A TRASHED DOG; A CHUBBY CAT; A ONE-EYED CAT; A DOG NAMED SMOKEY; CONTEMPLATIONS

EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY DEC. 22-23. 2022 [PetPowellPress] Allow me, please, to quote from just before Labor Day 2022: “Hot ‘nuff for ya?” Remember last summer’s constant sizzle? Today, look out the window, open the door and step onto the porch — yep, there’s the weather response to all of our whining about a little ol' warm spell.

The prediction for Texas temps is “the Alaskan Level.” Of course, at 4 a.m. Thursday, Alaska time, the temp in the capitol city of Anchorage was 15 degrees. Temp in Amarillo, Texas, at 7 a.m. Thursday? It was MINUS TWO!  Iclipped that artwork off the internet. No need to use a potholder in the Texas Panhandle today. It’s Texas — I’m sure it’ll warm up. Almost sure.
In the past two editions I’ve presented photos of Dudley the Angel (lower right) in his new bed and Porche Noel in Dudley’s new bed. This morning, as I was preparing some coffee in the kitchen, my Yulespouse Martha, from the living room, said, “Look who’s in the bed.” And there’s the photo of Stevie Ray Treeboy, the cat I rescued off a flimsy mimosa limb when he was around 5 loudly yowling weeks old. He’s grown up. I’m not sure he waited for no dog to be in the bed — Stevie Ray is a very assertive and influential cat in the canine community.
ONCE UPON A TIME THERE
WAS A DOG IN THE TRASH
I’m not sure where the trash bin was or who put the dog in the bin or what punishment should be handed out to that fiend if he or she is ever apprehended. 
What we do know is what we got in this tip from veteran advocate/rescuer Kimberly Jones.
She opened her note with this: “EMACIATED 12 MONTH OLD PUPPY LEFT IN THE TRASH! WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE???” [LARRY ASIDE: Not enough space on the internet to complete that list.]
But, prosecution aside, we must remember there are lots of good people who work hard to “save ‘em all.”
This trash dog is now a 32-pound, year-old fellow in the care of Dallas Animal Services. He’s called Oaklee and his ID is #1168434.
The note about Oaklee reads that he “needs someone to go get him AND show him a lot of love and care because clearly he has never experienced either. Please, if you are going to adopt or foster please commit and don't return him to DAS if he has an accident in your home or he pulls on a leash or whatever (yes, dogs are returned for these things all of the time. Heads up, a dog, especially one treated so horribly, is not going to come into your place and know how to do everything just as you like).”
 This is his DAS link. And here are 3 addresses you can use to email the shelter about Oaklee: [email protected];  [email protected]; and
[email protected].  Be sure to include both his name Oaklee and his number, #1168434 in your communication.
MEANWHILE, DALLAS CATS
IN NEED OF MOVIN’ OUT!
[LARRY NOTE REGARDING HAROLD AND ODEN: In mid-afternoon, hours after posting these stories, we have learned via the Dallas Cats In Need of Transfer Facebook page and a source, that Harold has been euthanized and that Oden has been adopted. Below you can link up to the Dallas Cats In Need of Transfer page and find more animals to help.]
Yes, there are cats at Dallas Animal Services that need understanding and patient people to help them survive their previous encounters with humans and mishaps.
 We learned of these via tipster Tami Kukla who pointed us to a Facebook site called Dallas Cats In Need of Transfer.
This big cat is Harold and his bio on that Facebook site describes him this way: “Harold has been returned again - URGENT Now!” And he is a rescue only — the bio says he’s a euthanasia risk right now for medical reasons. 
Harold is #A1164134 at DAS. He’s 4 years old and weighs 12 pounds. The bio reads, “He came in as an owner surrender after going missing for 4 days and returning lethargic and inappetent.” 
There a number of medical notes including, “He was depressed” And, “He is obese. Unkempt hair coat due to inability to groom properly.” To tag Harold for a rescue, email [email protected]. [LARRY ASIDE: Depressed and obese? Finally, a cat with whom we can identify completely. Geezalou. Somebody save him.]
Also waiting (among many, many other cats) is this one-eyed guy Oden, a year-old and 8.6 pounds and “very sweet and friendly He is treat-motivated and headed for a sweet recovery.” 
He has, his bio reads, “adapted well to having only one eye for vision ... very pleasant to handle, clean fur.” He has a number of medical notes on his bio on that Dallas Cats In Need of Transfer page including, “Noted to be eating very well.” [LARRY ASIDE: Bless his sweet heart and may someone claim him quickly.]
Oden is #A1164327 at DAS. For Oden and Harold, this is the email address for Rescues to contact DAS: [email protected].
And, remember, keep up with Dallas Cats In Need of Transfer by visiting the Facebook PAGE HERE. 
MEANWHILE, THIS GUY SMOKEY:

A SYMBOL OF SMALL SHELTERS
For this edition I decided to pick one of the many animals the 4-Legged Helpers are trying to get to safely out of small, rarely visited animal shelters on the edge of Dallas. 
This is Smokey. He’s listed as a “Bulldog Mix” and is in the Ferris Animal Shelter, according to the Helpers’ appeal. He’s a year old and weighs 55 pounds. [LARRY ASIDE: And readlarrypowell.com believes he has the look of a dog who might just love to be adored and love to adore right back at ya. Gosh, what a dog!] 

His bio says, “Smokey adores all people and all other dogs. Really great with every dog he meets. He will eat gently out of your hand and is the sweetest boy you could meet anywhere.  Great on a leash. Found out and about in Ferris.  Smokey has beautiful soft blue fur. This guy is a shelter favorite.  Please, help save him!”
Call or text 4-Legged Helpers at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].
You can see many more of the animals involved in the 4-Legged Helpers’ daiily “save ‘em all” effort by going to the non-profit’s Facebook page HERE. CONTEMPLATIONS
ASSORTED NOTES ON THURSDAY
Either we don’t have enough storage space, or we have too much “stuff.” My kitchenspouse Martha, plotting her approach to the holiday season, was searching for some special Fiestaware dessert dishes — shaped like Christmas lights. They've been stored somewhere for a year. Martha had been through all the usual suspect nooks and crannies and shelves and boxes. I asked, “Did you look in the cabinet above the refrigerator.” She said, “Just the left side — too much stuff piled on the right side to open the door.” I reached up and moved the cereal and bill boxes and opened the door to find an empty cabinet. With great joy I turned to her and said, “It’s really is Christmas” and hugged her as we danced around the room celebrating an empty spot in a storage area. Yes, Christmas is where you find it. We still don't know where the dessert plates are but we have a new place to put 'em if we ever do find 'em. …
Regarding the previously purloined Baby Jesus doll from the downtown Fort Worth nativity scene: A TV report called it a “statue.” And one big city paper referred to the “doll” as an “ornament.” Note to newspapers everywhere: Words have meanings for a reason. Look up “ornament.” Don’t believe me? Ask an editor. Oh, wait, I actually WAS an editor. I’ve back-slid and I just write now. Mostly. Email me and I’ll tell you my both my writing and editing rates.  Guarantee 100%? Not hardly. Yeah, I make misteaks. …
Weather. How about a weather song for this holiday season in Texas? Note: This song is NOT a traditional Christmas song from my childhood Southern Baptist Church, but it may help you warm up in a devil of a cold snap. Click on this link and skip the advert.
— Offer tips on words and words on tips by clicking on ‘comment’ below or emailing [email protected] and put LEARN TO SPEL KNITWHIT in the subject line. —-