ReadLarryPowell.com

Puppies, kittens, coyotes and welcome to summer

EDITION OF MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2016 (PetPowellPress) -- The Old Farmer’s Almanac, founded in 1792, says summer arrives at 5:34 p.m. Dallas time Monday. Yep, a rush-hour arrival.  And we're rushing our Monday edition into print at noonish on Sunday because, frankly, frankly, we can’t wait until Monday to save these lives.
See these kittens? See these puppies?
Here are two important links for you to copy and save. They are volunteer-produced pages that work to help animals in the custody of Dallas Animal Services:

https://www.facebook.com/DASUrgents/
https://www.facebook.com/DASCats/?fref=photo
Sunday afternoon we got a note from Erica Vega of Dallas Animal Services about the huge load of kittens at DAS. “We are currently full of some amazing kittens,” she wrote (and included the links).
The subject line on the email read vividly: “HAVE UNTIL COB 6/21/16.”
And, the email adds, “We are concerned about their mental & physical health. If they are still here on 6/21, we will be forced to re-evaluate.”

 Go to the shelter at 1818 Westmoreland at I-30 and find a feline or canine to help escape the needle.
Email [email protected] to ask how you can help  or call 214-670-8298.
[LARRY ASIDE: It’ll take already-crowded rescue groups and just plain folks with big hearts to keep Dallas from reverting to being known nationwide as the place that operates a death chamber instead of a shelter. It’s becoming known as the place that kills animals and the place where dogs killed a person. And we all know Dallas isn’t really like that. Most of the time.]

Erica’s note reads, “Being proactive instead of reactive will hep us save more lies and keep kennels open for incoming animals!”
[LARRY ASIDE: In this overloaded puppy and kitten season -- combined with the political pressures regarding dog sweeps and free-roaming animals -- there is no doubt that killing the animals is the official City of Dallas solution to the oversupply of puppies and kittens. And, frankly, if rescues are full and hearts are hard, what choice is the city going to make? As you may recall, we’ve long cited the fact that the city’s elected bodies embrace the traditional Texas Theory of Animal Control: “Got an animal problem? Let’s kill it.” 
Photos such as these from Dallas Animal Services show why spay/neuter is important: So dogs and cats aren’t born just to be killed. It’s also why changing the way human brains work is important, but it will be easier to life Reunion Tower with one hand than it is to change the minds of the Chuckleheads of Dallas, people who are mean and evil by their indifference.]

A MEETING ABOUT ANIMALS

Over the weekend we got a copy of  a note about the Southern Dallas Animal Initiative Brain Trust. The second Brain Trust Session is from 7 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Wednesday at Paul Quinn College, 3837 Simpson Stuart Road in Dallas. And the note read, “This Brain Trust is a CLOSED meeting for funding partners, rescuers, animal welfare workers and advocates only.” 

It also says, “Please extend this invitation to any rescuers, animal welfare workers and advocates that you believe would be willing to work collaboratively for the benefit of our Southern Dallas two-legged and four-legged citizens.”

To ask about attending, email [email protected]. The man guiding this effort is Paul Quinn’s civic-minded president Michael J. Sorrell.


AN EXCHANGE ABOUT COYOTES, FOXES
All the coyotes in the northern areas of Dallas get the headlines and the bulletins, but those of us who live near creeks in Oak Cliff are familiar with wildlife challenges, too.
Here was that exchange (I eliminated the IDs of the posters, but kept the neighborhoods) under  “Coyote Sighting:”
VL from Club Oaks (near Red Bird Creek and U.S. 67), wrote, “Hello everyone, I spoke with one of my neighbors yesterday and was told there had been a coyote seen in our neighborhood. She reports it has already killed a small dog. Has anyone else seen or heard about this incident?”
JP of Druid Hills wrote, “I have seen one of the foxes just south of Kiest Park near 5 mile creek.”

CE from Glen Oaks, wrote, “Coyote sighting seen in Glen Oaks around 500am before the time change I thought it was german shepherd but when I saw it dash away I knew it was not a dog. It was on the corner of towncreek and oak park. Will see a lot of wild life due to the amount of rain. Animals get displaced and they try to habitat some where else I was raised in the country, wild boars, wild turkeys, bobcats, mountain lions etc.”

SB of Twin Oaks wrote, “A friend of ours said she say a coyote in her yard yesterday. She lives on Heather Glen just off of Lake Placid.”

Part of the note from CH of Brettonwoods reads, “It's puppy season for everyone, coyotes and foxes included. Mothers may forage during the day. Fox kits often play near the den in daytime.”

|That fox photo, taken in 2014 by our former colleague at The Big Paper Downtown Jerome Weeks, now a famous broadcaster on KERA, shows two foxes “hanging out” just outside a window of the KERA studios in downtown Dallas. The story is HERE.
And here’s a recent story from the Oak Cliff Advocate about coyotes in Oak Cliff and the whole urban area.
That Coyote in the lower photo is a “Trinity River Forest Coyote” photographed by the folks at the Dallas Trinity Trails blog in 2012.
[LARRY ASIDE: Coyotes are like people: they will leave home for a meal. Don’t think your little fluffy dog or sweet kitty doesn’t look like a meal to a hungry momma coyote with a family to feed. At our home on a hill near U.S. 67 and Ledbetter, we see, of course, squirrels in trees and on the ground, possums and raccoons (and, once, a skunk). EVERYBODY ought to be mindful of the animals that live in the trees and underbrush and creekside wilderness. Their families were here long before ours.  Also, these free-roaming animals (and freeflying bats!) are prone to some diseases, i.e., rabies. Foxes, squirrels and any warmblooded animal can be a victim and pass it on to your “gone out to do his business” dog.  Here’s some authoritative background info from Audubon about the “Ghost Dogs,” as some call Coyotes and “God’s Dogs,” as Navajo sheepherders called them.] 

CONTEMPLATIONS: Thoughts of summer’s arrival including wondering if, in 1792 when The Old Farmer’s Almanac began publishing, temperatures got to 100 and anybody noticed. George Washington was just finishing his first term as president that year. It was, according to online research, a very rainy year the U.S., which, at that time, did not include arid Dallas/Fort Worth, known in 1792 as “far off.” ... Merriam-Webster says the term “weatherman” was first used in 1859 which can only mean that a fledgling television broadcast company had hired a consulting firm to see what to call the dressed up men who would soon replace weathervanes and arthritic toes in the forecasting business.  I’m kidding. No TVs in 1859. But you get the feeling that we’ve had weathermen since Noah --  the term “prophet” didn’t stick in the TV focus groups.  ... And just in case you need a cool photo, our Eastern Seaboard Bureau Chief Andy Fisher, sent this note over the weekend from Indian Lake at Denville, N.J.: “Brave the heat; here's a picture from a few months ago that should cool you off a tad.” Unpacking my sweaters right now. Air-conditioning can really get cold in Texas.

--- To comment, put on your ski gloves, grip your ChillMouse and comment just a tad below. Shiver. ---

An entertaining canine view; a rescuer's dogs saved! Is someone killing kittens in Little Elm? And saving animals with the GAPsters. Free shots in Dallas!

With the heat lately I thought it might be interesting to see how many people think they’re hallucinating a two-headed dog.
Clearly these two have earned the spotlight of our long-running, weekly feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. They are, indeed, sleeping dogs.

This photo was posted on the City of Denton Animal Shelter Facebook page on March 8.
The shelter-written caption reads, “Here is a great photo of Lady and Duke, adopted together from our shelter last Saturday. This picture says it all.”

So, what is “it all”? Our theory is it says the dogs are living in comfort with someone who appreciates having a dog flopping onto the bed to catch a few winks. That’s a great foundation for a long-term relationship. If anyone knows the human who have Lady and Duke, tell them Readlarrypowell.com salutes them -- perhaps their friends hosted a house-warming for Lady and Duke and gave them new sheets and comforters.
[To nominate your slumbering critter or a dog or cat that’s nodded off while waiting to be adopted, send photos and info to [email protected]. We’re proud to post these for two reasons: (1) They demonstrate how beloved an animal can be and (2) they encourage the planet’s insomniacs to believe that they, too, can get some sleep if they can just find the right circumstances. Bless the sleeping beasts and the wide-awake children.]


ADDITIONAL NOTES 
FOR THE WEEKEND--
SOME NOT SO PRETTY


We’ve got several notes to mention as we put the weekend edition together late Friday afternoon. Here goes:

THE RESCUER’S DOGS? 
Last week we posted a note from Stephen Foster, the president and founder of DFW’s FurGotten Friends , about the challenges facing veteran rescuer Vickie Barcomb. She really wanted to get her two rescued dogs, Samantha and Nicholas, safely placed before she was through fighting cancer. 
Stephen sent us the sad note Thursday that Vickie died at 3 p.m. on the 15th.
He says, “I talked to her on the 11th to let her know that Animal Angels Sanctuary is willing to take Nicholas and Samantha. I've posted a request on my rescue page, personal page and the volunteers pages to donate to the sanctuary that's taking her babies. Although I would have loved to get them in a forever home. this was satisfactory to her before she passed.
“The rescue world has lost a great advocate and I have lost a great friend. She cannot be replaced in my world.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Animal Angels, an accredited member of the American Sanctuary Association, is the labor of love started by the great Carole Sanders. We’ve written about it many times -- so have other media sources. You can read about it at animalangelstexas.org and see how to donate or how to adopt. The sanctuary is near Jacksboro, northwest of Fort Worth in some fantastic terrain. We’re pretty sure Vickie, now pain-free, is enjoying some fantastic terrain, too. And thanks to Stephen Foster for stepping up to help set someone’s heart at ease. Animal people --  they understand.]

A VILLAIN AND SOME KITTENS? Della Wallace, the longtime rescuer, got an unsettling note Friday from man she knows in Little Elm.
See these kittens? Two are dead now. One has a broken leg. We don’t know which is the survivor. But here is the note Della got from her acquaintance: 
“My neighbors are on a cat-killing spree again. At least 1 per night. There's 3 kittens in the photo, they've killed 2 & broke the leg of 3rd. Do you know anyone who can take care of it? They broke it last night or this morning & I still have no money.”

Della can’t take the kitten because of her not-cat-friendly dogs. 
The cat needs a place to go at least by Saturday because “the man who found it can’t do anything as he has no money. His neighbor was killing cats and torturing cats a couple of years ago but Denton County can’t do anything without proof. He never sees him doing it -- only finds the dead cats in his yard.” 

Della is the contact point for helping the surviving cat -- and, no doubt, if someone active in fighting animal cruelty can help with this case, it would be a wonderful act of justice. To help with the kitten or the case, email Della at [email protected]t.

WHILE SOME PEOPLE ARE HURTING ANIMALS, THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE TRINITY GAP CLUB are exhibiting decent behavior by trying to help get animals out of the Euless Animal Shelter, the GAPsters’ partner in animal advocacy.

Animalfan and GAP backer Karen Lee of Barkleyworld.com sent us a note explaining that the Euless Animal Shelter “is getting dangerously full on the dog AND cat side---we’ve been besieged with dogs, puppies, cats and kittens kittens kittens!!  And unfortunately all of our fosters are full too!!   Since Trinity GAP Supports the Euless Animal Shelter, we can’t stop intake and just keep working hard to save all the pets that come thru.  GAP also supports Euless residents willing to foster a stray or a pet in need so it doesn’t go to the shelter.  All cats and kittens have reduced adoption fees thru the end of June! Some cats even have $25 adoption fees like Jimmy & Freckles—2 great laid-back adult cats!   Contact [email protected] for more info on any pet or fee!”

You can see more of these Euless adoptables by going to the trinitygaprescue.org site.
Also, you can visit  animal sat the GAP adoption event 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Earthwise Pet-Southlake, 100 W. Southlake Blvd #150.

SPCA HOSTS FREE VACCINATION CLINIC SATURDAY -- it’s from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Westhaven Park, 4500 Lynnacre and that is in Zip Code 75211 -- that is important because pets who live in that Zip Code qualify for the free vaccinations for “DHPP (distemper parvo) for dogs, FVRCP for cats and rabies for both. Flea prevention will also be applied.”
Also, the SPCA says, “Pet owners attending the event who live in this Big Fix for Big D program's zip code with their pets can also make an appointment for a FREE spay or neuter surgery for their pet. The surgery will be performed at the SPCA of Texas’ Myron K. Martin Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic in Dallas. This clinic is only valid for the first 200 pets of residents of 75211 zip code only. Proof of address is required.”


CONTEMPLATION: We have to remember that while there may be one jerk of a villain killing, maiming and injuring unwanted kittens in Little Elm, there are people of all sorts working to save animals at peril because of full shelters and indifferent attitudes. Indifference kills far more animals than a villain in Little Elm, but we probably stand a better chance of putting that guy in jail for animal abuse than we do of changing the minds of the gleefully ignorant who inhabit our cities. 
I hope someone with a badge can stop by the Little Elm site and offer a suggestion and, perhaps, an indication of the future if someone doesn’t quit hurting animals.
--- To comment, consider some suggestions for improving the attitude of individuals and click below without considering a felonious approach. ---

GOLF, CRITTERS & TULIPS: FRIDAY'S REPORT

EDITION OF FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2016 (PetPowellPress) -- Before we get to our usual topics, I have a vet story. Thursday morning I dropped into Dr. Vladi De Jong’s Vet Stop at Colorado and Beckley to get special dog and cat food.

Our former street dogs and cats have become too refined to eat stuff right off the shelf, so they get special food that helps their assorted systems. Little hairy gourmets. Fine with me. I envy them.

So I walked into the office and there was the doc sitting in a chair he’d pulled over to get a better look at two small, adorable, little ones. I, too, was quickly transfixed. Why?
Not puppies or kittens, but a set of beautiful twins named Buddy and Penny. Absolutely adorable, a couple of months old, I’m guessing. They're at that stage of life where they’re still tickled when grown ups lean down and say things that make Mom smile and beam with pride. 

[LARRY ASIDE: Mom was there buying stuff for the family dog. That is a great sign. Good and loving, caring home. When you have kids in litters, you may better understand the pressure on a momma dog! Pardon the litter joke, but I have experience.]
Buddy and Penny look a LOT alike. Their faces are so beautiful and they appear to be about the same size. The difference for this pair of fraternal twins is in the diaper, not in the face! Not 100 percent identical, if you catch my hint. But they are identically beautiful. I should have taken their photos, but I was so busy admiring them and reliving the babyhood of my own little twins, Bret and Bart, that I was just enjoying the moment instead of photographing it.

What a great way to launch a day -- an unexpected happy encounter with beautiful babies! Bless those twins and all who love them.

That photo above? That’s me in the back row with the twin golfers (Bart left and Bret right) and Bart’s son, my talented and gifted grandson Connor “Crash” Powell, the boy who belongs to Bixby the Dog.
We were playing the Fourth Annual DFW Cocker Spaniel Rescue Dogleg Classic on behalf of a great breed and in memory of the great Inky, Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas. Inky and I had a number of things in common, one of them that we chased golf balls that didn’t go where we wanted them to go.
Read about DFW Cocker Spaniel Rescue HERE and on Facebook.
(Our team won by 20 strokes -- I’m kidding. I think we finished tied for fourth, but I never looked at the official standings. We had fun and the Cockers won.)
 And, yes, I still miss Inky dramatically. I’m channeling him for a novel I’m writing about a Cocker who hunts down the clown who docked his tail too short to compete at Westminster (see photo). A cat detective is on the case.
I may write some twins into it, too. That's Inky, our official Readlarrypowell.com staff impersonator, from the early 2000s giving his impression of a hefty ol' writer flopping over in fatigue at the end of a run-on sentence.


TODAY’S REPORT

WSFN AT WSAL, er, sorry. West Side Foster Needs at West Side Animal League. The Fort worth-area rescue group is looking for fosters -- short- and long-term for several dogs and cats.
We got the tip on this from the noted animal advocate Karen Lee of barkleyworld.com. She’s always been able to spot a good animal opportunity! 
Mindy is that Western Earhound, a Doxie mix.
The other dog, whose name I couldn’t figure out from the photos on the WSAL’s adoptables page , looks as if he or she is accustomed to being chauffeured around. Very intent expression -- the car may be heading into a parking spot at a west side Sonic and you know how some dogs just love to push the intercom button and place the order.
To volunteer to become a foster, contact either Carol McFarland at 817-371-0394 or
Lisa Morton at 817-271-2552.


FROM DENTON, Amy Poskey reports that the crowd of dogs awaiting either rescue or the needle at the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter includes a pair of feral pups. She writes, “We have two adorable 3-6 mo young male Australian Cattle Dawgs who are feral so they are very scared at the shelter.  Poor babies need a kind, loving hand and an understanding heart to help them feel safe and loved.  They would both probably benefit if they were in a home/foster with other pooches so they can move forward and learn to trust.”
WE INTERRUPT THIS REPORT WITH A  BULLETIN FROM REPORTER AMY POSKEY: “Poet’s Vision Aussie Rescue in Canada will be pulling Edward (the darker pooch) and B Noble Farms & Rescue in Argyle, TX., will be pulling Freddy (the lighter pooch)!   YAY!!!  J Amy.”

O, Canada! And ye in Argyle, toooo. (I know some of you can sing along with the Canadian anthem.)

And, of course, those were the last two animals in the McNatt Shelter and it will now close -- hang on. What? They have MORE animals?
 Oh, OK. 
One of the several Denton-related Facebook pages (I can never figure out Facebook but I think it’s THIS ONE), shows this Earhound in a cat shirt and this cat in a bit of a witty poster!
Adopt a cat? Why not? They’re good to have around the house and they rarely talk politics.
The shelter is at 3717 N. Elm in Denton. Call 940-349-7697. Interested in a cat or dog? Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] and/or [email protected].

BEST SUBJECT LINE OF THE WEEK was this one from Take Me Home Pet Rescue: “It's hot outside, but our adoption center has A/C.”
The adoption center’s regular Meet ‘n’ Greet adoption event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the air-conditioned center, 561 W. Campbell Rd., Suite 303, Richardson, Tx., 75002. 


I think the pearls may be a rental.


BEST-DRESSED DOG of the week might be Susanna from Paws In The City, the Dallas-area rescue group. Michelle Threadgill, the Paws Transport Coordinator,, wrote the note: “Boarding is no place for a sweet girl like Susanna.”
She asks that anyone who has “extra room in your heart and home ... foster her until she finds her happily ever after.”
Go to pawsinthecity.org to apply to foster or apply to adopt. I think that skirt may be a rental.
MEANWHILE IN BURNS FLAT, the little outpost in far western Oklahoma, Terry Lynn Fisher, the persistent rescuer, says she was “sent an email asking what is needed for the pound and kennels  that we keep the throwaway dogs in while waiting for transport.There are so many things ... With me not working a full time job now, it has honestly become a struggle to keep up with a lot of the items. So, I am listing things. Even if you can help with one of the smaller items, ALL ARE NEEDED ON A DAILY BASIS.

Here’s the list in no particular order: Bleach, Lysol, laundry soap, hand sanitizer, latex gloves, towels, paper towels, water bucks, food bowls, 25- and 50-foot water hoses, spray nozzles, brooms, flat shovels, small bite dog food, cat food and, of course, its partner cat litter.

She also has a list of “larger items” and says, “I know these are a dream, but you never know. She says the city’s shelter needs a washer and dryer to clean bedding, a power washer, crates for transporting, kennels, electric heater sand small window unit air-conditioners. She says, also, two generators, adding, “We have one, would love to get some for other areas that need air during the day when it is in the 100s -- the higher the watts, the better since we will be running heaters and air-conditioners.” 

And, she says, “As always, gas cards are MUCH appreciated. I do most of my own transporting and can always use the help. WalMarts are everywhere, so the gas cards there are wonderful.”

Email Terry Lynn at [email protected] or call her at 580-330-1459. Her mailing address is P.O. Box 578, Burns Flat, Okla., 73624. That’s the artwork atop Terry Lynn’s Facebook page. Good message.

CONTEMPLATIONS: How about that Colby Lewis! Nearly a no-hitter and the Texas Rangers win. They lead the American League West by a lot. Can they be running away with the division title already? ... Why do I like baseball? The brawls are more orderly than politics. ... How about some tranquil music for the end of the week. Click HERE  and enjoy the tulips.


--- To comment, grip your TimeTravelMouse, set the dial on HappyTimes & gleefully comment below ---

Heat, rescues, waiting and contemplations

EDITION OF THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2016 (PetPowellPress) -- How hot was it Wednesday afternoon? The dogs wouldn’t go out and mow the lawn with me.
And Smitten, the Feral Cat currently hanging around our front porch twice-daily buffet, asked if she could come back “when it’s cooler, like November,” she mewed.
I’m not sure where she’s going to spend the summer, but if it has mountains and cool breezes, the cat has a new human travel companion.
Now, our daily report:

THE BEAGLES
You may recall that recently we told of Nikki Williamson’s attempts to find homes for 12-year-old Beagle sisters Sadie and Minnie, lifelong companions who’d lost their home because their humans died.
How did things work out? Look at that photo!
“Successfully,” Nikki reports gleefully. “They are in a loving home. ... This family is wonderful.  This big ex-Marine [Oscar Mendez] was the most wonderful man.  I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful ending to a tragedy.  ... He is a veteran who point blank knew what he was getting into with these senior dogs.  He had no problem going forward to offer them a loving home and longer lives, as well as teaching his children about the commitment of animal care. The most caring photo is of him tucking them in after he got them new beds.  Sent to me ... to let me know they were safe, happy and in bed.  Pure love!!”

She says the dogs took to the household kids. She and Oscar took the Beagles to Dirty Dawgs “and bathed them, had nails clipped and ears cleaned. He already registered them there to come back in two weeks for another bath.”

(That's them at the shelter when they didn't know what was going on.)

Now, they have new collars, leashes, toys and treats because Oscar and family visited a pet store.
And, of course, these Beagles have a nice place to sleep. With a family.

THREE TO GO AT LAKE DALLAS
How about those puppies! And look at that big dog Myra!

These three are ready to go right now at the Lake Dallas Animal Shelter.
Patricia Barrington, the Lake Dallas Animal Services Manager who’s been in this field for a while and knows the landscape.
“From time to time when we have space, we will take dogs and cats from other shelters that are at the point they will have to euthanize something to simply make room. 
"I figure coming from shelters that were ALWAYS at capacity and landing in this nice, spacious place with a little room to spare, it’s the least I can do to help folks whose shoes I used to walk in for miles. 
"So, we took a mom and a litter of 2 day old puppies a while back.  We’ve managed to find homes for 4 of the six pups and mom, but the two little guys pictured remain, still homeless.

“Myra came to us as a stray well over a month ago; she is a great girl with a big personality.  She loves people and loves other dogs and seems interested but not aggressive with cats.  She is a real doll … and she is just wasting away, waiting for someone to notice her and love her.”
The two pups are about 7 weeks old; Mom was a Dobie mix. Dad? Could have been an Aussie, based on the merle coats of a couple of the adopted pups. 
Myra’s 2 to 3 years old, knows basic commands and, like so many humans reading this, “is treat motivated.”

“She has been her for over a month and she has to go,” Barrington says. “I have been pleading for her for two weeks now.”

To make sure Myra survives and the pups have a home or two, the number to call is 940-497-7090 and the email is [email protected].


WAITING IN DENTON

At Denton’s McNatt Animal Shelter there’s a ton of pups waiting for a way out.
Among them are three we’ve mentioned before: Ally the Bully, Collin the Hound and Jessie the blurry Border Collie mix.
“Ally, Collin, and Jessie are still waiting for their miracle!  Please don't let heartworms decide their fate.  They are fully vetted and ready to go,” writes the relentless Denton animal promoter Amy Poskey. She says donations are lined up to help with heartworm treatments. 
“The shelter is at full capacity so time is of the essence for these babies,” says Amy.
The shelter is at 3717 N. Elm in Denton. Call 940-349-7697. Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] and/or [email protected].
MORNING CALL AT MESQUITE

Yes, a full load of animals at Mesquite.
You can click on the artwork below to make it grow.
But you see Jeremiah on the right. He came into the shelter on June 14 and, if nobody gets between him and the needle, he’s gone on the 16th. 

[LARRY ASIDE: Kind of unfair, isn’t it. Killing any animal to make room for the next animal that will be killed. That is the traditional Texas Elected Official Method of Animal Control: Got an animal problem? Let’s kill it!”]
You can see animals in need at Mesquite HERE or HERE. Or you can stop by the Mesquite shelter in person at 1650 Gross Road. Call 972-216-6283. But if you communicate via email you MUST email [email protected].
Maybe someone will beat the Grim Reaper to Jeremiah. And every other animal on the clock in Dallas/Fort Worth.

CONTEMPLATIONS: While reading my hometown paper (the Texarkana Gazette where I started my journalism career in 1965), I ran across a story about the trial of a guy who tortured his family’s domestic animals and, now, is going to do some hard time in prison. Not enough. But some. Read it HERE. Here’s a paragraph in reporter Lynn LaRowe’s story about this 19-year-old Arkansas resident that is disturbing and, indeed, echoes things heard in cases in Texas counties now and then, including Dallas. It reads that he “told a local counselor and staff at a Shreveport, La., psychiatric facility that maiming and killing animals gives him a thrill, according to reports prepared by investigators with Texarkana, Ark., Animal Services.”  ...
Something to contemplate: How about Texas and Arkansas team up and build one prison just for animal abusers and another prison for child abusers. Build them on the outskirts of Presidio, transport the prisoners in an un-airconditioned bus and don’t put climate control anywhere except where guards and administrators go. Would that work in the legal system? I know it would work in a justice system. ...

Let’s end this contemplation on an upbeat note: When I’m typing, my cat The Senator comes over, gets on his table, steps on the desk, walks onto the keyboard and steps into my lap and he’s purring mightily the whole time. Is that a compliment?
Sometimes he turns, reads what I’m writing and bites my hand. I think he’s a critic. If this sounds familiar, remember, I've worked out in the heat Wednesday and may be hallucinating.

--- To comment, grab your DoRightForCrittersMouse and click below. ---

Animals to help and reading the signs...

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2016 (PetPowellPress) -- June is half over? Holy smoke.
Let’s get hoppin’.

OK, in case you wondered, Dallas Animal Services reports that Wally the Wallaby, an owner surrender, has been moved into the “very capable hands of our friends at the Dallas Zoo. He’s a great guy and we’d love to have him here with us, but it was more important to do what was best for him...”
Let’s see, now: So far this spring we’ve had a wallaby show up in Dallas, a giant alligator show up in Dallas and more kittens and puppies than you’d see in a Disney cartoon. 

[LARRY ASIDE: What's next? Have we had any earthquakes lately? You don't think a herd of Trinity River Bottom Wallabies has been setting off those Richter machines in Irving, do you? They breed like rabbits.]

A DENTON REPORT


Ethel the Cat has that “I just washed my hair and I can’t do a thing with it look.” She also has a championship set of whiskers. 
She’s on the PetFinder site for Denton Animal Services’ McNatt shelter. So are these other critters -- except for ONE.
We got the info from Amy Poskey, the Denton critter monitor.
Ernie is the 2- to 5-year-old spell-binding hypnotist.
Check out those eyes. He’s a Hound/Black Mouth Cur mix with a lot of energy and a great attitude.
Then there’s Blacky, a younger German Shepherd/Lab mix who was an owner surrender -- didn’t get along with the other boys in the house. He weighs 59 pounds and is house-trained. 
Amy wrote that she was concerned about Denton’s animals because “ALL the adoptable and stray hold kennels are FULL.”
The shelter is at 3717 N. Elm in Denton. Call 940-349-7697. Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] and/or [email protected].
One more Denton note: This senior female Chihuahua, Maxine, was dumped at the shelter. The story reads, “Her Momma had been hospitalized so a family member decided to dump poor Maxine at the shelter instead of taking care of her until her Momma was home. Heartless. As soon as Maxine’s Momma was released from the hospital, she went directly to the shelter to reclaim her baby. Needless to say Maxine was so happy to see her Momma and go home."

[LARRY ASIDE: No word on whether the offending family member has a place to stay or a place to NOT stay.]

FROM BURNS FLAT
The little incredibly ill cat in Burns Flat has died. Terry Lynn Fisher, the resilient animal advocate in the western Oklahoma town, reports, “They were waiting for him to become more stable then were going to remove his tail and left leg. I had really hoped he would survive. Doc said there were so many maggots inside his little broken body that he couldn't fight the infection anymore.”

You may recall someone called Terry Lynn about this cat and she immediately got the care into veterinary care at Elk Creek Clinic.
“My heart is broken,” Terry Lynn says. “I wish I would have found [out about] him sooner, he may have had a chance!... At least he didn't die alone in the streets and knew kindness at the end.”

Terry is facing a mountain of vet bills. They know her at Elk Creek Clinic, 1301 Airport Industrial, Elk City, Okla., 73644 and you can also call the clinic at 580-225-4863 to ask what would help Terry Lynn’s rescue account. And if you want to talk to Terry Lynn about what she needs, call her at 580-330-1459 or email [email protected].
Summer is coming and it’s always crisis time at the open-air Burns Flat shelter.


OPERATION KINDNESS TAKES THE CAKE

The Operation Kindness no-kill animal shelter is celebrating its 40 years at the Annual Alumni Event for “furry alumni, pet parents and the public” from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the shelter, 3201 Earhart Drive, in Carrollton. It’s free. In addition to the usual animal and human activities, you can see what is described as “the world’s largest cake for dogs sponsored by Blue Buffalo and created by Catering by Larry – the cake is estimated to be more than 170 pounds and will feature healthy, natural Blue Buffalo dog food; mashed potato and sweet potato icing; carrots and peas for “confetti;” and Blue Buffalo treats as garnishes.” Check out all the extras at operationkindness.org.
[LARRY ASIDE: If only it had chocolate...and, yes, “Catering by Larry” is a different Larry than writing by Larry. Oh, and has anyone put up a plaque at Operation Kindness in honor of the person who put the place on the map? Jonnie England? Without her, there’d be no Operation Kindness.]

CONTEMPLATIONS: I’m sick of driving in a city that’s perpetually involved in road and highway construction. First, I don’t know where all the money comes from but I have an idea. Second, I’m sick of stalled traffic and dangerous road situations -- is anybody keeping up with the number of people killed or injured since the latest burst of construction began. Third, the Mayor and his road gang are already at it again. Read about all the new plans HERE if you can get through the paywall. This constant roadwork makes me want to move to a town that has decided to take a construction break for a while. Anybody know one? .... Dear fellow hipsters, are you, too, puzzled by this new expression “throw shade”? Yeah, not that new. First recorded mention was in a 1990 documentary, Paris Is Burning. Learned that from the Business Insider website HERE. ...


Only one sign in this photo makes sense -- God bless Neiman Marcus. You know how so many things nowadays don’t have words but just have photos or images you have to figure out before you can turn the car or stop the car or use a public device? We’ve gone back to the age of hieroglyphics. Why learn to read if you just need interpret a sign. It’s like stumbling drunk into a 24-hour Pitt Grill at 3 in the morning -- you don’t have to read the menu, just point at the pictures.
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A banner day for animal needs...

EDITION OF TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 (PetPowellPress) Saw a weather report that suggested we may see 100 degree temps in Big D by Thursday. High time. And, may I speak on behalf of anyone who lives around here, “Bless the air-conditioning industry and all who keep it wholly operational.”
Now, our report on Flag Day (can’t get enough of that U.S. flag, right?):


AN APPEAL FROM AUSTIN
Since this will be online sometime before 6 p.m. on the 13th, that gives people time to respond before the midnight deadline to the appeal by Shelby Bobosky, president of the Texas Humane Legislation Network. She sends a link to a comments page HERE and asks that animal advocates leave a comment about the troubles caused by people who run puppy mills -- not just for humans, but for animals. She writes, “We are going up against a well-funded lobby this session and every single law for animals could be under fire, this being the main target.”
 Read about the Network at www.thln.org. Call 214-708-4292 to help.

A FACE IN DALLAS

Anybody who’s ever lived with a big ol’ dawg is surely moved to want to hug this guy. He’s Zobo, currently a resident of the Dallas Animal Services Shelter and Adoption Center.
How is he connected to the Dallas Cowboys?

Ah, here’s the caption that appeared with this photo on the DAS Facebook page:

“Zobo is a big ol' teddy bear in need of a new place to hang his head. This handsome boy is about two years old and has been in our care since early June. You can meet Zobo at our main location, 1818 N. Westmoreland, 75212. Ask for A942606. Tell the adoption desk "David Irving Sent Me" and your adoption fee is waived!”

Who is David Irving? He’s a Dallas Cowboy.  (That’s him visiting at DAS last week.) And he’s an animal advocate, the DAS says. [LARRY ASIDE: Irony in that here's a Cowboy named Irving and the Cowboys have left Irving.]  Here's the Irving rule:


AN UGLY STORY FROM OKLAHOMA
Honest to pete, I can’t post the “injury photo” Terry Lynn Fisher sent from out in Burns Flat, Okla.
This is a photo of the cat in the care of the vet. But the treatment goes on.
The story began on Saturday when, Terry Lynn, writes, “I got a call from our ACO. He was out of town and had received a report of a cat that was badly injured. I sent my sons to check on him. Sadly, it was pretty bad. We rushed him to the vet. You could smell the rot. This is NOT a new injury. It appears as if he has been run over and his back end is damaged.”

On Monday afternoon, we checked with Terry Lynn -- frankly, we figured this cat was done for, that it would be getting a humane needle.
She reported, “Just got off the phone with vet.... He is doing as well as can be expected... He will lose his tail and possibly one leg... They are still removing maggots from his body (gross), but they are getting them all.

“I am afraid his bill will be high and I will be honest. That scares me for I still have 5 there in boarding.”
Ask Terry Lynn about helping this cat and paying the bills by emailing her at [email protected]. You can contact the clinic directly at 580-225-4863 -- they know Terry Lynn from years of working for animals. The mailing address is Elk Creek Clinic, 1301 Airport Industrial, Elk City, OK, 73644.
FROM WEATHERFORD
“Stacey The Stylist” Carney who monitors things west of Fort Worth pinpoints a June 14 deadline for a number of dogs at the Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter. We’ve got just a few photos of these dogs, but here’s the total list forwarded by Stacey from Cheryl Tanferno of the shelter. 
The dogs include
Heartworm positive Ned -- must be out by close of day Tuesday. 
Same for Deardra who has a URI. As does Dot the dog.
Dill is a URI dog. Zillo, already spayed and vaccinated, is recovering from a URI.

And Bobby. “This is such a nice dog,” his bio begins. “He got a URI at the shelter and wasn’t in the adoptable buildings while he was recovering and now because of his length of stay, he is URGENT!  He is excellent on the leash, does well with other dogs and even seems house trained.  He only has through Tuesday, June 14th to find a rescue or adopter!!  This guy is a must save!”

Here are the contact points: Visit the shelter at 403 Hickory Lane. Call 187-598-4111 or email [email protected] and [email protected].
Got to be someone in that sprawl of land west of citified-Fort Worth who has a ranch house that can handle a couple of dogs. Or more. If you’ve got a herd of cattle, two dogs is a necessary blessing.
Go to the shelter’s Facebook page HERE and get a better look at more animals.|

TWO DOGS SAVED, THREE TO GO (and more!)
Amy Poskey who hustles on behalf of the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter reports, “Our awesome Bill Duncan pulled Monty and Morris on Saturday for All American Doxie Rescue!  YAY!!!” Monty and Morris were the two Dachshunds who were spotlighted here over the weekend. They needed a place to go together. 


Now, Amy says, there are “three angels” that also need help. They are heartworm positive and Amy reports that as of Monday at noon, there’s a “generous offer to cover the costs” of their treatment. Here is who these dogs are:


Ally (63192) is the incredibly beautiful Pittie mix. She’s somewhere between 2 and 5 years old -- was an owner surrender. The owner “stated that she has seizures but the staff at the shelter hasn’t witnessed her having one,” Amy’s note reads. The dog weighs 63 pounds, is housebroken and “is a DOLL!,” according to the note. [LARRY ASIDE: She sure knows how to pose. Like maybe if you got her an agent, she might be ready to hit the runway!]


COLLIN is #63195 is 5 to 8 years old and is a Hound mix who usually “has his nose to the ground!” He’s friendly and congenial at 66 pounds.

The photo of Jessie (63301) is a bit blurry. She’s a 2-to-5- year-old Border Collie/Bull Terrier mix who, her bio reads “needs a new and improved pic so you can see just how beautiful she is.”
[LARRY ASIDE: I grew up with a Border Collie and I can tell you that any dog with a streak of Border Collie knows how to focus once they’re settled in with their human. We currently have a mix named Dudley who is dynamically focused, especially on treats. Jessie is a dog waiting for a friend to happen. We’ve seen it before.]
Amy’s note reads, “The shelter is over-flowing so everyone is scrambling to keep up.”


To help the shelter “keep up,” visit it at 3717 N. Elm St. in Denton. Call 940-349-7594. Email these addresses to help save lives:  [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], and/or [email protected].

The traditional adoption fee at Denton is $60. If you’re a bona fide rescue group, you know the routine. 

Amy’s note traditionally ads, “At the Denton Animal Shelter, euthanasia is determined by space, health, and temperament of the dog and they do not have a specific day they euthanize, nor do they provide a EU list.  Therefore, I don’t always know when or which dogs will be euthanized so I try to save as many dogs as I can cuz time is of the essence.”
Her personal motto, after her signature is “Go above and beyond for the animals every day.”
A MISSION FOR A SMALLER DOG
The great Sydney Busch, our longtime tipster with the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake, forwarded a note from another of our longtime tipsters, Stephanie Mosby of CLAW (Citizens League for Animal Welfare) in East Texas.
It’s easy to come up with a positive declaration about Friends of the Animals, the organization that operates the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic in Gun Barrel City Texas. And it’s easy to endorse CLAW -- always trying to make things better for animals. 
This time, Stephanie had a specific need in her letter: “In search of,” she began, “2-years-old or older smaller dog to become elderly man’s buddy. Preferably female, has to be house-trained, would be nice if it were low or non-shedding. This would be an excellent home for a mature dog that would appreciate being spoiled rotten!” (If you know of such a dog, email [email protected].
[LARRY ASIDE: We get a lot of photos from shelters and rescue groups: The majority of the dog photos are of larger Pittie types. The little dogs are quickly taken and stay taken. Maybe that profit motive is why the little dogs tend to show up in “puppy mill” inventories during raids on places that have stopped tending to animals. Check the SPCA story of the raid in Payne Springs, in the same area where the Friends of the Animals work hard to stop breeding and CLAW works to enhance the lives of animals. You can see those animals at the SPCA site HERE. Why just little dogs? Because the villains who breed them know they can sell them to idiots who don’t care about horrifying conditions and inbreeding and sorry practices that result in physical problems for innocent animals.     OK, enough of that. I’m preachin’ to the dog-lovin’ choir. And I really want Stephanie to help this man find a dog he can love and appreciate. Dogs and cats can be great comforts when you’re watching the human news on TV and can’t figure out why we are such a tragic species.]

LAKE DALLAS URGENTS


We periodically mention the little Lake Dallas Animal Shelter -- it’s not far from I-35 north of Dallas but that still doesn’t translate into a lot of foot traffic. Animal Services Director Patricia Barrington is a veteran at trying to hustle help for shelter animals.
These are some of the most urgent.
We opened with Myra, a 2-3-year-old Shepherd mix who is heartworm negative and vaccinate. At 55 pounds, she has “a great personality,” buy nobody wants her so far and she’s on the “urgent list.
That dog Hank, running with the big ears, is clearly an Earhound. How did that happen? He’s a Labrador Beagle mix. 
Director Barrington’s note reads, “Hank has been neutered and vaccinated, but he is HW positive.  LDAS will pay for his HW treatment at the clinic we use in Corinth or at the clinic of your choosing (rescue only for reimbursement) up to $300 upon being invoiced.  This dog is REALLY an awesome dog.  He is prematurely gray, but is only about 4 years old.  He has had families look at him and the kids always adore him and he always adores the kids, but the parents have said he is ‘indifferent’ to them or ‘just sits there with the kids.’ … He will make a great family dog for a family who doesn’t expect a dog to romp and play when they like and to be calm when they demand… He’s laid back and easy going and he likes being with children.  He’s wonderful.  He was running scared in a mobile home park, eating trash for about a week before we were successful in getting him off the streets.  When he discovered we meant no harm, he was an immediate friend and companion to us all.”


The white dog? “Vanilla is an owner surrender GSD.  She is about 3 years old and is a really beautiful dog.  She came from a home with children.  However, she was never crated and, goodness, she was not okay with being in a kennel here; lots of barrier aggression at first.  However, with some patience and persistence, she is learning how to be nice in all types of environments.   Vanilla is spayed but has not been tested or vaccinated.”
That cat? “Rhonda is a very timid gal who has lived the last two years of her life fighting and fending on the grounds of an apartment complex.  Once caught she became somewhat handleable, but is probably best suited as a barn cat.  We had this gal vaccinated and spayed.”


Other dogs include Chihuahua Doxie mix Lance, senior Shepherd Husky mix Leonard (“Winning personalty and very few teeth. This ol’ fella just needs a spot to live out his days.”) and Oakie, a 9-month-old “sweet and energetic Pit Bull Terrier ... knows nothing but how to be lovable and make friends.  He is a great little dog with loads of potential.”


And, available on Tuesday? These are two of a litter of six. Mom’s a Doberman mix who needs a home, too. The guess is the offspring are Doberman/Aussie mixes. Only one is a a boy.
To ask about any of these animals email [email protected] or cal 940-497-7090.
 
MEANWHILE, IN CLAREMORE, OKLA.
Our Middle-Oklahoma tipster known as Karen Brighter Star, sent a note from Devra McManus of the University of Tulsa about the urgent need of several dogs in the Claremore Shelter, northeast of Tulsa on I-44.
This is just one of the dogs. She has use of only 3 of her legs. Here’s her story from the shelter folks: “Poor Trina is a doxie bird dog mix? Fast even with three legs and sweet as a button. She did nothing wrong but was left on a chain her whole life, and now crashing at the shelter. Going to pull her to foster BUT SHE NEEDS rescue or her own family ASAP. She has waited so long to be TRULY LOVED and get to be an INSIDE dog. PLEASE SHARE TRINA and the others...so the shelter will not have to euthanize for space AND some GREAT dogs get to see a FURVER home or rescue, foster and eventual forever home - HELP.”
The contact is Jean Hurst of Claremore Animal Control at 918-341-1260.

CONTEMPLATIONS: Are the Texas Rangers a team of destiny? Just an upbeat thought. ... Now and then I wake up and I think, “Geez, I sure do miss the duck-and-cover era where all I had to worry about was the now-defunct Soviet Union and the bomb.”  Never quite got over the Soviets grabbing “a stray dog from the streets of Moscow” named Laika and sending her into orbit without a way to return safely. That was in 1957 -- the Russians didn’t disclose the cause of her death until 2002 -- failed cooling system. Sheesh. Laika is represented on the Monument to the Conquerors of Space erected in Moscow in 1964. Of course, you can’t really be a conqueror of space until someone from your nation has hit a golf ball on the moon. Thank you, original Mercury Astronaut Alan Shepard for bringing your gear along as commander on the Apollo 14 mission. That was Feb. 6, 1971. You can watch it HERE. Unless, of course, the moon landings were faked in a studio somewhere. ... Because June 14 is Flag Day in the United States, there’s a photo of a stamp from July 4, 1957 -- count the stars. Our online sources also report that June 14 is also National Bourbon Day (an American drink if there ever was one!) and National Strawberry Shortcake Day. Yes, indeed, a good day to celebrate. I’ll have seconds, please.
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SAVE SOME ANIMALS NOW...

EDITION OF MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 (PetPowellPress) -- This is a Monday edition. Let’s get right into it as if there were no construction-inspired traffic jams anywhere in this part of Texas. A fellow can dream, right?


A RESCUER'S NEEDS:
A CHALLENGE OF TIME
Stephen Foster, the president and founder of DFW’s FurGotten Friends, sent us a heartfelt note about a person we’ve mentioned before because of her consistent rescue efforts.
His request is on behalf of Vickie Barcomb, longtime rescuer of critters and hard worker and officer with Kittens Inc.
Stephen’s request for help begins with a “Vickie story” from years ago.
He writes,  “On one of her long rescue trips she came across a man selling puppies on the side of the road. Being the animal lover she is, her only thought was ‘I must try and make sure at least one of them is safe and doesn't go to some unscrupulous person.’ The man had two puppies left so she decided to get the girl to prevent another puppy factory from living with someone who wouldn't spay her. As she walked away both the puppies started struggling and crying for each other. It absolutely broke her heart. These two were six months old and were obviously bonded so she decided to take them both.
"Not knowing how they would act with cats she got them a couple of crates and planned on reaching out to a dog rescue to try and place them. When she got home she put them in their crates and they started crying. Not at her but towards each other. Once she let them get in the same crate they calmed right down. They didn't care about the cats or anything else. They simply wanted to be together. For this reason she decided they must be adopted together. Months went by with no interest in the pair.”
And that is where they are today -- because Vickie is in a tough spot and, still, “there is no interest in the pair.”  But there is more pressure now: Vickie’s health is failing. And she is concerned about Nicholas (Nick) and Samantha (Sam), her two big puppies, now dogs, now beloved, now living together in boarding and needing a home.
Stephen writes that “Nick and Sam are now about 8 years old and their mom was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago. She's what I call a tough old bird. She went through treatments and it looked like she might have beat it. Unfortunately this past year it's come back with a vengeance.
“It seemed like a giving-up statement but Vickie asked me to start looking for a home for her beloved dogs. We started posting them online and taking them to adoption events with the same results Vickie had when she first got them. Absolutely no interest in adopting the pair. Vickie continued to care for them but that is no longer an option. Her last visit to the hospital was the last time she would be back in her home.
“She is now in an assisted living situation. Her house has been cleaned out by her friends and cat rescue volunteers. But the worst thing possible is her dogs, the dogs she saved and has loved their whole lives, are now in boarding. Vickie is devastated and so fearful of leaving this earth without knowing her dogs are safe in another loving home.
“Everything else is just material stuff. The house, car and personal belongs don't mean a thing to her. Her cats have all been placed in other foster homes and her personal business is taken care of.
“This leaves her with only one thing on her mind. Every day, all day. What's to become of my dogs?”

You see the dogs here. Clearly, they belong in one home. One good and decent home that will take care of these older dogs the way Vickie needs it done. 
Stephen is the contact point. Call him at 972-415-5867. email [email protected]. He ended his appeal with, “Please help Vickie go in peace.”

REMINDER: TWO BEAGLES
In our weekend edition, we told the story of these two Beagles who wound up in the Garland Animal Shelter after both of their humans died. Nikki Williamson has been networking and appealing and begging for help in saving 12-year-old Beagle sisters Sadie and Minnie who have spent their entire lives together in a loving household. To offer to help, contact Nikki at 469-363-1867. The dogs’ “hold date” is Tuesday. Make the call now and save two ol’ dogs.


OLDER CATS ON MONDAY
The notice on these cats came from reliable lakeside source Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake, the organization that operates the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas.
Here’s the story: These two beautiful, huge, neutered/spayed, declawed kitties have been with each other since they were kittens. Their people are in very poor health, having to go into assisted living.
Eleven-year-old Sweet Pea is a Burmese/Siamese mix.
Rupert, 12, is “one gorgeous tabby with lots of white.
And, the note reads, “They are in perfect health. Their family would love for them to go to a new home together as they have been with each other forever. They have been around other cats and kids and do fine. And, of course, they have to be totally inside cats..”

The contact is Larry Gillreath at [email protected] or 847-431-8364.
[FYI: Don’t forget that you can help cats and kittens, dogs and puppies, by going to www.friendsoftheanimals.org and donating. The mailing address is Box 5455, Mabank, TX 75147. And the Facebook site is HERE.]  

UNBREAK-A-BULL RESCUE’S ARRAY

Karen Lee, the great animal advocate at Barkleyworld.com, forwarded this collection of photos with  an appeal from the  group, Unbreak-a-Bull Rescue. And, as you can see, they’re not all Pits and Staffies. In fact, some of them are -- gasp! -- CATS! 
The organization is on Facebook HERE and currently in need of help with food, prevention and supplies. Donation info is on the Facebook site.

THE SPCA AND THE ‘RAID’
You’ve probably seen TV reports about the Saturday “visit” to Henderson County by the SPCA of Texas, accompanied by the Henderson County Sheriff’s office. They seized 48 dogs and puppies from a place near Payne Springs -- authorities had responded to a fire on the property on June 9 and found the dogs in a bad state of existence. 
According to the SPCA news release, “The dog owner gave custody of the animals to the SPCA of Teas and Henderson County Sheriff’s office obtained a seizure warrant and served it” on Saturday.

This is one of the SPCA photos and you can see more HERE.  Criminal charges may be filed.
And the animals, after being properly cared for, will, hopefully (if all goes right medically) be available for adoption through the SPCA. Go to spca.org to keep up with the availability and to donate to help the organization pay for this new burden on the budget.
[LARRY ASIDE: Hmm, all little dogs. Hmmmmmm. Puppy mill? Hmmm. Let me click on a map here. Well, I’ll be. Payne Springs is on the eastern bank of Cedar creek Lake and a mere 35 minutes from Canton, home of First Monday and Dog Alley. Hmmm. Don’t mind me, I’m just jumpin’ to conclusions.]
CONTEMPLATIONS: Our Monday edition arrived with a sadness over not only the violence in Orlando but all of the violence in this nation and all others. That kid singer is murdered one day in Orlando. Less than 24 hours later, someone kills 50 people in a nightclub in Orlando. Lord knows how many people were killed around the country on a Saturday night, traditionally a big night on the police beat, as I recall from my reporter days. What in the heck is wrong with America? It has always had a violent edge, but is it getting worse? Stats will probably show both yes and no. Whatever the case, it’s what we have in our hearts that matters. And the hearts have to be united for the causes of national protection and peace. We’re not just protecting a night club or a building, we’re protecting the American future. And America stands for peace and stands firmly on the side of the oppressed. Good grief. We can’t even decide on bathrooms these days, how are we going to decide on safety from outside forces? Time to get smarter. Is America built for getting smarter? Geez, that’s a tough question for a Monday. Take a week to think about it. A whole week. [LARRY ASIDE: See those flags -- that’s a Houston Chronicle photo from online.  And those two flags are the only flags I’m interested in living under. Pretty sure I’m not alone.] ... While looking for info about Unbreak-a-Bull Rescue, I found this sign on the group’s BLOG. It fits many situations in North Texas, some mentioned here today. ... And, now, a sincere, “God bless Texas and God bless America.”


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SUNDAY AFTERNOON DAS EMERGENCY

There’s the Dallas Animal Services collection of photos about this desperate need for help. A mom, struck by a car and with 11 two-week-old pups who are still nursing.
Here’s the story from Erica Vega in adoptions at DAS. This is not an adoption -- it’s a rescue challenge. Her note reads:

“This family is at Dallas Animal Services and is in need of emergency medical transfer! She came to the shelter after being hit by a car.  Her left hind leg is possibly broken, she will not support weight on it.  She has an ulcer on her mammary glands and much of the tissue is necrotic. 
She has 11 two-week-old pups that she is nursing.  She is still caring for them but needs some help since she should be focusing on healing.  Our veterinary staff is asking that she be pulled by close of business today 6/12/16.  We close at 5pm and will need to have a tag in prior to then.  Email [email protected] to tag!”
She is "A943520 + 11 puppies."

[LARRY ASIDE: And, ladies and gentlemen, WHY SHOULDN’T WE LET OUR ANIMALS ROAM FREE? (A) They get knocked up and (B) they get hurt. Ought to be a law. Oh, wait, there is. But first, for crying out loud, SAVE THIS FAMILY.]
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LITTLE 'N' BIG SLEEPERS; TWO BEAGLES NEEDING HELP IN GARLAND

 I’m pretty sure that little dog isn’t big enough to make this qualify as a picture of a “dog pile.”
In this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, we examine an age-old dog question. You can see it atop this photo posted by Maeleska Fletes on her Facebook page. She wrote, “Why do little Chis like to sit on top of bigger dogs? Holly doesn’t seem to mind.”
Gillian Allder Stewart posted what may be the accurate answer: “Big old hot water bottle.”
“Chis” is short for Chihuahuas -- this Shorthuahua is named Daisy. There’s a whole big story between Daisy and two dogs at Maeleska's house. Yes, Daisy has two “big old hot water bottles.”
Maeleska, as many of you know, is a longtime rescuer and foster of dogs and cats, serves on the Dallas Animal Shelter Commission and is president of the Dallas Companion Animal Project. 
We asked for an explanation of the photo and Maeleska provided not just that but the other stories in her household. [LARRY ASIDE: When you’re in rescue, you’re living with it, not just observing.]


She writes, “OK so first is Holly (our dog) the yellow Lab mix. She was found running loose in Forest Hills about 7 years ago. We fell in love with her and had to keep her. She is the alpha in our house and loves almost every dog or puppy or even kitten we bring in. We could not foster like we do without her and Charlie Brown, of course.”

(Charlie Brown is the Chocolate Lab on the couch with that stretching cat, Pearl, rescued off the DART tracks. The photo ran in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap in March, 2008.)


“The cute little Chi is Daisy. She was found as a stray and turned into Dallas Animal Services at only 4 weeks old," Maeleska writes. "I took her home since she was too young to adopt. She is absolutely adorable!! She will be available for adoption through Rockwall Pets. They have stepped up to take her into their program. What an awesome group!
“ I attached a few more pictures of Daisy sleeping with my other foster Chewy.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Star Wars fans can, I think, applaud the selection of that name for the big, hairy puppy! Though, of course, it may not actually have been inspired by the Wookie.]


Maeleska continues, “Chewy was also a stray turned into DAS at only 5 weeks old. I'm not certain what breed he is but I think he's gonna be a pretty good size. He is only 1 week older than Daisy and you can see he's a lot bigger. He has doubled in size in just 2 weeks. He is super sweet and drives the other dogs crazy by chewing on their legs. Humane Tomorrow has stepped up and is taking him into their program. I'm holding him here till their foster is ready. So another awesome group is taking one of my fosters!”

[LARRY ASIDE: Many a rescuer has found himself or herself tuckered out and joining a dog or a cat on the couch or on the bed or even on the rug that was installed for the dogs! Maybe Daisy was a rescue group foster mom in a previous life. If you’d like to foster animals, find a rescue group and apply. You can easily get involve in a rewarding activity that helps make a dog or cat more adoptable and helps make you a shoo-in for getting through the Pearly Gates. That’s what I heard. I have no reason to doubt it and every reason to hope that it’s true.]

NOMINATE YOUR SLUMBERING critters for the spotlight of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap by emailing their photos and their stories to [email protected]. We’re proud to publish these dozing critters to give hope to insomniacs that they, too, can find the key to sleeping if they can just find the right critter to sleep on or under!

BEAGLES IN NEED IN GARLAND;

HUMANS HAVE DIED;
HELP NEEDED NOW
As you may suspect, being behind the fencing of a kennel at an animal shelter is a completely unnatural place for these two Beagles. 
And, yes, the clock is ticking at Garland Animal Services.
The story is heartbreaking.
Nikki Williamson sent us the note Friday and then told the story. Here it is (keep your heart open, you may be able to help two dogs survive). Nikki wrote:
“It is with a very heavy heart that I am posting this information. My good friend Bryant Berkan passed away Monday 6/6. His wife sadly had passed in January.
"As much of a tragedy this is for friends and family they left 4 dogs behind with no mommy or daddy anymore. The dogs were picked up by Garland animal control and placed in the Garland animal shelter.
“I have been working diligently to try and help them and get them out of the shelter. I was able to contact TLC Rescue to take back the young Lab which was picked up today. I went and picked up the Chihuahua/Jack Russell mix and a family member has taken him in.

“My heart broke having to leave behind the two senior Beagle sisters. They are very low key, house trained, cage trained and very loving. Sadie and Minnie are sisters and have been together their whole 12 years of their lives. They would ideally like to live out the rest of their lives together.

“Being as I have three animals already in an apartment I simply cannot take them in. I am reaching out to any rescue group or a wonderful person who could take them in.
“The hold date at the shelter is up on Tuesday 6/14. The shelter obviously would love to help adopt them out but after Tuesday their days are numbered. Being as they are seniors they are top of the euthanasia list. I have included some photos from my visit today at the shelter. They were the best I could get in the tight space they are now living in.
“I have all medical records and I am happy to help in any fees associated with their release from the shelter. I am also able to meet any rescue outside of DFW to transport. I am asking anyone in my FB contacts to repost or contact me for more information at 469-363-1867. Please help!!!!”

And there you have it, folks. An opportunity to help two dogs live out their happy lives next to a human they can love.

The permeating sadness of this story cannot be defeated, but it is a story that doesn’t have to get sadder because people punctuate it with the death of two Beagles.
--- To comment, think of someone who might help these dogs and let us know by calling Nikki and clicking below. ---

From here to back yonder in '36: a hopper, regular critters and singin' cowboys

EDITION OF FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016 (PetPowellPress) -- All week we’ve been concerned about finding kitten fosters for Dallas Animal Services -- the shelter’s still looking, but, inexplicably, on the DAS Facebook Thursday, this showed up: a Wallaby.
DAS was seeking a sanctuary or haven to take the wallaby in. 


What is a wallaby? It is a mix between a kangaroo and a Texas jackrabbit. Just kidding. 
It’s an Australian and New Guinea marsupial -- a macropod, i.e., vegetarian.  
And, yes, you can buy wallabies and their big cousins, kangaroos, in Texas for “pets.” Just can't keep 'em in many cities. Naturally, people do. Why? Because people are idiots. Don't argue. The evidence is overwhelming.
[LARRY ASIDE: I’m surprised I haven’t found one in Kiest Park or there haven’t been reports of roaming Wallaby herds eating the lush undergrowth in the Trinity River bottoms and waiting for the opening of the Big D Marsupial and Water Park.]
Get in touch with the shelter if you know of a safe place for this critter. This one is an owner surrender -- the person found out Dallas has laws about exotic animals.

And, just for fun (they do have a sense of humor at DAS these days), there’s the poster (click on it to make it grow) that tells the general public about the bargain price -- zip -- on dogs and cats through 5 p.m. Sunday -- all you have to do is say “Wally sent me.” 

Remember, if you don’t have the room to adopt a dog or cat, find someone who does and who is a decent person and put them together with a City of Dallas unwanted animal. Go to dallasanimalservices.org to see how to adopt and who is available.
What does a wallaby eat? DAS says, “He eats rabbit food, and he ate all of ours, so we need donations, please, of rabbit food, alfalfa pellets, etc.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Yeah, rabbit food, except when they get really angry during a full moon they become Werelabies and they consume entire subdivisions of manicured lawns on a single night -- wait, sorry. That’s from my upcoming novel, The Wallaby Hops By Night.]

SHELTER ALERTS


In addition to DAS and the kittens, and this editions stories about Rowlett and Mesquite, we’ve also gotten “Code Red” notices about Ferris Animal Shelter, Arlington Animal Shelter -- probably every shelter in all 254 counties of Texas needs some help saving the lives of dogs and cats.  (FYI: Readlarrypowell.com believes anytime an animal is in a shelter it's CODE RED already -- one of those "goes without saying" deals.)

Here’s the deal: Shelters have found all the animals, now animal people just have to find all the homes. The population of Dallas/Fort Worth is more than 7.1 million: They can't all be living in apartments that don’t allow dogs and cats.
How do you reach them? Skywriting? Big sign on top of AT&T Stadium in Arlington? Constant TV crawl on a shopping channel?  Hand out flyers at religious services? Got to be some kind of sweeping solution to the indifference problem.
Don’t get me started on Oklahoma. From Ardmore, to Tulsa to Burns Flat. Yep, animal issues everywhere.  

THE THREE FRIGHTENED DOGS

AND CODE RED ROWLETT

You may recall this story from a couple of days back. Dawna Carabajal sends some uplifting news: “I wanted to let you know that 2 of the 3 frightened dogs went to rescue and we got an extension on the 3rd dog. Gryffin was rescued by Take Me Home Pet Rescue and Dakota was rescued by Dallas DogRRR. Nebraska is still at the shelter but his deadline has been extended to next Wednesday, June 15. Nebraska is actually the most social of the 3 so we are hopeful we can find him rescue. The Rowlett shelter is full again though, so we need to find rescue as soon as possible.
“The shelter is Code Red now. All adoption are reduced to $25 until further notice. The adoption fee includes sterilization, microchip, and vaccinations. We especially need to get Ora and Dillon adopted, as they are the longest residents. Ora loves to play with the water when you spray a water hose. Dillon is a staff favorite who talks to the staff whenever they walk by. We also have lots of awesome cats and so many cute kittens!”
The shelter phone number is 972-412-6219. Email [email protected]. And if you want to get involved in Friends of Rowlett Animals, email Dawna at [email protected].

MEANWHILE, A WANDER-UP
Still unclaimed, but still very pretty is this dog Sydney Bush of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake first tipped us about earlier in the month.

The story, according to the note, is, “Marley, a 35 lbs-ish sweetest dog ever, wandered up to kind person's house - she is having her spayed and vaccinated but cannot keep her as she chases the cat. Marley is wonderful with children.” 
The foster home is going to be able to keep her about a week. To offer to take in this great, sweet dog,  call 214-577-8273 or email [email protected].

The first note about Marley read, “She started coming around our house about a month ago, then would leave and be gone for several days before returning.  Lately, probably since I’ve been feeding her on a regular basis, and because it has been raining lots and I have a very large covered porch, she has been staying around.  My 8-year-old and 5-year-old grandchildren absolutely love her, but my 8-year-old Maltese, Sugarbear, and my 3-year-old cat, Caspurr… not so much.
"

ONCE AGAIN, MESQUITE IS FULL


You can see these animals up close online on Facebook HERE or if you get to the Mesquite Animal Shelter at 1650 Gross Road in time you can see them in person. Call 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS: KITTENS, CATS
& SINGING COWBOYS AT FAIR PARK

The names cracked me up. These two kittens are available through Take Me Home Pet Rescue. You can read about the group and apply to adopt, volunteer to foster or click some donations at takemehomerescue.com. ... Checked with Holiday Insights online and discovered that June is National Accordion Awareness Month AND National Adopt-a-Cat Month. We have cats. We have no accordion. Not sure cats are that keen on accordions. Holiday Insights says June 10 is National Iced Tea Day, too. That’s something worth celebrating. ... On Thursday Fair Park celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Texas Centennial Exposition. It put Texas on the global map business-wise, culture-wise, etc. And there’s even a Gene Autry movie called The Big Show  (click and watch) filmed at the Centennial. (You’ll see the Gene, nicknamed The Singing Cowboy, starring and in a supporting role, a guitar player/singer with the Sons of the Pioneers named Leonard Slye. Anybody? Anybody? Yes, you in the back of the room, you are correct. Leonard Slye became singing Roy Rogers, the King of the Cowboys. Gene? He recorded Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and many other hit Christmas songs and owned the Texas Rangers’ rival California or Anaheim or Los Angeles Angels, now known as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Neither ever co-starred with a Wallaby in a movie about a kangaroo rodeo titled Back in the Saddle Again.
--- To comment. grab the reins on your QuarterMouse and spur below. ---