EDITION OF MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Because of the 2019 calendar, Easter Sunday, a day that touches so many hearts and souls, is followed this year by Earth Day, commemorating, celebrating and, yes, encouraging careful use of our planet. The days seem to fit together.
You may recognize this photograph — for generations after 1968, that’s Earthrise, taken Dec. 24, 1968, by Apollo 8 Astronaut Bill Anders while in lunar orbit. How much has Earth changed since then? When was the first Earth Day? April 22, 1970. More later.
A MOOSE REPORT
The down-to-earth animal report in this edition begins with the latest episode in The Story of Moose. You may recall seeing this photograph. It was
snapped when the dog had found his way into the yard and was hiding in this obscure spot at the home of Casey Voorhies Bonano and Will Bonano. He’d gone just about his last steps.
And you may recall that Moose is afraid of going outside. This was discovered once he was inside. Go figure. Something happened to this guy somewhere along the way. Now people are working to help him live a good life.
Stephen Foster of DFW’s Furgotten Friends, wrote, “He was so fortunate to have found his last days’ shelter at their [the Bonano’s] yard. I honestly believe he laid there to die. They were a little afraid to walk in this 15-foot by 3-foot area to pick him up and take him to a vet. I say Kudos to them for what they've done for him.”
Casey sent Stephen a note that read, “We are so happy to help.” And he replied that “happy to help doesn’t even come close to what you guys are doing. You are not just helping him. You are the only reason he is alive today. That’s so much more than helping. Don’t be shy. Own it. You both deserve the praise from every dog rescuer out there.”
Where is Moose being fostered? Stephen posted a note over the weekend explaining, “I just got home from dropping Moose off at his foster home. The fosters are the same people who found him laying in a small alcove area at the front of their house. They're all in for saving this boy. Thank you Will Bonano and Casey Voorhies Bonano. I have no doubt if this boy was found by someone else he would have been sent to the shelter. In his emaciated shape with heart worms and his incredible fear of the outdoors, I know for sure he would have been put to sleep. Now he has a chance.
“Moose is now part of the DFW's FurGotten Friends family. He has a very long road ahead but he's alive to make that journey. If you want to help Moose you can donate at this site: http://www.dfwfgf.org/"
TWO TO SAVE:
BUNNY AND ANGEL
Here’s the thing about these two dogs. You don’t have to chase them down to save their lives. Someone else has already taken care of the “capture” portion of rescue. So, all you have to do is go to the Mesquite Animal Shelter and get the dogs.
You’ve seen them before. But time has a way of moving dogs higher and higher on the List of Desperation.
Our tipster, the volunteer biographer at Mesquite Animal Services, Judi Brown, visits the animals she writes about.
You see young Bunny with the magnificent ears and the oddly bent ankle. Judi writes, “I can’t believe we’ve come to this point with this sweet dog. Bunny is on the urgent/critical list. Help! I took her out today and she’s just as happy as ever. She’s got an innovative way of getting around. She just hops along.
”
A rescue is preferred over adoption right now, Judi says, because Bunny has medical issues after being hit by a car on April 6, the day she arrived at the shelter. Mainly, 6-month-old Bunny may have suffered nerve damage to her left paw. She gets around OK, but not perfectly. And she gives “lots of kisses,” Judi says.
At six-months old, she weighs 24 pounds. And is an active tail-wagger. She's #41243527.
Angel (41246824) “is on the urgent/critical list,” Judi says. “She’s getting passed by because she’s not the prettiest dog at the shelter. But if anybody would take her out and spend time with her they would see that she’s got the biggest heart."
Angel, around 9 years old, came in a a stray on the 6th. Judi describes her as “a pretty girl with beautiful dark brown eyes. She has one ear that flops over and one that stand straight up. This adds to her appeal! She’s also on the pudgy side weighing 63 pounds. Since she walks relatively well on a leash she would be willing to go with her new owner on a walking exercise regiment. Angel was friendly and wagged her tail but was more intent on checking out the yard. It appeared to me that she was looking for her owner. When I sat down she did come to me to have her ears scratched. After she checked out the yard she wanted to be inside as it was rather warm outside. She went nose to nose with many of the dogs in the bay wagging her tail.”
[LARRY ASIDE: It grinds my heart anytime I see an older dog in a shelter — somebody quit loving that dog or decided Angel was “too much to bother with.”]
So, you’ve got two dogs with different challenges but with only two possible results in their future: saved or killed. All these dogs need right now is a loving human to stand up for them. Call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
You can also save cats at the Mesquite Shelter — this larger fellow is FOUR-YEAR-OLD Harper. He’s #41162242 and described as “Large.” He came in on March 26.
See the Mesquite animals online HERE.
[LARRY ASIDE: I’ve consistently preached The Gospel of Black & White Cats — we’ve had two and they offer a curiously entertaining playfulness — maybe it’s a genetic thing, maybe it’s the fact that they are cats. Our other cats are also curiously entertaining and playful. But, on the whole, the black and white cats have demonstrated an “oddness” at times. They’re nearly human and you can’t get much odder than that. Amen.]
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
TO HELP DOGS FLY
Tawana Crouch and the team at the Society For Companion Animals alway can use more help. As you know, SFCA take animals that are unwanted locally and delivers them by air to places where they can become beloved family pets.
Takes some lifting now and then. Coming up on Tuesday and Wednesday, Tawana’s team needs “volunteers to load dogs on the bus.” The Loading of the Bus is from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Boykin Kennels, 2705 Coombs Creek Dr, in Dallas.
And on the 24th and the 25th, the venue is DFW Airport and the time is 4:15 a.m. — you’ll beat the rush hour traffic! The volunteers unload dogs, weigh them and un-crate them, etc. To offer to help with these important tasks, contact Tawana at tawanacouch@mac.com. Read about the organization and its mission HERE.
A HAPPY NOTE
ABOUT MAE
It’s always good to know of the victories in the animal world. Our Denton tipster Amy Poskey who monitors the city’s shelter, sent this note, “I’m happy to report that our little Mae was adopted…Thank you so much to Pug Rescue of Austin for offering to save this love sponge!”
And, there you have it: A 2-to-5-year-old Chihuahua/Pug mix, 18-pounds of affection and facing heartworm treatment in her future, finds someone to love her.
[LARRY ASIDE: And that was the last animal available at Denton’s McNatt Animal Shelter — hang on. Let me check my facts. Here’s the LINK to the animals waiting in the shelter.
At the site you’ll see a photo of the remarkable face of Harper (81050), a young Catahoula girl. And you’ll see Alan, a young feline fellow who likes to lounge.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
CARDS, EARTHDAY & THE QUEEN
These cards are for sale for the benefit of a spay/neuter clinic. Call it artistic endorsement. The work is by Celene Terry, the award-winning artist and a friend of the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. Our tipster, the Friends’ guiding light Sydney Busch, reminded us that Celene has created “a package of 10 beautiful cat artworks note cards” to help raise money for the Friends Spay/Neuter Clinic, the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas. For $15, you get 10 Celene Terry cards — there are 5 different designs. Where can you get them? At the clinic on Tuesdays from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. You might be able to work a deal to get cards delivered — email sydney@friendsoftheanimals.org. Read about the clinic HERE or on Facebook
HERE … Learn more about the history of Earthday HERE. ... Whoa, Queen Elizabeth turned 93 on Sunday?!.
At this History Channel SITE, you can learn a lot about the queen including this tidbit: “The queen remains the only female member of the royal family to have entered the armed forces and is the only living head of state who served in World War II.” She drove a truck and worked as a mechanic for the Allies in The Big One. This Time Magazine photo shows Princess Elizabeth discussing her work with the beloved Queen, her mother. So, in closing, we do wish Queen Elizabeth the very best and we offer this song from four lads who rose to prominence during her reign and The British Invasion.
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