EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, OCT. 28, 2020 [PetPowellPress] How was I able to realize we’re in the chilly part of autumn? Was it the cold weather, the cold rains, the Dallas Cowboys record? No, I’ll tell you later today. First we have some animal tales to explore. Oh, and if this day had a theme, we'd turn to Dave Dudley for a performance of Six Days On The Road (And I'm gonna make it home to vote tonight). I added that vote stuff, but, yep, six days away. Movin' on (some of you will get that "Movin' on" reference):
FROM THE SIDE OF I-35
AND OTHER PLACES, TOO
A person with a heart sees that photo and goes something like “oh, my.” You see that cat in person on the side of an 
interstate highway and a person with a heart is going to pick it up and try to save its life.
We first learned about this Glenn Heights kitten from Laura Macias of 4-Legged Helpers. The original contact was the ACO at Glenn Heights.
The story is this: Some of the city’s public works employees found this kitten “in need of a rescue” alongside Interstate 35 in the small town just south of Dallas, according to a 
note ACO Monica Salmeron sent Laura.
The kitten was “almost frozen” and Monica took her in, warmed her up and got her to eat. She also had some “green gunk in her eyes” and needed vet care. And now, ACO Salmeron told readlarrypowell.com, that little almost frozen kitten 
is eating and is in the care of a foster while waiting on her vet visit. Ask about adopting the roadside kitten or helping Glenn Heights’ ACO Salmeron by contacting 4-Legged Helpers: Call or text 214-949-2726 or email [email protected]. Same contact info for these next kittens.
[LARRY ASIDE: Boosts your heart, doesn’t it, to hear how a small city shelter works to save the animals it encounters. Bless those public works angels, too, for making sure that baby had some help out of an awful situation. And, yes, isn’t it 
a good thing that 4-Legged Helpers is the non-profit small shelters can count on when an animal situation pops up. They’re all in that famous “village” that it takes.]
Now, about these three fresh arrivals at the Lancaster Animal Shelter. We learned of them 
from Leighann Hayden of 4-Legged Helpers. She writes that that “fuzzy blonde baby boy kitten Pez…was out in the weather Monday night, too. They had to take a hair-dryer and blow him dry. He was cold and wet. Looks like he may end up being medium long-haired, baed on the adorable fuzzy fur.” He was still fragile and needed a safe, kitten-aware place to go -- so, Laura reports, he's going to 
Furbabies of Lancaster. Also needing a safe place to go are these other two rescued kittens, Sugar and Baby, “found by a Good Samaritan,” Leighann’s note reads. “They are all very young. None are able to retract their claws yet. Blue eyes. Baby sweet. Fuzzy. Help.” And, again, call or text 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].
NIKKI: ONE STEP CLOSER
TO DODGING A SHELTER
On the 20th we posted the story of Nikki, an 11-year-old 
Aussie/Heeler mix who is losing her home after all these years — her human is moving and can't take her along.
We learned of her from reliable tipster Amy Poskey who picked up the story from rescuer/advocate Debra Myers.
That’s a photo of Nikki participating in one of her favorite activities — relaxing on the couch.
Latest news from Amy is this: "Denise Primm with Salvaged Souls Pet Rescue has offered to take sweet Nikki but we need a foster to make this happen.” To volunteer to foster, email [email protected].
MEANWHILE, STRAYDOG, INC. WORKS
TO KEEP THE MISSION VIBRANT
The folks at Straydog Inc. are working on a special 
challenge right now. They’ve got $200,000 matching funds pledged and now they’re, yes, trying to match those dollars so they can continue the mission that was launched in East 
Texas in 1994. You can read about the organization at straydog.org and you can read about this Autumn Matching Funds drive on Facebook HERE.
And this would have slipped our notice if it had not been for Straydog highlighting four of the Pitties currently awaiting homes at the great Straydog Shelter and Sanctuary.
How I missed this I do not know, but October 26 was National Pitt Bull Awareness Day. Go to straydog.org to learn about these dogs or any other animals currently under the care of this enduring organization.
CONTEMPLATIONS
AUTUMNWINTERFALL, TOBY’S BLANKIE, THE GREAT CHECKBOOK HUNT
A lot of people can tell right away that winteresque weather has arrived in 
the Greater Metroshiverplex. You look outside and the squirrels are wearing sweaters. Birds are on their cellphones trying to buy a flight to Miami. Not me. I get into my 2013 Ford Edge, one of my most favorite cars, and I turn the engine on, turn the heater to high and cold air blows out of the vents. Yep, every autumn at some point, my ac/heating system, on it's first heating turn-on, won’t get out of AC — like it doesn’t trust Texas to have a cold spell so why bother to change. My Edge is not the only one in America with this problem. Check it out on Youtube — Google “video reset Edge heater” and you’ll see many people have yearned to see how to reset the heater. Yes, I know this because each year I tend to forget how to reset it and have to call up the video on my phone. The reset solution is to hold the “go” button down at the same time as the “defrost” button, then, after a few seconds let ‘em up and push the “go” button again. “It should reset and blow warm,” the video said. It did Tuesday morning. This reset process is not in the Ford Edge 2013 Handbook. But that’s OK. At least you can do it without having to pay a dealership the traditionally huge “secret knowledge” fee. And I’m still a Ford fan. Why? Because I used to own not one, but two Chevrolet Vegas, possibly the worst car ever created — and that includes whatever got built by the Soviet Union. …
We have written several times about books by the local author James Martinez — they deal with rescued dogs and their stories and how to love a dog, etc. So on Facebook, as the weather changed, James’ dog Toby posted a notice: “Toby here! Just wanted to check in and let you know that it's Blankie Fort Time! Brrrr. Anyways, with all the craziness, I wanted to tell you that YOU are part of the solution! Your Empathy, Kindness and Compassion can make a difference for those who may need it. So I'm sending you all love, hugs and puppy prayers! Toby 
out.” Yep, Toby has a warm grip on a good nature in this chilling time in North Texas. [LARRY NOTE: I’m encouraging James to write a book about Toby and his ‘Blanket’ and ‘Blanket Fort.’ Got to be a story in that blanket! And, yes, Toby is an Earhound! Clearly. He knows how to do the "tongue lap" after a treat, too!] …
OK, everybody stop looking for my checkbook. I found it. That’s it. If a criminal had found it and looked at the balance, I’d have been sued for felonious lack of financial support. The danged checkbook wasn’t in my home office, or in my “bills and stuff” drawer in the bedroom chest-of-drawers, or in the closet with my sweaters, shoes and iron, or in either of the desks in my office or — where else did I look — in my 2013 Ford Edge or in my sock 
drawer, or anywhere I could think I might have stepped in the past two weeks. This hunt went on all day long Monday. I found stuff I’d forgotten putting into officially sanctioned storage areas. Then, on Tuesday, I went to my 1999 Ford F150, The Extended Cab Silver Bullet with the new inspection sticker, opened the console and there was my checkbook, waiting to be picked up — it wouldn’t even speak to me. Felt abandoned. Was I nuts? Yes. Nuts because I couldn’t find it and then nuts that I had. Now, of course, I remember putting it some place so obvious that I wouldn’t forget where I put it. Idiot. That's my checkbook and my knee. I'd have put the checkbook in my back pocket, but, apparently, this week you can guess what I can't find with both hands.
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