ReadLarryPowell.com

SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK UP THE NAPPING CATS' NOSES...

In the corporate headquarters of readlarrypowell.com, we are blessed with two Tabby cats. Gray, black stripes and some highlights. Got the “M” on the foreheads….the whole works.
We’re focusing on them for this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
What we hope to do is demonstrate a way the unskilled cat-eye can determine which Tabby is which. This involves a careful look at the nostrils.
These cats may be relatives. After all, they both showed up in the same Dallas neighborhood near Polk and Ledbetter. Esme arrived in 2012 — she particularly enjoyed the twice-daily group meal known as the Front Porch Feral Buffet.
In 2018, as I was painting the wood-trim on the brick house, William, a youngish fellow, walked up, applied for a job helping me — mostly via observation — and, then, took a permanent position as Office Cat William Powell.

If a room is only slightly dark, you may not be able to tell Esme from William.
 But, if you have a cellphone flashlight, you’ll be able to tell that William is the Tabby with the dynamically pink nose. Esme has a more sedate dark nose with only slightly pinkish coloring around her nostrils.
This photo is of Esme as she plots her leap from the floor into my lap in the living room chair we share.
I’ve also included a video of younger cat William Powell grooming while in my lap in the living room chair we three share. 
What does that video show? It displays a cat’s sincerity toward grooming. And, at the end, you get to see the glare a cat can aim at you when Celebrity Cat William Powell realizes the paparazzi is filming his most personal moments. It’s an icy stare.
Click THIS LINK to see the William video and get the full impact of a Tabby cat’s pink-nosed glare. 
Yeah, I have NONE OF THE SKILLS REQUIRED to convert that "still photo" into the moving picture you'll see when you click on THE LINK. Junior college dropout, you know -- I pay attention to cats and dogs instead of profitable knowledge. Why do you think I'm an insomniac?
[DEAR READERS: Please send photos and bios of the slumbering animals you love to us at [email protected]. You’ll be inspiring other people to make room in their homes and hearts for dogs and cats and other critters that enjoy a good nap. And you’ll be helping insomniacs understand that they, too, can get some sleep if they can just figure out how to glare away interruptions and distractions. Takes practice.
—- Offer tips and lullabies by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put STOP EATING AND NOD OFF, DIET BOY in the subject line. ---

AH, FRIDAY: ADORABLE ADOPTABLES & THE SUN's SHINING (FOR NOW)....

EDITION OF FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2023 [PetPowellPress] It’s the last Friday of April 2023 and there’s only one thing to do. I cannot remember what it was, but I think it might have been yardwork. Or buy ice cream. One of those. OK, let’s talk animals.
HERE WE GO ONCE AGAIN
WITH A GOLD MEDAL APPEAL
I’ve never met this dog, but I’ve met a ton of dogs and never been disappointed.
Gold Medal is getting this extra publicity because he’s in extra need of a good home and so far nobody’s found a place for him. 

Call this our “get the cows to come home effort” to find a good home for this good dog. As his first supporter in his career as a shelter dog, Amy Poskey, wrote about her begging-for-the-dog-efforts, “My knee pads are worn out but I will keep trying 'till the cows come home' 
"Handsome Gold Medal just wants to be loved and he will love you back tenfold!  So, if you can foster or rescue or adopt this sweet boy, please let us know.  The shelter is overflowing!|
The shelter is Denton’s Linda McNatt Animal Care & Adoption Center at 3717 N. Elm St. His shelter ID is #52361722.
 Gold Medal is described as a male, white and black Australian Cattle dog mix.” He may be around 3 years old and he’s been in the shelter since March 15 when he was rescued while roaming. 
The shelter link is HERE.
His shelter bio reads, “He has been neutered, microchipped and is ready for adoption and/or rescue.” 
He is “Dog friendly!  Cats unknown.  A staff member tested Gold Medal with her Border Collie and he did not display any signs of aggression and seemed indifferent to him.  Gold Medal also seems indifferent to the other dogs at the shelter and likes to play through the fence.  Non-aggressive….

“When this sweet boy arrived at the shelter he was really dirty, had a worn out collar with a bit of chewed rope hanging on it, and very shy. The staff said that he was very scared at first and is still timid until you walk him or interact with him.  He seems very submissive and will flop over for a belly rub when he feels comfortable with his visitors.” 
Gold Metal’s shelter bio is HERE. On the left, that's one of his "pre-cleanup" photos. He's cleans up pretty darned good, doesn't Mr. Gold Medal Handsome!

Call the shelter at 940-349-7594. Email these staffers:   [email protected]; [email protected];   [email protected].
[LARRY ASIDE: Bless the hearts of people who work so hard to make sure a rescued dog finds a safe place with loving humans. This could be Gold Medal’s perfect time for a perfect home. May every dog and cat in Denton’s shelter have as determined a supporter as Amy.]

STRAYDOG INC. SEEKS MATCHING
AND ADOPTING AS 30TH NEARS
Two notes about the legendary non-profit Straydog Inc.
The organization has a “Spring Match” going on through now and the end of April on the 30th. “Every dollar donated will be matched by generous donors, which means your donation will go twice as far,” the Straydog note says. The link for Matching Clicking is HERE.
As you can see from that Straydog Inc. illustration, there’s an “Adoption Day” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Cedar Creek Brewery, 336 E. Cedar Creek Parkway in Seven Points, Texas. The text, in case you aren’t wearing your glasses and the art won't expand when you click it, reads, “We’ll have more than a couple of our amazingly friendly and loving residents with us. Grab a pint and meet a pup.” [LARRY ASIDE: Having been raised a teetotaling Southern Baptist, of which there are many in East Texas, I feel the need to remind you that you can meet a dog and arrange to adopt a dog without having a “pint,” which is, for those who don’t know, Amen, a serving of whatever they’re brewing. Remember, not drinking is not a sin, but not being kind to animals? Well, readlarrypowell.com has a committee checking out the rules on that one. Pretty sure it’s a big honkin’ sin to not be kind to animals.]
THE STORY OF WAITING,
FEATURING BELLA THE DOG
The folks with 4-Legged Helpers have taken up new approaches on the artwork and appeals for animals. We spotted this one featuring Bella, a dog we’ve mentioned previously. She’s among the many dogs waiting for rescue or adoption in the smaller shelters and rare human-traffic areas on the southern “rural” side of Dallas.
Her bio reads, “BELLA is still waiting. Surely there must be someone looking for a gorgeous well-behaved, trained canine companion that loves people and is good with other dogs. Please share or tag a rescue friend... to increase her chances of finding her special someone!
More info in her other posts….and you can see them HERE.
And you can see more animals on the 4-Legged Helpers’ radar by clicking HERE.
[LARRY ASIDE: Bella, to the experienced eye of readlarrypowell.com, has the look of a charming and loyal dog. Yeah, you CAN judge a dog by its looks. LARRY ASSERTION: There are lots of new homes on the southern side of the Metrosprawl — surely not all of them are occupied by people who moved in and already had a dog or cat? From personal experience, it’s nice to have a dog and/or cat around the house. Gives you someone to talk to when your spouse decides to quit speaking to you..Kidding about that part, though my funspouse Martha, after a long day at the office, has been known to ask, “Have you been drinking coffee all day?”]
FROM THE SOUTHERN SIDE
TO DALLAS’ EASTERN SIDE:
WAITING IN MESQUITE
As we approach the weekend, we take a look at some of the latest animals available to good, loving homes because Mesquite Animal Services has a volunteer system that gets the adorable adoptables into the public eye. If you don’t read about ‘em on newsy websites or in emails from tipsters, you can see them on the City of Mesquite’s Animal Shelter website. 
We learn about the animals, quite frequently, in bios provided by two of the volunteer “dog-writers” Debra Chisholm and Judi Brown. 
Today’s dog tips come from Debra.

 First up is Jasmine, a mixed-breed, about-a-year-old, 48-pound pup. Debra says her Dog Scanner app “suggests Manchester Terrier and Louisiana Catahoula Leopard in the mix.”

She came into the shelter on April 12 — she and her “sibling”Stormie were strays.
 Debra writes that Jasmine “walks quite nicely on a leash.  Jasmine may be house-trained… She knows the sit command.  Though she did not seem to care about toys or balls, she was very curious about what was going on inside and outside the yard.  When a gentleman came to the gate to chat, she sat and appeared to be interested in listening to the conversation between him and a volunteer.  She is more timid than her sis. Though she is A-OK with loving attention, she does not seek it out. She has a moderate activity level.  Jasmine seems a bit on the timid and shy side but is certainly friendly and sweet-natured.”
Jasmine is #52495602 at the shelter. Her sister Stormie is #52495573. And, as you probably know use their ID numbers when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@ cityofmesquite.com.

Debra says she “named this charming youngster ‘Stormie’.” And the Dog Scanner app, she says, suggests that Stormie “has Border Collie and Canaan Dog in the mix.” 
Debra writes, “Stormie weighs 41 pounds, is about a year old and is not spayed. … There’s so much to like about this girl. She is obedient, well-mannered, calm and gentle.  She seeks out attention from a human friend.  She is affectionate and tried to climb into my lap. 

“She is frisky and perky but not overly so.  She doesn't jump on you.  Stormie has herding breed in her mix so would need a home that has plenty of room for her to move about.  An apartment would not be a good fit for her.  In fact, she would need extra stimulation to satisfy her need to work.  She wasn't interested in balls or toys.  Stormie walks quite well on a leash.  She knows the sit command.  She appears to have been well cared for and yet no one has come looking for her. … I found myself drawn to her sweet and friendly personality.”
And, as you probably know by now, we have a GLORIOUS LINK to photos and bios of animals in the Mesquite shelter. Basically, it’s dogs and cats and sometimes “whatever has shown up in need of a home.” T
his morning we clicked on the link and one of the first felines we saw was Ben (#52484008). He arrived on April 20 and is a smallish fellow believed to be approaching 4 months old. Where is he? According to the bio, he’s currently in “Staff Foster.” But he’s also “available” for adoption, unless there’s been a “Staff Foster Fail.”
Why did he catch the eye of readlarrypowell.com? Because just as I opened the Mesquite website, I happened to look at the official “Scratching Chair” in our corporate office and spotted my own friend, the former Apprentice Office Cat — now the Associate Office Cat — Stevie Ray on the brink of a nap, chin resting on the arm of the chair he and Executive Office Cat William Powell have shredded. Relax — I got the chair free off a curb after a yard-sale ended with unclaimed inventory. So, there you have it. Ask about adopting Ben by citing his shelter number #52484008 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6238or email [email protected].
When Ben grows up, he’ll probably look a lot like Stevie Ray (born in Oak Cliff not far from music star Stevie Ray Vaughan’s ol’ neighborhood). I rescued Stevie Ray as he yowled while clinging to the flimsy branch of a Mimosa tree when he was only about a half-a-handful of frightened kitten. May Ben the Kitten grow up to be as happy, as loved and as amusingly interesting as Stevie Ray.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
A SPECIAL DAY AND OTHER NOTES
If shelters announced a “Euthanize Your Dog For Free Day,”, how many people would (a) show up with dogs (b) show up to protest because they’re aghast or (c) realize that’s pretty much what’s going on day after day in shelters all over Texas and other dog- and cat-lovin’ states. Dogs and cats are “set free” and “dumped” and “allowed to escape” and "surrendered" and the humans don’t give a flip how quickly they get the needle so long as they’re gone and don’t come back. Anybody want to argue against that theory? There has to be some way to make people better human beings, don’t you think? I’m daydreaming again, aren’t I. Yeah, left over from the days of “Peace Now!” and “Stop The War.” (I can’t type it in Russian. Don’t have the font.) …
In Thursday’s U.S. Mail we got two offers to insure our house. One was $200 more than the other. Both were from different agents of the same insurance company. Our business already belongs to another outfit. The one we insure with promised to cover us and finance med expenses and feeding any kittens or puppies we find on the property for the next 20 years. I’m kidding. We don’t have the CNPC — the Cat ’n’ Puppy Claws, er, Clause. We’re already covered by the Santa Clause, i.e., any dog or cat at any age is a gift. …
Baseball question: When the Oakland A’s move to the mecca of gambling in 2027, will Major League Baseball petition to get legendary baseball gambler Pete Rose inducted into the Hall of Fame? Business being business…. Just a hardball question.
—- Offer advice or regrets by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “CALM YOURSELF AND AVOID ICE CREAM” in the subject line. —-

QUAKES, CRITTERS AND CONTEMPLATIONS -- AVAILABLE DOGS, FELINES & A MADE-UP CAT TAIL, ER, TALE

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY/Thursday, APRIL 26-27, 2023 [PetPowellPress] Some of you will know and some of you won’t that April 26 is Richter Scale Day. It celebrates the day in 1900 that inventor of the earthquake-measuring scale, Charles F. Richter,  was born. He invented the scale in 1935. 
That was the year the earth shook open a fissure between prehistoric sites of Forney and Dallas and created Lake Ray Hubbard. The quake sent water from the robust Clear Fork of the Trinity River coursing in a giant wave along the prairie until it gathered in a depression that became known as White Rock Lake. 
Please read the next paragraph.
Some of the second paragraph is completely fictional. In fact, all of that second paragraph is complete fiction. There’s a photo of why. I left the keyboard for just a minute and when I returned I found Apprentice Office Cat Stevie Ray “noodling” on the keys and chuckling over what he’d written. Funny boy. Rescued from a tree, you know.

When I write about rescued cats and dogs, Stevie Ray and his housemates come to mind. Why? Because they’re all rescued and it grinds my gizzard to think of loving dogs and cats waiting for a stranger to drop by a shelter to pick one out. What are the odds? Pretty lousy, I’m thinking.
I’ll agree with Stevie Ray’s theory: “Save ‘em all and feed ‘em well.”
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE,
ADORABLE ADOPTABLES
Mesquite Animal Services has a bunch of dedicated volunteers trying to get dumped, surrendered, stray, abandoned and whatever else you’ve got animals into good homes.
For this edition, we turn, first, to volunteer dog-writer Debra Chisholm to tell us about Balto and Bulma. Judi Brown will tell us about Fancy the dog. And we add a cat named “Jasper” to the list.  Here goes:
Debra says Balto is an Alaskan Husky/American Pit mix who “arrived at the Mesquite Animal Shelter as a stray on 1/14.  Yes, Balto has lived at the shelter for over 3 months, making him a long-term resident.  Balto weighs 65 pounds, is approx 2 1/2 years old and is neutered.”

 You probably spotted this right away. Debra writes, “He is a handsome boy with one brown and one blue eye, soft fur and adorable standup ears.”
And, there’s this personal touch. Debra’s report reads, “He is a special fave of one of our volunteers, John, who reports that he loves to go for walks and does well on a leash.  He does not appear to be dog reactive.  He now knows the sit command and will do so for treats which he takes gently.  
“Balto was adopted for a short time but brought back because a child attempted to ride on his back and he wasn't happy about that (there was no bite involved).”
[LARRY ASIDE: Parents, wise up! Make sure your kids know how to properly care for and adore a dog or cat or whatever critter you bring into the house or the kid might encounter in life. Otherwise, you’re just a headline waitin’ to happen. Honest.]
Debra’s report says, “When John sits on the bench in the yard, Balto will jump up and sit next to him and enjoy the companionship and observing the activity around them.  He is a fun-loving, energetic boy that would be a good companion for an active person who would take him for walks, exercise him and teach him some commands. Balto enjoys playing fetch. He is looking for his perfect forever home and will make some person or family a loyal pet.”

Balto’s ID is #51873061 — to ask about him use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@city0 ofmesquite.com. 

Same system for, as Debra describes her, “This precious girl Bulma.” She’s #51840990 when you contact the shelter.
 She’s a mixed breed who came in as a stray on January 9. Nearly 5 months in the shelter. She’s 6-7 years old and weighs 57 pounds. Already spayed, Bulma is “has a low-key, chill personality and is calm, gentle and well-mannered.  She walks so nicely on a leash and seems a-ok with other dogs.  Bulma may be house-trained.  She knows the sit command and will do so for treats which she takes gently.”

And Debra includes this info: “One of our volunteers has spent a lot of time with Bulma and reports that she is friendly, has a pleasant nature and enjoys loving attention.  She will roll over for belly rubs.  He says she loves to meet people.  Because of her age and her laid-back personality, she might be a good fit for an older couple or a household that is quiet and well-ordered.  Bulma (left)  resides in a wire kennel due to our overcrowded conditions.  Won't you please consider adopting, rescuing or networking this wonderful girl?”

Oh, and one more Mesquite dog. This is #52491515, known as Gracie. Her biographer Judi Brown says she “agreed to be festive and dressed up to show off for you. And isn’t she pretty with her sleek, gray/blue coat. She also says the 6-month-old, 39-pound Pittie mix came in as a stray on April 21. Not spayed when she arrived. Judi writes, “She’s a delightful puppy with puppy-like attributes. She is active, high spirited, playful, fun-loving, curious, friendly, and happy-go-lucky. She sits for treats and takes them gently. She’s highly motivated by treats and sits in anticipation of them. She was not interested in playing with balls, but scampered off after a stuffed toy I threw for her. She threw it in the air and ran with it. She does jump on you, but she is just a puppy and since she’s so highly motivated by treats she should be highly trainable. … If you’re an active family looking for a fun-loving puppy to enrich your lives then Gracie may be the dog for you. She would like to play outside with the family but spend family time inside hanging out watching TV, laying at your feet, etc.”
In the meantime, you can see more dogs and plenty of cats that are waiting at Mesquite by clicking onto the shelter’s list of animals in the shelter HERE.
That shelter link will take you to the photos and bios of dogs and cats waiting for that loving human and, maybe, family, that will provide a wonderful home.

Among the many cats is this guy is Jasper (#52341870) — no age listed, but he looks mature and contemplative. That’s two good characteristics for a cat. Jasper is a Domestic Medium Hair Mix who came into the shelter on March 30. His shelter location is “Conference Room” and his shelter “Stage” is “Available.”

HISTORY IN PHOTOS?
TRIUMPH FOR SANFORD
We’ve mentioned Emory-based Pound Pals a few times recently. These photos inspired this edition’s reference to the work of the organization that vows “Giving Senior Shelter Dogs A Second Chance.” The Pound Pals have been working on that since 2001.
Here’s how the latest Pound Pals report on this guy reads:
“Sanford says, ‘Woof!!’ It is the ‘Loyal Chow Chow’ Power Hour.
“Sanford was in extremely neglected condition when he sat on Death Row in a full pound that was killing for space. At intake, Sanford appeared to have spent many years in a cage that was too small. As a result, his spine was distorted and his muscles had wasted away.
“He was eaten by fleas and had a serious skin infection. We could not imagine the absolute awful life he had endured.. This sweet old man weighed a mere 31 pounds at intake. He was forced to sit in a cage day in and day out literally starving to death. 

“We couldn't turn back the clock and give him back the years he had been robbed of but we can make sure all of his tomorrows are filled with love, comfort and medical care. Since joining the Pound Pals Family, Sanford has blossomed into the handsome Chow Chow that had been hidden from the many years of neglect he had endured. [LARRY FYI: That's his before and after backside on the left.]
“Sanford wants other death row seniors to get the chance he has been given. Sanford says, ‘Woof!!’ Pound Pals isn't a place where old dogs are coming to die. It's a place where seniors are coming to live - many, like me, for the first time in their lives!”

The folks with Pound Pals note that “transformations like Sanford’s are made possible due to your financial support.”
Pound Pals was among the many animal organizations benefitting from this week’s East Texas Giving Day. But, for the sake of animals such as Sanford, you can go to the Pound Pals website —- www.poundpals.com — and add to the strength of the organization’s life-improving programs. Pound Pals’ Facebook page is HERE
[LARRY ASIDE: The photos of Sanford got to us. May no animal ever wind up in such a fix because humans don’t care. Humans do enough bad stuff to other humans — for crying out loud, what the heck is wrong with this species?]
CONTEMPLATIONS
ASSORTED NOTES
This is unfocused, but we’ll start with this: There’s a car dealership in the area with a TV ad in which the “broadcast talent” announces that you can buy a “Jagwire.” You cannot. You may, however, buy a “Jag-wahr,” as the word is pronounced everywhere but Texas and some of England. Research find a place that alleges the British pronunciation is “Jag-u-are.” But that’s the Queen’s English and that doesn’t count in Texas since 7/4/1776. Right? …

That “Jagwire” item is part of my new personal campaign to make certain my 2023 Motto holds firm: “I cannot edit the world.”…
I spent decades editing newspaper stories and my own hazardous writing and it’s high time I quit saying such things as, “Didn’t you go to school?” or “Ever heard of a comma?” Snide stuff. … I’m not the worst at picking out errors. I have an acquaintance whose job is to edit not-so-long stories. But one day last week, this individual was working an editing job and announced, “I got about halfway through this and I nearly lost the will to live.” That, ladies and gents, is what a poorly written, sloppily spelled and punctuated product of confusion can do to an otherwise normal human. So, for the rest of 2023, lets everybody spell right and punctuation properly. After all, as my new motto expresses, “I canhot ettit thuh whirled.”
—- Offers advice or support by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put something smart in the subject line but not “jagwire.” —

THE CHALLENGES OF RESCUE, FOSTERING AND PLACING IN A VERY BUSY DUMP, SURRENDER & STRAY AREA

EDITION OF TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2023 [PetPowellPress] Here’s a question for animal advocates, rescuers and people trying to get dogs and cats adopted:
Are things slow-going right now in the World of Animals? Just asking. 
Only thing that seems to be going quickly is the needle. Oh, and maybe the pace of birthin’ puppies and kittens and the dumping of same. 
Are those facts or just the impression I’m getting based on the explosion of emails and postings on Facebook pages?

I bring this up in order to write one heartfelt sentence. I’ve been observing animal rescuers and advocates/protectors for decades. Here’s the sentence: 

“You people have the biggest hearts and the most loving determination to succeed and I admire you for every animal you’ve saved, protected, gotten adopted and wept over when things went wonderfully right or, especially, not so swell.” 

It’s a run-on sentence, but it’s from the heart.
And I picked that kitten photo of the DAS Facebook page to illustrate the story — later on we’ll discuss DAS dogs, too, such as that fellow Bruce.
THE DOGS DUMPED

IN DOWDY FERRY AREA
You may remember these two from previous editions — one blind, one his companion, both dumped in the infamous Southern Dallas dumping area along Dowdy Ferry Road. [MESSAGE TO HUMANS: Stop dumping animals. Thank you for your cooperation. Hah.]
We were looking for an outcome on this and checked with our pal Beverly Fyfe’s Facebook page — she’s a veteran rescuer/advocate in Dallas. She posted this photo of the dumped dogs and this paragraph:
 “Two bonded dogs - one blind and dependent on her friend. DAS got their hands on them and immediately separated them into different cages. Both dogs were despondent without each other. Apollo Rescue has saved them from that hell hole and reunited them. Once in a while …”
That led us to the Facebook page of Apollo Support & Rescue for Abandoned Dogs and founder Danielle Marni Stewart. The message there read, “Dumped dogs... becoming the norm. They were bonded as one was blind. Separated by the shelter. But we have saved and reunited them. Please consider a donation.”
Go to apollosupportandrescue.org to see how to get involved with helping animals in the care of the rescue in Justin, on the northern side of the Metrosprawl.
MEANWHILE IN SMALL SHELTERS
NEW ANIMALS ARE WAITING, TOO
We’ve previously mentioned the waiting-in-small-shelters dogs Bella, Daisy and Reid (more on them in a minute), and, with the daily mail comes reports that the smaller shelters on the southern side of Dallas have even more animals waiting for adoption or rescue and, yes, 4-Legged Helpers can assist with transport “if you are a 501c3 rescue willing to help save a life.”
To ask about helping these animals, call or text the 4-Legged Helpers at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].
This guy Kevin, a “baby male” Lab Mix, is on the brink of having to go a shelter but, for now, is in the care of someone trying to keep him out of a small, underfunded shelter environment.
His story is the “really sweet, adorable” puppy was “found out and about and sadly was with his brother that had been injured and had passed away. He was there waiting with him.  Truly heartbreaking.  This baby guy is about 6-months-old and loves everyone and everything including other dogs and children   Absolutely adores people….Please do not let him end up in the shelter,” the Helpers’ appeal reads.
And this already-neutered male Chow/Lab mix is Flynn. The 4-Legged Helpers report that he is in the Wilmer Animal Shelter. 
His Helpers’ bio reads: “You will not meet a sweeter more lovable teddy bear of a dog anywhere. He is so very sweet. SO LOVABLE AND FRIENDLY.  Adores children. And he is in the absolutely worst shelter that completely floods when it rains. Dogs can be up to their knees in water.  It is a very small town with no resources.  And it is supposed to rain/   Please won’t you help save him????  Critically urgent.”

And Lainey? She’s spayed and is described as a “Weimaraner/Pointer/possibly Rhodesian Mix.” She’s in the Ferris Shelter and, the Helpers’ bio of Lainey reads: 
“Just the saddest situation.  This girl has been waiting since last September for her forever home or rescue. SEPTEMBER!!!!  Someone fostered her for a long period of time to help out but no rescue group ever stepped up for her and now she is back at the shelter. She is spayed, all vaccs.  Please. So deserving!!!  Found out and about with two Heeler puppies that a rescue pulled.  We think they were probably hers. Very cute and sweet.  Please help!!!”
Once again, call or text 4-Legged Helpers at 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].
When you go to the 4-Legged Helpers Facebook page HERE you will see many more animals including Bella, Daisy (left) and Reid, dogs we have previously mentioned but who, somehow, can’t quite get any traction with a rescue group or an adoptor so they can find a better life with humans who’ll love them.
A ‘FOSTER TAKEOVER’ SOUGHT
FOR ‘GOOD BOY’ BRUCE….
Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Center posted this appeal on behalf of Bruce, a dog who knows how to pose with wings in the background. Clever fellow and his current foster mom loves him.
Bruce is #A1145482 at Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Center. And, according to DAS, “Here’s what his current foster mom has to say about this good boy.” 
Her story reads: “Bruce is the sweetest boy and a DAS volunteer favorite who loves bones, his dog siblings, napping, all treats, and you. Trust me, he loves you already. Bruce has been so lucky to be out of the shelter for several months and was on the verge of a forever home, with two applicants who adored him but backed out for personal reasons. His foster mom loves him too, but she is leaving the state for work and cannot take him. Will you be a soft landing for Bruce?"
 To ask about fostering Bruce, go to BeDallas90.org/foster and volunteer.
The DAS note also reads, “Even better: Interested in giving Bruce a forever home? You can set up a meet and greet with his current foster family HERE. 
He’s a 5-year-old, 66-pound, sweetheart of a Pittie, his supporters say.
[LARRY ASIDE: There’s no indication in his bio of how he wound up in a big city shelter, but, having been an observer of the behavior of humans in Dallas, we’ve got an idea that “dumped” or “stray” are the two leading suggestions. Might have been adopted by someone seeking company during the Pandemic and now that it’s over, well, heck, “Git rid of that danged dog. Ah’m tahred u buyin’ him food.” Not that I’ve simulated the accent of any local jerks, of course. — Larry.]
OH, and here’s some- thing I disco- vered when looking for information about Winged Bruce on the Dallas shelter website bedallas90.org. There’s ANOTHER white-faced pittie boy named Bruce pictured at the shelter. He’s #41177944 —an 8-month-old, “mixed breed,” 38-pound fellow in “Shelter Kennel # AD 054.” according to his listing.
You can call to make an appointment with the Winged Bruce, or you can drop by the city shelter at I-30 and Westmoreland to meet the younger Bruce.
They both deserve good homes, as you probably know.
CONTEMPLATIONS
ONE PASSAGE WITH MANY POINTS
Sometimes on the emails sent to readlarrypowell.com you’ll find wisdom and chagrin and evidence of great hearts.
In one of the latest emails from 4-Legged Helpers, there was a passage described this way: “Sad but so true! Stolen from another rescue site!” We’d love to know which rescue site — if you know, let us know. Email [email protected]. 
In the meantime, read this and see what it’s like in today’s rescue world — you’ll see the need for rescuers and adoptors and a reason to preach the gospel of “Be Kind To Animals” to the general population.
The passage reads: 
“A very good rescue friend of mine just said: ‘If we euthanized every single dog sitting in a shelter right now, all the shelters would be full again by Friday.’
“And if that isn't the truest and saddest statement I have ever read, I don't know what is.
“We are drowning. No one is coming to save us. I am exhausted. I can't even place a 40-pound, mixed-breed boy who is vetted, good with dogs, good with kids and is housebroken! How am I supposed to place the 75-pound, black Pitbull who doesn't like cats or male dogs (probably not alpha female dogs either) and tries to dominate/hump kids? 
“We can't! We can't do it. And then we feel so damn guilty that we can't.
“Yet you know his previous owner isn't losing sleep over him. The shelter workers and rescuers are. But dogs just keep coming, and we have to help the ones that will yield the best outcome for the dog, adopters and the public.
“We bear all the responsibility for the dogs that we didn't break, but we try our best to put the pieces back together anyway. We don't always succeed. Please keep rescuers and shelter workers in your thoughts. We are all slowly breaking.”

— Offer solutions and hope by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected]. —-

ON MONDAY: DOGS, CATS, PEOPLE, A GIVING DAY & DAME EDNA'S MISSION

EDITION OF MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2023 [PetPowellPress] Welcome to the last week of April. I’m hoping to lose 20 pounds by Friday without dramatic surgery. Ah, that goal in mind, I’ll take a sip of coffee and begin the daily process. Everybody calm down, ease into Monday without trepidation and embrace the joy of springtime on the paved, painted and developed North Texas prairie. That's Gold Medal getting a treat.
Remember that hailstorm that rolled through the Metrotarget last week? I fretted that the hail peppering our house and yard might wreck our front yard rose bush. 
We’ll get to Gold Medal in a minute. What? Gold Medal the Dog. Read on.
These are some of the surviving blooms that have brightened the entrance to our driveway since appearing earlier in the spring. Thought I’d share the joy of stronger-than-hail roses before we roll into the challenge of saving animals in a metropolitan area that has full shelters and hustling rescue groups desperately seeking bouquets of foster homes. I used the term “bouquets of foster homes” rather than “boatloads of foster homes.” They make the same point, but “bouquets” suggests more of the romance of inspiration and “boatloads” is too close to “buttloads.” So, “bouquets of foster homes,” please.
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE,
DOGS TRUDY AND MARSHALL
AND A CAT NAMED ‘SISSY’
We got the tips on Trudy and Marshall from Mesquite Animal Shelter volunteer dog-writer Judi Brown. [LARRY ASIDE: Once again, a salute to the volunteers at all shelters who work so hard to save so many animals! If I’m elected president, I’ll get Congress to not only give you official shelter volunteers a tax break but also an annual “Animal Do-Good Bonus” so big that it’ll make you forget about wanting to win Lotto Texas. I’m sure other American taxpayers will support that proposal.]
We’re starting with Trudy (ID #52465439), described by Judi as “a fun-loving, energetic, enthusiastic, happy puppy that loves life and everyone she meets. She is a 5-6-month-old mostly blonde Shepherd mix that was surrendered …on 4/18 because her owners were moving. She weighs 31 pounds. She is already spayed. According to the surrender form she was an inside-only dog.”
How is she with kids? The kids she used to have? The bio reads, “She lived with children and got along well with them. She had not lived with dogs or cats but her previous owner said she was friendly with them. She did want to make friends with dogs she met as she passed by them in the bay. The (previous people) also reported that she knows the sit and lay down commands. She was so excited and was not able to concentrate on these commands today. She did love to romp and frolic around the yard. She even did zoomies. … When I first got her out into the yard she jumped in the toy box and found herself a toy. She entertains herself with toys. It’s quite comical to watch. She does jump on you a lot. She gets down when you ask her to but in a few minutes she’s back at it again. Of course, she’s only a young puppy and this is puppy-like behavior.”

Remember, to ask about Trudy, use her ID #52465439 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Same routine for Marshall (#52482882), the dog Judi describes as the “strikingly handsome, fluffy Alaskan Malamute” who “is even more attractive in real life.”
 She says Marshall is “a 10-month-old, 72-pound gentle giant.” 
Surrendered? Why? Judi says the surrendering humans didn’t fill out a form, but “gave the reason that they had too many animals,” and she adds, It’s hard to imagine anyone giving up this sweetheart.”
As for his weight, Judi wrote that “I could’ve sworn with his broad back and as big as he appears to be that he would’ve weighed 90 pounds. However he’s a lot of soft fluff! He definitely would make a good cuddlebug.”
There is this Judi note, too: “He doesn’t appear to know his name but he did come to have his ears scratched when I sat down. He lavished me with kisses and rolled over for belly rubs. He did explore indicating that he’s alert and curious. For the most part though he stayed close. He doesn’t jump on you. He didn’t appear to know the sit command but wanted to obey what I was asking of him. He just did not understand. He obviously wants to please. He also was not interested in playing with toys or balls. He walked extremely well on a leash...especially considering his size.  … He is calm, gentle, sweet, and friendly but not overly so. He is a diamond in the rough!”

Click on THIS WEBSITE to see the other dogs and the cats waiting in the Mesquite Animal Shelter. Among the felines is this girl we’ve spotlighted previously, Sissy (#51847783), well over a year old and a Domestic Medium Hair Mix who arrived on January 10. She is listed as a “Large” cat. And her online bio says she’s currently located in the shelter’s Nursery. And she’s available. [LARRY ASIDE: If you’re a human, you’ve had worse roommates than a cat. If you’re a cat, you need a good human for a roommate.]
NEW LOOK AT GOLD MEDAL,
THE DENTON WAITER….
By “Denton Waiter,” of course, I mean that he is a dog still waiting in the Denton Animal Shelter and we know this thanks to our longtime pal and animal advocate Amy Poskey who is determined to find him a good and proper foster or a good and proper home. Either or both will work.
Amy hustled up some new photos of Mr. Handsome Gold Medal, including that photo of the adorable dog enjoying a happy tummy rub at the shelter.
Amy writes, “Gold Medal has been waiting over a month to find love but I’m not giving up on this handsome, loveable boy and I hope you don’t either!  He is so calm and sweet and enjoys being loved on!

"Please note his HW treatment will be covered, so the only thing missing is a foster home (DFW area) or an adopter (only $20)!  He’s such a SWEET, SWEET, SWEET boy!!!
"
Gold Medal is an Aussie Cattle Dog Mix and his ID is #103591 at the Linda McNatt Animal Care and Adoption Center, 3717 N. Elm St. in Denton. Phone 940-349-7594. Or email gayla.nelsen@cityof denton.com; nicole. [email protected];   shelly.meeks@city ofdenton.com.
Amy closes her appeals on behalf of dogs with this quote:
“A dog has one aim in life… to bestow his heart.|
[LARRY ASIDE: That’s a quote from the British writer/editor J.R. Ackerley (11/4/1896/6/4,1967). He wrote the book My Dog Tulip about his German Shepherd. The summary on goodreads.com reports, “J.R. Ackerley’s German Shepherd Tulip was skittish, possessive and wild, but he loved her deeply.” The summary says the “moving book” was “described by Christopher Isherwood as one of the ‘greatest masterpieces of animal literature.” The book was published in 1956. And, from our vantage point at readlarrypowell.com, that dog’s “aim in life” holds firm. Bless the dogs of this planet and keep them all safe and loved.]
HELLO, EAST TEXAS!

GIVING DAY ON TUESDAY
We got two reminders about East Texas Giving Day, each noting organizations we frequently write about, Pound Pals (based in Emory) and Straydog Inc. (based near Gun Barrel City). 
You can donate to these East Texas organizations — there are many for humans in need and animal rescuers/advocates and I even saw 3 live theaters companies listed among recipients at easttexasgivingday.org. 

 East Texas Giving Day runs from 6 a.m. to midnight on Tuesday, though you can donate early at the website, we’re told.
You can read about Pound Pals by going to http://poundpals.com.
And you can read about Straydog Inc. by going to www.straydog.org.
 As you probably know, there are three things all rescue groups need: Volunteers, fosters and MONEY.
[LARRY ASIDE: Based on my personal experience in live theater groups, I can testify that all theatre companies need Volunteers, Money and Fosters who can put up with actors who get caught up in portraying someone they aren’t.You need to feed ‘em but you don’t need to walk ‘em, unless they’re portraying a dog in the play, “Fluffy Fights the Bears of Yellowstone Park.” I might have made up that foster-the-actors part and the Fluffy play, too.]
By the way, we wish the best for every organization registered with East Texas Giving Day. 
[FOR YOUR CALENDARS: We remind others in the Metrosprawl that North Texas Giving Day is September 21, 2023.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
TREES, NEEDLES, DAME EDNA
Show of hands, please, from people who once lived in East Texas: Do you miss pine trees?
Heck, yeah. Pine cones dropping out of the sky are one thing, but the oaks around DFW tend to drop entire limbs, at least in my backyard. And there is a place in the front yard where an entire oak tree once fell — long before we moved in. Left a big dip in the yard. Fortunately, weeds grow easily and fill up that spot. …
When I was a young driver/reporter living in East Texas, I bought a used car that had been parked under a pine tree for a while. Every time I turned on the heater or the air-conditioner, the fan blew pine needles out of the vents. For months and months. Yep, still love pine trees. …
And we feel the need to bid farewell to Australian comedian Barry Humphries who died at 89 on April 22 in Sydney. We had the privilege of seeing him perform as the star he created, Dame Edna Everage, in a  show several years ago in Fort Worth. An observation: It’s always interesting to go to a sporting event and see almost all of the fans responding to a high point for the home team. But when you are in a theater and it is packed and you realize the entire audience is laughing uproariously, you know you are in the presence of someone who has a special mission on this planet. God bless the comics who make all of us laugh. And may Mr Humphries have a grand time in the hereafter laughing along with Dame Edna. Not sure Dame Edna could perform in her theater clothing in some places these days. Topic for another day.
—- Offer ideas or opinions by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put CUE THE SPOTLIGHT in the subject line. —-

A LITERATE DOG AND A HAPPY WAY OF LIFE....

[We have a guest writer for this April 22-23, 2023, edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. You've seen her before. She is the formerly starving, desperately fleeing, rasping dog of assorted breeds, Porche Noel, found on our front porch at Christmas in 2009. She crawled through the requisite Oak Cliff burglar bars gate onto the porch, gulped down all of the servings of the daily feral cat buffet and had grown so much wider she couldn't exit through the bars and run back into her desperate sitation. 
We kept her. The cats liked her and so did the other dogs.
Yeah, that was a while back. She was not much more than a puppy. Smaller than she looks in this photo. That is young Porche on her first ride to her first vet visit -- not just her first visit after we got her, but probably her first visit ever. If she someday tells me who mistreated her nearly to death, I'm going to visit him with the readlarrypowell.com Two-by-Four of Enlightenment. Here's Porche's report.]


DEAR READERS OF CANINE AND FELINE LORE:
My pen name is Porche Noel. It worked well enough in real life, so I immediately took it as my pseudonym. Looks good on a book jacket -- if they still have those. 
The other choice was "The Imaginary Dog" and, while entertaining, it's clear I am not imaginary so that would be an inappropriate pseudonym.
Can you imagine how long it takes a dog to learn to spell "pseudonym"? Not very long. You think dogs can't spell? Who do you think sprays messages at knee-level in public facilities?

Moving along, I understand that this weekend edition of readlarrypowell.com is devoted to slumbering animals because the fact that we're relaxed enough to nod off in a human household either means we're all drunk as skunks -- no offense to skunks -- or we actually love and trust the people who have given us free room and board in exchange for companionship.
And, of course, I get a little extra kick each week in the paycheck because of my membership in the Cinema Writers Guild of Texas & Other United States. Perhaps you saw one of my earlier films, The Flea That Wouldn't Leave. 
At any rate, I live with humans and cats and, yet, the United Nations has yet to summon me to lecture on How To Get Along When Boundary Disputes Get Hairy.
Perhaps, you've noticed the photo of me out like a light on the Office Dog's Bed in what's his name's home office. One of the things we writers enjoy is the sound of someone snoring while we write. It is the shape of things to come, I keep telling our waitstaffer as he attempts to put the finishing touches on his novel, The Cat and The Reindeer: A Mad Flight At Christmas.
He thinks he can turn that photo of his wooden reindeer and his sitting-up-and-sleeping-cat Stevie Ray into a book jacket. I keep telling him that by the time he puts the punctuation in place in that novel, book jackets will have been made obsolete by computers.
Also,  I don't think a plot twist that has a cat running for the presidency is the least bit believable. Though, of course, "Swear in the Cat And Take the Veep for a Walk" is a good title.
If you've read this far, your correspondent Porche Noel thanks you from the bottom of my loving canine heart. People are essential to the good lives of dogs and cats and other sleepers and nappers in the animal kingdom.
Remember, be kind to animals. And, yes, I am available as a motivational speaker on such topics as dieting, real estate and bladder control. Thank you for your time. Porche Noel, author, speaker and gourmand.
[LARRY NOTE: Porche is one articulate mutt. She snores dramatically and refuses to wear her CPAP mask. Gets in the way of her singing along with Hits of the ''70s on Sirius XM. Big fan of The Go Gos. Have your slumbering dog or cat write an explanation of his or her lifestyle with you and email it and the sleeping/napping photos to [email protected]. Thanks.]

LOOKING BACK AT TWO DUMPED DOGS....LOOKING FOWARD AT HUMAN BEHAVIOR (HAH! YES, IT'S FUTILITY FRIDAY

EDITION OF FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2022 [PetPowellPress] There are hundreds of dogs on the clock in shelters in Dallas/Fort Worth and surrounding area.
In Thursday’s edition we spotlighted two dogs dumped “on Middlefield by Dowdy Ferry Road” on the southeastern side of Dallas. Guess where they are now?
The original situaition is a disgusting story of animal abandonment. Let me rephrase: It is YET ANOTHER DISGUSTING STORY of animal abandonment in our region. 
The update (and there may be subsequent updates we've yet to see), again comes from Mary Fambrough’s FACEBOOK PAGE HERE. It reports:
“DALLAS ANIMAL SERVICES HAS PICKED THEM UP.”
Then the update adds, “Now this poor Puppy will be separated from her mother and her mother is basically her eyes on how to do anything .. because she has no eyes..so now she’s going to go into a scary shelter and not be able to see and be separated from her mother. I’m waiting on their ID numbers we need to get them out as soon as possible they deserve to get out of there.”
Not sure about the genders used in that update, but the IDs listed in the update reads "Dude is #1177849 and Lady is #1177835."
Rescue organizations know how to get in touch with the key people at Dallas Animal Services to help these dogs. CONSIDER THIS: Dallas Animal Services, as you animal fans know, keeps the needle active.
 You can see DAS statistics online. I don’t know how accurate these stats are — they are Dallas Animal Services Department Shelter Fact Sheet stats. And they show for March 2023 (the latest available monthly summary) in a segment titled OUTCOMES that the shelter euthanized 403 animals (not counting the “owner request” euthanasias). That 403 figure included 312 dogs, 40 cats and 51 “other.” See the chart by clicking HERE.
It’s a big, wide, small-type chart — you can’t read it on your phone.
So, there you have it for Dude and Lady. Either someone saves ‘em or they’re a negative statistic. 
Blame -- very specifically blame -- the residents of Dallas and surrounding area who just don’t give a flip about what happens to living beings who clearly display the ability to love and feel other human emotions, i.e., fear. distrust, loyalty…
The Dallas Animal Shelter website is at bedallas90.org.
Track DAS on Facebook HERE.  (That's where that free adoptions artwork leads the page.)
And google around, you’ll find several places dedicated to helping Dallas animals survive the shelter experience after the person they thought loved them dumped them like a bag of trash. 
CONTEMPLATIONS
DEFEATING HUMAN BEHAVIOR?
YEP, IT'S FUTILITY FRIDAY
True or false: The traditional philosophy of animal control in Texas is “Got an animal problem? Let’s kill it.” 
Was for a long time. But good hearts rose up to change things in shelters and in city halls while also creating a robust rescue and lobbying system.
Politicians are sensitive to loud, polite and persistent voices. The challenge now is reaching into the hearts of the residents, in particular the “Don’t Care/So What” people.
Against great odds, here’s an appeal on behalf of animals. The whole overload of animals in all shelters for the past few pandemic years has pulverized my brain. I don’t know how you shelter staffers and animal rescue groups and volunteers can keep going — except for the fact that you have the heart to continue the hands-on mission. 

The people I really don’t understand are those who adopt, then ignore, mistreat or dump dogs and cats. “Adopt is loosely defined in that sentence. “Acquire” may be a more accurate word, i.e., “I’ve acquired a new car” or “I’ve acquired Covid.” You see, “adopt” suggests a loving heart is involved in the process. Not always the case of a guy who pays $10 for a puppy on a grocery store parking lot, wants the dog to be an outdoor watchdog and then gets rid of him because he barks too much. Idiot people.

These don’t care/so what people acquire dogs and cats, let ‘em breed, let ‘em roam, let ‘em wind up on death row or ugly, bloody scenes of dismemberment on freeways and streets. 
Those don’t care/so what people are the villains in this story in sprawling North Texas. Who are the “don’t care/so what people”? They are the human rescuers the dog was still looking for with love just as a shelter tech shoved a needle in and everything went dark.
Consider that these animals are not without the ability to love — unless some jerk human has made ‘em that way.
 The don’t care/so what people are the irresponsible beings who are confident that if ol’ Trixie wanders out into the street and gets clipped by a car or picked up by a dog-catcher, they’ll just get another dog to take her place or “maybe I’ll git a cat next time.” There are plenty of dogs available. Cats, too — “Those thangs breed like rabbits. I can always get anothern.” That’s not an actual quote but it’s sure as hell an actual attitude.

What can be done to make “Be kind to animals” evolve from a message to a philosophy of life? It would guide the hearts of people to change for the sake of the animals. What can make people see their animals as valuable companions rather than a mouth to feed until it runs off.
Yeah, maybe this is Futility Friday. Pretty soon I’ll be calling for an end to wars around the world. Did that years ago, of course. Humanity — it just doesn’t listen.
 We can’t convince our fellow humans to not kill each other in bars or in wars, on the streets or in the homes. How can a guy typing in a home office with a napping cat and a snoring dog reach the heart of people who need their hearts reached?
Sorry I got carried away, Dear Readers. It think it’s why my beloved Uncle Charles always called me “Preacher.”
Look, here’s the deal: Friday morning found me fed up with all the killing of animals just to free up kennel space for the next load of animals on death row. 
I call the dolts whose behavior puts animals on death row the “don’t care/so what people.” “Dolt’s” is a kind word — I think in a lot of cases I’d prefer to see the term “inmates” applied to the don’t care/so what people who dump, abandon, mistreat, starve, ignore or somehow physically and mentally harm their animals, spouses and kids. Setting a bad example is a harmful act.
The studies show “Cruel to animals, cruel to kids.” Here’s a link to Overview of the Cycle of Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse, a study published in 2008 by the Animal Legal & Historical Center at Michigan State University. 

Dumping an animal on a rural road without food or water or any sort of care? Form of abuse. Who knows what those animal-dumping people are like at home! Abandoning animals in Texas is a crime. If you know who dumped those two dogs, call the authorities. Get the Dowdy Ferry dogs to safety and the villains off the streets. It’ll be a better world for all of us.
— Offer ideas by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected]. —

TWO DOGS DUMPED NEAR DOWDY FERRY ROAD -- IT'S AN UGLY TALE OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR....

EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY APRIL 20-21, 2023 [PetPowellPress] For this edition of readlarrypowell.com, we’re waiting for information and we’re waiting for rain. I have an umbrella and a set of out-dated encyclopedias. FYI, speaking of a lack of space travel entries in my mid-1950s edition of Collier’s Encyclopedia, we have a “keep trying” message for Elon Musk whose giant rocket Starship blew up 3 minutes after its Thursday morning launch at Boca Chica, Texas, on the Gulf of Mexico. I’m a Baby Boomer, so I remember a few U.S. space program explosions in the 1950s. Never met an astronaut or Elon Musk, but I have long suspected that some of my relatives travel with intergalactic passports. That is my Spacecat Capt. Hastings — the startling black strips on his forehead first appeared so dramatically as he communicated telepathically Wednesday evening, the eve of the launch. Not certain who he was communicating with. But Congress and the Texas Legislature are in session if you’re looking for suspects.
HOW IN THE WORLD
DOES THIS STUFF HAPPEN?

DUMPED NEAR DOWDY FERRY!
I ran across this situation strictly by accident Thursday morning when I clicked on FACEBOOK HERE and it popped up on Mary Fambrough’s page. 
Take a moment to look at the photographs. 
Take a moment, too, to think about how many times in your animal- rescuing existence you’ve heard these two things: “Dumped dogs” and “Dowdy Ferry,.”
Dowdy Ferry Road is an area that animal-dumping, heartless humans have made infamous by throwing animals out of cars, pulling them out of trucks, coaxing them out of pickups and shooing them away from a ride back home. You cannot get much lower as a human than by doing that to a dog.

We don’t know when these dogs were dumped or by whom or why. The post on Mary’s Facebook page (and she may not have originated it — I’m working on finding the source) read:
“DUMPED DOGS BY DOWDY FERRY.
 DALLAS, TX.
“These dogs are dumped on Middlefield by Dowdy Ferry Road. The puppy appears to have no eyes. Can anybody help them.
“PLEASE.
“FINDER SAYS FLIES ARE EATING AT THE PUPPY’S EYE AREA.”
As of this writing (noon-hour Wednesday), we have no actual contact for these dogs. No idea if anyone is helping or if a rescue group has take up the task of helping these two dogs survive staggeringly heartless human behavior. 
We’re monitoring via Mary Fambrough’s Facebook page HERE.
As the noon hour was wearing on, Jeremy Boss, President of the Dowdy Ferry Animal Commission, left a post that reads, “We are VERY aware. My crew was out last night trying to get the pups. We’re setting traps. Hopefully a rescue will step up once we get them. We are beyond our small capacity and can’t take them into our Rescue.”
The Dowdy Ferry Animal Commission website is HERE. The organization’s FACEBOOK PAGE iS HERE. 
[LARRY REMINDER: if someone knows what human “used to have” these dogs, get the authorities involved in investigating possible animal abandonment which, if memory serves, is against the law in the Great State of Texas. Of course, so are speeding, shoplifting, cockfighting, dog-fighting and a number of other situations ignored by people these days.]
CHUCKY: TWO SIDES
TO A SCHOOLYARD DOG;
WAITING IN MESQUITE, TOO
Thanks to the volunteer dog biographer Judi Brown, we now know that Mesquite has a dog with two different sides! I couldn’t think of any other way to explain the appearance of the canine Judi calls a “Handsome Dude!” the year-old Pittie/Catahoula mix has “very unique coloring and markings and a cute stubby tail. He weighs in at 44 fantastic pounds.
Why is the “Handsome Dude” in the Mesquite Animal Services Shelter? Judi reports, He was brought in by an AC officer after finding him in a schoolyard on April 14.” Judi writes, “When I first got him out in the yard he spent his time with his head down smelling everything. His sense of smell is obviously very important to him. But once he found out I had treats he decided he wanted to interact with me. Then he had me going around in circles while staying very close to me. He stayed so close it was difficult to get pictures. He does sit for treats with some coaxing. He takes treats gently. He chased a ball and retrieved it several times but then decided he was more interested in my treats. Because he’s so highly motivated by treats he should be very easy to train. He’s a handsome guy that’s very sweet, well mannered, friendly (but not overly so) and wants to please. He’s also a happy guy as evidenced by his cute tail wags. … He told me he wants to be mostly an inside dog. He also told me he likes to watch Animal Planet and sometimes cartoons.”
Chucky’s ID is #52438935 — use it when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Same system and contact points when you ask about Dolly (#52438182). “She’s got a happy-go-lucky disposition,” Judi writes. the dog is also a 6-month-old, 47-pound, still-growing German Shepherd mix (possibly part Black Mouth Cur).
“Already a cuddlebug,” Judi says. Dolly arrived as a stray on April 14 — not spayed. Judi also said the dog is “so motivated by treats that she sits in anticipation” and that made it hard to get photos of Dolly standing.” [LARRY ASIDE: She has a bit of a High School Yearbook Pose in that photo on the right, don't you think?]
Judi writes, “She’s a real people-pleaser and basically is well-mannered. She’s friendly, active, playful, alert, sweet and cuddly! When I called her she came and put her head on my lap. She walked fine on a leash when she was not intimidated by the other dogs barking at her. … She wants to be an inside dog but would need a large yard to romp in.”
Debra Chisholm, volunteer Mesquite dog-writer, tipped us to the “fun-loving, high-spirited girl” Cookie who is “listed as a Retriever/Lab mix” and came in as a stray on April 14. She’s not spayed, is about 2 and weighs 49 pounds. Debra writes, “She would be a great family dog and no doubt good with children although she does jump on you so probably would not be good with very young children until she is taught not to jump.  She is excitable, full of vim and vigor, lively! She is great at fetching.  She ran and played in the yard during our photo session. Cookie walks well on a leash.  … She sits for treats and takes them gently.  Cookie is friendly, affectionate and is perfectly happy with receiving petting and hugs.  This beautiful girl appears to have been well cared for and yet sadly no one has come looking for her.”

Cookie is #52442252 at the shelter. Use that ID when you call call 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
You can see more Mesquite dogs and cats by going to the shelter’s LIST OF ANIMALS HERE. Among them you’ll see this small back and white girl, who is currently out of work. She’s hoping to catch on somewhere as a Barn Cat, a noble feline profession. This girl is #52431875 — arrived on April 13. She’s about 2 1/2 years old and a very, very rare Domestic Shorthair Mix — wait, I may need to check on the rarity of Domestic Shorthair cats or barn cats in the greater Dallas/Fort Worth Barn Community. You can find this girl waiting to sign on as a barn cat in the Mesquite Animal Shelter Feral Room.
CONTEMPLATIONS
STORMS, SPORTS, EDITING
When I was a kid in the 1950s, we didn’t have color weather radar so we’d go outside and look at the clouds or check with our wise nextdoor neighbor, Meemaw Fisher, who seemed to always be able to predict the looming arrival of a storm in our part of the Northeast Texas Pines. We didn’t get the dire warning of storms on Monday and let the fear and anxiety built until the predicted arrival on Friday. Today’s forecasting is a different kind of comfort than that of the "could happen" weather-casting of the ‘50s. In my childhood, the most comforting phrasing was, “Oh, it’ll miss us.” Not, “There’s a dry line that’ll shove dangerously violent winds toward the tree that’s going to fall on your car after it rolls off what’s left of the roof of your house.” Ah, whatever happened to the gentle spring rains that soaked and saved the yard and weren’t so dangerous that you couldn’t play 3 or 4 innings of backyard baseball while making sure your leather glove didn’t get “all that wet.” ….

IDLE THOUGHT: Considering the scoring of the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Stars on Wednesday, could this be the year of two world championship parades in North Texas? Yeah, that was an idle thought, wasn’t it.
MEANWHILE ON THE JOB: An acquaintance of mine — known for a deft connection with writing and editing — was working on a project written by someone else Thursday morning. Finally, while using the words “juvenile” and “BLEEP” to describe the text, she confessed after a mentally painful, marathon editing session, “This took so long that I almost lost the will to live.” No, it wasn’t something I’d written. I can get people to hurl and quit a lot quicker than that.
—- Offer writing advice or lucky lotto numbers by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and make the subject line read “WATCH THAT DANGLING PARTICIPLE!” —-

FROM ANGIE'S SITUATION IN DALLAS TO A 16-YEAR-OLD DOG IN FORT WORTH: IN BETWEEN? ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2023 [PetPowellPress] Seems like only a couple of days ago that I was typing a dateline with April 3 or 4, 2023, and suddenly it’s April 19 heading toward April 20 and even May. How fast can a month go? Ease off the pedal, you know? I want to enjoy springtime, not just watch it jet past.

If I want to make the days go slower, I may have to take up trying to run for exercise. That’ll make a 30-minute workout feel like an eternity.
AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED
TO THE DOG FROM MONDAY?
I’m only calling her “The Dog From Monday” until I can type in her latest name: Angie. Yep, after Angie Manriquez, the great inspiration for Angie’s Friends and the legendary rescuer.
 Turns out, the legendary rescuer Angie herself rescued this dog from a bad situation in Dallas. The girl dog was romping loose with a boy dog when Angie nabbed her. The boy dog managed to elude capture.
But Angie got Angie into Dallas Animal Services where she became #1177209 and, according to the latest post on Angie #1177209’s DAS site (click on THIS LINK) you’ll see a red-type notice that reads: “This pet is in foster, so you won’t find them at the shelter. To start the adoption process, please click on ‘Adopt me.’”
As our original tipster on this rescue Gabriela Patero told us in a Wednesday morning note, “She will get out today! Found a lady to foster her through DAS foster program. She remains a DAS dog but in foster care during her treatment for heartworm, her acclimation into the comfort of living inside.”
She’s listed as a 4-year-old, mixed-breed (looks German Shepherdy, doesn’t she) who can be adopted without a fee.
And how about that, Big D?!
Another one pulled to safety by the great Angie Manriquez, this time working in a life-saving partnership with the City of Dallas Animal Services. Keep up with Angie’s Friends through the website connection at www.angiesfriends.org. You may recall that non-profit Angies Friends was, as the website says, “established in 2008 for the sole purpose of aiding neglected and abused dogs in economically depressed neighborhoods of Dallas.” Of course, Angie began her rescue work well before that — back in the 20th century in West Dallas.
Now, about the new photos of Angie the Dog: I had to go to the DAS website at bedallas90.org and navigate my way to the mugshots and bios of scores of dogs in custody in the city. Scores of dogs. Depressing as all get-out, as we used to say in Northeast Texas. 
But, while there I did spot this pair of dogs whose photographs were batched together — appropriately. They are, according to their shelter names, Thelma and Louise as in the name of the 1991 hit film starring Geena Davis as Thelma and Susan Sarandon as Louise. 

At DAS, Thelma is #A1176408. Louise is #1177476. Both are 2-year-old, medium-sized American Pit Bulls. You can see Thelma in the Kennel #LFD 017. Thelma is in Kennel LFD 0D8.

Go to the bedallas90.org site to see how to adopt animals at the Dallas Animal Services Shelter & Adoption Center on Westmoreland at I-30, just a few minutes west of Downtown Dallas.

In case you need a cat who portrait photographs seriously, there is this DAS guy Marble (#A1174091), a 1-year-old or 6-year-old (bio says both), 12-pound, gray Domestic Shorthair who came in as a stray with an abscess on his face. Shelter medical staff has taken care of that. Go to https://bedallas90.org/ to see how to bring this cat into your home. He’s in Kennel # LFC 049 and, yes, while his age may be in dispute, his gender is not. 

AND, THEN,FORT WORTH HAS
YOUNGER & OLDER SURRENDERS
Purely by accident Wednesday morning a I ran across a story of two dogs that wound up in the custody of Fort Worth Animal Care & Control.
The post I spotted was by Deirdre Hodgkins, a veteran shelter tech at FWACC.
The notice read, “These were owner surrenders, so we did not name them. … I’ve decided that they are now named ‘Aretha’ and ‘Marvin’.” The Facebook page (with these and several other need-to-be-adopted/rescue animals) IS HERE.
These dogs have drawn a “senior alert,” because … well, here’s how Deidre explained things:
“A52382820- red harness, name is Blackie, male, 75lbs 1 year old, unaltered.
“A52382847- pink harness (left), name is Black, female, 61 lbs, 16 years old, unaltered.”
 Yes, that older girl in the prone position is 16 years old. And that explains the “senior alert,” doesn’t it.
Deidre’s note reads, “They were owner surrenders today (Tuesday) due to landlord issues. Per owner, they have gotten along with other dogs and children, are house-trained, and know basic commands.
“The male's temperament regarding food and resources will need to be evaluated since we got conflicting information from the owner, but he didn't show any aggression during intake.
“The female was very easy-going when she came in, but was definitely nervous and didn't like being in such an overwhelming new place. They don't appear to be bonded, so they can be separated if need be. They are available for rescue, foster, or adoption.”

The dogs are in the FWACC Chuck Silcox Adopton Center at 4900 Martin St. in southeastern Fort Worth, not far from I-20 and an easy drive from anywhere in the area. Adoptions are “daily 12-6 in person,” the rules read. Potential rescuers should email [email protected]. Willing fosters should email [email protected].
To go to FWACC’s site click THIS link.
You’ll see several categories to click including the last-ditch Code Red Dogs. There were 23 dogs on the Code Red list as this was being typed at noon on Wednesday. One of them — with this look on his face — is Ace, a Beagle mix.
CONTEMPLATIONS
ARE HEARTS AS BIG AS A METROPLEX?
You’d think that in a Metrosprawl as big as the one gleefully paving over the North Texas region, there’d be enough loving homes to avoid the need for a “Code Red” list, wouldn’t you? Anybody know of an animal shelter in the multi-county area that isn’t packed to the rafters by dogs and cats somebody didn’t want and dumped? …
HOUSEKEEPING MATTER: See that photo of our dog Wendy? It’s the photo that led last weekend’s edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. But I understand sometimes that photo doesn’t show up on the website when you click on the blog. You get a blank spot. When I clicked on the blank spot, this photo finally appeared. I have no idea what causes that. But just in case you missed it — and because I love Wendy pretending to be a British barrister — that’s her picture in her “wig” once again. She’s worth the extra attention.
CLOSING THOUGHT: If milk chocolate didn’t exist, I’d be 40 pounds lighter and spending a lot less time fighting cravings. I finally conquered my donut cravings by easing through the nearly undefeatable apple fritter craving. I thought that when I became a vegetarian three decades ago, I’d lay off pastries. “Hah!” chortled the hefty typing man. Does Wendy’s wig have the shape of a well-frosted apple fritter? See what I mean. Craving lives within my soul.
— Offer diet tips or nap tips by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and avoid including an apple fritter in the big yellow envelope. —

GAP WALK-A-THON SATURDAY IN EULESS; ANIMALS AVAILABLE AND TRYING TO BEAT THE CLOCK

EDITION OF TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2023 [PetPowellPress] Welcome to Tuesday and, according to Holiday Insights, the online calendar, this is International Juggler’s Day (not sure that’s celebrated in Washington), Newspaper Columnists Day (yeah, I remember the parades and appreciation banquets all over the nation) and Pet Owners’ Independence Day — you stay home and your dog or cat goes to work in your place. Sounds like a newspaper column, doesn’t it. 

That dog Pearl is one of our topics today, too. The bottom line on her situation reads: “She needs a miracle to make it out alive.”
 She's in the Everman Animal Shelter where Friday is Euthanasia Day, out tipster tells us. Read on.
A JOURNEY FOR ANIMALS BEGINS

WITH A SINGLE STEP IN EULESS

(SO MORE STEPS CAN BE TAKEN)
Yep, this weekend is a prime time to take those steps on behalf of shelter animals — from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, you can participate in the Trinity GAP Walk-a-Thon on the track at Trinity High School in Euless.
The GAP organizers say, “This is a really fun event so bring your dogs to walk or walk a shelter dog!  Lots going on here—adoption event, food sales, raffles and more!”
As you can see in that illustration, this year’s Walk-a-Thon is dedicated to the memory of GAP trainer Ray McDaniel. People make a difference in the lives of animals. (Click on the illustration to make it large enough to read details of the Walk-A-Thon.)
Why is it important? In the note sent out by Trinity Gap guiding light Steffenie Vela explains that if the 502c3 “Trinity GAP wants to continue to help dogs in need at the level we have in the past,  or continue being able to sponsor all the [City of Euless] shelter dogs, we must have a very successful walk.   The enormous amount of puppies, sick dogs, and inflation of everything in general has taken its toll this past year.  We must replenish our vet fund to be able to meet our obligations.”
Get more details on participating in the Walk-a-Thon by going to the Trinity GAP Club site HERE .
And to see the animals that need help click on http://trinitygaprescue.org/. To ask about adopting or helping an animal, email [email protected].
MEANWHILE IN EVERMAN,
THE SHELTER HAS DOGS
THAT ARE IN TIGHT SPOTS
This dog is Pearl. She was the first dog picture we saw when we opened Tuesday’s mail and the urge to adopt was immediate. Them, of course, I remembered we’re at the limit. So, my job is to write Pearl into a good person’s heart so she can avoid being euthanized on Friday, April 21. That’s this Friday.
We got the news from Heather Harrison who monitors efforts by the Everman Animal Shelter to get animals out without having to employ a needle — you know what I mean. Walk ‘em out with a smile.
Pearl is a 3-year-old Great Pyr mix.
Heather writes that the “Everman Shelter is over capacity and will be euthanizing to make space by Friday, 4/21."
Heather describes Pearl as “a beautiful, tall girl with the sweetest personality.  Very docile, calm & easy going.   Sits quietly in her kennel, never bothering the others.  Vaccinated.  Dog social.  She needs a miracle to make it out alive.”
Call the shelter at 817-561-5495
In a note about 4 other at-risk dogs, Heather wrote, “Everman TX shelter is a small, rural shelter without much foot traffic or help. They are beyond full & pleading for help to save their dogs.  Euthanizing for space on Friday as they have no room left.  Need out by Friday 4/21.”

Here are 4 of the dogs on the clock, i.e., “RISK OF EUTHANASIA.” 
Heather cites:
— Lexus - 2yr old, female Shepherd mix. Very sweet & loving. Dog social. Fully vetted. Loves walks!
— Butter - 5yr old, male Chow mix. Sweet, curious boy. Fully vetted. Dog social, slow intros. Loves walks, car rides & cuddling. Heartworm positive (has sponsor) Owner died & now he will too!
— Huck - 2yr old, male Hound/Rottweiler mix. Energetic, outgoing guy. Loves to be out & about. Walks, hikes, car rides are all a favorite. Loves toys. Very sweet. Female dog social. Fully vetted
— HANK - 3yr old, male Lab mix. Sweet, easy going guy. Attentive to his human. Loves walks. Dog social.”
All 4 of these dogs, Heather reports “have been at theshelter 45-plus days. Some 6 months plus.” 
To rescue or adopt, call the Everman Shelter at 817-561-5495.
The Everman Shelter FACEBOOK page is HERE.
 
MESQUITE’S SHELTER ALSO
HAS DOGS IN TOUGH SPOTS:

BLUE’S ‘WAY LONGER' STAY!
Thanks to the volunteers at Mesquite Animal Shelter, we’re able to begin this report with Blue who has been beating the odds.

Our tipster, volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm, introduces us to this handsome boy Blue. He’s an “an American Staffordshire mix that arrived at the Mesquite Animal Shelter as a stray on 9/13,” Debra writes, then adds, “That's right, he's been a shelter resident for over 7 months...way longer than any dog should have to live in a city shelter rather than in a loving home.  Let me tell you about why you should consider adopting or rescuing this fellow:

“Blue weighs 72 pounds, is about 4-5 years old and is neutered.  Though he has a bit of a strong pull, he walks quite well on a leash, thank you!  He doesn't seem dog reactive and the shelter staff would be more than willing to conduct a dog test.  He may be house-trained as he potties and poops in the yard.  He's quite skilled at fetching and seems to enjoy it. Today was a beautiful day and he thoroughly enjoyed getting out of his wire crate and into the yard.  He enjoyed fetching, running about in the yard, and climbing on the play equipment. He is crazy about toys and loves playing with them.   He is high-spirited and energetic.  Yet he does not jump on you! Blue is friendly and will happily receive loving touches and petting.  Please help this deserving fellow out of the shelter.  It's not much of a life.”

Blue is #51109844 at Mesquite. Use that ID number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].

Sylvie is #52426853 in the shelter — you know the system: Use the ID number rather than the name when you contact the shelter. She’s an “adorable girl,” Debra writes. Came in as a stray on April 12 — she’s about 2 and “not-yet spayed.” Debra also says, “It wouldn't take you long to fall in love with this little gal. She is fun-loving, tail-wagging, spunky, and high-spirited. … Is confident, trusting and fun to be around.  She would be a great family dog and would undoubtedly enjoy being around children who would treat her with respect and care.  Sylvie is playful and chases balls but doesn't return them. …She really likes treats and takes them gently.  Sylvie is amiable and is perfectly happy receiving loving attention.  She would most like to live with a person or family who would include her in the family circle and allow her to live inside.  Sylvie would also prefer to make her forever home with someone who would provide daily playtime, exercise and is even open to learning some commands.”
Debra also met American Bulldog Blaze who she describes as a “delightfully handsome boy” who came in as a stray on April 7. He’s about 3 and weighs 56 “compact” pounds. Debra writes, “Blaze is such a great dog--so much to say about this spunky, lively boy.  In his excitement he will jump on you.  He fetches, likes and plays with toys and ran and played in the yard during the photo shoot.  There is nothing timid or fearful about Blaze.  Rather he is confident and outgoing and is a friendly boy.  He likes to receive attention from a human friend and will even give you kisses.  He enjoys treats and takes them gently.  He walks a-ok on a leash and did not seem reactive to other dogs we walked past. … Bottom line, this is a highly adoptable dog and he would love to find himself a new home with someone who would stay committed to him and allow him to be an integral part of his family, living inside with them.”
Blaze is #52393972 — again use his ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].

DEBRA’S COLLEAGUE IN DOG-BIO-WRITING, JUDI BROWN, had a personal view of this dog. She wrote, “When I told several staff members I was naming this sweetheart ‘Jewel’, they said that was a perfect name for her. She just happens to be a staff fave! Jewel is a 3-year-old, 62-pound Yellow Lab mix that arrived at Mesquite Animal Shelter on 4/11. She is not spayed. She looks sweet and she is! She’s got big brown eyes and a tail that wags constantly! She has a happy easy-going disposition. She loves people. Jewel is friendly, affectionate, sweet, gentle, well mannered, and alert. She doesn’t jump on you. She comes when you call her. She doesn’t seem to know the sit command but she does take treats gently. She chases balls when she’s in the mood but does not retrieve them. … She has great leash manners. She was non-dog reactive. Unfortunately she is heart worm positive. This girl has so much going for her. With her easy-going laid-back manner she would most likely do well with children.”
Jewel is #52419085. Use that identifier when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].

Judi also got to meet and work with Zeke, described as a “delightful, handsome boy with beautiful coloring and distinctive eye markings.” The shelter listed him as a Lab/Husky mix, but, Judi writes, “My dog scanner said he’s mostly a mixed breed and partly Australian Kelpie.” He’s a year old, weighs 55 pounds and came in as a stray. Zeke also “chases balls AND retrieves them — most of the time.” He likes to be with humans. Sits for treats. Takes them gently. “As a matter of fact,” Judi writes, “he’s so motivated by treats that he sits in anticipation of them. He would even sit when I reached into my smock pocket for a treat. He’s gentle, friendly, outgoing, affectionate and appears to be happy.” Zeke is #52406518. Use that identifier when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].

And Judi also provided the bio on 3-year-old, 56-pound Alaskan Husky Benji. “He arrived (at the shelter) on April 3. A concerned citizen dropped him off. The bonus is that he is already fixed.
“He is extremely loving and doesn’t seem to tire of having his ears scratched. He sat patiently while I put a scarf on him and then he set off to explore the yard. After a short period of time he came back and hung around with me. If he wandered off I would call him and he came. He answers to his name. He is highly motivated by treats and sits in anticipation of them. He was not interested in balls or toys. He’s friendly but not overly so. He’s inquisitive, alert, and energetic. He’s gentle and well mannered. … He walks OK on a leash. … As soft and as affectionate as he is, he would make a good snuggle bug.”
Benji is #52364227 — use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].

Remember, you can always go online and see these animals and others at the Mesquite Animal Services Shelter. Click HERE to see the dogs and, of course, the cats — and the cats include #52327267, a 3-year-old orange, “small,” Domestic Longhair Mix who doesn’t have a name (right now). He may have had one at some point before he arrived at the shelter on March 28. For now, he’s waiting for that right person to stop by the shelter’s Conference Room and meet him.
CONTEMPLATION
JUST ONE TODAY
After seeing all these animals waiting for their fate in these shelters — and knowing that there are so many more in the same fix in larger and smaller shelters all over the Metrosprawl, our contemplation for the day is this: How in the world are we going to save them in an area where there are so many people who just aren’t paying attention to the threat to adorable living beings?
—- Offer answers by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected]. —-