ReadLarryPowell.com

PROTECT TEXAS ANIMALS: THE DEADLINE IS MONDAY TO INFLUENCE THE LEGE

The Texas Human Legislation Network is working on a deadline for Monday -- public support is needed to get Senate Bill 295 to the floor so dogs will get a better break when it comes to standards for decent care. Here's the opening of the THLN appeal sent Saturday the 18th: 

"HELP! Time is almost up!! ... THLN Friend, 
We are ON THE CALENDAR!  The VOTE is on MONDAY…yes, this MONDAY, May 20th!
Texas dogs STILL need you to speak up loudly to your Representative and because we just have a short time, we are asking you to deliver your message through every possible channel. **If you have called before, please call again! If you have emailed before, please email again!**
We need you to deliver this message to your House Representative in Austin: “As your constituent, I’m asking you to please vote YES on SB 295 on the House floor Monday. Texas dogs deserve adequate shelter."
Read the entire appeal https://www.thln.org/help_time_is_almost_up . If you don't know who your Texas state rep or state senator is, THLN has links and all you have to do is google "Texas Legislature" and there's a list.
[LARRY ASIDE: My dog Porche Noel was once someone's harmfully ignored and poorly kept starving dog. She's a healthy darlin' now. But it would be great if the State Legislature spoke up for the dogs who can't accidentally find someone who'll provide a safe, loving place to live. Dogs aren't born to guard backyards in weather that not even the thieving, rotten crooks will come out in.]

--- Make the person you voted for or against work for the animals and, of course, click on 'comment' below or email dallrp@aol.com. ---

FIRST, ARRANGE THE TOY BOX: A SLEEPING TIP FROM LARRY THE PR KING

To launch our 15th year of the weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, we rely on a dear friend to help us dedicate this edition to the great animal advocate and Hollywood star Doris Day.
Yes, Larry the Dachshund inspired his human, our pal Diane Combs, to not only present sleeping photos of himself, but also tell a story about the fabulous Miss Day.
To qualify for this feature, an animal needs to be sleeping. Diane caught the usually bright-eyed, happy tail-wagger Larry sleeping in the canine toy box he shares with her three other dogs. She caught him twice — he apparently arranges the toys to fit his sleeping mood.
As I have noted before, Larry is possibly the most public relations-minded dog in Dallas County or the known universe. [LARRY ASIDE: I’ve seen him at work, happily glad-pawing and muzzle-nuzzling an entire dog park like a politician works a union barbecue.]
Larry turns 8 in October. Diane says, “He's starting to turn a tad bit gray on his snout but is totally healthy - thank goodness!”
That’s Larry giving a happy greeting to Diane several years ago. [FYI: In that other photo, that’s me and Martha with Diane’s dogs, the late Martha (yep, named after my funspouse) and Larry (named after my funspouse’s husband). We were quite honored. Martha the Dog died just before her 9th birthday — she’d been adopted when she was six.
Diane, who spent years as a volunteer with the SPCA of Texas, adopts adopts from shelters and rescues. That mindset explains why she saw animal advocate Doris Day as a hero.

When Doris Day died on May 13, that sent Diane to her scrapbooks. Why? “To find a hand-written note from Doris to me in reply to a letter I sent her in 1993. I didn't have her address, but I knew she lived in Carmel, CA, so I just addressed it to their main post office - figured they'd know where she lived and hoped they'd deliver it.  My note basically thanked her for all of her great rescue work, and I enclosed a couple of pictures of my five (Morty, Dudley, DJ, Jingles, & Jeff).”

This a photo of the hand-written postcard she got back from the great Doris Day. 
Diane was also a member of the Doris Day Animal Foundation. “When I wrote her, I enclosed a copy of my membership card. Maybe that helped in getting a response. Who knows?”

We’re going to close this celebration of Larry, Diane & Doris with this story from Diane. “I took a trip to Carmel in 2005 and visited a shop with several dog paintings and other ‘dog stuff’.  The lady who worked there told me that Doris and [actress] Betty White would come in all he time because Betty also lived there and was good friends with Doris. I'm sure Betty is sad to lose her.  Carmel is now one of my favorite cities because it is so dog friendly, and I stayed in a hotel owned by Doris Day — Cypress Inn.”

OK, Dear Readers, get ready for this finish from Diane: “When I got back to work and told my 23-year-old co-worker about staying in that hotel, she said, ‘Who's Doris Day?’" 
And, there you have it. Gaps in knowledge that cheat people out of important information and people to admire. As Larry the PR King has often demonstrated, dogs know whom to admire.
[DEAR READERS: To help readlarrypowell.com continue its 15th year of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send $500 to — I’m kidding. Just send your slumbering critter photos and their biographies and why you love ‘em to Larry Powell at dallrp@aol.com. We post these stories to help inspire people to open their hearts for animals and to inspire insomniacs to believe that they, too, can get some sleep if they can just properly arrange the toy box to fit their moods. And if you want an “appraisal” of Doris Day, here’s the LINK to The New York Times' view.]
—- Offer opinions, stock tips, lucky lotto numbers or favorite recipes by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing larry at dallrp@aol.com. —-

A FRIDAY NOONISH REPORT ON DESPERATE SITUATIONS FOR DOGS

It would not be a Friday without a desperate message from a rescue group or a shelter.
We have some examples for this Friday morning extra edition of Readlarrypowell.com. Pay attention and campaign with friends, neighbors, officemates, etc., to help these animal

THE UNVISITED SHELTERS
IN THE I-45 CORRIDOR

The description ought to be “the horrifyingly unvisited small shelters.” Glow-in-the-dark Chernobyl gets more foot traffic than the small I-45 shelters.
The note arrived with this prelude in red:
“Not one rescued! Not one saved! Not one even asked about! Can anyone save even one????”
Call or text  214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71 @yahoo.com.
We’ve posted many of their photos in the past few weeks – WEEK? Months. Laura Macias and Leighann Hayden have promoted and promoted these dogs online. The shelters don’t want harm to befall these animals. But cities are not set up to be kennels and corrals.
These two dogs are, perhaps, Spaniel/Beagle mixes Bailey and Benji, thought to be siblings. They were “found in the county area” and delivered to a small city shelter. Nobody’s come looking for them.
You can see the other southern shelter dogs on the brink of disaster by clicking HERE and seeing the photos and biographies thatl Laura and Leighann sent.
In these southern shelters, there aren’t that many animals when compared with Dallas Animal Services – the difference is these dogs might be closer to the needle because nobody stops by to see them. The small shelters don’t’ have “staff.” The closest thing they have to a public relations firm is the volunteer work of Laura, Leighann and their few like-minded concerned supporters.
These are dogs that have been surrendered, dumped, “turned loose” and “found.” They’re not show dogs. But they are animals that respond to kindness, human voices, their names being called. They’re not trash. Surely there’s a rescue group with room, a home that needs a loving companion.
Geezalou, World Population Review  says, “The 13-county Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area has a population of 6.8 million, which is the 7th largest metro area in the United States.” All of you people can’t already have dogs and cats!

IN MESQUITE, BUDDY IS
“MOST, MOST CRITICAL’

The note we got from Judi Brown, the volunteer biographer at Mesquite Animal Services, desperately outlines the ugly situation with Buddy, the adorable 1 ½-year-old Chocolate Lab Mix.
She describes him as being in a really tough spot. “This really is a desperate situation as the shelter is completely full,” Judi, wrote late last night.
Why is Buddy in a kill-shelter? Judi visits each dog she tells us about. She says, “The reason given for surrendering him was that he plays too rough and sometimes play bites. The owner-surrender form said he was mostly an outside dog. I, too, noticed this behavior; however, once he got out in the yard and played a bit he settled down. He does want to please. He knows the sit command. He is still very young and obviously intelligent. There’s no doubt that he would be transformed when given more attention and obedience training. Someone just needs to love this dog enough to put some time into training him. He liked being petted.”
There are more positives about this 55-pound Buddy (38127933 in the shelter). Plus, he’s already fixed. All he needs is a loving home.
Call the shelter at 972-21-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com. Use his ID number. Do it today.

[LARRY ASIDE: If it were practical and not some flight of fancy, prospective adoptors ought to have to pass a patience test before they could adopt a dog or a cat. You don’t have to be as patient with an animal as you have to be with human children, but, dammit, you do have to be a kind and gentle guiding force in the life of an animal. Be loving.
Train the dog, influence the cat. Train yourself to be patient, understanding and if you expect a dog to do his business on a schedule, you better follow that schedule, too.
Animal advocates want to adopt their dogs and cats to responsible, loving, caring, patient people, not to people who think, “I’ll get a dog and if it doesn’t work out, I’ll dump this one and go get another one. Or I’ll try a cat and if that doesn’t work out, well, cats can live on their own.”
OK, I’ll go take a sedative and add some sturdy supports to the slats in this soapbox.]

ONE MORE NOTE
This is a reminder from the Facebook page of Dallas Animal Services. Sure, it came from the Dallas site, but the concept is good throughout the nation. All weekend long. Where ever you are, there's an animal that needs your love. Pass it on.
--- Help animals! Then leave opinions by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. Feel free to speak harshly of idiots who mistreat animals. ---

GO AHEAD. MAKE MY DAY, MY DOG'S DAY, MY CAT'S DAY, MY LEGISLATOR'S DAY, ETC.

EDITION OF  FRIDAY MAY 17, 2019 [PetPowellPress] If I type “Go ahead. Make my day,” your first thought may be Clint Eastwood. But look at that dog. Maybe from now on your second thought will be of this guy, Clint, an under 4-year-old Earhound/ Pug/Chihua- hua mix at the Mesquite Animal Shelter. We’re mentioning him, then we’ll get into the Operation Kindness foster plan and assorted other animal stories and even a note about that famous Clint Eastwood line. We’re an eclectic website, but we really love dogs and cats. 
Clint (#41651882) arrived at Mesquite Animal Shelter on May 10 as a stray. He’s got a cherry eye situation on the left. Our tipster, the shelter volunteer biographer Judi Brown says, He’s got a very sweet, endearing personality…He likes to stay close and likes to be held.” Clint weighs 13 pounds — he’d weigh a little more but he’s already “fixed.” (Call 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.)
WAIT: HERE’S A WAY TO
‘MAKE MY DAY’ IN AUSTIN
The Texas Legislature is heading toward sine die, the end of the session. The Texas Humane Legislation Network (thln.org) warns that “time is running out for Senate Bill 295,” the bill that would require safe and kind shelters and outlaw idiotic tethering [LARRY ASIDE: Not the actual wording — I paraphrased.] THLN wants people to call their state reps and urge the to get SB295 voted out of the House Calendars committee. Here’s the message they suggest: “The dogs of Texas are running out of time. As your constituent, I’m asking you to please help us get SB 295 out of Calendars Committee and to the House floor today.” Read more at thln.org. Go ahead. Make some good dogs’ day.
ON PRAYERS & PASSAGES,
A TRIBUTE TO A LOVED DOG
Our longtime friend and contributor, the rescuer and animal advocate Dianne Cole Hall has written a touching tribute to this girl, Abby. She had quirks; she had rules; she had love. When you read the tribute — click on our Prayers & Passages button in the upper right corner of this page — keep some tissue handy. Even ol’ veteran hardhearts will be touched. Thanks for reading about Abby. — Larry Powell. 

THE FOSTERING MISSION
AT OPERATION KINDNESS
Go ahead, make some cat’s day, too. 
We got a note from Victoria McNamara of TrizCom Public Relations about the Operation Kindness commitment to fostering. She wrote, “I am on a mission to spread the word and to provide details and information about the benefits fostering brings to both the felines and the homes they are placed in.” [LARRY ASIDE: I’m a veteran journalist; I’ve seen the public relations specialists get caught up in their clients — but when it comes to puppies and kittens, the enthusiasm isn’t professional, it’s personal! If you’ve ever fostered, you know about the emotional attachment.]
Fostering is, indeed, a key element to saving lives and finding homes for animals tagged “unwanted.”
 There’s a link to the Operation Kindness Fostering news release HERE.
You can get more info at operationkindness.org. The spotlight of the news release is a rescued Granbury momma cat Simone and her kittens (only three of four would agree to be photographed), Simon, Squeak, Socks and Squirrel.
At operationkindness.com you can see how to volunteer to foster. It’ll fill your time with something to love rather than something annoying. But why bring up politics when we’re talking about being a do-gooder who saves lives.
INJURED HUSKY NEEDS HELP
This baby is in the Everman Shelter and is injured, our tipster Heather Harrison reports. He’s a 4-year-old who is “very sweet and friendly,” Heather says. She adds that he came in with an “injured hind end. Was bleeding on intake. Now stopped. Is mobile and able to walk. Currently on pain meds. Non-reactive to other dogs through kennels. Off stray hold. Needs immediate rescue.” The contact point is Heather at nickale7@yahoo.com.
[LARRY ASIDE: For those who don’t know, Everman is just south of Fort Worth and a little bit east of I-35W, i.e., the roads are paved — somebody go help that dog.]

TWO LEFT-BEHIND BABIES
NEED ONE NEW HOME

 Yeah, this is one of those heartbreaking situations. Depends on good-hearted humans to help these two dogs. Their human has died and now they need one home.
Sissy is 10, Abby is 8. They’ve been together for all 8 years of Abby’s life.
Spayed and house-trained. “Wonderful lap dogs,” says the tip-note we got from Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake.
The contact points are anncoleman2142@gmail.com or 903-887-6167 or 903-275-1020.

WAITING WITH CLINT
AT THE MESQUITE SHELTER
Judi Brown, our reliable tipster who is the volunteer biographer at Mesquite Animal Services, continues to distribute wonderful capsules of dogs waiting for a rescue or an adoption. She sent Clint, our opening dog. And added, in her most recent parcel, Ida the Shepherd mix and the beautiful Betsy with the fantastic face.
Ida, about 2, came in as a stray on May 5. Her eyes are bright and lively. And so is she. Judi writes that 44-pound Ida (41610090), already spayed, “is seemingly a very happy dog. When I sat down she put her head on my lap.” Affectionate. Also interested in checking out her surroundings. “She wanted to make friends with all the small dogs in the bay. However she barked at the bigger dogs.”
That brings us to the dog Judi calls “sweet Betsy.”
She is BACK in the shelter — yep, had been adopted. Judi writes that “the owner reported that she got along fine with their four-year-old toddler but that she growled at their infant. So.... it looks like she will need to be adopted into a family that does not have babies.” Two-year-old Betsy weighs 56 pounds — she first came into the shelter on April 22 as a stray. She has great eye coloring — and she loves to hang out with humans at the shelter. “She is joyfully exuberant! She leaped around the yard with happiness. She chased toys but did not retrieve them.”
To ask about the Mesquite animals, call 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
A FANTASTIC PHOTO
OF TRANQUIL FACES

Credit for this photo goes to the rescuer/advocate Kimberly Jones. People who follow her on Facebook have been aware of the challenge of Mickey — the striped Tabby got into a cat fight, disappeared, finally returned and was caught nd taken to a vet to be patched up and neutered. He’d clearly lost the catfight — lacerations, punctures, humility. But he knew who he could trust.
 Kimberly’s post explained, “My feral babies Mickey & Magnolia (in the photo). Mickey went back outside today after healing from his neuter and injuries from a cat fight. He immediately ran off to find Magnolia and then they showed up together for dinner & to say ‘Hi.’ Mickey won't come close to me right now which hurts my heart but I know he will eventually.”
Determined Kimberly also managed to trap the Tomcat who “beat up Mickey” — as you can see in the cattrap photo, he’s a pretty sizeable Tomcat. Much larger and older than year-old Mickey, in cat years. Kimberly added to her post, “And, yes, I trapped the Tomcat and took him to Spay & Neuter Network and got him neutered.”
[LARRY ASIDE: If all goes right, the city has two boy ferals with calmer attitudes — perhaps Tomcat and Mickey can just sit around, purr and chuckle every now and then as they discuss their surgeries and medical care like most old men who don’t play golf. Special thanks, by the way, to Kimberly Jones for being so determined to help these cats. And thanks, also, to the goodhearts who donated to help her properly get these ferals into healthy condition. This attitude of love is a big part of what helps gain control of the unwanted kitten situation in Dallas. Trap/neuter/return or trap/neuter/turn into a housecat — pick the path and make life happy for Tomcats and Girlcats, too. You can also trap/spay/return or trap/spay/adopt. Whatever you do, don’t just do nothin’. Help me off this soapbox before a board snaps and I wake every animal in the house except for The Senator, my Tomcat who expects me to make unexpected noise.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
A TIGER, A RACCOON & A MOVIE LINE
Watching one of the lunchtime news shows Thursday, I glanced at the screen and saw a tiger just as the anchor said, “The 350-pound tiger was found in the house by people who went into the house to smoke marijuana.” Boy, don’t you know those were some people who thought something had kicked about the time they opened that front door? [LARRY ASIDE: The woman who owned the tiger faces cruelty charges and the big cat is now at Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch at Murchison. Here’s the CNN story. …
Anybody else remember that story earlier this year when the football player from the University of North Texas and some pals sicced some dogs on a raccoon they let loose? Here’s the Denton Record-Chronicle story . We’ve been trying to find a report regarding any sort of legal followup. Anybody out there know? The horrible event occurred in Oklahoma. UNT? Not sure what’s happening on the legal front. But, the terrified raccoon isn’t going to be revived. Death by cruelty. Surely that’s a crime. ...
Back to “Go ahead. Make my day.” What could possibly be the connection to my hometown of Texarkana? Well, according to research, “Go ahead, make my day,” grimly said by Clint Eastwood’s Det. Harry Callahan in 1983’s Sudden Impact, was written by Charles B. Pierce. The line is No. 6 on the American Film Institute’s list of top 100 movie quotes, Wikipedia notes. And the late Charles B. Pierce was the writer/director of The Legend of Boggy Creek (1972), shot in and around Texarkana, and the original The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976), the first film about the Phantom Killer Murders in postwar Texarkana. Mr. Pierce, a nice guy to young reporters back in the day, also worked for the TV branch of the company that owned my newspaper. He was star of a kid after-school show — the man who so successfully filmed terror and murder stories was Mayor Chuckles.
—— To offer your best movie line click on “comment” below or email dallrp@aol.com. —-

JUNE THE DOG NEEDS SURGERY SUPPORT; ASSORTED AUCTION ITEMS; A MANGE-MISERABLE PUPPY; PEGASUS RETURNS TO READING ON STAGE; AND 'AWWWW SOOKIE'

EDITION OF THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2019 [PetPowellPress] We have so many opportunities in this world to read sad stories about animals, that when I spot one that’s headed toward some happiness, I almost want to turn cartwheels across my front yard.
Naturally, I talk myself out of that because (a) if the ground is too dry, I’ll snap my elbows and (b) if the ground is too wet, I’ll bury myself facedown up to my biceps in the soggy soil and have to wait for the letter carrier to, once again, kindly dig me out of my predicament. The dogs will let me know from the front window when he or she arrives and so will his or her laughter. Could happen, you know. If I can get up any groundspeed.
FYI, That is semi-feral-but-we’re-working-on-it William Powell in a publicity shot for his new film, Shadow of The Pink-Nosed Cat. Let’s move along before I give away the ending. And, yes, I love that cat. He loves me, too. I have treats.
WHEN SOMETHING GOOD HAPPENS
TO A DOG WHO'S IN A BAD STRETCH
This is a confluence of events — the dog June is clearly an adorable dog. She is in the care of East Lake Veterinary Hospital. Coincidentally, this weekend, East Lake Pet Orphanage is hosting its annual Wine on the Roof fundraiser.
And June’s connection? She’s a former East Lake Pet Orphanage baby. She has a surgery donation SITE HERE. We get the story from an appeal from East Lake VH that’s been made necessary because this girl somehow wound up wandering the streets of Dallas and suffering from a blow so horrendous that, according to Dr. Anna Calvanese, “the entire side of her face is broken in half.” They don’t know how long she’d been “stray” in Dallas and trying to eat in this impossible situation.
 June is being evaluated for surgery and, in the meantime, she’s eating via feeding tube so the pain is at a minimum.
 She’d been adopted a few years ago through the Orphanage and when she was found injured and wandering, her adoptor surrendered the dog back to the East Lake people. 
You can see Dr. Calvanese’s explanation as she comforts Jude by clicking HERE. Donations will help pay for the anticipated specialty surgery that'll make June comfortable again.
As you know, Wine on the Roof is Saturday atop the East Lake Pet Orphanage building. Before you get there you can bid on items that are up for auction online — things for people and things for animals. We picked pieces of artwork to display. There are hanging blankets with a Dachshund and a Terrier, plus a clever painting of two cats toasting a human.
See all the items by clicking HERE. You don’t have to attend the event to bid and win the items you “just have to have.”
To get tickets to the 18th annual Wine on the Roof — the 2019 theme is Paws Vegas! — click on this LINK.  Money from the Roof and money from the auctions (live and online) go to making life better for animals that need something good to happen.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention some of the current adoptables — that cat is (and Dwight Yoakam fans can appreciate this) “Sookie,” as in “awwww, Sookie.” Or if you want a traditional cat, that black and white boy kitty is “Tuxedo.”
And that boy dog? Well, you can tell by looking that he’s “Johnny B Good.” Seriously. Terrier/Beagle mix who is said to “love muddin’ and ridin’ in a truck with my head hanging out the window.” See all the adoptables HERE http://eastlakedallas.com/elpo/#.
A PUPPY WHO NEEDS RESCUE
TO STEP UP IN FORT WORTH
We learned about this girl from the great Ginger Leach at Fort Worth Animal Care & Control.
Crystal is getting help but she’s needing some rescue interest so she can become an adopted baby.
Her number is #41672248. She is 3 months old. She has probably never lived a day of her life without being miserable. Until now. 
Ginger’s note says the Demodex Mange and the secondary skin infection are being treated with proper meds.
Throughout it all, Crystal is calm. And her tail wags. “She is a total sweetheart,” Ginger writes. 
To offer to help Crystal live a good life by tagging her, email FWACCtag@fortworthtexas. gov. (Don’t call the shelter — that’s not Fort Worth’s system.) Crystal is at the Chuck Silcox Adoption Center, 4900 Martin St., 76119, in East Fort Worth just west of Loop 820 at Martin. in Fort Worth.
[LARRY ASIDE: Mange is the most needless ailment in all of dogdom. When it occurs and lingers like it has on poor Crystal, blame a human. Blame a human. When she is saved? Credit a human. Credit a  human with a heart. It is situations such as Crystal's that inspired the creation of the Readlarrypowell.com Two-by-Four of Enlightenment.]
A BRIEF MOMENT ON BEHALF
OF PEGASUS THEATRE
Having been involved in animal rescue, you can see why my heart also belongs to live theater. Same principles at work: A kind word goes a long way; money is always need for survival; affection is important; a good performance makes everyone happy. Plus, actors always like to have their ears scratched and tummies rubbed. Oh, wait. Maybe that’s just dogs and cats.
That aside, our pals at Pegasus Theatre are getting busy this week with Fresh Reads 2019, a Festival of new Plays at the Bath House Cultural Center.
The plays that’ll be read are “Saturday MornIngs” by Tammy Venable; “Romeo” by Kevin Yancey; and “Palais de Sang” by Rick Evans and Jake Mathis. 
Tickets are $15 and $20 — get them HERE. Shows open Thursday night the 16th.
Writing plays is tricky business — will what you wrote make the audience laugh in the right places, make the audience cry in the right places? Or will you think you wrote a comedy and discover you wrote a tragedy? Ah, theater — it’s alive! 

CONTEMPLATIONS
IDIOT BEHAVIOR, SPRING AND SOOKIE
If somebody bribed Hofstra to get these knuckleheads into college, they got their money’s worth if they were working on a degree in American Idiocy. CBS covered the story of a bunch of frat nitwits forcing a dog to stand on a beer keg and drink beer. King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. The guy who took his dog to a frat kegger — well, maybe he’s never going to have children, you know?...
On a warm spring day, we anticipate summer’s arrival at 10:54 a.m. on Friday, June 21. If you pay attention to the seasons and the weather and the flora and the fauna, you won’t be distracted by politics. … 

And, regarding linking Dwight Yoakam to East Lake Pet Orphanage’s Sookie the cat, you’ll get the explanation as you watch Dwight’s country rock hit Fast As You to the end  Besides, maybe you need some good country music at this very moment. Or a cat named Sookie so you can ease back in your favorite chair with this cat, pet him until her purrs and looks up at you, inspiring you to go, “Awww, Sookie.”
—- TUNE YOUR GUITAR STRINGS AND LEAVE SOME GOOD NOTES BY CLICKING ON ‘COMMENT’ BELOW OR EMAIL DALLRP@AOL.COM AND PUT ‘SOOKIE’ IN THE SUBJECT LINE. —-

FERTILITY, BAD ATTITUDES AND IGNORANCE -- THREE INGREDIENTS FOR BOOMING SHELTER POPULATIONS

EXTRA PRE-NOON EDITION TUESDAY MAY 14-15, 2019 [PetPowellPress] We could post things 24 hours a day if there was some kind of legal pill that would fuel my typing fingers and keep me awake. So, for now, until the scientists catch up with my 21st century energy needs (dogs, cats, novels, blackmail notes), this Extra is what you get. We’ll do dogs first, then cats and kittens — fertile Dallas!!! — in this special edition. This was one of the scenes I snapped Tuesday morning while walking (briskly!) in Kiest Park. What's the message? It's this: I don't mind a city that's fertile enough to have a carpet of yellow flowers. That cat? That is The Senator, demonstrating that even when a cat's been neutered, he can still make those great dance moves that close the songs to fantastic applause! Thank you to The Senator for his help in promoting the spay/neuter movement and dance movements, too.
ARE YOU CRAZY? WHY AREN’T
YOU HELPING THIS HOUND
JEFF DOGSWORTHY OF DENTON?

Pardon my late comic Sam Kinison shouting tribute in the headline, but, seriously, there’s a sincere problem when a fellow like Jeff Dogsworthy can’t get to safety. 
He’s on pain meds right now but really needs surgery. And he’s in a taxpayer-financed shelter and it’s not set up to do this sort of surgery. Read on.

Our tipster, Amy Poskey, who monitors the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter needs, writes, “I’m heartbroken that Jeff Dogsworthy is still waiting for his miracle rescue. Jeff is such a sweet boy and a shelter favorite.  I mean, who doesn’t love a hound dawg???!!!”
 All that excited punctuation aide, the story is a challenge — Jeff is an under-5, 75-pound Coonhound with an anterior cruciate ligament tear. [LARRY ASIDE: You’d think a local NFL player who’s had the same thing might step up on his good ligaments and give this dog a good family home. Or maybe a newspaper reporter who fell off a curb while pursuing a source. Somebody’s got to have a place for this dog.]

Oh, yeah, you can’t just adopt him, apparently, because his injury has made him RESCUE ONLY.” He’s gotten financial pledges from Jill Sicheneder with Coonhound Companions’ Long Ears Alive Fund and the great Karen Lee of barkleyworld.com who pledges $500 and vows to help raise additional funds should Jeff’s rescue group need the money. 
Here’s who to contact to save Jeff Dogsworthy: gayla.nelsen@cityofdenton.com, Randi.Weinberg@cityofdenton.com, julien.peralta@cityofdenton.com, dentonshelterdogs@yahoo.com, and/or dentonanimalservices@yahoo.com. Call the shelter 940-349-7594.
IN PAIRS! THEY’RE ARRIVING
IN PAIRS IN THE SOUTHERN CORRIDOR
Holy double BLEEP. How is it that people take two puppies, raise them to adulthood and then dump them or surrender them or “set them free”?
These are in the small, no-human-foot-traffic shelters in the I-45 corridor south of Dallas — like a minute south. Wilmer and Hutchins.
We get the info from the team of people who are trying to get more attention on these little shelters that have no public relations budget and barely enough money to employ animal control officers. 
First up we have Bailey and Benji, a couple of Spaniel/Beagle mixes who were “found in the county area” and taken to the city shelter. The bios says they need to be inside-the-home dogs — apparently they were before this misfortune trapped them in a small shelter.
Then, there are these Boxer/Hound mixes, Meghan and Mandy but, wait, that’s not all. Their sisters Mia and Mila are also there. 
Our tipster says, “We have part of their story and it's incredibly sad.  Apparently belonged to a husband and wife and were part of a litter they had. These are the two remaining pups.  We understand the husband loved these pups very much and he had been trying for some time to find a good adopter and then something quite serious happened in the family, and sadly we don't have all the details, but these pups were taken to the shelter.   They are very sweet, a little bashful in the shelter since clearly they have only been in a home environment.”
So, since there are “zero walk-in adoptors,” the best hope for all these dogs is Rescue. And, the people helping the shelters say transport can be arranged for any 501c3 rescue groups. The clock is ticking on all these animals. 
Call or text 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com. Ask to be put on the mailing list so you can see all of the many animals that never get a visit from an adopting human.
MEANWHILE IN GARLAND

FINN IS A $15 DOG

This appeal is making the rounds while Finn, about 2, neutered and vaccinated, continues to wait in the Garland Animal Shelter.
He can be rescued or adopted. And, according to our tipster, all adoptions at Garland are $15 this month. 
His bio reads, “People that volunteer and work there are begging for someone to save him.  Truly awesome dog.” He’s #A237404. Call 972-205-3570 or email rescue@garlandtx.gov.


CONTEMPLATING CATS
GET ONE AND CONTEMPLATE TOGETHER
OK, the feline population is exploding at Dallas Animal Services — Lord knows how many kittens are simply surviving to breed outside of the shelter in America’s Most Fertile City, Dallas “Always Expecting” Texas.
Check this out: At the noon hour Sunday the DAS website listed 263 dogs for adoption and EIGHTY-SEVEN CATS — Tuesday morning the site listed 249 dogs and 96 cats. NINETY-SIX CATS.
[LARRY ANGRY ASIDE: Can’t any of the free-roaming chuckleheads in this prairie boomtown say “Spay/neuter” and mean it? Heck, maybe they don’t understand spay/neuter. Here’s how it works. Wait. Seek professional help. And also ask a veterinarian about spaying and neutering your cats and dogs.]

Go to dallasanimalservices.org to see the online inventory. They’re not all kittens. For example, there is still on the list this TWELVE YEAR OLD BOY ZEUS (A1066378) — he’s at the PetSmart Every Day Adoption Center, not at the big shelter. [LARRY ASIDE: As a taxpayer, I'm embarassed by that picture. It's more like an "impression of an old cat.] I can’t take Zeus. Neither can Martha. We’re already at the responsible limit for old cats. We can, however, remind people that it’s imperative that they campaign on behalf of Dallas cats and dogs that need adoption or rescue to keep from being killed to make room for the next litter or dumped dogs and cats.
 You see here, four kittens currently waiting for help at Dallas Animal Services. Got to dallasanimalservice.org, I repeat.
[LARRY ASIDE: Why were these kittens born? Two possibilities: (1) Born to become loving companions to humans or (2) Born to be killed in a city shelter because nobody wants them and nobody cares and, as we’ve noted, this town is populated by too many “So What People.” But that’s a lecture for another day and my readlarrypowell.com Two-by-Four of Enlightenment has been rented out for the current session of the Texas Legislature. I’m kidding. But I’d really like to see the DAS cat population shrink without having to use a single needle. Can I get an “Amen!”?]
[Offer winning lotto numbers or advice by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing me at dallrp@aol.com.]

AN APPEAL FOR SLEEPING DOG, NAPPING CAP PHOTOS; PLUS, ANIMALS THAT NEED HELP

EDITION OF TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019 [PetPowellPress] On May 14, 2005, readlarrypowell.com published its first weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
We'd been publishing stories of desperate dogs and cats at readlarrypowell.com since the Turn of the Century, but it was time to show happy stories, happy animals, happy people.
This dog was our first spotlighted snoozer, Oliver, he lived in Evanston, Ill., with his humans, my brother Barry and his wife Shelley and the now-grown kids, Aaron and Lewis.

Barry (that's his I'm-a-lawyer mugshot) took the photo of Oliver and Shelley. The photo of Oliver piled up in the big middle of the bed was the first sleeper photo we published. 

Since that edition, we’ve published photos of thousands of sleeping dogs, napping cats, one iguana, some turtles, a snake or two, maybe even some chickens, and some Tawney Frogmouths from Australia — I can’t remember ‘em all.
See that dog in the “masthead” at the top of the page? That’s my other brother Garry’s dog Calamity — she's a rescue we managed to capture in our neighborhood after she had puppies under a neighbor's storage shed. In that photo, I was driving her to meet Garry for the first time -- the venue was Operation Kindness’ Dog Day Afternoon. That was a while back. Both brothers and both dogs are now gone, but all four of them knew how to nap — we just never got a good sleeping photo of Calamity because she was always guarding Garry with one or two eyes open. You see the photo of bright-eyed Calamity on alert while Garry  nodded off. Now and then, my sis-in-law Brenita (that’s her with Garry visiting Chicago to see Barry and Shelley) says ducks land in the soaked backyard of their property near Lake Lavon, but the quackers never nod off! 

We’ve published sleeper/napper photos from around the world and such foreign places as Florida and Arkansas. I’m kidding! I’m kidding! I love posting photos of my dogs and cats, too — but it’s really special when we get to publish photos of YOUR dogs and cats and “others."Dear Readers, please send photos and biographies of your snoozing critters to dallrp@aol.com.
 I love to show people what it means to an animal to have a home where they feel comfort, trust, love and joy and where they also have permission to sprawl, they have the OK to get onto the couch and they share their big beds with the humans. Or in this case, pile up in the recliner -- The Senator on the back, Porche Noel comfy on Texas Earl The Cheeseman, a patient Rottie boy. More critters in Contemplations.
TENANT MOVED,
LEFT THIS DOG
The appeal for help comes from Tim Meeks who explains that he has a rental property in Garland and two weeks ago the tenant “moved out…and left their dog. I was notified of this last week when lawn service went to the house. Since then I have left food and water for the dog and am trying to find a home for her. She seems to be a very sweet dog.”

Tim thinks she might be a couple of years old and has probably been an outside dog while living at this home. He says he’d rather find someone to adopt the girl rather than take this abandoned beauty to the Garland Animal Shelter. 
To offer to help, email timmeeks2002@yahoo.com or call 214-455-7398.
 [LARRY ASIDE: Isn’t this sordid abandonment  behavior — this moving and leaving the dog on her own — isn’t that still a crime in Texas?]

MEANWHILE, IN SMALLER SHELTERS
ALONG THE I-45 SOUTH CORRIDOR
You see Oliver peeking through the gate and Lindy with the big happy face. We’ve mentioned them before and they still need out of the smaller shelters south of Big D. Oliver is an Aussie Shepherd/Heeler mix, an owner-release who “enjoys riding in the car.” 
Lindy’s an Anatolian Shepherd mix who was dumped in a traditional dumping area near Wilmer and Hutchins.
To ask about them and other in the many animals monitored by the small shelter team, call or text 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.

Laura Macias, the guiding light of the small shelter “show off the animals” movement, reports, “We have some great news about one shelter that has been waiting for a long time for an ACO:  Ferris Shelter has hired a new ACO that will now be advocating for the Ferris dogs so at least for now, we will no longer be emailing dogs at the Ferris Shelter. Her name is Officer Melend and you can call dispatch at 972-842-2752 or email her to save Ferris dogs. loraleimelend@ferristexas. Check out their new Facebook page by doing a search for Ferris Animal Shelter.  Very cute dogs there now that will need your help.” 
Here’s the LINK. 
IS THIS A ROYAL CAT?
Name’s “Archie,” a moniker that now has a royal ring to it. Could have been an inspiration for a kid’s name, right, Royal Watchers?
 Archie (41486837) is 10 years old. The SPCA website says that Archie is at the Duncanville Pet Smart (2525 Wheatland Road in Wheatland Town Crossing). He’s a “blue and white tabby” who was “transferred to the SPCA from another shelter.” He’s clearly available to be transferred to a good, loving home and, yes, 10 years old is barely middle-aged in a cat that is well-cared for and beloved.
CONTEMPLATIONS

BACK TO LETTING SLEEPING DOGS LIE
AND THE NAPPING CATS HAPPILY NAP

My wonderful dog Inky knew how to sleep. This is one of my favorite photos of the rascal — he’d found a sunny spot on the back of the couch and nodded off. I miss him dramatically. Back when I was writing that first edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, I was interviewing, Barry about his dog and, knowing how devoted I was to the Cocker Spaniel Inky, Barry (in a faux smarmy tone) said of Oliver, “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." 
Of course, Inky was literary royalty, i.e., he was the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas. He once wrote

Roses are red,
violets are blute
a Cocker’s a handsome dog
and a Cavvy’s merely cute. 


Inky was a clever boy, you know — he’d bend the rules of grammar and spelling. I think he could trace his lineage back to Romeo, the Shakespeare Family Cocker that inspires William’s big teenage romance hit. Some of my history may be incorrect.
Not all napping cats and sleeping dogs belong to someone — yet. 
For example, in 2012 we were working on a story about the Euless Trinity High School Girls Awareness Program — the foundation for the GAP Rescue that partners with Euless Animal Services — and we found this photo of a cat named Garfield who was performance napping in the Euless shelter.
Then there’s this photo of local noted animal advocate/rescuer Jean-Paul Bonnelly and two rescued dogs catching a few winks in 2012. 

ONCE AGAIN, send your sleeping dog, napping cat and/or snoozing “other” photos and bios to dallrp@aol.com. You’ll be helping others decide to give an animal a good life and a good place to nod off.
—- Offer sleeping tips by clicking on “comment” below or emailing dallrp@aol.com and send us your Sleepers/Nappers, while you’re at it. ——

DORIS DAY -- A LEGEND AND INSPIRATION

EXTRA EDITION OF MAY 13, 2019 [PetPowellPress] — When you open your usual news page and the first item you see reads something like “Hollywood legend Doris Day dead at 97” it hits your heart.
Not just for the films and the songs, but for the animals. There may never have been a more famous animal advocate than Doris Day
The Doris Day Animal Foundation’s news release said pneumonia claimed the star’s life. It has not claimed her spirit, of course — it lives on through millions animal advocates who have been inspired by her work for animals. This is an old Hollywood photo from unidentifiable online sources — but it might be a publicity shot for Please Don’t Eat the Daisies (1960).
The Foundation news release says, “Since the ‘70s, Day had focused her energies on the Doris Day Animal Foundation. Her lifelong compassion for animals compelled her to fight animal testing and to advocate for spay/neuter education and outreach programs in the U.S.  Today, her early Spay Day program had become an international event, with World Spay Day providing thousands of free or reduced-cost spay and neuter surgeries in 75 countries.  The Doris Day Animal Foundation continues to provide support to smaller rescue organizations nationwide, with a special focus on those assisting senior pets.
“Doris' passionate work on behalf of dogs, cats, horses, sea lions, raptors and other animals in need of rescue, veterinary care and adoption will not end. The Doris Day Animal Foundation is committed to continuing its work as a grant-giving organization, funding smaller animal welfare non-profits across the country. Doris’ wishes were that she have no funeral or memorial service and no grave marker.  Friends and fans wishing to remember Doris Day, are encouraged to visit www.dorisdayanimalfoundation.org."

Read the news release HERE.
 Thank you, Doris Day, for the entertainment and for the inspiration.
—- Offer opinions by clicking on ‘comment’ below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

SAVING ANIMALS, ADVISING GRANDKIDS & OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OF THE DAY

EDITION OF MONDAY, MAY 13, 2019 [PetPowellPress] With the invention of cellphone cameras and instant communication, the arrival of rainstorms reminds so many people to check on neighbors’ dogs and to keep an eye out for animals in dire situations. 
But the common threatening element in each of these situations isn’t rain, it’s the humans that claim to “own” the animals.
Somebody raises a stink and half the city says, “It’s JUST a dog, you animal nut.” There's no such thing as "just a dog." Or "only a cat." We'll explore this from a personal viewpoint.

That’s a 2009 photograph of my pal Porche Noel — it was Christmas and she’d just limped up the steps and struggled through the bars on our front porch gate to get to the daily feral cat food buffet — she ate so much, she couldn’t squeeze back out. I heard noise on the porch and went outside to find a scared dog. It took minute to calm her. She rasped when she barked and there were marks of a very tight collar having been on her neck for some time. A human did that to her. Then she escaped or was dumped. I’d still like to deliver a sincere punch to the nose of the human who did this to Porche. She got over starving and can bark without a rasp, but she's still gimpy in the right rear leg. [LARRY ASIDE: As you can see, she likes to read in bed late at night. I never get tired of writing about her or taking her picture. Feel the same way about other animals and some people.]

So, in summation, to those who chain out their dogs and “set free” their dogs and cats: I used to think the creeps were “don’t care humans,” but that’s too kind. I’m declaring a new, even lower level of cads: “The So What People.” The don’t care people look at rescue situations and move on without bothering to help. A rescuer says, “Your dog is going to get sick or hurt if you leave her staked out in the rain” and The So What People reply, “So what.”
 No heart. No heart at all.
[LARRY ASIDE: To the person who mistreated my dog instead of loving her, I hope you know you cheated yourself out of a great companion. I also hope you have never had a dog or cat sinse and that your personal "apparatus" hasn't worked since 2009.]
Look, we can’t legislate people to care about animals. But we can legislate people to wonder what the judge is going to say to them when he announces the sentence for animal abuse.

MISSING A POST!!! I bring this abuse stuff up because on Facebook Sunday I spotted an appeal for two dogs chained around the neck — links fastened by padlocks — and stuck out in the rain Saturday. One of the dogs was screaming and delivering puppies and kept moving them to try to find dry areas for them. At some point, I clicked on a link and forever lost that Facebook post. Facebook bewilders me sometimes. Maybe someone else saw the post. If you did, please send the link to me at dallrp@aol.com. Even if those dogs are high-and-dry in that yard now, and the puppies are safe (fat chance), the human needs some enlightenment. Perhaps a visit from some sincere rescuers might help.
A SUPER HERO TIE-IN AT DAS
Spotted this on the Dallas Animal Services Facebook page Sunday. Call it taking advantage of a current successful movie. A big movie. Big. Avengers Endgame until the next money-making script is ready. Here's a chance to write a script with a happy endng for Captain America. He’s a year old — ask about A1060813. DAS says he’s available. Of course, someone may have adopted him after we posted this. And, of course he was the last dog or cat available for adoption at Dallas Animal Services —- hang on. We’re checking the statistics. Ah, of course. Here's an updated count.
At the noon hour Sunday the DAS website listed 263 dogs for adoption and EIGHTY-SEVEN CATS — that’s around 60 more cats than the shelter was listing just a few weeks ago. So, outside of attractive dogs, what’s up with the cats? It’s not just the traditional kitten outburst in the nation’s most fertile city, Dallas. For example, this girl is Ophelia (A10611159), a little over a year old and in the shelter only since Saturday. Twelve-year-old Zeus (he came in on May 2 and got  lousy photo) is still in the shelter’s care — you can see #1066378 at the PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center, 16821 N. Coit Rd. in Dallas.
And there’s this fantastically-faced Tortie labeled as “This CAT — ID#A1066500,” a shelter resident since May 3.
So many of the DAS cats are kittens such as A1065636, known as Geoff, about 9 weeks old, and currently in a foster home. Geoff of The Pink Nose appears to be thinking, “If I ever get out of this gloved hand, I’m going to either purr someone into submission or show them how fast a kitten can move!” Go to dallasanimalservices.org to see how to adopt or rescue these animals. And stop by the shelter at I-30 at Westmoreland to visit most of them. 
The other animals at the shelter include a 4 Guinea pigs and this White Rabbit (A1066667) — a boy. A stray rabbit, they say. Came in on May 4. 
[LARRY ASIDE: Seriously, is there such a thing as a stray white rabbit? Go ask Alice.]
THE MESQUITE SITUATION:
MANY DOGS, CATS WAITING
They’re waiting on adoption, rescue or the needle. Pass it on.

We’ve mentioned Dutchess (shelter spelling) before. We learned about her from Mesquite Animal Shelter’s volunteer biographer Judi Brown shortly after the stray dog arrived on May 2. DUTCHESS (41576033) is EIGHT YEARS OLD and an energetic, ball-chasing, friendly, affectionate, 85-pound, tail-wagging Yellow Lab Mix. She has a growth on her right eyelid, Judi says, but “it doesn’t seem to bother her.” Why wouldn’t her human come looking for her? Who knows? It’s up to some other human to make sure this dog isn’t simply killed because nobody wants her right now. Call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
Not the only dog in the shelter, you know.
Judi also cites Beau (41610282), a Great Pyrenees/Collie mix, under 2, 73-pounds, who came to the shelter as a stray on May 6. He knows some commands, likes treats, is gentle and, she writes, “There’s nothing not to love about this sweet boy.”
Of course, they’re not all BIG dogs at Mesquite. Take for example, this handsomely cute Rat Terrier Mix, one-year-old Romeo (41605016) — surrendered on May 6 “because his owners did not have enough time for him.” [LARRY ASIDE: Gimme a friggin’ break — how much time could this dog need? My apologies for the outburst. I'm sure there can be good reasons. Maybe.] Judi writes that Romeo came in with that name. And it fits him. The 14-pound dog is “especially cuddly and gives tender kisses.”
Call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com. And go to THIS LINK
to see the shelter’s many animals, including the cats. 

And I don’t know what her story is, but Annabelle (41596995) needs out.
She’s NINE YEARS OLD, spayed and house-trained. She’s in the catroom. Annabelle came in on May 4. [LARRY ASIDE: She’s not a natural shelter cat — what cat is? She might need some vet care — that’s probably why she’s at the shelter. Someone “surrendered” her to the needle. But she’s too healthy to kill. They nearly all always are too healthy to kill in ANY shelter.]
AN UPDATE ON
THE HUSKY IN THE RAIN
We mentioned this case last week. This photo was shortly after the rain stopped flooding the yard. And the story, according to advocate/rescuer Crystal Carretero’s Facebook report, is the dog is in the care of DAS now and will be available for fostering starting May 18. The note read, “This dog has been a frequent flyer at DAS and owner comes back to reclaim each time. We want to get him out and get him on our transport to Minnesota where he will never be near that awful owner again. He will go to a wonderful home and learn what a bed and loving hand means.” His Petharbor link was inactive. It was this:
 https://petharbor.com/pet.asp?uaid=DLLS.A1058344 . [LARRY ASIDE: If anyone knows what’s happening in this case, let us know by emailing me at dallrp@aol.com. Sometimes these cases are hard to track.]

CONTEMPLATIONS
ANGELS IN THE OZARKS; A GRANDPA’S ADVICE
Nobody can argue that there are cruel people in Dallas, Texas, possibly the most fertile city in North America based on the number of puppy and kitten litters each spring and the number of free-roaming SoWhatNitwits. But every now and then you think, “Did someone from Dallas drive all the way to Oklahoma or Arkansas or MISSOURI?” Take for example this over-the-weekend note that showed up thanks to a Facebook post by Kayla Conoyer who works in real estate in the Lake of the Ozarks area in Missouri. See the photo? She wrote, “My neighbor Michael Joseph Landon Hall and I rescued a herd of Pitbulls a couple of nights ago.” Yep, some jerk dumped a “herd” of Pitbulls on their road. One could barely walk. You can read the story HERE.  First, you absolutely have to salute the rescuers in this case. Secondly, I feel the need to note that I suspect that if someone set a “herd” of Pitbulls free in Dallas, the reaction wouldn’t be kindness, it would be a demonstration of the old Texas Theory of Animal Management: Got an animal problem? Let’s kill it!” So, in summation, let's say, "Thank heavens for the Angels in the Ozarks, you know?"
AND NOW A WORD ABOUT GRANDFATHERLY ADVICE — We’re referring to a story in The Dallas Morning News by one of my former colleagues. It’s a tenderly, smartly written story by the great longtime Business Section columnist Scott Burns about his granddaughter's college graduation. It has plenty of advice and helpful emotional/attitudinal information for soon-to-be-graduates of high school and college.  The author is a smart, savvy, gentleman in the best sense of the words. So here's the link. I think you'll be able to access it. CLICK HERE. That's a list that Scott posted with the story. Click on it to make it grow like a high-interest bank account.
… In the mid-1960s, I thought my graduation day in 1966 would never arrive. Then, a couple of decades later, I thought my twins’ graduation was coming way too soon. This year, fantastic granddaughter Hannah Rose is graduating on May 31. She was just born three or four days ago — it seems like. But no, she’s met the qualifications for being grown up enough to graduate from high school. And in the way things are set up in public schools today, she’ll leave high school as a college sophomore or maybe a grad student. I’m not sure how all that works. When I graduated, I was just lucky enough to be labeled “potential applicant for junior college tuition payment.” It turns out my high school didn’t have an “automatic acceptance agreement” with Harvard or Stanford or even the Northeast Texas Pine Cone Alchemy Academy. Go Golden Coneys!
—- To offer study tips or stock tips, click on ‘comment’ below or email dallrp@aol.com, especially the bona fide, surefire stock tips. —-

FIRST, THE GALVESTON NAPPING CATS AND TRASH-BARKING DOGS; THEN, A COUPLE OF PHOTOS FROM A MOM'S LIFE

For this Mother’s Day weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap we’re focusing on a darling cat and his companions in Galveston on the Texas Gulf Coast.
Some people endorse Galveston as a happy spot, a place to relax, a place to enjoy life. I cite supporting evidence: Taylor the Cat.

That’s Taylor stretched out on one of her “happy places” at the home of Raul Reyes and Linda Vaughan. They’re a couple of my former newshound colleagues at The Dallas Morning News. 
That photo of Taylor is snipped from a video Raul posted on his Facebook page with this caption: “Taylor takes about 15 naps a day.”

You can watch Taylor napping HERE. Be sure to turn your speakers up so you can hear the sweet and wonderful sleep-inducing sounds of Galveston. And you can see the “action” video of Taylor licking her chops HERE. 
Note the clipped ear -- yep, formerly feral and fixed. And, also, note the black cat Lizzie. Yep, Lizzie and Taylor — Liz Taylor. Here’s the Lizzie/Taylor story from Linda: “Taylor is the other half of Lizzie, her sister. One day last year I was walking my dog and saw 3 kittens dart down the alley. Turns out they lived under a vacant house a few blocks away. I started feeding them but soon decided it would be better for me and them to move them to my yard. They were very feral but they followed the kibbles of cat food a little each day until they arrived in my yard. Once there, I grabbed them and off to the vet’s for shots and spaying. Found a home for one kitten. The other two, Lizzie and Taylor remain here with our other cats. Also, their Mama cat traveled to our yard and now visits for food and love every day.”

Among the other cats are these two basic orange fellows. Raul writes “Harry and Larry, our own NYC Library Lions, Patience and Fortitude.”
 And in that second photo, you see the orange lads participating in cat brotherhood duty.
He also posted a photo of a moment in his day and wrote, “My navigators, Bonnie and Tripp, on this day of errands." 
Our former DMN colleague (and my former editor), the playwright John C. Davenport, saw this “navigators” photo and wrote some dialogue for the dogs: “That’s the biggest damn tree we’ve ever seen! Why aren’t you stopping?” 

While we celebrate Napping Cats and Sleeping Dogs, we know they take different approaches to life. Cats, for example, are not alarmed when noisy trash monsters roll through the neighborhood. If you’d like to see what happens in this feline/canine household in Galveston, click HERE. Raul explains, “Our mornings — every Thursday morning!” [LARRY ASIDE: Might be a lament, but I’ve chosen to use the verb “explains” though, of course, only a barking dog can truly explain why the trash truck inspires such a vigorous response.]
FYI: This is a promotional logo for Galveston. It describes the city as “Where the Texas Coast Begins.” But, as you can tell from the Raul/Linda home, Galveston is more likely “Where the Texas Cats Begin.”
[WE NEED YOUR SLUMBER PHOTOS: Send photos and bios of your slumbering dogs and cats and other critters to dallrp@aol.com and we’ll feature them in the weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. On Tuesday, we celebrate the feature’s 14th anniversary — we’ve been posting slumberphotos since May 14, 2005. Remember, your animal’s comfort and trust inspires other people to give homes to animals. Plus, you inspire insomniacs to think that they, too, can get some sleep if they can just find the right porch in Galveston.]
 

***
A MOTHER’S DAY CONTEMPLATION 


***
Like so many Baby Boomers, I didn’t get to know my parents until after they’d been through the Great Depression and World War II. Those things will leave a dent on your thought processes and heart, I suspect.
For Mother’s Day 2019, my first one since Mom died in February, I thought I’d focus on some happy moments in her life. Back in the era when Mom was having babies there was no phone video being captured in the delivery rooms. So, I’m focusing on two apparently happy photos of just married Mom from postwar Texarkana. Oh, and Pop’s in the photos, too. Both photographs were taken two years before kids began to interrupt their wedded bliss.
That first photo is from August, 1946, the month they married — that was somewhere in Texarkana. Coulda been on the Texas side. Coulda been on the Arkansas side. The back of the photo reads “John Calvin and Pearl T. Powell Aug. 1946.” I don't know who wrote that -- looks kind of like Mom's writing used to look on my report cards.
Pop had been back from infantry duty in Germany for less than a year —he’d gone ashore at Normandy in June, 1944, on the second day of the Normandy Invasion. Mom had been a telephone operator during the war. They didn’t know each other before or during the war, but they had a lot in common: Dirt poor families, Depression Era kids with no education and youthful hope for a good future. They knew how to work. Both were around before houses had TVs, before every home had a phone, before air-conditioning was the usual in cars and houses, before people could get easy loans to go to college, before — you get the drift. Compared to their kids and kids today, they were raised on the frontier of a yet-to-arrive civilization. 

That second photo represents a special moment in the first year of their marriage. “We went Christmas shopping downtown and someone took our picture. They used to do that, you know, and then sell you the picture,” Mom once told me.

So there they are — he’s 6-1, still looking a bit like the skinny poor kid who went to war. And Mom’s only a couple of inches shorter in this photo. Much shorter than Pop in the other picture. They’re Christmas shopping on Broad Street in an ultra-active, business-filled Downtown Texarkana in 1946 — looks like the Arkansas side of town with the Texas side behind them. They’re walking together, carrying gift boxes and hope for the future. Two kids — on a fresh, new postwar path in a nation still celebrating victory and trying to embrace peacetime. I’d like to thank the mystery photographer for giving us this picture of Mom and Pop so we could post it on Mother’s Day 2019, 73 years later.

I’m betting that there’s a spot in the Hereafter where Calvin and Pearl are thumbing through baby pictures and family photos. Probably sipping coffee, laughing. Might be thinking about a challenging game of dominoes. Maybe, now and then, they can hear a young voice from the past calling out, “Momma, got any more of those cookies?” Probably be my little brothers, Barry Lynn and Garry Leslie — they’re already in Mom’s and Pop’s neighborhood.
I’m quite happily still here on Earth and avoiding sweets, except for my funspouse Martha.
—— Offer motherhood opinions or child-rearing tips by clicking on ‘comment’ below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

HAVING A HAND IN HELPING SOME CANTON DOGS; THE PRESSURE IN BURNS FLAT; THE GERMAN POTATO

EDITION OF FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019 [PetPowellPress] — In the annals of animal rescue, it is quite possible that you’ll get the most eye-rolling reaction in the world whenever you mention Canton, Texas.
It’s not a unanimous vote, of course. There are people in Canton and surrounding area who work for the benefit of animals, too. Not everybody in Kaufman County is a backyard breeder aiming to get rich at Dog Alley on First Monday Trade Days.
For example, we’re going to introduce you to one of the rescuers’ via such dogs as Red, Rosie and Dallie and Punkin and some of Rosie’s puppies. All of them need a home. All of them are in safe foster care right now. We got the first tip on them from Sydney Busch, mainstay of the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake, the non-profit that operates the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City. She put us in touch with veteran foster and rescuer, Michelle Ashley who has Doggie Day Spa & Country Inn in Canton.
We’ll get to the fireplace dog and her puppies in a moment. Here’s how you can contact Michelle about adopting these dogs: Call her at 903-880-8648 or email her at mashley1973@yahoo.com. 

First, the big dog in the second photo is Red, in the 60-pounds range, and a year or two old. He might be a Chocolate Lab. Michelle wrote, “I picked him up January 31st at the Canton arena. He was very skinny & a little nervous. Adapted very well at my house did great w/ my other dogs. He does bark at my ducks, goats & horses thru the fence. He has been neutered, wormed, had all vaccines, tested negative for heartworms & started on preventative. Adoption fee is $100.” [LARRY ASIDE: If you’ve rescued an un-neutered, never-been-to-a-vet dog lately, you’ll know that fee is a “recover expenses fee because some dolt didn’t give a hoot about this dog."]

What about the dog with the puppies in front of the fireplace? That is Rosie, also picked up on January 31 at the Canton arena. And, once she got to Michelle’s, Rosie happily discovered that she’s really an indoor dog. This probably was her first litter — seven of nine survive. Three have yet to be adopted. 
Michelle writes that when she picked up Rosie, the dog “was very pregnant & starving. She had her puppies in the night of Feb 3. She is a very sweet, loving dog (likes to be w/ you & get attention). She has been spayed, wormed twice, is current on vaccinations,  heartworm negative & started on preventative. She does great with other dogs, doesn’t bother the horses or goat, but will kill a duck.” Clearly, she needs to go to a home that lets her live inside but never when the Duck Family is visiting. ($100 adoption fee.)
 As you can see, the puppies are growing up, but they’re still puppies. Two boys and a girl remain in need of homes.
Then there’s the girl Dallie — she’s six months old, spayed and current on her vaccines.

She’s a happy dog in need of more happiness and a human that she can love.


And that white dog is Punkin.

Punkin is 5 and has been in foster care with Michelle for the past 4 years — she’s about a mid-20-pounder.
Michelle writes, “She is very playful and loving, fully vetted, including spayed, on heartworm preventative and looking for the right forever home.”
Again, call Michelle at 903-880-8648 or email her at mashley1973@yahoo.com.
MEANWHILE IN BURNS FLAT
Terry Lynn Fisher, the resilient rescuer and dedicated animal protector in Burns Flat, tells us the “pound” in the Western Oklahoma town is full. She needs to empty some cages in order to take in the “emergency” animals she runs across. She’s a full up at her kind vet’s canine living quarters, too. To keep up with her efforts, email her at remembering_ oddball@yahoo.com and ask to be put on the mailing list. Also, you might ask her about helping these two dogs.
She describes Hunter as “so sweet and loving.’ He’s under 2, “well-behaved, loves to be loved on, good with other dogs and loves kids.”
 Hunter also sits for treats and he’ll shake paws with you, too. “All he needs is a loving and safe place to go.”

The other dog is Sissy. “I love this girl, Terry Lynn writes. " She is shy at first, then becomes the most loving girl ever. She is young and great with other animals and people.”
Again, get in touch with her at remembering_ oddball@yahoo.com. And in case you don’t now, Burns Flat is so far out in Western Oklahoma that it’s about 2 1/2 hours north /northwest of Wichita Falls which is about 2 hours northwest of Fort Worth. In other words, if you adopt Hunter or Sissy or any other Burns Flat dog, you’ll have plenty of time to get to know your new friend by the time you get back to the Metroplex. 
But, if you just want to donate to Terry Lynn’s animal-saving mission, the U.S. Postal Service delivers across the Texas-Oklahoma line these days.

CONTEMPLATIONS

PRIZES, PHONE CALLS AND THE GERMAN POTATO
Terry Lynn oughta get some kind of Presidential Medal for Oklahoma Rescue  It’s not like she can count on a well-organized team of rescuers to help her. Plenty of people help her find animals at peril; there aren’t that many than can help her place the animals. Oh, and, fyi, “Burns Flat” is not a reference to a devastating prairie fire. It’s a reference to U.S. Postmistress Sarah Burns and the terrain. …
It occurs to me that with the Dallas Stars out of the championship quest, the hope for a championship celebration in 2019 falls on the arms of the Texas Rangers pitching staff. It is demonstrated swing after swing that the Rangers hitters can swat the ol' pill; it is also demonstrated that the Texas pitchers can be, well, adventurous. Go Rangers, please. Otherwise, we have to endure watching the Dallas Cowboys challenge the reality of long odds. …

THIS JUST IN FROM our Eastern Seaboard Bureau Chief Andrew Fisher, a veteran TV newshound headquartered on Indian Lake in Denville, N.J. Andy reports that Wednesday he was watching the local ABC station’s evening news report “about oil still leaking from an American ship sunk by a German torpedo off the coast of Long Island during World War II.” The back story at the Bureau is the Bureau Media Manager and Spouse Annie Fisher had, “some time ago, activated the closed caption feature on our living room TV, and tonight the closed caption read that the ship had been sunk been sunk by ‘a German potato’.” As veteran newshound Andy reported in closing, “You CANNOT make this stuff up!”
—- To offer a positive thought or a potato soup recipe, click on “comment” below or email dallrp@aol.com. —

EXTRA EDITION: THE DOGSWORTHY APPEAL; PRESSING NEEDS IN MESQUITE; COFFEE, BONNIE HUNT, PERRY MASON?

EXTRA EDITION OF THURSDAY, MAY 9-FRIDAY MAY 10, 2019 [PetPowellPress] There is an old saying in journalism: “Names make news.” And that is how I am introducing you to this handsome fellow.
THE JEFF DOGSWORTHY PREDICAMENT

We get the story from Amy Poskey, the veteran volunteer tipster regarding animals in the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter. 
She writes, “This handsome love sponge is Jeff Dogsworthy and he needs our help!  Poor baby came to the shelter favoring his left, rear leg and x-rays have confirmed that he has an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear.  Jeff is currently on pain meds but he needs additional medical attention and a soft bed where he can heal.  His x-rays will be provided to the rescue who saves this loveable hound dawg.  Can anyone give this sweet boy the love and care he needs?”
 The statistics are Jeff Dogsworthy is a young adult Coonhound — he’s heartworm negative, weighs 75.1 pounds, appears to be house-trained and, in spite of his injury, walks well on a leash. 
To help save this boy, call the shelter at 940-349-7594.
Email gayla.nelsen@cityofdenton.com, Randi.Weinberg@cityofdenton.com, julien.peralta@cityofdenton.com, dentonshelterdogs@yahoo.com, and/or dentonanimalservices@yahoo.com.
[LARRY ASIDE: I can see the TV show now: Jeff Dogsworthy, Attorney at Law.]
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE,
ANIMALS WAITING
 AND
COOPER NEEDS AN INDOOR HOME

 “Exuberant.” There’s a word we don’t often get in an appeal for a shelter dog. But, here is “Mr. Exuberant.” His name is 'George.' And, be sure to read about Cooper, who is destined to be an “outside” dog unless someone with a smarter outlook on life rescues or adopts him
 Mesquite Animal Services, recently coping with a weather challenge that forced the evacuation of animals, is getting back to normal and we’re getting notices about the inventory from our reliable tipster, Judi Brown, the volunteer biographer.
You see three pretty cute photos of 58-pound, happy boy George (41590753), a 2-year-old Shepherd/Black Mouth Cur mix, waiting for a rescue or adoption since May 3. Judi writes, “He’s a big beautiful boy with gorgeous brown eyes. The pictures here do not do them justice as he’s a mover and a shaker! He was  enjoying his freedom running back-and-forth in the yard. My camera does not do well with action shots. He’s a very friendly, outgoing guy with an exuberant, fun loving personality. Because he is a big boy and because he is active, he would do best with an active family in a big yard. He would chase balls but didn’t stay interested very long. He wants to make friends and tries to engage you even at his window. He’s so friendly that he wiggles all over. He did do his business as soon as he got out into the yard. He went nose to nose with the other dogs in the bay wagging his tail."
Call 972–216- 6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com to tag George.
The little white dog is Scruffy (41321016), a 5- or 6-year-old Terrier/Schnauzer mix (maybe) who was given up to the shelter “because the owners were told they had too many animals.” He’s spunky, friendly, curious, alert, house-trained, has grain allergies and weighs in at 15 pounds. 

Cooper, 6- to 9-MONTHS-old and 34 pounds, has this note with his appeal: “A customer wants to adopt him Thursday. The customer made it clear that he would be exclusively a backyard dog even when he had the cone on his head with stitches. Begging for a rescue to pick him up Thursday. He becomes available to rescues at 12:15 p.m.”
 He's neutered -- ergo, the cone. His number is 41567473.

For any of these animals, call the shelter at 972-2216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com. 
And when you go to the shelter’s online site HERE, you’ll also see that Mesquite has not escaped “kitten season” either. This is one of many of the youngsters.
And then there’s that fantastic black and white cat named Baker (41323126) —he’s just over 3 years old and is described as “LARGE”. He’s in the cat room at the shelter — not the only black and white cat, but this fabulous photo makes him look like the only one with 1970s Elvis-style sideburns. [LARRY ASIDE: Elvis? Yes. Baker might just be a hunka hunka a burnin’ love. And I realize that’s a reference about 3 generations back. Someone will have to explain “Elvis Presley” to people born since about 1990.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
WEATHER, STARS, LAWYERS
We wake to a bit of fog, a bit of chill, a bit of humidity on a Thursday morning in May in Texas and the reality is that we know it’s temporary. You can step outside for a minute and feel summer on the way. … I wish Bonnie Hunt would make more movies. Yeah, I’m a fan of Return to Me [2000] and I miss seeing her on the David Letterman show, whatever it’s titled. I keep nodding off before the broadcast — what? It’s not on any more? But … Oops! I’ve slipped a timedisk again. …. One more showbiz note: Lately I’ve have the opportunity to watch the original TV Perry Mason and the rebirth in the ‘90s. I like the original better, I think. But I also like the original movie version of Perry Mason films that starred Warren William in the 1930s. That's him with some pups. Can you tell by reading this odd jumble of contemplations that I’ve not been drinking decaf this AM, but am swigging the high-octane java? Needed the energy. Have housework ahead of me. Be kind to animals.
—- To offer opinions or rock-solid tips on coffee brands, click on ‘comment’ or email dallrp@aol.com where we’re limited to one cup of joe in the morning. —-

ON A RAINY DAY, THERE WAS CONCERN....AND PUZZLING BEHAVIOR BY HUMANS

EDITION OF THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 [PetPowellPress] As I began to write Wednesday morning, rain fell in what can only be described as a thunderous deluge. And almost immediately after the first rumble, I heard the sirens from a fire truck and an ambulance. Maybe a couple of each. Prayers be with them, you know?
This is a proper time to say “Thank you” to all the First Responders who risk their lives at crash scenes and flooded areas while trying to keep order on the streets of Dallas and any place it’s raining in Texas — rain’s not naturally occurring here, you know. (I kid, but it seems like that sometimes.)

Those photos? They are of former street dog Porche Noel who, as the thunderclaps arrived, moved from her usual morning slumber spot to the rug next to my desk chair — she likes to be within comfort-petting distance during storms.
Shot that second photo left-handed with the camera upside down while giving her a chin-chuck. I am her First Responder in storms and at mealtime.
WHILE MY DOG IS DRY AND PROTECTED
THERE IS CASE #1900512537
Maria Isabel posted this situation on Facebook during the Wednesday deluge. The appeal for help had come from Sara Martinez.
Maria’s text read, “Dog is in distress, tethered and crying since 3am in the rain and thunder, tether is so tight he can’t sit down or reach water. On phone with DAS right now, case code #1900512537.”

Here’s the FACEBOOK LINK.
[LARRY ASIDE: This isn't anything new in Dallas. Advocates have been trying to get safety-for-animals city ordinances for a while. I don’t know what will happen in this case or in any of the hundreds of other cases of “outdoor dogs” in Dallas, Texas. I know that the Texas Humane Legislation Network is — at this very moment — trying to convince the Texas Legislature to outlaw such tethering of dogs. I also know that people who do this to a dog are not worthy of living on the same planet with a dog. There’s no excuse for chaining a dog in a storm that you won’t stand out in though, frankly, I’m doubting that you have, as the old saying goes, enough sense to come in out of the rain.]
SMALL SHELTER POPULATION GROWS
IN THE I-45 CORRIDOR SOUTH OF DALLAS
The team that monitors the animal population in the small shelters in Wilmer, Hutchins and Ferris reports that new animals have arrived. 
The happy dog is Lindy, a young Anatolian Shepherd, who, according to the small shelter protectors, was “found out on her own in an area known for where people dump dogs. How anyone could have left this sweet beautiful smiling face, we are completely clueless.”

There’s the distinct face of Mila, a mix of some sort.
And of course, we have the traditional photo of dogs aching to get out of the “cell” and into someone’s heart and home. 

Call or text 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com to offer to help rescue these great dogs in low-traffic shelters.
These shelters aren’t really set up to promote the animals — they depend on the kindness of big-hearted strangers to function as the contract point.
You can see more of the animals and read more of the stories by going HERE.
NOW AND THEN
A CAT NEEDS TO MOVE 

We got the tip on this cat from Laura Macias, one of the small shelter animal advocates. But Koneko-Chan is not in a small shelter. She’s in a home, but needs to be in a different home.
The year old cat (I think the photo has taken some of her gray out) has “big pretty green eyes” and she “loves to play and her favorite thing is to chase string. She will ask to play more by coming up and tapping you with her paw.”
How did this “sleep cuddle kitty,” as she’s described, come to need a new home? Her human, who lives in Waxahachie, sought help from Laura. The story is that Amanda “recently had family members move in that are highly allergic to kitties and she feels it would be better for Koneko-Chan if she had a home that could give her love and attention and where she could be in the same room with the family members she will love.”

That’s the story. To audition to adopt this “sweetest of the sweet” cat, call 214-270-9599 or email  amandasullivan214@gmail.com.
PLANNING AHEAD FOR SATURDAY?

A CLINIC OUT AT THE LAKE

From 10 a.m. until noon Saturday, there’s a low-cost clinic scheduled at the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake Spay/Neuter Clinic in Gun Barrel City. 
As you know, the Friends operate, so to speak, the world's most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City.
Among the non-surgical opportunities: “Vaccinations, microchipping, heartworm testing, feline leuk testing and fecal exams.”
 It is quite possible that your animal will get petted and adored. Read about the friends of the animals online at friendsoftheanimals.org or visit the Friends on Facebook HERE.
MEANWHILE IN EVERMAN

You remember that earlier in the week we mentioned 8-month Everman Shelter resident Lucas as needing to be adopted or rescued ASAP.
On Wednesday we got another note from Heather Harrison about the pressure at the shelter. She wrote, “Everman, Texas, Shelter is full and needs to make space.   They are begging for rescue assistance in getting dogs to safety.”

We have some of the photos of the dogs.

And here are the bios provided by Heather. 


The roster of “Need Out Dogs”:


“Brian - 7yr old, male Lab mix.  Fully Vetted.  
Very thin.  Dog selective.   (Been at shelter 6 months!)

“Barkley -- 2yr old, male Pitbull.  Fully Vetted.  
Sweet guy that loves attention.

“Sherman -- 3yr old, male Pitbull.  
Handsome guy that loves to explore! 
Very curious of his surroundings. Vaccinated, Heartworm positive.

“Maggie -- 8yr old, female Black lab mix.  
Sweet girl that just wants to explore!
Hates being at the shelter.  Wants a yard to run in.  Fully vetted.


“Riley -- 1yr old, female Lab mix.  
Sweet, outgoing girl that loves everyone.  
Dog friendly.  Fully vetted.”

To volunteer to help save these dogs, email Heather at NICKALE7@yahoo.com.


HOW ABOUT THIS PHOTO?

In the past few years — ever since Dallas City Hall started paying attention to Dallas Animal Services’ difficult work in the field and at the shelter —- the photography has gotten better. [LARRY ASIDE: With the exception of incoming cats posed in plastic containers for the online www.dallasanimalservices.org site. But that’ll change -- surely.]

I don’t know Nathan Hunsinger, but he sure captured a fantastic photo of Anastasia (A1062405). It was posted on the DAS Facebook page in the noon hour Wednesday.

Anastasia is a Pittie mix, about 3 years old, and she’s been in the shelter since March 27 — MORE THAN A MONTH, and, yet, still available and friendly. (LARRY ASIDE: There was a time when any animal in the shelter for that long was being held as evidence in a felony cruelty or drug case! I’m not exaggerating too much.)

Visit Anastasia at the shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland. Call the shelter at 214-670-6800 and ask about her by number.
More photos? 
Sometimes kittens might need some careful handling — or two-hand comforting? That orange kitten is Bari (A1060378), about 9 weeks old and, like many DAS kittens, in a foster home. Bari came to the shelter on March 27. Email DASFoster@dallascityhall.com.

And once again we’ll cite 12-year-old Zeus (A1066378), in DAS care since May 2 but available for personal meetings and cuddling at the PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center, 16821 N. Coit Road in Dallas (Call 972-381-1588, ext. 5. [LARRY ASIDE: Somebody adopt him and take a better photo so we can tell the happy story with a happy cat picture.]
A HOUSTON FOLLOWUP

Remember yesterday’s report about the dog shot twice and the dog that wouldn’t leave his side in Houston?
 This update was posted on Hilarie Rogers’ very busy rescue Facebook page. It reads, “This innocent dog was shot twice with a BB gun pellet in his shoulder and behind. However, the worse part is that he was run over and he has a dislocated back leg, and broken front leg. More likely, he was laying wounded and someone hit him. The Good Samaritan who saw them — he pulled him from the street to the driveway's parking lot. The loyal female friend, was crying at the vet, so they kept them together. Please donate and make a note for the shot pittie and his friend.” Donations would go to Adore Houston, the rescue group that is taking care of these beautiful dogs. Go to adorehouston.org. And here’s a VIDEO of the dogs getting accustomed to being treated by loving hands instead of dodging the world’s jerks.

CONTEMPLATIONS

FIRST RESPONDERS, TEXAS DRIVERS, THE CUP
The thank-you for skilled First Responders is from the heart. I’ve been out there — both as a reporter and as an “ambulance attendant” in the mid-‘60s when all you needed was a Boy Scout First Aid Merit Badge. Trust me, today’s First Responders give you better odds! 
They can do more than lift and load. ... For those of you reading this who have never visited Texas during a spring storm, you should know that Texas drivers (particularly those in Dallas) are notoriously bad in ice and snow, but they are REALLY treacherous in rain. Of course, we don’t know how many of those bad drivers in Dallas have come from California or New York or Detroit or New Orleans. So, while we’re mentioning First Responders, we'll also thank the First Litigators who know how to seek justice. ... I was sitting here at my desk typing Wednesday morning and suddenly realized that I’ve never seen an episode of Game of Thrones, but I am aware of issues that have arisen. For example, around 10 a.m. Wednesday as I was filming a one-man production of Game of Scones, I realized someone from craft services had left a coffee cup on my mousepad while the hairdresser were working on my beard. And now we have to reshoot the scene. Or not. Morning dragonbreath may remove that cup.
—- To offer opinions of cruel people or tips for their legal treatment, click on “comment” below or email dallrp@aol.com —-

PROTECTING ANIMALS -- PERSONAL AND POLITICAL IN THE LONE STAR STATE

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2019 [PetPowellPress] — Let’s focus on some rescue efforts. For example, there's a dog who was shot in Houston. But, maybe you can find a reason to smile, maybe you’ll find inspiration — or maybe you’ll find a reason to support political efforts to put the bad guys in animal cases so deep in the slammer that all they can do is think about what they’ve done

REMEMBER THIS GUY FROM TUESDAY AM? 

We featured his photo in Tuesday’s edition. The latest news is this guy is now a “former Dallas Animal Services dog.” The folks at Mazie's Mission tell us they are “working on some possible foster applications we hope work out.” Remember, Mazie’s Mission always needs fosters, volunteers, adoptors, donors — whatever you need to help animals live happy lives in happy homes. Click on maziesmission.org to see how to join in on the mission.
REMEMBER THIS GUY FROM APRIL 30?
Holy misery, is that not the saddest face on a shelter bed? Remember the note Hilarie Rogers posted? “Owner surrendered and on EU list for this morning at Harris County.” 
Agony. What happened?
He was rescued by Lisa Woods Holub and is now the topic of a Facebook page — you can follow him on the Benny the Bulldog Holub Facebook page.
The latest note on Benny is that he “will be i the ‘cone of shame’ for a while longer.” He’s having neuter surgery healing complications, but they ought to work out pretty well. Read all about him at this Facebook page HERE. Lisa wrote of Benny on Tuesday: “Still shy and scared but making progress. He did wag his tail today when I got home!”

ONE MORE HILARIE ROGERS NOTE
When I went to Hilarie’s Facebook page Tuesday afternoon, I arrived just minutes after this photo had been posted with the explanation that some “POS” — I think a mature audience will know what that is —- had shot the brown dog and the black dog had stayed with the wounded girl.

Minutes later there was an update that said, “Urgent Help Needed!!! Houston, SW, Beechnut and Cook, Storage facility in the corner! 911 Pit shot by a POS, female friend won't leave. A friend called HPD. POS caught. Dog laying wounded needs help ASAP. Cook and Beechnut!! Help! Help!! Help!!!”

Then, just after that, there were these updates: 
 "Lety Amada Amaya is on her way to the vet clinic. Dog has two shots on his shoulder. Please call your donations to ADORE Houston or the vet clinic.
"UPDATE: Adore Houston (https://www.adorehouston.org) is taking both dogs. Transporting to Central Houston Animal Hospital - 1638 Westheimer. Pledges and donations can be called for vetting and gun shot surgery.”
And here’s a video of the rescue and of the transport. [LARRY ASIDE: What you see is the concern of one dog for another. And people rushing to help. And what you also see is the aftermath of some horrifying behavior by a human being. Two human beings, maybe. One with a gun and a willingness to pull the trigger; the other with two dogs that were not properly restrained. Just when I think Dallas has cornered the market on jerks, I see this Houston situation. Might be someone who moved from Dallas, I guess.]
THE LEGISLATURE IS ASKED
TO PROTECT TEXAS ANIMALS:
YOU CHANCE TO HELP
Animal Rights Activist Christina P. Thompson sent us a important note about the Texas Legislature’s work for animal.
Here’s the text: “ATTN, DALLAS: Do you or someone you know live in this area? TX dogs NEED their help!

“Our basic shelter bills, SB 295 and HB 940 (which will define adequate shelter, protect dogs from chains, and eliminate the 24 hour warning period for saving them) are both up for a vote with the Calendars Committee. Why do we need your help? Because your House Representative is a member of this committee and the more of her constituents who voice their approval of this bill, the more likely she will be to vote YES to giving dogs basic shelter. Please either call her office at the number below or go to thln.org/house to send her an email telling her #DogsDeserveShelter. We need all the help we can get!”

As you know, you can go to thln.org and see how to get involved in all aspects of getting the Texas Legislature to protect animals and prosecute villains.
CONTEMPLATIONS
DALLAS DOGS & CATS: POLITICS; A SALUTE TO TEACHERS
There are older cats in the crowd of youngsters at the Dallas Animal Services Shelter and Adoption Center. As of Tuesday afternoon the shelter listed 252 dogs. We’re used to seeing that many. But just a few weeks ago there were under 25 cats in the care of DAS. Tuesday? SEVENTY-THREE CATS — most of them in the kitten “weeks-old” age grouping. The older ones include these two unflatteringly photographed older cats —- seven-year-old Ted and 12-year-old Zeus. Then there’s a boy named Maizee. He’s a neutered fellow. Orange and white. And he’s listed as “about 6 years old.” He came into the shelter on Monday and, like Zeus and Ted, is on display at the PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center, 16821 N. Coit Rd. in Dallas. Go see them there or contact the shelter at 214-670-6800 and use Maizee’s ID number, A1066843. 
In the meantime, that beautiful dog is Teddy, about EIGHT YEARS OLD and in a DAS foster home. Somehow he wound up in the city’s shelter on April 22. Teddy is A0676733. Email DASFoster@ dallascityhall.com or call the shelter. Same number as the cats’. [LARRY ASIDE: I think I’ve become more attuned to the age of shelter animals because ol’ dogs and cats used to be puppies and kittens and they’ve all grown up to understand humans better than humans understand humans. You hardly ever hear a dog or cat say, "I just don't understand people." And they’re more forgiving than humans.] … Anybody want to comment on the City of Dallas municipal election results? Or do you just want to say congratulations to Fort Worth for re-electing Mayor Betsy? …
You know, of course, that this is National Teachers Week. My schoolteachers — from elementary school through two years of junior college — were magnificent. I hope I never embarrassed any of ‘em. I’ve had the opportunities. Here’s an event that may have some criminals' ex-teachers shaking their heads or saying, "I'm not surprised." How stupid are crooks who try to back a pickup into a 7-Eleven so they can try to lift an ATM into the bed of the truck? Anybody else see that video of the Duncanville attempt on NBC5? Failing grade for those crooks. Not just at the scene of the crime, but at life. Still time to change, fellas. Maybe.
—- Offer teacher praise or stock tips by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com —-

A TUESDAY ARRAY THAT TOUCHES ON ANIMALS, FIENDS (YES 'FIENDS'), GOLF AND A BITING EXPLANATION OF A TECHNOTYPO

EDITION OF TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2019 [PetPowell- Press] We’re going to look at animals in the Small-Shelter Corridor south of Dallas on I-45, a Mesquite ol’ girl, a mangy Dallas dog and other notes today. Even some golf.
 We’ve opened with a photograph that's cute but easily despised. Cute because Oliver, an Aussie Shepherd/Heeler Mix, is cute in the photo and knows he belongs with people.
But the photo is despised because it shows a happy dog shoving his big nose through the gate on a small shelter where foot traffic is as rare as a rainstorm in August -- it could mean curtains for Oliver.
Who in his/her right mind doesn’t despise the fact that animals wind up on the clock in shelters in Texas. We’re a kinder state than that, surely. Readlarrypowell.com officially rejects the traditional Texas Theory of Animal Management: “Got an animal problem? Let’s kill it.”
 Most of the time animals aren’t killed because of an animal problem; they’re killed because of a people problem. Help me off this soapbox. I’ve got to write about a mangy dog who needs a break in Dallas RIGHT NOW.
This guy (A1066310) is at Dallas Animal Services and Mazie’s Mission is trying to save the 55-pound, mange-stricken dog but needs a foster. The story? “He has demodex mange, is heartworm positive and needs an angel right now or he will be leaving this earth,” according to the email we got from our animal-advocate pal Leighann Hayden. To offer to foster this tough case of a loveable dog done bad by humans, email vet-care@maziesmission.org.

As of about 3:30 p.m. Monday, DAS was listing 252 dogs, 51 cats, six Guinea Pigs and a Rabbit on the “adoptable pets” site at www.dallasanimalservices.org. Heck, yeah, the city shelter buy euthanasia juice in bulk. DAS is working on a 90 percent live release stat, but, honestly, who is going to be happy killing 10 percent of 310 animals?
MEANWHILE IN EVERMAN

Lucas may look familiar to you. We’ve mentioned him before. I had to be reminded by Heather Harrison, the rescuer/ advocate who has been trying to find a home for him since she met him in the shelter -- oh, good grief -- EIGHT MONTHS AGO.
He’s a 2-year-old Hound/Lab mix who is “a sweet playful guy who loves people.” He’s also “great with other dogs.” He’s vaccinated and heartworm negative but has a skin allergy. Heather says Apoquel has “helped greatly.” And, she says, “I've paid for him to start on Apoquel and I supply the shelter with food for him in case the allergy is food related.”

To help Lucas live a long and happy life, get in touch with Heather at NICKALE7@YAHOO.COM.
LET’S GO TO THE SMALL SHELTERS
IN THE I-45 CORRIDOR SOUTH OF BIG D
Yes, Oliver, the first dog, is one of the small shelter dogs — the small shelters are in the towns of Wilmer, Hutchins and Ferris. There is a team of rescuers who try to get more eyes on the animals that are in those shelters and waiting for the needle. They’ve decided not to say which shelter the animals are in, just to tell people to get in touch with the contact point and they’ll help you rescue or adopt the dog. These are the ways to rescue these small-shelter, no foot-traffic, might-as-well-be-hiding in Carlsbad Cavern dogs: Call or text 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.
 Oliver is an owner-release, surrendered “by someone who couldn’t care for him. He desperately needs YOU,” the note reads and adds, “Oliver enjoys riding in the car.” See his photos in the opening.
These photos (above in this section an right) are of Kira and her family, the kids Oreo and Toffee. They were “found out” roaming, probably dumped altogether. The note reads, “It is so fortunate that she was found, but we wonder, too, if there were more puppies of there truly were only two.”
[LARRY ASIDE: We can definitely say that evidence shows there are three cute dogs and, somewhere, a roaming creepy jackass with an ice-cold heart. Pardon my entirely appropriate French.]
We’ll also note that the boy dog Connor (the reddish and white Pittie mix) and girl dog Callie (possibly a Boxer/Texas Blue Lacy Mix) are well- socialized an adore each other. They may be 2 years old. But they were “owner-release by someone unable to care for them.”
Jax, the German Shepherd, was a stray. “seems to be a young guy; just so much wants to be love.”

Then there are these two pals — Bailey and Benji, possibly Corgi/Spaniel mixes. Who knows? Now, there’s some editorializing in their bio, but, what can it hurt to note that dogs don’t need to be roughly handled in most cases? The bio reads, “They are very bashful and were caught by county officers, which is not the best thing - we've seen many of these dogs traumatized after being drug along on catchpoles …We do not know if this is why these cuties are scared but we feel so very bad for them. … They appear to be brothers that love each other. It would be great if they could go to a foster so someone can help them in a home environment.
There are many more of these animals on an email that you can read by clicking HERE.
Don’t NOT CLICK — failure to look may keep you from finding the love of your life.

SEE THE SPCA ANIMALS
ON THE WEBSITE ONCE AGAIN
Yeah, the SPCA’s adoptable animals were not quite computer-ready in the earlier days of May — the display was being recomputered (that’s not a word, but you get the drift). Now you can go to spca.org and click on adopt and see these adorable adoptables.

That cat is Magnum Meow (41477122), a neutered, 2-year-old orange fellow who is described as “medium” in size though he is apparently magnum in meow.

 In a nod to current news, we’re citing the Pittie girl Duchess (41469936), in honor of the Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and the Little Royal boy born Monday. The Dallas Duchess is a 5-year-old Earhound who is spayed and loves belly rubs. Like many members of the Royal Family, she is described as “sweet, snuggly, friendly and playful.” [LARRY ASIDE: There’s goes my invitation to Buckingham Palace to visit the Queen’s Corgis.] Duchess, by the way, is available for trial runs — just to see if she likes you and you like her enough to move in together. Email foster@spca.org.
CONTEMPLATIONS
ANGEL ADOPTED AND A ‘BITING’ COMMENT;

BLOCKING DEVILISH BEHAVIOR;

A FOSTER IS BETTER THAN PAR
ITEM A: We’ve repeatedly mentioned that 8- or 9-year-old Shepherd mix Angel was on the clock in the Mesquite Animal Shelter. Then, came the big flood and a number of animals were moved to other facilities for safety sake. Our Mesquite volunteer shelter biographer Judi Brown was enamored of Angel and even pledged money to help save the lop-eared ol’ girl. When we asked Judi about Angel’s fate, she quickly got with the volunteer grapevine an reported that one of her fellow volunteers “got back with me to let me know Angel was adopted. Now, let’s pray she wasn’t adopted to be a backyard dog!” Readlarrypowell.com agrees and wants to pray that Angel is watching TV on a comfy couch and enjoying all the benefits of living in a home full of love. 

We have one more note about Mesquite. Judy was "talk texting" us about how volunteers had teamed up to help the Mesquite animals. When it arrived at readlarrypowell.com, the message read, “We have have volunteers coming in and biting all the dogs.” In the style of all good reporters, I asked the follow-up question, “Volunteers are BITING all the dogs?” And Judy replied, “I talk text and frequently this stupid phone changes things. I’m sorry I did not see this. Biting=bathing.” Makes me want to hug every volunteer! Biting a dog is easy, but bathing a dog takes some determination. [LARRY ASIDE: Special thanks to Judi for letting me report on this. I wanted a good chuckle and some positive admiration on thee record before we got to this next item.]
ITEM B: The headline in The Dallas Morning News was enough to really anger me to the point of…well, I don’t know what. Here it is: “Dallas man drowned his cat after she clawed his tattoo during a bath, police say.” The story is HERE. And among the conditions of his $5,000 bond, the DMN says, is this restriction: He is not allowed to have pets. 
So that brings us to House Bill 3729, being considered in the current Texas Legislature session. (It may be stalling in committee, but maybe it can gain momentum if enough decent humans call their state reps.) HB 3729, proposed by GOP Rep. Matt Shaheen of District 66 (West Plano & North Dallas), would make it a “criminal offense” when an “animal is possessed” by a person who “has been previously convicted of an offense involving animal cruelty.” You can ask how to help promote this bill by going to the Texas Humane Legislation Network site at thln.org.
The jerk in Dallas who drowned his cat did not inspire HB 3729, but he sure appears to be the kind of person who fits its intention. Can I get an “Amen”?
Protecting animals is surely a non-partisan, united goal in the Lone Star State. Surely.

ITEM 3: We’ve often mentioned the great foster Stacey McCool, generally helping Paws In The City animals. She’s also a golfer — when she took a swing on Saturday it was a case of “May the 4th be with your golf ball.” 
She used a driver and whapped the dimpled pill toward the green where it landed but didn’t stop. It rolled uphill and into the cup at the back of the green, 136 yards away from the tee. Skill all the way. Of course, “Ace” McCool posted a Facebook entry about this triumph at Luna Vista Golf Club. And our theory is this hole-in-one “shows that good things happen when you’re a good animal person.” Ace agrees, “Being good to animals does bring ‘good juju.’”

—- Offer golf tips, foster tips or tips for Texas Legislators by clicking on ‘comment’ below or emailing allrp@aol.com. —-

MAMMOTH THOUGHTS ABOUT DOGS, CATS, RACOONS, RESCUERS AND INSOMNIA

EDITION OF MONDAY, MAY 6, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Welcoming to the first workday of the first full week of May. Two more Mondays and Memorial Day. Not that anyone is watching the calendar.

In the meantime, think about things humans can do to help animals. Make a list. Tell people who are looking for a fulfilling mission in life. Remind them that the pay is lousy but the rewards are mammoth. Wait, don’t use “mammoth.” Not everybody knows mammoths are extinct. No need to scare off the good hearts. There’s not an apartment in Dallas that would accept a damage deposit for a wooley mammoth. (That’s a 1996 U.S. stamp.)
AFTER THE STORM
As you may have read or seen on TV or heard on the radio, Mesquite Animal Services has been coping with a tsunami, so to speak, of water damage. Looking around for info, I ran across this in an email forwarded by our pal, the animal advocate Karen Lee of Barkeyworld.com. 
Over the weekend, Shanelle Robinson of Mesquite Animal Services wrote, “We are urgently looking to place our kittens at Mesquite Animal Shelter due to our facility going under construction starting Monday morning.”

Thought we’d mention this challenge and show the photo just in case Mesquite can use some extra help during the construction process. Email rescues@cityofmesquite.com. Call the shelter at 972-216-4192.
Remember, the shelter — like all taxpayer-financed shelters — exists to take in animals that people don’t want or think they “need to get rid off.” There’s always an active intake.
MEANWHILE IN BURNS FLAT
Terry Lynn Fisher, the reliable, relentless rescuer in Burns Flat, Okla., has encountered some new challenges. 
Here are the stories and photos:

“I got a call from the Elk City Pound…are about 20 miles from me. There were 4 pups dumped at Elk Lake (a regular dumping ground for the poor animals) and it is out of their area. They are full as well, so the ACO asked for help.
“I had a friend pick them up and she is keeping for a week. They are skinny and covered in ticks; we will try to get them cleaned up and fattened up. But they desperately need a safe place to go…
“While the ACO had me on the phone, he informed me he had also found some baby raccoons and the momma had been killed. So I am getting them in the morning (Monday) and taking the two hours to Wildcare Foundation in Noble. (My granddaughter is so mad because she will be in school.) I do not need anything for the raccoons, I just think they are so darn cute I had to share.

“But the puppies need your help... Sponsors for vet visit and a safe place to go.”
Get it touch with Terry Lynn by emailing remember_oddball@yahoo.com.
CONTEMPLATIONS

MUSIC, MARGARITAS AND SLUMBER
My little boy Bart has a little boy of his own, Connor — back in middle school Bart played violin, his twin Bret played cello. Connor plays slide trombone. I’m not sure which is the most pleasant rehearsal instrument. Connor was among the members of the Boswell High School jazz bands we enjoyed Saturday night at the annual fund-raising concert — proceeds help the bands buy equipment and afford other things related to celebrating and understanding music. This is my photo of the pre-show stage — the bandstands read “Boswell Jazz,” but after listening to the show, I think the label ought to read “Boswell HOT Jazz.” These musicians were magnificent. They’re led by jazz director Jarred Carlton and the overall Boswell band program is directed by Kevin Fallon. Boswell, FYI, is in the Eagle Mountain/Saginaw Independent School District. Know what the school band is called? It’s the “Band of Gold.” … My dear friend Kristine McCarty is a busy, busy momma and spouse and still finds time to write a blog called Mom’s Mimosa. For Cinco de Mayo she posted a way to create Margarita Mimosas. Here’s the LINK. Thing to remember is that, just as Jimmy Buffett sang “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere,” it’s not hard to look into your heart and find a good reason to declare, “It’s Cinco de Mayo somewhere.” … I slept for 10 straight hours Saturday night/Sunday morning. You know what that means? I’ll have insomnia for about three weeks. To borrow from popular commentary, “No good sleep goes unpunished.” I heard your “Amen,” my fellow insomniacs. That's Porche Noel demonstrating how to nod off.
—- To offer opinions or sleeping tips, click on ‘comment’ below or email dallrp@aol.com. I’ll wake up to read your email. If I’m sleeping. —-

TWO PALS SHOW HOW BALANCED LIFE CAN BE ON THE BACK OF A COUCH

May the 4th be with you, of course, as we reach the weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
You see here a bundle of white hair — the cat is Simon, the dog is Porche Noel.
 Both are rescues.
Porche Noel wandered up — she was starving, walking with a limp and her too-tight collar, which she'd outgrown Lord knows how many months before, had given her a rasp that would last for years. Her bark was not “Arf,” it was “Harrssssffff.” She got over it after about six years. 

Simon’s story has also been told before — he was abandoned in our shrubbery when his Mom and three siblings vanished. We bottle-fed him. He’s sometimes entertaining. Most of the time, in fact. Oh, OK, every day of his young life he's entertaining.
In this case, I managed to snap him sleeping upside down, semi-stretched out and cuddling the chin of his buddy Porche as they both balanced on the well-covered back of our couch.

As you may know, I am a veteran journalist -- reporter, editor, columnist with the byline "Larry Powell, At Large." It used to be "At Extra Large," but I've lost some weight.  Anyway my skills are such that I can get an interview from just about anyone. Porche and Simon were a snap -- practically as mouthy as a politicians.
My question to these two was, “What were you thinking in that tandem couch photo?”

Porche said, “I’ll go first. Five things I was thinking. (1) Those cats are spring-loaded, aren’t they? (2) How close can a cat get?” (3) Is my nose safe? (4) What is that smell — catfood gravy? and (5) Is it safe to close both eyes?”
Simon has been asked, “What’s up, kid?” repeatedly in his young life. But he was game to respond to “What were you thinking in this photo.”

“I’ll tell you,” he replied. “I’ve got a list of five also. (1) Purr. (2) Mew. (3) This dog doesn’t have a very flexible tail. (4) Should I feel as if I’m in a Doris Day movie and everything is entertaining? And, (5) I remember looking up at Porche’s double-chin and asking, 'Is it too early for another snack?' ”
Our second photo shows Simon on the rug looking up. The third photo shows Simon measuring the jumping distance needed to join Porche on the couch. and the final photo shows Simon contemplating while Porche gives us an “Oh, brother, not again” look with her expressive eyes.

And that, folks, is how we interviewed two rescued critters who once slept on the ground and now own an expensive couch and its two protective covers.
[Show us how much fun your slumbering critters can be by emailing their photographs and life stories to us at dallrp@aol.com. We’ll feature them in our weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. You’ll be inspiring people to decide that they need a dog or cat in their home to add to the tranquility of life. And you’ll inspire insomniacs to believe that they, too, can get some sleep if they can learn to balance on the back of a couch.]
—- Offer tips on sleeping, the stock market or Lotto Texas by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

TRYING TO SAVE ANIMALS & SAVING ANIMALS -- PLUS, BIG TEX HELPS STUDENTS

EDITION OF THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2019 [PetPowellPress] — Rain. We’ll be wishing for it again in a few weeks. Texas gets dry once the spring semester is over, right? 
FYI: I miss my springtime wisteria. The rain has stripped the vine of all the beautiful blossoms. If you look closely enough, you’ll see a bee in the lower part of the photo. I don’t know where all the honeybees have gone, long time passin’, don’t know where the bees have gone, long, long time ago — oops. I was channeling Peter, Paul and Mary. "Who?" cried out people born since radio quit playing folk music.
Now, let’s move on. Some of this report will not be cheery. Some will be or will at least give hope.
JUSTICE AND THE OUTCOME:

SADNESS, BUT WITH HOPE
When I read this entry on the Dallas Dog RRR (Rescue. Rehab. Reform) Facebook page I thought I’d like to see one more “R” at work — Rescue. Rehab. Reform. And “Rrest” as in “arrest.” Maybe the person who had Justice ought to do a little time in an orange jumpsuit in the Graybar Hotel. 
Look, as you may guess from that photograph, this isn’t a happy story. It has upbeat moments, however. And I don’t know who wrote the entry on the Dallas Dog RRR Facebook page, but it’s touchingly done. It begins, “Justice has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. For those that did not know his story, it started when the owner placed him on a chain and refused to provide vet care!
“Justice’s life had mostly been spent outside living on a chain that weighed more than his body weight.”
A month ago, the story says, the organization got Justice as he was “fighting for his life.” He had bronchitis, early stages of pneumonia, heartworms, intestinal worms — plus he was “extremely emaciated and in kidney failure.”

That's an awful lot for such a small dog.
[LARRY ASIDE: When you see that the Texas Humane Legislation Network (thln.org) is making efforts to get dogs off chains, think of Justice. He’s what can happen when idiots tether their dogs.]
Justice was on all sorts of meds. Antibiotics in particular for the upper respiratory infection. And his mouth and teeth were infected. He wasn’t stable enough to have dental surgery.
But, in spite of his horrible existence, he had been loved by everyone he met after he was taken off the chain. Loved. Tears-in-your-eyes loved. 
And, this week, the post reads, “Justice laid down for a nap and he did not wake up. He crossed the Rainbow Bridge in peace on a warm bed….”

When you read this complete story on the Facebook page, I hope you notice the heartfelt passage at the end. “Thank you to all that stood up and fought for Justice and his Freedom. Justice will get JUSTICE. We will continue to fight for the voiceless, unwanted, CHAINED dogs. Run Free, Justice, Run Free, you will NEVER feel pain again.”
The Facebook post is HERE. 
AND, THEN THERE’S SIMBA
As you may know, the SPCA of Texas adoption pages have been under “re-construction” lately, so you can go to the SPCA Facebook site to see what’s up and what’s up is this girl Simba.

She’s one of the reasons people support the SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit.
Here’s the SPCA Simba report:
“Simba is special. She’s taken hold of our heart and refuses to let go. This 7-year-old Shepherd mix is brave, forgiving, kind, and more resilient than we could’ve imagined. In April our Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit removed Simba from a home in Kaufman County. It was apparent that she needed immediate medical attention. Once she arrived to the SPCA of Texas’ Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center she was given an exam, medicine, and more. She’s on a strict feeding regime right now and her main focus is getting healthy. She’s feeling much better!
“Your support helped save her, thank you. To report animal abuse visit spca.org/abuse."

[LARRY ASIDE: We see Justice, we see Simba and we think of animals we’ve seen in the past — animals starving on chains, animals living in filth, breeding animals locked in cages, animals dumped because it was easier than loving them. What kind of humans are roaming free? Holy smoke. Lock ‘em up.]
A CAT PUZZLER AT DAS
As you know, Dear Readers, at readlarrypowell.com we’re big fans of older cats. And we make an effort to bring them to the attention of rescuers and adoptors
On Thursday we opened the Dallas Animal Services page — that’s www.dallasani- malservices.org — to check on the shelter cats and spotted this guy Zeus — listed as ID#1066378. He’s TWELVE, a boy cat. And he came in on May 2, according to that listing. 
Then, we moved to the DAS Facebook page and found an appeal for Zeus, #A1066073.
 (He doesn't appear in the online list.)
Not sure it’s the same Zeus. Could be, though 073 looks gray and the lousy photo of 378 makes him look black, but he could be gray outside of the plastic cage. 
Whatever the case, both boys named “Zeus” need a home, no matter how old they are. Here’s the link to 073.
One cat named "Zeus" and listed twice or two cats named "Zeus"? There's a solution: Adopt both cats. And if it's just one cat up for adoption for $10, adopt another one in honor of the second mystery Zeus. See, that'll work out nicely.
CONTEMPLATIONS

TUMBLING IN; REBUILDING; BIG TEX AND COLLEGE
Having see the Grand Canyon, I’m always surprised to hear stories of people falling into it. I mean, there IT IS. It’s a far cry from tripping over an uneven tile in a strange restaurant’s floor. And, yet, now there’s a story about a tourist who, on Wednesday evening, fell into Kilauea volcano in Hawaii and lived. Landed on a ledge 70 feet from his launching point. It wasn’t a trip ’n’ fall — he was, I repeat, a TOURIST. Trying to get a better picture, maybe. An AOL news story says the Volcanoes National Park people used a Department of Defense helicopter to get the guy to safety. Let me be the first to say, “Thank you, taxpayers!” …
Don’t know if you ever go to the spca.org page to look at available animals, but this was the message Wednesday afternoon. And, maybe the online catalogue of critters will be up and running by the time you read this. As you know, the SPCA has several locations where you can visit adorable adoptables….
We’re closing on a happy note with a group photo. The State Fair of Texas’ non-profit Big Tex Scholarship Foundation honored students Tuesday — the 2019 Big Tex Scholarship Awards winners. Fair-goers will recognize the plaza in front of the Tower Building.

The scholars are from six Dallas Independent School District high schools in the Fair Park neighborhood and, also, seasonal employees from across the metro area. The 2019 college scholarships totaled $1.25 million. Here are some of the winners. And, of course, you’ll want to know that the 2019 State Fair of Texas, with the theme “Celebrating Texas Creativity,” runs Sept. 27-Oct. 20. And if you think you can win a prize with your art, your photography, your cooking or your quilting — among many other talents —- click HERE to see how to enter the State Fair Creative Arts Contests “in 5 easy steps.” You don’t even have to wear boots. Unless you want to.
— How-dee, offer opinions, tips or frustrations by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —

SAVING AND TRYING TO SAVE DOGS AND CATS; THEN, HOW STRONG IS A RESTRAINING ORDER?

EDITION OF THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2019 [PetPowellPress] We have assorted notes for this edition, from found kittens to dogs in a spot in shelters and a litter born behind a gas station. And Cashew gets a break at Denton! That’s Cashew in the mugshot
.
We also will have a contemplation on the way “a piece of paper” is no protection at all in “domestic violence” cases around here — but, could things be changing?
SEEKING BOTTLE-FEEDING VETERANS
TO HELP A LITTER OF 4 KITTENS

We got this appeal from our ol’ pal and longtime veterinarian Dr. Catherine Marr. She wrote, “We found a litter of 4 kittens at our apartment — need bottle-feeders for, at most, TWO weeks. Surrogate mom even better.” Call 214-938-5312 to volunteer to help. And, yes, the kittens will be delivered to their new foster feeder.
[LARRY FYI: Dr. Marr knew Inky the Cocker (healed his mange!) and she knew Spike the Kitten — she rescued Spike after kids had thrown rocks at the little guy and broken his leg. I got to adopt him and we had him for years and years — every Christmas, he curled up next to Martini’s Bar in our It’s A Wonderful Life display — slept like an angel the whole Christmas season. That’s Spike curled up on Griffin, another rescue — both are now gone. And Dr. Marr named our black-and-tan Chihuahua — rescued from Kiest Park and stinkin’ like a bio-bomb. Dr. Marr said, “Let’s call her Rosie, because she doesn’t smell like one!” Help Dr. Marr help a new generation of kittens.]
CASHEW’S ON A WHOLE NEW TRIP
As the afternoon hit midpoint Wednesday, we got a note from our traditional Denton tipster Amy Poskey. She wrote, “I’m very happy to report that Cashew has left the building with BY MY SIDE ANIMAL RESCUE D/B/A PAW SUPPORT RESCUE!  YAY!!!  THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOO MUCH PAW SUPPORT RESCUE!!!  And, thank you to EVERYONE who helped make this happen!
“If anyone would like make a donation for Cashew’s care, please click on the link below.  No amount is too small.  Thank you!  Amy.” Here’s that LINK: www.pawsupport.org.
NOW LET’S TALK AN ‘ANGEL’
AND A DEAF MALAMUTE!
There is a certain despair and frustration when a dog waits weeks and weeks and weeks to be saved. Apply those sensations to Angel (#41246824), currently waiting and on the clock at Mesquite Animal Services. Our tipster, the volunteer biographer Judi Brown says pledges for Angel have hit the $150 mark, at least. And she says, “That’s because this is such a precious, precious girl. If you’re looking for someone to take slow easy walks with or to just watch TV with Angel is your girl!”
 
Judi’s note reads that Sebastian (41243005), a “2-year-old stunning Alaskan Malamute is CRITICAL” because the shelter is filling up….If you cannot adopt or rescue please network him.
“If this absolutely stunningly gorgeous two-year-old Alaskan malamute could talk he would tell you that he’s special because he’s deaf. He would also say that he would be willing to learn sign language. Being deaf just makes him even more special! He was a returned adoption on 4/15. The owners were not willing or able to deal with this disability.

“Sebastian has one brown eye and one blue eye. Sebastian is also special in that he is gentle, friendly, happy, and very alert. He gives gentle kisses. He even went nose to nose with many dogs in the bay trying to kiss them. His previous owner said that he is good with children. He weighs 50 pounds... that’s 50 pounds of love and cuddling!”

To adopt or rescue Angel and/or Sebastian, call the shelter at 927-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite. com.
See more Mesquite animals online HERE.
That cat is Boy George (41557059), a year old fellow currently in the Cat Room.

MEANWHILE, THE FILLING STATION DIDN'T
HAVE A MATERNITY WARD, BUT...
This Momma had all these puppies behind a gas station in Covington. That’s about 20 minutes south of Cleburne on 171 — not far from the Metrosprawl. 

We learned of this situation from Karen Lee of barkleyworld.com. She asked, “Can anyone help this family? They need a rescue—or a foster! Trinity GAP Rescue in Euless, Texas, will take if they can find a committed foster in the area. If interested in fostering this family for GAP, contact Steffenie at steffeniegaprescue@gmail.com.  If interested in rescuing, contact Heather Harrison at nickalez7@yahoo.com."
[LARRY THEORY: 
If interested in adopting a puppy, Momma Dog will be very relieved in about six weeks!]
CONTEMPLATIONS

HEADLINES, TRIALS, CHANGES
This is nightly news almost. Some guy kills his girlfriend or kills his estranged wife or kills his ex-wife and their kids. Lots of variations on the theme and they all wind up tragic.
So many of these villains are under restraining orders. Reporter Dana Branham, in her recent Dallas Morning News story about Susan Law’’s murder by her ex, quoted the victim’s son: “A piece of paper is a freaking piece of paper," Kae Law said. "It's not going to protect my mom from being killed. It didn’t.”
This story is like many. A piece of paper was no kind of shield. The Dallas Morning News’ columnist Sharon Grigsby, my longtime colleague at the big paper, has taken on the challenge of examining just how safe the system makes things for people who think they are being protected. Read what she wrote for Monday’s edition HERE. Life ought to be respected. Know someone violating a restraining order? Make a call to the authorities. You may save a life. Or several. And applaud The News for looking at this subject -- it's journalism for the good of people.
—- Offer an opinion by clicking on ‘comment’ below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

TIMES FLIES, SHELTER CLOCKS TICK. AND IS "THE LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK" BACK?

EDITION OF TRANSITION FROM APRIL 30 TO MAY 1, 2019 [PetPowellPress] — Holy smoke, it’s nearly the Christmas season. Yep, May the Oneth arrives and we’ve been getting more catalogues and political notices than we get the Tuesday after Labor Day in a presidential election year. 
This photograph of The Senator, a cat solemn enough for either House of Congress, is a reminder than time flies. (Unless the mood strikes me or The Senator, we won't use this photo again until the shopping season arrives.)
May is the season of proms and graduations — love the kids and help them find a happy and profitable path. Show of hands, please, how many of us need to win Lotto Texas — I typed this sentence with one hand held aloft. Now, let’s find some good fortune for animals and their helpers.
CASHEW, A DOG

Never run into a dog named for a nut — after all, “Peanut” is a legume. Wait. A "cashew" is a seed, not really a nut. But, doesn't matter, Cashew The Dog needs a home.
We mentioned this interestingly beautiful dog before. Cashew, currently waiting for a rescue or adoption in the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter. She has a bit of a knee problem, but nothing that can’t be fixed, according to our tipster, Amy Poskey.
Amy writes, “Come on y’all, Cashew is still waiting for her knight in shining armor to scoop her up and make her dreams come true!  How can anyone resist that ADORABLE face just begging for love?”

To save Cashew, call the shelter at 940-349-7594 or email gayla.nelsen@cityofdenton.com, Randi.Weinberg@cityofdenton.com, julien.peralta@cityofdenton.com, dentonshelterdogs@yahoo.com, and/or dentonanimalservices@yahoo.com.
ANOTHER ‘SWEET LITTLE GUY’
FROM BURNS FLAT, OKLA.
First, a note: Terry Lynn Fisher, the reliable, longtime rescuer in the western section of lower Oklahoma, is in a fix when it comes to paying the vet and boarding bills for several animals she’s saved. Consider helping her and email her at remembering_ oddball @yahoo.com to ask how you can help. Could be adoption, could be rescue, could be donation. I’m almost certain there’s no Burns Flat Giving Day— so we’ll call this Burns Flat Giving Month. Terry Lynn’s not non-profit yet; though, of course, she doesn’t make a profit rescuing critters. Who does?

See this guy — 5 months old and he has a story. 
Terry Lynn writes, “Last month, we got him and had him for a week. I finally heard from owner. She stated she didn't know we had a pound, which is understandable if you are new here — there is no sign or anything.
"We had her register him and let her take him home. When I learned where she moved into or, I guess, WHO she moved in with, I was very concerned, for they are awful people.

“Well, last week, we got him again... And we have not heard a word from her... Even if she does contact us now, he will not be going back to her. He is very playful and such a happy guy.”

And, yes, to offer to help this guy, email Terry Lynn at remembering_oddball@yahoo.com.

STRUTTING REMINDER

The SPCA of Texas’s 14th annual Strut Your Mutt Race To End Animal Cruelty is scheduled at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge near Trinity Groves on the elegant flowing (if it keeps raining) river in downtown Dallas. Registration is $35 for the 3K Fun Run and $40 for the timed 5K run. See GoStrut.org HERE. The event is presented by VCA Animal Hospitals and Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Register at GoStrut.org.
Handling celebrity duties? WFAA's Demetria Obilor, Carter from 102.9 NOW and Lone Star 92.5's Debbie Alcocer.

LOOKING AT FACEBOOK
YOU MAY SEE SAD FACES
You can spend all day looking at Facebook. Now and then a photograph will stop you dead in your tracks. Look at this one. 
It was posted by Hilarie Rogers with this note: Owner surrendered and on EU list for this morning (Tuesday) at Harris County.” A later post read, “I was told adoption hold and rescue back-up hold.” That means maybe there was a break for this dog. We’ll try to find out -- we think the dog was rescued.
In the meantime, if you know someone who is thinking about dumping their dog, give ‘em this photograph. Maybe they’ll understand that dogs are not just toys, they are living beings with emotions and ethics and decency. Beyond humans sometimes.
CONTEMPLATIONS 
THUNDER, SALARIES, YETI/BIGFOOT 2020
How much has it thundered this spring? So much that Texas Earl the Cheeseman hardly stirs any more to bark back at the thunder. … How much is too much for a movie ticket? $10? How much is too much for a university football coach? (Clemson’s Dabo Swinney $9.3 million a year.) How much is too much for an outfielder? Quoting USA Today about Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, he “is owed $68 million over the next two years and the Angels extended the deal another 10 years, for $362 million.”
 What does Texas pay the high school teachers who learn our young ‘uns about how the guvmint works? Salary.com says, “The average High School Teacher salary in Texas is $59,101 as of April 29, 2019, but the range typically falls between $46,801 and $69,401.” Bless the teachers for taking on the mission — and may their hard work show up in this year’s final exams and the rest of the kids’ lives. ... I saw an India Times story Tuesday reporting that an Indian Army mountaineering team had spotted Yeti footprints in a place where the alleged Abominal Snowman had not previously been seen. (Here’s the LINK.) And, of course, we believe these footprints belong not to a Yeti but to a bayou-dwelling, backwoods cousin of the American Bigfoot known as The Legend of Boggy Creek. He or she lives in the bayou lands of southeastern Arkansas. After years of traveling the globe, the philosophical Legend of Boggy Creek, i.e., The Fouke Monster, is returning to the United States to run for president. Got to be the only reason he or she would show up. America Needs Bigfoot 2020. Look for the bumper sticker. Enjoy the original trailer for The Legend of Boggy Creek HERE FYI: Director Charles Pierce's daughter has had the film remastered and it appears to be returning to theaters, starting with a debut in Texarkana in June. Here’s the news release.
—- Offer opinions and solutions by clicking on ‘comment’ below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

GIVING DAY IN EAST TEXAS ARRIVES: MANY CAUSES INCLUDING THOSE FOR ANIMALS

We got this reminder Monday morning from animal advocate Karen Lee of Barkleyworld.com. And  she has a good point -- many rescuers and charitable people know rescuers and animal causes all over the state. Plus, animals in need pay no attention to political boundaries! As has been frequently demonstrated, rescuers and advocates will also cross those imaginary lines to save lives.
Readlarrypowell.com has written about several of the organizations on the East Texas Giving Day list -- that day is today, yep, April 30.
You can see the list of registered animal organizations HERE. I've sprinkled the logos of organizations we've written about throughout this text and Karen has noted her Pound Pals support.
Here's Karen's note:
"You’ve probably heard of North Texas Giving Day but how about EAST Texas Giving Day? I hadn’t either until this year!! Let’s support our “local” charities to the East of DFW that do not operate in counties eligible for North Texas Giving Day. 
"I’m sending this email out in support of Pound Pals, a senior dog/hospice/special needs pet rescue in Emory, Texas, but there are many other charities listed as well. So, please consider a donation to Pound Pals and/or other East Texas charities of your choice!!  Giving is good for the soul!!"

 

Karen noted the donation for Pound Pals is HERE.
And the list of the 13 registered animal agencies is HERE. The list of all East Texas participating non-profits is at www.easttexasgivingday.org.
--- To offer a reason to help animal rescuers, click on 'comment' below or email dallrp@aol.com. ---

 

OLDER CATS, AVAILABLE DOGS AND A MYSTICAL TOUR OF NORTHEAST TEXAS

EDITION OF THE FINAL DAY OF APRIL 2019, TUESDAY THE 30TH [PetPowellPress] — Welcome to Tuesday. We have a wide-ranging report today — all of it involving animals. Surprise. Surprise.
SOME EXPERIENCED CATS
NEED HOUSEHOLDS TO MONITOR

Eight-year-old cats are waiting to be adopted. 
The first 8-year-old is Mary (A0650292), in the care of Dallas Animal services since April 25 — she’s a spayed, gray tabby. You can see her at the PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center, 16821 N. Coit Road in Dallas. Visits are free and cat adoptions are $35.
That 8-year-old apricot girl is Butter Cup (2 words!) at the big shelter (I-30 at Westmoreland) since April 16. Call the shelter at 214-670-6800 or stop by and ask about #1064233.

And the neutered male brown tabby is Sammy (A1064740) — also 8 and also at the Everyday Adoption Center. He’s been at the shelter since April 20.
Go to dallasanimalservices.org to see how to adopt these middle-aged cats or the kittens and teenagers waiting.

In the meantime, this is the latest DAS adoption campaign for dogs.
Through May 5, you can adopt a dog for TEN DOLLARS in Dallas, where cats are slightly higher. But as this is being written, there are 238 dogs listed on the DAS site and 34 cats. So dogs are free; the scarce Dallas cats are $35 and there are only THREE unwanted Guinea Pigs in Dallas and they can be adopted, based on rarity, for $500,000 each. I made that up. But this cuddly girl GP is A1065247, known as Marshmellow — she’s about 14-weeks old. 

THE SOUTHERN CORRIDOR
OF SMALL SHELTERS
AND DOGS WITHOUT VISITORS
We’ve mentioned these two dogs before, Connor and Callie. They’re among the many dogs in virtually unnoticed and sometimes inaccessible shelters along the I-45 corridor south of Dallas — only minutes south of Dallas. 
Connor, the Pittie mix, and Callie, the solemn Boxer mix were released by an owner who was “unable to care for them.” They well-socialized, “precious and sweet,” according to their bios. Both are around 2 years old. And they face an awful outcome if someone doesn’t make a move to help them. 
To ask about helping these two, text or call 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.
[LARRY ASIDE: The fear among rescuers is the smaller shelters are “returning” to era of “lock ‘em up and good luck” rather than following the lead of larger shelters and trying to save more lives than they take. Might be that a political movement is the only thing that will change the way business is conducted.]
SCOOTER AT GARLAND
We lifted this from a post by Kerri Thorn late Monday evening — it’s about this dog listed as A236940 but known as “Scooter.” The story reads, “Volunteer noted Scooter runs to other side of kennel while approaching, but once getting down to level, he builds up the courage to approach. He has the ability to socialize, but is very hesitant. He doesn’t mind the leash, but is nervous when someone reaches over his head. Fast movements scare him. He is more cautious than anything else once outside his kennel. He will need some time to overcome his fearfulness, and has a good chance doing so. Unfortunately, time is something that we cannot guarantee as space is very limited.”
 Stray — not claimed by his owner. Young, about 54 pounds and hard to examine because he’s skittish. [LARRY ASIDE: Why should a dog be punished because his human vanished after, perhaps, teaching him to be frightened of other humans? It’s upsetting to even think about it.]
 To offer to help Scooter, email rescue@garlandtx.gov -- that's for questions, responses and rescue tags.
CONTEMPLATIONS

A ROAD TRIP AND WHAT I SAW

No pictures — I was driving. But here’s the deal (It isn’t like I’m claiming I saw Bigfoot on a scooter in downtown Dallas):
On the way to Texarkana Monday — my mission was to tidy up my late Mom’s home — I glanced to the right off I-30 near Mt. Vernon and saw, standing on the earthen dam of a stock pond, a tan-coated Alpaca chewing pensively and looking around the terrain. That was the morning sighting. I don’t know if the Alpaca was a native of Franklin County.
On the way home to Dallas, the first leg of the trip took me on Highway 82 from Texarkana to Hooks -- this required passing through a community named Leary and in a pasture on the side of the two-lane highway, I saw a herd of what I think might be Indian cattle -- not Brahma, but the thinner mixes (maybe) that come with longer horns. However, my attention was quickly diverted from the cattle by a herd of chubby Zebras moving along at a good clip toward the pasture's pond. Could have been two, could have been 20 — the sudden stripes at about 65 MPH confused me.

South America Alpacas in the morning; African Zebras in the afternoon. It wasn’t until I got back on I-30 and saw an armadillo on the shoulder of the road that I really began to believe I was still traveling in Texas and hadn’t slipped into some Dr. Doolittle Reality Warp. Oh, and let me know if you need a Zebra. I managed to get one to crawl into the back of my car and stretch out next to the Alpaca. I’m kidding. But it could happen. Anything can happen in Texas. I once petted penguins in downtown Dallas — and I hadn’t been drinking at all.
—- To offer Zebra, Alpaca or Human advice, click on “comment” below or email dallrp@aol.com. —-

HAPPY SAVES; TAKING FOSTER OPPORTUNTIES AND RICO SUAVE REAPPEARS AS A COOL CAT

EDITION OF MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2019 [PetPowellPress] I’ve written a few times through the years about the business cards my funspouse Martha gave me. On Sunday, I was cleaning out one of the cluttered regions of my home office and discovered a copy of the card. At the bottom — I didn’t want to print the numbers — there were two phones: One labeled “Office” and the other labeled “Kennel.” That Martha -- clever girl.
Why did the vigorous rescuer of animals print those cards for me? Because I’d brought home one a week for about a month and, as she said, “They just keep getting cuter and cuter.”
We didn’t stop bringing animals home; we simply found reliable places they could go after we got them happy and healthy and ready to move on. Sometimes. 
I think that experience may be why I encourage people to get involved in fostering animals. It’s rewarding. It’s good for your heart and it also teaches you how deeply you can love and how happy you can be to know that an animal you taught to trust and love is now living in a home and showing how love is important.
I’ve watched so many rescuer/fosters celebrate glorious adoptions. I’ve also seen fosters confess “I just couldn’t give this one up.” It happens. “Foster Failure!” To the joy of all involved. And, then you figure out a new way to take in an extra dog or cat.
You don’t have to pick up a dog of the street or from under a storage shed to have a foster dog. Those two were ours. The big black dog is Baby Jane Doe, picked up as a puppy at the bus stop on Marsalis at Colorado, the heeler mix is Annie, pulled from under a neighbor’s storage shed about 5 weeks after she was born to Calamity, the dog in the photo atop our website. We had Baby Jane from 1997 to 2011; we had Annie from 2004 to January 15 this year. They started out as fosters — that lasted about 20 seconds — until I looked into their eyes and they hypnotized me. They used to got outside and romp together — then, on a summer day, they’d come back in flop down on the entryway tile to cool off. I can’t really look at that picture for long without having to dab the tears, you know? I’m not alone in these emotions when people run across an old photo of a dearly missed dog or cat. To borrow from old slang, “Waterworks!”
Look, here’s the deal: Fosters help animals survive the system. If a foster has a spot, you can cheat the needle out of another victim. 
City shelters have foster programs (see Dallas Animal Services HERE)or pick a non-profit shelter or a rescue group — dogs, cats, wildlife, horses. You can foster just about any critter if you qualify. Most foster groups provide the food and medicines for fostered animals. And you get to enjoy the triumph of your new friends finding a worthy home while you make way for the next one. It’s a wonderful act of love.
BENNY, THE RESCUED DOG

Stephen Foster, the top dog at DFW’s Furgotten Friends, posted these photos with this great sentence: “This boy was a minute from being dead. Benny Boo Boo has a new chance on life.”

You may remember the back story. A good and decent woman saw this harnessed dog tied up in bushes next to a local road. He had his rabbit toy with him.
I’m no Sherlock Holmes but we can deduce from the facts that the dog didn’t tie himself to the tree. Nor did he have himself Ubered to a remote area so he could dump himself.
The passing angel saved him. He went to DAS and lost his rabbit. But sometimes things work out and Stephen Foster and the team at DFW’s Furgotten Friends rescued Benny, Stephen got him a new toy. This photo is the “ride to freedom” and Stephen explains that he got Benny. That he’s “out of the shelter and safe.” And he adds, “I gave him a new toy heart that says ‘Free kisses’ on it.” 
It was a close call. Stephen wrote, “Benny went from the streets to the shelter and at his possible last hours on earth we grabbed him. This big boy is heartworm negative and up to date on shots. He'll soon be neutered. Benny is a high energy boy and loves anyone willing to play with him or love on him. He's simply 68 pounds of HAPPY! He's probably too much dog for cats but he wants to play with other dogs. They should be big high energy dogs in order to handle his size and energy. Benny has already showed us how smart he is so should be a great candidate for All Breeds Obedience Training Club. If you're interested in fostering or adopting Benny please head to our website at www.dfwfgf.org."
[LARRY ASIDE: And if you know who dumped this dog, remember that abandoning an animal is against the law in Texas, so make a call to the police. Someone needs to be reminded that dogs aren’t trash.]
INTERESTING TALE
AT DALLAS DOGRRR
This weekend story is bad enough but it’s the photograph that got me. 

The story on the Dallas DogRRR (Rescue. Rehab. Reform), is headlined “BROKEN & FORGOTTEN” and it reads, “There he sat. Hit by a car, dragged in by a catchpole and thrown into a concrete cell only to wait until the rest of the kennels fill up before he's killed and put out of his misery.”

We’re not sure which local shelter had this guy. There are several candidates — based on this behavior.

The story continues, “He sat there without a second thought for a WEEK! A WEEK! It wasn't until a volunteer managed to ‘get permission’ to visit the shelter that was he seen. And then, he was given a day to get out. Absolutely sickening!
“He's unable to walk, hasn't eaten, and he has road rash all over his backside. We can't imagine the pain he has been in, but we're going to try to help him. PLEASE! Please help him... we need your help for this guy!”
Donate at www.dallasdogrrr.org/donate or at www.paypal.me/dallasdogrrrr or on Venmo here: @Dallas-DogRRR.
Go to the website HERE to see how to adopt and foster and get involved. Yeah, they have cats, too — that’s Aspen West and her litter.
AN ANGEL PICKS UP
MATILDA IN COWTOWN
We got the story on this from the great Karen Lee of barkleyworld.com. It’s a story that gives you hope for humanity. It reads, “Matilda was dumped in Fort Worth near the downtown area.  A kind human picked her up and took her to a shelter to see if she had a chip.  There was no chip or any way to know where or who this precious girl belongs to.  The kind human did not want to leave the dog at the shelter so she gave her a name and is keeping her until she can find a home.  Matilda loves baths, sleeping in the bed, and car rides. Matilda is working very hard on potty training.  It is unknown if she is spayed or her vet care history.”

To see about adopting this beautiful Fort Worth Downtown Wanderer (may be an AKC Breed, not sure), email emmasevents@gmail.com or 817 298-4183.
TOUGH SPOT IN DENTON
FOR THE LITTLE DOG CASHEW
We get the tip on this girl Cashew, an under 6-months Heeler mix, from Amy Poskey, our traditional volunteer monitor of animals in the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter and Adoption Center. 
Cashew came into the shelter on April 20. The mostly healthy 21-pound dog was released, according to Amy, “by an owner who stated that they had been keeping her for the last several months for someone who never returned for her.  Cashew has an old fracture/injury to her rear left knee close to her growth plate.  With time it could heal on its own but she continues to limp and favor that leg.  She is currently on pain meds but she really needs to be in a loving home on a soft bed where she can heal and get the medical attention she needs.”
Cashew is #81582. Call the shelter at 940-349-7594 or email these addresses: gayla.nelsen@cityofdenton.com, Randi.Weinberg@cityofdenton.com, julien.peralta@cityofdenton.com, dentonshelterdogs@yahoo.com, and/or dentonanimalservices@yahoo.com.


BETSY’S FANTASTIC FACE;
KIT KAT’S 6 AND WAITING
These are among the many animals in the Mesquite Animal Shelter. Our Mesquite volunteer tipster Judi Brown says Betsy “is a 2-year-old tawny-colored terrier Pit that came to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 4/22 as a stray. Not only is her coloring very soft and attractive but her eyes look like they’re lined with eyeliner. She has a regal stance. If you were to take Betsy for a walk, she would turn heads! She is that striking! She is joyfully exuberant! She leaped around the yard with happiness. She chased toys but did not retrieve them. She is friendly. She wants to please, and when she attempted to jump on me several times, all I had to do was tell her ‘no’ and she stopped immediately.” She’s #41364732 and she weighs 56 pounds and sits for treats!
Also, Judi has been working for a while now to get Angel, a 9-year-old dog, out of the shelter and into a happy place. Any day now, if she’s not adopted, she’ll wind up on the “Code Red” list. (Click her photo to make it grow.)
To ask about any of these Mesquite animals, call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com to tag Betsy.
You can see more adoptable Mesquite dogs and cats ONLINE HERE. Among the cats is this girl Kit Kat (41265742), a 6-year-old who is house-trained and spayed and waiting in Mesquite’s Cat Room. She arrived on April 9 and her adoption fee is $35. Six-year-old cats deserve a good home with cable TV, cuddling and a selection of furniture for napping.
CONTEMPLATIONS
TIME TRAVEL, YARDWORK, STICKY FINGERS
See the name of this Mesquite Animal Shelter cat? That’s right. It’s ”Rico Suave.” Somebody naming cats at the Mesquite shelter is reaching into the distant past. Anybody else remember Rico Suave? It’s the name of a single released in 1990 by Gerardo, a singer/rapper from Ecuador. Here’s A MUSICAL LINK. And if you want to read the lyrics in English, you’ll think there’s no way a politician is going to pick this number as his campaign song. … Most annoying neighborhood power tool — leafblower. Anybody want to argue that? Chainsaws when trees are being felled? Hmmm. Still leaning toward leafblowers. … Should you eat cheese puffs when working with a computer mouse? Is there a “sticky factor”? We’ll see.

—- Offer musicial advice, investment advice or hysterical retorts by clicking on ‘comment’ below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

THE NAPPING CAT MAKES A POINT

OK, this napping cat is making two points. One is political. One is territorial.

Yes, once again our weekend spotlight for Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap focuses on a beloved member of the readlarrypowell.com staff, our honorable feline, The Senator.
As you may know, politicians continue to make news which means they will make appearances on TV and radio and in print — The Senator has access to all three of those, plus he has a subscription to The New Yorker — says he likes to laugh at the cartoons and try to understand the poetry. Join the crowd, I say, un-poetically.
In the opening photograph, you see one of The Senator’s favorite sleeping positions. He’s on the back of the recliner, backside facing toward the TV, and the crown of his skull buried into the protective blanket. If you’re a cat lover, you know that a protective blanket is as important as a hairdresser's cape over your good clothes.
He had been watching some of the “spin” programs when he decided he’d had enough and buried his face in cloth and began to gently snore. It’s a long time to November 2020, so I expect to see him in this position repeatedly.
Now, the third photograph shows a change in the guard. 
Yes, The Senator is napping on a dog bed. It is the prized dog bed on the floor in front of our big television. Usually there is one large dog there and another one in front of the big dog — they like to think the human eyes are focused on them rather than the big screen.
And in this case The Senator has claimed the territory. That is the shadow of our boy Dudley The Angel, a hefty Border Collie/Chocolate Lab mix who is patient with cats and will, now and then, try to herd all of them except The Senator. 
The Senator is not interested in being herded.

 [DEAR READERS, in this photo you can see the hairplug hairline that gave The Senator his name — here he is trying to cheer me up over some sentence he’d edited so it would be more readable. He’s a careful editor. Send us entertaining or tranquil photographs of your dogs, cats or “other” sleeping — the email address is dallrp@aol.com. With the help of your biographical information, we’ll post the stories on readlarrypowell.com in our weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Your photos will demonstrate the entertainment and adoration value of household companions. And it will help the global insomniacs have faith that they, too, can get some precious sleep if they can just figure out how to bend their necks in such a way that their ears touch the surface of the back of the recliner before their forehead does.]
--- Offer opinions, sleeping tips or photographs by emailing dallrp@aol.com or you can also click on 'comment' and sound-off. ---

WHEN ANIMALS NEED HELP, IT'S UP TO THE HUMANS WITH HEART

EDITION OF FRIDAY PM APRIL 26, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Oh, for crying out loud.
You’ve heard the phrase “See something. Say something.” 
When I saw these photographs (click on them to make them grow) that the SPCA took on a raid on County Road 234 in Kaufman County yesterday, I felt the need to say something. What I would have said would not have been nice.
But save that for later. Right now we need to report on this raid — 13 dogs, 5 cats, one horse were seized. And there’s this sentence from the SPCA of Texas news release: “Several deceased animals were also found on the property, but were too decomposed to be removed.”

The survivors are at the SPCA’s Russell H. Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney. There’ll be a civil custody hearing on April 30 in the court of Kaufman County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Mary Barden. 
No word yet on any arrests or cruelty charges. If it’s a hoarding situation, there may be some sort of mental or physical health issues that affect the way the case is handled. These situations always require careful investigation.

You see the rescue workers in the haz-mat gear. Why is that needed? The SPCA says the ammonia level in the house was 286 parts per million and that “any ammonia level over 20 ppm or long term exposure to any level over 12 ppm can cause health problems in humans.”
Here’s the ugly scene in words from the SPCA: “Three dogs were found tethered by chains to trees and six other dogs were found roaming freely on the property. Three deceased puppies and three deceased dogs were found in small, shed-type structures. One dog and three cats were found inside the living area of the residence, which was filled with feces, urine, trash and other debris. Three dogs were found shut in a bedroom with no access to food or water and two cats were found closed inside an adjoining bathroom, which held feces-filled sinks and a feces-filled bathtub. One deceased cat was also found in the bathroom. Several deceased birds were found inside filthy cages in the living area. No appropriate food or water was seen inside of the residence, and no potable water was found outside.”
These are photographs from the raid. There also are some videos. See all this at this LINK.
According to the SPCA, the rescued animals have various issues — hair loss, eye problems, fleas, wounds, long nails, injured limbs…”significantly underweight.”
This raid was launched as the result of an animal cruelty complaint that came to the SPCA on April 12. A cruelty investigator went to the property on April 17 but was not allowed “beyond the gated driveway.” The owner let a notice for the owner to contact the SPCA; the owner contacted the SPCA on the 19th but “was unwilling to schedule a visit. with the investigator.” On the 20th, another investigator was also stymied by the gate, but managed to contact the owner, the sPCA says.
Ah, but on April 23, the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office joined the SPCA investigators for a “welfare check.” This time they got onto the property and not only saw the condition of the tethered and roaming animals, but easily detected the ammonia and stench from inside the house.
The SPCA/Sheriff evidence prompted a warrant and on the 25h the warrants were served and many lives were saved.

[LARRY ASIDE: The problem with real-life justice is that it frequently moved slower than TV crime shows. Oughta be some way to kick this rescue business into a faster gear — post-rescue can drag on, but saving the animals ought to be swift and sure. And I write this having seen the glacial speed with which the legal red-tape procedures can sometimes work in the cases of child abuse and animal cruelty — to the detriment of the victims.  Never short-cut justice, but always protect the victims.
Now, we wait. We’ll see how the animals do — were they mortally neglected? Will the power of loving human hearts save them now? Was a hoarder trying to save them and suddenly overwhelmed?
 Is Kaufman County the capital of animal hoarding/sales abuse in Texas?
There’ll be more cases in the Lone Star State. Why? Because there are humans who fail. They may think they can get rich breeding mutts. Or, maybe they start out trying to do something good for three or four dogs and their jerk neighbors or people driving through from out of town shove unwanted animals out of the car right at their gate.
You can help. See how by visiting spca.org or going to the Cruelty Investigations site HERE. This stuff isn’t done without expenses. Now, help me down off this soapbox before I incur some medical expenses.]
TWO FORT WORTH SITUATIONS
THAT ARE POTENTIALLY FATAL
These notices were forwarded to readlarrypowell.com by Leighann Hayden, a veteran at this sort of challenge — no time, but save the dog anyway. You’ve seen these things. We’re going to try to help.
Her first note about a dog at Fort Worth Animal Care and Control reads, “IMMEDIATE RESCUE NEEDED!!! SET TO DIE AT 6PM TODAY, Friday, April 26!!  Barney. No age or weight given. Email now to save: fwacctag@fortworthtexas.gov."

Isn’t that a hell of a last-minute appeal here on a Friday afternoon.
The next one from Leighann reads, “PTS AT ANY TIME!!! - Fort Worth, TX - ‘Gertie’ Sweet, Calm, Barely Senior, Blind, Rat Terrier X *CODE RED!!! PLEASE HELP!!!  NOT SURE HOW MUCH MORE TIME WILL BE GIVEN AT THE SHELTER!!!” Same e-mail address for Gertie. fwacctag@fortworthtexas.gov. 
The shelter has a system and email is it. But you can visit the Chuck Silcox Fort Worth Adoption Center, 4900 Martin St., Fort Worth, 76119.
Gertie is #41380414. She’s a 10-year-old plus Rat Terrier described as a “total train wreck but she is o sweet and calm.” It’s a hospice situation. Needs a good human heart.
—- To offer opinions, solutions or admiration for rescuers, click on ‘comment’ or email dallrp@aol.com. —-