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HELPING DOGS AND CATS: SO MANY CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH REWARDS...

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY., AUG. 31/THURSDAY SEPT. 1 [PetPowellPress] Let’s just jump into this edition that takes us from the last day of August to the first day of September and we do it without inventing a time machine. Moving along semi-gracefully….
CATS AND THE JOY
OF NTX GIVING DAY
We’ve mentioned a few dog and general critter rescue groups that are participating in the Communities Foundation of Texas’ North Texas Giving Day. One of the mainstays of feline advocacy, Feral Friends, participates and sent a reminder Wednesday that the organization is participating in NTX Giving Day right now and not just on Thursday, Sept. 22. 
You might wonder if the “ferals” in Feral Friends are all resolutely feral. Not so, They also will not be resolutely pregnant if the Feral Friends’ mission is accomplished. The goal for the 2022 Feral Friends giving day is “raising funds support our mission of reducing feline overpopulation.” Donate online HERE between now and Sept. 21, the day before Giving Day.. The NTX Giving Day link is HERE. That's for all non-profits. 
Follow Feral Friends on Facebook HERE and at THIS SITE you can find “Available Cats.” Among them is that beautiful girl Allie. Her bio says she was “born outside in a yard in Garland.” She’s all grown up now and in a foster home where she’s “really enjoys playing with her foster sibling who has taught her the joy of bird watching! Her foster mom reports that Allie is generally pretty quiet unless a Chewy box is out. She likes to push them around and jump in them. 
"Allie would enjoy another cat in the household.  She would make an excellent companion to both human and feline.”
 There’s more on the website about her “purr motor” and “her meow is kind of a squeak. ….Precious.” 
[LARRY FYI: She’s not going to have a litter of at-risk kittens in anybody’s backyard and that’s a blessing.]
SOMETIMES IT’S THE FACES;
ALWAYS IT’S THE PEOPLE….
Yep, if a dog or cat is in a tough spot, it’s always people who are either to blame or working hard with their hearts to make things better. These are some animals highlighted by 4-Legged Helpers, the non-profit that focuses on animals in low-traffic shelters or odd situations. (To ask about any of these animals, call or text 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].)

It was what the camera captured when it came to Akasha, a young female Husky mix in the Ferris shelter. That is one sad face — OK, two if you look at both photos. It took at least two people to get her into this fix.
 The story, her Helpers bio reads, “She was dumped by her owners —who decided they could no longer take care of her — to a person who was to foster her. That person didn't want to keep her so they just let her go! She was finally rescued off the streets by Ferris shelter and now she is so happy to be taken care of! She has a slightly injured leg but she is healing nicely.”
Chance is a dog we’ve been writing about for more than a year. He was abandoned in a boarding situation in Dallas more than a year ago and for a while it looked as if he was going to get a really good break but for reasons beyond his control, that deal fell through. So, now “cute and sweet and so loveable” Chance, at around 50 pounds, is available again. He’s endorsed by everyone who has met him and 4-Legged Helpers continues to look for a good place for handsome Chance to live a happy life.
The Helpers are also looking for a place for Ollie, an Aussie Shepherd mix, who is in a Dallas County “safe place” for now but really needs a new home. Yes, his eyes are multicolored and he has a white tip on his tail.

In the same situation is Baker, this Heeler mix who is “good with other dogs and loves squeaky toys.” And, “He likes to play but also loves his snuggle time afterward.”

And we can’t leave this segment without reminding anybody who needs a good dog that Blue, turned over to a shelter because his human became very ill, is still available in Wilmer. Blue is a year-and-a-half old, a Mastiff/Bulldog mix and, apparently the rest of that mix is “wonderfully angelic dog.” Again, to help any of these dogs, call or text 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].
A MOTHER/DAUGHTER PAIR
AND MORE IN MESQUITE
Our tipster Judi Brown, veteran volunteer dog biographer at Mesquite Animal Services, spent time with both Chorizo and “probably her daughter” Windy. 
Judi says Chorizo [#50918621] is a 9-year-old, 61-pound mixed breed (Shepherd and Husky, maybe) who came in on Aug. 17 with Windy. They’re sharing a kennel at the shelter. 
Judi write that Chorizo “is stocky and broad across her back but that doesn’t stop her from exploring her surroundings. She’s a very mellow gal. She’s easy-going, calm, well mannered, friendly and affectionate! … She walks VERY well on a leash! … If you’re looking for a dog to get you out to take short walks and yet someone to chill out with in the evenings, Chorizo would make an excellent choice.”
Oh, and there’s this: “She spent time standing by the door wanting to go in. She would want to be mostly an inside dog!”
Windy was photographed at the door, too! Judi writes that “Windy [#50918621] is a real sweetheart!! She will need someone that will be patient with her and build trust so she can develop to her full potential. She is a 5-year-old, 46-pound, mixed breed, possibly Dutch Shepherd/Plott Hound mix.” She came in as a stray with “probably her mother, Chorizo.”
And there’s this: “Windy is very timid. When you reach for her she cowers and even sometimes flattens. However it’s obvious she wants to make friends as she stays close. When I sat down she came and put her head on my lap. It doesn’t appear that she has had much socialization. …When I put her back into the kennel she gave me some gentle kisses! Windy will need a laid-back family that will be patient with her, helping her build trust. She has so much potential.”
Judi also spent time with 46-pound Annabelle [#50762823], a 2- or 3-year-old caramel-colored” Pittie who came in on July 27. “She was a seized custody case and put in bite quarantine. The bite was minor and was provoked. If you’re interested in Annabelle please check at the front desk for more details. Annabelle weighs 46 pounds and is not spayed. She has recently had a litter. I was met in the kennel with wiggles and wags. She was obviously very happy to see me. When she got out in the yard she explored indicating she’s very curious. She did her business when she got out into the yard. She had a strong pull on the leash. She’s friendly and except for exploring spent most of her time close to me. When I sat down she came to me and put her head on my lap. …Annabelle’s got a lot going for her. It’s obvious she wants to be close to her human friends."

 “Phoenix is delightful!,” wrote Judi, who also got to spend time with her. Phoenix is #50939555. And she is a 6-month-old mix — “possibly Pittie/Lab mix” who came into the shelter on Aug. 20. She weighs 37 pounds and isn’t fixed. Yet. “Glossy black coat with white paws and quirky ears,” Judi writes. And, she says of Phoenix, “She’s all puppy including puppy breath and puppy kisses! She’s frisky, friendly, happy, playful, fun loving, sweet, and well mannered! She doesn’t jump on you. Her tail wags constantly and when she looks up at you she appears to be smiling. 
Remember, use the dogs’ ID numbers when you call theshelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS
THE RENEGADE BRAIN

I nearly renamed this segment “COMPLICATIONS.” Focus is my problem today, I’ll confess to you, Dear Readers. I’ve got a political discussion going with old friends, a jovial religious discussion with another, some dog questions in the air with another and a great desire to sit in a cool dark room with a cat and watch The Maltese Falcon while sipping something that wouldn’t make tough-guy detective Sam Spade ashamed of me. Or, preferably these days, a mini-can of Coke Zero. Yeah, I’m sophisticated....
This morning I put a new bed in the office and almost immediately, Porche was joined on the pristine and semi-fluffy surface by Office Cat William Powell. Porche has been sitting near me and watching me or snoozing while I type since 2009 when she showed up on the front porch and moved in. She’s a constant fixture in my existence. Porche just grins at me when I yell, “Dangit cat, get off the keyboard.” William, who arrived in 2018, rarely stomps on the keyboard without permission. I think he sincerely enjoys looking at the computer screen, then smiling as he repeatedly puts a firm paw on the delete button.

HERE’S A THOUGHT: When I was reading the 4-Legged Helpers bio of Akasha, the dumped Husky mix, I ran across this passage: “She has a slightly injured leg but she is healing nicely.” And I had this immediate thought about a dog who’d been dumped and then “set free”: “I kind of hope the same thing has happened to the people who treated her so shabbily, i.e., whatever they’ve injured is healing nicely." I’m almost ashamed of having had that thought but…well, maybe not. Anybody who “sets free” a dog needs to develop something that is persistently itchy in a place that you can’t scratch in public. Don’t you think?

— Offer ideas and hopes by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put SAVE ‘EM ALL IN SPITE OF PEOPLE in the subject line. —

AN ASSORTMENT OF AVAILABLE ANIMALS, A LOOK AT FORECASTS AND A WALTZ

EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY AUG. 30-31 [PetPowellPress] I’m writing this for two days in case I get busy later today — grass I have not seen in MONTHS has suddenly sprung up like an actual lawn and I may have to start my lawnmower. Thank you, rain.
In Contemplations, we’ll mention summer predictions, sweaters and other topics. For now, let’s proceed.

MORE AMAZING ANIMALS
WAITING FOR HOMES
That’s our constant drumbeat, isn’t it? You know why? Because the animals need homes and the humans have the hearts. It all can work out — it’s a good thing, right? 
We start with this dog with the great face, year-old brown and white Pittie-type Sparky [#50964280]. His volunteer Mesquite Animal Shelter biographer Judi Brown writes that he is "an outstanding dog!” Sparky, a youngster who weighs about 56 pounds, came in as a stray on the 24th. “When he first was brought into the shelter, the staff was really busy and kept him at the front desk,” Judi tells us. “He waited there patiently for some time without barking or fussing. When I went into his kennel today [Monday] I was met with wiggles, tail wags and kisses.”
He didn’t show aggression to dogs he passed in the shelter and he also kept his kennel clean. And, says Judi, “He was not interested in chasing balls or playing with toys. He stayed close and occasionally jumped on me. He got down with a stern ‘no’. That’s not surprising because it’s obvious he wants to please. He sits for treats and takes them gently. When one of our volunteers interacted with him in the lobby the first day he came to the shelter he was hesitant to take treats from her. It was almost like he was waiting for her to give him permission! He walks OK on a leash. Occasionally he will try to walk between your legs for security. … It’s obvious that he’s looking for someone to love and to love him! He would like nothing better than to curl up by your feet in the evening and chill out with you!!!”
Use Sparky’s ID number 50964280 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].

 Cowboy is ID #50907140 and what sort of dog is this fellow? Volunteer dog bio writer Debra Chisholm says the Dog Scanner app “suggests Rhodesian Ridgeback, Black Mouth Cur, Bullmastiff in the mix.” He came in with another dog as a stray (Baxter) on Aug. 16. Cowboy, about 2, weighs nearly 67 pounds and isn’t neutered. Debra writes, “He seems uneasy in the shelter environment and is somewhat timid and nervous.  He has a low-key personality and is well-behaved and calm.  He enjoys treats and takes them gently.  Cowboy doesn't seem to know any commands and has shown no interest in toys or balls.  He is friendly and has a sweet nature.  When shown loving attention he happily receives it.  Both he and Baxter arrived with lots of fleas and flea dirt and were given flea treatment.  This precious boy deserves a loving forever home so please assist if you can by networking or tagging him.”

This is Baxter (who we posted last week) — he’s about a year and a half old, weighs 50 pounds is #50907156 and, the “app suggests: a mixed breed with Malinois, Australian Shepherd, Leonberger in the mix.”
This is probably a good time to note that Debra’s bios of both dogs included this passage: “Our shelter continues to be critically overfull and would be appreciative of adoptions and rescues to help relieve the overcrowding as strays and surrenders continue to daily stream in.”
And this is Sunshine, a stray German Shepherd who came in with a sibling, Eddie, on August 18. She’s about 2, weighs 62 pounds and is hasn’t shown aggression to other dog, Debra reports. “She appears to have had a litter of pups.  Sunshine knows the sit command.  She likes treats and takes them gently.  She was quite fearful initially but has become more relaxed and less uneasy.  She is well-behaved, calm and gentle.  She is quite adept at fetching.  All she needs is someone willing to toss tennis balls across the yard and she's happy to show off her fetching skills.  Sunshine is a-okay with receiving loving attention.  She was not receptive to receiving a bath.  She possibly has had bad experiences with water.” Sunshine is #50928303.

Eddie is this Shepherd mix (#50897625) — he’s just over 2 years old and “large.” 
You can see his photo and info on the Mesquite Animal Shelter website HERE
.
At that same spot, in addition to a great many dogs, you can see a boatload of cats and kittens. Among those kittens is this 3-month-old beauty Sarafina (#50597643). She’s a domestic shorthair mix who has a brown and black coat and she is “small.” Where would you put a kitten who came in on July 5 — she’s in the shelter’s Conference Room. All kittens enjoy a good conference, I’m pretty sure.
BIG UPDATE ON
A LITTLE DOG
We wrote about this dog last week, thanks to Mari Flores who was trying to help place the girl. 
You may recall that the dog’s original human had “left” the dog with her mom and was no longer communicating with her. Mom needed to find a place for the dog because her apartment didn’t allow animals and she was on the brink of being asked to leave.
During the weekend, Mari reported that this dog “was rescued by Happy Dance Dog Rescue. She is really cute and adjusting well. [LARRY ASIDE: This may be the link for the rescue in case you want to help/foster/adopt: https://happydancedogrescue.com. This is one of those rescue groups whose website I cannot navigate easily. So, if anyone from Happy Dance Dog Rescue reads this, email me at [email protected] and tell me if this dog is still available. I’ll be happy to try to write her into someone’s heart, maybe get some help for your mission.]
AND SKIP HAS A REPORT
FROM HIS VET VISIT…
Over the weekend we got a note from Roberta Womack of Lucy’s Lost Loved Ones about the little dog Skip’s visit to the vet. Reason? “Remove a toenail that had split,” Roberta told us. “I just love this boy - high hopes he will get the chance to prove how awesome he is soon. What a trooper."

To ask about Skip, fill out the organization’s adoption application at lucyslostlovedones.org. You may also call 817-714-0990 to get more info or to volunteer to help the rescue group. Always needing fosters, you know. (Email [email protected],)
Skip is 7 and weighs around 12 pounds — he’s in the care of Lucy’s because his human had a stroke and could no longer care for Skip and his mom. They went into boarding and it was there that “momma got adopted,” Roberta told us, adding, “Skip cries every night and I feel so sorry for him.”
CONTEMPLATIONS
ALMANACS, POLITICS & TEXAS
At readlarrypowell.com we’re always wondering about things. For example: How did the two big almanacs do with their summertime weather forecasts for our neck of the sweltering woods/prairies/asphalt?
 This was the prediction from Farmers Almanac, “in continuous publication since 1818.” As it predicted weather for the general oven known as the Great Southwest, someone on the staff wrote, “Summer. Depending on where you live, you may be dreaming or dreading it.” Click on that map to make it grow. Here’s the link so you can see how this Almanac did on it’s predictions.
The Old Farmers’s Almanac, which published it’s first edition in 1792, presented its long-range prediction HERE.
And someone on the staff wrote for the Texas-Oklahoma Region 11, “Summer will be hotter than normal, with the hottest periods in late June and from mid-July into mid-August. Rainfall will be slightly above normal in the north and below normal in the south. Watch for a tropical storm in mid- to late June. September and October will be warmer and drier than normal.”
Our predictions for the region are these: Playing indoors will make no difference to the professional sports teams in the region. Politicians will sweat. I’ll still buy those two almanacs — 2023 promises to be a very interesting year. Politicians working up a sweat across Texas. …
In honor of all of Texas’ politicians we reach out to the original ET for an appropriate song of politics and pitching woo, as they used to say. Here’s Waltz Across Texas by Ernest Tubb, a native of Crisp in Ellis, Texas.
Whenever I hear this C&W singer I am reminded of how Homer & Jethro described his name: “A sincere place to take a bath.”
— Offer happiness by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put COUNTRY ROCKS in the subject line. —

AN ISLAND PARADISE; A DOG 'STAR'; THE MAGNIFICENT 11; 'JUMP-IN' CAT & NOTES

EDITION OF MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 2022 [PetPowellPress] Welcome to Monday in a transitional week — we’ve moving out of August into September and the promise of traditions:
State Fair of Texas (Sept. 30-Oct. 23) the NFL regular season begins, the tense part of the Major League Baseball season (for some teams) arrives, the campaign trail heats up, TV seasons begin, new cars show up, students get the year’s first report cards — they still grade students, don’t they? ...
And, you see that dog? That is my dog Dudley. Sometimes his ears are perky. They were Monday morning — perky with excitement — for a while. He was all set up to watch the space shot — even put on his sweatshirt that has his school logo on it — it shrunk in the wash and the picture is warped — Dudley has a diploma from the University of Andromeda, played fullback for the Andromeda Strains. I might have made some of that up. Dudley the Angel, however, is our dog. Rescued after being dumped in our old neighborhood. Not sure where he came from but, well, “Angel” may be the hint we need.
One more opening note: To your left you see the new cover on the latest edition of Bob St. John’s book House No. 5: Paradise on Paros — it now contains photos of the island Paros and its people by Bob’s artist wife Sandy St. John. I’ll explain more in Contemplations. And bless Sandy for protecting this wonderful volume of writer Bob St. John’s legacy. 

ABOUT ALL THOSE PUPPIES
SAVED FROM A BAD FATE…
We have photos of the 11 dogs rescued by Georgia McLean from a dire situation in East Texas.
Trust me, when I say “Thank you” to Georgia, it’s from the heart. She helped me overcome a computer/cell phone malcom- munication — that a word? — Monday morning. It wasn’t that the phone and the computer were undergoing a sincere challenge. It was that I was way behind in my understanding of the communication abilities I needed to conquer to make sure I could fly this machine and land it safely. Oh, my! But look at these photos.  Click on them to make them grown so you can see the kids' name. Aren’t these little adorable puppies worth the extra effort in the 21st Century, the strange land in which I have landed?
Georgia’s report is that there may be two signed up for adoption, “but the other nine have got to have a home someplace!” 
Georgia says they’re currently under the care of Safe Haven Animal Rescue—East Texas. And you can ask about them by calling or texting 903-805-1095 or by emailing mclainga@ yahoo.com.

You may recall that last week we got the original tip on these puppies — Georgia calls ‘em “The Magnificent Eleven” from our longtime tipster and pal Gail Whelan of Companion Animal Network. She told us the story of Georgia talking a guy out of the pups — 5 from one mom, 6 from another — after he threatened to hand them over to some dog-fighting clown in Missouri.
[LARRY ASIDE: The challenges of living in a state with people who think like that is made easier only by the fact that I believe that at some point a duly sworn peace officer will slap a set of bracelets on that SOB and walk him off to a check-in counter at the Graybar Hotel. As the police taught me when I was a young reporter in far northeast Texas and southwest Arkansas (pick an appropriate accent): “Yew kin beat thu crime, but yew cain’t beat the ride.”
 Well, enough philosophy: Somebody help Georgia get those dogs adopted into loving and respectful homes.]
THERE WAS THIS CAT WAITING
IN A PARK FOR A RIDE….
This note from Jennifer Sellers grabbed our ol’ experienced “pick up those critters in the park” heart. We’ve grabbed many wonderful dogs out of Kiest Park in Oak Cliff.
 This was a different kind of dog, er, cat out of a different park. 
Jennifer says this cat with the stripes and big whiskers is “not in danger” but she is “in boarding” and Jennifer and a friend are covering that bill.
The goal is to get the cat a home. Here’s the story from Jennifer: 
“She was found in a park, jumped in the car, and is precious.” [LARRY ASIDE: I have rescued many cats and while I’ve had ‘em waltz through our front door, I have NEVER been lucky enough to get one to just jump into open car door and enjoy the ride home! So, what I’m saying is, this must be one exceptional kittycat!]

Jennifer continues, “Neither of us can bring a cat into our home so we have been searching for a rescue or home for two weeks.  She isn't spayed yet but is vaccinated, FEL/LEUK Negative.  Loving as can be.  Tiny cat, 8 months old, beautiful coat.  We call her Chloe.”

Chloe is a wonderful name for that little cat. As you can see from the photos, she’s photogenic and also enjoys tummy rubs. To ask about adopting Chloe, call 214-769-7677 or email [email protected].
ONE MORE NOTE
ABOUT BLUE THE DOG
Look, we’re all full up at Readlarrypowell.com when it comes to dogs and cats. And we’ve mentioned this dog Blue before.
But for some reason the young pup’s story sticks with my heart and I’m giving him an extra ride on the Bandwagon of Appeals today. He’s about a year-and-a-half old and he’s in the Wilmer Animal Shelter because his human became too ill to take care of him.
The human’s family wrote a note that said the human had become too frail. But Blue is still strong in his ability to love that human and any other human who’ll step in to fill that void in the dog’s life. 
Our tipster, Laura Macias of 4-Legged helpers, says Blue is “house-trained, crate-trained and loves everyone.” He’s good with several commands and loves to play with kids, adults and other dogs. 
We’ve posted both of these photos before — they show two entirely different emotions of this dog Blue. When he’s sitting, waiting, he’s ready for whatever word his human will give him. And when he has that human, as you can see, he is one happy dog!
 To ask about helping Blue find a place in rescue or a home, call or text 214-949-2726 or email [email protected]. Follow non-profit 4-Legged Helpers Inc. on Facebook to keep up with Blue and other animals that find themselves in need of a good home.

CONTEMPLATIONS
BOB’S BOOK; DESTINATION; A SONG
In the opening I mentioned Bob St. John’s book House No. 5: Paradise on Paros. Bob was a columnist at The Dallas Morning News for decades and I got to edit his work sometimes during those years. Then I became a columnist and we had side-by-side cubicles and could be seen chatting over the partition like a couple of 1950s housewives gossiping over the back fence.. After Bob left us, I had the privilege of helping with the editing of House No. 5, this wonderful book of time spent in love on a Greek Island. Looking through the new edition made me miss people and places in a paradise I’ve never visited — a place I’ve literally — maybe literarily — only read about. The late Bob loved the place and loved writing about it. His wife, Sandy, a respected artist and inspirational character in the book, made sure that, in this new edition, Bob’s prose has been wonderfully enhanced by “scenes from paradise.” Here’s the LINK to the Amazon site where you can get Bob’s House No. 5: Paradise on Paros. Just FYI: I’m getting some pure joy out of knowing people will be reading Bob St. John’s work again. A lot of people knew him as a sportswriter at The News, but he also was a careful writer of human lives off the sports scene. He was a pretty swell guy who admitted to being clumsy now and then, socially inept (a snake bit him on Paros) and an explorer of the past (there’s a rescue story in this book — it tells of heroes doing what they needed to do). Yeah, I miss him. But this book has his voice. …

A week ago we awakened to one big honkin’ rainstorm. This morning, with a locked-in-the-60s brain happily set on following a NASA space launch, we are, instead, beaten down by constant reports on violence and awful crime. What in the world is wrong with people? Wait. We don’t have time to give all the answers to that question. Quick answer? Let’s go to Mars.
I’m kidding. Peace on Earth has a great sound to it. …
Just for the sake of easy listening, here’s a GREAT ONE PERFORMED BY THE GREAT DIANA KRALL.  We’ll dedicate this one the folks at NASA. As they wait. On hold.
—- Offer anything ya got by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put SAVE ‘EM ALL AND WIN LOTTO, TOO in the subject line. —- 


AN IDEA TO SLEEP OR NAP ON....

Dear Readers and Fellow Executives,
My name is William Powell. That’s me going over some paperwork.

I am the readlarrypowell.com Office Cat and one of my assignments for this weekend was to discover photographs of at least two qualified animals. Qualified? Yes.
With my stealthy shutterbug skills I was able to spot two qualifying animals for the weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
 And, that is how my canine colleague in household interests, Dudley the Angel, and my young feline apprentice, frequently rowdy Hastings Streetboy, came to be the featured personalities in this weekend’s presentation.
Additionally, this edition serves as a congratulatory note to the good people at the United Kingdom’s famed vacuum cleaner company Dyson, now with a demo store — first in the U.S. — at Dallas’ The Shops at Park Lane. 

What does this mean to a cat?
 Not so much. You know how we cats tend to be both skittish and scattish around vacuum cleaners. Though I must point out that the missus who directs our household has not one but TWO Dysons. As a nicely coiffed tabby, I’m not much of a shedder, but the guy who types for readlarrypowell.com has a habit of bringing home cats of the King Shedder variety.

King Shedder — yessir, that’s the likely breed of the cat across the back of the couch…but don’t let me get ahead of myself. (Some tail on that cat, eh?)
I originally intended to simply photograph the big Border Collie/Chocolate Lab mix Dudley the Angel as he slept. He’s a well- mannered, kind and gentle fellow. We’ve nuzzled noses many a time — my pinkish nose up against that handsome schnoz at the end of his muzzle.

After processing that couch photo — as I let that sleeping dog lie — I noticed that there is enough light-colored hair on that couch to re-fur a dozen cats. 
That's a challenging thought -- re-furring cats. Make a racket, I'll bet.
And, yes, that napping cat, Hastings, picked up from his namesake street in Duncanville as about a 4- or 5-week old kitten, is the absolute source of that hair. If people treasured sweaters knitted with cat hair, we could supply the nation with warmth all winter! 

As I, William Powell, conclude this presentation of our feature, I include this confidential and congenial note to the Dyson executives: I have, as the management cat, prepared a set of contracts which will allow you to engage Dudley the Angel and Hastings Streetboy as spokescritters for your international vacuum concerns. 
Each is enthusiastic about profit-making AND Dyson while keeping the furniture clear of cat and dog hair. Please contact me when you find yourself in agreement that any ol’ vacuum cleaner can pick up dust and dirt from human offspring, but only your pioneering vacuums can remove cat hair from a couch in time for a surprise visitor or an impromptu party. 
Our appearance fees — print and electronic and personal — will be reasonable and we will be enthusiastic in our testimonies on behalf of “The Chosen Vacuum of Rescuers and Animal Fans in the New World.”
May success be the hallmark of our agreement.

Sincerely,
William Powell

Office Management Executive Cat
www.readlarrypowell.com
Lifelong Pro-Dyson Feline
[WILLIAM FYI: That is me with the typist -- we'd been nosing around the details of some money-making business plans. My nose always feels inadequate in these sessions.]

[DEAR READERS: Remember to send photos of your sleeping dogs and napping cats to [email protected] and tell readlarrypowell.com their stories so we can highlight a weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. You’ll be helping people decide to open their homes to animals and you’ll be helping insomniacs believe they, too, can curl up and nap if they can just balance on the back of the couch.]
—- Offer profit-making hair tips by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put DOG HAIR/CAT HAIR/FROG’S HAIR in the subject line. —-

A REALLY FULL EDITION FOR FRIDAY IN THE CRITTER-FILLED METROSPRAWL

EDITION OF FRIDAY, AUG. 26, 2022 [PetPowellPress] Here we go with the Friday edition — the finishing touch on an odd work week. We began it with a “rain day” and sailed — poor choice of word, let’s try rolled — rolled right on through to a sunny Friday. 
Speaking of Friday, here’s an office-appropriate quote from Parade Magazine. It’s anonymous (probably on the advice of an attorney): “It’s Friday! Time to go make stories for Monday.” Make nice stories, of course. Read on...
AN ‘URGENT MEDICAL CASE’:
SUNNY IN MESQUITE
[LARRY ASIDE: Now and then I get to read the story of a dog first thing in the morning and, maybe I’m vulnerable at that time of day, but, I get moved to tears by the photographs and the story. Yeah, the way she’s protecting that leg sent me off to tissue-dabbing time. Somebody help this dog! Here’s the appeal:]
So, Dear Readers, it is our hope that by the time you check on this year-old, 62-pound dog someone will already have claimed her and gotten her into a loving situation with exquisite health care. We got the tip on her from our pal Debra Chisholm, the veteran volunteer dog biographer at Mesquite Animal Services.
She writes, “I have named this amazingly sweet youngster Sunny [#50952528] because of her sunny disposition despite a serious injury she has sustained.  
“Sunny is a Retriever/Lab mix that was picked up by one of our officers on 8/22 as a stray. She has a major injury to her left front leg as well as hair and skin missing on her right back leg.  She was taken to the vet on 8/23 …She is rescue only and needs her leg examined again to determine the extent of the injuries and what medical treatment will be necessary, and it may be drastic.”
Debra writes, “It only took minutes for me to see that she is a sweet soul, is friendly and likes loving attention.  She seemed so badly to want to play and scamper about but I did not want to excite her with toys and balls because I did not want her to put pressure on her injured leg.  There is so much to like about Sunny and it was her misfortune to sustain this injury.  She needs out of the shelter ASAP” 
Use her ID 50952528 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
As Debra wrote, “She has her whole life ahead of her and deserves a chance at a home with loving and committed owners.” 
[LARRY ASIDE: We’ll spotlight more Mesquite animals later in this edition. Next up, we have a second notice about a beloved cat who needs a new home.]
OUR PAL KEEPS LOOKING
FOR CRYSTAL’S NEW HOME
We recently wrote about our long-time animal rescue pal Deborah Lynn Verner trying to find a good, safe place for her cat Crystal to live. Not one response did she get.
This isn’t a story of “dump a cat” — it’s a story of a beloved cat needing a home because her human is encountering rougher times — not rough times, but ROUGHER times — with her health.
And Deborah has fought through a lot of rough times to — in spite of health challenges — to save animals' lives. Saving lives is how she met Crystal.
Deborah writes, ““I rescued her almost 13 years ago as a kitten. Rather, she adopted me. She's a small Siamese mix (spayed). She's very shy but sweet. She is an indoor-only cat due to being front declawed.
“She gets along with both dogs and cats. She just doesn't like to be chased. … 
She is not microchipped. She stays in my bedroom all the time, where she is most comfortable due to vision issues. She uses the litter box. She loves to lay in your lap, and will sleep next to you at night.”
And there’s this: “She comes with her Vet records, and remaining Tidy Cat Lightweight Litter. She eats Purina Cat Chow.”
Contact Deborah via Facebook HERE or email her at [email protected].
LUCAS AND LEVI JOIN
FERRIS HOUND PARADE
I feel like going all Mayberry with this latest development. “Well, don’t that beat awl….” Recently we were, on behalf of 4-Legged Helpers, posting a photo of the hounds Merit and Honor enjoying a meal at the Ferris Animal Shelter. 
Then today, we got another photo of more Hounds from Laura Macias and the 4-Legged Helpers. This one has THREE Hounds in it. [LARRY ASIDE: If this pattern persists, next week we may have a photo of so many Hounds that it looks like a class picture at a big city high school! Somebody find the Hound person and explain the birds and bees and spay and neuter to them.]
Ah, back to the three dog picture: One of those hounds (the shorter, I think) is tagged already. The two remaining are Lucas and Levi. What do they have in common with Merit and Honor? Found in a notorious dumping area in rural Dallas County.
 Laura reports that the shelter had Merit and Honor show up and then the Helpers got them tagged. Then, Laura was beginning to feel a little relief in the Hound Placement Challenge when, suddenly, here came Lucas and Levi. 
To get more information on the newly available Hounds or to tag them for rescue or to audition to adopt or to volunteer with 4-Legged Helpers, here are the multi-purpose contact points: Call or text 214-949-2726 or email [email protected]. 
The latest Hounds appear to be around 8 to 11 months old and they’re lovable and “super sweet and friendly,” Laura writes.
And the kittens that were found on the side of a road? Both Jinx and Pebbles have been rescued at the Ferris Animal Shelter.
[LARRY ASIDE: That doesn’t mean there aren’t MORE kittens being “set free” on the side of the road near Ferris. If Hounds can be dumped in pairs, kittens can be dumped in litters. People are just that bright.]

BACK TO THE MESQUITE
LIST OF ADORABLES…..
We’re using this section to guide readers toward the available adorables in the Mesquite Animal Shelter. Fortunately, we have our guides, the volunteer dog biographers Judi Brown and Debra Chisholm.
This first spindly (for now) mixed-breed pup is Damion who, Debra reports, arrived as a stray on Aug. 12. He’s about 5 months old, neutered and weighs 31 pounds. And, as you can see in that blur in his photo, “He is a lively youngster with lots of tail-wagging enthusiasm’” He likes toi play with toys and balls and, yes, he likes treets, too, but hasn’t yet learned to sit for them. Debra says he “walks well on a leash” and “has an outgoing and confident personality.” Might be, she writes, “best-suited for a person or family who is active and would give him daily enrichment--walks, playtime, training (he does jump on you). If you're looking for a puppy and are willing to invest some time and energy into training, this might be just the dog for you.” Damion is #50880857. Use that ID when you call theshelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Same system for this beautiful Earhound Bella.
Bio-writer Judi Brown says the 6-month-old, 55-pound, “Belgium Shepherd Malinois” was “surrender to the shelter with two siblings and her father (max) on August 18. 
Why? “They were unwanted,” was the reason given by the humans. 
Judi reports that Bella [ID #50924774] “Bella is very well behaved. When I first took her out she was trembling. After exploring every nook and cranny with her long nose in the laundry room she started to relax. Her sense of smell is obviously very important to her. She was not interested in treats. She didn’t appear to know the sit command. When I took her out into the yard and threw a ball and tried to entice her with toys, she was not interested. What she was interested in was investigating her surroundings and staying close to me to get extra attention. She’s very affectionate. When I sat down she came to me, put her head on my lap, and appeared to enjoy having her ears scratched! … At first she didn’t walk well on a leash. I think it was because she was so scared. As we were walking side-by-side, I kept telling her what a good girl she was and she started walking better and better. …”
Among the other dogs spotlighted by our biographers?
Bubba [#50836904] is the 2-year-old “darling white pittie” who came in as a stray on August 6. Judi says he’s been at the shelter so long because “he was in quarantine due to space.” And, Judi wrote, “Hopefully his new adopters will consider him a regular member of the family and share their house with him. He would like nothing better than to curl up at your feet while you’re relaxing! He might even snuggle with you! He did eventually come up to me and put his head on my lap.”

Judi also met Sonya [#50900527], a perfectly accented — 4 paws and the tip of her lively tail match — year-old “glossy black and white Retriever/Basenji mix. Weighs about 40 pounds and came in on the 15th as a stray — not spayed. Judi writes, “Once trust is built and she becomes your friend she gives you kisses and lots of tail wags. She stayed close to me and followed me around. That indicated to me that even though she was shy, she wanted my attention and friendship. She did stand by the door frequently indicating she wanted to go in. It was a nice day so I’m assuming she’s been an inside dog…I’ve got the feeling she hasn’t been worked with. As loving as she is and the fact that she wants to please there’s no doubt she would catch on to commands and be a very loyal companion.”
And there’s #50088024, Thor, a mixed breed who, Debra writes, is pegged by the Dog Scanner as a mix that includes Kuvasz, Golden Retriever, Lab Retriever and Anatolian Shepherd. The key thing in his past is he was brought in as a stray on Aug. 13 —- that puts him in a bad spot in a canine’s life. He’s about 3 and weighs 79 un-neutered pounds. “This is,” Debra wrote, “one exuberant, tail-wagging, fun-loving boy. 
That dog in the blue neckerchief is Baxter. a 50-pound, year-and-a-half old mix that includes Malinois, Aussie Shepherd and Leonberger. Debra says he came in as a stray on the 16th and is “timid and uneasy in the shelter.” But there’s this, too: “He just seemed to want to stay close to me and receive loving attention…He needs to build confidence and trust in people” and, Debra says, Baxter “has captured my heart.”

See these animals and many more — dogs and cats — by going to the Mesquite Animal Shelter site HERE.
Among the cats? This 4-month-old girl Doris — she’s #50284238 and she’s said to be small. She arrived on May 27. She also is said to be a gray kitten — and while the towel may obscure her total coat, it does indicate that when it’s time to take a photo, she may be a little bit of a handful. Cat grow out of that! Right?
CONTEMPLATIONS
CHALLENGE, MUSING, LAWN
You think running the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas, is a snap? Sometimes there’s a call for a little extra service for animals on behalf of the Friends of the Animals Spay Neuter Clinic. For example, we got an email appeal from the Friends’ mainstay Sydney Busch. She asked volunteers, “Please, can someone pick up 3 animals from the Tool shelter next Tuesday morning between 6-8:30 and bring them to the Friends clinic - then take them back that afternoon??? The shelter staff is shorthanded and overwhelmed — these animals will not get spayed/neutered if someone doesn't help!!  Contact Monika at [email protected] or Heather at 903-340-7216.” Teamwork. That’s the key. …
While watching The Fugitive, the 1993 film starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, one scene had the title character (Mr. Ford) sitting in a photo booth and getting some mugshots. Suddenly I wondered, “Have photo booths gone the way of phone booths?” Martha and I used to get our mugshots together in a State Fair of Texas photo booth every year. Anybody seen a photo booth lately? …
Today’s last contemplation: Why did the post deluge weeds pop up in my yard instead of the nice “lawn-quality” grass?
—- Offer tips and songs by clicking on ‘comment’ or by emailing [email protected] and put ROCKIN’ OUTTA AUGUST in the subject line. —-

THE WORLD OF ANIMALS AND HUMANS....AH, SUCH CONTRASTS....DAFFODILS AND DOGS

EDITION OF THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 [PetPowellPress] Here we are on the last Thursday of August 2022. Tempus fugit — that’s Latin for Quick as a Cat. Oh, no it isn’t. I’m using my high school Latin to obscure the translation. In fact, translate it as “Time flies.” Which you probably already know. 
Friday, according to the online calendar, Holiday Insights, is National Dog Day — August 26, yes. As our pups know, every day is National Dog Day. And, as our cats know and Holiday Insights confirms, National Cat Day is October 29. And every day at readlarrypowell.com is also National Cat Day. More in Contemplations. First we have tale from East Texas.
That is my wonderful dog Porche. She prefers to nap. But, she was the handiest dog I could snap a photo of — the other two are in Martha’s office helping her set up our Dog Day Tree. Oh, my, there’s a thought for anyone with boy dogs. Don’t want that celebration in your living room! 
Let move on with a story from East Texas.
NOW, WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN
TO THIS GATHERING OF PUPPIES?
First, we got the photo because they had been saved — possibly from use as “bait dogs.” And that’s the first good news.
 The tip on the story came from our pal Gail Whelan of Companion Animal Network, based in one of the counties east of the growing Metrosprawl. This rescue occurred in Wood County, due East of Dallas by a couple of hours on state highways or U.S. 80 through a largely rural landscape. 

Then, there’s this for good news about these 11 puppies: Gail reports that rescuer Georgia McLain has made sure they “have been dewormed, de-fleaed, got first shots and another deworming.” 
Five of these dogs are 6 weeks old. Six of them are 10 weeks old. These are Lab/Heeler/Border Collie mixes. 
If you’d like to ask about these dogs — adopting, rescuing, etc. — contact Georgia at 903-805-1095.
NOW, DEAR READERS, wheres the part you really want to hear — how did these dogs wind up in this situation. Yeah, you guessed: Human behavior.
Gail reports, “A friend of Georgia's told her about a man with a lot of dogs near her, just running wild and little food. [The rescuers] decided to offer to spay/neuter all the man's dogs. 

“When she went to talk to the man she found all these puppies.  He bragged to her about taking them to Missouri for the fighting dogs.  That's what started it. Then he told her if she didn't take them right that minute they'd be gone.  So she put them all in her car.  IT IS HORRIBLE OUT HERE.”

[LARRY ASIDE: So, if there is anyone with peace officer connections in East Texas, please get them to remind these poorly behaved humans that such awful behavior toward animals is against the law in all 254 Texas counties. Not that these heartless SOBs will pay any attention. Sorry, had to use “SOBs.” My thesaurus doesn’t have a suitable word for this guy who breeds dogs to sell them to support the nefarious behavior of morality-impaired jerks across not just county lines but state lines. Again we encounter a mission for the 2022 model of the Readlarrypowell.com Two-by-Four of Enlightenment. That would be wrong, of course, but, your honor, we’d absolutely mean well for humanity and the creatures of the planet.]
THE PUPPIES IN ENNIS
STILL NEED SOME HELP
Remember these babies-born-under-the-house in Ennis from our previous edition?
Melinda Peinado, our networking contact, reports this morning that “they are still in need. There is a $500 pledge for their help.”
May be as many 7 in that pile of puppies.
They are still under the house. 
Mommy is still in need of help, too.
To ask how you can help, email [email protected].
Click on the artwork to make it larger — you can make out some of the puppy faces in the darkness.
ANOTHER ROAMING KITTEN
SHOWS UP ON A FERRIS ROAD
The 4-Legged Helpers keep hustling on behalf of animals in smaller shelters and “holding” organizations. That cat is Jinx, a Calico babygirl who was found along the side of a road at Ferris, south of Dallas.
Things that can happen in such a roadside situation aren’t always good.
Our tipster Laura Macias reports, “Fortunately a kind person picked her up and brought her to the shelter. Jinx is described as a “tiny little angel of a sweetie pie.” 

So, the contact points for Jinx and for the other animals in this segment? Call or text 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].

These next dogs are in the care of someone in Dallas County, the Helpers report. 
That first canine is Bucky, described as a “male Staffordshire/Corgi mix” and he’s been “fully vetted.” He’s described in his Helper’s bio as “a happy, friendly guy who is in need of a fun home to join. He loves other dogs and is good with kids too! Just a short kind of cute squatty guy. They think he may be good with kitties too! He is eager to please, loves attention, walk well on a leash, sit on command, doesn't jump on anyone and he is also well-mannered.”
That dog with the great eyes is Smiley, an Aussie Shepherd mix “fully vetted” and “such a great dog he is happy and playful and super sweet and loving. He wants to play and have a great time. He is good with other dogs and is even good with kids. He knows some commands.”

Baker is this male Heeler mix who is “nothing but a sweetheart .He is good with other dogs and loves loves squeaky toys.Likes to play but also loves his snuggle time afterwards. He is super loving and loves also rolling in the grass. And he is also very good at catching his treats in mid air!.”

And, we move to the Wilmer Animal Shelter to re-run this 4-Legged Helpers appeal for the friendly, young, neutered, Mastiff/Bulldog mix named Blue.
He’s a year-and-a-half old who wound up in the shelter because of his human’s illness. The report from the Helpers reads, “The family wrote a very sad note about how
great a pup he is and why they were unable to keep him (apparently person is very frail based on the write-up).  He is HOUSETRAINED, CRATE TRAINED, and loves everyone.  Knows several different obedience commands and adores going on walks.  He loves to play and per the note they said he is great with children and adults alike.  LOVES OTHER DOGS and playing.”

Again, the contact points: Call or text the Helpers at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected]. [LARRY ASIDE: I love that photo of Blue getting his head scratched by someone he loves. May he quickly find a new home that knows how to make his heart so very happy! And, as is our critter philosophy, “SAVE ‘EM ALL.”]
CONTEMPLATIONS
IDLE THOUGHTS, IDLE MIND
Look, I slept late this morning. Haven’t done it in years. So, I’m not sure what’s actually going on in the world. But I do know that it's appropriae to thank the Holiday Insights people for listing National Dog Day on the 26th of August. Thanks to them, we have the opportunity to note that the special day for dogs has a flower! That’s right. The Flower of the Day for National Dog Day is the Daffodil. And Holiday Insights also notes that August 25 — that’s today, if I haven’t slept longer even than I thought — is Daffodil Day (though the day moves around, according to the report). 
...
But this gives me an opportunity to ask the eternal question: Daffodils or Jonquils? Which is the true name of the flower? FYI: Washington Arkansas, near a “Town called Hope” in the I-30 corridor through southwestern Arkansas, hosts its annual Jonquil Festival in March. ...
What’s the Texas connection, other than the stretch of federal asphalt on a highway? A blacksmith in Washington, Ark., made visiting future casualty at the Alamo Jim Bowie an extraordinary knife — known since that 1830s creation as the “Bowie Knife.” And if you read enough about Bowie’s history you’ll wonder how Bowie County in northeast Texas gets to retain its name. There are 254 counties — how much paperwork and paint would all that name-changing take!?
—- Offer ideas and objections by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put MINDYEROWNBIDNESS in the subject line. —-

EXTRA EDITION: CATS, PUPPIES & LOUSY WEATHER; TUESDAY CONTEMPLATIONS

EXTRA EDITION OF TUESDAY, AUG. 23, 2022 [PetPowellPress] We’ll open with a moment of heresy: I don’t know if the Dallas Cowboys won a football game over the weekend. This may cost me my global registration as a “Former Sportswriter.” But we’ll fret that later. What? Exhibition game? Oh. In the meantime, that rainy Monday didn’t challenge only people. Read on:
SIX WORDS THAT’LL MAKE
AN ANIMAL FAN SMILE….
Those six words, in the wake of Monday’s flooding, arrived Tuesday morning: “All cats were there this morning.”
And that is a photo from Tuesday morning during volunteer feeding with all cats on the local property where they have lived ever since their indoor home was demolished, the northern metrosprawl property sold and the suddenly homeless cats were told, “Good luck!” [LARRY ASIDE: They don't even have a house to get under, like the Ennis Momma Dog found to have her babies. Keep reading.]
Our tipster, Kimberly Jones, the veteran rescuer/advocate, says it turns out that there are 5 cats on the lot — last week, when the weather was dry and hot — readlarrypowell.com highlighted the 4 cats that did not have a possible adoptor lining up! The 5th, a gray cat, may be on the way to a new home.

During rainy day Monday, we got an afternoon note from KJ telling us that “the lot they live on has flooded. Adorable cats abandoned by their owners now living outdoors — need fosters or adoptors ASAP.”
 Not only did the lot flood, but so did the streets around the area. HERE'S A VIDEO of the cats' neighborhood Monday -- thanks to Kimberly who wrote, "Cars were FLOATING on this street!!! I helped Hayley [the cats' contact] look for them just now and all but one cat was found." That was Monday. Today, all 5 were safe -- except for needing a loving place to live!

And here is the contact information from last week’s report: "Animal Rescue Crusaders is helping screen adopters and find them homes!” CONTACT Hayley at [email protected] for more info on the cats. Also, contact J'Anna with ARC via the links below or katsluvme72@hotmail. com.”
You may recall from last week's report that the cat walking with her tail curled
 Bunty. Her link is HERE.
TULA is that cat in full fashion model mode — she has that great attitude for the camera. Click HERE FOR TULA.
FRIDA is a boy with a girl’s name. And you can read about this Tabby Tiger Mix HERE. How about the eyes on that handsome cat!
POPPY is a boy with a name that can go either way. Tuxedo & Domestic Shorthair Mix, his bio reads. See more about POPPY HERE.
And, in case you wondered Animal Rescue Crusaders of Texas says these cats don’t have to be adopted together.
[LARRY ASIDE: But it would be nice if they were all adopted or fostered while they were dry and not sitting on a puzzling vacant lot wondering when their humans are coming back to save them.]
So, yes, “All cats were there this morning.” They just need to be “all cats are safe somewhere else” where they’re not exposed to the elements and the predators.
You’d think there’d be a law against animal abandonment in Texas. Oh, yeah! There is! Some people pay as much attention to that law as they do to a “Yield!” sign on a freeway ramp.
A RAINY DAY CAT WAITS
IN THE FERRIS SHELTER…

This girl was found Monday in the rain. She’s “Pebbles The Kitten” for now.
Her story reads, “Young sweetheart of a girl found out and about on the side of the road in the rain! Fortunately, a kind person picked her up and brought her to the shelter.”
The shelter she went to is the Ferris Animal Shelter and that explains why our tip came from the resilient 4-Legged Helpers’ guiding light Laura Macias. The Ferris Shelter is one of those smaller, low-human traffic shelters that the Friends try to help keep empty via rescue and adoption rather than the needle. 
The Helpers’ note reads, “Please, help save this little sweetie pie. OMG such an angel. So loving.  Probably 10-12 months but smaller and very thin due to being out and not being fed.  Just heartbreaking... please help her.”
Call or text the Helpers at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected]. You can also volunteer to be a 4-Legged Helpers foster or keep the Facebook page up to date. Transport animals. All sorts of things a non-profit needs to help animals via the Power of the Heart.

 Keep up with the Helpers on Facebook HERE.  That’s where you can read about many other animals 4-Legged Helpers is trying to help. They include this brother/sister combo Merit and Honor, a couple of less-than-a-year-old Hound pups who were “found in a known dumping areas out in rural Dallas County.” As the Helpers’ bio of the pair reads, “Is there anything goofier or more lovable than a Hound pup?” Same contact points as the phone and email for Pebbles The Kitten.
[LARRY ASIDE: If you dumped Pebbles or that pair of Hounds Merit and Honor, please email us and let us know where we can find you. You’ve won this month’s prize: Corrective behavior applied by the Readlarrypowell.com Two-By-Four of Enlightenment. ]
NEWBORN PUPPIES WAITING
UNDER A HOUSE IN ENNIS
Puppies don’t know that they’re waiting — unless Mom hasn’t showed up with the next meal. In this case, Mom has access to her puppies. They’re under a house in Ennis.
Kimberly Jones tipped us to the story and put us in touch with Melinda Peinado who is trying to help the “small breed puppies” find a way to safety. 
The mom, that’s her, is described as the “small breed” who had the puppies under the house. The appeal for help reads, “Only 20-25pounds. Very sweet with people and dogs. Showed up starving and had puppies a week ago under the house. Need rescue ASAP.” Melinda is the contact at mkpeinado @yahoo.com.
That’s the contact point for people who “want to help or donate toward their rescue.” 
So far, through a hot-weather arrival and the current soggy situation, there has been nobody offering to help these babies and their Mom. I’m sure someone reading this has a plan and the heart to pull off a successful rescue of a Mom and her babies. Pretty sure.
 Click on that photo and it'll expand so you can see a couple of puppy faces and fall right smack in love with a little newborn.
CONTEMPLATIONS
TURKEY, WRITING AND ONE DAY…
IN MY EMAIL TODAY I got a notice about illustrations for use on cards and letters and emails for Thanksgiving 2022. That is one of the illustrations. And, as a vegetarian, when I saw that “Happy Thanksgiving” message and that wide-eyed turkey, I thought, “He’s just been told he’s the ‘guest of honor.’” Seriously, a happy turkey at Thanksgiving? Only those the “photo op” turkey who gets a pardon at the White House. ….

My first granddaughter Hannah Rose, who I’ve been writing about proudly for two decades, confessed to us over the weekend that she’s enrolled in a Creative Writing course at her university. Before I could stop myself I said, “Oh, lord, I hope you’ve signed up for therapy, too!” …
I may take Wednesday off and catch up with things, including fiction, non-fiction, stage plays, movie scripts and — whatever. OK. Here are two quotes about writing that are applicable in my life and, it looks like, Hannah Rose's, too. I can’t recall the author of this tale. But, as the story goes, a famous writer was asked, “What’s the best way to make money writing?” and he replied, “Ransom notes.” My favorite writing quote, however, is from the legendary British writer/philosopher Samuel Johnson: “No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money.” That explains why I don’t wear a hat — it won’t fit on my blockhead.
—- Offer writing advice or deals by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put STOP BEFORE YOU GET RICH in the subject line. —-

RAIN FELL, TEMP ROSE, DOGS AND CATS WAITED IN TEXAS SHELTERS....

EDITION OF TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2022 [PetPowellPress] This is being written under dark skies as steady rain falls and the weather is, well, after the past two months, I’d describe it as blissfully cool.
It was the perfect day for reading a good novel. I’ll try to find one as soon as I write about the animals who need a comfy home on a rainy day in Texas. It also could be a comfy home on a hot and dry day in Texas.
As the deluge ensued Monday morning, I happened to spot Hastings the Kitten (got him out of a Duncanville street on Oct.4) and Porche Noel pausing in the hall to say, “Good morning, bub” to each other. This photo shows young Hasting’s magnificent tail. As you can see in the second photo, Hastings is much thinner depending on the angle. Back to his tail: It looks as if you could use it to swab the deck of an aircraft carrier. I’m not sure what either household personality is reading during this seige of inclemency. The story of Noah comes to mind.
FROM THE SMALLER SHELTERS,
ANIMALS IN SEROUS NEED …
The animals that wind up in small shelters can sure be remarkable visions of canine beauty! For example, we have this Great Pyrenees Noah — he may not be “Westminster Quality” but he is a big dog in need of a human that’ll give him a home.
Our tipster, Laura Macias of 4-Legged Helpers, says he’s in the small, sparsely visited Ferris Animal Shelter. The bio of Noah reads, “Extremely friendly big lovable boy that was found out on his own and it appears he has been lost for a bit.  Poor sweet baby.  Fortunately he tested heartworm negative, so that is great!  He is quite adorable.  A calm big sweetie pie that just wants love.  Very gentle.  Super sweet.”

To ask about adopting Noah or taking him into your rescue group, call or text Laura at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected]. And we’ve mentioned other 4-Legged Helper projects in the past week or so: There’s the pair of Hound mixes, the brother and sister Meritt and Honor and Black Mouth Cur mix Sabrina, all 3 in the Ferris shelter; plus Boxer mix Blue, who is in the Wilmer Shelter. Scroll down to previous editions and see them. The 4-Legged Helpers contact points are the lifelines for these so-far unwanted dogs.
FROM A LARGER SHELTER,
ANIMALS IN SERIOUS NEED, TOO
As you may have noticed in many recent tales from Mesquite Animal Shelter, there are “more plenty” animals awaiting homes in that city facility. We’re going to cite some of them in this edition. Here goes:
SNOOKIE, according to his volunteer biographer Judi Brown, “is timid but he wags his tail to let you know that he does want to make friends.” The 5-month-old Retriever/Whippet mix came into the shelter as a stray on the 8th. He is a “still -growing” 35 pounds. Not fixed. And he is, Judi writes, “a work in progress. He needs TLC and someone that is patient to work with him to help him build trust. There’s no doubt he wants to make friends. When I had him out in the shelter yard he spent a lot of time in a corner which I imagine brought him some comfort. Also he was anxious to go back to his kennel as it apparently is a safe place for him. He’s really sweet, gentle and has a lot of love to give. He has so much potential to be a playful, alert, loving companion.” 
Doesn’t play with toys, doesn’t know commands, doesn’t walk well on a leach and is “intimidated by other dogs” at the shelter. But, Judi writes, “If you are patient and have a lot of love to give a dog that needs your love, you will be rewarded with a lifelong companion.” Snookie is #50846986 — use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Judi also met up with Macy [#50795447], a 6-month-old “Chocolate-colored retriever mix” — came in on the 11th as a stray. weighs 24 pounds and is spayed.
“Macy absolutely loves toys. She seeks them out and entertains herself with them. She will chase them if you throw them for her. When she got tired she put her toy between her paws and put her head down to rest on the toy. … She’s what you call the whole package! She would like nothing better than to curl up at your feet when you’re watching television or reading a good book!”

That brings us to the “mostly Black Mouth Cur/Shepherd mix” Colette [#50897623] who, Judi reports, came in as a stray on the 15th. “She is not spayed.  She’s recently had a litter. Her ribs are showing so she could use some more groceries. She needed a good brushing. She sat still and seemed to enjoy getting all that extra undercoat off of her.

“She is absolutely delightful. I fell in love with her as soon as I got her out into the yard.  She walked very well on a leash going out to the yard. … She’s very sweet, gentle, calm, loving, friendly, well mannered and happy. She’s somewhat frisky but not overly so. … She wants to please and stays close. When you sit down she comes to you to have her ears scratched. She actually came when I called her. She appeared to be intimidated by the other dogs or just plain was not interested.”

This guy with the never-stops-wagging tail is Jesse. He’s #50907508 at the shelter. A 10-month-old, this stray arrived on the 16th. He’s “possibly Louisiana Catahoula/Shepherd/Bull Terrier,” Judi reports. He’s also not fixed and weighs in at 38 pounds. … He’d be a wonderful dog for an active family because he’s friendly, outgoing, playful (he loves toys), curious and energetic but not overly so. Because he wants to be so close to you he sometimes forgets and jumps on you but gets down with a sharp retort. He wants to please and is highly motivated by treats so could be easily taught not to do this. And then too, he’s still a 10 month old puppy! He knows the sit and paw commands. He takes treats gently. … Jesse is an all-around good dog with a very good disposition!!! He would love to be adopted by a family that would consider him another member of the family…”
And we finish Judi’s report with her profile of Lance [#50773135], a 2-year-old, 45-pound blue and white Pittie who arrived July 28 as a stray. He’s fixed!” [LARRY WRY ASIDE: STOP THE PRESSES!!!]
 Judi adds, “At first after I got him out of his crate he was so rambunctious and excited that I thought I was going to have problems controlling him. However he just didn’t like being confined. As soon as he got out into the yard and knew he was free, he calmed down. He didn’t even explore the yard. He craves attention and opted to stay close to me. I’m not quite sure how much of it was his wanting my attention or that he’s extremely motivated by treats. Because of this he would be very easy to train. … When I sat down he tried to crawl on my lap and got a bit over excited. He has a strong pull on the leash. He wagged his tail in a friendly manner meeting other dogs in the bay. Lance is really a good boy wanting to please. … Lance needs a lot of loving and has a lot of love to give. Will you be the lucky recipient?”

There are so many more dogs waiting in Mesquite for that special, loving home.
We’ll close our canine report with, appropriately for a loving appeal, a dog named Lovely [#50875199]. Judi says the 8-year-old Terrier mix weighs 49 pounds and “is a little on the stocky side” Arrived as a stray on the 11th. She’s not spayed. 
“Look into her captivating eyes and you can’t help but fall in love with her,” Judi wrote. “She’s even sweeter than she looks! At first when she got out into the yard she had her tail tucked indicating she was not completely at ease. But with time, allowing her to wander and some TLC she came around wagging her tail. She’s gentle, calm, cautiously friendly and very sweet. She’s also got some spunk left in her. She kept checking the gate. I’m not sure whether that was curiosity or if she was looking for her owners. When I sat down she came to me and pushed her body up against me. … She’s a real sweetheart and with trust could be a real cuddle bug. She would most likely do best in a laid-back, calmer household. At her age she would definitely want to spend most of her time inside with her new family.”
Remember, use the ID numbers when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityof mesquite.com.

Click HERE to see many more animals — dogs and cats — in the Mesquite shelter. There are many kittens and some older cats, too. This guy happens to be the orange kitten Max, #50474178. He’s just about 5 months old, small and came in on June 18. Where can you find him? In the shelter’s “Rescue Hallway.”
 The facility’s address is 1650 Gross Road, Mesquite, TX 75149/
CONTEMPLATIONS
REPORTS, SNOW & ONIONS
I’ve got links to two dog-related notes in newspapers. Perhaps you saw that Dallas is, once again, having roaming dog problems. The Big Paper Downtown editorialized about solving the problem HERE.
And, in Texarkana, the Gazette has a story about finding “solutions” to animal issues. Click HERE. … 
RAIN IN THE TIME OF HOT DAYS? That was quite an interested farewell to 100-degree days, wasn’t it? I’m even back to wearing my hoodie while I write. Felt like autumn — as long as the air-conditioner was running. A lot of offices told people to stay home and work — it was kind of a “melted snow day.” …

This week I got an email with this subject line:“It's Time to Pre-Order Onion Sets And, of course, having been born in a city and raised in a city and dwelling in a city for my entire life, I thought “somebody has created a chess set in the shape of onions.” I don’t play that much chess, these days and I also have to eschew the onions.

—- Offer diet or slumber advice by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put HOLD THE ONIONS, PAWN in the subject line. —-

WENDY WALKS; LITTLE SKIP NEEDS A HOME; SOME DOGS (& A CAT) WAIT IN MESQUITE; CONTEMPLATIONS

EDITION OF MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2022 [PetPowellPress] We need something happy to start the week. I got an email with the subject line “Collection day is tomorrow” and I thought it was from my ol’ Baptist Church at first, bless its souls. But, it was a note from a city sanitation department. I’m not sure what an IRS notice would say.
As I began typing this, I was obligated to spend time petting my rescuespouse Martha’s personal dog Wendy. I was going to take a photo of the happy dog’s face. But Wendy suddenly heard Martha walking down the hall and she snapped around and trotted out the office door to greet her human.
That excited fellow on the left is Yuletide Earl, a yard ornament a neighbor gave to me a couple of years ago when nobody bought him at a yard sale. I named him in honor of my late Rottie, Texas Earl the Cheeseman. Makes me at least two kinds of happy when I see Earl’s big eyes — I think of the holidays and I think of my great friend Earl, possibly the greatest, most affectionate and adoring Rottie ever to have lived. So, for today’s edition we have warm thoughts, dogs, cats and Contemplations.
LITTLE DOG SKIP NEEDS
AN ADORING PLACE TO LIVE
As you may suspect, readlarrypowell.com has bagged the limit of rescued dogs and cats (years ago), but we still have a yearning for Chihuahuas and mixes. (Credit our late pals Vera and Rosie, two little dogs that were giants in our lives.)
 While we cannot have this handsome fellow Skip, we can darned sure make an effort today to write him into some good soul’s heart. He can sing opera…OK, I made that up, though Chihuahuas can, if the mood strikes hit the high notes when performing.
I got Skip’’s real story from the folks who are tending to him, Roberta Womack, founder of Lucy’s Lost Loved Ones, a rescue that is devoted to the little ones. She sent me a bio of Skip. 
She says “He’s only 7 and weighs maybe 12 pounds. His owner had a stroke and could no longer care for him and his mom. Lucy’s took both into our rescue and both are now fully vetted. 
“They were in boarding but momma got adopted. Skip cries every night and I feel so sorry for him…. Skip is NOT an alpha- would do great with other pups his size, dog friendly children — but I don’t know about cats.” 
[LARRY ASIDE: The adoption fee is negotiable if you can demonstrate that you are that very loving, responsible home .]
 Roberta says he “does great with the other dogs his size in boarding when they get their 2-hour playtime during the day.”

And you can fill out the adoption application in a few minutes at lucyslostlovedones.org. FYI: At that website there’s also a “Donate” button — like most other rescue groups, Lucy’s has been using willpower to get through the Pandemic Era and needs help feeding, vetting and boarding animals as they wait for good homes. Call 817-714-0990 for more info and, maybe, to see if you can be not just an adoptor but also a foster.
A PREGNANT PUP IN MESQUITE
AND OTHER CRITTERS WAITING
These tales of dogs in need came from Mesquite Animal Services volunteer biographer Debra Chisholm. And the first story is of a “rescue only” dog — i.e., “this beautiful girl” Maggie who, Debra writes, is “primarily German Shepherd with a bit of Malinois in the mix.” [LARRY ASIDE: There's clearly some Earhound in that family tree, too!] The 65-pound (with puppies!), probably 4-year-old dog came into the shelter as a stray on August. 4. Yes, when Maggie went to the vet, it was confirmed that she is expecting and that’s how this beautiful girl earned the “rescue only” designation.
 Debra writes, “Maggie would win your heart very quickly if you spent any amount of time with her.  She has a mellow personality, is well-behaved, calm and gentle.  She is a bit timid and shy.  Maggie and I walked quite a bit around inside the shelter and outside. She walks beautifully on a leash. I did not detect any aggressiveness toward other dogs but feel free to ask the staff for a dog test if you are interested in Maggie.  She wasn't interested in treats, toys or balls.  She allowed me to love on her and is extremely sweet.  Maggie needs out of the noisy shelter and in a foster home in which she will have a quiet place to prepare for the birth of her pups and to nurse and take care of them until they are ready for adoption.”

Maggies’ shelter ID is #50823377 —use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]. Same system for these next animals. Use the ID# and not just the name when you call or email or, yes, when you walk in.

This guy Kobe (#36159301) is a senior Rottweiler mix who was “SURRENDERED” to the shelter on Aug. 4. Why? “Reason for the surrender was that his people cold no longer care for him,” Debra’s note reads. He’s 9 years old, weighs 140 pounds and is neutered. [LARRY ASIDE: How did this happen? Wait. Let’s just concentrate on finding a great home for this handsome fellow.]
 Debra writes, “There's quite a lot about Kobe to like.  He walks excellently on a leash.  He seems OK with other dogs.  He knows the sit, shake and down commands.  He's a big teddy bear who is well-behaved, calm and gentle with a low-key personality.  He loves treats and takes them gently.  He is a friendly fellow who is happy to receive loving attention.  It is sad that a 9 year old dog has ended up in a city shelter.  He needs to be in a home, living indoors with his people and receiving the TLC he deserves.  He would seem best suited to a quiet, well-ordered home situation at his age and with his personality.  … He’s too big to be comfortable in our shelter kennels and we would love to see him walk out the front door with his new person or family.” (Remember, use his ID when you make contact with the shelter.)
Debra says she’s named this guy Peppy because “the name fits his personality to a ’T.’” His shelter ID is [#50854204] and Debra writes, “He is a high-spirited, exuberant ‘on the move’ kind of dog with places to go, people to see and things to do!  Peppy is a Carolina Dog mix that weighs 60 pounds, is approx 2 years old and is not neutered.  He arrived on 8/9 as a stray … He walks OK on a leash and I did not note any aggression toward the other dogs we passed.  However, it is a good idea to ask the staff for a dog test if interested in Peppy.  Peppy would need a person or family with an active lifestyle.  During the photo shoot he ran and played in the yard, leaping and bounding with glee!!  Peppy would need daily enrichment--walks, jogs, play etc. He also could use obedience training in order to fit in with his forever family better. Since he is treat-motivated, it seems that he would be easy to train.  He does not seem to know any commands and wasn't especially interested in toys or balls.”  
Heath — beautiful Heath — is about a year old, weighs 40 pounds and isn’t neutered but is a “cutesy pup,” Debra writes. His ID is #50761000. 
“My Dog Scanner app suggests,” Debra writes, “That Heath is 96.9% Siberian Husky.  Heath walks quite nicely on a leash and when I led him through the bay he did not react to the other dogs.  If interested in Heath feel free to ask the staff for a dog test.  He pottied outside so is possibly house-trained.  He knows the sit command.  He likes treats and will take them gently.  In the yard during the photo session Heath raced around, enjoying the freedom from his kennel.  He chased balls but did not return them.  He is a lively and energetic youngster full of a fun-loving and playful personality.  He is friendly and was happy for me to show him loving attention.  He likes and takes treats gently.  Huskies are not suitable pets for apartment life.  They need a yard in which to run with a high secure fence.  Then go inside to live with their people where they are comfortable in the hot weather with their heavy coats.”

At readlarrypowell.com we always like to remind people that there are more than dogs at the City of Mesquite Animal Services Shelter. You can see the dogs and the other animals by going to this MESQUITE LINK. And there are scores of cats and kittens — some domesticated, some “barn cats” and some “feral kittens” and “feral cats.” One of the domesticated girls is Marilyn [#50454564] — she is pushing 3 years and 3 months old and is beautiful. When did she come in? JUNE SIXTEENTH. THIS IS AUGUST 22ND. Where are the cat lovers? Oh, yeah, most of us already have cats -- so, we have to find new cat fans. See Marilyn in the Cat Room at the shelter. 
Why does it matter that someone such as you or someone you know stops by to get this friend, sheltered for months, into a lifelong home? Because cats matter. And there is this description provided by shelter folks:
“Our shelter is critically overcrowded and yet dogs and cats continue to stream through the doors daily as strays and surrenders.”

They don’t just send unwanted animals to Happy Puppy Farm or “Positive Purr Spa.” You catch on, do ya? Save some lives. Pass it on. Save ‘em all.
CONTEMPLATIONS

CHEMICALS, GUNFIRE , BOBCAT
I hope that’s enough of a headline with contrasts to get you to read through this and see that while we humans — the absolute smartest species on the planet (maybe — hah!) have things to fear and conquer, we also have bountiful opportunities for joy. 
Still, the PFAS story on CBS Sunday Morning was unsettling — resilient and threatening compounds, CBS says HERE,  that are “showing up in soil, ground water, drinking water sources,even rainfall have been linked to cancer, liver damage, thyroid disease, and other ailments.” Ah, here we go no doubt: Expect another big legal case determining the "allowable"  level of threats to humanity being argued in legal documents and courtrooms for years, probably. For a long time this summer I thought the hot climate was going to get me, now I’m starting to fret over “Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances”which, until Sunday morning, I didn’t even know existed! I’m still afraid to spend a night in the woods because of Sasquatch and he’s bigger than particulate matter! 
I have GOT to quite watching news shows. ...
AH, I’LL READ NEIGHBORHOOD BULLETINS, that’ll settle me down. Here’s one from Saturday night on my local bulletin report. “About 30 minutes ago there were 3 sets of 10 gunshots in succession right outside of my bedroom window! I was just telling a neighbor that things had settled down and gotten quieter over here! I had a young man here yesterday helping me with some things but I have no reason to believe it was related! I hope not anyway because he was a HUGE help! My faith has gotten me through a lot in life and this morning is no different!I was reminded a couple weeks ago in church that the devil is a LIAR and that has stuck with me! God's got me! I just wanted to get the word out! ..."
AND THEN THERE'S THE PREDATOR/ HOUSECAT SITUATION. ... A different individual from a nearby neighborhood, posted this photo. Yeah, that’s a Bobcat in his backyard. Apparently they’ll pose more readily than coyotes. Work cheaper, too, as “Wildlife Models.” I made that part up. But Coyotes, Bobcats, Foxes and Hawks are good reasons to make your dogs and cats indoor-only. And if you haven’t yet done that, please have yourself seen to. You wouldn’t mingle with hungry wildlife, why should you make your adored domestic animals risk their lives? HECK, maybe I oughta go back to reading news stories and ignoring the reality of the bulletin boards.
— Offer tips or rail about people meddling in the way you protect your animals by clicking on comment or email [email protected]. —

MAXINE, THIS WEEK'S SPOTLIGHT DOG, HAS A TOY WITH A COMFORT COLOR....

Ah, Dear Readers, for this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs and Napping Cats Nap, we get to hear from our longtime friend Diane Combs, a genuine animal advocate who adores her dogs and your dogs, too!
This edition focuses on her wonderful girl Maxine, the dog with a colorful comfort toy preference.
 Here’s Diane’s story:
“I have had four dogs for many, many years - some now in Doggie Heaven - but, thanks to adoptions, I still have four dogs. 

“At the beginning of 2015, I had two Dachshunds and two small terrier mixes - Larry & Myrtle (from DFW Dachshund Rescue) and Ginger & Betty Lou (adopted from the SPCA of Texas on two separate shifts when I was a volunteer there).
“I named Betty Lou after my mother, Betty, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2000 and passed away in 2010.
“When Ginger died at the ripe old age of 17 in the summer of 2015, I started my pursuit of another small terrier mix so that I would still have two Dachshunds and two terriers. I was looking to adopt a fairly young dog — but not a puppy.

“When my father, Max, died — eight months after my mother died —I knew my next dog would be named for him.

“However, I also knew my next dog might just turn out to be a female! So, in that case, I planned to name her Maxine. My parents had been happily married for 64 years, so this way, Betty & Max could be together again.
“I spent a few days searching on line through PetFinder and happened to see a small female terrier mix. She was about 2 years old. Her picture was what first attracted me to her, but then I saw that her name was GINGER. I took this as a sign from my (now in Heaven) Ginger that this dog was to be my new dog. 

“She was in a rescue agency called A Different Breed, based in Plano, and would be at a Plano PetSmart the following weekend. 

“The write up about her said she was very sweet and had been given up by an elderly woman. She was moving into a nursing facility and had to find a new, loving home for her ‘Ginger.’ 

“The woman had told the head of A Different Breed to make sure her Ginger went to a good home (and she DID!).
“I got to PetSmart early and saw the van pull up. I watched the volunteers take the dogs out of the van and immediately spotted Ginger. Her little tail wagged when one of the volunteers opened her cage and picked her up to bring her into the store.

“I was able to hold her in my lap for quite some time, and I got to know her. I also walked her around the store to see how she got along with other dogs — that was a main requirement for me. She was a little shy but did just fine.
“I signed the papers, paid the adoption fee and took her home. By the time we got home, she happily knew that her new name was Maxine.
“She blended in nicely with the rest of my crew. And and they taught her the proper usage of the doggie door right away!
“I have a toy box for the dogs, and Maxine’s favorite is the rope toy. Over time, I learned that she was particular when it came to the rope toys. She tended to always pick up one of the ORANGE rope toys. She is now 9 years old, and her toy habits have not changed a bit — any orange rope toy is still her favorite. Who said dogs are color blind!?

“I took the two attached pictures of Maxine very recently. Each of my dogs has a private area to eat in so there will be no scuffles over food. Maxine's place is in the living room. One picture shows her standing in the kitchen with her orange rope toy in her mouth as she patiently waits for me to open the dog gate and put down her food bowl.

“She always does that and then will drop her toy when she walks into the living room so that she can eat.
“The other picture is of her sleeping with the rope toy, which I figured would be perfect for one of Larry Powell's 'Sleeping Dogs' columns on a weekend.
“(PS - My little Dachshund, Larry, is named after good friend - Larry Powell. Both of them make me laugh. I also had a dog named Martha Belle - one of those in Doggie Heaven. I named her after Larry's FunSpouse, Martha.)”
Dear Readers, that final photo is the quartet of canines at Diane’s home. Diane tells us that, on the top row, that’s Maxine on the left and Rita on the right. And on the bottom row, Larry on the left and Myrtle on the right.”

[THE OTHER LARRY ASIDE: As you may suspect, that’s not the first time those dogs have happily posed for Diane’s camera! And, yes, ever since Larry was adopted by Diane, your friendly neighborhood critter writer has been known -- proudly! -- as “The Other Larry.” Diane’s mini-Dachshund is known as Larry The PR King — I’ve seen him at work in dog parks and with other people and he is the epitome of a friendly and influential public relations executive! He is an exemplary cheerful greeter who charms everyone he meets. It runs in the family.]

--- *** ---

Send photos and bios of your sleeping dogs and napping cats to [email protected] and we'll post them on readlarrypowell.com in our long-running weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. You'll be helping people decide to add a wonderful dog or cat to their homes. And you'll be helping insomniacs believe that we, too, can get some sleep if we can just figure out what color rope toy we need to gnaw on after we take our evening sedatives!]
-- Give sleeping tips or bright ideas by clicking on 'comment' below or by emailing [email protected] and put GET SOME SLEEP KNUCKLEHEAD in the subject line. ---