SEASONALLY SPEAKING, DOGS AND CATS WAIT; IT'S THE SEASON OF WAITING....

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2022 [PetPowellPress] [LARRY ASIDE: We’re opening with an aside because that dog’s face got to me. Is that not the face of a dog who is ready to adore a human 24 hours a day, every day of every year? I want to hug her! We’ll get to Poppy in a minute.] 
 OK, easy now. If you’re reading this before 3:48 p.m. Texas time, this very day, you’re still in autumn. I was outside rolling up summertime water hoses this morning about 9 a.m. and winter already had a grip. Official arrival in Texas 3:48 p.m. this very 21st of December.
In yesterday’s edition, I posted this photo of Dudley the Angel overflowing his new bed. And, when he isn’t there, the bed is open and, yes, this is Porche Noel, taking advantage of Dudley rising to follow my HollyJollySpouse Martha around the house. As many of you may recall, Dudley arrived at our house at Christmas 2013. And Porche got her name because she was “found on the porch at Christmas.” That was in 2009. She’s my dog.

 Porche was the last dog on the planet who didn’t have a home. Oh, wait, let me check my email. Seems I may have been wrong about the vast availability in 2022 of dogs and cats at this most joyous time of year. [LARRY FAMILY FYI: Speaking of Hanukkah, one of my younger brothers was Jewish, the other was among the family Baptists. I may have been churched over a column I wrote in the early '70s --I'll have to check. Both brothers adored their dogs and other dogs, too. And cats. It runs in the family. May it run in your family, too, a gentle enhancement of all of your kind beliefs.]
NOW, OUR ATTENTION
TURNS TO MESQUITE
And that is where you’ll find Poppy (in opening photo above and to the right). Thanks for the volunteers at Mesquite Animal Services we know of Poppy’s existence. Picked up by one of the shelter’s officers on December 15 — weighs about 35 pounds and isn’t spayed. A “Terrier mix,” the summary says.
Volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm wrote that Poppy [#51715511] “is an athletic and playful girl and enjoyed time in the yard, climbing on the play equipment and sniffing out all the interesting smells.  Poppy walks ok on a leash and did not seem reactive to the other dogs but it is always a good idea to ask the shelter staff for a dog test if you are interested in her.  She does have some kind of skin issue which will be looked at to determine what the problem is.  She is somewhat uneasy in the shelter at this time.  She likes treats and will sit for them.  Poppy is a lively and enthusiastic girl who is friendly and likes to receive petting.”
Remember, at Mesquite, the system is to use the dog’s ID number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283.
This friendly face belongs to Peppy (#50854204), a shelter resident since August 9. Long-termer. He’s about 2 12, weighs 60 pounds and came in as a stray. “He’s neutered … and ready to go,” Debra’s note read. “He has an outgoing, confident personality, is a high-energy joyful fellow and loves racing around the shelter yard and stretching those legs!!  He walks ok on a leash but does pull (he does everything with exuberance!).  … In the yard he chases balls by leaping and bounding after them though doesn't return them.  Peppy is friendly and happy to receive petting. This playful energetic boy doesn't slow down much.  He is crazy about treats!  He could really use some obedience training in order to fit in with his forever person or family.  He would be best suited for a home with a person or family who has an active lifestyle and would invest in him with training, daily exercise and playtime and enrichment.”
Yep,two dogs abandoned. Freebi (#51021848) is the brown one and Oreo (#51021830) is the one whose coloring reminds you of the cookie. 
They were, Debra writes, “abandoned…by their owners after they were evicted. They were under protective custody for a short while but have been available for quite some time and after nearly 4 months at the Mesquite Animal Shelter they are now considered LONG-TERM RESIDENTS and are needing new homes.  My Dog Scanner app suggests German Shepherd/Rottweiler in Freebi's mix.” Freebi is 2 1/2, weighs 77 pounds and is a high-energy joker who likes to “jump on you a lot.” Manners training is in her future. 

And Oreo is about 8, weighs 59 pounds and is listed “as an Aussie Cattle Dog,” Debra reports. Also, she says, “The two dogs are kenneled together and get along fine.  They would not need to be adopted or rescued together as Freebi tends to want to dominate Oreo.  She walks ok on a leash but does pull.  She loves treats.  Oreo is a friendly girl that is more than happy to cuddle and be loved on by a human friend.  She does appear to be house-trained.”

This Earhound is #51652698 — known by the name of Scout. How did such a beautiful dog wind up in a shelter?
 Debra bio of Scout explains: “He was abandoned in his home by his owners.  He has been at the Mesquite Animal Shelter since 12/6 under protective custody but is now available for adoption.  Scout weighs 22 pounds, is approx 10 months old and is not neutered.  My Dog Scanner app suggests he is an Australian Kelpie mix.  Scout walks ok on a leash and when I led him past dogs in kennels who were barking at him, he did not react with an unfriendly attitude.  He is ‘all puppy’ meaning he is lively, frisky, playful (likes toys and balls), and is a tail-wagging livewire!”

Wonderful dog description: "TAIL-WAGGING LIVEWIRE!”
 Not perfect, but pretty close. He’ll jump on a human, but it’s a friendly jump, the action of a puppy. And, as Debra writes, “Scout has already been abandoned once in his short life and deserves a home with people who will stay committed to him.”
See these dogs and many more dogs and a “clowdering” of cats by clicking on this Mesquite LINK.
At the shelter, you’ll see many, many dogs waiting and cats and kittens and the cats include this handsome cat with the championship set of whiskers, Michaelangelo (#51603701), a 3-years-and-1-month-old cat —”large orange,” is his description. He came in on November 28 and is a Domestic Shorthair mix with green eyes. He is waiting in the shelter’s Cat Room. Grown-up cat needing a home — he just looks like a really good fellow to readlarrypowell.com.
FRIDA, ONCE ABANDONED,
ADOPTED AND, YEP, RETURNED
We got the tip on this from veteran animal rescuer/advocate Kimberly Jones. The note clearly called the memory to my mental screen—probably will do the same for you. Bottom line is, Frida needs a long-lasting home — nothing he did.
The note reads, “Do you remember the ‘lot kitties’ whose owners moved away and abandoned them and then the home where the had lived was torn down??? They stayed loyally on the empty lot where their home (and family) once lived....
“Well. Frida found a home about 2 months ago after surviving harsh freezes, super hot summers and even a flood in their lot. Sadly after 2 months in a home, his adopters asked to return him (nothing Frida did... They just were not ready for a cat apparently. 
“Instead of returning him to the harsh street (lot), he was taken in by Dog N Kitty City... As you can imagine he is struggling. He went from a home to abandoned to a street cat to a home and now in a shelter with tons of other cats… If you know ANYONE looking for a kitty, Frida (now called Indie) is just a beautiful boy with lots of love to give...  He is young and fully vetted and healthy.”
Dog ’n’ Kitty City is the no-kill shelter (near Love Field in Dallas) that was founded by and is operated by the Humane Society of Dallas County. Email about Frida at this address: adoptions@dognkittycity. And Frida/Indie’s DNKC link is HERE.
THEN THERE WAS (SURPRISE!)

A HUSKY MIX FOUND ROAMING!
This guy is named River. Seemed to fit him in Ferris where he’s a 40-pound, young fellow.
In the decades we’ve posted animal stories at readlarrypowell. com, one of the clearly established truths is Huskies and Husky mixes love to get out and roam. And that brings us to the latest featured Husky mix in the roll call of animals needing homes issued today by 4-Legged Helpers.
The Helpers' report reads, “This cute & cuddly guy was found as a stray & no one has come to reclaim him. He's friendly & very sweet, just wants to love, to be loved & to find a home. Wouldn't he look great wrapped in a big red bow underneath your tree? Help us help this handsome guy... we are looking for a Foster, Adopter or Rescue.
For more information or to inquire about Fostering, Adopting or Tagging RIVER for rescue, text: 214-949-2726 or email: [email protected]. Transport help is available to approved 501c3 rescues, so don't let distance stop you!”
The 4-Legged Helpers, the non-profit that focuses on small shelters that may have a lot of animal traffic but very little human traffic, try to get the animals adopted or rescued or somehow saved from the needles in area shelters that don’t have committed (i.e., properly budgeted) rescue or adoption programs.
That three-photo array is of Charley who is either a La/Boxer or “possibly Black Mouth Cur Mix” who was found “out and about” in Hutchins and my soon be moved to the Ferris shelter to await what comes next. His bio says, “This guy is such a sweetie. He just adores everyone and everything.” Same contact points as above for River.
And, remember, if you have an itch to volunteer, the Helpers can probably use you — email [email protected].
And click on HELPERSFACEBOOKPAGEHERE to see the many animals the 4-Legged Helpers are trying to save by putting spotlights on them so rescue groups and individuals with proper hearts will know they need help and homes.
CONTEMPLATIONS
WHICH CAROL DO YOU FAVOR?
Yep, which version of A Christmas Carol do you favor? Could be the original by Charles Dickens — he has had some success with the tale since it first saw the light of day on Dec. 19, 1843. Could have read it by lantern light, I guess. So there are many film versions: Reginald Owen as Scrooge in 1938 (maybe my fave); Patrick “Captain-Jean Luc Picard “ Stewart (1999); George C Scott (TV version in 1984 starring the guy who won an Oscar for Patton) , Bill Murray in Scrooged — it’s a long, long list — lots more remakes of the tale than remakes of A Star Is Born. One of the remakes, from 1951, starred Alastair Sim as Scrooge and I never see that version listed that I don’t remember our late, dear pal Della Wallace. She rescued a dog from Dallas Animal Services on Christmas Eve years ago and named him Alastair in honor of the actor. Thinking of you, Della, at Christmas 2022. While that’s a photo of Alastair Sim in the ’51 movie, that is a picture of Alastair The Dog taking his exit ride from DAS with Della and her beloved David  on Christmas Eve, 2012. Della named  the photo, "Alistair Breaking Out of the Joint in Dallas."...
Here’s a personal note: In order to help remind people to get their animals out of the awful winter temps, I’m going to try to get the next Texas Legislature to pass the “Spend The Week With Your Dog Law.” If you are convicted of leaving an animal out in winter weather, you won’t go to jail (right away), but for one cold-arse week you will be locked out of your house, given a plastic shelter with one door on the front and a window on the back so you’ll have a steady breeze. You also get a roll of paper towels you can use as a blanket. And you’l be fed … maybe. If it’s not too cold. Yeah, this is why I should not hold public office. I think the word “punishment” ought to live up to its definition when it comes to animal cruelty and meanness to kids. …
OK, keep shopping. Keep wrapping. Keep worrying about the Dallas Cowboys and their Christmas Eve game in Arlington against the Philadelphia Eagles. It is the season of miracles. Like a game without an interception, eh, Dak? And, yes, everybody should be done with their shopping by kickoff on Christmas Eve. Right?
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