January 16, 2003 was a very happy day for me. That's the day I brought my Ripley home from the shelter. I have had him just over five months now and it seems like he's been here since he was a puppy. He has blended into the household just beautifully. He was a stray when he was picked up and brought to the shelter and was covered with long thick mats (you couldn't see his eyes or feet ) and very skinny. He had to be shaved down to his skin to get all of those painful mats off but he almost has a respectable "poodle look" about him now (he just needs to grow his "poodle ears" back) and has put on 5 lbs. He is a little character and I love him to pieces!