Alexandria: Week 6 Post 3 final one!

Today is Wednesday. Once again theres nothing to do. I came in a little earlier than i normally do I came in at 6:40 and helped walk a few dogs. While I was cleaning a cage in the puppy room, I had to train a new volunteer how to clean cages, take dogs out, clean floors and meet the dogs. Once I was done with that I went to see how bad the laundry was, there was none. After I checked if there was any newspapers that needed to be unfolded, there aren't. So it is going to be one boring second to last day.

Alexandria: Week 6 Post 2

Today was Tuesday. And there were hardly any dogs here after the weekend so not much was needed. I basically unfolded newspapers and walked dogs until lunch because there were too many volunteers on, no laundry that needed to be done, barley any newspapers and the dogs that are in Isolation don't come up until Thursday to there wasn't much to do. Once I came back from lunch I saw some of my favorite dogs and proceeded to leave at 1.

Alexandria: Week 6 Post 1

Today's Monday. Monday I came in at 7 normally, helped with cleaning the  puppy room, then took a list of the dogs that needed Bio's and Videos. After completing all the Bio's I started taking dogs outside to do videos. Then I went to lunch, only to come back to alot of newspapers that needed to be unfolded as well as shredded towels that needed to be cut up into rags.

week 5 blog 3

Today is Friday. I got here on time for once instead of coming in early and helped walk a few dogs. they didn't need help with cleaning cages so I immediatley took a list of dogs that need Bio's and Videos. There is a list of 18 dogs that need videos on the website as well as 9 dogs that need Bio's. Luckily 13 of the dogs that need videos are still in isolation until tomorrow so monday will be fun. I did 5 videos but the website won't let me sign in not to mention the fact I'm alone because the other interns have prom.. so fml. But I'm going to take it easy today because my wrist is bothering me. nd also sorry for the 6 posts in a row.

Week 5 blog 2

Thursday. Was not that bad at all. It was beautiful outside and we did the same routine. Came in at 6:30 helped walk dogs started to clean dog kennels until more people came, took a list of the dogs that needed Bio's and Video's did 10 Bio's 9 video's. Took a few dogs out in the play yard and played with them because it was beautiful outside, not to mention there was an attractive guy who was working on the roof. But we basically stayed outside playing with dogs until lunch then went home.

Week 5 blog 1

Oh monday. Monday was rough. Got here at 7, went to take dogs out, then help clean cages. Most of the dogs that were here from last week wern't because of Mothers Day, 18 dogs and 6 kittens were adopted over the weekend. The dogs that were left were big dogs even though they were in the puppy room. There was also no transfer cage so the constant jumping,scratching,nibbling and running not to mention barking was fun to deal with so early in the morning. That night i ended up messing up my wrist in softball so I missed Tuesday at the internship but was here wednesday for a few hours were I did pretty much nothing because i couldnt life pull or hold a dog.

week 4 blog 3

Today. is. Friday. So me and all the interns working wanted to relax and take it easy for the day. We helped with the morning things like walking dogs and cleaning cages, but then went straight to unfolding newspapers and listening to music. Shortly after all the newspapers were done, we went into the laundry room to do laundry, fold towels and cut up rags, both were not that hard to do , quiet and time consuming so it went by quickly. We all went to lunch and then went home because we all didn't feel good as well.

Week 4 Post 2

Today was a long day. I got here at 6:30 because i wanted to leave at 12:30. But that didn't happen. I helped clean the cages and walk dogs and unfold newspapers and do Bio's and help take video's. I really enjoy unfolding the newspapers though because the room you do it in is the only room where your ears don't bleed from the constant dog barking. Me and my friend Cassie ended up staying, unfolding newspapers until 12 where we were going to go to lunch come back sign out and leave. As we were signing out to go to lunch, the Volunteer Coordinator asked us if we could go for a drive for her to drop off a dog at a veterinary hospital in Lynn. We niether said yes or no and she tried to persuede us saying it's only 8 minutes away. And we went. And she forgot to mention that there's a stoplight every 5 feet and we were unfortunate enough to miss every one. We got back around 1:30, yes it did take that long, and we skipped lunch and went home.

Week 4 post 1

Today, I managed to do the same as every other day. I got at the shelter at 6:45 so I suspected I could leave 15 minutes earlier than I usually come in. I assisted the Kennel Staff with walking the dogs then presumably went into the puppy room to help clean the cages. It was me and some other girl and she wasn't helping me at all. Granted I waited until my friend came in at 8:30 so we can secretly discuss how that girl didn't help me. Then we went to unfold newspapers until it was time to walk the dogs again where we took our time until lunch then left.

Week 2 combined blogs since they all didnt post

Last week, I ended up arriving on time, with my dunks, got into the puppy room and started cleaning. Once I arrived I saw the cutest puppy names Dee Dee. She was a mini black lab kinda and she was so cute. She wimpered when she wanted to be held, and was just so cuddly. Then as we were finishing up the kennels, a new pup arrived. Or atleast I thought she was new, she was a tiny little black pug miz only 9 weeks old who was here the week before but got returned because she was too frightened eben though she was a little puppy and obviously had a reason to be nervous, nevertheless she was adopted yet again, hopefully to a new family this time.

Alexandria: week 3 blog 3

Today, I arrived 15 minutes early. I went into the puppy room and helped clean the stainless steel cages. Once I finished that I helped walk the rest of the dogs. And I began unfolding newspapers for about 15 minutes until I was asked to do videos of the dogs and put them on the website. But I had to run to staples to buy a new memory card. Once I came back, that's all I did for hours. Bring one dog out, get it on camera, put it back take the next one out. I had to do 27 dogs, but only managed to film 16, because the battery of the camera was going to die. After I spent another hour uploading them to the website I was allowed to go home early because of my 15 min early arrival. Either way it was a nice semi relaxing way to finish the internship for the week.

Week 3 Thurseday

Today, same deal. Woke up at 5:30 got there just before 7. But instead of going to the puppy room, I was needed in the medium dog room. I missed my puppy Dee Dee who is the mini black lab in the puppy room only 12 weeks old and is the sweetest thing. After I was done cleaning I helped unfold newspapers for cats, atleast I think their for cats. Either way it helps the hours fly by. Once I was done I saw my pup and patted her for a while before going to lunch. All of that was fine and wasn't to bad but it's been a long week this week for some reason.

Week 3 Wednesday

Today was interesting. I got to the internship only a few minutes late and went to the puppy room. Since I know what I'm doing now, I dont need assistance and what I do is becoming a routine. But today for some odd reason we were short staffed and I was alone in the puppy room, which when cleaning a kennel with 2 to 3 dogs and you don't have an empty crate to move them to is pretty much impossible. around 7:30 help came and we got the room done around 9:30. I was asked to do more Bio's for the dogs but never realized how many actually needed to be done. Me and my friend Cassie finished 21 bio's all personalized before playing with puppies. We got to take a litter of 9, 12 week chocolate labs in 1 play pen. They were adorable, go figure. But my day was alright since I didn't have enough time for my usual stop at Dunkin Donuts, which I'll have to do tomorrow.

Day 3 On my Own??

Day 3 (Wednesday)

            Today I was on my own. With little experience under my belt I arrived at 7am. I offered to help out where I could with dog walking, and cleaning the cages. Once again I saw Roxy and got to take her for a walk. She was extremely playful but loved to be rubbed and kissed. I decided to be brave and take out a dog named chloe. Now I underestimated her power as she is a type of lab and full grown but her sweet eyes in the kennel made me think otherwise. She continuously was dragging me and it felt like she was walking me rather than me walking her. Finally after my strife of dog walking, I gained the courage to ask when I could take my lunch and if I could even have one. But Jenn (The Volunteer Coordinator) told me I could take it whenever I liked, wherever I wanted and I didn’t have to ask her to leave. The amount of trust and independence I have is really rewarding. I’m glad I finally have a place I can work at where the people trust me to do my job and I don’t need someone to hold my hand on the way. 

Day 2 Puppies!

Day 2 (Tuesday)

            Today I got there at 8 am. Not as early as my regular schedule will be but it wasn’t bad. Today was training day, and even though just yesterday there were no puppies. The puppy room was filled. I fell in love with a yellow lab puppy named Roxy, and she was the sweetest thing. She was nervous at first but once we brought her into the play yard she warmed right up and loved to play. While following a supervisor around all day while skipping lunch and getting out at 1:30, I found out some really amazing things. For instance the shelter fully relies on their volunteers for the shelter to even function. The actual paid staff to volunteers is 1:15. I realize it is only my second day but I'm learning more about animals too. Like reading their body language and how to take care of them.I ended up writing a few Bio's for some of the new Pups at a computer which wasn't that bad. Having a chance to look through all the dogs files allows me to learn more about them. I was happy I can be a part of this, and knowing people that without getting paid, volunteer their time to spend with animals. 

Day 1, No puppies

Day 1 (Monday)

             Today I went in at 11:30. I managed to find the place without a GPS which is what I was nervous to do. When I arrived, I waited while the Volunteer Coordinator was in a meeting. She sat me down to tell me all about the facility and how everything worked along with a 30 page packet I had to read, a t-shirt and a nametag. As she showed me around the shelter, I noticed there weren’t any puppies, which made me sad. But what I learned about the facility and process made me appreciate this place so much more. Knowing that this Shelter is the highest no kill shelter in Massachusetts is comforting. The fact that they rescue animals from High Kill Shelters in places like California, Georgia, Puerto Rico, North Virginia ect. surprised me. 50% of the animals those facilities have, are killed in a matter of days when first recieving them.I'm excited to be a part of this and to work for people who really love what they do. 

Nicholas Outline

Alexandria Nicholas

SCORE Research Paper Outline

I. Introduction: The effects of animal testing are just as harmful as used on humans and precautions should be taken so it can be prevented.

1. Animals are not allowed to speak making their cause unnoticeable by the public
2. Animals are treated far worse and are left with severe diseases and countless deaths

Thesis: Although Humans were used as test subjects and found that it was too dangerous, animals are still constantly made to be tested on and used. Animals must be prevented from these institutions, so they do not suffer for out benefit.

II. People are unaware of what the issue actually is, and how noticeably different it has changed from humans to animals.

a. Animal testing has been crucial to human development in the 1900’s in bringing medicine to millions of people everyday.

            b. Humans enrolling in drug testing for pharmaceutical trials have been used since           he 1950’s but people were less inclined to try it.

c. today many are volunteering for the opportunity, particularly in cases where the     new drugs could save their lives, he said.

            d. Miss construed ideas of what animal testing is and unawareness

III. The Animals are all used in different ways, some repeatedly to discover the cure, but in most cases the actual process these victims are put through can lead to thousands of deaths.

a.       Thousands of cats and dogs, mice and rats and other animals are used each day to figure out different cures for drugs.  

b.      Scientists who make the prescription drugs test these drugs on animals before humans.

c.       Animals can be raised into this form of life, trapped in being used as a patient.

d.      Animals are bought from animal dealers or raised themselves for research.

IV. Most of the animals being tested on have a small chance of living, therefore wasting lives unless found with beneficial research.

a.       Some Laws only prevent the keep of the animals from being dirty or too small

b.      People are currently fighting for more rights for these victims such as the Animal Welfare Act and the Health Research Extension Act.

c.       Some scientists have created alternative ways to test drugs alongside animal testing such as a synthetic skin.

d.      Vivisection is one of the most institutionalized and legal form of drug testing but the most harmful

V. Researchers are justifying their field by producing benefits by using animals

a.       Some schools are finding alternatives to using live animals, but most choose to have real test animals.

b.      Animals are obtained from shelters, wild, pound or businesses that raise animals for those purposes.

c.       Animal Research has been an important product for curing diseases and illnesses.

VI. Veterinarians view on animal research and testing reassuring that they are treated humanely

            a. Co-Workers interviews

            b. Self experience as well as information on rescued animals from the shelter

            c. Animal statistics on what percentage animals are being used

VII. Animal Research is being justified but persecuted by animal activists

a.       In 2000, California passed a law to limit the use of animals in product testing

b.      Effective, affordable, and humane research methods include sophisticated in vitro, genomic, and computer-modeling techniques as well as studies of human populations, volunteers, and patients.

            Annotated Bibliography

General Information was found from the following websites, periodicals, magazines and books.

"Animal Testing." ASPCA. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2013.

"Animals in Research and Testing | Animal Use in Research." Animals in Research and Testing | Animal Use in Research. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2013.

Baird, Robert. Animal Experimentation: The Moral Issue (Contemporary Issues). New York: Prometheus Books, 1991, Print.

"Cosmetics." Animal Testing. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2013.

Fano, Alex. Lethal Laws: Animal Testing, Human Health and Environmental Policy. London: Saint Martins Press, 1998, Print.

"The End of Animal Testing : The Humane Society of the United States." RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2013.

"Use of Animals in Biomedical Research: Understanding the Issues." n.d.: n. pag. Web.  <http://www.aalas.org/pdf/08-00007.pdf>.

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