ON A TUESDAY, THE CHALLENGES OF INSOMNIA, ETC.

EDITION OF TUESDAY, SEPT. 26, 2023 [PetPowellPress] Our dog Wendy has to take two pills twice a day — one for hip pain from a congenital condition and one for anxiety because she’s an older dog who is almost human. 
In dog years, she and I are both old enough to have attended movies at a Thomas Edison New York City Kinetoscope Parlor in 1894. They let mannerly dogs in — “Better behaved than most children and half-the grownups who can’t chew quietly,” the manager told me as Edison fiddled with his focus and the house lights.
I might have made that Edison story up. Some more of the story, too. Except the Wendy and The Pills part. If you’ve got dogs and cats that have needed pilling, you probably have tricks to get them to take the pills. Wendy’s tricky right back. You’d think a dog that gulps down food wouldn’t have a tongue so dextrous that she could discreetly flip an aspirin-sized pill halfway across the room and happily finish breakfast. She and I have an understanding. I give her the pill to eat and she eats it or I fall to my knees, begin crying and begging her to quit burning off my lifeforce by being stubborn about a happy pill. She’s so human. That's her trying to tiptoe  out of the office between Dudley the Angel and Porche Noel without waking them Tuesday morning as I typed and spewed epithets at the keyboard.
A BIT OF WISHFULNESS
PADS INTO OUR REPORT
Wishfulness in this case is more important than wistfulness, right? We’re returning to the circumstance of a dog we mentioned earlier, Piper.
You may recall the story. This girl Piper had gotten dumped at a smalltown animal shelter on the south side of Dallas because she was food-aggressive and had no dining manners. We learned of her in a life-saving appeal from Laura Macias of the small shelter-focused 4-Legged Helpers non-profit.
After having been surrendered by the family she loved, Piper spent time in the shelter. Conversations were had and now, Laura reports, Piper has gone back home. She reports, also, that the ACO has been given “some advice to give to them about how to help Piper learn to not be so food aggressive and how to work with her on being her pack leader without being mean or anything. I gave him advice and told him to talk to [a veteran worker with dogs] and also told him to google it also. I tried to ensure the ACO also started to work with her.”
So, there are two things we can wait for: (1) News that Piper has been successfully taught how to dine or (2) news that Piper is back in the shelter and available again.
To ask how you can help Laura and the 4-Legged Helpers with animals in small shelters or
call or text: 214-949-2726 or 972-897-4926 or email: [email protected] or [email protected]
[LARRY ASIDE: From personal experience with such a situation, the fact is that humans who work to have a combination of patience and love in these circumstances can save a loving dog’s life. Make an effort. A kind, loving effort.]
To see more animals that have crossed the path of the 4-Legged Helpers Inc., go to the organization’s very, very shared Facebook page HERE. 
A TRIO OF RESCUED
CHIHUAHUA PUPPIES
(FROM THE CANTON AREA)
One of the first things i saw online Tuesday morning was a note from the great rescuer/advocate Maeleska Fletes. It asked “Who’s ready to call one of these sweet babies yours?” and ended with an almost traditional closing for a Maeleska note: “They are at my house.” 
Yep, three Chihuahua puppies under the care of someone with the right experience for just a situation! 
The cute little trio is in the official care of DFW’s ForGotten Friends. and Maeleska’s note explained why they’re available to a loving home. Maybe two or three loving homes. However it works out “loving home” is the goal.

The note reads, “We have some heartwarming news to share! We recently rescued three precious Chihuahua puppies from a backyard breeder in Canton. These little bundles of joy were saved even before they were born, as we rescued their mommy and daddy, too —… now spayed and neutered to prevent further breeding.
“At 8 weeks old, these tiny cuties are ready to find their forever homes! They're incredibly adorable and are going to stay super tiny.
“We have one sweet girl (left) and two handsome boys still waiting for their perfect families. If you're looking to welcome a loving and loyal Chihuahua into your life, please consider adopting one of these pups. They're full of love and ready to bring endless joy to your home.
Let's work together to give these little ones the forever homes they deserve.” 
To fill out your adoption request form, go to this DFW Forgotten Friends link: https://dfwfgf.org/adopt/.
MESQUITE SHELTER KEEPS
WORKING ON SAFE HOMES...
Readlarrypowell.com is fortunate to have dedicated animal advocates who stay connected so we can have the opportunity to help animals. For example, the dog-writin’ volunteers Debra Chisholm and Judi Brown at Mesquite Animal Services. 

We’ll start with a Judi tale — it’s the biography of this dog. 
Judi writes, “Winnie is a delightful puppy. He’s a bundle of puppy energy, but at the same time is surprisingly well behaved for his age. Winnie is a 3- to 4-month-old, 17-pound Foxhound/Parson Russell Terrier mix. He came to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 9/7 as a stray. He is already neutered. You may have noticed that his ribs are showing, and that he’s too thin. He could use some groceries to fatten him up. When I tried to get him to sit, you could tell he wanted to, he backed up, but was too wiggly to stay in one place. 
“He’s smart, and there’s no doubt with just a short amount of training you can teach him that command. He explored some but mostly stayed close. You can tell he craves human interaction…. Adopters will need to furnish him with chew toys. I dropped a squeaky toy and he immediately pounced on it and ran off with it. He was so playful. It was so cute. He’s friendly, happy, energetic, fun, loving, and very sweet. He walks surprisingly well on a leash for his age. He actually walked right beside me. … You may notice that he has big feet. He’s got more growing to do and will be a big boy! He wants to be a cherished member of your family and share your house with you.”

Winnie is #54112926 — use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]. Same system for any Mesquite shelter animal you want to meet or already know you want to give a home.
For example, there’s this distinct dog Juniper (#54163486). Debra writes, “This delightful and beautiful youngster is … an Aussie Shepherd mix that arrived as a stray on 9/15 at the Mesquite Animal Shelter. Juniper weighs 42 pounds, is about one year old and is not spayed. 

You may know that Aussie Shepherds are agile, intelligent, and are quick to learn and this is undoubtedly true of this precious girl. She knows the sit command and will respond to the paw command with both paws! Juniper is also playful! 
“She hasn’t fully acclimated to the shelter yet (understandable!) and displays some restless nervous energy. However, she has a calm and gentle spirit, a mellow personality, and a friendly, sweet nature. She does not jump on you. Juniper appears to have been well cared for. She seeks comfort and loving attention from a human companion, and even likes butt scratches! She walks quite nicely on a leash, and when led past other dogs was not reactive. This is a highly adoptable youngster who would love out of the shelter ASAP.” Call the shelter at 972–216-6283 or email [email protected].

Debra adds, “Our shelter is overfull and kennel space is maxed out. We have some wonderful dogs like Juniper (and cats) that would make loving and devoted companions.”
See Mesquite’s adorable adoptables by going to this LINK for the Animals-in-the-Shelter site.

[LARRY ASIDE: This trio of photos demonstrates that not all 2-month-old Mesquite-available kittens are alike!]
CONTEMPLATIONS

THE SLUMBER CHALLENGE

I used up a lot of thinking on Monday. Slept barely at all Monday night and was up at 3 a.m. Tuesday.
You want me to contemplate something? The fee is $50 an hour. I better recontemplate that. Just give the money to a rescue group. Let the dogs and cats sleep peacefully.
No, the Dallas Cowboys’ future is not keeping me up nights. Nor is the fact that we might get to watch the home team Texas Rangers in post-season playoff games.
Wait, I remember now: At some point when I was trying to nod off, it occured to me that I need to try to understand cricket. Scared me completely awake!
—- Offer advice or reality by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘YO, STICKY WICKET’ in the subject line. —-