I like dogs. Okay that's the understatement of the year. I love dogs. Since I was very small, my dogs have been an integral part of our family. They've each gotten a stocking at Christmas and a special treat on their birthday and many, many, many hours of belly rubbing. When their knees gave out and they got cancer, we took them to the vet and paid for surgery and ensured that they would live long and happy lives. We still loved them and cared for them when they were kinda blind and kinda deaf and kinda graying around the muzzle. We still loved them when they were young and frisky and tore apart sneakers and newspapers and towels. We still loved them when they woke us up at three AM and refused to go back to sleep because there was a thunder storm. We stayed devoted to our most beloved companions, and we reaped their infinite love. They slept on our beds and played in the park and were given a few too many treats for being so gosh darn cute. My dogs have been my constant companions and my biggest fans.

So of course it breaks my heart when I see any dog that's not so fortunate as my own. When I hear stories of abuse and brokenness and hunger and death and fear, my heart breaks a little bit more. I cannot count all of the fragments that have been splintered away by the cruel ax of animal cruelty and carelessness.

According to ASPCA, 3.9 million dogs enter shelters every year in the US, and a third of those dogs are killed. The ASPCA estimates that 10,000 puppy mils operate in the US, tens of thousands of dog fighters illegally harm hundreds of thousands of dogs, and thousands of dogs are victims of animal hoarding and abandonment by their owners. How repulsive are these statistics in this day and age? And how terrifying is it that these numbers are only reflective of the US?

So in the angry righteousness that stirs in my heart at midnight when I have read the thousandth heart wrenching story on the Internet, I had an idea. This idea blossomed into a plan, and this plan now stands as a proposal and a plea to you. I am imploring you to ponder these points and to act in some capacity towards change.

Here is how we can save dogs.

1. Pitbulls are not predators!

If you've ever stepped foot into an animal shelter, you've probably been overwhelmed with the number of pit bulls that you see. Or perhaps you see none at all because so many people are afraid of these "vicious" and "violent" dogs. Fact check time guys. Dogs are in many ways a reflection of their owners. If you act with violence toward a dog and prod it into anger and hate, then yes, you'll have a dangerous fighting dog on your hands. But if you treat your dog with the dignity and care it deserves, if you can act with kindness, then you will be rewarded a hundredfold with a dutiful and cuddly best friend. I have seen "infamous" breeds melt into a mushy puddle of snuggling in an instant, watched as these dogs have acted with quiet love toward small children.

So how can we eradicate this stigma? For one thing, we can educate the public. The best way to stop fear is to rationalize and break the stressor down. People need to see the lovable and soft side that lies in so many big dogs. Let's spread around those pictures of pit bulls posing with bunnies and newborn babies. Let's tell the world why fighting dogs fight and how they can still be saved.

For another thing, let's get the government in on this. Let's stop banning certain breeds of dogs from living in communities because this justifies that there is something inherently scary about them. Let's stop living in a fear that is justified by crimes that are still flourishing in every single state. Let's get authorities to track down these tens of thousands of dog fighters, and let's rehabilitate these victims.

2. Killing can't be a solution!

It's terrible that a million dogs must lose their lives because they are viewed as scary or a waste of space in a cramped facility or because they are too old to be considered cute and adoptable anymore or because they are sick. So why not end euthanasia as we know it? Why not pass some legislation to prevent it, and let the power of the government empower the rights of man's best friend? I propose laws stating that euthanasia may only be prescribed in cases of dire medical injuries as prescribed by a licensed and credited vet. If the suffering of the animal is deemed to be too great (if it were unable to accept any peace from medical treatments), then it may be humanely euthanized.

But here's the issue- it costs a shelter around $50 to euthanize a dog. In the cold view of business, this cheap alternative eliminates the shelter of pesky problems and frees up space and saves time and money. But what if there was more space in shelters? What if there were less dogs on the streets and more dogs that were safe in loving homes? That dream can become a reality with point 3.

3. Spaying/neutering and microchipping are overlooked solutions to fix the major problem!

Why are shelters so crowded- because they are filled with homeless dogs. Why are there so many homeless dogs- one reason is that there are so many unplanned doggie pregnancies. What if it was mandatory for all pet owners to spay/neuter their dogs if they did not intend to responsibly raise a litter of puppies? And what if spaying/neutering, a process that can cost as much as $200, was provided as a free service by local governments? By providing this resource, shelters will gradually empty in a few years time as less and less puppies are born on the streets. Initiatives can be made to recover dogs that wander the streets and spay/neuter them so as to reduce the number of stray colonies.This process will also aid in lowering the price of dog adoptions in shelters, which will make adoptions more feasible for some families. If microchipping was more widely used, then fewer dogs would be left in shelters because they would be easier to locate.

4. Better aid must be given to dogs that are living in shelters now!

For the millions of dogs that currently reside in shelters, conditions can be tough. Dogs are often scared by their new surroundings, are surrounded by dozens of other dogs, and do not receive the fresh air and exercise that their more hyper bodies crave. Some dogs have spent their entire lives in shelters, and quite frankly, they deserve to know the security of a home. That is why I propose a new design to shelters.

I think that the most effective shelters provide a sense of warmth and normalcy to a dog's life, and this is most important in the cases of dogs that are often doomed to long residencies in shelters (the sick, the elderly, the overly-excited). Shelters should be configured like houses with spaces set aside for peace and quiet as well as social interaction. Dogs can be grouped into like-temperments and breeds, and they can be assigned an "apartment" area. This would consist of a room with blankets and dog beds and their food and water dishes. It would be their safe space with some toys and plenty of space to spread out and sleep. For all intents and purposes, it would function as a bedroom, and it should resemble a household.

For example, a room can be made for active mid-sized dogs, for dogs recovering from heart worm, for puppies and their mothers, or for dogs that suffer from some physical handicap. While the open floor plan that most shelters favor provides housing for more dogs, it does not always allow for the privacy that some dogs crave and the more personal attention that they require. Large, fenced yards are also a necessity. By allowing dogs to run and exercise, they will be more content and well-behaved.

5. Make the people more aware!

Last, and perhaps more importantly, awareness needs to be spread about the deplorable treatment of animals in America. The more people know, the more they will demand change. The more people demand change, the more that government officials will be forced to take action. It is crucial that animal rights legislation is passed that explicitly defines animal cruelty crimes and their punishments. Protest puppy mills until governments take a firm stand in rescuing the dogs and shutting down the business. Protest dog fighting until the back alley dealing is a thing of the past. Make the fight for Fido a priority that cannot be ignored.

Make people aware of the good that they can do. Do you realize what you are capable of? Do you know how important the donation of a stack of newspapers or a broom can be? Do you know how impactful an hour a week of dog walking can be? Do you realize that a donation of time, money, or resources, no matter how small, can literally save a shelter?

Help me fight for Fido.