Just the other day a friend informed me that she needed a break from the myriad of animal abuse actions in which she generally participates. All the sadness and seemingly uselessness of fighting such a widespread problem was getting her down. Such is the case when you care enough to try to make a difference but come to realize the enormity of this often times heart wrenching endeavor.

I tried to cheer her a bit and in so doing realized that coming in contact with so many cruel and abusive actions coupled with the very real feeling of being too small to make a real difference may be why more people don’t take the time to take a stand against those that harm our animal companions, farm and circus animals, laboratory animals and wildlife.

My advice to her is something I absolutely must keep in the forefront of my mind. As the Animal Life Site Editor I subscribe to a great many humane organizations. I receive dozens of action notices a day – all indicating some heinous activity conducted by humans against animals. They almost always include gruesome videos or haunting pictures that have caused me many a sleepless night. These heroic organizations often want donations but more importantly they want people to take some sort of action to help spread the word to those in the right position to make a difference.

I have long since stopped watching these videos or looking too long into the saddened eyes of those creatures that need our help. What I instead do, in earnest, is sign petitions, contact my legislatures, donate where I can (without guilt for not being able to give more), and tell my friends, family and readers all about each issue so we can increase our voice and be heard – LOUDLY.

None of us singly can change the world – but each of us can speak up and try to make a difference. If we touch even one other person in our entire lifetime and change their mind and heart on any humane issue and they then do the same well then we have been successful in our efforts. For what is the other alternative – to put our heads back in the sand and allow those without a voice to continue to suffer.

Those that care and take but a minute out of their day to make a difference are the real heroes – all those minutes add up to make big changes. When this world gets you down, as it so easily can, take a breath and know that you are not alone. Tiny steps toward change for the good are better than stagnating in a world of inequity.