WE HAVE A CAVALCADE OF CRITTERS AND PEOPLE TODAY FROM ZEKE TO ZANY* (*LOOSE DEFINITION)

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY, SEPT. 7-8, 2022 [PetPowellPress] Oh, Dear Readers, I figured that if I told you I was going to publish this photo of starving, frightened Zeke one more time, you might react poorly. So, rather than publish that one again by itself, I’m going to publish SEVERAL Zeke photos. There’s a good reason.
 As a veteran observer of shelter processes, I just knew for darned sure that Zeke was gonna be a goner -- yep, euthanized.  Shout "Hallelujah" or whatever your animal denomination encourages. Devoted rescuers saved him.
The additional photos are among the “So, long, Dallas Animal Services” photos as Zeke and his driver prepared to leave the crowded big city facility so this fine dog would be farther and farther away from the official City of Dallas Needle.
Keep in mind, I’ve had nothing to do with saving this boy — really dedicated and tough animal people stepped between him and an approaching fate. All I’ve done is ask questions and acquire photographs— like any good reporter. And I’m going to get the answers from veteran animal advocate/rescuer Tami Kukla who has been monitoring this challenge all along from right up close.
The background story is this: The starving dog Zeke was in Dallas Animal Services and, as the weekend arrived, was listed as being at “EU Risk.” Why? Not only was he starving, he’d also been diagnosed with a really rough case of heartworm. Most of the time, a case with these circumstances can’t be helped with a simple adoption. You’ve got to have people — veteran fosters and caregivers — who know what they’re doing — experienced people who know how to feed dogs in such a fix, people who know how to keep the dog calm and ready for proper heartworm treatment. In his state, he needs to, according to his “backup team,” be fed “slow, small high-calorie puppy food multiple time a day.” 

We’ll get more of this info from Tami, including where Zeke will land after he takes the rest of his ride out of the Metroplex some time today. 
No doubt, he’s going to need some help paying for his meds and his treatments and his post-rescue meals. We’ll get all that info and let you know.
 [LARRY CONFESSION: I’ve never met Zeke, probably never will. But he has the look of a fellow who will thrive and enjoy being told “Good boy, good boy” as someone who loves him scratches between those pointy ears or rubs his back vigorously, then pats him on his growing tummy as he recovers from whatever ill-fated encounter with a human he has escaped while starving. Yeah, there oughta be a law against letting your dog starve and build up a heartworm case. Maybe there is -- gets as much attention as a freeway ramp yield sign.]
IF YOU AND YOUR CRITTERS
VISIT GUN BARREL CITY….

How’s that for a headline that teases the reader! 
There’s a good critter reason to be in Gun Barrel City on Saturday. 
We got the info from our longtime reliable tipster Sydney Busch of the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake, the organization that operates (so to speak) the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas. 
The Friends Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic will be the site (10 a.m. to noon) on Saturday of a session offering “affordable vaccinations, heartworm testing, microchipping and more.”
No appointment necessary, but if you have questions, call 903-451-4701. 
Also, the clinic is in need of supplies, Sydney reports.
For successful spaying and neutering and they’ll enjoy donations of 70% strength iopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, distilled water and, for the volunteers, cases of drinking water and cases of soft drinks (Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper — regular and diet.). Call that number for delivery instructions.
FOR GOODNESS SAKE, IS
THIS A CUTE DOG OR WHAT!!!!
Look at this dog. We got the tip on her from Mesquite volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm who wrote, “I have named this cute mixed breed pup Elsa. She is a delightfully charming youngster who was brought to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 9/2 as a stray.  Elsa is approx 6 months old, weighs 25 pounds, and is not spayed.  She walks quite nicely on a leash for such a young pup.  She knows the sit command.  She loves treats and will sit for them and take them gently.  She is playful and likes toys.  Elsa is a fun-loving, happy-go-lucky pup with lots of personality and enthusiasm.  She is a friendly youngster and has a very sweet nature. … She would seem a good fit for an active person or family with children who would treat her gently.  There really is so much to like about this youngster with such a unique and beautiful coat and cutesy standup ears.”
Elsa is #51037077 at the shelter — use her ID number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Same system for this girl Sadie (#51009249). Debra says Alaskana Malamute Sadie was surrendered on 8/30 because “Sadie was getting nippy with the family’s 3-year-old child. Sadie has been the family pet since she was a pup.  Staff member attempted to offer suggestions as to ways of working with Sadie so that the behavior could be corrected so that Sadie could continue to have a home.  Owner was not open to such suggestions.  They have recently moved to Texas from out of state.  Now Sadie is looking for a new home.  She weighs 104 pounds, is 3 years old and is not spayed.  She walks beautifully on a leash and did not seem reactive toward other dogs when led through the bay. … She knows the sit, down, stay and come commands.  She has a moderate activity level.  Sadie is friendly and has a pleasant nature.  She enjoys being petted and loved on.”
[LARRY ASIDE: This really sounds like a work-it-out-save-the-dog situation.” To quote the passage that frequently appears on Mesquite appeals, “Our shelter has been critically overcrowded for months and dogs continue to stream in as strays and surrenders.  Rescues and adoptions are desperately needed.” This next dog indicates how quickly kennels can be taken up by dumped dogs.]
Debra writes, “Max [50924766] is a a Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) that was surrendered to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 8/18 along with three other family dogs.  Reason for the surrender was that they were unwanted and the owner was unable to care for them.  The other three dogs have been adopted and Max alone remains at the shelter.  He weighs approx 70 pounds, is about 2 years old and is not neutered.  When he arrived at the shelter he was covered in fleas, was unsocial, had minor hair loss and skin infection.  In short, Max has not been well cared for.  I would venture to guess that he has lived life outdoors.  He is uneasy and nervous in the shelter environment.  Max is cautiously friendly.  He needs to build trust and confidence.  He enjoys treats.”
Volunteer Dog Biographer Judi Brown declares, “Valentina [#51011064] is a true sweetheart,” then adds, “She even has a heart-shaped spot to prove it! She is a one-year-old brown and white Pittie who weighs 49 pounds and came to the Mesquite Shelter on 8/30 as a stray. She is not spayed. Her markings are unique. She has three consecutive spots on her left side and a large heart-shaped spot on her right side. Her eyes are very light hazel almost looking like they’re blue. Besides being unique and special in her appearance she also has an outstanding personality. She is sweet, gentle, calm, friendly, loving, happy, and well mannered. Her tail wags constantly. She sits for treats and takes them gently. She occasionally jumps on you but in a loving gentle way. … When I called her she came and sat next to me and put her head on my lap. She stole my heart and I know she’ll steal yours!”
Judi also got to spend time at the shelter with Buddy (51003226), a 10- month-old brown and white Pittie/Danish Pointer/German Shorthaired Pointer mix. [LARRY ASIDE: That family tree seems to indicated a happy friendliness runs in the family.]
 Judi writes that Buddy is “appropriately named because he’s looking for someone to hang out with. … He weighs 47 pounds. He is not fixed. Besides his beautiful Hershey coloring, he has what appears to be a permanently curled tail. He could use some manners training to learn him not to jump on you. However, he gets down with a sharp retort. Other than that, he has sterling qualities. He’s loving, sweet, alert, well mannered, and appears to be a happy guy. He stayed close wanting extra attention. He sat for treats several times but then got tired of it. He walks OK on a leash. He totally ignored the dogs when I walked him through the bay. However he did acknowledge some of the smaller dogs in kennels outside the bay. I couldn’t interest him in playing with balls or toys. When I sat down he came up beside me and put his head on my lap. He even gave me kisses!”
Again, use these animals’ shelter ID numbers when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
One more bio from Judi. This is Ski, proounced “Sky,” she says. She’s #47628853, a year-old Pittie/Retriever mix — came in as an un-spayed stray on the last day of August.
Judi writes, “She is definitely looking for a friend and wants attention. Occasionally she would whine. I think she was just wanting me to notice her, but I couldn’t help but think she was sad wondering where her previous owners were. She did stay close and continually looked up at me with her imploring eyes. She is friendly, affectionate, gentle, calm, and judging from her tail for the most part happy. Her tail wagged constantly! She’s well mannered and sits for treats. …When I walked her through the bay she wouldn’t have anything to do with the other dogs. She just wasn’t interested. I think it’s because she wants so badly to be loved and wanted my attention.”

To see the many other animals in the Mesquite shelter, click on THIS LINK. 


In addition to the dogs, there are a great many cats and kittens.
Among the kittens at the shelter is this fellow Samson (#50237134), a 4-month-old Domestic Shorthair (very handsome) who is a medium size, came into the shelter on May 20.
He can be seen in the shelter’s Conference Room. His secretary will lead you to his desk.
[LARRY ASIDE: He looks like my handsome cat Stevie Ray (left) except Stevie Ray has been neutered for a few years and I know for certain they are not father and son. Spay & Neuter and shelters won't have to store unwanted kittens until they ... well, you know.]
AND, YET, NO ONE HAS STEPPED UP
TO HELP THE PUPS IN SMALL SHELTERS…
We’ll just use sad-faced Akasha to represent these dogs that the 4-Legged Helpers are trying like heck to get out of small shelters and lonely spots in Dallas/Fort Worth.
To help this girl, a Husky mix, or others we’ve posted before, call or text 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@ yahoo.com.
The other dogs include Chance (abandoned in boarding), Ollie (the playful guy with a brown eye and a blue eye), Baker the sweet heeler mix who loves to snuggle, and, of course Blue, the young Mastiff/Bulldog whose human grew ill and frail and had to give him up in Wilmer.  Keep up with all these "need some love" dogs and others by following 4-Legged Helpers on Facebook HERE.  This dog is Blue -- a fellow who needs a human who needs a loyal dog.
CONTEMPLATIONS
SEASONS, PISTOLS, RECOLLECTIONS
Our Eastern Seaboard Bureau Chief Andy Fisher reported Tuesday evening that there is some autumn in the air in New Jersey, specifically in Denville around the Indian Lake community. Gives me hope that autumn will come to Texas, too. In Denville, Tuesday, there was actual precipitation and the temps were in the 60s. Autumn. No doubt. It’s more than football, you know. …. 

Well, let's move on to the Zaney Report.... The Big Paper Downtown reports that the legendary Longhorn Ballroom is going to undergo revitalization — that’s the place that hosted not just country-music luminaries on its stage, but also a very sweet little ol’ band from England, The Sex Pistols. That was in January 1978.
In a moment of misguided recollection….I’ll never forget the Sex Pistols' welcoming parade through Downtown Dallas. As I recall, when the band broke up, lead singer Johnny Rotten moved to Dallas and was elected mayor for two terms. Oh, wait, I think I’m wrong about that — got him mixed up with another mayoral candidate. Might have been Sid Vicious. No, no, it was some local politician who was vicious. And there was no welcoming parade for the punk band. Not downtown, anyway. Might have been a parade to the airport to make sure they left, Dallas being Dallas, you know. …

—- Offer punk recollections by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS RULE in the subject line. —-