Ah, spring ... is the cute relentless?

Hello, last Monday of March, 2013? You got here much quicker than anybody expected.
Fortunately, we still have time to get the Christmas decorations down before Easter. Interesting when you find Easter eggs inside the Christmas wreath.
You might wonder what’s up with this photograph.
Looks like a dog cooling his tummy on a floor.
It is a dog chillin’.
Cute, huh?
Not just cute. Supercute. 
That is Nemo, the winner of D Magazine’s Survival of the Cutest contest.
He was honored at a reception Sunday at First Community Bank -- advertised as “Texas Only Pet Friendly Bank” -- at 4135  Beltline Road, Addison. 
The bank opened its lobby to people and dogs. But the bank’s lobby is always open to people and dogs. One of the bank people told us there’s a big dog named Oscar from a neighboring business who likes to come running in and jump over the counter to be greeted by a teller. “Anybody else jumps the counter and we’d call the police.”
That’s pet-friendly. 
Oh, and if you know someone in Miami who loves cats, keep reading.
A REMINDER: Patty Sprong, the rescuer, reminded me Sunday of a challenge facing Duck Team 6 ever since Lucy the runaway dog was rescued. 
Lucy’s the black dog in this photo. She’s back in good hands.
Patty writes, ““It was such good news about Lucy being found after being lost for 78 days, but such sad news that she was hanging out with two street dogs that the rescuers had to leave. Here is a video that Duck Team 6 posted about the dogs.”
Duck Team 6 has taken in the dogs, she says, but “Please put a ‘Foster, please’ note out when you have room/time.” That video is HERE and you can reach Duck Team 6 and volunteer to foster by emailing [email protected]. The more fosters DT6 has, the more animals they can get out of tough spots.
THE PUNCHLINE IS AT THE END OF THE NOTE: We got a report about this little Basset mix from Krista Mc Anally of the Humane Society of Cedar Creek lake Shelter at Tool, Texas, a nice 52-mile drive southeast of Dallas. She’s looking for help with this dog -- a wise and experienced foster would be the best solution.
Krista writes, “Megan came into the shelter about a week ago. She is approximately 3 years old and is good with other dogs. She is very shy around people and has possibly been abused.  She is also pregnant.”
There’s the ol’ punchline. Now you know why an experienced foster would be best.
Call the shelter at 903-432-3422 or email [email protected]. 
Link up to the Society on line HERE or go to the Facebook site HERE.
SOME FORT WORTH DOGS: We got the tip on these availables from veteran animal advocate Carol Eicher.
You’ll note that this first dog Jet has something not many dogs have -- a championship set of cat whiskers. Yep, more than just dog whiskers, it looks like. This black and white dog was found running on a highway and someone managed to nab him.
Nonna, the dog that looks depressed, has ben adopted three times and returned three times, Carol says. She’s not a bad dog, she just has bad luck with people. The dog is simply friendly and likes to be petted. Doesn’t need to be around cats.
These two are among six dogs currently being boarded at Family PetCare, 1501 Handley Drive, on the east side of Fort Worth. Call 817-451-7387 to ask about adopting these dogs or any of the other homeless dogs the clinic is helping.
But that’s not all.
There’s also Goldie. Here’s her blue-eyed soul story. “Goldie is an 11-year-old Corgi/Aussie mix.  Her owner died a month ago and now she is in need of a home or someone willing to foster her while we find her a home.  Although she is grossly overweight (at present.  We have already gotten 2.5 pounds off her in one week), she is on a strict diet.  She has been examined  and it has been determined that she has no thyroid problems, nor does she have Cushing or Addison.  Goldie is fully vetted.  She just needs to get some weight off her.  She is housebroken, gets along well with other dogs except when she has a toy(s) in her mouth.  She has been known to get a toy and a hoof in her mouth.  She is fairly agile for her age and weight.  Goldie is a very loving dog who has no known ‘quirks’.”
To ask about Goldie, contact Carol at 817-429-3263.
SUBURBAN OFFERINGS: Not all the great animals are in the big cities. Take, for example, the inventory at The Colony Animal Shelter, on the northern edge of the metrosprawl.
We’re just focusing on four of many but these are adorable adoptables and we think one of them has a history.
Maisey Mae is that longhair cat. An adult cat, she‘s been socialized by the veteran hands at The Colony. (Aside: The Colony’s staffers are notorious for socializing animals -- we personally know a cat named Marsden who is so laid back that he’s the perfect companion for our 93-year-old pal Jo. Marsden was gently trained.)
The female Lab with the big tongue is Bosco. Very huggable.
And that Rottie mix is a fellow named Logan.
But the dog with the suitcase may have the best story. Her name is Lady Bug and she’s in a witness protection program, having spent several years as an agent testing the efficiency of airport security. [LARRY CONFESSIONAL ASIDE:  Wait! Everything in that previous sentence was made up except her name, Lady Bug. I was inspired by the picture of a little dog in a suitcase. And, yes, The Colony folks have used that suitcase as a critter bed and photo prop for years.]
To ask about any animal in The Colony’s shelter, email [email protected] or call 972-370-9250. You can see more of The Colony’s animals HERE. 
LOOKING FOR CAT FANS IN FLORIDA: Lydia Caldwell got in touch with Readlarrypowell.com with an email titled “Urgent! Does anyone know cat lovers in Miami, Fla.?”
We don’t, but we’re confident there are Readers who know someone. People who click on Readlarrypowell.com have immense powers of connection.
Here’s Lydia’s story: “My uncle, who lived in Miami, FL,  died and left behind a dog and 7 cats.  I live in Houston, but when I went to his funeral service, I brought back his dog on the plane with me.  Unfortunately, cats take time to warm up to strangers, so all I was able to do is see them briefly.
“One other individual took two of the cats, but 5 cats remain.
“Currently, there is a TEMPORARY feeder feeding them only Monday - Friday.  And, he's about to move on, so I urgently need to find a dedicated feeder for my uncle's 5 cats. They always lived outside; my uncle always fed them on his porch.  They are young and may be friendly/adoptable; not sure.  Also not sure if they are spayed/neutered. Most urgent piece of business, though, is finding a responsible, dependable feeder. The location is relatively near Miami International Airport.”
Here’s the contact info: [email protected] and 832-630-4189.
CONTEMPLATIONS: We ran into a lot of nice folks at the Nemo reception on Sunday -- nice people and cute dogs. We’ll work on publishing some photos later in the week. You just can’t beat a roomful of animal lovers chatting -- there’s always lots of laughter. And, of course, my funspouse Martha and I have known Nemo’s mom Melissa Boesch and Nemo’s public relations team executive Jeneva O’Connor for decades. So Martha and I had great conversation and got to pet some really cute dogs, too.  ...  Bless all of you for reading this far today. Without you readers, animals would be in a worse spot. You mean something to animals you’ve never met. ... When Martha and I got home in the afternoon Sunday, our neighborhood was filled with blackbirds -- might have been grackles, might have been blackbirds. I don’t know the difference. But there were thousands and thousands of them in trees, on every utility line, in shrubbery. We let the dogs out and only Inky the  Cocker Spaniel, man of nature and nearly deaf, was not alarmed. We discussed this and realized that it is his nature to be more interested in ground birds. In fact, he’s more interested in both ground birds and ground beef. ... That’s the wisteria next to my driveway. The birds avoided it for some reason. Every year it provides some springtime joy and the wondrous aroma of the cascading blossoms. It is, indeed, a lifter of spirits and a wonderful sight. I hope your week is filled with wonderful springtime sights. Wisteria, flocks of happy birds, the right numbers falling in  a lottery...
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