CLOCK TICKS IN CLYDE; OTHER ANIMALS AWAIT RESCUE IN THE 'TROPLEX; WILLIAM'S OFFICE

EDITION OF FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Ah, here we are at the end of the work- week and wondering if anything is moving back toward normal or whether we should begin re-defining the word “normal.” All that aside, let’s do some normal stuff and try to help people who are trying to help animals. Send your $20, $50 or $100,000 donations to Larry — wait, I’m kidding. I may not need it. After I finish this edition, I’ll check Wednesday night’s Lotto Texas ticket and see if “normal” is about to get a makeover! Hah. That is Office Cat William Powell in a drowsy mode in his floral striped chair -- he thinks he blends in. That's normal for him.
MEANWHILE, OUT IN CLYDE
THE CLOCK IS TICKING
Holy smoke, sometimes we forget that there are animal shelters way out where the term for the neighborhood doesn’t end in “troplex.” We’re typing this in the “Metroplex,” but these dogs are in dire straits in the Clyde-o-plex.
Clyde? About 20 miles east of Abilene and population around 3,800, including these two dogs for whom the clock may be ticking down to a needle on Friday. We spotted this on a Facebook posting by Anna Horton who lives in Tarrant County.
The posting reads, “Clyde, Tx. Animal Shelter euthanasia list for tomorrow Friday, Jan. 22.
“Tipsy is a 4 month old puppy, with neuro issues. Walks crooked. Very friendly and happy. The black Lab/Pit mix is pregnant. Very sweet.

“Rescue group would need to adopt, rather than pull. $35.00 adoption fees has been pledged, as well as another $50. To the rescue that takes them in. ….Shelter will not hold for rescue or adopter.. Call or text the Clyde Animal Control Officer at 325-439-1796."
Anna’s note says, “Please don’t give her grief about the city’s rules. She is trying to save these dogs by reaching out to us.” 
In a later post by Anna, the message read, ”Rescue in the works for the pup, as well as three pups posted previously. Also, lots of people working on the pregnant dog.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Perhaps there’s a kind animal advocate somewhere who can persuade the authorities in Clyde’s municipal government to become a city with a no-kill policy in its animal shelter. Be proud to write about that announcement! I couldn’t find a photo record of animals in the shelter other than Tipsy and the pregnant dog.]
AND THE DOGS KEEP
COMIN’ RIGHT ON IN!
Yep, you get some out, some more show up. I guess that’s the general rule for municipal animal shelters. In this case we’re focusing on the new arrivals at Lancaster Animal Services.
The 4-Legged Helpers folks have recently had good fortune at getting several animals placed into safer organizations than the city shelter. But, then, here came a new load. Why? [LARRY ANSWER: Let’s go ahead and blame people — people who don’t care what happens to their animals, people who don’t properly fence their animals; people who are lacking in a major element of kindness in their hearts. Mercy, mercy.]
We’ll start with Kylo, a Husky boy described in his bio as “a great dog. Very loving and so attentive and super smart. Very, very good boy who just so much wants someone to love him. Very cute. Big pretty eyes. What a cutie!” [LARRY ASIDE: No idea how he came to be in the shelter, but I’m pretty sure he didn’t pull out his cell phone and call Uber for a ride.]
These two bulldog mixes are Zoey and Zachary. The Helpers’ note reads, “Sweetest little pair ever - just cute, cute, cute.  Precious, loving, and sweet.  They were found out and about together and clearly were hoping someone would save them and they ran to the Good Samaritan that saw them out all alone together. Poor sweet babies need someone to love and care for them. They are both sweet, gentle, very loving dogs.  SUPER CUTE!!!  Please, won't you help save one? AVAILABLE TOGETHER OR INDIVIDUALLY.”

And we’ll close with Diamond, apparently a Rottweiler, and Bree, possibly a Rottie/Lab mix. They’re available on February 1. 
Their collars had their names. Here’s the rest of the story:
 “Their owner left Diamond and Bree alone at a house when they moved and told the neighbors they would be back for them. Sadly no one has yet returned and the neighbor became concerned and alerted Animal Control.  Absolutely gorgeous dogs and both just as precious and sweet as can be. Diamond looks like she could be a Rottweiler with the markings and build but her ears are longer so we are unsure. Bree appears to have Lab in her but combined with something and we are thinking perhaps Lab/Rottie ore\ even Bulldog mix.

“Whatever they are, they are just adorable. CUDDLY GREAT girls!  SO SWEET. Shelter staff is attempting to locate the owner so they asked we put a date a little further out on availability. Please, won't you help save one?  AVAILABLE TOGETHER OR INDIVIDUALLY.”
To ask about any of these beings, call or text 4-Legged Helpers’ Laura Macias at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].
TWO READY TO GO
IN MESQUITE SHELTER
Here’s an odd note: We’re accustomed to seeing names repeated among dogs and cats — Rowdy, for example, or Kitty. But we’ve never before encountered two dogs named Kenzie. The first was the dog with the injured leg in Lancaster — 4-Legged Helpers got her into a rescue situation this week.
Now comes Kenzie from Mesquite. We learned of her from the Mesquite shelter’s volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm. She reports that Kenzie, about 8 months old and 41 pounds, came in on the 13th as a stray and she’s been spayed. “There is so much to like about this precious pup. She walks well on a leash, though a bit hesitantly.  When led through the bay she seemed interested in the other dogs and did not react when some of them barked at her.   She did her business in the shelter yard.  Kenzie knows the sit command and will happily sit for treats (taking them gently) for as long as you will administer them!  She has a beautiful coat and a sweet personality to match.  Kenzie is a friendly girl who is playful with a fair amount of puppy energy (though not hyperactive and does not jump on you).  She seems somewhat timid and shy and not real comfortable with all the noise of the other dogs in the shelter but who can blame her?  This girl has such potential to be a wonderful and loving companion.”

Use her shelter ID 46421083 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
And this 3-year-old, 54-pound fellow is Boomer, possibly a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix. He was first surrendered to the shelter on the 15th. Why? The “reason given for the surrender was that it was ‘not working out’,” Debra writes. 
So, there’s this: “Former owner stated that he likes to run and play, is house trained, lived with and was OK with their other dogs and children (who were 6 and up), lived both in/outdoors and that he does not like cats. He was adopted the next day, but returned to the shelter on 1/19.  Adopter admitted to having unrealistic expectations about owning a pet and that Boomer had too much energy to suit them.  Also reported that he chased their cats and barked too much. … In addition, it was reported that Boomer is somewhat selective in the men he warms up to.  … Boomer was a bit skittish and had his tail tucked part of the time during the photo shoot.  He just doesn't seem comfortable and relaxed and who can blame him?”

Yep, Boomer looks like a challenge for a heart that love and patience to give a dog. Boomer’s #46421083. Use that number when you call 972-216-6283 or email at [email protected].
[LARRY ASIDE: I think the secret to charming a dog that is uncomfortable around men is to let the dog gently understand that you, sir, are not the creepy, violent, BLEEPBLEEP that mistreated him or terrified him in a former life. You are his angel. And he will be yours. Love the dog. Work at it. I’m happy to entertain other theories of how to prove your worth to a doubtful dog. Email [email protected]. And bless Boomer’s heart!]
CONTEMPLATIONS
WILLIAM; CONAN & PIGEONS; PRECISION PILOT'S CRASH COURSE
That is Office Cat William Powell at work -- he's a formerly feral/currently lovebug Tabby, Oak Cliff-born 3 or 4 years ago down the street from our house. 
I was out painting the wooden trim on our garage one day and he wandered up and asked about renting a room — pointed out that he had a semi-brushy tail suitable for painting small areas and was willing to work for room and board. So he’s been with us ever since and never painted a darned thing. He’s a philosopher, apparently. You know what’s good about him? He’s willing to be picked up, hugged and kissed. I think he learned it from the dogs. Anyway, he has editing skills, particularly with punctuation and here’s a photo of him suggesting that I end a sentence with a question mark rather than a preposition. …
“January 22 is the anniversary of the birth (1906) in Peaster, Texas, just northwest of Weatherford, of the writer Robert E. Howard. Who?” you may ask as if you were born yesterday. The author Howard specialized in pulp fiction and was the creator of Conan the Barbarian. No, he never saw the 1982 film with Arnold Schwarzenegger — suicide in 1936 at his home in Cross Plains, southeast of Abilene. Among the stories he wrote? This one with a fascinating title: Pigeons From Hell. ….
Finally confirmed that our trash truck driver was not a member of a military precision flying team. Circumstantial evidence. On Thursday morning he rolled alongside our front curb, picked up the trash bin with his power lift, kept rolling, clipped the recycling bin with the bottom of the regular trash bin, sent it flying, kept rolling and dropped the regular bin about 10 feet past the prone recycling bin. For fetching my trash bins, I’ll qualify for a Boy Scouts of America hiking merit badge. In the upcoming Olympics Trash Grasping Event, not even the Russian judges would have scored him high. Though, of course, no trash was spilled by this close encounter of the recycling kind.
—- Offer sage trash advice or happy trash tales by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing [email protected] —-