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FOR 2/19 IN 2/19, A COLLECTION OF ANIMAL TALES AND NEEDS

EDITION OF TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019 [PetPowellPress] This is the edition for 2/19 in 2/19. That’ll not happen again, right? Unless, of course, there’s a presidential declaration renumbering months and years. But that’s never going to happen, right? So, let’s dive right into our assorted items, appearing in no particular order.
HOW LITTLE I KNOW ABOUT
CHALLENGES AND GREYHOUNDS
We all hear “Greyhound” and we think of a tall, slim, swift dog or, maybe, a big bus. But do you ever think of “deer corn?”
You may from now on. Here’s what we learned from the Greyhound Adoption League of Texas when GALT reported the rescue of two girls, Sapphire and Emerald, and a boy, Sebastian.
The GALT newsletter report began, “West Texas is a different kind of place. Residents often breed Greyhounds and Greyhound mixes in backyards to use for hunting. Far too often, some fail to properly care for the hounds such that local animal control has to step in to protect the hounds' safety. That's how our new arrivals' story begins. Local animal control seized Emerald, Sapphire and Sebastian from their owner who had been feeding them a diet of only deer corn.
“Animal control held them for several weeks while a cruelty charge was pursued against their owner. Ultimately, the owner failed to pay the fine required to recover the hounds and on February 4, a judge ordered the hounds released for adoption.” [Read more of this story and other Greyhound rescue and adoption news at this LINK. See how to adopt or get involved at galtx.org.
BOOMER GETS A BREAK
We’d mentioned this big ol’ guy Boomer last week after we got the tip on his needs from reliable tipster Amy Poskey who monitors Denton’s McNatt Animal Shelter and Adoption Center.
Here’s the latest news from Amy: Boomer’s been claimed by White Kisses Great Dane Rescue.
You may recall that Boomer was thought to be a purebred Merlequin (Merle/Harlequin) Great Dane, possibly the result of bad intentions by a breeder. You can read more about this breeding situation on the White Kisses site HERE.
You may also apply to adopt Great Danes and volunteer to help with the care of “breeder errors” such as deaf dogs and vision-impaired dogs

Importantly, consider this first line on the White Kisses adoption page. It’s a good line for ALL dogs. “Before adopting a dog, please remember that this is a life-time commitment.”

DAS AND PETCO AND
CAPTAIN FLUFFYPANTS
Probably you saw on the Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Center that the PetCo Foundation has given DAS a $150,000 grant. DAS says, “This funding will be used to purchase a vehicle that will transport animals from DAS to other shelters in the country that have open kennels.”

We don’t know who will be driving the new vehicle, but here’s a nomination from within the shelter. This photo (shot through the plastic cover on his cage) shows the little guy Captain Fluffypants (#A10577337), maybe two months old and a shelter resident since Feb. 3. See the DAS adoptables at dallasanimalservices.org or go to the shelter. And, heck, yeah, look how much publicity you’d get nationwide if you had a driver named Captain Fluffypants.

TWO NOTES REGARDING
CHOW RESCUER DIANNE WATSON

Last week, on the 12th of February, our pal Alexandra Kelsey in Houston posted a reminder “Remembering Dianne Watson — 2/12/13” and so many of us do remember the tireless worker for her favorites, the Chows. The Kelsey Note read, “The rescue community has lost so many wonderful people in the last few years, and Dianne was beloved by many of us and is missed so much.  She loved the Chows and whenever I see a Chow, I think immediately of Dianne.”
Then, over the weekend, Dianne’s husband Ben posted this note: “Tonight I had to make the decision we all dread. Marty has now crossed over the bridge to be with Dianne. I know she was there with me and help make the decision. I won’t go into detail of his health issues just that he could no longer stand or walk. He will be cremated and eventually taken to Pittsburgh to be buried with his mom and Choo...Now it’s just me and Grizzly …….Ben.”

GABE'S IN MESQUITE
AND SO IS COCO
Now and then among the dogs with solid colors or brilliant patches of color you’ll run into a fabulous brindle boy. This 32-pound baby is Gabe (40743399), 6 months old, and a Pittie mix who arrived as a stray on Feb. 9 at the Mesquite Animal Services shelter. The facility’s volunteer biographer, Judi Brown reports that “He’s a beautiful boy with remarkable brindle coloring. Gabe is all puppy as he is friendly, playful, joyful, affectionate and energetic. You just can’t beat his personality! He would be a wonderful dog for a family with children. He is highly motivated by treats and will sit for them.”
To ask about Gabe, call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
To see more Mesquite animals, click HERE. In the cats area, you’ll find several “older” cats have wound up on the clock in Mesquite. Among them is this relative teenager, 7-year-old Coco (40775248). Coco came in on Valentine’s Day. Someone must have been a real sweetheart to this girl.
CONTEMPLATIONS
FERRIS NEEDS AN ACO; PLUS NOTING A CRIME AND TEXAS PUNISHMENT
Perhaps you saw the story in The Big Paper Downtown about the Ferris School District getting a police dog who is a Pit Bull. Here's the LINK. High praise for the dog and for the district for giving the dog a chance. In the meantime, Ferris has a city shelter that is in a spot of trouble — the animals keep coming into the small shelter, but there’s no adoptor foot traffic. There’s also no way to see the current animals — the Facebook site hasn’t been updated since December. Plus there is no Ferris Animal Control Officer — the position has been vacant for months. The job is open and lives will be saved — oh, wait, I checked this City of Ferris jobs link and there’s NO ACO JOB LISTED. Here’s a link to Ferris Animal Control. The Ferris ACO, the city says, “works to keep communities safe and free of animal borne diseases, dangerous animals, and protects the animals themselves from cruelty. The city of Ferris employs a full time Animal Control Officer, Vacant is committed to assisting the citizens of Ferris with animal related issues.” Exact quote — bit of a comma blunder there between "officer" and "vacant." …
Perhaps you saw the CBS News story about the dog in Virginia that was set on fire while tied to a pole. No charges yet. Here’s the LINK.  The great Jonnie England, the animal rescuer who created Operation Kindness, was moved to recall the horrible case of Mercy (right) here. She wrote, “This is so much like Mercy’s case. Rest in peaceful comfort, sweet Tommie. Your suffering is over.” (And in case you want a reminder about the Mercy case, you can read about Dashawn Brown’s rejected appeal of his 2007 conviction HERE. It’s graphic, but it ends on a high note if you favor justice.


..
As long as were contemplating justice, remember, the Texas Legislature is still in session and the Texas Humane Legislation Network (thln.org) is still working to get tougher animal abuse laws.

From our viewpoint, the primary question is this; How could anyone vote AGAINST tougher laws that punish pure meanness and horrible behavior?

—- Offer explanations or advice by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing commentary to larry at dallrp@aol.com. —-

CHANGES AT THE SPCA; DOGS, CATS IN NEED OF HOMES AND RESCUE; TRILLIONS 'N' MEMORIES 'N' ROCK GLORY OF THE FOUR SPEEDS

EDITION OF MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2019 — It’s probably appropriate for President’s Day to note that over the weekend there was some consternation over the government’s $22 trillion debt. Anybody set up a gofundme yet? More in contemplations along with notes about the great Don Henley and a dog that was a return.
SPCA’S BIAS IN TRANSITION
The news, arriving at the end of the week, was a tad stunning — that the SPCA’s James Bias, one of the most successful non-profit leaders in the region (and maybe beyond!), has left his post as President and CEO of the SPCA of Texas. He’ll be consulting as the organization searches for a new officer. VP for Animal Welfare Karen Froehlich is serving as interim president and CEO, the SPCA announced.

Bias, a guy with a big-heart and a ready smile, said in the news release, “I feel that the SPCA of Texas is in an excellent position right now. The staff and volunteers are led by a committed leadership team and board of directors.” [Here’s the LINK to the new release.]
We could run another photo of our pal Mr. Bias smiling, but we think he’d rather see photos of a couple of the animals waiting for homes in the SPCA shelter and, so, we pinpointed two animals that appear, clearly, to be reacting to the news that the caring, enduring Bias is leaving after decades of accomplishments. You may recall that he guided the SPCA’s departure from a tiny, out-dated structure on then-Industrial Boulevard to the large, welcoming facility alongside I-30 in West Dallas. 
Dobie (165471), the Earhound is apparently reacting with a totally gobsmacked “You’re kidding me!” look and the cat, Brawny (170157) has announced, “Hang on a second. Let me check to see if the world has just turned upside-down.” See these two and many more adoptables at spca.org.
CHECKING IN ON TWO-TO-GO,
THE GIRLS ROXY AND GINGER
We told the story of these two dogs that Kimberly Jones had rescued (she was re-rescuing Ginger) and you may wonder what has happened since…
We checked in with Kimberly J. Sunday and she reports, “They are in an AMAZING foster home in Little Elm. They are very healthy now and Roxy has gained weight (which she badly needed to do). They have attended 2 adoption events as guest dogs... They have not had any interest in them together — I refuse to separate them. Everyone who meets them and spends time with them including Stephen Foster [of Dallas Furgotten Friends], the foster and friends agree they should not be split up. They have a FB page that I post to daily with photos and event news.”
 You can follow the girls on Facebook HERE.  [LARRY ASIDE: We picked this photo of the girls together because they just look like they belong in someone’s home and, clearly, they will return the affection they get at least tenfold, probably more. Adopted dogs do that, you know. Roxy’s the one apparently singing The National Anthem before Ginger kicks the futbol into play!]
A COWTOWN BULLDOG
WHO NEEDS SOME HELP
This Fort Worth challenge has been mentioned by several people and we’ll just quote the message in the posting on Paula Rogers’ Facebook page:
 “BULLDOG LOVERS HERE IS YOUR GUY! 1.5 Yrs, 72 lbs came in as a stray on 2/12. Poor guy has entropion in both eyes and NEEDS RESCUE. He is very active, but his eyes are red and teary. Fort Worth shelter ID 40763398. FORT WORTH ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL 4900 MARTIN ST. FORT WORTH TEXAS. EMAIL FWACCTAG@FORTWORTHTEXAS.GOV." [Entropion is when the eyelashes curl back into the tender eye -- awful, but it happens.]
You can see more Fort Worth adoptables HERE. And by clicking HERE  you’ll see a video of this Bulldog being lively in spite of the horribly painful — AND FIXABLE!!! — eye problem.
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE
We got several notes over the weekend about dogs in the Mesquite Animal Services Shelter — all from our tipster, the volunteer shelter biographer Judi Brown. We’re focusing on this girl Piper, a 5-month-old “retriever mix” who arrived as a stray on Feb. 8. Judi writes, “She’s absolutely adorable with her beautiful tri-coloring and her fold-back ears! It’s hard not to fall in love with her when she looks up at you with those beautiful brown eyes! She does stay close looking for attention and for treats. She is a real people pleaser! As a matter of fact it was difficult to get pictures of her standing up because she kept sitting in anticipation of a treat.”
She’s a trainable girl (treats!) with puppy energy. Weighs 23 pounds. She’s 40738179. Call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
See many more adoptable Mesquite animals by going HERE. And remember: Every animal that is adopted or rescued, slows the quickly moving clock that’s ticking down on animals at a shelter that attracts strays and dumped animals. That cat with the wide-eyed look is Tigger (40777437), an ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD CAT who came into the shelter on Valentine’s Day. Must have been dumped. Who’d dump a cat after 11 years? Tigger is probably accustomed to having home and may need a human to lovingly complete his life. [LARRY ASIDE: We’ve had young cats, middle-aged cats, old and really old cats. The old and really old cats are appreciative and affectionate and more interested in studying their humans than in chasing shadows, though they’ll do it now and then. I’m saying, clearly, somebody adopt Tigger and benefit from the wisdom of an experienced cat. Besides, in a lovingly attended cat, 11 years is barely past middle-aged.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
MONEY, MUSIC AND HOLIDAY GIVING
Regarding that $22 trillion debt: Let me just say that my heart goes out to the United States government. I know how it feels. Way back in the 1960s I had the joy (using that term loosely) of witnessing the vanguard of young couples who got an unsolicited BankAmericard in the mail and went ape, like free money was arriving by the barrels on a plastic card. [LARRY NOTE: As a dear friend of mine once said, "Another life, another wife.] Back then, I was busy working nights and weekends in newsrooms, but I saw the bills. Twenty-two trillion is nothin’ compared to the undisciplined household credit challenges of the late 1960s. Oh, my, oh, my …
Speaking of statistics, our pal Jeff Crilley, president and founder of Real News PR in Dallas, posted a note Sunday  showing that on Feb. 17, 1976, The Eagles (with Don Henley of Linden, Texas) released their “greatest hits” album and in 2018 “it passed Michael Jackson’s Thriller to become the best-selling album of all time.” Who wasn't fascinated by Hotel California? OK, so yes: 38 million copies.  Maybe the fed’s oughta hire rock bands to play benefit concerts for the national debt. Concert For Moving Out of the Red.  FYI: The Eagles released that greatest hits in 1976 — the year of my 10-year high school reunion. Ten year’s earlier, in 1966, Don Henley had performed at our senior prom — he was about our age and was the drummer with The Four Speeds of Linden, Texas. He’s (2nd from left in that band photo) probably still  hearing the repeatedly demanded encores of For Your Love, the Yardbird’s song echoing in his ears. If you ever get a chance to hire The Four Speeds of Linden, Texas, for your wedding, prom or event, jump into your time machine and make the deal….
We’re closing with this note in the form of a Facebook 'holiday' item from the Paris, Texas, animal shelter and doesn’t that little pup look sad at the situation. But people in the adoption business are very familiar with the “after-Christmas returns.”
— Offer opinions or advice by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com where we respond to emails with kindness most of the time. —-

SYMBOLS OF OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY

For this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, we examine this assertion: I will be more productive with a dog or cat in the office.
I spent many decades working in offices and I always thought I’d be more productive if I had a dog or a cat with me. 
This photo was snapped during an afternoon writing session on Valentine’s Day.
It demonstrates the reason I believe all rolling desk chairs should be equipped with those gadgets that beep, blare and honk loudly -- like when a garbage truck is backing up.
Of course, I couldn’t back up — Our Rottie boy, Texas Earl The Cheeseman, had flopped on the floor and dozed off and Porche Noel squeezed between him and the chair. That's the perspective from looking down over my shirtsleeve toward the bio-barricades.

Later that evening, they went on their nightly walk with my funspouse Martha.
That left only cats in the house. And when I felt someone rubbing against my legs, I looked down and there was this formerly feral tortie, Esme, our housecat for half-a-decade or so. She likes to announce her presence with a rub and a loud complaint — some say it’s a “meow,” but I know Esme and it’s not just a meow. She wants to make a point.
 And complain about Porche's snoring.
The thing is, if a dog trusts you enough to sleep behind your chair, that’s a sweet feeling. If a cat comes in to complain about something and goes straight to you, that’s a compliment. She has declared that you are in charge of problem-solving and situation adjustments.
So, Dear Readers, am I  -- are WE -- more productive with a dog or cat sharing my office situation? No. Not a bit. But I am happier and that oughta mean something, right?

[Send photos of your slumbering dogs and cats and other critters and the stories of their lives to dallrp@aol.com and we’ll feature them in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Remember, you may be showing someone that a sleeping dog or napping cat is a good soul to have around the house. And, your slumbering animal will inspire insomniacs to believe that they, too, can catch some sleep. Maybe -- depends on the chair they flop down behind.]

ON VALENTINE'S DAY, SOME SWEETHEARTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP 'EM

EDITION OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Happy Valentine’s Day, all you sweethearts and the rest of you, too. 
As you may recall, this is the last day for the $10 adoption special at Dallas Animal Services (more on DAS in Contemplations. But for now, I was looking for a sign regarding which animal to highlight in the lead and I went to dallasanimalservices.org and found this cat Kashimiercs (A1058233). Anybody else spot the naturally occurring sweetheart formation he’s creating by putting his paws together?
At readlarrypowell.com we’ve had several black and white cats — each one of them entertaining, endearing and a sweetheart. This guy is about 2 and has been in the shelter since Tuesday. (Call DAS at 670-6800 or stop by to see him in shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland.)
NOW, A REPORT FROM
THE SOUTH SIDE OF BIG D
Yep, for this segment, we’re going to look in both the Wilmer and the Ferris Shelters, two small facilities with little to no foot traffic and plenty of pawsteps.
WE’RE STARTING WITH WILL FROM WILMER. The shelter monitor’s Laura Macias and Leighann Hayden report that “we know much more about Will, the Shepherd/ Malamute mix, than we did — we know he is a friendly boy, just bashful about being in the shelter. We found out someone that previously owned him and just could not afford to care for him or a dog that was his sister we believe, let them go.  The sister has not been seen in some time now so they sadly believe something happened to her (she was last seen living around a creek bed), but they were able to get Will, when they brought one of the girl dogs from the shelter and he is extremely friendly with other dogs so it worked. … He has been at the shelter since Dec. 11, 2018, from what we understand and has not been out of his kennel in all this time, since there is no ACO right now at Ferris.  HELP!!!!!!!!!!!”

Call or text 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com to save this dog from a stupid existence and an even dumber death. Keep those contact points handy because they also work for the Ferris shelter, south on I-45. It has no ACO currently, so that contact information is vital to saving lives.

Jacob is the German Shepherd Mix looking sad in the cage. He’s the guy who was found with Jericho, the dog with the injured back leg we publicized repeatedly last week. Cowtown Loves Animal Shelter Pets took over the care of Jericho. (And, we’re told by Leighann, can still use a foster to help Jericho recover. See cowtownpets.org to help Jericho.)

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the dog with the fantastic tail in the Ferris shelter. 
That is a Hound/Shepherd mix named Noah. He’s described as “a beautiful boy with the sweetest little face. Very sweet and very beautiful eyes.  He just recently came in and is bashful
but he seems to really like people.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Noah has the look that inspires conversations at parties. Maybe he’ll inspire someone to adopt him just because he photographs interestingly.]
AN OKLAHOMA SITUATION
The story on this dog came from the relentless rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher of Burns Flat, Okla.
She wrote, “Dear God.... who does this???
“This elderly lady in the town about 16 miles away [from Burns Flat] died. Her kids are throwing her dog out.  She had him since a baby.   He is between 13 and 15 years old.  
“I know this is a hard case.  Does anyone know anyone that takes old guys?   The pound there is an awful place. Please.  Anyone have advice?”
Send your solutions or your offers to help this dog to Terry Lynn at remembering_oddball@yahoo.com. 

STILL LOOKING FOR A
BOOMER SWEETHEART
Yep, Denton’s McNatt Animal Shelter has this guy Boomer (80528), an owner-surrender who is proving to be a darling dog. Our tipster, the great Amy Poskey, sent a note saying it is thought that Boomer is a “purebred Merlequin (Merle/Harlequin) Great Dane.”
He’s big, he’s sweet and he photographs wonderfully. In person he’s even better. He was demonstrably fearful and shy when he was dumped at the shelter, but thing have changed. Amy’s note describes him as “a big ol’ love sponge who needs a little extra help. Did I mention what handsome stud muffin he is?” 
To offer to adopt the stud muffin love sponge Boomer, call the shelter at 940-349-7594 or email
gayla.nelsen@cityofdenton.com,  Randi.Weinberg@cityofdenton.com, dentonshelterdogs@yahoo.com, and/or dentonanimalservices@yahoo.com.

MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE

There are four dogs that our Mesquite tipster, the volunteer biographer Judi Brown has cited as in need of some adoptive or rescue help.
You have to admit, they have some great looks for dogs nobody wants.
Skittle (40718943) is a 3-year-old cream-colored fuzzy terrier mix “with a spunky, friendly personality.”
Canelo is a 3-year-old, long-haired Chihuahua mix surrendered on Feb. 11 “because his owners could no longer afford him. Canelo is cute and cuddly He is extremely soft,” Judi wrote. At 16 pounds, he is “very mellow and he likes to cuddle,” his departing owners said. Ask about  #40754679.

The tiny little Earhound is Pixie Dust (40739531), a 10-year-plus dog who loves to be cuddled and “is the perfect lapdog.” Only weighs six pounds. Has a little arthritis, but is otherwise a “snuggle buddy.” Great name for this dog, don’t you think?

And the last dog we’ll cite is Ash (40718517), a 2-year-old “bluish/gray” Pittie who came in as a stray on February 6 and is, Judi writes, “a bundle of energy and playfulness and my camera does not do well with motion. He has a strong ball drive and will chase and retrieve. He loves toys! He’s also very friendly, and loving, and gives lots of kisses. He did his business as soon as he got out into the yard. He went nose to nose with many of the dogs in the bay without a problem. He weighs approximately 60 pounds. Ash will need a family that is very active and willing to spend a lot of time playing with him. He would also do best with a large yard.”
 And, while all of that is true, it is also true that Ash loves to be adored — look at that pose at the Mesquite shelter. That’s a loving dog. Someone with a heart go get him.

CONTEMPLATIONS
DAS STATS; A BIG SHOW PROTEST & A PERSONAL NOTE
Spotted this on the DAS Facebook page. Thought those of you who worry about animals in Dallas might be interested. On Feb. 11, DAS posted, “We are thrilled to share that for the second month in a row, and only the second time in our history, we have saved the lives of more than 90% of the dogs and cats entering our shelter! This is particularly exciting considering we brought in more loose dogs than ever before - even more than last month, which was also a record-breaking month! For more detailed numbers, please visit http://ow.ly/j1F050laxnD. [LARRY ASIDE: Sadly, the stats at that link still show Dallas is euthanizing hundreds of animals a month — 398 in January. Don’t blame the shelter — blame the people who stop loving or never loved the animals before they “set ‘em free” or “dumped ‘em” or “ran ‘em off.”]
How did the Westminster triumph by King the Wire Fox Terrier sit with you and the folks at your house? Some of us continue to root for a Cocker Spaniel to triumph. Others have other ideas. And I’m posting a screen shot of the Facebook page of our former colleague at The Big Paper Downtown, Paul Reyes, who issued a comment on behalf of his Dachshund, Baron. Click on it to make it big enough to easily read. …. We’re going to take a few days off. Mom stuff. And we’ll be back after she’s properly celebrated. This is a photograph Mom took during a January “blizzard” in 1961 in Texarkana. Those are
her three sons — I’m the tall one, Barry’s the middle one and Garry is the baby who grew to be about 6-5 or something like that. You know what Mom instructed her models? “Be still, boys, I want Queenie in the picture.” It’s basically a photograph of four siblings. I miss them all — and now I’ll miss Mom, too. Her obituary is HERE and be sure to click on the video of photographs from Mom’s life. We went with “celebrate” things she loved rather than “mourn in darkness.” A happy celebration is a better approach for Mom's family of laughers and friends who are known to cackle and hoot, too!
—- Offer advice or suggestions by clicking on “comment” below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

SAVING DOGS, CATS AND CONTEMPLATING

EDITION OF TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Tuesday, Wednesday, Valentine’s Day — take the hint. The SPCA of Texas already got a great “Valentine” this week -- it'll help animals and we report on it later today. OK, let’s move along:

THREE TO GO
IN EVERMAN
This note originated from the veteran promoter of Everman animals, Heather Harrison.
 She explained that the Everman Shelter, south of Fort Worth, is “begging for help. It is a small, rural shelter that is trying hard to save al its animals coming in. They currently have 3 dogs that are highly adoptable but just need rescue.”

 The dogs are:

Brian, an 8-year-old Lab mix who is a “gorgeous brindle boy with a sweet personality. Very laid back” and “fully vetted. 

Lucas, a 2-year-old Pointer mix, is “dog and kid friendly, loves to play and explore, has a food allergy on his tummy that is easily treatable.” He’s been at the shelter for six months.

Reaper is that beautiful 3-year-old German Shepherd. the bio reads, “Gorgeous guy with a personality that will steal your heart! Very energetic and outgoing.” Only drawback is he’s heartworm positive and that’s no big deal at all if someone who loves him will take time and effort to get him treated.
 To ask about helping, adopting, rescuing these dogs, email Heather at nickale7@yahoo.com.
THE KITTENS
ARE STILL WAITING
We mentioned these cats a couple of weeks ago — the first time the great Karen Lee of barkleyworld.com spotted them at the Central Animal Hospital in Fort Worth. (They're too busy to pose, so a snapshot of one face and one backside will have to do!)
Here’s her latest report, “I was shocked when I went to Central Animal Hospital today [Monday] and saw that these 2 kittens are still there!!  OMG they are so sweet and loving. Dr. Sue Hultman said they have been there since they were just weeks old—they are in great health—one is female and one is male—6 months old -- spayed/neutered/vaccinated and ready to go—separately or together but they are so bonded and sweet together. Please consider giving these 2 a home or a rescue that will help them find a home.  No fee—just need a loving place to land. Contact info below!  Thank you!!”
Central Animal Hospital is at 300 N. University in Fort Worth. Call 817-332-3518.

THE CAT WITH THE FACE
It’s like a movie star nickname in the 1930s. “The Cat With the Face.” She’s also “The Cat With The Name” — Calamity Jane. 9 months old and available for adoption through the Friends of Arlington Animal Services. Go to the Facebook page HERE.
There are a number of adoptable cats sited on that page. And Calamity Jane has a great close-up. Email at info@faastexas.org to ask about adopting the “real spitfire [who] loves adventure while exploring the house, is quite playful and a real gem.”


TWO FROM MESQUITE
Mitzi, the Earhound giving us the Supergirl impression at Mesquite Animal Services, is on the Code Red list now because, our tipster Judi Brown, the volunteer biographer says, “Due to so many owner surrenders and strays brought in, our shelter is overflowing.
For that reason, Mitzi has been put on the Code Red list.”
She got a sight reprieve, but the clock is always ticking in taxpayer-financed animal shelters. The year-old brindle Pittie Earhound came in as a stray on the 2nd. She weighs 38 pounds and is a sweet, gentle, adorable dog, Judi says. She’s # 40697050.

Not on a list yet, this cute little guy, Peanut, a year-old cream-colored Chihuahua — yet ANOTHER STRAY in Mesquite. Sweet but shy, and, Judi says that “he, no doubt, will blossom in a loving home.”
Only weighs 9 pounds. (#40715129)
To asked about either of these dogs, use their numbers when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
MEANWHILE AT THE SPCA
THERE’S BIG GRANT NEWS!

The SPCA of Texas announced Monday that “it has received a generous grant in the amount of $50,000 from the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) to support its Pet Resource Center. The SPCA of Texas' Pet Resource Center offers services for pets of low-income families, providing everything from medical care to behavioral support. The goal of the Pet Resource Center is to keep pets in their homes and out of shelters.”
The the complete story on the SPCA website HERE
.
FYI, in case you need an interestingly named dog, that Pittie mix, 2 years-old and large, is known as 169645 in the records and his “call name” is Cheeseburger Sam. He looks like a guy who’d enjoy a good cheeseburger. He’s at the SPCA’s Jan Rees-Jones Center in Dallas. 

That cat is Lucy (165857) — she’s nearly 10 years old and small, but she dislikes being picked up — lies “all four paws on the ground” and would do best as the only cat in the house. She’s at the SPCA’s Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney. 
Go to spca.org to see the available animals and ways the help the organization thrive — it’s celebrating 80 years of helping animals, you know.

CONTEMPLATIONS
This is more of a revelation with contemplations. Our postings may be a little bit erratic for the next few days. Mom, after months and months and months of fighting assorted ailments and challenges, decided she’d had enough Monday morning and quietly slipped away in her room at a care center in my hometown, Texarkana, Texas. I’d been to visit her Sunday and left in the evening, intending to come to Dallas, pack up at least a week’s worth of fresh attire, and return to stay with her — as they said in her WWII era — “for the duration.” She must have decided she’d rather not have her last surviving son as the “spectator” for that very “alone” moment when the transition occurs. Our mourning had been a constant thing since late last year, parceled out each “set-back” at a time. Now, we’re in the celebration part of this process — recalling triumphs and laughter and assorted moments a Mom endures when she is the only woman in a family with an ex-infantryman in the D-Day assault and 3 little boys who didn’t mind knocking the snot out of each other just for fun. We straightened up. She might have been a positive influence toward civility and literacy, you know. Yes, time to celebrate and be grateful.
—- Offer advice or suggestions by clicking on “comment” below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

CHAMP: CODE RED NOW HAPPY SNUGGLER

For this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, we present Champ, who seems to have a genuine knack for snuggling. We cite that photo. Look at that boy's ears! Too cute.
Kathleen Hilton became Champ’s foster a couple of weeks ago and as you can see, Champ has a way of snuggling that qualifies him for presentation in our weekend feature.
So, does his ability to flop over on the couch after making sure he's found the exact, right spot for a good lie-down. 

And, yes, there’s great joy is knowing that a dog has gone from a dire listing in a city shelter to snuggling with a human in a place of safety. 
So, who’s the lucky guy with with the slumbering dog? “Champ is with my husband, Steve,” Kathleen says, “Champ is a cuddler and he will steal the show. He was a big hit at the Super Bowl party I had.”

Champ lives with Kathleen, Steve and son Ryan and the two-year-old pup is working on being a pal to the official housedog, Jake the Lab, a 3-year-old. 

Champ is Kathleen’s first foster dog. [LARRY ASIDE: We pause now so veteran fosters can think back to their first fosters and so they can say a prayer for Kathleen and her heart — a new foster has to be prepared for the day someone says, “I’d like to adopt Champ.”]

The back story is Champ beat the needle — at least twice since January because space had opened up at a key time in the Mesquite Animal Services Shelter. He’d been in the shelter since November 15, 2018 -- came in as a stray. That's one of his shelter photos, complete with his nice neckerchief.
In her original post, our tipster Judi Brown described him as “highly motivated by treats” and being “very friendly and passes out kisses.” 

But the last time he beat the needle, thank the good guys in Angels 2 The Rescue who claimed him and got him into the foster home in Irving, all the way across Dallas from the Mesquite Animal Shelter where he’d arrived as a stray. The rescue group has other Dallas-area dogs available — here’s the Facebook LINK. The Angels are headquartered in Marianna, Ark., and run by Helen McLain, who also leads Fabulous Foods Caterer.
“I have a great team in the DFW area,” says Helen, adding that the Angels “try to keep the ones we pull in the area but have transported some to foster/board and trainer (who works with ones with behavior issues+ and we transferred a few to the Southwest Washington Human Society where they were adopted very quickly.”
As you can see, Champ is pretty darned cute. He’s not growing out of cute — his ears maintain the cuteness. In one of the photos where Champ is sort of curled up asleep, you see that he’s got a pretty big set of paws. He’ll grow into them, right?
Kathleen says, “Champ is a very lovable puppy dog. He’s very cuddly and loves to give kisses. He’s playful — just needs a little boost to get him going. He enjoys sitting outside soaking up the sun. He’s getting use to my Lab Jake slowly.  My Lab is a little too excited at times for this adjustment period for Champ.  Champ does look like he does have some Lab in him definitely shows with his personality.”

And thus ends our report on “whatever happened to” Champ, the formerly at-risk shelter dog. Now, he’s learning the joy of humans, thriving in a foster home and experiencing a love and respect he may never have felt before.  
Let's have a round of applause for fosters.
[Does your dog sleep funny? Your cat nap with dignity and grace? Whatever the pose, send photos of your slumbering critters to dallrp@aol.com and we’ll post them in our long-running weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie and Napping Cats Nap. We post these photos to show that animals trust a home in which they’re loved and, of course, that insomniacs can get some sleep if they can just bend themselves into the correct position.]
—- Offer advice or info by clicking on ‘comment’ below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

ON A COLD DAY, WARM THOUGHTS ABOUT DOGS AND CATS...

EDITION OF FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Some people in my native Northeast Texas might say, “Boy, hidy, it sure didden fill lahk Texiz Thursdie mornin’” but they’d be wrong. It felt like the Texas we least expect but get every now and then except when we need it -- July and August. Unless you’re an outdoor worker, this weather can be kind of a nice surprise. If there’s sleet and freezing rain — then it’s just plain mean.
Here’s the one consistent thing about weather that turns lousy in Texas: People still need to be reminded that outdoor dogs and cats need protection from the weather and, apparently protection from the dimwits who think all dogs have the body style of sled dogs and all cats “will find some place warm and dry.”
Dallas Animal Services has a warm and dry facility — that big adoption center at Westmoreland and I-30 and it also has at least two dogs named Rocky. They have different ears, different expressions, but both are Earhounds, clearly, and both are available for just $10 each under the DAS Valentine’s adoption program. 
That happy Rocky is A1024387, described by DAS as a neutered brown and white Chow Chow mix. He’s about 9. Why a 9-year-old happy-faced dog is in a city shelter is beyond me. This is a dog who ought to be lounging on the couch and binge-watching something. He came into the shelter on February 5. Maybe he's an owner-surrender or somebody called his human who said, “Y’all keep him.”
The pretty Pitty Rocky, A1016066, may be just over a year-and-a-half old. He’s been at the shelter since January 29. And, of course, he’s neutered.
Geez, look at these Rocky faces. 
Include their numbers when you call DAS at 214-670-6800 to ask about them. Or just stop by the shelter for an introduction. You might want to meet Pepe (a104877), thought to be about TWELVE YEARS OLD and in the shelter since Saturday -- can't be a stray, surely. See many of the adorable adoptable cats and dogs at dallasanimalservices.org.
THE HANDSOME STAGHOUND
NEEDS SOME HELP AT GALT
The Greyhound Adoption League of Texas, which recently took in a bunch of its favorite dogs from Oklahoma, is also working with this guy -- also from Oklahoma. The GALT news letter reads, “Our big boy Harley needs a hand! When we say big, we’re not kidding — Harley is 100 pounds of fluffy Staghound (DNA results pending). Last year, animal control found him stray in Nowata, Oklahoma. We think he is about seven years old. At some point, Harley experienced serious trauma to both his rear legs, specifically the Achilles tendons, which we think are severed. Consequently, he will always walk with an abnormal gait." [LARRY FYI: A Staghound is a sight-hound used as a hunting dog — though, of course, we’d prefer Staghounds were used as companions and comforters. It’s much kinder.]
What was Harley doing in Oklahoma?
GALT says, “It is speculated that Harley is part of a population of an out of business coyote hunter.” [LARRY ASIDE: Doesn’t that just give you the creeps. A business? Sounds like an opportunity to do some killin' just for fun. Oh, for crying out loud.] You can read more about GALT’s efforts to help Greyhounds by going to galtx.org or reading this recent NEWSLETTER.
HUEY AND ELLIE ROSE
AND THE RESCUE

You see the photo. Here's why it's a touching photograph.
That’s Ellie Rose holding the little pup she rescued, Huey.

We got the story from the resilient rescuer of Burns Flat, Okla., Terry Lynn Fisher. [LARRY ASIDE: Terry Lynn appears to be passing along the “STA gene” — Save the Animal gene. Strong in this DNA, if that’s where genes go— when I studied biology, this wasn’t on the 10th grade test but we did know about Gregor Mendel and peas.]
Here’s the story from Terry Lynn: “Monday, I went to take food to the little pound south of my town. There was a basketball game going on and my granddaughter, Ellie Rose, saw a little dog run between the front and back tires of a moving car. 

“She was so freaked out we rushed over and got him. He was not injured so we called the police there and we were informed the dog belonged to a lady there who has been trying to get rid of him.
“I spoke with her and she said to take to the pound, she did not want him. The temps were with a wind chill in the teens and the pound there, like mine, is outdoors. I messaged a few people and a rescuer said to board him and she would take, so we did.
“I received an email this morning [Wednesday] that the rescuer is having a health issue and cannot take, so I not only have him in boarding and his shots, he has no place to go. So, he is in urgent need of a rescue. He is a little guy and so very sweet. If anyone has room, please let me know.”
Email Terry Lynn at remembering_oddball@yahoo.com and if someone beats you to Huey, ask Terry Lynn about the many, many other dogs she needs help with. She’s no slacker, but she hasn’t won a lottery lately, either.

CUPID, MITZI & THE GENERAL
MAKE MESQUITE LOOK GREAT
Look at those little teeth peeking out between the dog lips on that great Earhound’s face! That’s A Dog For This Season, Cupid, a 5-year-old Pittie mix (40692806) who strayed her way to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on February 1. Hard to believe that dog has been a stray — surely someone had a place for her in their home and hearts. Our Mesquite tipster, the volunteer biographer Judi Brown, says Cupid is “relatively low to the ground” and is made “unique” by her “permanent scowl.” She recently had puppies — oops, there goes the stray theory! Somebody said, “Dump the mom and sell the puppies.” 
She’s sweet, friendly, calm and gentle at 38 pounds, Judi says, and adds, “One of our kennel technicians told me that she seems to prefer women. She was very alert and in tune to everything that was going on around her. She walks well on a leash. … And I bet you could wipe that scowl off her face if you would make her your Valentine.”
The other Mesquite Earhound is Mitzi, also 38 pounds, a year-old Brindle Pittie (40697050) who arrived as a stray on February 2. Judi writes, “She is an adorable girl with quirky, stand up ears and a big grin on her face. She’s shy but not too shy to let you know that she wants to be your companion. She stays close and even pushes her body up against you for closeness. If you sit down she puts her head and paws on your lap. It was  difficult to take pictures of her because she stuck to me like Velcro.”
Just look at that sweet face! How could you not fall in love with her?
 To ask about any of these animals, call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com. That cat (40472413) is The General, a “Colourpoint Shorthair Mix” thought to be just over 5 years old. He’s been at the shelter since Tuesday. Nothing is known about him except that he’s neutered and has a “notched” ear to demonstrate it. See more animals in the Mesquite shelter by clicking HERE.
CONTEMPLATION
ON THE SUBJECT OF COLD
This is our first winter in about two decades without feral cats living on our front porch. It is odd to walk out into the bitter cold (understatement on Thursday) and not see a cat or two curled up on a heating pad in a camping chair in the sheltered corner of the roofed porch. Odd. But it brings back memories of cats and kittens through the years. Some who came and went, some who stayed, some who are with us yet by virtue of the fact that, when you’ve been rescuing animals for a while, it’s easy to run out of friends and acquaintances who need a cat or dog — that’s in Dallas, Texas, or many other points around the universe. If they ever open a colony on Mars, it’ll be full of people who left earth because we kept trying to give them a “fresh, new cat.” Anybody else get that feeling? …
—- Offer opinions or suggestions by clicking on ‘comment’ below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

HEY, SWEETHEART, 'HEADS UP,' PLUS A COLLECTION OF ANIMALS IN NEED; AND SNAKES IN THE ROTUNDA

EDITION OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018 [PetPowellPress] One week to Valentine’s Day, just FYI, in case you or your spouse has yet to get creative, i.e., sign a card with a watercolor scrawl by a dog’s paw or a cat’s nose. I’m kidding. Cat’s prefer a Sheaffer Cartridge Pen from the 1950s — softer touch, classy nib. Dog’s prefer to sign with colorful pudding. I may have made some of this up. So, let’s go to the animals and we’ll hold off on the rattlesnakes until later.
CATCHING UP WITH GIZMO
You may recall the efforts of Amy Poskey to get someone’s attention for the needs of this dog Gizmo, at the time a resident of the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter. Here’s the update:
Amy says Gizmo is safe with I Am Dog Rescue and gives a “THANK YOU” to  Mike and Mary Frazier who “stepped up, once again, and took another pooch under their wing who still has a long road to recovery.  Not only is Gizmo HW positive, but the injuries he sustained after another dog attacked him are still healing and the verdict is still out on whether or not his leg will have to be amputated.
 “Needless to say," Amy writes, "Donations for Gizmo’s care would be greatly appreciated!” Here’s the LINK to I Am Dog Rescue.
THE SPCA’S PALentine’s DAY
INTRODUCING THE FOSTERED!
Mark the calendars — this variation of Valentine’s Day, PALentine's Day, is on Saturday noon-to 4 p.m. at the SPCA’s Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center — and it features radio star Carter of 102.9 NOW broadcasting live AND adoptable animals that have been in foster care.
The SPCA says it “is creating a special, calming environment for these dogs and potential adopters to get to know one another. People will have a chance to talk to the dogs' foster parents one-on-one and learn more about an animal's personality inside a home. Oftentimes, foster parents know more about the dog than the shelter ever could, and they are ready to play matchmaker just ahead of Valentine's Day!” Here’s the WHOLE STORY.
FROM THE SMALLER SHELTERS:
HELPING WILMER, HELPING FERRIS
Here are the latest appeals on behalf of the city shelters at two small towns south of Dallas by just minutes.
AT WILMER: Laura Macias reports that the shelter has “two emergency dogs and 4 other great dogs” that need help in a shelter with “no vet, no money for medical care.” The appeal reads, “Two dogs needing medical help include an extremely lovable Belgian Malinois named Jericho that literally has a hole in the interior of his back leg, and Corry, a beautiful super friendly Rottweiler that just came in and appears to have either kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection.  The ACO had him tethered outside Tuesday night so he has not been around or close to any other dog but we are worried sick about them both and this dog is at risk of being dinner for a coyote - he absolutely has to have somewhere to go - he needs help .” The appeal adds, “If you can donate, Laura has volunteered her paypal account … Paypal address is same as email:  cat_girl_71@yahoo.com." To ask how else you may help, call or text Laura at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.
AT FERRIS: This shelter, like Wilmer’s, has virtually no walk-in traffic, so it’s up the small shelter advocates to get attention for the animals. The city is “very open to working with interested rescue groups or adoptors,” the appeal reads. And the contact is Scott McDonald at 972-877-2725.
We’re citing three of the dogs.
Rocky is thought to be a Shepherd/Dobie Mix (though he has the coloring of a Rottie). He has been in the shelter since May, 2018. Not microchipped. Gets along well with the other dog, i.e., is a “sweet” boy.

We mentioned Wolf before — he was “captured” on December 11. He’s been named Wolf because of his looks. Workers are timid around him. He’s afraid, too. Needs a calming individual who’ll understand that he’s been betrayed by a human and will work with him to reestablish trust. 

And the last we’ll mention of the many at the shelter is this nameless “nub-tailed Bully mix” who weighs about 35 pounds and has been at the shelter for 8 months — he’s about a year old. So that’s a lousy deal humans need to correct. What must that dog think of life now? [LARRY ASIDE: You know, one kind word and a gentle pat on the head and he'll forgive everything -- that's the way dogs are wired, unless humans have just really been awful to them. Dogs deserve better.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
SNAKES, NEW FOOTBALL, OLD WEATHER
While the Humane Legislation Network is trying to persuade the Texas Legislature to strengthen animal cruelty laws, attention has been drawn by the Sweetwater Jaycees turning the State Capitol Rotunda into a snake-pit. They’ve been there showing off snakes to passersby and members of the Legislature in a publicity event for the “World’s Largest Rattlesnake Roundup March 8-10 in Sweetwater. A dear animal-advocating friend of mine, from way above the fanged rattlers, snapped that photo of the Jaycees with Texas’ traditionally poisonous snakes enjoying a wiggle on the marble. TV covered it HERE. Readlarrypowell.com is on the side of the animals — even those with scales, no legs, fangs and rattles. Cruelty? The event has a “skinning pit.” [LARRY ASIDE: Yeah, more snakes have scared me than I’ve scared, but I still don’t want to kill ‘em and skin ‘em for the sake of tourism. Life’s precious — even a snake’s. This LINK to what is labeled “National Geographic video" demonstrates the sad truth.] …

IN CASE YOU NEED INFORMATION ABOUT dealing with the Texas Legislature on animal cruelty issues, the best website belongs to the hard-working Texas Humane Legislation Network -- it's  thln.org. OK, somebody help me off this soapbox before the slats crack and I fall into a pit of vipers. …
Making news: the XFL, a new, springtime professional football league. Who knew Dallas would have an XFL football team? How about that. One of the teams in the new football league is XFL Dallas which will play in — where else — Arlington. Dallas — always the pro gridiron inspiration, not the location since Texas Stadium was opened in 1971 in Irving, closed on Christmas Day, 2008, and was demolished on April 11, 2010. That area of Irving has endured earthquakes ever since. Some say fracking, but, you cannot discount the possibility angry ghosts running line plunges. ... I heard on the radio Wednesday morning that some truckers were going to perform a "slow down" in Dallas freeway traffic. Better hold up some flags or fire some flares -- otherwise, it'll look just like any other morning in Dallas traffic. 
—- To offer an opinion or a solution, click on ‘comment’ below or email dallrp@aol.com and don’t send me any snake photos. —-

AT MIDWEEK: CATS, CANINES & CONTEMPLATIONS

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2018 [PetPowellPress] How about that Super Bowl parade? Amazing that they were able to route it between Globe Life Stadium and AT&T Stadium without distressing Arlington traffic. What? Oh, sorry. I just glanced at the TV briefly and thought the Dallas Cowboys were hosting the celebration in that big stadium with the giant TV screen. Well, you know, like the Arlington sports motto goes, “Wait’ll next year.” Of course, it’s 2019, so next year is here for the Cowboys and the Texas Rangers. 

Yes, I began with a sport item because I can’t analyze the State of the Union -- not my job. Let’s just get to the animals, OK? Oh, that cat? That is Grant, about 9, and described as “uniquely white, aside from his quite-pink ears and a little smudge of grey on the top of his head, as if someone had been reading the newspaper and reached over and gave him a little head-scratch, leaving some prints.” The “long and lanky bundle of energy” is at Dog ’n’ Kitty City, the Humane Society of Dallas County's Shelter on Manor Way, across the street from the west side of Love Field.
A FOOD QUESTION

Now and then we get requests from rescue groups and shelters for help with food for dogs and cats. 
Now, a friend of ours is trying to place some cat food. Here’s the story: “My special-diet cat now refuses to eat the canned food he once gobbled up and will only eat dry. That leaves me with an unopened delivery box of 24 cans of Royal Canin Urinary SO (moderate calorie) Feline plus 8 loose cans of the same…The place that delivers it to me has given me a refund but will not take a return of the box because it's special prescription. Instead they suggested donating it to a shelter, rescue group, etc. … This is good stuff, especially for male cats. Everything in it is good nutrition-wise plus it's low on stuff that can cause crystals to form and block the urethra, which can lead to kidney failure. Thus, the Rx.” 
Email us at dallrp@aol.com and let us know if your non-profit rescue group or shelter can use this donation. [LARRY FYI: That’s our cat, Simon, who repeatedly tells me he would love to be the “face” of a cat food company or perfume or "maybe in a heroic cat movie." For a respectable fee, of course. He was small enough to hold in one hand when we rescued him after he was abandoned in the front-yard shubbery. He's darlin'.]

TWO POINTS OF INTEREST
IN THE FACEBOOK UNIVERSE
In case you’re looking for another interesting Dallas animal page, here’s the link to the DAS Accountability Facebook page. Watch for the video of the dog being dragged out of a scrap yard. And see the result of how this Rottie has turned out. And don’t miss the Jan. 13 video of the guy who has a dog in a panda suit in a baby carriage -- the dog's a prop. It’s not as cute as it sounds. And the man's dialogue is priceless— I just love Dallas when its mask falls off and the undisguised reality pops up….

 And we’ll suggest the Fort Worth Abandoned Animal Alliance Facebook page in particular the story of, as the Alliance reports, the “little old lady” who “was brought to one of our fosters, no longer wanted, and wrapped in plastic so the fleas they didn’t protect her from wouldn’t get on them. She only has a few teeth, scared and only about 3 pounds." There’s a donation button on the page: Paypal.me/FWAbandoned.
CONTEMPLATIONS:
MALAISE; PUMPKINS & SQUIRRELS; CALM DOWN
I had so many things I wanted to do when the weather turned good, but I must have had winter malaise. So, next time we get a couple of days of good weather, I really will cut down the dead shrub that is providing a spooky arch over our front walk. …. Last autumn’s pumpkin crop continues to benefit some of my neighbors — I left two big pumpkins in the front flower bed and the neighborhood squirrels clawed and gnawed them open and have been enjoying them. That’s a photo of the two dismantled pumpkins about a week after I left them in the flower bed.  To the right is the entire pumpkin crop. And lower is a photo of the pumpkins as they appeared Tuesday. I couldn’t get the squirrels hard at work. I’ve walked out onto the porch and seen them leap off the pumpkins and dash to a nearby tree. And, I’ve heard the dogs bark the alert from the front window that squirrels were dining on the pumpkins. I guess this is a good thing. The squirrels look happy and the largest pumpkins I’ve ever grown aren’t going to waste. I mention the autumnal glory of my pumpkins because they performed better than the Cowboys.
Have you ever seen a more treacherous time in North Texas — not just for animals, but for humans. The headlines and news shows are horrid. Disease, explosions, car crashes, gunfire. Geez, can’t we all just calm down. Get our flu shots, stay home when we’re sick, drive friendly and put down the firearms? Got to be a better way to conduct a civilization. Surely. Heck by going to computers, we’ve practically eliminated paper cuts, right? Surely we can regain our peaceful dignity.
— Offer advice or opinions by clicking on ‘comment’ below or email dallrp@ aol.com. -—

STILL IN CRISIS: WILMER DOG AND EAST TEXAS' TINY; 2 BURNS FLAT PITS & CONTEMPLATING PIGS, SUPER HALFTIME & BASEBALL

EDITION OF TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019 [PetPowellPress] In retrospect, having watched the Super Bowl halftime show, I am suddenly glad that baseball does not have a halftime show. Whew. Shoulda let Gladys Knight do a second set.
 Can I get an "Amen!"?
On another topic, today begins the Year of the Pig in the Chinese calendar. I’m from the Year of the Rat. I don’t really know what any of this means, but it gives us an opportunity to highlight an adoptable pig at the SPCA of Texas. This is Sally (167996), a 6-month-old Vietnamese Potbellied Pig. Size? Large? She’s a PIG! If you have an appropriate home, visit spca.org to see how to adopt.
TWO CONTINUING CRISES:
DOGS IN WILMER;
A WOLF DOG IN ETEXAS

We’re assuming that the Super Bowl served as a distraction, but that’s over and now it’s time to focus on these threatened animals. Wilmer’s dogs are first and the wolf-dog Tiny is next.
THE WILMER DOGS — This is described as a “medical emergency” by the people who have been trying to help the dog on the left. For several days we’ve been attempting to inspire people to help get this dog, described as a Belgian Malinois by our tipster Laura Macias, to safety. He’s got a gaping, ugly, infected wound that may be threatening his leg and his life. He came in to the Wilmer Animal shelter with the dog on the right -- could be a sibling or just a running buddy on the "stray trail" in southern Dallas County. Both are around 2 and are “super friendly and good around other dogs,” Laura says. She’s working as the go-between who can help rescuers or adoptors get them to safety. Wilmer’s shelter is small and has no adoption program except through the help of Laura and other small shelter advocates. To ask about helping these two, call or text Laura at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com. There are other dogs in Wilmer, too. They also need out.
THE WOLF DOG IN EAST TEXAS — You remember, I hope, this guy Tiny, formerly Zeus. He’s allegedly a wolf dog — I’m sure a DNA test may confirm that. But he was raised from a puppy onward with a family, so whatever wolf is in there may have been swayed by environmental influences. 
Megan Nicole Jones of ETX Animal Fosters has Tiny. She’s the person who saw him running down an East Texas highway and pulled over and got him to safety. He has a microchip. Registered owner didn't want him back. And he’s a friendly guy with humans, not so much with other dogs. 
But the pressure is on to find him a safe, loving place to live — he’s being fostered in temporary quarters but needs a really good home to show him humans can love him.  And, maybe, there's a sanctuary somewhere that has room for one more dog with a wolf background. To offer to help with Tiny, email megannicolepromo@gmail.com.
[LARRY ASIDE: Saving this guy will make up for the idiocy of the person who said, “Heck, let’s mix a Malamute with a Wolf and see what happens.” Bottom line is their folly produced a living being who deserves respect.]
TWO PITS IN BURNS FLAT
SURVIVE A ‘FAMILY BUSINESS’
Just when you think Texas might have cornered the market on idiots and jerks, we hear about another episode in Oklahoma. 
Terry Lynn Fisher, our Burns Flat tipster and the determine rescuer, wrote about these two babies. “These two hurt me.... Seriously...A family here in town had been breeding Pits for the past few years. I have had issues with them and the dogs they kept in unsanitary conditions forever. They finally divorced and the wife decided not to do this anymore. So she handed out the remaining puppies to whomever and had the parents KILLED.” 
[LARRY ASIDE: Ladies and gents, every now and then I, having covered murder trials and worked part-time as an ambulance attendant, am stunned to remember that in spite of all I’ve seen, I’ve forgotten what horrible beings disguise themselves as humans. Sorry. Had the parents killed. I’m betting that was out of spite — they were probably the husband’s dogs and it was a get-even situation. Maybe not. Yeah, and I’m a Vanity Fair male model.]

The two puppies in the photo have Terry Lynn’s focus now. “Look at the little fat healthy-looking one. That was the runt. He is in a foster home for the past 3 months. Now look at the other one. She is malnourished and has bite scars all over her little legs.
 We ended up getting her after she was found dumped in the country. We found out who she had been given to and contacted him. He claims he gave her to someone else and didn't want her back.”

Terry Lynn is trying to place both puppies, born in August, 2018, in rescue or in good homes. Email her at remembering_oddball@yahoo.com. If you can't take a dog, you can donate to Terry Lynn's overloaded rescue efforts -- she has more than 2 dozen dogs in boarding, fostering and the city shelter.

CONTEMPLATIONS

PIGS, PRESTO AND BASEBALL
A moment about pigs, please. We’re going back to a September, 2012, edition to cite a quote from Terry DeGaw, late founder of the now-closed Serenity Springs Sanctuary. Terry, fuming mad at a sudden influx of “pocket pigs” sold as “forever small” to surprised purchasers, declared, “There is NO such thing as a micro-mini..the tea cup...pocket pig...or any other name they may come up with.” In the Year of the Pig or any other year, as Terry said, a pig is a pig. …
Anybody else watching that explosive halftime show declare, “I sure do miss Elvis Presto.” Here’s a video of that infamous Super Bowl XXIII 1989 halftime show with the big card trick. The idea of this stadium card trick by an Elvis magician continues to be one of the wonders of the 20th Century, i.e., you wonder "Why?"

One more contemplation about Sunday's NFL Super Bowl halftime show. It was a magnificent production with more facets than a high-dollar diamond, but whoa, what an endurance test. About halfway through it I had this thought: “I’m sure glad there’s no halftime in Major League Baseball games.” But if MLB can introduce the designated hitter and move Houston out of the National League, anything is possible. Especially if you can sell more concessions during a halftime than during the 7th inning stretch. The Texas Rangers need pitching -- somebody get Elvis Presto on the phone and see what he can conjure up.
—— Offer advice, halftime criticism or upbeat stories by clicking on 'comment' below or emailing dallrp@aol.com ---

A WILMER DOG, A WOLF DOG, DAS DEALS, JAKE, BELVEDERE, PLYMOUTHS & THE SUPER EXCLAMATION

EDITION OF MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2018 [PetPowellPress] The weekend had some “emergency”-style dog situations. And we’ll get to those in a moment. 
First, before you see the tough stuff that takes determined hearts, warm up with this challenge: “What breed is this dog?” or “What breeds are this dog?” You’ll learn later in this edition. First, let’s talk helping animals in a fix.
FOLLOWING UP ON A WILMER DOG
We posted this guy over the weekend — as did many animal advocates — and as of this writing, he’s still injured and waiting for help in the Wilmer Animal Shelter, according to our tipsters Carrie Moody and Laura Macias. He was picked up as a stray with his brother. So, yeah, two dogs waiting for help. 
The injured boy’s leg is infected from a hugely open wound. Time matters in these things. To offer to help him, get in touch with Carrie Moody on Facebook or Laura Macias by calling or texting her at 214-949-2726 or emailing cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.
The Wilmer shelter is a small facility with no foot traffic and plenty of paw traffic. People who love animals have decided to work with this shelter to get its inhabitants exposed to potential adoptors or rescuers.
A FELLOW NAMED TINY
IS IN A BIG FIX
Throughout the weekend a number of people have been trying to help this guy. Megan Nicole Jones of ETX Animal Fosters has the wolf/dog hybrid in East Texas and can get him to Dallas.
“I renamed him Tiny,” Megan told us. He was once named Zeus — Megan describes him as a 6-year-old, neutered, up-to-date on shots Alaskan Malamute/Wolf Hybrid mix who is “not dog friendly.” 
She met him last week, according to her note, when she “saw this handsome guy running down the highway so, of course, I stopped and saved him.” A microchip check put her in touch with the owner who said “to keep the dog — once they found out I was a foster.” 
In his early life, Tiny had lived with a couple since he was a puppy, but the lady died and Tiny went to live with her son. It didn’t work out. So there was this Wolf Dog running loose on a highway — headed toward tragedy. 
Megan, however, is trying to avoid that by getting him into an understanding home or a sanctuary for these crossbreeds. Get in touch with her at megan- nicolepromo@gmail.com or call 903-268-3193.
Megan said, “I am not going to pretend I have any experience with a wolf hybrid and if I'm being honest, his size and not ever handling this breed intimidates me. BUT I clicked with him and he trusted me enough to come to me on a very busy road. I can't see myself being able to keep him long term but, of course, I will foster him….”
Tiny needs, however, an immediate solution — either a home or a sanctuary.
HENRY GOT A REPRIEVE SATURDAY
BUT THE CLOCK HAS RE-STARTED
This guy Henry — who wouldn’t want this guy? Somebody does, so he needs to be in a rescue group to buy some time. He was on the Code Red List for Saturday, but, says our tipster Judi Brown, the volunteer Mesquite Shelter biographer, “Henry got a reprieve but I don’t know for how long as we are filling up again.” There’s at least a $50 pledge supporting Henry. 
He’s 2, a Lab mix, and he came in as a stray on January 16. Judi says, “He is not showing well in his kennel because he’s obviously depressed.”
Some love will change that To ask about Henry (#40581001), call the shelter at 972–216–6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
MEANWHILE IN DALLAS
While nosing around the ol’ internet for information we stopped in at the Dallas Animal Services Facebook page — as you know, DAS is running a $10 adoption special on all critters through Valentine’s Day. And here are three that were available over the weekend and may still be. One is that dog that opened today’s edition.
The marketing folks at DAS started his “sales pitch” with “Do you need a hug? Blue (A1015423) is your man!….” PAUSE, PLEASE, WE’VE REACHED THE POINT OF SUSPENSE. Yes, what breed? What breeds? DAS says, “He’s a Siberian Husky/Pug mix and loves to play! Look at those eyes.” [LARRY ASIDE: Yep, Siberian Husky and a Pug. I’m shaking my head, too. Why? And, dear human, “How could you let that happen?” But I’m betting Blue is more loveable than anybody expects. Especially for 10 bucks.]
 Next up is this big handsome dog Champ (A1024812). No idea what breed or breeds but DAS says he’s “the happiest dog ever. He loves other dogs and humans!.”
That cat is Honey (A1055507). DAS says she was “a little scared at the shelter, but is a sweetheart!” She’s not at the big shelter, though. Unless she was adopted over Super Bowl weekend, she is till at the PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center at 16821 Coit Rd, Dallas. 
Remember, you can see many of the DAS animals at dallasanimalservices.org and you can also visit at the big shelter, on the north side of Tom Landry Freeway (I-30) and the east side of Westmoreland — easy off, easy back on I-30 at Westmoreland.
JAKE GETS A BREAK
Our reliable Denton tipster Amy Poskey sent glorious news about Jake who’d been in the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter. “I am just sooooooooo happy to report that this little munchkin will be pulled on Monday by FRIENDS OF HOMELESS ANIMALS!!!  Sweet little Jake will receive all the love and care he needs and deserves!  THANK YOU FOHA!!! … As you know, Jake has a long road ahead of him so any and all donations would be greatly appreciated!” 
Amy included this link to FOHA.
She describes Jake as a “tiny little angel” and “he’s no bigger than a minute! You just gotta love those ears, too.”
The 2- or 3-year-old Chihuahua boy arrived emaciated at the shelter and is heartworm positive. Plus, “part of his back left paw is missing.  Then, while visiting with a potential adopter … Jake leapt off the chair and fractured his front left leg.” [LARRY ASIDE: 
Clearly, Jake has spirit, needs vet care and proves love can be complicated.]

CONTEMPLATIONS
A VISIT WITH BELVEDERE AND A TRADITIONAL SUPER BOWL EXCLAMATION!
Martha and I were in Fort Worth for lunch on Saturday and, as long as we were in the shopping center, we went into the handy PetSmart for supplies. Oh, my, you see what we found. Big ol’ Belvedere, in one of the “adoptables” cages under the care of the Humane Society of North Texas. (Just $30, that’s all it costs to adopt this guy! See the kennel card! Click on it to make it grow like Belvedere.) He’s a larger than usual fellow, about 7, and up to date on shots. His bio says he’s friendly, easy going, “all love and enjoys being petted.” He also is described as a “known couch potato.” His # is 39761344. Described as “large” he was filling his living quarters at the PetSmart Adoption Center at 4465 Bryant Irvin Rd. in southwestern Fort Worth. My lousy photography didn’t do his bulk justice at the PetSmart, but I tried to frame him in the Valentine heart. And when I looked him up at HSNT.org, well, there was the big ol’ cat’s countenance. Trust me, if Martha hadn’t been there to control my impulse-shopping….well, you know…

SPEAKING OF BELVEDERE, when I was a kid, we had a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere (white with blue strips along the fins — the opposite of this one). What? New? Not hardly. Oh, yeah, we got it in about 1962. Pop swapped the 1953 two-tone green Plymouth Savoy for it. Chrysler discontinue low- selling Plymouth in 2001. Oh, Belvedere, I believe, is Italian for “pretty view” or “lovely sight” or something like that. It did beat the green Savoy. None of those may exist now.
HOW SWEET WAS THAT SUPER SOUND? In honor of the Super Bowl contestants, we’ll close with this traditional Super Bowl exclamation: "How ‘bout them Cowboys."Yes, indeed. How ‘bout them Cowboys!
—- Advise or be grumpy by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and, yes, we can out-grump you any day of the week. —-

INJURED WILMER DOG NEEDS HELP

This dog is, as of this Friday afternoon writing, in the Wilmer Animal Shelter on I-45 just south of Dallas. Our Wilmer tipsters Carrie Woods and Laura Macias say that he needs a “medical rescue” ASAP.
He’s got an open leg wound and the photos are graphic, but, trust me, “open wound” is an ugly-enough term. He is described by Carrie as “an injured Akita…. He has a damaged leg that is infected and may need amputation.”
But, it may not. Depends on treatment.
Here’s the FACEBOOK LINK.
To offer help, call or text Laura at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.

[LARRY ASIDE: This is Dallas/Fort Worth. There’s no good reason for an injured dog to have to wait on even a spritz of alcohol and a Band-Aid. No reason at all.]
—- Offer opinion by clicking on “comment” or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

DOVEY THE FOSTER'S TRIUMPH

You’ve probably heard the famous phrase “Houston, we have a problem.” Ah, but here is a phrase with sweet relief to an animal advocate’s ears: “WE HAVE POOP!”
The noted foster Patty Sprong posted that message in celebration of little Dovey’s triumph. Thus, Dovey is in the spotlight for this weekend’s Let Sleeping Dog’s Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
That’s her in a stretched-out position because it helps her sleep — it’s a reaction to her injuries. So was her, er, “difficulty.”
On January 29, Patty posted, “WE HAVE POOP! Yes, this is big news that my rescue friends will understand. When your foster dog has had her middle crushed, and she hasn’t pottied yet, you get a little worried. She must feel so much better! Now to get her used to going OUTSIDE - Lol. Baby steps. Right now the focus is on handling her without hurting her so she doesn’t go into piranha mode.”

We got the Story of Dovey from Patty:
 As January was approaching its final week, Patty says, “I was trying to decide between two dogs that I was interested in fostering. In fact, I was in the middle of a text message about which dog to pull. Then I saw an email from the Mesquite Shelter. The email said that help was urgently needed for an injured Chihuahua. I felt like my decision had been made, as this dog was the most urgent. Since she was a medical case, I contacted Jaime from Mazie’s Mission who agreed to tag her if I would foster her. I was torn about NOT taking one of the other dogs that I was considering, but I have since followed up to make sure they were both saved.
“I drove to Mesquite and picked up Dovey. She had been surrendered by her owners after she had been attacked by a Husky. I don’t know exactly how it happened, or what position her owners were in, but I’m glad they realized that the dog needed help that they couldn’t provide. The shelter staff took her to the emergency vet where she spent the night and had her wounds treated. She has puncture wounds on both sides where the dog bit down. She also has three broken ribs.
“I brought her right to the Mazie’s Mission clinic. Dr. Erin Shults continued managing Dovey’s pain and treating her wounds. After consulting with three separate specialists, Dr. Shults decided to treat the breaks without surgery. When Dovey is more stable, she will be spayed and Dr. Shults will assess what appears to be a small hernia, probably from being shaken by the bigger dog. For now, we are keeping her comfortable and letting her know she is safe. As you can see in the pictures, so far she seems pretty comfortable! Even Queen Gigi has accepted her.
“Mazie’s Mission would appreciate donations for Dovey’s care.  They even pulled one of the other two dogs, a 14-year -old retriever mix that was at Dallas Animal Services!” 

There is no “We Have Poop Fund” — take a hint, medical marketing teams! — but you can see how to donate to helping Mazie’s help Dovey at www.maziesmission.org.
You may recall that Mazie’s Mission is currently raising funds for their move and expansion to Carrollton this spring. Here's the LINK to that fundraising drive, i.e., "Drive For 65."
And here are a couple of the “situationer” Facebook posts from Patti early in the Dovey story and you can see the heart of a foster at work in them:
 “Just stopped by to visit Dovey. … Per the vet, she’s in a lot of pain, but eating and even snapping at them when they mess with her too much! She’s a fighter for sure. I decided to just go see her, let her hear my voice and get used to my smell. I talked to her, scratched her nose softly and wiped her eyes off. I even got a tail wag when I went to leave. It warmed my heart.”

Then there’s the explanation of the “stretched out” photos: “Evidently it feels better when she stretches out as far as she can. Yes, the purple is bruising. I am so impressed with Gigi. She is being so sweet. I think she knows Dovey is hurt. Dovey is so affectionate and sweet and has me wrapped around her finger already.” [Larry note: That's a photo of Gigi from a couple of years ago -- and, now, she's spreading goodness and cheer to a little dog who has been in a tough spot -- until now.]
And, yes, Gigi was a foster in Patty’s care. Years ago. Gigi, it seems, found her home.
[REMEMBER, send the photos and the stories of your beloved sleeping dogs and napping cats to dallrp@aol.com and we’ll feature them in our weekend edition of readlarrypowell.com. We post these photos in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap to help people understand the link of trust between an animal and a human. It’s a beautiful thing. Also, we hope the photos will inspire insomniacs to find the proper sleeping position without having to endure a mid-section chomp by the free-roaming dinosaur that inhabits your dreams. Oh, wait. That’s the problem — you can’t dream if you can’t sleep.]
--- Leave cheers for Dovie & Patti or sleeping advice by clicking on 'comment' below or emailing dallrp@aol.com -- we'll wake up to read it. ---

FRIDAY EXTRA: SUPER WEEKEND TO SAVE ANIMALS & RECALLING -- (NEVER HAPPENED) -- THE DASTARDLY CHEVY VEGA

MIDMORNING EXTRA FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019 [PetPowellPress] We can’t really predict the weather, but we can bet that people in North Texas are not going to be facing any 3-below temps with ice and snow this weekend. So, people in need of dependable companionship should be able to drive around and visit adoption events and shelters and save some animals.
GET AN EARLY START SAVING

SATURDAY LIVES ON FRIDAY
Yeah, it’s that CODE RED thing at Mesquite that gets us. We know animals are on the clock everyday in shelters all over the area, but Mesquite’s system lets us know WHICH SPECIFIC animals are facing the needle. This creates a sense of urgency, I think. And readlarrypowell.com, already at the limit for companion animals, works to type them endangered animals into someone’s heart and home or rescue group! Three ways to exit a shelter and two fo them lead to safety.

These two will exit via the needle of death on Saturday morning if no human steps between them and a dark fate.
The first dog, a 2-year-old Lab/Pittie mix is Henry (40581001). He is 60 healthy pounds, has learned to happily walk on a leash, wags his tai and, while shy, loves having his hears scratched. Our tipster, the shelter volunteer biographer Judi Brown, says, “I absolutely adore this dog.” [LARRY ASIDE: Henry has been happily playing with volunteers — he’s learning to trust and love humans. So, yeah, get that needle ready. Can't have happiness on this planet!]
Lucy (40581025) is the 2-year-old “reddish gold” Pittie mix who beat the deadline on the list before. “This is one heckuva sweet dog,” Judi says. Healthy, 40 pounds, hazel eyes, walks on a leash.” At first she was intimidated by the shelter noises — even the clicking fo the camera taking her photo. Now she’s adjusting and adorable. 
For either of these two, call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com. Same contacts for these three, too.
And, if you adopt a dog not yet on the Code Red list, it may help save someone who is on the list by making room in the shelter.

 Phoebe is the 8-month old Jaunty Earhound, a Shepherd/Retriever mix who came in as a stray. (She’s 40658647. Weighs 28 pounds.)

Sadie is the 2 1/2-year-old Border Collie/Retriever mix surrendered to the shelter on Thursday because her owners “had a change in lifestyle.” She’s 40682932. Weighs 60 pounds. Already spayed. Knows how to sit, stay and shake. The owners said “she loves to cuddle and that she was good with their grandchildren.”
Crystal (406509552), a year-old, 52-pound Boxer mix, came into the shelter on Jan. 25 as a stray. “Her tail wags constantly. Her whole body wiggles when she’s around people. She loves everyone. She’s just a joy to be around,” Judi says.” [LARRY ASIDE: Crystal recently had a litter — very recently, the vet says — so congratulations to the jerk who took her puppies to sell and turned her out like yesterday’s trash. There’s someone you hope NEVER wins Lotto Texas. May the Good Lord protect the puppies they have now.]

CONTEMPLATIONS


PEOPLE AND STOCKS; COWBOYS SUPER BOWL; THE DASTARDLY CHEVY VEGA
North Texas is filled with shelters and rescue groups that have the dogs and cats nobody else wants. There’s got to be (a) Some way to inspire people to want all of these animals and (b) some way to inspire people to spay and neuter, respect and properly tend to their animals. We’ll entertain suggestions that don’t involve firearms or display in the public stocks on City Hall Plaza. Wait a second. Just rule out firearms. I think the stocks have merit. Oh, and remember, there's a $10 Valentine adoption special at Dallas Animal Services. That's Kilo, a 3-year-old boy at the DAS" PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center -- 972-381-1588, ext. 5. Ask about # A101741. He's looking you over, clearly. …
Good luck to the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday. You have to be careful on Super Sunday — there are all sorts of kitchen accidents you can encounter while watching the big game on TV rather than from the sidelines.
This always cheers me up. I opened some page on the internet and found a headline that reads “50 Worst Cars Ever Made” — I couldn’t resist and, sure enough, Chevy Vega was on the list. Number 50. I can’t believe there were 49 cars ahead of the Vega on the “worst” list. This is a red Vega; the dealership was out of red Vegas when I traded in my beloved 1970 Chevy Malibu with air-conditioning for the 1971 Dull Dark Green without a/c. My other Vega was a bright green — but no better. I’m probably on the list of the “Top 50 Dumbest Car-buyers of the Early 1970s.” Got some stories, though. Now and then a nightmare. Thanks, Vega.
—- Offer automotive advice or opinions by clicking on ‘comment’ below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

GIZMO'S LEG IMPROVING, HE NEEDS A FOSTER; SAVING ANIMALS & ANIMAL PEOPLE

EDITION OF FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Holy gridiron, here it is February 1 and some of us are still talking football.  There's some big  game this weekend, I understand — it didn't appear on the Dallas Cowboys’ schedule (again), so how were we to know?
In hopes that the most inexpensive February holiday isn’t overshadowed (so to speak) by the Super Bowl, let me remind you that Saturday is Groundhog Day. We don’t know, yet, how the Polar Vortex will affect Groundhog Day Celebrations. Oh, this, by the way is a Ground Hog, if you speak literally, i.e., hog on the ground. Well, the closest I could get, anyway. She’s Peppa (169042), a 2-month-old Vietnamese Potbellied Pig available at the SPCA. Small? Now. SPCA says she’ll “get to be 200 to 300 pounds.” She’ll cast a big shadow, but, it’s a friendly shadow, SPCA says.
HERE’S AN UPDATE ON THE DOG
WITH THE PAUL NEWMAN EYES
Our Denton tipster Amy Poskey provided us with an update on Gizmo’s health and asked, “How can you resist that handsome face and those Paul Newman eyes???!!!.” [FYI FOR THOSE BORN AFTER 2008: Mr. Newman (1925-2008) was a movie star. With blue eyes. Look him up. See The Sting; The Verdict, Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, etc.]
  Back to Gizmo: When last we spoke of him, he was facing an amputation after being struck by a car in Denton and rescued by an ACO on Jan. 16. The fear was nerve damage was going to cost this handsome guy his leg. 
Amy reports, “He might not need to have his leg amputated, but we desperately need a temp foster to assess and confirm so he doesn’t have to go back to the shelter in this condition.  Bless his heart, he just needs a soft bed, lots of  love, and someone who understands what he’s been through and is going through.  And anyway, how can you resist that handsome face and those Paul Newman eyes???!!!”
Gizmo had begun using his foot instead of dragging it as he walked. The veterinarian, Amy wrote, “said this type of progress is huge and could indicate he may not need to have the amputation.”

He’s getting a little more time to heal. 
Thus, a temporary foster is needed. If you can (and I hope someone already has volunteered by the time you read this), contact these Denton McNatt Animal Shelter addresses:
gayla.nelsen@cityofdenton.com, Randi.Weinberg@cityofdenton.com, dentonshelterdogs@yahoo.com, and/or dentonanimalservices@yahoo.com. Call 940-349-7594.
SAVING THE THROWAWAYS?
AN OKLAHOMA EFFORT!

 Things have been so difficult for Terry Lynn Fisher, the rescuer in Burns Flat, Okla., that the crush of unwanted animals is overwhelming the boarding budget. A friend set up a Gofundme account for her. You can read SAVING THE THROWAWAYS HERE and help the animals Terry Lynn encounters.
As you can tell from this photo, the dogs Terry Lynn gets don't arrive just after a visit to the groomer, a lifetime of vet care or, sometimes, even a meal for a long time.
CONTEMPLATIONS
EX-BAIT DOG’S HAPPINESS; A FORT WORTH DOG’S NEW YORK DATE & A REACTION
This is a good moment to remind people who hate animal abusers to get involved with the Texas Humane Legislation Network. Here’s the LINK. Congratulations, again, to Channel 4, i.e., Fox4, for another great animal story. This one is about a former bait dog, Whiskey, a 3-legged girl who was a “save the dog” project of Bull Luv Able Paws HERE. Watch the Fox4 report HERE  and have a tissue to use while you’re smiling at the dog. And as you watch Whiskey, you’ll note that she lives up to that line I quoted earlier this week: “Dogs are born with three legs and a spare.” She’s happy, leaping, adorable dog.
Don't put that tissue box away yet. Barkleyworld. com's Karen Lee sent us a note about a Fort Worth dog named Effie Brown. “You have got to check this out!!,” she wrote. “Strut your stuff Effie Brown!  Thank you Apollo Rescue for saving this girl!!” The headline on her story reads, “Disabled Rescue Dog To Walk in NY Pet Fashion Show."
OH, AND DON'T FORGET that Dallas Animal Services has a sweetheart of an adoption deal starting February !.
AN EMOTIONAL REACTION: After reading about Whiskey’s abusive history and considering the awful things people do to animals, Readlarrypowell.com wants to say congratulations to everyone who saved Whiskey’s life and to the guys who made her a bait dog and abused her, note this: The Good Guys are coming after you. Believe it.
—- Offer support or advice by clicking on ‘comment’ below or emailing dallrp@aol.com —-

GOOD MOMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WORLD OF ANIMALS AND CHEESE

EDITION OF JANUARY 31, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Let's start this final edition of January 2019 with a happy report. Don’t that beat the heck out of another weather story from the frigid north?
I reverted to my native Northeast Texan to justify the construction “Don’t that.” But let’s warmly move on.
LOUIE GETS A BREAK
In Wednesday’s edition we reported — thanks to the great tipster Amy Poskey — that Denton’s McNatt Animal Shelter was playing host to a 10- year-old Maltese/Poodle named Louie who’d been surrendered because his human was ill. 
Here’s the report from Amy, “I am sooooooooooooo happy to report that this angel boy will be leaving the building today!!!  WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!  Yep, Mike & Mary Frazier with I AM DOG RESCUE stepped up for Louie so he will be loved, pampered, and spoiled rotten!!!

“Once again, I want to thank everyone for your help and a HUGE THANKS TO MIKE & MARY FRAZIER!!!” 

She also says, “If anyone would like to make a donation for Louie’s care, please click on the link below.  I know Mike & Mary would appreciate the help and, remember, no amount is too small.  Thank you!  J Amy.” Here’s that LINK.  
[LARRY ASIDE: Readlarrypowell.com believes in publicizing the organizations and people who rescue animals from shelters. When an organization takes in an animal, it also take in some expenses for feeding and vet care. We encourage municipal and county shelters to publicize the do-good rescue groups so people can support their efforts to keep specific animals off death row.]
MEANWHILE, LOVE IS IN THE AIR
AT DALLAS CITY HALL & DAS
You see first the promotional artwork Dallas Animal Services posted on its Facebook page announcing the $10 adoption special it’ll run from February 1 through St. Valentine’s Day. (See the online adoptables at dallasanimalservices.org or stop by the shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland.)
In the meantime, we saw that DAS had posted an appeal for someone to adopt Panda (A1050495) and isn’t that one heckuva distinct face! Sort of a semi-tribute to Groucho Marx’s eyebrows (you kids look him up). He was described as “our longest stay resident,” at the shelter since November 29. “He’s a love bug,” they said. Three-years-old and 61 pounds.
But, here’s the cool part. He was posted on the 28th and the next day DAS announced this:
“Panda ... is on his way to City of Dallas - City Hall to be fostered by Council Member Philip Kingston and his team! This is a great way for Panda to take a break from the shelter and get a little TLC! If you're interested in meeting Panda or want more information about adopting him (he IS still adoptable!), please email DASFoster@dallascityhall.com!"
Starting Feb. 1, $10.

CONSIDERING TWO FACES:
ONE FOR TV, ONE FOR FILM

Bless our Mesquite Animal Services tipster Judi Brown, she sees dogs that inspire a person to build another room on the house to make sure they have a place to live! 
Here are two cases and Readlarrypowell.com already has all the rooms the lot can hold.
Lovely Lulu is a 2-year-old Shepherd/Retriever mix who came into the Mesquite shelter as a stray on Jan. 23. Judi writes, “As you can see Lulu has beautiful eyes that look like they’ve  been lined with eyeliner and an engaging smile. You can just tell by looking at her face that she’s sweet.” 
Readlarrypowell.com believes Lulu may have a career anchoring the news. Look at that face! She clearly has camera presence and looks as if she’s about to invite you to stay tuned for a story about a happy ending in the frigid north. Judi says the 51-pound dog may need “further dog testing” to see if she plays well with others. Could still be a great only dog, too. She’s #40629301.

Callie, on the other hand, clearly has a career on the big screen ahead for her. Look at those “publicity shots" -- in the second photo, Callie looks like a great silent film star showing off her profile!
She’s a 37-pound Aussie Cattle Dog — formerly a stray (#40633686) — arrived on January 24. 

Judi says, “This is another one that makes me really wonder why the owner didn’t come back looking for her. If you’re looking for a calm, gentle, sweet natured, easy-going, friend  dog then Callie would be the perfect dog for you. She is affectionate. Her tail wags constantly.”
Call 972–216–6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com ask about these dogs. Remember you can go to the SHELTER WEBSITE HERE  to see many, many other animals including this cat (40648899), a 5-year-old Siamese Mix who is clearly going to audition for an action movie or try out for center field with the Texas Rangers.
CONTEMPLATIONS
BANNING ABUSERS FROM ANIMAL CONTACT; GETTING THE RIGHT ANGLE & CHEESE IT, SENATOR

We got a note thanking us for posting animals that need adoption — the note declared “Grandpa is so cute!” He’s the older gent in the Carrollton Animal Services shelter — you’ll recognize his mugshot from Wednesday's edition. Then the writer said, "Just read a great proposed plan by Colorado congressman regarding animal abusers. Violators would not be able to own a pet for five to 10 years after committing these crimes. Now that's a great idea.” The Colorado proposal was introduced at the state legislature by Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. Here’s a LINK TO THE STORY. Look up your Texas Legislator and pass along a hint.
 ...
A guy I went to high school with posted this question on Facebook. “Someone tell me how a Hypotenuse has helped them.” And, of course, using my Northeast Texas grammar, I could respond, “I once had a harness-broke Hypotenuse that helped pull my pickup out of a bar ditch. Had to get the right angle, of course.”
...
My cat, The Senator, was all over me while I was writing this Wednesday night. He sat on my lap, he sat on my arm, he sat on my mouse and would, now and then, reach down and nip at my speed-of-light typing fingers. I finally had to pull out the Big Persuader to get him to leave me along. I went to his food dish, coated a spoonful of turkey and giblets pate with grated Parmesan, carried The Senator to the dish and about 5 minutes later he came back to my desk, jumped up, flopped over on a stack of mail and went to sleep. He’s always been a nut for Parmesan. Something else he and I have in common.
— Offer opinions or advice by clicking on ‘comment’ or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —

DOGS & CATS; CRUELTY & THE LEGISLATURE; SHOOTINGS & FELONIES

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 [PetPowellPress] We have a number of animals in need today. Let me suggest that right now you pause to pet your dog or cat or whatever “emotional support” critter you’ve got. It’s good for both of you. A hug is permissible, too, if it’s OK with the animal. We’ll be reporting on shelter animals, a person’s big dog that is in a tough spot, a followup on the ugly Denton story and other things. Contemplations, even! 
That ol’ dog? Well, that’s Grandpa. He’s one of the senior fellows who’s waiting for a rescue or adoption in a local shelter. Some face, eh? Keeping reading. First a petition tip.

STOPPING THE CRUELTY

VIA THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE
Steffenie Vela, guiding light of the Euless Trinity GAP Rescue, contacted the organization’s attorney, renowned animal law expert Randy Turner, to ask about influencing the Texas Legislature’s animal attitudes. Randy, who talks with the Lege about these things, suggested getting involved with the Texas Humane Legislation Network and signing the petition to strengthen laws governing the care of animals exposed to Texas heat and cold. 
As you know, thln.org is the website and when you go there, the petition is clickable or you can go to it HERE. 
Steffenie suggested sending the information to 10 people. She sent it to Karen Lee of barkleyworld.com who sent it to us. And now, consider this as a note from readlarrypowell.com to you, Dear Reader, so please, pass it on.
Steffenie added, “Contact your state legislator and Gov. Greg Abbott. The governor has indicated in the past he would sign it if it gets to his desk.  Please take a minute and help save our dogs from horrible conditions.”
THE DENTON CASE:
 IS IT A FELONY?

Our former Dallas Morning News colleague, the writer Teresa Gubbins, in a story for CultureMap Dallas, offered, a followup on the story of the University of North Texas student who encouraged dogs to mutilate a raccoon that was then beaten to death by men with sticks. Sheesh. [LARRY ASIDE: I’m angry all over again. Somebody take the case to a grand jury and get an indictment.]
 Theresa cited the interview WFAA did with Kimberly Meeks, an investigator for the Humane Society of North Texas. Teresa wrote that the investigator said “the actions in the video could easily warrant an arrest for cruelty, stating that it appears to show two violations: torturing an animal and causing one animal to fight with another.” 
And this: “It could be a state jail felony of the third degree. It just depends what the prosecutor goes after," the investigator told Channel 8. 
Before you click HERE to read Teresa's CultureMap story, be reminded that this is a brutal tale of human behavior and you, too, may be stirred to anger anew. If you’re the least bit human.
THIS INJURED CAT IS
HIBISCUS OF HOUSTON
Here’s the sentence that caught my attention: “A pair of broken front legs is not a way for a kitten to survive outside!”
 It opened the email I got from our reliable Houston tipster Alexandra Kelsey. The story is that Hibiscus was “being fed by a Good Samaritan out near West Oaks Mall when he disappeared.  Two months later, he was found with both front legs broken. He was very thin and obviously, he couldn’t walk.
“ The Rescue Bank is seeking donations for this kitten.  He will have surgery on both front legs, which is estimated to cost about $2,000.”
 And she added, “Each front leg is broken in more than one place, which makes me suspect injury by a human.”
Here’s the Rescue Bank link: www.rescuebankhouston.org.

BELLA, A LOVED DOG
WHO NEEDS A HOME
Melody Cook sent us a note Tuesday about this girl, Bella, a former rescue who was adopted with love and is still loved. But she needs another place to live. It is a case of the 92-pound dog having a fatal incident with an older, ailing Chihuahua and, later, attacking another small dog in the household. 
Anyone who has been around animals knows these things can happen. You never know what sets the dog off — could have been something in the deep past, mistreatment perhaps.
Melody says, “Our vet thinks she’s not a dangerous dog, but still needs to be re-homed as an only dog. We’ve had a behavioral evaluation which concluded she is submissive and timid.”
Melody and family really want to give Bella a life of kindness and love. To ask Melody about meeting Bella and getting her whole story, email her at emray6000@gmail.com or call 972-235-7587. 
She says, “I think that Bella would be very happy, if her new humans are patient with her until she learns that she is safe again, in a new home as an only dog. She’s loving and gentle, loyal, totally housebroken, her fur is soft and warm…” Adoption is the preferred option.

AND IN DENTON,
LOUIE IS WAITING
We got Louie's story from tipster Amy Poskey who explained that the 10-year-old Poodle/Maltese mix needs a home. He’s at the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter. Amy says, “Bless his heart, he was an owner-surrender due to owner not being able to take him to new residence. Louie is extremely sweet and gentle and he loves to be held like a baby!  I’m sorry I don’t have a better picture but I think you can see how adorable Louie is with that sweet smile and those big, brown eyes!  He would benefit from a grooming and a day at the spa, but I think Louie is precious just the way he is!” 
The contact points are gayla.nelsen@cityofdenton.com, Randi.Weinberg@cityofdenton.com, dentonshelterdogs@yahoo.com, and/or dentonanimalservices@yahoo.com. Call the shelter at 940-349-7594.
MEANWHILE IN CARROLLTON,
FERAL CATS, FRIENDLY DOGS
We have a longtime discreet tipster whose mission is checking for hard-luck or tough-to-adopt animals on area adoption websites.
A glance at the Carrollton Animal Services website Tuesday revealed what our tipster calls “some beautiful feral cats” and some dogs that “deserve a chance.”

We opened today’s edition with a mugshot of Grandpa —- that’s him with the great face and the old guy legs. He’s #39763922. You may see him and all of these cats and dogs and how to adopt them on the Carrollton shelter’s website HERE.
FYI: The adoption fee is $10 —and if you’re a Carrollton resident add another $5 for the licensing fee.
These three cats have all been declared “feral,” our tipster reports. Their numbers (in case you can’t see the tiny print are
40621299, 40640430 and 40659916. When you go to the website, it’s easy to match ‘em up. A couple of them look as if there might be a little Maine Coon in the family tree. 
 The dogs include the aforementioned Grandpa (39763922) — no idea how old he is, but he’s distinguished. 

Then there’s Nora (39141942), a spayed Pittie Mix with a great set of eyes and a look that’s magnetic.
Piper (40505- 605), is the female Shepherd/terrier mix (spayed) who has the ability to pose like she’s been to charm school back East. Look at those paws!
And Jordan (40554418) is a neutered Chihuahua who needs a home or a rescue. 

Remember, act swiftly — this is a city shelter and the clock is always ticking.

CONTEMPLATIONS

MARS, HOUSTON AND POLITICS

SOMEWHERE IN THE FUTURE: We mention feral cats periodically and we also mention feral cat colonies. Here’s the question of the day: Once profiteers (like the companies that came to America to set up tobacco plantations) reach Mars and open for business, how long will it take us to get interplanetary messages that begin “Feral Cat Colony on Mars needs spay/neuter donations.”
THE SPARK IN THE HOUSTON VIOLENCE WAS A VICTIM: The news stories on the Houston police/drug shootout report that the violence began when cops opened a door and the bad guys’ pit bull raced through it and attacked them. The dog was killed. Years ago, we got an enlightening interview with the great Angie Manriquez about her rescue work in West Dallas. (She inspired the creation of Angie’s Friends.) In that interview back in the 20th century, Angie told us about rescuing dogs from drug dealers. She said that the drug dealers would frequently stake out Pitties and other big dogs to serve as “alarm systems.” If an intruder — badge or no badge — arrived, the dogs would go ape barking. Maybe it oughta be a crime to use dogs as guardians at drug houses or for drug deals. One more way to put the bad guys in the slammer. And save some dogs.

A NON-POLITICAL NOTE: I’m not sure who all is going to be running for president — or who ought to run, either! — but I do have a current favorite Will Rogers quote: “Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke.”
—- To offer an opinion or an objection, click on ‘comment’ below or email dallrp@aol.com. —-

HELPING GINGER & ROXY; PUZZLED BY A YOUNG MAN'S BEHAVIOR; SEEKING CONVICTIONS

EDITION OF TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Now, ladies and gentlemen, THAT is a dog nose beggin’ to be kissed. We’re going to explore a mystery of life today: Why nobody’s taking up the offer to foster or adopt Roxy and Ginger, two great dogs. That’s Roxy with the big nose.
And, on the left, that’s Roxy and her pal Ginger on a walk at White Rock Lake.


We’ll also address criminal charges related to “an alleged cockfighting operation in Southeast Dallas in August, 2017.” 


And, we’ll consider assorted other animal challenges and Contemplations. 


Right now we’re going to get into an ugly scene in Denton. 


BEFORE WE GET INTO THE SAVING OF ANIMALS:
Did anyone else see the report on Channel 8 at 6 p.m. (or any of the other news stories in the area) about the North Texas State University student’s involvement in an incident during which a captive raccoon was set free so it could be fatally mauled by dogs? This is a bad thing. Bad. It shows disregard for life. It shows disrespect for animals. It shows a willingness to do harm rather than help. 
Who to contact to make a point that a prosecution is warranted? How about the Denton County District Attorney Paul Johnson HERE.

DA Johnson is apparently an animal fan — his office has been celebrating the arrival of a Goldendoodle therapy dog named Brady who works with crime victims. Here’s the Plano Star story.
[LARRY ASIDE: Why get the Denton County DA involved? Because lawful behavior is too precious to leave punishment up to a university administration. This isn’t an administrative affront, it’s a criminal justice matter. This was a crime beyond a library fine or a campus parking violation by some nitwit kid. This was putting animals together so they could do harm to each other — for the entertainment of humans. Good grief. It’s just a dog? It’s just a raccoon? No. It’s animal cruelty — it may rise to a felony in Texas. Prosecute. This event killed a raccoon and damaged the dogs by inciting a blood thirst. So, so sad.]

STILL NEEDING FOSTERS OR A HOME,
THE BONDED ROXY AND GINGER
Yes, that’s Roxy with her face at the window. What is she doing? She’s “patiently waiting for her doggy treat in the drive-thru lane,” Kimberly Jones explained.
You may recall that Kimberly took over the care of the two dogs after a check on them showed they needed some help. Kimberly had rescued and placed Ginger about 4 years ago and kept up with her. The adoptive family had also acquired Roxy and the two dogs bonded immediately and strongly. Then, the family broke up and they would have been back to the ol’ square one, except Kimberly stepped in to save them from the difficult experience of being separated and place in a shelter or shelters. 
On Sunday, they were guests dogs at a DFW’s Furgotten Friends adoption event where, Kimberly says, “They met some roly-poly puppie and some people. They were very well-behaved and had a good time.”
The bottom line is, Kimberly needs a foster to get them out of boarding (expense-not-needed!) until they find the right home. To help these two loveable dogs, get in touch with Kimberly at kimberlyaj4@gmail.com. And see them on their own Facebook page HERE.
Trust me, you may fall in love with two dogs. Make the right move and enjoy two new friends.
AN ARREST IS MADE IN A DALLAS
2017 COCKFIGHTING PROBE
The SPCA of Texas announced on Monday that authorities arrested Raul Torres-Martinez, 38, “on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, in connection with the case of 95 fighting roosters, 22 hens and seven chicks seized by the SPCA of Texas from an alleged cockfighting operation in Southeast Dallas in August, 2017.”

He was booked into the Kaufman County Justice Center and charged with two Class A misdemeanors, the SPCA reported and said the two charges are "owns or trains a cock with the intent that the cock be used in an exhibition of cockfighting" and "manufactures, buys, sells, barters, exchanges, possesses, advertises, or otherwise offers a gaff, slasher or other sharp implement designed for attachment to a cock with the intent that the implement be used in cockfighting." See photos from the scene of the seizure HERE. 
You’ll see pictures of the slashing instruments.
[LARRY ASIDE: What would the bail be for two Class A Misdemeanors? $1,500, the SPCA reports. Misdemeanors? Come on. Having animals fight to the death surely is worthy of a felony. Get in touch with the Texas Humane Legislation Network and help THLN help the Texas Legislature make things tougher on people who abuse animals. Go to spca.org to see how to help the SPCA keep animals safe.]
Oh, and when the raid was conducted, the SPCA says that most of the birds were in individual pens, a few were tethered by their feet. And there was one rooster who was tethered and on the ground — that’s him — he had a broken leg and that is why he is not standing. Yep, misdemeanors. No idea what that sign means, but I think "Partido el Remolino" translates to, maybe, “The Whirlwind Party.” Perhaps someone can enlighten us.

The SPCA notes that cockfighting is a crime in all 50 states and in Texas cockfighting is a felony “punishable by up to two years in a state jail and/or up to a $10,000 fine.” Other affiliations with cockfighting — spectator, equipment possession, etc. — they’re just misdemeanors even though they inspire and abet felonious behavior. Money changes hands at the cockfights, you know.
BETTY LOU ‘CROSSES THE BRIDGE’
Our Prayers & Passages page (click on the link in the upper right corner of this page) has a tribute to Betty Lou, member of the family of our dear friend Diane Combs. Betty Lou’s ravages of old age took her Monday. She’d lived a long and happy life, even toward the end when love and medications helped her endure. But it was time, Diane told us. And she remembered that back in 2005, Betty Lou had been the featured dog on one of SPCA President James Bias’ TV spots. Four people “checked her out” before Diane met her. She says she has no idea why they rejected Betty Lou, but the fourth person said she didn’t want a dog who weighed over 11 pounds. “Betty Lou weighed 12 pounds — not the least bit fat! Talk about picky!” Diane said. Yes, Betty Lou benefited from that one pound! Please, go to the Prayers & Passages page to read about Betty Lou's importance in a human life.
QUICKLY, WE CITE DOGS
IN WILMER, MESQUITE

Regarding Wilmer, the message from Laura Macias was simple: “If you see any sweet face below you can help, please call or text 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_7@yahoo.com. 
Ben, we’ve mentioned before. He’s regarded as “the BEST — and we mean the BEST bully ever” in messages Laura and fellow small shelter advocate Leighann Hayden have been sending for weeks. He’s adorable. He was found in Wilmer, has passed the Operation Kindness temperament test and is simply waiting for the death needle or a rescue or adoption.

Same situation for Kimber, this adorabe Bully mix. She’s described as “SO CUDDLY, so SWEET, and just completely lovable. This is the sweetest little girl. Cute as can be. SO very huggable. She is a young dog — we are guessing a year old or so, and she has recently had pups, but none were found with her.” [LARRY ASIDE: Don’t get me started on the number of free-roaming idiots in North Texas. For crying out loud, spay and neuter.]

REGARDING MESQUITE, here are two not yet Code Red dogs but if no one helps them, it’s the needle.

Israel, 9 months old, is a brown and white Pittie mix who was adopted, then returned on January 14 with “no reason given,” says the Mesquite Shelter’s volunteer biographer Judi Brown. She writes, “The one word that best describes Israel is EXUBERANT! He leapt and bounded around the yard with joy. He found toys and happily entertained himself. He would chase balls and bring them back but wouldn’t give them to me.” 
And that is the reason I included the photo of Israel with his tennis ball. He weighs 61 pounds and is a little lighter because he’s neutered.
(He’s 40411692 at the shelter.]
I’ve used two photos of 10-year-old-plus Chihuahua “Pudgy” because they show his ability to pose — note the cute paw lift in the second photo. Judi says he’s “an adorable little guy with an equally adorable personality.” (He’s
40411692 at the shelter.]
Pudgy is a stray who came in on January 22.
[LARRY ASIDE: He’d probably love to hear someone call him by the name he’s known for a decade. I’m betting “stray” can be translated as “dumped” or “set free” in this case. Who would NOT take care of their happy ol’ Chihuahua?]
He’s perky, alert, tail-wags constantly, walks “very well” on a leash, is neutered and weighs just 16 pounds. He’s 40621079 at the shelter.
To ask about either animal in Mesquite, call 972–216–6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
CONTEMPLATIONS

THE DENTON INCIDENT
First, I’m a former police reporter and former ambulance attendant who has seen humans do some really bad, intentionally ugly and stupid things — I’ve picked up bleeding people, moved bodies, walked into a murder scene where people shot it out at a filling station over noontime insult in their kids’ school cafeteria — and I’ve covered animal cruelty cases. Lots more mayhem is in my memories. 
So, based on my experience with human behavior and human attitudes, the video of the clown letting the dogs attack a raccoon isn’t completely unexpected violence. 
It is, however, a needless violence. And it makes me angry and wanting to make sure that there is a properly prosecuted legal case. Write to the Denton County DA on behalf of the animals, on behalf of society.
This behavior in the video isn’t something that should get the “second chance” approach. Anybody who treats animals in such a shabby fashion needs at least a day in court. Anybody who treats children or grown-ups in horrid ways needs at least a day in court. We need to rise above “minimum sentences” to make a point — at least to the guilty, if not to the potential offenders, though, of course, I have little hope for the really bad guys.
We have a system. Use it. Teach lessons on campus, but out in the real world, use courthouse convictions to emphasize that such behavior is criminal and unwanted in our society. My God, what sort of synapse was firing in that brain?
Dear Readers, I get upset periodically — maybe daily — at the way animals are treated by thugs and idiots. This incident has upset me more than anything in recent memory. It represents a Roman Coliseum attitude that is perfectly happy watching any living being fighting for its life.
 Facing some heat from inadvertent publicity, the confessed bad guy in this case “issued an apology” to the university — let’s see him bring the raccoon back to life and apologize to it. 
And then, if this sorry behavior were not enough to sicken a relatively sane human, there’s the horrible shootout in Houston. Suspects dead. Police officers are shot. Families are stunned and in despair. The term “law-abiding” suffers another blow in a state that struggles to maintain itself as a safe place to live. We’re more violent than the Old West.
—- Offer agreement or opposition by clicking on ‘comment’ below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

A LONGISH MONDAY EDITION; BLAME A DESIRE TO SEE KIND HEARTS SUCCEED

EDITION OF MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2018 [PetPowellPress] We enter the last few days of January thinking it feels like it was just 30 minutes ago that we were counting down to midnight on New Year’s Eve 2018. Was Washington that distracting? 
Speaking of expecting, as the weekend arrived we got a photograph that can only be described as “the very picture of pregnancy.”

Our Denton McNatt Animal Shelter volunteer tipster Amy Poskey sent the appeal for help with Mama May.
 Holy smoke. Nobody wanted this momma dog and nobody wanted her puppies and, apparently, nobody wanted to spay her or neuter her consort and here we go with puppies that, for a while, were going to be born just to die. Read on for the rest of the tale of Mama May. We have other challenges, too, in this edition.
ABOUT MAMA MAY AND GIZMO
Both of these dogs were in their own personal desperate situations. You can see in the second Mama May photo that she’s substantially pregnant, even when stretched out. There’s good news.
 On Sunday, Amy sent the note reading, “I am very happy to report that Mama May has left the building. Aaron Ogden with Guardian Pit Bull Rescue of Houston sent a team member to pull her Sunday morning so she is safe and in good hands. Now this sweet girl can bring her little family into this world in a loving foster home.” [LARRY ASIDE: Amy included the Guardian website, http://guardianpitbullrescue.com, so people can donate to the care and health of Mama May or maybe line up to adopt Mama or a puppy. No telling how many puppies are in there and, as anyone who has been involved with a litter of puppies can tell you, they’re practically free but you have a tendency to give them everything they might need! I’m kidding. There’s nothing free about a litter of puppies or kittens or kids (I had twins — they’ll laugh at the litter joke.)]
Now, Amy is working on helping Gizmo, this striking Bernese Mountain Dog/Aus- tralian Shepherd Mix. Amy reported Sunday afternoon that there had been “two rescue offers” but what is still needed is “a foster home to make that happen.” 
The report is that badly injured Gizmo — apparently struck by a motor vehicle — had been picked up by a Denton ACO on January 16 and has been in the care of the Animal Hospital on Teasley Lane. The hope was his injured leg would not require amputation. But the nerve damage was too great and Gizmo’s quality of life would be better without the leg.
Gizmo’s surgery may be next week. He’s about 5 and will be available for fostering and adopting. He’s got a good temperament, Amy’s note says.
To offer to rescue, foster or adopt Gizmo, email gayla.nelson@cityofdenton.com or Randi.Weinberg@cityofdenton.com or call the shelter at 940-349-7594.
[LARRY ASIDE: A vet friend of mine and I were discussing 3-legged dogs and he said, “There's an ol' veterinarians line that 'Dogs are born with 3 legs and a spare'.” Sure enough, in my time writing about dogs, I’ve noticed that when 3-legged dogs are in a multiple mutt situation, the 3-legged dog tends to be the leader of the pack and will run to win all races. Then they wait to be hugged and loved. Bless their darlin’ hearts!]
EVERMAN SHELTER IS FULL?
YES & FEES ARE WAIVED?
At Everman, on the southeastern side of Fort Worth, there is a full city shelter, we’re told in emails from the reliable tipster Heather Harrison.
 She wrote to her contacts about this handsome 3-year-old German Shepherd, Reaper. The note said, “Had an owner, but he never came for him. [Reaper] is very active and energetic. Needs some manners.” 
To rescue him or adopt him into an exceptional home — no idiots need apply — contact the Everman Animal shelter at 817-561-5495. Same number and “No Idiots Rule” for Rocco.
FYI FROM LARRY: I looked Reaper up on the Everman shelter’s website and saw a lot of adorable adoptables waiting for a decent break in this world. One of the dogs I spotted was this handsome guy Rocco, an owner surrender. He’s 6 or 7 years old and if that owner surrendered him, you have to think Rocco’s Rottweiler heart is breaking. 
He weighs 95 pounds is neutered, microchipped, up to date on shots. And the shelter says, “We were unable to verify if he is heartworm negative due to stubbornness at the clinic,….Rocco is a happy, happy big boy who loves being the center of attention and being around people. He is good with all dogs, even puppies….”

MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE:
THE CLOCK IS TICKING....
You know how the Mesquite Animal Services Shelter has a Code Red list that helps rescuers know who is in a countdown at the facility. Over the weekend we got notice of several dogs on the clock for Tuesday.
Jetta is on the Code Red list for 11 a.m. Tuesday. She’s a year old, a Pittie mix and a stray who arrived on January 3. Judi writes, “Jetta’s low-to-the-ground, full-figured body make her adorable!…I fell in love with her almost immediately. Her pudgy little body wiggles all over with excitement when you pay her attention.” The 45-pound dog wags her tail constantly, Judi says, then adds, “She throws in some kisses as a bonus.” She’s #40487185.

We mentioned Lucy (deadline is 2 p.m. Tuesday) before she made the list. Judi Brown, the volunteer shelter biographer, wrote, “This is one heck of a sweet dog. Not only that ....she’s gorgeous. I don’t understand why she still there. If you cannot tag or adopt please network her.” [Her # is 40581025] The shelter “noise and confusion” made her hazel eyes wide with excitement — and concern.
Henry is also on the 2 p.m. Tuesday list. Judi says the shelter’s “Rescue Coordinator absolutely adores him and had him hang out with her today in her office. When I walked into his kennel yesterday he was standing up and he wagged his tail. I did not have to carry him out into the yard!!!. He is still very shy and fearful but he absolutely adores having his ears scratched. The progress he’s made so far on a scale of 1 to 10 is a seven. I absolutely adore this dog. You will too when you meet him.
“ Henry is a 2-year-old Lab/Pittie mix who came to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 1/16 as a stray. Judi says, "He is not showing well in his kennel because he’s obviously depressed. He is very listless in his kennel.”
 Henry weighs 60 pounds and Judi asserts, “I am confident that he will blossom into a very loving affectionate pet.” Since coming into the shelter, Judi says, Henry has gone from laying in the volunteer room and having to be carried outside to do his business, to “standing in an almost frozen position in the yard to relaxing a little.” He’s #40581001. 
To save any of these lives, call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com. You can see the adorable adoptables in Mesquite by going to the shelter website HERE.
And just so you won’t think Mesquite only has dogs, this is Cat #40603373. She’s a little over 2 years old, is an orange/black Domestic Shorthair Mix — mixed with what we don’t now. She’s already spayed. And she’s available for rescue or adoption. Clearly she’s a girl who doesn’t mind a firm hug when she’s being held. 
[LARRY ASIDE: Dogs and cats — save ‘em all at Mesquite and you’ll get a gold star on your permanent record. Pretty sure that’s a rule.]
CONTEMPLATIONS

GOVERNMENT, A DOG’S FATE & KINDNESS
There’s no doubt in my mind that with the federal government back at full operation, we’ll be rockin’ like the middle-aged Rolling Stones in no time. (Remember this quote from the Cowboy Philosopher Will Rogers (1879-1935): “Be thankful we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for.” …
And we have to remember, my fellow humans and other beings reading this, we ought to be kind to animals. FYI, Will Rogers was from Oklahoma, so I’m turning the spotlight on Oklahoma right now thanks to our Burns Flat tipster, the resilient rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher. She’s got a load of animal challenges —dogs and cats — and you can find out how to help her by emailing her at remembering_ oddball@ yahoo.com. In the meantime, she’s desperate to get some help for a “very fixable dog” who was brought into her sphere of influence by the animal control officer in Elk City. This dog had been hit by a car and, Terry Lynn says, the officer “knew the owners and the [Elk City authorities] have had several issues with them in the past. They would not claim her. He rushed her to the emergency vet which happened to be my wonderful vet, Doc Noble [Dr. Bill Noble, Elk Creek Animal Clinic].”
  The officer explained that the city couldn’t do anything because the dog was on stray hold, and he asked if the Clinic could give her something for the pain. “Of course, my vet did and made her where she was resting.”
 The officer said the city “does not have the funds to do anything so they would put her down,” Terry Lynn says.
 She called the vet and learned the dog has “a very badly broken leg and her jaw is broken. She has a huge open wound on her face and several other areas that need to be stitched up. They said she is so sweet and gentle and very fixable."
Terry Lynn says, “I am giving her a chance. How do I not? But I have to ask for help.”

Yes, Terry Lynn will apply donations to help this girl survive and find a good home. Email her at remembering_oddball@yahoo.com. Here are the contact points: 
ELK CREEK CLINIC, 1301 AIRPORT INDUSTRIAL, ELK CITY OK  73644 (CALL 580-225-4863); TERRY LYNN FISHER, P.O. BOX 578, BURNS FLAT, OK., 73624. (CALL 580-330-1459); TERRY LYNN’S PAYPAL is bfvfd_109@yahoo.com.
This girl’s challenge is one of many Terry Lynn is facing this week. She’s working to help two dogs that belonged to an elderly woman who died and also left behind several cats she’d rescued. 
Terry Lynn writes, “So, here we go again.... and again... and again... I wish I could just lay down and sleep — to not see all these innocent eyes filled with pain and confusion; to not wonder how I am going to continue this. I have several in boarding... I need to get dogs to Dallas... dogs to Denver... dogs to Santa Fe... And somewhere, I need to be here for my personal fur babies. So, yes, I am asking for help with this baby who had her body ripped apart and was left to die in the middle of the dark road.”
What are we contemplating here? The massive amount of emotional stamina it takes to be a rescuer. Every now and then readlarrypowell.com gets a note from a rescuer who is heartbroken and defeated. Most of the time, they bounce back. God bless their wonderful hearts and I hope they all know that what they do is appreciated as “the work of the angels.”
It would be nice, every now and then, if we’d hear that a rescuer has won Lotto Texas — wouldn’t bother me if an Oklahoma rescuer won Lotto Texas. Now and then, surely, some Texans bring home money from Oklahoma casinos. Surely. 
And we’ll close with a Dalai Lama quote: “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
—- Offer a response or advice by clicking on ‘comment’ or emailing dallrp@aol.com - we’ll kindly read your note. —-

THEY'RE CALLING HER SUNSHINE...

For this weekend’s edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap we focus on a dog who demonstrates potential.
They all do. But this girl has her own tale of triumph. What we know about her has been gleaned from a series of emails that say such things as “Very sweet. Gets along with other dogs.”
And the subject line of the emails explains, “Stray Lab needs home! Young female.”
What you see in these first photos is a dog whose potential has nothing to do with the word “stray” and everything to do with “lap dog.”
 Clearly she has an understanding of the purpose of a dog — to give stability to the couch!
 Call these “Demonstration Photographs.”

Where is she now? 
The last email in the original cycle of appeals had these words of relief. “I have her with me,” wrote Tina Austin, the founder of Cody’s Friends Rescue.
So, this girl is in good hands. And may she always be so relaxed that she can nod off on the couch with someone she trusts.
What’s her name? Tina says, “Sunshine — because everyone who sees her lights up!”

And Tina adds, “She has come so far since we got her! She cried for the first week we had her…Don’t know if she missed her puppies or what.” 
[LARRY ASIDE: Got to be some tears from the writer and the readers now, I figure.]
There is a high point in rescuing animals that goes beyond the “gotcha” moment. It is that moment when a dog or cat says, “I feel safe. I trust these people. I believe this is a good time to nod off.” 
Tina sent us these last four photos Friday afternoon and noted that there were signs this girl had recently had pups. The sweet dog “was petrified at first,” Tina wrote, “Probably she was dumped after taking her puppies. She was petrified when I first got her and now she is playing with other dogs and living large.”

There you have it. She’s trusting humans. Makes your human heart warm, doesn’t it! 
To ask about adopting this girl or helping Cody’s Friends with the funding of medical bills and feeding, email ta.austin@att.net

[REMEMBER, DEAR READERS, send photos of your sleeping dogs, napping cats or any other slumbering critter — and their stories! — to dallrp@aol.com and we’ll post them in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Napon our website, readlarrypowell.com. Your story will inspire others to open their homes to animals and will also inspire insomniacs to believe that they, too, can get some sleep if they can just find the right rescuer to let them stretch out on the couch!]
—- Offer opinions and celebrations by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

NOON FRIDAY EXTRA EDITION: HELP GINGER & ROXY; SEE THE FERRIS DOGS & IN DALLAS SEE 2 COPACETIC CATS

EXTRA EDITION OF FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018 [PetPowellPress] On a cold Friday morning, at the desk with a cup of hot coffee within reach, we find ourselves (all of the personalities that inhabit me!) focusing on two animal situations. 
One is this extra special pair of dogs that Kimberly Jones has been working with for weeks — efforts to help these dogs are gathering some steam, but genuine commitment is needed. (DFW Furgotten Friends has stepped in to help.) 
The other challenge is the loaded shelter at Ferris, Texas.
There surely are some unoccupied human hearts who have room for these animals, maybe some unoccupied dollars that can help rescuers with the Ginger/Roxy situation. Read on.
GINGER AND ROXY: TWO DOGS

YOU CAN MEET SATURDAY
We first wrote about these dogs when Kimberly Jones, the noted strong-hearted rescuer, had just acquired them. Reacquired Ginger, in fact. She’d rescued Ginger years ago, but Ginger and her best friend Roxy — very bonded — were in need of new care, so Kimberly took them into her “sphere of influence” and had them properly vetted. 
They’ve got a display venue this weekend. The great Stephen Foster, founder and president of DFW’s FurGotten Friends
is involved in helping Ginger and Roxy. (You may remember his recent adventure: fostering pregnant Georgia who delivered a dynamic litter of puppies for Stephen to socialize and adore.)

Ginger’s the 6-year-old Pittie mix with the white stripe on her cute noggin and Roxy is a 12-year-old Boxer mix. Two dogs, once loved, now the product of a “broken home.” But there’s hope —depends on humans, of course.

“My rescue is working on this,” Stephen told us. “Kimberly has gotten them updated on shots through DFW’s Furgotten Friends. Both heart worm neg and now on preventatives. I'm basically doing the guest dog thing on these dogs. They will be at our adoption event on Sunday at Pet Supplies Plus, 6060 E. Mockingbird. The event is from 11 to 2:30.”

While a foster home is needed for the two very bonded dogs, donations are important, too, because both dogs are in boarding until a foster or adoptor steps up. Offer to help with that expense or by giving a good foster or permanent home to the dogs by contacting Stephen at stephen62@att.net or Kimberly at kimberlyaj4@gmail.com.
Two good people trying to help two good dogs. Got to be someone in the land of millions people who can be the happy solution.
THE FERRIS ANIMALS

In Friday’s inbox we got a number of emails about the dogs in the Ferris Animal Shelter in the small town about 15 minutes south of Dallas from the I-20/I-45 crossing. Yes, Ferris is the next town south of frequently mentioned Wilmer and its low-traffic shelter.
Ferris has the same challenge. According to the note from our small-shelter advocate contacts Leighann Hayden and Laura Macias, Ferris gets “zero walk-ins and it’s currently only open by appointment since the prior ACO left months ago.” 
The shelter is interested, the note says, in working with rescue groups. The contact for getting involved or for helping any of the dogs here or on the extended list HERE is Scott McDonald at 972-877-2725. 
The first photo is of a dog called “Wolf” but who knows what his real name is? He’s been roaming in the area for months — captured December 11, and fearful, apparently. The note reads that the volunteer taking photos was “able to stroke his nose through the pen fencing. The city workers that feed the dogs, have been calling him by the name Wolf, and are afraid of him and will not go in his pen." The volunteer explained to them, that he is just afraid.”
That big black and tan guy — maybe a Shepherd/Dobie mix, though there could be Rottie, too — is called Rocky and he is “sweet and friendly.” He has been in the shelter since May 18, 2018, and still is a good boy. 

The little black and tan guy is known as “Pete” or “Shorty” and was surrendered to the shelter in June 2018. “Very dense short little guy” who weighs 42 pounds and has great over-the-eye accessories.
And the raggedy looking but beautiful boy has no name on his pen at the shelter. He’s very thin. He was an owner surrender. [LARRY ASIDE: Geezalou, how can someone walk away from their dog? Someone has to be his benefactor.]

We’ll close with bulldog mixes Bianca and Tank (the tan boy). Both have been “fixed,” the note says. They were “owner releases months and months ago.”
These dogs and several more are currently awaiting human hearts at the Ferris Animal Shelter. That contact point is Scott McDonald at 972-877-2725.
AND IN CASE YOU NEED A CAT

Yes, there are people who need a cat — or cats. We’ve mentioned this boy before. He’s Ritz (#A0509138), currently a resident at Dallas Animal Services. He’s about 11 years old and has been at the shelter since December 15. Call the shelter at 214-670-6800 and ask about him or do yourself a big favor and stop by the big shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland to meet him in person.

You might also want to meet Vin (A0580011), age about 10, in the shelter since January 20. He’s clearly handsome.
[LARRY ASIDE: Why does someone need an 10- or 11-year-old cat? Because that’s a cat who has acquired the household wisdom it takes to keep things calm and copacetic. All these two need is a home in which to practice their tranquilitizing skills — not sure tranquilitizing is a word. May just be a condition.]

--- Offer advice, support for a feline theory or opinions by clicking ‘comment’ below or emailing dallrp@aol.com where the old cat reads the email. ---

A FRIDAY CAVALCADE OF CRITTERS & CAREFUL CONTEMPLATIONS

EDITION OF FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018 [PetPowellPress] In Thursday's edition we teased you, Dear Readers, with this photo of a guy named Champ. Here's the story: The first time we mentioned Champ was a couple of weeks ago when he made his second of a few appearances on the Mesquite Animal Services Code Red list. On the right is the photo we used earlier in the when Champ was a stray who'd found himself in the care of Mesquite. And to the left is that full photo of former shelter dog Champ enjoying a little relaxation time at his foster's home.
Somebody Upstairs must have been looking out for him because he was pulled by a Angels 2 The Rescue, a wide-ranging group of people who take in animals off death rows in several states and get homes for them elsewhere. On their Facebook page you can see Champ and other dogs rescued from Mesquite’s shelter — some have found homes in Kentucky among other places.
Timing was the key to Champ’s situation, according to our contact with Angels 2 The Rescue, Helen McClain of Marianna, Ark. 
The foster had pegged another urgent dog, but he was suddenly tagged, so Helen got the foster to take Champ instead — this happened right at 11 a.m. — the “go time” for Code Red that day. 
So here we have some photos of Champ now taking it easy in his foster home in Irving — he’s clearly at home even when trying to nap in that collar!
Somebody who has a dogless home take the hint and get this homeless dog. He’s about 2, weighs 38 pounds and gets excited when he sees his people. He had been in the Mesquite shelter since November 29 — charmed his way into the rest of his life.
To help Angels 2 The Rescue with Champ’s future or to help the organization with other animals, email Helen at helen.mcclain@sbcglobal.net. Keep up with the group on Facebook HERE
. The organization was founded in 2013 in Massachusetts “by Debbie Kelley,” Helen says. “She passed the torch to me in late 2017.”
Helen also says that “Mesquite is the shelter I seem to lean towards but we've also pulled from Garland, Fort Worth, some of the small shelters in the suburbs; Carrollton, too, and we actually just applied at Dallas Animal Services — one of our fosters offered to foster one there but she's been pulled now (thank goodness!)”
[LARRY ASIDE: Yep, the unwanted animal population is so legendary in Dallas that it draws attention from all over the country these days. Thank heavens for the American hearts and for the fact that dogs and cats and other animals cause us to rise above politics and focus on the mission!]
FERAL TOM CATS,
LADY CATS FOCUS
OF BISSELL GRANT TO SPCA
The SPCA of Texas announced on Thursday that it has received a $15,000 BISSELL Pet Foundation grant that will “fund a new spay/neuter surgery initiative for feral cats. This initiative will help control the growing number of free roaming cats in Southern Dallas and surrounding areas and help keep cats and kittens out of shelters.”

The SPCA says that while “there has been a very successful campaign to spay/neuter dogs,” there are currently “a limited number of North Texas organizations offering affordable spay/neuter surgeries for roaming cats.”
Thanks to the BISSELL grant, the SPCA says it “will be able to provide spay/neuter surgeries, rabies shots and ear-tips for 600 feral cats.” 
FYI: That cat with the tipped ear is Sassy (149778), a small girl just over 6 years old who is “soft and sweet.” She’s at the SPCA cat adoption area at the Lakewood PetSmart. Sassy may have been a feral cat at some point — based on the tipped ear. As you probably know, that’s done so at a glance someone can tell if a free-roaming cat has been fixed. But, you know, sometimes free-roaming cats wind up being the most perfectly loving and adorable housecats. 

The second cat — you can see his face if you’ll follow the stripes — is a boy named Zoe (151354), just over 2, an a resident of the Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center at the SPCA — he’s a “sweet, snuggly kitty” whose human became ill and had to give him up to the care of the SPCA. What he shares with feral cats is this: A need for a good home.” Go to spca.org to see how to adopt.
[LARRY ASIDE: As a household that has experienced the feral cat phenomenon in southern Dallas, we can testify that there is a need for this feral spay/neuter program. Also, we can promise you that there are a lot of people around here who get cats and clearly need to review what they know about how the birds and the bees team up to make kittens at a non-stop pace in Dallas, the most fertile area of the universe. Once again, this is not a cat problem, it is a human problem!]

THREE IN WILMER, INCLUDING
BEN THE GENTLE DOG
As we head into Friday and the weekend, the little shelter at Wilmer, Texas, one ‘60s rock song south of the Dallas city limits on I-45, has three dogs for which “NO INTEREST” has been shown, according to our tipster, the small shelter advocate Laura Macias. There are but 8 kennels in the shelter and there is no walk-in traffic, so the thing to do to help these animals is to call or text Laura at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.

We’ve mentioned Ben (right) before. Laura’s note says he is “THE BEST and we absolutely mean the BEST bully ever.  Seriously, if you have ever wanted a bully, then this is your boy.  HE LOVES AND ADORES PEOPLE, LOVES OTHER DOGS INCLUDING MALE DOGS.  We are so very impressed with him.  Operation Kindness came out and temperament tested him and he passed with flying colors.  This adorable sweet boy is named Ben for a reason - he is a gentle Ben that is so very loving.
"
Then there’s this German Shepherd guy Luka, described as a “super sweet and loving boy and cute as can be.  Has a big adorable grin and is a beautiful dog. We think he is around 2 years old and is extremely lovable.” His owners were found, but he may not be going back to that home.

Beth is possibly a Heeler/Cattle dog mix and there’s a “flinch” reaction in her life. Her bio reads, “Sweet Beth desperately needs someone.  She is precious.  Bashful, but very lovable.  Poor baby flinches if a hand comes at her quickly to pet.  What happened to her?  She deserves so much more than this.”

AN OLDER GIRL
WITH A LIFETIME LEFT
Yeah, Fir is an older dog, but she’s healthy, too. We learned of her plight from the animal advocate Amy Poskey. She writes, “I happened to see this sweet baby posted on petfinder and fell in love with that beautiful face!  And, when I read her story it broke my heart so I decided I would try to help her find a home.  Thankfully, she is in a loving foster home with Legacy Humane Society but Fir needs to find her forever home so her foster mom can continue to save more pooches!  Her foster mom reports that she has adjusted very well to living in a home and loves her comfy warm bed.   Fir is a gentle, sweet girl who is just looking for a friend to cuddle with and love.”
Here’s the back story about this 12-year-old. The Legacy bio reads, “Her owner loved and cared for her the best she could for 12 years but circumstances had recently changed and the owner was living in her car.
 She did not have the funds to even feed sweet Fir or herself so she did the only thing she could for her baby and asked the shelter for help. 
The volunteers and staff at the shelter were saddened by the tragic situation and put out a plea for rescue so this sweet older lady would be in a foster home on a soft bed instead of a noisy and scary shelter.
 Fir is crate- and house-trained, she is quiet and gentle and she would make an excellent companion for anyone needing a loyal friend to snuggle with and love.”

To ask about helping Fir, email contact@LegacyHumaneSociety.org or call 
469-609-7387.
CONTEMPLATIONS
A WORK OF ART, AN UNEASY DOG & A STATEMENT
Contemplations don’t always have to be words. After all, one picture is worth a thousand of them, as the ol’ line goes. So, here’s a photo of Bacon, the Pet of the Week this week as designated by Furbabies of Lancaster, Texas --  click on the linke to see how to get in touch with Bacon's rescue folks who are evolving into a new name, Paws-itively Takes A Village. Bacon is 70 beautiful, healthy pounds of dog. He’s 4, a Pittie mix and up to date on shots. He’s house-trained, walks on a leash and is “responsive and calm.” [LARRY ASIDE: I believe he was even “responsive and calm” when the refs blew that interference call in the Saints/Rams game — I’m kidding, but this is a contemplation and I couldn’t resist the wisecrack. Two of our dogs are still testy about the call. Besides, just look at Bacon’s beautiful face — he looks like he should be starring in a hero-dog movie.]
CONTEM- PLATING HEROES takes us to this photo of our pal Mark Verma, the hard-working, animal-hustling president of Paws in the City. When you read this paragraph about Tallulah, you’ll see just how challenging fostering a dog can be, and how rewarding for the human heart. Mark’s caption reads, “Meet Paws In The City’s Tallulah who was so scared last week when I transported her from the shelter to one of our vet partners that she wouldn’t eat for the first 3 days. She is looking much better today! Next step is a foster home and then adoption events to find her forever home!” [LARRY ASIDE: I’d take my teary eyes over to meet Tallulah and hug her if that wouldn’t set her back three days!!! Good grief, dogs are such good souls and the don't care people can sure do a number on them.]
THE RIGHT FORMULA? I’m going to close our contemplations with something Cheri Fults of Recycled Pomeranians and Schipperkes Rescue posted on Facebook. And it’s the kind of contemplation my rescuespouse Martha and I went through years and years ago before we married. It cracks me up because it is spot-on. Enjoy it and contemplate it.
—- Offer your opinion, advice or winning lotto numbers by clicking on ‘comment’ below or emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

Pregnant Daisy, Matted Mickey, Desperate Layla, Sleepy's Rescue & Contemplations

EDITION OF THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019 [PetPowellPress] You may not recognize this dog right away, but he’s Champ, and we’ll follow up on his escape from the Code Red list in Mesquite in our next edition. For this edition, we’re going to focus on Daisy, a pregnant girl on the Code Red list. And some other things, too. The world of animal advocacy is always busy.
THE DAISY OPPORTUNITY
AND THE MICKEY SITUATION
We’ve mentioned Daisy already but there’s a new angle. She was already on the Code Red list (she’s expecting FIVE puppies) and, now, her situation changed. She’s been extended to 4 p.m. Friday. 
The 6- or 7-year-old Pittie girl arrived as a stray on Nov. 29. Our Mesquite source, the volunteer biographer Judi Brown, says, “She has been given many extensions and I’m told her time is running out. Look at this face and try to turn your back on her. It’s hard to do as she is so appealing! She has been in a play group with other dogs and done fine. She is an exuberant dog that has managed to keep a positive attitude in spite of the fact that she’s been at the shelter for weeks. If you cannot tag or adopt please network her.”

Daisy is # 40270181. She weighs 48 pounds. And she’s expecting. To offer to help her, call the shelter at 971-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
Use those contacts to asked about this guy, too. He’s Mickey, 2, a standard Poodle. He’s available now — not Code Red just yet. Judi says Mickey arrive on Jan. 14 as a stray. She writes, “As you can see he is severely matted and has to be very uncomfortable! Understandably he was not a happy camper when he first came to the shelter! It took me three days of smooth-talking and bribery to get him to change his attitude. On the fourth day he decided to come up to me, smell me, wag his tail, and then wash my face with kisses. Now we are BFF.”

THEY’RE NOT ALL
WAITING IN A SHELTER
Layla, a 7-year-old Balinese, is in a fix at her home. 
We got her story Wednesday from Pam Kowalski who explains both the history and the present in hopes of coming up with a wonderful future for Layla. 
“She was rescued back in 2011 when she was just a kitten. She went to live with a new family who had other cats,” Pam says. “The family has since contacted me to tell me that she is now attacking their other cats and despite all efforts will not stop. She also does not like dogs.
“They called me as last resort to putting her down. She is a beautiful girl who really just wants to be the only feline in the house. She is vaccinated, FELV/FIV Negative and spayed. After her spay her belly hair never grew back, leaving her with a naked belly!
“I asked the family to allow me to network her to see if we might be able to place her in a home without animals. Possibly a quiet home without cats, dogs or small children. Please network to any cat loving folks. I would like to save her life if at all possible.”
To help Pam save Layla, email her at felines2u@yahoo.com or call 214-797-8246.


SLEEPY GETS A BREAK
In our Wednesday edition we posted a note about Squeaky, the 8- to 10-year-old Yorkie girl with mammary tumors and a need for a home or a rescue group to help her find one.
Our tipster, the great Amy Poskey, sent a followup Wednesday. It reads, “Sleepy has left the building!!!  UNITED YORKIE RESCUE INC. showed up at the shelter bright and early to pull this precious little angel, so she is on her way to being pampered and spoiled rotten!  I want to thank everyone who offered to save Sleepy, all the networking, and all the prayers!  As always, it takes a village…  THANK YOU!!!  J Amy.” 
[LARRY ASIDE: Maybe I’m getting too sappy for this animal mission, but I got a little bit teary eyed when I thought about somebody pampering and spoiling this little dog. I sure want it to happen to every dog and cat and any other critter we all run across.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
COLD, KITTENS & CONSEQUENCES
It is too cold for me these days. And I feel guilty complaining about it because I’ve lived many, many Texas Julys and Augusts and they always include days that could use a 40-degree temperature plunge! Just for a day or two. … The Dallas Animal Services people posted a note with two very scary words: “Kitten Season.” Gave me a shudder. After all, Dallas is the most fertile city in the United States of America. Turns out DAS was making an appeal for people to get involved in the city’s foster program. Nobody’s been waiting around for kittens to appear — they’re here year round. That’s how these two cuties are already in the city’s foster program. E-mail dasfoster@dallascityhall.com to explore doing this wonderful work on behalf of kittens and cats. You’ll be saving lives. … When people don’t spay and neuter, there are consequences. The shelters around here only have so much room for consequences, so spay and neuter your animals. It’s simple, inexpensive and the right thing to do. “Simple, inexpensive and the right thing to do” — that’s an easier concept than running for office.
—- To offer advice or explanations, click on “comment” below or email dallrp@aol.com — we answer all email, some of it politely. —-

HELPING SOME ANIMALS, A HALL SHORT OF ONE BASEBALL STAR & PLAY IT, SAM

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23, 2018 [PetPowellPress] Let’s turn our attention from politics in the democracy to animals in the shelters today — including a little girl in a fix in Denton and a big guy waiting in Wilmer. We’ll get to a Contemplation about I-30 later in this edition.

THE SPCA REVEALS ITS BOARDS;
CITING SOME ADORABLE ADOPTABLES
The SPCA of Texas announced its new Executive Board Committee members and Board members for 2019. The story is HERE with all the names.
But, of course, the boardmembers would think readlarrypowell.com heartless if we did not note that there are adorable adoptables currently available through the caring hearts of the “leading animal welfare organization in North Texas.”
That’s Apricot the Hamster (169505), about 2 months old. You can see her at the SPCA’s Jan Rees-Jones Animal Center in Dallas. The red nails do not come with Apricot, though, no doubt the SPCA will offer some red polish if you’ll promise to give Apricot a great home. Just a theory.
The 4-year-old, orange-and-white feline is Thor (169699), described as “friendly, chatty and curious.” He likes to explore and gaze out the window. He’s also FIV positive so he needs to be an only cat or to live in a home with other FIV cats. He’s at the Rees-Jones Center, winning the hearts of staffers and practicing his “lounging” poses.
Sally, 6 months old, is #167996, a Vietnamese Potbelly Pig. She’s at the Russell H. Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney. [LARRY ASIDE: To echo one of our late pals who was an all-varieties pig rescuer, “She’s a pig. Of course she’s large! Pigs are large! No such thing as a “teacup pig.”]
And, if you’re in a porcine mood, this is Piggie, not a pig. She’s listed as an “American Pit Bull Terrier, about 4 1/2 years old and “medium” size. Look at that face! Look at those ears. And she has skills: “Sit, down, shake and roll over!” Also, she tends to prefer being an only dog, prefers teenagers over younger kids and needs a fenced yard to play and romp. 
Remember, go to spca.org and see the online list of adoptable animals and where to find them — the SPCA has adoptables in Dallas, McKinney and in PetSmarts in the area.
BEFORE AND AFTER,
SLEEPY THE YORKIE
Holy smoke. Holy smoke. What a change! In that first photo you can’t even see Sleepy’s Smile.
The great Amy Poskey, who monitors situations in Denton’s Linda McNatt Animal care and Adoption Center, tipped us to this baby with this note: “OK, y’all, this ADORABLE little angel needs our help!  RESCUE ONLY!”

Here’s the inside story on this 8- to 10-year-old Yorkie girl “who has multiple mammary tumors.” Amy explained that the “shelter vet did not feel comfortable vetting her so she has not been HW tested, either.  Sleepy is SO SWEET, but she seems depressed at the shelter and/or is not feeling well.  As we all know, the shelter environment can be scary and depressing so Sleepy needs to be in a loving home with a nice, soft bed!”
The contacts are gayla.neson@cityofdenton.com or randi.Weinberg@cityofdenton.com or dentonshelterdogs@yahoo.com and/or dentonanimalservices@yahoo.com. Call the shelter at 940-349-7594. 
And see Sleepy’s online profile HERE. 

MEANWHILE, IN WILMER:

THE GREAT BEN WAITS
Laura Macias, who works to help animals get attention in the small but busy Wilmer Animal Shelter, again cites this dog Ben, a Pittie mix who is gentle and loving. He’s about 2 and “adores everyone,” she writes. “We really can’t say enough great things about him! … He is definitely a shelter favorite. He’s been there at least 3 weeks and is starting to get depressed… This boy was found in Wilmer and he desperately needs out of this tiny shelter.... Passed Operation Kindness’ temperament testing.” 
To offer to adopt or to foster or to rescue Ben, call or text Laura at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.
CONTEMPLATIONS
I-30, BASEBALL & OSCAR
Here’s a question: Would you rather be on jury duty in a tedious civil lawsuit over intellectual properties or drive back and forth between Dallas and the Arkansas line on I-30? Relax, I kid the highway department — still building, rebuilding, repaving and rerouting that interstate since sometime in the 1950s — hello Royce City and enjoy the temporary route! I have a ringing in my ears because some of my high school pals and I snuck onto the under-construction I-30 on the north side of Texarkana in 1965 and shot off some fireworks. When one of my firecrackers didn’t explode, I leaned down to see why. I used the glow from my “punk” to illuminate the short fuse. It was a brief illumination followed by a dramatic explosion! No burns to me, but my shirt looked like someone had tried to put out a cigarette on it and my ears have been ringing ever since. So, kids, if a firecracker doesn’t work, don’t explore the situation. Walk away. Walk away. … And about the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. I on’t care who they put in it, unless Roger Maris, hero of the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees, isn’t in it, the Hall is not complete. … Oscar nominations? Didn’t see a single nominated film. So, I’ll just watch 1942’s Casablanca (Best Picture Oscar) again. Here’s lookin’ at you, kid. 
—- To offer suggestions or scolding, click on “comment” below or email dallrp@aol.com. —-

EDITION OF TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018 [PetPowellPress]   Here's some unusual reading, perhaps. “The morning after the Super Blood Wolf Moon eclipse I was out in the front yard picking up moonbeams….” — the opening sentence from It Wasn’t Cheese After All, the latest sci-fi novel from celebrated author Moe Zarella. It’s a sequel to his best-seller, The Cow Jumped Over What? [More moon talk in Contemplations.]

Well, that adventure in potential literature aside, let’s talk faces. We’re going to do them in order of arrival at the Dallas Animal Services Shelter and Adoption Center — I-30 and Westmoreland — the region’s most populated animal facility since Fort Worth turned the Stockyards into a tourist attraction. 
This is all about the faces which, as you know, mean a lot when potential adopters take a look at the inventory.
 That dog with the amazingly brilliant eye dots is Ella (A1032730), Rottie Doberman mix, about a year and a half old in the shelter since January 13.


The tricolor Guinea pig, about 2 years old, is Squeakers (A1055193) who arrived at DAS on Jan 14.
And the beautiful cat with the distinct face is Zack, whose shelter ID number sounds like the IRS confiscated a hot-rod Oldsmobile — it’s 1040442. Zack came into the DAS inventory on Jan. 15. 
Ask about Squeakers by calling the shelter at 214-670-6800 or by visiting the shelter on Westmoreland at I-30. To ask about Ella the dog and Zack the cat, call the PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center at 972-381-1588 ext. 5 or visit it at 16821 N. Coit Road, Dallas. [LARRY ASIDE: That’s so far north in Dallas that legend is you can stand in the bed of a pickup in the parking lot at midnight and see the glow of Winstar Casino, also known as the Winstarora Borealis as the light particles shimmy in the sky while crossing the Red River from Oklahoma. Not a factual scientific theory, but if it gets dogs and cats adopted, we’ll use it. See available Dallas adoptables at dallasanimalservices.org. ]
OK, IF YOU ARE IN 75116 & 
HAVE
A DOG WITH THE ‘EQUIPMENT’ 

PAY ATTENTION TO FREE SURGERY!
Heads up! This is for people in Zip Code 75116. On January 30 you can get a “free fix” for your dog via the Spay/Neuter Network. The free deal includes a rabies shot, parvo shot and microchip. The surgery transport picks up the dogs at the Duncanville Library, 201 James Collins Blvd. Get an appointment by calling 972-472-3500. [LARRY ASIDE: The announcement says there are “affordable rates for cats and other residents” and we think that by “other residents” they mean residents of other Zip Codes, not free spaying and neutering for the resident humans. Heh, heh.]
CONTEMPLATIONS

SOME VISUALS, ANIMALS & BEYOND!

Spotted this one on the Facebook page for CLASP (Cowtown Loves Animal Shelter Pets). It was described as “Another great one to share” and I believe it does hit the important points for a visitor to a shelter.



 

MORE ON THE MOON
I was out in the front yard about 10 p.m. Sunday and snapped this photo of the ol’ moon sitting on a contrail from a jet flying south across the sky — much closer to the moon than I was. 
Meanwhile, look at this next photo and squint.
I shot this around midnight when the moon was straight overhead and in the shadow of earth which allowed my eyes to spot a truth about the moon. There is no man in the moon. And it’s not made of green cheese. But there does appear to be the image of the face of a kitty cat in this photograph. To the upper left you see a pointed cat ear and across the face you see a winking cat eye and an open cat eye. So, now, we can see why the ancient Egyptians felt so highly of the palace felines. I’m not sure a full moon affects cats and dogs but I can tell you that when I was a reporter covering the police beat, the experienced cops would gird themselves for a full moon night. “People go nuts,” one guy told me. Of course, people also go nuts when there isn’t a full moon. Oh, and also, my phone camera is not quite as sophisticated as a 21st century Nikon or Hasselblad or a 1958 Yashica D where you flipped open the top, hunched over and peered into the big square viewfinder to get a picture of the moon on film with a click and a hand roll of the film to the next frame. What? Oh, Google "film" and see what you can learn.
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