The American Spectator

Reader Mail

p> THEY CALL IT PUPPY LOVE br> Re: Ben Stein's Christmas Peace : /p>

Thanks to Ben Stein for his warm appreciation of rescue dogs. I have three rescue dogs at the moment and have had others in the past. They are the most beautiful, loving companions. I have two pure-bred Japanese Chin who were breeders in a puppy mill and basically spent their previous lives in a cage before they were rescued at auction by a rescue society. They are gorgeous show-quality girls and the happiest, most fun-loving little dogs I have ever met. My other dog is a glorious Pekingese who was found wandering the streets of a major city and was turned over to Pekingese rescue by the local animal shelter. Like Ben's dog, he is the light of my life and is the most devoted, loving friend I have ever had.

Most people don't know that there are organizations all over the country devoted to rescuing specific breeds and there are millions of pure-bred dogs just waiting to be adopted. All are spayed/neutered, have all their shots, and are wonderful additions to a family. Whatever breed you are looking for (and many you have never heard of) can be found at petfinder.com.

p>Thanks for a great column just in time for Christmas. br> -- Alice C. br> Texas /p>

You surely know, dogs are not free at the animal shelter. After the recent passing of my father, my mom decided she needed another dog to go with Jack, the part Jack Russell part Beagle. My parents always tried to save a pup if they could, and have had success with several pound puppies but not this time. She picked out a somewhat homely Beagle-ish male that of course, had to be neutered, and given his round of shots, for which my mom gratefully paid. He thought he had landed in hell, not dog heaven where he surely was. As a practiced escape artist, he was no match for my 75-year-old mom. He escaped twice. The first time we reclaimed him for a tidy sum-around $40. This was after an initial expenditure of around $100 for the shots and surgery. The second time the pound got him, it would have been upwards of $100, plus a summons as to why we "let" him run free. We reluctantly left him at the shelter. She then learned of the "specialty adoption center" at the local mall. She had to complete a lengthy form explaining that she wouldn't ever mistreat a dog. She treats the dogs better than... oh well, you get the idea. They didn't even bother to notify her that she didn't make the cut. My sister and I decided to get her a puppy for Christmas, but the neighbor has given her the ugliest dog imaginable. She is in love. He will stay, and Jack and the cat will move over and Scooter will become one of the clan.

p>Animal shelters are a good thing, but sometimes they protect their charges right out of a home.

topics:
Taxes, Business, Constitution, Law