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Performance art -- reenacting the nerve gas scene from 'Goldfinger'? Or just kittens napping?

Is there a literary expression that captures this gathering of napping kittens?
Purrpile haze?
A snore of cats?
A snooze of felines?
As you can see, they have earned the spotlight for this weekend’s Readlarrypowell.com Worldwide Web-read feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
We got the photos and the story from a reliable source – my longtime pal and former  cubiclemate at the big paper in Dallas, the gifted writer, Aline McKenzie.
Our cubicles were separated by a wall that did not block out the fact that both of us are prone to bursting out in song without regard to requests from co-workers though I can remember no one specifically demanding, “Sing one more” or “Sing it again.”
Aline knows more catchy lyrics than I do and she also is an animal lover. You may recall her byline. She also wrote human and animal stories for the big paper, including (before I inherited it) the Pets & Their People column. It was really popular. But, of course, about six years ago it was jettisoned by the same braintrust that excused Aline and me from further participation on the same lovely day. Pets & Their People fell into the category of, I guess, not important enough for the dwindling number of subscribers. (Remember, if you want to read interesting and entertaining stories about people and their animals, you can do so in Urban Animal magazine’s Part Of Our Family column.)
In this weekend's Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, thanks to Aline, we don’t just have pets and their people, we have slumbering purrers and their  goodhearted people, Aline and her partner Lydia.
Aline explains, “Lydia and I became interested in fostering after I overheard a co-worker, who's on the board of North Texas Cat Rescue, talk about needing a foster.
(Aside: I mention this so that you rescuers may decide to create a “How To Induce Eavesdropping & Build Your Volunteer Roster” seminar for later in the year during National Overheard Week, which is celebrated around National Talk Like a Pirate Day, Sept. 19, which Aline also introduced me to but, arrrggggh, back to the animals.)
The sleeping quartet is composed of four kittens they’ve fostered for North Texas Cat Rescue. They were (and still are unless their new families changed their names, clockwise) Joy the Tabby, Thing, Blaze and Prairie.
“All four girls have been adopted, but their brother Ringo and mother Dorie are still available. Ringo (fluffy gray and white) and Dorie (Russian blue) can be seen on Petfinder.com  and will be at the Allen PetSmart on Saturday."
As you can see, Dorie, unburdened by almost as many kittens as she has spigots, doesn’t mind stretching out on the floor in a traditional feline pose.
Aline writes, “Dorie is a Russian Blue who was picked up by Collin County Animal Services.. She was wearing a collar but had no tag and was not microchipped. She was also incredibly pregnant and had five kittens a day later.
“We took her and the ‘Cuddle Puddle’ when the kittens were only a few hours old. The four girls (Prairie, Joy, Blaze and Thing) have been adopted, but we still have the boy, Ringo, and Dorie.
“Ringo clearly misses his sisters and having someone to ‘wrassle’ and absorb his extra energy. We hope whoever takes him will adopt another kitten to be a playmate for him. He's a little shy, though, and would probably do best in a quiet household.
“Dorie is about a year old, loves, loves, LOVES people and is a total sweetheart with us, although she's very dominant with the resident cats, Jack and Luna.
“Our favorite trait is that when she's being petted, she blisses out with her tongue sticking out.
“Luna hates the fosters with the heat of a thousand white-hot hating suns all hating at the same time. She's spent the last three months pretty much at the top of the bookcase, glaring. Jack gets along with them, and Ringo has a serious man-crush on Uncle Jack.”
It is always good to know that people who appreciate cats get to launch kittens into a loving world. As it turns out, kittens make good cats.
(To nominate slumbering critters of any age and any species for the spotlight of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, e-mail photos and info to [email protected] . We’re proud to use your snoozers to encourage insomniacs in their pursuit of the noble art of sleeping.)
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 SHAARWAAT AFTERMATH:
A MOTHER’S PLEA
This is a most peculiar thing. At Readlarrypowell.com we were certain we were rid of this odd controversy when American Shaarwaat Rescue Society President Nanabelle Birman sent us a rancid farewell note, declaring that the ASRS would have nothing further to do with us, that it was taking its beloved cats into hiding and that we would not be hearing from the society or its lawyer, Rex Devon.
Fine with us. All we’d intended to do was bring a little attention to the special breed, the Shaarwaat, known informally as the “great horned cat of Mars” and mentioned in Soviet Cold War-era science fiction and reportedly part of an earlier Jet Propulsion Lab/NASA Mars Rover exploration mission.
The Society had plans to build a state-of-the-art sanctuary for the Horned Cats of Mars at some site at Aurora, Texas, north of Fort Worth.
Eerily, in the middle of the night Thursday, I got an e-mail regarding this whole Shaarwaat thing. It came from ASRS President Nanabelle Birman’s mother, Fannabelle Birman of “a rural property near Pahrump, Nev.”
Momma Fannabelle wrote,
“Dear Mr. Powell,
“First, let me apologize for the way my daughter,  Nanabelle, has treated you. You may find small comfort in the fact that you are not the first man she has treated so shabbily.
“Now, let’s get right to this very serious matter.
“As your e-mail address was in Nanabelle’s laptop, and as you have been known to find missing persons and make emotional connections through your work, I am writing to you to ask that you keep an eye open for Nanabelle and her big orange and white cat Binky. His full name is Binky, Solemn Emperor of Mars and if you don’t address him as that, Nanabelle gets quite upset. I learned that the hard way. It was months before she would speak to me - - and we lived in the same house!
“Nanabelle is convinced that Binky is some kind of Russian cat from Mars, which, as you know, is totally ridiculous since the Russians have never been to Mars that we know of.
“I have seen Binky and, bless my daughter’s heart, Binky is a big orange and white cat, indeed, but I really don’t think he is Russian at all – the rest I cannot rule out, for I do not know if our government might be telling stories about men never having been to Mars and back.
“As you can see from this tiny photo, Nanabelle has used a bandeau with two big, fake tiger teeth glued on it to create the illusion of a horned cat.
“That’s what I think, anyway, although I never saw Binky in anything except his official NASA Mars Mission space suit and what appeared to be yellow-greenish horns. I have enclosed a photo I snapped with my phone one evening as Nanabelle was sewing what she called ‘Departure Uniforms’ for some mysterious ‘Mission of Gladness Travel’ she kept referring to. All she would say is ‘Momma, you can’t go, the g-forces would crush your new hip.’
“I just don’t understand young people but I am grateful that she has looked out for my well-being. Y2K terrified me until she took me to the Shaarwaat Seclusionary Silo in Kansas. That was something. We were totally safe from the time we went in on Thanksgiving Day until we emerged on Feb. 2.
“At any rate, I did not think too much of the ‘Departure’ until she and her friends vanished two weeks ago and almost at the same time I saw these items about current Mars Rover missions. I have included the links.”
(Aside to Readers: One is from a nationally prominent newspaper, HERE, and the other from the Jet Propulsion Lab mission plans HERE.
Continuing with Fannabelle’s note, “Mr. Powell, I would really appreciate it if you would post a notice for people to be on the lookout for Nanabelle. She is traveling in disguise, as she has done many times before.
“This time I think she and her friends are making their way across the country in the guise of a traveling company of the musical Peter Pan. Nanabelle has done this before as she enjoys performing the title role though, I must tell you, I cannot believe audiences can suspend disbelief long enough to accept a Peter Pan who is 6-foot-2 and weighs about 118 pounds. She is rail thin, but she thinks she can act much shorter. Her hair is jet black and in a pixie cut – she says she plays the darker side of Peter’s heart.
 She also thinks she can create the illusion of flight and, to help this, she may be traveling with two companions, Mick and Rick Knitinnitz, the former TV twin ultra-heavyweight wrestlers who, on cue, will lift her off the ground and race her to a window and throw her through it while  she pretends to be flying and yells ‘Wheeeeee’.
“She has startled many a resident of my senior condo complex with such flight. They always put the cost of the window on my bill.
“Bless you for helping me search for my daughter and her Binky cat.
“When we are reunited, I will make certain you are invited to the party.
“Sincerely, Fannabelle Birman, Mother of Nanabelle.”
Holy cat hair! That’s some story from Fannabelle. But, we see our mission.
So, ladies and gentlemen, we must now be on the lookout for a 6-foot-2, black-haired, green-clad Peter Pan traveling with ultra-heavy twin wrestlers and an orange and white cat in a space suit who is wearing fake yellow horns.
Let me know when and where you see them. Take a picture. I’ll pass the word on to Fannabelle.
They could be anywhere. Probably not Mars. But you never know. I’ll alert the Jet Propulsion Lab.
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On Friday, some triumphs, some challenges and some kind of mood...

Ok, calmly now, ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to try to start this final day of the week with some lightheartedness in a pressure-packed world.
First, I’m out of non-dairy creamer so – horror of horrors – I’m lightening my coffee with a spoonful of vanilla ice cream. Don’t I feel decadent.
Second, if I’ve offended anyone this week with my terse attitude and impatience, tough. Kiss my dog Inky’s furry backside. That enough lightheartedness? Or did I mean light-headedness? Whatever. Move on.
That photo? That is Inky, showing regret that he’s been dragged into this by his increasingly mad human.
Oh, and keep reading for good news, challenges and some special, genuine and available Earhounds.
GOLDIE’S PLIGHT: This news just in as noon approaches. This dog is on death row in the Arlington Animal Services Shelter and, according to his devoted follower Teresa Jennings, he’s gotten a reprieve from 1 p.m. today to 4 p.m. But, then, that’s it.
(UPDATE: A half hour or so ago, a little more than 2 hours ahead of the bad appointment, Homeward Bound found a foster for Goldie and, Teresa reports, that transport to a safe haven is underway. Remember,there are more animals in the Arlington shelter -- adopt them, arrange tofoster them. Stars in the crown. Or at least it doesn't count off on your permanent record.)
He had been tagged for rescue, but that fell through. And now the big ol’ boy is back on Death Row.
Goldie’s Arlington number is ID 13594080.
To reach Teresa, email [email protected].
The Arlington shelter e-mail contacts are:  [email protected]​v; samantha.castillo@arlingto​ntx.gov; Lynn.Trotter@arlin​gtontx.gov;
[email protected]​v; [email protected].
The shelter is at 1000 SE Green Oaks in Arlington. call 817-459-6156.
TRINITY UPDATE: Dallas Animal Services’ Mark Cooper sent out a letter yesterday about this dog Trinity, three-legs, no home, not much hope. Except she touched his heart. Just a few minutes after 10 a.m. he gleefully sent out this note: “Trinity has been tagged by Dr. Erin Shults with Mazie’s Mission.”
As regular readers know, the great Dr. Shults formed Mazie’s Mission to help down-on-their-luck animals and Trinity certainly qualifies. Mark says Maize’s Mission will pick up Trinity on Monday when her stray hold expires. (You can read Mark's spectacular plea for Trinity by scrolling down to yesterday's report. But finish reading today's first.)
SPEAKING OF THREE-LEGGED DOGS: Remember Sally? Fourteen years old, three legs and turned d over to the Plano Animal Services Shelter? We’ve mentioned her need for a home before, but Debbie New of Plano Animal Services says no takers yet.  The foster had to bring Sally back to the shelter, but may be able to take her again.
Be nice if a good home stepped up and helped this ol’ girl live out her days with love and tranquility.  E-mail Debbie New at the Plano shelter at [email protected] or call 972-769-4360.
(Aside: That's Sally in the snow last winter. I thought the photo might remind potential adoptors of how wonderful a big dog is in any weather.)
QUESTION: Is this the worst summer ever for animals in North Texas? Dumped, surrendered, picked up running free – infants and adults. Shelters are full. Rescue groups overwhelmed, too. Has the overload finally brought things to a near-halt? Is anyone checking statistics? Is the only “churn” occurring in city and county shelters where, unable to find rescuers and adoptors, the animals are killed? Is the pace higher than usual?
Why aren’t more members of the general addled public paying attention? Too many other distractions? The clown convention in Washington? The terrorist in Texas? The Oslo attack? The price of gasoline – oh, somebody’s going to have to answer for that when the roll is called up yonder? Imagine, doing time in the Eternal Fires because you jacked up the price of gasoline for fun and profit.
Back to animals: We offer anecdotal evidence here every day – from the rescued Nora in Carrollton to a dog named Homer who was picked up by a do-gooder and has no place to go.  That’s anecdotal evidence that people care. How do we get the ol’ general public to care every single day? OK, there’s the question on the floor.  Some marketing genius may have an idea. In the meantime, we have other things to report.
STORIES OF IDIOT SITUATIONS: A RACCOON CLASH AND A DEAD DOG A DAY IN GRAND PRAIRIE: While checking out Channel 5’s story on the Bonnie Bradshaw case (in which the veteran wildlife rehabilitator is accused of attempted theft for moving a pest controller’s cages from a condo complex to the Richardson Animal Control after she rescued a trapped and dying raccoon from hot and dry conditions), we saw an awful story on KXAS’s website.
The City of Grand Prairie’s Prairie Paws animal control is getting reports of a dead dog a day because of the heat. Idiots leave their dogs outside without water or shelter. The dogs die of heat stroke. It obviously is high-time animal activists insisted that Grand Prairie – or maybe the Dallas County DA’s office – prosecute these people for animal cruelty.  Don’t let people get away with this. You can’t accidentally leave the dogs outside. Has to be intentional. Make space in the jails. Make a point. Save some lives. Read these stories on the KXAS news website HERE.
P.S. A special veteran journalist’s thanks to KXAS for covering these animal issues. When major media’s newsrooms become sensitive to animal issues, it’s a big step toward making the public sensitive to the issues. Send KXAS a thanks-for-covering note.
HOW COLLIN COUNTY ANIMALS GOT A BREAK YESTERDAY: This note arrived from DeDe Whitcombe, the shelter walker at Collin County Animal Services’ shelter in McKinney. Yes, there are so many animals there that euthanasia is continuing today, but here was DeDe’s note from late last night: “Due to too many calls forcing all the ACOs in the field today there were no EUs. They are planning on doing Friday and even though quite a few rescues today, shelter is still full!”
There you have it. Click HERE to see the Collin County PetFinder listings.
You’ll see a bull named Angus. Wait, oh, yeah, that is an Angus bull. Sorry. City boy, you know.
You know why I’m not running a photo of a dog or cat with this? Because I don’t want to publish a picture of an animal that may already be dead. There’s a Keeshond. There’s a pregnant spaniel mix. There are big dogs, Cats, kittens.
[SOAPBOX ASIDE:  If you have never walked through an animal shelter, you cannot imagine what it’s like to see the doomed animals waiting in cages. Some sit quietly, maybe showing that they are the “good dogs”  that their original owners wanted. Some cats paw through the cage. “Hey, look at me,” they seem to say.
Some dogs bark madly – are you an intruder or are you the help they’ve been waiting for?
For crying out loud. Do we help them or do we kill them?]
HOMER: A few days ago we ran this photo of Homer the Dog. You may remember him. William "Barking Bill" Kapela and family found the dog trying to survive the heat by laying in the shade of earthmoving equipment in Frisco Lakes.
The dog needs a place to go. Nobody’s helping. Maybe there is no place to go.
Bill sent a note last night. You can sense the desperation. He wrote, “I know you work your Bark off trying to help out the ones that many try to ignore and I applaud you for your efforts.  I have made more phone calls to more animal care places then I ever knew existed.  I have had many people thank me for my efforts, but I do not need or want thanks.  I do things because that is what you are supposed to do.  I do not keep score or track who may owe who what.  I figure what goes around comes around and we should just all pitch in and help out.  I call the Dog 'Homer' because he needs a home.
 “I do not know if you have had any inquiries about 'Homer', but we are out of time when it comes to the Vet place being able to board 'Homer.'  They will need all their space for the weekend and will need to have 'Homer' move on.   Next step could be the Collin County animal control 5-day hold and then off to a boarding area.  
“Again, Thank you for your efforts and your fine message to the world.”
You want to help Homer? Call Barking Bill at 469-362-2515 or e-mail him at [email protected].
Somebody out there must want a black dog that looks kind of Labbish.
For crying out loud, you don’t have to go to a breeder to get one – they’re wandering free all over North Texas.
MEANWHILE IN FORT WORTH: Geezus. Word gets to us this morning that Steve Woods, the veteran who, with support of the animal community, fought to save his pit Mimi, may have had a slip-up that will be fatal to the dog and more trouble for him. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has the story HERE.  If events are as depicted, this is one more case of a human failing to live by rules at the cost of his dog’s life and nearly at the cost of someone else’s life.
The first question is why were these dogs running free? Did they pool their money and hire a cab to take them to a park?
As we have pointed out here many times – it’s not the dogs, it’s the people. And, in general, the dogs are the way they are because of the people. Sheesh. I may vomit.
TWO ON THE CLOCK: Don “The (Retired) Rescuer” Martin shows that there’s still fire in the soul for the mission. He’s trying to help these two American Bulldogs escape a date with the needle – they have untii 1 p.m. Saturday at the Tri-City Animal Shelter (DeSoto, Duncanville and Cedar Hill) in Cedar Hill.
They are available to rescue only. Rescue groups only. Why? The short answer is see the previous item about people failing animals. Yes, none of these pit-like breeds are adopted to the public not to protect the public from the dogs but to protect the dogs from the public.
To offer to save their lives, call Jamie at 972-291-5335 or e-mail [email protected]
 Missy is  2, not spayed and shy right now. She’s been around kids and other dogs, but may need some guidance.
Buster, sitting up, is 4, not current on shot and not fixed. He’s been around kids and dogs, too.
They’ve spent most of their lives outside.
Why are they in a shelter? Owner moved into a dogless apartment and they had to go somewhere – death row always has room.
GENUINE EARHOUNDS AVAILABLE: Oh, boy, is the evidence ever vivid in these photos! Miranda Fick of Doggies Wonderland Rescue in Plano sent the photos to Readlarrypowell.com and wrote “Two Earhounds for you – rescued from Collin County.”
This first fellow is Gyasi, whose name is said to be Egyptian for “wonderful.” Those are some wonderful ears and eyes, too. He’s about 9 months old, weighs 30 pounds and “is sweet as can be and loves to play. He’s going great with all the other dogs and doesn’t know a stranger.” It took less than a day for him to become a volunteer favorite, Miranda says.
Then there is the other Earhound, Puppy, which is Egyptian for – oh, wait a second. Puppy is English for Puppy, isn’t it? These Earhounds can be so exotic!
But, seriously, folks, Puppy’s foster mom is said to be working on another name and, of course, as we all know, it takes a while for a puppy to decide on anything except, eat, play and sleep.
She’s probably about 4 months old. Miranda says, “She was listed as a Great Dane mix at the shelter but we haven’t quite figured out what else she has in her. She is timid and scared right now. She is unsure of people and is taking a bit of time to warm up.”
She has quickly learned, however, that “kisses are good and cats are scary. She’s a cute girl who is stealing everyone’s heart.”
(Aside: Probably good that a dog learns early to be wary of cats and then makes friends as time goes by. That’s how it has generally worked at our house. That’s how the cats have handled the humans, too.)
To ask about adopting these Earhounds, visit Doggie’s Wonderland K9 Rescue at 505 Alma Drive in Plano. Call 972-881-1905 or e-mail [email protected].
CONTEMPLATION: What does a mental meltdown look like? Hand me that mirror, will ya? .... Major League Baseball owes Ichiro Suzuki a giant apology for sticking him with the Seattle Mariners for his entire career. You’d think someone would rescue one of the greatest players of all-time so he could have a shot at being in the playoffs. ... OK, this weekend it’s napping kitties featured on Readlarrypowell.com. Rescue groups will be out trying to find homes so they can take in more animals – that’s what they do. Shelters will, no doubt, start getting the back-to-school load of unwanted animals -- “We just don’t have time now that the kids are going back to school.” And, of course, the price of gasoline will probably go up. At least we don’t have to worry about putting the snow chains on the car.
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Trinity -- needing a break, wins a heart

People who are in the frontline can tell the stories best.
This story was sent out to rescue groups and animal welfare people at mid-afternoon.
[Note to Readers: Tell people who aren't involved in rescue about this -- we've done enough preaching to the choir.]
The author is a familiar name at Readlarrypowell.com, Mark Cooper. He made his chops as the liaison between Dallas Animal Services and rescue groups. He’s been through some interesting times at the shelter. But in this letter, he captures what it’s like to be there knowing there’s only so much a human can do. In it, he calls for help from other good hearts.
In Mark’s words: “Good afternoon, everyone! I realize you are beat down with the heat, full shelters and lack of fosters. I ask that you please take a minute to read this story.
“I walk these kennels every day and look at dogs and cats that don’t deserve to be here. Some of them will be reunited with their owners, some will pass our adoption program, some will have the privilege of being saved by a rescue angel such as yourself, and, sadly, many will not see tomorrow.
“My intention is to walk through the kennels and look at each dog without making direct eye contact. On occasion, a dog or cat will catch me directly in the eye and when that happens, I become emotionally attached resulting in emails such as this!  
“I can’t help it, but it happens!! Yesterday afternoon one of our ACOs came to my desk with this pitiful looking shepherd-mix that was emaciated. She’s recently nursed a litter of pups, and to my surprise she is missing one leg.
“My first thought was, ‘This poor dog has had a rough life.
“Officer Bay Touch then explained that the dog was caught in a privately owned trap while desperately trying to find food. Touch then asked if I could find any group willing to save her.
“At that point, this sweet dog looked me directly in the eye and gave me a look of pure desperation and hopelessness.
“In that moment, I grabbed her by the chin held her head up, looked her in the face and promised her I would do my very best to save her! She instantly began wagging her tail and licked my hand.
“I knew she understood my promise.
“To conclude this story, I want to make it clear that this dog will need special attention and some serious weight gain. She is probably heartworm positive and she looks pitiful, but she deserves a chance to live and be loved! She is shy, but very sweet. She doesn’t walk well on a leash, but wants to please you.
“She appears to be young and in great spirits today. We are feeding her canned food to help with the weight gain.  With the right care and attention, she can make an amazing family member.
“I have taken the liberty of naming her  ‘Trinity.’ She is a very peaceful soul and has eyes that make your soul melt. Please help me to help her!
“The vet staff has agreed to pre-vaccinate her and they will treat her for fleas/ticks and some very slight hair loss on her tail.
“Trinity is a stray, so she will not be available until Monday, the 1st of August. If you can help save Trinity, please “TAG” her ASAP. Thank you for taking time to read Trinity’s story. Have a blessed day and I hope to hear from you soon!”
In case you are involved with a rescue group and want to help Mark save this dog Trinity, call 214-670-8298 or e-mail [email protected].
There you have it. An eyewitness account of what it feels like to have a dog's eyes look into your heart.
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OK, we'll do another day of animal reporting...it won't be pretty...

I need to apologize to the people who visit Readlarrypowell.com.
I am sorry. I apologize wholeheartedly for this error. I apologize for, once again, underestimating the level of idiocy running amok in North Texas.
Shelters are full, animals roam streets and neighborhoods, people are loopy and some are downright mean.
But mostly, some people are radiantly stupid -- you can’t look at them without protective eyewear. You put them in a room with a hissing, angry Cobra and the Cobra will turn on himself just to get away from them. That kind of stupid.
More on this photo of roaming Dallas dogs later in today’s report. Also, we'll have the Metroplex Animal Coalition's tip for dealing with pinheads who leave animals in hot cars.
Let's start in with this.
WILDLIFE AND AN ODD SITUATION: We’ve mentioned Bonnie Bradshaw of 911 Wildlife Rescue here many times and people in all sorts of media have done stories on her efforts for years. She even helped save Ricky the Raccoon, who’d fled into the ceiling at the Dallas Animal Services Adoption Center last last year, get into a humane trap and out to a safe haven on woodsy property. Reminder: This was in accordance with state law.
Today at noon Bonnie will be on the steps of the Richardson Municipal Courthouse defending her position in a case in which someone -- a pest control guy -- has charged her with – don’t know the exact charge – saving the life of a raccoon in a trap.
What this person has stepped in is not raccoon scat.
As you can see from Rebecca Poling’s Examiner story HERE there’s going to be a big flap. Bonnie, according to the story, got an injured raccoon out of a trap in 100-plus temps.
Didn’t set well with someone who must have little regard for animal lives, one can only assume.
The noon press conference will also include an appearance by noted animal law attorney Randy Turner.
More to come on this, no doubt.
And it reminds us that during the most recent Dallas Animal Shelter Commission meeting, a letter was read from a Dallas citizen who had been appalled that a pest company trapped a squirrel and left it in the trap on the roof of an apartment complex in searing heat (can’t remember the details and I’ve misplaced the citizen’s letter, but I’ll find it and do a follow-up.)
Raccoons and squirrels are all protected by the state’s animal cruelty laws and you’d think that would trump the cavalier attitudes of pest control personnel.
(Aside: Regarding that last paragraph, see the opening paragraphs of today’s Readlarrypowell.com.)
CRUNCH TIME IN SEAGOVILLE: Look, we know that Collin County Animal Services, Denton, Dallas, etc., all are up against the wall because of too many animals. They don’t have a shot at going no-kill right now.
But, the little Seagoville Animal Shelter, under the careful guidance of Police Sgt. Karl Bailey who opened the shelter system to skillful, cognizant and loving animal welfare volunteers, has a real chance to be no-kill.
The only problem is there are four or five dogs scheduled for euthanasia Friday – the first since last November in the Seagoville shelter. The place is packed.
We know of one dog – the Beagle mix here – who hasn’t been rescued from the streets because chances for survival are better right now outside the shelter than inside the shelter.
The shelter is making efforts to make it easier to adopt and recue. For example, according to volunteer Johnna Bigley, as of yesterday, Seagoville is waiving its $15 adoption fee for July and August. Also, a fundraiser collected enough money to pay for adoptables spay/neuter, so that’s free until they run out of money.
We ran Rusty’s photo earlier in the week. That’s him again (upper left). Like all these animals, he has a story.
And that Beagle mix roams a neighborhood where “she was cast out like trash in the area,” says Johnna, who adds, “I’m fearful she’s not going to make or get hit by a car if I can’t get her rescued.  Plus, the Seagoville shelter is so full I’m afraid they'd have to put someone down just to take her in.”
And if you’re new to the animal situation in the area, Johnna’s house – like most other rescuers – already has more than either the law or pocketbooks can allow.
To ask about Rusty and the other endangered animals at Seagoville’s shelter (1330 E. Malloy Bridge Road), call the volunteer line at 972-400-0141 or  e-mail [email protected]. Or call Sgt. Bailey at 972-287-6838 or e-mail [email protected].
SECOND DAY STORY ON LOOSE DOGS: This report just gets richer and richer. We get it from Sherry Kunz – yesterday we reported on the distress she found when she took her old home-to-office route through West Dallas.
Here’s the followup. Sherry writes, “Oh my God! I am so angry and depressed. On my way to work, looking for the 3 dogs to feed and maybe get pictures, I pass 3 different stray dogs. I spot the Chow eating trash on a side road.(Tallyho St. off Bernal) I pull in and a Pit Bull puppy comes running up also. Cute, not in bad shape, not aggressive and just a little shy. (Why am I not afraid of these dogs) I'm feeding these 2 and the Shiba Inu mix comes running over. The little gray dog is nowhere in sight.
“I'm feeding and watering these 3 and trying to take pictures. I'm a little cautious because I'm in a residential neighborhood and a man is sitting in his truck in front of his house watching me. I get the pictures and I am about to leave and the Shiba Inu comes right up to the car, hence the best picture.
“ I think he would have jumped right in the car if I'd opened the door. I'm turning around and there is another stray Rottie mix.
“Have you been keeping count? That makes 8 counting the gray dog from yesterday. I can't tell what the Chow is because of the hair but the Shiba Inu and Pit Bull puppy are intact males.
“Not only are there 8 stray dogs running around in this neighborhood, that I've seen, there will probably be several litters also. ... The city needs to get involved but calling 311 doesn't do any good. Been there done that. I didn't receive any responses yesterday.”
She suggests that perhaps “someone can give me a suggestion as to how I can move forward to help these dogs or if they know of a direct contact at Dallas Animal Services.”
Anybody got any ideas? E-mail [email protected]. (Later in the morning, Sherry reports she's talked to DAS and they're working on a "sweep" of the area. Better in a shelter than out starving, dying from dehydration or being hit by cars.)
As I told Sherry, what she and I might see as “stray dogs” are, in this neighborhood, dogs that belong to somebody and both the dogs and the people know where they live. Wandering free is a lifestyle choice for these dimwitted dog owners -- even if it is against the law.
The expert on this, Angie Manriquez, the “Fairy Dogmother of West Dallas,” has been pulling free-roaming dogs, tethered dogs and drug house-guarding dogs out of the area for years and years.
(Again, see the opening paragraphs of today’s Readlarrypowell.com.. And don't bother to tell me that calling names won't get anything done -- not calling names isn't getting anything done, either.)
EULESS NOTE: The Euless Animal Shelter is full. Overflowing. In case any would-be adoptors are interested -- rescuers are interested but they're all full. This one is up to regular people who chose to be blissfully ignorant.  There’s a Chihuahua with big ears. You want a photo of Poco Princess? Make an effort to go to this SITE and come right back for more stories of challenges on Readlarrypowell.com.
NOT ALL IDIOTS ARE IN TEXAS: Now and then they pop up in Oklahoma. Sure, they may drive across the state line from Texas, but the problem is in Oklahoma. This one comes from our reliable Burns Flat, Okla., tipster Terry Lynn Fisher. Yep, shelter full.
Full shelters are epidemic across the southwest, apparently.
At any rate, here’s the story on this puppy. volunteer Terry Lynn says, “My ACO got a call from the Sheriff’s Department last night about a dog bothering someone’s dog through the gate. It was apparently trying to get in the gate with the dog and causing a lot of trouble. Well, this little guy was the culprit. Apparently his owners moved over the weekend and I guess they forgot they had him, for he was left behind.”
[Soapbox aside: Let me stop to say that if these people moved to Texas, we don’t need you. We’re dangerously close to idiot overload.]
Terry Lynn says the dog “is a total doll, sweet, friendly, and so dang cute. His tail is docked.”
The Burns Flat pound isn’t set up for 5- or 6-week-old puppies, so Terry Lynn parked him at a friends’ house but they’re leaving town this weekend and the puppy needs a place to go.
E-mail Terry Lynn at [email protected] or call 580-330-1459.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Two things to contemplate today: Rescue groups and animals in cars.
First, think about this photo. That’s Nora. That’s Nora reacting to getting a tummy rub at Operation Kindness (OK gleefully sent me this photo of the former Death Row Dog.)  Look, I only bring this up again to point out to people who wish they could help that there is a really good way to help(FYI, a reader named Julie inspired this segment – she made a good point about overloaded rescues in a letter to me). Anybody can get involved with a rescue group. Foster a dog or two, a cat or three. Contribute to society by saving lives. If rescue groups hadn’t already been overloaded, and weren’t already struggling to save animals from all sorts of despicable situations, they’d have had room to take Nora. I hope people understand the pressure on rescue groups. There is a definite link between rescue groups and saving lives and that link is volunteers who foster. Seriously, do something. It’ll be good for your heart. Oh, and tell your idiot neighbors to spay or neuter their animals. If they won’t, tell them you’re sending their names to me for “The List of Idiots” that we’re compiling.  Yep, The Readlarrypowell.com List of Idiots. It’ll have two segments – (1) people who harm animals and (2) politicians (that’s the “lesser list of idiots.”)
About the heat, we got this from the Metroplex Animal Coalition this morning. Frankly, I can’t believe people would leave animals in cars in this weather, but, then, I’ve already admitted to underestimating the level of idiocy around here.
MAC President Elaine Munch sent this note around this morning. Clip it, copy it and put it on office billboards, give it to people, leave it on windshields, etc. You might save a life or two.
MAC’s note reads, “We've heard recently of several serious incidents of dogs left in cars during this extreme weather. We wanted to remind you that in Dallas, here is the procedure:
“We have been told by the authorities to call 911, NOT 311, as it is a ‘crime in progress- animal cruelty’ and if the 911 operator says it's an Animal Service issue and to call them at 311, say ‘No, let me speak to a 911 supervisor.’ Tell the supervisor that it is Animal Cruelty (State Felony) and the Police Dept. has told us so, and the PD and/or Fire Dept. need to be dispatched immediately to break the window and rescue the animal.
“Then, don't stop there. If the first operate won't help, hang up and call again. A different operator may have a different reaction. Force the issue and don't take no for an answer. Worse case, they could dispatch the police to the location where you are!  Personally, I'd tell them I'm about to break the window and commit a crime if they don't come, hoping they will dispatch someone immediately.
“Another option is to quickly call a TV station news or assignments desk (Google a station on your Smartphone)  and tell them there's a crime in progress and you've reported it and 911 won't do anything about it. If you're really bold, tell them you are about to commit a crime to save the animal. 
“Worse case you may have to make a decision to save the animal's life yourself. If you do, please know that MAC and the animal rescue community will rally around you and provide all the publicity we can to help get any charges or complaints that might be filed dropped. I've heard about two cases recently, where the person reporting and breaking a car window was not charged and the owners were, so it's not likely you would be prosecuted. 
“It's a tough decision, but the right one.”
There you have it, folks. Contemplate how you can make life better for animals and people.
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The skinny on Nora...

First, she’s not skinny. Second, she’s no longer in danger at a municipal shelter.
Third, she’s at Operation Kindness, the no-kill shelter in Carrollton and that shelter can always use some money to help with vet bills and the odd unexpected case.
Nora was picked up from Carrollton’s city shelter – you’ve got to be grateful for those people; they protected her and got the word out that she was needing help.
Late yesterday, Sandi Laird, the Director of Animal Care at OK,  called Carrollton and said if nobody else takes Nora, Operation Kindness would.
Only a few people knew that “last resort” offer. I stepped back to see how many people would line up to help this dog.
Heard about lots of prayers and "this shouldn't be."  No line formed.  Lots of OMIGODs but no line.
That’s how she got into Operation Kindness. Last resort. I’m sure other rescue groups are overloaded and few homes are willing to take in such an obviously vicious dog.
Here’s the story of this snarling, frothing-at-the-mouth mad pit bull’s terrifying introduction at Operation Kindness.
Julie Goff, OK’s Director of Special Events, sent us a note minutes after the arrival. “Nora is here,” Julie wrote. “She sure is a sweet lady. We have a Chihuahua that snapped at her and she ran away and whimpered. So much for the big bad Pit Bull. She is going to be a great pet for someone for sure.”
Ran away and whimpered -- they don't all do that. Some turn over on their backs and pee. Look, in dogs, it's the people that make the difference.
Later in the day, Sandi reported that Nora “is enjoying all the attention that she is getting....She is very sweet.” Then Sandi kidded, “We would appreciate any donations for her as we need to send her to Jenny Craig.” 
Operation Kindness will now make sure chubby Nora gets a full battery of tests, including a “thyroid panel” to see if she’s got extra weight for a physical reason or if she’s like some of us and puts on weight when in stressful conditions.
Sandi says Nora “is sharing a run with a Border Collie.”
(Aside: I had a Border Collie when I was a kid, Queenie. I practically shared a run with her. She was always herding me and my brothers. I guess Nora has a lot of patience. She doesn't look like she can mimic a sheep, so the Border Collie may become frustrated.)
Nora has “already been introduced to a play group with four other dogs," Sandi says. "Hopefully we will run some weight off of her.”
Once she’s healthy, she’ll be available for adoption (unless some staffer goes bonkers and claims her and makes a deal to keep her in the style of a canine princess -- happens in all shelters and rescue groups now and then, you know).
In the meantime, you can get in touch with Operation Kindness via the website www.operationkindness.org. Call 972-418-PAWS. Or write to Operation Kindness, 3201 Earhart Drive, Carrollton, Texas, 75006.
You know what? Stop by for a visit. It’ll do your heart good. You’ll see their new construction, their state-of-the-art shelter and many available dogs and cats. You might even get to meet Nora. "
You know what else: Stop by Carrollton Animal Services. They've got other Noras -- and lots of cats and other dogs and a rabbit every now and then. For crying out loud. It's up to people to help the people who are helping the animals.
Now, pay attention to this: Nora is not the only pit bull in North Texas. She’s not even the only one who got saved today or was on death row. But she is a symbol of this sorry set of facts:
At some point, someone said, “Let’s take the dog to a shelter” and they did and they were told as they signed the surrender papers, “If no one claims this dog, it's likely she’ll be killed” and the human with the power to save her actually had to say, “OK, you've got my permission to kill her.”
That’s the ridiculous bottom line. OK by me if you kill the dog.
This happens every single day around here. Pits, Collies, Chihuahuas, Pugs, Beagles, Siamese, Maine Coons, Tabbies, Calicos -- big and little dogs, big and little cats. Kill 'em. Nobody wants 'em. Just kill 'em 'til you run out of juice.
Answer this question, my fellow metropolitan rocket scientists: “WHY?”
-- To comment, click below, and my apologies to those of you who aren't smart enough to understand your role in the daily slaughter.--

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An angry mood on Wednesday...but some good stories

Is this dog dead?
Maybe not yet.
It’s Wednesday, I’ll just go ahead and stay mad a little bit if you don’t mind.
Maybe I’m mad a lot --  but that’s for a psychiatrist to decide. Don’t laugh. I’m not the only one with a ticket to ride this train. Look in a mirror – especially if you have anything at all to do with animal rescue. These days you’re not just being driven mad, you’re on a packed commuter train to Crazytown.
We checked with the folks at Carrollton Animal Services this morning and it looks like Nora, the pit girl I railed about here yesterday, may dodge the needle. We won’t know for sure about her fate until later in the day.
I guess you could say that about all of our fates -- except that we humans can figure nobody’s prepping a needle full of “death juice” for most of us.
Today is euthanasia day at the Carrollton shelter and nobody is happy about it. So, yeah, even if Nora makes it, other dogs and cats may not. (To offer to help any animal in the Carrollton shelter, call 972-466-3420 or e-mail [email protected]. Google the shelter if you want to see more animals. But finish reading this report first.)
Carrollton isn’t the only shelter that has to deal with this awful duty of making room for the next load of unwanted animals by killing the current load of unwanted animals. Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Irving, Collin County, Denton – oh, just pick a city. They all buy the “death juice” in bulk. More on this in Contemplations today. Let’s talk about other animals.
THREE WEST DALLAS ROAMERS: Our reliable tipster Sherry Kunz decided months and months ago to change the route she took between home and office because the burdens on her heart and bankbook were more than she could stand. She was always finding animals and they always needed vet work. She and her husband ran into tough medical spots, too.
Knowing the risk, today she took her old route to work.
“This morning, I just couldn't look the other way anymore -- three dogs were in the middle of the road eating someone's remnants of fast food they had so carelessly thrown out of their car window. The area is around the 5400 block of Bernal, south of Singleton.”
(FYI: That’s not far from both the Dallas Animal Services Adoption Center and the SPCA of Texas. When it comes to caring for animals, however, the area is in another century. The think they live in Mayberry where dogs can run free. They live in West Dallas where dogs are burglar alarms for drug houses and where dog-fighting isn’t something done somewhere else.)
Sherry says, “I stopped and fed these dogs to keep them from getting hit by a car trying to eat the trash in the road. I'm not the greatest at identifying breeds, but one is obviously a black chow, probably purebred, that appears to be less than a year. He is beautiful and in the best shape of the three. One looks like a Shiba Inu mix, pretty thin and the friendliest of the three. The last is a mutt, no clear breed but in the worst shape. He's still a puppy, gray, skinny and appears to have bite marks. I didn't think to take a picture with my cell phone.”
(Aside: I don’ blame her. It’s tough enough to feed skittish dogs while dodging Dallas’ madcap traffic.)
Sherry says, “I will gladly help assist with the rescue of these babies if someone familiar with this area will step up. They are a little skittish but hunger was greater than their fear. I can be contacted at [email protected]. Even if it is just to get them to an animal shelter that would be better than dying of hunger, thirst and exposure to this heat. It has to be really hard on the little chow. I know it is hard for everyone out there right now, but I'd appreciate any responses or suggestions.”
ROUGH STORIES IN COLLIN COUNTY: There is a story in every cage in every shelter everywhere. We just happen to have some from the Collin County Animal Services Shelter that demonstrate the challenges facing animals.
This Jack Russell and this cute mix of some sort belonged to someone who was killed – there’s a police investigation. The parents of the dead person were contacted but subsequently decided not to come from out of state to McKinney to get the dogs.
You can understand that – already grieving, why would they take on these dogs and subject their broken hearts to painful emotions and memories? Other families might react in a different way, but, in the end, maybe these folks know what’s best for themselves and the animals.
At any rate, these dogs are in the Collin County Animal Services Shelter and need homes that will appreciate their cheerful, loving personalities. The shelter’s Lisa Drummonds says, “They are super sweet. ... They have the best playful and loving personalities.”  (To ask about them, call 972-547-7298 or e-mail [email protected].)
Yesterday, shelter walker DeDe Whitcomb sent out a plea for help for this basset mix who found her way into the Collin County shelter. The dog has been saved. This was her situation, according to DeDe: “This girl is in serious pain. She looks to have a broken jaw and is having a hard time breathing. She’s holding her jaw awkwardly and It sounds like she is growling at you but she just can’t breathe right! She has a large cut on top of her nose ... She has wounds all around her body as well. I can’t tell if she was beaten by some low life or hit by a car. On top of that she is skinny as can be.”
This morning DeDe reports that the dog is going to be claimed by Hillcrest Animal Rescue. That means she’ll be saved, but Hillcrest will be out some money for the dog’s vet care. You can get in touch with Hillcrest Animal Rescue HERE and on Facebook HERE.
HERE’S ANOTHER THING THAT ANIMALS FACE: As you can see in this photo, this dog is tethered. Before you jump out of your skin, read on.
Last Friday, veteran independent rescuer Charlotte Duncan sent out an e-mail request for help getting Sugar, an endangered Arlington dog, to safety because “she has been tied up in a back yard in the triple digit heat with no food and NO WATER. We need to get her out of there.”
It’s a human story. As we’ve often noted here, any time there’s an animal in danger, there’s a human involved.
The deal is the family’s teenage daughter had a baby and the family decided they didn’t want the dog in the house with the baby, so, since the backyard fence is broken down, the dog was tethered. Charlotte says that the day she took this photo, Sugar “had about six feet of slack in the cord.”
Now, people rallied. Someone volunteered to pay for veterinary care for Sugar. Carole Sanders of Texas Animal Angels volunteered to take Sugar into her sanctuary, Charlotte reported. “We are working on getting an owner-surrender. Someone has even offered to give the owners money in order to get the dog out of there. We’ve had trouble catching the owners at home.”
That was early yesterday. Later in the day, Charlotte sent this e-mail:
“I have good news and bad news,” Charlotte wrote. “First, the bad news: Sugar’s family will not surrender ownership of her. The good news is that they have finally taken her inside the air-conditioned house.
“We all know this isn’t the ideal situation, but I imagine the reality is that Sugar would choose to stay with the humans she knows, no matter how stupid they are. The neighbor who spoke to the family ... assures me that, while these people may be ignorant, they are not abusive. I’m holding onto that thought.
“Needless to say, we will continue to monitor this address and keep a close eye on the situation.
“Thank you so much to everyone who has offered help. For those of you who offered a space in your rescue organization, you may now give that coveted spot to another deserving animal. I appreciate all that you do for the animals, and if Sugar’s situation changes, you will hear from me again.”
If you want to volunteer to be on standby to help Sugar, should things fall through, e-mail [email protected].
ANOTHER THING THAT WORKS AGAINST ANIMALS: Now, I’m pretty sure these two dogs are in a safe place. But I can’t be absolutely certain because the e-mails that arrived regarding their situation did not include a way to contact the people who have the dogs. Indeed, I e-mailed the only address associated with these two dogs and the woman responded this morning that she’d have to check at work, indicating to my experienced eye that someone got a mass e-mail and forwarded it without getting the traditional who, what, where, when and how do we call you details.
How can anyone help if there is no contact point? Should we all keep psychics on retainer?
I’m using the picture because the animals shouldn’t be handicapped by the human’s inability to communicate.  If a picture is worth a thousand words, I have no idea how much a working phone number would be worth.
Here’s what the note that came with the photo says: “Living in the country brings new surprises like lost puppies.  Friday night after dark, we see a couple of white blobs coming across the pasture and two young puppies appear. Maybe 9 months old.  I think they had been ‘dropped’ off. They appear to be Cairn Terriers or a mix of this breed.
“I have attached a picture of the two. A male and a female. The male is brown or tan color his back. The female is white and smaller.
“Barbara bathed them and they are cute.  We have a dog and can’t take on another at this time.  Barbara and I are just looking for a good home for these two instead of taking to an animal shelter. David.”
I don’t blame Barbara or David for not having a way to contact them.
I want to be clear on this: I blame whoever stripped the info off the e-mail and sent it on in a mad, breathless frenzy. Do you people drink while you work these e-mails? Are you stoned? Are you hopped up on speed and sorely in need of an intervention?
Thank heavens these dogs aren’t in an unknown shelter on the clock. They’d be dead now because there’s no “who” to contact.
There’s no “where,” either. There are lots of pastures in Texas. And, this might not actually be from Texas. We just don’t know.
So, if anyone knows anything about this situation, please send the facts to [email protected] and we’ll try to help David and Barbara find homes for two adorable pups.
And, please, the next time you decide to forward a desperate notice about helping an animal, make sure it includes the key communications information. Is that too much to ask?
Failure to include all pertinent communications information could result in the needless death of an animal. They already have enough humans working against them, when you send these notes, try to work for them.
A BATCH OF BEAGLE-MIXES: These five – OK, these 4 and a half – Beagle-mix puppies wound up in the Commerce Animal Shelter and, fortunately, they have been rescued by the Collin County Humane Society and ... well, we’ll know more tomorrow, but for today, if you see this photo in an e-mail about a desperate need in Commerce, Texas, know that someone has stepped up to save this batch of Beagle-mixes.
HERE’S A GOOD NEWS STORY: We got this from Dawna Carabajal, the veteran rescuer and fosterer of big litter puppies. Be sure to read all the way to the end.
Her first note from yesterday reads: “I have sort of an odd request this time. I noticed in my neighborhood a piece of construction paper that someone had drawn a dog on and stapled to a light pole. I stopped and checked it out. So sad. Some little boy or girl lost their dog and obviously did not have any pictures of him so they tried to draw a picture of him. I just wanted to cry. There was a little bit of useful information and I was wondering if you could share it. Maybe one of the local rescue groups has him and will recognize the description. All it said was ‘Lost Black Labrador goes by the name Jagger. Lost on 7/9/11 in Rowlett, TX. He was wearing a red Mickey Mouse collar. Please help bring him home.’ Oh Larry, it just broke my heart. I went online and checked with my local shelters but to no avail. Maybe someone who knows something will see this and call.”
There was a number on the poster and Dawna had contacted it.
Her next note read, “Stop the presses. Wouldn't you know it! As soon as I hit send on the last message I received a text from the owners saying they found their dog. YEAH!”
You know, dear Readers, I thought you ought to see that because it points out, once again, that putting up signs is a key way to hunt for lost animals. And, it’s also good to know that someone wanted their dog back.
You can walk through shelter and see that such is not always the case.
CONTEMPLATIONS:  Call me an optimist. Yeah, there’s a suggestion loaded with irony. But I am confident North Texas can solve this mass euthanization problem. Every blamed week the numbers are staggering.
 I know people work to save animals and have for decades, but maybe it’s time for city governments and county governments to show some leadership and understanding and, perhaps, unite under some sort of regional authority to stop this constant killing of animals. Declare a kill-free zone. Combine and coordinate shelter space and adoption and spay/neuter.
Is this dreaming? If there can be a North Texas Council of Governments, can't there be a North Texas Council of Shelters?
Oh, yeah, there’s one other key thing. It may be insurmountable, given the fact that we live in what surely can be designated as an “American Stupid Zone.”
That key factor? Getting a blissfully ignorant, willingly stupid and generally unconcerned public to pull their heads out of where ever they keep them and wise up.
This is a case of knowing that most people would want to save animals as long as they don’t have to take one.
First big step is spay/neuter – that’ll eliminate the unwanted puppies and kittens. Oh, suddenly it occurs to me, these puppies and kittens don’t become unwanted until after they arrive and the nitwits realize they need to feed and care for them.
Seriously, let me re-think this. Nope, spay/neuter is not the first step. The first step is to convince a dimwitted public that it has a role in this beyond that of saying “Hmm, I didn’t know that? Yontanutherdrank?”
Well, we’re going to have a pro football season, so I guess I’m wrong and everything is OK around here.
Idiots.
Help me down off this soapbox before a board breaks and I fall through the floor, startling Inky the Cocker Spaniel who is in the basement rumpus room shooting pool with Griffin the Cat.
We’ll be glad to entertain any serious proposals for getting control of this animal situation around here. Rescue groups and shelter workers are worn down, their hearts and pocketbooks exhausted.
That’s the thing: Hearts wear down and nobody has enough money to keep throwing it at the situation. It’s time to engage the brains. Good lord, around here, that’s a terrible fix to be in --depending on the human brains.
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Nora -- what will happen?

Nora.
Rescue only.
Pit bull, you know. Maybe a mix. Still ... why risk it?
Godalmighty, she looks vicious. Ready to eat that camera. Look at the way she’s glaring through that thick chain-link fence, just waiting to attack. Yeah, no fence.  No snarl. Waiting for a treat.
Has until Wednesday – 7 a.m. Then it’s the needle.
Chubby girl. Once loved or at least accepted by humans. Not any more. Just a burden now.
I’ll bet the staffer who has to lift her lifeless body will grunt at the task. Big dead dog.
Dumped at Carrollton Animal Services. She’s among several pit-types on the list for Wednesday. Nobody wants them. Big liability.
Adoptions and rescues are slow at Carrollton today, we hear. A note from the shelter at noon says that “so far we have had no adoptions or rescues today, hopefully things will pick up as the day goes on.”
The shelter report on Nora reads, “This beautiful lady was released to the shelter by her people who are moving into an apartment that does not allow Pit Bulls. She is a great lady, very friendly and just loves everyone. She is altered already, too, which will help her fit into a new home. As a bonus she also appears to be housetrained.”
In other words, she’s a better fit for your home than most of your relatives.
But, tomorrow morning, while her former people are rising for the day in a dogless apartment, the people at the Carrollton shelter will be leading this good-natured, tail-wagging sweetheart down a hall where she’ll be a little puzzled by the sudden attention and then she’ll be dead.
Dead. The needle will go in, the juice will flow and she’ll be irreversibly dead.
I've seen the needle go in. It's quick.
She will just as quickly be forgotten by almost everybody who ever met her. Maybe someone in the room with her will cry, but, then, no time for lots of tears when the condemned keep being led into the room.
Another dead pit. Good thing, eh? Society’s made safer.
She may be 4 or 5 years old – lord only knows how many people she’s killed – maybe as many people as Michael Vick killed dogs. He gets to roam free these days, make a lot of money. Paid his debt to society -- but society and the hereafter are two different things. I don't know why I brought him up -- he didn't do anything in Nora's case. Of course, neither did Nora.
Nora. That’s  the name of one of my favorite aunts – a really tough woman with such a good heart. She always had fractious Chihuahuas -- I've been threatened by more Chihuahuas than by pit bulls.
We’ve got the Dallas limit on dogs or I’d go get this dog. Go get 'em all, you know? Wish I had the money and the sanctuary -- but the sanctuaries are all full, too, thanks to humans who just don't care.
All I can do is tell you, dear Readers, that just as not all pro football players are dog-killing thugs, not all pit bulls or pit-types are snarling, hair-trigger, walking time bombs.
Ask around. Any dog can flip out — just like any human. All depends on respect, loving treatment and understanding of our roles in life. They can be so human.
Before pit bulls became the thugs' preferred manhood substitute, Chows had to wear the burden. People are idiots. You can etch that into my tombstone.
OK, I’m done here. If I can’t write this dog into the hearts of a rescue group with an open spot for one more extra sweet, tubby lady dog, then I ought to just burn this damned computer, give up all silly pretense of being a writer and sit in the dark somewhere until I’m either committed or keel over.
You want to see more animals on the clock? Google any shelter. They can’t kill ‘em fast enough in some towns. You can see more Carrollton animals HERE.
Don’t you dare blame the shelters – this is the total responsibility of the residents of a town. They let this carnage go on. They ignore that it's happening. It's the traditional Texas practice: "Got an animal problem? Let’s kill it."
You know why a lot of shelters won’t adopt pit bulls? Why they only either give them to rescue groups or euthanize them?
It’s not to protect people from pit bulls, it’s to protect pit bulls from people.
If you’re a human with a heart and a sense of shame, that makes you want to puke, doesn’t it.
Nora -- she's in Carrollton. Waiting.
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And, lo, it was hot and yet we kept moving...

Here we go with our Tuesday report in a time in North Texas when a cool breeze is only a memory and a chill in the air is a myth. Except sometimes there is snow (formerly a Texas myth because it NEVER snows here). And here's a 3-legged dog in the snow. More on Sally's plight later.

THE INDIVIDUAL EFFORT OR, FINDING A PLACE FOR HOMER: This is Homer. He is a well-behaved dog who needs a place to go.
We get his story from Bill Kapela of Frisco. Bill signs his notes “Barkless Bill” so you know he’s got a sense of humor. He’s also in a spot because he’s trying to help this dog.
With a bit of humor in place, Bill begins the story this way: “We made what appears to be a mistake by helping out a dog that was trying to survive the heat Saturday night by laying under a piece of earth moving equipment in the middle of the Frisco Lakes construction area.  We passed by and went home to get it some water to give it if the animal was still there when we returned. Well, he was still there and came out gingerly to drink the water that we gave him.  No barking, no teeth, no growl,  just a wagging tail.   We decided to try to find a place for him, so we took him home and kept him outside while we called around.
“To summarize, since Sat night through [Monday] afternoon and 20 plus phone calls to every type of rescue place, he still is stuck at the vet’s office that we took him to Saturday night.  We are unable to keep him, because my wife is allergic to long haired animals.  We have invested about $150 in medicine and Vet care. We need to find him a place to go that will not just put him down.
Some of you have been in that same spot. You do a good deed and then you’re left holding the bag, taking up the slack for some jerk who dumped or abandoned an animal. But, if you don’t help the dog, who will?
Bill says that Homer is a dog who is malnourished. The mixed-breed weighs in at 33 pounds, had a collar and the ring on which tags would go and had no microchip, according to the vet’s wand. Thanks to Bill, Homer is now current on all his shots, flea treatment and has a bath. “He is clean and ready to go,” Bill says. “He came to me when I tried to call him and may know some commands (like ‘sit’). ... He was very well-behaved, did not bark or growl and was very good about staying with me.”
So, if you can give Homer a place to call home or a spot in a rescue group or no-kill shelter, e-mail Bill at [email protected] or call 469-362-2515.
PRESSURE IN SEAGOVILLE: Johnna Bigley, the veteran rescuer who works as a volunteer with the Seagoville Animal Shelter, is hustling for homes or rescue spots right now because there are six dogs on Friday’s euthanasia list. She says that unless someone steps forward these will be the first dogs “put down since Nov. 2010.”
The shelter manager, Seagoville Police Sgt. Karl Bailey, has been working with rescue groups and volunteers to try to save every animal that winds up in the shelter.
He’ll also work with the citizens. Sometimes they don’t want to work with him. Consider this dog Rusty, about 60 pounds of big ol’ dawg.
He was picked up as a stray. Sgt. Bailey hunted down the owner, an elderly person who said, basically, keep the dog. That put Rusty on the clock. According to Johnna’s note, Rusty is healthy except that, as is the case with most neglected animals, he has a heartworm problem.  “Now, Rusty sits quietly in the shelter’s cage, watching, waiting, longing for someone to love him.  His spirit seems to be broken as if he’s never known a day of love.  He looks up at you with pleading eyes and waits patiently for you to let him know it’s okay for him to come up to you.  Then, he walks ever so gently up to you and lightly gives you a kiss.”
To ask about Rusty or any animal in the Seagoville shelter call the volunteer number at 972-400-0141 or e-mail [email protected] or call Sgt. Bailey at 972-287-6838 or e-mail [email protected].
You can see more  of Seagoville’s on-the-clock animals at this Facebook site HERE.
SOME UPDATES ON SALLY AND HUGGY AND AN UNNAMED DOG:
--Nobody’s interested yet in taking the three-legged dog Sally. You may recall that she was an owner-surrender at Plano Animal Services and the folks there are working hard to find a good place for this sweet old – 14 years – dog to live out her life. You’ve seen her snow photo above and here is a photo of her taking it easy on one of her current foster beds. We’re certain the people who surrendered her knew what they were doing – almost certain. Nobody in their right mind would expect a 14-year-old, three-legged dog to survive in a city shelter in an era where euthanasia for space is the North Texas theme of the day (day after day).  Sally is available to anyone who’ll give her a decent home. E-mail Debbie New at the Plano shelter at [email protected] or call 972-769-4360.  See more Plano animals HERE
--Good news for fans of big cats. Denton Animal Shelter volunteer Cathy Champ reports today that Huggy “was picked up by DFW Purebred Rescue. One of their awesome volunteers is adopting Huggy. She is a vet tech and experienced with all the health issues that can come with being such an overweight cat.” (Aside: As I am an overweight cat myself, I say, “Congratulations, Huggy!” and congratulations to Huggy’s new home, too. I’ll bet he lives up to his name.)
--Last week, Mindy Sewell of Dallas Animal Services sent out a note seeking help with a little fluffy unkempt dog that had been dropped off overnight at the shelter. The dog had lousy teeth and a raging eye infection. Nobody stepped up to help and the little dog has been sent on via euthanasia, possibly an accurate application of the word. Not killed for space reasons, but “put to sleep” to end suffering.
There might have been another way, but not in the current overloaded climate. Too many rescue groups are already overloaded and facing incredible vet bills and homing challenges. It’s a tough time for animals.
STATE FAIR COMPETITION DEADLINE REMINDER: The deadline for entering pre-State Fair of Texas contests is July 29 --- you can get all the details by going to www.bigtex.com and clicking on Creative Arts and then on the Handbook button. These contests include crafts, quilting, canning, etc.
And the State Fair runs Sept. 30-Oct. 23. There may be rain, cool breezes, maybe a need for a sweater. Of course, this is the State Fair of TEXAS, so there may be 100-degree days, too. I don’t recall that snow has ever fallen during the fair, but, well, you never know. Things have been out of whack ever since man landed on the moon. (I heard a woman say that sincerely while in a check-out line at a grocery store years ago. We’d been in line a long time, but I think she was nuts before she got there.)
CONTEMPLATION: OK, did you realize there are 3-week-old babies around here who think it’s normal for the temp to hit 100 and who don’t know that water can fall from the sky?  ...  It would seem like that if the NFL owners and players can play ball, that the Republicans and Democrats could. Of course, there’s no threat of a lockout – until November 2012 rolls around. ... This relentless heat in Dallas serves a purpose: it helps the electric companies with their Christmas bonuses and helps the rest of us regard air-conditioning as a life-saving necessity. Worth every dime -- if only your bill was dimes instead of dollars.
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On Monday, we present a simmering day...

OK, here we go with a Monday. Hand me some aspirin, please. Turns out I needed a 3-day weekend.
The heat is getting to me. I find myself thinking about... hang one...I can’t remember. When it’s this hot for this long, all I can focus on is...uh...well, I’ll think of it. Here’s some animal news:
EVERY SHELTER IS FACING SOME PRESSURE: The list of shelters with more animals than places for them to go is horrendous.  A question for veteran rescuers and shelter workers: Is this the worst summer ever for owner-surrenders, for strays, for inexplicably dumped animals? Please respond via comments at the end of today's report.
FROM CARROLLTON: More on these two later, but over the weekend two animals we mentioned last week, Midnight the Cocker Spaniel and Tori (the dog who was harassed by deer) were claimed from the Carrollton Animal Services shelter. (Midnight was adopted and Tori went to a rescue group.)
In the meantime, Carrollton has this girl Nora who is available to rescue only. Why? Because she’s a Pit and the shelter folks want to make sure she goes to a place that’ll find a good home for the pudgy girl rather than some twit who’ll turn her into a yard dog in this heat.
Nora is already spayed and house-trained. To offer to help her or any animal in the Carrollton shelter, call 972-466-3420 or e-mail [email protected].
You can see more Carrollton adoptables (including a load of kittens) by clicking on the shelter’s PetFinder site HERE.
Nora’s among the many animals on the clock at the Carrollton shelter. Euthanasia is scheduled for Wednesday morning.
BIG HUGGY IN DENTON: Lots of cats are on the euthanasia list for today at the Denton Animal Services Shelter. Today. Among them is this big ol’ stray cat named Huggy. He’s named that because he is a huggy cat.
And, as you can see, that’s a lot of cat to hug.
He’s #34140. You can call the shelter at 940-349-7594 ore-mail [email protected]. See more Denton animals on PetFinder HERE.
 INEXPLICABLE (EXCEPT FOR THE TRADITIONAL SHORTCOMINGS OF HUMANS AT CRITICAL TIMES):   Shelter walker DeDe Whitcombe, who monitors things at the Collin County Animal Services Shelter in McKinney, forwarded this photo and several others to Readlarrypowell.com.
This dog is #307678 and she’s an owner-surrender. Pregnant, they say. Lovely dog, beautiful manners, likes to “talk” with a ‘woo-woo’,” they say.
And, yet, she’s doomed and so are her puppies if no human steps up to reverse what her previous humans have done.
To ask about helping this dog, call  972-547-7298 or e-mail [email protected]. To see more endangered Collin County animals, click HERE,
FRECKLES IN DANGER AGAIN: Krista Mc Anally, who runs the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake shelter at Tool, Texas, is trying to help Freckles – again.
A rescue that was lined up has backed out and Freckles is back on the clock. The 20-pound dog started post-puppy life tethered on a chain in an East Texas yard in this miserable heat. Terri Glover rescued him, Krista says, and he’s now neutered, healthy and waiting.
Krista writes, “He is a great little dog. ... He gets along with other dogs. he is still shy, but coming around.”
To ask about Freckles or any other animal at the shelter in Tool, call 903-432-3422 or e-mail [email protected] . You can see the shelter’s adoptable pets via the Texas Little Cuties listing HERE.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Wouldn’t it be awful if we had a weekend that wasn’t overloaded with violence? What would we do?... Over the weekend we  saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II.  Ask somebody else about it – I’m still processing Darth Vader being Luke Skywalker’s father.  ...Which is better for you? A winter nap or a summer nap? As an insomniac, I can report nothing except need. Life moves at such a dazzling pace lately that I have vowed to enjoy each day without thinking about the cool of autumn or the chill of winter or the delight of spring or how ready I'll be for summer again next year.  Hang on, the radio lady just said the weather people are forecasting an afternoon heat index of 111 in Dallas. Maybe she said 116. I couldn't hear clearly because of the clatter of ice cubes in my aluminum frostysuit ($18.95 at Weatherduds.com.  Kidding, but enjoy the live cam.) If you need me, I'll be in the refrigerator.
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The dogs who showed up...

See if you remember this quote from the April 16, 2010, edition of Readlarrypowell.com.
 “I need a bunch of 2 X 4's for the irresponsible people who allow these animals to be born and then won't care for them!”
Nope. Not me. Good guess. But can I get an “Amen!” from all you animal folks?
That quote is from the usually gentle Pat Wright who lives at Bullard, south of Tyler, in East Texas.
I found that quote while getting this weekend’s Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap for Readlarrypowell.com
Pat sent us these updated photos of some dogs who’d been dumped and inspired that April 16 quote. As you can see, they sleep “on guard” and don’t have to all be asleep at the same time. They are, however, prepared to sleep at any point.
Here’s the latest on the story of the dumped dogs.
Pat writes, “These three girls were dropped off in our neighborhood in Bullard, in East Texas, a little over a year ago by some kind-hearted soul. (not what I want to call them, but, there may be children in the room). You mentioned them for me at the time, but had no takers.  Since we never were able to find a home for them, they were stuck with us.
“Although they are not [all] really sleeping in these pictures, they are resting really good.
“Apparently Mama Roxie had never been inside. She thought underneath a car was the only shelter and one of her pups, Molly, wouldn't let us touch her for several months.
“Now, they are all three very loving and very smart.  Molly is laying here with her inside ball in the bed. She loves to play ball better than the highest paid Texas Ranger!  If we go outside with her 20 times a day, she wants us to throw the ball, throw the ball! 
“This summer heat is really killing her fun since we have to wait till after dark now to play. Shelley is the one that I did think had some Doxie in her. Now she is just a little chubs with short legs.  She showed up a couple of days before her mother and sister got here and she is very aware of her seniority and is bossy with them!
“I had Roxie spayed immediately-didn't want any more puppy surprises and the girls were done as soon as they were old enough.
“For anyone living in the area, a great thing is the weekly Spay and Neuter day at the Richard Klein Animal Shelter in Jacksonville.  Less than a $100 for an under-20-pound dog AND all their shots.  Literally a lifesaver when there are three of them to be done in rapid order!
“These are the smartest little ones to have had a neglected start to their life. They know it is cookie time when Admiral, the BIG white Chihuahua, gets his insulin shot at 10 p.m. and when it is bedtime they are thrilled to go get in their crates in our bedroom.  No more room in our bed with the three old-timers and usually a cat!
“Roxie just has a bed since she is more trustworthy when it comes to puppy shenanigans but if we get up out of bed, she follows in hopes that someone is going to the kitchen and she can get a snack too!
“I would have never in a million years chosen to have three more dogs, which brings us to six now, and 3 cats, but, since we didn't have much choice, these three are a welcome addition to our circus!
“Every morning when I read your column, I say a silent prayer that it is all good news for all the little ones out there.”
You can see Pat’s original story HERE.
I’m almost certain that if we find out who dumped these three dogs, Pat would still like to apply a two-by-four to the noggin – only this time, instead of “How could you do that to A dog?” the question would be “How could you do that to MY dogs?”
(To nominate your sleeping critter for spotlighting in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send photos and info to [email protected] . At Readlarrypowell.com we publish these photos to encourage insomniacs in their search for sleep. The guy who dumped Pat’s dogs should know that we hope you are sleepless, unless Pat runs across you and has that two-by-four handy, then we hope it’s “lights out.” The rest of us would then sleep better knowing justice had been served.)

***************

IS THIS (AT LAST) THE END

OF THE SHAARWAAT CRISIS?

For several weeks now Readlarrypowell.com has been dealing with a thoroughly disagreeable bunch of semi-Neanderthals, the American Shaarwaat Rescue Society. No offense to Neanderthals. But, again, we have no photographs of the infamous Shaarwaats or their off-the-beam people.
These testy and unpleasant harpies and their nitwit mates have accused Readlarrypowell.com of despicable things in the world of rescue, including damaging their attempts to create an American Shaarwaat Rescue Society Sanctuary at Aurora, Texas. What a bunch of bunk.
We were trying to help but these impaired pinheads are too busy screaming to listen. 
Our attorney, Nathan Wolfman, has denied all charges and demanded that the Shaarwaat people cease and desist any and all hand-written, e-mailed or oral attacks on Readlarrypowell.com or any of its personnel at any of our offices in America and overseas.
As of yet, we have not had to file a single court document.
And, as we noted last week, the Shaarwaat people were gathering for an annual conference and ceremony at an underground river in an undisclosed cavern.
But here is the startling thing. They have all disappeared. Vanished. Gone. And so are, our sources tell us, all Shaarwaats, their favorite little friends, known as “the horned cats of Mars.”
You will recall that a Shaarwaat was first found lounging atop the camera spire on one of the Mars Rovers and that mission resulted in the appearance of these unique cats in certain areas of American society.
But here’s the rub: We received a registered letter Friday evening from American Shaarwaat Rescue Society President Nanabelle Birman. The letter was postmarked Rachel, Nev., which somehow rings a bell but we cannot recall exactly why.
Here is the content:
“Mr. Powell, you rotten SOB,
“Before you chose to put the spotlight on us and our beloved Shaarwaats, we were living an idyllic and obscure life and the 10 of us with domestic Shaarwaats were making plans to devote the rest of our lives to creating a shelter in a historically significant place, Aurora,Texas.
“Now, with the unwanted glare of public attention (thanks to you, you rotten SOB), we find we must go underground to protect ourselves and our beloved Shaarwaats from the eyes of those who would exploit this rarest of breeds on Earth.
“The end of the U.S. Space Shuttle Program, absolutely a major factor in the story of Shaarwaats, brings the perfect time for us to slip away and become the unseen force on earth, the quiet presence, the spectre of a brief American past. Our needs do not involve the support of unenlightened humans, of which you are surely one of the most unenlightened, Mr. Powell, you rotten, dim SOB.
“The money we had collected for the Shaarwaat sanctuary – nearly $1.8 million thanks to our Shaarwaats' abilities to pick Lotto Texas numbers --- will be hidden here and there, spent discreetly on Shaarwaat needs and devoted to supporting space exploration programs. It is not exposed to taxation so don’t even start to think you’ve helped the nation balance its budget, Mr. Powell, you rotten SOB.
“Our goal is to rid the planet of vermin like you and open up the warming and increasingly sandy American landscape to the greatest cats in the known universe.
“You do not know us, but we know you. Keep that in mind as you travel through your days, Mr. Powell, you rotten SOB. Keep that in mind.
“For now I remain sincerely,
“Nanabelle Birman
“President, American Shaarwaat Rescue Society
“Rachel, Nev.
“P.S. The arid red sands of Mars will turn blue and muddy before you know the truth of the American Shaarwaat Society. When you look into your mirror, remember that something is looking back, you rotten SOB.”
And, there you have it. The final letter. The Shaarwaats and their people, oh-so-briefly exposed by Readlarrypowell.com, slip away, perhaps never to again be in the public eye.
We are still looking for a photo of a Shaarwaat. Remember, they are the horned cats of Mars, not to be confused with the Horned Cats of the Wehdrei Desert on the Heihup Plateau in the Lost Valley Mountains in the heart of Tibet.  The  Horned Cats of the Wehdrei breed like rabbits and the Shaarwaats reproduce by self-induced cloning.
NASA has no known files on these particular cats.
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