Sophie

Sophie is a 15-year-old, cream-coloured Burmese who was brought to the veterinary hospital to be euthanased by her owners simply because they were relocating to a larger property in the hills and were afraid that she'd preyed on the native animals there. (Huh? I can almost hear you say.)

I hate people who conjure up all sorts of excuses. Really.

Being the lousy student on attachment there, i was made the scapegoat to give animals the green dream (read: humane killing) whenever it was required. If i greened Sophie, i'd never forgive myself. She's in perfect health (for a 15-year-old standard) and has an unbelievable affectionate temperament (okay, actually she's just being a Burmese). I just don't see why she doesn't deserve a second chance. It's pathetic how people hanker after having a puppy or a kitten (alright, i'm just being self-righteous here because i'm guilty of that too) and totally disregard the fact that having an adult pet has its advantages as well. Even if we postponed her euthanasia, it has to happen eventually because trying to rehome an old girl like her is just a feat.

Anyway, my conscience got the better of me and i brought her home. It is AGAINST my personal principles to kill an animal that is not sick or suffering. Doesn't it defeat the whole purpose of learning how to treat and care for animals, if i can just kill this perfectly healthy cat without even batting an eyelid? I got a dressing-down from sis with her usual "What if a very,very,very big dog/crocodile/ostrich etc. needs to be euthanased, are you also going to bring it home?" lecture, but she softened when i told her about Sophie's plight. Sis has always loved animals since young, and often got into trouble with Dad when she was in primary school - the reason being the fact that she never gives up trying to "adopt" strays and bringing them home with her in the school bus. I know she'll understand how i feel about Sophie.

I believe Sophie still has a few more good years to go and i'll definitely try my best to give her the good home that she was heartlessly denied of, until the last of her days.