What a weekend; what a week.
And the “what a week” could prove to be a big one for animals in shelters and in the care or rescuers.
We have a few to mention. And maybe some other stuff, too.
THE IRVING MOMMA
Our veteran tipster, the animal rescuer Julie Norris, sent us a note over the weekend about a bit of a “sad story” that might have a happy ending if the right people get involved.
You know how there was no room in the inn (that’s a reference to a famous story), there was room in the Irving Animal Services shelter for a momma dog and hr 8 babies. As Julie wrote, “This mom and hr 8 babies are stuck at Irving Animal Shelter on Code Red. You know what ‘Code Red’ means, right? They have been Code red for about 7 days and it is not looking good.”
Julie discovered this situation because she’s on the mailing list of the famed shelter-walkin’ photographer Russell Posch. Julie writes, “They have her listed as feral, but Russell Posch said she is not aggressive. She allows staff to enter her cage and handle her babies, which are adorable. But she doesn't show a lot of interest in interacting with humans. I thought maybe if you posted her pic and story a rescue group would come forward and save her for Christmas. ... She looks like a good mom. Babies are 4 boys and 4 girls.”
She says the dog came in as a stray. Click HERE to see how to contact the Irving Animal Services shelter and help this family.”
MEANWHILE IN DALLAS
I know it’s winter but, holy smoke, it’s still puppy and kitten season at Dallas Animal Services.
Danielle Fry, the shelter’s transfer coordinator, sent out a weekend note about A819316 and her 3 kittens They’ll be available to be pulled on Christmas Even. Moms 2 and the kittens are about 3 weeks old. Mom’ a little stressed. It’s that time of year, I guess. Ask about her at DASrescue@dallascityhall.com.
And Kelly Bond, the veteran rescuer, spotted a bunch of worthy dogs in DAS and sent photos including this “family in a tub.”
There are several more moms and pups -- just as there are several more moms and kittens at the big Dallas shelter. It’s at I-30 and Westmoreland. You can’t miss it. Easy off, easy on the freeway and easy paperwork when you find your newest friend waiting in a not quite holly jolly city-financed cage.
TWO IN BOARDING AND TIME TO FIND HOMES
We got the note and photo from the rescuer/animal advocate Kimberly Jones who sent a note reading, “These precious girls are in rescue, but live in boarding.
“Valentine (Val, the lap dog!) was rescued from a kill shelter as a small puppy and has lived in boarding ever since (over a YEAR). She has never known a home. She likes other dogs and all size people. We do not know about cats."
Harriet? Had a home. But, the note says, “due to unforeseen circumstances, her owner had to give her back to rescue after 4 years of being in a home with a family. She, too, has lived in boarding for over a year now. Harriet is also a cancer survivor. She likes other dogs and people of all sizes. We are unsure about cats.”
So, the dogs need a foster home, or an adoptor.
They have a Facebook page HERE. And each has a PetFinder link. Click HERE or HERE.
As you can see, these dogs are very comfortable in a yuletide surrounding.
A NOTE ABOUT A LOSS
Word reaches us that one of the area’s great animal advocates Terry Degaw, founder of Serenity Springs Animal Sanctuary, has died. Link to the Examiner’s
story HERE.
I’m going to post the last note I got from Terry -- it arrived back on October 13 after I posted a story about a German Shepherd who needed a home. Naturally, it was a sweet thank-you note from Terry. She wrote, “Thanks so much for posting the pic and story of Peri the GSD. He got a great home and looks like he may become a traveling dog......new guardian is a pilot.
“Hope you are having a good day. I'm hoping for some rain today so I won't feel guilty staying in. lol. Terry.”
Not a hint that there was anything to do in life except keep helping the animals. Bless her heart.
One of the things Terry was vocal about was the way people took pigs in as pets and then mistreated them, abandoned them or worse.
Among her repeated pig lectures was “there being no such thing as micro-mini, pocket or tea cup pigs.” When she’d email me about a pig, she’d include a photo of a pig happily living at the sanctuary and being treated like, indeed, a pig. All of us should be treated as well as Terry treated a Serenity Springs pig! Here’s the Facebook link to Serenity Springs.
People rallied to take care of the animals at the sanctuary, as you’ll see on that Facebook site.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Hard to believe Christmas snuck up on us again. We were at NorthPark Saturday night for a performance by the choral group Resounding Harmony -- these great voices (includng my tunespouse Martha's) raise money for non-profit groups. The show Saturday was a Christmas program for the joy of the season, no particular group, except the scores of people gathered to listen. First time I’ve been in a shopping mall in half-a-decade -- did some shopping. Felt holly jolly. And it makes me wonder why so many malls are dead around here. NorthPark is one lively place! ... How about those Dallas Cowboys? I’ll tell you how about them: It was only the Washington Redskins. The Cowboys should have beaten that team by three touchdowns. ... Over the weekend I saw a story online about dog breeds that are diminishing in popularity. The link is HERE and what I haven’t had the heart to break to Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas, is that Cocker Spaniels are 5th on the list of diminishing popularity. I cannot imagine why people don’t want a Cocker Spaniel around the house except that, perhaps, the less brilliant people are intimidated by the Cocker’s natural intellect. That’s Inky, photographed after lecturing at an undisclosed institution of higher learning. The subject of his lecture? You wouldn’t understand.
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