EDITION OF TUESDAY, FEB. 25, 2020 [PetPowellPress] We’ve had a coyote alert in our neighborhood in Eastern Cowtown. Coyotes and Cows. Never had a Cow alert. Matter of time. 
Our house backs up to a nature preserve — so do several other homes.
The coyotes were here first, of course. That photo was posted by KERA-TV in April 2019 when there were several coyote-spottings in the Metrosprawl. My theory is this guy was trotting along in the proper lane and about to enter the Dallas North Tollway — he clearly has a pass and is focused on his steering, 
unlike many other DFW-area drivers.
By the way, we haven’t spotted any coyotes yet — our neighbor has. I figure all of the back gates on our street have a little mark that only coyotes can read. It’s Coyotean for this: “Fake being a happy dog and you’ll eat free the rest of your life.” (That’s Porche demonstrating her version of the "Happy Hungry Dog Why Don't You Feed Me Face" on Monday afternoon.)
More in Contemplations. And before you get there you’ll be able to read about dogs in need, including one in Wilmer and one in Lancaster.
HERE WE GO WITH SOME ASSORTED NOTES IN THE WORD OF ANIMALS:
THE WEARIN’ O’ THE GREEN
BY DOGS THAT ARE O’ THE GREY
I was reading an announcement about the Greyhound Adoption League of Texas participating in the North Texas Irish Festival in Dallas and ran across this phrase: “Because of the Greyhound’s Celtic connection.”
Time to ask Google. Look what I found en route to learning that the Greyhound was a favorite Celtic region hunter in England. Several references say the Greyhound is “the only dog mentioned by name” in the Holy Bible — Proverbs 30:29-31 in the King James Version. That’s Old Testament! Way 
before Westminster.
OK back to GALT at the Festival. It runs March 6-8, but hours for GALT are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 7 and 8 at Fair Park in Dallas. And the notice from GALT says, “Because of the Greyhound's Celtic connection, GALT will be featured in our usual location in the cultural area of Centennial Hall and will be offering t-shirts, collars and shamrocks for sale. Come visit Clan Greyhound!”
Read the latest GALT newsletter HERE . And read about the 38th annual North Texas Irish Festival HERE.
TEEING IT UP TO BENEFIT
THE FABULOUS SPANIELS
Golf — it’s just a game. Unless you’re playing for Cocker Spaniels and then it’s an important game. 
Last year’s DFW Cocker Spaniel Rescue Dogleg Classic raised $18,700 to help the organization help the dogs. And, according to the DFWCSR folks, in the past 7 years, the event has raised “nearly $90,000.” So, when they tee up the 8th Annual Dogleg Classic on Sunday, April 5, the goal is to raise “more than $19,000.”
Volunteers have been signing up. People are buying advertising and promotional spots on tees, fairways, greens, flags — just about any place you can stick a sign. Lots of prizes have been donated.
To volunteer to help with the tournament or to sign up to play, go to dfwcockerrescue.org.
Usually we’d post photos of Cocker Spaniels currently under the organization’s care. But there’s this special case we first heard about from Amy Poskey, the volunteer tipster at the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter.
Coco is a “senior female” Cocker who came into the shelter as a stray maybe more than a week ago and she may have been out on her own for a while. She weighs in at 25 pounds was found to be 
blind and deaf and suffering from an awful ear infection. She was just a mess.
But she still has some affection and life in her. And Amy reported over the weekend that Coco had been tagged by DFW Cocker Spaniel Rescue. And, Amy wrote, “If anyone would like to make a donation for Coco, please click on the link below. No amount is too small and this precious girl will be needing lots of TLC.” Here’s the link: dfwcockerescue.org.
And, remember, you can help Coco and other Cockers with less dire physical problems by grabbing your clubs and hitting the links on April 5 and Fort Worth’s Rockwood Park Golf Course on on Jacksboro Highway just north of downtown Cowtown. Click HERE.
TWO DOGS ‘DESPERATE’
FOR THE HELP OF HUMANS
Laura Macias of 4-Legged Helpers sent out an appeal for some assistance with two dogs — Murphy from Wilmer and Peaches from Lancaster.
Laura doesn’t speak well of either of the low- 
foot traffic shelters. Cites things that’ll curdle your hemoglobin. We’ll put those things aside to focus on the two dogs that were, basically, claimed and, Laura says, “put in boarding situations to save their lives.”
Murphy is the dog who came in with an injured “boy part” and has recovered but still needs a place to go — a home, a foster or a rescue group. Not a single inquiry for this handsome guy even though, Laura says, “he is extremely sweet, extremely lovable and sill very shy.” The photo of smiling Murphy was taken when he thought he was going to a home, Laura theorizes. He was going to boarding.
As you may recall, 4-Legged Helpers hit the end of the line with Lancaster Animal Services and its new management after trying for nearly a year to make sure every animal in the small shelter was rescued.
“Peaches’ time was up at Lancaster and we had to get her out to save her but no one has shown any interest and she is such a good girl. Just as sweet as can be, just like her name. Loves everyone. Seems to get along well with dogs we observed her interacting with when we had her out. She is fully vetted and housetrained and loves children (and is great with them) Super sweet. Look at that cute face. She loves to play ball and fetch. Owner release by someone unable to care for her.”
To offer to adopt or somehow help these two, call or text Laura at 214-949-2726 or email cat-girl_71@yahoo.com.
THREE FROM MESQUITE
WAITING FOR GOOD SOULS
The volunteers Debra Chisholm and Judi Brown provided the info about these three dogs in the Mesquite Animal Services Shelter.
The German Shepherd mix is Harlow, about 2, 62 pounds and a stray who came in on Feb. 17. Not neutered and his bio reads, “He is one high-spirited youngster who leaps, bounds and races around the shelter yard. He is a fun-loving, tail wagging bundle of energy who would be a great pet for an active person or family willing to walk or run with him or 
take him to the dog park for some exercise. His number is ID 43843259.
Coconut (43847623) is a year-old , 21-pound terrier mix who arrived as a stray on the 18th. Judi wrote, “The shelter had him down as a 
Chihuahua but appears to be too stocky and heavy to be a Chi. My pet scanner said he’s part Jack Russell terrier and Lab mix. Because of his long body it looks like he may also be part Dachshund. Whatever he is he is adorable, cute, and sweet. He is low to the ground, has a long body, is very soft, and has one blue eye and one brown eye. In spite of the fact that he is very low to the ground he was easily able to jump up on a table in the volunteer room! He is timid at first but quickly warms up. He is calm and gentle. He’s receptive to affection and gives affection. He gives kisses.”
Koda (#43846631) is also a former stray. The year-old, 46-pound Pittie mix arrived on Feb. 18. 
Judi writes, “You would be sure to get lots of compliments on this good looking dog if you took him on walks. Besides being good looking, he’s also got a wonderful personality. He’s the right mix of being laid-back and spunky. He appears to be very happy as his tail wags constantly. He’s gentle. Sometimes he forgets and jumps on you because he wants some attention but even that is in a gentle manner. He’s not likely to knock you over.”
For any of these animals, call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
CONTEMPLATIONS
DEMOLITION, A SMILING DOG, COYOTES
After watching a little bit of the wrecking ball/Leaning Tower of Dallas confrontation, I began to wonder, “Is Dallas tearing down the toughest structure in town — the only one that could withstand a tornado or nuclear attack?” …
Leighann Hayden shared this on Facebook — the dog is Burreaux and he’s currently delivering that toothy grin with the Humane Society of Northwest Louisiana, based in Shreveport. Zip right down I-20 from the Metrosprawl and you can audition to adopt a dog who knows how smile even when he’s been watching the news on TV. You can 
reach the no-kill HSNWLA by goin to hsnwla.com. [LARRY FYI: I was a sportswriter at The Shreveport Times for a little over a year in the late ‘60s. Shreveport’s the big town in an area of hunters and fisherfolk and people who love animals. I like to think that the entertaining elements of Shreveport/Bossier City were created and built because of all the Texas money “donated” at the casinos and the horsetrack.] …
In the meantime, for those of you who have just moved to North Texas from the planet Mars or some place without an understanding of nature, coyotes are wild animals and must be respected. They are predators and will come after your unattended cat or dog. So, love your animal and keep him or her out of the reach of a fence-jumpin’ coyote.
Canis latrans is the 
official name. Some people call coyotes “ghost dog.”
Here’s something to remember: Humans are the invaders who have to terraform land to live on it — coyotes don’t have to do anything except be coyotes and avoid humans and they’ll get along just fine. [LARRY FYI: Not having a mugshot of a coyote, I decided to use this photo of me and Deputy Chief Kittie Leigh Johnson, our household peace officer givng her Clint Eastwood "squint." She enjoys quoting classic motion picture lines. In this case, she looked into the camera and, summoning The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, said, “Coyotes? Coyotes? We don’t need no stinkin’ coyotes.” Being a housecat for more than decade, she’s not really sure what a coyote is, but she prefers to stick to the safe side of things. So, like the Deputy Chief says, keep your critters ’n’ kids safe from coyotes.]
—- Offer opinions or advice by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-
