Ah, the faces, the tails and tales...

 Heads up, Dallas animal fans.
The Dallas Animal Shelter Commission is scheduled to meet Thursday and we’ll write about that later in this report.
In the meantime, just for the sake of sanity, we’re going to praise the joy you can see in a dog’s face.
Perhaps you’ve never seen anyone who was happy to see you. Dogs simply aren’t afraid of showing that emotion -- sometimes it's vivid and sometimes it is like this dog's face: a warm weather, tongue-lolling look that asks, "You got water?"
Some people think dogs only bark or growl greetings. But the truth is they will show you how glad they are to see you walking in the front door. They’ll smile at you in the morning when no one else will.
This face belongs to Creek, a 2-year-old Lab mix currently on the clock at Collin County Animal Services (He’s #368698.)
Our CCAS shelter-walking tipster Alison Roberts sent out a note that read “Intake is still out of control and shelter is still in a very critical state with no open kennels.”
To ask about Creek or any animal in the shelter in McKinney, email  [email protected] and [email protected]  
ADOPTABLES IN ROWLETT: Our Rowlett tipster, the veteran rescuer Dawna Carabajal, sent us a situationer regarding that small town shelter. “The adoptions have been up at the Rowlett Animal Shelter lately, thanks to the great work Donna Hurst is doing for us on our Facebook page.
”But as always, there are plenty of babies that need our help.
”If you get a chance would you mind a little write up on a few of our animals? First, we have a ‘Rescue Only’ Rottie mix. The staff and volunteers all report that he is a really sweet boy but he growled at the vet so he was deemed unadoptable. That's it, no second chance. One of the volunteers reports that yesterday he climbed right up into her lap. He just wants some love. …
”Next, there is Blossom. She is an adult Labrador/Pit mix. She is quite the Earhound. One of the volunteers reports ‘This sweet girl really needs a home. She's been at the shelter awhile. She will look through the toy basket, choose one and play fetch. She's a live wire with a great disposition and shiny black coat.’ Her adoption fee has been bought down so it is only $25.
”Finally, we have a real cat situation. We worked hard over the last 2 weeks to bring down the cat population and we were making real progress. Then the shelter had to seize 15 cats from one home. The seized cats must be held for 7 days so that has put all of our other cats in real danger.
”Due to this situation all cat adoption fees have been reduced to only $25. I have attached a picture of Farrah. She is an adult Tabby/Maine Coon mix that has the most luxurious fur coat. Poor Farrah has been at the shelter since May and her time is running out.” [Click on the artwork to make it larger.]
Call the Rowlett Animal Shelter at 972-412-6219 or email [email protected]. There’s also a Facebook page -- Friends of Rowlett Animals.
[Larry aside: Not just the dog-faces are nice to see in your house, but a regal cat – that’s a definite plus around the house.]
HOLLY’S SITUATION: Dallas Animal Services has issued a call for help with this girl, Holly, who has a wound on her leg that just doesn’t seem to be healing. So DAS is trying to find a rescue group to take Holly in and get attention for her medical needs.
BULLETIN: Just as we hit the "go" button on our report, we got a note announcing that Operation Kindness, the no-kill shelter in Carrollton, has agreed to take this dog and tend to her. You can email [email protected] to ask if there are other animals you can help. Animals that are in the position Holly was in: Tag and save or get the needle.
More DAS animals coming up later in this report. Keep reading.
A DISTEMPER CASE: We got a note from Kathryn Davis, the volunteer coordinator of A Different Breed rescue about a dog the rescue group took in from a small shelter on the southern side of Dallas. This guy’s name is Golden and he’s less than a year old, she says.
But the Golden Retriever puppy is being treated for distemper.
This little guy is fighting the good fight – and, indeed, there are distemper survivors around, though it’s a tough and expensive treatment.
Kathryn writes that this dog is “wonderful and well-mannered but will require medical treatment ASAP for his current condition.”
She says ADB hopes to raise $1,500 to cover the pup’s vet care. You can see how to help by clicking HERE and navigating to donate.
THE CATS MOVE ON AND THE $20 DOG STANDS READY: Yesterday we mentioned three adoptable but “lingering in the shelter” cats that weren’t getting any interest at The Colony’s Animal Control Shelter.
Patricia Barrington, the AC Division Manager, reports that Second Chance SPCA (www.scspca.org) took those three kittens – Roo, Boo and Scout. “So, Second Chance SPCA took those kittens!,” she wrote. “They are available via their program.  And, if someone adopts them from Second Chance, then Second Chance has space to take in more shelter critters ... That's what we call a win-win situation.”
Ah, but then there’s Ben – we’ve mentioned Ben before because he’s obviously a trained dancer – got a stance just like some of those performers in The Turning Point or The Red Shoes or Burlesque – wait, I’m not sure about Burlesque -- didn't see it. 
Anyway, Ben's a year-old, 12-pound, wire-haired Dachshund mix. Manager Barrington writes, “He's a doll.  He's been a resident at our lil shelter for a long time... he needs out.  So, in an effort to save this lil fella, here's the deal.  If someone comes to adopt this cutie patootie (by) 6 p.m. Wednesday, they get him for $20 and we throw in a voucher good for up to $100 of vet work at the Texas Coalition for Animal Protection clinic in Denton.  Now, of course, that $100 must be used toward Ben's rabies vaccination, microchip and neuter ... but still it's a great deal!  And, he's a great dog.”
To help this dog have a future, email [email protected] or call 972-370-9250.
A BURNS FLAT FAMILY: You can see in the photo that at least one little puppy knows which side of the room divider the spigot is on.
They’re in Burns Flat, Okla., and our tipster, the tireless rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher reports, “I got this family after some idiots moved away and left them to fend for themselves. The neighbor took them under their carport but stray dogs were attacking them.
”I found a lady to foster them, where she has become very friendly with the kids and other dogs, but she just let me know her husband wants them gone NOW. I have NO PLACE for these babies….I need help now.”
To help Terry Lynn save this family, call 580-330-1459.
STARVED IN SEAGOVILLLE: Our Seagoville Animal Shelter tipster Piper Redman, the president of STAAR (Seagoville Texas Animal Advocates & Rescue), told us about these “severely emaciated male Pitties that were dumped Monday and are now in the shelter.  They are severely malnourished and we are frantically searching for a rescue or someone to take them in. The shelter is busting at the seams and we will continue to feed and help these two little guys but they really need a loving foster/rescue who can give them the time and attention to feeding that they need. They are very sweet boys! We have posted them under our URGENT DOGS IN NEED on the shelter's Facebook page.  Anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated.”
That Facebook page is HERE. The shelter is at 1330 E. Malloy Bridge Road in Seagoville. Phone 972-287-6838. Email [email protected].
BACK TO DALLAS: We got this list of VSP – Very Special Pets – animals from Dallas Animal Services yesterday. We’ve publicized VSP animals before with photos and stories, but somehow, the “list” seems to be impressive on the heart. We’ve all see photos of animals, but to see the “list of the animals to die” is sort of sobering.
All animals on these lists have been in the shelter for 45 days or longer and haven’t gotten a nibble even though they are healthy, adorable and adoptable.
Earlier in the week there were two on the list for Oct. 6, but now there’s just one (the parenthetical info is the date of intake).
DOGS:
”AD# 63 – A# 734566  Pit  Brown Brindle   “Laci”  F  1 yr  48 lbs  (8/2/12).”
This long list is scheduled for euthanasia on Oct. 9. Here goes:
AD# 16 – A# 736474  Pit  Brindle  “Pete”  M/N  9 mos  63.6 lbs  (8/15/12)
AD# 17 – A# 735861  Pit  White/Tan  “Diana”  F/S  3 yrs  67.2 lbs  (8/11/12)
AD# 20 – A# 736223  Lab Mix  Cream  “Duke”  M/N  3 yrs  47 lbs  (8/14/12)
AD# 33 – A# 734076  Pit Mix  Fawn/White  “Chevy”  M/N  5 mos  33 lbs (7/30/12)
AD# 35 – A# 735499  Pit  Brindle  “Blue”  F/S  2 yrs 1 mo  56.6 lbs  (8/9/12)
AD# 39 – A# 736695  Lab  Wht/Yellow  “Marley”  M/N  2 yrs 1 mo  54 lbs  (8/16/12)
AD# 43 – A# 662135  Lab Mix  Yellow  “Georgie”  M/N  2 yrs 1 mo  57 lbs  (8/11/12)
AD# 53 – A# 734018  Pit  Wht/Brn  “Hope”  F  1 yr 2 mos  28 lbs  (7/30/12)
AD# 90 – A# 736023  Hound/Lab  Brn/Blk  “Lucy”  7 mos  25 lbs (8/13/12)
PAWS 9 – A# 735837  Pit Mix  Fawn/White  “Melinda”  F/S  8 mos  40 lbs  (8/11/12)
ID# 5 – A# 734641  Beagle Mix  Brn/Wht  “Cesar”  M/N  4 yrs  12.9 lbs (8/3/12)  HW+
ID# 11 – A# 735576  Pit Mix  Chocolate/Wht  “Joy”  F/S  9 mos  42.6  lbs  (8/8/12)
CATS:
AC# 17 – A# 735903  DSH Brn Tabby/Wht  “Tabitha”  F/S  1 yr 1 mo  3.4 lbs (8/12/12)
AC# 21 – A# 735779  DSH  Black  “Gracie”  F/S  7 mos  5.8 lbs  (8/11/12)
AC# 25 – A# 736790  DSH  Black  “Cecey”  F/S  7 mos  8.8 lbs  (8/16/12)
AC# 51 – A# 736033  DSH  Blk/Wht  “Oreo”  F/S  2 yrs 1 mos  9 lbs (8/13/12)
AC# 59 – A# 735744  DSH  Wht/Blk  “Rose”  F/S  1 yr 1 mo  5.2 lbs  (8/10/12)
Go to www.dallasanimalservices.org to see how to adopt animals from the City of Dallas’ shelter. And rescue groups who want to tag animals from the list should email [email protected]
CONTEMPLATION: This is probably a very proper contemplation today. The Dallas Animal Shelter Commission – 14 people, each appointed by a member of the Dallas City Council – monitors Dallas Animal Services and the Shelter and Adoption Center and animal-related issues such as court cases, spay/neuter rates, etc.  The council advises the city’s bureaucrats and elected officials. Doesn’t mean anybody pays attention to them, but they do have solid, knowledgeable advice and they know when to be outraged and concerned.
The next  commission meeting is at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in at Dallas City Hall in what has traditionally been the city’s coldest venue, Room 6ES. There are microphones for the commissioners, screens for video reports and, in case the meeting runs long, Dallas City Hall has had indoor toilets for years.  Signs of progress abound, though, of course, the city still hews to the long-standing Texas theory of animal care: “Got an animal problem? Let’s kill it.” (Just FYI: That German Shepherd is Max, one of several of his breed currently awaiting either rescue, adoption or the needle at DAS.)
Among items on Thursday’s agenda: introduction of the new shelter Operations Manager, an update on the perplexing and long-running woes of the shelter’s traditionally overwhelmed air-conditioning system, a budget explanation, legal matters, a commissioner retreat, an update on the shelter “facelift” project and the DAS manager’s report which will include the euthanasia rate for the last couple of months.
Other things will probably come up. There’s always time at the end of the meeting for comments from the interested parties in the gallery.
So, what do you contemplate? Perhaps you can contemplate that for as many years as Dallas has had an animal shelter and for as many years as Dallas has had rescuers and a commission and interested city council members, basically not much has changed in the fundamental philosophy of municipal animal shelters. They are places to hold animals until they are rescued or adopted or “processed” with a needle, bagged up and tossed out. The building may be new, the employees may have changed (from permanent to temporary) and the elected officials may have changed, but the shelter still has the same challenge: too many unwanted animals.  Yep, this blame is on the shoulder of the “General Public.”
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