BLOG 24
What is your essential question? What is the best
answer to your question and why?
My essential question
is, ‘What is the best way to reduce the overpopulation of animals in animal
control?’ The best answer to my essential question is to increase adoption
rates in animal control facilities throughout the United States. Only 20
percent of pets are adopted in the U.S. and over 4 million animals are
euthanized every year in shelters. The adoption rate is at an all time low and
there is nothing being done to help lower the intake from animal shelters. My other
two answers are to illegalize and shut down puppy mills and lobby for
spay/neutering legislation. Even though puppy mills are completely shut down
and not all counties have mandatory spay/neutering, there still already are in
the process of helping reduce overpopulation. There is no solution to get
people to choose adopting over buying from a pet store or breeder. Although, if
we work with animal organization and shelters more to reduce adoption costs,
spread the word about the benefits of adoption and why not to buy from pet
stores, adoption rates could possibly skyrocket.
What process did you take to arrive at this answer?
At
my mentorship, they primarily focus on spay/neutering, picking up animals and licensing
dogs in the city of Glendora. After a certain amount of days what animals are
left in the holding areas, are sent to the Inland Valley Humane Society, which
is a kill shelter. Technically they do not adopt out animals from Glendora
Animal Control, but they still can send the dogs to specific bred rescues or no
kill shelters. Although I have nothing against my mentor o others in the animal
control department, there isn’t much effort that they take to make sure the
animals are adopted or not euthanized. If more shelters or people took the time
to take strays to rescues like the german shepard rescue of OC or the lab rescue
of LA, specific bred rescues, they do not kill animals and all animals end up
getting adopted. If the word was spread out more about adopting, they would
increase, just little things make a huge difference and I noticed that in my
mentorship. I helped rescue/adopt at least 2 animals in shelter alone while I was
there. Pet owners not adopted is becoming more common nowadays, so by
increasing adoption rates it would reduce overpopulation.
What problems did you face? How did you resolve
them?
One
of the biggest problems I face was working with others during my mentorship. Of
course my mentor Jolean was welcoming and helping me get used to things but it
was extremely intimidating to work in the Police Department. Many of the cadets
would get annoyed when trying to help me, not work with me because I was the “newbie”,
and didn’t really think I could work well in the office. I resolved this issue
by just showing them that I can work well and get the work done. I challenged
myself to get as many dog licenses done every day I was there and work with
costumers well. After Jolean and Vanessa, the other officer noticed my hard
work, so did everyone else. It was a challenged but in the end, the respect I deserved
was given to me.
What are the two most significant sources that you
used to answer your essential question and why?
My first most
significant source is my mentor Jolean Miller. She has been a animal control
officer for over 7 years now at the Glendora Police Department. Jolean has tons
of experience with everything that has to do with animal control. Jolean has
gone through investigations with puppy mills and hoarding, having clinics for
spay/neutering and adopted out many cats and dogs from the facility. She knows
all aspects of animal control and because of that I’ve gotten a lot of hands on
experience from working with her.
My
other most significant source is an article from the ASPCA animal organization
called Pet Statistics. The article is give statistics on adoption rates,
euthanizations, strays, spay/neutering, and pet owners. The statistics are
primarily from the ASCPA, but if not and are found from other sources, the
statistics are cited and legitimate. This article broadens on all aspects of
animal control, my essential question exactly and my three answers by backing
up all my statements.
What is your product and why?
The product of my
senior project has to be working with people better. When I was volunteering at
my mentorship, it was more of like a job. You were expected to get this done,
work with others and understand things fast. At first the intimidation was
hard, there were many strong personalities I had to work with, and go on calls
with. Many of the cadets are in their early twenties so it was a hard age group
to work with. I had to learn how to be respectful to the officers with higher
rankings, work with costumers and follow the steps when working with them. There
were many steps to learn in animal control when it came to working in the
computer system and working with the animals in the back, and of course this
meant working with others. I’ve learned how to work better with others in a
professional setting, when learning new things and how to work with costumers.
