The joys of owning a dog for the holidays.

I've been living on the editing system the past few weeks, and now have only a few more days of finishing editing on "Westinghouse" to go. Which means I don't typically see daylight anymore. I work, eat, work and go to sleep. I don't even have much time to spend with Stella, our German Shepherd/Chow Chow mix these days, but this morning was different. This morning it snowed and we played outside for a while.



I read an article on MSNBC about dogs that need homes after a puppy mill was raided and thought of our dog and all the happiness (and destruction) that she brings. We adopted her a year ago from the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society and have had quite a year together. She was one year old when we adopted her, strong as an ox and rowdy beyond comprehension. The good news is she still is, but she's a bit more controllable now after a year of training and lots of walking.



Adopting a dog isn't for everyone. Especially a big dog like her. She needs constant exercise, lots of food and sheds enough hair to build two dogs. She takes a lot of time and money. It would be nice if she'd get a job and pay us back.

My point is if you want a dog this holiday season, and you have the time and money, go adopt one instead of buying one from a store. Lots of dogs need homes. They aren't perfect. They take a while to adjust to new owners and a new home. They may eat your pillows and pull down the new curtains. They may try to bring a dead bird inside the house. They may eat the pepperoni you set out for dinner. They may decide the couch by the window is theirs. They may want to run all over the house with your sock in their mouth. They may decide to eat the Christmas tree ornaments. They may bring fear into the hearts of squirrels all over the neighborhood and scare the #@$! out of people who set foot on the porch.

But an adopted pet, in my experience, is a joy to own. After they to get to know you and trust you they are your best friend forever. It's as if they know you took a chance on them.

Awww.... ok, enough emotion. I'm gonna get back to the computer and finish my film on George Westinghouse.