EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2018 (PetPowellPress) We have a rambunctious kitten in our house these days -- perhaps you can hear the clatter over my typing. Just now Simon knocked some books off a shelf. Last night, as I worked at my desk, he jumped up onto it, stared at my plastic water bottle, then looked me in the eye. Suddenly, smoothly, with his delicate paw Simon gracefully reached up and slapped the bottle to the floor. I think he may have smiled.
Our hope is he will grow out of this. If he doesn’t, he will still fit right in.
The photo on the left was shot yesterday as he napped on our well-covered couch. The photo on the right was shot about a month ago at the vet’s office within seconds of Simon being told that he was not the girl kitten my funspouse Martha and I had been led to declare because of our inability to “gender-judge” a month-old kitten. (More on babies in today’s Contemplations, but first, some other notes.)
LOOK AT THAT FACE ON DUSTY!
Our veteran Lancaster Animal Shelter observer Tomi Ortiz sends the latest urgent appeal from the great folks at Furbabies of Lancaster -- Dusty. How about that face!
The Furbabies say Dusty needs to be out of the city shelter by 3 p.m. Friday or, well, you know.
He’s got $320 in pledges they say. And the bio is a bit heartbreaking when you consider the social nature of dogs. It reads, “He is good with other dogs but should have proper introductions. He has been in the shelter since October, so will need time to decompress before he can really relax and be the dog he really is. But the dog he is, even now, is extremely affectionate, playful, good natured. He is loved by all the staff and volunteers. He’s a real cutie! He’s intact, so will need to be neutered.”
(Here’s the Furbabies Facebook LINK. The shelter is at 690 E. Main in Lancaster. Call 972-218-1210. Email [email protected]
BULLETIN FROM PARIS
The liaison for the Paris animal shelter sent us a note this morning that has a line that is becoming all-too-familiar these days. The shelter “is completely full.”
There are many adoptable dogs waiting for a human to help 
them. These are a couple of the faces of these dogs who are in a bit of a spot in Paris, about two hours northeast of Dallas. (LARRY ASIDE: Don’t be alarmed. All the roads are paved all the way. I mention this for the sake of of newcomers who are afraid to travel out here on the frontier.)
To ask about these dogs or helping other dogs, contact the liaison at 903-784-6774 or email [email protected] Click HERE to see more photos of these at-risk animals.
AND, ONCE AGAIN, WE EMPHASIZE
WILMER AND RED OAK NEED HUMAN HELP
These two small municipal shelters at Wilmer and Red Oak, on the southern edge of Dallas, have been the focus of efforts of Laura Macias and Leighann Hayden for some time now and while there has been some success at getting animals out, now and then there are stalls. And, of course, there are still people who do not make the effort to take care of the 
animals they once wanted -- so these living beings wind up on death row.
To offer to help any of these animals, get in touch with Laura by emailing [email protected] or call or text her at 214-949-2726. That’s for animals in BOTH the Wilmer and the Red Oak animal shelters.
That first pup is a new addition to the Wilmer shelter. He is named Teddy. His bio reads “ADORABLE, CUTE, LOVABLE - EVERYTHING A DOG SHOULD BE.”
The other dog is “RY.” He’s in Red Oak’s shelter. Adopt him and you can call him whatever you want -- R Y or Rye or BoobooBaby.
The bio reads that he was found “out and about” during a cold snap. He also was wearing two sweaters, indicating someone cared for him -- but nobody ever came to claim him. He’s well-behaved, neutered, and a Red heeler who is house-trained.
Red Oak also has many available cats including the luxurious Sugarplum, a Maine Coon, and a cat who is comfortable upside down -- his name is Bond. James Bond.
You can’t make this stuff up, you know. You can’t make this sad story up, either: “He was found in a park on a freezing rainy day and some kind people brought him in but no one every came for him.”
CONTEMPLATIONS:
This is a personal moment. Yes, I opened today’s edition proudly writing about our household kitten, Simon. But, this is also a special day for two other little beings in my life: the dynamic duo, my twins, Bret and Bart. Born January 17, 1971. Yep, they’re still in their teenage years. Bret was born at 2:06 p.m. and Bart at 2:08 p.m. on Super Sunday 1971, the first time the Dallas Cowboys were playing in a Super Bowl (I missed the whole game). I remember January 15, 1971 -- labor began on the 16th and the 15th was the last time I had a full night’s sleep. Truth is, if you’re going to have children, I recommend twins. Based on my experience, they’ve been fun, they’ve been an adventure and they’re very, very different. Bret’s left-handed, Bart’s right-handed. Both have remarkable senses of humor, both have triumphed in life, both have an appreciation of Elvis. What’s the funniest trick they ever pulled? Showing up on January 17, 1971. All the docs were expecting one big baby. My clever sons fooled us all. I’ve never gotten over it. And I am so grateful. God’s blessings, you know? And that is a photo of the boys from back in the late ‘70s or early ‘80s. I don’t know which is which in this old photo. Cute boys. Big hearts. They make my heart smile. Love the socks.
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