ReadLarryPowell.com

HELLO, SWEET JUNE! AS THE LAND BEGINS TO DRY (MAYBE), READ THESE ANIMAL TALES...

EDITION OF TUESDAY, June 1, 2021 [PetPowellPress] How about this. We’re down to a 4-day week. Well, hello, June and put away that umbrella. Anybody got a “weather toe” that’s suddenly feeling the relief of a dry forecast? That’s the only surefire confirmation of a TV weather prediction. "Weather toe." Could just be a myth. Let’s talk dogs and cats.
TWO DIFFERENT STORIES:

A CAT IN A BOX; A DOG IN A MOTEL
(1) DATELINE DALLAS: We got this one off the weekend Facebook page for Dallas Animal Services and it sort of points out how big hearts are associated with DAS these days. 
Here’s the text of the DAS Facebook entry about an incident in Dallas on Sunday morning: “Not all heroes wear capes... some, like Budgie (#A1118326) have tails. Sweet Budgie boy was out on his #D90run this morning with our volunteers when his nose sniffed out a tiny orphaned kitten in an empty Nutella box on the side of the road less than a mile from our shelter. He took our volunteers right to the little kitten and they were able to get the kitten (later named Lil Nutella #A1121604) safely to our kitten nursery.
“Our staff worked quickly to get Nutella fed and warmed before placing her in a foster home where she’ll get big and strong.
"Budgie the hero is available for adoption! Learn more about him at BeDal- las90.org /pets.
“Special shout out to our #d90runner volunteers for following Budgie’s nose right to the kitten and getting Nutella to safety as quick as they could.”
 FYI: DAS also reports that on Saturday, it adopted out 57 animals. [LARRY NOTE: We have more on DAS in Contemplations.]
(2) DATELINE BONHAM — THE MOTEL DOG was photographed inside a crowded car. The story came in a Memorial Day weekend appeal from animal advocate Jennifer Sellers.
The subject line read, “DOG SOON TO BE IN KILL SHELTER,” and the text read, “This sweet girl is still in need of help.  Her owner is in a motel, soon to be homeless and the dog is going to a shelter.  She did have two dogs and found a home for one of them.  This girl has not been spayed yet. She is very good with children and other dogs.
“She is in Grayson County, Bonham, and will be going to the shelter which is a high kill one.  Please network this girl.  She needs a chance at a good life.  I'm sure transport can be arranged to the Dallas area.” To offer to help save this dog, “call or text Thoa at 903-815-5955.”
MOOMOO, SPOT & AND OTHER
TALES FROM MESQUITE…
Not all dogs are dumped at shelters; some are seized by the police and delivered there! 
Consider the cases of MooMoo and Spot and a third dog named King. Our tipster, Mesquite Animal Shelter volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm reported that the three dogs “were seized by police, taken to the Mesquite Shelter and placed in protective custody.” 
[LARRY ASIDE: We’re not sure why this happened, and we’re attempting to find out about King, but in the meantime, MooMoo and Spot need places to live.]

Debra’s report on MooMoo (left and right)  is that she’s about 5, weighs 52 pounds and is spayed. She’s also “uneasy in the shelter environment and doesn’t walk well on a leash because of her fear. She was frightened by the dogs who barked at her when she was led through the bay.  MooMoo has a low-key and mellow demeanor.  She is well-mannered, calm and gentle.  She takes treats gently and will sit for them.  MooMoo is a friendly and affectionate girl and wanted to climb up on my lap on the bench.  She is happy to receive attention.  It must be confusing to her to be at the shelter with all the noisy dogs and activity.  However, she needs a new home in which she will receive the TLC she deserves.” MooMoo is #47519243. Use it when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@ cityofmesquite.com.
Same contact points for Spot (#47852183). I couldn’t decide which photo to use of Mr. Cuteness, so I picked 3 with personalty. Spot is about 3 months old and weighs 35 pounds. Debra’s bio reads, “They don't come any cuter or sweeter than Spot.  He is a perky, spunky and playful youngster.  He has the most fun-loving, tail-wagging personality.  He would not walk on a leash at first (probably has never been on a leash) but began to walk somewhat hesitantly but this smart little boy will pick it up quickly no doubt.  I think he preferred to be carried.  Spot will be a big boy with his weight at 35 already and his large paws.  He is friendly and affectionate.  Spot takes treats gently.  He will sit but not because he is obeying a command but because he seems to just want to rest his bottom.” [LARRY ASIDE: That “rest his bottom” line made me think “They’re so human, these dogs!”]
Until we learn about King, I’ll remind you, Dear Readers, that there are many more dogs and cats in the Mesquite Shelter — like all local shelters, it’s experiencing a pandemical population boom. You can see more dogs and cats and puppies and kittens by going to the shelter website HERE. This kitten is Aries (#47761026), a smallish Siamese mix who may be a couple of months old, but who is, most certainly, a kitten with a great face — and she’s either winking at the camera or awaiting some treatment for a minor eye problem. She came in on May 14. Remember, use her ID# when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]. 

CONTEMPLATIONS
OLD THOUGHTS AND OTHER NOTIONS
When I was reading the story of Budgie and Lil Nutella at DAS, at the risk of sounding geezerish, I thought, “Good grief, things are a lot different now at DAS than they were a decade or so ago when the EU needle was constantly being worn down." That was the era of the “Leave the Cat in The Wall” episode. If that nameless cat had not escaped inside the shelter, crawled into a wall to hide and been left in the darkness and crying out en route to death, nothing would have changed at Dallas Animal Services. Nothing. Readlarrypowell.com
continues to maintain that a statue honoring that cat ought to be placed on shelter property so that people can remember The Cat That Changed Everything. It was an awful time. And now it’s so much better. Bless that cat…. If we forget these challenges, we’re not doing the right thing for future cats, kittens, dogs, puppies and, especially, the children and people who come in contact with a city shelter that has worked so hard to change its image.
Now the challenge is to get hearts OUTSIDE the shelter to change — stop the dog-fighting, stop dumping animals in out-of-the-way sections of the county and, of course, stop putting kittens into boxes and throwing them away on the side of a road.
People — what a challenge we are.
— Offer ideas or hope by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘Hope for the future’ in the subject line. —

A DAY FOR HEROIC AMERICANS...

EDITION OF MEMORIAL DAY, 2021 — On May 31, Readlarrypowell. com focuses on an American day of commemoration that was created to honor those who have given their lives to protect the United States of America. 
Our gratitude is based on what we believe to be the truth: These Americans fought for peace, not for more wars. They wanted a safe and honorable nation for their families and the futures of those people. They didn’t want to fight wars so they could go into battle again. Peace and a strong, peaceful nation, an example for the world — those were the goals.
Here’s a link to some history of Memorial Day.
God bless America. Even in tough times and an era of political spats and ugly relationships, God bless the United States of America.
-- Offer opinions by clicking on ‘comment’ or by emailing [email protected]. --

THE TV WEATHER REPORT CAPTURES THE ATTENTION OF A DELIGHTFUL CAT....



For this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, we feature one of each, including a cat named Simon who was caught watching the weather, sports and news on his TV.
We don't know why: He never goes outside, doesn't Uber to sports events and has never been caught in a rainstorm.
Simon Mycroft Holmes is, perhaps, the most meteorologically concerned cat in the Lone Star State. He’s a native of Dallas, born several years ago in Oak Cliff, about six miles south of Downtown Dallas. 
He began life with two siblings and a mom and then, when he was around 3 or 4 weeks old, Mom and the siblings (one orange, one tabby) vanished and left Simon kitten-screaming for food in the shubbery. I had the privlege of reaching into the brushy thicket and pulling out a kitten who was too small to be on his own. He grew.
In subsequent months, Simon adjusted to his life as a Beloved Housecat. He loves dogs, he loves cats and, yes, he loves the female he bonded with — my funspouse Martha? It’s a tossup between Martha and Porche Noel, my personal canine companion. Sometimes, Simon likes to hang with Dudley, the Border Collie/Chocolate Lab mix. Kindred formerly abandoned spirits in our front yard.
Simon has affection, also, for watching the weather and news reports. Until I snapped these photos, I did not realize how dedicated he has become to weather reports from Fox4 Meteorologist Evan Andrews.
If you’re from out of town/state/nation or, quite possibly, from one of those UFOs we’ve been hearing about lately, you should know that we’ve had a bit of rain and stormy weather around here. If you’re not from elsewhere, I guess the polite thing to do is hope that you and yours are not soggy.
One morning during this past week I caught our big cat Simon intently watching the weather forecast.
My photography is kind of lousy, but you can see Simon watching the reports and predictions and, then, in one photo, he appears to be holding his chin up so the weatherman can tickle it!
And, you can see that Simon is a baseball fan (after that sports clip he turned to me and said, “Heck, I coulda jumped and caught that one before it went over the fence and I don’t even wear a glove!” 
|
You also see that he took a gander at the traffic report.
After that, he turned to me, his feline and canine colleagues and said, “Here’s our lesson for the day. If you are in Dallas, stay indoors and off the roads and you’ll be safe.”

He claims that in his historical studies of Dallas he discovered that for a brief time in the Slumpin' 70s, the city’s marketing theme was “Out of the weather, out of the traffic — Buy Into Big D.”
After watching the weather, sports and traffic, Simon stood, stretched and announced, “Alright, ladies and gent’s, it’s time to Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap” and he jumped onto the couch and lived up to the title with his pal Porche Noel, who snores louder than Simon purrs. She also snores louder than a State Fair hog napping before judging and louder than a four-beers-too-many uncle at a family reunion.

Still, the pair of them managed to meet up on their couch and Let a Sleeping Dog Lie & a Napping Cat Nap.
Yeah, I woke 'em up to hug both of them. Simon resented it and went off to nap somewhere else. Porche's patient and went right back to sleep.
[DEAR READERS, Send us photos of your slumbering critters and the stories of their lives — it’s an opportunity to tell the world on the wide web how much you love ‘em. That address, you delightful animal nuts, is [email protected]. You’ll be helping people decide to add a loving animal to their home and you’ll inspire insomniacs to get some sleep, perhaps by getting comfort from watching a newscast in 2021. Nah, probably not from a newscast. Anyway, remember this: Save ‘em all and get some sleep!]

— Offer slumber tips or diet recipies with milk chocolate by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and putting “Drop that Snickers Bar, Smiley!” in the subject line. —-

ANIMALS TO SAVE & FOSTER AS HOLIDAY ARRIVES...STEAMBOATING THE TRINITY?

EDITION OF FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Not that I’m unfocused, but the first time I typed in that dateline I typed “Friday, May 28, 2030” and halfway through the next keystroke I realized, “Wrong.” I was being inattentive and thinking about the holiday weekend. I suspect I am not alone. This will be my first trip to Disneyland. I’m kidding. I worked in newspaper newsrooms for 40 years — it was Disneyland every single day.
We’ve been writing about shelter animals needing help all week. We’re finishing the week’s reports with more of the appeals for help with shelters in the area. They seem to be reaching “full” at the same time. Read on — and this is a situation in all geographic directions from the Center of the Universe, which, near as I can tell is somewhere between the High Five in Dallas and the Loop 820-I-35W merges in Fort Worth. More on that flying dog in a moment. He's available.
WE START IN RICHARDSON,
WITH ‘RELATIVELY LARGE’ DOGS
The note from animal advocate Jennifer Sellers begins with “All the dogs at Richardson are relatively large and need out as they are so full!”
Here are three of the dogs in the Richardson shelter:

Grover (#20-0978D) is a 52-pound Pittie mix who is the shelter’s “longest resident.” His birthdate is listed as 11/23/2013 and he’s been in the shelter since Dec. 8, 2020.
 He and two other strays were running in traffic “from Greenville to Beltline to Highway 75.” Officers caught them. Nobody came to claim them. Grover was starving, and “had a black strap tied in a knot around his neck”. Though he can be “shy with new people: ”He is comfortable with car rides” and is getting more easy-going with people.
The 8-year-old spayed Akita mix is named “Kita,” and she weighs 52 pounds. She’s #21-0348D. The story reads, “Resident who found the dog said they saw the dog get kicked out of a car. Will bolt if she gets loose — isn’t a dog that can hang out with you off-leash.” The shelter vet removed a tumor from the girl and, the note says, it “came back as cancerous, but we were able to remove it all. It is unlikely to come back.”

Bowen is a year-old Lab mix (#21-0364D) who weighs in at 59 pounds and quite a bit of it may be ears. He’s a return (came in on 4/24/21_ and the “adoptor didn’t introduce him to any dogs or cats while they had him.”) He’s “very energetic” and, the story reads, “Didn’t ever bark.” He’s active, but he also “chewed things on the patio, like the umbrella and the screen door.” This was a brief adoption, so he may not have had time to adjust to new surroundings. According to the note, Bowen “was adopted and returned because he was too strong.) 
See more Richardson dogs by clicking on THIS LINK. And if you want to see adoptable cats, here is THAT CAT LINK.
 

This kittycat guy is Trickster (#21-0252C), a 7-year-old fellow who came in on April 9 and has been ready for adoption ever since.
See how to adopt an animal from the Richardson Animal Shelter by clicking on THE CITY’S LINK HERE.

MEANWHILE, IN LANCASTER
THE SHELTER LIST IS GROWING…
It’s springtime and it’s also an odd time in our civilization, so should it be a surprise that shelters are getting more animals released to them and, perhaps, “set free” in within a city’s limits?

n this case, we’re speaking of Lancaster as the volunteers at the non-profit 4-Legged Helpers work to line up rescue agencies and the occasional adoptor to help animals dodge the needle.

We’ve posted many photos — some of the faces stick with us and that’s why, for this holiday weekend edition, we’re re-posting Cash, whose name is spelled Kash on the Lancaster site — what does it matter to the dog? Same sound "Cash" or "Kash" when someone he loves calls his name. He and many other animals are on the Lancaster PetFinder LINK HERE. 
Kash/Cash has been at the Lancaster shelter longer than any other resident, we’re told by 4-Legged Helpers. To ask about him, contact the reliable folks at 4-Legged Helpers by calling or texting 214-949-2726 or email [email protected]. [LARRY ASIDE: I'm holding off on beginning a note "What is the matter with you pickleheads? Can't you see this is a good dog with a whole lot of love in his face?" I don't know many of you well enough to call you a "picklehead," though, of course, there are some that I do know that well....]
OPERATION KINDNESS
DESPERATE FOR FOSTERS
Based on the news release from the legendary no-kill shelter Operation Kindness, timing has depleted the number of available foster families at precisely a most-difficult time.
 The release says that OK is at full capacity with kittens and needs some fosters to step up and help the kittens. According to the news release, “TNR (Trap, Neuter, Spay, Return) efforts across the country were halted due to the pandemic, resulting in a booming kitten season—that time of year when the warmer weather results in the influx of kittens being born. Due to the recent arrival of kittens, Operation Kindness is seeking foster families to help care for kittens that are bottle babies or older. With a high demand of requests for help with kittens, the shelter is turning to the community to help support animals in need.”
 To ask about getting involved, call the shelter at 972-418-7297 or visited operationkindness.org/foster.
And if you’d like to see some available kittens, here are two video clips: Purring napper HERE and cute little rascal saying "Hey, does my paw look big?" HERE.
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE,
WE BEGIN WITH BUTTERCUP
The dog bio volunteers at Mesquite, Judi Brown and Debra Chisholm, never run out of animals to write about. So, as the holiday weekend arrives, we’ll cite some of them and hope there are good hearts out there just aching to have a good dog forever.

Judi says Buttercup is the “beautiful, tawny-colored, one-year-old terrier pit with eyes that compliment her coloring nicely.”
 Came in as a stray on the 21st and is “a delightful, friendly, happy, wiggly girl who appears to love everyone.: Laid-back personality. Sits for treats, takes them gently. Weighs 42 pounds. She’s #47815124 and get this description, “She wiggles so much that she was even wiggling while she was sitting!”

 This dog Frankie (#47815678) isn’t even a year old, but he’s already been picked up as a stray and delivered to the shelter (May 21). Judi met 10-month-old Frankie, too, and wrote, “At the window and in his kennel he was very friendly. When I walked him through the bay he tried to make friends with all the dogs right down the line. His tail was wagging constantly. Then when I got him out in the yard his demeanor changed. I could see that he was fearful.  He had flight issues. He kept wanting to hide underneath the bench.  So for that reason I did not take his leash off. He would cautiously come to me and tentatively take a treat from my hand. He also did sit for treats. He would flinch when I went to reach out to him. Because he has trust issues I also had a behavioralist  work briefly with him. He is a work in progress. I plan to continue working with him and and enlist other volunteers to do the same. Hopefully in a few days we can post another evaluation showing that he is more trusting and friendly”
Here the basics on Coco: Mixed breed girl, owner surrender on 5/25, weighs 35 pounds, spayed, about 3 … And there’s this: She has charmed Debra! 
The devoted biographer Debra writes, “There is so much to like about precious Coco. She walks beautifully on a leash.  She did not react to the other dogs when walked through the bay.  She knows the sit and shake commands.  She is a frisky and spunky girl without being hyperactive.  She is so happy to sit for treats and will take them gently.  Coco is amiable and is A-OK with receiving attention.  She has the most beautiful soul-searching eyes.  She is a tail-wagging, fun-loving girl with such a sweet and gentle disposition.  Can you tell I'm crazy about Coco?” Use her ID #47807882 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].

Debra also met Patches, this Pittie mix who has two definite looks! The 55-pound, 3-year-old former stray (came in on the 20th), has an unpatched side and a patched side as you can see in his photographs. 
Debra says, “He has a confident and outgoing personality and is athletic. He chases balls but doesn’t know to return them.” And, he’s happy when treats are available. He’ll need “an owner who can handle his energy level,” Debra says. He’s #47802356. Use it when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Debra also met Maverick, described as “a nearly pure-bred Siberian Husky” surrendered to the shelter on the 17th. Why? “Reason for the surrender is that they could not keep him inside their fence. He would jump the fence and run away.”
 He’s a year-and-a-half, weighs 67 pounds and, if that photo can be believed, Maverick can fly. None of his paws are on the ground!
His surrendering humans acquired Maverick about six months ago and he just sort of was a bit too lively, energetic and escape-prone for the people. As Debra explained, “Huskies are known escape artists so Maverick needs to have a rescue foster or adopter who can give him plenty of exercise and a fence that cannot be scaled or dug under.” Maverick is #45611264. You know the drill: Use the ID number when you call the shelter at 972-824-9037 or email at [email protected].

You’ve all seen dogs with special needs. Lance is a dog with a special don’t-need. [LARRY NOTE: Using my native Northeast Texan, I’ll type in the language of the tall pines: “He don’t need to be around no ducks ’n' chickens.”

That’s what cost him his home. The 56-pound, 4-year-old Lance was returned to the shelter by a sad adoptor. Debra included the adoptor’s praise and explanation. The adoptor said, “He was great with the babies, the dogs (all female), no signs of food aggression, didn’t chew anything up, liked to play outside and run around, super chill inside - just laid around close but not too close to be tripped over, never got on the furniture. He will be an amazing dog for a family with no birds."

As Debra wrote, “The issue was that Lance chased their chickens and ducks and actually got one of the ducks and injured it. This is an amazing dog and will make a wonderful addition to someone's family.”

Lance is #47731038 — use the ID when you call the shelter at 972-824-9037 or email [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS
OVERLOADED SHELTERS, MOWING, THE CRUISE
I’ve gotten notes from several places this week about “overloaded shelters” and the question becomes, “Are people who got animals to help them cope with the pandemic, now unloading those animals?” I hate to think ill of humans, but I’ve been watching the species for a long time — still waiting on DNA testing to see if I am a member of the human race. (Martha has voted “no,” but I think she’s smiling about the vote.) I’m secretly hoping DNA tests will show I’m descended from a Laughing Hyena ancestor who was assigned to babysit the puppies and kittens from the FDLs. You don’t know FDLs? First Domestic Litters. I might have made some of that up. Not the overcrowding stories, though. It is springtime. Not everybody heeds spay/neuter and not everybody is mindful of keeping their animals in safe places, i.e., yards without escape routes, etc. … 
At some point soon, I’ll be mowing our gigantic yard. Thank you, constant Texas deluge. The grass in our yard grew faster than a well-fed puppy. ...
The thing about writing an edition for the Friday launching a 3-day weekend is you cannot get your mind off what you have planned. We’re leaving at Midnight Friday on one of those new Riverboat Gambler cruises on the Trinity River. We board the paddlewheelin’ casino boat, The Big D Moneymaker, at the Trinity Bay near Houston, then steam north to Dallas. It’s really fast, but the name “BulletBoat” was copyrighted by the people who invented the proposed BulletTrain between Houston and Dallas. I might have made that up. I have been in Houston and Dallas traffic and I can testify that a riverboat on a typically nearly-dry river is going to be faster than a car ride on the "improved" Dallas freeways. 

—- Begin your weekend with an opinion on ‘comment’ below or email [email protected] and put “find a steady tiller goofball” in the subject line. ——

SUCH ADORABLE FACES; CATS AND THE PLANETS; LOOKING BACK AT DEJA VU

EDITION OF THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021 [PetPowellPress] On Wednesday morning I awoke uncharacteristically late and, while brewing my first cup of coffee, looked out the kitchen window to the east and discovered the sun was there, as if it had always been there for the past two weeks of rain and cloudy obstructions. Kind of comforting to know that the Sun, like lots of Earthlings, has been waiting for the sky to clear so it could get about its routine business.
Not that any of us are as bright a the sun, of course. That dog? A ray of sunshine in need of a home. Read on.
SISTERS LUCY AND ETHEL,
TERRIFIED STRAYS UNCLAIMED;
& 'CUTE PUPPY ALERT’
We got the sisters' story from Judi Brown, the volunteer dog bio writer at Mesquite Animal Services.

Lucy is the girl without the white streak on her muzzle. Ethel is her sister. [LARRY ASIDE: Some of you much older readers will recall the characters of Lucy and Ethel in Lucille Ball’s pioneering sitcom, I Love Lucy.]

Judi says the girls are a year-and-a-half old Australian cattle dogs who came into the shelter on May 18. 
“Both of them had to be carried in as they were very scared,” Judi wrote. “Lucy is the dominant of the two and is very protective of Ethel. If a treat is thrown into the kennel, she’ll make sure she gets it before Ethel does. But on the other hand, when Ethel is scared and needing comfort, Lucy will lay on her. Both are a work in progress."
Lucy (#47788118) weighs 44 pounds. Ethel (#47788045) weighs about 52 pounds. Judi writes that Ethel “is particularly a work in progress. For the first three or four days, she hid under the bench. She is learning to trust and allowed me to pet her…. Since they are a bonded pair and have been together for one-and-a-half years, hopefully they will get to go to the same home.” 
Use their ID numbers when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Debra Chisholm, Judi’s volunteer colleague in canine biographies, sent us this note from Mesquite and labeled it CUTE PUPPY ALERT. The young stray #47798760, known as Mia, came in as a stray on May 19. She’s about 4 months old and weighs 29 pounds. Debra wrote, “The Dog Scanner app identifies her as a mixed breed (with possibly Australian Kelpie, Manchester Terrier, Carolina Dog in the mix).  Whatever she is, she is completely adorable.”
 [LARRY ASIDE: Readlarrypowell.com has identified her as an Earhound. Look at those accessories! Cute and big ears!!!]
 She was initially uncomfortable with being on a leash, but Debra worked with her — “Possibly had never had one on before,” Debra wrote. Mia adjusted, however. 
“She knows the sit command and will take treats gently.  She is a friendly youngster and wanted to sit next to me on the bench or climb up to be near me. She is happy to receive loving attention.  She is a bit uneasy and nervous in the noisy and busy shelter environment. … She is active and lively but not hyperactive.”
 Mia is #47798760. Use her ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
 You can see many more of Mesquite’s adorable adoptables by going to the website HERE.
[LARRY ASIDE: I couldn’t help myself when I spotted this listing in the Mesquite cat section. 
You’ll note, if my science holds up, a kitten representing almost every planet in our solar system though, of course, there are two missing: Uranus and Pluto — he’s a dog from the Disney universe. But some of us still list Pluto as a planet, but we’re old-school planetarians. Nobody with a heart would name a cat Uranus. Right?]
IT’S THE FACES
THAT GET TO YA, RIGHT?
We opened an email from 4-Legged Helpers and the first passage echoes that headline. Writing about this girl Tasha, currently in the Lancaster shelter, the Helpers said, “Every once in a while a dog comes in where your heart just breaks to see her sweet eyes. This is the most precious, loving little girl but her face and eyes say it all: ‘PLEASE, won't you help SAVE ME?  Please???’ ”
You see, also, the face belonging to Flynn as the young male Rhodesian Ridgeback/Shepherd mix, looks up to show some appreciation for the loving hand that is helping him cope with his day.
The face on Lady is happy in spite of things. She’s a young Lab/Boxer mix who came into the Ferris Shelter (at Lancaster temporarily) when her human died. She’s “very sweet and loving”

There are so many dogs in the Lancaster Shelter and the non-profit 4-Legged Helpers are hustling to get them out and into happy homes or happy rescue situations..
And, of course, we feel the need to make another pitch for this guy Cash, the Bulldog mix who has been in the Lancaster shelter for a long, long time and is very available.
For these animals or any other animals in the Lancaster Shelter, contact 4-Legged Helpers by calling or texting 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS

LOOKING BACK AT DEJA VU
Call this “A Note About Siblings.” Some of you are siblings. Maybe you can relate.

Over the weekend I saw a feature on CBS Sunday Morning about the legendary 1970 hit album Deja Vu by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. CBS interviewed Crosby, Stills and Nash but not Young. Seems to be some bad blood between some of those boys. That aside, I remember the first time I heard the album. 
My little brother Barry had come back home during a break at the University of Texas. I was still working at The Texarkana Gazette so it was easy for us and our little brother Garry, still in high school and living at home, to meet up at Mom’s and Pop’s house. 

We isolated ourselves in the small bedroom we’d shared as kids and Barry, with his UT hippie hair, says, “You’ve gotta hear this album.” He plopped it onto the Montgomery-Ward stereo turntable I’d bought for the room a few years earlier and opened a new world of music to us. 
So, yeah, on Sunday morning a half-century later, watching the CBS tribute to the album, I missed my brothers a big danged ton. And, as I write this, I’m listening to the album — not the actual album, but the version you can click on with a mouse and hear on speakers hidden somewhere in my computer screen. Mouse, onboard speakers and computer screens — things that wouldn’t be commonplace for another decade. Now, in 2021, I am thoroughly miffed by the fact that I can listen to the 1970 album but not hear the voices of my brothers. It would be neat if they called me and asked what I’m doing. It would also be a hallucination, I fear.  
Deja Vu is a listening album — not sure anybody ever danced to a song on the platter, as we used to say. 
Looking at the album cover, my funspouse Martha asked, “What's the dog’s name?” and my research could find no info about this dog other than it just happened to be walking across the set when the picture was snapped. Timing — it’s the key to everything. Hit songs, snapping the photo and getting to spend time with a hippie brother, a cowboy brother and a record album that was a signature of the era. The eras rolled on and so did the brothers. Enjoy your siblings — their company and their memories.  And, if you were ever in a big-time rock band, try to find some harmony for the good of yourself and world.
—- Offer memories or wishes by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “NO TIME MACHINES WORKING” in the subject line. —-

A HAPPY FACE ON CENTRAL; DOGS AND A KITTEN WAITING....

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Personal driving note: I was on Central Expressway — wait, let me rephrase. On Tuesday morning I’d been trying to get onto Central Expressway at the downtown entrance for several minutes. 
I waited through three red lights and two DART trains.
Finally, our lane was cleared for entry. 
It took me back to my days as an assignment editor.
I didn’t see any happy faces driving cars and trucks in the lanes next to me. 
Finally, the bottleneck opened up and we managed to pick up some speed and spread out a little bit. I thought, “If I were still a newspaper editor, I might assign a feature-writer to find the happiest face on Central Expressway."
That reporter would have a challenge — I guess Central has been a Freeway of Unhappy Faces since it was paved.
Ah, but, then, just before the rain began to unload on us in buckets, I looked ahead and, yes, there it was, The Happiest Face on Central Expressway. I have no idea who the driver was or what the dog’s name is, but that was one happy face on a dog. Hang my mug out the window and let the wind whip my ears as I look around at all the action and the stormy skies, too. Bless dogs. I wish they could teach humans who to enjoy all the events of a lifetime. We try to teach dogs how to “shake hands” and “sit” and they’d rather \enjoy life as if it exists just to give them happy moments. And, maybe, that’s the reality of existence and humans just can’t fathom that. I thought “fathom” was appropriate usage considering how deep the water got at some of the “run-off” spots on Riverside as I was trying to get out of town. Deeper than the Trinity River in August.
Happy traveling, beautiful car dog!
SO, THIS KITTEN AND A GERMAN SHEPHERD
HAD AN ENCOUNTER AND THE CAT …
Yes, the cat escaped and that is why Beckett is waiting for adoption or rescue at the Lancaster Animal Shelter.
The bio note from 4-Legged Helpers describes him as a “precious little fluffball.” It continues, “This adorable tiny, little baby guy was way up a tree trying to get away from a German Shepherd. The ACO had to rescue him by planting a ladder to get him. He is baby sweet and extremely friendly and loveable.”
Then, following in the Black and White theme, we present Ethan. 4-Legged Helpers describes him as a male Pointer or Mix, adding, “Beautiful guy with big, pretty eyes and beautiful markings. Ethan is a cutie that is posing for the camera. … He is a gentle, sweet soul that clearly had never been in a shelter before and so much wants someone to save him.”
While there are many dogs and cats waiting for help in the Lancaster shelter, we’ll cite this girl Alyssa, a young “Bulldog Mix” who has “blue” coat tendencies but “has an interesting blonde overcoat,” the bio reads. 
There’s also this note about the beautiful girl: “She loves to show her tummy at every opportunity, so wanting love and petting, and is a great little girl.” Beautiful eyes, adorable ears and, of course, a certain amount of pure charm! 
To ask about her or any of the animals in the Lancaster shelter, get in touch with the 4-Legged Helpers, the non-profit that focuses on being the go-between for animals held in smaller, low-traffic shelters in the Metrosprawl. Call or text 4-Legged Helpers’ Laura Macias at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].
Oh, and once again we’ll feature this guy Cash, possibly the longest-tenured resident of the Lancaster shelter. He is a bulldog mix who was an owner-release. And he “adores people,” his bio says. The 4-Legged Helpers describe him as “the perfect guy for someone looking for that one, special dog in their life.”
CONTEMPLATIONS
OPERA, TOENAILS, HUMMINGBIRDS
Have you seen the current “opera on the bus” commercial for J.G. Wentworth? It’s a continuing theme with the Wentworth company's ads. In fact, my intense research, spurred by memories of the song, found that it once was a Viking Theme Opera. Click HERE to see the Viking Opera version of the commercial....

I’m accustomed to getting emails from animal people, from politicians, from newspapers, from publications — but at 1:14 p.m. Tuesday, I got an email from “Ugly Toenails.” I thought it was one of the guys I went to high school with. Wasn’t. It was an “anti-fungus” promotion. It said, “These two nutrients reverse nail fungus while you sleep.” No idea if the bottle has a line that says, “Insomniacs should check with physician.” No telling what that stuff does to your toes if you can’t sleep….

And here’s a spring note: I got an email with the subject line “sparkling lanterns and hummingbird stakes for your garden.” Oh, come on, the lanterns I understand, but who stakes out hummingbirds?
—- Offer a thought or a consideration by clicking on “comment” below or by emailing [email protected] and put “Staked Hummingbirds Fire Up Texas Electric Grid” in the subject line. —-

 

ON TAP DANCE DAY, WE'RE SENDING MESSAGES ABOUT A DOG AND A CAT AND BOJANGLES....

EDITION OF TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Please. Feel free to change into your dancing shoes. Why? Because this is National Tap Dance Day, as declared on Nov. 7, 1989, by President George H.W. Bush. The folks at Holiday Insights, the online calendar, report that Tap Dance Day was declared by a U.S. Congressional Joint Resolution approved by both houses and sent to the prez for his signature without argument.
Things used to be so much simpler in Washington.
The day honors Bill “Bojangles” Robinson — read more when you tap your way to Contemplations. That is the star dancer in a long-ago pose. Of course, the way it’s been raining we’re more likely to take a shot at Gene Kelly’s splash dance in Singin’ in the Rain. But, Bojangles’ Stair Dance is an interesting performance. Read on.
WE FIND OURSELVES SEEKING
A NEW PLACE FOR AN UNEASY DOG
That headline addresses something that comes up every now and then in local shelters. This time, however, we’re joining with longtime pals and animal rescuers and advocates Della and David Wallace to help place a dog who is "difficult" and that attitude of "difficult" is simply not good for the dog!

Last week Della and David saved him by adopting him out of the Lancaster Animal Shelter (that's his shelter photo)where the clock was ticking —he came to our attention via rescue efforts by the non-profit 4-Legged helpers.
 He was on the Helpers’ radar because he was a difficult case in the shelter. So, as last weekend arrived, David and Della got the boy. 
You may recall from our first appeal for Jackson that he is a “middle-aged Chihuahua who, as the bio read, “sadly is very upset about being released to the shelter. He came in and is in a little kennel and so far doesn’t want to let anyone touch him.”
When David and Della got him home, he continued to be untouchable. A show of teeth, a growl, perhaps a warning bark. This went on for days — and David and Della are not rookies at charming shelter animals.
Everybody knows there is a "good dog" waiting to emerge from the terrified, uneasy dog. 
But, Della, because she cares more about the dog than about forcing the dog to be miserable for the sake of a nervous love, declared it is time to get Darin into, perhaps, a one-animal home with extraordinarily patient people, i.e., a place he can embrace. (That's Darin's 'I'm-cautious-in-my-crate' photo. He was having nothing to do with the photographer.)
About 10 p.m. Monday, Dellas sent a note about this little dog. “He is quiet,” she wrote. “I think if the right person gets him, he will not act aggressively. He is afraid. He stays in his bed most of the time and has not destroyed anything that I can see. He gets up and strolls around when he wants to. He is not locked in a crate. FYI, I haven’t touched him yet because he is still too nervous. I think he would maybe do well with a doggy friend, but I’m not sure about that.  He really needs a loving forever home.”

To offer to help this dog re-learn that he can trust people and even love them, email Della at 
[email protected].
CRYSTAL THE CAT…
HER LOVING STORY
We learned of this from our longtime rescue tipster Deborah Lynn Verner — in fact, I’m almost certain Debra is the first rescuer to tell me about the Dowdy Ferry dumping area years and years ago. She’d been out there picking up dumped animals and saving lives.
Now, in 2021, she’s having some health challenges and has been moving her dogs and cats into other homes for their own good. 
That brings us to Crystal, this cat. “I still have one cat that needs rescue or a new home due to (my) worsening health issues,” Debra wrote. “I rescued Crystal 11 1/2 years ago from my neighborhood. Her Mom was a feral. The first time I spotted Crystal, she was walking down the sidewalk with her two sibling and Mom. Rather, she adopted me. I took her in when she was about 3 months old. I actually rescued her brother first after finding him in the front yard, panting, etc. He had much worse vision problems that she does, and he went to a rescue.
She's a small Siamese mix, a spayed female with crystal blue eyes (hence her name). She's very shy but sweet. She is UTD on shots, spayed and not microchipped. She gets along with dogs and other cats. She stays in my bedroom all the time, where she is most comfortable due to vision issues.”
Deborah also wrote, “I love this little cat, but she needs a better home. I'm desperate at this point.” (Here’s a LINK to Deborah’s Facebook page.
CONTEMPLATIONS
TAPPING, BOJANGLES & A PERMIT TO CARRY?
The good folks at Holiday Insights listed four ways to celebrate National Tap Dance Day. (1) Learn how to tap dance. (2) Watch a movie with tap dancing. (3) Learn more about tap dancing. (4) Learn about Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. As promised, CLICK HERE TO SEE Mr. Robinson doing the Stair Dance.  You can read about him in several places by Googling “Bojangles Robinson.”
If you’d like to see me tap-dancing to The Typewriter Song, click HERE. Come on, did you really think I’m a tap dancer? Not me; I’m a typer. …
Speaking as a native Texan without a firearm and armed only by bad moods, I’d like to point out that in the State of Texas, you may currently open carry cats and kittens, dogs and puppies, but you will need a permit, i.e., a license to carry them in public so everybody can see how cute they are!
—- Offer doubts or expectations by clicking on ‘comment’ or by emailing [email protected] and putting “FREE KITTENS; HALF OFF!” in the subject line. —-

NO MELON COLLIE DANE THIS HAMLET; AVAILABLE CANINES & FELINES; CONTEMPLATIONS

EDITION OF MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021 [PetPowellPress] As William Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, “Brevity is the soul of wit.” We’ll get back to another Hamlet in a moment. First, we cite a Dane, perhaps unrelated to The Bard’s “melancholy Dane” — this dog is no melon collie.

GALINDA THE DANE MIX
WAITING IN ARLINGTON
We got the tip on this dog Galinda early in the weekend and a check of the Arlington Animal Shelter website shows her still there Sunday, i.e., no notice that someone has tagged the “rescue only” girl Galinda, a Great Dane mix.
[LARRY ASIDE: Readlarrypowell.com lived for more than a decade with a big ol darlin’ Dane mix named Hammy (Hambone Jack, Canine King of the Blues). Sweet and tender guy. Maybe a human heart can help Galinda be a sweet and tender girl.]
Here’s the LINK to Arlington’s animals.
Galinda is #47779274, a little over a year old, and she’s listed as “XL” in size — according to a note about her, that translates to 110 pounds. She came in on May 17 and is in “Dog Holding” as a “Rescue Only.”
The note that came with her photos says she’s a bit timid in the shelter, also, “shy, body low, mouth closed and body stiff….not comforted by gentle voice.”
 Just needs the right gentle voice to give her a good life.
A FIRST IN THE CATEGORY
OF DOGS AND THEIR NAMES

(THE CAT NAMES ARE FAMILIAR)
Yep, we’re almost certain this is the first dog we’ve encountered who bears the moniker of “Blueberry.” Our tipster, volunteer Mesquite Shelter dog biographer Judi Brown, says Blueberry is a “delightful 2-year-old Catahoula/Blue Heeler mix” — came in as a stray on the 14th. Big tailwagger, big kisser. “He is friendly, enthusiastic, happy, fun-loving and affectionate," Judi writes. Motivated by treats, needs work on his ball-chasing and return skills. Takes treats gently. Weighs 40 pounds and needs an “active family,” Judi says, “One that would love him and keep his active intelligent mind occupied.”
He’s #47762232 — use that ID number when you ask about him at the shelter’s # 972-216-6283 or when you email [email protected].

Those are also the contact points for this fellow Draco, a Mixed Breed boy who came in as a stray on the 14th. He’s #47759182 and weighs around 65 pounds at six-months old, according to reliable tipster Debra Chisholm, also a volunteer dog biographer at Mesquite Animal Services.
 Draco “walks OK on a leash” and is a high-energy pup who “is very much in need of manners training.” He does it for treats and take’s ‘em gently, so that’s a sign that he’d be happy to be trained by a someone gently but firmly devoted to dog manners. 

You can see more Mesquite dogs and cats by going to THIS LINK.
That cat is #47655815, Bailey, a 10-year-old brown and orange girl who came in on April 30 and is in quarantine at the shelter.
While Bailey’s an older girl, the shelter also has kittens — from the Snow White catalog there are kittens Bashful, Grumpy, Sleepy, Dopey and Sneezy.

And from the bread rack there are kittens Ciabatta, Brioche, Pita and Rye.

There’s also a 4-year-old Tabby fellow whose name is Bob.

Bob Cat, I guess.

He’s #47679258.

HARK, HAMLET AWAITS
AT DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES

You don’t often see a dog named Hamlet waiting for adoption in Dallas Animal Services. But, there he is, #A1120208, a year-old, 70-pound German Shepherd mix who certainly has the ears to qualify as an Earhound.
No telling how the Immortal Bard would have described this dog had they met along the Avon and enjoyed a day of walking and thinking and observing human situations that could be turned into plot twists and fabulous scenes with swordplay and romance.

Speaking of fabulous, this guy Hamlet is among the many, many free adoption dogs waiting in the Dallas Animal Services Shelter and Adoption Center. Go to
bedallas90.org to see how to get this free dog.
And remember, no knaves need apply.
CONTEMPLATIONS
CESAR, SLEEPING & CAT CAN
While listening to Texas Rangers baseball and with the TV silently tuned to the PGA golf tournament, I found this sentiment on a Fort Worth neighborhood page that daily has a bunch of notices about found or lost dogs. A resident wrote, “If I could be anyone, I’d be Cesar Milan so I could adopt all the lost dogs in our neighborhood and add them to my pack.” Have to have a pretty big cattle spread to handle that many dogs. The ranch would have to be so large that Mr. Milan, known as “The Dog Whisperer,” would have to shout! ….
Anybody else having trouble sleeping in these last few days of May? No idea why. It’s not too much coffee. Might be not enough ice cream — that’s what I’d prefer to believe, of course. …
Perhaps you read our weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap — it focused on my office cat William Powell and the need for a well-equipped Cat Starter Kit when you adopt a fresh kitten. I mentioned that anyone adopting a kitten should make sure the Cat Kit has a box of bandages for coping with that period during which kittens learn to use the pointy claws on their little paws. You see here a photo of my hand with a finger I had to bandage after a kitten bit it off… I’m kidding. Here’s what happened: As I was preparing our cats’ evening meal Saturday, I popped the top on a can of Turkey & Giblets Pate’ and, after about 20,000 of those cans, I finally sliced open a finger on the lid. I have no idea how I did it, I just know that a finger laceration can bleed like it needs a battlefield tourniquet. I used antibiotic cream, direct pressure and an unyielding bandage. Did this bother my typing: You’ll note this edition has no “o’s”, “l’s” or >s. I’m kidding. Still, my apologies to cats and kittens for suggesting that they’d be the cause of bloody fingers. My solution to this problem? Welder’s gloves at feeding time. Or just watch what you’re doing when you pop the lid on a can of critter food. I should be able to resume playing the piano in time for the holiday performances of The Trinity Bottoms Yuletide Orchestra this fall. I’m kidding — you think state law lets a guy who cuts himself on a cat food can get a license to tickle the ivories?
…. Offer opinions or make musical requests by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “Play Misty For Me” in the subject line. —-

THE MISSING INGREDIENT TO A HAPPY LIFE WITH A CAT...OR INGREDIENTS FOR THE 'CAT KIT'...

For this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, we explore this theory:
One reason people don’t have cats is they have never acquired a proper Cat Starter Kit.
A Cat Starter Kit is a necessity.
We dedicate this edition to Grownup Cats.
 Some people are so standoffish when it comes to cats that they may not realize that a Grownup Cat actually begins its feline experience as a little bitty cat, known in the field as a “kitten.”
My research, i.e, I consulted the modern braintrust Wikipedia, shows that the word “kitten” comes from Middle English word “kitoun,” descended from Old French words “chitoun” or “cheton.”
As many of you know, the French word for a boy kitten is chat; a girl is chatte. 
But that has nothing to do with what is contained in a good Cat Kit.
We will now list key ingredients. 

1. Start with a kitten, or a teenage cat or a grown cat. All are good basic items to begin your feline experience. You'd think we wouldn't need to mention that you must first have a cat, but, well, you know people. Now and they they overlook the obvious.
2. Box of BandAids, variety pack. How many will you need? Depends on the age of your cat. Younger cats, exploring what their paws do, may show you that you need more bandages because you have the responsibility of helping the kitten learn how to extend and withdraw it’s talons, or nails.
3. A litter box. Some people would list “food dish” ahead of “litter box,” but it has been my experience that the ol’ Boy Scouts of America motto comes in handy in listing litter box next. The motto is “Be prepared.”
Also, it take some time to pick a litter box. You want one that makes the cat happy. You’ll be able to tell. I won’t go into details. You also want a litter box that is a snap to tidy up. And you might want to invest in a hand-held vacuum cleaner to tidy up the straw grains of cat litter that will escape the door of the litter box. If you are fortunate, you should be able to buy a very comfortable litter box without having to get a mortgage on the structure.

4. A food dish. And a water dish. They can be separate or they may be united in a plastic form. Cats love food. Food dishes help them love food without complaint. Oh, who am I kidding. Cats complain; it’s their nature.
5. Cat food. Oh, brother, here’s a menu for you. A housecat has more choices to make than a hungry teenager looking through the 8-page pre-pandemic menu at such places as Chili’s, the Cheesecake Factory or iHop. Remember when it comes to picking a food, cats will let you know what they want — after you’ve had the opportunity to open four or five cans of varying prices, flavors and sizes.
6. Reading material. Yes, cats love reading material. That doesn’t mean they’re reading it. Nope, probably they’re waiting for you to decide what you want to read so they’ll know where to sit or flop while you’re trying to read. You read on your computer? Did you think a keyboard was designed for your fingers? Hah. All keyboards fit little cat’s feet.
You’ve noticed by now, some photographs of a very attractive grown-up cat. 
That is my personal office cat, William Powell, named in honor of the great Hollywood movie star of the same name. (That's William with canine sidekick Porche Noel during a sleep-off-'n'-yawn tournament. Porche won -- practices sleeping daily, you  know.)
Cats, our theory is, enjoy William Powell’s performance in My Man Godfrey because the character spends time foraging in a city dump, said to be a favorite feline pastime. I’ve never taken a cat to the dump — our dog Nikki loved to go to the Dallas Sanitation Harry Hines Transfer Station 25 years ago — the place was sprayed with a scent that smelled like pepperoni. Nikki never wanted to leave. That's her from about 20 years ago.
Back to William: I met him while I was painting the woodwork on our home in Dallas — a teenage kitten just wandering the neighborhood. He decided to join our merry band and has been my office cat for several years. Using the “Cat’s Eye 2021 Surefire Camera” on my phone, I caught him in these William stages of sleep and awake one afternoon last week. As you can see, when he was sleeping he was happy, when he was yawning, he was elated and when he was awake, he was bitter. Cats are so human. Write that down and keep it in your Cat Kit. That's one of William's audition photographs -- oh, yeah, you need to get those for your Cat Kit, too. You cat doesn't have an agent? Hmmm.  I have some phone numbers in my kit. I'll get back to you.
— Send photos of your sleeping dogs and napping cats to [email protected] and we’ll post them in our weekend edition. Ask about the readlarrypowell.com Platinum Cat Starter Kit, new in the post-pandemic era but at pre-pandemic prices. We have no free kittens, but any area shelter will be happy to help you acquire the most critical element of your Cat Kit. —-

CONTEMPLATIONS: THE STORY OF THOR; THE BRIDGEPORT SHELTER PROJECT; CATS WAITING FOR A FEW GOOD HEARTS

EDITION OF FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 [PetPowellPress] As we close the week by going to press early, so to speak, it occurs to me that this whole edition is a Contemplation. 
We’re contemplating about animals and animal challenges and humans with hearts and the teamwork that exists in the rescue community.

Heck, it’s bigger than a community. It’s a movement.
[These illustrations I found on the internet (where else?). The first is from petsnmore.org and the second is from Midwest Labrador Retriever Rescue. The existence of these illustrations emphasizes our point about “community” being a “movement.” Read on.]

The term “community” suggests there are limits, but the term “movement” indicates that there are no imaginary lines that stop the mission to “save ‘em all.”
The efforts may begin in the Lone Star State but the resolutions can be somewhere else safe for the animals. And isn’t that an admirable thing!
 Here in Texas, we know what it feels like to pick up a wandering dog or a mewing kitten and find a spot for it to live out a happy life. That’s an emotion shared by animal rescuers and advocates all over the globe — could be the rescue of dogs, cats, Tigers (hello Houston) or elephants in Africa. How great is that!
Contemplate the energy involved and the beneficial influence the movement might have on the whole planet. 
Here are some things to contemplate today. I’m going to start with the tough story. Then I’ll segue into a story that’s reaching a finish line. And, we’ll close with more contemplating -- yes, cats. 

RUNNING TERRIFIED DOWN
A ROAD IN WESTERN OKLAHOMA…
This is a story that causes anger to rise in the hearts of good people and inspires thoughts of making animal cruelty laws tougher no matter where you live.
Dateline this report BURNS FLAT, OKLA., the small town in far west Oklahoma. From the North Texas vantage point, It’s “way out there.” Lots of rural roads. And what Burns Flat has in common with the Metroplex is hearts dedicated to helping animals.
 This is Thor, the dog that veteran rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher was helping earlier in the week. It turns out she wanted to help him more than was possible.
I’m just using one photo of Thor. We don’t have a “before” or an “after” — we only have a “during” and it makes a dramatic point. An ugly dramatic point.
 “We know he once had a family,” Terry Lynn says. “I’m guessing it wasn’t a very good one. An old leg injury made it difficult for him to walk. But somewhere, last Saturday morning, he was hurt. When found, he was running down the middle of the highway. A kind lady picked him up. They called me. I had him rushed to my wonderful vet."

The initial report, she says, was that “his jaw was broken. One side was a clean break. Easy fix. The other was shattered. So we began looking for a specialist. We kept him comfortable and messed with him as little as possible until we could get him to the specialist in Stillwater.” 

At the end of a three-hour drive, Thor was handed over to the caring people at Oklahoma State University Veterinary Clinic. She says, “The sadness and pain in his eyes hurt my soul. They told us to check back in a hour.”

Surgery was approved for the next day — and a scan to see the extent of the damages. Terry Lynn says she returned home and “felt really good about his progress. He had tested positive for heart worms, but that was treatable.”
But there came a call from the vet. “The information she gave me made me so angry at first. Then I was just heartbroken. This poor innocent little dog had not been hit by a car…He didn’t jump out of the back of a truck and hit the pavement. Nobody hit him with anything.

“THIS DOG WAS PURPOSELY SHOT IN HIS SWEET LITTLE FACE. I cannot accept how cruel some people are. Soulless. The pain this little guy has gone through is unimaginable. And even worse, the prognosis was devastating… His tongue has died. It would have to be removed. He would lose his entire lower jaw. He would never be able to eat or drink. He would have to be fed through a tube in his stomach. And he would FOREVER BE IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN. His quality of life would be awful. So, through tears and with a broken heart, I had to make the decision to help him pass. To end this pain that some awful person inflicted on his little body. 

“I hurt so bad over this. I tried so hard. But I could not be the reason he continued to suffer.
“I am having him cremated and will bring him home. He deserves better than being in a landfill somewhere.”

Terry Lynn also wrote, “I want to thank everyone for all their kind words, good thoughts and prayers for this little guy. And a huge thank you for everyone that helped make it possible to take him to the specialist to find out what was wrong. I know it was expensive but we didn’t have any local vets that handle this situation I wish with all my heart it would have been a better outcome. I honestly hurt over him so much. I am truly heartbroken for this innocent dog.”

[DEAR READERS: The initial bill at the OSU clinic was around $3,500, but since some of the medical work was cancelled to save Thor the pain, the clinic dropped the fee to about $2,500. As I was discussing this challenge with Terry Lynn, she sent me a message, “We just got it paid! We put a deposit down yesterday. Someone just paid the balance. I don’t even know who! What wonderful people!” There are other bills at the clinic that did Thor’s early work and handles many of Terry Lynn’s rescues: Elk Creek Clinic, 1301 Airport Industrial, Elk City, OK 73644 or call 580-225-4863. They know Terry Lynn’s mission and her account balance. You can reach Terry Lynn at [email protected].]
In case you wondered, our research reveals that shooting a dog in Oklahoma might just be a felony that’ll get the shooter some hard time and a big fine. Here’s a link to an explanation.
[LARRY NOTE: The person who shot Thor… well, may your heart be changed. But, still, may it always feel guilt for what you did to Thor right up through the very last moment you draw a struggling breath. Probably, Thor’s not the first animal you’ve shot. Put down your gun. Contemplate doing the right thing all the time.]
MEANWHILE IN BRIDGEPORT, ONE
REMAINED BUT TWO ARRIVED
Now, this is another challenge to Contemplate and it seems to be heading toward a happy ending. 
We got word Thursday morning that there’d been one step forward at the attempt to empty the Bridgeport Animal Shelter by Friday the 21st — and, then there’d been two steps back. 
The step forward came as the shelter had emptied itself of all cats and kittens and all but two of the many dogs in its care. You may recall that the shelter needed to be emptied by Friday closing so work could begin on updating and repairs. It was a great idea to save angst on animals and, yep, even to save animals by getting them into safe rescues and homes.
At midweek, the two dogs were Lucky (left) and Pauly. Then, by Thursday, Lucky had been saved.
So, just Pauly? Nope. While Pauly waited alone, suddenly two more dogs showed up and there was Bridgeport  not with just one dog waiting but with three waiting.
Now, as the clock ticks toward closing time on Friday, Pauly needs a home and so do the newcomers Benji and Becca.
We learned of this challenge via the project participants at 4-Legged Helpers, the non-profit that Bridgeport asked to help with promoting the “empty the shelter” project.
According to the latest note, the shelter is closing Friday for the repair project (involves use of toxic material), but 5- or 6-month-old siblings Benji (on the left) and Becca must be held through their stray hold since they were just found.
“The ACO can work this out with an outdoor kennel, but these two pups have to have a place to go immediately lined up!” Their personalities? “They are the sweetest pups and adore other people, other dogs.” 

And the Helpers report, “We have made arrangements for Pauly to go to boarding to save him, but he still needs a rescue group. …. This is a small shelter in a small town of approximately 7,000 people.”
To offer to help these three dogs, call or text 4-Legged Helpers Laura Macias at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].

CONTEMPLATE THIS, I guess. People who don’t live in the small town teamed with people who do and it looks like the result is actually going to meet the mission of “Save ‘em all.”

How darned cool is that! Save ‘em all. Pass it on.
CONTEMPLATING THE CATS
AT TWO BIG SHELTERS
Call this a reminder that readlarrypowell.com not only endorses dogs as worthy investments in your heart’s health, but also declares that cats can be more entertaining and comforting than half the channels (or more) on cable TV. 
To end this contemplative edition, we’re going to the two big shelters, Dallas Animal Services and Fort Worth Animal Care and Control to remind people throughout the known universe and beyond that there are cats who need homes in all shelters and many rescue groups. Cats matter in the world — they are here to remind humans to meet schedules (meals, treats, sleep) and keep the room temperature comfortable. 

Dallas Animal Services this week had more cats online HERE (bedalls90.org) than I’ve seen in a while — and there’s no adoption fee. Yep, free cats and kittens. Among them is this 3-month-old darlin’ boy (A1120467) Benson who seems to be saying, “I’m not real sure why I’m here, I’m not real sure what’s outside, but I am real sure I’d like to take a shot at being somebody’s baby boy cat somewhere else.” [LARRY ASIDE: I am not board-certified, but I can interpret cat expressions based on experience and the ability to read minds. I just read yours, some of you Dear Readers and I almost can’t believe you’d call me a ’mind-reading cat nut.’ Accurate, but I can’t believe it and I take no offense!]

Now, in Fort Worth, you can adopt #47759716 and give the 3-year-old girl a name — Stretch, maybe, based on that pose! [LARRY ASIDE: Hang on a second, I’m reading this cat’s mind via her expression… She’s saying, “Yeah, I’ll let you hold me, cradle me and cuddle me, but when I tell you I want the recliner, get up and move.” Pretty sure that’s the look.] 
While I was looking at the long cat in FW, I also ran across Akira (477261760), who has one of the most amazing hair displays in all of The Feline World. She’s a year old and available for adoption. [LARRY ASIDE: In her mind, she’s saying, “Look, I’m obviously perfect for movies, but in the meantime I need a home, possibly with an agent for upscale TV ads, where people appreciate me for who I am, not just for my ability to light up the screen in the musical based on the eerie film Cat People. I’m a THE cat for Cat People."]  Fort Worth cats can be adopted for $25. Click HERE and marvel at the Fort Worth Felines.
CONTEMPLATE THIS: We began with Terry Lynn’s sad story in Burns Flat, Okla., crossed the Red River back to Texas moved on to the so-far happy story from Bridgeport and closed with Big City Cats. Throughout all of it there is this constant: The people who love animals will maintain The Movement to save ‘em all. There’s no limit to their drive, their ability to work around situations and their desire to, yes, save ‘em all. Bless their hearts and keep ‘em safe, healthy and on a roll at casinos or with the Texas Lottery, whichever they need the most. I’ll settle for Lotto Texas — price of gasoline is too high for a trip out-of-state to a casino. God bless Texas and all the animals everywhere.
—- Offer ideas or Lotto Texas tips by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “NEVER BET ON A PAIR” in the subject line. —-