THE MISSION IS SAVE 'EM ALL AND GIVE 'EM GREAT HOMES, PLUS WE CONTEMPLATE TV

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY, MAY 10-11, 2023 [PetPowellPress] I think I can see the summertime break from school from where I’m sitting. Old habit left over from 12 years of public school. I believe the prayer began, “Dear Lord, Please help my report cards.”
OK, enough of that. My mind is wandering today because….I have no idea why. I’d ask a Psychic Parrot but we don’t have one. I’d turn to a cat, but they’re asleep. The dogs? Kind of not interested in predicting anything except the certainty of meal time.
That, by the way, is my Executive Office Cat William “Pink Nose” Powell auditioning for another appearance in the weekend’s Let Sleeping Dog’s Lie & Napping Cats Nap. If you have a sleeping dog, napping cat or any other snoozing critter, send photos and info to [email protected]. William’s ready for school to be out, too. He’s tired of ghost-writing term themes for lazy history and literature students.
THE DOGS AND CATS
OF AMERICA AWAIT
They’re not awaiting in the wings for the director’s cue at the Westminster Kennel Club Show. The animals we’re discussing frequently can be found in city taxpayer-financed animal shelters — some facilities are honorably financed and staffed; others are in need of upgrades and city council support when the annual budget is designed. It takes a village to complain effectively.
Moving along, we do have access to many facilities where the shelter care and promotion is wonderfully done. There’s a recognition that the animals aren’t just there to be stored until their time runs out. We cite, as we have done before, the volunteers helping animals at the Mesquite Animal Shelter.
Thanks to volunteers, we know about these animals waiting at the shelter for the right humans or rescue groups to make contact and get them into good homes.
We’ve opened this segment with that cute photo of Bozzly. Our tipster, the volunteer dog-writer Debra Chisholm, says Bozzly was handed over to the shelter on Feb. 17, 2023 -- she'd been adopted from the shelter in September of 2020. Yep, she’s been in the shelter going on 3 months. The pup is about 5, weighs 75 pounds and is spayed. 
Debra’s note reads, “One of our volunteers has spent a lot of time with this girl and has the following to say about her: ‘Bozzly LOVES walks and does quite well on a leash.  She does not appear to be dog reactive.  She is high-spirited and energetic.  Bozzly will jump on you so this is a behavior that needs to be corrected.  She is crate-trained.  She is friendly, affectionate and enjoys receiving loving attention.  She sits nicely for treats and takes them gently.  Our volunteer feels she would be best suited for a person or family that is active and would undoubtedly enjoy walks, runs and jogs.” The former Bozzly Human says the pup “did well with their 4-year-old daughter.” And she’d been an outdoor-only dog in that home.
[LARRY ASIDE: Oh, come on. That’s an indoor dog if I ever saw one!]
 To ask about Bozzly, use the ID #38579018 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Same system for this next pup. Jillian (#5279544) a year-old, not-yet-spayed, 40-pound “Terrier/Black Mouth Cur Mix.” She arrived as a stray on May 4. Debra wrote, “This pup really captured my heart with her well-mannered, calm and somewhat timid personality.  She walks quite nicely on a leash and did not react to other dogs when walked past them--even those who barked at her.  She pottied in the shelter yard.  She likes treats and takes them gently.  Jillian does not appear to know any commands.  She is amiable and affectionate and tried to climb into my lap.  She is more than happy to receive petting and other loving attention.  Jillian does not seem interested in balls or toys and spent a good deal of her time in the yard with her nose to the ground.  She appears to have been an outside dog from the looks of her coat and from being covered in fleas.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Just like Bozzly, Jillian looks to me like she’s a perfect indoor dog for the right indoor family.]
Debra also writes that Jillian “ looks to have been in some kind of scuffle as she has scars on her head and both ears have tears.  However, these do not appear to have been recent as they look to have healed.  There are a lot of reasons that Jillian would be a good family pet.”

Judi Brown, also a volunteer dog-writer for Mesquite, is issuing ANOTHER appeal for this girl Dottie. Why? “Because she’s being overlooked,” Judi wrote.
Dottie is a 2-year-old, 45-pound, spayed Australian Cattle Dog mix who arrived as a stray on March 11. She’s #52222081 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@city ofmesquite.com. 
“When she first came in she was very shy and was slow to warm up to people,” Judi reports. “Since then she’s had more interaction with the staff and volunteers and she’s come out of her shell. She has learned to trust. She still is on the shy side but is definitely loving and wanting to be your friend. She also does not make a good impression at the kennel window. She gets overly excited trying to get your attention. Once she gets out in the yard her true personality shines, and I mean shines! Dottie is such a good girl!  She sits for treats and takes them gently. She gives you lots of kisses and tail wags. … Dottie has done her time and waited patiently for you. She would like nothing better than to curl up next to you or on your lap while you’re watching TV or reading a good book.”
Now, we get to the big boy dog with the familiar name. Judi writes, “I have named this reddish, big boy Clifford after the Clifford in the children’s story books with Clifford The Big Red Dog. That Clifford is an amazing dog, and this Clifford is also.”
 She says, “The shelter lists his breed as a Terrier Pit mix. My Dog Scanner said he’s a mix of part Belgian Malinois, Boxer, and even part Black Mouth Cur. Whatever he is, he is handsome with his beautiful coloring and captivating eyes that look like they’re lined with eyeliner. Clifford was picked up by one of our officers on 4/27, weighs 72 pounds and is about 2 years old.
“He’s a really good dog with many fine qualities. He loves squeaky toys. He found one and didn’t want to part with it. He would literally put it on the ground and squeak it with his paw. He  chases balls but does not retrieve them. He sits for treats and he gives his paw. He takes treats gently. He stays close to his human friend. He comes when you call him. He’s gentle, calm, friendly, outgoing, alert, and well mannered. He walks well on a leash, especially considering his size. … He’s a great guy that would make a fun, loving, loyal companion to a loving family.”
 Clifford is #52530837 and that’s the number you give when you contact the shelter by calling 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]. 

We always remind you that there are more dogs and cats awaiting homes in the Mesquite Animal Shelter. Here's the LINK. [LARRY ASIDE: While volunteers and staffers work to find safe places for them, some of the cats do what they might do in your home: Lounge and wait to be picked up and cuddled. I don’t know about the guy in this photo, but I do know how my black and white cat Stevie Ray reacts to things — he purrs and cuddles with me. It’s a cool feeling — and I’m the father of twin human cubs. I know cuddling. They never purred — until they were teenagers and I think that was their singing style.] OK, back to the cat labeled 1500 Liberty in the Mesquite Shelter. He’s a large, black and white Domestic Shorthair Mix of undetermined age. He came in on May 4. And he’s going through medical work, as found cats and kittens do. But he also is available for adoption — his ID is #52579669.
[LARRY ASIDE: Here’s my theory about having a cat for a companion: You’ve had worse mammals walk into your house, but why bring up anybody's relatives, right?]
CONTEMPLATIONS
WENDY, TROUBLE & DETECTIVES
Yeah, that’s me and our dog Wendy one recent evening as we put on our stage makeup and rehearsed a play we co-wrote, The Old Man and The Poetic Lapdog. I'm still having trouble getting that stage paint out of my hair. Wendy's a big fan of British mysteries — takes after my AnglophileSpouse Martha. The pup's full name is Wednesday Louise Wagstaff Arden — long name for a medical record. She was getting dental work as this was being written Wednesday and is scheduled for a checkup on her 14-year-old hips. Martha rescued her when she was a puppy bouncing unwanted along behind a couple of people on South Polk about 14 years ago. On Wednesday, for the first time in a while, she was not in her usual spots in the house while I’m writing. I can’t walk into the living room and wake her up from a nap on the couch. But, she’s due back home in the afternoon and life will return to almost normal — it can’t be normal when I’m dieting. I’ve always looked at ice cream as “normal.” But.. well….don’t go near the refrigerator, you know? ….
We missed the whole Westminster Kennel Club final judging Tuesday night, but in checking things, I discovered that one of the finalists for the big crown was this handsome American Staffordshire Terrier name Trouble. I think that "Trouble" is a cute name for a Staffie, not for a Staffie's “behavior tendency.” And, if you google this particular dog you’ll see how much he’s loved by his handler/owner. The sermon here is this: EVERY Staffie and Staffie mix ought to get the loving treatment from the moment it’s born until the end of its long and happy and endearing life. What keeps this from happening? People. Here’s a question for the ages: How can we correct the behavior of people for the sake of dogs and cats? …
NO KNOWN CONNECTION to the previous topic, but lately I’ve enjoyed watching detective shows more than I have since Peter Gunn and Burke’s Law and Mike Hammer were on TV decades ago in the black and white broadcasting era. Lately, I’ve appreciated cable reruns of shows I saw in first run: Psych, for example, entertaining and “different.” And, of course, Monk, a great detective show. And, at the end of its first season, I found myself earnestly enjoying the ABC drama Will Trent and wishing the second season was already here. Ramon Rodriguez stars in the title role and he’s supported by some great plotting and writing and actors. Bless those Hollywood writers and give ‘em what they want/what they’ve earned. And speaking of supporting actors: In the finale, one of the supporting characters plays a very important role in bringing a criminal to justice. That is Will Trent’s accidentally adopted Chihuahua “Betty.” In real life, Betty is portrayed by canine actress Bluebell. No known Texas ice cream connection — The 8-year-old canine actress is British, according to a report in Parade magazine. Did not see her in the video from the Coronation. Author Karin Slaughter is the creator of Will and Betty and books that inspired the TV series. We’re already waiting for next season.
—- Offer viewing ideas or tips for shopping for crowns by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “CHIHUAHUA’S RULE!” in the subject line. (FYI: We’ve had two at readlarrypowell.com. Rosie and Vera.) —-