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A vigil; some animals in need and some contemplations...

Friday morning.  Keep pedaling. The world is turning. Wait. Let me double-check that. Yep, still turning – sounds like it needs an alignment. But there is an Angel Dog roaming free in Dallas, apparently -- keep reading and catch the photo.
Here’s today’s report.
VIGIL TONIGHT: Kind of a shame that the way most of us will remember this dog Justice is with the blue veterinary collar framing a sad little face.
Last night I caught a TV story (NBC5, I think) that showed people with the dog at a vet’s office. And I saw a kind of half-hearted tale wag from Justice. I thought, “That must have been painful if the dog is burned over 70 percent of its body.”
I don’t know. Maybe the fire killed the nerves. Maybe Justice was just a shy wagger. We’ll never know the dog's personality  because some jerk squirted lighter fluid on the puppy  and then touched off the fatal fire. There’s a $25,000 reward. There’s an arrest warrant for Darius Ewing, 18.  (Call the Dallas Police tip line at 214-373-8477.)
And tonight there’s a vigil for Justice at 7:30 p.m. at Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla, in downtown Dallas. On Saturday at 1 p.m., there’ll be a graveside funeral at the cemetery on the grounds of Tooth Acres at 1639 Parker Road in north Carrollton. You can get more details on the DFW Rescue Me website HERE.
DFW Rescue Me took over care of Justice after getting a call for help from Dallas Animal Services.  Rescue groups and shelters working together – they save a lot of dogs.
[Soapbox moment: Sometimes the acts of sorry humans are just too much for the good hearts to overcome.
And for those who say, “A vigil? For a dog? You’re kidding.” This vigil may be anchored on the tragic attack on one dog, but the emotions many feel are built on the experiences with other animals that have been mistreated by people who have no respect for the animals’ lives. The list is far too long. The number of arrests and convictions far too short – mainly because the cowards who harm these animals vanish – like cockroaches when the light comes on. It’s up to good people to work against bad behavior by calling tip lines and courageously standing up for the animals. It’s risky but it’s right.]
BIG CAT GARAGE SALE: Our pal Cathie Desell loves little cats and big cats and bears and all sorts of critters and today she and her co-conspirators are hosting the first day of their periodic garage sale to benefit the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary and some other rescue groups.
The sale runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and Saturday at 2528 Corbeau Drive in Irving (zip is 75038.)
Items include kitchenware, home decorative items, linens, electronics, baby clothes and many other things.
Cathie’s announcement included this photo of one of the big cats at the sanctuary. Obviously, some of the money will be used to send this tiger to basketball camp so he can learn to dribble the ball instead of the “bite down and travel” method.
You can see more of the animals and read about the programs at the sanctuary by clicking on www.bigcat.org.
TAWANA’S ANGEL DOG: Some might say this is trick photography, making this white dog glow, but, nope.  Tawana Couch, founder of the Society of Companion Animals and a longtime rescuer, snapped the picture so she could get some help for all these dogs.  They're living on a lot near the Veterans' Hospital on Lancaster in southeastern Oak Cliff.
Here’s her explanation:
”I am no photographer but I took lots of pictures of these stray dogs today [Thursday] in Dallas. They are living in a vacant lot by a church. If you look at the white dog in most of these pictures it has a HALO around the dog. I don't think it is just the sun. The other dogs are by this dog and they have no light around them. The mama dog has an injured leg and there were 3 puppies. The ‘Angel Dog’ sat very patiently next to mom and pups while they ate he did not try to eat a bite. It was like he was an ‘Angel’ watching over mom and puppies.”
So, if you have a way to help the Angel Dog and this family, e-mail [email protected].
Tawana adds, “They are in a really bad area. A guy tried to come up and get some money for them. They need help.”
STILL IN THE SYSTEM: Months ago, this cat was one of the “on the list” felines at the Carrollton Animal Services Shelter. And now?
Thanks to the cities aggressive shelter services, known as CARE (Carrollton Animal Rescue Enterprise), connections were made and this girl was taken in by Texas Pawprints, AKA “Your Friendly Neighborhood Cat Ladies.” http://www.texaspawprints.org/.
Cat Lady Linda Ashton says that Blue Bell’s original testy attitude resulted in her nickname, “The Nefarious Honey Badger,” but she has sense settled into being a very sweet cat “with only one vice – catnip.”
Blue Bell needs a place to go, not just for herself, but because “the kitten tsumani has hit” and Texas Pawprints needs space for more fosters.
Blue Bell is about a year old, has a 2-inch-long tail and, as you can see in this photo is comfortable atop sophisticated electronic equipment.
To ask about adopting this catnip cat, call or text 214-356-9126 or meet Blue Bell in person on Sunday at the Texas Pawprints adoption event at PetSmart, 5500 Greenville Ave.
And, of course, google Carrollton Animal Services and you can navigate to animals that aren’t yet as fortunate as Blue Bell.
THE RANGE OF VOLUNTEERING: We’ve mentioned many times before that all rescue groups need foster homes and volunteers – today we offer the range of volunteering that can face a rescue group. This comes from Joni McConnell, the volunteer coordinator for A Different Breed Rescue. Other groups may have similar needs.
Joni writes:
”No time to come volunteer?  How about taking a load of dirty wash home then? We always need help washing towels, blankets, dog beds, etc.
“Do you have access to a printer? With so many volunteers and adoptions happening, we are having to spend a lot of money on printing!”
There are other tasks that don’t involve handling animals – in case you are allergic to cats or dogs and, yet, want to help. E-mail [email protected].
Oh, and one more thing: Remember when rescue groups and animal advocates begged for space in newspapers? Now the need for newspapers has evolved from information to practicality. Joni writes, “Newspapers. Did I mention we have a lot of puppies? Collect newspapers for us.”
Better collect them quickly. Some say they’re disappearing.
JACK THE DOG NEEDS A HOME: Oh, boy, here’s a lad with spirit in a fix.
He needs a place to live.
We heard about him first from Sydney Busch of the Friends of the Animals at  Cedar Creek Lake, which operates the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas.
She put us in touch with Marilyn Allen who is trying to find a place for Jack to live.
She explains, “He was rescued as a puppy by a single mother who didn’t have the time, training, or money to take care of him, so he was tied up outside 24/7 because he wasn’t housebroken.  He was beaten for chewing and soiling in the house.  He chewed up the PVC plumbing under her trailer, and was beaten pretty badly. 
”When I got him, at about a year old, he was totally wild and wouldn’t look at me. He’s black like a Spaniel but has the Heeler personality and smarts. 
”As usual with a rescue, once he trusts you his devotion is total.  He’s a wonderful dog, but my dominant female dog has attacked him several times, and I have two other large dogs plus six cats. 
”I’ve used a shock collar to stop him from going after the cats; I haven’t used it to train him.  I had a shock collar because my dominant female likes to fight, so it’s kept her from being destroyed.
”He would do best as an only dog, no cats, and has to be kept from chasing cars, either with a fenced yard or close supervision.  Tying him up brings back all kinds of behaviors from his early life, so I never tie him out anymore.  That’s why he’s with me outside (both on and off leash) or he’s shut up in my garage.
Marilyn says Jack is neutered, weighs about 40 pounds and is loving, eager to please, good on a leash and “stops to check on me during our walks.”
To offer to help Jack, here are the contacts: [email protected]  or [email protected] or call 903-675-9681 or 903-675-5697.
CLASP POOCH ‘N’ PALS: Cowtown Loves Animal Shelter Pet (CLASP) has scheduled its annual Pooch ‘n’ Pals” family event for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Family PetCare, 1501 Handley Drive, in Fort Worth. Get details and read about CLASP HERE.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Is one cup of coffee enough on a Friday morning? “No” seems to be the answer at this point. … Lately TV has offered a number of commercials for a car insurance company with the improbable name “Elephant.” Being a naturally curious newshound, I looked it up. Yep, name was the result of a consumer poll and focus group system. The company wanted something memorable and marketable. Just FYI: Elephant belongs to the Admiral insurance conglomerate in the United Kingdom. How about that. Outsourcing insurance. … Modern terminology. As some of you youngsters may recall, the term “posse” came into vogue as a reference to the people who travel with a celebrity or notable person. If you grew up in the 1950s, perhaps you think “posse” meant the cowboys who traveled with the sheriff in “horse operas.”  Ah, but yesterday we caught the credits at the end of a showing of the Zsa Zsa Gabor film “Queen of Outer Space” on cable’s TCM and when the credits highlighted Laurie Mitchell, who played the villainess, it showed the Queen with five or six of her female followers and the credits read “Evil Queen and Her Posse.” Yep, that’s a pre-urban posse reference – from the planet Venus. The year? 1958. I always knew kids in the 1950s were futuristic.
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Justice developments, tracking lost critters and Frito Pie...

OK, let’s jump right into the day’s activities, like a happy dog spotting extra breakfast.
That’s not a happy dog spotting extra breakfast. That’s Coco. She’s one of the “very special pet” adoptables available at Dallas Animal Services this week. (She, 9 other dogs and 2 cats are on “the list” for Tuesday).
Here goes, and we’re starting with a couple of stories with links to television – one not so happy with a burned dog and shot Chihuahua and the other with a way to track lost animals. Read on:
THE JUSTICE STORY: Media interest in the story of Justice, the fatally burned dog, continues to grow – especially now that the reward is at $25,000 for information leading to arrest and conviction of the bad guys.
For example, on its 10 p.m. news last night, WFAA (Channel 8) had a story from the Pleasant Grove apartment complex where the dog was burned. And, interviewed in a way that would not reveal her identity, was a woman who claimed to have witnessed the dog being set afire. You can see the story HERE on 8’s website. The attack could have been filmed via cell phones, a story on WBAP (820 AM) reported this morning.
And, WBAP reports that an arrest warrant has been issued in the case. So, stand by.. More as it develops.
Word arrives at Readlarrypowell.com, that the arrest warrant is for Darius Ewing -- he's 18 and that means he's an adult. Public trial. Not a juvenile. If he's ever found.
And, there’s also a police report circulating about a teenage boy arrested because he shot a Chihuahua with a BB gun – the owner of the dog apprehended him. This happened on April 14 (the police report became public information on the 18^th) in Pleasant Grove. The event occurred not far from the apartment complex where Justice was attacked.  That juvenile was arrested. Claimed it was an accident. We’re trying to get information about the condition of Nono the Chihuahua, but based on the police report, it appeared that the damage may have been mortal.
Also, a plan to distributed wanted posters in the Justice case in that apartment complex and the general area, was called off late last night. The report is organizers of the poster ploy are going to check with the Dallas police to make sure the effort won’t interfere with the investigation, as some people have cautioned. (We’ll point out that the two primary “punks of interest,” Slim and Ohio, have had about a 2-week head start on being somewhere else.)
TRACKING YOUR WANDERING CRITTER: There’s about to be some Great Dane face-time on TV this morning.
Our pal Diane Brandon, the noted public relations professional, has, for years, tipped me to interesting events. And this latest one is scheduled to be on KXAS-TV around 10 a.m. today – that’s if you’re watching live and if you’re catching it later, it’s probably going to be on the station’s website.
But, here’s the deal: April 15-21 is National Pet ID Week and AT&T, for whom Diane toils these days, has a 21^st Century way to track lost critters.
How is TV going to demonstrate this device? Ah, Diane has the answer: “My colleague John Young, who has two Great Danes that are therapy dogs, is going to strap a Garmin [Garmin GTU 10 Tracker] on one of them and we’re going to track them through this forest-y area right behind the station.”
Risky. Live demonstration. Great Danes. Electronic device. You suspect they have faith in the Garmin GTU 10. I’m assuming the way they’ll get a Great Dane to wander is they’ll set up a couch on the other side of the forest and the Dane will instinctively seek it out.
Unaccustomed as I am to the 21^st Century, I must say that this tracking thing makes sense. It’s about the size of a small candy bar, you put it on the animals’ collar and connect to the AT&T Wireless Network so you can track the dog via smartphone or PC. (During the current promotion, the usually $199 Garmin is dropped to $99 with free service for a year and no activation fee. [See a demonstration HERE.)
Diane writes, “You can even set up custom geofences and receive email or text alerts over the AT&T Wireless network when the pet enters or leaves a designated area. “
And, she says, you can put the Garmin GTU 10 on “just about anything that moves” and that includes your kids, their backpacks and your car.
Divorce lawyers and private detectives will probably order these things by the bushel. Sure. To keep up with their dogs. What did you think I meant?
THE COLLIN COUNTY DOGS: Remember those three affectionate dogs we featured on Readlarrypowell.com yesterday – the endangered dogs in the Collin County Animal Services Shelter?
Our tipster, the volunteer shelter walker Allison Roberts, says nobody was euthanatized yesterday to make room, but the shelter continues to be full, so an arrival of any other animals will increase the pressure. To ask about adopting any animal in the McKinney facility, e-mail [email protected] and [email protected].
THE ROAMING, HUNGRY, FERTILE DOGS OF DALLAS: Yesterday we mentioned some dogs that Sheryl Frederick had encountered while on a trip into Southeast Dallas – at Highway 175 and Elam Road. Remember? The property-owner didn’t want the dogs (two adults, four puppies) so they’re left to wander the area.  Not a single call to offer support or advice. Not a single e-mail.
Yeah, rescuers are busy right now.
But some of the situational big hearts that reacted to the fiery attack on Justice manage to ignore these needy dogs, I guess.
If you can help with these wandering animals, 817-269-4288 or e-mail [email protected].
THE STORY FROM AUSTIN: A police officer responding to a domestic violence call went to the wrong address and shot and killed Cisco the dog. This is a story of tragic circumstances on about a dozen levels. Read the news story from ABC HERE. Has to be some way to avoid these things. No doubt the police would like a better way. What a heartbreaking event.
CONTEMPLATIONS: This question is based on years of putting out a daily buffet for standoffish, hissing, free-roaming cats. Feral cats, do they think they own the world? …. When some writer or musician dies, one of the questions is always “Did this artist leave anything behind?” Dick Clark dies and you have to wonder, since the guy was so successful in show biz ideas, did he leave any ideas behind for his company? Maybe a reality show called "Secret Service Secrets." … Regarding Frito pie: A couple of days ago we saw a sign in front of a restaurant advertising “Frito chili pie.” I said, “Why do you need to say chili? It’s just Frito pie.” Then, yesterday, Martha aid she had what was called a “Frito pie” for lunch at a café in the downtown tunnels. Only it didn’t have chili, it had barbecue on it. My contention is that is not a Frito pie. It is barbecue on a bed of Fritos. The only  authentic Frito Pie has chili on it, maybe onions and jalapenos…But if we let somebody get away with calling barbecue on a bed of Fritos a “Frito Pie” then the next thing you know we’ll be having “Breakfast Frito Pie” with scrambled eggs slung onto a bed of Fritos soaked down with Brer Rabbit. And that’s not right.
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A vigil, reward bumped to $25,000, shelter situations, roadside dogs and other topics...

It’s mid-week and we have announcements, situations and other things to discuss. Here goes:
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR JUSTICE: DFW Rescue Me has organized a candlelight vigil for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Dallas City Hall to honor the memory of Justice, the 4-month-old dog doused with lighter fluid and fatally burned on April 4 at a Pleasant Grove apartment complex in Dallas.
Perhaps it also will inspire a more caring and protective attitude toward animals in the City of Dallas.
Shortly before noon we got a copy of a City of Dallas press release announcing that the reward info leading to the arrest and convinction of the bad guy or guys has been bumped from $5,000 to $25,000 by the SPCA of Texas. (Thanks to some anonymous donors and the Murrell Foundation, we're told.) Investigators are looking for any infomation or video of the incident. Contact the Dallas police via the confidential tip line at 24-373-8477.
Justice the dog will be buried at 1 p.m. Saturday in an open-to-the-public ceremony at the cemetery on the grounds of Toothacres Pet Care Center in Carrollton.
Get more details at the DFW Rescue Me site HERE. The rescue group became involved when called by Dallas Animal Services for help with the burned dog.  The situation became quite emotional as DFW Rescue Me folks became personally involved with the injured dog, taking care of him in Dallas, talking to him, encouraging him and then transporting him to the Texas A&M Small Animal care facility in Bryan where he died on the 13th.
A RESCUER’S PAINFUL VIEW: This dog Payton wasn’t tortured by punks with lighter fluid in Dallas, but he is just as dead. Legally dead. Nobody ever wanted him. So he was killed to make room for the next unwanted dog.
We’ve mentioned Dwana Carabajal in Readlarrypowell.com reports many times over the years. She’s like so many of you – a rescuer because of her heart. You know how it goes. One day you just simply notice that things aren’t right for some dogs or cats and the next thing you know, you’re fully involved.
And that brings us to her attempts to save this dog, first known as “Scarface” but, after he was cleaned up at the Rowlett Animal Shelter, renamed Payton. He was an adorable dog. We first mentioned him here on Feb. 2.
Yesterday we got this note from Dwana, “I am quite distraught today. I don't know how people do this week in and week out. The Rowlett Shelter has not had many adoptions or rescues the last few weeks and they had A LOT of strays come in over the week. This week the shelter was forced to euthanize for space. We lost 7 beautiful and loving dogs. One of those dogs was Payton. You highlighted Payton several times on your website. I appreciate all that you did to try to save him.
”I feel like I have failed. I knew most of those dogs personally from volunteering up at the shelter. My heart hurts. I honestly do not know how to help the shelter. I email and call and pray, but nothing seems to help.”
Is there a Friends of Rowlett Animals? Yes, says Dwana. "We all volunteer at the adoption events, we raise money to buy down adoptions, and we raise money to purchase items for the shelter animals. Currently we only have 5 members and we are all beyond the city limit for pets so we cannot foster. We are trying desperately to add new members, find rescue groups to frequent our shelter, and try to bring in more adopters.”
It’s a relatively small shelter, but a nice one – I toured it a few years back. But even though it probably will hold two dozen dogs and two dozen cats if pressed, it’s like all other shelters and is susceptible to the behavior of the area’s humans. If they’re not responsible, the shelter fills up. (To ask about helping Dwana and others help the animals in the Rowlett shelter, e-mail her at [email protected].).
Oh, and here’s the passage we wrote about Payton back in February so you’ll know how expensive Payton was. This is from Dwana’s description: “He is a real lover boy. He LOVES attention and he LOVES other dogs. He really enjoyed his walk (even though it was raining on us). He looks like a big boy in his pictures, but really he is a small guy, only about 40 pounds. He is the VIP Pet of the Month, so his adoption fee is only $25.”
Yep, 25 bucks and he'd be alive today.
A READER SPOTS ANOTHER DALLAS CRISIS:We got a note from Sheryl Frederick about a loose dog situation. She’s looking for help. You’ll see why.
This story points out vividly one of the challenges that faces people attempting to turn Dallas into a no-kill city:  don’t care residents.
Sheryl writes, “.I had go to SE Dallas yesterday...And off Highway 175 and Elam there were 2 dogs ... waiting for someone to feed them. Of course I did. When the female crossed the street -- almost getting hit -- I noticed she had puppies. Maybe 4. They ran behind a fence.The neighbor came out and said the owner does not want them and the poor tan female keeps having puppies after puppies.  He said he wants the dogs gone. I'm afraid he will call the animal shelter or they will get hit. Is there a rescue group that could help these dogs in Dallas?”
Sheryl says she’s not sure if the second dog was a male, but it was a black and white dog, “long and short – maybe a Beagle mix. … The female looked similar to a Rhodesian Ridgeback.”
If you know of a rescue group that can help these abandoned dogs, call Sheryl at 817-269-4288 or e-mail [email protected].
In the meantime, drive carefully because idiots let their dogs roam.
SHELTER PRESSURE: This story just happens to come from the Collin County Animal Services Shelter but it is the same sort of story every day in shelters all over North Texas – from the giant Dallas Animal Services Shelter & Adoption Center to Fort Worth Animal Care and Control, and points in between and all around. Too many animals, not enough space.
Today I’m pinpointing three dogs from Collin County because they all arrived with photos showing them being affectionate with humans. You’d think that would be enough to cinch an adoption, right?
Not hardly.
Our tipster is Allison Roberts, the volunteer shelter walker at the Collin County Animal Services shelter in McKinney. Every day she sends out a list of animals that need rescue from the crowded county shelter.
”Patrick made it through last week but is on the EU (euthanasia) list again today. The shelter is full with dogs in temp kennels,” Allison wrote. Patrick, that black and white dog crawling up to be embraced by a shelter worker, “loves to cuddle and give kisses,” the note reads. He’s #340109, 2 years old and isn’t good with cats. Great with people, though.
Then there’s Brendan, also endangered. He’s 2, a shepherd mix, #341862, and has a “cute broken tail.”
He also loves to shower affection on a person.
And there’s Colleen – she’s a rebounder.  “Colleen was adopted this weekend then returned because their other dog doesn't like her. She is on the EU list again today,” the note reads. “Colleen is a spunky sweet girl with a great personality.  She has gorgeous markings, is sweet and loving and walks great on a leash! She came in with 2 other dogs that have both been adopted/rescued.”
Colleen is spayed, micro-chipped and #340250.  There’s a video, too. Click HERE. To ask about any animal in the Collin County shelter – take one, open a spot for the next – e-mail [email protected] and [email protected].
A CAT SPAY/NEUTER QUESTION: A reader asks, “Can you give any recommendation for low cost spay and neuter services in the Dallas area? There are two male stray cats that need  neutering. I have taken two others in, but the costs are getting up there for me and I would like to help out the stray cat population.”
Perhaps someone has a quicker more efficient answer than mine. I suggested looking at the Metroplex Animal Coalition site’s spay/neuter list HERE, going to the SPCA’s site HERE and getting in touch with Feral Friends, Kittieco Cat Rescue, Kaufman County Animal Awareness Project and TCAP (Texas Coalition for Animal Protection).  Did I leave anyone out? The reader lives in Dallas.
CONTEMPLATIONS:  I really hate the term “baby bump.” Just sounds classless. So did the old term, “She’s showin’.”  I really do need to worry about other things. And I have a list. Like banning idiots from TV news and commentary shows – but that’s both (a) an un-American suppression of the freedom of speech and (b) would leave TV screens blank for a large part of the day. … One of the big network morning news shows today breathlessly presented the news that Jamie Moyer the former Texas pitcher, now a Colorado Rockie, has become the oldest pitcher to win a major league game.  The reporter didn’t say how old he is. Wouldn’t you think that would be part of the story? I looked it up – he was 49 years, 150 days yesterday and the previous oldest pitcher was 80 days younger, Jack Quinn of the Brooklyn Dodgers – he won on Sept. 6, 1932.   Oh? The answers are 6-5 and 5-3 in chronological order. … One more dog note about those free-roamers on Highway 175 at Elam.  Perhaps someone can deliver a pamphlet on the birds and the bees to the person who doesn’t want the dogs. Heck, these may not even be this person’s dogs, it occurs to me. They may have wandered up from somewhere else and decided to stay. You know how it goes in Dallas – someone is always having to take up the slack for the idiots. Example: A friend of mine once found a neighbor’s Cocker Spaniel running loose in their apartment complex parking lot. She tried to return the dog only to be told, “We set the dog free.” Yep, like it was some kind of woodland creature with natural skills. Still makes me want to slap somebody. But that would be wrong. And the dog was probably better off in a new home. Still, just one good ear-ringing slap to the cheek, you know? Nope. Still wrong.
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A collection of opportunities to help animals and people -- and some poetry, too

It’s just a matter of time, here in National Poetry Month, until someone puts e-mail subject lines together in a style of verse called “Constructed Poetry For the Early 21st Century.”
Oh, wait, Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas, has already done that.  His poetic assemblage of subject lines (look for rhythm, not rhyme, maybe neither) comes from his inbox. .
Here is his effort. It is called: “Tax Day Email Lines.”
His poetic assemblage of subject lines (look for rhythm, not rhyme) comes from his inbox. And now, Inky's poetry:
Cheap properties for sale
Adorable young adult male stray
Half off kayak rentals
Veggies and cars
Mystery Secret Shopper jobs
Pregnant and nursing
Go to a special place with private island rental
Little Myrna
She carries the burdens of civilization!
Up to 58% off trampoline jumping.
And, there you have it. The ups and downs of society in  lines in no particular order, nabbed from the emails that flood the Inky Inbox at Readlarrypowell.com
Frankly, I have to say that it is more indicative of modern civilization than Inky’s second poem of the day, “Roses Are Red, So Is My A…”
Roses are red,
Our taxes completed
Thanks to the system
Our savings depleted.
FYI, I love Inky both as the world’s most intellectual Cocker Spaniel and as a get-to-the-point poet. And, now, some opportunities to help animals and the people who help animals:
GOT A REPRIEVE, NEEDS A PLACE TO GO: This happyesque dog is Freckles, a pointer mix who is on the clock at the Town of Hickory Creek Animal Shelter just north of Dallas right up I-35.
It’s a small shelter with a big heart as far as Freckles is concerned. Our tipster, shelter volunteer Karen Scruggs, the wedding photographer, is a big fan of Freckles. She and other staffers and volunteers begged for a little more time to place Freckles, a universally admired dog who just needs a break.
”Freckles is just so sweet and has done SO well with the trainers and officers that work with her so much that the manager just gave me the OK to work on getting her into a rescue this week! Last week I only had 2 days,” Karen says.
”I was at the shelter the very first day Freckles was surrendered. In a nut shell, she had open wounds on her body and was TERRIFIED when she was brought in.  She was trembling with fear.
”I asked my 2 friends ( Chase Ownes and Sean Will) dog trainers from UNT's ORCA program to come out and help with her and they showed the staff and myself just how to get her to trust us!

“Freckles did amazingly well and that is how she was able to escape euthanasia!”
She’ll be a tough sell, though, because her history has made her dog-aggressive, especially around males.
But, Karen says, “Freckles loves humans.”
The photos of Freckles were taken by Jenny Froh, the pet photographer from Flower Mound who donates her work to the Hickory Creek shelter and the Flower Mound Humane Society, Karen says. “She has helped THC animals get noticed and adopted through her hard work and amazing talent! (I can't say enough about her as I too am a photographer but I only do weddings and cannot get an animal to cooperate like she can!)”
So, to ask about adopting Freckles or bring her into your rescue group, e-mail Karen at [email protected]. The shelter is at 970 Main in Hickory Creek. Call 940-465-744. E-mail [email protected].
SEAGOVILLE NEEDS SOME HELP: Before I get to the painting project and the handsome Dylan, about 10 a.m. we got a note from Seagoville Shelter Volunteer Johnna Bigley, desperate to find some help with kittens. She wrote, “Help! Is there anyone who can take six baby kittens that were just brought into the shelter? They came in without their momma and look like they need to be bottle fed.” (Email [email protected].)
Back to the painting and Dylan:
Sgt. Karl Bailey, the officer who runs the Seagoville Animal Shelter and, with the help of dedicated volunteers, works to get every animal out, has a challenge.
In a note, he says that on May 1 the shelter will close so it can be painted – this should last for two weeks. The paint has to “cure,” he says.
”During this time,” he writes, “We are in need of fosters, rescues and large adoption events to help move animals out, at least temporarily, until we move back into the shelter, which we are estimating somewhere around May 12th.”
To offer to help with the animals, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-329-7741.
As Sgt. Bailey looks for extra help, so does volunteer Johnna Bigley, She’s trying to save this Seagoville dog, Dylan. Her request for life-saving help reads, “If ever there was a gorgeous, head-turning, eye-catching boy...Dylan is it!!! Simply put ...he is stunning and one of the sweetest, most loveable dogs you'll ever meet! Dylan loves everyone and everyone loves Dylan…. His expressions, plus his personality will steal your heart away. Day after day this beautiful boy sits quietly at the front of his kennel (located in the very back of the shelter) just longing for someone to come see him. Your heart breaks for him because you can tell through his sad eyes and expression that he wonders why you're passing him by and he can't go with you.”
He’s about 2, weighs around 60 pounds, if neutered, healthy and his adoption fee has already been paid by a donor who “just wants to see this precious boy saved so all he needs now is someone to love him.”
Email [email protected] to ask about saving Dylan.
DAISY THE EARHOUND:  Amazingly, Daisy the Dog, obviously an Ear hound, has not been adopted again. She was taken from the Prairie Paws Adoption Center once, but – some of you may remember this story from early in March – when she got out, the owner declined to pay the impound fee.
The folks at Grand Prairie’s Prairie Paws, however, have fallen for Daisy and we got another request for help with publicizing her from veteran rescuer and shelter walker Debbie Barclay.
”We haven’t been able to get a decent price for heartworm treatment and would like her to go to a rescue,” says Debbie. “She’s such a great dog, with a wonderful temperament and personality, and gets along with everybody.  And she’s so adorable with her little ‘squatty-body’—you can definitely see a shepherd and Corgi.  I had originally posted her as 2 years but there was a mistake on her kennel card and she is at least 5 years. We got donations toward her heartworm treatment, but either the vets say they don’t have immiticide or they want to charge us much more than the rescues.  We have $200 in donations that will transfer to the group that takes her.”
Daisy is #055410. She’s spayed and good with other dogs.  She simply has a defeatable heartworm problem.
The shelter contacts: Lauren Sossi at 972-237-8580 (cell:  817-528-9225) ([email protected] ) or Jerry Horn at 972-237-8571 (cell: 972-897-3066) ([email protected]).  Prairie Paws is at 2222 W. Warrior Trail on the southern side of Grand Prairie.
PUPPY ALERT: Allison Roberts, the volunteer shelter walker at Collin County Animal Services, says the shelter has taken in seven smallish Lab mix puppies – barely a handful per dog – 2 Chocolate, 5 Black – no Mom found when the puppies were found.
But that’s not al! CCAS is also taking care of a mature male Earhound currently called “Gonzo.” He’s on a stray hold but he needs extra help because he came in with a broken pelvis. The vet says he’ll need cage rest for 4-6 weeks. He’s #345769.
Contact points: [email protected] and [email protected]. The shelter prefers e-mail contact to phone.
CHIP-IN FOR TORNADO VICTIM: Dennis Wooten is manager of Richardson Animal Services, former president and current president of the Texas Animal Shelter Coalition, but in the past couple of weeks is more informally known as “tornado victim.”
In fact, a tornado tore apart his Forney home – his wife and daughter hid in an interior closet and survived as the twister ripped holes in the roof and turned the inside of their home into a mess.
Consequently, his colleagues at TASC have created a chip-in to help him and his family through this tough time. You can chip-in HERE.
And, if you want to see the damage at his house, MSNBC has a report on its website HERE.
It’s a bit of a chilling report for anybody who has ever been under a tornado alert.
AN INJURED DOG PROJECT: From Rekka Melby of Take Me Home Pet Rescue, we learn these things:
”If you have time and room in your column can you please advertise that we are trying to find a rescue group/foster to take in this cute guy?  This past weekend we were out catching a mom and her 8 pups from under an abandoned house and of course found a ton of other stray dogs in the same neighborhood.  This dog has a badly injured foot so we would like to get him off the streets and to a vet ASAP.  He looks to be a playful, young dog who is currently hopping around on 3 legs but we're hoping we can get him fixed up so he regains use of his injured leg.  We already have full houses so need someone else to step up and offer a safe place for him to go.”
To offer to help, e-mail [email protected]. Once there’s a place for him, someone will catch him and deliver him to a vet – there’s a fund of nearly $170 set up for the dog already.
Rekka says, “We also found some really nice homeless people who are caring for the homeless dogs … It's pretty cool when people who have so little are still kind to animals and sharing their food with the dogs.  We're working on a plan to deliver dog food to them on a regular basis, get the dogs s/n, etc.”
CARROLLTON NOTE: Laddy, whom we cited yesterday as needing out of the Carrollton Animal Shelter, has been adopted. Crystal, whom we also cited, has not been adopted.
And there are several other animals on the “list” for Wednesday at the shelter.
Call the shelter at 972-466-3420, or email [email protected].
FAYE NEEDS A PLACE: O, dear Readers, I know you’re going to doubt the essential part of this story but here it goes: A Pit Bull was running loose in Dallas.
I know, hard to believe. But, as you can tell from this photo, Faye is no longer running loose. She’s a homebody now. And she needs a new home.
We get her story from Denise Victor. “I rescued her and her run mate back at Thanksgiving. They were living outside with virtually no shelter in a concrete run (picture). She jumped the back part that led to the backyard of the duplex and there was a male pit bull that attacked her. So I took her to my vet and then to my home.
”I've had her for 4 months. In the last month she and my oldest dog started fighting. I'm not sure why my senior all of a sudden took a dislike to her but we couldn't keep her after that. She gets along great with my other 3 dogs (not cats and we have 2) and all her doggie day care friends. “Currently she's in Midland with a rescue group but I'm still trying to home her. My daughters live there too so they're helping as well.  I'll bring her back to Dallas if there's any possibility of her finding an adopter. I'll drive her anywhere if necessary.”
Denise isn’t with a rescue group, but she says, “II just pick them up as I can. In east Dallas we have a lot of strays.”
To offer to help Faye, e-mail [email protected].
CONTEMPLATINS: Tornadoes ought to be outlawed. Surely somebody is working on that tricky legislation. … The Secret Service scandal is unfortunate, especially when you consider all the agents who haven’t done a thing but protect and serve. Bet there's a movie already being plotted. … We have vertical blinds on our living room window. We use them to block the light. Annabelle Bob the Black Cat uses them for a slalom run. It’s like she’s making fun of agility dogs running through the poles. Makes a startling noise when you’re concentrating on your keyboard.
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Shelters, people and a contemplation on villains...

Welcome to Monday. It’s the middle of April and we have several items today ranging from rescues and a safe return to puppies and a contemplation on Justice the Dog.
Please read on as we work our way down the screen to the Contemplation of the day:
SHELTERS: Emails from around the Metroglomerate (that’s based on Metroplex melding with conglomerate and seems to fit) indicate that animal shelters are loaded these days. A great number of the animals arriving appear to owner-surrenders and include momma dogs either with puppies or with a load of about-to-be-born puppies.
Any animal taken from a shelter helps make room for the new arrivals. Where are the new arrivals coming from? Owner-surrender in many cases, based on comments in the assorted emails.
Last week we reported on a ton of the new moms and pups at Dallas Animal Services and other places.  But we also mentioned dogs such as Geneve, the smiling dog from Carrollton Animal Rescue Enterprise, the city shelter in the Dallas suburb. We learned from CARE over the weekend that just as the last moment, the rescue group Paws In The City stepped up and took Geneve, a 6-year-old Lab girl whose people “moved and couldn’t take her.”
There’s a whole new load of animals on the clock for Wednesday at Carrollton now, including these two dogs.
Laddy is the 4-month-old fellow described as a “boxer mix.” And the Shepherd-mix was named “Crystal” by the shelter folks because she’s “as beautiful as crystal.”
Crystal is probably 5 years old and weighs 35 pounds, came in as a stray and hasn’t been claimed by anyone. Laddy is 4 months old, about the same age as Justice, the little dog whose burns proved to be fatal over the weekend. (See the story in previous posts. And we’ll have some more in Contemplations today, too.)
To ask about the Carrollton animals, call 972-466-3420 or email [email protected]. To ask about Geneve, go to the Paws In The City site HERE. To ask about Dallas Animal Services dogs click HERE. You may also Google just about every animal shelter and rescue group in the known universe.
And, of course, if you want to adopt an animal without having to go to a shelter or rescue group, just take a drive around an area populated by people – there’s always some idiot who lets his dog roam free or gives the dog the bum’s rush off his property. In other words, seek out an idiot and you’ll probably find an available dog or cat – the boys will be unfixed, the girls will be pregnant. The idiots will be unconcerned.
SPEAKING OF ROAMING DOGS IN DALLAS: Well, my goodness, Tawana Couch of the Society for Companion Animals usually contacts people about getting volunteers to help getting unwanted Dallas dogs to the big airport in time to catch a flight to another, safer part of the country.
This time she’s after help for some church dogs.
In a note distributed (appropriately) on Sunday, she writes, “These dogs walk to church and follow the guy that is currently feeding them. The guy lives with his mother, Emma, an elderly lady who lives in South Dallas. Neither of them have a car. They walk and the dogs follow and wait outside the church or store for them and then follow them home. They have been at Emma’s house now for about 3 months. They all showed up at her doorstep one day. She had no food out yet these 3 dogs were lead to her house.
”The blue merle Catahoula is a sweet male. The other two are a male and a female…. If anyone would like to see them I will be more than happy to take you to visit them. It is a very rough area but I go in this part daily. I sure hope someone will help them. They may can keep one so we might can just help on fixing one for them and the other 2 for sure need to find permanent homes for them. She is worried about them they [two of them] chase loud trucks and they are the two that like to go to church the most.”
To offer to help Tawana with this church-going, truck-chasing dog situation in South Dallas, e-mail [email protected].
DENTON MOM AND PUPS: Our Denton Animal Services tipster, the renowned volunteer Amy Pelzel, sent us a note over the weekend about a need to get a Rat Terrier mom and kids out of the shelter.
Fortunately, this mom and her four pups – about a week old – found a place to go. Three boys and a girl in the litter.
The pressure comes not just in the fact that a mom and young pups or young kittens don’t need to be a shelter environment, it comes from the fact that other animals keep coming into the shelters and squeezing the space until shelters have to euthanize to make room for the next load of unwanted animals.
For example, as Amy was desperately looking for a place to park Mom and Kids, the shelter took in 20 more dogs.
You can see the “inventory” at the Denton Shelter by going to this PetFinder site HERE. It is there that you can read about this Masked Earhound. His name is Luis and he had absolutely nothing to do with fathering the Rat Terrier pups – he swears.
LITTLE TATE’S LONG JOURNEY: Last week we told the story of the disappearance of Tate the Yorkie at Payne Springs, on the east side of Cedar Creek Lake. We were tipped to this tale by Sydney Busch of the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake, the group that operates the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, also on the east side of the lake..
And then we noted later in the week that Tammy Van Horne’s missing dog had been found. {That's Tammy and Tate after the reunion.)
Here’s the story, according to Tammy, and she includes some very important notes about animal safety. Hint: chip. Hint: Put up posters. Hint: Don’t be surprised at how far a dog can go.
Tammy writes, “Tate went missing on Saturday, April 7, about 8 p.m.  My mom was walking with him and some fireworks went off. Because it was dark she could not tell where he went. We searched for about 7 hours that night and the next day for about 4 hours. We posted flyers and emailed anyone in the area.  One of the places I emailed, Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake called me on Thursday and stated they thought they knew who had Tate.  They said a lady had brought him up there [to the clinic] on Tuesday but because he had no chip they didn’t know whose he was.  (I emailed them on Wednesday).  I called the lady, Ms. Becky White, and she had found him.  She found him Sunday morning in front of her house. He roamed all night (he was over 5 miles from my parents’).  She took him in and fed him and cleaned the stickers off him he had gotten from the woods.  I got to go pick him up Thursday morning from her house! … That night he got a new collar and the next day the vet chipped him.  I have learned my lesson.”
And, folks, there you have it – another example of how dogs can do the unexpected and wind up in a safe place but without any way to tell where they live. If only they could talk, eh?
CONTEMPLATIONS: Perhaps there are a number of people still upset about the death of Justice, the little dog burned in a senseless attack on April 4.
We should ask ourselves, “Are we also upset over the behavior of the people who burned Justice?” Possibly upset over the death; angry over the villains? Good grief, what an awful episode in the history of animals in Dallas. Not the first time, of course, but it is remarkable that nobody’s been arrested yet – be happy to update that sentence when someone’s arrested.
At the bottom of this I’ve posted that police report again. Seems like it is a lot more informative the traditional journalism’s accurate but inadequate phrasing “set a puppy on fire” – that is horrible enough, but when you read about the “street theater” aspect to this crime, it’ll just either curdle your blood or make you want to make certain the villains are off the streets for a long, long time.
But what don’t we know about this dog Justice and the situation? Here are a few questions left to answer:
Whose dog was Justice? A dog doesn’t get to be 4 or 5 months old without having had an owner, right?
What was his real name? And did he come when called by the villains and when the trusting boy walked up to them, did they laugh and set him on fire?
Who are Slim and Ohio? And why hasn’t anybody turned them in?
Is this the first dog that’s been killed in that complex? Or by these guys?
What else do these two “idiots of interest” do? Nothing? Deal? Leech?
How often are officers called to that complex? And why? Have Slim and Ohio ever been the targets of an investigation there or anywhere?
What can be done to undo this ugly thing? Nothing. The dog is dead.  Can't undo that. Someone’s got to be guilty of something. Surely. And what’s being done to apprehend these people? When Mercy was killed in Carrollton, volunteers from Operation Kindness and other rescue groups, jumped into action and put up posters asking for information, talked to potential witnesses and encouraged police to pursue the case. After all, setting a dog on fire is a felony in Texas. Any of that citizen-pressure happening in the Justice case?
What can you do to boost the interest in this case? Call your city councilmember, perhaps?
Here's the DPD report (and these officers deserve extra pay for having to deal with this):
”On Tuesday, April 4, 2012, at about 8:57 p.m., ROS [Responding officers] were dispatched to 1230 N. Masters Dr. regarding a large group of mails setting a dog on fire in center of complex. Upon arrival ROS observed several scattering juveniles laughing.
”An unknown wit [witness] stated he observed the puppy running across the apartment courtyard smoking and running towards the front of the complex. ROS found a brown Pitbull puppy approximately 4 months old, entire body burned. ROS observed a strong smell of burned hair and flesh. Animal Control was called to location and transported puppy. ROS searched the area for crime scene and found minimum results, a burned Styrofoam plate, a burned ice cream bar wrapper and a white shirt used to extinguish the puppy. PES [Physical Evidence Section] called to location.
"Wit 1 stated he observed ‘Slim’ with a bottle of charcoal lighter fluid and pouring the lighter fluid on the puppy and lighting the puppy on fire. A large group was gathered around the puppy watching and laughing and observed an unknown upset female attempting to put out the flames with a shirt and a bottle of water. The group observed the ROS entering the complex and scattered.
" ’Slim’ fled on foot to the back of the complex and jumped over the fence.
”RO Bowen observed Wit 2 and Wit 3 earlier in possession of the puppy. Wit 2 and Wit 3 stated they were holding the puppy for ‘Ohio’ who they observed strangulating the puppy with rope in a cruel manner over a fence and fled when he observed RO Bowen approaching. Wit 2 and 3 did not see the puppy being set on fire.”
The Dallas Police tip line is 214-373-8477. The Dallas Police already have enough to do with people-on-people crimes. But, we know for a fact that there are people in the Dallas Police Department and the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office who are more than proud to prepare and prosecute a case against the people who killed this dog. Drop a dime on the bad guys, as we used to say.
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Justice dies from burns...

DFW Rescue Me announced this morning that Justice, the burned dog, died Friday night.
According to the announcement on DFW Rescue Me's website HERE, infection had set in where he’d been burned – over 70 percent of his body – and the veterinarians at Texas A&M were unable to control his dropping blood pressure.
DFW Rescue me says there will be a memorial service – details will be announced on the organization’s website.
You may recall the circumstances of the attack on Justice. If you do not, go to yesterday’s Readlarrypowell.com below, scroll to Contemplations and read the police report. If you know information about the attack or the attackers, call the police.
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Roxy still missing after twister; Straydog hacking victim

This is actually a "Be On The Lookout" notice for a dog named Roxy. This is her.
Usually in this space on the weekends, we publish photos of dogs, cats and the occasional “other” animal sleeping.
Rather than publish Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap this weekend, we’re going to publish this brief story about Roxy.
She was one of five animals in the Kennedale home of Christina Malenfant when it was struck by a tornado on April 3. The home is near Highway 287 and I-20 southeast of Fort Worth, on the western edge of Arlington.
This dog Roxy is still missing.
Friends have been helping look for her. Katie Hale explains that Christina “has three cats and two dogs and all had disappeared but she since has been able to find all three cats and found one dog today (isn't that amazing!)”
If you know Roxy’s whereabouts, e-mail  [email protected]  or [email protected].
Christina e-mailed Readlarrypowell.com to thank us for posting this and she wrote, “I’m praying someone finds her.”
[Aside from Larry: I guess the reason I picked this over some sleepers or nappers is I cannot imagine the grip insomnia would have on me if one of our dogs or cats was missing after such a shocking and shattering experience.
We had a little Maltese for many years – she was a dog that was found wandering the streets of Lancaster after the 1994 tornado struck the Town Square and surrounding area.
Glinda was already a mature dog when we got her and she lived on for another 14 years or so.
In the wake of that tornado we were fostering her and, well, she stayed. Charmed us, I guess. She was adorable. And game -- after a while. 
For the first few months we had her, she lived under the couch, still shaken by her tornado experience. Martha finally got her to come out by offering miniature marshmallows – after that she was a sucker for the “mini-marshies.”
(That's a photo of her in her traditional unkempt style -- she hated being groomed, hated the hands of strangers and preferred not to be bothered, but did love her marshies. And she would put up with my patientspouse Martha clipping her though, good lord, the baths were hellacious. There was lots of "don't you dare" in that little body. The smallest dog in the house, she also was the only one who terrified Bob the Ruling Black Cat and the only one Bob didn't terrify.) 
If she didn’t stir during stormy weather, we knew we were safe -- she may have been a Doppler Dog. And in her whole life with us, she hated being picked up – just didn’t want her feet off solid earth ever again – you can imagine how far a tornado might toss a 6- or 8-pound fluffy dog.
We were sad for her that her original people were never found – but we were grateful for every single day we had with Glinda – named for the Good Witch in the Wizard of Oz. She was a joy.
So, as we post this picture of Roxy, we offer hope that Roxy is somewhere getting extra special treatment and finally settling down after the storm. Bless all those hearts involved in the Roxy story.]
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STRAYDOG IS A VICTIM OF A HOAX: If you get an e-mail that says Bill and Juana of Straydog Inc. needs help after being mugged in the Philippines, ignore it. Erin of Straydog confirms to Readlarrypowell.com that the fake message was the result of hacking. She says it also cost Straydog its contact list, so the sanctuary in East Texas is having trouble contacting people who may have gotten the hoax message. Just a heads up to be on the lookout for that "spam" hoax. In the meantime, you can still go to the Straydog website, www.straydog.org, and keep up with things at the facility, donate, etc.
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The pregnancy problem, assorted tales and a Contemplation of the heart...

Yesterday was National Grilled Cheese Day and today the new Three Stooges movie hits the screens. America is on the upswing again!
Though in Dallas the tendency might be to say, “Three? I can show you a lot more than three.”
Oh, yeah, it’s Friday the 13th. No sweat. Let’s proceed as if we had a grip. Nyuk. Nyuk. (Aside: That’s a cultural reference. Mona Lisa’s smile, Howdy Doody’s freckles, “Nyuk. Nyuk. Nyuk.”)
Today’s report is “pregnant with feeling,” to borrow a line from a Smothers Brothers routine.
FYI ON JUSTICE: The latest report on Justice the Burned Dog is that he’s got a better than 50-50 chance of surviving. Our “Contemplation” today will be in regard to Justice – the question: Does anyone know “Slim?” Don’t miss it.
SOME EXPECTING; SOME DELIVERED: Oh, for crying out loud. That spay/neuter campaign isn’t working in Dallas, is it? Seriously, look at this stuff.
Remember, you can see how to adopt these animals by going to the Dallas Animal Services website HERE.
These photos came courtesy of Dallas Animal Services, the city’s big shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland, a place set up to take in animals nobody wants.
When I got the note from Rescue Coordinator Mark Cooper about all these mommas and offspring, I thought I’d try to create a collage, but my technical skills are so weak that I fear I’ve got a pastiche instead, or, perhaps, just some type and photographs.
Whatever we have here in the way of artistic style is not a big problem at all when you think about what the animals face. The city – unlike the citizens – can’t just turn them loose and let them run free.
So, the choices are these: (1) Adopt them to someone, (2) get them into a rescue group or foster situation or (3) warehouse them until time’s up and then needle ‘em and trash ‘em. What creates Solution 3? People. People don’t want their animals, other people don’t want their animals and that’s that. This isn’t a new story.
 Doesn’t matter how big your shelter is if the heart of the residents of your city is, to borrow from the wise Dr. Seuss, “two sizes too small.” No telling how many sizes too small the brains are around here.
So that first picture is a Rottweiller – you know people pay hundreds and hundreds of dollars for Rotties from breeders, but, in Dallas, you can find ‘em roaming streets, waiting in parks for the person who dumped them or, as in the case of this dog, brought to the city’s shelter as she is about to domino. How’d she get so pregnant? The clown who turned her in let her roam free without spaying her. Here name is FeFe and she’s 3.
We don’t know the names of the apparent Fox Terrier couple and their many offspring, but, Officer Cooper says they were surrendered by a citizen who claimed to have found the mom and dad running loose.
Yeah, right. Fox Terriers are well-known getting up and going on a walk just before it’s time for the stork to come – this momma had these 7 puppies in the city shelter. That’s dad, alone, in a cage and, probably, wondering where his mate is. Not to put too much of an anthropomorphic spin on it, but, indeed, animals do bond like humans, sometime better than humans.
And, in the rest of these photos you see puppies and kittens awaiting either adoption, rescue or (geez, I hate writing this) the needle at Dallas Animal Services.
Yep, long the protest of animal advocates, these babies may have been born just to be killed.  It’s the way things are in the City of Dallas and the majority of Texas’ taxpayer-supported shelters. It’s the ol’ Texas theory and practice: “Got an animal problem? Let’s kill it.”
So, there you have it on Friday the 13th – a load of puppies and kittens and mommas and daddies in the Dallas shelter, in addition to the hundreds of animals that wound up there without having any offspring.
Again, there are 1.2 million residents in Dallas – got to be some people who don’t yet have dogs or cats. If they’d step up and adopt, then maybe the city could quite ordering the euthanasia solution in bulk.
Perhaps you could cut and paste this segment with all the photos, print it out as a poster, slap it up on your office bulletin board, send it to people you know who would be wonderful animal people, mail it to your city council members to remind them that they are the people who can save lives with a change of policy.
At the last Dallas Animal Shelter Commission meeting, the commissioners were told that a newly revitalized computer system will help track animals. It may also be able to pinpoint which Zip Codes (and Council districts) the bulk of unwanted animals come from.
Most animal welfare folks around here can probably pinpoint the high-producers without having to go to a computer.
We know that when Dr. Elba Garcia, now on the Dallas County Commissioners Court, was on the Dallas City Council, specific “high-producing” Zip Codes were targeted with spay/neuter campaigns.
Still, if the city knows where the big problem areas for free-roamers and “unfixed” animals are, maybe that’ll give a bit of help in preaching the gospel of spay/neuter to the areas that need it most. (Maybe you’ve seen spay/neuter promotions in your recent Dallas water bills. These Dallas Animal Services professionals aren’t sitting still, but it takes a village of spay/neuter supporters, you know?)
And District One Councilmember Delia Jasso has been enthusiastic about the campaign “Dallas Loves Animals.” You can read about that HERE.
So, there are elements in place or almost in place to make a sincere push to reduce the numbers of unwanted animals in Dallas.  The big variable remains the attitude of “the general public,” that great swath of humanity that only notices a stray animal if they have to drive around its body.
Maybe some of them will notice these shelter animals and take them into their hearts.
And maybe I will drop 60 pounds by sundown and spend the rest of my life modeling European-cut suits for Vanity Fair.
BRIEF NOTES:
--BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR OLDER GUY: Before we get to the missing Lab, remember Tate? Yesterday’s missing Yorkie? He’s been found and is safely back home. In the meantime, Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake (where lots of Dallas people spend weekends) tips us to the case of Leo, the missing 13-year-old Black Lab with the graying muzzle. The original tip came from Stephanie Mosby of CLAW (Citizens League for Animal Welfare) who says the ol’ fellow had no color tags and isn’t microchiped—he got out of his pen during the march 30-31 First Monday weekend on Amy Street at Sides Circle in Canton. There’s a $50 reward for the “dearly missed” dog that’s been in the family from puppyhood. Contacts: Charles Lewis at 903-316-7861, CLAW at 903-880-8036 or Stephanie at 214-232-3644.
--AND IN BURNS FLAT: Our tipster in that tiny western Oklahoma town, Terry Lynn Fisher, reports, “These little ones are living in the garage of an elderly man. The momma was killed and now his daughter wants these babies GONE! They are 7 to 8 weeks old, cute, sweet and very sociable.”
To offer to help with these little rascals or any of the animals in a bad spot in Burns Flat, call Terry Lynn at 580-330-1459 or e-mail [email protected].
That Earhound? That’s a Chihuahua/Dachshund mix that Terry Lynn pulled from the Cordell, Okla., pound to keep her from being killed. She’s under 10 pounds and a “snugglebug,” Terry Lynn says. “I probably pulled 60 ticks off her tiny body. She just sat there and let me do it.”
--THE CARTHAGE DOGS: We’ve been getting updates all week on Glynis Ritter’s feral dog situation in Carthage (bunch of dogs, no place to put them, they roam free and multiply). Word is nobody’s able to work this long-standing situation out, so animal folks are appealing to rescue groups not only in East Texas and Dallas, but in Shreveport. Maybe beyond if it takes it. These are a couple of the free-roamers who were dumped or just showed up. Contact [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS: The latest report on Justice, the dog set afire in Dallas’ Pleasant Grove section, is that the vets at the Texas A&M’s Small Animal facility say he’s got a better than 50-50 chance at survival. That was yesterday’s report (and you can monitor condition reports on the DFW Rescue Me Facebook site. Be careful -- ugly photos.).
You may recall that news stories and polite websites such as Readlarrypowell.com restricted the description of the crime as “sprayed with lighter fluid and set on fire,”
That’s just way too sanitary. It doesn’t capture the “group cruelty” of this situation.
 So, it’s probably a good thing that you have a chance to read the police report. Perhaps this will inspire people to demand that the criminal or criminals be taken off the streets, away from decent people, away from people and beings they can harm while laughing.
In the criminal justice system, these reports frequently are the basis for grand jury investigation and indictment of a bad guy. They then may become part of the courtroom prosecution. Maybe not. Depends on the case.
But, basically, you have to have an investigation before you can get the case rolling. And, since these reports are available to the public and thanks to Metroplex Animal Coalition’s Director of Animal Advocacy Jonnie England, we have this for you to contemplate today.
If you have a heart or a sense of decency, you will be outraged. Here’s the report (with explanations of police jargon):
”On Tuesday, April 4, 2012, at about 8:57 p.m., ROS [Responding officers] were dispatched to 1230 N. Masters Dr. regarding a large group of mails setting a dog on fire in center of complex. Upon arrival ROS observed several scattering juveniles laughing.
”An unknown wit [witness] stated he observed the puppy running across the apartment courtyard smoking and running towards the front of the complex. ROS found a brown Pitbull puppy approximately 4 months old, entire body burned. ROS observed a strong smell of burned hair and flesh. Animal Control was called to location and transported puppy. ROS searched the area for crime scene and found minimum results, a burned Styrofoam plate, a burned ice cream bar wrapper and a white shirt used to extinguish the puppy. PES [Physical Evidence Section] called to location.
"Wit 1 stated he observed ‘Slim’ with a bottle of charcoal lighter fluid and pouring the lighter fluid on the puppy and lighting the puppy on fire. A large group was gathered around the puppy watching and laughing and observed an unknown upset female attempting to put out the flames with a shirt and a bottle of water. The group observed the ROS entering the complex and scattered.
" ’Slim’ fled on foot to the back of the complex and jumped over the fence.
”RO Bowen observed Wit 2 and Wit 3 earlier in possession of the puppy. Wit 2 and Wit 3 stated they were holding the puppy for ‘Ohio’ who they observed strangulating the puppy with rope in a cruel manner over a fence and fled when he observed RO Bowen approaching. Wit 2 and 3 did not see the puppy being set on fire.”
So, there you have it folks, the Slim and Ohio Show.
They don’t pay cops enough in this town.
If anybody knows the whereabouts of anybody connected with this set-the-puppy-on-fire event, call the Dallas Police – the tip line is 214-373-8477.
Since we’re in a contemplative state right now, don’t contemplate trying to apprehend Slim or Ohio on your own. It’s a job for the authorities so the case can be properly developed and the bad guys can be sent to the wing of the state prison labeled “Really Sick SOBs.”
Pardon my French.
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Justice moved for treatment...

Earlier this afternoon, the folks with DFW Rescue Me have issued a report on the condition of Justice the Burned Dog – he’s entering Texas A&M’s Small Animal Hospital to get some special treatment for his serious burns.
According to the rescue group’s Facebook page, “During a procedure last night, his vets discovered that his entire abdomen was burned worse than previously diagnosed.”
Before you stop reading hear and go looking for that Facebook site, let me warn you that you might not want to creating a lasting memory of the photographs. More in a moment on this.
During the afternoon, Justice was being driven to Bryan and the special care at the A&M facility. You recall his story, no doubt, set ablaze in Pleasant Grove. Nobody caught yet. The police are looking for tips and bad guys.
In a note forwarded to Readlarrypowell.com by Jonnie England, the Director of Animal Advocacy for the Metroplex Animal Coalition, the DFW Rescue group is quoted as saying, “As a group, we at DFW Rescue Me, along with his vets, are very sensitive to the amount of pain he is in and his tolerance of the treatments. If at any time the most humane option is to release him from this world, we will do it.  Until that point, we plan to fight along with him on his path to a wonderful new life.” OK, if you’ve never seen what burns do to a dog, you can see them on the rescue group’s Facebook page. I caution you that it will stick with you – it’s a picture you won’t be able to erase. The site is the place where you can get updates on Justice’s condition, but I wanted to make sure you understood what you’d be looking at – a photo that makes you uneasy about the people who are uncaught in this case. To see the page and the photo, click HERE.
Remember, if you know anything about this case, call the police. Bless their hearts, they have plenty to monitor already, but you know it’s just a matter of time until the bad guys hurting animals graduate to being bad guys hurting humans. That’s a proven fact – you can look it up – mistreat animals, grow up to be a serial killer.
This dog is going through agony. Sadly, a conviction will lead only to jail time.  You can’t hypnotize criminals into thinking they're on fire and ask, “How do you like that?” That would be wrong.
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Honor the grilled cheese, help the animals...

We learned from a little card on the counter at Norma’s in Oak Cliff last weekend that this is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day.
It’s a great country, isn’t it? That's our Readlarrypowell.com staff impersonator, Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas, giving us his impression of a turophile rushing into the Fromage Pavilion at the World's Fair and spotting a big steaming platter of Mom's Meatloaf and Grilled Four-Cheese 'n' Green Onion Sandwiches with a coupon for a cardiologist visit and a membership at a gym.
Now, our daily report, in which we will make a futile attempt to address each topic in no more than 3 sentences or a couple of paragraphs. Here goes:
COLLIN COUNTY PUSH CONTINUES: The Collin County Animal Services Shelter in McKinney has been full for a while, but the volunteers and hustling staffers keep working on moving the animals out into homes and rescue groups.
From Friday through Sunday, the shelter is offering $50 adoptions on all dogs and cats. Fifty bucks for a friend – not a bad deal. (The shelter is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.) All adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip and vaccinations, according to a press release sent to us by Miranda Fick, the Volunteer Coordinator for CCAS. [More later in today's report on the CCAS push.]
Heck, if someone would just take all the big black dogs out of CCAS it would open a ton of space. For example, that solemn-faced dog on the left is owner-surrender Daffodil, about a year old, and the dog about to get a little muzzle action there is Ash, a 2-year-old Lab. (For adoptions, contact both [email protected] and [email protected].
CHALLENGES THAT SHOW UP AT DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES: Dallas is a big city. You never know what’s coming through the door at a big city shelter. Like, for instance, the call was issued last night for help with a “very cute and sweet Shih Tzu with a badly broken femur.”  The shelter isn’t a hospital, but rescue groups have access to vets who can help the dog, so DAS Rescue Coordinator Mark Cooper issued the plea and, last night, wrote, “Our vet staff is doing everything they can to reduce swelling and pain. Without x-rays we can’t be certain how bad the break actually is. So we cannot say if surgery is necessary.” The year-old dog is named Gus. He was given pain meds to get him through the night. And Mark adds, “He has a very comfy bed, but he just won’t lay in it.” And, this morning, Mark reports that Tzu Zoo Rescue is going to pick up Gus and give him safe haven.
STILL AVAILABLE: When last we spokes to Kimberley Olsen (April 3 edition) she had this discarded alley dog she’d found, a deadline to deal with her and no place to park the female Pit Bull – but there was something about the dog that changed the deadline. “She was probably kept in a cage to breed and then was thrown out on the streets to stare,” Kim says, but things have changed for the dog and she’s now being treasured while the family hunts for a home for this kid-friendly girl.
“I am asking anyone who wants to take her to provide a reference- a vet, the animal group you’re affiliated with, yada yada.   I want to be sure she goes to a good home after all this work and I figure folks would understand why.” (Contact: [email protected].)
BE ON THE LOOKOUT (PAYNE SPRINGS AREA): From “down at the lake,” Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake forwarded this note about a timid Yorkie who has been missing since about 8 p.m. Saturday when, out being walked by his grandmom when someone fired off firecrackers nearby, she looked to see the source and when she turned back the little dog was gone. “We looked through the night and the next day. I am hoping someone has found him because he never came back. He is a very timid dog as he was rescued from a puppy mill about 4 years ago.” (Contact: [email protected] or call 682-365-3305.)|
THE PRESSURE OF BEING A CAT: We got a note (like so many other animal folks) from veteran rescuer Rebecca Kornblum about this cat Baby Boy (the one on the left), rescued “from uncaring, neglectful owners several months ago” but a rambunctious dog and a new kitten at his current house have led him to become a not-so-happy cat so he needs a new safe haven or he’s going to a shelter. Rebecca would take him, but, she explains, “We are having a baby in the next week or so and can’t take him here but he is the sweetest guy.”  He’s 5, vaccinated, neutered and declawed.  The people trying to help him have been given until April 18 to find a new home for this handsome cat. (Contact the helper: Debbie Fairchild at 214-803-3224 or e-mail [email protected].)
LIVE ANIMALS IN CHURCH: Stacy Smith of the Flower Mound Humane Society tipped us to the fact that the Society has applauded efforts to keep a Tarrant County preacher from using “wild animals” – lion, lamb, elephant, etc. – in his church presentations. You can read about the Society’s stance by going to its website HERE. It’s also on Facebook HERE but you’ll have to hunt to find it, that being the nature of the cacophony that is Facebook.
ONE MORE COLLIN COUNTY NOTE:  I asked Miranda Flick about the promotional push for CCAS adoptions – a good idea for all shelters, I figure. She says that Shelter Manager Misty Brown “is hard at work with a few of us volunteers!  Me, Misty and [shelter walker] Allison Roberts brainstorm constantly trying to find new ways.  We got a whole line up this summer! Once we brainstorm and everything is approved, there are several volunteers involved in making everything happen.  It's so hard to just say it's one person, but definitely Misty -- we wouldn't be getting done with anything as volunteers if it wasn't for her support and help!”
VACCINATIONS: TCAP (Texas Coalition for Animal Protection) has four sites for low-cost vaccinations this weekend in Dallas/Fort Worth. You can see them HERE and read about the organization, see other services, etc.
REGARDING THE VSP DOGS AT DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES: When the week started there were 5 animals on the list for euthanasia for Wednesday – they’d all been in the shelter for 45 days and nobody wanted them. So, rescue groups stepped up to claim them and in a note from Jonnie England of the Metroplex Animal Coalition, a strong supporter of DAS and a member of the Dallas Animal Shelter Commission, we learn that Homeward Bound took one, Paws In The City took three and Tonka, who we’d mentioned here, went to DFW Rescue Me, which also is tending to Justice, the burned dog from Pleasant Grove.
All these rescue groups need support in the way of foster homes, cash and, of course, “atta-way-to-goes.” Google ‘em and say hey.
Oh, yeah, there’ll be another list, no doubt. Dallas is going to have unwanted animals as long as there are people without a clue.
WHERE’S RHONDA: For several weeks Seagoville volunteer Johnna Bigley has been trying to find a place for Rhonda the Big Brown Loveable Unwanted Dog. Johnna reports, “Rhonda was accepted into the Humane Society of Williamson County near Austin. …Two of our volunteers are just getting back [Wednesday evening] from taking her there and they loved it. Rhonda was greeted with a soft bed in her kennel, a door to the outside where she can stretch her legs, a Kong toy filled with peanut butter, a Nylabone and a stuffed animal! They’re a true No-Kill facility and are having amazingly successful adoption fairs.”
And, of course, I kidded Johnna that Rhonda was the last dog in the Seagoville shelter. And, we both laughed. Plenty more, of course.  Click HERE.
GRETCHEN AND CHESTER NEED A PLACE: Deborah Verner has been one of our rescue contacts for years – pulling free-roamers off the streets, particularly along the traditional dumping ground, Malloy Bridge Road, in southeast Dallas County.
This dog Gretchen (smaller pup), about 5 years old, is one of those southeast Dallas dogs. The Lab mix is usually very sweet, but, Deborah says, “She gets very nervous, and freezes up in new situations. She is very leery of strangers, but will eventually warm up to you given the chance. She lived as a stray for at least 6 months with Charlie [not pictured] on an abandoned property in Seagoville prior to being rescued (with the help of the Seagoville Shelter's Director Todd Brisbon) in August 2009, and, just prior to having 11 pups. 9 of the 11 pups died of distemper, with 2 surviving (Chester pup, Starr). This was her second litter of pups. Fluffy, rescued in April, was from her first litter.
Gretchen is healthy, microchipped, up to date on shots and spayed. She is also “terrified of storms, and is fine as long as she isn't confined to one room.  She will literally chew thru the door framing/sheetrock to try to get out.  She can also chew her way out of a chain link kennel.
”She needs to go to her forever home along with Chester pup, who is very bonded to her.”
Yep, there’s your challenge, Dear Readers. Take one equals take two.
(Contact: [email protected] or call 21-546-2772.
Life is full of challenges for man and beast.
CONNTEMPLATIONS:  Having been an editor for many years it is a reflex to look for errors and having been a writer for many years, it is a fate to commit errors – that’s just the way it works out. However, on an online news site this morning, I spotted this passage: “The bikini model is used to bearing nearly everything,…”  As the penny-pinching newspaper publisher said in the film The Treasure of the Sierra Newsroom,, “Editors? We don’t need no stinkin’ editors.” … . Worst mistake I can recall making? There was the time….no, wait. We don’t have time or space today to recount my mistakes. … Special thanks to all of you who have commented lately on Readlarrypowell.com. Good to get the kind comments and the comments that aren’t so kind, too. We’re always trying to do better and get more sleep. And diet. Thanks for your participation in this online project to save animals and help animal people get along with each other -- a worthy goal here on Natinal Grill Cheese Sandwich Day. Inky's in the kitchen now -- he can really work that egg-turner.
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