ReadLarryPowell.com

Critters, creativity and take a hike...

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015 (PetPowellPress) -- June was National Adopt a Cat Month and July is National Hot Dog Month. No known connection but that’s the way freedom works in America. For example, August is National Catfish Month -- don’t know if they’ll need fosters and adoptions, but be prepared. No National Dogfish Day. Yet. Matter of time.
All that aside, let’s talk cats and dogs.
IT WAS A CLOSE CALL...

Last Friday I got a note from Karen Lee, the Barkleyworld.com animal advocate and big-time supporter of the GAP Club Rescue in Euless.
In desperation it read, “URGENT!!  Remix bit someone and is now in quarantine. He will be euthanized unless we find an approved foster or a rescue. He cannot be adopted out of the shelter and can only come into GAP through a foster.  He play-bites and gets a little rough—he’s been in the shelter for quite some time and is probably stressed out.” The biting was an aberration and the rescuers who’d been with him said he “loves to be held, and would be a 10 on a social scale!  What a gorgeous and awesome boy!!!” and someone added, "This has to be the sweetest cat the shelter has had for a long, long time.” That is Remix's mug shot.
But you can tell by the second photograph -- first toilet photograph Readlarrypowell.com can recall posting -- that there was a triumph.

On Tuesday, Karen told Readlarrypowell.com, “One of our volunteers found a friend to foster Remix and he and Remix fell in love!!  He says Remix follows him everywhere—and is so happy he’s potty trained!”
Yep, adopted and already the king of candid camera work. And Readlarrypowell.com’s theory is Remix’s new human should establish a Toddler Training Academy with Professor Remix.

[REMINDER: There are more GAP animals waiting for adoption and fostering -- check out GAP Rescue on Facebook HERE . To volunteer to help, email  [email protected].]

A PLEA FOR A LITTLE DOG

Stacey “The Stylist” Carney, our west-of-Fort Worth tipster, sent a note about this cute little girl. She’s “Code Red because of skin issues” in the Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter. To help her beat the odds, call the shelter at 817-598-4111.

ON THE CLOCK IN LANCASTER
The deadline for helping these animals is 3 p.m. Wednesday, according to a note from out Lancaster Animal Shelter monitor Tomi Ortiz. “Mortal Danger” is the code Lancaster folks use for the almost certain euthanization of animals.
The shelter is at 690 E. Main in Lancaster. Call 972-218-1210.
Who are these critters? (Click on the art to make it larger.) Here’s a list by name -- and a note that there are "all kinds of kitties" -- all comments are from the Furbabies of Lancaster site:

“Lillianna: A 2-year-old Pointer mix, she walks well on a leash and loves scratches. She is probably a 7 or 8 on the energy scale and would require at least a 6-foot fence. She is spayed.

“Puppy: A year-old Lab mix. This dog is a big ole lap dog and just wants to be with you. He is good with other dogs and he walks well on a leash. Sweet sweet sweet. (Per volunteer- this dog is so much fun to be around he has a good spirit about him and loves to just hang out with you. He has enough energy to play with but then is calm enough to just lay around the house with you.)

“Zorro: A 5-year-old Collie mix, he is on the smaller side, weighing only about 35 lbs. He walks well on a leash, is good with other dogs, and he is neutered. [He has a rescue group if someone will foster.]
“Okley: A year-old Shepherd mix, he is on the quiet side in the shelter but once out he is awesome. He loves to be loved. He walks well on a leash and seems to get a long with most dogs

“Pooch: A year-old Blue Pitty, he is very scared and shy in the shelter but once out he is okay. He is going to need someone to give him lots of love and kindness. He loves to be rubbed and loved on.”
A LITTLE JURASSIC-STYLE BOOK NEWS
Those computer generated creatures in Jurassic World aren’t the only entertaining dinosaurs walking the earth these days. There’s this fellow, TeddyT-Rex, the lead character in the anti-bullying book The Dinosaur’s New Shoes. And Teddy T-Rex is even getting air time! His book was written by James S. Martinez and illlustrated by Timothy T. Civick -- it’s one of several books by the team and  there are more coming. In the meantime, you can hear James as he is interviewed by Arden Moore on her Pet Life Radio Show Oh Behave. Here’s the LINK.  

CONTEMPLATIONS: Here’s a creative note. My former column editor at the big paper downtown, John C. Davenport, is a successful playwright these days -- as he has been for years. His Clean Routine was recently produced in Los Angeles as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. He’s got plays being produced from coast to coast to coast this month, from North Caroline on the East to Washington on the west and Houston on the South. Nothing going in the Gulf of Canada, but it’s early in the month. Here’s the lineup for July: Psyche, With an E, produced by Red Mask Players, Danville, Ill.; Life-Changing Email, staged reading presented by Friends of Cashiers Community Library, Cashiers, N.C.; Bloom and Clean Routine, produced by Seattle Playwrights Circle at Phoenix Theatre in Edmonds, Wash.; and We’ll Always Have Memphis, produced by Pandora Theatre, Houston. And in August, Life-Changing Email  and Oldest Living Human will be produced by Otherworld Theatre for Paragon Sci-fi and Fantasy Festival, Chicago. What does all this mean? It means that sometimes a newspaper isn’t big enough for the talent it hires. The playwright Davenport was a darned good editor. ... Nature walks are good for the brain says a story in the Washington Post, so, in a vintage phrase, “Take a hike.” ...  Anybody else remember the “50 Mile Hike” of the JFK Era? The prez was a big fitness nut, according to his pre-presidential writing in Sports Illustrated, and wanted Americans to be fit. Another idea from Washington that didn’t work out, the critter writer said heftily. 

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From a band to a frenzy to Cuddles and an 8-days explanation...

EDITION OF TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2015 (PetPowellPress) -- Got an email titled “Is your workout working?” Didn’t even bother to open it. If you think the Texas Rangers had an iffy June, look at my diet/exercise plan. Lost the same 5 pounds about four times. Now, let’s move into the world of animals and maybe some other things.
But first, do you see that dog? She’s Shelby (#27986954), listed on the City of Irving’s Adoptable Dogs site HERE Monday evening.
Why post this 3-year, 28-days old (how’d they figure that?) dog? She’s been at the shelter since June 30 -- a Staffordshire Terrier mix or, in the eyes of most people, a “Pit-type.” She’s made it 30 days in the Irving shelter. Thirty days in a city shelter! Astounding. The shelter is at 4140 Valley View Lane. The rescue hotline is 972-721-3597. The business number is 721-2256.

What is this dog’s link to a little town named Salinas, Kansas? Philosophy. Salinas has banned Pit-types. 
Oh, and “dangerous dogs” came up at last week’s Dallas Animal Shelter Commission meeting. Dallas doesn’t ban by breed, but gives individual dogs accused of dangerous behavior a hearing -- not in a real court, but before a three-person panel. Dallas has a revamped system for dangerous dog hearings -- previously the owners’ lawyers were not allowed to speak. But, now, things have changed (thanks to efforts by local animal attorneys) and the city tries to give animals a break not just the automatic needle. The hearing is also designed to make sure the humans follow rules that keep the animals safe and confined and don't stir up neighborhood conflicts.  Now, the Salinas stories:
TWO TALES IN SALINA, KANS.

Arin Greenwood, the Huffington Post’s animal welfare editor (and a lawyer), outlined the story of truck driver Nathan Stewart whose dog Sophie was confiscated in Salina, Kan.,  a town of less than 50,000  about 450 miles north of Dallas right up the I-35/135 route.
Sophie, somehow, got out of a friend’s house, wandered through the neighborhood and was put back into the home, but someone told animal control and Sophie has been in custody for months. The case is winding its way through the legal system as Stewart tries to save Sophie. Read Editor Greenwood’s HuffPost story HERE then come right back to read about the latest Salina story.
The thing that started our Salina examination was an email asking for signatures on a petition site -- the petition wants Salina to return  Stormy the Pit to Josh Hill, a guy who moved to Salina from El Dorado, Texas, then discovered that his new town didn’t allow Pit types. And, before you know it, Stormy was in custody. The guy is trying to save his dog. Read about it HERE.  El Dorado is about 290 miles southwest of Dallas and about 50 south of San Angelo.

[LARRY ASIDE: Salina's ban is more than a decade old. Dallas doesn’t have a Pit Bull ban -- breed specific legislation is not allowed in Texas (right now), though a couple of city council members sounded off about it a couple of months ago. They were District 5 Councilman Rickey Callahan-- still serving -- and District 4 Councilman Dwaine Caraway, term-limited off the council and now running for a Dallas County Commissioner Court seat currently held by the indicted John Wiley Price. Mr. Caraway is the council member who famously gave a Key to the City of Dallas to the bare-handed dog-killing NFL felonious quarterback Michael Vick. Readlarrypowell.com lives in District 4 and is familiar with District 5 -- sometimes via animal cruelty cases -- and, in those districts it's more likely that someone would kill a Pit Bull than a Pit would kill someone.]

LAST DAY OF FELINE FRENZY

June is National Adopt a Cat Month and the DAS has been running a Feline Frenzy special -- $5, just five lousy bucks, for any cat or kitten in the city’s care. DAS’s Facebook page featured these four on Monday. The note read, “Each a masterpiece of grace and beauty, they are (clockwise from top) Bonnie, Aiden, Bruce and Tally.”

These four are at the DAS Shelter and Adoption Center at I-30 and Westmoreland in West Dallas. Stop by and meet dogs and cats. Go to dallasanimalservices.org to see how to adopt. (Or just show up with $5 and get a cat to call your own.) [LARRY ASIDE: Readlarrypowell.com endorses the companionship of cats. We’ve lived in our Dallas neighborhood for more than a quarter-century and have never had to pay to adopt a cat.  Our entire population is of the wander-up variety, except for  Annabelle Bob who was picked up by my quick-footedspouse Martha when she saw the kitten eating dumped fast food in the middle of Kiest Boulevard and chased her into some nearby shrubbery in a yard. Lifelong buddies now.]

A REMINDER ABOUT CUDDLES

Debra Deese, the former newspaper journalist at both big Dallas papers, is still looking for specific help for Cuddles the Cat. We featured the story over the weekend, but we want to give Cuddles a better than average chance to get a great home.
She was rescued by Debra who found her after she and two other cats had been abandoned at rental property in Gainesville. Two of the cats were friendly and quickly found homes. But Cuddles had been beaten and left for dead -- Debra nursed her back to health and, in spite of miserable allergic reactions to the cat, has been working to find a home for Cuddles. Debra, a long-time Pug rescuer, is moving and Cuddles needs a home that is ultra-cat friendly and ultra-cat-understanding.
The cat, in three years, has gone from “terrified” to “Cuddles.” To offer to help Cuddles, call or text Debra at 214-863-8555.

CONTEMPLATIONS: “Dual action gel.” What kind of advertising mind dreams up that slogan and applies it to a mattress. Serta ad on TV. I guess it replaces the Uni-Action Gel. ... Know how you can tell online news is beating print news? Local papers don’t have an animal welfare editor and Huffpost does. ... Good grief, this is the last day of June. Half the year is gone. While I am astonished that we are halfway through the year, I am even more astonished that the year is 2015 and not still 1965. Can a half-century move this quickly? Only if each year since ’65 features eight days a week. Click HERE.
 --- To comment, grip the handle on your time machine, grasp your mouse, and click your way into the future. ---

A blue-eared dog, other adoptables and a tribute to Griffin...

EDITION OF MONDAY, June 29, 2015 (PetPowellPress) -- We have quite a collection this Monday morning, including something you may never have seen before.
I cite this dog.
A Dallas Animal Services dog with an extraordinarily distinct pattern. (Click on his photo to make him larger.)
Some dog, this pup. Striker (893767) is about 4, maybe, a Lab mix and, obviously, an Earhound made even more special by that blue around the ears.
Blue? Yep, but DAS explained on its Facebook page, “It’s just some medicine that will wear off soon.”
We’re also going to report on other animals today, some from Dallas, some not. And we’ll have a tribute to orange and white cats and a memorial note about one of Readlarrypowell.com’s original staffers, the big orange and white gentleman, Griffin, rest in purrs.
TWO OLDER DOGS DUMPED
Before DAS posted this photo packet of Major and Ivy, we’d gotten a note forwarded from Jennifer Sellers.
The nice folks at DAS had explained the story this way and made a major point about animals that wind up in shelters. The DAS version read, “At least 25% of the pets we get in are purebred, like Ivy and Major here. These 2 beautiful Siberian Huskys were surrendered yesterday [Saturday] after their owners lost their home. They are devastated and asked if we could please try to re-home them. I know we have some Husky lovers out there, so let's see what we can do! Ivy is 14 years old and Major is 12. They are sweet, friendly, and very well cared for.”  (Major is A897357 and Ivy is 897358.)
So, that brings us to Jennifer Seller’s report about the very same dogs -- we know, because she include photos in her -- shall we say “spirited” report. (Dogfans will line up with her sentiments.) She wrote, “I was eating at IHOP and the waitress told me about these two dogs.  Someone she knows moved into an apartment and dumped a 13 year old and a 14 year old because they were using the bathroom inside.  They had a yard previously and claimed they weren't adjusting.  Instead of working with them, they dumped them!!!  I'm so angry I could spit.  The waitress claimed they tried Husky Rescues but with no luck. The first is Major, a neutered male, 13 years old.

The second is Ivy, 14 year old spayed female. 

“Can anyone take in these two angels so they can live out the rest of their lives instead of being stuck in the heart with a shot.   They are great looking dogs.
“People are horrible.”
You probably know how to get in touch with Dallas Animal Services -- try www.dallasanimalservices.org. 

THE EULESS ADORABLES
Before we get into the adoptables, there's a Euless foster dog missing. And if you click on this poster of missing Bentley, you can get the details. He's another of, as Readlarrypowell.com frequently describes them, "dogs too clever for their own good."
The GAP Rescue folks -- Girls Awareness Program of Euless Trinity High School -- isn’t taking summer off. They had an adoption event over the weekend and leading supporter Karen Lee sent us this great photo of Rocky (15912), a Dachshund/Chihuahua mix who is about a year old.
The story on Rocky is he “is a cuddly little lap dog who longs to have his very own person!  He’s not too fond of the crate but we are working on it! He is housetrained and walks well on a leash!  We feel he needs a home without young children as he is a bit possessive over toys -- not so much food – just toys. Maybe he never had any of his own…who knows? He likes to steal your socks when you’re not looking so beware—not a major crime but just a warning!  Rocky is so excited to greet you when you come home he’ll make you feel like the most special person in the whole wide world!  And you are to him!  He does bark but quickly stops when you tell him no.  He aims to please.  He’s a great dog and will make someone a great family pet! Rocky is neutered, vaccinated and heartworm negative.”
Karen also forwarded a photo of Mi Ke. And the report is Mi Ke “is a very sweet and beautiful classic Calico that was brought into the Euless shelter with her two tiny boys, Toby and Sonny.  Later that day came orphans Clyde and Holly, who Mi Ke graciously adopted.  This is a testament to how easy going Mi Ke is. She is now baby-free and ready to get on with her life!  She’s perfect with the litter box and loves the flat, carpet-like scratch pad and uses it every day. She so deserves her very own loving home!!  Spayed and vaccinated!  Mi Ke needs to be on a special diet so please contact us for more information!”
And, just FYI, that “cartoon dog” is Kaiser (15936). He’s a 12-pound dog who loves to be held, enjoys playing and walking on a leash.
The story on Kaiser reads, “The GAP girls said he was a real cuddler ... and he was one of their favorites.
Here’s the contact information: Email [email protected] or drop by the Euless Animal Shelter at 1517 Westpark Way in Euless
PRESSURES IN WEATHERFORD
Over the weekend, Stacey “The Stylist” Carney and others forwarded appeals to help animals that are in the Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter.  Some animals still in the shelter were not doing well and were in need of vet care.
One of the photos was of this dog Doc (51754) who, as the weekend arrived, was ill and without vet care. The shelter is trying to get him some help. Call 817-598-4111. The shelter is at 403 Hickory Lane in Weatherford. In addition to a website and Facebook page, the shelter also has a “no longer there” page -- click HERE.

MEANWHILE IN BURNS FLAT
Rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher in Burns Flat, Okla., continues to look for places for animals to go including some we’ve mentioned before.
There’s Cal, the 12-year-old Shih Tzu who is blind and has hear issues “but he has so much life and love left in him,” Terry Lynn says. He’s in a foster home, but needs to move to a calmer environment. Terry Lynn says, “He was originally dumped in a gassing pound, because his owner wanted a new puppy.”
And we’ve mentioned JoJo before -- a big dog jumped on him and JoJo suffered an injury and began to drag his hind legs until he was raw. The dogs humans “let it go on for for months,” Terry Lynn says. “Then because it was just too sad to see, they took him to a VERY HIGH KILL pound. I saw his face and knew I had to try and save him. I have had him at my vet.” 
He’ll never walk again, says Terry Lynn, but he could use a wheelchair and live a life if he’s cared for properly.
And then there’s the momma dog who gave birth to a half-dozen pups.
“The family loves momma, they had taken her in as a stray and she had the babies.  They asked for help placing the babies, for they are terrified they will end up in the wrong hands. The babies will be ready to go NEXT weekend.”
To offer to help with any of these challenges, email Terry Lynn at [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS: THE GLORY OF ORANGE AND WHITE CATS
We’re focusing on orange and white cats today in honor of Griffin, our great friend who died on Friday. In honor of Griffin (that's him in the cover he took for either a book jacket or his ambassadorial appointment announcement), I found photos of orange and white cats at different facilities in the area.Here goes:
Okie is from The Colony Animal Shelter. According to the note about him, “This adorable little kitten is as sweet as they come. Okie has a unusual back-story. He somehow got under the hood of a car ... in Oklahoma ... and wasn't discovered until the driver made a stop in The Colony. The little guy had a long hot trip and lost the tip of his right ear on his journey, but he is a trooper and handled the ordeal with grace! He's got a wonderful personality and is ready for a home! Come in and meet this little fella, today!” (Here’s the Facebook link.)

Prairie Paws, the Grand Prairie Animal shelter, has the great Bean (A133224) available for adoption. He’s about 14 weeks old -- he’s been at the shelter since June 25. Call Grand Prairie Animal Services at 972-237-8575 or go HERE  to see more animals.
And Irving Animal Services has this guy, Owen (277-06481). Three months old. weighs 2 pounds and you can find him in the kitten room.” Google Irving Animal Services and you can learn how to adopt and see other animals.
We had such a good life with the great Griffin, right, that it seemed proper to urge people to adopt and orange and white cat in honor of the wander-up Oak Cliff cat who came to stay and made our lives so much better. You can read about him and see The Griffin Gallery of photos by going to our Prayers & Passages Page. Click on the button in the upper right corner of this page. You’ll enjoy Griffin and his pals and his Christmas tree.

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Rescued sleepers, some waiting nappers -- challenges met, homes needed

This weekend’s edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap looks at rescues, some completed, some waiting, but all involving either a sleeping dog or a napping cat. It’s the cats who have extraordinary situations -- Lord knows how Cuddles survived the Gainesville Terror. The dogs have extraordinary stories of getting a safe place to sleep. Let’s start with Millie, a dog we featured on Monday.
She was in the Rowlett Animal Shelter and, as our tipster Dawna Carabajal, the veteran rescuer reported, “Yes, a miracle happened in the 11th hour.”
The needle was being prepped when a foster was found, a connection was made with Heather Davies of Good Times Bully Rescue and, Dawna wrote, “They pulled her out of the shelter shortly before she was set to be EU. Thank God!”

Millie is the perfect to feature in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. And so is Madeline. And so is Cuddles The Cat.
You may recall seeing Millie’s photo before. That’s here getting ready for her closeup by diving into the photographer's lap. But that opening photo shows Millie catching some Zs during her transport. And to the right is drowsy Millie.

And there are assorted other photos of Millie enjoying life out of the shelter where she came within minutes of being nothing but a statistic and a warm memory to rescuers and staffers who had come to adore her. Dawna said the 4-year-old Pitty girl “loves people and think she is a lap dog.” She was in the shelter after being dumped by previous owners over a couple of incidents with smaller dogs. She became “rescue only.” Dawna says, “Her previous owners threatened to kill her if they were forced to reclaim her, so the city is giving her one last chance to live through being pulled by a rescue group.” And, things worked out.
When Millie was rescued by Good Times Bully Rescue, Dawna wrote that she “went straight to her new foster home where she is already getting spoiled. We have worked with Heather Davies of Good Times Bully Rescue with several of the shelter's hard to place Bullies and she has always found loving homes for them. We get updates and pictures on many of the dogs and 1 family in particular sends me regular updates on Stanley (a dog my mom fostered for her). So I know Millie is in very good hands and will receive the best care.”
Now, while we were researching Millie, we went to the Friends of Rowlett Animals Facebook site and found this dog Madeleine -- she’s left the shelter and is living in an understanding home. The Mom of the household wrote to the Friends folks, “We are so in love with her. She doesn't climb on the furniture or bed, she listens immediately, she always wants to be in the same room as us. Since we got home she has been sleeping and being lazy, but I figure we let her rest tonight since it's her first night out of the shelter.” There she is in her natural state: snoozing.
Oh, and there’s a Rowlett cat story, too, and it comes with a photo of kittens, some of whom may be napping between meals -- they’re keeping the spigots handy. The story is “Breeze came into the shelter late Wednesday and [Thursday] morning surprised the staff with a brand new litter of 5 kittens! This family needs a place to crash for the next 6-8 weeks. They won't take up much space and mom will do most of the work. And you get to play with KITTENS! Can you help? if so please message us on or email us at [email protected] so that we can send you the foster application.” If Breeze and her kittens are already spoken for, don’t worry -- there are other cats to help.

NOW WE COME TO CUDDLES
That’s Cuddles relaxing. Debra Deese will tell you that it has been a long road between the rescue of this cat and the cat relaxing peacefully.
Three years ago Debra, formerly a newspaper journalist at both the Dallas Times-Herald and the still-surviving big paper downtown, moved to Gainesvile and rented what she calls a “temporary residence.” There was a catch. “The previous tenant abandoned three cats, two of which I found homes for (they were friendly) but this last one was not adoptable because she had been abused and was starving. Someone beat her. I nursed her back to health and she is still here.

“I am moving in two weeks to another temporary residence (an apartment.) I have three Pugs, which is one pet over the limit, so one of my Pugs is going to a friend's to live. I can't bring the cat to the apartment because (1) she will sit in the window and give me away and (2) she will escape out the door and kill the love birds that the next door neighbor sets out on her patio. Lastly, I am deathly allergic to cats and am having to keep this sweet one locked up in a bedroom to keep from having a reaction. It’s not a good way for a cat to live especially one that is affectionate like she is. I am still recovering from a sinus infection and the steroids they gave me due to a breathing reaction. I love cats dearly but my immune system just can't tolerate them. I'm just at the end of my rope.”
So, Debra, a Pug rescuer for 15 years,  is looking for a special person who is “an advanced rescue-oriented cat owner who supports the organic/natural lifestyle, which includes keeping the kitty indoors and not exposing her to other cats for at least 2 weeks. This kitty is allergic to vaccines and fearful of vets/people in general. It took me a year to turn her from a feral acting cat to the sweetest, most loving and affectionate creature I have ever seen. She acts like a dog and enjoys my Pugs' company. Noisy children will not be an appropriate fit and a barn cat situation is out of the question.”
To help Cuddles find a quiet, safe haven, text Debra at 214-863-8555.
[REMEMBER: Send photos and info about your sleeping critters -- rescued, adopted or acquired by any other method -- to [email protected]. Readlarrypowell.com is happy to post them in our long-running weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap because (a) they make us happy and other people, too, and (b) the fact that these animals can find a good place to nod off is inspiration to the world’s insomniacs, a hapless breed without much help in the way of nodding off. Still, it is possible that, considering the way animals from Rowlett can snooze, insomniacs may surrender themselves in droves to the Friends of Rowlett Animal Shelter in hopes of finding a good night’s sleep. Thinking about it myself.]

-- To comment, take a photo of your sleeper/napper, send it to [email protected], then click below. --

Animal Shelter Commission notes, Lancaster's Open the Shelter, a dog named Shadow and making change

EDITION OF FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2015 (PetPowellPress) -- Welcome to the last Friday in June and you are closer and closer to the opening of Dallas Cowboys training camp, but more importantly, Saturday is the first ever Open the Shelter event at Lancaster Animal Shelter.
Our Lancaster tipster Tomi Ortiz explained that the bulletin about Open the Shelter came from city hall. “Stanley Jaglowski. the councilman from Lancaster, sent that information out. I’m so very proud of him for doing his part in trying to help animals! And the poster was on Furbabies website which shows the address. “We’ve posted the poster below in the poster posting area at the end of today’s post. (Sets the record for use of “post” in a sentence.) The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. And that is an armload of Lancaster puppies.
DROPPING BY CITY HALL ON A SUNNY DAY

I dropped by Dallas City Hall Thursday afternoon for the Animal Shelter Commission meeting and -- get this -- so did about 16 other people  in the gallery (that’s my unofficial count, but it's close to accurate -- it was a come-and-go meeting).
Commission Chair Mary Spencer, a cat fan (and a dog fan, too), presided over her next-to-last meeting -- she’s being term-limited off. Others are leaving, too, and that’ll happen on September 25 at the next meeting.
We’re going to get to assorted topics at the meeting -- the new x-ray machine, loose dogs, the volunteer program, etc., either later today or in later editions.
There are lots of animal heroes in rescue and advocacy, but when I walked in to the meeting there was a genuine hero speaking to the commission, Dallas Police Field Services Division Deputy Chief Scott Walton. He’s better known to animal people as the “interim Dallas Animal Services manager” who, as a DPD lieutenant, turned things around after the cat-in-the-wall episode exploded five years ago in May.
The shelter attitude between then and now is dramatically different -- Walton led DAS through a tough phase, then handed over the keys to Jody Jones, the veteran animal shelter executive the city recruited with help of local animal advocates. She continues to move things along and, like every front-line manager at the City of Dallas, has to beg and plot to get enough money to do things right. 

HOLD THAT THOUGHT (AND PASS IT ON TO YOUR COUNCIL REP)

In honor of orange cats everywhere, we feel compelled to post an adoptable from the Dallas Animal Shelter -- that’s #A895223, Garfield. He’s neutered, about 10 weeks old and speaks three languages. Just kidding about the cat's linguistic gifts.
The dog is A895965, a female, 15-week-old German Shepherd mix named -- and this is a shelter name that is almost certain to change -- “Hesenburg.” This is the first dog named Hesenburg that Readlarrypowell.com has encountered in decades of dog-writing. Could be an alternate spelling of Heisenberg, the scientist linked to creation of transporters for Star Trek. Not kidding about that. 

BACK TO THE MEETING
The shelter commission members and shelter staffers were downright giddy when Jody Jones gleefully brought up the soon-to-arrive-and-be-operable digital x-ray machine. It was purchased through a grant from the Moody Foundation. And the shelter personnel have wired a proper place to plug in the x-ray machine. Then they discovered they also needed to wire a place to plug in the computer that goes with the machine. That’s all being taken care of and soon injured animals brought to DAS will have one more medical tool working on their behalf. [BACK IN A SECOND WITH MORE COMMISSION NOTES]

SEEKING A SOLUTION FOR SHADOW

Debra Chilsholm, a volunteer at Mesquite Animal Shelter, confesses, “I'm so anxious about this precious dog.  Though not normally ‘drawn’ to pit bull mixes, this boy has stolen my heart.”

The official description is that the “thoroughly loveable” Pitty mix is about 8 months old, weighs 28 pounds and was surrendered by her human on May 28 beause the person “couldn’t affort her.” His tail is always wagging, he gets along with other dogs and “doesn’t seem to have any issues with cats.”
Here’s a bump in the road. Debra’s note said, “A woman in Tennessee contacted the shelter informing the staff that she wished to adopt Shadow.  However, she backed out at the last minute ...”

He’s currently in Boarding with Oak Hill Animal Rescue, Debra says.To ask about helping him, email [email protected]. 

Debra says, “Shadow and I are great buddies! He has absolutely stolen my heart and I have done everything in my power to get him out the front door of the shelter, rather

than the back, if you know what I mean. The lady in Tennessee sounded very committed and told me to go ahead and take care of all the adoption paperwork and then boom, I heard nothing more from her. I think the cost of transporting Shadow to Tennessee was what gave her cold feet. ... I want to get the little guy out of boarding and into a real live home ASAP.”

MEANWHILE BACK AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER COMMISSION MEETING
We’re going to summarize an element of the meeting:
-- Crimes against animals such as theft or as Commission Member Chris Watts brought up, “dog flipping,” where someone steals a dog, then sells it online or on the streets. Chief Walton’s advice to citizens was solid. “Treat your dog or cat as if it is a member of your family.” Have photographs and accurate descriptions to give officers investigating a theft. “And microchip!” he said. (It’s possible he may be at the Sept. 25 meeting to answer some questions about local policies and ordinances. [NOW, TIME OUT FOR ANOTHER ANIMAL NOTE)

NEEDING HELP AT DAS

Danielle Fry, the DAS Animal Transfer Coordinator, sent a note about 10 p.m. Thurday that reads, “Our shelter is filling up on a daily basis and we are taking in large amounts of animals a day!  ... If you can help, email [email protected] to tag!”
This appeal to rescuers read, “With hundreds of animals coming in every day we are finding ourselves very busy.  Please help us by keeping an eye out for animals you may be able to help us with.  You can look on petharbor.com for animals currently in our shelter as well as the facebook page “Dallas Dogs in need of Transfer”. 
What’s the story on this dog? He’s Kristoff who came to DAS after being hit by a car. Danielle’s note says he “is lame on his left hind leg and will need x-rays to determine the extent of his injury and what the bet course of treatment will be.”
And,here’s the part that will really tick you off.
She writes, “Kristoff was adopted from DAS in November (he was the little puppy in the picture).  When we contacted the adopters they stated that they had given him away and did not have contact info for the new owners.  He had grown into such a handsome boy, we were hoping the owners would come for him.  Unfortunately that did not happen and now Kristoff needs out of the shelter.  He is only 9 months old, he has a long life ahead of him.  He knows how to sit, shake, and lay down on command.”

THE OPEN THE SHELTER POSTER

 CONTEMPLATIONS -- There were so many topics in the Animal Shelter Commission Meeting that it will take days to touch on all of them and some of them deserve individual attention. So, keep visiting readlarrypowell.com and you’ll see topics cited and, in some cases, explained. But here is one note about the meeting: “It was Thursday afternoon, around 1:30 p.m., when I parked in the $2 lot across from the back of city hall. I’ve parked on the city lot before, but the meeting I was attending that day ran long. A parking ticket on city hall property costs enough to bankrupt a small nation. Seriously, is there no mercy at city hall for the citizens of this fine city?

Anyway, on Thursday, by the time I hiked from the back of city hall where all the doors are now blocked -- I’m not sure what the City Council is afraid of - to the front of city hall and went through the metal detector, I was already late. I wasn’t alone. One of the members of the public attending the meeting also had trouble working the “Take Your Money” machine on the parking lot. “DOES NOT MAKE CHANGE,” it warned, meaning, “Shove that $5 in here, buster, and it’s mine.” Also, there’s nowhere nearby that makes change, either. You might get 50 cents on the dollar if you tried to swap out cash for coin with a nearby street person. Dallas, big things happen here, but you can’t get change within a square mile of city hall. Just an estimate. Oh, and that photo? That’s my view from the aisle seat on the third row in the center of the gallery in Room 6E South at Dallas City Hall. All you can really see is the part of commissioners’ heads from about the nose up. You can’t really tell who is talking unless you recognize the voice. This is one of those times where it would have helped if someone had put the commissioners on a pedestal. I guess the bunker seating is part of the new security measures at city hall. 

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The cat case, a number of Earhounds and Paloma in Grapevine...

EDITION OF THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 (PetPowellPress) -- Goodness. Where to start with this, that is the problem. People who love cats and who work to rescue cats will read this with a tear in the eye and anger in the heart. Hard to take any other route.
Let’s begin here: The Austin County Grand Jury no-billed the young female vet who was accused of killing Tiger the Cat by firing an arrow through its head. [LARRY Aside: That’s the logo on the Austin County home page -- I can’t run the only photo of Tiger and I won’t run the only photo of this individual in the case. It would be disrespectful to the animals on this website.]
Here is the message posted with a disgusting “after” photo on what was described as the vet’s Facebook page: “My first bow kill lol. The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through it’s head! Vet of the year award...gladly accepted.” (Her wrong “its”.)
Reads like a confession. But, on Wednesday the grand jury, whose duty it is to look at potential evidence and decide whether there is enough to actually indict a person for a crime, decided “no.”
Oh, and Tiger the Dead Cat wasn’t feral -- he was someone’s cat. We’ll discuss this more in CONTEMPLATIONS below, but, first, let’s save some animals. That’s the right thing to do. Save animals. And we’ll sprinkle some Tiger-type cats throughout today’s report. Maybe people will go save all the orange cats in Texas in honor of Tiger.

MORE FROM LANCASTER
I was kidding Tomi Ortiz, our regular Lancaster tipster and a devoted animal rescuer, that someone must be dumping animals in the famous Lancaster Town Square and, she says it must be true and, as proof she sent photos of three dogs and a note that appeared on the Furbabies of Lancaster site.
As Tomi says, “Amazing dogs are being dumped at the Town Square!” (She says there’s an adoption event at the Lancaster Animal Shelter on Saturday. Details to come.)
In the meantime, the note on the Furbabies site read, “We feel like we're talking into a tunnel and our voices aren't carrying. There are some really great dogs at the shelter and no one is coming in to see them. These guys need homes before it's too late. Let's not wait until they go mortal, get them while they're URGENT.”
Urgent means get them out, a “mortal” ranking means the needle is ready and only a miracle will beat the grim reaper.
These dogs are:

Oakley, who has been at the shelter a month and “he’s starting to give up hope,” the shelter folks say. “We know he’s a good dog, he knows he’s a good dog, but YOU don’t know he’s a good dog,” someone wrote, urging potential adopters to stop by and visit him at 690 E. Main in Lancaster. Same place you can see these other two in person. (You can read about them and other online at the Furbabies of Lancaster Facebook page HERE. 
Then there is Clare with that great set of Ears, she is truly an Earhound. Then there is Murphy, an “always smiling” dog with one of the most distinct faces in dogdom. Don’t you just want to grab that face and nose bump! 

And while I was looking at the Furbabies site, I ran across this dog with the Radar Eyes. 

Call the shelter at 972-218-1210 or go to the shelter -- Lancaster is on the edge of Dallas, just south of I-20 and the south/southeastern side of the city. It’s on the maps. And, unlike Flower Mound, you can travel without water hazards these days.

MEANWHILE IN IRVING, AN ORANGE CAT
There are several orange cats in the Irving shelter, but this guy, Prince Harry, caught our eye. We published him before. But his mugshot was still on the Irving adoptable cats site HERE.
And while we were perusing the Irving animals, we clicked on the dogs HERE  and discovered the remarkable Earhound Stormy. You see her here, but if you go click on the dog link, you can see some video of those ears in action. Astounding Earhound, that Stormy.

Remember, thanks to our pal Russell Posch, we know that Irving has an after hours rescue hotline at 972-721-3597 and you should follow up your calls with emails to [email protected] and [email protected]. Call the shelter at 972-721-2256 or 57. 

THE WEE BUNCH AND MORE IN CARROLLTON
A note from Carrollton Animal Rescue Enterprise (CARE) about the “at-risk for euthanasia” animals in the city shelter begins, “Lots of wee little Chihuahua’s in need and some real cute kitties too.” They have until 6 pm. Tuesday, June 30 to be adopted or rescued. Call CARE at 972-466-3420 or email [email protected].  Click on THIS LINK and take a look at each of these animals.

These animals are at-risk for euthanasia and have until 6:00 pm on Tuesday June 30, 2015 to be adopted or picked up by rescue. Contact Carrollton Animal Rescue Enterprise at 972-466-3420, or email us at [email protected]. 

A NOTE FROM SUGARLAND

Here’s an appeal for techno-help from Fort Bend Pets Alive, named after the county in which it operates -- Sugarland is the big town, southeast of Houston.
The goal is to “achieve no-kill status” and the appeal reads, “We are in need of a IT/social media type expert who can improve upon the existing website, enhance social media tools, prepare electronic documents that can be signed on iPads for support, etc. ...Is there such a person who would be interested in volunteering to set up all this for Fort Bend Pets Alive?” Email [email protected]. They’re on Facebook HERE.

LOW-COST VACCINATIONS AND AN ORANGE CAT
The SPCA of Texas has a low-cost vaccination clinic scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Martin Spay/Neuter & Wellness Clinic in West Dallas. Go to spca.org/calendar to get details.
And while you’re there, you might want to look in on the available adorables at the shelter.
For example, our highlighting of orangey cats continues with the SPCA’s 137697, a adoptee who was brought back because the pre-existing cat didn’t get along with him. Go to spca.org and navigate to the adoptables to see how to adopt there and to read about Tigger and other cats. 

HERE’S A DOG WITH SOME FANS


As you can see her name is Paloma. We learned about her from Debby Valdiviez of Canine Soulmates Rescue. We’ve been working with her on a follow up story about Honey, the momma dog with all the Pug-mix pups.  Here’s why we have this poster-like photo of Paloma, currently waiting on either a rescue or the needle in the Grapevine Animal Shelter.
Debby writes, “My oldest son, Jack, who's 14, made up a flyer for her. ... She's a doll but has been there for 2 months and knocking on death’s door. I'm trying so hard to save her!  ... My 8 foster pups will find homes. This doll desperately needs a home!”

CONTEMPLATIONS:
THAT CAT TRAGEDY

The Austin County District Attorney’s office issued a statement sort of explaining things and you can read it on the KAGS-TV news site HERE.

One element of this release says there was an “unsworn hearsay report” that the suspect “may have acted to protect her pets from a potential rabid stray cat in Austin County.”

You know how many cases of rabid cats there were in the entire state last year? Not a lot. None in Austin County. Cats tend to run from scary intruders. You can see the stats for the state on the Texas zoonosis pages HERE.
So, here we are at the bottom line: The cat is dead, the vet (from Colorado State, not Texas A&M!) is fired, the DA’s office issues a statement, the grand jury moves on to the next case and, oh, yeah, the cat is still DEAD. 

Feral cat? Apparently not. Had a pet-sitter, KHOU reported HERE. 

Back to the DA’s statement: “The Brenham Police Department initially referred the case to the Austin County Sheriff's Office based upon one unsworn hearsay report that Lindsey may have acted to protect her pets from a potentially rabid stray cat in Austin County. After a thorough investigation, Sheriff's Office investigators were unable to confirm where or when the incident took place. Without this information, officers lacked probable cause to obtain a search warrant for any Austin County properties in this matter. It is a defense to an Animal Cruelty charge if a person is protecting his or her own pets from an attack.”
Honestly, you owe it to yourself, as a cat fan or animal advocate, to read the entire DA statement HERE. And, FYI, there are a number of people who will tell you that shooting a cat is a crime in all 50 states. Maybe Austin County sees it differently.

You should also take some time and watch the doctor who is a part owner of the clinic that fired the suspect talk about this situation. He is near tears at times. 

Here’s the thing: In Dallas and Fort Worth, we’ve seen prosecuting attorneys put people into the slammer for the way they treat animals AND the suspects REFUSED TO TALK ABOUT IT. This suspect bragged about it, if her Facebook is to be believed. Maybe somebody reasoned, “Why waste a trial on her -- she’s leaving Texas.”

So, based on the outcome of the legal process, heck, like her Facebook post said, “Vet of the year award...gladly accepted.”

The Facebook post also said, “The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through it’s head!”
In the civilized world, the one where people have hearts, we know the best feral tomcats are those who have been neutered, not shot in head with an arrow.
Well, maybe she won’t be able to play in the NFL.

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Old Cat's Book of Possums and dogs and whiskers and an x-ray machine...

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2015 (PetPowellPress) -- At midweek, let’s consider the opossum. Why? Because they are here. They've been here. They greeted all the settlers. And, as the possum on the front porch at 5 a.m. will tell you, “Hiisssss.”
Why mention possums? Because there has been a situation in Lancaster.
That cat to the left is The Senator, so named because of his apparent hair plugs, and his nom de chat plume is Old Cat. The Senator is a formerly unwanted cat who, in this photo, was trying out some dance moves. He has lived with possums.
Oh, and on the Dallas Animal Services Facebook page you'll see a note that the big city shelter is finally getting a digital x-ray machine. They've already wired the shelter. (It's on the agenda for Thursday's Animal Shelter Commission meeting at 1:30 p.m. in Room 6E South at Dallas City Hall. 

THE JOEYS OF LANCASTER
Our tipster Tomi Ortiz sent the note with the subject line “OMG! NOT JUST DOGS AND KTTENS AT THE LANCASTER SHELTER.”

Indeed, you’ve probably guessed by now that there are some possums that have joined the other animals at the shelter. That picture is the giveaway, isn’t it.
The note from Tomi read, “The shelter has 10 baby possums that need a foster ASAP! Can you help these babies? Please PM us or call the shelter at 972-218-1210 and leave a message if you don't receive an answer.”
You see that many possums -- babies, like kangaroos, are “joeys” -- and you wonder where the Momma is. 

You see this dog. Quite possum-like, don’t you think?
Not a possum, though. Some kind of terrier -- yes, a Possumatized Earhound. Very rare breed -- and available for adoption at the Lancaster Shelter. The word on Roseanne is “she’s a quiet girl, calm. The shelter life is still very scary to her. She’d really love to have a safe lap to sit in.”
You can offer to help the possums, the pups or the cats at Lancaster by calling the shelter at 972-218-1210. The shelter is at 690 E. Main St..
You can see more adoptable animals on the Furbabies of Lancaster site HERE. And, you, too, may ask the question I asked Tomi when she sent the note about the possums and I looked at the animals on the Furbabies site: “How does Lancaster wind up with so many great-lookin’ dogs? Is someone driving out there and dropping them off at the town square?” 

More on possums later today, for those of you who can’t get enough of possums.

MEANWHILE IN BURNS FLAT
Rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher has worked and worked to help animals in the Burns Flat, Okla., animal shelter and now she’s in a fix herself -- out of work -- but still hustling on behalf of dogs. Right now, she says, “I am overflowing with dogs.”
She included a note with animals that are “urgent” and she also said, “I have been NO KILL for EIGHT YEARS.... please help me stay that way... if you can take any of these babies, I will figure how to get them there... All of these are facing being killed for LACK OF SPACE.” Email her at [email protected].
Here are the photos and capsules -- some of these you’ve seen before here, for example, the dog that was hit with a tranquilizing shot -- while she was roaming. 
These are Terry Lynn’s descriptions: 
“BABY BOY.... this little guy in under 4 months old... lab mix, he is nothing but pure love....He is great with kids and loves all other animals....
CHOCTAW.... he is so precious... his owner moved and just turned him loose...sweet and playful boy...he is a goofball.... great with other dogs and kids, his time is up!!!
CARMEN..... this poor girl was shot with a tranquilizer.  The ACO then just left her because his shift ended... seriously.... some people that witnessed it went and got her...she could not even raise her head....She is in a very short term foster.... needs out ASAP or will have to be taken to the pound with the idiot that left her for dead.
DAISY.... what a beautiful girl this is.... she is on the small side... sweet and so full of love, she was also left when her family moved... she just cries when I leave her...
SHAYLA... I really do not know much about this girl... she showed up at a home here... we searched for her owners, but nobody came forward she is young and timid.... but very sweet
RAVEN..... this big girl was thrown out at the edge of town.... she is a beautiful shep/lab mix.... she is a big girl.... great with other dogs, and good with kids...  she is also URGENT!”

TON OF KITTENS IN GARLAND
Maybe not a ton, but a lot. And a ton of fun, of course.

One of them is this fellow with an absolutely championship set of whiskers.

He’s A202473, has his shots, is ready to be adopted or rescued and needs to be fixed.

His PetHarbor link is HERE.
See how to adopt or tag at http://www.garlandanimalservices.org. 

ANYBODY MISSING TWO ROTTIES?
This was sent to us by Karen Lee, the animal advocate from Barkleyworld.com, and it has to do with a couple of roaming Rotties at the JFS Lot. Readlarrypowell knows little about the military but will guess that JFS is ... oh, I won’t even hazard a guess, but the two Rotties  were found near Bomber Road which must be near the air base formerly known as Carswell in Fort Worth. Carol McFarland, in an appeal for help with the dogs, “They ran them off at least once and they kept coming back and going to the turnstiles. Excellent condition, sweet couple, he loaded up without me even asking and they both rode well for the 2 hours I spent trying to figure out what to do with them.  They are at Family Petcare and we are paying for boarding so need to get them placed.” To ask about helping them, call 817-371-0394. [LARRY ASIDE: No photo, but Rotties are pretty breed-identifiable. At our house we identify Texas Earl the Cheeseman by looking around and spotting a big dog sleeping on a couch or in a chair or on the foot of our bed, well, the foot of his bed.]

CONTEMPLATIONS: Name your favorite three 21st century actors who compare to John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda. Are there three with the staying power? Is “staying power” even possible these days? ... Got a note from the State Fair of Texas and in it was included a passage that reads “Season pass holders earn more than admission and great entertainment options – they also receive perks like a free single-day Bring-A-Friend ticket, a State Fair of Texas reusable bag, admission to exclusive events, discounts and more.” Yep, $39.99 for the whole run, Sept. 25-Oct. 18. For comparison sake: Do you know what $68.99 gets you? Just ONE DAY at Six Flags Over Texas -- and I’m almost certain SFOT doesn’t sell corny dogs. Haven’t been there in a while. Got priced out back in the 1970s. ... LET’S TALK POSSUMS: Did you know there’s not a single possum in Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Elliot? He was Old Possum. Oh, maybe there's a possum -- I haven't read the whole thing. No possum in Cats, is there? There is a National Opossum Society -- www.opossum.org. There you can learn that boy possums are jacks, females are jills and we've already mentioned that joeys are their babes. A group of possums is a “passel.” And if you surprise them at 5 a.m. when they’re having their share of the feral cat food on your front porch, they’ll hiss at you. Hisss. Not pets, you know. But nice to have around. Better than some relatives and a passel of politicians, I’m led to believe.

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Miracle dog, sleepers wanted, $5 cats and a touching tale of a dog named Jake...

EDITION OF TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 (PetPowellPress) -- We’re going to discuss what’s being called “a miracle” in the animal world, but that does lead us to wonder if there’ll be an ice cream miracle: Will Blue Bell be back on the market in time for July 4? Marketing, marketing, marketing. And now, our Tuesday report:

THE MIRACLE DOG OF ROWLETT (AND ONE IN WAITING)

When we wrote about Minnie for Monday's edition, she didn’t have a lot of hope. She was on the very determined clock at the Rowlett Animal Shelter.
Our tipster Dawna Carabajal reports, “Yes, a miracle happened in the 11th hour! Whew! We found a foster and were able to connect her with Heather Davies of Good Times Bully Rescue and they pulled her out of the shelter shortly before she was set to be EU. Thank God!

“However, if you could mention that the Rowlett Shelter is OVER capacity and we MUST get some adoptions or rescues tomorrow or dogs will die. (Cat area still has some empty kennels so they are all safe for now). All dogs are only $25 to adopt. 
“If you want to highlight a dog, here is one: This is Champ.  Champ is an adorable guy ready for his forever home. Volunteer reports, ‘He loved the attention of my kids and eagerly showed his affection to them. He is a great medium-sized dog, short and stout." He got sick a couple of months ago and Friends of Rowlett Animals spent $800 to help get him all better (he had pneumonia). He is such a friendly guy.”
Dawna says to ask about Champ email “[email protected] or  on our FB page. Or they can contact the shelter directly at 972-412-6219 or [email protected].”
REMEMBER THESE SLEEPERS FROM THE WEEKEND?
That’s right, these Pub-mix pups were our featured slumberers in our weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Readlarrypowell.com is  happy to report that you may expect a followup shortly thanks to Canine Soulmates Rescue.
In the meantime, remember we’re always looking for photos of animals sleeping for presentation in our world-wide read weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Send photo -- haven’t had one of a Greyhound in a while or of a Cocker Spaniel or of a cat on the back of a chair with one paw resting in a human’s hairpiece! Send to [email protected].  Thanks. 

REPORT FROM DAS
The Dallas Animal Services Facebook page had a nifty story promoting microchips. It read, “Microchips = Happy Reunions! Oreo [the dog] had been missing for a year. But thanks to a microchip we were able to find his family and reunite them. Make sure we can find you if your pet goes missing.”
And, as a reminder, this is also Feline Frenzy adoption time in Dallas Animal Services -- that’s at not only the big shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland but at the Every Day Adoption Center at the Coit Road PetSmart.

More than 150 dogs and more than 50 cats in the care of DAS when the sun went down Monday evening. See them at dallasanimalservices.org. Navigate to the Pet Harbor adoption site.
While it is true that there are many, many kittens at DAS, there are also a few older cats -- for example Tommy (A892430) is neutered fellow who is a “white and orange Domestic Shorthair.” And the shelter thinks he’s about 9 years old. This cat still has POP (Plenty of Purrs*).
[*Readlarrypowell.com may copyright that phrase. Somebody lend me $50 -- I spent my other copyright money on cat food for a front porch feral who is orange and white. No name yet -- he won’t hand over his wallet.] 

THE CODE RED REGION OF MESQUITE

CODE RED DOGS/CATS - MUST HAVE RESCUE TAGS EMAILED BEFORE 7AM 06/23! -- that is the headline atop this gathering of Mesquite animals needing some help. 

Mesquite Animal Services is at 1650 Gross Road. To tag an animal there, email [email protected]. Call 972-216-6283.

And if you can help with rescue, email [email protected]. 

CONTEMPLATION:

So many dog and cat stories have passed through the inbox of Readlarrypowell.com over the years. We guard against the veteran affliction of  not seeing hope. We want to see hope in these requests for help. We got the tip on this one from Alexandra Kesley, our Houston tipster who also has a pretty soft heart for these animals. This one caught her heart and it’ll probably catch yours, too. Give it some thought. Click on the art to make it larger.

The dynamics at work in this story are many -- the answer is simple. Give this dog a good home. And, maybe, say a little prayer for the person who is giving him up. 

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Saving critters, the Dallas commission and summer sensations...

[EDITION OF MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2015 (PetPowellPress) --  Summer arrived in North Texas at 11:38 a.m. Sunday and with all the clouds and rain here and there it sure looked a lot like Spring 2015 instead of a tradition Texas summer. One forecaster says mid-90s all week.
Don’t leave your kids or your critters in the car. Don’t leave your critters outside without water and shade. If you know people with these tendencies, call the authorities. Better to prevent than to prosecute. Now, our report:

MILLIE IN ROWLETT: MONDAY IS THE DAY
Dawna Carabajal, the veteran rescuer and animal advocate with Friends of Rowlett Animals, sent an appeal for help for this great dog. Here’s the story:
“This is Millie. She is a loving 4-year-old blue Pit Bull mix. She LOVES people and thinks she is a lap dog. She wants nothing more than a person to love and play with. Millie is Rescue Only due to 2 incidents with other dogs (small dogs) while with her previous owners. Therefore, Millie is RESCUE ONLY. 

“Her previous owners threatened to kill her if they were forced to reclaim her, so the city is giving her one last chance to live through being pulled by a rescue group. Millie has ZERO human aggression. She LOVES people.
:She does have a high prey drive though, so she will go after cats, small dogs, etc. She arrived at the shelter with a large male Pit Bull that she adores. So we know she can get along with some dogs, just absolutely no small dogs. 

“Millie is a good girl and should not die because her owners were too negligent to keep her contained on her own property, or properly socialize her. Had they done their job, Millie would not find herself in this position. PLEASE help if you can. She is super affectionate and very playful.
“Millie is at the Rowlett Animal Shelter in Rowlett, TX. She has $595 in pledges to the reputable rescue that pulls her. If you can help PLEASE contact Friends of Rowlett Animals through email at [email protected] or you can message us on our facebook at Friends of Rowlett Animals.”
There are two links to Millie Facebook notes, one HERE  and one HERE. Chance to save a dog. Someone surely will take the opportunity.

WINNIE’S WINNING WAYS

Debra Chisholm, one of the volunteers who hustles to find safe haven for animal in the Mesquite Animal Shelter, sent a word about this baby.
She wrote, “Meet Winnie, a young adult Chihuahua mix at the Mesquite Animal Shelter  who always looks as though she has just heard a really funny  joke. This youngster is 12 pounds of pure charm and sweetness! She is lively, friendly, energetic and affectionate. She would love to climb into your lap and let you know how much she likes you. She patiently endured a lengthy flea bath without a whimper and afterwards looked stunning! This girl really has an endearing personality. Her ID number is 28099776. She must be tagged by Monday morning at 7 o'clock or it will be too late for this precious girl. Will you be her hero? You can tag her at [email protected].  Shelter number is 972-216-6283. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 11:00-5:30; Saturday 1:00-5:30.”
There you go. Start dialing and maybe you’ll beat the click for Winnie.

DALLAS ANIMAL SHELTER COMMISSION MEETING
Coming on Thursday, the Dallas Animal Shelter Commission meeting: 1:30 p.m. in Room 6E South at Dallas City Hall. See the agenda HERE.

Topics include reports on ordinances, transfer partners, fees, dangers dogs, an update on the Dallas Companion Animal Preoject, the Animal Services Manager’s Report and status of an attempt to get an x-ray machine for the shelter.

The manager’s report will include stats for the past three months.
If you’d like to see stats for November, December and January before you see the February, March and April stats that will be presented Thursday, click on November, December and January! 
FYI: It would not be a surprise to hear the folks with the Commission celebrating when the shelter personnel mention that over the weekend DAS announced it has reached 3,400 adoptions at its Every Day Adoption Center in the PetSmart at Coit and Campbell.
Late Sunday afternoon DAS had 150 dogs and 70 cats on its list of adoptables. See ‘em all at dallasanimalservices.org. 

That dog is on the city’s list. She’s A895745, in the shelter since the 17th. Just over a year old, the shelter says and a black and white Welsh Terrier.
The cat? That is Julia who understands how to be carried like a sock draped on a coathanger. She is A895149, about a year old, and available. 

CONTEMPLATIONS: It is the first Monday in the Summer of 2015 in Texas. Ten summer memories in honor of the season: (1) Vacation Bible School as a kid. (2) Swimming in a lake before the EPA got involved. (3) Seeing Jaws and being grateful you lived in a freshwater area. (4) Hanging out at the A&W Root Beer Drive-in on hot summer nights in Texarkana with pals -- almost like American Graffiti. (5) Watching my kids play baseball on hot summer nights in Grand Prairie years after the A&W lifestyle evaporated in the passage of time. (6) Covering the police beat on searing nights in Texarkana and walking outside of the newspaper office into an atmosphere so hot at midnight that crickets were calling for oxygen. (7) Snow cones. (8) Going to drive-in movies. (9) Playing hide-and-seek until after dark in the old neighborhood. (10) Having insomnia deep into the night because you saw Not of This Earth and Invasion of the Saucermen at at double-feature at the Strand downtown and, in an un-airconditoned house, you slept with the window open, heard every noise outside and hoped your vigilant Border Collie Queenie would grab the space alien before the alien could get you. Has summer ever been as thrilling again?
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Slumbering puppies; animals on the clock and a contemplation about a guy who'll be walking on eggshells

Our weekend edition usually focuses slumbering critters and we’re going to do that again this weekend, but we also have some interesting animal situations, pressure in shelters and a contemplation.

Earlier in the week

 

Readlarrypowell.com worked on stories about a dog named Peanut, a heartworm positive pup in the Corsicana Animal Shelter. Things worked out and Peanut went to Canine Soulmates Rescue, a Keller-based organization. While looking at CSR’s Facebook site  we spotted these photos of puppies and a “working mom” named Honey and they fit perfectly into our weekend feature, “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.”
They are in the care of CSR and growing. And they’ll be up for adoption at some point and so will momma Honey.
So will Peanut. That photo on the left is the first photo we published of the desperate dog and the second is from the CSR Facebook page on Friday. The CRS people used it first to illustrate a little report on Peanut going to the vet and enjoying his visit.
Ah, but then about 7 p.m. CSR used it to illustrate a “Peanut Goes Exploring” story. Relax, it has a happy ending and CSR tells us exactly why:
“Peanut went exploring today! Naughty boy ... he dug his way out of the backyard and all his foster family saw was a nice big hole that he had made!

“Luckily, we had just had him vetted and the microchip literally was a lifesaver. A very nice couple found him in the middle of Davis Blvd, took him to the vet -- where he was scanned for the chip -- they called us and we picked him up! So glad Peanut was returned to us -- safe and sound. Now, Peanut will have to have monitored play time outside, as we know he likes to -- well, dig! Thank you, @Holly Pascarelli for getting Peanut back to us safely today.”

[LARRY ASIDE: Remember, send your photos of sleeping dogs, napping cats, slumbering skinks and skunks to [email protected] and we’ll happily feature them in our long-running weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, now beginning it’s 11th year online! It’s read around the world and we’re always looking for snoozing animals to give the world’s insomnniacs some inspiration. We try to do good for mankind, and helping people peacefully sleep is a Nobel-worthy effort, not that I’m suggesting anyone go to the Nobel online site HERE. Nominating someone is like the neighbors new kittens -- free. Spay and neuter -- it’s the Nobel thing to do.]

A QUICK FOLLOW-UP ON THE TREE DOWN AT ADB

Work continues to get past the storm damage from that 2 a.m. Thursday storm at A Different Breed’s rescue sanctuary in Desert in northeastern Collin County. ADB’s Dinesha Schmidt says there’s a gofundme link to help with repairs not covered by insurance and other things as efforts are made to repair the area in which the dogs were living. 

A situationer from Dinesha reads, “Contractors will give State Farm their estimates early next week. One-third of the house needs rebuilt: dog room, ISO room for mamas and babies and laundry room and storage all need rebuilding.
“Most dogs going to Petland in Plano. State Farm looking into renting a mobile home down the road. Meter needs to be pulled and hopefully temporary power will be installed. It will take months.” That’s a photo from Dinesha. As you can see, the former shade tree that protected puppies from the sun when they lounged outside fell smack onto the roof and right on through it, buckling walls and scattering animals -- miraculously, none were harmed.

GARLAND’S PRESSURE
Whole bunch of animals in trouble on the clock at Garland’s crowded shelter. Tag for rescue by emailing [email protected]. The shelter is at 600 Tower Drive, Garland, 75040. Call 972-205-3570. Click HERE to see the rescue Facebook site and see the individual photos HERE.
 

MOVING ALONG TO WEATHERFORD -- $15 ADOPTION SPECIALS

“Dogs are being doubled up in cages. They are trying not to euthanize,” reports our West-of-Fort Worth Reliable Tipster Stacey the Stylist Carney. She says the shelter “is running a $15 special this weekend. We have to move some dogs. Please share! Weatherford animal shelter 817-598-4111.” You can also email [email protected] or [email protected].
Some animals have special needs, some have the ol’ ordinary need: a darned good home. Here are some photos.

You can see the Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter Facebook page HERE.  There are MANY more animals that need some quick help. Honestly, if [LARRY ASIDE: Readlarrypowell.com did not currently have an abundance of rescued animals, we'd go get Bruno just to see his happy face under that sombrero every morning. Some people underestimate the endearing entertainment ability of shelter animals. And the devotion, too. They'll teach you more about your heart than you thought you could learn.]


CONTEMPLATION: LEGAL NOTION

Karen Lee, the Barkleyworld.com animal advocate and big-time supporter of GAP Rescue (Girls Awarenes Program at Euless Trinity High School), sent us a note about a story in The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. A Euless guy who poured scalding water onto his pup got a 10-year probated sentence. 
"Karen says the story was posted on “GAP’s Facebook page -- getting lots of comments -- many we have to delete due to profanity.” Here’s the Startlegram story-- sorry, I worked at The Fort Worth Press in the early ‘70s and sometimes I slip into compete-speech -- Star-Telegram story about the verdict and sentence.  This photo of Riley is from the story and, as a reporter who covered the Tarrant County DA’s office, I’m betting that is Riley as a witness, lounging on the floor in the DA’s office and waiting to be called to demonstrate the injuries suffered when Terrell Hill, 24, beat and scalded the Shepherd mix, only 4 months old in February 2014. There was a domestic issue -- Hill was charged with not only cruelty to an animal but with assault, a charge that is still pending. The GAP Club took the dog into its care after the arrest, chanced his name from Max to Riley and cared for him until he was adopted by a vet staffer who testified at the trial. [LARRY ASIDE: Ten years is the maximum probated sentence in Texas. Take comfort in this: A member of the DA’s staff once explained to me, “None of these guys ever make it 10 years. They always wind up doing time.” Odds are against them behaving legally for a decade -- they have trouble finding work, they associate with bad people, they foul up. The other thing is, if my CCLD (Courtroom Conversation Law Degree) holds up, when you have a felony conviction on your record, you may not be eligible for probation the next time you are convicted. So, Tarrant County District Attorney Sharen Wilson, good luck with that assault charge on this clown.] Now, in keeping with our traditional weekend theme, “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap,” maybe insomniacs can find a reason to sleep knowing that this guy is walking on eggshells for a decade. Maybe he learned something. Maybe he can get into an anger management program that helps him be a better human. And, of course, if he does that you'll porobably find me on a tightrope walking over Palo Duro Canyon with the Flying Wallendas and a six chimps who have been drinking coffee until they're jittery. This case? One more good reason to make it legal for Open Carry of the Readlarrypowell.com Two-by-Four of Enlightenment.]

 

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