ROCKET'S WAIT; TWO BONDED DOGS READY; CONTEMPLATIONS OF THINGS

EDITION OF FRIDAY, AUG. 23, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Here we are at the penultimate Friday in August, 2019. How many of us were surprised to find that the weather was hot in North Texas in August? Yeah, me, neither. More in Contemplations.
A DOG NAMED ROCKET…
I’m plucking this one off Facebook. Early Thursday morning I saw Janie Nelson’s post about Rocket, a dog waiting in Arlington Animal Services.
While many animal services were participating in Clear the Shelters last weekend in Arlington had declared Responsible Pet Ownership Day and, rather than free adoptions, was helping animals find new homes for $25.
But, as Janie wrote, “Not ONE person asked to meet Rocket on Responsible Pet Ownership Day. He was on his BEST behavior; ready to show off the good boy he can be. But no one even gave him the chance to try.
Instead, Rocket watched 33 dogs get adopted, while he sat in his kennel alone and forgotten. We haven’t forgotten you, Rocket! Your people are out there!!!”

And she added, “This rambunctious guy has plenty of energy and could use some training. But the Rocket we’ve gotten to know lets us come into his kennel for hugs, kisses and cuddles.”

The 1-and-a-half-year-old, 64-pound Pittie mix was surrendered to the Arlington shelter on July 2. Janie wrote that he “has been at the shelter longer than *any other dog*! His time is running out, so let’s get him safe QUICK!”

As Thursday headed toward the evening hours, Janie posted a very simple but emotionally uplifting message: “ADOPTED!! THANK YOU VILLAGE.”
So, in case you missed out on Rocket, we went onto the Arlington Animal Services site and found the distinct face of Husky/Shepherd mix Summer (42495848), 7 months old and ready for new home.
What? You want a cat? Here’s Maggie (42310122) in two poses. She’s spayed. She’s small. She’s a year-and-a-half old. 
And she’s also in Arlington’s shelter at 1000 SE Green Oaks Blvd, south of I-20 just west of the intersection of South Collins and Green Oaks. Call the shelter at 817-459-5898. Visit the website at www.arlingtontx.gov/animals. Email [email protected].
AT OPERATION KINDNESS,
SENIOR DOGS ARE POPULAR
Earlier this week we wrote about Operation Kindness honoring National Senior Citizen Day on the 21st by running an adoption special for senior dogs in the no-kill shelter in Carrollton. And, before we could even get the story into cyberprint, people were adopting the senior dogs identified as “available” by Operation Kindness.
So, the latest development showed up on OK’s Facebook page Thursday. It read, “All of our senior dogs found a forever home this weekend, except for Sophie and Shamus. Ten-year-old Sophie and 11-year-old Shamus have been together since they were just pups, so they are searching for a special home where they can stay together! Plus, their adoption fees have been waived!”
Stop by the shelter at 3201 Earhart Drive in Carrollton and ask about meeting these two bonded dogs.
OK’s report read, “Sophie and Shamus are the epitome of the saying ‘the whiter the muzzle, the sweeter the soul.’ We asked our staff what their favorite things about these two are, and here's what they had to say:
“-They love to share their snacks with each other!"
“-Shamus will talk to you, while Sophie will quietly wag her tail in agreement."
“-If they weren't dogs, Sophie would be an angel and Shamus would be a handsome gent who wears hand-knit sweaters and enjoys mingling with friends at a small pub in Ireland.”

I’ll stop there except to report that shelter personnel say Shamus always look after his “sweet and shy” sister. They’re both easy-going.
Oh, and “they both love treats!”
MEANWHILE IN BURNS FLAT
Earlier in the week we posted a note about the needs of the animal shelter in Burns Flat, Okla. And we’ve gotten a note from the resilient rescuer and shelter tender in Burns Flat, Terry Lynn Fisher. She wrote, “A very kind lady made this Amazon Wish List for our pound needs. Please share and if anyone can help, we are always in need of things. I appreciate all of you so much.” Here is that LINK to the Burns Flat Amazon Wish List.
CONTEMPLATIONS
AIR-CONDITIONING, HOT DOGS & BLOCKBUSTER
You see the story about the a/c being fouled up at Medrano Middle School in Dallas? I read the report in The Big Paper Downtown and was disappointed that no kid was quoted as saying, “This must have been what schoolkids felt like in Texarkana in the 1950s.” Notebook paper stuck to your sweaty arms. Sweat stung your eyes during pop quizzes. The classroom sounded like a roomful over overheated pugs trying to catch their breath. I may have exaggerated that last one. Still, I can’t help but think that if I’d gone to air-conditioned schools, I’d have earned a scholarship to Harvard or Yale or Texarkana Junior College. It was too hot to think early each school year and that got me out of the habit for both semesters … Our dogs are going to be happy when autumn arrives. Every one of them was an outdoor dog when we rescued ‘em and nowadays the weather has to be perfect or they’ll complain. Happiest place on our property? Living room near the a/c vents and the TV remote. … This week I lost track of the calendar. I’ve been cleaning out my office and discovered many cards and letters from the early part of this century — you know, back when people would send handwritten notes instead of hand-typed emails. One of the things I found was a never-used gift card sent to me after I made a speech about newpapering and animals to a local rescue organization. It was from around 2001 or 2002 and it was for something like $25 at Blockbuster. Kids, have your grandparents explain the glory of Blockbuster.
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