Petition Update

We crossed the 500 mark! We're now up to 519!!! Thanks everybody, this is really going to help make a difference!!!
www.spayandneuterdallas.com

Petropolitan Sleep Over

My mom and dad are going to spend the night "away" on Saturday and I just found out that instead of staying home with Rumba I get to go to Petropolitan. I thought I was going to be bored at home with nothing to do (the neighbors were really nice and volunteered to come let me out for breaks, to feed me, etc.) but mom decided I would have more fun and be less worried if I went to spend the night with my friends. I'm super excited!!! I spent the night there when daddy had surgery and it was great. They take really good care of me (even when I'm crabby) and there's a lot stuff to keep me occupied. In case you're worried about Rumba... don't be. She actually doesn't mind spending some time alone. She likes having the house all to herself and as long as there's food in her bowl and Court TV on the television she's perfectly content (she just doesn't know what she's missing...)

Sam's new hair

Today my friend Sam got his hair cut. He has really thick fur so in the summer his mom gets it cut so he won't be as hot. I think it looks really cute!

Petition Update

Yeah -- we're up to 473 signatures!!!
http://www.spayandneuterdallas.com/

Memorial Day Swim Time

Today we went over to Grandma's and Grandpa's to have a Memorial Day cookout. The weather was great and the pool was perfect. Not only did I get to swim, I also got to chase a bunch of squirrels and had a very nice time just relaxing in the grass. We had ribs and bar-b-que so needless to say -- the eatin' was good! I sure love my grandparents!

This is me and daddy, waiting in the car for mom so we can hurry up and go!

This is me on my pool float

Me posing by the pool

I can't wait till tomorrow!

I can't wait for tomorrow!!! Mom has been really busy at work so I haven't gotten to go with her since last Wednesday. I hate staying home all day. Rumba is here, so at least I'm not alone, but she isn't any fun. All she wants to do is sit around in the sun and ignore me. Tomorrow is Thursday, though, and I get to go to Petropolitan for daycare. I LOVE DAYCARE!!! I get to see Sam and all the rest of my friends and it makes the day go by really fast. I can't, I can't wait, I can't wait!!!

Petition Update

Yeah, we've gotten over 300 signatures!!!

Craziness at Petropolitan

Mom just told me some weird news about my daycare. Friday night the ceiling in the grooming area fell in. That must have been scary for any of my friends that were spending the night. Nobody was in the grooming area so everyone was totally safe, but I bet it made a lot of noise. I guess their building is a little historic and the ceiling back there just got old and crumbled away. The guys down there are pretty resourceful so I'm sure everything is pretty much back to normal. Hopefully their landlord will get it all fixed in a hurry -- I know a couple of dogs who really need a bath and trim!

My daddy is going to be in a magazine!

I'm really excited! My daddy is going to be in a magazine! Modern Luxury is doing a special "Influential Men of Dallas" issue and there is a page all about him. We saw the final proof and it looks GREAT! As soon as is comes out I'll post it so everyone can see it!

Petition Update

We're up to 273! Keep em' coming!

Stop the silly comments!

I'm really getting tired of hearing people tell me that they're not for the new Dallas animal ordinances because they will be "unenforceable". That's just not true! Any law, good or bad, is enforceable. Whether of not the authorities choose to enforce it is another matter.
Right now, though, that shouldn't even be a part of the equation. First, get the ordinances passed - then, work on making sure they are enforced. I think its crazy to just sit back and do nothing just because of something that may, or may not, happen down the road.
That's the problem with people. They want things to get better, but they're not willing to go out and do anything to make themselves heard. Dogs wouldn't do that! We'd take charge of matters and make sure things worked out!
Come on humans - grow a pair and help make things better for us dogs!

Petition Update

Wow, it's only been a couple of days and we already have 153 signatures. OK, all of you who haven't signed -- go do it NOW!

Happy Mother's Day

Today we went over to grandma and grandpa's for Mother's Day. Grandpa cooked steaks on the grill plus we had baked potatoes, cake and ice cream! The food was great, but the best thing... IT WAS THE FIRST SWIM DAY OF THE YEAR!!!! I've been waiting for this day all winter and I can't believe it's finally here! Man, I love to swim!!! Yeah, swim days!!!

Dallas Animal Ordinances

Today my mom launched her new website, http://www.spayandneuterdallas.com/. In June, the Dallas City Council will vote on a new set of animal ordinances.

One of the proposals causing the most controversy centers around mandatory spay/neuter legislation (you can read the entire ordinance on the Ordinance Summary page of the website). Even though this plan contains numerous exemptions, it has become the center of a very vigorous debate. Simply stated, the proposal will require owners to spay or neuter their pets (dogs, cats) unless they pay a yearly breeder fee.

Opponents argue that this interferes with their "rights" as pet owners. What they leave out of the discussion is that last year Dallas Animal Services euthanized almost 30,000 animals. The number rises to nearly 200,000 when you look at totals for shelters city wide. 25% of the animals euthanized each year are purebred.

Here's the bottom line: this ordinance is not about "rights", it's about life and death. Every three minutes a dog or cat is killed in Dallas. It is cruel to bring one more litter, even a purebred litter, into the world as long as we are killing so many healthy animals on a daily basis.

If you want to show your support for responsible pet ownership, please go to the website, http://www.spayandneuterdallas.com/ and sign her petition.

The animals of Dallas thank you!

The Legends and Puppies Tour of 2008

Texas Legends Kinky Friedman and Steven Fromholz Touring For Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch.

The super-successful Legends And Puppies Tour of 2008, with former gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman and Texas Poet Laureate Steven Fromholz, is back on the road once again, and it's coming to a city or town nearby! As always, it's for the benefit of the Kinkster’s favorite cause, the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch, a 501(c)3 organization that rescues abandoned and/or abused dogs, nurtures them and places them with loving families.

Nearly every stop on the tour so far has been sold out, with several second shows added in the hottest markets. Every show includes a live auction with a guitar signed by longtime Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch supporter and Big Dog, Willie Nelson, as well as other terrific items from Kinky's private memorabilia collection.

Named Texas Poet Laureate in April, 2007, Steven Fromholz is a unique Texan, who has had his songs recorded by Hoyt Axton, John Denver, Lyle Lovett, Michael Martin Murphy, Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker and dozens of others. Four years after suffering a near-fatal stroke, he's singing and playing better than ever, and he's recently written and published a book, 'Texas Trilogy' (Esteban Publishing). Fromholz describes his music as: "free-form, country-folk rock, science fiction, gospel gum, bluegrass opera, cowjazz music." Steven Fromholz is once again a huge presence on stage.

Also no surprise, however, is Kinky’s commitment to all the lost puppies of the world, and Steven Fromholz will be there to help. And in the end, Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch will save more puppies. YAY LEGENDS! YAY PUPPIES!

The dates and outlets for tickets (prices vary from city to city):
THE DATES:
4/25 The Big Easy http://www.thebigeasynightclub.com/ $50.00 8:00PM 2411 Mechanic Street, Galveston 409-762-7900

5/2 The Auslander http://www.theauslander.com/ $35-$50 7:30PM 323 Main Street, Fredericksburg 830-997-7714

5/3 Silver Spur Theatre http://www.saladosilverspur.com/ $50 7:30PM 108 Royal Street, Salado 254-947-3456

5/4 Uptown Marble Theater http://www.uptownmarble.com/ $35-$45 4:00PM 218 Main Street, Marble Falls 830-693-9996

Press and info: Cleve Hattersley 512-873-8925 cleveandmary@austin.rr.com

A very sad goodbye

Yesterday we found out that Mrs. Wilson passed away. She was our next door neighbor and I really liked her. About a year ago she got really sick and had to go to the hospital. After she got out she needed someone to help her around the house so she went to live with her son. She never came back to her old house and we hadn't seen her in a really long time. Last night we found out about her death and we were all very sad.
She used to make us homemade bread and was always around to wave as we left for work. She definitely brightened our lives and we'll miss her a lot!

Dallas City Council Animal Ordinances

OK City Council, it's time to do the right thing!

Next week you'll be voting on mandatory spay/neuter legislation - and there is only one way to vote! This ordinance MUST be passed. I can't believe that there is even a question here...

Last year ALONE Dallas Animal Services euthanized almost 30,000 animals – that's over 50 animals each day! And that's just Dallas Animal Services - figure in the other "kill shelters" in the city and the numbers are even higher.

Now is the time to show the people of Dallas that you can look beyond the outdated back-woods attitude that turns a blind eye to our growing animal overpopulation problem.

Remember:

Bella say, "Don't be a DUMBASS, spay or neuter your pet!"

T-shirt Sales

I'm really excited! I just found out that more people are buying my "Bella says..." t-shirts! I'm selling them on Cafepress, hoping to help spread the word out the importance of adopting and spaying and neutering.

Get your own by clicking here!

Help Stop Animal Abuse!

By making a donation to sponsor
an SPCA of Texas animal cruelty investigator you will help provide our
investigators with the resources they need to do their job to eliminate all
forms of animal abuse. You can choose to make a one-time or a monthly gift that
will immediately impact our investigator's work in the field.

Click here to help!

Petropolitan Commercial

My friends at the Petropolitan are becoming very popular... they're really nice, so I'm not at all surprised. Chris even has a commercial for the shop. He did really well and I like watching it. Take a look, here's the link: Petropolitan Commercial