Editor’s note: The following speech was delivered by Reese Moore at the Balmoral 4-H Club communications event.
Winners in each category will advance to the Area Communications event on March 22 at Balmoral School. The public is encouraged to attend and hear presentations from members representing the Balmoral, East Selkirk, Selkirk Silver Spurs, Teulon, Minerva and Argyle 4-H clubs.
When Reese Moore set out to get a dog, she didn’t just ask her parents — she developed what she calls a “guaranteed eight-step process.” The Balmoral 4-H member delivered her humorous and heartfelt speech at the club’s recent communications event, where she captured the audience with a story that blended persistence, family dynamics and a very determined love of dogs.
Below is Reese Moore’s speech, as presented:
How to Get a Dog — An Easy Step-by-Step Guide
You might think getting a dog is simple. You go to the shelter and take home the first puppy that looks at you with big, sad eyes. But my process is… a tad more dramatic.
Chairperson, honourable judges, fellow 4-Hers, friends, dog lovers, and people who are just here for the snacks…
Today I am going to share with you my guaranteed eight-step process on how to get a dog.
Step 1: Be Born with a Passion for Dogs
It’s very important you don’t skip this step.
When I was little, we had two dogs: Charlie and Maggie. They were my furry best friends.
But then, when I was two, my little brother was born. Apparently, the house could not handle two dogs, a baby and my powerful toddler energy. So the dogs had to go.
That day I realized something important:
My brother cost me my two best friends.
I have forgiven him.
Mostly.
I spent my childhood pointing at every dog I saw and saying, “That one. I want that one.”
And each time my parents would say, “We’ll see,” which every child knows is code for “Nope. Never. Not in a million years.”
Step 2: Break Your Leg
Literally.
Now, I am not recommending this, per se — it just worked out for me.
When I was three, I fell down the stairs and broke my leg. Fast forward to when I was 10. That same leg was giving me trouble, so my parents took me to a physiotherapist.
While she was examining me, she noticed something.
She said, “Hmm… her back looks a little crooked.”
Which was a fairly unexpected outcome of my leg inspection.
She told my parents, “You should probably book an appointment with a doctor.”
Now you’ll just need to bear with me — this seemingly unrelated and random leg-back inspection story would eventually get me… a dog.
Step 3: Get a Scoliosis Diagnosis
This sounds scary and a bit extreme, but in my very complicated “Get a Dog” plan, it’s a critical step.
We went to the doctor. They took X-rays and MRIs and CT scans. They stared at the screen and went, “Yep. That spine is definitely crooked.”
Congenital scoliosis — which means my body had been working on my get-a-dog plan my whole life and I didn’t even know it.
Step 4: Write a Speech About Wanting a Dog
So naturally, I thought: “I know how to handle this medical crisis… I’ll write a persuasive speech about why I deserve a dog.”
I joined 4-H and wrote a whole speech about wanting a dog.
I poured my heart out:
• I talked about responsibility.
• I talked about companionship.
• I offered to trade in my brother for the dog.
Then I performed that speech and actually won first place at club and area communications.
If public speaking can’t get you a dog, what’s the point?
Step 5: Start a Petition
After my 4-H speech, I thought: “Well, if my parents won’t listen to one person… maybe they’ll listen to fifty.”
So I started a petition.
I walked around asking people:
“Do you think I deserve a dog?”
Most people said, “Of course!” Because they are kind, reasonable human beings… and also they probably didn’t want to be part of a child’s villain origin story.
I collected 50 signatures.
Fifty people publicly agreed that I should have a dog.
This still wasn’t enough to convince my parents.
Step 6: Have a Doctor Tell You That You Need Life-Altering Surgery
This is where the plan gets a little intense.
My scoliosis got worse, and my doctor said I would need major surgery to fix my spine.
We’re talking bolts, rods and recovery.
Now again, I am not recommending this. But in my story, this was a turning point.
Step 7: Strategically Use Human Emotions
Also known as: Make Your Dad Feel Really, Really Bad for You.
The surgery was tough. But I’m pretty brave.
My dad had to watch his kid go through something hard. Somewhere along the way, his defences collapsed.
One day in the hospital he finally decided:
“Okay. You know what? She deserves a dog.”
Ten years of wearing down his spirit…
Ten years of relentless begging…
Ten years of emotional speeches, physical trauma and public support…
Success.
Step 8: Pick Your Dog and Go Get Him
Last, but definitely not least: choose the dog.
At this point, I had been preparing for this moment my whole life.
I had watched every dog video on the internet.
I had mentally named at least 47 imaginary dogs.
I was ready.
We picked the dog we wanted. The next day, my dad went to pick him up.
My dad walked in, and there he was.
Voilà!
I now had a dog. He is a cute little Morkie named Sprocket.
Now, do you need to follow every single step exactly like I did to get a dog?
Probably not.
In fact, I strongly suggest skipping the broken leg and the surgery part.
But there are two things you definitely should take from my process:
• Persistence works.
• And… dogs are absolutely worth it.
