DOGS, CATS, PEOPLE AND PREDICAMENTS -- IT'S ALL VERY PERSONAL, ISN'T IT!

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY DEC. 28-29, 2021 [PetPowellPress] No need to stop the presses for this note. I’m looking back over non-dieting challenges of the past year.
 I’ve previously mentioned the rescued kitten we’ve been raising — this cutie, Captain Hastings Streetboy.
That’s one of his earlier photos when Hastings was being treated for whatever ailment can curse an abandoned 5-week-old kitten found in the middle of a street with blueberry-sized gobs of “yuck” keeping his eyes shut. [LARRY FYI: Martha, with medical experience as a former Candy Striper, handled the home treatments.]
We thought for a while that Hastings might be blind. He spent virtually the first full month we had him in virtual isolation — not around our dogs or cats while we, with the guidance of Pet Medical Center of Duncanville, treated him for ringworm, the less-and-less common fungal skin infection. Ringworm’ll limit a grown-up human’s desire to cuddle a kitten. My funspouse Martha and I both qualify as “grown-up,” one of us a little more than the other. (FYI: The vets and staffers managed to save Hastings’ vision, too!)
Back to a once-common curse: Last time I was around an outbreak of ringworm among humans was in the 1950s when the neighbor lady’s pre-teen grandsons came down with it in their hair. 
What happened? With their parents’ permission, Meemaw shaved their heads, dabbed all the splotchy areas with “coal oil” — some called it “kerosene” back then — and then painted their heads orange with a nearly glowing iodine product.
My dear beyond-octogenarian childhood neighbor Meemaw Fisher (real name, I swear, “Carrie Fisher”) is gone now, but now and then I think modern medicine may revert to her “old cures.” So, fearing that, I dodge ringworm. So does Martha — for her, a naked orange head would be a dramatic fashion statement she would choose not to dare. We’ll get to this kitten later in today’s edition. Now, let’s try to help some other critters.
BRENN AND BRYCE, TWO DOGS
IN THE WILMER SHELTER
We got the note on these dogs from the folks with 4-Legged Helpers, the non-profit that focuses on smaller shelters without a responsible budget and sometimes without a responsible attitude toward the animals they have.
These two are in Wilmer, on the southern side of Dallas.

Brenn the brownish female is around 10 months old but there’s no public relations department in the Wilmer Shelter to help “market” animals. Bryce, the boy, is probably about the same age. 
They are listed as “BoxerShepherd” mixes.
To ask about helping 4-Legged Helpers save these two, call or text 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].

And go to 4-Legged Helpers Inc. on Facebook to see many more animals in the area that need a break to save their lives.
DENVER AND RYDER
WAIT IN MESQUITE;
SO DOES GOLIATH
Dogs’ faces have such wonderful expressions — in the case of these two, that expression might just be hopeful.
They’re both residents, for now, at the Mesquite Animal Shelter. Thanks to volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm, we have their stories.

Denver (#46716734) is “listed” as a Lab/Terrier mix. He came into the shelter on the 16th as a stray — it was not his first visit. She writes, “Denver was originally at the shelter on 2/26/21 and adopted but unfortunately is now back where he started and his owners have not come to reclaim.  He weighs 70 pounds, is approx 3 years old and is neutered. Denver is ‘cool, calm and collected’ with a mellow personality.  He is well-mannered and gentle.  Denver is friendly and OK with attention and affection.  He does walk fine on a leash and when walked through the bay did not show aggression toward the other dogs. … Denver does not seem to know any commands, does not fetch and showed no interest in toys.  He just seemed content to be out of his kennel and able to stretch his legs for a bit.” [LARRY ASIDE: That last sentence made me a bit sad — he might be resolved to ‘incarceration’ — and that’s awful in a spirited dog. Geezalou, somebody with a good heart adopt this guy!]
Use his ID number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email at rescues@cityof- mesquite.com.
Same system for this guy Ryder. 
Debra calls him a “cutesy little live-wire.” She says her Dog Scanner IDs him as a mix that includes American Bulldog and English Pointer. 
She writes, “He was dropped off as a stray on 12/20 at the Mesquite Animal Shelter.  He weighs 40 pounds, is approximately 8-months-old, is not neutered and has the most interesting coat.  This is one confident, outgoing, fun-loving, tail-wagging bundle of puppy energy.  Many of my pictures of him were blurred as I tried to capture his image when he was still!!  He does jump on you in his excitement --a lot-- and obedience classes would certainly help him to be more adoptable and to fit into his forever home better.  … He does sit for treats and took them gently.  He is a friendly pup with a sweet nature.  He chased the tennis balls I threw but did not return them.  He would seem best suited for a person or family who is active.  At this point he would probably not do well with preschoolers as he would knock them over in his exuberance.  Ryder has lots of potential with someone who would take the time to work with him and stay committed to him and of course provide him with an inside living situation so he can be an important part of the family.”

The City of Mesquite’s shelter has a number of dogs and cats, puppies and kittens, who, as 2021 draws to a close, are absolutely available to become the “important part of the family” in your life. See the adorable adoptables AT THIS LINK. 
Waiting in the shelter’s Cat Room is this handsome 3-year-old orange (maybe tan but looks orange in the photo) and white tabby — he’s #49211959. And take a hint from his name — Goliath — in his shelter bio he’s listed as “large”. Like the dogs and cats waiting, use his ID number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS
HASTINGS AND COLLEAGUES
Returning to the latest kitten to fascinate the humans, dogs and other cats in the household. Save ‘em all, you know? Hastings is all-clear and has the run of the house but likes to flop on my laptop.
He’s learning how to communicate with humans — sometimes he’s great. Other times? Here’s an example. Each morning my tenderspouse Martha visits a local store to get her morning Slurpee. A couple of days ago, as she handed over her money and picked up her treat, the young lady looks up at her, nods toward all the scratches on Martha’s harp-plucking hands and asks, “Y’all got a cat?”

Martha replies, “I know it looks like I work on a cactus farm, but, this is from a kitten.”
We’re trying to figure out how to teach Hastings (AKA Hasty Pudding and other polite names), how to communicate without applying claws and teeth. We can pet him for a while but somewhere in that beautiful beige coat, he has a hidden “on” switch for “defense posture.” We’ve raised other cats, but Captain Ringworm could have used some early cuddling, I guess. Yeah, he has a home. We’ll take advice on teaching “Charm Level II” to an already charming little guy at times.

ABOUT WILLIAM: Never had ringworm. Mostly the perfect cat. Having been born and raised in Texas, I am familiar with the Lone Star lingo. Sometimes I’ll walk into a room and see our cat William Powell who’ll glance up from whatever script he is considering. I’ll say, “Hey, Stud,” and he’ll give me a glare, then move on with his silver screen career. He sort of resents the irony of “stud,” but, as I tell him, if we hadn’t practiced what we preach, he’d have had absolutely no power of concentration. So, yep, “Spay and neuter” in the New Year, right? Oh, that's William nodding off while sitting at the window as I write. Never complains about "all that typing."
CONTEMPLATE THIS DOG’S arrival condition. That’s’ our boy Dudley the Angel. What makes this older Border Collie/Chocolate Lab mix so darned special? He’s got the loving and patient personality of your favorite soul on or off the planet. And, he arrived at our Dallas house many years ago with two smaller dogs (we got them into a no-kill shelter). All had been dumped on our street. You know how dumpers do — “Open the door. This looks like a good spot. Get out, you worthless bastards.” Bet that’s closer to fact than it is to fiction.
Anyway, when we realized he was already fixed, we gave thanks. We’d picked up dumped and rescued dogs and cats for 20 years by the time Dudley showed up — he was the first boy dog we got that didn’t arrive with his testicles intact. It was like a miracle in our Zip Code. We began referring to him as “The Miracle Dog of Tarryall Drive.” He’s a great fella. If you don’t have one of these guys, get one — he’s good with dogs, cats, people and snacks.
—- Offer ringworm advice or weather tips by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘QUIT SCRATCHING’ in the subject line. —-