ReadLarryPowell.com

A tribute, a trio and some trying situations...

EDITION OF TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2016 (PetPowellPress) -- Welcome to March. Let’s enjoy it.
Oh, and it seems like there’s something political going on today -- anybody else get a lot of phone calls from strangers who want to depend on you today?

Ah, American politics. Still beats whatever they have anywhere else. Most of the time. Now, let’s focus on a pro-Chow bag created in honor of the great Dianne Watson and a trio of sisters and other notes from the Animal/Human World.
THREE SISTERS IN NEED


Too cute, aren’t they, and Flora and Fauna look really enjoyable but that Merriweather looks as if she’s up to something and she just knows you’ll enjoy it.

They’re all in the Ferris Animal Shelter in need of rescue or adoption, reports Laura Macias who works to help the low-traffic shelter get its animals adopted. Ferris is about 30 minutes south of Dallas on I-45. (Call 817-477-8140 or email Animal Control Officer Chelcee Juricek at [email protected].)

These pups are about 5 months old, weigh between 25 and 35 pounds and are Great Pyrenees mixes. The report from the shelter is “all three little girls are friendly, happy and love to play and learn new things!

[LARRY ASIDE: None of them are registered to vote, except in Cook County, Ill. Relax, that’s a joke for my Chicago pals and relatives.]

HOW ABOUT THIS TRIBUTE

Alexandra Kelsey, our Houston tipster wrote, “Dianne Watson’s friends are keeping her legacy alive by raising funds to help senior Chow’s, and they are selling bags to support this fund.  ...  Everyone misses Dianne so much and I hope that many will help keep her work going.”

Dianne was about as dedicated an animal person as ever walked the Texas earth. Big, big, big fan of Chows. So, the Houston Chow Chow Connection rescue group, on its Facebook page HERE announced that it has created a Senior Fund.

The text reads, “Three years have gone by since our dear friend, mentor and fellow Chow Chow advocate Dianne Watson was tapped by God and left us. As most of you know, HCCC was formed in honor of Dianne for her many years of service and her passion for helping the breed she loved so much.
“At the 3-year mark of Dianne's passing, we rescued and adopted 3 senior Chows in a span of 3 weeks. Meanwhile, a canvas bag honoring Dianne’s passion for rescue was lovingly being crafted by one of our volunteers as a surprise.
"When we saw the finished bag we were in awe and humbled. At the same time we wondered about providing this bag to others for a dual purpose; provide a beautiful creation for others to enjoy and proudly display their Chow love and secondly, to dedicate the proceeds from the purchase of the bag to assist those in adopting older Chows.
“So we asked ourselves, ‘Can we do this? Can we encourage chow lovers to adopt a senior shelter chow with no adoption fee if we provide funds to assist with senior care such as providing initial vetting and medication?’
“And we decided, heck YES! Dianne would love this idea and we have nothing to lose - but our senior shelter Chows sure do.
“Therefore, the Senior Chow Fund was born and the proceeds from each canvas bag will fuel the account. In addition to the Etsy link , we will be adding a drop down feature on our website at www.hccchou.org, where you can donate strictly to this fund as well.”

So, you can honor the great Dianne and help Senior Chows by buying one of these bags for $40. It’s a flat-bottomed bag that is 14 inches wide at the bottom, tapers out to 17 inches at the top and is 15 inches tall and 5 inches wide.
Yes, about the right size to carry stuff.  

You know the name of the Houston Chow Chow Connection online store?  It’s ‘Til the Chows Come Home.
[LARRY ASIDE: I posted this item AFTER the dogs that need rescue from a shelter because I think that’s what Dianne Watson would have suggested. She always put the animals ahead of the human stories. And that philosophy led me to include photos of a couple of the Houston group's Chows, Rebel on the left and Miss Bliss on the right. ]

CONTEMPLATIONS: Looking for a hero? Consider the 6-year-old boy in Houston who was severely burned trying to rescue his dog and her puppies from his burning house. He’s hospitalized with severe burns. KHOU story is HERE. ... NOT A HERO NOTE: Remember Kristen Lindsey, the vet who proudly went bowhunting for a domestic cat and killed him with an arrow to the head? She’s facing a hearing next week. Click HERE for the Examiner story and HERE for a DVM360 vet publication story. The Examiner story says the bowhuntress is “changing her tune” about believing that the cat had rabies. [LARRY ASIDE:  You might enjoy reading the Alley Cat Allies report on rabies in felines HERE. Kind of rare. And, as a vet once told me years and years ago, cats tend to flee the rabid beasts and avoid any fighting. Maybe the huntress skipped the cat seminar to take a bowhunting class.] ... Still, in Texas it’s a GREAT IDEA to make sure your critters are vaccinated against rabies. The carriers around here tend to be skunks, coyotes, bats and foxes. You never know when one will roam madly into your yard or your pasture and attack your beloved housepet or horse. No kidding. You can look it up. Except you couldn’t  look it up on the Texas Department of State Health Services rabies homepage because it just wasn’t working Monday. Here’s the URL:
https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/rabies/ . Maybe it’ll work for you. I haven’t had my shots.
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Dogs, cats and stars....

EDITION OF MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2016 (PetPowellPress) -- Happy Leap Day. And how about those Oscars! Something else the Dallas Cowboys didn’t win -- not a single supporting nomination for the offensive line. Now, let’s help some stars of the planet. Oh, yeah, our dogs were rooting for The Big Short -- they thought it was about a Dachshund. 

THE TORNADO DOGS
Dawna Carabajal of the Friends of Rowlett Animals says “all of the dogs that were on the list las week are safe.”

Tugger was the last one on that “Tornado List.” 
That’s him on the left, rescued Friday by DAWG (Denison Animal Welfare Group), Dawna says.

And that brings us to the “however” portion of today’s report.
All the tornado dogs were off the list and all but one of the extras, until Friday when Tugger left. “However,” Dawna writes, “the shelter put another dog on the list.”
And that other dog is Neeko. This is Neeko. 
The story is he is rescue only ON MONDAY. Leap Day would be a great day to save Neeko. And it has to be a rescue group, the Dawna note says.

“Neeko is a sweet boy that the volunteers adore. He had been adopted but returned. The adopters state he growled and charged at them the 1st night he was there so they brought him back the next morning. This is very confusing to all of the volunteers as we have never seen any aggression from Neeko. He is picky about his canine friends, but has always been friendly to our volunteers. Sadly the city has decided that Neeko is now only available to rescue groups. This will dramatically decrease Neeko's chances of getting out alive. We did have a volunteer spend time with him this morning (2/27) and he still showed no signs of aggression. Here is what they reported back to us: ‘He sits beautifully, clearly knew how already. And I've been teaching him to down. Works great for treats. Is handler focused. He lets me handle him all over, ears, mouth, rump, all with no reactivity. He's got the energy of a young dog, but it's not over the top.’ Please help us find a way out for Neeko.”
The shelter is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s at 4402 Industrial St. in Rowlett and you can call it at 972) 412-6219. Deadline is March 3, 5 p.m. Email Maria Martinez at  [email protected].
CHAMP SCORES A TRIUMPH

Amy Poskey reported just before the Oscars started the Red Carpet reception perhaps a more joyful victory than an Academy Award -- a dog out of a shelter.
Not just any dog, but Champ, paralyzed in a case that became a cruelty case.
Here’s what she wrote: “I am sooooooooooooooooooo happy to report that Legacy Humane Society has offered to save our little Champ who will have a wonderful foster mom!!!  WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!”

The note also read, “Champ has been measured for his wheelchair and should be sporting his new wheels in a week or two (yay!) ... When he goes outside to enjoy the play yard he gets around extremely well and thoroughly enjoys being out in the warm sunshine!  And, when he’s finished making the rounds he just comes right back to you and sits sweetly by your side as if to say, “Thank you for letting me enjoy the outdoors, now I’m ready for some loving from you!”  He is an absolute sweetheart and will be such a blessing for some lucky person or family!  These ’special needs’ babies bring such joy to your heart and soul!!!  How can you resist that sweet face?!”
AN EFFORT TO SAVE FREYA TODAY
Karen Lee of Barkleyworld.com forwarded a note about Freya in the Carthage Animal Shelter in East Texas. The SCPA -- that’s right, Smith County Pets Alive -- organization has set up a funding site to get Freya off death row on Leap Day -- that’s the deadline.
Go HERE . Email Marie Garza at [email protected].
Maria’s note from SCPA on Sunday read, “This beautiful Freya is set to die tomorrow 2/29 and we are trying very hard to save her!!  We'd like to raise funds to offer to a rescue so that they can use it to vet her etc.  Her adoption fell through and has NO TIME LEFT!  This is a high KILL shelter with little adoptions little foot traffic and HIGH KILL for pit bull breeds.  This was someone’s dog, she is house-trained and has been an inside dog. Great with kids. Gorgeous blue pit.

THE SPCA’S RESCUE EFFORT
You’re probably aware of this, but it won’t hurt to remind anyone that the SPCA of Texas‘ Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit has brought 50 more dogs into the organization’s care.

How did that happen?
The SPCA news release says the united was assisting “an individual who had become overwhelmed with the care of 50 dogs. The pets were found inside of a two-bedroom home in Dallas County. Out of the 50 dogs, 21 of them are puppies. All of the animals appear to be suffering from health issues such as flea infestation, long nails and hair loss. They are currently being examined, evaluated and cared for by the SPCA of Texas’ medical staff and behavior team. Many of the puppies will need to go to foster care until they are ready for adoption while the adults will be getting lots of snuggles and care from our incredible staff and volunteers.”
What they also need, of course, is money. Donations help keep the rescue efforts going -- click HERE. And go to spca.org to see how to adopt.  
CONTEMPLATIONS:  Perhaps you’ve seen the report in the Big Paper Downtown about the most popular dog breeds in Dallas. The story doesn’t tell you who did the counting, but, applying my honed reporting skills I performed discreet investigation and discovered that that the dogs who were declared to be Dallas’ favorites were determined by the American Kennel Club.  And, of course, we know that the American Kennel Club probably doesn’t count the really popular dogs in town such as the Lab mixes, Chihuahua mixes, Pitty mixes, Retriever mixes, Poodle mixes. Shepherd mixes. Doxie mixes and, of course, Oak Cliff Roaming Earhounds, which I’m determined to get into the Westminster Kennel Club Show by 2036 and Texas’ 200th birthday. Lots of all those around and absolutely beloved. ... FYI: At readlarrypowell.com we’re celebrating the 100th anniversary of the entry of Texarkana, Texas, product Corinne Griffith into films. We didn't go to high school together. Known as the "Orchid Lady of the Screen," she had an interesting life and wrote the Washington Redskins fight song. I’m not kidding. There’s no business like show business except politics, maybe. That cat? That’s a fellow named Pat (ID#A928488), one of 24 cats at Dallas Animal Services as the weekend ended -- Pat’s obviously wide-eyed with excitement about being up for adoption, but, we understand, has no agent and is unlikely to be nominated for an Oscar this year. We can tell you that black and white cats are dramatic, entertaining and enjoyable -- perfect for Hollywood and the movie-minded individual or family.
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SLEEPING ON THE JOB...thankfully

There's great joy in working at home with your dogs -- they're supportive, inspirational and comforting. Sometimes the neighbor’s parrot can get involved -- read on to learn about that!
Seriously, you hit a tough spot in a project, you turn and pet a dog.
You need something that gives you comforting, the dog walks up and says, “Hey, you’re the best at feeding me.”
You need something inspirational? You turn and look and the dog/dogs are showing you how to flop down and snooze.

This collection of “working dogs” caught our attention and we asked Karen Bearman to tell us about her canine colleagues for our weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. These three add to the heartbeat in the home of Karen, her husband Chris and their 7-year-old son, Sam. 
Here’s what Karen wrote: 
“We have 3 lovely ladies that share our home, all rescues from Richardson Humane Society.
“1) Parker, aka Park Bark, is our Beagle girl. She's approximately 13 years old. (She's the one in the brown recliner.) She a bit quirky and loud, as a Beagle should be. In fact, the parrot that belongs to the neighbor sometimes hangs out in their backyard and has learned to yell, ‘Parker!’ Good thing our neighbor is a vet. Despite her quirks, Parker is the most sensitive of all our dogs and will come lick your face when you need cheering up.
“2) Gigi is the brown Chiweenie curled up in the tan round bed. She is the canine version of my mother -- quiet, pretty and petite but you do not want to get on her bad side. She was a foster failure, loves to bury under the covers, is the most jealous of the three, and is also known as Her Royal Brown-ness.
“3) Sarah, aka Sarah Squee, is also a foster failure. (No, we don't need another dog; no of course we don't; ok, let's fill out the paperwork.) We think she is a Chihuahua Beagle (Chieagle?) We say she has a brain the size of a Cheerio, complete with the hole in the middle. Half of that brain is dedicated to finding food and the other half to being cute. And boy is she cute! And hungry!! She is a tripod -- she was taken to the shelter with a badly broken leg. By the time RHS was able to get her it had been broken too long and was broken on a growth plate so the orthopedist recommended that it be removed. She, of course, doesn't care and has never looked back. She was about 6 months old when the leg was amputated and is about 8 now.
“We lost our pack leader Jake last summer. He was a truly noble beagle who lived to the ripe old age of 15.

“Thanks for the chance to talk about our pack! All our dogs preceded our human son and people told us we'd feel differently after our son was born. Not so -- we're a happy family of six.”
[You can feel the love when you read that, can’t you! If you want to see about adopting a certified sleeping dog or napping cat from the Richardson Humane Society, click HERE.  To nominate the slumbering animals you love for the spotlight of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, send photos and info to [email protected]. We post these photos of happily sleeping critters to inspire insomniacs to realize that they, too, can sleep if they’ll just “Go Dog” or “Go Cat” and find the right place to flop or curl. And isn't that flopping ear photo just too cute! Makes you want to try sleeping with one ear on the carpet, doesn't it, my fellow insomniacs.]
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Happy rescues, a live cam and ranking ballparks

EDITION OF FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015 (PetPowellPress) -- We’re going to ease in the weekend with a slow-rollin’ Friday report.
Why? It’s the mood of the moment. Just relax and remember that life doesn’t have to be frantic. Sorry, I think I’m channeling one of our cats -- the mellow one. That doesn't narrow it down. 

LIVECAM SANTA FE

Something great about the world: On Sunday morning, while the house was quiet, I clicked on the Santa Fean Magazine link to the live plaza cam in the beautiful capital of New Mexico. 
 I watched a guy sit on a park bench as the sun was up just enough to read. He carefully folded a white bag, spread it on the bench, put his cup of coffee on it, opened his newspaper, took a sip, looked up around the plaza and then started reading the paper.
Because of the internet you can see places you want to be while being in the places you put up with. Kind of a miracle world.
That’s a shot of the plaza on Thursday afternoon. Earlier in the week it was covered with snow.
Now and then you can see people leading happy dogs across the plaza. 
All that great real estate used to belong to Texas, you know. That's the only way I could justify leaving Texas for New Mexico. That and the overwhelming influence of a winning lotto ticket.

RESCUED: WINNIE
 (CATS ARE WAITING)
We posted a note about Winnie, the Lake Dallas shelter dog earlier in the week and Thursday afternoon, Lake Dallas Animal Services Manager Patricia Barrington sent a note revealing that Humane Tomorrow, the Rescue Group Formerly Known as the Humane Society of Flower Mound, had claimed Winnie.


We’re told Winnie already has adoption applications at Humane Tomorrow. 
In the meantime, among the dogs needing homes at the Lake Dallas Shelter, there are a number of cats.
This is a partial cat gallery. To ask about any animal in the Lake Dallas Shelter, email [email protected] or call 940-497-7090.

GOOD NEWS FOR OLIVE
You may recall our note about Olive, the dog who showed up at the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter looking as if she’d been attacked by another dog (or, maybe, other dogs), face all mangled and eye injured.
Amy Poskey, the consistent monitor of Denton critters, sent this note, “I’m so happy to report that Operation Kindness will be pulling this precious baby tomorrow, Friday, 2/26!!!  Thank you so much to EVERYONE  for helping me network Olive!!!  I will send an update and freedom pic as soon as she is SAFE!”
 
CONTEMPLATIONS: Here’s a Channel 5 (NBCDFW, NBC5, KXAS -- did I miss any other 21st century call letters?) story about the City of Dallas issuing citations in Dallas for violating the free-roaming dog law. Click HERE. Tickets will cost between $200 and $400 -- and that probably will come out of the dog’s food/veterinary budget. (Relax. Anybody who lets their dog run free will make sure it’s fed, fixed and up-to-date on shots. Right? And I am high-kicking in fishnets with the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.) ... Each day an outfit named Trivia Hive sends me an entertaining question. Thursdays was “How many photos are uploaded to Facebook every day?” I guessed 10 million because (a) I am out of touch with the rest of the world and (b) I had such hope that people were not always welded to their computers. The answer was 350 million. The U.S. population clock HERE said Thursday night that there are about that many Americans. Good grief. Some people are not posting. Some people are posting all the time. What did everybody do with their pictures before Facebook was invented? Or is the world more photographable now? ... AOL runs feature stories and Thursday afternoon, in advance of the Major League Baseball Season, it posted a story ranking the nation’s big league ballparks. This is a quote: “27. Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas Rangers. Remember when this place was state of the art? Neither do we.” That’s unkind. And the place formerly known as the Ballpark In Arlington is a great place to watch a game, which is why you ought to go to the stadium. Not to get snide, but can’t remember when AOL was state of the art in sportswriting, either. Sorry, slipped into fandom. Not wrong to have an opinion about baseball in an election year, is it?
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A WORLD OF CRITTERS AND IT'S ALL OURS...

EDITION OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016 (PetPowellPress) -- Let’s dive into the Thursday edition. 
Oh, and, please, we need some photos of slumbering critters for our weekend editions of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, assuming the presidential campaigns aren’t keeping animals awake, too. Send photo and info to [email protected]. 

Example: Here’s a photo of Porche Noel on the floor next to my desk. Someone else got her place on the couch, so she flopped here and went to sleep. What’s her story? She once ran political campaigns for presidential candidates but found herself growing more and more disenchanted with banquet food. She moved in here and, as is our household tradition, immediately put on about 20 pounds. We think we've halted the trend. In her, anyway.
CHAMP’S STILL WAITING
Amy Poskey sent out the first note about Champ last week. You may recall that this adorable dog was a bit of evidence in a cruelty case. The 3- or 4-year-old Chihuahua is paralyzed from the hips down and needs to have a wheelchair to move around. “He’s very sweet and has a really grate attitude in spite of what he’s endured,” Amy wrote.
A rescue was suppose to measure Champ for a wheelchair, but scheduling hasn’t worked out, so Amy says, “I’m sending out another plea for this little angel.  He is still in isolation and he’s all by himself without any foot traffic.  It’s breaking my heart. “  (Champ is #61299.)
But that’s not all at Denton’s McNatt Animal Shelter.
This beautiful but ragged Shepherd is Olive, about 2. Amy’s trying to hustle a way for her out of the shelter ASAP. She says, “This baby came to the shelter in bad shape with bite wounds all over her face and body ... apparently another dog attacked her.  One eye probably needs to be removed, too.  They have her on carprofen for pain but one of the shelter volunteers couldn’t get her out of her kennel cuz she is terrified, shaking and might still be in pain....This is heartbreaking. See the video HERE.
Amy explains, “I wanted to get the word out and I’m hoping the shelter will approve an early release, so please let me know if anyone can help this sweet baby.”  
To help Champ, Olive or any critter in the Denton shelter, email [email protected].
 
THE LAKE DALLAS LABBY
We got notes about this Lake Dallas Animal Shelter dog from not only Karen Lee of Barkleyworld.com but also from two other renowned animal rescuers, Amy Poskey and Debra Myers.
So, we checked with one of Winnie the Labby’s closest associates, Patricia Barrington of Lake Dallas Animal Services. The phone message response came quickly, enthusiastically: “Winnie is a good and loyal girl. I like her a lot. She has been here some time and really needs an immediate adoption or rescue.”
You can help with that immediate adoption/rescue by emailing [email protected] or calling 940-497-2228.
One of the notes about Winnie said the - or 5-year-old dog “is very shy and would do best in a home with no small children. They say she is very laid back and would make a great couch potato.”


TWO MORE IN THE RESCUE PROJECT
We mentioned that veteran rescuer Della Wallace is trying to help place a dozen dogs and a dozen cats that have fallen victim to a human’s medical situation in McKinney. Here are two of the animals in this fix. To help Della help the animals, email [email protected]. They’re not all this pretty, but they are all in need.

 

 

 

 

 

PATCHES NEEDS A HOME


Several people forwarded this appeal for Patches the Dog. 
The basic story is the woman who has him writes that her husband is in the hospital and “Patches is a wonderful dog and just too much for us, given our age, retirement income and care of our 2 Schnauzers.”
To offer to help Patches, email Marti Sampson at [email protected] or call 972-524-0514 or (mobile) 214-543-9351.


CONTEMPLATIONS: This will be a photo/art contemplation today. The first one is The Colony’s Animal Services Manager Mark Cooper making an appeal for a dog he’s kind of proud of charming. And, isn’t that a wonderful thing. The next one is possibly Dallas’ Greatest Catfan Mary Spencer, the former Animal Shelter Commission chair who posted an appeal for a cat in the DAS shelter. As this is being written, there are 15 cats on the adoptable list at DAS -- so if someone beats you to this one (he really doesn’t like being in the cage!), DAS can probably fix you up with another kitty pal. (Click on the art to make it larger -- works just like a rescuer's bank account. Click and grow.)



To end this contemplation, let’s list some things we love about Dallas, Texas: Plenty of tow trucks; lots of places to get food that’s off your diet; the State Fair; lots of theater; mostly good weather; it’s in Texas. Whoa, that’s enough right there. And we have “The Fightin’ Third,” the Dallas County Commissioner District seat sought by two guys who had a foul-mouthed dust-up at a gospel radio station. How can you not love this town?
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Midweek on Nationa Tortilla Chip Day

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016 (PetPowellPress) -- Here we go with a midweek edition and, get this, the Holiday Insights website, a loosely documented collection of holidays, says Wednesday the 24th is “National Tortilla Chip Day.”
Celebrated daily in the Metrosprawl, wouldn’t you say? Now, some animal stories.

DOGS/CATS IN NEED

 Our pal Della Wallace has been working to help save some dogs and cats that have fallen victim to a human’s inability to live up to good intentions. It happens.
Thee are a couple of the dozen dogs that have been left in a spot. There are, Della says, “about that many cats, too.” 
Both dogs are females. One weighs about 30 pounds. Both are “so sweet,” Della says. “They all get along with cats. DOn’t know about children.”
Della could use some help with this rescue effort. Email her at [email protected].
NO LEAPIN’ LIZARDS, BUT...
Yeah, for you older folks I’ve quoted Orphan Annie in the headline, “LEAPIN’ LIZARDS!”
But this is an SPCA of Texas note about dogs and cats, though, as you can see, I’ve chosen some rabbit and donkey photos to join the Earhounds and kitty cats at the
SPCA of Texas Russell H. Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney.
Why?
 Because the SPCA is celebrating Leap Year with $29 adoptions for adult dogs and cats a year old and older through the end of the month. 
The center is at 8411 Stacy Road in McKinney. Easy access.  You can navigate to the availables (as I did) by going to www.spca.org. That’s where you can also learn about the SPCA’s many activities. And the phone number at the SPCA is 214-742-7722. Yes, the McKinney facility has livestock in addition to the traditional critters. Bigger horses than little Dede, too. But that may be the biggest rabbit in the shelter.




NEEDS A HOME IN A HURRY
Amy Poskey forwarded this one to Readlarrypowell.com. The dog, according to Amy’s note, has run into a situation in which a relationship with two humans didn’t work out, so the dog is needing a home. Amy usually monitors things in the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter, but now and then she spots a cutie that needs some help.
The email reads, “Bessy is a sweet female lab mix. She was rescued from Garland Animal Services about 6 months ago. Bessy knows many commands, like sit, down, off, let's go, leave it, and drop it. Bessy loves to play with her stick, her toys, other dogs and people. Bessy is loyal and playful. She just wants to be part of the family. Bessy does well with a routine and really enjoys being outside. Bessy is very smart and would make an excellent companion. Bessy is a little scared with some people at first but when she warms up and gets comfortable she does well. She loves walks and takes direction well. She is crate-trained. Bessy is vaccinated, spayed and can be microchipped. Bessy was owner surrendered to the shelter at 7 months and she was rescued within hours of being euthanized. She deserves her happily ever after.” (Bessy’s contact is Krystal Cook at 214-263-2632 or email [email protected].


CONTEMPLATIONS: Here’s a nice thing. Alexandra Kelsey in Houston sent a tip about something in the Tyler area: “Sherri [email protected] has glucose meter and insulin syringes to donate to someone involved in rescue. Do you know anyone in need of these supplies?  Contact Sherri if so.  These were for a dog who has gone now to the Bridge.  Sherri is in the Tyler area but perhaps these could be mailed.” ... Call this a “teaser” photograph. Anybody guess what’s going on here? It’s a good thing. Click HERE and you’ll learn a bit about the -- wait, I don’t want to give it away. Here's a hint: Tawana Couch. ... We’re taking this moment to recommending something a “radio voice” wrote. Take some time to read an important column in the big paper downtown about an important topic. It was written by the Voice of the Texas Rangers, radio broadcaster Eric Nadel. It has nothing to do with pitchers and homerun hitters directly, but everything to do with life. Click HERE. 
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Ah, a cat, a Casper, an Oklahoma crisis and some contemplations....

EDITION OF TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 (PetPowellPress) -- OK, let’s just say things are black and white in this world. Need some evidence? Here are two exhibits.
THE CAT
Is that not an astonishingly beautiful cat? As regular visitors to Readlarrypowell.com know, we believe black and white cats are the zaniest in the universe. 
This is an opinion based on experience.
They are adorable, too.

We get the story on this one from Sydney Busch, our consistently reliable source with Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake, the organization that operates the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas.
This Tuxedo by the way, is spayed. 

She’s been “hanging around a friend’s home,” the note explains. “She thinks the people who cared for the cat aren't around anymore. She can't take this cat in. She has two dogs that hate cats. Her husband is threatening to take this sweet cat to the shelter! She doesn't want that to happen. If you know anyone who would like a sweet kitty please call Melodie Vanfarowe at 903-451-3367.”

THE DOG
We cribbed this off Kent Hofmeister’s Facebook site. He and his wife, the famous Martha Hardwick Hofmeister of “MarthaNet” rescue fame, are fostering this guy. Kent’s note says that “folks have ben asked about what we have named this pooch and it’s official -- base don this photograph we saw of him before we met him, we have decided to name him Casper, due to (1) the marking on his chest, and (2) he’s just so darned friendly.”
He adds, “Having said that, we also have lapsed into calling him Buddy or Little Buddy (a nice throwback reference to Hoss's pet name for younger brother Little Joe on Bonanza). We'll see how it all turns out, but this is a great puppy --found out this morning he's about 17 weeks old. He's neutered, seems to be potty trained (!!), and so far has chewed only on his chew toys; also demonstrably great with toddlers, dogs, and cats. Oh, and the vet says he's part Lab, but also suspects some Border Collie or Pointer because of body structure and he's a smart little guy.”
A BURNS FLAT CHALLENGE

Terry Lynn Fisher, the legendary Burns Flat, Okla., rescuer, has sent an appeal for help with an unfortunate animal situation near her.
Burns Flat, if you don’t know, is out in Western Oklahoma, nearly due north of Vernon, Texas.
You go from DFW to Wichita Falls, to Vernon, then go right for another hour and a half and you’re in Burns Flat.
Or you can get in touch with Terry Lynn at [email protected].
This is probably going to take a coordinated, long-distance effort.

Terry Lynn explains, “I was asked for help with a very desperate situation.
“A lady has been overrun with dogs.
“She is now being evicted. She needs a safe place for these innocent lives ASAP.
“Yes, she allowed this to happen, but she is reaching out, trying to save these  babies...
“There is one bigger dog. There is a momma with three 4-week-old babies. “The rest are little Chi’s.
“ALL are UNDER THREE....There are 13 total....PLEASE.... There is little time and they will all be killed if rescue is not found.”
And these are some of the dogs and their offspring. Again, email [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS: Show of hands, please, if you agree: “This is the most curious presidential election year I’ve ever seen. Curious weather, too.” Any connection? Throw in an earthquake or two around here and historians will ponder this year forever. ... How about this! A name from the past at the big paper downtown. Though, of course, Dotty Griffith is one of my contemporaries, thus far too young to be described as “a name from the past.” In the current promotional material for the new Texas Almanac, a handy reference book for anybody who loves Texas, you can read, “The new 2016 - 2017 edition includes new feature articles such as a history of Texas’ various food regions—from Tex-Mex to barbecue—written by Dotty Griffith, longtime food writer for The Dallas Morning News and author of The Texas Holiday Cookbook; Celebrating Barbecue; and Wild About Chili.” Dotty’s was no slouch as a reporter, either. ... A couple of days ago we spotted this entry by a longtime tipster of ours, Ginger Leach, on her Facebook page. Some of you who have been in rescue a while can relate to the sentiment in this posting. Bless the heart of anyone who’s ever run into one of these moments. What’s make them heroes is they power through it and keep going. Angels on earth. Give them strength!


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Mange, lost, adoptable -- an array of animal situations and a special Earl dog...

EDITION OF MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2016 (PetPowellPress)  Watching a Harper Lee tribute on TV over the weekend, Readlarrypowell.com realized that though she wrote “the great American novel,” the TV tribute was made of up scenes from the Gregory Peck film version of To Kill a Mockingbird.
The irony aside (and it is the age of pictures -- kind of a Stone Age approach to things nowadays), here’s today’s report.

NEEDLESS MANGE

That’s a headline you could call “redundant.” It goes without saying that mange is needless.

Patty Turner, who monitors things in the Garland Animal Shelter, sent his collage and wrote, “I am calling him Prince.  He deserves a chance. He is sweet and is either an older pup or a young adult.  We need to get him out!! He is such a doll. He is approximately 30 pounds. He allowed me to stick my fingers in his mouth and I could only see his canines which were white and adult size, but I couldn't see his molars.”
You can click on the photo and it’ll blow up big enough for you to see that the number to call is Garland Animal services at 972-205-3570.
[READLARRYPOWELL.COM ASIDE: We’re officially against mange -- it is not a disease of animals, it is a disease of people. What people do is the reason dogs suffer from mange. Again, perhaps this is a good time to lobby the Texas Legislature for passage of the law that will permit either open or concealed carry of the Two-by-Four of Enlightenment.]
BE ON THE LOOKOUT

Here’s a missing Mastiff, missing from a home in the University Terrace area of Lakewood since February 18.
The email reads, “Our sweet dog, Kodiak Bear, managed to unlatch the gate and get out of the yard yesterday [2/18/16] around 4 p.m. and there has been no trace of him. He's nine, incredibly lazy and has never gotten out once. Missing from the University Terrace area of Lakewood ... Please, DFW area friends, share this and maybe someone has seen him! He's an English Mastiff, blonde with black face and around 150 pounds. He's chipped.”
Call or text 512-771-1644.

LIVING UP TO ‘CUTE’
You get an email with “CUTE, CUTE, CUTE” in the subject line you sort of hope the dog, cat or kid in the email lives up to the billing. 
In this case you’ve got agree that the dog does. 

This note from Debra Chisholm about Mesquite Animal Shelter dogs says Audrey is “listed as a Schipperke mix”. She may be 4 or 65 years old and weighs just 18 pounds. She’s shy, made uneasy by the shelter noise. The description says, “She is cautiously friendly. Audrey does have a hidden talent. She is willing to dance for a treat! This girl has so much potential and would doubtless blossom in a warm and caring home.”
And that cute black and white dog is 21-pound, maybe 9-month-old Shelby, a Lab/Blue Heeler Mix who is well-mannered. 
To ask about any dog in the Mesquite shelter, email [email protected]. Call 972-216-6283. Lots of cuteness in Mesquite beyond those cowboys and barrel-racers at the rodeo.
THE SIAMESE CONNECTION

Scrolling through the cat population on the Dallas Animal Services website we discovered a Siamese and a near-Siamese.
Casper (#A929164) is the neutered Chocolate Point Siamese, maybe 5 and a resident of the shelter since Saturday.
Choco is a described as a “spayed female, Chocolate Point and White Siamese Mix. About 4, the shelter thinks. Choco (#A925547) has, according to the DAS website, been in the shelter since Sunday. 
So, we have two weekend arrivals ready for departure in the hands of a rescue group or a happy adopter. Call DAS  at 214-670-8246. The Dallas Animal Shelter and Adoption Center is at I-30 west and Westmoreland. You might also find a critter to adopt at  the Every Day Adoption Center at PetSmart, the DAS animal outlet at the PetSmart at 16832 N. Coit. That is so far north in Dallas that you almost are close enough to Oklahoma to hear the slots ringing at WinStar.


CONTEMPLATION -- This has to do with a found dog. Texas Earl the Cheeseman, a purebred Rottie I found in Kiest Park years ago.
We live on a hill. Across the alley from our back fence and down the hill about 25 or 30 feet there is a yard in which a few kids -- early elementary school years -- play on weekends and afternoons. 
Our Rottie Earl runs to the back fence each time we let him out to see if the children are there playing. He will sit and watch them, without barking, for as long as they are there. 

So, to the rotten SOB who must have had kids and still dumped Earl in Kiest Park in 2007, I hope someday your heart hurts like his has heart for years, yearning for  the kids who were once his kids, kids he would still recognize, kids he misses every time he hears children at play. They once played with him. I do the best I can to be childlike, but Earl is kind and lets me pet his velvet head and talk sweetly to him and doesn’t mention that I’m beyond my grade school years.
This is a photo from about three years ago with Earl asleep in one of our old chairs. My theory is he suggested that Porche, who is about a third as big as he is, flop down on top of him and pretend to be a six-year-old child who loves his dog. Porche, of course, loves Earl and was happy to play along until meal time and then she doesn’t share with any kid in the cafeteria.
People sure need to learn to respect the emotions that inhabit the hearts of the animals in this world. The human heart -- it’s tough to figure. We’ve got more problems in humanity than all the other species put together, except maybe politicians, a whole ‘nother species around the world.
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The Senator Naps; The Dog Watches TV

How does my cat nap?

Let me count the ways. 

He naps in a chair.

He naps on a table.
He naps on a counter.
He naps on a bed.

He naps on a rug.

He even naps on me.

Where else could a lap cat nap? How about on a laptop?

For this weekend's “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap” here’s a two-piece photo-essay of The Senator anappin'. 

This caught my attention for two reasons.
First, he has his head resting on the edge of my desk. How can that be comfortable enough to nod off? 
Second, he’s a lap cat on a lap top.
I keep a lap top on a TV tray next to my desk in case something happens and I need a second computer in a hurry. Every now and then there's a glitch. You know how it is when you get a message from a tech somewhere that "we're making improvements to your computer." Chilling, eh?
This time the Senator said, “I’ll stretch out here.  Try not to bother me.” 

I can’t guarantee a laptop as a good place to sleep, but it works for The Senator.  And, as a practicing insomniac, don’t think I haven’t swapped a suddenly, inexplicably uncomfortable pillow for a flat board or a desk top or table top or car window. Anything for some sleep.

That dog photo?
That’s me and Wendy watching the Best-in-Show competition at Westminster. 
I had just tried to ask her who she was supporting and she said, “Don’t talk to me. I’m concentrating on my cousins in the show. Look at 'em stack.”

Wendy could win Miss Congeniality -- she’d would be a shoo-in. Only problem we have is we don’t know what breed she would represent.  They’re picky about that at Westminster. Nobody’s gonna buy the breed “Texas Tickless River Spaniel.”

Though, this year among the new breeds was a Lagotto Romagnolo which sounds like something you’d find made up by marketing geniuses at Olive Garden for the Saturday night date special. “Join us for our Lagotto Romagnolo, the perfect
mixture of old Italia and  bold American culinary pioneering.”
The Lagotto Romagnolo has been around since the 1400s and is just now getting into Westminster. The name means “lake dog from Romagna," or something close to that.

Even more bizarre, the Lagotto Romagnolo is a dog famous for it’s big nostrils and its ability to hunt truffles.
I’d put Wendy’s ability to sniff out a treat up against any dog allegedly from Europe.  Heck, my cat The Senator, or Il Senatore, has a set of nostrils big enough to hunt for truffles. But he doesn’t have to hunt. He has a manservant.

 

[To nominate your slumbering, dog, cat, parrot, gecko, pig or unicorn for Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, email photos and info to [email protected]. Remember, insomniacs gain courage and inspiration when we see how easy it is to nod off if you’re wearing the right amount of fur and have a place to clunk down your head.]

TORNADO DOGS: 5 p.m., 2/26/16

"When she arrived at the shelter she was terrified and would just stare at the wall."
This is human tragedy made worse.
The post-Christmas tornado ended lives, changed lives, ruined futures, brought the promise of tears with every holiday, every special moment with a missing loved one.
The damage is beyond housing and loss of keepsakes strewn by unthinking winds. It is misery of the heart.

The quote that opens this special Friday edition of readlarrypowell.com  is about Celia, that dog with the sincere face and the pointy ears.

Dawna Carabajal, President of the Friends of Rowlett Animals, has issued an appeal to get  Celia and other unclaimed tornado dogs and a couple of extras off of death row. [Don't forget to scroll down and read the early Friday edition of Readlarrypowell.com. There are opportunities to help there, too.]
Dawna writes, “As most know Rowlett was hit by a devastating tornado the day after Christmas. So many pets were immediately displaced from their homes and families. Thankfully most pets were reunited with their families over time.
 Unfortunately a few dogs were never claimed, so they have been waiting in the Rowlett Shelter.

“It has been over 7 weeks now and the shelter is full so these dogs have until 2/26/16 at 5 p.m. to get out or will be euthanized.”
As Dawna explains, after the tornado, pets were placed on hold to give people time to reclaim them. To ease the pressure at the shelter, some rescue groups claimed dogs that were already there.
She says that “we had so many offers of help immediately after the storm, but now that these tornado dogs need help, there doesn't seem to be any offers. These dogs have all found themselves homeless due to no fault of their own.”
To ask about a Rescue pull or an adoption, contact both Friends of Rowlett Animals on Facebook or by emailing [email protected] and also notify Shelter Manager Maria Martinez at [email protected]. Dawna notes, “There are no full fees for 501c3 rescues.”
WHO ARE THESE DOGS?

TASER: About a year old, he is “most likely a Pit or Cane Corso mix. Taser is neutered and heartworm negative. Taser just isn't fazed by anything. He came in a few days after the tornado but seems just fine about it all. He loves life and everyone in it. We feel Taser would be an easy addition to a home. At our last adoption event he was friendly and playful with every dog we brought and every dog [and] ...with every person he met and very gentle with the children. We even took him over to the cat kennels and he and one of the kittens were gently trying to play with each other thru the plexiglas. Taser had been adopted once but was returned because the adopters would not crate him and he destroyed some items when left home alone all day. ...Taser is one fantastic dog that we just do not understand why he has not been adopted yet.”

SARINA: May be between 4 and 6. Could be “a Dogo mix or a Pit mix. Sarina is already spayed and is heartworm negative. When Sarina first arrived at the shelter she was very unhappy and let everyone know about it. Her bark was quite intimidating. But that was exactly what it was meant to do, intimidate; because she was so scared. She still puts on a show for you at her kennel gate, but she is a sucker for treats. And once you take her outside you see her true nature. She still seems a little more comfortable with male humans, but she is so much better now with everyone. She is a real love bug who enjoys belly rubs. She loves to play with some of the other dogs at the shelter; Celia is one of her best friends. Sarina has not been cat tested. She would do better with older children. “
CHIEF: About 2, perhaps a Pit/Mastiff mix, he’s neutered and heartworm negative.  “Chief is another super friendly, fun guy. Chief was found shortly after the tornado but was never reclaimed. Chief is a strong boy, so he is going to need a strong pack leader. He has a strong toy drive, so that will be helpful in his training. He is very smart and attentive to whoever is handling him. He also gets along with most of the dogs at the shelter. He was adopted once but was returned because he chewed things up when left home alone. When he was adopted the ACO at the shelter tried to get the adopters to take a free Kong large wire crate, but they refused it. Then they returned him for chewing. So sad.”
CELIA: About 2, perhaps a Pit mix. “Celia is spayed and is heartworm positive. However, Friends of Rowlett Animals will sponsor her treatment (we will either pay the full amount at our vet, Premier Vet Clinic, or we will donate the same amount it would cost us to your preferred vet). Celia was found shortly after the tornado tied to a pole. When she arrived at the shelter she was terrified and would just stare at the wall. However, after volunteers and staff doting all over her she has made a remarkable change. Celia is a really great dog. She loves every single person she meets and all dogs too! She even makes friends with dogs that are picky about their canine friends. Celia was adopted twice but returned both times. The first time she was returned because one spouse did not want a bully breed. She didn't do anything wrong. The second time she was returned was because the adopter said she jumped on the 4 year old. She is really not a jumper so we don't understand. She is very sweet and calm. We would love to see Celia finally get a FOREVER home.”
ROOSTER: Not a tornado dog, Dwana says, but he’s still in a storm of his own. “Rooster came to the shelter a couple of weeks prior to the tornado. After the tornado hit he was adopted but was returned the next day because the adopter's dogs did not like him. Due to all of the storm dogs being held at the shelter Rooster had to be transferred to a neighboring shelter for a short time. Once there was space available again at the Rowlett Shelter, Rooster was transferred back. Through all of the back and forth he has remained his sweet, goofy, lovable self. Rooster is a shelter and staff favorite and we are all desperate to find him a rescue or loving home. He has now been at the shelter for 2 months. The ACO's are even begging us to help find him a way out.”
TUGGER: “Just came into the shelter on 2/9/16 so we don't as volunteers have a lot of info on him yet. He is between 6-8 years old and weighs about 70 lbs. He is heartworm negative. He came in with a female Pit so we know he likes her, but we have not had a chance to test him with anyone else as he just became available. Staff reports he will need an experienced handler to work with him, as he seems unpredictable with some people. He has been added to the euthanasia list due to space and behavior.”
[Maybe this extra edition on a blue-sky Friday will help save some dogs who need to finally get out of the “storms.” Don't forget to keep reading our earlier Friday edition of Readlarrypowell.com. Just keep scrolling.]