EDITION OF MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2018 [PetPowellPress] We enter the last few days of January thinking it feels like it was just 30 minutes ago that we were counting down to midnight on New Year’s Eve 2018. Was Washington that distracting?
Speaking of expecting, as the weekend arrived we got a photograph that can only be described as “the very picture of pregnancy.”
Our Denton McNatt Animal Shelter volunteer tipster Amy Poskey sent the appeal for help with Mama May.
Holy smoke. Nobody wanted this momma dog and nobody wanted her puppies and, apparently, nobody wanted to spay her or neuter her consort and here we go with puppies that, for a while, were going to be born just to die. Read on for the rest of the tale of Mama May. We have other challenges, too, in this edition.
ABOUT MAMA MAY AND GIZMO
Both of these dogs were in their own personal desperate situations. You can see in the second Mama May photo that she’s substantially pregnant, even when stretched out. There’s good news.
On Sunday, Amy sent the note reading, “I am very happy to report that Mama May has left the building. Aaron Ogden with Guardian Pit Bull Rescue of Houston sent a team member to pull her Sunday morning so she is safe and in good hands. Now this sweet girl can bring her little family into this world in a loving foster home.” [LARRY ASIDE: Amy included the Guardian website, http://guardianpitbullrescue.com, so people can donate to the care and health of Mama May or maybe line up to adopt Mama or a puppy. No telling how many puppies are in there and, as anyone who has been involved with a litter of puppies can tell you, they’re practically free but you have a tendency to give them everything they might need! I’m kidding. There’s nothing free about a litter of puppies or
kittens or kids (I had twins — they’ll laugh at the litter joke.)]
Now, Amy is working on helping Gizmo, this striking Bernese Mountain Dog/Aus- tralian Shepherd Mix. Amy reported Sunday afternoon that there had been “two rescue offers” but what is still needed is “a foster home to make that happen.”
The report is that badly injured Gizmo — apparently struck by a motor vehicle — had been picked up by a Denton ACO on January 16 and has been in the care of the Animal Hospital on Teasley Lane. The hope was his injured leg would not require amputation. But the nerve damage was too great and Gizmo’s quality of life would be better without the leg.
Gizmo’s surgery may be next week. He’s about 5 and will be available for fostering and adopting. He’s got a good temperament, Amy’s note says.
To offer to rescue, foster or adopt Gizmo, email gayla.nelson@cityofdenton.com or Randi.Weinberg@cityofdenton.com or call the shelter at 940-349-7594.
[LARRY ASIDE: A vet friend of mine and I were discussing 3-legged dogs and he said, “There's an ol' veterinarians line that 'Dogs are born with 3 legs and a spare'.” Sure enough, in my time writing about dogs, I’ve noticed that when 3-legged dogs are in a multiple mutt situation, the 3-legged dog tends to be the leader of the pack and will run to win all races. Then they wait to be hugged and loved. Bless their darlin’ hearts!]
EVERMAN SHELTER IS FULL?
YES & FEES ARE WAIVED?
At Everman, on the southeastern side of Fort Worth, there is a full city shelter, we’re told in emails from the reliable tipster Heather Harrison.
She wrote to her contacts about this handsome 3-year-old German Shepherd, Reaper. The note said, “Had an owner, but he never came for him. [Reaper] is very active and energetic. Needs some manners.”
To rescue him or adopt him into an exceptional home — no idiots need apply — contact the Everman Animal shelter at
817-561-5495. Same number and “No Idiots Rule” for Rocco.
FYI FROM LARRY: I looked Reaper up on the Everman shelter’s website and saw a lot of adorable adoptables waiting for a decent break in this world. One of the dogs I spotted was this handsome guy Rocco, an owner surrender. He’s 6 or 7 years old and if that owner surrendered him, you have to think Rocco’s Rottweiler heart is breaking.
He weighs 95 pounds is neutered, microchipped, up to date on shots. And the shelter says, “We were unable to verify if he is heartworm negative due to stubbornness at the clinic,….Rocco is a happy, happy big boy who loves being the center of attention and being around people. He is good with all dogs, even puppies….”
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE:
THE CLOCK IS TICKING....
You know how the Mesquite Animal Services Shelter has a Code Red list that helps rescuers know who is in a countdown at the facility. Over the weekend we got notice of several dogs on the clock for Tuesday.
Jetta is on the Code Red list for 11 a.m. Tuesday. She’s a year old, a Pittie mix and a stray who arrived on January 3. Judi writes, “Jetta’s low-to-the-ground, full-figured body make her adorable!…I fell in love with her almost immediately. Her pudgy little body wiggles all over with excitement when you pay her attention.” The 45-pound dog wags her tail
constantly, Judi says, then adds, “She throws in some kisses as a bonus.” She’s #40487185.
We mentioned Lucy (deadline is 2 p.m. Tuesday) before she made the list. Judi Brown, the volunteer shelter biographer, wrote, “This is one heck of a sweet dog. Not only that ....she’s gorgeous. I don’t understand why she still there. If you cannot tag or adopt please network her.” [Her # is 40581025] The shelter “noise and confusion” made her hazel eyes wide with excitement — and concern.
Henry is also on the 2 p.m. Tuesday list. Judi says the shelter’s “Rescue Coordinator absolutely adores him and had him hang out with her today in her office. When I walked into his kennel yesterday he was standing up and he wagged his tail. I did not have to carry him out into the yard!!!. He is still very shy and fearful but he absolutely adores having his ears scratched. The progress he’s made so far on a scale of 1 to 10 is a seven. I absolutely adore this dog. You will too when you meet him.
“ Henry is a 2-year-old Lab/Pittie mix who came to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 1/16 as a stray. Judi says, "He is not showing well in his kennel because he’s obviously depressed. He is very listless in his kennel.”
Henry weighs 60 pounds and Judi asserts, “I am confident that he will blossom into a very loving affectionate pet.” Since coming into the shelter, Judi says, Henry has gone from laying in the volunteer room and having to be carried outside to do his business, to “standing in an almost frozen position in the yard to
relaxing a little.” He’s #40581001.
To save any of these lives, call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com. You can see the adorable adoptables in Mesquite by going to the shelter website HERE.
And just so you won’t think Mesquite only has dogs, this is Cat #40603373. She’s a little over 2 years old, is an orange/black Domestic Shorthair Mix — mixed with what we don’t now. She’s already spayed. And she’s available for rescue or adoption. Clearly she’s a girl who doesn’t mind a firm hug when she’s being held.
[LARRY ASIDE: Dogs and cats — save ‘em all at Mesquite and you’ll get a gold star on your permanent record. Pretty sure that’s a rule.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
GOVERNMENT, A DOG’S FATE & KINDNESS
There’s no doubt in my mind that with the federal government back at full operation, we’ll be rockin’ like the middle-aged Rolling Stones in no time. (Remember this quote from the Cowboy Philosopher Will Rogers (1879-1935): “Be thankful we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for.” …
And we have to remember, my fellow humans and other beings reading this, we ought to be kind to animals. FYI, Will Rogers was from Oklahoma, so I’m turning the spotlight on Oklahoma right now thanks to our Burns Flat tipster, the resilient rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher. She’s got a load of animal challenges —dogs and cats — and you can find out how to help her by emailing her at remembering_ oddball@ yahoo.com. In the meantime, she’s desperate to get some help for a “very fixable dog” who was brought into her sphere of influence by the animal control officer in Elk City. This dog had been hit by a car and, Terry Lynn says, the officer “knew the owners and the [Elk City authorities] have had several issues with them in the past. They would not claim her. He rushed her to the emergency vet which happened to be my wonderful vet, Doc Noble [Dr. Bill Noble, Elk Creek Animal Clinic].”
The officer explained that the city couldn’t do anything because the dog was on stray hold, and he asked if the Clinic could give her something for the pain. “Of course, my vet did and made her where she was resting.”
The officer said the city “does not have the funds to do anything so they would put her down,” Terry Lynn says.
She called the vet and learned the dog has “a very badly broken leg and her jaw is broken. She has a huge open wound on her face and several other areas that need to be stitched up. They said she is so sweet and gentle and very fixable."
Terry Lynn says, “I am giving her a chance. How do I not? But I have to ask for help.”
Yes, Terry Lynn will apply donations to help this girl survive and find a good home. Email her at remembering_oddball@yahoo.com. Here are the contact points:
ELK CREEK CLINIC, 1301 AIRPORT INDUSTRIAL, ELK CITY OK 73644 (CALL 580-225-4863); TERRY LYNN FISHER, P.O. BOX 578, BURNS FLAT, OK., 73624. (CALL 580-330-1459); TERRY LYNN’S PAYPAL is bfvfd_109@yahoo.com.
This girl’s challenge is one of many Terry Lynn is facing this week. She’s working to help two dogs that belonged to an elderly woman who died and also left behind several cats she’d rescued.
Terry Lynn writes, “So, here we go again.... and again... and again... I wish I could just lay down and sleep — to not see all these innocent eyes filled with pain and confusion; to not wonder how I am going to continue this. I have several in boarding... I need to get dogs to Dallas... dogs to Denver... dogs to Santa Fe... And somewhere, I need to be here for my personal fur babies. So, yes, I am asking for help with this baby who had her body ripped apart and was left to die in the middle of the dark road.”
What are we contemplating here? The massive amount of emotional stamina it takes to be a rescuer. Every now and then readlarrypowell.com gets a note from a rescuer who is heartbroken and defeated. Most of the time, they bounce back. God bless their wonderful hearts and I hope they all know that what they do is appreciated as “the work of the angels.”
It would be nice, every now and then, if we’d hear that a rescuer has won Lotto Texas — wouldn’t bother me if an Oklahoma rescuer won Lotto Texas. Now and then, surely, some Texans bring home money from Oklahoma casinos. Surely.
And we’ll close with a Dalai Lama quote: “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
—- Offer a response or advice by clicking on ‘comment’ or emailing dallrp@aol.com - we’ll kindly read your note. —-
