A HAPPY STORY TO TURN THE TIDE OF OUR PANDEMONIC TIME -- COCO'S TRIUMPH

EDITION OF TUESDAY, DEC. 22, 2020 [PetPowellPress] Once upon a time, something worked out for a dog named Coco. OK, that’s the way we’ll start this edition. And we’ll note that our pal Karen Lee of bark- leyworld.com, a veteran at helping animals, forwarded this upbeat note from our pal Gail Whelan of Companion Animal Network (CAN). 
Been writing about both of them and their work for years.

Karen said, “I wanted to share this email with you and her inspirational message of ‘Never give up hope!’. Beautiful story — and a happy ending.” 
Look at that photo! That’s a happy dog. That’s Coco on her way to her new home.

[LARRY ASIDE: Ah, 2020 — take that! A happy story in your rotten pandemic! There’ll be more, we’re convinced!]

Here’s Gail’s Coco note -- and some Coco photos from 2019 when she was new to being rescued. We're directing this message to rescuers and wannabe rescuers and people who have encountered the rescue challenges.
Gail writes:
 “Rescue work is soul-wrenching, often thankless work.  Sleepless nights and scrambling to find a way to pay a vet bill to save a life.  
“This Christmas I have experienced a true miracle and thought it might bring a smile and HOPE to others.  
“This is Coco. She is a 6 year old pitbull. She had been with me 18 months and not one person had ever asked about her. Every day after her playtime breaks she would beg to be loved and petted, rolling over and closing her eyes to savor every minute.  Coco's original owner never abused her. He had an addiction that caused him to lose his freedom and lose Coco. But he took her everywhere with him which accounted for Coco having love for all people and dogs.

“This past week a couple called and asked about Coco.  They SPECIFICALLY wanted an adult pitbull. The wife does not work outside the home and they both wanted a dog that ‘needed them’ as they said.
“On Coco's home visit she immediately got in their laps and gave kisses. She rolled over and was rewarded by such honest love it brought tears to my eyes.
“They took her to PetSmart and let her pick out toys. She has beds around the house to choose from when she wants a nap. And she gets to take rides with her new mom.
“NEVER GIVE UP HOPE.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Here’s a little bit of the back story: The photos of Coco in summertime poses come from July of 2019. Coco was in Gail’s custody because Coco’s human was in the Wood County Sheriff’s custody — DWI. Wood County doesn’t have a shelter, Gail says, so the system was this: When a dog is confiscated, it is put down. No place to keep it. But a deputy, bless his heart, called Gail and told her about this great dog with the loving attitude and his call to Gail saved Coco’s life. So, this is a Christmas 2020 miracle that started in the middle of a summer in 2019. Gail figured no one would ever want a Pittie this old and prepared to keep her. Then came the call. And Coco is now a dog who, gloriously happy, lives in an adoring family with a Lewisville police officer. Yep, Christmas miracle.’ If you want to help Gail in her efforts to transport and adopt and save lives, email can.adoptions@yahoo.com.]
A NOTE FROM DIEGO,
ER, NOTE ABOUT DIEGO
That’s some cute mug on that dog. He’s Diego, a young, healthy, available now Collie mix who is in Fort Worth and has come under the watchful eye of 4-Legged Helpers, the small-shelter monitors. And there’s also a young male bulldog mix named Teddy (also known as Peanut) who nearly bled out after being found by a Good Samaritan at the notorious Mallow Bridge dumping ground in southeastern Dallas. This was in early September and the boy was suffering from out-of-control bleeding — possibly from forced ingestion of rat poison. Yeah, the Dallas creeps can be the most challenging jerks.
There are several other dogs needing help. You can see them on the 4-Legged helpers page BY CLICKING HERE. To ask about these dogs or any of the dogs on the 4-Legged Helpers page call or text Laura Macias at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.
[LARRY ASIDE: And if you don’t get mad at the guy who poisoned Teddy, you need to be checked for a pulse and a heart. If anyone knows who may have poisoned Teddy, call the police. That stuff’s against the law in Texas. People worked hard to make it a violation of the law. Jail the creeps.]
A SENIOR CAT
WAITS IN DALLAS
When you go to dallasanimalservices.org you never know what you’ll find. Today I went there and found this cat Lilly. Cats come in two kinds of faces — absolutely beautiful and absolutely fascinating and, as a veteran cat observer, I’m prepared to testify that TEN YEAR OLD Lilly (A111729) Lilly is both beautiful and fascinating. She’s a 9-pound girl who is at the Dallas Animal Services Adoption Center and is, like Mike the Dog, adoptable at no cost. Mike (A1110882) is a 51-pound, 2-year-old Australian Cattle Dog, the shelter’s listing says.
As you probably know, the big DAS Shelter & Adoption Center is at Westmoreland and I-30. Go to dallasanimalser vices.org to see how to adopt during the Covid Era. Here’s what the Adopting from DAS note says:
"PLEASE NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 emergency, adoptions will be processed ONLINE ONLY using our new adoption process system below. Our shelter is currently CLOSED to the public for adoptions. If you have additional questions, please email dasadopt@dallascityhall.com. Pets are currently FREE to adopt until further notice!”
CONTEMPLATIONS
MY FESTIVESPOUSE’S WORK; WAITING FOR DELIVERY; AND A SEED?
My festivespouse Martha, knocked over by a common cold, rose to begin decorating for Christmas. I’d have helped her, but she’s kind of got her own way of doing things. This is the second year of our Maildrop Dog with a letter to Santa. No name for the dog, but we do agree that the lit-up canine is one darlin’ dog. And Martha created the Christmas tree, too. Used lights that were in boxes we found when we were moving last year. Perhaps you, too, have boxes that contain mysteries. You haven’t opened ‘em in years but you know they are somehow very important. January’s theme will be “Look in the boxes and keep a trashbag handy.” …
Dear Company From Which I Ordered Red Earrings for Festivespouse Martha: You keep sending me emails with great bargains. You used to send me notes about tracking the red earrings that Santa said my hollyjollyspouse wanted for Christmas. Then, you stopped communicating in November. Your notes often urged me to “order in time for Christmas.” When is Christmas on your planet?
…
I don’t mind telling you, anxiety makes me eat. I’ve been anxious since before Thanksgiving. Why? Rangers pitching, Cowboys playing, partridges in pear trees, etc. In Tuesday’s email I got a message with this subject line: “TINY SEED DISSOLVES 11 LBS IN FIRST 7 DAYS.” As I type this I’m wondering if they are “diet seeds."  If so, I’m going to need at least six-months worth. Unless, of course, after the first 7 days, you eat so many seeds that you’re putting on weight. Yes, I am a veteran dieter. I know how this stuff can work. Sugarplums don’t have tiny seeds.
—— Offer advice or no-cal recipes by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-