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The Great and Powerful Skunk Hunter and I are going out to help a friend celebrate her birthday after work, so I drove home on my lunch hour to let my pooches out for a tinkle break.

Driving through my 'hood, minding my own business, I had to slam the brakes on my Beetle or I would have made a pancake out of a little wayward dachshund.

The stubby red pooch was just standing there in the middle of the Huntridge Road. I hit my hazard lights, got out of my car and shooed him into a driveway. He just looked at me and barked. Not aggressive, but not friendly either. He kind of reminded me of my high school gym teacher, Mrs. Parrott.

Yeah, that probably doesn't help you get a mental image unless you were in Mrs. Parrott's class. And if you were, we should talk some time about our shared trauma.

But I digress.

I politely asked the pooch where was his family. He woofed a little and provided no other guidance. His black collar held no tags.

I kept an eye on him as I knocked on the doors of the two houses whose yards he was scampering between. No one home at either place. As an elderly gentleman walked by I asked him if he knew where this dog belonged. He did not, but he had seen him running loose in the area before.

That's when I decided to call the cops.

I dialed Roanoke County Animal Control, described my new little friend's predicament, and the dispatcher said she would send an officer right out.

I tried to keep the dog's attention, bribed him to stay in this driveway and out of traffic with offers of some cold French fries, but he eyed me suspiciously. He barked, he waited, he barked some more.

About one minute before the animal control officer pulled up, the wiener dog made a break for it and hopped into the woody area beyond the houses. As he bounced away, he shot me a glance over his tiny shoulder like, "Why'd ya have to call the coppers on me, lady? They'll never take me alive!"

*Artist rendition. Not the actual fugitive.

I gave the officer a complete description of the red, apparently neutered, male dachshund that appeared to be in good shape, not thin and not hungry, running around the Huntridge area of the Orchards in Bonsack. The very gracious and kind officer took off to search for the suspect.

If you are reading this, and that is your dog, please go home and get him. Put tags on his collar and don't let him roam loose. Please.

And tell him I'm sorry I turned him in to the law. It was only for his own protection, I swear.

Typically I think of heavy vehicles as being a natural enemy of kitties and pooches, but that is clearly not the case in Roanoke and Franklin County.

Driver, move that bus!

Beginning this week, you may notice some very adorable faces on the back of five Valley Metro buses.

Two of the city buses will sport the photo of an an adoptable pet from the Roanoke Valley SPCA.  The photos will change when the pet find his or her forever home.

One of the traveling billboards will feature information about programs at the RVSPCA, including the Pets Eat Too program that helps seniors and low-income families feed their pets. Another will highlight the foster program, where families can provide home care for infant and orphaned puppies and kittens, too young or too weak to be adopted, and allow them time to grow and get ready for a loving family.

Another bus will ask for donations to keep the non-profit adoption center operating.

Fill 'er up

The Franklin County Humane Society is hosting a "Fill the Truck" event to collect donations of food and other items for the adoption center.

The truck will be located at The General Store at 213 Scruggs Road in Moneta all day this Saturday. Donations of Purina Dog, Puppy, Cat and Kitten Chow, along with canned cat food and paper towels will be gratefully accepted.

Author and former animal shelter director Debra Cheehy will also attend the event and sign copies of her book "I Like Dogs", a children's book about shelter adoption

This is one of those viral e-mail photos, origin completely unknown, that has been circled around the Internet and back again. But when you blog about skunks as much as I do it is bound to find it's way to your inbox.

 The caption reads: "So there I was.... just relaxing in front of the T.V.  when the kids yelled, "Hey Mom, come see the kittens."

Who's with me on hating these cold, dreary, wet days?

Three days of relentless rain has left my household with three restless pooches. We have such a hard time getting them to go outside just to take care of business. And since they can't run off energy in the backyard, we have some pretty annoying, bratty dogs cooped up in our crib.

I extend my truest sympathies to the pet parents that have no choice but to leash-walk their dogs in this mess.

Last night the Stormy was bouncing off the walls, wagging his Wubba in my face, wanting me to play with him. And what could I do, really? He doesn't understand that Mommy was dead tired and she just wanted to watch "Glee."

Today I plan to take my lunch hour at the first sign of a break in the drizzle to see if I can get my pack to go outside, play and, of course, drag a ton of mud back into the house.

How are you entertaining house-bound pooches while these coastal storms keep making baby rain clouds all over this valley?

Click here to read reporter Amanda Codispoti's story about Boca, a retired Roanoke Police dog who died of cancer at age 12.

Boca served with Officer R.D. Cox, pictured here.

"Having him as a partner, it was wonderful," Cox said. "He was always going to be there for me, and he proved it time and time again."

Please take a moment today to remember all who serve, from our soldiers to our police, fire and emergency personnel, who put themselves in harm's way every day to keep us safe.

And please also remember the dogs who work beside them, whose loyalty, bravery and intuition allow our servicemen and women to do their jobs more effectively.

(Photo courtesy of Officer Cox)

Here's an update on Anna, the elderly dog whose pet parents have to move to a care facility and cannot take her with them:

Joan, Anna's pet mom, had to say goodbye to her today and left her with the good folks at Angels of Assisi. According to Lisa O'Neill at Angels, Anna was taken to her new foster home late this afternoon so she did not have to spend the night in the adoption center.

Another reader reached out to Joan via this blog and might be able to take Anna if the first foster home does not work out.

Thanks so much for all your generosity, offers of support and well-wishes folks. There are some very caring people in this Valley, and I know that firsthand from writing this blog and column.

Blog reader and Roanoke Times book reviewer Joan Bugbee reached out to me for help finding her dog Anna a new home.

Joan and her husband will soon have to move to a continuing care facility, and Anna cannot go with them. The family is running out of options and is looking for any advice, guidance and suggestions to help Anna.

Joan wrote:

"Surely other pet parents have faced the same dilemma about finding a home for their beloved dog when the continuing care facility can't take her.  Anna is nearly 12, arthritic and going deaf, but still loves playing ball, is great watch dog and would be perfect for someone with no other pets.

She was a rescue, saved from an abusive owner who chained her in the yard, where she was attacked by other dogs, so our vet opines.  As a consequence, she has to go to a home without other pets.   Angels of Assisi and the valley shelters have turned her down."

Relocating out of a family home is difficult in itself; doing so and facing the loss of a beloved pet is heartbreaking.  What do you say, readers? Do you know anyone who can help this family? Please send e-mails to pets@roanoke.com and I will pass them on to Joan.

Next Thursday, Spay-ghetti dinners, a fall staple at the Nelson household, are available for lunch, too. 

The delectable pasta and sides you've enjoyed for years will also be sold for noontime noshing, and all proceeds benefit the spay/neuter programs of the Roanoke Valley SPCA. 

Winner, winner, spay-ghetti dinner.

The grub will be served up on Oct. 15 at Second Presbyterian Church, 214 Mountain Avenue in Roanoke. 
Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Supper commences at 4:30 and lasts until 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $6 in advance, $7.50 at the door and orders of 25 or more qualify for a $1 off discount.    

You can purchase tickets online by clicking here , but they are also available at all Valley Bank branches and at the RVSPCA.

The meal is a generous portion of spaghetti with sauce (meat or vegetarian), bread, salad, dessert and beverage.  You can dine in or carry out.  Drive-up pick up is available at the church for to-go orders.

All proceeds support the RVSPCA spay/neuter clinic, which prevents littering, which means fewer unwanted and/or homeless pets.

This year's sponsors include Karen Chase and 224 Designs, Fresh Market, Kroger, Pepsi Bottling Group, Roanoke Fruit & Produce Company, Roanoke Natural Foods Coop,  Salem Printing, The Hotel Roanoke, Valley Bank, Village Flowers, and Wlldflour Bakery.

The 2010 Roanoke Valley SPCA calendars are on sale. Alas, there are no Nelson pets in this year's edition because I was too lazy too busy to send in a photo, but there are hundreds of other local sweeties on these pages.

It's a good desk calendar, but the true value in my opinion is in the wonderful family portraits and stories. The proceeds help adoptable pets in Roanoke, Vinton and Botetourt have a second chance at a great life.

Since its founding in 2004, the RVSPCA has helped almost 10,000 homeless pets find a loving family, including my dog Stormy.

Click here for more details.

Everyone needs a break now and then. And so for the next week, this blog is on vacation.

I will check for new comments periodically, and I may post a photo or two depending on Internet access, but for the most part I will be occupied with fun, vacation-type stuff for the next seven days.

Take care, be good to your pets, and please check back on Monday, Sept. 28.