Through compassion in the interviews, surveys, and immersion, the group soon discovered that the community within the said institutions were animal lovers similar to them, and had an advanced if not authoritative knowledge and understanding of proper animal handling and health upkeep. Upon realizing this and being educated on the more systemic issues animal well-being faces, the group readjusted their initial approach to the community as well as their perspective. Compassion, at the end of the day, gave the group a clearer idea of what it is they need to do to help their chosen community, as well as what needs to be done, by individuals, by the government, and by society, to further the campaign for animal well-being. 

Their awareness of other issues such as the spread of rabies, the uncooperative nature of citizens, as well as the increasing rate of stray dogs and cats allowed them to further understand and empathize with the plights of their chosen communities. Furthermore, awareness of other avenues regarding animal shelters was also attained, such as the use of rescue dogs as therapy dogs and police dogs. Awareness and clarifications on polarizing and controversial topics was also attained when the group asked about the necessity and frequency of euthanasia. Awareness, and by extension the active choice to pursue it and the willingness to receive it, is key to any individual or group that seek to act on any public issue, as lacking awareness would often lead to misguided attempts at campaigning or pursuing action which at best would lead to the spread of misinformation and at worst can lead to violence.

Throughout this project, the group learned a great deal about trust, in regards both to each other as group members, and towards their chosen communities of the QCAC as well as even the dogs. They encountered many struggles both within their members as well as with their community. Often these struggles would be conflicts in schedules or disagreements in what direction to take the project towards. However, thanks to the openness of the members to trust each other’s word and intentions, no friction was generated within the group or with the community. Potential points for conflict or confusion were solved with inquiry, rescheduling, clarification, consultation, and readjustment. Furthermore, the initial precognition that animal pounds placed the well-being of cities above that of animals was also set aside in favor of trusting their due processes and stated prioritization of animal well-fare whilst maintaining an anthropocentric utilitarian presentation of their operations’ successes. 

Of course, since the group had 6 members, all of which had their own ideas and intentions on what topics to pursue and what methodologies to incorporate, a lot of those thoughts and concepts had to be trimmed and cut to make way for the larger group decisions, often helmed by the leader. 

The project led the group to learn the value and importance of dedication, especially in circumstances such as these where events do not necessarily play out in the most flattering way to the whims of any individual member. The maintained enthusiasm and unfaltering will and commitment of each member to each other, to the group, and to the greater goals of building community values and skills, and bringing good to the world, ultimately resulted in a compounding dedication that fostered an unyielding cohesion within the group, allowing them to continue moving forward even in drastic  direction changes. 

Organization was also a key skill and value that the group grew into incorporating as they proceeded with their tasks in  order to provide themselves structure and stability in their pursuit of their ends. From delegation of tasks to the assignment of roles and  responsibilities in paper writing and interviews, the group ensured to properly allow each member enough time to rest, relax, and express themselves, while maintaining an efficient and timely work output schedule that played on the strengths and compatibilities of each member to their delegated tasks. 

Up until the day of implementation did the group see their improvement on organization bear fruit, as the members split into two groups (which occasionally bled into each other or had members swap stations) that manned the seminar and the vaxxdrive respectively. Overall, as the project progressed and the members slowly started to get more comfortable with working with each other, the organization of their methods increased drastically as they learned to maximize each other’s strengths and maximize the time they had with each other and with the parties they required communications with.

Animal companions, as realized by the members, have always been present for people and have always been a strong emotional support system for those in need. In a way, people have started to take their presence for granted and have dwindled in their showings of appreciation and gratitude for the loyalty and companionship of these creatures. Because humans spend so much time in the presence of dogs and cats, they tend to forget that these animals have struggles as well and do not exist slowly for their amusement and pleasure. Hence, this project was ultimately realized to be an act of gratitude for these animals. Likewise, upon hearing the anecdotes and intentions of the animal related government institutions, the group also reflected upon the fact that these people were also in some ways taken for granted. This community was also not shown the appropriate gratitude that they should have been given their service and contribution to the upkeep of modern society and the betterment of animal welfare. 

This severe lack of appreciation and gratitude towards animals and those that protect them is ultimately at the heart of this particular issue plaguing society, the group realized. And as such, the culmination of the project, as well as the following work after its completion, can then be seen as a work to show these important facets in our lives the gratitude that they so rightfully deserve.