Bill Arnold's Daily Straydog Log

THURSDAY APRIL 8 2004

Update emailed from Billy Lawson

Dear Bill:
 
Abby and Willow continue to do well.  Abby is anemic from the ticks and the whip worms, but she is doing okay.  Willow is also doing fine.  I believe Claudia has found a foster home that will take both dogs. Claudia and her friends have recognized how Straydog has helped many animals in need and would like to offer their future assistance by dog sitting, garage sales, etc. 
 
Just want to thank everyone again for their donations and support.
 
Sincerely,
 
Billy

Thanks, Billy. Please keep the updates coming as these dogs progress. ... Bill

An email about another stray needing help:

Hello!

I just came across your website and see the love you have for animals! It is truly wonderful.

I don't know if you can help or offer advice. There is a stray dog near my office in Dallas. He has a severe case of mange and has proven to be a trooper. He has been wondering for at least two months now. Unfortunately, I did call the city to pick him and put him out of his misery twice, but they haven't picked him up, and now my co-worker and I feel that there must be a reason. The dog is cute and has little blue eyes. He probably weighs 20 pounds, but should weigh 35 pounds. I don't know what else he has, but we would love to help him. We both have pets of our own and are afraid that they will contract whatever this stray has. We just don't feel that we can adequately care for him. We can provide money to care for him under your care, so we are hoping that we can arrange something with you to help him. The sooner we hear from you the better. Who knows when the city may find him now or when he may pass from hunger?

The exact location is Holmes and Sanger in South Dallas. He just hangs around the four corners.

Thank you,

Chantal Chialant

Bill's response to Chantal:

Chantal,

I have published your email above with the hopes that someone will help you. As you may know if you've been following our website, we are running very low on funds to sustain the operation we already have going. We have 80 dogs in our care (with room for just 65), and two of our employees have quit within the last week. We can't afford to replace these kennel helpers/caregivers, so we're all working extra time now just to get all the daily work done around here, and we have no more kennel space for another dog.

If you can "provide the money to care for" the dog, as you offer in your email, please take him to a vet ASAP and start his treatment to get him on the road to recovery. Board him there at the vet clinic until you can either find someone to adopt or foster him, or until we at Straydog adopt out enough dogs to open a spot for him or until the vet says the dog is well enough to take to your home (not being a threat any longer to the health of your other pets).

If you make the decision to save that stray dog, you will make it happen. We are already doing far more than seems physically (and mentally) possible here at Straydog, but we will keep on for the duration. When we are full and out of money, we must have the help of caring people like yourself to rescue and take care of the strays who cross your paths.

Again, please take the dog to a vet as soon as possible. Then email us the address of the vet clinic, and we'll ask our readers to send contributions to help cover your vet bills. Thanks so much for caring about that poor stray!

Sincerely,

Bill Arnold

[A short time later: Chantal reported that Animal Control had picked up the dog and euthanized him before Chantal could rescue him.}

Prince is doing fine in his hospital kennel

      We can tell the area beneath Prince's tail is bothering him because even when he's walking in the park, he often sits down and doesn't move for a few moments, but he hasn't tried to chew on his stitches, so we haven't had to put an E-collar on him. He's had normal bowel movements and seems to be getting along okay in that department.

Gayle, Ojay's mom, suggests we feature the older dogs on this website to try to find them homes

      I very much agree with Gayle, and when I saw her email a few days ago, I immediately started taking special photos of our special older dogs, but too many "chores" have interrupted this new (or really recurring) project. (Pat started publishing her "Dog of the Week" section several years ago, and we just couldn't keep up with it.) But I will get back on this ASAP.

The printed materials for the mailing have been picked up

      I also bought 2500 thirty-seven-cent stamps on a personal credit card ($925), and we're in the process of stuffing envelopes and will hopefully get the first batch in the mail either tonight or tomorrow.