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FROM FLOOFIES TO DUMPED TO BONDED TO THE EDGE OF SPACE AND CHILI...

EDITION OF MONDAY/TUESDAY JULY 19-20, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Whoa, as the pandemic ebbs or un-ebbs, animal shelters continue to face population challenges. Please read on and see if you can help. Or if you know someone who can help by giving an animal a home.
THREE LITTLE DOGS NEEDING

CAREFUL FOSTERING AND LOVE
These three dogs came into the Lancaster Animal Shelter last week and now they’re rescue-available to help them get over their “stray/dumped” experiences. That’s the word from 4-Legged Helpers, the non-profit that works to get more eyes on the animals in small shelters.
The email subject line — thank you note writer/Helper Leighann Hayden — read “3 OF THE CUTEST FLOOFIES EVER.” And you see that’s true. They’re all “rescue only,” we’re told by the Helpers’ Laura Macias. They’re available on Tuesday.
 Kasey (the black and white boy in his kennel) and Kadie, the brown perky dog, were “found running out and about together and were extremely difficult ot catch. Seen by several people several days in a row, but no one knows where they came from. They appear to have been out for a while, or perhaps were just not treated well by someone — poor little things.”

Kasey “may be a Shih-Poo,” his bio says. “He is not able to be picked up or really petted yet, but at least is better than when he came in last week. He will wag his little tail now and come up to the kennel to sniff your hand — will take treats from your hand, but won’t walk [to you[ unless you have a treat….very fearful poor little cutie pie.”

Tiny Kadie, with some fur loss, may be a Yorkie-Chihuahua. She’s advanced a little, her bio says. “Will now let you pick her up and carry her around. Still timid but doing much better than when she came in …this itty bitty thing was growling. Thank goodness that has all stopped now. Would be good for her to be fostered and get her fur looked at by a vet.”
And that brings us to the beautiful Perrie, a little white/cream girl who’ll be available on Wednesday. She may be a “Westie mixed with Long-haired Chihuahua.” Perrie is “spayed but not chipped” and she’ll “let you touch and pet her and will let you put a leash on and walk her,” the bio reads. There’s a caution: “She will not yet allow anyone to carry or pick her up and will start growling and the shelter [staff said] they are careful to make no sudden movements, so she also needs foster home that can work with her. She will happy wag her tail now when she sees you.”
What makes Perrie’s case a little different? “She was found with a kennel, but she was not in the kennel and she had to be captured….The shelter thought perhaps someone had been trying to catch her and had left the kennel.”
Whatever the cases on the history of these three “cutest little Floofies ever,” here’s how to contact 4-Legged Helpers: Call or text 972-897-4928 or 214-906-7680 or email [email protected] or [email protected].
THE FORT WORTH SHELTER’S
PREDICAMENT AND SUPPORT
We checked in on Fort Worth Animal Care & Control’s Facebook page Monday and found this weekend note from the shelter, which, as you may recall, has been dreadfully, dangerously overloaded in recent times. The note to FWACC supporters read: “THANK YOU for all your efforts in helping get these amazing pets out of the shelter - since Friday, 229 pets left the shelter! We still have dogs in temporary kennels so the work isn't over just yet. Will you stick with us?”

We hope these two dogs were among the animals helped. [LARRY UPDATE: In late mid-afternoon we learned that these two are still available to be helped at FWAC. So, keep reading and somebody open up a couple of spots in a rescue group or a darned good home for two buddies!]
They need someone sticking with them! Bless FWACC for its hard work.
 Along about the same time the shelter was issuing that ‘thank you’ we opened an email Donna Bradshaw had forwarded from veteran rescuer/advocate Jennifer Sellers. 
Our hope is Bingo and Zane have found some happy relief from their shelter situation. Bingo (#47532438) is a 3-year-old, 74-pound mixed-breed who is “thoroughly bonded” with Zane (#47532418), a 6-year-old, 147-pound German Shepherd. Bingo is heartworm positive, Zane is negative.
Why have they been in the shelter since April 13? The owner turned them over because he was “moving.”
 Yep, basically put them onto a short clock ticking toward a fatal fate.
A shelter staffer reported that taking them out into the yard for exercise was a revelation. “I fell in love!! Bingo is a big baby. When I had him on a leash, he leaned on me the entire time. Zane the GSD is huge. He could definitely lose some weight but he is so playful outside and tries to engage in play with Bingo. He can be intimidating in his kennel and with new people so breed experience would be best. Notes say he doesn’t like to be restrained but I had no issues leashing and unleashing him when a kennel tech was with me. I really worry about these two. "
They should be the “only dogs” in a home, the shelter suggests. And, the shelter says, “They must be adopted or rescued together.”
[LARRY ASIDE: I hope that’s already been done. Someone let me know at [email protected].]
 To tag or adopt, email [email protected]. No phone calls.
KING, IN A SHELTER SINCE 5/26,
WAITING FOR A NEW HUMAN
We got the tip on this handsome fellow from Judi Brown, the volunteer dog biographer at Mesquite Animal Services. And it’s a story of a dog on a path to either true love or true danger. Judi writes, “Even though King has been at the shelter since 5/26 he is still hopeful and will greet you with tail wags and a big grin. I think he’s absolutely adorable! He’s got the most beautiful brown eyes that are captivating! He is a 2 1/2 year-old, 51-pound black and white ‘terrier pit.’  He came to the shelter having been seized by the police. My understanding is that he was being kept in a medium-size kennel with two other dogs. A year previous to this he had been surrendered to our shelter by a granddaughter saying that King did not get along with her grandfather’s dog. 
...For this reason further dog testing is suggested. However he must’ve gotten along with the dogs that he was kenneled with for that period of time! He is extremely friendly and lovable. He seems to be just begging you to love and adopt him. He stays close and sits on your lap. He sits for treats. He’s gentle. He’s obviously very hopeful in that he’s been here so long and still has maintained a phenomenal attitude! … Please, please don’t make him wait another day for a loving home. Our shelter is full and he has been there longer than most. And I can’t figure out why. “ He’s #45585317 — use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].

And there’s Howie (#47870131), a year-old, 70-pound mixed breed — possibly Cattle Dog, Judi says. He’s a gentle fellow — now. She writes, “If you’re looking for a handsome bigger dog to love you, then look no further. Come to the Mesquite Animal Shelter and meet Howie!” 
She thinks his initial “uneasy in the shelter” attitude didn’t work on his behalf. “it took him a while to build trust, she writes. “Since he has been at the shelter so long and the shelter is overflowing, it is imperative that he receive a tag or get adopted ASAP!!! Howie is a favorite of mine. He gets so excited when he sees me he can hardly contain himself. Several of the kennel techs have told me that he’s one of their favorites, also, especially because he has made so much progress in becoming such a loving, faithful, trusting dog! … He sits for treats and is highly motivated by them. He takes them gently. When I sit down he comes and puts his head on my lap." Use his ID # 47870131 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Also waiting in the shelter is this guy Ben — he came in as a stray on June 14. Judi writes that 8-year-old, 57 pound Ben “doesn’t let his age bother him. In fact he gets around quite well for his age. … He is not fixed. Unfortunately the shelter is overcrowded and he has been at the shelter waiting patiently too long. That means he’s urgent and needs a rescue ASAP.  Ben is a sweet, well mannered, easy-going, friendly boy that isn’t asking much. He just wants a loving home with a lap and air conditioning. Yes, he likes the AC! After exploring the yard and doing his business he stands by the door letting you know he wants to go inside. He has lost hair down the middle of his back and has received a Nexgard tablet. …. His eyes get weepy with sometimes a slight discharge. He isn’t the prettiest dog at the shelter but he is one of the gentlest, sweetest dogs at the Mesquite Animal Shelter! … If you’re looking for a good dog to hang out with and a loyal companion then come meet Ben. Use his ID #47991564 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283.
CONTEMPLATIONS
SPACE, CIRCULATION & CHILI
LARRY’S PERSONAL NOTE TO WALLY FUNK: I don’t know you, but I love you. Enjoy every minute of that ride on the Blue Origin rocket. Show the world how to enjoy the launch. And keep smiling throughout this entire experience. Some of us ol’ guys who appreciate the challenges and triumphs of women (and expect the pattern of victory to continue with our wise-acre, determined granddaughters) -- heck, some of us may actually tear up a bit when you finally get that trip to space so many Baby Boomers dreamed of when we were kids. (Read about Wally's career HERE.) ...
CIRCULATION? I worked in newspaper newsrooms for decades and always was aware of efforts to increase the numbers of readers, so when I got an email with the subject line “Circulation Boost” my ol’ newshound muscles reacted. Then I read the opening sentence, “These 8 red foods increase circulation” and I could not remember ever having seen any red foods served in The Dallas Morning News Cafeteria. Second-flood of the old building, pretty good coffee, and, for a while in the '70s, great enchiladas and chili.
WHAT ABOUT THAT CHILI? The chili wasn’t Dallas News columnist/chili expert Frank X. Tolbert’s famous Bowl of Red -- the name of his book about the traditional Texas dish. Tolbert's legend and chili live on in the restaurant Tolbert's in Grapevine. And, of course, in the hearts of his ol' colleagues and fans of his at The DMN where he wrote Tolbert's Texas for all to read.
The cafeteria’s product was more of a “Bowl of Brown With Cheese & Onions.” I was a carnivore in those mid-70s days. You could get some challenging indigestion on deadline. Ah, those were the days. Learned to keep antacids handy.
—- Offer vegetarian chili recipes or absolution for carnivorous dining in my youth by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “eat a salad” in the subject line. —-

SHADOW AND THE SENATOR; NAPPING CATS NAPPING, MAYBE

Welcome, Dear Readers, to another edition of our long-running weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. 
We have an extraordinary report for this edition, a letter from a young woman from the Los Angeles area about her napping cat. Here is what she wrote:

Dear Mr. Powell,
My name is Aurora Dawn. Please call me Rory. I am a longtime reader of your stories about sleeping dogs and napping cats. 
I am a really big fan of cats. I have a cat. His name is Shadow.
This photograph is as close as I have been able to get for taking a picture of my cat. He is very fast. Even when he is napping he can tell if I am holding my telephone on “camera.” And he runs and hides. 
My father, who is a movie star and asked me not to mention his name, has a theory about Shadow being skittish. He says it is because when Shadow was a little bitty kitty he was scared by a Chihuahuarazzi. Dad says that is a small but determined dog who works as an uncover celebrity photographer for the National Spotlight Snooper Facebook page in Hollywood. We think Shadow used to live in Hollywood before we adopted him. 
He lost his wallet somewhere and we can’t check out any of the details of his life. As my father says, “Only the Shadow knows.”
I hope you can see the outline of one of his perky ears in the shadow on our couch. I will keep trying to get his picture. FYI: July 22 is Ratcatcher’s Day, in honor of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. But Shadow swears he has never caught a rodent of any kind. He told me, “I avoid politics.”
Sincerely xxx000xxx,

Rory and Shadow

***


Dear Readers, our primary politically-sensitive cat, my personal friend, The Senator, asked if he could respond to Rory. That is The Senator laboring over the keyboard as I watched and gave sensitive but important writing tips. Here’s his note:
Dear Rory,
Thank you for your letter about Shadow.
I am The Senator, the personal counselor and confidant to the nitwit gentleman who writes these stories of cats and dogs. I believe Shadow may be in need of counseling, vis a vis relationships with humans and the relatively young art of photography. I have, as you may suspect, been photographed many, many times in situations that are key to peace and tranquility in the world.
 Please have Shadow get in touch with me and I will help him understand that it is OK for a cat to have his photo made when he is napping. Why? Because it enhances the image of cats everywhere by helping people realize we are not always knocking things off shelves, looking for a fresh litter box or demanding equal time on cable and broadcast TV and radio stations — websites may be next.
In order to demonstrate that a napping cat may be photographed in any situation as long as it is calming to the general public and does not incite international conflicts, I have included a photograph snapped in the United Kingdom a few years back when I was invited to meet Queen Elizabeth’s Corgis. We all had a good time that day — got to chatting with the Queen about children and such and lost track of time. I nearly missed my flight on the Concorde from Heathrow back to DFW International. Hardly enough time on that flight or a catnap, as I recall.

Remember, Rory, always do something good for people and animals when you have the opportunity. Just last week it was announced that because of my scheduling conflict I’d given up my $30-million seat on Jeff Bezo’s Blue Origin space flight Tuesday to a young student.
I’ll catch a ride on Branson’s next mission. He and I go way back.
Hug Shadow on my behalf. Register to vote as soon as you can. 

With purrfully warm heartfelt respect and appreciation because I know I can count on you in November, your friend,
The Senator
[LARRY NOTE: Please send actual photos of your slumbering critters (any kind!) to [email protected] and we’ll feature them in our weekend’s Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap even if they are reptiles, birds or in-laws. You’ll be promoting adoptions of animals and encouraging insomniacs to lie awake wondering what prompted the writing of this week’s edition.]
--- Offer sleeping tips or opinions of the Concorde by clicking on 'comment' below or by emailing [email protected] and put 'Reality Show' in the subject line. ---

A CAVALCADE OF CRITTERS NEEDING HUMAN HEARTS TO HELP THEM AS WE REACH A CROWDED WEEKEND

EDITION OF FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2021 [PetPowellPress] On Friday, I’m convinced that things will become clearer to us all. Clearer than what, I do not know. Here are some stories, followed by some Contemplations, followed by a chance to get some magic beans. That joke makes no sense if your path to literacy and reading for entertainment did not include Jack and The Beanstalk. That’s my dog Porche Noel — she also has never read Jack and The Beanstalk. She’s in the middle of re-reading Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Hippie dog.
AND THE FORT WORTH DOG
IS TAGGED BY A RESCUE
We posted the photo of #A48187406 in Fort Worth Animal Care & Control on Thursday and this morning we got a great note: “Epic Animal Rescue tagged her this morning!!,” wrote our reliable contact Ginger Leach, the Rescue Coordinator at the Fort Worth/Chuck Silcox Animal Care and Adoption Center. 
As you may recall, this dog was hit by a car and a witness to the ugly event picked up the dog and took her to FWACC — they made sure she was comfortable, her broken leg was tended to and word went out that she needed help.
Epic Animal Rescue is online at epicanimalrescue.org -- we're hoping to get an update on the dog's progress -- and on Facebook HERE,
Credit for this rescue clearly starts with that Good Samaritan on July 10 and is shared by FWACC, our Houston pal and rescue tipster Alexandra Kelsey, our Dallas pal and rescue/foster seeker Mary Sullivan and many others with email lists and a desire to help a dog in need.
ONE MORE FORT WORTH NOTE: Earlier this week we saw a post by Kristen Barg Morrison about the need to save lives in the crowded shelter by emptying cages via rescue and adoption — any method that doesn’t involve needles. She’s the “Lead volunteer/foster at Fort Worth Animal Care and Control.”

A few nights ago, she saw “8 large dogs being surrendered.” And she was told that the shelter is, for the first time in two years, on the brink of euthanizing for space “unless we can get a significant amount of medium/large dogs out of the shelter.” There are more than 900 dogs currently in the care of the shelter, her post said.

The shelter isn’t just holding a bunch of big ol’ dawgs nobody wants. Kristen posted a note about a dog family arriving at precisely the wrong time earlier this week in the “Summer of Overloaded Shelters.” 
She wrote that this Mom and her five 6-week-old female puppies (still nursing) were “dumped at a shelter that’s at 140% capacity and about to euthanize for space.” Mom is Gitchie (A48221365), a year old, 41 pounds. 
To ask about helping these dogs or any animal in the Fort Worth shelter’semail [email protected].
Here is the LINK TO SEE THE FORT WORTH ANIMALS — DOGS AND CATS.
THE TYPES OF DOGS
THAT WIND UP HOMELESS
Can this be the recognition of a “New Breed of Dogs”? Keep reading…
In Thursday’s afternoon edition we cited the case of a purebred, papers-carrying German Shepherd named Thanos who is losing his home because the family is moving into an apartment. (Scroll down to yesterday’s edition to read about Thanos.) A short time after we published that appeal from Gail Whelan of Companion-Animal Network, she sent another story of a dog she was suddenly dealing with in her constant rescue life.

This time she’s trying to find a home for Elwood, this 6-month old Lab-mix fellow. Gail says he was found after being abandoned near Quitman, about an hour and 45 minutes east of Dallas.
Keep up with these two dogs and other CAN rescues by monitoring www.ca-n.petfinder.com. Ask about helping Gail with these dogs by calling 903-967-3226 or email [email protected]. 

And Gail came up with an idea that may be more “promotional” for a dog than the label “Black Lab/hound mix.” 
Gail wrote, “What if we made a new breed --- ‘Tuxedo Lab’? God knows there are plenty of them.  Sound good?” 
[LARRY RESPONSE: Sounds great to me. Look at the happy face on that guy Elwood. Clearly he’s proudly dressed for a high society party, a wedding or a Winners Banquet at Westminster where a happy countenance is appreciated by all. We noted in our earlier edition that the German Shepherd has a comic book villain name, Thanos. Ah, but Elwood — he’s clearly got the name of the lead human character in the movie Harvey, featuring the 6-31/2-tall invisible white rabbit Harvey whose human friend (Jimmy Stewart in the film) is Elwood P. Dowd, a gentle soul.]
HEMINGWAY AND HANK,
TWO DOGS STILL WAITING
We mentioned these boys earlier in the week — they’re in the “loop” of “needs helped dogs” that belongs to 4-Legged Helpers.
Hemingway lost his home because of the illness of his human. The handsome boy is a year old, neutered, up to date on shots and is a Lab Mix. He’s the dog who knows some obedience commands “including how ot crate himself if you tell him to do so.”

Hank is the young Terrier Mix who is “awesome,” his bio reads. “Sits and shakes on command…Really just an all-around adorable dog. … Fixed, fully vaccinated and microchipped.”
To ask about these dogs, call or text 4-Legged Helpers at 214-949-2726 or EMAIL [email protected]. Go to the 4-Legged Helpers Inc. Facebook page to see more animals in need of homes and help.
ON FRIDAY WE CITE FRIDAY
AMONG MESQUITE’S ANIMALS

Our pal Judi Brown, veteran volunteer dog biographer at Mesquite Animal Services, tipped us to this girl Friday, #45313440 in the shelter. She was “surrendered to the Mesquite shelter on 7/12 due to financial reasons," 
Judi writes, and adds, "The Shelter has her listed as a mixed breed and my pet scanner said she’s part Louisiana Catahoula, Border Collie and ‘terrier pit.’ Besides being a very attractive girl with pretty brown eyes and beautiful brindle coloring she also has a lot to offer. She is very alert and curious about her environment. Unfortunately for me when I was trying to take pictures of her there was a lot of activity going on beyond the shelter yard and she didn’t want to miss any of it! So she kept looking through the gate and looking over the fence. When she wasn’t distracted, she stayed close. She answered to her name. She came and sat next to me. She’s a little on the timid side. She likes treats but doesn’t know how to sit for them. This is something you could teach her because it’s obvious she wants to please. She wasn’t interested in playing with any of the toys. When I walked her through the bay she was intimidated by the other dogs and didn’t want anything to do with them. Friday weighs 55 pounds. Bonus: she is already spayed.” Use her ID number 45313440 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]. Same process for all these dogs — use their # when you call or email.
Judi also spent some time with this fantastic Alaskan husky, Ivan. (That’s some tail, Ivan!). He came in as a stray on the 9th, Judi says, “When I first met him in his kennel and at the window he was howling. It appears he howls for attention. He continued to howl for a while once he got out into the yard. He kept going to the gate and I felt like he was looking for his previous owners. Being a Husky he exhibited the typical traits of checking out the perimeter of the yard in an attempt to get out. There is no doubt he will need a very secure fence. He did his business as soon as he got out into the yard. He walked well on a leash. He was not interested in meeting the other dogs in the bay. He was very active and moved around the yard quite a bit. He needed a good brushing. Up to this point he didn’t appear to have been socialized and we were not making a connection. However, once I started brushing him he settled down. At this point we made a connection.” He’s 41 pounds, fixed and his shelter ID is 48177556. Use that number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
And volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm sent us the note about this girl Ellie, a “sweet,” 60-pound, 3-year-old, un-spayed American Pittie/Staffie mix who came in as a stray on the 7th. She may be house-trained. And, Debra wrote, “She is a bit timid and shy, especially in her kennel, but does warm up. She was friendly and affectionate and wanted to climb in my lap and give kisses. She is a calm and gentle girl, yet frisky and spunky.” She’s #48163936. 
 This handsome mixed breed (Earhound!) is Apollo. Debra says he arrived on the 5th as a stray with two other dogs. Apollo (#48155333) is about 2, not neutered and weighs 64 pounds. Needs leash training. “He is timid, shy and nervous. He did seem to enjoy being loved on and having attention paid to him,” Debra wrote and added, “I do wonder how much socialization he has had with humans. This well-mannered fellow likes treats and takes them gently. He is a work in progress. … I found myself drawn to this boy and I feel that he will blossom and warm up with just the right people and home situation.” 

Judi also got to meet Winston, who came into the shelter “as a stray on 7/6 with 2 other dogs that are listed as great Pyrenees. He's extremely photogenic and would be even prettier if I’d had time to groom him. He’s listed as a Great Pyrenees, but he’s definitely not a white Pyrenees as he is cream-colored. My pet scanner said he is 40% Golden Retriever. His long nose makes him even more distinguished and handsome. He’s very happy, friendly, and loving. He sometimes gets over excited and tries to jump on you but he does obey with a sharp command to get down! When I sat down he tried to climb on me with all 60 pounds! At the end of the photo shoot I even got kisses!  He sits for treats and takes them gently. He chases toys and will shake them but doesn’t bring them back. … He tried to make friends with several dogs and ignored the ones in the bay that were barking at him. This beautiful, attractive, loving dog will probably be adopted quickly.” He needs neutering. His ID is #481555353.

See more Mesquite animals HERE. That nameless cat, #48072400, is among the adults in the feline area — there are many, many kittens, fyi. But this girl, who came in on June 24, looks as if she might have been working undercover, trying to break-up the famed “O’Possum Gang” that roams North Texas. [LARRY ASIDE: I made that gang up. Please, lovely possums, do not sic your lawyers on me in some kind of Not A Possum Defamation Lawsuit. It was a possum gag. So to speak.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
THE BED, THE FILM, THE PHILOSOPHER….
Do you have a dog in the bed each night? A cat? Both? Do you dream of the stars or do you have dreams of being caught at Neiman-Marcus without a valid credit card? Do you dream of driving a 1963 Plymouth Belvedere with a pushbutton transmission and fins that would make a shark envious? When you look at dark clouds, do you wonder if poets see them differently, beyond the threat of rain and high winds? And that concludes our test over the Department of Stray Thoughts Report titled Tendencies in One Nation on the Third Planet. …
Two funny films? Each in its own way. Death at a Funeral (British, 2007); Death at a Funeral (American, 2010). Both have crude scenes that make a mannerly viewer grimace, but each has comedy that a person with my undignified standards can enjoy. I like the Brit version a tad better. Great work in it by the American actor Alan Tudyk, a product of Plano Senior High School and a star in pages of listings on IMDB. He is, most wonderfully, the star in the title role of SyFy Channel’s series Resident Alien. The funniest space alien since Mork from Ork. Only a darker soul. And no connecting point with Fonzie. (That’ll challenge you trivia players to make a connection.) …
Clearly the first two contemplations have established my intellectual depth, so, having emptied myself of anything remotely funny in the 21st Century, I will figuratively thumb through some old newspapers and land on a Nov. 1, 1932, column by the great Will Rogers. Wish I’d written it, but it was The Cowboy Philosopher who wrote, “This country has gotten where it is in spite of politics, not by the aid of it. That we have carried as much political bunk as we have and still survived shows we are a super nation.”
—- Offer answers or questions by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “Vote Yes or No!” in the subject line. —-

A FORT WORTH DOG IN A FIX; AN EAST TEXAS DOG IN A FIX; SPEAKING OF FIXES, CONSIDER A SQUIRREL REBELLION

EDITION OF THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021 [PetPowellPress] We begin this edition with a challenge. Write a second sentence? Oh, no, that’s always a snap. The third and fourth can get to be iffy. But in this case, we’ll just note that we’ve got a story of a dog in whom interest has been growing. Read on:
WORD GETS AROUND
THAT A DOG NEEDS HELP
Now and then, readlarrypowell.com is astounded at the “reach” of animal rescue people — this one appears to stretch from landlocked Fort Worth to the West Coast.
 Look at that face. And, yes, I hope by the time you are reading this, she has been helped/rescued and on her way to a complete repair for that broken front leg. But that is some sweet face, isn’t it. 
[LARRY ASIDE: It’s a face that needs to be held in the hands of a loving human who will lean over and kiss that forehead and tell this baby that she is loved and things are going to be OK.]
This dog’s story began somewhere in Fort Worth — she either “escaped” confinement or was dumped but whichever it was, she wound up in the path of a car.

[LARRY ASIDE: Bless the Good Samaritan who saw her get hit by the car and brought her to the shelter for help. Bless the Fort Worth Animal Care & Control people for sheltering her in this tough time.]

Emails about her came from our Houston tipster Alexandra Kelsey, the Dallas advocate/rescuer Mary Sullivan (who has been hustling to find a foster for the dog) and from Los Angeles photojournalist Tish Lambert. 
As we piece things together from the assorted notes, the dog (#A48187406) arrived on July 10. She is around a year old, weighs 43 pounds, isn’t spayed, but is heartworm negative. 
Our longtime reliable FW source Ginger Leach, the Fort Worth/Chuck Silcox Animal Care and Adoption Center Rescue Coordinator, says the adorable girl is still quietly waiting in the shelter and that, yes, she’ll need to get that leg repaired. The shelter report is she has been “really sweet” and was “a little nervous” and “attempted to get up,” but was encouraged to just take it easy and rest.
To ask about being this dog’s foster, email [email protected].
To ask about being the dog’s “rescue” via the shelter, email [email protected].
[LARRY ASIDE: We’ll try to fill in the unknowns on the rest of this dog’s life. And if you rescue group steps up to help her, let us know by emailing [email protected]. You’ll probably need donations to help pay for her vet work.]
A GERMAN SHEPHERD
IN NEED OF A HOME
We got the tip on the latest CAN Adoptions “project” from our pal Karen Lee of barkleyworld.com. She forwarded the appeal from Gail Whelen of Companion-Animal Network. And Gail, as we all know, keeps on keepin’ on when it comes to saving animals. We’ll get to the dog’s name in a minute.
 This handsome fellow — how’s that garden picture for a relaxed dog photo — is a 2-year-old purebred German Shepherd Dog (GSD, as the folks in the know refer to the breed).
Two important things: He’s “fully vetted” and “he needs a home.”
Current on shots and heartworm preventative, he is a “very good-natured” boy who, Gail writes, “could use some obedience training as they never had time for him.” He was raised with kids — living most recently with a 4-year-old and a 10-year-old.
 Here’s the back story: The people “paid for a purebred Shepherd.  Now moving to an apartment and getting rid of him.” He comes “with his papers,” Gail says. [LARRY ASIDE: My comments wisely, kindly redacted.] 
To ask about helping Gail help this dog, call Gail at 903-967-3226 or email [email protected]. The dog is in the D/FW area.
[LARRY’S INFO ABOUT THE DOG’S NAME: Gail says his people named him Thanos. I figured it was some Greek god, but I looked it up and discovered this explanation on Wikipedia: “An Eternal–Deviant warlord from the moon Titan, Thanos is regarded as one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe." Lousy name for a dog even if it is from a “comic book.” This dog needs a name that shows strength and kindness, maybe wisdom and devotion. I’d name him “Sweet Texas Sugar” but I long-ago ran out of dog and cat names. I hope the person who adopts him will let us know what warm-hearted name he is given.]
THE SUPPLIES NECESSARY
FOR SUCCESS AT THE LAKE…
What does it take to operate the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas? We got some answers from Sydney Busch, the determined spokesperson for the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake, the organization that, indeed, operates that celebrated clinic.

 In her latest note, she wrote, “The need never ends - the spay/neuter clinic can use the following: toilet paper, paper towels, case of drinking water, case of soft drinks, bleach, hydrogen peroxide.” 
These supplies, Sydney says, can be brought to the clinic (122 Old Gun Barrel Lane in — where else? — Gun Barrel City between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesdays (that’s spay/neuter day) or “left at Flair Printing across from the DQ in GBC [translating for non-Texans: Dairy Queen in Gun Barrel City] on “other days of the work week.” If you’re dropping off at Flair Printing, let Sydney know so she can pick up the supplies: Email [email protected], text or call 214-808-4701. 
[LARRY ASIDE: This note gives me the opportunity to re-post one of my favorite photos from the long-time work of the Friends of the Animals Spay/Neuter Clinic. This was years ago and they called these small ones in the post-op recover room, “The Burritos.” Remember, no matter what is going on in the Texas Legislature, you can still spay and neuter dogs and cats in all 254 Texas counties -- Dallas, Tarrant and the rest.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
SHORT TAKES: Spotlight, Snoozers & Squirrels
Is Texas experiencing an outbreak of national attention that doesn’t involve a football team? Thank you, Texas Legislature. …

 That’s a photo of Porche Noel and the office cat William Powell in a happy snooze session in the bedroom. William’s awake; Porche snores like a locomotive. Now awake, Porche asks that you view the photo as a reminder to send photographs/bios of your slumbering dogs and cats and critters to [email protected] for publication in our world-wide-read weekend edition Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. With intense and immense gratitude, Larry “Fan of Critters” Powell. If you don’t have a napping cat, adopt one today. If you don’t have a sleeping dog, adopt one today. If you have one of each, adopt two more. It’s for the good of the nation — a demonstration of love and kindness…
OK, that’s enough small talk. To anyone writing a book today, bless your brains and your typing. Stop looking for reasons to stand up and walk away from your keyboard. Hang on, I need a cup of coffee before I write this scene for The Dramatic Rebellion of the Telepathic Tree Squirrels. It’s a political novel. I’m kidding. I used up all my creativity in that title.
— Offer excuses or advice by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “Never mind the alphabet, pick better Lotto Texas numbers” in the subject line. —

DOGS, CATS, MYTHS, MYSTERIES AND CONTEMPLATIONS OF ODD REPORTS

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY JULY 14-15, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Welcome to our midweek/next day edition. If I had the gumption and the drive, I’d be cleaning out my email today by the thousands. But, we have more important things to do.
Mowing, finishing this edition, contemplating the twisted nature of humanity — wait. Not that third one — not enough time. Here we go with our primary mission: Help people save ‘em all.
A CHANCE TO LOVE
A BEAUTIFUL CAT
Holy smoke, look at this fantastic feline! She is Darcy. And, surprisingly, her promoter, Leighann Hayden, sent us a followup on a note she sent earlier in the week. You’d think this cat would have been snapped up after the first note, but noooo. 
The new note’s subject line reads, “Still no takers. Please. Won’t someone help this beautiful long haired sweetie pie? TX. DFW.”

Darcy, about a year old, is, as you can see, a long-haired girl. She’s either a Maine Coon or a Norwegian Forest Cat Mix. “Stunning,” Leighanne wrote. 
She’s had all her vet work done except for spaying.
Her bio describes her as “Sweetest kitty ever.” [LARRY ASIDE: I think that’s probably a tie with about 10 billion other cats on the planet. One of our’s, Esme, is a close second, but she’s partial to my sweetspouse Martha so I enviously count off in the judging.] Darcy has lived in a foster home for the past two weeks and, Leighann’s note says, “She is awesome. Her foster says she is absolutely wonderful with her small children and even her other kitty. Adores be petted.”
To ask about adopting Darcy, get in touch with 4-Legged helpers by calling for texting 214-906-7680 or email [email protected] or call or text 972-897-4926.
READY-TO-PLAY RILEY &
OTHER MESQUITE ADORABLES
Is Mesquite’s Animal Shelter a magnet for adorable dogs? They may have something in common that suggests why they “strayed.”

Look at Riley, a Siberian Husky mix who came in on July 8 as — get this — a STRAY!!! Who would let Mr. Handsome stray? Anyway, Riley, about 3, isn’t neutered — TIME OUT! Stray? Is that the right? How about “lookin’ for a date” and not an actual stray? Irresponsible humans. OK, TIME IN: Mesquite volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm says the 45-pound boy walks nicely on a leash and didn’t show aggression his walk-through at the shelter. Debra wrote, “Two men who were potential adopters interacted with him in the shelter yard and he was very friendly and affectionate with them.  He gave kisses and wanted to snuggle.  He has an outgoing and confident personality. Riley is playful, friendly and has a sweet nature.  Being a Husky he will need a high secure fence.  This would not be a dog for an apartment.  I heard him howl briefly in his kennel.  Riley needs a person or family who will spend lots of time with him and get some of that energy worked out.” He’s #48175685 — use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityof mesquite.com . (Same connecting points and ID instructions for the rest of the dogs in this segment.)
Otis (#48148319), a stray who came in on the 5th, weighs 63 pounds, is about 2 and — WE HAVE A WINNER IN THE DON’T CARE DERBY OF HUMANITY —is not neutered. Pulls strongly on his leash, probably house-trained, knows “sit” command and is “treat-motivated.” He also enjoyed splashing in the shelter’s “baby pool.” So, what’s his breed? Debra says her dog scanner app “identified Dogo Argen- tino/Staffordshire Bull Terrier/American Bulldog.” How’s that for a strong family tree for a handsome dog!
 And, now, here we are, 3-for-3 so far with un-neutered fellas who have strayed in Mesquite.
This not-yet-fixed guy is Zeus — he arrived on the 5th. Zeus is about 2 and weighs 70 pounds. He’s active, lively, will jump on a person in a friendly manner — has a charming personality, Debra writes. She says, “He is just so full of life and energy. He very much needs a bath and a good groom.” Zeus is ID48155865.

Debra adds, “The Mesquite shelter has been continually overfull for months now, so rescuing this precious boy would open a kennel.”
DING DING DING We’re 4-for-4 on spaying/neutering with these Mesquite strays. This one is a girl, Sydney, a Lab mix who came in on July 7. She’s about a year old, ways 45 pounds and, Debra wrote, “There is nothing timid or shy about this girl — she has lots of puppy energy and spunk.” Runs, plays, will jump on a human. But, she also likes treats so, there’s a training point. Sydney is 48135152. Remember, use it when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
See more Mesquite adoptables by clicking on the shelter site HERE.
Not just dogs. Not just kittens. But some grown-up cats, too. This one is Myleaux (#40487934) who came in Wednesday morning, according to the shelter site. Myleaux is a 4year-old, smallish tuxedo boy. His breed is listed as the very rare “Domestic Shorthair/Mix.” I’m kidding about that “rare” business — but not completely: He’s “neutered,” according to his online stats. You can see him in the cat room at the shelter. But use the contact points we listed for the dogs. That’ll work, too.
LANCASTER DOGS WITH
FANTASTIC FACES
Here’s a couple of boys who have yet to find a way out of the city shelter in Lancaster. Put their names together and they sound like they could be starring in a comedy adventure at the movies — Hemingway and Hank. 
Hemingway is in the shelter because, at a year old, his human developed health injuries and had to surrender him. 4-Legged Helpers, trying to help Hemingway survive, says the dog was “much loved, well-socialized and is used to being an indoor dog.” The story on Hemingway is that he “loves, loves, loves other dogs, cats and even chickens, too.” He also likes kids. Likes to fetch tennis balls. Knows obedience commands and “how to crate himself if you tell him to do so.”

That brings us to Hank — we included two photos. Smiling. Not smiling. Hank is healthy, neutered and microchipped. Needs a cat-free home. But he is described as a “well-behaved guy who adores children and other dogs.” He’s house-trained, adorable, healthy. And he “sits and shakes on command and takes treats gently with his mouth.” 
To ask about saving the lives of these two boys, call or text 4-Legged Helpers at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS
History, mystery and myth

Jeff Crilley of Real News PR publishes The Rundown, tipping editors and reporters on stories and expert contacts. He also has a history tip-side. For example, for his July 14 edition of The Rundown he posted this note about Billy the Kid’s “alleged” demise on July 14, 1881. Seems like a pretty rock-solid fact and we accept Jeff’s version of the outlaw’s fate -- Jeff's a veteran get-the-facts/old school/reliable journalist. Ah, but there are others who slide off he straight-and-narow. There’s been a controversy since the mid-20th century when there was a claim that O.L. “Brushy Bill” Roberts of Hico, Texas, was really William H. Bonney. (Launched many newspaper, magazine and film stories.) And, if you want another wacky Billy the Kid story (that is absolutely true), there’s the case of which governor of New Mexico Territory revoked his pardon and that led to the fatal shootout with Billy and Sheriff Pat Garrett. That governor was Lew Wallace who also was the author of the 1880 book (inspiration for many films), Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ. FYI: There are Billy The Kid Museums in both Fort Sumner, N.M., and Hico, about 90 fast minutes southwest of Fort Worth. …
Think it’s wacky that Billy the Kid gets the “myth” treatment in Hico, Texas? Try this one on: There’s a theory that Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, with the help of a conspiracy, fled Washington, traveled to Glen Rose, Texas, and settled in Granbury, also south of Fort Worth, and lived under the name “John St. Helen.” His ghost is said to haunt the Granbury Opera House. Here’s a Granbury LINK. Booth was, most historians agree, killed on the porch of a house on Richard Garrett’s farm in Port Royal, Va. That was in 1865 — no idea if this Garrett was in the family of Sheriff Pat, who was born in 1850 in Chambers County, Alabama — not all that far by airplane from Virginia. Of course, there were no planes that we know of until the Wright Brothers’ flew one at Kitty Hawk, N.C., in 1903. ...

What the two previous segments reveal is that your host at readlarrypowell.com spent more than a quarter-century writing columns for newspapers and some of the odd notes stuck in his head and are now available all over google.com. In honor of the myths of the world, I guess it’s been a while since anybody reported seeing Elvis. Records in Memphis say The King’s death officially occurred on Aug. 16, 1977. After that, of course, there were a bunch of sightings. But, honestly, the last time I saw him was at the Tarrant County Convention Center on June 16, 1994 — let me check that. Hang on. Sorry, that was in 1974. I misread my notes while I was multi-tasking. Had to take a phone call from Ambrose Bierce (old photo, right) who’s now living in Las Colinas and working as a baggage handler at DFW. That's what I heard, anyway. Probably not true. Here’s an Ambrose Bierce explanation.
— Offer true facts or unproven theories of time travel by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “Dear Off-the-Beam” in the salutation. —-

COUNSELING, A STRAYDOG MOM 'N' LITTER; SAVING DOGS & CATS; CHOCOLATE & SIGNS

EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY JULY 13/14, 2021 [PetPowellPress] This edition is a little bit late — blame me. My mind was wandering and my dogs weren’t up to herding it. They weren’t up at all — sluggards. 
[LARRY NOTE: This photo was snapped at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday as Porche Noel (lower snoozer) and Dudley the Angel nodded off in tandem after an exhausting walk from the living room couch down the hall into the office. They are on Porche’s “Psychedelic Carpet of Contemplation and Joyous Dreams.” They’re really cute when they’re chasing the same squirrel in their conjoined dreams and their paws are running at top speed.]
Look, between you and me, Dear Readers, do you have a cat or dog you like to talk while searching for a good answer for the challenges of the day? It’s free. Nobody has to show an insurance card to a cat. Well, of course, I can’t speak for all cats, but mine, William Powell, geez, he doesn’t demand to see any ID. 

I was talking to my literate office cat William — that’s him on his favorite OTP (Office Thinking Platform) at the hallway door — and, without me asking a question, he mewsed in an avuncular fashion, “You know, Larry, we’re beyond the halfway point of 2021. Isn’t that something? And some of us still can’t get a grip on the fact that George Orwell’s 1984 and Arthur C. Clark’s 2001: A Space Odyssey are outdated. Star Trek? Never out of date.”

William is wise. I have no evidence other than his continued companionship and his investment advice.

So, in honor of the rapidly approaching future, we cite what William thinks may be his next book. Working title is Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders In Space: The First Super Bowl on Mars. Couldn’t peg a date on that game, but our theory is it involves robotic linemen and a ban on ESP for defensive backs — “If you’re going to read, read a receiver’s mind,” the d-back coaches say. The game in this novel is way off in the future — maybe 2096, the 100th anniversary of the last time Dallas was in a Super Bowl, Jan. 28, 1996. Not sure they have Januarys on Mars. Well, back to earth:
THE PUPPYTIME TSUNAMI
ISN’T JUST IN THE CITY
Having lived in Dallas, Grand Prairie, Euless or Fort Worth since 1972, I sometimes think of unexpectedly discovered litters as a “city situation.” Heck, my funspouse Martha once rescued a dog who was flopped over in the doorway of a 7-Eleven. People were walking around this puffy little dog. Martha picks her up, takes her to our vet and discovers that the girl was as pregnant as a dog can get. We fostered the litter and the mom. Found homes for all of them (we had some placement help from Dr. Karen Fling and East Lake Pet Orphanage).
But that was in the big middle of Big D. Consider the challenge illustrated in this artwork provided by Straydog Inc., the legendary sanctuary in the rural area east of Cedar Creek Lake.
The story on this momma and the puppies reads, “Straydog team member Jorge found Flora and her 8 puppies while driving some of our dogs back from the vet. He noticed the mom, Flora, and one of her pups on the road. After calling [shelter manager] Juana [Arnold], he went to look for more puppies. He found 7 more under an abandoned house.”

Straydog needs humans to adopt and adore these animals and it needs donations to cover the price of medical care, shots, and spaying/neutering for nine dogs. Click HERE to see how to help with the bills.
[LARRY ASIDE: And if anyone knows who the puppy-daddy is, arrange to have him neutered, too. Clearly, he’s met is quota on the attempt to populate the world with new puppies.]
ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF DALLAS,
LANCASTER’S FULL OF UNWANTED…
Now, the term “unwanted” is used but what it really means is “unwanted until the right heart spots ‘em.” And, you and I, Dear Readers, may already have scored the legal limit on dogs and cats in our towns, but surely we know someone somewhere who had room for cats and dogs that are in a shelter because their human let them down. 
We cite some because 4-Legged Helpers has a mission of rescuing every darned one of the dogs and cats they encounter in every darned underfunded, under-trafficked, under-publicized, taxpayer financed shelter that exists in the darkness of the human condition known as “ignorance of the facts.”
 Consider those two cats.
The 4-Legged Helpers, working with the Lancaster Animal Shelter’s inventory, report that these appear to be siblings. The orange fellow is young Milo; the gray fellow is young Otis. They are siblings — Tabby boys — who were owner-released. They are a year old. The bio reads, “They are indoor cats and are very dismayed about their predicament of being turned in… and talking to anyone that will listen…” They are accustomed to “sleeping on a bed, not in a cage.” Healthy and up to date on shots. 

That speckled dog? That’s Cece the Heeler, “found out and about on her own and having the best time,” her bio reads.
Her reward? Yep, she’s in the slammer, awaiting the right human to say, “I’ll love this dog forever.” The bio says she’s “an absolute sweetheart and just precious.”

And there are many, many more in the Lancaster shelter. But we’ll finish today’s update with Princess, a young Husky girl who was microchipped. And the bio explains, “Her owner never came for her — which is just heartbreaking because she is a GREAT girl.”
To offer to help by adopting or by rescuing via a 501c3 or some other reliable means, call or text 4-Legged Helpers at 972-897-4928 or 214-906-7680 or email [email protected] or [email protected].
Keep up with the dogs and cats that are in the spotlight of 4-Legged Helpers by going to their Facebook page HERE.
CONTEMPLATIONS
ENERGY, MARS AND 200 FEET…
I’ve had a lack-of-energy moment that’s lasted 24 hours. Not sure why. Could be the tortured ribs I’ve been living with for several days. Could be the Texas Rangers baseball season, even more torturous than the ribs. Chocolate helps — melt it in a saucepan and rub it on your ribcage — I’m kidding, but if that would help, I still couldn’t do it because I believe chocolate should be served only on pastries, in candy bars, on cakes, in pies and, of course, to fat men who have been captured by the joy of milk chocolate their entire lives. …
Earlier in this edition I wondered if Mars and Martians have the month of January. The answer is too complicated for me, but if you want to give it a shot, here’s a link to an explanation of the calendar of Mars. ...

I shot this photo (click on it to make it grow like a government budget) last week while driving in Dallas on Corinth near Riverside in the neighborhood of the legendary Longhorn Ballroom. The sign on the back of the trailer was too small to read as we rolled along, so I pulled up within about 50 feet of the trailer and that’s where I read the message “Stay back 200 feet.” The small line of type under that warning reads, “Not responsible for broken windshields.” I’m not sure the words in the big letters are effective when the trailer isn’t on an interior street. I’ve never seen any cars or trucks separated by 200 feet on a Dallas freeway. I didn’t look at the front of the pulling vehicle but it may have had a sign that read, “STAY AHEAD 200 FEET” and “Not responsible for whiplash.”
—- Offer driving tips or parking tips by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “STOP ROBOCALLS” in the subject line. —-

MONDAY BRINGS US SPACE, DOGS, CATS AND CHALLENGES OF SAVING 'EM ALL

EDITION OF MONDAY, JULY 12, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Yeah, I watched that livestream of Richard Branson and his Virgin Galactic spaceplane skimming the edge of space. It made me feel young again — like a sixth-grader in a living room in Texarkana in the early ‘60s watching the pre-school TV coverage of a launch of a manned-mission from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Of course, the 2021 Branson flight was a luxury flight compared to squeezing a guy in a space suit into the tight-fit of the "space capsule."
That’s our dog Dudley The Angel, a Border Collie/Chocolate Lab mix, giving us his impression of a Mercury Space Capsule sitting on a living room rug — he’s almost the size and shape of a Mercury capsule. And he’s learning to bark “Light the candle!” though it sounds a lot like, “Need more treats.”
That other dog? That’s Astro. He needs a landing place. Read the next item.
MEANWHILE IN EAST TEXAS
THERE’S A CRITICAL SITUATION
Please look at the faces in these photos — they’re in the same shelter as Astro. The report came from Smith County Pets Alive ([email protected]) and was forwarded to us by the veteran rescuer/animal advocate Kimberly Jones. 
SC Pets Alive forwarded an appeal from Smith County Animal Control in Tyler, just under 2 hours east of the Metrosprawl on I-20.
The text of the note reads, “All below are urgent and must be tagged or adopted by Thursday 7/16 or will be euthanized Friday 7/16.” 
The contact point is Smith County Animal Control at 903-266-4303. It’s at 322 E. Ferguson in Tyler. Email [email protected].
Astro is #A48064225. He’s a 2-year-old Terrier mix who weighs 41 pounds and is described as “a little timid around people but warms up quickly.” That means he needs a human equipped with patience and love. 
Sadie (#A48069760) is about a year-and-a-half and weighs 60 pounds.

Boots (#48108444) is a 3-year-old, 51-pound Terrier mix who was found in Whitehouse on June 25 —had no chip. And he’s heartworm positive.
Tessa (A48060397) is a 5-year-old, 65-pound German Shepherd mix. Knows some basic commands, walks well on a leash and is people-friendly but may not be so swell with smaller dogs.

Lola (A48043407) is a 2-year-old, 45 pound Lab mix who has been in the shelter since June 21. 

Katie (A48062011) is a 5-year-old, 50-pound Spaniel mix who arrived on June 23. Described as “friendly and sweet as can be,” she also “loves attention and has a laid-back personality.” 

Spartan (A48062491) is a year-old, 29-pound Shepherd mix, in the shelter since June 23. Young and “timid at first but loves attention.”

And we'll close with Alexis (A48018009) is a year-old, 32-pound Terrier mix. According to the Smith County Pets Alive folks, if you’re not already a rescue partner at Smith County Animal Control, click HERE 

to ask about tagging the dogs.
You’ll need to send a copy of the non-profit’s 501c3 and “a list of people authorized to tag and pickup for your rescue.
Send the info to both [email protected] and [email protected].
 See more Smith County animals HERE.

MEANWHILE IN BRIDGEPORT,
A KITTEN AND SEVERAL DOGS
We got the tips on these animals from 4-Legged Helpers, the non-profit that focuses on getting attention for animals in small, often over-crowded shelters. 
We’ve mentioned some of these before. But they’re still waiting in Bridgeport and so are others. The kitten is Squirt, bottlefed from his early days. The bio reads, “He is a little miracle baby and he is just as precious a little sweetie as can be. If you have had a bottlefed kitten you know how completely loving they are,” reads the bio. He’s about six weeks old, has graduated to regular food but remains a “tiny” kitten in need of a rescue group.

Here are three faces of Freckles, a young female heeler without much of a biography. She’s clearly waiting for the right human to help her develop a happy life she can write about.

We’ll also point out this Pointer or Retriever mix Bo. Just waiting. He’s clearly an Earhound. [LARRY ASIDE: Bo’s ears look as if they may have been a prototype model for Branson’s Virgin Galactic spaceplane.]
The contacts at 4-Legged Helpers? Call or text either 972-897-4926 or 214-906-7680. Email either [email protected] or [email protected].

JOY IN MESQUITE,
AVAILABLE TO GOOD HOME

We got a note about this girl Joy from the volunteer dog biographers Debra Chisholm at the Mesquite Animal Shelter. In fact, Debra began the bio, “I have named this beauty Joy, a nearly pure-bred Siberian Husky who arrived as a stray along with a sibling on 7/3." That sibling was adopted on Friday. Joy's still on the available list on Monday.
Debra wrote, “Joy seems underweight at 42 pounds, is approx 5 years old and is not spayed.  She had a fun time in the shelter yard during the photo shoot exploring and fetching.  She is a friendly girl with a pleasant and charming personality.  She doesn't seem to know any commands.  She likes treats and takes them gently.  She is well-mannered (doesn't jump on you) and has a somewhat low-key nature. … All in all, she has so much going for her and is a delightful girl.” She’ll need a responsible, escape-proof fence. Use her ID #48140904 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].

CONTEMPLATIONS
A WEEK, A THOUGHT, A LANDING
I came dragging into the office a little bit late Monday morning. Looking ahead, the clear vision was of the first 5-day workweek in a while. Yep. Take the rest of the day off. …
Yeah, I watched the live video of Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic sub-orbital flight. And it brought back a lot of memories of watching “launches” (early missions in black and white!) in the glory days of NASA’s Mercury and Apollo programs. On July 20, when Jeff Bezos’ team launches later this month one of the passengers will be Wally Funk. When I think about this, I kind of tear up -- maybe I’m an ol’ sap, but Wally Funk was a member of the Mercury 13 Women In Space Program at NASA. A legendary top qualifier for a space mission, Wally never launched because NASA canceled the program.  High time she got the AOK for a mission. Have a wonderful time, Wally Funk!… Recommended reading: Lots of people saw the 1983 film The Right Stuff. And lots of people read the movie’s foundation, Tom Wolfe’s 1979 book The Right Stuff. A page-turner? Start it too late in the evening and you’ll be reading at dawn! … From the movie, here’s a tribute to Chuck Yeager — click HERE
and if you have to look up “Chuck Yeager,” go ahead, but be ashamed that you don’t know who that American pilot was. And, yes, be envious of those of us who have read and enjoyed and marveled at books by Tom Wolfe! 
—- Cheer space shots and good books by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by email [email protected] and put ‘USA RULES IN SPACE’ in the subject line. —-

A QUESTION FOR THE AGES AS A NAPPING CAT NAPS AND THE WORLD IS BROADCASTING..

At the risk of getting wonky with the world — though who could tell in the current off-the-beam sway of civilization — we turn the focus of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap to the intellectual challenge of the ages: What was that cat thinkin’?
Nobody really knows, unless there’s a cat treat and an enthusiastic mew. Then there is a certainty of what that cat is thinking. 
But consider these pictures. (That opening photo is mononymous actor Simon portraying “somber observation” in his demo reel. In the background you see a portrait of our late pal, Inky, The Cocker Laureaute of Texas — he’s still teaching the Power of Emote with just his countenance on canvas.)

Moving along to the next pictures: One theory is that late at night, when Simon had control of the cable remote, this cat (full name Simon Mycroft Holmes) clicked onto the movie Cats and was inspired to begin studying acting in case the film is remade and this time producers wanted authentic cats to assay the roles rather than humans who think they can approximate the aura, tone and mental energy of a cat who can sing.

In this demonstration of Simon’s theatrical exercises, we managed to catch him “blending in” with the cast of The Closer late one night. 
He is a fan of that show. In the second photo, he approximates a reaction to a suspect’s response to a question from Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, as portrayed by Kyra Sedgwick. 
In the second scene, er, photo, he blends in with the other police officers. And, in the background (left) is one of his favorite actors, the versatile Corey Reynolds in the roll of Sgt. David Gabriel (most recently, Mr. Reynolds has been hilarious in the role of Sheriff Mike Thompson in the SyFy Channel series Resident Alien — the alien is wonderfully portrayed by Plano High School graduate Alan Tudyk, a veteran stage and film actor.
 )
When you look at that photo, Simon seems to “belong there,” as if all good major crime investigation units have a veteran cat with intense understanding of human behavior.
As Simon says, “There are no small roles, only small cats.” He is, however, a large cat and can play a bigger role if needed.
And in the third scene, you see Simon giving a hard-edged, solidly stoic reaction to bad news that has reached the squad room. “Less is more unless you have treats, then more is more,” he told us in a brief interview before he nodded off on the cable box.
Our boy Simon could nod off at any time — in a drama, a comedy or during a hurricane report.
Now, one more thing — all good actors run their lines with someone to keep sharp before they go on stage or on camera. Simon has a line partner. This is her and she is named in honor of Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson. This little tabby girl is Deputy Chief Kittie Leigh Johnson. You’ll note that she is comfortable in front of the camera.
She is also comfortable on the job, too. You see us there many years ago on a reality show mission to Roswell, N.M. She and I were working undercover, assigned to gather information on a gang working to leak Unidentified Flying Object reports to the Washington media while enlisting elected officials to appear to support the presence of UFOs in the skies over America. 
We discovered that the “officials” were clones, their stories were gathered from unsold TV pilots through the years and the UFOs photographed in flight were actually three or four 1971 Chevrolet Vega hatchbacks wrapped in aluminum foil and held aloft by plastic trashbags inflated with hydrogen and sprayed with glitter. The designers used hydrogen because, one told us, “When a Vega engine blew up and left everybody walking, it wasn’t unusual and it probably didn’t get off the ground.” The ringleader had a friend in the special effects department at Plutovian Pictures.

What was Kittie Leigh thinking in this stakeout photo? Who knows? Literature regarding cats’ thoughts on UFOs is rare. Kittie Leigh’s hooded companion, however, was thinking, “I’m not sure about UFOs, but I do believe in the reality of a cat!”
As the late celebrated French writer Colette said, “There are no ordinary cats.” Canadian author/journalist Robertson Davies wrote, “Authors like cats because they are such quiet, lovable, wise creatures, and cats like authors for the same reasons.”

And some of those things may have been what Simon was thinking while working to improve his craft and his standing as “America’s Greatest Formerly Bottle- fed Actor Cat.”
His agent is said to be working on a better tag line. Also, he's attempting to get Simon an audition for the title role in Cat On a Hot Tin Roof. "I can play a roof," Simon dramatically asserts.
[DEAR READERS, Please send YOUR photos of YOUR slumbering cats and dogs to [email protected] so we can tell the world about them in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. You’ll be inspiring people to adopt and you’ll be suggesting to insomniacs that a cable TV box is as comfortable as a pillow to someone who cannot nod off in the middle of the night.]
-- Offer TV viewing tips or audition advice by clicking on 'comment' below or by emailing [email protected] and put "DON'T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB" in the subject line. --

AS THE WEEK ENDS, WE CITE ANIMALS (PUPPIES & KITTENS!), A TICK TOOL, HERDS & BETH

EDITION OF FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Sometimes I open an email and see the face of a dog and think, “Haven’t I written about this dog before?” I suspect, all you Dear Rescuers and Advocates, that I am not the first person to experience “Deja Vu Dog” or “Deja Mew Cat” Syndrome.
THE BIG SHELTER IN BIG D
HAS FREE DOGS AND CATS
The occasion is the Bissell Pet Foundation’s #EmptyTheShelters event and you’ll see on the list of dogs and cats at Dallas Animal Services, a lot of big ol’ dawgs and little ol’ cats that look familiar and but aren’t really the same catface or dogface in your memory. These animals are building entirely new memories for themselves and the humans who adopt them. 
For example, that dog — that Earhound — is Harper, a year-old German Sheperd-type girl who weighs 54 waiting-to-be-happy pounds. The Bissell event runs through Sunday. And DAS’s post says, “All pets will be FREE to adopt either online or in-person during our onsite adoption hours." Go to the BeDallas90.org site  to get details and click HERE to see available animals, including this little guy Plutonium, one of many young and older kittens and cats waiting for a new home.
TWO GARLAND CATS
NEED ONE NEW HOME
Nola and Sushi are their names, finding one home together is their aim.
We got the note via Jennifer Sellers, the veteran rescuer/advocate who spotted them on a neighborhood page in Garland.
The story is they need to be “rehomed together.” Brown cat Nola is a girl; Suchi is the orange boy. Described as “friendly, loving cats,” both also are “fixed and vaccinated.” These indoor-only cats are a mere 3 years old.
The contact point for asking about adopting them is “ZC” at 469-803-7533.

Clearly they'll need one good bed with a comfy comforter and one window with viewing platform. Then, with a loving human, they can call the place "home."
THE MOM IS BRYNNA
AND THE PUPPIES….
While I may have seen these “types of dogs” before, this is the first time I’ve published these puppy faces. 
Aren’t they something! 
These are the 4-week-old puppies of Brynna — you see Mom in the last photo — very obviously the mom.
 These puppies are described as “bulldog mix with some Shepherd sprinkled in.”
That’s what we learned from the note we got from 4-Legged Helpers, the non-profit that monitors small, low-human traffic shelters in hopes of getting the right sets of eyes on dogs and cats that need homes or rescue groups or some other kind of good and decent break! 
Why are Brynna and the babies in the Lancaster shelter? 
The answer from 4-Legged Helpers: “Someone insisted on bringing them into the shelter. Being kept safe away from the general population but need out NOW. Note that all animals at this small shelter are vaccinated on intake. Mommy Brynna is sweet as sweet can be. Extremely lovable. Adores everyone.”
Mom needs a home, too.
To offer to help this family find happy homes, call or text 4-Legged Helpers at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected] or “Facebook msg” Laura Macias.”
 And remember this: Like so many shelters around here, Lancaster is “full.” 

MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE,
WAITING FOR THE RIGHT HEART
Cane, that’s his name. Our tipster, the volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm, reports that he’s a mixed-breed who was surrendered to the shelter on May 18 — that was in springtime! Why was he in the shelter? “Landlord would not allow the owners to keep Cane.” He’s 10 months old, weighs 58 pounds and has “so much pent-up energy. Combine that with kennel confinement and he’s ready to zoom. Keeps him from making an initial good impression, his bio says. Then, he also goofed up his leg and needs some healing time for that. He’s #47783929. Use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityof- mesquite.com.
That brings us to Faith (#47831797), a Pittie mix who came in on May 24 as a stray. Debra’s Faith bio reads, “We were disappointed when an adopter recently completed the paperwork but then never showed up to claim his girl on 7/3.  Faith weighs 59 pounds and is about 2 years of age.  She walks well on a leash and when led through the bay she did not react to the other dogs, even those who were barking at her.  She has a sweet disposition and is a spunky girl with an exuberant spirit.  She is a tail-wagging, happy-go-lucky girl with an outgoing and confident personality.  She always seems to look as though she has a big grin on her face.”
 Remember, use her ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email at [email protected].
And you can see more dogs and some cats, too, by clicking HERE.
Among those cats and kittens is this guy Archie (#47687541), a just-over 3-year-old Domestic Shorthair mix who is listed as “Large” and “Orange.” He came into the shelter back on May 5 —he might have gotten larger since then, but maybe not oranger.
And there’s this kitten, Beth (#47907714) who came in on June 14 — she’s pushing 3-months old. [LARRY ASIDE: I ran her photo because (a) I want someone to give her a really great home and (b) it gives me an opportunity to link to KISS’s song Beth HERE and (c) there’s another Beth version in Contemplations. I guess I’m suggesting this: Adopt Beth and keep her name so, when she mews because she’s kitten-hungry, you can sing, “Beth, I hear you mewin’….”

CONTEMPLATIONS
TICK KEYS, HERDS & COMEDY
Until I opened my email Thursday, I thought “tick” was more pleasantly the first half of “tock.” Or maybe an irritating bug. But, no, here was the subject line: “Stock up on Tick Keys for a tick-free summer!” I grew up in the Land of Ticks, the fields, pastures and riverside grassy banks of Northeast Texas. A Tick Key -- I have no idea how to start a Tick. I’ve seen ticks at work. But I’ve never before heard of a “Tick Key.” A little research showed credit for the invention goes to a Connecticut man in the previous decade, but, then looking a little farther into the online resources, it was described as a “Nordic invention.” So, who really knows? All I can say is the message came from The Old Farmers Almanac’s marketing department. If only “spay-and-neuter” was as marketable as a “Tick Key.” …
I SEE IN THE NEWS that Dallas has reached “Herd Immunity” as far as that darned pandemic thing is concerned. Don’t you think it would be more appropriate for Cowtown to declare “Herd Immunity”?
BACK TO BETH, the KISS hit: We cite the entertaining and laugh-out-loud-funny (you wouldn’t show it in church or to the kids) movie Role Models from 2008. Got some raunch, got some words… It’s also got a great comic cast: Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, Elizabeth Banks, Christopher Mintz-Plasse (McLovin in Superbad), the GREAT Jane Lynch, comic doctor Ken Jeong…..and includes, in the context of the story, a really funny version of Beth sung by the entertaining Mr. Rudd.  Yes, Dear Readers, your reporter is still, now and then, in guffawing touch with his inner adolescent. And for that I apologize to all my Sunday School teachers through the years.
—- Offer movie tips or behavior advice by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “GROW UP, GOOFBALL” in the subject line. —-

MARLO/MARLOWE -- EITHER WAY NEEDS HELP; ASSORTED STORIES OF ANIMALS IN NEED AND A KITTEN PALOOZA

EDITION OF THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 [PetPowellPress] We were going to open this edition with a wisecrack, but then we remembered the Texas Legislature is opening for business again on Thursday. Not a proper time for humor, right? We’ll see, maybe.

EVERY NOW AND THEN
A GENDER SLIPS PAST…
The opening sentence in an appeal about this dog read, “Just found out Marlowe is actually MARLO, a precious girl dog. Please help!” 
Oh, you know, sometimes you get busy helping a dog and forget to look, I suspect. This girl Marlo, currently in the Lancaster Animal Shelter (described as “full”) is in need of a 501c3 rescue or foster, according to our tipsters at the non-profit 4-Legged Helpers.

Marlo had come into the shelter late in the afternoon a couple of days ago. The appeal reads that “This gentle, lovable, sweet girl was horribly attacked by what appears to have been another dog. It may be that she was in heat, possibly, from what we are being told.” 
The shelter rushed Marlo to the vet and now she’s in need of a place to recuperate other than a shelter. Call or text 4-Legged Helpers at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].

Use the same contact points when you find yourself needing to give a home to this kitten Pixie. How’d this “8-10 weeks old” kitten wind up in a small town shelter? “Found out and about on her own,” is the explanation. Yep, you’d think 8 to 10 weeks was still too young to get picked up as a stray.
LOTS OF KITTENS?
SCHEDULE A PALOOZA
We got this note from Operation Kindness, the no-kill shelter in Carrollton. 
It reads, "Operation Kindness is excited to announce a Kitten Palooza Adoption Event on National Kitten Day where guests will have the opportunity to meet kittens in person and find the perfect pet to join their families.” It’s an appointment-only event at the shelter on Saturday the 10th. Adoption fees will be “sponsored by Pet Supplies Plus.”
OK’s news release also says there’s a reason for all the kittens. It reads, “This year’s kitten season has been hectic due to the inability to spay/neuter feral cats in 2020 since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
And the quote from OK CEO Ed Jamison reads, ““Unfortunately, the pandemic shuttered TNR (trap, neuter, spay, return) opportunities for many shelters across the country last year, and we’re seeing an influx of kittens in need of loving homes. For this reason, Operation Kindness is doing its part to support these pets by dedicating an entire day to finding them families.”
Remember: You don’t need a special day to adopt cats and kittens from Operation Kindness.
We decided to include a few photos here. As you can see, there are plenty of kittens. But there are older cats, too, including this last boy. Lionel is listed as “11 years, 4 months old.” He’s been back at OK since June. His bio reads, “This sweet senior is an alumnus of Operation Kindness and came to us as a newborn kitten. Lionel is now looking for his forever family. Lionel is a charming boy who appreciates a quiet living space and nice, soft chin scratches.”
 Check out operationkindness.org.
LIVE-WIRE PEPPER IN MESQUITE
& A GIRL NAMED DIAMOND
Here are two dogs down on their luck, but fortunate enough to have gotten the spotlight of the volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm at Mesquite Animal Services.

First up is Pepper, described as a “live-wire.” Pepper (#48140546) is a “mixed Terrier breed who was surrendered to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 7/3 due to the health of her owner.  She weighs 65 pounds, is about 1 1/2 years old and is spayed.  She has lots of energy and thoroughly enjoyed her romp in the shelter yard during the photo shoot.  Former owner reported that she lived inside and was OK with dogs, cats and children (theirs are 1, 11, 13).” [LARRY ASIDE: Our experience is that dogs really miss their kids. And isn’t that a sad thing to consider.]
That brings us to the “sweet girl” Diamond (#48137492), a terrier mix who arrived as a stray with a broken foot on July 3. [LARRY ASIDE: No idea if she jumped a fence to flee early fireworks and broke her foot.] Her bio reads, “She was taken to the vet and a cast was placed on her leg/foot.  The owners were contacted and they opted to surrender her because they could not afford the medical expenses resulting from the broken foot.  Diamond weighs 60 pounds, is about 3 years old and is spayed.  Former owners reported that she lived both in and outdoors, that she is OK with children of all ages, is house-trained and likes to run and play fetch.  Diamond also knows the shake, roll over and speak commands.” The surrendering family’s spokesman said, “She needs an awesome family with kids. We just can't take care of her."  
To ask about these dogs, use their ID numbers when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
typing in the subject line TAG, ID 48137492.  If further information is needed please call 972-216-6283 or email at [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS
TRASH; WEATHER; A MOVIE SPEECH
We got a new lid for our rolling trash bin from the city during the morning Wednesday. It was actually delivered by someone from the city, installed and left -- all very quietly, like some kind of Trash Bin Fairy showed up to do the repair. When I was kid nobody had invented plastic trash bags and the newest trash bag we could put in the big metal “garbage can in the alley” began life as a grocery sack from the nearby Piggly Wiggly. Things change.  At about the same time we were being served by Fort Worth, folks in Dallas (I'm still on the mailing list) were getting a note reading, “Recycling collection may be delayed” and why was that? The City of Dallas note read, “Sanitation is experiencing a laborer shortage resulting in intermittent service delays for customers….” Here’s a link to D Magazine’s story. I’m not in a union, but this might be a good time for sanitation workers to organize, drive up the salaries from under $13 an hour and learn to strike for better working conditions, etc.. Not that such a thing would ever happen in Dallas.
… Hurricane Season — it’s the only season that’s worse than the Texas Rangers’ season. Flu season moved into 3rd place.….
A patriotic beer commercial? I heard about it. Didn’t see it. But, it’s got Bill Pullman reprising his presidential role from Independence Day and here’s the LINK. God bless America. I’ll have iced tea with a slice of lime, please, while wondering if occurpants of UFOs have opened an advertising agency and gotten a major beer contract just for fun.
—- Offer advice or wisdom by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put EVERYBODY GETS A RAISE’ in the subject line. —-