EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY MAY 11-12, 2023 [PetPowellPress] We’re holding open a spot atop this edition for confirmation of a celebration. Yeah, I’m gonna let you know what it is as soon as it’s confirmed. BEGIN SPOT-HOLDER TEXT HERE: So you won’t be on edge until you see the announcement, it is none of these: I’m not running for president or governor or accepting the role of Chancellor of the Exchequer in Great Britain. My funspouse Martha has not accepted the lead in a revival of the Broadway musical Thumbs the Old West Harpist. And my sons, the guitar-playing Bret and Bart or Bart and Bret (depending on whose agent wins the billing argument) are not going on the road as a Chad & Jeremy/Peter & Gordon/Sonny & Cher Tribute Band. The tour was cancelled because of a disagreement over who would portray Cher. They’re twins — it’s not their first professional disagreement.
Some of the preceding “SPOT-HOLDER” may have been made up. Also, because I write about dogs frequently, rather than refer to that passage as a “space-holder,” I referred to it, with canine appropriateness, a “Spot-holder.” I awoke my canine advisor Porche to read the preceding to her. That is the face she gave me. It would be a blank look if not for the teardrop of disappointment in the corner of her right eye. END SPACE-HOLDER
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IS THIS A TRIO OF
UNWANTED DOGS?
Yes, there are three of ‘em and that’s a trio. But we prefer to refer to them as not-yet-wanted dogs. The human who wants one of these beautiful big ol’ dogs just isn’t aware that the canine love of his or her life is readily available. (This handsome fellow is Reid — we’ll explain his situation in just a minute.)
Please pass along these notices of “available” to people you know and trust. Could be a friend, a neighbor, a relative. An ex-in-law who is a good soul. It’s important to match animals with the good hearts. Important but not impossible, right!?
OK, so we got this semi-desperate email from the determined folks at 4-Legged Helpers, the non-profit that works against great odds to get animals safely out of shelters that have low human traffic and rare adoption inquiries. It is a gargantuan mission in this largely animal-ignorant Metroplex. [LARRY ASIDE: Referring to it as “largely animal-ignorant” is not a snap judgment. The Don’t Care/So What people keep shelters full and don’t give a hoot about killing animals so there’ll be more room at shelters so more animals can come in just to be killed. You could call what I’ve just typed a “sermon,” but, it’s not so much opinion as it is heartbreaking truth.]
Things to remember about 4-Legged Helpers: If you are a 501c3 Rescue and you want to claim one of these dogs, transport can be arranged.
The Ferris Animal Shelter also takes in animals recovered by or dumped in the Hutchins Animal Shelter.
The 4-Legged Helpers contacts? Call or text 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].
This girl is Lainey. She’s in the Ferris Shelter, a spayed "Weimaraner/Pointer/Possibly Rhodesian Mix,” according to the shelter’s analysis.
And the bio 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!!!” FYI: $200 is pledged to the 501c3 that can help the Helpers save Lainey.
That brings us to the wonderful Bella who also has a $200 501c3 pledge. We’ve posted Bella several times and have yet to inspire a nibble — get in touch with the 4-Legged Helpers to ask about Bella. She’s the Boxer/Catahoula mix — a young dog — “found in front of a veterinary clinic in Dallas. Apparently someone that could no longer care for her was desperate to try to save her and tied her there in hope the clinic could help. She’s extremely well-behaved. Amazing eyes! Gentle little soul. She is a sweet, little couch potato. The vet clinic where she currently is cannot keep her. She is the most wonderful girl. Good with dogs. Loves absolutely everyone.”
And we close the 4-Legged Helpers three-dog appeal with the dog that opened this segment — Reid, who also has the $200 pledge. Reid is in the Ferris shelter, too. He’s a Boxer mix, the Helpers say. And his biog reads: “Wonderful with other dogs! Including all male dogs! Reid is a wonderful boy that was found out and about on his own. Everyone that has met him loves him. Such a sweetie pie!”
I think we’ll title that final photo: “Reid: Waiting in Springtime.”
A BREED THAT’S RIGHT
ON THE SPOT FOR A HOME
[LARRY EXPLANATION: Yeah, like so many of you, Dear Readers, I watched the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show broadcasts and every time I spotted a dog I’d think, “I’d like to have one of those.” Of course, we’re already at the limit on dogs and we’ve solved the math of getting one dog per breed by getting dog with several breeds. I might have, I confess, lingered a bit when I saw a Dalmatian romping through the routines. I think my fascination with Dalmatians developed when I was a child in Texarkana and there might have been only one Dalmatian in town. I’m not kidding. Just one, maybe. But that was then and today this Dalmatian could be yours. Read on.]
I was scrolling through the 10-million or so “dog notices” on my Facebook stroll Thursday when I ran across this post by Plano-based Dalmatian Rescue of North Texas.
This girl is Dory Dalmatian. Spot that alliteration, did ya?
DRNT reports, “Sweet Dory is ready for adoption!! Dory came to us as an owner surrender. Losing her family was very hard for her. She is 6 1/2 years old, housebroken, spayed, and up-to-date on all shots and heartworm prevention.
“Dory is a small gal weighing only about 40 pounds. She loves people (bonds quickly) and is great with other dogs. Don’t worry Dory, your forever family is out there and we won’t stop looking until we find them!!
“
"If you’re interested in adopting Dory, please send an email to [email protected]."
You can catch up with Dalmatian Rescue of North Texas by clicking on THIS LINK.
[LARRY ASIDE: As I close this segment, I am reminded that for most of my young life I only recognized Dalmatians as “Firehouse Dogs.” Pretty sure I’m not alone in that. But, as I grew up and met more and more dog people, I realized that Dalmatians have a loyal following as family dogs; they don’t just ride the firetrucks and howl along with the sirens. Like Dory, they can find a comfy place and nod off with their humans. GOOD DOG!]
CATS IN CLOSING:
TWO WAITING IN DAS
We try never to get offstage (so to speak) without mentioning opportunities to acquire cats, among the most forgiving household cohabitators in the known universe. Readlarrypowell.com speaks from personal experience and, as it turns out, we have cats similar to the two in this segment.
That tuft-eared tabby on the left is Tripo — no idea why #A1178566 has that moniker. The cat’s bio on the DAS website at bedallas90.org leaves the “SEX” designation as “Unknown.” The cat is small, weighing just 11 pounds, a Domestic Shorthair currently in Kennel # LFC 037. It is possible that when acquired by DAS, the cat did not have credentials. Possibly lost them somewhere along the way.
Now, that brings us to a cat with the improbable cat name “Peanut.” How about those eyes and whiskers and eyebrows! That’s a well-accessorized cat. And this cat has been examined and is a “Female,” # A1178947. Peanut is a 2-year-old Domestic Short Hair who weighs in at 9 pounds. She’s in Kennel # LFC 053.
And, as you know, I hope by now, the big Dallas Animal Services Shelter & Adoption Center is at the the corner of Westmoreland and I-30 just west of downtown Dallas by a few minutes if the cars are flowing at a rational speed.
See more animals and learn more about navigating the shelter at bedallas90.org.
That’s where you can also see the dogs that sit waiting for either a good human or a needle. [LARRY ASIDE: Typical of traditional Texas animal control, the system that prevails in overpopulated shelters is this: “Got an animal problem? Let’s kill it.” Come on, humans, y’all are smarter’n that. Right?]
And, yes, I took a screen shot of a bunch of the dogs waiting for either homes or rescue or the needle at DAS — this number of dogs is a TINY PORTION of dogs at DAS. Save ‘em all. Click on the artwork to make the names of the dogs big enough to read. Somebody save that Rottie girl. And the rest of 'em, too.
CONTEMPLATIONS
WENDY AND SHANIA?
As you know, we have no problem mentioning things that are driving us nuts. I forget who they are — I mean “what” they are. Sorry, didn’t mean to get personal with Washington, D.C. …
Moving along: Yesterday I mentioned our girl Wendy was having some veterinary work done on her teeth and other areas of interest. She came out of it pretty swell. Got the “good for her age” description — she’s 14. I hope to also be “good for his age” for a long, long time. Anyway, she had a benign floppy “thing” removed from the top of her left paw — needed stitches, so now, for the first time in her life, she’s wearing an “Elizabethan collar” — on Day 1, still wobbly from anesthesia, she did a bit of bouncing through the house On Day 2? Practically a ballerina wearing an exotic dance costume. No photos. Her agent says wait until the Canine Dance Union gives the OK.
So we’re going to close by solving a mystery. There’s a real estate firm’s TV commercial (I’m almost certain it’s real estate) these days that shows a guy jumping around on table and counter tops in his kitchen and it has an upbeat song with lyrics that don’t quite fit a very familiar tune. I did some research. The tune was also used in a Chevy Colorado commercial years ago. Drives me nuts, so to speak, when I can’t place the tune. Ah, but I did my research this time and, Ladies and Gents and Others, here’s the real estate ad LINK. And, HERE IS THE CHEVY LINK.
But for the sake of our sanity and in honor of a great performer/writer, here is wonderful Shania Twain’s Man! I Feel Like A Woman video.
— Offer country hits by clicking on comment below or by emailing [email protected] and put Texas Country Rocks in the subject line. —
