STOCK SHOW WEATHER, A PLAYBOOK, SAVING KITTENS AND PUPS -- IT'S ALL PART OF THE CENTURY

EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY JAN. 13-14, 2022 [PetPowellPress] As I’m typing this, the sky is beautiful, the sun is shining and it’s a day that suggests — to the unsuspecting— that good weather is embracing Fort Worth and Dallas. But we’ll get to “Stock Show weather — different kind of embrace — and the Shakespearean Dallas Cowboys in Contemplations. First we’re taking up these cats! Why? Because we need a happy story, don't you think?

VERY PREGNANT, MALNOURISHED,
HOLLY BIRTHS HALF-A-DOZEN….
Take Me Home Pet Rescue — a continuing rescue blessing based in Richardson — sent a promotional note around during the week and had this remarkable announcement: “Take me Home Pet Rescue was able to save: 354 kittens, puppies, dogs and cats in 2021.” That's during a pandemic, right?
TMHPR didn't save 'em all "one at a time." See that photo with that ragged cat and the half-dozen kittens? That beautiful orange cat on the left is the formerly bedraggled Holly.
The caption read, “In December, a Good Samaritan found a very pregnant malnourished cat she described as ‘a skeleton with a tuft of hair.’ Beautiful mama — Holly — was taken into our program and became the proud and loving mother” of all six, until the adoptions came through for Mistletoe, Poinsettia and Tinsel.
So, readlarrypowell.com summoned my limited math skills and counted the names and came up three short on kitten names. Immediately I sent a note to TMHPR Cat Foster Coordinator Melanie “Mel” Bullock who included “Cat-Rescuer Susan’s” story. Here’s the explanation:
Susan had been working at her daughter’s house on Holly St. and, she writes, “We had decided to take a break from demolition and walked out to her front yard. Up walks this skinny cat that looked like a skeleton with tufts of hair and a huge tummy. It was triple digits that day — so hot. This kitty came right up to us, panting and asking for help.” They helped her with water and food. 
“I fed and fed and fed her,” Susan wrote. “She was so grateful. I set her up with a birthing box, lots of towels and a soft blank.d. Fifth day she had six beautiful little babies, all healthy. She was such a great mom., cleaned each baby and never complained. They started nursing and grew like crazy. Holly was very proud of them.” Susan found a home for two of the kittens with “my dear friend and cat lover” and then a friend and coworker took the largest male kitten.” 
TMHPR helped the remaining 3 kittens — Mistletoe, Poinsettia and Tinsel — find homes. 
And that leaves Holly waiting for a home. 
Susan The Demolition Rescuer writes, “I would love to keep her but I am extremely allergic to cats. Love them, just can breathe very well around them. I know hOlly will make someone the best best companion. She is so loving — as the kittens left, it was like she understood. Now it’s her turn.”
Ask about helping Holly or adopting Holly by going to https://tmhpr.com.
Being a veteran observer of cat and dog rescue situations, I asked if TMHPR could use some help in the fostering department. 
Mel replied, “We can ALWAYS use more fosters.  I have several cats/kittens waiting in the wings because I don't have a foster."
At the bottom of her email she has this quote: “Remember, fostering isn't a lifetime commitment, it's a commitment to save a life"
OH, AND ONE MORE TMHPR animal: This beauty is young PK, short for “Penalty Kick” — it’s a soccer term. The story is the dog with a chemical burn the length of her back was rescued from an “overcrowded shelter.” And, TMHPR reports, “Scared, hurt, and unwanted, she came into our program and with the care of a wonderful foster, healed and was adopted. PK stands for Penalty Kick, a term used to award a player a chance to have a single shot at the goal! In this case, PK got her goal, not just with this kick but with this new adopting family!”
PK was not “disposable property,” TMHPR suggests.

THE DOG WHO BEAT THE ODDS —
THE FIRST TIME. NEEDS NEW HELP…
This is Ruger, who I think we’ve mentioned before. That’s some running stance, isn’t it? [NOTE TO DALLAS COWBOYS: Don’t know if he’s under contract with an NFL team.]



The person monitoring this boy’s progress through society is Gail Whelan, our long-time contact with the Companion Animal Network. You can ask about adopting this boy or fostering him — Gail wants someone with experience — by calling 903-967-3226 or email can.adop- tions@yahoo.com.
 The story on Ruger is he’s a 3-year-old Black and Tan Coonhound and, in September, he was “rescued hours before his scheduled euthanasia at the Smith County shelter in Tyler.” 
Gail’s note says, “Ruger needs some loving, caring people to foster or adopt him and work on his manners and housetraining.  We are able to help financially for the right person or family.  Ruger lives with me and has since September.  With 15 dogs here, I am unable to give him the one on one he must have.  He is sweet and low key.  He has a lovely personality!  My experience tells me that perhaps Ruger was kept in an outside pen and he became accustomed to eliminating in that pen as he had no options. 
“Ruger is fully vetted and approximately 65 pounds.  He IS a low positive for heartworms but has already started his protocol.  He does NOT need to start injections in the near future.”
Once again, call Companion Animal Network at 903-367-3226 or email can.adopttions@yahoo.com.
AN OKLAHOMA CAT
WHO DRAGS A LEG….
If you’ve been reading this site for years, you’re accustomed to finding stories of animal rescue by our Burns Flat, Okla., tipster, the resilient rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher. 
On Thursday morning she sent this note: “I received a call about this poor sweetheart this morning…The people had seen her dragging her back leg and having a hard time getting around.  
 They called me but I was out of town    I had them drop her off at my vet…
“It’s not a brand new injury   But old enough they can’t really set the leg    They aren’t positive what happened but feel possibly she was kicked, the way it’s broken   They are giving her something to get rid of the infection and then said she needs crating for about two months.    

“I’m swamped here. … I need help. Her vetting and possibly a place for after this weekend that she can go. If anyone can help, please, please let me know.”
And Terry Lynn closes with “Thank you all!” She’s saved a lot of animals and gotten help from a lot of people. This cat needs a good deal. Email Terry Lynn at remembering_oddball@yahoo.com.
CONTEMPLATIONS
STOCK SHOW, PLAYOFFS, A TUNE…
As this is being typed, the temp is in he 70s. Ah, but the meteorlogically-informed know the best way to predict Fort Worth and Dallas weather for this time of year is to monitor the Cowtown Clouds, i.e., the predictions of “Stock Show Weather” — the Big Show (“This Thing Is Legendary”) runs from Friday the 14th through Feb.5. I don’t know why that trademark slogan isn’t spelled “This Thang is Leginderry.” — like somebody from my beloved East Texas wrote it. Back tot he weather. Yep, for the next stretch, keep a sweater or jacket handy and an umbrella, too, and maybe some t-shirts and gym shorts — Stock Show Weather. In 1971, an old hand at the Tarrant County Courthouse told your young reporter, “Watch out for Stock Show weather.” I scoffed. I was wrong. ….
SHAKESPEARE AND THE DALLAS COWBOYS? The big playoff game is Sunday — Dallas Cowboys vs. rival from the last century, the San Francisco 49ers. So I found two quotes that may match the Cowboys’ efforts. Here’s a defense quote from the Taming of the Shrew, “I’ll not budge an inch.” And, from Macbeth, there’s this assessment of the referees’ performances: “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” No prediction. That's William Shakespeare with his playbook. ….
The great songwriter Marilyn Bergman died this week. I should have written a “thank-you” letter to her — to her late husband Alan Bergman, too. Mrs. Bergman died at 93 on the 8th. Hard to pick just one song. I’ll go with one from 1968 with music by Michel Legrand and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. 
Here’s the link to The Windmills of Your Mind, the hit performed Noel Harrison for the 1968 movie version of The Thomas Crown Affair with Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway.
Here are the closing lyrics to the theme song:
“When you knew that it was over you were suddenly aware
That the autumn leaves were turning to the color of her hair!
Like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning on an ever spinning reel
As the images unwind, like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind!”
Sometimes I miss the 1960s….
—- Offer ideas or idiocy by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put “PEACE, LOVE AND LYRICS” in the subject line. —-