE.
CONTEMPLATIONS: That was some storm about 4:15 a.m. Oak Cliff time. It would have awakened me even if Rosie the Chihuahua hadn’t put on her Civil Defense helmet and run through the house barking something about a bombing raid. She’s nervous nelly on this sort of thing. ... Surely this cold front hasn’t been sent to cool off the Texas Rangers – whoa, swept the Boston Red Sox and it’s only April, but can’t you smell the World Series (again) already? ... The president has announced he’s running again. What this means is some people think there are still things left to do and other people think there are things left to un-do. FYI: Readlarrypowell offers special pricing on presidential campaign advertisements. We also accept paid advertising from candidates in other fields. Advertise early, advertise often.
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The sleepiness of dogs; the universal appeal of Earhounds

Just as certain bluebonnets brighten spring and the State Fair of Texas brightens autumn, Texans  remain convinced that the Lone Star State is the center of the known universe -- probably the unknown universe, too.
What we need to remember, however, is that things that happen in Texas often happen elsewhere. Well, not the really good stuff, like Blue Bell Ice Cream, the invention of the frozen margarita machine and drive-in banking and Fritos. But, you know what I mean. We’re talking naturally occurring things that happen in other places, too – hot summers, cell phone connections that drop off on hilly roads, speed traps...Well, all that aside, we’ve come to our regular weekend feature at Readlarrypowell.com, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
You may have noticed that we’re addressing two Readlarrypowell.com favorites in this weekend’s edition: sleeping dogs and Earhounds.
Though they look as if they could be sleeping in Texas or lap-sitting in the Lone Star State, these dogs are way out of the U.S. Zip Code handbook.
We got the photos courtesy of our longtime pal and catfan Myra Moore, who with her hubby (also my pal) Patrick Hammers and longtime Dallas resident (again, also my pal) Mario Sulit visited Mario’s native El Salvador earlier this year.
Along the way, Myra took a lot of pictures – she’s got a solid journalism background. She also, impressively, is president and founder of Digital Tech Consulting Inc. (www.dtcreports.com), a Dallas-based worldwide concern that for nearly two decades has analyzed and monitored developments in the swiftly changing consumer digital products and services industries. Yet, she still speaks to me. Go figure.
Anyway, when she was in El Salvador she snapped a couple of photos for us that fit perfectly into the weekend feature on Readlarrypowell.com.
That dog is deceptively guarding a veranda on the estate of filmmaker/publisher Alejandro Cotto in Suchitoto. You may have seen dogs in such a pose on porches in Texas or other states and nations.
To dogs, anytime is a good time to sleep. This dog has a handle on universal canine tendencies.
Now, the little Earhound is Chispa. She belongs to Mario’s mom Nora and she’s sitting in the lap of Mario’s aunt, Anna Ruth.
What we can discern from our presentation today is that dogs can sleep anywhere – by that I mean not just in Texas though Texas is probably the most comfortable place to sleep as long as the air-conditioning is work. And we also have learned that beloved Earhounds appear in laps other than those in the Lone Star State.
Earhounds exist to make life better for all around them.
If only humans could say the same.
(To nominate your sleeping critter – no matter what kind, no matter where – for spotlighting our weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send photos and info to [email protected]. Remember, insomnia knows no borders. "Si, el diablo del insomnio" if you’re awake in Espanol. "Le diable d’insomnie" if you’re awake in Francais. Or, if you happen to be awake in German, "die Sprachenfranzosen." Sometimes insomnia is such a mean thing that you don’t know what language you’re speaking but you do know it’s not Lingo de Snooze.)

A collection for a Friday...

Welcome to April Fools’ Day, the day I traditionally lay low to escape blame for anything that might go awry or seem to be a practical joke.
Seriously. Through the years I have been blamed for some ugly stuff with which I was involved not one bit. But why bring up the Nixon Administration. (Inky, by the way, is still sore about that whole Checkers exploitation thing from the early 1950s – you kids can look that up.)
Frankly, this is opening day for the 2011 Texas Rangers and my hope is they win the first game of the year and set the trend for the season, winding up in the World Series again. How pleasantly odd is it to say “again” in a sentence with World Series and Texas Rangers!
That return to the World Series is also the hope of Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas. As such, the Inkster, known as “The Hardball Spaniel” on local diamonds, has created a poem with which to open the 2011 season.
Hail to the Rangers!
Antlers and Claws!
May they play so swell
they thrill all their Maws!

Let Skipper Ron enjoy
a year with a repeat
and get us to the Series
ah, a magnificent feat

Baseball is back
What a wonderful lark
If we had any money,
we’d be out at the park.

A hope for this season:
Don’t sweat the pitchin’
Let the other teams’ fans
Do all the ... unpleasant complaining about unfortunate problems amongst the millionaire hurlers.
Yep, Inky the Cocker Laureate of Texas, tellin’ it like it is.
GOOD NEWS FROM DALLAS: Overnight, as we slept off that ferocious beating the grown-up Los Angeles Lakers gave the whippersnapper Dallas Mavericks, we got this note from the Metroplex Animal Coalition’s Jonnie England. It has to do with the animals who’d gotten a euthanasia reprieve from March 29 to April 1 from Dallas Animal Services. She writes, “This was close, but thanks to last-minute efforts by DFW Rescue Me, Metroplex Mutts, Paws in the City and Operation Kindness, all these dogs were SAVED!”
I think there were 10 dogs on that list, including Bentley who, last evening, was drawing the attention of a potential adoptor (more on that later, maybe).
Don’t celebrate the triumph so thoroughly, though. The rest of Jonnie’s note read, “The new list with 2 cats and 11 dogs will be out shortly.” (See Dallas’ shelter animals HERE.)
SPEAKING OF DALLLAS LOVING ANIMALS: This photo shows Dallas City Councilmembers Ann Margolin and Linda Koop with critters and they’re all posing to promote the Dallas Loves Animals (Love Yours, Too) event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Preston hollow Park, (SE corner of Thackery and Park Lane.) The family- and critter-friendly park festival is sponsored by Dallas Animal Services and Rescue Partners. There’ll be low-cost microchipping, free Dallas Loves Animals Wristbands and trading cards and other things, including opportunities to adopt dogs from DAS and those rescue partners. See www.DallasLovesAnimals.com.
A DALLAS MAYORAL ELECTION NOTE: As you may recall, the Metroplex Animal Coalition has scheduled a forum for the 4 mayoral candidates on April 10 at the Dallas Public Library. But candidate David Kunkle is apparently out in front on the animal issues and, according to Elaine Munch, president of MAC, posted a “position statement on the state of Dallas Animal Services and animal issues in Dallas.” You can read it HERE.
Readlarrypowell.com will proudly link to animal issue position statements from the other mayoral candidates – just let us know where the public statements can be found.
(Larry aside: Readlarrypowell.com will also proudly sell political advertising to you four mayoral candidates and anybody else involved in politics. It’s the American way: profit from politics and the democratic process. Go ahead. Buy a giant ad on Readlarrypowell.com and help feed a Cocker Spaniel who would run for mayor but has his one good eye focused on 2012 and the White House.)
DUMPED AT MOUNTAIN VIEW COLLEGE: Our pal Dianne Cole, who has safely gotten a dog or two or more off the Mountain View College campus in southwest Dallas, says this Chow fellow showed up on the campus a couple of weeks ago and has avoided being rescued until now. He appears to have been dumped on the campus.
She says he has been  “living under the trees on the west side of campus for some time and a number of staff have been feeding him.”
Determined to get photos of him, she sought him out at lunchtime yesterday and found him “napping under a truck.” When she pulled up, he got up to move away, “but when I got down on his level and started speaking to him softly he immediately came to me and let me love him.  It just broke my heart to have to leave. I went to Target to run my errands and purchased a bag of dogfood and when I got back to campus he was walking around the lot.  He came to me again with a little coaxing by tossing bits of food to him.  I sat down on the curb and he ate right by me while I stroked his head.”
Dianne has sent word to dog people (including West Texas Chow Rescue volunteer Dianne Watson) and is trying to find help for this apparently young dog. “Right now he's matted, but with a good trim and bath he should be a beautiful boy.”
To help get this dog to safety, e-mail [email protected]. (And, yes, as you may suspect, Dianne, like so many rescuers, already has a full house.)
FIRST MONDAY PETAPALOOZA REMINDER:Several animal rescue groups in East Texas are once again banding together to combat the effects of notorious Dog Alley which appears during First Monday, the flea market festival in Canton.
Animal welfare folks believe the backyard breeders associated with Dog Alley are responsible for bad breeding, dumped animals, neglected animals, overbred females, etc.
So, they’ve organized a Petapalooza to counter the for-sale breeders efforts and they host an adoption-friendly event in nearby Ben Wheeler, Texas (10 miles from Dog Alley on Highway 64.)
Click on the poster to make it larger and get the details.
TWO COLLIN COUNTY DOGS: Lord knows Cocker Spaniels grow thick hair. And Labs are big friendly, social dogs. So, maybe that makes these two dogs even more tragic. Both are at the Collin County Animal Services Shelter in McKinney.
We learn about them from tipster DeDe Whitcombe, the shelter walker who also volunteers for Mazie’s Mission.
We don’t have a photo of the Lab, but the word picture may be enough, especially for people who love Labs and know them.
First the Cocker: DeDe says someone called in a complaint about a neglected dog and when the McKinney Animal Control officer knocked on the door of the dog’s home, a woman opened the door and “just surrendered him. He was so overgrown and matted that his mats were connected, making it difficult for him to walk.”
The woman explained that “two years ago he growled at her when she was pregnant and so she put him in the backyard and that is where he remained uncared for until [Thursday].”
At the Collin County shelter, DeDe says that ACO Lisa Drummonds sedated the dog and shaved him and made him more comfortable. “He is neutered and the owner said he was 6 years old but Lisa says his teeth are gorgeous.  He has an amazing disposition and loves everyone, but especially Lisa now.  She said he acted like no one had loved him in forever and attached himself to her very quickly.”
Then, there’s the “beautiful black Lab” who “is a bit of a mystery,” DeDe says. “I saw him Sunday while I was there and noticed (1) that he was a beautiful purebred black Lab and (2) that he has what looks like a painful eye injury or infection and three that there was no paperwork on his cage and no one knew where he came from.”
Everybody knows what a Black Lab looks like, but this is what one looks like up close -- and just over that giant nose, you can see the damaged eye. (Aside: Makes me miss the big ol' honkin' horsenose of my dear departed Hammy, the Dane/Lab mix. These big ol' dawgs are great pals.)
To ask about either of these dogs, call the shelter at 972-547-7292 or e-mail [email protected].
HUMAN HOUSING CRISIS LEADS TO CATS AT PERIL: To summarize, Carole Lee’s mom unexpectedly died and the home where Carole and her husband lived with Mom is being auctioned April 5 and Carole has 20 cats and now, within just days, she must find a home or rescue group or no-kill shelter for those cats. One of the cats is this fellow Fudgey who is typical of the cats that need homes.
As you can imagine, the pressure on Carole is intense. How did she wind up with so many cats? “Our neighborhood had a problem with homeless cats,” she says. She took some in – naturally they weren’t fixed, and just as naturally, they had kittens.
After her mom died a few months ago, Carole says “I just haven’t been able to concentrate on finding them homes.”
A reverse mortgage situation is leading to Carole losing her place to live (and the cats’ place to live).
The oldest cat is 7. The rest are younger.
To offer help, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-998-9618. Calling is better as she has limited access to a computer.
Carole says she has never been in this situation before. All of the cats now “have been fixed,” she says. “I have so much time and effort and emotion invested in them. It’s not what I intended, but I care for them.”
And, Carole says sadly, “It happens really, really fast – before you know it.”
Odds are long for these cats. Rescue groups and shelters are full. People who have cats already have enough their house. As I told Carole, “It’s going to take the kindness of strangers to save these cats.”
A BURNS FLAT STORY: What would a week be without a dramatic story from Burns Flat, Okla., and our persistent (stubborn?) rescue tipster Terry Lynn Fisher who works to keep that little town’s shelter a no-kill place?
Here’s one about this black and white dog and, we understand, efforts are underway to help the dog. But sometimes more help will help more, you know what I mean?
Terry Lynn reports, “About 3 weeks ago a girl called me about a dog that had showed up at her country home very near death. She was skin and bones, scars all over her body and a horrific large wound behind her right ear. There were several puncture wounds on her neck, as well.
“The lady's own dogs kept trying to attack this poor thing. The smell of blood? The weakness she showed? For whatever reasons, if left there, they would have killed this poor thing.
“I had her taken to the vet where they said the infection was so great he did not really know how she was able to survive. She was in terrible shape and so close to death that he was amazed she could even walk. He cleaned her wounds, stitched her up as well as her could and put her on antibiotics for the infection that ravaged her thin body. I kept her at the vet for over two weeks, but had to pull her due to lack of funds, so she is now in my outdoor pound.
“We are so swamped here it is scary. I need this poor thing safe, out of the pound. ... Our vet bill is too high from her treatment and boarding, so I cannot take her there.”
To offer to help, e-mail Terry Lynn at [email protected] or call her at 580-330-1459.
GETTING THE DOGS OUT OF TOWN: Tawana Couch, the veteran rescuer who created the organization Society for Companion Animals, reminds us of that the group has a fundraiser for 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Sambuca 360 Grill at The Shops at Legacy, 7200 Bishop Road in Plano.
For $30 at the door you get live music, food and two cocktails.
Click to the Society for Companion Animals site HERE to get more info.
As you may know, Society for Companion Animals arranges for dogs from Dallas Animal Services to be flown to safe havens in other state.
The fact that there is a need for this “escape route” demonstrates that while Dallas may not have an “animal overpopulation problem,” it does have an unwanted animal problem. Maybe that’s semantics. Maybe it’s a “the glass may be half-empty but the animal shelter is all full” view of life.
THE MUTILATED CHIHUAHUA: Oh, my goodness. The little dog now known as “Peanut The Champ” has been through some unpleasantness a male human would not wish to contemplate.
We get his story from Julie Wilson of the Frisco Humane Society. She managed to get him out of the Arlington Animal Shelter a couple of weeks ago and has been shepherding him through vet care and recovery ever since.
She says the two-pound, year-old dog arrived at the animal shelter on March 15 and his hold time was up on March 18.
“When he came into the shelter, he was in bad shape,” Julie says. “He had a problem with his private part. What happened is unknown but he had lost a lot of blood. He was very pale and the shelter’s vet gave him supportive care – antibiotics and pain meds.”
The shelter moved him to a private vet for care and when he did not immediately improve it was determined that he needed to have part of his boy part amputated.
Little Peanut is recovering nicely now and should be a good and happy companion for many, many years. You can see his wiggly self in a video on the Frisco Humane Society Facebook page HERE.
To offer to help the society pay for Peanut’s vet bills or to offer to adopt him, e-mail [email protected]. You can get an adoption application and read about the humane society HERE.
NORAH AND TAKE ME HOME PET RESCUE: You may recall the story of Norah, the rescue recounted at Readlarrypowell.com in Thursday’s edition. She’s in the care of Take Me Home Pet Rescue which is hosting a family film event at 5 p.m. Sunday at Studio Movie Grill, Central at Royal in Dallas. They’ll show “Hotel for Dogs” and proceeds go to Take me Home Pet Rescue and All Texas Dachshund Rescue.
As for Norah, the latest report is she has all the typical stray dog ailments a Dallas dog can get. As rescuer Jean-Paul Bonnelly reports on his Facebook page, “she is a sick little  dog.” To offer to help with Norah’s vet care,  e-mail [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS: Wasn’t the Bronx Zoo fortunate that the missing cobra was found Thursday rather than today. Nobody would have believed them today. ... Anybody else remember the adventures and the terror of the time Pete the Python escaped in Fort Worth? Oh, my. ... Remember, just as you change your smoke detector batteries when we “spring forward” and “fall back,” on April Fools' Day it is recommended that you take steps for household telephone maintenance. This is known as the Hartsell House Phone Maintenance Method. Place  your house phone it in a plastic bag and seal it. Then, looking through the clear bag, push 3665 and, within a few minutes,  the phone company will send a signal through the line that electronically forces the telephonic detritus out of the speaker and into the bag -- you don't want this stuff going into your ear, you know. You can then remove the phone, seal the bag and throw the detritus away. We should be grateful we live in America where this service is free -- for now.
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