DATELINE: Dallas, Texas (March 21 PetPowellPress) -- We’re going to focus on two topics today.
There was an attack on a small dog in Euless and the Trinity GAP Rescue -- yes, the Euless Trinity High School Girls Awareness Program -- stepped up to help the pup.
We also will focus on an effort by the Highland Meadows Neighborhood Association to make life a little safer for Dallas animals. It’s a mission that needs some help. More on this effort in just a second -- it is a special do-good project. Astoundingly, it is in Dallas!
THE BURNED DOG NAMED RILEY
Anybody who has ever dealt with the case of a dog that has been burned will tell you that it can be touch-and-go and, ultimately, infection or a weakened heart will triumph.
Still, there appears to be some great hope for this dog Riley. We learned about him from Karen Lee, the animal advocate and longtime supporter of the Euless Trinity High School GAP Club. The Girls Awareness Program. The GAPsters have a working relationship with Euless Animal Control, i.e., GAP adopted the shelter and, maybe, the shelter has adopted GAP, too.
This “scalding” of Riley happened on Monday. The report last night is that Riley is still getting to spend nights in a private home. He is being treated for the burns and his nightly foster says he has some emotional issues, Karen reports. The little guy also will “take flight” when startled or scared, she says.
Here’s Karen’s initial report: “Trinity GAP Rescue was called by Euless Animal Control Officers yesterday (March 17th) to help save this young puppy whose body was very badly burned. One of the main reasons the puppy is alive is due to the good work of 2 Euless police officers. These officers were called to a domestic abuse case, and found a puppy that had been severely abused. The puppy was originally thought to have been burned by a chemical. It was also obviously malnourished and in horrible pain.
“The officers took it to an emergency vet where Euless Animal Control was called and Trinity GAP was alerted. GAP immediately agreed to sponsor this puppy and he was transported to GAP’s wonderful vet, Dr. Doug Riley at Animal Hospital and Clinic of Arlington.
“Dr. Riley determined the puppy had most likely been scalded by boiling water! A detective from Euless is investigating this case of animal cruelty, and revealed that witnesses in the house observed the puppy being drop kicked on various occasions. X-rays were done but thankfully there were no broken bones—however the puppy cannot walk correctly due to lack of nourishment. Hopefully, he will be able to walk fine after a steady diet of good food and TLC. Office manager/vet tech Keli will make sure that happens! Keli is taking the pup home every night to ensure he receives his pain medication and does not have to stay alone! He has suffered so much, and will continue to suffer until his burns heal. Sadly, parts of his body will remain bald, but a t-shirt or sweater will take care of that! The puppy was given the name ‘Riley’ in honor of the day (St. Patrick’s Day) and our great vet, Dr. Riley.
“The unnamed person who did this is currently in jail, and authorities are working hard to make sure he stays there. Let's all hope he does.”
You see here some photos of Riley romping. That’s Riley playing with “his new friend Pikey who is also a Trinity GAP Club alumni,” Karen says.
I’ve included a hideous photo -- one of the actual wounds that are generally covered by Riley’s bandages. It’s tough to look at -- I made it small enough so that you can’t tell what it is unless you click on it and make it expand. Maybe you’ve never seen an abused dog -- never seen what humans can do to an animal. It’s awful. It'll make you want to invest in more unpleasant prison cells.
A NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT GOES CITY-WIDE
We recently ran a story about an Earhound name Chico who showed up in the Highland Meadows neighborhood of Dallas -- and the pup still needs a home. But after we heard from Connie Koval about Chico, we also heard from Joyce Ferguson of the Highland Meadows Neighborhood Association about a really worthwhile project. [LARRY ASIDE: That’s Chico -- if you’d like to audition to adopt him, emailcc.koval@sbcglobal.net.]
Back to the project. And you may be interested in helping with this project -- the Highland Meadows Neighborhood Association Pet Oyxgen Mask Project.
Here’s how Joyce explains the story: “Our neighborhood "adopted" Station #48 in November of 2008 when when Dallas Fire & Rescue first implemented its Adopt a Station program. Our residents have donated considerable money to upgrade the aging station.
“When I began to consider placing pet oxygen masks there, I immediately thought, ‘Why not place them in all station locations?’ Sure enough, I found that none of the stations have them; I've learned that they are typically not something that is a budgeted item for any fire department. Our HMNA Petwatch leadership group discussed the idea and came to the conclusion that we could do it....but we would need help--especially to publicize it.
“That's where we stand right now: getting the word out beyond our neighborhood, into Lake Highlands and beyond, to the entire city. And that is where we need your help. You reach so many pet-loving folks, of course, and a word from you, posted on your site about this project could help this worthy cause tremendously.
“This secure link will take folks to the order page, managed by Dallas Foundation. By clicking on it, people will find the costs of the masks and can place a secure order using a credit card; or, information is also provided for mail-in checks. This is the that is important for people to know about and to pass on to others: https://dallfirerescue.kimbia.com/oxygenmasksforpets .”
[LARRY ASIDE: Yes, feel free to pass on this entire segment to help these folks with their project. You never know when your dog or cat might need help after an unexpected household fire or some other calamity.]
Having some reportorial reflexes still intact after my decades in newspapering, I naturally asked Joyce some key questions. And she responded with what is surely an example of planning and execution that ought to be followed by all non-profits and rescue groups!
Here’s the reply:
“How far along are we? We've just put everything in place, i.e., order form; online order procedure, etc., and are just starting to get the word out. Word did go out to our immediate neighborhood a couple of weeks ago, and from that, we now have orders for 8 masks; orders were just placed with our vendor this morning.
“Number of Stations: There are a total of 57 stations in Dallas. This link with map, addresses, station numbers is posted at the bottom of the flyer I sent.
[Artwork to the right, click on it to make it grow].
"Six of the 8 orders designated their donation in honor of a family pet. (Click HERE to see the city’s fire station)
“If one station receives donations for more than 2 sets, Chief Fernando Gray will sort it all out to make sure all stations have two sets. Sets will be shipped to a DFR central location and from there, he'll keep track and dispense them to make sure ‘all things are equal.’ The cost mentioned on the order page includes shipping, by the way.
“Deadline for Project -- We have not set a deadline. Currently, it's an open-ended, ongoing project. We'll just continue to keep reminding people and getting the word out.”
Joyce adds, “Our non-profit vendor, by the way, is located in Austin: www.petsamerica.org. There is a 2-minute video on the home page made by the Austin Fire Dept. demonstrating the use of the masks.”
And if you want to help in some other way -- publicity, buying a billboard, wrapping a DART bus in a Highland Meadows Neighborhood Association advertisement -- why, go ahead and email joyceferguson1@sbcglobal.net.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Hard to believe we’re into spring. Only about 14 weeks ago we were all worried about reindeer and wassailing. Now we’re worried about the Texas Rangers pitching. And hitting. And fielding. And base-running. And the price of concessions at the new ballpark, which will be celebrating its 20th anniversary on April 1. Opening day is March 31. Twenty years? How can that be? And your Texas Rangers have the second worst record in spring training -- only because Philadelphia at 6-14 has lost one more game. ... Got settled in to watch the traditional Thursday night sitcoms and couldn’t find anything but tall people dribbling. Goodness, channel after channel. Must this madness be so pervasive? ... How about a song of the day from the great Delbert McClinton? Let’s talk angels. Click HERE.
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