ON MONDAY, ISN'T IT MARVELOUS TO BE NEARLY BACK TO NORMAL? A 5-DAY WORK WEEK?

EDITION OF MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Toward the end of the year, how many of you were worn out?
Yeah. I know. One word describes it: “Allofus.” That’s three words? Well, that’s how worn out some of us were. Didn’t have enough fuel left to put spacesbetweenthewords.
So, in keeping with the theme of our times, we’re going to make proper space between words. For example, see that dog: Could be a minpinmix. OK, MinPin mix. Ah, but, not so fast! Could be a Chihuahua. More later on this little cutie.
OLDER DANCER STILL HAS
PLENTY OF STEPS, BUT
NEEDS A PLACE TO GO
This guy is Dancer (#90774). The “SOS” appeal from our Denton tipster Amy Poskey reads, “Dancer is as cute as a bug’s ear but he needs our help!  He has severe dental disease, startles easily and will growl and snap at leashes in his kennel so he is RESCUE ONLY.  However, once he’s out of his kennel he is calm and doesn’t mind being picked up and carried around.  Bless his heart, he is also missing an eye so that might possibly explain why he startles easily."
[A DANCER UPDATE!!! We interrupt this previously posted item about Dancer to bring you an update from Amy Poskey. In mid-afternoon she writes, "I’m so happy to report that Roberta Womack with LUCY’S LOST LOVED ONES RESCUE will be pulling Dancer first thing in the morning!!!  THANK YOU ROBERTA!!!  And, thank you to Denise Primm with Salvaged Souls Pet Rescue and Chloe’s Pet Rescue for offering to take him, as well!  Thank you EVERYONE!!! If anyone would like to make a donation for Dancer’s care, please click on the link below.  No amount is too small.  Thank you!  Amy." Here's THAT LINK to Lucy's Lost Loved Ones. We now resume the original DANCER story from Amy.]
"Poor baby has been shuffled around so much he’s probably just scared in the shelter environment.  Personally, I think Dancer is PERFECT!”
Clearly older, a male, long-haired Chihuahua/Papillon mix, heartworm negative, fully vetted, appears house-trained and weighs a WHOPPING NINE POUNDS. His shelter link is HERE.
Call the shelter at 940-349-7594. Email any of the following: gayla.nelsen@cityofdenton.com, Randi.Weinberg@cityofdenton.com,  julien.peralta@cityofdenton.com, Ethel.Strother@cityofdenton.com, roxanna.burson@cityofdenton.com, Dorcas.Johnson@cityofdenton.com, Martinez.Erica@cityofdenton.com, Nicole.Heyer@cityofdenton.com.
IS THERE A SIGN THAT READS
WELCOME TO THE DOG DUMP?
There must be some signage somewhere in largely rural southern Dallas County that says, “FEEL FREE TO DUMP UNWANTED ANIMALS HERE.” So many of them get dumped out there. Not enough law enforcement to watch every hour of every day or even keep drones hovering over the area like some kind of science fiction patrol device.
This dog Brent, a young male Boxer mix, got lucky. Wound up in the home of someone who likes dogs. He’s now available for adoption or rescue but a good home would be great because rescues and shelters are crowded after the Traditional New Year’s/Day Rush of Terrified Animals.
Our tipsters at 4-Legged Helpers say, “This sweetest of sweet guys showed up at a Good Samaritan's home out in the rural area of Dallas County which is a known dumping area for dogs.  Why anyone would have dumped this sweetie pie is a complete mystery.  He is everything anyone would ever want in a dog and he adores people of all sizes including children.” The person who took the dog in “doesn't have a place for him (has other dogs) and needs somewhere for him to do and we don’t want him to go to the shelter.”
Then there’s Evie, also a Boxer mix, the Lancaster shelter says.
Evie’s bio reads: “Evie’s name is due to being found on New Year's Eve, :-)  This SWEET girl went into someone's garage when it was very cold and decided she would like to stay.  Sadly, that did not work out for her, but hopefully someone else will give her the warm cuddly home she deserves?  SHE IS JUST AS SWEET AS CAN BE.  INCREDIBLY LOVING.”

And we’ve mentioned this beautiful cat before, Smokey, the Gray Tortie described this way by 4-Legged Helpers: “SO SWEET - Beautiful young meow meow.  She has beautiful swirls of pastel but is mostly gray.  Gentle, sweet, and loving.  Fine with being held — purrs.  Very soft silky fur.”

For any of these animals (and many others on the southern side of the Big D sprawl, call or text 4-Legged Helpers’ Laura Macias at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.
THE MYSTERY DOG TOSH
AND A SENIOR BOY DART
Take a look at these photos. They make Tosh the Chameleonic Chihuahua, don’t they. That sitting photo sure likes like he’s a Min Pin, and that may be part of his heritage — who knows? You think he looks “aggressive”? Read on.
We got these tips over the weekend from the volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm. Tosh is in the Monday list online, but Dart is not. You may already be too late to adopt DART. 
He may already have been adopted or rescued, but just in case, we’ll mention him anyway.
Tosh was surrendered to the Mesquite shelter on NEW YEAR’S EVE because, Debra reports, the former human said Tosh “is aggressive but did not say whether it was toward cats or other dogs.”
Tosh is a 10-year-old, neutered, 23-pound dog who “walks well on a leash.” He also “has an outgoing and confident personality. He seems to have been well cared-for He is frisky and spunky.” As you know, the dog biographers meet the animals they write about. Debra says Tosh “wanted to climb onto my lap a few times.  Former owner reports that he likes quiet time and is a bit of a loner, that he lived indoors and is OK with children. “ He’s #46351009.

Dart, also came into the shelter on New Year’s Eve. Why? Family’s moving and new home doesn’t have a fence, they said. Eight years old, 12 pounds, neutered. Debra reports, “At first he was timid, shy and a bit standoffish and had his tail tucked but as we got better acquainted, Dart warmed up and was happy to hang out with me.  He walks well on a leash and is an active and alert fellow.  Former owners said of him that he lived with other dogs and was fine with them, that he lived both indoors and outdoors, that he loves attention and is truly a lap dog.  He does not like cats.” He’s #46350269 if someone hasn’t already adopted him.
To ask about any of Mesquite animals, email rescues@cityofmesquite.com and call the shelter at 972-216-6283. Use their IDs to help with the adoption/rescue process.
And you can see more Mesquite Animal Shelter dogs and cats by going to THIS LINK.
You want a kitten? There are several at Mesquite — some grown cats, too. This kitten is Mint (#46308276) who came into the shelter on December 21. The shelter lists him at 2 months, 2 days, old. But he’s registering way off the “Cute Meter."
CONTEMPLATIONS
AN ASSORTMENT, SOME WITH FUSES…
In my first lengthy experience with neighborhood online reports, I’ve become enchanted with the complaints and the responses. For example here’s a weekend note: “Fireworks again, why no crackdown on this?” it began, followed with “I just don’t understand why our finest aren't cracking down on all the gun fire and fireworks. Its so inconsiderate. I have two dogs that just shiver and cower until it stops. I would love to wait till about 4:00 AM and stand right by their windows and empty my 9 into the ground, of course. But I have more consideration for others. Wish Texas would outlaw them not that that would matter — they know they can get by with it...just venting.”
One person responded, “I, too, am fed up with fireworks and gunshots all the time. I feel like a sitting duck in my own home.” 

Another poster, a wise one, noted that there are a zillion people and a relative handful of peace officers and it’s unlikely that anybody can be caught doing anything. Seriously, those holiday fireworks outbursts are like every crook in town decided to rob every bank at the same time — no way the peace officers can get to all the banks while the bad guys are still explaining how to put the cash in the bags.
So, the thing is we have to depend on our residents to be responsible and honorable — and, boy hidy, don’t that work every time! (Typed the old police beat reporter with experienced cynicism.)
ON SUNDAY MORNING, I was awake way too early for no particular reason and as I was reading messages and emails, I came up with a 2021 New Year’s Resolution: "I will not shake my head in disbelief when scofflaws blast fireworks or fire guns to celebrate a holiday. The vigorous shaking sometimes “throws my back out.”

HERE’S THE DEAL: Seven months from now July 4 is on a Sunday and that means the official government holiday will be Monday, July 5. People will take long holidays. So, understanding the minds of some of my fellow humans, that means the July 4 holiday will start on Friday the 2nd, go through Saturday the 3rd, really explode on July 4 and probably finish off the fireworks on the 5th, the official government holiday. Seven months is an early enough “heads up,” don’t you think? Fire departments and police departments are probably already planning for the likely “fireworks set off house fire” and “bottle rocks set off pasture fires.” Yep, responsible and honorable citizens with enough money to buy fireworks and set off alerts at police departments, fire departments and insurance offices. ….
ONE MORE NOTE: So, it’s a new week in a new year and everybody is back to work — well, except the Dallas Cowboys. Just kiddin’ America’s Team. Bless Andy Dalton for running better than the running backs and livng through that game-long siege against the New York Giants. And, some words of wisdom to Dallas Cowboys Coach Mike McCarthy: (List 1) Chan Gailey, Dave Campo, Bill Parcells, Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett. (List 2) Tom Landry Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer. Which list of former Dallas Cowboys coaches do you want to be on? So much for Motivational Monday.
—- Offer advice or gripes by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put “Happy 2021” in the subject line —-