He will need someone that understands his needs.
-- Maeleska Fletes, April 2013.
And, there you have it, canine slumber in all its most comfortable glory.
A perfect example for "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap," our long-running weekend feature at Readlarrypowell.com.
Move from April 2013 to October 2016 and you have Tommy the Dog, tubby tummy and all, happily asleep in one of his favorite places at the home of Maeleska Fletes, veteran rescuer, veteran foster and, yes, someone who “understands his needs.” She also knows the difference between “foster” and “permanent foster.”
We featured Tommy years ago when the effort to find him a home was getting to be quite sincere. That’s when Maeleska gave us that quote about Tommy needing someone who understands his needs -- clearly he had picked her out and she didn’t realize it yet.
As you may know, Maeleska serves on the City of Dallas Animal Shelter Commission and is president of the Dallas Companion Animal Project. She knows the story of animal predicaments in this town and how humans can be both their curse and their salvation.
“Tommy was a street dog that was caught by JP,” Maeleska helped me recall. JP Bonnelly and Duck Team 6 went out to capture a bloodied dog.
Back then, Maeleska explained, “Tommy was a street dog that had a very hard start in life. He lived in a vacant lot and made his pack two dogs that lived in a fenced-in yard. He always could be found there. Neighborhood bad people would turn their dogs onto him leaving him with open wounds mainly on head. When he was first spotted he was a bloody mess. Duck Team 6 was contacted and a trap was set. It took only one try and he was caught. I brought him home and Dr. Erin Shults [founder of Mazie’s Mission] treated him. He was heartworm positive and had a luxating patella [floating kneecap]. Through donations both treatments were done.
“Tommy had never been in a home. It took an hour to coax him into my house. Walking on a hardwood floor was awfully scary. Now he loves to sleep with a pillow under his head. He still shows some fear when he is around other dogs in an unfamiliar place. He will need someone that understands his needs. He loves the small fosters that come into my home.”
Time moves forward, Tommy finds his happy place and this week Maeleska sent Readlarrypowell.com the Sleeping Dog Picture. (If you want to see if you can talk Maeleska out of this dog, email [email protected]. She can also help you with adopting other dogs and cats, too.)
“He has been with me for about 6 years now,” she said. “He is for adoption but since he has never had one application on him he has become a permanent foster. This was taken one cool morning. He was on the patio enjoying the cool weather. Thought you might enjoy looking at his fat belly.”
Just an FYI regarding Tommy’s vet all those years ago, Dr. Shults, and her very real dream project, the Mazie’s Mission Rescue Clinic: The big fundraiser: Mazie’s Mission B.A.R.C. Honky Tonk Gala is coming up on November 5. Get tickets and info at maziesmission.org. Here’s the artwork.
[SEND YOUR SLEEPER AND NAPPER PHOTOS to [email protected]. We love showing off your slumbering critters to the world in "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap." They demonstrate that there are households where animals can relax and nod off like any other member of the family. And, of course, they give hope to the globe’s insomniacs that they, too, can finally enjoy some sleep if they can just find the right position and place on a couch, in a bed or on a piece of backyard furniture. Doesn’t that Tommy photo just make you smile! Bless his loved heart.]
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