Perspective

How we choose to view situations in our life will inevitably define our character, morals, beliefs, everything about us that is real. It is often said we can choose to look at the glass half full or half empty - a simple saying that means so much more if you look deeper into what you see. In the world of animal rescue, we inevitably see bad. We see abuse, neglect, apathy, irresponsibility around every corner. We receive countless phone calls from the public begging for help for their animals that can no longer remain a part of their families. We help strays who have fought the elements and human cruelty - and we often times lose the battle to save their life and never get the chance to show them that the world is so much more than THE heartache they have experienced. We know the statistics of our shelter systems and we know that in the majority of communities, those who enter the system will never leave alive. Its seems every day there are new reasons to look at the glass half-empty. But its perspective that can change the glass to half-full. Yes, there are people who don't care about animal welfare - the same as there are people who don't care about environmental welfare or child abuse - but if we focus on those who do not care, we lose our own sense of caring. We become encapsulated in the misconception that we live in a society that simply will not change and our plight for animal welfare is hopeless - thus leaving the animals without a voice. In reality, there are those who do care about animal welfare, likely millions more than we will ever know. For every companion animal that is tragically killed in our heartless shelter system, there are more than threefold in loving committed homes. As a rescue group, it is up to us to view our task with our glasses half-full. We must embrace and empower those who do care as it is us who HAVE the tools, resources, and knowledge to make a difference. We know that simply feeding strays is not enough, so we must empower and educate those who feed hungry strays that they must be sterilized - we must go so far as to have them sterilized ourselves and show that through collaboration, we can make a difference. We must show caring citizens how to trap feral cats and provide them with resources to have them sterilized and returned. We must educate society of the truths in our shelter systems. We must be organizations that care - both for animals and the people who demand better for the animals. We must not close our hearts for it is our love that will change the future for companion animals. The law of nature states like attracts like - thus like minded people will seek and find other like minded people. When our glasses are half empty, that is what we will attract - those who do not see an end to animal cruelty and shelter killing. It is only when we focus on what we are doing to make a difference will we see the true glory of our plight. As someone who has been and is still in the trenches every day - it is easy to lose focus and momentum. If we can just take a minute to look around - and see the eyes of those we have rescued, those whose lives have changed because we cared, those who are better now than they were before - our glasses will undoubtedly be half-full. In the end, its our perspective that defines us and sets the stage for the day no healthy or treatable companion animals are killed for space or operational control. Please make a lifelong commitment to your pets - don't let them become a statistic.