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THE MELANIE FEAR COMES TRUE...

[TUESDAY MORNING BULLETIN MAY 22, 2018 PetPowellPress] In Monday’s edition, we noted that our Mesquite tipster Judi Brown feared Melanie (38412724) would soon wind up on the shelter’s euthanasia list.

Her latest note reads, “An Angel posing as a dog named Melanie. But unfortunately this angel is on the code red list and we don’t want her to go to go to Heaven just yet. Please step up. She has until Wednesday a.m.”
[LARRY ASIDE: How do you kill an animal just for existing? Don’t we have enough killing of innocents in this world?]

The year-old, 47-pound mixed breed (Lab/Terrier/Pittie) arrived as a stray on April 27. Judi writes, “She’s a happy girl with lots of enthusiasm for life. She loves people and wants attention. She’s also alert and aware of her surroundings. She’s very playful. She went into the toy box and found herself a ball. She has a ball drive and doesn’t tire of fetching. However, she brings it back but won’t necessarily part with it.”

Call the shelter at 972-216-8283 or email [email protected]

[LARRY ASIDE: We’re mentioning Melanie in this “bulletin” because her “time” has been determined. There are other animals in a spot at Mesquite, too, and in many other shelters across the state. As you know, adoptions and rescues can empty enough cages to take the heat off the death row animals.]

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THE MELANIE FEAR COMES TRUE...

In Monday’s edition, we noted that our Mesquite tipster Judi Brown feared Melanie (38412724) would soon wind up on the shelter’s euthanasia list.

Her latest note reads, “An Angel posing as a dog named Melanie. But unfortunately this angel is on the code red list and we don’t want her to go to go to Heaven just yet. Please step up. She has until Wednesday a.m.”
[LARRY ASIDE: How do you kill an animal just for existing? Don’t we have enough killing of innocents in this world?]

The year-old, 47-pound mixed breed (Lab/Terrier/Pittie) arrived as a stray on April 27. Judi writes, “She’s a happy girl with lots of enthusiasm for life. She loves people and wants attention. She’s also alert and aware of her surroundings. She’s very playful. She went into the toy box and found herself a ball. She has a ball drive and doesn’t tire of fetching. However, she brings it back but won’t necessarily part with it.”

Call the shelter at 972-216-8283 or email [email protected]

[LARRY ASIDE: We’re mentioning Melanie in this “bulletin” because her “time” has been determined. There are other animals in a spot at Mesquite, too, and in many other shelters across the state. As you know, adoptions and rescues can empty enough cages to take the heat off the death row animals.]

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A TUESDAY WITH CONSIDERATIONS FOR ANIMALS AND SAVING GRACE FOR BATMAN?

EDITION OF TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2018 [PetPowellPress] It is astonishing that we are already looking at Memorial Day Weekend, that school is about to be out for the summer and Dallas managed to present the AT&T Byron Nelson Golf Tournament without losing a single player or spectator to the roving Trinity River Bottom Bears in the Great Trinity Forest.
I’m kidding about the bears. On the DFW UrbanWildlife site HERE the list of animals said to live in the GTF are “White-tailed Deer, River Otters, American Alligators, Feral Hogs, Crested Caracaras, Wood Storks, ibises, Roseate Spoonbills, Ospreys, Bald Eagles, and Swallow-tailed Kites.”
No bears.
Two other animals you will not find in the Great Trinity Forest today are Fat Head (left) -- isn't that an insulting name for a shelter dog! -- and Sean. You won’t find them in the forest because they’re currently in the Dallas Animal Services Shelter & Adoption Center. Fat Head (A1028744) is a brindle Pittie boy, about a year old, in the shelter since the 3rd. Sean (A1028898) is a 3-year-old German Shepherd Dog [READLARRYPOWELL.COM is bettng "mix"] at the shelter since May 4, according to the shelter listing.  That is a magnificent dog face.
To ask about either of them go to the big shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland, also not in the Trinity Forest. Call 214-670-6800. Oh, I did come close to finding a Bear in the animal shelter. That cat is Smokie (A1020327) -- related to Smokey T. Bear only by pronunciation. Smokie is a female Russian Blue (no collusion with the old country), about 3 years old and a shelter dweller since May 19.

LOOKING FOR A HOME,
BUDDY THE ABANDONED DOG
We got the tip on Buddy from Amy Posey, usually tipping us to Denton shelter info, but this time the dog is NOT in the Denton Shelter. 
This is Buddy, somewhere between 2 and 5 years old, and living with “not actual fosters."
Megan Fowler says she and her roommate “Took Buddy in about a month ago -- we are not actual fosters. We both work at a Vet office.” They got a call about a dog being abandoned and “living in the wold for about 3 weeks.” Denton Animal Services picked him up and took him to the shelter.

The caller, Lancine, and her husband visited Buddy at the shelter and liked him. “Later on they found out that Buddy was going to be euthanized because the shelter didn’t think that anyone would adopt him since he was suspicious around certain people and he had been adopted from that same shelter before. When Lancine had called our Vet clinic she had gotten a stay of execution and was desperately trying to find someone to take him in so he wouldn’t be put down. My roommate and I agreed to take him in if when we met him he was relatively stable so he would have a chance to be adopted. When we got there we where very impressed with him!”
Megan says some people love Buddy, some didn’t, but he deserved a break. “We ended up having to adopt him to get him out of the shelter, but sadly we can’t keep him. Both my roommate and I are still in school, we work full time, and we are starting summer school in June, we’re going to be out of town a lot, and Buddy isn’t on our lease, so we can only keep him for a brief amount of time.

“He is classified as an American Bulldog on his papers but I definitely think he is a Pitbull though he may be a mix."

Megan said that during his exercise breaks at the shelter, Buddy “preferred to be with people over running around in the enclosed yard -- he would sit and roll over onto his stomach for pets.”

To ask about auditioning to adopt Buddy, email [email protected] or call or text 512-924-8813.
CHECKING ON CINNAMON
We got this report Monday from our Houston tipster Alexandra Kelsey. You may remember our lead item in Monday’s edition -- it told of the former BARC kitten being found in a mangled and toxic state after being injured and not after being treated.
“This kitten is working hard to survive,” Alexandra wrote, “I have attached new photos from his rescue, Friends For Life. The report is that Cinnamon is a really, really sweet kitten! ... His wounds are so painful that right now he is sedated for bandage changes.”
Here’s the vet side of the report: “Doing well. Foot with open wound was broken. He may lose it. He’s on ALL the antibiotics...Onsior, baytril, clavamox and great pain control. Got hydrotherapy and new bandages. In good spirits. He’s an amazing little soul.”
And you see here a photo of Cinnamon dining sans collar and then the other photo -- the traditional picture that makes a cat look like a catstronaut in a 1960s space capsule.
Help with the vet bill at the Friends For Life site HERE.  
Here’s the LINK.
CONTEMPLATIONS: On Sunday, as I was waiting for the light to change at Rugged and Kiest, an early 1960s-style city bus, cream-colored, zipped through the intersection heading East and on the side was this name in black: “DALLAS METRO.” Unless this bus was a movie prop or there’s some rental company not listed online, I may have been in a time warp as that thunderstorm blasted through the neighborhood. Any ideas other than “see a doctor”? ... I missed making note of a special day last month. April 17 was Bat Appreciation Day. I think I put it out of my mind because it reminded me of Texas Rangers bullpen pitching performance against bats. ... One of the things I’m contemplating is this dog Batman. He was one of two dogs who needed to be removed from the Red Oak Animal Shelter so maintenance work could be done this week. Jackson’s owner was found and, reports the small shelter advocate Laura Macias, “we got him neutered [Jackson, not the owner] and rabies vaccination and microchipped and he went back home.” May that big ol’ black Pittie boy have a wonderful life. Batman was moved to Tri-Cities Animal Shelter on Pleasant Run in Cedar Hill. You may recall he is one of four dogs left from a cruelty case. He was, essentially, “evidence.” He and three other dogs had been left in their kennels in a motel room without water or food for nearly a week. The other three have been adopted. Batman waits. He’s a favorite dog for those who’ve met him. He still needs a good home and you can ask about him by emailing his “adoption agent” Laura at [email protected] or by calling or texting 214-949-2726. Every time I look at Batman’s face I think I’d like to see a campaign with the theme “SPAY AND NEUTER! DON’T DOCK ‘N‘ CROP” There’s no reason to dock tails or crop ears in the 21st Century. And when amateurs do it, there ought to be an arrest and a trial for “Displaying idiocy with an animal.”
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A HOUSTON CAT'S RESCUE; SOME DOGS IN NEED OF HELP & A ROTTIE BOY NAMED EARL WHO HAS A FLORAL PROTECTION RUG

EDITION OF MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018 (PetPowellPress) -- Before we get to the Great Dane too big for the new apartment, the Boxer whose human has a real estate challenge and an English Bulldog whose owners fell victim to the aging process of his people, we’ve got a story about a rescued cat. Later, we’ll contemplate The Rottweiler, The Thunder and Mortgage Destiny.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOUSTON...
This is a “kennel card” from last autumn at BARC in Houston. It came in an email from our Houston tipster Alexandra Kelsey. She sent the story of Cinnamon’s latest, extraordinarily challenge. The first was surviving in a city shelter. The next is surviving outside of the shelter after adoption. 
Last fall, Cinnamon was a 3.2-pound kitten at BARC. As Alexandra’s note reads, “His shelter photo shows him with a darling tilt to his head, as if he’s thinking about the new family he hopes to get.”

[LARRY ASIDE: We have other photos of Cinnamon -- they are too appalling for Readlarrypowell.com to publish -- treatment photos of Cinnamon’s gaping wounds, the wounds on his torso and legs that became a feast for flies and a place to lay eggs and hatch maggots. I apologize for that description, but now you know the challenges Cinnamon is facing and why Friends for Life is seeking donations to help with what may prove to be a more than $3,500 vet bill. Here’s the LINK.]
According to the note, a Good Samaritan found “what turns out to be our Cinnamon..." A BARC officer took the kitten to the shelter vet who discovered the horrifying infections, wounds and crawling intruders. These were not fresh wounds. Friends For Life took over care of Cinnamon and got him to VERGI, the 24-hour emergency vet facility in Houston.
The former shelter kitten “still wears his BARC license tag on his collar,” the note reports. And it also says, “Cinnamon is trying so hard to survive...He is stable right now, and the vets at Vergi think they can save Cinnamon.”
That’s Cinnamon in treatment after wound cleansing and other repairs. Alexandra’s note also reads, “He is still just a baby and he deserves to survive this and be a cherished family companion.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Cinnamon is symbolic of so many cats and dogs that are adopted into a home only to discover that the promise of a safe and happy life was empty. But we must remember, also, that so many more animals are adopted by humans who live up to the promises they make. And it is those humans who set the examples. Many of them, inspired by the love they have for their animals, work in rescue because they know these companions are not “just an animal,” they are friends who think and love.]

THE DANE AND THE BOXER

That title sounds like a movie from the 1920s -- like the Prince of Denmark decides to fight a pugilist for the hand of a young woman they meet at at university in England -- hey, somebody get me an agent.
Now, back to this Great Dane, a big fellow known as Lando. Why is Lando in the McNatt Animal Care and Adoption Center in Denton? The note our tipster Amy Poskey sent us includes a summary from Kennel Supervisor Gayla Nelson. Lando was an owner-surrender because the humans moved and suddenly discovered that the new location doesn’t allow a big breed -- and, surprise, a Great Dane is a big breed.
 Amy forwarded a note from Gayla about Lando. She wrote, “He’s adorable and has a great temperament with people, likes to be loved on, and through all the trauma has not been the least bit aggressive or growely.  He just shakes and has his tail tucked as tight as he can tuck it!!  He has not been neutered or vetted at all, that will happen on Monday.”
To ask about helping him, email [email protected], paul.o’[email protected], [email protected], and/or [email protected] Call the shelter at 940-349-7594.
NOW, ABOUT HULA JANE -- Amy first mentioned her “a while back” when Hula Jane’s human, Becky, thought she might need a place for her dog as a real estate deal was being worked out -- that Hula Jane’s people would be able to stay with her in rental house until a home under construction was finished. Things did not work out that way and now Hula Jane needs a home.
Becky Burnett writes, “I want so Badly for Hula to have a wonderful home and I absolutely do not want to take her to a shelter but I may have no choice. We have to be out of the house in 2 weeks!”
To offer to help Becky help Hula Jane, email [email protected] or call or text 940-395-8289.
[LARRY ASIDE: That’s a great face on the Hula Jane, isn’t it! Hard not to fall in love with her -- and I’ve never even met her. I believe this may be the “animal magnetism” movie stars want.]

SASHA NEEDS A RESCUE;
MELANIE’S READY FOR ADOPTION
That is the face of Sasha, the 7-year-old English Bulldog who needs a rescue group to claim her ---MONDAY MORNING STOP THE PRESSES: A rescue group has claimed this baby and we'll have more in our next edition. Still plenty of Mesquite animals that need help! We now resume our regularly scheduled sentence....---  and take care of potential medical issues. Sasha was surrendered to the Mesquite Animal Shelter because, according to the note sent to us by reliable tipster Judi Brown, “her owners were getting up in age and weren’t capable of taking care of her. Sasha has a URI that’s been treated and a growth that hangs off of her right leg that doesn’t seem to bother her. She is so ugly that she’s adorable! She sweet and very loving.” She’s a house-trained, always indoor-only dog -- and is good with cats, too. The 44-pound dog’s shelter number is 385693242. Use it when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected] 

The case of Melanie is puzzling. A perfect dog, she’s drawn no interest. Judi explains, “I just had to send Melanie out again. She has been waiting so so patiently and she is so, so deserving. She’s not on a code red but I’m sure because of the length of time she’s been here when we do have the next one she will be on it. I’m trying to be proactive just in case some of you forgot about this sweet girl.”

The year old, 47-pound “retriever/terrier pit mix” arrive as a stray on April 27. Judi was stricken by her “exceptionally sweet face and expressive hazel eyes,”, plus, Judi writes, “She has a well-rounded personality. She’s a happy girl with lots of enthusiasm for life. She loves people and wants attention. She’s also alert and aware of her surroundings. She’s very playful. She went into the toy box and found herself a ball. She has a ball drive and doesn’t tire of fetching. However, she brings it back but won’t necessarily part with it.” 
Use her shelter ID #38412724 when you contact the shelter (972-216-6283 or [email protected]). 


CONTEMPLATION:

MY DOG AND THE THUNDER
Sunday morning, as the spring storm began to come through our Oak Cliff neighborhood, the rain was accompanied by thunder. Not thunderclaps, but substantial distant thunder that overwhelms the key sounds in the house, i.e., the TV and the mammalian snores from the couch. It was at this point that our Rottie boy, Earl, got up off his couch (my sleepingbeautyspouse Martha was on the human couch) and came to me as I sat in my chair writing about dogs and cats. He put his big ol’ chin on my leg and I petted his velvet noggin and spoke softly to him. Everybody else in the house continued to “sleep in.” But Earl was upset by the thunder. It can’t be that any loud noise that bothers him -- I’ve seen his bark make pictures on the wall tilt and that just makes him smile. Yes, it’s the thunder -- above and from a source unseen. Texas Earl the Cheeseman (his formal name and I can’t explain why because I have no clue why dI gsve it to him), is the weather-puzzled dog I rescued from abandonment in Kiest Park several years ago. He is a grand soul and a wonderful companion. He is a gentleman -- sweet and smart. And I wonder, sometimes, if he spent his younger life as a “yard dog” in Dallas, exposed to awful conditions and terrifying thunderstorms. I do love this guy so much. I know he doesn’t think that I can silence the thunder, but I suspect he may also know that to protect him I’d jump between him and a thunderclap. Heck, I’d take a lightnin’ bolt for Earl. To ease his thunder-related discomfort, I’ve given him a Floral Protection Rug -- the rug under my desk chair.  [Two of these photos were taken by the Overhead Chair Cam -- the third was painfully shot as I challenged the limberness of my back and Earl was reluctant to pose for a mugshot.] As long as any part of Earl’s body is on that rug, he knows he’s safe from thunder. He doesn’t care that much for rain, either -- and that is why, 25 years before he was born, I bought this house. To keep this big dog out of the rain. Yes, it was my Mortgage Destiny. Worth the price.

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GOLDEN MOMENTS WITH SLEEPING DOGS

When it comes to Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, we have, for years, published prime examples of carefree sleeping. We're continuing that tradition in this edition. Consider this photograph:
Check out the upside-down toothy grin.
We got this from Barb Justice of the Golden Retriever Rescue Alliance. That is Miley, a dog with a story. We also have the Ribbon story. And then, well, read on...
Here’s how Barb explains that two-dog photo: “The dogs have three dog beds to choose from in my husband Mike's office but you can see how they work that out!”

She says that foster dog Jonas, the smaller Golden mix, and Rudy, the red dog, “have become ‘buddies‘ and spend the day wrestling and napping in my husband’s home office. We have a plethora of dog beds in this
house, but every dog seems to prefer the one another dog is on!”


Miley’s theme is apparent in Barb’s explanation: “She was a real challenge! Lived up to her wild child namesake!” [LARRY ASIDE: Unlike Miley Cyrus, this Miley has no Wrecking Ball video though there were some moments... read on!]

This big ol’ fluffy Miley dog came from the Watauga Animal Shelter. “She was being held in their ISO area because of her ability to escape their kennel runs. Note to self: take that seriously!” Barb writes. “Miley had severe separation anxiety and a talent for climbing fences. She was affectionate and great with our dogs! But we were prisoners in our home because she could escape a crate and was destructive when loose in the house.
“We finally resorted to getting help from veterinary behaviorist Dr. Amanda Florsheim. With time and medication Miley finally blossomed into the family pet she was meant to be. 

“She was adopted after a year long foster stay with us. She has kids she adores and a loving family that maintains her medications. Her ‘issues’ are diminishing and it's truly a happy ending!”
Readlarrypowell.com officially endorses happy endings. You may find one of your own by getting in touch  with Golden Retriver Rescue Alliance at grralliance.org or on Facebook HERE.
Ribbon is the fourth sleeper, described by Barb as “the white, scruffy dog.” Not an official breed, you understand. Barb explains, “Ribbon was pulled by an Austin rescue group think- ing she might be a Gold- endoo- dle.
“We took her into our rescue only to disco- ver she only wishes she had some Golden in her! Or we do! She's very high-strung, fearful and pseudo-feral.
“As long-time rescuers with no two-legged children, my husband and I brought her to our home. We have fostered many sickly dogs and misfits over the past 20-plus years so we knew what we were in for.
“Ribbon has settled in, bonded strongly with me and as you can see has relaxed. She's very alert, intelligent and eager to please. She is, however, fearful enough to likely be unadoptable. She's terrified of strangers and does not trust men. 
“That's okay. She has a safe forever home with us. Once our rescue commits to a dog we never ‘tap out’.”

[LARRY ASIDE: That would make a great slogan not just for rescuers but for adoptors, too. If all adoptors declared, “We’ll NEVER TAP OUT,” maybe shelters would find themselves with many, many empty kennels and many, many animals would find themselves in a loving, understanding, responsible home. Then we’d all sleep better!]

                                                                   ***
[REMEMBER, SEND PHOTOS OF YOUR SLEEPING DOGS AND NAPPING CATS (or any other critter that knows how to doze) to Readlarrypowell.com at this email address: [email protected] We’ll post the photos and make sure the world knows that there are many comfortable sleeping positions. This gives insomniacs hope that we, too, can find a successful sleeping position -- might even be upside-down on the up escalator at the downtown Neiman Marcus. Just something we haven’t tried yet. But if it works...]
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PRINCE HARRY; THE WAYS TO GET INTO A SHELTER; STONE AT WALK-A-THON; & CONTEMPLATING A KITTEN

EDITION OF FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 [PetPowellPress] On a Friday, you can look back on the week and marvel at what you’ve seen. We’ll contemplate some of that later in this edition. In the meantime, TV stations have been influencing us to think that the biggest news on the planet may just be the wedding of Great Britain’s Prince Harry and the -- I guess we can call her “former” -- American actress Meghan Markle, early Saturday Dallas time.

This dog? Why, that is -- I’m not kidding -- Prince Harry. The year-old Prince Harry, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel mix, is among the regal animals awaiting a home on the Trinity GAP Rescue website at trinitygaprescue.org.
Take a moment to look at the marking between his ears! He’s called “Love Bug,” his bio says, “not only because of the adorable heart on his head but he is the sweetest boy.  He loves to cuddle and lay around, however, that is after he’s had some play time. He’s very active and loves car rides! ...He’s good around cats and children, he’s currently been in a home with 3 and gotten along tremendously.” [LARRY ASIDE: I don’t know if the 3 refers to two kids and a cat or two cats and a kid, but whatever it is, it works for Prince Harry.]

What is Prince Harry’s favorite toy? [LARRY HEADS UP FOR THE SPCA] GAP says that “at the moment his favorite toy is his ball from the Strut Your Mutt walk with the SPCA; he likes to play catch.”
More on GAP in a moment. We have to note some other things:
RED OAK REMINDER
We’ve mentioned this before but what can it hurt to remind people to save lives? Today is THE DAY in Red Oak.
Here’s the note from Laura Macias, whose mission is to help small shelters adopt out all their animals.

Batman and Jackson, featured in Thursday’s report, are on the clock.
How do you help save lives?
Email Laura at [email protected]; call or text 214-949-2726.


ASSORTED WAYS THAT ANIMALS
WIND UP IN TROUBLE
This segment is dedicated to considering the ways animals wind up in trouble. If you’ve been involved in rescue for 30 minutes, you may have seen all of these ways. Please read on, then make sure you tell someone that these animals need human hearts to help them.
TWO CHOCOLATE LABS,
VICTIMS OF ONE EVENT
Karen Lee, the Trinity GAP Rescue supporter who has barkleyworld.com, sent this note regarding two Chocolate Labs from Jacksboro. They need one home. Why do they need adoption or rescue? Because, according to the note from Jacksboro ACO Chris Mahar, “the owner passed away via suicide. We obtained the dogs and got in touch with the owner’s son who is in college right now and really wanted to keep the dogs. So, we held on to them for a while to give him time to figure something out. I eventually talked him into letting us get the dogs into a rescue so they could find a good home possibly together. It was a sad ordeal but he knows it’s for the better.” To offer to help, email the ACO at [email protected]
Ariat is 10 and has a skin condition on his backside that has improved since the shelter took over his care. He’s friendly, but a little submissive, the shelter says. He’s also “intact.” 
Charlie Brown is about 5, energetic and trainable. He’s described as a “big teddy bear” who “loves his older brother.”

SOME UNFORTUNATE ROUTES
TO THE MESQUITE SHELTER
Our hard-working, late-night typing volunteer tipster Judi Brown includes good detail in her summations of animal stories. These may tug at your a bit because of how these dogs came to be on the clock.
Kiwi, a 2-year-old Rat Terrier arrived as a stray on May 10 after being “found at the Deluxe Inn near a busy highway!” Was she dumped? Did she escape from a room? This friendly, 10-pound dog “could almost fit in your purse,” Judi wrote. Also, “She shares her kennel with another dog without a problem,” Judi wrote, then added, “There were kittens in the room where I was taking pictures and she totally ignored them." Kiwi is 38320451. 

Harley and Marley are a bonded pair who are available to rescue only. They are 3-year-old cattle dogs. “A compassionate citizen found them in the Best Buy parking lot” and brought them to the shelter. Judi reports, “Both have Demodex mange, but Harley’s is a lot worse. Harley also has secondary foliculitus.” You can tell by looking -- poor Harley is nearly naked --that they need some treatment. Fortunately this is a solvable medical situation. Harley is 38547277 and Marley is 38547299. Whatever their numbers, they’re both “sweet dogs” and “They sleep curled up together.”
Nitro, a 7-month-old Alaskan Malamute, is a former stray. He arrived on the 10th. Judi writes that “he’s become a shelter favorite! His joy and enthusiasm are contagious! He loves everyone and let’s them know it. He even talks to you. He’s just a happy go lucky guy that appears to have a smile on his face." The 50-pound dog’s ID is 38527037.

[LARRY ASIDE: Before we get to Maverick’s story, I want to warn you that the reason he was surrendered is going to really tick off genuine animal fans. It may even astound you.]


Maverick, a 6-month-old Australian Cattle Dog, “was surrendered on 5/15 because he required too much attention." Judi wrote, "Y’all don’t walk but run to the shelter tomorrow.” Here’s how he’ll require attention: “He’s friendly, affectionate, and gives kisses. He’s fun loving and playful. He fetches and amazingly brings the ball back and places it in your hand! He sits and shakes. He’s highly motivated by treats and if you don’t give one to him within his time frame, he will let out a small yelp to show his displeasure.” The 30-pound dog’s ID is 38565988.

For any of these animals on the clock, call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]


A NEW DOG PARK?

One of our Preston Hollow tipsters sent a note about a proposed dog park at Preston and Nuestra -- spotted this info in the Preston Hollow Advocate newsletter. A community meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday (May 21) at the Walnut Hill Rec Center, 10111 Midway Road. Read more about this at the Melshire Homeowners Association site HERE. [LARRY ASIDE: Not everyone is for the dog park -- not everyone is against it. That makes it a genuine Dallas separate-the-voters issue.]

BACK TO TRINITY GAP RESCUE
AND IT’S SUCCESSFUL WALK-A-THON
The note we got from the aforementioned Karen Lee regarding the aforementioned Trinity Gap Rescue reports that the annual Walk-a-Thon April 28 at Euless Trinity High School raised more than $20,000 “for the homeless pets from the Euless Animal Shelter/Trinity GAP Rescue.” 
As you may know, GAP Rescue and the Euless Shelter partner to help save as many animals as possible. The help frequently comes from volunteers. For example Jessica King and Team Maya won first place in that division by raising more than $1,700. In the Business Team Challenge, Steffenie Vela of Team Mutt Shack raised more than $3,300. All teams combined to raise more than $9,500; $8,500 came in via “undesignated donations.” And more than $2,000 was raise through concessions, the garage sale, raffle tickets, nail-trimming and donation jars at the Walk-a-Thon. 
You can see photos of the Walk-a-Thon HERE
.
That dog who was sitting at the Walk-a-Thon is Stone. When I wisecracked about him sitting out the Walk-a-Thon, Karen call him  a “character!” and told me that he has been adopted. And then she sent me a photo of Stone in one of his happy poses. Relaxing. See more Trinity GAP Rescue adoptables at trinitygaprescue.org. You can also make donations there and you can also make gifts at the GAP youcaring link HERE . You can donate at the trinitygaprescue.org website, too.

CONTEMPLATIONS: 

THE KITTEN AT DAS
It happens now and then that you read a story you wish you hadn’t read. One of those arrived Thursday. It was about the Dallas Animal Services officer who threw a 4-week-old kitten to the floor. The shelter’s medical crew couldn’t save the kitten’s life. 
The employee? Read his name somewhere else. I’m on the kitten’s side. The employee is facing, according to news reports, a third-degree felony charge for cruelty to a non-livestock animal. 
You’ve probably seen the story, read the story. It probably sickened you, too.
For many, I suspect, it brought back memories of that awful instance in May, 2010, when the then-manager of the shelter was accused of allowing an escaped cat to die while trapped in the wall of the facility's breakroom. The terrified cat meowed for help but none came -- for days. The manager, accused of not letting anyone help the cat, was found not guilty by a jury. But the cat is still dead and it wasn’t a suicide.
Things at the shelter changed after that ugly episode. People who usually didn’t give a hoot about the shelter became sensitive to its operation. 
A hero in blue, Scott Walton, now Central Patrol Division Deputy Chief, was assigned to guide the shelter as it awaited a new director. He built a foundation for personal pride and for handling animals with great care. He made things better for people and animals at the shelter.
About this latest incident, we can’t condemn a shelter for one sad instance in May 2018, but we can encourage the City of Dallas to make sure every employee of Dallas Animal Services knows that job includes the duty to be sensitive to animal needs, animal tendencies, animal possibilities and humans who love animals.

Here, at readlarrypowell.com, we’ll make appeals for the lives of unwanted animals, not just those in the shelters we’ll mention but also those in all these shelters we don’t.
 And we’ll also appeal for educational help in neighborhoods where dogs and cats are allowed to roam and mate and produce more animals that will be treated poorly.

Is that lack of respect for animals the symbol of Dallas? Probably not. But, we must ask this question, “If lack of respect for animals is not the symbol of the city, is it sadly the nature of Dallas?”
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SOLVING ANIMALS SITUATIONS; PEGASUS' FRESH READS 2; NATURAL IN OAK CLIFF; A MOM'S STORY

EDITION OF THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2018 [PetPowellPress] -- For the umpteenth time, I’m beginning to write this as The Senator, a wander-up cat, decides to head-bonk my right arm and my bearded chin as I’m typing. I have no idea what he’s trying to tell me -- I’ve already bought his Lotto Texas ticket and he’s been fed and petted.
Well, while pondering the many moods of The Senator, let’s see what’s on the agenda for this edition.

HERE’S AN ALERT FOR RESCUERS
WITH ROOM TO HELP RED OAK
This note arrived Wednesday from Laura Macias regarding a new sudden threat to animals currently at the Red Oak Animal Shelter.
“RED OAK SHELTER IS CLOSING ON 5/21 FOR A WEEK TO DO MAINTENANCE!!!
IT IS IMPERATIVE THESE DOGS BE PLACED BY THIS FRIDAY 5/18 (They are closed on the weekend)”
So, what’s the challenge. Well, here are two dogs that need out or else. We’ve written about them before. They’ve been waiting for a while and nobody’s done a thing toward adopting or rescuing them except Laura and Leighann Hayden and people who forward the notes and try to hustle up some heroes to get these two to safety.
[We told you about these two in Wednesday edition, and here it is Thursday’s edition and we’re telling you again because we know you’d rather know than realize too late that they wound up dead.]
As we told you in a previous edition, this fellow Batman is a cruelty case dog -- left in a crate in a motel room with with three other dogs in the same fix. They were there for nearly a week without food or water. Some creep either was monumentally stupid or wanted them dead.
Then there’s Jackson, formerly Cash, a Bully/Boxer mix who is a “very good boy who loves and adores everyone.” And, according to the shelter bio in the note, “We actually did locate the original owner, but sadly, we think that they could just no longer care for him.  It's really sad because he is SUCH a good boy and he will make someone just the best dog ever.”

These animals and other animals in the shelter must be helped now or they’ll face euthanasia due to expediency. ASAP email Laura at [email protected] or call or text 214-949-2726.
[LARRY ASIDE: Anytime a shelter does positive maintenance, it ought to be applauded. Of course, if animals die because of maintenance, that will dim the applause a lot.]

TWO TO GO IN LANCASTER
A couple of weeks ago our determined Lancaster tipster Tomi Ortiz told us about Pumpkin and Millie. Who knew they’d still be waiting for rescue or adoption in the Lancaster Animal Shelter. [LARRY ASIDE: Most of us reading this have a full house already from fostering or adopting hard-luck cases or living in a neighborhood where spay/neuter is regarded as some kind of folly dreamed up by animal nuts. So, we’re going to have to depend on some of the millions of animal-less people who live in the sprawling North Texas area -- that includes Dallas, the most fertile city in the USA.]
The story on Pumpkin reads: “Meet Pumpkin, a one-year-old chipped and spayed female Lab Mix? Pit Mix? Plott Hound Mix? Her brindle coloring is just beautiful.”

About Millie? “She is calm, friendly, good-natured with a great energy level that would make her a great family dog or a great companion. Housetrained!”

You can see how to adopt these dogs and many other animals by going to the Furbabies of Lancaster Facebook page HERE.

LET’S TALK DALLAS CATS
There are four-and-a-half pages of adoptable cats listed online on the Dallas Animal Services website. [LARRY ASIDE: Monday’s daily report from DAS noted that the shelter euthanized 11 more dogs and 4 more cats. Just a hint to tell as many people as possible that they, too, can save lives by adopting at DAS.]

Anybody else never seen a cat named Blueberry? This guy is one (#A0991121). Blueberry is already neutered, a white and gray Domestic Shorthair who may be about a year and 2 months old. He’s been at the shelter since April 29.

That little guy is Shadow (A1027106). He’s an already neutered black Domestic Shorthair. And the staff thinks he’s about 10 weeks old.
He arrived at the shelter on May15 and that photo looks like wide-eyed Shadow has just been told what happens to kittens that don’t get adopted. 
See how to adopt at dallasanimalservices.org or go to the shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland.

A GOOD NEWS NOTE
This comes from Amy Poskey, usually our Denton shelter monitor, but this time the bearer of good news regarding Cody, a 10-year-old Flat-Coated Retriever who was losing his local home because Alzheimer’s has no heart and ruins the lives of people and the animals who love them. Cody is beloved by this family and there was a lot of heartbreak involved.
The first appeal for help came from Amy on the 17th of April.
Here’s the good report from Amy: “Most of you have probably already forgotten about this plea for Cody and I apologize for the long delay in sending this update, but it’s been a long process.  So, to make a long story short, Cody made his way to Colorado and is now with Retriever Rescue of Colorado!  They have reported that Cody is so happy he smiles all the time and acts like he’s been there forever!  HAPPY LIFE SWEET CODY!!!”

AND NOW WE PRESENT
A SIGNIFICANT THEATER NOTE
Pegasus Productions, famed for the Living Black and White™ comic productions that look like ol’ late-night TV shows, opens it’s Fresh Reads 2 Festival -- the staged reading of new comedies -- Thursday evening at the Bath House Cultural Center “on the east shore of White Rock Lake.
 John C. Davenport, my former editor at The Big Paper Downtown \has a production in the festival.

According to a note from Dallas playwright and Pegasus Artistic Director Kurt Kleinmann, the festival includes these productions:
May 17 & 26: The Night We Bombed Lincoln Towing by Steven Young (rated PG-language) “Six strangers meet at closing time in an urban bar. ... A towing company does indeed get bombed. More clever repartee...”
MAY 18 & 24: Our Space by Caroline Turner Cole (rated G) “A comedy about social media that’s come to life on stage! What if FaceBook was an actual person instead of an electronic interface? Meet all your favorites and watch them wreak havoc on the people who trust them.”

MAY 19 & 25: Asylum in Georgia by John C. Davenport (rated PG-mild language) “A comedy about the perils of looking for answers to the big unanswered questions in your life. Can you ever truly return to the home of your memory? A nostalgic journey yields unexpected results!”
For tickets to the Fresh Reads 2 festival, email [email protected] or call 214-821-6005.

MEANWHILE IN OAK CLIFF,
‘GRAPE EXPECTATIONS’

This event celebrates Twelve Hills Nature Center, five acres of land that formerly was occupied by a drug-and-arson cursed apartment complex, but good hearts persuaded a sale and leveling of the buildings and turned the land into this natural gift to Dallas. 
From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, the center will host Grape Expectations, a celebration for friends and neighbors and supporters of this place where you can see butterflies, wildlife, the Texas sky, etc. Get the tickets HERE.  ($50 in advance, $55 at the door). 
What do you wear? The Twelve Hills advice reads: “Attire is nature walk-appropriate casual chic. Shorts and sneakers welcome!”
CONTEMPLATIONS

The Senator was all over me while I was typing this whole thing -- until Martha got home and she said, “I’ll give him some catnip on the counter.” An hour has passed. I haven’t seen him since. ... Regarding the Yanni/Laurel controversy: Blame the Russians, the president, President Obama, President 43 or JerryJones and Dez Bryant. Don’t blame the Texas Rangers bullpen -- it have enough problems. ... We’ve cited the local writer Mary Dunklin before, usually in notes about animals or kids. Her Facebook post from Wednesday is priceless. Enjoy this Mommy Event: “A random woman started talking to me at the store. Lily asks, ‘Mommy is that your friend?’ So I, instinctively, say, ‘Yes, everyone is my friend.’ Then the strange woman started lecturing me telling me I should NEVER say everyone is my friend because kids need to know about the danger of strangers, blah, blah, etc. So I'm thinking, ‘Ummmm. I just need dog food, not an unsolicited parenting lecture, lady.’ So, I get the dog food and head to the checkout where the lady finds me again and tries to corner me into another conversation. Lily, right on cue asks, ‘Mommy is that your friend?’ To which I reply, ‘No she's a stranger, and we shouldn't talk to strangers’."
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A FROG, DOGS, CATS & A WOLFE

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2018 (PetPowellPress) -- Animals are in the news and specifically we cite the expansion of the American Airlines list of banned emotional support animals on planes. First on the list? “Amphibians,” according to one news story.
Well, to quote a dear emotional support animal who has boosted so many of us for decades, “It’s not easy being green.” ...  Now, we’ll move into the day's reports and eventually a Tom Wolfe moment in Contemplations.

TAILS FROM THE ROOFTOP 
AT EAST LAKE PET ORPHANAGE
If I’d headlined this item “Tales” you might have been expecting some party stories. Nope, these are tails -- party animals, sort of.
This note came from East Lake Pet Orphanage -- and so did these photographs. (We’ll tell you about the auction at the end of this segment.)
The ELPO note began with a question: “What do these pets all have in common?”
And then came the answer: “While we were setting up for Wine on the Roof (on Saturday), they all came to East Lake Pet Orphanage for a second chance.
“Blondie was abandoned and tied to our event tables Saturday morning. 
“Joan Jett was brought in as stray by a Good Samaritan.
“Rubix was brought in by a gentleman who was searching for his own lost dog. With eyes matted shut, he couldn't see, but his tail wagged knowing that he was in safe hands.
“The puppies in a box were rescued by a couple who found them behind a dumpster and thankfully brought them to us. Someone may have thrown them away, but it is our mission to help find them homes. 
“The evening for Wine in the Roof may have been a success, but the greatest victory is helping pets like these get the second chance they deserve.”
You can see these animals at East Lake Pet Orphanage, 10101 E. Northwest Highway, in Dallas. Call 214-342-3100.
And, there are still some great items left from the Wine On The Roof auction. See them HERE. 

REPORTS FROM DENTON: 
ROMANO & HANSON
Well, Romano has a home. He was the last of 9 dogs on the short clock at Denton McNatt Animal Shelter and, our tipster Amy Poskey reports, all 9 have now been saved.
That’s him on the left.
Amy writes, “Somewhere along the way it was discovered that Romano is a real ladies man!  Yep, we originally thought Romano was not dog friendly when he was out in the play yard with a large group of dogs; however, he was re-tested this weekend with a few submissive female dogs and he did great!  Now Romano has a new sister, Lucy, who is a very proper lady!  Thank you to EVERYONE who believed in ALL these URGENT pooches cuz it saved their lives!!!”

That brings us to Hanson and Amy’s report. She writes, “Folks, I just have to tell ya that Hanson is truly a diamond in the ruff and he is an incredible boy!!!  This sweet angel had surgery yesterday (Monday) for entropion on both his eyes and is expected to heal perfectly!  He is on antibiotics and pain meds and is sporting a soft cone for 10 days and then he will need to get the sutures out.  Hanson is in a temporary foster home and his foster mom reports that Hanson is SO HAPPY to be in a home!  Not only that, but he is housetrained and gets along with the resident dogs AND cat!!!  What a wonderful boy!!!”
he’s a maybe 5- to may 8-year-old Shar Pei. He’s neutered already.
The contacts to claim Hanson as your household companion, email Amy at [email protected] or [email protected], paul.o’[email protected], [email protected], and/or [email protected]. Call the shelter at 940-349-7594.

THE RED OAK SHELTER CHALLENGE
And the challenge is getting the animals adopted or rescued from a low-traffic, small, suburban shelter south of Dallas, Texas. Yep, Red Oak is the place, and these are some of the animals highlighted by Laura Macias and the people who work to help smaller shelters.
Laura is the contact FOR ALL THESE ANIMALS at [email protected] or CALL OR TEXT 214-949-2726.
The animals include Roy (left) and Mickey, a couple of buff fellow waiting to be adopted into a perfect cat home.
No idea how Roy came to be in the shelter -- he probably didn’t call Uber and ask to be delivered. Mickey, on the other hand, is described as “an owner release from someone who could no longer care for him.”
We’ve posted Batman, the young Bully/Staffy boy before. He’s a cruelty case dog, “left in a motel room with no food or water when someone skipped out on the bill.”
He was one of four dogs left in that fix -- they were left in their crates for nearly  week with no food or water. Handsome, sweet Batman is the only one of the dogs who is still waiting for rescue. According to the note about him, Batman “is such a sweetie pie...save a dog that will be so grateful, so loving, that he will adore you forever.”
Then there’s Jackson, a Bully/Boxer mix who is a “very good boy who loves and adores everyone.” And, according to the shelter bio in the note, “We actually did locate the original owner, but sadly, we think that they could just no longer care for him.  It's really sad because he is SUCH a good boy and he will make someone just the best dog ever.  What we did learn is that his original name was Cash and he is about 2 years old. He is housetrained.  Has been around a girl dog as a buddy in the past.  The volunteers ADORE this dog.  Please, if you want a great dog, look no further.” Please, save him ... he will love and adore you forever ....

TURNING TO MESQUITE
AND SOME OPPORTUNITIES

We’ve written about Dean (38292700). His deadline was Tuesday morning but somehow he got a break. Our tipster Judi Brown writes, “We have some empty kennels so he’s been given more time but this can’t keep going on. This is a good dog please please!!! He doesn’t know why he hasn’t been picked when the others have either been rescued or adopted. Not much time for a hero to step up but I have faith. The adoption price is 50% off. His life depends on you! If you can’t adopt or tag please network.”
Meanwhile, the shelter also has this guy Kokomo (38548422), a 43-pound, 6-month-old retriever mix surrendered on Saturday “due to the personal problems of the owner.”
Kokomo is described as an enthusiastic, energetic puppy who “wiggles all over when he thinks he’s going to get attention. He’s a happy guy with lots of love and kisses to share. He appears to love everyone. ... His previous owners stated that he’s good with children and other dogs. He jumped back when a cat hissed at him.”
For Kokomo or Dean call 972–216–6283 or email [email protected]  

AND DON’T FORGET JUNIOR, the 3-year-old Shar-Pei/Shepherd/Pit mix we wrote about last week. He was adopted and brought back. By this time, he was nearly starved when he returned. You may remember this photograph. As Judi wrote, “He came into the shelter dangerously thin, bowlegged with a wonky walk probably due to loss of muscle mass. He’s 38458697 at the shelter.
Mesquite also has Luna, a 9-year-old German Shepherd Mix surrendered “because she was no longer wanted.” She’s learning to trust, Judi’s note says.
And there’s also Sugar, this 71-pound Lab mix who came in as a stray on the 10th.
Clearly Sugar is a Jaunty Earhound (38525403). She’s described as “a gorgeous girl who lives up to her name. ... This gorgeous girl is very gentle and well mannered. She sits for treats.”

A REMINDER ABOUT
DANGEROUS DOGS

Dallas’ Dangerous Dogs Task Force meets at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the L1FN Conference Room at Dallas City Hall. This is a “public forum regarding the legal and safety issues of dangerous dogs in our community,” the announcement read on the Dallas Animal Services Facebook Page. To RSVP (so they’ll know how many people to expect), email [email protected] You may also submit questions at that address.
Here’s the latest DAS Daily Report -- check the numbers of dogs euthanized in Dallas. Surely they were not all dangerous dogs. Surely.

CONTEMPLATIONS:

Who will now write the things Tom Wolfe would have written? Is that branch of literature over with? I once met Tom Wolfe and helped him out. I entered the third floor elevator lobby going north as he entered going south. I guess because I looked like I knew the lay of the land in The Dallas Morning News, this tallish, thin man in his trademark white suit and an East Coast intellectual haircut, said, “Excuse me, can you tell me where I can find the men’s room?” “Sure,” I said, turning to point down the next hall. “First door on the right.” “Thank you,” he said. And that is how I helped one of the world’s great writers at a particular time of need. I’d have waited on him outside the men’s room, but I had a deadline and, besides, you shouldn’t be creepy with your heroes.” ... Here’s a great literary quote from Tom Wolfe, “My entire career, in fiction or nonfiction, I have reported and written about people who are not like me.” Read a little more about Tom Wolfe from NPR’s Jeffrey Toobin HERE. ... We’re ending this with a salute to the dog named Kokomo in hopes of inspiring someone to adopt him. For a great song from The Beach Boys’ catalog, click HERE. 

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HORSES GET A BREAK AT THE SPCA; ANIMALS AND CHALLENGES; HUMANS NEED A/C

EDITION OF TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2018 [PetPowellPress] As this is being written, we are waiting for someone from the electric company to let us know why our power dims. It has affected our newly repaired a/c unit and our never-repaired moods. We’ll mush on (oh, what a relief snow might be) with our Tuesday report. Pardon the sweat on the keys -- it’s falling from my eyes, along with the teardrops. (Problem with the transformer in the alley, it turns out.)

THE SPCA AND A GRANT
THAT’LL HELP HORSES

The SPCA of Texas is the recipient of a $1,503,000 grant that will expand the organization’s equine programand make it a “leader in equine welfare by expanding its capacity to care for equine.” [LARRY ASIDE:That’s your horses, ponies, mules, two or three politicians -- I’m kidding about the politicians.]
Thanks to the grant, the SPCA’s improved program’s goal is “to focus on the quality of life for these horses and increase adoptions from an average of 75 per year to 300 per year in 2020.”
In the news release, SPCA President and CEO James Bias says, "This grant will allow us to say ‘yes’ to equine owners in need of support.There aren’t many resources for equine owners, so this program will provide a much-needed service to our community and beyond to improve the lives of horses.”
As readers of animals tales probably know, the SPCA keeps the equine types (and some porcine types, too, now and then) at the Russell H. Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney.
Here’s an interesting paragraph from the SPCA: “All of the current equine residing at the SPCA of Texas have been removed or surrendered in response to complaints of animal cruelty or neglect through the SPCA of Texas’ Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit.”
How does the new program fit in with that reality? The news release explains, “By allowing owners to surrender their equine, the SPCA of Texas hopes to prevent cruelty and neglect to equine before it happens, providing a solution for equine owners who are unable to care for their equine.”
Among the animals awaiting a home at the SPCA facility are Banjo, that 18-year-old Shetland Pony mix.He’s describe as “a sweet mini horse. He would make a great companion to a lonely horse or donkey.”
That second equine is Salem, a “large female gaited” --(Larry aside:I grew up in Texas; having no idea what that expression means.) Salem is a riding horse.
Her SPCA bio reads, “Salem can be a skeptical mare, she is very smart and tries very hard to find the right answer.”
Remember, go to spca.org to see how to adopt all animals and how to foster animals and how to donate to animals, etc.  Also, you can go to The Right Horse Initiative site HERE and see a video about how the organization wants to find “Good People For Good Horses.”

SOUTH OF DALLAS,
A FRIENDLY WILMER PAIR
As you may know, Laura Macias and Leighann Hayden and their Comrades in Critters have been working to help small shelters find adoptors and rescuers. 
The latest pair? Siblings Bailey and Benji. Here’s the joint bio for these dogs described as “Bulldog/Staffordshire Bull Terrier Mix.”  The profile reads, “VERY SWEET & LOVING -- They absolutely adore everyone.  So sweet. They are not big - very small/sturdy and cute as cute can be. They came in through Dallas County and are really great young dogs.  They so deserve to have someone save them.”
To save their lives, email Laura at [email protected] com or call or text 214-949-2726,
The note about the dogs was preceded by a reminder that before these heroes started helping Wilmer’s shelter “a couple of years ago, they were about 100 percent euthanasia. And it was a really bad type of euthanasia - heartstick. If no one pulls or rescues, then these poor dogs are at risk for that happening now. ... This little shelter is right there by Dowdy Ferry Road which I'm sure you've heard about and the county officer picks up from there. Please, help save their lives.  They are so sweet and lovable.”

CONTEMPLATIONS

I may be about to leave AOL after decades --  inability to access my email on my phone and my iPad is ticking me off.Anybody got any suggestions for a reliable email system. A way to cure my email problem. I’d like a system that pays me a dime every time I open an email.... In the early ‘70s, I lived in an apartment complex in the Wedgewood area of Fort Worth. It was a great apartment except for the air-conditioning. It would shut down during lightning. Also during sunlight. It would shut down if you asked, “Hot enough for ya?”A few years ago, the complex was demolished. I don’t know what happened to the A/C unit, but I hope it involved melting-- that would be a well-deserved irony. ... Ever lived without air-conditioning? Absolutely. For my entire young life until I left home in tropical Texarkana in 1968 to be a sportswriter at The Shreveport Times. One more bit of irony: In 1972, I took a great job as a reporter at The Fort Worth Press in a really old building at 5th and Jones in Fort Worth.I interviewed on a wintry day and took the job. When the warming days of spring arrived, that’s when management finally told me the place was NOT air-conditioned. Still, that tabloid afternoon daily was one of the best places I ever worked -- even it it was about 90 or 100 degrees in the office as we were, literally, sweating meeting the deadline.

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A SNOUT; DEAN THE DELIGHT; THREE CATS & CONTEMPLATIONS RE: FORT WORTH

EDITION OF MONDAY, MAY 14, 2018 (PetPowellPress) -- Ah, we arrive on a Monday morning in a world with unanswered questions, with things being worked out and with the prospect of unexpected challenges. Thus, too soothe our souls, we have clearly arrived at National (or maybe Global) Chicken Dance Day, as noted by Holiday Insights. We’ll have more on this later. In the meantime we have animal concerns and we’ll start with a big nose.
THE ROMANO SNOUT!
Well, Denton’s McNatt Animal Shelter had a good run of adoptions as last week drew to a close -- there were nine in desperate shape and 8 were adopted or rescued. And that left one -- Romano. Naturally, the volunteer shelter animal promoter Amy Poskey was all over this situation, emailing everybody in the known universe about making sure Romano has a chance. 

We sent Amy a note about this handsome dog’s face and she replied with an expressive thought you’d hear only from an enthusiastic animal advocate. She wrote, “I just want to hold Romano’s sweet face and kiss that snout!”

There’s the Romano Snout in that photo. Unless Romano was adopted Sunday, he’s still waiting at Denton’s McNatt Shelter -- you can adopt him for TWENTY LOUSY BUCKS -- yep, save a life for $20. Rescues pull for free, of course. 
He’s heartworm positive, but that’s fixable. He weighs 52 pounds. And he likes being an only dog.

To ask about him, email Amy at [email protected] and these shelter contacts: [email protected], paul.o’[email protected], [email protected], and/or [email protected] Call the shelter at 940-349-7594.

DEAN IS IN A FIX IN MESQUITE
The note from Judi Brown, our Mesquite volunteer tipster, reported that this dog, 56-pound Dean, 38292700, is “CODE RED -- no more extensions. This is final.”
 He has “until Monday morning,” she writes, and adds, “He doesn’t know why he hasn’t been picked when the others have either been rescued or adopted. Not much time for a hero to step up but I have faith. The adoption price is 50% off. His life depends on you! If you can’t adopt or tag please network.|

“Dean is a handsome shepherd that came in as a stray on 4/12. Dean has expressive eyes that look like they’re lined with eyeliner. He has the erect stance of a show dog! He’s a delightful guy that is friendly and affectionate. He loves to run and play. He has a ball drive. He fetches and retrieves but doesn’t want to relinquish the ball.”

Call the shelter at 972-216-6283; email [email protected] When you make those contacts, include his number, 38292700. See more Mesquite adoptables at this city online site. 

LET’S TALK DALLAS CATS
These are three of the many, many cats currently on display on the Dallas Animal Services website, www.dallasanimalservices.org. 
How about these handsome fellows. 
Garfield (#A1028591), who has a showbiz coiff, is about 3, a neutered fellow and an orange tabby with white highlights -- at the shelter cine May 9.
Then there’s Checkers (A1028613), a cat with a delicate nose accent. She’s spayed, about a year old and has been in the shelter since May 2.
Our third feline fellow (#A1029365) is listed as a “brown tabby American Shorthair” who is about a year old. He’s been at the shelter since the 9th. His name? Oh, yeah, uh, it’s Larry, Possibly the best-looking feline Larry in North Texas. [LARRY ASIDE:The best-looking Canine Larry is, of course, the Dachshund who is the king of Public Relations in the home of our pal Diane Combs. She named him after a certain local animal journalist. This is a photo of the younger Larry; there are no photos of the older Larry -- there are, however, charcoal etchings in prehistoric caves, I’m told.]
Ask about Garfield at the DAS PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center at 972-381-1588, ext. #5. Ask about Checkers and Larry at the DAS big shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland or call (214) 670-6800.


CONTEMPLATIONS:
Let’s talk Fort Worth.
We were in the genuine Texas city on Saturday for the graduation ceremony at the Tarrant County Convention Center in the big show-arena. (Son Bart got a degree from Tarrant County Community College -- headed toward extra degrees at a local university. Father is quite proud.) Anyway, a lot of people showed up to watch this event -- they more than filled the seating and ushers and police had to keep the crowd moving so no exits would be blocked. Meanwhile, when the 3 p.m. starting time arrived, there were traffic jams all around the convention center and parking lots were full -- except those controlled restaurants, such as a notable steakhouse that guarded its spaces firmly. Anyway, these drivers were so incapable of keeping smooth movement going around the center, that I swear they must have been from Dallas. FYI: The last time I was in that part of the convention center for a show was 1972 -- had 7th row center tickets for Elvis. I loved the Elvis show, but I adored seeing my son walk across the stage! ... OK, something I miss in Fort Worth: The Italian Inn in Ridglea -- it was a great old restaurant with a romantic, dark, cavern-like interior. It was in one of the booths more than 26 years ago that I proposed to Martha. If she hadn’t said yes, she’d have had to pick up the tab. I’m a romantic. ... Now, back to the opening Chicken Dance. This version was videoed in Forth Worth and features the legendary, Grammy-winning, North Texas polka superstars, Brave Combo, led by the great Carl Finch, Class of 1970 at Texas High in Texarkana. I’m from the Class of ’66 -- but I can’t chicken dance, polka or peck the keyboards like a professional musician. Start the Brave Combo Chicken Dance HERE.  I think you'll also enjoy the dancers, too. Fort Worth might be wound not quite as tight as Dallas (We're Big D), Texas.
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