ReadLarryPowell.com

On a kid's birthday, some senior animals...

EDITION OF TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 (PetPowellPress) -- We’re dedicating our September 1 edition to senior animals.
Why? Because my grandson, Connor “Crash” Powell, turns 12 today. He’s a cool dude with a couple of dog pals, Buford the Basset and Clive Bixby the Chocolate Lab. And he has older sisters, Hannah Rose and Emily Grace, also pals of the pups. In honor of that bunch and Crash’s birthday, we’re focusing on older animals. We’ll also be doing some contemplating later today.
THE OLD CAT

Just for grins I clicked on the adoption list at Dallas Animal Services. Those folks rarely have a day when someone’s not up for adoption. I’ve been writing about ‘em for three decades and can’t remember a day, but I might have missed a miracle moment at some point. Anyway, this is Ike, also #A906222. He’s a neutered fellow, orange and white and the shelter thinks he might be about 11 years old. He’s been there since Saturday. [LARRY PHILOSOPHICAL ASIDE: Good time for a quote from Socrates: “The secret of happiness is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy cats.” Just fyi: Some may dispute this translation from the original Greek.] To see how to adopt Ike, go to dallasanimalservices.org or call 214-570-8246.

In the meantime, we checked on the DAS Facebook site to see if anybody was bragging about the weekend adoption activity at the Everyday Adoption Center at the Coit Road PetSmart. Sure enough, 121 adoptions over the weekend.

[LARRY ASIDE: You wouldn’t think there’d be 121 unwanted animals in Dallas, would you? After all the city’s population is 1.2 million. So 121 is what percentage of 1.2 million? Relax, I know that about half of that 1.2 million already have dogs and cats.]

MEANWHILE IN BURNS FLAT
Here you see a pair of senior dogs.
And, of course, if you mention Burns Flat, Okla., and two unwanted senior dogs, well, the next words are just about always “reliable and resilient rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher.” 

Terry Lynn got a photo of two dogs that were picked up. “They were taken to a pound near me, which in my opinion, is one of the worst hell holes I have ever seen.  Tick infested; most never make it out alive.
“They belonged to an elderly lady, who in her own way, loved them very much.... however, she allowed them to breed for years, having two litters a year. Last month, she passed away, and her daughter tried to find homes for these two... When nobody offered, she dumped them in hell. They totally shut down.  They would not even look at anyone. huddled together, they were terrified. the smaller one has very little teeth and her tongue hangs out of her sweet little mouth.

“I could not stand it...  looking at them laying on that hard, concrete floor hurt me so bad..... so, I pulled them... I have a friend who is keeping them for a week, until my vet gets back into town, where I will take them to see what needs done...  I know there are rotten teeth and some other issues... and I want to make sure there are NEVER ANY MORE BABIES.”
Terry Lynn will need help with this. Email her at [email protected] .

SHINER’S NEW PLACE
You may recall we mentioned Amy Poskey’s efforts to find a place to foster Denton Animal Shelter cutie-pie Shiner.
As you can tell from these photos, things have worked out.
Amy writes, “Shiner has already made himself comfortable in his foster home and is playing with his new pooch friends as we speak!  Check out his freedom pic attached (left pic)!”
He’s currently in the care of Cody’s Friends Rescue and Tina Austin. You can donate to help offset Shiner’s expenses by going to the Cody’s Friends site HERE. 

Be kind of nice for this totally cute rascal to get a good -- or even the role of Sandy the Dog in a production of Annie!
Amy and I pondered, by the way, how a great dog like Shiner could wind up unwanted. It’s a mystery to both of us. And Amy said something that I know a bunch of you will agree with: “I wish more people loved the seniors as much as I do!”
(Google the Denton Animal Shelter and find a new friend. They've got a pretty good inventory in that hustling shelter.)
COCO THE PUP

She’s 8 years old and she’s hit a bad spot, no fault of her own.
She’s been in a foster home after her human was diagnosed with a wretched illness and can no longer care for her beloved Coco.
Some good folks took the dog in -- Coco is “wonderful with children and other dogs but does not like cats.”
No luck finding her a home and her dislike of cats is not playing well in the household that has a cat among its critter population. (To ask about helping Coco, call 214-799-7513.)

CONTEMPLATIONS: One of the stories simmering on the news stove these days is the selection of a prominent woman to appear on the country’s redesigned twenty-dollar bill. Supposed to come to a boil by the end of the year.  Currently the U.S. $20 has a picture of President Andrew Jackson -- some Texans will recall that one of our heroes of the Alamo, former U.S. Congressman David Crockett, was an opponent of President Jackson’s handling of Native Americans, though Jackson had some good points, too, the historians say. Now, we bring this up to mention one of the nominees for the U.S. $20 picture: Barbara McClintock, a genetics researcher who made such dramatic discoveries about chromosomes and genes that what she discovered way back in the earlier part of the 20th century may be beneficially affecting today’s cancer research. There’s even a website for her: http://www.barbaraonthebill.com . You ought to read about her -- she was remarkable. ... In case you wondered, summer ends on September 23. The State Fair of Texas starts on the 25th. Temps in the 60s so you can enjoy a deep-fried hot toddy on the Midway. Probably temps in the 90s, if the past is an indicator. ... Back to the birthday boy Conner “Crash” Powell. He is my favorite grandson. Only one, actually. But he’s a hoot of a guy and to make sure you know how fortunate my funspouse Martha and I are to be linked to these three. Here are some photos. That’s Hannah Rose in the mugshot. The two kids in the rain are Crash and his sister Emily Grace.  There’s a family shot last Christmas with Bart, Erinn and the kids -- that Erinn has one of those light-up-the-frame smiles. So, in summation, Buford and Bixby have trained the whole bunch quite well.

--- To comment, think about people you’d like to see on a $20 bill in this age of debit and credit cards, grab your mouse and click below. ---

On Trail Mix Day, adoptions, shelter changes & that sound in the kitten!

EDITION OF MONDAY, AUG. 31, 2015 (PetPowellPress) -- Holy smoke! Where did August go? Here we are on the 31st and it’s already National Trail Mix Day. So, this is being written in the City of Dallas where, like a good trail mix, we already have enough nuts. Here’s today’s report.

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. Wait. That’s from Charlie Dickens. I’m sure the report will come out later this week, but it looks like Dallas Animal Services might have had the best of times at the Every Day Adoption Center over the weekend.
The EAC is inside the PetSmart at Coit and Campbell. On Saturday, according to the DAS Facebook posting, “We had a record 58 adoptions [Saturday], but these three cuties came in after closing.” Don’t know if they got adopted, but if they didn’t, they’re available now at the Center t 16821 N. Coit. Here’s an important note; “Adoption fees waived. *regular screening applies. #DontShopAdopt.”

AN OLDER GUY IN DENTON

Amy Poskey sent a note looking for help for Shiner, who is somewhere between 10 and 15 and is a Terrier mix fellow who “loves to fetch and be with people.” he’s been in the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter. (Click HERE to read about him.) He weighs 32 pounds. 
In case someone has spoken up for Shiner (and who wouldn’t!), Amy says there are plenty of “long-timers” still dodging the needle at the shelter. Lots of dogs that deserve long lives and good homes.
To ask about helping Shiner, email both [email protected] and [email protected]. And if you’re interested in some of those long-timers, email Amy’s address.
mailto:[email protected]] 

HELPING A GUY NAMED FRECKLES
The great animal advocate Karen Lee sent us a note about this guy Freckles. Curled up in the bed Freckles looks just fine, but standing, you can see Freckles has a “situation” on the backside. And there’s an opportunity to help. The theory is the tumor can safely be removed.
Karen writes, “I’m a huge supporter of Pound Pals, which is a senior dog rescue in Emory, TX (Dallas area).  Pound Pals saves so many senior dogs that have been dumped in shelters—dogs that would have no hope at all if not for Pound Pals.  So please support them, and Freckles, by donating or by sharing this email!  Also, please consider becoming a monthly sponsor to help these dogs.  Learn more about Pound Pals thru their website:  HERE or email Keri at  [email protected]    

The Pound Pals note reads, “We need every village member to push for "Funding For Freckles". Her fundraiser is only 1% toward it's goal. (Only $20 has been raised).

According to our vet team, Freckles still has one good layer of muscle between the tumor and her bone. We have a small window to be fully successful with surgery and we are lucky we have any window for a complete recovery given the fact that the tumor is cantaloupe size.”
The YouCaring link is HERE. No surgery until the money’s raised.

NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF SHELTERS
Our pal Patricia Barrington, for whom we’ve judged St. Patrick's Day Dog Contests, greeted snakes without fleeing (a kid had one at a field event) and gone to for help adopting a wonderfully socialized cat named Marsden, is starting her new job today.

After many years, she left The Colony Animal Services (last day was last week) and is taking up the torch at Lake Dallas Animal Services.
You see here the plaque The Colony’s Police Department gave her in recognition of her work. (This doesn’t include her work as a mom, spouse and kid basketball coach. You can’t buy a plaque that big. She ought to do some writing, too, but that’s a story for another day.)
We’re going to remind al readers that The Colony continues to adopt out animals -- to reach The Colony, click HERE.
And, of course, we’ve insisted that Lake Dallas Barrington keep us as informed of adoptables as she did when she was The Colony Barrington. To help with a head start, here’s the Lake Dallas ADOPT-A-PET LINK. 
Best wishes for two great suburban shelters, The Colony and Lake Dallas, and all the animals that come into contact with them. 

THE SPCA’S FUR BALL IS NEAR

The SPCA keeps rescuing down-on-their luck animals. Can’t do it without money. Here’s  a Bondish way to help. 

 Get the details at spca.org/furball2015

TWO BIG TEX WINNERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, my. The folks at the State Fair of Texas have announced the Big Tex Choice Awards and the winners are, according to the Fair news release:

“Best Tasting goes to Christi Erpillo for Fernie’s Holy Moly Carrot Cake Roly, while Isaac Rousso takes the title of Most Creative for his Smoky Bacon Margarita. In addition to their winning titles, both champions received a set of Michelin Defender LTX tires as an added bonus.”
Pretty cool -- the rest of us eat at the fair to add spare tires.
You can see Fair’s news release at www.bigtex.com.
CONTEMPLATIONS: Lately we’ve gotten a lot of faked emails from people who’ve been hijacked in the Philippines. Ah, here’s one that at first glance came from [email protected] but upon further inspection came from [email protected]. Not sure if that’s a villain or just a disguise for the international criminal mind who send this note: “Good day, friend. I'm a Banker with HSBC here in Malaysia. I have an interesting business deal for you that will be of immense benefit to both of us. Although this may be hard for you to believe. We stand to gain $7million USD in a matter of days. Please grant me the benefit of doubt and hear me out. I need you to signify your interest by replying to this mail.” Heck, never mind $7 million in USD, I’m going to invest my money in the Chinese stock market....Cathie Desell, one of our favorite cat ladies, tipped us to this dog article and described it as a “very sweet article, but a tearjerker, also.” Indeed, it is about pit bulls -- written by a trainer, it takes an interesting stance. It’s a Huffington Post story HERE.  ... The great Debbie New has been a reliable readlarrypowell.com Plano contact for years. Over the weekend we spotted a note on Facebook that made me laugh out loud. She wrote, “Got a kitten back today after a few days because it was losing hair. Had to explain that is known as shedding. The kitten was also making a funny noise in its throat. Had to explain that is called purring. You just can't make this stuff up.”

--- To comment, make a funny noise like a cat, grab your hairless mouse and click belowrrrrrrrrrrrrr. ---

A Majestic sleeper; a monumental contemplation

Is that a sleeping dog or what! Look at those paws! Whoa, what a face!

Tommy’s the name. He’s got a brother. Jerry.
And it was that astounding sleeper on Kim Buckman’s Facebook page that earned the spotlight for this weekend’s Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.

[LARRY ASIDE: I think I used to see that same face on my twin sons when they were on long-distance car rides. Drool and everything. I’d thought they’d grow out of it but...OK back to the pups.]
So, what the story on Tom and his brother Jerry? The Texas Pit Bull & Bully Breed Rescue Petfinder sight explains that the boys “and their entire family were surrendered” to Flower Mound Animal Control. “The shelter did a awesome job of providing them a safe place until rescue was able to come in and help.” 

Eight pups, mom and dad were surrendered. All of them found a home except Tom and Jerry and they wound up, as you can tell from the photos, in a place where they can be adored and enjoy life while waiting for their real homes. (Email Kim at [email protected] to set up an audition to adopt. These babies don’t just go to the first clown to show up -- they go to someone who will respect and love them. The PetFinder site is HERE  

http://awos.petfinder.com/shelters/TX231.html )
Kim’s 6-year-old son, Cooper, a fan of the cartoons starring Tom & Jerry, named the pups. “These two are quite the characters,” she says. “They absolutely LOVE the water and spend most of their day in their water bowls. Jerry is the sweet, affectionate pup while Tommy is the more outgoing/selective hearing pup. Both pups get along well with other dogs of all sizes and children. They are energetic as all pups at 3
months of age can be but also very sweet and willing to please. These pups have been very well socialized and are more than ready for a new life with a forever family.”
As you can see, they like to sit in the garage and pretend to drive the ATV while posing very sincerely.  [LARRY ASIDE: Some advertising company needs to nab these two as the spokesdogs for ATVs.]

As readlarrypowell.com worked on this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, Kim was busy. She explained, “I've somewhat overextended myself over the last few weeks between these pups and rescuing a old horse and baby mini-donkey from a kill pen of equines that were headed for slaughter in Mexico. But that's kinda what I do and if God puts them in my life he always has a plan.”

I think Tommy woke up to bark an “Amen.”

[To nominate a sleeping dog, napping cat, dozing dromedary, snoozing swan or any other slumbering critter for the spotlight of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send photo and info to [email protected]. Remember, we publish these photos to give insomniacs inspiration and hope -- and I’m betting some of them are going to hire Uber to drive them around until they nod off like Tommy. Could be a new industry, “Cradles on Wheels.”]

 A CONTEMPLATION FROM A VETERAN ANIMAL RESCUER

Chrystal Hays wrote this and it makes some pretty good sense. It seemed a worthy contemplation.
You animal advocates might want to clip and save and hand out to people who want to help animals but might not really have a spot for a new dog or cat. Maybe they’re bewildered by the challenge or overwhelmed.
Chrystal wrote this the day after National Dog Day, to set the time for you. You, too, probably saw scores of family dog salutes in your inbox or on Facebook. They inspired this essay, Chrystal’s animal-friendly expression of concern. She wrote:
“Yesterday was National Dog Day, and I saw many great posts about happy pets. Today, I need to climb up onto my soap box (it's sturdy).
“I think what is often not mentioned in media is that one does not have to be wandering into a swamp or running a shelter to help pets.
“ ‘I'd like to do something, but it is so sad and heartbreaking, I just could not stand it.’
“ ‘I couldn't go to a shelter to adopt because it is too sad.’
“How many of us hear that?
“There are ways one can help that are forgotten.
“One can vote.
“One can not get a pet they don't really want or need, and not give them as surprise gifts.’

“One can adopt pets others have rescued. 

“While just taking great care of one's own pets for their natural lives is not rescue, it prevents the need for rescue.
“One can be convincing the neighbor or co-worker or friend to get his dog fixed, sharing low-cost clinic information, reporting bad things when seeing them instead of assuming someone else will. 

“One can donate funds or offer to drive supplies to those who do rescue. “One can network.
“Another level up, one can be fostering. The boring, vomit-cleaning, poop-scooping, puddle-wiping details are a part of what gets things done. Sometimes one dog at a time. Does not make headlines. Does save lives. 

“As with all complex issues, there are no simple answers. However, there are simple things we can all do. Is there something you have put off, like asking a friend why their mutt is not spayed? Asking other neighbors if they, too, have noticed that a certain dog seems to be outside a lot and is maybe chained? Simple things add up.”
Chrystal is so right. The simple things done for animals add up. Something simple that you do as a volunteer may take a burden off a rescue group. You may be the key to saving a life, to helping a rescue group maintain its mission.
[To comment on the future of animals or, as Chrystal suggested, the future of YOU, click below.]

AND FROM THE DAS FACEBOOK SITE, A REMINDER

Some animal situations; Dallas' Cycle of Concern

EDITION OF FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015 (PetPowellPress) -- This edition started out to be a short one. Then things happened. And the guy with the keyboard got carried away. (He no longer has direct access to his guiding light, the late Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas, to tell him to get his hefty backside off the soapbox before there’s a calamitous event involving medical professionals, attorneys and domestic lectures.) So, before we get to the opinion segment, here are some short notices that need human attention. And, yes, we are going to comment on the Dallas City Council’s sudden realization that there are loose animals, dumped animals and endangered animals in Dallas.
THE SPCA’S RESCUE BURDEN
As we mentioned yesterday, when the SPCA of Texas took in all those dogs and cats from that Balch Springs situation, there would be expenses.
Thursday evening we opened an SPCA email that announced this good news in a bad news situation: “We have amazing news to share. An anonymous donor is willing to match all donations up to $50,000. This match couldn’t come at a better time! Your $10 donation becomes $20, $25 becomes $50 and so on. This will help us provide the care these poor animals need to become healthy, happy and ready for a forever home. Your gift today helps us save lives.” Go to SPCA.org to see how to donate, how to volunteer, how to adopt. That’s one of the dogs from that crowd of ugliness and those are some of the cats, courtesy the SPCA photographer.

THE GREYHOUND NEWS
Every now and then things look up for animals in Texas. We got several “Yahhhooo!” notes from Greyhound fans Thursday. Why? It was in the news in Galveston and Austin: Texas' last Greyhound betting track is closing by year’s end.  It wasn’t a moral thing; it was a market thing. Low betting, not much interest.
Don’t know how that closure will affect our pals at Greyhound Adoption League of Texas, but I’m betting there’s about to be a big burst in inventory because of unwanted racers. We’ll see. Couch potatoes for adoption, you know.
Go to galtx.org to see how to adopt, how to help.  

That Earhound, er, Greyhound? That is Evian, a 3-year-old female known also as Slatex Evian -- she had 72 races at the now-closing Gulf Greyhound Park, starting her career in December 2013 and ending her career in April when she broke her right rear leg racing. She’s healed and available now, thanks to GALTx. See how to adopt her at galtx.org.

MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE

Word reaches us that Jackson, the unbelievably cute dog we featured in our most recent edition, and others did not make it in Mesquite. The shelter is full, we’re told, and the staffers are trying to hustle places for the animals, but there are so many that it is a tough mission. You can see the adoptables HERE and HERE. [LARRY ASIDE: I almost can’t run a photo of an animal that’s probably going to get the needle before any of us leaves for work Friday morning. Sorry. It hurts the ol’ heart too much.]

 

A CONTEMPLATION: THE DALLAS DEVELOPMENT, or THE CYCLE OF CONCERN
For many years I wrote columns about animals and animal challenges for the big paper downtown.  It is good to see the publication reviving concerns about animals. And that inspires a disjointed walk back through the sometimes wretched landscape of animal concerns in Dallas, Texas. Feel free to comment, to add something. Read this without expecting a smooth flow of literature -- it’s more like a linear expression of recollections and reactions. It stars on this page, but is so long, it "jumps" to another. Be patient. 

The weekend is arriving, local shelters have rebuilt their inventory after “Clear the Shelter” -- didn’t take long. Rescue groups are full. So, in short, if you’re looking for an animal you shouldn’t have a problem finding one.
    Then, there’s this development in Dallas. It is uplifting to see the Dallas City Council putting loose dogs on the agenda for next Wednesday. It must be part of the continuing Dallas City Council 5-year Plan For Animals -- yep, about every five years, the City Council gets anxious about animals and (Continue reading HERE)

***Save Animals Daily ***

After a rottenly newsy Wednesday, let's try for a triumphant Thursday...

EDITION OF THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2015 (PetPowellPress) -- Some news days are worse than rotten. So, in the wake of newsy (and sickening) Wednesday, we’re going to celebrate “Triumph for the Critters Thursday.” We’ll start with this Earhound whose story is story all over the artwork. Then...well, keep reading. Some of this stuff is tough to report, but that’s the way it’ll be until we open that “Animal Cruelty Cases Only Prison” on an asteroid with a bad view and nothing green.

THERE’S AN EARLY MORNING EU SKED

In addition to the amazing Mesquite shelter dog above (7 a.m. euthanasia unless things get better in the crowded shelter, they say), we got a note about this guy Taco, a 3- or 4-year-old Chihuahua, about 7 pounds and in Kennel 16 at the Mesquite Animal Shelter. The story was forwarded by animal advocate Karen Lee of Barkleyworld.com who got it from notorious Chihuahua rescuer Roberta Womack who was tipped to this guy by Mesquite shelter animal monitor Judi Brown. 

WRITE THIS DOWN: It takes a Metroplex to save animals.

Energetic Taco “seems to like everyone. He will talk to you when he wants attention He gives kisses. (He’s 29411120).
For Mesquite Shelter animals call 972-216-6283or email [email protected]. See the Mesquite “inventory” HERE or HERE.

SAN ANTONIO ARREST

The New York Post made room to run story and photos of the jerk in San Antonio who poured acid over the head and face of a Pit Bull girl. The dog will survive -- not without horrific scars. The New York paper ran some of those photos and a long story. That link is HERE but if you Google the facts you can find a story without the photos, though they may have a picture of the accused individual and that’s tough to take, too.

SPCA IN BALCH SPRINGS

A picture is worth a thousand words and from the pro-animal side of this story, those thousand words might make a sailor blush. Geez, this time the SPCA of Texas, the Dallas County DA’s Animal Cruelty Unit and the Balch Springs Police Department teamed to get 155 animals out of a stinkin’ lousy situation. 

The SPCA says the breakdown was “107 cats (five of which are deceased), 40 dogs, three doves, two chickens, one finch, one deceased parakeet and one guinea pig. Dozens more deceased animals were found on the property, however, their bodies were so badly decomposed that it was not possible to remove them.”
That photo shows what the humans were up against. You can google more of these stories -- this event got widespread coverage. 

[LARRY ASIDE: Go to spca.org to see how to help pay for the care of the surviving animals. Money doesn’t grow on trees -- if it did, our pal the SPCA President James Bias would have already planted an orchard.]

TAWANA’S DOG

No other real way to describe this animal. After all, veteran rescuer Tawana Couch of the Society for Companion Animals, was the person who spotted the dog as it lay unable to move on the side of a road after being struck by a car. The brown dog was staying with this injured pup.
Tina, as she has been called, is one of probably thousands of rescued dogs that could be called “Tawana’s Dog.”
You can see in the photo that this dog was not the only one gathered in that area of southeast Dallas. 

The dog is being cared for, but some help is needed. (Email [email protected] and volunteer to help this dog get to the next step in a safe life.)

CONTEMPLATIONS: We’re borrowing from Tawana Couch’s Facebook site for this opportunity to contemplate things in North Texas. (This photo of Tina came from Tawana's site courtesy of Maria Llano who transported the sweet pup to a safe haven. She was a perfect passenger.)
Earlier this week, Tawana posted a note that (a) presents her animal advocacy credentials, then (b) makes an appeal on behalf of animals that have been betrayed by humans.
Tawana’s Facebook post reads, “Nearly every morning between 4-6 AM for the past 20 plus years I have gone to rescue strays in South Oak Cliff. Two weeks ago I rescued 8 dogs within 8 days. I served on the Animal Commission for the City of Dallas for 9 years. I have rescued well over 3,000 dogs and cats. I served on various animal boards. Helped run a free spay neuter mobile, would go to hight schools do eduction, go speak with neighborhood presidents, speak at recreation meetings, go door to door leaving education materials, etc the list is endless.
“I am telling you this because I know what the reality is of stray dogs and cats in Dallas. It has gotten far worse than ever before -- as many of you may have seen [in] the article from DMN  .... I worked with 5 different animal managers with the City of Dallas. I was the FIRST RESCUER to ever pull animals from the 2 City of Dallas shelters back over 25 years ago -- they did not even have rescues set up. I would adopt the animals back then. These are some recent animals dead or alive -- it is awful on the streets of Dallas. Someone is NOT DOING THEIR JOB, don't ask me who.”
Readlarrypowell.com will boldly say that we can start with people who first take the dogs and say, “I will love you and be responsible.” Such a simple pledge, but just too much trouble to live up to in a world where guilt and shame are ignored. 

--- To comment on the state of animals in Dallas, the efforts of rescuers or the needs in city policies, please click below and be thoughtful and polite in your comments. Remember, you want people to remember what you said, not how you said it. ---

 

Woodland creatures, cats and dogs and one great writer

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015 (PetPowellPress) Call this “The Noise at 3 Something In the Morning.”
Two days ago, one of the feral cat dishes vanished from its place where our daily Front Porch Feral Buffet is presented. Usually there’s an orange cat, temp name Tango, and a nearly grown gray tabby kitten, no name yet, dining on the healthy food.
I was almost certain neither of them walked off with the dish or ran away with the spoon -- no spoon for cats, of course. I looked all around the front yard for the dish.
On Tuesday morning, somewhere in the 3 o’clock hour, I was awake and as long as I was up, I decided to put out the feral cat food. It was quiet on the front porch -- not a cat in sight. I finished that task, then went back inside to find something to watch on TV. I’d just settled down to Randolph Scott cowboy movie when there was a bit of a thunking crash on the front porch.
I went to the door to see if I could help a cat, but there were no cats. Also, the clay feeding dish that had taken the place of the silver feeding dish was missing. But in the glow of the outside light, I could see the silver dish -- missing for nearly 48 hours --  in the grass just outside the shrubbery. The clay dish had been dropped just off the porch -- it hit a limb or two on the way down and that was the noise.
As I stood there wondering where the silver dish had been hiding, I heard a hiss from above. And a deeper hiss from about knee level. I only had time to snap a photo of the hisser from above. That's the higher hisser hanging off the edge of the roof, eyes shining in the phone phlash. Before I could reload the phone camera, the deeper hisser scrambled up a piece of shrubbery and raced off across the roof to Raccoon Hideout. I was tempted to try to the lure the smaller, younger raccoon back to the porch and invite it inside but I realized, “Nope, I’ll never be able to explain to Martha why she was awakened by a pack of dogs chasing a raccoon through a whole lot of breakable household items.” Surely THAT would have awakened her.
I figure it’s live and let raccoon live around here. Worse things can happen. Years ago I put the cat trap out on the front porch one evening and the next morning, as Martha was about to leave through the garage door, she woke me and gleefully told me, “You’ve caught something in your front porch trap. Good luck.”
I opened the front door, sleepily squinted at the trap and saw a black and white cat for about a split second, then my vision cleared and I realized I was looking at a captive skunk. Using a broom handle from behind the slightly open glass door, I gently turned the trap over so that the door slid open and the skunk moved on without leaving a message. 

Rather see raccoons on the porch.

SOME CATS NEEDING HOMES

 

That is one big load of cats -- not that they’re unwanted, it’s that the person who wanted them died and left them. Our tipster Paige Johnson, one of the area’s busy animal advocates, says, “They are all fixed, indoor cats, good with dogs - need vaccines updated. ... There were 12 cats - 5 have been re-homed or gone to rescue. There are 7 cats left that need a place to go or they are Garland Shelter bound. Lira on the photo collage was taken by rescue today. The others on the collage still need help - two cats are not pictured on the collage. They are tabbies.”
They all used to be strays. “The elderly owner loved these cats deeply. They were his world. He took them in as strays years ago and has had them ever since. He went into a coma a couple of weeks ago and died yesterday [Monday]. His wife is elderly and cannot take care of the cats. I am working with the daughter-in-law to help place them. We have been working on this for over a month now. We are at the point that we have no more time - the cats must be placed within the next 24 hours or at a minimum have a plan within a day or two.” To help these cats, email [email protected] or text 214-734-5698.

ON BEHALF OF A ROTTIE
Heather Harrison, the animal advocate and hustlin’ rescuer, sent a note asking, “Can anyone help this girl?”
She’s beautiful, isn’t she.
The story is  “Rogue is a 4-year-old, female Rottweiler. Large girl, about 95 pounds.    The sweetest girl you will ever meet!  She just wants a human to cuddle and  love her.   Very well mannered and calm.   LOVES her squeaky toys.    Leash- and crate-trained.  Fully vetted! NOT good with other female dogs.  Has rear hip dysplasia, now awaiting front TPLO surgery  (Funds available!!)
“Her owners want her gone by Friday or she will be euthanized!!    Local rescue has been networking her but no luck!”
The contact point is Heather’s email: [email protected].
[LARRY ASIDE: I never gave a thought to having a Rottie around the house until I picked up my pal Earl after someone dumped him in Kiest Park. He is the most polite, adorable, gentlemanly dog in all of Texas’ 254 counties. I didn’t train him -- that’s just the way he is. Ask other Rottie-by-accident people. Swear on a stack of Westminster entry forms, Texas Earl the Cheeseman is an example of a breed that can love humans, cats and saltine crackers as an evening treat.]

LET THE PHOTOS REACH YOUR HEART

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four of a dozen currently available at the Denton McNatt Animal Care and adoption Center, 317 N. Elm St. We got the photos of these great faces from Amy Poskey, the shelter animal advocate who focuses on Denton. Call the shelter at 940-349-7594 or email these shelter addresses:   [email protected], [email protected],@yahoo.com, [email protected] and/or [email protected].

That fluffy one is Frederick the Goldendoodle -- you know how much people pay for these dogs and now here’s poor ol stray Frederick unclaimed in Denton. Probably not even his real name. Sonja is the beautiful black and white Pit. Tennessee Jack is the Pit stray with the patch. and Chyanne is that lively red Pit girl with the “perky ears.” Yep, a Denton County Earhound.
CONTEMPLATIONS:  Journalism has lost one pretty swell guy, the great (not a good enough word) Kent Biffle. I had the pleasure of being the DMN’s National Editor way back yonder when the paper had travelin’ money and I talked my pretty smart boss into sending two reporters to Normandy to cover one of the big anniversaries of the D-Day invasion while a bunch of the veterans were still up to the trip and planned to go. The payoff was readers got a spectacular, moving inside the Continent look at what American soldiers had meant to the people that bloody, tough day in 1944. That’s just one example of Kent at work -- you can find those stories preserved at the public library. Kent wrote more good stories in a month than entire newspapers could publish in a year. (Excepting, of course, the ol’ Cowtown tabloid, The Fort Worth Press, where we both toiled in different eras and the place was known for having a constant stable of dynamite writers.) Kent was a writer.  He also was one of the funniest guys I ever knew. Great quips. Fast. Genius-level. I came back from a road trip to New Mexico once and told him I’d gone to one of the Billy the Kid museums and seen, inexplicably, a stuffed two-headed calf and without missing a beat Biffle explained, "That’s the one they used to teach Billy how to rope.”  Those of us who knew him are fortunate, but all of us who got to read him in the paper -- heck, we were genuinely blessed. Here’s the LINK to the obit written by veteran News staffer Joe Simnacher, one of Biffle’s colleagues at The Big Paper Downtown. That’s a photo of Biffle’s book of Sunday columns -- maybe it’ll help you remember him and how much you looked forward to reading his work.

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Great animals on earth and a bit of moon history...

EDITION OF AUGUST 25, 2015 (PetPowellPress) -- Ah, August 25, the day we traditionally celebrate “The Great Moon Hoax of 1835." More on this key journalistic event in today’s contemplations. Cue the spooky music. But first, some critters:

A LONG TIME IN DENTON
Amy Poskey, the Denton critter hustler, forwarded a load of dogs that need out of the McNatt Animal Care and Adoption Center. We’ve featured this guy Waylon before and maybe Sheila, too. Both are longtime residents and it’s time for them to move on to good homes, Amy suggest.
She describes other animals in the shelter as “love sponges” who are “hoping they don’t have to wait as long” as Sheila and Waylon have.
Now, Sheila (57505) is an active young Pitt girl who was a stray picked up with her brother, Rex, who has been adopted already. She’s active and has been in the shelter for two months -- and, Amy says, there’s a “donation offer” to the “reputable rescue” who takes her.
Waylon, as we’ve noted before, is the most majestically, formally coated dog we can remember seeing. He (#58277) is an young Pittie fellow who was found straying, but his humans didn’t want him back. He’s a happy guy with a lot of energy -- wait, that’s the way he was when he came in, but now he’s a bit morose and seems to think his life is meant to be lived in a shelter.
Here’s the contact number: 940-349-7594. Email these shelter addresses:   [email protected], [email protected],@yahoo.com, [email protected] and/or [email protected].

The shelter is at 3717 N. Elm in Denton.  Open to the public, you know, not just to the animals.
HELPING SOME SURVIVORS
When a 90-year-old woman died a month ago, Coppell funeral director Kitt Wood stepped up two help her surviving dogs.

Kitt writes, “I have been taking care of them at their home but they cannot stay their much longer.
“Simba is the golden male maybe a Shepherd/Lab mix but not sure of his age. Mimi is a grey female and not sure of her breed or age -- maybe both around 4. The family lives in Miami, Fla., and cannot take them.”
To help the family and Kitt and, especially, these two beloved dogs, call Kitt at 817-832-1956.

CONTEMPLATION: In the opening we mentioned The Great Moon Hoax of 1835. [LARRY ASIDE: Some people say that was the "first great moon hoax," the one in 1969 being the second -- fyi, that is Buzz Aldrin's footprint on the lunar surface, NASA says.] Back to 1835:  On August 25 of that year, The New York Sun began a six-part series on the discovery of life on the moon. Turns out the series was just a bit of fun put together by a Sun staffer. Later in the 19th century, on September 21, 1897, The Sun became immortal in the minds of Santa-fans when the editor wrote the “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” editorial. (Read that HERE ) So, The Sun was not above having some fun. Lot of good it did the paper -- it won a Pulitzer Prize for local reporting with a series called Crime on the Waterfront in 1959. Then, as so frequently happens to journalists, the paper vanished into a merger in 1960 with the New York World-Telegram and eventually, in 1966, the whole conflagration of newspapers vanished when the New York World Journal Tribune went out of business (presumably having spent too much money on the ink it took to print its nameplate.). Again, that was 1966 -- so what does that have to do with the Moon? First known man-on-the-moon Neil Armstrong flew his first space mission on Gemini 8 in 1966. And Armstrong, as some may recall, passed away in 2012 on, you guessed it, August 25, “The Great Moon Hoax Day.”  Oh, and on August 25, 2012, Voyager 1, a probe launched in 1977, left the solar system, entering interstellar space. What is readlarrypowell.com saying here? Not a thing. Unless you wonder about coincidences. 

--- Now, as you wonder how long it would take Voyager 1’s message “Houston, we have a problem” to get to Earth, grab your gravitymouse and comment by clicking below. ---

[P.S. If Voyager called Houston, it would do no good. Voyager’s a program of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Happy August 25 to all the moondwellers.]

Young dogs, old dogs, donations, supplies and the Baccaruda, er, Barracuda

EDITION OF MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015 (PetPowellPress) -- Last full week of August. Already. Baseball playoffs are lining up. College and pro football are making headlines. Politics? Like pollen in Dallas, it’s everywhere.  So, here’s our Monday report with opportunities to help.

DOG CASTS SHADOW, NEEDS A HOME
This is Abby.
As you can see, she is a dog who casts a fine shadow. Well-defined.
The problem is she needs a place to cast that shadow.
Abby is a 45-pound, 2-year-old “sweetheart of a Catahoula that we need to find a home for ASAP,” says Kim Hildreth.
Through no fault of her own, Abby has become a “hand-me-along” dog.
Kim explains,” My daughter agreed to ‘foster’ her a few months ago, and the people have since disappeared. Meanwhile, my daughter has split with her husband and moved out of her home. She already has a 120-pound Catahoula of her own, a cat and a 43-year-old human...so you can imagine the stress of not being able to find a good home for the foster dog.”
Abby is “smart, energetic, minds well and has been spayed. She is up to date on shots.”
To arrange to audition to help “find this sweet girl a forever home,” call 214-797-8378.
“She would be a great running companion,” Kim says.

TWO FROM MINERAL WELLS
Michelle Cook, a veteran at hustling homes for animals, turned her attention to Mineral Wells and found a couple of dogs in need of human homes. As you can see, they know how to dress. And, of course, Micah is the well-dressed Earhound.
Michelle explains, “Here's the back story. Kendall and her 6 month old pups were dumped on a country road to survive on their own, covered in fleas and starving. Thankfully two of her three pups, Easton and Preston, were adopted this week. However, because "Clear the Shelter" on Saturday apparently means "fill the shelter the following week", Kendall and her remaining son, Micah, are in desperate need of adopters or rescues this weekend. The shelter is full and dogs keep pouring in so Kendall, Micah, and their shelter pals need some extra networking attention and most of all... they need good homes! The shelter is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week.”

According to Michele’s note, “Kendall is as sweet as they come and everyone loves how she wiggles all over when she gets attention. Although she and her pups were abandoned, she wants so much to be with people and does her best to charm everyone in sight. Kendall is also calm, laid back, walks well on a leash, is good with other dogs, walks past the cats without a care, and waits for instructions from the people around her. The shelter staff say she is probably one of the smartest dogs they have right now. Kendall is the total package!
The current shelter residents are on he Friends of Mineral Wells Shelter Pets page  HERE  or the Shelter’s Facebook page HERE. The shelter is at 101 FM 2256 in Mineral wells, Call 940-328-7752.

AND, if you don’t know anything about Mineral Wells, it’s easy to learn: First, it is just 90 minutes west of Dallas -- if you don’t run into traffic. The roads ARE paved west of Dallas, you know. In her note, Michelle referred to Mineral Wells most famous odd product. She said, “Mineral Wells is home of Crazy Water and truly amazing dogs.”

THE MESQUITE SHELTER AND ITS 7 A.M. NEEDLE

Lone Star Treasurers sent an email Sunday afternoon that reads, “THE MESQUITE SHELTER IS FULL!! MANY CODE RED'S FOR 7AM, MONDAY, 08/24!

“NEED ADOPTION INTEREST/RESCUE TAGS EMAILED TO THE SHELTER BEFORE 7AM 08/24!  - EVEN IF YOU CANNOT HELP, PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL & SHARE!!!! Thank you!! 

“TO TAG FOR RESCUE - SEND EMAIL TO [email protected]. PLEASE NOTE, TAG - ID NUMBER & DESCRIPTION/BREED OF DOG/CAT IN THE SUBJECT LINE.”
Mesquite Animal Services is at 1650 Gross Road and the phone number is 972-216-6283.
Grizzly is one of those Code Red dogs. Any dog in a shelter has a heart-breaking story, but Grizzly’s -- and that of his dumped mates -- is particularly touching. Got to be some way to save them.

See more animals online at the city site HERE and at the Facebook site HERE.

MEANWHILE, THE BURNS FLAT REPORT
Terry Lynn Fisher, the resilient rescuer in Burns Flat, Okla., out in the western side of the Sooner State, writes, “The past few months, we have been hit hard with animals in need of medical help.... The precious mange family.... sweet paralyzed JoJo... a little paralyzed kitten... several injured cats....and so many dogs in need of help.... I am blessed with a wonderful Vet that NEVER turns me away, no matter what the case, time, or funds I may have available...
“I have also been blessed with many people that help with the vetting of these innocent animals.... some that have been suffering for a long time... many that would have died without the medical attention...  Lately, most have not even come from Burns Flat.... they have come from other towns around us.... but I see an animal in need and my heart tells me to do what I can to help.”
And these animals are the foundation for Terry Lynn’s latest plea.
“SWEET PEA ONE.... This girl was in the Cordell pound... her time was up and she was going to be killed. I pulled her after a friend offered to foster... had her spayed, and her foster has been working with her so she will be ready for her forever home...

“SWEET PEA TWO... 

“This poor girl was in the Clinton Pound with a very badly infected hurt back paw... she was terrified and was actually labeled ‘aggressive’ because she of her actions... 

I reached out to my dear friend who knows the bullies and she got her to the vet... 

Slowly, her leg has healed... we had to have her spayed asap, due to a bad infection in her uterus.... What people thought was an aggressive dog turned out to be a very sweet and loving one that was in pain... she is a doll...

“TOMMY.... This tiny one came from the same house where one was rushed to the vet 2 weeks ago and died...
“THEN, ARES, the little mange one that is next was pulled... when Heather got there to get this one (after the idiots called her there was something wrong with another one, WHO WAS DEAD WHEN SHE GOT THERE) this sweet precious baby was near death,...I had her rush him to my vet, where he is recuperating... he was so full of so many different types of worms, they honestly do not know how he survived...
“Ares -- oh, how this one hurts my soul.... he came from the house where two other babies had died and one is in emergency care at my vet still... He has mange and there is not ONE HAIR on his little body... he probably isn't even 4 months old and already, his life has been filled with pain and suffering... When I was asked for help, I looked into those little eyes, so trusting, and knew I needed to try and get him help... 

‘He has started his treatment and is actually in a foster home, but Doc said this is honestly one of the worst cases he ever saw and it would be a few months of treatment to heal this baby...
“So, you can see why we are needing help.... on top of the mange family and all the other sick and injured ones, it has been a challenge.”
You can contact Elk Creek Clinic at PO Box 1708, Elk City. Ok 73648, or call 580-225-4863. Or email Terry Lynn at [email protected].

“Thank you,” Terry Lynn says, “And remember: ALL OF THESE ARE STILL IN NEED OF RESCUE!”

PARISIAN EAR HOUND

Marie Garza tipped us to this Earhound, a pup that was on the “adoptables” list at the Paris Animal Shelter -- that’s in Lamar County, northeast of Dallas, not the Paris in France. So, that makes it easier to go to Paris and adopt a dog or cat!
This wondrously coated Earhound was photographed for the Paris Shelter Adoptables and the good news is, that same site has a report on the successful adoption event over the weekend. Happy people with happy animals. Of course, this is not the only Earhound left in Texas -- might be the only one with a coat like that, though! And looks like the dog is a member of that very special category: EARHOUND: PILLOWCOMFORT VARIETY.

CONTEMPLATIONS: OK, here’s something to contemplate: How cool is it to help volunteers who are helping animals. Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake, the group that operates the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, is making an appeal for supplies -- for the office and the personnel! Here’s what the clinic needs:  8-1/2 x 11  copy paper; isopropyl alcohol; hydrogen peroxide; bleach. What could you donate for the volunteers? Cases of bottled water and soft drinks in cans. Bring the donations to the clinic on Tuesday on on Second Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. or leave them at Flair Printing across from the Dairy Queen at Gun Barrel City on weekdays. “Across from the DQ” -- that would make it worth the 60-minute drive. And, of course, Dairy Queen ice cream has no calories when consumed on a highway -- I think someone did a study. Oh, yeah, note that poster -- that’s for planning ahead purposes as you contemplate how close we are to 2016. ... Is it time to declare that Tiger Woods was just practicing for 2016? ... Quick: You’ve won a ton of money! What car are you going to buy? And will it be new or will you finally get that ’63 Chevy Impala SuperSport you wanted or that ’66 Mustang or that Plymouth Baccaruda? I’m sorry. I mean Barracuda. As you can see from this video -- some of you may smile at the memory -- of course, you’re old as the hills. Check out that 1965 price.

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WEEKEND UPDATE: TIED TO A POLE

Please don't forget to read our weekend Sleeper story below after you finish these two stories: 

THE DOG TIED TO A TELEPHONE POLE
(AND NOT IN SOUTH DALLAS!)

Looks like a chow to the eyes of Readlarrypowell.com.

We heard about it from our pal Robert Huneke who got the story from Kevin Sampognaro on Saturday. Kevin's been trying to find some help for the dog ever since he and a friends spotted the dog tied to a telephone pole.
He explains, "My neighbor and I found this baby tied to a telephone pole this morning about 9:30. She was very scared and wouild not let us approach her."

Be patient readers, because things change. As you veteran rescuers suspected.

Kevin, a rescue adoptor who already has dogs, says the rescue groups that were called were reluctant to take in an "aggresive dog."
Things changed for the dog's attitude. "After spending 3 hours in the hot sun, mulpiple bows of water and food, we gained her trust," he says. "I cut the leash and walked her to my neighbor's kennel. She let me love her, and licked my hand. She is NOT an aggressive dog. She's as sweet as she can be.We're going to find her   a furever home. I just don't know how anyone could leave a dog like that....She'll make a great companion."
This was near the Arboretum in East Dallas. So, someone may have seen the villain who tied the dog to a pole and walked away -- that might just be a violation of Texas' animal cruelty laws.
Before we send anyone to a bit of time in the Graybar Hotel, however, we need to find the victim a home. Kevin is trying to help the dog -- call him at 214-236-6331. 
Bless this dog -- one more good rescue and she's home.


REGARDING STARVING DOG IN GARLAND

This little emaciated dog -- probably abandoned and neglected and certainly improperly treated, wound up in the Garland Animal Shelter during the week but did not make it. No longer starving, but just as dead.
Our tipster Deborah Trevino sadly reports, "She was too sick for any rescue to even want to spend a cent on her.  She was EU'd early this morning."
Anybody identify a rescue group that gave this dog a chance? Would she have been just too expensive to save?[LARRY ASIDE: We understand juggling the saving of one expensive dog against the saving of three or four easily adoptable dogs, but that doesn't keep us from asking, "Why can't we save 'em all?"  We sent humans into orbit, build giant shopping centers and help people assemble huge personal fortunes through stock purchases and buying assorted goods and, yet, with all that money floating around, we still stick a needle into a dog and kill her instead of being able to get some corporation to prove it has a heart by funding rescues.  Humans, how in the world did we get to this point in civilization? And what's going to happen to the neglecting jerk who, basically, killed this dog?]

--- To comment, say a prayer for the "expensive" rescued animals and click below. --- 

 

DICE -- THE DOG WHO FOUND A HOME...A BED, A PILLOW, ETC.

Three things that are difficult to photograph: the Abominable Snowman, an Ivory-billed Woodpecker and Dice the Dog sleeping. 

Congratulations to our pal Dianne Cole, she got the shot!  
That is Dice -- look at that little pink tongue hanging out of her snoozing mouth. -- on the couch at her new home. Home? Yes. That’s the place Dianne and hubby Mike bought for her. Oh, yeah, they bought the house years ago -- they thought it was for themselves, but you animal people know how this always turns out. The house belongs to the animals. Check the deed, you know?
And, of course, capturing the elusive Dice the Sleeper is why Dianne’s photography is highlighting this weekend’s edition of the long-running readlarrypowell.com feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. She keeps snapping photos and Dice keeps opening her extraordinarily dark eyes.

Some history: The first time Readlarrypowell.com heard of Dice the Dog it was in an email forwarded by Amy Poskey on behalf of Linda Herring -- everybody wanted to find a good home for this year-old dog. Linda and her family loved Dice, but a baby was on the way and there was considerable stress and, well, things needed to change. The email was networked like a presidential campaign secret. It went everywhere! Dianne got a copy of it from our pal Kimberly Jones, the vigorous animal advocate and rescuer.
And that photo of very upright Dice riding in a car is the picture most of us first saw. As you can tell, since Dianne and Mike got Dice, she has been photographed a few times. [Readlarrypowell.com isn't sure Dice is asleep in that ultra-relaxation photo on the left, but there's an explanation coming from Dianne. Read on.]
Now, these two quotes are from the sales pitch for Dice:

-- “Dice is big dog that thinks she is a lap dog. She loves to sit on the couch next to you and cuddle up.” 

-- Overall Dice is an amazing dog. She just needs more attention and space to be a dog.” 

So, those were the selling points. Do you think Dice has lived up to the billing?
Dianne writes, “Dice just became a member of our family on July 19th, but started sleeping on the bed from the first night. 
“She usually goes to bed with Mike [see photo on left] around 9:30, but occasionally will wait and go to bed when I go around 10:30/10:45. 
“She normally goes to sleep at the foot of the bed, but during the night she comes to the head of the bed and wants under the covers. 
“She will paw at the covers and will keep doing it until one of us gives in and holds the cover up so she can go under. 
“Often times she goes all the way to the foot of the bed or will curl up in the middle. 
“She has very short hair and I think she gets cold under the ceiling fan so she dives under the covers to warm up.  Once she's warm she'll come out so...with that said she usually makes several forays a night under the covers.
“Mike gets up at 4:30 every morning during the week and I don't get up until 5:30. Once Mike gets up she will usually move over to his side of the bed.  Monday I woke up to find her half under the cover and half out.  This morning she was actually asleep with her head on Mike's pillow as you can see in one photo.  Then when I tried to snap another photo she gives me this look like, "I'm trying to sleep here."

“She has been a fabulous addition to our family.  Makes me laugh every day with her puppy-like antics.  She found a little pink stuffed monkey in the dogs’ toy bin that she has claimed as her own.  She carries it all over the house and entertains herself with it.  Needless to say she is a bit spoiled...just like our other three old timers.”

Dianne has sent us a few photos. She explained, “I try very hard to get photos with her eyes closed, but when I make the slightest move those black eyes pop open.  I did manage to get one of her totally relaxed on my back, stretched out by my legs night before last and one of her sleeping up by Mike's head on the pillows.  Last night I caught her asleep on the couch across the room from me with her tongue stuck out, but she's so black it's hard to get a good photo.  She loves to sleep under the covers, but when I raised up the blanket she turned around and looked.  LOL!  She's a character for sure.” 

You can see here a photo a big ol’ black dawg kissing Dianne. That is the great Cisco who preceded Dice in the household. When he died, Dianne knew there would be a similar dog adopted in honor of Cisco. And that is Dice. The adoption is such a touching act that as I type this my eyes mist up. Your dog always owns more of your heart than you even knew existed. And isn’t it good to know that Dice, once the subject of a desperate search for a good place to live, has found that home. And a bed. And the covers. And Mike's pillow.
 
[To nominate your slumbering critter -- dog, cat, gecko, emu, reptile, in-law, etc. -- for the spotlight of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send photo and info to [email protected]. Remember, we publish this weekly feature to encourage the insomniac community to have faith that they, too, can find sleep. And it would not surprise me to learn that insomniacs are now searching for the “Dice Bedtime Blanket” to pull over their heads and doze off.]
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