EDITION OF TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2022 [PetPowellPress] OK, here we are beyond Thanksgiving. Shelters and rescue groups are loaded with animals that need homes.
And out there in the world there are people who are thinking about giving someone a dog or cat or one or more of each to a relative for Christmas.
Our message to the gift-givers: Think about it before you do it. I got this dog Porch (photographed in her one of her office spots Monday morning) for Christmas one year -- by the way, I'll explain how after the sermon.
Here’s a good animal gift rule: NEVER SURPRISE ANYBODY WITH A PUPPY OR KITTEN AND NEVER SURPRISE A PUPPY OR KITTEN WITH JUST ANYBODY. [LARRY ASIDE: I may copyright that sentence for my book We’re Spaying and Neutering the Wrong Mammals.]
You've got to be careful with giving living beings as a gift. Why? Because for Christmas you might be giving that puppy or kitten a death sentence. How’s that for a cheery opening to today’s report? If you're giving an animal to someone, make sure they (a) want one and (b) they have a rock-solid heartfelt reputation for loving animals.
I suspect that most people who are reading this have experience in this sort of thing.
If you’re new to rescue or gift-giving and you want confirmation there are "dump the animal" risks, just check with someone who’s worked at a shelter in January and February. They'll tell you about "new surrenders” who used to be Christmas gifts.
OK, that’s the end of today’s sermon. And we’ll close it with this: “Amen. Spay and neuter.”
Now, moving along — and, yes, that’s Porche Noel, found rasping from too tight a collar, starving, walking with a limp she still has and fearful on our front porch at Christmas 12 years ago. She has no feeling on her right back paw and sometimes it betrays her on hardwood floors and concrete. Still, as you can see, she sleeps with a smile on her facee. She’s my constant companion and she can feel a hug and a cuddle and hear the cats’ treat box being opened. She’s a great inadvertent Christmastime gift. But she had the good fortune of showing up on the porch at Christmas at a home that adores and respects dogs and cats. We even have grown kids and "all-growed-up" grandkids. We love the kids and grandkids, but they'll tell you that our dogs and cats are treasured. (Oh, OK, so are the kids and grandkids.)
SMALL SHELTERS HOLDING
ANIMALS CAN LOVE — HONEST!
The people at 4-Legged Helpers keep promoting the shelters that have animals but don’t have a “promotional budget.” Yep, it’s all free publicity — we’re theorizing that nobody on a small-town city council wants to spend money promoting the adoption of animals nobody cares about.
Ahhh, but there are people who care about the animals. Consider these dogs who are getting the attention of 4-Legged Helpers.
Oh, and this is the opening paragraph in the most recent posting on the 4-Legged Helpers Inc. Facebook site:
“ THE FERRIS SHELTER IS FULL & CODE RED These wonderful dogs need a place to go! Fosters, Adopters or Rescue Support needed immediately!”
We got a note from the Helpers with these dogs on the list of small-shelter available adorables.
That’s Sophie, a Siberian Husky in the Ferris Animal Shelter. Her bio reads that the “about-a-year-old” dog “LOVES LOVES LOVES all people and all other dogs. Was found out and about with a German Shepherd that had a microchip that was never registered. Super sweet and extremely lovable.”
This Pointer mix Austin was originally at the Glenn Heights Animal Shelter and is awaiting adoption or rescue via 4-Legged Helpers. He’s young, neutered and “just as precious as can be,” his bio reads. “He loves all other dogs and does great with all of them, including small dogs. He is only about a year old at most and is playful and cutes as can be. Would make a wonderful family dog.”
Amber, in Ferris, is a “Lab/Bulldog mix” who is the “sweetest girl ever,” her bio reads. “Just a complete huggable love bunny….You honestly could not meet a nicer, sweeter girl with what are the prettiest big chocolate eyes.”
We’ve mentioned these before — that fellow with the great ears and great tail is young Leo, a Carolina Dog. He was a stray in Hutchins. And Aiden, the Husky Lab mix (with a $150 pledge to a 501c3
rescue who takes him, was a stray in Hutchins. He’s microchipped. No contact with a human on the other end of the chip, yet.
As about any of these dogs by calling or texting 4-Legged Helpers at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com. They’re all urgent this time of year. Or the last time of year. Or the next time of year — that’s how it goes around here.
And here’s the LINK TO THE 4-LEGGED HELPERS’ Facebook page so you can keep up with the small shelter challenges. Maybe help dogs and cats beat the rap as being “unwanted.”
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE,
AGGIE’S ON THE REBOUND
& FIRST TIMERS ABOUND
Just as the small shelters on the southern side of Big D continue to acquire animals in need of homes, so does the larger Mesquite Animal Shelter on the eastern edge of Dallas.
And the Mesquite shelter has an organized group of volunteers who work hard with the dedicated shelter workers to find homes for animals who, through no fault of their own, wind up on the countdown clock.
We got the info on these from volunteer dog bio-writer Debra Chisholm.
First up is Aggie, a “mixed breed girl with Malinois/German Shepherd in the mix that was a returned adoption to the Mesquite Animal Shelter. Aggie originally arrived at the shelter as a stray on 7/7/22 and spent long months waiting for an adoption. We all were thrilled that on 11/19 someone finally saw what a great dog she is and she was adopted. You can imagine our disappointment when she was returned on 11/22. Apparently the adopters did not check with the apartment complex staff because they were informed that Aggie was not
an ‘approved breed.’ So Aggie is now back to square one and once again awaiting her person or family who will provide her the forever home she so richly deserves.|
Aggie is about 2 1/2, weighs 41 pounds, is spayed. And she’s a “trusting and friendly girl.” Debra also writes, “You can sense that she is stressed at being back at the shelter and housed in a crate like she has been through much of her shelter stay. Our shelter has been critically overcrowded for months with no end in sight. There are simply too many dogs and too few regular kennels to house all of them.“
Aggie is #50613182. That’s her ID to use when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com. Use that same system when you ask about any of these Mesquite animals.
Demi (#51564287), about 2 and weighing 40 un-spayed pounds, came in as a stray on the 19th. Debra writes, “This is one lively, high energy girl with lots of personality. Demi is confident and has an outgoing nature with not a bit of nervousness or fear. She is playful and enjoyed playing with toys. She does not seem to know any commands. She was quite interested in exploring the room and really seemed to love getting a break from her crate. She likes treats. Demi is amiable and was happy to receive attention from me. She pranced and danced around the room and it was fun to watch her stretch her legs and enjoy getting some personal attention.”
Lacie (#51509493) is this 25-pound, 10-month-old stray who arrived on the 19th. Debra says, “They don't come any cuter or sweeter than Lacie … My dog scanner app suggests she is a mixed breed with Boxer and Black Mouth Cur in the mix.”
She “has a confident, tail-wagging, fun-loving personality” and “high puppy energy!” She “is not timid, fearful or nervous.”
The friendly, sweet-natured toy-loving dog is also “happy to receive loving attention from a human friend. She loves treats and would no doubt be easy to train because of this. Lacie walks quite nicely on a leash. This frisky, spunky girl needs out of our overcrowded shelter and we would be so grateful for any assistance. ”
Readlarrypowell.com frequently give you, Dear Readers, this LINK to the animals in the Mesquite shelter. (CLICK HERE.)
Usually we focus on a cat, such as this guy Mike (#51109635). He’s 2 years and 2 months old among a load of kittens in the shelter. Big silver/white Domestic shorthair mix who came in on September 13 — he’s waiting in the shelter’s Conference Room. Handsome fellow.
As you consider clicking on that link to look at cats, you can also look at more dogs. You can see the siblings JoJo (5153760), Abbie (#51537601) and Jet (51537580). The came in with their mom, Momma Mia on November 15 and Debra sent out the note about them with the label “:CUTE PUPPY ALERT.” You have THE LINK HERE.
CONTEMPLATIONS
NO PARTICULAR DIRECTION
Remember how we lamented the rainless days in the summer? My front yard, right now, looks like I hired a professional to revive it. But the swamp tree, a bald cypress planted by the previous owner, thrived with my watering in the summer but now looks as if its about to lose every leaf I struggled to save. Oh, wait, maybe that’s where “bald” comes from. I shouldn’t be allowed to have trees. …
Our washing machine, said to be a reliable brand, stopped working in the spin cycle on Thanksgiving Day. Do you pay to repair and risk failure or do you buy a new washing machine and risk bankruptcy. At least I’m not spending any money on a vacation trip to some place I can’t afford. …
I got my covid booster the Friday before Thanksgiving and spent two days nearly inert. But only two days and I guess that’s the good side of that experience. I’d have watched movies or read if my attention span could have been revived. And, yes, my left arm was sore — and Martha said it matched my personality. She’s the only person who ever diagnoses me as having “Chronic Sorehead Syndrome.”
—- Offer boost-your-spirits advice or get-rich-quick schemes by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put THE CAT LIKES YOU, MAYBE in the subject line. —-
