ON TUESDAY, OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP ANIMALS AND LOOKING BACK AT A HAPPY DAY IN 1971....

EDITION OF TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2022 [PetPowellPress] Welcome to Tuesday the 17th of January. Here we go with assorted notes involving animals, people, a birthday tale and opportunities to do good things. First, someone please send me the winning numbers for Lotto Texas…Wait. If anyone reading this had winning numbers, I’d be writing a story headlined “LOTTO WINNER LET DOG PICK LUCKY NUMBERS.” OK, daydreaming aside, let’s move on. And we’ll talk dogs and cats and a litter, er, multiple-birth with which I am familiar in Contemplations….
A PUP NAMED APOLLO;
A STAR AT SPCA OF TEXAS
The entertaining roll-in-the-grass photo of Apollo may be the second one we posted of this handsome entertaining boy a few years ago. The first one? This great mugshot of the flat-on-his-back-fellow with the great set of ears. I was working on another story (we’ll post it later) when I ran across Apollo’s listing at the SPCA website. 
Apollo the Earhound is #41469749 and he’s 5 years and 5 months old. His bio at the SPCA reads that he is “unique from the tip of his tail to his floppy, expressive ears. Apollo is a goofy pup with a huge personality. Apollo came to SPCA of Texas via a hoarding case back in Feb 2019. Due to his past, Apollo can be a bit fearful in new situations and with new people. But once you get to know him, Apollo loosens up and lets his personality shine. Quirky doesn’t begin to describe him – Apollo is the definition of a class clown! This bouncy pup is always making the SPCA of Texas staff, and his foster dad, throw their heads back and laugh at his antics.”
Also, his profile on the spca.org site says he is “a very charismatic guy and never forgets his friends. Once he's your bud, he loves you and is even willing to share his snacks or toys with you. … Apollo loves treats (even vegetables!), sunbathing, belly rubs, chasing squirrels, entertaining himself with toys, watching sports on TV, sleeping in all kinds of silly positions, and cuddling for nap time!|
He’s house-trained, non-destructive and is “a generally quiet and chill dude.” He also would prefer to be an “only pet.” He’s currently in foster care, the SPCA website says.
While researching Apollo, I clicked on cats and found this beautiful fellow.
ASIA (#50882495) is almost 7 1/2 years old and he’s an 8-pound Domestic Shorthair Mix at the Jan Rees- Jones Animal Care Center just west of downtown Dallas at the SPCA of Texas. His bio reads, “I didn’t have the best start in life and was rescued by the SPCA. I will need a calm quiet home and owners that understand I require time and patience to acclimate to my new environment and surroundings.” Will work best as an only cat in a home with older kids, perhaps mid-teens. [LARRY ASIDE: Asia and you might qualify for the Seniors for Seniors Program — human’s age starts at 65 and the dog or cat at 7. Personally, readlarrypowell.com doesn’t see 65 years as a “senior” level human being. You people are just kids, by cracky.]
Go to spca.org to see how to adopt animals or how to foster animals.
MEANWHILE, THE SOUTHERN RIM
OF DALLAS HAS SOME DOGS…
Yep, more animals falling into the save-‘em-all attention of 4-Legged Helpers, the non-profit devoted helping animals in small, low-to- no human traffic shelters.

To ask about any of these animals, call or text the Helpers at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].
We’ll start with Skyler of Wilmer. She’s a Belgian Malinois found “out and about on her own” in the small town just south of Dallas. Her bio reads, “Skyler is a really beautiful girl!!! The sweetest most precious girl you could met. Loving and completely adorable. She LOVES everyone she meets.”
If nobody rescues her or adopts her, the theory is she’ll sit lonely in the small shelter until it’s “time for her to go.” 

This next fellow is JJ, a Shepherd mix currently in the Ferris Animal Shelter, also on the southern brink of Dallas. His bio reads, “LOVES all dogs, all people.  He is so incredibly sweet!! Only about a year-and-a-half to two years old. Found out and about on his own and is already fixed. Very cute teddy bear of a dog. Please, help save him!!!!!  So lovable.”

And we've posted the Shepherd mix Thomas before — he’s in the Ferris shelter. And he’s described as “the most friendly playful lovable Shepherd.  He adores female dogs.  Loves, loves, loves them. Even small female dogs. Tom is probably short for tomfoolery since this cutie loves to play and have fun.  He is such a fun sweetie pie. He is a gorgeous dog that absolutely adores people.   He was brought to the shelter by someone no longer able to care for him.|
Remember follow 4-Legged Helpers on Facebook HERE and keep up with the animals that need to find a good human fast!.
LOOKING FOR ANIMAL OUTFIT
TO DO AN ADOPTION EVENT…
We got the info on this from our longtime pal and tipster Tomi Ortiz. She says one of her animal pals “knows the manager” at a PetSmart in the Las Colinas area and that manager “is looking to for anyone who would like to set-up an adoption event at his store.” Non-profit, of course. To ask about participating in this animal-helping event, email Tomi at [email protected] or her friend at [email protected]. [LARRY ASIDE: Might turn out to be a long-running event good for animals, rescuers and the store, too.]
A HALF DOZEN DOGS
& A MESQUITE CAT, TOO….
Is this not a happy face on a dog!???! This is Denver and we learned of him from Mesquite dog biographer Judi Brown. He’s described as a “friendly outgoing boy that loves people and would most likely fit in well with almost any family.” She says the “gentle and easy-going” boy would “probably do well with young children.” 
Denver’s a year-old, 40-pound Fox Terrier/Smooth Border Collie mix — came in on Jan 10 with his “running buddy Dallas.”
The bio reads, “A concerned citizen found them running together and dropped them off at the shelter.” They share a kennel now.
 Judi says that, during Denver's evaluation session, “When I sat down he came to me to have his ears scratched. He appears to love people. He’s sweet, friendly, loving, happy, and perky. He did his business immediately upon entering the yard. … He walked right alongside me on the leash. I imagine he would love going for walks and you could be proud of how well behaved he is on a leash! Please come and meet Denver. You will be amazed at what a good boy he is! He would love to be an integral part of your family going for rides with you in the car, going for walks, and sleeping beside you on the couch!”

To ask about Denver, use his ID #51845973 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
And this is running buddy Dallas (#51846009) who, yes, has the same happy-looking face as Denver. Judi says Dallas is “a delightful, sweet, easy-going boy that would be a nice addition to your family. He is a 1-year-old, 40-pound Shepherd mix … He’s a well-behaved boy that wants to please. First he dances for treats and then sits down and takes them gently. He chased a ball a couple times but didn’t retrieve and soon lost interest. When I sat down he came to me for ear scratches. He’s sweet, well-behaved, friendly, affectionate, happy, playful and lively. … He walked right beside me in the heeling position. My guess is this is something he has been taught. So if you adopt Dallas you will have an excuse to get out and walk. He would probably fit in nicely with a family with children since he’s so gentle.”

Judi also met Alizee (#51842545)  She wrote, "How could you not fall in love with Alizee’s cute face, stocky body and winning personality? I fell in love with him! Alizee is a 6-year-old, 66-pound Mallorquin/Boxer mix that arrived …on 1/9 as a stray. He was found at the Mesquite Golf Course and has a microchip. The owners were called and chose not to reclaim him. That makes this your lucky day. …To add to his cute face he has a snaggle tooth which gives him character! When he first got out in the yard he explored but soon came back to spend time with me. …He chases and retrieves balls. He’s a lot of fun to play with! When I sat down he came to me and put his head on my lap...all the time wagging his tail. He’s happy, friendly, energetic, playful, and definitely wants to please. … He has a small wart like growth on the back of his left ear. It doesn’t seem to bother him. The bonus is that he’s already fixed! He told me he wants to be an integral part of the family and spend most the time inside with you.”
Dog bio writer Debra Chisholm begins, “This little charmer is Niecy, a mixed breed girl (Dog Scanner app suggests Black Mouth Cur and Carolina Dog in the mix) that arrived on 1/10 as a stray.  Niecy weighs 45 pounds, is approx 3 years old and is not spayed.  She is friendly, affectionate and is more than happy to receive loving attention from a human friend.  When I sat on the bench she tried to climb into my lap.  She loves treats and takes them gently though doesn't know to sit for them.  She has a moderate activity level, is calm, well behaved, doesn't jump on you and has a sweet personality.  She chases balls but doesn't return them.  Niecy appears to have been well cared for and yet no one has come looking for her. … I can't say enough about how wonderful this girl is.  I'm in love!”
Niecy is #51850228 — use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Judi provides this bio of Mimi (#51834831), a year-old, 47-pound black/brindle Dutch Shepherd/Catahoula Leopard mix.” She came in on January 8 as an un-spayed stray. “When she first got into the yard her tail was tucked. She is skittish and shy. She would benefit from lots of TLC. She would sit for treats but was not interested in toys or balls. She explored the yard. With time she came to me and let me pet her. However she wasn’t completely relaxed. She will need time to build trust. … She walks very well on a leash. She wanted to make friends with other dogs. There’s no doubt that Mimi is very sweet and has a lot of potential and will be a very loving, loyal companion.”
Judi also provides the bio of “this handsome dog Brock.” He’s a 2-year-old, 67-pound, not neutered Belgium Shepherd/Black Mouth Cur mix who came to the (shelter) on 1/7 as a stray. 
And Judi says, “ When I first got him out into the yard he was shaking. At some point I raised my hand and apparently he thought I had a treat and he sat. Naturally I gave him a treat. After that we were BFFs! He stayed close pleading with his eyes for a treat. He’s highly motivated by treats so should be very easy to train. Occasionally he would jump up begging for a treat. He did not jump on me, he would just jump up into the air. When told to get down he did so immediately. … He’s well behaved, gentle and loving. When I sat down he came to me. I’m not so sure if it was for the companionship or for a treat!!  He walked OK on a leash. He went nose to nose with some dogs and backed off from the ones that were barking at him. He’s very soft and I can just imagine what a wonderful snuggle bug he will be!”

Brock is #51832700 — use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
See more dogs and cats in the Mesquite Animal Shelter by clicking on this LINK.
Plenty of cats, including Celeste. She’s #51874982. This Domestic Shorthair mix with a basic brown and black highlights coat came into the shelter on January 14. She’s just over 6 months old and, based on that photo, might just enjoy a little cuddling with a cuddle-prone human. You can find her the Mesquite Animal services Cat Room.
CONTEMPLATIONS
LOOKING BACK 52 YEARS …
On the morning of January 17. 1971, practically the entire pro football-loving world (it was smaller back then) was looking forward to the Dallas Cowboys playing the Baltimore Colts later that afternoon in Super Bowl V. And, about 4 a.m. I was awakened when someone said to me, “I think it’s time” and we raced to the hospital. 
Later in the afternoon, Bret, the lefthander, arrived at 2:06 p.m. and Bart, the righthander, at 2:08 p.m. Carolyn Bowlin Powell gave birth to not the confident doctor-predicted “one large baby” but to a set of unexpected twins.
[Appropriately, Texarkana is a twin city — the west side is in Texas, the east side in Arkansas. The boys were born in Texas. “Hallelujah,” typed their native-Texan daddy.]

This was not only the date the boys were born, it was also the date of the Dallas Cowboys' first-ever appearance in the Super Bowl. 
Kickoff for that game was 2 p.m. Eastern time — 1 p.m. Wadley Hospital Labor Room time. Basically, I missed the entire game, and ever since then, on his birthday, the “unexpected twin” Bart has gleefully asked me, “You still miffed about missing that game?”
 Not so much these days. I’ve mellowed over the past half-century.

But, in typical Dallas Cowboys fashion, the record will reflect that on that Jan. 17, 1971, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, the then-Baltimore Colts were not winning the game as the clock ticked through the final minute. I didn’t see a single play in that Super Bowl. Thus, I have to depend on the “record” because I was busy in the fathers’ waiting room and the labor room that day — daddies didn’t go to "delivery" in those days. 
Back to the game: I didn’t see this, but I’ve later read that during the final minutes of the game, a pass by Cowboys QB Craig Morton bounced off famous Dallas Cowboy Danny Reeves’ hands into the arms of Colts linebacker Mike Curtis who returned it to the Dallas 28. The Colts ran a couple of plays and then with either 5 or 9 seconds left in the game (depending on your source in the ancient sportswriter documents) Colts placekicker kicker Jim O’Brien, in the first NFL Super Bowl played on artificial turf, kicked a 32-yard winning field goal and the Cowboys lost,16–13.
The next season, the Cowboys beat Miami, 24-3, in Super Bowl VI on January 16, 1972. Too late. But I’d have watched that game if I hadn’t had to work the Sunday evening shift to put out the Monday morning edition at The Texarkana Gazette. In those days, no newsrooms had a big screen TV — pretty sure big screens for offices hadn’t been invented yet. You see here photos of the boys from the day of their birth through assorted moments in their young lives. In two photos they are with their youngish father, as of his most recent birthday, only about 48 years old. I'll have to check the records. On the right, that's when two out of three of us were in college.
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