ReadLarryPowell.com

Opportunities and allergies...

Through the years people have told me they have trouble looking at Readlarrypowell every day because of the sad stories.
I've obscured my own photo with that of Calamity the Dog, so you'd think that would help.
The thing is, we’re not, in general, telling only sad stories here. We’re pointing people toward opportunities for happiness.
Adopt a dog or cat and find a whole new world of happiness. This site isn’t aimed at rescuers -- though we love ‘em. It is aimed at people who don’t yet know that their best friend is in a cage in a city shelter, or being shown off by a rescue group on a Saturday or just walking down a Dallas street and being ignored by everyone else.
The only stories that are genuinely unhappy have to do with humans. Either they’re mean to animals, too stupid to have an animal or just unlikely to do anything beneficial. People, that’s the sad element of Readlarrypowell.com.
So, read on and find a reason to smile, even though the initial facts of a story may sound dire. We just need some humans to help out with the happy.
THE DOG AND THE TEARS: OK, maybe this one is a little sad. We got the story fromAlison Roberts, the volunteer shelter walker at Collin County Animal Services in McKinney.
The dog’s name is Baxter. He is 8. Here’s the story from Allison: “Baxter came in stray. Then on Saturday a lady came in holding back tears, eventually breaking down, explaining that her dog was here but her husband will not let her get him out.  Too many kids, baby on the way, etc... Baxter is good with kids, neutered, house trained and LOVES to play fetch.  He'll bring the ball back and drop it at your feet. The owner provided her vet information (a very good vet in McKinney), so all records can be obtained.... The shelter is critically full -- intake is very high and we could be in danger of EU at any time.”
To offer to help this dog, email [email protected]. and [email protected]. Baxter is 401494.
FOUND BUT NEEDING A HOME: Tomi Jasso Ortiz has been mentioned here a few times in connection with loose dogs in fields and culverts but here’s a loose dog in a mall. 
Tomi tells the story, “Once again I’m in need of your help! Two weeks ago my daughter and I were at the Irving Mall shopping and as the doors opened and we were walking out, this little brown Chihuahua runs in! People are actually trying to chase him back into the parking lot! My daughter runs after him and picks him up and he doesn’t have a collar.”
And, as a hospital check showed, he doesn’t have a chip, either.
Tomi says, “We’re in panic mode because my husband has pretty much banned me from keeping any more dogs since I adopted Boss the Destroyer (story for another day).  Anyway I was lucky enough to ‘con’ my parents into keeping him ‘til I could find somewhere for him to go.”
On Saturday, one of her daughter’s friends got in touch about postings regarding a missing male, un-neutered brown Chihuahua. 
“That was great news!” Tomi says. She spoke to the lady who had her daughter drive from Lancaster to pick up the dog. 
“You’d think that would have had a happy ending right? But it didn’t. It wasn’t her dog! Just a dog that happened to look like it and was found in the area where her dog went missing. And now my parents don’t want him back, and this lady is threatening to send him to the Irving shelter by 5 p.m. tomorrow [Wednesday] if I don’t go pick him up or find someone who wants him.
“I am heartbroken for this poor dog!  He is such a sweet sweet dog! I would hate for him to go into a shelter! But I just can’t keep him. If there’s anyone out there who would be able to help me I would greatly appreciate it! Who knows? Maybe someone out there is missing this sweet Chihuahua.”
To ask about helping this mall-walking dog, email [email protected] or call 214-532-4665.
WEST SIDE DOG: One reason I'm running this note is someone with the West Side Animal League in Fort Worth explained this dog’s plight in one sentence.
The dog’s name is Baja and you can ask about her by emailing [email protected]. Her foster home has run out of time and she needs a place to go. 
The explanatory sentence: “She has so many things stacked against her through no fault of her own –she is a pit mix, she has just given birth and doesn’t have her figure back and there are so many others in need – please be the one that makes a difference in Baja’s life.”
She had 9 pups. Four have found homes. Five await homes. And Momma Baja needs a home, too.  When the foster gives up the family on Wednesday, the kids have a place to go. Baja is homeless.
THE JUSTICE CASE: Any time there’s more than one lawyer involved in a case, there’s a chance something will be postponed. In this case, it’s the trial of the four men -- with different lawyers -- facing cruelty charges in the burning death of Justice. Trial was to start yesterday, has been rescheduled for April 22.  See the NBC5 (KXAS) story HERE.
A TORTIE IN NEED: Stephanie Mosby of CLAW (Citizens League for Animal Welfare), based in Canton, is working to get this older Tortoiseshell cat a new home after a death in the family.
Molly the cat is 9, declawed and spayed. She’s an indoor cat and has spent her life with an older couple.
Her female human died and the new mom, Stephanie’s note says, “has asthma so they can no longer keep her. Molly lives in her old home, but is all alone. Her dad and new mom have moved and her pet-sitter is the only one who sees her on a regular basis for care. This ha been going on for months now -- and worse yet, the house just sold.”
The surviving humans have been considering euthanizing Molly.
To offer to help he, call 903-520-5600 and email [email protected] -- or contact Stephanie at 214-232-3644. 
You can see CLAW’s profile of Molly at www.clawanimals.com.
A STRATEGY FOR CATCHING A DOG: Like many of us, animal advocate Jet Parker has been fascinated by the attempts to catch the stray Lab we featured in yesterday’s report.
Jet wrote, “I see people are still trying to get to the stray black Lab mix at 75 and Ross.
When I was trying to capture Highway [and Petro], we had the same problem. ... I finally left my business card with the guys in that area, along with some dog food, and they called me on the cell when they had the dogs coming at regular feeding times.  Suggest someone do the same thing."
ONE MORE THING: Susan Tandukar, who volunteers with Partners of Arlington Animal Services, sent this gathering of Death Row Dogs just befor 8 a.m. We happened to open the email before leaving for the day. There's a chance to save these dogs. Information is on the artwork. Click it to make it larger.

And you can link it up HERE. 
CONTEMPLATIONS: Spring allergies are rampant here in the last few days of winter. My head feels as if I let is soak in a tub overnight. This is a big season for the sneezy tissue people. ... On Tuesday I watch no sitcoms. I watch Justified. It helps me get through the week, just like reading The Godfather gives me hope for coping with today’s corporate and political world. ... I have to mow my lawn, probably today. I was out there yesterday and could have sworn I heard a lion giving off one of those MGM roars. I’ll need to dress like the Bubble Boy or my giant nose will blow off the front of my face and scare ever cat in the Zip Code. 
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Ah, Monday... and things..

Welcome to Monday. Let’s get started and in no particular order....And don't forget to scroll down to the weekend and catch the Sleepers and Nappers and the gleeful news about Nemo the Supercute Beagle.
WALKING IN DALLAS: Here’s a dog for you.
This is the stray Lab with the white blaze on her chest who has been steadily avoiding capture for quite some time in the neighborhood of Central Expressway and Ross Avenue.
Our tipster, the veteran rescuer Kimberly Jones, and others have failed to lure this dog to safety. Kimberly reports that Duck Team 6 would be willing to get involved in the dog had a designated foster home or a rescue group to take her. Otherwise, nothing’s going to happen. Duck Team 6 has no facilities.
People have donated more than $150 to help the dog’s cause, we're told. 
Email [email protected] to offer to help.
BLESSED EVENTS? Well, they’ll be blessed if humans step up and help them. We got these notes from Allison Roberts, the volunteer shelter-walker at Collin County Animal Services in McKinney.
First, there’s “Mom,” described as a “sweet Border Collie mix.”
She and her 9 puppies were found as strays in Anna -- not active strays, no doubt. Mom  and the puppies weren’t able to wander far. There are 7 boys and 2 girl and Mom’s about 3 years old. Her ID is 401725.
Then, there’s a “very pregnant” 3-year-old Lab mix. “We desperately need a rescue for this pregnant lab mix -- she is very very sweet and I really don't want her having pups in the shelter. She looks pretty far along to me - she has milk.  Does anyone have room for her? ... When I went in to check on her she just rolled over for a belly rub - she seems like a lap dog.  Makes my heart hurt seeing her in that kennel.”
She’s ID 402017.
To offer to help, email [email protected] and [email protected] . The shelter is closed on Mondays, but someone’s always there. See urgent dogs on the Facebook site HERE.
POLITICS? Politics aside, some politicking is being sought. The Texas Humane Legislation Network has issued a call for people to support ending gassing as a euthanasia method in Texas. You can see the request for help at www.thln.org. Can’t understand why anyone would be in favor of gassing. If you are in favor of gassing, please explain. 
IN BURNS FLAT: Our reliable Burns Flat, Okla., tipster, the tireless rescuer Terry Lynn  Fisher, sent a couple of weekend notes.
First, this cat. She wrote, “Well, evil has once again struck Burns Flat. It amazes me how many people live here that do not have souls.  Two nights ago, one of our police officers called me about a cat he found. He said it appeared his leg might be broken. I had no place to keep it, so he took a crate from me and kept it until transport to rescue. I went to pick up today and broke down. He is a little boy and the front leg was twice the size of the others and just kind of hung there. He was so sweet, purring and loving.
“Well, he went to the vet and they found fragments proving he had been SHOT. There is no feeling in the paw or leg, so the vet decided the best thing to do is remove it.”
Then, on Sunday, this note from Terry Lynn: “This poor momma and her new baby are in a HIGH KILL pound 50 miles south of me. Look at them, on a cold, hard concrete floor  It broke my heart. I am picking them up ... I just can't stand that baby being there, and knowing how helpless momma must feel.  need a rescue to help. Please. if anyone has room for a momma and baby, let me know. They said she is a terrier mix.”
Offer to help by emailing Terry Lynn at [email protected]. 
You cans see a video of Terry Lynn’s rescues HERE.
AND IN EVERMAN: These three puppies are in the Everman Animal Shelter.
We got the note about them from Heather Harrison, the volunteer who hustles emails out in hopes of getting attention for the unnoticed.
These three dogs are about 4 months old and have no idea what sort of plight they are in.
And, Heather says, the pound is full.
That means the clock is ticking faters for unwanted animals.
To offer to help, email [email protected] or call 309-299-5665.
THE STOLEN KITTEN: Apparently two punks stole a kitten from the Frisco Humane Society by breaking open the cat’s cage at a Fresco PetSmart and running way with the kitten. Police are involved in the search for the cat and the fiends. 
You can see the Firefly story by clicking to FHS’s Facebook page HERE. The theft occurred Thursday.
How can you help? Maybe you know a teenage girl who suddenly has a new orange kitty that matches Firefly’s description. Drop a dime. Or whatever a phone call to 5-0 costs these days. You'll be doing all those kids a favor.
AT THE SPCA: On Friday, the SPCA of Texas got custody of 11 animals just before the cruelty charges were about to reach hearing status. The owner caved and signed over 7goats, 2 horses, a steer and a pig with mange who’d been living in a horse trailer. [Larry aside: The ugly details can be seen in the news release on www.spca.org . The key thing, I guess, is to save the animals, but every now and then it might help if some of these birds went to jail. Though, of course, if the threat of a Texas prison worked, people wouldn’t be fighting to get in.]
CONTEMPLATIONS: On Sunday, I opened the inbox to Readlarrypowell.com and saw an email with the subject line “1 in 5 Relationships Start online, Start Yours Today!” and I thought, ‘Those are pretty lousy figures for an animal shelter. Then I realized it wasn’t a note from an animal shelter. Then I thought, “Wonder if the rate of shelter relationships vs. dating relationships is a lot better than 1 in 5.” I also got an email with the subject line “Find Love on Zoosk! Join Free, 25+ Million Users.” And now I’m starting to wonder if animals would be better off if shelters contracted with Match.com  and ran commercials that began “Can’t find a worthy human? Check out our shelter matches. Guaranteed. They’ll only ruin your carpet, not your life.” ... Welcome to Monday, first day of a 5-day work week. Between Easter at the end of March and Memorial Day at the end of May we have only the April 1 and April 15 holidays. April Fools Day and IRS Taxes Due Day. Kind of like a double celebration for some of us who never had the foresight to build a fortune or protect it. ... Monday is a good day. It’s the open road of week days. Look at the possibilities! And wear your helmet.
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Yes! The winner is Nemo the Beagle!

BIG BREAKING NEWS FOR NEMO: Melissa Boesch's Beagle Boy Nemo won the D Magazine Survival of the Cutest Contest -- news popped up on D's Frontburner website late Saturday afternoon. The link is HERE .
And, now we know the winner -- officially.  We got the tip on this breaking news from veteran N-TRUST-UR-PET petsitter Jeneva O'Connor, an integral part of Team Nemo.
And, of course, anybody who has met Nemo already knows he is just the cutest fellow! More to come on the king of cute as we move through the spring.
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Over the years, sleepers and nappers -- and three from this weekend...

On Friday morning Readlarrypowell.com published this photo of three dogs piled up and sleeping together in Garland's animal shelter. More on them in a minute.
But the pose in this photo sort of goes against the philosophy of our weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. When we use that, we’re talking about the animals that are flopped over on your couch, maybe taking up space in your recliner, perhaps leaving a big indentation on the pillow on your bed.
Nope, when they’re in a shelter, don’t let sleeping dogs lie or napping cats nap -- get ‘em up and get ‘em out.
They may not know it yet, but they’ve all got homes to go to -- if the right homes can simply be awakened to the life-or-death urgency in taxpayer-supported shelters.
Now, about a week ago we ran into a raft of sleepers and nappers. Why is that? Because  we were shooting the breeze with our pal Jonnie England, the longtime animal advocate (and fellow Beatle advocate). I can’t remember what we were talking about but a little while later Jonnie sent me a collection of photos and an explanatory note.
She wrote, “After 5 years, I recently ‘retired’ from taking photos of adoption dogs and cats at Dallas Animal Services.  While clearing out my photo files, I started wondering just how many animals I had photographed during that time.  I did the math and realized that it was somewhere around 6,000 animals! 
“Throughout those 5 years, I went to DAS an average of once a week (sometimes more) and took photos of 25-30 animals each time.  After culling out multiple shots of the same animal, I still have 5,599 photo files.  Add to that the pix of animals that got adopted before I could edit them, it works out to about 6,000 dogs and cats, puppies and kittens I photographed, posted to Petfinder and Facebook, and networked through hundreds of emails.”
Most of them were wide awake, but some of them were flat out -- dogs who qualified for the “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie” part of our weekly feature and cats who were perfectly representative of letting ‘Napping Cats Nap.”
At readlarrypowell.com, we like to think that all of these dogs and cats found a happy home. We have the shelter names for all but one of these and I’ll mention them as we post the photos. Maybe you’ll recognize one of these as your family companion. If you do, drop us at line at [email protected] and let us know that the animal has turned you into a big ol’ mushy teddy bear of a human. I’m not so macho that I can’t admit that has happened at our house. I cite Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas, one humdinger of a dog.
Now here are the animals Jonnie captured with her camera. Keep scrolling and we’ll get to the current “in-need” dogs.
That dog on the red, patterned bed is Emma. 
The dog who is too big for her bowl is Angel.
The mom and the pups are Mama Fratelli, Jake and Francis (left).
The puppy who is too small for the bowl did not have a name at the time. maybe you know this dog -- my theory is the rascal grew up to be much larger than the bowl. 
That cat on its back with the bottom of its paws reaching for the stars is Ariel.
And the cat with just a hint of dazed eye showing through a wonderful face is Daisy.
All of these animals and many, many more passed through the Dallas Animal Services Shelter over the past half-decade. 
But DAS is not the only shelter in the county with a bunch of dogs and cats needing a decent break from human beings.
That brings us to the Abe J. Tuggle Animal Shelter and Adoption Center -- the Garland animal shelter. Remember that pile of sleeping dogs in the opening paragraph?
These are those dogs awake and looking through the holes in a chain-link fence.
Diligent rescuer Kimberly Jones has been monitoring these dogs (while trying to catch an elusive stray Lab at Central Expressway at Ross in downtown Dallas.) The mission in Dallas County never ends, never lets up.
Back to the three dogs. Kimberly reports that the Golden has been tagged for rescue but the two Pit Bulls have not. 
So, unless something beats the odds, three dogs who had a home together will find themselves no longer together. The Golden will be prepared to recognize her companions for the rest of her life but will never have the opportunity -- dogs are like that. And those Pits will either go to separate homes or they’ll wind up feeling the pin prick of a syringe just before they’re bagged up and carried off to the city dump.
As Kimberly wrote, “They have passed evals and are currently in adoptions! A rescue could not ask for better babies to safety-net. Please don’t let the Golden live and the 2 Pit Bulls die! Someone please tag these 2 in case they do not get adopted.”
The contact is [email protected].
[To nominate your companion animal for the spotlight of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send the photos and info to [email protected]. Remember, we are just nearly as proud of your sleeping and napping animals as you are.
Oh, and a Happy St. Patrick's Day from Inky, who not only is the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas but also is the Cockerprechaun King of the Irish. His ability to play bagpipes is legendary -- he uses the "Thumbless Noting" style of changing keys and chords -- a quick tongue, a stumpy but accurate tail and careful placement of paw pads. His only complaint is when the neighborhood children spot him and demand his pot of gold. All he carries is a gold card with retina ID.]
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On Red Nose Day, cats and dogs and some needs...

The arrival of a Friday is a reason to smile. Especially when Friday is officially “Red Nose Day.”
More on that in a moment.
In the meantime, read on, and you’ll find some things that will inspire a smile.
CHURCHILL  GETS A BREAK, OR, HELLO VEGAS! Not too long ago we mentioned Kelly Jo Nial’s attempts to find a safe haven for this guy Churchill, a robust young cat who happened to test positive for Feline AIDs.
We got a note from Kelly Jo last Sunday and some followups and here’s what has happened.
“All of the networking and the 2nd email I sent was not in vain!  Churchill HAS found a home!  Where and with who?  In Las Vegas, and he will have a Chihuahua sister, Lucy!  This couldn’t have been more perfect for this guy!  No other cats to potentially stress him out (which, BTW, he is a very COOL cat, not much will ever stress him, he rolls with it all!) or other kitties to worry about getting infected.
“I have talked to the lucky couple, and they are so excited.  Great people!  They have had cats before until old-age and they both are in health-care professions, and understand all of the little and big things that goes with caring for a special needs-FIV kitty.    Of course, he will be an INSIDE ONLY kitty, and will be pampered like a king.
“They are flying down on March 25, and returning to Vegas on the 26th.  On Southwest Airlines, and Churchie is flying in the cabin, not cargo!  A wonderful friend that was integral in this even donated to pay for the flight!
“This is just all so exciting.  If ANYONE were to meet Churchill, you would have said ‘This is the most perfect and awesome cat!’  He has it all, humor, goofiness, the crazies, being very gentle and he is a STOCKY, well-built cat with short legs and a short tail, which contributes to his good looks.
“It took some time to get this special guy to his forever home, as it does with these types of “cases”, and some long-distance networking, but it was worth it.
“To all of you who have sent on his email, posted him on Petfinder, Facebook, etc., please relay the message that he has found a place to call home. Thank you to all of you, all of the nice comments, help and emails.  Every little bit goes a long way in helping the fuzzy ones all over.”
THAT ALL SOUNDS SORTA NORMAL, doesn’t it? But here’s what really happened. 
Kelly Jo says, “My friend/neighbor Teri Kramer who lives in our neighborhood, Arlington Heights [Fort Worth], whom I have gotten to know because of our common interest in the welfare of animals (of course), I am the VP and the Chair of our Animal Concerns committee for the Neighborhood Association, anyway, I get to know a lot of people that way.  So, I had sent out the 2nd plea for Churchill, and Teri was one of my recipients, of course, said she went through her address book to find even more people to share and help.  She emailed a friend that she hadn’t talked to in quite a while (Churchill’s soon to be parents) Sherrie [Gingery] and Scott [Northrup], NOT realizing they had MOVED to Las Vegas!  Teri said if she knew they had moved there, she wouldn’t have even emailed them!  It is funny how things work out that way.  So, over the course of emailing and talking and working it out, they decided they had to have him!”
LATE NIGHT REQUEST: As the hour of midnight approached, Dallas Animal Services sent out a request for help with these two dogs. 
To offer to help, email [email protected].
The white dog with the ugly wound on the side is Lulabelle -- they appear to be burns, but are “healing up very nicely,” according to the note from DAS’s Danielle Fry. DAS is trying to find a place where Lulabelle  [DLF115 A774241] recover. “In the kennels many dogs are fearful of the camera, not Lulabelle!  Lulabelle wanted to know what it was and why I was messing with the camera and not taking her home,” the note reads. 
It also reads, “We don’t know how she was injured, but we know that it has not broken her faith in people. ... We also have a wonderful guardian angel who saw this girl on facebook and wanted to help her.  She has offered a $400 donation to the group who pulls her! This will go to help with any vetting that she will need done!”
The black and white terrier mix is Tequila [DLF74 A771367]. The note sent by DAS Rescue’s Danielle Fry reads, “Tequila is a terrier mix and is full of love.  She is a calmer dog so can be mistaken as being shy.  If you open her kennel door and call to her she will come to you with her tail wagging asking for love.  She would be a wonderful addition to any family and is small enough to be a perfect apartment dog!  She weighs only 40 pounds Tequila is about 3 years old and has a lot of life in her.  She has been at the shelter since the 21st of February, she now has until close of business Sunday 3/17/13 to be pulled.”
[Larry aside: We’re not sure is that’s the same as the current DAS “due out date” or if it’s a euthanasia day. We do know that nobody puts semantics in the Sayonara Syringe.]
MULTIFORWARDED NOTES: About a dozen emails that had been forwarded to at least 200,000 people (perhaps I exaggerate) arrived at Readlarrypowell.com this week. Some of them begin “Read from the bottom up” and seem to go on forever with a series of first names only, two or three people with the same name,  explanations, opinions and dire statements of the immediate threat to the lives of the animals and, now and then, some of the people. 
Sometimes, when you do scroll all the way down, you find out the email was originated at least a week earlier. The subject line may say something like “Dog will be killed in 45 minutes. Must help now” and the email is five days old. 
Still, we move on and we find a reason to write about these long, nearly impossible to reconstruct in a rational fashion, notes. Thus, here’s my attempt to suggest that all shelters have more cats than they need, kitten season is upon us and opportunities abound for people who want to help cats.
We’ve picked three off a long email regarding cats in the Irving Animal Shelter.
The black and white cat is Sasha (19109907). She's’ said to be full of life and friendly and she “loves her treats.” [Larry aside: I’m running her photo because I’m partial to black and white cats and all other cats, too. She may be adopted or gone by the time you read this, but, trust me, Irving’s shelter is big enough to draw almost immediate replacements every time a cat gets adopted or pulled into rescue.]
The orange cat, 19139188, is Gadget, an owner-release who appears not to understand why he’s out of a comfy recliner at home and into a shelter. 
And 19261418 is Hazel, said to be “a beauty with a little bit of ‘catitude.’” 
But heres more. According to the note about all the cats, Hazel was accidentally deposited in the “sick room” and now cannot leave. She’s been exposed to upper respiratory infections and can’t go to the adoption area. 
Here are the email contacts: [email protected],  [email protected] and  [email protected]. Call the shelter at 972-721-2259 or 972-721-2256.
FROM OUT AT THE LAKE, PARTY TIME:  As you know, the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake operate the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City. 
But that’s nothing compared to the way they party. 
I’m kidding. But, they do party. And this time it’s from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, at Cedar Creek County Club. We got the info from our reliable Friends tipster Sydney Busch. The gala benefits the Friends’ spay/neuter clinic and the spay/neuter program of the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake (its shelter is at nearby Tool -- we mention it’s life-saving efforts all the time here at Readlarrypowell.com.)
[Larry aside: And, of course, the Friends clinic is so successful that 100 percent of the animals  who have undergone the spay/neuter treatment there have been unable to conceive since their surgeries. You can check that out if you wish.]
The gala evening will feature dinner and live music by Dave Tanner, dancing an auctions. Tickets are $35 each or 2 for $60.
Sponsorships are still available at the $250, $500 and $1000 levels. To ask about tickets or sponsorship or helping with the gala, call Sydney at 903-451-4701. Tickets can be purchased at Flair Publishing, the Friends clinic on Tuesdays, and Best Realty in Gun Barrel City, at the Humane Society shelter in Tool and at the Cedar Creek Chamber of Commerce in Mabank.
Remember, 100 percent success in all spayed or neutered animals -- a fabulous record of which we can all be proud.
REAL ESTATE NOTE: There is a small office space (300 square feet in a “rime location in Gun Barrel City” (corner of 198 and 334) available for rent at $240 a month plus half of the electric bill. There’s a large front window and the space can be made into two separate areas, each with its own hallway entrance. (Call 903-451-4701.) [Larry aside: This is our first attempt at a classified-style real estate ad. Feel free to enquire about our magnificent rates. We’ll advertise real estate in any Zip Code in the U.S. Free kittens and puppies will not be considered as payment.]
AND NOW SOME DOGS: We had all those cats earlier, so here are some dogs -- distinct faces from the list of residents at the crowded Collin County Animal Services shelter. We got the list from Allison Roberts, the volunteer shelter walker. 
So, who are these dogs?
Cash is the husky mix -- how about those eyes?
The girl with the pearls is Betty Lou. Came in with them and a Tiffany’s charge card -- I might have made that last bit up.
You can see more urgent dogs on the volunteer-run Facebook page HERE and look at the official county site HERE.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Someone sent out this photo of three dogs in the Garland Animal Shelter. The note said the three had bonded and that they needed to leave together. No other background on the many-times forwarded note. (The email to the Garland shelter is [email protected] and one note, which I got around to reading after 9 p.m. last night, said they’re fate would be determined at 7 a.m. “on their review date.” [Larry aside: Could “review date” be the same thing as the DAS “due out date” or other shelters’ “euthanasia date?” ] At any rate, I’m sitting here looking at these dogs who came into the shelter together -- a Golden mix and two Pit bulls -- and sleep together and are, indeed, bonded, and I’m wondering what in the heck is going to happen. The Golden will be saved and the Pits euthanized? All three euthanized? Why would humans put three loving and lovable dogs in such a position? Lord only knows and I’m unable to contemplate the thought or thoughtlessness that goes into such an action. Anybody got any answers? Is there a coordinated way to get animals off Death Row? Or is it the sad truth that once they’re on Death Row in North Texas, there’s not much that can be done? ... Just an FYI: Still waiting to hear back on some questions we’ve asked, notably about whether the Metroplex Animal Coalition is gone and if there’s anything new, splashing and guaranteed to charm the vast general public coming up from the new Dallas Companion Animal Project? ...  Happy Red Nose Day. That is our only Readlarrypowell.com international celebrity, the English Cocker Spaniel Inky, the Cocker Laureaute of the State of Texas. The nose is not a rental.
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On Thursday, opportunities to help are all over the place...

And here we are on a Thursday and thinking about what comes next.
Note to Lotto Texas: Can't you make it easier to pick six winning numbers?
STRUCK BY A CAR AND GETTING SOME HELP: Tawana Couch of the Society For Companion Animals is trying to make sure this puppy gets the good breaks.
The little girl was struck by a car and wound up in the Dallas animal shelter.
Tawana says DAS reported that her right back leg was a big problem, probably broken and “very painful.”
So, says Tawana, “SFCA seems to be rescuing the hard luck cases.” After getting the opinion of three vets, the verdict is the little girl needs to lose the damaged leg. “An amputation is expensive even on a dog this size -- $550 does include getting her spayed while she is under,” Tawana says, then adds, “The good news is a shelter in New York will take her [after the surgery] ... She is still a growing pup and deserves a chance.”
They’re calling her Laura Bella. You can shee how help by clicking HERE. And, to the left you’ll see an advertisement for the Society’s only annual fundraiser -- it is animals like Laura Bella who benefit.
QUESTIONS WE’VE ASKED ABOUT THE NEW VERSION OF DCAP: These are some of the questions we’ve asked of people directly involved in the reorganization of Dallas Companion Animal Project. Does this merger mean the Metroplex Animal Coalition no longer exists? (We’re unclear on that.) And, what’s the next big thing coming from DCAP that isn’t organizational in nature? The next big eye-catching, public support-building project? These could get to be exciting times if the community outside of rescue and shelter professionals begins to get involved in the drive to save lives. 
A LITTLE BIT OF DRAMA: Veteran rescuer Kimberly Jones has been trying to save a stray Lab mix -- black with a white patch on her chest -- from a bad bit of wanderlust at Central Expressway and Ross Avenue. The dog has been living around the underpass in this ultra busy area of downtown Dallas. She’s successfully avoided capture by rescuers and a Dallas Animal Services officer, too, we’re told. No photo yet, but attempts are being made not just to catch her, but to catch her on camera, too. Stay tuned.
MORE DRAMA? [AN UPDATE: This girl has been adopted and it's said to be a good match -- we hope to find out more. And, of course, we're envious. Love to hug that dog!]
Making the rounds is an email about this dog Kie. 
She is about 8 years old and said to be a Chow/shepherd mix.
The story going around -- on emails that aren’t officially from the shelter -- claims that the owner who was surrendering her dragged her into the shelter by her fluffy hair. Scared dog, though she has settled down.
By now she’s probably become a friendly dog just waiting for a loving hand to touch her and a soft voice to say, “Good girl, Kie.”
Of course, she’s on the clock at the overcrowded Collin County Animal Services Shelter in McKinney and unless someone steps up to save this girl, that gentle “Good girl, Kie” may come from someone with a death needle in that hand.
To offer to help #399702, email shelter contacts [email protected]      and: [email protected].
See the volunteer-run Facebook page that displays “urgent” dogs at the shelter by clicking HERE.
THE SECOND CHANCE SPCA STORY: We’re grateful to Anne Bracken of the Second Chance SPCA of Plano for giving us the background on that fundraising effort that delightfully stunned the entire animal fund-raising world.
She writes, “We are all still on cloud nine after our surprise donation Monday morning.  The back story is that Dr. Rob Dickerman read the article in The Dallas Morning News about us losing our space and our campaign to raise $30K in 30 days.   He then contacted his friend Tony Zazza 103.7 Lite FM and asked Tony to get us into the station under the guise of talking about the $30K in 30-day campaign.  Well, we did talk about it, at which time I reported we had raised $21,000 and that’s when they brought Dr. Dickerman on the line to tell me he had written a check for the $9,000 to bring us to $30,000.  So there I was, on air and all I could do was cry.
"It was just so wonderful and as much as the monetary donation means to us, which is huge, it serves as reaffirmation that all of our hard work  is truly appreciated and acknowledges that what we do should continue.  The support we have received from our volunteers, adopters, supporters and animal lovers hearing our story has been overwhelming. We are truly humbled by the support we have received thus far. As for the campaign, it will run through March 24th and whatever funds that come in above the $30K will be applied to renovations, including putting on a new roof and appropriate flooring and best of all, making space for more rescues.”
Anne wants people to know that Second Chance SPCA is grateful for the support.
And  she also included the story of the dog pictured above, Casper, a 61-pound Lab Mix who came into the SCSPCA shelter in December. He was 7, large, and heartworm positive.  Lots of bad odds.
The SCSPCA then “worked with a local vet in Plano to assess and treat Casper’s condition. Although the medicines made him ill and uncomfortable, he eventually recovered and is now heartworm free. Better still, Casper was adopted by a loving family in February.
“Not every dog gets his day, but this one did.”
THEY’RE COMING IN PAIRS: Yesterday we mentioned that Lucy’s Lost Loved Ones Rescue which vows “We’re Saving Chihuahuas, One at a Time” was working on saving 5 Shih Tzu/Poodle mixes (they’ve gotten some interest). Today we move along to Everman Animal Shelter where, volunteer Heather Harrison says, they’re trying to find one place for these two bonded dogs, a pair of Chihuahua mixes, Chevy and Ford. Chevy’s a 3-pounder who is playful and cuddly and Ford is an 8-pounder who depends on Chevy to lead the way. The story is, Heather reports, “They are bonded
and must stay together.” 
They’re neutered and heartworm negative. And, since the pound is full, they’re on the euthanasia list, Heather reports.
To offer to help them, call 309-299-5665 or email [email protected].
Oh, and Everman has this Pit girl who caught Heather’s eye. She writes, “Diamond -- beaten, broken & brindle -- no help in isght!” And she ads that “I have never met a Pit Bull that has stolen my heart the way she has.”
Diamond may be 9 years old. She’s thin, has teeth problems and is heartworm positive. She “has been horribly overbred and scared at times. She has lived a life of hell. Beaten, battered and abused. However, she is still the sweetest girl you will ever meet. Very well-mannered, knows commands, great with other dogs and kids.” 
And, of course, the odds are against her -- it’ll take a special rescue to give her a chance at living out her life in a loving home. (Heather is the volunteer contact for these Everman dogs. Call 309-299-5665 or email [email protected].
SPEAKING OF PAIRS: Here’s an Oklahoma pair. In fact, they are currently awaiting a bit of rescue in Burns Flat., Okla., -- and that’s after they’ve been rescued once already.
Burns Flat, as you may recall, is a small town out in Western Oklahoma.
Rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher reports, “These two little girls were dumped out in the country, left to fend for themselves. Thankfully, a lady found them before the coyotes did. They are less than 3 months and both females -- maybe rottie mixes.”
The woman “out in the country” can’t keep them and Terry Lynn has run out of room at her house, with her friends and at the city shelter. 
She needs some help -- email her at [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS: I’ll just go ahead and get this baseball joke out of the way. The Cardinals had an opportunity to pick Nolan Ryan and went with a Padre instead. Yeah, I feel a little guilty. ... Favorite childhood TV show that wasn’t The Mickey Mouse Club: Fury, Burke’s Law, Trackdown, Rocky and His Friends? “Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat. Oops. Wrong hat.” Holy smoke, I think I just rolled my desk chair into a Nostalgia Pothole. ...  Among the most useless emails ever to be sent to me is this one that arrived yesterday: “Larry Powell, save on Hawaiian hotels + more.”  I can’t begin to tell you how unlikely it is that I will ever need a bargain of any kind in Hawaii. I’m so unfamiliar with Hawaii that I don’t even suspect what “+more” might mean.
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How about that Second Chance surprise and other upbeat notes from Earth to Mars...

HERE'S A PM NEWS UPDATE THAT'LL MAKE YOU SMILE: The missing Guide Dog has been recovered. 
We get the story from Beth Adams, our initial tipster on this case of the specially trained dog who apparently slipped out of a yard in Garland.
Beth writes, "So relieved to be telling you this good news! Kiem Densmore was overjoyed to get Anka back – and I think Anka felt the same.   Anka was picked up on Shilo, walking very near her home last Thursday.  She was taken home by a very kind family who treated her extremely well. When one of their family members saw the news report and let them know – they immediately called Kiem and reunited the pair.  They even refused the reward money telling us it was just the right thing to do!  The outpouring of support from everyone has been amazing – we’ve had people making phone calls, physically checking the shelters, hanging flyers and signs etc., not to mention kind folks like you and others in the media who helped spread the word.  Our Facebook page had over 8,000 shares in just over 24 hours – Dog people are so awesome!"
She adds, "Richard and Vernetta Fletcher are the folks who found Anka. ... Wooohooo!"
As you know "Wooohooo!" is the international expression of delight.
Veteran animal advocate Jeff Hartmen sent us this LINK to the Channel 5 (KXAS) story. 
(To comment or "Wooohooo!", click below.) 

SC-SPCA'S GREAT NEWS: 
Please, read this only if you like good news.
At the end of January we wrote a story about the Second Chance SPCA of Plano losing its shelter building to a real estate deal.
And the SC-SPCA people got busy and found a place.
Then they started a fundraising campaign -- the target was $30,000.
It can be hard to raise money for animal causes.
On Monday morning, SC-SPCA President Anne Bracken was on the Tony Zazza morning show on 103.7 Lite FM to talk about the “$30,000 in 30 Days Campaign.
Dr. Rob Dickerman, a Plano neurosurgeon, had heard about the effort and arranged to make his surprise donation on the Zazza show.
It was a big surprise. All $30,000.
Any money raised beyond that will go to turning the new property into a shelter that will hold more animals than the old one. Read all about it and see how to donate at secondchancespca.org. If you want to send a “way to go” note to SC-SPCA and Dr. Dickerman and Tony Zazza, email  [email protected] .
THE COUNT AND THE AMOUNT: OK, we’re going to poke a little fun here, but it’s really kind of a darling situation.
We got an email noting that Lucy’s Lost Loved Ones Rescue is looking for homes for 5 Shih Tzu/Poodle mixes -- the owner has lost her home. 
These are a couple of the dogs needing a place to go. You can offer to help by calling 817-714-0990 or emailing [email protected]. The website is lucyslostlovedones.com.
Let me mention once again that there are FIVE SHIH TZU/POODLE mixes and the motto of the rescue group is “We’re Saving Chihuahuas, One at a Time.”
[Larry aside: My funspouse Martha, no stranger to rescuing, described this going from one Chihuahua at a time to five Shih Tzu/Poodle mixes at a time as “mission drift.” More power, of course, to the Lucy group! Drift and save, that's the method.]
BE ON THE LOOKOUT, STILL: We mentioned this dog yesterday (and some sleeping dogs that have been sent to live on chains in a strange yard -- scroll down to Tuesday's early edition for that one.). In this case, Anka, the Guide Dog, is still missing.
Anka, a 5-year-old fully-trained Guide Dog,was last seen Thursday in Garland in the Shiloh/Kingsley area.
Beth Adams of Lone Star Guide Dog Raisers says Anka was without collar or tags when she vanished, but her ears are tattooed with ID numbers The theory is the dog slipped out through a space in the back gate. Her partner, Kiem Densmore, “is very distraught,” Beth says. 
If you know the whereabouts of this fabulous dog, call Guide Dogs for the Blind at 800-295-4050 or 469-955-7666. Beth says the Anka searchers are papering the neighborhood with signs and posters today.
MORE NOTES ABOUT SHELTERS: When the sun finally went down last night, there were three dogs still left on the euthanasia list at Carrollton Animal Shelter. Maybe things will have changed by the time you read this, but in case they haven’t, these are the dogs that might still have a chance. They are Nifty, Prince and Rio. Call 972-466-3420 or email [email protected]. If these dogs are no longer available, there will be others taking their place. That is the nature of a city animal shelter. Not the shelter’s fault -- sometimes the residents just don’t value the animals. ... Heather Harrison, doing volunteer work for the Everman Animal Shelter, reports that the place is full and could use some help getting the “adorable pups” to safety. Of course, what pup isn't’ adorable, right? Anyway, these dogs include 4-month-old female Lab/Heeler mix Charlotte who is “great with other dogs” and 3-month-old Heller/Lab mix Tiny Tim who is described as a “super sweet guy who just wants to cuddle. Not too playful. Just very sweet. Very thin.” To offer to help these dogs or any animal in the Everman shelter, email [email protected] or call 309-299-5665. ... And, of course, Collin County Animal Services shelter in McKinney has a packed house. Volunteer shelter walker Allison Roberts send us info about many, many dogs, including this one. You can read all about them on the Facebook site HERE. That dog is 2-year-old Spring. A Lap Dog, obviously.
REMINDER: We posted the new Dallas Companion Animal Project’s press release yesterday and some questions and, on our Special Report page, some “historical documents” (to borrow from the film Galaxy Quest). If you missed the news release yesterday, you can still scroll down and read it. So much animal stuff, we had two posts yesterday. And one question that came up is "Did the merger of 3 different animal groups reduce the number of organization voices lobbying city hall or the county on behalf of Dallas animals?" Three (Metroplex Animal Coalation, Dallas Animal Advocats and DCAP) down to one, DCAP? Will the new organization be one easy-to-ignore voice or a formidable political entity? Just wondering. (You can offer opinions by clicking on "comment" below.)
A CAT VOLUNTEER QUESTION: My former colleague at the big paper in Dallas and a swell all-round person and friend to animals Aline McKenzie poses a question after moving into the southwestern sector of Dallas. She’s looking for a feline rescue group in the area -- likes to foster “pregnant mamas, mamas with newborns and weaned orphans (no bottle babies.)” The quest is on for a “smaller group where we make a bigger difference. Any recommendations?”
OK, Dear Readers, this is your chance to show off for me. I’ve told Aline that someone out there can help with this. I’ve also said that I don’t know of a single feline rescue group between I-30 and I-20 in Dallas. Anybody know? Email [email protected] and copy [email protected], too.
And don’t send me any cats or kittens -- we’re all full up here.
CONTEMPLATIONS: A key question about life on Earth. Vanilla ice cream. Is it always the best place to start? ... Best drive-in double-feature from the 1960s? The Graduate and The Odd Couple. Try this as a nominee for best drive-in double-feature from the 1950s: I Was a Teenage Werewolf and Invasion of the Saucermen.  I won’t even bring up Not Of This Earth and The Thing (From Another World). Haven’t been to a drive-in or a double-feature since the early ‘80s. ... Mars could have supported life, scientists now say. What happened to life on Mars? My theory? Too close to Earthlings and the Martians moved out.
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DCAP's press release arrives...

Here is the press release regarding the "merger" of three animal-oriented entities in Dallas.
This was sent to Readlarrypowell.com by Chris Watts, the new president of the new organization.

The headline on the press release reads:

OFFICIAL CITY OF DALLAS TASK FORCE COMBINES
FORCES WITH NOTED ANIMAL WELFARE NON-PROFITS
And here is the body of the news release:

(DALLAS, TX) March 11, 2013 – At a time when new
non-profit organizations are being created almost daily to address social
causes in different ways, three Dallas entities are taking a ground-breaking
approach and are combining forces to create a greater impact on their
respective missions.  Dallas Animal Advocates, the Dallas Companion Animal Project and the Metroplex Animal Coalition have agreed to work together under the same 501(c)(3) umbrella for the good of companion animals in Dallas and their owners. 
The new organization will do business as the Dallas Companion Animal Project that first began in July of 2011 as the official task force appointed by the City of Dallas to guide the community toward increasing programs to end the killing of adoptable homeless animals.
Membership and leaders of the groups voted unanimously for this consolidation that represents a change in how animal welfare groups typically operate. The team who will serve on the board of directors of the new organization initially is:
Chris Watts, President; Maeleska Fletes, Vice President/Secretary; Directors Susan Gregory, John McQuade, Elaine Munch, Mary Spencer, Jody Jones Pam Asturias and Treasurer Rebecca Poling.
More directors may be appointed in the near future as roles and responsibilities
continue to take shape.
The programs that all three groups have begun will continue largely as before,
under the same leadership. Virtually all of the members of the boards of the
former organization have signed as to serve as volunteers or as advisory
members, signifying a hearty endorsement of the new organization.
“We realized that we were all working together in our various missions and found our paths crossing on an almost daily basis," said Chris Watts, the new
president of the Dallas Companion Animal Project. “So we said as we were
already working together, why not make it official? It’s been a very exciting
time for us all.”
Elaine Munch, former president of the Metroplex Animal Coalition, said “We felt so many organizations all focused on the City of Dallas and the Dallas Animal Shelter for virtually the same purpose was just confusing. We wanted the general public, supporters and the area’s charitable foundations to have one source to work with when they wanted to help the City of Dallas and Dallas Animal Services.”
Of the new, combined organization, Susan Gregory, former president of Dallas Animal Advocates, adds: “Since we began discussions toward this consolidation, we didn’t look back. We began to immediately to test the idea, and it became natural . . . almost overnight. It was so gratifying.”
The larger, more over-arching goal that the new organization will be focused upon is to make Dallas a “no-kill” city for adoptable animals. It will accomplish
that through its key program areas of:

• Spay and Neuter
• Education and Awareness
• Community Outreach
• Pet Placement
• Feral Cat Awareness

"A short history of the groups:

Originally conceived by the Animal Shelter Commission on June 23, 2011, Dallas Companion Animal Project mission was to guide the community toward increasing programs to end the killing of adoptable homeless animals. Their formula for success will be to work aggressively to involve Dallas citizens and the business community to actively participate, educate and To learn more about how to volunteer or endorse or affiliate with Dallas CAP,
visit: http://dallascompanionanimalproject.wordpress.com .

Dallas Animal Advocates was formed in 2009, for the purpose of making Dallas a kinder place for animals by promoting a higher quality of life for animals served by Dallas Animal Services. Their initial programs will focused on fences for tethered dogs and heartworm treatments for dogs rescued from Dallas Animal Services. They also proved the “creature comforts” of treats, toys and bedding that the animals at the Dallas shelter might otherwise have not been provided.

The Metroplex Animal Coalition was formed in 2000 with to bring myriad animal welfare groups together to work toward solving the decades old problem of pet overpopulation and to promote a true spirit of collaboration to accomplish that mission. Since their free spay and neuter program began in 2002 the non-profit has provided surgeries for 20,000 animals and has contributed just under $1 million dollars to the community to help accomplish its goals.

"More About the Dallas
Companion Animal Project

"Originally conceived by the Animal Shelter Commission on June 23, 2011, our mission is to guide the community toward increasing programs to end the killing of adoptable homeless animals. For more information on how to take part in the “Dallas Companion Animal Project,” visit http://dallascompanionanimalproject.wordpress.com/

"Join us and 'Be Part of the Positive' – the great changes that the Dallas Companion Animal Project and the City of Dallas Animal Shelter will accomplish together."

[Larry aside: And there you have it, the new organization's first news release. If you have questions, feel free to click on comment below and ask them. We'll try to get the answers.]
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The merger, the dumped dogs, blind cats, missing guide dog and gutter cats in Burns Flat

Hello, Tuesday, and this might be a big day for animals in Dallas.
Due out today, so to speak, is the press release explaining the “merger” that brings non-profit Metroplex Animal Coalition, non-profit Dallas Animal Advocates and the city-appointed no-kill task force, Dallas Companion Animal Project, under one umbrella.
Chris Watts, co-chair of DCAP along with Maeleska Fletes, was kind enough to give us a heads up on that yesterday, saying that a press release is coming today and “it’s time to roll it all out.”
We’ve been asking for an explanation of this merger since it was apparently “voted” through toward the end of last year, but the principals have been silent as details were “worked out.” Apparently, the merger has reached the “worked out” stage. Not everyone is in favor of what’s called “the merger” but even those opposed won’t talk about it publicly. 
And DCAP, a city-appointed task force, has apparently become a non-profit organization. Records available online indicate that filing occurred last May.  If you go HERE (http://www.corporationwiki.com/Unknown/Unknown/dallas-companion-animal-project/103697586.aspx) you’ll see a report that the Dallas Companion Animal Project “filed as a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation on Monday, May 21, 2012,” in Texas. No big announcement, just a discreet filing for non-profit status.
The no-kill task force has always been described as “appointed by the City of Dallas” and City of Dallas news releases say that happened in July 2011. The purpose was to “create a plan to reduce the euthanasia of adoptable animals in our community,” according to the DCAP website. 
Among the things that could be answered in the press release:
--How the transformation of the task force occurred, perhaps. That active State of Texas nonprofit reference ID is 801600329 and the active officers are listed as Elaine Munch, Rebecca Poling and Susan Gregory.  They all have long histories of involvement in animal issues -- animal advocacy is a relatively small community so, of course, they all have connections. How all that worked together to convert a city-appointed task force into a non-profit entity may be explained in the press release.
-- Who will be the spokesperson for the new animal organization and what will it be called?
-- How will this affect the welfare of animals in Dallas? Will there be more “marketing” of available animals and spay/neuter programs? (Nobody outside of the big non-profits has major money for marketing unwanted animals and animal-related projects. Pro bono is a big saving grace.) 
--Will it affect operations at the city’s animal shelter? Will it affect the way rescue groups work with the city?
-- Will there actually be one much larger organization when MAC and Dallas Animal Advocates (with many crossover members) merge with the  Dallas Companion Animal Project (also with crossover supporters)? Who will actually run the new organization?
In the meantime, we have prepared a special report that includes official announcements from the City of Dallas regarding the establishment of the “no-kill task force.”
Until the press release arrives, we’ve provided a few historical documents on our Special Report link . They outline the background of DCAP and include the presentation the task force made to the Dallas City Council regarding a plan to make the city, if not no-kill, at least “less-kill” within five years.
FYI, as has been noted for some time, the “no-kill task force” goal is now creating a “more humane community,” the concept of “no-kill” having been determined to be not likely.
Click HERE to see those earlier City of Dallas documents.
[Larry aside:  Readlarrypowell.com has always regarded the “no-kill task force” as the last good chance for a generation to get the communities that make up Dallas involved in life-saving efforts for the city's immense and poorly-treated animal population. I’ve listed those stories on our Special Report site so you can see how DCAP began and how the original plan for reaching “no-kill” status read. We also may learn, at some point, if the appointment of the no-kill task force was a response to fear that followers of the noted no-kill advocate Nathan Winograd -- the stop-the-killing now people --were about to make things even more unpleasant for Dallas Animal Services. You’ll recall that DAS had gone through a rough spell when the shelter manager was indicted for animal cruelty in the case of an escaped cat left to die inside a wall of the city’s practically brand new shelter. The accused was found not guilty. The cat is still dead.  The shelter still kills upwards of 20,000 unwanted animals a year by its own figures -- the numbers are dropping, but it's been a pleasant winter and the town is full of unfixed dogs and cats. Still, other things have changed -- today’s press release may show how much.]
THESE DOGS NOW CHAINED IN A YARD: These two pits once had a happy life in a home -- this is them piled up on the human’s bed. Then their human fell on bad times. The dogs were moved around and now, according to rescuer Victoria Scheffler, “We have learned they are chained in the yard of a home where they are unwanted and not properly cared for.... Something has got to be done to help these poor dogs that were once beloved members of a household and now have been cast out and chained up.”
Contact veteran rescuer Victoria at [email protected].
The woman who had them ran into a tough spot, gave them to a friend who put them in his parent’s yard in Lewisville, she says. But the parents “are anti-pit and don’t interact with them. They are just chained outside. The friend makes it over there to feed them ‘every couple of days.”
[Larry aside: This is just not right. Someone’s got to be educated about the personalities, souls and spirit of dogs. They’re not just things -- they are individuals who love, feel and yearn for human companions. The sadness in this story is just nearly overwhelming.]
BE ON THE LOOKOUT: This dog is Anka, a 5-year-old fully-trained Guide Dog who was last seen Thursday in Garland in the Shiloh/Kingsley area.
Beth Adams of Lone Star Guide Dog Raisers says Anka was without collar or tags when she vanished, but her ears are tattooed with ID numbers The theory is the dog slipped out through a space in the back gate. Her partner, Kiem Densmore, “is very distraught,” Beth says. 
If you know the whereabouts of this fabulous dog, call Guide Dogs for the Blind at 800-295-4050 or 469-955-7666.
SOME CATS IN TROUBLE: Marnie Simmons, the co-director of Friends of Arlington Animal Services, tipped us to this story near Tyler in East Texas.
Judy Carnes of O’Malley Cat Rescue is working on helping some blind kittens.
She wrote to her rescue contacts, “We’re working to save a colony of 31 FULLY VETTED cats who are about to be seized by animal control in a very small town outside of Tyler.  They will be dead within 5 minutes of being placed in the ACO’s truck.  Five of them are blind from toxoplasmosis.  The others are being treated for it as it’s in the ground in the area. There are two 4 month old kittens that we are taking immediately but there is no shelter here or any cattery where we can get the rest to safety.   They need to be quarantined.
“Do you know of any sanctuaries or rescues that would be able to take these 5 kitties?  As always, time is of the essence.  We may be able to buy a few more days. Any help is much appreciated.”
To help with this project, email [email protected]  or call 903-581-2110.
THE GUTTER CATS OF BURNS FLAT: Our reliable tipster Terry Lynn Fisher, the rescuer in the small western Oklahoma outpost of Burns Flat, is known for saving dogs, but she also works with cats and feeds and cares for several feral colonies. “We have, with the help of wonderful people, trapped and altered more than 100 cats,” she says. “There were several here, hanging around my home. We got them done. They hang out here. We have several houses set up for them to get out of the elements and they seem to be doing well. However, many more have joined them. We have counted over 20 that come here to eat that do not have the ear tipped. The town calls them ‘gutter cats,’ for they live in the drain gutters in town. So, I am asking for help to try and get these fixed.”
Local vets don’t offer discounts, but she drives cats to Oklahoma City to get the work done for about $30 a cat. Contact her at [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS: Just going to have one today and it comes from Terry Lynn Fisher whose cat birth control efforts we just wrote about in the preceding paragraph. She wrote that she’s seen a bunch of unfixed cats in her neighborhood. Then she added, “Sadly, I have seen several starting to mate. I have asked them not to but they did not listen.” She added a :) after that line. We added a laugh. Terry Lynn was kidding, but, honestly, there appear to be people who think they can talk dogs and cats out of doing what comes naturally. Doesn’t work with teenagers, why should it work with cats and dogs?
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Lucy: Runaway dog apprehended with love...

This is a photo of Lucy, the runaway dog, taking it easy in a place most of us will never see -- the back seat of of a Dallas Police Department squad car.
It has been a while since Lucy went on the lam in Dallas.
You may recall she was a rescued dog in West Dallas who, after having surgery to repair a prolapse problem on the backside, decided to run to daylight.
She vanished. People hunted her. And she's been found.
You'll happily enjoy the details of a fresh post on the Duck Team 6 Facebook page HERE,
Talk about long odds ... and how about that Dallas Police Department! Check out the officers who helped this dog beat those odds.
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