Once, as a child, I wondered why exactly so many animals roamed the streets looking malnourished and unwell with no homes to return to. Now, I know that many factors affected the present we are currently living in, and one of it is because of our inaction as a community. Some people may want to volunteer in helping but lack financial resources, time, knowledge of animals, or awareness. Another major factor behind animal overpopulation is the continuous breeding of stray animals and the lack of spaying and neutering of both housed animals and strays. As the numbers grow, it becomes more difficult for animal rescue centers to provide enough food, shelter, and medical care for all the animals they rescue. As a result, centers like DARV receive limited support while the number of animals needing help around us continues to grow, resulting in overcrowding. This places additional pressure on volunteers and available resources, making it harder to ensure that every animal receives the care and attention they deserve.

As a child of God, I believe that everyone is called to be compassionate stewards of God's creation by caring for animals and encouraging others to do the same. So I believe that we can create lasting changes by raising awareness about responsible pet ownership, encouraging adoption rather than buying pets, promoting spaying and neutering, and organizing campaigns or donations for other rescue centers alongside DARV.