THE STATE FAIR OPENS; DOGS AND CATS STILL NEED HOMES! THE DALLAS BONEHEADS AT 100?

EDITION OF FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 [PetPowellPress] Oh, my, Friday is opening day for The Great State Fair of Texas. Got an anecdote for that. It’ll be in Contemplations. 
First, though, believe it or not, during the first 4 days of the week, the good-hearted humans of our vibrant region were unable to help all the animals that found themselves needing a helpful human.
And we’ll get to this Mesquite-surrendered Cocker named Brandy later in today’s edition. Geez. Double-geez. Read on.
[LARRY ASIDE: Why is it that all animal problems can’t be easily solve? Because it takes a village to offset the village idiots. The sprawling village of Dallas/Fort Worth has an oversupply of “Don’t Care/So What?” chuckleheads, knuckleheads and doofusses. I leave anybody out — other than the “just plain mean”?]
A LOOK BACK AT A DOG
THOUGHT TO BE PREGNANT
We frequently write about the Lancaster Animal Shelter’s population of un-viewed animals. That’s thanks to the diligent work of small-shelter supporters Laura Macias and Leighann Hayden.
This week we got a whole new list of dogs and cats in need of help in Lancaster. Missing from the list, however, was a previously featured dog, this girl Princess.
We’d been noting her situation for several weeks. She was thought to be pregnant. Princess arrived microchipped — she’s a “short and chunky—super cute” Lab/Bulldog mix, the note from Laura and Leighann said.
The original note read, “She is an abso- lutely won- der- ful dog - just as sweet as can be. Owner was located but never came in for her….”

When she didn’t show up on the latest Lancaster appeal, we checked with Laura to get the story. She has an answer that calls for someone special to step up for Princess. Laura reports, “She is not pregnant and she needs HW treatment so she is still at the shelter as I have nowhere to put her to get that done. A rescue in Connecticut wants her but she needs to go through HW treatment first. I am just out of room to put her. Too many animals.”

So, someone who can save Princess’ life, get in touch with Laura. Call or text her at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com. What? That cat? Has nothing to do with Princess except that Laura says the “little tuxedo girl” is in Cage #4.
She’s sweet and loves being held. And, while her supporters think her eyes look sad, we’re going to focus on her facial markings — that looks like a white heart decorating the right side of her little muzzle. Get in touch with Laura to adopt or rescue her.
ONE MORE LANCASTER SITUATION

This one isn’t in a shelter yet, but she is in a “roaming the neighborhood” state in Lancaster. On Thursday morning I spoke to one of the people “watching over her” for now. I’d learned about her from Laura whose note said this dog’s name for now is Heather, based on “her beautiful heather gray coat.” She’s in Lancaster — not in the shelter, but the ambition is to avoid the shelter for Heather. 
She is either lost or was dumped “by someone in an area that the ACOs do not normally pick up from,” Laura’s note explained.
Heather wandered up to a home that has a kiddie pool and that’s how this video came to be. Click HERE.
 Laura says, “The lady whose kiddie dog pool this is that the dog got in says this dog comes up and is clearly homeless. She adores children and other dogs.”

Then Laura adds, “I know this is probably the impossible quest, but this dog is going to die out here not belonging to anyone. This reminds me of the dog that was found out by the Lancaster Shelter and later died — was in such terrible shape. Please, please, do not let this happen to her. She still looks healthy at this point.”

The number to call to offer to save Heather’s life is 214-245-7825. You’ll reach a home, not an organization. [LARRY ASIDE: I called Thursday morning to make sure the dog was still there and needing a home. A really nice person spoke sweetly on behalf of the dog.]
DENTON HAS AN EARHOUND
AND A LITTLE GUY IN NEED
Here are two very different pups from the Denton McNatt Animal Shelter and Adoption Center.

[FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE: Our tipster on these two dogs, Amy Poskey, who monitors tough animal situations at Denton's McNatt Shelter, sent this note: "I’m very happy to report that Pug Rescue of Austin will be pulling our little Cinco! THANK YOU!!!  However, our sweet puppy boy, Lucky, hasn’t been so lucky, yet, so please consider giving this cutie pie a place to call home!" Here's the rest of the original appeal.]
The Earhound is Lucky (83906), a 3-month old Cattle Dog/Heeler mix who, according to the note from our longtime tipster Amy Poskey, ‘is the most adorable, smart, playful pup around.’ In foster care the “smart boy learned sit, shake, down spin and roll over very quickly! He is a high-energy pup….” Might need some land for romping, she says. also, “he has a lot of Heeler traits and will nip when frustrated or over stimulated.” Healthy, crate-trained, sleeps through the night. Loves toys.
And that brings us to Cinco, anywhere from 2 to 5 years old and a Chihuahua/Boston Terrier/Pug mix. Weighs 10.38 pounds — how’s that for precision at the Denton McNatt shelter? “Cinco was brought to the shelter after being abandoned by his owners,” Amy’s note reads. “They left him with some friends and never returned.” Here’s the rub: “Sadly, this sweet boy is needing femoral head ostectomy surgery. His x-rays revealed a left femur crack at the hip joint.”
So, rescues lining up? Adoptors with extra pocket change?
Offer to help either or both of these pups by calling the shelter at 940-349-7594 or by emailing gayla.nelsen@cityofdenton.com, Randi.Weinberg@cityofdenton.com, and/or julien.peralta@cityofdenton.com.
A COCKER IS A VICTIM OF FATE
AND SO IS A CHIHUAHUA —BOTH 13
Our Mesquite Animal Shelter tipster Judi Brown sent a note about Brandy, a 13-year-old, 22-pound Cocker Spaniel who was surrendered on 9/24 after her human died. “She looks angry and sad and who can blame her?” Judi asked. Brandy "looks angry and sad and who can blame her?" Jufi wrote. "When I interacted with her she wasn’t very interested in socializing but instead wanted to explore the volunteer room. However, when I took her back into her kennel after the photo shoot she warmed up and snuggled up next to me. The relatives that surrendered Brandy said that she was an indoor dog and her favorite activity is sleeping! They also said they thought she might be losing some hearing. … She has an infection in her right eye and may be developing cataracts. However she does get around well. She has a large fatty growth on her chest that doesn’t seem to hurt her when touched.” And she probably has a broken heart. Call the shelter at 972–216–6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
And there’s also this 13-year-old Chihuahua Mindy (#42816740) who was surrendered “because she was too old and they couldn’t take care of her,” Judi wrote, then continued, “From my point of view, all she would need was a little bit of food, love and a soft blanket or lap.” 
Mindy weighs 5 pounds. Just 5. The family had her for 3 years. 
Judi reports, “The mark beneath her eye is a scab. She’s a sweet little thing that’s receptive to being picked up and appears to love laps. She’s very gentle and calm. Her previous owners stated that she was an indoor dog only and that she lived with children. … When I took her through the bay she did go nose to nose with several smaller dogs. [The surrendering humans] also said she likes to go for walks. She did walk really well on a leash although she walked very slowly. That could be because of her long nails.”
May have cataracts, needs some dental work. And, Judi writes, “I can’t say enough about how sweet she is.”
Again, how do we ask the shelter about these dogs? Call the shelter at 972–216–6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
CONTEMPLATIONS
THE GREAT STATE FAIR OF TEXAS
Yep, it’s opening day at the State Fair of Texas — not the Texas State Fair, though some people shorten it like that before they learn to pull on their boots like a native-born child of the Lone Star State. Here’s the bigtex.com report on the open-to-the public event: “The Opening Day Ceremony” at Fair Park.  It reads: “The Opening Day Ceremony is a State Fair tradition that celebrates the first day of the annual event on the Hall of State Steps. Held at 7 p.m., the ceremony includes special appearances, the presentation of awards, a performance by the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, Kilgore Rangerettes and more. Join us as we officially begin the celebration of all things Texan.” [LARRY ASIDE: Am I wrong, or is it a state law that you can’t open any important event without an appearance by the Kilgore Rangerettes? I found that photo on Pinterest and couldn’t find a date or photo credit — but I’m betting it’s by one of the hustling photographers at The Dallas Morning News. Has that “Big Tex” look. ] … While perusing the bigtex.com site, I spotted the Fair’s “Mission Statement.” It reads, “Never mention ‘calories’ near the concession stands’.” I’m kidding. Here’s the State Fair Mission Statement: “The State Fair of Texas celebrates all things Texan by promoting agriculture, education, and community involvement through quality entertainment in a family-friendly environment.” … OUR OPENING DAY RECOLLECTION: Several years ago I encountered a Dallas organization called The Bonehead Club of Dallas. It had been around since 1919 and, may be celebrating its 100th anniversary even as we speak, but I haven’t seen hide nor hair of a Dallas Bonehead in a decade. Maybe they’ll show up at the State Fair Friday. Their hijinks used to get a lot of newspaper attention back in the middle of the 20th Century — you know, back when not everybody you ran into was some kind of comedian. The Boneheads would show up at the State Fair on opening day each year for a very special ceremony. They conducted the closing of the previous year’s fair. One of the Boneheads once told me, “Our theory is you can’t have an opening for something that’s never been closed.” And, yes, I’m glad the State Fair of Texas is still going strong since that first exposition in 1886. Before radio and TV and Big Tex — that’s the debut version of Big Tex, 1952, on a tile we bought in 2019 in Oak Cliff. The enduring State Fair and its Midway Cowboy. Have a great fair.
—- Offer opinions or explanations or Dallas Bonehead whereabouts by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —