EDITION OF THUR/FRI FEB. 22-23, 2024 [PetPowellPress] Among the first things I heard in my morning fog this delightful morning was that there were “widespread outages” of the cellphone system. Mine was working.
Immediately I knew what was going on: Martians. H.G. Wells pegged it in the 1890s.
OK. I could be wrong and I may have nodded off last insomnionight while watching a vintage Twilight Zone episode.
That is my cat, Stevie Ray Treeboy — I got him out of a tree when he was a tiny, tiny, loud kitten.
What was I doing in a tree?
I can’t discuss that. And beyond that I am not clear regarding Stevie Ray’s origin. The fact that he is next to what appears to be a Cocker Spaniel and is appearing right side up above a sign that suggests otherwise…well, I just don’t know how much the phone company can be blamed for in this 21st Century World. Cue the spooky music — if your phone will let you click to it…
P.S. Stevie Ray is not from Mars. He is like my funspouse Martha — from Oak Cliff. Nowhere near Mars at this point in time.
A DARLING UPBEAT QUOTE
ABOUT THE DOG MOONEY
We’ve been keeping up with the little pup Mooney ever since Kimberley Jones rescued him from a “free dog” offer on a neighborhood bulletin board and discovered that he was in hellish fix health-wise. Fortunately for Mooney, Kimberly has experience in navigating the medical route for animals.
The little guy has post-parvo problems — neurological and otherwise — that appear to affect the way he walks, what he can see and how he is living life.
On Monday he’s scheduled to undergo an MRI — the cost could range from $3,500 to $5,500, Kimberly says. The "close look" at Mooney may clear up what sort of treatments he’ll need to live a good life with a loving human being.
Donations by good-hearted people to his go-fund-me page took care of his early treatments. That page is here:
https://gofund.me/8cce6087
That route is being taken to help doctor’s nail down the next approach to helping Mooney. You can keep up with him and see the connections to donate to his cause by going to this link:
Kimberly says, “I know he can get better or at least much improved for sure. I want him to have a normal and happy life.”
But what is the latest upbeat note about this little guy who has already improved beyond what you’d normally expect of a puppy with such challenges.
Earlier in the week we posted a link to a video of little guy Mooney “motoring around” as best he could -- and he's a lot better than he was.
But this one sentence from Kimberly may sum up Mooney's attitude perfectly.
She wrote, “He wagged his tail at me yesterday -- for the first time ever 🥹.”
A NIGHTMARE SITUATION
FOR A CAT RESCUER
Laura Macias, our original contact with 4-Legged Helpers, has encountered a challenge involving a cat from Red Oak who is now in McKinney.
Perhaps someone in that city north of Dallas can help Laura and this cat Chatty Cathy.
Laura explains that she does “TNR in my neighborhood in Red Oak….I had a cat that was TNR’ed before I realized how sweet she is. …
“She is super sweet and loves belly rubs and she is good with other cats. She was a cat at my house for over one year. I worked with her and she let me pick her up and she wanted in my house. I couldn't let her in because one of my 8 dogs is super cat aggressive … I couldn't get the dog to get better with cats. So I worked with her and then found her I thought a great home. Lady in McKinney who loves cats and has had cats and just thought she was great.
"I told her how to introduce her and asked her to not let her on her catio as she could get out … She did not listen to that part of what I said and let her on it and while she was out about 2 wks ago Cathy got out and was only seen that night and the lady tried to grab her and she tore off her collar with a tracker on it. She was traveling in the storm drains.
“I have gone out there and tried to find her and put traps out but she is trap-savvy. And I told the woman to set up on feeding station but I am unsure if she has done that. I was hoping someone has someone out there who feeds cats out there and could be on the look out for her. If she is found I will take her back and come at any time! She lives 60 miles from me. She is fully vetted and chipped.”
To offer to help Chatty Cathy return to a safe environment, call or text 214-949-2726.
LOOKING AT THE FACES
IN THE CARROLLTON SHELTER
We’ve got a longtime tipster who monitors the animals in the Carrollton Animal Shelter and, now and then, she
anonymously tips us to some of the animals that need a human to step up and get them into a good home.
One of those notes arrived Thursday afternoon. The subject was “SAD FACES” and our pal “Baccula” wrote,
“There are some faces haunting me on Carrollton Animal Services. Could you please put them in your newsletter?"
So, ladies and gents, here are those animals and their faces. We opened with Mcgriddle in the first paragraph. Try not to tear up when you see the look on Gracey's face.
“Long timer McGriddle, 54558960, Bully mix, Male, Neutered, 3 years. Laid back.
“Floopster, 55024055, Shep mix?, Male, Neutered, 7 months. I think you would like his looks.
“Fudge, 551733300, Chocolate Lab mix, Male, neutered, 6 months.
“The very sad, scared face belongs to Gracey, 55173678, Female, Spayed, 2 years old.”
How can you help these animals? Get in touch with the Carrollton Animal Services online at this LINK. The shelter is at 2247 Sandy Lake Road in Carrollton. The phone number is 972-466-3420. Hours of operation are on the website.
And, yes, that is a “very sad, scared face: on sweetheart Gracey. Somebody give that girl a hug and a home.
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE,
A MOM, HER PUPS AND OTHERS…
This dog is named October, she arrived in February, six puppies call her “Momma” and she’s ready for adoption in the Mesquite Animal Shelter.
We got the story on her from volunteer dog bio-writer Debra Chisholm who has a pretty good read on October’s personality.
Debra writes, “Her name was suggested by one of the volunteers who thought it was a pretty cool name. October came to the shelter on 2/8 and her (six) puppies were a week old at that time.” Octobers shelter ID is #55247209. Cite that number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Debra describes her as a “precious sweetheart,” who was picked up as a stray, came into the shelter with six babies —4 female, 2 males.
Debra’s dog scanner says mom is a “Whippet/Lab retriever mix.” October is about 2 and weighs around 40 pounds. And “she is a wonderful mama and takes good care of her…adorable puppies.”
She also “is perfectly OK with allowing staff and volunteers to handle her puppies. She walks nicely on a leash, is well-behaved, calm, gentle and has a chill personality. She likes treats, will sit for them and takes them gently. She is friendly and sweet, and seems to enjoy the loving attention given her. You can tell by her appearance that she has had a rough life. She is undernourished and badly underweight, and has lots of scars on her face, head and ears. And yet she is the sweetest, most lovable girl imaginable! October and her puppies need out of the shelter environment and in the loving home of a foster.”
You can see more photos of the mom and kids by going to this Mesquite shelter link. It’s the same site where you can find another of Debra’s biographed dogs, the “beautiful girl” Vivian who came in as a stray on Feb. 17. Vivian’s ID is #55372917. Vivian, according to the Dog Scanner, may be a mix of Australian Kelpie, Manchester Terrier, and Lapponian
Herder. Debra's bio says Vivian is about 3 and weighs 52 pounds. "She is sweet, calm and gentle with a chill personality," Debrea wrote. "When brought into the room to have her eval done, she found the doggie bed and just wanted to relax in the soft comfiness of it and not wander about the room and explore. ... She did venture from the comfy doggy bed when I invited her to come and snuggle with me and she let me pet her and show her loving attention. This girl stole my heart! She would seem best suited for a quiet well-ordered home and needs to be an inside dog."And Debra cautions, “Our shelter is critically overfull as dogs continue to stream through our doors daily. Through the month of February the shelter is running a special adoption rate of $14.”
And volunteer dog biographer Judi Brown has this report on another dog — this one came into the shelter LAST YEAR. Judi writes “Look into Cookie’s eyes. You can see she’s just pleading with you to adopt her. She wants you to know she’s a good girl! All she wants is to be loved! Cookie is an approximately two year-old, 47 pound tawny colored Terrier/Pit mix. She was brought in on 12/28 by one of our officers. Note that was two months ago. She wants you to know it’s not easy waiting day after day and watching potential adopters walking by her kennel. She’s been told she’s not only a sweet, precious girl, but that she’s also very attractive. She thinks maybe she’s being passed by because she’s timid and rather introverted. But she wants you to know that she’s making progress in building trust. And if you would spend just 10 minutes with her, loving on her, she will be your BFF! You can see she’s recently had a litter. She is now spayed. She loves treats and takes them gently, but is waiting for her new family to teach her the sit command. She wants to please and is highly motivated by treats, so should be very easy to train. She comes to you when you sit down for petting, ear scratches and cuddling. Oh, and she also puts her head on your lap. She is laid-back, gentle, kind, and
cautiously friendly…When we accompanied each other out into the yard she walked very well on the leash. Sweet, sweet Cookie would do best with a laid-back family with older children. She would be a devoted, loving companion.”
Cookie is #55019316 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
OK, one more animal from Mesquite. Anybody needing a girl with a championship set of cat whiskers to brighten up things when you have visitors — you know, give people something to talk about when conversation wanes? That’s her. #55381014. Came into the Mesquite Animal Shelter on the 19th. Listed as “available.” She’s just over a year old. Small. Black and white. Want to guess the type of cat that has whiskers you could paint with? That is a “Domestic Shorthair Mix.” [LARRY ASIDE: Ask to see her in the Rembrandt Paint Brush Room. I’m kidding. That cat and her whiskers are in, where else, “The Cat Room.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT
Beautiful day in the Metrosprawl. And that concludes today’s editorial on weather….
As spring training takes over in the world of the Texas Rangers, it occurs to me that fans have a whole new set of anxieties for the 2024 season. Namely: Can the Texas Rangers repeat and can they, this time, win the division instead of having to watch Houston, formerly of the National League, win the American League West. And what about prices at the ballpark? More anxiety. Ah, the Big League problems! …
Best shows on TV? Feel free to nominate. We’re listing Monsieur Spade, starring the GREAT Clive Owen in the further adventure of Private Detective Sam Spade, Dashiell Hammett’s great character. And we're listing Slow Horses, a Brit series with the great Gary Oldman. How about that new series, The Campaign Trail and Other Annoyances? I might have made that one up — I’ll need to check my records. I'm a fan of political campaigns. No mute buttons in my democratic republic with the freedom of speecha and a responsible news media.
—- Offer anything smart by clicking on ‘comment’ or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘SAVE ‘EM ALL, DANGIT!’ In the subject line. —-
