BABIES; THE PASSING OF THE FAMOUS MEL; CONTEMPLATIONS

EDITION OF FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Let’s get right into the Friday report. I’m not in the mood to try to come up with a clever opening paragraph. Heat stifles a clever mind — I don’t have a clever mind, but I am stifled anyway. We'll open with one of my favorite topics: “Bottle Baby.”
 That’s not a bottle baby, that’s one of six — wait, EIGHT, not six — little shepherd mixes who were surrendered to the Fort Worth Animal Care & Control Shelter Friday evening -- timing: Clear the Shelters is Saturday.
Ginger Leach of Fort Worth's AC&C reports that the puppies "have hair loss and are covered in fleas. One is possibly blind/deaf.” Tag these babies for rescue by emailing [email protected]. Keep that address in mind as we address this Bottle Baby — we were double-checking the Bottle Baby when we saw the puppies.
COWTOWN BOTTLE BABY
Something about this kitten’s face grabbed me. And the fact that she was on her own at such an early age. 
The appeal for rescue for Jenny (42482280) came from Ginger. She wrote, “This sweet little 2-3 weeks old nugget was found out in the big city of Fort Worth ALL ALONE!! She needs a rescue/foster to step up and help her get her life off to a much better start.” 
[LARRY ASIDE: As I’ve written many times, it’s the faces. Like that one of the puppy and the face on this little solo kitten taking what may be her first car ride — though you never know. Some jerk may have driven to a different neighborhood to dump her.]
To ask about becoming the person or the rescue group who makes a big difference in Baby’s life, email [email protected]. Remember, FW’s rule is email only in thee matters. The Fort Worth Animal Care and Control/Chuck Silcox Adoption Center is at 4900 Martin St. in eastern Fort Worth. [LARRY FYI: If you’re in Dallas, it’s OK to go to Fort Worth. The roads are paved and you don’t have to wear boots.]
A NOTE ABOUT MEL, A DOG
WITH A TRIUMPHANT LIFE
This is a mugshot of Mel, the canine companion of broadcaster/ podcaster/ animal protector Richard Hunter, formerly of Dallas radio. Before Richard acquired Mel, Mel had been rescued from a hellish fix. He was a captive in then-NFL Quarterback Michael Vick’s dogfighting ring, Bad Newz Kennels.
Vick — the courtroom testimony was hideous — went to prison; Mel went to Best Friends Animal Society, then to a good and loving home.
And, now, Mel has gone on. The story of his passing is told by Richard in a post on the Best Friends Animal Society page. HERE. 

In his heartfelt account of the passing of Mel earlier this week, Richard wrote: “When that criminal enterprise was busted, and when very few were willing to come to the rescue of the dogs, Best Friends stepped up and launched what would become one of the greatest reclamation success stories in the history of animal rescue.

“Adopted out to loving families around the country, Mel became just one of many examples of a horrifically abused animal that became a loving family pet.”

He closed with this: “Mel was so loved, and he will be missed more than we can really say, but we’re taking that love and carrying it on to another homeless pet, and another, and then another still. Join us, and let’s save them all. We love you, Mel!”
CONTEMPLATIONS
FAIR FOOD, SPARKLING NAILS AND WENDY
Where’s the stick? As you may have seen on TV, heard on the radio or read in a newspaper, the State Fair of Texas’ 15th Annual Big Tex Choice Awards picked its semifinalists earlier this week — and of all the savory and sweet semifinalists, there not one of ‘em that is “deep-fried on a stick. The closest to being on a stick may be Ruth Hauntz’s “Ruth’s Stuffed Fried Mexi-Cone” — at least you hold it with one hand and you don’t need a spork. See all the semifinalists’ photos HERE. And you can buy tickets for the championship judging at 2 p.m. Sunday, August 25, in the Tower Building at Fair Park. Tickets are $125 [proceeds go to scholarships] at BigTex.com/tickets. Watching this competition may be the closest you get to seeing a World Series or a Super Bowl involving local competitors this “season.”
I like a little dazzle when I stop by the vet’s office to pick up medicine for Texas Earl The Cheeseman, our family Rottweiler (free Kiest Park dog, you know). As I was being handed the meds I was enchanted by these nails. The shade of red is wonderful and it’s splendidly accented by some sparkling bling. This staffer, I’m betting, has the attention of any cat who catches the sparkle. …
Thursday night I was having a nice snack of Morningstar Farms faux chicken nuggets and I shared them with our dog Wendy. She loved the soy-based product and I said to Martha, “Did you know Wendy is a vegetarian?” and Martha, looking up from the book she was reading, replied, “No. She’s not. She’s an ‘eataterian.’ She’ll eat anything.” Wendy does like the jalapenos-style Fritos. I have no other product names to mention in this edition. Much to Wendy’s chagrin. Wendy the Dog’s chagrin — not the restaurant Wendy’s. [That’s Wendy and me, two pals with similar tastes. She was a free Dallas dog, too.]
—— Offer chip advice and opinions by clicking on ‘comment’ below or email a bag of Cybertos to [email protected]. The low-cal, low-salt variety, please. —-