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DWTS' Bindi Irwin pens touching letter to dad on anniversary of his death

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The DWTS contestant posted a poignant memorial to her late father, Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, on the ninth anniversary of his death over the weekend.

Bindi Irwin tribute to dad

Bindi Irwin tribute to dad

More: Bindi Irwin joins DWTS: 8 Facts about the Crocodile Hunter's daughter

Bindi was just 8 years old when her father died after being stabbed in the chest by a stingray barb, and won hearts the world over with her sweet, brave speech at his memorial service at the Australia Zoo just two short weeks later. She has been a vocal animal activist ever since, pledging to continue her father's work at the zoo he loved, and worldwide.

Paired up with pro Derek Hough, who raved about what a special partner he has this season, Bindi makes her DWTS debut on ABC Sept. 14.


Build a simple parfait bar so guests can create their own desserts (VIDEO)

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Build your own Fiber One parfaits

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

  • 4 Fiber One Salted Caramel Cheesecake Bars
  • 4 Fiber One 90-Calorie Chocolate Fudge Brownies
  • 32 ounces vanilla yogurt
  • 32 ounces strawberry yogurt
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 pint blueberries
  • 1 pint blackberries
  • 2 pints sliced strawberries
  • 2 mangoes (diced)
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds

Directions: 

  1. Cut the cheesecake bars and brownies into small pieces, and place in separate bowls.
  2. In individual bowls, place all the fruit, nuts and yogurt.
  3. Arrange all your ingredients in a buffet.
  4. Let your guests create their own parfaits.
This post was brought to you by Fiber One.

More easy recipes

Cheesecake pops (VIDEO)
Chocolate fudge brownie-banana pops (VIDEO)
German chocolate brownies (VIDEO)

5 New school policies you should know about

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1. Fast food ban

fast food

Image: Jeffrey/Flickr

A councillor in Laval, Quebec, wants to “give the kids a fighting chance to be healthier" by banning new fast-food restaurants from setting up shop within 500 metres of schools in his district. David de Cotis, the councillor proposing the bylaw, wants to eliminate temptation for children and teens attending nearby schools.

However, a spokesman from Restaurant Canada feels it is an unfair proposal. "We need to increase the economy of Montreal. What do you think is going to happen if you ban some organizations from doing business?" Jean Lefebvre told the CBC.

More important, is the ban really likely to educate students about making healthier food choices, or would it merely incite the burger-broiled flames?

More: 4 Back-to-school lunch winners, as picked by a nutritionist

2. Proof of vaccination in schools

vaccination

Image: C. Thomas Anderson/Flickr

The Canadian Medical Association stopped just shy of suggesting mandatory vaccinations for students in schools across the country. The group has instead recommended that a “declaration of immunization” be provided by parents before children be admitted into schools.

The goal of the registry is threefold: By having a list of unvaccinated schoolchildren, they can notify those parents of local outbreaks; parents of unvaccinated kids will be obligated to explain why their child(ren) is unvaccinated; and it will also give public health nurses the chance to educate and inform those parents of unvaccinated kids about the benefits of immunization.

About 400,000 children are vaccinated in Canada each year, and fewer than five suffer serious vaccine injuries, according to the Canadian Paediatric Society in a report by The Globe and Mail.

More: Are your kids emotionally prepared for the school year?

3. Fair play?

Image: Siegrid Saldaña/Flickr

It’s not unusual to see backpacks and pencil cases on the dreaded back-to-school list, but some parents are getting a surprise request this September — tennis balls. The balls are placed on the bottoms of chairs to help reduce classroom noise.

Should balls be the responsibility of parents? Some say no. Annie Kidder, executive director of People for Education, told the CBC, "If it's an educational necessity, one would hope the cost of the tennis balls would be covered." Kidder added, "But I don't think it's an issue of tennis balls. It's the whole thing put together. It's the idea that I have to augment things which the school appears to be saying are necessary for my kids to go to school. It's not the things on the list… it's the idea that families have to pay to go to a publicly funded school."

More: Why moms secretly dread the end of summer

4. Headdresses and other offensive apparel banned from orientation week

headdress

Image: Brian Tomlinson/Flickr

Students attending Western University can leave their fake dreadlocks and headdresses at home (or just trash them anyway, maybe?). Banned items include but are not limited to bandanas, fake dreadlocks, First Nations headdresses, mohawks, turbans and hijabs. (The ban obviously does not apply to students who use these items as part of their cultural and religious identity.)

The ban is seen by many as a positive step toward inclusiveness on campus (though one anonymous commenter wrote, "It's a shame that future students will probably have to chant, 'No Sex, No Fun, Just Political Correctness'").

School officials are aware that these soph traditions have not always been seen positively by new students. For some, the bandanas might have been an unwelcoming image. “It may disturb some incoming students that have come from countries where they have been exposed to violence and unrest.” As for the dreadlocks, etc.? There are concerns about their use for reasons of cultural appropriation, an unwanted practice.

5. Mandatory sex ed

sex ed

Image: Chris Tse/Flickr

Depending on which school your child attends, you might need to brush up on more than your geography skills as your kids return to school this September. Quebec has just rolled out a new mandatory sex education pilot project for schools in the province. Just like French and math, it will be a required course, and there will not be an opt-out, regardless of the religious or personal beliefs of your child. It is being rolled out to all children from kindergarten up. The program, which will affect 8,200 students, could be adopted by schools across the province in 2017.

“For the moment, no exemptions are planned,” said ministry of education spokesman Pascal Ouellet in a Montreal Gazette article. The reasoning is that education is beneficial for “preventing sexual assaults, violence in romantic relationships, blood and sexually transmitted infections, and unwanted pregnancies.”

How to have a picture-perfect divorce

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“We're smiling because we have done something extraordinary (we think anyway!) We have respectfully, thoughtfully and honourably ended our marriage in a way that will allow us to go forward as parenting partners for our children,” writes Shannon Neuman of their 11 year marriage.

More: This couple made their divorce official with a selfie

They hoped that by sharing this message, it may inspire other separating couples too. “...now that you know it's possible - please consider our way if you find yourself on this road, or share our message if we can help remind them that it's possible to love your kids more than you hate/distrust/dislike your ex..” she writes.

Divorce Selfie

Divorce Selfie

With the divorce rate in Canada hovering at around 40%, many couples may want to heed the advice of this Calgary ex-couple. But navigating separation can be tricky and confusing, especially with children. Dr. Samantha Rodman, author of How To Talk To Your Children About Divorce and SheKnows Expert, shares her knowledge and experience for couples in transition.

More: The 10 selfie stages of the postmodern couple

Make a divorce-parenting plan

A thoughtful and amicable divorce is achievable by any couple where both partners make it a priority. Especially with kids involved, it is essential to realize that divorce doesn't just affect the ex-partners. Many couples I've seen commit themselves to having a low-conflict, friendly divorce where their children never feel scared, confused, or caught in the middle of sparring parents. An amicable, or at least low-conflict, divorce buffers children against the negative effects of the split, and its importance can't be overstated.

To get to this place, couples may need to seek individual or even couples' counseling to work through any bitterness or resentment that lingers from the marriage and may be preventing them from working together in a friendly or at last cordial way. They need to tell family and friends of their intention to divorce peaceably and not allow anyone to badmouth their ex-partner throughout or after the divorce process.

Particularly if exes are also co-parents, it is better to fake goodwill or at least neutrality than to openly express negative feelings toward one another. If children witness, overhear, or sense animosity between their parents, this can have devastating consequences on their emotional security and psychological health.

Even if no kids are involved, there is no upside to expressing your rage or resentment to your ex or soon-to-be-ex spouse. You need to grieve the marriage and move on, and arguing about old issues with an ex does not allow for forward movement. Instead, you can express yourself openly to a counselor, or supportive friends or family.

More: Social media is causing 1 out of every 7 divorces

And if it isn’t a picture-perfect divorce?

If your amicable uncoupling turns contentious, don't beat yourself up about it. Instead, recommit to working through your feelings with a supportive external person, and recommit to being your best self during the divorce, even if you feel as though your ex is acting terribly. You will never regret attempts to be kind, even while being assertive and protective of your own interests and boundaries.

According to Neuman, the payoff for putting in the effort to separate amicably can be pretty powerful, particularly for the child(ren). “They'll never have to wonder which side of the auditorium to run to after their Christmas concert or spring play, because we'll be sitting together. They won't have to struggle with their own wedding planning because we'll be sitting on the same side of the aisle - THEIR side.” she writes.

Single moms shouldn't feel guilty about sex

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When I was still married, the sex-guilt would only surface when I heard those first cries of an infant waking up from a nap just a little too early. But now that I'm a dating single mother, the guilt is a little different.

The guilt tells me I shouldn't have so much fun, and that I should return to the responsibility of mothering rather than abandoning myself into a new love interest. It repeats those tired old records that I thought I'd shirked back in my early 20s. You're irresponsible, the records say. What kind of mother reaches out for the touch of a man she doesn't yet know very well — and what kind of mother uses those same reaching arms to hold her daughter the next morning?

I know I'm not the only one who thinks like this. Balancing motherhood and sexuality can feel tricky, whether you're a single parent or not. My feelings toward my mom-sexuality are as varied as my moods, or even how I feel about motherhood on any particular day.

More: The trouble with relationship labels when you're pushing 30

There was that time when I was separated from my now-ex, and we were kind of attempting to make things work. After a family dinner, he turned on a cartoon for the kiddo and grabbed me by the hand. We stole a few moments of solitude in the locked bathroom, but I felt guilty about it while it was happening. What kind of mother grabs ass by using the television as a babysitter?

On another occasion, I felt a wave of shame when I realized just how resentful I was toward my daughter for interrupting the time I had with her dad when we were still married. It had been a long week, and I was desperately clinging to the idea that intimacy might just save my flailing marriage. We were ramping up the action — in the middle of what we thought was my daughter's nap — when she came toddling in. Instead of embarrassment, I just felt plain angry. Angry that sex was no longer carefree, angry at the interruption and angry that I couldn't just have a minute alone with her dad. Immediately following the anger, however, I felt a wave of shame. What kind of mother feels angry at her child for stopping sex in its tracks?

There was that time when I was a newly single mother and so terribly confused and lonely. I intentionally avoided dating so I could give myself some time to recover from the divorce. My body still wanted touch, though. I remember how ridiculous I felt when I loaded my 2-year-old into the car so we could make a quick trip to the pharmacy for batteries for my (clearly overused) vibrator. What kind of silly mother needs sex so badly that she would take her toddler on an unnecessary errand?

More: What everday men and women think about porn

Finally, there was that time I looked at my young daughter and wished for her that she would never have to feel so much complication about her sexuality when and if she chooses to become a mother.

After all, what kind of mother would choose to not embrace her sexuality, when her children are learning how to feel about their bodies by watching how their mother feels toward her own?

The most shocking scary mommy confessions ever

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Somehow, I'm super late to the party, but I've only just recently discovered the genius that is the Scary Mommy Confessional.

More: Moms with Amazing Tattoos

"Back when I started it, there really wasn't anywhere anonymous to get thoughts off of your chest in a fast and cleansing way," explains Jill Smokler, the founder of Scary Mommy and its subsequent book. "People were so careful what to say within the blog comments since they all linked back to real profiles and I wanted to create a place where people weren't afraid to write what they were really thinking."

Now, the Confessional has taken on a life of its own. "I think we're hesitant to express our darkest secrets and failures to the people we know and love, so it's a comfort reading that other women feel the same way," Smokler says to explain the Confessional's popularity. "One of the worst feelings in the world is loneliness, and with the Confessional, you are really never alone."

When I read the confessions, I couldn't help but wonder how anonymous they really are. What would happen, say, if someone confessed to a murder or something else along the criminal lines? Smokler says that there have been a "few instances" where she had to turn over some confessions to the authorities. However, the confessions truly are anonymous, even for the authorities. "We can see where everyone in the Confessional is located, but nothing more than that and there's no way to pinpoint which location is confessing what," she notes. "Sometimes, I just want to reach through the computer to offer support to someone, but I can't. I'm not sure what ended up happening with the confessions that got reported, and thankfully that doesn't happen often!"

More: An open letter to the new mom I was years ago

So, does Smokler read the confessionals that pour in? "They get to be a bit much after five years!" she laughs. At this point, Smokler says nothing shocks her when it comes to the Confessional, but she did share a few of her no-holds-barred un-edited favorites with us.

  1. "I'm wearing maternity jeans but I haven't been pregnant in six years."
  2. "I hate reading bedtime stories. I only do it because I know I have to. Sometimes, I just let them fall asleep watching TV."
  3. "I kiss my young teenager goodbye in the morning as she leaves for school, rising above the hormone-fueled snarling and histrionics. Then I close the front door and flip her off, with both hands."
  4. "I forget to brush my 1- and 2-year-olds' teeth. I am not sure why it’s so hard for me to remember, but it’s a good thing that these teeth will fall out."
  5. "Hidden in the pantry in a box labeled “flour” is top of the line chocolate and a few joints. I rarely resort to it, but it’s a comfort knowing it’s there."
  6. "I miss the career I gave up more than I miss my son when I go to the grocery store. But I always get to go back to him."
  7. "Once a woman asked me if I breastfed my baby, so I asked her if she shaved her vagina. Sorry, you don't like personal questions? Me neither."
  8. "I confiscated my teenager's stash of pot, gave her a lecture, and have been smoking it ever since myself."
  9. "I joined a gym just for the free daycare. I drop the kids off and read magazines and blogs in the locker room."
  10. "At the end if the day, my needs are really simple: To be able to shit in peace."
  11. "I throw candy wrappers behind the couch and then blame the kids when my husband finds them."
  12. "My kids hardly bathe in the summer. The pool totally counts."
  13. "I knew my daughter had lice and I sent her to school anyway because I didn't want to cancel my hair appointment."
  14. "I buy store-made muffins and pass them off as my own for bake sales."
  15. "Everyone thinks I'm such a great mom for teaching my daughter how to read already. It wasn't me. It was the Leapfrog pen. I had no idea she could read."
  16. "I have a favorite child and I am hardest on him because I feel so guilty about it."
  17. "I clock out of motherhood at 8 p.m. I'm so done that I walk out even if they aren't all tucked in bed and go hide in the basement with my laptop and a beer."
  18. "Mother dropping her kid for a sleepover at my house: 'No food dye, no dairy, just soy milk, only organic food, and we don’t eat ANY fast food.' I let them eat all the junk they wanted. They seemed fine."
  19. "When my daughter asked me what comes after a trillion, I told her 'a gazillion.' Um, we are homeschoolers. Not supposed to just make shit up."
  20. "Three kids and my husband has never changed a poopy diaper. He says he hates the smell — like I like it?! I'm going to shove the next one in his pillow."
  21. "I often see kids and say, 'My baby is WAAAY cuter.' Not every baby is cute."
  22. "I've been socking away $5s and $10s for years and finally have two thousand dollars. No idea what I'll do with it, but having my own money again is empowering."
  23. "Questions of the day: 1) How did the pepperoni get stuck to the ceiling? 2) Why didn't gravity kick in & make it fall? 3) How did I not notice this? 4) When did we have pizza last?"
  24. "I put my kids to bed in their clothes so I don't need to get them dressed the next day."
  25. "I confess that most days, I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. Everyone thinks I have it all together — good wife, good mom, successful career -- but I really don't. I'm ready to stop pretending to be perfect now."

Warning: If you, too, are new to the sacred grounds of the Scary Mommy Confessional, you should know that it is highly, highly addictive. As in, you may think of the Confessional at all times and find yourself clicking over to see what new confessions have cropped up during your baby's nap time, feeding time and even lunch time. Here are a few of my personal favorites.

1. "Pooping with the Baby Bjorn on was a new motherhood low."

Yup. Been there, done that.

2. "DH told me last night that he can be either a husband, or a father, but can't handle being both. He wants me to pick which one! Wtf? We have 3 DC, ages 8, 3, &2."

I never knew it was one or the other...?

3. "DH is still in love with a hooker he met a few yrs ago (yes, we were married). She put herself through school & now has a dignified career. DH actually mourns this girl because she 'left the business & dumped me!' No words."

No words here, either.

4. "My kids have done little else but play their Kindles and watch cartoons during the summer. I'm a teacher. I'm burnt out and depressed, just don't care. I am broke during the summer, anyway. Feel like a POS."

Sounds like summer to me.

5. "Sometimes, motherhood feels like volunteer slavery..."

Yup.

6. "Motherhood has made me feel brainless, tired, and kind of empty inside. I feel like a zombie."

Hugs, Mama.

7. "DH has shared me with some of his closest friends. It's not all of the time and I have to agree. Not a threesome, I just slip over and spend the night in the guestroom. None of our friends would ever guess."

Um, yeah, I'm just going to leave this one right here and back away slowly.

8. "My daughter is the obnoxiously loud kid. Just like mil and sil. I am mortified, and I have no idea how to teach her to shut the f*ck up."

Oh, boy.

9. "How my husband is not totally repulsed by my mom body is beyond me but hey, sex is better than ever so I'm not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth."

Maybe this one is my confession, maybe it's not. Who's to tell?

More: Mom's photo series of her daughters shows us how "Strong Is the New Pretty"

10. "I wish I could go back in time and parent my oldest two completely differently. I'm such a better mom with my third. I hate myself for spanking my first two. I'm so sorry."

Regrets are the hardest part of parenting some days.

11. "My daughter and I both have children to the same man."

Whoa, now.

Baked chicken with white wine and citrus is an easy meal packed with flavor

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Allow the chicken to marinate for at least one hour so that the marinade can really infuse the meat with flavor. If you have time, let it marinate for several hours or even overnight.

I love serving this chicken with a side of fresh steamed green beans and mashed cauliflower or mashed potatoes, but just about any vegetable will go perfect with this easy dish.

Garlicky white wine baked chicken recipe

White wine, fresh citrus juices and garlic make this baked chicken juicy and flavorful.

Serves 4-6

Prep time: 10 minutes | Inactive time: 1 hour | Bake time: 40 minutes | Total time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 large, sweet orange, juiced
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (cut into strips)

Directions:

  1. In a bowl, combine the olive oil, orange and lemon juices, white wine, honey, garlic, salt and pepper, and mix well.
  2. Add the chicken breasts to a large, ziplock bag, and pour in the marinade. Close the bag, and place it in the refrigerator to marinate at least 1 hour or overnight.
  3. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F, and spray a medium-size baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  4. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator, and transfer it to a baking dish. Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes or until the centers of the chicken breasts are no longer pink and juices run clear.
  5. Serve warm with fresh vegetables and your favorite side dishes, such as steamed green beans, a salad and roasted potatoes (as pictured).

More easy baked chicken recipes

Baked chicken Parmesan
Lemonade-baked chicken
Crispy oven-baked chicken

20 Things you absolutely deserve to do for yourself today

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The same is true for you. Simply by virtue of existing as a human woman with hopes, desires and needs, here are 20 of the things you deserve to treat yourself with as soon as you are ready to do so.

1. Soft toilet paper

Don't laugh. I once asked for this as a birthday present when I was 5 years old. Soft toilet paper is an absolute must.

2. Toasting each day

Raise a glass of wine or sparkling water to at least one joyful occasion at the end of every day.

3. A nap

Just 20 minutes will lift your spirits, and it's totally free.

4. Turning off the phone

No one needs to reach you that badly — and if they do, they'll still figure out how to get in touch.

5. A morning mimosa

Sunday brunch, anyone? Lingering over a morning mimosa or flavored coffee and delicious croissant is the best way to indulge in a weekend morning.

6. Self-forgiveness

Let it go. No one cares about your mistakes as much as you do, so don't let them hold you captive.

7. Fresh makeup

Maybe it's a touch of bronzer or a fun new eyeliner. Regardless, try to remember how fun, cheap and easy it is to play with a new look for no reason at all.

8. A walk outside

You have the time. If you don't have the time, you can make the time. The sunshine will feel spectacular on your skin.

9. Breakfast in bed

It doesn't matter if someone isn't bringing it to you. You can whip together a fresh omelet and head back to bed for a slow-going morning with a rom-com or reruns of Frasier.

10. Coffee with a friend

You know, the kind of shared coffee where you go for the extra creamer and the extra time with your buddy.

11. Extra time to style your hair

Speaking of extra time, do you remember how great it felt when you got a real blowout? Re-create it at home for a perky style.

12. A single-use shirt or dress

That $7 rhinestone number from a bargain store might fall apart after one use, but isn't that entirely the point?

13. Long, luxurious bath...

Put a few drops of lavender or chamomile oil into your suds to create something special.

14. ...Or an afternoon skinny-dipping

If bath time isn't your thing, find a secluded spot to take a dip in the buff. It's so freeing!

15. A pedicure

Head to the salon for extra pampering, or do your own pedicure at home with a DIY exfoliation cream and a couple of sparkly shades of nail polish.

16. A bowl of fresh fruit

Either set out a bowl of apples for display, or chow down on a juicy serving of fresh strawberries, blueberries and cantaloupe. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.

17. An evening to window-shop

Maybe you're eyeballing a new pair of Kendra Scott earrings, or you're just perusing. The freedom from responsibility and the opportunity to imagine is all that is required.

18. A new purse

It's practical. Totally.

19. Date night away from the kids

Self-care isn't possible without occasionally stepping away from your darling children.

20. Fresh flowers

I buy my own fresh flowers every week, because I don't have to wait for a boyfriend or husband to make my house look like springtime.

This post was brought to you by Fiber One.

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Jon Hamm's relationship rumors turned out to be true

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More: Jon Hamm's violent fraternity past allegedly revealed in horrifying lawsuit

After 18 years together — and just months after vehemently denying breakup rumors — Mad Men actor Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt have announced their split.

The two began dating in 1997, when they met at a mutual friend's party. On Monday, they issued a joint statement to media to make the painful announcement.

"With great sadness, we have decided to separate, after 18 years of love and shared history. We will continue to be supportive of each other in every way possible moving forward," Us Weekly reports the couple wrote.

More: Jon Hamm, Ethan Hawke fight over one woman: Who is Anne V. Coates?

A friend of the couple told Us that the breakup has been in the works for a while now.

"They've been fighting for a while, but now they're done," the insider said. "They decided to finally split. It's sad."

Back in April, amid Hamm's stint in rehab for an alcohol addiction, the couple denied rumors that they were heading for a split, especially following a story in In Touch magazine that claimed Westfeldt was seeing another man.

"The story that appeared in this week's edition of In Touch magazine is not true," a rep for Hamm said at the time. "The only gentleman Jennifer visited regularly in Connecticut was Jon, while he was in rehab. They continue to ask for the public's understanding and sensitivity during this challenging time."

The couple was last seen out and about together back in January, when they attended a Broadway show. Though they were together 18 years, Hamm and Westfeldt never married or had children.

More: Jon Hamm reportedly checked into rehab for an addiction almost no one knew he had

Are you surprised at the news of the latest high-profile Hollywood split? Or did you see it coming? Head down to the comments and let us know what you think!

Switched at Birth: How Toby's decision will change the show forever

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Toby Kennish finds himself wrestling not only with the fact that he is about to become an unmarried father at 21, but also with family members who are not supportive of Toby and Lily keeping the baby, for one big reason: The baby has Down syndrome, and everyone on the show has an opinion.

More: The baby plot twist is what Switched at Birth's Toby needs the most

When Bay suggests that Toby visit a school for children with a disability, she thinks it will prove to him that they should abort the baby. Fortunately, it seems to have the exact opposite effect. SAB filled the set with beautiful, talented children with various forms of disabilities who were happy, laughing and completely innocent from all the ugly things in the world.

Toby encountered a beautiful little girl who he was able to interact with and who showed him that despite the possible medical issues and differences, a child with Down syndrome could be so sweet. You could see it in Toby's face when he found joy for the first time in the possibility of having a child with Down syndrome.

More: What mysterious guest star on SAB will shake things up for Bay?

SAB did an amazing job of teaching viewers what having a child with Down syndrome could be about. The show didn't shy away from the difficulties when the teacher admitted that some kids are less functioning than others and that some kids will have more serious medical issues. A father in the class encountered Toby and admitted that, yes, it would be hard, but promised Toby that it "would be the single most enriching experience" of his life.

The writers did a fantastic job in this episode of bringing to light the very sensitive topic of raising a child with special needs, specifically a child with Down syndrome. They showed the viewers that being different is beautiful, that being different is OK and that everyone, every child, no matter what their mental capability, deserves to be loved and accepted for who they are.

More: #MCM with Switched at Birth's Lucas Grabeel

In the end, Toby and Lily decided to keep the baby. The couple came to the conclusion that they are willing to take the good with the bad and give 100 percent to their child. Toby finally becomes a man in this episode when he makes the biggest decision he has ever had to make, knowing that this decision will define the rest of his life. By the end of the episode, his entire family has come around and pledged their support to Toby, Lily and the baby, setting up many future episodes where the writers can focus on children with a disability.

Coco shows off baby bump in NSFW thong photo shoot

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More: Jessa Duggar's pregnancy selfie accused of being a sin (PHOTOS)

Reality star and talk show host Coco is doing just that as she awaits the birth of her baby girl in December. Over the holiday weekend, Coco dropped a surprise on her Facebook page: selfies showing off her growing "lump." But they aren't the pregnancy selfies you've come to expect from celebs.

Coco did it in nothing but a thong bikini.

Image: Coco/Facebook

"For some reason many of you have been asking weeks now to see my baby bump in a swimsuit! And of course I had to do it, Coco style and rep in a micro bikini....." she wrote on the site alongside her NSFW photos. "Well, I've been waiting sometime to take this cuz as u can see if u look at me from the front it's very hard to see my lump but from the side its getting more visible [sic]."

More: Kim Kardashian haters take pregnancy-shaming way too far after VMAs (PHOTOS)

The 36-year-old star, who is 26 weeks pregnant according to E! News, also took to her blog to address some rumors she says have been swirling about her pregnancy.

Calling herself the "most unpregnant pregnant person," she dished about how she's been lucky enough to have almost no morning sickness or other complications as she approaches the six-month mark in her pregnancy.

"My stomach is now a lump instead of a bump. I call it a lump because it's not physically a bump because you have to push it out to see it," she wrote. "Some people still don't think I'm pregnant. I don't have anything to prove to anyone. My stomach is growing slowly."

She continued, "It's more love than anything in the world so I'm not really bitching but there are people that are doubting me. Once my stomach really starts growing, they're not going to be doubting."

Looks like it's time to stop doubting!

More: Bristol Palin shares update about her growing baby bump (PHOTO)

What do you think of Coco's unconventional pregnancy photo shoot? Head down to the comments and share your thoughts.

Serve these chocolate fudge brownie turtles at your next party (VIDEO)

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It covers all the bases — sweet, salty, soft and crunchy — so there's something each of your guests will love.

Fiber One chocolate fudge brownie turtles recipe

Yields 12

Ingredients:

  • 3 Fiber One 90-Calorie Chocolate Fudge Brownies
  • 8 ounces pecan halves (salted and roasted)
  • 11 ounces caramel squares
  • 2 tablespoons half-and-half

Directions:

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Arrange the pecans in small clusters of 4 on the baking sheet.
  3. Cut each brownie into 4 bite-size pieces.
  4. Melt the caramels with the half-and-half in the microwave in 30-second increments.
  5. Cover each nut cluster in a small amount of the caramel sauce.
  6. Place a brownie piece on top of each pecan cluster.
  7. Drizzle the remaining caramel over the clusters.
  8. Refrigerate until the caramel has hardened.

This post was brought to you by Fiber One.

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China's one-child policy looks different through the eyes of an adoptive mom

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A common reaction to seeing me with my obviously-not-born-from-my-body Asian children is some form of how’d you get boys/oh, that one-child policy/I thought you could only adopt girls from China…etc.

I’m used to it.

My boys have special needs, which may not be obvious to someone who sees them at school or the grocery store. They were abandoned by birth mothers who couldn’t or wouldn’t keep them -- lots of holes in our family story.

There’s a stigma surrounding physical imperfection in Chinese and other Asian cultures. A child with missing fingers or prominent birth marks might be seen as unlucky or flawed. Since the Chinese government sets limits on how many children a family can have, the so-called runts or bad apples are often tossed aside so the family can try again. Yeah, I know that’s a hard way to phrase it, and yes, I am more sensitive when I talk to my kids about this, but that’s the reality of how most people’s China adoption stories begin.

More: Real life switched at birth story has Hollywood ending

The typical Western perspective on China’s one-child policy is that Chinese families want sons and that daughters are viewed as inferiors. There are horror stories about girls being smothered at birth and left on park benches and bus stations. Unwanted babies aren’t registered so the family tries again…maybe again and again. There are whispers about forced, late-term abortions…things that make us cringe and shake our heads, like I did before I went to China.

I’ve been all over China: big cities, small cities, towns where I’m certain I’ve been the only Westerner someone has seen. I have a hard time putting into words how different their culture and people are.

Yes, we’re all fundamentally human but their values and perspectives on family, communication and everything are different. You have to see it or study it extensively to understand it and even then, if it’s not your culture I don’t think you can completely understand it…but that’s just me.

More: 'My abortion made me the mom I am today' — three moms on a decision they don't regret

It’s pretty easy to sit on this side, to judge and criticize China’s family planning policy as Draconian or something that should change. Part of me thinks these rules are BS, but I don’t live in a polluted, grossly overpopulated country. Some might argue that the United States is exactly that but trust me…two weeks in China will quickly change your perspective.

I find younger generation Chinese more willing to discuss their feelings on family planning rules (hint, don’t call it one-child policy). There are exceptions and loopholes. Different rules apply to ethnic minorities, if your parents had siblings and your first child is a girl … I don’t claim to be an expert on the laws of a country I don’t live in. I can barely keep the rules straight over here. I’ve learned not to judge or point fingers about this.

More: Woman shares painful story about how she was manipulated by abortion doctors

So what do I think of China’s one-child policy? I think it’s their policy. There are consequences for breaking the rules, and by consequences I mean fines and lack of benefits for an “unregistered” child -- not the forced abortions Western media might sensationalize. Everyone has access to birth control. The rules are not a secret, and no, I won’t tell you I appreciate the one-child policy because it gave me my children. I don’t believe in all that “meant to be” hype.

The one-child laws were made by people in a country I don’t live in who face issues I don’t face. If I thought hard enough, I could find something to criticize about the laws of Canada or Iceland. I have enough on the plate in front of me to worry about that stuff…besides, what’s that saying about shoes I haven’t walked in? I try to remember that one every time my fingers starts feeling pointy.

Jessa Duggar steals wedding spotlight from Amy with never-before-seen photos

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And while most people don't have national platforms on which to share those memories, Jessa (Duggar) Seewald does. Just days after her cousin, Amy Duggar, now Amy King, tied the knot, Seewald is sharing dozens of previously unseen photos from her own "I dos."

Seewald is expecting her first baby with her husband Ben. The two tied the knot back in November of 2014. Her cousin exchanged vows with Dillon King in Bentonville, Arkansas, this past Sunday in a courtly chic soiree.

Amy Duggar's wedding pic

Amy Duggar's wedding pic

More: Amy Duggar shares emotional message about the tears she's cried (PHOTO)

The majority of the Duggar clan turned out for the affair, even recently embattled and now reclusive sister-in-law Anna Duggar, wife of now defamed Josh who admitted to molesting several of his sisters and being addicted to porn and extramarital affairs.

The family posted on their official Facebook page, "We all had such a wonderful time at Amy's wedding. All of this excitement has caused Jessa to pull out her pictures from her wedding and post 100 of them on her website."

Jessa Duggar wedding

Credit: Jessa Seewald's Blog

More: Jessa Duggar gives a huge hint at the gender of her baby (PHOTO)

The cycle of drawing attention away from the couple of the day seems to be a pattern in the Duggar family. Just a few weeks ago, Jim Bob and Michelle talked more about their own day than they did the Bates (when they attended the nuptials of family friends the Bateses). And now Seewald is doing the same.

While her wedding was beautiful and it is nice to reminisce with such a wide-reaching network, it would have been nice to let Amy and Dillon have their time in the spotlight.

The Duggar fan base seems to agree as well. There are numerous comments saying the same. One person said, "I absolutely love the Duggars and miss their show. But this should be Amy’s weekend."

Oddly enough, this comment currently has 666 likes, just an interesting and humorous point.

Almost all of the almost 300 comments say something along the same lines. Another Facebooker said, "What about Amy’s wedding?? It always has to be about one of your girls."

"Why make this about YOU?!?!?!? THIS WAS AMY’S WEDDING!!! Post pictures of HER WEDDING!!!"

And while they might not be able to post photos of King’s wedding, because we don't know what her wishes were (maybe she’s got some killer People magazine deal, who knows), it is a little off-color to distract from the bride and groom’s big day, especially after they had their own TV special pulled because of the drama surrounding the Duggars' recent sex scandals.

More: Fox ended the Michelle, Jim Bob Duggar interview in the worst way possible

YA book community raises over £500,000 for Syrian refugees

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The award-winning author of The Rest of Us Just Live Here and The Crane Wife decided to take action after feeling “impotent” that all he could do was talk about the crisis on social media.

“I was tweeting, like everyone was about the picture of the three-year-old boy who drowned,” Ness told BBC Newsbeat, referring to young Aylan Kurdi, from Kobane in Syria, who was found drowned on a Turkish beach after trying to cross to the Greek island of Kos with his family.

More: Queen's record-breaking reign: How the world will pay tribute

The first post on the author's fundraising page said: "Hey, this may not work, but I'm tired of just tweeting my despair about the current refugee crisis that the UK government is responding to with inhumane feebleness. I'll match all funds raised up to £10,000 for Save The Children, which helps refugees around the world and has put out an appeal for the current Syrian refugee disaster. Let's see if we can give them £20,000 together, yeah? Or whatever! Everything helps."

Nobody was more surprised than Ness himself to see the total on his page increase so rapidly. His initial target of £10,000 was reached in just two hours, then The Fault in Our Stars author John Green pledged a further £10,000. Donation matches came flooding in from YA authors from all over the world, including Rainbow Rowell, Derek Landy, Ali Carter and Jenny Han.

More: Policewoman dancing at Manchester Pride is what it's all about (VIDEO)

In less than 24 hours the total raised for the refugees was almost £200,000, and it currently sits at over £530,000 (over £600,000 with Gift Aid included) following generous donation matches from several authors, including Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games), Paula Hawkins (The Girl on the Train) and Cressida Cowell (How to Train Your Dragon). Other authors have been auctioning items to raise funds, and several publishing houses, illustrators and trusts have also made donations.

"Sometimes one person can say, 'I want to do a little thing'. And someone else can come along and say, 'I'll join you'. And then a whole bunch more people join in," said Ness. "We're not curing the problem, we're not fixing everything, but it's something. So many people have said, just, thanks for the chance to do something."

More: Amy Winehouse-inspired classes to teach Glasgow children important lesson


How to create a cellphone contract for kids

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In fact, recently the Pew Research Center reported six in 10 teens have or have access to a smartphone, and 94 percent of those teens go online daily thanks to that phone.

This may be traumatic, but there's good news: Bestowing the use of a cellphone on your cherub presents tremendous learning opportunities for all of life. In fact, a cellphone contract can act as a roadmap for lessons in manners, kindness, respect and the biggest one of all: responsibility.

Now that you're feeling properly overwhelmed and underqualified, relax. You endured the potty training phase, and this is actually similar. You can put off addressing a stinky subject indefinitely, but if too much time passes, you will find yourself cleaning up your child's messes.

So. Let's begin. Deep breaths.

How to create a cellphone contract

Image: Becci Burkhart/SheKnows

Create a contract

That's right. Create a binding agreement whereby a child's failure to abide by the rules will result in the forfeiture of his possession of the phone.

No need to start rifling through your contacts for a lawyer. You can create this contract yourself or — because parenting is all about stealing the best ideas and using them to your advantage — you can copy or print out examples linked below.

You're probably wondering how to introduce the contract concept to a child who has seen enough Law & Order to consider lawyering up on her own. The truth is, you're handing your child a device that can lead to incredible harm. Today's smartphone is a bridge to lots of things right and lots of things wrong with our society and it's our job to help our children understand the power that little plastic box can yield.

More: Warning signs of cellphone misuse

"We keep the lines of communication very, very open and tell [our daughter Kayli] to have very low privacy expectations with her phone," explained Galit Breen, author of the book Kindness Wins and mom to Kayli (11), Chloe (9) and Brady (7). "If she clams up about what we’re seeing on her phone, she loses it until she opens up again."

Breen said she's actually eager for her children to have technology access earlier. "I want to be right in there with the teaching and conversations as they’re forming their phone and online habits before my kids start valuing their friends’ opinions more than mine."

More: Reasons I don't let my kids play with my phone

Perhaps the most important understanding a parent and child can have is that mistakes will happen. When Janell Burley Hofmann crafted a cellphone contract for her 13-year-old son, she wrote: "You will mess up. I will take away your phone. We will sit down and talk about it. We will start over again. You & I, we are always learning. I am on your team. We are in this together." Hofmann is the author of the book, iRules: What Every Tech-Healthy Family Needs to Know About Selfies, Sexting, Gaming and Growing Up and creator of what she calls, "Slow Tech Parenting."

Discuss the 5 Ws (and H!) of usage rules

  1. Why have you decided your child should have a phone? Late-night volleyball practices, like Breen? Good behavior? As a lesson in responsibility? All of the above?
  2. Who is your child allowed to add to the phone's contacts? Whose calls do they absolutely positively always have to answer? (Yours!)
  3. What will happen when (notice I didn't say if) your child loses or breaks the phone?
  4. Where is your child allowed to bring the phone? School? Church? The bathroom? (Yes, seriously. Ew.)
  5. When is your child allowed to use the phone? Between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. only?
  6. How is the child allowed to use the phone? What apps can he or she download? When does your child need to ask permission specifically? Breen cautioned parents to pay attention to the temptation of links within parent-approved apps, for example, within an Instagram friend's bio.

Parents will want to connect regularly to keep track of a child's activity such as texts, incoming and outgoing calls and app downloads. Talk about what games are OK and be clear about what links your child has permission to click on. Breen points out that sometimes a strange link will be within an app.

More: Tracking your teen's texts

Which leads to even stickier subjects: What do you want your child to do if he or she receives an alarming text or call? How do you hope your child conducts herself during text conversations or on social media?

Breen said focusing conversations on kindness is key.

"Most mistakes aren’t made 'at us' as parents," she pointed out. "They’re truly examples of kids learning. So leave the door open for them to tell you about their mistakes by listening and helping them come back from their mistakes."

Now that you're on the contract wagon, here's the fine print: "Having a contract or a private account or phone restrictions doesn’t replace the direct, ongoing conversations you need to have with your kids," Breen advised. "Anything that’s important to you, you need to teach them directly and repeatedly."

Find more downloadable contracts:

Sandra Bullock's new man accused of hiding a dark secret

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Bryan Randall, Bullock’s newish boyfriend of the past few months, is smoking hot.

Bryan Randall tweet

Bryan Randall tweet

See, we weren't lying.

More: Sandra Bullock makes terrifying call to 911 about her alleged stalker

But what he is accused of is just plain gross. He is accused of smearing dog poop on a neighbor’s door. You read that right.

According to Radar Online, Randall had a restraining order filed against him by a neighbor, John Stacer, who allegedly filed an incident report saying, "On the evening of 7/26/12 I was walking by and Bryan Randall confronted me about my dog defecating in the front of the building. He was videotaping me and said, 'Pick up your dog’s shit, asshole.'"

But here's where things took a dark and quite frankly disgusting turn, if the reports are true.

Stacer continued, "He is a big guy and I was scared to go any closer so I called my dog back towards me and took him upstairs. I was about to go back outside to pick up the feces when I heard a commotion and my girlfriend came home moments later. She said there was feces spread in our doorway."

Gross.

More: Sandra Bullock scared by the constant attack on women in Hollywood (VIDEO)

But now we go from gross to confusing. Stacey then says he cleaned up the mess and his girlfriend sent Randall a message telling him what he did was "unacceptable."

Stacer claims that Randall’s response was, "10 days from now this will play out differently. I’ll pray for him… he will see another side as soon as my kid is out of state."

Stacer said he filed a police report the next day for criminal threats, saying, "I know he has guns and a notoriously erratic temper and I am scared of what he will do next, as his daughter will be gone come Sunday."

The restraining order was granted temporarily, but efforts to make it permanent were unsuccessful.

More: Sandra Bullock talks power in coordinating menstrual cycles

My son has Down syndrome, but I'm still pro-choice

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I believe that states are ill-informed and poorly guided to consider legislation that would ban abortion on the basis of a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis. In fact, I think those efforts are counter to what the well-meaning ban advocates hope to accomplish.

More: Companies preying on fear of Down syndrome owe women the truth

So, let's be clear. Right now, states like Ohio want to put a condition on when a woman can have an abortion and when she can't. Do you want an abortion because you don't feel like getting fat? Go on, then. Nothing on this checklist to say you can't do that!

But, wait. Do you want an abortion because a screening indicated a higher chance that your child will be born with Down syndrome? People supporting a ban based on that diagnosis say that's unacceptable. Choose abortion for any number of reasons, but dear God, not because of an extra chromosome.

Frankly, it sounds like we're so afraid that people will be unable to see a positive side to having a child with Down syndrome, our only recourse is to force them to give birth. Excellent. Let's force a woman to give birth. Is the next step to legislate that the mother therefore will support, love and never resent that requisite child?

Of course not. Abortion opponents are all about forcing life, but how many are equally active in ensuring those lives are full of love, resources and inclusion?

The ban advocates and I agree on one thing: People with Down syndrome have value. I cannot emphasize that enough.

But if you think an effective way to stop abortions of babies with Down syndrome is by banning abortion for that reason, you're wrong.

Abortions will continue, legally and safely or illegally and at the risk of the woman. Placing conditions on the decision will add another cloak of shame and secrecy on a dialogue that's already taking place in the shadows of OB offices and the privacy of couples' bedrooms, without accurate, updated, unbiased information.

Please.

Stop placing conditions on when we will allow a woman to make decisions about her body and an unviable fetus.

More: Switched at Birth hits hard on myths about Down syndrome

Stop pouring energy, resources and money into bans and focus on the advocacy and education that can lead to informed decisions — decisions that may choose a child's life regardless of chromosome count.

If the myriad organizations that advocate for people with Down syndrome would put egos, agendas and in-fighting aside and listen to the medical community — the folks who are on the front lines of helping expectant women make informed decisions about the future of their pregnancies — change can happen.

Materials exist that give expectant women an accurate view of what having a child with Down syndrome truly means today.

If we put more resources and money into our educational system to ensure children with any type of different ability are effectively included in a general education classroom and beyond the classroom, mindsets will shift.

If we stop trumpeting the rights afforded us by the First Amendment and agree that hurtful language like the R word needs to end not because of a law but because it's the right thing to do, mindsets will shift.

It's all a domino game. Inserting spongy blockades like legislation won't keep a woman from aborting a child likely to be born with Down syndrome but rather will add an additional layer of shame, secrecy and fear. What if we replaced shame with education, judgment with accuracy and blame with compassion? Imagine.

More: Down syndrome diagnosis: Find support, not propaganda

A generation can grow up knowing and valuing someone with an extra chromosome. It's an extra chromosome, people! I've always loved the analogy that the DNA of someone with Down syndrome is like baking a cake with an extra egg.

The end result is still delicious.

The Mindy Project Season 4: 6 Changes to watch out for after move to Hulu

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1. Longer and looser episodes

While The Mindy Project will remain a workplace comedy, the switch from broadcast to streaming means that each installment can run a little longer. There also won't be as much strict censoring. "We made a conscious effort to keep it similar in tone," star and writer Ike Barinholtz said at the Television Critics Association panel in August. But Barinholtz also said that writers will have a "little more freedom" with content and language.

More: The Mindy Project Season 4 premiere cast the perfect love interest for Danny

2. A slight change in structure

The show will release weekly episodes, as on conventional TV, but fans can expect a slight structural change. Whereas Fox had a hard guideline about needing four acts per episode, Kaling says the show will now have three acts per installment.

3. More of the supporting cast

Moving to Hulu gives the show more flexibility with the episode running times — which also means that other characters besides Mindy Lahiri will get more time in the spotlight. “The thing that is sacrificed on our show is often the ensemble,” executive producer Matt Warburton said of the change. “The show can breathe a little bit more, especially with the great ensemble that we have."

More: The Mindy Project announced horrible news that's ruining everyone's night

4. New cast members

Season 4 will also include several new cast members to fill the void left by Peter (Adam Pally). Garrett Dillahunt will play a doctor who replaces Mindy at the practice while she’s on maternity leave. Meanwhile, comedian Fortune Feimster will recur as his sister, a nurse at the practice.

5. More guest stars

The fourth season is set to start off with a bang, featuring two well-known guest stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Freida Pinto. As Kaling herself revealed at the TCAs, the premiere is partially set in an alternate universe where Mindy imagines what would have happened if she had never fallen in love with Danny. In her imagination, she ends up with Gordon-Levitt's character, who's a reality TV producer. Meanwhile, Danny ends up with Pinto's character.

6. A baby in the mix

Of course, one of the biggest changes coming to the show in Season 4 is that Mindy and Danny will officially be parents, although audiences reportedly won't actually see the baby. While motherhood won't come easy to Mindy, we will see a different side of her. "Her core personality traits are always going to be the same no matter what, but I think it will be interesting how she's going to be such a devoted and fierce mother," said Kaling. "We'll see how her bad behavior comes out in ways that are in protection of her child."

More: 7 Girlfriend tropes we hope they don't include on The Mindy Project

The Mindy Project's fourth season will be available on Hulu on Sept. 15.

Keeping dogs chained up should be banned, says SPCA

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The proposed ban is not focused on people who walk their dogs on leashes or tie them up for a short time, but on dogs who spend every day on a chain.

And it’s not as uncommon as you’d think: “Approximately one-third of the complaints received by the Montreal SPCA’s cruelty investigation unit concerns chained dogs”, said Sophie Gaillard, the SPCA’s lawyer and animal advocacy campaigns manager.

More: Safety tips for active outdoor dogs

The SPCA has launched a website, CutTheChain.ca, to raise awareness about the campaign. The site invites citizens to sign a letter addressed to Minister Pierre Paradis. In it, it cautions that dogs left outside around the clock, “... are exposed to extreme cold in the winter, and suffocating heat in the summer. Isolated, unable to socialize, play, exercise, or express natural behaviour, chained dogs develop severe boredom and frustration, eventually leading to psychological distress.” That means aside from affecting their own health, dogs left chained up like this can end up displaying aggressive behaviour when faced with a perceived threat.

Currently in Quebec it is still perfectly legal to keep dogs continually tied up, even though the practice is both inhumane and unsafe. Earlier this year, Quebec introduced a bill that, if passed, would see the status of animals upgraded from “movable property” to “sentient beings.”

More: Animal rights advocates force coffee shop owners to put badger welfare first

However, the SPCA’s proposal may face opposition from members of the province’s sled-dog community, who commonly keep dogs outside on tethers.

Bernard Saucier, president of Quebec’s Sled Dog Club, says anti-tethering campaigns are based on a lack of understanding, and maintains that his dogs are happier and healthier tied outside near their friends than stuck in a house all day, says a Canadian Press release.

 “My dogs are in a park. They each have their territory. They socialize with their friends, run around their houses, go take a nap. They can urinate when they need,” he continues. “They get more exercise outside than lying around a house all day.”

More: Car safety advice for dogs that every pet parent should know

But without playing with each other or given the opportunity to run, tethered dogs are still deprived of the social interactions, Gaillard maintains.

Saucier said his dogs cannot touch, but are let off their tethers to play in small groups at times. He said anti-tethering campaigns are the result of well-meaning people who want to ascribe human characteristics to their pets.

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