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A holiday weekend snoozer; a note about Tryke and a reminder of Solobino!

It is a holiday weekend so there is only one thing to do: Take a holiday. Take a Labor Day.
This will allow Readlarrypowell.com to go through email, do some freelance work, contemplate the future, wince at the present and marvel at the past.
OK, and we’ll feature a formerly wandering dog in the spotlight of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
What prompted this whole consideration of history and time was a story I saw online about a time capsule being opened in Fort Worth. It had been sealed beneath the sidewalk at a bank on Lancaster for 50 years. Click HERE to see the story and the video. At one point in the video, one of the participants holds up a copy of a tabloid-sized newspaper and asks if anyone remembers when Fort Worth had two newspapers.
Oh, yes, indeed.  Memories of working in that un-airconditioned newsroom for that gutsy little paper sometimes keep me awake.
This dog, Porche Noel, never worked for a paper. But in the world of dogs, you could liken her to a “scrappy little tabloid.” She’s short, compact and isn’t afraid of a fight, though she’d prefer a treat.
In these photos, Porche Noel -- found on our front porch at Christmas -- is snoozing atop my crowded-off-the-bed-by-a-dog-spouse Martha’s pillows while, just feet away, I’m ironing a shirt and marveling at how this free dog, starving and walking with a really bad limp and crazed for food, now lives in a 3-bedroom Dallas home with fantastic cable, air-conditioning, free food and all the petting and cuddling she’ll accept (it’s a lot!). 

Here is what ties this dog to the time capsule. In North Texas, it is not unusual for a free-roaming dog to wind up owning a house and, in North Texas, it is not unusual to bury a time capsule now and then. What is unusual is for a time capsule to survive as long as it’s buriers intended and still be found! There is at least one time capsule from 1936’s Texas Centennial at Fair Park still lost on the fairgrounds. Now and then someone will send me a note asking if it’s ever been found. Nope, time capsules are not like dogs in Dallas -- you can always find a dog in Dallas.
Enjoy your holiday weekend. Take some time to consider the worth of your dogs and cats and, yes, even the people in your lives. 

[TO NOMINATE your slumbering dog or cat for the spotlight of our long-running weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send photo and info to [email protected]. Remember, Readlarrypowell.com publishes these sensational sleepers so that insomniacs will have hope. They may lay awake replaying scenes from former lives, but they need to know there is tranquility and sleep in the world. If a dog skinny enough to get through burglar bars while suffering from a broken back-end can get on a porch and eat feral cat food, then claim the house with dog squatter’s rights -- that a legal term? -- an insomniac can nod off, maybe.]

 

AS THE WEEKEND ARRIVES, SOME NOTES:

 

FROM BURNS FLAT -- Our pal Terry Lynn Fisher has encountered a personal

loss. This pup -- a rescue, what else with Terry Lynn -- owned her heart and something inexplicable happened. See our Prayers & Passages page by clicking on the link in the upper right corner of this page.
Terry Lynn is the relentless rescuer in Burns Flat, Okla., out in the western edge of the state.

 

FROM IRVING -- Photo-takin’ shelter-walkin’ Russell Posch provided us with the August 29 list of dogs at the Irving shelter and the list of dogs on the URGENTS list and, sure enough, Solobino is still there. But so are some others. Most are strays, but some are owner-surrenders. Solobino was a surrender because he “escapes.” But the other owner surrenders came in because they don’t get along with other dogs. The penalty for that, of course, is death by needle -- unless someone saves them. See the urgents and read about them here. These are their photos -- that is Solobino first in line.

See the entire array of Irving dogs by clicking HERE. Irving’s rescue hotline is 972-721-3597 -- email [email protected] or [email protected]. The shelter numbers are 972-721-2256 or 57.

CONTEMPLATION: Drive safely this weekend. Enjoy the people and animals you are with. Have some fun for yourself. And enjoy something with calories, just for fun. Remember, Readlarrypowell.com loves every one of you who has read this far. We love the rest of you, too. This planet needs more love. We knew it in the '60s -- don't know why the message of love hasn't translated in the 21st Century.
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Holiday moods, dogs, cats and contemplations...

DATELINE: DALLAS Where Holidays Are Cherished, Texas (Aug. 29, PetPowellPress) -- Good luck on your quick getaway out of downtown Dallas. Unless something changes, you can’t move fast enough to get a speeding ticket. Now, our report:

A DOG NAMED REX

Always thought Rex was a good name for a dog. This one’s making the e-rounds. His name is Rex and he’s a Boxer/Mastiff mix around a year or two old. Weighs about 80 pounds, even with his ribs showing.
A woman who does rescue managed to get him into her custody. Previous human didn’t know much about dogs and didn’t spend time with him. He’s not fixed, but he was on heartworm preventative.
And, now, he’s available to adoption to a home that’ll help him understand how to enjoy being a beloved dog. To ask about helping this fellow Rex, email [email protected].

BEAR SURVIVES THE FIRE, BUT IS LEFT BEHIND
We got this story from several people -- there’s a big networking effort on behalf of the Houston dog. Our most excellent Houston tipster Alexandra Kelsey penned this excellent appeal: “This precious dog ran out of a fire, but sadly, his owner left without the dog.  It seems that this place is pretty bleak, and I’m sure the man did the best he could, but the man was at the end of his rope.  All the man left behind was the dog’s name: Bear. 

“So, now Bear is living in on a dead-end street, in a junkyard with no lighting. Yvonne, who saw the fire happen as she drove by one day, has been going to feed Bear, who gets so excited to see her.  Bear is vulnerable being on the street alone and it would be so great to get a happy ending for him.”
To offer to help this dog, call 832-703-9282.
A GALLERY OF ADOPTABLE CATS

That first girl is Sophie, a year-old, 10-pound Domestic Medium Hair mix who was given to the SPCA of Texas on August 19 because she didn’t like the kids in the home. [STOP, we’re using this LARRY ASIDE to remind people that just because you don’t like the kids in the house, you can’t get a room at the SPCA of Texas!] Sophie’s declawed on the front paws and I’m guessing, based on the information, that her life would have gone a lot better if she’d been able to teach the rowdy children a lesson instead of just petting them with a soft paw. (Don’t declaw. But we must applaud the humans for delivering Sophie to a shelter that wouldn’t just needle her right away as “vicious” or “unwanted-owner surrender.) 
The second cat is Bogie (#A849088), currently a resident of Dallas Animal Services at I-30 and Westmoreland. The clock is ticking on this neutered blue domestic longhair who was uneasy in this photo sessions. He’s about 8, the shelter thinks. Go to the shelter to meet him or check out dallasanimalservices.org for instructions on adopting.
The Irving Animal Services shelter has this wild-lookin’ cat,  Rockstar, 23562356, a Snowshoe mix at the shelter since August 1. Can’t believe nobody adopted him to help Empty the Shelter. 
The final cat today is Luna. You can adopt her, but you can’t take her home. She’s a resident of the International Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary in Boyd. Adopt her and help the sanctuary take care of her. Go to bigcat.org to see her and other adoptables -- Christmas is comin’ -- you may know a bear of a person who should get a bear for Christmas! You can read more about Luna and her past and her colleagues in a nicely done store by veteran journalist and all-round swell animal person Jeanne Prejean on her entertaining and informative website My Sweet Charity.  

STILL ON THE IRVING LIST
Yes, Solobino. Near as I can tell with my inferior translation, his name means “Only Bino.”

I don’t understand why the guy hasn’t been claimed except that he’s the wrong breed, the wrong size and the wrong color. Other than that the 5-year-old, 66-pound mix is just waiting for either the warmth of a home or the cold, cold needle. Irving’s rescue hotline is 972-721-3597 -- email [email protected] or [email protected]. The shelter numbers are 972-721-2256 or 57. 

CONTEMPLATIONS: Is your planet as safe from humans as you hoped it would be when you were growing up. Back in the ‘50s we were led to believe peace and tranquility would rule the earth. ... This artwork shows you that Halloween is coming. Yep, Frisco Humane Society’s Barktoberfest 2014 -- we got the word from FHS volunteer and “TEAMBARK Committee Member” Dana Christian. Humans get in free, but the cost to ender a dog in a contest is $5 per pup/per contest. Click on the artwork to make it expand to mammoth proportions or at least to being large enough to read. [LARRY ASIDE: Halloween already and I just now got the Christmas tree up!] ... Let’s talk professional football. Anybody running a pool on which team will lead the league in arrests during the regular season? Oh, that’s unkind. The majority of the players are law-abiding millionaires.
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Blue's triumph, animals in a spot, rats in need and trash bags for non-profit

DATELINE: DALLAS Where There Are Things to Look At That Startle and Stagger, Texas (Aug. 27, PetPowellPress) -- We’re going to mention some rats today. Ooops, I think I just heard someone in public office drop a money clip. Well, let move on. Rats are some people’s pets. So are dogs and cats. We’ll mention all  this today because on Friday there’ll be so many people on Labor Day break that you’ll wonder if you missed a memo about getting out of town. Here goes:

WE’RE STARTING WITH BLUE
That’s the first photo we saw of blue -- June 2 from the Facebook page of the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake -- they run the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas. In Wednesday’s edition we wrote about an appeal to help pay Blue’s vet bills after he was found starving and dumped in the trash. Yep, that’s him before on the right and these other two photos are the fabulous Blue now. Patience and understanding and some medical care can cure mange.
If anyone happens to find the person who dumped this great dog, please feel free to ponder use of the Two-by-Four-of-Enlightenment.... just ponder it. For now it’s against the law, but you never know what’ll happen in January when the Texas Legislature goes back into session.
FYI, if you want to help Friends of the Animals for their many missions -- spay/neuter, helping animals,  helping people who are helping animals, go to www.friendsoftheanimals.org. 

SOME DAS STORIES

OUR FIRST DAS story is going to be about this guy Barkley -- a850477. Veteran rescuer Kelly Bond spotted himWednesday. The description of “handsome boy” Barkley” reads, “This handsome boy is Barkley!  He is a senior boy but is so gentle and sweet.  He is about 9 years old.  He was surrendered when the owner had to move to an apartment.  Barkley is housebroken, walks well on a leash, and is ready to be out of the shelter.  We believe that he is a lab/sight hound mix.  He also has a possible lipoma (cq) on his shoulder that presented after some form of trauma.  It does not seem to be causing him pain and it is movable.  He is such a sweetie, it just breaks my heart that he is here.” [Ask about him at [email protected]]

AND THE MOMMA DOGS AT DAS

Lordy, how does this happen inside the city of Dallas where there are more spay/neuter programs than reverse mortgage programs.
The note from Danielle Fry, the shelter’s animal transport coordinator, reads, “Dallas Animal Services has some nursing momma dogs that are in need of transfer.  We are unable to hold them for much longer.  These puppies need a nice home to grow up in.  Shelters can be very stressful on the mothers.  A stressed out momma is definitely not a good thing.  We want these families to have a chance, but we are unable to do that without the help of our transfer partners.”
To offer to help save all these animals, email [email protected] or drop by the shelter at I-30 an Westmoreland. Apparently you can simply follow the parade of people dumping entire families of animals.

AS THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND APPROACHES....

Russell Posch, the photo-takin’ shelter-walker at Irving, sent us a note about the population of dogs at the shelter. I’d call it a growing population. One of the dogs -- the only dog -- still on the “your getting the needle next” lists is this guy Solobino. Remember, he was dumped because he kept escaping. Probably he wasn’t escaping he was running from something.  Irving’s rescue hotline is 972-721-3597 -- email [email protected] or [email protected]. The shelter numbers are 972-721-2256 or 57. See the pictures of the canine population HERE,

 SAVE A COCKER SPANIEL AT CARROLLTON

Click on the art to make it larger....

ABOUT THOSE RATS

Veteran critter protector Tanja Pattist is working in with a different element than dogs and cats this time. She’s trying to find a home for two rats.
They are Jaxon and Ashby. The hope is, Tanja writes, to keep Jaxon and Ashby together “since they are like peas in a pod.”
 Jaxon is dark brown/white, adventurous and jolly.

 Ashby is albino, and a little shy.

 The rats will arrive “with a large cage, a wheel, water bottles, food bowls, a carry cage, and a months' worth of food.”
They are out of a home because a neighbor’s daughter is going off to college. 
[LARRY ASIDE: Oh, don’t worry, the student will find  plenty of rats on campus -- free-roamers, some in fraternities, some not. Ah, to be in college again!]
To help these rats get into either a better home or a better college, email [email protected]

 CONTEMPLATIONS: Here is an appeal the likes of which we have never published. It’s from Sydney Busch on behalf of the staffers at the Tuesdays-only Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake Spay/Neuter Clinic at Gun Barrel City. She writes, “As you might imagine, we go through so many trash bags every Tuesday. We can really use more 39-gallon bags -- they can be brought to the clinic any Tuesday or left at Flair Printing (in GBC across from Dairy Queen) for us Monday-Friday.” [LARRY ASIDE: We all know what goes into those bags -- word is the post-surgery tailgate session on the clinic parking lot is particularly vigorous in late summer! Legendary, they say. At least they recycle the cans....oh, you know I’m kidding! Donating even things like trashbags and paper towels and wash cloths and soap -- little things add up in a non-profit budget and when you give, you really do help the animals.] ... Spent Wednesday in the loving arms of the medical profession -- it’s a wonderful thing when we can all smile as we leave the office! Bless the healers and may their golf game triumph. Just kidding -- no doc I know has time to chase little balls around a pasture. ... Please feel free to add to this list: Best place to vacation in the middle of October: Santa Fe, Chicago, Fort Worth. Any others?

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Charitable hearts, flying dogs, Muffin, golf and veggies...

DATELINE: DALLAS The Town So Nice They Named It Once, Texas (Aug. 27, PetPowellPress) -- As the Labor Day weekend approaches -- some of us are starting to unravel already -- the thought of several days in a row off simply makes one hope that between now and October the right six Lotto Texas numbers fall and Santa Fe beckons. Just daydreaming at midweek. Here’s our report
GIVING DAY
We’ve gotten reminders from two different animal groups -- Mazie’s Mission and the Society for Companion Animals (maybe more; I can’t remember) -- that September 18 is the annual North Texas Giving Day organized by the Communities Foundation of Texas.  You can give from 6 a.m. to midnight that day at www.northtexasgivingday.org. This is a booster shot for a lot of non-profits.
TRAVELING DOGS
We got a report from Tawana Couch about the way things have been going at the do-good outfit she founded, Society for Companion Animals, in the year 2014. (LARRY ASIDE: 2014? Sounds like a science fiction year, doesn’t it!) Anyway, so far this year, SFCA has rescued 226 animals. It’s an all-volunteer organization that works with shelters all over the country. (To offer to help SFCA by volunteering with such things as crate assembly and transport to the local aerodromes, email [email protected].)
Tawana says, “The majority of our rescues are flown out to cities in the northern part of the US where they are able to adopt the animals.  The out of state shelters we use are Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (this is where most of our rescues go -- www.arfhamptons.org), Northeast Animal Shelter (www.northeastanimalshelter.org) and Bay Humane Society (www.bayareahumanesociety.com). Please check out these top-notch places. The adoption fees for these shelters range from $150-$450.
“Most of these animals have lived very hard lives and ended up abandon and shown little or no love. Getting to go to The Hamptons in New York, the most expensive, exclusive part of the US to live is a rags to riches story for each of these dogs. SFCA never worries about who adopts our rescues. The places the rescues go are the very best and we know they will have happy endings. A call last week came in from a guy who adopted Phillip a year ago in NY. He just wanted to thank us and tell us how much he loves Phillip.”
The dog pictured here is not Phillip. He is Meeko. Tawana says Meeko “was a big dog scared shy and not very social. He sat in a corner awaiting being flown to NY. Worried that this poor dog might take a long time even in NY to get adopted proved wrong. Meeko was adopted very shortly after arrival. Other dogs like Meeko get to find their forever homes.”
Yep, too late to get Meeko into your Texas home unless you want to fly to New York and adopt him! (Visit www.societyforcompanionanimals.org to see how to help.)
MEANWHILE IN IRVING
We’ve mentioned this dog Flopsie before -- 23542479 in the Irving Animal Services shelter. She’s a Chihuahua mix who, at 2 months old, weighs a gargantuan 3 pounds. She’s friendly, in good health and, if no one adopts her, she’s going to get the needle.
Photo-takin‘ shelter walkin‘ Russell Posch took this adorable picture of Flopsie, along with a bunch of other dogs who are in the vanguard of animals dropped off in the post-Empty The Shelter era.  See the big package of lotsa dogs HERE.
Oh, and there’s still one dog on the “Urgent-Likely To Be Next”  list.  That is this dog Solobino, dumped at the shelter because he “escapes.”  Let’s hope he escapes one more time and lands in a great home that appreciates a dog with brown eyes and a big ol’ nose and ears that don’t really know which way to go and aren’t that coordinated.

 Irving’s rescue hotline is 972-721-3597 -- email [email protected] or [email protected]. The shelter numbers are 972-721-2256 or 57.

CONTEMPLATIONS: This photo, taken by Danny Fulgencio for Oak Cliff Advocate magazine, was in our inbox Tuesday and those of us who’ve known this dog will tell you he really captured Muffin! Yep, that’s renowned rescuer and animal advocate Jonnie England’s dog Muffin. You can read the story and see
more photos by clicking HERE. Muffin has always been the most patient of dogs -- first time I’ve seen her in years when Jonnie didn't have her wearing a poodle skirt! ... Golf is a fun game. It is also the meanest game. You think you’ve got your swing working, then you hit a ball so far out of bounds that the woodland creatures laugh uproariously at you! Still, it is a good way to raise money for animal causes. And that is why we’re mentioning the DFW Pup Patrol Rescue First Golf Classic Fundraiser -- it’s October 4 at Woodbridge Golf Club in Wylie. (Read more about the rescue at dfwpuppatrol.com.) The tournament needs sponsors so the rescue group can save its money for helping animals. Duffers and real golfers alike pay $110 for a round. Click on the artwork to make it larger. ... While reading a Mazie’s Mission email about calendar activities, I ran across a mention of the Fifth Annual Texas Veggie Fair October 19 in Dallas’ Reverchon Park. As a vegetarian, I can endorse a “free event celebrating plant-based lifestyle options of all kinds.” I’d like to point out that the greatest vegetarians are cows. I don’t expect to see cows at the Veggie Fair, however. A hefty lad I knew who always shook his head when someone doubted that he was a vegetarian, explained, “How someone so big be a vegetarian? Cows are big. You ever see a cow eatin’ a cheeseburger?” Yep, metabolism. And, in my case, my favorite vegetables of all time are the hot biscuit and the apple fritter. Remember, no mammal has to die when you eat a veggie burger. 

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Fast work for a dog, the clock ticks and some Big Tex news...

DATELINE: DALLAS Where Autumn Is Less Than a Month Away and Sweaters are On Sale for January, Texas (August 26, PetPowellPress) --Today we’ll be discussing a swift resolution in one animal issue and a hopefully swift resolution in another! And other stuff, probably. Here goes:
BLUE FROM THE DUMP AND JAKE THE BLOND
What these two animals have in common is their stories both came to me via Sydney Busch at Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. We’ll start with Blue, then visit Jake.
-- The first time Readlarrypowell.com encountered Jake was on June 2 when this photo was posted on the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek along with the story of how the “poor puppy was rescued out of the garbage dump by a very caring person. Bones showing, open sores, no hair.” 

Mange. Not the contagious kind. Malnourished. Then he got someone who cared for him.

At 4:41 p.m. Monday, Sydney sent out an appeal to help pay off the several hundred dollars in vet bills for saving Blue’s life.
At 5:04 p.m., Sydney sent this note: “OK - we have the most generous, wonderful supporters ever!  This bill was paid in full by one of you - cannot thank you enough!”

That is a quick response and we’re looking for “after” photos of Blue the Dog.
--Now, about Jake. (Sydney forwarded the note from Cindy Elliott about Jake the “blond pit bull mix.”
She writes, “He acts like a kitten. Jake loves his belly rubbed and thinks he’s a lap dog.  He likes to lay/sleep on a pallet, couch or your bed if you let him.  He gets along well with the other 4 dogs, waits his turn at the food bowls and shares his bones -- he’s that cool!  He loves toys and tennis balls.”
Cindy adds, “He is spoiled, but that’s the way it’s supposed to be, right?”
To audition to continue spoiling Jake, call 214-543-8641 or email [email protected].
Jake weighs 50 pounds, might be 4 or 5 years old, is healthy, has had all his shots and here comes the key notation: “He gets neutered on Sept. 2 at Friends of the Animals.”
Yep, Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake’s Spay/Neuter Clinic, the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas.

TWO DOGS IN A FIX
Goodness, these dogs need some help. We know people are trying to help them because we saw the note on Maeleska Fletes’ Facebook page. Maeleska is a veteran, determined rescuer who also serves on the Dallas Animal Shelter Commission and is president of the Dallas Companion Animal Project (DCAP).
In her appeal on her Facebook site, Maeleska wrote, “These pups belong to a woman who is getting evicted from her house. She has these 2 and SEVERAL cats. The cats are getting fixed by Spay Neuter Network, thanks Pam (Asturias). She cannot take these dogs! They are older and have skin issues, as you can see. They will go to the shelter if a group will not take them. They are sweet and a little fearful. Help us find a place for them.”
Maeleska’s Facebook page is HERE. To offer to help with these poor, suffering dogs, email [email protected].
The dogs are older, 9 and 10, and probably have health issues other than the skin issues. If they go to a shelter, it’s probably curtains for them. If they go to a home that gets them healthy and loves them, they have some good lifetime ahead of them.
MEANWHILE IN CARROLLTON
With echoes of “Empty the Shelters” still in our ears, there are three animals on the Carrollton Animal Services “Urgents” -- Wednesday is the day they’re due for the needle.
You can click on the artwork to make it larger and after you look at it you’ll see how to help.


To rescue these animals, call the Carrollton Animal Rescue Enterprise at 972-466-3420, extension 3. (After hours, take extension 2 and leave a message.) Email [email protected]. 

TWO SAVED AT DAS
Importantly, not only were they saved, but they were taken in by rescue groups. You could call them both a “handful.” One literally is, and the other is a Cattle Dog mix and that means he’s got some energy and will be a handful. 

 Danielle Fry, the DAS Animal Transfer Coordinator, gleefully told Readlarrypowell.com that “Rockwall Pets took the little broken girl and Dallas Pets Alive is taking the cattle dog!”

Want to adopt one of these two dogs, contact those groups. Want to adopt another dog or cat, go to the Dallas Animal Shelter & Adoption Center at I-30 and Westmoreland. There are animals in need of homes. See www.dallasanimalservices.org.

CONTEMPLATIONS: How about the Emmys! Who knew there were that many TV shows? Who knew that Best Actor or Actress in a Primetime Audition With a Hangover Or Following a Traffic Violation Arrest was an Emmy category?...What’s coming for the State Fair? Thanks to a news tip sent from the Fair’s PR Person Karissa Schuler, we know that at some point Tuesday, Big Tex will get a new “Texified” shirt from Dickey’s. [LARRY ASIDE: That’s a photo for Big Tex in 2013, really the New Big Smoke-Free Tex, so far. Hope they do something about those massive boots. There's not a stirrup in Texas you could put those things into and ride.] Revamping the Big Tex wardrobe is part of the Fair’s “Texification Project.” Look for new signs and flags throughout the fairgrounds and new Lone Star themes and music in the Starlight Parade. Dadburnit, sure be nice to go to the Fair tonight! But we’ll have to wait until autumn -- the 2014 State Fair of Texas opens a month from today! It runs Sept. 26-Oct. 19. We’re predicting no temps above 75 the whole run -- and there’ll probably be a big chill on Oct. 11. That’s when two “where will they be in the ratings by then” teams play in the Cotton Bowl -- Texas and Oklahoma. ... The big paper in Dallas reported that 17,450 kids didn’t show up for classes in the Dallas district on the first day of school Monday. How is that possible? Were their parents still on vacation? Here’s a song for you kids who skipped class Monday. Click on this ADVICE for students who don't go to class.
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Cats, little dogs, big dogs, Grey dogs, sewing needs and tiny hats on "bugs"...

DATELINE: DALLAS Where People Find Things To Do, Texas (Aug. 25, PetPowellPress) -- Wacky world. So much stuff going on that you almost can’t fathom it all. Welcome to our little island of fathomable conditions, causes and contemplations. Here’s our report:
AND NOW A PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE ON BEHALF OF MAINE COONS

This handsome fellow is Vinny. He is a Maine Coon, though neither from Maine nor descended from Raccoons. Nope, this is Vinny from ELPO, the fabulous East Lake Pet Orphanage.
ELPO always has interesting animals for adoption. Sometimes they have no challenges and sometimes they are Maine Coons. Anyone who has ever had a Maine Coon knows there might be challenges. [LARRY ASIDE: My catfanspouse Martha had a Maine Coon for years -- she brought Lucy into the marriage. Lucy was her ownself and had no problem disciplining those who offended her, as many a passing dog could testify. Nothing spatty, just a “reminder.” She would allow a loving embrace only by a few people -- fortunately, I was one of them. Lucy adored me and I her. Literary cat, you know, loved mystery-reading Martha.]
Vinny is a rebound at ELPO -- surrendered there twice. When the second human brought him back, he went into a cat-savvy foster home. He’s making theslow adjustment or, in his world, “I’m getting around to things.” These cats are like that. [LARRY THEORY: They are simply aware of the uncertainty of humans and react accordingly. And they need stability.]
Vinny is available, but he is going to need a patient, loving human. You can read more about Vinny HERE. Email [email protected] or call 214-342-3100 to ask to meeting Vinny.
WOLFE CITY ANIMALS AVAILABLE VIA SPCA

More than two dozen of the 222 animals taken from the Frank Barchard Memorial Shelter in Wolfe City on July 23 are now available for adoption at the SPCA’s Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney and the Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center in Dallas.
The SPCA says 18 had been adopted earlier.
When you go to www.spca.org/findapet, you can tell which of the pictured animals are from the Barchard Shelter. They will have the code CR4818 on their listing.
This dog boy is Douglas, a Rottie/hound mix who has brindle legs and is said to be quite the fella.
The cat, JB,  is not from the Wolfe City site but is an owner-surrender (family moving, couldn’t take the cat) and the reason Readlarrypowell.com used her photo is to show off her championship whiskers!
See spca.org to see how to adopt or to learn other things about the SPCA such as how to participate as a volunteer or how to donate.
LET’S TALK LITTLE DOGS
[LARRY ASIDE: Before we begin this segment about small dogs, let’s remind people to put the name of the dog or cat into emails. A dog that’s been around for 7 years will surely know its name and find comfort in being called by its name. Few people name their animals “Thuhdog” or “Thuhcat” Sincerely, Thuhcritterwriter.]
This first note was forwarded to us and it reads “I  have a neutered male chihuahua who is about 4 years old in need of a great home. Could you find him a home ?” That’s him on the left. To ask about adopting ThuhChihuahua, email [email protected].

The second Chihuahua notes begins, “I know everyone sees tons of Chi and Chi mixes here in the Dallas area, but this little guy is very special and very deserving of a wonderful home.  This is EXTREMELY URGENT.  The person that currently has him is disabled and is unable to afford to get him fixed and is unable to properly care for him so there is a great deal of urgency here to save him. He is just as cute as can be and is a great little dog that is very well socialized. We are told he is HOUSETRAINED, and LOVES other DOGS and CATS, too.”
To offer to help ThuhChi, email [email protected].

SOME ARE CHIS, SOME ARE NOT

One of the dogs who is not a Chihuahua at Irving Animal Services is this 66-pound Retriever mix, a 5-year-old fellow named Solobino. He is the ONLY dog on the latest “most likely to be euthanized” list sent to us by renowned photo-takin’ shelter-walker Russell Posch.
Solobino is shy -- who wouldn’t be in a shelter, right? And he’s healthy. Why is he in the shelter? His bio reds “owner surrender. ‘Escapes.’ “
Again, one has to wonder, “What is this dog trying to escape from?”  Did he simply say, “I’ll take my chances in a kill shelter”?
You can see the whole lot of Irving dogs by clicking HERE.

Irving’s rescue hotline is 972-721-3597 -- email [email protected] or [email protected]. The shelter numbers are 972-721-2256 or 57.

NEWS FROM THE GREYHOUNDS 

We got a note from Greyhound Adoption League of Texas about some donation developments. It opened with “GALT had just received an anonymous commitment for a matching donation for September events - STRUT YOUR MUTT and NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY!”
Then the note explains why funds are important. Here’s the paragraph:
“This comes at a time when funds are desperately needed for the broken legs and injuries, strays and shelter greys just received within the last 2 months. It could be described as a Greyhound Soap Opera! Within 60 days GALT has received: 
5 stray greys - Clara, Hydro, Tulip, Blossom and Jaxson
4 shelter greys (one broken leg) - Sunshine, Darcy, Ajax and Skywalker
6 farm/breeder greys - Beauty, India, Anna, Breeze, Brooklyn and Stella
5 injured at Gulf Greyhound Park - Asp, Kora, Vic, Sails and Travis
9 hoarded greys - Levi, Tyrion, Riddick, Petey, Heluka, Medley, Valentino, Christy Ellin and Countess Aliesha
“Whew! That is 29 greyhounds! And over half needed medical care immediately before going on to a foster home.”

The total for the year as of mid-August was 89 Greyhounds.
This girl with the pink bandage is one. She’s now called Sails. She’s a 2-year-old dog who has 46 races on her record. That ended on Aug. 14 when she broke her left rear hock at Gulf Greyhound Park. She’s undergone surgery, got a plate in the injured leg and is being “kept calm and quiet in her foster home until her recovery.”
You can explore the world of Greyhounds by going to galtx.org. There are ways to help the dogs without adopting one, though of course, if you want to help a dog and yourself, you will consider auditioning to adopt!
Oh, yeah, you can play golf to help the Greyhounds -- that’s the second annual Greyt Golf Tournament on Tuesday, September 30 at Canyon Creek Country Club in Richardson. Get the info at galtx.org. [LARRY ASIDE: Greyhounds are legendary golfers -- really good on courses with lots of doglegs.]

 

CONTEMPLATIONS: When you get a note from a spay/neuter clinic and it reads “Can you sew or do you know someone what is your first thought? Shame on you if you thought, “They must need someone to close after the spays.” Actually this request for someone to sew a a pretty good reason and we got the explanation from our longtime reliable tipster Sydney Busch of the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. What the Friends need is “someone to cut out and sew hems on about 10 square tablecloths for us.” Then Sydney added, “I think this is a simple job (but then I don't sew.” They’re needed by the first of November. Oh, my, I’m betting a Thanksgiving celebration is coming up! To offer to help, email [email protected] or call 903-451-4701 or 214-808-4701. ... Went to the Texas Rangers game Saturday night against Kansas City. The Royals won 6-3. The ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by a 4-year-old. Hint to Rangers: The 4-year-old didn’t give up any runs. Go ahead and sign her. ... Something wiggly to think about and, perhaps, the sartorial resplendence of arachnids. Repticon is coming to the Knights of Columbus Center in Farmers Branch Sept. 20-21. This is the artwork that came with the announcement. I’m not a fan of such creatures, but there are people who are. And that brings us to this one passage I spotted in the news release. “Presentations may focus on the genetics of large snake species, the specifics of exotic-pet care, and the effect that tiny hats have on the image of arachnids such as tarantulas, scorpions, and spiders.” Ladies and gentlemen, if I see a tarantula, scorpion or spider in a tiny hat, I can guarantee the effect will be startling! 

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Sammy the Lap Snorer

Our spotlight this weekend is a recently-videoed repeat slumberer, Sammy, who may face a few challenges but enjoys a great love.
All critters should be so fortunate.The still photo is captured from the video that veteran rescuer and devoted animal advocate Patty Sprong shot a couple of nights ago. The background in the photo is provided by Patty’s husband Steve’s lap, a place where Sammy obviously feels safe and comfortable.Patty tell the tale. “Sammy had fallen asleep on Steve's lap and they were BOTH snoring. I only got Sammy on video, but you get the idea. It was so cute!” [Keep reading to get to the video.]

Now, here are the details of his life, or as Patty calls it, “a refresher” on Sammy:
“He was a foster failure from when I was with HART - Humane Animal Rescue Team. He was about two then and is six now.
"He's a special needs guy. He has hydrocephalus, but it is a mild case. He takes daily meds and sees Dr. Julie Ducote at the Center for Veterinary Specialty Care. They love him over there and his feet rarely hit the floor.
“It's the same where ever he goes. He spreads joy.
“He was diagnosed with an enlarged heart recently, and that just adds to the list of what makes him special. He's a mess, but we love him!”
Click HERE and turn your speakers way up. The vision of sleeping Sammy is sweet enough, but there’s a snorish punctuation at the end.
And here’s a bit of that April 2011 report on Sammy.

 

 

 

This is the photo we encountered the prone-to-slumber Sammy -- that’s him on the left. BAck in 2011, Patty explained, “In the middle, licking her lips like Inky [the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas] when he spots meatloaf, is Pom-Pom. She will be 11 years old this month. I found her running down the street 10 years ago on Easter Sunday. I'm sure she was a gift from God. She is 1/2 diva and 1/2 princess and she'll be the first to tell you.
“On the far end is my first rescue dog, Sandy. She is 13 years old, and when I adopted her from HART, she was 13 weeks old. She has been the best family dog ever, a great big sister to the other dogs, and a great sister to all the foster dogs that have lived here.
“My favorite thing to do is take a nap with these three, but as you can tell, there is never room on the couch!” 

[DEAR READERS, Before I urge you to nominate your little pals for Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, I hope you’ll take just a second to think about how much a dog or cat can mean to you through the years. Sometimes it as if you share the same heartbeats, the same emotions. To nominate your slumbering critters for our weekend feature, send photos and info to [email protected]. We publish these photos to remind insomniacs that they, too, can sleep if they can only find the right lap!] 

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Cockers, fine companions, Dallas cats and a $2 million ham...

DATELINE: DALLAS Where Politics Is a Spectator Sport and The Crowd Can Lose, Texas (Aug. 22, PetPowellPress) -- Did you realize summer is a month away today? I hate to think how many of you have already finished your Christmas shopping. Now, our report, right on time.
AN ACTUAL LETTER! NOT EMAIL! A LETTER!

Bless those noble folks at DFW Cocker Spaniel Rescue! They sent a letter, it arrived Thursday and I opened it to find NOT just an appeal for money (thought they can always use some!) but an appeal for fosters. A rescue group without a shelter cannot operate without fosters.
I snapped that photo from the letter. Why? Glad you asked. Because when I went to dfwcockerrescue.org, I saw a note about the September 27 DFW Cocker Spaniel Rescue garage sale. And then I looked at the pictures of these needing-a-foster dogs and saw the sports equipment and thought, “Aha! Something these dogs bought in the garage sale!” Well, of course, we know that didn’t happen. Cocker Spaniels don’t shop second-hand and they have people who make their purchases. [LARRY ASIDE: We know this because we’ve lived with the demanding Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas Inky for the past nearly 15 years. He is, as I type this Wednesday night, flopped on the floor beside my chair and starring at me -- glaring at me -- every time I take a bite of my faux chicken nuggets without sharing. Demanding, I tell you.]
Here’s what DFW Cocker Spaniel Rescue says in its letter with the dogs: The group has “11 dogs needing foster homes to save their lives.” Some are in boarding, some are with vets. 
The Rescue Group says, “Becoming a foster is a WIN-WIN situation. You get to help a deserving soul by giving him or her a safe place to stay, and if you happen to fall in love in the interim, you always have the opportunity to adopt. Either way, you both win. Plus, you can help us evaluate the dog to match it with the perfect adopter -- how rewarding is that!”
To volunteer to foster a Cocker Spaniel, email [email protected] or call 972-994-1133. There’s an on-line foster application at www.dfwcockerrescue.org. And, of course, these two Cockers are available and you can read about Margaret (left) and Ashland on the website under "adoptions." Hint, hint. 

[LARRY TESTIMONY: As you may suspect, our household has enjoyed the company of many dogs and cats through the decades. The dog who has been my companion, my writing partner, ever since I found his mange-stricken, hairless, cropped-too-short tail, hair-on-one-ear-only royalness in Kiest Park, is Inky. He is old now. Blind in one eye. Deaf. He and I take our pills together each morning. But he can still catch a treat in flight. He will still make his warnings clear by barking in a big dog’s face. What is best about him -- not counting his 4:30 a.m. metronomic barking wake-up alarm -- is he is a comfort to my heart. Solid comfort. Other Cocker people will tell you the same thing. Devoted dogs. Entertaining. Capable of more charm than a cruise ship gigolo. I am not too much of a man to say this in print: I love Inky. I love my dog and he appears to love me, but every now and then, when the meal service is slow, I see him take out his cell phone and look at the speed dial listing for his lawyer. He’s a Cocker Spaniel -- he’s not a doofus. Give the Rescue group a call and offer part of your heart to a deserving dog.]

A PIG..A PIG IN GARLAND...

Dian Wright forwarded this note to Readlarrypowell.com from animal advocate Patty Turner whose email subject line was “BABY PIG AT GARLAND!”
What’s the tale? “Eight months old,” Patty’s note begins. “Was bought as a ‘micro pig’ and is now too big. She is tame and walks well on a leash.”
I know last Saturday was “Empty The Shelter Day” but the next sentence in Patty’s note reads, “Shelter is slammed full. Please consider all dogs on hold at risk!”
The shelter is at 600 Tower St. in Garland. Call 972-205-3570, option 2, then 4. Email [email protected]. Click on that cage card to make it large enough to read that the Pig With No Name is stored in the Lion Cage. 
And, take a good look at this pig -- pigs are not just blocks of walking meat. They have personalities, they develop affection for people and they deserve to be treated as living beings rather than something to be tossed aside.
[LARRY ASIDE: Every time I see a “micro pig” in a shelter, I think of the late and oh-so-great Terry DeGaw, founder of Serenity Springs Animal Sanctuary in Forestburg. Whenever I’d talk to her about a pig someone had sent to a shelter or dumped in a park because “it got too big for the apartment,” she’d practically spit, “Look, a pig is a pig! They get big! When are people going to wise up?” We’ll keep working on them, Terry, you angel.]

GOOD GRIEF, A TON OF CATS AND KITTENS AT DAS

I swear, it must be impossible to empty a shelter quickly enough to keep up with the birthrate of cats around here. These are not all of the moms and kittens at Dallas Animal Services, but in the long list sent to Readlarrypowell.com by Danielle Fry, the DAS animal transfer coordinator, there were a few that caught my eye. Oh, they all caught my eye, but if you want to see the rest, you should go to the shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland. Email [email protected] to offer to help or promote or rescue.
We’re partial to black-and-white cats at Readlarrypowell.com and maybe that’s why we’re partial to the photo of the cat about which Danielle wrote, “Who could not love that face! That is the best milk mustache I have ever seen! This momma is a sweetie and she has 3 adorable kittens.” [This mom is A85e2744.]
The other cat is A852051. Danielle wrote, “This sweet momma has 7 kittens and all 7 are red tabbies! She is a gorgeous girl as well. She looks like she is brown tabby but when she stands up, she is torbie! She is very sweet, too, and is taking great care of her babies.”
And, the last group is the local Kitten Gang. They all have separate numbers and they’re all about 4 weeks old and very attentive. They need homes or they’ll be, well, you know.
[LARRY ASIDE: It’s been six days since Empty The Shelter lived up to its name. So, now, is anyone keeping up with the number of animals that have flowed into shelters since the big adoption day? What about following the number of animals being returned? What could the mental health people learn from those human stats?]

SELFIES WITH YOUR CRITTER, PHOTOS OF SLEEPING ANIMALS, SELF-PORTRAITS OF CHIMPANZEES
We’ll take any of the above for use in our weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. This is our Readlarrypowell.com staff impersonator Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas, giving us his impression of a razor-thin runway model walking into the Stick Figure Lounge and spotting a big steaming platter of Mom’s Don’t Take a Bite Meatloaf with a side dish of airspuds and imaginationgravyation. Dessert? Pie a la no. Send your photos of your sleepers and selfies to [email protected]. Include info about the critters and yourself. This thing is read world-wide. You never know when an agent is reading and you and the companion will get a gig in a retro-spaghetti western. [LARRY ASIDE: I ran Inky’s photo because my Mom in Texarkana gets a kick out of it. Inky, you know, is a treasure of a dog.]
CONTEMPLATIONS: Summer break is almost over -- summer doesn’t end, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, until 9:29 p.m. Texas time on September 22. So, plenty of heat left in the next month! The State Fair of Texas will be NOTHING BUT AUTUMN -- Sept. 26-Oct. 19! Get the sweaters and cuddle on the rides without sweating, kids and my fellow red-hot Baby Boomers.  ... You know, of course, that 2014 is the 45th anniversary of the legendary 3 days of peace and love known as “Woodstock.” Perhaps that is why this caught my ol’ Boomereye. Kristina Lee of Country Meadows Pet Inn & Doggie Day Spa sent us a note about the October 18 festival. FYI, they’re looking for vendors, sponsors and volunteers to make Woofstock a success. Kristina’s note reads, “Woofstock is getting so close to its goal of building a permanent rescue facility. In the past 3 years we have rescued and re-homed over 500 homeless pets! That makes us want to do a happy dance! Can you imagine how many we can save when we have our own place?” Read about the Inn/Spa HERE and read about Woofstock HERE. Kind of nice to contemplate how much a new shelter might help animals. ... Let’s do some State Fair contemplatin’. It’s all over the news that the Kentucky State Fair’s big event, the Kentucky Country Hame Breakfast and Auction auctioned a 15.89-pound ham for $2 million. The team bidders were, according to WLKY-TV in Louisville, “Republic Bank and Hermitage Farms in conjunction with Bridgeman Foods.” Of course, in Texas,  nobody would have to beg a neighbor to split a $2 million tab. When Texans go to the Fair, we always take enough money. It's also difficult to imagine a Texan paying two million bucks for anything you can't live in or ride in or get to go "Moo."

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Dogs in need, a hero's cat and a song for the times....

DATELINE: DALLAS Where Tomorrow Has a Future and So Did Yesterday (Aug. 21, PetPowellPress) August 21 is, just FYI, Senior Citizen Day, another one of those things that looks good but actually enforces ageism. “Senior Citizen” sounds too old for many people who can’t afford to retire.
Now, if I was an ol’ dog -- or a young one -- I’d like to be as handsome as this fellow's mug! His name is Sterling and we’ll get to his story in just a moment. I wanted to make sure you noticed him. Now, some more animals you should notice.
A DOG ON TWO LISTS
This is Kokoa. She is not only on the general list of dogs populating the Irving Animal Services Shelter, she is also on the list of dogs “most likely to be next in line for euthanasia.”
How can that be fair? We’re talking animals in Dallas County -- there is no "fair."
She’s #23545995.  We learned about her from Russell Posch, the shelter-walking photo-taking animal advocate who works to get animals adopted from the Irving facility.
The number of dogs on the available list continues to grow steadily. One reason is they have puppies.
The story on 7-year-old Kokoa -- weighs a whopping 15 friendly pounds -- is she was an owner-surrender. “Plus 5 new puppies,” the shelter says.
There are plenty of other solo acts in the Irving shelter. See them HERE. See the urgent animals HERE. One of them is this young Chihuahua, Little Man. Why is he in the shelter? He’s a rebound -- the human was “allergic” to him.
If you are not allergic to dogs and if you understand how this reproduction thing works in dogs and cats, you can get in touch with the shelter and save a life or two. The rescue hotline is 972-721-3597 -- email [email protected] or [email protected]. The shelter numbers are 972-721-2256 or 57. (Oh, and at the bottom of today's report you'll see the big photo collage of the animals in the shelter including a Beagle or two and a Scottie.

GUNNY THE CAT
This is a WWII veteran’s cat who needs a home. Linda Ashton of Texas Pawprints (“Your friendly neighborhood cat ladies!”) says, “We received this request for help with rehoming a kitty earlier today (Wednesday).”
Here’s the story from the son, Rob Reed. “This was the companion pet of my elderly father who recently passed away.  My father named the cat Gunny (slang for Gunnery Sergeant) as he was one of the last survivors that served in the Marines on Iwo Jima.   My sister took in the cat into her house with another cat and puppy but it just became too much for her. This is really a great animal for someone to adopt."
Gunny, a domestic shorthair, was born May 4, 2011, is neutered and has declawed front paws. He’s current on shots, an indoor and litter-trained cat and is both “friendly and shy -- best if only pet in house.” 
To ask about giving this cat a home, email [email protected]. 
[LARRY ASIDE: Linda, in a postscript to the cat note, summed up things perfectly when she wrote, “I'm impressed with his father's military service; not many survived Iwo Jima. We - our generation - kind of owe him, I think.”] 

To read more about Texas Pawprints, go to the Facebook page HERE.  

STERLING, THE HANDSOME HOMELESS DOG

Bear with me folks because I’m writing about something never before mentioned on Readlarrypowell.com.
We get the story from Christine Kallas, a veteran rescuer, who was busy getting one dog when this “very stunning’’ dog Sterling came along at the Fort Worth animal shelter.
Christine explains, “This sweet 18-month-old boy was out of time as well. No one showed interest because of his birth defect---his penis is exposed since there is no skin to cover it. We have consulted with a couple of surgeons who advised against surgery; simply too risky. He is mild mannered, loyal and loves life. Sterling has been boarded at my vet in Plano for over a month and I am near bankrupt. He is on PetFinder and Facebook. Not one call. The pictures don't do him justice; he is so handsome. Surely, there has to be a kind person who can overlook his imperfection and love him for what he is -- 80 pounds of unconditional love and friendship'-:)”
Contact Christine at [email protected]

A DOG NEEDING A PLACE TO GO
Blame a job. Stacey Carney, aka Stacey The Stylist, veteran animal rescuer, sent the note about a woman who needs help “networking this dog.” Rawni is the dog's name.
Stacey, a good-hearted person, asks also that no one contact the dog's person to leave “negative feedback.” This is a situation that is obviously tough on the humans in the story.
That story reads: “I have a Golden Retriever/Collie mix. She has been with us for 2 1/2 years. She is a great dog and loves kids. She has been an inside pet and she has had her shots, been microchipped, spayed  and recently shaved for the summer and had a teeth cleaning. We will be traveling for my husbands job since he works for the railroad, so we will be gone for months at a time. If you know someone who would love our dog please let me know. We are in a time crunch and if I can't find a home I will have to take her to a shelter. We have until Sept. 4 to find her a place. She loves to go to the dog park, but she is strong on the leash so she could use some training.”

To ask about this dog, call 817-350-1036. She’s in the Keller area and transport can be arranged.

CONTEMPLATIONS: It’s 100 degrees in August. Your only desert choices are chocolate pie or Italian cream cake. What do you do? Correct! You go walk 2 miles in the park and drink a lot of water and ignore desert. ... Could Johnny Manziel wind up playing for the Dallas Cowboys? Just a thought. ... I check the headlines every day and lately I’ve been expecting to see a story about a guy named Noah building an ark. Pretty ugly circumstances world-wide. Great Flood inspiring. Worse than the ‘60s. In fact, here’s a song from 1967 that SEEMS TO FIT.  Oh, and here is the growing population of the Irving Animal Services Shelter. See the lead item to get the contact points and click HERE to read about these down-on-their-luck dogs.

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Shaking dogs, momma dogs, a 3-legged cat, a big-eared dog and monkeys...

DALLAS A Town The Could Use More  Cool Rain and Less Hot Wind, Texas (August 19, PetPowellPress) -- What is the distance from buoyant to back-to-normal? Probably the distance from Saturday’s Empty The Shelter Day to Tuesday. We may have some evidence.
AT THE DAS, TWO SHAKERS AND SOME MOMMA GIRLS AND KIDS

Dallas Animal Services Animal Transfer Coordinator Danielle Fry sent out not one, but two notes Tuesday. One has to do with “lots of great dogs at Dallas Animal Services in need of transfer.”
These two curled up in the shelter -- click on the photo to read the heartbreaking caption -- are among 15 on a list sent out by Danielle about the “lots of great dogs.”
The mommas and kids in the photos on the right  (click on the art to make it expand) were on the email that read, “Dallas Animal Services has some nursing momma dogs that are in need of transfer.”
To offer to help these animals, email [email protected].

[LARRY ASIDE: Now, why would these animals be in the city shelter so soon after Empty the Shelter Day? Perhaps the people who had the dogs thought, “Ah, they must have plenty of open cages now. Perfect time to dump these mutts.” Or, perhaps, someone who skipped biology the day they studied the birds and bees thought, “Now’s my chance to get rid of that disobedient dog. No matter how many times I tell her not to get pregnant, that dog just will not listen and gets herself knocked up. I am just sick of it.  I’ll teach her a lesson.” Please, if you know someone who has no clue, give them substantial hit with the Two-By-Four of Enlightenment. Oops, I mean “substantial hint” -- a substantial hit would be wrong. Yes, tape a list of inexpensive or free spay/neuter opportunities to the Two-By-Four of Enlightenment and gently poke the dimwit’s solar plexus. Hang on. That may  be wrong and illegal, too. OK, just give them a good talkin’-to and beg them to wise up. You see why I’m not involved in hostage negotiations? No patience.]

SONORA, THE EARHOUND

Alexandra Kelsey, our surefire Houston tipster, spotted this Earhound right away.
The dog has a story -- she’s scheduled to be euthanized on Thursday morning at Houston’s BARC Shelter -- the city shelter.
The email accompanying the photo says that “Shelter Angels need your help in getting this little doll rescued. Sweet Sonora!” 
It is unclear who wrote the note but it included this line: “I’m not sure, but I think that if you set her on top of your television set you’ll get cable!”
Sonora is A1260433 at the shelter. The official note from BARC reads, “No response to the plea for this little girl. She is timid in her cage and does not walk well on a leash, but once out of the cage she settles down and is all ears to whatever you have to say.” 

All ears, heh-heh.
Here’s the part I hope some humans are all-ears about. BARC says, “We will hold her until Thursday 9 a.m. 08-21-14.”
The email address is [email protected]. The phone number is 713-229-7300.

[LARRY ASIDE: I can’t remember if BARC is Bureau of Animal Rescue and Control or Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care. Whatever it is, it really doesn’t need to kill Sonora.. Only people can help.]
A LITTLE FERAL FRIEND WITH A CHALLENGE
This is a three-legged cat, but that’s not really the challenge. The challenge is finding a loving home. We got this info from the famed cat low-cost spay/neuter group, Feral Friends.
The cat’s name is London. The official story reads, “We received an email from a concerned caregiver about a feral kitten in his colony he was feeding.  Among the four cats was one who looked to have a paw rotting off the end of his arm.”
[LARRY ASIDE: I’m not showing you that photo. Trust me, I’ll remember it long enough for all of us. It's ugly. And I’m well-seasoned to ugly -- I am a former ambulance driver, newspaper police beat reporter and child of the ‘60s.]

Back to the cat note. “Luckily, little London came through the surgery with flying colors, and is resting comfortably! ... His arm had to be amputated up to the shoulder to make sure that no infection was left behind. London is resting comfortably inside his caregiver's home, and due to possible difficulty of being able to get around with a missing front leg, he will most likely become an indoor kitty. Time will tell!”
Who did the surgery? Glad you asked. It gives me a chance to note that Feral Friends gives special thanks to “Dr. Pupp at Watters Animal Hospital for her excellent surgical skills.” Yep, a vet named Pupp. She is Dr. Corry Pupp, operating, so to speak with Watters Animal Hospital in Allen.

[LARRY ASIDE:  In our experience, a cat with three working legs who is this cute has no problems getting around. Someone will pick that cat up and carry him where ever he wants to go. Also, the back legs are the springs for leaping. The remaining front leg is for balance and slapping rolls of thread across the floor. We had a kitten, Spike, who was in a cast from his chest to the end of his paw -- the only thing that kept him from getting around was when he’d stop to teach some dog a lesson!]

To help Feral Friends replenish the emergency medical fund, go to feralfriends.org or write to Feral Friends, P.O. Box 832857, Richardson, Texas 75083. 
WHAT HAPPENED IN WEATHERFORD?

On Empty The Shelter Day things were pretty busy at the Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter. We got this report from animal advocate Becky Dodge and we got the artwork from the shelter’s Facebook page.
Becky wrote, “Thought you might like to know that the shelter here in Weatherford had 102 adoptions on Saturday, according to one of the people who volunteers there, the most ever in one day. That included ALL of the cats plus some pets who were brought in from the Azle shelter since they didn't  participate and the numbers here went down so fast that they had to get some from ‘out of town.’ I live on the same street as the shelter and there was a line outside the gate about an hour before opening and there were still adoptions going on at 5 p.m. when they closed.
“For comparison purposes, in 2013, the most recent statistics on the city website, they had a total of 660 adoptions for the entire year - thar includes dogs, cats, livestock and ‘other’ animals. Oh, BTW, I don't think the llama got adopted on Saturday so if someone wants to adopt there is one at the shelter here.” 

Just FYI from Larry: There are still dogs and cats at the shelter -- they include that Shepherd girl Treasure and this wet cat -- no name on the list, but probably Soggy would work unless she has a lawyer who’ll sue for defamation.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Readlarrypowell.com needs selfies with your animals or sleeping photos for our weekend feature “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap”! Send photo and info to [email protected]. Remember, it’s read worldwide and will make your critter an international star. More cuddly than Justin Bieber, no doubt. ... Having grown a tad restless with songs of my own youthful era -- for some reason a lot of those people aren’t working anymore!  -- I began listening to KXT-FM, 97.1, the public radio station in Denton. It gave me a chance to enjoy the Arctic Monkeys and other groups that debuted after the Beatles broke up. Here’s a pretty swell Arctic Monkeys SONG.  What? No, those are Japanese Snow Monkeys. They’re not on the KXT playlist. Yet. ... Anybody else watching Partners with Martin Lawrence and Kelsey Grammar? It may have a chance to survive in this iffy era of TV. It’s on FX which has my favorite mean show, Justified. You do hear things on TV now you never thought you’d hear in your own living room unless you said it in a glib, trashy moment. Or unless a relative said it just before being thrown out, of course.

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