FOR FRIDAY'S EDITION: Animals saved; some are waiting; and we contemplate a kid's birthday

EDITION OF FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2020 [PetPowellPress] Here we are, reaching Friday -- completing an entire workweek of "shelter in place" and anxiety and disruption. In this emotionally amped-up state, trying to avoid chocolate takes up all my energy. While sheltering in place, who needs to be adding poundage in places? I sure wish Major League Baseball had opened Thursday -- just like the schedule said it would. Stadium's might have been safe -- surely no virus could afford an opening day ticket plus pay for parking. [That photo? That's my confidant, The Senator, giving a good stretch on Thursday afternoon. He's a darned good companion. Inspirational. Makes me want to learn to nap on demand and stretch like a cat.]

LET'S TALK DALLAS ANIMALS
AND THE TELE-ADOPTION DEALS

Two things. First, Dallas Animal Services has a quarterly report HERE and that's a copy of the cover. Then there's this note: Through April 3, DAS "will be doing only 'tele-adoptions.' You can now make an appointment to speak to our adoptions staff over the phone by clicking HERE.
[LARRY ASIDE: Do we not live in astounding times -- a virus moves the animal shelter even further into the 21st Century's sophisticated communications. It's like we're all stuck on HAL 9000's spaceship Discovery 1 in 2001: A Space Odyssey. We're just waiting to make human contact again -- and maybe even adopt a dog or cat while we're doing it.]
That cat? No name, but a number: ID#A1098779. This handsome fellow may be 10 years old, the DAS staff thinks. He's been at the shelter since March 17. Neutered already, he's listed as a ""black Tabby and brown Domestic Shorthair."
That girl Sapphira (A107229) is a spayed Cane Corso, the shelter says. She may be 8 years old. Came into the shelter on March 23 and as of Thursday evening was on "stray hold" with a "pre-adoption pending." Still might need an adoptor. Email DASadopt@ dallascityhall.com.

Remember this: You can click on dallasanimalservices.org and see the animals currently waiting for adoption in either the shelter or a foster home or an off-site adoption facility. As of around 3 p.m. Thursday, DAS had 181 dogs and 30 cats waiting for homes --- way, way down from pre-virus numbers. The single "other" listing was for a female Guinea Pig and she is listed as "adoption pending."
MAGNIFICENT MILLIE
GETS A BREAK!
Tami Kukla first tipped us to the case of Magnificent Millie, "The Cadbury Rabbit Dog" in Fort Worth Animal Care & Control. Millie, in the shelter for 5 months, was on the brink of a needle.
But Tami reports, Magnificent Millie has acquired a foster. And how about that!
Every now and then, a shelter dog finds a different place to shelter. (See Thursday's edition for Millie's background information.)
THE SCOOBY SITUATION
IN WOOD COUNTY, TEXAS
Oh, boy, we told you about this one earlier. Remember? Scooby was confiscated and cared for by the Wood County Sheriff's office. An attempt was made to get him back to the people who once had him, but that fell through and Scooby was given a Friday euthanasia date. 
But there's good news from Gail Whelan and CAN Adoptions. She'd been hustling up interested in this boy. Here's the story from Gail: "A wonderful young man and his girlfriend came to meet Scooby today.  He has extensive experience with Pits and is willing to see if Scooby can be adoptable.  I need to have Scooby neutered, vaccinated, and heartworm tested on Monday (and could really use financial help).  The sheriff has agreed to let him stay one more week while he recuperates from his neuter surgery.  Then the young man is going to take Scooby for TRAINING and foster him."
In her note to people who pledged on Scooby's behalf and to people who forwarded his story around the universe, Gail wrote, "I CANNOT GIVE ENOUGH THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR CARING ABOUT THIS THROW AWAY DOG OUT IN THE COUNTRY!!!!"

Gail frequently needs help getting other animals to safety. Keep her contact information handy -- she could use a "way to go" note every now and then. Call 903-967-3226 and [email protected]. She periodically runs into tough cases made tougher by don't care people.
THEN THERE'S BENNETT,
A CALM AND GENTLE YOUNGSTER
This pitch for a Mesquite Animal Services former "stray" comes from the volunteer biographer Debra Chisholm who says Bennett (44056414) is an "adorable boy" who came in as a stray on the 20th. Mixed breed fellow. Weighs 51 pounds, he's about 3 and not neutered.
 Debra writes, "This youngster is delightful--has a well-mannered, calm and gentle personality and is a sweet-natured fellow.  He knows the sit command, loves to receive treats and takes them gently.  He was interested in exploring the shelter yard and enjoyed stretching his legs during the photo shoot.  He walked nicely on a leash and when led through the bay he did not react to the other dogs who were barking at him."
 Debra says, "Please help his stay at the shelter be a short one."  [LARRY ASIDE: Look at that face! Perfect for taking in your hands and nose-nuzzling, right my fellow dogfans?] Use his ID number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS
THE TIMES, THE TWIN CITIES & THE KID
OK, I'm sick of "living in interesting times." And that reminds me of the virus and it's alleged origin. For many decades I've heard the line, "There's a Chinese curse that says 'May you live in interesting times'." But I did some research and it appears to NOT be a Chinese curse. Here's a link to The Quote Investigator. ...
I still read The Texarkana Gazette, my first newspaper, and nowadays you can get news bulletins from the paper. Late Wednesday an alert read that the mayors of the Twin Cities -- Texarkana, Texas, and Texarkana, Ark. --- had teamed to establish a "curfew affecting all citizens of both cities." They must stay in their homes from10 p.m. until 6 a.m. daily. The curfew went into effect immediately on the Texas side and the next day on the Arkansas side. Don't know if this has anything to do with that, but the Arkansas side has all the liquor stores. ...
My final contemplation for the day is a "Happy Birthday" for our eldest grandchild, the fabulously artistic Hannah Rose (yellow sunglasses in black and white pose), older sister of tennis player Emily Grace and jazz pianist Connor "Crash" Powell. On the 27th Hannah Rose turns 19, is well into her "College Era" and has a wicked sense of humor. It runs in the family. A caution for those of you who have brand new kids and grandkids, 19 years goes by in a split-second. That toddler photo was Hannah Rose about 17 years ago watching our twins -- Hannah's dad Bart and his brother Bret, known as "Uncle Buck" since she was born -- play softball.
For people who are actually 19? My advice is watch your step and pay attention to Baby Boomers' advice because we are some wise-ass people. Pardon my entirely accurate French.
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