CELEBRATING THE GREAT STATE FAIR; FINDING A HOME FOR A READY-TO-ADOPT DOG....

EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY OCT. 26-27, 2024 [PetPowellPress]. We'll get to a dog named Wyatt in a moment --he tell's a touching story. First, as we are on th brink of opening day Friday of the State Fair of Texas, we’ve got this heart-felt thank-you to the folks who’ve wrangled the State Fair together this year.
Takes ‘em about 25 minutes. Just kidding. Those people work year-round. So, in honor of the State Fair of Texas and the people who work so hard to put it together for the rest of us, may not a single  “extra calorie” stick to your State Fair waistline from Friday Sept. 17 through Sunday, Oct. 20. I know what I’m talking about when I mention calories! Happy times, happy times!
And, Dear Readers, remember that you can read more about the Fair and how to make your visit fit its calendar, go to bigtex.com and click around the State Fair's massive galaxy.
[LARRY FYI: Your hefty writer has never met a dessert -- pie, cake or cookie he didn’t like. These were some of the many, many entries in the cake-baking contests for this year’s fair.  The entries -- cakes, cookies & pies -- are sweeter than some Dallas Cowboys games.]
[LARRY ASIDE: This is being written BEFORE the Dallas Cowboys/New York Giants game. Perhaps that line will fall flatter than any cake I’ve tried to bake.]
One more thing: Our Contemplations for this edition will be a very personal note from a veteran dog biographer. First, we’ve got some other notes — dogs, cats, people.
A TIP FROM SOMEONE
WITH AN EYE ON GARLAND
A person who goes by “Murphy Rescued” tipped us to this Facebook site with a load of adorable adoptables from the Garland Animal Services Shelter. Click on this link and take a look at the shelter’s foster program.

And this link to Garland Animal Services  took us to this cat Tula. The shelter’s bio describes her as “a beautiful 4-year-old Domestic Long Hair cat who has been with us since May. She’s a bit shy, but we know she’ll blossom in the right home.”
Who needs to adopt her? The shelter says that “Tula is looking for a patient adopter who can give her the time and calm environment she needs to feel safe and loved. If you’re ready to provide a peaceful space for her to settle in, Tula will be forever grateful. Come meet her at the shelter and see if you’re the ‘perfect match’!”
One more thing you’ll see at the shelter site HERE,  This notice. Any other local municipal or non-profit shelters or rescues conducting any speciality dog or cat shows? Email [email protected] and let us know. [LARRY ASIDE: We’re quite happy to show people how much you love your animals and how much they love you. The world needs more happy relationships!]
A RESCUED DOG
FROM OFF THE STREET…
We got the info on this horrifically ailing dog from our longtime tipster Sydney Busch, the guiding light of the Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake.`
Her note read that the dog was “picked up on the street by a homeless woman.”  [Click on the dog's photo to make it more visible.]
The dog, now named Mercy, is being treated at the Morton Small Animal Clinic in Athens. The number to call to offer help with Mercy’s medical bill or with finding a home for her is the Morton number, 903-675-5708. The note about Mercer says Mercy is “under Melissa Collins’ name (at the shelter)”
The note regarding Mercer asks (1) Can you help with her medical bill ether” and (2) Can you help us find a home if she survives all this?” The Morton clinic will have answers about her health and needs at 903-675-5708.
A REPORT REGARDING
STARVING OKLAHOMA DOG
This dog is now in medical care. Early interpretation of how the dog got into this fix is there was a domestic disagreement in and the dog didn’t benefit from it — until the right eyes and heart heard about the dog’s plight.
That would be the eyes and heart of Terry Lynn Fisher, our long time tipster in the far-western Oklahoma town of Burns Flat.
Terry Lynn, in her first note ago this dog, wrote, “When I received this picture today, my heart literally broke. How can you look at this dog day in and day out and not see that it needs help?”
So, earlier this week, Terry Lynn got the dog into a vet’s care and “I was able to get that part of the bill covered thanks to a very caring woman.
“From here, I’m gonna have to put the dog into Boarding . If anyone can help with any Boarding , even if it’s just one day, please let me know. I don’t want this dog outside in this condition.
“The vet said that she is feeding the dog, there’s proof of that, but she’s been making the mistake of feeding it a big bowl of food at one time. When the dog gobbles it down, it automatically either throws it back or poops it out….”
[LARRY ASIDE: We’ve cut some of the details from Terry Lynn’s note, but you get the, er, drift.]
Terry Lynn says, “They started the dog on antibiotics and some kind of treatment for the skin, and in two weeks I’ll give the dog its shots, but at this point, it’s too frail for the vet to want to do the shots.”
The dog has gotten traditional treatments for a dog in this shape and a dog likely to have never had other treatments in its life. …”
Terry Lynn also says, “I really don’t think it was total neglect on the condition the dog is in, but I do feel the neglect came from not reaching out for help before now….
“At this time we’re going to withhold trying to file charges because I want to help her as much as the dog. Her husband left her with no money she’s getting evicted. She has seven little kids all under the age of eight and she struggling as it is.”
We’ve edited Terry Lynn’s note down to this key passage. She wrote, “This isn’t about taking peoples’ dogs, or having people go to jail — To me it’s about saving an animal, and even a human when able to help. I hope some of you can understand that, because another rescuer in the next Town is really bashing me for not wanting charges filed at this time.
“The outcome for the dog wouldn’t change where the charges were filed or not. Helping her would help this dog, as well as any future animals she might have in her lifetime, so that’s the road I’ve chosen to take“
Terry Lynn says the dog goes back to its “home” in two weeks. She also emphasizes, “I am also still seeking rescue — so if any of you rescues have room, please let me know.”
To ask Terry Lynn about helping this dog’s situation, email her at [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS
A FIRST-PERSON THOUGHT
We’ve been posting appeals for helping animals in the Mesquite Animal Services shelter for years, now, and this time we have an appeal
that “first person.” We got it from Mesquite volunteer dog-biographer Debra Chisholm who, we’ll report, acquired it from this dog Wyatt whose shelter ID is #5501399. Cite that number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
The appeal from Wyatt, forwarded to us by Debra, is clearly written from the heart. Here is the letter — and if you’ve ever worked with “unwanted, dumped, mistreated or surrendered dogs” it may touch your Contemplating Heart.
Wyatt’s letter reads:
“I remember the time I was loved.  I remember it well.  I slept in a bed and had yummy food.  I remember going for walks and playing in the yard.  I was not alone. I was loved and cherished.

"What happened?
“I remember those special times but now they're gone. Now I remember being put in a backyard and nobody to play with me, no more walks or scratches. No more soft comfy bed to sleep on. I remember those times too. I remember feeling thirsty and there was no water. I remember ants crawling around in my food bowl.
“What happened?  What did I do wrong?
“I don’t think I did anything wrong. My people just stopped loving, stopped caring about me. I gave them all the love I could. I tried not to bark when I was all alone for hours on end with nothing to do. I wanted so much to be inside with them. 
“What did I do wrong? 
“I remember the big smile you would give me when you came through the door. I would run to you barely able to control myself because I was so excited to see you. Do you remember that?  Those were the good days. Boy, I wish I could have those again but for now they're just old memories. Memories I will hold onto and cherish until someday someone will come tell me they will love me and want to make new memories for me.
“Do you have love in your heart for me? 
“Do you want to take me home with you?
“My name is Wyatt and I’m a 2 year old, 80-lb mixed breed with some terrier and Boxer in the mix. I’m a very happy and playful boy.
“I get along great with other dogs and I love the attention of children. I love to roll over and show you my belly to be rubbed. I love to play with toys and act goofy. Right now I live at the Mesquite Animal Shelter. I don’t really like living here. The people here are nice to me and they try very hard to make things nice but it’s just not the same as my good memories from when I was wanted and loved.”
This is the link to ANIMALS IN THE SHELTER. AND, as we mentioned, cite Wyatt’s ID 55013399 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected] to ask about him.
[LARRY ASIDE: Having lived with many rescued, found and somehow “magically acquired” dogs over the decades of my existence, when I started reading Wyatt’s note, I found myself tearing up as the parade of dogs I miss began to roll through my heart. So, we’re at our limit of formerly unwanted animals at our house, but we do have prayers that someone with a big heart and enough room will make a loving home for Wyatt and any other dog or cat in need of a home. It would be the right thing to do — for the animal and for you, too. Thanks, Debra, for the inspiration.]
—- Offer ideas and hope by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing [email protected] and put ‘SAVE ‘EM ALL’ in the subject line. —-