EDITION OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 [PetPowellPress]— DEAR SEPTEMBER 2020,
As a longtime resident of this spinning, orbiting-in-space planet, I want to thank you for, on the whole, a really nice month. It wasn’t as hot as August. People I know and love were involved in conversations.
Yeah, there were problems. But also there were successes. Offhand I can't pinpoint any of them — well, I did get brake fluid added to my car’s stopping mechanism — I understand that’s important in freeway driving conditions. A dashboard light came on — suddenly I was out of my mechanical depth.
And, Monday night, after watching the Dallas Stars lose, I flopped insomniacally down on the couch to nod off and The Senator joined me about 1 a.m. I said hello, asked him what he thought of the hockey match and if he had caught any political news on his TV. He did not respond. He crawled up onto my right shoulder and looked down at me as if he thought he might just take a bite out of the end of my big nose. I petted his soft, sweet ol’ head and I asked The Senator possibly the most significant question he’s ever encountered.
I looked right into the eyes of the ol’ Gentleman of The Senate and asked, “Why don’t you ever 
try fo talk back to me?” I’m almost certain I’m not the only person who has asked that of a nearby cat.
The Senator looked at me and — I swear on a stack of political promises — shook his head, then jumped off me, and off the couch and moved to the rug. He looked at me as if to say, “I just voted with my paws.” I vowed to write him in on November’s ballot. Not sure what office.
So, thank you, Dear, Dear September. I will enjoy this final day of the month and hope my Lotto Texas numbers are, indeed, lucky. Now, here are some cat and dog stories.
UPDATE ON TOOTHLESS,
SHOT WITH A BB
J’anna Mann of Animal Rescue Crusaders of Texas sent a great note about Toothless. That's an early photo. Things have changed. Her note reads: “Wanted to give you an update on this sweet boy. We found a wonderful foster for him. She’s a 
sucker for the black cats. She couldn’t say no.
“[After he came into rescue] We took him to the vet the next day because we didn’t like the looks of the bandage wrapping or how uncomfortable he seemed to be. We took him the next day to our vet in Plano. They did x-rays and consulted with each other and decided due to the spot it was broken, etc., that the best course of action was to amputate the leg. That was done on Saturday, he stayed there over the weekend and is now recovering at home. He’s doing good. He’s well loved. We will find him the perfect home.”
When you go to the Animal Rescue Crusaders of Texas website HERE you can see how to adopt 
Toothless (named in honor of a movie dragon) and how to donate to cover his medical bills. The amputation boosted the total a bit. [LARRY ASIDE: You may recall from our earlier story that he was found after some jerk shot him with, apparently, an air rifle and I hope you're reading this, jerk, and feeling bad about it right down to your toes or any place that is so uncomfortable you have need professional help, i.e., I hope your heart feels every bit of pain and discomfort this cat has felt. I also hope you have changed after seeing how you hurt the cat. I doubt it, but I'm an optimist.]
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE,
BIG DOG, BUSTER AND OTHERS
The volunteer Mesquite Animal Services Biographer Judi Brown has been in touch with Big Dog, 
surrendered to Mesquite on 9/28 after the death of his human. Judi says, “He was surrendered along with a possible brother named Buster. Since they have apparently been together since birth I initially thought they should be rescued together. However, upon observing them I noticed that Buster nips at Big Dog without being provoked. So if they are rescued together they should probably be kept apart. The family that surrendered Big Dog and Buster didn’t know much about them except that they were indoor dogs and that they use the doggie door. Big Dog weighs 
14 pounds. He’s got a short little body so he’s relatively chunky. He’s cute, soft and very snuggly. He likes nothing better than to be held.”
He’s adjusting to the shelter, he’s got a cataract in his right eye and a “mole/growth” on his nose and maybe some bad teeth.
You see short-haired Buster there — a little smaller, and 10 years old.
Big Dog is #45618677. Buster is #45618664.
That brings us to Starling (#45595807_, this 2-year-old, 81-pound Black lab mix who came in as a stray on the 24th. She’s recently had a litter. Judi wrote, “It’s hard to understand why her family has not come to reclaim her as she has so much to offer! For one thing she’s a pretty girl with a sleek black coat and adoring brown eyes. This is a case where the tail wags the dog! Her tail never stopped wagging and it literally wiggled her whole body! She’s a happy, friendly, loving girl that is gentle and sweet. She stayed close but never attempted to jump on me. She sits for treats and takes them gently. It’s very obvious she wants to please”. [LARRY ASIDE: Looks like a high school yearbook pose from Starling!]
Wellington the German Shepherd is 3, weighs 64 pounds and came in as a stray on the 21st. “He’s stunningly handsome with captivating hazel eyes!” Judi says. He’s active, curious and, in the exercise yard, “wasted no time exploring.” He’s short on socialization, Judi suspects. “He didn’t seem to need my attention,” she says. “Now he just needs someone to show him love!"
We’ll also add one more Mesquite dog to the list for the last day of the month. This guy with the bright smile and the magnificent tail is Polar Bear 
(#45479425). Volunteer biographer Debra Chisholm did the hands-on meeting with this 2-year-old, 65-pound mixed breed. When he arrived at the shelter on the 9th, he had a 6-inch-long laceration on his left rear leg. He’s healed and the stitches have been removed, Debra says.
Now, look at that face and that smile: Polar Bear is a deaf dog. Debra says, “He will sit for treats if you stand in front of him so he can see what you want him to do He takes treats gently. He is a playful boy and does jump on you so obedience classes would 
be in order."
And, she says, “He has the most beautiful blue eyes!”
For all of these dogs, use their numbers when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283. Email [email protected].
See more Mesquite dogs and cats by going to the shelter’s SITE HERE. As you can see from this photo, there are daredevil kittens available at Mesquite. This girl, Everest, is a real youngster. Came in on Sept. 17. Clearly has a knack for presenting a balancing act.
CONTEMPLATIONS
MORE SEPTEMBER THOUGHTS
We may be closing out the most football-less September since the invention of the oddly-bouncing bladder. Did you know that playing football indoors didn’t begin with Houston’ Astrodome? Nope. Chicago’s Dexter Park Pavillon in 1917, Wikipedia tells us. Racine Cardinals-Evanston Evanstons played to a 0-0 tie. The things you learn when you have the courage to 
type the phrase “oddly-bouncing bladder” and then do some “light research.” … Ever had one of these moments? I was cleaning out some storage boxes and pulled out a purple leash that had been gnawed apart about 8 inches from the snap. Immediately I realized I’d found one of the first leashes we lost to the happily gnawing teeth of our Heeler mix puppy known as Annie, Puppy Annie and Annie Don't! She was born in 2004 and left us in 2019. And that dog’s entire life rushed through my brain just because I picked up two pieces of a leash she’d proudly gnawed apart all those years ago. Quick! Somebody invent a time machine — I’d like to hug her again. … Someone sent me this wordplay: “STRESSED is just DESSERTS spelled backward.” I am not sure what that means other than it’s an observation in the magic palindromes. Do you have an eye for palindromes?
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