SAVING ANIMALS; CORRECTING HUMAN BEHAVIOR; A TRIP TO A DONUT SHOP

EDITION OF FRIDAY, OCT. 27, 2023 [PetPowellPress] Here we go on a fab Friday in the Metroplex — Go Rangers! — I just turned off the TV — rarely happens. But the talk show was getting to me this morning. Too chatty. The war channels are depressing me.
 Besides, I’m trying to remember the name of a piece of classical music I heard on a TV commercial this week — it’s Waltz or Dance of the somethings and I’d hum it for ya, but there are laws against sound pollution and butchering music.
HOW A FORMER ATHLETE
IS DOING THESE DAYS…
We’ve been writing about the Greyhound Adoption League of Texas for years and sometimes the pups are retired athletes and sometimes they’re house dogs looking for a new house.
This is Russell and he’s an actual former athlete. GALTx is looking for a permanent home. He’s described as a “red male born on April 26, 2020. His sire is Jack’s Big Lad and his dam is KL’s Ruth. Russell has 4 races to his credit on Greyhound Data.” 
That’s the background. The current bio (foster family report!) from GALTX reads, “Russell is a 3-year- old blonde ‘Velcro Boy’ with the most adorable overbite and the softest fur, which is a joy to pet/brush. He has adapted very well to life in a home, quickly figuring out how to use dog beds, meal times with another dog in the same area, playing with an abundance of toys, and that TREATS are life!”
[LARRY DOWN-TO-EARTH CAUTION. This came from the GALTx notice — I’ve seen it on Greyhound notices for years. It is one caution for people contemplating adopting a dog who's trained to race after prey: “Russell should not live with small dogs or cats.” That caution fits not just Russell but many other dogs in this world. It just makes sense for humans to protect all animals by not putting them into “iffy” situations, don’t you think? And humans — aren’t we a mighty smart species!]
[LARRY UPLIFTING ASIDE: The next bio paragraph from GALTx introduced me to a new phrase regarding dogs. You might enjoy the description.]
The bio reads, that Russell is “a professional “roacher”, with some spectacular poses, once he is comfortable. Russell will follow you room-to-room, even if you’re just getting up to refill your water and come right back. He really does not want to miss out on any experience with his humans!”]
And there you have a way to be an admired human without having to run for public office. Just adopt a good dog.] See more about Russell at THIS GALTX LINK.
Also, go to galtx.org to see other dogs and organization-supporting activities that keep these Greyhounds safe from the “useless athlete/unwanted dog needle” they can sometimes get when they don’t meet racing standards.
[LARRY ADSIDE: Years ago, I was at an adoption event in Lancaster, Texas, and was chatting with the people at the Greyhound booth and one of the “old hands” said to me something like, “What most people don’t know is these Greyhounds are basically just couch potatoes.” Yep, they’ve been known to doze off and enjoy a couch nap while you watch a movie or a ballgame. You know, just like REAL dogs.]
IN MESQUITE, BROTHER WAITS

AND SO DOES SMILIN’ MAX

Word on these two guys comes from the volunteer dog writer Judi Brown at the Mesquite Animal Shelter.

We’ll start with Judi’s report on Brother [#54635548], an Old English Bulldog/American Bulldog mix who is a year old and weighs 48 well-behaved pounds. She writes, “If you haven’t already fallen in love with Brother’s cute face and stocky, solidly built body, then come and meet him.  He’ll win you over with his loving, laid-back personality!” He came into the shelter on Oct. 20. Why? Judi reports, “I understand his owner is homeless and unable to provide for him. Y’all this is an exceptional dog! He’s not only absolutely adorable, but he’s got the sweetest easy-going, affection- ate personality! He walked out to the yard very well on a leash. By the time I got him out in the yard I was absolutely in love. He was so easy to take pictures of. He just stood there calmly looking up at me.

“When I walked around, he followed me. When I sat down, he came to me to have his ears scratched. He sits for treats and takes them gently. He’s highly motivated by treats. He should be easy to train. Besides, he wants to please. He was very patient letting me clean out the folds under his eyes. He’s very calm, gentle, sweet, friendly, attentive, and happy. If you want to see his tail wagging just scratch his ears. He wagged his tail when meeting other dogs. … He would like nothing better than to be considered a family member and be able to hang out cuddled up on the couch or in his bed at your feet.” 
Remember, use his ID number when you contact the shelter at rescues@cityofmesquitecom or call 972-216-6283.
Use that same system when you get in touch with the shelter about this smiling guy Max [#54647537]. Judi wrote, “Max appears to be smiling [in most of his photos]… He probably is. He seems to be a very happy, well-behaved boy that wants to please. Max is a 4-year-old mixed breed (possibly Shepherd/Manchester Terrier mix). He weighs 80 pounds and is surprisingly gentle for his weight. 
“He arrived at the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 10/23 as a stray. He sits for treats and takes them gently. A few times he got overly excited and jumped up, but he did not jump on me! He is highly motivated by treats. He’s also very alert. He wants to know what’s going on around him and spent some time looking out the gate. When I walked him through the bay, he sniffed other dogs and appeared to want to make friends. He saw another dog outside the gate and really got excited. You could tell he wanted to play. He follows you around like a little puppy dog. Since he is large he would need a big yard to romp in but would like to spend most of the time in the house with his new family. … He’s friendly, affectionate and wants to be close to his human companion.”
Click here and you can see biographies of many dogs and cats at the Mesquite Animal Shelter. 
[LARRY ASIDE: I’m almost certain that Edgar Rice Burroughs is not a volunteer at the Mesquite Animal Shelter, but the writer may have an influence. For example, when I opened the cat section of the adorable availables Friday, I spotted that fellow on the left, #45443325, a 3 years and 7 months old Domestic Shorthair mix — smallish with a Buff/Black color listed. He came in on Oct. 26 — that’s Thursday. The other cat is #45461229, also a Domestic Shorthair — she is 4 years old, smallish and her coat is “Black/Copper.” She also came in on Thursday. Both are waiting in the shelter’s lobby. What’s that? The Edgar Rice Burroughs link? Easy: The guy is named Tarzan and the girl is Jane.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
BE KIND TO ANIMALS, EVEN HUMANS, RIGHT?
When my funspouse Martha and I married we merged our animals — that was in 1991 and she had 3 cats including Bob the Black Cat. We’ve had a lot of cats since then, but, if memory serves, Bob is the only Black Cat we’ve ever had. I mention this because, according to the online calendar Holiday Insights, Oct. 27 is always “Black Cat Day.” That’s the artwork the site uses HERE to outline all the legends and lies about black cats. In our personal experience, Bob the Cat was a devoted gentleman — devoted to his human, Martha. He even once whispered in my ear, as we watched TV at her house, “Marry her or you’ll never have a cat who can stand being around you.” I think that’s what he said. He was known for his ability to communicate his moods and his needs. I miss him. The closest thing to a black cat that we have now is our little pal Stevie Ray Treeboy, rescued from a shaky Mimosa limb when he was tiny enough to hide in one hand. He’s now the Junior Office Cat -- you can see him there in his traditional black and white attire. 
PERSONAL NOTE: My brain is being battered into even more worthless jelly by the constant appeals for animals on an immediate clock in local shelters. Surely shelters can figure out a way to stop killing animals just to make room for the next load of unwanted animals from the town that named its airport Love. They’ll need the cooperation of the city residents. I’ve said it before: The residents are completely guilty of poor behavior when it comes to adopting then dumping animals right onto death row at a taxpayer-financed facility. You know who you are. And so does The Guy who, at the Pearly Gates, will look at you and say, “Shouldn’t you have a dog with you?” or “Don’t you have a cat? Weren’t you issued a cat?” Lives are precious. All lives. I learned that in Sunday School, typed the Big Sinner in other areas. …
LEVELING WITH YOU, DEAR READERS: I may have over-coffeed myself this morning. Even the sound of the computer keyboard clacking is getting to me. What I hear is the sound of misguided youth when I got a job as a newspaper reporter instead of running a bank in an oil-rich county. Let’s move along before I start to need a handful of chocolate candy to redirect/re-energize my thoughts. NO! I’m swearing off chocolate right now. But I am wondering if it’s too late in the day to fetch a half-dozen raspberry jelly-filled donuts! Oh, my. Got to quit thinkin’ like that. I’ll work on my focus and determination next week — don’t want to miss Pancake & Waffle World Series Weekend.
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