EDITION OF MONDAY/TUESDAY SEPT. 16-17, 2024 [PetPowellPress] Hang on a second …. OK, I had to give a loving hug and pet to Martha’s
dog Wendy. We’ll focus on the joy of office dogs and cats later. And, maybe just look backward a little bit and say, “Wow.. Some weekend, wuddenit?” (I used my native Northeast Texas accent type that, y’all. To use any other ax sent wudd na been awe thin tick.) That's Wendy -- she's never actually confessed that she's a canine insomniac -- she prefers to announced that she's "ultra alert in case someone is handing out snacks." OK, moving along.
MEANWHILE, IN THE
MIDDLE OF OKLAHOMA?
Thanks to a Roberts Vik Facebook connection, we have learned of a tough spot for several dogs in a place called Warr Acres, Okla., on he northwest side of Oklahoma City.
[LARRY NOTE: Research reveals “Warr” is not a misspelling of “War,” but it’s the named in honor of C.B. Warr who developed the area after WWII. Population is around 12,000. Plus some dogs who really need help.]
The folks with Lab Rescue of Oklahoma, Inc., posted this appeal on their Facebook page HERE
https://www.facebook.com/labrescueok
The appeal reads, “ALL OF THESE DOGS HAVE UNTIL WEDNESDAY 9/18/24 or THEY WILL BE EUTHANIZED!! PLEASE SHARE.
“(COURTESY POSTING ONLY)
WARR ACRES, OK
WARR ACRES ANIMAL CONTROL
TO ADOPT CALL 405-789-3329 option 1
The ACO of this small town shelter must have surgery and there’s no one else to take care of the dogs after Wednesday..”
Who are these dogs? That fellow with the white coat and brown and black facial highlights, is Scout. He’s about 11 months old and is a 40-to-50 pound Anatolian Shepherd mix. “Dog friendly and loves everyone he meets,” his bio says.
The next guy is Marshall (left), a “male Dalmatian/Mastiff mix,” his bio reads. He’s about 70 pounds, loves “everyone he meets” and is “dog friendly.
Tyson is listed as “longest term” of these shelter dogs and he’s a 40-pound Beagle mix. His bio reads, Dog friendly and loves everyone he meets including kids. Not cat friendly. Heart worm positive.” [LARRY ASIDE: Yes, Tyson has a medical challenge — a thoroughly beatable challenge — just needs a dedicated human.]
And that leaves Pete on this list of “waiting for either a great break or a lousy break” in a small shelter in the middle of Oklahoma. Pete is a 60- pound Lab/Pit mix who “is dog friendly and loves everyone he meets.”
You can see these dogs and many others by keeping up with the Lab Rescue group at THIS LINK.
[LARRY NOTE: And there you have it, ladies and gents, proof that the desire to help Oklahoma animals isn’t limited to the heart of our pal Terry Lynn Fisher in Burns Flat, way out west in Oklahoma on the brink of Texas.]
OUR SPOTLIGHT LEAVES OKLA LIKE
WIND SWEEPING DOWN THE PLAIN
TO MESQUITE ON THE BRINK OF BIG D
These bios come to us courtesy of the volunteer dog-bio-writers at Mesquite Animal Services. In particular, these are provided by Judi Brown.
First up is Autumn (#56852522), a 2-year-old pup with an interesting family tree and “a sweet face, fetching eyes and handsome markings.” She's Istrian -- her ancestors hail from Croatia.
As is the system at Mesquite, cite the animal’s shelter ID number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]. [LARRY NOTE: Same procedure for all of the animals we’ll mention be they dog or cat or Long-limbed Rhythmic Texas Chupacabra —- Larry confession: I made up that beast — side-effect of insomnia.]
Back to Autumn’s report from Judi. She writes, “Autumn is ready for fall! Are you? Autumn is a 2-year-old, 53-pound mixed breed. My Dog Scanner said she’s mostly an ‘Istrain short-haired hound.’ That explains why I sometimes had a hard time getting her attention because she strolled casually around the yard investigating every nook and cranny with her nose!
“She came to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 9/9 as a stray. She’s a very attractive girl with a cute face and alluring eyes. It appears that she’s been well-cared for. She was very patient while I brushed her. She’s well-mannered and well-trained. She sits for treats. She saw another dog outside the gate, and she got really excited. It was obvious she wanted to play with the dog. This breed is considered to be docile, devoted, and easy to train. ….
There’s more to Autumn’s bio online at the Mesquite Animal Shelter site. We’re cutting it a little short because a special note from Judi. She writes. “The Shelter is having a special on adoptions. You come in and play a game to determine how much of a discount you get on the adoption fee. Email [email protected] to tag Autumn.” [The system for contacting the shelter is just a few paragraphs above.]
We move along in Shakespearingly steady fashion to this handsome, fantastic-tailed fellow Hamlet. He’s #56851614 and, as the photo may have “given away,” Hamlet’s a “2-year-old Alaskan Husky fluffy, soft, cuddly /gentle giant/very affectionate” pup. Judi writes, “Hamlet will lure you with his penetrating blue eyes. Then you will be transfixed seeing his beautiful markings! Then, when you feel how soft and fluffy he is, you will be in his spell! Hamlet is a 2-year-old, 74-pound Alaskan Husky that arrived … on
9/9 as a stray. You will be the envy of your neighbors when you take this handsome boy for a walk.
“Then when they come to meet him, they will see how gentle and sweet he is. He is well behaved and sits for treats. He was very patient when I brushed him. He came to me to be petted and rewarded me with kisses.” (Read more about him in the bio Judi wrote for the Mesquite Shelter’s online site.)
And Judi cautioned, "With all Hamlet’s fur, he doesn’t want to be outside in the hot summer. Besides, Hamlet wants to snuggle on the couch or in his bed at your feet.” [LARRY ASIDE: If he shares that fluffy tail, your feet will be warm al winter!]
And that brings us to a non-fluffy but adorably adorable bundle of canine affection, a dog named “Butterscotch.” She’s #56862621 at the shelter.
Judi writes, “Butterscotch asked me to post to sign saying: ‘WANTED … A loving family that will love me unconditionally. In return, I will be loyal and love you unconditionally.”
Judi says Butterscotch “is a 2-year-old, 40-pound mostly Australian Pinscher mix that arrived at the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 9/9 — brought in by one of our officers. She has a curly tail with a white tip that never stops wagging.
It’s because she’s a happy girl. She looks like she’s been well taken care of. When she was at the other end of the yard and I called her, she came running. She occasionally jumps on you but gets down when you ask her to. For the most part she stayed close wanting human interaction. She seeks attention.
“When I asked her to sit, she started out in a sitting position, but then would lay down. She did this every time. Sometimes she rolled over for a belly rub. Of course I obliged. She’s easy-going, friendly, alert (looking out the gate), frisky, lively, and very sweet. …
“And in order to get the benefit of all the love she has stored up for you,” Judi advises, “She will need to be an inside dog where she can share family time.”
Lots of cats and kittens, puppies and dogs in the Mesquite Animal Shelter as you can see by clicking on THIS LINK.
And this nearly 4-month-old kitten is #56363972 and he’s known as Moon.
He’s a small guy with big eyes.
Moon has been in the shelter since July 15 and is a handsome young Domestic Shorthair Mix who can be met and observed in the shelters’ Conference Room. He might even confer with you about needed bedding, meals and a cable remote so he can pick better TV for himself and family.
CONTEMPLATIONS
IS SLEEP NOT REALLY POSSIBLE
Scientific question: Are there people for whom sleep is just not possible? At readlarrypowell.com we regard it as a tool of literature in modern fiction — I’ve written stuff that puts other people to sleep but doesn’t knock me over like the Cowboys’ hopes in the 2nd game of the year. Hook me up to a series of sensitive wires and test me. I’ll be awake for as long as it’s daylight somewhere on the third planet from the Sun. To sleep, perhaps to remember things you should have done and can get up and do before dawn. ….
Moving along to Monday morning: As I put my fingers on the keys, Wendy woke up off the couch, trotted down the hall and, stepping around two other dogs (Dudley and Porche), Wendy came over and shoved her nose up against my elbow so I’d pet her. I petted her and she flopped down on a rug and went to sleep
If only it were that easy for me. I was unable to sleep Sunday night — no, I wasn’t that worried about the remote possibility that the Dallas Cowboys will rebound after being slammed flat by the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
And I continue to be concerned about American assassination attempts. This isn’t new in my life: I’ve had the concern since since 1963 and JFK, then Bobby and Martin and Malcolm and John Lennon — and others and other attempts… Too many to mention anywhere but in a textbook for serious study of awful human behavior.
No wonder I have trouble sleeping. I’m probably not alone.
Some weekend, eh? It’s our planet’s tourism motto: ‘Planet Earth — where something awful always has a chance of happening’. Not really an upbeat thought for the rest of the year 2024. ... I need a nap -- an 8- or 10-hour nap. And some pastries... OK, I'll 86 the pastries.
—- Offer advice or solutions by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put “HOPE FOR THE FUTURE — I’M NOT KIDDING” in the subject line. —-
