MUGSHOT MONDAY GIVES US THE FACES; AND WE LEARN OF A CATTLE SEIZURE IN EAST TEXAS

EDITION OF MONDAY, Feb. 21, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Yeah, the politicians and the experts are going to happily be blaming people for failing to see the weather misery coming 10 days ago. Was nobody paying attention to Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day? I’ll bet that’s the last time a politician laughs off a shadow-spotting groundhog and a weather forecaster says, “Never mind that overfed rodent, I’ve got a distant forecast computer program that never misses.” 

Six more weeks of winter? That six weeks expires along about the middle of March. Still time to buy winter gear which, previously in Texas, meant thick socks and a waterproof windbreaker in case of rain.
So, having avoided unpleasant weather difficulties, I’m happily back at the computer keyboard and here we go. Phil (the rodent upper left) has people. This dog has nobody. You could be THE somebody. Read on. 

CALL THIS MONDAY MUGSHOTS
FOR THE MESQUITE SHELTER
I decided to organize this on my own — this mugshot array. And yes, there are some Earhounds! The volunteers concentrate on meeting the dogs and making sure they can tell people what the dogs are like — the theory (and it works so far) is that the info helps people decide to give a dog a chance. [LARRY ASIDE: These bios come from the volunteer dog biographers Judi Brown and Debra Chisholm. You don’t invest yourself in this sort of personal involvement unless you have a heart bigger’n Texas. It’s a real mission.] Here we go:
QITA (#46613010), a 5-year-old “darling tan-colored Pittie with hazel eyes, is 5 and came in on February 8 as a stray. Our tipster, the volunteer dog biographer Judi Brown, says the dog is craving attention. She’s high-energy and active and “sometimes gets over-exuberant and jumps on you. But because she wants to please, she should be easy to train… Once she found out I had treats she REALLY stayed close.” She’s 50 pounds and not fixed and “very photogenic,” Judi says. 

MOE (#46628404) is a 2-year-old mixed- breed, a 37-pound stray who came in on the 10th. Judi says her “pet scanner” says Moe is “part Carolina/Black Mouth Cur/Jack Russell terrier mix. Whatever he is he’s darling and has an outgoing friendly personality.” Same as Qita, Moe is “exuberant” and will jump on a person, but he will sit for treats and that’ll help control him. “He wiggles and waggles,” Judi says, describing him as “a happy guy who seems to love everyone.”
MURPHY (#46656581) is the dog to whom this face belongs. Came in as a stray on the 17th and will be available on the 22nd. He’s a 44-pound, 2-year-old “Honey-Colored Hound Mix” with a great set of ears and, as Judi writes, “soft, pleading eyes.” He’s “cautiously friendly” but will warm up to people. His back is “somewhat hunched” and he has a couple of puncture scars on his noggin. He’s also “too thin and could use some groceries,” Judi says. She sees him as living with a “family that has a laid-back lifestyle.” She also says, “I can see him sprawled out on a rug by his master’s feet. I suspect he would be a very loyal companion.” 

SALENE (#46479145) has an “action mugshot.” Debra Chisholm met her and prepared the bio. Salene is a 63-pound, 3-year-old Pittie/Staffie mix — a stray who came in on January 23 and went into quarantine. Why? “Because she was so scared and nervous in the shelter environment.” Debra says Salene has been “brought up to a bay in the general population and is doing much better….She is playful, enjoys toys and loves to fetch. She will race after the tennis balls and return them, wanting to continue with the game.” She also likes the climbing equipment in the shelter yard and loves “showing off her athleticism” and she “has a friendly disposition and is an affectionate girl.” And, of course, there’s this: “Unfortunately she appears to have been overbred.” [LARRY ASIDE: So there’s a hint about why this girl was a stray — stupid owner quit pretending to be a responsible breeder and dumped her on the streets. Just a theory based on human behavior — maybe inhuman behavior.]
TARZAN (46543844), 4 years old and about 50 pounds, is a Golden Lab/Retriever mix who came in on January 30 “due to a bite,” Debra reports. “Tarzan has completed the required 10-day quarantine and is in a general population kennel. The bite (which appears to be more of a scratch) was a minor one. After spending some time with this adorable dog, I see nothing but a friendly and sweet-natured boy.” Good on a leash, house-trained and knows “sit.” Plus, Debra says, he has an “outgoing and confident personality.” He needs, Debra declares, “People who will stay committed to him.”
GRETA (46618807) is a … [LARRY PAUSE: Look, sometimes the photos get to me. I saw Greta’s and exclaimed “Awwww!” before I read a word about her. Look at that face. Those ears. Those eyes. Holy smoke, how does a dog like that turn up stray? Shame on the person who didn’t take care of Greta. She’s practically waiting for the needle because of you!] Back to Greta: She’s about 2, weighs 40 pounds, isn’t spayed, and is “friendly, affectionate and gives kisses,” her biographer Debra says. She’ll probably need an exercise partner to help her deal with her “real zest for living,” Debra suggests. [LARRY ASIDE: I’d adopt her just to be able to look at her face and smile. But, of course, I’m a sucker for a marvelous dog or cat face. Yep, SAVE ‘EM ALL.]
So, here’s the deal. To ask about any of these animals, use their ID numbers when you email rescues@cityofmesquite.com or when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283.
Want a cat? Plenty there at Mesquite. Use those same contact points.
We picked this one off the shelter’s site Sunday.
Earl The Cat (46641413), a year-old domestic shorthair mix, came into the shelter on Feb. 12.
[LARRY ASIDE: We don’t know much about year-old Earl, but based on the way he’s standing, he may be attempting to disguise himself as a delivery driver bringing a pizza to your front door, coming in out of the weather for a tip and deciding to stay as a morale booster with your complete approval.
He looks like a clever tabby to catfans at readlarrypowell.com.]
Click here to see more animals in Mesquite’s shelter.
FOUR THAT WOUND UP
IN LANCASTER SHELTER
We got the photos and bios on these dogs from the folks with 4-Legged Helpers, the non-profit that tries to get animals safely out of small shelters where the only humans they see are city employees. Yep, lots of paw traffic, not much foot traffic. 

The first guy is the apparent Lab mix Milo. Found as a stray. Very loving, sweet cute and playful, the Helpers report. “Very good boy — he adores everyone and everything.”
That brings us to Jenny — an owner-surrender German Shepherd. (Clock is ticking.) She is “extremely playful and likes to roll around and rough-house.” House-trained. Better with a big dog than with a small dog, the Helpers report.

 We’ve reported on Raegan before — “found as a stay in an area where people dump dogs. Just heartbreaking because this girl is great,” the Helpers report. Also, “She has such a sweet, gentle loving heart.” And she likes other dogs, too. [LARRY ASIDE: No wonder she likes other dogs; look what a human did to her.]
We’ll close with Alani — the Helpers report she has a Hawaiian name that “means heavenly and beautiful.” She was a wandering stray when brought into custody. And, the Helpers say, “Adores everyone she meets. Extremely friendly and lovable.” 

To ask about helping any of these Lancaster animals, call or text 4-Legged Helpers President Laura Macias at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.
SPCA, VAN ZANDT COUNTY SHERIFF
SEIZE 7 LIVE COWS, 1 DEAD
Yep, it’s surely cruelty case. Surely. SPCA investigators and Van Zandt County Sheriff personnel seized these animals on the 19th from a pasture without food and water. Hearing for custody is scheduled at 10 a.m. March 1 in Precinct 2 Peace Justice Sandra Plaster’s court at 250 E. Groves St. in Canton. Maybe there’ll be cruelty charges. You can see photos of the seizure HERE.

[LARRY ASIDE: I was going to post the photo of the dead cow’s face, but it looked as if the animals eyes were looking up from the cold, snowy earth and asking, “Why?” and, sadly, I have no answer for this animal other than some humans are just not worthy of having an animal under their care. Honestly, it really is disturbing — doubly so when you recognize the fact that these animals are being kept just so they can be killed and eaten. OK, no lecture on the morality of a meal. Just a reminder that animal cruelty is against the law in Texas.]
The SPCA said “the deceased cow was determined to have died from starvation, and trash and trash bags were found in its stomach contents.” The entire SPCA news release is HERE https://www.spca.org/spca-of-texas-seizes-eight-cows-from-vz-property . At spca.org you can see how to donate to the SPCA’s cruelty investigations.
CONTEMPLATIONS
A VEGETARIAN RECOLLECTION
OK, that cow item out of Van Zandt County moved me to tell you one of the reasons I became a vegetarian. Around 30 years ago I was watching cattle being unloaded from a truck and one of the momma cows got to the exit ramp and stopped and looked around to see what might be happening to her next -- you know, before she was shoved out of the back of the truck and onto the ramp. I knew right then that cattle have thought processes that involve caution and questions about their future. It may not be a question about which college to attend, but it is definitely a reaction to having to make a decision: stop, go, flee. Yeah, cows may not be the brightest mammals on the planet, but I have seen humans who don’t wonder about the future, don’t look before leaping and some of them have held public office. So, I don’t dine on politicians and I don’t eat animals. Check up on how animals are killed for the sake of your meal. Maybe it’ll stop your fork in its tracks — like a “now what?” question stopped a momma cow’s exit — for only a moment — at the back of a cattle truck. Bless her heart.
—- Offer an opinion or a delusion by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and eat some vegetables before you do it. —