EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23, 2020 [PetPowellPress] How about that first day of autumn — cooler, a little bit rainy! Perfect when compared to a 100-degree day in August that makes your 
eyelashes droop when you squint as you walk out into the sunlight! Ah, autumn.
Speaking of seasons, you know how the sports seasons have been shortened lately?
Can you pinpoint a season that has not been shortened? How about “kitten season”? Yeah, kittens are all over the place.
By cracky, ol’ timers, didn’t kitten season used to be limited to spring? Or were cats in the old days just not as amorously ambitious? One of your mysteries of life, isn’t it.
And there’s a dog in Mesquite, a young fellow name Boe, whose reaction to being “surrendered” evokes the same heart-tugging emotion that I got when I watched Maggie the Cat’s video from the SPCA of Texas. (See our previous edition.). Now, please read on.
HE WOULD BURY HIS FACE
IN THE CORNER TO TRY TO HIDE
That’s part of the story of one of these three dogs at the Mesquite Animal Shelter. Volunteer 
biographer Debra Chisholm met this dog and wrote the story about Boe (#45365507), who was surrendered on Aug. 26 because of “financial hardship,” the human said. Debra says Boe is about 2 and his ribs are showing at 45 pounds.
She writes, “When Boe arrived at the shelter he had nearly shut down. He was so scared he would bury his face in the corner to try to hide and would tremble in fear. He would not walk on a leash. Boe was taken to the home of a staff foster who helped Boe begin to make progress in opening up and learning to trust.” She says 
“that time in a warm and caring home environment helped Boe move forward. He now walks nicely on a leash, though sometimes hesitantly. He is intimidated by other dogs in the shelter. Foster discovered that he is OK with adult dogs but not so much puppies. Boe is scared of young children so needs to be in a home without young children. He needs a home in which he will receive plenty of TLC and patience. … He has so much potential and would undoubtedly blossom when in the home of caring people willing to patiently work with him.”
This guy is Rock (45562668), described as a “Black Mouth Cur mix, who was delivered to the shelter on the 20th because this 5 month old dog “was too big for their children.” [You see the photo — the camera shot down, not up.] Debra’s bio says Rocky is “a frisky and spunky youngster with lots of puppy energy. … He has a confident outgoing personality and is a friendly fellow. He has a sweet nature. Former owner also reported that he is good with children and other dogs, but not cats.”
And this third dog is “lively Marvin,” a mixed-breed boy (45551678) “surrendered” on the 18th with his brother who has since been adopted. Owner gave them up because “had too many dogs.” Marvin’s about a year old and weighs 42 pounds. “He walks OK on a leash. He knows the sit command. Marvin takes treats and does so gently. He is affectionate, gives kisses and enjoys snuggles. Marvin is a lap dog wannabe. He does jump 
on you, so obedience classes would certainly be in order. He is busy, busy, busy and that tail rarely stops wagging. He is athletic and enjoyed climbing on the play equipment in the yard.”
For these dogs or any other dogs or cats at Mesquite Animal Services, use their ID numbers when you contact the shelter at 
972-216-6283 or at [email protected].
See more animals in the Mesquite Shelter HERE.
We mentioned kittens in our opening today.
Here’s one that’s available in Mesquite.
That’s Day Break, a little girl who is only a few weeks old and has no idea what life is like outside of a shelter and inside of a home. Maybe your home is her home.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING
FOR CATS IN CARROLLTON
Ringworm afflicts these three cats, so it’s up to humans to save them. Vanessa Johnson, Senior Animal Care Specialist at the City of Carrollton’s animal shelter, is trying to hustle up some homes or rescues for
these cats.
Cream Puff (right) is in a pretty urgent situation. Her bio says the 3-month-old spayed girl arrived as a stray and has developed a 
challenge. Vanessa’s note explains, “She is a friendly girl who has ringworm. Due to this, we are looking to get her out of the shelter ASAP so it does not spread to the other animals in our shelters. She is available to be pulled now.” [LARRY ASIDE: In the ol’ days, ringworm was a death sentence in a shelter. We’re not in the ol’ days any more. But the ringworm cats still need help to survive, maybe not ringworm, but to survive shelter rules.] Vanessa also added, “We will not be able to hold her past Monday, September 28, at 5 p.m.”
Same deadline for these two ringworm-afflicted cats, too.
Bigzbee is about 3 months old, a neutered fellow who came in as a stray.
And 2-year-old Tiramisu, also a stray, is “a friendly girl who has ringworm.”
[LARRY LECTURE: Ringworm is curable and there’s no need to kill a cat with ringworm. You just need to find humans who can say, “Oh, I’ll help that cat.”
] To help with Cream Puff, Bigzbee and Tiramisu, call Senior Animal Care Specialist Johnson at 972-466-3420 or email [email protected]. Remember: THERE IS A MONDAY DEADLINE.
CONTEMPLATIONS
BIG TEX, GORE-TEX AND A FILM
This one’s in the category of THINGS I FORGOT TO LOOK UP. Bob Gore, the inventor of Gore-Tex fabric died on the 17th. Here’s what I forgot to look up until I read that obit: Why is Texas part of the name? Note that I’m Lone Star centric, but all these years I thought my inspirational home state was involved in the product’s name. Nope. The Gore part comes from the inventor, the late Mr. Gore; the Tex part is from “textile.” So, I guess, if you go by the name, Gore-Tex is a cousin-by-name to PlayTex. Latex and, of course, Big Tex. I’m kidding.
…. Speaking of Big Tex, on Monday night's KERA-TV lineup we watched A Fair To Remember, the documentary about the State Fair of Texas — it’s scheduled again for 6 p.m. Saturday in
case you want to see it either for the first time or again. In addition to the many things about the 
Fair we love, it also has horrifying scenes that spoke to disgusting times in Dallas — ugly stuff such as the giant Ku Klux Klan Day at the Fair and the Negro Achievement Day — the only day in the run of the Fair that black people could attend. It’s an interesting documentary — from 2007, created by Allen Mondell and Cynthia Salzman Mondell. Click HERE for Dallas Film Commission info about the documentary. If you catch the Saturday night showing of A Fair to Remember, you’ll see how much the Fair has changed through the years. Call it a reason to watch an hour of TV and think about what you’ve seen for quite a while. Might even help you understand how hard feelings in the 21st century have their origin in the 20th and maybe the 19th, too. Eye-opening for some, confirming for others. Maybe inspiring for those who see progress and the opportunity for progress and know that love is important to all human hearts. You might even be inclined, after some scenes to reach across the decades and demand, “Holy smoke, Dallas, what were you people thinking?” Mercifully, things have changed -- some of the things that changed are human hearts. Some. Not all, I'm guessing.
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