Straydog UPDATE posted FRIDAY 8/22/03 at ~8:21 p.m. CT

Bill Arnold's Daily Straydog Log

FRIDAY AUGUST 22 2003

Two weeks after the cancerous part of his jaw was removed, Anthony is given the okay to go back to his outside kennel with his kennel mate, Susie

     All the other dogs barked at Anthony as he was being lead from the "hospital" around to his outside kennel. And even though it was over a hundred degrees out, he was a very happy boy to be back home. We'll still be feeding him soft food for a while.

April goes to be groomed, and again we thank Ofelia

     Doesn't this baby look beautiful?! And look at her kennel buddy, Johnny, checking her over:

Another email with a story similar to that of Aggressive Dog Jack

My husband and I also lived with a very people- dog- everything-aggressive dog. She had been starved and abused to the point no one could go near her when we rescued her at six months of age. She loved us totally but would bite anyone else who came near our house or yard. Were we going to put her down because she didn't like anyone else? Never. Yes, you have to learn to be extra careful. We put padlocks on our gates so no one could ever "accidentally" wander in. We had to lock her in the yard or bedroom when guests came over, and if you have an aggressive dog, you DON'T take it out for walks unless you put the muzzle on. I am always amazed at people who will expect an animal to be perfect and don't make any effort to work with the dog. There is usually a solution. The bottom line is: Now our Missy is seven years old and has mellowed out to the point she lies around with us when company comes over and even occasionally invites someone to pet her. We are certainly glad to made the effort to find a solution, I hope Jack's mom does.

Stevie (the blind dog who was adopted by the Nicholsons three years ago) had a malignant tumor removed from his leg

Email from Stevie ...

Poppa Bill & Erin,

I just wanted to say hello and tell you that I had a small fatty knot removed from my leg about a week ago, and it was malignant. So now I have to go to radiation three times a week for 5 weeks, but that is OK because my dad will go and Stay with me while I sleep. The diagnosis is very good for this type treatment, about 99% total success and whatever else I need, my dad will get for me. I just wanted you to know. Take care and God bless all of you at Straydog.

Stevie Nicholson

Report from Erin ...

Searching for the owner (guardian) of Foxy

     Today I made another search near the highway where I found "Foxy" and found men sitting at a card table in a trucking garage. They told me that a red dog had been hanging around a house a couple doors down. So, I knocked on doors and finally met Louise. I showed Louise Foxy's picture, and yes, that was the dog she'd been feeding on and off for a month!

     The dog came around when her grandchildren came over and was great with the kids, playing on the trampoline with them and letting them try to ride her! The dog ate ice cream, candy and Fritos, and Louise bought cheap dog food to feed her when the kids weren't there. "So, the dog will eat anything", Louise said, "except onions and celery!"

     Louise's ten grand kids are ages three to 10 years old, and Foxy (or "Yatzee," the name the kids called the big red dog) was very gentle with all the children, loving to be around them. If the kids squeezed or hugged too hard, Yatzee would just back away out of the situation. She never bit any of the kids.

     "She's a good dog," Louise said, "but I can't keep her. She gets in the trash, and I'm allergic to dog hair. I called The Pound when she first came around, but nobody had made a claim about this dog. I think she may have been dumped or fell out of a truck. I've been feeding her because I felt sorry for her. The dog is kid-goofy," Louise continued, "She's so funny. You can play with a flashlight on the ground, and she'll chase the light. She's a good dog. Please don't destroy her."

     Looks like Foxy Yatzee has made it into Straydog's lifeboat. We'll be taking her to adoption day when she's had her shots and gets all cleaned up. She'll make a great dog for a family with kids it sounds like, so hopefully she'll find a safe forever home with some new children to play with soon!

Email from a Straydog supporter

Hi, Erin.

I received some address stickers from the SPCA of Texas for sending
them a donation. On the back of the stickers was this poem. I thought
I'd share it with you. I wish the entire world could read it!!

Why Me?

I don't know why I'm homeless
and no one cares for me,
I've tried to be a good little pup,
good as any dog can be.
I had a home for a little while
but one day I heard them say,
"You can't keep this dog around,"
so they took me away.

They left me on a lonely road,
no shelter and food for a pup,
I waited each day for their return,
but now I've given up.
There's only one who knows I'm here,
who knows my awful plight,
A kitten who searches
for food through the day,
I hear her cry at night.

She lives beneath a pile of wood,
so small, so scared, so thin.
To abandon a kitten so small and frail
seems a terrible sin.
Help us dear friend, this kitten and me,
so hungry and so alone,
Guide some kind soul to find us
and give us a home, sweet home.

- Author Unknown