ReadLarryPowell.com

HELLO, NOVEMBER, MORE ANIMALS NEED MORE HELP -- SURPRISE!

EDITION OF MONDAY, NOV. 1, 2021 [PetPowellPress] And, in a blink of an eye, October is over and we're right into November.
 And what has changed? Did that 2 a.m. Sunday time change get to you? If it did, you're a week early. What were you doing? Rehearsing? Change is next week, 2 a.m. on the 7th. More about November in Contemplations. First some critter opportunities, as is our style here at readlarrypowell.com. Don't miss Curtis' biography -- he's a Houston dog.
THE OL' RESCUED
GERMAN SHEPHERD

Once again, readlarrypowell.com is moved to ask, "What's the deal with all the unwanted German Shepherds?"

The great Karen Lee of barkleyworld.com forwarded a note about this dog Lola. The note was a pass-it-on that went through the keyboard of Gail Whelan of Companion Animal Network. 
The note reads that Emma's Wish Senior Dog Rescue in Plano is trying to find a home for gorgeous Lola. 
She's 10, weighs 87 pounds and is kind of a tradition in big German Shepherds, has troublesome hip dysplasia. Thus, the note reads, she shouldn't "have stairs because climbing can be difficult..." And she's on medication, not a candidate for surgery and, if needed, the rescue will help her get a wheelchair.
 he's described as "a calm, loving, loyal, sweet girl, great with adults and kids – and she’s been non-reactive to cats so far.  However, she needs to be the only dog in the household."

Here's the contact information if you are, as the note reads, "willing to open your heart and home to this wonderful old gal, either as a foster or on a permanent basis?  If not, please share her info far and wide."
 To ask about helping Lola, call or text Regan Flower of Emma's Wish Senior Dog Rescue at 972.948.4054. Email EMMASWISHSDR@ GMAIL.COM. One more thing: Here the link to Emma's Wish on FACEBOOK. [LARRY ASIDE: If you, like me, have a soft heart for senior critters, be prepared to spend some time looking at the Emma's Wish dogs and trying to figure out if you can fit one more old dog into your house! If that Lotto Texas would just come through for me.. you know?]
MEANWHILE, IN FORT WORTH,
THERE'S HANDSOME CANE

(AND GRAVY WITH A BROKEN LEG)
We got the tip on this guy Cane, currently at Fort Worth from the hustling animal advocate Butch Burgin. The tip read that Cane is "the longest resident there." The shelter bio listed him as arriving there on June 16. 
Cane is an American Pittie mix who is 5 years, a month-and-a-half old. Large boy, they say. And he's waiting.
The note from Butch read that Cane "would seriously love a forever home and couch. The shelter is maxed out, and adopters or fosters are badly needed. Adoptions must be done in person." 
Email [email protected] to ask about adopting or rescuing Cane.
His ID is #41407515 and if he happens to have been claimed by the time you decide to check on him, consider this guy Gravy (A48784903), found as a stray on October 2 and still waiting for someone to claim him and get his leg fixed. Here's a VIDEO from Fort Worth Animal Care & Control -- you'll see how Gravy manages to happily greet a human in spite of that dangling leg. And, yes, email fwacctag@ fortworthtexas.gov. [LARRY ASIDE: Geezalou, why hasn't someone helped this dog? Can rescue groups be as crowded as area shelters? Too bad we can't find the dog's actual human and give 'em a talking to, right? Maybe they haven't missed the dog yet -- it's only been a month and you know, as Gov. Greg Abbott once proclaimed, "Texans love their dogs."]
A SIGN THAT 'NORMAL'
RETURNING TO HOUSTON
We got this tip from our Houston pal Alexandra Kelsey. It has to do with Loving Arms Pet Placement. AK's note began, "Finally….after a long, long year and a half of being isolated and anxious, Houston seems on the path back to Normal!  Who would have thought we’d cherish so much the chances to socialize, to hug our friends, to share some wine?" 
Loving Arms has scheduled "Wine & Dine for Felines (& Doggies, Too," its 2021 fundraiser, for November 13 at the Hearthstone Country Club. (One of the features depends on people who'll attend: Take a "small photo" of a "beloved animal for the Lights of Love memory wall."
Register online or call to reserved tickets and pay at the door. The event is "business casual" and covid protocols will be in place. All the information regarding the $75 tickets and attending are on the Loving Arms site HERE.
Now, that brings us to the reason Loving Arms exists: Critters. 
By now you've spotted that cat Boris, born in January. No idea how he got his name, but it seems to fit him. Loving Arms describe him as "a quiet, shy young man who warms up quickly to kind words. He loves head rubs and neck massages and will lean into you begging for more. Boris is a low energy boy who isn't into drama or busy activities. Boris likes to follow his person around the house. He is also very social and would do best with one or two cat companions in a quiet home with a single person or a calm couple." [LARRY ASIDE: Anybody know if Houston has any "calm couples"? Not sure about Dallas/Fort Worth. My funspouse Martha and I have been locked in matrimony for nearly 30 years -- "calm" ain't the right term. Too many found cats to be all that calm.]
Now, when it comes to this guy Curtis, born in 2014, he's got a story to tell. Somebody cue the honky tonk music because Curtis, described as a "hound mix," wrote his own bio for Loving Arms. Here's how he wrote it, if we are to believe Houston dogs are more literate than North Texas dogs. It reads, "My story sounds like a country western song. I was shot, hit by a car, dumped, unwanted and unloved. I was found, taken to a country animal control shelter and Loving Arms took me in. I was skinny, had worms, my leg was infected where I had been shot, the back of my neck had a wound also (possibly from another bullet), part of my tail was missing and I’m blind in my right eye. But other than that, I was just fine. Oh, and did I tell you, they gave me a toy, and OMG was that fun! I held it in my mouth and just shook it and shook it. I’ve never had so much fun!!!"
[LARRY ASIDE: Bless your heart, Curtis, and may you find a human who is kind and honorable enough to deserve a good dog like you. And if you know who shot you and treated you like crap, let us know. We're hoping to perform a vigorous and righteous break-in a 2021 model of the readlarrypowell.com Two-by-Four of Enlightenment. But that would be wrong. Might feel appropriate, though.]
MEANWHILE, 4-LEGGED HELPERS
MAINTAINS MISSION FOR SHELTERS
The 4-Legged Helpers focus on helping animals that are in shelters that have low-human-foot traffic and too much paw traffic. Sometimes the animals are just "in custody" not "in shelter."
You can keep up with their efforts on Facebook HERE.
For instance, over the weekend the Helpers focused on dogs who are in the care of an un-named entity that takes care of dogs picked up "out in the county." This smallish Bull Terrier mix is Luna, a "healthy and "wonderful" girl who is spayed, vaccinated and microchipped..
To ask about her call or text 214-949-2726 or FACEBOOK MSG Laura Macias.

Use those same contact points to ask about helping this entertaining black and white cat, Oliver. He, too, is an "out-in-the-county" animal who isn't in one of the more traditional municipal shelters. As you can see from his photo, he's a nimble fellow who'll be a point-of-conversation in any household.

CONTEMPLATION
NOVEMBER; GAS; VEGETABLES
Thought I saw the price of gasoline dropping this weekend -- could have been one of your seasonal illusions. Pretty sure the price of a gallon'll be rising again in November as people prepare to, borrowing from Lydia Marie Child's 1884 poem, go "over the river and through the wood" to either grandmother's house or a nearby casino that has a Thanksgiving hotel special and a seasonal buffet. ...
Is it fair to suggest that one of the main focuses of November in the United States is the Thanksgiving meal. The other, of course, is the time change at 2 a.m. Sunday November 7 -- Fall back, you may recall. Try explaining that to your well-regulated dog. ...

As a vegetarian and animal lover, I am moved to suggest "Save the Turkeys." Though, when I was a poor kid growing up in a Southern Baptist home 2 blocks inside the Texas line in Bowie County, chickens ruled the roost, so to speak. So, save the chickens and the pigs and whatever other critter you kill to eat. Big fan of vegetables -- my favorite vegetable is the hot biscuit -- not really a diet food.

--- Make remarks or call me names by clicking on 'comment' below or by emailing [email protected] and put 'No charging station in Grandma's woods' in the subject line. ---

DUDLEY FIND HALLOWEEN INSPIRATION IN HIS HOME -- RIGHT THERE ON THE COUCH.

For this weekend's edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, we offer a tribute to Halloween and the people who dress their animals for the festive holiday.
It’s a gas — especially when the animal plays along with it!
I have been led to believe that no humans in our household will suit up for Halloween. My sweetspouse Martha said she would have donned her traditional witch outfit but, she declared, "These days it cost way too much to gas up the broom."
I did ask our wonderful pal Dudley the Angel, “What are you going as for Halloween?” And he demonstrated and said, “You see it don’t you? I’m an old man who accidentally went to sleep on the couch with his nose up in full-snore position.”
Sure enough, minutes later, he nailed it.
“What was your inspiration?” I asked the lad.
He opened his eyes, looked at me and quietly replied, “You really had to ask?”
 Then he dog-chuckled. And went back to sleep. Sometimes he hangs his face off the cushions on the red couch.
Dudley the Angel is our wander-up Border Collie/Chocolate Lab mix (named after the Cary Grant character in The Bishop's Wife) who arrived during the Christmas season many years ago. But since it's early in the Christmas decorating season, he's our Halloween weekend spotlight dog for Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, our long-running weekend feature.
He’s the only member of the household with a Halloween costume plan.
I adore this free dog. You can see Border Collie when his ears are on alert and, in that scene as he’s preparing to investigate a squirrel in a nearby tree, you can see his “sporting dog” heritage. I was quietly reading a book when a squirrel started cascading out of a tree, grabbing for noisy limb after noicy limb, and managed to save himself. Dudley rose to race to catch him before he could hit the ground — I like to think that was his plan, of course. Maybe.
Dudley’s coat, at first, appears to be black, but when the sun hits it, you see the golden Chocolate Lab tendencies of his hair. In other words, he’s got the beauty of both breeds.
My hijinxspouse Martha and I have never “dressed up” for Halloween. I don’t know why. Too busy working, probably. 
Sad to say, I cannot remember the last time I dressed for Halloween — may have been in elementary school.
Now, though, here is a solid truth: People may have seen me on Halloween and assumed that I was all dressed for the occasion, but, really, that’s no mask, it’s my actual face. That’s also my natural walk, my own beard since 1971 and my usual clothing, some of it nearly as old as my beard. No wonder you’d think I was a Halloween hobo!
We did, of course, live with one very festive Cocker Spaniel for many, many years. That’s the chameleonic Cocker, Inky. You see him as Pirate Inky. And there he is as Vulcan Inky in his Star Trek salute. 

You see the portrait of him my brushspouse Martha painted not long after he’d left us.
And, of course, longtime readers may recall the photograph that cemented Inky’s reputation as the Cocker Laureate of the State of Texas and our official staff impressionist. Below you see him giving us his impression of a not-too-old to trick-or-treat middle-aged individual rushing into the kitchen with his bag of goodies and licking his chops in anticipation of a candy that won’t put weight on your backside. It’s the kind of candy that won’t make no-rules/no-calories-on-Halloween human wonder for a moment why you’re having more trouble buttoning your jeans two candy-filled weeks after Halloween. Yeah, it’s a rare and elusive extraordinarily sweet Halloween treat made with Unicorn milk and berries gathered by a flock of Ivory Billed Woodpeckers.
[REMEMBER, DEAR READERS, once you’ve finished your candy, please send photos of your sleeping dogs, napping cats or snoozing critters of any kind to [email protected] and tell us the story of their lives, too. You’ll be helping people decide to open their homes to a companion animal. Plus, you’ll be helping insomniacs realize that all it takes to help them get a full night’s sleep is a plastic bucket of chocolate candies. Avoid the all-day sucker — they’ll keep you up nights.]
—- Offer costume tips or diet tips by clicking on ‘comment’ below or email [email protected] and put ‘DROP THAT SALTED CARAMEL CHOCOLATE BAR SLIM’ in the subject line. Happy, safe Halloween. —-

WINDS, DOGS, CATS, HORSES, A PIG & PEOPLE: ALL PART OF A MODERN HUMAN LIFETIME

EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY OCT. 28-29, 2021 [PetPowellPress] The wind blew steadily, not fiercely, down our quiet street Thursday. I heard an odd rumble outside and looked through the kitchen window in time to see a neighbor’s empty trash bin rumble-rolling down the street, swerving in the breeze and bouncing up against the curb at our house and falling over. That’s about as rough as I like to see a wind blowing.
And this quote is for kids in school and anyone with a desire to learn. It’s from the ancient British playwright David Hare (he was born the year before I was born): “Thought is the wind and knowledge the sail.” Don’t let the brain pirates change your course. Now, some animal stuff and other things.

That cat? That’s Barrington, one of the black cats available for adoption at Operation Kindness, the no-kill shelter in Carrollton. He has the look of someone who just watched a trash bin roll about 90 feet and bounce off a curb. See our opening catitem (that one word?):

OPERATION KINDNESS’
BLACK CAT SPECIAL
Yep, Halloween. Black cats are a traditional topic. And there was a time when some shelters wouldn’t allow adoption of black cats during this spooky holiday period because, the theory was, mean people would be mean to them. Things change. Maybe all the mean people left Texas -- one can only hope. 
Whatever the case we got a note from Operation Kindness Thursday about this adult black cat Princess. She’s 5 years and 7 months old, weighs 10 pounds and came in to the shelter on June 29.
The opening of the news release read, “Black cats are some of the most fluffy, playful and deserving animals of a loving home despite the stigma of being mysterious. Unfortunately, superstitious association around them makes it more difficult for them to be adopted, especially around Halloween. Operation Kindness is working diligently to show the love black cats offer and how much of a perfect companion they can be this fall season.”

Barrington, the wide-eyed cat? He’s 2 months old, weighs 2 pounds and is in Cat Room 2. And that’s the 2rth. See Barrington, Princess and many other adoptable, adorable cats at Operation Kindness by clicking HERE.
[LARRY ASIDE: We’ve had two black cats through the years, Bob and Annabelle Bob, and they were wonderful essential companions in our household for any holiday. Indoor cats. If you have a black cat, take the hint. Heck, if you have ANY cat, take the hint. Predators abound.]
STILL WAITING FOR SOMEONE
TO GET THEM TO A SAFE PLACE…
We wrote about these two (Zuri on the left and Aiden) earlier in the week and they are still waiting for someone to come to the Lancaster Animal Shelter and save their furry backsides from the needle.
They’re described in a note from 4-Legged Helpers as “the sweetest, most cuddly, little bonded pair ever.” They’re about 3 years old and listed as “bulldogs.” Zuri weighs 48 pounds; Aiden tips the scales at 67. “They are the cutest little shorties ever,” the bio reads.
 And they’re said to “adore each other and all other dogs. Love people!” 
To see how to get this pair of “complete lovebugs” into safety, call or text 4-Legged Helpers at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].
And, if you go to 4-Legged Helpers’ Facebook page HERE  you can see many of the animals in several areas of Dallas County and beyond that are being helped by this determined rescue group. For example, among the animals in Denton County is this orange Tabby, Sebastian. His bio reads, “You will not be disappointed. He is a love bunny. Please help save him! He is so special & sweet ...look at that face.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Orange is a Halloween color. It’s also a year-round cat color. And his left ear is “different” because he had some polyps that have been treated, the Helpers bio explains. Does have a championship set of whiskers! As a bearded guy since 1971, I kind of envy those whiskers!]
ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS
THIS DOG WHO WANTED A REWRITE
Anybody who’s worked in animal rescue for any time at all knows that every once in a while you might look at a kitten and declare 'girl' when he’s a boy. It can happen with dogs, too, especially if they're insistent on not being touched or examined. If you don’t get a good look at the, er, equipment, well, you might just not quite get a telling glance at the merchandise, so to speak. 
So, our pal Judi Brown, volunteer dog biographer at Mesquite Animal shelter, has quickly issued one of those “second opinion” notes about the Aussie Cattle Dog Waylon. To quote Judi’s note, “Waylon is now Winnie. Found out she’s a female!! Sorry for the confusion!  The eval below corrects the gender mistake.” So Winnie keeps the ID #48885646.
 Judi writes, “Have you ever heard the term ‘You’ve come along way baby’? This expression fits Winnie.  Winnie is a 3-year-old Australian Cattle Dog that arrived at the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 10/16 as a stray. She weighs 44 pounds. She was not and has not been a happy camper due to fear. For the most part she stayed tucked away on a ledge at the back of her kennel. When volunteers would work with her she would cautiously venture towards them and eat out of their hand and then retreat back to the safety of the bench. She became particularly fearful and defensive when shown a leash. Until today when we had a behaviorist come to work with her we have not been able to get her leashed and out of the kennel.  Our behaviorist, Bill Duncan, connected with her. He got a leash on her and once Winnie was out in the yard and walked back-and-forth a bit she began to relax. She then was receptive to being petted and loved on. I visited her later in her kennel and she was standing up! She seemed to welcome being petted. She was still cautious and still has a ways to go but the difference today was remarkable! We knew that she not only was a beautiful dog but that she had a lot of potential. … Meanwhile, if you have a foster that’s experienced with working with fearful dogs please consider tagging Winnie.” Use her ID 48885646 when you email [email protected] or call 972-216-6283.
And see more of Mesquite’s adorable adoptables at the shelter website HERE.
GET HORSEY THIS WEEKEND
AT THE SPCA OF TEXAS EVENT!

As you can see from this SPCA of Texas poster, the organization is hosting a seasonal-appropriate festival at its property in McKinney. It’s called Equine Halloween and it runs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. “Pets Unable To Attend,” but you can get a look at adoptable animals. Our part of Texas may not have a casino, but there will be Stick Horse Racing at the event. Click on the poster to make it grow. See details of the event at spca.org.
And, FYI, while the SPCA features many adoptable dogs and cats, it also has adoptable “other” animals. (Email [email protected] or call 214-742-7722 (7722 is SPCA)
For example you see the horse, a 13-year-old horse that is white and named Vanna and is adoptable at the McKinney facility. [What show is Vanna White on? Oh, yeah! Wheel of Fortune. My funspouse Martha and I once judged cookies with her when the show was being taped at the State Fair of Texas — nice person, impossibly thin for someone who knew anything about cookies! She probably has never eaten an entire box of Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies at one sitting.] That judging was many years ago — before Vanna the White Horse was foaled. Heck, yeah, “foaled” -- I can type horse terms. I can type pig terms, too. This is another SPCA adoptable, the “Pot-Bellied Pig Mix” Riley and I don’t know when he was farrowed. I hope I’ve used “farrowed” correctly. Last thing I need is a bunch of pigfans mad at me. I need to know “somebahdee’ll holler ‘sooie’ if thuh hawgs have me.” Sorry, lapsed into my native Northeast Texan — didn’t even have a shot of Cass County moonshine in me and I slipped right into the patwah, er, patois. [LARRY ASIDE: I haven’t had bacon, ham, pork chops or any other kind of pork in decades — haven’t missed it, either. No telling how many pigs lives I’ve saved. Northeast Texans are generally big fans of bacon. It isn't like the rest of the state doesn't like bacon. We'll just declare that things will change for the good of the pigs. And I'll be dancing with the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes at Thanksgiving.]
BIG WEEKEND IN A LITTLE PLACE:
TERLINGUA'S CHILI COOKOFF
Our pal, the adorable, hard-working Kathleen Tolbert Ryan posted this photo of the installation of the latest billboard announcing the First Saturday in November arrival of the annual Terlingua International Championship Chili Cookoff. The granddaddy of all chili

cookoffs was launched in 1967 in one of the more remote locations in the Lone Star State. Founders were newspaper guys -- Wick Fowler of Dallas and Denton and Kathleen's daddy, The Dallas Morning News' famed "Tolbert's Texas" columnist Frank X. Tolbert. He wrote A Bowl of Red, i.e.,he actually "wrote the book on chili." And he founded the Tolbert's Chili Parlor restaurants, i.e., one's on Main Street in Grapevine. Here's a LINK to the cookoff.. Regarding that photo, Kathleen wrote, "Thanks to everyone that helped make this billboard possible. Ron Faulstich from Printing Solutions in Lockhart, And the workers that put it up... Bill Center, Chris Harrison, David Mendoza, Bob Dale and Paul Ryan. [LARRY ASIDE: It's good to see that some Texas traditions survive whatever humans and nature can throw at it! Pretty sure viruses can't live through a Terlingua summer. Almost sure.]

CONTEMPLATIONS
JURASSIC; SUSPECTS; WINDY
Things that you find on a neighborhood bulletin board: One person posted a note about giving up on a local grocery store because it always has out-of-date dairy merchandise, is always dirty and management is never positive or respectful in responses to her questions. She got an amen from a guy who cited another store with similar complaints and described it as “Jurassic bad.” Never heard that term used to describe a grocery store — but it kind of works, doesn’t it! Could describe a car dealership, an invasive medical exam, the price of gasoline these days. Jurassic bad. ….
Suspects: Coyotes, bobcats, foxes, hawks, cars, dumped-hungry dogs, free-roaming idiots. A note about a missing cat read that she’d been gone “since late 10/25. …about 6 months old. She is not wearing a collar. Unfortunately, someone found the collar across the street and returned it to us 10/26. She is afraid of vehicles and loud noises. ….” Again, housecats outside are vulnerable to outdoor predators and fiends. Might be a good idea to make your cat an indoor cat. Particularly if you live near a wooded area or a river or an “unwanted dogs dumping area.” Bless you, I hope your cat gets home safely. So many don’t. Protect your cats from the world. …
Back to the wind. Not “the storm,” just “the wind.” We could pick from many songs: Dust In The Wind by Kansas, Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler, Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra…we’re going to go with Peter, Paul & Mary’s version of Bob Dylan’s 1962 song, Blowin’ In The Wind. That’s where the answers are, my friend. And, when you click on this, you may get the opportunity to watch a commercial first. These days, that’s the way the wind blows.
— OFFER CAT SAFETY TIPS OR WAYS TO ENJOY AUTUMN BY CLICKING ON ‘COMMENT’ BELOW OR EMAIL [email protected] AND PUT ‘IT AIN’T GONNA BLOW YOU AWAY, SLIM’ IN THE SUBJECT LINE. —-

A MIDWEEK COLLECTION OF TALES FROM THE METROSPRAWL -- CANINES, FELINES AND A LOTTO CONTEMPLATION QUESTION

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021[PetPowellPress] Some animals find homes quickly, some don’t. Fact of life. This is written for October 27 which, Holiday Insights reports, is Black Cat Day, Navy Day (THANK YOU, SAILORS!) and National Tell a Story Day in Scotland and the United Kingdom (It’s April 27 in the United States.) I think that difference has to do with whether Congress is in session… And that concludes my tribute to Tell A Story Day in Scotland the United Kingdom. I’ll repeat it on April 27.)
What I regret is having failed to celebrate National Mincemeat Day on the 26th. Traditional recipes include meat, but I am a great fan of the modern no-meat-products-at-all-just-vibrant-fruit mincemeat pie during the holidays — if pressed, I will eat mincemeat pie year-round. Nobody ever presses me, though. Darn it. That cat? Well, we don’t have a Black Cat right now and we don’t have a Scottish yarn-spinning cat, so I did manage to snap a photo of our little bottle-bed, tiny kitten Simon, all grown up to the size of a duffle bag, but flopped over here on someone’s old kilt. He’s kind of contorted himself to catch a few winks.
THE BELL AND THE BUZZ
AT DOG ’N’ KITTY CITY
We’ve previously told the story of these two rescued dogs, Bell, the female, and Buzz, the boy, but that doesn’t mean they were immediately snapped up quick as a guy with five newfound bucks buys a Lotto Texas ticket on Wednesday. 
Nope, they’ve been in the care of the famed Humane Society of Dallas County shelter Dog ’n’ Kitty City for a while now. We got the reminder on these two from the veteran animal advocate and rescuer Kimberly Jones who has been working to help them find better lives.
Bell is regarded as a “retired cattle dog” at the shelter and is officially listed as a “Cattle Dog/CoonHound mix.” She’s about 4. She came in with Buzz after they were moved around in some unpleasant circumstances and finally rescued and placed at the no-kill shelter. 
Bell doesn’t “sit still for long”, her bio says. And she is “not interested in playing with toys,” her bio reads. It also says, “However, if you have doggie treats in your hand, she will chase those down all day long! Bell is not overly needy for attention and affection. Although she loves to be petted and scratched, she doesn't necessarily seek it out. We believe she would be happy and content with friendly feet to lay beside, a warm bed in the house, and a yard to run in. She just needs consistency and a place where she can feel safe! Although Bell came to us with a friend, in the shelter she has shown aggression towards other dogs. She will need to be placed in a home as the only pet. We would love to see this sweetheart have a brand new start. There is something so adorable about her personality and demeanor.”

That friend is this boy Buzz, a mixed-breed with a brown, white and chocolate coat. We've run that hug photo before -- it catches Buzz's personality. His bio reads, “Love! Love! Love this big, beautiful boy! Although he has an independent spirit, he can be affectionate and endearing . He is 8 years young and had a tough life. Despite the hardships he has endured, he still seems to exude joy! He just makes everyone at the shelter happy! Great news - he seems to be POTTY TRAINED! He is also DOG FRIENDLY, but NO cats please. Although strong, Buzz is great on a leash. The volunteers at the shelter walk him daily and cannot say enough great things about him. He has not shown much interest in playing with toys or playing fetch, but that could change once feeling safe and secure in a new home.”
See how to adopt these two at dognkittycity.org.
You can also find some cats at that site. And we found this girl Akira with a fantastic set of whiskers. She’s a Tuxedo girl, black and white and born May 29, 2017.
Akira is at dog Dog ’n’ Kitty City because her human died. And, the shelter bio reads, she’s “been kind of sad since arriving” but is beginning to come out of her shell. As you may suspect, she needs a loving human to help her adjust to her new life and home.

RUBY THE PREGNANT MIX
AND PABLO THE LONELY DOG
These two are in the Mesquite Animal Shelter and one has presented the facility with a surprise — that would be Ruby. She’s “rescue only” right now.
 Oh, boy, this is a story: You see here a photo of youngish Ruby, a 2-year-old mix who came into the Mesquite Shelter as a stray on September 30, our tipster, Mesquite Dog Biographer Debra Chisholm reports. “Until very recently, no one suspected that she was pregnant.” [LARRY NOTE: That second photo of Ruby is kind of, well, a big hint!]
 Debra writes, “She has been seen by a vet who has verified that she is carrying 9-10 pups. Unfortunately before anyone knew she was pregnant, she contracted an upper respiratory infection and on 10/11-10/21 was given doxycycline to combat the infection.  Vet is unsure how the medication will affect the unborn pups.”

Debra says Ruby “walks nicely on a leash, goes to the potty in the yard, has a mellow personality and yet is lively and spunky.  She does not jump on you.  Ruby knows the sit command and will sit for treats, taking them gently.  She chases tennis balls but does not know to return them.  She is a friendly girl with a sweet nature.  A city shelter is no place to give birth to a litter of pups.  Please help Ruby find a quiet place to have her puppies.  The Mesquite Shelter is overcrowded due to many dogs being surrendered and brought in as strays and there is simply no good place for Ruby to have her pups there.” Ruby is #48769014 — use her ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]."
That brings us to the Pablo report from Mesquite Dog Biographer Judi Brown. [LARRY ASIDE: Pablo has nothing to do with Ruby’s situation, we hasten to add.]

Pablo, #48894661, is a 2-year-old, 8-pound boy who is either a Chihuahua or, maybe, a Chiweenie. He’s got “beautiful bronze coloring,” Judi writes. “How could you not fall in love with this sweet boy with a kind face?”
Pablo came into the shelter on Oct. 18 — he was a stray on the loose with a dog who appeared to be his sister. “They were very bonded and she has been adopted,” Judi says. “He was very dependent on her. She gave him a lot of comfort. So now he needs someone that is understanding, patient, and will give him lots of TLC. I spent a lot of time with him and he did warm up to me. He even wagged his tail and jumped on my lap. He’s a lap dog wannabe. But first you need to spend time with him to build up his trust. … He was too intimidated to introduce him to other dogs. … Pablo needs out of the shelter and into a loving, accepting  home ASAP!  Not only is he a cutie pie and very sweet, he is already fixed!” 
[LARRY ASIDE: And, ladies and gents, you see why readlarrypowell.com cleared him of any civil action in the Ruby situation.]
To ask about saving Pablo and giving him hope and a home, use his ID #48894661 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].

TWO DOGS WAITING
IN DIFFERENT FW SITUATIONS
While perusing the scores and scores of animals waiting for adoption or rescue or..well, you know … in Fort Worth Animal Care and Control we found two dogs in two different states of shelter existence. Both are at the North Animal Campus of FWACC.
Here’s the deal with that astounding Earhound with the fantastic facial accents. That dog’s actual name is unknown, so he’s listed as #48942394. And if you adopt him, you can name him. Clearly #48942394 is an Earhound. [LARRY ASIDE: And, of course, we have to ask, why is another German Shepherd type dog in city shelter in the greater North Texas Metroplexian Makes-No-Sense Animal Dumping Grounds?]

Back to this dog. He came in on October 25 and is listed as being in the “New Arrival” stage.
That is completely unlike Anna Miller (#48638405), a just over 2-years-old Pittie mix who came in on October 10 and the reason readlarrypowell.com spotted her is your friendly neighborhood dogfan Larry was looking at the animals on Fort Worth’s “CODE RED” list. And there was beautiful Anna Miller. We have no idea why the name. We have no idea why she’s in isolation at the shelter.
Outside of the personality evident in that photograph, we know nothing of Anna Miller except that she’s on the needle list.
For either of these dogs, email [email protected]. No calls, just emails and visits. And you can see more Code Red Cowtown animals by clicking HERE.
[LARRY ASIDE: Some people say you can’t save ‘em all. Maybe not in the next 10 minutes, but you could start today by saving these two.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
THE FUTURE, ICE CREAM AND A SPOONFUL
In Tuesday’s email, I got one with a subject line that read “Larry, land your next job on LinkedIn” and immediately I thought, “No thanks. I’ve got a surefire Lotto Texas ticket for Wednesday. Gonna need it if I intend to keep putting gas in my car the rest of this month.” Anybody know how quickly the Lotto pays off? Gas prices kind of skyrocketed, didn’t they. I may have to get a loan to drive to Austin to get the check. …
The daily news tip sheet The Rundown from The Great Jeff Crilley, the veteran newsman who founded Real News PR, had a very tempting story Tuesday. This features a grocery store in Plattsmouth, Neb. (at the mouth of the Platte —from the French for ‘flat’— River). Workers created a 2,960-pound ice cream sandwich with 32 2-foot by 3-foot cookies and 182 14-pound cylinders of ice cream — looks like vanilla in the video HERE. I’m pretty sure I was born with the natural ability to polish off that ice cream sandwich in one sitting — one sitting of several days, but I’d never tag out! I’d wrestle it into submission. I’d give it a shot — but, even as I typed that “give it a shot” suggestion, alarms were going off in my assorted doctors’ offices. …
I couldn’t find an actual current ice cream song that sounded innocent, so I picked a 1966 song from a group whose name suggests what you might feel when you take that first nibble of ice cream. Click on THE LOVIN’ SPOONFUL. 
 It’s not summer in the city in North Texas, but the temperature could change at any moment.
— Offer ice cream advice or dieting advice by licking, I mean "clicking",  on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘LAY OFF THE SWEETS, CHUBSTER’ in the subject line. —

AND HUMANS AND ANIMALS ALL GO TOGETHER; SOME STILL NEED HAPPY HOMES!

EDITION OF TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Here we go with an edition for this particular day of the week. You’ve, perhaps, noticed that photograph. That is our quiet street at sunrise on Tuesday. Only a hint of rain — a sprinkle, or as my little boy Bret would say in his pre-school days, “It’s sparklin’!”
This looks nothing like Indian Lake in Denville, N.J., home of our stellar Eastern Seaboard Bureau and veteran journalist Andy Fisher, our Bureau Chief. He reported early Tuesday morning, “Four inches in the rain gauge and more to come, the weather gurus say.” 
So, from coast to coast to coast and border-to-border (East, Gulf, West; Canada, Mexico) may your weather turn out to be beneficial to your area and not the big scary thing all the new 21st Century weather gadgets predict.
May we have autumnal breezes; soft, generous rains; no searing or freezing temps — especially during the World Series. Go Rangers! What? Oh, yeah. Wait ’til next year or, as usual, the year after…. And why is that Greyhound smiling? Read on:
A DOG WHO HAS WON A HEART
BUT NEEDS TO WIN A HOME
Oh, boy, look at that great Rottie-style face! That is Hugo, #48327641, a 4-year-old Rottweiler mix who has been in the Mesquite Animal Shelter since July 30 and our pal Judi Brown is Hugo’s official biographer. She says he “follows you around like a little puppy dog; lavishes you with slopping kisses!” 
She wrote that, basically, Hugo deserves another “look” because he’s been in the shelter “way too long.” Judi also added, "He’s tired of waiting. He may have been passed by for a while because he had goopy eyes. He has been given several rounds of eye drops and his eyes appear to be much better. Please either tag or network Hugo. He needs out of the Shelter ASAP!”
Her original evaluation of Hugo read that he “is a handsome boy with beautiful brown and black coloring and hazel eyes. He greeted me in the kennel with wiggles and tail wags. I bent down and got my face washed with kisses! He kept his kennel clean and then did his business as soon as he got out into the yard. He explored the yard with his nose briefly, but then chose to follow me around. He literally followed me everywhere I went! When I sat down he tried to crawl on my lap.... all 64 pounds. So, he’s a lap dog wanna be! He’s gentle and calm. He wants to please. He sits for treats and takes them relatively gently. When I walked him through the bay he went nose to nose with a few dogs but some were barking at him and that agitated him. For that reason I would suggest further dog testing. He’s a sweet, loving boy that wants to hang out with you. He would like to be at your feet while you’re watching TV or reading a good book. He would also like to go for walks with you.” Use his ID, #48327641, when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
LILO THE SURRENDERED CAT WAITS;
SO DO 2 BONDED ADORABLE DOGS
We’re highlighting 3 animals from the Lancaster Shelter. And the tip on them came from the folks with 4-Legged Helpers, the non-profit group. The Helpers report that this boy Lilo has a $100 donation pledged to the 501c3 non-profit that’ll rescue him from the city shelter. He’s also adoptable — you just get the handsome cat, not the donation, if you adopt him. Either way, he gets out of the shelter and it pays off for Lilo.

Described as a “young, male Gray Pastel Tabby," Lilo came into the shelter because he was an “owner-release from someone that could not care fo him.” The Helpers’ bio reads, “He is truly gorgeous and so SWEET.  Very loving and affectionate. He is not too sure about dogs being a friend so he will need either a dog-free home or someone willing to show him a nice doggie that will be friendly. He is a beautiful kitty and has such a sweet little face.  SO deserving.”
 To help save Lilo, call or text the Helpers at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected]. 
[LARRY ASIDE: Lilo looks as if he might have show-business intentions — kind of poses for the camera in one of those shots as if he’s just finished singing the theme from Cats and is letting the applause wash across his soul!]
NOW ABOUT TWO DOGS…Zuri is that shorter female and Aiden is the larger male, both listed as “bulldogs” in their bios from 4-Legged helpers. That bio reads, “This is the SWEETEST, MOST CUDDLY, little bonded pair ever. About 3 years old.  They are complete lovebugs and adore each other and all other dogs.  LOVE PEOPLE.  Zuri is 48 pounds and Aiden is 67 pounds. They have been treated with Bravecto by the shelter in an attempt to help with what appears in all likelihood to be demodec mange. THEY ARE THE CUTEST LITTLE SHORTIES EVER … Adorable sweetie pies!” [LARRY ASIDE: And all the signs are there that whoever had them before didn’t treat ‘em quite as nicely as they deserve. This might be the right time to take in a pair of pups who appreciate being adored by someone who adores them back.]
THOSE GREYHOUND RESCUERS
ENJOYING ANOTHER BUSY WEEK
Now, we’ve mentioned these two dogs, Nick (droopy ears) and Nora (not at all droopy ears!), before. The Greyhound Adoption League of Texas acquired them when they were rescued from an animal cruelty situation in Paul’s Valley, Okla., as puppies. Such young puppies that they were labeled “Greyhound puppies” at the outset. 
As you can see, they are not. They are a pair of American Staffy/Boxer mixes who became Honorary Greyhounds with GALT. As such, they have witnessed hard work for sweet dogs by the big hearts at GALT.
While they’re still available for adoption, GALT continues to rescue other dogs, not just Greyhounds, but, in this case some Whippets, too. 
The latest story from GALT says that this week the“intake team” has been busy “welcoming 19 new hounds to the GALT family” and that raises the population to 112 dogs in the program. [LARRY CASH AND CRITTER NOTE: Yes, donations would be nice — GALT says each new arrival has a $750 veterinary/chipping/etc. bill at the outset — adds up with 19 dogs, doesn’t it! See how to donate at galtx.org. See how to adopt at the same link!]]
The 4 female Whippets, surrendered by a former breeder who “could no longer care for them, are Desi and Annie, both 8, and Chloe (5) and Sakura (4).
Then, on Tuesday, GALT got 15 former racing hounds. That added 5 more females and 10 males. GALT’s report reads, “Lulu, a four year old, just retired from racing at Southland Greyhound Park. The other hounds came to us directly from Greyhound farms. Most are young, born sometime in 2020.”

At its kennel, GALT has 50 hounds awaiting foster homes — see how to foster at galtx.org, also! And see what intake looks like when all those dogs arrive at GALT.
[LARRY ASIDE: We cribbed some of those photos from that sight because they’re just so darned adorable, these Greyhounds. You see the Greyhound in the Red Mask (I think that was an opera, right). Then there’s the Greyhound helping to fill out a medical form — see that clipboard — just like your doctor’s office, right —more paperwork fewer Band-Aids. And, lastly the dog with the happy face. Just needs someone to smile at every day! Bless those hounds and the humans who help them!]
CONTEMPLATIONS
JUST A FEW NOTES…
My pal Andy Fisher, the crackerjack, long-time print/broadcast journalist and all-round swell fellow, and I were discussing weather Tuesday morning — his New Jersey area is getting a soaking. Really smart and determined stepson Ian, working on a postgrad degree, “is going to class via video today,” Andy wrote. “I remember my high school wouldn’t cancel classes unless the headmaster couldn’t get to his office— and he lived on the property!” Ah, my fellow Texans, any of you outside of the Panhandle remember going to school in the snow because the early morning AM radio reported that the school district had declared “the roads are clear”? Yep, cheated out of a good day of storybook winter play. Darnit, had to learn something that day. Can’t remember what it was. Might have been how to diagram sentences. Lost art, I suspect…
Can’t adjust to the rapid witch-on-a-jet-broom approach of Halloween. Seems like about 20 minutes ago I was happy it was Labor Day and the State Fair of Texas would open soon. One more time: I didn’t get enough of the 2021 State Fair of Texas. The theme for the 2022 State Fair? Not announced yet. Probably won’t be “Enjoy the Texas Snow.” Not after the 2021 winter! …
See that photo of those Greyhounds in the field? It came from the newsletter of the Greyhound Adoption League of Texas this week and to show you that Greyhound people have a sense of humor, here’s how the photo description read:
 “As it is Greyhound Awareness Month, we thought we'd update you on the state of the Greyhound crop this year. These hounds are nearly done ripening in the field. If you too have Greyhounds sun-baking, be sure to check them frequently.” Yep, Greyhounds in the field! Play your cards right and GALT will make sure you have a dog with a sense of humor! Bless the rescuers of all kinds of dogs, cats and other critters — it’s a hard job to do if you don’t have a laugh now and then!
—- Offer advice or stories of happy rescuers by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘ONLY AND IDIOT LAUGHS LIKE YOU DO’ in the subject line. I’ll cackle. —-

ANIMALS AND NOTES FROM BOLOGNA DAY TO ICE CREAM AND JOLENE, JOLENE, ETC.

EDITION OF MONDAY , OCT. 25, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Last Monday in October 2021. Yep. Halloween approaches. Sunday was National Bologna Day — didn’t celebrate it. Didn’t see a single Sunday morning news panel program from Washington. Now, some challenges outside of the challenge of picking your 2021 Halloween costume.

TWO DOGS THAT HAVE HAD
NO INTEREST FROM ADOPTORS
Look at those faces! That Black and Tan Hound is Ruger and the Black Mouth Cur/Lab mix is — hang on, this is going to make you sing a Dolly Parton song — Jolene. Yes, Jolene. Jolene. Jolene.
So, what’s the deal? Both are in the care of Companion Animal Network and the queries are NOT tying up the phone lines or filling the inboxes. .
We’ve introduced you to Ruger already — last week. Gail Whelan at CAN is the contact point: Email her at can.adoptions@ yahoo.com.
Gail wrote, “Not one inquiry on this precious pup.” Then addressing potential adoptors, she wrote, “I know there are so many in need but please take another look and see if Ruger might fit into your home!   If not, please share!”

Ruger is the 2 1/2-year-old Black and Tan Coonhound who was saved as needle time approached him at the Smith County Shelter in Tyler. His health is good, except he needs heartworm treatment (“light positive)” and Gail says the money is available for that. His big challenge is that after being kept outside and not taught social skills, he’s going to need some loving instruction. Gail writes, "He is very friendly and sweet and even keeps his baying to a minimum.”
Same “not-one-inquiry” situation for this girl Jolene, the Black Mouth Cur/Lab mix. This beautiful mix of honorable breeds is 9 months old and weighs 45 pounds. She's vaccinated, healthy and lives with a Great Dane and another older dog. She is, according to Gail, “SWEET SWEET SWEET!” And she’s crate-trained and house-trained and knows some commands. She’d do better in a home with another dog friend as she “loves to play.”
[LARRY ASIDE: You see Jolene in these photos — being a dog. Look at Ruger, too. You’ve brought worse things into your home, but the holidays are approaching and why bring up the relatives who can’t keep their baying to a minimum and aren’t really house-trained.]
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE,
PEBBLES IS ALSO WAITING….
This is Pebbles and he’s a “spitfire.”
We got that description from Judi Brown, who, like reliable tipster Debra Chisholm, provides dog biographies from the Mesquite Animal Shelter, has presented us with this great boy Pebbles, described as a 16-pound, 6-year-old Beagle mix who came in on Oct. 17 as a stray. [LARRY ASIDE: The question is, “Who would let this dog stray and not miss him enough to hunt for him at the shelter? Let’s move along. Move along, Larry, you idiot.]

Pebbles is, Judi says, “still a spitfire and full of energy! He loves to explore and climb up on things, but at the same time he loves hugs and affection. … He had an adoption pending, but they chose not to come and adopt him. So their loss is your gain! If you have an active family that will enjoy Pebbles' antics please come meet him. He will keep you on your toes! His adopters will need to live in a house because beagles not only bark but they bay and howl. And Pebbles does howl when he wants attention! His adopters will also need a secure fence because Beagles will follow their nose and would be off chasing rabbits and squirrels if given the chance. He’s an extremely friendly, fun loving guy. … He is highly motivated by treats but does not sit for them. Instead he does a cute little dance!”
Pebbles is #4888313 — use that number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@c ityofmesquite.com.
Same contact points for the rest of the Mesquite animals in this edition.
They are:
CORA (#48904858), an 8-month-old, 40-pound “terrier pit” at the shelter since Oct. 19. Judi writes, “Cora will keep you entertained and on your toes with her antics.  At the same time she will keep you smiling just looking at her cute face and stand up ears! She’s a little doll! …Her coloring is very interesting in that depending on the way the light hits her she’s either black or brown with a little bit of white on her chest. And she’s all puppy wiggles and energy! She loves to run and explore but for the most part stayed close. She tries to sit for treats but gets so excited that can’t hold that position for very long. She chases balls but does not retrieve them. …There were several dogs barking at her when she went through the bay and she became very reactive to them. If you have another dog we always suggest further dog testing. If you have a young family just starting out Cora would be the perfect dog to grow with your family. Although she likes to be outside romping around she kept going to the door indicating she also likes the A/C.”
MAGGIE SUE (#48900085) is “truly a jewel!” Judi writes, “To meet her is to love her! She is a 5-year-old German Shepherd/Anatolian Shepherd and maybe even part Belgium Shepherd mix with dew claws. She arrived at the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 10/19 as a stray. She is not spayed. It’s beyond me why her owners have not come looking for her. In my opinion there’s nothing not to like about this girl. She’s friendly but not overly so. She does not jump on you. She’s calm and well mannered. She sits for treats. She sometimes gets overly anxious and grabs the treat out of your hand but does not bite. She’s very sweet. She comes to you when you call her and puts her head on your lap. She stays close. She likes to have her ears scratched. She did her business in the shelter yard. She weighs 70 pounds so when I walked her I expected her to be pulling me but she did not. She walks very well on a leash! She was not interested in meeting the other dogs in the bay and ignored any that were barking at her. You can see Maggie Sue is a beautiful, magnificent shepherd…
She does have three mammary glands that are slightly enlarged. It may be a result of recently having puppies. It may not be anything to be concerned about. If you cannot tag this diamond in the rough please network her.”
And you can see more animals at Mesquite Animal Services by clicking on this link.
https://www.cityofmesquite.com/1239/Animals-in-the-Shelter
There you’ll find many dogs and puppies and cats and kittens, including this guy Nash. Now 3 months old, he arrived in the shelter on September 18. [LARRY NOTE: We think this may be an early shot of the very adorable #48688209.] He is among the many cats and kittens who are currently in Mesquite’s animal shelter — some are in the cat room, some in the executive suite and Nash is in the lobby! Probably has great greeting skills. Look at those bright eyes! Has a future in Inspirational Mewing.

CONTEMPLATIONS
A CONE, BALONEY AND MUSIC
I am writing this as one of our rescues, Wendy, stands beside me and loudly chews a traditional dog treat — it makes me want a large chocolate-dipped soft-serve cone from Dairy Queen. Waking up this morning made me want one. So did taking the trash to the garage. In my life, Dairy Queen Soft Serve Ice Cream may be the strongest influential factor on the planet. But I shall resist. Why? I know better. …
As I mentioned in the opening paragraph for this edition, Sunday was National Bologna Day. When I was a kid growing up in a house of limited means in Texarkana, every day had a good shot at being “baloney day.” The last time I actually ate any bologna was probably in the 1990s — been a vegetarian for more than a quarter-century. I do enjoy Yves brand vegetarian/vegan bologna — tastes more vibrant and less greasy than the childhood elementary school lunch sandwiches Mom made for her three boys back in the mid-20th century. Not sure that’s an endorsement. But, the other good thing about the vegan bologna is there are only 60 calories in a 3-slice serving. No pigs, cattle, turkeys or any other beasties had to be killed to make it. Ever had Parakeet Baloney? I’m kidding. …

I mentioned that the name of that wonderful dog in the care of Companion Animal Network Adoptions might make you want to sing one of Dolly Parton’s hits. If you’d like to hear another version, here’s one by Grace Potter & The Nocturnals. It’s a sensitive version and a pretty darned good performance. There’s some crowd noise -- not part of the performance. The commercial that precedes the video is more annoying than the crowd noise.
—- Offer advice or music tips by clicking on “comment” below or by emailing [email protected]. ---

ECHO: RESCUED WITH LITTLE TIME TO SPARE; THE HILLS ARE ALIVE WITH THE SOUNDS OF ECHO

There are hilly areas in the North Texas — it’s not all prairies and freeways. Those picturesque rises in the Texas land present the opportunity for dramatic expression in the canine world.

And that brings us to a celebration of Echo, now of Midlothian, for this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Consider that artistic photo of Echo standing atop a rise in the land.
She is the darling companion of a couple of our favorite folks, Marilyn Harrell Jones and hubby Larry. “Of course, we are foster failures,” Marilyn says, then adds, “This looks like the silhouette of a coyote…such a sweet, smart girl.”
And, Echo’s rescue was a “close call.” Read on about this beautiful girl. 
Yeah, there’s a substantial streak of rescue and animal advocacy at work.
“Echo is a little doll,” Marilyn says. “A sweet Shepherd mix — she is very small.”

In the third photo, Echo is on her back — simulating one of her favorite positions for Letting the Sleeping Dog Lie. “She sleeps on her back … and stomach…very versatile,” Marilyn says. 
Now, how did the versatile sleeper who has a sense of hilltop drama when the camera is aimed at her come into focus with the Jones household?

Marilyn says, “We pulled Echo from the Glenn Heights shelter. They were going to put her down. We made it by 15 minutes. We had to find her a foster quickly, found a foster that lived in a small apartment, but she was safe.
“Found out quickly that Echo needed space and loved to run. We had to move her out of the apartment since she was so stressed…decompressing from being in the shelter…so Larry and I took her with the rest of our 10 dogs.
 She loves everyone, plays, runs, swims, so obedient… of course we fell in love.
“What a tragedy it would have been to waste the life of this precious creation.” [LARRY ASIDE: Everybody who has an encounter with a shelter or a shelter animal ought to remember that sentence Marilyn wrote. “Tragedy” is the right word to avoid.]
Back in September, Marilyn posted this photo. It’s a perfectly understandable situation to anyone who’s ever lived where dogs, cats, horses and other critters are appreciated. 
Marilyn wrote, “Sampson wants to come in the house tonight...was climbing steps.”
[LARRY ASIDE: When I saw the Sampson post, I immediately assumed he was just coming in to flop down on the couch with the dogs and watch old movies on TV. Marilyn said he loves westerns.]
And FYI: We’re closing this report with a reminder of the special adoption event in Midlothian on Saturday. You might find your “Echo” or “Sampson” at the adoption. See below, too.

[PHOTOGRAPHIC PHOCUS FROM BLURRY LARRY: My dog, Porche Noel, says, "All the really smart dogs and cats own people and vice versa, too. Snap those photos today!" Send photos of your sleeping dogs, napping cats or any other slumbering critters to [email protected] and we’ll post them in our long-running weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. If you don't have a household canine or feline companion, you might enjoy a ride to Midlothian to meet your new best friend.  Remember, by contributing to Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, you’ll be helping people understand the personal value of having an animal in the house. And you’ll be encouraging insomniacs to have hope that they, too, can get some sleep if they can just get a couch strong enough to hold up a horse.]
--- Offer ideas or alternate universe thoughts by clicking on 'comment' below or by emailing [email protected] and put "WHERE IS MY POLOROID?" in the subject line. ---

THE GOVERNOR -- IS HIS PEN READY TO SIGN? SHORT NOTES FOR A THURSDAY...

TAKINGABREAK EDITION OF THURSDAY, OCT. 21, 2021 [PetPowellPress] Yes, I’m still taking a break, but I’m monitoring the world and my emails. 
And your nearly brain-pulverized writer of animal lore and issues has pulled it together enough this morning to post a report of something important, though, of course, most of you may already know about it.

WAITING FOR THE GOV
TO GET OUT HIS INK-PEN!
We’re assuming Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has an ink-pen — surely he won’t sign this latest animal bill with a #2 yellow pencil with an eraser on it.
This bill, OK’d last night by the Texas Lege, is the latest attempt to protect dogs in Texas by regulating living and restraint conditions.
That’s the kind way of saying it. The real way of saying it is the bill will protect outdoor dogs from the stupid and don’t care decisions of the idiot human who has staked them out in the yard.
[LARRY ASIDE: The law will protect animals about like speed limit signs protect highways from speeding. Somebody with a badge has to be there to see it. But, when these idiots are caught putting their animals in danger, it’ll give the justice system a way to punish the idiot owners (and protect the animals if they survive). You may live in a protected environment, never encountering don’t care/so what people. That’s good for you. But, you can bet there are idiot owners who think tethering in boiling hot or freezing cold conditions is an OK thing to do. I hate to stereotype these folks, but based on my years of interviewing people in cities and out of cities and in trouble and out of trouble, I think the Stereotypical Don’t Care/So What Offender might sound like this: “Heck, muh dawg luvs being chained outdoors in thuh storms. It brangs out the wuf in her and makes her puppies a whole lot tuffer, yew know, the ones that live. Besides, it’s muh right to use a big chain cause it settles muh boy dawg down when my girl dawg is in heat.”
If you think that quote is unlikely, you do not have a clear understanding of the depth of stupidity among all of us humans. Example: A Dallas apartment dweller once took her Cocker Spaniel downstairs and left it in the complex parking lot to fend for itself. A friend of mine recognize the dog and took it back to the woman. When my friend asked why the dog was out, the woman replied, “I didn’t want it anymore so I set it free.” My friend rescued the dog and still steams about that “set it free” answer to this day.]
As we’ve often noted, Texas has more than its share of free-roaming village idiots.
Here’s the San Antonio Express-News story about the bill going to the guv.
And if you go to the Texas Humane Legislation Network Facebook page you can read about the bill and its passing.
And you can also read about this illustration and get a handle on The Inter-Generational Cycle of Violence. Serious business — information that may protect spouses, children, animals and others.

ONE MORE NOTE: NEEDING
SLEEPER & NAPPER FOTOS!
We’re still publishing great photos of beloved animals slumbering in the homes they love and trust. We spotlight them in our long-running weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Email the photos and the animal bios — tell us why you love ‘em — the address is [email protected].
We love showing off the animal members of your family. And we love celebrating the joy of having someone who is happy to hear our car in the driveway and elated to see us coming through the door! That photo: On Tuesday I caught my personal cat, Deputy Chief Kittie Leigh Johnson curled up and sleeping with a smile on my autumn lumberjack shirt. She's the best.
LARRY SLUMBER UPDATE: Now, I am returning to my brief respite from writing in order to sleep (got 8 hours and 1 minute, my sleep machine said this AM — that’s up from a regular 5 hours and 15 minutes a night for the past few months. Turns out sleep might be more important now than it was when i was a young reporter excited by the interesting, odd and sometimes scary personalities who came out after the sun went down.
—- Offer happy thoughts by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “TAKE SOME TIME OFF, STUPID” in the subject line. —-

RUGER NEEDS A HOME; CARROLLTON CATS IN A SPOT; AVAILABLE CRITTERS & AN OFFICE CAT'S SOGGY ROMP!

EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY OCT. 19-20, 2021[PetPowellPress] I’m typing this with a left sneaker full of decaf and my toes are so cold. Bet that’s a sentence you never expected to read today. More in Contemplations.
First we’re going to aim our thoughts and prayers at an East Texas Coon Hound and some Metrosprawl “rescue only” cats, among other animals in a "waiting situation."

That’s my cat Stevie Ray. He plays a major role in today’s soggy Contemplations drama. And, yes, he enjoys posing next to “a major award,” to borrow from A Christmas Story.

But, first, we focus on animals that don’t have a home or a major award — yet!
UP, UP AND AWAY….
HE HAS NO HOME????
How is it that a dog who cannot fly does not have a forever home? And would you put a handsome dog like this “to sleep”?
Good grief, about six weeks ago the needle was being prepped for this guy Ruger and our longtime pal and critter tipster Gail Whelan stepped between the needle and this handsome Black and Tan Coonhound.
He was rescued as he was on the brink of being euthanized — nobody was interested in him; time was running out — at the Smith County Animal Shelter in Tyler.
Gail, who founded Companion Animal Network around the turn of the century (early 2000s) says Ruger is 2 1/2 and weighs 50 pounds. She’s had him for about six weeks. He’d been at the shelter so long that he was out of time.

She says Ruger “is neutered, fully vaccinated, microchipped and current on heartworm preventative and flea and tick preventative. Sadly, Ruger is a light positive for heartworms.  Funds WILL be available for his treatment.”

That medical stuff can be handled. Training will take love. 
Gail writes, “Because Ruger was never allowed inside a home, he needs someone committed to helping him with his house-training and socialization and someone committed to taking him through his heartworm treatment.  Ruger is a DELIGHT.  Very friendly and sweet, and even keeps his baying to a minimum.  He LOVES to chase the ball but has no interest whatsoever in bringing it back.... 
"IF THERE IS INTEREST IN RUGER, PLEASE EMAIL GAIL AT [email protected]." You’ll fill out an application and the Companion Animal Network will make certain Ruger has a good match.

Gail finished her appeal for handsome Ruger with this wisdom: “STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU HAVE HOUND EXPERIENCE!  I saw a t-shirt the other day with a Coonhound face and it read "Yes, I can hear you.  I simply choose not to listen.”
SOME ‘RESCUE ONLY’ CATS
IN CARROLLTON’S SHELTER
Our longtime tipster regarding Carrollton animals is known to us as MB. Likes the discretion of MB. Some of you will appreciate MB’s attitude about these Carrollton Animal Services “rescue only” youngsters. 
MB wrote, “I keep looking at two feral but beautiful young cats at Carrollton Animal Services.  I don't think they have much longer there.  Both may be feral and not up for adoption. But the beautiful Calico, such unique markings.  Both girls already spayed.  A shame to see them die…” 

Both are listed as having arrived on Aug. 20, 2021 — two months is a long time of development in a kitten’s life. That’s too long to not have a home when you’re a kitten.

That last photo is of a girl I spotted while checking the website to make sure the younger cats MB is concerned about are still there. She is #48666633 and she’s said to be “2 years, 22 days” old. She’s fixed. She came in on September 15 and is available to rescues only. She’s a medium-sized girl who is a “Lynx Grey” cat listed as a “Domestic Medium Hair/Siamese.”
Here’s the link to Carrollton’s animals and how to a recue or adopt.
https://www.cityofcarrollton.com/departments/departments-a-f/animals-services/sheltered-animals
EVER WONDER WHAT HAPPENS
TO ANIMALS SCARED ON THE 4TH?
Here’s an answer. We got the tip on Panama from our longtime tipster pal, the animal advocate and rescuer Kimberly Jones.
This girl Panama — referred to as a “Pocket Pittie” because of her stature — is at the North Animal Campus of Fort Worth Animal Care and Control.
Panama was “picked up as a stray the day after Fourth of July and now she’s spent over 100 days at the shelter — over-looked as just 1 of the current 800 dogs. She was scheduled to be euthanized….but a potential adopter said they would come get her so she was spared.”

The adopter didn’t come. 
So, that meant Panama (#48146247) is very, very available right now. She’s 3 years old an weighs 53 pounds. She’s not spayed, but she is heartworm negative. And she’s “been friendly with staff and volunteers,” her bio says.
She’s among the many dogs you can see by clicking on the FWAC site HERE.
Kimberly wrote that Panama “has over $600 in pledges to a reputable rescue only.” To ask about Panama, email [email protected].
AS WE REACH MIDWEEK.
CHLOE AND PAISLEY WAIT…
These two dogs are among many in the Lancaster shelter and many more under the watchful eye of 4-Legged Helpers in small, over-loaded, under-publicized animal shelters in the vast Metroplex Dump Your Animals And Move On Without Guilt Sprawl.
Chloe (left) and Paisley are young female Shepherd mixes, about a year old.
[LARRY ASIDE: They were delivered to Earth by a flying saucer.
OK, I have no actual proof of that. What we do know is they were found “out and about o their own,” the Helpers report. That means some earthling wasn’t taking care of them, so some other human with a heart and soul needs to give it a shot.]

To ask how you can help these dogs and other animals under the
watchful eye of 4-Legged Helpers, call or text 214-949-2726 or 214-906-7680 or email [email protected] or [email protected]. The Lancaster Shelter contact is the aCO at [email protected].
See more animals being spotlighted by the 4-Legged Helpers by going to the non-profit’s Facebook page HERE.
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE
MUFFIN’S IN A BIT OF A PICKLE
Oh, for crying out loud. How does this happen? Stop. Don’t even bother to tell me. Let’s just focus on fixing the situation.
Debra Chisholm, one of our reliable dog biographer contacts at Mesquite Animal Services, says, “I've named this cutesy pup Muffin.  She arrived … as a stray on 10/8.  She is a mixed breed who is about 2-3 months old and weighs 16 pounds.  She has been to the vet and unfortunately Muffin has been diagnosed with Scabies.  She has been receiving meds to heal the mange.  She is all-puppy with a tail-wagging and lively personality.  She is friendly and has a sweet nature.  Muffin enjoys attention.  She is playful and curious and doubtless she will blossom and show her loving and charming nature even more as she heals.” And Debra says that a “warm and loving home” is the key to that healing process. Muffin’s #48832371 at the shelter — use that ID when you call 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].

Also in Mesquite is this former stray girl Bandit, an 8-year-old, 32-pound English Pointers/American Bulldog/Maybe Others mix who arrived on Oct. 14. She is, Debra says, “one high-spirited puppy with lots of enthusiasm and energy.” She’s OK on a leash, likes treats and takes them gently, and is playful, but showed no interest in toys or balls,” Debra said. “She spent a lot of her time in the yard during the photo shoot with her nose to the ground checking out all the fascinating smells.” She's #48874166.

 Trooper (#48853151) may be a Australian Kelpie/Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog mix) — he’s about 8 months old, weighs 58 pounds and came in as a stray on Oct. 12. He’s playful and, Debra wrote, he “enjoys chasing tennis balls Sometimes he returns them and sometimes … not.” Athletic dog. And, of course, handsome little guy.

Debra is calling this dog Angie (#48863889. She’s got the look of a dog who knows how to pose. Debra reports, “One of our officers picked her and 2 others up as strays and brought them to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 10/13.  Angie is a mixed breed (with Carolina Dog in the mix) who weighs 38 pounds, is approximately 8 months old and is not spayed.  She seems very bonded with especially one of the other dogs (Duchess).  When we got all three dogs out in the yard, they romped and played and had a grand time together.  They are in a small room we call the executive suite and all seem to get along fine. … Angie is a sweet girl with a friendly nature and has the softest fur which she enjoys having stroked and petted.”
That brings us to Duchess (#48863855), one of those dogs picked up with Angie. Also a beautiful mixed breed ( maybe Jindo and Canaan), Debra says. She’s about 8 months old and weighs 37 pounds.
Debra says, “When we took them outside for the photo shoot they leaped and bounded around the yard together, thrilled to be able to get out and play together.  It was delightful to watch! Duchess is a bit more reserved than her sister Angie.  She does not seem used to a leash and leash training would be a good thing to start with in her training.  She is timid and shy and a bit nervous.  She takes treats gently.  She is sweet-natured.  Duchess needs to decompress a bit more and build trust in people.”
Again, for these dogs, use their ID numbers when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS
A CAT, A HOT FOOT, A PAUSE
This morning our apprentice office cat Stevie Ray suffered a self-inflicted setback in his training by running into the office, leaping onto the desk with the Bose radio on it, changing the station with a paw, using another paw to knock my phone charger to the floor behind that desk, then, using all his paws, leaping like a jungle cat across the chasm from that desk to my computer desk where he sent my mouse skittering, stomped onto my keyboard and vanished part of a sentence, then, sensing my despair (based on my colorful language), he launched himself off my desk toward the two-shelf bookcase that serves as an observation platform at the office window. 
That is a run-on sentence but all that stuff happened in a split second and making it three or four sentences wouldn’t have done it justice.
 The problem proved to be that propulsion of his launch shoved a stack of bills and magazines into my never-sipped, still hot, sealed cup of decaf and it fell to the floor. The lid popped off, rocketing 2/3rds of the hot java across the rug, most of the steaming liquid going into my left shoe and soaking my thick sock, sole, toes and arch. You can’t step out of a hot coffee- soaked shoe quickly enough.
So I left it on and every now and then, as I type, I squish my toes and wonder, “If this helps me write better, will I have to do it every day? Has Stevie Ray intentionally, as an office cat, made improvements to the office?”
How to start a novel: “Get a cup of hot coffee. Pour it into your shoe. Be creative.”
That's Stevie Ray lounging on the pillow atop my computer desk -- he learned "office cat nap" quite quickly. On the left you see him observing the front yard -- I'm almost certain he's never seen a bird or a water sprinkler up close. He stretches out to be tall enough to ride any thing they've got at Six Flags. On the right, that's my little boy when he was a little boy!
Now, as my shoe dries out, I’m going to take a few days off to be creative or to sleep and recharge. Haven’t had an actual vacation since 2004 — I don’t count the time in 2013 when I had to have brain surgery and they made me stay in a hospital for a few days. Our email will be monitored closely. You know, just in case we need to help with an animal situation or Washington needs someone to handle intricate international negotiations regarding the importation of a secret calorie-free chocolate cake being developed in the Russian lab on the International Space Station. A person can dream. I told you I needed time off.
—- Offer advice or recipes by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “IN SPACE NOBODY CAN HEAR YOU SCREAM ON THE SCALES” in the subject line. —-

ASSORTED NOTES OF HUMANS, ANIMALS AND CONTEMPLATIONS OF LIFE

EDITION OF TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021 [PetPowellPress] If someone were to ask me “What suspenseful reading do you do?” I wouldn’t mention a novelist. I’d say, “My Lotto Texas ticket and the ingredients on bottles and cans.” Moving along…let me check with today’s Office Cat Report. “William, what do we have today?” We were looking at what was on the computer screen when William replied, 
“First, don’t crowd me. Back that nose off my noggin, wordboy.” OK. He says he’ll hand me a note with what I need to know. Here goes:
ADVICE FROM WILLIAM:
"Pick better Lotto Texas numbers. Write about dogs, cats and people. Thrown in a wisecrack now and then. Get me some treats and we’ll continue."
ITEM 1 FOR
OCTOBER 19
We missed National Meatloaf Appreciation Day (October 18, says Holiday Insights, the online calendar), but I haven’t celebrated that since I became a vegetarian about 30 years ago. The 18th was also “No Beard Day” — haven’t celebrated that since 1971 — grew mine after my twins were born that January. Wasn’t getting a lot of sleep, so I eliminated shaving and filled that time with diaper-changing. 
Moving ahead, Holiday Insights says October 19 is “Evaluate Your Life Day.” On Monday, I drove 27 miles to deliver a foundling kitten’s stool sample to his vet — and, today, on “Evaluate Your Life Day,” I finally feel that I have identified my true purpose in life. Yep, instead of honing The Lesser American Novel, I successfully transported cat poop from one end of the Metrosprawl to the other to help a kitten have a good life. Each mile felt triumphant. That photo? It’s the growing backside of a 6-week-old formerly starving kitten named “Streetboy” at the vet’s and called “Captain Hastings Streetboy” around the house.

Know someone who hasn’t rescued a cat or dog lately? Tell ‘em to take a shot at rescue — maybe become a foster — and next October 19 they won’t have to leave the “Evaluate Your Life Day” form blank.
WHEN SMALL SHELTERS
HAVE GREAT DOGS…
No such thing as a dog that's not great, of course. Just has to meet the right human.
The small shelters in the Dallas/Fort Worth area are always in need of adoptors and rescue groups. Always. Ask around.
One of the big helpers for small shelters is the mission-focused non-profit 4-Legged Helpers. Those folks take on the responsibility of getting attention for animals in shelters with few visitors and no advertising budget! 
To illustrate the animals in need in those shelters, today we’ve chosen two dogs. That first Earhound is an actual “hound” — Emily, a Bloodhound or Hound Mix, according to the bio sent by 4-Legged Helpers. She’s in the Lancaster Animal Shelter. Her official bio reads, “CHECK OUT THOSE EARS.  This adorable Hound baby is about 3-4 months old and super sweet but of course still a little bashful since she just came in. She was out and about as a stray with her mom and two other babies but she is the only one captured so far.  Isn't she just precious?? PLEASE help save her!”

That brings us to this dog who is at an unnamed shelter in Dallas/Fort Worth — that shelter prefers to be anonymous and because the dog is more important than an argument over how smart it would be to tell people what your shelter is doing, we’ll just give the bio of Luna, courtesy of 4-Legged helpers. Luna is described as a “spayed & Vaccinated & Microchipped Female, Bull Terrier Mix, Available Now, DFW.” You see two of her “faces.” One gives a strong hint that she’s got Bull Terrier in her background and the other shows that she knows how to nap. The bio reads that she is “just as adorable as can be. ... SO CUTE. She is not very big - and you can tell that mom or dad was probably a full Bull Terrier. She LOVES other dogs - ADORES PEOPLE. She is so awesome. She is also heartworm tested and healthy!!! Everyone completely adores her.”

Here’s the phone number to help with these dogs and others in the 4-Legged Helpers’ universe: 214-906-7680. See more reports on more of those animals by going to the 4-Legged Helpers Facebook site HERE. 
SPARKY AND SASSY —
A LIVELY MESQUITE PAIR
These tips came from Debra Chisholm, volunteer dog biographer at Mesquite Animal Services.
We’ll start with, as Debra writes, “this lively pup.” He’s Sparky who came in on Oct. 12 as a stray. He’s listed as a 4-month-old, 23-pound Canaan mix. Debra writes, “He is very excitable and enthusiastic and will jump on you due to his high level of tail-wagging fun-loving puppy energy. He does walk nicely on a leash. He went potty in the yard immediately upon arrival. Sparky is a friendly fellow and happy to interact with a human friend.  He has a confident and outgoing personality and is a very sweet boy.  He enjoyed exploring the shelter yard. Sparky needs a person or family who will work with him to learn some basic commands and manners, and exercise and play with him daily. This boy has so much potential.”

Sparky’s shelter ID is #48857926 — use it when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].

Those are the contact points, also, for this girl Sassy (#48341517). Debra says she’s a Terrier mix who came in as a stray on July 30 — she arrived with a sibling who was adopted quickly “probably due to having a more low-key and mellow personality” than Sassy.

Debra writes, “Sassy was passed over again and again by potential adopters as she did not present herself well in the kennel because of her high-energy behavior.  She was adopted on 9/28 but unfortunately returned on 10/5. Apparently the adopters discovered that someone in the family was allergic to Sassy. This girl walks well on a leash, knows the sit command, loves to run and play in the yard and is a spunky and lively youngster.  She has an outgoing and confident personality.  Sassy's tail wags constantly and she is a real party girl.  She likes treats and will take them gently.  She needs a person or family who will stay committed to her and is willing to invest some time and effort into training her, exercising and playing with her daily and helping her to fit in well with the family unit living inside with them.  She is probably not suited to a family with small children due to her high energy level and her tendency to jump on you.  She is friendly and sweet and has so much to offer.”

[LARRY ASIDE: My tendency is to say that anybody who adopts and loves Sassy will be rewarded by loyalty and adoration — this is based on experience with dogs who, at first, second or third glance look completely unsuited to life with a human. Humans can adapt. Again, personal experience.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
FAIR, COWBOYS AND NAILS

There’s no official announcement yet for the theme of the 2022 State Fair of Texas, but after Sunday’s Dallas Cowboys victory, and listening to the gridiron experts, maybe it’ll be “Celebrating the Super Bowl Champs.” Could that be possible? Was this team put together under a lucky star? …
--About the 2021 fair: We got a news release from the State Fair of Texas on Monday that began, “Closing the gates on the 2021 State Fair of Texas embodies an even greater meaning than years past. After more than 700 days without the State Fair of Texas, the opportunity to come together safely again this year was the celebratory reunion we all longed for, and finally rejoiced in for 24 fun-filled Fair days. In the State Fair’s 135th year, themed, “Howdy, Folks!,” fairgoers from all walks of life returned to the annual event to celebrate their favorite Fair traditions and create new memories with their loved ones. The 2021 State Fair of Texas welcomed more than 2.2 million people through the gates.” You can read the rest of that release of “facts and fun” HERE. ...
-- We’ll close with something from the weekend posted on a neighborhood bulletin board. You’ve heard of people picking up a stranger’s check in a restaurant. Consider this note from “Marysol P.” She wrote: “Sweet Lady. I was having a stressful and very sad day today and decided a pedicure would lift my spirit. I went to Palace Nails to get some pampering and when I went to pay they told me my bill was already paid. The lady was still there and I was able to thank her in person, went to my car and cried like a baby. If you are the lady and read this message, THANKS again for your kind and very generous gesture. God bless you.”
—- Offer ideas or happy thoughts by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected]. —-