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AUGUST 2019
I COME TO FIGHT. I DON’T BARK. I BITE! WWW.THETEXASLAWDOG.COM 817.775.5364
The Dog Days of Summer
There was a quote I saw recently that went something like this: “People who say money can’t buy you happiness have never paid an adoption fee.” We have three rescue dogs, each with their own stories to tell. They each offer our family unit something different. They add something to our lives and our relationship that you cannot find anywhere else. Cleo, our goldendoodle, is the funniest and smartest of our household (including the humans). She was mine prior to getting married. I rescued her in the summer of 2016, when she was 3 years old. She had been returned to a breeder. Her former owner returned her because of “aggressive behavior.” If she had any aggression, I got it in check, and she is the sweetest girl now. She already knew several commands, including the “high-five.” Cleo is now 6 years old, and she is awesome and visits the office from time to time. She thinks she is a serious squirrel hunter. The office staff figured this out quickly after she decided to leap into the blinds. I don’t know what she would do if she actually caught one. She is always the blonde gal sitting next to me in my truck when we take a quick trip to Sonic in the evenings for ice cream or a run to the Home Depot. The Home Depot thinks she is their mascot in Arlington. She’s almost human-like, and I really love that girl. Alison rescued Sugar in 2013. Sugar had been living outside in Wichita Falls and ended up in the pound with her brother. Alison went to adopt her and found out that the owner did not pick her up because she Meet Cleo, Sugar, and our newest addition, Derby.
had eaten one of their chickens. When Alison saw her in person, a sign on her cage said that Sugar “smiles.” Despite having been abused, scarred from being beaten, timid, and severely underweight, Sugar smiled at Alison, and that was it.
Cleo, Derby, and Sugar
Sugar needed love, and Alison gave it to her. Alison visited and stayed with her for weeks at the shelter
before she was even allowed to bring her home. And then, Alison had to really work with her. Sugar would not walk through doorways. Once, she laid down in the parking lot of PetSmart until a bystander offered to help get Sugar back into Alison’s Jeep. She’s a big girl, and Alison is tiny, so forcing Sugar to go through doors wasn’t an option. With lots of love and patience from Alison, Sugar is the greatest dog today. She is my buddy, and I love her. She is the one waiting and watching at the front window of the house when I drive up from work, smiling and showing those pearly whites when I walk in the door, and, best of all, she shares that Great Pyrenees glitter (fur) on everything we own. Everyone needs a little glitter, right? Derby is our newest addition. We’ve been foster parents for Doodle Rock Rescue for one year now. Alison is the one who got us involved as foster parents. Over the past year we have fostered Tux, Bella, Judge, Moose, and a random pit mix that showed up in the neighborhood. We have mostly served as fosters, but we have also been engaged in other aspects of the organization as well. Doodle Rock called in March asking if we could take Dog #33. We had no idea what this meant or what we were getting ourselves into. All we knew was that several rescues across the nation were going into a puppy mill in a small town in Kentucky to rescue doodles. We were instructed to show up in a storage unit parking lot in Dallas to pick up Dog #33. We were asked to name our dog ahead of time for tracking and veterinary purposes. Due to derby season being around the corner and Alison’s love for horses, Dog #33 became “Derby.” Derby was slowly removed from her cage and wrapped in a quilt to keep her from biting us. She was a sad sight. She had been in a crate her entire life and had a cast of matted fur made of urine and fecal matter over her entire body. We immediately realized that her body hurt due to this condition, and she had been eating anything in her crate just to survive. We shaved and bathed her, and in just a few hours
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What’s Next for Marvel Movies?
WHEN THE INSURANCE COMPANY CALLS
Is it possible to give too much information to the insurance company? Following an accident, you may get a call from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. They have questions and they want answers. If you receive one of these phone calls, you will be asked about the accident: how the accident occurred, your perspective, and for all the details on your injuries. When dealing with anyone from an insurance company, it’s important to keep in mind that they are looking for “holes” or issues with your version of events. You want compensation for damages and injuries. You have bills to pay and want to get on with your life. The insurance company wants to pay you as little as possible — or even deny your claim if they can. Here’s the thing: Adjusters listen closely to everything you say. They will have a transcription of your conversation. They are looking for admission of fault or anything that may be interpreted as an admission of fault. This gives them the ammunition they need to say “no” to you. To complicate things further, if you admit — or your words are twisted to admit — that you were at least 50% at fault, Texas law lets the insurance company deny your claim. Another thing to keep in mind is that once the adjuster has asked their questions, they may offer you a cash settlement upfront. All you have to do is to confirm that you will not file a future claim related to your current injuries. You have to sign away that right. Once you sign on the dotted line and accept the cash, your claim is officially over. Should you need any more medical intervention related to your injuries, that’s on you. One last thing to keep in mind is that the adjuster may also ask for medical authorization to access your medical records. They want to verify your injuries, but as you might have guessed, they are once again looking for details they can use to reduce your claim amount. Your best bet is to say no and speak with an attorney. What to Watch Out For When They Ask Questions
3 Marvel Movies to Watch Out For
For the past 10 years, Marvel movies have delighted families and comic book nerds alike with their memorable characters, incredible action scenes, and sprawling, interconnected storylines. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is the story of the Avengers so far, told through 23 movies. Even though this year marked the end of a massive arc that Marvel Studios dubbed “The Infinity Saga,” there are still more movies coming out that will feature everyone’s favorite heroes. Here are a few films coming up next in the MCU. A Black Widow Solo Movie International assassin Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johansson, was the first female member of the Avengers and made her debut appearance in “Iron Man 2.” She never got her own movie, but Marvel announced recently that a Black Widow movie is officially in the works for the next phase of Marvel movies. Besides the fact that they’ve started filming, there’s not much information about it yet. But for many excited fans, this movie has been a long time coming. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Star-Lord, Rocket, Groot, and the gang are all back in the third installment of this smash-hit franchise. Without getting into too much detail, “Avengers: Endgame” and the post-credits scene of the second “Guardians” movie provided some clues about the plot and possible main villain. Though details are slim, “Vol. 3” is sure to be another rollicking ride through the cosmos. ‘Black Panther 2’ “Black Panther” was immensely popular (it earned nearly $700 billion domestically), and its success removed all doubt that there would be a sequel. Audiences will journey back to Wakanda and see the newest adventures of King T’Challa and crew, although not much is known about the plot or the release date as of now. But you can rest assured that the creative minds behind the sequel are taking their time to make it as good as the first. The future storyline of the MCU is up in the air, but, if the previous movies are any indicator, families, fans, and audiences everywhere have a lot to look forward to.
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4 Back-to-School Road Safety Tips to Keep in Mind
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It’s that time of year once again: back to school. As kids head back to the classroom, it’s important to remember that traffic increases during the school year. More traffic increases the opportunity for accidents. As kids head back to school this season, here are a few traffic safety tips to keep in mind. Be mindful when you approach school zones. Traffic around school zones can get hectic, especially in the mornings and afternoons. There’s a mix of parents dropping off their kids for school and people simply trying to get to work. According to the National Safety Council, one of the most
more you can do to ease congestion, the better it is for everyone.
MONTSERRAT O S WA L D
Keep pedestrian crosswalks clear. Keep an eye out for kids who want to cross the street to get to school. In high traffic areas, kids can feel intimidated by the traffic and hesitate to cross the street, even with flashing lights or a crossing guard present. Always yield and stop for pedestrians in crosswalks and intersections, and never pass another vehicle stopped for pedestrians or buses. Obey the bus. When you’re following a bus or coming toward one and the lights start flashing, stop. It may seem obvious, but there are drivers out there
dangerous spots for kids, when it comes to traffic, is right in front of their school. Take your time, obey the speed limits and flashing lights, and be patient.
who don’t. According to Texas law, you must stop on two-way streets or roads/highways with a left turn divider. You do not have to stop if you are driving on a road/highway with a clear divider and you are on the opposite flow of traffic from the bus. Following the rules of the road can mean everything for the children going to school in the morning and going home in the afternoon.
Do not block traffic. If you are dropping kids off or picking them up, always drive out of the primary flow of traffic. Utilize drop-off zones and parking lots. Avoid double parking in front of or around a school, as this reduces visibility for pedestrians and other drivers. The
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she began to breathe new life. A few days after we got her home, Derby escaped!
SUMMERTIME GAZPACHO INSPIRED BY COOKIEANDKATE.COM
Today, Derby is still timid, but she is coming out of her shell. She is enjoying lots of “firsts” with Alison. Her favorite thing to do is cuddle in bed at night. Her least favorite thing to do is come to me, but I am working on that. I realized she loves cheese sandwiches. For a dog who is not food motivated, we finally figured out something she will occasionally come for. I owe Alison the credit for the progress Derby has made. Like us, our dogs have their own unique personalities. They can sort of be described like the animals of Christopher Robin, one of our favorite movies. Cleo is like Tigger and puts any beauty queen to shame with her character and athleticism. Sugar is a loner like Eeyore but is the most popular in the neighborhood with children because of her smile and gentle giant self. Derby is like Pooh Bear. Her favorite Pooh quote is “It makes such a difference to have someone who believes in you.” I love the unconditional love they provide. If they don’t go to the office with me, they are always so happy to greet me when I come home from a long day. No matter what is going on, the dogs meet me where I am, and all is happy and right again. -Matt Aulsbrook
INGREDIENTS
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2 1/2 lbs ripe tomatoes; cored, seeded, and cut into 1-inch chunks 1 small cucumber; peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch chunks 1 red bell pepper; cored, seeded, and sliced into ribbons
• • • • •
1/4 cup basil leaves 1 clove garlic, peeled
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1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp sherry vinegar
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Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
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1 small Vidalia onion, peeled and cubed
DIRECTIONS
1. Place a blender and medium mixing bowl on your workstation. 2. Divide the tomato chunks, cucumber pieces, and bell pepper slices evenly between blender and bowl. Place entire onion in blender. 3. Add basil, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper to blender. Blend on low, gradually raising speed to high until smooth, about 2 minutes. 4. Add blender contents to bowl and mix until just broken up, about 10–20 seconds. 5. Let mixture sit in fridge for a minimum of 2 hours. Transfer to bowls and serve.
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MONTSERRAT OSWALD
INSIDE Summer Goes to the Dogs 1
The Next Phase of Marvel Movies Be Careful of What You Say to an Insurance Adjuster 2 Stay Extra Safe During the Back-to-School Season Summertime Gazpacho 3 Not Your Average Vacation Lodgings 4 Cases We Handle: • Personal Injury • Wrongful Death
• Criminal Law/DWI • Business Law
America’s Weirdest Airbnbs THIS AIN’T MOTEL 6!
one, which looks almost like a crashing wave with a living space in its undertow, combines the rustic charm of truly getting away from it all with modern amenities like Wi-Fi and in-home laundry. It’s a truly unique living space surrounded by pristine nature and not far from the historic Taos Pueblo.
ManCave Apartment/Airplane Hangar Geneva, Florida
When Airbnb was founded a little over a decade ago, the developers hoped to provide an alternative to traditional travel accommodations. Today, with annual revenue in the billions, the service is an industry unto itself. While most people use Airbnb to “live like a local” while traveling, you can find some truly wacky lodging options if you spend some time searching the platform. Here are just a few of the many contenders for the title of “Weirdest Airbnb in the U.S.” For ease of searching, the listings here have the same titles as they do on Airbnb.
Airbnb super hosts Dan and Deborah have no shortage of quirky properties for rent — including yurts and treehouses — but their apartment fashioned out of an airplane hangar surely takes the cake. You’d be forgiven for thinking it was a theme restaurant featuring eclectic aviation. Memorabilia lines the walls with a bar front and center, and the bed is in a loft high above the ground.
Dog Bark Park Inn B&B Cottonwood, Idaho
Brand New Studio Earthship Taos, New Mexico
As you approach the Dog Bark Park Inn, you won’t have to guess if you’re in the right place. After all, how many buildings are shaped like beagles? When describing the space on Airbnb, the hosts make no bones about who this rental is aimed for. “Stay in a giant dog!” they say. In addition to being inside a massive wooden dog, you’ll find canine-themed games, books, and more. Talk about ruffing it.
Earthships, houses run by clean energy and featuring reused materials, are a fixture of the Taos area. This
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