AUTUMN & THE FAIR IN SUMMER EDITION; GERTIE'S REPORT; A BOSTON LOOKALIKE AND TWO SISTERS WAITING....

EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY AUGUST 9-10, 2024 [PetPowellPress] I got an email Thursday with the subject line “Bring that FALL FEELING into your home.”
It was from an online company — I’ll open it later. I’m still a little whipped from mowing the front yard Wednesday afternoon — my car’s outdoor thermometer read 105. I don’t have a thermometer on my lawnmower —that cost extra.
But, inspired by the thought of autumn’s scheduled arrival at 7:44 a.m. CDT on September 22, here’s a photo from 2023’s Autumn in Texas. That’s the great and wonderful State Fair of Texas’ hardworking greeter, Big Tex. More on Big Tex and the State Fair in Contemplations. And a reminder: It's NOT the "Texas State Fair" -- it's the "State Fair of Texas," I swear on a stack of Midway Belgian waffles and corny dogs.
A GERTIE REPORT
FROM THE ROTTIE FOLKS
You may recall seeing the story in our previous edition about the tough case of Gertie, the youngish Rottweiler who’d encountered some post-surgery difficulties after her spaying this week.
The repair work involved re-fastening (not a medical term, but you get the drift) two bleeding areas within the spaying area.
The Thursday morning report from A Rottie Rescue Inc. founder and President Sherri Green read that Gertie had managed to eat Wednesday afternoon following the repair surgery.
Then, Sherri reports, Gertie “ate this afternoon and got up to walk, so she's doing well. Thankfully!   She is scheduled to be discharged from ICU in the morning to come home.”
Sherri says updates can be found on th Here’s A Rottie Rescue Inc. FACEBOOK PAGE.
That LINK IS HERE.
NIA’S APPEARANCE;
SISTERS CUDDLES & CUPID
We got these three tips on Mesquite available adorables from volunteer bio-writer Jamie Dotson.
[LARRY ASIDE: This first dog Nia has an appearance that’ll trick a person. Read on about the Boston Terrier —not so fast on that ID, folks.]
Jamie explains, “I was drawn to Nia because I have had a Boston Terrier and her face reminded me of my Boston. Not only is she adorable, but she lives up to her name of Nia — meaning ‘bright.’ She’s definitely a bright shining star!”

What she isn’t is a Boston Terrier. This wonderfully coated and adorable dog Nia is, quoting Jamie, “a 3-year-old, 56-pound Staffordshire Pit that came to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 8/3 as a stray. She’s got a stocky, solid build. She could use some exercise and a diet to lose a few pounds.”
Jamie explains that Nia will sit, “but not for treats as she did not partake in the treat I offered.  She was whining and going to the door, and I suspect she was looking for her owners. She’s affectionate, sweet, calm, and gentle. … After the photo shoot, she warmed up and gave me kisses.”
Nia is #56494870 — cite her number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
Go to the Mesquite Shelter’s “Animals-in-the-Shelter” link HERE to read the complete biography of Nia. Same thing for the bios of Cuddles and Cupid, the next two dogs.
Jamie writes, “Both Cupid (left) and Cuddles are exceptional dogs with tremendous potential. Both are sweet and initially are a little shy. Both are very amenable to a dose of gentle loving. Cupid is a little bigger than her sister. She also looks as though she has not been taken as good of care of as her sister.


"It almost appears that Cupid was an outside dog and Cuddles was an inside dog. Cupid has scabs that are healing on her ears.. possible fly bites??
"She sits for treats and takes them gently.
"When I called her, she came and put her head on my lap. She was not comfortable on a leash and needed quite a bit of coaxing. She’s curious, calm, and gentle. …”
Cupid is #56492197. Cuddles is #56492184. Cite those numbers when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].”
Click HERE  to go to the Mesquite shelter online site and read more about these three dogs, other dogs and lots of cats and kittens.
CONTEMPLATIONS
TRYING TO CHILL FOR AUTUMN…
Never mind the heat. And I’m betting Big Tex is probably still in his air-conditioned ranch home practicing getting into his new outfit for the 2024 State Fair. What the outfit and the boots look like will, no doubt,  be announced soon — as it is, after all, one of the many State Fair traditions. In the meantime. If you go to bigtex.com you can find all sorts of current information from food contest winners to new midway and musical attractions.
And click HERE to see the story of Big Tex — starting way back when he was, in the early ‘50s, Santa Claus in Kerens, about 70 miles south of Fair Park via I-45. I remember that Santafact because I’d use it now and then in columns in my decades-long career at The Big Paper Downtown. You’ll probably see that Santa tidbit mentioned on TV, hear it on radio or read it in newspapers on- and off-line starting pretty soon. Why? Because, as the song says, “Our State Fair is a Great State Fair, don’t miss it, don’t even be late.” The 2024 Fair runs from Sept. 27 through Oct. 20.
Yeah, we’re fans of the Fair at our house — at our wedding we both dressed as Big Tex. I’m kidding. We’re especially big fans of the Creative Arts Department and the Public Relations staffers. Hard working people year-round. This is, after all, the GREAT State Fair of Texas.
—- Offer Summer Tips and Fair Faves by clicking on ‘comment’ below or email [email protected] and put “VEGGIE CORN DOGS?” in the subject line. —