LOCAL SHELTERS FACE THE HOLIDAY CHALLENGE AND THE CLOCKS ARE TICKING

EDITION OF JULY 2-3, 2024 [PetPowellPress] This was the opening of the dog bio buy Judi Brown that grabbed me…“Sarge was found tied to a no dumping sign with no water, nor shade w/heat index of 109°!!! No dog nor human deserves this kind of treatment. Sarge is a good dog!” We’ll get to Sarge’s story shortly. In the meantime, we address animals trying to outlast the clock in Dallas and Fort Worth shelters.
MEANWHILE, IN DALLAS,
THERE’S A DEAL FOR THE 4TH
When you go to the Dallas Animal Services website HERE the first think you’ll see is this deal for adopting dogs 40 pounds and larger. Might help rescue groups. And, as people who monitor DAS’s population know, the place is loaded with big ol’ dawgs.
If things go as they usually do, when the neighborhood fireworks explode on July 4, the city shelter’s population of strays will increase because — and tell your favorite knuckleheads — dogs and cats run from fireworks. Run blindly. For a long way sometimes.
At the DAS website, click on the Daily Report Card and compare the INTAKES to the OUTCOMES, in particular “EUTHANASIA.”
MEANWHILE IN COWTOWN,
A COUPLE OF THE MANY DOGS
This girl, all adorned for Independence Day, is Diamond — #56020281 in Fort Worth Animal Care & Control’s Chuck Silcox facility.
[LARRY FYI: We owe a big thanks to longtime FW contact Ginger Leach for keeping us in the loop on FW’s animals.]
The story on Diamond reads that the 4-year-old, 52-pound girl “needs a tag by 5 pm on Thursday, JULY 4th, out of the building by 5 pm on Friday, July 5th.”
Why?
The note reads: “Intake 5/29- stray. Last call reason- observed to hard bark and growl at certain handlers.”
One of her advocates reported that while taking “her out…I didn’t observe any of these behaviors. She was easy to leash and walk out to the play yard where she followed me around and then let me put her head band on.” The rescue email for Diamond [email protected] . To ask about fostering her , email [email protected]
Ginger’s post about this girl reads: “Maisy Sue A0056242736 - this 137-pound girl is such a delight. I am quite smitten with her.
“She is heartworm negative and suspect she is spayed but can check…We prefer rescue so the appropriate home can be found for her. She has completed her 96 hour stray hold and is ready to go.
Email rescue tags to [email protected].
Both of these dogs are at the FWACC Chuck Silcox Adoption Center at 4900 Martin Street in southeastern Fort Worth.
[LARRY ASIDE: Remember, Dear Readers: The clock in Fort Worth ticks with the same certainty as the clock in Dallas. Save ‘em all.]
THE SARGE STORY &
OTHER FROM MESQUITE
We’re opening with this family of dogs and featuring Winnie. Her story was written by volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm. She opens the bio, “Cute, cute, cute...that describes this adorable Siberian Husky mix I have named Winnie. 
She was picked up by one of our officers and brought to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 6/17, along with her mom Faith and brother Jake.  They are kenneled together and are the most charming little family.  Winnie weighs 12 pounds and is approx 3 months old.  There is not one bone of shyness or fear in her little body.  She is crazy about toys and plays with them to her heart's content. 
“She likes treats and takes them nicely.  She is a bundle of puppy exuberance and spunk.  She does not know how to walk on a leash, so leash training would be a priority.  Winnie would benefit greatly from obedience training, as would all pups.  She is friendly and has a delightful personality. Can you tell I am ‘taken’ with her?  Huskies are known for "talking" and Winnie does plenty of that!  Therefore, she would not be suited for apartment life.  The neighbors would not be ok with her happy talk.  She needs a person or family with a yard and a tall secure fence as huskies have a reputation for being escape artists.  She is most certainly not suited as a yard dog.  The oppressively hot Texas temps do not suit breeds with heavy thick fur.
WINNIE’S ID is #56262983. You see the photos of her mom Faith and brother Jake with their numbers. Use those ID numbers when you email the shelter at [email protected] or call 972-216-6283.
Debra’s colleague on dog-writing, Judi Brown, begins this bio with, “I don’t know what it was about Hank (something indescribable) possibly his imploring eyes but I found him extremely appealing. And the fact that he has a fantastic personality contributed to the fact that I think he’s one of the sweetest dogs at the shelter and my fave!  Hank is a two-year-old 75 pound white and tan terrier pit that arrived at the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 6/7 as a stray.  He’s so so sweet and well behaved. After he did his business in the yard, he came and sat down next to where I was standing.” Hank is #56252822 — cite his number when you contact the shelter at [email protected] or call 972-216-6283.
JUDI ALSO provided the photo and info about Gabana, a 9-month-old, 57-pound “brownish with some white” Pittie/Staffie who came into the shelter on June 25 after she’d been “abandoned.”
Judi asks, “Why?” And then Judi answers, “Maybe she was too playful. Maybe she was just acting like the puppy she is. It would be hard to find a happier pup. Gabana never stopped wagging her tail. If you sit down, she comes to you and literally washes your face with kisses. When trying to take pictures, she had me going around in circles because she wanted to be so close to me. She does sit for treats, but doesn’t stay down on her rear for very long. She gets too excited! …She wanted to make friends with other dogs. I did not see any aggression. She is already spayed. She was constantly panting, even though she spent most of time in the shelter the shelter was a little warm. She definitely would not be able to tolerate this Texas heat. She needs to be a mostly inside dog.”
Gabana is #56239548 — cite that number when you contact the Mesquite Shelter.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE STORY OF SARGE as written by Judi:
“Sarge was found tied to a no dumping sign with no water, nor shade w/heat index of 109°!!! No dog nor human deserves this kind of treatment. Sarge is a good dog! He is a 3-year-old 82-pound Mastiff mix. My Dog Scanner said he’s also part American Bulldog. He’s a big boy and a gentle giant. He was brought into the Mesquite Animal Shelter by one of our officers on 6/27 when notified about Sarge’s situation. He is very curious and explored the laundry room.  He sits for treats most of the time. He does take them gently. He was not interested in playing with toys. He’s well behaved with good manners. He only jumped on me one time. He’s basically really laid-back. It was warm in the shelter and he chose to lay down quite a bit. He has a strong pull on the leash. He barked meeting other dogs, but he was wagging his tail, so he was probably just wanting to play. … He came to me when I sat down wanting more affection and even tried to get on my lap! He definitely wants to be an inside dog and would love to share family time with his new loving family. Will that be yours?”
When you contact the Mesquite shelter, cite Sarge’s ID #56257263.
See these complete biographies and the bios of other dogs by clicking on the shelter’s website HERE
https://www.cityofmesquite.com/1239/Animals-in-the-Shelter . You can also see a lot of adoptable cats and kittens.
CONTEMPLATIONS
AN ELEVATION?
I was watching a TV show Tuesday morning and a guest was discussing making Fourth of July snacks more adorable and showed how to shove a popsicle stick with red, white and blue ribbons into a triangle of watermelon. That’s when she said the phrase I never expected to hear in my entire life. She said happily, “It elevates the water melon presentation.”
It had never occurred to me that the presentation of water melon could use any elevatin’.
Then I thought: ‘AMERICAN POLITICS! — needs popsicle sticks.’
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