SAVING SOME DOGS, CITING A COLORFUL CAT AND IDENTIFYING A WASP

EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY JULY 9/10 2024 [PetPowellPress] Looking through the note cards and file folders for something upbeat to
begin this edition, I was helped along by encounter with Mother Nature.
True story: Monday morning I stepped out onto the front porch to get a feel for the weather and look to the east for the sun. I shut the door, turned and took two steps to the edge of the porch…. MORE IN CONTEMPLATIONS. First we have other stories to tell. My Senior Office Cat William Powell just gave me the “Let’s move it along” glare." Thus, moving along....
FOSTERING — A GIFT FOR YOU
AND THE ANIMALS, TOO
We got a note Tuesday morning that reminded me right away of the assorted animals we’ve fostered — it hasn’t been a back-to-back situation, but it has been rewarding. Usually we’ve had too many of our own critters to dare bring another dog or cat into the crowd. [LARRY NOTE: Our cats have lawyers who don’t hesitate one second to carve off a big chunk of The Powell Fortune.]
But ask around: There are people who juggle more than one or two foster critters at a time. It is --simply, admirably -- what they do with their big ol’ fosterhearts.
The appeal that sparked this tribute to fostering came from our pal at the Society for Companion Animals, Tawana Couch. The organization needs some fosters to hold onto dogs until they can be spoken for and flown off to a far off place (or maybe driven not so far). To see about fostering for the SFCA, email Tawana at [email protected]. If you can’t foster, but you want to help. SFCA always needs key donations to support the waiting animals. Go to the SFCA LINK HERE https://www.societyforcompanionanimals.org to see how to help.
TWO FOLLOW-UPS ON DOGS`
FROM WESTERN OKLAHOMA
These are contrasting reports from our longtime Oklahoma tipster Terry Lynn Fisher of Burns Flat, way out in the “nearly in the Texas Panhandle” portion of the Sooner State.
UPBEAT STORY FROM TERRY LYNN: She writes, “Last month, I posted about a beautiful pit dog that had been attacked by coyotes.  Sadly, her back leg was totally shattered in the attack.  She did have multiple other wounds, but that back leg was the worst.
“They ended up having to remove the leg. I had a couple of people send money towards this Vet bill, and there were several more that stated they would help. It doesn’t matter how much or how little, I just really need to help.
“Vet contacted me today (Monday) and said there is still a balance of about $680 due on this.  If you helped with this, thank you so very much because it made it a lot less. If you offered to help and still can, please let me know. This is not my regular vet and I really need to get it paid down.  
“She is doing well and will recover fully. She is actually running now and getting around just fine as the wound heals.”
That photo is of Diamond, now upright and walking and being a dog while wearing her cone at the vet's.
SECOND UPDATE FROM TERRY LYNN:
Earlier we wrote about Terry Lynn’s attempts to save young dogs that had been dumped an a remote area along I-40 not far from Burns Flat. She tried and tried to trap the fourth dog. Now, we have this report from Terry Lynn, sent on July 4. The subject line? It read, “
Subject: My pup was killed.”
And she wrote, “With a very heavy heart, I am letting everyone know my last I-40 pup has been killed. I received a couple of messages about a dead dog and we went up to check. It appears he was [on the highway] trying to eat a coyote that had been killed a couple days ago and was hit by something sometime this morning.  
“I’m so heartbroken over this. I’ve tried for almost four months to get him, leaving food and even water out so he didn’t starve.”
Then, our obviously heartbroken rescuer Terry Lynn directed her comments toward the dog who was too clever to be saved. She wrote, “I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you sweet boy ….  We tried so very hard…. I wish you could have known love  at least once.
“Run free little guy!” And then Terry Lynn addressed the people who follow her: “Thank you all for always supporting and encouraging mw not to give up.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Rescuers — they have determined souls and really tough hearts. Bless all of you and the animals you’re trying to help and will help.]
MEANWHILE, IN MESQUITE,
SOME ADORABLE ADOPTABLES
This is nothing new, this appeal to help shelters save the animals they’re sheltering. Mesquite Animal Services has a great system. We lean on these volunteer dog-bio-writers from Mesquite because they personally meet and get to know each animal they profile for the shelter’s website. [LARRY ASIDE: This dog is Stacy. Her story follows this brief interlude: You can see the complete and personal bios of each of Mesquite’s adoptables by going to the shelter’s WEBSITE. [LARRY INFO: I'm having trouble getting that link to post correctl. So please just Google Mesquite Animal Services and click to the 'Animals in the Shelter.]
There is this extra situation that animals and humans are coping with at Mesquite: “Our shelter is critically overcrowded and we need some good adoptions and rescues. Added to that, there has been considerable ongoing construction noise and chaos created by renovations and additions to the shelter which adds to the stress level of our wonderful dogs.” [ 
STACY is today’s first dog. Bio-writer Debra Chisholm says the “precious Youngster” is a “mixed breed” who came into the shelter as a stray on MARCH 25. “She is more than ready to put shelter life behind her and hopes to find her forever family
soon. Stacy weighs 47 pounds, is about a year old and is spayed. This is one spunky and excitable girl. She does not show well in her kennel due to the stress of living in a 7 1/2' x 4' kennel without the opportunity to get out every day to stretch her legs and go to the potty. And not to mention the dogs all around her that bark and raise quite a ruckus. People often don’t realize that a dog’s behavior in the shelter is often entirely different than when they get out, decompress and get acquainted with the other furry family members and the human family in their new home… She loves treats and takes them nicely. She’s playful and enjoys playing with toys. Stacy is friendly. She has a nice personality and likes to be petted.  …”
Use Stacy’s ID #55595693 — cite it when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@#cityofmesquite . Same system for all the other animals and their shelter ID numbers.
LADDIE (#56299684) is described by Debra as a “cutesy high-spirited pup” and the photos show a clearly ready-to-romp-with-ya-dog. He’s said to be a Lab mix and he came into the shelter as a stray on July 4. Debra writes, “Laddie is a happy-go-lucky, tail-wagging youngster, with an exuberant and excitable nature! He weighs 33 pounds and is about 5 months old. This youngster needs an active family that will provide him with enrichment, training, exercise, and playtime daily. He promises that once he gets through the awkward puppy stage, he will behave himself and become an integral part of the family unit. But he begs you to be patient with him. He is athletic and likes to jump and climb. ,,, Being highly motivated by treats may make it easier to train this boy. …Laddie is playful and loves to play with toys. He is quite firm about not wanting to live in someone’s backyard.”

ACE (5547199) is a “handsome” and “mixed-breed” pup who was surrendered to the shelter on March 5. That’s pushing 5 months of living in his 7 1/2 feet-by-4-feet kennel without — his bio reads — “the
opportunity to get out daily to stretch his legs and go to the potty, as well as listening to dogs barking all around him is affecting him negatively. A staff member mentioned that he sometimes reacts in an unfriendly manner to dogs who walk past his kennel. If you are interested in this youngster,  please ask the shelter staff for a dog test. Former owner stated that he lived inside, is house trained, lived with and was OK with other dogs and does NOT like cats. Reason for the surrender was that they have or are expecting a baby.”
Ace is “a bit too eager” to take treats, but that can be fixed — he is, after all, “OK with receiving petting and being loved one.” [LARRY ASIDE: Adopt him or tag him for rescue. He just needs a place to demonstrate his abilities to be a loving canine companion.]
JASPER (#55596579) is a heartbreaking story [LARRY ASIDE: I describe it that way because I know what it’s like to miss a brother.]
Debra says Jasper is an American Staffie mix who, with his brother Johnny, was picked up on March 25 as a stray. He’s about 3, is neutered and weighs 54 pounds and Johnny has been adopted while Jasper is still waiting for a home.
Debra writes, “He wonders why his brother was adopted and he wasn’t. They are almost identical in looks and personality. He’s still holding out hope that that special person will come and see what an amazing boy he is and get him out of the shelter. He does well on a leash, knows the sit command, is lively, active, playful, and loves squeaky toys. He does jump on you and manners training would certainly be in order.  It seems obvious that Jasper lived outdoors because in one of these pictures you can see the scaly skin and hair loss on his back. During his time at the shelter, he has been given nutritious food, and has been treated for the hair loss. And he looks so much better! Jasper is another dog that does not show well in his kennel with barking and jumping and it just gives people the wrong impression. Once outside the kennel, he calms down. I had him in a room recently and the officer that picked the brothers up came in. He ran over to her and gave her hugs and kisses! Can you please help Jasper find that special home?”
cite it when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@#citymesquite .
Remember, when you go to the shelter’s website you not only can see dogs but you also can see lots of adorably-coated cats. In particular, there’s this 3-month-old cat (#55914127 — long name for a kitten) who is wearing an incredibly interesting coat. She’s a little over 3 months old — came into the shelter on May 13 and is currently kept in the shelter’s Conference Room. She’s “rescue only,” but at some point someone is bound to look at her and name her….
CONTEMPLATIONS
A CAT'S NAME?; SOMETHING BUGS A FELLOW
About that as-yet nameless kitten in Mesquite. Probably there are a million unnamed cats and kittens in Dallas/Fort Worth. Spay and neuter would cut back on the Naming The Cats Crisis. (I may trademark that phrase…Hmm.) Anyway, I’ve named a few cats in my lifetime… This orange and black baby with the white paws in Mesquite should get a name that signifies how much she’s loved by her new human/humans. If I were adopting her, I could go with “Dearybelle” or “Darlin’” or “Lady GagaMew.” Maybe call her “Mews” but spell it “Muse” in honor of my wedded animalnutspouse Martha Mews, er, Muse. Yeah, when we married, it was a merger of two animal households with cats and dogs. Somebody adopt #55914127 and email [email protected] and let us know how she’s doing. My Senior Office Cat William Powell just suggested, “Patience — because she’ll need it to train her humans.” He’s such a hoot!

Now this report:
Back to The Front Porch Fright: You may recall that I’d just stepped onto the porch and turned to look at the sky. As I looked slightly upward toward the clouds, a brown wasp (I think, maybe) came buzzing at jet speed from across the sidewalk right up into the beard that thickly disguises my double or triple chins. In a split second I thought “Oh bleep” and reached up to slap the wasp away before his stinger could add another chin to my face— only I missed. The wasp — a “he” I’m assuming — crossed the speed of sound while leaving for the neighbor’s yard.
Sting me? Nope. Just a warning to be careful when I leave the security of my home office and venture into the world.
These are two pictures of the kind of wasp I selected from the TWID Files that the Texas Office of Flying Unknowns (TOFU) maintains in Beeville. The auxiliary office is in Bug Tussle.
I didn't get a real clear view of the speeding wasp -- but, then, who does?
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