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A CAVALCADE: FROM A WOODPECKER, TO DOGS, CATS, HORSES AND TERLINGUA -- IT'S TEXAS!

EDITION OF FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021 [PetPowellPress] The theme of this particular segment is “Do you believe?”
 Yes, “Do you believe Ivory Billed Woodpeckers are still pecking wood in American forest?” Amen? 

Outside of pro-animal legislation, we will rarely take a political stance at readlarrypowell.com but this decision is too important to leave up to the government. 
We stand with William Powell and Stevie Ray in the matter of denying the “extinct” label to the Ivory Billed Woodpecker.

On the left, you see young Stevie Ray working his shift at our front window observation venue. The other photo shows Office Cat and Senior Observer William Powell after he took the second shift. Not sure either has ever seen any kind of woodpecker. 
We believe that it is entirely possible, in our bird-happy area adjacent to the Tandy Hills Nature Center, that at some point we'll see an Ivory Billed Woodpecker landing in the Bald Cypress tree in our front yard. Who declared the Ivory Billed Woodpecker “extinct”? Nobody yet.
 Why do we have such faith in the big woodpecker? See that photo of that car? It plays into our theory of lingering survival.
We’ll explain that — and the public commentary opportunities — in today’s WOODPECKER CONTEMPLATIONS. First, some more animal stories.



HERE COMES
OKLAHOMA’S WINTER…

Pretty sure Oklahoma gets winter before North Texas gets it (the Panhandle of Texas is too flat to slow the winds blowing east from New Mexico and Colorado). But here’s the deal. Our resilient tipster Terry Lynn Fisher of Burns Flat has been rescuing animals and protecting the shelter residents for a long time. She knows the ropes. And she knows the seasonal needs for a 20th century “pound” that has moved into the 21st century through her determination and supporters.
She writes, “As October approaches, so does the colder weather. Our pound is totally outdoors, as is the one south of us that we help with.  Sadly, the extra places we have for the pound dogs are always full, so, often, there are many in the pound.  I do everything I can to keep them safe and warm but being outdoors, it’s sometimes hard.” [LARRY WEATHER ASIDE: As you can see in that illustration from The Old Farmers’ Almanac, those weather experts concur with Terry Lynn. “Season of Shivers” is chilling, isn’t it!]

Terry Lynn also says, “I put tarps around the kennels to block the wind and we take warm blankets up several times a day. 
So, it’s time to ask for donations to help keep these babies warm."

Here are “some of the needs.” Terry Lynn writes, “Blankets. (Many, for after so many washings with bleach, they get worn out).
“Heavy plastic water buckets; food bowls; large heavy duty tarps; heavy duty zip ties….
“ And always needed: Food, collars, leads and treats.”

She says, “We will soon need to replace the large igloo dog houses when able. And, we are working on another building to build more kennels in.  But that’s expensive, even with my sons doing the work.  But it’s always a goal.”
She ends her appeal with, “Thank you all for any help you can offer. Terry Lynn.”
To ask Terry Lynn how to deliver donations to her, contact her at [email protected]. You can donate on PayPal at [email protected]. And this is her mailing address:
TERRY LYNN FISHER/ PO BOX 578/ 206 Iroquois Trail/ Burns Flat, OK, 73624.
The name Burns Flat? Nothing to do with fire. Burns was a nearby post office. Flat is what the land is. Where is Burns Flat? It’s not far from Texas — only about an hour and 10 minutes if you take the interstate from Burns Flat west to the Texas Line. From Wichita Falls, it’s about 2 hours and 20 minutes almost due north. Yes, the roads are paved. 
This area is ranching country — it’s where, when you turn off your car lights at night (and pull over, of course), you can look up, see a sky carpet of stars and see all the way to the edge of the universe.
‘LEAPING AND BOUNDING’ —
THAT’S BRINDLE BRINDI’S WAY!
How is it a dog like this isn’t a household star, an adored companion, a go-to pup for hugs and laughs? The Mesquite Shelter volunteer dog biographer Judi Brown says Brindi, a not-fixed, 55-pound, “true brindle beauty,” came in as a stray on September 18. 
She’s been waiting that long “not because she’s not a very attractive, desirable dog,” Judi writes, “but because she didn’t know what to make of the shelter and needed time to decompress.”
She’s now ready to go through a “slow introduction” to “her new family,” Judi says. And she recalls, “When I first went into her kennel she had her tail tucked but when she got outside her tail started wagging and she started running back-and-forth. She actually was very joyful... leaping and bounding.”
She spent some time looking out of the exercise yard gate — not to escape, but because, Judi says, “She just was curious about what was going on on the other side. A volunteer came up to the gate to talk to her and she made a new friend!  When I sat down. she tried to get on my lap. When she’s not running back-and-forth she’s very gentle.”

She appears to be house-trained, “walked well on the leash,” and didn’t show aggression toward other dogs.
And there’s this, Judi writes: “She should make a good family dog and would do well with a large yard. However, she would prefer to spend most of her time inside with her new family. In the short time we were out, she was getting overheated and wanted to go inside. If you’re looking for a loving dog that likes to be close to you and is energetic come and meet Brindi!” Brindi’s shelter ID is #48690213. Use it to help communications when you call the shelter at 972–216–6283 or email [email protected].


SADDLE UP, IT’S A
A NATURAL FOR TEXAS

A few decades ago, before all the ranches and farms in Dallas County became developments and paved roads, one of the reporters at The Dallas Morning News did a story noting that Dallas County had more horses than any of the 253 other counties in the state. That’s all changed, but the need to help horses and the ability to learn from them has not. 
On Wednesday, the SPCA of Texas announced that it’s involved in a horse program. The news release reads that “The 4-H Homes for Horses program, in partnership with Texas A&M, the Humane Society of North Texas (in Fort Worth) and The Right Horse Initiative, pairs 4-H youth with horses from rescue organizations in order to provide the horses with ongoing care while teaching the students valuable skills.” Seventeen students were accepted in the initial round and were “paired off with their own rescue horse for a full year. The students will take the horse home with them, work on their skills as well as the horse’s skills.”

 And in case you wondered, you can adopt horses at the SPCA of Texas. This 27-year-old mare Lyric is a Quarter Horse. Her adoption fee is $350. Based on the bio, she’s a well-mannered horse and there’s this key information for those of us who would only accidentally be involved with a horse. The bio reads “Catch in pasture: yes.” [LARRY NOTE: If you see me in a pasture trying to catch a horse, you can figure the horse is playing keep-away with my winning Lotto Texas ticket. That’s about the only reason I can think of for going over a pasture fence and trying to outsmart a horse. Oh, yeah, I might have to dig under the fence — I’m out of practice when it comes to fence-jumpin’. And, as a native Texan, I think the last time I rode a horse was in the ‘60s or early ‘70s. Have owned two Ford Mustangs, however.]
Oh, and one more thing: Any of you city kids know what the 4 Hs stand for? Yeah, I had to look it up, too: Head, heart, hands and health. There were 3 until 1911 when “health” was added — I plowed quickly through some research and also found that 4-H has gone from a mostly agricultural organization to a modern world’s focus involving science, citizenship, technology and healthy living.
CONTEMPLATIONS
THE WOODPECKER; A STAR; TERLINGUA! AT 54?
Welcome to Woodpecker Contemplations. The Ivory Billed Woodpecker is not going to be officially extinct for a while. Research reveals that extinction can’t be federally official until after the “public commentary” period which ends Nov. 29. Click HERE  to reach the Federal Register and commentary rules. 
I’m not kidding. The government has to have a “public hearing” to declare the species “extinct.” 
Oh, about that car — the last official sighting of a U.S. Ivory Billed Woodpecker was more than 80 years ago. So what? See that car? That’s a Rambler. Ramblers first appeared in the late 1800s. And research shows that the last Rambler was made in 1969. Yet, there, parked at a house not far from our’s is what I believe to be a fully operational 1960 Rambler.
If a 1960 Rambler can roll down a 2021 city street, it’s possible that an Ivory Billed Woodpecker colony can still be going un-noticed in a forest that no developer has yet bought and leveled.
PERSONAL WOODPECKER NOTE: I grew up in Northeast Texas and camped out in the woods as a Boy Scout — lived with confidence that if there was ever a remote-enough place with limb-to-limb pine trees that would draw the attention of a big woodpecker, I was living in it. Heck, the Red River and its wilderness bottoms run through that neck of the woods. And, in that part of the world, there are bugs so big that you could put ‘em on a foot-long metal skewer and roast ‘em over an open fire and feed a family for two weeks. 
Not that a woodpecker does that sort of thing. Nope. A woodpecker is a civilized bird — nothing like the sound of a woodpecker hammering into a tree trunk in the woods.
Oh, and if minor league baseball ever resumes, Woodpeckers will play baseball — in the Carolina League, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. No ivory bills. Also, not in the same league as the Coastal Plains League Savannah Bananas. Just a baseball FYI.
 ...
I MAY WRITE MORE ABOUT TOMMY KIRK later. But for now, we’ll just note that, at age 79, an actor who was watched by many fans of Disney TV and films, Tommy Kirk, has died at 70. Many favorite roles, including his work in The Shaggy Dog and his portrayal of Joe Hardy (left in the photo) in The Hardy Boys with Tim Considine as Frank Hardy. That was a serial on The Mickey Mouse Club in 1956. For some of you, the mention of The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure will become a time-traveling earworm: “Gold doubloons and pieces of 8, handed down to Applegate….” Here’s a LINK TO THE THEME . And here’s a link to the obit of the actor who played the kid who had to shoot Old Yeller. …
The Texas Rangers baseball team is turning 50 in 2022 but the great international Terlingua Chili Cook-off has been around a lot longer than that! In fact, here’s this year’s poster.
It was sent to us by the great Kathleen Tolbert Ryan, daughter of the cook-off’s co-founder Frank X Tolbert, creator of the Tolbert’s restaurants and longtime columnist for The Dallas Morning News. This version of the poster showed up in our email Thursday with a note from Kathleen that read, “Getting ready for the Terlingua Chili Cook-Off!!! VIVA 54!!!” Details of the event are at this LINK: http://abowlofred.com. A Bowl of Red was the title of “Tolberto’s” (as he sometimes referred to himself in print) best-selling book, regarded by many as “The Bible of Chili.” Some things in Texas are comfortably long-lasting legends — Terlingua is one of those “Texas thangs.” Where is Terlingua? It’s in the Big Bend. Take I-20 to Monahans and turn left —if you start in Dallas you'll be there in about 600 miles. And ready for chili, the Texas State Dish since May 12, 1977.
— Offer chili recipes or antacid advice by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “NO BEANS, FAKE MEAT” in the subject line. —

LOOSE DOGS MAUL CHAINED DOG; ADOPTABLE ANIMALS ON THE CLOCK; HUMANS CAN HELP

EDITION OF THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 [PetPowellPress] This edition is for the last day of September 2021. How can that be already?
That dog has no idea. He is Chico. What’s Chico got to do with the advancing calendar? Not a darned thing. He’s only 4 months old. Never known a cold day. Missed that whole storm back in February — got to enjoy the summer heat, however. More in today’s edition on Chico.

This edition is really long — I’d try to make it shorter, but people keep finding animal-related issues, dogs and cats on the clock and the odd moment in the progress/failure of civilization to protect animals. Read on, please.
OH, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD,
SUMMER’S GOT UNTIL FRIDAY
This appeal for help for Summer came from Vanessa Johnson, the Senior Animal Care Specialist at Carrollton Animal Shelter.
So, what’s the deal on this beautiful, year-old Husky/Shiba Inu mix?
She’s rescue only. The 40-pound spayed, heartworm-negative and fully vaccinated dog has a problem.
The note reads that she originally came into the shelter as a stray on July 6. Since then, she has been “adopted and returned a few times.”
Why? Doesn’t get along with other animals. On the other hand, everyone who adopted her praised her as sweet with humans, including children. 
But that one un-social thing with other animals element is the sticking point in saving her life by adoption. So, she’s “rescue only.” 
Then, there’s this chilling final sentence in the appeal: “We will not be able to hold Summer past Friday, October 1, 2021, at 5 p.m.”
 To try to save Summer’s life, call the shelter at 972-466-3420 or email vanessa.johnson@cityof carrollton.com.
Friday. 5 p.m. Suddenly the end of the work day takes on a fatal tone, doesn’t it.
CHICO AND ALANNA, AMONG
MANY IN LANCASTER
We’ll start with Alanna, described this way in a note from the 4-Legged Helpers: “This incredibly sweet girl appears to be a purebred Labrador Retriever and she is as sweet and gentle as can be. Only about a year old. She has an injury that needs to be seen by a vet. Looks like possible dislocation but she is walking fine.”
Fabulous eyes. But it’s the hip area that appears to have a problem.

That gets us to Chico, a 4-month-old Chihuahua — maybe a mix. He was “released to the shelter by someone who apparently was allergic. He is baby sweet and adorable. Loves everyone and everything. And so cute!”
[LARRY ASIDE: Remember, these Lancaster animals are on the clock. Cute sometimes isn’t powerful enough to stop the needle.]

And, also waiting at Lancaster is this beautiful German Shepherd Panchi. Why is he in the shelter? “Panchi was brought to the shelter by someone who could no longer care for him. They said he is great with both dogs and cats and he is such a sweetie pie.”
Good grief. How does this happen?
Beau, the purebred Rottie, is waiting in Lancaster, also. “He is a middle-aged boy who was brought to the shelter by someone who could no longer care for him. Really great Rottie — very sweet boy! FYI, he has a little hot spot behind his ear that will need to be cared for.” 
Get in touch with the non-profit, big-hearted, mission-focused 4-Legged Helpers if you want to help these animals. You’ve seen this photo of adorable Buddy before. He’s still there waiting and we’re determined to give him enough publicity to wake up the heart of the human who will become the adored person who gives this little guy a lifetime home. He’s only 10 months old.

To ask about helping Buddy or any of these animals or any of the animals you may see posted on the 4-Legged Helpers’ Facebook page HERE, call or text 214-949-2726 or Facebook message Laura Macias or email [email protected].
[LARRY ASIDE: I’d ask the question “What the heck is wrong with people?” but, heck, who among us has time to put those answers into a readable form! May whatever they are facing that caused them to dump their animals be corrected — gently and smartly.]
BEFORE WE MOVE ON
FROM 4-LEGGED HELPERS

The non-profit also addresses needs in several area shelters.
Here are three instances. 
The first dog is Riley, a Bulldog mix, in the Wilmer Shelter which the Helpers describe as “hell on earth for dogs. Rusting tin building that is closed to the public and often without running water or air-conditioning or heating. …Dogs that end up there rely entirely on a rescue group being able to save them.” Riley is a young “adorable…most awesome boy.” 

We’ve previously mentioned Bond, James Bond, the well-behaved, loving dog who is “already fixed, microchipped and fully vaccinated.” He’s in the care of a Denton shelter that doesn’t want to be identified, [LARRY DECLARATION: If we knew the shelter, readlarrypowell.com would ID this shelter and try to get some eyes looking at animals in its care. Who can figure out shelter management, sometimes?]
Bond’s bio reads, “Adores children. Ignores kitty cats. Loves everyone including all other dogs.”
[LARRY NOTE: BEST BLESSINGS ON BOND AND THAT MYSTERY SHELTER. INFORMATION SAVES LIVES.]
And, waiting in Bridgeport, another dog we’ve previously cited: Rocky, the big ol’ “American Bulldog” who is described as “the most lovable lug imaginable — Rocky is as sweet as they come. …Very sweet, very gentle, affectionate dog. He is such a good boy.” 

Contact the 4-Legged Helpers by calling or texting 214-949-2726 or Facebook message Laura Macias or email [email protected].
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE,
THE STORIES IN A SHELTER…
We have stories from both of our usual Mesquite Animal Shelter tipsters, the volunteer dog biographres Judi Brown and Debra Chisholm.

 Check out the "markings" on Luci's face! Judi introduced us to Luci, a “fun-loving, playful, joyful, affectionate, active puppy.” She’s a 6-month-old, 25-pound mixed breed who came back to the shelter on Tuesday. “She had been adopted the week earlier and the adopters admittedly had not introduced her slowly to their other dog. Because of this, she was returned as she did not get along with their other dog. It may have been that Luci was too active and playful... just speculation. When I walked her through the bay she did not react to the other dogs even though some were barking at her. However, we always recommend further dog testing.”

Judi says the “adorable” Luci “greets you with tail wags and lavishes you with kisses. Another volunteer came into the yard during the photos shoot and she acted like he was her BFF. She sometimes gets excited and jumps on you because she wants to be closer and to give you a hug!” Already spayed. She’s #48664000. Use that ID number when you call the shelter at 92-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmes- quite.com.
Same contact points for this guy, one of the dogs Debra’s working with.
 “I have named this adorable boy Cowboy,” Debra writes. “He arrived at the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 9/20 and is listed as a mixed breed.  Cowboy [#48694442] weighs 50 pounds, is about 2 years old and is neutered.  His behavior in the kennel does not draw potential adopters to him as the behavior is too highly energetic.  However, when he walks outside (and he does walk nicely on a leash), he is a different dog.  He is calm and gentle, with a moderate activity level. He is friendly and likes attention. He likes treats and will take them gently.  This is one very sweet-natured youngster.  He spent a great deal of time during the photo shoot with his nose to the ground scouting out all the interesting smells so it was somewhat difficult to get pics of his very handsome face.”

Debra also spent time with Rudy, a “mixed breed” who came into the shelter on the 15th. “Rudy was adopted but the adopters never returned to pick Rudy up after he was vetted,” she says. “Rudy is approximately 6 months old, weighs 27 pounds and is neutered.  He is a very lively and high-spirited fun-loving pup.  He does jump on you continually and will need some training in that area.  He does walk well on a leash.  He did not seem to have any issues with the other dogs when he walked through the bay.  He does not seem to know any commands.  He likes treats and will take them gently.  Rudy is playful, friendly and loves to receive attention.  He is confident and has an outgoing personality.  They just don't come any cuter than this! A city shelter is no place for a young pup so please help Rudy out and on the way to his forever home.” Use his ID #48664075 when you contact the shelter.
Remember, you can see more dogs and many cats by going to the Mesquite Shelter LINK HERE.
For example, anybody out there need a cool cat? Take a look at this guy Huey. Is that not a picture of “cool cat dude”? He’s just over 4 years old, listed as “large” and has been in the shelter since September 1. His ID is #48574454. Look for him in the “Cat Room” at the shelter. Might be the “Cool Cat Room.”
CONTEMPLATION
AN INCIDENT THAT CHILLS…

This is a story about something akin to an ugly situation that once set off reactions of horror at Dallas City Hall and throughout the city. 
But, then, that was years ago, a couple of elections ago and attention spans must somehow shrink once someone declares “We’re getting this under control.”
We received a copy of this posting from a local animal page. 
And here’s how it read — wait a second. First I want to remind you that the City of Dallas once brought in some pros from the East to work up a report on the shameful “free-roaming dogs” situation in Big D. You can read a copy of that FIVE-YEAR-OLD report HERE. 
Remember what inspired that report? On May 2 that year — 2016 — six free-roaming dogs attacked and fatally injured military veteran Antoinette Brown as she walked in the 3300 block of Rutledge Street in Dallas. Mayor Mike Rawlings said Dallas Animal Services needed to step-up the pace in picking up strays.
Of course, the responsibility for keeping dogs properly restrained — by fences, not by choke-chains strapped out of reach of water or food — falls squarely on the humans who say they’ll take care of those dogs when they get them. But how can you legislate a sense of responsibility? Make failure to take care of animals against the law? It’s already against the law. It’s like a speed limit sign. Some drivers only pay attention if they think someone with a badge is watching. Other drivers just don’t care.
 That brings us back to the dog story.
Posted Tuesday, it reads, “I had a call this morning about a dog (small, sweet Pittie) that was chained in its yard in Dallas. On Friday, two dogs came into the yard and attacked it, Because the dog was chained - it could not get away and was very badly injured.
“The dog was taken by a generous good Samaritan to a vet clinic because the owner would not. It has over ONE HUNDRED bites, one leg is swollen three times the size it should be and it will be amputated. 

“There are so many bites on the ears that the dog will probably lose them. At this point, it is a life and death situation and the dog may very well not make it."
The poster of the story then wrote: “My Questions: Is unattended chaining of a dog still legal in Dallas, Texas? Is there any ongoing effort to deal with the dangerous stray dogs here? IS THERE ANY ENFORCEMENT OF ANY ANIMAL LAW IN DALLAS, TEXAS?”

That was the posting. We’re monitoring the little dog’s condition. We are also hoping to hear that the two dogs that attacked it are not going to be killed without anything other than a “tsk tsk” being leveled at the person who didn’t protect their lives by properly giving them a safe and secure home.
 All strays won’t attack. Some are just looking for a better home than the one that treats them like garbage.
Based on the way things go in Dallas these days, 
I guess it’s time to get new signs for the edge of town:

“WELCOME TO DALLAS.
WATCH OUT FOR LOOSE DOGS
& ARMED DRIVERS.”
— Offer opinions by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected]. —-

CAT EYES, A DOG'S 'M' OR 'F' ID; A BREED APART FROM THE USUAL AND CONTEMPLATIONS

EDITION OF SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 [Pet-Powell- Press] My cat, William Powell, is watching every move you make. Don’t let it rattle you. He often stares. 

NOVA’S IDENTITY CRISIS;
SEEKING HAPPY ENDING
There’s been a really entertaining video of Nova the Dog on the Dallas Animal Services Facebook page for several days. 
This is Nova’s face. Nova is #A1127368 at the city’s big shelter. 
Here’s what we discovered. And it’s kind of amusing. [LARRY NOTE: I report this as a guy whose baby kitten Simon was called Ivy Diane for about a week — until an expert took a better look.]

ON THE DAS ADOPTABLE DOGS WEBSITE you’ll read this note:
“Oh man Nova, that sweet face! This baby boy needs some love. At 6 years old, he’s found himself in the shelter with heartworm. He needs someone to get his life back on track. Dallas Animal Services pays for heartworm treatment, so all you need to do is provide Nova with a soft bed and a peaceful place to recover. If you have it in your heart to do a good deed, you might consider this boy. He needs some TLC, and he would be forever grateful.”

HOWEVER, ON THE DAS FACEBOOK POST, the message reads: 
“Oh man Nova, that sweet face! This baby girl needs some love. At 6 years old, she’s found herself in the shelter with heartworm disease. She needs someone to get her life back on track. Dallas Animal Services pays for heartworm treatment, so all you need to do is provide Nova with a soft bed and a peaceful place to recover. If you have it in your heart to do a good deed, you might consider this girl. She needs some TLC, and she would be forever grateful.”
Fortunately, on the Facebook page, there’s a video HERE  that breaks the tie on canine gender identification. It also shows that Nova is a lively, lovely dog who needs someone who’ll love her. What does it cost to adopt this girl Nova? Same thing it would cost if she was a boy dog Nova: Nothing. Adoption is free at Dallas Animal Services.
Here’s the adoptable’s LINK.

 [LARRY NOTE: Regarding the bottle-fed, probably 10-day-old kitten now known as Simon, we’d originally named “her” after our friend Diane Combs, animal advocate and longtime SPCA of Texas volunteer. But, when our vet Dr. Vladi Dejong said, “Congratulations, she’s a boy!”, he became Simon. I mention this so that whoever ID’d Nova as a boy won’t feel too bad about it. Though, of course, there’s a dramatic difference between a cat’s equipment and a dog’s equipment. That's then-Ivy Diane being bottle-fed by my ringspouse Martha. He's quit a bit larger now. Big ol' sweetie.]
RELIABLE IDENTIFICATIONS
OF THREE MESQUITE DOGS
Here’s another dog breed that I believe is new to readlarrypowell.com, but once I looked it up, it seems that Mesquite Animal Services has nailed it with Jordi.
The volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm sent Jordi’s story and said he is a Perro de Pastor Mallorquin with Labrador Retriever “in the mix.” Lab, we’d encountered. 
And, as it turns out, this guy Jordi sure looks like he might be the offspring of one of those Spanish working dogs, the Perro de Pastor Mallorquin. (The “dogsplanet” website has photos and info HERE.
Debra reports that Jordi came into Mesquite’s shelter as a stray on the 21st. He’s about a year-and-a-half old, isn’t neutered, weighs 55 pounds and “is uncomfortable in the shelter and lacks confidence.  He is nervous and uneasy.  With some patience and TLC he would undoubtedly blossom.  He walks OK on a leash.  When walked past other dogs in the bay he seemed intimidated by them.  He has a calm and laid-back personality.  He did warm up to me and liked the attention I showed him.” Jordi is #48708142 — use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]. Use the same contact points and their IDs when you contact the shelter about these next two dogs.

This relaxed handsome fellow is Spirit, a Lab mix — also a stray who came in on the 21st. A year-and-a-half old, he weighs 52 pounds and isn’t neutered. Debra writes, “Spirit is very uneasy in his kennel with the noise of the other dogs.  However, once he arrived in the yard, he loosened up and seemed much more comfortable!  He left his kennel clean and did his business in the yard.  He seemed fine when walking past the other dogs and though hesitant at first about walking on a leash, did better when he was away from the noisy dogs.  He has a low-key personality and needs to develop more confidence.  Spirit has shown signs of being an escape artist, so a high (at least 6 feet) secure fence would be needed to keep this boy safe.  He is friendly and enjoys loving attention.”

 Fancy, a year old, 48-pound spayed Pittie came in on the 18th — yep, a stray.

Debra says, “This little sweetheart is lively, active and alert.  She is confident and doesn't jump on you.  She may be house-trained as she pottied outside.  Fancy doesn't seem to know any commands and could take or leave the treats I offered.  She is a tail-wagging, fun-loving pup who would seem best-suited to a person or family who would exercise and work on training her. I observed her a couple of days ago in the yard with a woman who had brought her dog in to dog test and there was no aggression or unfriendliness on the part of either dog.  She's friendly and has a nice personality. There's just a lot to like about this girl!” She’s #48688787.
CONTEMPLATIONS
BACK TO NORMAL, ETC.?
--If you’re not a sports fan, pardon me for a moment. The Dallas Cowboys thoroughly thumped (41-21) the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football and somehow that seemed to make the world a brighter place, didn’t it? And that concludes our sports commentary. …
--This is not a sports comment; it’s a cultural query: Could the Cowboys’ return to prominence and the triumphant opening of the 2021 State Fair of Texas have anything to do with the nation creeping toward a post-viral rebound? Coincidence or mutual inspiration? I looked for signs elsewhere, but my psychic powers have shrunk like the hopes I had for my 2021 pumpkin crop — only had one pumpkin; not sure that’s a “crop.” Of course, I have seen an advertisement for a new James Bond film — No Time To Die, opening October 8. As I recall, the arrival of A New Bond has always been a boost for theatergoers. Can a woman be “James Bond”? I have two granddaughters with acting skills. (Pretty sure neither has ever seen George Lazenby's lone appearance as Bond in this "hip" 1969 film. On Her Majesty's Secret Service -- some say it's the best Bond film. Some don't. I lean toward pretty darned good. And it has a pretty touching song from Louis Armstrong -- perfect for perhaps the most tender Bond moment ever on film. Click HERE. …
--I got a letter addressed to “Fort Worth Neighbor” Tuesday and I looked at the return address to see which of my neighbors might be writing to me: It was one of my “neighbors” on East Imperial Highway in El Segundo, Calif. A major communications company, for the sake of its fiber optics product, has redefined the reach of the term “neighbor.” Be nice if, at stock payoff time, I'd get a healthy check addressed to Dear Wealthier Cousin.
—- Offer ideas or objections by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and putting BOND, JANE BOND in the subject line. —-

A CAT'S MORNING; SHELTER DOGS; CAMI THE FW CAT; AUTUMN LEAVES...

EDITION OF TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Most writers will declare that the first sentence of a book is the most important. This ain’t no book. When I sat down to write the opening sentence to this edition, suddenly I had a magnetic housecat stepping across my keyboard and onto my lap for some Monday morning adoration. Hmm, maybe that second sentence was important, too. How often do you see the term “magnetic housecat”? 
My dear friend and office cat, William Powell, decided to assert his lap-catness and nip at my giant nose.
So, sometimes, maybe, a photo grabs the attention before the first sentence even has a chance. 

If you have a cat who believes he exists (a) to inspire humans and (b) to be adored, then he may just hijack the whole passage. That’s OK by me.
William’s a formerly feral kitten who has matured to be about as hefty as a grown-up’s bowling ball — somewhere between 14 and 16 pounds and gifted with lots of moves when he’s on a roll. “Picked ‘em up in an alley when I was a kitten,” he explains.

I managed to snap his departure photo, too, though the last sentence of a book or passage may not always be as smooth an exit as a picture of a cat’s backside.
THE FOCUS IS ON
SHELTER ANIMALS
Before we get to this shelter dog Bond — James Bond — consider this possibility:
 Most people go through life without giving a thought to the animals sitting in shelters and waiting for either a long-shot adoption, a rescue by a non-profit with an already over-burdened foster system or the sting of the needle after a few comforting pats from a stranger. Is it possible to somehow energize the hearts of the blissfully, willingly unaware humans? How do you jump-start a heart? 
All that locked in your mind, we turn to some people who wake each day with a mission of saving ‘em all from the awful human curse: Indifference.
[LARRY ASIDE: Time out while we reconsider this phrasing: “the awful human curse: Indifference.” Does that pretty much capture the lackluster attitudes of the don’t care/so what part of the population that moves through life like a viper through a septic tank? Oh, my. Let’s refocus on the animals in need.]
Mercifully, the small force of good souls known as 4-Legged Helpers, pinpoints the needs in the shelters that don’t have a public relations campaign or a huge volunteer program. You get the feeling sometimes that some shelters don’t even have someone assigned to turn on the lights, make sure there’s food and water and keep the kennels available to a visiting public. Well, of course, there is no visiting public. Some cities still see their municipal shelters as “warehouses for unwanted animals,” not actual “places of shelter until the animals are saved from cost-efficient euthanasia.” 
These animals all need help — and there are more in the small shelters, too. We’ll cite a few and tell you how to save them and how to get involved with helping people who are trying to help these betrayed animals — betrayed by humans. [LARRY ASIDE: OK, help me off this soapbox before a slat snaps and I discover what it's like to land on my wallet and wish I'd had enough money to cushion my fall.]
This first Lancaster dog is handsome, adult Zane. Look at that face. He’ll be available for adoption on Wednesday at Lancaster Animal Services. His bio, from 4-Legged Helpers, reads, “Zane is a gorgeous dog — beautiful blue color with big sweet eyes and the sweetest personality. He was found out and about as a stay. Please help save him!” [LARRY ASIDE: He’s listed as a “bulldog mix” but at first glance some might say Pittie. And then others would draw back in fear — stupidly draw back in fear. Can I get some testimony on behalf of rescued Pittie-types who are adorable, loving, loyal and huggable companions?]

That second Lancaster dog is Brady, described as “sweet as can be! He is a big baby at only about 8-months old. He loves everyone. Very cute guy that so much wants to be loved.” [LARRY ASIDE: Eight months old and already threatened by the death sting of a needless needle. Humans. Sheesh.]

Corry (aka Gordo) is a year-old, has splendidly beautiful markings and is “already fixed and adorable — loves absolutely everyone.” So, why’s he in a city shelter? The Helpers bio reads, “Unfortunately he was getting out of a 4-foot fence (yes, 4-foot) and was released to the shelter by someone in hopes that he’d be rescued or adopted. He is a great young dog that is very loving.”
He’s also in the Lancaster shelter where the chances that someone would stop by to look at animals and pick him are slim. Low human traffic shelter.
Yep, the dog with the perky ears, the attentive eyes and the entertaining spots is Bond, James Bond. He’s in a Denton shelter that prefers not to be named but allows 4-Legged Helpers to cite the animals that need homes.
Bond, James Bond popped up first in this listing from the Denton facility. “Best dog ever! We are serious,” the Helpers’ note begins. “Knows sit and how to take treats gently Adores children. Ignores kitty cats. loves everyone including all other dogs! Does very well on house-training as long as kept on a schedule where he can be let out morning, lunch, etc. He might even know how to shake (not stir) a martini — we haven’t asked him yet. He is already fixed, microchipped and fully vaccinated.”
At Bridgeport, northwest of Fort Worth, there’s this guy Rocky, a “male American Bulldog” who is “the most lovable lug imaginable. Rocky is as sweet as they come. …Enjoys getting back scratches and being round any person — he adores them all. Very sweet, very gentle, affectionate dog. He is such a good boy.” The Helpers explain that the photo was “taken in the morning sun — he is whiter more than cream and more gray-blue when not in the sun.”
And we’re going back to Lancaster to mention one more dog — a dog we’ve mentioned before. Buddy’s his name. You see our favorite photo of Buddy stretching up to greet a handler. And you also see Buddy’s ability to sit quietly and enjoy whatever he’s looking at. We spoke with 4-Legged Helpers founder Laura Macias about Buddy and she said, “I am hoping Buddy gets out. He is such a great dog!! I am in love!”

To ask about any of these dogs or any animal in these shelters, call or text the Helpers at 214-949-2726 or Facebook message laura Macias or email [email protected].
You can see more about the 4-Legged Helpers’ work — more animals, more situations — by going to their Facebook page HERE.
JUST AN OL’ $25 CAT,
HER NAME IS CAMI
You can adopt cats for $25 at Fort Worth Animal Care and Control and this girl Cami is one of them. Look at the colors on this baby! 
She’s vivid and varied, isn’t she! 
Her bio pinpoints her i as being “11 years, 2 months, 20 days old” and how does a shelter know that? Magic, I guess. Maybe someone has a “Guess The Cat’s Age App” on their SmartPhone. [LARRY ASIDE: Who dumps an 11-year-old cat in a shelter instead of embracing her as a joy and comfort and someone to respect?]

Anyway, Cami is #48165241 and is a “small Domestic Shorthair Mix.” She came into the shelter on July 7 and she’s now at the PetSmart Alliance Adoption Center. She’s available right now. Click HERE  to ask about adopting Cami.
CONTEMPLATIONS
TWO NOTES & A LEAF MAP
I’m on a mailing list for what purports to be a daily uplifting message of humor. On Monday the “Riddle of the Day” red, “What stays where it is when it goes off?” And the answer is “Alarm Clock” but I can swear, as a veteran of late night fun followed by a way-too-early morning shift at a newspaper, there’s no guarantee that the alarm clock would stay where it was when it went off. It might just fly across a room. …

Anybody else catch this? I was watching the Ryder Cup on NBC Sunday and every time NBC showed a label for the program it was “Ryder Cup 2020” — just one year off, unless, of course, that was the 2020 Ryder Cup lineup postponed due to the pandemic. Better hope politicians don’t adopt that standard. The 2024 election will be somewhere around 2027. …
Never mind politics and pandemics, let’s talk foliage. I cribbed this off a bit of promotional mail from The Old Farmers’ Almanac. It may boost your spirits. Want to see a great USA autumnal foliage map that predicts the times at which the fall colors arrive? Click HERE Of course it’s cool — it’s autumn!
—- Provide smart talk or wisecracks by clicking on ‘Comment’ below or by email [email protected] and put YOU NEED A SEDATIVE in the subject line. —

A MONDAY ASSORTMENT FROM FLETCHER TO MNF & FRANK, HOWARD & DANDY DON

EDITION OF MONDAY, SEPT. 27, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Here we are in the final few days of September 2021 and wondering if we can just slow down the rest of the year so we can enjoy every single day, every sunny day, every cloudy day, every autumn rain, every falling of a leaf in the yard and, if possible, could those leaves arrange themselves in manageable piles as they plummet from the branches like little thin skydivers.
As you contemplate ways to slow the rest of the year, look at that dog’s face and ask, “Why is it appropriate to post this dog’s photo on this, the 4th day of the grand and glorious State Fair of Texas?” Anybody? Anybody? He may not be a Corny Dog, but his name is “Fletcher.” We’ll get to him in just a moment. Here we go with Monday’s presentation from the Metrosprawl to Greenville and a note from Kabul, too.
SEPTEMBER’S ROSTER HAS
DOGS & CATS IN MESQUITE
We’ll begin with Freddy (#48689489), a senior “medical rescue” in the Mesquite Animal Services shelter. The tip on him came from shelter volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm.
She reports, “This precious senior is Freddy, listed as an Aussie Shepherd.  Freddy was picked up by one of our officers and brought to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 9/13.  One of the staff remarked that it appears this boy has been living on the streets for a while.  Freddy weighs 35 pounds, is approx 10-12 years old and is not neutered. He has the sweetest, calm and gentle personality.  Freddy walks well on a leash.  He loves treats, takes them gently and is highly motivated by them.  He is friendly and enjoys loving attention. Two volunteers gave him an oatmeal bath and he was completely cooperative.  Perhaps he sensed that someone cared about him and was trying to help.  He doubtless felt wonderful afterwards.  He will sit and give his paw.  Unfortunately Freddy has some medical issues that will need to be addressed--he has eye, ear and skin infections, missing and broken teeth and enlarged lymph nodes.” Get the full vet report when you contact the shelter at 972-2165-6283 or email [email protected].

This guy is Rolo (#48671274). [LARRY ASIDE: And when we read his bio, our first thought was “Somebody’s going to get the joy of hugging a 77-pound dog!” We’ve had dogs this size and when you sit on the couch with them and your team has a walk-off homer or maybe scores a last-minute field goal, that dog will get hugged! Back to Rolo.]

So the deal is 3-year-old, not-yet-neutered Rolo came into the Mesquite shelter as a stray on September 16. Debra writes that “he walks OK on a leash but is a bit of a puller and when led through the bay did not seem to have aggression toward the other dogs.  However, it is always a good idea to ask for a dog test.  He pottied in the shelter yard.  He knows the sit command and will do so for treats which he takes gently.  He is a frisky and perky boy who will jump on you so that will be something to address initially.  He is playful and athletic and enjoyed getting up on the climbing equipment in the yard.  He is a friendly boy.  Though he looks somewhat intimidating and somber, he really seems to be a sweetheart. ...Because of his weight and the jumping issue it would not seem a good idea for him to go to a home with small children." 

 That brings us to Fletcher (#48696317). He’s a mixed-breed boy with Lab and English Pointer in the mix, Debra says. Came in on the 20th as a stray. He’s about a year old, not neutered and weighs 63 pounds. Debra writes, “There is nothing timid or shy about Fletcher.  He walks OK on a leash but does pull.  He pottied in the yard. He spent a lot of his time during the photo shoot with his nose to the ground exploring.  He is a friendly fellow though.  He likes toys and kept returning to the toy box to pull out a different one.  He did not seem interested in treats and didn't seem to know any commands.  He is playful and has a sweet nature.  He would seem best suited to a person or family who is active and would spend time daily exercising and playing with him as well as teaching him some commands.
to ask about any of these Mesquite critters, call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email   [email protected],
You can see more adoptable adorables by going to the Mesquite shelter’s website HERE.

Among the availables is this beautiful black cat Jackie (#48544626) who at just over 2 years old, came in on Aug. 28. She’s got a great set of whiskers!. Our theory is someone asked her, “Jackie, how would you react if you saw a 55-foot tall cowboy trying to thumb a ride on I-30 in Mesquite?” and this was her expression of surprise. Then she mewed, “Big Tex — he’s the man! I would, however, settle for a home with anyone who is kind and doesn’t think it’s amusing to hand cotton candy to a kid in a car or a cat at the whack-a-mole booth.”
THIS IS BUDDY:

HE’S A REMINDER
We’ve frequently written about 4-Legged Helpers. How do those angels describe their work? Here’s the “definition” posted on the organization’s Facebook site HERE: “Our 4-Legged Helpers is a tiny 501c3 rescue org that works to save kittens, cats, pups, and dogs from high kill DFW area rural shelters. We work with towns/cities/shelters (Lancaster, Ferris, Wilmer, Hutchins, Bridgeport) whose pets would otherwise never be seen or would most definitely not make it out. We do posting (emailing, FACEBOOK), networking (with 501c3 rescues), and arranging transport to no kill 501c3 rescue orgs not only local to Texas but to other states, partnering with no kill rescues in the NE, Colorado, etc. ALL money goes toward the animals.”

Lately, in the Helpers’ efforts, the focus has been on such dogs as this guy Buddy. 
It’s such a cute photo, I couldn’t resist posting it again. Go to the 4-Legged Helpers Facebook Page HERE 
to see the animals in need. And if you want to help the Helpers by volunteering or donating, call or text 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].
A MISSION IN GREENVILLE
AS SHELTER HOURS CHANGE…
Dana Coker, veteran animal advocate and rescuer, sent a note with a mission: “I am hoping for media coverage to help bring positive, more rescue-friendly changes to the Greenville shelter. The comments [on the announcement’s Facebook posting] reflect how regressive the shelter policies are, for both rescuers and adopters. Thank you for anything you can do to shine a light on this shelter, and maybe inspire (or shame) the Mayor, Council, and shelter management to finally do right by the animals.” 
I think you may have caught the tone of the reaction to the Greenville Animal Shelter’s new hours — closed on Saturdays, for example. Click HERE  to see the changes and to see the reactions from residents and animal folks. 
The closed-on-Saturdays change takes effect Oct. 1 and the hours change during the week. [LARRY ASIDE: You might really enjoy reading some of the comments on that post. We’ll just declare that animal people have firm opinions and can express them in dynamic and sometimes entertaining ways.]
We thought it might be a good idea to show some of the animals waiting for a home at the Greenville shelter. 
The cat on the left is Slimer (C21732), a “young adult” fellow. How did this guy wind up in the shelter? “Old man in a red car abandoned the cat at the shelter,” his bio reads.

 What about that other little cat? That’s Mike The Cat. Maybe Mike The Kitten.
 And how did Mike wind up in in a city shelter? The bio reads that the surrendering human said “Too many; can’t afford to feed.”

That dog? No name. Just "adult dog" waiting for a human heart to give him a home.
Here’s the LINK to the shelter's adoptable population in Greenville.
 [LARRY DRIVING TIP: Greenville is around an hour’s worth of speed-limit driving northeast on I-30 from Dallas if (a) there’s no construction, (b) there are no slow drivers, (c) you don’t stop at Buccee’s in Royce City and lose focus or (d) you don’t let your mind wander while driving through the “Twilight Zone” area that features a town called Fate.]
A REPORT FROM KABUL
VIA THE FACEBOOK LINK
Remember a few weeks ago when you couldn’t see a TV news report about the troubles in Afghanistan with getting people and animals to safety. 
We checked in with Kabul Small Animal Rescue over the weekend — the Facebook link is HERE.
This photograph was one of many uplifting — heck, downright positive — items about the way things are going for animals. 
The caption under this photo read, “Little Christopher Robin may not have a lot of hair, but he's got all the cuddles! Our vets think he will recover beautifully, and although he can't have puppy friends until he's not contagious, he gets lots of snuggles from staff and we are looking forward to finding him the perfect forever home.”
Might be possible that this dog, a veteran of horrible times when people are in conflict, might be a good dog to live out his rescued life in the Lone Star State. Or anywhere else in the USA.
CONTEMPLATIONS
CATAPPETITES (ONE WORD), COWBOYS, TIME!
We got this appeal for “dry cat food for feral cat rescuer” from the great Sydney Busch at Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake. As a catfan, I’m pretty sure it gives other catfans something to contemplate, i.e., the fact that the “finicky cat” is not a myth, even in the feral world. Sydney wrote, “Nancy Watts is trying to keep up with feeding all the feral cats in her neighborhood - if you can purchase some DRY cat food (not Kit/Kaboodle - they won't eat that) and bring to the clinic any Tuesday, she will pick it up and be eternally grateful.” That clinic in reference is the Friends of the Animals Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic, the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic in Gun Barrel City, Texas. Keep up with the Friend’s website HERE and Facebook page HERE. …
So, the Dallas Cowboys play the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. Should be a great game with the broadcast team of Frank Gifford, Dandy Don Meredith and Howard Cosell. Wait, a second. I’ve gone through a time warp again. Let me wind my watch back. Wait. I don’t have a watch — well, one that works, anyway. I tell time by phone now. …
Frank, Don & Howard were MNF’s team in 1978. So, speaking of time, here’s an appropriate song from 1978 from Mr. Al Stewart. This one goes out to anybody who was ever “taken back to the past” by a song. CLICK HERE and if you get a commercial before the song, know that I’m working on a time machine that’ll take me and a good lawyer back in time to get commercials banned from the opening of an online song.
—- Offer time tips or time-wasting tips by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON” in your subject line. —-

AND THEN FOSTER DOG BING MANAGED TO CHANGE ALL THE ARRANGEMENTS...

As you may suspect, based on the evidence in that first photo, this canine is the spotlighted fellow in our long-running weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. 
In that “curled-up-and-sleeping” photo, he looks like a traditional curled up and snoozing dog.
But, as you may suspect, there’s a little bit more than "traditional dog" to this boy, Bing.
He’s a former foster of the legendary foster Patty Sprong. 
And how did he catch our attention?

Because Patty posted that photo of her with Bing and confessed: “So, I’ve only ‘foster-failed’ three times in 30 years, and only once by choice. I guess we have to make it twice! Bing is a special boy, and our bond is deep. He hates everyone else, but we’ll work on that.” [LARRY ASIDE: We’re certain Hubby Steve is on Bing’s “Your OK” list. By now.]

As I told Patty when she posted the picture of her with that foster-failure boy, “I saw that Bing post and immediately I realized the world is not as bad as indicated by morning news reports!!!”

Patty wrote that Bing is 10. And, she explained, “He came from a hoarder and has a permanently busted jaw and smashed eye. He’s a lover though.”

In an explanation of Bing’s adorableness, she wrote, “He was horribly abused…He still loves though and that’s what makes him special.”
Patty fostered Bing on behalf of Humane Tomorrow (one of our favorite non-profits). On HT’s “Help” list, you’ll see this note: “Foster homes are truly the heart of our program.” Here’s the website.
Now, what about his name? Bing. Yes, it was on his driver’s license and credit cards when he was found. I’m kidding. Patty reminds me that he was one of many dogs rescued from a house in Graham — he was safely taken in with his sisters and brothers (Rock Hudson was one).
Bing and his family and many other dogs were “living” (loose interpretation of the word in a dog world) in the Graham house when they were seized by the Young County Humane Society. Patty says no cruelty charges were filed — the human passed away. But, she says, “He wasn’t the only one with a busted up face. I had him a few months while he went through heartworm treatment. We just bonded and I couldn’t imagine letting him go.”
Now, ladies and gents, please take a look at Bing’s photos.
You’ll note that Bing was photographed nose-to-nose with another dog. That is Pearl, Patty’s Recycled Pomeranians & Schipperkes Rescue foster dog, Pearl. And, Pearl was adopted last Sunday!
You may notice, also, that Bing has a “comfort position.” Patty explains, “Yeah, he pretty much spends his life upside down. No need for training! With the busted jaw, his mouth always hangs open. He’s such a dork.”

Yep, a loveable dork who only has eyes for Patty right now! And that’s OK with her!
[DEAR READERS,we always have a place to show off your slumbering critters at readlarrypowell.com. Send photos and bios of your pals and we’ll feature them in our weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. The email address is [email protected]. Remember, your love for your animal family member will be demonstrating to people that they, too, can find loyal love by having a dog or cat around the house. Maybe one of each or more than one of each. And you’ll be helping insomniacs have faith that we, too, can sleep if we can just figure out how to sleep upside-down without slobbering all over the pillow. What? Get rid of the pillow? I'll give it a try -- anything for a night's sleep! That final photo today? That's Deputy Chief Kittie Leigh Johnson offering comfort to a chronic insomniac in a 2 a.m. photo after doing Cat Yoga for about an hour. ]
—- Offer sleeping tips or space travel packing advice by clicking on ‘comment’ or email [email protected] and put KNOCK OFF THE SPORATIC SNORING in the subject line. —-

A FRIDAY EXTRA EDITION WITH ASSORTED ITEMS OF CRITTER INTEREST -- AND THE FAIR!

EXTRA EDITION OF FRIDAY, SEPT. 24, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Yep, the State Fair of Texas opens today and it’s not a drive-through. It’s a real State Fair. Coupons, stuff on a stick, everything in the brochures.
Kind of feels good, especially when combined with lower temps.
 Now, using State Fair terminology, it takes NO coupons to acquire this cat. I couldn’t find one in the Dallas Animal Services shelter named “Big Tex” but this guy is called “Big Boy.” He’s 8 years old and his bio says, “He doesn’t need to be in the shelter — he needs a great home where he an hang out, look out a window and wait for chin scratches. He’s A1127592 at the shelter. Weighs 10 pounds. Here’s a LINK to see how to adopt.
MEANWHILE, ZEN THE DOG
CONTINUES TO BE MISSING
A couple of weeks ago we told the story of Zen, Chantez Knight’s dog who vanished on September 7 in a midnight “visit” to the backyard while he was being “petsit” by a relative. 
There was a report that he was spending his time in the neighborhood of a Fiesta grocery store on Illinois in West Oak Cliff.
We checked with Chantez on Thursday to see how the search was going and she reports, “Sadly, I still haven't found him as yet. I'm not giving up. My sister and I are still hanging posters and handing out flyers. I believe someone has him. I'm just praying God opens their heart and they do the right thing and get him back to me.”
 When you spot Zen or if you know his whereabouts, call the Zen searchers at 404-993-9738. He’s a former Garland Animal Shelter dog who has been Chantez’ joy and companion for the past two years.
THE MESQUITE SHELTER
HAS MANY DOGS ‘READY TO GO’
Our tipster pal Debra Chisholm, volunteer dog biographer at Mesquite Animal Services, provided the information on these four dogs. 
Remember, when you contact the shelter about these animals, use their ID numbers when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email at [email protected].
This first photogenic fellow is Todd (#48630308), a Pittie/Staffie who arrived as a stray on September 10. He’s about a 1 1/2 and weighs 66 tail-wagging pounds (He’ll weight a little less once he’s neutered.” Debra describes him as “a tail-wagging, happy-go-lucky fellow who is frisky and perky.  He walks OK on a leash but is a bit of a strong puller.  He was thrilled to get out in the yard and stretch his legs.  He knows the sit command and will do so for treats, which he takes gently.  He will occasionally jump on you so this will need to be addressed.  He is friendly and enjoys attention.  He did follow me closely around the yard when he wasn't busy exploring.  He was a bit reactive to the other dogs who were aggressively barking at him when walking through the bay so please ask for a dog test if you are interested in Todd.”
Princess (48666962) is described as a German Shepherd/Malinois mix. The 3-yer-old, 57-pound, not-spayed girl came in as a stray on the 15th. Debra writes, “Princess is a delightful girl with a sweet personality.  She walks beautifully on a leash and thoroughly enjoyed exploring the shelter yard.  It was a bit difficult to get many face shots as she had her nose to the ground a lot of the time.  She knows the sit command and loves treats.  She will happily sit for them and take them gently.  She is also an amiable girl.  She has a moderate energy level and yet seems pretty calm and gentle. … This is a real sweetheart of a girl and she would doubtless be a wonderful companion.”

 “Adorable” Maya (48656216) is about a year old and weighs 35 pounds and isn’t spayed. She came in on the 14th — a surrender with 3 other dogs, “One possibly the mama and two siblings,” Debra writes. “The others have been adopted and Maya is alone at the shelter and seems lonely without the other ones, two of which she had been kenneled with.  … She obviously is not accustomed to a leash.  She would take a few steps and then freeze, making it necessary to mostly carry her to and from the yard. So leash training would need to be a priority.  She is still a bit timid, shy and nervous with the noise and barking of the other dogs.  Out in the yard however, she was happy to sit on the bench and cuddle with me.  She's friendly and affectionate.  She has the sweetest nature and would doubtless bloom outside the noisy and often chaotic shelter environment.”
Debra says Paris (48705678) is an 8-month-old, 50-pound, un-spayed Lab/Rottweiler mix. She was surrendered to the shelter on the 21st. Why? 
“Owner is moving out of state and could not take Paris with her,” Debra wrote, adding, “There's so much to like about Paris.  She walks well on a leash, is fairly well-mannered, calm and gentle.  She will sit for treats and takes them gently.  She is a friendly girl with a very sweet nature.  Former owner says of her that she is OK with other dogs, cats and children (theirs are 12 and 14). Also stated that she is house-trained and likes to run.  In the yard, I noted that she was friendly and playful, with a moderate activity level.  subject line TAG, ID 48705678.  If additional information is needed please call 972-216-6283 or email at [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS

GIVING DAY THOUGHT; BIG FAIR FILM
This is worth a bit of Contemplation in the wake of a really busy North Texas Giving Day. The photo and the message from this dog were created by Stephen Foster, the founder and guiding light of DFW’s Furgotten Friends. He posted this on Facebook Friday morning. Cute dog, right? The dog Poppy is getting credit for writing this: “I might be giving the, ‘Where I'm I headed?’ look, but I'm so grateful for everyone who donated on North Texas Giving Day. If not for this silly little rescue coming to get me from the shelter when my family said I was too old so just keep me — Well. I would probably be dead today. My name is Poppy. I'm 10 years old but have a lot of years ahead of me that I want to spend with you. Thanks to DFW FurGotten Friends, and everyone who donated last night, I have the chance to cuddle up with you on the couch.” Here’s the DFW’s FurGotten Friends LINK.
IN HONOR OF BIG TEX, HIS TEAM OF STAFFERS AND ALL FANS OF THE STATE FAIR OF TEXAS, here are a couple of links from the internet that are State Fair related.

This LINK features  this 1961 view of Downtown Dallas from the big highway entering Dallas from the west — can’t remember it was the DFW Turnpike at that time but I'm almost certain it wasn't Interstate 30 yet.
And in THIS VIDEO you can see many of the attractions at the 1961 State Fair — that’s the year the film State Fair, starring Pat Boone. was filmed for release in 1962.
As you can see in these videos, Dallas is a Bigger D now. A lot bigger. The sky was bigger back then -- no buildings in the way. The Fair looks a lot bigger now, too!
—- Offer notes or chords by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put LAY OFF THE FUNNEL CAKES in the subject line. —-

AN ARRAY OF OPPORTUNITIES: A BUNNY, CATS, DOGS, KIDS -- CALLING ALL HEARTS....

EDITION OF FRIDAY, September 24, 2021 [PetPowellPress] We begin Friday’s edition with a question. Anybody else catch the Anna’s Bake Sale story on the NBC5 news this week? 
If it didn’t move you, call a doctor and get yourself checked for a heart. More on the story’s situation in Contemplations.
We’ll now visit our primary mission — helping animals and the people who help animals, but remember this: Good hearts help everyone. From kittens and puppies to kids and grown-ups. Here we go …
Oh, and before you get to this first Mesquite item, here’s a note from a legendary foster pal of ours, Patty Sprong, who keeps an eye on the animal world. Just after the noon hour Thursday she posted, “Holy crud!! Mesquite getting in over 100 dogs from a hoarder … Rescues needed ASAP.” The shelter’s Facebook page cites 110 dogs total and immediate need for rescues and fosters. 
As you know, nothing puts pressure on a shelter clock like the arrival of more and more animals. That photo came from Mesquite Animal Shelter's Facebook page and it's what that hoarding rescue crowd looked like Thursday.
THE MIXES IN A DOG
AND THE CAT’S BOOTS
Shelters are full of an assortment of dogs, cats, kittens and puppies. For this dog note, we follow the lead of the Mesquite Animal Services volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm. She introduced us to Shelby by describing her as an “attractive girl.” And, Debra explained, this girl has a family tree with English Pointer and Dalmatian “in the mix.” She’s about 2, weighs 53 pounds and “has a confident and outgoing personality and is an energetic, active and alert youngster.  She thoroughly enjoyed stretching her legs in the yard during the photo shoot and seems quite athletic.  She was very interested in scouting out all the interesting smells but was good also with hanging out with me and receiving attention.  She is an amiable girl.  She appears to have had a litter recently.  … She is playful and has an on-the-go nature.  Nothing very timid or shy about our girl Shelby.  She would seem a good fit for an active person or family who would spend daily time exercising and playing with her. Please help her out of the shelter by networking or tagging at [email protected], typing in the subject line TAG, ID 48508840.  If additional information is needed please cal 972-216-6283 or email at [email protected].
https://www.cityofmesquite.com/1239/Animals-in-the-Shelter
This is Cat 3 (for now). She’s month-old #48696164. She came in on September 20 and if you had the chance to name her, do you think “Boots” would work”? [LARRY ASIDE: As a guy who has never picked a cat but has always been picked by cats who wandered up, I think it might be a bonding event for me to choose this one and pick a name that either goes along with Boots or is contrary to “Boots.” Maybe not “Socks” or “Footsie” or, inspired by the literary work of Mario Puzo in The Godfather, perhaps “Mustache Pete.” Wait, that won’t work for a girl cat. How about “Perfect Kitty.” Yes. I think that’s what I’d pick if she were to show up on my front porch — but, of course that’s not going to happen. Someone would have to go to Mesquite and adopt her and keep her and make her the star of their daily household show! And I just can’t add another cat to our household. But somebody reading this might have a spot for such a spectacular kitten.]
THIS GIRL IS UNWANTED (SO FAR);
HER NAME IS LITTLE FANCY
The note about this dog, forwarded from Paige King at Fort Worth Animal Care & Control, cites Little Fancy and a really rotten situation. Paige’s note reads, “She has an owner, came in once previously and was reclaimed, but not this time.” We may never know why Fancy’s human didn’t come get her this time.
Maybe someone can give her a home that will keep her forever. Fancy (#47676107) is a year old, weighs 47 pounds, is spayed, heartworm negative and dog friendly. 
Described as a “terrier, Pit Bull/Mix,” she came into the shelter on August 17 and has been waiting either for a familiar face or a new home. She’s at the Fort Worth Animal Care and Control Chuck Silcox Adoption Center. Remember the FWACC rule is “don’t call.” You can visit. You can email
[email protected] to ask about adopting or, if you’d love to foster Fancy, email [email protected].  The photo on the right shows a much happier Fancy than the second picture of a dog in a shelter kennel.
AND ONCE UPON A TIME
BIG D HAD A BIG BUNNY…
The photo of this girl was posted on the Dallas Animal Services Facebook page Wednesday. Clearly she’s a very quiet resident of the city’s big shelter. 
We have no idea of her family tree, her breed or her favorite sporting events. But here’s what we learned from the shelter’s Facebook page: “Blanche (#A1123655) has been with DAS since June and is looking for a new home! Can you help us find this sweet bunny a family?
Stop by our main shelter (1818 North Westmoreland Road)…”
The big shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland is open 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. See more Dallas available adorables by going to this site: BeDallas90.org/pets." [LARRY NOTE: We don't know this for sure, but we are led to believe she is descended from a local momma rabbit and a wallaby that escaped from a traveling zoo in the 1930s. That could be a made up story. Don't even try to find documentation in the novel Walter Wallaby and Bonnie Parker's Bunny.]

CONTEMPLATIONS
WHEN WE THINK OF THE FUTURE
My little boys were born on Jan. 17, 1971.  Bart, 2 minutes younger than Bret, almost immediately developed a respiratory ailment that was threatening his life. I mean "Call-from-the-doc-around-midnight" saying things were "iffy." Bret weighed 6.2 pounds and Bart weighed 5.6 pounds. Tiny humans. Both smiled early. “Gas!,” someone wisecracked. Might have been. They’ve been smiling and laughing since birth. 
But, back just after that happy day in 1971, one was threatened. Mercifully, there was medicine and hospital care and doctors' knowledge that beat Barty’s horrifying ailment into submission. The boys are now 50 and competitive at golf (Bart has the family’s only hole-in-one) and gainfully employed. Bart has 3 kids who call Bret “Uncle Buck” and he loves ‘em for it.
I tell you that because all of the thoughts of the good things that have happened in my life with twins were suddenly swirling through my brain as I listened to the story of a little girl, her twin, her big sister and a horrifying disease. 
The point of this story on NBC5 was that Anna’s Bake Sale Foundation is having it’s annual bake sale in Waxahachie on Saturday to raise money to fight childhood cancer. It’s a cause we ought all be aware of — my family of father, mom and two brothers all died of adult cancer. Somehow, for me, that emphasizes how very horrible childhood cancer is. Cancer should never rob anyone of a part of their lifetime, but to take nearly an entire lifetime from a child is really a tragic, villainous occurrence. 
Here’s a link to the NBC5 video https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/sisterly-love-sparks-yearly-bake-sale-for-childhood-cancer-awareness-research/2749194/
and a story. It is uplifting.  And here’s the link to Anna’s Bake Sale Foundation.
The twins are Jaclyn and Isabella (she’s the kid whose plight inspired Anna’s Bake Sale.). The “Anna” in the Foundation is her big sister, Anna Day, the woman who went to bat for her little sister and other kids with cancer, too. Bless Anna’s heart. There are a lot of us siblings who’ve lost little brothers (and little sisters in, perhaps, your case) to cancer who wish her the greatest of blessings in this mission. Thanks, Dear Readers, for putting up with my personal Contemplation today. Save the kids and their futures for the sake of all of us, you know?
— Offer ideas and support by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected]. —

FACES, FULL DAYS, JAKOB & THE CATS, AUCTION A QUILT, AUTUMN & DECLAWING

EDITION OF THURSDAY, SEPT. 23, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Wednesday was the first day of Autumn, Thursday is North Texas Giving Day, Friday is the opening of the State Fair of Texas. Saturday is “Take Your Cat To The Aquarium Day.” I made that one up. But we do have a cat note in Contemplations. In the meantime, some stories of animals and people….
EIGHT DOG FACES
IN THE DAS SHELTER
Sometimes, which you’re clicking through the animal postings on the internet, you just get overwhelmed by the photos and the challenges.




 These are 8 faces of dogs currently in the Dallas Animal Services Adoption Center, the big building at I-30 and Westmoreland just minutes from downtown Dallas. Random selection of two rows of dogs.
Here’s the link: https://www.bedallas90.org. It’s not a small shelter and it doesn’t have a small population but it does have animals and each one has the beginning of a story and you may have the triumphant happy endings for these "unwanted" animals..
MEANWHILE IN LANCASTER:
WE MENTION (AGAIN)
JAKOB & 2 CATS
Readlarrypowell.com has been tracking Jakob’s situation for weeks and weeks. Here you see him able to dress up the color red and the color of blue, too.
Our friends at 4-Legged Helpers say there’s been a “$400 donation to the 501c3 rescue that saves Jakob.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Isn’t it sad that a dog in a shelter has to raise a single dime to sweeten the attempts to save his life! How can animal people get the nonchalant occupants of this planet to pay attention to saving these lives? There’s a question nobody can answer!]

Jakob is the 18-month-old Great Dane mix who was found romping stray on a playground and enjoying the company of kids and passers-by. To adopt or rescue Jakob, call or text 214-949-2726 o email [email protected].

And these two cats are pretty new to the shelter — siblings Alani (the Russian Blue) and Midnight, the boy black cat. Owner-surrenders because the human couldn’t care for them any longer.
Both are healthy and fixed and, the Helpers note says, “Extremely affectionate and sweet. Poor babies do not know what to think about being in the shelter.”

THIS QUILT’S BEING RAFFLED
TO HELP FRIENDS OF THE ANIMALS
OPERATE IT’S SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC
A note from Sydney Busch with Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake included photos of this quilt and an explanation. 
She wrote, “This beautiful quilt, lovingly made and donated by GBC Quilting Guild, will be raffled off this fall just in time to be a great Christmas present for an animal lover in your life - or for YOURSELF!
A raffle ticket is $5 and you can get 5 tickets for $20.
Where can you see the quilt in person? It’s on display
in the front room of the Friends Spay/Neuter Clinic in Gun Barrel City. You can get tickets there from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday and “on the Second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon.” That’s when the Friends hold non-surgical clinics for lower-cost shots, etc.
[LARRY ASIDE: It always amuses me to think of the reaction people unfamiliar with Texas charm when they hear the concept Gun Barrel City Quilting Guild. Has nothing to do with shooting a gun, has to do with, according to the Handbook of Texas, the town’s motto “We shoot straight with you.” Clearly this is the straight-shootingest quilting guild in the Lone Star State.]
The Friends’ low-cost spay/neuter clinic usually operates, so to speak, on Tuesdays. It is the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic in Gun Barrel City, a little more than an hour southeast of the Metrosprawl.
Friends of the Animals is on Facebook and at friendsoftheanimals.org.
CONTEMPLATIONS

Assorted Notes in a Texas Autumn
Yeah, New England has legendary foilage, but, Texas isn’t bland when the trees begin to turn. We ought to all pledge to enjoy the colors of our autumn, the chills that surprise us in the mornings and the sunsets that come earlier and earlier in the evenings. Heck, somebody write a romantic poem about autumn in Texas. Maybe you can do it without mentioning the price of gasoline. Maybe. Here’s a start: Gas prices and leaves/never fall together,/no matter the temps/nor the weather….”
Anybody reading this ever had a cat in Pittsburgh, PA? My literatespouse Martha tipped me to a story that says Pittsburgh is about to outlaw declawing of cats. The action was kind of a big deal in PA. And, as Texans may recall, in March Austin outlawed declawing of cats. Here’s the Pennsylvania NEWS REPORT and it has a great paragraph. Pittsburgh City Councilman Bobby Wilson said, “Declawing a cat does not just mean removing its nails. If this happened to a human, it would be like cutting off each finger and toe at the last knuckle.” I love my cats too much to do that to ‘em.
Did you see in the news that the City of Dallas has approves its “largest annual budget ever — $4.3 billion.” If my ol’ Newshound Eyeballs read the details correctly, that’s enough money in the budget to fill every pothole, fissure and opening in the earth in every mile of city streets — except a few in Oak Cliff, as has long been the city’s policy, based on my driving experience. [Yeah, we sold our property in Oak Cliff. Good luck everybody.]
—- Offer ideas or occult opinions about potholes by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put DRIVE FRIENDLY in the subject line. —

FROM A PUMPKIN, TO A REALLY LOADED SHELTER, TO DOGS AND CATS NEED A BREAK AND A PIG AND THE MOON....

EXTRA EDITION OF TUESDAY, SEPT. 21-22, 2021 [PetPowellPress] The world is really busy with animal challenges, so here’s a Tuesday PM extra that will carry over to Wednesday, the day Autumn arrives in 2021.

That pumpkin? That, ladies and gents, is the lone pumpkin from my 2021 crop. I planted about 25 plants — mostly Jack B. Littles, the very small "ornamental" pumpkins. And this is the only one that survived the summer heat and my lackluster farming methods.

LANCASTER SHELTER LOADED;
FERRIS STILL HAS BRANDON;

THEN, THE WILMER PARVO PUPS
This opening item sort of demonstrates the willingness of 4-Legged Friends to keep keepin’ on in the face of tough economic situations and a boatload of animals needing help.
 These photos represent one big mission: Beat parvo and help the pups find a home. You can follow the efforts on the 4-Legged Helpers Facebook page HERE. 
Get in touch with 4-Legged Helpers by emailing [email protected]. Call or text 214-949-2726.
As the page explains, “These babies and mom were all from Wilmer area. If you can help we would so appreciate. Trying to save the lives of the puppies. Interestingly, they all broke with Parvo after their 2nd set of vaccinations. Incredibly sad situation. Please, won’t you help us save them? They are so deserving.”

[LARRY ASIDE: You know why that sounds like a “personal appeal”? Because, like everybody else involved in animal advocacy and rescue, saving animals is downright personal, from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. Through and through. Awake and while dreaming. Somewhere there’s a dog or cat — old or young — and other animals, too, that you just know you can help. You just know it. You’ve done it before. You are driven to do it again. That great mission to do the right thing for animals is the fuel that drives individuals and organizations. Bless every one of you angelic animal nuts! And that is a genuine term of endearment for you angels on earth. Now, help me off this soapbox before slat breaks and someone wearing a halo says, "You're gonna need a better lawyer at the Pearly Gates."]
Leighann Hayden of 4-Legged Helpers  prepared the bios about the Lancaster and Brandon of Ferris. As The Helpers have noted many times over the past few years of organizing rescue efforts, the City of Lancaster’s shelter “gets very few adopters or walk-ins and desperately needs the help of rescue organizations.” Same thing for other facilities in Ferris and Wilmer and Hutchins and beyond.
This particular note read, “All pictured stand no chance without your help.” (For all of them, call or text the Helpers at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].)
We start with Garfield, a neutered boy, Orange Tiger Tabby, who was brought to the shelter by “someone who could no longer care for him.” He’s described as “chunky cute.” And the Helpers bio reads, “He has no idea why he was brought to the shelter. Where is the TV? The cushy pillow? the Fancy Feast? Please help save him.” 

These two — Alani and Midnight — are year-old siblings. Alani is the girl. Their human turned them over to  shelter care. And, of course, they are not quite comfortable in a shelter — they need their “normal” living standards.

Scooby is an armful of “adorable, loving and sweet” year-old Doxie/Beagle mix. Yep, cute boy waiting in Lancaster. 

We've written about Jakob before. He’s a Great Dane Mix who has spent many of his 18 months of life in the Lancaster shelter. He’s described as “incredibly sweet, loving and just as cute as cute as can be. This is the guy who ws found on a playground enjoying himself “:just like a little kid.” He also adores “children and all people.:.Great on a leash, too. Loves females dogs so would be great in a home with girl dogs or by himself …Pictures do not do him justice…”

Readlarrypowell.com has published Simba’s photo before, too. This boy is “only a year old,” the helpers says. The Reddish Golden Shepherd mix is described as “cute as can be. Loves everyone.” [LARRY ASIDE: That sounds familiar? Of course it does. The shelters of North Texas are not full of vicious animals — they are laden with angelic dogs and cats that have been betrayed by humans who once said they’d love ‘em until the end of time. People. Sheesh.]

Lexie, a “young/baby female Lab Mix,” becomes available on the 23rd — ironically North Texas Giving Day, hinted the author of this Lexie introductive paragraph.
Now we return to Leighann's work: Her bio of Lexie says she’s a stray who is about 5 months old and has wonderfully “adorable floppy ears. Absolutely adores everyone.” 
Davis, maybe a year old, is a Lab Mix who gets along with other dogs and takes walks and “adores all people.” Yep, the “super cute guy” was an owner-surrender.

This absolutely handsome German Shepherd boy Bear wound up in the shelter because his human died. “Poor sweet guy was devastated at first, but he’s doing very well now and he truly needs his forever home. … Gorgeous, beautiful dog — very sweet boy. Calm and well-behaved,” the Helpers write.

Other dogs at the shelter include (from left, 3 to a row) Athena (“Tena”, a Staffie); Buddy, a bulldog mix; Sophie, a Pointer Mix; Sammy, a Bulldog mix; Bella, a Bulldog mix; and Asher, a Bulldog mix.

And we’ll close with the boy named Brandon, a baby Lab/Boxer mix who came to the Ferris shelter and nobody has come to the shelter to adopt him. He’s described as “the cutest, happiest pup ever. …So sweet and so friendly — always lovable. Goofy, lovable pup. Just a big baby.”
And, as we said earlier, you can help these animals by getting in touch with the angelic 4-Legged Helpers by calling 214-949-2726 or emailing [email protected].
Remember these words: “CRITICALLY FULL - ALL AT RISK!!!” Probably fits a lot of shelters in North Texas — those “empty the shelter places” can refill pretty quickly, as history demonstrates.

CHESTER AND FREDERICK,
TWO CLASSY MESQUITE DOGS
Our tipster on these two boys is the determined Mesquite Animal Shelter volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm. And, as we’ve noted before, she and fellow dog-writer Judi Brown make it a point of getting to know the dogs they’re writing about. The theory is that helps these pups find homes.

Chester’s story is he was surrendered to the shelter on Aug. 6 with “another family pet…Stated reason for the surrender was that he was chewing on the owner's wooden fence.  He is listed as a Catahoula Leopard mix who may have some Great Dane in the mix.  He is 3 years old, weighs about 65 pounds and is neutered.  Chester has had a rough go of it at the shelter in feeling nervous, uneasy and scared.  He has been given extra time to decompress and with the patient and continued involvement of volunteers and some of the staff, Chester is coming around, feeling more comfortable and learning to trust. He will continue to need TLC and patience, but he has come a long way and deserves a second chance.  He is a strong puller on a leash.  He's athletic and enjoyed the climbing equipment in the yard. 
He knows the sit and paw commands.  He takes treats and does so gently and is highly treat-motivated so should be easy to train to learn additional commands.  Chester is friendly and has a sweet nature.” 
Chester is #48392686 — use that number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]
Frederick is a former stray, a German Shepherd “with possibly Jindo and Belgian Shepherd Dog in the mix,” Debra writes. He came in on Sept 7 at 2 years old and 65 pounds. “He walks very nicely on a leash and when led through the bay he did not show aggression toward the other dogs.  He has a low-key and mellow personality.  He is well-mannered, calm and gentle and listens to instructions.  One of the staff feels he is depressed in the shelter surroundings.  He pottied outside.  Frederick does not seem to know any commands and has shown no interest in toys or balls and very little interest in treats.  He is friendly and has a sweet nature and is even willing to give kisses.  There is so much to like about this boy and he would seem to have the potential to be a devoted and loving companion.” 
And, yes, he looks good in a bowtie — He’s #48609652. Use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email at [email protected].

SOME OF THE WAITING DOGS
IN THE CORSICANA SHELTER…
Our pal Karen Lee of barkley world.com, the noted animal advocacy program, tipped us to this fantastic dog by typing a Facebook message that read “Larry Powell. Look at those ears!” Oh, my, look at ‘em. And that set of fantastic ears is why this girl is our spotlight spectacular Earhound among the adorable adoptables in the Corsicana Animal Shelter. 
She’s listed as a 2-year-old, 33-pound “Malinois/Greyhound mix(?)” who is “very dog and people social.” But, the “wrist joint on her front right leg is swollen/painful—limps heavily on it.” She heartworm negative. 
She was spotlighted on the Corsicana Rescue Friends Facebook page HERE .
[LARRY ASIDE: So, what is her name? What is her shelter ID number? Ah, there you have it. I have failed you. Looked all over the internet and could not find a Corsicana site that has the names and numbers of the shelter animals. There’s a PetFinder link on the shelter’s website, https://www.cityofcorsicana.com/269/Pet-Adoptions, but it’s worthless unless I’m just a bad internet pilot — and I’ve got a lot of years of successful clicking on animal pages.]
Same challenging ID number and name thing for this Dachshund family — a mom and and her son. Mom’s 10 years old and her son is 8 years old. She weighs 10 pounds, he weighs 20 pounds and how did these two healthy but “very scared” dogs wind up in a city shelter? The Corsicana Rescue Friends explained, “Abandoned when owners moved.” 
[LARRY ASIDE: If anyone has a link to the shelter’s animal lists with names and ID numbers, please send it to [email protected]. We like to make animal rescue easy, not a puzzle.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
AUTUMN, PUMPKINS AND A SONG
As we’ve noted before already because we love Autumn and the 100-degree temp on Monday was a brain-baker, the Old Farmers’ Almanac says Fall arrives in our state at 2:21 p.m. on Wednesday. Now, surely the season arrives earlier in border city Texarkana than it does in border city El Paso, right? I should have paid closer attention in junior high science class.
FYI: I was paging through The Almanac’s features and stopped for a moment to crave something beautiful called a “Moon Cake,” scrolled down and the first sentence I read was an advert titled “How to Get Rid of Belly Fat Fast.” I didn’t click on it but it may have started, “First, don’t crave cakes.” …
This photo is a companion piece ot our opening bit of seasonal art titled “The Lone Little Pumpkin.” I may write a kid’s book about a little pumpkin that becomes a stowaway on a millionaire’s space ship and become the first earthling on Mars when he accidentally rolls down the landing ramp ahead of the guy who made his fortune farming pumpkins on a two-acre plot in Fort Worth — yeah, it’s science fiction. The photograph features not only my lone pumpkin of 2021’s crop, but my Christmas friend, the winged pig Yulepiggy, posing with his Christmas bulb backpack for an uplifting bit of art titled “Seasons Change and Pigs Fly.” Both subjects are, in terms of their existence, “ornamental.” Nobody eats a ceramic pig or a Jack-Be-Little. …
And, now, we are back to the Moon. I saw a commercial over the weekend for Tiffany’s, the noted jewelry store. It’s message was the very romantic “buy some diamonds for your smoochy-smooch” but the musical theme was a very unobtrusive version of the song Moon River. I turned to my funspouse, Martha, her fingers laden with diamonds, her ears glowing with those sparklies, and asked, “Do you think any kid viewing this commercial today knows there’s a connection between Tiffany’s and Moon River? “Probably not,” she said. So, in honor of Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Truman Capote (novel), George Axelrod (screenplay) and the wonderful director Blake Edwards and Breakfast at Tiffany’s and, in celebration of spectacular songwriter Johnny Mercer and musical genius Henry Mancini here is Holly Golightly singing Moon River from “Breakfast at Zales.” I mean, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. And people have to ask, What’s in a name?” Hah!
—- Offer knowlege or questions by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “DID YOU ALSO HAVE PIZZA AT TIFFANY’S?” in the subject line. —-