EDITION OF TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2020 [PetPowellPress] For this moment in time, this particalized passage of our lives, we focus on dogs, cats, people and we’ll link up to our friend Monet.
CAN WE TELL SHELTERS
MAY BE RELAXING?
This is a theory, but we think one of the ways we can tell about virus rules relaxing is the shelters are working hard to promote the animals they’re caring for as adoptable and loveable. We cite the Mesquite Animal Shelter. After a few weeks of low-power on the radar, the shelter is revitalizing its volunteer promotional team. This is a theory based on observation. We’ll have more observations as we look at the Mesquite animals today.
That first girl — the one with her tail tucked, is Baby (#44385593), a 5-year-old Staffie who came in on May 26. She weighs about 70 pounds. How’d she get there? Our note from
Debra Chisholm, one of the volunteers at the shelter, reads, “Baby was abandoned in a home, was taken into custody and brought to the shelter. It seems likely that she has been the victim of abuse. During the photo session she was timid, scared, trembled, her tail was tucked and she would not look anyone in the eyes. However, she is a sweet-natured girl and when she spent time with another volunteer she warmed up to him, wanting to be petted and shown affection. Baby needs an extra dose of TLC and patience in order to learn to trust. She sometimes walks OK on a leash and at other times she is too timid to move.”
To ask about her use her number when you email rescues@cityofmesquite.com or call the shelter at 972-216-6283. That’s the contact info for any of these Mesquite animals.
[LARRY ASIDE: If it were not for the fact that I am a peace-loving, certifiable peacenik who abhors violence outside of the boxing ring, I’d volunteer to … Wait a second, nearly lost my serene faith in people of the planet doing the right thing. My apologies to the World of Peace for wanting to beat the snot out of someone who abused this dog into a fearful existence. I will pray for the soul of the person who had the dog and for my own. I know dogs and I think Baby would want me to be peaceful.]
This guy is Rocko, a 6-year-old, 70-pound, Pittie mix who was an owner surrender on May 10 and that makes him “perhaps the longest-term resident” at the Mesquite Shelter. What’s the rub? Heartworm positive. Debra’s bio describes him as “an energetic and lively fellow with an outgoing and spunky personality. He will happily sit for treats. He did his business in the shelter yard so is possibly housetrained. He was quite interested in the shelter yard sights, sounds and especially smells! He is a friendly boy.”
He will need life-saving heartworm treatment, but as anybody who’s been around dogs knows, this is fixable — you and the dog just have to have some patience and some money to pay for the treatment. Maybe a rescue has room for Rocko.
Then there’s rebounding retriever mix Ginger, NINE years old and 90 pounds — adopted from Mesquite a year ago and surrendered on the 10th by an older person who “feels she cannot care properly anymore for Ginger.” Ginger is well-behaved, “calm and gentle” and “friendly and loveable.” Here # is 1280138.
That brings us to Fatima (37918001), formerly known as “Fat Girl” — readlarrypowell.com endorses the name change for this beautiful German Shepherd mix. Debra’s note says the dog was picked up as a stray on May 18. Then, the “owner was contacted and opted to surrender for the reason that Fatima (formerly Fat Girl) kept escaping. Fatima was adopted from the Mesquite Shelter, is about 6 years old and is spayed. She walks OK on a leash but is a strong puller. She is high-spirited, energetic and has a mind of her own as to where she wants to go! Obedience classes would seem to be in order for this girl to help her be more adoptable.”
You can see many more Mesquite Animals by going to this SHELTER LINK.
Among the dogs and cats are this kitten, Charlie (4402184), a 2-month-old girl who came in on May 28. Probably by now, Miss Charlie has learned to be held and petted without fear. A lot of the Mesquite felines are kittens, but they’re not all kittens.
For example, that’s Chaquita (alternate spelling?), a 6-year-old girl who came in on May 11. Clearly, this cat knows how to make her room work for her! Lighting stylist, I guess.
MEANWHILE IN WILMER
The folks with 4-Legged Helpers report that Shelby is the latest arrival at the little shelter in Wilmer, just south of Dallas.
Also, according to the Helpers’ note, bottled water is being provided for the animals because the piped water isn’t flowing.
The note also reads that Shelby, a female Aussie mix, is a “cute young dog or pup. Very sweet. Just came in. Sorry the pics are so bad. This is what was provided. Hopefully you can see how adorable she is. We do not know her age but she looks young.”
To offer to help Shelby, call or text Laura Macias of 4-Legged Helpers at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.
FOLLOWUP ON NUTMEG
Ah, a triumph for a Guinea Pig. You may recall that this beauty, Nutmeg, was in need of a home because his family was “downsizing.” Our tipster, the animal advocate Amy Poskey reports, “Nutmeg found a home and will have another little piggy friend to hang out with!!! I’m happy she will have a pal cuz these little angels enjoy the companionship of other piggies!” [LARRY FYI: In case you need Guinea Pig help, Texas Rustlers Small Animal Rescue has a website HERE.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
WORDS, CHORES & A CAT NAMED MONET
While watching the news on a local channel Tuesday morning, I heard an anchor say that police had used “teargrass” on a crowd. If that were the case, I’m surprised people weren’t lining up to get the free teargrass. Now and then, the ‘60s attitudes creep into the news. Takes me back to the hey-day of the bumper sticker “Give Peas a Chance.” …
As I type this, I am waiting for an “inspection team” to check out the work its repair team has done on our bathroom tile and fixtures after the unpleasant spewing of hot water through a hole in a pipe inside the wall behind the shower faucet. An old repair, possibly done by a theoretical plumber using a foil gum wrapper and and old sponge, had failed the hopes and dreams of all who are making the house their home in 2020. I may get a book out of this experience. I just have to remember that if tile installation was easy, if repairing plumbing was easy, if installing a towel rack level (I own a level) was easy, I’d do the towel rack myself and leave the other part to professionals. I didn’t do the towel rack and, so, you can put a marble on it and it’ll shoot down the top of the rod right into the tub like it came out of a pinball machine in a 1950s diner. … Now, on a very serious note, this is the first photo I took of my cat Monet back in December of 2017 — she is a product of the feral cat colony Martha and I finally spayed and neutered into litter-free submission after 20 years. I have, with a heart that is deeply saddened, had to write a farewell to Monet for our Prayers & Passages page HERE. Perhaps her life story will inspire people to see feral cats as something other than a neighborhood nuisance. It just requires giving some love from the human heart.
—- Offer advice or appreciation for your cat by clicking on ‘comment’ below or email dallrp@aol.com, where dogs and cats own all the hearts. —-
