ReadLarryPowell.com

SAVING ANIMALS IS A YEAR-ROUND SEASON AND SO IS DEMOCRACY (A GREAT WILL ROGERS QUOTE HIGHLIGHTS CONTEMPLATIONS)

EDITION OF MONDAY -- GOOD GRIEF ALREADY?! -- OCTOBER 1, 2018 -- Angels and reindeer are already elbowing hobgoblins and pumpkins off the shelves in stores. 
The Texas Rangers’ baseball season is already (mercifully) over and -- as is tradition of Rangers’ fans -- the long off-season begins as we wait ‘til next year. [FYI: This pleasant Arrival of October, far-from-artsy photograph shows our formerly abandoned, bottle-fed, still-growing flamepoint baby Simon sacked out with his pal, our wander-up dog Porche Noel snoozing together during a game on my pillow under my autumnal-influenced comforter. Symbolic of the current goal: Get some sleep.]


UPDATING A RESCUE ATTEMPT
AT A DEMOLITION PROJECT
We began telling Nikki Williamson’s story of a feral cat colony rescue week before last. It’s a project that has been going on for some time at site at LBJ and Abrams in North Dallas. Nearly 100 cats and or kittens have been saved, but others have avoided capture. And now there is a poignant reference to kids helping save animals at peril. Bless their giant hearts!

Over the weekend, Nikki passed along this story after a particularly discouraging day. The property has been bulldozed and the building pushed into a pile, while the fence still surrounds the property and feral cats wander the grounds.

Nikki wrote, “Diana is 11 and Abraham is 9. These are children helping the cats.

“Why can’t anyone in rescue step up???
“These children have scooped up several kittens from demo to save from deaths.
These are the cats they saved in last two days.

“Unfortunately [the onsite rescuer] had to call DAS to come get a cat that was scooting around in pain because its back had been crushed. Not a good thing for a child to see and, of course, not for the Cat. Why can’t someone come help????

“If you are in rescue have a trap and can get cats to SPCA contact me. This is not good and cats are hurt or dying every day. The buildings came down and there are only two left to demo with 10-15 cats still left.”
To ask how to help or how to adopt or foster, call or text Nikki at 469-363-1867 or email nikkiwilliamson [email protected]. Reach her on Facebook HERE.
[LARRY ASIDE: Once again, how about a city ordinance that says “no living beings can be left at a demolition site before the tear-down begins.” Is that so wrong? Surely protecting ALL life is Dallas is a good idea that expresses the philosophy of a city that wants to be world-class. Are the people who own demolition companies exempt from actions that cruelly injure or kill non-livestock animals? Dallas: Get smarter, get kinder, get decent.]

QUICK NOTE FROM DAS
ABOUT SPAY NEUTER NETWORK
It clearly will come as a surprise to a great many people in North Texas that there is a need for spaying and neutering. A great many people in North Texas are among the dimmest bulbs since the invention of incandesent lighting. Combine don’t care ignorance with the fact that Dallas is the most fertile city on the continent and, well, there’s why you need the Spay Neuter Network.
Dallas Animal services reports that beginnng October 1 -- yes, this very Monday -- Spay Neuter Network’s clinic will open “an additional day to increase the number of adoptable DAS pets they can spay/neuter.” See spayneuternet.org. Check with DAS.

 That big dog is, indeed, Biggie (ID#A1018169), an already-neutered 5-year-old Pittie mix with a happy tail and a big grin. He’s been at the shelter -- dodging the needle -- since September 5. Call the shelter at 214-670-6800 or go to the shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland. You can’t miss it and also, it’s where you can get that cat Kevin (ID#A0861445) -- a neutered black and white 4-year-old at the shelter since September 21. For him, call the PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center at 971-1588, ext. 5.

TWO LITTLE DOGS ARRIVE
IN MESQUITE & WAIT!
Taz (39790382) and Chico (39790373) are a couple of 5- or 6-year-old, 12-pound Chiweenies who, according to Mesquite’s volunteer biographer Judi Brown, were surrendered on the 28th by people who “said they found them and could not keep them.”
Both were loaded with fleas, both appear to be happy when they’re together, i.e., they’re bonded so, for crying out loud, find ONE GOOD HOME.
Surely that would be easier than finding two good homes.
Call the shelter at 972–216-6283 or email [email protected].

Chico, by the way, is protective of Taz.
They’re probably brothers.

HEADS UP, BOY DOGS!

LOSE A LITTLE WEIGHT!
Here’s an October bargain. You can get the boy fixed for $20 this month. 
All you have to do to qualify is get the “full set of vaccines for $25 or a microchip for $20 anywhere TCAP (Texas Coalition for Animal Protection works during the month of October.” The boy dogs have to be no younger than 10 weeks, weigh between 2 and 80 pounds and have no “pre-existing health conditions.”
Get all the info at texasforthem.org.
[LARRY ASIDE: Most enlightened people reading this know why spaying and neutering is important. It’s the people who aren’t reading it who can’t quite connect the failure to fix with the need for animal shelters to buy euthanasia chemicals in bulk.]

CONTEMPLATIONS
STATE FAIR, SEASONS AND THE SENATE
The great Nancy Moore, Shaggy on KNON 89.9 FM and my former colleague at The Big Paper Downtown, posted this great video from the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition, noting that her mom, Frances, was an 11 year old and among the people who “went to the Texas Centennial Exposition at Fair Park every day in 1936.” Nancy wrote, “I am amazed at how many buildings that were built for the exposision still exist, and how many buildings, and or attractions don't. I'd give just about anything to step back in time, to this event, for one day!!!! Wouldn't you?” SEE THE VIDEO HERE. ... Autumn is the best season -- beats baseball season by longshot this year and I wish Zeke Elliott would knock off that “feed me” routine. Sorry. Old school Cowboys fan, you know. ... In a culture of seasons -- from sports to astronomical -- the 2016 Political Season continues into 2018 vibrantly, rowdily across the nation. Democracy -- it’s ugly but it’s beautiful. And it’s ours. 
I’ll close this with a quote from the great Will Rogers. He must have been some kind of clairvoyant because, sometime prior to his death way back in 1935, the Oklahoma philosopher said, “About all I can say for the United States Senate is that it opens with a prayer and closes with an investigation.”

--- Offer advice or opinion by clicking on “comment” below or email [email protected]. ---

LOST IN MURPHY; COULD BE LIVING IN A HOME

This dog has been missing since August 30 when he slipped his collar. It's possible that he is living in someone’s home in Murphy, in Collin County. The task is to find him and get him back to Charlie and Jason Helton.

Charlie says Jager (pronounced “Yay-ger”) was last seen “off FM 544/Plano Parkway between Heritage and Dublin in Murphy, Texas. This was right outside the East Plano Murphy Animal Hospital at 627 FM 544. Charlie says.
"My husband was taking both our dogs to the vet at the same time to board them [and have them groomed] as we were going to be out of town for Labor Day weekend. Roxy, our other dog, loves to run around outside and immediately was trying to pull away to go explore.

“Jager saw her do this, realized they were at the vet, and also wanted to run off. In the moment as my husband was trying to hold onto both dogs (one weighing close to 80 pounds and the other (Jager) at the time was 120ish pounds), Jager's head slipped out of his collar, and off they both ran.

“Roxy came back 2 hours later. Jager was never seen since - not a single sighting. The wooded area they ran into backs into the Windy Hill Farms neighborhood in Murphy, which is split in half by a creek along Dublin.

“He had to have gone into one of those neighborhoods. We are 99.9% positive someone has to be caring for him at this point.”

Jager answers to his name -- again that’s Yay-ger -- he was named after the drink Jagermeister. Usually “he will come running,” Charlie says. “He's 4 1/2 years old, we've had him since he was 6 weeks old. He is very friendly. He will knock you down to hug you (being that he's over 100 pounds). He's tall like an American Bulldog, but stocky and muscular (although he put some pounds on after we neutered him).”

Signs have been put up, calls have made, searches conducted. No sign of this big boy. Readlarrypowell.com wants to get as many eyes as possible looking for Jager, so copy and forward this to anybody you know who has a heart.
(Click on the artwork to make it grow. If you can’t, the key information if you know Jager’s whereabouts is this: Call 214-717-2536 or 2537.)
--- To offer information or suggestions, click on “comment” below or email [email protected]. ---

JINGLES & JAXX -- TW0 DEVOTED NAPPERS (Or 'Felis Catus' & 'Felis Napus')

We begin this tribute with two Latin words that are significant in many homes: Felis catus. Then two more: Felis napus.
[LARRY ASIDE: First we’re talking cats, then I’ll confess “Felis napus” is not authentic, just in case any Latin teachers are reading. Assuming of course, that there still are Latin teachers somewhere.]
Yes, we are spotlighting beloved Felis catus -- Plural Felis cati (pronounced cat-eye?) -- in this edition of our long-running weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
And they are napping cats! It runs in the family, we’ll demonstrate. This edition also may answer, for some, the question “What can happen to rescued cats?”

Basketnaps. I think that’s a one-word answer. We spotted these cats in a basket thanks to Karel Obenauf who then sent us several photos of her loving cats, Jingles and Jaxx. And, as it turns out, there’s also a connection to the noted rescuer/fosterer Patty Sprong. 
Jaxx is the son of Patty’s foster failure Mama Mia. More on magnificent Mama Mia momentarily. (World record for M sounds? Maybe. Moving on.)

As Karel says, she and her husband “love our cats.” You can tell by what she wrote: “Jaxx is really smart but also because he’s so intelligent he tends to be on the naughty side. I’ve seen him drop rocks from my bamboo plant onto Jingles’ head below.
“I moved the plant after I caught him putting rocks down the garbage disposal! He puts his paw in their water and flicks it to scare Jingles, which makes Jingles never go near the water when his brother is near. 
“Jingles is one of the sweetest cats we have ever had. We found him outside, hanging on our patio with our 2 fixed feral cats. (We inherited them with our new home when we moved back from Helsinki, Finland.)

 “He was not fixed and I was furious, thinking he was declawed, not fixed, and roaming free. I picked him up to take him to the vet and found he has the biggest claws you’ve ever seen. He just doesn’t use them. 

“We got got him neutered, found out he was 1-and-1/2 years old, and gave him all of his vaccinations. When we brought him home we weren’t certain he would want to stay inside, but we were instructed to keep him inside for at least a week. 

“He was such a good boy -- using the litter box and sleeping with us. He would cry at the window, looking at Penny and Leonard outside. We let him out one day on the patio but he turned around and walked back inside, becoming our new family member.

 “We had lost our female kitty a year earlier and our son had just moved to LA, so we were ready for a companion. We realized Jingles was lonely, hence my search for the perfect mate for him.

“When I went to visit PetSmart, where Patty was showing Mama Mia and Jaxx, I intended to look at Mia. When I picked her up, I knew it was not the right one for Jingles. I knew this female would try to dominate him and possibly be mean to him, and we knew it would break his heart. “When I picked up Jaxx I knew he was the one!!

“Jaxx belongs to Jingles, not us, which is difficult sometimes because we would love for him to cuddle with us like Jingles does, but he is only interested in being with and snuggling with Jingles. They sleep together all the time and are always together. We love them!”

Above you see assorted photos of the Catpals napping.
There’s also a photo of Jaxx with a toy. Karel explains, “He didn’t know how to play and that toy was the first thing with which he learned to play. Jaxx loves Jingles, as you can tell from the pictures. He may be smaller, but definitely rules our house and Jingles. And Jingles loves him so much that he lets him."
The cat awake in the round “high” bed is Mia -- that’s a photograph used in our April 17, 2015, edition of Let...Napping Cats Nap.
As you can see in the photos, Jaxx takes after his Mom.
For this edition, Patty explained, “Jaxx was the last of Mia’s three kittens. He was the shyest and took to Jingles like Jingles was his mama,” and then she added, “Karel also takes care of some feral cats in the neighborhood. They hit the jackpot when they found her.”

Patty also recalls, “When Karel came into PetSmart that day, she was obviously a well-versed cat person. I told her that I wasn’t sure putting a male kitten with a grown male cat would work, and that her cat might feel threatened. She knew better, and she was right. Now the boys are best buds.”
Karel recalls the day Patty brought “Jaxx in the crate to my house and Jingles ran up to it and kissed Jaxx through it. They were so cute! And Jaxx wouldn’t stop crying... until we let Jingles in with us.”
Karel isn’t affiliated with a rescue, but does “rescue on my own. No matter what the animal or reptile, I love them all! I do support Mazie’s Mission when there is a need dear to my heart!”

So, there’s your Household Tranquility Kit -- a basket that will hold two cats and the two cats that fit it -- snugly.
[REMEMBER, send photos and bios of your sleeping dogs, napping cats and any other slumbering critter to [email protected] and we’ll post their stories for the world to read in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Remember, your love for your companion may inspire other people to give animals a safe place to sleep. Plus, you’ll be inspiring the world’s insomniacs to believe that they, too, can catch a few winks if they can just find the right wicker basket and the determination to curl into the right position.]

THE STATE FAIR OPENS; DALLAS ENJOYS A TABBY SEASON; WE RECALL A SONG

EDITION OF FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2018 [PetPowellPress] First, congratulations to the State Fair of Texas for launching another run (Sept. 28-Oct. 21) of the great Dallas tradition! We’re fans of the Fair. [LARRY ASIDE: I snapped this photo of a free-roaming pig on morning at the State Fair a few years ago -- it occurred to me that he was en route to the Belgian waffle booth. That’s where I’d go to make a pig out of myself.]

Our second note is this question: Is Dallas, Texas, the global center of tabby cat production?
Now and then, as I begin to type these reports, I find myself face-to-face with The Senator (not a tabby!) who would like to note that he is not -- at this time -- holding an elected position in Washington. His favorite number is, however, 2020 -- it is on the license plate of his vintage Mercury Cougar.

His current task is as advisor to his biographer in Dallas, Texas. One of his suggestions is to ask this question: “Is Dallas the global center of tabby production?”

As I explained to The Senator, we have evidence. And we have a happy tabby story in just a minute.
But, first, these tabbies are available at Dallas Animal Services as this is being typed. There are more, of course. And we have a happy tabby rescue story later. (The DAS tabbies are -- right-- A1044215, about 2, in the shelter since September 1. And, a “Stray” numbered 1043255, about 4 months old, and Tabitha (A1042564), a year old and in the shelter since the 6th. (See many of the shelter’s available cats and dogs at dallasanimalservices.org, call 214-670-6800 or stop by the big shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland.) 

Another of The Senator’s missions -- performed several times a day -- is demonstrated in the first photo: Call a time-out in the workday. The time-out, as it develops, is very beneficial to the worker -- typing hands rest, mind re-focuses and dogs get treats. Yes, The Senator is a wise cat. He has indicated that he left Washington in order to, as he meowed, “see the real America -- so I thought I’d start in Dallas.” 
Not that he’s not gracious, but he has said, “If this is America, it has too many TVs in one house!” He said that from the big green chair in the living room as he re-plots his Tour of the Nation on his Catlas App on personal CatEyePad.
A FREE-ROAMING TABBY
IS TAKEN OFF THE STREETS
Years ago the dominant cats in our front porch feral colony were black with, now and then, an orange cat or an old wandering white cat (the late adorable Ol’ Doc White, RIP.) Then about maybe four or five years ago things changed. Tabbies began to dominate. Dominate and reproduce. We’ve, thus, spayed and neutered a lot of tabbies. 

See that cat in the cage? That Tabby was rescued all the way across Dallas from our Oak Cliff neighborhood -- on a grassy corner at Gaston and Garland Road. The great Andy Allen (veteran cat rescuer, animal advocate and former member of the Dallas Animal Commission) posted a note about this rescue she and respected rescuer Debbie Ferrell accomplished. “Attention cat people! Debbie Ferrell and I trapped this little beauty tonight [Wednesday] and she’ll be spayed tomorrow. She’s very young, and based on her behavior, we think she’ll tame quickly. Can anyone foster and work with her so we can network her? We’d love to have somewhere to bring her tomorrow [Thursday] evening. We’d like to give her a chance before we return her to the parking lot where we found her. She’d be all alone, since we’ve already caught the only other cat there and placed her with a foster. Please let us know if you can help. You’d definitely be saving a life. (BTW, she may be a he. We don’t know yet).” Click HERE to get in touch with this cat’s cause.

MEANWHILE IN CARROLLTON
FOUR CATS NEED SOME HELP
This notice about these kittens was generated by Carrollton Animal Shelter Volunteer Marnie Simmons.
 She wrote, “All four kittens are females and 8 weeks old and are in need of rescue/foster help! One of these four kittens has a spot of what the shelter thinks is ringworm on its one ear (Goldie is the one with the bald spot on her ear that had a slight glow). They need out of the shelter ASAP! All 4 kittens have had their first shot and have been dewormed and are very fun and friendly!”

These cats are Torti Little Rose ID# 39514790; Tabby Goldie ID# 39524874; Black Cat Smokey ID# 39381577 and Tabby River ID# 39524870.

The Carrollton shelter is at 2247 Sandy Lake Road. Call 972-466-3420.


THE BURNS FLAT PUPPY REPORT
You may recall this Momma and Children photo from earlier in the week. It’s from Burns Flat, Okla., and the town’s resilient rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher. She rescued this dog. A woman had taken in a stray dog who then gave birth to the nine puppies. And the woman was trying to get rid of the puppies.
Terry Lynn took over in order to save their lives.
She reported Thursday, “Puppies are heading to Colorado and we are getting mom spayed.”
If you’d like to adopt one of the puppies, instead of going to Burns Flat way out in flat western Oklahoma, you’ll have to get in touch with the Evergreen Animal Protective League in Evergreen, Colo. “They are a WONDERFUL group,” Terry Lynn says.  And, in the meantime, Terry Lynn has more animals that need help -- some are in expensive boarding while awaiting a home or a rescue. Email her at [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS

DINOSAURS, REPORTAGE AND TEACHING THE WORLD A LESSON
The Google headline I saw read “New 26,000 pound species of dinosaur found” and my first thought was “Please don’t dump this one in Kiest Park -- it won’t fit in my garage and I don’t know what to feed it.” Turns out this report is based on finding remnants of a Jurassic Age dinosaur in South Africa. But, trust me, if they suddenly showed up in Dallas, people would be dumping them as soon as they realized those puppies won’t sell. ... Another note on that dinosaur: The fossil was found in 2012. So, this is a story that’s hot off the presses? Scientists says this big lizard walked the earth 200 million years ago -- so, what’s another year or two on the story? Two hundred million years plus six more gives a reporter time to get all the spelling right. ... I hope you’ll forgive me but I need to drag out something from the more recent past to sort of soothe the world today. Here’s a version of a commercial that became a folk/pop song after it caught the hearts of a lot of people in the unruly early 1970s. Click HERE to hear that. And if you want to see the 1971 Coke commercial, you may have to endure another commercial before you see it but click HERE anyway! Possibly one of the best TV ads ever and it came at a really tough time in America and the world. Maybe that’s why I thought it would be a good fit for late September 47 years later.
--- To offer advice and ideas, click on “comment” below or email [email protected] and, as always, peace for us all. ---

THE CHALLENGES OF ANIMALS; CONTEMPLATING THE HUMAN CONDITION

EDITION OF THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2018 [PetPowellPress] This is our Thursday edition and, during production on Wednesday, we’re struggling to get a grip on the things that ought to be gripped. Some should be gripped and saved, others should be gripped and strangled into submission, but why bring up the soggy jungle we laughingly call our “back yard.” I’m not surprised my Hollywood Agent Gimmy Cash says it’s too dangerous to rent as the set for the next Jurassic Park. Part of the preceding passage may be made up.
I told you I was struggling to get a grip. 
In the meantime, if you ever wondered about purebreds in the Dallas Animal Services Shelter, that Cocker Spaniel is Bubb (A1035123), a neutered 4-year-old, who’s been in the shelter since Tuesday. You can ask about him at the PetSmart Everyday Adoption center at 972-381-1588, ext. 5.

The cat with the permanent rakishly handsome approach to a wink is Gust (A1044208), neutered, about 2 and not involved in any current executive, movie star or political scandals. He is available for adoption into a calm and respectful home -- see him at the big Dallas Animal Services Shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland or, like so many others, online at dallasanimal services.org. Call the shelter at 214-670-6800.
FYI, the Dallas Animal Services Daily Report Card for Sunday the 23rd (the latest and click on it to make it grow), says there are 548 dogs in the shelter which has 492 dog kennels and 166 cats in 194 cat kennels -- feline breathing room. But the dogs, geez.
You can see many of the adoptables at the big shelter and some at the PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center. Go to www.dallasanimalservices.org and you can get a good start on finding a friend and moving a dog or cat one step farther from the needle. You can also see shelter stats. Click on "ABOUT" at the site.

REMINDER ABOUT ARLINGTON
Like any other shelter in the Great North Texas Dump-the-Critters area, Arlington Animal Services faces population challenges. In our Wednesday Extra Edition, we posted reminders of the need to help get animals out of that shelter. You can scroll down and see the Extra. It’s the one with the photo of this dog, Cuddles. I hope Cuddles made it. Many of the animals were facing a bad deal on Wednesday. z

THEY’RE NOT ALL IN SHELTERS

Minnie Pearl and Quigley are in need of a home. 
These are a couple of senior dogs, both around 10, both with high energy, both “the sweetest dogs you’ll ever meet!” [LARRY ASIDE: How many dogs have won that title! Well, they’re nearly all tied for first, don’t you think?]  We got the note in pass-it-on fashion from noted animal advocates Karen Lee (barkleyworld.com) and Roberta Womack of the Chihuahua-rescue Lucy’s Lost Loved Ones. Pretty sure it’s been forwarded many other times subsequently. The person to contact if you can help these two is Alyssa Horton at [email protected].

Their human died on September 13 and, the note reads, “The dogs have been distraught.” They need some help. Again, email [email protected].

TINY PROTECTOR, CALM STRAY
IN NEED OF SOME HELP
Well, my goodness, it is amazing why animals wind up in shelters. The Lab mix, Polly is a stray -- it is amazing that anyone would let such a great-lookin’ dog stray, escape...or be dumped.
And it is amazing, also, that someone would hand over a protective Papillon mix to a shelter because she became protective of a woman. 
We get the bio info from the Mesquite Animal Services volunteer Judi Brown. 

Polly (39707832), a 2-year-old Lab mix, arrived as a stray on the 19th. She is “a sweet, gentle, cam, laid-back dog.”  Polly sits for treats, walks on a leash, is house-trained and weighs 29 pounds. 

Now, about 2-year-old Lucy, Papillon-terrier mix (39672823), “a returned adoption.”
 Yep, returned. “Apparently she became very protective of her human momma and became aggressive to the dad when he would try to sit down on the couch next to her. She does seem to prefer females but a male attendant worked with her ... and she seemed comfortable with him.”
Lucy’s getting decompressing time at the shelter, but it’s already been determined that she is a confirmed lap dog -- a 12-pounder. And she’s spayed.
 To ask about either of these, call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].


CONTEMPLATIONS

RABIES, PUPPIES & PHONE CALLS
There was a story in the Miami Herald about cat with rabies in Dade County. Cats with rabies -- that’s a bit rare. See the MiamI STORY HERE  and see the Texas rabies cases report HERE.  I mention this because like so many of you, I'm currently fostering a feral cat and I have some scratches on my wrists -- of course, I got those not from the feral (she won't come near me) but from my own cat, Kittie Leigh, who is completely vaccinated for everything except trying to jump from my arms when she's ready to eat. ...
There’s a story from The Border (this one is from MYSANANTONIO) about some guy being arrested for trying to sneak duffle bags of puppies from Mexico into Texas. Speaking as a guy in Dallas, well, this is just dandy. It’s not enough that we have our own perpetual crop of newly-arrived puppies, now somebody’s trying to import them. Just great. ... 

And now, regarding other plagues on the land, the political phone calls are coming in to our house and onto our cellphones -- they are having trouble finding empty spots between the calls from people insisting that I have a timeshare, that I have enjoyed a cruise vacation with them, that I need to know about the complimentary fitness checkup from my insurance company or that they can pay off our outstanding student loans. Martha and I don’t have student loans -- one of us dropped out in the ‘60s before student loans became a profit center. (That wasn’t Martha. I was the junior college dropout.) My pal Bob Trimble, longtime newspaper colleague and a UTA grad from wayback, got one of those off-target “we can help you pay off your student loan” calls. He called it “the highlight of my day!” [LARRY ASIDE: Most of us newspaper people from the poverty-level golden era of journalism have always been flattered when someone would loan us money without threatening to break our legs.] 
--- To offer advice, solutions or understanding, click on “comment” below or email [email protected] at no charge through the end of the month. ---

THURSDAY EXTRA EDITION: ARLINGTON IMMEDIATE NEEDS

WEDNESDAY EXTRA, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 [PetPowellPress] Karen Lee of barkleyworld.com forwarded this big appeal for animals in the Arlington Animal Services shelter. The deadline for rescuing/adopting is today -- this morning. Not much time for dogs, cats, a chicken, rabbit, guinea pigs, puppies, kittens...etc.

We’ll link to the whole list and, in the meantime, focus on three that have been at peril because of overcrowding and under-adopting and rescue groups that have already filled up with previous shelter animals.
[LARRY IRRITATED ASIDE: Everybody in rescue and shelters is running as fast as possible, but, whoa, the Don’t Care Community is almost insurmountably ignorant to the consequences of their actions. They don't spay/neuter and they keep dumping animals. Region-wide, not just Arlington.]

We’re giving you three photos, but you can see dozens at the links I’ll give you below.
Cuddles is that dog with the “oh, Lord, what next” look. Adorable, adoptable and on a deadline. The Partners of Arlington Animal Services listed Cuddles the Dog and Spike the Chicken and many, many more.
Apollo the kitten is listed on the Friends of Arlington Animal Services appeal. 

To rescue, email [email protected]. To adopt, go to the shelter at 100 SE Green Oak in Arlington. Want to call ahead? Use 817-459-5698.


The Partners of Arlington Animal Services album is HERE.
The Friends of Arlington Animal Services album is HERE.


--- Offer a solution by clicking on “comment” below or emailing [email protected]. ---

A MIDWEEK REPORT TO HELP CATS, DOGS, PEOPLE, LOBSTERS AND TV

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 [PetPowellPress] Welcome to an unusually nutty time in American history. I will now attempt to divert your attention. Hang on while I put on my mime costume. I’m kidding. Let me apologize to the young flamepoint Simon who was startled to hear “mime costume.” He’s young. He’ll recover. Let’s go to press:
TRINITY GAP RESCUE’S
PET FAIR SATURDAY
We’ve written frequently about the Euless Trinity GAP Club, the rescue group that emerged from the campus Girls Awareness Program at Trinity High School. It is enduring (years and years!) -- and one of its regular events is the GAP Pet Fair at the school. 
It’s a festival that raises money to help animals in the care of GAP and its partner, the Euless Animal Shelter. The fair is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the school, 500 N. Industrial in Euless -- just north of Airport Freeway.  It’ll include a low-cost vaccine clinic and microchipping. There’ll be concessions, vendors, dog baths, pet photos and more.

 We’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that you can see adoptable animals at trinitygaprescue.org. We took a look and found two great photographs -- that cat is Bree, described as a “lap-lander, bed-warmer, guest-checker.” Her bio is on the website.
So is the bio of this possible Catahoula mix puppy Grace Kelly. Has blue eyes. Again, go to trinitygaprescue.org to read about the adorable adoptables and about the work of Trinity GAP Rescue.

SUDDENLY IN WILMER
A POPULATION CHALLENGE
In our Tuesday edition we cited Sienna and Brady. Add Max to the “short clock” dogs in the Wilmer Animal Shelter. It’s crowded and it needs help saving lives, we learn in a note from Laura Macias and Leighann Hayden as they work to get eyes focused on the situation.

To help these animals call or text Laura at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].

Remember, it isn’t just animals from Wilmer who wind up in this shelter. Other places “deliver” there, too. And some come from the Dowdy Ferry dumping area, the place notorious for dogs treated as trash by drive-by humans.
About the first three: Max(upper left) , a Boxer/Lab/Pointer mix, came in with Sienna (center). Both were microchipped but the alleged owner couldn’t be reached. They’re socialized and adorable. As is Brady, a German Shepherd stray from Seagoville. 

Also in the shelter, waiting for either a human heart or a needle, are these, too. 

This little Pug/Terrier mix is Corby, also waiting in Wilmer.
That beautiful Golden/Spaniel mix is Melinda. “She was released to the shelter by someone who could just no longer care for her.”
Kimmie is a stray who has an injured eye. The bio note reads, “She desperately needs a rescue group and someone to get her to a vet immediately.” 

This last cutie is clearly an Earhound. Carissa is also described as a Chiweenie (Chihuahua/Dachshund Mix) or a “Corgi/Dachshund Mix.” We don’t know her past. And we can’t accurately assess her family tree on a Tuesday in Dallas. But we will describe her heritage as a “Chihuahuatever.” [LARRY ASIDE: I may copyright that and put it on t-shirts. Though, as I think about that word, it sounds as if it might refer to Chihuahuas who are ultra quiet and cool because they were raised by cats.]

IN A TIME OF MEDICAL MIRACLES
THIS DOG GUNNER NEEDS HELP
This is Gunner, a dog whose puppyhood and most of his life were spent with one person. At 6 years old, the dog found that his life changed because the human’s life changed -- a single mom had to work out of the home and this mean that Gunner was lonely and challenged by the situation. So Debra Myers, the noted rescuer and animal advocate, attempted to help Gunner find a new home. She found someone and, according to the note about Gunner, “it was love at first sight.” 
Then, Gunner developed odd habits -- drinking of water, going to the bathroom too much.
A visit to a vet found what is believed to be a parathyroid tumor, Debra says. “I’m trying to get going on the surgery,” she says, “But I have to make sure the donations are there. It’s heartbreaking”
 Surgery may cost as much as $3,000, Debra says. To offer to help, call Debra at 940-367-4627 or email [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS
IDLE THOUGHTS IN AN IDLE BRAIN?
Tuesday was National Lobster Day. So, the day after is a good day to campaign for the end of killing lobsters. Probably not a chance. But the horrible deaths -- my goodness, my goodness. Drop a potato into the boiling water, not a living animal.”
... So, yeah, some people will laugh at a Save the Lobsters movement. “It’s only a lobster,” they say. Yeah. Well, life, it’s precious. Enjoy some harvested fruits and vegetables. Marinate a portobello mushroom, for a change. FYI: You can Adopt-a-Lobster through the World Animal Foundation HERE. ...
... There’s a new Magnum PI on TV. A new Murphy Brown. A new Will and Grace. A new Roseanne followed by an even newer Roseanne-less Roseanne. Next thing you know, someone will remake A Star is Born. What? Oh. Sorry. Fourth time? Well, at least it’s not on TV yet. OK, how about My Mother the Car Meets Knight Rider? Or how about the story of a ice cream shop run by a deposed prince? Game of Cones? OK, I’ll stop now. Phone just rang. My agent thinks he has a deal going on my idea for a reboot of LA Law, about a burnt-out attorney who opens a vegetarian grill, LA Slaw. My apologies.
--- To offer ideas or advice, click on “comment” below or email [email protected]. ---

FROM HELPING ANIMALS TO HELPING STUDENTS, ALL IN A DAY'S TYPING

EDITION OF TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 (PetPowellPress) We’re going to have a gentle Tuesday edition. No shouting -- yes, we will not mention the Dallas Cowboys, he whisperingly wrote. 
But, raising voice slightly, he asked if anyone else thinks this quote from the English poet Sir Walter Raleigh represents the 2018 Texas Rangers? “Unless a tree has borne blossoms in spring, you will vainly look for fruit on it in autumn.” Now, today’s report:

THE DEMOLITION PROJECT
The weekend brought rain and demolition to a cat colony site that Nikki Williamson and a coalition of cat rescuers have been trying to empty of unwanted cats in a kind way.
As we reported last week, of the more than 100 cats who were living on the North Dallas property, 65 had been rescued and saved. Efforts are still underway to save the cats that are stubbornly avoiding humans.
Here’s Nikki’s report from late Sunday. “Well, wonderful day of adoption and sanctuary relocation,” she wrote, “Then I went to feed ferals at demo. Saw 6 cats/kittens hungry because all food yesterday was trashed by rain and rodents. This is our demo site now. Hopefully Itty Bitty not crushed.”

[LARRY ASIDE: Wonder if it would be beyond the intellectual heartbeat of Dallas for the city to declare that no demolition can begin until a site has been certified free of cats and dogs? Seems like that might be the kind thing to do rather than just treat animals like an annoyance to be discarded dead in pursuit of profit. Maybe the city could set up a system for clearing property before granting a permit. Please, let us know what you think by emailing [email protected]. Could be there’s already a law -- anybody know? You’d think a company would want to be known for kindness. I’m serious -- out of step with business management, but serious about putting decency ahead of profits.]
You see above a black cat still waiting at the site.
And this fab black and white cat came from the demolition site. Nikki posted her on Facebook with this note, “Meet G. Marx. Rescued last week from the demolition. She has a little boo boo on her nose but she’s a cuddle bug and needs a foster or adopter. Please help.”

To ask how to help or how to adopt or foster, call or text Nikki at 469-363-1867 or email [email protected]

WHEN THE RESCUER FACES
A MORE PERSONAL PROBLEM
We frequently mention the work that Laura Macias does with smaller shelters in the area. And, as rescuers know, we are not immune to the personal challenges that come our way with our own animals. Laura has encountered such an expensive challenge.
Laura told Readlarrypowell.com, “My Chiquita got hurt last week with a slipped disc and then it ruptured this weekend and she was paralyzed so I had to get her to a vet with a neurologist on staff to operate yesterday. I was at the vet all day Saturday. If she didn’t get her operation yesterday she might have been paralyzed beyond repair by today -- she was getting worse fast! I have no money and no way to pay for this but I had no choice!”

Her friend Carrie Moody, who also works with Laura’s shelter mission, set up a gofundme page for Chiquita. This is the LINK;
https://www.gofundme.com/help-chiquita-walk-again
Laura is, as you’d expect, upset by Chiquita’s challenge. “I hate asking for money -- I just am at my wit's end!” she said. “I love my little girl! She is my soul doggie! Love her so much! I am going to see her after work I can't wait till I can take her home.”


URGENT IN WILMER
On Monday morning, still shaken by Chiquita’s situation, Laura and Leighann Hayden posted this appeal on behalf of two dogs currently on a very short clock in the Wilmer Animal Shelter in the town on I-45 just minutes south of I-20 and Dallas. For now, Laura is continuing to press for helping the Wilmer animals (in addition to Chiquita!) -- call or text her at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected] if you can help these two dogs.

Sienna is the Catahoula mix girl who was brought in by the Dallas County Animal Control officer who covers the southern area, including the Dowdy Ferry Road animal abandonment neighborhood. Brady, that beautiful German Shepherd boy, was found in Seagoville by the officer. 
The clock is ticking on both of them.


BURNS FLAT LITTER CHALLENGE
AND SOME GOOD NEWS, TOO
See that photo of the momma and the dogs? Here’s the story from Burns Flat rescuer/advocate Terry Lynn Fisher: “A man called me concerning these babies. His aunt took in a stray dog and the dog gave birth to NINE babies. They are just at 6 weeks and the aunt is now wanting them gone. I know she is trying to give them away as well as reaching out to place with rescue. I have no place for these babies right now, so they are still with the person and with momma. If anyone has room for the babies -- to me these are considered URGENT for I know she is giving them to just whomever comes and gets them -- get in touch.” Terry Lynn’s email is [email protected].

Now the good news from Burns Flat is that the 12-year-old fence-jumping stray Bear and the little coronavirus survivor Lucky have a place to go.
Terry Lynn says that on Tuesday “I will be heading out to Santa Fe, N.M. I am taking two very special dogs to forever homes. One (Bear) will be going to a wonderful rescue where he will basically live whatever time he has left at. He will be pampered and loved and receive the medicine he needs to keep him comfortable.
“The other little one will be going to a forever home where he to, will receive the medicine he needs to make life comfortable.

“Bear and Lucky are blessed to have people that cared and helped keep them alive. I want to thank all of you for all your help with these two very lucky, special boys.

“Sadly, we still have outstanding vet bills on them and could use a little help. ... Remember, every single dollar helps with what we do..” Again, email Terry Lynn at [email protected].


A CONTEMPLATION

MEAN GREEN WANTS TO MAKE
NT DAILY & KNTU LEAN GREEN
Call this an "Opinion Piece."
This is sort of personal though my connections to the University of North Texas are in passing -- I’ve driven past it a few times -- and second-hand: I’ve worked with many fine journalists who did their newspaper studies at the Denton school. And, oh, yeah, I’ve also enjoyed listening to jazz on KNTU (88.1 FM).
 Both of those entities -- The North Texas Daily (ntdaily.com) and KNTU-FM are teaching tools. Student media. And now, those two have been told “to ‘wean off’ student fee money that supports them.” The North Texas Daily has a story HERE, And you’ll find a place to donate on that page.

[LARRY ASIDE: I got the tip on this from Dr. Tracy Everbach who teaches journalism at the university -- she’s a former reporter at The Dallas Morning News and member of our championship co-ed softball team, the Newsholes, a reference to the non-advertising space on a page. Writing, spelling, editing, driving in runs throwing to first base -- we have many skills in journalism.]
Newspapers all over the country are going through challenges -- have been since the turn of the century when they discovered print’s profits were being diverted by the internet. [LARRY ASIDE: In some cases, their own technology reporters had written the warnings for years, but, well, management rarely listens to the salaried employee. Before the arrival of computers, I worked for newspapers that should have scheduled regular bake sales to survive -- and they didn’t.] 

Students ought to be able to trust that the learning process they paid for is going to survive intact. 
Is there a journalism legacy at North Texas? Yes. It has turned out a lot of hard-working, notable, accomplished journalists -- among them my late colleague Howard Swindle, an author, an editor and a reporter. His editing led the Big Paper Downtown (when it WAS big) to three Pulitzer Prizes, as the folks at North Texas will tell you. And my dear friend, the late Terry Kelly, a dynamic editor and really smart journalist, still had North Texas ink running in his youthful veins back in 1972 when we both worked at The Fort Worth Press -- we later worked together at The DMN, too. As did another dear friend and colleague from North Texas State, Steve Blow, the famed columnist at The DMN and also an alumni of The Fort Worth Press, birthplace of writers. And, of course, my dear friend and cubiclemate (in our later years), the DMN columnist and author of many books (including a couple I edited) Bob St. John. I’m leaving out a ton of North Texas journalists. 
Dr. Everbach, the great Gayle Reeves -- reporter and editor at The DMN and Fort Worth Weekly and a teacher, too! Many more.
But this is my college dropout's pitch for supporting a good cause that turns out stars and teaches the noble profession of reporting the truth.
We need more journalists who see the mission clearly and work at it energetically and honestly. 
Freedom of the press is important to the survival of the nation -- that's why it's so important to have a school where responsible journalism is taught. Freedom of the press is vital to freedom of the individual. Ask Europeans back in the '30s and '40s. Read a history book.
[LARRY ASIDE: Help me off this soapbox before I fall over like a paperboy with bad bicycle tires and nothing left to throw. I'm an anachronism. Nobody around here uses a bike to deliver newspapers. I am so last century, he typed on his expensive desktop computer, the one the cat likes to lean against and snore though he swears it's "merely a lovely purr."
--- To offer an opinion, click on “comment” below or email [email protected] where we rarely exercise the delete button. ---

AUTUMN ARRIVES: A MONDAY REPORT

EDITION OF MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 [PetPowell Press] I guess we’ll start the week’s editions with this question: If this were your dog on the clock at a city shelter, would you race to get him and hug him and bring him back to the safety of his home?

If he's not your dog, would you race to the shelter and save his life anyway?
Seventy-two-pound Boomer, a Pittie mix, arrived as a stray in Mesquite’s shelter on September 12.

[LARRY ASIDE: Likes humans -- maybe that’s an example of poor judgment, maybe not. I’ve never met a dog I didn’t like. Humans, well, I’m not as forgiving as Will Rogers and dogs.]
OK. Consider Boomer’s need for a good human as we move into our Monday report. More on available dogs later. 


A SOCIAL NOTE ABOUT
A GREAT STEP FORWARD
As many of you know the SPCA of Texas celebrated its 80th anniversary over the weekend at the annual Fur Ball (it sold out a long time ago!)...As we were checking out social media and emails Sunday we ran across this note from the great Shelby Bobosky, president of the Texas Humane Legislation Network. It demonstrates the teamwork in animal rescue. She wrote, “In 2018, SPCA seized 600+ animals to date. It couldn’t have done it without the civil seizure law THLN passed in 2007. Tonight is for our friends who confront animal cruelty everyday. Thank you! #legilsatetochangetheirfate.”

 You can see how to help the SPCA continue its life-saving operations -- civil intake AND criminal seizure! -- by going to the spca.org. And, yes, you can help pass more laws and make existing laws stronger by going to the Texas Humane Legislation Network at THLN.org and seeing how you can become a member of the kindest legislative movement in the nation: making animals safe. Remember, this is no time to tarry. THLN is working on a deadline because the Texas Legislature, after taking a year off, is called back into session in January. [LARRY ASIDE: As the New York judge Gideon J. Tucker wrote in 1866, “No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session.” We’re kidding, of course. Just kidding. Honest.]

A FORT WORTH DOG
THAT CATCHES A HEART
Paige King, a rescuer/advocate who has seen a lot of animals go through the Fort Worth Animal Care & Control shelter, posted a video of Camille. This is a photo clipped from that video. Paige wrote, “Camille is happy to see me. Introducing my new love, Camille! 39413641 Her sad face forced me to take her out. She is so sweet and submissive. She just melted onto the ground and rolled over. She is 5 yrs old, 39 lbs, hw pos (started doxy). Owner surrender ‘escapes’ (wonder why?) She is being treated for an upper respiratory infection. She deserves so much more than she’s had! Adoptions must be done in person.” Email [email protected]
HERE’S THE VIDEO OF SWEET CAMILLE. 
Go HERE to see the waiting Fort Worth animals.


SOME MESQUITE ADOPTABLES

WHO NEED BETTER HUMANS
Well, we opened today with that photo of Boomer (39648538) the 2-year-old, 72-pound “gentle giant” of Mesquite. [LARRY ASIDE: At our house, he’s a lap dog!]

We’ll squeeze in some more today because, after all, Mesquite puts dogs on the “Code Red” list nearly every week.

Hold on -- yes, just as I was finishing off that sentence, we got a note from Mesquite shelter volunteer biographer Judi Brown that 10-year-old Chihuahua boy Squirt (39678679) has “until Tuesday at 4 o’clock” and that is “due to overcrowding” at the facility.
This 8-pound dog is neutered and, though he has cataracts, he’s only 10 and in Chihuahua years that’s barely late middle-aged.
Bonnie (39689239) is the 5-month-old Border Collie/Retriever/Pit Mix who was “surrendered because the people who found her couldn’t keep her,” reports biographer Judi. “It took me a day and a half to make friends with Bonnie, but once we bonded she stuck to me like Velcro. ... If I had to describe her in one word I would say she is JOYFUL!.” She’s spayed and weighs 25 pounds.

Dutch (39687444) is that 7-to-9-months-old Black Mouth Cur/Shepherd mix -- of course, he’s clearly an Earhound of amusing proportions. Came in as a stray on the 17th.

Judi writes that Shadow (39733847) a “2-year-old glossy black
Dachshund” was “surrendered on 9/21 because the people that found him we’re not able to keep him. You can tell by looking in his eyes that he still not sure about the shelter environment.”
Cola (39631426) is a 5-year-old Pittie mix who “was abandoned in a house when the owners just up and left --leaving her behind. This was on 9/10. Judging from the scars on her face, her sad eyes, and her too thin frame she has not had a good life so far.”
Remember, to ask about any of these animals, call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]. 
See the shelter’s adoptables by going to this LINK.  There are plenty of cats and kittens waiting for either adoption, rescue or the needle. Among this is this cat. As you can see, he’s labeled “Feral Mistletoe” which is an odd name for a cat but will be seasonal in a couple of weeks when the reindeer and the snowmen start trying to edge the jack-o-lanterns off the shelves. Besides, if you adopted Mistletoe and Squirt the Chihuahua, you’d have a good start on a Christmas display -- a cat with a seasonal name and a dog who looks like one of the 8 tiny reindeer.


A REPORT FROM BURNS FLAT,
WHERE DOGS GO TO SURVIVE
Our longtime Western Oklahoma tipster, Terry Lynn Fisher, the resilient rescuer in Burns Flat, sent a touching email on Sunday. It’s good for people to read how their donations, their prayers and their best wishes help.

Terry Lynn sent that photo of the interior of a “transit vehicle” and wrote, “Six innocent lives from three different small-town pounds are now in Colorado to start new lives.

“I cannot thank everyone enough for always helping me keep them safe then getting them to the rescues that accept them.

“I am now working on getting two special need ones to Santa Fe, N.M., on Tuesday. Then planning another Colorado trip in two weeks.

“What a blessing all of you are. I cannot thank you enough for always being here and supporting these babies.”

[LARRY ASIDE: Terry Lynn can use supplies for the Burns Flat city shelter and has plenty of other animals that need a safe route and landing place outside of the small town. Get in touch with her at [email protected].]

CONTEMPLATIONS
The Arrival of Autumn

Autumn 2018, it’s good to see you. You’re probably tired of hearing about the searing heat of July, 2018.
OK, Dear Readers, here’s the story: As is my custom, I went out into my front yard in Oak Cliff, Texas, in the southern heart of Big D, and waited out the last 5 minutes of summer so I could feel autumn arrive at 8:54 p.m. Saturday. I had the hope of a cool breeze, but at least I wasn’t standing in a downpour or leftover hot wind from July.
 A mist was falling and down the street, a guy was singing along with a karaoke machine in his garage -- some song that I didn't recognize in a language I don't speak and it might have been about autumn. It was pretty good. 
In the darkness, under clouds that obscured the sky, I think I heard leaves on my magnolia tree whispering, "Well, we made it through summer. Everybody relax.” [My limited photo skills caught the autumnal silhouette of my roses on the garage door. On the left, my front-yard pumpkin patch -- we have faith in pumpkins! Maybe not great pumpkins!]
I always miss the summer, but autumn is my favorite. I haven't checked my Lotto Texas numbers yet -- may Autumn 2018 be even better than I hoped. I’ll let you know. As I stood in the yard, protected by the magnolia, I could see a couple of our dogs looking out the living room window, big noses pressed against the glass. One, I’m told, turned to my explanatoryspouse Martha and asked, “What’s wrong with that clown? We're not rocket scientists, but we have sense enough to come in out of the rain." 

"He's poetic in autumn," she explained. "You know. Like a bad jingle for a plumbing company."
--- To praise autumn or offer an opinion, grip your SeasonalMouse and click on “comment” below or email [email protected]. ---

THE AUTUMN DOG WITH A YULETIDE TOUCH

As we enter the first weekend of Autumn, 2018 -- arrival time 8:54 p.m. Saturday in Dallas -- we feel obligated to spotlight a rescued dog in our regular, long-running Readlarrypowell.com feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.

Why?

Because she -- the wander-up dog Porche Noel -- sent this memo:

“Dear Whatever,” she begins.

“As you can see from this back-of-the-couch portrait, I am feeling a little unfocused. I believe such fuzziness is a natural response to the long, hot days of Summer 2018. I applaud the arrival of Autumn. As you may recall, I arrived in Autumn.

“When glancing through the previously undiscovered Household Handbook, I discovered that I have been accruing vacation days since my arrival in on a late Autumn morning on Dec. 15, 2009. I am going to take two days this weekend and try to refocus.

“My feeling is that all humans should follow suit and try to refocus for a couple of days. Just shut up and refocus -- in and out of Washington.

“So, nobody try to get in touch with me for two days. I’ll be on the couch, in the recliner or in a bed. And I’ll show up at meals and for treat distribution festivals. Tell the postman I’ll catch him later. 
“Sincerely, Porche Noel.”
So that’s what I got from the dog that showed up on our front porch on, yes, Dec. 15, 2009 --- on the porch at Christmas, hence Porche Noel. 
Good grief, that was nine years ago. She squeezed through the bars on the gate, scarfed down the free feral cat buffet and then was too wide to squeeze back out. It was a sign. We kept her. She has since eaten enough to permanently avoid squeezing back out of the bars!
Porche enjoys piling up on Martha for an afternoon nap now and then. No photos of Martha napping -- it was was in the prenupt. 
What you see here are photos of Porche Noel -- that transit photo is of Porche the very day we got her. She looks nothing like the current Porche -- thre's probably about 20 pounds difference.
I snapped that truck passenger photo of our sweet girl on the way to the vet’s office the very day she showed up. Skinny, limping, uncertain of life. Not very healthy. She’s healthy now -- I think love was the effective therapy. 
She looks kind of big in that photo, but she has always been shorter than a Cocker Spaniel -- thick and solid, but not really big. Unless she jumps on you when you don’t expect it. 

The other photos show Porche snoozing and at play -- let me rephrase that last part. The photo with the cat is not of Porche at play. It is a photo of Porche’s cat, Simon, at play. We all bottle-fed him out of kittenhood and he continues to grow -- not quite as big as Porche, but he’s getting there. 

Porche, who had the frantic attitude of a starving street dog when she arrived, quickly realized that she was not a street dog. She is royalty. Hail, Porche Noel.
[Please send photos of the sleeping, napping and snoozing animals you love -- the address is [email protected]. We’ll use the photos and the biographies to highlight our internationally read weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Remember, the love you show will inspire other people to take in an unwanted dog or cat. And you’ll inspire insomniacs to realize that they, too, can get some sleep if they can just find the right lumpy, tossing and turning dog to take up the middle section of the bed.]

--- Offer an opinion or appreciation or tell me how pretty my little dog Porche Noel is by clicking on “comment” below or by emailing [email protected]. ---