EDITION OF TUESDAY, SEPT. 29, 2020 [PetPowellPress] What is our purpose in life? Wait, that’s too complicated for a Tuesday. Let’s just keep it simple: Save cats and dogs. Protect all animals. And, of course, look back at September and ask, “Where did we go wrong, Dallas Cowboys fans?
Here’s a cat that has had it rough. But he is the very last Tabby Cat available for adoption within the City of Dallas. ... Hang on. Let me check that. Nope. Sorry. There are plenty more, but this one is the guy who was spotlighted by Dallas Animal Services Monday on its Facebook page. His name is Trey and, DAS says, he arrived “a little beat up and had several wounds all over his body. We’re not really sure how he got them, but we are happy to report that he is now on the mend and ready to find his own #DASHappyTail! Will you adopt this green-eyed stud?”
Well, of course, the term “stud” is used affectionately. But how about those whiskers! Go to dallasanimalservices.org to see how to adopt this, er, former stud. [LARRY ASIDE: “Former stud” may be the reason Trey came to have a few wounds on his once “randy” little boy cat body.’’]
HOW ABOUT THIS BEAUTY?
HER NAME IS MAVIS…
The appeal we got came from veteran animal advocate Amy Poskey who got it from Debra Myers, also a veteran at this “save-the-animals” mission.
Debra’s note read, “Look at this beautiful girl with the gorgeous markings and adorable eyebrow dots!!! Mavis’s human daddy passed away a couple of months ago so now she is looking for new digs. Bless her heart, I’m sure she is sad and confused so let’s help her out!”
[LARRY ASIDE: See that car photo of Mavis? I’ve seen that look before. When I was a kid reporter I’d ride with cops and deputies and other peace officers. When they were on the job, they had that very
observant look on their faces. The "Is that a violation?" look. But Mavis is intently looking for a new home!]
She’s a 10-month-old Rottie/Lab mix who is healthy, microchipped, people friendly (kids, too), “loves other dogs, is very energetic and enjoys playing fetch!”
Get the tissue. “She was an indoor pooch while her daddy was still alive. But she has lived outdoors for the past few months.”
[LARRY 2ND MAVIS ASIDE: I guarantee you —and I’ve never met Mavis but I’ve had Lab Mixes and I have a purebred Rottie — Mavis is an indoor dog! Bless her confused little heart. Maybe someone with a badge has room at home for a loyal dog]
The contact for anyone who wants to audition to adopt Mavis is Debra Myers at 940-367-4627 or email [email protected].
[LARRY 3RD MAVIS ASIDE: All dogs deserve a good life. Every one of them. I’ve been blessed by dogs all my life. I’ve been married to my funspouse Martha for nearly 29 years — we started our marriage with dogs and cats. Some days that all we agree on, but why bring up politics when I’m making an appeal for Mavis.]
WE TALK ABOUT A DOG’S NAME,
AND TWO DOGS NEED HOMES
As a child growing up in Northeast Texas, it was not unusual for me to hear someone shout an acquaintance’s name and declare “YOU JASPER!”
I never quite understood that, but figured that you didn’t want to be a jasper, so I behaved myself. On the other hand, look at this dog’s cute pose. I’d happily declare, “You Jasper!” And I’d be right because his name is Jasper.
He’s one of two Mesquite Animal Services dogs we’ll spotlight in this edition. Jasper, about 3, around 60 pounds, isn’t neutered and that may have contributed to his status as “stray” when he came into the shelter on Sept. 12. Our tipster, the volunteer biographer Debra Chisholm has met with Jasper, of course, and reports, “Jasper has a high energy level and thoroughly enjoyed stretching his legs, running and playing in the shelter yard during his photo shoot. He has had to spend a few days in quarantine for worms but has been treated and is back in general population again. Jasper has a confident, outgoing and fun-loving personality. He walks well on a leash. He knows the sit command and is happy to do so for treats which he takes gently. He is a friendly fellow and has such an exuberant disposition.” His shelter ID is 45507664.
How about this beauty! Debra’s note reads, “This very handsome, nearly purebred Great Pyrenees is Cooper (#45579163) who arrived as a stray at the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 9/22. Cooper weighs 74 pounds, is about 4 years old and is not neutered. He has a calm, gentle demeanor and a mellow and low-key personality. He walks beautifully on a leash. He sauntered around the yard during the photo shoot exploring all the smells. … He came in dirty, matted and with fleas. One of the volunteers brushed out his coat and he was given a Nexgard for the fleas. There is so much to like about this sweet-natured boy. The shelter has begun to fill up again after months of fewer dogs because of the COVID-19 situation.”
Ask about getting that Jasper and this Cooper to safety by using their ID numbers when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
MEANWHILE, IN LANCASTER
CROWD OF CATS & DOGS GROWS…
Yep, 4-Legged Helpers, the non-profit rescue group that focuses on small shelters, is trying to get dogs and cats out of small shelters on the southern side of Dallas so there won’t be a population crisis.
Sometimes, when the pressure’s on, siblings can get separated, as has happened in Lancaster. We previously mentioned Snowball and Roo — Snowball’s been tagged, but nobody wants Roo because she has the look of an overbred dog. [LARRY ASIDE: I’d offer an epithet regarding the overbreeding SOBLEEPS who hurt Roo, but I’m not sure they can read, so why bother.]
Back to the pressure of the day. Laura Macias of 4-Legged Helpers told us Monday night, “We had no choice but to let Snowball go without her sister as the shelter is getting fuller. NINE new dogs today!!!!!”
There also are cats in the mix, i.e., these kittens. Cole is the mostly black little tomcat whose white “bow tie” doesn’t show up in the photo. The other fellow is Tigger, a Tiger Tabby.
For any of these animals, call or text Laura at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected]. She functions as the go-between helping rescues and adoptors make the right contact at the Lancaster Animal Shelter. Oh, and that handsome dog — the one with the “heart” on his side, is Giovanni, also known as “Van,” a “Bulldog mix” who was a stray and who is “such a sweetie pie. Even has a crooked heart on his side — so cute. Gentle and loving. Loves everyone.” And the 4-Legged Helpers note adds, “Please help save him!”
CONTEMPLATIONS
COURTHOUSE DOGS, A CAT THEORY, A MEDAL FOR DAVID FINFROCK
Our pal Alexandra Kelsey in Houston sent a note about a fascinating organization, Courthouse Dogs. She wrote, “A young woman I know has been involved for the last ten years with this group, and their website is very interesting. I just wanted to share this.” Here’s the Courthouse Dogs Foundation link. Don’t let anybody tell you there’s no heart at the courthouse! You can see that heart wearing a fur coat and a wagging tail. …
On a neighborhood page I saw a photograph of the body of a little black cat. The person who wrote the text was angry and heartbroken that the little cat was dead, dismembered by a coyote was the reason given. Some may think this mean of me, but when you know that letting a cat outdoors in Texas is an invitation to disaster — coyotes, hawks, cars, evil humans, etc. — and you do it anyway and the inevitable occurs, the pain you feel ought to be deep and it ought to last so long that you’ll never again let your housecat outside. You’re gambling with your kitty cat’s life. I am sorry for the human, but I am emotionally distressed because of the cat's needless death. …
Did you see the story in The Big Paper in Downtown Dallas about NBC5’s veteran weatherman David Finfrock being bitten by a rattlesnake while doing volunteer work at Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center in Cedar Hill? His personal forecast is for a complete recovery. But here’s what readlarrypowell.com sees as the brave part of this story: The weatherman was pulling ragweed. I think he’s earned some kind of medal by risking snakebite to destroy that devil weed that makes so many of us miserable. Salute to David Finfrock! May his forecasts always be right on the nose — a nose not suffering from ragweed.
—- Offer allergy tips or rattlesnake advice by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing [email protected] and using “save the snakes —somewhere else” in the subject line. —-