EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY OCT. 31/NOV. 1 2024 [PetPowellPress] We've reached that time in autumn where people wear costumes and so do their dogs. Happy Halloween, y'know.
At our house, none of us are currently costumed, though now and then, the fabulous youngster Stevie Ray Treeboy will wake up from watching a horror film of the 1930s and flex his front claws. He sent a note to the household: "Yes, it is Halloween and I am the famous movie star Clawd Reigns." He really means Claude Rains, star of many early horror hits including the role of the father of the title character in 1941's The Wolfman. Just beside Stevie Ray's left shoulder you can see your careful writer taking on the role Claude performed in the 1933 Universal Pictures film The Invisible Man. Am I invisible? Heck yeah, I'm immersed in the role -- method actor, you know..
Enough jolliness for October. Everybody make sure your animals are safe from surprises, bad candy and the evil that walks the earth on Halloween. If you're reading this, I suspect you are already ahead on keepin' the critters safe.
A SWEET ORANGE CAT
NEEDS A NEW HOME
We learned about this cat's need for a home thanks to our pal Sydney Busch, the longtime guiding light of the legendary Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake, operators of the world's most successful spay/neuter clinic at Gun Barrel City, Texas.
Here's your chance to help a cat, thanks to Sydney!
She writes, "Boots, a very handsome kitty, lost his owner a week ago - his son cannot keep him as he is allergic to cats... Boots is neutered, an inside cat, very friendly (used to being a lap cat)..."
To ask about helping Boots, call James Phillips at 760-377-7312 or email
[email protected].
What's the cat like? James writes, "Boots does not jump up on furniture unless you pat your legs. If he gets that signal he will jump right up on your lap and take a nap. My dad and Boots took a nice long nap with Boots snuggled up on his nap every day."
And James added, "I am attaching a couple of pictures we took so that you can see how cute he is."
[LARRY ASIDE: Yes, indeed, I can see how cute Boots is. Oh, Dear Readers... if we weren't already loaded with cats...I'm not the only animal fan thinking that when Boots' photo showed up on my computer screen. We had one of these big orange cats for years, the dignified Griffin Oliver Powell. He loved to sleep under the Christmas tree.]
MEANWHILE, A NOTE ABOUT
A LITTLE GUY NAMED GADGET
[DEAR READERS: This is a sort of "catch-up" note about a dog we mentioned in our previous edition -- we were grappling with some computer problems that made publishing difficult. I managed to get one dog's photograph to properly fit into the Mesquite item. That was Patsy -- read her story in yesterday's edition. This time we're focusing on a guy named Gadget.]
Thanks to Mesquite Animal Shelter volunteer dog-writer and biographer Debra Chisholm we have the story on this little guy with a damaged front leg.
Here's the story from Debra: "I have named this adorable boy Gadget. He is listed as a Rat Terrier/Jack Russell terrier mix and was picked up by one of our officers as a stray on 10/22. He weighs 20 pounds and is about 4 years old. He has the most interesting and attractive coat.
"Gadget was picked up injured and was sent to the vet by shelter staff. The medical issue concerns his left front leg ... He will need repair or amputation and the vet is sending Gadget’s information to a surgeon for treatment options. ... Gadget gets around well on three legs, and it does not seem to be giving him discomfort or pain.
"He walks nicely on a leash, is possibly house-trained as he pottied in the yard, and is a well-mannered, gentle, sweet natured fellow. He is amiable and was happy to let me pet him and love on him. He won my heart!!
"In the yard as well as in the room in which I did his eval, he thoroughly inspected and scouted out the environment leading me to refer to him as Inspector Gadget.
"There is so much to like about Gadget and we are hoping a rescue will realize what a wonderful family pet this cutesy fellow would make."
Gadget is #57131634 -- cite that number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
See more animals waiting in the Mesquite Animal Shelter by CLICKING ON THIS LINK.
Gadget is still in the shelter --- At that link when you select male/dog you can find his photo between Milo and Scooby.
And, as you know, you can also see cats and kittens at that link. Save 'em all. Sorry for the lousy prsentation and blurry photos. We're working on enhancing the computer world.
CONTEMPLATIONS
COSTUMING FOR THE SEASON
This Halloween, I'm costuming as a city-dweller looking for a guy to cut the top half off a big tree that's threatening to drop huge limbs onto the roof of Martha's house, er, our house. I have no skills. Mother Nature knows that.
BASEBALL SEASON ALMOST ENDED? I thought for sure in the early going of Wednesday night's World Series game that the big league baseball season was going to end, but the New York Yankees rallied and blasted the Los Angeles Dodgers. The AL and NL champs play on. Wait'll next year -- right Texas Rangers fans?
The wind was so fierce in our neighborhood Wednesday that I didn't dare roll the trash bins out to the curb until there was no chance that the fierce winds would pop the lids up on the bins and send a weeks worth of trash flying through the neighbors' yards. I planned t wake about 5 a.m. and roll the bins to the curb. Alas, I woke at 3 a.m. for no particular reason, didn't hear winds blowing through the trees and, thus rolled trash bins into position just after 3 a.m. Nobody else was out shoving trash bins around at 3 a.m. I think that may be the plot of country song, "Bagged & Rollin' After Midnight." I'll work on it. Just need three chords on my six-string.
--- Offer C&W TIPS or some kind of help by clicking on 'comment' below or by emailing [email protected] and put "DON'T SING, NOTELESS" in the subject line. --