BIG DOG, LITTLE DOGS, NEGLECTED ANIMALS -- THEY ALL NEED SOME HELP FROM HUMANS

True or false: Major holidays in the middle of two weeks in a row are disruptive. They add confusion to the preceding weekend and the subsequent Monday and Tuesday and the following Thursday and Friday and the next weekend, Monday-Tuesday before the second  Wednesday holiday and the following Thursday, Friday and, maybe even that whole next weekend, too.
And -- hang on, I've lost track of my calenderical disarray.
I'm not sure there's such a word as calendarical -- Oh, it's calendrical. I'm so addled I can't find my  Dictionary of Mournfully Clever Expressions.
I don't have a scientific study to support my assertion of befuddlement but, personally, the last two weeks have been brain-bogglers to me. I'm about as focused as a hungry squirrel in a pecan-bagging factory.
OK, Senior Office Cat William Powell, giving me a stern, pink-nosed glare, snapped, "Move along, navelgazer."
SINCERE ANIMAL NOTE
FROM SINCERE ANIMALS
For purposes of illustration of the situation, this is a formerly unwanted dog. My fiercely articulate rescuespouse talked
her off the streets of Oak Cliff in 2009 as the little puppy ran trying to keep up with people who didn't want her. Since that
day, this dog Wendy has been loved, fed, protected in awful weather and cuddled and adored by humans and other animals -- dogs and cats.
I mention this as an unusual introduction to the seasonal appeal for anyone who qualifies as a numbskull -- not that there'd be any in the Metrosprawl -- to properly shield your animals from the hellish challenges of cold and miserable weather. Serious, what kind of idiots are you to think "Fido loves the snow" or "Kitty will curl up in a warm place." On the other side of your front, back or side doors, there is NO WARM, SAFE PLACE in Texas winter and no cool place in a Texas summer. It's a year-round privilege to protect and love your animals.
If you know people with a lack of sensitivity to the suffering of their animals in wintry conditions, please remind them to protect their animals by keeping them indoors, warm and well fed and watered. And if they don't, you can discretely, as we used to say in the age of phone booths, "DROP A DIME ON 'EM." It's against the law in Texas to let winter hurt or kill your animals. (That's not how the law reads, but it makes a point, right?)
You got a friend that's a peace officer or who works in the ER at a hospital? Ask 'em how kids and animals get treated in some homes in lousy weather. There are enough mistreated kids and dogs to make you go sour on humanity. Help me off this soapbox before I snap a slat and need a forklift to get to the emergency room.
'HELPING TWO LITTLES'
WAS THE APPEAL'S HEADLINE...
Our longtime pal, the legendary foster mom Patty Sprong, tipped us to this situation with a note that read, "Ugh. Urgent help needed for two Chis. Owner dying. Family leaving before storm. Foster or rescue needed!"
You can see the entire story of Petey and Piper at THIS LINK:
https://www.facebook.com/tamara.hunt.773
Petey the Chihuahua is 6 years old, weighs about 18 pounds, might need some medical shot updates but is neutered. He's "shy at first but warms up quickly." Friendly with kids, the relative of the owner reports.
Piper is 8 years old and weighs about 18 pounds. Neutered. "Loves to run and play>" Friendly with kids. "Lively and affectionate dog who thrives in an environment with lots of attention and play."
There's more on the Tamara link.
Here's a situation summary from the link: "Owner in hospital dying. Niece is town (lives out-of-state) trying to help. But she drove and is trying to leave first thing in the morning to beat the snow. Just received the email pleading for help last night. Sigh. Another rescue can take one but not both? Anyone want to foster or rescue?"
HELPING A BIG DOG
FIND A HAPPY RESULT
We saw this courtesy of our ol' pal, the veteran animal rescuer and advocate Maeleska Fletes
The great organization DFW's FurGotten Friends is looking for home and help for this mannerly dog Murphy.
The appeal reads, "Start the Year Right with Murphy!" and continues, "Murphy is a sweet, smart, and eager-to-learn 1.5–
2-year-old BIG boy who’s ready to find his forever home!
"He gets along well with other dogs but is still learning to stay calm when he sees them on a leash. Murphy already knows a few basic commands and is picking up new ones quickly—he’s a fast learner! "He’s also working hard on his leash manners during walks.
"Don’t let his size fool you—Murphy thinks he’s Chihuahua-sized and would love to be your oversized lap dog.
"We’re seeking someone with experience handling Great Danes or other large breeds who can continue his training. If this gentle giant sounds like the perfect match for you, contact us today!"
The e-mail is [email protected].
See more on the Furgotten Friends Facebook page HERE:
https://www.facebook.com/DFWFGF
CONTEMPLATIONS
ASSORTED NOTES IN 2025
When a person is disorganized after two weeks of Wednesday holidays, his desk is a pile of "needs-to-be-neatened" mail, reading material, eyeglasses, pens and documents guaranteed to make getting your car and pickup exams and licenses a snap. Hah. ...
Our dog Wendy and our dog Porche have found warm places to sleep -- between me and Martha. Senior Office Cat William Powell sleeps on top of me for about two hours a night. He arrives in the middle of the night. How do I know? I sleep on my back. And where he lands after his jump onto the bed is personally alarming, not just personally awsakening. The dogs keep snoring through the pain. ...
SERIOUS NOTE: Bless you folks in California. In our part of Texas right now we're just worried about the potential snow and and ice this week. Lots of Texans ache for you as you face the certainty of raging fire. Bless your hearts and keep you all safe and help nature douse the blazes when the dramatically tough firefighters need some Heavenly help.
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