AT THE END OF THE SENTENCE, STORIES: EZRA WAITS; HUMAN FAILINGS; GAS $s

EDITION OF THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022 (PetPowellPress] Once upon a time, there was a sentence.
And it was followed by a lack of clattering keys in front of a computer screen that was idle.
What to do? What to do? Eat chocolate. So, the only chocolate I could find ws some of those semi-sweet drops that my bakingspouse Martha usually puts in cookies. We have no cookies. 
No cookies. No giant chocolate bars. Martha knows I’m dieting. Might as well try to write a story. Once upon a time, a shipping container full of chocolate bars fell from the sky into my backyard… OK, I made that up. I’ll sip my decaf and move along. There’ll be a report on that cat before we get to the end of this craving.
MEANWHILE THERE’S EZRA
WAITING IN DAINGERFIELD
At this very moment, Tami Kukla is probably hustling to find homes for several animals facing dire circumstances at assorted shelters around the Lone Star State. She sent us info about Ezra, a sweet fellow in need at the city shelter in Dangerfield, Texas, about 2 1/2-hours northeast of the Metrosprawl. [LARRY ASIDE: Easy trip — all the roads are paved, well, unless they’re under reconstruction — remember when the most visible signs on Texas roads were “Speed Limit” rather than “Road Work Ahead” or “Guardrail Damage Ahead” Consider this sign: Adoptable Dogs & Cats Ahead. OK, probably not gonna happen, right?] 

Whatever sign you see on a Texas road, that dog Ezra — the Dog of the Week in Daingerfield, is still adoptable at the city shelter. You can read about the shelter and its work by clicking on THIS LINK and on the shelter’s Facebook link HERE.
While looking at the shelter’s site, we also learned something about that tiny kitten. His bio, posted Wednesday, reads, “Little Peanut was found at the feed store and we believe he is maybe 3 weeks old. We are looking for a rescue to take this baby.”

Call the shelter at 903-645-2120.
And to see animals facing the time-pressure of the needle in this shelter and others, click on Tami’s Facebook page HERE. 
THREE FROM MESQUITE
WITH HUMAN STORIES
And by “Human Stories” readlarrypowell.com means “animals put in desperate circumstances because of humans’ despicable behavior.”
First up is this German Shepherd mix named Lilly. Our tipster Debra Chisholm, the volunteer dog biographer, writes that Lilly was surrendered on April 26 — with “several puppies.” And, Debra writes, “Reason for the surrender was that the owners simply did not want the dogs. Unfortunately several of the puppies are deceased but the remaining ones were rescued.” Two-year-old Lilly weighs 62 pounds, “has a mellow personality” and is well-behaved. Debra writes, “She is a friendly girl, stays close and has a pleasant personality.  She likes receiving loving attention.  … She needs a home in which she will receive the TLC she deserves and will be housed inside with her people.” Her shelter ID is #50050880 — use that ID when you call th shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
At least Lilly was surrendered to a shelter known for trying to save animals from human folly. Not the case for Jed, this American Pit Bull mix. Debra writes that Jed “was abandoned in a home, picked up and placed in protective custody at the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 4/29.” He’s about 6, isn’t neutered and weighs 58 pounds. Debra writes, “His warm brown eyes say it all, pleading to be given a home where he will live inside with his people and receive lots of TLC.  He walks quite nicely on a leash.  He pottied in the shelter yard.  Jed was very focused on exploring the yard during the photo shoot rather than running around or playing with balls or toys.  He does like treats and will take them gently.  Jed does not seem to know any commands.  He is a well-mannered fellow, calm and gentle as well as friendly.  He has a chill personality and a moderate activity level.  He does not jump on you.  He has all the signs of being an outside dog and though not underweight he looks in rough shape, and then to have his owners abandon him.  He deserves better.” When you contact the shelter about Jed, use his ID#50074941.

That brings us to Blu. This one’s a “corker,” as the saying goes. 
Debra explains, “Blu was surrendered on 5/5.  She had been given to the owner as a birthday gift and is unwanted.  Therefore she has ended up at the Mesquite Animal Shelter looking for a new home.”
She says “stunning” Blu is, according to Debras Dog Scanner app, a mix “that includes Siberian Husky and Australian Kelpie.” She’s about 2 years old, spayed and weighs 41 pounds. And, Debra writes, “She has the silkiest softest fur and beautiful eyes --one blue/one brown —clearly making her a real standout.  She is as sweet as she is lovely.  She is well-mannered, calm and gentle, friendly and wants to be loved on.  Former owner said of her that she is house trained, is okay with dogs and cats as well as children (theirs are older teens).  Blu did not seem interested in balls or toys.  She was mostly interested in receiving treats which she takes gently and spent much of her time sitting in anticipation of yet another treat.  She also knows the paw command.” To ask about giving this girl that special loving home, use her ID#49917063 when you contact the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
You can see more Mesquite adoptables and read about them by going to the shelter’s website HERE  We’ve cited Milo previously -- big cat in comfy bed (see previous edition). He’s still there. And today, we point out this large “red” male Maxwell (#50032775) — in the sea of shelter kittens, he’s the available 4-year-old fellow — came in on April 23 and he’s in the Conference Room. [LARRY ASIDE: That is a very sincere cat face — plus, he clearly knows how to properly position his cat paws and makes the best of his whisker display.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
NOTES FROM NO PARTICULAR PLACE
A question for summer in Texas: Can a person sleep comfortably while wondering if the a/c unit has enough freon to make it past Labor Day? …
As noted in our previous edition, our little fellow, the rescued kitten Hastings Streetboy, underwent his neutering surgery on Tuesday. How’s he doing? He’s doing fine. He’s a little ginger when it comes to jumping up or jumping down and he’s accepting more tender petting and human conversation than he had been allowing. I like to think that’s because he recognizes me as the guy who loves him enough to take him to the vet and to pick him up after he’s gently reawakened from his surgery. He has all the makings of a really swell cat fellow. Just Wednesday afternoon I caught him watching a rerun of Monk while pawing through the most recent edition of The New Yorker. When he wasn’t doing that, he was snoozing on our bed — sprawled, in fact. Though, clearly, he woke when I tried to sneak up with the point-and-shoot phone. Deputy Chief Kittie Leigh Johnson, usually the cat on the human bed, had moved to the floor and was out like a light on Dudley the Angel’s dog bed. Dudley drew office duty with Martha. …

One more summer note: According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, summer 2022 gets to Texas at 4:14 a.m. on Tuesday, June 21. If you’re planning a winter trip to Australia, leave now. Summer gets to Australia on December 21. That’s why Santa’s sleigh has a “Deploy Big Rig Wheels” option on the dashboard. And, since Santa’s sleigh travels without use of gasoline, we’ll turn to the Beach Boys for this tribute to one of the prices I saw LAST WEEK for a gallon of gasoline. That price was bypassed by this week’s prices. Go ahead: Turn up your speakers and click on 409, baby, 409. Giddyup. Giddyup.
—- Offer gas-saving tips or lucky lotto numbers by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put ‘OFF THE PEDAL, LEADFOOT’ in the subject line. —-