HEARTS CAN HELP ANIMALS & PEOPLE: SHELTER BIOS WITH HANDS-ON KNOWLEDGE; HOW 'BOUT THEM...?

EDITION OF MONDAY, JAN. 15, 2023 [PetPowellPress] The morning after that gridiron debacle in Arlington, I got a note that summarized the emotions of one guy I’ve known since the early ‘70s: “I have to move to another team.” A player? No, a lifelong fan.
Was that game bigger news to you than the weather? Well, at least ERCOT didn’t inexplicably lose power right after kickoff.
MOVING ALONG WE HAVE
MONDAY HOLIDAY NOTES….
For this edition we discuss a human factor with one of our animal tipsters, a person known for helping animals but she also helps humans. Our spotlight is on Terry Lynn Fisher, our longtime tipster in the far western Oklahoma town of Burns Flat, named after the 1894 Burns Post Office bb and, of course, the area’s terrain.
Terry Lynn wrote, “This isn’t actually dog-related, but the fact that he saved his pets, and then was rushed to the hospital for not being able to breathe from smoke inhalation, earns bonus points in my eyes!”
She learned about it because, as she wrote, “My two youngest boys are a firefighter and a sheriff deputy. Last night, they were called to the town just north of us [Foss, Okla.]. There was a structure fire, with the home fully engulfed in flames. The town is very very small, without even a store in it. They asked for mutual aid from our fire department, so both my boys headed that way. The house was a total loss, with the man losing everything he had, except the thing that mattered the most him, his pets. He managed to save them and get out of the house.”
Terry Lynn reported that she was headed to the site Monday to deliver dog food for the rescued pets.
And she also included a note from a wife of one of the firefighters. That note reads, “Foss firemen Steve Hoel,  or Uncle Steve to my nephew, lost his home last night from a fire. Steve has worked for the town of Canute for 17 years. This last year has been difficult with some health problems. 
He and dogs escaped the flames but most of their belongings are lost. Steve did suffer smoke inhalation and shock. Right now we are trying to get him some clothing items: 2X top, extra large sweatpants, a coat, socks; shoe size 12, 36x32 jeans. We will add more sizes later today. If anyone would want to donate dog food that would be great.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Yes, this note is sketchy on details, i.e., how many dogs and how big are they. But, right now anybody helping is on the road somewhere delivering something or helping this ol’ fireman cope with an unexpectedly tough experience. To ask about helping, email Terry Lynn at [email protected],
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE,
ONCE WINTER’S GONE….
Yeah, once the streets are safe for driving around, perhaps you’ll want to visit local shelters and give a home to a dog or a cat — lots of shelters are overloaded right now. [LARRY ASIDE: Shelters overloaded? “Why is that?” we ask and respond, “Because this area of Texas was issued more village idiots than is necessary.” Save animals, don’t dump ‘em, you knuckleheads. After the lecture we move on to animal helpers in Mesquite.].
Volunteer Mesquite Animal Shelter dog-writer Jamie Dotson sent us this photo/bio packet of Kira, a 2-year-old, 40-pound Siberian Husky girl who came into the shelter on the 8th as a stray.
Jamie writes, “The word ‘stunning’ does not do this girl justice when you see her in person. It is easy to see she did have a family before arriving at the shelter. By her appearance her fur is clean, soft and she has been groomed. Such a beautiful coloring of the fur on her back. And her personality is one you just want to be around. She is very friendly and affectionate. She will come sit right next to you for petting and give you a big smile as she slaters you with kisses. … She walks well on a leash, knows the sit command and takes treats gently. She hopes to find her own loving family that is very familiar with the breed and understands their needs. She would need to have a secured tall fenced backyard and to live in a home, not an apartment. Huskies do howl, and I have heard this lovely girl do just that. …As she has lived indoors that is exactly where she wants to be. She has such a happy and loving personality she would enjoy being close and cuddly to her human companions. I promise she will make you smile from the moment you meet her.”
Kira’s shelter ID is # 55069952, Use that ID number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Jamie also tipped us to Sawyer [#55069631], a year-old German Shepherd/Anatolian /Shepherd mix. The 70-pound stray came in on Jan. 8 — he was romping with another dog at the time. James wrote, “He is a big fluffy boy that definitely had a family. His coat is soft, shiny and well groomed. Unfortunately his family has not come to reclaim him so he has found himself up for adoption.
And Jamie says this fellow Parker (#55069608) is a year-old Rottweiler/Manchester Terrier, a former stray who weighs 54 pounds. The handsome, puppyish fellow came in on the 8th. He’s another stray who appears to have been “well-cared for” and who “enjoys being petted and loved on. He will show you his big smile, too.”
SCOUT (54841804) is a “year-old, neutered mixed breed who weighs 49 pounds” and arrived on November 25 as a stray. Jamie adds, “He walks very well on a leash, takes treats gently, and the moment you sit down on the bench, Scout will sit close to you for petting and give you plenty of kisses. When he first came in, he was very shy and timid. With time spent with staff and volunteers, along with his new kennel mate, he has come out of his shell.”
There are many dogs and many cats waiting in the Mesquite Animal Shelter. You know about these today because the shelter has a devoted array of animal fans who work hard to get these animals some attention so they can be saved in a time of crowded shelters and people who just don’t care about the animals who trusted them once upon a time.
Among the cats in the shelter is #54889037, a 5 1/2-year-old fellow named Bolt. He’s described as large. He’s cream colored and he’s neutered. He arrived on December 4 and is listed as “rescue only.” You can see him in the shelter’s Conference Room. What kind of cat is he? He’s NOT a Domestic Shorthair Mix — he’s a Siamese Mix. Even rarer than the elusive Domestic Shorthair. [Anybody fill me in on the reality of the term “rare cat”?] Read the volunteer-produce biographies of dogs and cats by clicking on the shelter’s website HERE.
CONTEMPLATIONS
ODD NOTES IN JANUARY…
“HOW ‘BOUT THEM COWBOYS” — yeah, no kidding. OK, moving along. I don’t always hit every key right, but nobody ever shows up for the Superbowl of Typing, either. ….
DOES SNOW COAT THE REALITY? That’s a philosophical question without a point. I grew up in Northeast Texas where the rare snow might fall overnight but, generally, it always melted away by noon. That brings me to this question: Is this a term: “Climate derangement”? Turns out there is. I went to an online publication called “Spiked.” Of the term “Climate derangement,” Spiked says,
“It’s the hysteria about climate change that poses the greatest threat to humanity.” Like a sci-fi movie clown, that's simultaneously funny and frightening. Here’s the LINK 
FYI: Things are a little slow this morning with the ol’ computer because I’ve got a new computer and the Pages  program on it doesn’t work like the Pages on my old computer. And the keyboard is different, For example: On the old keyboard if my right pinky landed one row higher than it was sent, nothing happened. On the new one, if my right pinky lands a row higher, it shuts down the computer. I don’t handle frustration well. But it’s too cold to step onto the front porch and see how far I can sail a poorly designed computer keyboard down a snow-covered street. The temptation is there, however.
— Leave a note or an idea by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and make the subject line read ‘Nobody said the future would be orderly. —-