THE MOON, THE LAW, THE CATS, THE DOGS, THE IMMORTAL BARD...

EDITION OF MONDAY, MAY 16, 2022 [PetPowellPress] The promise of watching the “Blood Moon Eclipse” Sunday night had excited me a little bit. Rare, the experts said it was. Would start about 11 p.m. Texas time, the skyscientists said. 
So, after my TV viewing was interrupted by a weather alert about 10 p.m., I walked outside to look up at the sky in hopes seeing stars and our beautiful waiting-for-eclipse moon. I saw, instead, a cloud cover and in the cool air saw flashes of lightning slightly to the north of my vantage point just off the front porch. 
Instead of marveling at the lightning, I did the smart thing: went back inside. I did capture this photo of our recuperating-from-neutering kitty cat, Hastings Streetboy. He’s not quite back to his full run-and-jump, but, as he was playing with my barefootspouseMartha’s flipflop Sunday night, he apparently heard thunder to the north and yanked his head around to make sure the Big Racket wasn’t coming through the window! 
I live a fictional existence with the cats and dogs — it’s an earthly life — cloud cover keeps me from visiting the moon.

A DALLAS CHANGE IN THE LAW;
ADOPTABLES STILL AVAILABLE…
Yeah, there’s still some good feeling toward the City of Dallas for approving that Dallas Humane Pet Store Ordinance last week.
The day it happened we got a news release from the SPCA of Texas that opened with a paragraph noting that “the Dallas City Council passed the Dallas Humane Pet Store Ordinance. The Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN), the SPCA of Texas, and Operation Kindness applauded the passage.”
There also was this paragraph: “Dallas now joins Austin, College Station, El Paso, Euless, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Sherman, and Waco in cities that have passed a similar ordinance.” [LARRY ASIDE: Dallas is so frequently way head of things, why did it take Big D such a long time to do this? Well, someone has the answer to that question. Surely. Be kind and try not to use the term "glacial speed."]
The news release (see the whole release by clicking HERE) contained this quote: "This Ordinance will support dozens of local humane pet stores in Dallas that do not sell puppies but rather adopt puppies who desperately need loving families,” said Karen Froehlich, President & CEO of SPCA of Texas. “Our shelter alone has over 1,000 animals in our care today, and shelters across Texas are transporting thousands of adoptable dogs to other states due to overcapacity. The time is right for Dallas to pass this Humane Pet Store Ordinance - both for animals and our community.”

We checked at spcafindapet.com and that fellow Apollo is in a foster home and still waiting for his real home. We first wrote about him in 2019 and used that upside-down photo as his “pick me” picture. He is, clearly, an Earhound. He’s 4 years, 9 months old, the SPCA says, and he weighs in at 52 pounds.
Why is he in the shelter? He came in “as part of a cruelty case in February 2019,” his SPCA bio says. “He had a long journey to recovery, but with patience, love and an awesome foster dad, Apollo has flourished into the goofy, loyal pup you see today!”
And in honor of Apollo’s upside-down pose, we found that photo of a feline SPCA adorable adoptable, Margaret the Domestic Shorthair mix. She’s 4 years old, weighs 10 pounds and is available. She came into the SPCA’s care via another rescue and her bio reports that her previous owner “was 90 miles away and no longer wanted me in their home.”
IN THE MEANTIME,
THE CUTIES IN MESQUITE
Does that dog Biscuit know how to “sit cute” or what!? Lots of cuteness in the Mesquite Shelter,
In fact, consider this passage from volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm’s emails about Biscuit. “Our shelter is critically overcrowded and some of our dogs (like Biscuit) are having to be placed in pop-up wire kennels in the hallways.  This is certainly not ideal.”

Debra says her Dog Scanner app suggests “this precious pooch” possibly has Carolina Dog and Smooth Collie in the family tree. She came in May 6 as a stray — is about 9 months old and weighs 35 pounds — already spayed!
Debra writes, “She is one tail-wagging, happy-go-lucky girl with lots of puppy energy.  She is very friendly, has a sweet nature and is playful.  Biscuit loves treats and takes them gently.  In her enthusiasm she will jump on you so that will need to be addressed.  She has a confident, outgoing personality and there is nothing timid or shy about her.  This youngster would seem best suited for a person or family willing to invest some effort and time in exercising and playing with her daily as well as training to learn commands.” 
Use Biscuit’s ID #50127526 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
Winnie, a stray who came in on the 7th, is a Pittie/Staffie mix is about a year old and weighs 45 pounds — not spayed. How about her eyes in that mugshot! But look at her ribs in the other photo. Debra writes, “She seems too thin.  Sweet girl is timid, shy and nervous at the shelter.  When I had her in the yard for her evaluation, I noted that initially she was skittish and flinched when startled.  However, as she moved about and spent some time with me she warmed up and began to follow me closely, though did not necessarily want me to pet her.  She walks well on a leash but was not crazy about having it put on.  She is calm and low-key.  Winnie is cautiously friendly and she looks fearful in her pictures.  She will need more interaction to help her build trust and confidence.  The two things she enjoyed most were to receive treats (which she took gently) and explore all the amazing smells in the yard.  She does not seem to know any commands and wasn't interested in toys or balls.” She’s #50134660 when you contact the shelter to ask about her.

Then there’s Luna (#50122716), a “Terrier mix” brought in as a stray by one of the Mesquite Animal Services officers. She’s about a year-and-a-half old and weighs 65 pounds.
And, Debra writes, “It appears as though she has recently had a litter of pups.  She seems to have been well cared for and yet her owners have not come to reclaim.  Luna is timid, shy and nervous  She hasn't acclimated yet to the shelter and seems uneasy.  She does walk nicely on a leash, is calm, gentle and well-behaved.  Luna is cautiously friendly as though she just doesn't know who she can trust.  She seems to have such a sweet, mellow nature.  She wasn't interested in the treats I offered, nor did she want to play with toys or chase balls.  Doubtless her true nature will emerge when she feels safe and secure in a quiet and well-ordered home.”
Again, use the ID tags when you contact the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.

WANT TO SEE more adorable dogs and cats at the Mesquite shelter? CLICK HERE.
Among the dozens of kittens is #50155540, a month-old Domestic Shorthair mix currently called Dot. She’s a black and white girl — small for now — and he’s been in the shelter’s Cat Nursery since May 10. [LARRY ASIDE: The thing to remember about kittens is they grow up to be cats — great companions, especially if you cuddle ‘em and treat them wonderfully in their early months and set the pace for their grown-up lives. Life’s good when a cat flops into your lap and purrs while you’re typing. I speak from personal experience.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
IN NO PARTICULAR DIRECTION
I miss going to movie theaters. may take it up again shortly. Does the price of a bag/box of popcorn exceed the price of a gallon of gasoline? …
Yes, I missed seeing the big lunar eclipse Sunday night, but on Saturday night I snapped this photo of the moon  over our neighborhood. Yeah, it always rises in a blurry state in my photos. Either because I took my glasses off or because I can’t properly focus a camera phone. Mine has a warning that says “HOLD STILL” whenever I try to aim it. ...
How about a Shakespeare quote from As You Like It. Try not to think of any particular unpleasant warring fellows as you read it: "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts.” Ah, from The Immortal Bard’s play The Tempest (possibly in the year 1611) , we hear (but many do not learn): “What is past is prologue.” And, we’ll cite Spanish philosopher George Santayana’s quote from The Life of Reason (about 3 centuries later, 1905), “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” I usually just think that refers to the constant result of my “lucky Lotto Texas numbers” but now and then, I know that it fits the failure of humanity to remember — thus avoid — its mournfully dark side at war.
—- Offer advice or objections by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put PEACE NOW in the subject line. —