FIRST PLACE We were on the hunt for a great dog. My family has had many awesome dogs, so not just any dog would do. We drove to the SPCA, hoping we would find our new family member and save a dog while in the process. We looked all around and saw many beautiful dogs that just wanted love. We walked past one kennel and the dog howled as we kept walking, out of his life, maybe he thought. We took a few steps backward, swung our heads around and saw the dog. He had a spotted coat, a tail that looked like it had been dipped in paint, one ear that stood at attention, and the other flopped. It was love at first sight. We took Dexter home; Dexter was the name we had voted on, we thought it fit his personality well. Dexter was one of the best dogs we have ever had.  He bought so much joy to our lives. I have the SPCA to thank for an incredible dog that I spent nine unforgettable years of my life with. If you want a dog like Dexter you should visit the SPCA and adopt today so you can have the pet of your life. Ryan Bernthold Sanger High School Principal Dan Chacon Teacher Janine Langenheim Grade 11	SECOND PLACE Adopting animals helps to ease the unbearable pain and suffering that I endure on a continual basis. As a shelter worker at the C.C.S.P.C.A., emotions are pushed tot heir limits. Helpless animals fleet into the shelter daily, their owners unable to provide a proper home for them. As their caretakers stroke their heads for the last time, scratch behind their ear for the last time, their eyes, a glassy dark brown, will gaze with up to them with unconditional love. As unbearable as it is for the owners, it is just as excruciatingly painful for me. As they leave, their pet’s fearful face unaware of what’s to come, they search the empty longingly for a familiar scent. As heartbreaking as it is, this is my daily work. It’s repetitive scene from a video to be watched continually throughout the day. But to ease the heartache, a smiling face and eyes filled with joy and compassion is all that’s needed. When they come into the shelter, their loving arms are ready to harbor the animal within a tender embrace. Their adoption never could have meant so much more to them or to me. Mallory Albers Rafer Johnson Junior High Principal Laurie Goodman Terri Wilson 8th Grade
THIRD PLACE I am a volunteer at the CCSPCA. Seeing all the lonely pets at this shelter has affected me. Why are people getting their cats and dogs from breeders, when they can save a pet’s life, reduce the number of pets on the streets, and feel good about themselves? Adopt from CCSPCA If you are looking for a pet to own. There are about six to eight million dogs and cats in the shelter. Every year, about half are put to sleep. Adopting from SPCA won’t only make you feel good about yourself, but you will be having an innocent pet’s poor life! Dogs and cats come to the shelter daily, and more than half the time, these pets are stays or lost. SPCA is taking these pets off of the streets and into a safe place, but only temporarily. It is your job to adopt from the shelter if your want a pet. Even adopting just one pet will be save a living creature, reduce the number of pets on the streets, and make you feel so much better. Jasmine Kaleka Rafer Johnson Junior High Principal Laurie Goodman Teacher Terri Wilson 8th Grade	FOURTH PLACE Just think...that every minute of every day, more than one misfortunate cat or dog has its life taken away because there is just not enough room for it in the animal shelter. As cats and dogs come into the shelter they take up more space and continue the cycle of more deaths for the animals. Just think...that innocent lives are being abandoned because their owners did not make the effort to take care of them, watch them so that they do not run away, or to love them as they should. Just think...if every family in Fresno adopted a shelter dog or cat instead of buying an expensive pure breed cat or dog, the number of cats, dogs, and other animals living in the shelter would go down and the CCSPCA could be a no kill shelter. Just think...of what you can do by adopting a dog or cat form the CCSPCA, and you will know that the cute, little, furry face looking back at you, is telling you that it loves you for saving it from euthanasia. Just think! Aly Klemm Central High School ( East Campus) Principal Camilla Sutherland Teacher Lori Herb 10th Grade
FIFTH PLACE The CCSPCA is a wonderful place to adopt animals. I myself have adopted two dogs from the CCSPCA. It’s not just a great place to find family pets, they can also spay and neuter the animals. Two pups abandon on the side of the road, just 3 weeks old. Slim chances of survival with no foo, shelter, or water. A typical story of mankind abandoning unwanted animals, when all hope seems lost, a good Samaritan finds the pups and gives them to the CCSPCA. Two weeks go by before they are totally prepared to be adopted. Just by chance, a young boy in kindergarten and his parents came in looking for a puppy the same day the two pups were able to be adopted. Although the family was only looking for one dog, they decided to adopt both. Now, as corny as the story sounds it’s the way I adopted my dogs. Abandonment and over population are major problems that we as people, must address to protect our furry friends. Did you know that only 1/5th of the animals hurt have homes and the majority are not spayed or neutered? By adopting, as simple as it sound, this makes a huge difference. Travis C. Ferrell Sanger High School Principal Dan Chacon Teacher Janine Langenheim 11th Grade	SIXTH PLACE The CCSPCA is a place for unwanted pets. People are allowed to adopt these pets. Millions of pets are put into the shelters each year. Each one of those pets is in need of something, someone who will adopt them and give them a home. Also these pets need someone who will love them. You should adopt from the CCSPCA so every pet has a home. These pets need a home more than anything. Pets need companions, someone to have fun with and share good times. Pets need someone to love them and to love in return. Seeing all the commercials on the television that show the pets that are in shelters are very heartbreaking. I feel so bad for all of those animals. It makes me want to go down there and adopt a pet. They should be able to grow up in a house with people to care for them. An adopted pet is the best pet to have. They are more caring and affectionate than others. They won’t take you fro granted. They will be grateful for what you are doing for them. So if you want to make a pet’s day, adopt from the CCSPCA. Jamie Peabody Rafer Johnson Junior High School Principal Laurie Goodman Teacher Terri Wilson  8th Grade