By Zoey Bosco
In my personal life, animals and pets are very special to me. Currently, I have two dogs and two kittens. My first dog is a female; her name is Nahla and she is two years old. My second dog is also a female; her name is Brandy, and she is five months old. My two kittens are twins: one of them is named Cami and the other is named Kiki. My four pets are very special to me because they have been a comfort in my life and have been by my side every night. I don’t think I could go a day without seeing them. The thought of losing them is also very nerve wracking because you don’t expect that day to come. Having pets means you need responsibility. Certains things are also needed when having a pet in your home; pets are meant to be taken care of, loved in many ways, and need to be treated kindly. If you would like to have a pet, treat it and love it the way you would want to be loved.
There’s always times where you and family go on vacation or go somewhere where your pets aren’t. When that time comes you always feel bummed out or you feel upset because they are either stuck at home or they are scared you left them. There will always be that feeling, but you and the animal always know you’re going to come back.
I used to have pet chickens running around in my backyard. My sisters and I always loved having a farm, but in Nevada they are not very common, so we made our own with chickens and ducks and three dogs and three cats. It was like a farm to us, but in reality it was just having loud, loving pets.
When it comes to animals I want to help them in many ways. When I see a pet dog or a pet cat on the side of the road, I feel scared for them; you never know if they have a home or if they have somewhere to run to. Usually some of them get scared and run in front of the car and get hurt. That is what makes me want to help animals, so they don’t get hurt and end their life so soon.
There’s a specific topic about animals that I feel strongly about, which is animal testing. Animal testing is a very big issue; animal testing is very violent and not needed at all. When it comes to animal testing scientists are very serious about testing on certain animals. The problem with testing on animals is that it kills them or gives them severe side effects that lead to death or other life threatening problems. I am fully against animal testing.
According to the Humane Society, “It is extremely rare that animals are either adopted out or placed into a sanctuary after research is conducted on them. However, more and more states are passing laws that require laboratories, when possible, to offer dogs and cats to shelters and other rescue organizations so they can be adopted into loving homes after the experiments they were used in have ended. As of December 2023, 16 states have such laws.”
Animal testing is a really big deal, especially because animals are needed and are important to the world. Although testing for the sake of science is necessary, why would you need to do it on animals? I believe testing on animals is not needed. When shopping for your pet, please consider buying cruelty-free items. Animals are and should be our number one priority. My animals are very important to me and knowing they are there at home waiting for me makes me feel happy and excited to see them.
Zoey Bosco is a Spring Grove High School student, one of 15 area students participating in the Journal Writing Project, now in its 26th year.