“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”
― Dale Carnegie
The pandemic has forced owners to start abandoning their pets with the fear of spreading the virus and not being able to support them anymore; in fact, multiple animal welfare actives got postponed and occurring issues about it are left unattended during quarantine (COVID-19 - Advice and Resources, 2020).
It seems that the issue on animal welfare has become impossible to deal with, especially in a time of crisis. But is it really impossible?
The Power of Social Media towards Animal Welfare Awareness
It is true – the pandemic may have closed our doors to the outside world; however social media presents a paradox on how we can still connect with people even beyond our reach while still being inside the comforts of our homes and practicing social distancing. Truly, it has effective platform to engage with people especially when it comes to communicating, promoting, and maintaining a livelihood (Why Social Media Is Important in 2020, n.d.; United Cities and Local Governments, 2020). With this, animal welfare organizations have reached out to the public and make engagement possible during the pandemic through digital platforms (Jose, 2020). As a result, communicating and and addressing these issues have become more feasible despite everything going on.
Two-Way Streak
The presence of social media is not enough, though. In order for actual change, it requires constant communication as well as the drive of someone to participate. Without proper engagement, the advocacy cannot be fully understood or act upon. Social platforms are mere bridges to connect the public to advocacies like animal welfare; however, the true solution lies within us and our participation. We have broken down the barrier and are starting to break the limitations that the pandemic has brought to the entire world. The solution is in our hands and the only thing that is hindering us is ourselves. It is time for us to collaborate together in order to build a strong and caring community. Indeed, social action is needed more than ever.
Will you be part and kickstart the new generation of social change?
References:
COVID-19 – Advice and Resources. (2020). Retrieved from
https://wsava.org/news/highlighted-news/the-new-coronavirus-and-companion-
animals-advice-for-wsava-members/
Jose, M. (2020). Help Our Furry Friends: Five Animal Welfare Groups in Need of Assistance.
Retrieved from https://ph.asiatatler.com/society/help-our-furry-friends-five-animal-
welfare-groups-in-need-of-assistance
United Cities and Local Governments. (2020). Digital technologies and the COVID- 19
pandemic [PDF file]. Retrieved from
https://www.uclg.org/sites/default/files/eng_briefing_technology_final_x.pdf
Why Social Media Is Important in 2020. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.webfx.com/internet-marketing/why-is-social-media-so-important.html