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IT'S ALL A MATTER OF CAREFUL TRAINING -- ASK ANY OFFICE CAT....

For this edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap, we find ourselves unable to secure an exclusive interview with any sort of presidential candidate, so we'll simply focus on some personalities who actually do work when it's needed.
Yes, the Office Cat. We'll explain that opening photo shortly.
“Exactly what does an Office Cat do,” my friend and Senior Office cat William Powell was asked.
He gently turned his head and sent the inquisitive individual toward me with a nod.
 So, it's a simple job, I've explained. The Office Cat's primary mission is to keep things quiet in the office. Nothing louder than a gentle snore. No knocking office supplies off a desk.
No tipped-over hot coffee into the lap of someone concentrating on typing. That is a Class A Disruption. 
And never run across the keyboard when someone is sitting in the Big Office Chair of Profitable Labor and Intellectual Searches.


William is not my first Office Cat. He is second. He moved into the "Senior" ranking when the first Senior Office Cat, The Senator, moved on to his next post in the Heavenly Hereafter. [LARRY ASIDE: As longtime readers may recall, at readlarrypowell.com we believe not that all dogs and cats go to Heaven, but that all dogs and cats GO BACK to Heaven. Angelic souls sent to Earth to give humans a chance to do good things for these beings.]
Why was this cat named "The Senator"? Because the hairline across the top of his face looked as if he'd had hair implants, sometimes called "plugs" -- as many an elected U.S Senator has had done. Hence, The Senator. He was an independent.

Also, this photo demonstrates his true love -- in this pose he is teaching the actors to limber up and exercise their rhythmic techniques before beginning rehearsals for a musical starring The Senator. It was called "Suburban Hoofer Cats" and was a minor romantic hit on the Feline Applause Tour a few years ago. You may recall the hit love song, "Don't Purr For Me, Art 'n' Gina."
William is not a fellow who must seek the spotlight. During his early years as he was studying under The Senator, he would watch very carefully what his mentor was doing in the old office we shared. Then, when The Senator would exit the napping platform next to the desk, William would deftly leap up to the blanketed surface, nod toward The Senator and curl up to wait for orders.  [LARRY ASIDE: That is a LOT of curled up kittycat, ain't it!]

This is a sleep-on-the-job training that William Powell extended to the current Junior Office Cat Stevie Ray Treeboy. All three of these Office Cats have been foundlings, i.e., who knows how much a well-trained office cat would set back a penniless writer of animal adventures and romantic tales of life in Texas?

So, about that opening photograph. 
William is not shy -- as you can tell in that opening bit of camera art. We had worked together to bring my computer back to functioning life on Friday and we were quite gleeful! We celebrated as we traditionally celebrate our triumphs. We rubbed noses and then had some treats -- William had small squares

of some kind of grain and I had larger squares of milk chocolate. We were two happy fellows.
And now and then, William moves from the office to the living room for a nap on the big dog Bed that he "influenced" the dogs to give up whenever he walked into the room. It's OK, they took over the couches -- we humans just stand and watch TV. I'm kidding. 
In summation, I will confess this: The life of an Office Cat can be a challenge. After all, it always involves a human.

[DEAR READERS: Please send photos of your slumbering office companions -- dogs, cats, others -- to [email protected] and tell us their stories, i.e., how you got them or they got you and why you love each other. We love to publish them in our long-running weekend feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. These are stories that encourage people to give their hearts and homes to animals that need, yes, human hearts and good animal homes.]

THE CHALLENGES OF TECHNOLAND; DOGS & CATS IN SHELTERS; FOSTER & ADOPT AVAILABLE

EDITION OF FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2024 [PetPowellPress] Regarding today’s effort, there is this: I think all the technical problems from the immediately previous edition have been corrected. I went into nerve-trauma shutdown and ate a lot of chocolate and a few cookies and,
though that had nothing to do with the technodrama intensity, I did feel better about life until I got on the scales this morning. I’ll check my blood sugar later today, after a few cups of coffee.
That's my Senior Office Cat William Powell editing down the tone of this next paragraph. I'd have needed a lawyer if he hadn't stepped in at the right moment.
In the meantime, keep this in mind. After an unauthoritative theorization of the situation in EVERY ANIMAL SHELTER IN DALLAS/FORT WORTH AND THE IMMEDIATE AREA , I am absolutely convinced OF THIS: Every taxpayer-supported shelter and many of the non-profit shelters and rescue organizations have all become overloaded thanks to the FAULTY-HEARTED HUMANS who dump and ignore dogs and cats to death. Sound harsh? Yep, but pretty accurate, too, right, Dear Animal Advocates and Rescuers?
MEANWHILE, GARLAND
HAS A LOAD OF ADOPTABLES…
We got the tip on this situation from a pal of ours — we call her “Tami” — who keeps an eye on local shelters and their population challenges.
Frankly, the statistics read pretty certainly that Garland Animal Shelter & Adoption Center can use some fosters — like right now!
And, if you google “Garland Animal Shelter news” you’ll find a number of media reports about the way the recent storms added to the population challenges at the shelter.
[LARRY ASIDE: Victims of Nature or victims of HUMAN NATURE? Yeah, hmm. Good question, eh? Humans dump a lot of dogs and cats when the weather’s been good! Right?]
So I went to the Garland Animal Shelter website for a quick look at adorable adoptables. You can see where to click on the city site and spot the animals in need. To ask about adopting or fostering call the Garland Shelter at 972-205-3570 Option 2
You’ve probably noted that dog photo already. That is Rico (#Aw26502) at Garland Animal Shelter & Adoption Center. His bio began, “If you are looking for a loyal and affectionate companion, Rico might just be the perfect match for you. Come meet this adorable pooch and see if you can provide him with the loving home he deserves.” When you click to the details on that site, you’ll read that Rico is “ a handsome neutered male Pit Bull mix who is estimated to be around 3 years old. This sweet boy weighs approximately 45 pounds and is looking for his forever home.”
A cat? Look at this baby in her “stretch display” on the shelter’s site. Tula is #A274295. She’s described as “a spayed gray and white female Domestic Shorthair, — staff theory is she’s about 4 years old.”
To ask about these adoptables, stop by the shelter at 1902 Highway 66 in Garland. Call 972-205-3570 Option 2.
[LARRY ASIDE:Thanks, Tami, for the heads-up on the Garland situation — save ‘em all, you know!]
MEANWHILE, IN MESQUITE
DOGS ’N’ CATS WAIT, TOO
This patriotic guy is Oakley and we got his info from our tipster, volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm at Mesquite Animal Services. Oh, one more quick intro note: Oakley is “URGENT.”
As has been noted before there’s a deal on dogs and there’s also a limit to the room in the shelter.
Debra writes, “The shelter is running a special during June of a $25 adoption fee for adult dogs. We are critically overcrowded and this is one of the reasons a number of our dogs have been placed on the urgent list.”
Read on.
Debra says Oakley the Pittie mix came in as a stray on June 6. And she writes, “He is sporting his patriotic scarf in observance of Flag Day! Oakley weighs 56 pounds and is approximately 3–4 years of age. He walks very nicely on a leash. He did his business in the yard. He is somewhat timid and nervous in the shelter environment. He has a low-key personality and is a calm and well-behaved boy. Oakley was not interested in my treats. He is friendly, is A-OK with giving kisses and receiving loving attention. And I noticed in most of my pictures he looks like he’s got the biggest smile ever! “
What about his looks? She writes, “You will notice that has scabs on his face and head. He has been to the vet and a report is forthcoming. However, I wanted to get this out because unfortunately Oakley is on our urgent list and his time at the shelter may be a short one unless he is adopted or rescued. Oakley is being given an antibiotic. Basically the vet feels that these are scabs and scars from an old wound. I will send a follow-up to this email with a vet report for anyone interested in Oakley.”And Debra’s appeal for Oakley adds, “Please help him if you can by networking or tagging at [email protected], typing in the subject line TAG, ID 56083391.”
BOBBY, MESQUITE ANIMAL SERVICES, ID 55506363
Bobby, a King German shepherd that was surrendered to the Mesquite Animal Shelter. Bobby originally came to the shelter on 3/11/24, was adopted on 3/18 and returned on 6/11. The owner stated the reason for the surrender was that Bobby was chewing on their wooden fence. We do not know the circumstances. It may have been Bobby was left alone in the yard for long periods of time without adequate socialization. Ask about ID 55506363 when you call the shelter at 972–216–6283 or email [email protected]. And consider that photo -- that's lovely Bobby looking into the human eyes as he gets some warm and loving affection from a human. [LARRY ASIDE: He looks like a wonderfully huggable dog, doesn't he!]
URGENT, PUMPKIN, MESQUITE ANIMAL SERVICES, ID 55485587.
Here’s Pumpkin’s apparently self-written bio:
"I’m only 1 year old and I’ve been here for almost 100 days—since 3/7/24 to be exact. If you do the math that’s 1/4 of my life and now they say I’m URGENT. That means my life will end before it even starts. I wouldn’t take up much room because I’m only 44lbs. I hate being confined to this kennel that’s 7’ X 4.5’.  I stay here all the time. I sleep on this cold hard floor. I eat here. I have to use the bathroom right here where I sleep and eat. Does that sound like fun?  Well it’s not and I’m starting to hurt myself because I need to get out of here.  My name is Pumpkin and I want to walk out the front door with a nice family. Can you please, please look past my flaw and I will give you unconditional love. Please network or tag at [email protected], typing in the subject line TAG, ID 55485587. If you have further questions, please call 972–216–6283 or email at [email protected].
If you go to this ANIMALS IN THE MESQUITE SHELTER LINK  HERE you’ll be able to find these three urgent dogs and read about them and see their photos.
MAKENZIE, MESQUITE ANIMAL SERVICES, ID 56053661
CONTEMPLATIONS
BLONDIE, MESQUITE ANIMAL SERVICES, ID 56094558
AUBREY, MESQUITE ANIMAL SERVICES, ID 56014283
You’ll also be able to find a bunch of cats, including this guy who is young and vigorous and appears to enjoy being held by people wearing red nail polish. [LARRY ASIDE: I don’t know how cats feel, in general, about nail polish, but our cats do enjoy a good cuddle and a conversation about world affairs.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
THINGS TO DO OR THINK ABOUT
Check with your local shelter to see if you can help by fostering or adopting or by persuading your idiot neighbor to leave town before he can adopt a boy dog and a girl dog and then wonder where all the puppies came from. OK, that last thing about the neighbor could have been avoided if I had any manners — but I’ve always had good neighbors who understood the birds and the bees. …
Somebody help me off this soapbox before I snap a slat and the dogs and cats line up in my office to chuckle at me again. I understand that they are about to shoot an impromptu action scene for their new TV show they’re starring in: 911 ANIMAL PATROL ’n’ PISTOLS. My office cat, William Powell, has the lede role as Dr. Pawl Peaceable — the officer who keeps his calm and prefers to purr humans into submission and handcuffs. It’s a hypnotic thing. We’re thinking about a movie called “Dr. Pawl & The Red River Pirates.” William will be the modern TV’s first cat to play a time-traveler who tries to cross from Texas into Oklahoma and winds up in a different era. ...
Look, Dear Readers and passersby, we’ve got these dogs and cats and didn’t pay a dime for any of ‘em because, in Dallas, you can pick up free dogs and cats off the streets or out of your yard or off your porch at almost any time of the day. That’s just one of the bonuses of living in Big D. Historic sites and free critters. You may pay taxes, but the free animals can wander up anywhere and take over your heart without a fee.
—- Add something intellectual to this report by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “FREE KITTENS? FREE PUPPIES? IN DALLAS? OH, PSHAW!” In the subject line. —-