CATS, DOGS, PEOPLE, THE MOON, A TIMELY BAND AND MUSHROOMS

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH FORTH, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Before we get to a wonderful Chloe & the Snow Moon photo in contemplations, we have to explain March Forth.
 I’m just warming up with that March Fourth line — remember in two months we’ll be putting on our rag-tag space suits and telling people, “May the Fourth be with you.” But that was, as I recall, “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” Thank you, Star Wars writer.
Now, some notes from the 21st century, maybe, depends on the power supply for my time machine. That’s my cat, Stevie Ray, the handsome fellow. He is flopped over on my “nap blankie” — I went hunting for it and discovered the cat needed the nap and I had more typing to do. He was not remorseful.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED
TO THE 11 DUMPED PUPPIES?
In good hands, is the answer we've gotten. You may recall reading about the 11 puppies dumped on a road near Jacksboro. We’d been in touch with 4-Legged Helpers and on Wednesday we got this news: They’ve all be claimed by Tall Tails Animal Rescue and Transport. And, we’re told by 4-Legged Helpers President Laura Macias, they’re probably destined for new homes in Washington State.
Here’s a link to the Tall Tails Facebook page. I mention this link in case people snap to the idea of donating to help Tall Tails fund travel arrangements and feeding. These are puppies -- they have appetites!
That’s the only photo we have — a litter of puppies happily merging at the feet of a rescuer! Kind of trusting, don’t you think?
[LARRY IDEA: Oh, and there's this one more thing: Abandonment of animals is against the law in the State of Texas. If you know the person who dumped 11 puppies, call an animal cruelty line, call a police department, a sheriff's office, anybody with a badge. The jerk probably wasn't wearing a mask, either.]
MEANWHILE, IN MESQUITE,
TOUGH DOG TALES & ELI THE CAT
This guy with the dance-step is Ranger, about 3, a 67-pound Lab mix who, Mesquite Animal Shelter dog biographer Debra Chisholm says, “is very uneasy in the shelter environment.”

How uneasy? 

“When I attempted to lead him through the bay past other dogs who were barking at him, he was practically paralyzed.” Outside, in the exercise yard, he "warmed up a bit” and appears to “have such a sweet nature, is calm and gentle. Ranger walked up to a woman in the front yard of the shelter (she showed some interest in him) and snuggled up to her and let her pet him.” He’s #46716734 at the shelter.
And that brings us to “this big bundle of cuteness Teddy,” Debra says. 
Get a load of this “pedigree” — Debra says he’s “a mixed breed boy consisting of possibly Leonberger/Estrela Mountain Dog/Aussie Shepherd.”

Why is he in the Mesquite Shelter? He was “a returned adoption” who came in on March 2. The story is “Teddy was adopted by a young man who apparently did not consult his girlfriend.  She was not ‘on board’ with adopting Teddy, so back he came to the shelter.” This photo demonstrates handsome Teddy's smiling personality.
[LARRY ASIDE: This space is reserved today to remind those of you who have marital advice for people who disagree over dogs and cats, "Be kind.:]
  Teddy’s pushing a year old and weighs 60 beautiful pounds. He’s described as “handsome,” “frisky and spunky,” showed no aggression toward other dogs and is “a precious boy with a gentle and loving demeanor.” He’s #46666078.
To ask about any of these Mesquite animals or any animal in the city’s shelter, use the ID number when you contact the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite. com. Among the cats? This cat with the wonderful face, Eli (#46599537), a 3 1/2-year-old orange Domestic Shorthair mix with a wondrously sincere expression. It’s like he was sitting in the cat room when he came in (Feb. 5!) and asked the photographer, “Now, is this expression going to draw the attention of a really good heart?” I suspect the photographer replied, “Yes, it will, Eli. May take some time — I think we have a devil of a blizzard coming our way. We’ll keep you warm and you’ll still be orange when adoptors start looking at you again.” [LARRY ASIDE: I frequently make up dialogue between humans and animals. Usually they’re my dogs and cats, but this guy is such a big sweet lookin’ fellow that I cannot resist. I hope someone else can’t resist, too, and gives this guy a magnificent home for decades.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
A MOON, A BAND AND MUSHROOMS
When I first saw this picture, I declared to its photographer, “What a wonderful photograph!!!”

This is a photo of the Snow Moon rising over Indian Lake at Denville, N.J., over the weekend. That’s the home, as you may recall, of our Eastern Seaboard Bureau and that photo is the work of the veteran journalist, our bureau chief, Andy Fisher. On Feb. 23, we posted Andy’s tribute to the family dog, Maxie, who had lost a long battle to assorted physical ailments. His spirit remains undefeated. 
Andy sent this photo on Tuesday and wrote, “The ‘Snow Moon’ rose over Indian Lake last night. If you look at the right side of the photo, you’ll see a feline silhouette that can only belong to one cat.”
When I saw the moonrise picture I told Any that I’d immediately thought "Chloe is looking toward the moon figuring it’s where Maxie paused to look back on his way to Heaven.” And, Andy, who is thoroughly wrapped around the paw of Chloe replied, “What an absolutely beautiful thought! I can just imagine that going through Chloe’s pretty little head.” (Clearly, two ol’ animal nuts embraced the notion, too.) That's a photo of Chloe and Maxie in a nuzzling moment a couple of years ago. He is a very missed dog.
NOW, ABOUT MARCHFOURTH. Turns out it’s a band from Oregon. An odd gathering of musicians with a Woody Guthrie-esque slogan, “This band is your band.” A few years ago Andy Smith, a Providence Journal arts writer, opened a story about MarchFourth at a Rhode Island show with this description: “The band is a cross between a funky New Orleans brass band and a circus troupe, complete with dancers and stilt walkers.” I don’t know that MarchFourth has ever been to Texas. Here’s a link to the “marching band’s” music.   Feel free to crank up your speakers -- especially if you're in an office! It'll interrupt those "I can't believe I'm back at the office" nappers.
I’ll close with this contemplation: I’ve been getting emails from the Wayfair home furnishings people for a while and this week I got one that at first glance was titled “Mushrooms are disappearing.” What the heck? Mushrooms disappearing — were the election campaign and the pandemic not burdens-enough? I re-read the subject line: “Mudrooms are disappearing,” it informed. Whew. Next time I order fried battered mushrooms, I’ll give sincere thanks.
—- Offer info or gripes or mushroom recipes by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. Save ‘em all. —-