Make the connection

This week I came face to face with reality. As part of my animal health training I am required to work a certain number of shifts at the Animal Care and Control Center, better known as the city pound. It is one thing to hear that there are a lot of unwanted animals and it is quite another to face a roomful of animals that are waiting their turn for euthanasia. Suddenly there is a connection.

I have started to notice that most people don't want the connection, no one wants to face that because its heartbreaking and ugly, and in the moment I felt hopeless. This goes for all the things that we turn a blind eye to because we can. I know that there are starving people, war and injustice just to name a few, but these things are easily put out of our heads because they don't effect us personally. The world needs people like us to make connections to the world around us. This is how we become the change we want to see. I could talk your face off about how important it is to support rescue groups and to spay or neuter your pet after making my connection. Obviously you can't become an advocate for every cause out there, but find something you care about and get passionate about it. The charities Silent River gives to is a great place to start. Don't be afraid to get out there, it's when we stop sticking our heads in the sand that change happens.