This I Believe

I believe that animals that are in the pound should be given a home instead of being put to sleep. About four years ago, my family and I had to put my chocolate Labrador retriever, King, to sleep due to an illness that could only be fixed by surgery. Our veterinarian said that he was in a lot of pain and since he was about fifteen years old, putting him to sleep would be the best thing for him to put him out of his misery. Putting King to sleep was one of the hardest things I have ever had to go through. I felt that I could never have another dog as good as he was and that I would love like I loved King.

Since it was close to Christmas, my mom decided to go to the pound and look for a dog to give me. When she got there, there were many dogs to choose from. She went from cage to cage, and finally, when she got to the last kennel, she saw a cute Rhodesian ridgeback puppy. When she asked the employee if she could see the dog outside in the yard, she learned that it was going to be put to sleep the next day if no one came to get it. Later that day, my mother brought me to see the dog and we decided to take it home. We have had Cocoa for the past four years and she is a great dog. If we hadn’t have gone to get her that day, then she would have been put to sleep. I think that every dog should have a chance to get a good home and for someone to love them, therefore, putting them to sleep shouldn’t be done unless they have health problems that can’t be fixed or if they are in pain.