FOR FRIDAY THE 13TH, WE HAVE SONGS, CRITTERS AND CONTEMPLATIONS

EDITION OF FRIDAY THE 13TH, MAY 2022 [PetPowellPress] Not that I’m a bit loony as I begin typing this edition. But every now and then I find myself over-coffeed of a morning and if I can’t practice my ballet — never drying your dance tights on “high,” I’ll sit still and listen to songs from my youth. We’ll start the day with Arlo Guthrie and Comin’ Into Los Angeles. Crank it up HERE. We’ll do Alice’s Restaurant some other day.
In the meantime, in my ever-pressing/never-quenching search for obscure or seasonal knowledge, I have discovered there are two terms for “Fear of Friday the 13th.” (At least two!). We’ll cite them in CONTEMPLATIONS. First we’ll take this opportunity to maybe help make Friday the 13th a Good Luck Day for some dogs and cats.
DANDELION AND PRECIOUS:
HOW HARD CAN IT BE TO HELP?
Sometimes there’s just no explaining people and why they do what they do. We’ve mention the second of these dogs before — her name is Precious, a name she has earned.. The first photo is of Dandelion, a female Boxer mix left in a “plight” by her human. We’ve not mentioned her before. 
Both dogs are in the Metrosprawl — Precious is in a shelter. 
Dandelion? Our tipsters with 4-Legged Helpers report that Dandelion “sadly was abandoned at a boarding facility but fortunately ownership was signed over.”
Both, the Helpers say, “desperately need your help.”
Dandelion is a 3-year-old who “truly adores everyone! Kids included!” the Helpers say. Also, “She likes other dogs and gets along with them well based on observation following doggie introduction. Adores carrying a ball around and is just the sweetest most loving little girl ever.  PLEASE HELP!!!  Fully vaccinated and already fixed!!!”

And there’s a “$400 DONATION TO 501c3 RESCUE THAT CAN SAVE PRECIOUS, Female, Bull Terrier Mix, AVAILABLE NOW, CRITICALLY URGENT. VERY SWEET LITTLE girl that desperately needs someone,” the Helpers write. Also, the official bio reads, “Little cutie pie.  Cute as can be. Look at those adorable ears and sweet little face.” To help either or both of these dogs, get in touch with the Helpers by emailing original Helper Laura Macias at cat_girl_71@yahoo.com or calling the Helpers at 214-949-2726. Precious is going to be “spayed in the next few days” so she’ll need a loving human to help her during recovery.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS DOG:
SURE, HE’S BIG HANDSOME!
Big Handsome? Heck, yeah. And he’s in the Mesquite Animal Shelter.
His biographer, volunteer Debra Chisholm, says her Dog Scanner App puts his heritage as “Anatolian Shepherd Dog mix.” He’s about 2, not neutered and 55 pounds. 
Debra writes, “The back story on this boy is that he was picked up by one of our officers as a stray on 3/16.  People in the neighborhood reported to the officer that Big Handsome had been running loose for weeks with a ghastly injury to his right front leg the entire time.  Shelter sent him to the vet and fortunately x-rays showed no broken bones.  As bad as the injury looks in the pictures, there has been healing taking place.  He has become a staff fave and he allows them to handle him and his injured leg without complaint.  Staff members say he is friendly, cuddly, smart, is obedient and walks nicely on a leash.  He knows the sit command.  He does jump gently on you for hugs.  Big Handsome badly needs out of the shelter in order for his leg to heal properly.  X-rays taken on 3/18 and the vet report are available from the shelter.” 
And Debra adds, “It’s amazing that this big guy has stayed so sweet and friendly despite the discomfort he must feel.” She says he needs an indoor home so his leg can heal properly. He’s #49779474 — use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 r email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.

Two more Mesquite dogs (of many waiting!) include Candie and Junior.
 Debra says Candie (right, #50054662) is a Terrier/Retriever mix who came into as a stray on April 26. She’s about 10-1/2 months old and s already spayed. Her bio reads, “She has lots of playful puppy energy and will jump on you in her enthusiasm.  During the photo session she enjoyed chasing tennis balls but did not return them. She also showed an interest in toys.  She has a happy-go-lucky personality and is ‘on the move.’ She likes treats and takes them gently.  Candie walks well on a leash and when led through the bay she did not act in an unfriendly way towards the other dogs.  She does not seem to know any commands.  This friendly charming youngster is ready to leave the shelter. … Our shelter is extremely overcrowded and many dogs come streaming through the front door daily.” Use Candy’s ID #50054662 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email at rescues@cityofmesquite.com.

We’ll close the dog report with Junior, this stray Terrier mix who came in on May 2. Weighs 61 pounds, is about 5-years-old and isn’t neutered. [LARRY ASIDE: Isn’t neutered? Found stray? Geez, I wonder what could have been his inspiration.]

Debra writes, “He came in with another dog who happily has been adopted but Junior remains waiting...waiting...waiting for his special person to come along.  This is one well-behaved, calm and gentle fellow that is friendly and has such a sweet nature.  He stays close and is happy to receive loving attention... and treats which he takes gently.  Junior has a mellow laid-back disposition. … Won't you please see Junior's potential to be a wonderful and devoted companion?” When you contact the shelter (see above), use Junior’s ID# 50096213.
You can see many more dogs and cats at the Mesquite Animal Shelter by clicking on this LINK. This week we’ve mentioned other cats at Mesquite and today belongs to another previously mentioned fellow, 7-year-old Oliver, still waiting for a place to call home.
TWELVE HILLS HOSTING
NATURE APPRECIATION DAY
One of our favorite rescue stories in Dallas is how some really determined people rescued an entire plot of land from a north Oak Cliff apartment complex that had become a haven for bad human activity. The property is now Twelve Hills Nature Center. 
And, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday the center is hosting Nature Appreciation Day which will include flowers, animals, a nature walk… etc. It’s all noted on the Twelve Hills Facebook page HERE.
That includes the 11:30 a.m. honoring of the 2022 Rosemont Elementary School 5th grade Nature Leaders. 
Marcia Haley is the president of the Twelve Hills Nature Center. The organization has, indeed, reclaimed an area of blackland prairie once lost to development and misuse. It’s also a place to watch native birds do what native birds do. The site is near and just east of Hampton Road’s intersection with West Davis.

CONTEMPLATIONS
A LAW; SOME RESEARCH; A SONG
So, on Wednesday, the Dallas City Council OK’d an ordinance banning puppy and kitten sales — supposed to eliminate puppy mill offerings in local stores. Here’s the report from NBC5 in case you missed it. [LARRY ASIDE: Good thing nobody with a computer knows how to click and buy puppies from unscrupulous breeders, right?] …
THOSE FRIDAY THE 13TH TERMS? My crack research team found, on the internet, that one term for “Fear of Friday the 13th” is Paraskevidekatriaphobia (Paraskevi is Greek for Friday). And then there’s Friggatriskadekaphobia — the research found that Frigg is “the Norse Goddess for Friday.” Mythopedia.com, perhaps more academically, says, “Frigg was the Norse goddess of motherhood and fertility, and possibly the namesake of Friday. Wife of Odin, she was the undisputed queen of the gods and best known for her fierce dedication to her children.” Sounds like some of the Texas mommas we’ve known, doesn’t she — Queen of the Household and dedicated to the kids and able to send ‘em out to the yard to “get your own switch and come right back with it.” [LARRY ASIDE: The actual spellng in English for Frigga is uncertain -- kind of like today's journalism, spelling might not matter all the time -- just kidding the people who write the "crawls" for local TV "bulletins."] ….
We’ll close with a hit song from 1963. In America the Japanese-language song was known as “Sukiyaki” because, our research reveals, record companies thought marketing it by a term English speaking audiences might know would enhance sales. Sukiyaki was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in 1963. CLICK HERE
 AND READ ON AS YOU LISTEN. (The artist,
Kyu Sakomoto, at 43, was one of more than 500 passengers and crew killed on Aug. 12, 1985 when Japan Air Lines Flight 123 broke apart and crashed 32 minutes into a flight bound from Tokyo to Osaka.) The song’s actual name is
"Ue o Muite Arukō" ("I look up when I walk”) and is about a man so sad that he looks up to keep tears from falling. SEE the lyrics in English HERE. It’s a lovely song from a significant year in American history.

— Offer ideas and emotions by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put “HOW DID YOU LIVE WITH AM RADIO MUSIC?” in the subject line. —-