ATARI, WINSTON & TEDDY BEAR -- STORIES OF DOGS HELPED ALONG BY HUMANS....

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, JAN. 31, 2023 [PetPowellPress] Spring may have arrived about 10:47 a.m. Tuesday. Hang on. I’ll clear this up in Contemplations. First, some animal stories.
CATCHING UP WITH ATARI,
THE DOG WHO BEAT SOME ODDS
The caption that accompanied this photo read, “Can someone please come hug this dog, please?”
And that’s a simple need compared to the medical challenges the dog has faced and survived in recent weeks. People rallied to help her.
Perhaps you recall the first story of Atari, a dog who was expecting a big litter but, after being rescued, suffered a ruptured uterus, lost all the puppies, and, then, experienced some awful medical problems probably generating from a lifetime of poor care by her human/humans.
We first met Atari’s story when she was known as “Rose” in the Rockwall Animals Shelter. Rescuers worked to save her and a team of supporters took up her cause, anticipating a safe delivery of her babies. Didn’t work out that way, but the dog now named Atari survived the arduous maternal challenge.
We get the update from her foster, Shiloh Holland, the founder and trainer at Come Sit Stay Dog Training. That’s Shiloh in the photo and that’s her caption, "Can someone please come hug this dog, please?”
The second photo is her "pregnant and waiting" picture before all of this rough stuff for a sweet dog.
Shiloh writes, “Atari had a really bad bout with mastitis following her surgery and her mammary glands ruptured. She got excellent care again at Veterinary Medical Center of Athens. We were advised that healing could take several months. Atari has been the most loving, kind-hearted dog through all of these trials. Amazingly, and much to her vets' satisfaction, she's almost completely healed already and we are actively looking for a home for her.
“She would be happiest in a home without other dogs for now (unless someone wants to also adopt the boyfriend that came to the shelter with her), but she loves children and cats. We're working on introductions with dogs. She's not aggressive, just very scared. Atari is no older than 3 and is crate-trained, house-trained when supervised, and comes with behavior support from Come Sit Stay Dog Training. Any interested adopters can email, call, or text me directly.” To reach Shiloh, call or text 903-802-8317.
HERE’S AN EXAMPLE
OF A NEGLECTED DOG
We spotted this post by Patty Turner who was our original contact in the case of Rose/Atari. This time Patty is trying to find help for Winston.
Here’s the story that goes with these pictures. Patty writes, “This is Winston. He was adopted 14 years ago and he hasn't been taken care of that greatly in some time!!”
[LARRY ASIDE: Patty got right to the point — not taken care of like he was the day he was adopted. People have their reasons. One of the reasons is a combo: “don’t care/so what if he’ll die a painful unloved death in a shelter, on a busy street or in a backyard he called home.” Jerks. Gimme a minute to dab my eyes….thanks, Larry.]
Patty’s note continues, ““He is super sweet!! He came in with 2 larger dogs and does fine with them. He is neutered (previously), has a microchip and has received DHPPV and bordatella vaccine…He does have some cloudiness in his eyes!! His eye hair was trimmed … to help him see some. He does have cloudy eyes and may have an ulcer on his right eye. Currently, we do not have HW status. He will definitely need to be groomed!! If you can rescue him, please email [email protected].” [LARRY ASIDE: If you can adopt him, email that site and maybe even volunteer to pay for his medical care. Somebody needs to love him with heart and money, don’t you think?”]
THE TEDDY BEAR STORY
IN NW FORT WORTH….
We ran across this dog’s story completely by accident when we clicked on veteran rescuer Monica Ailey-Welborn’s Facebook page over the weekend.
The story of Teddy Bear is typical in North Texas, but the story of Terry Bear’s rescue may become legendary.
The first happy note (a Christy Howard Facebook post) we saw Tuesday read, “Teddy Bear is SAFE! 4 months after being dumped with 5 other dogs. He was the last one and the hardest to trap. Way to go Monica Ailey-Welborn and crew!
“We will be celebrating with Honeybun tonight, the last of her friends is safe!”
And going to Monica’s site HERE we found other elements of this happy capture.
One rescuer’s post — [LARRY QUERY: Can anyone ID this rescuer? Email [email protected].] read, “Teddy Bear was patiently captured tonight and urgently needs a long term TX foster in case his microchip is a dead end. (chip is being researched) Amazingly kind people to capture with, thanks Monica Ailey-Welborn and team!!
 "Shout out to my lucky bait supplier, Pollo Regio!! Very expensive meat to use strictly for dog trapping but is always worth the amazing scent waft it offers! The trap had been set for a couple of hours with other smelly meats so I only refreshed with half of a piping hot Pollo Regio chicken that I deboned onsite and the target dog walked inside the trap within 15 mins or so after!!
“Massive luck on our side!! Coyotes were howling in the background at that moment but it wasn’t audible from my trapping cam!
"He totally froze shortly after being trapped, immediately allowed pets and was absolutely terrified but clearly is a super gentle soul that hasn’t had any human touch in 5 or more months. His gorgeous light fluffy fur feels *exactly* like Hairy Gary’s and his demeanor/reaction to trapping was the same. He may need a DNA test to see if they’re related!
“He will no doubt soon make an amazing companion to a lucky person after some rehab time with a loving foster!!”
Monica posted, “Teddy Bear will be warm and safe tonight! He needs a foster home ASAP if his microchip is a dead end! Thank you to Phoebe Fosters for being an excellent chef and for helping me check and feed everyday! Thank you Mike Welborn for all the yummy smelling meats and tallo you cooked up! Thank you Alby for helping me ever day you could!! Thank you Jean-Paul Bonnelly for bringing out your 'Kick A' camera and drone! Thank you mom/Rosemary Alcala Vaughan for letting this project take over our weekend and helping! And THANK YOU Kelly Tyler for your missy trap and expertise!!!
“Now we need to secure a foster home for Teddy Bear ASAP bc he sure would not do well in the shelter.”
Monica says that to help Teddy Bear and the assorted needs, email her at this address: [email protected].
[LARRY ASIDE: You see the isolated situation that dog was in after all of her companions were rescued. ]
We did get this explanation from Monica: “My non-profit (that doesn’t do trapping - we do large scale disaster response- I’m just doing it bc the original dog, Honey Bun, I saw crossing the road 'suckered' me into it.” She was smiling when she said 'suckered' into it! [LARRY ASIDE: Many of us have been “suckered” into a rescue — and we wear a smile and laugh about the joy of success just like Monica.] Her group is Animal Investigation & Response.
She reports, “The group that is covering the leg surgery for Honey Bun is called The Duke & Oliver Foundation. The group she’ll be avail for adoption through is Allie’s Haven Animal Rescue.
"The group that is fostering and covering expenses for the shepherd (Meatloaf) is called Humane Tomorrow.
“Don’t have anyone lined up for Teddy Bear … Still needing a foster home/Rescue group to take him.”
And, as you by now have figured out Dear Readers, there’s more — photos, videos, reactions and appreciations — on Monica’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/mo.ailey.
[LARRY ASIDE: We have no idea who dumped these dogs or why they thought it was a good idea. But such behavior is against the law in the State of Texas and if anyone knows someone who suddenly “disappeared” their dogs several months ago, the statute of limitations has not expired on this crime. Punch those cellphone numbers and tell a certified peace officer where to find the perp. Please.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
SPRING AND OTHER THOUGHTS
In the opening today, I mentioned springtime. Am I nuts? Well, that has nothing to do with this Tuesday event. While getting another cup of coffee, I let the dogs Porche Noel and Dudley the Angel out for their morning backyard walk — Wendy preferred to nap on the couch. As they sauntered off down the slope of the yard, three or four squirrels dashed up tree trunks and across limbs. And, suddenly, from across the backyard fence came a pair of loudly chirping — that the right word? — cardinals: one bright red, one grayish with highlights. Romance was in the air, I suspect. I didn’t have a camera with me — I had not expected a spring scene in what, last week, was the dead of winter, as the old phrase goes.
Can this be Spring? Surely the sun and the temp and drying yards with elevated levels of grass tell us that Spring is here.
TIME OUT! I’ve quickly researched and discovered (again) that Spring arrives in Texas at 10:06 p.m. on March 19. We still have to experience the joy of that annual winter spectacle, Macy’s Groundhog Day Parade! Oh, wait. I’ve slipped into a parallel universe. There is no Macy’s Groundhog Day Parade, is there?
That’s right! This is an election year — there’s a law against politicians and groundhogs being in the same parade. Has to do with public conflicts of positive and negative declarations of weather and expenses and hiding from the light of day.
—- Offer advice or objection by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘EXERCISE WHILE YOU HAVE A CHANCE’ in the subject line. —-