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Meanwhile in shelters...

Alrighty, let's launch into a mid-week report. And we'll mention some shelter dogs -- keep in mind that I am typing with hands that were used to unload lumber yesterday and the fingers are in a little bit of discomfort. Eight two-by-fours and two one-by-twos. Almost a day's work for your friendly neighborhood typist.

This dog? Well, this dog is one of the many, many, many, many animals whose photographs arrive in my in-box each day. This is a terrier mix whose name is, as near as I can tell, "Pickme."

The note asking for help for Pickme came from folks with Kerr County Rabies & Animal Control in Kerrville in the "heart of the Texas Hill Country." And the note says if you want this dog, you have to "act fast! Because he has been here the longest, so when we fill up (which is soon) he will be the first to go. We really want to see him get a home. He is a good dog that deserves to live."

Click HERE to see Pickme's page. Click HERE to see contact info for the Kerr County Rabies & Animal Control folks (call 830-257-3100.).

AND FROM THE HOUSTON FOLKS: Of course, we're going to try to drive home, one more time, the point that lots of shelters have big black dogs available. Drop by the Dallas Animal Services Shelter and you'll see some. Stop by Irving Animal Shelter. Visit Prairie Paws Adoption Center in Grand Prairie. Arlington Animal Services. SPCA. Operation Kindness. Dog and Kitty City. I'd be surprised if the two big cat groups, Feral Friends and Kittico Cat Rescue, didn't have a connection to some big ol' black dawgs.

This one is Nero. And, according to the e-mail from Kathy Deffebach with Houston's Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care (BARC), the city shelter, Nero needs a home now.

"We profiled him last week -- no takers," the report goes. "We thought we would try one more time. Nero is a male black lab mix, A885597…He’s got a white splotch on his chest and a tiny white dot on his head.  Other than that, he looks like a black Labbie through and through.  Nero is only 9 months old and has been cooped up at the shelter for too long!  He came in wearing a fancy collar, but has never been claimed. Too many nice black dogs get overlooked at the shelter because they look so similar.  We hope you will take a special look at Nero today!   He’s been neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and is heartworm negative.   His 90 days are past due. We are giving this one more shot!"

To ask about Nero, e-mail kdeffebach@sbcglobal.net.

IN MARSHALL: The East Texas shelters, such as Marshall Animal Shelter, are also at the overflowing stage.

Eva Sepulvado, the hard-working animal control officer, at Marshall has sent out a list of "urgents" that include Taffy, the little "scruffy dog" we focused on last week (July 3). Can't believe nobody's picked up Scruffy.

The other urgents include: "Lexie, a darling sweet older Cocker Spaniel; Kyler, a very cute Lemon Basset Mix; Kristy, beautiful white, spayed husky; Lia, a smooth Border Collie that is an absolutely wonderful dog" and "Jenny, a female Boxer mix – she is VERY cute & sweet." (Aside: I'm not sure what a Lemon Basset Mix is, but I'll bet the dog can explain it.)

And there is also Olivia, the Dalmatian, whose photo I used because in this pose she reminded me of one of the Dixie Chicks, the one that plays banjo.

To ask about any of the Marshall animals, call Eva at 903-935-4530 or 903-926-2695. Or e-mail sepulvado-aco@hotmail.com. The shelter's website is HERE.

REPORT ON THE GRAVEL PIT DOGS: Our tipster Deborah Trevino reports that there was some progress in saving dogs dumped near an abandoned gravel pit on Malloy Bridge Road near the Seagoville city limits. She says "the group was only able to catch 2 of the 5, which did include the newly injured pup, Shelby. I looked at her, but not sure what is wrong with her..   It just got too hot, and the dogs were going in and out of the fence to the property making it difficult. The thick undergrowth makes it difficult as well...one described it as a jungle..  We even had to explain our efforts to 3 Seagoville squad cars that pulled up. Someone had called them saying WE were dumping dogs."

So you won't think this is a "call-'em-and-they'll-come-to-you" situation, Deborah, who uses a crutch to help her get around said, "Of course, being on a crutch, I couldn't do much except I made a path going into the bushes in an effort to be able to get back to where they were hiding..  Lots of big spider webs back there. Yuck!"

We'll keep readers posted on the progress.

FROM LONGVIEW: The folks at the Humane Society of Northeast Texas are trying to find a home for this dog, Oliver.

He's in his last official week at the shelter -- after that, well, you know.

To ask about helping Oliver find a home or a temporary safe haven, e-mail adoption counselor Justin Allred at justin@hsntx. org or 903-297-2170. The shelter is at 303 Enterprise in Longview. Click HERE.

We have no idea what the past was like for Oliver, but if he's not adopted, we know what the future will be.

CONTEMPLATIONS: Two people who ought to get lifetime achievement awards from the Motion Picture Academy? Don Cheadle and Denzel Washington. (Yes, I recently watched Devil In A Blue Dress again and found myself really enjoying both actors.) ... Best place for kids to vacation without spending a lot of money -- except for the gasoline, of course? White Sands National Monument near Alamagordo, N.M., home of the New Mexico International Museum of Space History where, indeed, the first American into space is buried. Ham, the chimpanzee. ... Speaking of space, Mork and Mindy. Holds up? Doesn't hold up?

The world on Tuesday...

Here we go with another attempt to bring a little order to the world, one critter or one or more litters at a time.

STRAYDOG PUPPIES: We got a copy of a note from our longtime tipster Erin Arnold Johnson regarding an influx of puppies at Straydog Inc., the sanctuary out by Gun Barrel City, east of Dallas.

Some of these puppies were found in a ditch. Some were born to a "rescued pregnant mother two weeks ago", some were...well,you know the drill around here. People gather up the pups and drive them to a remote area and drop 'em off to depend on the theory that big-hearted passersby will stop and help.

Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don't.

These are photos of some of the dogs that have been saved. That's Betty with all the puppies. She's a momma dog who sure looks like she's doing her best to meet the demands of a passel of puppies.

There are more puppies and more adults at Straydog Inc. And you can see them all and read their stories by going to www.straydog.org. Straydog needs supporters and adoptors. And, you can always volunteer to be both. If one or more of these critters looks like it might the dog of your future, e-mail straydog147@yahoo.com.

And, remember, Straydog has mature dogs, too. You won't have to go through the "puppy stage."

BULLY BOB'S STILL AVAILABLE: Lynn Gatlin, one of the rescuers with the Humane Society of Corsicana, has been trying to find a home for this guy, Bully Bob, for a few weeks now. He's under a year old and he wound up in boarding at Rogers Animal Hospital in Corsicana because his human is going into the military.

People have had time, now, to get to know Bob and are all enamored of this "beautiful and very friendly by."

Lynn says, "Bob is so sweet.Tiffany at the clinic has been checking in on him during the day when she's at work, but he's not getting much interaction at all "behind bars" so to speak.  Tiffany has taught Bob to fetch during her daily lunch breaks.  Tiffany sees lots and lots of dogs in and out of the clinic and is highly impressed with Bob's gentleness and VERY social attitude! In order to make Bob more adoptable, the Humane Society has had Bob neutered while he's been at the clinic.  He's also current on his vaccinations and he's heartworm negative. All he needs now is a PLACE TO CALL HOME!"

To ask about adopting Bob, call Tiffany at Rogers Animal Hospital at 903-872-6655 or Lynn at 903-874-3722 or e-mail lynnsoldit@yahoo.com.

FROM CARROLLTON, PENBROOK AND CALVIN: These are among the critters on the rapidly moving clock at the Carrollton Animal Services shelter.

The face of Penbrook stopped me right in mid-scroll. Look at that fellow! He's a 6-month-old Lab (#17788) who came in as an owner release. The story is he was adopted, then returned after being diagnosed with kennel cough. Rather than get a vet to treat the dog with antibiotics, it was just easier to dump the dog on taxpayer-financed death row.

Penbrook is a member of a class: the class of big ol' black dawgs that people look right past in animal shelters. Look at that face. It's hopeful, a bit anxious and, yet, willing to love. You can't tell a book by the cover but you can tell a dog by the nuzzle, the muzzle and the tail.

In the meantime, back in the cat room, Carrollton has Calvin, a little guy who came in as a stray. He's #17782.

And his bio is oh-so-human: "Calvin is a sweetie who loves people. He likes his own space to be in at times to get away from other cats."

Yep, a cat with human tendencies.

To ask about these or any Carrollton animals, call 972-466-3420 or e-mail Joe.Skenesky@cityofcarrollton.com.

A WHITE SETTLEMENT PUP: Marybelle Denton of the West Side Animal League sent us a whole raft of photos of dogs available at the White Settlement Animal Shelter.

This dog, Mimi, a border collie mix (perhaps with American Staffordshire Terrier, they say), is among them -- doesn't she have a mask like a superhero?

She's described as "probably more Border Collie (or Lab) than terrier. She's got the most unique markings and she is a good-natured girl but she would be happier as the only pet." She was an owner surrender.

If nobody takes Mimi between now and Saturday, she'll probably be among the animals available at an adoption from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the White Settlement Police Station, 8900 Clifford.

And not only is the shelter in need of adoptors, but it needs some other things, too. Marybelle says it needs donations of dog food in pop-top cans, dry dog food, dry puppy chow and, of course, that most appropriately useful item for kennels, newspapers.

Contact the West Side folks via marybelle.denton@charter.net.

POSSIBLE RESCUE: We hear from tipster Deborah Trevino that as many as seven dogs -- that may be all of them -- in the Seagoville "gravel pit" area on Mallow Bridge Road may be rescued today. There's a team of folks making an effort. We'll keep you posted. This has been a heroic effort by a handful of people to "un-dump" a bunch of dogs.

CONTEMPLATIONS: The International Herald Tribune has a story about people preferring dogs to humans. (Click HERE). If you are surprised by this, please stand and whistle the theme to Lassie or Wishbone. ... Should laying hens be kept in small cages? It's a political topic in California and here's a LINK to a Los Angeles Times column about it. ... Watching that mens' singles final at Wimbledon on Sunday, we heard one of the announcers say that the match was "something one of us will ever forget for a long, long time." This is why writers should be forever grateful that they have editors. The unedited mouth is a danger to grammar and logic.

Dogs, cats and lamentable people...

They're running the bulls in Pamplona. Or, as the bulls refer to it, "the trampling of idiots."

Our day will offer many issues, from Jenny the Elephant, to a lost dog, cats in crowded situations and post-fireworks problems. Let's begin:

LOST: This is an out-of-the-ordinary lost dog story. Usually we hear of dogs slipping a collar and racing away, dashing through an open door, etc. This is not like that.

Sherie McDaniel reports that their dog Asta was lost on June 23. "I am still exhausting my efforts to find her," she says. "I have posted her on all of the websites that I know about and posted up over 100 flyers in the area she was lost.

"She was taken without our knowledge or permission and put in the back of a pick-up truck. I know this is very sad and cruel.

"But I know she is still alive (mostly I feel it in my heart and because we walked most of the stretch of road she was lost on, checking railroad tracks and ditches, etc. And I have also called the DOT and cities to make sure they have not picked up her body."

The dog was lost from the truck somewhere between the 700 block of Georgetown in Wylie and the 1400 block of Arendale in Garland. "The guy that took her did not realize she was gone until he returned to my home," Sherie says.

If you know of Asta's whereabouts, contact sheriemcdaniel@yahoo.com or call 469-831-0403.

"I know someone has her, and has no intent on returning her - she is a little angel," Sherie says. "But the fact of the matter is we are heartbroken and my 10-year-old son is beside himself."

THE OCEAN REPORT: Back before the long holiday weekend we reported the story of a cat in the Irving Animal Shelter. This cat, an orange and white rascal named Ocean, was facing long odds, according to our tipster Rhonda Barrientos of Citizens for Irving Animals. She monitors the cat situation at the shelter. Ocean had tested positive for ringworm which, in most taxpayer-supporter shelters, is a death sentence even though euthanasia is not the recommended treatment for ringworm in out-of-the-shelter cases. At any rate, Ocean beat the odds, apparently. Rhonda reports, "I don't know all the exact details yet, since I was updated via blackberry, but I will know more later. I do know Ocean got out. Sounds like he was adopted!!  Also another adult cat, this one a tuxedo cat named Winston, who I was also extremely concerned about, got out alive as well!  I am ecstatic!"

CORSICANACATS: Oh, boy, there's a bunch of kittens available at the Corsicana Animal Shelter, we hear from our tipster Julie Maupin of the Humane Society of Navarro County, which works with the shelter to try to keep the population down via adoption.

We've selected two "action" photos to highlight the cats in Corsicana. The black cat is named -- honest -- Larry and that cat with the straight-edge tale is the frisky Andy.

There are a bunch of dogs and cats available in the Corsicana shelter right now and you can see them by going to www.corsicanapets.com.

Remember, these animals are all on the clock in Corsicana.

JENNY THE ELEPHANT: Margaret Morin, who is leading Concerned Citizens for Jenny in an attempt to keep the Dallas Zoo from shipping its last elephant to a park in Mexico, has created a Yahoo site to handle the continuing overwhelming flow of supporting e-mail and questions.

"I have received many emails and telephone calls from people who are concerned about Jenny.  So, with the help of my friend, Katie Schlund, I started a Yahoo Group to share information with everyone," says Margaret. "Please forgive me, but as I got over one thousand emails in just 10 days, it was impossible to individually answer every one, as much as I wanted to."

So, to sign onto the Concerned Citizens For Jenny Yahoo Group and keep up with actions being taken, go to http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/concernedcitizensforjenny/.

AND IN COLLIN COUNTY....: Well, here's one for you. We get it from DeDe Whitcombe, the independent rescuer and shelter walker who pays particular attention to the Collin County Animal Services Shelter in McKinney.

Seems there are two female dogs there and one is a momma with milk and one is just a "friend of the family." Both dogs act as "mothers" to a pair of puppies and DeDe says she's seen this in action. Two "mommas" shepherding the little pit mixes along.

Of course, this is the Collin County Animal Services Shelter where the rule is if the SPCA doesn't pick you for its adoption program and no rescue group takes you, it's curtains. Why? Because CCAS doesn't adopt to the general public. You can want a dog or cat with all your heart, but if you're not an authorized rescuer, too bad for the critter.

DeDe, who volunteers and fosters for Colin County Humane Society and Southern States Rescued Rottweillers, says she has "never seen anything so cute" as the "two mommas."

"they are all in together and the females are working together to take care of these two precious little ones. All are extremely friendly."

And, because of the "pit" in the mix, all have a limited time on the clock, DeDe says..

If you are a bonafide group with CCAS, call 972-547-7296 or e-mail animalshelter@co.collin.tx.us.

And you can see more animals in this shelter at this SITE.

CONTEMPLATION REGARDING THE FIFTH OF JULY: On Saturday, July the 5th, I did some driving through Dallas and Fort Worth. There was an ugly thing along the highways.

On U.S. 67 in Oak Cliff and along I-20 in Arlington and, especially, on the Poly Freeway in southeast fort Worth, I saw the remains of many dogs -- maybe as many as 10 dogs.

These unpleasant sights were in sections of the freeways that run through or near residential areas. I don't have proof of this, but my suspicion is neighborhood fireworks on the evening of July 4 panicked the dogs and they ran, trying mightily to escape from the flashing and the noise.

I have seen this before -- terrified dogs running from fireworks. With rare exception, dogs just don't think while they're running in a panic; they can only flee.

These dogs must have fled right onto busy roadways and that was it.

The next big fireworks holiday is about six months away -- New Years Eve. It would be nice if people with fireworks could get smarter between now and then. Also, the people who step outside and fire their pistols and automatic weapons into the air -- you could get smarter, too, OK?

Each year the SPCA and other groups issue fireworks warnings about animals, police departments remind residents of fireworks laws and still idiots prevail. So, we'll start the warnings about keeping your pets safe from fireworks on New Year's Eve a little earlier this year.

Maybe this will work in some households. And maybe I'm a ballerina performing Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy with flying pigs.

Paul Revere's horse...

In honor of the long July 4 weekend, Readlarrypowell is taking some time off -- mainly to trim back the overflowing e-mail inbox.

But, we are still offering our long-running weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.

Usually we spotlight sleepers from other households but this patriotic weekend, we're going to offer sleepers from the Readlarrypowell headquarters in Oak Cliff, Texas. (Remember, send your sleeper photos and info to us at dallrp@aol.com or lrpmail@aol.com and we'll proudly show them to the world.)

This weekend we present special "historical performance art" with the help of our big ol' Great Dane/Lab mix, Hambone Jack.

As you may suspect, Hammy is one of my favorite photo targets. He and I have walked and ridden many miles together through the years -- though his natural habitat can be summed up in one word: couch. He's an accommodating dog, so, in honor of Independence Day's long weekend, I asked him to give us one of his favorite impressions from the time of the American Revolutionary War.

Immediately he harkened back to mid-April 1775 when the great Paul Revere made his famous midnight right to warn people, "The British are coming." (These days, of course, that's not so much a warning as it is a reason to celebrate the arrival of someone witty and congenial. (International aside: Heck, we might even enjoy seeing Boy George if the State Department would let him visit. Surely the governments can stop bickering and allow a celebrity swap of a Boy George tour of the U.S. for a Martha Stewart visit to the United Kingdom.)

Anyway, in this photo, Hammy, one ear hanging low and his eyes open though he is not awake, sprawls on the couch and gives us his impression of Paul Revere's horse on the morning after the big ride. Worn out and flat out.

And, of course, the close-up is of Hammy's muzzle doing an impression of the horse's nostrils during the "cooling down" period in the Puritan Spa & Lounge at the Old North Church.

That little dog? That's sweet Rosie, our Chihuahua mix -- mixed with what we don't know. I used her photo because I thought her giant ears suggested a resemblance to a great American hero: Mighty Mouse.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend and be sure to send us your photos of your sleeping dogs, cats, reptiles, kangaroos or relatives who think your sofa is too comfy to leave. The address is dallrp@aol.com or lrpmail@aol.com.

The reward is our gratitude and the possibility that some Hollywood agent will see your sleeping critter and create a place in cinema history for the both of you. This is America where anything can happen.

Oh, those cats taking it easy on the rug? The orange and white cat is Griffin and the black one is Annabelle Bob. They went to the vet last week to get their shots and a routine checkup. Annabelle Bob weighs 11 pounds. Griffin topped out at 21 pounds. And he's as broad as Paul Revere's horse but would have preferred to take a cab that night.

The Fourth, the rescued dogs and the ringworm cat...

For the Fourth of July (this is being typed in the waning minutes of the 3rd), it seemed appropriate that we present someone in patriotic garb before we dive into tales with happy endings and stories that are on the way to happy endings.

Fortunately, our pal Diane Combs, the noted SPCA volunteer, is a festive person -- and she has a festive dog. This is Ginger in the outfit she planned to wear to University Park's Gore Park for the Park Cities' Fourth of July Parade. (That's the record for putting "park" in a sentence.)

Diane says that she and Ginger will be spectators this year rather than working the SPCA adoption booth. (Ginger, by the way, is an SPCA adoptee -- three when Diane got her, she just turned 10.)

They'll be leaving the park before the Texas heat steps in and wilts all the bunting and all the bunters or whatever you call people who hang that red, white and blue stuff. This parade is said by many to be the closest thing around to a living Norman Rockwell all-American painting. And, of course, so is Ginger.

JOSIE GETS SOME HELP: Yesterday we published the story of Josie, the dog left behind when the Hart Family was killed in a car crash after Sunday services at Custer Road United Methodist Church on June 22.

Friends and loved ones had been struggling to find a place to take this 6-year-old Husky mix. Julie Fuller reports that the folks at Animal Guardians have stepped up to take care of the dog and find a proper home for her. The contact is Annette Lambert of Animal Guardians. The phone number is 214-718-6843. Applicants will be properly screened to make sure this family dog has a loving place to live.

RINGWORM A DEATH SENTENCE? Oh, for crying out loud, that is the case if this cat, Ocean, doesn't get some help quickly. "If anyone out there already has a kitty or two in quarantine for ringworm and possibly has room for one more, you can't go wrong with this big, sweet ol' lug," says Rhonda Barrientos of Citizens For Irving Animals.

The Irving shelter, as many other shelters, sees ringworm as a disease best treated with euthanasia. Ringworm is, of course, one of the more easily treated cat problems -- it really shouldn't be a death sentence, should it?

But, Ocean, a 3-year-old domestic shorthair orange and white cat with "big aqua-colored eyes and the disposition of an angel" is facing the needle if someone doesn't step up and stop the process, Rhonda says.

"He adores attention, and will lie in your arms for as long as you're willing to hold him. He is quiet, unobtrusive, and is one of the sweetest, most polite and gentle cats you'd ever want to meet. ...We unfortunately found a small, suspiciously scaly spot on his back today and he blacklighted positive for ringworm. He has been given until close of business (6 p.m. close time) on Saturday, July 5th.  The shelter will be closed for July 4th."

To see about saving this guy from a policy, e-mail Rhonda at andyandrhonda@msn.com.

(Personal aside: We have a big orange cat, Griffin, who came to us as a kitten and gave ringworm to Baby Jane Doe, our 90-plus-pound shepherd mix, right on her nose where she sniffed him. Both were cured without being killed and without spreading it to the rest of the house, including the humans. This is the 21st Century -- surely we don't kill animals just because they have a skin ailment caused by a fungus. Some days I long for the 1950s when, if you came down with ringworm in your hair, they'd shave your head and paint it it orange with Mercurochrome. But they didn't euthanize you.)

ALL THOSE PUPPIES: Remember those 9 cute little puppies Dustin Deen was trying to find homes for? We mentioned them yesterday. All 9 have found homes.

I'll repeat: All 9 have found homes.

Dustin says he thinks they may have gone so quickly because "most people didn't want a big dog." (I hear shelter workers all over North Texas shouting, "Amen! But big dogs are great dogs...." OK, help me off the soapbox and let's move to the big point.

Dustin would appreciate it if people would stop circulating the note about the puppies. Yesterday he got 200 e-mails and 50 phone calls about the puppies. And if it were not for the holiday, there might be no let up.

So, on behalf of Dustin, if someone sends you a note about the 9 puppies, send it back to the sender and tell them that Readlarrypowell.com reports that they've found homes. It's the right thing to do.

FORT WORTH CRISES: Our reliable tipster, the hard-working Ginger Leach of Fort worth Animal Care and Control, reports that there are four dogs that desperately need homes ASAP -- that means their on "the list" at the shelter and you know that's not a good list to be on.

Here's the report from Ginger:

            --"Yasmin is a 4-year-old, spayed Beagle/Terrier. Her owner was deployed. Great temperament, cute and sweet as can be. I really want her saved since she wouldn't even be here if it weren't for her person being in the military."

(Aside: A beagle brought in with Yasmin was put to sleep because the poor dog "was extremely upset and being very aggressive." So, Yasmin has lost not only her human but her roommate. These are the hazards of shelter life -- conform or you may not make the cut.)

            --"Princess is a 2-year-old spaniel/heeler mix who just has the cutest and fluffiest ears. She is a very sweet girl. We just adore her."

            -- "Eli is a silly, happy and playful 3-year-old Rat Terrier who loves to play with a tennis ball."

            -- "Lady, the Rottie, who I totally adore," writes Ginger. "She is about 3-ish. BEGGING!"

These are heartworm-positive dogs -- not their fault. The cure is expensive, sometimes, depends on the vet. The cure is easy, sometimes, depends on the ferocity of the infestation and the willingness of the dog to be still for a long time.

At the end of the treatment, though, you have a dog with whom you've bonded because you sat with the dog and read to it or talked with it or made sure it got a lot of petting and soothing. You'll have a great friend.

To ask about getting one of these dogs, contact Ginger at gingerleach45@yahoo.com or call 817-392-3737.

"Please, if anyone can help any of these very deserving dogs please let us know," Ginger says. "They have all been vaccinated and have shown no signs of illness but this is their last chance. I have extended and extended and just can't do it anymore. They need commitments of rescue or adoption by Monday."

Cold, hard fact of life in a city shelter.

MAGGIE IS BACK HOME: We posted this photo yesterday of a dog found on a busy highway in Chandler, Texas. Kerian Massey, who heroically stopped to get this pup, reports that "Maggie was located by her family via e-mail alerts. I'm not sure which internet source reached them, but she is now comfortably at home with her family. My dog is a bit upset at the loss of her new friend, but we will be remedying that after I have my baby. (I'm due July 11.)"

Kerian also wrote, "It was through sources like yours that this dog found her way back home."

Now, I don't know if a visitor to Readlarrypowell.com made the connection for Maggie and her family, but I do know that our readers work hard to help animals all over the place and it's just possible that one of you made the connection. We're always grateful for our readers and the fact that they have giant hearts.

TWO DOGS WITH TWO TALES: Oh, boy, these dogs have a couple of stories. And we get them from Gail Whelan -- the dogs are on the "inventory list" for the now-closed Companion Animal Network. As you may have read earlier this week, CAN is no longer taking in animals, but is trying to find homes for many, many dogs currently being fostered or somehow surviving under CAN's wing.

            -- Beck is the dog in the horse trailer. He's lived in it for "almost two years," Gail says. "The man who 'owns' him is a hoarder. He has agreed to release him. Beck has a sponsor or his medical but has nowhere to go. I am hoping to find a foster or adopter. All we know is that he is about 2-years-old and very friendly. He seems to be a Dalmatian. The woman who continues to visit him in his trailer/prison says that he cries when she leaves."

            --Roofus is a senior male Basset "whose owner dumped him," Gail says. "he has been in our program -- and was adopted. However, the resident dog will not accept him. Roofus is in the middle of his heartworm treatment -- and he also has a sponsor for his medical needs. He just needs a place to be loved and live out his life."

To ask about adopting these dogs, or any of the CAN animals, contact Gail at can_rescue@yahoo.com or call 972-686-8987.

CASH, THE HOUSTON CANINE: We get the story on Cash from Dana Dicker, our reliable tipster with Scouts Honor Rescue in Houston.

"Cash is a handsome, sweet, and oh-so-loveable 3-year-old black Lab. He was found dodging traffic and limping on one leg early this year. Our first thought was that he had been hit by a car as his knee was the size of a softball!  Poor boy! After getting sweet Cash to a vet we found out that he had not bit hit by a car (thank goodness!!), but rather had a pretty bad bone infection in his knee.   

"After 3 months of heavy duty antibiotics and lots of exercise, Cash is like a new dog!  He is your typical VERY HAPPY Labby boy. Always smiling, always playful and always wanting to give lots of kisses!  Cash has 2 speeds - booming and stop. Cash is just so happy all the time and we say he 'booms' in whatever he does -- as in he comes booming into the house, booms up to you to say hello, just booms! He is quite the character and we wouldn't have him any other way"

The 75-pound dog (shown here intently chewing on a bone and enjoying some yard exercise) is house-trained, great with other dogs and needs an active family.

His foster mom's work-related travel schedule picks up on July 11, so they're hoping to place Cash by then. To ask about adopting or fostering Cash, e-mail ddicker@earthlink.net or call 713-502-4002. To see the other Scouts Honor critters, click HERE.

CONTEMPLATIONS: Larry Harmon, aka Bozo the Clown, died Thursday in Los Angeles. Back in 1984 he was running for president (yes, of the United States) and turned up in the Dallas newsroom where I was making a living. I had my photo made with him as he autographed a picture of himself. I can't remember what his platform was but whenever anyone says, "I'd vote for Bozo the Clown before I'd vote for those guys," well, you had your chance. ... July 4 -- doesn't it make you want to re-read some of the books you read about the founding of the nation? What? Well, you ought to read some. How about something by David McCullough? Or Walter Isaacson's Benjamin Franklin: An American Life. Oh, OK, you want something simple. Try Robert Lawson's 1939 book Ben and Me, the story of Franklin the Inventor and the Mouse who guided him. Yes, it's also a Disney short if you don't have time to read a kids book. ... Three things to make you smile: Fourth of July family reunions without police intervention; letting kids roast wienies until the hot dog is charcoal on a stick (they love 'em anyway); and watching an unpleasant relative dive into a serving of potato salad that everyone else thinks tastes "iffy." Happy Fourth. Happy Fifth and Sixth, too.

A family dog and other challenges...

As the July 4 weekend approaches, we're going to include a lot of things in our report, including an attempt to help the dog left behind when its family was taken in an auto crash a couple of weeks ago in Dallas. Now, on with today's report:

FRIENDS RALLY TO HELP FAMILY DOG: You probably saw the story about the Hart Family -- Mom, Dad, Daughter and two Foster Children killed in a car crash after Sunday morning services at Custer Road United Methodist Church on June 22.

In addition to the friends and loved ones left behind, there were two dogs.

One, a younger puppy, is going to live with a relative of the family, we're told by Julie Fuller.

But, Julie says, people are still trying to find a home for Josie, a 6-year-old Husky mix "who was adopted... when she was young." The dog is 35-40 pounds, housebroken and congenial. "She gets along with another dog in her home, is OK with children, but can be skittish and shy with lots of noise (she has had quite a bit of trauma and inconsistency lately). The family doesn't think she has any medical issues."

To ask about adopting or helping to find a home for this family dog that lost her family, e-mail JAFuller@aol.com or doglover@lordamac.com.

CRITTERS, HEAT AND FIREWORKS: It's going to be a weekend of heat and fireworks and you know the drill: Keep your critters away from the heat and away from the fireworks. Alicia Brown and Maura Davies of the SPCA of Texas sent us the traditional Fourth of July warning about fireworks and other dangers. And it ends with the most sensible sentence you'll ever see in a press release: "This Fourth of July, keep your beloved companion animals indoors where it is safe."

Animals run from fireworks and they don't know when to stop. Always lots of lost dog notices on July 5.

If you want to see the whole release, we found a novelty of place for you to read it. It's the website for the Corner Animal Hospital in Setauket, NY. Click HERE.

We Googled SPCA of Texas and fireworks and that's one of the places that popped up. The SPCA really gets around.

And, in case you wondered about this photo, it is from the SPCA website. These wards of the SPCA's McKinney facility are the stars of  the SPCA's annual Fourth of July All-Poultry Production of the musical 1776. Oh, OK, they are in the McKinney shelter and they are available. I hate to break your heart, but there is no all-poultry production of 1776 -- this year.

AT THE COLLIN COUNTY SHELTER: We've gotten a few e-mails lately highlighting the plight of some dogs in the Collin County Animal Shelter in McKinney.

Why is it a "plight"? Well, it's got a factor that is tough to overcome if you're an animal that is not immediately seen as adoptable.

Though the Collin County shelter is a taxpayer-funded animal shelter, just plain ol' taxpayers can't go to it and adopt an animal. The shelter has a contract with the SPCA of Texas -- the SPCA gets first pick of the adoptables. All the other animals -- the culls -- are left behind to be rescued -- maybe -- by bonafide rescue groups. Nobody can just walk in and say, "I'll adopt that one."

So, if the SPCA doesn't take a critter and no rescue group claims it, it's probably curtains.

And that is what inspires people such as DeDe Whitcombe to try to get rescue groups to pay attention to such dogs as these. The "happy young girl [left] was an owner-surrender," DeDe writes. "Her owner did not have enough time for her..."

Then there is the little dog with the coat "like mink fur," DeDe writes. "He has black eyeliner eyes. He comes right to me waging and lets me love all over him....I beg them every day not to euthanize him...."

Rescue groups can tag the dogs and save them by calling 972-457-7298 or by e-mailing animalshelter@co.collin.tx.us. You can read about the Collin County Animal Shelter's policies HERE.

IN MARSHALL: The Marshall Animal Shelter in East Texas is a lot like most -- it's always overcrowded and there is a never-ending supply of unwanted animals.

Eva Sepulvado, the hard-working animal control officer in Marshall, sent out a note that pretty much represents the situation in one sentence: "We are busting and need to move some dogs."

Among the dogs are these two -- and we're including their official description:

There's Taffy, a "female scruffy dog, about 10 months, great dog!"

"Scruffy Dog" may be a new breed -- and if it attracts adoptors, you can bet there'll be plenty of "scruffy dogs" available.

Noelle is "an Aussie/Border Collie -- no tail -- she is about a year old. Check out these adorable ears -- she is so cute."

(Aside: Yes, the term "adorable ears" always catches the attention of the photo pickers at Readlarrypowell.com.)

To ask about adopting these animals or any animal in the care of the folks in Marshall, call Eva at 903-935-4530 or 903-926-2695 or e-mail sepulvado-aco@hotmail.com.

Marshall is about 2 hours east of Dallas on I-30 -- many of you may drive past it this weekend on your way to the casinos in Shreveport.

A DOG IN IRVING: Thanks to the watchful eye of noted shelter walker Russell Posch we have a photo of this dog Joker, a "friendly, waggy, young male shepherd mix."

Nobody has taken an interest in adopting this friendly dog. According to the description, "He is always at the front of his cage eager to greet his visitors. he enjoys whatever attention he can get."

Joker is about a year old and he weighs 63 pounds. His tracking number is 7750.

Call the Irving Shelter at 972-721-2256. It's at 100 N. Briery, just east of Belt Line at Rock Island, south of 183 in Irving.

And it always has plenty of dogs and cats.

A DALLAS RESCUE: Our reliable tipster summed this up perfectly. "While trying to catch one dog, they caught 5," she wrote.

The story is that Yukari Moss and friends were trying to catch an injured dog in an open field on Northwest Highway in Dallas.

They caught that dog, Elle, and she's been treated and it "looks like she will be able to keep her leg," we're told.

While Team Elle was trying to catch that dog, they caught some "other bystander dogs," writes Yukari. "It's awesome that we were able to get them off the streets, but now we need your help finding them foster families and/or forever, loving homes.

"there are a total of four dogs that are being boarded at Animal Boarding of Farmers Branch (since no one has any room for them). If you can spare a few dollars please call the boarding facility at 972-247-7900. they can take a credit card payment by phone -- please mention it's for Yukari Moss."

The dogs are:

            Elle, a 40-pound shepherd/pit mix with an injured paw. She's 1- to 3-years old and "very sweet and gentle."

            Sindi is 15-20 pounds, a female shepherd mix who is about 5 months old and is somewhat skittish around people.

            Phelecia, also 15-20 pounds, is a shepherd/Border Collie mix with a patch on her eye. She, too, is skittish around people.

            Lugar is a 65-pound neutered Plott Hound/Lab mix, under 3. He's a "gentle giant, very laid back."

            Then there is the mother-daughter pair.

            Layla is a purebred German Shepherd, probably 2 to 4 years old, around 60 pounds and "very laid back and sweet.

            Macy, about 9 months old and 50 pounds, is Layla's daughter. "She is a little doll."

Layla and Macy are in the care of the Animal Hospital on Teasley Lane (940-382-6939) if you are inclined to help with their routine medical care. (Mention Yukari Moss when you talk to the shelter.)

To volunteer to help with these dogs, e-mail ymoss2008@gmail.com or call 469-323-4650.

RESOLVED: Back on June 20 we mentioned that these two Labs, Toby (the Yellow) and Shadow, needed a home because their family had encountered rough economic times.

We hear from Sharon Driscoll that "They have both been adopted by the same family and are doing very well."

I mention this because our inbox has gotten several versions of this request for help -- including some with our own item. So, in the interest of stamping out this rogue e-mail and saving some of you some time, you have no need to hit the "forward" button when you see the request to help Labs named Toby and Shadow.

FOUND IN CHANDLER: This dog, currently called Sonia, showed up in a "very high traffic area" of Chandler, at the north end of Lake Palestine in East Texas. Kerian Massey says the dog was at the intersection of 315 and 31 and "had a leash AND collar on her, so I am assuming she did belong to someone.

"Perhaps she sprung free from a walk with her owner," Kerian theorizes.

She says that "if anyone knows of this dog or her owners, Id be happy to bring her back to their home as I'm sure she's deeply missed."

Call 903-469-3989 if you recognize this dog.

"She does fine in our fenced-in backyard and gets along well with my dog Roxie. She's very hesitant about even being inside, so I think she might have been kept outside."

Kerian adds, "It's tough to help all the animals in East Texas, but if everyone pitches in just a little, it'll make all the difference in the world."

THE BURNS FLAT CRISIS: As the holiday weekend arrives, Terry Lynn Fisher, our determined shelter monitor in the little Oklahoma town of Burns Flat, says there's a lot of pressure to move several dogs currently in the city shelter. Three's a set of Lab brothers, a German Shorthaired Pointer mix "who has been here too long and wants to go somewhere else bad," etc.

Contact Terry Lynn at remembering_oddball@yahoo.com or call her at 580-330-1459. Click

HERE to see the inventory at Burns Flat.

ASSORTED NOTES:

            --Our Arkansas tipster Molli Corbin of near Dardanelle tells us that West Helena, Ark., Mayor James Valley has been arrested for turning shelter dogs loose in a nearby national forest. Some were found, some reportedly were shot by property owners when the dogs came out of the forest. You can see a lot of stories about this situation on the ABC 24/CW 30 Memphis, Tenn. TV website HERE.

             --Cathie Desell tips us to things going on at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary in Boyd, about 40 minutes north/northwest of Fort Worth if nobody gets in the way. And her latest tip has to do with these bobcats (I didn't take the photo -- it came from the IEAS's website HERE). "The bobcats are really cute and much smaller than I thought they would be," says Cathie, who volunteers at the sanctuary. "They look so much like domestic kittens." Yep, up to a point. Then, well, that point, I guess, is why they're in the exotic animal sanctuary. Bobcats are all over North Texas -- a few years ago, the Dallas Zoo, less than 5 minutes from downtown Dallas, even caught one from the nearby neighborhood stalking animals inside the zoo. CONTEMPLATIONS: If it's a rainy day with temps in the 60s, would you rather be in a museum, movie or library? ... I just saw a commercial for Dairy Queen's new Girl Scout Thin Mints Cookie Blizzard. Is this a marriage of two heavens? Dairy Queen and Thin Mints! ... Whoa! Rush Limbaugh gets a $400 million contract with a $100 million signing bonus and he's not a pitcher, quarterback or departing executive of a crumbling corporation in trouble with the feds. Lord knows how many newspaper jobs could have been saved if that wealth had been redistributed from broadcast to print. But, as Dr. Egon Spengler says, "Print is dead."

Midweek, mid-PM update...

Today we're going to have a mid-afternoon update on Readlarrypowell.com.

Amazingly, we're going to be dealing with loose dogs. Imagine that. Loose dogs in the greater North Texas area. Why, I never....

The suspicion is that these dogs weren't "loose" on their own. Somebody dumped them.

And we'll also mention a Texas Humane Legislation Network action alert regarding Jenny, the Dallas Zoo elephant. Read on:

A CAUGHT DOG: We wrote about this dog earlier in the week after Gigi Ray tipped us to the plight. The dog has been living for a while at a filling station in Grand Prairie, just south of the big time horsetrack.

Gigi e-mailed this morning that the Grand Prairie Animal Services folks had managed to catch the little dog. And here we have photos of the dog at the business end of a catchpole and in the trap where she finally was caught earlier today.

Sharon Fábrega, an Animal Services Officer with Grand Prairie, sent us the details:

"This little girl has been in the area of I-30/Beltline for 1-2 years (depending on who you ask).  I had a trap out for her and managed to impound her today.

"Her ID number is A068121 and her stray period ends on 7-09-08.  Her availability to rescue groups will obviously depend on her behavior while here, but I’m hoping she’ll come around.  Here are some pics of the little girl.  She’s only about 20 lbs."

And, if you are a bonafide rescuer who wants to take on this pup, Sharon says, "To rescue from us all groups need to make sure we have copies of their 501c3, bylaws if available, list of persons authorized to pull/transport, and $10 for microchip if group doesn’t already chip their animals."

You can reach the Prairie Paws Adoption Center in Grand Prairie at 972-237-8575.

Be a shame to save her, just to see her killed, but that's the way it works in a society overloaded with animals. This is not the only animal in that fix in Grand Prairie -- if you'd like to see the inventory of available animals, click HERE.

OFF THE STREETS: Pam Mitchell, who has found more than her share of loose critters in the North Texas area,