SNOW MOON; A DALLAS CRUELTY CASE; DOGS NEEDING HOMES; & CONTEMPLATIONS

EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY FEB. 15-16, 2022 [PetPowellPress] Before we move out of “winter mode” and get to cockfights, here’s a sky note.
This tip comes from The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Those skywatchers say the current big moon — woke me up by shining through the bedroom window curtains like a headlight on a jet about 4 a.m. Tuesday — is “The Snow Moon.” That’ll make anybody who went through February 2021 in Texas shudder.
 The OFA says, “The name comes from various sources, including Native American Tribes, early Colonial Americans and even some Europeans. February is typically the snowiest month of the year, so it was easy to refer to this moon as the snow moon.”
The fullest phase of the Snow Moon occurs at 10:59 p.m. CST Wednesday. That’ll be why you ol’ werewolves are feeling restless…. Oh, that’s my office cat, William Powell, demonstrating how to look up at the moon at midnight as you try to get sleepy while trimming your toenails. He’s a practical cat: “No unoccupied time after sundown” — that’s his motto.
WHY DOES DALLAS COUNTY
HAVE SO MANY ‘FIGHTERS’?
In the years — decades — that I’ve been writing about animals, it has become apparent that Dallas County has no problem drawing the villains who organize, stage and witness dogfights and cockfights. Criminals, according to state law. 
It’s bad enough that North Texas and East Texas have an overpopulation of people who let their unfixed animals roam and reproduce — born just to die. But, sheesh — what is up with these people who gamble on which dog or rooster will kill the other one? Are those people lacking The Chamber of Kindnes in their hearts or just the whole danged heart?
This question of morality comes up because over the weekend the Dallas Police were tipped to a big cockfight in the Rylie part of southeastern Dallas, that’s just south of I-20 on a former Southern Pacific Railroad line. The SPCA of Texas news release said Dallas Police got an anonymous phone tip about a “cockfight-in-progress.” Sure enough, the tip was right. (These photos of the chickens are provided by the SPCA — See that tethered rooster? Not protected by the tethered outdoor dog bill the governor signed into law. Not protected yet.) 
The SPCA of Texas — that’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals — got custody of more than 100 birds at this site. [Go to spca.org to see how to donate and support anti-cruelty investigations and the animals seized in cruelty cases.]
While we know the SPCA has the seized chickens from this event, we’re not sure who has custody of any of the humans — or if any humans are being questioned about their behavior. No word from DPD.

But, surely the City of Dallas isn’t interested in being known not only as the town that lost the Dallas Cowboys to the suburbs twice, but the town that hosts more dog fights and cockfights than any other big town in Texas (unofficial status). East Texas has the unofficial record for “small town” and “rural” animal fighting raids and arrests. 
Go to this Dallas City Hall/Council LINK to see how to contact the members of the council and the mayor so you can remind them that law-abiding citizens aren’t interested in the city with a "Love Freeway" being known for humans shooting humans and people setting dogs and roosters on each other in fights to the death.
And here’s the link to the Dallas County District Attorney. Why? Because that’s the public office that, while it may not prosecute somebody for stealing $500 worth of chickenfeed from a farm store, is still responsible for prosecuting people accused of organizing and attending illegal cockfights and dogfights.
So that you’ll see what was going on at this latest cockfight raid, the SPCA of Texas posted the photos we’ve used here and a couple of videos at THIS LINK.
And this next link takes you to a video of that rooster on the green tether — CLICK HERE to see him trying to run free.
And ask “Why doesn’t this rooster have the traditional comb?” A villain cut it off so the rooster would be in “fighting shape” — less life-draining bleeding without the comb than there’d be should his opponent peck and rip off a full comb.
Cruelty. That’s the name of this blood sport.
Know what’s probably going to happen to the confiscated chickens? A still bitter but much quicker end than they’d get in a fight. (We have a note in Contemplations.)
A COUPLE OF GUYS
WHO NEED ONE GOOD HOME
We got the story on these guys from the veteran rescuer and animal advocate Mary Sullivan. Her note reads:
 “Dexter (left) and Malfoy, two very special Miniature Schnauzers in the DFW area, must be rehomed because their best friend passed away suddenly.  

“His son, who’s serving our country in the military, loves these boys but can’t keep them. 
“Dex is about 10 years old (slightly older than Mal) and the more outgoing of the two – happy, friendly, cuddly.  Mal is sweet but needs to know someone before getting up close & personal. 

“Both dogs are healthy, have been vetted, & are doggie-door trained.  If you have room in your heart & home for this handsome pair – even as a foster – please contact Mary at SOS Fosters for Pets in Need – [email protected] or 214.783.2060.”
MEANWHILE, THERE’S A DUO
WAITING IN GLENN HEIGHTS
This note comes from the 4-Legged Helpers non-profit that focuses on smaller shelters and their rarely visited animals. 
 The dogs are Willow, a Lab mix, and Zoey, a Bulldog mix. Both have been in the Glenn Heights Animal Shelter long enough to get a “CODE RED NEXT IN LINE FOR EUTH…” designation. 
Here’s the official note: “Willow and Zoey were found together but please note they are available individually as well.  They were found out and about together at an elementary school trying to play with the kids in the schoolyard.  Both are love bunnies - just as sweet and lovable as can be.  They adore other dogs and each other.

 “They are microchipped to the same person but the person failed to come reclaim them.  The shelter believes them to be housetrained.  We are not sure if fixed since it was not on the write-up so a vet may need to check to be sure.  (Since [they are] microchipped, there is a good chance they are already fixed. The shelter does DHPP first vaccs and de-worming.) Please, won't you help save one???  Such great little girls!  Please help!”

The 4-Legged Helpers contact points are: CALL/TEXT Heather at 972-897-4926 or email Heather at [email protected] or you can also reach out to Laura at [email protected]. Or Call/Text 214-949-2726.”
CONTEMPLATIONS
HUMANS AND OTHER THOUGHTS
On a Facebook post about the rescue of those roosters in the Rylie raid, a longtime animal advocate and rescuer posted on the DAS Accountability Page, a note about the expected aftermath of these “trained-to-fight chickens. She wrote, “Sadly, they will be killed. but at least it will be quick. I hate humans more and more every day. May God forgive me and have mercy on my soul.” The reason I re-posted this note is to help a lot of animal advocates know they’re not the only people who have “bad thoughts” because of the behavior of others. … 

When the Super Bowl is over, do you sort of feel like the holiday season that began on Labor Day has finally ended? Your weekends belong to you again?…
Bless Ivan Reitman! The filmmaker, who died at 75 over the weekend, gave us many laughs in theaters. And we’ll cite the original Ghostbusters in 1984 and a magnificently spot-on prediction (if you were working for a newspaper back then). The operative line in this clip from Ghostbusters -- Annie Potts as Janine and Harold Ramis as Dr. Egon Spengler -- is “Print is dead.” Here’s the LINK.
—- Offer predictions for newspapers or hope for the future by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and putting “A DAILY PAPER ONCE COST A DIME???” in the subject line. —