１０月７日（木）武生商工会議所で、
第６４回福井県中学校英語弁論大会が行われました。
本校からも３年生が出場し、３位に入賞しました。
おめでとうございます。
弁論の原稿を載せますので、読んでみてください。
分かりやすくなるよう、１文ごとに改行してあります。
また、段落ごとに１行あけてあります。
Title: One Small Life, One Big Love
Tiger, Tigger, Leo, and Rin, I have had four cats as long as I could remember.
My mom told me that all of them were adopted from an animal shelter.
Now, I only have one cat, because the older 3 cats have all passed away due to complications of old age.
The death of my three cats forced me to feel and think deeply about the preciousness of life.
I think of the cats like my real family because they were in my house before I was born.
So, I spent my whole life surrounded by their affection and love.
They were so sweet and adorable.
They always made me feel happy, especially when I felt sad, they were next to me and cheered me up.
They had a special power that was like magic to me.
As you know the lifespan of human beings and cats are different.
According to the Ministry of the Environment, cats that live more than 15 years are considered very old in cat years.
My three cats that went to heaven were 15, 16, and 17 years old.
For reference, 76 in human years is about 15 in cat years.
In their last days, they suddenly became very weak, and stopped eating and drinking.
They also stopped running around the house and would just lay down most of the day.
I was very shocked and sad to see them become so weak day by day.
When I saw their last days and their last minutes, it was the saddest experience of my life.
I missed them so much.
At the same time that I was feeling this sadness, I realized the importance of being a part of their lives all the way to the end.
I also realized the responsibility that we have towards our pets, all the way up to their last moments.
Now, let’s think for a moment.
Why do people want to have pets?
I think that many people buy or adopt pets because they are cute.
Some people want to have pets because they are lonely.
It’s true, pets are very cute, and we can be happy with them, but it is hard to take care of them, especially when they become old and sick.
To be responsible for their lives is very important, but it is not easy.
Recently, I often hear information about animal protection in the news, and there are many problems that are very concerning, like large-scale breeding and culling.
Also, about 10,000 dogs and cats are abandoned by their owners and taken to animal shelters every year.
We need to take these issues seriously.
When people decide to have a pet, I think they need to consider how many years they are possibly going to have to care for that pet and how much effort is needed.
I think we have to realize that once we decide to have a pet, we must be responsible for that pet for their whole life.
Because many people start taking care of pets, but don’t realize the responsibility involved, many pets are abandoned in the middle of their lives.
Those pets have to live on the streets or in animal shelters.
Even with this problem, pet shops continue to breed pets so people can buy them.
There are more animals than people who can take care of them, so unwanted animals are culled.
It is said that Japan is still underdeveloped regarding animal protection.
I want more animals to live happily in a better environment and with animal protection, like some European countries.
I was very sad to lose my cats, but I appreciate all the happiness and precious times they gave me while they were alive.
I miss them very much, but I believe they continue to live in my memories and in my heart; and I will always be with them.
Pets can be our friends, become a part of our family and give us many things.
I hope in return everyone will be more interested in animal protection, and that more people will be able to feel the preciousness of even one small life.
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