Dogs are human too

Jazmine Hernandez 

Tonia P.

ENGL 1102

February 9, 2020

Dogs are Human, too

Dear Future Generations of 2099,

I’m glad you found this letter and had the time to read this. I wish I was able to give you this letter personally but unfortunately, I am no longer alive. What I’m about to tell you is very important and I hope you give it some thought once you have read this.

Loyal, protective, obedient, and most importantly, high spirted. These words are what describes living things that should be protected, loved, and cared for: dogs. “Opening up your life to a dog who needs a home is one of the most fulfilling things you can do” (Emma Kenny). This quote speaks the truth. Taking in a dog is the best feeling ever because you know you are about to change that dogs’ life. But some things have happened these past couple of years; dogs have been dropped off on the streets, getting killed by cars, and have been mistreated by humans. Even dogs that have been sent to the pound are placed in cages that aren’t big enough for them to run around in, feeling cramped up all the time. These pounds aren’t as safe as people think. When dogs are not adoptable at a given time period, they will be put to sleep and their life would go black. I apologize for the sad entry, but this is the reality of how some dogs are currently being treated. This needs to change. These animals never ask for anything but your love and to feel wanted just like us humans. There’s this phrase I learned from school, “Treat others the way you want to be treated”. This doesn’t just apply to people but also to animals. Imagine being in their paws walking alone in the heat or cold scavenging for leftovers, you would feel depressed as if all the hope in the world has gone out of arms reach.

What I’m trying to express here is that we need to change the environment for dogs that will make them feel safe, regardless of them not being in a family yet. We need more rescuers, more people to take them in, and help dogs live longer lives. We need to see more dogs wagging their tails when getting picked up off the streets knowing that they’re in good hands and there’s no need to be afraid. Now I know some people may be frighten to approach dogs because once they get near a dog, it can set off its aggression towards people and cause them harm. This will cause people to fear dogs and begin to reveal their own anger towards dogs which can make the situation worse. But if you explore the reasoning behind dog aggression, it’s because they had a bad experience with their previous owners that mistreated the dog. This creates trauma, forcing the dog to think that all people are just like the ones that were doing the harm before. Which is why it's important to show people that these magnificent animals have emotions identical to ours. We need to help people understand the struggle dogs go through and not fear them.  As a result, in my hope, they will not view humans as dangerous either. 

 Some people may say dogs need happy endings but I say dogs need happy beginnings. So please spread the word, share this letter to those who appreciate and care for these animals. Change the mind of people to see dogs the way I saw them, desperate for help. Make a difference to the dog society. Help them live the life they deserve.

Yours truly,

    A Dog Protector from 2020