EDITION OF FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 2017 (PetPowellPress) --- End of the workweek -- except as a former nights and weekends worker, I know it’s not really the end of the workweek. There are a lot of people who keep things going in America by working nights and weekends. Bless every one of them whether they wear a badge, staff a hospital, work in highway construction, make emergency power
calls or emergency plumbing calls or run the registers at filling stations and convenience stores or do a thousand other things that help keep us sane. America is a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week place. You know, like volunteer animal rescuers.
That cat? Why that is “Itty Bitty,” currently in the care of the SPCA of Texas. And, fans of the Tuna, Texas trilogy will recall the line “Who in the hell would name a cat that big Itty Bitty?” Irony? This cat actually is itty bitty. He’s a 4-pounder, the SPCA says. A 4-pound adult cat. More on the SPCA in a minute.
MEANWHILE IN LANCASTER
Tomi Ortiz, our longtime Lancaster animal monitor, keeps up with the Furbabies of Lancaster Facebook page and sent a note Thursday about these two dogs, “It’s hard to believe that Clifford and Rex are still at the shelter. I’m so sad.”
No kidding. Look at these potential members of a family.
Here’s how the Furbabies’ text reads: “SOS SOS SOS THE LANCASTER TEXAS ANIMAL SHELTER IS IN EMERGENCY NEED OF A MIRACLE DAY--doggies, kitty cats, puppies and kittens!! The shelter is TOTALLY FULL!! All ADOPTERS OR FOSTERS/RESCUES NEEDED NOW TO SAVE LIVES! There are so many precious but homeless lives needing a loving and caring furever home. Humans have totally let them down-put an end to their nightmare that they have endured! SHARE AND HELP SAVE EACH ONE OF THEM!! [Here] are some of them but there are others. IF YOU CAN'T ADOPT, AT LEAST STEP UP AND FOSTER--IT IS ONLY TEMPORARY. 690 E Main St, Lancaster TX, open M-F 8am to 5pm. Clifford has $280 in pledges and Rex has $180 and HAVE SOMEONE TO PAY FOR NEUTERING ...IF RESCUE TAGS.”
Here's a video of Rex. And here's the Furbabies' LINK.
EXIT DFW FOR SAFETY
Channel 33 did an “advance” on Wings of Rescue flying 100 animals from the Fort Worth animal shelter to Seattle. And on Thursday, NBC5 did a report on the actual event.
Yep, this Livermore, Ca., organization is making news all over Dallas/Fort Worth.
But, gosh, wouldn’t it be nice if local media would pay attention to Love on Wheels, which drives North Texas animals to safety, and Tawana Couch’s Society for Companion Animals (the Flying Pets Rescue logo is SFCAs),
which also sends them flying to safety before the needle can get them.
Many wind up in such places as The Hamptons. No kidding.
The CW33 story, practically giddy in tone, ended with this paragraph, sort of diminishing the seriousness of the animal situation in North Texas. It reads, “Let’s help clear out our shelters and solve our pet population problem. Because while it’s great that Seattle is offering them a home, you better believe these Texan dogs are going to miss their barbecue!”
Here’s NBC5’S story.'
And if you want to get involved with our local heroes, you can get started on supporting Love on Wheels by clicking HERE and join-up with Society For Companion Animals HERE. Volunteers, cash, elbow grease -- whatever you've got, these organizations can use it. Time. Give 'em some time, too. There may be other organizations -- feel free to email [email protected] and let us know.
THE NON-GOVERNMENT SHELTERS
NEED ADOPTORS, TOO
Giant rat and his porcine companion? Stars of a 1950s science-fiction film? Read on: You know, of course, that every
time someone adopts an animal from the SPCA of Texas or any other shelter not financed by tax dollars it still opens up a spot to save another animals. Empty a cage at the SPCA, and maybe you’ll create a spot for an animal that is in shelter that has an active needle. I don’t know where these four came from, but I do know that they’re all in the care of the SPCA of Texas.
And, though the rat on the left looks as big as the pig on the right, it’s an optical illusion. And look at the face on Acia and that attitude on Millie. All of ‘em and our opening cat Itty Bitty are at spca.org.
CONTEMPLATION:
DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES
I got a forwarded email that came with a photo of a giant metal basket piled up with puppies and the message read that things were desperate because Dallas Animal Services had just taken in 199 puppies.
OK, not puppies. Relax about the puppies. There’s a difference between “199 puppies” and “199 animals.” Still, it’s nearly 200 lives that need to be saved because the City of Dallas’ official stance hews to the ol’ Texas theory of animal management: “Got an animal problem, let’s kill it.”
That’s what they figure Downtown at City Hall, far away from the purring kittens and frolicking puppies who trust the person who shoves the needle into their little bodies. But out in the shelter, people are hustling to save animals. Doesn’t mean they save all of them, but they do try.
Here’s what was posted on the DAS Facebook page Thursday:
“Days like Monday - where 199 animals come through the door, are undeniably difficult for all involved with DAS. And the need is still there, every day... yesterday, we had another 119 animals come in.
“But some days, we get a chance to see that the work we're putting is is making a difference... the work of all those in the community that care about the animals in Dallas.
“We are so proud to release our May shelter and field statistics, showing a 74.1% live release rate for the month of May and a 25% decrease in euthanasia from the same month last year.
“This is despite bringing in more animals - in fact there was a 25% increase in intake from the year before as our field team steps up their efforts to get loose dogs off the streets.
“How are we doing it?
“Last month, we adopted out more than 1,000 animals - a 49% increase from May 2016. We returned more than 500 animals to their owners - a 156% increase from May 2016. And our amazing rescue partners took nearly 1,000 animals out of the shelter - a 36% increase from May 2016.
“To everyone who has adopted, fostered, volunteered or just shared the need - you are making a difference! Thank you for all your hard work - the animals are grateful for you.”
The post included a link to the DAS stats HERE
.
That puppy photo was included in this post.
The picture of Sweet Katie (A0994967) was in the post right under it. The report is this “beautiful girl with a heart of gold...came into DAS with some healed scars - we have no way of knowing what happened to her, but she's looking ahead to a happy future! She's been polite with children, non-reactive to other dogs, and loves to cuddle and gives hugs! As part of our big dog promotion, her adoption fee is just $35, so come in and meet her today!”
And here’s the most recent daily stat sheet from DAS. The euthanasia system is still in operation -- and look at the “full” status. Not the shelter's fault -- it's the residents' fault. Dallas has more than it's share of Village Idiots.
There was that headline in The Big Paper Downtown that, perhaps, is a hint that animal advocates should start calling their council members and raising hell politely. The headline read “Dallas City Council Has $800 Million To Spend and Still No Clear Idea How To Spend It.” I'm betting the diligent animal advocates of Dallas have some ideas.
FYI: Go to dallasanimalservices.org and click on ABOUT to navigate to the assorted stats -- this one is "daily" every couple of days.
--- TO COMMENT, CLICK BELOW AND TELL US HOW TO SAVE MORE ANIMALS IN DALLAS ---
