Journal #3

Stephanie Cruz
J. Hutchman
Lang 120
25 November 2012                                                                                              

Journal #3

            It has been about a month since the last time I was able to visit Brother Wolf. Though there have been many other busy events going on, I still miss being around the animals. Since I have no experience to voice, I will do my best to provide the information that I have. Online, I am connected to the Brother Wolf page on Facebook, and it is very resourceful because I am able to find out which animals were adopted. Even though the experience of being around animals is amazing, there is still joy in knowing that they have gone on to more comforting and loving homes.

            Lately, I have been forced to notice why I became a vegetarian and vegan, which makes my entire service- learning experience more valuable. This past weekend, I was able to see Kairi, a cat which I consider to be my child. Though she belongs to someone I am no longer in a relationship with, she still brightens my entire day and makes it beautiful. However, when I saw her, she seemed very closed off and sad. Even my friend, who was her other former owner, was not allowed to go near her because she hissed at him. Someone who used to feed her every day, and he could not even pick her up. I am the only person she let get close to her and kiss her, which made me feel ecstatic that she had not forgotten me since I had left. The other two kittens in the house, Riku and Sora, are part of the reason she is more closed off, and even they were very friendly towards me. The whole reason for telling this story in my service- learning journal is to demonstrate that animals can become unhappy in our own homes, and we can still help them whether they belong to us as pets or not.

            When I arrived home for break and was able to see old friends, I was asked repeatedly why I had become vegan, and what I could eat, and how much I care, and why I cannot eat animal by-products. Extrapolating and answering all of these questions has, again, forced me to recognize the true meaning of the choices I have made. I try to do everything I can to help animals, whether it is not supporting their torture, donating needed materials to them or just spending time with them. Every effort that a person in the world makes can improve an animal’s life, just as much as it can help improve another human’s life.