Always be kind to animals, boys and girls

HELLO boys and girls,
How is everything this week?
Let me tell you a story that is both sad and happy. I’m glad to tell you it has a happy ending so don’t be too concerned about the sad part.
It starts just a few nights ago. I was snug by the fire trying to catch up on all the news in The Tuam Herald while Aunt Molly took Freeway, our little dog, out for a walk. That little dog just loves trotting out in the evening.
So off they went for their stroll. I was trying to figure out what we would go to in the Arts Festival. In the end I decided on everything. I’ve been busy and the Tuam festival is coming up. Happy times!
Anyway, we’re coming to the sad part. Mollyand Freeway were just coming near home when a car drove by. She had her visibility vest on so she could be safe and seen.
Now brace yourselves for a shock — but didn’t some mean man in the car throw a puppy out the window and drive off. Can you imagine it? The poor thing didn’t know what happened.
Molly took it in her arms and comforted it. It just didn’t know what had happened. It was abandoned just like that! She brought it home and we put it by the fire to warm up. It was so young that it didn’t mind as long as it had company.
Even Freeway didn’t mind and let her tug and play with him. It was a lovely little dog but it had been very badly treated. It was starving and neglected. Even Cuddles didn’t mind it.

Can you believe boys and girls that people would be so cruel to starve and neglect a poor dog and then just throw it out a car window when they wanted to get rid of it?
It’s a horrible thought but there are cruel people in the world.
This is why you have to be extra kind to all animals so you can make up for the cruel, stupid idiots who mistreat some of them.
Of course, you all know this. I know from your letters you look after your pets and have fun with them. But never, ever, think it is even a joke to be unkind to an animal. If you come across one in trouble, do help it.
Now for the happy ending. We named our little dog Molly after Aunt Molly. We took her to a nice vet in Tuam who fixed her up and gave her all the medicine and shots she needed.
I can tell you she was getting lively and nearly had Rose Cottage pulled apart. We contacted the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and they did some quick work.
The next day we had the little dog in our car and we took her all the way to Mountbellew where the SPCA found a home for her.
We were barely back in Rose Cottage when we got a call from them. Molly was settling in and the children of the house were delighted with her.
So out of a very bad deed, something very good happened. That neglected little dog is bouncing around today because Aunt Molly took pity on her and all those good people, the vet, who didn’t charge us a penny by the way, and the SPCA people were there to help.
I just thought I’d tell you this little story and remind you all how important it is to take care of your pets and if someone is being cruel to an animal, be brave and do what you can to stop it. I’m glad we did, and so is little Molly.
Bye for now,
Uncle Jasper.