The Little Apricot Poodle from a Puppy Mill

By Ashley Schlyer, Assistant Shelter Manager

The little apricot poodle never had a name, but I will call her Halley. Halley was one of 70 dogs rescued from a puppy mill. She and three other dogs were brought to our shelter by one of the Kansas Animal Health Department inspectors.

Most of the dogs that came into our care would need dental work, but otherwise would be healthy enough to be adopted into a forever home.

Halley never knew what it was like to have a warm bed to sleep on or a space all her own. It was the least I could do but to give her fresh food, water and a soft blanket to lay on that night. Halley didn’t know what treats or toys were, and even though she had never known what it was like to be loved, she would look up lovingly hoping to be noticed.

The conditions Halley was living in were so poor that she had no use of her back legs. She struggled to pull herself around on her two front paws while dragging her whole backside behind her. It was a pitiful and saddening site to witness.

When she was taken to the vet the next morning, it was evident she had been forced to breed over and over even without the use of her back legs. This would have been extremely difficult and painful for an animal in this condition.

The next time you think about buying a cute little poodle puppy from a pet store or a breeder, think of Halley. She, too, was once a cute little puppy that was given a death sentence by the puppy mill that bought her and used her to make profit until she was seemingly worthless to them.
Even in the short time we got to know Halley, we could see they may have broken her body, but her loving spirit lived on. The job we do isn't always easy and often times is thankless, but giving Halley one day of knowing what it's like to be loved was truly worth it.

Apricot Poodles

Apricot poodles are among the most beautiful of the breed. Their coats are a sunny, gleaming color, as implied by the name. Apricot poodles may have some variation in their color, such as a slightly darker feathering on their ears and/or tipping on their ruff. This variation is not considered a fault under the breed standards.

Apricots most often have black noses, eye-rims and lips, black-or self-colored toenails and very dark eyes. They may, however, have dark amber eyes, liver nose leather, eye-rims and lips. This, too, is permissible, but not the preferred coloration.

caring for your poodle's coat

No matter what the color, your poodle will have a beautiful, curly coat. Poodles do not shed, which makes them perfect for people with allergies. However, they do need regular grooming to keep them looking their best.

You should brush your puppy at least every other day to keep the coat from becoming tangled and matted. Here at Homestead Poodles, we raise our puppies in our home. They are handled, groomed and lavished with affection, so when they come to you they are well-groomed and completely socialized. Because of their initial upbringing, grooming them will be a much easier process for you.

It is important to note that your puppy should be bathed regularly, ideally twice a month. The toenails must be clipped, ears cleaned, and coat clipped in one of several different patterns. It's generally best to let a groomer take care of the clipping at first, though many owners enjoy learning to do it themselves. Don't expose your puppy to the grooming shop until after 16 weeks, when he/she will have had his/her shots for distemper.

Photo highlight of the day

U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Kenneth Gross, right, and British Ambassador to Tajikistan Trevor Moore stand fully clothed in a swimming pool in Dushanbe in July 2010. The men dived into the swimming pool fully clothed as payment for a bet struck on the World Cup. (AFP)

Naked Rugby In New Zealand

You know it's a slow news day when the Daily News decides to run a nine-page photo gallery of a naked rugby match on a beach in New Zealand. In the "News" section, no less. Or maybe an intern just got confused. "Oh you said you wanted a NEWS gallery? Uh, actually, nevermind, that's not gone live yet." NSFW, obviously. [Daily News]

Send an email to Ryan Tate, the author of this post, at ryan@gawker.com.

Missconceptions about Islam.

MISCONCEPTION #1:
Muslims are violent, terrorists and/or extremists.


This is the biggest misconception in Islam, no doubt resulting from
the constant stereotyping and bashing the media gives Islam. When a
gunman attacks a mosque in the name of Judaism, a Catholic IRA
guerrilla sets off a bomb in an urban area, or Serbian Orthodox
militiamen rape and kill innocent Muslim civilians, these acts are not
used to stereotype an entire faith. Never are these acts attributed
to the religion of the perpetrators. Yet how many times have we heard
the words 'Islamic, Muslim fundamentalist. etc.' linked with violence.

Politics in so called "Muslim countries" may or may not have any
Islamic basis. Often dictators and politicians will use the name of
Islam for their own purposes. One should remember to go to the source
of Islam and separate what the true religion of Islam says from what
is portrayed in the media. Islam literally means 'submission to God'
and is derived from a root word meaning 'peace'.

Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps
this is because religion doesn't dominate everyday life in the West,
whereas Islam is considered a 'way of life' for Muslims and they make
no division between secular and sacred in their lives. Like
Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in defense of
religion, or on the part of those who have been expelled forcibly
from their homes. It lays down strict rules of combat which include
prohibitions against harming civilians and against destroying crops,
trees and livestock.

NOWHERE DOES ISLAM ENJOIN THE KILLING OF INNOCENTS.. The Quran says:
"Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not
transgress limits. God does not love transgressors." (Quran 2:190)
"If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is
the One that heareth and knoweth all things." (Quran 8:61) War,
therefore, is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous
conditions laid down by the sacred law. The term 'jihad' literally
means 'struggle'. Muslims believe that there are two kinds of jihad.
The other 'jihad' is the inner struggle of the soul which everyone
wages against egotistic desires for the sake of attaining inner
peace.

by Riyaz on June 28, 2010

A MISTAKEN IDENTITY

by Guillerma Tabio on June 27, 2010......

Every people have their own story of life.. It can be good or sometime i can be bad..

One story I can share was about mistaken identity that happened to me

I was at the age of 19 when it was happened unexpectedly when some military force grab me and put me like a prison on their dettachment for about 12 hour

I was on my study at that time. Walking for about a kilometer back and fort everyday. It was enjoy cause I know I will gain a good future after that sacrifices.

Every Saturday we have our CAT or Citizen Army Training , that I'm one f an officer cadet . We have to wear Jean and white t-shirt with black cap on our ordenary saturday demonstation. as I'm belong on the 5ft battalion.

One Saturday I'm walking along the way to school .I think that I need to fine a short cut way to school so that I will not be late for the formation.or else I will be punnish. On my way to school some military forces block on my way. They grab and accuse that I'm a wanted rebel, pretending as a civilian. I try to explain to them so much but they don't believe and listened and take me like a prisoner on the detachment.They Dont believe that I"m a dauther of the personThat will known on our place.

By the way they really not recognize me because at the age of 13 i am already living in Manila the capital city of Philippines.I'm only back at the age of 19 So they look at me defferent and not familiar,and they did not see me everytime they took to patrol and stay in our home for a while to relax, My famy was one helping them and giving them snack during their duty so how they see me? It just a month from time I arrive and yet Im not always staying at home..

The sun was about to fall and the day is over,I'm still on the detachment convencing them to let me go until I got thier approval.Three men scorted me tell we come to our home. My parent wonder alot on what happened.Why three men are there guarding me with their riple. Mother tell them the story about me, and they ask forgiveness to my family as will as on me too for their mistaken identity. From that time they are always guarding me and be my good friends...