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Helping Tales' triumph, animals in need (of course) and an owl, the Fair and grammar

EDITION OF FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016 (PetPowellPress) We’ll start Friday with some upbeat news about a partnership between our ol’ pals at Helping Tales Publishing and John Paul Pet, “a leading grooming and hygiene product line dedicated to the proper care of all pets.” 
They’ve teamed up to use the book produced by writer James Martinez and artist Timothy Civic, Cooper: A Rescue Dog’s Tale, to help animals.
The book is described as a “heartwarming true story” that “aims to help children better understand pet rescue. Ten percent of all books sold will benefit rescue organizations and shelters across the country”
(You can get the book on the Helping Tales website HERE.)
You can read about this project and the role Gina Dial, Vice President of sales and Marketing for John Paul Pet played in this partnership on behalf of animals in the news release HERE. 
[LARRY ASIDE: And that really is John Paul Pet’s logo.  “Tested on humans first” cracks me up.]
CLASP AND SOME CRITTERS
Karen Lee, the animal advocate at barkleyworld.com, sent a note about Cowtown Loves Animal Shelter Pets, known to most folks as “CLASP.” She says it’s “a wonderful rescue that saves so many cats in need. They seldom do fundraisers but have been hit with some pretty high vet bills lately and are asking for your support.  Giving just a little helps a lot!”

CLASP President Karen Westmoreland makes the appeal, explaining that the non-profit “takes in cats from various places to help place them in their own permanent homes. Sometimes we end up with very sick cats and large vet bills. The last 3 months of 2015 we paid vet bills in excess of $7,000 to save homeless kitties. This seriously depleted our funds.” Here’s the donation LINK or you can email [email protected].
You know how it goes with rescue groups -- you rescue. That’s why you’re there. You’re  taking up the slack for humans who don’t care.

[LARRY ASIDE FOR YOU TEA LOVERS: We clicked on cowtownpets.org and found that photo of the proper cat. He has a name that indicates he should be in the home of a person who doesn’t drink coffee but enjoys a spot of tea. His name is Earl Grey. ]
SOME ARTWORK FROM TAKE ME HOME PET RESCUE
Click on it to make it larger. Maybe stop by the venue and find a friend.

A COUPLE OF CATS FROM THE HOUSTON AREA


This tip came from Alexandra Kelsey in Houston. She writes, 
“Pamuk was rescued when she was buried under the sidewalk.  Some people walking by kept hearing a cat and finally realized that there was a kitten under the sidewalk, and they had to dig up the sidewalk to get her out!  As you can imagine, Pamuk became very attached to her rescuer and loves him dearly.
“Avni and Pamuk are living in Pearland, and they are both great cats. Avni is a very, very big boy, as you can see! ...
Both cats are hoping to be saved from their ‘grandmother’ though, because the lady is on the OCD side of normal when it comes to cleaning, and she has convinced her son that he should put the cats outside.
“This is very time-sensitive.  If you can help, let me know and I can liaise.” Email her at [email protected] .
CONTEMPLATIONS: The folks at Twelve Hills Nature Center, the former drug apartment complex property returned to its natural state in north Oak Cliff, are possibly in the process of scoring a fund-raising first -- they’re mixing a wine-tasting with a hoot owl, Forest the Barn Owl. That’s Forest, I think, but I have no Owl Facial Recognition Software. The Twelve Hills Nature Center's 9th Annual Grape Expectations is Saturday, February 27. Got to twelvehills.org. Grape Expectations is a fund-raiser and the money goes to help the nature center’s operating fund. [LARRY ASIDE: This is an indication that only one of Charles Dickens’ books can be associated with grapes. Oliver Twist, of course, has to do with martinis.] ...  Our State Fair of Texas public relations tipster Karissa Condoianis sent a note about extending the deadline for applying for the Fair's Youth Scholarships. Get your applications in by Tuesday, March 1. Go to www.bigtex.com to see how to apply. Eligible students are “graduating high school seniors from five Dallas Independent School District high schools in the Fair Park area – Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, James Madison, Lincoln, North Dallas and Woodrow Wilson High Schools.” ... [LARRY WHINE: I’ve been working as a writer, editor or columnist since 1965 and now and then I find myself simply amused at the run amok-punctuation, the loose grip on grammar, the catastrophic spelling I encounter in the course of a day. I realize I’d have been a lousy grade school teacher. If I’d seen some of this stuff in college (where I tried to teach journalism for two semesters) I’d have stabbed someone with a sharp editing pencil as a lesson to the rest of the class. Every day, though, I realize how out of step I am with civilization. Nobody cares about grammar. Nobody understands the comma. Nobody cares if Mr. Subject and Mr. Verb agree. With cursive writing made obsolete by idiots and social media, it would not surprise me at all to learn that punctuation has been outlawed because it violates freedom of expression. I don’t know who they’ll get to write the law, but if people trying to introduce the “No Commas; No Semicolon; ONLY CAPITALS Act of Congress” need me to write it, it’s going to be very costly. Maybe a number with two commas in it. At least.
--- To comment, toast Grammar & Punctuation, grab your LiterateMouse and click below. And please don’t mention any errors I made in today’s edition. At least when I make a mistake, I feel guilty about it. ---

Ah, a Thursday report with sweet thoughts (donuts, chocolate, critters)

EDITION OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016 (PetPowellPress) Ah, Thursday. Where is NFL Thursday Night Football when we need it? So, as we consider Christmas shopping, a vacation to New Mexico and long for a metabolism that allows us to dive into raspberry-filled donuts coated with the devil’s sugary glaze, here’s our Thursday report. If you see something you can help with, don’t hesitate -- you may be important to a dog or cat you don’t know yet. 

THE ADOPTABLES IN DALLAS

 An early evening check on the PetHarbor listings at Dallas Animal Services showed the adoptables included 60 dogs, 5 cats and one “other,” #A928460, Pepper the Guinea Pig -- in this photo she is demonstrating why someone needs to save the American newspaper industry. (Perhaps to increase circulation, newspapers could give away a guinea pig with each subscription.) 

That cat is 6-year-old Blackie (A928123) who, as careful observers will note, has a “notched” ear, the sign that he’s been “fixed” -- so he probably is a former feral, or a trap and release rescue or he’s in a Federal Feline Witness Protection Program in disguise. 

And while DAS doesn’t have a German Shorthaired Pointer (yet) in its astonishingly small canine inventory -- that’s a shoutout to Westminster winner CJ-- it does have an Earhound, #A879427, known as “Ms. Piggy, a German Shepherd Dog (GSD, they call it) mix who is a year old and has been in the shelter since Monday. 
Go to dallasanimalservices.org to see how to adopt or rescue.
[LARRY ASIDE: The Westminster winner’s real name is California Journey. His “call name” is CJ. I won’t tell you what my patientspouse Martha’s call name is for me but let’s just say it varies in delivery and intensity.]

THE LAKE DALLAS QUINTET
Not sure they know any songs, but I do know that these five dogs are inspiring some laments. Like “Why doesn’t someone want this handsome fellow” or “Can’t someone give this cutie a break?”
We got information on these adorable adoptables from Patricia Barrington, the Animal Services manage at Lake Dallas. She calls them “awesome dogs in need of rescue or adoption” and listed them in “most to least-urgent” order. They are, Trish writes:


 “Valentine(left) is a 5 month old Boxer Heeler Sharpei Pit mix … maybe?  She is about 24 pounds and is friendly and outgoing.  This girl was adopted, but returned for having that puppy energy.  Valentine is currently vaccinated and HW negative.
“King is a Boxer Pit mix.  He’s about 2 years old, HW negative and vaccinated.  King is friendly and loyal and knows all the fun commands and gladly performs them for a treat.
“Oxford is guessed to be a Sheltie Aussie mix.  He is about 2 years old and is around 28 pounds.  Oxford is outgoing and friendly and is vaccinated and HW negative.

“Winnie is guessed to be around 5 years old.  She is a very shy Lab type girl who loves walks.  Winnie is vaccinated and HW negative. 

“Sasha is a 7 year old, spayed female.  She is lovable and laid back.  She loves being at the side of a person.  Sasha is HW negative and vaccinated as well.”

As you may know, dogs and cats rarely arrive at shelters with their official papers intact, so there’s a bit of guessing when it comes to family trees.
To ask about these dogs or any animal in the Lake Dallas shelter, call 940-497-7090 or email [email protected].


FROM STRAYDOG, INC.


Erin Arnold Johnson, our longtime tipster from the great animal sanctuary/shelter Straydog Inc., sent a note with an appeal for this really great-looking dog, Alaric.
She sent her Facebook post about him. It reads:
“Look at this handsome boy! He would LOVE to have a home where he lounge around with y'all on the couches (or his own doggie bed, that's fine, says Alaric!). He is a really special protector we know, because if someone comes to the door and he doesn't know them, ‘Arrrff, Rrrrarrrff, Rrrrarrff!!!,’ he will let you know someone is there!
“He has been well cared for, and it is so very very sad that his mom cannot keep this beautiful boy. He would be so fun to have as a loyal and faithful family member!
“Please write to us SOON at [email protected] and let us know of your possible interest or call Erin at 903-603-2863 if you have any questions about Alaric. ...Alaric is about 3.5 years old.”
Erin summarized the human situation in Alaric’s life very succinctly: “Lot of problems and no solutions right now.” So, it’s completely appropriate for good hearts to step in and help a dog while helping a human.

MEANWHILE IN DENTON


Amy Poskey sent the pitch on these two “very sweet, very special boys’ who need some extraordinary help. 
Here are the explanations: 

“CHAMP:  PET ID 61299  (AVAILABLE NOW!!!)
CHAMP  is a 3-4 year young male Chihuahua who is part of a cruelty case but has been released for rescue or adoption.  Poor baby is paralyzed in his back end and will need to be in a wheelchair for the remainder of his life.  There is a rescue coming on Tuesday to measure him for a wheelchair but we’re not sure if they will be able to take him into their rescue.  We are working on paying for a wheelchair once we get the measurements.  So, that being said, I am sending out a plea for this precious angel so he can find a home or rescue ASAP!  He's very sweet and has a really great attitude in spite of what he’s endured.  

“DOVE:  PET ID 61465  (AVAILABLE SATURDAY, 2/20!!!)
DOVE is a 10-15 yr young male Yorkie.   Poor baby has no teeth and can't put any weight on his back leg.  Bless his heart, he is scared and won’t leave his little bed.  He only weighs 10 pounds and is a real sweetheart!”
These dogs and other animals are at the Linda McNatt Animal Care and Adoption Center, Denton’s municipal facility, at 3717 N. Elm St. in Denton., Call 940-349-7594. Email any of these: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], and/or [email protected].


CONTEMPLATIONS -- I opened an email from Sharon Sleighter of Legacy Boxer Rescue, read the note about the upcoming Roses for Rescue (April 9, first time ever at Frisco’s Dr Pepper Ballpark -- we mentioned that already) and then I noticed two more things. One is you can still buy the Legacy Boxer Rescue Calendar -- that’s Bruno on the cover -- some smile, eh? We don’t have a purebred Boxer in our mix, but we’ve always given them extra points in the Adorable Contest because of their great faces. Another thing Legacy does -- and this is worth contemplating in all rescues and in all hearts outside of rescue -- the Silver Boxer Program. You can read all about it on the website of the rescue that puts its mission in its web address: savetheboxers.com. ... A promotional email from a security company came with this subject line “What if something happens and no one is around?” In my life it’s more like “What if nothing happens and I’m the only guy around.” ... You want to scare yourself? Google “future of Chocolate” and look at the dismal forecast, including in some stories the horrifying term “disappearing chocolate bars.”


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Oklahoma puppies are here; Lancaster pups are waiting; bless those Chows & Hail, Port Aransas...

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016 (PetPowellPress) Ah, midweek. Wednesday. The day the weekend looks closer, but not close enough. And congratulations to the winner of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show -- once again, sorry about the finish Dallas Cowboys. Wait ‘til next year. Bound to be something you can win, though, of course, some of us thought a show of dogs might be the place. 

BORN IN THE USA’S OKLAHOMA

Marsha Duncan Fleming of Before The Bridge rescue is working with an appeal for some Oklahoma puppies that are After the Birth/Before the Adoption. 

The momma dog and her 10 puppies are in Moore, Okla. -- that’s smilin’ Molly of Moore, the momma. (You see her offspring below -- if we had room I’d adopt Cookies & Cream -- look at that show business face!)
Moore is about 200 miles north of Dallas/Fort Worth, right up I-35 between Norman and Oklahoma City.

[LARRY ASIDE: I mention that because you may be under the impression that these animal challenges exit only in the far western Oklahoma town of Burns Flat -- the reason you know about Burns Flat is the persistent rescue activity of Terry Lynn Fisher.  And before you ask, I’ll tell you that Burns Flat, pop. about 2,000, is about 120 miles west of Moore, pop. around 55,000. Two things Moore has in common with Dallas/Fort Worth: Unfixed animals and tornados.]

The note from Nicole Montgomery-Smith explained, “I rescued Molly & her 10 one-day-old puppies from an abandoned trailer 3 weeks ago now. She was dumped out at Lake Thunderbird and left to fend for herself 6 months ago. Molly is heathy, she's been to the vet- heart worm negative & dewormed, she comes with a 6 month supply of Heartworm preventative! All 10 puppies are healthy as well. Molly is a very sweet girl, she is kid-friendly, big dog-friendly, small dog-friendly and even cat-friendly! She is potty-trained; we are working on the "sit" command and she's getting the hang of it. She is very food motivated but surprisingly not food aggressive. She is still pretty skittish, I'm pretty sure she was physically abused by the people who dumped her. So it might take some time for someone to gain her full trust. ... Molly deserves a better life than what she started with and her babies deserve to never worry about the next time they may eat.”

Marsha says Nicole’s plan is to keep these pups -- their about a month old now -- until they are at least six weeks old. “Then she wants a rescue group to help her find them homes,” Marsha says. “Before the Bridge is too far way to do that. Do you know any groups closer to her?”
So, my Dear Readers, there is your challenge: Find a rescue near Moore, Okla., that will give these dogs the break they deserve. Email Marsha at [email protected]. 

[LARRY ASIDE: And, while you’re at it, offer up a prayer of thanks for people such as Nicole and hubby Jordan who’ll take on this challenge. Geez, what an enjoyable burden! Once these rascals get into the “independent mind state,” that’s where the adventure really begins!]

 

SPRING’S TIME IN LANCASTER?

Well, here’s another sign that it’s officially Puppy & Kitten Season -- don’t even think about the warmish weather, but think about this girl Spring. Our Lancaster- monitoring pal Tomi Ortiz sent the note about Furbabies of Lancaster trying to get this girl out of the city shelter. 

Why? Because she expecting. She’s not even a year old herself and -- gee whiz, thanks to some humans somewhere -- she’s already knocked up, er, expecting.
The Furbabies site notes that people have pledged $320 to help her find a home and get her puppies safely into the world. So whatever rescue group takes her (she’ rescue-only) will have a headstart on the medical bills.  Click HERE to make contact with the Furbabies folks and help Spring have a better life than she’s looking at right now. 

[LARRY ASIDE: And, if you have any idea who let her run free and if you have any idea who let the boy dog run free so that their desires would collide madly, putting so many at peril, why, let us know. This seems like a job for the readlarrypowell.com Two-by-Four of Enlightenment. Of course, that would be wrong -- under current laws.]

MEANWHILE IN GARLAND: Amy Poskey, who usually works to get animals out of the Denton shelter, forwarded an appeal from Garland and wrote, “This is heartbreaking.  Look at this tiny angel…  She’s no bigger than a minute, she’s blind, she’s a senior, and she needs a loving home with a soft bed for her remaining days.  Please, can anyone save this baby?” She’s A209674 and weighs 3 or 4 pounds. The rescue tagging information is [email protected] or 972-205-3570.
CONTEMPLATIONS: We got this note on 2/12/13 and it means something to a lot of folks who appreciate people whose hearts are tirelessly rescue-oriented. The note came from Houston tipster Alexandra Kelsey who, like many folks, knew the great Dianne Watson from her work on rescue projects. She wrote, “The rescue community has lost so many wonderful people in the last few years, and Dianne was beloved by many of us and is missed so much.  She loved the Chows and whenever I see a Chow, I think immediately of Dianne. It’s hard to believe that it has been three years today since her death.  I hope that she got to the Rainbow Bridge and had a magnificent welcoming committee there.” No doubt. Dianne’s husband, Ben, responded with gratitude to the many people who continue to recall their brush with rescue greatness. And, in honor of Dianne we’ve gone to the North Texas Chow Haven inventory and picked this girl Nila’s photo.  She was available as we went to cyberpress, but who knows how long she’ll last? Click HERE  or go to North Texas Chow Chow Haven on Facebook. You know how this stuff works. Navigate on the internet until you save a critter. ... In our neighborhood in Oak Cliff, some of us belong to a Next Door communications mailing list. It was a pleasure to see a note on Next Door earlier this week that announced something interesting instead of complaints about mail delivery, failed tradesmen and other common household problems. This time someone reported, “We saw a flock of Quaker Parakeets in the trees at Bishop Dunne  High School on Friday afternoon. Today (Sunday) two of them showed up for lunch in our backyard.” Some people know them as Monk Parakeets or as Quaker Parrots -- depends on which reference site you click onto. We haven’t seen them in our neighborhood -- my theory is the Mockingbird with the impossibly offensive and relentless screech is scaring them away. Bless that bird --- year after year, same genes producing the same racket. ... On the back of an SUV that looked as if it might have spent a day or two seaside, a window sticker that read “PORT ARANSAS: A quaint little drinking town with a fishing problem.” Every now and then I see remnants of the American sense of humor running loose in Dallas. Can’t imagine how they got past the guards. Someone alert the mayor. 

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Boxers, roses, dogs, cats & bobcats -- RUFUS ALERT!

EDITION OF TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016 (PetPowellPress) -- We’re going to ease back into the working groove with music to read by and some stories about animals and people. So, read on as you listen to a little Earth, Wind & Fire.

THE LEGACY OF ROSES;
THE ROSES OF LEGACY 

Good grief, everybody’s going to Frisco! Not just soccer fans, but the Dallas Cowboys and Legacy Boxer Rescue, too!

We got word from one of our favorite rescue groups that the annual Roses For Rescue sale is in Frisco this year on the parking lot of Rough Riders Stadium and Dr Pepper Ballpark.

There may be some anxiety about people not hearing of the new venue. So, here’s the artwork -- don’t you love that dog’s face! This info arrived via Facebook, but we’re such fans of the Legacy Boxer folks that we’re going to remind you that the rescue group has its mission statement in its website address: savetheboxers.com.
This dog is Angel, and she’s one of the rescued boxers who needs a home. You can find her on the website. She 4 years old, weighs “only 37 pounds,” and the Legacy people say, “She’s the perfect-size lap dog!” She’s house-trained and knows some commands. This is such a great photo. Here’s the Angel link.

A LONG DISTANCE DEDICATION

Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake sent this note  from Rebecca Chakarian about this dog.
“Tom is a 4-year-old neutered male Lab mix and is currently at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake in Tool, TX.  He was next to be euthanized but someone paid his adoption fee, extending his life by a few weeks.  I am unfortunately up in NH but this dog looks so much like one of my own dogs he has captured my heart.  I am told that he is very sweet and calm and is good with kids and other pets.”
Email [email protected] to offer to help Tom the Dog.
He’s probably never been to New Hampshire. 

 

THE LAST CAT IN THE BUNCH
This is Sinsin. She’s a Siamese of the Seal Point variety who used to be one of many in a home on a farm. But over the past few years, all the humans were taken by death, leaving seven cats behind. All have been spoken for except Sinsin.
Here’s the story of Sinsin from Patti Dotson: “She is about twelve years old, and my parents had her since she was a kitten.  I think the changes in the past few years have taken a toll.  Having a female Siamese myself whose temperament is very similar, I think I understand her more than anyone.  No one in my family really knows my Siamese cat, because she always runs and hides when they are here.  With me, she is the most affectionate cat I have ever had, but she is definitely a one-owner cat. Sinsin is very similar. In happier times both my daughter and I have pet Sinsin, but that was before my mother passed away.  The cats were left in an empty house since the end of April.  Family members have been taking turns feeding them, but most of the time the cats have been alone.  She is usually hiding when we are there.”
To give this cat a great, understanding home, email [email protected].
(LARRY ASIDE: And bless Karen Lee of Barkleyworld.com for keeping the notices about animals in need circulating. Without that circulation, we’d all be back in the 20th century when animals were pitched by phone calls and index cards on office bulletin boards.)

CONTEMPLATIONS: Saw a headline in the New York Post: “Man suddenly remembers who he is; solves own cold case.” Back in the ‘80s I knew guys who were living that life. You suddenly remembered who you were in time to go home and pretend you’d been kidnapped. Eventually a divorce lawyer would be involved. ... We got an email that had this subject line,"River Cruise: the most immersive way to travel Europe” which beats the heck out of “River Cruise: the most submersed way to travel Europe.” Lot drier. ... Let’s talk bobcats. Been seeing a lot of stories from northern suburbs about bobcats roaming the area and looking for food. This is really a serious situation now since it’s in the northern suburbs where there are people who have never snapped to the idea that wildlife actually owns Texas. Just because you pave an acre, that doesn’t mean the critters are surrendering. Best local example? Rufus at the Dallas Zoo. In spring of 2001, Rufus, not a resident of the Dallas Zoo, discovered that the zoo had free-roaming little African antelope, Dik Diks. Tasty and available to a free-roaming bobcat.. (It was in all the papers -- wait, by this time it was in all the paper -- Times-Herald had been gone a decade.)  And in August of 2001, after months of trying, zoo personnel finally caught the bobcat in a trap. He’s been a resident of the Oak Cliff zoo ever since. The name Rufus? It’s a natural thing: the scientific name designation for the North American cat is “lynx rufus.” Rufus? It means “red.” If you’ve read this far, dear residents of Dallas County, don’t let your cats and dogs out without supervision. Not to get scientific, but let's call this a “RUFUS ALERT.”
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On Presidents' Day, A Dog Is A Comfort

EDITION OF MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2015 (PetPowellPress)Enjoy your holiday. If you’re working, enjoy it. If you’re not working, enjoy it. That is Wednesday Louise “Wendy” Wagstaff Arden flopped atop a hooded man who desperately needs a holiday nap and, probably, will be taking one.
Our opportunities to nap are so rare that sometimes it takes an act of Congress to get the time. For example, Presidents’ Day -- part of the 1971 Uniform Monday Holiday Act, described as an attempt to create more 3-day weekends for federal employees.
Some say it honors Washington and Lincoln -- two pretty good presidents to honor. Others say it honors all presidents and if that’s the case, maybe today is a good day to start a list of presidents who need asterisks and an explanation that the vote isn’t unanimous. Go ahead and start with Andrew Jackson...
In the meantime, today is the anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America in 1910 and its the anniversary of the great album Meet the Beatles hitting #1 in the USA. [Some of us still have that album and some of us boys -- I cite my fellow members of Troop 22 in Texarkana, Texas -- will recall that stamp.]
So, happy Presidents’ Day, “Be prepared!” (Boy Scout Motto) and, sing along, I Want To Hold Your Hand. 

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The Certified Cat Lady's Comfortcats

For Valentine’s Weekend 2016, we’re focusing on what some people will describe as "an inexplicable love."
But, when it strikes, well, people notice.
“Certifiable cat lady. Friends in Chicago and family are still totally mystified!”
That’s the delightful self-portrait a reader [name deleted 1/24/19] gave readlarrypowell.com as we were preparing this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. [LARRY ASIDE: Cracks me up -- that “totally mystified” reaction is a hoot!]
These beloved  cats are Pepe and Paloma (left).
Our source says, “Pepe, who turns 5 on Valentine's Day, was rescued from DAS due to the superb cat-matching skills of Molly DeVoss. Paloma is 2 1/2 and was rescued from SPCA via PetsMart. They are 2 peas in a pod and the loves of our lives!”
Of course, you probably recognize the cat-matcher, the famous Molly DeVoss, astounding artist, animal advocate and member of the Dallas Animal Shelter Commission. She’s quite familiar with the cat challenges that wind up at the Dallas Animal Services Shelter and Adoption Center.
Molly also may be a “carrier” of what we’ll call “Advocate Flu” because our source has become a cat advocate, too.
“I have NOT always been a cat person,” she says. “Such an odd set of circumstances. I had severe allergies to cats until fairly recently and had previously rarely had much interaction with them because growing up, no one I knew had cats. We had a Weimaraner when I was very young, so I thought of myself as strictly a big dog person. People actually knew me as someone who did not like cats at all! 

“When I moved to Dallas 5 years ago, a neighbor had a Bengal and I realized that I had no allergic reaction at all. At the same time, I had become very intrigued and enamored of the three neighborhood cats where I live (I had never even encountered a neighborhood colony before). That led to going to DAS to ask if they ever had Bengals.

“Molly introduced me to Pepe who they said had some Bengal in him,  and miraculously - no allergies! And the rest, if course, is very happy history! 

“Before Pepe and Paloma,  I really had no idea that cats had such distinct and  interesting personalities. Nor did I realize how sweet and smart they are! I've trained my cats to sit, wait, and come when they're called. Who
knew? I turned into a crazy cat lady because they're so sweet and cuddly and give unconditional love. My cats are my babies. I would have a house full if I could. For now, I just try to give back (because of that beautiful Bengal and Molly) by volunteering at DAS, fostering and donating to rescues.  And of course because cat people are the best!”

[LARRY ASIDE: We’d open the floor for discussion of that point, but most of the cat people I know also have a dog hanging around the house with the cat or cats. Maybe more than one dog, too.]

 

Remember, we’re proud to post photos of any sleeping or napping critter in our weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Sleep & Napping Cats Nap. The fact that cats and dogs can sleep in their zany world with all the political noise and issues, well, that’s simply proof that insomniacs can sleep, too. Send photos and info about your slumbering critters to [email protected]. We’ll post your critter’s story and it’ll inspire insomniacs to follow the lead of the world’s sleepiest critters.
Happy Valentine’s Weekend -- that’s from all the sweethearts who’ve found their way to the international offices of Readlarrypowell.com. Representing them for 2016 is this tableau:  It includes a genuine insomniac who, one late evening, was coaxed to sleep on the couch by the presence of a crazy little mutt named Porche Noel and a zany, but investigative cat named Deputy Chief Kittie Leigh Johnson. Photo by SnapshotSpouse Productions, i.e., my DrowsySpouse Martha who, on our first date nodded off about a half-hour into Lawrence of Arabia at the big, ol' wonderful, now-gone NorthPark Theatre. Ah, romance. Happy Valentine’s Day.

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Gravity waves, traveling dogs, adoptables, Oatmeal the Steer and Liberty's real name...

EDITION OF FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 (PetPowellPress) -- Welcome to Friday, the day that lifts some from despair, makes others happy and, still, we have time to shop for Valentine’s Day.
It’s Sunday and don’t you wonder how that affects flower shops? Are the big deliveries to offices made on Friday or on Monday? Well, that aside, let’s just remember that love is a pretty handy thing on this planet.
Which reminds me, perhaps you saw the big news Thursday that a scientific team has discovered gravity waves, just like Einstein predicted.  (Cats knew about these things years ago -- you think they can just suddenly appear beside you without scientific understanding of travel via unknown waves?)
What does finding these gravity waves mean to us in North Texas? Something besides fracking to blame for the earthquakes.
That's my cat companion, The Senator, bracing himself for the arrival of gravity waves. He learned about this years ago when he was serving on the Senate Committee for Scientific Sitcom Advancement. 
Now, today’s report as we wonder how soon The Big Bang Theory will work gravity waves into the scripts.  

A SHORT-TERM FOSTER NEEDED 

This is a lake situation -- well, a situation originating out at the lake, Cedar Creek Lake, about an hour east-southeast of Dallas. That’s a suggestion that you might be able to help with this and not spend a lot of time on the road or money on gasoline.
Naturally we first got word of it from our longtime tipster, the reliable Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake which operates the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City.

She forwarded a note from Lanette Ainsworth who’s on the board of the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake -- that organization runs the shelter at Tool, not far from Gun Barrel City.
[LARRY ASIDE: Heck, the whole world is close to Gun Barrel City if you’ve got a map and a mood to travel. Has to do with taking advantage of gravity waves.]
This dog is the focal point of the note. Bonnie is a 35-pound shepherd mix, very sweet and a year-and-a-half old.
Why does she need a temporary foster home? Because (a) it’ll get her out of the shelter and (b) she’s destined for New York in March. She’ll be traveling via the Love on Wheels program.
Sydney explained, “This program has pulled some possibly unadoptable dogs (mostly due to size - grrr) from the shelter for a great chance at a family... They go to upstate New York where it would seem there's a lack of medium/large dogs - HA!  Do you think Texas will ever get to that point?  HA, I say.”
FYI, Lanette is playing a major role in the 4th Annual Whiskers & Wags Gala April 23 at the Athens Country Club. The event benefits the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake and the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake. That’s the artwork for the event and you can see how to help and how to buy tickets HERE. See the Friends’ Facebook page HERE and read about the Humane Society and its adorable adoptables HERE. 

That’s Suede the Dog, a year-old pink-nosed fellow,  and the cat is Jenny, who, at a year-and-a-half, clearly enjoys being held and cuddled.

 

[LARRY ASIDE: What’s will the money do? The two groups are combining efforts to build a rocketship to send people who are mean to animals to Pluto. I’m kidding. The proceeds will support the lakeside spay/neuter efforts.]

A COWTOWN CURIOSITY

Dian Wright forwarded this note about someone who is raising money to try to save a blind steer who was part of the Fort Worth Livestock show and has been sold for slaughter, apparently.
The link is HERE and at that link you can connect to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram story about Oatmeal the blind steer.

[LARRY ASIDE: Yep, in spite of all the changes in journalism in the greater metrosprawl, you can still count on the Star-Telegram to do a cow story in Cowtown. By virtue of my experience in journalism, I can tell you that my old paper, the now-defunct tabloid, The Fort Worth Press, would have already done this story and, by now, that steer would have been having coffee in the White House. The Press was small, but when we wrote about matters of the heart, nobody was better. Save the steer. And, as a vegetarian let me suggest, “Save all the animals on the menu.”]

CONTEMPLATIONS: Places I’d like to eat again but would need a time machine: Picadilly’s Pizza Parlor in downtown Shreveport; the Jefferson Coffee Shop in downtown Texarkana; the basement version of the Italian Inn, a Fort Worth standard with singing waiters. I’m sure I’m not the only person who misses places that were once landmarks in civilization. Send your thoughts to [email protected]. ... Here’s one for daydreaming: Best scene during a vacation? How about a storm “flowing” in over the mountains at Santa Fe as an autumn sun was setting? Beyond beautiful. ... Here’s something beautiful, too. We’ve been reporting the past couple of days about Amy Poskey’s attempts to get “Liberty” the dog out of Denton’s Linda McNatt Animal Shelter. He was described as old. And he was named “Liberty” because he’d been picked up on Liberty Road -- a stray. But his people showed up and claimed him. Turns out he was 17. He’d been called “Liberty” but what was this handsome ol’ guy’s real name, the name he yearned to hear while he was in the shelter? Amy did some sleuthing and discovered that Liberty, ladies and gentlemen, is really good dog Zeke. Perfect name for a perfect dog. May he feel the love and wag his tail whenever anyone says, “Good boy, Zeke.” 

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Dogs, cats and politics -- ah, the wacky world...

EDITION OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016 (PetPowellPress) -- Today is National Get a Grip Day. I made that up. But who among us doesn’t need to get a grip now and then.
We’re going to write about some animals. You know why? Because animals need help and, unlike humans, they can’t write for themselves. Except for some of them.
As I was typing this, the TV was turned to The Mysteries of Laura and Debra Messing delivered a line about a “needle in a haystack.”
When’s the last time you saw a haystack? Maybe the phrase should be a “needle in shag carpet.” Hmmm. That won’t work either.  When’s the last time you saw any shag carpet? In 2014 there were stories that shag carpet was making  a comeback -- of course, there were also stories that the Loch Ness Monster was around, Abominable Snowman was haunting the mountains and the legendary Fouke Monster was still roaming the woods and river bottoms from Jefferson, Tx., to Fouke, Ark. (That’s the poster from Charles Pierce’s 1972 film about the Monster.)
So, here’s today’s report. 

SOME DOGS IN FORNEY
Does that dog look exactly like a Texas dog oughta look , or what! How ‘bout them boots!
We got the tip on these dogs from Karen Lee of Barkleyworld.com. She’s an advocate, a rescuer, a promoter of the Trinity Gap Rescue efforts, etc. And this is a note about animals from the Forney Animal Shelter on the east side of the metrosprawl.
 Christi Whitfield sent the note and photos and wrote, “We have a couple babies in need of rescuing in Forney again and I could really use your help! Both are males. The black/tan male is approximately 6-7 months and the solid black with neck wound (not sure what caused that at this time) is around 12 weeks.”
Later she filed an update explaining that “as suspected, the wound on the black dog’s neck is from an embedded collar. He’s going to need some medical attention.”
Call the Forney shelter at 972-564-7397, Christi says. [LARRY ASIDE: Here you see the “good” photos of these dogs. But if you want to see the shameful wound on this little black dog’s neck, you can see it by clicking on this small version and making it grow big enough to gag you. Some of you may never have seen such a thing -- the damage that can be done when jerks put a collar on a dog and just leave it there. I don’t know what these idiots think, that the collar automatically expands as the puppy grows? Idiots. Sometimes it’s so bad that vets have to surgically remove the collars from WITHIN the flesh. You see, there really is a need for the Open Carry Two-by-Four of Enlightenment. Really.]

A SAVANNAH CAT? 

This one was forwarded to us with the subject line “Savannah Male Cat Named Friday Needs a Good Home.”

We want the cat to get a good home. (Ask about adopting by emailing [email protected]. May be slow in responding.)
The cat note read, “This 6 year old Savannah male cat is looking for a new home. He is healthy, large in size, neutered, and isn't due for his shots until later this year. He does play aggressively and still has his front claws so if you have small children it is recommended that he be declawed. His name is Friday.”
Well, of course, readlarrypowell.com is official aghast at declawing and doesn’t recommend it. We’d suggest you (a) teach the kids not to tease the cat and (b) get protective gear for the kids -- all kids need a suit of armor.
The other thing is, readlarrypowell.com swears it should never try to guess a cat’s breed from online photographs.
Savannah Cats are mixes of domestic cats and Serval cats (wild cats from Africa) and they range in weight from around 7 pounds to 40 pounds, depending on genetics. They are pretty and they have distinct coating, but this one, rather than a Savannah Cat seems to be more like an Oak Cliff Cat. The collage is of Friday. The mugshot is of Oak Cliff Wanderup Cat Deputy Chief Kittie Leigh Johnson who I nudged awake in order to take this photo. She has never been to Savannah. That I know of.

A HANDSOME DOG, A DOG WITH NEEDS

You never know what’s going to show up in an animal shelter, for example this great looking stray currently in the are of Denton’s Linda McNatt Animal Care and Adoption Center. He becomes available on Saturday if his humans don’t show up and claim him.
He’s got a back leg issue (nobody’s sure what just yet -- vet sees him on Friday). And, he’s apparently vision-impaired.
As Amy Poskey’s note said, “We do know that this sweetie pie is very sweet , very friendly and a lover boy in every way.”
He’s called Naylor and is listed as a 5-8-year-old  Australian Shepherd. Call the shelter at 940-349-7594 or email [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS: This is not a political comment, it is a media comment. I heard a newsman refer to Donald Trump as a “populist” candidate -- it is tough for me to see how a multizillionaire with all those high-dollar contacts can be called a “populist.” FYI: Texas Congressman Wright Patman was a populist. Of course, he was a Democrat before the Reagan Revolution -- elected to Congress in 1928 (pre-Depression), took, office in early 1929 and served until he died on March 7, 1976. You should look him up and see what a populist does besides shoot off his mouth. Maybe, as you walk through a town where the only grocery/drug store just closed due to a change in corporate strategy, look at the way The Robinson-Patman Act of 1936 protected  Mom ‘n’ Pop stores. Sorry. Went geezer on you -- I’m a person of the future, but I’m also a person of the past who believes humans are stupid enough to make the same mistakes over and over again. ... This is the wackiest presidential campaign ever. Not the most heartbreaking, though. That was in 1968.  You know how the fate of a nation can turn on a dime? That’s what happened in the Ambassador Hotel just after midnight on June 5, 1968, when, a court found, Sirhan Sirhan assassinated a hope for a generation, Bobby Kennedy. The convicted murderer was denied parole again Wednesday. Claims he doesn’t remember a thing. There are some people who won’t get to spend enough time in jail. RFK died; RMNixon was elected. Watergate (even Populist Patman had a role in exploring that crime). ... I’ll try to finish this on the upbeat: The Dallas City Council voted 8-7 Wednesday to deny access to the city’s convention center to the Exxxotica expo. Wash your eyes out with this art work -- your Dallas City Council has never had to vote on the appropriateness of a pet exposition. Of course, the animals at these events are always properly clad. And they can’t even vote. Yet.

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A dog's good break, cats in need and Open Carry Earhounds...

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 (PetPowellPress) Ah, midweek, the morning after the New Hampshire primary and still time to do your Christmas shopping. Speaking of shopping, Valentine’s Day is coming up and here’s what you can send readlarrypowell.com: Photos of sleeping critters to post on Valentine’s Weekend in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Email [email protected] -- send photos and info.  Happy thoughts of slumbering critters! My fellow insomniacs envy the sweethearts.

LIBERTY GETS A BREAK

Well, look at this! 
Remember this dog? We wrote about him earlier -- the folks at the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter were calling the ol’ boy Liberty because he’d been found on Liberty Road “out in the county.” Everybody thought the 53-pound dog was about 10 years old.
But Amy Poskey, the Denton shelter hustler, sent a note during rush house Tuesday night. She wrote, “Liberty’s family just reclaimed him!  Found out he is actually 17 yrs young!  I’m just sooooooooooooooo happy he has left the building and is going home!!!  What a precious angel”

Nice to know things work out now and then. And we feel good that this ol' dog, temporarily named Liberty, is going to have someone he loves calling his name again. Bless the dogs of the earth. 

[LARRY ASIDE: And he was the last dog awaiting rescue or adoption in the Denton Animal Shelter and I am a tightrope walker over Niagara Falls. Denton still has animals that need homes. Remember this dog, Zip, from Tuesday’s edition? Still available. This cat, Pie, becomes available on the 16th. See Denton’s availables HERE and remember, adopting an animal on Ash Wednesday may mean you get an extra break when the roll is called up yonder. Some of us are going to need all the help we can get!]

THE CATS IN NEED, INDEED

Earlier in the week we mentioned famed advocate for responsible human behavior Celia Orr and the folks who have been working to rescue a bunch of abandoned cats in Garland.
This is one of the “left behind: cats and here’s the story from Tanja Pattist. She writes, “MaryAnn needs a permanent home.  MaryAnn was one of 35 cats left behind when a Garland homeowner abandoned their house in the face of foreclosure.  The cats ended up living inside and outside of the abandoned house; they were starving until animal rescuers were notified. 

“I am fostering MaryAnn and another cat from that house.  If you have been thinking about adopting, please consider sweet MaryAnn.  ... She is approximately 2-years-old, six pounds and has been vetted.  She is sweet and friendly.”
And Tanja suggests that you forward the information about Mary Ann “to your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, church members, gym mates, etc.  Maybe someone is looking to adopt.”  [To ask about helping Mary Ann, email [email protected]  

CONTEMPLATIONS: Our SPCA of Texas Early Earhound Identifier Victoria Albrecht sent us a note last week about a sincere Earhound named Milkbone. Then as the new week dawned, she sent us a note with this “The Earhounds got adopted!” and the explanation, “Just wanted to let you know that Milkbone and his friend Beggin Strip, the Earhounds, got adopted.” Good news indeed! We’re proud of the boys, shown here on adoption day. Three happy souls! ... That photo of Milkbone and Beggin Strip reminds me that we’re still working hard on figuring out a way to the Texas Legislature to approve the Open Carry Chihuahua Act -- it’ll make life so much easier for people who have to slide their Chihuahua’s into purses or briefcases or disguise them as deliveries from a clothing store. Open Carry Chihuahuas -- the answer to many questions in Texas. Next I’m going to work on letting Cocker Spaniels get driver’s licenses. They can’t do any worse than some drivers on Dallas freeways. ... The American political system -- still beats anything else in the world. Goofy as it can be.

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Cats, dogs, humans and football naps...

EDITION OF TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2016 (PetPowellPress) Here we are on Fat Tuesday. And tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the day Protestants traditionally tell Catholics they have a smudge on their forehead. Religion aside, let's get into the Gospels of Dogs and Cats. Amen. We’ll mention the Happy Tales heroes later today in addition to a bunch of animals that need help.

THE FELINE CHALLENGE
Over the weekend in the traditional readlarrypowell.com feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, we attempted to promote the Valentine’s Day Cat Adoption Special at the SPCA of Texas -- from now through the 14th you can adopt a cat that’s a year old or older for just $14.
For some reason, the coding in the story was being blocked by our magic website system. Inexplicably. So, we’re going to try it again today because cats need to always triumph over technology.
Because they were appearing on the weekend, we looked on the SPCA site for cats that looked sleepy. We found these two. J.C. and Jonathan, the orange cat. They look as if they’re bitter that the paparazzi nudged them awake for a photo.
Guess what. They’ve been adopted.
So we went back to the SPCA site and found two more who just look like fun cats to have around the house. They may not even qualify for the special -- but they do qualify for being adopted and they are certified cats. 

The orange one is named Whopper -- how can anyone resist an undersized cat named “Whopper”?
The one that is not orange is named Davinci. I picked his photo because (a) I am enamored of black and white cats and (b) in this photo his facial decorations make him appear to be trying to get a good look at a moth that has landed on his nose. 

There are a bunch more adoptables at spca.org. 

As Dudley the Angel, our gentleman dog, will tell you, a home is more interesting if there is a bargain cat in it-- and all cats are bargains.
If a cat is comfortable enough to nod off in your home, another angel gets his wings. Wait. I may be mixing up something I saw in a movie. Truth is, cats are pretty good listeners. They’ll let you know when the conversation is over. They walk off or they nod off. They’re almost human..

PATCHES, LOOKING FOR A HOME

Yeah, it’s kind of amazing that a dog like this turns up without a home. But, sure enough, that’s the story forwarded to us by the reliable Sydney Busch of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. Sharon Coker, veteran animal rescuer and advocate, provided the details, “Patches is a very sweet Pit Bull looking for a forever home. She is 3 years old, current on rabies vaccine and will be spayed before she is adopted. She is around 60 pounds and very energetic when first meeting new people. She needs someone to walk her and give her the exercise she needs.

“Patches currently lives with 3 Chihuahuas, 1 Dachshund, and a Shih Tzu and she is great with them even at dinner time. I don't think she is good with cats but not certain. She is an indoor dog and loves to cuddle with her person. Her owner had to go into the hospital and has not been able to take care of her since he has been released.”
To ask about Patches, call Sharon at 903-654-2472 or email [email protected]. 

CLEARING THE DOGS FOR TAKEOFF
Here’s the artwork that’s making the pitch to help the Society for Companion Animals (SFCA) keep the pups flying. As you probably know, founder and longtime animal advocate Tawana Couch has been helping unwanted animals find places they are wanted. They’re flown to other towns, other states and maybe even other nations. Depending on the kennel situation, they may even get to join the Earth Colony on Mars. (It could happen...maybe.). Click HERE for your auction donation form.

HEADS UP FOR HELPING TALES

We’ve been fans of the Helping Tales team of author James S. Martinez and Timothy T. Civick ever since they muscled up their courage and stepped out onto the tightwire of publishing! They’ve done good for young readers and older readers, too. Go to helpingtales.com to see what all they’ve done. 

I asked the author where readers might run into him and get an autograph and he has two answers this weekend.
“I will be at Fan Days Comic-Con [in Dallas --click on the art to make it grow] selling and autographing books 2/13 & 2/14 and also participating as a vendor at Artists for Animals event and auction.  I've also attached a picture that we took from our new book and Tim made it all pretty for them to auction off with a set of books and a Helping Tales t-shirt and the money will go to Operation Kindness.”
Information about the Artists for Animal event is HERE . It’s at 7 p.m. Saturday at Level Two, 1250 Slocum St. in Dallas’ Design District. And that’s a photo of Tim Civic’s “all pretty” for the auction work. Click on it to make it larger, too! 

CONTEMPLATIONS: So many in need at Denton, indeed. Amy Poskey gets up everyday and sends out an email hoping to get help for animals waiting in Denton’s Linda McNatt Animal Care and Adoption Center. (For people not from the area: The shelter is named in honor of the wife of former Denton car dealer Jim McNatt who made a $500,000 donation to the Denton Animal Shelter Foundation in honor of her in 2010 -- on their 32nd wedding anniversary.) So that brings us to Amy’s note on Monday which reflect that there were 11 long-term dogs waiting for homes in the shelter. One of them is this nearly year-old fellow Zip, #61300. He’s an owner-surrender and doesn’t he look, in this photo, like he’s expecting the person who dumped him weeks ago to be on the other side of that door. Bless his heart. You can visit him at the McNatt Animal Care and Adoption Center, 3717 N. Elm. Call 940-349-7594. Email [email protected] or [email protected]. Having been around dogs all my life, the photo struck me a portrait of a dog just before disappointment. People who surrender dogs need to know that there are hearts involved in these actions even if the human hearts need to thaw in order to beat. ... If your team didn’t win the Super Bowl Sunday, you can take on the Dallas Cowboys’ attitude that started in the 20th century and stretches on deep into the 21st century: “Wait ‘till next year.” ... During the Super Bowl late Sunday afternoon I was busy working on something when I realized my footballfanspouse Martha was stretched out on the couch in front of the television. “You taking a nap?” I asked and she replied, “Last chance to sleep through football until next season.”

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