EDITION OF FRIDAY, APRIL 18. 2025 [PetPowellPress] Here we are approaching the weekend. We have reports on animals' futures and Contemplations' past.
We begin with some local situations and move into one in Oklahoma. Save 'em all, you know?
That's the readlarrypowell Junior Office Cat Stevie Ray Treeboy suggesting two things: (1) Naps are good and so is adopting a rescued cat or rescuing a formerly adopted cats. Things work two ways in the cat world, we've discovered.
METROSPRAWL SHELTER DOGS
AND THE HUNT FOR HOMES...
Here we go with several bios of Mesquite Shelter dogs. [LARRY NOTE: I've edited them so we can post more of them here. But the total unedited bios can be found on the Mesquite shelter's website HERE. Here are the animals needing a good home -- bios provided by volunteer writers from the Mesquite team. Pardon my editing and adopt a dog. Or two.]
Now. in no particular order except they're all first, here we go.
PETEY: He's #58232177, a 3-year-old brownish American Pitbull Terrier who, bio-writer Judi Brown, wrote, "NEEDS A HERO!"
As she explained, "This is a HERO ALERT! Judging from the patches of hair missing, the dullness of his coat, a scab on his nose, and ears that have taken a beating from flies, Petey has been mostly an outside dog. Yet Petey is forgiving. He’s one of the sweetest most loving dogs at our shelter. Petey is a 3-year-old, 51-pound American Pitbull terrier mix that arrived at the Mesquite Shelter on 4/2. I brushed Petey and he sat there so patiently. You could tell it felt good to him to have the extra attention! With some coaxing he sits for treats and he takes them gently. ... [He also] stayed close looking up at me wagging his tail. Now, if that doesn’t warm your heart, I don’t know what will." Cite his Shelter ID #58232177 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected].
And Judi adds, "This is a Diamond in the Ruff and you will be rewarded many times over if you tag or adopt this deserving dog. He wants to be an inside dog mostly so he can shower you with his love."
BIO WRITER DEBRA CHISHOLM began, "Let me introduce you to this little live wire of a pup! Henrietta weighs 36 pounds, is about 6 months old and was brought to the shelter as a stray on 4/10. There is nothing shy about her. Rather, she is confident, has an outgoing and spunky personality and is busy, busy, busy! She has a places to go, things to do and people to see! In other words, she doesn’t slow down much.
"Henrietta needs an active family that will give her daily playtime, exercise, and she could use some manners training. ... She is playful, although was not interested in toys or balls. Henrietta gets an a+ for enthusiasm and spunk!"
[LARRY NOTE: We've cut this bio short, but we'll note that Henrietta is an Earhound -- as you can see the full bio on the shelter website HERE. Cite Henrietta's ID # 58286255 when you call the shelter at
972–216-6283 or email [email protected].
[And here are two more bios provided by Debra and cut shorter by the mean editor Larry -- with apologies to all good writers of animal bios (that includes, especially, Debra and Judi.]
Candace is a 48-pound, about-a-year-old "fun-loving, high-spirited youngsters" who is listed as "an American Pit Bull/American Staffordshire Terrier, Lab/Retriever mix. ... She is a charming, playful girl. I could not interest her in toys or balls and maybe she’s never had any to play with. She loves treats and will sit for them. She is a girl with a friendly and winsome personality and was happy to have me pet her." Candace is #58295854 -- cite her ID number when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or e-mail at [email protected].
Debra writes that "CHARMING ADRIA" is a 3-year-old, 50-pound Boxer mix who "was brought to the
Mesquite Animal Shelter by one of our officers as a stray on 4/11. She has an underbite that makes her look a bit goofy and oh-so-cute. ... Adria is an exuberant, playful and energetic girl. She loves treats! She is playful and enjoys playing with toys. She walks well on a leash and she knows the sit command. She came in with a collar that was way too tight and I removed it. She thoroughly enjoyed the neck massage I gave her after taking off the collar. ...This is one terrific girl who needs another chance. This time around she wants to live inside with her people so she can bond and socialize and be a part of the family circle."
Cite Adria's shelter ID #58291594 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or e-mail [email protected].
A NOTE FROM OKLAHOMA\
ABOUT AN ON-GOING TALE
A couple of months ago our longtime reliable Oklahoma source, the legendary rescuer Terry Lynn Fisher, began working on placing some dogs rescued after they were dumped as puppies in a high-coyote-threat area near Burns Flat way out west in the Sooner State.
We got a note from Terry Lynn on Thursday that explains, "These two actually went to a foster home, and even though I made them give me a letter from the landlord saying they could have them ... So guess who’s back at my house? Yep, Speckles and Rowdy.
"Due to health reasons, I really need these two to go somewhere else. ... They’re probably 4 1/2 months old. The little speckled one is a girl and the black and white white one is a male. (Speckles & Rowdy).
"They are not housebroken, although we have been working on it. I haven’t really trained them. I’ve just given them one of the spare rooms for nights, and during the day they’ve been staying out in the kennel outback.
... I would love for them to be able to stay together, but realistically, I know that probably would never happen. ...
"This is pretty urgent for my personal well-being that I find them a safe place. I still have two other fosters here but they’re not baby puppies that takes so much of my time and attention, in addition to my two personal dogs. ...
"We’re located in western Oklahoma, but I’m sure transport can be arranged. If anyone can help with this, too, please let me know." Email Terry Lynn at [email protected].
CONTEMPLATIONS
'60s HOMEWORK; NATION'S RECORDS
This is a genuine "Just contemplations" segment to ease us off the highway of existence and into the thoughts from the catalogue of challenges in our pasts.
Ever head into the Easter weekend knowing that when you come back to class on Monday, you've got a "term theme" due and it has to have references for all the sources you've used? Gives me a shudder just to think about it. ...
On April 17, 1966, the #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart was "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration) by The Righteous Brothers. As a high school teen in the era, I'll note that there was no such thing as satellite radio and car radios were AM-only if they had a radio at all! Ask an aging grandparent about "transistor radios."
The big hit in March 1966 had been SSgt. Barry Sadlers' The Ballad of the Green Berets. As April 1966 ended, the top song was The Young Rascals' Good Lovin'.
You can sort of watch American culture change by tracking the music titles and "not-quite-Sunday school" themes through '66 from The Sound of Silence across the month to Hanky Panky and Wild Thing to 96 Tears (by ? & The Mysterians) and, at year's end, I'm a Believer by the made-for-TV rock group The Monkees.
OK, gotta go. Time to study for my Latin test. I think I'll cite this as a motto for ambitious writers: In Latin it's
"Omne initium difficile est." And in English? "Every beginning is difficult." Here's an ending phrase: "Sic friat crustulum." That's the way the cookie crumbles. Also a motto for ambitious writers.
--Offer plots or character names by clicking on 'comment' below or just move along innocently. ---
