The following letter was written by a 6th grade student, upon his finding a deceased animal in his neighborhood, which appeared to have been abused.

We were touched by this young man’s compassionate response to the tragic reality that he discovered – he wanted to do something. He did not just walk by.

We certainly wish that children were not exposed to animal cruelty. We wish we all lived in a peaceful, harmonious world where human violence and animal cruelty did not even exist. But children’s stories and letters bear witness to what they experience in their real world, and of the ways they see animals being treated.

And with more young people becoming concerned and involved in helping people, animals, and our environment, they are helping to achieve this dream of a humane world, and to cause this vision to become reality. Here is his letter. (Note: some details have been removed.)

“Animal cruelty is a sick thing. On November 25, I saw a shocking sight. … I nearly cried. I felt so sorry for it. I felt devastated. … There was a dead dog was in a storm drain.

I immediately wanted to do something. But I thought what can I, a small, short 6th grader, do? I thought, can I make a difference by myself? I called a local animal shelter to ask how I can help stop animal cruelty.

Animal cruelty can hurt two ways, emotionally and physically. Animal cruelty can hurt our life, our parents’ lives, and also children’s lives.

But we all can help make a difference. We all have to work together to help stop animal cruelty. Put yourself in the place of an animal life. Feel how the animals feel.

People who abuse animals should go to prison and get the same punishment their animals got. If you witness such an event, please call a local animal shelter.

You need to take the first step in the fight against animal cruelty. Thank you for your kindness.”

—Submitted by his teacher, Ms. Beth Glass of North Verdemont Elementary School

If you would like to report animal abuse, please call our Humane Officers at (909) 386-1400 ext. 215, or visit http://hssbv.org/programs/cruelty_investigations to make an online report. Your report can be anonymous. If there is something we can do, we are here to help.