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]. —