A LONGISH REPORT ON CHALLENGES AND AVAILABLE ANIMALS -- DOGS, CATS AND PEOPLE

EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY OCT. 3-4, 2024 [PetPowellPress] We have an update on some of the animals that were flown to North Texas after Hurricane Helene destroyed so much of the Valdosta, Ga., area.
Our reliable source at the SPCA of Texas, Public Relations Manager Becky Adamietz-Deo reports this regarding the cats taken in by the Dallas-based organization: “All of the adult cats and kittens in our shelter are healthy and doing well after their trip.” That’s one key point from Becky. The other point  may be a key point for you cat-lovers: “They are very sweet and should be available for adoption very soon.”
Monitor the SPCA’s work with these cats at spca.org or on Facebook at THIS LINK.
https://www.facebook.com/spcaoftexaspage. . Also involved helping the Valdosta animals are Wings of Rescue (they flew the animals to Texas) and the Humane Society of North Texas and Second Chance Farm.
A PET READING TIP
FROM HOUSTON…
Our pal Alexandra Kelsey of Houston has been our reliable tipster for years. Houston’s had its shares of “challenging” weather.
AK sent us a hurricane-related note Thursday and I think, Dear Readers, you’ll all appreciate this when you click on it.
AK wrote, “A rescue friend sent me this link. It is so poignant.”
Here is the link to a Southern Living Magazine article about the destruction of a beloved pet memorial by the hurricane. Click HERE
to read about the emotional nature of the hurricane’s destruction of North Carolina’s Rainbow Bridge.
[LARRY ASIDE: Thanks, AK, for the tip on this story of celebrating love. And, as I talked with AnimalAdoringSpouse Martha about this, we both wondered why Texas doesn’t have one of these Rainbow Bridge places to celebrate the lives of our animals. Maybe it does. Anybody know?]
MEANWHILE, IN MESQUITE
AVAILABLE
ADORABLE ADOPTABLES
Listing these dogs and sampling their bios makes me feel like part of the world is upbeat and normal — and I owe the thanks to the dog-bio writers Debra Chisholm and Judi Brown of the volunteers at Mesquite Animal Services.
The complete biographies appear on the Mesquite Animal Services pages HERE. For reasons of limited space, readlarrypowelldotcom edits the originals in hopes of inspiring Dear Readers to go the website and look at the originals. [LARRY ASIDE: And, of course, I apologize to the writers and the dogs for my hacking and butchering of the original work. I was an editor for a long time — apologizing to writers comes naturally to me.]
Remember, when you want to ask about one of these available adorables, you always cite the animals shelter ID number when you call Mesquite Animal Services at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
First up we have Debra’s bio of Kennedy (#55685459), a stray who arrived on Swept. 26. Debra reports that the “Dog Scan app suggests the following in his breed mix:  Kangal Shepherd/German Shepherd/Black Mouth Cur.” Then she adds, “Whatever is in his breed mix, this is one handsome dude!  … Kennedy is friendly, has a friendly pleasant nature and is a-ok with being loved on and shown attention.  His obsession during the photo session was to keep his nose glued to the ground and explore every last nook and cranny.  … Kennedy was fascinated with the amazing number of scents he encountered!  …He has a very nice laid-back personality and will doubtless make someone a loving and devoted pet.”
DEBRA’S BIO OF NORMAN (#5697321) begins by explaining that he was a stray picked up by one of the Mesquite Animal Services officers on Sept. 28. He’s about a year old, weighs 66 pounds and “is the strong, silent type. He has a muscular athletic build. He walks on a leash, but has a bit of a pull!  He did his business when he got out into the yard and it appears as though he had held it for some time.  He is well mannered, has a chill personality and is good natured. … He would seem best suited for a laid-back quiet home situation. He communicated to me that he has no interest in living in someone’s backyard playing guard or watchdog. He wants to be a part of the family circle.”
AND THERE’S THE STORY OF MADDOX (#56851983), described by Debra as a “stunningly attractive pup.” He’s said to be a “Blue Merle Catahoula Leopard with beautiful blue eyes that was surrendered on 10/1 to the Mesquite Animal Shelter due to being unwanted.”
[LARRY ASIDE: Unwanted? Sheesh. Moving along….]
Maddox (#56851983) is 7 months old, weighs 43 pounds and, Debra reports, “came in with injuries resulting from being attacked by another dog. He was taken immediately to the vet. His injuries included a puncture wound and a deep laceration on his left front leg that was repaired with sutures. His leg is bandaged and he is receiving pain meds and an antibiotic..
Now that we’re through with the medical report, here’s the personal report from Debra: “Maddox is the most delightful youngster with a sweet, friendly personality. He was happy for me to pet him, and also to take treats from me which he did quite politely. Understandably, he does not put full weight on that leg, but he does get around OK. Maddox will be RESCUE ONLY due to his injuries. He will make someone a devoted and loving companion. Interested but have questions? Then please call 972–216–6283 or email at [email protected]. Vet report is available upon request.”
Debra’s colleague in dog-writing, our longtime tipster Judi Brown, has the info on Mack [55589235], She writes, “I had a pleasant surprise in store when I met Mack. (left) He’s a 7-month-old, 53-pound German Shepherd mix that was surrendered to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 10/1 along with his brother Cheese [ID #55589201] (right). The surrender form stated that they were surrendered because the owners were moving AND had too many dogs. It also stated that both brothers had lived entirely outdoors and had not been taught any commands. The outdoors part was obvious from looking at the fly bites on Mack’s ears.”
She also reported that Mack is “really well mannered, gentle, and loving. He didn’t jump on me except one time to give me a hug. I also got kisses. He was just so happy for some attention. He looked over the wall and was whining. I’m assuming he was looking for his owners. He also romped around the yard and then came back to hang out with me. …
“The surrender form said he was raised with other dogs but not cats or children. I’m told he had to fight for his food so he has some scars on his head and his legs.”
More details are on the biography site on the Mesquite Animal Shelter pages. If you have another dog, they will need to be fed separately. He really has so. so much potential.”
Judi also wrote, “I was pleasantly surprised when I met Cheese and his brother Mack! After reading that they both were outdoor dogs only and had not been taught any commands, I was expecting these brothers would need training. Instead what they need is love! Cheese is a 38-pound, 7 month honey-colored German Shepherd mix that was surrendered to the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 10/1. … The form stated that Cheese had been raised around other dogs but not children or cats. It’s obvious that Cheese has spent most of time outside because he has fly bites on his ears. When I first took him out into the yard he was shaking and his tail was tucked. With ‘sweet talk' he relaxed, and I even got a mini-tailwag. He wants to make friends, but will need slow introductions to build trust. He will do best with a laid-back family. … He is agile as he likes to climb. He’s also sweet, docile, calm, and alert. He’s also somewhat skittish. He had to be carried into the yard as he fought the leash. This poor scared pup didn’t understand what a leash was all about. He has some scarring on his front legs. He wants to be an inside dog this time around so he can spend more time loving on his new family.”
That brings us to Judi’s bio of Phoenix (#56959863). Judi writes, “I don’t know if a female takes offense at being called handsome, but handsome is the best word I can come up with to describe Phoenix’s appearance. Her alluring
hazel eyes and standup ears make her literally a stand out! Phoenix is a 1-year-old, 64-pound black and tan German Shepherd that came [in]on 9/26 as a stray. I can’t figure out why the owners have not come for this amazing girl that has so much going for her. She has recently had a litter and her nipples are still extended. She sits for treats and takes them gently. She comes when she’s called. When I sat down, she came immediately to put her head on my lap and received ear scratches. She’s very loving, attentive, well-behaved, and gentle. … She’s got so much love to give a family. She wants to be an inside dog so she can spend more time sharing her love with them. She’s too gentle and sweet to be an outside dog.”
You can see these biographies-in-complete and more biographies including adoptable cats, by clicking on this ANIMALS-IN-THE-SHELTER LINK.
A cat needing a home? This one is available. Luffy (#56650385) is a 4-month-old Domestic shorthair mix — white and gray — who is small. He came into the shelter on Sept. 23 and is available.
He’s waiting in the Mesquite Animal Services Conference Room.
[Probably purring, Larry guesses, based on his extensive acquaintance with cats.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
ON A THURSDAY
I was thinking that I might be out of Contemplations.
I asked Senior Office Cat William Powell and he replied, “I don’t know. What do you think?”
Only cat I’ve ever had who practices psychiatry.
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