Posted on 12/15/2004 11:32:32 PM PST by nickcarraway
BEVERLY HILLS -- Today, I will let other people talk about politics and economics. I am going to talk about something more important: peace.
By total coincidence, my 60th birthday recently fell on Thanksgiving. It is perfectly apt though, because my whole life is about giving thanks, especially for still being alive and hearty at 60, and full of fight. But as I was asked over and over again what really makes me happy in my life now that I am no longer a young hippie, I only had to think for about two seconds.
Yes, of course, I am primarily grateful that I am in America, shining city on a hill, that I have a great wife and son, that I get to live in peace and prosperity. I would have to be insane not to be on my knees with gratitude to the men and women who fight for us, and I am stupendously grateful to them.
But there is someone very close to my heart who brings me the best moments of peace I ever have, and peace is truly God's greatest gift: Brigid, my gorgeous German short-haired pointer.
A word about Brigid. She was an abandoned dog. I got her at the Huntington Beach animal shelter.
She is my latest German short-haired pointer, the fifth one I have had, after owning two Weimaraners. Every one of these dogs is a heavenly gift. To lie next to Brigid for an hour in the afternoon, to have her next to me all night, to wake up to her soulful eyes and incredible joy, that is bliss.
I have worked for two Presidents in the White House, been in dozens of movies, played in one of the best sitcoms of all time, The Wonder Years, won Emmies for my quiz show. I have been married to a glorious wife for almost 40 years and we have a handsome, rugged son. This is all good stuff, even great stuff....But....
None of this gives me the serenity that being next to a sweet, loving big furry dog gives. There is a magical connection between dog and human that offers a glimpse of heaven.
It's Christmas. Time for gifts. You can get the best gift there is -- the gift of peace -- for free at your local animal shelter or pound and at many rescue societies. You have not fully taken advantage of God's gifts if you don't do it. Diamonds are nice and so are clothes and cars. But a loving, sweet dog of your very own, or for your spouse or for your child or parent, that's the best gift there is. That is the gift of love -- warm, unconditional, devoted, peaceful love. There is nothing better.
Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist, and lawyer in Beverly Hills and Malibu.
Ben just rose a notch in my estimation. He "gets" it.
Seasons greetings to all.
I agree. Our little "foundling", a gangly Rottador (Labweiler?) is absolutely wonderful, and will literally beg for a hug. Likewise, his predecessors have all been much loved and much missed.
The kitties are equally loved as well!
Now I gotta get money to get them all fixed.
woof
I don't have dogs (love 'em too) but my viking kitty hoard will be most sufficient for the time.
Homeless kitties and puppies thank you, Mr. Stein.
n,
I agree 100% with Stein and other posters on this.
Let me just add, for the uninitiated, that it's a safe bet to plan on doubling whatever the adoption fee is for immediate vet care.
Expect any creature you get from a shelter to have worms of some sort, some of which may be transmitted to humans until treated.
I love Ben Stein! I remember how beautifully he used to write about his dog, Trixie.
STOP! kitty is tearing up my Santa hat!!!
You can adopt from out of county or out of state even. I drove about 120 miles north to adopt my lab and about 80 mines south to adopt my lab mix.
If you go on Pet Search most of the humane societies have postings for their current dogs. You can look by location or the type of dog /cat you are intrested in. Sometimes they have bio's of the animal if they know.
Most of them have on line applications. Expect them to want to check you out in a basic kind of way. Do you have a vet, is your yard fenced, have you ever had a pet before.
I've done it 3 times and I have not been unhappy with any dog that I have rescued.
Good Luck, Dogs give you back 10 times the love you give them.
Petfinder.com is another good resource with similar search features. I adopted my new baby through them from a local rescue group and now I'm working with 2 foster strays to find them a good home. Soon as the pic CD is ready, they're going up. Gotta admit, I prefer the critters to most human beings I know. Ben Stein nailed it!
Excellent, excellent advice! We had a complete blood work-up done after our newly-rescued 4-year old Collie Mix had to have surgery for a lump that turned out to be a mast cell tumor. She also had a low thyroid level, and really perked up after we got her thyroid level back up to where it should be.
She is now six months cancer free and a playful, joyful, gentle dog. Quite a change from the scared, abused, cringing "mutt" we brought home.
I found the greatest dog {{{{Jack}}}}on this site, you can actually see their pictures and look up what's available in your area of the country. You can make a lonely abandoned dog or cat very happy!!
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