EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2024 {PetPowellPress] The sun has suggested that spring is cooking. — that was my Tuesday morning over-reaction. It just seemed a little bit hot to me when I went out on the eastern front porch and asked nearly blindly, “Where is that eclipse when you need one?” I missed the sky being filled with rainclouds. That must be the situation.
Kidding, of course, my very serious Office Cat William Powell reminds me that I should not monkey with the realities of the universe. And as soon as he said that, I clicked on a story reporting that for the first time ever a mixed-breed dog has won the agility trials at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Champion agility dog? Nimble, a Border Collie/Papillon Mix, the folks at CBS News reported HERE. Yep, get tired of covering politics and a reporter can always find something uplifting at a dog show.
I couldn’t find a photo of Nimble the Winner online at the Westminster site, so, I’ve decided to use a
photo of the 2024 Greater Metrosprawl Anti-Agility Champion, my personal dog Porche Noel doing her patented “Snore ’n’ Droop Your Tail” pose…Always a crowd-pleaser.
MOVING ALONG TO HELP
SOME ‘FURGOTTEN FRIENDS’
Been a while since we peered into the good work of the DFW Forgotten Friends folks. I’d clicked on something Tuesday and somehow wound up with a note that reminded me of the constant work of DFW Forgotten Friends since the non-profit was founded in 2012.
The first question I saw was on a note featuring this guy Santos — It asked, “How has Santos been overlooked?”
The opening sentence promised “This adorable two-year-old pup is ready to bring joy and love into your life.
“Despite a rough start, Santos is as sweet as can be and loves to play. He wants a person of his very own. While he
may have been unsure about playing with other dogs at first, with the help of his foster siblings, he's quickly learning the ropes. And have you noticed his stylish outfits? He loves clothes! Santos had some skin allergies, but with his snazzy clothes on and on a better diet, he doesn't itch and is as happy as can be.
Are you ready to open your heart and home to Santos? Fill out an adoption application today at www.dfwfgf.org/adopt and let's give Santos the happy ending he deserves!”
[LARRY ASIDE: That’s a full-service biography — tells you about the dog, where to find the adoption form and that the goal is a “happy ending” for Santos and his adopter/adoptors.]
The next note we saw opened with “Look at handsome Arlo!”
He is described as “a charming Shepherd/Husky mix, estimated to be between 10 months to 1 year old. His story could have ended tragically, but thanks to a compassionate soul, Arlo's fate took a brighter turn. Now, he's safe in foster care, eagerly awaiting a loving forever home!”
The bio penned (typed?) by a fan from the Furgotten folks reported that “Arlo is not just adorable but also incredibly sociable. He gets along famously with cats and other dogs. Plus, he's already a pro at potty training and excels in crate manners. With his boundless energy, Arlo is ready to seamlessly blend into a caring and active household. He'll need regular exercise to stay happy and healthy.”
And the Arlo appeal closes so charmingly, touchingly with this: “If you're ready to open your heart and home to Arlo, please reach out. Together, let's ensure this deserving pup finds the perfect forever family he's been dreaming of!”
There are many more animals on the DFW Forgotten friends Facebook site https://www.facebook.com/DFWFGF. And you can go to this link
https://dfwfgf.org and get involved in not only adopting but in helping the organization save more animals.
CAN IT BE A MOMMA & PUP
THAT CAME TO MESQUITE?
We got the tip on these two from our veteran dog-writing volunteer Debra Chisholm at Mesquite Animal Services. Remember, the shelter is running a $20 special on canine adoptions.
Debra’s story on the younger pup begins: “This adorable little live-wire is Jet, an American Pit Bull mix pup that arrived with another dog I have named Charlotte (probably his mom) as strays on 5/3 at the Mesquite Animal Shelter. He is ALL PUPPY with all the behavior and energy of a 6 month old. He weighs 29 pounds.
“He and Charlotte are kenneled together and do well with each other. He is a tail-wagging fun-loving fellow that is crazy about toys--especially squeaky toys. He will amuse himself and entertain you with his love of toys! Jet has an outgoing and confident personality...nothing timid or fearful about this guy. He has plenty of spunk and energy. He also will jump on you in his excitement. Jet is friendly and is a-ok with receiving attention, that is once he slows down. His new people will need patience and commitment in helping to navigate him through the oftentimes difficult puppy stage. But he will be so worth it.”
And Debra also writes, “He wants me to communicate that anyone with the intention of sticking him in the backyard to live need not apply. He loves and needs human companionship, daily playtime and exercise.”
Jet’s ID is #55847917 — cite that number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
And that brings us to Charlotte (#55847903), probably the mom of Jet. Same system for asking the shelter about adopting or rescuing Charlotte.
She’s Pittie mix who may be about a year old and weighs 44 pounds. Debra writes, “Charlotte is well-mannered, does not jump on you, is calm and gentle and has a chill personality. She sits for treats and takes them politely. She is friendly and A-ok with receiving petting and loving attention. She walks quite nicely on a leash. She did her business in the yard, so may be house trained. She spent a fair amount of time exploring the yard during the photo shoot, but was happy to interact with and get acquainted with me. She seems to have been well cared for as she has a sleek, beautiful, shiny coat.”
[LARRY NOTE: As regular and irregular readers of readlarrypowell.com can attest, there is a way to get to the list of animals awaiting adoption or rescue at Mesquite Animal Services. You simply click on the Animals-in-the-Shelter link HERE.
When the site opens you be gifted by the revelation of photographs and biographies of animals awaiting human help in finding homes.
You’ll see a lot of dogs and cats and a ton of little-bitty kittens, too. I plucked #55849163 out of the lineup Tuesday — no name yet. She’s a large girl, about 13 months old. Yep, more than a year. Probably at least one litter of kittens, I’m guessing. She’s been in the shelter since May 3 — and she’s in the “rescue only” stage right now. Domestic Shorthair Mix with a fascinating coat.]
[LARRY ASIDE: In our household, we find ourselves not just cuddling a cat with a coat like this, but sitting in the same room and staring at the coat as the lights from inside and outside catch the assorted highlightsin a dazzling display of nature's beauty.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
THE THINGS WE SEE & HAVE SEEN
Every now and then I like to cite a quote from a previous era — quotes from a succeeding era are tough to come by. In this case, I’m repeating something said to have been said by President Lyndon Johnson’s Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare John Gardner. He said, “Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.” Of course, this was said before personal computers and the merciful invention of the
delete button! I’m not sure the ancestors of Artificial Intelligence were around back in the 1960s. I’ll have to study up on that. Or wait until I can get AI to pinpoint the facts for us. ….
AS THIS IS BEING WRITTEN, my Office Cat William Powell and I and others lounging in the office have been listening to music by the great Tony Bennet, the magnificent singer/performer who moved on to the next heavenly mission on July 21, 2023. Among the songs we listened to were some of his duets, including The Best Is Yet To Come with the fantastic Diana Krall. And, of course, we could not spend any time with Tony Bennett without listening to his magnificent studio version of Once Upon a Time, a wonderful song of love from the 1962 Broadway show All American. It’s been recorded by scores of people —- from Bob Dylan and Perry Como to my fave version by Tony Bennett. Just about any song by Tony Bennet can become my favorite version of that number. Just Google Tony Bennett and Once Upon A Time — I recommend his first album version but you can also see a video of him performing hit live at the Newport Jazz Festival. I saw him in concert 4 times — first time at the Dallas Fairmont Hotel's famed Venetian Room. The last time was at the Bass Hall in Fort Worth -- my son Bart got tickets for himself, me and my Tonyfanspouse Martha.. In between, those two shows, Martha and I saw him at two other concerts in Dallas. Every time he was great and every time he charmed the audience. He was, as you may know, quite a fan of dogs. At the Bass Hall, he came out after the show in his “showbiz” dressing gown and carrying his little white fluffy dog -- named "Happy" if my memory is right. The little dog clearly adored Tony Bennett even more than the audience possibly could!
We’ll close with a salute to film director/sometimes actor Roger Corman who died May 9 in Santa Monica. He made a lot of scary and low-budget films. He scared me nearly to death in 1957 when he directed an eerie dressed-like-a- human space invader in a black-and-white film called Not Of This Earth. The invader, played all too real by Paul Birch (that’s him in the business man’s hat and with eyes missing pupils). When he slipped on his sunglasses, he looked like nearly all the door-to-door insurance salesmen of 1957. I think I was in the summer before the 4th grade when my pal Barry Birmingham and I paid two-bits each to see Not of This Earth at the Strand Theater, a second-run house on the edge of downtown Texarkana. Barry's dad owned a furniture store and mine worked at the railroad station — we were pretty sure neither one of them was a space alien. But there were other grownups that inspired the question, “Where did you say you were from?” I’m kidding. But Roger Corman, thank you for the movie thrillsand my insomnia.
—- Offer film tips or space alien info by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “HEY, EARTHLING” in the subject line. —-
