Rochelle Roche professor Schiffler English 100 18 November 2015 For most of us, the animals in our lives are our faithful pals who give us companionship and continuously love us under any circumstance. But there are so many animals that do not have the same luck as others do. For those animals life on the street is very tough. Most animals on the streets suffer from illness, hunger, tumors, open sores, and skin infections. Also fighting over the limited amounts of food found on the streets. They often strive for shelter and food but are often seen as a burden or health hazard to humans around them. Research shows that “around 2.7 million animals are euthanized (1.2 million dogs and 1.4 million cats)”. Often most of these animals are beloved and adoptable pets. “Approximately 8-12 million companion animals enter shelters nationwide every year and approximately 5-9 million are euthanized (60% dogs and 70% cats)”. “Shelter intakes are evenly divided between those relinquished by owners and that picked up by animal control.” That is why I choose to volunteer at an animal shelter. I have an overwhelming love for animals and want to help them in any way I can. The shelter I volunteered at homed both dogs and cats but I worked mostly with dogs. Consciously understanding that these animals in my case, dogs, rely on humans to provide …show more content…
However,once I entered the gates, my excitement quickly vanished upon seeing the disturbing amount of sick animals. Witnessing both mentally and physically abused animals was heartbreaking. As I walked around I saw anxious dogs alarmed at every noise that entered the vicinity. A few cages away were the little dogs. All cuddled together with watery eyes while some uplifted themselves for a quick touch by my hand. I then understood that rather this shelter being a depressing place it was actually a place of love and happiness where these animals were given a second chance at