Nicole Goldberg

It is no secret that I am a devout animal lover with an fondness for the four legged tail waggers. Having grown up in a family dedicated to funding humane societies, it was only natural for me to dedicate my time to aiding an animal rescue organization in my hometown of New York City. Such involvement provided me with direct insight into the impact of human negligence on these innocuous creatures; however, it was not until I witnessed the countless strays roaming the landscape of San Juan, Puerto Rico, that I recognized the prevalence of this issue on a global scale. One night, while making our way downtown for a dinner reservation, I spotted a small black labrador whose head was peeking out from one of the many shrubs that scattered the adjacent land. Initially, I was captivated by his precious face, but upon seeing his full body unveiled, it was his prominent ribs nearly protruding from beneath his skin that pulled me toward him with gaping eyes. My parents, although animal advocates themselves, urged my sister and I to continuing walking so as to not be late for our dinner. However, I could not simply ignore the malnourished pup who was evidently in need of assistance. So, I sprinted to the nearest convenience store I could locate as my family stood watch and returned with several cans of dog food that I strategically placed near, what I believed to be, the puppy’s makeshift shelter. Later that night, we made a special trip back to ensure that the food we left had been eaten and, sure enough, it had been. While I was disappointed by my inability to further aid the puppy and track his future status, I rest assured that night with the hope that a full stomach would carry him into the following day.