Jennings was one of six brothers born to a father who drank and ended up leaving his wife and sons. His mother worked hard to support her large family. There were times when there was no food to go around and the children had to go to school with no breakfast. Their mother became ill and could no longer care for her sons. Jennings' two older brothers, George and Walter, went to live with their mom's brother. Larry, who was close to Jennings, left with a strange lady. Jerome, whom Jennings met once, was in a convalescent home because of a heart condition. Gene, the youngest son, was looked after by a neighbour. Jennings was eight years old when he was left at an orphanage. When their mother felt better, which was off and on, the brothers returned home.

It was early evening in Brooklyn when Jennings Michael Burch and his mother were on their way to visit her friend, or that was what Jennings was told. It was not so. His mother told him to be a good boy as they climbed the stairs and entered a red brick building with a wooden door that squeaked. They were met by a nun dressed all in white. His mother was taken to another room to speak with the nun, while Jennings waited outside. His mother came out and took his hand and walked him down the hall and stopped at a door. A man opened the door to a room filled with children. Jennings' mom took off his coat and bent down to kiss and hug him. With tears in her eyes, she told him she would soon be back, but she never returned. When he entered the room filled with children, he began to cry. The nun screamed at him to stop the crying, but when he couldn't stop, she slapped him so hard on the face that he felt a million needles of heat rush to his face and cheek. He was in a home named Home of the Angels. The children who were orphans were called lifers and foster kids were called part-timers. That is what a young boy named Mark told Jennings. He also told Jennings not to think of going home. If he does, then he'll go nuts. Mark told Jennings not to become too close to anyone, because as soon as he did, they would leave and he would never see them again. At bedtime, a kind nun unlocked a cabinet behind the desk. The cabinet was filled with stuffed animals of all kinds. There were dogs, monkeys, rabbits and bears etc. She gave the children whichever animal they wanted. Jennings chose the brown and white dog with the floppy ears and soon named it Doggie. Doggie became Jennings' best friend for life. When the children were fast asleep, the animals were collected and locked up in the cabinet. When Jennings awoke and couldn't find Doggie, Mark told him,"They cage the animals at night. It's the rules." Every night they received their animals.

Jennings endured years of abuse beginning in the institution with a nun, who dragged him across the hard floor and caused him serious injury. A foster mother and her husband needed money, so they took Jennings into their home. She starved him and beat him. The husband returned Jennings to the institution. His back was full of welts and the abuse continued at the next welfare home until........

Besides Doggie, Jennings had another pal named Cal, the bus driver who drove Jennings to school. Jennings loved Cal and Cal returned the love. There was also a policeman that reached out to him.

This is a heart-wrenching and shocking story about Jennings and the physical, verbal and emotional abuse he suffered in his childhood. Jennings was determined to survive despite the hardship.

This is a true story of what went on in institutions and foster care homes and sadly, it is still going on.

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Category	Adoption

They Cage the Animals at Night: The True Story of an Abandoned Child's Struggle for Emotional Survival