ReadLarryPowell.com

A PENSIVE CAT; A WAITING FELINE; BIG DOG TROUBLE IN A SMALL SHELTER; SPECIAL DAYS, HAIRCUTS & THE PLAY'S THE THING

EDITION OF THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020 [PetPowellPress] Wednesday was quite a beautiful day. How do we celebrate a beautiful day? Try to match the beauty of the moment. In the space of one morning Martha refinanced our house and I cut my hair — used two mirrors and some barber scissors. On the hair and beard, not on the mortgage.
 Two cats watched me. Neither got in line to get a haircut. Cats are self-grooming and they can’t hold a mirror.
That photo? That’s my cat Simon around noon Wednesday as he sat contemplating his next move — sip his coffee and either jump off the table and saunter into the living room or jump off the table and pace literarily (yes, literarily) into the Martha Muse Powell Bright Windowed Center for Profit, Pups and Cats.
Simon was a free cat, you know. Those are rare in North Texas. Wait, let me check that …. yes, free cats are NOT rare. But, Simon, nevertheless, is a rare cat. Now, dear readers, watch this segue into another beautiful cat…
STEWIE NEEDS A SPECIAL HOME
BECAUSE HE’S A SENSITIVE BOY
We’re not kidding about this. This beautiful fellow Stewie, an 8-year-old Turkish Angora mix, is in need of a home that understands how to treat declawed cats, how to embrace a cat that wants to be an only cat and how to be patient with a shy individual.
Sondra York of Animal Rescue Crusaders of Texas is representing Stewie in his search for a new home..
Stewie has had a comfortable life recently, but as is so often the case, things change and now he needs that “only cat” home. He’s “fully-vetted and very healthy,” though Sondra suggests he needs to watch his diet so he won’t wind up diabetic. [LARRY ASIDE: They’re SO human!]
His story is he may be “a little shy at first” but will “warm up nicely with a gentle touch.”
No small kids, either. Why? Because a sometimes they’re too tough for an older gentleman cat without claws — Nobody wants that. 
The bottom line is: Mature, beautiful cat needs quiet, patient, appreciative and understanding home for lifetime happiness. Call 972-345-8740. And, yes, you’ll have to audition to adopt. Cats are precious and so are the people who responsibly love and protect them.
MORE FOSTERS & ADOPTORS
WILL SAVE MORE SHELTER LIVES
In our previous edition, readlarrypowell.com pointed out the big population explosion in Lancaster’s smallish animal shelter on the southern side of Dallas. How pressing is the need for fosters and adopters and other traditional shortages? Laura Macias, president of 4-Legged Helpers, the non-profit that focuses on smaller shelters, says, “We desperately need rescue groups, fosters and donations.”
 The human element helps keep dogs and cats safe and helps home them. The financial element helps get them proper health certificates, vaccinations and transport to safe places in differing areas. And, Laura says, “We often also try to help sick or injured dogs or cats that come into the smaller shelters we work with.
“With donations, we can help potentially get one of these dogs or cats into a foster or boarding situation prior to transport as well as help dogs or cats with vaccinations, health certificates, and transport costs if/when chosen by an out of state rescue.”
She notes that “there are a few dogs and cat/kittens” in the Lancaster shelter that the non-profit could save if everything comes together. Get in touch with her by calling or texting
214-949-2726 or by emailing cat_girl_71@yahoo.com. And you can donate to this cause at the 4-Legged Helpers’ PayPal site at helpingshelterbabies@gmail.com.
You may have noticed that handsome dog. That is JB, a Bulldog/Boxer mix who is currently in the Lancaster shelter. He’s got some issues that haven’t been identified, Laura says. He needs to be neutered and “checked over by a vet,” Laura says. “Everyone feels this is needed before he can be placed for adoption or rescue since he is exhibiting some behavior consistent with a dog in pain.” Get in touch with Laura to save JB’s life.
AGAIN WE CITE ADORABLE
ALEXA, THE SAGINAW STAR

The animal advocate and rescuer Tami Kukla tipped us to Alexa earlier, but now Tami has a new push to get this short little girl adopted this week. It’s as good a time as any to bring an adorable pup into your life. Possibly the perfect time to bring Alexa into your home.
 A note from Tami asks, “Can you help me Alexa get adopted this week?”
 Alexa is described as “a super sweet girl who loves to smile and sit in your lap. Ready to be adopted or rescued at the City of Saginaw Animal Services.”
 Tami says to call the shelter at 817-230-0460 to arrange a meeting with Alexa. And, Tami also ends the note with a reference to today’s on-line music system: “Alexa play something fun for me to dance to.” And here’s a video of Alexa being a happy dog.

Saginaw’s animal shelter is also in need of some supplies. Here’s the most recent list of needs:
Purina One or Purina Pro Plan (preferred) dry adult dog food; Purina One or Purina Pro Plan (preferred) dry kitten food; Cans of wet kitten food - Purina preferred; Pill pockets for dogs; Durable dog toys such as Kong or Nylabone; Fortiflora for dogs; Fortiflora for cats; L-Lysine powder supplement for cats; Disposable gloves for daily cleaning.
Drop donations at the front door of the shelter at 205 Brenda Lane in Saginaw. Staff will bring these things inside during the viral era!
CONTEMPLATIONS

SPECIAL DAYS, HAIRCUTS AND A SHORT PLAY BY A TEXAN

The online calendar site Holiday Insights gives us 4 listings for June 4. Applesauce Cake Day. (Never had any). Hug Your Cat Day (Every day is celebrated that way at readlarrypowell.com.) National Cheese Day — we try to celebrate carefully. And, honest, “Old Maid’s Day.” The Holiday Insights people say that day originated in 1946 as American soldiers came home from war and found a number of “maidens” without immediate plans for marriage. I’m sure there’s a book about that somewhere. And maybe the Hallmark Channel has done a movie about it….


In our opening segment, the crack about the cats getting in line for a haircut reminds me of my childhood barber, Whitewall Jones. He was my dad’s barber, too. Small town: You get hand-me-down barbers, teachers, preachers and clothes from older cousins. Fortunately, most of my older cousins were boys. People lined up to get haircuts from Mr. Jones. Fifty-cents for kids, $1 for adults. This was before stylists bought smocks and raised the price of a haircut by changing the vocabulary of the industry. …


If you’ve ever been in a theatrical production, watched one coming together during rehearsals or been at a play where someone forgot the lines — or wondered about the truth of our existence — you’ll enjoy this clever short play by the former editor of my newspaper column, playwright John C. Davenport, a Texan living in the Pacific Northwest. Click HERE to enjoy John's 10-minute video of Off Book presented by the As If Theatre Company. Go to asiftheatre.com and you can see more “Quarantine Quickies,” short plays presented by As If Theatre Co. of Kenmore, Wash., about 15 miles north of Seattle. [LARRY ASIDE: I want to point out that the playwright Davenport was a really good editor — he knew all 26 letters of the alphabet and had mastered most of the punctuation used in a newspaper. As a daily columnist, I appreciated that. Here are some of the commas I got back after editing now and then: ,,,,,,,.]
—- Offer applause and ideas by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and we’ll be happy to take a pencil to your grammar. —-

CATS, DOGS, KITTENS AND WHISKEY WHOO -- PLUS BRIEF CONTEMPLATIONS

EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY late June 2, early June 3 [PetPowellPress] We're playing catch up on the inbox and here goes. Love one another and read on. And after Lancaster, we'll go all goofy over Whiskey Whoo.....
FIRST, WE TALK LANCASTER
AND THE NEEDS AND MIRACLES
We're going to address two elements of life hustling for animals that are in the custody of Lancaster Animal Services. Those animals have been and are being helped along by the non-profit 4-Legged Helpers.
First we're touching on the upbeat side of this: Yesterday Laura Macias and Leighann Hayden issued an emergency appeal for help with a big handful of kittens in the shelter. That arrived about noon and by rush hour, Laura was able to report that the kittens had been saved.
The back story is the five with gunky eyes are from the same litter and the sixth one showed up later. The shelter -- oh, yeah, 3 more showed up, too -- let them all go to rescue on an emergency medical release.
So, who did they go to?
Ah, here's the answer from Laura. The 9 kittens were taken by Jackie Brown and Texas Bengal Cats Rescue in Hutchins. Laura says, "She has helped us for along time! SHE WORKS HARD! She has been helping us for a long long time!"


 PayPal is paintedcats1@yahoo.com. And the mailing address is Texas Bengal Rescue, PO Box 212, Hutchins, TX 75141. At texasbengalrescue.com, the email is txecr11@gmail.com. Maybe you'd like to foster or adopt or donate to the care and feeding of these kittens.

In the meantime, these next animals are still in need of help via 4-Legged Helpers. To offer to help them, call or text Laura at 214-949-2726 or email caet_girl_71@yahoo.com. 

You see the cat Marmalade -- a young Tiger Tabby who came into the shelter. She was left on a doorstep in a box with her three babies, Laura's note says. "Someone rang the doorbell of the home, left the box and ran. Sadly, the woman at the home called animal services and now mommy kittie and babies need someone to save them. They are all very sweet and clearly have been petted and loved. This is incredibly sad."

Then there's Maggie, a stray who is "very sweet and very loving," her bio reads. Also, she has an apparent cyst on her stomach. Lab or Lab mix, the shelter says.

Then there's Bree the Boxer mix. "Extremely sweet and affectionate." No issues with other dogs when she's on a walk. Just needs a human to hang out with. 

Mika and Luka, two female German Shepherd Dogs, were found "out and about on their own," the bio reads. The theory is they are mom and daughter. Mika has fly bites on her ears and Luka does not. 

Then there's Ashley, the female Boxer/Bulldog mix. Also an "absolute sweetheart," her bio says. 

Then there are these two -- the little white Chihuahua mix is Kimmie, who "tucks up under your arm and loves to be held." She came in with Leisa, this brown dog. Guesses on Leisa's family tree include Fox Terrier and Corgi.
Both the dogs are said to be darling. [LARRY ASIDE: You'd think someone would be desperate to recover their little darling dogs, wouldn't you? Yeah, well, we've seen the way human nature works, so it's up to some angels to save this pair.]r Then there's Austin, a Lab/Boxer mix who is close to a year old and "very well-mannered and extremely sweet."
Last one we get to in this "emergency" email for the small shelter is Blue. Under 2, but he's house-trained, knows how to sit and is "a love, especially when he realizes you have a treat."
Laura says that in the current climate all of these animals "should be considered extremely urgent." The shelter is well-populated, she says. And anybody who's been involved in animal rescue knows that means they're running out of room.
To help these animals, call or text Laura at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.
THE CURIOUS CASE
OF WHISKEY WHOO
That's the boy right there, Whiskey Whoo, or #44227230 at Fort Worth Animal Care and Control. An urgent was issued for him Monday because he was running a temperature.
On Tuesday, Paige King at FWACC posted him on Facebook again and wrote, "Well, it’s a good thing he has a will to survive! It doesn’t seem anyone has been interested at all. He’s up moving around and feeling better after some injectable meds and IV fluids. No current temp and I have no idea really why it spiked."

On the 31st, his temp was 107. A call for rescue was issued for the year-or-two old, 52-pound, neutered and heartworm-negative boy.

"He's a staff fav," Paige's note read.
Also, has a possibly dislocated hip and may need some vet care, i.e., surgery. The prognosis is his "pelvis should heal with cage rest and time”

And there's this: "He has a bite incident where he ran out from his yard and bit the leg of someone riding a bike. He was initially scared at the shelter when there was also fast movement."

And now Whiskey Whoo available for adoption, foster or rescue. You have to email fwacctag@fortworthtexas.gov. Everything is being done on-line until it's time to get the Whiskey Whoo.
And if you want to see him in adorable action, HERE'S A VIDEO complete with a loving and amused human. He sits for treats and behaves. More than you can say about a lot of kids, right/

CONTEMPLATIONS
A SELECTION OF UPBEAT TOPICS

Well, this first one might not be completely upbeat, but I see in The Big Paper in Downtown Dallas that the legendary Longhorn Ballroom is up for sale as part of a bankruptcy deal. The story is HERE. Hosted everybody from country and rock to punk.... Fried pies: Yes or no? Best flavor? Apricot? Peach? Coconut? Chocolate? Tuna? Just kidding about that last one, but I guarantee you someone has tried it. Not at our house. There are rules of decorum and a constant homage to pies. ... Movie I would love to see either again or for the first time in a good ol' steady one-giant-screen theater? Tough to pick, isn't it. I'm leaning toward Walt Disney's The Great Locomotive Chase. Or, maybe, The Great Race with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. I'm daydreaming rather than watching TV news. It's sort of like my high school days -- I'd daydream rather than translate Latin or try to comprehend Algebra. Ergo, sic friat crustulum.
--- Offer thoughts or near-thoughts by clicking on 'comments' below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. ---

ON TUESDAY, WE LAUD COFFEE, PONDER DAS' NEW WRINKLES & NOTE LANCASTER'S LOAD

EDITION OF JUNE 2, 2020 [PetPowellPress] It's a Tuesday, this is being written in the morning and we're moving along as there are no cats on my worktable, my keyboard or my lap. My typing is too loud for them today. They were up late watching human drama on TV. 

On Monday, my funspouse Martha and I were dealing with some errands all morning and by the time we finished we thought, "Let's roll by the legendary Oak Cliff Norma's location and see if they're open for business."
 Indeed they were. Short wait to be seated.
I desperately needed the coffee in this Norma's cup. 
And, for fun and out of affection for the place, I shot the photo of the cup. When I looked at the picture Tuesday morning I realized I'd also captured the counter seating where Martha and I usually perch. From there you can see the passing parade of diners and also watch the happy, wise-cracking interaction among waitstaffers, kitchen, counter customers and management. 
As you may be able to tell from the background in the cup photo, that area is blocked off now -- tape running from one end to the other so no one can sit there. In the rest of the place, every other booth is closed and same for the tables. 
But, that first cup of coffee in the morning was magnificent, enhanced by the fact that we could go inside and sit and enjoy the atmosphere of a place we've been going to for decades. Norma's -- so close to "normal" one morning in June.
AN ONLINE CHANGE ARRIVES
AT DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES
You see the artwork. It's from the DAS Facebook page, but similar announcements appear on the website at dallasanimalservices.org.
Now, what you won't see (or what I couldn't readily find) was the number of dogs and cats and "others" in shelter care. We used to run the chart as a reminder that this area of millions of people surely has homes for the animals on the clock.
DAS says this is the "first phase of its Dallas90 Shelter Service System (D90SSS) -- a new way to adopt a pet completely from your smart device. The system includes improved pet search functions and the ability to save favorite pets! 🧡🙀."
[LARRY ASIDE: My technospouse Martha says the new site appears to be more "mobile friendly" -- I think that means you can look for a dog or cat on your phone or your iPad or your Kindle (if you use it for more than reading, as I do!]
This batch of photos is from Tuesday morning's DAS page. Click on that page, then click on "adopt a pet' on the left side of the DAS screen and you'll get this photo arrangement. Click on this artwork to make it larger here. It's larger on the DAS page, but just as informative. On the DAS site, you click on the photos and you learn about that animal. 
[LARRY ASIDE: On Tuesday morning, as my Boomer eyes looked at the new page to access dogs and cats, I seemed to not be able to see as many animals as immediately as I'd seen quickly on the old system. Could just be me. On the old system, I could reach all dogs and all cats (on display) with a couple of clicks -- no filtering. I.E., I didn't have to work as hard to look at a dog or cat. But maybe someone nowadays who is looking for a dog just wants to use "filters" to find the dog they have in their minds and they don't care about an opportunity to see a dog or cat that is the one who belongs in their heart. Just a thought. And I know the best way to find a dog or cat is to meet the animal and enjoy the personality -- but on-line adoption selection is the way the virus is commanding human behavior.]
This new system is the result of DAS receiving "a $200,000 investment during the 2019 Innovation Showdown -- a collaborative project from Petco Foundation , The Jackson Galaxy Project and the nation's top animal welfare organizations to develop D90SSS. Check it out and adopt your new best friend at: dallasanimalservices.org."

[LARRY ASIDE: Perhaps people with more computer sophistication might be able to explain how this new system enhances the access to animals facing the needle in a city shelter. We're listening. And, in the words of the Old West, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make its hoof fit a cellphone keyboard.]
LANCASTER ANIMAL SHELTER
HAS A LOAD OF DOGS AND CATS
Once again, the 4-Legged Helpers non-profit rescue is working to place cats and kittens waiting in the Lancaster Animal Shelter. And several dogs, too. Readlarrypowell. com is working on processing the collection so it'll be easy to access our page.
In the meantime, email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com and ask to be put on the 4-Legged Helpers mailing list. Ask specifically for today's urgent email.
 Sometimes there are few animals, but in this particular email for Tuesday, there are many. One you've seen before. Marmalade the cat -- and there are several dogs including two German Shepherds, possibly a mother/daughter pair of strays. More to come on this.
CONTEMPLATIONS
I need a vacation from home repair, civil unrest and life without baseball. ... Is there a way to avoid being bewildered by modern America? .... I don't like being curfewed into my home -- didn't like it when I was a teenager, don't like it now.
--- Offer solutions and advice by clicking on 'comments' below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. And remember, we're sure DAS wants consumer reviews of its new system. ----

A MONDAY ASSORTMENT ON BEHALF OF ANIMALS AND HUMANS...

EDITION OF MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020 [PetPowellPress] On this first day of June, 2020, I am sad for what I witnessed in May. Got to be better days ahead. Now, let’s move to our mission for the day: Bringing attention to the animals that need loving humans. Do good. Reject bad.
[LARRY ASIDE: As I watched the news Sunday evening, I saw some guy running in the protest on a bridge in Minneapolis with what may have been his dog on a leash — could have been somebody else’s dog — who knows? Look, I’m for free speech and the right for peaceful assembly more than most people (my writing life has always depended on freedom of expression). But, seriously, how big a brain do you need to know you shouldn’t take a big puzzled dog to a potential riot? Idiot. Help me off this soap box before I start singing Give Peace A Chance.]
A CIRCULAR CLOWDER
We’d never have seen this if our pal Andy Allen hadn’t posted the photo via Facebook. She’s a cat fan and has experience in rescue, fostering and serving on the City of Dallas Animal Shelter Commission. And as people who keep up with animal-related definitions might know, it takes 5 cats to make a clowder.
There are 5 kittens in this clowder. 
In the midst of the violent and unpleasant weekend, Andy posted this photo with the sentiment from the legendary Monty Python Flying Circus: “And now for something completely different.”
A circle of kittens, that’s completely different from the rest of the weekend.
And, Andy says, “These little guys are almost ready for adoption!”
 They’re in the care of Maricats, a feline rescue group headquartered in Haltom City on the northeast side of Fort Worth. See how to adopt by going to maricats.com  or go to Facebook HERE.
THIS BOY NEEDS A RESCUE

I hope his rescue has already been accomplished by the time you read this, but it was a busy weekend for people who were either still sheltering in place or following the public rules of social distancing in partially open restaurants. [LARRY ASIDE: Some may have been busy committing mayhem under the guise of seeking justice, but we’re not sure they have time or inclination to read about the do-good act of saving animals.]

The note about River the Rottie came from the Fort Worth Animal Care and Control Placement Network HERE.
River (#44372987) is a 9-month-old Rottweiler who, according to the post on that page, has a broken leg and “can be grouchy when being picked up” but that is blamed on the pain. “Otherwise, he has been sweet,” the post reads.

He’s under veterinary care and the prediction is “he should be able to heal with bandaging alone and pain medication.” In other words, no surgery. 
He is available to rescue only at Fort Worth Animal Care and Control. To tag River, email fwacctag@fortworthtexas.gov.
[LARRY ASIDE: I have lived with a Rottweiler for more than a decade. The challenge has been walking past Texas Earl The Cheeseman without falling to my knees to hug his neck, kiss his big ol’ mug, pet him vigorously and tell him I love him madly. Why does this matter? Because sometimes I’m rushing from my computer to the men’s room and any delay could be unfortunate. Earl understands and I always catch him on the return trip.]
A SUDDEN WEALTH
OF GERMAN SHEPHERD MIXES…
Our pal Karen Lee of barkleyworld.com tipped us to this collection of dogs in the Mesquite Animal Shelter. We frequently write about Mesquite because, even in the time of the virus, that shelter has been hustling to save animals via staffers and volunteers. 
In this case, Karen forwarded a note from Danni Alcantara, the Mesquite Animal Shelter & Rescue Supervisor, about a boatload of German Shepherd Dog types waiting for rescue.
The first three photos are of A44385680 (left) – stray hold until 6/2 German 
Shepherd Dog mix about 3; (center) A44336234 (Emma) Stray GSD mix, spayed, 40 pounds, about 7 months old; (right) A443757566 Malia, Stray GSD mix, year-old, female, 45 pounds, fully vetted.
This second row is composed of A44362864 (Kymjo) Left: Stray Shep mix about ; spayed; weighs 84 pounds; A443939 (center) Stray GSD female, about 2, weighs 3 pounds; A44336948 (Tracy( GSD female, about 6, has some joint issues.
And, the last two are A37918047 (left) Buddy, GSD male, about 6; owner surrender. Buddy is described as “partner in crime” with Fat Girl (437918001, GSD female, about 6.
You know the drill on how to reach the Mesquite Animal Shelter to tag, adopt or otherwise help the animals. Email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.

 In case you are too late to adopt one or more of these dogs, there are plenty more at the Mesquite Shelter and you can see them online HERE.
One of the non-German Shepherd dogs is named either for a beer, a celestial glow or a virus: That is 44385415, AKA Corona, a 6-year-old female Chihuahua who came into the shelter on the 26th of May and needs a home ASAP. Why ASAP? Because every dog needs a home ASAP. Just like all cats, and speaking of cats, there’s one of the older ones in the shelter — many are just kittens.
This girl is Silver, about a year-and-a-half old and a resident of the shelter since May 22. She’s #44363413 in the Cat Room.
CONTEMPLATIONS
CONSIDERING THE FACETS OF HUMANITY

We have two Contemplations for this edition. One has to do with human reaction to the loving soul of animals. The other has to do with the loving soul of a human who is puzzled by the actions of other humans. 

ITEM 1: VIOLET
You may remember seeing this photo in May of 2017 — I remembered it. I’m prone to recalling beautiful moments. This came from our Houston tipster Alexandra Kelsey who knew this dog Violet. AK says, “Violet was amazing.  I loved her after a few minutes of having her in my car.
 Here’s the story of 'Remembering a BARC Star, Violet — May 29, 2017.' ”
BARC is Houston’s animal control.
 AK wrote, “Shelter dogs touch our hearts, but Violet was a stand-out, a real star among dogs.  She touched the lives of all who met her, and her journey here was much too short. 

“Violet was a stray dog in the Third Ward who ended up at BARC in December 2016.  She was around 10 when she went to the shelter, where she was tagged by Sharon Rode and Save Our Strays.  The next part of her life, after going to Charles to be fostered, packed in the kind of love she should have had for the prior 10 years.

“On December 31, 2016, Steve Halpert [of Friends of BARC] wrote that Jason Leavitt, a long-time Friends of BARC board member, said that in his 10 years of going to BARC, no dog had affected him as Violet did. That’s an amazing comment….and Violet really was that wonderful.  I had the privilege of a brief meeting when I gave her a ride to Charles, her foster dad, and I was captivated.

“Charles loved Violet dearly, and he did so many great things with her, including trips to the beach and participating in the Humane Society Fun Run (a trip which, thanks to a detour for treats for Violet, resulted in the serendipitous meeting of a stray dog who now has an amazing home). On May 29, 2017, Violet’s wonderful life ended due to a sudden medical issue.  

“Yet, she lives on as an inspiration to Charles’ rescue work.  Charles said about Violet, ‘All of my rescue work for the rest of my life will be part of her legacy. Her death has to mean more than just a homeless dog that passed my way for a brief time.  I want every dog that comes my way to live the life she should have.”

Alexandra writes, “I know many people have forgotten her story. But the ones who met her will never forget.”[LARRY ASIDE:In these odd times, we humans should all hope we live such a life that others benefit from the goodness we can display. This gives us a perfect segue to the next item.]
ITEM 2: THE CHALLENGES OF OUR TIMES
For this, we turn to Stephen Foster, president and founder of DFW’s Furgotten Friends. Many times we’ve written about the rescue work he does, the challenges faced by being a dedicated rescuer. And, over the weekend, on his Facebook page, he posted this heartfelt message that may touch some of the things many of us have contemplated. Here’s what Stephen wrote:

“I can't use the words ‘I know how you feel’ because I've never been pulled out of my car and thrown to the ground and had a cop kneel on my neck, or had a white woman feel threatened by me and call the police simply because of my color, or been stopped by the police for nothing because of my color, but, I can be angry when I see it happen to others.

“How do we fix the racism in this country? How do we unite as a human race to ensure that all humans get the same respect and treatment regardless of color, sex, religion or sexual orientation? 
“How do we change the mindset of those that look at others as subhuman? How do we make sure those who are hired to protect us don't have that very mindset?

“My wife and I hurt in our hearts for the families of everyone who's been subjected to the hate and mistreatment. We especially hurt for those who have lost a loved one due to this insanity. How do we make it stop!!!”

[LARRY ASIDE: Thank you, Stephen Foster, for demonstrating how a sensitive heart reacts to all we’ve seen lately. The fact that good hearts such as yours are concerned about helping people is inspiring. We have to remember that we have a compassionate side and we know how to behave for the good of others. And I have to stop thinking things such as “I’m beginning to understand why God sent The Great Flood.” I’m going to close with one of my favorite quotes from an American/global hero, Dr. Martin Luther King. “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”]
So, Contemplations are in order for our behavior around animals and our behavior around fellow residents of our cities, states and the nation on this planet. 
And what if you’re an American astronaut, freshly arrived on the International Space Station when you can see civilization’s devolution in your own nation— are you starting to think, “Maybe I’ll give it a few months before I ask for that return ticket. Let things settle down.”  God bless America. Quickly.
—— Offer solutions or hope by clicking on ‘comments’ below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —

TWO PALS IN A SLUMBERING MOOD

You've heard of "chain smoking" and "chain reaction"? How about some "Chain Snoozing"? Here's Exhibit 1.


 

 

 

 

 

Our featured friends in the spotlight for Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap are Apprentice Office Cat Stevie Ray and his pal, my personal comfort canine, the adorable Porche Noel. I was in my office typing madly -- coulda been a letter, mighta been my next novel, Mad Cat With a Chainsaw -- when I turned and saw Porche overflowing her cat bed and Stevie Ray, an actual cat, stretched out to his impressive 9-month-old length and napping while holding onto his pal Porche's tail. [That's the close-up]
In the second "stretch" photo you see Stevie Ray beginning to stir slightly and Porche continuing to relax. Porche prefers to continue to relax in virtually every circumstance except meal time.
And in the third photo, you can see that Stevie Ray has decided to bite down on Porche's tail and Porche has awakened. Relax. It was a love bite from Stevie Ray and Porche didn't even jump up and whirl to teach the kitten a snarling lesson. Of course, it would take more than a cat's love bite to get Porche in the mood to jump up from her afternoon nap.
Yes, these two critters are beloved. And, so you can see their faces, I've included these photos.

On the left, you see Stevie Ray learning how to edit. He jumped from the floor onto the back of my office chair, eased down between my shoulders and the back of the chair and began to purr and study as I struggled to focus the camera for a selfie.
On the right you see Porche Noel smiling. She's on her back and happy because her pal, my magictouchspouse Martha, was delivering a tummy rub to the formerly starving Dallas street dog -- found on our front porch at Christmas, hence, "Porche Noel."

Stevie Ray? I pulled him off the quivering, low-hanging limb of a mimosa tree in our front yard in Dallas' Oak Cliff neighborhood when he was maybe 5 or 6 weeks old. Hence, he's named for Stevie Ray Vaughan, the fabulous musician, and, since I pulled him and his big meow off of a limb, he's officially Stevie Ray Treeboy. 

[DEAR READERS, We love animals at readlarrypowell.com and we especially love to demonstrate how much a critter can add to a human life. That can be when you're sheltering in cat 'n' dog place or spending the day at work where it feels strange not to have a cat on your desk or a dog snoozing at your side. Send photos and bios of your adorables to dallrp@aol.com and readlarrypowell.com will feature them in our weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. You'll be setting the example for people thinking about having a darling critter around the house. And you'll be showing insomniacs that they, too, can get some sleep if they'll figure out a way to get a cat to chainsnooze at their toes without nibbling them.]

--- Offer advice or understanding of dogs and cats by clicking on 'comments' below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. ---

RUGER ON THE ROAD, BOOMER'S RESCUE; AND WILL PATIENCE AND LOVE WORK??

EDITION OF FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 [PetPowellPress] In a nation that is awash in lousy news, we need some good stories. We’ll even have a positive Contemplation in this edition. And, you know, these happy stories will be triumphs that involve animals AND humans. Ah, Friday. Gateway to the weekend.
RUGER TAKES A RIDE:
HIS 
ROAD-TO-HAPPINESS PICTURE
More than a month ago this blue-eyed Boxer mix — more Boxer than anything else, maybe — showed up on a woman’s front porch in East Texas. You may recall the story— we published it back then, thanks to Gail Whelan of the Companion Animal Network. He’s about a year old, weighs around 75 pounds and was in a fix for finding a home.

On Thursday, Gail sent a note that reads, “I thought you'd like to know Ruger went to Denver to Ho-Bo Care Boxer Rescue yesterday.  Here is his ‘freedom ride’ picture from when he got there.” Read about this Colorado Boxer rescue at hobocare.org. And "Ho-Bo" is short for "Homeless Boxer." I checked with the non-profit!
[LARRY ASIDE: That photo of Ruger gnawing on a toy was the first one we published of the big rascal. And the third photo is my favorite photograph of a dog I’ve never met: That is fun-loving Ruger romping with his pretty blue eyes before anybody had figured out how he was going to be saved. Gail, a veteran at saving and placing the dumped, ignored and neglected had confidence that somewhere there was someone who’d be willing to get him off the “unwanted” list. If you want to help Gail with the problem of dumped and free-roaming animals, contact Companion Animal Network by dialing 903-967-3226 or email can.adoptions@yahoo.com.]
MEANWHILE, A LOOK
AT SAGINAW’S ADORABLES
Rescuer/advocate Tami Kukla has been focusing on the small Saginaw Animal Shelter on the north side of Fort Worth lately. Earlier in the week we featured Niall, a fellow still awaiting a rescue or adoptor who’ll help him get rid of his heartworm infestation. Call the shelter at 817-230-0460 or email jwheeland@saginawtx.org.]
FYI, that second photo is Niall inside the shelter kennel — he needs a human to put a smile on that face. [LARRY SIDE: Surely there’s a human in the Greater Metroplexification (beyond the immediate counties and into the city-flight neighborhoods — I just made that up) who could use a good, sweet dog sidekick like Niall. Save his life from misery and maybe your life, too.]

That brings us to Tami’s latest note which included the shelter’s announced of “Throwback Thursday…Go adopt a dog or cat at the City of Saginaw…Share the pets available. Offer to sponsor a pet in need. Sign up to volunteer…..” 
You get the drift.
We’re assuming that not all the animals in Saginaw were adopted on Throwback Thursday, so we’re forwarding to you, Dear Readers, these availables. There’s Otto, the shepherd mix.
And there’s Mittens, a tomcat with a lot of presence in the litter box — as you may know, hiding in a litter box is not all that strange for cats waiting for the next surprise in their lives. A happy surprise will get them waiting on your couch, your desk, the foot of your bed, your lap. 
And, one more Saginaw animal.
Anybody reading this have an audio device that responds to the name “Alexa”? If you adopt Alexa the Dog, maybe it’ll be easier to change the name on the gadget. But it might be fun to say “Alexa, play Who Let The Dogs Out?” and see what answer you get from the pup.
CONTEMPLATIONS

ANGIE’S FRIENDS AND A SUGAR LUMP NAMED BOOMER
We’ve been writing about the inspiration for Angie’s Friends since before the dawn of time — we’ll maybe not that long, but at least back in the 20th Century before the Friends officially organized to help the legendary Angie Manriquez, know first as “The Fairy Dogmother of West Dallas.” Angie was a Lone Star in saving animals from awful conditions in West Dallas — she gathered loyal supporters such as Beverly Fyfe along the way. People with the guts to go into drug-dealing, mean neighborhoods in West Dallas to pull a mistreated dog right out of the hands of felons and creeps. 
Angie’s reputation for saving animals’ lives grew and the nickname became The Fairy Dogmother of Dallas. On Thursday, thanks to our pal Beverly, we found a new story of success with Angie. The dog Boomer — the big one with the clipped ears — is the recipient of a rescue and happiness.
Beverly was there the day Angie saved Boomer. And when she saw the Angie’s Friends story Thursday about Boomer’s outcome she was moved to post this:
 “Another great Angie's Friends story - one more she rescued from the bowels of West Dallas. I am sharing because I first met this sweet dog the day Angie removed him from the filthy, cluttered, dirt floor of the West Dallas backyard where he had ‘existed’ for so long. He had never met or seen me but when I opened the back door of Angie's vehicle to see him - this baby got up and walked across the back of the car to come to me, a stranger, for a cuddle. My heart melted. Sweet, precious boy - so glad he finally landed softly in a wonderful place.”

When I told Beverly I was going to publish this good news in this edition, she happily responded, “Oh good. He is the sweetest boy - big old sugar lump strolled across the back of Angie's SUV, up to this perfect stranger and kind of turned sideways and snuggled in for a cuddle. Lawdy. This after the life he had led up to that point. I will never stop singing Angie's praises.”
Here’s the post from Angie’s Friends and some commentary, too: 
“Boomer spent 5 years chained up in a trashed backyard, defeated and depressed. His previous owner wanted to put him down because he didn't gain weight.
“After Angie took him into our program, Boomer bounced around between different boarding places and fosters.

“Then Boomer got attacked and badly injured by another dog and, after that, he changed from dog-friendly to aggressively defensive when seeing other dogs.

“In March 2019, Boomer got adopted, traveled to Houston, and lived there for 2 months before returning back to us due to certain family issues.

“Boomer went through so much; it was truly heart-wrenching. 

“We believe that every dog deserves a home, and that there's always one perfect home for each dog. Regina gives Boomer that perfect home; she helps Boomer to emerse himself in happiness and companionship. Look at him now!!!”

This comment came from Regina after reading the Boomer post: “I had one also that went the gambit of abandon and homes and rehomes. He is thriving and when it was said he was other dog aggressive - patience and time and love proved he was not …How adorable Boomer and his brother, Prince, are!!!”

Patience and love — it worked with Boomer and Prince.Maybe some day we’ll get it to work with humans, too.
In the meantime, follow Angie’s Friends HERE and remember that all dogs and cats can use the help of a loving, patient human. Maybe you’re one of those good people.
—- Offer love for Angie and her friends or hope for the future by clicking on ‘comments’ below. Email dallrp@aol.com — we love stories of triumph. —-

WHAT'S UP WITH THIS GUY? JASMINE'S TRIUMPH; FELINES, CANINES; SPACE & 'SUNSET'

EDITION OF THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020 [PetPowellPress] What are we focusing on in this edition? Humans doing good things. Stop the presses, eh?
 We'll try to explain that cat in a minute, though he is one curious, extraordinarily active cat.
JASMINE: ONCE UPON A TIME THINGS
LOOKED DICEY AND STUNK, TOO
We’ve previously written about our pal, the great foster mom Patty Sprong, and about Recycled Pomeranians & Schipperkes and its founder Cheri Fults.
This, however, is the first time we’ve posted anything about Jasmine. Why? Because she’s new to the area. Patty is fostering her.
And Patty wrote this earlier in the week as things were working out for Justine. Read on:
 “Sometimes you have prepare for the worst with senior dogs that come in. That was the case with Jasmine. Recycled Poms got a call [from a nearby state] about a ‘blind and deaf’ Yorkie needing help. We were shocked to see that she had what appeared to be a huge mass that covered her eye and had burst on one side. We worried whether it could be removed or not, if she would lose the eye, and if the smell coming from her head was from the mass, her mouth, or both. Yuk! 

“Mazie’s Mission agreed to fit her in today, so we could see what the best option would be for her, and we weren’t sure whether euthanasia wouldn’t be the best option. 

“Luckily the mass was just a huge mat of gross stuff that had built up over time and infected her eye. … The vet was able to cut it away and clean it up. [That's the trimmed look left] Jasmine is like a different dog. She is definitely NOT blind and deaf. She still has many senior ailments and will be on heart meds from here on out, but I’m glad the answer was ‘Yes, we will save her!’ ”
On Wednesday, we asked Patty about Jasmine. She says, “Right now she’s hanging in there, but she is going to be on the mend for a while. Her vision is better, but not perfect. At least she’s not totally blind as we were told. She has a heart murmur, but can surely enjoy a little more time with the correct meds. Her nose sure works. She was just begging for some of our breakfast!”
MEANWHILE, WAITING
AT DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES…
Look at the count for cats and dogs at Dallas Animal Serves. Anybody else remember when the dog count was beyond 400 at times and the cat number was climbing high as a cat’s back, too.

If you go to dallasanimalservices.org you’ll see that there are many older dogs waiting for a new home — some are even waiting for someone from the old home to show up and take them back to the people they love. This dog, for example. She’s listed as #A1101875.
The opening sentence of her DAS bio reads “My name is STRAY.” She arrived on Tuesday and and is on stray hold while DAS waits for someone to show up and confess this six-year-old girl ran off. Maybe she had a reason to run off. Maybe she’s just curious about the neighborhood. Whatever the case, she’s better off in a DAS kennel than she is roaming the streets of Dallas, the town where sometimes drivers don’t have a heart. Know her? Or want her? Email PetSupport@DallasCityHall.com. Want to see her online. There are 13 pages of dogs listed at dallasanimalservices.org — she’s on page 12, way back in the listings. 

Cats? Seven pages. From older to this guy, Beddow (#A1101799), who appears on Page 6. He came into the shelter on May 25 and is thought to be about 4 weeks old. That is nothing but a baby. He’s on “stray hold” for now, but I’m betting he’ll be adoptable pretty soon. Four-week-old kittens rarely phone Uber to help ‘em run away from home. Email PetSupport@DallasCityHall.com.
And there are, among the cats, these three adults and, though there is no official family tree for the cats, you’d almost be convinced that Clever and Delilah are related.
Remember, DAS is working via telecommunications. Go to dallasanimalservices.org and you’ll see how to adopt animals in the era of social distancing between you and homeless animals.

MAYBE THE GREATEST PUPPY TRANSIT
PHOTO OF THE 21ST CENTURY
Remember back in mid-February when Noelle Hendrix, on a rainy night, was driving in Dallas and spotted a dog chained in the bed of a pickup headed down the road in the big city? 
Noelle negotiated a surrender of the soggy, really, really pregnant dog, named her Destiny and, bless that dog’s heart, she rewarded an act of kindness with the birth of 11 puppies. Or, as you may suspect, a BIG LOAD OF CUTE.
That’s Momma Destiny, only about 9 months old herself, feeding the pups in the top photo — Noelle did the fostering work with help from Stephen Foster and DFW’s Furgotten Friends.
And the next photo, which soft-hearted Stephen proudly posted on the Furgotten Friends Facebook page — just as Noelle did on her page — shows the rascals “waiting in line for the 9-week boosters” on Tuesday.
Some have already been adopted and Destiny has weaned her brood and is living the good “older puppy” life she deserves. 


CONTEMPLATIONS
SPACE DELAY; QUID PRO PURR; SUNSET THE MOVIE
How about that! A space shot that is launched on American soil — just like in the ‘50s and ‘60s! And just like in the ‘50s and ‘60s, there’s a weather delay. I’m almost certain this “lift off,” if it ever occurs, won’t inspire baseball caps that read “MAKE AMERICA LAUNCH AGAIN.” And, there’s this: Readlarrypowell.com has no idea why the U.S. would want to go to the moon again. The place that has no working infrastructure, limited air-conditioning, no name-brand grocery stores, no movie theaters and no satellite community college campuses. Heck, you don’t have to leave the planet to visit that. I have a list of places on Earth that are almost as barren and inaccessible as the Moon. But there is (by post-Boomer standards) an ancient Robert Heinlein book (published in 1950) titled The Man Who Sold The Moon. Not the first future Heinlein predicted. Copies are still available on Earth. …
Back to animals: This edition is dedicated to anybody who’s helping animals and to any animals needing help. Of course, nearly all of our editions are dedicated to those two causes. We have dogs and cats that we’ve helped, but they’ve also helped us — to borrow a term from Washington, it’s a really happy “quid pro quo.” That’s not quite an exact fit of the Latin because neither side expects anything from the other, so we’ll go with this more accurate example of the relationship: “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.” In the case of this photograph, shot Wednesday morning, Office Cat Apprentice Stevie Ray is demonstrating that he has the desire to help me change a lightbulb. We eventually did make the change and light up the room. Quid pro purr. ….
At one idle point Wednesday, I tuned the TV to a showing of Sunset, the 1988 murder mystery/whacky Hollywood film featuring James Garner (really good) as frontier lawman Wyatt Earp and Bruce Willis (really youngish with hair) as movie cowboy Tom Mix. Lots of talent in the movie including Malcolm McDowell as a villain and Mariel Hemingway not as a villain. It’s fun to watch if you’re in the mood for not thinking. Reviewer Vincent Camby of The New York Times called Sunset “a zombie.” Zombie? Clearly ahead of its time, eh? The movie was directed by Blake Edwards. If you had to watch a Blake Edwards movie with James Garner you’d have your choice of two films: Sunset and the one you might enjoy much more, Victor/Victoria. There is a kind of political dialogue in Sunset. Wyatt Earp’s remembered line is, “It’s all true. Give or take a lie or two.” No, it was not filmed in Washington.
—- Offer opinions or objections by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

ONE SUNDAY IN DALLAS THERE WAS A RAID....

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2020 [PetPowellPress] On Sunday afternoon in southeastern Dallas, a team composed of SPCA personnel and the Dallas Police Department raided a cockfight in progress and seized the animals, wrote tickets to spectators and began investigations into acts of aiding and committing animal cruelty through cockfighting. 
Misdemeanors and felonies. The strength of the charges depends on the fruit of the investigations.

The SPCA of Texas reports that it took custody of 128 roosters, 183 chicks, 49 hens and 28 deceased birds.” They are exhibits that may become evidence in court. [These photos are from the SPCA, taken in the aftermath of the raid. Those are killing tools in that kit on the left.]
The SPCA news release says DPD’s Animal Cruelty Unit will “oversee the criminal case and any subsequent charges against individuals who may be found responsible.”
Also, the release reads that DPD officers “wrote over 40 tickets to individuals spectating the fight and are working to charge multiple suspects with possessing cockfighting paraphernalia and/or possessing roosters with the intent to fight, both Class A Misdemeanors.”
The SPCA also notes, “Cockfighting is a crime in all 50 states, including Texas, where it is a felony to cause birds to fight with one another and/or to use property for the purpose of cockfighting, punishable by up to two years in a state jail and/or up to a $10,000 fine.”
***

[LARRY ASIDE: Whenever I hear about a raid on a cockfight or a dogfight, the immediate suspicion is the State of Texas needs to be a lot louder when it sends people to jail for animal cruelty. The echo of the gavel, the verdict and the jailhouse doors slamming shut ought to travel beyond the lightly attended courtroom procedures. You ought to be able to hear justice at work on those “properties” where villains force roosters and dogs to fight. These creeps ought to shudder with fear when they only think about attending or organizing these despicable crimes. Their actions indicate malice aforethought! These people ought to fully understand that when they break cruelty laws, they are in serious trouble in Texas.]
***
Through the years, we’ve published many stories about raids on cockfights and “chicken training ranches” in and around Dallas and the general area. It would not surprise me to learn that cock-fighters, dog-fighters and generally bad actors all cross paths at these despicable events.

Not only is it expensive to apprehend the bad guys in these cases, but it is also costly to take care of the valuable evidence. 
In the case of this raid, the still-living animals went to two SPCA facilities — the Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center in Dallas and the Russell H. Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney. The SPCA medical staff is looking after them until the civil custody hearing is conducted.
WHAT DO THE SURVIVORS
OF THIS EVENT NEED?
This rescue event created the need for money and donations of specific chicken-oriented supplies. We checked with the SPCA. Donations can be made by going to the SPCA.org site. 

But the two SPCA housing facilities have special needs for these birds:

---In Dallas, when the chickens move from the Dealey Rescue Center to the Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center, that facility will be in need of pine shavings and large wire crates. 

---In McKinney, the Perry Center will need pine shavings, chicken feed, straw and perches.
As you can see at spca.org, there’s a donate button on the page. And there are these phone numbers: The main SPCA number is 214-742-7722 and the donation number is 214-461-1831.
You may want to keep this number handy, too. It’s the number to report animal cruelty: 214-461-1850.

[THE PHOTOS USED WITH THIS REPORT WERE TAKEN BY THE SPCA. The description of the photos reads: “Roosters were found in individual pens throughout the property. Outdoors in a heavily wooded area, roosters, hens and chicks were kept in large, wire pens. Within shed-type structures littered with debris, roosters were found kept in wooden enclosures and small, wire crates. Medications, a scale and a cabinet full of paraphernalia, including slashers and gaffs, were also found in the shed. Other roosters were found inside of boxes used for transport. A large barn attached to the residence contained a makeshift fighting ring, where the cockfights took place, along with numerous chicks within a locked stall.]
Then there’s this descriptive paragraph from the SPCA: “Several of the roosters appeared to be lethargic and severely injured with multiple wounds. Other birds were found already deceased, having succumbed to injuries from fighting.”
[LARRY APPRECIATION: Thanks to the SPCA for providing the details and for helping to spread the word that when it comes to animal cruelty, breaking the law has consequences in Texas. And if you want to get involved in making the punishment tougher, contact the Texas Humane Legislation Network at thln.org. Your voice can be loud in Austin.]
—- Offer thoughts or observations by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

SAVING SOME ANIMALS, ADMIRING SOME PEOPLE: UPLIFTING THOUGHTS

EDITION OF TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 [PetPowellPress] Three-day weekends are always a bit disorienting to the working American and when you don’t have the steadying office clock, it’s even worse. 
At 4 a.m. I was awakened by dogs furiously barking. In my waking stupor, I immediately I began to plan for watching Bill Geist on NBC and, after that, CBS Sunday Morning. 
Only I already did that on Sunday, can’t remember what I did on Monday and didn’t have a clue it was Tuesday until I sat back down after checking on the barking dogs surrounding the bed. [That's Wendy recreating her "I think I hear something, should I bark?" look.]
Yeah, they were my dogs, but they appeared to have awakened from the same dream — can dogs share dreams? They must have been barking at the same intruder, possibly someone from Mars or, perhaps, a politician practicing his neighborhood walking skills. 
The dogs went back to sleep. Martha didn’t stir. My feline confidant, The Senator, and I moved to the couch and tried to nod off but wound up watching an unpleasant movie until it was time to get up and feed everyone and get on with the day. 
Now, we need to help some Greater Metrosprawlian animals find homes or help or both. And then we’ll get to Contemplations and a sweet farewell in an obituary.
NIALL IN SAGINAW
HAS MEDICAL NEEDS
Readlarrypowell.com has had experience with dogs undergoing heartworm treatment and with big black dogs and, of course, with big black dogs undergoing heartworm treatment. What that collection of descriptions means is we know how you need to be a devoted, patient dog person in order to keep the pup calm while being treated and get him healthy again.
So, that’s the deal with Niall. Handsome guy. No idea why he’s named “Niall.”
We got his story from advocate/rescuer Tami Kukla who wrote, “MEDICAL RESCUE NEEDED. Niall is a sweet dog, friendly dog who is HW positive and has swelling in his abdomen. He needs a medical rescue ASAP. He is incredibly friendly. Please help us help Niall. He is at the City of Saginaw Animal Services.”
 She included a video of Niall in a rest period after a brief romp in the Saginaw exercise area. 
You can see that video HERE. Turn up your speakers so you can hear the narration.
Saginaw, fyi, has been doing adoptions by appointment since May 4. You may reach the shelter at 817-230-0460 or by emailing jwheeland@saginawtx.org. The shelter is in Saginaw at at 205 Brenda Lane. [LARRY ASIDE: Anybody else go to school with Brenda Lane? I’m kidding.]

9 KITTENS, 1 CAT & 2 DOGS
NEEDING YOUR HELP’

That’s the headline I lifted off an email from the 4-Legged Helpers folks regarding animals in the Lancaster Shelter and a dog who originated in Hutchins: Marlowe, who we’ve mentioned before. First the felines: The note from the Helpers’ Laura Macias and Leighann Hayden included this inside info about the kittens: “So sorry, our apologies - the shelter ACOs are not good with identifying male or female kittens so we do not have that information. We also need feedback on the young adult cat Marmalade.  We are not sure if this could be a mommy kitty to the blonde kittens or if this could be a boy kitty that came in separately. VERY sweet kitty. All the kittens are adorable and precious and baby sweet.”
The first two kitten photos are of a couple of tiny babies: the gray is Clover and the orange tabby is Sunny.

Then there’s a litter of “Grey Tiger Tabby” kittens and the bio says, “All have big eyes.” 
The 3 orangish/buffish kittens are “Tiger Tabbies.”
And that brings us to Marmalade, the adult. The bio reads, “We have no info at this time, but this kitty looks so much like the [buffish] litter that we are thinking ‘related.’ Could be mommy or even daddy.” [LARRY ASIDE: Cats are tricky with that gender ID sometimes.]
The Staffie is Blue and he’s in the Lancaster shelter. In person, the bio reads, “He is stunningly gorgeous. Very well-cared-for and very sweet and lovable. Only 1-2 years old. Appears to be house-trained.” Blue was an “owner-release."
The 4-Legged Helpers note said, “We had someone go evaluate Blue and they thought he was adorable and sweet. He was a love, especially when he realizes you have a treat. He does not jump, which is great. The only thing we noticed is he might need a little work being taught to take a treat gently. He was so excited to have a treat.” [LARRY ASIDE: I picked photos that showed his personality, including one that demonstrates that Blue is quite ready to “stack” at dog shows if his official papers ever show up — no idea where they might be …]

And we’ll give another shout-out to Marlowe, formerly Mario, the Lab/Boxer boy who was pulled from the Hutchins Shelter as the clock was about to tick down to zero. He’s a “wonderful, sweet dog” all those who have met him say. “Rides great in the car. Loves to give kisses.”
To ask about any of these animals, get in touch with 4-Legged Helpers President Laura Macias by calling or texting 214-949-2726 or emailing cat_girl_71@yahoo.com. [LARRY NOTE: Just a bit of admiration for 4-Legged Helpers and their continuing mission to help animals in small shelters. The smaller shelters frequently have no publicity system for promoting the adoption and rescue of their animals. It’s a tough mission, but the Helpers persevere.]

CONTEMPLATIONS
2003, FRIENDS VOICES, THE SWEET FINAL PARAGRAPH….
I did no work at the keyboard during the 3-day weekend — first time since 2003 that I “took off” without having some sort of staggering medical diagnosis as inspiration. What happened in 2003? I decided to take a vacation and my calendarspouse Martha scheduled our roof replacement that week since I’d be home. You know what happens when four or five guys crawl around on your roof and five or six rescued dogs are inside the house hearing intruders with hammers? Yep, nobody writes The Lesser American Novel and only the roofers can concentrate. … 

So over the weekend I Zoomed with some former colleagues at The Dallas Morning News and thought about how much I love those people and how much I loved working at that place right up until 2004 when the new management team threw me and about 100 other people out with the other refuse of the 20th century. To quote Heraclitus, the ancient Greek Philosopher, “The only constant in life is change.” And to quote the great Italian philosopher Vito Andolini Corleone, “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” And the Welsh Church of England Priest George Herbert’s quote is “Living well is the best revenge.” I'm out of the revenge business and leaning toward the occupying my time with admiration. ....
One of the people mentioned in the Zooming conversation was Karen Blumenthal, the writer/journalist I first met when she was an intern at the DMN back in the 20th Century. Karen died last week at a very young 61 — Her drive and her talent and her civic devotion are legendary. I’m going to link to her obituary in The Dallas Morning News HERE so you can read it and Contemplate how much she meant to so many people. I think you’ll consider it a sweet and gentle legacy for a reporter/writer who, as so many have done since the birth of reporting, worked hard to make sure every story was right. It’s the mission of the profession. That obituary was written by her friends/colleagues at the DMN, Maria Halkias and Cheryl Hall. It tells her story, addresses her wonderful career. The obituary presented on Legacy has the family information — her husband Scott McCartney is a great reporter, too, and such a nice guy.

The last paragraph of this note about Karen belongs to her. The Legacy obituary reads, “To honor her life, contributions can be made to Friends of the Dallas Public Library (supportdpl.org), Temple Emanu-El (tedallas.org) or Duke Student Publishing (dukechronicle.com)." 
And in the final line you can see the heart of Karen as viewed by those who knew her. It reads,
“You can also salute Karen by working to repair the world and enjoying a great cookie.”

—- Offer considerations or admirations by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. Let’s fix what we can and enjoy a great cookie. —-

ON MEMORIAL DAY...

EDITION OF MEMORIAL DAY 2020 [PetPowellPress] Rainy day in our neighborhood.
Good day to sit in an office at home and contemplate the meaning of the sacrifices of those being honored on Memorial Day. 

When I was a youngster in the 1960s, I was convinced that our peace movement would mean an end to war for all of time. It seemed so logical to decide not to kill each other. I foolishly forgot to consider the woefully imperfect human element on this planet.
On Memorial Day, as on every day, I am grateful to be an American, a resident of the greatest nation. A nation where you can sit at a computer keyboard and shoot off your mouth and know that the reason you can is some brave Americans rose up against those villains who would tell you what to think and when to say it — if they bothered to let you live at all.
God bless those Americans who knew their mission and pressed forward into the hereafter because they knew the consequences of failing the mission. Bless those who were sent on an unclear mission and did their duty to the end.
I am sorry these American protectors did not survive, but so grateful they are remembered by the nation that did.

When you live in America, enjoy and treasure the freedoms in honor of the great Americans on the rolls of the nation’s war dead. We inherited their America — might have tweaked it a bit and some of it they wouldn’t recognize, but I’ll bet they’d appreciate it. And I'll bet they'd still salute that flag.
—- Offer thoughts and appreciations by clicking on ‘comments’ below or email dallrp@aol.com. —-

EARL'S QUESTION ABOUT A NAPPING CAT

I turned the corner in our hallway around noon Friday and looked toward the kitchen. There I saw my Rottie boy, Texas Earl The Cheeseman. 
He and I were separated by about 30 feet and a napping cat known as The Senator.
I could tell from the look on Earl’s face that the question was this: “Are you coming into the kitchen or is it safe enough for me to walk past this cat to meet you halfway?”

Well, of course, we’re all safe around The Senator whether he’s awake or napping. The peaceful rascal is the spotlight feline for this weekend’s edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.

You see here how The Senator is napping atop a 2 1/2-foot tall cardboard box that contains a floor lamp I was supposed to assemble the day after Christmas. Things have gotten in the way and, for some reason, we put the box in the corner of the front foyer. We don't have a back foyer. [LARRY NOTE: I thought that was a funny foyer line. I could be wrong.]

In the mornings, sun comes through the window of the front door and gently warms the box and anything snoozing on it.

My theory is that napping on the box in that corner reminds The Senator of his days of negotiating the nation’s future in The Senate Cloakroom. But he has not spoken to me about that — there are indications that he is negotiating a handsome contract for his memoirs with another writer who has a Hollywood agent. 
So, The Napping Senator enjoyed the rest of his morning and, as you can see from the final dog photo of this edition, Earl trotted down the hall and greeted me as I held out a treat for him.
Earl did not serve in The Senate. He’s more of a Dog of the House. 
Frankly, I’m thinking about renting a booth at the State Fair of Texas this year and selling coupons for “Hugs With Earl.” Proceeds would go to The Senator’s favorite movement, The Campaign To Improve The World and Humans, Too. Still waiting on non-profit designation. "Non-profit" is the household theme.

 In the final foto, that’s The Senator who had returned to the box to nap during the afternoon. I love his face so I took more pictures. 

We’d buy him a small corner table for his special spot but that’s an example of futility — He feels as if he’s “broken in’ the box and if we replaced it with a high dollar designer table, he’d bitterly go find another box to break in.  The new table would gather dust but not cats.
Cats — when they’re happy, don’t dare change anything. Anything. Not even where you left your socks the night before and especially don't move any storage boxes.

[Send us -- please! please! -- photos of your napping cat or sleeping dog and we’ll post the photos and bios onreadlarrypowell.com in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap and sell t-shirts. I’m kidding about the t-shirts. But we do love to show people how they can have a trusting dog or cat snoozing in their home. And, we also hope to inspire insomniacs to believe that they, too, can get some sleep if they can just find the right unopened cardboard box for the afternoon nap.]
—- Offer opinions or outlandish ideas by clicking on ‘comments’ or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

MAKE SOME MOVES TO HELP ANIMALS AS YOU CONSIDER THE FREEDOMS REPRESENTED BY PEOPLE WHO INSPIRED MEMORIAL DAY

EXTRA EDITION OF FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2020 [PetPowellPress] Here’s a newsburst that makes a person feel pretty good about humans — at least about humans who love and respect animals.
We got this “bulletin” from our pal Alexandra Kelsey in Houston. She’d been involved in the campaign to find a home for Tigger, this handsome older pup from nearby Katy.
His “mom,” facing the scourge of our existence, cancer, reached out to find someone to take in 10-year-old Tiger and give him a wonderful home
On Friday morning, Alexandra messaged, “As you can imagine, it was very, very hard for Tigger’s mom to give up her sweet dog. After much discussion and consideration, Tigger’s mom and the family made a good decision and a really good plan for Tigger.  He is safe, and I know the family is so grateful for all the concern and caring from the rescue community.”

That’s Tigger’s picture. I guess we could all look at our dogs and cats and think how grateful we are to not face such a situation.
Consider what Alexandra wrote in her first appeal for helping Tigger:
 “It could be me. Or you. And any one of us would want the kindness of others, not for ourselves, but to create a safe plan for our beloved animal.”
Bless Tigger and his Mom and everybody who had a hand in helping.
A COUPLE OF NEW PUPS
WAITING IN LANCASTER
Zuri is the little one and Brandon is the big boy.
For these dogs or any dog in Lancaster or in the growing small-shelter loop 4-Legged Helpers has, call or text Laura Macias at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.  
We got these Friday tips from 4-Legged Helpers and decided to put them into this EXTRA EDITION because we’re coming up on the Memorial Day 3-day weekend and maybe the Lancaster dogs and cats need some extra attention while the viral era continues.
Zuri is the 5-year-old (that’s a guess, they say) Chihuahua (that’s not a guess). She’ll be available on May 26. Her bio reads, “This sweet little Chihuahua adores being held and is absolutely the sweetest little girl.  Zuri means ‘someone who is good and beautiful’ and this completely fits her.  She is everything a little dog should be.” 

That brings us to Brandon, described as a 
“young male Black Mouth Cur/Lab” mix. He’s about 8 months old — still got some puppy in him. His bio reads, “He is super cute and sweet and is such a cute boy.  Look at that adorable face.  He is fun and playful and extremely lovable.”
Again, call or text Laura Macias at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com. 

[LARRY ASIDE: Remember, when you adopt a dog or cat from a small shelter, you’re not just getting a new pet, your saving the lives of your adoptables and helping to save the next one in line by making room for “waiting” on the calendar. The shelter may even unload the needle.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
MEMORIAL DAY, PEOPLE AND THE WORLD
Before Monday gets here, do some reading about Memorial Day. Maybe remember a veteran who didn’t come back from a war. Could be from any war — Lord knows America has plenty of wars to choose from. As you probably know, Veterans’ Day in November honors all veterans of American military service while Memorial Day has been set aside since the Civil War to specifically honor those who died defending the nation around the globe. It originated as Decoration Day — families went to post-Civil War graves to place flowers in honor of the dead. Memorial Day honors men and women. War is the “great equalizer” and isn’t it a shame that in peacetime it takes lawsuits and a changing of the hearts and minds of stubborn people for things to be equal. … Moving along, that’s the 48-star U.S. flag — it flew from 1912 to 1959 — that covers a lot of wartime. My ol’ man lived through World War II, but he never again had a good night’s sleep. He came back from Europe with scars, frightening dreams based on terrifying fact and a determination to never leave home again. And he didn’t. He liked being a civilian in peacetime. I liked being a civilian in peacetime, too.  He earned the right and I'm not sure I ever adequately thanked him. Pop survived the war but he brought a lot of it home with him. You may know someone who did that. … For Memorial Day 2020, maybe you’ll be doing something with family or friends or just enjoying watching TV or movies or reading a good book or, on Sunday, meeting up to discuss the Good Book. Whatever the case, remember the people who made it possible by standing between us and the mad-minded villains who had plans to squelch democracy. America is a happier place because of the service and patriotism of these people we honor. It’s a happier place —PLUS we have the right to complain about the way it’s run by the people who wanted our vote! That, Dear Readers, is the beauty of our blessed democracy.
—- Offer an American memory by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

HUMANE TOMORROW IN TODAY’S WORLD; COMPARISON SHOPPING; BUFFALO TALES

EDITION OF FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2020 [PetPowellPress] I saw a story online that as Yellowstone National Park began its phased reopening this week, the park released a statement that said a big ol’ bison knocked a woman to the ground “in the Old Faithful Upper Geyser Basin when the woman got too close to the animal.”
My funspouse Martha explained, “Bison are very serious about social distancing.”
 More in CONTEMPLATIONS, but first some dogs and cats and Humane Tomorrow.

PANDEMICALLY SPEAKING,
HUMANE TOMORROW’S PLANS
We’ve been keeping up with Humane Tomorrow since it was founded in 1997. Pandemic adjustments have been made, but things are about to open up a little, reports Stacy Smith, the executive director of the non-profit.
She also sent us this photograph and explained she included this “gratuitous picture of my most recent foster dog, Beau, who is fighting a nasty case of demodectic mange, because he’s just so dang cute.”

Back to the virus: Stacy says, “The one really bad thing to come out of this for us was the loss of our two spring fundraisers, which generate about $50,000 in revenue each year. For the first time in many years, I am worried about paying vet bills.” [LARRY ASIDE: Here’s the “DONATE LINK.”]

She says, “We have funds in savings that we can get into if needed, and we certainly would do so if an animal needed help, but it’s intended for our capital fund for the Glenn & Shirley Hulcher Family Animal Care Center, which was being used for so many great things before the pandemic.

“We were scheduling sessions with animals for kids in foster care; holding THLN (Texas Humane Legislation Network) and AIR (Animal Investigation and Response) events, and of course adopting out animals there before this happened.

“I hate seeing it sit empty but the safety of our volunteers comes first. So we are working to put in a memorial garden that volunteers can work on at scheduled times (plenty of room for social distancing there!), holding some very small puppy classes, and moving forward with outfitting it with kennels and veterinary equipment.” 
There also is some new hope for animals leaving Texas! Stacy says, “Our Love on Wheels transport program may resume in June, as it looks like New York is giving us the go-ahead. We are closely watching best practices put forward by Cornell, ASPCA, etc. and taking our cues from them. I’ve been using THIS SITE AT MY GUIDE.

Stacy says, “When it hit, we were in the middle of a response with Animal Investigation and Response, housing approximately 40 dogs at our brand new facility in Argyle. As it became clear that stay-at-home orders and transport bans were imminent, we worked with AIR to get about half of those dogs moved to a shelter in Minnesota and the other half moved into Humane Tomorrow foster homes. Once they were out, we initially shut down everything except emergency medical appointments…no more intake, no adoptions, no Love on Wheels transport program. But…while we are taking extreme precautions, animals still need to be saved so we are finding ways to do that while keeping our volunteers and adopters safe. Zoom meet and greets, conference calls instead of meetings, adoption forms converted to pdfs that adopters sign online instead of handing paper back and forth…this is our new normal.”

You might have noticed photographs of two earhounds and some mugshots from the clowder of cats currently in the care of Humane Tomorrow — there are many adorable adoptables available right now.
For our purposes in this edition, we have picked photos of two kinds of Earhounds — Perked and Plateau — and there are more dogs and cats at humanetomorrow.org.
 Cocoa is a 3-year-old Brown Chihuahua Terrier Mix who weighs 24 pounds and is said to be “a real sweetie with a laid-back personality. OK with cats after an introductory period. Likes to snuggle and “needs a home with people who will love to snuggle with her.”
While Cocoa is a Perked Earhound, Beethoven, 11 months old and a 78-pound Great Pyr Mix, is a Plateau Earhound. His ears drooping from the flat top of her head gracefully frame her beautiful face. He plays rough, but is also “goofy and sweet.” He’s a family-oriented dog — needs to be part of the family — and he needs a family that “doesn’t mind that he will shed a lot.”
So, what does the Executive Director of Humane Tomorrow do in the current viral climate? Stacy confesses, “I personally am truly enjoying being at home and spending more time with my dogs, in the garden, and birdwatching.” And, of course, planning for the future!

IF THE WORLD IS OPENING AGAIN,
MAYBE THERE’S A SPOT FOR BUTCH
Oh, boy, look at this guy. Six years old and in a city shelter just watching the clock tick. Our tipster Deborah Chisholm, one of the volunteer biographers at Mesquite Animal Services, reports that mixed-breed Butch came in as a stray on April 27.
She reports, “One of the staff has been working with Butch and here is her evaluation: He loves to explore the shelter yard and will stand on the platform/stairs climbing structure and just watch the fenceline. He comes when called, gave kisses to her hand and face and loves butt/back scratches.  She caught him several times wagging his tail. He’s very obedient, loyal and protective.  He would walk side by side with the staff member and would sit next to her leg to look out the gate. 

“He is 100% kennel aggressive and she feels it’s possible he was abused in a confined/kennel area because he trembles in fear and acts aggressive as protection inside the kennel.  However, he does not show any aggression outside. Once he is on the leash he pulls to get outside and is a completely different dog outside the kennel.
“Bottom line, he is a very sweet and beautiful dog, but he does like his own space. … He would probably fit in a laid back and slow environment.”
 Butch’s number is 44214726. Use it when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
[LARRY ASIDE: Well, EXPLETIVE DELETED, there’s a dog whose experience with humans hasn’t always been a happy thing. Possibly the humans who betrayed him will develop a buttock rash that is not responsive to ointments or creams. Maybe it will only get better when the bad guy’s backside is resting on a church pew and respect for all God’s creatures is the topic of the sermon.] 

Butch’s ID number is 44214726. Use it when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
WAITING AT DOG ’N’ KITTY CITY,
THE NO-KILL SHELTER IN DALLAS
Not all cats are carried into shelters by humans who are dumping them. Take the case of Bailey.
We found out about her because now and then we’ll take a gander at animals safely waiting for homes at Dog & Kitty City, the no-kill shelter run by the Humane Society of Dallas County just west of Love Field.
This time we discovered a sensationally striped beauty, the Dallas tabby Bailey. How did Bailey get into the shelter? Her bio explains, “She was found outside by one of the staff and was brought to the shelter because she is such a sweet girl! Besides being a sweetie she is so pretty and would love to be in a furever home!”

In the Virus Era, you have to make an appointment to meet this lovely feline. Call the shelter at 214-350-7387 or email adoptions@dognkittycity.org. The shelter is at 2719 Manor Way in Dallas, just south of the intersection of Mockingbird Lane and Denton Drive, on the southern side of Love Field.
Follow the shelter on Facebook HERE.
COMPARISON SHOPPING
FOR A COUPLE OF DOGS
We’ve featured these two dogs before. Their photos and bios came courtesy of 4-Legged Helpers’ stalwarts Laura Macias and Leighann Hayden. 
While wondering about the appeal of these dogs we thought it might be beneficial to offer comparisons to other individuals with the names Teddy and Marlowe.
FIRST, TEDDY THE BULLDOG MIX and his darned-near smile-alike namesake, Teddy Roosevelt, the nation’s 26th president
.
Teddy Dog is about 2. He wound up in the Lancaster Animal Shelter when the ACO there gave his humans a choice, according to the note from Laura. They could either surrender the neglected dog or face cruelty charges. They turned him over. The poor pup’s “toenails were even curling into his paw pads,” the note reads. He is the “cuddliest, sweetest boy ever,” his bio says.
THE NEXT DOG IS CANINE NOIR Lab/Boxer mix Marlowe, originally Mario. And, of course, you can see the resemblance to the moody character in detective stories, Philip Marlowe, portrayed in this photo by the great Humphrey Bogart.
Marlowe the dog, unlike Marlowe the character, is a totally sweet individual. He “rides great in the car. Loves to give kisses. Just as sweet and precious as can be. Calm, very loving, easy going.”
He was bailed out of the Hutchins Shelter to save his life — no adopter has been found. So this youngster Marlowe still needs a home.
4-Legged Helpers has several ways to help potential adoptors get this dog into their houses, not just their hearts. Call or text LAURA at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com
CONTEMPLATIONS
BUFFALOED? THE TEXAS CONNECTION
First, the woman who was knocked over by the Yellowstone buffalo is said to be OK. I don’t know if the phone she was using to shoot a selfie is OK. I’m kidding — I have no knowledge of whether she moved close to shoot a photo or because she thought the bison one of the ranger’s housepets. … 
Here’s another Yellowstone note. You can watch the famous geyser Old Faithful erupt on the park’s live cam HERE. (That's a screen photo from Thursday morning -- snow was falling. No bison in the scene. Also no tourists.)
I’ve been watching it for years — now and then you see a peaceful bison or other park animals. And they follow this good rule: Always give a geyser plenty of room no matter what virus is rampant. But don’t pose next to the bison. (That's a 1931 U.S. Buffalo Nickel, in case you wondered what both sides look like.)
FYI, there’s a 2015 Texas Standard story HERE by Texas writer W.F. Strong that tells of the legendary Lone Star State ranching couple Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight’s role in the bison at Yellowstone. It has this sentence: “If it weren’t for Texas, there would be no buffalo in Yellowstone National Park.” And, this weekend, if you are posing for photographs in the loosened pandemic environment remember this: “Don’t stand next to the virus or the buffalo.”
—- Offer advice, laments or buffalo happy tales by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. ---

GOOD NEWS FOR ELPO; DALLAS DOG RESCUED; CATS ABOUND; SUMMER, STEVIE RAY AND DION

EDITION OF THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020 [PetPowellPress] It is always a great relief to begin this daily publication with good news. And we have some: Two instances, one thanks to Dr. Karen Fling at East Lake Pet Orphanage and the other, across town from ELPO on Northwest Highway, to a rescue group that tagged a dog at Dallas Animal Services. First, ELPO.
IF YOU BUILD IT,
THEY WILL COME
TO EAST LAKE EVEN MORE…
You’ve probably already spotted the artist’s rendition of the “news.”
Here’s the basic opening of the news release from East Lake Pet Orphanage. We got the tip on this from Vicki Young, the PR veteran and animal advocate with The Young Company.
The release reads, “Karen Fling, DVM and president of East Lake Pet Orphanage (ELPO), a Dallas-based, no-kill animal shelter, has successfully completed the purchase of the approximately 3,200-square-foot building adjacent to the existing East Lake Veterinary Hospital and East Lake Cat Care Center buildings. The newly acquired building has been home to the local DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Big D Chapter 57.”
Needless to say, this is all going to cost a lot, and ELPO could use help in making this dream a reality. Donations will be a gigantic assistance. Go to ELPO’s DONATE PAGE HERE.
And look at the roof of that building. Yes, the annual, very popular East Lake Pet Orphanage Wine on the Roof gala will have a new home!
As fans of ELPO know, the facility has been blessed with volunteer fosters and space inside the Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Fling says, “It’s an exciting time at East Lake, this dream has been decades in the making. After our best year of adoptions ever, and thousands of homeless pets rescued, rehabilitated and re-homed since 2001, we are happy to announce that East Lake Pet Orphanage will have a new standalone facility designed specifically to meet our growing needs!”
And there you have it. Progress for animals. According to ELPO, the first floor of the building will continue to be the DAV meeting place. And, the news release reads, “The first floor will remain the DAV meeting place and Dr. Fling will be providing nonprofit veterinary care to disabled vets who have to go in for medical care themselves – they often put it off because they don’t have anyone to care for their pets. So it’s a win-win for the vets, their pets, and homeless animals of Dallas. It’s a dream decades in the making.
“Dr. Fling wants to add 5 floors: First floor will remain for DAV, then a cat floor, a dog floor, an inclusive exercise floor, a boarding floor, and a convalescent/intensive care floor will be added.”
All of this work — building a dream that helps animals that need homes — isn’t done without financial help. ELPO has issued a call “for donations of any size to make this dream a reality.”
You’ll be helping animals that follow in the pawsteps of such canines as Gumbeaux, that handsomely attired Staffie Mix, born 6-9-19. He’s in a foster home right now and arrangements can be made to meet him.
Cats? Oh, yes, ELPO has cats. For example, this is Claire with her kittens: Gabriel, Ian, Kathleen and Katherine. [LARRY ASIDE: In addition to being The Viral Dumping Era, this also continues to be puppy and kitten season. As you can see when you go the eastlakepetorphanage.com and look at the animals needing homes.
]
SOMETHING ELSE OF NOTE ABOUT ELPO is this from Vicki: “ELPO is getting 200 calls a day from people needing/wanting to surrender their pets due to the pandemic. It’s heartbreaking.” 
Many of the animal dumpers, we are told, are “people who are afraid of getting the virus from their animal and people who can’t afford to feed/care for their animals.”
Add this to the busy-ness at the Vet Hospital: “East Lake did 40 spay/neuter surgeries on Saturday to help get animals ready for adoption.”
You may also help by volunteering at the Orphanage — call 214-342-3100 or email gerad@welovepets.net.
“HIS FACE WILL
BREAK YOUR HEART”
That was the headline on Amy Poskey’s appeal for a dog named Cory who came into Dallas Animal Services on May 7.
As you can see in what we think is an “arrival day” photo, Amy’s assessment was right on the money. That is one neglected dog and a sensationally yucky eye -- only way to decribe it.
Amy made appeals for this dog and they traveled through the animal community and by Wednesday afternoon Amy wrote, “I am thrilled to report that Cory has been tagged by Missy Redding with Bull luv able Paws Rescue and will be picking him up today!!! WOOOOOHHHHHOOOOOO!!!  THANK YOU MISSY!!!”
Supporters raised $800 to help Cory with medical bills. You can get in touch with the rescue group by clicking on bullluvablepaws.org. 
www.bullluvablepaws.org
Late Friday afternoon, the Bull luv able Paws and Chi Wawas Rescue page on Facebook had posted a note that began, “Say hello to your new life, Cory!” And it added: “Cory’s new name: Cupcake.”
Donate to his care at www.bullluvablepaws.org/donate; on Venmo @bullluvablepaws; or via PayPal @DonateBPR@mail.com.


The posting ended “Hip hip Hooray for Cupcake!!! He’s freeeeeee.”
These are newer photos of Cupcake/Cory. Every now and then your run across a miracle rescue in Dallas. 

BACK TO DAS
 FOR CATS...So, what’s the count and the amount at Dallas Animal Services as of sundown Wednesday? That chart shows the numbers — 139 dogs and 93 cats at the shelter. 
In a posting on the DAS Facebook page, a note seeking foster homes read, “We couldn’t make it through kitten season without you. Right now we have close to 200 cats and kittens out in foster!
Join our kitten lifesaving pack by becoming a #D90foster at www.dallasanimalservices.org." 
That’s one of the many Dallas unwanted (as yet!) kittens under the care of DAS. See more at dallasanimalservices.org.
CONTEMPLATIONS

Summer's coming; Cat-training; Dion & radio
Notice how muggy it was Wednesday and how the temp was climbing into the 90s with both feet on Tuesday? Felt like summer? Hah. The season of Summer 2020 arrives at 4:44 p.m. Central Daylight Time just under one month from  today — June 20. By then we’ll all be social distancing because standing close makes us sweat like we’re trapped in an elevator during a Dallas Cowboys exhibition game. Anybody else remember how hot Texas Stadium could get in August? That hole in the roof wasn't an a/c vent. Yeah, I had free tickets. Exhibition games, you know. … That’s a photo of me gently stroking the noggin of the hardheaded cat Stevie Ray. He’s still a kitten — probably 8 months old and still learning how not to play rough with humans. That’s why I keep a box of BandAids handy. He’s just playing — thank the Lord he’s not a tiger. My approach to petting him has been to gently rub the top of his head as if I were standing in for his momma’s love. I’m not sure how he felt about his mother. I never met her. She may have parked him in the tree at our house and left him with a note but he chewed up the note. … Quick! Somebody tell me which radio station plays the top ten rock hits in America for May 20, 2020. Yeah, I don’t know, either. Somebody cue Dion and The Belmonts with Teenager In Love  or just Dion with The Wanderer. Ah, grand times at the sock hops. Stevie Ray has never been to a sock hop. Cats don't wear socks -- not for long, anyway.
—- Offer information or advice by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com, daddy-o. —

A FLOWER IDENTIFIED; CATS AND DOGS NEEDING HUMANS; CONTEMPLATING ZOOMIN'

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 [PetPowellPress] Before we get to some animal business, let’s talk Texas flowers. Remember when the Blue Angels flew over Fort Worth and Dallas a couple of weeks ago? I stood in the middle of a field in East Fort Worth, got no ticks (perhaps rejected by ticks?) and watched the flyover. 
I also snapped a photo of a pretty flower. I had no idea what it was, but I posted the photo on readlarrypowell anyway.
Fortunately we have a very aware pal who lives out in Lubbock, Sarah Hays, who, right away reported that it is “an Indian Blanket — a prized Texas wildflower.” Yes, indeed.
Sarah included THIS LINK to a site “where you can get the seed to make more, if you'd like.” She says, “Those are good folks. I've been returning to them annually for Christmas presents for my daughter-in-law's parents, who have 80 acres of dry land near Benjamin. Flowers grow there now.”

She also tipped us to this LINK that has a dozen Texas Highways wildflower scenic drives. 
On a sweet personal note, she says, “There’s a photo on that page of pink primroses and bluebonnets, which were my wedding flowers 30 years ago this Memorial Day Saturday.” [LARRY ASIDE: Now, Dear Readers, isn’t that a wonderful memory of a flowerful time when people were not social distancing but gathering to celebrate! Sort of makes you look forward to the next wedding in your circle of acquaintances! To add to the floral content of this item, I posted a photo from our current front yard flowers this spring and, also, a photo of the rose blossoming on the bush I bought from a roadside stand in Tyler 30 years ago — can you get any more East Texan? I planted the young bush at our Dallas house when I was a bachelor. About a month ago, I carefully dug the old rose up and moved it to the front yard flowerbed of our Fort Worth home. I’m not sure it’s making the transition to the new dirt. One must be careful with roses. I must note, however, that I apparently have an inability to destroy the survival instinct of weeds.]
A BARN CAT, SOME SWEET KITTENS
AND TEDDY THE HANDSOME DOG
This report comes to us from Laura Macias and Leighann Hayden of 4-Legged helpers. The first part focuses on Lancaster and the second part focuses on a marketing decision for a dog. It’s a sweet story. Keep reading.
In all cases, including that possibly feral cat Kia, the contact is this: Call or text Laura at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.

Kia is waiting at the Lancaster Animal Shelter. Her bio reads, “This absolutely beautiful girl, the shelter believes, may be a feral meow meow, :-)  Is anyone interested in a gorgeous barn cat?  If so, and you need help getting her fixed, please let us know.  This poor kitty stands NO chance at the shelter unless someone can help.”

These three kittens are, from left, Hershey, Snickers and Twix. All are said to be little boy cats, maybe 6 or 7 weeks old. The bio says they still have blue eyes. The note from 4-Legged Helpers reads, “These sweet little baby siblings just came in and desperately need someone to save them.  There are about zero chances for adoption in the Lancaster Shelter. … We apologize that the pics are not great, the lighting in the cat room is terrible (it is basically a converted storage closet), but it is so urgent for them to be out, that the ACOs took the pics immediately.”
This Bulldog mix is Teddy, about 2 years old, and he has “the saddest story,” the note from Laura says. “The ACO gave the owners a choice to either turn over the dog or face charges.  Was not being cared for.  The owners tried to say they had only had him two months but the ACO proved that they had him last June when a previous picture was taken.  Fortunately they made the decision to turn him over versus facing charges.  His toenails were even curling into his paw pads. He appears to have some seasonal allergies or skin type issues and looked like it was his happiest moment ever as he was being brushed.   Despite this, HE IS THE CUDDLIEST SWEETEST boy ever.  … He is the most precious lovable teddy bear of a dog.”
NOW WE COME TO THE DOG WHOSE NAME HAS CHANGED….
We’ve posted this guy twice before — using the name first given to him by 4-Legged Helpers, the non-profit rescue group. He was Mario for two editions. Then, on Tuesday evening, we got an update on animals being tended to by 4-Legged Helpers and suddenly his name was Marlowe. 
Whatever his name, his description remains the same. It reads, “You won't find a sweeter dog out there than Marlowe. This sweetie pie is extremely lovable.  Some dogs just know you are trying to help them.  That's Marlowe - we see it in his eyes.  Someday, we just know that someone will say this is the best dog they have ever had. He has the biggest sweetest eyes and lovable personality. … Rides great in the car.  Loves to give kisses.  Just as sweet and precious as can be.  Calm, very loving, easy going.  If you want to really help a dog, you will find this dog to be a dog that will always be so very grateful.”
We asked the hard-working Leighann Hayden about the name change. She writes the bios for 4-Legged Helpers and, as you may know, many animals come into a shelter and have no name. Leighann had been promoting this sweet boy as “Mario.” No responses. So, she says, “I thought maybe try a different name.  He has had zero luck with that Mario name.  He may need a fresh start... :-).” 
[LARRY ASIDE: We’re happy to help with the change in marketing! It works for actors and writers, maybe it’ll work for Marlowe.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
BACK TO FLOWERS, SUMMER, ZOOMIN’

HERE’S THE QUESTION: This has to do with this flower. Why would a native Texas boy such as myself not recognize an Indian Blanket? Here’s why: In Northeast Texas we paid attention to Bluebonnets (the State Flower) and to roses (Tyler’s the Rose Capital of Texas) and, as a Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Explorer Scout, we particularly paid attention to the other significant plant in Northeast Texas: Poison Ivy. You don’t have time to look for wildflowers if you’re trying to avoid Poison Ivy in a thicket — that’s my theory. … Have you Zoomed lately? Aretha Franklin might have been ahead of us all back in ‘85. Here’s the musical EVIDENCE. Sorry about the advert you’ll have to endure. Like weeds, you can’t beat ‘em.
—- Offer theories or certainties by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

NUMBERS RISE; ANIMALS ARE WAITING; LATENIGHT/EARLY AM TV WITH CATS....

EDITION OF TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2020 [PetPowellPress] Late out of the chute this AM. Call it the joy of accidentally sleeping until the alarm goes off. It wasn’t a complete night’s sleep. We’ll explain in CATEMPLATIONS. Here are some opportunities to contemplate…
Oh, and the numbers continue to rise at Dallas Animal Services. These were the stats before noon on Tuesday. And isn’t that the saddest dogface you’ve seen in a while? Pinot (1092934) is about 2, a neutered Pittie who has been in the shelter since May 10.
There are older dogs, and younger dogs waiting in Dallas for either a home, a rescue or a needle.
Cats? Population climbs during kitten season. But they aren’t all kittens: Ask Mittens. He's (A0725703) is one of the thousands of fabulous North Texas tabbies. The 8-year-old has been at DAS since May 11 and, right now, can only be claimed by a rescue group. Email DASRescue@cddallascityhall.com. Call the shelter at 214-670-6800. Go to dallasanimalservices.org to see how to adopt or rescue.
 Remember DAS is only doing “tele-adoptions” until the State of Texas (including Dallas County) really opens up.

A DOG NEEDING A SAFE PATHWAY; A KITTEN FOUND
We got the tip on this beautiful dog from Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. She got the info in a note from Lajean Fenske who wrote, “Kelo has been handed down to so many wrong people, he desperately is looking for a family that will give that forever home. He is approx 7 years old, up to date [on vaccinations] and neutered.”

There is one challenge: “He is heartworm positive,” Lajean wrote, but added, “He is so sweet and laid back. He tolerates other dogs, cares not for cats. He is house-trained. Please help me.” Email lajeanbfenske@gmail.com.
Then there’s this kitten plea from Gun Barrel City, Texas. Sydney forwarded it and the note read, “Baby kitten found in Gun Barrel City behind Ruth Martin Insurance building. Very calm and friendly but too young to tell the gender. Needs a loving home.”
The email to ask about auditioning to adopt this baby is delores100@embarqmail.com.
TWO DOGS, DIFFERENT HISTORIES,
NEEDING A FUTURE IN HAPPINESS
Oh, boy, is there no end to the stories of dogs who need homes? I guess not. But, there’s also no end to the stories of humans who have homes for those dogs. [LARRY ASIDE: It’s important to remember that there are animal people working for them all. It’s the “So What/Don’t Care People” who are the big challenge to our moods and stability!]
Laura Macias and Leighann Hayden of 4-Legged Helpers are hustling to find homes for a couple of dogs who “desperately need a rescue group or adoptor,” today’s note from the non-profit declares. Both dogs are listed as “urgent” because of their “unwanted” status and the pressure on shelters.
 To ask about either dog call or text Laura at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com. 

That first girl is Tasha, currently at the Lancaster Animal Shelter in the city across I-20 from the southern side of Dallas. She’s described as an “AVAILABLE NOW” American Bulldog/Boxer mix. Her bio reads, “This adorable little girl was brought to the shelter by someone no longer able to care for her.  The ACO's adore her and said she has such a great personality.  Very lovable.  Extremely cute.  Only about 2 years old and just was sweet as can be. Look at that little face with those big eyes and even cute whiskers!  Adorable.”

We mentioned the next guy before, but he’s still needing some help with a home. Mario, a pleasant-enough backseat rider in a car, is a neutered Lab/Boxer mix who came from the Hutchins Animal Shelter. His recommendation reads, “You won't find a sweeter dog out there than Mario. This sweetie pie is extremely lovable.  He has the biggest sweetest eyes and lovable personality.  He just so very much wants to be loved.   Seems to do quite well with bigger dogs. ….  Rides great in the car.  Loves to give kisses.  Just as sweet and precious as can be.  Calm, very loving.  If you want to really help a dog, you will find this dog to be a dog that will always be so very grateful.  He was originally at Hutchins Shelter and was pulled to save him, but sadly an adopter was never found by the person trying to find him a home and he desperately needs his forever home.  He deserves his happy forever. Just so very much wants to be loved.  He is a WONDERFUL sweet dog.”
MORE PHOTOS
OF TIGGER
You may recall Tigger from our Monday edition. He’s an older dog in Katy, Texas, whose human is facing a cancer battle and she wants to find a good home for her beloved Tigger.

We learned of this situation from our Houston tipster Alexandra Kelsey. A number of people responded to her plea. She writes to all of you goodhearted animal fans, “Thanks to everyone for working so hard on this.  There is a possible foster for Houston’s Freedom Street Rescue, and a couple of people in the Dallas area are working hard on this and trying to figure out how they could help.

“I will keep everyone posted as things develop.  I know Tigger’s mom is very grateful.  I have also asked her if she needs help for herself, but at the moment she is OK. I asked her to keep me posted, though.” To offer to help Tigger’s mom find a place for her 10-year-old fella, email our pal at Alexandra.Kelsey@Bracewell.com.

CATEMPLATIONS
WHAT’S ON TV AT 3 IN THE MORNING?
In the opening, I mentioned the joy of sleeping until the alarm goes off. There are other alarms with which I am acquainted. Bioalarms.
 For example, Monday night I drifted off early, but at 3-something A.M. i got wake-up nudging from my two personal cats, i.e., my personal confidante, The Senator (right, below), and my curiously investigative cat, Deputy Chief Kittie Leigh Johnson (left). 
They said they wanted to see the 3 a.m. presentation of Hart to Hart and watch Jonathan Hart (Robert Wagner) guide kidnapped Jennifer Hart (Stephanie Powers) into safely piloting a plane to a smooth landing after the bad guy parachutes out.
He’s played by Gary Lockwood, in real life in 1983, Ms. Powers’ ex-husband — I do a lot of trivia-related biographical reading deep in the night sometimes. You never know when a marital factoid will come in handy during a conversation
Back to TV — if you’re watching TV at 3-something in the morning, you may not have high standards for dramatic reality. The cats thought they were watching private eye satire. But they enjoyed it and I found it fascinating that in nearly every Hart to Hart episode I’ve seen (count ‘em on the fingers of one hand), whenever there is a fistfight between Jonathan Hart and a villain, the boys rumble madly and Jennifer Hart moves to a corner of the room and appears to be aghast, but I cannot recall seeing one instance when she picks up a vase, a chair, a cane or anything else and bashes the villain in the head to help her husband triumph. 
Of course, I keep forgetting that reality isn’t always as enjoyable as fiction. After Hart To Hart we watched two episodes of Psych, one of my favorite excursions into TV’s wonderland of detectives. I went to sleep just before Monk came on. I’d have turned the TV off but The Senator had the remote. His favorite purr response is, “I always have the deciding vote.”
—- Offer opinions or objections by clicking on ‘comments’ below. —

RAINY DAYS, DOGS, CATS AND HISTORY -- ALL FOR A MONDAY

EDITION OF MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 [PetPowellPress] Soggy Saturday — that description fit what happened at your place? Sneakers still squish when you walk? That’s our backyard yucca blooming in a spell between rainstorms — you’ve seen rain, but maybe you haven’t seen a bloomin’ yucca. Nefore we move on, here’s a quote from The Old Farmer’s Almanac online newsletter story that addresses boredom, such as the kind you might have experienced while rained in on Saturday or for the past however long it has been since a microscopic villain put us all in lockdown.
The Almanac story reads, “There’s lots of evidence to suggest that boredom—that universal experience of feeling restless with no distraction from our thoughts—can be good for us. Boredom can spark new ideas, boost creativity, and enhance problem-solving skills. Letting your mind run free, undistracted, can ultimately make you more productive and happier.” The headline was “Why Boredom Might Be Good For You.”
 The alternative view could be “Idle hands are the Devil’s workshop.”

My personal Tabby Deputy Chief Kittie Leigh Johnson is wide-eyed at the prospect of defeating boredom by growing magnificent whiskers. [LARRY ASIDE: I kept the beard I grew in 1971 — no boredom back then, just hair as a political statement.]
TIGGER THE DOG:
A STORY OF LOVE…
We got this from our pal in Houston, the literarily-inclined Alexandra Kelsey who tips us on animal opportunities in the area of the sprawling Bayou City. This has to do with this great dog, Tigger, currently of Katy, Texas.
 Alexandra writes, “Loving a dog feels the same at five years old as at 55 years old.  Dogs simply endure in our hearts. They don’t go out of fashion and they delight us at every stage of our lives.  The comfort they give is immense.

“Dogs enjoy the moment and they leave the big worries to humans to sort out.  Tigger, being a dog, goes about his days with his mom, being a happy companion, having bubble baths, listening to soothing music on YouTube if a storm comes up.  He’s busy being a family guy.
 “Cancer isn’t on Tigger’s radar.  He doesn’t know that his mom has cancer.  He doesn’t understand that her illness keeps her from being able to take care of him.  And he doesn’t know that his time with his mom is very short.  But, it is.

“Tigger’s mom has family coming to Houston to help her, and that support team will leave on Thursday. So, today, after weeks of trying to get help from the shelter in her area, Tigger’s mom put a plea out on email.  Tonight, I got that plea, and I am sending it on to you.

“It could be me.  Or you.  And any one of us would want the kindness of others, not for ourselves, but to create a safe plan for our beloved animal.
“Tigger is a darling dog.  He’s 10 years old, heartworm negative and current on vaccinations. Tigger is house-trained and he has no guarding or resource guarding habits.  He is good on a leash.  This precious boy been well cared for and he is great with other dogs and children.  He’s not met cats that we know of, so that area is uncertain. He will need to be neutered.
“Let’s make a safety net for Tigger.  If you or your rescue are interested, email me at Alexandra.Kelsey@Bracewell.com and I can connect you with Tigger’s mom.”
 [LARRY ASIDE: Touching words. May they touch the right heart to help Tigger and his mom.]
FOUR KITTENS
NEED A PLACE TO LAND
Imagine that — unwanted kittens in North Texas! Somebody isn’t listening to the Spay/Neuter lectures. We got the tip on these from animal advocate Tami Kukla who wrote, “These 4 cute kittens have been crashing with a Good Samaritan who just wanted to do the right thing. They are turning 6-weeks-old and need our help to get adopted. One of the great volunteers at Fort Worth Animal Shelter is trying to help him help these kitties. The good samaritan has been handling the kittens and has agreed to have the mom fixed. All help is appreciated so that these sweet babies can live a kitty life and not live a life outdoors. Questions or to help? Please pm Penelope Jones [ON FACEBOOK]." 

BEAUREGARD: CUTE DOG
NEEDING A REAL HOME
Now, here’s the deal. This guy, a growing Lab puppy at 8 months old, first came into the Mesquite Animal Shelter on March 7. Our tipster, Debra Chisholm writes, “He was adopted but in less than 2 months he was picked up as a stray and brought back to the shelter.  Owner was called and decided they did not wish to reclaim him.  Reason given was that Beau tried to bite his other dog as well as his mother.  There was no actual bite, so Beau was not placed in quarantine.
“The circumstances surrounding the attempted bites are not known.  Staff member says he is very friendly since he has been back at the shelter.  Please help this 8 month old youngster on the way to the forever home that will be the perfect fit for him.
”
Beauregard weighs in at about 25 pounds, is a high-spirited youngster with a lot of energy and, Debra’s assessment reads, “He does jump on you and obedience classes would certainly be in order.” He’s also a barker. But he’s also just a kid and he has potential.
Readlarrypowell.com picked two photos to use — anybody who’s ever had a dog can see that this is a guy looking for guidance and he’s also ready to wag his tail and play. 
His ID is 43977595. Use it when you email rescues@cityofmesquite.com or when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283.
[LARRY ASIDE: He doesn’t look like a biter to readlarrypowell.com, he looks like a puppy learning how to be a good dog. He’s in need of a loving, patient human and some time with a role model.]

CONTEMPLATIONS
History, Schoolrooms, Opportunity
Are you familiar with the term “glacial speed?” Think it ever occurs in the United States of America? On Sunday morning, I was reading Jeff Crilley’s Real News PR journalists’ tip sheet The Rundown and found that he’d cited something from May 17, 1954. It read: “In a major civil rights victory, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kan., ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.” That was in the spring of ’54. In the fall of ’54, at 5 years old, I started to school. It was an all-white public elementary school. I graduated from public high school in the spring of 1966, having spent all 12 years of public education in BLACK AND WHITE AND ANYBODY ELSE taxpayer supported schools. The only time I ever saw a black face in my entire public school experience was in the cafeteria or when the janitor came around. Texarkana, what was the delay??? When I started at Texarkana Junior College in the fall of 1966, I had some classes with a guy my age. I was working as a reporter at the Texarkana Gazette and he was a beginning reporter at TV Channel 6 in Texarkana. What we had in common, outside of that college classroom, was we were working for the same company and making the same lousy hourly pay ($1.25 minimum wage) for beginners in our fields. I forgot to say he was black — I was just remembering him as a fellow journalist like me hoping for a raise.

That brings me to me to one of my favorite quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King. He said, “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”
Virus, classroom, workplace — yep, we’re all in the same boat now. And it’s not taking 12 governmental years for us to realize we can help each other and depend on each other and love each other. I don’t know what your world was like. But I’m glad we have the opportunity to pull together and help the kids who’ll come along as the 21st century progresses. 
And I'm sorry the "grown-ups" made us all miss the opportunity to get to know each other for a dozen years. What were they thinking?
—- Offer opinions or answers by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com where we read everything because we went to Highland Park Elementary School in Texarkana, Texas, a campus that turns out geniuses and me, too. —-

THE MABANK SITUATION STIRS ADVOCATES

EXTRA EDITION, SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020 [PetPowellPress] We awoke Saturday morning to the continuing rainstorm over the metroplex, clicked open the inbox and found an email with a bit of a surprising note regarding the City of Mabank on the eastern shore of Cedar Creek Lake.
The city announced a puppy giveaway on its Facebook page HERE. This is from the post on the page:
"*****Free****Come to City Hall and claim a sweet fur baby. Dogs have first round of shots and have been de-wormed."
[SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: The puppy giveaway notice has been removed from the City of Mabank's Facebook page.]
We got our tip on this from a veteran of animal issues in the Mabank area, Sydney Busch of the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. She wrote, "Instead of having a contract with a local shelter to take animals they pick up,  they are doing this...ARE THEY HAVING POTENTIAL ADOPTERS FILL OUT INFO PAPERWORK? 
"ARE THEY REQUIRING (THEN FOLLOWING UP!!) TO MAKE SURE THE PUPPIES ARE SPAYED/NEUTERED?"
And Sydney also offered this opinion, an opinion that is shared by many in animal rescue who are experienced observers of the way animals can be treated. Sydney wrote, "we all know who takes FREE puppies/kittens: Dog fighters looking for free bait for their fighting dogs and snake-owners looking for free food for their snakes."

It is time, she closed, "for Mabank to take a little responsibility."

And when you go to the Mabank Facebook page, you'll see that there has been substantial backlash to this Mabank decision.
These photographs are from the Mabank Facebook page. Visit it, read the comments and you'll see that many veterans of animal advocacy are concerned.
---- Offer an opinion by clicking on "comments" below. ---

THERE WAS THIS CAT WATCHING ME PAINT...

This story could begin with “Once upon a time” except that when it comes to acquiring unwanted neighborhood cats, it’s been more than once upon a time.
In May we are celebrating the second anniversary of the acquisition of William Powell.
He is one of a zillion North Texas Tabbies, in particular one of many, many tabbies from our old neighborhood in Dallas’ southern Oak Cliff area. 
William is a handsome gentleman. He is named in honor of the great film star William Powell, no kin to either me or the feline William. But I think you can see the debonaire resemblance between the office cat and the movie star.
 My chum William is our focus for this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
How did I manage to get this comfortable feline as an office cat?
You see there a nicely lit photo of young tabby sitting on bricks of a flowerbed on the front of our old house. That is William. Those are my jeans. I was painting copies of The Mona Lisa and The Scream... I'm kidding. I was painting the wooden part of the house — that part that hangs over — possibly known as the “eaves” to people who know what they are doing. Let me look that up. Yes, "eaves." Look "up" is the key to painting eaves. One color. Easy...wear goggles to keep drops out of your eyes and keep your mouth shut, too.
Anyway, I stopped so I could try to cure the muscle-tightening pain in my shoulders and neck. Suddenly, from the shrubbery, came this cat. He hopped up next to me. I recognized him as the young cat who’d been with other cats who’d been enjoying our free twice-daily front porch buffet. When I went back to painting, he sat and watched. When I’d stop, he would saunter over for PwP — Petting While Purring.
What happened to the kittens in that colony over 20 years was we’d pick ‘em up, get ‘em fixed and move ‘em into a shelter situation or place them. Got the moms and dads fixed, too. Some of them, we placed in our own house. William is one of those — he came at a time when all shelters and rescue groups were loaded — kitten season in the most fertile city in North America, Dallas.
William has an air about him that says, “I’m your pal. Pick me up and enjoy the cuddle.”
He’s a lot larger now — a bit of a pillow of a cat. But he loves being the center of my attention. And he has a pal in the office.
They are the office cats. You see here William demonstrating for the 2-years-younger Stevie Ray Treeboy, how to pose dramatically for his Hollywood publicity photographs. 
Stevie Ray Treeboy is so named because he was rescued in Oak Cliff, home of Stevie Ray Vaughn, out of a tree. I walked out one morning, heard plaintive mewing from about head-high and walked to the end of the front of the house where I found a frightened handful of kitten paralyzed on a flimsy mimosa tree limb. I never saw a momma cat, never saw any other kittens. So, Stevie Ray came on in and took up with William.
If you do not have an office cat, our theory is you do not have all the equipment you need for a home office. If you are a writer, then you are missing the inspirational ingredient: Staring at a cat and wondering just what in the heck he is thinking about when he glares at you.
Just another mystery in the relationship between humans and cats.
[LARRY NOTE: Send photos and bios of your rescued sleepers and nappers to dallrp@aol.com. We’re proud to show off your friends in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, now in its 16th year. And we’re proud to remind insomniacs that they, too, can get some sleep if they can just figure out how to stretch out on top of a modest computer desk and not be annoyed by the typing and someone yelling, “By golly, this looks like a best-seller.”]
—- Offer wisdom or ideas not even a congressman would endorse by clicking on ‘comments’ below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

AMID THE BARKS OF PROGRESS, WE TRY TO FOCUS A PRO-ANIMAL MIND!

EDITION OF FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 [PetPowellPress] I nearly took the day off to post a collection of opening lines to unsold novels instead because the dogs' relentless barking at workmen wore me down to a frazzle (old school expression). Shattered my brain is more like it.
Here’s an opening for an unsold novel called The Glare of the Spaniel:
 "The Cocker Spaniel had more curly hair than a Shirley Temple Lookalike Convention in the '30s." (That's my late Cocker Inky on the left. And, on the right, that's the child movie star who captured America's filmfan public and other parts of the world during the Great Depression. Why is that a big deal? No cell phones back then; maybe some wall phones in residences. No TV. No computers. No satellite radio. So, there you have it, the power of radios with tubes, motion pictures without CGI, magazines, newspapers and a kid’s personality.
 I hope you appreciate the majestic presence of my late pal Inky, the curly-coated critter who’d lifted me out of a Great Depression now and then.
PERSONAL NOTE: Let’s talk barking dogs. How’s that for a right turn on the highway through Sanity, Texas? This canine cascade -- cascade? Should I use that word? -- of barking...wait, it's not tsunami of barking. A "bevy of barkers" is too cute. Let me think about this a second. I'm a professional. I know words. An explosion of barking. A staccato of barking. A racket of personal expression. Yes, that’s it. All barks are differing, all timed differently, all barks allowing, indeed, a racket of personal expression.
You know, it’s like “give a speech day” in Congress or the Texas Legislature. A racket of personal expression. That mask may stop miniscule viruses, but when the dogs see that stranger in the hat, they have a tendency to bark more and laugh under their breaths. The cats leave the room.
BUT HOW ABOUT ZACH
AND FINDING HIM A HOME?
Moving along, we come to Zach, yet one more dog needing some help from 4-Legged Helpers, the small shelter supporters. We’ve featured several of the 4-Legged Helpers projects this week. 
The deal with Zach is he’s (aren’t they all!?) “super cute and a very sweet lovable boy,” reads the note from Laura Macias of 4-Legged Helpers. She also says he wears his big grin all the time, “clearly adores people and will pose for pictures.” Found as a stray. He gets along with other dogs, including Lauren, a Lancaster dog we featured earlier in the week. 
To offers to help Zach or Lauren or both of them, call or text Laura at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com. Same contact points for Lauren, 2-year-old “chunky bulldog mix,” her bio reads. Yes, she, too, is a “sweet girl.”
BACK TO THE HUMAN CHALLENGE…
We've had skilled workers in the house all week -- they've been repairing a bad valve on the master bathroom shower, then replacing the interior special wall board that was damaged by the spewing leak from the bad valve. Then, they had to tear out two-thirds of the tile in the room and replace it.
None of this can be done in silence. It's actual work. Work makes noise.
What happens when strangers make noise in a home where old dogs are accustomed to few visitors and less noise than the Texas Rangers' Globe Life Field on a game day in May 2020? ['That stretching it?' wondered the ol’ editor.]
Yes, all dogs went on alert. They barked at every sound. Even sounds the human ear could not hear. That sweet girl is Wendy — she’s the most persistent. The old Rottie Earl, the hefty Border Collie mix Dudley and the Lord-knows-what Porche would wear down. Wendy’s theory was she signed the contract to announce strangers and wasn’t going to lose it and the money because she’d nodded off. [That's Wendy after she wore herself out barking and flopped down into a full-on nap.]
She and the other dogs treated the hallway between the living room and back bedroom as if they were on guard duty on [Boomer Reference Alert!] the 38th Parallel between the two Koreas, North and South. Our dogs watch the news; they keep up. I don't know who they imagined was about to trundle down the hallway in an ill-fitting, tight at the collar presidential suit with the worst haircut in the history of dictators. The guy has been irregularly seen for weeks — maybe he’s subcontracting a tile job in Fort Worth -- I didn't meet everybody involved with the project. I don’t ask questions around actual skilled workers — I’m afraid someone will look at me and say, “Hey, you’ve never done honest work in your life. Here’s a grout trowel and some Band-Aids. Earn your keep.”
HOW ABOUT HELPING
TRINITY FIND A HOME?
As you know, Dear Readers, I admire people who voluntarily dive in to help save animals’ lives and to help humans have better lives by matching them up with those rescued animals. Among those heroic individuals in these viral times are Debra Chisholm and Judi Brown, volunteers at Mesquite Animal Services. For this edition we turn to Judi Brown for the report she put together on Trinity, a 2-year-old Belgian Shepherd/Lab Mix. The girl came in on May 11. She weighs 37 pounds. And she’s working her way toward being quite photogenic.
“Right now,” Judi’s note reads, “her hair is matted and she has hair loss on her belly and has been given Nexgard, but you can see from her pictures that she has a sweet face and has a potential of being a very handsome girl once she has a proper diet and has been groomed. She has been in quarantine because with her fear and uncertainty with the shelter situation she shows aggression when her kennel is approached. However, when she is outside of the kennel she shows a different side of her. 

“The employee that is working with her said she is really very sweet and loves belly rubs. However, she is still very fearful so when called she slinks to you on her belly and she’s unsure of accepting treats. Sudden movements frighten her. We would say she is a work in progress. For this reason she would do best in a home with older children or possibly adults only. She would love to be in a quiet laid-back household where she gain trust and develop her full loving potential! She has not been dog tested because she’s not ready yet. She also is unsure of the leash. If you are very patient and are willing to put the time into working with Trinity the rewards could be great.”
 
Use Trinity’s ID number 44271202 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com. This virus era procedure is you have to set up an appointment to visit this pup. 
And, of course, there are many other Mesquite animals needing homes. Click HERE
 and, of course, you can see this fantastic-faced cat, the fabulous Marilyn Monroe.
CONTEMPLATIONS
ASSORTED THOUGHTS AND NOTIONS
Lately, in travels on I-30 and I-20 between Fort Worth and Dallas I’ve seen evidence of a lot of exploding tires — huge chunks and shards of tires scattered across the freeways. Of course, I also see more automobile bumpers and fenders discarded on roadsides than we ever did in the golden era of Detroit when the Chevy Vega rolled the roads. Vegas didn’t JUST leave parts on the road, they left the entire broken-down machines whimpering on the shoulder. … Reading my hometown paper Thursday, the Texarkana Gazette, I spotted an Associated Press story about a guy who was caught on camera choking his girlfriend’s dog. The dog survived. The guy was arrested, charged with animal cruelty. Happened in Slidell, La., across Lake Pontchartrain, north of New Orleans. Here’s a LINK to a story that quotes Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal as saying,
“I had the opportunity to meet Rubyjean this afternoon, and she was as sweet and well-mannered as could be.” The girlfriend and the dog will testify against the “suspect.” The chief will be a character witness. How much time would a jury give the guy? And, before you ask, I do not know if the State of Louisiana has a law against being creepily violent. ...
Want some additional reading about Shirley Temple? The story is headlined "Shirley Temple and the Great Depression" here. You will NOT be tested later. Unless you’re trying to get a job with the crew On the Good Ship Lollipop. (Click HERE and, yeah, in the light of the 21st century, it’s one wacky video. She grew up to be an Ambassador, you know. Oh, you didn’t? Yeah, Boomer Trivia. And I apologize for all of this edition except the efforts by other people to help animals find homes! I’ve been driven nuts by barking dogs, bless their hearts.
— Offer sage advice or lucky lotto numbers by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com, NOT sailing on the Good Ship Lollipop. —-

CELEBRATING SLEEPING DOGS & NAPPING CATS FOR 15 YEARS; CANINES AND CATS AVAILABLE; WAITSTAFFER PATTER & A ROTATOR CUFF

EDITION OF THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 [PetPowellPress] Before we look forward today, we’re looking back.
We’re celebrating the 15th anniversary of the first publication of our weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. It’s a labor of love on behalf of love. 
Think about the dogs and cats and horses and other adorable animals you’ve had in your lifetime! Family — all were family. 
[LARRY HINT: Email photos of your sleeping dogs and napping cats to dallrp@aol.com. We’ll proudly publish these examples of love and trust in the modern household!]

Usually, readlarrypowell.com is focused on animals in a fix — or getting animals fixed. But our weekend edition is focused on love. People love their animals and their animals love them. 
That adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is Oliver, the first Sleeping Dog in our long-running feature. He bunked with my brother Barry (right) and my sister-in-law Shelley in the far north, i.e. suburban Chicago near the lake.
The late Barry, always an overachiever with a legendary wit, sent the photo and, with a sly smile, advised, “Make sure you refer to him as a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He is particularly sensitive about his breeding -- he's not just some run-of-the-mill Cocker Spaniel. He was bred for royalty.”

Barry knew of my adoration for our Cocker boy Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas. And if Barry were with us today and if Inky were still with us, I’d note that the photo of Inky sleeping on the couch shows exactly what part of Inky that Barry could buss. I think they’re both chortling at that in the Hereafter. 
On the left, that is Inky giving us his impression of a hungry Texan standing outside a favorite Tex-Mex place that hasn't been open in forever!
Along the way in this special weekend edition, we’ve featured a lot of cats, too. Some had loving homes; some were looking for one. That sweet girl Adora, with her paws crossed, was caught napping in her Dog ’n’ Kitty City display in October, 2017, at the PetSmart on Inwood just north of Forest Lane. Dog ’n’ Kitty City is the no-kill shelter in Dallas run by the venerable Humane Society of Dallas County, founded in 1975. No idea where Adora is today, but our bet is she’s somebody’s darlin’ cat.
Across the top of our daily page you see a photo of me driving a momma dog we’d rescued. That dog is Calamity, a heeler/Aussie mix — only reason we caught her all those years ago was she had puppies. We rescued her pups, ergo we were able to capture her. In that photo she was en route to Dog Day Afternoon to meet my little brother Garry who, as it turned out, fell for her immediately. Calamity became the household point of adoration for Garry and my sis-in-law Brenita. I cannot recall ever seeing a photo of Calamity asleep. This one will have to do. She and Garry are both gone now. But they've both left an impression on the family. [LARRY ASIDE: I like to think that my brothers and their dogs are enjoying each other's company in the Hereafter and that Mom and Pop stop by to see them. It's a family thing -- loving those dogs and cats!]
We’ve posted photos of Lord knows how many families’ adorable slumbering animals in the past 15 years. Send us more! (dallrp@aol.com)

One of the families is that of our Eastern Seaboard Bureau Chief Andy Fisher and our Eastern Seaboard Bureau Chief In Charge of Canine and Feline Acquisition and Adorational Education, Annie Fisher. She is an influential veteran of rescues and that is how the Bureau came to have the big dog Maxie and the big cat presence Chloe. You see Andy and Annie with Maxie on the home lawn, but you also see Maxie relaxing on the balcony of the Indian Lake estate at Denville, N.J. That is one of my all-time favorite dog photos — an an insomniac I yearn to replicate Maxie’s ability to snooze. 
 And, of course, veteran journalist Andy knows how to properly file things — that is Chloe, taking it easy in the drawer marked “Feline, Household Treasure.”
Readlarrypowell.com will continue to joyfully post sleeping dogs and napping cats and any other slumbering critters — the family aspect makes us happy. Oh, heck, catch a politician sleeping. We’ll even post that photo if you can explain how often you have to feed ‘em and walk ‘em.

We’ll close this with a photo sent to us in 2006 by Kristin Riebel, then of the Frisco Humane Society.
This, we declared, was the perfect use of the living room couch. It’s a place where fostered dogs can nod off while waiting for their human to show up and adopt them. 

Everybody: Foster more, adopt more, rescue more and, for crying out loud, somebody win Lotto Texas and fund more!
MARLIN, A SHELTER PUPPY,
RETURNS 3 YEARS LATER
This guy is Marlin, a dog in need of a human. Laura Macias of 4-Legged Helpers says the Lab boy "was originally adopted from the Lancaster Shelter at 6 weeks of age.  Today he is 3 years old. Marlin is needing a new home due to being an extremely intelligent dog with perhaps just not the owner that he needs.  This sweet boy likes other dogs and lives with a Shepherd girl.  His owner has some beliefs that dogs should be outside in the day and the dogs have their own room in the house. Marlin's name should probably be Merlin or maybe even Houdini because she said he can do amazing things like opening doors, gates, and even knows how to get out a storm screen window (when window was partially open - knew how to push out the screen).  He has learned how to dig out under the chain link fence and the neighbor is threatening to shoot him next time he comes into their yard.  Yes, this is a rural Texas city at it's finest, sigh."
Laura and the non-profit are trying to find an adoptor for a dog who "needs a job." The Lancaster ACO reached out to 4-Legged Helpers "asking if we could help the owner find him a great home or rescue group."
He's fixed, has his vaccinations and is on heartworm preventative. Bottom line, Laura says, "This boy needs attention."
See more Lancaster animals by scrolling to yesterday's edition -- look for the big orange cat Sam Walton.
To offer to help Marlin, call or text Laura at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.
IN THE BIG SHELTER
IN THE CITY OF BIG D
We keep checking the population count at Dallas Animal Services (you can, too, at dallasanimalservices.org). And what we see is that, like the price of gasoline, the population keeps inching up. 
Among the canines waiting in the shelter are these two older dogs -- Stella and Bubbles. [LARRY ASIDE: Older dogs make wonderful companions. They make a human feel needed.]



And, still waiting in DAS’ foster home system is this older cat Craw’Dad (A1099691). He’s getting over his eye surgery. The DAS listing says the shelter staff thinks he’s about 10 years old. He arrived at the shelter on May 9 and has, lately, been in a foster home.
Older cats? They are able to kindly teach a human to be their loyal servants — that’s been the experience here at readlarrypowell.com. 
Go to the DAS website and see how to adopt or how to become a foster. You’ll be saving lives.
CONTEMPLATIONS
NO PARTICULAR FOCUS
Among the many phrases I never expected to see in my life is this one from the folks at Scardello’s in Dallas regarding classes the store is presenting this month: “Virtual Cheese Classes.” … When restaurants are fully open again will waitstaffers have new patter and abandon “That sounds like a plan” and “Not a problem.” … Ever slept with someone who is convinced he or she is suffering from a torn rotator cuff? Yep, my farfromathleticspouse Martha. I think her pain is a carpal tunnel situation from the way she sits at a sewing machine making anti-virus masks. But I’m not a doctor, I’ve only played one on stage, earned a Boy Scout First Aid Merit Badge and spent some time in the mid-60s as an ambulance driver/attendant. I’m almost certain nobody heard of “carpal tunnel” or “rotator cuff” back then. Martha, bless her heart, no longer plays pitcher. I tried to teach her to throw a softball before we married, and after our first day of tossing the ball around on a school playground, she had to have surgery to remove a bone chip from her throwing elbow. I’m not making that up. Big league arm injury in someone who’d never toed the rubber in a big league game. She never pitched again — even though there were years the Texas Rangers could have used her wicked curve.

—- List a restaurant you want to open NOW by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. We’re trying to help save as many as we can —it’s too late to bring Good Eats back to life in Dallas. —-

FOR WEDNESDAY, AN ASSORTMENT THAT BEGINS WITH HOUSEHOLD NOISE....

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020 [PetPowellPress] It’s a variety pack today.
FYI, this is being ty ped as wor kers take hammmmmmmerzzzz to bathWHAMBARK BARKBARKroom tile down the hall frommmmm the offfffffffff ice. Household repair. Yes, our guard dogs are barrrr rrrkkkkking…They remind me of the term used by music producer Phil Spector: “wall of sound,” though at times it’s more like the 1963 Suzanne Pleshette horse-racing movie Wall of Noise. OK, movBANGing along… (Yes, I’ve exaggerated the hammering. Not the barking — a guard dog is a guard dog, even if she’s a roly-poly representation of indefinite parentage. That’s Porche reminding people who love their animals to send photos of sleeping dogs and napping cats to dallrp@aol.com so we can spotlight them in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. We’re proud to show off your slumbering friends.

LET’S TALK CINDER:
STILL NEEDING A HOME
We featured Cinder in a recent edition and she’s still looking for a home, says her dedicated rescuer Kimberly Jones. 
So, what’s this photo? Kimberly writes, “The look you get when you're holding up her favorite ball but won't throw it because you are taking pictures of her. … She is a BABY DOLL 💖 She loves you with every ounce of her pudgy little self. She is extremely loyal and trusting and always wants to please you. She is very sensitive when she thinks she has upset you... So, there is never a need to raise your voice to her. She is a happy go-lucky girl. Her tail is always wagging. She adores toys and will joyfully play by herself but her favorite thing is for you to throw a ball for her.” 
Cinder can’t go to a home with cats, but she can go to any other home that’ll love her. Get in touch with Kimberly Jones on Facebook to arrange to audition to be Cinder’s beloved human. You’ll recall, perhaps, that Cinder had been adopted years ago, but was neglected and Kimberly reclaimed her. Now she’s healthy again and ready for a lifetime home.
THE CHALLENGES THAT SHOW UP
IN THE DAILY EMAIL INBOX….
This batch came from 4-Legged Helpers, the organization that usually focuses on small shelters in the southern area of Dallas County. But just as a stray dog doesn’t pay attention to jurisdictions, animal rescuers have no limits, either.
First up we see a black and white momma dog, Ashlyn, a Border Collie, who is the mother of the siblings, the brown dog Aria and the black dog Alia. Laura Macias of 4-Legged Helpers says they are in Ellis County and they “need a place to call home.” Some people have been feeding them but it is time to get them out of the “wander-up/stray” category and into the “that’s my dog” situation.
“These people feeding them are nice,” Laura says, then adds, “but not everyone is out there. … In the county some people shoot dogs for fun and sport. So I am worried about them!”
We’ve mentioned this incredibly handsome man before — that is Sam Walton, a neutered fellow who is also called “Sammy” and “Sam-Sam.” He’s had all his shots. Why is he named for the famous Arkansas businessman? Because he was “rescued from a Wal-Mart parking lot.” Founder Sam might be proud to have inspired a cool cat’s name. 

Also waiting for a home is Mario, a neutered Lab/Boxer/Bulldog mix (best guess!) who used to be on death row in the Wilmer Animal Shelter. He’s out now, but needs a home. “Rides great in the car. Loves to give kisses. Just as sweet as can be,” Laura’s note reads. “If you want to really help a dog, you will find this dog to be a dog that will always be so grateful.” 
(And don’t forget Lauren — we featured that Lancaster dog in Tuesday’s edition.)
To help any of these animals, call or text Laura at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.
COCO — A MESQUITE DOG
SURVIVING BUT NEEDS HOME
We get the story on mixed-breed girl Coco from Debra Chisholm. She says Coco came into the shelter on FEBRUARY 27 — here we are in the big middle of May! Why was the 3-year-old, 42-pound, spayed girl surrendered? “Because the owner had too many animals,” the report reads. Coco “lived outdoors with other dogs and got along well with them. However, she doesn't like cats.  Coco had a cherry eye issue when surrendered.  A generous donor paid for Coco to have the cherry eye operated on.  Her eye has healed much better after the staff was able to take off her cone.  They report that she is easy to medicate and they have been consistent with her medications.  The staff member who evaluated Coco shared the following:  Coco's personality can be described as ‘goofy.’ Once she gets comfortable in the shelter yard and has done her business, she gets “zoomies" …) and loves to be chased and played with.  She would do great with a family willing to spend time interacting with her.  She can be cute and cuddly but also loves laying on her back for playtime and hopping like a bunny!  She loves butt scratches and giving kisses.  She takes treats nicely but will slobber all over you.  Two staffers gave her a bath a week ago and she did ok but she's not keen on bathtime.”

They’re so human, eh? Just like a pre-school kid! 

When you contact the shelter use her ID #42988374. Email rescues@cityofmesquitecom or call 972-216-6283.
You can see more Mesquite adoptables HERE.
Among the availables is this 9-month-old tabby girl — perhaps the first cat in the history of catkind who has been named after an Alfred Hitchcock 1958 movie with Kim Novak, Vertigo (#44271328). Of course, Kim Novak does have a film cat connection — she co-starred as a witch in Bell, Book and Candle, also in 1958, with Jimmy Stewart, Jack Lemmon and the “cat familiar” Pyewacket (shown with his co-star). One of the funniest romantic films of the 20th Century. Adopt Vertigo and watch either film with her — it’s a bonding experience.
CONTEMPLATIONS
COUNTRY SONGS AND LOSING THE MENUS
Two really sad (but great) country songs and one that’s unbelievable on a number of levels: George Jones’ He Stopped Loving Her Today and the Brad Paisley/Allison Krause duet Whiskey Lullaby. (THIS LINKS THE OFFICIAL VIDEO
but you can probably find just the song somewhere, surely. The unbelievable on a number of levels song: Porter Waggoner sings in psychedelic: The Rubber Room.  ...
Dallas loses the Highland Park Cafeteria and, the announcement is made, that Fort Worth’s Hoffbrau is closing. All this makes me miss Good Eats in Oaklawn and The Dixie House in Lakewood — two places that closed long before a virus got to the pocketbooks. Of course, the place I really miss is the Italian Inn — the downstairs restaurant in Fort Worth’s Ridglea area. My funspouse Martha and I got engaged there — not sure what the singing waitstaffer might have been singing. She said “yes” and I went deaf to everything else. Ask her. She’ll tell you, “He never listens.”
—- Offer favorite deserts or favorite desserts by clicking on ‘comment’ or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

TRANQUILITY, A NUGGET OF SUCCESS, LAUREN WAITS & OTHER TALES OF THE MODERN ERA

EDITION OF TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2020 [PetPowellPress] For this edition of readlarrypowell.com, we open with a tranquil photograph of Texas Earl The Cheeseman and a Rooster. Call this photo “Earl the Rottie in His Sculpture Garden.” It’s one artfully painted cement chicken and one formerly dumped dog posing but not in an actual garden. Earl makes me happy. I’m iffy on the chicken.
WHAT’S UP WITH NUGGET,
THE FORMERLY DEATH ROW DOG?
We first wrote about this 7-year-old guy Nugget back in mid-March. He was on the brink of euthanasia at Fort Worth Animal Care & Control. At about the last minute, he was tagged and moved into boarding. Still, he needed a home.
 As his supporter Tami Kukla reported Sunday, “On a happy note. Nugget finally got adopted. In Minnesota. Thanks to your help [lots of people] networking, the Wadena Humane Society agreed to find him an adopter and tag him. He went on transport Saturday and got adopted today [Sunday]. From last call March 23rd to adopted May 10th. …Thank you to everyone who made it possible. Lots of wonderful dogs are getting new homes thanks to the Wadena Humane Society. “
Nugget was always described as “the perfect gentleman.” So out of the photos of him in his new home, we decided to use the one of him with his new little boy while the fellows were looking out the window! 
Two pals enjoying some time together. Know what we call such a photo at readlarrypowell.com? We call it “Evidence of a miracle.”
LAUREN IN LANCASTER;
AVAILABLE WEDNESDAY
We don’t know how Lauren came to be in the Lancaster, Texas, Animal Shelter but we know there is a way to get her out. Appeal to a human heart.
We learned of her in an overnight note from the non-profit 4-Legged Helpers, the organization that focuses on small shelters.
The note from the organization’s prez, Laura Macias, says Lauren will be available on Wednesday. The note reads, “Lauren is the sweetest little girl ever.  Just adorable.  Loves everyone and everything.  Seems to really like other dogs too.  Only about 2 years old at most.  Look at those big sweet brown eyes and cute little floppy ears.”

And the note ends with “Please help save her!” That “save her” is a serious request. You never know when an influx of dumped animals will cause a shelter to say, “Better create some room. Kill whoever’s been here longest.”

You can take a step toward saving Lauren’s life by calling or texting Laura at 214-949-2726 or emailing cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.
A FAVORITE
SPAY/NEUTER CAMPAIGN
Only someone who’d rescued a cat about 30 minutes before she went into “heat” would appreciate this ad campaign for the Spay Neuter Network. Yep, readlarrypowell.com once brought in a little street girl — friendly, not feral — and about a half-hour after showing her that she had her own food and water dishes and litter box, she began to yowl and pace as if her goal in life was to keep insomniacs awake for a world record of day-in-a-row. So, based on that experience — and the experiences of bottle-feeding momma-less kittens and raising litters of feral kittens into well-mannered felines, etc. — readlarrypowell.come endorses this “Beat the Heat” campaign. It’s for “free feral and community cat fixes for City of Dallas residents living in any of these ZIP codes: 75211, 75212, 75217, 75216, 75208, 75224, 75228, 75227, 75220.” Here’s a link that tells you how to sign up. It also notes that if you live outside those ZIP Codes, you can get your feline fixed for $30. Still a bargain. And it’ll help keep kittens from being born just to be killed.
CONTEMPLATIONS
PICTURE PERFECT; JERRY STILLER; LOCKED OUT…
D The Magazine of Dallas is running its cutest pets contest again. The official note says, “That’s right: This isn’t just for the puppies and the kitties. We want to see them all! Contest entries are free and only the first 1,000 entries will be eligible, so get a moo-ve on and submit now!” There are prizes. And for more info, you can click HERE.
WHEN IT COMES TO LOSSES: Mary Pratt has died at 101 and she is “believed to be the last surviving member of the original 1943 Rockford Peaches of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League” — surely you’ve seen A League of Their Own. The reason I cite this description from the story by Scott Stump of NBC’s Today Show, is to show you the lead — the opening sentence — on his story. It echoes actor Tom Hanks’ line in the film. Stump wrote in honor of pitcher Pratt, “Crying in baseball was allowed this weekend.”
We’re also reeling from the death of Jerry Stiller, the great comic/actor — first time I remember seeing him was with his wife Ann Meara as they performed on black-and-white TV on The Ed Sullivan Show. That’s right, kids, before he was George Costanza’s Dad, Frank, on Seinfeld or Kevin James' father-in-law on The King of Queens, he was a solid comic on TVs across America.  I will now quote from Mr. Costanza: “SERENITY NOW!”  There's more. Keep reading. …
Here was a surprise in the neighborhood Monday morning: The plumber was at our house and replacing some pipes and a valve. He’d turned the water off. I, being a gent of late middle-age (generous description)  felt the nearly urgent need to visit the facility. It wasn't available. So I jumped into the car and jetted to the nearest filling station (ironic description).  This was when I learned how much the virus has changed America. To my horror I discovered that, because of the virus, the station had put its public restrooms on lockdown. Drama? I solved this challenge without violating any laws or soiling anybody's decorum. To borrow from Frank Costanza, this year I'm thinking of planning a particularly faithful-to-the-holiday Festivus and inviting filling station management.
--- OFFER PLUMBING ADVICE OR FESTIVUS THEMES BY CLICKING ON 'COMMENTS' BELOW OR BY EMAILING DALLRP@AOL.COM. ---

 

 

 

DOGS NEED HELP WITH MEDICAL CARE; CATS FIND NAMES ON TRACK/SCREEN; CONTEMPLATING BOND

EDITION OF MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 [PetPowellPress] Only reason I know it’s Monday is this: It’s the day the plumbing team is supposed to show up to begin repairing the walls, shower and tile in our master bathroom. Interior leak spewed water freely — apparently a previous owner’s skilled repair expert tried to fix a hot water pipe leak with a gob of chewing gum. Naturally, I’m not qualified to help. I’m sure this will all be wrapped up before the election or maybe even before the NFL’s first kickoff or even MLB's first game. That’s Porche, anticipating a day of barking at strangers. She usually disguises herself as Groucho Marx. Nobody facing a short, tubby barks-with-a-rasp dog is ever sure how to react. “Quickly and with treats,” is my advice. This next photo is Ruger at play. Keep reading.

THE BLUE-EYED LAB/BOXER RUGER
NEEDS A PLACE TO RECOVER
This is Ruger, believed to be a Boxer/Lab mix — the blue-eyed, year-old dog weighs in around 75 pounds. He’s friendly, sweet and healthy.
Our contact, Gail Whelan of Companion Animal-Network, says he’ll be neutered through the non-profit but, she writes, “He MUST have a place to go after surgery. He cannot be left outside after surgery.”
To help this dog get through his medical recovery and find a happy, loving home, email Gail at can.adoptions@yahoo.com or call 903-967-3226.
Where did he come from? “Dumped in the country, like all the others,” Gail explains with some feelings of bitterness and anger about the way dogs can be treated in rural areas of East Texas. [LARRY ASIDE: Gail's been at this a while and knows that there are idiots dumping animals in and out of cities. Texas has no shortage of free-roaming village idiots.]

BENNY (AKA BIG BEN) NEEDS
HELP WITH HEALING…
We got the time on this pup from Tami Kukla, the veteran rescuer. [LARRY ASIDE: Look at Benny’s running photo — I think he may be flying. Any of those paws on the ground? Is he just skimming the grass?] Mystic nature aside, Benny is a 47-pounder who, Tami writes, “is not going to grow much more and will be as adorable as he is now.
“What does he need? A medical foster to help him through his heartworm treatment. The treatment is all covered by SOS Pets in Need as is food and swag. Benny is in boarding but can't start his treatments until he has a foster. He LOVES small and big dogs. Loves all people. Can you give this cute boy a crashpad for a few months? He knows basic commands and loves to cuddle. Oh and loves to do Karaoke.” As you consider that Karaoke canine gift, the contact points to help Benny are email tamikuklatx@gmail.com or call 904-314-1131.”  
FROM MESQUITE, AN APPEAL
TO FIND A HOME FOR HIGGINS
We got the tip on Higgins from Debra Chisholm, one of the volunteer animal biographers who is still finding a way to help the Mesquite shelter's animals during the Covid-19 cessation of normality. She says Higgins (#44220604) came to the Mesquite Animal Shelter as a stray on April 28. He’s about 3, weighs 62 pounds and, the shelter staffer who evaluated him, says he is “one super sweet and goofy fellow.” Loves to run. Likes humans. 
The rub is the poor guy is heartworm positive. That means he’ll need some special care and investment by a human with some coin or a rescue group with fab-funding — you know how this goes: some pinhead doesn’t take proper care of the dog and other people have to take up the slack to keep the dog from dying.
Call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.

And, if you want to see more Mesquite dogs and cats, click on the shelter link HERE.
You’ll see some “themes” in the names of the cats. For example, Earnhardt is one of several kittens with car-racing names. And Hawkeye is one of several with M*A*S*H* names (Klinger, Radar and Trapper John are there, too). Plus, still waiting the is the cat with the distinctive face, the beautiful Marilyn Monroe.
TWO NOTES ABOUT DOGS
First up, we learn from Amy Poskey, the animal advocate, about the “adorable ragamuffin Wade” who was waiting in Denton’s McNatt Shelter and Adoption Center. He’s about 12, weighs 24 pounds, loves people and cats and is “a sweet, sweet boy with a wonderful disposition.”
 She says, “I’m very happy to report that Wade has left the building!!!  He was pulled by Denise Primm with Salvaged Souls Pet Rescue late Friday afternoon!  THANK YOU, DENISE!!! … If anybody would like to make a donation for Wade’s care, please click on the LINK. No amount is too small."
The backstory is this, Amy reports: “Wade was an owner-surrender and came in with a very matted coat.  The shelter staff shaved him down and discovered a really bad ear infection and a large mast cell tumor under his left ear …The off-site shelter vet has treated his ear infection and removed the tumor.  The tumor was not attached to surrounding tissue so it was not sent for testing.” 

FROM THAT UPBEAT STORY, WE SADLY REPORT ON THE FATE OF ZOE.
You may recall from last week that Zoe, a 14-year-old Lab mix, had somehow left her home in north Carrollton. Be-on-the-lookout alerts went up all over the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Amy reported as the weekend approached that there would be no happy ending in this case.
She wrote, “I’m just so sad to share this heart-wrenching update that sweet, beautiful Zoe has crossed over.  Carrollton Animal Control found her at a pond where she most likely got stuck in the mud and drowned.  Her momma, Paula, is grieving terribly and my heart is broken for both of them.  Run free, precious angel…”

CONTEMPLATIONS
NOT TOO FOCUSED FOR A MONDAY EDITION
As the price of gasoline begins to creep back up, allegedly helping the oil industry in the time of Viral Crisis, I focus on a flower. This was one that was growing in the field in Fort Worth from which I watched the Blue Angels flyover last week. Anybody know what this flower is? My botanical identification skills are pretty much limited to being able to efficiently spot blooming idiots. … From Jeff Crilley, Real News PR founder and dog fan, comes a link to a Youtube video of a dog seeing himself on TV. While the dog’s reaction is funny, the miracle is that the big ol Labradoodle did all that jumping and didn’t knock anything off the shelves under the TV! The enthusiastic delivery of the phrase “GOOD DOG” is appropriate! … The 25th James Bond film (don’t know if that’s counting the first Casino Royale) is due on November 25 which is, of course, good news for Bond fans who’ll start saving up so they can buy a ticket to a viewing at a theater so cleanly washed that you can’t smell the $20 popcorn for the $5 cleaner with bleach. Kind of a rough title to promote in the virus era. Ah, but there’s more good Daniel Craig news — he’s scheduled to return as detective Benoit Blanc in a second film in what may be a Knives Out series, i.e., Knives Out 2. Like Hollywood and Washington, however, nothing is certain right now.
—- Offer advice or lamentations by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by cheerfully emailing Larry “Plumber’s Helper” Powell at dallrp@aol.com. —-

PLUCK -- SOMETHING SHARED BY THESE CRITTERS AND A HARP

We accepted these photographic nominations from our Readlarrypowell.com Dorm Mother for this Mother’s Day Weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
Yes, my harpspouse Martha not only let this sleeping dog lie, she encourages him to lie where he’s laying. Or to lay where he’s lying. OK, she encourages Texas Earl The Cheeseman, our household Rottie, to lie where he’s laying.
That grammar puzzler aside, we return the focus to our pal Earl, a free dog from Dallas’ Kiest Park in Oak Cliff. The park was created in 1931 — that means a lot of animals have been dumped in the Park and Earl was one of them. (So were our late friends Inky the Cocker, Rosie the Chihuahua and Hambone Jack, the Great Dane/Lab mix. There were also 2 Husky puppies and..wait, back to the harp.) 
Here is Earl sleeping in one of his favorite places, on the hardwood floor next to Martha’s folk harp. Martha captioned the photo this way: “Earl multitasking. Napping and protecting a harp from feline string pluckers at the same time.”
Is that possible — feline string pluckers? Yes. Martha writes, “What is it with Simon and this harp? It is jarring to just hear a note ring out when you are nowhere near the strings.”
Now and then the giant Oak Cliff cat Simon Mycroft Holmes, a bottlefed kitten who grew to be as big as a tire, decides to inspect the harp. 
You also see His Mighty Feline Broadness on guard duty next to Martha’s newly purchased bag of harp strings.

“Why might someone need a bag of harp strings?”, you may ask.
Well, sometimes they wear out. Other times someone tries to pluck them with a fang.
That is our little former Oak Cliff feral kitten, the beautiful Monet, about to bite into a magnificent glissando. 
Monet has shown the harp more interest than any other cat we’ve ever had.

The dogs, usually, wait until Martha is rehearsing, then they gather in a semi-circle and sit up for about half-a-song, then they sort of ooze down into a slumber position and they’re out like a light.
The harp, properly played, is a soothing instrument. You almost cannot hit a bad note on a harp, though, as Martha reminded me to point out, in this video [CLICK HERE] of Monet playing the harp, there are some strings that are wildly out of tune. I couldn’t tell. I’m not sure a cat knows how to tune a harp.
No cat tongues were harmed in the making of this video.
[Remember, readlarrypowell.com loves to feature YOUR sleeping dogs and napping cats in our long-running weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. We’ll happily spotlight them, or your snoozing gerbil, slumbering reptile, dozing amphibian or drowsy in-law who is sheltering in place on your couch with your TV remote as a mental pacifier. Send photos and bios to dallrp@aol.com. Thanks, Larry. You’ll be helping people decide to give an unwanted animal a home and you’ll be encouraging insomniacs to hire a harpist to stop by the house and play some Brahms or maybe even try to pluck and strum Loretta Lynn’s Don’t Come Home a Drankin’ With Harpin’ On Your Mind. That's Porche practicing her sleeping in case a harp concert breaks out.]
—- Offer happy thoughts or consolations by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com where we own several guitars and can play 3 or 4 strings now and then. —-