My daughter's pet compassion
This morning as I was getting my daughter ready for school I was also preparing the cats to go to the vet. They are getting spayed today. My daughter asked what I was doing and I said the cats had to go to the vet. She asked if they were sick and I said no. Well if they aren't sick why do they need to go to the vet she asks. And I say they need to get spayed so they can't have babies and that when they come home they will have a cut on their bellies and we will have to be very gentle with them. Will it hurt? she wants to know. I tell her yes but they will be asleep when the surgery happens and will have some medicine to help with the pain. She gets really quiet. Then it is time to walk her to school. She keeps her head down and I notice that she is sobbing quietly to herself, trying to get her emotions under control. "I don't want my kittens to get hurt. I don't think this is a good idea Mommy", she says through the tears streaming down her face. "I know" I say "but they will be fine and it is something we really need to do." I hold her for a few minutes and just let her cry there on the sidewalk. I promise her everything will be okay and we begin our trek to the school again. I tell her teacher she is having a hard time and why. As I leave our eyes meet and her bottom lip trembles. It is I who walks home silently sobbing down the sidewalk for my daughter who cannot see past the love and concern for her pet to the greater good of pet population control.