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First, find a place you can relax without traffic...

 

 

Is that not the picture of canine tranquility?
Oh, my fellow insomniacs, are we not jealous?
Look, here’s the deal: Going from roadside roamer to house sleeper can be a tough journey – for humans or dogs, but in this case, we’ll focus on the dogs.
The animal doesn’t have to be patient and determined, but the human sure has to swear an oath of diligence and drive. Animals that are tossed out on the side of the road have a natural tendency to be wary of the next human or the next dozen humans who might wander by the “hiding area.”
When things work out, well, frankly, it’s cause for celebration.
And that is why this weekend’s “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap” spotlight falls on Lil’ Bit.
You may recall having seen this dog before in an edition or two of Readlarrypowell.com. \
I’ll refresh your memory with this roadside photo. That’s Lil’ Bit and pals where they were dumped on a road near the Mountain View College campus where Dianne Cole works and near the National Golf Course where some of the workers helped Dianne keep tabs on the dogs for months. As time went by, dogs were moved to safe haven and the only being left behind was the elusive Lil’ Bit.
We reported back on Sept. 19 about Dianne getting Lil’ Bit into custody (you can read it in our archives—or just Google it). It wasn’t the easiest conversion of a free-roaming accidental street dog into a trusting relationship.
Now, thanks to Dianne and the guy she calls “my sweet husband Mike,” there is an active colony of confident and relaxed sleepers at their home.
She has sent us a collection of photos of the family’s sleeping dogs.
Here’s the explanation:
That’s Lady “sleeping with her head on the pillow. She’s the ‘queen bee’ and makes sure the other three know it.
“One night a week or so ago I snapped the second picture of Cisco, Abby and  Lil’ Bit all sharing the couch.  Those three get along very well together.”
And one recent day as Dianne “sat in the office working on a project, Lil’ Bit was curled under the table and the other three were all around my chair napping.
“The one of Lil' Bit in red is just a day or so after I rescued her and she was just starting to feel comfortable resting.  She's never very far away from me so I'll often find her curled up on the bath mat when I'm getting dressed in the morning.  While the other three slumbered on the couch together, Lady slept on her bed. 
“It's been completely amazing at how well Lil’ Bit has adapted to living in a home after 4 1/2 months of living in the wild on the golf course.  She adores Cisco and Abby and they in turn love her.  “It took Abby a couple of weeks to accept her, but Cisco liked her from the very beginning which is a good thing as Lil' Bit took an immediate liking to him.  Lady puts up with her and keeps her in place and Lil' Bit has learned to avoid Lady.  LOL!  I do think Lady is starting to come around though.
“It was a long 4 1/2 months trying to catch Lil' Bit, but it was worth every second.  She is a total sweetheart and has so many people that love her.  She had her own Facebook following and people still ask about her.  I still post pictures and videos on Facebook so all of her adoring fans can see how she's doing.”
And somewhere around here there is a jerk who dumped a bunch of dogs on a remote stretch of road and cheated himself out of a great companion with a sensitive heart.
Perhaps that person cannot sleep – that would be justice.
(To nominate your sleeping dogs, napping cats, drowsy dingo, lounging lamb or slumbering sheep for the spotlight in our weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send photo and info to [email protected]. Remember, at Readlarrypowelldown, we’re always happy to know that someone, somewhere has been able to nod off – except the bad guys, of course. We hope they’re tossing and turning and thinking about changing their ways.)
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Ah, the fair, animals, considerations and contemplations...

On this, the last day of September 2011, the State Fair of Texas opens and life is good.
If you’ve never been to the State Fair of Texas, you’re missing an extravaganza.
Yeah, it’s changed a little from the era of the film Rodgers & Hammerstein’s State Fair -- different stuff is fried! Nobody in 1961 would have though of "fried bubblegum" or "fried cheesecake on a stick."
But, good grief, that movie was filmed at the 1961 State Fair (released in 1962 -- kids from the Dallas schools got to be extras, you know).
Long time ago. That filming was, let’s see, taking off my socks...ummm. Fifty years ago? Holy smoke. Time flies. (Yep, that's a State Fair photo of iconic Big Tex, the 52-foot tall Midway cowboy -- look for TV stories reporting on his past as the Santa Claus in downtown Kerens. Swallows to Capistrano, reporters to Big Tex's past -- annual events.)
If you want to see an even earlier look at Dallas Fair Park than the '61 film, you can still get a copy of the Gene Autry movie “The Big Show,” released in 1936 and filmed at the brand-spanking new art deco fairgrounds during the Texas Centennial. Yep, you get to see TWO singing cowboys in that movie – Gene Autry [of Tioga, Texas] AND, in the backup band, young Ohio fellow, Roy Rogers. Check it out on Youtube. [FYI: Entertainment at this year’s fair includes those famous singing cowboys K.C. & The Sunshine Band and The Bangles – go to www.bigtex.com to get the daily schedule.]
And, by the way, if you like books – and people still do – the great former public relations legend with the Fair, Nancy Wiley, wrote The Great State Fair of Texas: An Illustrated History.
I'm going out on a limb here and declaring that no other State Fair has inspired two motion pictures and at least one book that has been available for two decades. As the song goes, "Our state fair is a great state fair..."
The State Fair’s opening parade is in downtown Dallas at noon today – and a parade is nearly always fun, even if doesn’t include millionaires who play games in short pants ...but never mind the lack of a post-title Mavericks basketball season.
We mentioned earlier this month that DFW Rescue Me and Dallas Animal Services will operate an adoption booth in front of the Centennial Building throughout the run of the Fair.
What we haven’t mentioned is that at 11 a.m. on Saturday, right smack at Big Tex Circle at the entrance to the Midway, Mattress Firm will attempt to get into the Guinness Book of World Records by creating the “Tallest Mattress Stack.”  I have written about the Fair for many years and I am going to go out on a limb here, but I believe this may be a first. I wonder if anyone will try planking or owling on the stack? (If you aren't aware of planking or owling, where have you been?)
TODAY’S CONTEST: Look carefully at these animals and let me know if you can tell us which local animal facility currently houses them. If you cannot immediately guess the venue, then we have three clues for you in a second. These are not clues, but the dog’s name is Tiger and not only is Tiger an Earhound, Tiger also has big webbed feet. That cat is Moe who came into the facility with siblings Larry and Curly – of course, it is more likely that the person who “surrendered” them to a kill shelter was the real stooge. Back to our game, here are your three clues:
(1) They have a roof over their heads for now.
(2) Neither of them is registered to vote in Loving County, Texas.
(3) For the third clue, you will be able to access a necessary fact only after you recite the names of Snow White’s seven Disney Dwarfs (or Dwarves)  into the “microphone key” on your computer and click HERE. Good luck with your guess and try to help.
ART AND THE ANIMALS: As you can see from the poster, Animal Rescue of Texas and The Wooden House are teaming for a special adoption event from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday at the store, 2003 N. Henderson, in Dallas.
Why am I mentioning this? A number of reasons: (1) I like to help people who are helping animals; (2) I like animals; (3) I’m making a blatant play for advertising from The Wooden House but, primarily, (4) in Cari Weinberg’s press release for ART she mentioned that one of the available adoptables is “a small, mellow crooner of a Chihuahua – Crosby, named for Bing Crosby.”
I’m going to go out on a limb here (yes, this is “Go Out On A Limb Day” at Readlarrypowell.com) and declare that never before in the history of Chihuahuas has one been named for Bing Crosby. Just a feeling. Buubuuububbbbaah. That’s my Bing Crosby impression. “Yap. Yap. Yap. Yap.” That’s my Crosby the Chihuahua impression. I kid the Chihuahuas and, of course, apologize wholeheartedly to our household Chihuahua, Rosie the Yapper, who also snores.
ABOUT PEOPLE AND ANIMALS: As mentioned above, one of the missions of Readlarrypowell.com is to help people who are helping animals and we also believe that there are good humans who may need help, too. So that’s why we are publishing this note about the big donation event that begins Saturday in Irving – it’s the Homeless Pets Help Homeless People Event. It runs from Oct. 1 through the 22^nd and is sponsored by the DFW Humane Society, the Irving Animal Care Campus and the Hope Fellowship Church.
Donations of non-perishable food items, blankets, jackets, backpacks and sleeping bags can be dropped off at the Animal Care Campus at 4140 Valley View Lane. These donations go to Irving Cares, The Poverty and Homeless Coalition and Hope Fellowship Outreach.
To close the drive on Oct. 22, organizers have scheduled a festival of food, music and the blessing of the animals.
More info is at the DFW Humane Society site HERE.
BUTTONS THE CAT: Regular Readers (I always cap Readers because you’re important to this mission – and we don’t need to conduct focus groups to know that)... restarting that sentence: Regular Readers of our humble website know that Edna Taylor of Houston is one of our ardent tipsters but even more of a cat fan. She’s always hustling to find a home for a cat.
That brings us to this one, Buttons, the Relax-o-Cat, apparently. Does that cat look comfortable or what?
Well, it's time for Buttons to get a forever home, Edna says. While Buttons is in the Scouts Honor Rescue program in Houston, Buttons is in Dallas. That’s where the current foster home is and Buttons has been in foster for three of her 11 years. That’s right. In foster for three years.
She’s named for her cute cat nose, Edna’s note explains. And she’s “an adorable, sweet cat with emerald green eyes.”
To ask about auditioning to adopt Buttons (and if you’re in Houston, transit from Dallas can be arranged), e-mail [email protected] or call 713-882-2011. See the Scout’s Honor adoption form on the website HERE.
One more selling point: Buttons loves to curl up on the bed with a human. Has to be a humon she likes, of course. Cats have higher standards than people.
DOG DAY AFTERNOON:  We mentioned Operation Kindness’ 17^th Annual Dog Day Afternoon already this week, but writing about it again gives me the opportunity to copy this photo off the Operation Kindness website and make another pitch for Saturday’s event. It’s from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Flag Pole Hill at White Rock Lake. Catch the details at www.operationkindness.org.
I don’t know the name of this dog, but he or she is in disguise, anyway. Probably a Hollywood star behind those Foster Grants.
IN SUMMARY: Current animal cases we’re wondering about: (1) The dead porch dog in West Dallas; (2) The investigation into the death of the little Maltese tossed out of the 19^th story window of a downtown Dallas building; (3) The beating of a pup on the parking lot of a Plano restaurant on Sunday.... Did I leave anything out other than the general mayhem leveled against local dogs and cats?
ONE MORE THING: While many in America work against the horror of dog-fighting, the Catalonia region of Spain has banned bullfighting. Depending on the story you read, this may have been more moral than business or more business than moral. You can read a British story HERE and a U.S. PBS story HERE. Spain still has matadors and bullfighting and America still has criminal dog-fighters and bullfeathers.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Some storm last night – knocked our electricity off for about a minute – I only had to recreate a few paragraphs. I don’t know if that little blackout helped the electric company manage the juice at the end of a 100-degree day. It was, after all, a naturally occurring unplanned rolling thunder blackout and not a calculated consumer-annoying brownout... OK, Dallas fans, this is a tough time in the Park Cities – do you root for the banged up Dallas Cowboys or for Detroit Lions quarterback, the former Highland Park Scot Matthew Stafford?  ... Weird last night not to have any baseball to listen to on the radio or watch on TV. Let’s hope we have big league baseball around here well on through the month of October and end the post-season with a happy parade. Arlington would have the Super Bowl and the World Series in the same year.  Is soccer's World Cup coming to Arlington next? I heard ambitious Arlington is trying to get the New York City Marathon and the Boston Marathon on back-to-back weekends in 2012 -- the big airport is so close, maybe they can pull this off. Grand Prairie is working on getting the Kentucky Derby and the Winter Olympics.
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The heat is on -- in several ways...

Supposed to get to 99 today. Who among us was so nostalgic for summer that we were able to bring it back for a curtain call?
OK, let’s dive into the day’s activities.
A NEW PRESSURE IN COLLIN COUNTY: Allison Roberts, the Collin County Animal Services shelter walker, reports this morning that the shelter “is taking in a hoarding case. The owner is surrendering the animals because they are over the pet limit. From the same home, they are getting 27 dogs, 30-plus cats. Five dogs came in Wednesday – more to come later.”
Black Lab, Catahoula Mix, senior Chihuahua, terrier mix, Beagle...that’s the inventory so far.  (That’s the senior Chihuahua without a clue in a cage that is likely to be the dog’s final home.)
Allison says the arrival of these animals makes it nearly a cinch that there’ll be euthanasia. (Larry aside: If no one adopts or rescues, there’s only one way to empty the cages. Again, it’s the Texas way of dealing with an animal problem: Let’s kill it.)
The CCAS PetFinder site is HERE .
BLACK DOG FOUND: Not exactly headline news around here – look in the shelter cages. But this one got lucky and fell into the arms of rescuer Elisabeth Rutledge late yesterday.
HERE'S A HAPPY UPDATE: Just before 2 p.m. we got a note from Elisabeth -- Hank the Dog's owners turned up. Hank's an escape artist, they say. So, of course, we'll be happy to note that ID tags and chips are available in the greater Metroplex. This time Hank got really lucky and wasn't picked up by someone who hates animals or needs a guard dog at the drug house or needs a bait dog. Glad to know there's a home for him to go to -- big black dogs are a great treasure in a household.  Here's the rest of the report from this morning....
On second thought, he must have nosed his way into her life. Look at that great face. He’s obviously auditioning for a dental ad. Or maybe just saying, “Hey, what’s up? I’m with you. Let’s go.” That’s the nature of these big pals.
Elisabeth says she found him just off Mockingbird Lane near White Rock Lake. No collar, no chip, but, Elisabeth writes, “He does have lovely manners, an incredibly tolerant temperament and great socialization skills. He is clearly separated from his loving family and needs to find his way back home.”
She walked the neighborhood and put up signs. No response. If you’re missing a Black Lab or know where one belongs, e-mail [email protected].
OK, I’LL POSE FOR ONE PICTURE: Look, I don’t know the story behind this dog or the costume, I only know that I got a note reminding me that the Fort Woof Dog Park’s Barktoberfest is Saturday in Fort Worth and when I clicked on the official website HERE the first thing I saw was this photograph and it struck me right away that here’s a dog who was contemplating either hiring a lawyer or burying fangs into the nearest ankle.
(Aside: Seriously, I’ve been around a lot of canine costume contests in the past quarter-century, but the look on this dog’s face seems to say, “Grrrrrr. Snap the photo and get me out of this.”
On the other hand, most costumed dogs seem to get a kick out of the show – a little praise and they develop enormous pride. I’m speaking of other people’s dogs, of course. The dogs at our house have a “no costumes, no skits” rule – it’s a union thing.)
LOOKING FOR SOME WEST DALLAS HELP: Now, you’ve heard about West Dallas and what a rugged neighborhood it is. But, the truth is there are courageous women who go into it and take a stand against animal cruelty, neglect and abuse.
The legendary Fairy Dogmother of West Dallas, Angie Manriquez, works with tethered dogs, loose dogs, injured dogs, etc.
And others, such as Sherry Kunz, can’t drive through without stopping to help wandering dogs. We’ve written about Sherry’s latest project before. We’ll call them “The Dogs of Bernal Street.”
They wander free, surviving on the kindness of passersby, not far from the Aransas street house where the dog was found dead on a porch, its head stuck between the bars of a porch railing.
Sherry’s written to us today to say, “I really need some help with the Bernal St. (5700 block) dogs. This is the area that I originally counted 13 stray dogs. Most of the original dogs are gone but I still feed 2 every morning before I go to work. I've been doing this for a couple of months now. They know my car and voice. They come running when I call. I've even been giving them flea treatment.
“I am about to go on vacation in October and was hoping someone would volunteer to feed them while I'm gone. The dates are Oct. 12 through the 18th.
“I'll even provide the food. 
“The lady in Prosper has been very helpful. She feeds them one day on the weekend but is willing to try to make it one day during the week but it's so far for her and she has small children. I really wish someone would take them into their program. I would help out any way I can. 
“They are really cute dogs. I'm attaching pictures again. They can email me for further details if they wish to volunteer, [email protected].
“I worry about them, especially the little black dog. I think he may have been a bait dog before because he almost looked like he had a bad case of mange. He looks great now since I've been feeding him on a regular schedule.
“What if someone picks him up since he looks good now and uses him for bait again? He is the friendliest of the two but I have faith that either of them would make great pets for some lucky human.”
HELP WITH A CAT COLONY: As regular Readers of this Readlarrypowell.com animal-friendly news site know, the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake operate (so to speak) the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas.
Not all the fertile ferals make the trip to Gun Barrel City on Tuesdays for their “fix.”
This morning we got a note from Sydney Busch, our longtime Friends of the Animals pal who reports that a woman came to the clinic Tuesday asking for help with “Cherokee Shores’ overwhelming feral cat problem.”
Cherokee Shores is at Mabank, “out by the lake.”
Sydney reports that the woman and a neighbor have been feeding the cats “but we all know that the 15 cats she’s seeing now are actually probably 45 and by spring will be 145.
“She has been trying to socialize when she can, but they all need to be trapped. Most will probably have to be euthanized which is never a good option but better than the death they will most likely have where they are --  and better than reproducing.”
There are organizations that can help with this project. To offer that help, contact Louise Walton at 903-451-3127.
CONTEMPLATIONS: For the first time in more than a decade I was at DFW Airport yesterday and had to park and go inside a terminal --  but only about 50 feet inside and then I hit the wall. You people who travel are probably accustomed to the “wall” that separates non-travelers from the airport shops and lounges. The terrorists won. And the same government announcements are made over and over about the size of bottles in luggage and other things. Probably was my imagination, but I think I everybody in the place was looking suspiciously at everybody else. Travel used to be a wonderful thing – the journey was exciting and relaxing. The atmosphere now is like something out of a fiction about oppressive dictators and a whipped society. Made me mad all over again. Of course, for me, this unpleasant airport atmosphere is just one more reason not to fly. ... How about those Texas Rangers? Home field advantage.  And Mike Napoli, the new Babe Ruth. ... FYI: For a quarter-century I’ve planted pumpkin seeds. Lots of pumpkin seeds. I started trying to have an annual pumpkin crop after I saw Martha Stewart on the Today Show and she said anybody could grow pumpkins. So far I’ve nearly proven her wrong. In all this time I’ve produced maybe 10 Jack-Be-Littles and one – just one – larger “pie” pumpkin. I’m blaming the soil, the searing heat and, of course, the fact that my destiny has never been green – neither environmental nor cash.
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A beaten pup, rescue opportunities and a mayoral contemplation...

September 2011 has been the fastest slog of my young life. From Labor Day to today has been a blink.
Hard to believe we’re this far into the year and my lucky numbers haven’t been.
OK, let’s look at some needs and opportunities and we’ll start with an eyewitness report.
That dog? That is Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas and our Readlarrypowell.com staff impersonator, giving us his impression of an individual in training for the 2011 State Fair of Texas, which opens Friday. This, Inky says, is a fairgoer who, rushing through the front gate, spots a big steaming platter of Mom’s Midway Meatloaf-on-a-Stick served with Big Tex Taters and Two-Four-Six-Eight-What-do-we-appreciate-gravy.
Please read on:
EYEWITNESS REPORT: We do not have a photograph to go with this – and that is probably a good thing. Our report comes from a reader who does not want to be identified because, frankly, the reader fears the people who were reported to the police.
This event occurred on the parking lot of a popular restaurant at Parker Road and the Dallas North Tollway in Plano.
Our witness reports, “This past Sunday I witnessed a puppy be repeatedly slapped and punched in the face, and kicked in the belly. I did not approach the couple beating the puppy, but called 911. I gave the operator my name and phone number, my location, and the make, model, and license plate of the vehicle. The couple threw the puppy into the back seat and drove away before a squad car arrived on scene. I advised the operator that the car [with the dog] had turned out of the parking lot and was headed north on the Dallas North Tollway. I also requested that the officer get in touch with me if/when he/she found the couple.”
Now, our witness called not just the police but at least one animal control voicemail line and that may have been an animal control office that does not have jurisdiction in that area. We’re attempting to pinpoint which agency was called.
In a follow-up note, our witness reported, “I'm not certain about the age and breed of the puppy, but my best guess from color, build, and size is that it was about a four- to six-month-old Weimaraner puppy.
“My best guess is that the ‘crime’ the puppy was guilty of was having an ‘accident’ in the back seat. After the man slapped, punched, and kicked the puppy and then handed it to the woman (who continued), he pulled a towel or blanket out of the back seat. They left it on the ground when they drove away.”
While the witness says several agencies were called, “I still have not heard anything...I am very upset that none of these offices seem to be interested in getting involved. What are the laws concerning this type of thing? Can they not do anything about this type of incident?”
[FYI: I am reporting this single-witness story because (a) maybe someone else saw the incident and will come forward and (b) perhaps the animal welfare community needs to establish an animal cruelty hotline that handles such calls and gets them to the right agency. Most people can’t tell you where city limits’ stop and start, so how are they to know whom to call? Any ideas on this case or other cases? Either e-mail your answer to [email protected]  or click the comments line below and let us know.]
One more note from our witness, “Mr. Powell, I grew up on cattle ranches and horse farms. I am now a Paramedic. Not many things turn my stomach, but this has left me nauseous. I cannot bear the thought of this puppy - or any other animal, for that matter - continuing to endure this kind of treatment. I am equally unable to just let these people get away with such acts. Can you help me? Who else can I contact to take action against these people? Is there anything that can be done?
Again, e-mail answers to [email protected] or click comments.
And, be on the lookout for an abused Weimaraner traveling with two people in a white Camry.
IRONY: Alexandra Kelsey of Houston sent us this tip about a challenge facing rescuers in Austin. She included the link to Gold Ribbon Rescue.
When you open the Gold Ribbon Rescue website, the first thing you see is that the Austin rescue group needs foster homes – that was the message BEFORE word went out yesterday that a big puppy mill is being shut down and GRR is coordinating the recovery of the animals. To volunteer to help, foster, donate or help in some way with supplies  call 512-350-6220 or e-mail [email protected] .
BURNS FLAT TRANSPORTATION TO DALLAS NEEDED: Maybe someone is heading toward Burns Flat this week and can bring a dog back. Our tireless Burns Flat, Okla., rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher sent out this note: “Remember Red? Run over, left in the middle of the highway, flipping around, head busted open and multiple wounds?
“He is all better...except he has been in a cage 5 weeks and is going crazy.
“BUT, we have a foster home. Woo hoo! All of you that kept sending his story out there, he will be safe and loved. Now, I just need help getting him from Burns Flat to Dallas, ASAP.”
You can help ASAP this handsome dog to Big D by calling Terry Lynn at 580-330-1459 or e-mailing [email protected] .
And remember, Red is not the only animal Terry Lynn is trying to help. If somebody beats you to the punch on chauffeuring Red to Dallas, there are other critters who might need a ride or a good home. Terry Lynn will appreciate the help in saving lives.
UNUSUAL DOG – BELIEVED TO BE QUITE RARE -- SPOTTED IN EAST TEXAS: Oh, come on. Surely you see the humor in that. Stephanie Mosby of CLAW (Citizens League for Animal Welfare)  wrote in her e-mail subject line, “AVAIL. Yet ANOTHER Black Lab puppy!”
Sure enough, there’s the little rascal. There must be a zillion of ‘em in North and Northeast Texas – probably anywhere there’s an animal shelter you can find some extras sitting around waiting to slobber on somebody.
This one is Pudge. Stephanie says he was a stray. He’s about 10 weeks old, “smart, loving and wants nothing more than to be near you.” He’s in Canton, but transportation is available.
To offer to take one more black Lab-type puppy off the market, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-232-3644.
CONTEMPLATION: THE DEAD DOG ON THE FRONT PORCH -- Still no word if there’s anything going on in the investigation of how a dog wound up dead and left for days with its head between iron railing bars on the front porch of an unoccupied home on Aransas in West Dallas.
Surely someone saw something. Heard a dog crying for help. Maybe even knew the dog. Surely. Sometimes it takes guts to stand up against wrong. Mean people get away with a lot. Bullies. Psychopaths. Criminals. If they’ll kill a dog in such a cruel fashion, they’d probably torch your house and laugh.
We have had suggestions that perhaps this would be a good opportunity for new Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings to connect with veteran West Dallas rescuer Angie Manriquez for a knowledgeable tour of the area so he could see what animals, dedicated rescuers, residents and others might encounter on a daily basis.
And one Reader suggested that Mayor Rawlings could then go to the nearby Dallas Animal Services Adoption Center, which he has, it is believed, never visited. He did attend the Metroplex Animal Coalition Mayoral Forum earlier in the year and, while he didn’t offer much in the way of memorable animal issue support, he did speak expertly about homeless humans in Dallas.
In the event that he visits the Dallas Animal Services Adoption Center,  he could talk with the dedicated new manager Jody Jones who dealt with the porch dog recovery and perhaps he could see just how many animals are, through sad acts by lousy and stupid residents, the responsibility of city government. That’s right: the responsibility of city government. Thousands and thousands annually.
He might also see how the shelter operates these days. We’re coming up on “layoff day” – Oct. 1, as I recall from interviews with city officials. At that point, the responsibility for daily care and feeding of the hundreds of animals transitions from the departing city employees to contract laborers. Cheaper, they say at city hall.
The city is retaining many animal welfare professionals, but the people who were responsible for the hands-on care are being “disappeared.” (Aside: I know this is being spun as "right-sizing" the shelter, but, a layoff is a layoff.)
Dallas has an enormous municipal government responsible for everything from potholes to pets. While the potholes only inspire gripes, a properly supported animal shelter can enhance the reputation of a city and the people who are elected to run it.
Currently the only real national image is that of the Mayor Pro Tem (Dwain Caraway at the time) handing a key to the city to the infamous Philadelphia Eagle quarterback and felonious dog-fighting hands-on dog killer Michael Vick.
You may recall that while that was going on at Super Bowl time, the city was on a nationwide search for a respected professional to run Dallas Animal Services.
Indeed, after involving animal welfare people and municipal professionals and a headhunter agency, that person was found. Jody Jones took over a shelter operation that had been winningly rehabilitated by the interim manager, Dallas Police Lt. Scott Walton. He became a legend in the animal welfare community – his positive attitude and communication skills and dedication to the task changed attitudes, practices and dramatically improved the image of Dallas Animal Services. Jody Jones took the torch with enthusiasm.
Why were these two people brought in? Because the previous manager of the shelter, Tyrone McGill, is facing animal cruelty charges – he’s accused of allowing a cat to die in a wall at the shelter and testimony in the trial (now scheduled for November 7) is likely to show that he discouraged staffers from rescuing the cat.
So, what we have here is a saga of a showplace city animal shelter, built on the decades-long efforts of longtime animal welfare people, and handed over, at first, to someone with apparent low regard for the animals it was supposed to shelter from harm.
The shelter began to undergo deterioration – rescue groups became discouraged, personality conflicts appeared, employees were frightened and thousands and thousands of animals got the needle.
Then help arrived. Things changed again and the shelter with the improved attitude became a target -- a place where the budget could be cut by eliminating veteran employees.  And animals still died by the thousands.
Perhaps it will all work out. People will be watching.
But, the cat in the wall is still dead. The dog on the front porch is still dead. And the shelter keeps going, employees working to save animals, when the reality is that  no other place in town is set up to kill thousands and thousands of unwanted animals a year.
Perhaps, the mayor, who has made protecting homeless people his mission, would be interested in giving a little time to the usually fatal plight of homeless animals. He may have a knack for saving living beings. Maybe the mayor, also, will be revulsed by the traditional Dallas method of handling an animal problem: Let’s kill it.
In the meantime, the truth is that the deaths of all these animals cannot be blamed on the mayor or the city council – the blame lies on the residents who don’t spay and neuter, who don’t control the roaming ways of their animals and who treat dogs and cats as if they were bags of fast food trash ready for tossing out on the highway so somebody else can worry about it.
Yes, when you have an animal problem, you have a people problem.
It's very evident, vividly demonstrated, lately, right on a front porch in Dallas.
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A dog for a grouch, a chance for Sugar, spay/neuter at the Lake and Nuts in Carrollton...

Let’s see, if it’s Tuesday, we may need a note about spay/neuter and a perfect dog for an old grouch.
BIRTHIN’ OUT AT THE LAKE: We got a barrage of notes yesterday about  puppies and soon-to-be puppies at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake shelter at Tool, Texas, and one of those notes had a photo of a bundle of puppies and a note from Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake.
As you may know, those Friends run the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas. Never once had a relapse after surgery, I’m told.
Sydney’s note with the photo of the puppies reads “And what is that excuse again for not spaying/neutering your pets?”
She knows that so many puppies and kittens wind up in shelters – they are born just to die. And, of course, spaying and neutering stops the unwanted births before the cat is out of the bag, so to speak.
In the case of these puppies, Krista Mc Anally, the manager of the Humane Society shelter, reports that a small terrier mom with 9 pups – yes, NINE – less than two weeks old came to the shelter via Kaufman County Animal Control. She immediately began looking for a foster home for the whole family.
While that was going on, Krista went to the shelter for a check night before last and found a pit girl about to domino and she also has a pregnant heeler on the verge.
To help with any of these animals and situations, call Krista at the shelter at 903-432-3422. E-mail [email protected].
A DOG FOR A GROUCH: I wouldn’t use that as a lead-in if it weren’t for the fact that Roberta Womack is desperate to find a home for Trooper. After being tipped to his story I got in touch with Roberta who loves the dog but he just doesn’t fit into a rescue household with all the other critters.
“I have done everything I can, but this guy needs to go into a home as an only pet. He bit me against tonight [Monday night} and I can no longer keep him.”
If nobody claims Trooper, she says she’s going to be forced to have him put to sleep.
She told me this morning, “My goal is to save, not kill rescues. He's not really a bad dog and the fight was over a chew stick.”
Since bringing Trooper into her home – her foster spot for Lucy’s Lost Love Ones Chihuahua Rescue in Fort Worth – she says, “I have spent over $300 in vet bills to make sure his skin, eyes and ears are all OK, but I’m not at my wit’s end and cannot do anymore.”
Roberta cautions that 22-pound Trooper is “not a lap dog – never will be. He just wants to be fed once a day, enjoys baths, loves to ride in the car and enjoys walking on a leash. But he cannot go into a home with small children He would make some old grouch a great pet.”
If you’re an old grouch or have if you are in touch with your grouch side and want to help Roberta save Trooper, call her at 817-714-0990 or e-mail [email protected].
FROM A GROUCH TO SUGAR: This little girl is Sugar and she’s in a fix in East Texas. Darcy Hall of Athens has sent out a plea for help in placing this pup. We spoke with Darcy this morning and it’s the usual story: Sweet, cute dog and no takers so far.
Sugar is a “very loving dog” who became homeless because her human died a week ago and, as Darcy wrote, “she is now orphaned and in need of a good home.”
Sugar is 7 years old, spayed, “very good with children and other dogs,” says Darcy.
To offer a home to this pup, described as “15-poundish,” e-mail  [email protected] or call 903-675-9269 or 903-729-5545.
AT SEAGOVILLE: You may recall that last week the folks at the Seagoville Animal Shelter were being hard-pressed to find homes or rescue groups to take two dozen animals that were scheduled to be euthanized Monday. That euthanasia didn’t happen, so Sgt. Karl Bailey and the volunteers at the shelter are still no-kill since last year.
Volunteer Johnna Bigley reports, “Our dreams came true and everyone's safe now. We held four adoption events in three days starting Friday evening.  We started with over 60 dogs and now we're down to 8!!! Thank you so much for helping us the way you did!” Well, it was probably really the story Channel 8 ran, though we did mention Seagoville’s plight repeatedly on Readlarrypowell.com.
FYI: These folks are demonstrating what can happen when a shelter and citizens work together.
COCKRELL HILL’S VOLUNTEERS: Just as volunteers brought attention to the Seagoville shelter’s situation, volunteers are working to increase foot traffic to the small Cockrell Hill Animal Shelter.
It’s at 4125 W. Clarendon Drive, south of I-20 in the city of Cockrell Hill which is a city within Dallas. The shelter is within 4 miles of both the Dallas Animal Services Shelter and the SPCA of Texas but might as well be on Mars for all the visitors who come through.
Volunteer Renata Korzeniewska asks, “Please remember Cockrell Hill is very small  animal shelter with almost no adoptions. They need our help.”
Among the available animals at the Cockrell Hill shelter are these two:
The little blue-eyed, no-tail guy is some kind of mix – “adorable, adorable,” says Renata. “The pictures don’t do him justice.” She says he has a cold like that of a Golden Retriever and he has very tiny teeth, so I’m assuming this means he is very young. H is calm and loves to cuddle in your arms.”
And, no matter the size of the shelter, you can’t have a bona fide shelter without a pit mix. Renata says this one is “very submissive and could care less about other dogs. He did not bark the entire time I was there and he just wanted to give me kisses.  He has a nice clean coat and pretty white teeth.  I would guess him to be 1 or 2 years old. He weighs about 50 pounds and is very stout and strong (but I don't think he knows he is.”
The shelter manager is David Hernandez at 214 697 6216.
NUTS AT CARROLLTON: Oh, come on, this isn’t the first individual who’s been nuts in Carrollton, only this one is named Nuts. He came into the shelter with another cat, Bolts, but Bolts has been adopted and Nuts is left waiting for the needle with a number of other dogs and cats on Wednesday. Yep, on the clock.
Nuts and Bolts were warehouse cats and, at some point, either they nailed every rat and mouse in the place or they ticked off the warehouse owner and they wound up surrendered at Carrollton Animal Services.
To offer to save Nuts and any other animals in the Carrollton Shelter, call 972-466-420 or e-mail [email protected].
 VIZSLA IN BURNS FLAT: Our resilient Oklahoma tipster, Terry Lynn Fisher, is trying to help a dog get out of burns Flat – she’s believed to be a purebred Vizsla. She’s young, about 6 months, and “very skinny,” Terry Lynn says. “She eats like she is afraid it will be her last meal.”
The dog is currently in the city shelter and appears to get along well with other dogs and kids. She’s been there since Thursday.
“I really thought someone would come get her, but no calls as of yet,” Terry Lynn says.
To ask about acquiring this dog, e-mail [email protected] or call 580-330-1459.
More evidence, apparently, that no matter how expensive the breed, someone is always willing to toss the dog away.
FLYING OFF TO NEW JERSEY, MAYBE: Tawana Couch of Society for Companion Animals reports, “We are planning a shipment to New Jersey this week. We are needing volunteers that can take two small dogs on Wednesday afternoon. Then drop them off at the airport Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m.
“The crate size is an issue so anyone that volunteers their auto will have to be able to fit a 27-inch high crate. So they would have to be at least 29 inches tall height of the vehicle to work the load.
“We have been working really hard to work out a new shelter. We need at least be able to take 3 big crates. The dogs will be small and two small dogs per large crate.
“This is a little different than a small crate per small dog but the place and airline we are using this time works this way..”
To volunteer to help Tawana move these endangered Dallas dogs to safer havens, e-mail [email protected].”
FYI: Earlier in the summer, a bunch of Dallas Animal Services dogs were flown off to The Hamptons where, the report is, they’re living happily ever after.
HANNA IN AUSTIN: We got this note from the rescuer/organizer Nancy Underwood who forwarded it from Anna Tacka. It’s demonstrative of the power of networking so I've included some of Anna’s note to Nancy. She wrote, “My aunt, Elaine Tacka, gave me your e-mail address and she said you might be able to help spread the word on a few dogs that I am working with at the Town Lake Animal Shelter.  I have been volunteering at the shelter, and I got involved in a new program called the Hard Luck Hounds.  The HLH Program is volunteer driven and we try to promote the 10 longest stay dogs at the shelter.  There is one in particular that I have a sweet spot for. Her name is Hanna.”
That’s Hanna’s photo.
She’s a 4-year-old pit mix who is spayed and is, Anna writes, “a volunteer favorite. I actually gave her a bath today and she loved it!  I have never seen aggression in Hanna and I have taken her out of her kennel at least 20 times.”
The official record shows that a foster had to return Hanna to the shelter because she and the “resident dog” had a fight over who was going to be boss. So, if you know the dog’s ways, you can work around them. The foster, Anna writes, “kept stressing that she is a terrific, friendly, easy-going dog but the stress between her and his dog had become too much to manage. Most other dogs she meets, she ignores and has had no issues with other foster dogs.”
To ask about helping Hanna, the Hard Luck Hound, e-mail [email protected] or you can call – I’m not kidding – “the Hard Luck Hound concierge service” at 512-731-1942.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Is this week odder than usual? Is odder a word? I know adder and otter are words. Platter and plodder. Mapper and mopper. Enough. Stop. ... We hear that longtime business columnist Bob Miller was honored with a reception at the big paper in Dallas this week – been there 60 years. Our Sweet Charity pal (and also former colleague at the Big Paper when we were both in elementary school) Jean Prejean has the story HERE.  As a former columnist myself, I can tell you that one of the most frequently asked questions in my career was “Do you know Bob Miller?” He’s an icon – and great company at afternoon coffee, though I’m not sure there’s anyone still there to perpetuate the 3 p.m. coffee tradition since the company has been resolutely emptying the parking lot in such a grandly consistent fashion. ... Life is good—but I’m still buying lottery tickets in hopes of making it a little bit better.
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A Monday collection, from the Fair to the Vick...

Our Monday arrives with a guarantee that the Texas Rangers will be playing post-season baseball.
Exciting enough, but there’s more: the State Fair of Texas opens Friday. Can this be the last week of September already? See www.bigtex.com. And the Dallas Animal Services folks, thanks to the volunteer work by DFW Rescue Me, will have adoptable animals at the fair this year – in front of the Centennial Building.
Don’t jump to the end of today’s report yet, but we have a great observation about Michael Vick.
Continuing: Autumn is already here and we missed the arrival? How’d that happen? 4:05 a.m. Friday – I must have been busy.  
Oh, yeah, on Friday I was busy. I was being hacked by something out there. We’ll address that in just a moment after I finish reminding you that you don’t have to fall back until 2 a.m. on Nov. 6.
FYI: The Tyrone McGill animal cruelty trial has been delayed until Nov. 7 – that’s the day jury selection will start unless (a) there’s a delay (b) there’s a plea bargain or (c) something else happens (that vague enough for you?). He’s the former Dallas Animal Shelter manager accused of allowing a cat to die inside a wall at the shelter.
And the Dallas Cowboys open their home season tonight in Arlington against Washington on Monday Night Football hosted by Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell. Oh, wait. That was back when the Monday night game was on real television. It’s on cable now and the broadcasters are... yeah. Only their loved ones know.
VSP DOGS: Dallas Animal Services has a VSP (Very Special Pet) list for animals scheduled for euthanasia though they are very adoptable and have been in the shelter at least 45 days. Last week there were 9 and 4 were claimed during the week and over the weekend one of the remaining dogs was adopted and Paws In The City claimed the other four. And we start this Monday with a new list scheduled for euthanasia on Oct. 4 – there are 13 dogs on this list. Thirteen. Paws In The City only has so much room and so much money. Other rescue groups are overloaded.  Bleak.
AN OLDER DOG IN CARROLLTON: Every week the folks at the Carrollton Animal Services shelter provide a list or two or more of animals that are on the week’s euthanasia list. This week, Wednesday is euthanasia day. So Tiana, this older Aussie mix, has until Wednesday to find a home or a rescue group.
She’s a 50-pound stray and she’s known to like treats and walks.
There are several dogs and cats on the list for Wednesday. See the Carrollton inventory HERE. Call the shelter at 972-466-3420 or e-mail [email protected].
DOG DAY AFTERNOON: Julie Goff of Operation Kindness, the no-kill shelter in Carrollton, reminds us that the annual Dog Day Afternoon fest is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (only a little bit in the afternoon!) Saturday (October 1 already!) at Flag Pole Hill at White Rock Lake in Dallas. Contests include best costume, stupid pet tricks, doggie bulldozer and best pooch smooch. There’ll be a pet psychic at the event, too. See details at www.operationkindness.org.
ABOUT THOSE E-MAILS  YOU GOT FROM DALLRP: A number of you got e-mails appearing to be from me starting Friday and going through the weekend. Unless they were from me, they were not from me – know what I mean? My e-mail address was hacked and someone or something began sending out messages that included odd links and, I’m told, viruses. We have a virus protection program on our computers, but somehow this one slipped through.
If you got an e-mail from me and it didn’t include a greeting, a sentence, a wisecrack or an angry epithet regarding a football betting pool, then it was spam and you should kill it. Don’t open the link, just kill the e-mail.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
CONTEMPLATIONS: For purposes of just getting things rights, here’s some solid info: It is “State Fair of Texas,” not “Texas State Fair.” Look it up.  ... Reading a story in the Texarkana Gazette over the weekend I saw a passage about a woman who owns an electronic reader who said the "best part about owning a Nook is never having to spend time going to a book store.” Good grief, What is wrong with America? Book stores are places of adventure and discovery – serendipitous discovery of an author or a book. Oh, yeah, you buy Nooks at a book store. I guess it’s a case of “Here’s your Nook. Farewell." ... My pal Carolyn Poh and I were discussing the fact that the felonious Philadelphia dog-killing quarterback Michael Vick had broken his right hand in Sunday’s game against the Giants and she offered this insight I thought you animal lovers would like to hear: “He can outrun tackles, but he can’t outrun his karma.”
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Satellite nominees...and, of course, a couple of sleeping critters not concerned with falling objects...

Until some jerk hacked my e-mail this morning and sent out lord-knows-what to a zillion people, I didn’t really have a good nominee for our blowing-off-steam exercise called “Who deserves to be struck by a falling satellite.”
Now, however, I do have a nominee. And if a satellite doesn’t fall on the guy, then how about a Buick? Or a building? (Yes, that is our Civil Defense Satellite Particle Drill Leader Inky, in his government-issue helmet with the official red chin strap and a general's star. While he's been on duty, no American has been struck by a piece of falling satellite. But he is prepared to stand out of the way should a chunk of falling hot metal draw a bead on a deserving personality.)
OK, now, I’ve assembled some of the responses and, of course, the name “Michael Vick” came up – expected, since we’re basically an animal-friendly website.
Oh, yeah, the satellite isn’t falling as soon as the experts thought. But, eventually, what goes up...well, you know. Where it comes down, that’s what we were having fun with.
(FYI: That dog and cat are our official slumberers for this weekend’s Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Usually Annie the Dog, a testy heeler mix, is happily curled up inside her hallway den – but this time when she walked around the corner to get into her den someone had pulled her comforter out and Griffin the Cat was already sawin’ logs.  Annie sort of sighed and just settled onto the floor.This is called “Canine/Feline Inequitable Displacement Syndrome.” Neither has evidenced any concern about the falling satellite. Now, as members of the animal kingdom sleep peacefully, except for vigilant Inky, of course, we’ll review our nominations for “People Who Should Be Struck By A Falling Satellite.”)
Some nominations:
--Maeleska Fletes, the veteran rescuer, filed a two-word nomination in capital letters with exclamation points: “MICHAEL VICK!!!!!!"
--Della Wallace sent in a late-night nomination note. "I hope you are still taking names for the dropping satel;ite. Now that I have bought a new computer and got it up and running after the jackass that highjacked your email address crashed my old one, I would like to nominate: #1 Michael Vick; #2 the creep whose name escapes me that left the helpless cat in the wall to die. (I will be attending his trial); #3 the jerk who has a pitbull chained up in Hilltown subdivision is Little Elm; #4 who's name is not worth remembering, the **&#$ who murdered Mercy. Oh, and (#5)  the jerk who hijacked your email, Larry."
--Pat Nethery, one of our animal-fan Readers from Kerrville, also summed up her nomination in two words: “Michael Vick.”
--In the interest of not earning money for any attorneys other than my own right now, I’ll note that Paul Breitzman nominated an east side of the metrosprawl suburban animal shelter manager and wrote, “At the glacial rate she is grudgingly allowing minor changes, it would likely be a faster way to bring relief for the animals if the satellite hit her and allowed reincarnation to possibly work.”
--Michelle Ferrer suggested the same manager. “Got an emergency call today from a rescue. They are trying to tag and pull from the shelter and can’t get their phone calls returned and can’t get a response to their e-mails.  No wonder the kill rate ... is so high.”
 --Edna Taylor in Houston nominated, “The cruel SOB who left that dog on the porch :(and caused his death -- he/she is on the TOP of my list of people who need to be hit by the satellite.” And, Edna filed an addendum, “Michael Vick, of course. Idiot in the white House and, well, all of Congress, too.”
--Our pal Roxanne “Rocky” Wingo of Phoenix, needs the satellite to break into many pieces – yep, she’s got several nominations. “Since I'm certain your audience has already taken care of the obvious nominees, such as Michael Vick and the masses of morons who dump their pets because they are moving/don't have the time the pet deserves/lost their job/etc./etc. - I'll nominate another mass of people (many of whom might be the same as the first mass):  the thousands of deadbeat parents (mostly dads) who do not properly support the children they have brought into the world.  There are millions of children in this country who are hungry or don't have shelter/clothing/school supplies and, generally, love, that they need to thrive, largely because their ‘parents’ have not stepped up to the plate and accepted responsibility for the children.  Hmmmm....that does sound more & more like the first group, doesn't it?! Do you think there are enough pieces of flaming falling shrapnel?!”
Sarah Hays wrote, "Jerry Jones, Eric Cantor, John Boehner, Tyrone McGill. Not necessisarily in that order. Michael Vick is a given."
Jacque Hagerty of Austin wrote, “Michael Vick – that guy has been getting all over my nerves lately for some reason. He’s such a *$@k (rhymes with Vick). He should be the first person in line. Also on the list, my neighbor who has 3 intact male dogs tied to 3 different trees in his yard. Animal control won’t do anything about it. Sucks.”
My pal Jean Maza, who has a keen sense of justice, offered several targets for the satellite.
She nominated “Casey Anthony. And Lilo. SICKUVEM! Maybe you could get the plummeting satellite to nick Nancy Grace a little, too....
“ "All reality TV personnel. Patrick Cox, founder of TaxMasters, and whoever 'coaches' him for his commercials and/or oversees his wardrobe and tonsorial practices. EEEEEEEGads!
Pat Wright wrote, ““Who should it land on?  Lord, please send a piece to the head of ALL breeders-backyard, licensed, pedigreed, and those too stupid to stop it in their homes.  Please save a lot for all who would mistreat, abandon, neglect, or dump their ‘pets.’
“Save some for D.C.-- Cantor, Boehner,  all those who put the rich before the poor and cause so many to lose jobs, homes, and their pets”
Then Pat adds, “Maybe we need a few more falling objects for stupid heads?”
One of my favorite phrases: “Stupid heads.”
It’s sort of the polite partner of “dumb....” well, you know.
I’m going to invoke personal privilege and suggested that the following people deserve to be struck by a falling satellite: the guy who invented usurious mortgage banking, the inventor of plastic packaging that no mortal can conquer, the person who in oil companies who decides to raise gasoline prices and, of course, the people in corporations who decide who gets downsized. That’s a start on re-shaping the world to a more pleasant environment.
Now, as we close this and as you think of other people who deserve to be struck by a falling satellite (we’re still taking nominations at [email protected] ) remember that we probably all ought to wear an anti-satellite protective helmet now and then. Just as everybody’s somebody’s sweetheart (as sung by the great Connie Francis back in the ‘60s), at some point everybody is also somebody’s stupid head.
(Should you survive the falling satellite, you may wish to nominate your slumbering critter for the spotlight in the Readlarrypowell.com weekly, world-wide-read feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Send photo and info to [email protected] . And, remember, in space no one can hear you scream, "Heads up! The satellite is falling!")
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Hackin' spam rats and other Friday stories, including Seagoville's crisis and Magnum's fate...

Welcome to Friday. It’s round-up time – please read on. But first, if you have gotten e- mail from dallrp, it’s probably spam. I’ve awakened to full mailbox of rejected e-mails indicating that someone stole my address and went nuts overnight.
Don’t open the e-mail – I don’t send out blanket e-mails.
I’m working on stopping the madness. Let’s not let it ruin our day – and I’ll hunt down the rat who did this and make him listen to my monologue on “The Plight of Americans In Their 60s and How Things Used To Be Better With Carbon Paper.”
And that dog Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas, is in dogged pursuit of the hacking rat.
THE SEAGOVILLE RUSH: All week long we’ve been getting e-mail from Seagoville Animal Shelter volunteer Johnna Bigley about the two dozen dogs who are on the euthanasia list for Monday.
The only way to save them is to get them out of the shelter. Seagoville Police Sgt. Karl Bailey, who has been spearheading the effort to make the shelter no-kill, is in a tough spot.
It’s made even tougher by Gabriel.
Johnna writes, “We could really use your help on this special boy. The thought of having to put this boy down keeps Sgt. Bailey up at nights. They’re all special but this one is tearing him up.”
Gabriel earned his name because of his loyalty and desire to protect a little Schnauzer mix. The little dog didn’t make it.
Johnna reports, “When Sgt. Bailey first found Gabriel he was guarding a tiny Schnauzer mix girl that had been hit by a car. He would not leave her side.
“Only after Sgt. Bailey picked up the little girl and got her to safety was he finally able to convince Gabriel to come to him.  Gabriel had his own injuries to his foot but that clearly didn’t matter to him.  His only concern was his little friend. 
“Once Sgt. Bailey got him into the car and took him to the shelter, although he was obviously filled with sadness from being parted from his friend, he was such a great dog. He never ever complained, and even gave kisses.  Gabriel is an extremely loyal dog, placing himself in danger to protect his little friend at all cost.
“Now, because of the overcrowding of this tiny shelter, poor Gabriel is on a list to be euthanized this Monday, Sept. 26, and no one is coming to his rescue. No one is protecting him.  Obviously, Sgt. Bailey can’t bear the thought of having to euthanize this amazing dog after he was so loyal and so protective of his friend.”
To offer to save Gabriel or the Earhound named Lucy (that's her in the second photo) or any of the other animals in the Seagoville shelter, e-mail [email protected] and cc  [email protected] . Call 972- 287-6838 and leave a message. You can see more Seagoville animals HERE.
MAGNUM’S STORY: On our Prayers & Passages page (click on the “button” in the upper right corner of this page) you can read about Magnum, a Bassett who was adopted and then “allowed to roam” by the human to whom he’d been “loaned.” This was a fatal move. It is a story of how humans failed an animal even though other humans had worked so hard to save him.
RED THE RUN DOWN DOG: Terry Lynn Fisher, our longtime contact in Burns Flat, Okla., continues to juggle the political and economic challenges of life in a small town while working to get animals to safety.”
She’s trying to help Red again. A month ago, he was run over and left yelping in pain in the middle of a street. He was bleeding profusely, “his head was split open and he had several spots on his body that were ripped open, Terry Lynn says.
Because those wounds have not healed yet, he cannot be introduced from the vet’s office to a shelter situation, so Terry Lynn is looking for someone – individual or rescue group – to take over care of Red the Run Down Dog.
“He is starting to get very depressed in his cage at the vet,” Terry Lynn says. “They said he has started to cry and actually has real tears coming out of his eyes. He is a very sweet boy -- loves to be touched and seems fine with other animals.”
To help Red, e-mail Terry Lynn at [email protected] or call 580-330-1459.
WAITING IN A CAGE AT A PET STORE: As regular visitors to Readlarrypowell.com know, my funspouse Martha and I have great affection for black and white cats – this is based on the long-lived and now gone fellows who made our home a little zanier, Cyril, also known as “The Dark Angel” when he lived in Lampasas, and the fab Poirot, a Dallas foundling.
So, every time I go to the PetSmart on Wheatland near I-20, I stopped at the cat cages and look at the SPCA of Texas nominees for adoption.
Yesterday I saw this big fellow in person. His name is “Seamore” and he’s about 5 years old. There is plenty of zany left in a 5-year-old cat. More than a decade, easily.
He is, as this SPCA photo indicates, both affectionate and curious.
Go to www.spca.org and click on the adoptables and you can read about him and see how to adopt him.
I’m telling you, black and white cats are beyond “usual.” In fact, "remarkable" is a good word to use.
EULESS SHELTER OVERLOADED: What’s that? A city shelter overloaded with animals.
Yes, indeed. And one of them is #13266, said to be a Border Collie/Lab “blend,” as they say at Euless. He’s one of several animals who are threatened because the shelter has too many animals.
If nobody steps up, it’s the needle for this guy.
The shelter is at 1517 Westpark Way in Euless. Call at 817-685-1594.
You may recall that Euless Trinity High School’s Girls Awareness Program (the GAP Club) has adopted this shelter and works to help the animals. To ask about the animals you may also e-mail the GAP sponsors here: [email protected] or [email protected].
THE THURSDAY MEDICAL CRISIS AND THE DAS:
A mid-afternoon update on this dog: As you will read, Operation Kindness took this do last night. Her name is now Sheree. A medical exam today revealed that her injury was not fresh and that gangrene was affecting the damaged area. That means that, as of about 1:45 p.m. Friday, Sheree is undergoing an amputation. Operation Kindness' Sandi Laird reports, "Sheree is young and otherwise healthy. She will do OK with three legs. God gives all dogs three legs and a spare." You can offer to help with Sheree's medical bills by getting in touch with Operation Kindness HERE.
Now, our original report from this morning:
Oh, goodness, for the second day in a row Dallas Animal Services officer Mark Cooper reached out to the rescue community to save a dog that had suddenly been delivered to the city shelter.
This dog appeared to have been struck by a car and needed vet care that the city shelter is not set up to provide.
Operation Kindness, the no-kill shelter in Carrollton, quickly volunteered to take the dog. It was one of those “timing” things – the shelter’s vet was available.
Thursday evening, Operation Kindness’ Sandi Laird issued a note she called “First update” which means, no doubt, there’ll be more. “She was standing up in the seat of Joe’s truck wagging her tail when I opened the door to get her out.  She is very sweet. We have called Dr. Howard and he has told our Vet Tech what to do tonight to keep her as comfortable as possible. The Vet at Dallas did a great job of stabilizing the leg.  Dr. Howard is bringing several pins and plates just in case.  We will take x-rays when he gets here in the morning.”
Now this leads us to a couple of things.
First, we’re going to publish Mark Cooper’s thank-you note sent out last night.
He writes, “This has been a month of some incredible rescues!
“As many of you may already know, Sandi with Operation Kindness came to the rescue for this very sweet and badly injured girl! Thank you Sandi and everyone involved with getting her to your shelter!
“...Trish Todd with Metroplex Mutts saved an extremely mangy Pit that I feel in love with and I begged for a rescue to help. Thank you Trish!
“DFW Rescue Me recently took ‘Van Gogh,’ the Pit with the badly severed ears and they have pulled over 40 dogs in the last week! WOW!
“Paws In The City saved the burned pup and the sweet Chi from yesterday plea with the badly broken leg. I’m still waiting to hear his progress.
“This is just a small list of groups that I admire and appreciate! The month isn’t over, but I can NEVER thank each of you enough for the amazing work you all do!! From the bottom of my heart I thank you all!”
So, yeah, you might say “Dallas Loves Animals.”
Which brings us to the artwork with the two councilmembers – District 9’s Sheffie Kadane and Jerry Allen of District 10 -- and an unidentified dog.
In a rare moment here are two council members posing with someone who doesn’t vote though, of course, the dog may be registered in some precincts in Dallas. The council members are pitching an adoption and microchip event on Saturday and if you click on the picture it’ll get larger. You can also go to www.dallaslovesanimals.org and get the details.
I don’t know who the dog is – perhaps a Reader will know – but don’t they all look comfortable together? Or do you think maybe not?
A GRAND PRAIRIE REPORT: Word from LouAnn Norris of Trophy Tractor in Grand Prairie sends us word that the latest “wander-up Pit” at the company has found a home. Her people are enamored of her, we’re told. Nice to know, eh?
And, of course, LouAnn has our e-mail address because this probably won’t be the last Pit dumped on the property. Wasn’t the first by a longshot. So, heck, if you want a nice, friendly dog, why, just go ahead and let LouAnn know and she’ll put you on the Trophy Tractor Canine Rescue Waiting List.
HERE’S A RE-RUN: On Sept. 16, we published this plea for help, other people forwarded it throughout the state, and, yet, poor Chris Jones in Austin got absolutely zero calls about helping these two dogs. I’m just going to reprint what we published last week. It’ll save time and nothing has changed anyway – except that maybe we’ve lost a little faith in finding the right home for these two dogs.
    A SITUATION AFTER A SUICIDE: Goodness, this is a story with sadness all around it. We got the initial tip from our Houston source Alexandra Kelsey who’d been told about this by Barbara Louis, another Houston tipster.
Barbara reports, “An attorney in our office (Chris Jones) needs help.  A high-school friend of his committed suicide.  Most of the personal aspects of the friend’s life have been taken care of, but unfortunately Baby and Sue find themselves without a dad.  To help out, Chris brought the dogs to Houston (from Austin where they lived) and has them in boarding in hopes of finding them a new home.  Chris has a house full of family and pets already and cannot keep Baby and Sue.”
Baby is a 10-year-old Rottie/Blue Heeler mix, an alpha dog who loves people and minds well.
Sue is a boy. (Yep, country music fans know Johnny Cash’s song “A Boy Named Sue.”) The 7-year-old Lab mix is people friendly and has been with Baby since he was a puppy.
They were indoor/outdoor dogs who preferred to live in the open garage and romp outside whenever they felt like it.
To ask about adopting them or taking them into your rescue group, call 713-739-7007 or email [email protected].
THE CAT IN THE WALL TRIAL: Jonnie England, the Metroplex Animal Coalition’s Director of Animal Advocacy and Communications, says that there may be another delay in the Tyrone McGill trial. Mr. McGill is the former Dallas Animal Services manager accused of allowing an escaped cat to die inside the wall of a room at the shelter. He was indicted more than a year ago and the wheels of justice are moving at glacial speed. In fact, Director England says the indications from the courthouse are that Mr. McGill’s attorney will ask for yet another delay.
CONTEMPLATIONS: We’re compiling the responses we got to the question “Who deserves to be struck by a falling satellite?” Probably will publish later today if we're not struck by satelltrash. You can still offer your nominations by clicking on [email protected] and sending a name and explanation.  ... The Texas Rangers may clinch the division title within days. Is that not amazing? And if they don’t, won’t that be amazing, too? We do know that the Dallas Cowboys won’t lose this weekend. They don’t play until Monday.  They play the hated and despicable (channeling the great Tom Landry here) “Warshington Redskins.” Warshington – where you money goes to vanish. ... People who have rescue dogs understand the world, I think. My pals Lee Zethraus and Jeanie Chandler, who have known each other since Highland Park had gravel roads (well, maybe not that long), were catching up this week when Lee says, “We determined our lives consist of furniture and dogs.” And Jeanie nailed the summary with, “Estate sales and rescue dogs – why ever buy new?”
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Second Thursday edition: A collector, theft from a rescue group and a former rescued dog dumped...

Here we go with our second edition for Thursday – it’ll include a mention of an odd car burglary spree that ripped off a noted rescue group.
THE COLONY’S CHALLENGE:  “Cat collector,” began the note from The Colony’s Animal Control Division Manager Patricia Barrington.
Two words that usually mean something awful. (That's one of the kittens -- there are adults, too.)
“Lots of cats, mostly Siamese and mostly friendly. ... Currently 20-plus have been removed and are needing placement. At least that many more today. We have 12 cat bays.”
You get the drift from that brief note. Instant shelter overcrowding.
The good news is, Manager Barrington told me in a quick follow-up note, the biggest problems spotted so far aren’t medical – fleas. That’s it. Fleas.
The woman has a fatal illness and her “doctor told her if she didn’t rid her home of the cats, it would be sooner than later,” writes Patricia. “Same ol’ story.  Spouse dies – kids don’t come to visit.  Filled her big empty house with things that would love her unconditionally; animals … and now that it is completely out of hand, the kids rush in to ‘save’ her and she cooperates in letting them because as long as they have something to fix where she’s concerned, she has human company.  Breaks my heart every time … and when the kids ‘fix’ her, she will be left and lonely again and will either die or revert to collecting to fill the void.  So, so very sad...
“ She has a VERY clean house for having this many animals and the cats don’t smell like cats removed from these situations generally do; they smell … good.  The only apparent ailment with these guys is fleas.”
To offer to help these cats avoid the needle, e-mail [email protected] or call 972-370-9250.
A ROTTEN DEAL IN ROCKWALL: You may recall Sunday evening’s weather around here. A little bit cool, a little bit stormy. Odd time for car burglars to strike, you’d think. But it wasn’t..
While people from Lone Star Pyrs and Paws dined at Logan’s Roadhouse on I-30, someone burgled their four cars and trucks, taking cash and property. We get the story from Jordana Kinzie who was there.
“There were 4 cars/trucks with the group with dogs in 3 of them.  They had been at the Gay Pride Festival all day in Dallas and had several hundred dollars in donations and $1000 worth of merchandise with them.  When they got in their cars and trucks to leave they realized that the cars /trucks had been broken into.  ... There were a total of 8 cars /trucks that were broken into while we were there. ... It just makes me sick when I think that all that hard work we did on Sunday went for some no good lazy person.
“There is insurance on all our vehicles so it will cover all but the cash that was stolen. Out of the 4 vehicles only 1 was marked as a rescue -- it has a Lone Star Pyrs and Paws Rescue decal in the back window. Police reports were filed with the Rockwall police department that night with a complete inventory and damage report given Monday morning.
“There was approximately $300-$350 in donations. One of the girls makes parachord bracelets and collars with hand-made beads for the rescue to sell. There were about 20 of them valued at $20 each, there was $500 dollars worth of paracord to make the bracelets and collars and the beads that were donated, a lap top used for the rescue at events to showcase all the dogs in the program and to keep their records on. They tried to get into the trailer but couldn't get it open.”
And, of course, no witnesses yet.  Jordana says police “are trying to get video from the 3 gas stations they stopped at to fill up their cars with a credit card from one of the ladies who was with us.”
So, if you know something about this, contact the Rockwall police. If you’d like to help replenished the rescue group’s  cash box or if you’d like to donate a laptop or other animal-related items, go to www.lonestarpyrsandpawsrescue.org.
Jordana says, “It was storming and raining really bad when this happened. We were parked all over the restaurant lot, not all next to each other. I really feel that those of us who had dogs in the cars got off lucky. If it had not been for them we would have lost a lot more.”
And, of course, mercifully no dogs were taken.
A FORMER RESCUED DOG IN A SPOT IN FORT WORTH: Dawna Carabajal, the veteran rescuer we frequently write about, is involved in trying to re-save a dog.
Yep, been saved once before.
Here’s the story:
“This gorgeous baby is Mollie. I helped to rescue and adopt out Mollie in April last year. I thought she was adopted to a loving home. However, I was just made aware that somehow she got out of her yard and was picked up by Fort Worth animal control. I called her adopters to let them know and she told me that they knew but that they are not going to go get her.
“She got picked up on 9/6/11 but I just found out about this today (9/21). Now I have very little time to try to find Mollie a safe place to go. I am willing to pay the $49 adoption fee and provide transportation. But I have no where to put her. I currently have 3 dogs (one with advanced stages of stomach cancer) and 1 foster cat. I could temporarily keep her in my backyard if I have to, but it is a tiny yard. I would prefer to find her a good foster or adopter.”
To offer a place to help Mollie, e-mail [email protected].
Mollie is about 3, heartworm negative, spayed and ‘very sweet.”
Just a few minutes ago (about 10:30 a.m.) Dawna told me, “I am going to try to leave work early today and go get her out of the shelter. My mom said I can take Mollie to her house for a few days while I try to figure something out. I placed Mollie in that home so I feel it is my responsibility to get her out of this mess and into a new home.”
PLANNING AHEAD: If you are wondering (and perhaps some of you are), the next three Dallas Animal Shelter Commission meetings are  scheduled Oct. 20, Nov. 17 and Dec. 8. More to come on the agendas and times and places.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Nominations are pouring in regarding our public service blow-of-some-steam effort called “WHO DESERVES TO GET HIT BY A FALLING SATELLITE?” – you can continue to nominate people, governments, etc., by clicking on [email protected] and sending the nominees to our special address. ... It is no surprise that the list grows each day.
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Thursday's first edition: Typed from atop a soapbox...the plight of animals in Dallas, solutions...

A dead dog trapped – its head between iron bars -- on a porch. A Maltese is thrown out of a high-rise window. A little Chihuahua shows up in a fix at the animal shelter –maybe shot.
You can just about bet that a Chihuahua was not going after someone’s throat.
What do these three situations have in common? Dallas.
A man and a woman had a fight in a high-rise in downtown Dallas and the woman left and it is suspected that the man threw her Maltese, Diego, out the 19^th story window. See the Fox 4 story HERE. The police are looking for the guy.
You know how big a Maltese is? Six, seven pounds. Tiny. In wind currents that high, the white, fluffy dog probably thought he was flying. Is there no limit to cruel behavior in some people? What will happen to the people in this case?
Who knows?
Alexandra Kelsey, one of our Houston tipsters, heard about this story and wrote, “And let me guess, the woman didn't leave the guy who threw her dog out the window.”
Yeah, we’ve all seen such stories. Love triumphing over sense – we don’t know about this case. We know  that stupid has the upper hand right now.
Alexandra had contacted me to ask if I’d read about the Dallas rescuer who stepped up and saved a dog that had been burned in a fire. I hadn’t. Read that WFAA-TV story HERE.
    DO YOU REMEMBER PABLO? The story of the tiny Maltese reminds me of an instance in the winter of 2009 when a man and a woman had a Valentine’s Day argument and, somehow, a dog named Pablo wound up dead beneath the skyscraper-high Spur 408 overpass at I-20 in southwest Dallas County. Here’s the link to the Readlarrypowell.com story (click HERE ). You should know that if you Google “Pablo overpass dog” you’ll find several reports on that dog’s death. You won’t find any reports on charges being filed. The general theory is the dog was thrown off the overpass.
Oh, yeah, let me remind you of the local movement with the name that is betrayed by the apparent facts at hand: Dallas Loves Animals.  It's a team effort -- but it's a small team, six-man football in the NFL of idiots and mean people.
     At 3:02 p.m. yesterday, Dallas Animal Services (indeed a place with personnel who do love animals in spite of the circumstances) sent out an emergency message. It came from Animal Control Officer Mark Cooper who works with rescue groups.
Part of the text: “This dog was found as a stray by a citizen who brought him into the shelter moments ago. This little male Chi appears to have been attacked by another dog because he has multiple open puncture wounds and a SEVERELY broken rear leg!!! He is friendly but in extreme pain. Our incredible vet staff is working to decrease his pain and clean the wounds to the very best of their abilities. The poor baby is chipped and his owner has been notified and she is here at the shelter in tears because she loves her dog but cannot afford the vet fees to repair his leg and treat him medically. She has agreed to sign him off so I can get a rescue to save him. Here’s the deal.....we can only hold him until 4:30 then we must make a drastic decision to prevent him from suffering any longer.”
    Tara Harper of Paws In The City immediately reacted -- she made the “I’ll help the dog” call from a local emergency room where she was tending to her mom.
Later in the evening, the report was that the folks at City Vet suspect that the dog with the mangled leg was shot, not struck by a car or attacked by another dog. You can help Paws In The City pay for this dog's treatment by going HERE.
Yeah, Dallas Loves Animals – specific people in Dallas.
It’s hard to say that the municipal government entity known as The City of Dallas loves animals – check those euthanasia stats. You hardly ever hear a city official – elected or hired – making a speech against the horrific euthanasia rates in this town. (Former Councilmember Dr. Elba Garcia sure made an effort to change things – she was a driving force behind spay/neuter efforts in town and she is highly regarded as a pro-animal elected official.)
    Here’s another thing: You can’t really say all the residents love animals. Sure, some of us do, but, again, look at those stats – those thousands and thousands of doomed animals aren’t being trucked in from out of town. They’re not popping up like weeds and being harvested off a vacant lot next to the shelter. They come from somewhere in this town. Oh, no, of course, not from YOUR Zip Code – you know, the Zip Code where you NEVER see a stray….
Look at the assorted stories of mayhem and neglect.  And we can’t forget this, either:  we once had a guy in charge of the city shelter who is now about to go on trial for felony animal cruelty for letting a cat die inside the walls of the multi-million-dollar shelter.
Dallas Loves Animals didn’t evolve until after that lovely event. There is a hard-core group of do-good animal people trying to change things but, you know, the cavalcade of idiots is overwhelming in this town.
And these lives of thousands and thousands of animals are so far down the “concern list” in the offices of most elected officials that it’s a wonder they even bother to budget dog and cat food for the shelter. You almost think they wish they could slick the city out of the animal business. Like, things would be better financially if they could figure out a way to humanely starve the animals in a converted branch public library that they’d managed to close with minimal protest. Or maybe, they could use a closed city pool to drown the animals instead of having to buy death juice and the syringes.
    Some will say I’m being unfair to the city council. OK. Let me quickly apologize because, outside of Delia Jasso and Carolyn Davis, I’m hard-pressed to cite seeing a council member at anything other than a ribbon-cutting or a …. Well, somebody help me here. Anyone?  Oh, I nearly forgot that now-Councilman but then Mayor Dwaine Caraway gave felonious dog-killing/dog fighting quarterback Michael Vick a key to the city... Look, surely someone can tell us who from City Hall is doing anything at all about the constant slaughter of domestic animals other than saying “Tsk. Tsk. That’s a shame. But first, we’ve got to rename some streets and cut a tax break for somebody who wants a downtown building for free.”
This town has a lousy reputation for how it allows animals to be treated. Seems to be earned.
    Now, we understand that new Mayor Mike Rawlings is monitoring the situation regarding that dog found dead with its head jammed between iron bars on the porch of a vacant West Dallas house.
That is good. We don’t know what “monitoring” entails. Perhaps it’ll mean encouraging the entire West Dallas area to get smart about taking care of animals. Or, here’s a longshot for you, encouraging the entire city to be kind and decent to animals -– or is that just too abhorrent a suggestion? Care for animals? Be responsible? What an affront!
Perhaps the mayor could have a personal audience with Angie Manriquez and the other people who work with the abused and neglected dogs in West Dallas. He could actually check up on the lousy way animals are treated in West Dallas – the West Dallas animals that aren’t dead yet. There still are some, you know.
So, to summarize: File charges against anybody who throws a dog or cat, file charges against anyone who shoots a dog or cat, file charges against the person or persons who neglected or abused the dead porch dog.
Yes, it is easier typed than done. But, you know, sometimes doing the right thing takes effort. Righteous effort.
    But, here is the problem facing animal activists and elected officials alike: What is the right thing when resident don’t spay and neuter and they let their animals run free and multiply and they surrender the offspring by the baskets-full?
There has to be a way to reach the “general public” – it’ll take elected officials leading in their districts. It’ll take public/private partnerships and determination. 
It’ll take city officials and, of course, animal nuts – which reminds me of the Metroplex Animal Coalition publicity campaign, “Real Men Neuter.”  Yes, more men, fewer nuts.  
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