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Owners can order room service or a spa(w) treatment for their dogs at Yardstick Dog Hotel. Read more on page 10. Photography by Yuvie Styles.
Nick and Nora, the two adult bald eagles nesting near White Rock Lake, had a decidedly smoother spring mating season this year.
The nesting pair became first-time parents after successfully hatching their first pair of eaglets in 2024. However, after gale-force winds from a Memorial Day storm blew away most of their nest, White Rock Lake’s bald eagle enthusiasts were demoralized to learn both juveniles were missing.
While one was never located, the other eaglet was recovered nearby shortly after and taken to the North Texas Raptor Center, where staff dubbed it “Henley” after North Texas Rock ‘n’ Roll legend Don Henley, a founding member of the Eagles. Henley left the lake later that summer, although there have since been reported sightings of a juvenile around Henley’s age.
This spring, Nick and Nora hatched two more eaglets. Much like their older sibling, each of the eaglets got a new name from the community, with one earning the bittersweet moniker Luka (still too soon?). Dixon, the other eaglet, was likely named for the eponymous Branch Creek feeding White Rock Lake.
Luka and Dixon left the lake earlier this summer. While reports of the older juvenile making appearances at the lake aren’t rare, no definitive proof has been offered to support the identification.
Nick and Nora will likely leave White Rock Lake for a short time in the fall and winter before returning in time for the mating season.
Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert presented the first draft of the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 at a city council briefing Aug. 12. The $5.2 billion budget outlines substantial investments in public safety and infrastructure, as well as cuts to other departments.
Dallas Fire-Rescue and the Dallas Police Department will see their funding increase by a collective $63.1 million under the proposed budget, which also provides for the hiring of 350 police recruits and a raise to starting salaries for both departments. The goal under the proposed budget is to finish FY 2025-26 with at least 3,424 sworn police officers. Under the Dallas HERO-backed city charter amendment passed last fall, the city is required to maintain a police force of at least 4,000. The budget also sets aside $162 million for street repairs, an increase from $125 million last fiscal year.
Among other cuts, the Skillman Southwestern Library is expected to close after being saved in last year’s budgeting process.
BOARD MEMBER MARIA HASBANY IS RESIGNING FROM HER ROLE AT THE END OF HER CURRENT TERM, AND SHE’S NOT SHYING AWAY FROM TALKING ABOUT HER REASON WHY.
The Dallas Morning News reported last year that sailing and rowing clubs lease boat houses and water facilities from the City using a portion of their revenue.
“This subject came up about the contracts of the folks that are the operators out on White Rock Lake, and (District 9 Council Member Paula Blackmon) just took it in a very different direction and couldn’t really articulate what the end goal was and then, as part of that, just completely took me out of that process,” Hasbany said.
Blackmon confirmed that she is looking into contracts regarding usage of the water-related facilities, which includes rowing and boating. This involves finding out what is available at these facilities, what their five and 10-year strategic plans are, and what state their financials are in, among other questions.
“I think I’ve outlined what I’m wanting — a baseline understanding of what is happening there because the next step of this is to hire a consultant to look at are we maximizing our facilities for our community and is there a better way to do it and give them this information to say, ‘We’ve already done a lot of the heavy lifting for you,’” Blackmon said.
Hasbany said she wasn’t included in discussions regarding the contracts, and Blackmon enlisted private residents to help her look more closely at the them.
Blackmon defended her right and duty as a City Council member to ask questions and said she doesn’t have to include her district’s board members and commissioners in those inquiries.
“On behalf of the District 9 community, I want to thank Maria for her six years of dedicated service to our city,” Blackmon said. “We accomplished a great deal together for our community, and her commitment to advancing the goals of the Park Department and improving the East Dallas area has been deeply appreciated. I wish her the very best in her future endeavors.”
Moving forward, Blackmon said an active and longtime District 9 resident has been nominated to serve as the next Park and Recreation Board representative and is going through the approval process.
— MADELYN EDWARDS
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area has a long history of recreational horseriding
Story by JOHN SLATE
Before development and residential subdivisions, what is now the Lake Highlands area consisted solely of farms and ranches. Families such as the Jacksons, Wallaces, Mosses, Goforths and Prigmores owned farms in the area, all of it accessed on horseback or by horse-drawn wagon until the advent of automobiles. The “country” feel of the area above White Rock Lake has persisted to this day through the rolling hills of Harry S. Moss Park and the presence of bridle paths and stables.
Dixie Hill Stables was located at 7919 Goforth Road, incorporating a sprawling barn built by Ira Goforth around 1900. The barn is still there, likely one of the oldest structures still standing in the Lake Highlands area. It was operated by the Stepcick family and during its run, the business had a tack shop, stables and an arena for riding lessons.
White Rock Lake doesn’t have designated bridle paths, but it’s possible to see riders along sides of Williamson and Lawther Drives. White Rock Stables at 8949 Lanshire Drive has a storied history. In 1948, Tex Oddson Sr. purchased 14 acres at the base of Flag Pole Hill from Dallas County. For years, the Oddson family operated stables and until recent years offered horse rentals, riding lessons and horse-drawn wagon hayrides. It once had capacity for boarding up to 45 horses and has 15 pens, three riding arenas and an open jump field. While the stables are still owned by the Oddsons, they are currently operated by J. Amelita Facchiano, who brings her knowledge of equine science and the thoughtful practice of “healing with horses.”
Three stables in the White Rock Lake area are currently operating, including White Rock Stables, alongside the Rocking M Stables and the Dallas Equestrian Center.
Top: Taken by Lloyd M. Long between 1930-40, shows the outline of the doomed Hilltop Stables racetrack. Photo courtesy of Edwin J. Foscue Map Library, Southern Methodist University.
Bottom photo: Photo courtesy of White Rock Stables.
Story by AUSTIN WOOD | Photography by YUVIE STYLES
There’s a new name in luxury dog care in Dallas.
In 2024, Zillow and Bark, a subscription box company geared toward pets, named Dallas “America’s most dog-obsessed city,” based on apartment rentals and customer data. It was only natural when Yardstick Dog Hotel moved to open its first locations outside of Nashville in the city.
At the Medallion Center location, which opened in April, dogs enjoy room service, private suites and light grooming services — much like a spa.
Co-CEO and founder Dave Atkins grew up with dogs, but not the industry. His background is primarily in finance and investment.
The pet industry has experienced explosive growth in the last decade with high-end dog food, sustainable toys and veterinary practices. Atkins says he saw the trend and recognized the opportunity to
enter a new business focused on premium boarding.
“What interested us more were concepts like Good Vets, kind of prevalent now in Dallas, and Modern Animal and Petfolk. You’re seeing these really great sort of branded concepts come to light that are trying to take a fresh approach to the industry,” Atkins says. “And so we’re looking at people doing that in vet and we said, ‘Hmm, this should be going on in non-vet pet services.’”
One factor that has been cited as a catalyst for the wave Atkins and his team are riding is a growing and deepening appreciation for pets in people’s lives. In 2024, more than half (51%) of pet owners in the U.S. viewed their pets as equivalent family members to human relations, according to data compiled by Forbes Advisor.
But as Atkins looked at the industry, he saw a gap between
the data and what conventional boarders had to offer.
“On one hand, you’ve got (American Pet Products Association) data telling you parents view their dogs as children, and then on the other hand, you have a traditional kennel with chain link fence and (cinderblock) and kind of no thought put into HVAC or acoustics,” he says.
Yardstick Dog Hotel opened its first Nashville location in 2022. Atkins consulted with industry experts and Brooklyn-based architectural design firm Bolt Design. Each hotel roughly follows the same footprint, albeit with different exteriors, Atkins says.
As pet owners arrive at Yardstick facilities, they enter a lobby stocked with comfortable furniture, a coffee maker and merchandise. A front desk with a hovering “check in” sign adds to the resort feel.
“It feels kind of more like a hotel lobby or a beautiful, sort of retail
environment, as opposed to kind of what you typically see in the industry,” Atkins says.
A lounge area for dogs featuring plush couches comes next. Behind that, six to seven individual suite rooms create a compartmentalized and sound-conscious environment. Each room features anywhere from 6-12 suites.
“Guests” are placed in rooms with other dogs of a similar breed and temperament. Dogs get their own suite, unless they were booked with a sibling, in which case the two are boarded together.
“So you can imagine that’s just a much calmer, less stressful environment for the dogs, as opposed to being in this large room with a ton of dogs,” Atkins says.
If an owner feels like their dog deserves a treat, they can dial up room service like any three–star human hotel. Options include CBD chews for anxious dogs or puppucinos for those with a sweet tooth. Staff also keep owners updated with texted photos and videos of their animal enjoying their stay-cation.
Each facility comes equipped with four to six indoor playrooms built with poured rubber floors, which are easy on pets’ joints, and an outdoor area. During the day, overnight boarders and daycare dogs (who also get their own suite for downtime) rotate between mealtime, playgroups and rest in suites. Owners can also book light grooming services including baths, brushes, nail trims, cleaning and tooth brushing.
Unlike most boarding houses which require a dog to spend time in daycare before boarding, Yardstick allows owners to book for the firsttime without a “temperament test” for a stress-free booking process. The hotel offers a single tier of services, albeit with add-ons available, for daycare and overnight boarders. Full day daycare is $22.50 per dog per day. Overnight boarding is $85 per night.
“Our view was, let’s just offer one tier of accommodations,” Atkins says. “It’s a suite, right? Every dog deserves our best, and all of a sudden, you don’t have parents feeling guilty about not having splurged for the higher tier.”
So far, Atkins says East Dallas and Lake Highlands customers have more stays booked through four months than any other location.
“Medallion Center, obviously, is great for Lakewood, Lake Highlands, all of East Dallas, but it’s such a central location, just at Northwest Highway and US-75 that it’s really accessible for a lot of the Metroplex, and so it’s just an awesome central location.”
The brand will look to further consolidate its foothold in Dallas with future locations. Listing Preston Hollow and Addison as future targets, Atkins says the brand is close to signing a lease for a third Dallas hotel.
If you have lived in Lake Highlands for a while, you’ve probably heard it described as having a “small town feel in a big city.”
There’s certainly some truth to that sentiment. It’s beyond easy to spot old neighbors, friends and teachers while shopping at Kroger or Tom Thumb. People keep up with each other and many return to raise families. And just like any small town, there’s plenty of nostalgia.
Neighbors still recount tales about the State Championship-winning 1981 Lake Highlands High School football team, nights spent at White Rock Skate, the “muffin men” and appearances by late Lake Highlands neighbor Mr. Peppermint, aka Jerry Hayes. One of the most tangible indicators of Lake Highlands natives’ affinity for the past is the fondness — and passion — with which they remember their childhood restaurants.
In our post in the “You Know You Grew Up in Lake Highlands if…” Facebook group (which has over 7,000 members) asking for eateries to include in this story, we received close to 500 comments in just under a month.
Long-gone eateries like Next Door and Shakey’s Pizza Parlor still cling to the minds of their once-regulars, many of whom now have children of their own.
While many have memories of individual establishments, others still remember an overarching absence of choices — outside of fast food — compared to surrounding areas. Of the restaurants we heard of from neighbors, close to half were located outside of the neighborhood proper in Lake Highlandsadjacent areas like Upper Greenville. “So, the weird thing about Lake Highlands is we’ve always had a dearth of sit-down restaurants,” says Keith Whitmire, who administers the Facebook page. “Never been a whole lot of places to have a nice sit-down restaurant. We’ve had a lot of diners and fast food places, but not too many, nice fast casual places like the suburbs have so many, even though we’re essentially a suburban-style area.”
Once a placid patchwork of rolling hills
Lake Highlands’ dining past is filled with nostaligia
Story by AUSTIN WOOD
and meadows, the bulk of Lake Highlands was developed in the 1960s and 1970s as Dallas’ population skyrocketed. However, some southern portions of the neighborhood developed earlier, such as the L Streets, which were built during the post-war construction boom in 1954.
Most of the development took shape in the form of sprawling, lowdensity suburban-style residential neighborhoods built for young families dotted with a couple of retail shopping centers — fertile grounds for supermarket chains, not a robust dining scene. However, there were some early leaders.
In 1959, Northlake Shopping Center opened on Northwest Highway. One of the first eateries to open in the center was Vick’s Cafeteria in July of 1961. A Dallas Morning News article from 1963 lauds Vick’s as a “luxury cafeteria” with “varied daily offerings,” Italian paintings, and a private club and steakhouse on the upper level. After its closure in the ’70s, it would take decades for the neighborhood proper to land another high-end concept.
Vick’s was joined by Adam’s Pharmacy, which boasted a soda fountain and grill (customers could get five hamburgers for $1), and Northlake Bakery.
In 1964, Andy Stasio opened the first
Shakey’s Pizza Parlor franchise in Dallas near the intersection of Northwest Highway and Abrams Road. Across the street, Jack Keller, a veteran of Dallas’ first drive-in restaurant, Kirby’s Pig Stand, opened a second Keller’s Hamburgers in 1965.
Alan Walne, who grew up in Lake Highlands in the ’60s and served as District 10’s council member for seven years, says while he can remember spending time at the Dairy Queen built later in the decade near Audelia Road and Kingsley (Walnut Hill Lane post2005), there was less emphasis on eating out and even fewer options to do it.
“That was pretty much the long and short of it, as far as right in the neighborhood itself. Back then, you weren’t eating out as much as people tend to eat out today,” Walne says. “But if we wanted a steak, you went to Steak and Ale. We didn’t have that for a long time, but Dunston’s Steakhouse or something like that was the deal, but that wasn’t in the neighborhood. ”
Alongside the Dairy Queen, a Pizza Hut opened in the late ’60s at the intersection of Kingsley and Audelia Road, as did a Hardee’s Hamburgers in the present day Lake Highlands Car Wash building. On Shoreview Road,
Whataburger debuted a classic A-frame building, which now houses Studio Arts, in 1968.
Lake Highlands’ long-term relationship with chain restaurants had begun.
Many of the restaurants we heard about from the 1970s weren’t in Lake Highlands proper. Instead, many neighbors recall times spent along northern Greenville Avenue in the Vickery Meadow area. As for most of Lake Highlands’ history, driving a few miles created exponentially more options.
The Railhead, a steakhouse serving prime rib and lobster in a rustic, train station-themed setting, opened at Park Lane and Greenville Avenue in 1972. Further up the road, the Filling Station, a burger and beer joint operating out of a 1920s gas station said to have been frequented by Bonnie and Clyde, opened in 1975.
That same year, the original Chili’s opened at the corner of Greenville and Meadow Road.
“Lake Highlands people went there in droves,” Whitmire says. “You know, that was our spot. If you were on a date in high school, you went to the Chili’s. It was the closest thing to a nice, casual, sit-down restaurant. And it was wildly popular.”
However, that same year also marked a significant moment for Lake Highlands proper’s dining scene. In 1975, Charles Tibbitt opened Next Door Restaurant at Kingsley-Audelia.
Fifty years later, the restaurant still
holds strong in Lake Highlands’ memory, with no other establishment mentioned more in our Facebook comments.
“If somebody, some Lake Highlands longtime resident or alumni, would put the money in and reopen the Next Door, then they’d have lines out the block,” Whitmire says. “These kids have never handled an actual telephone, they would love it.”
Tibbitt opened the first Next Door restaurants in Oklahoma, Arizona and Texas in the early ’70s. While he sold the Oklahoma locations to Pizza Hut as part of a franchise deal shortly after, he retained ownership over its three Dallas locations, including Lake Highlands.
When he first opened in our neighborhood, he pursued a savvy recruitment strategy to lure younger crowds in.
“I would go to the closest high school and try to hire all the cheerleaders,” Tibbitt says. “They would just bring in everybody in the world, and we had almost immediate, just huge business. And then, of course, the parents came in, and as it went on, it became well known.”
Draped in Revolutionary War-themed Americana decor, the restaurant’s interior featured red booths with a phone in the middle of each table. Its purpose? Ordering chicken fried steak, milkshakes, hamburgers and curly-q fries — a novelty at the time. “At one time, we were running through almost maybe 1,000-1,500 pounds of potatoes a weekend,” Tibbitt says.
Blair Thomas, who grew up in the
neighborhood in the ’80s, says he still vividly remembers Next Door over 40 years later.
“It was an upbeat place, and it was really unique,” Thomas says. “I remember the times when we would go with my cousins and my aunt and uncle. And when the kids could sit at their own booth, and then we would pick up the phone and try to order on our own. I mean, just fun stuff like that. But there was just no other restaurant like it.”
Two years after Next Door opened, the Lee family launched Bo Bo China on Church Road in 1977. The restaurant, despite some admitted ebbs in quality in later years, became a go-to destination for Christmas Day meals and family dinners. While Bo Bo closed its doors after close to a half-century in Lake Highlands in 2024, the property’s real estate agent has told the Advocate a comeback is still a possibility for one of the neighborhood’s most enduring independent eateries.
Jack Keller’s nephew Jake Jr. split off and opened Jakes Burgers near the intersection of Abrams Road and NW Highway in 1985. Chubby’s came onto the scene in 1987, and Mama’s Pizza (another neighbor favorite) opened around the same time at Kingsley-Walnut Hill, delivering three important dining wins for the neighborhood in the ’80s.
For the most part, however, the decade seems to have been the start of a slow decline for Lake Highlands’ standalone dining scene. Landmark Pizza and Pipes, 1964 Shakey’s
a zany concept cashing in on a fad combining pipe organs and pepperoni pies on Northwest Highway, had closed by 1984, according to permitting records. Shakey’s Pizza also closed in the ’80s, opening a pizza void in the neighborhood.
Next Door shuttered around 1986 after close to a decade of making phoneordered memories as Tibbitt’s lease
expired. It was preceded in its departure by The Railhead on Greenville, which closed in 1983. The Filling Station and original Chili’s fared slightly better, closing in 2004 and 2007, respectively.
“We had multiple independent restaurants and burger places and ice cream parlors all in Lake Highlands,” Thomas says. “Then something
happened. A lot of them went away by the end of the ’80s. But then in the ’90s is when I feel like we lost a ton of restaurants and that carried into the 2000s and so there was just this gradual decline over the years.”
This is part 1 of a 3-part series on Lake Highlands dining.
Story by AUSTIN WOOD
Photography by MICHAEL FLOWERS
Valves in the mouth and nostrils capable of sealing out water to remain submerged for up to 10 minutes. With just those specifications, White Rock Lake’s water nutria may seem menacing. Close up, however, an onlooker would likely be undeterred by the shy rodents, much smaller than the average beaver. One might even call them cute.
But that doesn’t mean they’re not a threat. Native to lower-latitude South American countries like Argentina and Uruguay, nutria often disrupt their adopted ecosystems. Burrowing can undermine soil and cause erosion near shorelines. When a breeding-sized population is established in a new wetland, the animals can decimate native plant life and monopolize resources relied upon by native wildlife.
Dallas Department of Park and Recreation biologist Chris Morris says the population at White Rock Lake falls definitively short of infestation levels and estimates the population
to be close to one to two family groups.
“They do a little bit of a mess right around that little dock area of Sunset Bay,” Morris says. “But they haven’t really disrupted or displaced any of our native populations of rodents or other animals, and they don’t seem to have just destroyed an entire marshland.”
The nutria mainly seem to stick to the east side of the lake, with the greatest concentration found in the Dixon Branch Creek wetland between Winfrey Point and the Bath House Cultural Center.
Weighing 15 to 20 pounds as an adult, the average nutria is about one-third the size of an adult beaver, although it may look similar due to its brownish coat and teeth. Much like the beaver, nutria are nocturnal herbivores who split time in the water and on land. The majority of its diet consists of aquatic plantlife, seeds, flowers and other plants found near wetland habitats.
“White Rock Lake being a lake itself, it also has plenty of vegetation. It’s got plenty of covered habitat. It’s pretty much a little oasis on the east side of Dallas. So why wouldn’t they prefer the lake?” Morris says.
Nutria were originally introduced in the United States in the 19th century for fur farming. Since then, the invasive “river rats” have spread to more than 20 states across the U.S, according to the Department of Agriculture.
A 2003 Dallas Observer article indicates nutria have been in Dallas’ lakes since at least the 1980s and originally spread to bodies of water like White Rock Lake through the City’s drainage system.
Morris says that while the natural predators in the area, like coyotes and bobcats, seem to prefer preying on other animals, some nutria have been attacked. That, along with January/ February sub-zero cold snaps, have kept the population in check.
“I think as long as we still have those nice freezes right around February, it’s kind of knocking back their populations because whatever ones are good enough and breed up during the summertime, when we get those cold snaps, they’re not used to that because their evolutionary chain from South America does not have those cold snaps.”
Morris says there is currently no population control program for the nutria at
the lake, but emphasizes the impact of invasive species like nutria on native ecosystems.
“If they all disappear tomorrow, that would be really awesome, because they still steal resources from our native populations,” Morris says. “But as far as invasive species go, they’re not as bad as the feral hogs. They’re not as bad as the emerald ash borer beetle or several other invasive species.”
Brandi Nickerson, a state and federally-permitted wildlife rehabber, has extracted problematic nutria from several properties where they caused ecological damage. She says it’s important not to get caught up in their looks.
“Hogs, almost everybody understands, and they’re fine with shooting hogs and getting rid of hogs because they’re not cute,” Nickerson says. “But when you have something that’s cute, like a nutria, people tend to not care that they’re invasive, but they also don’t understand the impact that they have.”
PORTER thought taking home
Madagascar hissing cockroaches was cool.
But his mother was less than thrilled.
“I had PTSD from the giant water roaches at Six Flags from when I was a teenager,” says Angela Johnson, East Dallas 4-H Club Manager.
These insects aren’t as ugly as the roaches we’re used to seeing in Texas, but they’re still bugs. They look more like beetles (or roly-polies, Zach says), and thankfully, they can’t fly.
Madagascar hissing cockroaches can be ideal for someone who wants an unusual pet and doesn’t mind insects because they’re low maintenance. Zach only fed his first Madagascar hissing cockroach a handful of dry cat food twice in its lifetime. The cockroaches’
cage needs to be misted with a spray bottle every day or two since the country these bugs hail from typically has a tropical, humid climate.
“It was surprisingly easy,” Zach says of the cockroaches’ care. “I was expecting much more of a challenge.”
East Dallas 4-H Club President Zach, who joined the club a few years ago as a homeschooler, took home his first hissing cockroach in the entomology project group during his first year of 4-H. He had the roach — named Lord Farquaad — for three years, and it was about 2 inches long. Lord Farquaad eventually died of old age, but Zach currently has three more. They enjoy hanging out on tree bark in their small tank.
Johnson can see the Madagascar hissing cockroaches in their cage without shrieking in horror,
but she isn’t comfortable with an up-close view of them outside their cage.
“He is not allowed to have it any closer to me than the other side of the room,” Johnson says.
Meanwhile, Zach will let the cockroaches crawl around on his hands.
“You don’t take them out for walks or play with them, but you can take them out and have them on your hand and look at them,” he says.
The cockroaches’ hiss is a defense mechanism that they also do in the mating process. The sound is louder than expected and can be heard from across the room, Johnson says.
“You can hear it if they want you to hear it,” Zach says.
You can tell if Madagascar hissing cockroaches are male or female based
on the horns at the top of their heads. Males have pronounced horns while females barely have them, Zach says.
“You don’t want to get a male and a female because then you will have a zillion cockroaches,” Johnson says.
Zach also has a leopard gecko, which is more to his mother’s liking. Johnson convinced him to adopt the gecko at this year’s Dallas Public Library Community Nature Expo. The gecko, named Bubba, is bumpy all over, except for his velvety-soft tail, where excess fat is stored, Zach says. Bubba was overweight when Zach first got him, and his tail was as big as his body.
Bubba eats crickets, superworms and mealworms, but his meals must be live insects, Johnson says. The gecko needs three feeders, as in one cricket or one mealworm, a week, Zach says. Super-
worms are treats and should be used sparingly. The insects he eats need to be fed as well for the meal to be nutritious.
The leopard gecko’s tank needs to be set up with a warm side, heated by a lamp, and a cool side. The warm side needs UVB light and a basking rock, which are necessary for Bubba’s health. The 20-gallon tank must also be equipped with three kinds of places for Bubba to crawl into — warm, cool and moist, Zach says. Johnson points out that the basking rock also can’t get too hot or the gecko can get burned.
Unlike the cockroaches, Johnson doesn’t mind spending time up close and personal with the leopard gecko.
“Bubba is really cool,” she says. “He’s gorgeous, just his coloring and his eyes and everything. And when you talk to him, he looks at you.”
• Madagascar hissing cockroaches contain a neurotoxin that numbs the mouth and makes it difficult to swallow.
• Madagascar hissing cockroaches are excellent climbers and can scale smooth glass.
• Madagascar hissing cockroaches are detritivores, which means that they help break down decaying plant and animal matter.
• L eopard geckos are one of few gecko species with eyelids.
• L eopard geckos can detach their tails as a defense mechanism.
Story by AUSTIN WOOD
It was a blisteringly hot August day as Lake Highlands neighbor Teresa Gant and her husband drove to her office building.
She wasn’t going to work — it was a Saturday. Gant was on another mission.
In the months leading up to Aug. 12, 2024, Gant and her coworkers noticed an emaciated, sickly looking young German shepherd constrained by a collar too tight for comfort wandering around a vacant lot next door. Colleagues would bring offerings of food and water, but it seemed as though nothing would bring the 1-yearold shepherd inside.
Temperatures continued to climb, and the dog’s condition worsened with each passing day.
Gant — who says she has always wanted a German shepherd — knew the situation was reaching a breaking point.
“I knew he was out there, and he was going to die if nobody got to him,” Gant says. “People at my office tried to get him, and they didn’t have any luck. So I decided I wanted to try to get him.”
When she arrived at the lot, the dog could be seen toward the far side of the property. Gant crawled underneath the link fence, set out water, threw some food in his direction, sat down and talked to the dog. For 45 minutes, she tried to gain his trust as he sat in the distance. As she got up to leave, the dog pranced towards her, stopped and stared before eventually going back to the shade.
After returning home in defeat,
she couldn’t stop thinking about the stray.
“I begged my son to go back, and he didn’t want to, but I finally got him to go,” she says. “I couldn’t get him out of my head, because I knew how he was starving, and he wouldn’t have lived. I mean, he was only 44 pounds.”
This time, she wasn’t leaving without him.
Within 10 minutes of arriving, the dog ran to Gant and rolled over on his back. He found his way to the car, and eventually a new home.
“I was excited. I was shocked. I couldn’t believe I did it,” Gant says. “I’ve never literally rescued an animal like that.”
Kobi, as he was named by his new family, was in relatively good health aside from malnourishment. A trip to the vet discovered no fleas or disease, and a bath the next day restored his lush black and gold coat to beauty.
Gant says Kobi has fit in great with his new family, although there has been a bit of a learning curve to living indoors. He especially enjoys a good bone, barks to excess on occasion and has forged a civil relationship with the family cat.
For Gant, finding Kobi was a dream come true.
“Every time he eats and drinks water, it just makes my heart happy because he wasn’t getting any water, and he was starving,” she says. “But just knowing that he trusted me and I’m his person, you could tell that I’m his person. So it’s very heartwarming to me.”
As
Water safety is essential, and our Swim Lessons help children of all ages gain the confidence and skills they need to enjoy the water safely. Whether your child is just starting out or looking to improve their technique, our certified instructors provide personalized guidance every step of the way. We offer morning, evening, and Saturday lessons to fit your family’s schedule—so there’s always time to make a splash!
We worked with Bart during one of the hottest housing markets in recent history. Bart stuck with us through several offer cycles, and each new house he found was better than the last. His background in architecture and construction is a huge plus. He always has a flashlight in the car and is ready to crawl down below a house. You won’t be disappointed with his skills and work ethic. Thanks Bart for everything!
-Maggie M.
BART THRASHER Realtor® bartthrasher@dpmre.com 469.583.4819
AC & HEAT
ALEXANDER HOME REPAIR. AC/HEAT
Repair & Install. LIC#28052 469-226-9642
AIR SHIELD LLC AC/Heat Repairs, Installs Airshieldpros.com. 214-394-1788
THE
&
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ASK ABOUT
214-710-2515 dallasheatingac.com
APPLIANCE REPAIR
JESSE’S A/C & APPLIANCE SERVICE
TACLB13304C All Makes/Models. 214-660-8898
BUY SELL TRADE
I BUY USED CARS
Sam. Dallas. 469-609-0978.
!!OLD GUITARS WANTED!! Gibson, Fender, Martin, Etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. Top Dollar Paid. 1-866 -433-8277
SALE: FULL SIZE BED. $400. Bed frame, headboard, box spring, mattress, Good Condition. 469-363-2480
JD’S TREE SERVICE Mantels, Headboards, Kitchen Islands, Dining tables. Made from Local Trees. www.jdtreeservice.com 214-946-7138
SQUARE NAIL WOODWORKING Cabinet Refacing, Built-ins, Entertainment/ Computer Centers. Jim. 469-585-1588 jhholbert2@att.net
CLEANING SERVICES
ALTOGETHER CLEAN
Relax ...We’ll Clean Your House, It Will Be Your Favorite Day! Bonded & Insurance. Free Estimates. 214-929-8413. www. altogetherclean.net
CINDY’S HOUSE CLEANING 15 yrs exp. Resd/Com. Refs. Dependable. 214-490-0133
WANTED HOUSES TO CLEAN. Organize, De-clutter, pack +more. Dependable, Thorough,Honest, Great Refs,15yrs.Exp. Sunny 972-487-6599 / 214-724-2555
WINDOW CLEANING Power washing No Job To Small. 30 Yrs exp. 214-360-0120
CONFUSED? FRUSTRATED? Let a seasoned pro be the interface between you & that pesky Windows computer. Hardware/Software Installation, Troubleshooting, Training. $100/hr. 1 hr min. Dan 972-639-6413 / stykidan@sbcglobal.net
NEED HELP WITH YOUR COMPUTER, Smartphone or Smart Home? My Tech Guy Harvey. 214-770-2598. hmccall@mtgharvey.com.
CONCRETE, MASONRY & PAVING
ADVANCE STONE ART CREATIONS
Decorative Concrete Overlays. 214-705-5954
CONCRETE, RETAINING WALLS 25 yrs exp. T&M Construction, Inc. 214-328-6401
EDMONDSPAVING.COM Asphalt & Concrete Driveway-Sidewalk-Patio-Repair 214-957-3216
CONCRETE, MASONRY & PAVING
CONCRETE DRIVEWAY SPECIALISTS
Repairs,Replacement,Removal. References, Reasonable. Been in Advocate Magazine for 22 yrs. Chris Roberts. 214-770-5001
FLAGSTONE PATIOS, Retaining Walls,BBQ’s Veneer, Flower Bed Edging. All Stone Work. Been in Advocate Magazine for 22 years Chris Roberts, 214-770-5001
JOHNSON PAVING Concrete, Asphalt, Driveways. New or Repair. 214-827-1530
Concrete • Driveways Retaining Walls Stamped Concrete
214-202-8958
ELECTRICAL SERVICES
#1ANTHONY’S ELECTRIC Master Electrician Family owned and insured. TECL 24948 Anthonyselectricofdallas.com. 214-328-1333
BRIGHT LIGHT ELECTRIC • 214-553-5333
TECL 31347 Brightening Homes and Businesses
LAKEWOOD ELECTRICAL Local. Insured. Lic. #227509 Call Rylan 214-434-8735
TH ELECTRIC Reasonable Rates. Licensed & Insured. Ted. E257 214-808-3658
WHITE ROCK ELECTRIC All Electrical Services. Lic/Insd.TECL-34002 214-850-4891
BENJAMINS PAINTING Hiring:18-26Yr.olds, Top Pay- Will Train. In Advocate since 2007. 214-725-6768
EXPERIENCED NANNY 2 months-6 Years Great References.15 Years Experience warconie@gmail.com. 469-987-2172
EXTERIOR CLEANING
G&G DEMOLITION Tear downs, Haul. Interior/Exterior. 214-808-8925
FENCING & DECKS
4 QUALITY FENCING • 214-507-9322 Specializing in Wood. YourWoodmaster.com
AMBASSADOR FENCE CO. Automatic Gates, Fences/Decks, Pergolas, Patio Covers, Arbors. AmbassadorFenceCo.com 214-621-3217
FENCING, ARBORS, DECKS oldgatefence.co 214-766-6422
LONESTARDECKS.COM 214-357-3975
Trex Decking & Fencing, trex.com All Wood Decks, Arbors & Patio Covers
HANNA WOODWORKS
• Decks • Pergolas • Patio Covers Hannawoodworks.com 214-435-9574 HANDYMAN
OCTOBER DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 9 TO ADVERTISE CALL
214.292.0493
HASTINGS FLOORS Epoxy Garage Foors Many colors to choose (flakes optional) Call Nick for bid 214-341-5993 hastingsfloors.com
HARDWOOD INSTALLATIONS Waterproof, hardwood, carpets, tile laminate, & vinyl click. 214-440-6244 . aaa-texas-floors.com
FOR SALE
FOR SALE 6 pc Queen bedroom set (solid wood). Separately or together. Good Condition. $1200 for set. 956-645-1747
FOUNDATION REPAIR
• Slabs • Pier & Beam • Mud Jacking • Drainage • Free Estimates • Over 20 Years Exp. 972-288-3797 We Answer Our Phones
GARAGE SERVICES
UNITED GARAGE DOORS AND GATES Res/Com. Locally Owned. 214-251-5428
GENERAL CONTACTING
A2H GENERAL CONTRACTING,LLC Remodel, Paint, Drywall/Texture, Plumbing. Electrical, Siding, Bathroom/Kitchen Remodels Tilling, Flooring, Fencing. 469-658-9163. Free Est. A2HGeneralContactingLLC@gmail.com
GLASS, WINDOWS & DOORS
LAKE HIGHLANDS GLASS & MIRROR frameless shower enclosures • store fronts replacement windows • mirrors 214-349-8160
ROCK GLASS CO Replace, Repair. Single, Double Panes. Showers, Mirrors. 214-837-7829
WINDOW MAN WINDOW CLEANING.COM Residential Specialists. BBB. 214-718-3134
HANDYMAN SERVICES
BO HANDYMAN Specializing In Historic Home Renovations & Pro Remodels. Custom Carpentry, Doors, Kitchens, Baths & more. 214-437-9730
DANHANDY.NET Repairs Done Right For A Fair Price. References 214-991-5692
HANDY DAN The Handyman. ToDo’s Done Right. handy-dan.com 214-252-1628
HANDYMAN SPECIALIST Residential/Commercial. Large, small jobs, repair list, renovations. Refs. 214-489-0635
HANDYMAN WANTS your Painting,Repairs, To Do Lists. Bob. 214-288-4232. Free Est. 25+yrs exp.
HOME REPAIR Doors, Trim, Glass. Int/Ext. Sheetrock, Windows, Kitchen, Bathroom 35 yrs exp. 214-875-1127
HOMETOWN HANDYMAN All phases of construction. No job too small 214-327-4606
ONE CALL WEEKEND SERVICES
Contractor & Handyman. Remodels, Renovations . Paint, Plumbing, Drywall, Electrical. 469-658-9163
RGC - HOME IMPROVEMENTS 214-477-8977
HOUSE PAINTING
BENJAMINS PAINTING - Professional work @reasonable price. In Advocate since 2007 214-725-6768
HECTOR PEREZ PAINTING Commercial/residential. Intrior/ Exterior. Fair Rates. 214-489-0635
RAMON’S
alvinohuizar@yahoo.com
or Sinks
#1 WHITE ROCK TREE WIZARDS Professionals, Experts, Artists serving Dallas 15 years.Trim, Removals. Tree Health Care services. Insured. Arborwizard.com. Free Est. (972) 803-6313.
A BETTER TREE MAN Trims, Removals, Insd. 18 Yrs Exp. Roberts Tree Service. 214-808-8925 Lawns, Gardens & Trees
DAVIS LAWN CARE, LLC
580-222-4909 or davislawncare214@yahoo.com Serving Lake Highlands & Lakewood.
ELEVATED GARDENS - 469.682.5039
Raising the Standard of Outdoor Beauty
HOLMAN IRRIGATION
Sprinkler & Valve Repair/ Rebuild Older Systems. Lic. #1742. 214-398-8061
MAYA TREE SERVICE Tree Trim/Remove. Lawn Maintenance. Resd/ Commcl.Insd. CC’s Accptd. mayatreeservice.com 214-924-7058 214-770-2435
NEW LEAF TREE, LLC
Honest, Modern, Safety Minded. 214-850-1528
OLD TREE LIGHT SYSTEMS
Affordably Removed/Updated treelightmaintenance.setmore.com
PAT TORRES 214-388-1850 Lawn Service & Tree Care. 28 Yrs. Complete Landscape Renovation. New Fence Install & Brick Repair. Concrete Removal and Gutter Cleaning.
RED SUN LANDSCAPES • 214-935-9779 RedSunLandscapes.com
RGC - STORM WATER MANAGEMENT drainage solutions 214-477-8977
TAYLOR MADE IRRIGATION Repairs, service, drains. 30+ years exp. Ll 6295 469-853-2326. John
WALTON’S GARDEN CENTER
Stop in for home decor, candles, house plants, succulents and more. It’s time to plan for spring. Call us for design, prep and plantings! 8652 Garland Road 214.321.2387
C.A.S. BOOKKEEPING SERVICES
Personal/Small Business. Payroll, Accounting, Organizing, Consult. Cindy 214-577-7450
WHERE DID YOUR MONEY GO? Bookkeeping Services for small businesses & Personal. Financial organizing. Quicken & other programs. Sharon 214-679-9688
RE AL ESTATE
ESTATE HOME NEEDS TO BE SOLD? Facing forclosure? IG Heron Homes Call Ricardo Garza @ 469-426-7839
FOR RENT Little Forest Hills 2/1 Single Family Home w/fence. $1,600mo. $1,600 deposit. Cheryl. 214-235-1399
GARDEN OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT Walnut Hill @ CENTRAL.3 Smaller Suites Avail. Flexible Terms 214.915. 8886
BO HANDYMAN Specializing In Historic Home Renovations & Pro Remodels. Custom Carpentry, Doors, Kitchens, Baths & more. 214-437-9730
FENN CONSTRUCTION Kitchens And Baths. Call Us For Your Remodeling Needs. 214-343-4645. dallastileman.com
RENOVATE DALLAS renovatedallas.com 214-403-7247
S&L CONSTRUCTION All Home Services & Repairs. 214-918-8427
LAWYER | Garrett A. Heckman, Esq. Indian Wells, www.heckmalawpc.com, 760.636.3508 ORGANIZATION
A CHARMING HOME
Decluttering + Organizing + Styling acharminghome.co 214-794-6382
MOSQUITO SHIELD 972–850-2983
Imagine A Night Outside Without Mosquitoes NATURE KING PEST MANAGEMENT INC. All types of Pest control. Natureking.com Natureking.com. 5 Star rating on Google 30+yrs. Exp. 214-827-0090. "Keeping Children & Pets in Mind" Termite Specialist - Mosquito Mister Systems Licensed · Insured · Residential · Commercial · Organic 214-350-3595 • Abetterearth.crw@gmail.com abetterearth.com
AC PLUMBING Repairs, Fixtures, Senior Discounts. Gary Campbell. 214-321-5943
AGING ROOF? New Homeowner? Got Storm Damage? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing Available.1-888-878-9091.
BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 877-543-9189
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DENTAL INSURANCE- Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance -not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-888-623-3036 www.dental50plus.com/58 #6258
DIRECTV STREAM - Carries the most local MLB Games! ChoicePackage $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once.HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.)No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405
DONATE YOUR CARS TO VETERANS TODAY. Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800 -245-0398
staggsplumbing.co
CERULEAN
Kitchens, Bathrooms, Windows, Doors, Siding, Decks, Fences, Retaining Walls, New Construction
New Construction & Remodels FiferCustomHomes.com• 214-727-7075
KITCHEN • BATHS Complete Remodeling and Restoration Design Build • Detailed Professionals
ROOFING & GUTTERS
Family owned and operated for over 40 years
Residential/Commercial • Over 30,000 roofs completed • Seven NTRCA “Golden Hammer” Awards
ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-402-0373
GENERAC Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt. Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-844-334 -8353
GET DISH SATELLITE TV +INTERNET Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-479-1516
HUGHESNET Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live.25 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499 -0141
PROFESSIONAL LAWN SERVICE:
Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Call now for a free quote. Ask about our first application special! 1-833-606-6777
REPLACE your roof with the best looking & longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! 3 styles & multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off install + Additional 10% off install. (military, health &1st responders.) 1-833-370-1234
SAFE STEP North America's #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available. 1-855-417-1306
THE GENERAC PWRCELL, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services
WATER DAMAGE
cleanup & restoration: A small amount of water can lead to major damage and mold growth in your home. Our trusted professionals do complete repairs to protect your family and your home's value! Call 24/7: 1-888-872-2809
WANTED: OBOE TEACHER needed for 14 year old student. Call 214–235-7429
PIANO LESSONS 30 years exp. Also voice & composition. Text (469) 708-6151
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