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GODIVA: A CAT WHO KNOWS HOW TO CHILL WHEN THE A/C HITS A ROUGH SPOT

What  would you do if  you were a cat and the air-conditioning cratered? We have  an answer.
While going through the assorted notes and posts that readlarrypowell.com gets in a day, I happened to be scrolling on Facebook for something and found something that we can all relate to in this current spell of Lone Star/multi-degreed weather. Terror of a hot spell when the A/C stalls.
Longtime rescuer and catfan Sherrie Tweedie Finch opened a paragraph with two sentences that, even in 100-plus temperatures, will send a chill galloping up and down your spine.
 At mid-week she wrote, “Our AC went out yesterday am. We have to replace it.”

And that is how this wonderful cat, Godiva, got the spotlight for this weekend’s Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. She’s got her own fan and her own place to chill, so to speak.
Sherrie explained, “The old system lasted 16 years, so it is time. … New system will be installed on Thursday and Friday. It's 86 degrees in the house, but ceiling fans and other fans keep the air circulating, at least. Godiva is trying to stay cool. We should be OK, but several friends have offered to let us stay at their homes. It's nice to have that option in case we need it.”

A day or so later, she reported, “AC is being installed today, and not a moment too soon! … The house was too hot even with all the fans going. I was miserable and I'm sure the cats were, too.”
Her friend Caroline, also a critter fan, came to the rescue with an offer of cool quarters for all concerned.
 So, what’s the story on Godiva? 
Sherrie says of her beautiful cat, “Godiva is about 7 years old and I adopted her in 2019. She was brought in to East Lake Pet Orphanage in 2018, along with her 4 kittens. She was a stray, as most moms and kittens are. Initially diagnosed as having ringworm, she and her kittens endured 12 weeks of ringworm treatment including lime sulfur baths. The kittens healed and were adopted into homes, but poor Godiva's condition didn't improve.

“The vet suspected allergies and tests were run which confirmed her suspicion. Godiva was put on a special diet and steroid injections and remained in isolation. Attached is a photo [bottom left) of Godiva before her allergy treatments started. One of ELPO's volunteers, Caroline Stovall, got permission to foster her so that she could live a fairly normal life and heal. Caroline hired me to visit with Godiva during the week for about 2 hours a day to give her attention and play with her. 
“After about 8 months, Caroline and her family were moving in to a temporary apartment while their home was sold and before their new home would be ready. There was no room for Godiva. I had become very attached to her and adopted her. I took Godiva in to see a veterinary dermatologist, Dr. [Christine] Rees (now at Med Vet on Central). Dr. Rees did extensive testing to discover additional allergies and formulated immunotherapy specific to Godiva's allergies. 

“Godiva gets an immunotherapy injection every three days, a pill every other day and steroid injections every 4-6 weeks. 
“Godiva is now living the good life at Chez Finch. Her coat is lustrous and soft, she has become very chunky and she and I share a very special bond. She is my shadow and is by my side no matter where I am in the house. Despite her prolonged time enduring lime sulfur baths and being in isolation, with very little human contact until she moved to Caroline's, she is the sweetest, most affectionate cat.”

So, my  fellow animalfans,  as, as you can see from the pictures, Godiva is a very photogenic “shadow!” She’s clearly in favor of air-conditioning! And aren’t we all — this week.
[DEAR READERS AND PASSERS-BY: Send photos and the stories of your beloved slumbering critters (they CAN be awake, too) to dallrp@aol.com and we’ll post them in our long-running weekend feature, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap. Your darlin’ slumberers may inspire people to open their homes to animals who need a place to adore people. Or you may inspire insomniacs to believe they, too, can cat-nap if they can just find a house that is properly cooled in Texas in the summer. As an insomniac, readlarrypowell.com believes there is no perfect sleeping temperature other than “too cold to snore.” That’s not a scientific phrase. That's my funspouse  Martha's cat Esme watching front yard  activity from the office window and a re-purposed bookshelf. Esme doesn't snore. She also loves air-conditioning so much she pays half  the monthly electric bill. Likes to play the slots at WinStar, I'm told.]
—- Offer sleeping or coping tips by clicking on ‘comment’ or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put WHO NEEDS A SWEATER! in the subject line. ——

FRIDAY'S REPORT RANGES FROM MY CAT'S FACE TO DOGS' EARS AND WAYS TO HELP

EDITION OF FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022 [PetPowellPress] First, I really miss the prospect of a 3-day weekend following this particular Friday -- I feel the urge to take Monday off. America, is it time to raise wages and lower the number of workdays in a week. What? Yeah. Raise taxes, too. As gasoline prices drop,  we'll  all have extra money.
Not a political announcement — just musing on a Friday in the 21st century. More in Contemplations, including a mention of chocolate. First, some animal tales. That's my office cat William. He'd just read the opening paragraph and reacted negatively. Smart boy when it comes to taxes. Believes cats should be listed as "dependants" by the IRS.
AT A QUARTER-CENTURY,
STRAYDOG’S STILL HUSTLING
Yes, the legendary Near East Texas no-kill shelter and sanctuary Straydog Inc. has been at this mission for 25 years.
This week I got the note about the Straydog Adoption Day event (11 a.m.-3 [3 p.m.] Saturday (yep, the 9th, already) at the West Plano PetSmart, 6204 W. Park Blvd. 
See the adorable adoptables at straydog.org.
And I saw those photos of available dogs and wondered how many more we could adopt at readlarrypowell.com. The answer is: “We’re all full up already with dogs and cats.”
But, look at that guy Sammy with the Airplane Ears, He’s a medium-sized youngster whose family tree reads: “AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG/BLUE HEELER / GREAT PYRENEES / MIXED (MEDIUM COAT).”
Turns out, according to Straydog, that when he “was rescued, along with his 3 siblings, he did not know how to walk on a leash and was shy around new people.  He is now a confident dog, is very playful, loves to play fetch and walks well on a leash.”
I didn't look up Leonardo's  story -- just fell in love with the dog in the photo! I've got a  full tank of gas and I know  how to get to Straydog. But I know better than to daydream --someone adopt Leonardo and write to me about how wonderful he  is.
And, we’ve got one more Straydog note about two dogs -- that's in Contemplations. FYI: If you can’t adopt or foster or somehow sneak another dog into your house, you can sponsor dogs at Straydog. As you know, it take money to keep the lights on and the a/c running and the kitchen delivering the meals.
THREE DOGS’ NIGHTS
NEED TO BE IN HOMES
The 4-Legged Helpers end the work week (though rescuers and advocates have no actual weeks — just a parade of days) with an appeal for three dogs that can’t seem to find a place to land and call “home.”
There’s Patrick, this cute fellow found sitting on the side of a busy Irving road and waiting for the BLEEP who dumped hm to come back.
He’s about a year old and fixed and vaccinated and “extremely cute.” And, his biographers say, “Just a complete love.” Patrick's in the care of the woman who saw him and had to help him  get to safety.  She's helped him with vet work, too, and now it's  time to find him that  just-right-perfect-for-Patrick home.
Precious has been waiting for her real human for a while. She’s at the Ferris Animal Shelter.
And there’s a $400 donation designed for the 501c3 Rescue that takes her in.Precious is listed as a spayed Bulldog mix.”
The bio from the Helpers reads: “Cute as can be. Look at those adorable ears and sweet little face.  Already vaccinated AND spayed  Great on the leash.  Listens well - we had a dog trainer evaluate her and we can fill you in. She truly needs someone. ADORES and we mean ADORES people.”

And that brings us to Chance — he brings along a $125 donation to the 501c3 recue that helps him. Chance is a neutered Bulldog mix currently in a Dallas boarding facility — Why? Because someone booked him in and then abandoned him there more than a year ago.
He’s a youngster, weighs about 50 pounds.
[LARRY ASIDE: At least they didn’t drive him to Irving and just shove him out next to the curb.]

To help the animals, call or text the 4-Legged Helpers at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.
IN SUMMATION
ON A FRIDAY
There are thousands of dogs and cats on the clocks in shelters in North Texas. If you live near a shelter and you have a good heart and you have a place for one more dog or cat or one more dog and cat, figure out a way to save a life or two. Maybe you just need to be a foster. There’s not a rescue group or a respectable shelter that doesn’t have a foster program.
Volunteer. Save ‘em all.
CONTEMPLATIONS
CHOCOLATE, SPACE, EARS AND A TUNE
We opened today with an appeal for a 3-day weekend. Odd, coming from a guy who has no corporate work schedule — I just work every day. If I can’t write, I’ll do housework or yardwork or drive around aimlessly looking for the spirit of my youth —that poor SOB (Staggering Old Boy). I sure put that kid through some anxious moments! Example: My white 1966 Ford Mustang, paused to turn left into a restaurant parking lot, was rear-ended by a man named Duck. The red headliner was knocked loose in the collision and flopped down on my head as I re- braked to a halt. Suddenly, I wasn’t driving the Mustang so much as wearing it like a 4-wheeled sombrero. So, all these decades later, thank you, Mr.Duck, for inspiring this passage. Nobody was hurt and I got a paragraph out of the wreck. No ticket, either. ….
According to the Holiday Insights online calendar, here’s what I failed to celebrate on July 7: National Chocolate Day. First time in years I’ve missed celebrating chocolate. Some sources claim chocolate is a vegetable — yep, you can look it up! If that is true, it’s my second-favorite vegetable. My first-favorite vegetable is the hot biscuit.
 FYI: July 8 is the anniversary of the day in 2011 when, Holiday Insights says, “Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched in the final mission of the U.S. Space Shuttle program.” Click on this NEWSWEEK STORY. And if all has gone right on the instrument panel in our Orbit 2022 capsule you’ll get a taste of Dallas via former resident Steve Miller and one of his hits. LAUNCH HERE. Those dogs? Pumba and Ren. They are Earhounds  from Straydog -- adopt them both and call them your "Bookend Earhounds." I may write to Westminster about an Earhound category  in the  next big show.
— Launch by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put EARTHLINGS NEED CHOCOLATE in the subject line. —-

COOLING TREND SIGHTED IN EMAIL; PLUS, ANIMALS NEED HOMES (NO SURPRISE, EH?)

EDITION OF THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022 [PetPowellPress] Need a cool thought? I don’t know about you, but when I step outside it is apparent to me that July is getting to be a right hot month. Anybody else have that sensation? I have, however, received an email that tells me Autumn is on the way. 
From a weather forecaster? Heck, no!
This optimistic reminder came from Big Tex’s sidekick/spokesperson, State Fair Vice President for Public Relations Karissa Condoianis. 
You’ll note from the colorful poster, that the 2022 State Fair begins on Friday, September 30, well after the start of either Autumn —meteorological or astronomical.
According to the good folks at The Old Farmers Almanac, summer — even the Texas summer — exits at 8:04 p.m. Central Daylight Time on Thursday, Sept. 22. Your broadcast weathercaster will tell you that September 1 is the “Meteorological Start” of Autumn. As a guy who studied earth’s tilt and orbit in the 1950s when the info folder was paper and less cluttered by charts and graphs, I’m sticking with September 22 as the First Day of Autumn. Why? Because we’ve seen a lot of summer-hot Texas days during the Septembers of our lives. The entire time I attended public school on the northeastern edge of Bowie County, my crayon-scrawling colleagues and I NEVER GOT A SNOW DAY IN SEPTEMBER! More cool info about the Fair and autumn in Contemplations. That's me and Big Tex in 2020, if my notes are correct. I'm sure it's Big Tex. The other guy may be  Elvis.
WE GOT THIS NOTE
ABOUT CHARLIE THE DOG…
As you probably know, municipal shelters are loaded with animals that appear by circumstances to be unwanted. Our efforts here are aimed at trying to help them become wanted. 
This girl Charlie has been unwanted for a while and she’s in the Dallas Animal Services shelter and on a mean-ass clock that keeps ticking down. [LARRY REQUEST: Please pardon my entirely accurate French.]
Now, how do you get to see Charlie’s listing on the DAS website www.bedallas90.org? Ah, first you click on that link, then you click on “BE A LIFESAVER,” then you click on ADOPTING, then you navigate to the list of dogs and cats. Then you pick one species and then you scroll and look at the photos. These are photos of Charlie. 
Charlie’s story, thanks to tipster and animal advocate Tami Kukla, was found on the DAS website HERE. And Tami’s appeal is on Facebook HERE.
Charlie’s story, according to the DAS listing, is that she’s a 2-year-old Pittie girl (A1106379) who weighs in at just under 40 pounds and is in Kennel #:VIP27. The staff loves Charlie, apparently.

The bio of Charlie that Tami posted reads that she “loves a blanket and soft toys” and like to cuddle and go for walks. 
And there’s this passage: “She started her journey at DAS in 2020 and people keep abandoning her for reasons that have nothing to do with her. Most recently in January she started her journey again with DAS and was adopted in February by a family that promised she had her forever home. Only to dump her in April. She has always been kenneled with another dog. She warms up with another dog if you slowly intro. She is shy in dog intros but so easygoing in general with happy energy.”

To foster, adopt or rescue Charlie or any of these other animals (clipped those photos off the DAS site this morning), get in touch with Dallas Animal Services by emailing dasadopt@dallascityhall.com, dasfoster@dallascityhall.com or dasrescue@dallascityhall.com.
SUMMERTIME TEXAS DOGS
MAY DISPLAY LONG TONGUES
Yep, that’s a reality of dogs in Texas in the summer. And here are two examples The bio of Mo-Jo is provided by Mesquite Animal Services volunteer dog biographer Judi Brown and the bio of Luffy is provided by Mesquite Animal Services volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm. These two people get to actually visit the dogs they write about. The mission is to tell the stories of these dogs and get a person or family interested in giving the dogs good homes. Bless their hearts, these dedicated dog fans!
The first dog is MoJo, who, Judi writes, “will entertain himself with toys and balls and at the same time will entertain you with his antics! Mo-Jo is a 10-month-old mixed breed who weighs 39 pounds and arrived at the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 6/27 as a stray. He is not fixed.” [LARRY PUBLIC SERVICE TIME-OUT: SPAY AND NEUTER and keep the shelter populations down, you knuckleheads. Thank you.]
 Judi says Mo-jo is “an extremely joyful, enthusiastic, playful, friendly puppy. He sought out toys and entertained himself with them. When I threw a ball he chased it. When he got the ball he played with it. He jumped in the wading pool and splashed around. At one point he ran with abandon back-and-forth in the shelter yard. He’s so happy it makes you happy just to be around him. He did come to me after he got done playing. He wanted to be close and have that extra human connection….He’s got floppy ears that give him character! Since he’s so active he would do well with an active family. He would do best with a fair side yard for him to play in, but yet would prefer to be inside with his family after his playtime or after his walks.”
Mo-Jo is #50542708. Use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com. 
Debra describes this dog, Luffy, as a “delightfully charming youngster.” Luffy’s breed is list as “Lacy.” And as Texans know, the State Dog of Texas is the Blue Lacy, described as the “only dog breed developed in Texas.”
Back to this dog Luffy. No idea where the name came from, but Luffy seems to work.
Debra says Luffy came in as a stray on June 29 — he’s about a year old, neutered and weighs in around 60 pounds. Debra writes, “He's everything a puppy should be--playful, high-spirited, loves toys and balls, fun-loving and on-the-move.  Sweet boy doesn't slow down much!  He will amuse and entertain you with his enjoyment of playing with toys and balls.  He does jump on you so that would need to be addressed.  He doesn't seem to know the sit command but will give you his paw when you ask for it.  He has an outgoing, confident and trusting personality. … He loves treats and takes them gently.  Luffy is a friendly fellow with a sweet nature.  The big mystery is why his owner has not come looking for him.  If you want a lovable puppy that you will stay committed to and that you can raise to be a devoted family member, Luffy may be the one.  At this point he may not be the best fit for a family with young children due to his 60-pounds of playfulness and jumping.  Obedience training would certainly be a good idea, as well as daily enrichment to get some of that energy out!” [LARRY ASIDE: That 3rd photo of Luffy is my fave. He appears to be thinking, "Look, I'm pretty sure I'm house-trained. If you want me to use that drain, it's gonna cost ya a few handfuls  of treats.]
Luffy is #50561512 — use that ID when you call the shelter at 
 972-216-6283 or email rescues@city ofmesquite.com 
See more Mesquite animals — dogs and cats and “others” sometimes — when you click HERE.
There are many, many hand-sized kittens who need homes.
This one is Mango, #50093150. He’s now about 3 months old and may be a little larger than he is in this picture. He came in on May 2 and is an example of why biographies of dogs and cats in the Mesquite shelter frequently include this phrasing: “Our shelter is badly overcrowded so if you can network or tag ….”
Save ‘em all, you know?
CONTEMPLATIONS
CONSIDERATIONS OF AUTUMN
There was some pretty cool news from Big Tex and the State Fair of Texas earlier this week — the semi-finalists for the Big Tex Choice Awards have been chosen. We don’t have room to list all of them on our site, but we CAN LINK YOU TO THE ENTRIES AT THIS STATE FAIR SITE. I just breezed through them because, having eaten my lifetime quota of fried carnivorous treats about 30 years ago, I look for that special possibly vegetarian or even vegan treat at the State Fair of Texas. There was a title in the list that made my mouth water and set off an alarm in at least three of my physicians’ offices. That eye-catching semifinalist is “Deep Fried Southern Dessert Dumplings.” The opening sentence reads, “These delightfully indulgent dumplings…” The recipe has “morsels of dark chocolate,” too, so it must be healthy! I’ve never had a bad snack at the State Fair of Texas. Honest. …
I have a friend who says Autumn actually arrives in Texas “during halftime at the Texas/OU game.” Some might say the “OU/Texas game.” Marketeers may say “Red River Showdown” — the big gridiron rival contest at the Cotton Bowl each year. This year the game is on October 8 — might be snow in the air that late in Autumn, right? It’s Texas — anything can happen. ….
In honor of a 1962 movie shot with all those great scenes of the 1961 State Fair of Texas, here’s a musical LINK. Like the opening song of State Fair goes, “Dollars to donuts, it’s the best state fair in our state.” And this link shows you what Dallas looked like in 1962. It looks, well, a whole lot different — the difference between a prairie outpost and a Big Apple Wannabe. Yet, like The Dude, the State Fair of Texas abides.
—- Offer movie tips or Texas tastes by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put MUSTARD RULES, CORNYDOG in the subject line. —-

GEORGY GIRL TAKES US FROM INSOMNIA, THROUGH SHELTERS, TO FILM IN THE ' 60S

EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY JULY 5-6, 2022 [PetPowellPress] Here’s a truth: July 4 is one of the worst nights for an American Insomniac. And animals, of course. Especially when they’re parked outside instead of snoozing in the house.

There was a wall of explosions somewhere near our neighborhood Monday night — it lasted well into what we used to call “the wee hours” before computer- ized/connected America became a 24-hour operation. [LARRY NOTE: That is Porche Noel on her Psychedelic Rug of Transcendental Slumberfication right next to the big white paper bag in which she keeps her piggybank. “If you can sleep in the daytime,” she alleges, “You can sleep at night.” She’s wrong but she's a lucky dog — sleeps through everything except meals. Here's what she should have said: "If you can stay awake in the daytime, you can stay awake all night, too." Trust  me.]
Our dogs and cats (seasoned sleepers — not an insomniac among them) were comforted by the calming drone and gentle currents of a loyal air-conditioning system. They slept well the evening of the Fourth. How do I know? I am an American Insomniac. I was up watching them.
ONE MORE LOVELY STORY:
DIXIE WAS LEFT IN A FORCLOSURE
Yeah, this is one peach of a story. Dixie the Dog is in Red Oak, south of Dallas, according to the 4-Legged Helpers. The young Staffie is spayed and vaccinated. And how in the world did this happen to her? Get ready to grind your teeth. Here’s the story: “A very kind Realtor found Dixie abandoned in a foreclosed home but any thoughts of taking her to the animal shelter completely vanished when everyone realized this is one of the sweetest dogs they have ever met .  Poor sweet baby!!!  She is the best of the best.  LOVES other DOGS, LOVES CATS, LOVES ALL PEOPLE.   ADORABLE.”
To help Dixie find a home that is proper and she isn’t regarded as “luggage you can leave behind,” call or text the 4-Legged Helpers at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.
The Helpers are still working to find safe places for these three dogs. Patrick, with the long tail (LARRY NOTE: I cropped it out of the photo  to get the snout!) and the big nose, is a Boxer/Whippet Mix being tended to in Irving. That’s where he was found next to a busy street — on Memorial Day. He was “sitting under a tree just waiting on someone who never came back.” The woman who found him has been taking care of him but now he needs a home.

And there’s a $400 donation to support a 501c3’s rescue of Precious, the Bulldog mix (above, right). She’s “adores people” and she’s been waiting a while to find the right one. 
Chance, the Bulldog mix (left), with the $125 donation, is also available. He’s been in boarding for more than a year — his human boarded him and vanished. Nice, huh!. The Helpers have been helping him look for a more suitable human.
NOW, TURNING TO ANIMALS
WAITING IN MESQUITE….

We’re going to start with a couple of words that’ll inspire anyone who grew up listening to rock radio around 1967. This dog is Georgy Girl. (That’s as in The Seekers’ hit Hey There, Georgy Girl. More in Contemplations.)
We got the story on this dog from the Mesquite Shelter’s volunteer dog biographer Debra Chisholm who writes, “This adorable girl is Georgy Girl, a Terrier mixed breed that arrived at the Mesquite Shelter on 6/25 as a stray.  She weighs 49 pounds, is approx 2 years old and is not spayed.  Georgy Girl was very fearful and uneasy for a few days after she arrived and understandably so.  One of our volunteers spent time with her and was successful in helping her to warm up and gain more confidence and trust.  Georgy Girl walks nicely on a leash.  When she passed by kennels with other dogs she did not show aggression. … She is quite athletic as she climbed up on our play equipment to retrieve treats (which she is quite fond of).  She is friendly, is happy to receive loving attention and enjoyed rolling around in the grass to relieve an itch in her back!  She has obviously recently had a litter of pups.”
Georgy is #50530418 — use her ID# when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email recues@cityofmesquite.com.
Also, remember this caution from people who are at the shelter trying to help saved dumped, strayed and abandoned animals. Debra’s note read, “Our shelter has been badly overcrowded for quite some time and dogs and cats continue to arrive as strays and surrenders daily.
"
That brings us to Buck, a 6-year-old, around 60-pounds Terrier mix who came in as a stray on June 24. His bio reads that this “lively, active and alert boy" with nice manners “was obsessed with scouting out the shelter yard and it was a bit of a challenge getting him to get his nose off the ground for some pictures.” And during his photo session “Buck walked quite well on a leash” and did “not seem to know any commands, wasn't interested in toys or balls and didn't seem to like the treats I offered him.  He just wanted to investigate the yard!  He did show a friendly spirit to me and a sweet nature.” When you contact the shelter about Buck, cite his ID # 50525931.
Heidi is the German Shepherd mix — about 5 1/2 and 64-pounds, she came in as a stray on June 24. Debra writes, “She is well-behaved, calm, gentle and doesn't jump on you.  She has a mellow personality.  Heidi is very sweet and friendly.  She seemed to enjoy so much stretching her legs outside her kennel and spent a lot of her time in the yard with her nose to the ground. She walked beautifully on a leash and when I led her past other dogs… Heidi does not appear to know any commands.  She was mildly interested in chasing balls.  It's possible that she has been an outside dog by the looks of her.  The tips of her ears look as though the fur has been chewed off by flies. … Undoubtedly Heidi will begin to adjust to the shelter environment and relax a bit, displaying her wonderful personality.” Heidi’s shelter ID is #50522912.

This is Dina, a mixed-breed who was picked up as a stray on June 26. Debra writes, “She was very fearful and tense initially but has warmed up and is friendly and her sweet nature is becoming evident.” The 2-year-old, 53-pound girl walked “nicely on a leash,” didn’t react to barking dogs and “was quite obsessed with checking out all the fascinating smells in the yard….” And, as you might expect, Dina “will need a bit of extra patience and TLC to feel completely comfortable and trusting but doubtless her sweet and mellow personality will fully shine through.” Dina is #40533039. 

And, as you know, Dear Readers, there are many more animals waiting for human homes or human rescuers at the Mesquite Animal Shelter. You can see them by clicking on the shelter link HERE.  And we’ve picked this beautiful multi-colored cat to highlight — shes’ just over 2, is medium-sized and came in on June 25. She’s in the Cat Room at the Shelter. And she’s known as #50529909. And, she is among a number of “beyond the kitten state cats” awaiting a home. Kittens? Mesquite has more kittens waiting — wide-eyed, hand-sized, tiny mewing kittens. How many? More than the momma cats would show off ton Mother’s Day at the American Maternal Feline Convention in Big Litters, Texas — a suburb of Fertile Valley. [LARRY ASIDE: I might have made up Big Litters and Fertile Valley, but if you monitor the kitten and puppy counts in Dallas/Fort Worth shelters and rescue groups, you’d swear we were all living near those places.]
CONTEMPLATIONS

JUST SOME THINKING (AND IT TAKES THE BOLD COURAGE OF AN IGNORANT CHUMP TO REFER TO WHAT MY BRAIN DOES AS ‘THINKING’)
An example of thinking? Let’s talk healthy sleeping. I’ve never held public office but I am an American Insomniac who can lay awake for hours wondering just what the devil is going on with the government and the nation. So, here’s an idea: The USA needs a Secretary of Slumber. And cities could compete for the title “Sleepiest Town in the USA.” I’m checking out Insomnia Gardens — in Eyelid County, Texas. There are 254 Texas counties — one of ‘em is bound to be named Eyelid. I’m not sure who would appoint a Secretary of Slumber — might be the head of a sleeping pill company, if Washington works as it usually does. ….

A BASEBALL NOTE: While catching up on weekend baseball news, I read this opening paragraph for a story in the Yahoo Sports News about  a Los Angeles Dodger: “On Friday, Freddie Freeman was in tears upon his first trip to Atlanta as a visiting player.” Immediately I was reminded of the explicit expressions by Rockford Peaches Manager Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks) in the 1992 film, A League of Their Own. “THERE’S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!” Clearly, Dugan had never seen the Texas Rangers trying to hold a late-inning lead. ….
In honor of the Mesquite Dog Georgy Girl and the great singer Judith Durham and the Aussie folk group The Seekers, click HERE and if you want to hear the song played as you watch the trailer for the 1966 film Georgy Girl with Lynn Redgrave, click HERE. [LARRY ASIDE: In my insomniacal moments I continue to attempt to invent a time machine so we can all go back to see movies not in multiplexes and with appreciative, mannerly audiences not focused on what to eat next off the movie house menu.]
— Offer film tips and movie moods by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put WHO PRICES MOVIE POPCORN? OIL COMPANIES? in the subject line. —-

A SUNFLOWER, A BEE, A NAPPING CAT AND AN ELUSIVE SLUMBERKITTEN

Here we are in the first long weekend of July 2022 — wait…THE ONLY long weekend of July 2022. It’s time for our long-running feature Let Sleeping Dogs Lie & Napping Cats Nap.
As you Dear Readers know, we’ve been publishing photographs of adored slumbering animals for years — since May 14, 2005, when the weekend feature debuted. We do this in honor of the relationships loving humans have with the adored animals who share their homes. [LARRY ASIDE: The Grammar Police would say animals get a “that” and not a “who,” but they may never have seen how a canine or feline personality can fill a room with more enjoyably than some of our testy relatives. Relax, I kid the kin.]

We haven’t posted only dogs or cats in this feature. Every now and then we slip a free-range turtle, a cow, an iguana, a horse — a non-cat or non-dog — into the mix of snoozers. If you sleep in public, you’re eligible.

For example: Does that sunflower look asleep to you? It is a surprise pop-up plant in our front-yard flowerbed. It rose swiftly, majestically and absolutely unexpectedly right in front of my agronomyspouse Martha’s annual Elephant Ear crop. The heat has been scorchingly brutal on the Ears.
At first we thought the rising stalk was just a big, thick weed and we decided to “let it grow and see what happens.” 
Suddenly it blossomed into this wonderful sunflower. I snapped a photo and promptly forgot about it for the rest of the day.
When Martha came home from work she asked, “See that sunflower?” and I said, “Snapped a photo” and showed it to her. And she asked, “Did you realize there was a bee in it?” and I had not. 
I spent decades in journalism as a trained observer of details and did not spot that bee right in front of my face. If it had been a snake…well if it had been a snake in a sunflower, I’d have notice taht.
So this weekend a wide-awake sunflower is featured as it apparently ‘Let’s A Snoozing Bee Buzz.” And is “buzz” the bee equivalent of “snore”? I’m not an apiarian but I have been led to believe that bee’s have no actual noses and, also, “Bees have six knees,” though I have heard the phrase “Bees have no knees.” Six makes sense. Call it The Six Sense.

In the meantime, I did manage to snap a sleeping photo of my Oak Cliff cat Stevie Ray, rescued about 3 years ago as he clung to a flimsy mimosa tree branch and yowled for help — no other cat in sight. He was barely half-a-handful. 
These two photos are “Before and After.” In the first photo, Stevie Ray was sacked out on the back of the living room couch during the week. And, after I took the first photo, our Border Collie/Chocolate Lab galactic sentinel, Dudley the Angel, gave off one ear-rattling bark, and awoke a bitter Stevie Ray. Everbody then went back to napping. That second photo shows — well, I don’t want to put words in my cat’s mouth, but that’s Stevie Ray’s startled “What the h…?” look. He’d settled down by the time I snapped his third photo just before he jumped off the back of the couch and went off somewhere to read.
I don’t know where the bee is. They say this is a tough weekend if you’re flying somewhere. He could be on an extended layover in a rose bush.
[DEAR READERS: PLEASE SEND PHOTOS of your slumbering dogs and/or cats or any other sleepy critter to dallrp@aol.com and include a bio with explanations of how you got ‘em and why you love ‘em. If you fail to send mammal or reptile or amphibian or bird photos, I will be forced to find another insect to feature in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, Nappng Cats Nap and Rash-Causing Bugs Scratch ’n’ Snooze. That fluffy-tailed feline (that's his tail rising over the arm of the couch) is, by the way, my personal cat project Hastings — never been photographed sleeping -- rescued boy who didn't get the benefit of a mommy raising him, consequently, he's too alert to sneak up on and plays rough! FYI, Dear Readers, your photos will be influencing someone to open their home to a loving animal. You also will be helping insomniacs have faith that they, too, can get some sleep once I determine whether that nocturnal buzz in my ear is tinnitus from a “Too close!” 1965 firecracker or a well-established beehive in the ear canal. Bzzzzzzz.]
— Offer sleep tips or decaf coffee recipes by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and putting PROTECT THE BEES, SAVE THE PLANET, DODGE THE STINGER in the subject line. —-

FOR 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND, WE HAVE DOGS, CATS, PEOPLE AND PREDICAMENTS....

EDITION OF FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2022 [PetPowellPress] Big weekend coming. Protect your animals from fireworks and free-roaming nitwits.
Ah, the challenges of living in a nation that ought to be celebrated but has some scofflaws with matches and firecrackers and enough energy to stay up past midnight all weekend or as long as the liquor holds out. Ah, that’s a word picture of America The Beautiful, isn’t it! I do like the red, white and blue of my two favorite flags! 

That’s my patriotic dog, Porche Noel, in her 21st century Ben Franklin Bifocals. She’s renowned in the canine community for tracking (part of her scent-hound heritage) her family tree back to Lightnin’, Franklin’s English Spaniel. 
We’re not sure how much of that Porche story has been certified as factual by the ASARHR — American Society of Aging Relatives’ Historical Recollections. [LARRY ASIDE: I think I’ll copyright that title and open it up for business online. You know, in honor of my family tracing our heritage back to Paul Revere’s horse’s backside. Yes, I love American History.]
WE’RE NOT SURE ABOUT THE DOG,
BUT JUST IN CASE, HERE’S THE TALE

This dog, Ydira, may still need a rescue or adoption (they’re free right now) at Dallas Animal Services.
We learned about her from Tami Kukla, the animal advocate. 
The note we got reads, “YDIRA recently endured an act of cruelty before she was found running scared and in pain - someone cut her ears off. How awful!!!!

“She needs someone to come adopt or foster or rescue her ASAP. She is URGENT and could be EUTHANIZED FOR SPACE at any point.”
She’s a 4- or 5-year-old spayed female who weighs in at 83 pounds. Ydira also is heartworm positive, but, her bio reads, “shelter will treat.” 
She’s described as “Very sweet and affectionate, bored and circling in her tiny kennel. Extremely desperate for attention and affection. Her ears have been cut off! Looks very recent, not healed yet! Let's get this girl a loving home that she deserves.”

When you contact Dallas Animal Services, her ID is #1150041. Here are the contact points: dasadopt@dallascityhall.com;
dasfoster@dallascityhall.com; dasrescue@dallascityhall.com.
[LARRY ASIDE: When I searched for Ydira on the DAS website, I could not find her in the giant list of dogs, so I fed her ID number into the search and it listed her as being in Kennel # AD 031. And here is the Dallas Animal Services website link:
https://www.bedallas90.org]
YOU’VE HEARD OF FERAL CATS;
THESE ARE FERRIS CATS
Twinkle is the top tabby and Sparkle is that solid baby — we learned of them from the 4-Legged Helpers who discovered that they have arrived at the Ferris Animal Shelter at a very tender age.
These babies are, indeed, babies — about 5, maybe 6, weeks old.
The Helpers report: “Two tiny babies needing immediate help.  PLEASE, this shelter is just not equipped for baby kittens or truly any kitties and these are so baby sweet and so small.  They were found out and about together.”
To ask about helping them, call or text the Helpers at 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.

While you’re contemplating kittens, you may also want to think about saving some dogs — Cain the Husky is in the Ferris shelter. Patrick the Boxer/Whippet mix is waiting in an Irving home — he was abandoned along a busy Irving street and a woman found him and saved his life. There are others that the Helpers are trying to help. Just email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com and ask. And go to the 4-Legged Helpers Inc. Facebook page HERE.
REALITY? FUNDING IS HARDER
TO FIND THAN THE ANIMALS!
We got a note Thursday from Tawana Couch, the rescuer, advocate, travel-arranger and founder of the Society for Companion Animals, 
Those are the organization's logos and they tell the story of how Tawana and her cohorts work together to get animals at peril in Texas into safe places in other states. Just put ‘em on a plane and fly ‘em to safety.
Takes money, you know. But sometimes there’s a hitch-in-the-gitalong, as some Texans say.

The headline on the email from Tawana read, “Society for Companion Animals has lost major donors!” 
And the story read, “Two of our major donors from large companies have retired and their annual donations are now STOPPED. This means a loss of $21,200 each year, money we used to do our work. Without these major donations, we are not going to be able to do the work that needs to be done to save dogs. Please donate if you can and help us by letting everyone know we need monetary donations!”
See how to help at societyforcompanionanimals.org. [LARRY IDEA: THERE’S A NOTE IN CONTEMPLATIONS about Tawana and her rescue determination — might make a movie.]
JOSIE REBOUNDS WHILE
HAUXWELL IS WAITING
Two dogs in Mesquite Animal Services took different paths to get to the “waiting stage.”

We’ll start with Josie, a Pittie mix who was adopted at the Mesquite Animal Shelter several months go but, then, in some wacky fashion, returned on June 20 as a stray. The note from Mesquite Volunteer Dog Biographer Debra Chisholm explained, “Her people have been contacted and apparently have opted not to reclaim.  She does appear to have been well-cared for.  Josie weighs 47 pounds, is approximately 2 years old and is spayed.  She walks OK on a leash.  She pottied outside. Josie had a blast in the yard, racing around and stretching her legs.  She has a real zest for living.  She is a spunky, lively on-the-go kind of girl with lots of energy.  She has a confident outgoing personality. … She is a friendly and fun-loving girl.” She is #45627854. Use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.

Same contact points for these next two animals.

How about the eyes on this handsome mixed breed boy! His name is Hauxwell — the first dog we’ve ever encountered with that name. He came in on June 23 as a stray. At less than 2 years of age, he weighs 53 pounds, isn’t neutered, but has, Debra writes, “a mellow personality, is well-mannered, calm and gentle.  He appears to have been well cared for and yet his owner has not shown up to reclaim. Though he is a bit cautious and uneasy, he is a friendly fellow who responds to loving attention.  He knows the sit and paw commands.  He walks beautifully on a leash and I did not detect any aggressiveness toward the other dogs. … He did not seem interested in toys, balls, or treats but that may have been due to his nervousness in the shelter environment.  It didn't take spending more than a few minutes to grow fond of him.” He’s #49251764.
Use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.

See more Mesquite animals by clicking on this LINK.
Based on a quick look, there must be a big city’s worth of kittens waiting at the Mesquite shelter — they include Raspberry — can’t remember if we’ve ever had a Raspberry the Kitten before. But she’s #50207252, just over 2 months old and small. Her vivid black coat is accented by what appears in this photo to be tan and white. She is small — she arrived at the shelter on May 17 and she has worked her way up from entry level to a position in the shelter’s Conference Room. [LARRY ASIDE: This special note is directed to residents of Mesquite, Texas, who may not understand the way cats work. There are places to inexpensively get your cats spayed and neutered. You’ve got a computer — use it and find ‘em. Our cats are all fixed and the sleep through the night year round. I know because I’m an insomniac. Read into that what you wish.]
CONTEMPLATIONS
UNEASY MOMENTS; GROWLS?; 1976
Earlier in this edition we wrote about the Society For Companion Animals and founder Tawana Couch’s mission of using the non-profit to save all the animals she encounters. This is one of the dogs. Her name is Brandy. The news note from the organization read, “SFCA rescued Brandy this month (June); she was successfully trapped. Someone shot her; she has a bullet below her abdomen. SFCA goes to some dangerous areas of Dallas and risks human lives to being shot, robbed, etc. … Tawana herself has been held at gunpoint twice.” Donations and volunteering can help on the rescue side; some kind manners on the “bad guy side” will help save the animals, too. …
When a person lives with dogs and cats and writes about dogs and cats and spent around a half-century in touchy newsrooms, you expect to hear some growling. So I opened up my email and read a subject line that said, “Growling carrots; prep for the 4th of July.” When I re-read it, “growling” had become “growing.” Never heard a carrot growl? Orange you glad of that. [LARRY ASIDE: That’s a two-line poem, or a 4-line poem for which i’ve yet to write the last two lines.]  ...
My favorite Fourth of July? 1976. Why? The Bicentennial of the American Revolution. The nation dressed up for that one — some people costumed, fireplugs were painted red white and blue, tall ships sailed through harbors. Much, much more. It was a joy to see and celebrate. And, here we are well beyond the 200-year mark. Still practicing democracy.
Happy 4th of July!
—- Salute the USA by clicking on ‘comment’ below right or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put PAY YOUR TAXES PROMPTLY -- DC NEEDS THE MONEY in the subject line. ——

SOMETIMES THINGS ARE JUST TOUGH TO FIGURE IN THE ANIMAL WORLD....

EDITION OF THURSDAY/FRIDAY JUNE 30/JULY 1, 2022 [PetPowellPress -- LAY OFF THE FIREWORKS] Oops --- typed that mind-the-fireworks and make your animals safe message early. But, remember, it's never to early to be smart.
OK, so you think you’ve had an interesting week? Consider the case of Kai. Keep reading. Talk about a round-trip! 

THE STORY OF KAI, OR,
‘HOW LONG IS A CHANCE?’
You’ve heard the phrase “Give ‘em a chance.” How long is a chance? Must depend on the humans, I guess. Here’s an example of a “brief chance.” You’ve already spotted the fantastic face on this dog Kai, described by his Mesquite Animal Services bio as a year-old “handsome black/white Alaskan Husky MiX with blue eyes.”
That oughta buy a fellow some extra time, right?

“Welp,” as we kids used to say in Northeast Texas, “No dice.”

One of our Mesquite dog tipsters, Debra Chisholm, sent an update on Kai Tuesday evening and it read, “Kai was adopted at the end of the day Monday and is now a returned adoption.  
“Apparently the family saw a handsome face/handsome dog and didn’t take into account the outgoing nature of a Husky. They didn’t even give him 24 hours to adjust. I’m begging for someone to give him another chance to prove himself as an active loving family member,” Debra wrote.
 Kai is # 50487820 at the shelter. To ask about giving Kai a longer chance, call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email at rescues@cityofmesquite.com.
Our pal Judi Brown, also a volunteer Mesquite dog biographer, met Kai and wrote about him before his first adoption. Her bio of the handsome rascal “with penetrating blue eyes” says the year-old, 53-pound dog was first surrendered to the shelter on June 20. Why? “Because of the family’s schedule,” she wrote, then added, “I interpret that to mean they did not have time for him and Huskies can be time-consuming. Could you make time in your schedule for a dog that would be your forever, loyal, loving companion? If so please come and meet Kai.”
When Judi met him, Kai enjoyed exploring the shelter’s exercise yard. She also says that due to the reputation of Huskies as “escape artists,’” any adopters would need a “tall, secure fence” and a dedication to monitoring Kai. 
His original humans, on their surrender form, said he was an “indoor dog and lived with a 5-year-old.”
Of her “meet ’n’ greet” time with Kai, Judi wrote, “After he was done exploring the yard he did come to me when I sat down. He appeared to enjoy having his ears scratched. I get the impression that he has not had a lot of socialization but would be very receptive to being loved on. At the end of the photo session he even gave me a few kisses! It was hot out and he spent time by the door indicating that he would like to be mostly an inside dog and not be out in the heat!”
See more Mesquite animals and read their biographies by going to the shelter’s website HERE.
Lots of dogs and cats waiting. And while there are scores of cats who state their age in “months,” there are some who use the term “years,” i.e., this cat named Frito. Seems to be a color match, doesn’t it, chip-wise? Frito (#50328430) is just over 3 years old, a Domestic Shorthair mix fellow who is currently in the Cat Room at the shelter. He came in on June 1.
[LARRY ASIDE: Holy catnip, Batman! A month in a shelter — he needs a chance — a longer chance than Kai got. Right, my fellow Catfanians? I can’t take him but I sure hope someone reading this can make room for Frito.]

AND ANOTHER HUSKY
PLUS A GOOD OL’ DAWG

This Husky is Cain, neutered and vaccinated and microchipped and waiting in the Ferris Animal Shelter.
Why is this dog in the shelter? Our pals at the 4-Legged Helpers report, “Someone that could no longer care for him brought him into the shelter.” [LARRY ASIDE: They’d apparently given him longer than Kai’s “overnight stay” in Mesquite!]

Cain is “the sweetest Husky you could meet. So friendly and incredibly sweet. Gentle...calm. Well-behaved.”
Waiting at a situation in Irving, is this guy Patrick, listed as a “Boxer/Whippet mix.”
His bio reads, “This cutie was found on an incredibly busy street in Irving on Memorial Day. He was sitting under a tree just waiting on someone that never came back.  The incredibly sweet person that found him had him checked for a microchip and has gotten him fixed and fully vaccinated.  He is housetrained and completely adores every dog and every person he meets including all children.  Only about a year old. Extremely cute!! SWEET!!!! Just a complete love. ... He has a very slender nose and build similar to a Whippet or Greyhound so one of these breeds must be in his background somewhere. Please, won't you help?  The girl that found him cannot keep him and she has done everything right trying to find someone for him but no success.  Please.  Help save this fantastic young dog.”

To help these dogs or any of the other dogs on the 4-Legged Helpers Inc. Facebook page, call or text 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.

MEANWHILE AT THE SPCA,
THAT TIME-OUT CONTINUES….
You may recall that earlier in June the SPCA of Texas suspended intakes and adoptions because of that awful distemper outbreak. The suspension is still in place and may last through mid-July, according to a news release on the SPCA website HERE. “Suspending intakes” doesn’t mean that animals that need rescuing don’t get rescued. 
And I’m simply going to cite the SPCA’s June 10 team-up with the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office to use a “search-and-seizure” warrant to acquire 14 animals that were in a fix on a rural property in the county that is east of the metrosprawl on U.S 80. Canton is the county seat. 

The SPCA’s press release said the authorities took in “14 animals from the property. The animals included 5 dogs, 5 koi fish, two cats, one macaw and one deceased cockatoo.” The cockatoo was wrapped in a freezer. 
This is a photo of one of the cats who was waiting in a “Cage of Filth” on the property. Kind of got an “I've been waitin’ on y’all” look on his face.

The news release is on the SPCA site HERE and you can also click HERE and see photos of the animals.
And, in case you wondered, it is donations from good-hearted people that helps the SPCA feed and get veterinary care and house these rescued animals. Go to spca.org to see how to help — you might even want to volunteer to foster.”

CONTEMPLATIONS
NO PARTICULAR DIRECTION
OK, in these times does anyone’s thought process really move in any particular direction? “Who can afford enough gasoline to drive to a bar?” typed a guy who has priorities but would rather take a nap. …

Did the spring heat make June go faster? What of Autumn? Arrives in sunny Texas at 8:03 p.m or 8:04 p.m. (I've found conflicting reports) Lone Star time on Thursday, Sept. 22. …

I was going to close with a gag about the City of Dallas and it’s freeway designs downtown, but i missed my exit, a fate that is costly at the pump. Maybe the city owns stock in a gasoline company.

—- Offer advice or freeway design protests by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put HELP ME, I MISSED MY EXIT in your subject line. ——

ADORABLE SKY; PEACHES THE KITTEN: A WATERMELON DOG; AND THE EXQUISITE VALUE OF DEPENDABILITY...

EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022 [PetPowelPress] Here we are writing for an edition that will stretch from Tuesday into Wednesday which is, ALREADY!, the penultimate day of the month. Time out! I’ve got to check two Lotto Texas tickets. Back in a moment. (Clock ticks; time passes.) OK. Oh!-for-two tickets. Yep, burned off the price of two gallons of gas and some change with those tickets. That face? Belongs to the dog Martha rescued near busy Polk Street at Love Freeway in Dallas in 2009. I read the numbers aloud and Wendy checked them. At the end she looked up and said, “Take my photo. I’ll demonstrate ‘crestfallen’.” This also is her version of “adoring you because you have a treat in your hand.”
SKYE: THE ADORABLE POM
WHO NEEDS A NEW HOME
We’ve long been writing admiringly about the foster efforts of our pal Patty Sprong. And that is why we’re featuring this dog Skye, a former “breeding machine.” Patty KNOWS fostering dogs. About Skye she says that "once she trusts you, she is SO happy to see you that she just spins in circles when you come home. She also uses a doggy door and will let herself out to potty.”

And the rest of Skye’s report from Patty reads, “I am babysitting Skye this week. She was my foster for Emma's Wish Senior Dog Rescue, and then when I went on vacation, she went to another foster who decided to keep fostering her. I can't believe she hasn't been adopted yet, so I was hoping you could feature her. Adoptions are so slow right now, but when a young, gorgeous, dog-and-cat friendly Pom doesn't get adopted, you know it's bad.

“Skye will be six years old in October. She was released by a breeder, so she was very freaked out at first and totally unfamiliar with being a pet and not a breeding machine. She's come a long way, but will probably always be a little nervous, especially when she first meets someone. She is extra fearful of men, so an all-female home would be ideal for her.
“She loves other dogs and would benefit from having another dog in the house. She enjoys the companionship and it makes her feel safe. She doesn't even bother the cat!”

To ask about Skye, contact Emma’s Wish Senior Dog Rescue at emmaswishsdr.org. The adoption application link is on that page. 
And Patty suggests another click. “If you can, maybe mention that there are other dogs available through Emma's Wish that have been in the program forever [USE THIS LINK: https://emmaswishsdr.org/adoptable-dogs.]. It's sad because some of the big old black dogs have been in the program a year.”
MEANWHILE, 2 SMALL DOGS
AVAILABLE IN EAST TEXAS;

ONE LIKES WATERMELON
These are not the only dogs in East Texas, but they are the two that I heard about from Sydney Busch, longtime guiding light of Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake, the non-profit that operates, so to speak, the World’s Most Successful Spay/Neuter Clinic in Gun Barrel City, Texas.
The info on this photogenic pup came to Sydney via Sharon Coker. 
The note reads, “This little guy was found on the side of the road in the 100-degree temperature.
“The finder is hoping to find him a forever home
“He’s about 10-12 lbs and will getting his vaccines and be neutered soon.
“Loves everyone and is in a house with a Shih Tzu and Great Dane/Mastiff now. He actually sleeps in the crate with the Great Dane.” 
To ask about helping this pup, email sa_coker@yahoo.com.

This dog’s information came to Sydney from Amber York.
She reports the little boy Chihuahua mix was born on April 21, 2022.
 Her note reads, “Needs loving home. Very playful and loveable. Good with other dogs and cats. … I am asking a $50 rehoming fee and having him fixed is a must. He also loves to eat watermelon and cucumbers. He will pull himself up into your lap if you just cup the back of his head and neck with your hand. Something my grandmother always taught her dogs because she couldn't pick them up. He is partially puppy pad-trained as well. He does love to go outside too, supervised only.” To ask about this dog, call 903-203-8804 or email carlamber4@gmail.com.
MEANWHILE IN FERRIS,
THERE’S THIS KID PEACHES
[LARRY NOTE: My rescue’n’funspouse Martha, when I asked her, told me Monday night that I absolutely cannot get another cat — I’m a fellow who likes a Clowder around the house. … But if I could, this might just be the one! However, I am gracefully stepping aside to allow someone else to adopt this shelter kitten who needs a home and someone who understands “raising a kitten” is a noble mission. The details:]
We got this note from Laura Macias of 4-Legged Helpers. She writes, “Please help Peaches!   Please. New baby girl kitten at the Ferris Animal Shelter. This shelter is just not  equipped for babies.  FUZZY.   Baby sweet. 6-8 weeks old. Just as lovable as can be.” 
To help Peaches, call or text 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com. (If you’re a 501c3 rescue wanting to help Peaches, the Helpers have a transport possibility for your group.)
BESS, ISABEL & OTHER MESQUITE
ANIMALS WAITING FOR A HOME
Thanks to the volunteers and staffers at Mesquite Animal Services, we have the stories on several animals in one of the area’s shelters dealing with an overload of dogs and cats. 

Debra Chisholm provided the info about “this very sweet and beautiful girl Bess.  She was brought to the shelter on 6/20 along with 3 pups with the claim that they were strays.  Bess is a mixed-breed girl (English Pointer in the mix).” The 54-pound, 2-year-old, not-yet-spayed pup “has a mellow personality, is well-mannered, calm and gentle.  Bess is a bit on the nervous side and is somewhat timid and shy at this time.  She has warmed up, though, since she arrived.  She walks nicely on a leash and did not react aggressively toward other dogs. She is friendly, likes to receive attention and has such a pleasant nature.  You wouldn't have to spend much time with her to grow fond of her.”
And there’s this sign that she hasn’t had much human contact: “Bess doesn't seem to know any commands and wasn't interested in toys, balls or treats,” and, Debra adds, “I imagine she is bewildered as to why she is in this place and what has happened to her family.” Bess is #50484432. Use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescues@cityofmesquite.com.

That brings us to another Debra-bio’d dog, Isabel, described as a “cutesy skin-and-bones girl.” She’s a Pittie mix who came in on the 23rd as a stray. The shelter thinks she’s about 4 years old. She weighs 33 pounds, isn’t spayed and, Debra writes, “has the appearance of a dog who has possibly lived her life outside.  She is being fed small amounts of food throughout the day in order to safely help her gain much-needed weight in order to get healthy.  Isabel walks nicely on a leash. … She was very interested in exploring the yard and had her nose to the ground much of the time and just seemed to happy to be out of her kennel and stretching her legs.  Isabel is well-mannered and calm and yet active and alert.  She obviously loves treats and I gave her a few so as not to interfere with her feeding schedule.  Isabel is friendly and liked receiving attention from me.  She did not seem to know any commands.  She was a bit skittish and exhibited some nervous energy while in the yard. … [She needs] people who would stay committed to her, allow her to live inside and give her the TLC she deserves.” 
To help Isabel, use her ID#50510774 when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email rescue@cityofmesquite.com."
Remember, the Mesquite Animal Services folks have been under pressure from surrenders and strays. And, Debra’s note included this passage: “Our shelter is critically overcrowded with animals coming in daily as strays and surrenders.  The staff has had to be creative in finding places for all our precious dogs and cats but they need homes.”
You can see more of Mesquite’s adorable adoptables by clicking on the shelter link HERE. The contact points are those listed above. 
Among the animals you’ll see are these dogs: 
Zorro (#50466331) is a 43-pound, 11-month old, Pittie Mix who came in on June 17th and is described as “a live wire of a pup.” He’s waiting in Bay 2. And, the shelter bio says, “He has came in on June 17….He has tons of tail-wagging puppy energy."

And there’s this cat, Kittie Monroe — no idea who she is named in honor of but we suspect it’s the street she was found on, or maybe she's named in honor of the 5th U..S. president, James Monroe, who served from 1817 to 1825. [LARRY ASIDE: Monroe was a member of, no kidding, the "Democratic-Republican Party." That ain't gonna happen again anytime soon!] She’s #50225461, is around 3 months old, came in on May 19 and is in the Conference Room.
There’s also a genuine Earhound named Robbie (#50281855), a 13-month-old Terrier mix who is mostly black and white with a little tan. Though he has a championship set of ears, Robbie’s body size is listed as “medium.”
Oh, and where is Robbie waiting to meet his next human? As mentioned earlier, the Mesquite shelter is overloaded with dogs and cats. That’ll explain why Robbie isn’t in a traditional shelter location. — he is currently located in the shelter “Hallway.” Somebody get him and give him a real home. He came in on May 26.
[LARRY ASIDE The clock’s been ticking for more than a month on Robbie. It may stop ticking for Robbie and move on to ticking for the next dog who came in because euthanasia opened up a place in a bay, a conference room or a hallway. Reality of life — not the shelter’s fault — it’s the fault of people who don’t have a fully-developed sense of responsibility for the lives of other beings. Sheesh. Save ‘em all!]
CONTEMPLATIONS
WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A LEGEND
We posted a couple of notes about the loss of Mark Verma, the president of Paws In The City. (That’s him happily transporting a dog — a happily transported and "coned" dog!) 
When we wrote about him at readlarrypowell.com, we were looking at the loss from our vantage point of reporting and enjoying his company. There are people who have lived confidently with the knowledge that in the day-to-day grind of rescue, a foster and a rescuer could depend on Mark to help save the animals.
 Our pal Stacey McCool wrote something that explains the loss — written with the heart and based on personal experience. Here’s how Stacey explains “The Importance of Mark.” She wrote:

“Who are we going to call in the middle of the night, on Christmas Day or Thanksgiving to go pick up a dog in distress? Who are we going to call to help us get dogs to Florida, Canada, Colorado or New York? 
“Who are we going to call to drive down to a hurricane disaster wasteland to go get as many dogs as we can possibly handle?

“Who are we going to call to charm a boarding facility to ‘take just one more dog’? Who are we going to call to set traps, crawl down a drainage ditch, a creek-bed, drive around a Sonic 67 times looking for the little brown dog licking a mustard wrapper? 
“And most importantly, who are we going to call when we simply want to give up or we are crying because we couldn't save ‘that one’? I don't know. We don't know. The lost dogs, the injured dogs, the dogs in a disaster, the abandoned dogs and the Dallas rescue community have lost a friend, a leader, a hero and a champion. We loved you, Mark”

That is something to contemplate no matter what rescue you’re working with — all of you dependable people are so very important. Bless your hearts and your energy.

—- Offer rescue praise and ideas by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com and put “WORK OF THE ANGELS” in the subject line. —-

A DOG IN A FIX IN FW; CATS AND DOGS WAITING; A CONTEMPLATION OF SLEEP

EDITION OF TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY JUNE 28-29 [PetPowellPress] Toward the end of the night long before dawn on Monday, a cat walked up to my shoulders and flopped down with her whiskers tickling my nose while she purred.
And that is the Deputy Chief Kittie Leigh Johnson Morning Alarm System. Not available in stores, but variations can be found in shelters and rescue groups across America. That’s Kittie Leigh and her whiskers enjoying a tranquil afternoon moment on her bed. I should know better than to try to claim part of it under the cover of darkness. 

THE CLOCK IN FORT WORTH?
LOTS OF ANIMALS ON IT.
May this dog Snow be happily saved by the time you read this. 
[NOON-HOUR UPDATE: This girl Snow  has been tagged for rescue by "Bull Luvable Paws Rescue" which we believe is shorthand for "Bull luv able Paws and Chi Wawas Rescue" on Facebook HERE. It's also online HERE. Snow's story of a challenging life is still worth reading so, after these key links to Fort Worth Animal Care & Control, it's still there. And thanks to all who read these stories and all the  shelter people and rescuers who send notes about animals  needing help. -- larry]

There is a link to the Fort Worth Animal Care & Control site —
https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/code-compliance/animals.
But there is one link closer to the countdown-to-death clock. It’s the Code Red link:
https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/code-compliance/animals/codered
On Monday morning around 9 a.m. we were forwarded an email about this dog Snow. She’s #42272003. The email subject line read: “EMERGENCY HELP THIS SWEET DOG LIVE SPENT WHOLE LIFE ON A CHAIN LOOK AT HER BLEEDING FOOT SHE IS FORT WORTH TEXAS. AND THEY WILL KILL HER TOMORROW WTH?' 
Yeah, we got the email on Monday morning. The note says, “She is scheduled to be euthanized tomorrow 6/27 at 12 PM! She needs a rescue tag now! Email fwacctag@fortworthtexas.gov.”
 Yes, noon MONDAY.  As you can see on the FW shelter website here,
 on Monday the two city facilities open at noon and close at 6 p.m.
The forwarded note reads that Snow “lived her entire life on a chain in a backyard and the minute she got into the kennel last night at the shelter, she fell asleep. It was probably the best rest she’s ever gotten. Dtaff says. ‘This girl is something special!’.”
Snow is 4 years old, weighs 50 pounds is spayed and, get this, “heartworm positive along with Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma. Shelter staff says she is extremely sweet and loving.”
To tag her for rescue email fwacctag@fortworthtexas.gov. 
Readlarrypowell.com posted this just in case there’s still a chance to save her life.
And, also, to remind people to check the shelter sites for adorable animals with life and heart. Fort Worth isn’t the only city with a dramatically crowded shelter system.
SOME MORE CHALLENGES
IN SMALLER SHELTERS
The devoted folks at 4-Legged Helpers keep working to save the animals that find their ways into smaller shelters and “private animal control.”
 We’ll start with Jasmine the Cat — we’ve mentioned her before. She’s the beautiful girl who wound up in the Ferris Animal Shelter because “someone lefter at the shelter gate” in the heat., Fortunately a responsible individual spotted her waiting at the gate and saved her. She’s described as “very loving and extremely sweet.”

In the meantime, these two dogs are in the care of a “private animal control” that operates north of Dallas. 
Our 4-Legged Helpers tipsters report that Taco, with the unmatched ears, is a 7-month-old, 43-pound Aussie Shepherd/Border Collie mix who knows how to sit for treats. And he “loves everyone and everything including kids, other dogs and even kitty cats.” 
The dog with matching ears is Mel, an Aussie shepherd/Husky mix boy who is 3-years-old and weighs 55 pounds. He, too, is “full of love for everyone” — excepting cats. His bio says the neutered boy is “very smart and just as lovable as can be. He does some really adorable things — he can catch treats mid-air and he also has a very gentle mouth when politely taking a treat from your hand.”
To help the Helpers with these animals, call or text 214-949-2726 or email cat_girl_71@yahoo.com.
CONTEMPLATION
RESPONSIBILITY AND OTHER NOTES

Regarding Kittie Leigh’s sleeping habits in the lead paragraph. Our modern bed tells me I got 5 hours, 41 minutes of “restful sleep” before leaving just before 6 a.m. to feed the household animals and marvel at the drop in temperature outside. After breakfast, Kittie Leigh went back to sleep on her favorite new perch, the folded blanket on the seat of Martha’s recumbent exercise bike. I did not go back to sleep. I won’t until late, late in the night. But our cats and dogs are well-rested, well-fed and beloved. I can give up a little sleep to make sure that happens. …
I have not checked the numbers on my last two Lotto Texas tickets. Trust me, if either one of those is the big winner, you’ll know it. …
I’m closing with a “thank you’ today: Thank you from my heart to all of you who are rescuers, fosters, shelter volunteers, adoption-site volunteers, vets who care for these animals, shelter staffers who work to save ‘em all. And, I’m wondering if it’s possible that each council district representative could somehow influence its district’s residents to be responsible with their animals. Form a council coalition and drive the point home -- be kind to the animals. And "responsible" doesn’t mean dump ‘em at the shelters to have ‘em killed. It means spaying and neutering, properly housing them and never, never allowing them to run free — that’s dogs and cats. Well, so much for daydreaming about unlikely occurrences.
—- Offer save-em-all ideas by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-

MARK VERMA'S MISSION; ANIMALS THAT NEED SOMEONE TO SAVE THEM

EDITION OF MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2022 [PetPowellPress] This photograph is easily understood by people who knew and worked with Mark Verma, president of Paws in The City.





That is Mark, hard at work with his camera, down on hands and knees, trying to get the right angle to help a dog find a new home. He did a lot for animals in his tenure with Paws In The City. And, he died on Saturday, suffering from an all-too-common villain: prostate cancer. [LARRY NOTE: I’m one of the guys whose prostate cancer was discovered early. If you’re a guy or you know some fellows who don't know the score yet, urge them to get tested AND examined. It's a sneaky ailment. I’m pretty sure Mark felt this same way: Get tested; get examined! We’ll have more about Mark in Contemplations. He’s beloved. And, first, we’ll do something else he’d endorse: Tell you about animals who need help and homes.]
TWO DAS DOGS DRAW ATTENTION
AS CLOCK IS TICKING DOWN…
The note I got about Dice began by mentioning one of our regular animal rescue and advocacy tipsters. It read, “Tami Kukla is looking for a miracle with Ollie B Burgin and 11 others at Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Center..."
"Dice is begging for a miracle,” began the opening. “Big dog who at 8 years old just wants a loving loving human and to not lose his life due to space at Dallas Animal Services. Code Red. 

“He just wants to snuggle and share a (hug) and go for a stroll. Oh, and he loves him some sports and music.” Your adoption request should be sent to dasadopt@dallascityhall.com or to dasrescue@dallascityhall.com and if you want to foster to save his life, email dasfoster@dallascityhall.com.

We also got a note from Tami about another DAS resident. It was headlined ‘LAST CALL MOOYAH.”
The story reads, “Meet Mooyah. This guy is just overwhelmed at the shelter. If he could, he would like to melt under his bed. Is he sweet? Yes. Does he just want to sit by you with a blanket and take a nap? Yes. Treats make him feel OK. He just wants a human to love him.”
Then there’s this chilling sentence: “Mooyah is EU Risk for space. Which means he could be killed with no notice.”

Then the note reads, “Another 5-year-old-pup adopted from DAS as a young puppy and now 5 years later unwanted. Help us find Mooyah a live outcome in Dallas.”
T he contact points, once again, are dasadopt@dallascityhall.com; dasfoster@dallascityhall.com;
dasrescue@dallascityhall.com.
And you can see more Dallas dogs and cats ON THE CLOCK by clicking HERE and going to the DAS website.
A QUARTET OF KITTENS
NEEDING SOME HELP
I’m hoping this situation has been resolved by the time you read this. We got notice of the situation via our longtime pal Karen Lee of the non-profit barkleyworld.com. She’s been helping animals a long time. And now comes these four kittens from the Anna/Westminster area of Collin County. 
“These 4 kittens are in need of networking,” read the note networked by Karen thanks to its author, our pal Leighann Hayden of 4-Legged Helpers. 
The story is these kittens “were found after the mommies disappeared from a feeding staton. ...Two kittens have a little fur loss. (From the heat?)” the author asked. Then she explained, “The all-black fluffy one is female and the rest are male.” Then Leighann added, “I know it’s 4 miracles! Please try!” The contacts are Lauran at lauranbby@ gmail.com or, if she isn’t reachable, contact Michelle at 281-217-9889.
Lauran Stevenson reported that “the all-black fuzzy kitten and the grey and white one are from one litter; the orange one and the one with the possibly injured eye are from a separate litter, and each of their moms went missing one week apart from a feeding station. They are about 6-9 weeks old and some missing fur.  The little baby one with the injured eye appears to be swollen and it looks painful.  Just heartbreaking. All super sweet and SO loving.”
CONTEMPLATIONS
MARK VERMA AND HIS MISSION
Years ago when I met Mark Verma, before he was president of Paws In The City, he was busy hustling homes for animals that had been rescued and were waiting for that goal to be met, the goal of a happy home. In his honor we’re going to cite two Paws In The City adorable adoptables before we further contemplate Mark. 
That first girl is Roxy. Beautiful in her Teresa Berg photograph. Roxy is 2 years and 5 months old. She’s a medium sized Chinese Shar-Pei/Terrier mix who “is in urgent need of a foster or adopter.”
The bio reads, “Roxy has recently graduated from a training program with one of our partner organizations who will provide transition training sessions for the foster or adopter at no charge to you. Now that Roxy has completed her training, she is ready for a foster or adopter. She is smart and a quick learner, good with children over the age of 10. Roxy is affectionate once she has time to settle in and warm up, good-natured, polite and quiet but shy.

“She makes a great ‘home office buddy’ and will curl up on her bed nearby. Of course, she can also wait patiently at home and greet you with lots of kisses when you get home. If you are in search of a loyal and well trained dog, please apply to foster or adopt Roxy.”
And that brings us to this girl Annie. She is 12 years and 8-months old and is a Pittie/Staffie mix. But she has a history with Paws In The City. She was “adopted in 2009. She returned to our program in 2019 and has been waiting for her furever family since that time. 
“Annie would do best with kids 10+ and as an only dog. She spends most of her days curled up on the couch, but does enjoy a good walk.” 
Her bio on pawsinthecity.org refers to her as “our resident senior gal” and reports, “She has short spurts of energy where she will chase and play with her foster brother for a few minutes, but more often than not she is curled up on the couch.
She has a great smile and adorable ears that perk right up. Not only does she have good looks and the perfect personality, but she has smarts too! She is potty-trained, knows ‘sit’ and ‘come’ and makes for the perfect companion. She’d be happy to be your one and only! She will need a slow intro if joining a home with another dog. Kids should be 10+. Do you have a spot on your couch for Annie?”

These are just two of the hundreds of dogs and cats that Paws In The City helped during Mark’s years as president of the non-profit.
His tenure followed that of readlarrypowell.com's rescuespouse Martha Powell. She is the author of this tribute to Mark that appears on Paws In The City sites and in Paws’ emails.
And you see photos of Mark with, in one case, a dog he was transporting and in the other photo, Martha says, Mark is with his longtime pal, Buddy.
Here’s Martha's commentary for Paws In The city regarding the loss of her friend Mark:
"
On June 25, our President Mark Verma lost his valiant battle with cancer. Mark leaves behind thousands of friends - from his birthplace of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to the LSU campus where he worked his way through college, across the southwestern U.S. in his technology sales career, in bars and clubs where he enjoyed his love of heavy metal music and managed bands, on the airwaves where his voice was known to the listeners of KEGL on the Russ Martin Show, and at Paws in the City where his abundant heart was known to hundreds of dogs he worked to rehome. 

If you met Mark once, you gained a lifelong friend. If you went anywhere with Mark, you realized that he was known everywhere because his capacity to form and sustain friendships was boundless. He was energetic, joyful, funny, compassionate, sensitive, mannerly, gentle and kind. As any of the many people and dogs who met him will tell you, “He was the nicest guy.”


Mark began volunteering for PITC in 2008, joined the board 2012 and became president in 2014. Mark would give any amount of time, go anywhere and do anything to change the fate of an abandoned pet. With the help of his beloved dog Buddy, who preceded him in death in 2020, Mark also fostered and trained many Paws’ rescue dogs. For many years, not a week went by when Mark was not on the road somewhere in DFW with a dog in his car, on the way to a radio appearance, a play date or an adoption event. 


"Mark leaves behind a loving family in Louisiana and thousands of friends who will never forget his beaming face, his heroic heart and how he enriched our lives.”

[LARRY ASIDE: Save ‘em all. Help by rescuing, fostering and donating. It’s a matter of love at a dire time in the history of our area's shelters and neighborhoods.]
— Offer ideas by clicking on ‘comment’ below or by emailing dallrp@aol.com. —-