Book to Read - DogMan: An Uncommon Life on a Faraway Mountain

Dog rescue is a passion for many, and those involved in rescue as well as dog lovers in general should love this new read, about the man who literally saved the Akita breed from extinction during World War II. It's a true story, and it's a well-written read.

From Amazon.Com, read the Publisher's Weekly short on DogMan: An Uncommon Life on a Faraway Mountain by Martha Sherill, or check out the online interview with the author on PBS's Charlie Rose Show.

FLDS Child Abuse Cases: Friend of the Court Filings and Supreme Court Opinion

Friend of the Court (Amicus Curiae) filings:

ACLU - filed May 29, 2008 (in favor of 3d Court of Appeals opinion)

Attorney Barbara J. Elias-Perciful (against 3d Court of Appeals opinion)

Then, filed on the same day:

Response to the Petition for Writ of Mandamus by the Relator-Mothers

Supreme Court opinion - State's petition for writ of mandamus is denied, but the opinion notes,

"While the district court must vacate the current temporary custody orders as directed by the court of appeals, it need not do so without granting other appropriate relief to protect the children, as the mothers involved in this proceeding concede in response to the Department’s motion for emergency relief. The court of appeals’ decision does not conclude the SAPCR proceedings.

"Although the SAPCRs involve important, fundamental issues concerning parental rights and the State’s interest in protecting children, it is premature for us to address those issues."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON THE FLDS STAY

Here's more documentation filed before the Texas Supreme Court on the State's request for the 3rd Circuit's decision to be stayed - or not enforced - pending the Supreme Court's determination of the mandamus request:

Reply to Response to Motion for Request for Emergency Relief with an Appendix (filed by the State, countering the arguments made by the FLDS mothers that there is no need for a stay)

Sur-Reply to Reply to Response to Motion for Request for Emergency Relief (filed by the FLDS Mothers, responding to the arguments made in the State's reply to their initial filing).

Notice how the following phrase repeats itself throughout the State's Appendix: "habeas petition was not averred by relator, only relator's attorney who had no personal knowledge of maternity."

TEXAS SUPREME COURT REVIEW OF FLDS OPINION - FULL TEXT OF THE BRIEFS AND MOTIONS

If you are interested in reading the entirety of what has been filed before the Supreme Court of Texas in the FLDS ElDorado alleged child abuse case, the Court has promptly posted the filings online:

Petition for Writ of Mandamus (filed by the State of Texas on May 23, 2008, this seeks to overturn the 3d Circuit Court of Appeals' decision)

Motion for Emergency Relief (filed by the State of Texas on May 23, 2008, this asks the Supreme Court to stay, or stop, anything from happening in the case until the high court can make up its own mind and issue its own opinion)

Response to Motion for Emergency Relief (FLDS Moms who won in the appellate court argue against any stay)

OPINION IN THE TEXAS FLDS CHILD ABUSE CASE

Here is the link to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals decision in the FLDS case, in case you want to read the opinion itself:

http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/05/22/mandamus.decision.pdf

Go Vote for the Ugliest Dog of 2008

You don't have to travel to Petaluma, California, to vote for the Ugliest Dog of 2008 ... you can cast your vote online, at the Sonoma-Marin Fair website.

Only dog lovers can understand how these pups are so ugly they're adorable, as you well know if you've watched the contest over on Animal Planet for the past few years.

This year, you can watch the contest unfold online as the contestants' photos are shown on the site, along with the "absentee" voting tallies:

PeeWee Martini (shown here, on the left) is the current boy to beat with a current vote total of 10,158.

Think your beloved dog should be among the competition?

Well, fill out an entry form over at the website, sending a digital photo to marketing@sonomamarinfair.org.

DRIVING DRUNK ON MEMORIAL DAY IN SA: JUDGES READY TO ISSUE WARRANTS FOR BLOOD TESTS ON DRIVERS PULLED OVER ON SUSPICION OF DRIVING DRUNK

Last month, there was a major DUI plea deal here in Bexar County -- first time DUIs could be plea bargained, a change instituted by DA Susan Reed because of the docket bottleneck (there were over 3500 pending cases on the books).

Now, Memorial Day is fast approaching and with it, the other shoe is about to drop on this new DUI deal: part of Reed's new plan involves this very holiday.

If you are pulled over this Memorial Day weekend in Bexar County because you are suspected of driving drunk, be prepared. You'll be asked to take the breath test, and if you refuse, your blood may well be drawn anyway -- hey, what about a search warrant for that blood? They can't just take your blood without your permission, can they?

No, they can't. But Susan Reed's got that problem solved: Reed already has judges at the ready, and they'll be on standby to issue warrants allowing the police to extract blood if you, the driver, refuse to take the breath test.

For more info:

JeanGJennings: Big Bexar News: WOAI Gets the Scoop on New DWI Plea Deal - Fiesta is 17 Days Away

MySA.Com: New deal faster than DWIs

FLDS ElDorado Child Abuse Cases: Testimony and Documents Online

As the FLDS ElDorado alleged child abuse cases continue making their way through the legal system, sites are beginning to provide testimony and documents online for anyone to review. As discovery progresses, interrogatory answers, produced documents, and additional testimony should become available.

Remember there may be discrepancies, and reliablity should be questioned. For example, check out the "custody hearing" heading the San Angelo website gives for the April 2008 hearing testimony it provided. This was a hearing under Section 262 of the Texas Family Code, a statute mandating an evidentiary hearing where CPS must demonstrate that it has met the necessary burdens to justify removing a child from its parents -- this is not a standard, general "custody hearing" under the common family law understanding.


Testimony

The 262 hearing testimony as it was live-blogged by a San Angelo media reporter.


Documents

April 2008 Affidavit of CPS Removing Worker (pdf)

Petition for Protection of Children (pdf), Cause 2902 in the 51st Judicial District Court of Schleicher County, Texas

Additional Information

DFPS List of 464 Children Taken

Bishop's Record (released by Tom Green County District Court)

DFPS Online Chronology

DFPS Cultural Awareness Guide for Children from ElDorado

DFPS Model for Care of Children from ElDorado

TOMORROW IS ANNUAL MIGHTY TEXAS DOG WALK

Tomorrow, May 17th, is the 10th annual Mighty Texas Dog Walk, sponsored by the Texas Hearing and Services Dogs organization.

It starts at 10:30 am, in Austin, at the Congress Avenue Bridge, it goes wandering through downtown Austin for 3 miles, and those that finish get treats!! (There are also exhibitors along the route with freebies, and lots of water stations for the pups.)

It's not free -- after all, it's a fund-raising event. You do have to pay a $25 registration fee per dog (register there, or online).

The group hopes to have enough participants to win their THIRD Guinness Book World Record for the "largest dog walk" -- especially since some snooty British dogs had some snooty British dog walk and took over the Guinness record with 10,272 dogs participating. Grrrrrrr......

So, go help the Texas Hearing and Services Dogs group, go have some fun with your dog(s), get some nifty treats, and as the site says, help Bring the Record Back to Texas!!!!

More info: http://www.servicedogs.org/dogwalk08/index.html

Image: Human treat for finishers is a collector's tee shirt designed with this artwork by Mauro Garza. (This alone should make that $25/dog registration bearable, right?)

THIS IS NATIONAL PET WEEK

The first full week of May is National Pet Week - this year, it runs from May 4 to May 10. Started by the American Veterinary Medical Association, its purpose is to "celebrate America's companion animals, and the remarkable role they play in improving the quality of our lives. "

For more info, check out its website. Happy Pet Week!

Self-Serve Dog Wash Now In San Antonio

Recently, a franchise out of Austin hit San Antonio, offering the opportunity to take your pup to their spot, where they have nice facilities for washing dogs (cool hand-held showers, step up tubs, grooming tables, hair dryers). They even sell specialty shampoos and stuff, as well as renting clippers and things.

The San Antonio spot is located on North Main, and prices are set according to dog weight.

For more info: WashShakeWag

City of San Antonio Dog Laws - The Basics

In the City of San Antonio, there are certain set laws for all dog owners, such as:

1. Your dog has to have - and wear - a current city license tag;
2. Your dog has to have - and wear - a current rabies tag; and
3. Your family can own a maximum of three dogs and two cats.

For more information, check out the FAQs at the City's Animal Care Facility site.