EERIE PHOTOS, SHOES, MOUNT PLEASANT, MESQUITE, CATS, DOGS AND LIGHTS

EDITION OF MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021[PetPowellPress] First the pandemic and, then, on Sunday morning we're greeted by the Blizzard of '21. My comfortspouse Martha keeps hunting for that perfect pair of shoes -- the shoes that match a pair she bought 10 years ago and wore out and couldn't replace because the design was discontinued. Evil corporate decision — you’ve seen such things.
But in the week between Christmas and New Years’s Day she found the company had, in an act of corporate civility, restored that design and she quickly ordered the "familiar comfort" for her feet. 
The box arrived Saturday and, as snow fell on our home atop a hill on Sunday, Martha decided she'd open the box, slip her feet into the the comfort shoes and enjoy the warmth of the old familiar fitting.

I have included here a photograph of the pair of shoes in the box. Yep, a pair designed for someone who steps are always circling to the left.
 Somewhere there's another pair almost exactly like them.
We'll get to these mysterious lights in Contemplations. First some animals….
NORTHEAST OF THE METROSPRAWL:
A SHELTER IN MOUNT PLEASANT
Early last week we were in conversation with Cheryl Stephenson about the adorable adoptables at the Mount Pleasant Animal Shelter in East Texas. Where in East Texas. In Northeast Texas, right up I-30 about 90 minutes from Dallas.
[FYI: Mount Pleasant is also the home of a former Fort Worth mainstay, Sweet Shop USA, producer of renowned chocolate truffles and other delights. So, it’s possible that you could go to the Mount Pleasant shelter, get a cat or dog, stop at the Sweet Shop, and return to your home with more sweetness than anyone you know!]
Now, I don’t know how these cats feel about the chocolates, but I do know that Cheryl sent their photos as a reminder that there are adoptables awaiting the right humans not to far up the interstate. 
The top three cats are Bobbie, Ellie and Jazzy; the bottom three are Marnie, Mindy and Petie.
You think nobody from the Metrosprawl deals with Titus County Cuties? Here’s what I learned from Cheryl and it involves one of the rescue groups we have long-adored — adored, I’m telling you! 
A couple of Saturdays ago, Cheryl says, “Humane Tomorrow from Flower Mound came out to rescue some of our kitties. Oh my goodness, they ended up taking 12! We were beyond full and close to having to euthanize (I do not get involved in the EU – the animal control officers have seen me cry!).  Many cats had been there a good while.  Humane Tomorrow took the top ‘urgent’ cats.  Two of them were adults.  They didn’t intend to take adults, but the cats worked their magic and they were loaded up!  The pressure on cats is relieved but there are some black kitties and they are always slow to go!”

The Mount Pleasant adoptables are kept in “a wonderful, new state of the art shelter,” Cheryl says. And, as we all know, being state of the art doesn’t mean the clock’s not going to tick on unwanted animals. The Facebook link for the shelter is HERE.
And, as luck would have it, the first notice we read on that page Sunday was from Jan. 7 and read this way: “The Mount Pleasant Animal Shelter will be temporarily closed until further notice. If you have an animal related emergency or need immediate Animal Control assistance, please call the Mount Pleasant Police Department at 903-575-4004. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to be back open soon.”
You can also check with Cheryl’s Facebook page HERE to keep up with animal needs. She says, “You can see many of the pictures from Mount Pleasant on my page.  I volunteer only once a week. I would love to do more but my emotions get the best of me and I cannot get ‘attached’ to any more cats.  I need my sleep and positive attitude!!!”
Still, she confides, “I have also been known to transport kitties from MP shelter to Hillsboro, where they are picked up and transported to the Austin/Round Rock area.” They receiving organizations are usually Central Texas Feline Rescue, Austin Pets Alive and the Austin Humane Society.
 That’s a photo of the shelter’s dogs Cheryl posted on New Year’s Day. [LARRY ASIDE: It’s already the 11th of January, but those of us not involved in politics are really picking up speed now when it comes to helping other species, right?]
Go to the Mount Pleasant shelter website HERE and you can link to the Petango site with other MP animals awaiting homes, including that fabulous year-old mixed breed girl Midnight.
SEVERAL MUGSHOTS
FROM MESQUITE
We’re going to go with mugshots and one, maybe two, sentences for these Mesquite animals. Might be long sentences. Hard to believe there are so many “I don’t want you any more” dogs in the whole darned state of Texas, but, yep, like the weekly trash bin, somebody will dump ‘em. [DEAR READERS: At the end of each notice, we’ll tell you whose carefully written bio we mentioned to get more animals listed! Don’t hate me and my delete button.]
CINDER (#46379710) is a year-old, 51-pound German Shepherd mix surrendered on the 6th because “owners are moving.” He’s a couch-cuddler who is “OK” with dogs and cats; he knows “sit, lay and stay and is well-mannered. — DEBRA CHISHOLM
GORGEOUS (46188262) is “truly a gorgeous tri-color” Pittie surrendered Jan. 8 “in the field” because the 4-year-old, 54-pounds “of sweetness” had a human with financial difficulties. Cautious at first in the shelter, her biographer sat in the kennel with her “until she was comfortable with me” and the dog began to relax and feel safe.— JUDI BROWN.
AVA (46366153) A 3-year-old smoky gray Pittie arrived on Jan. 4 as a stray — she’s smallish at 41 pounds, recently had a litter and is a “real sweetheart!” who recently had pups and is motivated by treats. There’s this for the affectionate “loving, loyal” companion: “Her hazel eyes are gorgeous and speak to you.” — JUDI BROWN
DUKE (35954069) is a 5-year-old, 82-pound Pittie mix surrendered on Jan 6 “due to financial hardship.” A previous owner had not “complied with the contract” to neuter Duke, so he’ll need that, but this big dog, the bio says, “gets really happy and likes to jump but is just a big teddy bear.” — DEBRA CHISHOLM
KODA (46353541) is a 2-year-old, 52-pound Siberian Husky mix who was a “returned adoption” on January 2 — no reason given, but someone needed to dump him. He’s said to be OK on a leash, may be house-trained, “has an outgoing, confident and strong personality” and is energetic, spunky and playful” and who “enjoys receiving attention, who lives up to the Husky reputation of needing lots of exercise and a good fence. — DEBRA CHISHOLM

EDDIE (46362675) is a formerly stray Pittie mix who arrived on January 4 at 70 pounds — he’s about 6 and not neutered. But he’s friendly, has a sweet nature, walks well on a leash, can fetch balls, knows “Sit,” is “active though not hyperactive,” and needs some TLC — plus, “Eddie takes treats and can catch them in his mouth.” — DEBRA CHISHOLM
PANDA (46391301), a year-and-a-half-old, 58-pound Pittie/Whippet/etc. mix, came into the shelter on the 8th “because her owners had too many animals." She’s been decompressing since then, but warmed up to her biographer, followed her everywhere and “put her head on my lap and indicated she would’ve like to get up on the couch next to me.” Panda’s tail continually wags as she works her way through being timid — she’s an indoor dog who gets along well with adults and is “definitely very sweet wants to make friends.” — JUDI BROWN
That’s our Monday load of mugshots. To ask about them use their ID numbers when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com. One more mugshot? OK, you can see more Mesquite dogs and cats by clicking on the shelter’s site HERE. And unless someone has claimed him you’ll see this photo of #45435115, a nearly 2 1/2-year-old medium-sized fellow named Felix, as in Felix the Cat. He came in on the 9th. Where is he in the shelter? He’s in the “Cat Room.” Appropriately.
PLANNING VIRTUALLY AHEAD
AT THE SPCA OF TEXAS!
The 25th Anniversary Paws Cause is going virtual this year, according to the SPCA of Texas. As many of you recall, the Paws Cause benefits the Southern Dallas Spay/Neuter and Wellness Initiative and the Mary Spencer Clinic at Village Fair at I-35 South and Ledbetter.
Why is Paws Cause going virtual in 2021? Viral carryover from 2020, of course. 
The event will be “held virtually on Feb. 20, 2021,” the SPCA says.
Get more details at www.pawscausedallas.com.
CONTEMPLATIONS
GHOST, AN ACCENT & A NECKLACE
We’ll get to explaining this eerie photo in a moment. … Sunday morning I was surfing the cable and ran across Ghost -- did you realize that film was released in 1990? It always feels so new when I watch it. Still, Martha and I saw it on a date before we got married! How's that for a film that time-travels well? .... In honor of Tom Brady leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers past the Washington Football Team in the opening round of the NFL playoffs, I will now type the team's name as the great Dallas Cowboys Coach Tom Landry always said it: "WAR shintun." Texas boy, you know. … Now that brings us to the eerie lights moving in our yard. Turns out Martha and her Rottie pal, Texas Earl the Cheeseman, teamed up with a necklace of battery-operated Christmas lights to add a twinkle of festivity to the night before the Blizzard of ’21. When you CLICK THIS VIDEO you’ll see an odd light display and ultimately Porche Noel having wondered just what the heck was going on and why didn’t she have a necklace of lights. When you CLICK THIS VIDEO
you’ll see Earl happily wearing the decoration of his favorite season. Yes, dogs are fabulous performers. Ours love applause. Feel free to clap.
—- Offer ideas or declarations by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-