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The Squeaky Cat Gets The Nap

You know how grandparents often out-glow the parents when a grandchild does something so darned cute? That's what we have in today's edition of "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie and Napping Cats Nap."

Muriel Parker of Carrollton e-mailed these photos of "my grandkitty, Squeak."

In the case of the cat-napping photo, the lens managed to catch Squeak in an odd position. "No one but her knows why she chose to take this particular nap with her tail deployed to touch her brow instead of tucked around her in its usual position -- and she's not telling," write Muriel.

Squeak was named "for her tiny, little meow," Muriel says. "She's a dainty little 5 1/2 pounds, healthy, happy and loving. She shares her home in Plano with my son, Steve. ...And like many a lady, her age is also unknown beyond 'somewhere in her mid-teens.'"

Steve has been trained by Squeak, Mom says. "She has him well trained in all the usual ways...He must never close is undies drawer, another favorite napping place." (Yep, that's Squeak, in the second photo, considering stepping into the undies for a nap. And there's another sentence I never thought I'd type in my life.)

Squeak became part of the family when "youngest son Brian rescued her from the Plano pound just as her time was running out. She lived for a few years in Plano with him and a Himalayan named Yu Phin (reportedly Siamese for 'Pretty Girl'). Neither was too happy about it - each wanted to be an only child -- there was peaceful coexistence at best.

"Thus when Brian moved to a new apartment, it was decided that Yu Phin would go with him and Squeak would go to Steve (also in Plano)." His two daughters adored Squeak and Squeak adored them.

But the girls have grown up and moved out so, Squeak and Steve have their "empty nest."

And, like a good grandparent, Muriel says, "I wish I could be more definite about dates, but none of us can remember just when all this began."

And Muriel, who says she reads www.readlarrypowell.com on her daily lunch breaks, has been keeping up with hurricane animal news. There has been a personal side to it.

Brian now lives in Houston with his dad and Chiquita the Chihuahua and a Plano pound rescue cat, Shadow.

Muriel says that as people were evacuating in advance of Rita last week, someone left five kittens, probably 6 to 8 weeks old, in the bushes near where Brian walks the dog several times a day. (Special translation: Actually, what the nice grandmother actually wrote was that "some ^%*&@#" left the kittens. I'm pretty sure that's French for something and that it is completely appropriate.)

Muriel figures someone had seen Brian slipping food to some outdoor cats and knew he wouldn't leave the kittens to the mercy of the storm, so they "planted" them near his path.

"The runt has attached herself to him, so she's been named Rita in honor of how she got there. He would love to keep her, but the condo is small, father says 'no,' and Shadow is very much the 'only child' type.

"However, as you well know, all the shelters are full to overflowing, so I expect they will be there for quite a while. There apparently isn't a shelter of the Operation Kindness type (no-kill) in Houston. He's going to have to work very hard to find homes for these orphans and I guarantee any potential adopters will get the third degree!"

So, there you have it, the tale of Squeak the Drawer-Sleeping Cat and assorted other felines. And I guess, if Brian gets backed into a corner, he can always buy a chest-of-drawers and have Squeak come down and teach the other cats how to catch 40 winks among the "garments."

(Remember, to nominate a dog, cat or any other sleeping beast for our weekly Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap feature, simply e-mail a slumber photo and the info to [email protected]. Your critter's photo will be seen by people around the world -- www.readlarrypowell.com has enjoyed visits lately from readers in such places as Switzerland, Canada, Australia, India, Turkey, Santa Domingo, all over the U.S. and, of course, my beloved Texas. We're proud to say "Hey, y'all" to the world.)

A Friday potpourri

Goodness. Last day of September. First day of the State Fair of Texas. And I don't know whether this is coincidence or irony: We just got through with the 100-plus degree days and here comes an invitation to sit in on a Bikram Yoga class.

Bikram Yoga? Ah, glad you asked. That's the Yoga you practice while parboiling.

They heat up a room -- in fact, I think they use the equipment that tests space shuttle tiles. The temp reaches at least 105 and you practice Yoga in the heat.

If you made a dog go to a session of Bikram Yoga, a jury would give you the chair.

But, since you're probably human, it's OK to torture yourself to feel better.

Cats? Cats don't need yoga. They invented it.

Mr. Garcia, a practitioner for 11 years and instructor for 4, will teach a 2-hour class starting at 6:15 p.m. Monday at Bikram Yoga Downtown, 1015 N. Hawkins, Suite C., just east of the Plaza of the Americas.(For a reservation, call 214-220-0222 or visit www.bikramyogadowntown.com)

Here are the official instructions for all age and abilities: "Bring or rent a mat and towel. Bring or buy bottle water to keep hydrated during class. Come on an empty stomach. Wear cool clothes such as Lycra exercise shorts, bra tops, swim suits. It's too hot for sweat suits."

I guess they want you to come on an empty stomach because there'll be food: They're going to be frying eggs on your backside when you do the "Searing Chicken Position" or the "Panfried Porkchop Position." Just kidding. If a yoga guy can't take a joke, who can? No need to get bent out of shape.

THE PEAK PUP: If you recall, earlier this week we mentioned an incident in which a pup was hit by a car on Peak Street in Dallas and only one person stopped. That was Gail Whelan of Companion Animal Network. She's now fostering Evie, this 10-week-old, 10-pound dog that may be some kind of Weimaraner/Shar Pei mix. The pup, though still a bit creaky when it comes to moving around, is, Gail reports, "a love." (To help fund medical bills or foster or adopt, e-mail [email protected]).

DON'T FORGET: The latest edition of Urban Animal magazine is out -- in stores and in mailboxes. For October, the magazine focuses on hurricane animals and also profiles Sam & Cheryl Wyly and their dog Jewelie. And there's a column by yours truly about those dogs that were duct-taped and left for dead ...

Meanwhile, Urban Animal needs your events listings for November and December so you can help people schedule their holiday activities! (E-mail your announcements to [email protected].)

Hard to believe, but Urban Animal is about to publish its 12th edition -- that's right, a year's worth of animals. Pass the word on.

THREE SHELTER DOGS: There's just something about the look on a shelter dog's face that drives me nuts. Cats, too, sitting in those cages and looking out as if you're their last hope. And you may be.

Dogs have a tendency to look almost as if they're ashamed to be in a shelter. As if to ask, "How low can a dog go?" It tears me up. There ought to be a better way to "display" the inventory in a shelter. (I think the new Dallas Animal Shelter was supposed to explore that concept -- say, whatever happened to that shelter? (OK, I'll get off my reinforced, heavy-duty, low-step, soapbox for now and get on with helping animals.)

This news comes to us from the Dallas Animal Services folks via A Different Breed, the rescue group that focuses on shelter animals.

And, you know, these dogs don't even really have names any more. They once did, but for now they're numbers and they're waiting for someone to give them a real name.

So, here goes.

The Pekinese mix is in Kennel 52. An adult male with a cherry eye problem.

The Jack Russell Terrier mix is "very sweet," they say and in Kennel 64. The little girl is about 5, is spayed and has mild skin allergies.

The dachshund boy is in Kennel 75. He's about 3, needs hi teeth cleaned, has healing lacerations a thigh and is "nervous."

These aren't the only dogs in the Dallas shelters. These dogs just happened to catch someone's attention. Geez, they shouldn't be in a life-or-death situation, they should be in a "treats" or "more treats" situation.

If you can help these dogs or any other animals in the Dallas shelters, stop by. For these particular dogs, call Dallas Animal Services or check the website www.dallascityhall.com/dallas/eng/html/animal_control.html.

Oh, yes, while I was looking up the information about the website, I found in the adoptable animals, a fellow named "Wally" who is a lab/basset mix. That's a dog that keeps it on the down-lo and is happy about it.

These animals are in desperate need of a friend.

LIFE'S CHANGES: Our friend and longtime colleague at the big Dallas paper, Barry Boesch, died yesterday. Brain tumor, subsequent infection, rugged treatment cycle, tough odds -- he battled a team of enemies.

A few years ago, he'd been named executive editor of The Denton Record Chronicle -- it's owned by the same company as the big paper. And he'd established some high standards in his new position.

Barry was a guy who loved to laugh and had some good-humored patience -- he'd spent a lifetime explaining that "Boesch" was pronounced "Bush" not "Bosh." I heard him patiently deliver dozens of those explanations over the years.

He was terrific at journalism, even better at being a pal. And even better at being devoted to his wife and daughter and family. He and Patty courted at the paper years and years ago -- they were just kids. You may not know his wife, Patty, or their daughter, Bailey. But you animal people may know his sister, Melissa Boesch, a veteran animal rescuer and longtime petsitter. She's good people. The whole family's good people. The whole family is an animal family.

Life's too short, this loss proves. We all ought to make a better effort with our own lives. Be kind to each other. Be kind to animals.

Reminds me of a quote from old reliable "Author Unknown": "My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am."

Barry was a good guy. The kind of guy who made life bearable on a bleak day. We know how much we miss him because we now have that bleak day.

Crittes, carhops and a Texas lament

My goodness. A 40-degree temperature drop in less than 24 hours. It was more than 100 late yesterday afternoon. Now,  it's 61 degrees in Dallas, according to the thermometer on the cat porch.

The feral cats are happy. They're wearing their new sweaters and thumbing excitedly -- well, pawing excitedly -- through the L.L. Bean winter catalog. The indoor cats are sleeping in -- a pile. They're sleeping in a pile. Global chillin'.

And the dogs, well, it'll take more than a little temperature change to upset their napping schedule, though Inky the Cocker Spaniel did ask if, "later today when it warms up," I could help him put up some Christmas decorations in his room. He has trouble reaching the cathedral ceiling on his step ladder. A cocker spaniel's reach is not the NBA standard.

Now, for the first time in months without perspiration, let's move on:

OUT BY THE LAKE: In this case, we're speaking of Cedar Creek Lake, east of Dallas and, specifically, of the noted group, Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. Sydney Busch, one of the founders, says that in just over three years, they group has "done over 6,700 surgeries." She credits the volunteers and a fabulous vet.

Not every animal that comes into the Friends' realm needs spaying or neutering. Some just need help. A family evacuated from Beaumont needs foster homes for five small animals: two Pomeranians, two Chihuahuas and a 30-pound mix. (Call 903-451-4701 or e-mail [email protected] to help.)

One of the interesting things about people in the city who decide they don't want their animals: All too often they drive out to a rural or semi-rural area and dump their animals. Dumping animals is, as most of you know, a crime in Texas.

So is speeding, but try driving the limit on LBJ.

People are gonna do what they're gonna do. Darnit.

OUT IN THE COUNTRY: A loyal reader asked me to "please shine a light on Straydog." Threats of bad weather from Hurricane Rita caused some sincere moving of animals at the rural shelter just east of Dallas. Lots of energy and money were used to keeps these foundlings and turn-ins safe. (See www.straydog.org).

Unlike Washington and Hollywood, everybody in Texas isn't aching for publicity, so our tipster on this Straydog thing asked not to be identified. The reader's note did include this and I think it shows the value of Straydog through one set of eyes. The reader wrote, "We are lucky to have a Straydog adoptee as one of our granddoggies and she has enriched all our lives beyond measure. My heart aches for those kind-hearted Straydog caregivers."

"Enriched our lives beyond measure" -- isn't that a wonderful sentiment? Makes you want to go hug your own dogs and cats, doesn't it.

HOPPIN' FOR CRITTERS: Stop by the Plano Sonic (3404 Coit Road) on Saturday and tip big -- the Companion Animal Network will have a dozen volunteers carhopping for critters. CAN gets to keep all the tips. This will come in handy since the rescue group has a number of costly dogs in its care now: surgeries and heartworm treatments have exhausted the group's medical funds. Also, there was the case of the puppy hit by a car on Peak a couple of days ago...these things add up. See www.petfinder.com/shelters/ca-n.html.

MORE HURRICANE ANIMALS: A note from Maura Davies at the SPCA of Texas says the group's Collin County Animal Care Center took in a trailer full of Katrina's critters yesterday. They're undergoing medical exams and, no doubt, getting some extra affection. Some will go to foster homes, some will be in SPCA shelters. The SPCA will post their photos at both the SPCA's website, www.spca.org, and at petfinder.com.

They'll be held by the SPCA Oct. 15 in hopes that they can be reunited with their owners. After that, they'll enter the general "adoptables" population. (Go to www.spca.org/lifeline or call 1-888-ANIMALS, EXT. 128.)

Eventually, all these hurricane animals will find new homes and everybody can go back to trying to find homes for the hundreds of non-storm animals that wind up in shelters and rescue groups every month.

You know, we can't stop hurricanes, but we can spay and neuter.

PARTY TIME: Congratulations to Spike Global Grill, celebrating it's second anniversary on Saturday with a party benefiting the Humane Society of Dallas County shelter, Dog & Kitty City. The party starts at 10 p.m. -- this must be for YOUNG people -- and goes until 2 a.m. -- really YOUNG people.

Spike Global Grill is at 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane in Mockingbird Station. Entry to the party will cost you a $5 donation and in return you get a mojito cocktail and all the partying you can stand on behalf of animals until 2 a.m.

Ah, 2 a.m., what a magic time in a Texas bar. It's closing time. Or as we used to say in our carousing days, "LAST CALL." To quote the late Boots Schmidt, proprietor of Belle's Green Glass Lounge at the corner of Lamar and the railroad tracks in downtown Dallas, "Sun come up folks. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here."

THE DOWN OF A THISTLE: In yesterday's postings I mentioned that "Thistle" might be a good name for a Chihuahua. (Scroll down and read about the Richardson Humane Society's Christmas photo phundraiser.).

Anyway, I've heard from my buddy in New Jersey, Andy Fisher, who writes for CNBC. His wife, Sharon, is the noted harpist/singer (Here's a link: http://artists.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/Fisher,_Sharon/ )

Andy took some time to consider the idea of a Chihuahua named Thistle and did a computer search. He came up with these two links, but, as he laments, neither dog is a Chihuahua: www.showdog.com/Users/dog_info.aspx?id=261110 and www.griffonpoint.com/thistle.htm.

We know, however, that out there somewhere in the world there is bound to be a seasonal Chihuahua named Thistle.

Nothing says "holidays" like a Chihuahua in a Santa suit.

RANGERS FANS, ARE YOU WAITING FOR NEXT YEAR -- AGAIN? The Texas Rangers' 2006 schedule was released yesterday. The season opens April 3. Pitching is so bad they’ll probably be mathematically eliminated around Groundhog Day -- that’s Feb. 2. Once again, Texas Rangers management will ask us to "wait 'til next year."

Kittens and pups (and people)

Hard to believe it's already Wednesday. But that's the way the week works.

A TV weatherguy, WB 33's thoroughly reliable Bob Goosmann, says the heat will be over after today. He's usually right on the money with these things.

So, get your sweaters out. But don't put them on until tomorrow.

Now, here's a collection of assorted items.

NEEDING SOME HELP: Cat rescuer Brian Spencer, while dealing with a feral colony, heard some tiny kittens "requiring," he writes, "that I excavate a massive amount of building materials and perform a rather blind grope through steel girders."

So, he sort of immediately needs a nursing momma cat to handle the mom duties for this trio of kittens.

"PLEASE get in touch with me. Quickly!" he writes, "I'm not cut out to be a mom. I'm at 214-680-9628." Leave a message -- he may be busy feeding kittens.

The birth mother cat is a feral who is reluctant to participate in being trapped.

KittiCo (www.kittico.org) and Barncats (www.barncats.org) are helping Brian with the colony.

As for the kittens, Brian says, "They're cute. They're going to be easy to find homes for."

One is gray. Two are tuxedo cats. Regular readers know the official stance of www.readlarrypowell.com on tuxedo cats: They're naturally spacey cats. Entertaining, clever, unpredictable and adorable. Like other cats, but different. Way different.

SEASONS GREETINGS, RICHARDSON: At least two things -- not counting the daily animal duties -- are going on with the Richardson Humane Society. First, there's the Fourth Annual Canine Golf Classic at Rowlett's Waterview Course on Oct. 8. (See details at www.richardsonhumanesociety.org).

Of course, around here it's always the season for golfing. And, on Oct. 16, it'll be Christmas season for the Richardson Humane Society. The RHS 5th Annual Holiday Pet Photography Fundraiser is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. that Sunday when, according to the official announcement, "Santa's sleigh lands at Comic Book Craze." That's at 3112 N. Jupiter, Suite 315, in Garland. There are many different styles of photo "packages" ranging from $6.50 for a 4 by 6 photo to $145.50 for the premium package. And there are ways to have the photos turned into greeting cards. You'll need to consult on-site with the RHS photopholks. (For an appointment, e-mail [email protected].)

Ah, it's good to be writing about Jolly Ol' Saint Nick again. Makes my typing fingers a little merrier. And it sure beats typing hurricane things.

Though, of course, there is this bit from Clement C. Moore's poem, "A Visit From St. Nicholas" (known more popularly as "The Night Before Christmas"). The poem includes this phrasing to describe Santa's reindeer sailing toward the roof: "As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly..." Probably, this year, we'll downplay that line and embrace "and away they all flew like the down of a thistle."

Thistle. Hmmm, wonder if anyone's ever named a dog Thistle? Sounds like a great name for a lightweight, but prickly Chihuahua.

HOLIDAY FYI: Just in case you need to keep up with countdowns, you can click on this site, www.bethanyroberts.com/ThanksgivingCountdown.htm, to watch the march of time toward Thanksgiving. And if you go to www.christmassantaclaus.com/clock.asp, you can watch the countdown to Christmas. No pressure.

KITTICO'S CATWALK: Our friend Angie Thomas at KittiCo Cat Rescue (www.kittico.org) has sent out a reminder that the KittiCo CatWalk festival begins at noon on Sunday Oct. 15 at White Rock Lake's Big Thicket. (Isn't that KittiCo logo a great piece of art?)

Just FYI: The For the Love of the Lake organization volunteers have been working like demons to get the Big Thicket building in shape. They're at White Rock today working on the site and they'll be back on Saturday. They need "sanders, scrapers, caulkers, painters! Skilled and unskilled worker bees welcome. Volunteer by e-mailing [email protected], call 972-622-SAVE or go to www.whiterocklake.org.

The KittiCo CatWalk -- there's a 5K Big Cat Walk and a 1K Kitten Walk -- suggests "Run Walk Skate" the route -- I want to see the cats on skates. Just kidding -- no cat would get on skates or blades. Cats are already nature's perfect Movin' Machines. Ever have one decide to climb up your pants leg and sit on your shoulder? Happens before you know it.

KittiCo, as you may know, works hard at adoptions and protecting ferals, and, according to organization figures, has spay/neutered more than 22,000 cats in the past 5 years and found homes for 2,200.

By the way, for a $100 donation, you can put your cat's name and praise of your cat on the Virtual Honor Wall soon to be displayed on the KittiCo website.

One more thing: at the CatWalk, I see that one of the snacks being served will be popcorn. It occurs to me that, if you could do this safely, it might be fun to watch a cat watching popcorn pop. And, after the cat grew tired of watching that, you can always toss the popcorn to your dogs.  Once the popcorn's popping, dogs sort of lose their interest in the movie, anyway.

PUT ON YOUR CAMERA FACE: The Bow Meow Show will be taping adoptable critters at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at Flag Pole Hill in Dallas. Hurricane needs will be featured on the next show -- it's cablecast on Comcast Channel 27. (See www.bowmeowshow.org.)

REPORT FROM THE PLATE: Companion Animal Network's Pasta for Pooches at Roma's, 7402 Greenville, Ave., raised about half of the $3,000 goal to cover medical expenses for several dogs in the network's care. This was the dinner with bluegrass music featuring Roddy Fuller & Runaway Train.

Just yesterday, CAN took in another pup -- you read about it here. (Scroll down to yesterday's pup post for how to donate info.)

ENDORSING DOGS: Veteran animal rescuer and now veteran animal assessor Cary Birdwell volunteered with A Different Breed over the weekend and got to know two dogs, Argyle (left) and Buster. So, he's stepping up to endorse them as "extremely agreeable dogs."

They're being fostered in a home with three other adult dogs and seem to get along well with all concerned.

Argyle passed Cary's congeniality test -- this involves holding paws, grabbing tails, sticking fingers in the mouth and ears of the strange dog -- with flying colors and "was not hostile, nervous or defensive in the least."

"Then there was Buster," Cary writes. "I'm not sure I could write about Buster without it sounding like hyperbole! Buster has the kind of disposition that would make the sweetest dog in the world look like Cujo! He was a little shy, but just basked in the attention I gave him, and never got tired of it either."

Cary says he'd be happy to discuss these two dogs with anyone who is looking for nice, sweet companions. Call 214-521-3611 or e-mail [email protected].

Apparently one of the smartest things for a dog in a shelter or rescue situation to do is to make friends with Cary. Getting an endorsement from someone who doesn't mind risking his fingers in the mouth of a strange dog is quite a plus in the congeniality department.

By the way, that open-mouthed, long-tongued look is tradition on Texas dogs from about March through Thanksgiving. It's a seasonal response.

Normal, not normal, cats & rust

Sometimes "normal" isn't so good. We're edging back to "normal."

While there is still concern about animals in the hurricane zone, here is an example of life getting back to "normal."

This e-mail from Angela Snider arrived just after 9:30 a.m. "A small female puppy was hit by a car this morning." See, something sadly "normal" for the streets of Dallas.

Angela is the adoptions coordinator for the Companion Animal Network. She writes that Gail Whelan of Companion Animal Network happened to be there when this happened. "Nobody else stopped!" (Again, "normal" can be ugly in Dallas. Nobody else stopped. That is so sad.)

Gail took the injured pup to City Vet Emergency Clinic at 3101 McKinney Ave. The dog had a head wound and was in severe shock. This notice got to us so soon after the incident that the x-rays aren't back yet.

AFTERNOON UPDATE: A lunchtime visit by Gail and Angela found the pup is doing a lot better than this morning. Also, x-rays revealed no broken bones.  But there a possibility of internal bleeding and the vet is keeping her just to make sure she's not suffering from something unknown.

What is known is that the meter is running on this little dog and Companion Animal Network will need some cash to handle this unexpected (but all too predictable) emergency expense. You can help by giving to Companion Animal Network, 11529 Glen Cross Dr., Dallas, Texas, 75228. On your donation, write "Peak Puppy" so the money will go to this dog -- she was injured on Peak Street. (If you want to foster or get involved with helping this dog, e-mail [email protected]. The group's website is www.ca-n.petfinder.com.)

SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY: Word of an emergency in Nacogdoches arrives from Jay Sabatucci, regional coordinator of the Humane Society of the United States. The "Texas Animals in Disasters System has been activated," he writes. "We are in dire need of experienced people who can help us care for the almost 300 animals that are being sheltered in Nacogdoches."

They need folks to handle all aspects of routine animal care. the plan is that on Wednesday or Thursday, the animals will be moved from Nacogdoches to Lufkin. So the HSUS needs handlers and transporters for these animals -- all of the critters belong to evacuees.

To volunteer to help call 817-915-5442 or e-mail [email protected].

MUGSHOTS: Someone at Dog & Kitty City, the no-kill shelter in Dallas, has produced a flyer with 25 mugshots of adoptable cats -- they're arranged 5 across and 5 deep under the big headline "GOT CATS?"

Now, that is funny when you consider that "Got milk?" campaign. I can understand how you could be lactose intolerant, but, seriously, outside of a staggering allergy problem, can one really be feline intolerant?

Oh, sure you can, and nobody who doesn't really like cats should have one.

But in case you need a cat, here are four of the more distinct mugshots from that Dog & Kitty City flyer. These cats are Pirate, Gata (looking drowsy), Fargo in a typical mugshot pose and Gentleman, looking ready to be served at a moment's notice.

THE DAY: This is one of those days when just trying to play "catch-up" can put a person way behind. I'm juggling paying the bills, doing some mending, some chores, some actual writing work, some dog petting, some cat petting, etc. Just as I'm finishing off this entry, there's a TV commercial for a twisted metal strand bracelet you wear that "maximizes ionization performance." Frankly, I'd be more interested in something that "minimizes oxidation performance."

I think my ions are rusty.

A Monday roundup: Storms to Cookie...

Welcome to Monday. Put away your umbrellas. We'll be discussing weather, goodhearted people, Cookie and assorted other things today.

And, remember, the State Fair of Texas opens Friday. (See www.bigtex.com.) The swallows come back to Capistrano. Big Tex comes back to Fair Park.

THE WEATHER: Here we are on a bright and summery day though, of course, it is autumn.

No weekend hurricane rain fell at our house in Dallas. But we saw beautiful clouds in the sky and felt some nice breezes.

All this in spite of the fact that for days last week the TV weather people were declaring that the "surge" powered by Hurricane Rita would soon be lapping on doorsteps from Galveston north to the steps of the Field Museum in Chicago. (Or is that going to be renamed the Macy's Museum?)

Anyway, listening to the cable TV weather/anchor people was a lot like listening to a wintertime snow forecast on an FM rock station. You've heard those things: Breathless broadcast voices, buying into the idea that weather forecasting is an exact science. They begin shouting into the microphone, "Get your children out of Dallas! There will be no school! Ice will be two feet thick on your driveway. Your roof will cave in. Ice will bend Reunion Tower like a bobby pin! Icemageddon! Icemageddon."

Sheesh!

On the other hand, remember that surprise ice storm that coated a stretch of the landscape from Dallas northeast to Little Rock at Christmas 2000? Nobody saw that one coming. (Relax, that's a stock photo from a government weather site. No need to get the thick socks yet.)

Meteorology is simply not an exact science. Not that they all could hang a sign of the Palm outside their offices and do $10 readings...

Yeah, a hurricane did hit the Gulf Coast. They got that right. After that, the forecasts became sort of "iffy."

And, frankly, it's probably best that the weatherpeople err on the side of caution.

About the only 100 percent solid weather forecast around here is that from July through August it'll be "hot and dry." How hot is anybody's guess. No doubt some guesses will be more accurate than others.

THE DO-GOODERS: Rebecca Poling of the Metroplex Animal Coalition forwarded a note from Petfinder.com. It reads "We are proud and excited to announce that through the generosity of our visitors, we have raised over $600,000 in donations." Amazing. Petfinder has set up a grant system for non-profits that were affected by the hurricanes. E-mail [email protected]. Take a look at www.metroplexanimalcoalition.com and click on the hurricane updates. You'll be stunned at the amount of work done. You'll be grateful that there are good people working hard -- they are patriots, working to make sure America -- and America's pets -- come out of this thing as strong or stronger.

SAVING SOME DOGS: Gail Whelan of the Companion Animal Network sent these photos of dogs pulled out of the Canton animal shelter -- they were about to be euthanized to make room for hurricane animals, says Gail. Now that hardly seems fair, does it?

The trio of pups includes a big boy named Cleatus who is "very self confident. Plays well with other dogs but will most likely want to be the alpha." Homer is a "lovebug" who thinks he's a lap dog. And Rozalynn, the one leaning against the wall, is "timid and will need someone committed to encouraging her. Her brothers are protecting her and reinforcing her timidity."

Cameron, the lop-eared dog, is a "tri-color collie ix of some kind." And Vincent is his brother. Vincent's pose on the ground is a little misleading. He's said to be very "self-confident." But both were apparently not nurtured and have a bit of shyness until they warm up to people. (E-mail [email protected]).

THE COOKIE STORY CONTINUES: When we last discussed Cookie, the Yorkie, Diane Combs, with the help of Marva Lanier and other good-hearted people, had managed to direct people to a flooded house in New Orleans where the little dog was waiting for help.

Her human Alaine, now living in a nursing home, was worried that Hurricane Katrina had taken the life of her Yorkie. But, through some miracle, the little dog was rescued. (See Sept. 22's post about Cookie.)

On Sunday, Diane went to Alaine's nursing home to tell her about Cookie. "She at first seemed asleep, but when I walked in, she opened hr eyes. I had to refresh her memory as to who I was, and when I mentioned being there before with Margo [Diane's dog], it's like a light clicked on in her head. She sat up and welcomed me.

"I took her hand and said I had some really good news for her. When I told her that Cookie had been found and is safe, it was like shock set in initially. I don't think I've ever seen anyone open their eyes AND their mouth that wide!

"As I started my story, she squeezed my hand with one of her hands. With the other hand she kept wiping away the tears."

Diane told her that Cookie was safe with an ASPCA volunteer who lives in New York and who wants to adopt Cookie. Alaine said, "I have no way to take care of her. That would be wonderful. As long as I know she's safe and well taken care of, that's fine with me."

Alaine told Diane that the hurricane had scuttled her family's plans to move to Lafayette and settle down. "She said now she doesn't know what's going to happen." She plans on staying at the Dallas nursing home for a while "because she has nowhere else to go but eventually she would like to re-join her family wherever they end up. But she knows taking Cookie back is impossible. She seemed very much at peace with the fact that Cookie now has a new and loving home."

Diane says Cookie told her, "Oh, my Cookie is going to be OK. She' my baby. it's a miracle. I'm so happy she'll be loved. She's precious and a real lap dog. She loves to be held. I know Cookie will love Melinda, too, but if she's in New York, she'll probably bark at the snow. She won't know what that is!"

When she was told than an Albany TV station is planning on broadcasting a story about Cookie's rescue, Alaine exclaimed, "Maybe CNN will pick it up!"

Lois, described by Diane as Alaine's "roommate and new best friend," awoke to share the news. "Is there any doubt there's a God when you hear stories like this one?"

After her visit with Alaine, Diane called Melinda, still en route by car from New Orleans to New York. She reports that "Cookie's doing great -- eating very well and regaining her strength. She's on antibiotics due to infections from the toxic sludge she was found in, but she should be just fine. I can tell she's been very well cared for. She's the ideal pet -- all 8 pounds of her. She comes when called and appears housebroken. She's just a lovely little dog -- a real pleasure to be with."

And that's your Cookie Report for today.

A hurricane blows into New Orleans and lives are jumbled. Sometimes those lives are saved.

ABOUT LICKITY-SPLIT: The annual Dog and Kitty City Lickity Split 5K Run and Festival, scheduled for Oct. 29, has been postponed, probably until some time in May, report's DKC's Kathleen Moore. (See www.dognkittycity.org.)

Meanwhile, Spike Global Grill at Mockingbird Station will be celebrating its second anniversary with a party from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. benefiting the Dog and Kitty City Shelter run by the Humane Society of Dallas County. RSVP at 214-288-8882. Specialty of the evening ($5 a ticket) will be a "mojito." Relax. That's not a wrestling hold. It's a minty rum drink. It won’t wrestle, but it may bite.

By the time he naps in Phoenix...

Maybe this little bit about a “desert dog” will give you something nice to think about during hurricane weekend. Our featured fellow in “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap” may be a desert dog in Phoenix now, but he hails from Missouri by way of Oklahoma.

His name is Maurice and he’s a Bichon Frise.

So, how did Maurice get to Phoenix? We turn to his human Roxanne “Rocky” Waggoner, for that information. She’s the one who sent this photo of a quite relaxed Maurice sacked out for a thoroughly enjoyable nap.

Maurice is about a year old and he was rescued by Small Paws Rescue in Tulsa. (Check out SPR at www.smallpawsrescue.org.) and, Rocky says, “flown to me from Tulsa three months ago. As you can see , his current situation beats the heck out living his life in a small cage and standing/sleeping on wire mesh!”

Yep, puppy mill pup.

Maurice, she says, was born in a puppy mill in Missouri. “For unknown reasons -- probably just that the miller didn’t need more males -- he and several other Bichons were auctioned this winter when Maurice was about five months old. SPR infiltrated the auction and bought them all. He lived in a vet clinic in Tulsa for a month or two and then I adopted him from the internet photos on Petfinder and SPR flew him out to me.

“He has gone from being too terrified to even look at me when I opened his travel crate at the airport, to begging to go ‘bye-bye’ every time I pick up my purse to run an errand!

“He’s a big baby and still timid about men (he routinely barks at my 19-year-old son, still, after five months!). But I think he’ll eventually forget all of that and become the carefree baby all dogs should be able to be.

“In the photo, he’s sunk himself into the crevice between the back of the slip-covered easy chair and its rear pillow. With all of that curly hair, he looks and feels like a stuffed toy!”

Maurice lives with Rocky and her kids. Her son, John James, graduated from high school in December, Rocky says, and “is working at a supermarket deli counter while he decides what to do with himself from here on. I also have a daughter, Christianne, 17, who decided to quit high school and get her GED in January. She’s working as a carhop at Sonic to save up to go to school to learn computer animation.”

Now, Maurice is not an only-critter. The other six dogs are Charlotte, a shar pei; Polly, a pit bull mix; Jet, a retired racing greyhound ; and a trio of Pekingeses named Spot, Penny and Ming Foo Foo.

And, there are two guinea pigs. One is Pestilence (“named by my son when he was about 13 and being silly”) and the other is Rei Rei, named by “anime crazy” Christianne, who also is learning Japanese.

The goldfish are Rhino, Kallie and Google and the bettas are Wickham and Whitey.

The zebra finches are Squirt, Neep 1, Neep 2 and Neep 3.

And Christianne has a hamster named “Miss Thang.”

Polly, Jet, Penny, Maurice and Rei Rei are all from actual rescue groups. Google was about to be dumped by someone so Rocky took him.

Jet the Greyhound does appearances to promote adoptions for Arizona Adopt-a-Greyhound. And, he’s in line to get certified as a therapy dog with the Delta Society.

Whew. No wonder Maurice takes a good nap. Just listing all of this stuff will wear a fellow out.

But I have just enough energy for this. Maurice the Bichon lives in Phoenix in the Sonora Desert where, coincidentally, the name of the Arizona Fall League professional baseball team is the Desert Dogs. What else would you name a team in the desert? (This is a Desert Dog cap from www.minorleagues.com/681007.html.)

And what’s the Dallas/Fort Worth connection?

Ah, glad you asked. The team once known as the Scottsdale Scorpions is known now as the Surprise Scorpions and, as you know, the Texas Rangers hold spring training in Surprise, Ariz. Why they bother to train, I have no idea. The Rangers’ seasons usually aren’t much of a surprise. In fact, after watching the Rangers die every year since that first season in 1972, I’m thinking they oughta move the team to Tombstone. We’ve witnessed three decades of mostly premature burials and extra long off-seasons.

I don’t know how that front office can sleep.

(To nominate a critter of any kind -- even a member of the Rangers front office -- for Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, e-mail the animal’s info and a digital snapshot of the slumbering rascal to [email protected]. It’s OK to have humans in the photo. They can be napping, too.)

A need and an update

Two notices in the mid-afternoon e-mail:

DALLAS NEEDS HELP: This comes courtesy of Nancy Scheps at A Different Breed, the rescue group. She reports that "Dallas Animal Services has many more dogs and cats than ever. They have taken in many of them from Louisiana due to Katrina and many more are on their way because of Rita. DAS needs your help. If you or anyone you know could foster an animal or maybe you know a vet or boarding facility that could help, please let Janet at Dallas Animal Services know." That number is 972-998-4915. (Visit A Different Breed at www.adifferentbreed.org.)

It'll be interesting to see the statistics on animals saved in the hurricane zone, animals moved to safety, animals who were adopted in the safety zones, hurricane animals that weren’t and local animals that weren’t. This is America. We ought to be able to save every one of them.

POSSIBLE MATCHUP: It looks like Mikey the Cocker Spaniel (see earlier post) may have been located. Calls have been made, e-mails sent, contacts are being made. We'll keep you posted. Little miracles sure are mood elevators.

Pups, people and pumpkins

It's Friday, folks, and based on everything we've seen this week, we should get ready for a freak show of a weekend. Maybe, though, we'll get a big "Whew, that wasn't as bad as I expected."

Before we get to Rita Weekend, let me assure you that should you click onto www.readlarrypowell.com Saturday and Sunday, you'll see a photo of a sleeping dog, Maurice, the Bichon Frise, from Phoenix, Ariz. I find comfort in sleeping dogs and napping cats. And, this weekend, we may need some comfort. I know we'll need a nap.

I keep listening to these cable TV guys talking about Texas -- some of them seem to think Lufkin is about a half-hour cab ride from Houston and Texarkana is just around the bend from Lufkin. I know Rita is vast, but, seriously, so is Texas. And those of us in North Texas and Northeast Texas have actually seen rain before -- I hate to drag out the Unofficial Tedious Dan Rather Book of Texas Terms, but we've seen frogstranglers and gullywashers. And our congressmen have actually turned the pork into substantial levees and reservoirs, I understand.

One thing I do worry about is the fate of High Island on the coast -- it is a famous bird-watching area. Nature vs. nature. We'll have to see how things work out. Not much we can do.

Now, let's move on:

MAC REPORT: From Rebecca Poling of the Metroplex Animal Coalition, we learn that "MAC's Pet Disaster Relief Fund has raised over $12,000 for hurricane relief." This money went to save, house, feed, medicate and kennel hurricane animals.

How does a donation help? According to MAC, a $25 donation provided "5 nylon collars and 5 leashes to lead abandoned dogs to safety. A $50 donation will provide 4 plastic carriers to transport stranded cats to shelters for medical care. A $100 donation will provide 120 pounds of large-breed dog food. A $500 donation will purchase 4 extra large wire dog kennels that can be used to house litters of puppies or kittens...."

Well, you get the drift. Go to www.metroplexanimalcoalition.com.

COOKIE AND MIKEY: I hope you take time today to scroll down and read the story of Cookie's rescue from a muddy house in New Orleans. In the meantime, our reliable tipster Marva Lanier has found another missing dog case to highlight. "Take a look ....and keep your fingers and all those extra paws crossed that some kind individual gets Mikey out," Marva writes.

This note from Naja Calton, posted on www.nola.com, begged for help. "Mikey is a buff cocker spaniel. .. Please save Mikey." (And she has posted this photo of her happy dog.)

She writes "Mikey is a cocker spaniel. He was left in the house at 12723 Lafrenier St., which is located off Paris Avenue in Gentilly. He has had all his shots. We heard the house didn't get much water so he is still in the house. Can someone please go get my Mikey. He is a wonderful and kind dog."

Also, Naja wrote, "Y'all have permission to break in and get him out, please.....Mikey has been in the house since 8/29/05. There was 5 lb. of dog food left and about 3 large buckets of water."

Naja's cell number is 504-723-0341. She goes to the same Kinko's every day to post messages about Mikey, I'm told.

I don't know what complications are getting in the way of saving this dog. I don't know if the dog is still there. But, maybe, someone will know. And someone may help.

I'm sure there are lots of stories somewhat like this one. People, forced to leave without their animals, are having their hearts broken day after day. I cannot imagine the despair.

WASH 'EM: Animal Rescue of Texas (ART) will benefit Saturday at the Doggie Zen Den Dog Wash, 2257 Ridgeview Drive, Plano. It's from 10 am. to 3 p.m. Medium and large dogs are $15, small dogs are $10. Petlove Mobile Groomers will do nail trims for $2 if you've had your dog bathed, $5 if the dog hasn't been bathed.  You can see ART's page at www.petfinder.com/shelters/ar-t.html.

This is a photo of Briscoe, one of the rescues who is available for adoption. He looks pretty clean, but, probably, if you adopt him, you can wash him at the Doggie Zen Den. And he'll appreciate the attention.

TUNING IN: Radio rules. And some radio rocks. Some is just fun. For example, just fun (and commentary!) would be KAAM (770 AM) Friday evening star Hermann Bockelmann and his show Europe Today. Wacky, but enjoyable.

Some radio rocks from the past in a new way. For example, if you go to www.itsthezoo.com it's like a time machine. It even has that Zoo elephant screaming into the speakers! Former Zoo jock John Rody runs this re-creation of the famed KZEW on the internet. It's zany and rocks with classic songs from the Zoo's most vibrant life in Dallas. (He also runs KBAD, 95.7, a low-power station that covers the area around the Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff.) FYI: Pam Rody, who tipped us to the stray dogs in Stevens Park earlier this week, is known to radio audiences as Pamela Steele. Her radio career was legendary and she does voiceover work now. I figure it's good that people know that the great voice on the radio is the good heart who cares for the animals. (What's at 97.9, the Zoo's old spot on the dial? Hip Hop station KBFB, "The Beat.")

One of the radio contacts I've made through the years is with Larry Shannon, former rock jock in Fort Worth and Dallas and founder of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. (That 2005 Induction is coming up Nov. 4. Go to www.texasradiohalloffame.com).

Larry sends out a daily radio industry update (You can read it at www.radiodailynews.com.). One this week included some startling news. Karla Wampler, former KRLD reporter, has died at the age of 43 -- she'd become a successful Realtor in Phoenix, according to the report. In radio, everyone’s voice means something to someone. Maybe you heard it at a critical time of your life, maybe that voice was a daily comfort in a difficult period.

Also, the radio report mentioned that Shamrock, Texas, has renamed its portion of historic Route 66 after, perhaps, its most famous personality: legendary country DJ and songwriter Bill Mack. Many of us insomniacs listened to a lot of Bill Mack on WBAP through the years -- now you can hear him on satellite radio, but, of course, what person beyond the age of 50 wants to buy radio when the Good Lord intended for it to be free as the air we breathe.

TUNING OUT: Not one of the 8 dogs in my house is awake right now. By golly, I appreciate that. I hope some day to learn from them how to take a good nap. It is almost as if they say to themselves, "I better sleep now, I may not get to sleep later." That's the way I treat apple fritters. I'd better have one now, I may not get one later. Did I say "one"? I mean "a few." Heck, I'd go jogging right now, but I don't want to wake the dogs.

THE PUMPKIN REPORT: One Thanksgiving morning more than a decade-and-a-half ago, I saw Martha Stewart on the Today Show talking about ornamental pumpkins, i.e., Jack-Be-Littles. She said something like "Anybody can grow pumpkins."

This launched what has become an annual attempt on my part to grow pumpkins. With rare exception, my crops have failed year after year. I may even be eligible for some sort of government financial support.

This year, we have a pumpkin produced by the flowing pumpkin vine growing in our front-of-the-house flower box. This is a photo of the pumpkin. It is the size of a tangerine right now. The photo on the front of the seed package suggests I should have a pumpkin that is somewhere between the size of a basketball and the size of a Bull Mastiff's head.

For now, this little pumpkin is treasured -- it is a sign that, perhaps, when I was among those laid off by the big newspaper a year ago, I should have bought land at Floydada and become a pumpkin farmer.

Floydada, you know, is the Pumpkin Capital of the United States. (See www.floydadachamber.com.)

But that's way out in the Panhandle where the soil is perfect for pumpkins. It's no challenge to grow pumpkins in Floydada. You try growing pumpkins in the rocky soil atop the White Rock Escarpment in Oak Cliff. That's the challenge.

I figured I'd rather breed pumpkins than critters. Nobody ever has to form a Pumpkin Rescue Society. Bumpkin Rescue, maybe.

Cookie is FOUND!

It is appropriate, don't you think, that something cool would happen on the very first evening of autumn.

Here's the back story. On Sept. 13, I ran a note about Diane Combs, longtime animal rescuer/volunteer/all round good soul, going to a Dallas nursing home and meeting up with a 73-year-old diabetic evacuated from New Orleans. Her name is Alaine and, as you may recall, her constant companion, a 7-year-old Yorkie named Cookie, was believed to have died in the storm in New Orleans.

But Diane felt there may have been a chance that Cookie made it. So, as a favor to Diane and in the hopes that there was something good that could happen, I posted the story.

I called it a "longshot." Here's the e-mail I got from Diane just a few minutes ago -- about 9:30 p.m., smack in the middle of cable TV's relentless Rita coverage.

Diane writes (and I think you can see the thrill in her typing!):

"Oh, my gosh -- what a story, and what a happy ending. This is going to be long -- let me warn you.

"First of all, to Larry Powell: This story proves that "longshots" DO pay off every now and then."

Let me interrupt to say that I am more than happy this longshot paid off -- I'd rather have this happen than win the lotto. And I'm not kidding.

(This picture is of Alaine visiting with Diane’s constant companion, Margo, who was the focus of the “Part of Our Family” feature in August’s edition of Urban Animal magazine. Margo is a naturally cute photo subject and way too dazzling for just one breed -- she’s a terrier mix.)

Back to Diane's note about Alaine, who had been in a hospital in New Orleans when Katrina hit, then had been moved to a Dallas hospital, then to a Dallas nursing home. "When I visited her," Diane writes, "she was totally convinced that Cookie had gone to 'doggie heaven' (but I wasn't.) I started on a mission to find Cookie -- dead or alive.

"I have to interject this: My friend Kerry worked tirelessly to find Alaine's missing 14-year-old grandson and was successful. So, many pats on the back to her and now prayers need to go out to Kerry and her family, whose home is in Galveston.

"My part in this mission was to find Cookie, and MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

THE CONNECTIONS BEGIN: "Anyway, Larry put the story in his daily Internet column (www.readlarrypowell.com). "An avid reader and of his and friend of his, Marva Lanier, saw the post. She posted on various other website and a great gal named Laura happened to see that post.

"Laura then posted on some other websites and another great gal named Amanda saw that post.

"Last week Amanda wrote me an e-mail. She lives in New Orleans but had evacuated to Mississippi. She said she'd be back in New Orleans to see what was left of her apartment and she'd be happy to go to Alaine's house to see if Cookie was still there.

"I gave her Alaine's address.

"Amanda wrote me back saying that the police would not let her go into that area of town because it was too badly flooded, but she gave the information (and Alaine's address) to a volunteer there from the ASPCA named Melinda.

"Well, guess what...Melinda called Amanda this morning to say that they were able to break into Alaina's house and save Cookie. Here's what Amanda said:

'On Monday afternoon they found the house and were able to break in. The house had been flooded with 8 feet of water and there remained about six inches of toxic sludge. They went into the kitchen and there, sunk into the muddy mess beneath fallen cabinets, was Cookie!! They scooped her out and she wasn't even able to hold up her head.

'But they managed to wash her off and they took her to a couple of different veterinary shelters. She first went to Lamar Dixon shelter but she was then transported to the LSU intensive care unit because she was in such bad shape. The doctors worked to save her and they did!

'Melinda saw Cookie this morning and she was completely shaved but standing and looking around for food. Melinda has plans to take Cookie and 3 other rescued animals up to her farm in Albany, N.Y. She is driving home starting tonight and plans to get home this coming Monday. Cookie is being checked into her animals' vet when they get to town.

'Diane, thank you so much for letting me know about Cookie. If it weren't for you and, of course, Melinda, Cookie would, in fat, be in 'doggie heaven.' I'm SO happy that you get to let her owner know that she's A-OK -- a bit shaken, but A-OK."

A PROPER REACTION: Diane's reaction? "WOW."

Some phone numbers were exchanged and Diane made a cell call to Melinda.

"We had such a wonderful talk.

She was, indeed, in the car on her way back home to New York. She said she was so glad I called. She told me all about the rescue at Alaina's house and how Cookie could just barely lift her head up -- so weak. She said, 'She was the saddest looking pile of fluff I've ever seen. It looked like someone had dropped their wig in the mud.'

"She said when the found Cookie, she was terribly dehydrated. They washed her off and took her to a triage center where volunteers worked on her and stabilized her. This was at the Lamar Dixon Shelter in Gonzalez, La. However, they were told that Cookie was in bad shape and needed to be transported to the LSU intensive car unit. Melinda authorized up to $1,500 worth of care for her. She said, 'Those doctors saved her life.'

"When we were talking, she said, 'Cookie is right here in the car next to me and so well behaved, but the situation in New Orleans is really bad. ... It's going to haunt me for a long time.' At that point she started to cry.

"She sounded very hoarse. She said, 'Excuse my voice, but I've spent a week there yelling 'Hey, we're from the ASPCA. Please let us in.'

"Then she got back to a positive note and said, 'You should see Cookie now. She looks wonderful. Everyone has put their hearts out for this little dog. In fact, she's going to be featured on a TV show in Albany, N.Y., in hopes it will encourage more people to volunteer. She is just adorable.'

"We talked some more about Alaine and how probably she would not be in a position to take her back. Melinda said, 'If she can, that would be great, but if she can't, I would be honored to adopt Cookie and give her a great home. I love older dogs.'

"I asked her if I could help her with the medical expenses for Cookie and she flatly refused. She said, 'No way. I wouldn't blink an eye accepting full responsibility."

"Oh my gosh, such a wonderful human being."

Diane says Melinda has promised to keep in touch and send photos of the rescued Cookie so Alaine can see how her little dog has been thriving. Diane says that "weather permitting" -- she means Rita, of course -- she'll be visiting with Alaine on Sunday.

What can you say except this is a wonderful story of a triumph over great odds. Well, you might also say that there's a Yorkie named Cookie who has a team of guardian angels.

A CONFESSION OF APPRECIATION: I’m going to confide something to you all now: When I first heard from Diane that her persistence had paid off, I was smiling like I’d just been handed a fluffy puppy. Then, I realized what this meant -- that so many “strangers” cared so much, from Diane to Marva to the team in New Orleans....It just nearly made me mist up a little bit at the thought of how relieved Alaina is, how Cookie is no longer threatened and how deeply some people believe in the mission that is fueled by their hearts. We’re fortunate to live on the same planet with these people.