DOGS, CATS, AND A STORM IN OKLAHOMA AND THROUGH TEXAS, TOO....

EDITION OF TUES/WED/THUR MARCH 4-6-7, 2025 [PetPowellPress] Before we get to a Houston dog who needs special medical help, we'll cite some things about Tuesday morning in the Metrostorm.
FYI, in our neighborhood the "tornado siren" -- or whatever it's called these days -- worked just fine.
The cats went back to sleep; the dogs did, too. The humans did not.
It'll be weeks before the humans readjust. There's a complication coming this weekend: We Spring Forward on Sunday and that'll mean this week we have a "Double Disruption" of the sleep patterns,
That photo?
That is Senior Office Cat William Powell who was awakened by the morning siren, came out of the office, looked around the house, saw everybody was appropriately concerned and yawning, and he went back to sleep at the office door.
By pausing there, he knew he could monitor activity in the kitchen and dash in for his share/plus of morning cat treats.
The storm moved through, cats and dogs and humans went back to their anticipated activities and the sun came out.

William said he'd rather be a cat on the cold hall floor than a cat on a hot tin roof. We never give him that second choice, of course. He's an indoor boy with responsibilities in the office he manages. Plus, he's dedicated to air-conditioning. One year he won $4000 in Lotto Texas drawing and donated it all to the Household Air-Conditioning Fund. I think that was enough to pay for July and August that year. [LARRY CONFESSION: The entire preceding paragraph is fiction, though William's  management position and his adoration of air-conditioning are real. Sometimes I get carried way in the fictional world I've created since I got out of Congress...I'm kidding, there I go making something up again.]
THIS HANDSOME FELLOW
NEEDS SOME MED HELP
We got a note from one of our Houston-area contacts about this guy Dwayne. La'Krystal Harrell, trainer assistant, at Harris County Pets Resource Center, sent the photo and the tough-to-take explanation.
It reads, "Dwayne has a right hind-limb fracture and may need an amputation. This baby needs out and into a full-service vet. ... DWAYNE NEEDS OUT OF THE SHELTER BY WEDNESDAY. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP." And La'Krystal adds, "He is super sweet!! I'm hoping a rescue steps up for him.
Call 281-999-3191 or email [email protected] or
[email protected].
Our tipster La'Krystal wrote, "No rescue has shown any interest in him as of yet. He is currently on pain meds and is doing okay."
MEANWHILE IN MESQUITE
3 DOGS MIGHT (FIND HOMES)
The names, when said aloud, sound like three guys who started a folk singing trio in the 1960s -- Kirk, Travis & Dirk. Two guitars and a banjo -- but I fantasize. There's some actual canine needs to discuss.
The reality is, they're three dogs in the Mesquite Animal Shelter. And Kirk and Dirk are siblings.
We got the bios on them from Debra Chisholm, one of the volunteer dog bio-writers at Mesquite's shelter, and from biographer Judi Brown who met these pups and wrote about them..
Here are their stories.
Judi writes, "This sweet boy is Kirk. When I say sweet I’m not exaggerating. Kirk is a 6-months-old, 21-pound Australian Cattle Dog that was brought into the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 2/27 by a concerned citizen. He came in with his sibling Dirk who is a little bit larger but looks very similar.
"About the first thing Kirk did was put his paws on my knees when I was sitting and gave me kisses. He would’ve liked to get on my lap as he is a lapdog wannabe. With some coaxing, he sits for treats. Australian Cattle Dogs are known to be very smart and easy to train. I think it’s amazing that he already knows the sit command at this early age. He stays close like he’s circling the wagons. He just wants to be by his human. He’s wearing green because he wants to be in a loving home before St. Patrick’s Day so he can celebrate with you. ... He’s calm and tail-wagging happy."
Kirk is #57930028 at the shelter -- to ask about him, cite that # when you cal the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]
Same system when you ask about adopting Kir's brother Dirk. Judi writes, "Because of Dirk’s fold-over ears, he appears goofy and cute. He really is an adorable loving boy. He is a six month old Australian Cattle Dog that weighs 25 pounds and was brought in on 2/27 by a concerned citizen. He came in with his sibling Kirk. I think this boy’s favorite thing is to get belly rubs. He constantly rolls over and gets so excited when his belly is being rubbed. He stayed real close seeking affection. He sits for treats with some coaxing. Australian Shepherds are working dogs and are very smart. There’s no doubt that Dirk will be very easy to train and will be very obedient. ... Dirk wants to please. He wags his tail. He’s friendly. He’s very sweet, and well behaved."
Dirk is #57930054 -- cite that number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
And that bring us to Travis, described by Debra as a "delightful high-spirited youngster" who is a "mixed breed pup picked up by one of our officers on 2/15 as a stray ... Travis weighs 40 pounds and is about 6 months old. This is one spunky, enthusiastic youngster with a confident and outgoing personality. One of the ways his spunkiness, excitement and enthusiasm shows itself is in his jumping on you. Of course, this is a behavior that will need to be addressed. He is playful and went out in the yard, ran and played and climbed up and down on our play equipment. He loves toys and balls and will keep himself entertained. ... There is not one bit of fearfulness or shyness about this boy. He was OK with me petting him, but only after he had spent time romping and playing. This friendly little boy would seem best suited for a person or family with an active lifestyle that would give him daily enrichment, exercise, and playtime.
"Just like any pup, obedience classes would help him adjust to his new family’s life. His dream home would be one in which he could live inside with his people and share life with them!"
Travis is #57857624 at the shelter. Cite that ID when you all the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email at [email protected].
See more Mesquite dogs and a whole lot of adoptable cats by clicking on this LINK.

CONTEMPLATIONS
ON MARCH 4TH AND BEYOND...
I'm not sure what that means, but I confess I typed it and if someone asks me to show up and explain it, why, yes, I'll march forth. ....
The storm that got to us in the Metrosprawl was way out in Burns Flat, Okla., first. Our longtime Burns Flat Tipster Terry Lynn Fisher reported from her far-west Sooner outpost, "Oklahoma! You just never know what’s gonna happen!
"As the tornado sirens were blaring in town last night, we got Ellie and some of her friends down in the storm cellar. I am claustrophobic, so I will never go in it, and I wouldn’t wanna leave all my dogs without being able to make sure they were OK, anyway."
The youngster humans "sat down there [in the storm cellar] for maybe 30 minutes, and we finally got the all clear ...
"Of course, afterwards, I had to go and check on things. I went to the different locations that we have the feral cats at, went to the barn to check on the dogs, and went to some of our other feeding places.
"Strong winds had some things blown around at some of the areas, but everything was OK and safe. Thank goodness for that.
"You just never know what’s going on here. I’m just thankful that the tornadoes missed us, and pray that wherever they were at everybody stayed safe.
"What a long night, it turned out to be, and today, the sun is shining beautifully.
"Welcome to Oklahoma lol I’m a born and raised Okie girl, so this is pretty common to me, but let me tell you something, some of those kids last night were pretty 'anxious'." ...
FINDING THE HACKMAN DOGS' NAMES? There's an old newspaper saying that "Names make news." One of the problems lately has been identifying the dogs in the Gene Hackman home in Santa Fe. USA Today has a story now that identified the dogs by name and identifies the dog found with the humans as "Zinna." The story reports that the Kelpie mix once trained in agility skills to compete at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show." The link to the story is HERE. Should take you to the USA Today site. Or you could google it. ...
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