THINGS TO CONSIDER IN A WORLD FOR ANIMALS AND PEOPLE WITH LOVING HEARTS

EDITION OF TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Readlarrypowell.com has a special gift for you this edition. We’ll not examine Washington reports, college-level bribery or March madness TV broadcasts. Or hail. Or the Texas Rangers’ pitching staff. Before we get to other business today, we will mention this 6-year-old-girl Kima, in the care of Dallas Animal Services since March 16. Why is she significant? Kima is the last known gray and white tabby cat in Dallas, Texas. TIME OUT! Let me check my notes. Oops. No, Kima is one of many tabby cats available throughout Dallas and North Texas. She happens to be at the DAS PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center, 16821 N. Coit Road, in Dallas (call 972-381-1588, ext. 5). She’s 6 years old — she oughta be a housecat who enchants her people. Look at those whiskers and those markings -- she was born into HD! (That's "high definition" for those of you who are happy with black-and-white TV.)
ABOUT THIS DOG IN GARLAND
We got a reminder about Tyrion Lannister (A236642) from Deborah Lynn Verner, our longtime tipster and admired rescuer of critter.
She’s concerned about this boy. You may recall that she “rescued this pup off the streets, but had nowhere to take him, so he ended up at the Garland Shelter. He was abandoned on the streets after his owner died. This sweet, sad boy needs a forever home. ”
She adds that “due to being Heartworm Positive, he is now Code Red. He is available for adoption or rescue. His heartworm treatment is sponsored by Funding for Fido.”
 Here’s the LINK to her Facebook post. The pup is described as a “neutered, vaccinate male, tricolor Jack Russell Terrier/German Shepherd Dog mix. About 2 years old. About 20 pounds.” He’s been off stray hold since the 10th. Contact info is in the artwork.
DO YOU KNOW A CAT WHO NEEDS
SOME SPECIALIZED SURGERY FOR $15?

We got the tip on this from Karen Lee of barkleyworld.com and from the TCAP folks, too. The Texas Coalition for Animal Protection has arranged to “have your cat fixed for $15 at any TCAP location during April.” You can read about TCAP’s work at texasforthem.org and click HERE to see locations and services that helps dogs and cats.
It is virtually impossible to live in Dallas/Fort Worth and have a good excuse for not spaying or neutering your cat or anybody else’s cat! 

For this TCAP special, cats have to be older than 10 weeks, less than 5 years; must wight at least 2 pounds and be healthy. They also can get the rabies vaccination for $5 if they don’t have one and they’ll need one to qualify for this program. Check out the rules online. Remember, the goal is to keep the area from having unwanted kittens that are born just to be killed; the goal isn't to get rich off of the fertile nature of North Texas.
TWO MORE STRAYS
ON MESQUITE CLOCK
Holy smoke, Judi Brown, the volunteer biographer at Mesquite Animal Shelter, can certainly spotlight some interesting and beautiful dogs. We have two strays as examples.
 Hal (41102165) is our first “demonstration of handsome.” Plus he’s got an active tail that wags nearly back up to his ribcage — see the tip of it in this photo? Hal is a year-old, 53-pound Basenji/Canaan mix, Judi reports. Came in on the 18th. “He’s a very handsome boy. You would’ve thought Hal’s owners would’ve come looking for him because he such a sweet, friendly, gentle young dog. He’s got a very laid-back yet loving personality. He gives gentle affectionate kisses. He stays close wanting to please. His tail wags constantly. He looks up at you with adoring eyes. He walks well on a leash. … I know he would like nothing better than to curl up in a pile of blankets next to his family.”

I’ve used two photos of this next pup, Chuck, a year-old, neutered, 50-plus pound Coonhound/ Pointer mix, who came in on the 19th. His face has such different countenances, that I felt it would be unfair to not show the range of his emotions!  Well, he looks sincere, anyway! Who know? Hollywood may need this dog for a featured role. His description sounds like acting resumes I have read.
Judi writes, “He’s an exuberant dog with an abundance of energy and playfulness. He’s a happy guy. He’s very friendly. He is so excited to interact with you that he forgets his manners and sometimes jumps on you. He could use some training to teach him not to do this as he does not know his own strength. Once he was out in the yard and got to romp some he did settle down. He would come to be petted. He also explored everything with his nose. He’s obviously very alert! He appears to be house-trained.” 
To ask about either of these dogs, call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
A POSITIVE NOTE FROM
A WEEKEND ADOPTION EVENT
We’ve been a fan of DFW’s Furgotten Friends since Stephen Foster founded the rescue group in 2012. And we’ve watched as successful events have occurred, such as the time Georgia the dog arrived and promptly gave birth to a “load” (larger than a litter) of puppies.
The weekend inspired the dogfan Mr. Foster to post this uplifting report. He wrote, “What a great day at Pet Supplies Plus (on Mockingbird) yesterday [Saturday]. Jasper [the brown dog] and Geo got adopted together. They are so bonded they just couldn't be separated. It was tough for Kingslea Kathryn Stringham to let them go but she did an amazing job fostering Georgia's puppies down to the last two to be adopted. Our sweet Boxer mix Max also got an application. Three dogs headed for forever homes and $200 in donations. You can't ask for a better day.”

Here’s what Georgia’s pups looked like when they turned 6 weeks old on January 14.
You may recall that Georgia was caught while dodging traffic in Mansfield — her capture was a year-long project and after her pups were weaned she moved back with Heaven’s Helpers Rescue to find her good, responsible home.

CONTEMPLATIONS

IN THE AFTERMATH
The incident with the dogs who fatally mauled their human in the exercise yard at an Irving vet clinic may be the most upsetting incident we’ve encountered in a while.

Whenever there’s an ugly incident with Pittie-type dogs, there is a fear that wonderful, lovely dogs are going to pay for the awfulness of the situation. Rather than getting a chance to be adopted and demonstrated that they are loving and adored dogs, they’ll be killed because time runs out at the shelter.
Over the weekend, a woman visiting her dogs in quarantine at an Irving vet hospital was fatally attacked by her own dogs in an exercise area. This is horrible — as surely everyone must agree. News reports said the dogs were shot to death so people could get to the victim. Also horrible, but understandable. 

We don’t know what triggered this behavior in the dogs.

What we do know is that while these two dogs were involved in this horrible incident, there were scores and scores of Pittie-types — maybe more — in North Texas who did nothing more than flop on the couch next to their human and enjoy some petting and mutual adoration.
Still, It is difficult to remove the horror from your mind.
Yet we know there are situations with Pittie-types that are nothing short of unblemished love between dogs and humans.

On Monday afternoon, the Dallas Animal Services listed “for adoption” 249 dogs — the first 7 on the list were Pittie types. Many, many of the 249 were Pittie types — go to dallasanimalservices.org and scroll through the adoptables. North Texas shelters have an abundance of “Pittie types” waiting on either a rescue, an adoption or the needle. 
I copied the entires of the first five dogs on the DAS list Monday afternoon and they are all Pittie types who are not puppies. I don’t know if they were strays or dumped or picked up in neighborhood sweeps because their humans are irresponsible idiots.
Yes, I do not know any of these dogs. Nobody may get the chance to know them except for the shelter personnel who pet them, and feed them and talk to them.

Maybe the incident over the weekend will make people think twice about getting a Pittie-type. People OUGHT to think twice about adopting one — make sure you know you have the right home for a dog who will need a loyal and firm human. But isn’t that why people should think at least twice before adopting any other kind of dog, too?
Our dogs — well, dogs should be symbols of love. I don’t know the lady who lost her life, but I’m betting she felt the same way or she would not have gone to visit them. We mourn the loss of someone who loved dogs.
—- Offer an opinion by clicking on ‘comment’ below or emailing [email protected]. And, pray for the dogs and the humans. We all need it. —-