And now for something completly different....

Meet our newest rescue..... Latika Masala Boston

She is a full grown teacup poodle. She is 10 inches tall and weighs 4.12 pounds. ( She "might" weight a little more now. She gets lots of treats!)

Tika was a breeder release from a puppy mill. Meaning; she lived in deplorable conditions and was forced to breed litter after litter of puppies until she could not breed anymore. Tika was one of the "fortunate" ones. When she could no longer breed she was released to Latichia Duffy of Halfway Homes in Collins Mo.

For those that don't know, Missouri is one of the states that doesn't enforce its rules about commercial breeding facilities. Puppy mills ARE illegal, but little has been done to seek out these mills or to put a stop to the industry. ( It's very common for dogs to have their vocal cords severed by shoving a metal pipe down their throats so the mill isn't as easily discovered.)

Latchia explained to me that the majority of these dogs are killed in a variety of horrible ways OR dumped in the middle of nowhere to die after they can no longer produce. These dogs experience little to no positive human contact, they spend their lives in tiny wire cages, with wire floors outside in the elements. The medical conditions that plague these puppies are astounding and include horrible teeth, missing jaws, lost limbs, genetic conditions from bad breeding.

Tika is a very lucky puppy. Her teeth, for the most part are ok. She has retained her vocal cords, although she rarely barks. She has all her limbs and as far as we no carries no genetic abnormalities other than a heart murmur.

She loves social contact and is VERY VERY attached to her human family now. ( In fact I carry her around the house in a baby sling, I'm a sucker, I know!) When I am not at work she is with me. She comes with us everywhere we can take her, including art gigs.

Its 2 ply, but it ain't no mega roll......

A ferret sized dog? Sure, why not?

Unfortunately, until people stop buying dogs at pet stores the puppy mills wont stop abusing dogs. Even if a pet store says their animals are not from a mill, they most likely are. Puppy mills are NOT limited to small toy dogs, BIG dogs are also frequently raised in puppy mills.

If you want to adopt a pet, always check the animal shelters and pet finder first. You never know what you are buying from a pet store or what you hell you are contributing too.

You can see the animals for adoption from Halfway Homes at http://www.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/shelterSearch.cgi?shelterid=MO508

Another great KC rescue is LL Dog Rescue. They specialize in small breeds and puppy mill rescues. You can visit their website at http://www.lldogrescue.org/ You can see a list of their adoptable pets at http://www.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/shelterSearch.cgi?animal=&breed=&age=&size=&specialNeeds=&declawedPets=&children=&status=A&id=&internal=&contact=&name=&shelterid=MO77%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&sort=&preview=1

If you want to get rid of an animal, contact a rescue group. NEVER list a pet for re-homing on Craig's List. ( As Kathy from LL Dog Rescue explained to me, most dogs given away on Craig's list in the KC Area end up as Pit Bull bait.)

" I'm protected by a family of panthers now, just try to hurt me again!!! I am no longer defenseless and my daddy will eat your face off!!!"

Summer art update

Where the hell have I been he last few months? I would like to know the same thing!

For some strange reason I have been less artistic and more depressed this year. I suspect the problem stems from my day job, which has been slowly strangling my freedoms artistically and mentally.

I am no longer allowed to have henna on my skin unless I ask my boss every time for permission. (Which I find suffocating and demeaning.) I would understand the rule except I do not see clients face to face. I answer phones and stay in my little cave. On a rare occasion I fill in at the front desk greeting people BUT maybe 5 people a month see me. Normally people are filled with intrigue and wonder when they see my henna. I have yet to have anyone complain or be offended.

The dyppy side of me wants to text my boss at all hours of the night to beg for henna. Like at 1am when I can't sleep and need an "art fix." Or right now & interrupt her Sunday to ask if I can have my hands done. One of two things would happen. She would ban henna completely OR she would back off and let me have my freedom back. Yea right, who am I kidding? She would ban Henna completely or fire me..... ( See my problem? Work has completely killed off my insides!)

~sigh~

In other news.....

The library henna classes were small but a success.

The art festival was a success.

I did a few "Henna in the park" gatherings, which all turned out beautifully.

I am scheduled to do henna for some ladies that attend the K.C. Mosque next month with my henna buddy Mindy. (This will be a GREAT opportunity for us to do traditional Arabic henna.)

I finally took the plunge and died my hair with henna. ( Now if only my boss would allow me to pierce my nose I could look like a REAL henna artist!!!)

There is the long and short of this summer...... Boring I know. Maybe next year life will be less confining and I can break out again.

Maybe......