Cats, dogs and big things in Big D...

Oh, Friday, we are so glad to see you. Big things in Big D, I hear -- we'll contemplate that later. Here's the daily dog 'n' cat report:
BIRTHIN‘ AT THE DAS: Yep, it’s kitten season. Danielle Fry, the Animal Transfer Coordinator at Dallas Animal Services, sent out a note yesterday that started with a quote from comedian/actor Robin Williams. “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’”
Then she adds, “And partying is what our animals are doing. We have some new families here at Dallas Animal Services that could use a safe place to grow up. We are also seeing an increase in our intakes as more animals are out and about!”
She suggest checking at the shelter or looking on the city’s PetHarbor site “to see some of the other wonderful animals we have. ... We are hoping to break records this spring time with our live releases and the best way to do that is to shorten our length of stay.  Never hesitate to ask if you are interested in an animal, we will always see what we can do!”
Ask at [email protected] if you are a rescue partner interested in taking over care of a litter of kittens before they reach what the DAS officially refers to their “due out date.” 
This one is Kelly (CLF29  A776316) who had a litter of 5 kittens in the shelter Thursday morning, according to the DAS. There are other mothers with litters, other younger cats, etc.
At the other end of the spectrum is that orange and white cat -- he’s officially CLF 12 A776119. He’s about 10, neutered, weighs only 5 pounds and may have a kidney problem but, the shelter says, “is eating and drinking fine.” He tested negative for FELV. Danielle’s note reads, “He is such a loving senior cat that we are hoping to give him some extra time.” He’s on stray hold until the 23rd. [Larry aside: With proper care, 10 is barely middle-aged for a housecat.]
[LARRY QUESTION: As has been noted in several Dallas Animal Shelter Commission meetings, young kittens face long odds in shelters and, in general, they are euthanized before they can die from disease -- the explanation is they have limited immune systems when they are young. As a guy who has picked up more than a handful of born-in-the-wild feral cats, how litters after litters of those kittens survive  without any help is beyond me, but somehow they manage. Anybody explain that the cat-cradling layman?]
BUT WAIT, THEY HAVE SOME DESPERATE DOGS, TOO! Oh, Dear Readers, do you wonder if these animals ever “get to” the Dallas Animal Services employees? This note to the DAS rescue partners came from the previously mentioned Danielle Fry at nearly 1 a.m. “It’s the middle of the night and I can’t seem to get these sweet faces out of my head,” she wrote. Then she explained that these animals “have touched the hearts of our staff as well as my own. The staff at DAS has been working with these animals and we are hoping for a happy outcome for them all.
If are with a rescue group, email [email protected]. If you are not, find a rescue group and tell the group (or tell DAS) that you’re interested in helping one of these animals find a place to call home. 
That first dog is Chance (A772147) who doesn’t show well because he’s not happy in a kennel setting, DAS says. Outside the kennel “he is loving and has a bouncy personality.” He’s got until Sunday and, then, well,... you know. Due out. 
The Doxie (A775857)  looking up at the camera is Debbie -- possibly broken left hind leg. Sweet dog, about 2 years old. On pain meds awaiting actual treatment. (Again, DAS has no x-ray machine, so the dog has to wait for an opening somewhere or a rescue group.)”
The little black and white terrier mix is Lucy (A774774), suffering from a badly injured leg and paw -- struck by a car. She’s in recovery but needs a loving helper to socialize her. When the door to her kennel open, she scrambles to hide, Danielle says.
The last fellow is Dillon, 2, who came in with a “slight limp in his left read leg” on Feb 24. He has been on pain medication since then, but continues to limp and since DAS has no x-ray machine, nobody knows what’s wrong with him. Danielle writes, “Who can look at this sad face and not fall in love? Who can look at this sad face and not want to help him. I know I had to try.”
Email [email protected] . 
ANOTHER “WOOHOO MOMENT” AND, YES, ANOTHER ONE, TOO: Our tipster and the volunteer shelter walker Allison Roberts at Collin County Animal Services sent out a note about finding a home for this really pregnant Lab mix. 
Last night she followed up with a happier note: “This girl is safe...Woohoo!”
We’re trying to find out which rescue group took her so people can donate or sign up for a puppy. 
Or donate AND sign up for a puppy.
And remember this Border Collie mom with 9 puppies? Take Me Home Pet Rescue took them home, Allison sent another note reporting that -- a second "Woohoo" moment. That’s 11 but it didn’t empty the   Collin County Animal Services shelter in McKinney. Allison reports that the “shelter is overflowing with dogs in temp kennels.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Anybody interested in sending your "Woohoo" moments to us, please do. The rest of us can use the good news.]
You can see the volunteer-supported Facebook page of urgent dogs by clicking HERE.
FOLLOWUP ON THE STORM SEWER DOG: Remember the skinny dog that came out of a Dallas apartment complex storm sewer? Taken to Dallas Animal Services? The report from Animal Allies of Texas is that she has been pulled by a rescue group. The dog was diagnosed with parvo so DAS let her go early so a rescue group could get her to a vet. The AAT note read, “Say some prayers for her. Poor little thing. With any luck, she should pull through.”   We don’t know who took her -- if you do, let us know. If she needs donations, the biggest hearts in the world visit Readlarrypowell.com every day.
IN THE LEGISLATURE: One day the Texas Humane Legislation Network praises the Texas Senate for voting unanimously for the bill banning gassing in animal shelters. But now, there’s a new crisis. THLN fears Senate Bill 1395 will pass and will “effectively gut the Dangerous Wild Animal Act.”  The Act, in place more than a decade, is intended to protect exotics from being mistreated by roadside attractions and idiots who think a tiger is a pet -- that sort of thing. Read about this at www.thln.org.
DINING FOR A PROJECT: On Sunday the 24th if you’re near the Chili’s in Cedar Hill , when you dine you’ll be helping Cedar HIll Pet Memorial Park raise money for upkeep and creation of a War Dog Memorial. Blow up that artwork and print it out and hand it to your server so they’ll know you’re chewing for charity. Ten percent of your order goes to the Memorial Park. Want to get involved further, email the Memorial Park project’s Theresa Brandon at [email protected].  
CONTEMPLATIONS: This week, the news reports say, Dallas launched its new branding campaign, the slogan announced in October: “Big Things Happen Here.” (The old one, as I recall, was “Live Large, Think Big,” which I took personally because I’m always on a diet. And it isn't like I'm the only hefty resident of Big D.) Anyway, so I’m thinking “Big Things Happen Here”? Since 1963, what? There are some promotional videos around related to this “branding” and they are filled with the big things of Dallas, i.e., Tom Landry, born in Mission and like the rest of us, only came to Dallas to find work. Then there’s Cowboys Stadium in Arlington -- Dallas let its namesake team escape twice, once from Fair Park to Irving, then from Irving to Arlington instead of Dallas. And there’s a photo of the Texas Rangers -- never in Dallas, but always in Arlington. So, yes, big things happen in Dallas -- Big Tex goes up in flames at the State Fair and then, because of the big population of intact and fertile animals, Dallas has “Big Fix For Big D.” We do have big highway snarls, big potholes, big empty commercial buildings here and there... You gotta love the place. It’s the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy Assassination and Big Things Happen Here. Timing -- the key to everything. And, yes, I do love the place. I have also loved animals that would rather bite me than take food from my hand, women who would rather shove me out of a car on a freeway than listen to me sing and cars that break down every time you start the engine. So, yeah, I love Dallas. Here’s that video LINK. I swear, if Dallas were to suddenly acquire a natural attraction it would be a volcano. 
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