EDITION OF MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2023 [PetPowellPress] Welcome to Monday’s edition and “Go Frogs” 
— those of you who pay no attention to higher education and football, feel free to ask for help in understanding that opening cheer.
That’s my cat Stevie Ray lounging in anticipation of quietly snoozing while a Dallas Cowboys football game is broadcast in the house on this lovely Sunday afternoon. He also asks, “Does this rocker make me look wide?” Yes, it does. He’s just like his human -- a young, slim cat. [Oops! Slipped in a fictional description of the human].
Now, let’s help some animals and the people who are trying to help them. Show of hands before we move along: Anybody else miss the early ‘70s and the fresh and lively music? How about this: Look on your bookshelves: Got a paperback copy of Rod McKuen’s Listen to the Warm? And are you still fraying the cuffs on your jeans?
INFORMATION ABOUT A KITTEN WHO
DOESN’T COME WITH THOSE TOES
OK, I’m just kidding about the human toes. I don’t even know whose toes 
they are. But this cat seemed to find comfort with them.
What I do know is the cat needs not only a name, but a home. “Handsome” might work. Or “Footsie.”
The info came from our longtime pal and tipster Sidney Busch, the essential voice of the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake, operators, so to speak, of the world’s most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas.
The subject line on Sydney’s e-mail read, “This neutered kitty needs a new 
forever home, please.” [LARRY ASIDE: If we hadn’t already hit the household limit on cats, the polite “please” would have earned this guy a spot at readlarrypowell.com. Our goal, thus, is to help Sidney find a home for him.]
The appeal reads, “This beautiful 3-year-old kitty is neutered, vaccinated and ready for his new family and adventure. Can you make room for him?” Sydney asked, then added, “I’m the contact, so let me know.”
Ask about this cat by emailing sydney@friendsoftheanimals.org or call 903-451-4701 or 214-808-4701.
AN EARHOUND WHO KISSES,
A SHEPHERD MIX WHO HIDES…
Pretty cute photo of Andie the German Shepherd mix peering out from beneath a shelter ramp. Here’s the heartbreak: It was a defensive pose, as you’ll see.
Judi says Andy (#51788146) is a year-old, 49-pound girl who came in as a stray on December 30. Judi writes, “Andie wants so badly to make friends but needs TLC and time to build trust. … There was a notation on the kennel card that she was abandoned. She is spayed. I kept the leash on her because she was skittish. When the kennel tech went to get her she cowered at the back of her cage but did come out willingly. When she first got out in the yard she was literally shaking. She found comfort hiding under a shelter ramp (see the fourth picture). I walked her back-and- 
forth in the yard and this seemed to help her relax and get comfortable with me. When left on her own she spent time exploring the yard. Given time however she started coming to me for brief periods of time and would even physically bump against me! At the end of the session when I sat down she even came to me! However I still consider her a work in progress. She’s very sweet, gentle, and well mannered. … She did her business as soon as she got out into the yard and she had kept her kennel clean. It was a apparent she had held it for some time. She was intimidated by the other dogs. I did not see any negative reactions to them. When walked through the bay she was hesitant on the leash, but when I walked her out in the yard she walked very well. If you are patient and willing to spend time with Andie to help her build trust please come meet her.
As is the system at Mesquite, use the animal’s ID to help cite the right critter when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
The official listing for this guy is “Australian Cattle Dog/Retriever” but as you can see, Joey is clearly an Earhound. That is a championship set of ears oin this year old fellow. We got the time on him from Mesquite Animal Shelter volunteer dog-writer Judi Brown. Joey is #517893859. Judi’s report says Joey is a year-old, 48-pound fellow who came in on Jan. 2 as an un-neutered stray. She writes, “He’s a handsome guy with outstanding markings. He has a wonderful easy-going 
personality. He’s gentle, calm, friendly, sweet-natured and loving. And he occasionally gives kisses!! He sits for treats and takes them gently. He chases balls and retrieves them when he wants to. He does occasionally jump on you but then remember he’s only one year old. … He walks very well a leash. He ignored the other dogs that he went by in the bay, even the ones that were barking at him. I did not notice any aggression. If you’re looking for a loyal companion and a good all-around family dog please come meet Joey.”
That girl Lark is listed at a 3-year-old, 52-pound “white/blue Terrier Pit” at Mesquite. She’s #50951798. 
And Judi writes, “Lark needs you and she needs you now. She has been so patient. … [she] arrived at the Mesquite Animal Shelter way back on 8/22. She has had a rough life in that she was abandoned in her home. She had recently had puppies and obviously they took them but left her behind.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Not to get personal, but I’d like to knock the snot out of the person who made the decision to leave this dog behind and alone. I wouldn’t, but I’d really like to. Feel free to remember peacefulness is the right way and by “right” in this case I mean moral.]
Judi says Lark “wants so much to have a loving home.” Her shelter ID is #50951798.
”She’s got so much love to give you,” Judi says. “She’s a tail-wagging friendly, sweet, loving, playful girl that would make a loyal companion. She likes to chase and play with stuffed toys. She gives kisses. She sits for treats. She walks OK on a leash. She wants to please. … Walking out to the yard she ignored the other dogs. Previously she had also ignored other dogs. However on the way back to her kennel she got aggravated with another dog that was barking at her. For this reason we suggest if you have another dog you ask the shelter staff for a dog test. Lark is spayed. To show how much I love this girl I am pledging $100 in the form of a check to a 501(c)3 that will rescue her. Private message judibrown321@yahoo.com."
Judi is making the same pledge for this girl Sky (#47628853). And Judi, the veteran dog-writer/canine evaluator, writes, “Look at this sweet face. Look into these imploring eyes. If Sky could talk she would say, ‘I’ve been so patient and I don’t understand why I’m being passed over. I try to greet everyone at my window. I try to let everyone know that I’m very loving and would make a very good companion!’
Year-and-a-half-old, 60-pound Pittie mix Sky came to the shelter on August 31. That’s more than 4 months of waiting at the shelter. Judi writes, “She’s already spayed so is ready to go home with you. All she wants in life is a friend and some 
loving attention and in return she will give you devotion and attention. She stays close. She looks up at you with imploring, loving eyes. She’s overjoyed just to get to spend time with you. She sits for treats. She’s highly motivated by treats and sits in anticipation of them. She walks OK on a leash. She does her business as soon as she gets in the yard. She was not interested in meeting other dogs and did not show any aggression.” And Judi’s offering that pledge to get this girl into a safe, loving home.
Remember, use the ID numbers when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
And, as you know, Mequite’s shelter also has an abundance of not just dogs but also of cats and kittens. I cite this cat Esme.
[LARRY FYI: I chose to spotlight this wonderful Esme because she has the same name as our readlarrypowell.com cat. Our wonderful Esme is a Tabby/Torbie -- Martha says -- 
with fantastic colors in her coat — that's her lounging in one of her baskets. We’ve had Esme since 2012 when she arrived as a front porch feral kitten. She loves being petted and held.]
That may be the case with Mesquite’s Esme [#51780883] if the right loving humans give her the wonderfully loving home all cats should have. This available adorable is a year-old, medium-sized “Black/Red” Domestic Shorthair Mix. She arrived on December 29 and you can find her waiting in the Mesquite Shelter Cat Room. See more Mesquite cats and dogs and puppies and kittens by clicking on this SHELTER LINK.
CONTEMPLATIONS
GRIPES, POETRY AND PEACE?
Which is more irritating? The constant Winston cigarette commercials in the ‘60s, the constant rebuild-your-shower documentary/commercials in 2022-23 or the never-ending all-parts-of-the-body-odor commercials of 2022-23? Those commercials will make you switch to advert-free cable quicker than a rattlesnake on a sidewalk’ll change your direction. …
Consider this from Rod McKuen in Listen To The Warm: “
I'm not the first man or the last
who had a thirst to leave the past.” …
Sorry, didn’t mean to harsh your mellow. Quick. Somebody pull me out of this time machine and hit the return-to-sender button. Is this the ‘70s and am I jonesin’ for a Tab? Nope, I’m thinking of this song from the early ‘70s and the lost mission of our peaceful brothers and sisters. Not sure if this song was allowed inside the Soviet Union of those days or Russia in these days. Ignore the ads when you hear the great voices of The Seekers WHEN YOU CLICK HERE.
— Offer PEACE AND POETRY tips by clicking on ‘COMMENT’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put IT’S 2023, SILLY GEEZER! in the subject line. —-
