LEAVES, HELPING ANIMALS, CONTEMPLATING THE SWIFT NOVEMBER 2022

EDITION OF MONDAY, NOV 28, 2022 [PetPowellPress] You see this photo, of course. Yes, that is my dog Porche Noel disguised as a pile of autumn leaves. I'm kidding. Porche doesn't do leaves. She is the reason FOR the pile of leaves, my first raked-into-a-pile of autumn.
 You may recall the recent rainstorms. They blew a boatload of leaves (poetic, ain't it!) up against the bottom step on our 3-step exit into the backyard. And Porche Noel, no matter how desperate she was to "go," would get her front legs down to the bottom step while her back legs froze on the top step and she was too scared to step onto the damp leaves. In dry weather, she'd jump into them like a kid with a patient father holding a rake in his hands.
So, I raked the leaves and she's back to her normal step routine. That is her giving me the "Porche Noel Stinkeye" look for petting her Sunday morning, but not "treating" her. I made up for it later. Extra treats.
Now, firmly autumnized, we move on to Northeast Texas, Western Oklahoma and the Metrosprawl. These aren’t the only animals in need, but they’re on the local radar as the Thanksgiving weekend draws to a calorie-filled close and preps for a lay-of-the-sweets existence.
RESCUE ONLY KIRO
HAS A DEC.. 1 DEADLINE
The tip that came to readlarrypowell.com from Daingerfield, in Northeast Texas, pointed out right away that this guy Kiro is on a clock in a shelter that’s full for the season.

Kiro’s bio describes him as a year-old Boxer/Pittie mix “with the most adorable ears.” And it says he’s spent his life living “on the streets” until he was placed in the Daingerfield Animal Shelter in August.
 Since then the dog has had “safety and stability,” the bio reads, but he hasn’t run into anyone who’d want to adopt “an energetic boy.” Based on his early life, he’s suffering from trying “to adjust from running the streets and surviving to being in a kennel next to dogs.” 
The theory is a rescue familiar with the needs of ex-street dogs might be able to help Kiro adjust to being an “only dog” or “separate from other dogs” until he’s acclimated to the concept of living friendly with others.
To offer to help Kiro become that rescued and adored companion, contact the Daingerfield Animal Shelter at 903-645-2120 or email animalshelter@cityof daingerfield.com. 

And, just in case you know a rescue or a heart/home with room for some puppies, we got a note from the advocate/rescuer Tami Kukla about the puppies Sage, Saffron, Maverick and Rooster. 
The description reads, “Sage and Saffron are Lab mixes that came in October 17th and were aged at 8 weeks so they are 13 weeks now.  Super fun-loving little pumpkins. Both girls.” [LARRY ASIDE: Sage and Saffron may weigh around 13 pounds each — but, as many of us know, it is customary to add some weight during the Thanksgiving holiday feasting season…yeah I felt a little hypocritical writing that!]
That brings us to Maverick and Rooster who, their bio says, “are about 5.5 months old. About 24 pounds. Both boys. Came into the shelter Sept 6 at 10 weeks. Hound mixes.”
Again,  to ask about these pups, contact the shelter at 903-645-2120 or email animalshelter@cityofdaingerfield.com. Or contact Tami, who has adopted the shelter as a personal project, at 214-641-8247.
If you need something kind of cute to boost your return to your “normal existence,” Tami included links to videos of these the puppies. Click HERE FOR SAGE/SAFRON and click HERE for ROOSTER/MAVERICK.
MEANWHILE, THE DOG
WAITING IN BURNS FLAT
We got a note Sunday from our longtime contact Terry Lynn Fisher way out in the westernmost Oklahoma town of Burns Flat. [LARRY ASIDE: This situation demonstrates how “timing is the key to everything.” And that photo is the dog with the bad timing.]
Terry Lynn wrote, “I received a phone call this morning from a girl who lives in the next town. While taking the trash out she saw this little dog dragging its hind end and going to the dumpster searching for food. She said it’s a little bit larger than a Dachshund.
 It has no use of its back legs and is very very skinny. We do not have an emergency vet right now so I have to wait till in the morning and I will be taking it down to my vet.

“At this time, I have no clue what’s going on. But I know we need help and a place for this dog to go.
“I will be out of commission for a couple of weeks after tomorrow so I really cannot take this went on and bring home so if anyone can accept this baby and rescue or foster let me know and we’ll figure out a way to get it there. If you can help with vetting on this poor baby please let me know.”
 The good timing is that this dog managed to get the attention of “The Angel of Burns Flat.” The bad timing is that it happened on a holiday weekend and there are other time constraints. But people work around these challenges all the time.
To ask about helping this dog, email Terry Lynn at remembering-oddball@yahoo.com. To help with the dog’s vet expenses, contact Southwest Veterinary Clinic in nearby Hobart, Okla., at 580-726-3385 and ask ‘em about Terry Lynn’s latest dog, the one with the back-leg problem. [LARRY ASIDE: Yes, they know she’s the Angel of Burns Flat and helps animals all over the region.]
THIS GUY JACKI NEEDS
OUT OF A TIGHT SPOT!
We got the tip on this handsome dog Jacki from our pal, the animal advocate/rescuer Kimberly Jones. 
We picked these photos to show him off indoors and outdoors and in winter and summer. That is a good dog, right?
 Yes.
Here’s the background on 3-year-old Jacki from the folks trying to help him. It reads that he is “mainly black and has some white spots on the chest area. He is very friendly, smart and obedient. He knows and understands many words. Basic: Come, sit, lay down, stay, no, and more. He stays inside the house with us but he also enjoys outside. Jacki is house-trained, potty-trained and crate-trained. He loves to go for a walk. He is not very well-trained with the leash yet but he does fine for walking short distance from home. He is good with other dogs and has never bitten anyone. We can give you crate, bed, food, and treats that he currently has. His shots are up to date. He also has heart worm prevention medicine right now. He is microchipped and I can provide you all the information."

Here’s the WHY this dog is available: The “owner’s niece is moving in with the family and allergic to animals. RESCUE OR ADOPTER DESPERATELY NEEDED ASAP. Email Jacki’s current human at luluaungmail@yahoo.com.
CONTEMPLATIONS
THE DAY AND OTHER STUFF
I was stunned that the November calendar has been so swiftly advancing us through the year. So, I looked up November 28 on the Holiday Insights online calendar to see what else the 28th might be besides a Monday. For people who still have shopping energy after the elongated Black Friday pressure, this is Cyber Monday — shopping online, though, of course, Black Friday has evolved to embrace on-line shopping, too. This also is French Toast Day. [LARRY CONFESSION: After all the hot rolls, potatoes and sweets I ate on Thursday, there’s no room for toasted bread on my calorie countin’ calendar. Oh, and FYI: Melba Toast Day is March 23, Holiday Insights says. And that's my personal cat Stevie Ray sleeping off some holiday grub and reminding you: "Dress up your furniture, adopt a cat. Cats are available all over the State of Texas, the State of Oklahoma and anywhere else there's a lack of understanding how spay/neuter works.] Back to the calendar:]
A bizarre Holiday Insights note says this also is “Make Your Own Head Day” and lays the blame for that at the feet of an unknown theatrical designer who made fake heads. [LARRY ASIDE: Can’t you see an actor walking on stage, holding up a fake head and asking, “Allright, in that last scene who lost your head?”]
Finally, November 28 is also Red Planet Day, Holiday Insights reports, “Red Planet Day commemorates the launch of the Spacecraft Mariner 4 on November 28, 1964. Mariner 4 was the first spacecraft to visit Mars. The 228-day mission of Mariner 4 brought the spacecraft within 6,118 miles of Mars on July 14, 1965.” [LARRY ASIDE: Not all of us buy into describing Mariner 4 as the “first spacecraft to visit Mars.” You may have known neighbors, classmates or relatives who should be called to testify before the Senate Committee on Space Travel. If elected to the U.S. Senate, I have a list of beings I’ll call to the testify.] And, in case you wondered, Elon Musk, who has exhibited quite an interest in space travel, was born June 28, 1971.  On Earth. No Mars trip on his record — yet. That we know of…
— Offer tips on space travel or dieting by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put YOU’LL WEIGH LESS ON MARS in the subject line, That oughta inspire commercial space travel. —