ReadLarryPowell.com

SO, WE WERE WATCHING FOOTBALL ONE NIGHT AND STEVIE RAY HAD A QUESTION

As you may suspect, this cat is exhausted. Been watching sports on TV. World Cup wears his neck out. 

Oh, I’m kidding.
This is the way the cat — full official name is Stevie Ray Treeboy — tends to sleep most of the time.
When he’s ready to nod off, he’s out like a light. Thus, my little pal is the focus of this week’s edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Another in a long line of "Free Dallas Cats" in our lives though our most recent cat came from Duncanville. Litters happen.
My funspouse Martha snapped the photos of Stevie Ray in my lap.
As you can see, he’s very comfortable with his back paws lifting skyward.
He and I were watching Thursday Night Football together when Martha caught a scene in which I’m explaining an offensive play to Stevie Ray and he is listening intently. Sure, I know what I’m talking about — I was a newspaper sportswriter for about 15 months in the 1960s — that makes me practically a gridiron genius. Stevie Ray knows that. Hence, he has a face that says, “I’m listening to an expert.” [I have a face that asks, “Does my insurance cover plastic surgery?”]
In the office, Stevie Ray will flop over on a pillow I have in a chair I bought in a yard sale — its heavy plastic “upholstery” has been shredded by cats, but it’s still OK for feline naps. Martha just moans when she looks in the office — you know, after she declares how cute the dogs and cats are at the moment. 

Stevie Ray, for those who don’t recall, is the kitten I rescued from a flimsy limb just about eye-level on a mimosa tree at our previous home in Dallas. He was little but he was loud. He enjoys being held, especially by me.
He was an apprentice office cat for a couple of years (with William Powell, the actual office cat) and now and then he drops by to check on the availability of treats.
There is a comfort to having a cat who thinks of you as the best place to nod off during a football game or a rerun of a British mystery or a showing of It’s a Wonderful Life. Or the legendary story of The Cat Who Invented Comfort. Some conflict, of course, over whether a cat or a dog invented comfort.
[DEAR READERS: PLEASE, for the sake of a joyous holiday season, send photos and bios of your slumbering dogs, cats or whatever you’ve got in your manger, to dallrp@aol.com and we’ll spotlight them in our long-running feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. There’s no pay, but you may be nominated for the Nobel Peace, Puppies ’n’ Kitties Prize. Thanks for your help. I’m working on a book:SLEEPIN’ AIN’T EASY WITH A GUILTY CONSCIENCE.]
—- To leave sleeping tips, click on ‘comment’ below or email dallrp@aol.com and put YOU AIN’T GOT TIME TO SLEEP in the subject line. —-

FRIDAY PM EXTRA: SOME SAVED, BUT A WHOLE BUNCH ARE WAITING...

EXTRA EDITION OF FRIDAY, DEC. 2, 2022 [PetPowellPress] We’re starting this Extra with good news. 
That, Ladies & Gents, Dogs & Cats & other Literate Souls, is the “Freedom Ride” of Delores and her four pups as they left Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center in Longview this week. They’re now with Angel Paws Advocates in Tyler. Here’s the LINK  to Angel Paws in case you want to thank ‘em or help ‘em some way.

And we were able to write about the animals, their shelter and their rescuers thanks to our pals Patty Sprong, the legendary foster mom, and Kimberly Brooks, the also-legendary Foster/Rescue Coordinator for the Longview Animal care and Adoption center in East Texas.
This was my favorite passage from that first story:
 “Delores is so sweet and is a great mama to the babies!  The puppies were found in a box in someone's front yard.  They said that Delores walked up and started pawing at the box and then was licking on the babies.  The babies don't look anything like her, but she says they are hers, so we believe her.”

You can see more adoptables and rescueable animals in Longview by clicking on the SHELTER LINK HERE.  Scroll through the cats and dogs waiting for new homes.
[LARRY ASIDE: In some cases they may be waiting for the home from which they strayed to phone up and ask (using my best native Northeast Texan accent), “Yaw got muh dawg?” Maybe, “Pardon, do you happen to have my cat?” Translating my sophisticated tone to my childhood tongue, “Heck, cats, ah’m dewin’ muh best. Yaw want sumpin tuh drank?” Yes, I miss Northeast Texas now and then.]
Among the available cats and dogs on the Longview AC&AC Center:
That first cat is Giovanna (51541042), the year-old girl with the peek-a-boo eyes. She’s just over a year old and arrived in the shelter on Nov. 16. 
Mittens (#51603707) is the upright 3-month-old tabby fellow. He arrived on the 28th of November.
Twinkles (#51627993) is a 6-year-old female Chihuahua/Dachshund mix who arrived as a stray on December 1, so she’s on “stray hold,” but just in case, I thought I’d mention her. You can see other adoptable dogs at the shelter with the ease of a click on your mouse. 
There are many large dogs — smiling dogs, as you’ll see when you scroll the photos.
And there’s this medium-sized fellow, #51596132 whose got a name we’ve never typed previously at readlarrypowell.com. This dog is “Groomp.” He’s an 8-month-old Pitty mix who arrived on November 26 and is available for adoption right now. [LARRY ASIDE: First time we’ve seen a dog named “Groomp.” I have no idea what “Groomp” means unless that is what he says when he’s being happily brushed during a grooming.]
GALT’S VIRTUAL MEET & GREET?

THIS SOPHISTICATE LARKE
We’ve long admired the Greyhound Adoption League of Texas for working so hard to rescue the members of their favorite breed (in addition to dogs that, as puppies, pass for Greyhounds, too, and others who, as adults, are “close enough” and need good homes, anyway!).
Saturday, GALT has this beautiful girl Larke among the adorable availables “at” the online “virtual meet and greet.” It also will feature Benji (that’s him in the hallway) and Memory (she’s posing in the outdoors), the announcement from GALT revealed. 
GALT’s note reads, “Join us on Facebook at GALT's Gatherings - Virtual Meet & Greets or on Instagram at @galtsgatherings.
By going to galtx.org you can learn about the dogs available for adoption into homes that should be the best ever for a critter.
The bio of Larke (formerly “Skylark”) says she’s “a red female” born Nov. 15, 2017, and that she “has 81 races to her credit on Greyhound Data.” Larke also “was in a home for a few yars with her brother Commander, but has been returned due to owner’s health. We don’t know about her cat or small animal tolerance.”
[LARRY FYI: I was once at an adoption event in Lancaster, Texas, and a guy with a Greyhound adoption group confessed to me something like, “What people don’t realize is Greyhounds are natural-born couch potatoes.” In our house we have no Greyhounds but we do have couch potato dogs and they are a great comfort. Probably the same way with a Greyhound.]
MAZIE’S MISSION
AND TOBIAS’ TALE
Before we get to the story of Tobias, we’ll tell you that Mazie’s Mission, the adoption arm of the famed rescue veterinary clinic of the same name, will host an adoption event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hollywood Feed store, 2851 Craig Dr, Suite 200D, in McKinney.

Among the dogs waiting for a home because Mazie’s Mission saved his life is this guy Tobias. His bio reads, “Tobias was found unresponsive with extensive injuries to his body, presumably caused by another dog. His shoulder was so badly broken that his leg was amputated. Tobias had a long road to recovery but today he is doing great and is now ready to be adopted. He gets along with other dogs and children. He is potty-trained and can go up and down stairs, in spite of his amputation. Toby is healthy, neutered and up-to-date on vaccinations. If you would like to adopt Tobias, please apply to adopt by clicking HERE.
And you can check out this other beautiful adoptable Frankie II, too, by going to mazies mission.org. She’s a year-old Catahoula Cur mix with a lively, playful attitude and “a fair amount of energy.” She also, Mazie’s says, “has no issues kicking back and binging Netflix with you!” 
Go to maziesmission.org to see how to adopt Frankie II and other animals including this beautiful young cat Sybil.

MEANWHILE, MESQUITE
HAS A TOUGH CASE: LUFFY
(ADOPTED/ABANDONDED….)
Well, ain’t that sweet. 
We got the note from our contact Debra Chisholm, one of the volunteer dog-writers at Mesquite Animal Services’ shelter. The subject line was “ ** URGENT PLEA!  SHELTER IS BEYOND OVERFLOWING **NO ROOM LEFT** “
 And Debra added that “Mesquite, like many/all others, has been beyond the point of capacity longer than we should have. Times are hard and even harder on the dogs! Luffy, among others, is at risk of immediate euthanasia, and we so desperately would love to see positive outcomes!”
Ask about helping by emailing rescues@cityofmesquite.com.

Luffy’s story is provided by Jamie Dotson. At the shelter, Luffy’s ID is #50561512. Use it when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmes- quite.com.
The story reads that he was adopted at Mesquite on August 3 and “abandoned on October 1. He is stressed in the shelter, suffering with diarrhea and weight loss.  He has a good demeanor and is playful."
Luffy is a year-old Lacy mix who weighs in at 60 pounds. He originally arrived at the shelter on June 29 as — what else — a stray, then, Jamie’s bio reads, Luffy was “adopted on Aug. 3. On October 1 and he was found and brought in as a stray. His family was contacted yet they were out of town. Though stated they would come get him, they did not keep their word. So this charming boy has found himself available for adoption. He has a fun loving personality. He loves to run and play in the shelter yard and his favorite things are to chase balls and play with toys. He will bring them back then chase them again when thrown. He walks well on a leash but does jump a bit. With redirection and rewarded with a treat he did well. As he walked past all the dogs that were barking, he paid no attention to them. … Luffy is a lovable puppy and would make a great family companion, where he has a secured backyard where his family can provide him daily enrichment.” So to help Mesquite help Luffy, use his ID#50561512 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityhofmesquite.com. 
Because Mesquite is so crowded and needing to find homes for animals rather than euthanize them, we’re going to squeeze in some more currently waiting in Mesquite for the right humans to adopt and KEEP them.
SERENA (#51596175)? Our dog-writin’ pal Judi Brown reports, "When you look up ‘sweet’ in the dictionary, you’ll find Serna’s name next to it.” She’s a 5-year-old, 62-pound German Shepherd mix. A stray (arrived 11/26). Not spayed. Judi writes, “I’m told by staff that she came in with a male sibling that she is apparently quite close to. When walked past her brother’s kennel apparently she always wants to stop and visit. I’m told she also seemed somewhat depressed and that was attributed to being separated from her brother.”
We’re not sure which German Shepherd in the Mesquite Shelter is Serena’s sibling. We’re attempting to find out. 
Click on this LINK TO THE MESQUITE SHELTER
and you’ll be able to see animals waiting for either adoption or rescue or the needle — fact of shelter existence these days. 
Arriving at nearly the same time that we got the note about Luffy, was the note about Serena and, also, a notes about Sam (#50488496). Sam’s an 8-year-old Staffi mix who arrived as a stray on June 20th. Jamie’s bio of this dog read, “Sam has a laidback and loving personality. He enjoys being petted, gives paw and knows the sit command.
"Sam has a superpower too, he is deaf. He does know a few hand commands and I'm sure he would love to learn a few more. He has a gentle soul, walks well on a leash and takes treats gently.”

And Jamie closed with “His big brown eyes have captured my heart as I am sure he will yours. Please help by networking him or send a rescue tag to rescues@cityofmesquite.com with the subject line TAG 50488496. Any further questions, please email or call 972.216.6283.”
Ten notices of “please adopt” these Mesquite dogs arrived in our inbox on December 1. Yes, it’s time for humans to step up and save ‘em all.
CONTEMPLATIONS
ASSORTED NOTES
Every time I get the daily load of adorable adoptables, I contemplate this thought: Can we add three or four rooms to our house without anybody from the city noticing all the hammering and sawing? And would a bank notice if I was borrowing a lot of money and using my collection of unread paperback books from the ‘50s and ‘60s (packed for years in taped-shut boxes in the garage!) as collateral? Yeah, I’m not alone in trying to figure out a way to help out the dogs and cats in shelters. Literally help ‘em out. …
OF COURSE, THE BEST WAY TO HELP ‘EM OUT is to make sure they never get IN! That’s the responsibility of the person who adopted them and said, “I’ll love you forever and you’ll always have a safe home with me.” Lyin’ sacks of used litter. (I cleaned that up, didn’t I? But, if you don’t know that animals are intelligent and aware, you’d be a daft Esso Bee. (Tap-danced around that, didn’t I.)…
I’ll be buying a Lotto Texas ticket Saturday — one more time, it’s bound to be the lucky time. Martha and I love our dogs and cats and your dogs and cats, too. And dogs and cats in shelters and on the streets and roaming neighborhoods and the free puppies and free kittens people are trying to get rid and the kittens and puppies people are trying to sell on parking lots, etc. There used to be an expression, “That guy needs to have some sense slapped into him.” I haven’t heard it in a while, but, yes, the veracity abides. I’m a peaceful person. I’ll just talk to the clowns. No offense to clowns.
— Offer ideas or lucky numbers by clicking on “comment” below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put “WORK ON YOUR JABS” in the subject line. —