DATELINE: DALLAS Where the Windchill Factor Is Always a Surprise, Texas (Dec. 2, PetPowellPress) -- As we await an autumnal thaw, let’s try to warm up some hearts. We’ve got followups on a couple of dogs that have been challenges. And we’ll start with an insightful look at cats. Yes, Christmas kittens. Yep, it’s kitten season year-round -- at least they play better than the Cowboys. And, since it’s Christmas, it’s time to mention Shar Peis and their American plight, this time in Euless. Read on.
‘FOR FROSTY’S SAKE, IT’S CHRISTMAS!’
That’s start of the note from veteran animal shelter professional Patricia Barrington, the Animal Services Division Manager for The Colony.
When you see that, you get the feeling there’s some opinion coming and, indeed, here it is en toto: “For Frosty’s sake; it’s Christmas! Why in the name of flightless reindeer are shelters so flipping overwhelmed with animals right now? Oh, yeah – because irresponsibility escapes humans even at Christmas, that’s why.
“So, here is the latest pet tugging away at the frayed strings attached to my half-hardened heart. It’s Larry. Larry has been at the shelter since November 1. He’s been here for a month, for the most part in a 30X30-inch cube, minding his own business, being as jolly as a caged critter can. There is not a thing wrong with this guy, except he can be a bit of a butthead when he meets new cats. But, cats work that stuff out among themselves, generally – so it’s no deal-breaker by any means. Larry is about 3-4 years old. He is neutered. He is vaccinated. He uses his litter box. He cuddles, purrs and marks us all as his by rubbing his noggin on us and our belongings. He’s a good cat. He deserves a home. He needs out of this shelter. Yet, he is passed by on a daily basis. Perhaps one of your faithful readers is looking for a jolly Larry of his/her own. Perhaps they will read about him and come running to The Colony, Texas and take him home and love him his whole life. Wouldn’t that be just so darn Christmas like?
“And, then there are these … these KITTENS … KITTENS in a shelter at CHRISTMAS! You’d think they’d be flying off the shelves, wouldn’t you? Well, they would, IF we could adopt them out now, assure the adoptive owner they won’t grow a bit, will be clean, cuddly, and in good spirits on Christmas Eve AND have people here on Christmas Eve to hand them out as they pull up much like we see slushes handed out at Sonic during happy hour. But, alas – they are animals, and they need to go home now and they need to be more than a stocking stuffer – they need to be family. So, I am pleading to those folks out there with a brain and a heart; adopt these babies as family, not as gifts … and adopt them, now. Cats in The Colony: it’s a never ending battle.”
To ask about helping Larry the Cat or the kittens, email [email protected]. You can call the shelter at 972-370-9250. And you can actually stop by to make acquaintances with the critters and the shelter staffers -- a bunch of notorious soft-hearts who are known as “socializers of animals.”
A FOLLOWUP ON BABE AND ROCKY, TOO
Two days in a row we have a note from Tomi Ortiz about a dog. On Monday she sent this note about Rocky. One of the reasons I love animal people is the personalities. Tomi wrote, “I’m sure you dread seeing my emails come across your email! I know you’re probably saying, ‘What does this crazy woman want now!’ Or at least that’s what my husband says you’re saying. Well, attached is a
picture of ‘Rocky’ a Dallas Animal Shelter ‘rescued’ dog. [left] My brother-in-law and sister-in-law sent me to rescue him out of the shelter almost a year ago. He has grown to be a beautiful, but extremely hyper dog. So much so that they say he needs too much attention and they can’t keep him. They got him for their daughter but she is working now and nobody has time for him. They think he is extremely hyper, etc., because he wants to play and spends most of his time in his crate…He LOVES people. Rocky is crate-trained, house-broken, neutered, up to date on all his shots and is full of love. They want to find him a good home. So if anybody would like to give Rocky his Forever Home this Holiday Season please have them contact me and I will forward the info to them.
“He looks like a pit-mix but the veterinarian said he has about 5% pit, 80% Weimaraner and 15%...I don’t remember to tell you the truth. I know they gave him a dog DNA test of some sort. This just breaks my heart and I really wish my dogs weren’t so difficult and I could add on to my family, but it looks like I’m stuck at 3 spoiled dogs.”
Now, about the Tomi Dog we posted in Monday’s edition. He’s now called Babe -- “Pit in the City instead of Pig in the City,” Tomi explains. This was the dog found flopped over on the sidewalk.
There’s been an unexpected difficulty for the big baby. Though he jumped into the foster’s car as if he’d always belonged, he had a dustup with one of the foster’s pups and he needs a new place to stay immediately.
Tomi wrote, “I’m hoping an animal lover with no dogs or cats (since I don’t know how he is with them) might have room for him? I do not want him to go to a shelter! Not that I blame the shelters, like you said it’s humans who let these dogs down. But, I know the chances of him making out of one will be slim. Is it possible for your heart to break so many times and not cause permanent damage? I’m beginning to think I might not make it if this keeps happening!”
To offer to help either of these dogs or both of them, email [email protected] . As Tomi wrote, “We need more happy endings.”
THE SAGA OF THE SHAR PEI CONTINUES
Way back in 1983 -- more than three decades ago -- the Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog made big news when it offered two “his and her” and “rare” Shar Pei puppies for two grand each. It was a big deal at the time to see these “wrinkled dogs” from China in the United States. Suddenly everyone wanted one -- you know, a trend like those set off by 101 Dalmatians or that Italian Greyhound movie.
See this dog? Purebred Shar Pei. Found wandering as a stray. Our pal Karen Lee of BarkleyWorld.com and a staunch Trinity GAP Rescue supporter, sent the note explaining that the GAP folks were “contacted a week or so ago regarding this poor dog found as a stray in a run-down apartment complex in Euless ... This is a popular dumping ground for dogs and cats and no one seems to be looking for this dog. Trinity GAP agreed to let the dog go to our vet for evaluation and this is what we learned ... He is about 8 years old, heartworm positive, has thyroid issues and is not neutered. However we are told he is just so very sweet and ‘awesome’ that we are reluctant to have him put to sleep. The vet staff have fallen in love with him and can’t say enough nice things about him.
“That being said, we do not have the resources to treat his ailments and are not very optimistic we can find him a home at his age and condition. We could get him neutered and vaccinated. We do not want to make the decision to have him put to sleep so am hoping to find a rescue for him.
“He has gone into a temporary foster home and has been dubbed ‘Nigel’ —here is what his foster mom has to say about him: ‘He is very sweet but apparently has had a pretty rough life. He has a thyroid issue and has lost hair all over his body. I've been treating his dry eye, which has improved considerably. He is not potty trained but has learned my dog door in just a few days. He spends most of the day sleeping as I believe his is just emotionally exhausted. He has a slight limp with his front right leg. He really doesn't seem to know what love is. He expects the worst to happen. He is good with other dogs and another foster I have, a Dachshund, has taken to licking Nigel's eyes. He is very interested in smaller dogs. He is a sweet unassuming guy.’ ”
And, there you have it -- purebred on the streets. No doubt a human let him down and it’s time for humans to pick him up! Email Karen at [email protected] or the GAP rescuers at [email protected].
MEANWHILE AT DAS
Dallas Animal Services has a load -- not sure how to define “load” other than “more than necessary” -- of animals that need quick, safe exits from the area’s largest taxpayer-financed, government-controlled, angel-operated shelter.
One of the angels, Danielle Fry, the animal transfer coordinator, issued an appeal Monday evening for help getting a number of dogs to safety. Among them are Hannah, that sad-faced dog we’ve mentioned before, and a Corgi-mix named Bucky who has until close of business Tuesday or it’s an unpleasant end for him.
To offer to help, email [email protected]. Click on the art to make it larger.
[LARRY ASIDE: See all of the animals on Danielle’s note by clicking HERE. Then, after you pick a pup or two, come right back and read about Sissy and our Tuesday Christmas Facet.]
AN UPDATE ON THE SISSY PROJECT
You may recall our earlier stories about Sherry Kunz’s efforts to catch Bubba and Sissy, a couple of dogs living on the street in her neighborhood. Very frustrating situation because of the elusiveness of the dogs, the lack of help, no foster home, etc.
And now there’s an update. Sherry writes, “I haven't sent you an update because nothing has worked in our efforts to catch Sissy. After we caught Bubba, our plan to catch Sissy was to get her into a regular routine of feeding. It went beautifully until Halloween.
“The day after, Sissy broke her routine and did not come to feed as usual. We weren't sure if it was the time change or all the activity from Halloween. We went ahead with our plan to catch her on Sunday. We searched for 2 hours and we're just about to give up when Sissy came around the corner headed to her regular feeding station.
“I drove ahead to setup the trap while the lady that had been feeding her got out and tried to coax her to her house. They never came. Sissy got scared and ran in the opposite direction. We followed her into the next subdivision but lost her when she went underneath a fence.
“That was the last time I saw her but the story of Sissy took a bizarre turn. We have a neighborhood website that we had been posting the story of Sissy and Bubba. A neighbor in another subdivision asked to talk to me privately. She private messaged me that Sissy had had her puppies but they were not in a good shelter. She had fed Sissy that morning. She wanted the name and number of the rescue group that was going to take Sissy. I gave her ARF and Duck Team 6 contacts. She said she'd get back with me once she had more info.
“I waited but no response. I sent her message after message but nothing. Finally one night, she pm'd and said, thanks for the info but animal control picked up Sissy and her puppies. I was actually relieved. At least she and the pups were safe and I knew they would be released to the rescue group.
“A DT6 volunteer went to the shelter but a Sissy was not there. The lady in my neighborhood lied. I don't know why. I have tried to contact her even got her address from someone in her subdivision and I went to her house. She would not come to the door. I feel so helpless.
“Another lady that lives in that subdivision has seen Sissy on occasion. She followed her one day and sure enough, she was in the neighbors backyard that said Sissy had been picked up. We still have been unable to verify that she has had pups. I suspect that they didn't survive. They would be big enough to start following her around. Our problem now is we can't go onto private property to try and catch her.
“We also sold our house and will be moving soon. I don't want to leave her but I don't know what else I can do unless I can get animal control to talk [the woman] into letting us onto her property. In the meantime, there are 2 more pregnant dogs that have been dumped. Now you know why I want to leave this area. I'll let you know if by some miracle we manage to save her.”
[LARRY ASIDE: There’s a ton to contemplate in that story. And, goodness, gracious, Dallas has a lot of animals with a lot of challenges -- can you say “the human factor”? Bless Sherry and her pals and the animals in that Dallas neighborhood.]
GIVING TUESDAY
Perhaps some of you know how Giving Tuesday works. Here's the website www.givingtuesday.com -- a few animal groups are registered. Go to the site, put your favorite group into "search partners" and go from there. Or, maybe, just give to the group and cut out the cybermiddleman? Someone will enlighten us how this works, maybe.
CHRISTMAS FACET #2
Oh, goodness, this facet is nothing short of holly jolly. As you know if you read yesterday’s report, for this holiday season we’re introducing a presentation of holiday facts -- er, holiday facets. . As a lifelong fan of Christmas and the joy and goodness of the season, Readlarrypowell.com has collected many facts about this great holiday.
On the other hand, not every facet about Christmas has to be true. That picture, by the way, is an artist’s rendering of Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas and our Readlarrypowell staff impersonator. Inky spent several years working as a department store seasonal window model and periodic gift-wrapper, though he says he would have spent more time in gift-wrapping had he been gifted with thumbs. Also, he says, “You haven’t known frustration until you’ve tried to work with tape while wearing a body of fur.” This “pen and Inky drawering” was created by our artistic pal Michael Pupangelo of Rome.
Today’s Christmas Facet:
The first person to play Santa Claus in a department store was not allowed to shop on credit, but did have a special discount in gift-wrapping and got free coffee in the employee breakroom. He was not allowed to tell anyone that he was working as Santa. Later, he was profiled in a major New York newspaper of the time and became known as the first “Secret Santa.” Some of the preceding may not be based on fact.
--- To comment or issue a holiday greeting, click below. ---
