A Life Worth Saving

Dr. Sarah Jenkins works at a crowded animal shelter in a struggling town. Every Wednesday

at 4:00 PM, she ends the lives of pets no one wants. It is called Compassion Day,

but it feels like giving up. One cold evening, someone left a battered orange tabby in

a cardboard box outside the door. The cat was old, thin, and blind in one

eye. His ears were torn. A note, written in crayon on the back of an

overdue bill, was taped to his fur. "His name is Barnaby. He eats soft food

only. We have to move to the car. Dad says the car is too small for

a cat. Please don't let him be cold." The next day, Barnaby was marked