Hello readers,
First and foremost, I'd like to express my gratitude for your continued support of my blogging efforts. I am grateful for the opportunity to be open and honest with you about my opinions and experiences. I've had my fair share of uneasiness and, dare I say, worry of falling short while working on my objective to win the title of Miss Kansas Outstanding Teen 2022. For my first pageant, I have a lot to learn, a lot to accomplish, and a lot of bold and amazing women striving towards the same goal.
Fear of failure and perfectionism is a liar. I'm not going to let it limit what I can accomplish. Instead i'm learning to be proud of my imperfections and my weaknesses. I am proud of my progress and proud of my unique abilities. Failure isn't fatal, but failing to get up, stay informed and try again might be. Consider how many things would not have happened if icons like Walt Disney, Einstein, Michael Jordan, or even Oprah Winfrey had listened to fear. My teachers at school always talk to us about keeping a growth mindset and asking hard questions to reaching your goals. I've really taken that to heart.
That is why today I want to share about the dangers of letting fear and misinformation shape your mindset on something.
Fear can limit your goals and hinder abilities to accomplish important things. I've found that the majority of people I speak with have a strong desire or love for animals. They may, however, be afraid or misinformed, limiting their willingness to help or even seek help for animals. I say that it's dangerous to stay misinformed and even more dangerous to let fear drive your thinking.
Fear is a component of the vicious cycle that is causing a problem for the welfare of animals and I'd want to talk about it today. I am far from an expert, but I am eager to ask the proper questions, sort through the uncomfortable things, and start the conversation of how to go forward and improve this issue.
I've heard individuals before tell me they were afraid to take an animal to a shelter because they were afraid the animal would be killed. This fear filled idea is hurting the goal of shelters seeking to help animals nationwide.
When considering what is more humane, it is preferable to provide an animal with medical attention, food, and a safe roof over their heads than the risk of exposing them to disease, terrible hunger, and solitude on the streets. Isn't it true that the fewer creatures who suffer, the better? People hate cruelty to animals, yet they may unknowingly be contributing to overpopulation and suffering.
From my own experience at the Kansas Humane Society, I can tell you that they love every animal that walks through their doors. They work relentlessly to offer animals with excellent medical treatment and a loving new home by paying special attention to detail. I've seen the love they have for each animal, the hugs and kisses, the playful tone in their voices, and how they've worked with the community to invest in each animal's care, unite animals with foster homes, and even join with other non-profits to provide animals with much-needed resources to thrive.
Euthanasia is only used as a last resort for animals in pain, suffering, or posing a threat to others. Its a hard decision and a rare one that is sometimes made. It is heartbreaking but better than the alternative of allowing an animal to suffer or transmit the disease to a wider population.
Health matters, and unfortunately, overcrowding persists as a result of misinformation and fear that makes people reluctant to seek out their local animal shelter to ask questions and seek help.
One prime example is "kitten season". Though it sounds adorable, it is yet another important cause of pet overpopulation problem. A well meaning owner may have a unspayed/unneutered cat that produces multiple liters, usually from spring through early winter when the temperature is warmest. The owner may be reluctant to seek help and the overpopulation boom continues.
Think about one unspayed female cat, her mate and all of their offspring, producing two litters per year, with about three surviving kittens per litter. That means this many more cats over the span of nine years:
12 - Year One
67 - Year Two
376 - Year Three
2,107 - Year Four
11,801 - Year Five
66,088 - Year Six
370,092 - Year Seven
2,072,514 - Year Eight
11,606,077 - Year Nine
Diseases are particularly contagious in kittens under the age of six months if they cannot be given the proper care they end up suffering and dying on the streets.
There's no guarantee that each one will find a home.
Again, I ask...what is more humane?
True, not every shelter or rescue is the same. However, that is why I challenge you to be the one to ask the questions, get involved in your community, and find ways to bring postivity to these issues of crisis. Do not be afraid to speak up and ask questions. If you don't like something, do something about it!
Discover ways we can help bring affordability to spaying and neutering services. Do your research before adopting a pet. Consider talking to your local politicians on ways to help with funding of shelters and change laws about specific breeds of animals. Promote pet-inclusive housing in your community and start campaigns to advocate for animal adoption with local shelters/sanctuaries. Share social media posts to help connect pets with their new owners. Consider fostering animals, which is most the effective way to reduce overcrowding in shelters.
Be bold and positive about getting the word out about your goals, but never share alarmist headlines set to scare or send fear to your community. It spreads misinformation and criples progress for the shared goal of saving animals and never is helpful.
Stay "Paw"sitive my friends, do your part, and you will see powerful change happen. I'm cheering you all on.
Your friend,
-Kayla Lowmiller