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MISSING IN IRVING: SHELBY

EXTRA EDITION, MONDAY MARCH 18, 2019 [PetPowellPress] This is an extraordinary BE ON THE LOOKOUT for a wonderful girl dog who was saved only to be lost. 
We got Shelby’s info from veteran rescuer Carol Duncan who helped her survive some serious ailments after she’d been rescued from Dallas Animal Services. She fostered Shelby during her pneumonia and heartworm treatments. That was in September. 

And now, Shelby, at 42 lively pounds, is lost somewhere in the area of Northwest Park in Irving, in the big area north of Irving Mall where her human, Mark Pierce, lives. Or, she may have been picked up! Or someone took her in! If you have seen Shelby or know her whereabouts, call Mr. Pierce at 972-255-0744 or Carol at 214-680-0514.
Mr. Pierce, who is retired, had adopted Shelby in mid-February — she’d become his dog after, Carol writes, “he lost his beloved Border Collie Cheyenne due to lymphoma.”

As you can tell from the photo, Shelby is a frisky dog — that is an element of this story. Mark has a doggie door and a 6-foot stockade fence.

On March 8, Mark had stepped inside his home briefly and when he returned, she had vanished. Carol says, “We believe that she was chasing a squirrel on the top of the fence and somehow managed to go over it.  (Yes, I've had a dog before who could sail over my 6-5’ fence.)”

Carol says, “A woman called the Border Collie Rescue Texas number a short time later from a park that is a block away from Mr. Pierce's house (Northwest Park in Irving) and said that there was a dog there wearing a BCRT [Border Collie Rescue of Texas] tag.  However, she left without taking the dog or confining her in any way.  No one has seen Shelby since then.”
She adds, “Mr. Pierce is broken-hearted … We have listed Shelby all over Facebook, through the microchip company, on Pawboost, and every other venue that we can think of.  Flyers have been created and posted all over the area where she was lost.  The night she was lost, I drove over to Irving and walked the area until after 1 a.m. with no luck.  The Irving shelter has been notified and has her listed as a lost dog on their website.  Yet there have been no reported sightings.
“I believe that someone who was at that park after she got lost may have taken her home with them.  They may not live in the immediate area, as people go there for various activities, so they might not have seen the flyers.  I'm at a loss however, as to why they would not have contacted us through the BCRT tag that she is wearing or by having her scanned for a microchip, which leads back to us, as well." (Once again, call Mr. Pierce at 972-255-0744 or Carol at 214-680-0514.)
[LARRY ASIDE: The dog I was raised with was this Border Collie girl named Queenie — there wasn’t a fence that could hold her. She loved being active — three boys kept her busy. I miss her every day. It is in honor of Queenie and in honor of the hearts of people who rescue and adopt these glorious dogs that I post this appeal for Shelby. May she be safe and may she be returned to her home for a long and happy life befitting a legendary Border Collie.]
— Click on ‘comment’ below or email dallrp@aol.com. —-

FOR MONDAY: A CAVALCADE OF CRITTERS AND A FEW HUMANS IN THE MIX, TOO

EDITION OF MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Chalk this up something previously unseen. At dallasanimalservices.org on Sunday afternoon, the city listed 236 dogs available for adoption and only 16 cats.
Sixteen.
And here we are at the official outset of puppy and kitten season in the most fertile city in any of Texas’ legendary 254 counties. 
Among the available cats is 4-year-old Beau (with his tongue out), in the shelter’s care since DECEMBER 1, 2018. How can he not have been adopted? He’s in a foster home so email dasfoster@dallascityhall.com.
The other older DAS cat is Frisk, thought to be about 10. He’s been in the shelter care since February 18. You can see him at the PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center, 16821 N. Coit Road in Dallas.  When you see him, he won't be as warped as this shelter photograph!
FOUND ON THE ROAD
We learned of this dog through our veteran rescue pal Deborah Lynn Verner who reports that the “pup kept crossing Miller Road @ Rolando, almost getting hit. Found out that he used to have an owner on this street, but they died. .He with Garland Animal Control now. Deb says, “He’s a very calm pup. No collar, not neutered. He's small/medium size. NO microchip.
The link TO ADOPT HIM IS HERE.
As long as you're reading, there’s an impressive bunch of animals needing help on the Facebook group site for Lost & Found Dogs and Cats of Garland/Mesquite HERE.
A RUSTY REMINDER
The Just Save The Dog folks posted this note about Rusty, the dog facing death because, while at an adoption event at Klyde Warren Park, he bit a kid. The suggestion is that if Frisco and Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Dak Prescott can work out a deal to save the life of a free-roaming, human-biting Pittie, Icon, surely the big ol’ progressive and tender-hearted City of Dallas can keep Rusty from getting the needle. Here’s the FACEBOOK LINK to see how to help. 
Here’s quote from the note: “JSTD has been advised that the Rusty case will be discussed in Council’s closed session this Wednesday, March 20, 2019. We have the support of a few councilmembers to argue in favor of the city dropping the city’s appeal to the Texas Supreme Court. However, WE NEED ALL DALLAS ADVOCATES to email or phone their councilmembers, educate them on the issue, and encourage them to DROP the city’s appeal to the Texas Supreme Court.”

A RESCUE DOG WHO’LL
PROBABLY RESCUE YOU

That’s generally the way it works out. You're moping; the dog you rescued walks up and, with a nuzzle, changes your mind about life. 
In this case, Roxy (41070453) is an 8- or 9-year-old Golden Retriever who is rescue only because of her age. Our tipster, Judi Brown, the volunteer biographer for Mesquite Animal Shelter, says Roxy “was surrendered to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 3/14 because the owners were moving! … Roxy is a total sweetheart! She not only is absolutely gorgeous, she is also friendly and very affectionate. She appears happy as she wags her tail constantly. She is gentle and calm.” 
The 71-pounder loves belly rubs. Judi writes, “Her previous owners, who had had her for three years, said that she was an inside outside dog and that she is good with children of all ages and with other dogs.”
Call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmequite.com.
AFTER THE STORM, IT’S BREEZY
AT APOLLO SUPPORT & RESCUE
You may remember that the Justin facilities of Apollo Support & Rescue got blown around quite a bit by last week storm.
 Apollo says support has been “amazing” and that “we were a bit worried since Facebook wasn’t fully working …but everyone really came through!”
And the Apollo folks also wrote, “As the clean-up at our facility continues, so does our main mission, saving dogs.” 
That is the appropriately named Breezy, currently in an Apollo foster home where she’s working out tummy issues and hoping to put on some weight. She’s only 14 pounds right now, but, Apollo says, “still such a sweet and loving girl.” See Apollo Support and Rescue on Facebook or check out the website HERE.
CONTEMPLATIONS
DAVE BARRY, A WOLF AND A SONG
We got this report from our Easter Seaboard Bureau Chief Andy Fisher, known as a respected journalist though also recognized as husband of Annie and the human who is carefully looked after by Maxie the Dog and Chloe the Cat. He also has contacts in the news world, including famed ABC reporter Bill Diehl. This time it was a Diehl-to-Fisher tip about a soon-to-be-released book by the famed Miami-based writer/humorist/columnist Dave Barry. It’s called Lessons From Lucy: The Simple Joys of an Old, Happy Dog. You can’t judge a book by the cover, but if it has an old dog on it and the byline DAVE BARRY, it’s probably going to be happily worth the investment. … I’m probably not the only Texan who is enamored by wildlife and doesn’t want to shoot any of the free-roaming critters. Now and then I wonder if there were wolves in the Ark-La-Tex woods where we camped when I was a Boy Scout back in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Maybe that’s why this story about the giant wolf Yuki caught my eye. I remember seeing GIANT shadows among the towering pines. Read the Yuki story HERE. … In honor of wolves of all kinds, here’s our MUSICAL TRIBUTE. If you’re reading this in an office, crank your speakers way up. It’ll make people look differently at you.
— Offer opinions or explanations by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —

SPRING ROLL IN DENVILLE; ST. PAT’S, THE K9 EVENT & BUBBA THE AILING DOG — HE’S HOME AND BEING LOVED!

We’re going to get into a spring salute to a New Jersey dog and cat shortly, but, as you can see in the headline, this edition has several elements — all touch on the love for animals. It’s a topic for the heart.

For our regular weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, we start not with a slumbering animal, but with a dog who is having a spring roll on the grass a little bit early. 
That is Maxie, a staffer in our Eastern Seaboard Bureau, based on the wonderful shores of Indian Lake in Denville, N.J.
Our Bureau Chief Andy Fisher, veteran of newspapers, radio and NBC's Today Show, reports that even though spring won’t officially arrive until 5:58 p.m. EDT on March 20 in Denville, Maxie took advantage of the 70s-plus temps on Friday.
[LARRY ASIDE: Temps in Dallas Friday? In the 50s. Apparently before spring arrives, the Earth is spending some time off its axis, otherwise there’s still be a half-a-foot of snow on the ground at Indian Lake and Dallas would be hovering in the 80s. Not sure that's an exaggeration.]

 You might wonder how Maxie has the energy to flop down by the lake and roll around like an enthusiastic puppy.
He gets his sleep. You see here examples of where he sleeps. He has the small bed, and he has the large bed, though, as you can see, Chloe the Cat, another of our Eastern Seaboard Bureau staffers, has a different opinion about whose bed that big one is. In fact, she’s known to “influence” Maxie to get up and change beds.
Maxie, FYI, has been reluctant to go outside for much of the winter — it’s too wet, too cold, or too icy/snowy for a smart pup to try to negotiate a single step into an arctic environment.

Maxie and Chloe are both rescues. The person who turned Bureau Chief Fisher into the famed Critter Whisperer of Indian Lake is Mrs. Fisher, Annie, a veteran at the rescue adoption mission.
 That's Maxie with the pair of them in warmer times on Indian Lake.
You might wonder about that photo of Chloe in the suitcase. Annie was packing for a weekend trip and Chloe thought she’d give a big hint that she’d like to go, too.
She ultimately stayed with Andy and Maxie and caught a little TV now and then.
[REMEMBER: We’re proud to post photos of your slumbering animals in our weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Send the photos and inphos, er, info, to dallrp@aol.com. Your life with your animals demonstrate that a household can benefit from having a calm sleeper in the home. Also, you’ll inspire insomniacs to believe that they, too, can get some sleep — if they find the right suitcase to crawl into, but they’ll start to belief.]

THREE MORE NOTES:
IRISH RITA; K9S; BUBBA AT HOME
NOT AN IRISH WOLFHOUND, but, Rita’s probably got some Irish in her — don’t we all? We offer this photo snapped by our pal Diane O’Combs. Wait. I got carried away with the Irish. That’s Diane Combs, longtime SPCA volunteer and famed adoptor of rescued dogs — in fact, she adopted Rita through Cody’s Friends, a note rescue group.
Here’s Diane’s little girl Rita reminding us that St. Patrick’s Day is Sunday and that Dallas celebrates it for at least the 48 hours of the entire weekend. So, be careful. 
My theory is Rita is dressed as a Leprehund. I’m sorry, I’ve misspelled Leprechaun. Luck of the Irish that she’d get me for a speller.

A NOBLE EVENT ON SATURDAY

 

Here’s the announcement for an important K9 event at the Cedar Hill Memorial Park. You may recall how the people with Cedar Hill Pet Memorial Project saved an entire cemetery for animals and gave it some wonderful focus with tributes to “War Dogs” and acknowledgment of the K9 first responders. Click on it make it larger.

CATCHING UP WITH
THE STORY OF BUBBA
As we reported during the week, Bubba has been enduring some really tough medical challenges. They shut down his intestines for a while and rendered the poor boy quite ill. But his human, Chris Harp, has been taking extraordinary measures to save this dog he loves. And Chris hasn’t been too shy to ask for financial help to save his wonderful Bubba. 
(On the left you see a mugshot of Bubba in post-surgery recovery.)
I asked Chris how he came to be Bubba’s human. 
Dear Readers, I’m going to warn you ahead of the explanation. You are going to read it and get a mad as I did at a stranger or strangers. You also are going to want the best things in life for Bubba. 
Chris explains: “He was a rescue from Louisiana. He had been chained to a porch where he was burned horribly and had an eye poked out.  Most of his hair will never grow back and he is one of the most beautiful beings I've ever seen. I foster failed on him. He's quite the soul!!!
“Here's Bubba before he got sick.”
Bubba is now back at home after visits to an emergency clinic and his regular vet after he became so ill. He’s had the limit of two surgeries to correct his obstructions and function, so he’s at the point of time and medicine doing the healing work.

Chris says, “Bubba is stable and home. His kidneys are starting to show signs of failing, but, hopefully, now that he's stable their function will improve. Main goal is to keep his intestines moving and monitor his kidney function....we will go from there.”
Barkleyworld.com's guiding light Karen Lee, who first tipped us to Bubba says you can donate to Bubba’s cause thru Barkleyworld at http://www.barkleyworld.com/. “We are a 501c3 and I will send you a tax receipt and a huge thank you. All donations through Barkleyworld are paid directly to the vet performing services and never to individuals,” Karen writes. She says, also, Bubba Rasmussen’s vet account is at Animal Health Care Center, 817-467-6688. The gofundme site to cover Bubba’s emergency surgery is HERE.
And you can text Chris at  (817) 896-2607 or email itzmaui69@gmail.com.
[LARRY ASIDE: God bless Bubba and all who love him. And, may some force for good get hold of the Louisiana villain or villains and change their hearts.]
— Offer opinions or solutions at ‘comment’ below or email dallrp@aol.com. —-

STILL SEEKING COSMO

Our pal Jan Gifford sent us a copy of the latest flier about the search for Cosmo, the 10-year-old fellow who was "lost in transit."  Click on it to make it larger.
He's had enough time to move beyond the area near McKinney where he was last seen on March 7. But you never know. He may still be in the neighborhood. He could be too terrified to move -- he hasn't been without his loved ones for his entire lief. Or he could have been picked up by someone and driven off to another city. Whatever the case, his rescuers need to know about him. Contact information is on this flier. Keep your eyes open!
--- Bless the animals on this planet. Click on 'comment' below or email dallrp@aol.com. ---

 

THINGS OF BEAUTY: ANIMALS NEEDING HOMES & RECALLING ONCE-COMMON PHRASING

EDITION OF FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Just before I began to type this edition, I was walking down the hall and our cat Simon was leading the way. From above, Simon looks like he’s smuggling a swinging bowling ball in his abdomen and I said to the innocent cat, “Got a little mid-drift bulge there, Simon?” He didn’t reply. Nor should he have responded. I’ll bet I haven’t heard “mid-drift bulge” out loud since the 1960s when it was the “selling point” of Playtex TV commercials. Simon, born in late 2017, may never have heard the term. This is a photo of substantial Simon with his Rottie mentor, Texas Earl the Cheeseman. More on bulge and non-bulge items in Contemplations. First, some animal opportunities for people who need animals and don’t yet know it.
THE LATEST REPORT
FROM BURNS FLAT
We keep up with Burns Flat’s animal situations in western Oklahoma because we find it interesting that the one-woman force of animal-saving nature Terry Lynn Fisher keeps working away at her mission. Thursday morning we got an email headlined “BURNS FLAT, OKLA … ONLY FIVE LEFT NEEDING RESCUE.”
This is after weeks and weeks of a tsunami of animal situations that had tried and failed to beat down Terry Lynn’s spirit. She kept running into humans who are such disappointments when it comes to protecting their own critters. 

About the phrase “only five left needing rescue,” Terry Lynn said, “Writing those words is almost unbelievable.... There are 5 needing rescue... While I still have large outstanding balances at the clinic and boarding, the dogs are LEAVING for rescues...
“Here are the last five needing a safe and loving place to go:

“BRUNO: I pulled this big goofy boy from the Hammon pound. It is also an outdoor pound and the wind chill got below 0. We put him in boarding to keep safe and warm....he only has enough for 4 more days in boarding. He now needs a rescue, or he will have to go back to the pound and face being killed... They do not like holding them past the stray hold because they have to care for them.” Then she writes, “I have taken a dog (from there) that had been attacked to get treated, then they were going to take him back and kill him... WHAT???”

“EMMA: This doll was picked up at the edge of town... She is young and a wiggle worm… She just cries when I leave... She is in our pound and really needs a rescue... Lab mix, maybe 35 pounds.”

“OREO: This poor girl was dumped by her people and the family members that took her in are awful… I have taken so many dogs from them... They took Oreo and two nights later, she was viciously attacked by their male... She had some serious injuries...  Now all better, she is still in boarding at my vet and ready to leave for rescue.”
“RUFUS: This boy was left behind when his owners moved... The friend with him went to rescue right away. Rufus had mange, so he went to my vet. Now all better, this love bug needs rescue so he can find his forever family.”

“ZEUS: This big boy is not happy at all in the small outdoor kennels at our pound.. he is so unhappy... He is a beautiful boy and really needs out asap.”

The best way to get in touch with Terry Lynn is to email her at remembering_oddball@- yahoo.com.

[LARRY ASIDE: As you can see, Terry Lynn gets more than her share of tough cases to handle — mainly because of the people. And sometimes I think, “Holy smoke! The free-roaming idiots of Dallas have crossed the Red River and are trying to colonize western Oklahoma!” That sounds like an exaggeration, but I’m still not sure it isn't too far from reality.]
A BEAUTIFUL FLOWER IN NEED
OF A MODELING AGENT
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, geez, we mentioned yesterday that the Mesquite Animal Shelter was facing an
overabundant population of stray and dumped dogs. Sure enough, many of the animals were on the clock for 11 a.m. Thursday. Perhaps they were rescued or adopted or somehow beat the clock.

This dog is not on the Code Red list — yet.
But, she’s been there since March 7. With any luck, she may just have a future in modeling, based on these photos provided to us by the shelter’s volunteer biographer, Judi Brown. 
She began this bio with: “According to the  app ‘Dog Scanner.’ Flower is 87% terrier pit and 13% Staffordshire pit.” [LARRY ASIDE: That may be the breed, but that ain’t the breeding, pilgrim. Environment is a giant influence on dogs —love being the key ingredient.]
 The 4-year—old, 65-pound Flower is a former stray. Judi adds, “She’s a beautiful dog with a sweet face and eyes that look like they’re lined with eyeliner.
“She’s got a stocky body that’s relatively low to the ground. This adds to her cuteness. She’s a happy girl that even tries to engage you at her window. She’s another wiggle worm that seems to love everyone.

 “She’s a happy, gentle, affectionate dog. She wants to please, and she sits for treats. Once she checked out the yard she stayed close — wanting closeness. She does not jump on you. She went nose-to-nose with other dogs in the bay, wagging her tail.
“She would no doubt make a wonderful family pet. I can see her bringing many years of joy to a loving family. … She’s apparently been well cared for. It appears as though she’s been an inside dog.”
To get a place in line of modeling agents and big-hearted people (I’m hoping) who want to rescue or adopt Flower, call the shelter at 972–216–6283 or email rescues@cityofmes- quite.com — be sure to use her shelter ID 41022035.
See Mesquite’s adoptable dogs and cats online HERE .
Pass it on. There are millions of people in the Metrosprawl — they can’t all already have the statutory limit on household animals.
[LARRY FYI: I’ve seen human modeling portfolios that didn’t have this much expression in the photographs! Flower’s got spirit. Just needs a human to step between her and the needle.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
WILD ANIMALS, TIME MACHINE AND BULGE
Remember that incident last week in which the woman was attacked by a Jaguar at the zoo near Phoenix? Yeah, I’m not planning on getting that close to a wild animal, myself. I think there’s a place for people who dare to test the striking range and speed of a wild animal; it’s spelled ER. And, oddly, in the email Thursday, I got a note from PETA about some otter petting that occurred at SeaQuest Fort Worth. Xander is an “Asian small-clawed otter,” but no matter how big his claws, two people were wounded by the attempts at affection, PETA says a U.S. Department of Agriculture report found. Here’s the PETA release. And here’s a way to dine with Xander (click HERE ). This SeaQuest photo shows him having a snack — those are, perhaps, fingerlings, not fingers. …
A newspaper in the United Kingdom, The Sun, posted a story about the invention of a tiny time machine. It’s a start. Here’s the tech-heavy story.
If the machine were not so small, I’d rent it, crawl into it and go back to the Lakewood Dixie House for some fried green tomatoes and a nice salad with blue cheese dressing and some cornbread muffins with extra butter. And that is why no time machine is big enough for me and why I won’t be leading any expeditions by the Temporal Force, sister agency to the Space Force. I’m also not going to space anytime soon. Need a bigger rocket. … Speaking of “mid-drift bulge.” Yeah, I haven’t heard that term used in years and years — maybe since the appropriation of “muffin top” as a synonym. Here’s a LINK to an old TV commercial. It also has the phrase “seven-way stretch” for a girdle. Who needs a time machine when we have old TV commercials?
—- Offer diet tips or opinions by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com (we open all mail that has the code word ‘cash.’) I’m kidding. —-

APOLLO'S STORM DAMAGE; A DOG NAMED BUBBA IS ENDURING HARD TIMES

EDITION OF THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Good grief, some storm. About Texas weather: I can live with the heat; I can endure the cold. The pollen season doesn’t even bother me since I became a vegetarian 20 years ago. 
But the wind? Texas wind is scary. You never know when it’s gonna turn on you. And that gets us to the Apollo Support and Rescue organization in Justin. We’ll also address the story of Bubba the Dog. That’s his majestic sleepy face. Here we go:
AFTER THE STORM
Yeah, that Wednesday morning storm knocked things around a bit on the 5-acre spread that is Apollo Support and Rescue on Dove Hill Road in Justin. The nearly 4,000 population municipality that advertises itself as “Justin: Everything A Hometown Should Be.”
Before Facebook went dizzy on us Wednesday, Beverly Fyfe, the veteran advocate and rescuer, managed to give us a heads-up on the situation at Apollo. We got in touch with Rebecca Jankowitz, the Apollo social media volunteer. To get things back in order, she says, “Right now we are desperate for some 10x10 kennels, airline crates, bottled water, tarps and bales of hay.” 

Go HERE to see photos of the storm damage.
There are ways to donate at http://PayPal.me/asrpets and http://cash.me/$asrpets.
You can get in touch via the organization’s PETFINDER SITE. Or, email Rebecca at becnbelle@gmail.com.

Among the many adoptable dogs and cats you’ll see on that site are (top) Delilah the Dog, born in 2010, who “doesn’t like to be messed with too much. She will sit with you and cuddle. She would prefer no kids or rambunctious dogs or cats.”
That Dachshund mix is Oscar who was, the Apollo site says, “dumped with Abigail and Weston.” He’s a 38-pound “love bug” who “lived in a kennel at an apparent breeder, so his front teeth are broken off because, the vet said, he tried chewing his way out.” He’s been in a foster home since May 2017.

Those cats? The stretched out cat is a girl, Skinny Mini, and the fellow with the big paws is her brother, Fatty. They “enjoy playing with each other,” Apollo says. 
Not sure how any of them feel about Texas wind, but it can’t be comforting!
THE STORY ON BUBBA:
A DOG WHO NEEDS HELP
Anybody who’s ever had an ailing “companion animal” knows the challenge that confronts the human heart. You ask over and over, “How can I make this better?” We’ve learned from Karen Lee of barleyworld.com of the effort Chris effort Chris Harp is making to save his beloved dog Bubba. It’s a medical situation.

Right now, it's day by day supportive care with his vet,” Chris says. “He has had two surgeries and another surgery is not an option if his intestines don't get working right. 

“After the first surgery he was doing amazing, then suddenly he was horribly sick. So, after a night in the ER we headed back to his vet for exploratory surgery. Nothing was found except that his intestines had become extremely inflamed, so much so that they were twisting and sticking together which was causing another obstruction. 
“At this point, it's a waiting game to see if they will start and continue to work correctly. He does have extremely runny stools and now his entire backside is covered with sores because it's constantly running out. Right now we owe approximately $2,800 and we are working on raising the funds to get him to an internal specialist, which starts out at approximately $1000, but more likely in the $2500 range. …People.can donate donate through barkleyworld they are a 501 and pay the vet directly or you can call your donation directly to the vet under Bubba Rasmussen (817) 468-6688.”

Chris says an “inquiry lifts us up because it reminds us that people are out there what care about Bubba.”

The gofundme site is HERE. Karen says you can donate to Bubba’s cause thru Barkleyworld at http://www.barkleyworld.com/. “We are a 501c3 and I will send you a tax receipt and a huge thank you. All donations through Barkleyworld are paid directly to the vet performing services and never to individuals,” Karen writes. She says, also, Bubba Rasmussen’s vet account is at Animal Health Care Center, 817-467-6688.
CONTEMPLATIONS
ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN TEXAS
The atmosphere sure calmed down and turned what we can confidenty call “Texas Beautiful” by Tuesday afternoon. I think it was an invitation to the wonderful Texas Bluebonnets to come on out and brighten up the late winter landscape. Other trees and plants are blooming already. Might as well have a championship season for the Bluebonnets. … Don’t forget, we need photos of your sleeping dogs and napping cats to continue our long-running weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Send photos and bios of the critters to me at dallrp@aol.com. That’s our formerly feral kitten, Simon, all grown up and napping amid the wires on the desk behind my computer screen. He’s dreaming of seeing photos of other napping cats. … When Facebook went into Malfunction Junction Wednesday, that was an interesting development. Who do you call when you can’t msg anybody or post an opinion? Have a calming cup of decaf and pick up a novel. Computer problems are like driving on the poorly-signed Downtown Dallas’ freeways — everything eventually reconnects.
—- Offer opinion or inspiration by clicking on “comment” below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

STORM NOTE: FOR ALL AREAS OF NORTH TEXAS

[EARLY MORNING STORM EXTRA EDITION, MARCH 13, 2019 -- PetPowellPress] If you're reading this, then I hope that means you didn't suffer any electrical outages or other damages from that pre-dawn storm.
We have two important storm-related notes that affect a lot of hearts. We’re starting with Mesquite and also, in McKinney, the lost dog Cosmo. But this storm creates an area-wide situation.
On 
Tuesday, before the big storm blew through, Mesquite Animal Services issued an appeal for adoptions and rescues. According to a note from Jeanne Saadi, Managing Director of Mesquite Animal Services, space was already getting tight at the shelter. 
Referring to a number of dogs, Director Saadi wrote, “Based on the space available this morning and the calls that came in overnight and this morning for owner surrender requests and trapped strays, I am predicting we will fill up today.”
That meant animals are in danger IN the shelter. And Mesquite doesn't want that. Among  the dogs mentioned was this guy Connor, one of several we’ve highlighted from Mesquite recently because the clock was already ticking on them. Email RESCUES@CITYOFMESQUITE.COM to ask about helping an animal. And here’s the LINK to the online listings. Dogs already there more than 2 weeks are critical for rescue, Jeanne’s note said.

Also BEFORE the big storm was the be-on-the-lookout for this dog Cosmo, a rescue who ran from his helper north of McKinney and is lost in the wide-open spaces of a roomy neighborhood. Lord knows how the storm affected that poor little dog. [LARRY PRAYERFUL ASIDE: May Cosmo be safely in a home that doesn’t know anyone is looking for him or in a home where someone decided to hold onto him until figuring out where he belongs. That’s a wide-ranging prayer, but we've all seen happy endings to such tales of woe.] If you’ve seen Cosmo “a little north of 121, off 160 on County Road 584”, email j.gifford@att.net.
Saving other animals today? Mesquite and other storm-struck municipalities will, no doubt, be taking in “storm strays” today — animals whose fences were knocked down or dogs who were living outside “because they like being outside” and fled the storm in the only way possible: running for their lives.

Perhaps this is a good time for people who have never fostered a dog or cat to get involved — just in case the new arrivals are overwhelming the city shelters. It’s an opportunity to save lives.
Animals that have been in the municipal and county shelters for a while already will probably be the animals that pay with their lives when the new animals arrive after the storm. 
[LARRY ASIDE: About dogs that “like living outside.” Yeah, well, they REALLY like living inside in Texas. That’s where their humans are. That’s where they find comfort from the storms. You can’t fully love your dog by keeping a closed door between your hearts. Just move over and make room on the couch.]
--- Offer ideas or responses by clicking on 'comment' below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com ---

FOR MIDWEEK, MANY TO HELP AND A CRISIS OF CHANGING TIME

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2019 [PetPowellPress] As we all continue to adjust to the time change, let’s just move along as if each facet of our existences was not disturbed by a wretched event that upends our mornings and evenings. More in Contemplations, including a WRR radio note and a Beatles note and moving Earth.
Two things I hate — the time change and animals at peril. We can help the animals; the other will take an act of Congress. Keep reading. (That’s me and The Senator in a failed attempt to nap Tuesday morning. I’m coping with the stress of time change. The Senator doesn’t own a timepiece — he has a staff.)

BE ON THE LOOKOUT REMINDER
FOR MISSING COSMO, 10
Every now and then, I get my calloused newsman’s heart touched by the story of an animal. Such is the case with Cosmo.
The story, as we reported in an extra edition Tuesday morning, comes from our pal Jan Gifford, a veteran animal advocate and rescuer.
 Cosmo’s humans had been moved to hospice and to a nursing home and that meant everything that was “normal” in this dog’s life was gone. He wound up being transported to a foster, but before he got there, he “ran to daylight” in an area north of McKinney. Jan says he was last seen in an area “a little north of 121, off 160 on County Road 584.” If you’ve seen him in this area of homes “separated by lots of acreage,” immediately email Jan at j.gifford@att.net.

[LARRY ASIDE: Tuesday morning, as I was typing something else, a dramatic rainstorm swept through our Oak Cliff area, a long way from where Cosmo was last seen, but it hit me that, God help him, Cosmo may never have been caught out in the rain before. He may be terrified. He may be sheltered in a place that draws water. 
And, maybe, he has wound up in the home of someone who saw him and coaxed him to safety. I hope that is the case. But, please, if you’re in the area, keep your eyes open for Cosmo, a dog who lost his home and lost his way.]
SPCA’S LUCKY DOG ADOPTION SPECIAL
Through the 17th — yep, St. Patrick’s Day — the SPCA of Texas has a by-the-pound adoption special. According to the news release, “If you adopt a dog that weighs 40 pounds or more…through Sunday, March 17, you will receive anywhere from a 25% discount on adoption fees to a free adoption. It all depends on the luck of the draw! Adopters will get the chance to draw their discount amount out of a lucky hat!”

This includes all the dogs at the SPCA’s two shelters — the Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center at 2400 Lone Star Drive in West Dallas and at the Perry Animal Care Center, 8411 Stacy Road in McKinney.
Details are at spca.org and you can see the adoptables at www.spcafindapet.org.
That’s a variety pack of dogs I clipped from the screen featuring the many adoptables at the SPCA.
And that cat with the distinct look — don’t ALL cats have distinct looks?) — is the beautiful Mona Lisa (163467), nearly 5 years old, and waiting for the right human at the Perry Center in McKinny.

People who appreciate famed artists and people who know how a fixed cat can be ID’d right away, will appreciate the fact that this SPCA cat, waiting at the Dallas facility, is 170796, a 2-year-old handsome orange fellow named Vincent Van Purr.
MAXI IS A RESCUE ONLY;
HE’S A SPECIAL CASE IN DENTON
Amy Poskey, our “eyes on the Denton shelter” began her note about Maxi with this line: “These ‘special case’ pooches just keep rolling in and now our sweet Maxi boy needs a little extra help!  RESCUE ONLY!”
 He’s anywhere from 5 to 8 years old and he’s “friendly with people (including children) and other dogs,” reports the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter & Adoption Center. 
He’s heartworm negative but there is a rough part of the road: “Poor baby has chronic skin issues, a bladder infection (which the shelter is treating) and had a procedure done to his right ear.”
He’s #80918. And He needs a rescue to get him ready for adoption. 
Call the shelter at 940-349-7594. Email these shelter addresses to ask about helping Maxi: gayla.nelsen@cityofdenton.com, randi.Weinberg@cityofdenton.com, julien.peralta@cityofdenton.com, dentonshelterdogs@yahoo.com, and/or dentonanimalservices@yahoo.com.
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE
It’s a constant thing — this arrival and departure at the Mesquite Animal Shelter. Hopefully, you’ll recognize that the work of Judi Brown and other volunteers is helping with the “safe departure” ratings. Here’s your chance to help one of the Mesquite strays.
This guy is Lucky (4100212), a year-old Black Mouth Cur/Shepherd mix — he came in on the 5th of March. 
Judi’s note reads that “hopefully someone will see what a handsome boy he is and he’ll get some of that good old Irish luck and be in a loving home by Saint Patrick’s Day!

“Lucky is a very striking dog with beautiful reddish gold soft fur. He also has a very sweet loving, happy personality. He’s very friendly. He gets so excited about getting attention that he does jump on you. He could use some manners training to teach him not to do that, but since he wants to please he should be easy to train. His tail is in constant wag.”
To offer to adopt or rescue or somehow help this 44-pound dog survive his “stray” experience, call 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
[LARRY ASIDE: Judi frequently gets photos of the big ol’ Mesquite dogs standing on their back legs to look at the outer world. To me, it’s heartbreaking to think that is as close to freedom as some of these dogs will get because there aren’t enough rescuers and adoptors to handle the load of stray and dumped animals. Not the shelter’s fault — it’s the don’t-care element of the American population that puts animals at peril day after day. Now help me off this soapbox before a slat breaks, I crash to the floor and wake every animal and Richter Scale technician within 50 miles.]
A GENTLE PLEA FOR AN ANGEL,
SAROYA, SHOT IN BOTH BACK LEGS…
Goodness, how about a gentle reminder that Saroya the Dog needs a home.

Our longtime tipster Gail Whelan with Companion Animal Network wrote, “If you ever have the space for a dog NOT in danger, would you post my angel, Saroya?  I've had her 7 months with no interest!!  We believe she is a 2-year-old purebred Anatolian Shepherd, about 85-90 pounds. Fully vetted, heartworm negative, microchipped, etc.  I got a call from the sheriff last summer about a dog dumped out at Lake Quitman.  Turns out she was shot in both back legs.  She is fully healed and runs like the wind now. She has a great temperament!  Anyway, she really needs her own home.”
To offer to be the home that Saroya deserves, call Gail at 903-967-3226 or email can.adoptions@yahoo.com.
A FOLLOW-UP ON DIXIE
You may remember that photo of Dixie the Lab. Her human is going to Africa with an oil company and can’t take his dog, so he was trying to find a place for this 7-year-old girl to live. It was a tough moment in his life, but Bonddie, as he’s know, reports, “I am happy to tell you that Dixie has found a new home with very nice couple in Houston. Thank you very much for all your help! I really appreciate it.”
Bless Dixie, Bonddie, and travel safely across the world.
CONTEMPLATIONS
TIME-CHANGE, NOTES AND MUSINGS

The dogs slept late Sunday morning and we hardly noticed the time change at all. I also believe a swamp creature roams the river bottom woods near Texarkana, reindeer can fly and my diet is working.
 All that aside, if your dog is having trouble adjusting his or her bladder to the arrival of Daylight Saving Time, just ask your U.S. representative to pick a time and stick with it. We’re in that awful fix: We have to depend on Congress.
I was talking with a clerk at a big store about the time change and how it would take an act of Congress to change things. And she said something like, “You’d have better luck changing the movement of the earth than gettin’ Congress to do something.”
….
Contemplating modern day employment: I think there are people who don’t like their jobs. Never felt that way for very long. But it was like this when I did: I’d get tired of the relentless pressure of performing for my employment like a sideshow clown in a traveling carnival — you’d have two jobs: Make people happy and clean up after the livestock. ….
Did you realize that March 12 is the anniversary of the day in 1922 when, according to the onthisday.com site, “WRR-AM in Dallas TX begins radio transmissions.” WRR is FM now and there’s a history lesson on the wrr101.com site that takes you back to before the licensing era. Last year, WRR got the OK from its owner, City of Dallas, to stop broadcasting the City Council meetings in favor of more pleasant entertainment with listeners. Other notes from this site? On March 12 in
"1923 Lee de Forest demonstrates his sound-on-film moving pictures (NYC)
"1930 Clyde Tombaugh announces discovery of Pluto at Lowell Observatory [LARRY ASIDE: Who knew Disney characters were interested in astronomy? Oh, sorry, not THAT Pluto. This was the former 9th planet.]
"1965 Beatles' Eight Days a Week single goes #1 & stays #1 for 2 weeks.

And this: "2012 Encyclopaedia Britannica announces that it will no longer publish printed versions of its encyclopaedia.” What’s an encyclopaedia? Look it up in your Funk & Wagnalls. [Pre-21st century wisecrack.]
—- Offer info or opinion by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com where no fact is too tiny to exploit. —-

MISSING NORTH OF MCKINNEY: COSMO, 10, WHO'D LOST HIS HOME

Oh, goodness here’s a story that needs a happy ending. We got the details from our pal Jan Gifford, longtime animal advocate.
Cosmo was last seen in an area north of McKinney — “a little north of 121, off 160 on County Road 584,” Jan says. If you have seen him or know his whereabouts, email j.gifford@att.net.
He was being “transported to a foster shelter Thursday at about 7 p.m." when he and bolted. Here's why he was going into foster care: "His elderly owners went into hospice and a nursing home.” 
So, you see, Dear Readers, Cosmo is accustomed to being loved, and now, bewildered by the changes in his life, he is alone and lost.
The area, Jan says, is “very country and the homes are separated by lots of acreage. … With a lot of luck maybe one of your amazing followers will spot him or know something.” Again, email j.gifford@att.net.
--- Click on "comment" below. ---

HOW TO BE HAPPY? ADOPT A DOG, ADOPT A CAT -- SAVE SOME LIVES

EDITION OF TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2018 [PetPowellPress] OK, let’s just dive right into the day’s report. First this editorial comment: If you don’t have a dog, get one or two. If you don’t have a cat, get one or two. 
If you have any kind of a heart at all, give part of it to a companion animal and they’ll take the rest and share it with you.
(FYI: That photo is what my brain looked like this morning on the second day of Daylight Saving Time — obscured by fog. Where is that? Old Faithful. You can watch it live online.) HERE WE GO with animal stores…
RESCUE ONLY
AND ON THE CLOCK
We got the tip on these two darlings from the Denton Animal Shelter tipster Amy Poskey.
 “These two beautiful girls have been at the shelter way too long and now their time is limited and they are RESCUE ONLY.” Amy wrote Monday. “So, please take a look at Patty and Midnight, read about them, and give them the love they crave!”

Midnight (78346) is the dog with the floppy ear, a genuine Earhound, 2- to 5-years-old and whose favorite things are “going on walks, treats, and toys!  She loves people but is choosy with her dog friends. Midnight is fully vetted, microchipped and is HW POSITIVE, but DASF (Denton Animal Shelter Friends) will provide a $100 voucher to go towards her treatment.”
Patty is the same age. And the story is this: “Her previous owner stated that she's good with children, other dogs, and cats, but doesn't like to be confined to a crate.  However, Patty has been stressed at the shelter and isn’t doing too well with all her pooch pals.  Patty is fully vetted and HW NEGATIVE!”

Call the shelter at 940-349-7594. Here are the email addresses: gayla.nelsen@- cityofdenton.com, Randi.Weinberg- @cityofdenton.com, julien.peralta@city- ofdenton.com, dentonshelterdogs@yahoo.com, and/or dentonanimalservices@yahoo.com.
[LARRY ASIDE: Well, what can you say? Two dogs with a real shot at being happy companions for a responsible human and, well, it’s North Texas where the odds are always tough for animals. Bless those rescuers for being there and may one of them win Lotto Texas to finance these dogs!]

THE LATEST DAS DOG PROMOTION:

IT’S IRISH AND SO ARE SOME CATS
Here’s the note that was on the Dallas Animal Services Facebook page. “Stop by #DAS and find your lucky dog during our #PetOfGold adoption special! Now through March 17th all dogs are free at both of our adoption locations: our main shelter at 1818 N. Westmoreland Rd. and the PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center on N. Coit Rd.”
As rush hour arrived in Dallas Monday afternoon, the DAS online inventory at dallasanimalservices.org, showed 238 dogs, 26 cats and 2 other (yep, still Oreo and Petunia, the rabbits). Go to that site to see how and where to adopt.

You can see the dogs online and on the Facebook page.
So, yeah, I decided to look at cats. Among the 26 on the list are some we’ve featured before. I was looking for a cat with an Irish name to highlight in keeping with the theme. Couldn’t find one. So I settled on this handsome 3-year-old (1059883) who is listed as “Isreal” but I’m betting he’ll answer to the name “Israel” or maybe “Izzy.”

Neither is an Irish name, but I’ve got a white and black cat, The Senator, who’ll diplomatically celebrate St. Patrick’s Day as if he were representing Dublin in the U.S. Senate. That’s The Senator nuzzling my face as we are about to perform a duet of My Wild Irish Rose. Danny Boy is too high for both of us - neither of us being a tenor in spite of The Senator’s surgery.
Somebody get a free dog who is compatible with this cat. Save two lives. How tough could it be? This cat, in DAS care since March 2, is currently at the PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center, 16821 N. Coit Road, in Dallas. No blarney, cats makes great companions when you begin to philosophize on St. Patrick’s Day. After all there’s this Irish proverb: “Nature shines through the cat’s eyes.”] .

CONTEMPLATIONS
TIME, PEANUT BUTTER &  POCKET SEALS 
I’m contemplating Daylight Saving Time but I can’t quite get a grasp on it — give me a few days. … According to the night site Holiday Insights, March is National Nutrition Month and National Peanut Month. I celebrated both on Monday by trying out one of those new Snickers Peanut Butter Candy Bars. Not just peanuts, but peanut butter, too! I took one bite and an alarm went off in my doctors’ offices. Worth it though, unless it wrecks my blood pressure and blood sugar. I don't fly, but that doesn't mean I'm not a risk-taker. … I saw a sign on a business recently that advertised “Aquariums. Mammals. Reptiles.” Are mermaids mammals? Because that’s the only one I can think of that’ll fit into an aquarium unless someone is marketing Pocket Seals 'n' Pigs  and I would not be surprised.
—- Offer opinions about dogs and cats or ways to make money in the stock market by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com (I’ll open the moneymaking ideas first.) —-

'HOUSE NO. 5,' ISLAND PARADISE MEMOIR, ON SALE; DOGS, CATS NEED HAPPY HOMES

EDITION OF MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 [PetPowellPress] We’ll get to helping dogs and cats in a moment. Let’s talk weather and the Greek Island of Paros for a minute. 
Maybe you’re tired of winter. Maybe you’re ready for a place that makes your heart feel like you want it to feel. The Greeks have a word for it: “charoúmenos.”
In Greek that’s “χαρούμενος”. It means “happy” — one of several Greek words that mean happy, according to my research. 
As my author pal Bob St. John once wrote, “The Greeks have a word for it — I just can’t pronounce it.”
More on this and Bob’s final book, House No. 5, about a life of creativity, fun and joy on the Greek island Paros with his artist wife Sandy (she did the cover) in Contemplations. House No. 5 is newly available online at Barnes & Noble.
PEOPLE CHANGE IN WILMER BUT
DOGS STILL NEEDING ROUTE OUT
We got the tip over the weekend that administration changes are coming to the city shelter in Wilmer, Texas, just south of Dallas by about 2 minutes on I-45.
Our tipster Leighann Hayden took the opportunity to note that the shelter currently houses “the two best little Bullies ever. Seriously sweet!!! Honestly the two best little bullies ever. Seriously sweet!!  They both love everyone and everything.”

 The little guys are Chase (left) and Chance (right). And still waiting is that beautiful girl Lexie.

Leighann writes of Chase and Chance, “We think one looks Dogo mix. He has little black spots like a younger Dogo. The other clearly looks bulldog mix.”

Then there’s the third dog. “The little girl dog Lexie absolutely adores people but not all dogs. Interestingly she really liked the little Dogo mix. Gets along fine with him. We have someone willing to pay for her to be spayed.”

Chase is the cute little guy with the “cutest little nub tail.”
Lexie is a Keeshond/Shepherd mix (in a foster home right now). And Chance is “a super cute guy with the sweetest, big, pretty eyes. Gentle and loveable.”
To save their lives, call or text  214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.
DENTON DEVELOPMENTS:
TWO WAITING, MOUSE CLAIMED
Our Denton tipster Amy Poskey reports that of three hard-luck dogs mentioned last week, two are still waiting in the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter.

Jack Jack (80792) is the nearly 10-year-old Jack Russell Terrier who has “a slight heart murmur and needs some dental work. He is neutered, has a docked tail, weighs 17.5 pounds and is heartworm negative.”

Sadie (80804) is the 2- to 5-year-old Labby girl who possibly was hit by a car and is being treated for “lacerations and a fractured knee.” Healthy other than that. If a rescue takes her, the group gets pain meds to help her get to a vet painlessly.

Mouse is that long-haired Chihuahua boy who “ran in front of a deputy’s car and was clipped.” Fractured pelvis. Needs about six week of crate-care for his 8 1/2-pound body. The good news is, Amy says, “Mouse was rescued yesterday [Friday] by Diana Hightower with Chihuahua Rescue and Transport!  YAY!!!”
To help Jack Jack and Sadie, call the shelter at 940-349-7594. Email gayla.nelsen@cityofdenton.com, julien.peralta@cityofdenton.com, Randi.Weinberg@cityofdenton.- com, dentonshelterdogs@- yahoo.com, and/or dentonanimalservices@yahoo.com.

A MESQUITE PROJECT DOG:
NUTMEG -- FRIGHTENED STRAY
It is always heartbreaking to see a terrified dog in a shelter situation. Their chances of adoption are evaporating with every minute. 
But, our Mesquite Animal Shelter tipster Judi Brown, the volunteer biographer, reports that Nutmeg, this 35-pound, 2-year-old Pittie mix, is making progress.
 He came in as a stray on Feb. 25. Judi writes, “It’s hard to understand how any dog could come to be so intimidated and scared! When Nutmeg first arrived he wouldn’t leave the corner of his kennel. He became a SHELTER  PROJECT! With the help of the employees and volunteers, patience and time Nutmeg started to gradually trust. ... Today we actually hung out in the laundry room. He cautiously came to me . He loves to have his ears scratched. He walked well on a leash. When I took him back to his kennel he went nose to nose with a few of the dogs. When taking him back in the kennel he actually leaned up against me and wagged his tail! I know there is a beautiful spirit in this dog that has so much love to give to a family that will be patient with him. He will certainly blossom once he exits the shelter.” 

Call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com. Use Nutmeg’s ID 40843694.

That other guy is one of many trying to beat the clock at the Mesquite Shelter, Mojo (40995958), a 44-pound, easy-going 1- to 2-year-old mix who came in as a stray. Judi writes, “It’s hard to understand why the owners did not come looking for him. He’s a very handsome young dog with southern manners. His beautiful white coloring with brown flecks and  bi- color eyes make him particularly attractive. He has a very sweet face. That face goes along with his sweet personality.
See more Mesquite dogs and cats at this SHELTER LINK.
Unless he was adopted Sunday, you’ll see Connor (40777430), this handsome Pittie boy — 3 years old and a stray who arrived on Valentine’s Day. If he was in the movies, you’d call him a character actor because his handsomeness is the kind that makes the movie work no matter how lousy an actor the handsome star might be. Connor has beaten the “Red Alert Clock” at least once in the past week.

And a reminder: This older girl Bones (40879065) can be seen among the cats listed on the website. She appears to be the oldest — 10 years old, small, house-trained and just $35. A 10-year-old cat generally knows the value of a human. And a human ought to know the value of a 10-year-old cat. 

CONTEMPLATIONS
THE SWIRL OF THE WORLD

If it had not been for legends such as the late stellar writer Dan Jenkins and other famed writers from The Fort Worth Press, I may never have met Bob St. John nor my funspouse Martha. In 1972, weary of small-town newspaper salaries and possibilities, I took a job at The Fort Worth Press. I wanted that mojo from the typewriters used at some point by the legendary Jenkins and Blackie Sherrod and Gary Cartwright and Bud Shake in that un-air-conditioned building. When The Press closed in 1975, I hired on with fully air-conditioned A.H. Belo and  The Dallas Morning News and met Bob St. John, author of such books as his best-selling The Landry Legend and his spectacularly reviewed rodeo book, On Down The Road. About a decade later I met Martha when she came to work in the executive offices. Things worked out splendidly: I got to marry Martha and I got to edit Bob’s column and a couple of his books. This latest Bob book I’m really proud of — not for my editing, but for Bob’s writing. House No. 5: Paradise on Paros, is now available at Barnes & Noble online HERE  and amazon.com HERE. It is a memoir written from the heart of a guy who accidentally found paradise on the island of Paros in the Aegean Sea. He and his wife, the artist Sandra St. John found artistic inspiration— the book has many of her paintings and photographs, including some of the great blue doors and blue sky of Paros. Bob was moved to write about the island. He found history and heroes, challenges and triumphs and, yep, love and laughter. And, the mysterious reach of the famous Greek Fates from that small island in a sea to Galveston Island on the Gulf of Mexico. Apparently, The famous Fates can make it “a small world” when people need a connection from one side of the world to the other. 
You may remember Bob for his legendary work as a sportswriter covering the Dallas Cowboys in the Tom Landry era. You may remember him as a metro columnist telling the story of life among the people of Texas. Others will remember him as the husband of the artist Sandy who was co-pilot/navigator on their travels. They ultimately arrived on Paros for calm, beautiful adventure and the tranquility artists and authors need to keep the creative engine running and their hearts beating in unison. Reading Bob’s book you’ll see how he and Sandy fell in love with this beautiful island of gleaming white stone structures, blue doors, fantastic stories and fabulous people. Bob might have said that when he was enjoying his respite from deadlines and Dallas on Paros, “Είμαι μια ευτυχισμένη Texan.” If Babel didn’t betray me, that translates to “I am a happy Texan.” You can see that in House No. 5, a dear, funny and, yes, romantic accounting of the search for paradise and the discovery of a wonderful place to live on a faraway island. And this is Sandy's portrait of the beloved landscape around House No. 5, their vantage point and launching pad for Bob's wonderful story of Paros, its adventures and the people who became friends to this couple from Texas.

—- Offer opinions or solutions or stories of Paros by clicking on ‘comment’ or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

DEPUTY CHIEF KITTIE LEIGH JOHNSON -- NEVER MIND DST, SHE'S IN NO MOOD TO SPRING

This edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap is not only a report on a household development, but it is a “predictive” report. 
I’m going to predict that this cat will be in this position at 2 a.m. Sunday, Dallas time. Yes, I may be springing forward. You may be springing forward. But Deputy Chief Kittie Leigh Johnson doesn’t spring just because the U.S. Congress votes “Jump” in the Uniform Time Act of 1966.
Here’s how we got this cat-napper for the Daylight Saving Time 2019-edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap:
 I was on my way back to the bedroom to fold clothes when I needed to do something at the computer and I put a clothes basket full of warm attire and towels down on a chair. 
It was like a cat magnet. You’d think they were arguing over a box of day-old fried chicken remants thrown out bag and all on a Dallas street. Arrrrrghhh…Mee- wrrrrrr. That sort of stuff until everyone backed off but Kittie Leigh.
So, my smartspouse Martha and I decided to get an old basket and create yet another “Catsnooze Paradise” for our household felines. 
Didn’t even put warm clothes in it. Just filled it with dog and cat blankets and old towels — you know, the kind of stuff you’d throw away if you didn’t have dogs and cats. 
If animal people didn't hold onto those remnants, U.S. landfills would be overwhelmed and find themselves the center of feral cat populations because those towels and blankies attract cats like a backyard fishfry on a Friday night.
Now, we’re demonstrating this magnet effect with the help of my own personal cat, Deputy Chief Kittie Leigh Johnson, a former front porch feral.
As you see in that third photo, she was in the auxiliary chair with the basket and watching television when she nodded off in the comfort of the basket.

She’s a small girl. Has a left eye that’s not quite right — her right eye is right. Yes, word play with the word “right.” And, she asked, back when he was still a gray tabby rather than an evolving dark-gray tabby, “May I have my photo taken with your big nose?” There it is.

But her left eye is healthy and was crossed when she was a kitten. The other thing she has — and Martha can testify to this — is a great desire to be cuddled by me.
And I have a great desire to cuddle my Front Porch Kitten, the cat we named after the Kyra Sedgwick character, Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, in the TV detective series, The Closer. The star is married to the actor Kevin Bacon, the inspiration for the parlor game “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.” So, of course, there’s Kittie Leigh Johnson, named for Kyra Sedgwick who is married to Kevin Bacon. and that’s a quick connection. Kittie Leigh -- isn't that a full-on yawn! -- chooses to eschew the glory of Hollywood in favor of counseling me in matters of writing, cat cuddling and catnapping.
[LARRY REMINDER: WE PAY absolutely no money, but we give a lot of gratitude when you provide photos and stories of your sleeping dogs and napping cats for our weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Send photos and stories to dallrp@aol.com. We love to use those photos to show people that their homes will be enhanced by adopting a dog or cat. And we also love to show insomniacs that they, too, can get some sleep if they can just figure out how to curl up in a clothes basket.]
—- To offer opinions, objections or sleeping tips, click on ‘comment’ below or email dallrp@aol.com where every letter about sleeping or napping is treated respectfully while fully awake. —-

THE THREE 'STRAY DOGS' FROM MESQUITE -- DID THEY BEAT THE CLOCK?

On Thursday morning we posted a story about three "stray" dogs on the clock for 11 a.m. Thursday at Mesquite Animal Services.
Judi Brown, the volunteer biographer, has a great mailing list that reaches many animal advocates. And this morning we have this information from Judi:
"Bosco was adopted yesterday. Tanner was rescued. Connor is still there."
Bosco is the smaller Rottie mix. Tanner is the dog who wagged his tail so much it got to bloodied he had to move to another holding area.
And Connor is this 3-year-old (40777430) Pittie boy who arrived on Valentine's Day. Maybe that explains why his bio reads, "Connor has a cute, sweet face but no one would ever accuse him of being the cutest dog at the shelter. However, he may be one of the sweetest!"
Call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescue@cityofmesquite- .com to save Connor's life by rescuing or adopting.
[LARRY ASIDE: Remember: Saving Connor's life will open another spot for an incoming dog and will buy that dog a little more time for adoption or rescue. Just as humans are responsible for the at-risk status of these dogs, humans are the life-saving force that protects these wonderful, noble beings on a planet that has enough more than enough killing every day of the week.

--- Offer opinions or suggestions by clicking on "comment" below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. ---

FOR FRIDAY: HAPPY STORIES AND STORIES ON THE BRINK OF HAPPY

EDITION OF FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 [PetPowellPress] On a Friday, with warmer weather and the promise of a rainy Saturday, we’re going to suggest that a good companion for a late-winter day is always a cat. Or dog. Or both. But for photographic purposes, we’re going with cat right now. Now and then I scroll through the availables at the SPCA of Texas and ran across this boy, Markie (162117) as he enjoyed a curl-up in his bed. Like he’s practicing to be a loyal lap cat in, perhaps, the home of someone who is reading this. Markie is a nearly-4-year-old Siamese, the SPCA says. He’s small. 
But look at the size of his left paw in that curl-up photo. Yeah, that’s an illusion. I checked by looking at another photograph and that second photo reveals Markie’s normal-sized paws and a set of championship whiskers that accent his nose like chrome curb-feelers on an early 1950s Mercury. Go to spca.org to see how to adopt Markie. [LARRY ASIDE: You’ll have to look up “curb feelers” to enhance your knowledge of American culture.. I’ve got other things to write about while proudly retaining my knowledge of tiny things in the history of the nation.]
AN ADOPTION TO CELEBRATE
Kimberly Jones, who we’ll hear from later in Contemplations, has been trying to make sure two dogs she rescued, Ginger and Roxy, were going to have wonderful lives. She was fairly bursting with excitement Thursday morning when she couldn’t keep her “secret” any longer and proudly announced, “My sweet girls have the best home and the best family that loves them both so very very much! Ginger & Roxy ARE ADOPTED!!! I can't keep it a secret any longer!!! Ginger & Roxy are being ADOPTED TOGETHER by their AMAZING and AWESOME foster family!!! They are SO VERY LOVED and SO VERY HAPPY!!!

“I could NOT have asked for a BETTER home for these VERY deserving girls!!!.” 
AND AN UPBEAT NOTE
ABOUT A BOY NAMED DUKE
Well, hello, there happy hound dog! 
We got the announcement from the great Amy Poskey who monitors animal situations and the shelter in Denton.
We wrote about Duke the Bloodhound earlier in the week. He's the boy who was found wandering in a Texas oilfield -- no sign of his human anywhere.
Amy says, “I’m very happy to report that Karan Graham with Hillcrest Animal Rescue in Farmersville jumped all over this and Duke already has a furever home!  A former adopter, Carolyn, who lost her Bloodhound boy to old age decided she needed Duke and Duke needed her!  Carolyn picked Duke up and took him to the vet so he could get vetted/neutered and everyone has fallen in love with this handsome, sweet boy!  Carolyn also has a spoiled rotten Basset Hound, PJ, who will be Duke’s new brother and best friend!  So, Duke is safe, happy, and loved!
“Thank you to Karan Graham, Carolyn and EVERYONE who helped make this happen! I love happy endings! Amy!”

AND ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON
ANOTHER  AMY APPEAL ARRIVES…

Yes, Amy Poskey has found a situation in the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter that can be solved with the help of anywhere from one to three to 50 humans. I have no doubt that those people are out there who can help place Jack Jack, Sadie and Mouse — three dogs that need a rescue to get them through some tough times.
Here are the bios:

JACK JACK (80792) is an 8-10-year-old Jack Russell Terrier who, Amy’s note reads, “is sweet as can be but has a slight heart murmur and needs some dental work. He is neutered, has a docked tail, weighs 17.5 pounds and is heartworm negative.”

 SADIE is a 2-5-year-old Labby mix who “is absolutely beautiful!  Sweet Sadie may have been hit by a car cuz she has some lacerations and a fractured knee,” reads Amy’s note. “She has been given her rabies shot so her rabies certificate and tag, antibiotics, and pain medicine will be provided to the rescue who can take her.  Sadie is also hearworm negative.”
MOUSE is a 1 or 2-year-old Chihuahua boy who, Amy’s note reads, “is the most perfect lap dog! Poor baby ran in front of a deputy's car and was clipped. He has a fractured pelvis and needs about 6 weeks of crate rest.  Mouse weighs 8.5 pounds and is heartworm negative."
To ask about helping these three, call the shelter at 940-349-7594 or email gayla.nelsen@cityofdenton.com, julien.peralta@cityofdenton.com, Randi.Weinberg@cityofdenton.com, dentonshelterdogs@yahoo.com, and/or dentonanimalservices@yahoo.com.
FIONA WAITS
IN BURNS FLAT

We told the story of Terry Lynn Fisher’s rescue of Fiona a couple of weeks ago. Fiona, as Terry Lynn, the relentless rescue angel of Burns Flat, Okla., reported, had been “hit by two cars and left in the street.”
 In a note asking for an adoptor to step up and for help with Fiona’s bills at Elk Creek Clinic, Terry Lynn explained, “This girl landed in the pound in Elk City. Many scraps and bruises; her front leg was mangled. The pounds around here have no budgets for vetting, so this baby laid there in pain. The ACO reached out to me and I had her taken to my vet... It was decided it would be best to remove that leg. Once it was gone, this girl perked up and became the sweetest most loving girl ever. She is under a year and this leg loss does not slow her down one bit 

“She is now ready to leave the vet and find a home of her own. We do need help with her vet bills as well. If you can help, please know how grateful I am. Thank you all…"

Elk Creek Veterinary Clinic is at 1301 Airport Industrial, El City, OK, 73644. Call the clinic at 5890-225-4863. Terry Lynn’s PayPal is bfvfd_109@yahoo.com. Or email her at remembering_oddball@yahoo.com.
CONTEMPLATIONS
PIGGY PETUNIA, DAK’S DOG, RABBITS
The animal advocate Kimberly Jones, rescuer of Ginger and Roxy, took this photograph of Petunia on her morning walk and posted it on Facebook. Kimberly wrote, “She is a precious piggy that I see some mornings on my way home from my very early morning job. She is so adorable and her mom said she bought her at 3 weeks old (she didn't know that at the time) and was told she is a 'Micro-pig.'
“There is NO SUCH THING as a micro-pig...They are babies who should be with their moms...Petunia is EXTREMELY intelligent (and stubborn according to her momma). She also weighs about 300 pounds. Please do NOT contribute to this horrible pet trade unless you're prepared for a 300- pound baby." [LARRY ASIDE: Here's an AMEN to Kimberly Jones' request!]
NOTE TO FRISCO/COLLIN COUNTY: Please Don’t kill Dak’s dog, Icon. Dak Prescott’s dog goes through an improperly secured door and, not knowing friends from enemies, bites a neighbor. Now he’s up for a Dangerous Dog hearing in Frisco. One potential result is the needle. Taking his life because of human error with a door. Just doesn’t seem right, does it? ...
AND, YES, I’ve been bewildered by “backyard breeders” of dogs, by colonies of feral cats and by human behavior. But this Kaufman County rabbit story continues to grind my brain. As we reported yesterday, a man's property was raided and 452 rabbits were seized Monday by the SPCA and Kaufman County authorities. The story was he was trying to earn money by selling rabbits. Clearly he’s an economic genius. I’m wondering if he’s giving advice to Sears, daily newspapers and 2020 political campaigns. Look, I’ve never had a rabbit for a pet. But I’ve seen rabbits -- never 452 rabbits in one spot. In my journalism career (started in 1965), I've been to three different state fairs (Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana), the Fort Worth Stock Show and a bunch of county fairs, sporting events and family reunions. Add all that to other exhibitions, tragedies and gleeful stories I’ve covered and I don’t recall ever having seen more than 30 or 40  rabbits together at one time. So, 452 rabbits on one property is absolutely unfathomable. (These photos are from the SPCA.) This has got to be some kind of record for "Idiocy Associated With Failed Bunny Rabbit Stupid Entrepreneurship.” Geez, somebody have that guy seen to! Animal lives mean something. They ought to weigh on hearts so heavily that those hearts rise to save and protect all animals. People ought to follow the speed limits, too, so you can see how big a chance I think we have to convince the don’t-care people to wise up. All rabbits ought to have two ears, two eyes (click on that 2nd rabbit photo to see that horror) and a good place to live.

— Offer opinions or disgust by clicking on “comment” below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —

CALL THIS THE 'IRRITATION EDITION': THREE STRAYS FACE THE NEEDLE AT 11 A.M.

THREE STRAYS ON THE CLOCK: 11 AM TODAY! Human failure threatens dogs. Yes. Human failure.
Anybody who cares about animals knows that shelters all over the area have dogs and cats facing death because no human wants them. Their stories are more than the single word description: “stray.”

Overnight we got these notes about three strays who are on the clock for 11 a.m. today. Mesquite Animal Services makes the effort to publicize the dogs’ personalities and histories so that people have a hint at what they’re getting when they adopt or rescue these guys. Judi Brown visits the dogs and writes about them. And we get the reports. 
All three of these dogs may be killed today because of “shelter overcrowding.” That is a human problem and dogs will die because of it. Humans dump dogs, let dogs run free and simply treat these magnificent residents of our planet as if they are trash.
 Here are the three to save THIS VERY MORNING. Call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email recue@cityofmesquite.com and include the dogs’ shelter numbers in the subject line to enhance the effort to save their lives.

The first dog is Bosco (40763150), a 2-year-old, 44-pound Rottweiler mix who arrived as a “stray” on February 12. He hasn’t been in the “adoptions” area long because first he had to defeat kennel cough. He beat the sickness and now is healthy enough to adopt, rescue or kill. Ain’t that some bitchin’ irony. Pardon my entirely appropriate French. Judi says “He is on medication now and is doing well.” (Two rescues have donated toward saving him — but fosters are hard to come by sometimes and adoptors walk on by.)  "He’s friendly and definitely needs a playmate. He loves to chase balls but wasn’t quite sure how to retrieve them."
Tanner (40709931), a year-old 40-pounder, had to be moved from a kennel to the “exotic room because his tail was getting bloodied from hitting the kennel bars. He’s a happy dog that has never given up hope,” Judi writes. He has donations to hep, also. He’s a year-old Pittie mix, a stray who came in on February 5. Judi says, “He’s got gorgeous hazel eyes and a cute underbite. Besides that, he’s a friendly wiggle-butt. …He sticks to you like Velcro and he gives kisses.” 

Connor (40777430), is 3 and weighs 40 pounds. The reddish Pittie mix came in as a stray on Valentine’s Day. And Judi writes, “Connor has a cute, sweet face, but no one would ever accuse him of being the cutest dog at the shelter. However, he may be one of the sweetest!” He’s a “good boy” who is “well-mannered” and adorable. 

ONE MORE TIME: Call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescue@city- ofmesquite.com to save their lives. We simply must escape from the horrifying traditional Texas theory of animal management: “Got an animal problem? Let’s kill it.” Besides, this isn’t an animal problem. This is a human problem. Somewhere in Mesquite, there are at least three humans with such diminished souls that they don’t care of their dog are killed by strangers in a place that is called a “shelter” when, sadly, human behavior forces it to operate as a “warehouse for the doomed.” 
This isn’t the shelter’s fault — it’s the fault of don’t care humans. They’re all over the place. Wandering free. And their actions have fatal consequences for dogs and cats that are far more loveable than these nitwitted hard-hearts.
Yeah, help me off the soapbox before I shatter the wood, set off the seismographs and blow the top off every Richter Scale in Texas. From my heart people, save the animals in all the shelters! It’s the right thing to do.
—- To offer an opinion, click on “comment” below or email dallrp@aol.com and if you’re the nitwit who let one of these dogs “run off,” have somebody read this whole ticked-off edition to you. The feel guilty as sin and vow to live a better life on behalf of animals. —

WEATHER, RABBITS, RESCUE & WANDERINGS

EDITION OF THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Get the flip-flops and the “Hi-wah-yun flowerdy shirts,” as they say in my beloved Northeast Texas. The temp is supposed to be downright tropical — around 70 degrees! 
That photo? Had to take our boy Texas Earl the Cheeseman to visit his favorite doc at Love Freeway Animal Clinic to help him with a painfully gimpy situation and there he was, turning away after reading the "Please turn Off All Cell Phones" sign right at Rottweiler-eye level and saying, “They don’t mean me, do they?” Then he snapped these selfies with his phone. I swear he did. By Wednesday morning he was up and moving like arthritis was something other people have. [LARRY FYI: I love this ol’ Dallas dog. And to the person who dumped him in Kiest Park about 9 years ago, too bad, chump, you’ve missed out on great gentleman. Sincerely, Larry “Dog and Cat Admirer” Powell.]
OH, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD:

FOUR-HUNDRED AND FIFTY-TWO RABBITS?
That’s what the SPCA of Texas news release said Wednesday. FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY TWO RABBITS!!!

Yep, on Wednesday the SPCA and the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office “removed 452 rabbits from a property in Kaufman County.” 
They’re at the Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center being evaluated though many of them have medical issues and will be “evaluate by the medical staff for placement on a case-by-case basis.” 
[LARRY ASIDE: This may make you weep. The SPCA says those issues include “long nails, hair loss, missing ears, missing eyes, wounds, matted fur and injured limbs.”] 

These hundreds of rabbits were in a big “barn-type structured covered with tarp and other material.”
Dirty, feces-filled crates were stacked atop each other and rabbits were trying to survive inside them. Two dead rabbits were found. Many litters of juvenile rabbits, too. See more photos HERE.
And, clearly, they weren’t all “tiny bunny rabbits.” That rescuer has a big armful of rabbit!

An SPCA investigator had visited the property on Monday — there’d been a suggestion that a “welfare check was warranted at a location the SPCA of Texas had previously seized animals from in July of 2013,” the news release said. Once again, the SPCA made contact with the owners, discussed bringing the conditions into legal compliance and when the Wednesday visit occurred, the conditions were the same. The owner “agreed to surrender the animals to the SPCA of Texas.” 
[LARRY ASIDE: We don’t know if rabbits fall under the category of “non-livestock animals,” the term used in cruelty cases against dog and cat breeders/hoarders.]
SAVING SOME DOGS
IN HAWKINS, TEXAS
Hawkins Police Chief Manfred Gilow posted an update Wednesday on the rescue of 48 dogs from a hoarder situation in the East Texas town on U.S. 80, about 20 miles north of Tyler. On the Hawkins PD Facebook page, the Chief wrote, “I can’t express how thankful we are for the tremendous positive response to save those sweet dogs! Calls coming in from all over the state, so thank God !! We are still working on details but as of now It looks like every one of the dogs will have a new home after treatment!!! The Guardian Of Rescue is getting a team together to treat every single dog and they take care of adoption for them !! Special thank you Linda with her rescue of many inside dogs !! AGAIN thank you ALL !! The final update will be posted as soon I know definitely all are out and taken care of !!!”
Earlier the chief had noted that “we have secured the assistance of the SPCA of East Texas (in Tyler) and will be working with them this week to remove the dogs from the house.” [The chief is issuing updates on the Hawkins Police Department Facebook page. And, thanks to our pal, the rescuer Kimberly Jones, for tipping us to this situation and providing photos.]
LET’S TALK BARGAINS SHOTS
AND STATISTICS OUT AT THE LAKE
How about this triumph. The photo is of Hailey.
Why is she special? First, she’s the beloved Catahoula who makes life happy for Elizabeth Paul of Gun Barrel City, according to the caption on the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake website.
  Secondly,, according to the Friends, Hailey was “the 40,000th animal to be spayed/neutered by Friends of the Animals. Dr. Glen Campbell has been the surgical veterinarian since Friends opened the doors in July 2002.” 
We checked with Friends guiding light Sydney Busch and she says this photo was taken in “maybe late 2017.” So, the clinic, which averages about 50 surgeries each operating day, has performed about 2,500 since then and the total of spayed/neutered animals is beyond the 42,000 mark. [LARRY ASIDE: Dear, Guinness Record people, Could Dr. Campbell hold the world’s record for “most animals lovingly spayed or neutered”?]

 Back to the weekend: On Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon, the Friends are hosting a low-cost vaccination/microchip clinic. The venue is the Friends’ Spay/Neuter Clinic “on the southeast corner of Highways 198 and 334 in Gun Barrel City.”
You don’t need an appointment, but dogs must be on leashes and cats in carriers.
A rabies shot is $14; parvo/distemper, etc. shot for dogs (and cat equivalent) is $17; feline leukemia vaccination is $17. And a microchip with registration is $25. [LARRY ASIDE: If your dog or cat isn’t “fixed,” ask the folks about getting that done. Dr. Campbell still has plenty of energy!]
CONTEMPLATIONS
BEAVER, PERRY, CISCO, PANCHO, O. HENRY, SOD POODLES… SOD POODLES?
Look, as I began writing this segment after having been appalled by the rabbit story and that photo of the one-eared bunny, I found myself needing something to take my mind wandering in Contemplations. So here we go with a stream of stuff. Feel free to join in. I accidentally watched a Leave It To Beaver episode on cable’s MeTV channel Wednesday morning — I haven’t watched that show in 40 years, probably. This episode was from 1961 and Beaver’s voice had changed. First time I ever realized Beaver had gotten so old that his voice had changed. … Next up was an episode of Perry Mason that had the lawyer in Hawaii solving a murder — I looked it up. Entire episode from 1965 — it featured a surfer as the victim in the Beach Boys era — was filmed in California. The “Hawaiian beach” was really Leo Carrillo Beach near Malibu along California’s Pacific One. That's Perry (Raymond Burr) with Della Street (Barbara Hale), who didn't travel to Hawaii in the episode -- that I can remember. …Of course, no kids reading this will know that Leo Carrillo was an actor/con- servationist who played Pancho, sidekick of The Cisco Kid on TV 1950-56. Cisco was played by Duncan Reynaldo from Romania and Pancho was played by Mr. Carrillo who was a native Los Angelean. (Some of the series was shot in color, but I’m using a black-and-white version because we didn’t have a color TV way back then.) The Cisco Kid was created in a 1907 short story written by the great O. Henry (William Sydney Porter) — he lived in Texas for many years and died in 1910 in New York City, too soon to really make a mint off of TV and movie versions of his written work, i.e., The Gift of the Magi and other stories. … OK, I’m feeling a little more chipper right now, so let’s address the Amarillo Sod Poodles. Yep, minor league baseball team — the Class AA Texas League affiliate of the San Diego Padres. They'll play the Frisco Roughriders. "What is a “Sod Poodle?,” you may be asking. It’s said to be the ol’ timey name for “Prairie Dog.” How did Am- arillo’s team get this name? Public contest, says an article in Sports Illustrated.
The article says, “The name was chosen in a ‘Name the Team’ contest over Boot Scooters, Bronc Busters, Jerky and Long Haulers.” Amarillo’s previous Texas League team (it left in 1982) was the Amarillo Gold Sox. It is difficult for me to make fun of team names — my hometown of Texarkana had the Big State League Texarkana Bears. But prior to that, the big team in Texarkana was in 1902 when my hometown fielded a Texas League team, the Texarkana Casketmakers. Yep, finished dead last in their only season. I like the Sod Poodles for a good minor league name! And that concludes this edition of Contemplations. Today’s presentation supported by the Make Larry Laugh Foundation, dedicated to changing the direction of a day’s thoughts.
—- Offer opinions or uplifting commentary by clicking on “comment” below or by emailing me at dallrp@aol.com, the email address where everybody is somebody and delete is just a theory. —-

REMEMBER THE ALAMO, AND GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO HELPING DOGS AND CATS

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2019 [PetPowellPress] So, March 6, 1836 — not that there’s anybody new to Texas reading this, but it’s the anniversary of the fall of the Alamo — when Mexico’s Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his huge army, on the 13th day of the siege, made Lone Star immortals out of Jim Bowie, William B. Travis and David Crockett, the former U.S. Congressman from Tennessee. More about the Alamo and this stamp in Contemplations.
THE BIG SPECIAL AT DAS
How about that! DAS is running a special for Mardi Gras and, as this is being written on Tuesday, the dallasanimalservices.org site says there are 285 dogs, 19 cats and 2 rabbits available.
We’re citing Arwyn (1056141), a 12-year-old cat who needs a home.
That’s a cat who understands comfort.
Maybe some humans can learn from her.



TRYING TO PLACE A LYNX POINT
This is Xima, about 3, and she needs a home — is that not a perfect cat pose with her tail wrapped around her ankles? 
Her story comes from Nikki Foxx who is trying to place the beloved cat. She explains, “I live in Fort Worth and I've have had a beautiful cat for about 3 years and she is a Lynx Point named Xima. Ever since my boyfriend and I broke up, she's been upset since I am the only human in the house. Her breed loves humans, and I work a lot and travel.  She’s not happy being home alone, and is very jealous of my 18-year-old cat who needs a lot of attention because of his medical issues. I've spent 2 years trying to do everything possible to make Xima happy. Her breed is very affectionate but also very territorial; as much as it breaks my heart, she needs a different home.”

Xima is spayed and up-to-date on shots.
To ask about auditioning to adopt Xima, email nikkifoxx7@gmail.com or call 814-574-0847.

TWO CAMPUS HOUSING CATS
THAT NEED TO BE ELSEWHERE
Sanjana Srinivasan, a PhD student at MD Anderson in Houston, is trying to help these two cats find a home for both or a home for each! Doesn’t matter as long as they’re safe. Their other big problem is they’re both positive for FIV. Sanjana says this has made placing them tough.
They are among cats that have been living around university housing. Sanjana says, “There have always been community cats in the complex that are fed and cared for by the students, but management has been threatening to evict students that are feeding the cats, and are also calling animal and pest control to have kittens put down. I have been working to TNR most of the cats in the complex, but two young cats in particular are extremely friendly and loving, and after getting them spayed, I have been fostering them and trying to get them placed into homes or shelters.” She’s got to move them to a safe place immediately.
And, she says, “I am willing to drive them up to Dallas and cover any costs for vaccinations and the associated intake fees. These two are really lovely cats and I don't believe they deserve to be out on the streets where they risk illness or being put down by management given that they are so loving and friendly.”
To offer to help save the lives of these two cats, email sanjana.srinivasan@hotmail.com.

MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE

The parade of unwanted dogs continues.
This girl Cookie, a 49-pound, year-old Doberman/Retriever mix has quite the story, according to our tipster, the volunteer biographer Judi Brown. She was surrendered on March 4.
But, Judi writes, “The kennel card said it was because the owners were moving. The surrender form said that they had just adopted her this weekend and returned her. When I asked at the front desk I was told that her bark was intimidating to the young children.

“Cookie is a very unique but beautiful dog. Her goldish red coloring and hazel eyes make her a stand out! She has a docked tail. She was like two different dogs. In the kennel she was very shy and even somewhat fearful. She does not like leashes so she had to be carried to the yard. Once she got into the yard there was a metamorphosis. She literally scampered around the yard  as if to say she was so glad to be let out of jail. She would bound up to me with pure delight. She was like a free spirit. She is a happy friendly dog.” Cookie is #40990972.
MAGGIE SUE (40851408) is a 2-year-old Black Mouth Cur mix — a 40-pound stray who arrived on February 26. “She is one of the kennel techs’ favorites,” Judi wrote. “I can understand why — because she has so much potential.”

Keller, a year-old Lab mix (40869233) is also a stray, having arrived on the 28th. Judi says he is “particularly good looking due to his charcoal coloring and his beautiful eyes. Besides being a very nice looking dog, he’s just about as perfect a dog as you could get. He’s very sweet. He gives lots of kisses. He’s friendly and affectionate. He’s also well behaved.”
And Reggie, 3, a Lab, is also a “stray” who came in on the 28th. Judi writes, "Reggie is absolutely gorgeous! He has a regal stance, a glossy black coat, and captivating hazel eyes. To top it off, he could win a personality contest!! He’s friendly, happy, affectionate, well behaved, spirited, and playful. He loves to play with toys, but he also loves to be close to a human friend.” He’s 40863998 and 62 pounds of available adorable.

To ask about any of these, call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.

HELPING THE CATS,
A MADDIE’S FUND GRANT
The SPCA has announced that it’s gotten a $5,000 grant from Maddie's Fund, the national family foundation, to “provide supplies for the SPCA of Texas’ new Working Cats Initiative.” 
According to the SPCA, “This initiative will prepare indoor cats, who have come in through animal cruelty situations, for jobs in warehouses, storage facilities, offices, police stations, restaurants and other locations that need rodent control.
“The SPCA of Texas' Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit (ACI) rescued almost 600 cats from inhumane conditions last year. A large portion of these cats were saved from hoarding situations and because they never lived outdoors, they are not good candidates for a traditional barn cat program. They also can't be adopted as house pets or returned to their previous location because they are unsocialized. The SPCA of Texas' Working Cats Initiative will give these cats a second chance by preparing them to be working cats.” Read the news release on the SPCA’s website HERE.
CONTEMPLATIONS
REMEMBERING THE ALAMO
The the 13-day siege of the Alamo ended on March 6, 1836, and the rebellion against Mexico effectively ended on April 21 when Sam Houston led the riled-up Texian army to a victory over Santa Anna in 18 minutes, according to historians.
Texas, having declared its independence on March 2, 1836, rocked along as an independent nation until February 19, 1846. when it became a state. How soon was that commemorative stamp issued? June 14, 1956, at San Antonio.
FYI: Walt Disney’s TV show Disneyland, in 1954 and ’55, showed a series of episodes titled 
Davy Crockett and starring Fort Worth-born Fess Parker in the title role. The show made the actor incredibly popular, just as it made Davy Crockett’s coonskin caps popular for American kids. 
There have been two big-screen treatments of The Alamo. One, starring John Wayne as Davy Crockett, was a hit in 1960. Most recently, there was a bit of a failed version of The Alamo starring Billy Bob Thornton as Mr. Crockett. John Wayne was born in Winterset, Iowa. Billy Bob Thornton was born in Hot Springs, Ark.
Mr. Crockett was born "on a mountaintop in Tennessee," the song goes, but the town was Limestone, Tenn. (That's Mr. Thornton's photo atop a famed portrait of the actual U.S. Rep. Crockett.
There were three Billboard magazine “chart” versions of The Ballad of Davy Crockett in 1955. Actor Bill Hayes (soap star on Days of Our Lives) went to number one with his version, Fess Parker’s version went into the top 10 and Tennessee Ernie Ford’s went to the top 10 on the country charts.

In the 1956 presidential campaign, Democratic nominee Adlai Stevenson’s running mate, Sen. Estes Kefauver of Tennessee, wore a coonskin cap during the politickin’ — they lost to Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon, neither of whom can be found wearing a coonskin cap. 

And, while the Battle of the Alamo ended on March 6, 1936, there’s been fighting over it as recently as 2015 when Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush got into a tussle with the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and moved the care of the hallowed Alamo from the DRT to the Texas General Land Office. 
The Alamo had originally been saved from developers in 1903 — mercifully Clara Driscoll, 22, granddaughter of soldier at San Jacinto, teamed up with the San Antonio chapter of the DRT. If you study Texas history, you’ll recognize her as “Savior of the Alamo.” 
To help demonstrate how David Crockett and the Alamo travel across the years, here’s a treatment by The Kentucky Headhunters.
So, here in 2019, 183 years later, we do as was urged by the multi-ethnic heroes who called themselves Texians, we “Remember the Alamo.”
—To offer opinions or observations, click on “comment” below or put on your Davy Crockett coonskin cap, type your note and and email it to dallrp@aol.com. —

CHILLING THOUGHTS, A CAT, DOGS IN NEED, ARRESTS, MUSIC AND SOARING VIDEO

EDITION OF TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019 [PetPowellPress] I thought I’d do a weather interview with Simon The Cat. He had to be found. There’s a hint. Look along the top of my computer screen. That's Simon's pretty paw. I’ll avoid the question-and-answer portion of the interview, and summarize the young fellow’s response to the question: “Cold ‘nough for ya?” He said, “#@!$#&*!, yes.” Which, translated from Feline Esperanto is “Oh, my goodness and snap my whiskers, it is quite cold enough.” 
Having been bearded journalist for more than a half-century, I concur. Please note that if you are a big, growing boy cat, there is enough warmth on the desk behind the computer. The other cats and dogs prefer their blankies on the couches so they can watch TV and monitor weather reports. Simon is a Stealthcat. 

Read on about other animals and, yes we’ll get to the annual Artists For Animals Concert for Kindness in CONTEMPLATIONS.


AREN’T THERE LAWS ABOUT
‘WEATHER-PROOFING’ ANIMALS
Yes, indeed. So, do you think people need to be told to protect their cats and dogs and other critters from the hot, cold, wet and dry elements? Why, yes, I do. Why do I think that? Because there is an ugly swath of humanity that has Goldilocks Flawed Thought Process Syndrome: Their thought processes don’t operate when it’s too cold, too hot or just right.
Humans are stubborn or stupid or don’t care and the animals pay for it, sometimes with their lives. Sometimes, the authorities step in. Keep reading. But help me off this soapbox first.
THE DOG PUDDIN’
AND TWO ARRESTS
In a press release release, the SPCA of Texas reported that two people were arrested on February 27 “in connection with the case of a cruelly-treated dog removed by the SPCA of Texas from a property in Hunt County in December of 2018.”
The charge:I "Cruelty to Non-Livestock Animals.”
It’s a Class A Misdemeanor. Take a look at that photo of the year-old Boxer mix, Puddin’, a clearly underweight dog tethered in a dirt pen with no sign of drinkable water. FYI: The SPCA says the investigation showed his body had multiple scars, fly bites on his ears, heartworms, intestinal parasites and, the SPCA news release said, “his tail appeared to have been docked unprofessionally at an earlier time.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Yeah, call it a “Class A Misdemeanor” but, maybe the Texas Humane Legislation Network can convince the Texas Legislature to make cruelty a felony. Click on thln.org.]
In the meantime, to see how to help the SPCA continue its crusade against animal cruelty, go to www.spca.org. 
To see the entire news release about the two people arrested for the shabby treatment of Puddin’, go to this link:
https://www.spca.org/page.aspx?pid=992 . At that site you’ll see photos and names of the two people arrested in the Puddin’ case. [LARRY ASIDE: I’m just posting Puddin’s picture because, well, sometimes I’m not moved to dishonor the dog by using his photo with those of the accused.]
DUKE’S IN TEXAS
AND HE NEEDS A HOME
You know how there’s a network that keeps its eye on dogs that need help? Here’s the network at work. We got the note from our reliable Denton tipster Amy Poskey. She got the note from Debbie Pahler in Plano. And Debbie got the request for help from a friend in Alaska because that Alaskan knows the people who have Duke in Plano. All the while, Duke, probably under 2 years old and more than 50 pounds, is a majestic presence waiting for a place to live.
Or, if you know of a reliable Hound rescue, mention that in your response to the people who have Duke.
 Here’s the story according to the note about Duke: He was “adopted from a mutual friend down near Pearland. They found Duke wandering around in an oil field last September and were unable to locate his owners. He was not microchipped. … I broke my leg in a skiing accident in December and his weight and my inability to quickly and easily move around the house is making it nearly impossible for me to do anything with him. He is not neutered and they said they did not take him to the vet but they have had him on monthly heartworm medication the whole time they have had him. He is absolutely beautiful and the biggest sweetheart! He is also great with our tiny Dachshund and walks pretty well on a leash. He knows how to sit, but no other obedience commands. He does not like his crate, but does calm down if you put him in it and have to leave the house. I can’t speak enough about how great he is with kids… Even my five-year-old can roll around on the floor with him and he is great”

To ask about adopting Duke, contact current human Kelly Counts by emailing thecounts2002@yahoo.com or 972-890-7814 or Debbie Pahler, Friend of Duke, at saydi1@aol.com or 214-336-3766.
[LARRY NOTE: I included that second photo because most of us rarely get to see those big old hound jowls at rest! Hound Jowls, I believe, was my nickname in Boy Scouts…I’m kidding.]

MEANWHILE IN BURNS FLAT


Take a good look at this dog. 
She’s called Momma. 
She’s been in boarding in Burns Flat, in far west Oklahoma, for a year, says our reliable tipster, the resolute rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher.
She deals with “innocent dogs in need.” That’s not cheap. “Our vet bills and boarding bills are in the thousands... Sadly, we had so many we got overwhelmed.  The good thing is most are gone now, safe with rescues and homes, but the old boarding and vetting has added up and is still outstanding.”
Terry Lynn needs help with “downsizing” the accounts in Burns Flat. 
Her go-to vet is at this address and phone: Elk Creek Clinic, 1301 Airport Industrial, Elk City, Okla. 73644 or call 580-225-4862. Her PayPal is bfvfd_109@yahoo.com . And you can email her at remembering_oddball@yahoo.com, call her at 580-330-1459 or write to her at Terry Lynn Fisher, P.O. Box 578, Burns Flat, Okla. 73624. 
Momma, in boarding for more than a year after being rescued, needs a real home. Terry Lynn says, “The boarding lady has taken her home a lot to give her a break. When there, she is so well-behaved. She loves to cuddle and sleep in the house. She is four years old and totally vetted. All she wants is a home of her own — someone to love her. Please help me give her that.”
You may recall her story. She and her son Buddy (left) “belonged to a person that loved them very much. They were well cared for and lived a good life. Sadly, drugs took over her life and she was involved in an armed robbery.She was sentenced to 7 years and BEGGED me to save her dogs.”

CONTEMPLATIONS

HAVING GIFTS, CHILLING THOUGHTS & A FLYING VIDEO
It’s been a pleasure to write about the Artists For Animals annual Concert for Kindness for — how many years? Holy tuneful treble clef, can this be the NINTH?! It’s at 6 p.m. Sunday at Moody Performance Hall in Dallas’ Arts District. (Click here.)

In addition to classic, fun music, there’s an auction,
wine, “a savory bite and dessert” and the money is for Operation Kindness, the no-kill shelter in Carrollton. The event was founded by the great photographer Teresa Berg and Erin Hannigan, Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Oboe and 2018 recipient of Ford Musician Awards for Excellence in Community Service.
How about that photograph? Pretty cool bit of photography! (Teresa’s photo work will be on exhibit at the event!) Here are two wonderful people helping animals by using their gifts of photography and music. So many other people use their gifts of chasing, coaxing, luring, caging, kenneling, driving, spaying, neutering, dipping, cuddling, etc. It takes a gifted village to help the animals. Here’s Fox 4’s story on the concert featuring a performance by four musicians on licorice sticks (translating for those of you who didn’t experience the Big Band ‘30s, that’s 4 clarinets). … Honestly, if you’ve lived through summer in Dallas and sweated like a married man trying to make up a five grand loss at Winstar, you feel guilty complaining about the cold. Why? Because in August, you’ll look back warmly. … I found this video online by accident, but I find it entertaining and interesting. It’s the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flying in formation over the Super Bowl in Atlanta — but it's filmed from the pilots’ view rather than that of everybody on the ground looking up. It’s fascinating. CLICK HERE.  I don’t fly, but I would if I could be the pilot. I’d trust me at the wheel, er, stick, er, controls - I guess there’s a reason I’m not the pilot. …
— To offer opinions, appreciations or objections, click on ‘comment’ below or email CaptLarry@spaceshuttle.com — I’m kidding — email dallrp@aol.com. —-

BRIGHTEN UP A MONDAY WITH BARKUS AND SOME ADORABLES

EDITION OF MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2019 [PETPOWELLPRESS] We’re all caught up in that Mardi Gras thing — well, not really. We did eat out Saturday afternoon. But people have been partying for a while and you’ve probably seen mention of Mardi Gras in New Orleans in the past several days. Geez, if you’re looking for relief from politics, Mardi Gras is the answer. Grab your terrier and follow the yellow brick road in New Orleans!
Bonnie Lovell, my dear friend and former colleague at The Big Paper Downtown (she’s a skilled, sharp editor), has a brother, Charles Lovell, who is a professional photographer and artist and resident of New Orleans.
 Over the weekend she sent me several photos and links to Charles’ “photos of this year’s parade of his favorite ‘krewe,’ Barkus,” aka The Mystic Krewe of Barkus, founded in 1993 for canines. 
[LARRY ASIDE: We’ll have more in Contemplations, thanks to Charles and Bonnie and the people who made sure New Orleans and its traditions didn’t vanish after Katrina.]
MEANWHILE IN DALLAS
On Sunday, the online list of available animals at Dallas Animal Services was 265 dogs, 27 cats and 3 “other” — the “other” being Oreo the Rabbit (1059265) about 7 months old and a shelter resident since Feb. 23, another rabbit named Petunia and Luna the Guinea Pig, who we’ve featured before. (See these and all the computer animals at dallasanimalservices.org. 
Among the felines on the clock is Stray the Cat (1059373), neutered, about 6 years old and in the shelter since Feb. 25.
Buddy (1039287) neutered Chihuahua with a championship set of ears. He’s about 3 and in the shelter since March 1. [LARRY ASIDE: How does an Earhound like Buddy wind up on the clock in a big city shelter? Human failure.]

TWO DOGS GET THE GIFT
OF RESCUES STEPPING UP
Our tipster Amy Poskey, who keeps an eye on the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter’s  efforts to help animals , had two over-the-weekend celebrations for critter fans. 

Mini, described as “the adorable, pregnant terrier mix,” was clearly in a bit of a spot, not having a place to go.
Sweet little Mini weighs 20 pounds (with babies) and is heartworm negative.”
So Amy wrote Sunday morning, “I’m so happy to report that Dashing Dog Rescue will be pulling this little doll baby TODAY!!!  We had several rescues step up for this precious angel and I want to thank EVERYONE for EVERYTHING!  As always, it takes a village!” [LARRY NOTE: Dashing Dog Rescue’s village location is Flower Mound.]
You may recall the story from last week that Eva was in the shelter and expecting — inexplicably, Eva lost her babies. She was under care and recovering at the shelter. And efforts were still underway to find a rescue for her.
Amy wrote, “I’m very happy to report that Western Australian Shepherd Rescue will be pulling Eva on Monday morning and I want to thank EVERYONE for helping make this happen!”
 Then she added a Texas emphasis that all the rescuers in the Wyoming-based organization will recognize: “YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWW!!!.” 
[LARRY ASIDE: I believe that translates into Wyomingian.]
FOLLOWING UP ON ROXY
You may recall that rescuer Kimberly Jones has been attempting to get her pal Roxy into adoption shape so she can live a good life with her bonded colleague Ginger. After a vet visit last week, KJ reported: “I have to take her back on Tuesday morning and leave her. They thought they could remove the growths with a local but she was too wiggly and will have to be sedated.

“As for her leaking urine (which I didn't get into before because I thought they would just prescribe her Proin or something similar)… They want to do labwork because she had leaked in the lobby and the vet collected some and looked at it and her glucose levels are high so they are thinking she might be diabetic so they want to run labwork... Not REALLY what I wanted to hear but we will figure it out and take care of her whatever the issue is. The labwork will be done first on Tuesday before they sedate her. She is 12 years young so prayers are needed.” OFFER TO HELP with the bills by emailing 
kimberlyaj4@gmail.com -- you can also ask about giving the girls a good, wonderful home.
THE EVERMAN ADORABLES
Heather Harrison sent notes about these dogs currently in the Everman Animal Shelter south of Fort Worth. 
Ace and Bella are 4-month-old Shepherd-Mix siblings. Heather’s note reads, “Both are super sweet & playful!  Love to explore and chase each other.  Social with other dogs.”

Then, there’s Lucas. His story reads that he’s “a 3-year-old, male Hound/Lab mix.  Gorgeous brindle guy!  He has been at the shelter for 7 months without any interest, and his time is now about up!  He is dog and kid friendly.  Loves to play!  Vaccinated and heartworm negative. Currently has a skin allergy … His skin is needing medical attention.” To ask about rescuing or adopting, get in touch with Heather at NICKALE7@yahoo.com.

OPPORTUNITIES IN MESQUITE.
The volunteer Mesquite Animal Shelter biographer Judi Brown sends us stories and photos of animals on the clock. Her latest notes include photos of this girl Venus (40862848), 2, a Shepherd/Black Mouth Cur mix who has been in the shelter since Feb. 27 — she was a stray. We picked two of her mugshots — one shows happy Venus and the other shows “What? I’m on a clock?” suddenly-gets-serious Venus. The 49-pound dog has natural eyeliner and a “big fluffy tail,” Judi says. “It’s hard to understand why the owners would not have come looking for her as she seems to have a lot going for her.”

We also have two photos of the little guy Rocky (40865792), just about a year old and a whopping 13 pounds with legs like you’d find on a runway model in Paris! Why is he in a shelter? He’s a “return adoption,” Judi says, adding, “Apparently Rocky was not good with their children.” [LARRY ASIDE: A teachable moment about making friends with a dog lost in favor of the “git a new one” philosophy of canine care. The teenage rebel years may be rough on those kids.]
Judi says Rocky has “a sprinkling of freckles across his nose. I found Rocky to be super friendly and extremely lovable. He’s a happy guy that lavishes you with kisses and if given a chance likes to snuggle in your neck.”
To help these dogs survive human failure, call the shelter at 972–216–6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
To see other animals in the shelter, click HERE.
Among the cats is this beauty, Bones (40879065), a house-trained TEN YEAR OLD domestic shorthair. [LARRY ASIDE: Bones is neutered and has no business living anywhere except in the comfort of a home that loves him. Geez, 10 years old and on the clock. How does that happen?]
Oh, and let me break your animal-loving heart with one more story. This is 5-year-old Tuck (40865792), a 35-pound, neutered Australian Shepherd/Heeler mix who was “surrendered due to the death of his owner,” Judi reports. “He’s got the most beautiful brown eyes! He stands by his window being his own best salesman. It may be he’s waiting for his owner to come back and get him. He is somewhat timid but definitely friendly. He wags his tail and gives kisses. … The people that filled in the surrender form said that he is good with cats, dogs, and children. They also said that he is good when left home alone.”
Again, call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
CONTEMPLATIONS

Returning to New Orleans, a city I’ve never visited, we cite more photos from my pal Bonnie Lovell’s brother the artist/photographer Charles M. Lovell who actually lives in the Crescent City. You can see more photos on his Facebook site HERE and learn about his work HERE .
And, yes, we love the Krewe of Barkus photos because of the adorable animals.
Not sure you could pull this off in Dallas. No Mardi Gras connections, right? Though you can get some King Cakes at area bakeries! Unless you’re on an eternal, infernal diet. Thanks to Charles for letting us bright up a Monday with some Mardi Gras photos.

— To offer opinions or parade suggestions, click on “comment” below or email dallrp@aol.com, where all tough questions get answered. —-

A MAGNET FOR COMFORT

For the first weekend of March, 2019, we are examining the concept of “ComfortMagnet” in this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
The focus is on dogs and their “ComfortMagnet.” We got the illustrative photo from Della Wallace, noted animal rescuer and advocate, who snapped this portrait her animal fan husband David as he was attempting to catch a few winks and had gathered a crowd.   (FYI: The dog on the left is Alastair, in his ride home from the shelter -- he has a star role. Keep reading.)
Let’s consider the assorted elements of comfort here. First, there’s the chair that fits like the best sneaker you ever slid onto your foot.
 Then, there’s the  human, mindful of the needs of a bunch of rescue dogs.
And, finally, there are the animals who know that they’re piling up with someone who embraces the opportunity to enjoy the company of Earth’s Most Splendid Creatures — dogs, cats and any other animal that’ll put up with people.
Of course, dogs don’t just put up with people, but people get to put up with dogs, too. One day last week, Della emailed me, “Gave the dogs rawhide chews yesterday. Woke up this morning with three chews in my bed.”
Then there was this note a couple of weeks ago. “One of the dogs has stolen David’s TV remote. We’ve looked everywhere we can think of. Think it was Roscoe. He’s not talking.” Within a couple of hours came this note. “Wasn’t Roscoe. We owe him an apology now.” Oops, human error with the remote, it turns out. 
[That's Roscoe in one of his favorite sleeping positions.]
Then there’s this explanation about a little dog adopted on Christmas Eve, 2012, from Dallas Animal Services. “Alastair saved David’s life by alerting me at 4:30 one morning that David was having a stroke. We saved him from the Dallas pound, he in return saved David.!! Hero Dog!!!!”

At DAS, Alastair was known as “Chico” until Della and David got him and, Della says, “promptly changed his name to Alastair after the Scottish actor Alastair Sim who plays Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (1951).”

In March 2016, David had been feeling poorly and was spending the night in the recliner with Alastair. When Alastair began barking desperately, waking Della who found David in distress. Dallas wrote, “Had it not been for Alastair…” Well, you know. Della says they call Alastair “Hero Dog” now and she says that, “At the hospital, the nurses all wanted to meet the ‘hero’ dog, so I had to take him to see them. They made a big fuss of him and of course, he loved that.”

Nipper, the other little black dog, was at the Mesquite Animal Shelter and was named “Bubbles” when David and Della rescued him. (That's him relaxing in a bed at home.) “We were told there was a possibility that could bite, but he is the sweetest boy who doesn’t bite an plays well with our other rescues. He especially likes to play with Roscoe who I plucked off the road as he was running into oncoming traffic.”
 He and Nipper “play together for hours,” Della says.
In the opening photo, here’s the ID from Della’ “Big snuggling dog is Chewy. The dog on the floor is Callie. The small black dog on the arm of the chair is ‘Hero Dog’ Alastair. The black and white dog looking at the camera is Annie.” 
And in the middle, there’s David under a blanket of household canines, all warmly happy to have him to cuddle with.

In that other chair photo, Alastair and Nipper are on the back of the chair. The rescue in the chair is Annie, the girl “David rescued a few years ago as SHE was running in traffic.”
Like Roscoe, the other road rescue, she wasn’t chipped and nobody was looking for her.
Of course, they don't all challenge freeway traffic. Izzy, that totally out-of-it, upside-down sleeper, "was running around a lakefront community ner Little Elm," Della says. "Nobody claimed her, so, of course, we adoopted her. She is a sweetie pie." (And that's her doing her "Sit" trick right side up!)
We’ll close with a regular visitor to the grounds at The Wallace Estate.
His name is Zorro and he is seen here entering the garage through the cat flap. Could be a she, i guess. Nobody’s gotten close enough to as to see the driver’s license in the raccoon’s wallet.

 So, in summation, things are so comfortable for the dogs at the Della and David Wallace Home for Formerly Unwanted Dogs, that the neighborhood raccoon has been exploring possibilities and, according to rumors, is considering a more “canine-like” grooming in order to fit in. Zorro prom- ises not to leave chews in the bed and vows not to move the TV remote without telling someone.
[SEND YOUR SLEEPING CRITTER PHOTOS to dallrp@aol.com and we’ll post them on readlarrypowell.com in our weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. We’ve never had a photo of a sleeping raccoon, a slumbering duck or a napping snapping turtle. But we’re hoping to at some point. These photos of animals sleeping comfortably in their homes, we think, inspire other people to make room in their hearts and homes for unwanted animals in local shelters or running along the traffic or dumped in the neighborhood to survive on their own. And, of course, insomniacs are inspired to believe that they too, can get some sleep, if they can just figure out The Roscoe Method — putting the right pillow in the right place and flopping your backside onto it and your head onto the hardwood. Anything for some rest.]
—- Offer opinions, sleeping tips or tax strategies by clicking on “comment” below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

A TEXAS EXTRA EDITION: THE 2019 STATE FAIR THEME; CELEBRATING SATURDAY

EXTRA EDITION, FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 [PetPowellPress] On the eve of Texas Independence Day we have two related items just for fun. We cite two things that are distinctly Texas: The State Fair of Texas and Tolbert’s Restaurant & Chili Parlor. Saddle up, here we go:

STATE FAIR PICKS A 2019 THEME
As is the custom of the great State Fair of Texas, the next edition’s theme is announced in plenty of time for fairgoers to prepare for the celebration. An overnight email from State Fair Senior VP for PR Karissa Condoianis, revealed that the 2019 theme is “Celebrating Texas Creativity.”
And that artwork there is, according to the Fair, an image “of this year’s theme art, which is a nod to the many patchwork quilts entered in our Creative Arts competitions at the State Fair each year.” (FYI: The Creative Arts Handbook, listing contests, dates and rules is now at bigtex.com.)
What’s that? When? Why, it opens Friday, Sept. 27, and runs through Sunday, October 20.
OK, SO WHERE? The Fair’s news release says, “In Fair Park — our home for 133 years.”
CELEBRATING TEXAS INDEPENDENCE
If you attended public schools in Texas and paid attention, you probably know that March 2 is Texas Independence Day, the day in 1836 the Republic of Texas was created and declared its freedom from Mexico. (That blue and gold flag is the Republic's first flag, the Burnet Flag, and the red, white and blue model was adopted not long afterward.)
All politics and war aside, there are celebrations acknowledging the day, including one at Tolbert’s Restaurant & Chili Parlor in Grapevine. 
You can’t get much more Texan than Tolbert’s — its inspiration, Frank X. Tolbert, was a Texas-travelin’ columnist for The Dallas Morning News for decades and, importantly, the author of what many regard as “the Bible of chili,” his famed A Bowl of Red. 
Tolberto, as he’d refer to himself in print, was one of the creators of the Terlingua Chili Cookoff in 1967. His daughter, Kathleen Tolbert Ryan, opened Tolbert’s in Grapevine in 2006 and continues to celebrate the annual Terlingua cookoff. On Saturday, as you can see from that artwork, Tolbert’s will be celebrating Texas Independence Day.

How do you celebrate Texas Independence Day? Some suggestions: Live life to the fullest. Drive friendly. Watch for ice on bridge. Be kind to animals. Yield to traffic taking the exit ramps. Don't put beans in the chili?
At our house, we may have some vegetarian chili made with Morningstar Farms fake beef crumbles though the purists will begin lookin’ for a rope. But my LoneStarSpouse Martha and I were both born in Texas — where you have the freedom to eat your chili the way you like it though, of course, I’m still iffy on beans in the bowl. When it comes to chili, beans make a good side dish. That way the pinto flavor doesn’t get in the way of the onions, jalapenos, saltines and ketchup. Just kiddin’ about that ketchup. Most of the time. Depends on whether Martha made the good chili or I tried and failed.
Oh, that stamp? Well, that's the U.S. postage stamp issued in 1936 in honor of the Texas Centennial. Most states celebrate the anniversary of their admission to the union -- Texas celebrates its emergence as a nation. We are different. We are Texas. Planning is probably already underway for the 2036 Texas Bicentennial. Don't know if we'll still be using stamps in 2036.
—- Offer Texas opinions or chili recipes by clicking on ‘comment’ below or emailing dallrp@aol.com, where we love to celebrate Texas. —-

ON MARCH 1, THE FRIDAY CHALLENGE OF SAVING THE ANIMALS

EDITION OF FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Happy March. Son of a gun. Wintry weather but springtime is so close — arrives at 4:58 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, March 20, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, “founded in 1792” and I remember the challenge of walking in to ask for a job the second day they were in business. Founder Robert B. Thomas told me, “Come back when you’re not as callow as a calf.” I’m kidding, It was years later when I got a job at a newspaper. FYI, The Old Farmer’s Almanac weather forecast for March 1-9 in the the region that includes Dallas is “Rain, then sunny, cooler.” We’ll see. If you need a booster, there’s a rose from my front yard. This week? Heck, no. Around Spring, 2014. But they return annually. Usually.
DAS ANNOUNCES
HISTORIC STATISTICS

This nugget popped up Thursday on the DAS Facebook page: “We are thrilled that for the first time in DAS’ history our live release rate was over 90% for both December and January, despite an increased intake of loose dogs. We are excited to be saving more lives than ever, but it will take a lot of hard work, innovation and community support to keep this up!” There’s a video on the site that explains the DAS strategy.
Readlarrypowell.com notes that you can help the “live release rate” by adopting this cat Beau (1050680), a 4-year-old orange and white baby at the shelter since December 1. He comes with a set of championship whiskers and a cute tongue.

And, for crying out loud, look at Cain (0930857), a Pittie boy who’s been at the shelter since February 21. Here’s the big rub. He’s about 8 years old — and that means somebody didn’t bother to come looking for him or he was intentionally dumped after 8 years of thinking he had a family.
Before I launch into an unpleasant but accurate stream of “French phrasing,” somebody go to the DAS Shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland and boost the “live release rate” for dogs and cats. On Thursday afternoon, DAS listed 227 dogs, 19 cats, a rabbit and a Guinea Pig among the “adorable adoptables” online. See them at dallasanimalservices.org.
A PUPPY’S FACE — HE
ONCE LIVED IN A CLOSET…
Don’t get me started on the sad state of human behavior around here. Kids, grownups and animals — they’re all facing such risks that entire government organizations have been established to protect them from the mean people. What in the heck is wrong with peop…wait. No need to go on with that question. Let’s concentrate on a happy puppy. 
This little girl, now called “Mantis” is in the care of the SPCA of Texas now. And these photos demonstrate how appreciative she is. The SPCA sent the pictures and the story in a news release Thursday.
Mantis has been in the “protective custody” of the SPCA since February 18. She was part of a child abandonment case — the puppy was “FOUND CONFINED TO A CLOSET” when Dallas Police conducted the investigation.
Can you adopt her? Not yet. There’s a custody hearting set for 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 5, in the court of Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Place 12, in Lancaster. The SPCA says Mantis is “friendly, playful and affectionate with staff and volunteers at the SPCA of Texas. Medical staffers have treated her
intestinal parasites and will continue to care for her until a civil custody hearing takes place.”

And, there’s a possibility that “criminal animal cruelty charges may be filed against the owner(s) in this case.” 
 He’s already facing a number of charges, as you can see in the news release HERE.
DIXIE NEEDS A PLACE TO LIVE;
HUMAN GOING OVERSEAS
This tip came to Karen Lee of barkleyworld.com via our mutual pal Gail Whelan of the Companion Animal Network who told me she saw this dog and was moved to do a good deed by getting Dixie’s plight into the public eye.
We got in touch with “Bonddie” who told us his job in the petroleum industry is taking him to Africa for around three years — maybe more — and he needs to find a good home for his dear lab girl Dixie. She’s 7 and healthy and “always stays inside and loves to play.”
If — and it’s a big if — someone would want to “foster” Dixie for three years, that would be great, Bonddie told me in a Thursday phone call.
Otherwise, he really wants to find the perfect, healthy, loving home for this beautiful dog.
The photographs look as if they came out of a magazine "mood shoot" for furniture and household allure. You can see that Dixie has a happy contented presence in her home. She just needs to transfer to her next happy home. To help Bonddie help Dixie, call 281-662-6106 or email bonddie@arenbyphoto.com.

ON MESQUITE’S FRIDAY
CODE RED LIST FOR 11 A.M.

Bella (39916285) is an EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GREAT DANE BOXER MIX who came in as a stray on February 21. She weighs 65 scrawny pounds. Friendly Doesn’t like cats. Our tipster, the volunteer bio- grapher Judi Brown, says Bella has “huge, expressive eyes and a graying snout.” [LARRY ASIDE: Some human has deserted this dog — eight years old and stray. Come on, people.]

Daisy (407777- 45), a 6-year-old Lab/Shepherd mix, and Miracle (40778034), a 3-year-old and probably Daisy’s daughter, were surrendered on Val- entines Day “due to the owner’s personal problems,” according to the report. Both are fixed. Yep, the owner’s personal problems could become fatal for two loyal dogs.
Bosco (40763150), is a 2-year-old Rottweiler mix who defeated kennel cough and his reward for surviving that is to see if he can defeat the Code Red designation on the first Friday in March, 2019. He’s 44 pounds of lively bob-tailed fun, housebroken and adorable. He’s been in the shelter since February 12 — someone let him stray. 
To ask about any of these dog — to ask about saving the lives of these dogs, call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
CONTEMPLATIONS
WALTER THE DOG; RUSTY THE DOG; DALAS STATS ADD UP ...
Stephen Foster, the veteran rescuer who founded and presides over DFW’s Forgotten Friends, recently ran into a dog problem that could have been perplexing if he hadn’t taken a moment to wonder about the “backstory” of this guy Walter. It turns out to be a story of love that was battered by financial circumstances, but a love that was elated with the solution. We’ve posted Stephen’s story, "A Teaching Moment in Rescue" HERE . Please take some time to read it. You may never face a similar situation, but, perhaps, you will know someone who does. Remember, “love” is the foundation of animal advocacy.

WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH RUSTY? He’s the dog who bit a youngster at Klyde Warren Park during an adoption event — is still moving through the legal system. There’s a website dedicate to saving the dog’s life. Here’s a LINK  to the Feb. 27 update that begins “We are very disappointed to report that the City of Dallas continues to spend who knows how much of its citizens’ tax dollars and use taxpayer-funded staff manpower in their now 15-month effort to kill Rusty.” [LARRY ASIDE: In 15 months, the city has killed a staggering number of animals at its shelter -- SEE THE STATS HERE.  Not sure any of them had bitten anyone before they got the needle. And Rusty? Geez, even a murderer can live a long life in Texas — why kill a dog with one scary blot on his record? Because it’s the law? Is it the law? Hmmm. Not sure, your honor. There is that ol’ Texas philosophy: “Got an animal problem? Let’s kill it.” If the law were clear and executable, would we still be talking about Rusty’s case? No, he’d be on probation in a loving home — maybe not in Dallas, but he’d still be a live dog. And, seriously, folks, look at the headlines -- don't we already have enough killing in Dallas, Texas? 

— To offer opinions or solutions, click on ‘comment’ below or email dallrp@aol.com. —

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS, BUT THE ANIMALS NEED HELP, ANYWAY

EDITION OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2019 [PetPowellPress] EDITOR'S NOTE: We seem to be having problems getting photographs to load onto the website. So, for now, we're going with text only and we'll work on the photo problem until some expert can help us right the ship. IN THE MEANTIME, here's our text:

Maybe it’s just me, but did February seem to be a lot quicker than usual? Except in Washington, maybe? But never mind all that, let’s go back to the recent weekend when 46 dogs were rescued by Recycled Pomeranians and Schipperkes.
Forty-six. They were handed over by a breeder in Hot Springs who had hit the end of her days in the business.
It is important for people who’ve never participated in one of these “mass acquisitions” to know that there is elation when there is a successful effort. It is also important for people to know that when they buy from a breeder they can't check out in person, there may be a less than storybook tale behind your new puppy.

We got the inside story on this rescue from Cheri Fults, Chairman and Co-Founder of Recycled Pomeranians and Schipperkes.
 She told us, “Several of us had a meltdown and started sobbing when we learned the dogs were all loaded up and the van had left the property.  This was our first time to intake this many dogs in one day.  (Our normal large intake is 30 dogs so we knew this was going to be a challenge.)
“Our team assembled at my house with five grooming stations, a medical table (for intake meds) and a table to insert microchips.   We had extra pens set up to separate the boys from girls and extra pens for any dogs with behavioral issues that needed to be separated. 
“Grooming started at 1:30 p.m. and ended about 9:30 p.m. Our whole team worked so well together despite the windy conditions that blew hair in everyone’s face almost continuously. (It was a bad day to use lip gloss...note to self.)”
 [LARRY ASIDE: Now that’s something I’d have never thought about. Boy, you’d think twice about licking your lips. But, keep reading because, Dear Readers, people need to know what dedication it takes to help animals.]
Cher continues, “They [the dogs] had a horrible stench that kept making my gag reflex go into overdrive.  Someone set a bottle of Pine Sol near me to sniff in an attempt to kill the odor.  (We did NOT put Pine Sol on the dogs.) Their butt hair had large chunks of poop attached that was hard as rocks.  Cindi broke a pair of scissors trying to cut it off one of the dogs.  
“These dogs were so obese.  The breeder fed them well and often. One dog can barely walk because he is so fat. These fur balls are on a diet now." [LARRY ASIDE: That’s a reference to Ping, the dog Laurie Weston is grooming. The dog that Nicole Rickert is holding is Spice.]

“It’s obvious that they were held often and never cruelly treated. They knew love and they liked people.  Only one dog is fearful. He’s young and has not once offered to bite. He can easily be socialized and adopted.  All of them are as cute as they could possibly be.
“So far, 20 dogs have been vetted and not a one is heart worm positive!! We are so thrilled about that.
“However, we have a girl with liver failure, a boy with the beginning stages of kidney failure, lots of bad knees and one that is diabetic.  Dentals were more of an extraction surgery than a cleaning. I think their health will improve just having the bad teeth removed.  
“I’m so proud of our team.  This rescue started out so small with just Melissa and me. [LARRY ASIDE: That was 1996 when Cheri and Melissa Wooton Bitting founded the organization.] She says that “now we have about a hundred volunteers and three more branches (Cabot, Ark., College Station, Texas, and Houston).”

So, how do you get to adopt one of these dogs Go to this LINK and you can get adoption info, learn how to help the organization and find out how to become a foster.
Remember, there are three things that fuel a rescue group: Fosters, donations and giant hearts.

A DOG WHO NEEDS
AN EXEMPLARY HOME
But don’t they all? Sure, but look at this baby. We got the story from Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. Sydney says that Friends of the Animals “will waive the surgery cost for the person adopting this puppy.”
How can you turn down a deal like that? Why is the dog available? The note says, “Puppy was dumped at 82-year-old grandmother's in Cherokee Shores.  She [the dog] is very sweet tempered. Would be a great puppy for a child. Must be indoor pet. Probably needs shots and needs fixed. Needs a good home.” The number to call is 430-207-8643
TODAY’S REPORT
ON MESQUITE DOGS
Yeah, it’s nearly a daily thing, but, you know, there’s nearly a daily dog who needs to beat the clock at Mesquite Animal services.
 Check out Zelda [40803561], the 10-month-old, spayed, 37-pound Aussie Cattle Dog who, the volunteer shelter biographer Judi Brown reports, was adopted, then “returned to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 2/26. The reason given was that she was too big. They only kept 10 month old Zelda 3 days before they returned her! The rest of the story is that she was jumping on their small toddler. I am somewhat surprised at this because when I interacted with her she did not jump on me. Actually she was quite well behaved for a puppy. She was even relatively calm. She certainly was gentle. She sat for treats. She was alert and curious and checked out her surroundings. She walked well on a leash. She went nose to nose wagging her tail with many of the dogs in the bay.” 

Then there’s Drama (40845971), a 3-year-old, 48-pound Pittie mix surrender on Feb. 25 “due to landlord issues,” Judi reports. “You can  tell by looking at her sweet face and her kind eyes that she is gentle, kind, and sweet. She is very friendly and wanted human attention . She stuck to me like Velcro. She walked well on a leash. Her previous owner said that she is good with children, that she is dog friendly, and that she loves laps.”
 How does that name Drama fit in? Judi wrote, “You will need to stay tuned. There will be another broadcast tomorrow to announce whether she is pregnant.”
 
OVERNIGHT BULLETIN! Yes, Judi reports, Drama is pregnant. She'll need a very special rescue to take care of her.

To ask about either or both of these dogs, call the shelter at 972–216–6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
CONTEMPLATIONS
WHAT THE HOUSE ALLOWS; WEATHER CHANGES; THE CONCERT
Look at this baby. The story is, if nobody helps her, she’s going to the Forney Animal Shelter on Friday morning. To offer
to save Remi from the indignity of going from somebody’s dog to nobody’s dog, call 951-818-9516. A beauty. Lots of hair. Needs a grooming. Inspires a Contemplation about dogs and houses. One of the many dogs A Different Breed Rescue hears about. The note we were forwarded reads, “Her name is Remi. She is a rescue from CA. We can’t keep her because the new house we’re moving into won’t allow it.” [LARRY ASIDE: I’m thinkin “CA” is California, not Central America. And “the new house we’re moving into won’t allow it” is the Contemplation part: After years of asking questions, I hit the end of the line on this one. The “house…won’t allow it”? I wouldn’t live in a house that rejected my dog.] But, seriously, we’ll go ahead and try to help 4- or 5-year-old Remi. She’s spayed, said to be friendly, does well with other dogs, is teachable and “always lets you know when she needs to go potty if she’s inside.” So, beyond that, we have only prayers for Remi — our house doesn’t have limits on dogs, but our checking account does. Darned Lotto Texas — never, never, NEVER the right numbers for an animal advocate! … How about the weather? Thursday is trash rollout day in our neighborhood. That’s the moment in the morning when you know the weather has change. … Speaking of weather, anybody else keeping up with the flying adventures at Southwest Airlines these days? I know a guy who got up at 3 in the morning so he could catch a flight to New York to see John Mellencamp at the historic Beacon Theater. He made it to the airport on time. And then there was some kind of delay on his scheduled plane and the next flight wouldn’t get him to NYC until about the time the show was starting. Two ways to look at this: (1) Encourage the airlines to get everything in order for the sake of the nation or (2) mark it up as another reason not to fly. I have a list. Here’s a song in honor of good, safe, on-time aviation. Perhaps #ImissHerb would be appropriate?
—- Offer advice or opinions by clicking on “comment” below or get angry about your vacation being canceled by airline troubles by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —

THE CHALLENGE IS THE HUMANS...BUT THE ANIMALS ARE FORGIVING -- IF THEY SURVIVE

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2019 [PetPowellPress] If you are reading this, you are probably a sucker for animals. Why is that?
Yeah, I don’t have an answer, either. It’s just always been there. Maybe someone has a way to explain the tendency. Let us know — email your explanation to dallrp@aol.com.
 FYI: That's Wendy waiting at the window for her main human, my adoredbymanandbeastsspouse Martha.
In the meantime, we have opportunities today to demonstrate loving animals by giving them homes and getting, in turn, a family companion who is just happy to be there with you.
A WORD ABOUT SPAY/NEUTER
AND A DOG IN DENTON
Probably anybody reading this already knows the value of spaying and neutering (World Spay Day was Tuesday). Spaying and neutering and human responsibility for the care of their animals all keep animals from being born just so they can die.
Here’s what happened Tuesday. 
This girl Eva, a young — maybe 1 or 2 — Aussie Shepherd mix was in a fix in the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter. The original note from our tipster Amy Poskey explained that she needed help because she was extremely pregnant. 
She came in as a stray, weighed 43 pounds, is low heartworm positive and is “super scared at the shelter — Can ya blame her?,” Amy wrote. “And she needs our help now!”
Things changed — we got a mid-afternoon update from Amy: “Sweet, precious Eva gave birth to several puppies while at the shelter, but none of them survived. She was x-rayed to make sure there were no more puppies and she is resting now. The shelter will let her recuperate then go ahead with her spay and prepare her for adoption.   Be free little puppy angels…”
Eva will need a foster who knows the ropes. The shelter is at 3717 N. Elm in Denton. Phone 940-349-7594. The email contacts are: gayla.nelsen@cityofdenton.com, Randi.Weinberg@cityofdenton.com, Julien.Peralta@cityofdenton.com, dentonshelterdogs@yahoo.com, and/or dentonanimalservices@yahoo.com. 
[LARRY ASIDE: How in the world did a dog this beautiful wind up stray, pregnant and heartworm positive? I’ll tell you. Human failure. Could have been ignorance. Could have been a decision to not spay her. Could have been a decision to not care all that much about a living being. Moral decision. Absolute human failure. How do we engage the don’t-care human hearts in the mission of protecting the animals at their own homes?]
ANOTHER MEDICAL CASE
INVOLVNG A SHELTER DOG
You may remember this photograph we posted in Monday’s edition — four little Chihuahuas surrendered to the Mesquite Animal Shelter because their human had developed dementia and could no longer care for the dogs. They were, as is sometimes sadly the case in these medical situations, no properly groomed, loaded with fleas and in need of a bath.
 Juju (40830051) has an extra problem. This 5-or-6-year-old, 7-pound Cream Chihuahua is nearly blind with cataracts and has what appears to be a mammary tumor. Our tipster, the shelter’s volunteer biographer Judi Brown, reports, “Juju is extremely sweet and likes to be held. She walks slowly on a leash. She did not have problems meeting other dogs when introduced properly. She has cataracts on both eyes. She may have a little sight but, if any, not much. She also has a growth, possible mammary tumor, in the mammary area. She is definitely a special-needs little girl that needs special attention from a very special person.”
Call the shelter at 972–216–6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.


MEANWHILE WAITING IN DALLAS
IN THE CARE OF ANIMAL SERVICES
A mid-day check on the DAS website, dallasanimalservices.org, showed that on Tuesday there were 235 dogs listed and 22 cats and 1 other — that other is Luna (A1059231), a 2-year-old, tri-color Guinea Pig. 
The dogs are many. The cats are fewer than they used to be, but, remember, this is February becoming March and this town is the Fertility Capital of America. Puppy and kitten season is 12-months-long in Dallas, Texas, but it amps up in the spring. 
Among the cats in the shelter (and we’ve recently pointed out several older available adorables) is this girl Arwyn (1056141), a 12-year-old Dilute Tortie who has been waiting for a new home since arriving at the shelter on January 23. She’s clearly a cat comfortable with being held. Visit the shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland or call 214-670-6800 to ask about her.
Below you see the latest statistics from Dallas Animal Services as posted in the “ABOUT DAS” section on dallasanimalservices.org under the “Daily Report Card.” Seems “Daily” is loosely defined. But they've been busy and we're not keeping score.

CONTEMPLATIONS

BRIT DOGS, READING PAPERS AND A POPCORN KITTEN
Our Eastern Seaboard Bureau Chief Andrew Fisher, the veteran scribe and newshound, spotted a story in The Telegraph about the most popular dog breed in Great Britain and the decline of Scotties. He said, “The real shocker is: The FRENCH Bulldog is the most popular dog breed in BRITAIN.” here’s the LINK. …
We’ve all had some time to get accustomed to reading newspapers online so it’s time to ask this question. “Is there too much clicking and not enough reading of online newspapers?” Remember the days when you could pick up big print newspaper and zip through a page quickly? But online you have to click, read, click back, click off on the advertisement, click forward on the story, etc. Everything is designed to be read on a phone in two or three paragraphs. That discourages literacy and being responsibly informed, doesn’t it? Still better than nothin'. ...
Earlier this week I was talking with our Houston tipster Alexandra Kelsey about our formerly bottle-fed cat Simon and how, when Martha (she’d mothered him!) sits down to dine on her thin-sliced turkey, Simon is on her like a magnet and demanding to be fed, just like the old days. KA said it reminded her a “darling orange baby kitten” named Tucker who she was fostering years ago. He was “just a doll,” she says. “One day, I made a bowl of popcorn, which isn’t something I normally eat, but anyway, I was on the couch with a big huge glass bowl of warm popcorn in my lap, and that kitten jumped right into the middle of the bowl. It was hysterical.” Yep, she says, “Popcorn went everywhere, but he was so happy in the bowl!”
We don’t have a photo of Tucker, but I’m always happy to publish another one of Simon who, in this light, resembles a slightly buttered big ol’ upright popped kernel of corn.
— To offer an “amen” or advice, click on “comment” below or email dallrp@aol.com. —-

ON A TUESDAY, DOGS, CATS, A HORSE AND A CINEMA CONTEMPLATION

EDITION OF TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019 [PetPowellPress] With near-spring temperatures on Monday,  here is something I discovered: The sound of a lawn mower droning down the street disturbs whatever tiny thought processes I have as of this writing. Irony? I mowed my own yard during the noon hour Monday. That sound bugged me, too. 
Why mow in February in Dallas? Because late Sunday, during the Oscars, I thought i heard jungle cats gently roaring in the tall grass. The last thing I need on the front porch is feral lions.
That cat? Not in our front yard. Nope, this is year-old Fern, currently at the Mesquite PetSmart in the SPCA’s available cats display. I’m posting Fern’s photo as a reminder to people that cats have magnificent faces. See her online at spca.org. Oh, at that SPCA link you can also see that dog with the fantastic face — Joe, an American Bulldog mix said to be “all about snuggling on the couch and watching movies.”
MEANWHILE IN WILMER
We frequently mention animals in the Wilmer Animal Shelter — one reason is the little shelter doesn’t have the marketing force of the big shelters and rescue groups. It has the dogs, i.e., it has the paw traffic but it doesn’t have the foot traffic.
So, because Leighann Hanson and Laura Macias and others are hustling on behalf of those animals, we get to see some of the dogs that need help. To help any of them call or text 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo. com
The dogs are Noah (upper left), a Shepherd/Hound mix, about six months old and sweet but bashful.

Chase (upper right) is the young Bully mix, describe as “a great little dog with the cutest little nub tail.”
Then there’s Lexie, the Keeshond/ Shepherd Mix, “found by a Good Samaritan in Dallas County.” Needs a rescue group, they say. Currently in the care of a sort of foster until either someone claims or she goes to the shelter.
And, then there’s Chance, that Bully mix with “the sweetest big, pretty eyes.”
You know where Wilmer is, of course.
It’s just south of the Dallas city limits on I-45. Just north of Ferris, which also has a shelter that has little public interest. 


THE STORY OF BUNNY
IS TOTAL HEARTBREAK
Well, dear readers, I just couldn’t start this edition with such a sad story though it is, also, a story of human hearts having hope that they can triumph over a terrible situation. 
Our tipster, Alexandra Kelsey, told us about Red Collar Rescue’s efforts. She began, “Bunny is now in a place where nothing can hurt her again, but everyone who met Bunny is devastated at her loss.  No dog should have to experience the cruelty Bunny did, and Red Collar did everything possible to save Bunny.  Sadly, the outcome wasn’t what anyone hoped for.  But, Red Collar so very often steps up for critical medical cases, and your support means they can continue doing that.”
When Bunny came into Red Collar, the theory was she had suffered “road rash” from being struck by a car and dragged. But, the worst things got, the more apparent it became that she may have been the victim of chemical burns. The infection could not be stopped and Bunny did not make it.
Red Collar’s announcement read, “Bunny touched us all very deeply. We visited her daily, and though she was in too much pain to be petted, she spoke to us with her expressive soulful brown eyes. One look would melt your heart. Such a young life taken way too soon.”
Red Collar’s official announcement said, that “amidst our grief, we drove Bunny’s body to Texas A&M’s diagnostic lab for a necropsy. … We plan to file a cruelty report with the Harris County Animal Cruelty Task Force.”
Red Collar is seeking donations to help pay off Bunny’s $5,000 medical bill. Donations can be made on the Red Collar website HERE.
ONE MORE CHALLENGE
FOR RESCUED ROXY 
Last week we reported that Kimberly Jones’ rescued dogs, Ginger and Roxy, were “doing great in their foster home” — and thriving! Kimberly wrote, “They have toys, a bed, blankets, good food, supplements and best of all - LOVE. Roxy has gained some much needed weight. She now needs to have some growths removed.
You see the bonded pals Roxy (left) and Ginger in one photo and in the other you see the point of concern on Roxy’s tummy. The need is to raise $300 to pay for the removal of the growths from the sweet dog’s abdomen.
The contact point is kimberlyaj4@gmail.com. Left over donations go toward heartworm protection for these two rescued babies.
CONTEMPLATIONS
DID YOU MISS THE HOST? ... MISS THE MOVIES? ... AND HOW ABOUT THAT HORSE!
Didn’t miss the host at all at the Oscars. Also, wouldn’t it be nice if the broadcast would superimpose the names of the people on screen? Not a clue on a number of the
“personalities.” Seriously, would you have recognized Charlize Theron when she walked in as a brunette? … Still haven’t seen any of the nominated movies. Maybe I had a bad year at the movies or maybe I had a smart year at the movies — I love the big screen, but I hate the big prices. Ask an actor, “You want a big audience or a big salary?” … Like most native-born Texans and those who move into this wondrous state, our hearts have a place for horses. We may not own one, ride one or even see one except at the State Fair of Texas, but, by golly, there’s a love of horses in our DNA. I was clicking around on the SPCA website Monday and ran across the photo of this incredibly handsome horse, Takota, a gelding Paint Pony, whose been at the Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney since September. There is a notation on his bio that reads “POTENTIAL: NO LIMITATIONS.” And, yet, he’s not running for president. I’m kidding. No need for another horse's ass in Washington. Seriously, I just think he’s a beautiful pony. Nearly three years old. Available. We’re pushing size limits with a Rottie at our house — a horse would really fill up the living room couch.
—- Offer opinions and advice by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com where we respond to sensible emails and the other kind, too. —-