ADORABLE DOGS, A CAT NAMED MR. POPO AND ASSORTED CHALLENGES....

EDITION OF MONDAY/TUESDAY JAN. 24-25, 2022 [PetPowellPress] Admit it, Cowboys fans. You were relieved not to have to sit anxiety-tortured through another gut-wrenching playoff game while wondering for 4-quarters what creative never-before-seen-way America's Team was going to foul it up.
[LARRY ASIDE: That's my colleague The Senator in a photo from his Performance Artist period. He calls this piece "TIME MOVES SWIFTLY FOR THE TEAM THAT TRAILS."]
And, now, with no weekend gridiron anxieties planned for the next few weeks — I don’t know how much plan to bet on the Super Bowl — let’s focus on other challenges in life.
Office pools? Has the covid crisis crimped the tradition of office Super Bowl betting pools? Well, more on current civilization in Contemplations. Thank Heaven we have dogs and cats to help us cope with human challenges.
Read on:
A COUPLE OF TALENTED DOGS
WAITING AT TRINITY GAP RESCUE
We’ve been charmed for years by the efforts of the Euless Trinity GAP Rescue big-hearts to “save ‘em all.”
As a reminder, GAP Rescue evolved via the Euless Trinity High School Girls Awareness Program (GAP) — rescuing the animals was a project that became a mission. You can see the GAP works and available adorables by going to the non-profit’s FACEBOOK PAGE HERE and the GAP website HERE.
This first young lady is Zena and, for a 14-week-old puppy (according to her bio), she has skills. Her bio offers these rare skills in man and beast: “Do you need help with laundry, making the bed or getting dressed? Then Zena is your girl. She loves to help with everything. She is a Boston Terrier mix. She is looking for her forever home. She is 14 weeks. She is house- and crate-trained. She gets along with cats and dogs. She Ioves everything. She is very energetic and will need a house with a 6 foot wood fence. No apartments. For more information contact mjrfosters@yahoo.com."
And then we come to Radar, an Earhound. He also is an already-neutered, house-trained 6-year-old Welsh Pembroke Corgi.. GAP’s bio of this baby reads, “He is very sweet with people and loves to cuddle. He does not enjoy the company of other pets so he would do best in a household where he is the only pet.” 
Here is Radar’s “valuable skill,” as any parent can tell you. GAP writes, “As a Corgi, he will attempt to ‘herd’ children when they run or leave the room so a home where this is not welcome would not be ideal. Radar may be best-suited in a home without children. He would do great in an empty nest home. Radar enjoys going for walks and does well on a leash. … He is not a noisy dog. His barking is limited to sounds that he feels are suspicious like doorbells and unusual sounds. For the right home, Radar will be an excellent pet. For information on adopting him contact steffeniegaprescue@gmail.com."
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE,
EDDIE AND BUDDY WAIT!
“If Eddie looks worried that’s because he is!,” writes Mesquite Animal Shelter volunteer dog biographer Judi Brown. She adds, “ You would be too if you lost your family and ended up at the shelter. Eddie is a 2-year-old, 52-pound pound terrier pit that arrived … on 1/13 as a stray. He’s got a coat of many colors: brown, gray and tan. He has perky ears and frown lines on his forehead. He also has a rash. … spots on his back. He has been to the vet and is being treated with cepralexin. He will need a follow up visit. When I first went into Eddie’s kennel he had his tail tucked but in a short time he decided he could trust me. Then I got tail wags. He’s a sweet, friendly boy that although he likes to explore prefers to spend his time close to his human friends. He sits for treats and takes them gently. He chases balls and sometimes retrieves them. He walked OK on a leash. … He occasionally jumped on me but mostly when he wanted a treat that I had in my hand. He responded to the command to get down. He wants to please. He also stood by the door even though it was a very nice day indicating that he’s probably been an inside dog. He’s a likable guy needing a loving family” Eddie’s shelter ID is #49409620 — use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or emailrescues@cityofmesquite.com.
Judi also became acquainted with Buddy (#48992351), an 11-month-old, 43-pound Staffie who describes as “adorable.” 
Why’s adorable, unaggressive Buddy in a shelter? Surrendered on 1/20. Why? Judi writes, “The kennel card states the reasons for his surrender were that he was unwanted and was behaviorally incompatible. However the staff person that processed the surrender said that Buddy was exhibiting the playful, fun-loving enthusiastic, energetic behavior of a puppy.”

And Judi reports, “When I had Buddy in the yard it became obvious that he is a lively puppy that could use some manners training. But he sits for treats and takes them gently. He’s very motivated by treats and wants to please so he should be easy to train. He loved bounding around the yard. He chased balls and sometimes retrieved them. Therefore, if someone would take the time to play with him and exercise him in a fair size yard it would help to expend some of his energy. He sometimes jumped on me but immediately responded to a sharp ‘No!’ Buddy is a friendly, happy, fun-loving dog with tons of potential. Besides that he’s cute!” Use his ID #48992351 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email at rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
THE FIRST ‘MR. POPO’
WE’VE SPOTTED IN 2022
Actually, in the decades-long history of readlarrypowell.com, we may never have written about a cat named Mr. Popo.
But here he is, a nearly 10-year-old fellow available for adoption to a really sweet, loving person via the SPCA of Texas. 
The report is Mr. Popo came to the legendary shelter “through a cruelty case.” His bio describes Mr. Popo as “a shy boy who likes hiding under his bed.”
The SPCA is hoping to match Mr. Popo with “a cat lover who is willing to continue [his] rehabilitation.” Mr. Popo’s Foster Parent reports that once this grown-up gent warms up, he is “the sweetest boy” and he loves “playing with laser toys.” He also likes being petted, “watching cat videos on TV, using [his] cardboard scratcher and napping.”
The only “if” in his health is he may be FeLV positive — “tests results were inconclusive” so he’d be better off as an only cat.
Click on this SPCA LINK and you can see a video of Mr. Popo being a pretty swell cat. And, at spca.org, you can see how to adopt Mr Popo.
[LARRY ASIDE: A cat named “Mr. Popo” — might be the only one in your family. Except for Uncle Popo, of course.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
2022 QUESTIONS, A FILM & PHOTO APPEAL
Is the fabric of America being demolished by a microscopic virus? Am I tired of watching Kelly & Ryan broadcasting from remote locations away from the traditional fan-filled studio? Will there be a 2022 Major League Baseball Season? Will my diet work? Is it possible that a scientific study will show that milk chocolate makes a person immune to all varieties of that darned virus? Is it too late for me to try out for a pitching spot on the Texas Rangers — I can still see about 62 feet, so that means I can get the ball to the catcher if a batter doesn’t park it in the bleachers first (that puts me in at least a tie with some of the other would-be big league pitchers). …

There’s a new Jurassic Park film coming in June — Jurassic World Dominion. During a football game over the weekend, maybe you saw the commercial with two dinosaurs chasing a blonde skier — combination of Winter Olympics/June movie advertisement. Plot irony: In an era when the globe is threatened by tiny bugs, we get a movie with life-threatening dinosaurs and renowned Hollywood stars. Here’s how to LINK UP TO THE JURASSIC TRAILERS. And, HERE’S THE SKIER VS. RAPTORS TV spot. …
And DALLRP@AOL.COM is where to send photos of your slumbering dogs, cats, geckos, in-laws, clams, goldfish, newts, skunks, ducks, calves, colts or piglets. By mentioning “in-laws” I’m suggesting we’ll post family photos in our weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, the long-running feature that celebrates the joys of living with animals. I thought it was easier to write about sleeping dogs and napping cats et al than to write a feature called “Dinner With The Dog” or “Milkshakes With The Cats.” I’ve shared ice cream with that cat, The Senator. He’s aggressive — who knew a cat could use a spoon? That's me and The Senator editing his biography, Ice Cream Powers My Purr.
—- Offer tips on solving baseball labor issues or wearing a losing team’s cap with panache by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put NEVER SHOWER IN A BASEBALL CAP in the subject line. —-