Pets are a blessing to have. Photo by: Brittany Fredrick

Animals are a blessing to have as pets.  Senior Linda Roberts said, “Yes, two pygmy goats, 1 cat, and 1 poodle.” Most people has three or more animals as pets. Sophomore Brandon Strong commented he has “two lizards, one snake, two cats, a turtle, and three fish. You may think that is a lot ,but I don’t think it is enough.” People love to spoil their pets; sometimes people go too far. Roberts commented, “Yes, my poodle is a major baby. She sleeps in bed with me, wants held a lot. She jumps on me to hold her and will run like a race dog while running or playing.” Strong commented “ I spoil my animals like there is no tomorrow. My snake owns the house and my bearded dragon eats whatever he wants when he wants.”

Although people know about animal cruelty, there are a lot of different definitions of what animal cruelty is. Strong commented “I believe cruelty is disgusting and anybody who would ever hurt a animal should be punished with the same thing they did to that poor creature.  I always wonder what makes somebody want to hurt an innocent being.” Animals are getting hurt by people’s actions and the animal suffers. Roberts commented, “Any intentional or even unintentional harm done to any animal at any given time” is how she defines animal cruelty. Although sometimes people don’t see animal cruelty, they hear about it all the time on the news. Roberts commented “I feel hurt, disappointed and disheartened by it, especially when I the see the ASPCA commercials and what is done to them. Strong commented, “ I get very sad and feel sympathetic for the animal then I get mad and hope the abuser get theirs.” Students get sad and angry when they hear or see animal cruelty. Students become proactive to prevent animal abuse. Strong commented, “ I think people who get pets to have them should stop that. They need to be trained because, for example, if you don’t train your dog to go outside it will do its stuff in the house and will drive a person to beat that dog.” Roberts commented “Yes, I have volunteered at the Humane Society, joined ASPCA, and the advocacy brigade; I even helped at the Catsino night hosted by the local humane society to raise money.” People care about animals, they just do not know how to save them.