ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A DOG AT THE DOOR -- A TALE OF RESCUE

EDITION OF FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2023 [PetPowellPress] May we all have happy weather for the rest of the year. And may one of us win Lotto Texas — I’d like for it to be me, for a change.
Now, I’m about to launch into a happy story that starts on a door handle in Houston. That’s a sentence no one may ever have written before. Here we go:
ONCE UPON A TIME,
THERE WAS THIS DOG…
We got this wonderful rescue story from our longtime Houston tipster with a genuine sense of humor, Alexandra Kelsey. 
She also understand inserting drama into a rescue tale. If you’ve experienced either rescue or what she’s about to mention, you understand there are kind of funny aspects to drama. The story of this dog began last summer: 
 “The day before my colonoscopy,” AK began, “I went to the pharmacy after work to get all the stuff you need. And I walked up to my front door while carrying noisy plastic bags full of all the fun pre-colonoscopy stuff.”
That sets the scene — there already was drama-by-appointment in her life. Then, suddenly, there was this: “As I got closer to the door, I realized a very large black dog was tied to my front door handle and was being scared by the plastic bags.” 
[LARRY ASIDE: No idea who tied the dog to the door — we’re almost certain dogs don’t tie hemselves to a door.].
Keep in mind that this human Alexandra Kelsey is as pro-animal as a person can get, so never mind that upcoming “procedure,” it was time to help the dog.
“He was tied in such a way that he couldn’t sit down, and given that he was large and scared and tied to the spot where my key needed to go, I was a little concerned.  I walked backwards, put the bags down and proceeded to make friends with the dog.  This was last summer.
“A Chicago rescue offered to take him [named him ‘Harry”], and then ensued a long and ridiculous process which finally ended with me saying that I’d just work something else out. Then, on to vetting, board/train, getting photos, posting him.
“He was adopted in early December but they wanted him to arrive in February due to a lot of company in their house for the holidays.”
So, in summation, that medical test went well and Harry’s got a happy home.
And, as you can tell from the family’s photos of Harry, he’s not living in Texas’ summer heat, he’s got a whole new life! AK reports, “Harry now lives in Brattleboro, VT, near the Orvis fly fishing camp and lakes, and they adore him!” 
“They” includes his “new sister Mattie” and AK says, “They are happy dogs!”
And she also wrote, “I have no idea what his life was like before someone tied Harry to my front door handle, but he is now living the life of Riley!

“I know we all get so many heart wrenching emails, and I wanted to share a happy story with y’all.  One down and a gazillion to go…..”
MEANWHILE IN AUSTIN,
A PUPPY MILL ISSUE…
We got a Thursday morning note from Shelby Bobosky and the folks at the Texas Humane Legislation Network. It was labeled “BREAKING NEWS” and had to do with undoing something that, THLN suggests, doesn’t need to be undone.
The message read, “Rep. Brian Harrison (House District 10), a former dog breeder and freshman legislator from Waxahachie, just filed HB 3081 to repeal the Texas Dog & Cat Breeder Act. Unregulated large-scale breeding facilities frequently become inhumane puppy mills, producing dogs for profit without even the bare minimum of care. It’s our job, just as it was in 2011 when we initially passed this act, to remind legislators why this law is so important.”
See how to get involved at thln.org.
FYI: Here’s an April 2020 Reuters story that cites a specific breeding business with a Dallas tie.
***

DOGS NOT LEFT TIED
TO A DOOR HANDLE

These animals are in the Mesquite Animal Shelter and they’ve been fortunate enough to get the attention of the volunteer dog biographers Judi Brown and Debra Chisholm.
First up is this fellow, Teddy, a 6-year-old, 33-pound black and white Pittie who came in on Feb. 20 as —SURPRISE!— an already-neutered stray. 
Judi’s bio reports that he’d originally been adopted from Mesquite in 2016. And, in 2023, “The owners have chosen not to reclaim him so this is your lucky day! If you are an active family looking for a dog to have fun with, to entertain you, and to keep you on your toes then come and meet Teddy. Teddy is a happy-go-lucky guy that appears to love life and everyone and everything in it.  The second photo shows him welcoming a visitor that came to Mesquite Animal Shelter. He’s very outgoing and friendly. He also appears to be very happy. He pranced and frolicked around the yard. He does not seem to know the sit command but is highly motivated by treats so should be easy to train. He wagged his tail when meeting other dogs. … He gives lots of kisses.” Teddy is #31165027.
For Teddy and these other animals, use their ID number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Same system for Gibson who is #52107369. Judi says he is a 3-year-old black and white “terrier Pit” with “markings similar to those of a Boston Terrier.” He’s a “good boy” who arrived on Feb. 21 as a stray. The 35-pound pup is yet to be fixed. But there is this description: “He is EXTREMELY SWEET!  He looks up at you with adoring eyes. He loves to be physically close to you. When you call him he comes to you and puts his head on your lap. When I gave him a bath he was very patient. I know he didn’t like it but seemed to understand that it was going to make him feel better. He sits for treats and takes them gently. Even though it looks like he probably has not had a good life so far, he wags his tail and appears to be happy. He’s well behaved and wants to please. He’s friendly, calm, gentle, and very affectionate. … He doesn’t pull and walks right beside you! This guy is a diamond in the rough. He would probably do well with a laid-back family with children that would be gentle with him.” He would love to snuggle on the couch in a pile of blankets with his new family!  How lucky you’d be to have him!”
Debra did the bio of Scrappy. She wrote, “This energetic life-of-the-party kind of boy is Scrappy, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix that was brought as a stray … on 2/23.  Scrappy weighs 22 pounds, is approx 4 months old and is not neutered.  He walks quite well on a leash for a pup his age.  One of our staff has taught him to sit.  He seems quite smart and would doubtless be quick to learn, especially since he is so fond of treats.  Scrappy has lots of tail-wagging puppy spunk and exuberance.”
Scrappy is ID 52121827 when you call or email the shelter.
Debra also did the bio for Faith, described as a 2-year-old, 60-pound “mixed breed girl who was picked up by one of our officers as a stray on Feb. 18 and taken to the shelter along with another dog.” 
Faith is #52091809 when you contact the shelter. |
Debra writes, “She has a beautiful coat and two different colored eyes making her a rather unusual and attractive looking girl.

“Faith walks fine on a leash though is a bit of a puller.  When I led her past other kennels with dogs who were barking at her, she did not react.  … Faith is lively, active and alert and not a bit timid or fearful.  She  has a confident and trusting personality and has a moderate activity level.  She is amiable and likes petting and loving interaction with a human friend.  She spent a good deal of time in the room in which photos were taken scouting out all the smells and interesting items.  She does not seem to know any commands.  Faith would be so happy to leave the shelter and begin her new life with a committed person or family.”

And Debra also got to meet and write about this guy. She wrote “This adorable pup is Jax, a mixed breed boy (Dog Scanner app suggests Beagle, Lab/Retriever, Jack Russell Terrier in the mix) that was brought to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 2/18 as a stray.  He weighs 13 pounds, is approx 4 1/2 months old and is not neutered. This is one fun-loving youngster who is all wiggles and waggles. He has lots of puppy energy and typical puppy behaviors.  He loves toys and is playful.  He likes and takes treats gently.  He is a friendly fellow who tried to climb into my lap and is more than happy to receive loving attention.  This would seem a good choice for a person or family who wants a puppy they can raise from a young age and train to be a well-mannered and devoted family member.  He will need daily playtime and exercise as well as patient training.  Jax walked okay on a leash.  He is raring to go out the front door with his new family so please assist if you can.”
Jax’s shelter ID number is 52090053. Use it when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
See many Mesquite dogs and cats at THIS SHELTER ADDRESS.
You’ll also be able to see #51891339, the first cat we’ve ever encountered with the name of “Evelyn.” She’s just over a year old, a medium-sized cat who came in on January 17. She’s waiting in the Conference Room at the Shelter. [LARRY ASIDE: Clearly, she is one of those exceedingly rare Domestic Shorthair Mixes — hardly ever see ‘em in the Greater Metroplex Breeding Arena. Right? What? Oh, OK, maybe not that rare. We have two at readlarrypowell.com and they’re great companions — love to play gin rummy with them. I made that part up. But adopt one of these and see how much the intellectual aspects of your life improve. Just ask Evelyn.]

CONTEMPLATIONS
Weather, movies, TV
This is being typed while we have only sun with some clouds in our neighborhood. No snow at all, but we weren’t waiting for any, were we. What I’d prefer is a good morning cup of coffee that relaxes me no matter what the radio and TV forecasters have on their screens. Every time an announcer says “Windy” our dog “Wendy” wakes up. She hardly got any sleep at all Thursday. Great loveable dogface. … 

MOVIES??? — Used to go to ‘em all the time. Haven’t been since the advent of the face mask. Might start going back to theaters if I don’t have to take out a loan for a ticket and and a traditional (in the ‘50s) small bag/box of popcorn with a Coke. You’d think theaters were being run by gasoline companies. …

We do watch a bit of TV. Comedies and Brit mysteries though I’m still loyal to American shows Monk and Psyche — and I’m liking the detective show Will Trent on ABC. … And, now, with nothing notable to type, I look at my keyboard and press the brightly lit button with the keyboard’s message “STOP TYPING OR I’LL UNPLUG MYSELF.”
— Offer some kind of sensible idea by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘HOW EMPTY IS YOUR TANK, GOOFBALL?’ in the subject line. ——