A LOUIE'S IN DANGER UPDATE; ADDITIONAL TALES AND CHALLENGES

EDITION OF MONDAY-TUESDAY FEB. 8-9 2021 [PetPowellPress] During the noon hour Monday we got an urgent note about blind dog Louie from Christine Kallas of Against All Odds Rescue. We’d featured him in the Sunday evening/Monday morning edition. Why? Time was running out on him and we didn’t know how swiftly.
Christine wrote, “Louie is now on top of the urgent list, meaning he will be next in line for euthanasia. Garland only has 8 open kennels for new intakes. Do you think we can spare this boy?”
I don’t know. I hope so. There’s no good reason to kill a dog for the sake of making room for the next dog on the euthanasia list.
For info about Louie and to offer to help, call the shelter at 972-205 -3570. Email animalservices@garlandtx.gov. If you’re a rescue, email rescue@garlandtx.gov.
FOLLOWING UP ON
THE OL’ OKLAHOMA DOG
Last week we connected with the Burns Flat, Okla., animal rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher and she told us the story of this dog. You may recall, a woman she knew was driving about 3 a.m. on I-40 and saw this dog dash between the front wheels and rear wheels of a moving big rig.
Terry Lynn stepped up to help get this guy to safety. What happened? She told us Monday, “I fell in love with this doll.” She sent us two more photos of the lounging I-40 truck dodger. (On the right is the early photo; the other two are in foster care.)
Bottom line from Terry Lynn reads, “He has no teeth. 15-plus years old. Serious heart murmur. My vet started him on meds. And the best thing ever: He has found a Foster Home and is safe. Being loved and pampered.”
 To all who supported saving this dog, she wrote, “Thank you all for your good thoughts for this guy. He will love whatever time he has left knowing kindness and love.”

In the meantime, as winter begins a sincere assault on the western Oklahoma own — the wind and weather blow across the Texas Panhandle right into Burns Flat — Terry Lynn has been hustling on behalf of three dogs still waiting in the city pound. 
She writes, “After these, my ACO promised not to pick any up (unless emergency) until this cold spell is over.  It looks like we have about two weeks for sure of this arctic air.  The temps are in the teens with windchills bringing it to below zero.   Some nights will be more than -15 below wind chill.”
So? Here’s Terry Lynn’s explanation: “Our pound is totally outdoors.  I have tarps up and a little heater blowing on them but it’s nothing against these winds and cold.  I hardly slept last night. I went up four times with warm blankets from the dryer. It’s drizzling ice and will be. off and on. for awhile.
“I have some inside kennels but we emptied the pound and put what we had in them. These guys came in after.  My dream would be to have another small building.  Even if I had to crate them and let them out for awhile at least they’d be warm …  But that’s thousands of dollars.  It’s not possible right now.  So I’m working on getting them into boarding through at least the next two weeks.   Maybe three, depending.”

One way to protect those three big Pittie shelter dogs in Burns Flat is to get them into foster homes (can be anywhere!) or rescue groups (can be anywhere) or onto your couch (can be in a living room anywhere!). To offer some kind of help or just a line of support, email Terry Lynn at remembering_oddball@yahoo.com.
AVERY’S ‘TERRIBLE SCARE’;
ALANI WAITING IN A SHELTER
We mentioned Avery last week — the dog who showed up at a home in Wilmer where the city shelter isn’t taking animals right now, according to 4-Legged Helpers, the rescue folks who focus on small shelters with low-to-no-foot traffic.
 That’s why roaming dog Avery isn’t in custody.
 A note from the Helpers (thank you Laura Macias) cited this incident as a “terrible scare.”
She included Helpers’ profiler Leighann Hayden’s story about the episode. Leighann wrote, “Terrible scare this weekend when Avery disappeared and people on the property where she comes to eat thought they saw someone trying to catch her — NOT a rescue person. There are people in this area that look for bait dogs!” 
Leighann continued, “Our hearts sank. We cried thinking about what a terrible outcome for such a sweet dog. 
“Then, good news! She came back to eat at the house she has been visiting — but the people think she may be pregnant.
 We had a potential temp foster lined up, but this person absolutely cannot foster pregnant dog or dog with puppies.”
And, there, Ladies and Gents, you see the brand new opportunity for helping Avery with her dramatic future. Leighann’s note asked, “IS THERE ANYONE THAT COULD RESCUE AVERY IF SHE IS  PREGNANT? We confirmed she is awesome with other dogs as well as cats from the people that live on the property …” 
If it turn out a vet visit reveals Avery is NOT pregnant, she can go to the original foster, Leighann wrote. On the other hand, “If she IS pregnant, then she truly needs a rescue group willing to let her have her puppies.”
To offer to help Avery, call or text Laura at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com. 
Keep those contact points handy because this brings us to Alani.
Alani, a female “Bulldog mix” will be available at the Lancaster Animal Shelter at the “close of business” on Tuesday. 
Leighann wrote, “Alani is just precious. Found out and about as a stray but she seems to have been well cared for.  Absolutely gorgeous fur and sparkling beautiful eyes.  Adores everyone she meets.  Very sweet. Just a completely adorable girl.”
And, remember, the 4-Legged Helpers can help 501c3 rescues with transporting dogs and cats. Just get in touch with Laura.

MEANWHILE, IN MESQUITE
MOCHA WAITS FOR A HOME
This boy Mocha (#46479143) is a 3-year-old Pittie who arrived as a stray at the Mesquite Animal Shelter on January 23 and went into immediate “decompression.” He was a little bit anxious about being in a strange place without people he thought loved him.
 Our tipster, the volunteer dog biographer Judi Brown, visited with Mocha and reports, “He’s a very sweet boy with hazel/yellow eyes. He’s on the timid side and takes a while to get comfortable with you. I bribed him with treats and he came around; however, he still was cautiously friendly and kept his tail a little tucked. He also was slobbering which can be a sign of being nervous. For this reason I think he would do better with older children and in a laid back household. He did let me pet him and at the very end of the photo shoot even wagged his tail. He’s gentle and does not jump on you.  … Because of his size (77 pounds) and a strong pull on the leash I was not able to walk him through the bay to test him with other dogs. However he didn’t show any reaction when dogs went by his kennel. Mocha is a laid-back guy that would love to be in the house with you laying at your feet. There’s no doubt he would be a loyal, loving companion.” To offer to help Mocha enjoy the rest of his life, call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmes- quite.com. Use his ID (#46479143) to help the communication process.”
You can see more Mesquite animals — dogs and cats — by going to the Shelter online site HERE. Among the cats awaiting a happy home is Eli (#46599537), a 3 1/2-year-old “large Orange” fellow who came in on Feb. 5 and can be interviewed in the Cat Room. [LARRY ASIDE: We are cat fans at readlarrypowell.com and, as such, are prepared to testify in the World Cat Court that Eli has a fantastic face!]
CONTEMPLATIONS
WINTER DRIVING & POST-FOOTBALL PITCHES
This is being typed as weather reports for the area are using words such as “freezing drizzle” and “sleet” and “winter weather.” We’ll now re-direct your attention (not while you’re driving, of course): Keep your eyes and your tires on the road. Sounds so easy, doesn’t it?…
Nobody has to give advice to any motorists on the Dallas/Fort Worth Bumper Car Track. Yeah, we all know how to drive in dry weather, why should slip-slidin’ weather be any kind of a challenge at all? …
No matter the temperature or the forecast, now that NFL football is over, it’s time to move our collective concern to fretting about the Texas Rangers’ pitching. Maybe this is the year the Rangers win the World Series. And, maybe, it’s also the year I sell my screenplay: Fastballs, Screwballs and Knuckleheads. It’s a love story. Baseball player falls for a politician who goes to Congress. It’s bipartisan.
—- Offer advice or alarm by clicking on ‘comments’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-