EVEN ON A DAY WITH ROSES, SOME STORIES JUST TICK A PERSON OFF! SAVE 'EM ALL

EDITION OF TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022 [PetPowellPress] Here’s a truth: The grass in our front yard responds to rain magnificently in the spring — not so swell to showers of city water in the summer.
That’s the rose bush in our front yard — more of red blossoms than last year. It's pretty nifty to see it thriving next to our driveway. In the backyard, the weeds grow like weeds. What else are they supposed to grow like?
Speaking of rosier things in life: Do you keep up with the news? These may be a good fit for April: The Holiday Insights online calendar notes that April is (a) Records and Information Management Month and (b) Stress Awareness Month. Hello, Washington, D.C.
EAST TEXAS GIVING DAY
NOTE FROM STRAYDOG
[LARRY ASIDE: I don’t have the brain power to keep up with all the “giving days” but, mercifully, I do get tips. Thank you STRAYDOG!] 

This tip on East Texas Giving Day -- it's today -- came from the good folks at Straydog Inc., the legendary animal outfit about 90 minutes southeast of the Metrosprawl.
 Straydog’s Giving Day link is HERE.
As Straydog explains on its link to East Texas Giving Day, the non-profit is “seeking funds to assist in the general caregiving, shelter and veterinary needs of our 160 rescues. Many of these rescued days are sanctuary dogs in need of on-going medical care.” 

At easttexasgivingday.org, you can search for other organizations to help. Lots of animal outfits in the area east of the Metrosprawl.
‘THREE OF THE SWEETEST DOG’
SPOTLIGHTED BY THE HELPERS
We’ve posted these three dogs before as “needing homes” but the 4-Legged Helpers have stepped up the “marketing effort” to help find them homes. They are now no longer just “dogs”; they are “3 OF THE SWEETEST DOGS!” And that, indeed, is a tribute.
That beautiful guy is Austin and the Rescue that saves the Boxer mix gets a $100 donation. He’s described as “Goofy, sweet, so lovable" — 55 pounds of a “larger medium” dog who is housetrained and accustomed to living indoors. “Sadly, someone had some things happen where they just are no longer able to keep him,” the Helpers report. “He is a wonderful, well-socialized dog. So sweet!”
Austin is one of the dogs in smaller shelters whose caught the attention of 4-Legged Helpers. To ask about him or the next two dogs, email cat_girl_72@yahoo.com or call or text 214-949-2726.
These next two dogs have a $275 donation each for the 501c3 that takes them in to save their lives.

Cece is a Bulldog mix — she was a stray. Her bio reads, “She is a very pretty girl and extremely sweet girl who follows the ACO around. Adores children! … She is incredibly deserving and would make someone a great dog since she is so incredibly loving.  just as sweet as sweet can be.”

Precious is described as a “Bull Terrier/Bulldog mix” who is “very sweet” and “desperately needs someone. Little cutie pie. Cute as can be. … She truly needs someone.”
You can keep up with these dogs and other animals in the arena of “small shelter challenges” by following 4-Legged Helpers at this LINK.
ELVIS — THIS IS A STORY THAT
 WILL TICK OFF DOG LOVERS;
PLUS WE CITE RADAR & SWEET AVA
[DEAR READERS: Call this a roundup of dogs needing homes in Mesquite. And some of them are going to inspire you to, perhaps, use language you might not otherwise use. Sure did inspire your humble typist.]
Judi explains — with much more polite language than I tended to use — how Elvis turned out like this., “
He’s an 11-month-old, 40-pound “glossy black ‘terrier Pit’ that arrived in the Mesquite Animal Shelter for the second time on 3/15 as a stray. He is so handsome he could also be called Black Beauty! Elvis originally arrived at the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 11/16/21 as a stray. He was very cautious, timid, and a work in progress. The volunteers and staff showered him with love and on 1/31/22 he was adopted! 
“Unfortunately on 3/15 he was brought back into the shelter by a concerned citizen that found him. He was injured. It appeared that he’d probably been hit by a car. His left hind leg had to be amputated. He’s getting around amazingly well! He explored the shelter yard and even moved at a fairly quick pace. 

“When I first got him into the yard his tail was tucked but it didn’t take long before he decided we could be buddies. At one point he even stood next to me rubbing his body up against my legs. When I called him he came to me.  He appeared to like having his ears scratched. He walks well on a leash. He’s calm and well mannered. Right now he is being treated for a hematoma with hot compresses and antibiotics.
“He will be rescue only or could be adopted by a very special person that the shelter determines will give him the follow-up care he needs. He deserves to have a loving family that will protect him and keep him safe. He has lots of love to give.”
 And there’s a $100 pledge by an angel who has met Elvis — that’ll go to a 501c3 Rescue that takes in this handsome boy. Elvis is # 49088259 — use that ID number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
Same contact points for this next guy
Judi describes Radar (#49411109) as “one of my favorites!” He is a “mostly black, 3-year-old ‘terrier Pit’ with a cute face and imploring hazel eyes. He is a longtime resident and came in as a stray.” The 62-pound dog was a bit of a puppy when he arrived. That second photo is a photo from last weekend of Radar behaving and watching at the Dog Derby Event. Judi says, “He has so many sterling qualities I don’t know where to begin. He walks well on a leash except when he’s anxious to get outside and then he does pull some. He does his business when he gets into the yard so he’s probably housebroken. He sits for treats and most the time takes them gently. When you sit down he will come and put his head on your lap. At the same time his tail will be wagging and he will be giving you kisses. He is calm and well mannered when he’s out of his kennel. He absolutely loves toys and will find them on his own and entertain himself with them. If you throw them for him he will bring them back. Besides being cute, he’s a fun, playful dog that would make a wonderful playmate.”

Judi, a veteran at helping shelter animals, also writes, “In my opinion he’s being passed over for two reasons: one is that he’s a black dog and black dogs are not adopted as readily as other colors. Two is that he does not display well in the kennel. He has a lot of nervous energy when he’s kenneled. However as soon as he’s free in the yard he becomes a very calm, well-mannered dog.” He comes with a $100 pledge to the 501c3 that takes him in. (Contact points in the previous segment.)

[LARRY NOTE: Now, Dear Readers, in this Mesquite segment, we’ve had one story that, perhaps, really peeved you. And one story that makes you wonder why a wonderful dog has no home. Now we have a third story and it’s going to a doozy of a story about humans letting down a dog. Trust me, I’m pounding these keys right through the desktop as I read it. God bless Judi and her bio-writing colleague Debra Chisholm for making sure these animals get some notice.]
SWEET AVA is this dog’s shelter name. In Mesquite, she’s #49949001. She’s a year-old, 37-pound Pittie girl who came in as a stray on August 11. Not spayed.
Judi writes, that when “Sweet Ava came in, it was apparent that at some point she has been injured.... possibly by being hit by a car. She’s been taken to a vet and her injuries are old injuries. Her jaw was dislocated. There is a mass on the right side of her face and the vet suspects it’s due to scar tissue. There’s been a fracture to her left elbow and her foot turns out. It’s healed incorrectly and she walks with a noticeable limp. She’s on pain management medication and the vet suggested an orthopedic referral.

“Now, don’t tell Ava that she has any deformities as she's happy, friendly, and very loving. Her tail wags constantly, and she’s got lots of kisses to give you. She does get excited and jumps on you in a gentle way, just wanting to be close to you. She’s a lapdog wannabe. She walks well on a leash. She wagged her tail meeting some of the dogs in the bay but was mostly intimidated by them. I did not see any aggression. She’s a real love bug! To meet her is to love her!"
Again, those contact points when you use that ID number are calling the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmes- quite.com.
Remember, you can see these animals and many more on the Mesquite site — the photos have bios of the animals, too. Click HERE
 to see more animals including this 7-year- old little ol’ cat named Oliver (#49895219). He is a small guy who came into the shelter on April 2. He’s waiting for his next human in the shelter’s Conference Room. Domestic shorthair, the shelter says. [LARRY ASIDE: Might turn out to be your favorite cat ever. You’ll have to be his favorite human. Nobody makes deals like a cat.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
PENGUINS, $500 CASH AND 1963
April 25 was World Penguin Day, according to the online calendar Holiday Insights. When I was at columnist at The Then-Big Paper Downtown, I met some not-even-shin-high brown-feathered penguins from South Africa — they were at the paper for interviews. We kept the conversation short. A person can respond to the request “Fish!” only so many times. Cute little feathered southern hemisphere penguins. The Dallas Zoo has a program to save penguins (click HERE). …
Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion. Imagine my disappointment when my traditional offer of “$500 cash for the whole shebang” was once again rejected. Standing offer to the Texas Rangers. …
What we need right now is a song about money. So, we travel back to 1963 when money was REALLY hard to come by and cite a song performed by a gutsy little combo. Any idea whatever happened to these lads. Did they make any money? Click HERE.
— Offer money tips or ways to live without it by clicking on ‘comment’ or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put LARRY! KEEP THE CHANGE! in the subject line. (Adoring thanks to the late Harry Chapin and Taxi.) —