Earlier today I was walking home from school with my friend from the bus stop when I suddenly saw a little Jack Russell Terrier mix running down the street. She was wearing a red collar without tags. No one else paid attention except me. I looked at her smiling at me; she followed me for a ways. Finally, I picked her up and carried her to my home just up the street.

I went to the door where my West Highland Terrier, “Buddy,” was waiting to greet me home from school, when my mom spoke to me and said “What have you got there?” I said, “I found her just needing help.” My mom welcomed me in and said, “I’m so proud of you.” I knew what she was talking about. See, my mom and her friend, Melody Coulter, would like Ottumwa to have a county-city dog shelter.

My mom and her friends are wonderful, but still we need more supporters. I think the city of Ottumwa needs to do something about their animal policy.

Please, if she is anybody’s dog, you need to call the Ottumwa Vet Clinic because the police officer told us she only has five days to live. My mom and I walked the dog around the neighborhood, asking if anyone knew her. Nobody recognized her, and we had no choice but to call the police to pick her up in case her owner was searching for her. My mom ran an ad in the Courier’s lost pet section to try to help her owner find her.

Anyway, back to the dog issue. Little dogs like her are dying just because their owners cannot afford to bail them out. That’s what my mother and her friends are working to put a stop to. A lot of our community is not aware that there is no room at Heartland Humane Society; therefore, many good dogs are put down at the vet’s office. Some people don’t find out in time to save there beloved pet.

The police took the little dog. I hid on the side of the house and watched the dog leave. I cried and felt a deep pit in my stomach and about got sick at the thought that she was going to die. My mother reassured me she would make it, but I knew in my heart that was not true.

I know I’m not the only girl in Ottumwa who has felt this sadness. That’s why I am writing this to tell the people of Ottumwa to please, for the sake of the animals, will you please help us by telling our leaders how much Ottumwa needs a municipal shelter.

Hannah Aslesen (age 11)

Ottumwa