ReadLarryPowell.com

SLEEPING DOGS, NAPPING CATS -- ATTITUDES OF AFFECTDION AND JOY ABIDE WITH THEM...

[PRELUDE TO A CELEBRATION OF ANIMALS: As I began typing the prelude, I went online looking for a good quote about dogs and cats and found this one from “Author Unknown.” If Author Unknown is reading this, thanks for this great quote: “Dogs believe they are human. Cats know
they are divine.” Based on the behavior at our house, It’s perfect for this edition!]
We got a note from our pal Muriel Parker that absolutely enhanced this edition of our long-running weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. We're starting with a photo Muriel titled "Shiloh streetchesssss."
Muriel wrote, “This is the story of Shiloh asleep & the rest of the gang.” Ah, the joys of quietly getting along!
Yes, there’s happy canine-slumber and, of course, a bit of expert cat-napping, too. 
Muriel explained, “We now have a shot of Elsie w/ Shiloh (left) & one of Elsie w/ Seri. Wish we could get one w/ all of them together but I doubt that will happen.”
Muriel said Elsie was “visiting” the Carrolton home “while her dad looks for new quarters.” 
Then Muriel added this explanation that Elsie is "a mix of Sheep Dog and Poodle (Shoodle? Sheedle?). She and Seri will run and romp till one finally gives up.  [LARRY ASIDE: I swear, the terms “Shoodle’ and “Sheedle” had me snorting a diet soft drink through my big nose! They sound like they came from poetry by Dr. Seuss — and that’s one of the highest compliments on the planet.]
Back to the story: 
Muriel wrote to us, “I love your recent ‘Afternoon Sprawl’ description;  It is a perfect fit for a photo I got from son Steve recently. His message: “Despite his bed being mere inches away – the edge of it is visible on the right - Shiloh wedged himself into this space instead. Sometimes the bed just won’t do when a full stretch is needed”. 
“His head is resting on the charger for Steve's headset. It looks uncomfortable, but maybe he’s expecting a call. [You told Shiloh’s story a few years ago (prob ’21).]
“He’s a little older now, but still a goofus! During the years in between he suffered some broken toes from being on top of the garage door just as it started to close – that was the last time he sat up there! I think the humans might have suffered just as much.
“He had a pal for some time – Simon (right) – who eventually left just as mysteriously as he had come. He could meow loud enough to rattle the windows.
“Maturing has increased Shiloh’s desire for human affection. It started with some petting on Steve’s lap. Now he works his way up to the shoulder and sometimes nods off with his face in Steve’s neck. Great for watching TV! He has always liked his 40-pound, "pittie housemate" – Serendipity – but that has also grown into strong affection. From playtime to naptime, they can often be found together. A good friend awarded the pooch her title. Shiloh fully approves.,
“Shiloh was curious, but cautious, about Elsie's size but accepted her when he realized she was just curious, too, having never seen a cat before. ... Wish Steve could get a picture of all 3 black & whites together - small, medium, large - that would be a good shot!”
In the meanwhile, that photo on the left has been titled "Patio Pals."  And we'll close with a photo of Steve's Knees and the happy dogs.

[DEAR READERS: Please keep your phones and cameras handy and snap those shots of affectionate or patient-with-people dogs and cats sleeping or napping. Send ‘em to us at [email protected] and we’ll spotlight ‘em in our long-running slumber feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.]

A LONGISH REPORT ON CHALLENGES AND AVAILABLE ANIMALS -- DOGS, CATS AND PEOPLE

EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY OCT. 3-4, 2024 [PetPowellPress] We have an update on some of the animals that were flown to North Texas after Hurricane Helene destroyed so much of the Valdosta, Ga., area.
Our reliable source at the SPCA of Texas, Public Relations Manager Becky Adamietz-Deo reports this regarding the cats taken in by the Dallas-based organization: “All of the adult cats and kittens in our shelter are healthy and doing well after their trip.” That’s one key point from Becky. The other point  may be a key point for you cat-lovers: “They are very sweet and should be available for adoption very soon.”
Monitor the SPCA’s work with these cats at spca.org or on Facebook at THIS LINK.
https://www.facebook.com/spcaoftexaspage. . Also involved helping the Valdosta animals are Wings of Rescue (they flew the animals to Texas) and the Humane Society of North Texas and Second Chance Farm.
A PET READING TIP
FROM HOUSTON…
Our pal Alexandra Kelsey of Houston has been our reliable tipster for years. Houston’s had its shares of “challenging” weather.
AK sent us a hurricane-related note Thursday and I think, Dear Readers, you’ll all appreciate this when you click on it.
AK wrote, “A rescue friend sent me this link. It is so poignant.”
Here is the link to a Southern Living Magazine article about the destruction of a beloved pet memorial by the hurricane. Click HERE
to read about the emotional nature of the hurricane’s destruction of North Carolina’s Rainbow Bridge.
[LARRY ASIDE: Thanks, AK, for the tip on this story of celebrating love. And, as I talked with AnimalAdoringSpouse Martha about this, we both wondered why Texas doesn’t have one of these Rainbow Bridge places to celebrate the lives of our animals. Maybe it does. Anybody know?]
MEANWHILE, IN MESQUITE
AVAILABLE
ADORABLE ADOPTABLES
Listing these dogs and sampling their bios makes me feel like part of the world is upbeat and normal — and I owe the thanks to the dog-bio writers Debra Chisholm and Judi Brown of the volunteers at Mesquite Animal Services.
The complete biographies appear on the Mesquite Animal Services pages HERE. For reasons of limited space, readlarrypowelldotcom edits the originals in hopes of inspiring Dear Readers to go the website and look at the originals. [LARRY ASIDE: And, of course, I apologize to the writers and the dogs for my hacking and butchering of the original work. I was an editor for a long time — apologizing to writers comes naturally to me.]
Remember, when you want to ask about one of these available adorables, you always cite the animals shelter ID number when you call Mesquite Animal Services at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
First up we have Debra’s bio of Kennedy (#55685459), a stray who arrived on Swept. 26. Debra reports that the “Dog Scan app suggests the following in his breed mix:  Kangal Shepherd/German Shepherd/Black Mouth Cur.” Then she adds, “Whatever is in his breed mix, this is one handsome dude!  … Kennedy is friendly, has a friendly pleasant nature and is a-ok with being loved on and shown attention.  His obsession during the photo session was to keep his nose glued to the ground and explore every last nook and cranny.  … Kennedy was fascinated with the amazing number of scents he encountered!  …He has a very nice laid-back personality and will doubtless make someone a loving and devoted pet.”
DEBRA’S BIO OF NORMAN (#5697321) begins by explaining that he was a stray picked up by one of the Mesquite Animal Services officers on Sept. 28. He’s about a year old, weighs 66 pounds and “is the strong, silent type. He has a muscular athletic build. He walks on a leash, but has a bit of a pull!  He did his business when he got out into the yard and it appears as though he had held it for some time.  He is well mannered, has a chill personality and is good natured. … He would seem best suited for a laid-back quiet home situation. He communicated to me that he has no interest in living in someone’s backyard playing guard or watchdog. He wants to be a part of the family circle.”
AND THERE’S THE STORY OF MADDOX (#56851983), described by Debra as a “stunningly attractive pup.” He’s said to be a “Blue Merle Catahoula Leopard with beautiful blue eyes that was surrendered on 10/1 to the Mesquite Animal Shelter due to being unwanted.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Unwanted? Sheesh. Moving along….]
Maddox (#56851983) is 7 months old, weighs 43 pounds and, Debra reports, “came in with injuries resulting from being attacked by another dog. He was taken immediately to the vet. His injuries included a puncture wound and a deep laceration on his left front leg that was repaired with sutures. His leg is bandaged and he is receiving pain meds and an antibiotic..
Now that we’re through with the medical report, here’s the personal report from Debra: “Maddox is the most delightful youngster with a sweet, friendly personality. He was happy for me to pet him, and also to take treats from me which he did quite politely. Understandably, he does not put full weight on that leg, but he does get around OK. Maddox will be RESCUE ONLY due to his injuries. He will make someone a devoted and loving companion. Interested but have questions? Then please call 972–216–6283 or email at [email protected]. Vet report is available upon request.”
Debra’s colleague in dog-writing, our longtime tipster Judi Brown, has the info on Mack [55589235], She writes, “I had a pleasant surprise in store when I met Mack. (left) He’s a 7-month-old, 53-pound German Shepherd mix that was surrendered to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 10/1 along with his brother Cheese [ID #55589201] (right). The surrender form stated that they were surrendered because the owners were moving AND had too many dogs. It also stated that both brothers had lived entirely outdoors and had not been taught any commands. The outdoors part was obvious from looking at the fly bites on Mack’s ears.”
She also reported that Mack is “really well mannered, gentle, and loving. He didn’t jump on me except one time to give me a hug. I also got kisses. He was just so happy for some attention. He looked over the wall and was whining. I’m assuming he was looking for his owners. He also romped around the yard and then came back to hang out with me. …
“The surrender form said he was raised with other dogs but not cats or children. I’m told he had to fight for his food so he has some scars on his head and his legs.”
More details are on the biography site on the Mesquite Animal Shelter pages. If you have another dog, they will need to be fed separately. He really has so. so much potential.”
Judi also wrote, “I was pleasantly surprised when I met Cheese and his brother Mack! After reading that they both were outdoor dogs only and had not been taught any commands, I was expecting these brothers would need training. Instead what they need is love! Cheese is a 38-pound, 7 month honey-colored German Shepherd mix that was surrendered to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 10/1. … The form stated that Cheese had been raised around other dogs but not children or cats. It’s obvious that Cheese has spent most of time outside because he has fly bites on his ears. When I first took him out into the yard he was shaking and his tail was tucked. With ‘sweet talk' he relaxed, and I even got a mini-tailwag. He wants to make friends, but will need slow introductions to build trust. He will do best with a laid-back family. … He is agile as he likes to climb. He’s also sweet, docile, calm, and alert. He’s also somewhat skittish. He had to be carried into the yard as he fought the leash. This poor scared pup didn’t understand what a leash was all about. He has some scarring on his front legs. He wants to be an inside dog this time around so he can spend more time loving on his new family.”
That brings us to Judi’s bio of Phoenix (#56959863). Judi writes, “I don’t know if a female takes offense at being called handsome, but handsome is the best word I can come up with to describe Phoenix’s appearance. Her alluring
hazel eyes and standup ears make her literally a stand out! Phoenix is a 1-year-old, 64-pound black and tan German Shepherd that came [in]on 9/26 as a stray. I can’t figure out why the owners have not come for this amazing girl that has so much going for her. She has recently had a litter and her nipples are still extended. She sits for treats and takes them gently. She comes when she’s called. When I sat down, she came immediately to put her head on my lap and received ear scratches. She’s very loving, attentive, well-behaved, and gentle. … She’s got so much love to give a family. She wants to be an inside dog so she can spend more time sharing her love with them. She’s too gentle and sweet to be an outside dog.”
You can see these biographies-in-complete and more biographies including adoptable cats, by clicking on this ANIMALS-IN-THE-SHELTER LINK.
A cat needing a home? This one is available. Luffy (#56650385) is a 4-month-old Domestic shorthair mix — white and gray — who is small. He came into the shelter on Sept. 23 and is available.
He’s waiting in the Mesquite Animal Services Conference Room.
[Probably purring, Larry guesses, based on his extensive acquaintance with cats.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
ON A THURSDAY
I was thinking that I might be out of Contemplations.
I asked Senior Office Cat William Powell and he replied, “I don’t know. What do you think?”
Only cat I’ve ever had who practices psychiatry.
—- Offer anything that sounds smart by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected]. —-

VALDOSTA'S LITTLE SURVIVORS LAND IN NORTH TEXAS; AN OKLAHOMA RESCUE ADVENTURE

EDITION OF TUESDAY, OCT. 2, 2024 [PetPowellPress] It is no surprise that hurricane victims find their ways to North Texas — they’ll can count on help from kind souls and big hearts.
Many of you will remember August 2005 when Katrina hit New Orleans and brought people and animals to the Dallas/Fort Worth area in search of new homes, jobs and lives.
Those people and the animals probably took the highway to Texas. This time the path to Texas was on a flight-plan from Valdosta, Ga.
We got the info on this teamwork-of-hearts from Becky Adamietz-Deo, the Manager of Public Relations at the SPCA of Texas. Hurricane Helene really tortured Valdosta, Ga.  [This cat and the dog below are two of the new arrivals.]
Becky’s note read, “The City of Valdosta, Georgia was devastated by Hurricane Helene last Friday night.
“In a plea for help, the Humane Society of Valdosta/Lowndes County reached out to Wings of Rescue and within 24 hours, Wings of Rescue had contacted the Humane Society of North Texas, SPCA of Texas and Second Chance Farm, all of whom agreed to help.”
And, on Oct. 1, Becky reported, “Wings of Rescue flew 62 pets to Fort Worth Meacham Int’l Airport where the pets were received by the 3 animal welfare agencies and taken into their care.”
And there’s this from the SPCA news release: “All these animals will be cared for in temporary holding until they are evaluated by clinical staff members and treated, if necessary, for any underlying conditions or maladies. Once healthy, the pets will be placed in temporary housing in the shelters and will be looking for loving, forever homes.”
The announcement also read, “It is the mission of the Humane Society of North Texas, the SPCA of Texas and Second Chance Farm to care for vulnerable animals in need and to help them find forever homes. When contacted by Wings of Rescue, all three organizations immediately said, “Yes” to helping the HSVLC and their beautiful pets.”
[LARRY ASIDE: These organizations will, no doubt, appreciate donations to help with these new arrivals. You can google them to keep up with the Valdosta Animal they’re helping — that’ll be key to finding new homes for the storm victims. Bless their humans “back home” and the people who worked to save the animals.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
THE CHALLENGES
OF AN OKLAHOMA RESCUE
Our longtime tipster from Burns Fla., Okla., the determined and tough Terry Lynn Fisher, has written a story of rescue that qualifies as a "Contemplation." Her email is [email protected]. And when Terry Lynn writes a tale of rescue, you can see the strong heart that’s been powering her efforts for years.
Here’s the story by Terry Lynn who has been helping animals for years in and around the far western town of Burns Flat.
“This week has been a hard one. I can say with all honestly I’m exhausted.

“Monday morning, I was called to go to a town about 50 miles south of me. A guy went to jail for animal cruelty and they thought there were nine dogs there.
“I gathered some food and some jugs of water because, they said, all utilities were turned off.
"When I got down there, my heart broke. There was a mama pit with three puppies that are approximately four months old. There were what I thought was four medium-sized dogs —turned out to be five of them, pretty sure they’re all either siblings or related in someway.
“When the police officers opened the door to the house, five little bitty tiny puppies came running out.
One of them was so weak. She was wobbling and couldn’t even stand up very long. She was the only one that didn’t eat.
“I had nowhere to put them. I ended up taking the runt home with me.
“She did not do well through the night. We got some formula in her, and we kept her on a heating pad because her body temperature was so low. These puppies were covered in fleas. I don’t mean a few fleas here and there;  I mean they were infested so bad that there wasn’t a part of their body, not covered, The gums were all white, so I knew they were probably anemic from these fleas.
“The next morning, we plan to go down and get the rest of the puppies from the tiny litter and get them to the vet. We took the runt with us   We were worried about leaving her alone. Sadly, she passed away before we even got all the way out of town.
“When I got down [to the rescue site], the mama Pit and her three babies were gone.
“I had met the chief of police that day, and he said yeah, somebody had taken her off her chain, and she took off, and her puppies were following her. They went looking and found them and brought them back. I left a lot of food, along with several jugs of water pouring into big bowls.  
“We headed straight to the vet, which was another 35 miles and in the opposite direction … The tech there said that the dog tested positive for Parvo. I asked them what kind of treatment they did and they informed me they don’t treat Pavo.
“I’ll be honest, I’ve never never seen a vet say something like that, so I walked outside to call a vet I have used on an emergency case a couple of times, and he said ‘Yes’ bring them immediately.
“We headed over there and dropped the puppies off. They retested all four of them, and all came back negative. We decided to leave them overnight so they can give them fluids and bathe them and get the flees off of them.
“I went today [Tuesday] to pick them up, and it’s like four different puppies. Rambunctious, Hungry, eating and playing, pottied, just full of love and tail wags.
“Those four tiny ones — remember, most of them are under 2 pounds — , are now at my sister’s being fostered.
“But I still have nine dogs at that house.
“I drive the hour there and the hour back twice a day to feed in water them. I’m doing the best I can, and I’ve got to find boarding to put them in, but for now I’m taking care of them while they’re there.
“When I went and picked the puppies up [at the vet]  all that remained on their balance was under $50.
“But I need to build up a little bit of credit there, because slowly I will take these remaining adult dogs over and get their shots. If we find Boarding for all of them, they cannot go without being on the shots, and I can guarantee you none of them have ever
Had any vet care?
“I’m including the vets name and number, if anybody can donate there, I would greatly appreciate it. It’s gonna take me probably the next week or so to try to find a place and get these guys all vetted and moved. They just need to be updated on their shots and we’re gonna get them bathed for the fleas.
“None of them were aggressive, but the medium-size dogs are pretty so it’s kind of iffy. They have learned that when my car pulls up it’s feeding time … They get very excited and happy to see me.
“Again, if anybody can help with vetting or anything, especially taking any, let me know. I can’t release to Rescue yet if one is found because they are part of a cruelty case. The Chief of Police is, however, going to try to get them released to me so we don’t have to keep them real long.

“And this part of Oklahoma, trust me when I say that the state doesn’t help with any of this.
“Again, to those of you that have helped already, thank you so much. Your help is what saved the puppies and your help is what is helping get these guys into Boarding
“I appreciate each and everyone of you, but we have a long way to go with them. Thank you, Terry Lynn Fisher.”
Here is the contact number for the vet: Dr. Jason Thorne, Territory Medicine, Weatherford, Okla., at 580-302-4601. Mention that you’re helping with the Terry Lynn Fisher account. Terry Lynn’s Paypal donation point is [email protected].
[LARRY ASIDE: One of the reasons I posted Terry Lynn’s appeal for all these dogs is so the folks who aren’t involved in rescue can see how many different challenges can come up when a rescuer starts out on what looks like it’ll be a simple rescue. And it becomes an adventure story with all sorts of challenges. Bless the hearts of all rescuers in Texas, Oklahoma and any other places that dogs and cats need help.]
—- Offer solid advice by clicking on ‘comment’ below or email [email protected] and make the subject line read ‘HELP THE RESCUERS RESCUE!’ —-

DOGS, CATS, PEOPLE WHO WORK TO HELP 'EM; ASSORTED CONTEMPLATIONS & NEEDS

EDITION OF MONDAY, SEPT. 30, 2024 [PetPowellPress] Ah, the final day of September, 2024. What has changed? I’m unclear on that.
Now and then I think I’m still driving around in the 1960s. Still wearing blue jeans and wondering if I need a haircut and then ignoring the impulse.
Good thing I have fully stabilized cats and dogs to guide my approach to life and its instabilities.
Example: Someone taped a sign on the on the inside of our front door that suggests it’s time to buy two boxes of cat treats. When you have literate dogs and cats you can’t really be certain who created the sign.
They all smile at you when you move your lips while you’re reading it.
Coulda been a cat posing and dog painting or a dog posting and a cat with a brush.
[LARRY ASIDE: Doesn’t matter as long as human has the debit card. I know my place in the world.]
BELTWAY ROTTIE
IN A HOUSTON FIX
[A STATE FAIR NOTE]
The taleof this dog came earlier in the weekend from our reliable Houston tipsier Alexandra Kelsey who opened the note with: “This dog sounds like a great boy.”

And, she suggests, “He just needs a rescue group. I'm sure we can raise funds for a good group that takes him.  The rescuer is copied … Please share! The rescuer will be heading to the State Fair soon for a livestock show and needs help with this dog before leaving.”
[LARRY ASIDE: He looks to readlarrypowell.com that he might just be a Rottie -- or someone in the family was a Rottie!  Based on the years spent with our now-gone Rottie pal Texas Earl, we endorse rescuing and joyfully acquiring Rotties to gain a happier understanding of having a peaceful nature and an elegant style of co-habitation with great dogs.]
Now, the appeal AK forwarded to us from the rescuer read that this guy was found “wandering in the road, scavenging for food near Beltway 8. He quickly came to me and my teenage son and let us leash him. He will walk on a leash and goes easily into a crate where he has yet to bark or have an accident.  He is extremely under weight and will eat anything that thinks is food. Calm disposition. Most likely someone's former pet.”
The note described this boy as an un-neutered, less-than-a-year-old underweight dog with a docked tail. The missing hair on his lower back is probably due to a flea allergy, the note suggested.
And the note also said the finders, a woman and her son, need to hear from a rescue and they know “all are overwhelmed.” They just don’t want this boy to “fall into the wrong hands.”
To ask about helping the Rottie boy email [email protected] or call
281-636-8380,

PERSONAL DOG NOTE;
A QUESTION ABOUT PAW, ER, PAWS
FROM LARRY, FAN OF PORCHE NOEL: Ever had a dog whose back legs are too uncertain to walk without slippin’ on wooden floors? Got a recommendation for rubber-souled dog shoes? [TIME OUT: My Beatles-expert and fan Porche Noel informs me that’s “rubber-soled” shoes I should be asking about. Then she asked me, “Is your favorite Rubber Soul album song Nowhere Man or Think For Yourself.” Yes, some consider Porche, though she has unsteady back legs, to be the intellect of my circle of acquaintances. And, of course, I tend to respond, “If you’re so smart, Baby you can drive my car to the pet store.” She might smile. Adorable girl, you know. Thanks for any help in this quest. What? No, the floor is not Norwegian Wood. Moving along….
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE,
ADORABLE ADOPTABLES AWAIT
I wondered if I should lead this segment with a famous saying and, based on Mesquite Animal Services volunteer dog-bio- writer Debra Chisholm’s story of Logan. The answer, quoting a famed literary character, was “elementary, my dear Watson.”
Debra describes Logan as a “ playful spunky youngster “ who is “possibly a Catahoula Leopard mix.” The 3-months-old, 24-pound fellow is “one adorable pup,” Debra says and adds, “He has an abundance of spunk and enthusiasm. He is playful, likes to chase balls (but hasn’t yet been trained to return them) and thoroughly enjoyed romping about the yard during the photo shoot. He played Sherlock Holmes and investigated the yard thoroughly.” [LARRY ASIDE: And there, ladies
and gents, is your link to “Elementary.”]
Debra says Logan “walks quite well on a leash” and he loves treats, a sign of possibly easy training.
And, she says, “Obedience classes would be important in helping him to fit in nicely with his family. He wants and needs a home in which his owners will consider him a permanent part of the family circle. This friendly, fun-loving boy, hopes his time at the shelter will be a brief one.”
To ask about adopting or rescuing Logan, cite his shelter ID #56937566 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected] . Same system when you ask about any of these Mesquite adorable adoptables.
Debra writes of #56937566, “I have named this bundle of enthusiasm and personality Mitzi.  She was picked up, along with her sibling, by one of our officers as strays on 9/20 … Mitzi’s brother was adopted and she is hoping she will also find her forever home soon. She weighs 21 pounds, is about 3 months of age and has been spayed since her arrival at the shelter.
“She is one spunky, exuberant youngster, with all the normal puppy behavior and energy. She will put a smile on your face and entertain you with her antics. For a three month old puppy, she walks quite well on a leash. She is a playful, tail-wagging youngster, looking for a good time! … Obedience classes would be just the thing to help her fit into her family circle well. She hopes for people who would be patient with her and love her enough to say committed to her, no matter what. She is friendly and happy to be loved on and receive petting. Never, no never, does she want to live her life in someone's backyard. “

AND THAT BRINGS US to Debra’s bio of Graham, a 2-year-old, 62-pound “sweet boy” who, she writes, “would doubtless be a loving devoted pet for your family.” Graham is #56919667 at the shelter.
Debra writes, “He is an American Pit Bull Terrier and was picked up by one of our officers on 9/19 … It looks like he’s been well cared for by his owner. However, he has been at the shelter for several days and unfortunately no one has come looking for him.
“He walks very nicely on a leash. He appears to be potty-trained because he held it in and once in the yard, he went and went!! He was fascinated by all the sights and smells in the yard as he poked around with his nose hither and yon.
“ He made several trips to the gate and peered out, looking for something or someone. Maybe his people? He spent a considerable amount of time scouting out the yard and then climbed up on our play equipment, showing off his athleticism. He is well behaved and calm and has a chill personality. He was somewhat reserved and not actually seeking out attention. However, when I stopped him to pet him, he was OK with that.”
Remember, cite his shelter ID #56937566 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email at [email protected].
You can see the complete biographies of these animals and other dogs and cats by going to the Mesquite shelter website HERE.
At that link you can see a bunch of kittens and cats — and the kittens include this little nameless fellow. No doubt the shelter will be happy if you can find Young Mister adorable a really good home with people who know the value of petting a cat until the two of you are completely tranquil in 2024 — it’ll continue into 2025 and beyond, too.
 
CONTEMPLATIONS
BASEBALL, MONEY & POPCORN
Thanks to the Texas Rangers who, in 2023 taught us how to forget the past and enjoy the present when they won the 2023 World Series championship. Now we get to thank them for teaching us how to gut it up and get ready for next year when they can’t quite pull things together enough to repeat as the World Series champs. Rangers fans have had lots of practice in enduring losing seasons, but this was the first time fans have had to gut-it-up in a failed defend-the-championship season. Wait ’til next year. BATS ALIVE IN TWENTY FIVE. They did pretty good in Sunday’s last game of their season, thumping the LA Angels8-to-ZIP. I don’t have a pitching slogan. Got the whole off-season to work on it. …
At least the Dallas Cowboys didn’t lose on Sunday. Speaking of big contracts, should Hoda Kotb, rather than quitting her TV job over a salary cut, simply called the agent for Dak Prescott (the 4-year, $240 million contract Cowboys quarterback)? …
During a TV baseball game, any of you fans ever eat hot-buttered microwave popcorn while you’re trying to type on a computer keyboard? Gitssdownrightlippppery, don’t itttttt.
My spell-checker didn’t even wince at that line. “Seen it before,” Tye Poe replied.
—- Offer anything resembling a good idea to ‘comment’ below or email [email protected] and put RANGERS 2025 in the subject line. —-

WHAT DOES A PRO DO WHEN THE PHOTO THING CAN'T PROCESS THE PITCHERS, ER, PICTURES?

DEAR READERS:  Kindest Corporate Greetings from me, Senior Office Cat William Powell.
As deadline approached I watch our allegedly competent chief editor/typer  -- call him Leadfinger Larry -- trying to pull together a proper edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
Alas, all week our resolutely non-profit website has been bedeviled by a photo processing system that simply has gone, as one of our ol' editor friends used to say, "Plum berswick.' We think he meant "berserk," but you get the drift.
So, as we hope to negotiate some work by the only expert computer photo system fixer, the Wife/Genius of the House, Martha, to make things right.
Thus, we are substituting some in-house photos and a lame technical explanation for what has happened. Eventually, in this weekend spot you will see a wonderful collection of sleeping/napping dog 'n' cat photos.
We're simply waiting for some corrective action, i.e., my make-it-right-spouse Martha taking a wrench or her adored ball-peen hammer to the computer. Whether it's fixing computers or fixing a husband, her motto is "A firm hand, a sweet smile and a ball-peen hammer are always the happily effective answer." [LARRY ASIDE: I might have made up that quote during the peak of desperation.]
So, what we have here is a photo of large brown and white dog Wendy Louse Wagstaff Arden bunked on the dog couch with her pal, the much smaller brown and white girl, Porche Noel.
As you can see, these photos are not properly sized, focused or placed on this website. We'll try again next week.


Those two couch dogs, Wendy & Porche, both take evening meds, so that is why they have dozed off in the room with the big TV during a football game.
Also, for the sake of celebrating the joyous moods of our pal Dudley the Angel, I have included a photograph snapped as he enjoyed a pre-snooze glance around the room -- it fulfills his contract as "Clever-but-not-so-loud Guard Dog."
Now, please accept the apologies of Readlarrypowell.com for having studied journalism for about half-a-semester at a  junior college in the late-60s rather than "Journalism Computer Science" which, at the time, had not been invented.
Now, everybody get some sleep and enjoy the weekend. Hail Big Tex, you State Fair of Texas fans.
With the ultimate sincerity of a determined corporate achiever, I remain,

William Powell
Senior Office Cat
readlarrypowelldotcom
P.S. Give us a shot at producing a readable, happily photoed weekend edition  of slumbering dogs or napping cats by sending pictures and stories to [email protected]. We'll fix this thing even if we have to pay for the work. Gasp....

CELEBRATING THE GREAT STATE FAIR; FINDING A HOME FOR A READY-TO-ADOPT DOG....

EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY OCT. 26-27, 2024 [PetPowellPress]. We'll get to a dog named Wyatt in a moment --he tell's a touching story. First, as we are on th brink of opening day Friday of the State Fair of Texas, we’ve got this heart-felt thank-you to the folks who’ve wrangled the State Fair together this year.
Takes ‘em about 25 minutes. Just kidding. Those people work year-round. So, in honor of the State Fair of Texas and the people who work so hard to put it together for the rest of us, may not a single  “extra calorie” stick to your State Fair waistline from Friday Sept. 17 through Sunday, Oct. 20. I know what I’m talking about when I mention calories! Happy times, happy times!
And, Dear Readers, remember that you can read more about the Fair and how to make your visit fit its calendar, go to bigtex.com and click around the State Fair's massive galaxy.
[LARRY FYI: Your hefty writer has never met a dessert -- pie, cake or cookie he didn’t like. These were some of the many, many entries in the cake-baking contests for this year’s fair.  The entries -- cakes, cookies & pies -- are sweeter than some Dallas Cowboys games.]
[LARRY ASIDE: This is being written BEFORE the Dallas Cowboys/New York Giants game. Perhaps that line will fall flatter than any cake I’ve tried to bake.]
One more thing: Our Contemplations for this edition will be a very personal note from a veteran dog biographer. First, we’ve got some other notes — dogs, cats, people.
A TIP FROM SOMEONE
WITH AN EYE ON GARLAND
A person who goes by “Murphy Rescued” tipped us to this Facebook site with a load of adorable adoptables from the Garland Animal Services Shelter. Click on this link and take a look at the shelter’s foster program.

And this link to Garland Animal Services  took us to this cat Tula. The shelter’s bio describes her as “a beautiful 4-year-old Domestic Long Hair cat who has been with us since May. She’s a bit shy, but we know she’ll blossom in the right home.”
Who needs to adopt her? The shelter says that “Tula is looking for a patient adopter who can give her the time and calm environment she needs to feel safe and loved. If you’re ready to provide a peaceful space for her to settle in, Tula will be forever grateful. Come meet her at the shelter and see if you’re the ‘perfect match’!”
One more thing you’ll see at the shelter site HERE,  This notice. Any other local municipal or non-profit shelters or rescues conducting any speciality dog or cat shows? Email [email protected] and let us know. [LARRY ASIDE: We’re quite happy to show people how much you love your animals and how much they love you. The world needs more happy relationships!]
A RESCUED DOG
FROM OFF THE STREET…
We got the info on this horrifically ailing dog from our longtime tipster Sydney Busch, the guiding light of the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake.`
Her note read that the dog was “picked up on the street by a homeless woman.”  [Click on the dog's photo to make it more visible.]
The dog, now named Mercy, is being treated at the Morton Small Animal Clinic in Athens. The number to call to offer help with Mercy’s medical bill or with finding a home for her is the Morton number, 903-675-5708. The note about Mercer says Mercy is “under Melissa Collins’ name (at the shelter)”
The note regarding Mercer asks (1) Can you help with her medical bill ether” and (2) Can you help us find a home if she survives all this?” The Morton clinic will have answers about her health and needs at 903-675-5708.
A REPORT REGARDING
STARVING OKLAHOMA DOG
This dog is now in medical care. Early interpretation of how the dog got into this fix is there was a domestic disagreement in and the dog didn’t benefit from it — until the right eyes and heart heard about the dog’s plight.
That would be the eyes and heart of Terry Lynn Fisher, our long time tipster in the far-western Oklahoma town of Burns Flat.
Terry Lynn, in her first note ago this dog, wrote, “When I received this picture today, my heart literally broke. How can you look at this dog day in and day out and not see that it needs help?”
So, earlier this week, Terry Lynn got the dog into a vet’s care and “I was able to get that part of the bill covered thanks to a very caring woman.
“From here, I’m gonna have to put the dog into Boarding . If anyone can help with any Boarding , even if it’s just one day, please let me know. I don’t want this dog outside in this condition.
“The vet said that she is feeding the dog, there’s proof of that, but she’s been making the mistake of feeding it a big bowl of food at one time. When the dog gobbles it down, it automatically either throws it back or poops it out….”
[LARRY ASIDE: We’ve cut some of the details from Terry Lynn’s note, but you get the, er, drift.]
Terry Lynn says, “They started the dog on antibiotics and some kind of treatment for the skin, and in two weeks I’ll give the dog its shots, but at this point, it’s too frail for the vet to want to do the shots.”
The dog has gotten traditional treatments for a dog in this shape and a dog likely to have never had other treatments in its life. …”
Terry Lynn also says, “I really don’t think it was total neglect on the condition the dog is in, but I do feel the neglect came from not reaching out for help before now….
“At this time we’re going to withhold trying to file charges because I want to help her as much as the dog. Her husband left her with no money she’s getting evicted. She has seven little kids all under the age of eight and she struggling as it is.”
We’ve edited Terry Lynn’s note down to this key passage. She wrote, “This isn’t about taking peoples’ dogs, or having people go to jail — To me it’s about saving an animal, and even a human when able to help. I hope some of you can understand that, because another rescuer in the next Town is really bashing me for not wanting charges filed at this time.
“The outcome for the dog wouldn’t change where the charges were filed or not. Helping her would help this dog, as well as any future animals she might have in her lifetime, so that’s the road I’ve chosen to take“
Terry Lynn says the dog goes back to its “home” in two weeks. She also emphasizes, “I am also still seeking rescue — so if any of you rescues have room, please let me know.”
To ask Terry Lynn about helping this dog’s situation, email her at [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS
A FIRST-PERSON THOUGHT
We’ve been posting appeals for helping animals in the Mesquite Animal Services shelter for years, now, and this time we have an appeal
that “first person.” We got it from Mesquite volunteer dog-biographer Debra Chisholm who, we’ll report, acquired it from this dog Wyatt whose shelter ID is #5501399. Cite that number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
The appeal from Wyatt, forwarded to us by Debra, is clearly written from the heart. Here is the letter — and if you’ve ever worked with “unwanted, dumped, mistreated or surrendered dogs” it may touch your Contemplating Heart.
Wyatt’s letter reads:
“I remember the time I was loved.  I remember it well.  I slept in a bed and had yummy food.  I remember going for walks and playing in the yard.  I was not alone. I was loved and cherished.

"What happened?
“I remember those special times but now they're gone. Now I remember being put in a backyard and nobody to play with me, no more walks or scratches. No more soft comfy bed to sleep on. I remember those times too. I remember feeling thirsty and there was no water. I remember ants crawling around in my food bowl.
“What happened?  What did I do wrong?
“I don’t think I did anything wrong. My people just stopped loving, stopped caring about me. I gave them all the love I could. I tried not to bark when I was all alone for hours on end with nothing to do. I wanted so much to be inside with them. 
“What did I do wrong? 
“I remember the big smile you would give me when you came through the door. I would run to you barely able to control myself because I was so excited to see you. Do you remember that?  Those were the good days. Boy, I wish I could have those again but for now they're just old memories. Memories I will hold onto and cherish until someday someone will come tell me they will love me and want to make new memories for me.
“Do you have love in your heart for me? 
“Do you want to take me home with you?
“My name is Wyatt and I’m a 2 year old, 80-lb mixed breed with some terrier and Boxer in the mix. I’m a very happy and playful boy.
“I get along great with other dogs and I love the attention of children. I love to roll over and show you my belly to be rubbed. I love to play with toys and act goofy. Right now I live at the Mesquite Animal Shelter. I don’t really like living here. The people here are nice to me and they try very hard to make things nice but it’s just not the same as my good memories from when I was wanted and loved.”
This is the link to ANIMALS IN THE SHELTER. AND, as we mentioned, cite Wyatt’s ID 55013399 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected] to ask about him.
[LARRY ASIDE: Having lived with many rescued, found and somehow “magically acquired” dogs over the decades of my existence, when I started reading Wyatt’s note, I found myself tearing up as the parade of dogs I miss began to roll through my heart. So, we’re at our limit of formerly unwanted animals at our house, but we do have prayers that someone with a big heart and enough room will make a loving home for Wyatt and any other dog or cat in need of a home. It would be the right thing to do — for the animal and for you, too. Thanks, Debra, for the inspiration.]
—- Offer ideas and hope by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘SAVE ‘EM ALL’ in the subject line. —-

SUMMER DOGS IN AUTUMN, AND THE HEARTS OF ANIMAL PEOPLE...

EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY SEPT. 24/25, 2024 [PetPowellPress] It is so temping to begin this edition with the well-know phrase-of-excitement: “How ‘bout them Cowboys!”
Oh, that’s too easy a gag this time of year. And I’d rather be nice to the team when things are stinking up the field so badly that, by law, the stadium roof has to be kept open for at least 48 hours according to the Texas Clean Inhalation Law. (I might have made up that law.)
That photo? We're still having foto probs and I'm trying to fix 'em -- tragically inept in computer matters, I am Larry! From my car’s dashboard earlier in the weekend — before the rainy day. Temp seemed to fit the song. This note is dedicated to all you Disco Fans — I know you’re out there waiting for the big comeback of the genre. To quote the Brothers Gibb, “Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive…”
WE CITE SUMMERTIME DOGS
AVAILABLE IN THE AUTUMN
Probably every shelter and rescue group in the entire Metrosprawl and beyond has Summer Dogs who have evolved into Autumn Dogs — if their shelters permitted ‘em to “beat the clock.”
These two have gotten the biographical treatment from their Mesquite Animal Shelter on-site reporter Judi Brown, the veteran volunteer dog-biographer.
First up, this is guy Jinn.
Jinn is #56918913 at the shelter — cite his number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]. Same system for all the Mesquite animals we mention today — cite the shelter ID numbers.
Judi writes that Jinn has “exceptionally beautiful coloring. The top of his head is pure, shiny black, and the gray is a mixture of black and white which is very attractive. Jinn is a 3- to 4-year-old, 47-pound Alaskan Husky that came into the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 9/19 as a stray. He looks like he’s been well taken care of. He moseyed around the yard casually and then came back to hang out with me. He doesn’t seem to know the sit command but wants to please and can certainly be taught that and many other commands. … He walks very well on a leash. He wagged his tail meeting other dogs. In my opinion, he’s an exceptionally well-behaved boy. He’s easy-going, sweet, gentle, friendly, curious, and loving and lovable. He should do well with children because of his gentle nature. He would be in seventh heaven to be curled up at your feet during family time.”
(You can read Jinn’s entire biography — and the entire biographies of other dogs by going to the Shelter’s website HERE
https://www.cityofmesquite.com/1239/Animals-in-the-Shelter.
This is Kenzie (#56887283) who, Judi writes, "reminds me of the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood when Little Red Riding Hood saw her grandmother in bed and said ‘What big ears you have Grandma!’ Grandmother/Wolf said,’The better to hear you with, my dear.’

“I imagine that Kenzie does have good hearing. However, right now she’s dealing with an ear infection and being treated w/clavulanate. Kenzie is a 5-year-old, 67-pound German Shepherd mix that was brought in … by one of our officers on 9/14.
“She’s recently had a litter and may have been overbred. She’s playful, active and athletic but at the same time she’s sweet and gentle. When she first got out into the yard she pranced around. After she got done smelling and inspecting her environment, she stayed close to me. She sits for treats and takes them gently … She probably would do well with children. She wants to be an inside dog so she can be a part of your family.”
And among the cats in the Mesquite Animal Shelter is this newcomer, #56945533. Doesn’t have name yet. Also doesn’t have a gender — he came in on Tuesday (according to his shelter bio) and nobody’s apparently dared to pick him up and “look for a gender.” [LARRY NOTE: I’m just guessing they’re waiting for the cat with the Clint Eastwood Squint to settle down before they invade his space. He’s orang and white, is listed as a “feral” and a Domestic Shorthair Mix. He’s large. Nobody has guessed an age. But he is quite handsome and is listed as “Available.” Readlarrypowelldotcom would adopt him if we hadn’t already filled all our open positions in the Handsome Cat Category.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
PEOPLE, MISSIONS, ETC.
I was in a bit of a droopy mood when I got an email from my longtime pal in the Animal Advocacy/Rescue World, Beverly Fyfe.
And, you know what? The link she sent cheered me up. Why? Because it took me to this dog’s photo and, also, a recollection of the founder of Angie’s Friends, the great rescuer/advocate Angie Manriquez. [LARRY ASIDE: I don’t know that dog’s name, but someone will tell us and give us a chance to write another story about Angie’s Friends — dogs, cats, humans, etc.]
Angie’s mission? On the Angie’s Friends Facebook page, the mission is outlined this way: “We help dogs in need/distress in West Dallas get a second chance for the life & love they deserve”
So, as you may suspect, this is an edition of Contemplations that was inspired by strong-willed people such as Beverly and Angie — people I’ve met in the animal rescue/advocacy world through the decades.
When I first wrote about Angie and her work — way back when I was a daily metro columnist at The Big Paper Downtown — she was known as the “Fairy Dogmother of West Dallas” because of the way she monitored the well-being of animals and rescued them in the neighborhood. This was along about 1999 — the organization became a bonafide non-profit in 2008.
Angie’s growing legion of fans referred to her as “the Fairy Dogmother of West Dallas” and pretty quickly they became to call her the “Fairy Dogmother of Dallas” — her attitude and mission and influence to do right for animals were big enough for Big D. Her righteous beacon glowed beyond that one tough-on-animals Dallas neighborhood.
You probably can’t help but recall that last week, all sorts of non-profits were working hard to get financial help via the annual North Texas Giving Day campaign. Angie’s Friends was among those non-profits and on Facebook —thanks to that note from Beverly — I saw not only that great dog, but this uplifting thank-you not to all those donors from the hearts at Angie’s Friends.
That note to the donors was on the Angie’s Friends Facebook site. And it reads;
"We don't know if it's possible to tell you how amazing you are or express how grateful we are for all your support!! We raised over $16,000 last week and that will also be matched!! Please know, it's not just us - there are going to be many W Dallas animals in need over the next year that will be giving you an enormous thank you, as well. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!.”
So, Dear Readers, if you are among the donors who participated in North Texas Giving Day, this “thank you” from Angie’s Friends is clearly a heartfelt note from people who look at a donation and see a dog or cat getting to live the full, loving life it was intended to live,
[LARRY NOTE: You oh-so-dear people — donors and the animal rescuers you help — are a pretty good team. Keep the faith. Save ‘em all.]
—- Offer advice or ideas by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “IT’S STATE FAIR DIET TIME” in the subject line. —-

IN THE FACE OF TECHNICAL ISSUES, WE LACE UP OUR TYPING SHOES AND MARCH ON....

EDITION OF MONDAY/TUESDAY SEPT. 22-23, 2024 [PetPowellPlus] Well, HELLO AUTUMN! Any of you dog-walkin’ humans have your umbrella ready at 5:30 a.m.? Heck, yeah! I keep it by the door — it got dusty during the summer, but held up well in the shower. The dogs went back to sleep.
The cats demanded breakfast. 
[NOTE TO READERS: We're having photo problems with this edition. They may appear during the the day....in the meantime, we think we have text!]
Oh, and I got an email Monday morning that had this subject line: “Selected Just For You: The Vehicle Ultrasonic Rodent Repeller.” I checked — it’s not specifically designed for driving on Dallas freeways. [No offense to most Dallas freeway and tollways drivers, of course! That’s Senior Office Cat William Powell teaching me how to stunt drive on a freeway. He's the coolest cat I know at the wheel. —Larry]
North Texas Giving Day — oops, sorry. Out of habit I typed that. OK, just call an early reminder for 2025.
AND HOW LIVELY/LOVELY
A PUP CAN OWN YOUR HEART
Our pal, the veteran animal advocate and rescuer Kimberly Jones tipped us to this Garland Animal Shelter & Adoption Center girl over the weekend.
Her name is Lola and, as you can see, she can pose for a photograph as good as any elementary-school student in the United States. [LARRY ASIDE: Look at that pose! She’s minding the teacher, don’t you think?]
The second photo shows Lola being a puppy. She’s not rally a puppy, however — the shelter site says A272820 is a spayed, 2-year-old German Shepherd mix.
Here’s the story, according to reliable tipster KJ’s note. Lola is “one of the lovely long-timers at the Garland Animal Shelter & Adoption Center! Some might overlook her because of her skin allergies, but Lola is the most adorable wigglebutt you'll ever meet, and she's ready to steal your heart. She loves back scratches, spending time with her humans, and enjoying tasty treats—she's the perfect mix of sweet and fun! And did we mention she loves toys? Lola would thrive best as the only dog in a loving home where she can soak up all the attention.”
Info gleaned Monday from the Garland Animal Shelter & Adoption Center HERE www.garlandanimalservices.org/184/
Animal-Services outlined Lola’s current status and also led us to a batch of other dogs and cats waiting for homes. (You
can all the shelter at 972-205-3570 or stop by at 1902 State Highway 66 in Garland.
And that cat? Ah, we clicked on the Garland Animal Shelter & Adoption Center link and it not only took us to all the dogs (including wonderful Lola) but to a number of adoptable cats including #A276617 who has the most Texas Cat Name we’ve encountered in a while. He’s a currently “un-altered” gray and black Domestic Shorthair Mix who was “delivered and he’s about 3 years old, the staff thinks. What is his positively Texas name? “Sweet Tea.” Yep, “Sweet Tea.” Great name for a Texas cat.
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE,
THERE’S SARGE AND OTHERS!
This buy is Sarge and his volunteer biographer at Mesquite Animal Services, Judi Brown, writes:
"Have you ever had a dog come up to you and lean his body up against you when you’re standing? Well, that’s what Sarge does. It’s quite touching!
“Sarge is a magnificent boy with beautiful reddish coloring.”
He’s a year-old, 76-pound Doberman Pinscher who came in on the 17th as a stray. Judi writes. “He does have two skin growths (tags?) hanging from the mammary glands. They don’t seem to bother him. He’s very alert and active. He was curious about the people outside the gate.
“At one point he was whining. I’m assuming he was missing his owners. He’s highly motivated by treats and sits in anticipation of them. At one point, I called him from across the yard and he came running. He is very affectionate and gives sloppy kisses. He’s sweet, well mannered, and very attentive. He does not jump on you but does jump up. The staff thinks he’s housebroken. He was not interested in meeting other dogs, and I did not see any aggression. … He would benefit from a yard so he could stretch those long legs of his. However, he’s an inside dog wannabe.”
Sarge is #56903797 — cite that ID when you call the shelter at 972— or email [email protected].
Same system for all queries about dogs and cats in Mesquite — cite their numbers when you call 972- or email [email protected].
[LARRY ASIDE: That’s got to be the “Hiya, I’m Aspen. Look into my eyes” greeting” greeting by this guy Judi wrote about]
Judy’s bio of #56902789 begins, “Does it take you a while to warm up to strangers? Aspen is no different. At first he was a little aloof and spent most of his time wandering around the yard. With TLC and time Aspen warmed up to me.  Aspen is a one-year-old, 59-pound Siberian Husky that arrived … on 9/17 as a stray. He’s got one brown eye and one blue eye. He’s also very handsome. He’s very alert and wants to know everything that’s going on in his world. He did welcome some customers in the lobby. There was a little girl and he was really taken with her. He is gentle and sweet. He didn’t pull when walking on a leash. He introduced himself to other dogs without any problem. … Huskies like to run and therefore can be escape artists. I did not notice Aspen trying to escape. However, it would be advisable to have a tall secure fence. Also, Huskies are very fluffy and need to be brushed frequently. This good natured boy would bring love into your home.
Now we get to Gunter and Judi begins, "I saved the worst for last. I wanted you to see Gunther’s sweet face, attractive coco coloring, and imploring eyes before you saw the scarring and scabbing.
“I don’t think it distracts from his cuteness. Gunther [#56883771] is a 3-year-old American Terrier Pitbull who weighs 68 pounds and was brought into the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 9/13 by a concerned citizen. He wasn’t able to tell me what caused the scarring and scabbing on his face and tail.
“It looks like he got the worst end of a fight. Speculating: some of the scarring may be from burns or possibly pigmentation problems.
"At any rate, he is not holding grudges. As a matter of fact, he’s very loving. He wants a new family that will protect and cherish him, and he will in turn be a devoted companion. He’s highly motivated by treats and sits for them. He needs practice with taking the treats gently. He loves squeaky toys and can entertain himself with them.”
And Judi says, “He jumps up for attention but does not jump on you. He came from across the yard when I called him. He’s athletic, alert, highly engaged, lively, and playful. …He was non-reactive to other dogs. Instead he wanted my attention.  He wants to be an inside dog. He wanted you to know he likes most sports on TV. He would gladly sit attentively by you and cheer on your team.“
Again, cite Gunther’s shelter ID #56883771 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Click on this Mesquite Shelter LINK when you want to see the listings for these pups or other dogs and lots of cats, too.

CONTEMPLATIONS
JUST SOME IDLE OR STABLE THOUGHTS
While reading my hometown newspaper Monday morning — that’s the Texarkana Gazette — I spotted a regular feature written by staffer Mallory Wyatt. It’s something all newspapers (offline and online) ought to provide for the benefit of their readers and the city’s animals.
It’s a photo and a short description of an animal who needs a loving home. In this case the Writer Wyatt focused on this Pittie mix fellow Maverick as the “Animal Care and Adoption Center’s Pet of the Week.” Once sentence really made me smile and I thought you dog-lovers might agree with the humor in it: “(Maverick) has a dark gray coat and he enjoys rolling around in sand and dirt.” [LARRY ASIDE: I’ve looked in a mirror this morning and see some overwhelming gray hair, so I’m thinking of digging a “Hair Touch-Up Pit’ in the backyard and following Maverick’s example. Writer Mallory Wyatt notes that “Maverick could be either a running buddy or a couch potato.” HIs adoption fee of $152 “includes neutering, rabies vaccination, microchipping and registration. For more information, call the Animal Care and Adoption Center at 870-773-6388.” Oh and the photo of Maverick was a Gazette Staff Photo taken by the writer Mallory Wyatt.
LOOKING BACK: As I was typing the summarized version of the report by Mallory Wyatt it occurred tome that I’d never met her — and, in fact, I haven’t met a Gazette staffer in decades. I rarely go “home” these days. Also, I got my first professional journalism job (nighttime obit writer/reporter) in June of 1965 and there’s probably not a reporter in the Twin Cities of Texarkana who was even born when I, as a young Southern Baptist Boy, was learning all the forbidden words I’d get to use in a newsroom discussion or argument! I’m sure those words are obsolete but now. You know, words such as “typewriter” and “hot type” and “Stop the Presses.” What — did you think I’d expose the other words used in a newsroom’s heated arguments? Nah, those are words from the past — I am almost certain. Yes, and I don’t need to lose weight, either.
—- Offer advice or tales of triumph by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected]. —-

A TOUGH LITTLE PUP: HOW A STARVING DOG BECAME A WANDER UP SLEEPING DOG

For this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap we examine one of the truths of life: Sometimes a dog needs a little tweaking at the vet's office. 
In this case we're focusing on my personal dog, Porche Noel, found on the front porch at Christmas.

That was the Christmas of 2008 --SIXTEEN YEARS AGO.

Our Oak Cliff front porch had ornamental iron bars "caging" it and a matching door. The porch was where we staged our free Feral Cat buffet twice a day. Feed. Trap. Neuter. Release. Feed. Know what I mean?

One day as I worked on the lesser American novel in my office, my funspouse Martha came home, walked in and asked, "What's up with the dog on the porch?" 
"What dog?" I responded and sure enough there was a young, starving, limping and rasping dog on our porch. She'd squeezed through the bars on the gate, eaten all the cat food, then was too thick to squeeze out. Captured by her appetite! Her expanded tummy made her unable to flee through the bars. We "strangers" had "captured" her." And she was polite -- though at dinner time we did have to separate her from the Peacful Picnic hat was feeding time for the pre-existing dogs nd cts..
The reality is this: We invited her in and she came to stay.

Last week, she needed some tooth work. She also got a cyst clipped off of her right front elbow and she got a really good exam of everything else. One healthy, 35-to-37 pound dog (depending on her daily snacks!)!!! 
The knock-out meds for the dental work kept her woozy after the vet visit and that is a photo of her snoozing in the back seat of my car. I was able to wake her up and help her back into the house. You have to, with each dog in your life, figure out the proper combination of "lift" and "treats. Porche's a darling dog who has taught me well.
[OH, DEAR READERS: I'm sure you have dogs and cats who have taught you the easy stress-free ways to get them from the house to the car and back. Nobody else can train humans like a dog or cat can train us!]
For this edition I asked Porche's second-cclosest human relative, my funspouse Martha, "What's your favorite thing about Porche?"
 And, after pausing for a few seconds, Martha replied, "She'll take pills in any kind of food -- It's really a misery if you have a suspicious and skeptical dog you're trying to pill. Lately Porche's favorite is an antibiotic tablet wrapped in a sliver of a slice of American cheese. "Same theory of medicinal application her father Larry prefers." Martha said. 
[LARRY ASIDE: Martha knows me oh-so-well. She'll hold up a few Fritos wrapped in a sliver of American Cheese and suddenly I'm up on my back legs like a circus elephant trying to demonstrate my adorable charm by letting my enormous nose snag a piece of flying cheese right out of the air. OK back to reality and Porche.]

So there's our 16-year-old formerly wander-up Dallas dog who owns our hearts. That's a photo of her on her first visit to a vet 16 years go -- thin, rasping, kind of iffy on her feet. 
When we got her she couldn't bark (only rasp!), her back legs didn't work well enough to allow her to scratch (still can't -- but she has two humans who can scratch) and she was starving. Nobody starves in our house! We have medical records to demonstrate that.
Porch just doesn't have the traditional dog tools. (On the left, she's snoozing on her living room couch -- sometimes she can get onto it without help, but most of the time she needs a lift from me or Martha -- Porche puts her front paws on the couch and we lift her from the hindquarters and she happily flops down and starts her nap."
What she can do wonderfully is charm me and Martha with her attitude that she can make her way down the back door steps into the yard and, then, with courage and determination, fight her way back up three steps right into the house she'd call "home" if she were of a mind to bark in English. She prefers to issue happy yips, yaps and yelps! 
Yes, she is my personal dog -- she decided to assume that title of Larry's Personal Dog. Why? I don't know. But my explanatory theory is this: "Dogs are smart."
[LARRY APPEAL ABOUT A NOTE: About 3 weeks ago someone sent me the material to feature her dog or dogs in our weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Somehow I have lost that material. If you could please re-send it to [email protected], we'll put the spotlight on another great human/people relationship. Anybody can send info about a sleeping dog, napping cat or snoozing in-law who came for a holiday and stayed to [email protected]. Thanks. Remember, Animal Nuts are people, too.]

DOGS AND CATS AND PEOPLE AND PIRATES AND A POSSIBLE GATHERING....

EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY SEPT. 19-20, 2024 [PetPowellPress] Here we are as the week ends and just before the real Autumn begins on Sunday, More on all that later unless we overheat…
A HOT WISH IN SUMMERTIME? If you’re involved with a non-profit that down genuinely good work for animals and human and humane non-profits, we hope you’ve received more donations than expected or dreamed of in the traditional North Texas Giving Day Campaign for 2024. In case you wondered, North Texas Giving Day was created 2009, according to the Communities Foundation of Texas website HERE.  
If you’re reading this on the 19th, you haven’t completely missed International Talk Like a Pirate Day… More in Contemplations….
MEANWHILE, OUT AT THE LAKE,
CREEK THE DOG, BANDIT THE CAT
We got the tips on these two from our longtime reliable source “out at the lake,” Sydney Busch, the guiding light of the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. Need we note again that the Friends operate, so to speak, the World’s Most Successful Spay/Neuter Clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas.
Here’s the story on the dog who, coincidentally, has a brother who also needs a home. Sydney reports, “His name is Creek. He is 4 years old. He was dumped at Clear Creek Storage unit 65-70 days ago. The owners of the storage unit have been feeding him, making sure he has water and food.
“He is a very sweet dog!!!!  Not neutered yet…We will neuter him at no charge…”
Sydney’s Creek note adds this: “If you would like to adopt Creek, please call Ray Graff (972) 834-8472). If you are interested in two German Shepherds, Creek has a brother that looks just like him that is needing a forever home also. His name is Canyon.”
Moving to the Cat Tale, Sydney sent an appeal for Bandit The Cat on behalf of Vikki Ramsey. Bandit was
dumped when she was 2 months old — skin and bones. At 4 months old we had her spayed and gave her shots. She is now 6 months old and needs a good home.
“She loves being in the house and is kitty box trained. She doesn't particularly like to be held, but loves to be petted on the ground and will follow you everywhere. The world to her right now is one big playground.
“She comes with a bed, kittybox, kitty litter, toys, flea medication, worm medication and a bag of food. She doesn't have worms or fleas right now. My older cat hides from her most of the time because all she wants to do is play and he is afraid of her. Any thing you can do to help is appreciated. Vikki Ramsey 903-880-2811.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Now and then we post these “unwanted” and “roaming” dogs and cats from the Near East Texas “wilderness” to demonstrate that the Metroplex doesn’t have a monopoly on people trying to find homes for unwanted dogs and cats. Though, clearly, the Metrosprawl does have an overabundance of nitwits and mean people when it comes to animals. Apologies to any meanies or nitwits who had someone read this passage to them.]
OLLIE, BAILEY AND FURIOSA —
THREE AMONG THE ADORABLES
Yep, these three are in the care of Mesquite Animal Services. We got the dogs’ bios from their volunteer dog-bio-writer Debra Chisholm, one of our longtime sources of info about adorable adoptables.
The bio of handsome Ollie says he’s a “standard Schnauzer who arrived on 9/12 at the Mesquite Animal Shelter. He weighs 19 pounds and is about 3 years old. Ollie will come to his kennel door but when one tries to go in he will go to the back of the kennel.
“Ollie is uneasy in the shelter environment and hasn’t quite acclimated yet. However, after three volunteers spent time with him … he began to warm up and relax. He walks nicely on a leash, but is somewhat hesitant. … It seems obvious that Ollie has not had the best of care. He has a skin issue that appears to be flea dermatitis. He was given a Nexgard to help with that. One of our kind volunteers bathed him. This is the reason for the appearance of his having a bad hair day in his photos! …Ollie does not seek out attention, but was willing to be petted. My guess is that he has not been socialized much. He needs continued interaction to feel comfortable and to build trust.”
Ollie is #56872969 at the shelter. Cite his number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Debra says Bailey (#56875100) is “a high-spirited and personable youngster. He weighs 25 pounds and is approx 3 months old. He came to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 9/12 as a stray. He is a mixed breed with the possibility of the following in his breed mix: Mountain Cur, Plott Hound, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Dutch Shepherd. He is one of the most well-adjusted, confident and trusting pups we have. He is playful, loves toys and is quite adept at fetching!
“Over and over, he chased a squeaky toy in the yard and brought it back, begging for more! Though he is energetic, he does not jump on you. He takes treats and does so politely. For such a young pup, he walks very well on a leash. When walking past other dogs, he seemed to want to play with them and did not show any aggression or an unfriendly attitude. The tail was in constant motion! He is friendly, gives kisses, loves attention, and I imagine has never met a stranger in his short life.”
You can see the complete bios of these pups and this cat and many other dogs and cats by clicking on the Mesquite Animal Services site HERE 


The cat with the artistic background is Furiosa, a 3-month old small Grey and White female who came in on July 1 — she’s “rescue only” right now but is growing up to become available. She’s #56279612 at the shelter. Furiosa is a Domestic Shorthair Mix, [LARRY ASIDE: That’s among the rarest of cats in North America — I’m kidding. She slipped me $20 to enhance her bio so she’d get a really good home. Oh, OK, I made up this entire LARRY ASIDE because I’d go get Furiosa if we hadn’t already hit the limit of felines at our cathouse.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
ASSORTED NOTES IN A TIMELY MANNER — MAYBE
If it were not for a note in the ol’ TV newshound Jeff Crilley’s RealNews PR tip sheet, The Rundown, I’d have entirely missed the fact that Thursday the 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Arrrgghhh, matey, ah’ve celebrated it for many a dry-land voyage. Here’s a link to help you understand the existence of Talk Like a Pirate Day. It’s easier to understand these pirate explanations than political declarations these days, mateys.
Our research reveals that actual Equinox Autumn in Texas begins at 6:44 a.m. Sunday. The Meteorological Autumn, i.e., the weather forecasters’ autumn, began on Sept. 1. After Sunday, daytime will be shorter and nighttime will be longer and then somewhere in there there’s a time change and all of ours lives become confused. Just trying to be upbeat today! …
MOVING ALONG: I’m outta the office on Friday. I’ll be at an undisclosed location in an East Texas haunted forest for the annual “Get Acquainted Gathering of Chupacabra & Fans.” Fortunately this occurs after Talk Like A Pirate Day so I’ll simply be required to shake hands with a bonafide Chupacabra grip and congenially say, “Hey, Dude! What’s New in Your Neck of the Woods?” I think it translates to the Spanish quite easily “¡Oye, amigo! ¿Qué hay de nuevo en tu zona del bosque?” Then we all sing “Autumn Leaves” and do a ceremonial “Raking of The Forest” with our official Chuparakes. Sorry, I think I accidentally posted a few lines out of my upcoming novel Lost Again Among the Pines. There are no leaves to rake in a pine forest, right? And a pine cone is not as easy to eat as an ice cream cone. True fact.
—- Offer Texas tips by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and demand to see my Texas birth certificate. —-

CHALLENGES OF THE ANIMALS -- AND THE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY SEPT. 18-19, 2024 [PetPowellPress] It has occurred to my non-political self that all the wacky

elements of this 2024 Election Year are inspiring me to re-watch every episode of The X-Files and look for clues to explain things. After all, “The Truth Is Out There."
What? That photo? Also nothing to do with politics. Tuesday night, as the lunar eclipse began to take over the big and beautiful Harvest Moon, my personal dog Porche Noel barked at me and said, “Quick! The moon is affecting me. Take a picture of me casting my Werewolf Shadow on the couch!” So, this photo turned out a lot better than my pictures of the actual moon. Porche always photographs well.
A PERSONAL NOTE
REGARDING GIVING DAY
I stopped playing Lotto Texas because I never had lucky numbers. So, all of you animal and non-profit organization lovers will have to take up the slack because, as they say, “You can’t win if you don’t play and you don’t lose, either.” I have not won millions of dollars. But my heart is with the non-profits who work for animals and other good causes.
Here is the LINK TO NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY’S LIST OF ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.
MEANWHILE, AN UPDATE
FROM BURNS FLAT, OKLA.
We’re leaning on yesterday’s report from Burns Flat, Okla., regarding an Armadillo and a rescued cat. The great rescuer and animal advocate Terry Lynn Fisher reported this morning that the cat — member of a Burns Flat cat colony — who was attacked by some free-roaming dogs -- “is actually doing well, considering all he went through.” [That’s the only photo we have of him at this time. It’s his “Let the Medical Team Get You Into Better Shape” photo.]
Terry Lynn reports, "He has some serious bruising and that’s hard to look at. I told the lady that feeds that colony not to let him look at himself in a mirror because he will probably die of shock! LOL! They shaved pretty much all of him except his head, front legs and tail so he is not quite as handsome as he once was.”
How he avoided being “ripped apart” is a “mystery” to Terry Lynn. She says, also, “He is a large cat — even the vet was impressed with how big he was.”
And Terry Lynn reports that her son “saw the armadillo [rescued from a yard in Burns Flat] again yesterday evening. The only reason we know it’s him as he had a mark on one of the rings around his shell that was kind of unique. I wish I had got a picture of that. My son said he was running with two other armadillos and he thought that was really kind neat.”
Plus, Terry Lynn reports, “We still have way too many dogs needing homes here, but I’m working on it.”
To offer to help Terry Lynn with animals who need homes and animals who need vet care, email her at [email protected].
MOON AND TUCKER — TWO DOGS
WAITING FOR PLACES TO LIVE
We got the bios of these dogs from our Mesquite Animal Services volunteer dog bio-writer Judi Brown. And, yes, they’ve been edited down to make room for photos and other items. But you can see the entire array of Mesquite animals (dogs and cats) by clicking on THIS SHELTER LINK. You’ll also be able to read the entire biographies written by the
volunteers who hustle to find homes for these dogs and the cats in the shelter.
First up from bio-writer Judi Brown is thing guy Moon and Judi opened his bio with, “Have you ever heard of puppy love? Well, his name is Moon.”
Moon’s shelter ID is #56873572. He is a 4-month-old, 35-pound Yellow Lab mix — why is he in the Mesquite shelter? Judi writes that the dog was surrendered to the shelter on Sept. 12 because, the kennel card read, “The previous owners had too many dogs.”
Judi writes, “I understand that they had a dog that had a litter. Four of the dogs were adopted out and then the two that weren’t were brought to the shelter. Moon was one of them. The other one has since been adopted. The surrender form said that he was an outside dog only. He’s hoping that he will be adopted by someone that will cherish him and want to share their home with him. Considering he was a backyard dog, he walked relatively well on a leash. He galloped back-and-forth in the yard when he first got out. You could tell he was really enjoying the sunshine. Then after he ran off his energy, he decided to hide behind the bench. This is when I discovered he was timid. He may not have had a lot of socialization. …”. See the rest of his bio and that of Tucker (below) by clicking on this Mesquite SHELTER LINK.
 
To ask about a specific animal, cite the animal’s ID number when you email the shelter at [email protected] or when you call 972-216-6283.
To see more adorable adoptables in Mesquite’s Animal Shelter, click on THIS SHELTER LINK.
Judi writes that this guy Tucker “is very deserving of a good home. He will make a very adoring, loyal companion. He is a 5 to 6 year old, 57-pound Yellow Lab that was brought into the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 9/13 by one of our officers…. You may notice he seems to be smiling in … photos. After he did
his business in the yard and strolled casually around, he came back to me and stayed very close. As I was walking around
the yard, he followed me. He sits for treats and takes them relatively gently. He’s well-mannered, calm, sweet, and very laid-back. He walks very well on a leash. He likes to get out and smell so a yard would be nice, but he wants to be inside with his new loving family so he can love on them.”
Tucker is #56883413 at the shelter — cite that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS
ODD NOTES ON A HOT DAY
I have yet to go outside and work up a mind-numbing sweat today. But that doesn’t keep me from connecting our Contemplations to the citation of The X Files in our opening paragraph for this edition.
So, here are two non-election/non-partisan quotes from episodes of the hit TV series The X Files that ran on the Fox Network from September 1993 to May 2002.
Fox Mulder said, “You have to be willing to see.” [Would fit on a bumper sticker, right? LARRY ASKED politely.]
Dana Scully said: “I don’t have time for your convenient ignorance.” [LARRY ASIDE: Perfect quote for a political year!!!]
And, now, guilt-free, we’ll move along with the rest of our day. After all, we didn’t have a thing to do with developing the Dallas Cowboys’ game plan last Sunday — New Orleans 44/Dallas 19. We were on another planet at the time, Maybe.
—- Offer advice or doubt by clicking on ‘comment’ below by emailing [email protected] and put “BACK TO EARTH, ORBIT BOY” in the subject line. —-

AN ARMADILLO, A CAT AND SOME HEROIC HUMANS IN A TOWN CALLED BURNS FLAT...

[EDITION OF WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY SEPT. 18-19, 2024 [PetPowellPress] We’re going to begin with a story from Oklahoma. It may inspire people to “keep on goin’” with a rescue project made tough by circumstances, i.e., people...
And there’s a connection to the injured cat in the second story.
Both stories come from Terry Lynn Fisher, the legendary animal advocate/rescuer in Burns Flat, Okla.
THE ARMADILLO ADVENTURE:
AN OKLAHOMA CHALLENGE
[LARRY EXPLANATION: I’ve been writing about animals and animal rescuers and “no-count villains” for decades. This morning I got a note from the heroic Terry Lynn Fisher in Burns Flat way out in western Okla. I read it and thought, “This story may inspire people to take up animal rescue as a heroic lifestyle.” I know a lot of you who are those heroes already. Animals always need more heroes. Here’s an example of why.
Terry Lynn began her email by making a point that there are “so many animals needing your help.”
The story from Terry Lynn begins:
“I have to share this ‘just because.’ Just because lately it’s been so hard and sad here; just because lately there have been so many animals needing your help; just because to me it’s a wonderful happy ending. 
“A couple of days ago somebody sent me a message that a lady in my town had an armadillo in her backyard. I contacted her and she sent



me a video of it and it was a full grown armadillo digging, trying to get under her fence but for whatever reason (it) could not get out.
“She was telling me about all the people that said, ‘Just get a shovel and chop its head off. Shoot it, hit it with a hammer, put poison out.’
“I was just sickened by the things she was telling me people were advising her to do
“I asked her if we could set a trap and see if we could catch it .... She agreed, but said that if it wasn’t gone soon, she was going to call our chief of police, who is honestly honestly in my opinion, a sadistic idiot. He loves nothing more than to shoot and kill animals — dogs cats, whatever it is.
“I took the trap down and set it with fruit. That night my camera sent me several images of the armadillo, sniffing around the trap, really wanting that fruit. However, it never went into the trap.
“She [The woman] saw where it had burrowed a big deep, long tunnel under her back porch patio. That was where it was staying during the day. I took more fruit down and set the trap back a little farther from where the hole was, and she said if I didn’t catch it last night, then she was going to call our chief of police.
“I spent most of last night at an emergency vet with one of the cats here that got ripped up by two pits.” [LARRY NOTE: THAT STORY IS NEXT TODAY.] Terry Lynn continues,“When I got home, I took a shower and went to bed, and my phone started dinging. The camera was sending pictures.
“The armadillo came out of his hole; you could see him towards the back of the trap, really wanting that fruit he could smell, and then right in front of the trap. The next picture that was sent was the trap door closed. But, I couldn’t see if he was actually in it.
“I got another image sent to my phone this morning [Tuesday] and it was of her dog really interested in that trap. I had a good feeling the armadillo was in there, and, sure enough, when I called her to go look, she did, and he was.
“Jason and I took him out and release him in an area where we’ve released others and that several of them already live.
“So, with all the heartache and horrible things happening, to me, I needed this bright spot of the day.
“Another little critter, safely away from the evil of mankind.
I just had to share it, because it really made me feel good.”
[LARRY NOTE: And there, Dear Readers, you have read the story of this rescued Armadillo “Just Because.” Read on about the attacked and rescued cat from Burns Flat.]
THE CAT THAT NEEDED
TERRY LYNN’S HELP…
Terry Lynn writes:
“Last night, I received an urgent call that two or three pitbulls had just attacked one of the feral cats here in town. This is one of the boys that we had just got neutered a couple months ago; he’s really a sweet and loving cat, but he does continue to live in the colony. Luckily,
a guy walking down the street, saw the attack and ran up and chased the dogs away, which gave the cat a chance to run under a car 
“Fearing the worst, the lady that feeds them just grabbed him up in a towel and put him a crate. We don’t really have an emergency vet …, so I started making phone calls to try to find one. We were lucky enough to find one in Weatherford, which is about 35 miles away. I called and explained that I had to try to raise the money for him, but nobody would see him unless I paid upfront, and he told me to bring him over right now. We headed that way, and he met us there, and got him in immediately. They had to sedate him to really check him over, because he was totally freaking out.  They shaved the biggest part of his body to find the wounds, and I was so shocked to see that he wasn’t hurt more than he was. I was honestly expecting to be ripped up because they said that two dogs were playing tug-of-war with his  body. 

“He does have several punctures; some of them are quite deep. They’re keeping them open to let them drain so infection doesn’t set in, and he had quite a bit of swelling around the chest and neck area so they’re keeping an eye on that.
“We are hoping he gets to come home today or tomorrow, but I have to pay the bill before we can get him out. Last night we were just worried about saving his life, so I’ll work on the rest of it now.
“He is pretty positive. He’ll have a really good outcome, but he will be in pain for a while, and we will have to keep him indoors for a few days at least.
“If anyone can help with this Vet bill, please let me know. I’m waiting to hear back on the exact amount but I know on the sign in the office it said emergency office. Call was $150 alone, that’s not counting the treatment that he did. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. …I’ll update him as soon as I hear more.”
To offer to help the Armadillo or the cat [A phrase I’ve never typed before — Larry], email Terry Lynn at r[email protected]. —-
CONTEMPLATIONS
A THOUGHT OR TWO OR NONE
I’m frequently not certain that what I write or say or think can qualify as an actual thought. I may have watched too much TV from about 1957 to the current political stories in 2024. ….
I can read, but I’ve been trying to read one of the great Martha Grimes’ British-set mysteries, The Stargazer, for about 10 years — it’s got an
exciting opening and moves wonderfully with her writing and I can’t find a time to do any reading. My literatespouse Martha has read and re-read all
of Martha Grimes' books. I keep The Stargazy on my Kindle and call it up periodically. I like what I’ve read so far -- Martha loves the book. She's the literate partner in the marriage and so is Office Cat William Powell, he tells me. Martha and I met the author Grimes at a book tour appearance years ago in Dallas — she’s a pretty splendid personality and is one fantastic author! …
The greatest year I had in elementary school was the 4th grade — that’s when I discovered a concept called “classroom library.” It was a few book-filled shelves in the back of the class. I read through The Hardy Boys books but could never quite get to the alway-checked-out Nancy Drew Mysteries. I wound up reading biographies of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and, being in Texas, a bio of Davy Crockett, the former U.S. Congressman from Tennessee. You may have heard of him — if you grew up in Texas. Ah, books. What wonderful adventures on Earth and in space [Hail Robert Heinlein, author of so much space fiction that appears to be coming true.] Ask any millionaire who's been to space. …
—- Offer tips and gripes by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘HEY YOU’ in the subject line. —-

FROM OKLAHOMA AND MESQUITE, APPEALS FOR PUPS IN TIME-CRUNCH SITUATIONS

EDITION OF MONDAY/TUESDAY SEPT. 16-17, 2024 [PetPowellPress] Hang on a second …. OK, I had to give a loving hug and pet to Martha’s

dog Wendy. We’ll focus on the joy of office dogs and cats later. And, maybe just look backward a little bit and say, “Wow.. Some weekend, wuddenit?” (I used my native Northeast Texas accent type that, y’all. To use any other ax sent wudd na been awe thin tick.) That's Wendy -- she's never actually confessed that she's a canine insomniac -- she prefers to announced that she's "ultra alert in case someone is handing out snacks." OK, moving along.
MEANWHILE, IN THE
MIDDLE OF OKLAHOMA?
Thanks to a Roberts Vik Facebook connection, we have learned of a tough spot for several dogs in a place called Warr Acres, Okla., on he northwest side of Oklahoma City.
[LARRY NOTE: Research reveals “Warr” is not a misspelling of “War,” but it’s the named in honor of C.B. Warr who developed the area after WWII. Population is around 12,000. Plus some dogs who really need help.]
The folks with Lab Rescue of Oklahoma, Inc., posted this appeal on their Facebook page HERE
https://www.facebook.com/labrescueok
The appeal reads, “ALL OF THESE DOGS HAVE UNTIL WEDNESDAY 9/18/24 or THEY WILL BE EUTHANIZED!! PLEASE SHARE.
“(COURTESY POSTING ONLY)
WARR ACRES, OK
WARR ACRES ANIMAL CONTROL
TO ADOPT CALL 405-789-3329 option 1
The ACO of this small town shelter must have surgery and there’s no one else to take care of the dogs after Wednesday..”
Who are these dogs? That fellow with the white coat and brown and black facial highlights, is Scout. He’s about 11 months old and is a 40-to-50 pound Anatolian Shepherd mix. “Dog friendly and loves everyone he meets,” his bio says.
The next guy is Marshall (left), a “male Dalmatian/Mastiff mix,” his bio reads. He’s about 70 pounds, loves “everyone he meets” and is “dog friendly.
Tyson is listed as “longest term” of these shelter dogs and he’s a 40-pound Beagle mix. His bio reads, Dog friendly and loves everyone he meets including kids. Not cat friendly. Heart worm positive.” [LARRY ASIDE: Yes, Tyson has a medical challenge — a thoroughly beatable challenge — just needs a dedicated human.]
And that leaves Pete on this list of “waiting for either a great break or a lousy break” in a small shelter in the middle of Oklahoma. Pete is a 60- pound Lab/Pit mix who “is dog friendly and loves everyone he meets.”
You can see these dogs and many others by keeping up with the Lab Rescue group at THIS LINK.
 
[LARRY NOTE: And there you have it, ladies and gents, proof that the desire to help Oklahoma animals isn’t limited to the heart of our pal Terry Lynn Fisher in Burns Flat, way out west in Oklahoma on the brink of Texas.]
OUR SPOTLIGHT LEAVES OKLA LIKE
WIND SWEEPING DOWN THE PLAIN
TO MESQUITE ON THE BRINK OF BIG D
These bios come to us courtesy of the volunteer dog-bio-writers at Mesquite Animal Services. In particular, these are provided by Judi Brown.

First up is Autumn (#56852522), a 2-year-old pup with an interesting family tree and “a sweet face, fetching eyes and handsome markings.” She's Istrian -- her ancestors hail from Croatia.
As is the system at Mesquite, cite the animal’s shelter ID number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]. [LARRY NOTE: Same procedure for all of the animals we’ll mention be they dog or cat or Long-limbed Rhythmic Texas Chupacabra —- Larry confession: I made up that beast — side-effect of insomnia.]
Back to Autumn’s report from Judi. She writes, “Autumn is ready for fall! Are you? Autumn is a 2-year-old, 53-pound mixed breed. My Dog Scanner said she’s mostly an ‘Istrain short-haired hound.’ That explains why I sometimes had a hard time getting her attention because she strolled casually around the yard investigating every nook and cranny with her nose!
“She came to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 9/9 as a stray. She’s a very attractive girl with a cute face and alluring eyes. It appears that she’s been well-cared for. She was very patient while I brushed her. She’s well-mannered and well-trained. She sits for treats. She saw another dog outside the gate, and she got really excited. It was obvious she wanted to play with the dog. This breed is considered to be docile, devoted, and easy to train. ….
There’s more to Autumn’s bio online at the Mesquite Animal Shelter site. We’re cutting it a little short because a special note from Judi. She writes. “The Shelter is having a special on adoptions. You come in and play a game to determine how much of a discount you get on the adoption fee. Email [email protected] to tag Autumn.” [The system for contacting the shelter is just a few paragraphs above.]
We move along in Shakespearingly steady fashion to this handsome, fantastic-tailed fellow Hamlet. He’s #56851614 and, as the photo may
have “given away,” Hamlet’s a “2-year-old Alaskan Husky fluffy, soft, cuddly /gentle giant/very affectionate” pup. Judi writes, “Hamlet will lure you with his penetrating blue eyes. Then you will be transfixed seeing his beautiful markings! Then, when you feel how soft and fluffy he is, you will be in his spell! Hamlet is a 2-year-old, 74-pound Alaskan Husky that arrived … on 9/9 as a stray. You will be the envy of your neighbors when you take this handsome boy for a walk.

“Then when they come to meet him, they will see how gentle and sweet he is. He is well behaved and sits for treats. He was very patient when I brushed him. He came to me to be petted and rewarded me with kisses.” (Read more about him in the bio Judi wrote for the Mesquite Shelter’s online site.)
And Judi cautioned, "With all Hamlet’s fur, he doesn’t want to be outside in the hot summer. Besides, Hamlet wants to snuggle on the couch or in his bed at your feet.” [LARRY ASIDE: If he shares that fluffy tail, your feet will be warm al winter!]
And that brings us to a non-fluffy but adorably adorable bundle of canine affection, a dog named “Butterscotch.” She’s #56862621 at the shelter.
Judi writes, “Butterscotch asked me to post to sign saying: ‘WANTED … A loving family that will love me unconditionally. In return, I will be loyal and love you unconditionally.”
Judi says Butterscotch “is a 2-year-old, 40-pound mostly Australian Pinscher mix that arrived at the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 9/9 — brought in by one of our officers. She has a curly tail with a white tip that never stops wagging.

It’s because she’s a happy girl. She looks like she’s been well taken care of. When she was at the other end of the yard and I called her, she came running. She occasionally jumps on you but gets down when you ask her to. For the most part she stayed close wanting human interaction. She seeks attention.
“When I asked her to sit, she started out in a sitting position, but then would lay down. She did this every time. Sometimes she rolled over for a belly rub. Of course I obliged. She’s easy-going, friendly, alert (looking out the gate), frisky, lively, and very sweet. …
“And in order to get the benefit of all the love she has stored up for you,” Judi advises, “She will need to be an inside dog where she can share family time.”
Lots of cats and kittens, puppies and dogs in the Mesquite Animal Shelter as you can see by clicking on THIS LINK.
And this nearly 4-month-old kitten is #56363972 and he’s known as Moon.
He’s a small guy with big eyes.

Moon has been in the shelter since July 15 and is a handsome young Domestic Shorthair Mix who can be met and observed in the shelters’ Conference Room. He might even confer with you about needed bedding, meals and a cable remote so he can pick better TV for himself and family.
CONTEMPLATIONS
IS SLEEP NOT REALLY POSSIBLE
Scientific question: Are there people for whom sleep is just not possible? At readlarrypowell.com we regard it as a tool of literature in modern fiction — I’ve written stuff that puts other people to sleep but doesn’t knock me over like the Cowboys’ hopes in the 2nd game of the year. Hook me up to a series of sensitive wires and test me. I’ll be awake for as long as it’s daylight somewhere on the third planet from the Sun. To sleep, perhaps to remember things you should have done and can get up and do before dawn. ….
Moving along to Monday morning: As I put my fingers on the keys, Wendy woke up off the couch, trotted down the hall and, stepping around two other dogs (Dudley and Porche), Wendy came over and shoved her nose up against my elbow so I’d pet her. I petted her and she flopped down on a rug and went to sleep
If only it were that easy for me. I was unable to sleep Sunday night — no, I wasn’t that worried about the remote possibility that the Dallas Cowboys will rebound after being slammed flat by the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
And I continue to be concerned about American assassination attempts. This isn’t new in my life: I’ve had the concern since since 1963 and JFK, then Bobby and Martin and Malcolm and John Lennon — and others and other attempts… Too many to mention anywhere but in a textbook for serious study of awful human behavior.
No wonder I have trouble sleeping. I’m probably not alone.
Some weekend, eh? It’s our planet’s tourism motto: ‘Planet Earth — where something awful always has a chance of happening’. Not really an upbeat thought for the rest of the year 2024. ... I need a nap -- an 8- or 10-hour nap. And some pastries... OK, I'll 86 the pastries.
—- Offer advice or solutions by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “HOPE FOR THE FUTURE — I’M NOT KIDDING” in the subject line. —-

AN ILLUSION ON A COUCH SENDS THE SWIRL OF TIME BACK TO A COCKER SPANIEL PAL

This is a wishful edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, our long-running weekend feature.
Ever wish for a Cocker Spaniel?

Perhaps you’ve noticed that strip of photos of what appears to be a young Cocker Spaniel.
I have had many favorite dogs and cats in my life. Some of ‘em aren’t even my critters — they live with relatives and friends or maybe I met ‘em in a
pet store while shopping for my own mutts and cats..
One of my all-time favorite personalities — human, cat or dog (especially human)— was my longtime friend Inky, the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas. I found him nearly naked from mange in Kiest Park in Dallas and brought him home. He lived with us for a little more than 16 years, if my memory serves. I love him still — sometimes I see his shadow in a hall or in my dimly-lit office. And he is the reason I’d love to have another Cocker Spaniel — though I know I have enjoyed life with the ONLY INKY who ever lived.
So what inspired this train of thought? — Though in my case its probably closer to a “go-cart of thought. It’s this: I was sitting in a recliner in the living room and I looked up at Stevie Ray Treeboy, the zany cat I rescued from a claw-buried grip on a flimsy branch of a Mimosa tree. He has grown up zanily.
And, there he was, nodding off on the back of the dogs’ couch and I looked at him admirably — all grown up and adorable. Then I spotted the Cocker Spaniel.
And only then did I realize the only other animal on the couch was Wendy Louise Wagstaff Arden, the dog my ToughCookieSpouse Martha personally rescued off the Mean Streets of Dallas.
Wendy has what can only be described as “artsy ears.” She had shaped her brown ear to look — through my lenses — like a Cocker Spaniel puppy.
Even when asleep, she is able to shape her ear into the form of a Cocker Spaniel puppy.
Clever girl. She helped me get over that wishful notion of driving to the Dallas All-Night Cocker Spaniel Emporium and asking for a new set of Inky Model Spaniels. Very expensive, you know.
Worth every dime.
[LARRY ASIDE: If you can’t find a great Cocker Spaniel in your nearest city park, you might want to click on dfwcockerrescue.org and see if there’s a dog that’ll be a good fit for you. Remember, Cocker Spaniels’ need to be groomed regularly and some of them need their own TV remote so they won’t get stuck with the stuff humans watch. I think I’ve just channeled my intellectual, poetry writing Cocker Spaniel Inky. That’s his portrait, as painted by my artisticspouse Martha. Inky wrote:
Raise up the brush!
Paint my stars to be a joy!
I’ll always be Dear Inky!
Your Clever Cocker Boy!
 — Inky, The Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas

[DEAR READERS: Tell us about your slumbering dogs and/or snoozing cats and we’ll spotlight them in our weekend edition of our long-running weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Email photos and info to [email protected].]

FROM THURSDAY THE 12TH TO FRIDAY THE 13TH & BEYOND? SAME GOAL: HELP THE ANIMALS SURVIVE 'N' THRIVE

EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12/13, 2024 [PetPowellPress] As I began typing this on September 12, a Thursday, I realized we’re heading toward Friday the 13th, the alleged spookily unlucky day.

I got up to get a cup of coffee and some apple/raisin/oatmeal mood-enhancing cookies for breakfast and as I walked back down the hall toward my office, I heard the TV shut off. By the time I got to the keyboard, there was notice that the internet was down.
And I thought, “Friday the 13th — how about Thursday The Disconnected.” OK, system’s back. More in Contemplations. Junior Office Cat Stevie Ray went to his “Safe Nap Zone” on the arm of his favorite living room couch. “It’s where I can be the most vigilant,” he explained. “I can see the TV and also down the hall to the pantry where the cat food is kept.” Moving along…
ANIMAL RESCUE IS A GREAT WORLD:
PEOPLE HELP PEOPLE HELPING CRITTERS
We site two longtime sources and pals in this item about a dog with big skin probs.
In this instance the referring email came from our amazing “artist of photography” pal Karen Lee of barkleyworld.com, the non-profit that helps animals by helping their people help them.
Karen sent a note about an appeal from our longtime source in Burns Flat, Okla., the very tough and constantly busy Terry Lynn Fisher.
As Karen explained, the “animal rescuer/advocate in Burns Flat” gets “called to help in SO many animal cases involving so many issues.  She’s been active in animal rescue long before I ever came along.  She’s asking for help with this poor stray dog.  Of course, no one has claimed him.  She needs a rescue, home or at least a foster to step up and help.  She also needs vetting funds which can be called in directly to her vet at Southwest
Clinic — 580-726-3385   Terry Lynn Fisher account    If you can help in any way, please contact Terry Lynn directly at
remembering_ [email protected] “
Terry Lynn’s note on Wednesday about his dog began with a heart-based opening, “!’m so tired of people neglecting and hurting their animals.
“The ACO just contacted me that they just picked this dog up. All of their kennels are full so they have no place to put this one other than take one that’s been there a while and put it down. I’ve been trying to find the owners with no luck.
“This baby needs help y’all. I don’t know what kind of skin disease — mites, whatever — is going on but it’s got spots that are actually bloodied. This is heartbreaking, and you can tell the way it walks. He's in severe pain from all this.
“if anyone can help, please let me know. This is just so sad to me.
I’m so tired of people neglecting and hurting their animals.”
Remember: e-mail Terry Lynn at remembering [email protected].
As the noon hour arrived Thursday, I got a note with that top left photo from Terry Lynn. She wrote, “This is the dog from yesterday. I’m more concerned about the size of his testicles than his skin issues going on. They [the pound] have him, and in what I’ve always referred to as ‘the hellhole at the Pound right now.’ It’s three very old crappy kennels that they used to use years and years ago, probably over 30 years ago, and they’re awful. But that was the only space they had for him,
“I want to take him to the vet today, but I don’t have any place to take him once we leave there. Once he leaves the kennels at the Pound, there’s no taking them back. All of my kennels are full, and without one, there’s no way I can take him to where my other animals are.
“If anybody has any advice, please let me know. … Any advice is welcome.” Email [email protected].
MEANWHILE, A REMINDER
TO NORTH TEXAS ANIMAL FANS
We've gotten a ton of notes from local pro-pet organizations that remind everyone on their mailing lists about
North Texas Giving Day on the 19th — you can, as you probably know, donate from now right on through the 19th. Just go to the Giving Day site and navigate to the non-profit you want to help. That link is www.northtexasgivingday.org — click that open, then click on “donate” and you can see all the assorted causes you can help, including your favorites helping animals. [LARRY ASIDE: I’m adding this info to today’s report because, once again, I’ve gone an entire calendar year without winning a dime from my clever number-play at Lotto Texas. Join me in tearing up when we think about how tough it is to pick winning numbers. That is my personal dog Porche Noel — she hasn’t gambled since she hobbled up onto our front porch at Christmas in 2009 and declared, “What luck! Guess I’ll stay here.”]

MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE,
MORE ADORABLE ADOPTABLES….
Ah, Dear Readers, in able to list more animals than you have room to read, I’m going to call upon my ol’ editing skills to cut the original biographies short, post a photo and direct you to the complete biographies on the Mesquite Animal Services website HERE.  Same site where you can

see a bunch of adorably adoptable kittens.

The complete bio of Tasha, #556837510, was written by our tipster pal, volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm.
“This is one high-spirited exuberant pup,” Debra wrote and then explained, “I have named her Tasha. After consulting the Dog Scanner app, it lists possible breeds in her mix: Aussie Kelpie, Rat Terrier, Shiba Inu, Smooth Collie.  She weighs 32 pounds, is approx 5 months old, and has such a beautiful tri-colored coat. She was brought to the shelter on 9/6 as a stray. She has places to go, things to do and people to see--a girl on-the-move!” One more note from Debra: She says Tasha “is sometimes vocal and will talk to you and has all kinds of interesting things to say.” [LARRY ASIDE: SEE THE COMPLETE BIO ON THE CITY’S SHELTER SITE.]
Remember, use Tasha’s Shelter ID #556837510 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]. Same system for all these Mesquite feline and canine adorables.
That brings us to another Debra biography. This “very attractive girl” is Sierra, described as “a purebred Siberian Husky picked up by one of our officers on 9/7 and brought to the Mesquite Animal Shelter as a stray. Sierra weighs 47 pounds and is about 3 years old. Since she has only been here for a few days, she is timid, shy and
nervous. She walks hesitantly on a leash, and when she walks past dogs who bark at her, she gets quite intimidated and freezes. She is however, a well mannered and calm girl, sweet natured and alert.” And there’s this, “She may have lived as an outside dog because of the calluses on her elbows. However, she does not look underfed or unhealthy. Sad that her owners have not come looking for her.” Read her complete bio on the shelter’s site. She’s #56842318 at the shelter.
Our pal Judi Brown provided the biography for Sabrina (#56838046). “Sabrina has outstanding markings with perky ears. She became one of our volunteer favorites, and so this volunteer chose to name her Sabrina. If you come meet her, she will become your favorite also. She has so much to offer! Sabrina is a one-year-old, 40-pound mixed breed that arrived at the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 9/6 as a stray. My Dog Scanner said that she’s part Rat Terrier, Jack Russell Terrier, and Brazilian Terrier. She is enthusiastic, happy, fun loving, friendly, and has a zest for life. She loves everyone she meets. She’ll make a great pet for children to grow up with.” [LARRY NOTE: The rest of her bio is on the city’s site and, in it Judi discusses Sabrinas wonderful personality, her happy playtime and how much she might just like being with kids.]
Judi also wrote about Honey Bear (56792789) the 2-year-old, 56-pound Rottweiler mix. “Honey Bear is surprisingly gentle for her size. She’s a handsome girl with a glossy coat and nice markings. She’s a little on the thin side and could use some groceries.”
How’d she wind up in the shelter? Brought in by one of the shelter officers, Judi says and reports, “I understand
she’d been wandering around the neighborhood for some time. Now she is in a safe environment where she will be fed regularly and won’t get hit by a car. BUT she would prefer to be in a loving home. She’s had at least one litter.  She’s an easy-going, laid-back girl that is looking for love.” [READ ABOUT HONEY BEAR’S exercise abilities and how she is sometimes “sensitive” to human touch by going to Judi’s complete bio of this beautiful dog on the shelter website. Judi suggest that she’s got the making of a gentle, affectionate indoor family dog.]


MILO IS A LITTLE DOLL, Judi writes about this 2-year-old, 32-pound stray identified as a “Lancashire Heeler.


He’s #56837257 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email at [email protected].
Judi adds that Milo is “so low to the ground his belly almost scrapes it. … His breed is known for being clever, intelligent, alert, and friendly. The breed is also ever so loving, hard-working, loyal, and good with children. He’s a little on the stocky side. He would love to go for walks to work on his physique. He is easy-going, calm, affectionate, gentle, sweet, and well mannered….”
[LARRY ASIDE: Again, remember to click on that Mesquite Shelter link above to read the complete bio’s of these dogs. Also, when you go to the shelter site, you can see many adorable cats and kittens, too. Here are three girls who just need two things to live a perfect life: Clever names and loving homes.]'

CONTEMPLATIONS
POLLiNG RESULTS; THE CREATURE; THE 13TH
Before we get to the Friday the 13th segment of this edition of Contemplations, we’d like to note that unlike any other media outlet in the United States of America, we can confidently report this: We have no polling results. Not football, not basketball, not—oh, what was that other thing that’s always talking about polling results. We’ll it’ll come to me later, I guess. …
In our opening paragraphs today we introduced the challenge of an internet outage and now we have pinpointed the likely cause. Perhaps you have experienced this as well. We have no scientific proof, only eye-witness accounts and if that’s good enough for flying saucers and The Fouke Monster (the Arkansas bayou cousin to Bigfoot), why that’s good enough for this tall tale: “There’s a giant creature of a cloudy nature who climbs out of the screen of your computer and yells, “Stop the typing. That clatter gives me a headache.” I have no photos of the Thursday Snarling Disconnect Specter, Lucky is his name.. I couldn’t capture him on my screen — the system was down. How’d I know he was Lucky? He wore a name tag.
Let’s move along, While Friday the 13th always gets the “caution”note from calendar watchers, we’ve also found that Holiday Insights, the online calendar, keeps up with other Friday the 13th certainties.
Here’s the list of days Holiday Insights cites as being attached to this Friday the 13th in September 2024. Here goes;
“Blame Someone Else Day – The first Friday the 13th of the year; Defy Superstition Day; Fortune Cookie Day; National Peanut Day; Positive Thinking Day and "Uncle Sam Day – His image was first used in 1813,” the Insights cite.
Friday the 13th is not “Polling Results Day,” according to my shallow reporting of American political culture. Good luck, everybody who isn’t running for office.
—- Offer polling results or gambling tips by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and fill the subject line with ‘GOOD LUCK RANGERS! THRIVE IN TWENTYFIVE!’ —-

A MEMORY OF A DATE; AND SAVING/HELPING ANIMALS IN A CLIMATE OF CONSTANT CARING....

EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10-11, 2024 [PetPowellPress] As I typed that dateline it struck me that, focused on something else, I was typing the day Sept. 11 as “September 11” rather than the term by which so many of us remember the day so sadly, “9/11.”
You say, “Nine Eleven” to someone who was near a TV that day and the flood of images and names and locations and anxiety is still vividly wrenching.
Perhaps this is a.good day to take a moment to consider things that have changed since that sadly historic date in 2001. Just do it in your own heart for a few minutes. Make notes about things to consider later in the day. Look back with love at people you knew then and the people you still know and the “kids” that have come along since then.
Heck, consider all the dogs and cats you’ve known, too. Love is love.
Yes, love is love and we keep going, don’t we.
'DFW PETS ARE FAMILY DAY'
IS SCHEDULED SATURDAY THE 14TH
We got the tip on this from one of the participants, the SPCA of Texas.
The mission is outlined in the big paragraph at the top of the news release from Cuddly.
It reads, “CUDDLY and TEXAS ORGANIZATIONS COLLABORATE TO OFFER FOOD AND SERVICES TO DALLAS PET FAMILIES.”
Who is Cuddly? Ah, at cuddly.com you can read that “CUDDLY is a fundraising and wishlist platform that sends much needed aid and supplies to verified 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescues with the intention of helping as many animals as possible.”
So , this time around there are a number of organizations you’ll recognize who are participating in the program to get “Free Food, Vaccines 7 Microships Available to Help Pets Stay With Families.”
The DFW Pets Are Family Day is scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at La Academia de Estrella’s, 4680 W. Kiest Bleed. In Dallas. The news release says it will feature “free pet food, vaccines for cats and dogs, microchipping and vouchers for spay/neuter services..." Many other familiar pro-animal organizations are participating in this particular even.

TAWANA AND TEAM
PLANNING AHEAD…
People who have watched the Society for Companion Animals throughout its history know that founder Tawana Couch is a planner, a be-ready-to-go on ‘Take-off’ personality. And that explains why the SFCA is already planning November and December trips for dogs!


A note from the organization reads, “CARGO VAN DRIVERS NEEDED” and explains, “Our shelters up north NEED dogs in November and December.
“We want to send 20 dogs each month, 40 total, but we need to have enough volunteers to do it. You must know how to drive a large cargo van.”
The mission involves picking up dogs in Seagoville at 3 a.m. so they can be dropped off at 4:30 a.m. at DFW Airport. [LARRY ASIDE: So, as you can see, the volunteers need some motoring/delivering skills.]. These transport missions start at 3 a.m. on Thursday/Friday Nov. 14-15 and Thursday/Friday Dec. 19-20.
 To volunteer to help with the mission, email [email protected].
The website is HERE. 
And, as you can see from the artwork, the Society For Companion Animals is also participating in North Texas Giving Day. Click on the photo to make it grow. FYI: It takes some financial help to get dogs that aren’t wanted in Texas to places in the northern part of the nation where they’ll be loved and adored. Tawana founded the SFCA in 2005 and animals have been cleared for takeoff and happy landings ever since.
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE:
OZZIE, PRINCESS PEACH
These two dogs are among many animals — dogs and cats and kittens — who are waiting for a loving adopter or a devoted rescue group to get them into a new home.
We got the bios of Ozzie and Princess Peach from the volunteer dog-biographer Debra Chisholm. You can see more Mesquite animals by clicking on this shelter LINK. 
Debra writes. “This stunningly attractive Australian Shepherd is Ozzie, brought to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 9/5 as a stray. Ozzie weighs 34 pounds, is about 4 years old and is neutered.
“Where to begin to describe this lovable and charming fellow???…. Well, he is calm, well-behaved, has a low-key personality, and yet is on the move! When I took him to the yard for the photo session, he enjoyed stretching his legs and yet would continually go to the gate, looking out and then putting his paws on the ledge at the top of the wall looking out. My guess is that he was looking for his people to come pick him up. He looks as though he has lived with people who have taken care of him nicely. Ozzie is amiable, wants to please and seeks affection. He came to me while I was sitting on the bench and put his paws on my lap or snuggled next to me while we stood at the wall. …”
[LARRY ASIDE: There’s more to Ozzie’s biography on the shelter’s website — just click HERE  and navigate to his bio.]
Debra cautions, “As an Aussie Shepherd . he is a working dog. This is not a dog who should live in an apartment and be alone all day long. He needs just the right fit in order to be a happy and devoted family pet.”
Cite Ozzie’s shelter ID #56701938 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Same system for asking about Princess Peach. “Peaches for short!,” Debra writes. Peaches’ shelter ID is #56694041. Use it when you make contact with the shelter to ask about Peaches.
Peaches is a 6-month-old, 27-pound “mixed breed” who came in as a stray on September 4.
Debra writes, “This delightfully charming pup will make some family a devoted and loving pet. She has a clean shiny coat, cutesy ears, and beautiful eyes! She has an enthusiastic tail-wagging nature and is nothing short of a love bug! She wants to be close and is a friendly affectionate lapdog wannabe. She seeks out attention. Peaches loves treats, will sit for them and takes them politely. Her enthusiastic and lovable personality is endearing. She has a chill nature.  She walks quite nicely on a leash, is playful and is mildly interested in tennis balls. This sweetheart might be just the dog for some person or family looking for a puppy to invest time and effort into by training and daily playtime and exercise. She needs to live inside with her family in order to be an integral part of the family circle.”
And, as you know, there are cats in the Mesquite shelter. To see the dogs and cats, click HERE.

And here are three young boy cats — available to someone who’ll love them until they’re all grown up and even older!

CONTEMPLATIONS
GLIDING THROUGH HISTORY…
BRIEFLY, O SO BRIEFLY, we’ll ease through some thoughts for the day. ….
When I was a kid, we took a train from Texarkana to El Paso and back — yes, it was a passenger train. Quite a lovely experience. Texas &
Pacific passenger train, if I recall correctly. Big passenger planes didn’t fly out of Texarkana in those days. Had to drive to Shreveport or Dallas to catch a flight. Maybe Little Rock, as I recall. How’s that for some idle thinking. …
Worst car I ever owned? No challenge at all. 1971 Chevy Vega. Parts of it are probably still falling off somewhere.. …
This is my Senior Office Cat William Powell who likes to sit and stare at me when he’s ready for a morning snack. I caught him in mid-stare Tuesday Morning. Yes, I snapped the photo and gave him some treats. Then he posed again….Same pose, same result. Yes, he has me trained and will sometimes refer to me as “Pavlov.” “I like dog jokes,” he’ll explain.
—- Offer thoughts or suggestions by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “CAT TREAT, SMARTDAWG” in the subject line. —-

THE CHILL OF AUTUMN IS THE CAT'S MEOW; WAYS TO HELP ANIMALS; CONTEMPLATIONS & CASH...

EDITION OF MONDAY, SEPT. 9, 2024 [PetPowellPress] We open this edition with a report from Andy Fisher, Executive -in-Chief of our Eastern Seaboard Bureau based on Indian Lake in Denville, N.J.
Andy, a veteran print and broadcast journalist, provides this report. It is from the hub of experienced news-gathering also known as “the Garden State Bureau” of readlarrypowelldotcom.
The newsburst from the Bureau was captured in two short sentences by veteran newswriter Andy:

“Fall is here. Chloe has ordained it.”
Chloe is the Eastern Seaboard Bureau’s Executive Office Cat. As people in the greater Dallas/Fort Worth Summertime Sizzleplex enjoyed wonderful lower temps over the weekend, things in the Garden State were genuinely chilling.
On Sunday morning, Andy reported, “It was 48 at dawn; still hasn't hit 60 and the weather experts don't expect it to hit 70 this afternoon..”
Andy and wife Annie, Chief Executive Officer of the Eastern Seaboard/Garden State Bureau, adopted the rescued kitten Chloe several years ago and she immediately became a guiding personality in lakeside Bureau..
On Sunday, as the temp was still in the “cool” category, Andy reports this background regarding Chloe’s declaration of the arrival of Autumn: “Around 3:30, Chloe jumped up on the bed and snuggled under the comforter. THAT made it official. 
“Taking a seat in the middle of the wreath was icing on the cake.
“She's been out on the deck twice this morning, but she came back in very quickly because she doesn't like the breeze. 
“It's supposed to warm up later in the week, so summer isn't over, officially or unofficially.”
And from Andy on the Sports Desk, “Right on schedule, the Mets and the Yankees have gotten hot; that's so they can dash whatever hopes they've managed to drum up. That's it from the Garden State Bureau; back to you at the News Desk.” [LARRY ASIDE: Chloe has a great face, doesn't she!!!]
Andy also confided that Sunday’s temps influenced the season’s “second wearing of the St. Louis Browns pennant hoodie.” Andy is a longtime supporter of the legendary St. Louis Browns. [LARRY ASIDE: More on the Browns in Contemplations. It’s been decades since they had a disappointing season.]
COMING SATURDAY IN GBC:
LOW-COST CLINIC & A QUILT

We’re just going to label this a “Combo-Effort” by the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake, the non-profit that operates the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas.
First, on Saturday the 14th the Friends will will convert the spay/neuter clinic into a low-cost clinic of a different type. (This occurs periodically -- the spay/neuter clinic is always open on Tuesdays.)
From 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, the Friends will host a clinic with “affordable pet vaccinations, microchipping, heartworm testing, more!  No appointment necessary.”
The clinic is at 122 Old Gun Barrel Ln #8, Gun Barrel City, TX 75156. That’s where the low-cost spay/neuter clinic is conducted on Tuesdays each week. And, on periodic Saturdays, the Friends tend to other veterinary needs of animals at that clinic.
Questions? Contact our pal Sydney Busch, longtime voice and guiding light of the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. The numbers are 903-451-4701 or 214-808-4701. Click on friendsoftheanimals.org or find the Friends on Facebook HERE .
 
Also, note this: You can, at that clinic, buy tickets for the November raffle of this quilt created by the members of the Gun Barrel Quilting Guild. These gifted quilters traditionally donate a quilt for the annual fund-
raising raffle to help the Friends continue working to spay and neuter and to maintain the health of animals in the area.
The tickets are $5 or 5 tickets for $20.
The whimsical cats in the cups is the front of the quilt and the flowers are the back. You can see it in person at the clinic.
Or email [email protected] to ask how to buy tickets if you’re not going to be in the neighborhood before the November drawing for the quilt.
And don’t forget, the Hometown Cinema in Gun Barrel City is currently runnng a "round it up" fundraiser benefiting the Friends -- moviegoers round up the purchase price of their tickets or snacks and the rounded up money goes to the Friends of the Animals.
GOING BACK IN TIME
TO SAY HEY TO ZORRO

[LARRY ASIDE: Readlarrypowelldotcom hasn’t actually met this boy Zorro, but we did watch the Walt Disney TV series of the same name in the late 1950s and we do endorse giving dogs such good homes that Disney might make a movie about you and your dog. Probably better odds getting Disney film than winning Lotto Texas, right? OK, back to Zorro.]
Our Mesquite Animal Shelter volunteer dog-writer contact Debra Chisholm provided the photos and story of “this handsome pup,” she calls him. Zorro is “listed as a Bernese Mountain Dog mix.  He arrived on 8/30 … as a stray.  This delightful and charming youngster weighs 52 pounds, is approx 8 months old and has been neutered since arriving at the shelter.  He would seem to be the perfect puppy for an active family with children who would play with him and give him lots of loving attention.”
Debra reports that Zorro “walks well on a leash” and is “ playful and enjoyed playing with toys.  He has a moderate activity level.  He likes to be petted and is a friendly and sweet-natured boy.  He doesn't jump on you.  He has such a pleasant personality and nature.” She also says “He would not be suited to life in someone’s backyard.” Yep, he’s got what it takes to be a companion in front of the TV or on the couch, etc.
Zorro is #56670189 — Cite his ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email
rescues@cityof mesquite.com. Same system for this cat Kimmy.
You can see Kimmy and Zorro and many other dogs and cats by clicking on the shelter’s website HERE.
Kimmy (#56664022) is  listed as being “25 days old” and a small, white and grey Domestic Shorthair Mix.
She arrived at the shelter on Aug. 29 and is currently “rescue only” in the care of a staff foster.
[LARRY ASIDE: Everybody needs a chance to spoil a kitten. It’s a joyous way to get to understand a cat and how a cat can spoil you.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
BASEBALL, SEASONS & COLD CASH
Back to the St. Louis Browns mentioned in Chloe’s opening declaration of autumns arrival. Chloe’s human Andy Fisher is a genuine fan of the Browns because, as he once explained, the team hasn’t let him down on the field lately. True, the Browns quit playing as the St. Louis American League team back in the mid-20th century or thereabouts. FYI: History shows the Browns left St. Louis for Baltimore and became the Orioles. You kids may have heard of the Orioles. Moving along …
Baseball fans will understand that St. Louis Browns reference. The Browns won their only American League Pennant in 1944 — lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. You can look it up in baseball history during any season: Autumn, winter, spring, summer, baseball, football, soccer, Oscars season…]
[AN ADDENDUM: One more AUTUMNAL NOTE from LARRY:
The high temp in D/FW Sunday was, the online report read, 95. Still cooler than two weeks ago and the 100s. Autumn will officially get to the Eastern Seaboard Bureau at 8:44 a.m. EDT on Sunday, Sept. 22, and arrive in Texas at 7:44 a.m. CDT the same day. Can we then relax? Nope. We prepare to ‘FALL BACK” at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3 — Election Day is the 5th. Relax, nobody’s ever “normal” on presidential election day.]
ABOUT THE COWBOY QB’S PAYCHECK: I kept reading the stories about how the Dallas Cowboys and Quarterback Dax Prescott agreed, as the stories read, “on a 4-year, $240 million contract extension.” Immediately I flashed back to my decades spent as an editor and then as a columnist at The Formerly Big Paper Downtown. I didn’t think I was ever going to be able to spend all the money they were paying me — pretty sure I’m not the only ol’ newshound who had that fear.
Making more money than you ever expected to make typing for a daily paper is a real challenge. You can’t have enough car trouble to run completely out of money!
Journalism schools oughta teach a college-level class titled “WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY TYPING TALES FOR A LIVING!” You shouldn’t have to beg the company to terminate you just so you can clear your head and think straight again. (Just kidding the tightwads who’ve traditionally run print journalism!)
—- Offer objection or confirmations by clicking on COMMENT below or email [email protected] and ask to borrow 5 or 10 bucks from me to get through the week. —-

A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP CAN TAKE YOU FROM A COUCH TO A BARD AND A CAT WITH A DREAM

Happy slumbering, Dear Weekend Readers.
I am Porche Noel, the Personal Dog of the guy who usually provides the filling for this literary peanut butter & jelly sandwich called Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
Yes, it is true that at readlarrypowell.com I have been a sleeping dog face every now and then. For this edition, I am both awake and asleep. That is either a political reference or an NFL defensive backfield reference. No offense to office-holders or Dallas Cowboys.
My job in life is author/companion. Author doesn’t pay well, but companion comes with plenty of food and a place to sleep.
First, in today’s deep thought segment, we ask a question involving a longtime friend of my ancestral family. My great-great-great-and so forth on back to the 1600s grandparents knew him as “Will” and sometimes as “Bill” but mostly as “The Money.”
The question is:
Did William Shakespeare have a crab?
Yes, he did. And as your extensive research will demonstrate, Will/Bill had a dog named Crab, a canine character in The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Yes, Shakespeare on stage had a dog and didn’t need fancy whizzbang electronic computer gadgets to get the character across to the audience. I think the publicity posters may have read “LIVE! ON STAGE! CRAB -- THE DOG WITH THE THEATRICAL TAIL”
So that brings us to this photograph — we are not live, on stage, but we are Wendy Louise Wagstaff Arden (near the camera) and me, Porche Noel, canine nose shoved into hiding at the other end of the couch. We know how to take up space on a couch.  [PORCHE ASIDE: That's my sweet sleepin' face on the right. I wear it 98 percent of the day.]
Dogs knew long before humans knew it that sleep is an important element in a healthy mammalian life. Thus, in the name of physical fitness, “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.” Insomnia is not a canine or feline curse — it ia a human challenge — yes, a. human “Malédiction de nocturne.”
And with that, we’ll close today's trip from the 21st century to the era when Crab walked the stage on behalf of the Bard of Avon. [EDITOR’S NOTE: William Shakespeare was born in April 1564, coincidentally, the last year the Dallas Cowboys won the Super Bowl.] [CORRECTION FROM PORCHE: We have a bitter text editor who made that ups and inserted it into my entertaining Crab & The Bard report. My sincerest Canine Apologies. The last Super Bowl year was 1996, in the previous century. Thank you for your patience.. Fact-minded Porche Noel.]
[PORCHE EXPLANATION: Moving along, that is a photograph from several years ago of a sleeping dog (me) and a mono-eyed cat who writes what  he calls “poetry” in a trance brought on by listening to '60s rock 'n' roll while translating Latin in his still 16-year-old day-dreaming mind.]
And that concludes this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.  As the Romans once said, "Sic friat crustulum." (Translates as "That's the way the cookie crumbles."
[DEAR READERS:  Remember to send photos of your sleeping dogs and napping cats to us at [email protected] and we’ll feature them in the weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cat’s Nap. As Lady Macbeth originally said when the new puppy soiled the castle carpet, “Show your sleeping dogs. Show us your napping cats. What's done cannot be undone.” LARRY ASIDE: It’s amazing how artfully literary a 1960s junior college dropout can look when he has access to the internet and a willingness to have fun with words and the original author’s been gone so long that even his lawyers are too dead to file a lawsuit. And that, too, is a Shakespearean reference. It’s a line about lawyers from Shakespeare’s Henry VI — a comic line. Some say. You can look it up.
That, on the right is Senior Office Cat William Powell, long a fan of stage productions in the modern years. In particular he dreams of taking on the lead role in Tennessee William's 1955 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. 
-- THANK YOU FOR READING AND GET SOME SLEEP! -- 

FOR A FRIDAY EDITION: CHOWS IN COWTOWN; CUTIES IN MESQUITE, CONTEMPLATIONS IN PRINT

EDITION OF FRIDAY, SEPT. 6, 2024 [PetPowellPress] I was going to put off mentioning this, but I might as well go ahead and note that the Holiday Insights online calendar people report that September 6 is “Fight Procrastination Day.” It’s also National Coffee Ice Cream Day (never had that) and “Read a Book Day” — when I could read faster, I could do that. Nowadays I celebrate “Read A Book Quarterly Day.”
FROM OUTTA THE PAST,
REMEMBER A CHOW FAN
On Friday, I opened the Facebook page for Fort Worth Animal Care and Control Placement Network HERE
and found photos of Chows with a headline that read “RESCUE NEEDED BY EOD 9/6.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Immediately I remembered the late Dianne Watson, gone many years now, but the triumph of her mission to save every Chow that needs saving made an impression on a lot of people. Bless Dianne and may her spirit help get these two into happy homes.]
The note on the website read, “CHOW CHOW LOVERS!! We have two pretty Chows that were brought to us after being dumped at another shelter. They are currently in our medical treatment ward and we are out of space and need to get these babies placed ASAP. They are not doing well in the shelter environment and will benefit from getting over their URI out of the shelter. “
The goal is to get them out of the shelter by the the end of the day today!
THE CHOWS ARE:
GRIFFIN (#56624542) A 4-year-old fellow who weighs 39 pounds.
CHEYENNE (#56624515) is a 4-year-old, 41-pound medium-sized girl.
The rules at the Fort Worth Shelter for helping this pair of Chows include, “DO NOT CALL THE SHELTER!”
To rescue these dogs, email [email protected].
You may also see them at the Silcox Campus of Fort Worth Animal Care and Control at 4900 Martin Street on the southeastern side of Fort Worth.
SOMETIMES THE DOGS
CAPTURE THE CAMERA
We got the photos and stories of these two adorable adoptables from Debra Chisholm of the bio-writing corps at Mesquite Animal Shelter.
As you can tell, she has focused, so to speak, on two dogs who can “work the camera.”
Of the first dog, Debra writes, "This delightful and handsome boy is Jax, a stray that arrived on 8/31. … He weighs 74 pounds, is approx 3 years old and is neutered. “My Dog Scanner app suggests Rhodesian Ridgeback or Redbone Coonhound in his mix. 
The $64,000 question is ‘Why has his owner not come looking for him?’ He looks as though he’s been well cared for. He is an enthusiastic tail-wagging, sweet-natured fellow. Jax seems confident, trusting and well adjusted. …He walks beautifully on a leash. He did his business in the yard. He is well mannered with a moderate activity level. Jax is a boy ‘on the move!’  He loves treats and will sit for them for as long as a human friend will dispense them!  Jax is amiable, more than happy to be petted and is willing to receive loving attention.”
See the full bio and that of the second dog, many other dogs and cats by going to the shelter’s website at
https://www.cityofmesquite.com/1239/Animals-in-the-Shelter
Jax is #56678289 — cite that number when you call the shelter at 972-2156-6283 or email [email protected].
Same system for this guy Boyd, #5666266. He came in as a stray on August 2w9. Debra says her Dog Scanner app
“suggests Terrier and Great Dane in the mix, weighing in at 42 pounds and at approx 2 years of age.  He seeks out affection and enjoys the attention of a kind human friend.  In fact he is a lap dog wannabe and he wants to please.  Boyd is playful and likes toys.  What you would immediately note about Boyd is that he is emaciated, skin-and-bones.  Either his owners badly neglected feeding him or he has been out on his own scrounging for food to stay alive. But he is a happy boy, wagging his tail and desiring a human friend and ready to move on with his life. 
“As a result of this malnutrition, he is very food and treat intensive and takes treats roughly. In his new home he would need to be fed separately from other animals or fed in his kennel. The staff is feeding him extra food in appropriate amounts in order to gain a more healthy weight. … He is inquisitive and interested in what is going on in his surroundings.  He wants a person or family that will allow him to live inside and be an integral part of the family circle. From the way he snuggled and cuddled with our volunteer, it is obvious that he is a sociable fellow.”

  He might not be suited for a family with young children until he realizes he doesn't have to desperately grab for food. No how, no way would he be happy being forced to live his life in someone's backyard.  Please assist Boyd in finding his very special forever home by networking or tagging at [email protected], typing in the subject line TAG, ID 56662660.  Interested but have questions?  Then please call 972-216-6283 or email at [email protected]. 
And just in case you wondered, if you click on this MESQUITE SHELTER LINK https://www.cityofmesquite.com/1239/Animals-in-the-Shelter

CONTEMPLATIONS
MAYBE SOME CRACKIN’ WISE
I saw, in a local paper’s report on the Grand Prairie contaminated water crisis, that the city’s mayor had declared “It’s over.” And, as a longtime observer of municipal crises in Texas, and, in particular the Metroplex, I’m almost convinced that no municipal crises is over until the lawyers say it’s over! Someone start counting the lawsuits over the dirty water! …
Speaking of days, one more look at Holiday Insights. For Sept. 7 the online calendar reports and Saturday is National Salami Day, Neither Rain Nor Snow Day, World Beard Day (which I’ve endorsed since 1971) and, finally, National Tailgating Day which, I think, means more people get on Dallas’ freeways and drive as closely together as the law allows.
AND A PERSONAL NOTE PLEASE: My father, Calvin Powell of Texarkana, Texas, never liked anybody making a big deal out of his birthday. But, as the oldest child, it’s my job to do what he didn’t want done. Friday, Sept. 6, is the 100th anniversary of Pop’s birth. He left us at 84 on Nov. 18, 2008. Things haven’t been the same since. I suspect there’s a daily clattering of dominos on a kitchen table in Heaven. And maybe some Hank Williams (the senior singer) on the record player nearby. Have a Heavenly Day, Pop.
—- Offer sage advice or cautions by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “GO RANGERS 25” in the subject line. —-

CATS, DOGS, RESCUES AND A TRADITIONAL FUND DRIVE FOR 'EM ALL -- PLUS COOL TEXAS TEMPS AND THE GREAT STATE FAIR

EDITION OF THURSDAY, SEPT. 5, 2025 [PetPowellPress] Fleeting thought: Isn’’t it wonderful how State Fair of Texas temps have arrived in plenty of time to chill Fair Park and the Midway before the great Fair opens for its September 27-October 20 run!
You can see a lot of things at the State Fair of Texas that you won’t see anywhere else. For example, consider this artistic tribute to Big Tex. Created with buttons -- if my eyes do not deceive me! We’ll follow up on the Fair in Contemplations. First, we’ll try to help animals and the people who are helping them. You don’t have to wear boots to help animals though I have been in animal circumstances in which boots were pretty good idea thought of much too late -- of course.
AND, OF COURSE, YOU MAY
HAVE SEEN A ‘GIVING DAY’ NOTE
Or two. Or 20. Or more. Lots of local animal groups are signed up for this annual fundraiser. We’ve gotten several notes and we’re citing
one non-profit in particular for no particular reason except readlarrypowell.com likes cats and this non-profit’s note came with a lovely trio of kittens. (Also we’ve written now-and-then about Take Me Home Pet Rescue for many years —if memory serves.
Our office dogs think those cats are cute, too. Senior Office Cat, the handsome William Powell, mumbled, “We’ll see how long cute lasts” and looked into a mirror and smiled cutely, handsomely.
So, consider this a general reminder on behalf of all organizations that have registered to participate in the annual North Texas Giving Day Drive. You can give now and all the way through Giving Day on September 19, according to the website at northtexasgivingday,org. Click on “DONATE” and open the “Find a Cause” link where you can navigate to the organization of your choice or explore animal rescue organizations among many others with human causes.
Here’s the story on the photo of the kittens. It came from the email from Dana Huffman, President & Volunteer at Richardson-based Take Me Home Pet Rescue. The story reads: “Meet the Star Wars litter discovered by a feral feeder in Arlington. Their momma was gone! A call to Take Me Home set our rescue in motion. Volunteers transported the babies to North Texas, got them the medical care they needed and then handed them off to loving foster homes. Finn, Solo and Poe are thriving and ready to meet their new families.This is just one rescue story. So many more are happening as I write.” And Dana’s note adds, “Please consider an early gift, or a gift on September 19, North Texas Giving Day. If you are unable to donate please consider being a foster.  We cover all food and medical costs. Your participation keeps us doing the work we love, saving as many dogs and cats as we can!”
[LARRY ASIDE: Yep, money is essential, but fostering is divine. May all animal-oriented non-profits hit the jackpot for North Texas Giving Day.]
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE
AN ASSORTMENT OF ADORABLES
As you know, Mesquite Animal Services has a team of determined volunteers who work to get animals into loving homes.
These biographies can generally be seen on the Mesquite Animal Shelter website HERE.
At readlarrypowell.com we present some of the many bios and we “edit” them to fit into our space. But you, Dear Readers, can click on the Mesquite link and read the entire biographies and see photos the animals who need homes. (The writers, among them Judi Brown and Debra Chisholm, provide a first hand/first paw presentation of the dogs’ moods, tendencies and love of adoration.)
Today’s bios are provided by Judi Brown, our first Mesquite shelter dog-writin' contact years ago. Here we go with the edited versions of Judi’s bios!
This first pup is Radar (#56648737), a 4-year-old, 50-pound black and white Pittie with, the bio reads, “a cute face” and a personality that is “easy-going, affectionate” and “super sweet.”
Judi wrote, “I know you’re thinking here’s another black dog and a terrier Pit at that! Well, Radar isn’t just any black terrier Pit. He’s got an exceptionally sweet, easy-going disposition and an adorable face! Besides that he’s a Dallas Cowboy fan (see scarf)! … He waited patiently in his kennel for me to get him out, but then immediately let me know that he was happy to see me. … He wants to please and looks up at you with adoring brown eyes. He’s loving, calm, friendly, tail wagging, happy, and well mannered. He appears to be very devoted and surely would make a loyal companion….”
Remember, see more of the bio on the shelter website and cite his Mesquite Shelter ID #56648727 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Same system for this girl Celeste, also bio’d by Judi. Celeste is #56593716.
Judi wrote, “Celeste means 'heavenly,' which is an appropriate name for this sweet girl. Celeste is a 1 to 2-year-old, 35-pound brindle Husky/Dutch Shepherd mix that came to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 8/19 as a stray. The bonus is that she’s already spayed.
“She also wanted to wear a bright colored scarf to attract your attention. Her tail curls with a tip of white on the end. She also has one blue eye and one brown eye. She leaped and bounded around the yard, and sometimes got so excited that she jumped on me. … She is smart so she would be a quick study. … She came running to me when I called her from across the yard. She’s affectionate and seeks attention. She’s curious, friendly, outgoing, frisky, playful, and joyful. …”
Judi also provided the bio of Darla who, Judi writes, "is very unique in her markings. Her head is completely black. Then the rest of her body is black and white. Look at those standup ears! Darla is a 4- to 5-year-old, 40-pound Fox Terrier/Rat Terrier mix that came into the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 8/27 as a stray.
“She should compete for the Olympics. She is very agile! She loves to get up on things … I’m assuming it gives her a better view of her environment. She will also need a very secure, tall fence as it appeared she was trying to find a way to get out of the yard. Possibly she’s looking for her previous owners. … She is friendly and seeks affection. When I first went to her kennel, she struck out her paw as if she was saying ‘Pick me.’ She also came and put her head on my lap."
Darla is #56648758. Cite it when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
That brings us to Addie (#56656572), an 8-year-old, 50-pound Australian Kelpie/Shepherd mix. She came in as a stray on Aug. 28. Judi writes that Addie “was cautiously friendly, but with time I won her over. I suspect she has not had the love and pampering she deserves. She has relatively large mammary tumors and lipomas. …age related! Her eyes are also matted and she has some minor hair loss down her back. She has been given Nexgard. In spite of that she has forgiven her previous adopters and is wanting to go into a quiet, laid-back, loving home environment where she can live out the rest of her life!”
Again, to ask about Addie, follow the same routine: Cite her shelter ID number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]. Judi says Addie "was in seventh heaven when given a soft blanket!”
Remember, visit that Animals in the Shelter link
https://www.cityofmesquite.com/1239/Animals-in-the-Shelter.  to see the complete biographies and many other dogs and cats and kittens.
This cat? He’s a cat with coincidence —in keeping with the opening Take Me Home kittens’ theme that Mesquite cat is Skywalker (#56495307), a youngish Domestic Shorthair Mix with a gray and black coat. He’s been in the shelter since August 3. He’s available for adoption. So, where would you find Skywalker in Mesquite? He’s waiting in the Mesquite Animal Shelter Cat Room.
[LARRY ASIDE: May the Happy Adoption Force be with him!]
CONTEMPLATIONS
AH, THE COOL WEATHER'S INFLUENCE
Back to the State Fair of Texas and its legendary Creative Arts.
You can see lots of Creative Arts entries and triumphs by visiting
bigtex.com and clicking on “Get Involved” and, then, “Creative Arts.” Click on that steer painting so it'll grow and you'll see the colors -- or go to bigtex.com and see it on the Fair's website.
The State Fair of Texas demonstrates to the world that not all Texans are rich oil producers or cattle barons or bankers who moved here from New York City.
Some Texans work to win blue ribbons with fantastic recipes and all sorts of canned fruits and vegetables, and pictures with brushes or with cameras and…well, it’s artsy and takes talent, there are Texans trying to conquer it.
Some of us, of course, gleefully walk the happily crowded Midway while hoping to win win a stuffed bear so big you gotta swap your electric car for a gas-powered pickup to get it all the way home. Ah, Dear Readers, thank you for allowing me to daydream a little bit. After all, as the song written by Rodgers & Hammerstein for the early '60s State Fair movie goes:
“Our state fair is a great state fair
Don’t miss it, don’t even be late
Our state fair is a great state fair,
It’s the best state fair in our state.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Well, heck, this is a pretty darned big state.]
—- Offer wisdom or wax eloquently by clicking on “comment” below or by emailing [email protected] and put “LAY OFF THE FAIR SWEETS” in the subject line. ——

ON A DARK AND RAINY DAY, THERE ARE LOVELY WAYS TO LIGHT UP THE HUMAN HEART

EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY SEPT. 3-4, 2024 [PetPowellPress] Before we get to the connection between a movie theater and a
spay/neuter clinic, we’ll address the soggy farewell to summer and its dry 100-degree days.
How wonderful was that Tuesday morning glimpse of autumn! As this is being typed, the sky is still autumnaly cloudy, dark with vibrant rain  peppering the area and not a sign of a 100-degree temp on a thermometer in the entire paved and unpaved sprawl.
Before we go farther into this weather report, let me just offer my sincere best wishes to people who, like our household, have the dogs on a firm schedule. Yep, as the 9:30 a.m. “Morning Moment of Truth" arrived,” there wasn’t a dog in the house who’d go out into that big raindrop storm that had settled over our spread, Rancho Soggy.
What you see in this photo is the other side of a beautiful rain. Little Porche Noel (foreground) and Wendy Louise Wagstaff Arden are waiting to hear the last rain drop of the current storm hit the roof.
In the meantime, my fellow admirers of dogs and cats, everybody grab your towels, mops and hold onto your patience as we move on while the rain takes its sweet time. That’s Senior Office Cat William Powell who smiled and asked, “These mutts never heard of a litter box?” 
MEANWHILE, IN EVERMAN,
SERENA IS WAITING
This note popped up in the Tuesday email thanks to one of our longtime tipsters, Heather Harrison, who has been dedicated to helping Everman animals for years.

She headlined this email, “SERENA IS PLEADING FOR A MIRACLE.”
And here’s the story for this dog in s shelter in the small town of Everman on the southern edge of southeastern Fort Worth.

Heather’s note reads, “Serena is a 2-year-old, female Pitbull mix. She has clearly lived a very rough life before arriving to the shelter. Her face is riddled with scars & her body is so frail.
“But she doesn't seem to hold any grudges because she loves everyone she meets. Such a sweet, affectionate girl. She wants nothing more than a human to love her. Very quiet & calm.”
Heather’s note adds this chilling assessment: "Everman TX Shelter fills up quickly so her time is ticking...ANYONE HAVE SPACE FOR THIS GIRL?? TO ADOPT/RESCUE 817-561-5495.”
[LARRY ASIDE: And there you have it. One more Pittie girl winds up in a bad spot because humans can’t live up to even the slightest standards of decency.]
MEANWHILE, ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE METROSPRAWL
We’ll begin with this guy Barney who’s bio and story of being stray-and-found was sent to us by the veteran volunteer dog-bio-writer

Debra Chisholm. She reports that a Mesquite Animal Services officer picked Barney up as a stray on Aug. 29.
And Debra writes, “OK, at first glance, Barney looks quite intimidating. He is a 72-pound, approx 2 -year-old Pit Bull mix. But appearances can be deceiving and first impressions can be wrong.
“In reality, this big boy is a well mannered, gentle fellow with a low to medium activity level. He is lively, active and alert, a tail-wagging sweetheart! He really likes treats and will take them nicely.  He wants to stay close.
“I anticipated he would have a strong pull on the leash because of his weight, but that was not the case. He walks quite nicely on a leash. I’m told by one of our staff who has spent time with him that he appears to be house-trained, and that he does not seem reactive to dogs or cats. (However, if interested in Barney, please ask for an official dog test from the staff.) She commented on how well-behaved and polite he is. He does know the sit command and he was quite curious about checking out things in the yard and in the room in which I did his eval. He seems to have been well cared for as he is not underweight. As you can see, there is a lot to like about this big boy!”
Barney is #56666169 — cite that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 for email [email protected].
Debra also provided the bio for this girl Mindy. And you use the same system to ask the shelter about Mindy — she’s #566640233 at Mesquite.
Mindy came into the shelter the same way Barney arrived: Picked up as a stray by an officer on Aug. 29.
She weighs about 45 pounds, is 2-years-old and and, Debra’s Dog Scanner App “suggests” that Mindy is a mix of “Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog and Entlebucher Mountain Dog with a couple of other minor breeds. She has


such an unusual and beautiful coat along with two blue eyes with one of the eyes half brown. Very unique. She has a calm and gentle nature, and is a bit shy still. She is docile and submissive with a chill personality. She was not interested in either treats or playing with toys and balls. …
"She does respond nicely to loving attention and does not in the least resist it. Perhaps you can tell that this little girl has won my heart!”
You can see many more dogs and cats and kittens by going to this Mesquite Shelter SITE.
 Among the kittens, as your local stores begin to decorate for Halloween, is this wonderfully named, eyes-wide-open kitten Mystic (56495508).
She’s a 2-month-old Gray and Silver Domestic Medium Hair Mix who came into the shelter on August 3.
[LARRY ASIDE: She’s “rescue only” and currently in the scare of a staff foster. But, maybe you have a rescue group who’ll help you get this girl Mystic. Just a magical thought. ]
WHAT DOES A MOVIE THEATER
HAVE TO DO WITH ANIMAL ADVOCATES?
IT’S A GENUINE ‘ROUND-UP’ FOR ANIMALS
Ah, it’s a mutual admiration society, perhaps.
We got the note from Sydney Busch, the guiding light and spokesperson for Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. As you know, these Friends also operate the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas.
And they have a supporter who happens to show movies in a theater in Gun Barrel City, the little town named for honesty. The story, according to the Texas State Historical Association HERE is it got its name because of the town's motto, “We shoot straight with you.”
Sydney sent us a note about the latest connection between Hometown Cinema in Gun Barrel City and the Friends. She wrote, “Hometown Cinema in GBC is celebrating us in September...They are asking all customers to round-up their payment for tickets/snacks and that round-up will go to us!”
That’s throughout September — you can see what films are on the Hometown Cinema big screens by clicking on this LINK,
Also, as you probably know, the Friend’s low-cost spay/neuter clinic operates on Tuesdays. And on certain Saturdays, the Friends operate a Vaccination Clinic at the facility. The next Saturday Vaccination Clinic is from 10 a.m. to noon on September 14.
Want info on how to help the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake maintain their pro-animal programs and clinics? Call 903-451-4701 or 214-808-4701. And you can see other things the Clinic need by going to Friends wish list LINK.
CONTEMPLATIONS
QUESTIONS FOR THE AGES
A question, apparently, for the ages: "Anybody else bugged by the constant load of dumped dogs and cats in shelters?“ Seriously, for as long as I can remember, city and county animal shelters have been killing dogs and cats to make room for the next batch of dumped dogs and cats. Why does it have to be like that? Isn’t there a better system? I may have reached the point in life where the second most common question in my daily life is “What the hell is wrong with people?”…
What? The most common question? I’ll tell you: The actual most common question in my daily life is, “Where’s the men’s room?” That question usually has an answer.
—- OFFER ADVICE OR CHAGRIN BY CLICKING ON ‘COMMENT’ BELOW OR BY. EMAILING [email protected] AND DEMAND ANSWERS. —-

ONCE UPON A TIME, A GUY PAINTING A HOUSE ACQUIRED A GREAT PERSONAITY IN A CAT SUIT

[DEAR READERS: You can interpret that headline in a few ways, but I'll confess right now that I've never acquired a personality in a cat suit. I don't own a cat suit. Now, read on about William Powell.]
Here we are, my fellow Americans, celebrating Labor Day 2024, a Monday federal holiday created in honor of Americans who work!
As my Senior Office Cat William Powell points out, “You are, after all, the son of a union man.”

So true. And we have workers in our own home office. Now, let’s ease our way into this edition of our long-running weekend feature titled “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.”
That is one of the our earliest photos of Senior Office Cat William Powell. I’d been outside, one foot on a ladder and the other on the “brick-walled” front-of-the-house flower bed. Why? Because in that Summer 2018 it was time to paint the wood trim on our home in a nice neighborhood in southern Oak Cliff. And that brings us to William Powell’s arrival.
There I was — only an aluminum ladder to keep my fat backside delicately balanced — and I was scraping some inexplicably untidy white paint off the wood.
[DEAR READERS: Keep in mind that at that point in life I’d spent from Summer 1965 through Summer of 2018 without ever having learned to do anything profitable except type while simultaneously remembering the alphabet and the rules for spelling and grammar, some of which I followed flawlessly for decades. I never learned how to really "work."]
I looked down from my uncertain perch and sitting on the sidewalk between the flowerbed and the grassy yard, was a young cat. I got down off the wall by deftly descending via ladder and sat down on the flowerbed wall while feeling safe for the first time in hours. That’s my blue shirt — the rest of it had white
specks and accidental smears. And that cat that ventured up to sit next to me is the wandering —- nearly
grown-up — kitten who would become known as “William Powell.”
In the following hours he quickly adapted to his position of leadership in the household. [That's William snoozing in his personal rocking chair in the bedroom. He might share it with Junior Office Cat Stevie Ray if pressed.]
Nowadays, the first thing every morning is William shows the other cats and the dogs that it’s time to have breakfast at their assigned AODs — Areas of Dining. Then, when I go to my office to begin typing on some piece of great fiction or entertaining nonfiction or letters and emails to my dear friends, William races to beat me to the office. [On the left, that's Dudley the Angel, William at the door to Martha's office and, on Martha's office floor, Hastings, the kitten rescued off a Duncanville Street.
Back to William: He leaps onto his Office Observation Platform Site (OOPS) to make sure all is OK from the house to the street [photo right]. If it isn’t he may sound an alarm — kind of a guttural snarl. Amplified, it would sound like a giant dinosaur threatening a city in a movie.

William, as the Senior Office Cat, is also responsible for educating Stevie Ray Treeboy, the Junior Office Cat I rescued when I found him yowling to the world while intently gripping a flimsy mimosa branch early one morning in 2018 — that mimosa was about 25 feet from the flowerbed but, a few years later, the new owners had the tree removed and took out all the precious flowers (My rose bush! My rose bush!, bawled the typer) I’d dripped paint on when William and I gave that side of the house a new coat of tough, cheap white paint.
Back to the day I met William. That’s my blue painting shirt in the corner of the photo as William — such green eyes — explains the principles of paint-brushing on wooden surfaces to me. He held up his front paws and all I could see was fur nearly covering the pads. He said to me, “Follow this rule: If you’re painting, keep these babies covered!” he yowled as he whipped out his claws. He added, “The rule is ‘Cover the surface, don’t carve it!’ That’s the Law of the Cats.” [LARRY ASIDE: I speak Cat semi-fluently.]
Such a smart cat. In fact, that  day I met him, I walked over to our front door, opened it, asked, “Would you like to come in?” He responded by walking in, looking around and staying— He has never again volunteered to help me paint anything in or out of the house.
“I’m a housecat,” he once told me. “It is my elevated position in life and I’m keeping it.”
William’s “do-no-actual labor — advise only” attitude is why he’s in top management at readlarrypowell.com.
He raised Stevie Ray — taught him how to nap quietly, how to show up for meals, how to flop in the office and be ready for assignments. How to charm, then lecture dogs — the dogs learned behavior rules from William, too.
Yes, Dear Readers and dog and cat fans, the guy who types all this stuff is crazy about cats and dogs. And William Powell is the guiding light for mannerly behavior in its, dogs or children in any office situation.
The feline napper William Powell is a cool cat — awake, asleep or monitoring the work in the office.
The final photo? There’s William and Stevie Ray in a counseling session on that Office Observation Platform Site. (OOPS). [LARRY CONFESSION; William refuses to refer to it as “The OOPS.” He’s too clever a cat to stoop to my level. — LARRY]
[DEAR READERS: Send photos of your slumbering critters to [email protected] and tell us why you love ‘em and how you got ‘em. We’ll spotlight them in our long-running weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. It’s a joy to see why people love their critters — and readlarrypowell.com believes it helps people decide to make room in their lives for a dog, a cat or any other critter in need of a loving life.]

HOLIDAY WEEKEND? MAKE LIFE A HOLIDAY FOR DOGS & CATS. WHAT OF LEVELLAND & UFOS?

EDITION OF FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2024 [PetPowellPress]. As we head into the Labor Day Weekend, everybody remember to ignore the … wait. I forgot what we’re should ignore.
Oh, yeah! Ignore glowing circular objects flying in formation in the Texas sky. Consider this: “I’ll never forget the Thanksgiving Saucer Invasion of the Panhandle in 1957.”
Hang on. Time-out. (Pregnant pause…..) Oops, I accidentally copied and pasted a rejected sentence from my next sci-fi novel — it’s titled, “That’s Not Dallas: It’s Houston.”
Speaking of, did you see the recent news story about Dallas distributing a promotional packet that, instead of a picture of Big D had a photo of Houston on the cover?
Somehow that “can’t tell Dallas from Houston” event reminded me of a 1957 sighting of flying saucers at Levelland, about 45 minutes west of Lubbock in the Texas Panhandle.
More in Contemplations. First, we try to help Earthlings help Earthdogs and Earthcats. [LARRY ASIDE: It’s an election year — I promised not to mention Earthrats.]
AND NOW, INTRODUCING
A LITTLE PUMPERNICKEL
[DEAR READERS, At readlarrypowell.com we learned long ago that one of the surefire ways of becoming transfixed by a dog or cat involves the ol’ phrase: “Look directly into the eyes….” I was reminded of that when I read our pal Debra Chisholm’s opening to the story of this   Mesquite Animal Services dog. The eyes will grab your heart! Read on and hand your heart over.’]
Debra writes, “Look into the eyes of this precious boy and you will see uncertainty and yes, even hope.  He is Pumpernickel, a mixed breed boy that was found wandering around in a parking lot in a high business district.  The likelihood that he was dumped is high considering that there were no houses nearby. 
“Perhaps it was because he has Demodex mange and his owner did not want to deal with it.  Who knows?  Bottom line, he is at the Mesquite Animal Shelter and needing out.”
He is “rescue only” due to the Demodex mange for which the shelter is resting him.
Debra says he’s 5 or 6 months old, weighs 28 pounds and “He does not know to walk on a leash so had to be carried to the room in which I did his eval.  We will be working with him on that.  He likes treats and takes them politely.  He will sit in anticipation of yet another one.  Despite his past experience he is in good spirits and enjoys human companionship, being spoken to softly and gently and petted.
“I got some tentative tail wags from sweet boy as we hung out together.  This calm and gentle pup needs out badly because a city shelter is no place to get healthy from a skin issue such as Demodex. “
Pumpernickel is #56628872. Cite his number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email at [email protected].|
Debra also provided the photo and bio of this beauty, Wendy.
{LARRY ASIDE: Is that not clearly a Hollywood publicity portrait for a beautiful household dog? If we didn’t already have a Wendy Dog I’d get in line to sign the papers.]
Debra says Wendy is “an American Pit Bull/American Staffordshire Terrier mix picked up as a stray by one of our officers and brought to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 8/23. She weighs 60 pounds and is about 2 years of age.”
As you know, Dear readers, the Mesquite volunteer dog biographers spend time with the animals to help prospective adoptors and rescuers understand them. Debra wrote, “Wendy initially had a hard time feeling comfortable with us and still is somewhat timid and nervous.  Currently in her kennel she is a bit lethargic and uninterested in what is going on around her.  However, when I got her out and walked her around she perked up.  She responds to human closeness and affection.  Right now she has a low energy level but we expect her to become more lively and alert as we continue to interact with her.  She likes treats and will sit for them, taking them nicely. In the room in which I took her pictures she climbed onto a lower shelf that had a pile of fluffy blankets and was content to enjoy the luxury of the quiet space and soft blankets. She appears to have lived as a outside dog with calluses on her elbow and a coat that is dull, though she seems to have been well fed.  Wendy has found a place in my heart and I'm hoping someone will read this eval and view her pics and realize her potential to be a devoted companion.”
Wendy is #56624046. Cite that number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email at [email protected].
DEAR READERS: As you know, Mesquite Animal Services, the staffers and the volunteer dog-writers maintain a steady presentation of the shelter’s adoptable dogs and cats. So, OK, here’s one more dog before we get to a cat.]
This guy Gabe comes with a set of directions on his photos. Debra forwarded the bio by Catherine Ludwick. Gabe is #5524967. [HIs first photo directs "Kiss here!"]
Catherine wrote, "Spending time with Gabe may result in the following side effects: (1) uncontrollable urge to kiss Gabe’s wrinkled forehead, (2) tendency to relax while rubbing Gabe’s silky ears, (3) pride when people stop you to tell you how pretty Gabe is, and (4) desire to pet and cuddle Gabe.  Gabe is a 2-1/2-year-old neutered male American Staffordshire/Tosa mix who weighs 57lbs.
"He came in as a stray on 2/9 to the Mesquite Animal Shelter. Yes, that’s over 200 days in the shelter, and Gabe is struggling! Let’s save this extraordinary boy.”
To ask about Gabe, cite his ID #5524967 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
At this Mesquite shelter LINK you can see all sorts of dogs and cats — all ages. And you’ll even see some without names. For example, this is #56662654 — a Domestic Medium Hair Mix who came into the shelter on August 29. The age is not listed in this cat’s bio. And neither is the gender. This is, thus, the cat with no name. [LARRY ASIDE: Perhaps “Clint Eastcat” would be a good name.]. This cat’s gender is not identifiable and that suggests a reluctance to reveal secrets to strangers. A lot of cats are like that. This one is “available,” the shelter bio says, and you can see “Clint Eastcat” --ask for him by number, of course! -- in the “Feral Room.” [LARRY ASIDE: It has been our experience that “feral” is just a label and the label can be changed with the right amount of tender human care. FYI: Our Senior Office Cat William Powell and Junior Office Cat Stevie Ray Treeboy both came from feral situations and have turned out to be quite adorable. Get to know your cat; let your cat get to know you; pay them above the Screen Actor’s Guild Feline Character Actor scale.]

CONTEMPLATIONS
BELOVED ‘ANIMAL NUTS’ & 
THE LEVELLAND STORY OF 1957
At one point in our decades-long history at readlarrypowell.com, I almost knew how many shelters there were in the area known as the “Metroplex.” And I had a bit of a handle on how many rescue groups were operating around here — operative word “LOTS,” as in “lots of ‘em!." But it takes a special talent for organization and a gift of wrangling numbers to keep up with the statistics. You’re ol’ pal Larry has no number sense and his ability to organize accurately and consistently vanished in first grade when he got an box of 8 crayons and lost count at 4.
So, here’s the suggestion: The internet was created to help animal lovers keep up with the populations of city shelters, non-profit shelters, animal rescue groups and general challenges to the well being of animals. Yep, the whole internet was created just for us saps with cheap computers and limited attention spans. That’s a blanket description that inexperetly and without supportng facts covers all 254 animal-loving counties in the Lone Star State. Our theory at readlarrypowell.com is this: There is at least one Animal Nut, er, Animal Advocate with a computer in every single one of those counties.
If you know of a county without an Animal Nut (among the highest forms of praise we can deliver at readlarrypowell.com) let us know. Our two highest forms of praise? “Good dog!” and “Good cat!”
NOW ABOUT LEVELLAND. Levelland and UFOs? Yep, made a big splash in November 1957. I made a reference earlier to Levelland being about 45 minutes west of Lubbock. As it turns out, in the world of UFO Lore, Levelland is 2 1/2hours east of Roswell, N.M, by car — I don’t know how far it is by flying saucer. Here's a LEVELLAND UFO WIKIPEDIA LINK.
—- ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY WEEKEND ON PLANET EARTH and tell us where you’re from by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘I SAW YOU ON MARS’ in the subject line. ——

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2024 [PetPowellPress] I fell in the kitchen Tuesday morning. Tuesday evening rain fell on our neighborhood. I’m not sure there’s a connection. My Office Cat William Powell has waved me off of my inclination to pursue scientific explanations. He traces everything back to July 1969 when The Eagle landed on the moon without asking the local landing strip for permission. “Galactic manners matter,” William frequently tells me. “Earthlings could learn from the communication customs.”
WE GET A HAPPY REPORT
& AN APPEAL ON BEHALF
OF THE GOOD GIRL PHOENIX
You may recognize this dog — Phoenix is the little girl who was inexplicably, but seriously burned, rescued by the Euless Animal Shelter and wound up in the care of Trinity GAP Rescue. Horrible burn on her back.
And, here she is, in the cone that signals “I’m getting well!,”
Our pal Karen Lee of barkleyworld.com forwarded an update from Steffenie Vela of Trinity Gap Rescue. As you may know, barkleyworld.com was established to help animals get hard-to-fund medical care. And Trinity GAP Rescue evolved from a project of the Euless Trinity High School Girls Awareness Program.
The update on Phoenix is “she is healing so nicely and GAP thanks you ALL for your donations to help her.”
Now, there is “another urgent need, Karen’s note read. And she quoted Steffenie:
Phoenix “is losing her medical foster September 4 and has no place to go. We need a foster for this sweet girl. She is doing so great and is also in training since she is a 7-month-old puppy. We just can’t put her in boarding or back at the shelter after all she has gone through.
“Her wounds are almost healed and she no longer has to go to the vet except for check ups. She is our miracle puppy!
“Thanks to all who supported her. We are so grateful.
“If you would like to foster or adopt this amazing and loving girl, please email [email protected]."
And, remember, you can also help animals by donating to barkleyworld.com — the story of its creation is on the website.
A LOOK AT (QUOTING)
‘UNDISCOVERED TREASURES’
Our longtime Mesquite Animal Services contact Debra Chisholm, forwarded this message about a dog named Beckett (#55930966).
The note from Catherine Ludwick has several facets of rescue and shelter life.
Catherine wrote, “There are lots of undiscovered treasures at Mesquite Animal Shelter! All you have to do to find it is to look beyond kennel behavior and spend time outside of the shelter with these dogs!
“One such hidden treasure is Beckett. What a beauty inside and out. Beckett is a social and active boy who wants to be with his people. Outside the kennel he’s calm, curious, and affectionate; Beckett shines!
“Beckett is a stray who arrived on 5/15 at the Mesquite Animal Shelter. He may be Belgian Shepherd and Black Mouth Cur in his breed mix. He has the most captivating eyes, weighs 53 pounds, is approx 1 1/2 years old, and has been neutered. He is one lively fellow with plenty of personality. Don’t overlook Beckett!” Remember, cite his ID #55930966 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
See many more “undiscovered treasures” in the Mesquite Animal Shelter — plenty of dogs and plenty of cats at this MESQUITE SHELTER LINK. 
Among the adoptable kittens is this guy Carrot, He’s small and “red,” his bio says. A Domestic Shorthair Mix, he’s just over 3 months old and arrived at the shelter on July 26. Available to adopt — just walking the shelter’s Conference Room and look for a brightly kitten called Carrot.
CONTEMPLATIONS
DINAH & INSPIRATION…
It seems appropriate that readlarrypowell.com cites with gratitude the “star” of last weekend’s Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cat Nap. — that was this beautiful girl Dinah, nominated by her human, Lori Teutsch of Dallas.  Dinah’s held the job as “loyal companion” for the past 8 year. She was adopted at 7 weeks old from Texas Pawprints Cat Rescue.
I love it when people love their animals and help us show them off to people who may not have a cat or a dog. (If you’ve got a dog or cat and photos of the beloved critter sleeping or napping, send the story of how you got ‘em and what they mean to you and  photos of them awake, sleeping and napping to [email protected]. My belief is that demonstrations of beloved animals in a loving home encourage other people to understand that they, too, can both help animals and benefit themselves by adopting an animal and living up to the joy of being the human the animal loves.
Send photos of your slumberer/napper/sleeper and their stories to [email protected]. We’ve been celebrating the animals and their people in our weekend editions since the early part of this century. And we've never had a typographical errrur. -- Sincerely, Larry (& His Sleeping Dogs and Napping Cats.)
—- Celebrate animals and tell people about the cool sides of dogs and cats by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected]. —-

 

IN THE WAKE OF AN AMUSING KITCHEN MOMENT, WE DISCUSS A MOMMA DOG AND 3 PUPS, PLUS HIGH POINTS IN A LIFE

EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY/MAYBE BEYOND 8-27/28/’24 [PetPowellPress] OK, Dear Readers, we’re a little slow out of the chute for this particular edition. More in Contemplations. But at least (knock on wood) it’s not two internet failures in a row. And, yes, that is my personal dog Porche Noel -- I love her plays a major role in this edition's early morning drama. She also has never spent a moment in a city shelter -- that we know of -- rescued dog, adored and treasured.
FYI: There are a zillion (not an official count) city taxpayer-financed shelters in the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area. Anybody know of a shelter that has a bit of room for more dogs and cats? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
Just as humans put these animals into shelters (by intention, accident, or raging ignorance), only humans can get ‘em out. What we can’t figure out how to get people beyond the usual pro-animal circles interested in saving these lives. Bless all you animal people for keepin’ on keeping on!
MEANWHILE, MOM & HER
3 STILL-NURSING PUPS
NEED A SAFE PLACE
Yep, this is a Momma Dog and her babies story of a special situation. They are safe BECAUSE of a shelter and now they need that transitional home.
As you probably know either from eyewitness accounts or from a reports on readlarrypowell.com, Mesquite Animal Services has staffers and volunteers constantly at work saving lives of shelter animals. Sometimes they save ‘em BEFORE they are shelter animals. Read on.
Our prime source for the Mesquite bios and photos is the group of volunteer biographers who not only write about the animals but also get to meet them and learn about them so they can better profile them on the Mesquite Animal Services website. Helps people get interested in adopting an animal — such as that beautiful, obviously momma dog, Maxine, and her three pups.
Debra Chisholm tells us about this family. She begins: “Let me introduce you to three adorable 2-month-old pups and their Mom, Maxine.”
The puppies have been “coat-coded” so we can tell them apart.

Debra writes, “They are Poppy ID 56575473 (white), Boots ID 56575479 (black), Roxie ID 56618918 (brown/black) and mama Maxine ID 56575465.
“Maxine, Poppy and Boots were picked up by one of our officers and Roxie was brought to the shelter on 8/21.  Here's their story:  “Maxine had been homeless and eluding our officers for months.  “When one of our officers spoke with the residents, they stated that she had pups on their property that she had made her home — an abandoned vacant backyard full of trash and junk. 
“Finally on 8/15 one of our officers calmly and gently approached Maxine and after gaining her trust was able to leash her and bring the three of them to the shelter. Apparently she was tired of trying to survive alone with her pups.  The pups all weigh between 5-6 pounds. 
“Poppy, the white pup is the most extroverted and active.  She is quite the explorer, playful, friendly and an absolutely adorable ball of fluff. 
“Boots, the black pup, is timid, shy and fearful. He just seemed to want to find a corner in which to huddle and hopes he appears invisible.  However, he did warm up a bit during the photo session and began to explore the room.  He was totally OK with being held, cuddled and loved on! 
“And then there's Roxie, the brown/black pup, also shy, timid and uneasy.  She, too, was a-ok with snuggling, cuddling, and being kissed and loved on and is in need of plenty of TLC, patience and affection. 
“Mama and pups are a package deal since the youngsters are not weaned.  A city shelter is no place for 2-month-old-puppies whose immune systems are not adequately developed. 
“Please assist by networking or tagging at [email protected], typing their ID numbers (above) in the subject line.  They are a precious family in need of a well-deserved home.  If more info is needed please call 972-216-6283 or email at [email protected].”
CONTEMPLATIONS
CONFESSION? KERPLUNK?
Had an early morning slip & fall on the kitchen tile and I can’t raise my right typing hand any higher than the colon. What? The colon on the keyboard, silly, though I did jostle the innards and I won’t be able to pitch for the Texas Rangers for a couple of weeks. Truth is, I never really considered Porche Noel to be a roadblock until about 5:56 a.m. when she moved to the right when I expected her to move to the left. Ooof. She’s OK. Was untouched by my fall and then ate well, too.
Early in the morning I wrote, “I’m hoping to draw a comfortable breath by sundown — it’s the right side and that nostril is a little larger — now! Never pick your nose while innocently walking through your own home — I’m always learning philosophical lessons from my own mishaps.
Back to Porche Noel: My mission was to get her outside before she went inside, if you get my drift.
The delay I spent gasping for air (while waiting for the team first aid crew to rush into the kitchen with a stretcher and oxygen) was enough for me to recover and stand up while waving to the crowd. (The other two dogs and a chuckling cat were just observers, though the cat kept pointing to my slick-souled house shoes and laughin’, “Shoulda paid extra for the Claws Model!”.) That's Stevie Ray with the straight face -- as soon as the shutter snapped, he exploded with catlaughter.
To the mechanics of the situation. When I Iean to the left as I type, I feel normal — that’s not a political assessment from a longtime journalist — it’s a recognition of my new never-before-felt rib pain! Lose enough weigh and when you hit the floor, your ribs will let you know how exposed you are to a painful, sudden adult onset tumbling injury. Moving along….carefully. ….
IN A BIT OF SPEED-READING across the open screen on my computer I read “Who generally has the cheapest car insurance” and immediately I thought, “How does The Who score cheap car insurance?" Upon rereading, I realized the line had nothing to do with The Who but was just bait for an insurance company. Though, it did amuse me to think of old rock-n’-rollers retiring from the road and opening an insurance office.
What was The Who’s biggest hit? No idea. How about My Generation or, from the 1970’s "Rock Opera Tommy,” Pinball Wizard?
In honor of my fellow Baby Boomers and all our assorted “good and holy and decent” causes, how about The Who’s My Generation from December 1965? Remember the opening line, you rebel children? “People try to put us down.” [LARRY ASIDE: Clearly I struck my head in that kitchen fall and I have awakened six decades in the past — I still have my hair and my beard and, sometimes, I can sing along with a song on the radio if it’s tuned to a satellite broadcast from the ‘60s. Anybody else remember rock ’n’ roll on the AM radio frequencies? OK, everybody stay safe and watch your step.]
—- Talk about my generation or shoot yer mouth off by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘PARDON ME, SIR, MAY I HELP YOU UP?’ in the subject line. —-