ReadLarryPowell.com

FROM OKLAHOMA TO OUTERSPACE AND BACK, IT'S MUTTS DAY IN AMERICA....

EDITION OF THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2024 [PetPowellPress] Last day of July already? July 31 is, according to the folks at the online calendar Holiday Insights, National Avocado Day and International Lifeguard Appreciation Day.  For the purpose of celebrating in our household, July 31 is also "Mutts Day." That's one of our Mutts in a photo from 2013 when we rescued him after he was dumped in our Dallas neighborhood -- i.e., our front yard. The frisky youngster -- known now as Dudley The Angel -- was on our back porch watching a bug walk across the plank. We’ll have more on Mutts Day in Contemplations.
First, we hope to help some people help some dogs. We might even help some cats -- we are,  after all, dedicated to Felis Catus, the intellectuals of the species. Our felines are, indeed, friends of Mutts.
MEANWHILE, IN BURNS FLAT,
ANOTHER OKLAHOMA SURPRISE
[LARRY NOTE: I've been writing about the adventures of the great Terry Lynn Fisher for years as she consistently works to save animals in and near Burns Flat, Oklahoma. It's in far western Oklahoma. Here's the current challenge.]
First, here is how you get in touch with Terry Lynn to see how you an help her. Her email is remembering_ [email protected]. 
Terry Lynn's Tuesday note begins, "The ACO in my town called me this morning. ...   I still help  them when I can. If I have room I take the dogs in need, I post them and try to find rescues and homes for them...

"About two weeks ago, they picked up a little dog. She was a sweet little thing and we were really hoping to find a home for her. They picked up another dog this morning and when they went to put it in the kennel next to the little Mama girl, she went berserk. She was not happy.  That was so out of character for her, so they moved the dog over and went and looked in her kennel. She had given birth to seven puppies overnight." [LARRY NOTE: You see the little rascals in the photo from the city facility.]
Ah, now the challenge. Terry Lynn — well, readlarrypowell will summarize her comments: “This is a horrible place for dogs. It is unacceptable for puppies…” Terry Lynn once brought this shelter back from disaster and she reports that it has slipped a bit since then.
She did write, “I cannot stand the thought of these newborn babies being up there. If they wiggle around too much, they go right outside of the kennel into the next kennel or out back of it. There’s coyotes and skunks roaming around there, so nothing is safe if  it gets out.
"The temperatures this week are 100+ with heat index as of 115 or more. That is too much for these newborn babies."

OK, Dear Readers, you get the drift of this situation. Terry Lynn is out of room at her home-based rescue place. And, she says, the shelter's facilities are just not adequate for the safety of the puppies,
She adds, "If anyone can help and take this mama and her little family, please let me know ASAP. This is beyond urgent." 
Terry Lynn is also having health challenges --perhaps Covid. Her doctor is taking over. 
Email Terry Lynn Fisher at [email protected].  Getting help with the mom and her babies would be a good thing for Terry Lynn. 
THEN THERE'S A PUPPY DUMP

IN THE METRO SPRAWL....

Our pal Laura Macias, a veteran at helping animals, tipped us Tuesday to a whole big litter of puppies that may have simply been dumped and "farewelled-sans-love" in the general metrosprawl.

[LARRY NOTE: I've picked just a handful of photos to give you an idea of what they look like -- they look mostly alike. As if they are all big, happy puppies, all seven of ‘em.] They need some rescue helpers -- the loving hearts of dogfans stepping up to help Laura and friend help them.Laura's note explains, "A rescue friend of mine found some puppies -- 7 total -- under a house near her. They were crying and crying. Mom was nowhere to be found. My friend looked for hours. We assume they were all dumped. My friend is not really into rescue much anymore but she had to get all of these babies safe. 

"They look to be Black Mouth Cur mixes or could be full not sure.  They are 8 weeks old and have had their 1st set of shots (DHPP and Bordatella) as of Monday. They also got a bath and dewormed. She is taking to the vet Thursday just to get them looked at also. We could transport them soon; we usually wait for 2 sets of shots. They are all between 7-15 lbs from the runt to the largest." 
They’ve got to get some rescue help and then some homes where they can live happily forever. To offer to help these big ol' abandoned puppies have a better life, email [email protected]. 
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ORION
IN THE SKY OVER TEXAS?
STELLAR PUP ‘WAITING TO BLOSSOM’
Before you look up at night to see the famed constellation, how about looking for Orion in the Mesquite Animal Services Shelter?
This has nothing to do with the “cascades” (proper usage of a word?) of meteors in the summer skies over Texas. It’s only link to space is the dog’s name: Orion. My research reveals Orion is a Greek name meaning “light of heaven,” How's that for talking points when yiou adopt this guyt and introduce him to people.
We got the info on him from volunteer dog biographer Judi Brown. Orion is #56418188 in the shelter — cite that ID when you contact the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Brown-eyed Orion is a year-old, 34-pound Alaskan Husky who came into the shelter on July 23. He was already neutered.
Judi’s bio of Orion reads, “The noisy shelter is a scary place for him. He doesn’t understand what he’s doing in a place without his family but with all the confusing noises. He stays at the back of his kennel. He’s too scared to walk, so had to be carried into the room in which I did his eval. We hung out for a while in a quiet environment. He lets you pet him but doesn’t completely relax. He needs a good brushing and people to spend more time with him so he can build trust.
“I just wanted to get him out to the public and rescues now,” Judi writes and adds, “We will continue working with him. Expect a follow-up evaluation when he starts to blossom.”
Now getting back down to earth, we cite Virginia and Arizona, two more Judi Bio Dogs in the Mesquite shelter.
Judi writes. “Arizona (right) aims to please! She’s a 7- month-old Australian Cattle Dog that was brought in as a stray with her sister I named Virginia. They both came in on 7/18. Virginia is also an Australian Cattle Dog but is black and white. They are kenneled together. Both are very sweet and on the shy side. Arizona is a little bit more outgoing than her sister. Arizona knows to sit command and takes treats gently. I worked with her on the down position and she quickly caught on. Australian Cattle Dogs are known to be smart, and Arizona is no exception. And she definitely wants to please! … She followed me around round like a velcro dog. When I sat down, she came to me to be petted. I even got a few kisses. She’s curious, alert, friendly, gentle, and seeks affection. She’s not only adorable with the perky ears and the beautiful brindle coloring but she’s also the whole package.”
Arizona is #56391921. Virginia is #56391926. Cite those ID numbers when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Judi’s bio of Virginia (left and lower right) says the 7-month-old, 25-pound Aussie Cattle Dog Sister of Arizona “wants to be your friend. She just asks you to be patient with her because she does seek affection. She’s just cautiously friendly. “
The siblings share a kennel a the shelter. And, Judi writes, “They are both very sweet, smart, and shy. Virginia is even more timid than Arizona. She’s like a velcro dog as she stayed so close! She doesn’t seem to know the sit command but does take treats gently. She comes when you call her to have her ears scratched. She’s well mannered, calm, alert, gentle, and wants to please. She walks very well on a leash. Actually, she walks right beside you. She was not interested in meeting other dogs but did not show any aggression. She’s a real sweetheart.”

Remember, you can see many more dogs and a whole bunch of cats and kittens waiting for homes in the Mesquite Shelter by clicking on Mesquite’s ANIMALS IN THE SHELTER LINK HERE. Among the cats is this fellow Dylan. READLARRYPOWELL.COM has identified him as a very rare Australian Hugmecat. Though, at the shelter, he is #56326547 and identified as a 4-month old, small grey and white Domestic Shorthair Mix. [LARRY ASIDE: That, of course, seems more likely than the perhaps made-up Australian Hugmecat. Dylan came into the shelter on July 9 and he’s currently available for adoption while waiting in the Hugme Room — sorry, I mistyped. He’s in the “Cat Room.” There is no “Hugme Room" at any taxpayer supported facility in Dallas County. That we know of. — larry. Hugs to everybody.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
IT’S MUTTS DAY AND WE LOVE MUTTS
Heck, we also love cats that live with Mutts. Mutts that live with mutts. Mutts that live with purebreds and purebreds that live with mutts. So,
celebrate National Mutts Day.
We opened today's edition with an old photo of our sophisticated mutt, Dudley the Angel, watching a bug. He is thought to be a Border Collie/Chocolate Lab mix, as listed on his medical form by his first vet. Got the white paws and tip on the tale and his coat is a "brown with a glow." The ingredients for Muttness are there.
That’s Dudley in a more recent photo —relaxing on our living room couch. He enhances the red sofa -- or anywhere he wants to sleep, walk or wait to be petted and gloriously hugged. He's a real personality. Friend to Man, Dogs & Cats.  On the left, in the glasses is Her Muttness Porche Noel -- found on the porch at Christmas. And on the right is our Regal Grand Mutt Wendy, i.e., Wednesday Louise Wagstaff Arden, a Mutt with personality -- aren't they all!

The folks at Holiday Insights presented a note titled “How to Celebrate and Participate in National Mutts Day.”
The early notes in the list were: Spend the day with your dog; Teach your dog a new trick; Go to a dog park (with your dog, of course); Give your Mutt a special treat….”
The last suggestion reads honorably: “Go to a pet rescue shelter. Then, pick out an adorable mixed-breed dog to take home.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Been to a lot of shelters and seen a lot of dogs. Been in dog dumping areas and seen a lot of dogs. Hosted a pregnant dog and, subsequently, we've seen a lot of surprise puppies. On Mutts Day we honor all the dogs by declaring that we’ve never seen a dog we didn’t want to hug and live with. We don’t have a spot for any other Mutts today, so when you, Dear Dogless Readers, go pick out one today or tomorrow or whenever, send us a happy photo and the bio of the pup — [email protected]. And join us in celebrating Mutts Day 2025 next year. It's as worthy a celebration as Thanksgiving -- Hmm, I wonder if Macy's would be interested in sponsoring a Mutts Day 2025 Parade In An Air-Conditioned Football Stadium with natural turf instead of a fake grass carpet that is tough on pawnails, maybe.]
—- CELEBRATE MUTTS AND THEIR OFFSPRING by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘YOUR DOGS’ NAMES’ in the subject line. —-

A POSITIVE THOUGHT; MARKETING POSITIVE SHELTER ADOPTIONS? SAVING ANIMALS VIA POSITIVE THOUGHTS?

EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY JULY 30/31 2024 [PetPowellPress] Is it possible that one of the big problems in large animal shelters is “marketing.”
Click on a big city shelter link and get a "fateful" of dogs and cats on death row. It’s consistently depressing. How do you get a shelter to put on a happy face? No way, eh? Come on. Be positive about this!
Would it help if people knew that there are happy canine and feline alumni of your city’s shelter? A couple of paragraphs of after-adoption love testimony from the adoptors and a picture of the happy animal and the day it was adopted. Not just photos of animals on the clock at Dallas Animal Services, for example. Inspire adoptions with evidence of love and not declarations of “soon to be dead.” [LARRY ASIDE: That's Enzo of Dallas Animal Services -- at last check, he's up for the needle on August 1. Read on.]
Heck, car companies sell additional cares based on testimony of previous customers. And dogs and cats have more personality and love than a whole lot of modern cars!
Dedicated animal rescuers reach “burn-out” pretty quickly in a big kill shelter, I’ve heard — and you probably have, too.
Is it possible there is a positive way, not a threaten-the-animals way, to get dogs and cats into happy homes? Is there some hot-shot public relations outfit than can pro bono take up the cause of "Save 'em All" at a city shelter?
We’ll have some Contemplations today. And, yes, that dog Enzo in Dallas and his supporters inspired my concern about marketing a shelter full of animals positively rather than “soon to get the needle.” Read about Enzo in our previous edition. It’ll boost your spirits to think about how he’s inspired people — particularly the heart of a woman named Katrina.
MEANWHILE, POSITIVE BIOS
ABOUT MESQUITE ADOPTABLES
For years now we’ve enjoyed reading the biographies of animals awaiting a good home as they're "socialized" and "cuddled" in the Mesquite Animal Services Shelter. Mesquite has a team of volunteers who write dog-biographies in an attempt to give these animals a better chance by telling about their personalities and attitudes. Cats get a mention, too. [LARRY ASIDE: It’s simply not enough to run a mugshot, and ID number and notice of “euthanasia date” on pages of shelter animals. Personality matters when you’re lookin’ for a companion. Click on this ANIMALS-IN-THE-SHELTER LINK to see the dogs and cats who may be

waiting for you or one of your friends.
That first little fellow (bio by Debra Chisholm) is Truffle, a 5-month-old, 16-pound mixed breed who came into the shelter on July 22 as a stray. “He seems skin-and-bones to me and needs to put on a few more pounds with a healthy diet," Debra writes and adds, "Of course, it's the chocolate-colored coat and my love for chocolate that convinced me Truffle would be an appropriate name for sweet boy.  He does walk well on a leash.  Though frisky and perky, he is on the calm side with his energy level.  He loves treats and takes them gently and therefore I have no doubt that he would be fairly easy to teach some commands.  He had no interest in playing with toys or balls.  Truffle needs out asap as we all know that a city shelter is a less than ideal place for such a young pup.” See his full boat that ANIMALS IN THE SHELTER LINK. He’s #56412465 at the shelter. Cite the ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
[THAT’S THE PROCEDURE to follow for all these animals.]
This little guy is Billy — “they don’t come any cuter than Billy,” Debra wrote. He’s #56422601, a 9 pound, 3-month-old stray brought in by a an animal control officer on July 23. His full mix is several breeds “Lab, Patterdale Terrier and Chesapeake Bay Retriever,” Debra reported. His evaluation revealed him to be a “playful little boy” who is “crazy about toys and balls.” His online shelter bio report, “He was so thrilled to be out of his crate and playing with toys that he wasn’t too interested in snuggling and being loved on. But,” Debra reports, “When I picked him up and cuddled with him, he was happy to relax and receive the attention.”
OH, my, what a cuddler! Debra also wrote the bio of Baxter. He too arrived on the 213rd. Stray, of course. He’s about 3 months old, weighs 9 pounds and “has the most interesting brindle coat. He is one enthusiastic, spunky puppy that loves treats and will pester you for as long as you are willing to dispense of them.”
That photo of Cuddling Baxter? Debra explains, “An other volunteer came into the room while I was doing his eval and he was all over her, wanting to be in her lap cuddling and does he ever gives kisses!!! She suggested that we were to set up a dog kissing booth, this would be the guy to install in the booth! $1 a lick!” Baxter is #56419469 at the shelter. “He would not be suited for a home in which he is stuck in the backyard (alone!).”
Debra’s dog-writing colleague Judi Brown provided the bio of Randy (#56414893), a year-old, 69-pound Appenzeller Sennehund/Mountain Dog mix who came in as a stray on July 22. She writes that his apparent smiling demonstrates that “he’s got a sweet disposition.” Still, her bio of this boy reads, “He is very timid and unsure of the shelter environment. He spent a lot of time going behind the bench for security.”
Judi also wrote, “When I took him out in the yard, he casually strolled around. He doesn’t seem to know the sit command and was not interested in treats. That may be because he’s not comfortable. I’m not sure he’s had much socialization. However, he does walk very well on a leash and seems to be housebroken. He was so shy he was not interested in meeting other dogs. He is extremely sweet and calm. With TLC he will thrive. As big as he is, he still wants to be in the loving comfort of your home. He doesn’t have the disposition to be an outside dog. He would love to lay at your feet while you’re watching TV.”

Judi also provided the bios for Wonka and Evy.
WONKA #56422032? He's a mixed breed 3 or 4 year-old, 45-pound  stray with a great set of ears when he’s looking at what’s on the counter.
Evy is #56341938, a 2-year-old, 69-pound American Pittie who came in as a stray on July 11.
Like these other dogs, the full bio can bee seen on the “Animals In The Shelter Link” at Mesquite.
Yes, as that photo shows, Evy loves to be the recipient of human affection.

See Mesquite's animals -- dogs and cats and sometimes "other" --- by clicking on this Mesquite Shelter LINK.

CONTEMPLATIONS
PLIGHT OF DALLAS SHELTER ANIMALS?
OK, I’m at a loss.
A shelter website with scores and scores of dogs and cats on the clocks seems to indicate a town that has more animals than it can handle — not just a shelter with too many animals, but a whole big town. Still, there are 8 million-plus people in this area of North Texas and they can't ALL be at their limit for dogs and cats.
How do you reach into their hearts and remind them how people in big cities can always use a dependable companion?
Here’s a question: Are there more veterinarians or more divorce lawyers in Dallas/Fort Worth?
What inspired my odd thinking about somehow making contact with all the people who live in Dallas/Fort Worth on behalf of animals was the late night news yesterday about Enzo. Suddenly, from a dog being treated for heartworm and due to be neutered, Enzo went to a dog on “the list” for Thursday at Dallas Animal Services. Are we avoiding medical bills via the needle? Will the shelter will be saving money on medical procedures and checks as the countdown proceeds for a dog who did nothing but show up in custody in a big city shelter that keeps its needle busy.
Pass the word along that Enzo needs a human to save his life. He’s A1220423 at the shelter. Listed as a 3-year-old “large” 58-pound dog. He’s in the DAS Shelter at 1818 North Westmoreland Road at I-30 W, just minutes from Downtown Dallas. Call 214-670-6800.
And THIS IS THE LINK to Enzo’s shelter listing. Unless something has changed.
—-
LARRY NOTE: We’re not interested in saving JUST THIS ONE DOG Enzo from the human/perhaps not humane solution to the crush of unwanted animals. We’re interested in saving ‘em all. Pass it on. Ask people to help by adopting. Ask other people to help by spaying and neutering and by keeping their dogs and cats safe at home. Stray and Death have the same number of letters in Dallas. So does the word “idiot.” Not that there are any free-roaming boneheads in Big D and the surrounding Metrodimplex.
— Offer baseless objections or rock solid amens by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and tell us about your Dallas dog and/or cat! —-

SUNNY'S OUT OF THE SUN; PEOPLE WORK TO HELP ANIMALS; ENJOYNG A GOOD DAY? A DEPERATE UPDATE FOR ENZO...

EDITION OF MONDAY/TUESDAY, JULY 29-30, 2024 [PetPowellPress] We're updating at about 8 p.m. Monday an appeal on a dog named Enzo at Dallas Animal Services. His full story is below the opening story about Sunny, but I decided to do this update based on what we've learned from our pal Karen Lee of Barkleyworld.com, the nonprofit that helps animals and the people who love them.
In this case, Karen has a connection with the people boosting Enzo toward a new home. The late Monday news was this from Karen: "Hey Everyone, urgent update on Enzo.  He has been placed on the euthanization list for Thursday, Aug 1^st!!  Time is of the essence to save this sweet boy!  I know it seems crazy that he is receiving heartworm treatment and now scheduled to die on Thursday.  There is NO adoption fee…."
CONTACT INFO is in the original Enzo story below the upbeat story of Sunny.
 A DOG NAMED 'SUNNY' NEEDED
A PLACE TO GET OUT OF THE SUN
It was way back on July 18 when I first mentioned Sunny… The key people in this story are rescuers we’ve written bout before — many times. They'd never met.
Tomi Ortiz tipped us to the Sunny story and, during this past weekend, rescuer/animal advocate Kimberly Jones (of “Saving Mooney the Frenchie fame”) teamed up to get Sunny to safety.
[LARRY ASIDE: I’ve been watching rescuers work together for years not only in D/FW but in many places in Texas and beyond —- it’s always uplifting to realize the whole country isn’t just one giant stinkingly unpleasant political argument!]
SETTING THE STAGE ABOUT SUNNY:
Among the first photos we posted of Sunny was this picture of the big ol’ dog flopped over in a house that he was no longer living in.
And, yes, the happy ending in this story has arrived because of people we’ve been writing about for years — they met and teamed up to rescue Sunny for a miserable situation.
On the 18th, we posted the story from Tomi. It read this way: “His name is Sunny. Schnauzer/Poodle mix. Up to date on shots. Turning 4 years old.
“The parents are getting a divorce. I learned that Grandma has him, but she has been keeping him outside
because she won’t allow him inside. (In THIS TEXAS HEAT!!),” the bio read. “I was so upset when I heard this. I told her, 'No, please, bring him inside' and she said, ‘No.’ 
 So I told her I would help to find this baby a home.”
DEAR READERS, Over the weekend I got two notes that were practically glowing with happiness. 
The first note read “GUESS WHO is going to go get Sunny? Right now, as we speak!”
And, yes indeed, the note was from one of the area's most dedicated rescuers and helpers of down-on-their-luck critters, our pal and longtime tipster Kimberly Jones. And it had to do with that July 18 appeal for help from another pal and longtime tipster Tomi Ortiz.
Yes, Sunny had brought these rescuers together and now Sunny — this big and hairy dog — is NOT being “stored” in somebody’s hot Texas backyard.
He appears to enjoy riding in a car and hanging out with humans.
[LARRY ASIDE: You may recall that Kimberly Jones devoted a lot of heart, time and coin to saving the life of a little Frenchie puppy Mooney who, listed on a neighborhood bulletin board, was desperately ill.]

Kimberly’s follow-up note about Sunny read, “I just went and got Sunny from the grandmother's house and took him to meet with Colleen from Doodle Rock Rescue! He is going straight to a foster home where he will be indoors again! All because I saw your blog about him larry! [LARRY ASIDE: We’re happy to give the credit for the strong-hearted decisions to Tomi and Kimberly — they did the work that takes the big hearts of dedicated rescuers. readlarrypowelldotcom is whole-heartedly grateful to know these two dedicated rescuers work so hard to help animals. It’s a mission of the heart, not just a “hobby.”]
MEANWHILE A DALLAS DOG
INSPIRES A BARKLEYWORLD TIP
This is another “connection situation.”
We got a note from Karen Lee of barkleyworld.com — not about a dog desperate for rare surgery or life-saving vet treatment, but about a dog that is on the clock at the Dallas Animal Services Shelter & Adoption Center.

This is the guy — his name is Enzo. Karen forwarded an appeal on Enzo’s behalf from the mother-in-law of Enzo’s fan.
The note from the Mother-in-law reads, “My daughter-in-law Katrina has taken this shelter dog Enzo out the last two weekends, including one day which was her birthday. She asked for the dog that was getting the least attention and that was Enzo. But he seems to be a pretty amazing and well-behaved dog —except not for anybody with cats. Don't know who you might send it to, but sure seems like Enzo would be a great dog. She can't take him as they have three cats.
“Below is from my daughter-in-law, who has cried both days when she took him back to the shelter.”
The Daughter-in-Law wrote, “Enzo is a 3 year old pit mix found as a stray. He is currently at Dallas Animal Services. I have taken him on two 6-hour daycations. He is very well-behaved. He enjoys riding in the car. He is very quiet - I have never heard him bark. Enzo loves meeting new friends - both of the human and canine variety. He is friendly toward other dogs, large and small. He says no to cats.
"During the two daycations, he went to Petsmart, Petco, the Truck Yard (twice), Klyde Warren Park, the Katy Trail and Katy Trail Icehouse, Home Depot and Half-Price books. Loud noises from construction or live music do not bother him. He is very calm and easygoing.
“He has allowed pets and kisses from children. Even though he is excellent out on the town, I imagine him being a couch potato at heart. The shelter notes share that during playtime, he gets short bursts of zoomies and rests in between. He is a great dog that deserves a wonderful home.”
And, the note reports that while Enzo tested positive for heartworm, he is “currently being treated — he is responding well to treatment and will get the shot as well as get neutered by the shelter once he has a foster or adopter. His only restriction right now is no running and to stay relatively calm while going thru HW treatment.”
OK, Dear Readers, now that you’ve fallen in love with Enzo, here’s the pertinent info: He’s A1220423 at the shelter. Listed as a 3-year-old “large” 58-pound dog. He’s in the DAS Shelter at 1818 North Westmoreland Road at I-30 W, just minutes from Downtown Dallas. Call 214-670-6800.
And THIS IS THE LINK to Enzo’s shelter listing. More photos, some details.
[LARRY NOTE: Let us know at [email protected] when you adopt Enzo. And, bless Katrina and her Mother-in-Law for getting in touch with Karen and BARKLEYWORLD.COM so we’d learn of Enzo’s situation in one of the most crowded and constantly busy animal shelters in the United States., Save Enzo ASAP.]

CONTEMPLATIONS
“MAKES A DIFFERENCE”
On July 22, in addition to appeals for animals, we posted a tenderly, wisely written CONTEMPLATION by our longtime Houston tipster and animal advocate Alexandra Kelsey.
For that presentation of wisdom in the animal rescue world, our pal AK began, “I don’t remember exactly when Estelle Mack met Miss Sheila and her cat Dora.  I don’t think of Estelle as a cat rescuer, but for Miss Sheila, Estelle was her cat angel, as it turns out….”
Yes, the essay emphasizes how personal animal rescue is and how personal having an animal in your home and heart can be, especially when you’re rescuing animals.
AK closed with a very special paragraph of wisdom. (You can see the whole essay by clicking on THIS LINK. Might have to scroll down on that edition.
For our purposes today, we’re demonstrating the personal nature of what Dear AK wrote. And we got the “personal angle” from our pal Kimberly Jones — same Kimberly Jones teamed with rescuer/animal advocate Tomi Ortiz — two people who’d never met until a dog named Sunny needed help. Kimberly cited the final paragraph of AK’s essay. It specifically cites you people who work so hard to help animals find great lives.
Alexandra Kelsey wrote, “What we do makes a difference in the world, and I just wanted to remind y’all, in case you’re having a bad day. You matter and there are people out there you haven’t even met who have been impacted by the good you do.”
After reading the essay and that passage in particular, Kimberly Jones sent a note of gratitude. She cited the closing of AK’s essay and wrote, "I needed that today. Thank you 🥺. Kimberly.”
May all animal advocates and rescuers and fans of animals realize, as Alexandra Kelsey wrote, “What we do makes a difference in the world …”
—- Offer strength & advice by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “SAVE ‘EM ALL” in the subject line. —-

PROBING THE ANCIENT MYSTERY OF LIFE: JUST WHAT IS THAT RASCALLY CAT THINKING????

[ PREFACE: The gentleman in the smaller photo is our Senior Office Cat William Powell, a constant advisor for years. He was not involved in this event and asked me to make sure that Dear Readers understand that he is prone to being well-behaved. There’s the notice. He is a gentleman. Now, inspired by life with cats and the hit country song, I’ve Got Cats In High Places, we present this weekend’s edition. FYI: William and Stevie Ray have bunked together since the arrival of the loud and darning kitten. Match made in the old neighborhood.]
Here’s a question that’ll get us started for this weekend edition of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap:
“What in the world is going through that cat’s mind?” And, yes, the next photo is of a scene that stunned me. Read on. I recovered. -- Larry
[LARRY NOTE: As William Powell The Cat once told me, “A picture is worth a thousand words but they won’t explain a thing if a cat’s involved.”]

As many a catfan want will testify, “what’s in that cat’s mind” is is one of the great mysteries of human life!"
You bring a cat into your home and you immediatly begin wondering about what’s going through that cat’s mind.
We’ve had this particular car since sometime in 2018 when I heard a kitten angrily yowling from an eye-level flimsy mimosa branch in the poorly maintained (blame me!) shrubbery in our Dallas yard.
Ever try to pull a six-to-8-week old stubborn kitten out off of a tree branch? You might as well be trying to pick yourself up off the floor by pulling straight up on your shoestrings. This guy was a struggle, a tiny hairy ball of determination and mouth!
No other cats were around, but we think he was one of the members of the last feral litter in our yard — we’d been trapping, neutering and returning for about 20 years and it had been a while since we’d seen kittens dining at our front porch twice-daily feline buffet.
I named this guy after a celebrity from our side of Dallas (Stevie Ray Vaughan) and the place the kitten was found. Hence he is “Stevie Ray Treeboy."
[LARRY NOTE: Yes, that is my Personal Dog Porche Noel guarding the door so that no cats or dogs woud enter to help Stevie Ray with his high-jinx. (Intentional mispelling of hijinx - fyi, larry.]
Move along from years ago and you get to one day this week when I happened to walk down the hall to enter my far-from-neatly organized home office.
And that’s how I got that first photo of Stevie Ray standing on the back of my office chair. Something was going through his mind — it may have been a question: “Can I swat those light switches?” Or it might have been, “Can I squeeze onto the fanblade, turn the fan on to low and take a calm, quiet right on the merry-cat- go-round?”

Neither was the answer.
He got down. Then, a few minutes later, he went to the office window, flipped over and went to sleep and became The Stereotypical Napping Cat, which, I believe, is a Broadway musical he and William Powell are working on in their spare time.
That final photo is one of Stevie Ray's baby pictures. He was so cute in elementary school.
[NOTE FROM SENIOR OFFICE CAT WILLIAM POWELL: Thank you for reading this far into our weekend feature. Stevie Ray and I hope to have the musical written and choreographed for Broadway by this autumn. Neither of us has seen Cats. Our working title is Tap Dancing Cats On a Hot Tin Roof. The lawyers are helping us with that.]
[DEAR READERS, Please send photos of your slumbering dogs or snoozing cats or any other sleep-prone critter in your home to [email protected] and we’ll spotlight the happy sleepers/nappers/in-laws in our weekend edition of the long-running feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. We’re big fans of cats and dogs and the people who they put up with — er, the people who love them.]

FROM THE SHAKESPEARE SIBLINGS TO THE HANDSOME FELLOW ROCKY -- ANIMALS AND PEOPLE, A PARTNERSHIP IN LIFE

EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY JULY. 25/26, 2024 [PetPowellPress] Is there anything else unexpected coming up this weekend or can those of us not on a campaign trail sort of take it easy? Remember the mission: Save ‘em all. Piece-of-cake, right?
OK, all you well-focused Animal Nuts, thank you for sticking to the mission.
[LARRY FYI: Regarding our Thursday “SAVE SNOWFLAKE” edition in Fort Worth, we may soon have an upbeat resolution. Stay tuned.]
Now, let’s go through some mail….
ROMEO & JULIET? JULIET & ROMEO?
ARC of TEXAS HAS THE BONDED PAIR
While in Wlliam Shakespeare’s ol’ tale Romeo and Juliet are not siblings, in real life the Animal Rescue Crusaders of Texas do, in fact, have bonded siblings with those names. Yes, Romeo's the boy; Juliet's the girl.

And they’re available. You can see many more photos of them by going to the ARC of Texas Facebook page HERE.
You can see this pair in person from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the PetCo Allen (at McDermott and Central Expressway, according to the ARC of Texas note online.
The ARC of Texas “MORE ABOUT” these two is said to have been written by, yes, Juliet. She introduces the two of ‘em, born in February this year. The bio-by-Juliet reads, “Like my sweet brother Romeo, I too came preprogrammed to love humans. I’m also one of the easiest purrs around. How easy? Just look at me and say hi and my motor starts going. I’m gentle and friendly and playful and I love to be loved. My brother and I would love to stay together and we are both fantastic with dogs (even big ones), other cats, kids, big humans, and probably even space aliens. We are a special pair with the rare personality combination of playful and hard-loving.”
If you are “in the Dallas Area only,” to ask about adopting Romeo and Juliet, go to https://www.arcrescuetx.com/adopt and “fill out a no-obligation adoption inquiry.”
While looking at the Juliet and Romeo photos, I ran across a note from Lisa R. Civet about this pair. She wrote, “I’m currently fostering these two sweethearts! I refer to them as The Shakespeare Siblings.”
And, in case you wondered ARC of Texas has other young cats available including a pair of bonded basic-orandge kittens named Cheetos and Nuggets. Click on this Facebook page to read about them. 
TRINITY GAP RESCUE
NEEDING SOME COIN!
The note from this organization’s founder Steffenie Vela opened with this line: “Trinity GAP is in urgent need of donations in any amount no matter how small.   The price of a $5 summer drink will make a difference if we can get enough people to share this post.  This summer has been brutal for all rescues, and we have been hit hard…”
These photos are of some of the dogs GAP Rescue is helping. [LARRY ASIDE: The list of ailments is like a veterinary textbook of challenges.]
Steffenie’s note explains, “We are a small rescue who sponsors every dog that comes into the Euless Shelter regardless of age or breed.  We also board dogs to keep them from being euthanized due to the limited space of
the current Euless Shelter.  When fosters go on vacation, we board the dogs.”
And there’s this: “Recently, we have been hit with parvo puppies.   Three cases of parvo in a few weeks,  and we are waiting to see if more exposed puppies will come down with it.  The new parvo infusion is very expensive but makes a big difference in the puppy’s chances of survival.  In addition, the care for parvo puppies is also extremely expensive.  
“We also have the mama of six puppies who had massive mammary tumors which had to be removed at great expense.  Good news is the mama is now tumor free and spayed, but the bill has to be paid.”
The expenses go on and on, i.e., rescue dogs with severe skin issues.
And there’s 12-month-old Finley who, Steffenie’s note reads, “almost starved to death and is still in vet care due to inflammatory bowel issues; Zelda and others who are heartworm positive; and Sir Walter, a senior dumped at shelter with a mouth of horrendously infected teeth and open wound tumors.  Prognosis good but surgery needed is estimated at over $1500.  We have posted FB fundraisers, but have fallen short on donations to cover the cost.”
Steffenie emphasized the emotional challenge when she wrote, “As an animal lover and advocate, which dog should we say ‘no’ to?  Which dog should we let suffer and let die alone?   I have been in rescue for 21 years, and I cannot choose to let a puppy die of parvo, or let a senior suffer from horribly infected teeth and bleeding tumors when the vet tells me the dogs has years left if we do the surgery.  
“Rescue is hard, and it is harder this summer.   We need your help!   Please donate any amount, and if you can’t donate, share with any social media you have.  This is literally a life and death situation.”
Donations to the non-profit Trinity GAP Rescue can be made at PayPal HERE . On Venmo, cite Trinity_Gap_Rescue. Checks can be sent to Trinity GAP Rescue/1509 Smoketree Dr./Keller, Tx., 76248.
CONTEMPLATION
WHAT WOULD I DO IN A CASE LIKE THIS?

This closing item is to remind people of how much hearts matter in the world that in which animals and people live together but not always as imagined.
Mesquite Animal Shelter dog biographer Debra Chisholm sent us this note and asked that we take a look at the “original eval of Rocky sent on Feb. 8.” She wrote that “this sweet and gentle boy is Rocky, an American Pit Bull mix picked up by one of our officers as a stray and brought to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 2/1/24. Rocky is a too-thin 49 pounds and is about 5 years old. He has a stocky and muscular build. He has a low-key personality, is calm and well-behaved. Rather than running around and playing he just wandered slowly around the yard seeming to enjoy moving about in a large area and being outside his kennel. He likes treats, but has not been taught to sit for them. He walked fine on the leash and pottied outside.  Though he is not high energy, he is active and alert.”
That was in February. On Thursday, Debra sent a note and opened it with “Fast forward to today.” She wrote, "From our Animal Services Manager--Rocky was adopted April 30. We are working to assist his adopter find him a new home. Recently his owner was diagnosed with a medical case and will soon be starting to receive treatment. 
“She will not be able to care for her 2 dogs.  One she has rehomed but she has not been able to find a new home for Rocky. 
“He is up to date on vaccines and is neutered.  Owner says Rocky is a good dog and has not given her any issues since he has lived with her.  Owner will be starting treatments next week. Rocky is currently still with her and we are hoping we can find a solution for Rocky before having to [bring him back] to our overcrowded shelter, not to mention the chaos and stress the construction and renovations inside and outside the shelter are causing our dogs and cats.”
The bottom line is Rocky needs a place to live. Debra writes, “If you can assist in possibly rehoming Rocky or know of someone who might be willing to adopt Rocky from the owner, please email the shelter at rescues@cityof mesquite.com.  His ID number is 55201658.”
Oh, Dear Readers! Bless Rocky and his Human and, of course, a genuine “Thank you” to the folks at the Mesquite Shelter for working to help a bad situation get better for a dog and the woman who loves him. [LARRY ASIDE: Don’t you just love Animal People With Hearts!]
— Offers options or help by clicking on ‘comment’ below or email [email protected] with ideas for helping Rocky and his human.—-

THE DOG WHO WALKED THE ROUTE WINDS UP IN FORT WORTH'S CITY SHELTER….

The pressure is on in this neighborhood dog story.
Why?
Charming dog known to some as “Snowflake,” is on the clock.
Bottom line? “Dog out of yard picked up by animal services.”
Common story — except this is an uncommon dog.
She walks the route with the neighborhood letter carrier. He likes her. She likes him. Readlarrypowell.com has met both of these friendly individuals.
Eyewitness report? I watched several times as this dog-lovin’ Letter Carrier walked the route with Snowflake. He called her “Girl” and she responded happily. She walked when he walked; she stopped when he stopped.
As he’d finish the route and get in his truck to drive away after making sure Snowflake had returned to what had been found to be “her yard.” [LARRY ASIDE: There’s probably some story about how she managed to jump the fence to walk the route. But the point of this report is this: A GOOD DOG IS ON THE CLOCK AND NEEDS TO BE IN A HOME. This is a photo and listing from the Fort Worth Animal Care & Control website.]
People on the neighborhood bulletin board site are convinced that Snowflake will not be reclaimed (*again”) by her humans.
Imagine watching a Letter Carrier walking the route in a sweet, peaceful, friendly neighborhood on the hottest of summer days. Step for step just behind the carrier is a medium-sized white dog who looks as if she belongs there — tail is wagging. This is, after all, HER neighborhood. She apparently hops a fence to walk the route and at the end of the postal route, she returns to “her yard.”
Word reached the neighborhood online bulletin board that, indeed, the dog known as Snowflake has been picked as a stray and is in Fort Worth Animal Care & Control’s Silicox Animal Care & Control Center on the southeastern side of Fort Worth at 4900 Martin St. It opens at noon. The phone number is 817-392-1234.
Snowflake has been living in a quiet neighborhood — its western side abuts the wide expanse of the Tandy Nature Center.
In the neighborhood, there are walkers, runners, gardeners, cyclists -- friendly people, many with already all the dogs and cats they can handle. Traffic is usually thin and careful. It’s a good pace and place for a Letter Carrier walking a route with a volunteer dog just happy to be walking along with him.
We have no idea if the Letter Carrier knows Snowflake in in a city shelter. But we’re spreading the word about this charming dog who loved walking the route through the neighborhood.
And on the neighborhood bulletin board, you’d read these notes:
— “Noooo!!! Snowflake, our resident canine mail carrier, got picked up by animal control & it looks like the family is not responding to pick her up!!! I have 2 dogs so can't take her. Is there anyone that can help??”
And there was this:
“Confirmed it is her, and owners have not answered calls from shelter…Picked up in area yesterday. … I don't think fam will go for her so if anyone's interested…”
So, Dear Readers, know anybody in Fort Worth who can save this sweet dog? Tell 'em to make the call, make the visit, save the dog.
—- Offer advice or help by clicking on ‘comment’ below or email [email protected]. ——

GUN RANGE DOGS; ANIMALS MOVING 'UP' AT A SHELTER; HUMANS CAN SAVE 'EM ALL....WE BELIEVE....WE BELIEVE... WE BELIEVE

[EDITION OF WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY JULY 24/25 2024 [PetPowellPress] Some mornings you just hardly know where to start in this wacky world. Fortunately, I have a grip as this is begun. But I don’t have an office cat right now. Senior Office Cat William Powell and his protege, Junior Office Cat Stevie Ray, have wandered off to sleep elsewhere.
I was forced to look out my own office window this morning to determine if rain was falling on my curbside trash bins. More in Contemplations ,,,
OK, LADIES & GENTS… CAN YOU
FIND A PLACE FOR SHAWN & SUZIE
[LARRY NOTE: Dear Readers, I feel as if I’ve been writing a note about these two dogs since sometime just before my high school graduation last century. These pups need a happy, quiet place, we’re told.]
You’ve seen Shawn and Suzie in our list of available dogs several times before. Our tipster Laura Macias, a veteran at seeking help for homeless critters and and animals in shelters, brought our attention to the possible siblings.
Both are “fixed”, fully vaccinated and easy to live in good homes. They’re the pair of Black Mouth Cur mixes who were found romping East of Ferris and have been safely — perhaps not ideally — living at a gun range ever since, we’re told. The appeal reads, “They are at a gun range in Dallas County so the threat is real. They have constant gunfire going off and they are in a kennel at night, but during the day can wander off and, if so, will become animal food (coyotes and bobcats in area) or whatever else….”
The bio Laura sent us reads that Shawn and Suzie are “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 by a Good Samaritan that tells us they are great with other dogs.  Very well behaved.  Even enjoy riding on the golf cart, LOL. .Both are young dogs and incredibly sweet.  Very loving.  Available individually or together.”
To help these dogs find a quieter life, call or text 214-949-2726 or email [email protected].
[LARRY ASIDE: There are around 8 million residents of the Metroplex — you’d think there’d be one home that had room for two adorable dogs, wouldn’t ya? Sheesh.]
SO, THERE WAS THIS DOG SKEETER
AND HE SHOWS UP AND …OH, MY….
[LARRY NOTE TO ALL SHELTER WORKERS IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE INCLUDING THE METROSPRAWL: I know rescuers run across interesting stories, but so do you shelter workers and shelter volunteers. Consider Skeeter’s tale.]
Cute dog, eh? We got the story from one of our reliable Mesquite Animal Shelter sources, volunteer dog bio-writer Debra Chisholm. How cute is that dog?
Debra’s bio of Skeeter says he’s listed as a Chihuahua/Dachshund mix at the shelter “but my Dog Scanner app suggests Manchester Terrier/Dachshund/Miniature Pinscher.” Then she adds, “Whatever is in his breed mix, he is a delightful boy.”  Debra explained, "If you are a Mesquite resident, and especially if you graduated from Mesquite High School, you will know the significance of the name! It’s the name of their sports teams! I couldn’t resist.”
That brings us to Skeeter’s story — you shelter workers may have heard stuff like this before! Many times, probably. Debra writes, “The story of how Skeeter came to the shelter is that some people attempted to surrender him but then it was discovered that the dog was not theirs. They were told the owner had to come to officially surrender the dog. So they promptly drove across the street to the city park and dumped him.”
[LARRY ASIDE: You’d think someone in that crowd of dog-dumpers could be arrested and spend some time trying to make bail in the city jail. Back to Skeeter..]
Debra says Skeeter is about 2, weighs 20 pounds and is neutered. She calls him “one of the most photogenic dogs I have ever taken pictures of! … He has the most winsome, upbeat and charming personality. He walks nicely on a leash, is well behaved, is frisky, perky, friendly, and full of vim and vigor! He dances for treats which he takes quite nicely. It wouldn’t take long spending time with this boy to completely fall in love!”
Skeeter is #56403656 — cite that ID # when you call the shelter at 972-216 -6283 or email at [email protected].
You can see many more adorable adoptables — dogs and cats — at the Mesquite shelter by going to this WEBSITE FOR MESQUITE ANIMALS HERE.

That is where you can see the bio of this guy Perry (#56030944). His story is close to a fatal endinge.
Debra sent an updated evaluation and info “because he has landed on the ‘URGENT LIST FOR THE SECOND TIME.”
he writes, “There- fore, it is crucial that he leave the shelter out the front door and soon! Perry arrived on 5/30 as a stray … He weighs 58 pounds, is approx 3 years old and is neutered.
“Perry is declining at the shelter. When he was in a kennel with a window as people walked by he would be reactive jumping at the glass. Naturally people would figure that this was an unfriendly and unadoptable dog. He was then moved to a windowless kennel, and there were some improvements. However, let me tell you who he really is outside the day-in and day-out confinement in a kennel.  He’s a happy tail-wagging boy, he knows the sit command, likes treats and takes him politely. He is confident and outgoing. Perry is friendly and happy to receive loving attention.
"He walked OK on a leash, is active and alert and has a moderate activity level.
"He has a real zest for living and dreams of getting out of the noisy chaotic shelter that has been under construction inside and out and is making life even more stressful for our dogs.
"His dream is to be adopted or rescued and to live as an inside dog with his people so he can be a part of their every-day life and an important part of the family.”
Remember, cite his shelter ID # 56030944 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].

AND WHY IS THIS BOY FREDDIE ON THE URGENT LIST at Mesquite? Debra reports that he came in as a stray on June 11 and the Pittie mix is neutered, 2 years old and weighs 51 pounds. Keep reading:
She writes, “One of our volunteers described him as full of zip, sweet, friendly, and with an appealing personality. He is quite excitable! He is on the urgent list because he is declining rapidly. He was moved to the office of one of our staff and has enjoyed being close to the staff member as he really enjoys being near people! He has shown no reaction to dogs or cats but has not had an official dog test. He likes treats and will sit for them, taking them gently. He is house trained and will let you know when he has to potty! He has a real zest for living! …”
Read more about Freddie by going to the shelter’s website at THIS LINK. Freddie is #56030944 at the shelter.
Debra wrote, “Due to the large number of dogs that stream through the door daily with fewer being adopted or rescued, space is critical, and Freddie is near the top of the urgent list with his future uncertain unless he can leave the shelter soon!”
So, you see dogs to be saved and how to save them and if you go to the shelter LINK HERE you can also see cats and kittens.

[LARRY ASIDE: If you’re reading this website, you probably already have a city house-limit on dogs and cats. But if you don’t have the limit and you’re new to the challenge of rescuing dogs and cats in the Metroplex’s shelters, you have the opportunity to save the lives of animals and gain friends that will adore you even if they do need to be walked or have their litter changed or wake you an hour early for breakfast. There are worse lives for humans to carve out for themselves. Use your hearts for the sake of love and protecting the lives of animals that, despite the reputation of humanity, will make every effort to love you. — Sincerely, Larry — cohabiter with dogs and cats and co-Animal Nut/funspouse Martha.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
THE CHALLENGE OF THE DAY
When I sat down to write, I got different directions from Senior Office Cat William Powell.
Here’s how this edition began in the early hours of the day: Unable to pick a starting place, we’ll do like a Dallas freeway driver would do — weave through the traffic and honk or wave now and then while tranquil music plays in the background. Everybody “Drive Friendly” and read on. Wait, if you’re reading this while driving, pull over, stop and throw your car keys into the Trinity River. That’ll live up to the message “Make Dallas Safer! HIRE A DRIVER!” I’m thinking of selling bumper stickers. ...
OK, moving along about this morning: You never really miss an Office Cat Team until they decide you’re not interesting enough to hang around once you’ve run out of treats. Senior OC William Powell (LEFT) and Junior OC Stevie Ray vanished. Then, suddenly, William was back. He says he wants a ride on the up-and-down desk in exchange for pulling the window curtains open so I can see outside and check weather conditions — as old men traditionally do. Stevie Ray? He’s been watching the news on his cellphone. We spare no expense to make our dogs and cats happy. I feel that we are not alone in this philosophy.
—- Offer advice or doubt by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘GET MORE SLEEP, GOOFBALL’ in the subject line. —-

SAVING SOME ANIMALS; CONSIDERING THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE....

EDITION OF MONDAY/TUESDAY, JULY 22-23, 2024 [PetPowellPress] We’ll address dogs and cats in this edition — no politics. And in CONTEMPLATIONS, we’ll have a tenderly written examination of lives dedicated to good deeds and decent causes.
A NOTE ABOUT CATS
& CAT FANS IN THE MID-CITIES….
We learned of this cats ’n’ kittens challenge from our pal Karen Lee of Barkleyworld.com, the non-profit that helps people get help for their ailing animals.
Karen describes Mid-Cities Community Cats as a “great organization that works so hard for the feral cats in the DFW area.”

The Mid-Cities Community Cats organization is based in Bedford and works to “make life better for un-owned, outdoor community cats in Northeast Tarrant County.” The organization’s Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return program provide medical care for sick or injured animals and runs other programs help people understand how they can help these “community cats.”
Go to this FACEBOOK LINK for the Mid-Cities Community Cats explanation of just what it needed regarding medical donations and other help.
The opening paragraph reads, “Mid-Cities Community Cats is in urgent crisis mode! 

"This kitten season has been completely overwhelming and brutal for our volunteers who are trying to TNVR/TNR(trap-neuter-vaccinate-RETURN).”
You’ll see what challenges face these volunteers and the cats and kittens. And you’ll see, also, the list of medical needs.
 And you’ll see directions on how to donate to a money-raising cause and, perhaps, win two roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines.
Mid-Cities Community Cats’ people explain, “It seems that every recent TNVR/TNR job comes with a slew of very sick little kittens. We urgently need donations to pay for all the vet visits we have recently been encountering, and need to replenish our critical but dwindling medical supplies. Expenditures have greatly exceeded donations in recent months.”
Once again, HERE’S THAT FACEBOOK LINK to the request to help the cats and kittens.
AND IN MESQUITE, WE SEE
MORE GREAT ANIMALS
The arrival of more great animals daily is not exclusive property of the staffers and volunteers at Mesquite Animal Services. But that
city’s shelter does have a pretty determined bunch of volunteers who work hard to get some publicity for the adoptable adorables who are brought in as strays or dumped by their humans or somehow wind up handed over to the city’s shelter.
That opening mugshot is Humble, photos and bios provided by volunteer dog-biographer Judi Brown. Judi wrote, "It’s amazing what a little bit of attention and love will do! Humble went from being a very reserved, timid girl, with body language to match, to a relaxed, smiling pup ... She weighs 51 pounds and is about 2 years old. She arrived at the shelter on 7/16.  When I first met her, she was at the back of her kennel with her tail tucked. When I spoke to her softly, she tentatively approached with a slight wag of her tail! With some coaxing, I got her to sit. I’m not really sure she knows the sit command. She wasn’t interested in my treat. She stayed close making it obvious she wanted to make friends. She came to me and put her head on my lap when I sat down. She seemed to enjoy ear scratches. She walks very well on a leash. …You can tell by looking at her that she’d make a loyal, loving pet. She doesn’t have the temperament to be an outside dog. She would like to snuggle up with her new family on the couch watching TV.”
Humble’s shelter ID is # 56373789. Cite that # when you contact the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]. Same system for these other Mesquite animals.
Judi also got to meet and write about this guy George (#56363685). “I fell in love with George as soon as I met him! You will, too!,” Judi wrote, and added, “George is a 3-year-old, 88-pound Staffordshire/American Pitbull mix that arrived at the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 7/15. He was brought in by one of our officers. You can see he’s got cropped ears and pale, pale blue (almost white) eyes. Did you notice that I said he weighs 88 pounds? In the dictionary you would find him under GENTLE GIANT.”
[LARRY ASIDE: The next two dogs? Well, their presence in a shelter rather than in a loving home just TICKS ME OFF RIGHT DOWN Through THE MARROW OF MY BONES! Who would dump brothers? What is the situation with the people? Is there anything that can be done to help them see dogs as companions and not as annoyances? Because  you can bet your sweet bippy they’re going to get another pair of puppies at some point. Pardon my negativity about the human condition. Years of observation. - LARRY]
This guy is Jose (#56372999) and Judi writes, “Jose has all the wonderful characteristics of a playful, happy, loving puppy!  Jose is a 5-month-old, 50-pound mixed breed that arrived in Mesquite Animal Shelter on 7/16 along with his brother Eman.  My Dog Scanner said he is part Manchester Terrier and Doberman mix. The Doberman mix probably comes from his coloring. If you’re wanting a sweet puppy with a good balance of playfulness and snuggling (kisses included) tag or come meet Jose. While you’re at it ask to see his equally sweet brother Eman. Jose is athletic and likes to climb. He climbed on the bench and on the windowsill…. He’s a delightful puppy that wants a loving home where he will be cherished. He would like to be an inside dog mostly. He walks well on a leash. And he didn’t have any problem
meeting other dogs.
And his brother Eman posed while with his big paws hanging on while he was in the comfort of being held by a human in the shelter. Eman is #56373013,
To ask about these boys Jose and Evan, cite their ID numbers when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
There are so many dogs and cats waiting in the care of the Mesquite shelter — you can see them and their bios by clicking on the ANIMALS IN THE SHELTER link HERE.
CONTEMPLATIONS
ALEXANDRA KELSEY:
IN PRAISE OF GOOD SOULS
[LARRY ASIDE: Our long-time Houston tipster Alexandra Kelsey sends us this wonderfully, tenderly written tribute to great hearts. If you are a rescuer or know a rescuer, this will draw some warm emotions. Thank you, Dear AK, for helping readers understand these tough but gentle “rescue people,” — Larry]

ByAlexandra Kelsey:
“I don’t remember exactly when Estelle Mack met Miss Sheila and her cat Dora.  I don’t think of Estelle as a cat rescuer, but for Miss Sheila, Estelle was her cat angel, as it turns out.
 
“When these women met, Miss Sheila was living in the Montrose area of Houston.  She wasn’t a particularly old lady, but she was dealing with life-impacting health issues and financial pressures from trying to survive on a fixed income.  The original need that brought these two ladies together was Miss Sheila’s beloved cat and companion Dora.
 
“Dora needed vet care that was way beyond her mom’s means, and Estelle took point on organizing a support plan for Dora and Miss Sheila.  A small group of rescuers committed to help and to provide ongoing support for this kitty and her mom.  Estelle stayed in regular touch with Miss Sheila, getting Dora to her vet appointments and providing much-needed social contact for Miss Sheila.  After Dora’s death, Estelle and the rescue group she created continued to be in contact and to help Miss Sheila.
 
“Tragically, when Estelle went to check on Miss Sheila on July 19, 2023, she found this sweet lady had died alone at home.  I can’t imagine how traumatic that was for Estelle, and she was the one to interface with all the authorities on the day she found Miss Sheila, something no one wants to experience.
 
“I am quite sure I’m not the only rescuer who’s had moments of frustration and burnout, wallowing in a moment of that “It never ends!” feeling.  But when I get quiet and think about it, I remember how much the rescue community has meant to not just the animals we help but to the people connected to them.
 
“Miss Sheila didn’t have family here, and getting to know Estelle was a bright spot in her days.  And the financial help that Estelle coordinated made a real difference, bridging the gap between that monthly government check and basic life needs. 
 
“What we do makes a difference in the world, and I just wanted to remind y’all, in case you’re having a bad day.  You matter and there are people out there you haven’t even met who have been impacted by the good you do.”
—- OFFER THOUGHTS BY CLICKING ON ‘COMMENT’ BELOW OR EMAIL [email protected]. —-  

LOOKING TO THE EAST, WE FIND THAT CHLOE CONTINUES TO REIGN AT THE LAKE

One of the many reasons an insomniac can — without guilt — envy a cat is the feline’s ability to flop over and nod off.  In reality, an insomniac may not envy the cat's gift of sleep, but the insomniac can STUDY it and try to embrace the technique as your own. [LARRY ASIDE: Thank you for indulging my brief appeal for concern about my fellow insomniacs -- the lonely non-sleepers up all night in America trying to "find something to watch on TV."]

This photo was snapped by our Eastern Seaboard Bureau Chief Andy Fisher, the veteran print and broadcast journalist. Yes, it is an outdoor photo on the deck. The cat looks relaxed.
She is the Eastern Seaboard Bureau’s Executive Office Cat Chloe. She’s got the knack for naps, clearly.
During the recent hot-spell on Indian Lake in Denville, N.J., the residents endured nearly Texas-high temps. Andy was out on the deck with Chloe and caught her as she enjoyed a happy nap outside of the constant air-conditioning.
“Here's Chloe's contribution to the Napper file,” the Ol’ Newshound Andy wrote and then explained. “Hasn't drunk a
drop of alcohol, and is out like a light -- under the table!”
Later in the day, as the temp on the lake rose a little, Andy explained,
“Chloe would love to go out on the deck, but the rules are that at least one of us is out there with her at all times, and it looks like rain….
"Chloe was sleeping peacefully next to her favorite cardboard box when I got down on the floor to take her picture. Naturally, she woke right up and had to come over and see what I was doing, so all I would have captured were four feet.
“Chloe runs the house, no question about it. Gets me up at 5, gets Annie up at 7; as soon as I start eating my breakfast, she's all around my feet trying to get me to take her out on the deck.”

Speaking of the kitchen. Have you ever had a cat who could “make biscuits” with that naturally occurring “kneading motion” with the front paws?
That photograph with Chloe in the pan features our Eastern Seaboard Bureau Chief Executive Officer Annie Fisher checking on Chloe’s progress in the famed feline’s cable TV cooking show, “Biscuits By Chloe.” [LARRY NOTE: I might have made up that TV show — but I’m not making this up: Annie is an animal fan who also is a renowned pickleball player on the Denville-area courts.]
Annie introduced Andy to the joys of dogs and cats. And, in particular, they discovered the joy of Chloe via the local organization 9-11 Dog and Cat Rescue. That, Andy explains, is “the Morristown, N.J., shelter that took her in when she was less than two months old, called her ‘June Bug,’ but that was FAR too frivolous a name for a cat as imperious as she is.
“So we called her Chloe, the name of a fertility goddess. I can hear her scoffing now that the next thing we did to her was get her spayed.
“She's wonderful company; loves to chase and stalk the red laser dot or the sunbeams reflected off my cell phone.
“When one of us urgently whispers, ‘Chloe!’ she knows there's a squirrel or chipmunk lurking out on the deck, and she goes right into alert mode.”
The door to the deck is also handy for watching bird visitors. Through the big glass view of the world, Chloe “chirps to try to lure birds to come closer, but without much success,” Andy writes and adds, “I'm sure she's working on that.”
This, by the way, is the logo used by the folks at 911 Dog and at Rescue in The Garden State. Here’s the link to the
website where you can see the adorable adoptables. Perhaps you’ll find a soft spot in your heart for a dog or cat or a dog and cat from New Jersey. The organization is also on Facebook.
Chloe is a great example of how a little kitten can grow up to be an adored, beloved Executive Cat in the heart of lakeside journalism and pickleball in New Jersey.
[DEAR READERS:
Send photos of your sleeping dogs and/or napping cats and other slumbering species to [email protected].
We’ll celebrate them in our long-running weekend edition, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
P.S. Thank you, Chloe, for helping us fill this space once again. You’re quite the adorable ExecuCat.]

 

HELPNG THE ANIMALS -- IT'S A MISSION OF THE HEART ACROSS THE STATE

EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY JULY 18-19, 2024 [PetPowellPress] We’re moving right along through the month of July. When is that election? I’m kidding. I’m kidding. Let’s move along and help some animals and animal people, too.
That dog? Why, that, folks, is a mugshot of the formerly puny Frenchie puppy who was rescued and saved. He’s got important surgery coming up. More on that in a moment. First, let’s take a look at a situation in Houston, the town that Beryl battered.
SMALL DOG, BIG PROB

IN HOUSTON -- NEEDS A HOME
Our long-time Houston tipster Alexandra Kelsey has the story of this little 4-year-old, 16-pound guy named "Peanut." And she writes that "Peanut has already had one summer miracle in his short life, and now he’s hoping for another." 

AK explains, "In 2021, during a hot Houston summer (is there any other kind in this city??), a little old lady found a small butterscotch puppy at a lumber yard.  She folded him into her world and he’s been a wonderful pal for her for these last three years. 
"Sadly, Peanut’s angel is struggling with advancing dementia and is now having to leave her home for a care facility…which leaves Mr. Peanut in a bad spot. So, he packed up his toys and his bed and moved to a foster home."
HIs bio reads, "This little boy has a super-engaging personality.  He loves people, other dogs, he’s a big fan of
walks, he can entertain himself happily with romps in the yard…and he’s a great tag-along size! Peanut wants you to know that he would really love to have some kids to play with but that he is a Big No on cats!" 
Health? The report reads, "Peanut is vetted and healthy and he’s cute as all get out.  He does have an interesting quirk, which doesn’t slow him down at all.  At some time during the bad old days, one of his back legs was broken and healed on its own, so it’s noticeable….but he doesn’t give it a thought! Peanut would also like you to know that he’s had some education a/k/a dog training!"
AK reports, "His extended family wishes they could keep him, but they already have big dog families." To ask about giving Peanut a good home email Kathy Chomout at [email protected].   
A FELLOW NAMED SUNNY
NEEDS A PLACE TO GO


Our longtime pal/dog tipster Tomi Ortiz has run across a fellow in a tough spot. And the note opens with “This baby needs a home ASAP.
"His name is Sunny. Schnauzer/Poodle mix. Up to date on shots.
“Turning 4 years old.

“The parents are getting a divorce. I learned that Grandma has him, but she has been keeping him outside because she won’t allow him inside. (In THIS TEXAS!!),” the bio read. “I was so upset when I heard this. I told her, “No, please, bring him inside and she said, ‘No.’
"So I told her I would help to find this baby a home.
"What’s sad is that this baby has been an inside dog.”
To ask about helping Sunny avoid the heat when it's hot and the rain when it’s wet and to give Sunny a safe, un-tortured place to live, get in touch with Tami at 214-532-4665.
FROM MESQUITE,
TWILA THE CHIHUAHUA

Our tipster in this case is Mesquite’s veteran volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm who refers to Twila as “this adorable girl.”

Twila is about 7, weighs 6 pounds and is a “Chihuahua brought to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 7/11 after being found as a stray.”
Debra writes, “She is the sweetest, well-mannered, calm and gentle girl.  She's not timid, shy or nervous.  She is friendly and happy to receive loving attention and scratches!  Twila loves treats and though she doesn't know the sit command, she's smart enough to know that when she sits, the treats are forthcoming!  She walks beautifully on a leash.  She is house-trained.  This little girl wags her stubby tail to show she's happy and carefree. It's hard to believe that her owners have not come looking for her.  She is the most precious girl with a chill personality. …”
To ask about helping Twila by rescuing or adopting, cite her ID #56345780 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
And, Debra advises, “She would seem best suited to a household that is quiet and well-ordered due to her age, possibly with elderly people.” [LARRY ASIDE: I lived with two Chihuahuas for years, but, I was middle age crazy at the time. Thank you, Jerry Lee Lewis.] 
NOW WE ONCE AGAIN
CITE A NEED FOR MOONEY
You may recall Mooney’s story. He was a sick-as-a-dog (literally) puppy when our pal Kimberly Jones spotted him as a “free puppy” on a neighborhood bulletin board. The hitch was Mooney was near death from disease and failure to tend to his medical needs.
Kimberly and her friends and fans worked to get Mooney some great medical care. And now comes one more serious step for this little guy. He is a “hydrocephalus puppy” who “needs to be neutered” and, thus, needs some financial support.
Kimberly explains the need in this note and sends a link to the Mooney gofundme page: https://gofund.me/9d74444b

“I know times are tight,” Kimberly begins. “And everyone has rescue groups they like to give to (as do I)... So if you are unable to spare a few dollars, please share this GoFundMe. I am not on Facebook so feel free to share there.
“Mooney has severe hydrocephalus and a grade 3 heart murmur so his neuter is very involved and risky. (I saw Mooney being given away very sick on social media for those of you who don't know his story... He is blind, he was sick with parvo, emaciated, dehydrated and with a severe heart murmur and hydrocephalus...
“I went and got him to save his life and keep him from suffering with someone who saw a ‘FREE FRENCHIE’). My amazing vet, Dr. Adams, at Metro Paws White Rock has given me an estimate for the surgery ($619.57-$996.98). Work is slow for me now and I need help. If you would like to call a donation in to my vet’s office you can call 214-324-1500 and say it is for Mooney Jones under Kimberly Jones. They can take donations at any time.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Since the moment I started writing about animals in the Metroplex decades ago, there has been one rock-solid fact that I’ve always been proud of, grateful for and have admired deeply: It is the fact that our area has strong, dedicated, resourceful, loving animal rescuers that stay focused on the mission of saving ‘em all. Bless your hearts, you Angels of Texas.]

CONTEMPLATIONS
PEOPLE ’N’ THINGS ’N’ STUFF
We need something uplifting to ease into this edition’s Contemplations. Show of hands, please: How many of you got your Texas drivers’ license in the summer of ’65? Been burnin’ the rubber off those tires for a long time, haven’t you!
Time for some ‘60s hot rod ’n’ surf music, don’t you think? You know that Beach Boys song Surfing USA, lyrics by Brian Wilson? Know where the music came from? Anybody out there still got a Chuck Berry poster hanging near your guitar case? …
Wait! What decade am I in? Oh, yeah. It’s 2024 so I’m up to listening to Melanie sing Brand New Key. …
OK, I’ll name one more song that keeps the teenager in me alive. Wait. I’ll name 3. Wild Thing by The Troggs. Paperback Writer by The Beatles. 19th Nervous Breakdown by The Rolling Stones. Are you an ol’ Hippie? Easy now, don’t scare the grandkids. (Cue 96 Tears by? & The Mysterians.)
—- Offer bonafide advice by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘WAKE UP AND DANCE’ in the subject line. —-