BLOG 14: Independent Component 1

Literal:

• I, Cherokee Michalak, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.
• Jolean Miller: 626-914-8275
• Independent Compt 1 Log
• For my Independent Component 1, I continued working at the Glendora Police Station, in the Animal Control Department with my mentor, Jolean Miller and the other animal control officer, Vanessa Alvarez. 

Interpretive:

 These are two cats that were in animal control, I cleaned the cages, gave the orange kitten a bath and played with them to burn out some energy. 

 This kitten was found stuck on a telephone wire over 10 feet high, the fire department rescued her and she was eventually adopted out. 

• While volunteering with Animal Control, I did multiple jobs with my mentor, another officer and some cadets working in the station. I went on calls for stray dogs and picked up wild animals, filed, did paperwork, walked many dogs, cleaned some cat cages and conducted my interviews. 

Applied:

• By working hands on with the animal control officers, whether it was working with stray dogs, not knowing if they will lash out, to chasing a dog that got hit by a car for an hour, I got a full on experience for my hours. If I didn't get my hours here, I wouldn't know how to handle wild animals properly, or how to conduct all the paperwork that is required. After seeing how many dogs come in and are stuck without homes, or who end up going to a kill shelter, I got a good grasp of how large the overpopulation of animals really is in animal control. 

BLOG 13: Rough Draft of 30 Min. Presentation

Google Docs Attachment of Rough Draft-

Animal Control- Puppy Mills: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvUf7yrwuYvwdDZKcnVWRDgtc2pONWd0ZWIydTB1Mnc#gid=0

BLOG 12: Third Interview Questions

10 Open Ended Questions for Interview 3:

1. What is the best way to reduce the overpopulation of animals in animal control?

2. How do you think animal officers help with reducing overpopulation?

3. How closely does animal control work with rescue groups or shelters?

4. By adopting, the overpopulation in shelters would reduce immensely  so why do you think people decide to not not adopt and instead buy from breeders or pet stores?

5. Euthanizing animals is one way to reduce overpopulation, some many say it is an inhuman way. How do you argue in this case, having experience?

6. What is required for the process of euthanizing animals?

7. How often do animal control agencies experience investigations on puppy mills? And if so, what is the process of investigation?

8. Currently Los Angeles County is trying to pass a law that strickens regulations on Puppy Mills, making it illegal for pet stores to receive their dogs from them. How do you feel about this law being passed?

9. How do you feel about current laws on Puppy Mills that allow large scale breeding and how the USDA handles their inspections?

10. How can you, as an animal control officer and the public, help reduce and recognize animal overpopulation?

BLOG 11: Mentorship 10 hours Check

1. Where are you doing your mentorship?
Currently I am doing my mentorship at the Glendora Police Station, in the Animal Control Department. 

2. Who is your contact?
My contact is the lead Animal Control officer in the Police Department, Jolean Miller. 

3. How many total hours have you done?
The total amount of hours I have completed is 40 hours so far. Overall, I have put in almost 200 hours at the Police Station with Animal Control, but most of it was for community service. Yet, this gives me more experience and knowledge of my senior project topic. 

4. Summarize the 10 hours of service you did. 
The 10 hours of service I did with Animal Control mostly consisted of adding up "chits" which is the total numbers of animals picked up, tickets cited, ect. I went on a few calls with an Officer and the cadets, as well as doing some filing in the office. 

5. Contact Info
Jolean Miller: 626-914-8275