ReadLarryPowell.com

Life offers up another dance...

The excitement is at the highest level ever at Readlarrypowell.com.
We got an email from Euro Raffle that declares “Winning notification.”
Drinks are on us. If I had a nickel for every piece of worthless email I get, I wouldn’t need the Euro Raffle. Whatever it is. Perhaps the word "scam" comes to mind.
Let’s find something that’ll be helpful today.
DISCO ALWAYS HELPS: Patty Sprong reminded me that the BARC Gala, benefitting Mazie’s Mission, is coming up. Tickets are on sale now. And you can see all the info in the big picture right there. Click on it to make it even larger.
Patty had a special request for me to mention that “by helping Mazie’s Mission, they will be helping ALL rescue groups because Dr.  Erin Shults [the Mazie’s Mission funder]
wants to open a rescue-only animal hospital. When she does [open one], all rescue groups will be able to help more dogs like Pearl.”
[TIME OUT: Here's a noon-hour note. Patty was reading this Tuesday morning and spotted the key typographical error in the description of Dr. Shults -- "founder" not "funder" -- see Patty's comment below. TIME IN]
Pearl is that shepherd mix that is being carried.
She had just been claimed from the Collin County Animal Services Shelter in McKinney and was entering the care of Mazie’s Mission. “She has a horrible case of mange and a skin infection that was so bad that she couldn’t walk to the car. ... Dr. Shults had to remove dead skin from her head. The whole area was so sore and inflamed. Pearl is recovering in a foster home now.”
Wait! Maybe you want to know what BARC means. Build A Rescue Clinic.
See details of Mazie’s Mission plans and efforts at www.maziesmission.org.
SPEAKING OF HELPING ANIMALS: We got a note (too late to post) about the Greyhound Adoption League of Texas’ online auction ending last night. But, the note also included some situations that could still use some help. In the past five days, GALT has taken in three Greyhounds with two broken legs among them -- Girl and Othello have the fractures and 12-year-old Nadine is a stray. But that’s not all, sometime today, GALT gets custody of Whisper, a stray female from Fort Worth Animal Care and Control. Get more info at www.galtx.org.
That’s Girlie. Long racing career that ended early this month with an awful leg injury. GALT frequently takes in these racing hounds and keeps them from being euthanized.
April, by the way, is Adopt-a-Greyhound Month. This is the last day of April. Relax, you can adopt Greyhounds all year long. Yeah, they never run out of inventory. It’s Texas. Plenty of unwanted critters.
THE FACE IN A CROWD: We got this note from Molly Peterson, President of the Collin County Humane Society and Director of CCHS’s Rockwall Animal Adoption Center. The first picture we saw was this one. It was one of several adorable faces in the crowd. The story on this dog (right) is she’s one of five 4-week-old Doxie/Beagle/Terrier mixes “dumped on the porch with another litter of Lab pups.”
Yeah, dumping ‘em by the bunches these days. [Larry aside: Isn’t anyone paying attention to the spay/neuter sermons around here?]
On the left, that's one of a couple of Shepherd pups the CCHS is currently caring for and hoping to place in a really good home.
To ask about any of these animals email [email protected], . You can link up to more guaranteed sweetheart adoptables at the CCHS site HERE.
If you’d rather play golf, the rescue group is hosting Putting for Pooches on May 4 at Plantation Golf club. Details on the website.
A DANE WHO NEEDS A HOME: We got the tip on Missy from Sydney Busch of the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake.
For many, many years Readlarrypowell.com was typed each day under the watchful eye of a Great Dane/Lab mix named Hambone, AKA Mr. Hammy or Hambone Jack the Canine King of the Blues. It was through Hammy’s cool moods and affection that we became enamored of both Danes and Labs.
This dog Missy is a purebred Great Dane and comes with an enthusiastic endorsement from her human, Kelly Hamilton. Here’s the note that accompanied Missy’s photo.
“First let me say that we love this girl and if she gets chosen by someone and it doesn’t work out we will take her right back. We are hoping to find someone or a family that can keep her in more and give her the attention she needs. She is 4 years old. She walks on a leash, is house- and kennel-trained, loves to snuggle and hug. She could use some manners but is a sweet girl.
“We have always had many other animals around Missy without any problems but when we took her to what was supposed to be her new home she was very scared and depressed. We were asked to come back the next day to get her because she snapped at another dog there. Missy has not been formally trained. She is not fixed.  Someone that has experience with Danes or big breed dogs would be best as they are a handful! She is current on her vaccinations.”
The contact is [email protected].
Here’s a dog who isn’t a wander-up or a drop-off or hasn’t been pulled from a shelter or picked up off the streets. People know this dog and her story and are working to find a good home for her. Surely there is one.
CONTEMPLATIONS: While I was working last night, my funspouse Martha was watching KERA’s broadcast of Antiques Roadshow and some guy was talking about “sealing wax” but in my head I spelled “ceiling wax” and it made me smile at the concept. That may be a side-effect of having bees in your attic. Ceiling wax. ... How long before Tim Tebow has a job playing pro football in Florida just to help ticket sales? ... The folks with Mazie’s Mission set the tone for the day, so in the interest of harmony, hear today’s musical selection HERE. Honestly, I didn’t understand the lyrics then, I can’t fathom them now. And as I type this I’ve got on a paisley Qiana shirt and a white suit with white patent leather shoes and matching belt. You know, just stayin’ alive. But if you’re in the mood, this is the BARC theme HERE.
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Hope arrives with Monday...

Here we are on a Monday with hope. The Dallas Cowboys have completed the 2013 draft and are headed for a Super Bowl.
Perhaps that is an over-estimation of “hope.” In the meantime, the Texas Rangers are en route to the World Series and the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars are en route to long vacations.
And we are reminded of the new Dallas slogan: “Big Things Happen Here.” Flops can be big, too.
ANOTHER OAK CLIFF DOG: Last week we reported that Jolie, the totally hairless dog, had been rescued from the area of Beckley and Illinois avenues in southern Oak Cliff. About the same time, this dog was spotted in the same area.
The note from our tipster, veteran rescuer Kimberly Jones, reads, “This friendly Pit X and her babies are in the same area of Oak Cliff where ‘Jolie Justice’ (the hairless dog) was rescued from -- this family is in danger!”
There is a well-founded reluctance to take a “feeding momma” off the street without investigating her circumstances -- chances are she’s trying to get nourishment so she can feed her litter. Take the mom, harm the puppies -- that’s the danger.
But, we’re told by another source that some rescuers have been working on this case and may know where the dog calls home. And there is a need for a place for a determined momma dog and her puppies.[Larry aside: At some point soon, we hope to identify a contact actually working with the dog’s situation so good-hearted people can offer to help with a home or with coin. So, for now, it's a case of "Good luck, dog, you've got our prayers."]
Just an FYI: This is in Zip Code 75224 -- one of the Big Fix For Big D areas.
RETIRED? YEAH, WHATEVER: We got this note from Beth Kosar that explains a new Facebook page. “A few weeks ago I was approached by  fellow rescuer, Juanita Murphy, about putting together a FB page to honor Don Martin, aka Don the Rescuer. He has done so much, for so many years to help animals of all kinds in need, that we felt it was time he knew how very much he is appreciated.”
Now and then Readlarrypowell.com gets emails from Don and he always signs them, “Don the Rescuer, Retired.”
So, if you’d like to see and read about an allegedly retired rescuer, visit the Facebook Don The Rescuer page HERE.
TWO LEFT ON THE CARROLLTON LIST: As the weekend was ending, we got a note from the Carrollton Animal Rescue Enterprise folks telling us that just two young dogs remain on “the list” at the shelter this week.
They are the basic black pup Sprinkles and the goldish dog Glitter. Both came in as strays and they face the usual challenge of being Pit Bull girls who need a home.
To offer them a home in lieu of a needle, call CARE at 972-466-3420 or email [email protected].
A DOG WITH A COUNTRY PROBLEM: We got the tip on this dog from Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. She forwarded it on behalf of a dog who has a problem that’s not going to sit well out at the lake or anywhere someone might have chickens.
The dog needs a new home because, well, he’s got a taste for chickens. Be best if he just wasn’t near the chickens.
The Van Zandt County Humane Society has pledged to help with his neutering and shots if someone will give him a good fowl-free home. Could be he’s really a city dog and not a country dog. To offer to help him, contact the Society’s Carol Whatley at 903-479-4040.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Over the weekend I was trying to do something I rarely do: relax. I watched four movies on the home screen. There was an alleged comedy called Disaster Movie; a dreary sci-fi film. Promethius, a prequel to the Alien series; and Loopers, a time-travel film without relaxing charm. What bailed me out was a 1941 William Powell/Myrna Loy comedy called “Love Crazy.” Given the opportunity to watch a movie, pick a William Powell/Myrna Loy film. ... An automotive contemplation today: Pick a favorite transmission. Four-on-the-floor, three-on-the-tree or pushbutton? .... I must hate myself. I watched the C-SPAN broadcast of the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington Saturday night. Conan O’Brien was the featured act. Reviewers who said he was hilarious must have been drinking. He read his act like someone had set his paper on fire and he was trying to get all the jokes in before the fire department arrived. The president was only a little funnier. Maybe it’s just me, but I prefer a president who isn’t a real comedian. That’s a job for the vice president.
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A triumph for a slumberhound; and a Possum note...

The subject line of the email read “The really great Pit Bull saved from DAS last week.”
Yep, that’s him demonstrating how he is a perfect slumbering lap dog. It is quite clear that this fellow deserves the spotlight for “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.”
Here’s the way the note about this guy began. It came from Kelly Bond, the veteran shelter walker. “I had to share this picture of the Pit Bull we all worked so hard to get out of DAS last week. Remember he was in the cage next to the Maltese named Chester (‘Cujo’)."
Chester was a bit of a force of nature himself. Dallas Animal Services Rescue Team member Danielle Fry fell for Chester, wanted to make sure he got a square deal from Dallas and took him home to make sure he would do well outside of a shelter situation. You may recall her description of Chester wanting to play so much that her big dogs became timid and tried to avoid him. Chester’s tryout was so successful, he went to Rockwall Pets.
Now, the “really great Pit Bull” is called Gulliver. And, as you can see, Kelly writes “He is enjoying life in his new HBAR [Homeward Bound Animal Rescue] foster home. I followed up with Kristen Hill (of HBAR) to see how he was doing and she sent this picture with the response ‘He is a 50-pound lap dog!’ I absolutely loved hearing this!”
And, there you have it, someone happily letting a sleeping dog lie. 
[To nominate your critter for the spotlight of “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap,” send photo or photos and info or infos to [email protected]. We’re proud to use our worldwide-read site to promote tranquility and slumber. If more people got better sleep, it would be a more peaceful planet. Remember, blessed are the drowsy for they shall inherit the pillow. not sure that’s in the Bible, but it could be. I’ll have to check.]
ONE MORE NOTE: God bless George Jones. There’s a video that speaks to the situation in country music now. Click HERE for “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes?”. And for anybody who lived through the wild cowboy hat era with feathered hat bands, and for anybody who always thought George and Tammy Wynette were forever even when apart, here’s one to watch. Give yourself some time and click HERE. Listen to Tammy, then listen to George's performance -- it's the greatest country music song. George Jones. Just pack the boots away -- nobody's going to be able to fill them.
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The adventures continue...

Our energy level has been properly depleted as we reach Friday.
So, here we are typing. And hoping the words hang together in sentence form. It’s a toss-up right now.
RESCUED AND IN GOOD HANDS: That dog is the wanderer from the Beckley at Illinois area of Oak Cliff -- we featured a photo of her eating from a pile of dog food on a bit of roadside grass earlier this month.  Our rescue tipster Kimberly Jones says the famed JP Bonnelly of Duck Team 6 managed to catch Jolie.
Now Jolie is in the care of DFW Rescue Me’s Justice Program (named for the late puppy Justice, victim of awful human behavior last year -- trial upcoming).
Jolie was caught during the lunch hour Thursday. Caught in a net. To reach DFW Rescue Me to help with the expenses of re-hairing -- that’s not the real term, but it’ll work -- and medicating (that is the real term), click on this DFW Rescue Me LINK.
In the meantime, the wandering dog at Central Expressway and Ross Avenue may be getting a decent break. Kimberly has been monitoring that dog for a while, trying to catch her, trying to find a place to take her.
Duck Team 6 agreed to catch her if there was a place for her to go.
Kimberly told us last night that once that dog is caught, she’s got a place at 2nd Chance Rottie & Small Animal Rescue in Springtown.
This dog is one tough girl, though. Long-time resident of the streets. Not interested in humans. We’ll see.
COLLAGE TIME IN EVERMAN: Our Everman Animal Shelter volunteer tipster Heather Harrison has provided us with two collages that feature multiple animals.
The Chihuahuas are George and Washington. They were taken to the shelter on the southern brink of Fort Worth and surrendered. No reason known.
The boys are 6 years old and friendly. In a Chihuahua, 6 years old is still in the puppy phase.
The other array has to do with surrendered puppies.
Eight Border Collie mixes.
“Dire need of rescue,” Heather writes. “These pups are terrified at the pound.”
Offer to help or to adopt by getting in touch with heather at [email protected] or 309-299-5665.
Rescued or adopted -- out of the city shelter is a step in the right direction.
THE ANTI-GASSING BILL: Texas’ proposed anti-euthanasia-by-gassing law has reached a critical status -- the bill is coming up for vote today in Austin. Go to the Texas Humane Legislation Network site at www.thln.org to see the action alert.
DOG APPRECIATION IN GARLAND: If you click on this artwork it will, like magic, grow large enough to be read by the mortal eye. Or perhaps a set of eyes with well-fitted contacts or a pair of stylish spectacles. This is a Saturday event -- 9 a.m.-3 p.m. -- at Roach Feed and Seed in Garland. There’ll be Garland Animal Service dogs there to be appreciated and adopted. 
In one brief sentence, tell me why dogs are worth some appreciation. “They make me smile with my heart.” That work? Feel free to add your own thoughts.
A CONFLUENCE AT FAIR PARK: Yep, more than a thousand people and their dogs are expected Saturday for Wag Your Tail 5K Saturday when SPCA’s Strut Your Mutt takes over Fair Park from 7 a.m. to noon. Get the details at www.spca.org.
EAST LAKE’S SPECIAL SALE: East Lake Pet Orphanage will benefit Saturday from a WAREHOUSE SALE  -- 10 a.m.-5 p.m. -- at 7939 Heinen Drive in Dallas -- Zip 75227.
As you know ELPO is designed to help unwanted dogs and cats.
One of the items for sale is very serviceable in a cat household.
You see it here. It is called a “CatStacker” and it is designed to allow several cats to have a deck of the stacker for relaxing whenever they want. 
Hang on a second.
Upon further examination of the photograph I believe that is, instead, simply three coffee stables stacked up and ready for sale at Saturday’s warehouse event. 
Perhaps I have inadvertently invented a genuine piece of cathouse furniture, er, furniture for a house with several cats. Perhaps I should market the “CatStacker” and get filthy rich.
CONTEMPLATIONS: It was pretty nifty (to use an old but good word) to see all those presidents in town for the dedication of the Bush Library. ... Frankly, I’m getting all fed up with angst, violence and the rotten hearts of human beings who have no regard for their fellow citizens of the planet. ... OK, quick! Everybody go pet a dog, snuggle with a cat. Click HERE and think about goodness. And remember, in addition to love all you really need is one good lotto win.
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And, now, a Presidential Set of Ears, some dogs with needs and a duet for the day...

Big day in Dallas. Former presidents and the Current Fellow are in town for the Bush Library dedication. I mention that for the benefit of of out-of-towners. If
you’ve been here in the last 48 hours, you don’t need to be told. You can’t help but notice that the event is going on.
But, look, Readlarrypowell.com just cannot let this go without a special presentation.
By now you’ve noticed this fellow who, no doubt, appears to be quite presidential. Regal in an elective sort of way. Might have inspired Carly Simon. "Your ear strategically dipped down to one eye; your scarf it was apricot." (Scarf is probably in his locker.)
Yes, this is our Official Presidential Visit 2013 Earhound. Be sure to get a souvenir T-shirt.
He was spotted in the SPCA of Texas shelter. 
SPCA Communications Specialist Stephanie Daniels, our reliable Earhound spotter, says, “I’m amazed by all of the Earhounds we’ve had lately! This is Woodrow, a fun and friendly 1-year-old Belgian Malinois who came to us because his owner was allergic to him.”
[Larry aside: Let’s just stop here right now to note that some of the presidents probably relate to that -- people embraced them only to find out later they were allergic to them. But, that’s politics and pups.]
Stephanie continues, “Our communications coordinator, Meaghan Swan, snapped this adorable photo of Woodrow. I’m not sure what to call this set of silly ears – perhaps just silly? What do you think?”
We’re going to go with a rarely used Earhound American Registration Society designation: The Presidential Political Poll Variety. You know, up and down.
Woodrow is an actual Dallas dog, Stephanie says, not one of the many brought to the SPCA after the West explosion.
And his name is Woodrow? Yep.
Presidential, eh?
Stephanie wrote, “We couldn’t have a better name -- Woodrow! Let’s call him President Woodrow Woofson!”
He’s up for adoption at the SPCA -- it’s on Lone Star Drive in West Dallas -- probably don’t have to worry about a presidential traffic tie-up in West Dallas. Unless someone with White House connections decides to take the limo to get Woodrow. More on that later in today's report.
THREE DOGS TO GO, PLEASE: Like many rescue-oriented people, we got an email from the Dallas Animal Services Rescue Team about a trio of dogs that need help.
To offer, email [email protected].
The dog with the show business face is Shaggy, possibly a bearded Collie, but who really knows? Problem is, DAS says, he’s a nervous dog and a tough case -- until he trusts the human and then he transforms. He’s house-trained and needs a house to demonstrate it. Probably under 3 years old and about 30 pounds. He’s A781644. Then there is this sentence from DAS: “Due to his behavioral issues we are unable to hold him for very long.”
Milo is A779020. We’ve mentioned him before. He arrived with a “broken lower jaw” and the shelter vet staff repaired his jaw with a wire procedure -- needs to be removed in about 5 weeks He’s 2 years old and neutered. Needs a home.
That third dog, A780503, is a Yorkie mix, maybe 5 and sweet, but he’s afflicted with seizures and the verdict is still out on how frequently and how severe. According to the DAS note, “We were told that the seizures did not respond to Valium but did respond to Phenobarbital. Our vet believes that this poor boy is epileptic.”
[Larry aside: Our pal Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas, has epilepsy. He's had a Phenobarbital pill each day for nearly 14 years. Inexpensive. Takes it with his food. Rarely has a seizure. No big deal for the Inkman and, I’m betting, no big deal for A780509, either.]
A SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT A SPECIAL DOG: OK, we don’t know the dog. We didn’t know the guy in the picture with the dog. But we are quite aware of the life- saving efforts of Dallas attorney/animal advocate Martha Hoffmeister and she’s the one who, courtesy of her vast “Marthanet” helping humans and helping animals connection, sent this note about Midnight the Dog.
“Midnight is 9 years old and was turned into Richardson animal control yesterday.  His owner passed away.  Both his wife and his only son had predeceased him, so there is no immediate family and the dog was taken to animal control.  ... Midnight is currently up for adoption at the Richardson shelter.
“You can see from the obituary that Midnight was an honored member of the family.“
Midnight’s shelter number is 13-0509-D. The shelter is at 1330 Columbia in Richardson and its number is 972-744-4480. 
To read about Henry G. Armistead, the man who loved this dog, click HERE.
CONTEMPLATIONS: As you may recall, we’ve mentioned Cherry the Pit Girl a few times -- she was in the Collin County Animal Services Shelter. Yesterday we got an excited note from animal advocate and tipster Patty Sprong. Cherry had just been adopted, she wrote. Yep, CCAS volunteer shelter walker Allison Roberts says, it was an adoption, not a rescue. (Here’s the contemplation part.) She wrote, “We aren’t getting too many rescues these days -- more adoptions than rescues. Especially with the bullies -- very few rescues will pull them.” God bless Cherry and I hope the person who adopted her gives her every break, every benefit and every bit of grace a human heart can find. I also hope someone can contact CCAS and give a good home to 5-year-old Janie (407694), a stray who came in already spayed and with an ID tattoo. Nobody wants her so far and nobody's been looking for her -- been available since Tuesday.  ... Got an email with this subject line: “Please confirm your email for Alien Ant Farm’s list.”  How I got on an Alien Ant Farm list is beyond me. Sometimes you achieve things of which you never dream. ... Be nifty if Woodrow the Dog wound up with one of today’s distinguished visitors who decided to take the limo to get Woodrow. Wait, “Limo For Woodrow” may be a Pit Bull/Christina
Aguilera duet.  Pit raps, “Take the limo. Go get Woodrow. Sign the paper. It’s a happy caper.” Then Christina sings, “Heee’s a guyyyyy who has this heart of miiiine. I luuuuvvve his earsssss;  they are so subliiiiime.” Anybody know an agent? Here you go with verse 2: “One ear rises, one ear’s a droop, he’s so cool, he might like Snoop.” Honestly, Inky the Cocker Rapper of Texas and I are just one good tune from unbridled wealth, Mr. Presidents. Think of the taxes we could pay!
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At midweek, dogs, big cats and a bird...

At some point, we’re going to all understand things, right?
With that optimistic thought, let’s continue with today’s Readlarrypowell.com report.
DOGS: Let’s cut to the chase. Dogs are available at area shelters and in area rescue groups. I don’t need to tell most people that, but the people who think they’re going to go to a pet store today or to a breeder today and get a dog should consider adopting. Same thing for cats.
As long as I was thinking about dogs, I clicked onto the adoptable animals link on the DAS website HERE and discovered this dog Benji’s photo. That’s Benji lashed in place -- A776698 -- and described as a “Beagle mix.”
And I am a wallaby.
I’m kidding the DAS breed designation people. Whatever kind of dog you want, there’s probably one of them or his cousin at DAS.
THE ACCIDENTAL RESCUE: Rebecca Kornblum has rescued many animals intentionally. This time is different. “We ‘accidentally’ rescued Miss Lucy in February. We were supposed to be a verrrrry temporary stop for her on her way from the shelter to a rescue but she became extremely ill and had to be hospitalized. We weren't sure if she would make it ... but she did and we are so grateful.
“Lucy is an amazing cat! I have really considered keeping her (my first ‘foster failure’ in years) but we simply do not have the time or space for another cat as much as I want to!
“Lucy LOVES everyone. She is gentle and playful and sweet. She is comfortable in new situations and around new people and animals. I think she would be a perfect therapy cat. Her first foster calls her a ‘healer’. I've never had a cat like her and wish our situation was different so we could keep her. I am hoping to find someone who can give her all the love she needs AND let her give back as much.”
To offer to help Lucy, call 214-293-5787 or email [email protected]

SPEAKING OF CATS: This cat has been seen wandering through area parks and looking for a pickup basketball game but apparently all the Dallas Mavericks are already on vacation.
Oh, I’m kidding. That’s one of the famous tigers at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary in Boyd, north of Fort Worth. Lots of different exotics at the Sanctuary -- most there because of human failure.
Our pal Cathie Desell periodically organizes a garage sale to benefit the animals at the Sanctuary. This time it’s Friday and Saturday at 2528 Corbeau Drive in Irving. Hours are 8 a.m. to noon. What’s for sale? Women’s fashions, jewelry, handbags, shoes,household items such as kitchenware, home decorative items and linens, some electronics, baby clothes and many other items.
Read about the sanctuary by going to www.bigcat.org.
NO RESPONSES AT ALL: Neither Girlie, the dog at the power station in Dallas, nor the ailing puppy in DeSoto, who is beginning to respond to nice people, have gotten any response, their current caretakers say. Scroll down to yesterday's report to see how to help them. Yeah, it's a busy time of the year for animal groups and animal people. And, apparently, it's a busy time of the year for luckless dogs, too.
HERE’S A QUESTION: Please feel free to answer our question in an email to [email protected]. Periodically we’ll report that some woman has decided to dump her dog or cat because her idiot boyfriend or husband doesn’t like the animal. 
We believe there’s another side to that situation -- people who “marry into” an animal situation and become bigger fans of the critter than they could have ever imagined. Know anyone who was converted by love? Tell us the story. Thanks and email [email protected].
STRUT YOUR MUTT NOTE: How about this from the SPCA of Texas about Saturday’s Strut Your Mutt at Fair Park? The SPCA says that “participation in Strut Your Mutt means twice as much in April, thanks to a generous pledge from The Rees-Jones Foundation to help the SPCA of Texas kick off our 75th Anniversary Celebration at our 8th annual Strut Your Mutt, the largest dog-walking fundraising event in North Texas. From April 1st through April 27th, the foundation will match all new gifts to Strut Your Mutt dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000!” Go to www.spca.org to see how to help raise $200,000 to support the organization.
AN UGLY HUMAN NOTE: Don’t read any further if you are easily sickened by cruelty to animals. We got news of this from noted attorney and animal advocate Randy Turner.  A Texas federal judge has ruled that “animal snuff films” are protected by the free speech provision of the First Amendment. Doesn’t mean that what they do to the animals is protected by law. The Texas Humane Legislation Network is monitoring this court case in Houston and subsequent legal developments. Ugly situation. One of those times when they don’t pay judges enough to endure the evidence.
CONTEMPLATIONS: I get a half-dozen emails a week labeled something like “OMG CODE RED” and written as if this is a new concept. Yeah, “CODE RED” is probably eye-catching to people who have never been to a shelter or who haven't been paying attention to the state of animals in North Texas, but, honestly, once an animal goes into a taxpayer-supported shelter -- city or county -- it becomes "Code Red" on the spot. The needle is always ready. So, OMG CODE RED OMG is a constant state. Suck on some oxygen, get a grip and avoid the vapors. ...  I’ve just read the preceding passage. I may be too crabby for human contact today. Fortunately, the people I know aren’t really human -- they’re mostly angels. ... My funspouse Martha is in the middle of a vacation in California with her sis Donna -- visiting Aunt Gwen, Uncle Pete, etc. But my shutterspouse Martha sent me some vacation photos. One set shows her and her sister taking turns being photographed in a phone booth. When’s the last time you saw a phone booth? California -- anything goes. And, of course, Martha loves to talk to the locals. This is a photo of one. The bird was lamenting all the Texans trying out the phone booth. Name might have been Gulliver.
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A power plant dog, a puppy and a Ginger who's red -- Tuesday in summation...

On Tuesday, Harry Kemelman wrote, the rabbi saw red.  That was in 1973. On this Tuesday, we see Ginger. [If you know British English, you see the joke.] No joke to Ginger, however, because, according to our tipster, Ginger is Code Red.
More on that in a moment. First we talk “power,” then “puppy,” then more...
POWERFUL DOG: This is Girlie.  She’s been living at the big power plant on Mountain Creek Lake in the southwest corner of Dallas. You can see the plant from I-30, Spur 408, Loop 12 and I-20. It’s big.
She’s not that big, but she’s in a big, bad spot right now.
Kara Corn, who works at the plant, has been trying to find home for this wander-up Shepherd-type dog.
There are staffers who are hustling to get this dog a break. “We are currently open for finding a foster, a rescue or even someone to help me at least trap her so she can get in for vaccinations, spay and heartworm testing,” Kara writes.
There are photographs of Girlie coming close enough to be petted -- once slight pet and that’s about it, apparently.
Here’s the tough part. Kara writes, “She is due to come in heat soon I fear and we are having other stray dogs packing up now,. The sooner the better tog et her, but I am happy for any help.”
Email [email protected] or call or text 281-642-6312.
Girlie has a Facebook page, but when you click on it, come right back here because we have other animals that need help today. This is Girlie’s PAGE.
IN NEED IN DESOTO: LaDonna Wernersbach sent out this plea for help Monday. “I'm writing for help for a puppy that a friend brought to me yesterday. He found him on a busy corner near his house and he'd been there for a while. When he did approach him, he thought the puppy was dead but then he raised his head. 
“So, I have him in a crate in my garage and no money to take him to the vet nor a way to keep him since I already have 4 dogs. He is alert and seems to be in OK overall health. The only symptoms of anything are that he won't eat, is lethargic, and won't put weight on one of his hind legs.”
There’s time pressure because of travel plans, so the need to help the dog is urgent. Call 469-337-7849 or email [email protected] .
GINGER, HAILEY AND STEWART IN ROWLETT: Our veteran tipster Dawna Carabajal, the resilient rescuer, sent a note yesterday about three “Code Red” dogs in the Rowlett Animal Shelter. She reports that the shelter “is full and must find adopters or rescues for these 3 beauties or they may be euthanized for space.”
Ginger is the year-old female Pit who “loves people” but needs to be an only critter -- not keen on other dogs or cats. And she’s heartworm positive -- but her treatment will be paid for by Friends of Rowlett Animals if she is adopted or rescued. And someone is sponsoring her adoption fee. She is 1-23-2013-3 -- yep, been in the shelter since the 23rd of January. 
Talk about a lot of things working against her -- heartworm, Pit, doesn’t like other animals. A tough sell, but, you know, she’s bound to have an undiscovered human somewhere. Just a question of networking and matching.
Then there’s Hailey, a 2-year-old female Pit. Loves people. Doesn’t like other dogs. Nobody knows how she’ll do with cats. Heartworm negative. Been in the shelter since December 23. Long time to survive in a shelter. She’s 12-23-2012-02.
And there’s Stewart, the 7-year-old Aussie Cattle dog mix who is “everyone’s favorite.” No aggression toward humans or dogs. But he’s “high heartworm positive.” Friends of Rowlett Animals will pay for his treatment and someone else is paying his adoption fee. He’s 2-9-2013-3.
To offer to help these dogs or any animals in the Rowlett shelter -- an empty cage always helps -- email Dawna at [email protected]. You can also got to the Friends of Rowlett Animals Facebook page. Or you can email the shelter at [email protected]. Or, you can get in the blamed car and drive to 4202 Industrial St. in Rowlett. Call ‘em at 972-412-6219.
That’s about it for pursuing the Code Red dogs. If nobody helps ‘em, time’s up. That’s the way it works. Of course, all animals in city or county shelters are immediately on the clock.A PRE-SCRATCHED CAT: Those people at Dallas Animal Services will do just about anything to get people to adopt the load of cats currently on the clock at the shelter. For example, volunteer shelter walker Kelly Bond sent us this photo (and several others) last night of a cat in the DAS shelter. This particular cat appears to have become acclimated to the “Congenial Head Scratch Position.” Probably not the only congenial cat in Dallas, Texas. Ask about this one and any other cats at DAS by emailing either [email protected] or [email protected]. 
WHAT HAS BECOME OF FREDDIE? Back on March 29 we passed along Elisabeth Rutledge’s story of Freddie, the “old battered dog.” 
Look at that face. 
Not so old, it turns out. But every bit the great dog. We’re running his photo large so you can really see the character in his face.  Paige Petro, a rescuer and friend of Freddie’s rescuer, Judith Cissell, took this photo of two hands comforting Freddie. Yep, Judith’s hands.
Here’s Elisabeth’s note from yesterday: 
“Great news on Freddie the big ole' lug Pit Bull who was dumped near White Rock about a month ago.  He has a home! Judith deserves so much credit for the month she spent rotating dogs and making sure her own pack and Freddie were kept separate but all got the love and attention they needed! (Rescuers will read that and think it sounds like Standard Operating Procedure, but that doesn't make it any easier).  And DFW Rescue Me deserves credit for taking Freddie into their program and helping connect him with potential adopters.  You deserve credit for publicizing him! And Freddie deserves credit for using his charms to help an adopter fall in love with him! 
“After he got healthy, the vet thought he was only 2 or so, so he should have a long life of being loved ahead of him! I've attached a photo of Freddie and Judith. And it's so exciting that he's going to his own home with his own person to give him all the loving he wants!”
Well, my goodness, I’d say Judith -- that's her hugging Freddie -- and DFW Rescue Me were in the trenches, Freddie was magnificently charming and Readlarrypowell.com was merely the conduit for telling the story of the angels involved in this rescue. Proud to do it.
And, to the person who dumped this great dog by the lake, well, let's work on your humanitarian skills.
Bless Freddie and keep him happy and healthy for a long, long time. Hug him for me.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Now, the Harry Kemelman explanation. Mr. Kemelman wrote a series of extraordinarily popular mysteries about Rabbi Small, the detective. The first title was Friday the Rabbi Slept Late and thereafter the titles had the Rabbi doing something. For example, Tuesday the Rabbi Saw Red. Red? Ah, in England red hair is referred to as “ginger.” Thus, red the color, Ginger the dog, and Rowlett needs help protecting animals any day of the week. Rabbi Small might say that's no mystery. ... Not even going to tell you anything about this photograph of a paw-shakin’ dog. Maybe you’ll recognize her. Maybe you won’t. If you’re interested in saving her life, well, you’ve had weeks and weeks. I’m sure this tender photo won’t make a bit of difference. ... So, in keeping with our ginger theme, we present a double play by a natural redhead (you can look it up). First up the great Roseanne Cash sings her big hit HERE  then you can listen to her sing a song her dad sang back in the ‘50s HERE. Who is her dad? Surely you jest. 
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Earth Day: From feral cats & a guy named Edgar to Arlo & Pete...

On Monday, we offer this advice: Never offer a martini to a fish. Don't mow while wearing pajamas. Honor "Yield" signs on freeway entrances and exits.
Three unlikely things, but solid advice for Earth Day.
That kitten? Has just been told that it is Monday. More on Tsunami later.
Now, here’s our initial report for this week in the beautiful month of April:
REMINDER: If you did not get a chance to read our weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, please do it today. You’ll see some great animals with great stories -- dogs and cats. Some need homes. Some need applause.  All could use a hug or a treat. They’re so human.
MEANWHILE IN CARROLLTON: The Carrollton shelters’s team of professionals -- Carrollton Animal Rescue Enterprise -- works to hustle animals out of the shelter before their time on the clock expires.
There are several animals on CARE’s list for their “get out” time of 6 p.m. Tuesday.
According to the CARE weekend note to rescuers and animal advocates, “This is one of the biggest Urgent lists we have had in a long time so we really need your help to find these great animals great homes or rescues. If you can take one, know someone who can take one or can forward this email along that would be great; if you have any questions please let us know.”
We opened the link and among those unwanted animals is this guy, Edgar (#28113), a really skinny stray Black Lab who has a look on his face that seems to say, “I’m getting the needle, aren’t I?” Well, yes, Edgar, you will unless someone steps up and gets you out of that shelter.
No Lab --OK, no animal -- should ever have that feeling, should ever have a fear when in the hands of humans. 
Adopt one of these animals, claim one for your rescue and that opens a cage for the next animal in a really honorable fashion -- life-saving.
Young, emaciated Edgar weighs just over 41 pounds right now. He was a stray. He  is putting on weight and needs some help with manners -- what young Lab doesn’t?
The thing about Labs? Huggable. Always huggable.
You can’t always say that about kittens.
For example these three kittens in the Carrollton shelter are available to rescue groups because they are so young. 
They are Spitfire (top left), Tornado (right) and Tsunami. The trio of "found" kittens -- someone found them and took them to the shelter -- is a bit feral, but it's early in their lives. A calm and loving human can help them settle down.
And that big cat is 20-pound Mongo. Stray. 
Yes, Mongo is an unclaimed 20-pound stray cat. You’d think someone would actually miss a 20-pound cat, wouldn’t you?
See the whole list (as of Sunday night) HERE.
To ask about helping any animal in the Carrollton Shelter, call 972-466-3420, or email us at [email protected]. 
HIGH-ROLLING REMINDER: The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake will benefit from Casino Night May 4 at S&S Arena in Terrell. Hours are 7 p.m. to 1 p.m. -- pro gaming tables and dealers, BBQ, Tex-Mex, live music, silent auction. $40 in advance; $45 at the door. Call 903-432-3422 or go to www.hsccl.org. Proceeds benefit the animals that come into the society’s shelter at Tool.
HIGH-STEPPING REMINDER: Click on that artwork to make it big enough to read. It’s a reminder that the SPCA of Texas’s annual Strut Your Mutt event is scheduled for Saturday.
It’ll give you a chance to be at Dallas‘ Fair Park and see what this great facility looks like when it hasn’t been transformed into the autumn wonderland known as the State Fair of Texas. 
And, remember, May 4-18 the park hosts Summer Adventures in Fair Park, presented by the State Fair of Texas, and featuring that new Top of Texas Tower. Not going to say that tower is impressive, but I’ll bet it catches the eyes of boy dogs wanting to leave their mark. 
CONTEMPLATION: Just pondering some email things. You probably see these things, too. Who dreams up this stuff? And do you think they get paid for it?  For example, I got an email with this subject line: “One-Year Produce Membership.” Why not “Gourd of the Month?” or, appealing to my fellow Northeast Texans, “A Year Uh ‘Mayters”? ... Another subject line read “Need IRS Tax Assistance? Settle tax debt for less than you owe.” OK, we don’t pay less than we owe, so anybody who is figuring out a way to pay less than they owe may be a politician with no presidential ambitions. ... I ran across today’s musical feature completely by accident. I’ll tell you it’s worth devoting some time to -- especially if your a fan of the great Arlo Guthrie. He sings a special “folk song” with legendary folkie Pete Seeger, Pete’s grandson Tao and Arlo’s three daughters. It’s a joy. Click, travel back to 1993, and smile for a while on a Monday.
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A long Sleeper/Napper weekend...

That is Sushi, our spotlighted feline for this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Sushi appears to be dreaming of winning the Heisman Trophy and is posing appropriately.
But we’re going beyond one snoozer today and will also report on a cat who needs daily toothbrushing and two dogs whose survival gives us insomniacs hope that we can sleep -- some day...some day...
One of those dogs is a personal rescue -- the wonderful Peaches. The extraordinary Peaches.  In fact, she’s now Peaches The Graduate. I’m misting up while I’m typing about Peaches  The other is Oliver -- a dog that beat the odds and has a future -- triumphed over the most needless dog ailment in the world, mange. Horrific mange. Our stories:

PEACHES GRADUATES; HAND ME A TISSUE

In March of 2012, my funspouse Martha was suffering from an upper respiratory infection and decided to go to a “doc-in-the-box” one Sunday morning. When she came back a couple of hours later, her first question as she came in the door was, “What’s with the dog on the porch?”
It was news to me. I grabbed a camera and shot the photo as she was chowing down on cat food.
That is how we met Peaches. She was so thin she was able to squeeze through the bars on our front porch gate and feed on our Deluxe Feral Cat Buffet. Once full she was too thin to leave. So, she was there when Martha got home. None of our lazy guard dogs inside the house had even noticed a new arrival. [The irony is Porche Noel, our little shark mix, also arrived by being emaciated and squeezing through to get the cat food. When Peaches arrived, Porche was busy snoozing with the other guard dogs.]
Peaches was so thin I thought she might be close to death. We got her some food, a good place to sleep and enjoyed her wiggly, happy personality. 
On Monday morning, concerned about the horrifyingly skeletal dog, we got in touch with Becky Haisma of Paws In The City. Becky, the rescuer about whom I’ve written for years, found an open spot for the starving Pit girl at VCA Loop 12 Animal Hospital in Mesquite. Becky named her “Peaches” without having met her -- but she was right on the money. She is a peach. [That's her now on the right.]
I drove Peaches to the clinic. It was wrenching to hand her over -- I feared she’d be positive for anything bad and negative for anything good. The professional who took her from me looked at her and got misty-eyed, too. 
That was just over a year ago. Peaches has been in the care of Paws In The City ever since. Pits are a lot like people. The poorly socialized individuals make the worst headlines while the vast majority of the species is happy to be loved.
[Larry aside: In the interest of full disclosure: In the time since Peaches found us in early 2012 and just a few months ago, our relationship with Paws In The City has changed. My critterspouse Martha, who had left the board of the group early last year, is now back on the board and also is president of Paws In The City. My involvement with Paws In The City is limited to saying, “OK, see you later” when she tells me she has a Paws meeting or Paws event. I try to ignore her involvement to avoid being accused of favoritism in reporting. Here’s the bottom line: I’m in favor of the animals, so instead of the people, I write about the animals -- unless the people have some sort of public responsibility beyond that of a normal non-profit. All rescue groups sticking to their animal-friendly missions are my favorites. (Almost anybody rescuing animals is my favorite -- though I’m not sure the converse applies.)]
The bottom line here isn’t about people, it is about Peaches. She evolved from a cliche -- “starving Dallas pit stray” -- to a safe and saved dog thanks to Paws In The City. Heck, everybody who met her knew she was smart and friendly. Just needed a little help. It wasn't like she came from a loving home with attentive people. She emerged from behind an ugly 8-ball.
And that brings us to a nearly parental point of pride. Peaches is a graduate. That’s right. Last week she graduated from the Paws Of Hope Prison Program at the Sanders Estes Correctional unit in Venus, only about 20 miles south of where we found her last March.
How did we learn this? Martha was looking at the Paws website a couple of nights ago and, from her easy chair with two dogs and a cat curled up with her, she shouted, “HEY! PEACHES GRADUATED!” “Our Peaches?” I asked. “I think so. It looks like her.”
Remember, the last time we actually saw her up close, she was skeletal. No longer is she skeletal. I checked with Tina Fairbanks, our all-knowing pal with Paws and she said that, indeed, Prison Peaches is Our Peaches.
She’d gone from foster care to stay with Paws‘ behavioral partner, Camp Diggy Bones in Lavon, and then into the Paws of Hope program at Sanders Estes where prisoners in the male minimum security unit gently and firmly enforce proper behavior in dogs that need a hint.
And, by golly, Peaches is a graduate. I’ve included photos here of the younger and starving Peaches in addition to her “now” picture. I’m so proud of her. If we had legal room, she’d be ours. But now it’s a matter of finding a really good, graduate dog a home befitting her wonderful soul.
I like to think Peaches finished first in her class. The worst she could have done was second -- her classmate is the handsomely attired fellow, Woodrow.
Bless them and the people who have made them adorable adoptables. And you guys who are doing time and helping these dogs, I hope your lives are angelic and wonderful from now on and you’ve learned from the dogs that reputations can be changed with the application of good work.

OLIVER MAKES A HANDSOME RECOVERY, FINDS A HOME

WHEN HUMANS APPLY LOVE AND PATIENCE:  The before photograph is hideous. Who would want a dog like that? Somebody did. We got word from Susan Tandukar of Partners of Arlington Animal Services that “Oliver, the poor boy that had mange so badly that he barely had any fur on his body” was adopted on April 17.
 But the dramatic change from a quite-ill mange dog to a robust, happy-faced fellow is something that might just help insomniacs find one less dog to stay awake worrying about.
Writing online about Oliver, Jess Phillips, his initial foster, was elated. “It's with an extremely happy heart that I announce the official adoption of our little Oliver! 
“His life started out far from anything any animal should have to go through. I remember the emails sent to the shelter begging to get him out early, and the day I went and got him from the shelter like it was yesterday. His pictures really did no justice to his condition, and things the shelter did to try to ‘treat’ him, made it worse. He was so small. Like most my mange pups, I usually see past any imperfections and just see the beautiful pet they are beyond the pain, and we work to show everyone else. 
"Oliver is a special little guy, and touched so many hearts. His story might have started off 'tragic,' but Oliver was and has ALWAYS been just the happiest puppy.
“It took almost 5 months for him to fully heal. He's spent the last 4 months at his other foster mom's house growing, and turning into just the greatest little guy.
“I am happy to announce that Oliver has found his forever home! It's the perfect place for him, perfect family for him. He has gained 4 sisters, most of whom, were also rescued in someway or another. His new parents also have huge hearts, know what Oliver went through, and just adore him. I really could not have asked for a better fit for Oliver.”
Jess Phillips, the Director/President of Animal First Foundation of Texas (www.afftx.org) was “the one that got him healed,” Jess told us Friday night. “After he was all healed and better, because I was bringing in another mange puppy that had sarcoptic mange and didn’t want Oliver to catch it, he went to my other foster home.”
So, two foster homes enjoyed handsome Oliver and now a third one has a great dog around the house.

TWO CATS BEATING THE ODDS

SUSHI AND BABYGIRL: And this brings us back to the napping cat Sushi. And, as coincidence reigns, BabyGirl, too. We got a note forwarded from Lore Rodarte about the fellow Sushi. That’s Sushi doing the “Hello, I’m a kitty” routine and with the big paw -- for of a “Keep on Truckin’” look for those of you from the late ‘60s.
Lore, who has two big ol‘ rescue dogs and is prone to helping the helpless, says a friend of her’s from work was Sushi’s human. “She had to move within 2 weeks and had to rehome her two cats. The other got a home right away, but I helped spread the word on Sushi. I’ve worked with West Side Animal League before, so I knew about rescue groups.”
Now, while I’m emailing Lore, I get an email from Kathy Malone with Cowtown Loves Animal Shelter Pets about a cat named BabyGirl. She’s a Siamese with special needs and a tragic story. I emailed Kathy that our weekend report was way full and I’d write about BabyGirl on Monday. She was OK with that. 
Then I checked my inbox. Lore wrote that she’d managed to get Sushi into a rescue group and her contact is -- no kidding -- Kathy Malone. She couldn’t remember Kathy’s group right away. Minutes later, she did -- CLASP.
Kathy says it’s likely that the healthy and adorable Sushi will be adoptable through CLASP this weekend at the PetCo on Pipeline, right off 183, in Hurst.
Lore’s description of Sushi says he was adopted from a litter of kittens and he’s about 2 1/2 years old. “When he went in to be fixed, he was also given basic shots. His personality is  very sweet, kind, calm and most definitely very passive cat. He loves to be petted and makes the perfect companion and/or lap cat. Something unusual about him is when he is most happy, you will see him lay forever on his back with all four legs up in the air.”
[Larry aside: Don’t we all...  Moving along.]
So, this long item is the result of “Spotlighting Two Cats With One Keyboard.” That is why Sushi and BabyGirl are mentioned in “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.”
And as long as we were talking about special cases, we decided to include BabyGirl.
The story on BabyGirl is one of animal and human heartbreak. Animals because they are victims of a human; the human because sometimes the human heart is not controlled by clear thought and logic and good sense.
Kathy reports that CLASP “got her in January along with 12 others from a hoarding situation. She had plucked out a bunch of her hair after being put outside. After antibiotics, her fur came back, but also ringworm. Then they discovered she has a teeth/gum inflammation. She's had her teeth cleaned and sealed, 4 loose ones pulled and is now in a maintenance mode. She'll always have to have her teeth brushed every day,  have fluoride treatment available in her water and have to eat a dental diet, like Science Diet T/D. She is a very  easy-going, calm kitty who loves other cats and is currently in a foster home in Hurst.”
CLASP President Karen Westmoreland had earlier sent out an email explaining BabyGirl’s housing situation. “BabyGirl was at the vet's office from mid-Jan until last week. We finally asked one of our fosters if she could take her home. She had to agree to brush her teeth every night, make the water treatment available and not allow her to eat anything but the dental diet. This foster has other cats, so she is keeping her in her college son's room. So she's probably OK till he gets home from college for the summer, which is probably mid-May?”
To offer to help BabyGirl or any animal in CLASP’s care, call 817-886-7300 or email [email protected]. You can read more about CLASP at www.cowtownpets.org.
As for the situation that produced BabyGirl, Kathy says, “To the best of our knowledge, we resolved the hoarding situation by taking the 13 cats that the landlord made the man put outside in the cold. Another rescue took 5 of them, 2 were FIV positive and were euthanized and our group kept the rest. Most had URI and ringworm. We have 1 still being treated for ringworm and BabyGirl. It's my understanding that the man was allowed to keep 4 cats total.”
So, there you have it, sleeping and napping critters, reasons to nod off and, darnit, maybe a reason to stay awake fretting over a hoarder. 
Perhaps, today, however, we can maybe catch a catnap like Sushi, then look at the “new” Peaches and Oliver and rest easy knowing that there are rescuers who will declare “not on my watch” and make sure good animals get a break.
THREE LINK TIPS: Read about our beloved Peaches on the Paws In the City prison page HERE and to see our first report on Peaches and her "before" photos, click HERE. And, to see Oliver's story, visit the Facebook site for PhillipsFosters. 
For crying out loud, remember "Be kind to animals."
[To nominate your sleeping or napping critters for the spotlight of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send the photos and info to [email protected]. We’re proud to show the world that love is the answer. Can I get an “Amen”?]
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On a Friday in America, some normal things...

This is a Friday and we’re not going to pass up a chance to smile -- they’ve been rare this week. We are going to offer two reasons to smile right away.
By now you’ve spotted Izzy. And if I have been successful in my Canine & Cat Recognition Education Mission everyone who saw this dog declared triumphantly, “Earhound!”
That’s what Stephanie Daniels, the communication specialist with the SPCA of Texas, said when she saw the championship set of ears on this dog. She also snapped this photo of Izzy offering a cool little "Hiya, how ya doin'?" bend with the top of his left ear.
“I’ve spotted another one!,” Stephanie wrote. “Meet Izzy, a 1-year-old Terrier mix who was a little bit shy this morning, as you can see. She definitely has a unique set of ears! Not only are they going all sorts of directions, but they are also spotted! “
Just a great look for a great dog and, as you know, very adoptable at the SPCA of Texas. And remember, there is not a shelter nor a rescue group that doesn’t have an Earhound waiting to be adopted. Some Earhounds are simply more Eary than others.
And, with the right human, you can have a deary, cheery Eary hound. Today the SPCA has a bunch of dogs from Waco's Central Texas Humane Society, taken in to make room for animals whose lives have been disrupted by the West explosion. We posted the story last night.
THE STORY OF THE POSTER: Yesterday we published the poster for this years East Lake Pet Orphanage Wine On The Roof celebration of animals and the people who love and protect them.
And we told you how touching we thought that photograph is. And, we also told you we were trying to find out just who did this great work of art. Credit goes to photographer/artist John Sealander.
And thanks to Gerad Housley of ELPO, we can also identify the touching touchers John photographed.
The dog paw belonged to a dog named Tinkerbell. 
Those human paws? The momma-sized hand belongs to the guiding light of ELPO. Garad explained that "the hand modles are none other than Dr. Karen Fling herself and her daughter, Shan Shan, along with one of our orphan pups."
The photo was shot at East Lake. Garad says, “John set up a mini-studio in one of our exam rooms and took probably close to 200 shots to get the perfect image, which is not that many considering he was working with a puppy AND a 2 year old! (Thank goodness for digital technology instead of film!)”
So,  what of Tinkerbell? Adopted, so we don’t have a “needs a home photo” but Garad is no slouch when it comes to recognizing opportunities. Witness this clever note explaining that Tinkerbell was adopted in January. “However,” Garad wrote, “If someone is looking for a dog with similar-colored paws (How’s that for a hard sell!) we do have Napoleon here who has been looking for a home for a while!”
That’s Napoleon to the left.
Here’s the bio: “Napoleon is a cute little Chihuahua mix who arrived at ELPO in bad shape with 2 broken legs on 7/25/12 and terribly frightened from unknown terrors in his past life. With a lot of TLC and patience, he overcame his injuries and pain and now has a prancing little gait. Having lived a very painful life prior to coming to ELPO, he takes time to adjust to and feel comfortable in new situations. He does best when he has a small, friendly, doggy companion to help him understand what a special life he now has and that his horrible past is done and gone forever. His first love, Amelia, got adopted and then his best friend Camilla was adopted, so he’s been sad and a bit grouchy. Is it his turn? If he has decided you are safe, he literally melts waiting for you to hold him. Napoleon is quicker to trust women than men and is very responsive to patience, love and treats. If you're a patient person looking for a sweet dog who's survived some tough times, Napoleon will definitely brighten your life! He needs a loving, understanding, and patient home. He will totally open up his great big heart if someone is willing to give him a chance!”
And, just FYI, when you buy a ticket to Wine On The Roof or make a donation to East Lake Pet Orphanage, it is hard-luck animals like Napoleon who benefit from the size of your heart. You can see them at elpo.org and get tickets to the big party at wineontheroof.com.
BEAT THE ODDS AGAINST THE PREDATORS: We got this photo of Panda from our reliable lakeside tipster, Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake which, as you know by now, operates the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas.
The story, according to the note, is that “Panda, an adorable black/white puppy has already had an adventure – escaping coyotes and other predators looking for lunch.  She ended up in the hands of caring people, has had her first puppy shot, and is now ready for her forever family.”
And, then, there is this key line from that aforementioned clinic: “A spay appointment had been made for her.”
To offer to take in Panda or help her, email Barbara Austin at [email protected]. The Friends website is friendsoftheanimals.org.
DOGS GO TO THEATER; CATS RULE ADOPTION CENTER: We got this note from Take Me Home Pet Rescue and noticed right away that there is a black and white cat available -- that was in spite of the fact that the lead announcement about Take Me Home Pet Rescue was the Puppypalooza event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Studio Movie Grill at Spring Valley and 13933 N. Central in Dallas. That part of the rescue group’s day is tied to the showing of the new film Pound Puppies: Mission Adopted. 
So I saw that and then saw the “Cat of the Week,” this guy Petey. While the rescue group’s pups are at the theater, the TMHPR Adoption Center at 561 W. Campbell Road, in Richardson, will be hosting a “Cats Only” adoption event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Yep, “Cats Only.”
As regular and irregular Readlarrypowell.com visitors know, we endorse black and white cats as being naturally entertaining with a big streak of zany. We’ve had two -- they were not “normal” cats. Cyril was a large fellow given to sudden gallops as if he were channeling a quarterhorse. If you were typing, Poirot might join you and offer advice on subjects and verbs. We’ve had a lot of cats. These guys are extraordinary. You have to love them, of course.
Oh and that dog on the left is Rango, 41/2 month old Aussie Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler Mix. He’s Dog of the Week, the rescue group says. And seeing him in the field of bluebonnets reminded me so much of our late, magnificent Great Dane/Lab mix Hambone Jack, the Canine King of the Blues. Hammy was the dog everybody should have. Rango may be, too. Just needs a happy human element in his life. That is Hammy in a decade-old photo on the right. He was such a great friend and he may just be looking out for other dogs who are photographed in the bluebonnets and don't yet have a place to go. Just seeing that big ol' moosehead's photo makes me proud to have known the noble and loyal and too-good-for-me dog.. 
Show up at the rescue events or email [email protected] to ask about Rango, Petey or any of their adoptables.
CONTEMPLATION: This entire week has been one great big thing to contemplate -- right on up through today and the awful thing in West and the horror in Boston. Let’s just go “folkie with hope” today for a musical reminder that, in the USA, the triumph of survival is always characterized by Americans working together to rebuild normal with honor. Woody Guthrie wrote the song and his son Arlo and dear friend Pete Seeger sing it HERE. God bless America and the great State of Texas.
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