THINGS TO CELEBRATE ON THE 17TH; ANIMALS TO HELP & PEOPLE WHO HELP 'EM

EDITION OF TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Let’s celebrate some stuff for this edition. We get the info from the online site Holiday Insights. 
September 17 is Citizenship Day. It’s also Constitution Day. Two important aspects to American existence. And, as many of you know, this also is National Apple Dumpling Day — more on that in Contemplations. Two more things this dog and I have in common: Porche and I are both from Texas and neither of us has ever had an apple dumpling. She didn’t even know they existed until I read the recipe to her — perked right up, she did. Already practicing her "lap it up" movements.
CATCHING UP WITH KITTENS
We use this kitten’s photo on Friday because he/she is one of a litter that was infected — that the right word? — with ringworm and needed out of the Carrolton Animal Services Shelter. 
Good news. Vanessa Johnson, a Senior Animal Care Specialist at the shelter, reports the whole litter was rescued. I asked if she wanted to name the rescue group so people could donate for the medical care of the kittens. Vanessa said the hero in this kitten drama is “a vet we work with. She doesn’t want to accept any donations an recommended that donations be made to the shelter to help other animals in need.” Read about Carrollton Animal Services and see how to contact the city department HERE.  See the adoptable animals HERE.
A DOG WHO NEEDS
HELP AND A HOME
The help that this dog — currently known as “The Dog” — needs is kindness and understanding.
The tip on this dog came from Karen Lee of barkleyworld.com and that led us to a mom named Marty, a veteran Dallas animal advocate, who is trying to help The Dog in Van, in East Texas. 
Marty’s son lives in Van. And The Dog “shows up at his house.” Marty says, “He’s sweet to the family but really vicious to anybody who comes up to the house.”

The first time he appeared, she says, “he had ligature marks on his neck and his teeth had been ground down. He has scars on his body — like maybe he was a bait dog.”
Her theory is that he now lives with a person who travels for stretches of time and the dog, when alone, comes to the “friendly house” to live and spend time and, especially, stand guard. When the person returns, the dog goes back home. That’s all theory but it makes sense.

He most recently made life terrifying for a UPS delivery driver. Nobody was hurt, but there were some scary moments. “What this dog needs is a good yard,” Marty says.
She’s hoping to help her son place The Dog in a responsible home with a secure yard and a securely loving human heart.
To help The Dog and The Family with a happy solution for this situation, call Marty at 459-235-7338. The note we got read, “The family doesn’t want to take him to a crummy shelter where he will obviously be euthanized.” 
And that’s why you read about him here.
LENNON: IMAGINE THERE’S
A NEW PUP, IT’S EASY IF YOU TRY…

OH, AND THERE’S QUEEN, TOO!
Our Mesquite Animal Services tipster, the volunteer biographer Judi Brown, spotted this guy Lennon, a 2-year-old Yorkie mix when he was on the rebound through the shelter. He’d come in as a stray, and, Judi writes, “It was noted that there was a possible owner, but the owner never came to reclaim. Our manager let Lennon go home with the family on a trial basis but after four hours they brought him back saying he didn’t get along with their dog. I walked him through the bay and he went nose to nose with some dogs but really wasn’t interested. He was too fixated on getting attention from me. If you’re looking for a dog to entertain you, you will want to come and meet Lennon. He is very enthusiastic, friendly, and affectionate.”
Lennon (#42657563) weighs in at 15 pounds.
To ask about him or Queen (the big dog!), call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.

Judi also tipped us to Queen’s situation. She (#42731039) is a spayed, 44-pound, 3-year-old Retriever mix surrendered to the shelter on September 13. Why? Ah, Judi reports, “Because our ordinances do not allow people to tether. The owners reported that she was an outside dog only and when not kept tied up would try to escape. She did test the borders of the shelter yard. She will need a secure fence.” 

Queen is also adept at “looking like she’s smiling.”
 She has great markings, Judi says. “On one profile she’s entirely black-and-white and on the other side she’s tricolored.  She’s very affectionate, friendly, and wants attention. She gives lots of kisses. I would suggest letting her be an inside dog at least a major part of the time as she does want to be around her people. The previous owners stated that she was raised with other dogs and small children. When I walked her through the bay she did not show any aggression but she was not interested in meeting the other dogs.”
Again, for either of these dogs, the shelter contact points are 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
HOW ABOUT THIS BEAUTY!
Barkleyworld.com's Karen Lee also tipped us to this magnificently-coated baby. 
Felisha Thompson is trying to find some help for the dog. She says the family took this stray female in “about two weeks ago. We had her scanned for a chip, posted up pictures and even asked around and unfortunately we had have no luck.”

Don’t let the photo fool you. Felisha says the dog is “32 pounds of energy and love. She is super sweet, great with our kids and our two other dogs (which they are not too excited about her — lol). Unfortunately, we cannot continue to keep her. One of our dogs is in the process of heartworm treatments and our other one is old and grumpy lol.
"We refuse to take her to a shelter; we are looking for a rescue to take her in.”

If you have a place in your home, heart or rescue group, email Felisha at felishathompson86@gmail.com.
CONTEMPLATIONS
BIG BOOTS, APPLE DUMPLINGS & WHO YOU KNOW…..
The newly created boots are ready for Big Tex and on Friday, the State Fair of Texas crane will place the 55-foot-tall midway cowboy onto the slight hill in Big Tex Circle at Fair Park. It’s his 67th year at the Fair. There are people who went to the State Fair BEFORE Big Texas was there. Heck, they even made movies at the Fair before Big Tex was there — I cite the 1936 film, The Big Show, starring Tioga, Texas, native Gene Autry, the singing cowboy, and made during the celebration of the Texas Centennial. Between now and opening day of the 2019 Fair (Sept. 27-Oct. 20), some broadcast or print reporter will gleefully tell you that Big Tex got his start in the early 1950s as Santa Claus in downtown Kerens, Texas. I must have written about that a dozen times in my career a columnist at The Big Paper Downtown. That photo is ol’ Big in the 1962 Pat Boone/Ann-Margret/Bobby Darin film State Fair… Back to our opening paragraph about Citizenship Day, Constitution Day and National Apple Dumpling Day. We could find no historical note about the declaration of Apple Dumpling Day. You’ve had an apple dumpling, right? Me, neither. Being from the Poverty Belt of Northeast Texas, we had peach cobbler, blackberry cobbler, dewberry cobbler and, sometimes, apple cobbler. Cobbler would feed a family of five with guests — the more guests, the smaller the portion. Entertaining conversation always overcomes cobbler deprivation bitterness. I’m almost certain one of my little brothers may have begun “saying grace” with “Lord, forgive these people for showing up and sharing our cobbler.” I’m kidding. … I opened my email inbox this morning and saw this subject line: “LARRY Do you know Martha Powell? It’s not what you now, it’s who you know.” Oh, lord, I thought, she’s running for office! But, no, it was a promotional note from Linked-In. I didn’t bother to respond. I just went back to Google and searched for “Texas Apple Dumpling recipe.”  Didn't find one -- and I don’t know if you'd cover it with salsa or tomatillo sauce.
—- Offer opinions or recipes by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-