A BISCUIT AND A CAT, BUT NO CATHEAD BISCUIT; IT'S ALL FOR THE SAKE OF LOVE....

EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY JUNE 11-12, 2024 [PetPowellPress] Hello. It’s typing time on Tuesday and we have some idea:
Once upon a time…
WAIT. Somebody already did that one. Let’s just jump right into the mail. Wait a second. Yes, there is such a term as "Cathead Biscuit" -- said to be big biscuits formed sort of in the shape of a cat's head -- when I was a kid in Texarkana dining in Mom's kitchen, we just called 'em Mom's biscuits.
That is an advertising photograph. Yes, Senior Office Cat William Powell is advertising the need for napping. “Can I get an ‘amen’,” he purred on behalf of the Foundation For Bright and Alert Americans. It’s a small group so far. [I’m kidding -- but I am thinking about using him as "The Face of Larry & Martha's Cathead Biscuit Mixes." I'll discuss that with Martha later, after I see if I won Lotto Texas over the weekend.]
A CHANCE TO MEET A DOG;
A CAT WHO NEEDS A NEW DEAL
These are situations that have found their ways into the Humane Society of North Texas facility in Fort Worth and because I click off-target sometimes, we happen to have accidentally learned about these challenges — AND opportunities.

That dog is Biscuit. And his story is used as an introduction of the HSNT’s new “Foster To Adopt Program,” according to the organization’s Facebook site HERE.
The facility is at 1840 E. Lancaster Avenue in Fort Worth, a few blocks south of the Riverside exit off I-30 just east of Downtown Cowtown.
This photo (taken from a video on the HSNT Facebook page carries this text “Ever found yourself wondering if a larger dog would be the right fit for your family? Or if they’d do okay in your cozy apartment? If these questions sound familiar, then we’ve got just the thing for YOU…” The adorable display dog is this guy Biscuit. In this video he helps present the message about the Foster To Adopt Program.
The text reads, "With this awesome new HSNT initiative, you can give a shelter dog like BISCUIT, your future furry best friend, a temporary or permanent home. Think of it like a trial run – you’ll get to ‘test drive’ a big dog for a week in your own environment to see if they’re the perfect match for you and your crew. At the end of the seven days, you either adopt or return your dog to the shelter. Either way, the dog wins whether it’s a permanent home or a temporary reprise from noisy shelter life (which then can help get him/her in a better head space to find their forever home)!
“And here’s the best part – we’ve got your back every step of the way. We’ll hook you up with our behaviorists to help with any issues that may come up during your time together and cover 100% of the foster dog’s vet care until they are adopted.”
The appeal ends with HSNT urging, “Let’s find your furry soulmate together.”
That brings us to this handsome cat. [LARRY ASIDE: He looks as if he could be a distant cousin to my Senior Office Cat William Powell. Keep in mind that at readlarrypowell.com we have a habit of living a lifetime with cats. Years and years. Well past the years of this cat — and it’s a heartbreaking situation that a good human heart can help. Read on.]
The Humane Society of North Texas has the story on Carlos and his ID number: 55996127. One more significant number? Yewbet. How about 13. Yes, Carlos is a 13-year-old cat absolutely ready for a good home. His bio HSNT reads, "This chunky boy, coming in at 18 lbs, wound up in our care after 13 years of living in a loving home. His previous owners said that he wasn't taking to their newborn baby very well, and decided to give up on him.
“For that reason, he would probably do well in a home without young children. Since being in our care, we love to see Carlos waddle around as he does have quite the big belly to uphold. With that said, we're hoping to get him on a diet so that he can shed some lbs!
“He is super chill, as he enjoys just lounging around. He is a really easy going cat. He enjoys getting head/ear rubs, and the more time spent with him, the more he shows his cuddly side with you. Carlos yearns to live out his golden years back in a loving home, instead of the shelter, where he can become a loving companion to someone.”
Carlos is among the HSNT cats on display in the PetSmart in Montgomery Plaza in Fort Worth. Visit him there; check with the Humane Society of North Texas at (817) 332-4768. The website location is http://www.hsnt.org or on Facebook HERE.
[LARRY ASIDE: A $50 13-year-old cat is a bargain. Lots of 13-year-old cats have plenty of love left to give — and they love being adored, too.]
COMING UP SOON?
PAWS IN THE CITY’S
VERMAPLEX 2024
Ah, those of you who knew the late devoted leader of Paws In The City recognize right away that this fund-raiser is a tribute to the great
Mark Verma, a gentleman and a hard-working animal advocate and rescuer. Mark, a music lover, was president of Paws In The City from 2014
until his death June 22, 2022. While he loved music, he also was renowned as a guardian angel for animals. And he was just about the nicest guy you’d ever meet.
So, he’s the inspiration Vermafest, benefitting Paws In The City. All the details are available at this Paws in the City EVENTS SITE HERE.  The acts at The Studio at the Factory include, according to the Paws people, “local Dallas bands VeiN, Warhog, Sanxion, EarWorm, Mad Mexicans, and a closing out with Drowning Pool!!” Ticket prices and age-rules are on the website.
[LARRY ASIDE: I know Mark would appreciate it if I ran some photos for some of the dogs Paws In The City is trying to place in good homes. So here are a half-dozen cuties among the many you can see by navigating to the adoptables at www.pawsinthecity.org.

CONTEMPLATIONS
THINGS TO CONSIDER/IGNORE?
OK, let’s get this out of the way. As a Northeast Texas kid, I might have gone to a few rodeos and a street daince (local pronunciation) or two in my teenage years. Never got on a bull. Never roped a calf. Never fell off a horse. Always felt bad for the livestock. So, in my mature years I find myself in support of bulls, too — being a reporter covering politics may have had an influence, i.e., only politicians can fill up a stall floor quicker than a bull. Anyway, I saw the video of Oregon rodeo escapee bull Party Bus running for daylight. I always root for the bulls, here or in Pamplona, Spain (that running of the bulls is on July 7 — not sure if Party Bus has been invited to participate)……
Saw a TV commercial that began with “A great vacation always starts with your flight experience…” Not for me. For me a great vacation always starts with driving west of Fort Worth and either turning south toward Alpine and Terlingua or going northwest towards Santa Fe, the dream destination for this traveler. I don’t take a lot of vacations. Best ever? Probably our honeymoon trip to the Santa Fe, then to the Meteor Crater at Winslow, Az. — fulfilling Martha’s childhood dream of see it. Heck, yeah, I’m a romantic.…
You want some drama? Sit in an office with a carefully regulated dog named Porche Noel and then, as you realize rain is falling outside and as you are failing to type a sentence that makes sense, she stands, looks up at you with a smile of interruption, then begins to dash through the house toward the back door. The drama? Who will win the race? You or Porche’s ready-to-go anatomy? Relax. I beat her to the door by two lengths, helped her down the steps and she went to “her place” — dry and under a tree. That’s drama.
—- Offer advice or doubt by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘GET SMARTER’ in the subject line and I’ll try to live up to that. Warmest regards with my initials, lrp —-