A LONG REPORT TO MAKE A POINT ABOUT SHELTER ANIMALS & HUMANS WITH HEART

EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY JUNE 4-5, 2024 [PetPowellPress] Here’s the general message: Save animals packing shelters all over the State of Texas. You get on enough mailing lists and you’ll be convinced there’s not an empty shelter cage in the whole danged state.
But, heck, I’m preachin’ to the choir about this situation. The problem is reaching the hearts of the people who treat dogs and cats as if they’re temporary acquaintances with bad habits and limited intellect.
Help me off this soapbox before a slat snaps and I break something the hits the ground first. I’m smart enough to spay and neuter but not brainy enough to keep my yap shut while balancing on a soapbox.
We’re going to open with 4-Legged Helpers dogs.
There are 10 million dogs and cats waiting for homes and we’re working on but a tiny handful. Spread the word to people — some of those people don’t even know that they’re animal rescuers — yet. Their time will come. Maybe. [LARRY FYI That's my Senior Office Cat William Powell -- his contract says he doesn't have to try to help me off the soapbox but he can cuddle me and purr after I land.]
WHO ARE THE DOGS
IN THIS SECTION?
Keep reading this report from the 4-Legged Helpers and you’ll find a dog described adoringly as a “silly goober bear.” [LARRY ASIDE: I believe that is the first time in my long career that I have typed that 3-word description. Read on.]
We're focusing on animals in need, their situations and stories provided by the folks with 4-Legged Helpers. Those are determined people who work to get attention for the animals waiting in the smaller, low-human-traffic shelters on the southern side of the big sprawl known as Dallas.
Yep, not all Dallas County dogs and cats go to the big city shelters, or the big suburbs’ shelters. To help the dogs in this report -- rescue, adopt, volunteer — call or text 214-949-2726 or 972-897-4926. Email [email protected]. S
Ask ‘em to put you on the mailing list and you can forward it to people who need to help an animal live a happy, calm, adored life.
The first dog in the opening section is Shadow, a Labrador Retriever in the Wilmer Animal Shelter, the Helpers report. The bio reads, “Shadow is a great young dog.  The ACO believes him to be less than a year old, and is a purebred Lab in the 8-10 month old range. Beautiful dog! Shadow is very sweet and very friendly and lovable!  He currently weighs about 50 pounds but is a bit underweight due to being found out and about on his own.  He is a complete love..”
The second dog, Clover, is a female Lab mix, also in the the Wilmer Shelter. The’s “1-to-2 years old and weighs about 50 pounds,” her shelter bio says. And the Helpers bio reads, “Adores belly rubs and is extremely lovable. Such a cutie pie.”
Those were our two opening dogs.
Moving into the latest 4-Legged Helpers report, we find more dogs waiting. Next up is Cooper, also in the Wilmer Shelter.
He’s listed as a “Boxer/Shepherd Mix,” but that’s not for certain, apparently.
His bio from the Helpers reads, “Cooper is SO CUTE.  Not sure what the mix is here but he is
adorable.” His photo on teh right is recent and shows that he’s reached the 50-pound weight since coming into the shelter. Due loves eating — wait, he “adores easting,” the bio reads. “He is a very sweet boy and adores eating.  And he does the cutest thing.  This sweetie gets very excited about dinner and will spin in a circle 3 times.  Then if you are slow he will repeat the 3 spins.  Super cute and funny and sweet.”
This girl with the great face is Bella, a “young female Rat Terrier/Border Collie Mix” in the Wilmer Shelter. The bio says the 30-pound dog is “absolutely adorable. … She is a cuddly cutie that will hang out with her person. The ACO says that when he has her out, she will keep an eye on where is even if she is away. Very intelligent and very sweet.” [LARRY ASIDE: The Helpers’ appeal closes with an appeal that really hints something awful could happen. It reads, “Please help save her!]
We’ve previously written about Shawn and Suzie, a couple of Black Mouth Cur mixes found roaming in Ellis County south of the
Big D sprawl on I-45. That dual bio from the 4-Legged Helpers reads: “Such sweeties.  And so very deserving of a home and to have someone to love.  These two cuties look like they are possibly brother and sister.  They were found out and about in a very rural area of the county all by themselves. Known dumping area for every kind of dog you can imagine.  And these are such great dogs it defies reasoning if that is indeed how they got there. Both are young dogs and incredibly sweet.  Very loving.  Available individually or together.”
Beau is this dog with the interesting eyes. He’s a young and neutered Pyrenees mix — or he could be Anatolian Shepherd/Aussie mix. Whatever he is, he’s about a year-and-a-half old and weighs 65 to 70 pounds, his bio says.
It also reads, “He is incredibly sweet and was found out and about in Ferris  Really good with a puppy they had at the shelter as well as a female dog.  Please help save him!”

DELILAH, who we’ve also mentioned previously, is a spayed Bulldog mix who has been waiting in the “Ferris/Hutchins Shelter for months,” reads the Helper’s notice. A Ferris Police officer rescued this roaming girl. She’s about 2 years old, the bio says. And, it also reads, “She is just as sweet as sweet can be. Loves to cuddle and give hugs.  SO cute. Great with other dogs!  Loves to play.  Very loving and super sweet. She is such a great girl that the shelter tests all the incoming dogs with her to see how they will do.  We have videos we can share of her with both male and female dogs.  Great girl! So deserving.”
Flurry, the male Siberian Husky, in Ferris/Hutchins we also have mentioned previously. His bio reads, “Such an interesting dog.  The best way we could describe him is he is a [German Shepherd] inside a Husky body.  He patrols.  He adores his owner.  Doesn't really care about the other dogs.  Follows his humans to ensure they are safe. Isn't that sweet?  Flurry has been waiting for months now.  Not a single inquiry about adopting.  Heartbreaking.  Flurry is stunning.  Truly gorgeous.  He was found out and about by a Ferris police officer.  Such a beautiful dog!  Honestly one of the most beautiful huskies we have seen.  He is so very sweet and per the shelter staff, appears to be kennel trained.  Loves to play fetch but does not quite have the part down about bringing the ball back but LOVES the rest of the game.  LOL.  He is a Velcro boy that absolutely adores his person, whomever that is. We think he would do great in a home where he is THE dog, and can have the human attention that he so wants and deserves.  He is so loving and sweet!! “ PLEASE
And with that, we have arrived as this guy Brody, described as a “young Boxer/Pointer mix” by the shelter he’s in (Ferris/Hutchins, according to the note from the 4-Legged Helpers). And, the bio says he “adores both people and other dogs.  He is adorable, rambunctious and ALL PUPPY. About 9 months to a year old. 
“Per this shelter, they believe he is housebroken.  Approximately 50 pounds.”
And the 4-Legged Helpers’ bio writer provides this glimpse into Brody’s shelter life: “Lovable young dog that is very silly and fun and playful. Everyone at the shelter absolutely ADORES this dog.  Due to his puppiness he will need some training. The ACO told me a hilarious story about Brody waiting to ambush him (wants to play with him) after he lets him out in the play yard.  So funny!  LOL.  Note however, he is leash-trained.  Silly goober bear. Please help save him!”
[LARRY ASIDE: May all of these dogs find homes immediately. We decided to post ALL of the dogs appearing on the latest 4-Legged Helpers’ correspondence because they all need a spotlight right now. Bless these dogs and the people who will save them.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
THE MASSIVE LOAD OF ANIMALS
How does this sort of thing happen in a civilization that is so darned proud of helping people and organizations. Don’t the dogs and cats count at all outside of the admirable community (of which I am a proud member) known far and wide as ANIMAL NUTS.
IN UPCOMING editions we’re going to cite the amazingly wonderful adoptable animals in the Mesquite Animal Services Shelter.
We might cite some from Dallas or Mesquite or Fort Worth or from Irving or Arlington or Grand Prairie or The Colony or … Look, this overload of animals around here is driving me nuttier than I usually am.
As I type this, our dogs are napping on the floor behind my chair. Every one of them was rescued without going through a shelter. Everyone of them, in a shelter, would have been facing lousy odds. Our cats? Same deal.
As an alleged human, I am fortunate I haven't been dropped off at a shelter. I’m absolutely unadoptable — I’ve got a snarl now and then. I know my place in the system.
Bless all of you majestic Animal Nuts and keep trying to save ‘em all.
— TELL US HOW by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing your solution to dallrp@aol. —-