DOGS AND CATS IN SHELTERS; CONTEMPLATING A STAGE PRESENCE....

EDITION OF THURSDAY, JAN. 5, 2023 [PetPowellPress] Welcome to Thursday. May I please see some identification. Just kidding. It’s the 5th of January, another sleepy, dusty delta day — oh, wait. I just stole that from 1967 and Bobbie Gentry’s Ode to Billy Joe. This is the Metrosprawl — it’s not sleepy and if there’s a delta around here, the City of Dallas will get the Corp of Engineers to level it.
We’re in the early weeks of a Texas winter. Nobody knows what’s really going to happen. Maybe you even know someone whose heart will warm up and they’ll commit a life-saving adoption by getting a dog or cat out of the Dallas Animal Services shelter or some other taxpayer-supported facility that buys euthanizing juice by the barrels. Here’s a link to the DAS view-the-pets page.
Click on it and you can see how to adopt that guy Sam (A1106235), listed as a 12- year-old English Cocker Spaniel — he’s in foster care but you can arrange to meet him.
That cat doesn’t have a name but she does have a foster home right now. She does have a number -- she’s A1160775 at DAS. And she’s a 4-year-old Domestic Short Hair with a fascinating face. Weighs 9 pounds.
Contact DAS and see how to meet her and Sam. [LARRY ASIDE: I can testify on behalf of Cockers and Cats. They all make humans better people. Unless the human is a jerk, not that are any jerks in the great Dallas/Fort Worth misbehaving population. Hah.]
MOVING ALONG WITH ANIMALS
REPRESENTING OPPORTUNITIES
The contact points for helping these dogs are these: Call or text 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com. Those contacts will get you to the 4-Legged Helpers — the non-profit trying to help these pups find safe homes or safe rescues or safe fosters.
The Siberian Husky is Lacey, currently in the Wilmer Animal Shelter. Her bio reads, “Lacey is the sweetest most lovable young girl that ADORES everyone and everything!  Loves other dogs. All people!  Only about a year old. She is such a cuddly sweetie pie so hoping for a home. Please, help save her!!!!! She is so cute.” [LARRY ASIDE: As rescue and shelter veterans will tell you, Huskies are notorious for their ability to leave home and roam. They are an example of the ol’ readlarrypowell.com explanation: Some dogs are just too clever for their own good. They just need a home where the human knows the challenge is outsmarting the dog.]
This guy is Max, described as “such a lovable cutie pie.” He’s in the Ferris Shelter. And his bio reads that “he was found out and about on his own by a very nice police officer but sadly no one has come for him and he needs someone that will love him and give him the forever home he truly deserves. He is extremely friendly and loves other dogs.”
And we mentioned Brady before, but that’s such a darned cute photo, I couldn’t resist posting him again. He was found roaming in rural Dallas County near Ferris. His bio reads, “Brady is the absolute sweetest cuddly marshmallow pup you could meet.  ADORES people and seems to love other dogs.  He is silly and sweet and would be the most perfect hiking or running or tv watching companion.  He is actually very athletic and tons of fun.  Ready to go anywhere or do anything.  Carries around the rope toy ready for fun.  ADORES RIDING IN THE CAR. Lol. If you are looking for a cuddly sweetie that adores everyone, look no further. … A kind person found him out and about on his own in the rural county area.” [LARRY ASIDE: However he got there, nobody’s been looking for him.]
LET’S CHECK THE STORIES
IN THE MESQUITE SHELTER
Thanks to volunteer shelter dog-writer Debra Chisholm, we have some explanations of these animals in the Mesquite Animal Shelter. We’ll edit the bios and they can be seen in their untouched status on the Mesquite shelter’s website HERE.
Here we go with Penny, described as “a mixed breed (Dog Scanner app suggests Redbone Coonhound and Carolina Dog in the mix) that was picked up on 9/27 by one of our officers and brought to the Shelter as a stray.  Having been at the shelter for over 3 months, she could be considered a LONG-TERMER.”
The year-old, 40-pound Penny is spayed -- and look how vigorously she wags that tail. She is, Debra wrote, “one fun-loving, tail-wagging, high-spirited youngster.  She does walk well on a leash.  For several weeks she was kenneled with another dog, but Patsy has since been adopted and it seems that Penny misses the company.  They had really bonded.  She does not show well in her kennel because she is overactive and jumps.  However when out in the yard she is calmer and better behaved. … She is a friendly girl who likes to be shown loving attention by a human friend.” 

Penny is #51208449. As is the case with all the Mesquite animals, use their ID numbers (not just their names) when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com. 

Debra also tells us, “This precious boy is Thanos [#51708725], a Terrier mix that ended up at the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 12/14 as a stray. Though he may look a bit intimidating …he is really a sweet and gentle soul!” He’s about 5 years old, weighs 64 pounds and is now neutered.
His bio reads, “He appears to have been well-cared for and yet his people have not come looking for him. He was obsessed with scouting out the smells in the yard when I was doing his eval. He wasn't interested in balls or toys.  Thanos does like treats and will sit for them and take them gently.  He is a friendly boy and was a-ok with receiving loving petting. … Thanos is well-behaved and calm and has a mellow personality. … He walks well on a leash and did not pay attention to the dogs who were barking at him when he walked through the bay and hallways.”
Lovely Lucille is another long-termer. She’s #51041469 — a Terrier mix who arrived as a stray on September 9. She’s about 3 1/2, is spayed and weights 61 pounds. And there’s this description, “She is friendly and is happy to be petted and loved on, that is when she slows down long enough!” Debra also wrote, “Won't you please consider helping Lucille out of our overcrowded shelter by networking or tagging at rescues@cityofmesquite.com, typing in the subject line TAG, ID 51041469.  Questions can be directed to 972-216-6283 or rescues@cityofmesquite.com."
And that brings us to another long-termer, Alfie, described as “this precious boy with the adorable ears.” He’s #51553060. Came in on Sept. 13 as a stray. And Debra says it’s hard to believe no one has come for him “because he is such a sweetheart.” He’s 4 1/2 years old, neutered and weighs 49 pounds. She writes, “ He walks quite nicely on a leash and when I led him past kennel after kennel of dogs barking at him, he did not react in an unfriendly way.  … Alfie knows the sit and shake commands.  His owner had obviously spent some time with him because he knows a couple of commands. Looks as though he has been well-cared for and also because he is sociable and happy to receive pets and loving attention. …  He has such a wonderful sweet personality.  He is lively and active, though not hyperactive.  It's hard to imagine why Alfie is still at the shelter given all these positive things ….” 

Why do the animals need to be out of the shelter? Debra writes, “ We have been critically overcrowded at the shelter with dogs (and cats) continuing to pour into the shelter and with no indication of this trend slowing down.  We have so many incredible dogs as well as cats who would make terrific pets ….”
 You can see those dogs and at by clicking on THIS LINK TO ANIMALS IN MESQUITE’S SHELTER. 
And, yes, indeed, there are plenty of cats in the Mesquite shelter, including this one, #51804082 — no name, just a number. The gender is listed as “Unknown” and we suspect the reason is this: #51804082, a beautiful Domestic Medium Hair/mix, is in the shelter’s Feral Room. Yep, feral. Came in on Jan. 3 — that was Tuesday. The feline is described as “3 years, 1 day” old. [LARRY ASIDE: Not sure how they got that age — the cat wasn’t traveling with luggage. We may find out the cat’s identification is in a suitcase waiting on the tarmac at DFW. I’m kidding. Not sure feral cats fly commercial — probably fly charter or private jets. Sometimes Air Force One -- depends on the politics at the moment.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
IT’S CLEAR IN BLACK & WHITE — PEGASUS THEATRE CONTINUES TO RULE THE STAGE (& WIN THE AUDIENCE!)
William Shakespeare, perhaps the world’s most famous playwright, wrote, “Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast.”
And that brings us to the feast that is Pegasus Theatre, the enduring stage company created by a team of actors and theatrical specialists guided and inspired by playwright Kurt Klinemann.
Kurt created the character Harry Hunsacker —-the “world-famous detective and aspiring actor.” Harry is the centerpiece character in Pegasus Theater’s famed productions in “Living Black & White.” Not a spot of color on the set — it’s like watching a 1950s TV detective show only it has both charm and wit. I’ve seen several of these productions — The Dimension of Death!, currently playing at the Eisemann Center in Richardson, is, Pegasus says, “the 22nd Harry Hunsacker Adventure.” Read more about Pegasus and the theatre’s people by clicking on pegasustheatre.org. How’s the new show? A Pegasus promotional release quoted an “Actual Audience Member” this way: "Such a fun show! It’s like a wacky Twilight Zone episode with some Hitchcock and hilarity.”
 The play, making its world premier at the Eisemann, runs through January 22. [Buy tickets and pick your theater seats at this EISEMAN/PEGASUS LINK.]
Not to be a name-dropper, but here are two: Harry Hunsacker (center stage in the photo) and Kurt Kleinmann. Both are key to the production.
 Harry’s the lead character and Kurt puts words in his mouth. Yeah, this guy Kleinmann is a writin’ legend. He pens the plays and for many years appeared in them as Harry before handing off his beloved lead character to actor Scott Nixon. 
“World-famous detective and aspiring actor” Harry Hunsacker (now played by Scott Nixon) is accompanied on his cases by Nigel Grouse (Ben Bryant, a veteran in the role). Nigel is described as Harry’s “good friend and paid-by-the-hour assistant.” Also, Chad Cline is a veteran as portraying Police Lt. Foster. The Dimension of Death! is directed by “Broadway veteran (A Chorus Line) Michael Serrecchia,” the Pegasus news release reports.
Playwright Kleinmann’s story is described this way by Pegasus: “The year is 1955. Harry, Nigel, and Foster have been dispatched to a Top Secret Air Force Base where a matter of the highest level of National Security awaits them. They’d heard rumors about Paradise Ranch but the reality of what they saw exceeded their imagination. In no time, however, the bodies start piling up and our trio finds themselves trapped in The Dimension of Death!”
Remember, watching a play is a centuries-old joyous experience on this planet. And watching one in Living Black & White with Kurt Kleinmann dialogue and story is an exceptional joy. You have the opportunity to freely laugh and enjoy a make-believe story with real-life fun, all presented in an extraordinarily fascinating stage design.

[LARRY ASIDE: Can you imagine the chances a playwright takes when he comes up with a “Living Black & White” design theme in the era of movies and TV presented “in living color”? I’m going to quote the famed writer of comedy Neil Simon: ““Don't listen to those who say you are taking too big a chance. Michelangelo would have painted the Sistine floor, and it would surely be rubbed out by today.”]

— Offer APPLAUSE FOR PEGASUS by clicking on ‘COMMENT’ below or email dallrp@aol.com and put THEATER IS REAL in the subject line. —-