AN ASSORTMENT OF DOGS, A DARLIN' CAT, A BIT OF HISTORY AND THE I-30 TRAFFIC

EDITION OF TUESDAY, MAY 9, 2023 [PetPowellPress] History reflects via the Encyclopedia Britannica that May 9, 1502, was the date Christopher Columbus launched his “fourth and final voyage, hoping to find a passage to Asia.” More in Contemplations, history nuts.
SOME BIG NEWS
FROM SMALL SPOTS
Yes, it’s really important for the brain to find good news in the world. Day after day of desperate appeals for homes for animals at on-the-clock peril will, as one of my newspaper colleagues used to say, “drive you right up the blamed wall.” 
Here’s some news that’ll help us safely get down the wall and back to earth for just a moment. 
We happen to have run across this bit of good news when we took a look at the Facebook site of 4-Legged Helpers.
The text that came with the upbeat artwork read, “At the shelter, Trevor dreamed of a better life. Thanks to all the people who had a hand in getting this boy out of the shelter and into a foster home... he is now in the Dream Come True phase of his journey!

“THANK YOU to everyone who supports rescue efforts and second chances.”
And when you go to the Helpers’ Facebook page HERE you’ll find another dog we’ve previously mentioned. This girl Bella.
Here’s the artwork and the story. Bella’s a “young adult” who weighs in around 50 pounds and she’s a Boxer-Catahoula Mix. [LARRY ASIDE: I look at that as a demonstration that she’s good enough to win at least a couple of categories at the big Westminster Kennel Club Show.]
Bella is the girl who was found “tied to the door” of a rural Dallas County vet clinic. The theory is the person who left her there “hoped the vet would be better able to help her find a new home. So far they’ve had no luck and they really need our help,” the 4-Legged Helpers bio reads.
It also says, “She's had some formal training and is very well-behaved. She loves people & loves other dogs. All she's missing is a home where she'll be loved and cherished. We're seeking a rescue or adopter to help give her a new life.” To ask the Helpers about Bella, callor text 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].
THE SENIOR DOG DOTS
NEED A GOOD SPOT TO LIVE
We learned of this girl Dots from longtime animal helper Karen Lee, founder of barkleyworld.com.
 Dots is in the City of Arlington Animal Shelter. She’s #52337215.
The note from Karen reads, “This beautiful girl is a senior pup, which is probably the reason she is constantly being overlooked. But at 8 years old, she is ready to live her golden years in a loving home with a family. She has been in the shelter far too long. 

“Dots is affectionate, loving, calm and has a very easy going demeanor. Dots has a wish and it’s to have a loving family who will give her lots of pets and a comfy bed to sleep on. She is a little on the heavy side so walks to help lose a little weight would be even better. Dots is a volunteer and staff favorite. We can’t believe she is still waiting to be adopted, but we hope these pictures and this post will do the trick!”
Dots came into the shelter on March 29 and she’s eligible for the 425 VIP Adoption Fee.” Her SHELTER LINK IS HERE. 
Click on this LINK  to see how to adopt from Arlington.

MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE
THEY’RE ALL SHOW-QUALITY!
We’re starting with Lucille, a Terrier/Dog Argentino mix with a bio provided by our tipster Debra Chisholm, one of the volunteer dog-writers at Mesquite Animal Services. 
Why is beautiful Lucille in the shelter? She, the story reads, “was adopted as a pup from the Mesquite Animal Shelter and returned on 1/19 due to the fact that her family is moving.” We’ll get to “Happy tail” in a moment.
 Lucille is spayed, a year-old, 53-pounds and “considered long-term because she has been at the shelter for nearly 4 months.”
Debra continues, “How to describe Lucille's personality and behavior?  She's a spunky, happy-go-lucky, fun-loving, tail-wagging pup.  She does jump on you and this would need to be addressed.  She might not be a good fit for a family with very young children until the jumping issue has been resolved.  Lucille needs an active person or family who would give her daily exercise, play time and enrichment. … During the photo shoot she ran and played in the yard, chased tennis balls and was just generally on the move.  She is very excitable and high energy. …  Lucille does have an issue called limber tail syndrome or ‘happy tail.’  She can get very active in her kennel wagging her tail against the walls and gate, causing her tail to bleed, resulting in blood on her kennel walls and on her coat.  With rest, the tail can return to normal.”
Lucille is #51234724. Use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]

Use the same system to contact the shelter about Faith (#52091809). Faith came into the shelter as a stray on Feb. 18. She is about 3 months old, spayed and weighs 60 pounds. 
Debra writes about this mixed breed pup that “soon she will have been a shelter resident for 3 months and she would be delighted to leave her temporary home and find her very own special forever home.  She has such a unique appearance with the markings on her coat and has one blue/one brown eye.  She walks well on a leash. 

“When I led her past kennels of dogs barking at her, she did not react.  Out in the yard, she spent a lot of time exploring, stretching her legs and seemed so happy to be out of her kennel.  She has a confident and trusting nature.  Faith is friendly and likes petting and loving interaction. … For some unknown reason Faith has been passed over by potential adopters which is unfortunate because she would undoubtedly make someone a devoted and loving companion.”

See more Mesquite adorable adoptables by clicking on the shelter link HERE.
From that point you’ll be able to see not only more dogs, but plenty of cats of assorted ages. This beauty is #52605709. Shes thought to be just over two months old, a Domestic Medium Hair Mix with a white and orange coat and some darker highlights. She came in on April 8 and is available in the shelter’s Cat Room. Her cellphone number is 52605709 — I’m kidding. That’s her shelter ID number. Not sure who you’d get if you called that number. So, to ask about #52605709, just go ahead and call the Mesquite shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]
If I had room for a kitten, I think I might call her Darlin’. That would give a person a chance to work on his Conway Twitty impression. Hello, Darlin’.
CONTEMPLATIONS
FREE SAILING AND OTHER TRAFFIC
We opened today's report with the note that May 9, 1502, was the date explorer Christopher Columbus, according to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, launched his “fourth and final voyage, hoping to find a passage to Asia.” …

OK, Dear Readers, I believe you’ll agree with me that it is probably true that he crossed the Atlantic and successfully, though accidentally, found waterways reaching into Texas and made it all the way to Arlington where, suddenly, he found his route clogged by road, bridge, flyover and exit re-construction at I-30 and 360. 
After several years, he sold his ship to an amusement park company and it became an ornamental addition to a park that wouldn’t be opened until the 1961. …

Traffic? I might have made some of that up —- had time to think about it while trying to travel from Grand Prairie to Fort Worth without a motionless traffic jam. I remember driving on the Dallas/Fort Worth Turnpike (it became I-30) and the only traffic snarls on it were from having to slow enough to aim your change at the toll basket. That’s a postcard from the early ‘60s (almost certain, based on that ’60 Chevy in the photo. It may have gotten as far as Arlington, then been stored to wait until the construction was completed. Yeah, I’m sure we’ll all appreciate it when it’s finally done and we can see the well-luminated I-30 through Arlington from our new condos in the Metrocrater on the Moon.
—- Offer driving advice or hope for the future by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘CONFUSING LANES AHEAD’ in the subject line. —-