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A MONDAY ASSORTMENT ON BEHALF OF ANIMALS AND HUMANS...

EDITION OF MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020 [PetPowellPress] On this first day of June, 2020, I am sad for what I witnessed in May. Got to be better days ahead. Now, let’s move to our mission for the day: Bringing attention to the animals that need loving humans. Do good. Reject bad.
[LARRY ASIDE: As I watched the news Sunday evening, I saw some guy running in the protest on a bridge in Minneapolis with what may have been his dog on a leash — could have been somebody else’s dog — who knows? Look, I’m for free speech and the right for peaceful assembly more than most people (my writing life has always depended on freedom of expression). But, seriously, how big a brain do you need to know you shouldn’t take a big puzzled dog to a potential riot? Idiot. Help me off this soap box before I start singing Give Peace A Chance.]
A CIRCULAR CLOWDER
We’d never have seen this if our pal Andy Allen hadn’t posted the photo via Facebook. She’s a cat fan and has experience in rescue, fostering and serving on the City of Dallas Animal Shelter Commission. And as people who keep up with animal-related definitions might know, it takes 5 cats to make a clowder.
There are 5 kittens in this clowder. 
In the midst of the violent and unpleasant weekend, Andy posted this photo with the sentiment from the legendary Monty Python Flying Circus: “And now for something completely different.”
A circle of kittens, that’s completely different from the rest of the weekend.
And, Andy says, “These little guys are almost ready for adoption!”
 They’re in the care of Maricats, a feline rescue group headquartered in Haltom City on the northeast side of Fort Worth. See how to adopt by going to maricats.com  or go to Facebook HERE.
THIS BOY NEEDS A RESCUE

I hope his rescue has already been accomplished by the time you read this, but it was a busy weekend for people who were either still sheltering in place or following the public rules of social distancing in partially open restaurants. [LARRY ASIDE: Some may have been busy committing mayhem under the guise of seeking justice, but we’re not sure they have time or inclination to read about the do-good act of saving animals.]

The note about River the Rottie came from the Fort Worth Animal Care and Control Placement Network HERE.
River (#44372987) is a 9-month-old Rottweiler who, according to the post on that page, has a broken leg and “can be grouchy when being picked up” but that is blamed on the pain. “Otherwise, he has been sweet,” the post reads.

He’s under veterinary care and the prediction is “he should be able to heal with bandaging alone and pain medication.” In other words, no surgery. 
He is available to rescue only at Fort Worth Animal Care and Control. To tag River, email [email protected].
[LARRY ASIDE: I have lived with a Rottweiler for more than a decade. The challenge has been walking past Texas Earl The Cheeseman without falling to my knees to hug his neck, kiss his big ol’ mug, pet him vigorously and tell him I love him madly. Why does this matter? Because sometimes I’m rushing from my computer to the men’s room and any delay could be unfortunate. Earl understands and I always catch him on the return trip.]
A SUDDEN WEALTH
OF GERMAN SHEPHERD MIXES…
Our pal Karen Lee of barkleyworld.com tipped us to this collection of dogs in the Mesquite Animal Shelter. We frequently write about Mesquite because, even in the time of the virus, that shelter has been hustling to save animals via staffers and volunteers. 
In this case, Karen forwarded a note from Danni Alcantara, the Mesquite Animal Shelter & Rescue Supervisor, about a boatload of German Shepherd Dog types waiting for rescue.
The first three photos are of A44385680 (left) – stray hold until 6/2 German 
Shepherd Dog mix about 3; (center) A44336234 (Emma) Stray GSD mix, spayed, 40 pounds, about 7 months old; (right) A443757566 Malia, Stray GSD mix, year-old, female, 45 pounds, fully vetted.
This second row is composed of A44362864 (Kymjo) Left: Stray Shep mix about ; spayed; weighs 84 pounds; A443939 (center) Stray GSD female, about 2, weighs 3 pounds; A44336948 (Tracy( GSD female, about 6, has some joint issues.
And, the last two are A37918047 (left) Buddy, GSD male, about 6; owner surrender. Buddy is described as “partner in crime” with Fat Girl (437918001, GSD female, about 6.
You know the drill on how to reach the Mesquite Animal Shelter to tag, adopt or otherwise help the animals. Email [email protected].

 In case you are too late to adopt one or more of these dogs, there are plenty more at the Mesquite Shelter and you can see them online HERE.
One of the non-German Shepherd dogs is named either for a beer, a celestial glow or a virus: That is 44385415, AKA Corona, a 6-year-old female Chihuahua who came into the shelter on the 26th of May and needs a home ASAP. Why ASAP? Because every dog needs a home ASAP. Just like all cats, and speaking of cats, there’s one of the older ones in the shelter — many are just kittens.
This girl is Silver, about a year-and-a-half old and a resident of the shelter since May 22. She’s #44363413 in the Cat Room.
CONTEMPLATIONS
CONSIDERING THE FACETS OF HUMANITY

We have two Contemplations for this edition. One has to do with human reaction to the loving soul of animals. The other has to do with the loving soul of a human who is puzzled by the actions of other humans. 

ITEM 1: VIOLET
You may remember seeing this photo in May of 2017 — I remembered it. I’m prone to recalling beautiful moments. This came from our Houston tipster Alexandra Kelsey who knew this dog Violet. AK says, “Violet was amazing.  I loved her after a few minutes of having her in my car.
 Here’s the story of 'Remembering a BARC Star, Violet — May 29, 2017.' ”
BARC is Houston’s animal control.
 AK wrote, “Shelter dogs touch our hearts, but Violet was a stand-out, a real star among dogs.  She touched the lives of all who met her, and her journey here was much too short. 

“Violet was a stray dog in the Third Ward who ended up at BARC in December 2016.  She was around 10 when she went to the shelter, where she was tagged by Sharon Rode and Save Our Strays.  The next part of her life, after going to Charles to be fostered, packed in the kind of love she should have had for the prior 10 years.

“On December 31, 2016, Steve Halpert [of Friends of BARC] wrote that Jason Leavitt, a long-time Friends of BARC board member, said that in his 10 years of going to BARC, no dog had affected him as Violet did. That’s an amazing comment….and Violet really was that wonderful.  I had the privilege of a brief meeting when I gave her a ride to Charles, her foster dad, and I was captivated.

“Charles loved Violet dearly, and he did so many great things with her, including trips to the beach and participating in the Humane Society Fun Run (a trip which, thanks to a detour for treats for Violet, resulted in the serendipitous meeting of a stray dog who now has an amazing home). On May 29, 2017, Violet’s wonderful life ended due to a sudden medical issue.  

“Yet, she lives on as an inspiration to Charles’ rescue work.  Charles said about Violet, ‘All of my rescue work for the rest of my life will be part of her legacy. Her death has to mean more than just a homeless dog that passed my way for a brief time.  I want every dog that comes my way to live the life she should have.”

Alexandra writes, “I know many people have forgotten her story. But the ones who met her will never forget.”[LARRY ASIDE:In these odd times, we humans should all hope we live such a life that others benefit from the goodness we can display. This gives us a perfect segue to the next item.]
ITEM 2: THE CHALLENGES OF OUR TIMES
For this, we turn to Stephen Foster, president and founder of DFW’s Furgotten Friends. Many times we’ve written about the rescue work he does, the challenges faced by being a dedicated rescuer. And, over the weekend, on his Facebook page, he posted this heartfelt message that may touch some of the things many of us have contemplated. Here’s what Stephen wrote:

“I can't use the words ‘I know how you feel’ because I've never been pulled out of my car and thrown to the ground and had a cop kneel on my neck, or had a white woman feel threatened by me and call the police simply because of my color, or been stopped by the police for nothing because of my color, but, I can be angry when I see it happen to others.

“How do we fix the racism in this country? How do we unite as a human race to ensure that all humans get the same respect and treatment regardless of color, sex, religion or sexual orientation? 
“How do we change the mindset of those that look at others as subhuman? How do we make sure those who are hired to protect us don't have that very mindset?

“My wife and I hurt in our hearts for the families of everyone who's been subjected to the hate and mistreatment. We especially hurt for those who have lost a loved one due to this insanity. How do we make it stop!!!”

[LARRY ASIDE: Thank you, Stephen Foster, for demonstrating how a sensitive heart reacts to all we’ve seen lately. The fact that good hearts such as yours are concerned about helping people is inspiring. We have to remember that we have a compassionate side and we know how to behave for the good of others. And I have to stop thinking things such as “I’m beginning to understand why God sent The Great Flood.” I’m going to close with one of my favorite quotes from an American/global hero, Dr. Martin Luther King. “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”]
So, Contemplations are in order for our behavior around animals and our behavior around fellow residents of our cities, states and the nation on this planet. 
And what if you’re an American astronaut, freshly arrived on the International Space Station when you can see civilization’s devolution in your own nation— are you starting to think, “Maybe I’ll give it a few months before I ask for that return ticket. Let things settle down.”  God bless America. Quickly.
—— Offer solutions or hope by clicking on ‘comments’ below or emailing [email protected]. —

TWO PALS IN A SLUMBERING MOOD

You've heard of "chain smoking" and "chain reaction"? How about some "Chain Snoozing"? Here's Exhibit 1.


 

 

 

 

 

Our featured friends in the spotlight for Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap are Apprentice Office Cat Stevie Ray and his pal, my personal comfort canine, the adorable Porche Noel. I was in my office typing madly -- coulda been a letter, mighta been my next novel, Mad Cat With a Chainsaw -- when I turned and saw Porche overflowing her cat bed and Stevie Ray, an actual cat, stretched out to his impressive 9-month-old length and napping while holding onto his pal Porche's tail. [That's the close-up]
In the second "stretch" photo you see Stevie Ray beginning to stir slightly and Porche continuing to relax. Porche prefers to continue to relax in virtually every circumstance except meal time.
And in the third photo, you can see that Stevie Ray has decided to bite down on Porche's tail and Porche has awakened. Relax. It was a love bite from Stevie Ray and Porche didn't even jump up and whirl to teach the kitten a snarling lesson. Of course, it would take more than a cat's love bite to get Porche in the mood to jump up from her afternoon nap.
Yes, these two critters are beloved. And, so you can see their faces, I've included these photos.

On the left, you see Stevie Ray learning how to edit. He jumped from the floor onto the back of my office chair, eased down between my shoulders and the back of the chair and began to purr and study as I struggled to focus the camera for a selfie.
On the right you see Porche Noel smiling. She's on her back and happy because her pal, my magictouchspouse Martha, was delivering a tummy rub to the formerly starving Dallas street dog -- found on our front porch at Christmas, hence, "Porche Noel."

Stevie Ray? I pulled him off the quivering, low-hanging limb of a mimosa tree in our front yard in Dallas' Oak Cliff neighborhood when he was maybe 5 or 6 weeks old. Hence, he's named for Stevie Ray Vaughan, the fabulous musician, and, since I pulled him and his big meow off of a limb, he's officially Stevie Ray Treeboy. 

[DEAR READERS, We love animals at readlarrypowell.com and we especially love to demonstrate how much a critter can add to a human life. That can be when you're sheltering in cat 'n' dog place or spending the day at work where it feels strange not to have a cat on your desk or a dog snoozing at your side. Send photos and bios of your adorables to [email protected] and readlarrypowell.com will feature them in our weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. You'll be setting the example for people thinking about having a darling critter around the house. And you'll be showing insomniacs that they, too, can get some sleep if they'll figure out a way to get a cat to chainsnooze at their toes without nibbling them.]

--- Offer advice or understanding of dogs and cats by clicking on 'comments' below or emailing [email protected]. ---

RUGER ON THE ROAD, BOOMER'S RESCUE; AND WILL PATIENCE AND LOVE WORK??

EDITION OF FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 [PetPowellPress] In a nation that is awash in lousy news, we need some good stories. We’ll even have a positive Contemplation in this edition. And, you know, these happy stories will be triumphs that involve animals AND humans. Ah, Friday. Gateway to the weekend.
RUGER TAKES A RIDE:
HIS 
ROAD-TO-HAPPINESS PICTURE
More than a month ago this blue-eyed Boxer mix — more Boxer than anything else, maybe — showed up on a woman’s front porch in East Texas. You may recall the story— we published it back then, thanks to Gail Whelan of the Companion Animal Network. He’s about a year old, weighs around 75 pounds and was in a fix for finding a home.

On Thursday, Gail sent a note that reads, “I thought you'd like to know Ruger went to Denver to Ho-Bo Care Boxer Rescue yesterday.  Here is his ‘freedom ride’ picture from when he got there.” Read about this Colorado Boxer rescue at hobocare.org. And "Ho-Bo" is short for "Homeless Boxer." I checked with the non-profit!
[LARRY ASIDE: That photo of Ruger gnawing on a toy was the first one we published of the big rascal. And the third photo is my favorite photograph of a dog I’ve never met: That is fun-loving Ruger romping with his pretty blue eyes before anybody had figured out how he was going to be saved. Gail, a veteran at saving and placing the dumped, ignored and neglected had confidence that somewhere there was someone who’d be willing to get him off the “unwanted” list. If you want to help Gail with the problem of dumped and free-roaming animals, contact Companion Animal Network by dialing 903-967-3226 or email [email protected].]
MEANWHILE, A LOOK
AT SAGINAW’S ADORABLES
Rescuer/advocate Tami Kukla has been focusing on the small Saginaw Animal Shelter on the north side of Fort Worth lately. Earlier in the week we featured Niall, a fellow still awaiting a rescue or adoptor who’ll help him get rid of his heartworm infestation. Call the shelter at 817-230-0460 or email [email protected].]
FYI, that second photo is Niall inside the shelter kennel — he needs a human to put a smile on that face. [LARRY SIDE: Surely there’s a human in the Greater Metroplexification (beyond the immediate counties and into the city-flight neighborhoods — I just made that up) who could use a good, sweet dog sidekick like Niall. Save his life from misery and maybe your life, too.]

That brings us to Tami’s latest note which included the shelter’s announced of “Throwback Thursday…Go adopt a dog or cat at the City of Saginaw…Share the pets available. Offer to sponsor a pet in need. Sign up to volunteer…..” 
You get the drift.
We’re assuming that not all the animals in Saginaw were adopted on Throwback Thursday, so we’re forwarding to you, Dear Readers, these availables. There’s Otto, the shepherd mix.
And there’s Mittens, a tomcat with a lot of presence in the litter box — as you may know, hiding in a litter box is not all that strange for cats waiting for the next surprise in their lives. A happy surprise will get them waiting on your couch, your desk, the foot of your bed, your lap. 
And, one more Saginaw animal.
Anybody reading this have an audio device that responds to the name “Alexa”? If you adopt Alexa the Dog, maybe it’ll be easier to change the name on the gadget. But it might be fun to say “Alexa, play Who Let The Dogs Out?” and see what answer you get from the pup.
CONTEMPLATIONS

ANGIE’S FRIENDS AND A SUGAR LUMP NAMED BOOMER
We’ve been writing about the inspiration for Angie’s Friends since before the dawn of time — we’ll maybe not that long, but at least back in the 20th Century before the Friends officially organized to help the legendary Angie Manriquez, know first as “The Fairy Dogmother of West Dallas.” Angie was a Lone Star in saving animals from awful conditions in West Dallas — she gathered loyal supporters such as Beverly Fyfe along the way. People with the guts to go into drug-dealing, mean neighborhoods in West Dallas to pull a mistreated dog right out of the hands of felons and creeps. 
Angie’s reputation for saving animals’ lives grew and the nickname became The Fairy Dogmother of Dallas. On Thursday, thanks to our pal Beverly, we found a new story of success with Angie. The dog Boomer — the big one with the clipped ears — is the recipient of a rescue and happiness.
Beverly was there the day Angie saved Boomer. And when she saw the Angie’s Friends story Thursday about Boomer’s outcome she was moved to post this:
 “Another great Angie's Friends story - one more she rescued from the bowels of West Dallas. I am sharing because I first met this sweet dog the day Angie removed him from the filthy, cluttered, dirt floor of the West Dallas backyard where he had ‘existed’ for so long. He had never met or seen me but when I opened the back door of Angie's vehicle to see him - this baby got up and walked across the back of the car to come to me, a stranger, for a cuddle. My heart melted. Sweet, precious boy - so glad he finally landed softly in a wonderful place.”

When I told Beverly I was going to publish this good news in this edition, she happily responded, “Oh good. He is the sweetest boy - big old sugar lump strolled across the back of Angie's SUV, up to this perfect stranger and kind of turned sideways and snuggled in for a cuddle. Lawdy. This after the life he had led up to that point. I will never stop singing Angie's praises.”
Here’s the post from Angie’s Friends and some commentary, too: 
“Boomer spent 5 years chained up in a trashed backyard, defeated and depressed. His previous owner wanted to put him down because he didn't gain weight.
“After Angie took him into our program, Boomer bounced around between different boarding places and fosters.

“Then Boomer got attacked and badly injured by another dog and, after that, he changed from dog-friendly to aggressively defensive when seeing other dogs.

“In March 2019, Boomer got adopted, traveled to Houston, and lived there for 2 months before returning back to us due to certain family issues.

“Boomer went through so much; it was truly heart-wrenching. 

“We believe that every dog deserves a home, and that there's always one perfect home for each dog. Regina gives Boomer that perfect home; she helps Boomer to emerse himself in happiness and companionship. Look at him now!!!”

This comment came from Regina after reading the Boomer post: “I had one also that went the gambit of abandon and homes and rehomes. He is thriving and when it was said he was other dog aggressive - patience and time and love proved he was not …How adorable Boomer and his brother, Prince, are!!!”

Patience and love — it worked with Boomer and Prince.Maybe some day we’ll get it to work with humans, too.
In the meantime, follow Angie’s Friends HERE and remember that all dogs and cats can use the help of a loving, patient human. Maybe you’re one of those good people.
—- Offer love for Angie and her friends or hope for the future by clicking on ‘comments’ below. Email [email protected] — we love stories of triumph. —-

WHAT'S UP WITH THIS GUY? JASMINE'S TRIUMPH; FELINES, CANINES; SPACE & 'SUNSET'

EDITION OF THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020 [PetPowellPress] What are we focusing on in this edition? Humans doing good things. Stop the presses, eh?
 We'll try to explain that cat in a minute, though he is one curious, extraordinarily active cat.
JASMINE: ONCE UPON A TIME THINGS
LOOKED DICEY AND STUNK, TOO
We’ve previously written about our pal, the great foster mom Patty Sprong, and about Recycled Pomeranians & Schipperkes and its founder Cheri Fults.
This, however, is the first time we’ve posted anything about Jasmine. Why? Because she’s new to the area. Patty is fostering her.
And Patty wrote this earlier in the week as things were working out for Justine. Read on:
 “Sometimes you have prepare for the worst with senior dogs that come in. That was the case with Jasmine. Recycled Poms got a call [from a nearby state] about a ‘blind and deaf’ Yorkie needing help. We were shocked to see that she had what appeared to be a huge mass that covered her eye and had burst on one side. We worried whether it could be removed or not, if she would lose the eye, and if the smell coming from her head was from the mass, her mouth, or both. Yuk! 

“Mazie’s Mission agreed to fit her in today, so we could see what the best option would be for her, and we weren’t sure whether euthanasia wouldn’t be the best option. 

“Luckily the mass was just a huge mat of gross stuff that had built up over time and infected her eye. … The vet was able to cut it away and clean it up. [That's the trimmed look left] Jasmine is like a different dog. She is definitely NOT blind and deaf. She still has many senior ailments and will be on heart meds from here on out, but I’m glad the answer was ‘Yes, we will save her!’ ”
On Wednesday, we asked Patty about Jasmine. She says, “Right now she’s hanging in there, but she is going to be on the mend for a while. Her vision is better, but not perfect. At least she’s not totally blind as we were told. She has a heart murmur, but can surely enjoy a little more time with the correct meds. Her nose sure works. She was just begging for some of our breakfast!”
MEANWHILE, WAITING
AT DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES…
Look at the count for cats and dogs at Dallas Animal Serves. Anybody else remember when the dog count was beyond 400 at times and the cat number was climbing high as a cat’s back, too.

If you go to dallasanimalservices.org you’ll see that there are many older dogs waiting for a new home — some are even waiting for someone from the old home to show up and take them back to the people they love. This dog, for example. She’s listed as #A1101875.
The opening sentence of her DAS bio reads “My name is STRAY.” She arrived on Tuesday and and is on stray hold while DAS waits for someone to show up and confess this six-year-old girl ran off. Maybe she had a reason to run off. Maybe she’s just curious about the neighborhood. Whatever the case, she’s better off in a DAS kennel than she is roaming the streets of Dallas, the town where sometimes drivers don’t have a heart. Know her? Or want her? Email [email protected]. Want to see her online. There are 13 pages of dogs listed at dallasanimalservices.org — she’s on page 12, way back in the listings. 

Cats? Seven pages. From older to this guy, Beddow (#A1101799), who appears on Page 6. He came into the shelter on May 25 and is thought to be about 4 weeks old. That is nothing but a baby. He’s on “stray hold” for now, but I’m betting he’ll be adoptable pretty soon. Four-week-old kittens rarely phone Uber to help ‘em run away from home. Email [email protected].
And there are, among the cats, these three adults and, though there is no official family tree for the cats, you’d almost be convinced that Clever and Delilah are related.
Remember, DAS is working via telecommunications. Go to dallasanimalservices.org and you’ll see how to adopt animals in the era of social distancing between you and homeless animals.

MAYBE THE GREATEST PUPPY TRANSIT
PHOTO OF THE 21ST CENTURY
Remember back in mid-February when Noelle Hendrix, on a rainy night, was driving in Dallas and spotted a dog chained in the bed of a pickup headed down the road in the big city? 
Noelle negotiated a surrender of the soggy, really, really pregnant dog, named her Destiny and, bless that dog’s heart, she rewarded an act of kindness with the birth of 11 puppies. Or, as you may suspect, a BIG LOAD OF CUTE.
That’s Momma Destiny, only about 9 months old herself, feeding the pups in the top photo — Noelle did the fostering work with help from Stephen Foster and DFW’s Furgotten Friends.
And the next photo, which soft-hearted Stephen proudly posted on the Furgotten Friends Facebook page — just as Noelle did on her page — shows the rascals “waiting in line for the 9-week boosters” on Tuesday.
Some have already been adopted and Destiny has weaned her brood and is living the good “older puppy” life she deserves. 


CONTEMPLATIONS
SPACE DELAY; QUID PRO PURR; SUNSET THE MOVIE
How about that! A space shot that is launched on American soil — just like in the ‘50s and ‘60s! And just like in the ‘50s and ‘60s, there’s a weather delay. I’m almost certain this “lift off,” if it ever occurs, won’t inspire baseball caps that read “MAKE AMERICA LAUNCH AGAIN.” And, there’s this: Readlarrypowell.com has no idea why the U.S. would want to go to the moon again. The place that has no working infrastructure, limited air-conditioning, no name-brand grocery stores, no movie theaters and no satellite community college campuses. Heck, you don’t have to leave the planet to visit that. I have a list of places on Earth that are almost as barren and inaccessible as the Moon. But there is (by post-Boomer standards) an ancient Robert Heinlein book (published in 1950) titled The Man Who Sold The Moon. Not the first future Heinlein predicted. Copies are still available on Earth. …
Back to animals: This edition is dedicated to anybody who’s helping animals and to any animals needing help. Of course, nearly all of our editions are dedicated to those two causes. We have dogs and cats that we’ve helped, but they’ve also helped us — to borrow a term from Washington, it’s a really happy “quid pro quo.” That’s not quite an exact fit of the Latin because neither side expects anything from the other, so we’ll go with this more accurate example of the relationship: “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.” In the case of this photograph, shot Wednesday morning, Office Cat Apprentice Stevie Ray is demonstrating that he has the desire to help me change a lightbulb. We eventually did make the change and light up the room. Quid pro purr. ….
At one idle point Wednesday, I tuned the TV to a showing of Sunset, the 1988 murder mystery/whacky Hollywood film featuring James Garner (really good) as frontier lawman Wyatt Earp and Bruce Willis (really youngish with hair) as movie cowboy Tom Mix. Lots of talent in the movie including Malcolm McDowell as a villain and Mariel Hemingway not as a villain. It’s fun to watch if you’re in the mood for not thinking. Reviewer Vincent Camby of The New York Times called Sunset “a zombie.” Zombie? Clearly ahead of its time, eh? The movie was directed by Blake Edwards. If you had to watch a Blake Edwards movie with James Garner you’d have your choice of two films: Sunset and the one you might enjoy much more, Victor/Victoria. There is a kind of political dialogue in Sunset. Wyatt Earp’s remembered line is, “It’s all true. Give or take a lie or two.” No, it was not filmed in Washington.
—- Offer opinions or objections by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing [email protected]. —-

ONE SUNDAY IN DALLAS THERE WAS A RAID....

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2020 [PetPowellPress] On Sunday afternoon in southeastern Dallas, a team composed of SPCA personnel and the Dallas Police Department raided a cockfight in progress and seized the animals, wrote tickets to spectators and began investigations into acts of aiding and committing animal cruelty through cockfighting. 
Misdemeanors and felonies. The strength of the charges depends on the fruit of the investigations.

The SPCA of Texas reports that it took custody of 128 roosters, 183 chicks, 49 hens and 28 deceased birds.” They are exhibits that may become evidence in court. [These photos are from the SPCA, taken in the aftermath of the raid. Those are killing tools in that kit on the left.]
The SPCA news release says DPD’s Animal Cruelty Unit will “oversee the criminal case and any subsequent charges against individuals who may be found responsible.”
Also, the release reads that DPD officers “wrote over 40 tickets to individuals spectating the fight and are working to charge multiple suspects with possessing cockfighting paraphernalia and/or possessing roosters with the intent to fight, both Class A Misdemeanors.”
The SPCA also notes, “Cockfighting is a crime in all 50 states, including Texas, where it is a felony to cause birds to fight with one another and/or to use property for the purpose of cockfighting, punishable by up to two years in a state jail and/or up to a $10,000 fine.”
***

[LARRY ASIDE: Whenever I hear about a raid on a cockfight or a dogfight, the immediate suspicion is the State of Texas needs to be a lot louder when it sends people to jail for animal cruelty. The echo of the gavel, the verdict and the jailhouse doors slamming shut ought to travel beyond the lightly attended courtroom procedures. You ought to be able to hear justice at work on those “properties” where villains force roosters and dogs to fight. These creeps ought to shudder with fear when they only think about attending or organizing these despicable crimes. Their actions indicate malice aforethought! These people ought to fully understand that when they break cruelty laws, they are in serious trouble in Texas.]
***
Through the years, we’ve published many stories about raids on cockfights and “chicken training ranches” in and around Dallas and the general area. It would not surprise me to learn that cock-fighters, dog-fighters and generally bad actors all cross paths at these despicable events.

Not only is it expensive to apprehend the bad guys in these cases, but it is also costly to take care of the valuable evidence. 
In the case of this raid, the still-living animals went to two SPCA facilities — the Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center in Dallas and the Russell H. Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney. The SPCA medical staff is looking after them until the civil custody hearing is conducted.
WHAT DO THE SURVIVORS
OF THIS EVENT NEED?
This rescue event created the need for money and donations of specific chicken-oriented supplies. We checked with the SPCA. Donations can be made by going to the SPCA.org site. 

But the two SPCA housing facilities have special needs for these birds:

---In Dallas, when the chickens move from the Dealey Rescue Center to the Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center, that facility will be in need of pine shavings and large wire crates. 

---In McKinney, the Perry Center will need pine shavings, chicken feed, straw and perches.
As you can see at spca.org, there’s a donate button on the page. And there are these phone numbers: The main SPCA number is 214-742-7722 and the donation number is 214-461-1831.
You may want to keep this number handy, too. It’s the number to report animal cruelty: 214-461-1850.

[THE PHOTOS USED WITH THIS REPORT WERE TAKEN BY THE SPCA. The description of the photos reads: “Roosters were found in individual pens throughout the property. Outdoors in a heavily wooded area, roosters, hens and chicks were kept in large, wire pens. Within shed-type structures littered with debris, roosters were found kept in wooden enclosures and small, wire crates. Medications, a scale and a cabinet full of paraphernalia, including slashers and gaffs, were also found in the shed. Other roosters were found inside of boxes used for transport. A large barn attached to the residence contained a makeshift fighting ring, where the cockfights took place, along with numerous chicks within a locked stall.]
Then there’s this descriptive paragraph from the SPCA: “Several of the roosters appeared to be lethargic and severely injured with multiple wounds. Other birds were found already deceased, having succumbed to injuries from fighting.”
[LARRY APPRECIATION: Thanks to the SPCA for providing the details and for helping to spread the word that when it comes to animal cruelty, breaking the law has consequences in Texas. And if you want to get involved in making the punishment tougher, contact the Texas Humane Legislation Network at thln.org. Your voice can be loud in Austin.]
—- Offer thoughts or observations by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing [email protected]. —-

SAVING SOME ANIMALS, ADMIRING SOME PEOPLE: UPLIFTING THOUGHTS

EDITION OF TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 [PetPowellPress] Three-day weekends are always a bit disorienting to the working American and when you don’t have the steadying office clock, it’s even worse. 
At 4 a.m. I was awakened by dogs furiously barking. In my waking stupor, I immediately I began to plan for watching Bill Geist on NBC and, after that, CBS Sunday Morning. 
Only I already did that on Sunday, can’t remember what I did on Monday and didn’t have a clue it was Tuesday until I sat back down after checking on the barking dogs surrounding the bed. [That's Wendy recreating her "I think I hear something, should I bark?" look.]
Yeah, they were my dogs, but they appeared to have awakened from the same dream — can dogs share dreams? They must have been barking at the same intruder, possibly someone from Mars or, perhaps, a politician practicing his neighborhood walking skills. 
The dogs went back to sleep. Martha didn’t stir. My feline confidant, The Senator, and I moved to the couch and tried to nod off but wound up watching an unpleasant movie until it was time to get up and feed everyone and get on with the day. 
Now, we need to help some Greater Metrosprawlian animals find homes or help or both. And then we’ll get to Contemplations and a sweet farewell in an obituary.
NIALL IN SAGINAW
HAS MEDICAL NEEDS
Readlarrypowell.com has had experience with dogs undergoing heartworm treatment and with big black dogs and, of course, with big black dogs undergoing heartworm treatment. What that collection of descriptions means is we know how you need to be a devoted, patient dog person in order to keep the pup calm while being treated and get him healthy again.
So, that’s the deal with Niall. Handsome guy. No idea why he’s named “Niall.”
We got his story from advocate/rescuer Tami Kukla who wrote, “MEDICAL RESCUE NEEDED. Niall is a sweet dog, friendly dog who is HW positive and has swelling in his abdomen. He needs a medical rescue ASAP. He is incredibly friendly. Please help us help Niall. He is at the City of Saginaw Animal Services.”
 She included a video of Niall in a rest period after a brief romp in the Saginaw exercise area. 
You can see that video HERE. Turn up your speakers so you can hear the narration.
Saginaw, fyi, has been doing adoptions by appointment since May 4. You may reach the shelter at 817-230-0460 or by emailing [email protected]. The shelter is in Saginaw at at 205 Brenda Lane. [LARRY ASIDE: Anybody else go to school with Brenda Lane? I’m kidding.]

9 KITTENS, 1 CAT & 2 DOGS
NEEDING YOUR HELP’

That’s the headline I lifted off an email from the 4-Legged Helpers folks regarding animals in the Lancaster Shelter and a dog who originated in Hutchins: Marlowe, who we’ve mentioned before. First the felines: The note from the Helpers’ Laura Macias and Leighann Hayden included this inside info about the kittens: “So sorry, our apologies - the shelter ACOs are not good with identifying male or female kittens so we do not have that information. We also need feedback on the young adult cat Marmalade.  We are not sure if this could be a mommy kitty to the blonde kittens or if this could be a boy kitty that came in separately. VERY sweet kitty. All the kittens are adorable and precious and baby sweet.”
The first two kitten photos are of a couple of tiny babies: the gray is Clover and the orange tabby is Sunny.

Then there’s a litter of “Grey Tiger Tabby” kittens and the bio says, “All have big eyes.” 
The 3 orangish/buffish kittens are “Tiger Tabbies.”
And that brings us to Marmalade, the adult. The bio reads, “We have no info at this time, but this kitty looks so much like the [buffish] litter that we are thinking ‘related.’ Could be mommy or even daddy.” [LARRY ASIDE: Cats are tricky with that gender ID sometimes.]
The Staffie is Blue and he’s in the Lancaster shelter. In person, the bio reads, “He is stunningly gorgeous. Very well-cared-for and very sweet and lovable. Only 1-2 years old. Appears to be house-trained.” Blue was an “owner-release."
The 4-Legged Helpers note said, “We had someone go evaluate Blue and they thought he was adorable and sweet. He was a love, especially when he realizes you have a treat. He does not jump, which is great. The only thing we noticed is he might need a little work being taught to take a treat gently. He was so excited to have a treat.” [LARRY ASIDE: I picked photos that showed his personality, including one that demonstrates that Blue is quite ready to “stack” at dog shows if his official papers ever show up — no idea where they might be …]

And we’ll give another shout-out to Marlowe, formerly Mario, the Lab/Boxer boy who was pulled from the Hutchins Shelter as the clock was about to tick down to zero. He’s a “wonderful, sweet dog” all those who have met him say. “Rides great in the car. Loves to give kisses.”
To ask about any of these animals, get in touch with 4-Legged Helpers President Laura Macias by calling or texting 214-949-2726 or emailing [email protected]. [LARRY NOTE: Just a bit of admiration for 4-Legged Helpers and their continuing mission to help animals in small shelters. The smaller shelters frequently have no publicity system for promoting the adoption and rescue of their animals. It’s a tough mission, but the Helpers persevere.]

CONTEMPLATIONS
2003, FRIENDS VOICES, THE SWEET FINAL PARAGRAPH….
I did no work at the keyboard during the 3-day weekend — first time since 2003 that I “took off” without having some sort of staggering medical diagnosis as inspiration. What happened in 2003? I decided to take a vacation and my calendarspouse Martha scheduled our roof replacement that week since I’d be home. You know what happens when four or five guys crawl around on your roof and five or six rescued dogs are inside the house hearing intruders with hammers? Yep, nobody writes The Lesser American Novel and only the roofers can concentrate. … 

So over the weekend I Zoomed with some former colleagues at The Dallas Morning News and thought about how much I love those people and how much I loved working at that place right up until 2004 when the new management team threw me and about 100 other people out with the other refuse of the 20th century. To quote Heraclitus, the ancient Greek Philosopher, “The only constant in life is change.” And to quote the great Italian philosopher Vito Andolini Corleone, “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” And the Welsh Church of England Priest George Herbert’s quote is “Living well is the best revenge.” I'm out of the revenge business and leaning toward the occupying my time with admiration. ....
One of the people mentioned in the Zooming conversation was Karen Blumenthal, the writer/journalist I first met when she was an intern at the DMN back in the 20th Century. Karen died last week at a very young 61 — Her drive and her talent and her civic devotion are legendary. I’m going to link to her obituary in The Dallas Morning News HERE so you can read it and Contemplate how much she meant to so many people. I think you’ll consider it a sweet and gentle legacy for a reporter/writer who, as so many have done since the birth of reporting, worked hard to make sure every story was right. It’s the mission of the profession. That obituary was written by her friends/colleagues at the DMN, Maria Halkias and Cheryl Hall. It tells her story, addresses her wonderful career. The obituary presented on Legacy has the family information — her husband Scott McCartney is a great reporter, too, and such a nice guy.

The last paragraph of this note about Karen belongs to her. The Legacy obituary reads, “To honor her life, contributions can be made to Friends of the Dallas Public Library (supportdpl.org), Temple Emanu-El (tedallas.org) or Duke Student Publishing (dukechronicle.com)." 
And in the final line you can see the heart of Karen as viewed by those who knew her. It reads,
“You can also salute Karen by working to repair the world and enjoying a great cookie.”

—- Offer considerations or admirations by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing [email protected]. Let’s fix what we can and enjoy a great cookie. —-

ON MEMORIAL DAY...

EDITION OF MEMORIAL DAY 2020 [PetPowellPress] Rainy day in our neighborhood.
Good day to sit in an office at home and contemplate the meaning of the sacrifices of those being honored on Memorial Day. 

When I was a youngster in the 1960s, I was convinced that our peace movement would mean an end to war for all of time. It seemed so logical to decide not to kill each other. I foolishly forgot to consider the woefully imperfect human element on this planet.
On Memorial Day, as on every day, I am grateful to be an American, a resident of the greatest nation. A nation where you can sit at a computer keyboard and shoot off your mouth and know that the reason you can is some brave Americans rose up against those villains who would tell you what to think and when to say it — if they bothered to let you live at all.
God bless those Americans who knew their mission and pressed forward into the hereafter because they knew the consequences of failing the mission. Bless those who were sent on an unclear mission and did their duty to the end.
I am sorry these American protectors did not survive, but so grateful they are remembered by the nation that did.

When you live in America, enjoy and treasure the freedoms in honor of the great Americans on the rolls of the nation’s war dead. We inherited their America — might have tweaked it a bit and some of it they wouldn’t recognize, but I’ll bet they’d appreciate it. And I'll bet they'd still salute that flag.
—- Offer thoughts and appreciations by clicking on ‘comments’ below or email [email protected]. —-

EARL'S QUESTION ABOUT A NAPPING CAT

I turned the corner in our hallway around noon Friday and looked toward the kitchen. There I saw my Rottie boy, Texas Earl The Cheeseman. 
He and I were separated by about 30 feet and a napping cat known as The Senator.
I could tell from the look on Earl’s face that the question was this: “Are you coming into the kitchen or is it safe enough for me to walk past this cat to meet you halfway?”

Well, of course, we’re all safe around The Senator whether he’s awake or napping. The peaceful rascal is the spotlight feline for this weekend’s edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.

You see here how The Senator is napping atop a 2 1/2-foot tall cardboard box that contains a floor lamp I was supposed to assemble the day after Christmas. Things have gotten in the way and, for some reason, we put the box in the corner of the front foyer. We don't have a back foyer. [LARRY NOTE: I thought that was a funny foyer line. I could be wrong.]

In the mornings, sun comes through the window of the front door and gently warms the box and anything snoozing on it.

My theory is that napping on the box in that corner reminds The Senator of his days of negotiating the nation’s future in The Senate Cloakroom. But he has not spoken to me about that — there are indications that he is negotiating a handsome contract for his memoirs with another writer who has a Hollywood agent. 
So, The Napping Senator enjoyed the rest of his morning and, as you can see from the final dog photo of this edition, Earl trotted down the hall and greeted me as I held out a treat for him.
Earl did not serve in The Senate. He’s more of a Dog of the House. 
Frankly, I’m thinking about renting a booth at the State Fair of Texas this year and selling coupons for “Hugs With Earl.” Proceeds would go to The Senator’s favorite movement, The Campaign To Improve The World and Humans, Too. Still waiting on non-profit designation. "Non-profit" is the household theme.

 In the final foto, that’s The Senator who had returned to the box to nap during the afternoon. I love his face so I took more pictures. 

We’d buy him a small corner table for his special spot but that’s an example of futility — He feels as if he’s “broken in’ the box and if we replaced it with a high dollar designer table, he’d bitterly go find another box to break in.  The new table would gather dust but not cats.
Cats — when they’re happy, don’t dare change anything. Anything. Not even where you left your socks the night before and especially don't move any storage boxes.

[Send us -- please! please! -- photos of your napping cat or sleeping dog and we’ll post the photos and bios onreadlarrypowell.com in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap and sell t-shirts. I’m kidding about the t-shirts. But we do love to show people how they can have a trusting dog or cat snoozing in their home. And, we also hope to inspire insomniacs to believe that they, too, can get some sleep if they can just find the right unopened cardboard box for the afternoon nap.]
—- Offer opinions or outlandish ideas by clicking on ‘comments’ or by emailing [email protected]. —-

MAKE SOME MOVES TO HELP ANIMALS AS YOU CONSIDER THE FREEDOMS REPRESENTED BY PEOPLE WHO INSPIRED MEMORIAL DAY

EXTRA EDITION OF FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2020 [PetPowellPress] Here’s a newsburst that makes a person feel pretty good about humans — at least about humans who love and respect animals.
We got this “bulletin” from our pal Alexandra Kelsey in Houston. She’d been involved in the campaign to find a home for Tigger, this handsome older pup from nearby Katy.
His “mom,” facing the scourge of our existence, cancer, reached out to find someone to take in 10-year-old Tiger and give him a wonderful home
On Friday morning, Alexandra messaged, “As you can imagine, it was very, very hard for Tigger’s mom to give up her sweet dog. After much discussion and consideration, Tigger’s mom and the family made a good decision and a really good plan for Tigger.  He is safe, and I know the family is so grateful for all the concern and caring from the rescue community.”

That’s Tigger’s picture. I guess we could all look at our dogs and cats and think how grateful we are to not face such a situation.
Consider what Alexandra wrote in her first appeal for helping Tigger:
 “It could be me. Or you. And any one of us would want the kindness of others, not for ourselves, but to create a safe plan for our beloved animal.”
Bless Tigger and his Mom and everybody who had a hand in helping.
A COUPLE OF NEW PUPS
WAITING IN LANCASTER
Zuri is the little one and Brandon is the big boy.
For these dogs or any dog in Lancaster or in the growing small-shelter loop 4-Legged Helpers has, call or text Laura Macias at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].  
We got these Friday tips from 4-Legged Helpers and decided to put them into this EXTRA EDITION because we’re coming up on the Memorial Day 3-day weekend and maybe the Lancaster dogs and cats need some extra attention while the viral era continues.
Zuri is the 5-year-old (that’s a guess, they say) Chihuahua (that’s not a guess). She’ll be available on May 26. Her bio reads, “This sweet little Chihuahua adores being held and is absolutely the sweetest little girl.  Zuri means ‘someone who is good and beautiful’ and this completely fits her.  She is everything a little dog should be.” 

That brings us to Brandon, described as a 
“young male Black Mouth Cur/Lab” mix. He’s about 8 months old — still got some puppy in him. His bio reads, “He is super cute and sweet and is such a cute boy.  Look at that adorable face.  He is fun and playful and extremely lovable.”
Again, call or text Laura Macias at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected]. 

[LARRY ASIDE: Remember, when you adopt a dog or cat from a small shelter, you’re not just getting a new pet, your saving the lives of your adoptables and helping to save the next one in line by making room for “waiting” on the calendar. The shelter may even unload the needle.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
MEMORIAL DAY, PEOPLE AND THE WORLD
Before Monday gets here, do some reading about Memorial Day. Maybe remember a veteran who didn’t come back from a war. Could be from any war — Lord knows America has plenty of wars to choose from. As you probably know, Veterans’ Day in November honors all veterans of American military service while Memorial Day has been set aside since the Civil War to specifically honor those who died defending the nation around the globe. It originated as Decoration Day — families went to post-Civil War graves to place flowers in honor of the dead. Memorial Day honors men and women. War is the “great equalizer” and isn’t it a shame that in peacetime it takes lawsuits and a changing of the hearts and minds of stubborn people for things to be equal. … Moving along, that’s the 48-star U.S. flag — it flew from 1912 to 1959 — that covers a lot of wartime. My ol’ man lived through World War II, but he never again had a good night’s sleep. He came back from Europe with scars, frightening dreams based on terrifying fact and a determination to never leave home again. And he didn’t. He liked being a civilian in peacetime. I liked being a civilian in peacetime, too.  He earned the right and I'm not sure I ever adequately thanked him. Pop survived the war but he brought a lot of it home with him. You may know someone who did that. … For Memorial Day 2020, maybe you’ll be doing something with family or friends or just enjoying watching TV or movies or reading a good book or, on Sunday, meeting up to discuss the Good Book. Whatever the case, remember the people who made it possible by standing between us and the mad-minded villains who had plans to squelch democracy. America is a happier place because of the service and patriotism of these people we honor. It’s a happier place —PLUS we have the right to complain about the way it’s run by the people who wanted our vote! That, Dear Readers, is the beauty of our blessed democracy.
—- Offer an American memory by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing [email protected]. —-

HUMANE TOMORROW IN TODAY’S WORLD; COMPARISON SHOPPING; BUFFALO TALES

EDITION OF FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2020 [PetPowellPress] I saw a story online that as Yellowstone National Park began its phased reopening this week, the park released a statement that said a big ol’ bison knocked a woman to the ground “in the Old Faithful Upper Geyser Basin when the woman got too close to the animal.”
My funspouse Martha explained, “Bison are very serious about social distancing.”
 More in CONTEMPLATIONS, but first some dogs and cats and Humane Tomorrow.

PANDEMICALLY SPEAKING,
HUMANE TOMORROW’S PLANS
We’ve been keeping up with Humane Tomorrow since it was founded in 1997. Pandemic adjustments have been made, but things are about to open up a little, reports Stacy Smith, the executive director of the non-profit.
She also sent us this photograph and explained she included this “gratuitous picture of my most recent foster dog, Beau, who is fighting a nasty case of demodectic mange, because he’s just so dang cute.”

Back to the virus: Stacy says, “The one really bad thing to come out of this for us was the loss of our two spring fundraisers, which generate about $50,000 in revenue each year. For the first time in many years, I am worried about paying vet bills.” [LARRY ASIDE: Here’s the “DONATE LINK.”]

She says, “We have funds in savings that we can get into if needed, and we certainly would do so if an animal needed help, but it’s intended for our capital fund for the Glenn & Shirley Hulcher Family Animal Care Center, which was being used for so many great things before the pandemic.

“We were scheduling sessions with animals for kids in foster care; holding THLN (Texas Humane Legislation Network) and AIR (Animal Investigation and Response) events, and of course adopting out animals there before this happened.

“I hate seeing it sit empty but the safety of our volunteers comes first. So we are working to put in a memorial garden that volunteers can work on at scheduled times (plenty of room for social distancing there!), holding some very small puppy classes, and moving forward with outfitting it with kennels and veterinary equipment.” 
There also is some new hope for animals leaving Texas! Stacy says, “Our Love on Wheels transport program may resume in June, as it looks like New York is giving us the go-ahead. We are closely watching best practices put forward by Cornell, ASPCA, etc. and taking our cues from them. I’ve been using THIS SITE AT MY GUIDE.

Stacy says, “When it hit, we were in the middle of a response with Animal Investigation and Response, housing approximately 40 dogs at our brand new facility in Argyle. As it became clear that stay-at-home orders and transport bans were imminent, we worked with AIR to get about half of those dogs moved to a shelter in Minnesota and the other half moved into Humane Tomorrow foster homes. Once they were out, we initially shut down everything except emergency medical appointments…no more intake, no adoptions, no Love on Wheels transport program. But…while we are taking extreme precautions, animals still need to be saved so we are finding ways to do that while keeping our volunteers and adopters safe. Zoom meet and greets, conference calls instead of meetings, adoption forms converted to pdfs that adopters sign online instead of handing paper back and forth…this is our new normal.”

You might have noticed photographs of two earhounds and some mugshots from the clowder of cats currently in the care of Humane Tomorrow — there are many adorable adoptables available right now.
For our purposes in this edition, we have picked photos of two kinds of Earhounds — Perked and Plateau — and there are more dogs and cats at humanetomorrow.org.
 Cocoa is a 3-year-old Brown Chihuahua Terrier Mix who weighs 24 pounds and is said to be “a real sweetie with a laid-back personality. OK with cats after an introductory period. Likes to snuggle and “needs a home with people who will love to snuggle with her.”
While Cocoa is a Perked Earhound, Beethoven, 11 months old and a 78-pound Great Pyr Mix, is a Plateau Earhound. His ears drooping from the flat top of her head gracefully frame her beautiful face. He plays rough, but is also “goofy and sweet.” He’s a family-oriented dog — needs to be part of the family — and he needs a family that “doesn’t mind that he will shed a lot.”
So, what does the Executive Director of Humane Tomorrow do in the current viral climate? Stacy confesses, “I personally am truly enjoying being at home and spending more time with my dogs, in the garden, and birdwatching.” And, of course, planning for the future!

IF THE WORLD IS OPENING AGAIN,
MAYBE THERE’S A SPOT FOR BUTCH
Oh, boy, look at this guy. Six years old and in a city shelter just watching the clock tick. Our tipster Deborah Chisholm, one of the volunteer biographers at Mesquite Animal Services, reports that mixed-breed Butch came in as a stray on April 27.
She reports, “One of the staff has been working with Butch and here is her evaluation: He loves to explore the shelter yard and will stand on the platform/stairs climbing structure and just watch the fenceline. He comes when called, gave kisses to her hand and face and loves butt/back scratches.  She caught him several times wagging his tail. He’s very obedient, loyal and protective.  He would walk side by side with the staff member and would sit next to her leg to look out the gate. 

“He is 100% kennel aggressive and she feels it’s possible he was abused in a confined/kennel area because he trembles in fear and acts aggressive as protection inside the kennel.  However, he does not show any aggression outside. Once he is on the leash he pulls to get outside and is a completely different dog outside the kennel.
“Bottom line, he is a very sweet and beautiful dog, but he does like his own space. … He would probably fit in a laid back and slow environment.”
 Butch’s number is 44214726. Use it when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
[LARRY ASIDE: Well, EXPLETIVE DELETED, there’s a dog whose experience with humans hasn’t always been a happy thing. Possibly the humans who betrayed him will develop a buttock rash that is not responsive to ointments or creams. Maybe it will only get better when the bad guy’s backside is resting on a church pew and respect for all God’s creatures is the topic of the sermon.] 

Butch’s ID number is 44214726. Use it when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
WAITING AT DOG ’N’ KITTY CITY,
THE NO-KILL SHELTER IN DALLAS
Not all cats are carried into shelters by humans who are dumping them. Take the case of Bailey.
We found out about her because now and then we’ll take a gander at animals safely waiting for homes at Dog & Kitty City, the no-kill shelter run by the Humane Society of Dallas County just west of Love Field.
This time we discovered a sensationally striped beauty, the Dallas tabby Bailey. How did Bailey get into the shelter? Her bio explains, “She was found outside by one of the staff and was brought to the shelter because she is such a sweet girl! Besides being a sweetie she is so pretty and would love to be in a furever home!”

In the Virus Era, you have to make an appointment to meet this lovely feline. Call the shelter at 214-350-7387 or email [email protected]. The shelter is at 2719 Manor Way in Dallas, just south of the intersection of Mockingbird Lane and Denton Drive, on the southern side of Love Field.
Follow the shelter on Facebook HERE.
COMPARISON SHOPPING
FOR A COUPLE OF DOGS
We’ve featured these two dogs before. Their photos and bios came courtesy of 4-Legged Helpers’ stalwarts Laura Macias and Leighann Hayden. 
While wondering about the appeal of these dogs we thought it might be beneficial to offer comparisons to other individuals with the names Teddy and Marlowe.
FIRST, TEDDY THE BULLDOG MIX and his darned-near smile-alike namesake, Teddy Roosevelt, the nation’s 26th president
.
Teddy Dog is about 2. He wound up in the Lancaster Animal Shelter when the ACO there gave his humans a choice, according to the note from Laura. They could either surrender the neglected dog or face cruelty charges. They turned him over. The poor pup’s “toenails were even curling into his paw pads,” the note reads. He is the “cuddliest, sweetest boy ever,” his bio says.
THE NEXT DOG IS CANINE NOIR Lab/Boxer mix Marlowe, originally Mario. And, of course, you can see the resemblance to the moody character in detective stories, Philip Marlowe, portrayed in this photo by the great Humphrey Bogart.
Marlowe the dog, unlike Marlowe the character, is a totally sweet individual. He “rides great in the car. Loves to give kisses. Just as sweet and precious as can be. Calm, very loving, easy going.”
He was bailed out of the Hutchins Shelter to save his life — no adopter has been found. So this youngster Marlowe still needs a home.
4-Legged Helpers has several ways to help potential adoptors get this dog into their houses, not just their hearts. Call or text LAURA at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected]
CONTEMPLATIONS
BUFFALOED? THE TEXAS CONNECTION
First, the woman who was knocked over by the Yellowstone buffalo is said to be OK. I don’t know if the phone she was using to shoot a selfie is OK. I’m kidding — I have no knowledge of whether she moved close to shoot a photo or because she thought the bison one of the ranger’s housepets. … 
Here’s another Yellowstone note. You can watch the famous geyser Old Faithful erupt on the park’s live cam HERE. (That's a screen photo from Thursday morning -- snow was falling. No bison in the scene. Also no tourists.)
I’ve been watching it for years — now and then you see a peaceful bison or other park animals. And they follow this good rule: Always give a geyser plenty of room no matter what virus is rampant. But don’t pose next to the bison. (That's a 1931 U.S. Buffalo Nickel, in case you wondered what both sides look like.)
FYI, there’s a 2015 Texas Standard story HERE by Texas writer W.F. Strong that tells of the legendary Lone Star State ranching couple Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight’s role in the bison at Yellowstone. It has this sentence: “If it weren’t for Texas, there would be no buffalo in Yellowstone National Park.” And, this weekend, if you are posing for photographs in the loosened pandemic environment remember this: “Don’t stand next to the virus or the buffalo.”
—- Offer advice, laments or buffalo happy tales by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing [email protected]. ---