Taco Survived a Brutal Attack; Now He Wants a Forever Home

Taco

Animal ID 23865927
Species Cat
Breed Domestic Shorthair/Mix
Age 1 year 15 days
Sex Male
Size Medium
Color White/Grey
Spayed/Neutered  
Declawed No
Housetrained Yes
Site Animal Allies of Texas
Location Foster
Intake Date 9/17/2014
Adoption Price $110.00
It’s been a rough year for Taco. He’s such a sweet boy. All he wants is a home of his own and a family to love him.Around the middle of March Taco showed up at an Irving automotive repair garage with a massive burn on neck. The garage took the injured stray to Irving Animal Services. At first they thought it might have been an accident-perhaps from Taco rubbing up against a hot muffler-but then two more cats showed up with similar wounds. Taco’s was the most severe. One of his vets had no doubt that his injury occurred at the hand of a bad person. Trusting, affectionate Taco, loves people and would have gladly approached the attacker who burned him from the base of his skull to below his shoulder blades.

Irving Animal Services needed help with Taco. For a week those dedicated volunteers sent out desperate emails begging for a foster home to take their sweet boy. Animal Allies of Texas stepped up and took him in.

Poor Taco had to endure twice hydrotherapy treatments. He never ran from his foster mom and he stood in the kitchen sink as gracefully as a wet cat could. No fighting, no hissing, simply embarrassed resignation. For four months Taco had to wear a T-shirt to prevent him from scratching his wound. He’s the perfect companion for the lady who wants to dress up her cat.

Today Taco has completely recovered from his attack. He’s active and affectionate. He’s quick to claim an empty lap. He gets along with other cats. He even likes the family dog. This gray tabby and white, gold-eyed boy is about a year-old (born in Summer 2013). His adoption fee is only $110 and it includes:

Neuter surgery (already done)
Microchip
FVRCP and rabies vaccinations
Negative feline leukemia and FIV test.

Do you have room for brave Taco? If you are interested in adopting Taco, please go to animalalliesoftexas.org, fill out and submit our online application. He’ll be waiting!

You can support Animal Allies of Texas whenever you shop online by choosing Animal Allies of Texas as your AdoptAShelter.com charity and then going to your favorite e-store.

Adopt and Protect this pet with the 24PetWatch Gift of Pet Insurance.
Visit us at www.24PetWatch.com or call 1-877-291-1524.
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Shop now to save on pet food, flea, tick, heartworm treatments, and much more!

 

Sept 19 is POW/MIA Recognition Day

 

HOMECOMING
Former POW and U.S. Air Force Capt. Darrel Edwin Pyle shortly after his release by the North Vietnamese in Hanoi on 12 Feb 73. Pyle was captured on 13 Jun 66.

Darrel Pyle photo 4When I was in high school and the Vietnam was was in full swing, I wore a POW bracelet to honor and  remember an American prisoner of war. It was an simple stainless steel strip engraved with a POWs name and the date he was captured. You were supposed to wear it until your guy came home.

POW bracelet
Jerry Singleton\’s POW bracelet

My POW was a young pilot named Darrell Pyle who was held captive for seven years. Pyle was in the very first group of prisoners to be released on 12 Feb 1973. I placed a star sticker on my bracelet to indicate my POW had returned safely home.  I continued to wear Pyle’s bracelet for several years to remember those who are still MIA.  I only removed when it I feared it would break in half from wear.

Although I never got to meet Darrel Pyle, I had the honor of interviewing another Hanoi Hilton alumni, Jerry Singleton, in 1995. During that interview I learned the real horror of what these brave people went though. Jerry informed me that Major Darrel Pyle died in an aviation accident less than two years after his release.

Rest in peace, Major Pyle. Thank you for your sacrifice. And thank you Jerry Singleton. We are grateful.

HOMECOMING
Former POW and U.S. Air Force CPT Darrel Edwin Pyle, wife Karen, son and an escort look over the giant C-5 Galaxy aircraft on the flight line.

PowerNetwork.org says about Pyle’s capture: “On June 13, 1966, while on an armed reconnaissance mission in the southern part of North Vietnam, the F4C Phantom fighter bomber was hit by anti-aircraft fire and became uncontrollable. Both ejected, but Lurie ejected from low altitude (about 350 feet at 450 knots), and sustained a compression fracture of the spine. The DRV used Plye, the Systems Operator and Lurie as a traveling show until 29 June when they arrived in Hanoi and were thrown into Hoa Lo prison, more commonly known as the Hanoi Hilton.\r\n\r\nThe day was February 12, 1973. The location was Gia Lam Airport, North Vietnam.

The sky was broken to overcast and the air was chilled by the winds which swept down from China. I sat in a bus beside a bombed-out hangar and watched a plane taxiing toward the runway. The plane was a 141 and had big letters which said, “UNITED STATES AIR FORCE.” I was crying. Before the plane could take off another 141 broke through the overcast and roared over my head. My plane – my chariot had come to take me home.

Sadly Darell Pyle was killed in a plane crash in Alaska only a year-and-a-half after he returned home. Here’s the account of his tragic death less than two years later in the Anchorage Times, 29 Dec 1974

“27 Dec 1974: Maj Darrell Pyle died when his Piper PA-18 crashed around noon at Six Mile Lake, Elmendorf AFB. His nine year old son, Philip, survived with minor injuries.”

Darrel Pyle arrival
Former POW and U.S. Air Force CPT Darrel Edwin Pyle is greeted by MGEN John Gonge, Commander 22nd Air Force and BGEN Ralph Saunders after his arrival from Clark Air Base, Philippines.

The fuel tank in the plane ruptured on impact causing minor fires. Major Pyle was recovered from the wreckage and taken to the Elmendorf AFB Hospital where he died of injuries sustained in the crash. His son was treated for cuts and bruises and released.

“He was born on 24 April 1940 in Long Beach, CA; graduated from Compton High School, Compton, CA, in 1958; and the University of Arizona and joined the Air Force in 1963.\r\nHe had rowed down the Amazon River and spent time in the jungles of Ecuador. While in captivity, he dream ed of coming to Alaska.

“He was assigned to the 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadron as an F-4E pilot. Major Pyle had been awarded the Legion of Merit, the Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with V device with oak lead cluster and a second oak leaf cluster to the Air Force Commendation Medal. He was cited for his resistance to more than 40 days of extreme physical and mental torture. He had written a book about his POW experiences. The publisher, however, wanted more details on his torture, which he did not want to go into again, and it was never published. The 3rd Wing Headquarters Building is named after Major Pyle.

HOMECOMING
Former POW and U.S. Air Force CPT Darrel Edwin Pyle, wife Karen, son and an escort look over the giant C-5 Galaxy aircraft on the flight line in February 1973.

If you are interested in more information on heroic Major Pyle, visit TogetherWeServed.com,

 

 

 

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Cat Writers’ Association Announces Muse Medallion Finalists

Heidi & Typewriter IMG_2767_webThis week the Cat Writers’ Association announced recipients of this year’s Certificates of Excellence. Entries are judged by three professional CWA members. Averaged scores of 90 or higher receive a Certificate of Excellence. The top score over 90 wins the Muse. However, CWA considers the Certificates of Excellence awards in their own right.

It’s exciting to see the names of so many wonderful writers, producers and artists recognized. I’m product to say that many of these talented folks are my friends.

The Muse Medallion winners will be announced at the CWA Awards Banquet, the grand finale of the MeowWorld Presented by CWA/BarkWorld Conference in Atlanta October 29 through November 1. For more information about the conference and banquet go to the CWA website.

Congratulations to the Certificate winners listed below.

I.1 Monthly Magazine: National
Susan Logan, Editor, “Cat Fancy”

I.2 Magazine Article: Health & General Care
Deborah Barnes, “Don’t Delay” Cats Fancy
Helen Jablonski, “Orphan Care” Kittens 101 2015
Bernadette Kazmarski, “Tail Vaccines for Cats Could Save Lives” Pittsburgh
Ingrid King, “Feline Medicine Goes High-Tech” Cat[ Fancy
Ingrid King, “It’s In the Will” Cat Fancy
Ramona Marek, “Faint Heart” Animal Wellness
Arnold Plotnick, DVM, “Change of Heart” Cat Fancy
Dusty Rainbolt, “Cat Bathroom Basics” Ready, Set, Rescue 2014
Dusty Rainbolt, “Hunters by Nature” Cat Fancy
Genevieve Rajewski, “Itching to Know” Tufts Veterinary Medicine PetConnections
Fran Pennock Shaw, “A Glimmer of Hope” Cat Fancy
Fran Pennock Shaw, “A New Frontier in Medicine” Cat Fancy
Fran Pennock Shaw, “Raw Intelligence” Cats USA 2014
Rebecca Sweat, “Happy Tails” Cat Fancy

I.3 Magazine Article: Behavior & Training
Maryjean Ballner, “Winning the Affection of the Scaredy Cat” Pet Sitter’s WORLD
Helen Jablonski, “Solve Litterbox Issues For Good” CATS USA 2014
Jacqueline Munera, “Training for Cats in the Shelter: Part Three” The APDT Chronicle of the Dog
Jacqueline Munera, “Training for Cats in the Shelter: Part Four” The APDT Chronicle of the Dog
Jacqueline Munera, “Dogs and Declawed Cats: Extra Caution Required” The APDT Chronicle of the Dog

I.4 Magazine Article: Rescue/Advocacy
Kate Hurley, DVM and James Hettinger, “For Community Cats, A Change Is Gonna Come/Putting it
Into Practice” Animal Sheltering Magazine
Bernadette Kazmarski, “The Invisible Cat” Pittsburgh PetConnections
Cimeron Morrissey, “Pure Joy” Cat Fancy
Cimeron Morrissey, “The Quiet Living Legend” Cat Fancy
Cimeron Morrissey, “Setting the Records Straight” Cat Fancy
Cimeron Morrissey, “Up to the Challenge” Cat Fancy
Cimeron Morrissey, “the things we do for (cat) love” (all lowercase) Cat Fancy
Nancy Peterson, “The Challenges of a Rural TNR Project” Animal Sheltering

I.5 Magazine Article: Any Other Topic
Jim Baker, “Free to Good Home” Animal Sheltering
Stacy Hackett, “Around the World With 18 Breeds” CATS USA 2014
Bernadette Kazmarski, “Never Enough Time, But Enough Time to Love” Pittsburgh PetConnections
Marci Kladnik, “Kittens Gone Wild! The Feral Cat Challenge” Pet Sitter’s WORLD
Audrey Pavia, “Black Magic” Cat Fancy
Jen Reeder, “How Cats Broke the Internet” Modern Cat
Sandy Robins, “How Smart is Your Cat?” CATS USA 2014
Kim Campbell Thornton, “Protecting Jaguars” CATS USA 2014

I.6 Magazine Column
Cimeron Morrissey, “Cat Champions” Cat Fancy
Sandy Robins, “Life’s Purrfect” Cat Fancy
Nancy Peterson, “Catty Corner” Animal Sheltering

II.1 Newspaper Article: Health & General Care
Fran Pennock Shaw “Heartworm disease in cats on the rise” Intelligencer Journal-Lancaster New Era

II.2 Newspaper Article: Behavior & Training
no entries

II.3 Newspaper Article: Rescue/Advocacy
no entries

II.4 Newspaper Article: Any Other Topic
Jen Reeder “Celebrating National Pet Week With Jake the Therapy Cat” Huffington Post

II.5 Newspaper Column
Amy Shojai “P’etiquette” Herald Democrat

III.1 Newsletter: Breed Specific
Brigitte McMinn, Editor, Bengals Illustrated
Brigitte McMinn, Editor, Savannahs Illustrated

III.2 Newsletter: National Circulation
Cimeron Morrissey, Cat Tales

III.3 Newsletter: Regional or Membership Circulation Advocacy
combined with III.2

III.4 Newsletter Article: Health & General Care
Arnold Plotnick, “Blood Test to Detect Cancer” catnip
Arnold Plotnick, “Double Whammy!” catnip
Arnold Plotnick, “Cryptococcosis in Cats” catnip
Arnold Plotnick, “Hypertension in Cats” catnip
Arnold Plotnick, “Heart Disease or Not?” catnip
Arnold Plotnick, “New Advances in Treating FIP” catnip
Fran Pennock Shaw, “Pursuing a Cure for Breast Cancer” Cat Watch
Kim Campbell Thornton, “Hospice Care for Cats” catnip
Kim Campbell Thornton, “Holiday Hazards Can Tempt the Curious” Cat Watch
Kim Campbell Thornton, “A Simple Way to Check the Ears” Cat Watch
Elissa Wolfson, “The Coat Tells the Tale” Cat Watch
Elissa Wolfson, “Be on the Lookout for Nail Injuries” Cat Watch

III.5 Newsletter Article: Behavior & Training
Kim Campbell Thornton, “Fearful Cats Can Go on the Attack” Cat Watch
Kim Campbell Thornton, “Appealing to the Heart of a Hunter” Cat Watch

III.6 Newsletter Article: Rescue/Advocacy
Kim Campbell Thornton, “Kitten Nurseries Save Lives” Catnip
Nancy Marano, “Albuquerque’s Community Cat Program” Petroglyphs

III.7 Newsletter Article: Any Other Topic
Nancy Marano, “Cat Colors and Stereotypes” Petroglyphs
Lee Wardlaw, “Eight Things I’ve Learned from My Cats about Writing Haiku” Meow

III.8 Newsletter Column Topic
Lyn Garson, CVT, “Technically Speaking” OurCompanions.org

IV.1 Short Story
no winner

IV.2 Poem
Andrea Dorn, “Once a Cat” Meow
Andrea Dorn, “Lady Butterfly” Meow
Carole Nelson Douglas, “Feline Domestic” 2013 CWA Conference Program
Bernadette Kazmarski, “Once” thecreativecat.net
Linda Mohr, “Untitled Haiku” nlapw.org

IV.3 Humor
no winner

IV.4 Brochure, Pamphlet, or Short Publication
Teresa Keiger, “CFA World Show Ad” The Detroit News

IV.5 Annual or Long Publication
Bernadette Kazmarski, 12 Sketches of Cats
Susan Logan, Editor, Kittens 101 2015
Brigitte McMinn, Editor, Ragdoll Illustrated Calendar

IV.6 Opinion Piece, Essay, or Editorial
Deborah Barnes, “The Many Shades of a Crazy Cat Lady” Zee & Zoey’s Chronicle Connection
Janiss Garza, “Cats Do Not Equal Children” CatChannel
Janiss Garza, “Soul Cat” CatChannel
JaneA Kelley, “I Think Mandatory Spay/Neuter Laws Do More Harm Than Good” catster.com
JaneA Kelley, “9 Reasons I’m Adopting Special-Needs Cats from Now On” catster.com
Dusty Rainbolt, “When is it Time to Say Goodbye to Your Cat?” catster.com
Amy Shojai, “Cats Under Attack! TNR, TB, Toxo and Talkback” AmyShojai.com

IV.7 PR / Humane Education / Press Kits
combined with VI.1

V.1 Books: Fiction
Catherine Holm, The Great Purr
Belea T. Keeney, The Tiger Whisperer
Amy Shojai, Hide and Seek
Clea Simon, Panthers Play for Keeps
Linda Stewart, The Great Catsby

V.2 Books: For Children
no winner

V.3 Books: Health & General Care
no entries

V.4 Books: Behavior & Training
no entries

V.5 Books: Gift
Angie Bailey, whiskerslist (all lowercase)
Bernadette Kazmarski, feline style sampler (all lowercase)

V.6 Books: Poetry
no entries

V.7 Books: Other
Bryan Kortis, Community TNR , Tactics and Tools for PetSmart Charities

VI.1 Video, DVD or TV Production
Alana Grelyak, “CHATastrophe” catcatastrophes.com

VI.2 Broadcast, Audio – Any Format Advocacy
no winners

VII.1 Online Magazine or Newsletter
Vicky Walker, Editor, Catster

VII.2 Online Article: Health & General Care
Lorie Huston, “Seven Common Pet Parasite Myths Busted” pet-health-care-gazette.com
Ingrid King, “The Feline Health Care Crisis” The Conscious Cat
Letrisa Miller, DVM, “Senior Cat Dental Health” catwisdom101.com
Letrisa Miller, DVM, “Squeaky’s Long Fall” catwisdom101.com
Dusty Rainbolt, “The Feline Quality of Life Scale” catster.com
Sandy Robins, “How to Form a Lifelong Bond with Your Cat” pawnation.com
Sandy Robins, “What You Need to Know to Keep Your Cat Healthy” momtastic.com
Sandy Robins, “Summer Cat Concerns” on pawnation.com

VII.3 Online Article: Behavior & Training
Marilyn Krieger, “What Do You Do When Your Cat Shows Signs of Senility?” catster.com
Marilyn Krieger, “Why do Cats Purr? Some of the Reasons Might Surprise You” catster.com
Marilyn Krieger, “How to Stop Litterbox Problems Before They Begin” catster.com
Marilyn Krieger, “I’m Willing to Bet Your Cat Hates Her Litter Box – Here’s Why” catster.com
Nancy Peterson, “It’s National Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day” catster.com
Amy Shojai, “Why Cats Hate Halloween Costumes and How to Get Your Cat to Tolerate One”
catster.com

VII.4 Online Article: Rescue/Advocacy
Deborah Barnes, “World Spay Day: Setting the Record Straight—The Basic Facts on Cats,
Conception, and the Benefits of Spay/Neuter” Zee & Zoey’s Chronicle Connection
Janiss Garza, “10 Signs of Cat Hoarding” CatChannel
Joanne McGonagle, “Love At First Sight” Rescue Me I-5
Dusty Rainbolt, “9 Reasons Why Yours Should Become a Cat Foster Family” catster.com
Sandy Robins, “We Chat With Beth Stern About Her Life as a Foster Cat Mom” catster.com
Sandy Robins, “Meet the Stray Cats Who Live in Nelson Mandela’s Former Jail” catster.com

VII.5 Online Article: Any Other Topic
Janiss Garza, “Top-Secret Tips to Get Your Cats to Pose for Your Camera” catster.com com
Janiss Garza, “5 Totally Legal Ways to Get Your Cat Stoned” catster.com
Elyse Orecchio, “Cats, Kids, Reading = Enrichment, Adoptions, Compassion” aspcapro.org
Paris Permenter, “Zeki the Pet Safety Cat: From Rescued to Rescuer” Pet360.com
Dusty Rainbolt, “The History of Cat Litter and Litter Boxes” CatWisdom101.com

VII.6 Online Column
Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton & Mikkel Becker “Pet Connection” uexpress.com
Keith Bowers, “Cat Dandy” catster.com
Dusty Rainbolt, “Ask Einstein” catster.com

VIII.1 – Blog: Health & General Care (URL plus 3 blog posts)
no entries

VIII.2 – Blog: Behavior & Training (URL plus 3 blog posts)
no entries

VIII.3 – Blog: Rescue/Advocacy (URL plus 3 blog posts) Advocacy
combined with VIII.5

VIII.4 – Blog: Entertainment (URL plus 3 blog posts)
Lisa Richman, “A Tonk’s Tail Blog”

VIII.5 – Blog: Any Other Topic (URL plus 3 blog posts)
Janiss Garza, Sparkle the Designer Cat
Alana Grelyak, The Cat in the Fridge
Amy Shojai, Bling, Bitches & Blood
Dr. Emily Weiss, ASPCApro Blog
Layla Morgan Wilde, Cat Wisdom

VIII.6 Website
no entries

IX.1 Black & White Photograph (Single)
Debbie Glovatsky, “I’m Innocent”

IX.2 Black & White Photography (Series)
Debbie Glovatsky, “As Moody as B & W”

IX.3 Color Photograph (Single)
Bernadette Kazmarski, “Frankencat and Old Grand Dad”

IX.4 Color Photograph (Series)
Jerry Thornton, “Protecting the Jaguars”

IX.5 Photographic Art
Janiss Garza, “Tortie”
Lisa Richman, “Monday Mathematics”

IX.6 Cartoon
Bernadette Kazmarski, “Purring Points”
Bernadette Kazmarski, “Saturday Morning”
Stephanie Piro, “Favorites”
Stephanie Piro, “Litter Boxes”
Stephanie Piro, “Peace on Earth”
Stephanie Piro, “Rainbow Bridge”
Stephanie Piro, “House Cat”
Stephanie Piro, “Endorsements ”

IX.7 Illustration (Single)
Bernadette Kazmarski, “The TNR Story”
Dawn Secord, “Mr. Knuckles”
Cori Solomon, “Kissin’ Cousins”
Cori Solomon, “Milly”

IX.8 Illustration (Series) Website
no winner