CLOSE CALL DOGS; DOYLE'S BONDED CATS; ADORABLES; A FAIR, A SHOW & A FLOWER

EDITION OF JANUARY 19-20, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Anybody else find holidays disruptive to your personal routine? 
That question is my way of saying this two-day edition is my way of trying to catch up with things! I still have time to wrap my kids’ Christmas presents, right?…I’m kidding. That sleigh has sailed. Let’s start the edition with a bit of an uplifting experience for someone who says, “I’m not usually a rescuer.”
THE BONDED CATS
THAT DOYLE LOVED
Dear Readers, we didn’t know this fellow Doyle. But Frances Sinclair did. And when Doyle died, the mission became “find a new home for the 13-year-old kitty brothers.” 
Frances’ friend Doyle left behind these 13-year-old brothers, Dylan and Roscoe. In her appeal she explained, “It was my friend’s main concern while he was sick and in the hospital” that they have a loving home after he was gone.

“Both have been neutered and one of them has been declawed. It was my friend’s wish to keep them together so that they can support each other,” Frances wrote in her appeal. And she was seeking someone who’d “have room in their heart or in their home for these sweet boys.”

Several people called Frances with advice about surrendering them to a shelter. But she was determined to find that proper home for the boys.

On Friday, I made a call to Frances to see how the hunt for a home was going and the same day she called back to say, with a hint of astonishment in her voice, “I have the most amazing news! I found a home for them.”
A woman who’d seen an on-line posting about them adopted Dylan and Royce. As Frances said, “She loves seniors! How often do you know someone who wants a senior cat — and wants TWO OF THEM!”
Frances was so happy. And, thinking of her friend Doyle and his cats’ new home, she said, “He must be smiling from Heaven.”
FROM A DOMESTIC RESCUE
TO A ROADWAY RESCUE
Now and then we find a “whew!” moment in the emails. As in “Whew! What a close call!”
This boy is Ace. And he’s currently in the care of Paws in the City, the Dallas-based rescue guided by our friend Mark Verma. 
The story of Ace is a “whew” moment.
The non-profit reports, “This boy was laying in the middle of a country road with diesel trucks narrowly avoiding him. A Good Samaritan thought he had been hit, but once he opened his truck door, Ace happily jumped right in.”

The 10-month-old, 46-pound German Shepherd/Rottie mix is in the Paws In The City Foster program and needs either a place to live and learn how to be a well-mannered companion or he needs a patient adopter who is ready to devote some time and energy to helping Ace excel as a canine pal. See how to adopt, foster or donate for Ace’s care at pawsinthecity.org.
TWO BEAUTIES AWAIT
LANCASTER RESCUE
When the workweek resumes and you see such beauties as these two, a person might just be moved to ask, “What is wrong with people? Why are these dogs in a municipal shelter where the needle gets some use?”
This first beauty is Rayne, according to our note from the non-profit 4-Legged Helpers who focus on small shelters with limited foot traffic but not limited dumpings, surrenders, etc. 
Rayne is a “Red Doberman” who’ll become available on Thursday the 21st. Our tipsters report that she is “sweet and loving and just as precious as can be.  She is an awesome girl.”

And that takes us to Gabe, a “Blue & White bully” -- TIME OUT. A red dog and a blue and white dog -- yes, Red, white and blue -- how's that for a timely post!
At any rate, Gabe is a fellow who’ll be ready for adoption or rescue on the 22nd. The Helpers say, “This adorable guy loves absolutely everyone. SUCH A CUTIE PIE.  He knows sit and shake and is such a sweet lovable boy.  Absolutely wonderful dog.”

To ask about these dogs or the Lancaster dogs and cats we cited in our earlier edition today (cats Alea and Ash and the dogs Kenzie, Brent and Pebbles!), call or text 4-Legged Helpers’ Laura Macias at 214-949-2626 or email cat_girl_71@ yahoo.com. That's Pebbles, the beautiful girl who loves children but was surrendered to the shelter because of events not in her control -- human things. And now she's without the children she loved and waiting for a home where she can love and be loved. [LARRY ASIDE: I don't have room for Pebbles at my house, but surely someone in the millions of people in the metrosprawl has a place for Pebbles.]
SUNNY AND JAKE ON DIFFERENT
ROADS: SEEK HAPPY DESTINATION

Our reliable tipsters Judi Brown and Debra Chisholm, the volunteer dog biographers at Mesquite Animal Services, have come up with a couple of pups who need safe places to be loved for the rest of their lives.

Debra cites Sunny’s story — the mixed German Shepherd/Canaan Dog/Carolina Dog/etc., is about 2 weighs 55 pounds and found herself being returned to the shelter on Jan. 16 after one mere week in a new home. Debra writes that the “adopter brought her back because Sunny and their dog were not a good fit.”
 Debra, who’d met Sunny in early January when she came into the shelter, had described her this way: “Sunny has a low-key and mellow personality and is a calm and gentle girl.  She will need a bit of extra TLC and a chance to warm up in her own timing.  However, when she does she will undoubtedly be the most devoted and loving companion.  If you spent some time with her, she would quickly win your heart.”

What happened to Sunny in the new homes? Debra writes, “ Not knowing the circumstances, it's hard to know what the problem was. Introductions not properly done?  Current dog not wanting to share his/her home and owners?  Not enough time and effort spent before returning to make it ‘work?’ Whatever the reason, Sunny is in need of a home to call her own.  Former adopter reported that Sunny lived both indoors and outdoors and that she is housetrained.  Can you please help this very sweet girl out of the shelter?  She is still timid and a bit standoffish.  But she seems so much to want to warm up and trust.  She has lots of potential!” Ask about #463544521 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.

Judi’s report on 3-year-old Kelpie/Heeler mix Jake reports that he “was surrendered to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 1/16 due to behavioral issues. He was in bite quarantine for biting a family friend that was trying to put him into a crate. His family reclaimed him and then kept him for 10 days. At this time he nipped at a roommate. The owners reported that he had not given any warning. He did not puncture the skin. They said that most of the time he was very sweet but felt he had become unpredictable. He was raised with other dogs, cats and children from 4 to 11 years old.
“Up to this point there had been no problems. Jake had been an inside/outside dog. I didn’t have any problems with him. He did spend a lot of time pacing the yard and looking through the gate. I felt like he was looking for his owners. He sat for treats and took them gently. He let me scratch his ears. He walked OK on a leash. When I walked him through the bay he went nose to nose with one small dog and then another dog barked at him and he jumped away. Jake weighs 43 pounds. Bonus: he’s already fixed.” When you contact the shelter to ask about Jake, use his ID 46326437. Call the shelter at 972-216–6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
There also are cats in Mesquite! And more dogs. You can see the dogs and the cats, such as this guy Freddy when you visit the shelter online HERE.
CONTEMPLATIONS
THE FAIR, THE STOCK SHOW
& THE FLOWER QUESTION
No theme yet for the 2021 State Fair of Texas (Sept. 24-Oct. 17) — usually revealed in February. But that doesn’t mean Big Tex and his team aren’t making news. We got this note from State Fair Senior Vice President of Public Relations Karissa Condoianis. She wrote, “I’m proud to share that despite the COVID-19 Pandemic, Big Tex Urban Farms never stopped operating in 2020 and was able to harvest and donate more than 26,000 pounds of food, which equates to more than 295,000 servings of fresh produce donated to nine organizations in the Fair Park and South Dallas communities. In response to the global crisis, the Farms adjusted the harvest and donation procedures to include proper safety protocols so the State Fair could continue to serve the community in this dire time of need.” Read the whole news release HERE and you’ll learn how the Fair’s Big Tex Urban Farms — can you say “hydroponic?” —launched in 2016 and keeps operating. Production increased 26 percent from last year, according to the Fair’s Director of Horticulture Drew Demler. He also said, “Early on when the pandemic began and everyone was asked to stay at home, grocery stores and pantries were at a loss, so we knew our contributions were more important than ever.”
MEANWHILE IN COWTOWN…The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo for 2021 was scheduled for Jan. 15-Feb. 6, but was cancelled in early October. Why? Here’s a viral hint from the news release: “Daily Stock Show attendance can exceed 140,000 people that crowd into buildings at the Will Rogers Memorial Center to see livestock, shop, dine, enjoy the carnival-midway and petting zoo as well as watch the many shows and competitions. Each year exhibitors typically travel from approximately 235 of Texas’ 254 counties and 40 states filling the various barns where they work in close proximity preparing their animals for exhibition. Consultations with infectious disease professionals and public health professionals indicate the Stock Show would rank as a ‘very high risk’ for spread of COVID-19, potentially impacting populations and healthcare systems.” No date yet for the 2022 Stock Show. But remember the marketing theme: “This thing is legendary.”
THE ARKANSAS QUESTION? From Arkansas via the Texarkana Gazette, came news last week that for the second year in a row, the Covid-19 pandemic has cancelled the annual (since 1968!) Jonquil Festival in Washington, Ark., the settlement that was a stop-on-the-road taken by Defenders of the Alamo, including Jim Bowie and former U.S. Congressman David “Davy” Crockett. You remember him, right? Washington, Ark., is just northeast of “a town called Hope,” which is just northeast of a town that's "Twice as Nice," Texarkana on I-30. No word yet on when the Jonquil Festival will return.  The photo on the left is from the Camden, Ark., Daffodil Festival and the photo on the right is from the Washington, Ark., Jonquil Festival. So, in the meantime, the key question is this: Are the celebrated flowers “daffodils” or “jonquils”? Another question that keeps good people awake at night.
— Offer flower info or animal tales by clicking on ‘comments’ or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-