"Be The Change You Want To See In The World"- Mahatma Gandhi

This photograph portrays a lot of feeling.  I find it shows the cats want for help.

 

    

This image was taken on a camping
trip- on the highway- in West Virginia.



     Animal overpopulation is a serious issue throughout the United States.  Animal overpopulation occurs when there are more stray or domestic animals than humans within a given population.  As a result of volunteering at the Wake County Animal Shelter, I have learned within the United States, the animal to human ratio is so unequal that humans resort to euthanasia to help combat the issue.   Also, during the past six weeks I have observed that dozens of cats and dogs have been euthanized throughout my volunteering.  Considering how many animals were put down over a month and a half at the WCAS I am able to predict that every year millions of animals, specifically cats and dogs, are euthanized at shelters throughout the United States.  Shelter euthanasia must be one of the leading causes of death for both species of animals.

This is one of my most beautifully edited and exposed photos.

     Unfortunately, I feel our society does not view animal overpopulation as a serious and tragic issue.  To my knowledge, there are no laws or regulations concerning spaying or neutering your pets. Thankfully laws against animal abuse exist; however, animal overpopulation is certainly a form of animal abuse (or murder) in the long run.  The only ethically successful method I have witnessed to combat animal overpopulation is spaying and neutering.  The other immoral, ignorant methods I have seen are physically forced barriers between animals in order to prevent “accidental” mating and euthanasia.  Setting up forced barriers is a pathetic attempt, in my opinion, and highly unsuccessful because human parents eventually give up and allow their pet(s) to mate or cause a significant amount of frustration for their animal.  Although euthanasia is highly successful in fighting animal overpopulation- it is terribly unethical. 

                Overall I feel our society and country can do much better.  Establishing ethical and animal-safe mandates for spaying and neutering would legally help control animal overpopulation.  Also, spreading awareness about this issue would significantly help teach millions of citizens in the United States and perhaps make them care about it. Relying on chance, lack of knowledge, and the cheapest method are not effective methods to reduce animal overpopulation.



I highly enjoy the spherical symmetry in this photo.



This photo of Maria and her baby proves how animals are desperate for food, safety, and shelter.

After photographing Streaker I planned a theme for my
 images-capture the most strikingly beautiful eyes.

Stephanie's eyes add to my collection.



I had reached a high peak for my
Photoshopping skills by the time I edited
this photo and I feel it resembles what I have learned.



This cat had to most uniquely colored eyes.



This is the cat I have adopted as a result from taking this course. 
She was previously known as Xena in the shelter.  I have re-named
her Stella Blue.  I pick her up on Monday.