FOR THE 24TH, TIARAS, DOGS, CATS -- IT TAKES PEOPLE TO TRIUMPH

EDITION OF TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022 [PetPowellPress] Sometimes I need distractions from the animal kingdom other than teenage kitten Hastings wrestling a roll of paper towels on the office floor. In this case, we turn to Holiday Insights where we learn that May 24 is both Interna- tional Tiara Day and National Escargot Day. 
The Insights online calendar people report the “Tiara Day” was created in 2005 “so women and girls around the world can feel like royalty” … and the date was chosen because England’s Queen Victoria was born on May 24, 1819 -- she reigned in crowns and tiaras from 1837 to 1901.
[LARRY ASIDE: That dog is not royalty — that we know of — but her name is Sierra and she has quite the face! Plus, look at those ears! Clearly Sierra is a Championship Earhound. More on her later.]
This is also National Escargot Day — nobody gets credit for creating it, the Insights people say. I found pictures of Queen Victoria wearing a tiara in one case and a crown in the other. I could not find a picture of an escargot in a tiara, but I did find a drawing of one on a skateboard. As a vegetarian I can only declare, “God Save the Queen and the Escargot.” 
So, now that I’ve celebrated some calendar notes, I’ll move on to the challenges of our animal-lovin’ lives. Hang on, let me adjust my tiara. OK. Moving along.
STRAYS,  FOUNDLINGS
AND OTHER TALES
Yeah, these all need a human to help them after, apparently, a human turned out to be no help at all. Check out the face on Emma. 
How does a dog like that wind up a stray in the Ferris area south of Dallas? No idea, according to the report from people trying to help her, the determined 4-Legged Helpers who focus on small, underfunded shelters.
 They’re hoping to hook her up with a spot in an equally-determined rescue group or, maybe, a human heart. To help the Helpers help these dogs, call or text 214-949-2726 or email [email protected]. The Helpers would like to hear from you ASAP.
Emma’s a Yorkie Mix who was found “out and about on her own.” Her stray-hold period expires Wednesday. And her bio reads, “Super sweet little girl. Little lap dog. So cute!”

 That brings us to a guy with a great aura of “loveable dog.” We base that on his photos. Chad is a Bull Terrier/Boxer mix, already neutered and available for adoption. His bio reads, “This adorable guy is young — about 11 months but you can see he is not going to get very big.  He is just as sweet as sweet can be and absolutely ADORES every person and every dog he meets.  Cutest thing ever.  Very happy - EXTREMELY lovable.”
Then there’s Ranger, the German Shepherd mix now waiting in Ferris. He’s got a story. The Helpers report, “Ranger was found out and about by a very kind person close to a gun range, therefore the name Ranger. He is a beautiful, sweet, and loving dog! At the time this sweet boy was found, he had an injured leg that turned out to be broken! Fortunately he is now well and is so deserving of a forever home. He does great with other dogs and truly adores people. VERY friendly and lovable!”
We’ll close The Helpers’ appeals with an on-going attempt to help this girl Precious, a “Bull Terrier Mix.” There’s a $400 donation to the 501c3 that rescues Precious. 
Her bio describes here as a “very sweet little girl” and a “little cutie pie” and she has “those adorable ears and sweet little face…. great on the leash. Listens well — we had a dog trainer evaluate her … Adores — and we mean ADORES — people.”
FROM THE SMALL SHELTERS TO
MESQUITE’S BIG BUSY SHELTER
We got the tip on this first guy from volunteer dog biographer Judi Brown. She reports that Kody came into the Mesquite Shelter on May 11 and the 5-month-old Retriever?Shepherd mix is a “happy 5-month old.”
Why’s he in the shelter? “The owner had too many animals,” Judi writes. “Three other dogs were surrendered along with Kody. One of them was Remy, also at the shelter now.” And she says that at first Kody “stayed close like a Velcro dog, but once he became comfortable in the yard he began to frolic and scamper back-and-forth. He was very playful. It was fun to watch him having so much fun! When I sat down he came to me wagging his tail all the time and smothered me with kisses!” Kody is already fixed. He weighs 38 pounds. … He’s an all-around great dog with an easy-going disposition.”
And this is Remy, same age and 34 pounds — Kody’s likely brother. He’s #50162117. Kody is #50162116 — use their numbers to ID them when you contact the shelter at 972-216-6283 or by emailing rescues@cityof mesquite.com. 

Judi’s bio of Remy says he’s also “friendly, happy, affectionate, playful and fun-loving. Remy found some stuffed toys in the yard and played with them. He stayed close for extra affection. He alway was very alert and curious. That probably indicates he’s very smart. ….When I sat down, he came to me to have his ears scratched. He also wagged his tail the whole time he was in the year. He was generous with kisses.” Already fixed, too.
Porsche is #50226850 — that’s the ID number you use when you check on Porsche at the shelter. Judi writes, “Just look at this sweet face. What’s not to love? This smokey gray 2-year-old terrier/Pittie … arrived at the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 5/19 as a stray. She’s on the slender side weighing 54 pounds. She’s recently had a litter. I was met in the kennel with tail wags. Apparently she was just really happy to be able to get out of her kennel. Once she got into the yard it was obvious that she was timid and unsure of the environment. She was real sweet and came to me to be petted but remained cautious. She will need TLC and a slow introduction to warm up to her new family. I don’t think she’s had a lot of loving as she didn’t respond to toys, balls, or treats. Because she was not interested in treats I was not able to entice her to sit. … When I walked her through the bay dogs were barking at her and she ignored them. … Porsche is a real sweet dog and a CLASS ACT! Come spend time with her, give her TLC and you will see that she has the potential to be a loving companion.”

And Debra Chisholm, our other reliable Mesquite volunteer dog biographer, introduced us to #50202085 “a very cutesy and spunky mixed breed girl I have named ‘Sierra’.” The year old pup came into the shelter on May 16 as a stray. And she has a delightful face and a grand set of ears! Clearly an Earhound. 
Debra’s bio of this year-old girl says Sierra “likes to entertain herself playing with toys.  She had a great time exploring the room where I did the photo session.  She is friendly and very sweet.  She does jump on you in her excitement.  She was badly in need of a bath and was very cooperative when another volunteer and I bathed her.  She likes treats and will take them gently.  She walks very nicely on a leash and was quite intimidated by the dogs who were barking at her; however she did not react to them.  This would be a wonderful dog for someone looking for a pup and willing to invest some time, effort and commitment in giving her playtime, exercise and training.   Our shelter is badly overcrowded and dogs continue to stream in the doors daily.  If you are interested in Sierra it would make room for another dog who will quickly fill it.

 Sierra is #50202085 — use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmes- quite.com.
You can see more Mesquite animals by clicking on the shelter’s website HERE.
Among the many cats and kittens and canines is one we’ve mentioned previously — Milo the Cat (#48498400) — he’s a nearly 4-year-old large Domestic Shorthair mix who came in on March 18. His bio says he’s in the shelter’s Conference Room. Presiding, no doubt. And, of course, readlarrypowell.com is astounded that such a great mature cat doesn’t have a human and a home and all the cuddling he can stand.
CONTEMPLATIONS
RAIN, BRAIN, TRAIN
There you have 3 words that rhyme on a Tuesday. We haven’t tried ‘em on a Monday — you know how discordant Mondays can be. At our house, currently falling from the sky (from where else?) is rain. The yard-grass will grow, my greenthumbspouse Martha’s flowers will blossom and dogs will track mud into the house. It’s a wonderful event. …
Brain? Let me check. Nope. I must have dropped it running in the rain from the car to the front door. We have a garage, but I haven’t unpacked it from our last move. I swear I'll clean out the garage before the turn of the century. …

When I was a kid, we got to take a passenger train roundtrip between Texarkana on the Eastern border and El Paso on the Western border. I think I’d like to do that again. Of course, I’d also like to set up a Lionel electric train in our living room and let it run for a while — problem is, those little trains attract predatory cats! I hate to think what would happen if I fired up a small drone in the living room! Indoor cats flying everywhere, swatting mightily at the air! If drones were cheaper, I might try that just to watch! Nah, our cats and dogs are extraordinarily orderly. I may go hug 'em all right now!
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