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A desperate "be on the lookout"

Our rescue pal Kimberly Jones tipped us to this story and put us in touch with Rebecca Duran in Longview who is working the phones and the computer to try to get Kali the Doberman back to her son’s family after a Christmas night crash in Dallas.
This is one of those situations that takes more eyes and more hearts looking for a dog in trouble after a car accident between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Christmas night.
The crash occurred in a black ice situation on LBJ at Garland Road. Cars collided, the car Cali was in overturned when all the movement stopped, terrified Kali raced away. [Rebecca’s son and granddaughter walked away from the accident, but when Mom, dazed from the crash, was walking outside of the car, another driver hit the bad patch and struck Mom and a man who was trying to help her. They remain hospitalized.]
Kali is named for California -- that’s where she was adopted from a shelter. 
She is about 4 1/2 years old, weighs just over 60 pounds and is blacj with tan markings. She is spayed, has uncut ears and a docked tail. 
She has been the constant companion and sleeping partner of Rebecca’s 6-year-old granddaughter for years. And the heartbreaking request from the granddaughter to "Please find my Kali" is part of what is driving Rebecca to contact as many people as possible. 
She’s also working with shelters from the neighboring suburban shelters such as Garland and Messquite and Richardson, to Dallas Animal Services. Dallas, she says, “has been so good to me. They called me this morning!” That dog wasn't Kali, but they're continuing to look, says Rebecca. 
Many eyes are looking for this adorable but frightened Doberman, but it may take many more. Dogs can go lots of places in a week. 
[LARRY ASIDE: In the first photo, Kali is carrying an egg she found during the family hunt at Easter. In the second photo, Kali is carrying the present she got for Christmas. This is a beloved family member -- and that's where the creeps come in. I’ve cautioned Rebecca about the “Western Union wire scam” in which someone contacts you, claims to have your dog in a far off city and tells you to wire money for airfare and they’ll ship the dog to you. Don’t wire money. Anybody who actually has your dog wants to get the dog back to you and will be willing to show the dog to you. Criminals can be such jerks.]
Having warned the criminal element, if you actually do know Kali’s whereabouts, 
email [email protected] or call 469-286-7784.
Rebecca says the dog was a comfort to her son when he returned from Marine duty in Afghanistan two years ago. Kali is also a comfort each night to the granddaughter. And , now, with Mom in dire condition in a Dallas hospital, the comfort of knowing that Kali is safe would be a blessing and a relief.
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The last day of the year and opportunities for animals...

Against great odds, we’ve reached the designated end of 2012.
It’s amateur night, so be careful out there when you’re celebrating. Don't be an arrested amateur.
A lot of people thought the year would end earlier than this. Thank you, Mayans.
On the other hand, along about halfway through that presidential election campaign things were dragging at such a pace that it looked like 2012 might just keep going.
Oh, is that a winter face or what? Yep, a stray. From Carrollton. More on Chuck the Chow Mix in a minute -- you may enjoy reading about his weight.
Now, as I shiver from the cold morning moments spent on the back porch demanding that a stubborn dog come in, let’s proceed:
DONATIONS: We got a number of notes reminding us and others that this is the last day to donate to a non-profit and take it off your 2012 taxes -- not sure that’s entirely accurate, but I’m not board-certified in tax law. Doesn’t matter, needs are needs. Money makes the rescue world go ‘round -- I don’t know how a “cliff” fits into this discussion of non-profits who are always on the brink. It isn’t like rescue groups have some sort of magic potion that makes money grow. [Readlarrypowell.com is neither a non-profit nor a not-for-profit, though the evidence is clear that we are gloriously without profit. Buy our short story Christmas On Mo Corner (the button is on the left) and feed a family dog and cat, you know. But, really, just enjoy the story.  And pass along the love.]
STILL LOOKING FOR LUCY: The poster has the details.
You may recall the story. The Fairy Dogmother of Dallas, Angie Manriquez and supporters engineered the rescue of this dog from West Dallas where she was living in an unkempt area while suffering from a prolapsed uterus. Once captured, she underwent life-saving surgery. Then, weeks later, as she was being transferred from one human to another, she bolted.
No sighting for more than a week, reports Rekka Melby of Duck Team 6, the street-dog rescue group.
Rekka says, “We think she might be trying to cross the Trinity River to get back to her original neighborhood in W. Dallas off Singleton and Vilbig.  When we rescued her from the streets in early Nov, she had 2 older pups with her (probably 8-12 months old) so we're wondering if she's trying to get back to them as she seems to have a really strong maternal instinct.”
FACES AND STORIES: The Carrollton Animal Rescue Enterprise folks -- as the city shelter is known these days -- has some immediately available animals with stories. Let’s just dive in:
The cat is Eve. According to the shelter report, “This poor little lady has had a tough time of things. Her person passed away and there were no other family members who would take her in. She lived in the house for a while with no people, until she was discovered and rescue. ... She is an extremely loving cat, who is a bit on the quiet side, patiently waiting for her turn to be fed and get loved on. She is an adult, and would make a great loyal cat for any family.”
The “opposites” are Pinkie and Spot.
Pinkie, a 43-pound young adult (the mostly black dog), was an owner-surrender. It’s a bit of a “you’re kidding me” story. The shelter says that “Pinkie’s owners had her for a month when another family member came to visit for the holidays and brought her own dog with her.  Pinkie didn’t like the visiting dog and her owners decided that Pinkie needed to find a new home instead. Pinkie gets along well with other dogs both here at the shelter and according to her previous owners, she also likes to play with other dogs at the dog park.  She will sit on command for a cookie and is reportedly house-trained. She loves tennis balls and people!”
The mostly white Pitty is Spot -- six months, 30 pounds and a stray. No story of a family dumping her -- yeah, a girl named “Spot” -- on a holiday whim. But, then, no family has come looking for her, either.. Here’s the key description: “She is a real sweetheart who is young and full of that special zest for life only puppies can have.”
And that brings us to the wintry face of Chuck, a 563-pound Chow mix who may be six years old.
[Larry aside: OK, he doesn't weigh 563 pounds. It's more like 53. I had some finger-twitching when I was typing this morning. About 3:45 p.m. my funspouse Martha, aware of my lifelong typo infection, laughed and yelled from her desk, "Hey, honey, does that Chow really weigh 563 pounds?" Of course not. Not yet. If we adopted him, I'm pretty sure we could get up to 250 between now and Groundhog Day.]
Chuck was found wandering the streets of Carrollton.
To ask about any of these animals, call CARE at 972-466-3420 or e-mail [email protected]. These target date to keep these critters away from the needle is Thursday. You can see more Carrollton animals on the shelter’s official Facebook page HERE.
FOOD SWAP: Tina Hamilton of Happy Tails rescue in Gun Barrel City says she’s out of dog food, but would be willing to swap cat food for dog food if any rescue groups or shelter can help make the trade. “We feed 100 pounds a day -- that is two 50-pound bags 7 days a week. We have been buying weekly ($350) -- we can no logner do this.”
To offer to help Happy Tails with donations or food trades, email [email protected] or call 903-275-5990.
PRESSURE IN ROWLETT: OK, here’s what they’re calling a “Code Red” situation thought, to Readlarrypowell.com, anytime an animal is in a city shelter anywhere, it’s “code red.”
Our tipster, the veteran rescuer Dawna Carabajal, sent out a note reporting that “the Rowlett Animal Shelter is completely full in the dogs area. All dogs are now Code Red. We do not get a lot of foot traffic and only 1 rescue group regularly pulls from our shelter. If anyone can pull or adopt even 1 dog that would help. We all love these dogs and do not want to see any put down. Also, the PetFinder listings [a shelter or volunteer responsibility] are not current so there are so many more available animals for adoption then PetFinder shows. If you would like to see the dogs at the shelter please visit Friends of Rowlett Animals Facebook page and view the Dogs Available for Adoption and the Dogs on Stray Hold albums. Almost all of the dogs in the Stray Hold folder are now available for adoption. We are DESPERATE for help. This poster is just a sampling of the dogs available. There are more.”
The Rowlett shelter is at 4402 Industrial in Rowlett. Call 972-412-6219.
MEANWHILE IN ROWLETT: This is Rufus of Rowlett. He’s a 2-year-old neutered male Shepherd mix who has been in the shelter for more than 130 days, according to the note from the Collin County Human Society which handles adoptions for Rowlett.
The report is Rufus is “starting to go kennel crazy and is injuring himself in the process. He has cut up his paws digging at the kennel floor and needs to get out of the shelter environment immediately. He is a very sweet dog once he is out of the shelter environment.”
The Rockwall shelter is at 1825 W. Airport Road in Rockwall. Call 972-771-7750, ext. 2. 
BURNS FLAT HELPING CORDELL: This note comes to us from the veteran rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher of Burns Flat, the small town in western Oklahoma. She’s writing about a situation in Cordell, Okla., which as the crow flies is about 10 or 12 miles southeast of Burns Flat, but crows didn’t lay out the highways, so it takes about 20-25 minutes to go to Cordell which sits on U.S. 183.
All that aside, Terry Lynn is trying to save this dog. “This beautiful big boy has several things against him,” she writes. He is big. He is black. He is in hell.
“But because there is a wonderful lady who cares I was asked to please post him tot ry and find a safe place for this beauty to go.”
He’s beein in the shelter for a month -- the Animal Control Oficer says he needs to leave. Bargains have been made, but after the first of the year, the bargains are done. And, so, too, may be this dog. To offer to help this dog, email Terry Lynn at [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS: I saw a story over the weekend about a giant python that showed up at a picnic in Florida and was immediately killed by a family from Arkansas. Lots of “kill dynamics” at work in that sentence. You won’t find me embracing a snake, but I also hope not to be embraced by a snake. However, “Got an animal problem? Let’s kill it” is not a happy solution. Still, it turns out that Florida, fed up with non-native pythons, has a “season” to wipe the invasive snakes out (yes, people turned their pets loose and the population grew. Sort of like the feral hog situation in Texas (and some Dallas suburbs). Now, if we could just figure out a way to get the feral hogs and the pythons in the same Zip Code for a Natural Selection Population Control Project -- wait that would be wrong. Though Florida could probably create a “Send a Snake To Texas” project. Read that snake story HERE. ... The rest of us are waiting until midnight to end 2012, but the Dallas Cowboys ended the year about a day early in Washington. Longtime Cowboys fans may have heard the ghost of Tom Landry yelling, “No, Tony, no!” And surely the 2013 Cowboys will have tackling drills. Nobody on the 2012 team could tackle last night. You’d think out of 11 guys, one of them could have grabbed somebody. ... So, with a sigh of relief, “Happy New Year” to you from Readlarrypowell.com. We’ve awakened with a dog or two who has cabin fever and a cat who keeps explaining, “Settle down.” Cat’s usually don’t bother to explain. Fsst. Fssst.
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A little sleeper is rescued; some dogs in sinister situations...

On December 20, we ran this photo - it is a picture of 6.7 pound dog who was dumped at Dallas Animal Service.
Six point seven pounds, 2-years old -- how much of a problem could that be in the world?
Yet, it was his 5th day in the lockup. He didn’t belong there. No animal does.
The DAS Rescue Team, with the goal of getting as many animals happily out of the shelter as possible, made a special appeal for this guy and several other adorable adoptables. Some were in better shape than others but all need the kindness of humans.
This dog’s photo captured the heart of our pal Della Wallace. She immediately began to work to get him.
And that is how the little dog came to be the spotlight critter for this holiday weekend’s feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
Della immediately began making calls, firing off emails, making arrangements and plotting to make the drive from her home in the northern area of the Metrosprawl to the City of Dallas Animal Services Adoption Center at I-30 and Westmoreland.
She would pick up the dog that would become known as “Alastair.” Della named him after the actor Alastair Sim, start of the 1951 movie Scrooge, a version of Charles Dickens‘ A Christmas Carol.
You can see what the photos are -- one features a human whose been seen before in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. That’s Della’s husband, David -- a few weeks ago, we published a photo of two big dogs laying atop him as he tried to nap. This time, that is Alastair curled up next to David in the happy sleep of a dog with a home.
Why was such a congenial dog in the city animal shelter? Della says, “I was told he was left there because his owners were moving and couldn’t take him  Makes me so mad when they do that.  There are lots of properties for rent that will take animals.”
In addition to curling up with David, you can see Alastair curled up in a bed, too. Della excitedly explained in a post-adoption email,“I just went shopping for Alastair. He got a new bed, a coat, a leash and a squeaky toy.  He is already spoiled and knows his name. Here he is in his new bed.  As you can see he is all boy!”
Della says that Alastair “sleeps under the covers in the bed with me and is as good as gold through the night. The storm [Christmas morning’s thunderstorm] didn't bother him a bit. The big boys and girls were petrified, but not Alastair. He should be feeling more secure very soon.”
Then she adds,“He is so little, much smaller than I thought he would be. I can't believe that someone would throw him away because they were moving.”
That dog snoozing in antlers is Sheridan -- one of Alastair’s roomies. (That's Sheridan pawing David’s face while he and Daisy were trying to catch some winks -- see our Dec. 8-9 (Let Sleeping Dogs Lie...” edition)”
We’re not sure, but we think Sheridan may be wearing antlers because he was “on call” Christmas Eve, just in case a reindeer pulled a muscle or something. Sheridan, with the light paws, is perfect for rooftop landings, apparently.
And, as you can see, Sheridan and little Alastair are happily home for the holidays.
[To nominate your slumbering critters for the spotlight of our internationally read weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send the photos and info to [email protected]. We’re proud to publish these shots of snoozing critters because they give insomniacs hope that some day they, too, can nod off. It’s a lifetime goal for many of us. But, if we were not insomniacs would we learn to enjoy overnight TV?]

***
SOME THINGS BEFORE WE TAKE A WEEKEND BREAK: There are some animal stories that are yet to be resolved. Shelters and rescue groups have animals that need homes. Some animals have homes but need better homes. We’re citing some of these stories right now -- perhaps this weekend someone will be able to help. Please read on:
A DENTON DOG: For as long as I’ve known my pal Bonnie Lovell -- Decades now, decades! I tell you! -- she has been working to help distressed dogs and cats. It’s a lifestyle.
She says this beauty is part of “a lost dog saga that I became involved with.”
He is a big dog -- around 100 pounds and probably under 2. He’s loveable, friendly, energetic and he's in the Denton Animal Shelter because there’s no place that can keep him. So, he needs a home. He was picked up on Dec. 9 while dodging traffic on Carroll Boulevard in Denton. He’s registered as “Bryan” at Denton’s shelter and his number is 43204. He’s got a supporter who’ll toss in the $120 adoption fee to someone who’ll take him to a good home -- repeat, a good home, Bonnie says.
When he first turned up Bonnie put out signs and knocked on doors looking for his owner. She bought an ad in the local paper and offered a reward to”to anyone who could point me toward the dog’s owner.” No dice.
Ah, but sometimes you can find a resource walking through the neighborhood. The U.S. Postal Service letter carrier recognized the dog and, in a good deed gesture, pointed Bonnie toward the home where the dog might live. She left a note on the door.
“That night,” she says, “the owner called me. She positively identified the dog to my satisfaction. The dog is a Lab-Pit mix (I had guessed some Great Dane or Boxer) and was her 3-year-old son’s dog. His name is (was) Simba. If I understood correctly, the dog jumped their fence.”
The story has other twists and turns regarding attempts to fence the dog in and get him into another home and that sort of thing.
The dog was on the lam again when Bonnie spotted him as he was going into custody, She's got a big soft heart and she took on an emotional responsibility for trying to get him into a good home because his owner’s weren’t interested in bailing him out.
So, the bottom line is the big,friendly, loveable dog is due to get the needle if nobody steps up to save him.
To get more info, call 940-387-1488. The Denton Animal Shelter number is 940-349-7594.
A BACKYARD DOG: The initial note on this is disturbing. It was distributed last night. Here it is in original form and the subject line read “Dog abandoned, tied up, possibly dead.” 
The unsigned text reads: “2 of my friends were telling me about this little soul at dinner tonight. This Rottie is at their neighbor’s house behind them. Its seems as if this little one has had a very tough life. The house has no enclosed fencing. The pup has been tied up outside most of its life. My friends understand the family has gone away for the holidays. The pup was left tied outside. A call was made to 311 and a complaint was filed with the SPCA. There has not been any noise from the pup in two days. So, they do not know if the pup has been rescued or sadly died. It is out in the cold/snow/rain, probably no food. They use to slip food to it thru the common fence, but the neighbors put up a solid high common fence so they could no longer. Any help with this pup would be greatly appreciated.”
[This probably is one of those situations where people call Dallas Animal Services but say they called the SPCA. It happens. People who don't usually deal with animal situations don't know the difference. That sometimes makes it tough for rescuers, tough for the animals.]
Veteran rescuer Kimberly Jones got a copy of that note and on Friday she took action. She sent this note to Readlarrypowell.com.
“I went to this house today to see if this dog is okay. When I pulled up, 311 was there speaking to the owner of the dog. I could hear the dog outside in the backyard but not see the dog. I am going to call 311 and make another report on the dog to ensure they follow up and take this seriously. The 311 lady there was rude. If anyone else wants to call and file a report, I suggest they do so and get a report number from 311.”
The location is on West 10th near the intersection of West Jefferson and Hampton.
Stay tuned. I guess.
ABOUT THE EMACIATED DOG IN GARLAND: Remember this dog from Thursday’s edition of Readlarrypowell.com? She was in the Garland Animal Shelter -- really emaciated. 
Friday we got an email from veteran rescuer Dwana Carabajal reporting that the dog is not only starving, she’s also pregnant. “If you think the picture is bad, you should see her in person,” Dawna says.
Late Friday we got a report from veteran rescuer Deborah Verner that a rescue group has committed to picking her up Saturday. We’re hoping to contact Apollo Support & Rescue for Abandoned Dogs to confirm the pickup and determine what sort of help is needed for this dog. No doubt, people will want to help.
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Earhounds, strays and situations...

Was the theme of 2012 “I'm listening”?
Probably not. It was an election year.
Politics aside, let’s consider this spectacular set of Earhounds, siblings Kona and Charlie, currently offering their unique up-and-down style at the SPCA of Texas.
We love Earhounds because they are uplifting, even when the ears are down.
SPCA Communications Coordinator Stephanie Daniels forwarded the photo and info to us and explained, “Our digital communications coordinator, Abigail Glavy, spotted this adorable pair! Kona and Charlie are brother and sister Akita mixes who are very well-behaved and absolutely adorable!  I like to call these ears the ‘Mirror Ears’ since they both seem to have the opposite ear sticking up. What do you think?”
Absolutely. They fit right into the Tandem Presentation section of the Earhounds of America Registry (EAR) Handbook.
The good thing is they are available to a loving home that will understand that year-old Akita-Border Collie mixes are always listening for the next instruction.
Charlie and his sister, according to the SPCA’s adoptable animals website summary, “were surrendered to the SPCA of Texas on Christmas Eve because they [their humans] said the dogs were too big.”
They’re house-trained, crate-trained, ought to be adopted together and available now. Stop by the SPCA and try ‘em out. If they don’t work for you, there are plenty of other dogs and cats at the SPCA.
Just one set of “Mirror Ears,” however.
And, seriously, when can dogs be “too big” for somebody who loves them? Maybe if economics is forcing you to live in a Mini Cooper, but, then, if you really love the dogs, they’ll get the car with the radio and you can sleep in the park nearby.
THE IRVING LIST: Volunteer shelter walker Russell Posch, who photographs the Irving Animal Services dogs in an attempt to save their lives, has distributed a list of six dogs on “the list” for Friday.
Among them is this girl Zoe. We’ve mentioned her before. It just seems so unlikely that young, 46-pound Lab mix like Zoe would have dodged being adopted or rescued. But such is the case.
She was surrendered at the shelter because her owner was moving and she just didn’t fit in with the plans. So, there she is, thinking that life in a shelter is her home. She doesn’t know that unless someone gets her today, she gets the death needle by sundown.
And sundown comes early in the winter. To try to help Zoe dodge the cold, steel needle that will deliver fatal liquid into her system, go to the shelter and get her. You can see the other 5 -- all young strays -- and Zoe, too, by going HERE.]
Call the Irving shelter at 972-721-2256 or 2257. Email [email protected], [email protected] , or [email protected].
A PAIR IN EULESS: You wonder, how could two such older, cute dogs become strays? But, here they are, the girls currently known as #14297 and #14298 in the Euless Animal Shelter. They came in as strays on December 21.
A note from our tipster Karen Lee, avid supporter of the GAP Club and the Euless shelter’s work, says they are “sweet loving dogs and don’t deserve to be in the shelter.”
They’re available for adoption or to rescue groups.
Call the Euless shelter at 817-685-1594. Stop by the shelter at 1517 Westpark Way in Euless.
What? Yes, of course, these dogs are being sponsored by the GAP Club (Girls Awareness Program) of Euless Trinity High School, so their adoption fee of $85 each will cover spaying, vaccinations, and rabies shots.
EFFORTS  TO HELP PETS LEFT BEHIND BY TRAGEDIES: Readlarrypowell.com has been asked to help with two different post-housefire situations. The first came to us from Houston tipster Alexandra Kelsey. The second came from Delta County, northeast of Dallas.  In each case, there are animals that need help.
    --FROM NEEDVILLE, SOUTHWEST OF HOUSTON: Alexandra forwarded a note to us from Stacy McBryde who wrote about a trailer fire that killed a high school friend of hers. He left behidn 4 German Shepherds and a Lab. 
That note put us in touch with Carol Petigrew who added this info about “our friend Chris Duncan.” She wrote, “He has no relatives in Houston so his friends are trying to help the family by protecting his equipment and tools.  We will need permission from the family whenever they get to Houston, to let these dogs be adopted.  At this time, I am in contact with Second Chance German Shepherd Rescue and I have located the vet that Chris used.  This will help to know the dogs names and ages and proof of immunizations.”
No photos, but you know what German Shepherds and Labs look like.
Carol says that she’s been told a friend of the family is going to Needville to see what can be done and that a neighbor is feeding the dogs. She adds, “One of my rewscue friends say that Fort Bend Animal Shelter will take the dogs as ‘abandoned animals’ and will keep them for 30 days. That would allow time for some of the rescue groups to get involved.”
To offer to help or to offer sage advice, email [email protected].
    --FROM DELTA COUNTY, NORTHEAST OF DALLAS: Diana Zubrod sent us a note about two dogs that “have been abandoned in the country in Delta County.  Their owner’s trailer burned last week, killing him. The man’s son was also burned badly and transported to Parkland Hospital.  The dogs (females), who are very friendly, have been left to fend for themselves.  They are grieving, scared and freezing.  One of the dogs is young, probably under a year old and about 30-40 pounds.  The other dog is smaller (about 25 pounds.) and probably around 7-8 years old.  I don’t know the breed of either of them. If you or anyone you know can help them, please contact me ASAP via email [[email protected]] or phone [214-676-1781].”
Diana says that when the Delta County Sheriff’s Office (Cooper is the county seat) wasn’t helpful, she contacted Dallas Animal Services “and they have given me some recommendations which I am doing. ... I’m at a loss and am so worried about these poor little dogs.  If the elements don’t get them, I’m afraid that wolves or coyotes will eventually.”
A BIG DOG IN OKLAHOMA: The world in Burns Flat, Okla., has been just as cold and wintry as it has been in Dallas. And the shelter there has more dogs than it needs, just like the big shelter in Dallas.
Our rescue tipster in the little western Oklahoma town is pitching this dog this week. Terry Lynn Fisher writes, “This beautiful big boy is still here in jail. He is so beautiful and loving. ADORES the kids. I have not seen any issues with the other dogs. I really am uncertain about cats. 
“We are an outdoor shelter, so he has been in this cold, snowy weather. We have a roof over it and we have put tarps around it, but the snow has blown in and it has been so cold.
“He is a BIG dog. When he stands on his hind paws, he is taller than I am.”
Well, of course, if you’re a Texan you may say, “Oh, that’s Oklahoma tall.” Which isn’t all that tall for a Texan, but it’s still a pretty tall dog.
To help that big guy get out of the Burns Flat shelter, email Terry Lynn at [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS: At any point in the past two weeks have you said, “I don’t believe people are decorating as much this year.”? ... True or false: The lingo may not be pretty in his movies, but, honestly, Mark Wahlberg is a very watchable actor. Good with drama, good with comedy. (It’s not for family viewing, but The Other Guys is a riot -- and that note establishes my level of sophistication.) ... Ah, the last weekend of 2012. Find something happy to do. It’ll be significant that you entered the new year no longer worried about the presidential election, the Mayan predictions or the Dallas Cowboys. You may still wish to worry about your property -- the Texas Legislature begins its session next month.
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The chilly world, critters and you...

Two words to describe the morning temp in Dallas: “punishingly cold.”
Discovered it while rolling the trash bin to the pickup spot by the curb.
Now, with renewed appreciation for people who work outside for a living, we type on.
SOME GOOD NEWS:  Jackson has been rescued.
On Christmas Day, the folks with Dallas Animal Services began seeking help with this 8-year-old Bichon named Jackson. He’d been struck by a car and his humans couldn’t afford vet bills, so they took him to DAS which has no x-ray machine, but did put him on pain-control meds.
Rescuer Martha Lindsey worked a cooperative deal involving Poodle Rescue of North Texas (sponsoring the “tagging” of the dog) and Small Paws Rescue which agreed to take Jackson in and find a good home for him.
DAS knew Jackson was injured, but couldn’t pinpoint the injuries -- no x-ray machine.
Martha took the dog to her vet who the x-rays. Jackson, she reports “has three pelvic fractures but crate rest will heal them -- no broken bones!”
She also says, “I will be fostering him and paying his vet bills as Ruth [Hollis of Poodle Rescue] did this as a favor for me....He is very sweet and should be very adoptable when he is well again.”
MAKING THE EMAIL ROUNDS: You may have seen this photo already. This dog is in the Garland Animal Shelter and people are emailing the picture to contacts all over the place in an attempt to get some help for her.
It is clear she is emaciated.
The number for Garland Animal Services is 972-205-3570. The Garland Animal Services page is HERE.
The rescue email address at this shelter is [email protected].
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT HOLIDAY: There are still animals in shelters who are listed under Christmas names. Mistletoe, for example, is still at the Collin County Animal Services Shelter in McKinney. She takes time to warm up but once she does, as this photo demonstrates, she's all yours.
This morning, thanks to volunteer shelter walker Allison Roberts, we saw a list of dogs that need placement because the shelter is full and weather has made adoptions slow -- kept the shelter closed yesterday.
What we have here are three dogs representing the next official holiday -- New Year’s Day. The portrait is of Champagne, a 2-year-old Earhound officially labeled as a “terrier mix.” She’s skinny right now and has a broken tail even though her picture makes her look like she’s an executive with a major mortgage firm. She has that “I’m listening and I want to help you” look.
The dog with the interesting facial coat is Cork, also a 2-year-old terrier mix. He’s simply a different form of terrier.
And that Black Lab mix is Midnight, also 2. He’s a little skittish in the shelter, but warms up. 
Rescuers can tag these or any CCAS dogs by emailing [email protected] and [email protected].
You can see more Collin County animals on the volunteer Facebook page HERE.
ATTENTION MASSACHUSETTS: This story is all over the internet. Author Dennis Lehane’s Beagle Tessa is missing -- unauthorized exit from a fenced yard, according to news stories. The author of such best-sellers as Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone says he’ll name a character in his next book after the person who finds his lost dog, missing since Monday in Brookline. The story’s on the WCVB-TV site HERE.
You never know. It’s winter. Beagles keep moving. Somebody in a car bound for the south may have picked up the dog. By now Tessa could be in Texas. Stranger things have happened.
THE BIG ANNUAL RAFFLE: Just a reminder that the Humane Society of Dallas County is in the midst of its annual fundraising rabble to support it’s longtime no-kill shelter in Dallas, Dog ‘n’ Kitty City. See the raffle info by going HERE.
CONTEMPLATIONS: True or false? Most thoughts today do not involve election campaigns but do involve staying warm. ... Would a winning lotto ticket be a relief or just add an impossible pile of tax problems to your life? Yeah, who needs that. ... I am sipping coffee and my literary aide, Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas, is staring at me. I appear to be one treat behind on the morning schedule. He is a stickler.
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On a cold morning in Dallas...

It’s a staggeringly cold morning after Christmas -- temps in the low toe-numbing range -- and Readlarrypowell.com is appreciative that the company commute is less than 60 feet and involves no public thoroughfares.
Now, a quick mid-week report:
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Two things on the list this morning.--
We reported Jackson’s situation late Christmas Day. Dallas Animal Services has been looking for help with the 8-year-old Bichon mix -- struck by a car, his humans didn’t have money to take him to a vet, so they took him to Dallas Animal Services.
DAS issued a request for help early Christmas Day but had gotten no help by late in the day. The dog needs to be x-rayed so the path of treatment can be determined.
So, email [email protected]. (You can read Jackson’s story by scrolling down to our Christmas Day report.)
-- Rescuers are still looking for Lucy, the dog that was saved by many people earlier in the year -- she was wandering West Dallas, avoiding capture and suffering from a prolapsed uterus. Once captured, she underwent surgery and was being transferred when she proved to be healthy enough to bolt and run. [That's her photo from the Duck Team 6 Facebook page.]
Lucy disappeared near Travis at Fitzhugh and was last seen near Central Expressway at Lemmon, according to the Duck Team 6 folks.. The theory is she may be trying to get back to her West Dallas neighborhood. If you’ve seen her, call 443-366-0697 or 214-707-7005.
Duck Team 6‘s Rekka Melby told us late last night, “I'd say there's a slight chance someone picked her up and just hasn't gotten her scanned yet but she's cautious so I'm guessing she's still on the streets. Hopefully her survival and street skills are kicking in and she found shelter. Hate that so many are out on their own in this bitter cold.”
COLLIN COUNTY FAMILY: Volunteer shelterwalker Allison Roberts sent this note about a family in need -- this mom had 7 puppies.
They were found under a Dumpster in McKinney. The pups are a couple of weeks old and are “adorable.” 
Seven of them. Under a trash bin. Mom is about 2 years old. How in the world does this stuff happen? Think there's a human element?
They’re in a shelter, but it’s full, Allison says. So the ideal thing would be to get the family into a rescue group that can help these dogs survive and thrive and find homes.
To offer to help, email [email protected] and animalshelter@ collincountytx.gov. Call the shelter at 972-547-7292.
CONTEMPLATIONS: What's the shelf life of the charm of a snowstorm in Dallas. Just about one day. We're done. ... Listening to pre-Christmas commercials I heard a store offering a buy one, get two free men’s clothing sale -- you have to wonder, how much is the mark-up during the rest of the year? ... And an e-mail arrived with this subject line: "File for bankruptcy and sleep better Christmas Eve.” It was from an attorney. Arrived at 5:27 p.m. Christmas Eve. I’m just going to bet that attorney wasn’t taking calls after 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve. ... It’s cold this morning. Inky the Cocker Spaniel and I are about to bundle up and contemplate the blessing of warmth.
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On a White Christmas in Dallas, a dog needs help...

This is a Christmas Day story that has an injured 8-year-old Bichon mix at its center. It arrived at Readlarrypowell.com just as the oddest of things was occurring -- snow was falling on Dallas, Texas, on Christmas Day.
The dog's story comes from Nicole Self of Dallas Animal Services, working on Christmas Day to help the animals. 
It turns out that this little guy Jackson needs more help than the shelter can give this Christmas Day.
Nicole explains, “The sad thing is that he was hit by a car when he escaped the owner’s yard.  They don’t have the money for vet care, so they turned him over to us.  He is neutered and microchipped.  He has been started on pain meds, but without an x-ray machine we can’t say exactly what’s wrong with him.  He has started trying to stand and put a little weight on his back legs, but isn’t using them to walk.  He is a sweetheart and needs to get out of here ASAP.”
To offer to help Jackson, email [email protected]. 
And, as darkness fell on the town and its new white blanket, we heard from Nicole that no one has stepped up for this little dog. Holiday reactions can be slow. We suspect the story just hasn't reached the right heart yet on this Christmas Day. 
[Larry aside: We’ve mentioned many times before that DAS, a major canine and feline intake facility, does not have a key piece of diagnostic machinery -- an x-ray machine. The city doesn’t have the funding to invest in an expensive piece of veterinary equipment. So any animal that comes in with a fracture or suspected fracture or odd undetermined damage of some kind simply must depend on good fortune triumphing over municipal economics. Of course, if you know someone who can donate a state-of-the-art x-ray machine, no doubt the folks at DAS would like to hear from you this Christmas Day or this Christmas week or -- well, look, for now, the animals depend on timing -- can they arrange to get hit by a car while both DAS and the SPCA of Texas are open so DAS can arrange to pay for X-rays on the SPCA machine?Timing. It’s the key to everything. Oh, yeah, timing and funding, too.]
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At Christmas...

Merry Christmas, dear Readers and anyone else who stops by this place at Christmas.
Our hope is all the dogs and cats we’ve mentioned since last Christmas are loved and that all the people who clicked onto the animal-friendly news site Readlarrypowell.com have found some animal friends -- yes, some members of the family. You know they are treasured and valuable -- that's emotionally and not just as the dog that knows exactly where to lay to support your back all night long.
Remember, at Christmas the wrapping paper isn’t to be chewed. Chocolate doesn’t belong to dogs. And if the cat is in the Christmas tree (that's our Griffin), don’t get the broom, get the camera.
Merry Christmas to critters and people.
To borrow from Charlie Dickens' character Tiny Tex Tim, “God bless us everyone, y’all.”
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Lost Lucy and other Christmas critters....

Holy mistletoe, Ol’ Rednose, can it be Christmas Eve already?
How about a miracle or two hereabouts? Beyond the usual fat man down a chimney and a red-nosed reindeer in flight.
Like, maybe your credit cards can stretch one more day and maybe the gas stations will drop the price of regular back to the low $2.90s a gallon like it was last week when nobody was traveling.
That’s a dog who was arrested while trying to get to the ankle of a service station operator as he was boarding his private jet to fly to the Bahamas for Christmas. OK, I made some of that up. It is a dog -- that much we know. So, let’s move on (more on that dog later). 

LOOKING FOR LUCY: Back in early November we told the efforts of Angie Manriquez, the Fairy Dogmother of Dallas, to get help for a little Lab-like dog who was livng in the underbrush in West Dallas and suffering from a prolapsed uterus.
The dog was caught and saved and was initially in the care of Duck Team 6, the street dog rescue specialists.
Arrangements were made to move Lucy to a new home but as a transfer was being made Friday night, something spooked Lucy and she bolted and ran.
The Duck Team 6 Facebook page reports that teams of people have been searching for her since she vanished. (As our tipster, the veteran rescuer Bevely Fyfe said last night, “I am praying for a Christmas miracle.”)
The dog was last seen near Travis at Fitzhugh just to the east of Turtle Creek in the Park Cities area of Dallas. The number to call if you see her -- don’t chase her -- is on the poster -- click to blow it up. (The phone numbers are 443-366-0597 and 214-707-7005.)
Rekka, after a long weekend on the search, sent us an overnight note, that reports, “Unfortunately no luck yet and not any sightings since Friday night.
“We think she might keep heading southwest, so through the West End, Arts District, etc. Might be trying to get to her original location off Singleton at Vilbig. Had another search dog/pet detective out Sunday and that dog led us to the State/Allen area just West of 75 [and just north of Woodall Rodgers Freeway] and it's only 3 miles from there to where we rescued Lucy.
We posted a lot of signs so are hoping someone sees her so we have a better idea of where to look.”
Signs work. And posting lots of them and more online notes means more eyes looking for Lucy.
SHOCKED, SHOCKED TO FIND COCKFIGHTING IN DALLAS: Imagine that! The City of Dallas police department raids a spot in West Dallas and finds cockfighting underway -- live birds, dead birds, hundreds of spectators many of them fleeing into the neighborhood and leaving their cars behind.
TV stations reported it -- Google for it and you’ll get this WFAA Channel 8 link HERE and you’ll see the aftermath -- when the feeling spectators returned to claim their cars on Sunday.
Yep, right smack in the middle of the big city, some jerks set up a cockfighting event. Money changes hands -- you think they don’t bet on these things?
[Larry aside: There’s a bill in Congress right now that would make it a federal crime to be a spectator at any sort of animal-fighting event. Yes, the thoughtful members of Congress sent it to a subcommittee which, apparently, is the same thing as sending it to cold storage. We wrote about the proposed Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibiton Act last week. Cited the 3 Texans on the subcommittee that is currently stifling it. You can Google it if you’re interested in learning more. It’s Christmas -- I’m not going to lecture on the rampant stupidity that roams both Dallas and the part of the Halls of Congress.]
This isn’t the first Christmastime Cockfighting festival in the city of Dallas -- same thing happened at Christmas in 2010 in southeast Dallas. You cna look it up. The folks at the Texas Tribune explained how the rocket scientists who stage these fights avoid any real problems because of loopholes in the law. See that Tribune story HERE. And, remember, the Texas Humane Legislation Network works against these cruel animal things. (See www.thln.org.)
GOOD NEWS: 
PART ONE: Remember the puppy that got bounced back to Dallas Animal Services Adoption Center because she was blind? That’s her. She’s now a ward of DFW Recue Me and will be available for adoption to a loving and properly respectful home.
PART TWO: For a couple of weeks I’ve been sort of fretting about the fate of a Cocker Spaniel named Dallas -- he was dumped at The Colony Animal Services after his humans got a divorce. They say divorce is rough on kids -- heck, it can be fatal on the family pets.
Patricia Barrington, The Colony’s Animal Control Division Manager, sent me a note over the weekend telling me that the great folks at DFW Cocker Rescue had stepped up to squeeze Dallas into their program. Manager Barrington wrote that she thought news of this “would add to your holiday cheer. Merry Christmas.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Yes indeed, Merry Christmas. If only a Cocker Spaniel would get a home everytime a bell rang or everytime I reached down to pet my own Cocker Spaniel, Inky, who looks so much like Dallas. Dogs are like people -- they all have their own personality, but they are also better than people. I write that having worked with both dogs and people. You never have to remind a Cocker Spaniel to stay out of the Christmas cookies -- oh, wait, yes, you do. OK, they are so human, after all.]
OPEN SHELTERS AND RESCUE GROUPS:  Many shelters and rescue groups are working right up through Christmas Eve to try to help find homes for animals.
This guy is Duke, #A754772, at Dallas Animal Services. I spotted his photo on the “adoptables” list at www.dallasanimalservices.org. The shelter is open today. Many of the photos are of cats and dogs that need homes in a most urgent way.
This photo caught my attention because it is charming in a Chihuahua sort of way. We’ve had a couple of these around our house.
Normally we don’t wear the protective gloves, of course.And our dogs refuse to be photographed after a bath unless they can hold their rubber ducky.
In this photo, dear Duke looks as if he might be radioactive and the government worker is wearing safety gear. But, in reality -- and we’re just guessing here -- he’s probably the cleanest Chihuahua on the block.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Dear Readers, Tipsters and Critters, have a happy and wonderful Christmas. If you’re human, enjoy every morsel, but try to hold the intake to “morsels.” Yes, It’s the Christmas Morsel Diet. If you’re going to a church service tonight God bless you -- but if you’re not going, then God bless you, too. ... Enjoy some children at Christmas -- OK, enjoy some quiet and polite children. Or loud and excited if that’s your preference. If you don’t have any around the house, then find a house that has one or two or more and enjoy that sleigh ride. Find some ol’ geezer who has embraced the revitalized Ebenezer Scrooge’s line, “I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.” We’re all fortunate to live at a time where a vibrant commercial effort manages  to hold onto the spiritual goodness that inspired it. O, holy night, you know? Try not to think ill of the filling stations that sold regular gasoline for $2.91.9 a gallon last week but jacked the price to $2.99.9 just in time for holiday travelers to squeeze the last bit of their dough out of the American motorists. No wonder Santa uses reindeer.
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