SUMMER DOGS IN AUTUMN, AND THE HEARTS OF ANIMAL PEOPLE...

EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY SEPT. 24/25, 2024 [PetPowellPress] It is so temping to begin this edition with the well-know phrase-of-excitement: “How ‘bout them Cowboys!”
Oh, that’s too easy a gag this time of year. And I’d rather be nice to the team when things are stinking up the field so badly that, by law, the stadium roof has to be kept open for at least 48 hours according to the Texas Clean Inhalation Law. (I might have made up that law.)
That photo? We're still having foto probs and I'm trying to fix 'em -- tragically inept in computer matters, I am Larry! From my car’s dashboard earlier in the weekend — before the rainy day. Temp seemed to fit the song. This note is dedicated to all you Disco Fans — I know you’re out there waiting for the big comeback of the genre. To quote the Brothers Gibb, “Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive…”
WE CITE SUMMERTIME DOGS
AVAILABLE IN THE AUTUMN
Probably every shelter and rescue group in the entire Metrosprawl and beyond has Summer Dogs who have evolved into Autumn Dogs — if their shelters permitted ‘em to “beat the clock.”
These two have gotten the biographical treatment from their Mesquite Animal Shelter on-site reporter Judi Brown, the veteran volunteer dog-biographer.
First up, this is guy Jinn.
Jinn is #56918913 at the shelter — cite his number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]. Same system for all the Mesquite animals we mention today — cite the shelter ID numbers.
Judi writes that Jinn has “exceptionally beautiful coloring. The top of his head is pure, shiny black, and the gray is a mixture of black and white which is very attractive. Jinn is a 3- to 4-year-old, 47-pound Alaskan Husky that came into the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 9/19 as a stray. He looks like he’s been well taken care of. He moseyed around the yard casually and then came back to hang out with me. He doesn’t seem to know the sit command but wants to please and can certainly be taught that and many other commands. … He walks very well on a leash. He wagged his tail meeting other dogs. In my opinion, he’s an exceptionally well-behaved boy. He’s easy-going, sweet, gentle, friendly, curious, and loving and lovable. He should do well with children because of his gentle nature. He would be in seventh heaven to be curled up at your feet during family time.”
(You can read Jinn’s entire biography — and the entire biographies of other dogs by going to the Shelter’s website HERE
https://www.cityofmesquite.com/1239/Animals-in-the-Shelter.
This is Kenzie (#56887283) who, Judi writes, "reminds me of the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood when Little Red Riding Hood saw her grandmother in bed and said ‘What big ears you have Grandma!’ Grandmother/Wolf said,’The better to hear you with, my dear.’

“I imagine that Kenzie does have good hearing. However, right now she’s dealing with an ear infection and being treated w/clavulanate. Kenzie is a 5-year-old, 67-pound German Shepherd mix that was brought in … by one of our officers on 9/14.
“She’s recently had a litter and may have been overbred. She’s playful, active and athletic but at the same time she’s sweet and gentle. When she first got out into the yard she pranced around. After she got done smelling and inspecting her environment, she stayed close to me. She sits for treats and takes them gently … She probably would do well with children. She wants to be an inside dog so she can be a part of your family.”
And among the cats in the Mesquite Animal Shelter is this newcomer, #56945533. Doesn’t have name yet. Also doesn’t have a gender — he came in on Tuesday (according to his shelter bio) and nobody’s apparently dared to pick him up and “look for a gender.” [LARRY NOTE: I’m just guessing they’re waiting for the cat with the Clint Eastwood Squint to settle down before they invade his space. He’s orang and white, is listed as a “feral” and a Domestic Shorthair Mix. He’s large. Nobody has guessed an age. But he is quite handsome and is listed as “Available.” Readlarrypowelldotcom would adopt him if we hadn’t already filled all our open positions in the Handsome Cat Category.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
PEOPLE, MISSIONS, ETC.
I was in a bit of a droopy mood when I got an email from my longtime pal in the Animal Advocacy/Rescue World, Beverly Fyfe.
And, you know what? The link she sent cheered me up. Why? Because it took me to this dog’s photo and, also, a recollection of the founder of Angie’s Friends, the great rescuer/advocate Angie Manriquez. [LARRY ASIDE: I don’t know that dog’s name, but someone will tell us and give us a chance to write another story about Angie’s Friends — dogs, cats, humans, etc.]
Angie’s mission? On the Angie’s Friends Facebook page, the mission is outlined this way: “We help dogs in need/distress in West Dallas get a second chance for the life & love they deserve”
So, as you may suspect, this is an edition of Contemplations that was inspired by strong-willed people such as Beverly and Angie — people I’ve met in the animal rescue/advocacy world through the decades.
When I first wrote about Angie and her work — way back when I was a daily metro columnist at The Big Paper Downtown — she was known as the “Fairy Dogmother of West Dallas” because of the way she monitored the well-being of animals and rescued them in the neighborhood. This was along about 1999 — the organization became a bonafide non-profit in 2008.
Angie’s growing legion of fans referred to her as “the Fairy Dogmother of West Dallas” and pretty quickly they became to call her the “Fairy Dogmother of Dallas” — her attitude and mission and influence to do right for animals were big enough for Big D. Her righteous beacon glowed beyond that one tough-on-animals Dallas neighborhood.
You probably can’t help but recall that last week, all sorts of non-profits were working hard to get financial help via the annual North Texas Giving Day campaign. Angie’s Friends was among those non-profits and on Facebook —thanks to that note from Beverly — I saw not only that great dog, but this uplifting thank-you not to all those donors from the hearts at Angie’s Friends.
That note to the donors was on the Angie’s Friends Facebook site. And it reads;
"We don't know if it's possible to tell you how amazing you are or express how grateful we are for all your support!! We raised over $16,000 last week and that will also be matched!! Please know, it's not just us - there are going to be many W Dallas animals in need over the next year that will be giving you an enormous thank you, as well. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!.”
So, Dear Readers, if you are among the donors who participated in North Texas Giving Day, this “thank you” from Angie’s Friends is clearly a heartfelt note from people who look at a donation and see a dog or cat getting to live the full, loving life it was intended to live,
[LARRY NOTE: You oh-so-dear people — donors and the animal rescuers you help — are a pretty good team. Keep the faith. Save ‘em all.]
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