YARP hello from Elise! Today I will be reporting on stray animals in Yerevan. There are a lot of buildings in Yerevan, and the stray cats live next to the garages of those buildings. Stray dogs tend to live in small fields within residential neighborhoods. It’s a problem because some people get annoyed [some are actually okay with it] and the animals don’t get much food.
Well, now I know what you are thinking. You are probably thinking “Oh, cool!” or “Oh my God! I would not want to live there!” I am an animal lover, so here is how I feel about stray animals. In my building we have a family of stray cats. The mother cat has a grey cat with a coat like rain clouds and green eyes. The father cat (who you don’t see very often) has an orange coat with white stripes similar to a tiger. They have four kittens. The first kitten has a grey coat like the mother cat, only darker eyes. The second kitten is all black like coal. The third kitten is light gray with faint stripes and orange spots on its back. And finally, the fourth kitten is like the third kitten only with an orange spot on the back of its head and back. I am one of those people who is okay with having stray animals around.
Again, the stray dogs usually roam the little fields next to the buildings. Other dogs will roam the sidewalks or gardens. One time, Isabelle, my cousin Suren, my grandmother and I were walking and suddenly this cute little white dog came half walking half running behind us. He followed us all the way home until we were at the fourth to last turn where he crossed the road and we departed.
These animals are slowly getting homes and we do everything we can to help. We feed them, wash them, and play with them. We hope you can do something to help, too.
In conclusion, on the one hand, I am glad about having stray animals around because I can play with them. At home, I only have a fish as a pet. On the other hand, I feel sad about this because these animals get a meal only once a day so they have to go through rummaging through the trash. I think that these stray animals should get homes.
Here is a helpful site if you are interested in stray animals: http://www.worldanimalprotection.org/
Dear Elise,
I think it is so cool that you get to see all of these different stray animals. I just visited the ASPCA in Ithaca, NY and it was so fun to see all of the kittens. But it was also a little sad because they were all in cages and desperate for attention. But there was a sign that said “You cannot put your fingers through the cages or touch the cats unless you are serious about adoption.” But there were alot of people touching them anyhow and some of the cats tried to get to the back of the cages but some liked the attention. It was kind of confusing for them! Anyways, you guys are having valuable experience and I appreciate you sharing it.
Dear Anamika, thank you for the comment. I would really like it if you passed the blog onto Jai.
It would be cool to go to Poland and to India. – Elise
Cool topic, Elise. I think you or Isabelle told me about the dogs and cats. I like the idea for a blog. I wish I was bilingual! See you in fifth grade!
Phoebe 🙂
What a lovely piece. I love stray animals too, especially when the community help look after the animals like you are doing. When I was small, like you I used to travel to my parent’s countries in the summer, for me it was Poland and India. In both countries there were stray cats and dogs and I would always make friends with them.
You are writing a wonderful blog here, I will pass on the link to Jai and perhaps you will hear from him.
Hugs from Boston,
Anamika
What a well-written and convincing essay! I really liked the detailed and vivid descriptions, and especially the conclusion. The link to the website at the end really made the reader feel like there was something tangible that she/he could do on this issue. Well done!
P.S.– I have a stray betta fish here in my home– he keeps following me around. Any advice?