Solving problems can be challenging in our daily life if we have the issue at hand and lack appropriate steps to guide us in tackling the problem. We can find solutions to challenging and straightforward problems alike by approaching them in a particular way. Irrespective of the problem naturally, you can condense it to purify and simpler forms that will enable you to uncover the exact question (Dachls, 2011). This discussion is an illustration of a systematic process of solving a problem within one’s environment, especially concerning issues related to dog upkeep.
Whenever we get dogs as pets in our homes, we tend to fail to teach them the right way. And thus, we also fail to take care of them by controlling their birth rate. Recently, dog nuisance in our community had risen to a significantly higher level. This was irritating since the dogs messed all over the place, and they even defecated at our door steps severally. However, the biggest problem was that population of dogs increased drastically, and this saw an increase in the number of stray dogs, which were not friendly towards the people. For instance, sometimes back a resident was bitten by a stray dog and died while in the hospital due to rabies. These incidences instilled fear among residents, and even mail delivery persons could not deliver respective orders in fear of dog attacks.
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The situation was becoming ugly and as a patriot, I felt it was my responsibility to act before losing more lives. So, I approached a friend of mine who was a vet, to discuss ways of ending the issue. Michael has immense experience with animals because he was an employee of the Animal Control department. We discussed the matter together, after which he advised me to conduct an extensive research about the root cause of the problem (Dachls, 2011). After completing my research, Michael advised me to approach all the members in my community because it would be difficult to the problem without the willingness of the community. In fact, it is logical that once you have spotted a problem with someone, it is best first to approach that person before taking any measure. It is always proper to begin with what you are sure of before going to the next thing you perceive to be right. Here the technique of “but why” applies most as it pressures you to dig deeper and find more causes of the problem.
Later, we brainstormed on the issue together as a community to discover possible solutions to the problem. This was never an easy task because we were to ensure that we select the most suitable solution. After weeks of consultations and brainstorming, we discovered that dogs were never the problem, but members would avoid these dangerous dog behaviors by getting them under control. We also identified the lack of local regulations regarding personal pet responsibility, and therefore, appealed to the local government to set up laws regarding dog maintenance (Citizensadvice, 2016). Every community member was invited to make his/her proposal, and from which, the most practical solutions were selected.
Michael belief was that different problems required different tactics and solutions. Therefore, the dog menace needed a collective approach because it was a societal issue; otherwise, individual controlling of dogs would be next to impossible. The society passed a temporal law demanding dog owners to take responsibility for their dogs, or else they risk being prosecuted. Moreover, a team was selected to push local authority to come up with everlasting measures of controlling the dog population without harming them. The temporal laws were that in the case your dog messes in a prohibited or bit someone, the master must remove failure to which will attract a penalty or ban (Citizensadvice, 2016). The master must pay the fine, and within the stated period; or else the owner will be prosecuted in a law court (Citizensadvice, 2016). Concerning the stray dogs, the locals were advised to contact the Department of Animals in the case they spotted one.
In conclusion, I discovered that instead of tackling problems as obstacles, which are insurmountable, it is healthy to approach it as an opportunity to sharpen one's problem-solving techniques and critical thinking. Also, every problem we solve increases our self-worth and confidence (Hereford, nd.). Not only does critical thinking help people to future their problems, but also expands their experiences in life and develop different perspectives towards a problem.
References
Citizensadvice. (2016). Problems in your local environment: Dog nuisance. Retrieved from https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/problems-where-you-live/problems-in-your-local-environment/
Dachls, A. (2011). Systematic Approach to Solving Just about Any Problem . Retrieved from http://lifehacker.com/5795228/how-to-solve-just-about-any-problem
Hereford, Z. (nd). Essential life skills: How to think critically and Problem Solve. Retrieved from http://www.essentiallifeskills.net/thinkcritically.html
