Week 6, Blog 3

My last day of my internship definitely came too soon. I really enjoyed working at the animal shelter, and I came to know the staff members and the dogs very well. I did become a bit too attached to one of the dogs who was super shy, but was always excited to see me, so maybe it is for the best that my internship ended now before I started begging my mom for another dog. Apparently though, I cannot stay away because I am going to offer to continue volunteering there over the summer. On my last day, I helped get the dog section ready for open at 11:00a.m by cleaning out kennels and taking the dogs out in the rain to eat breakfast and run around. Three dogs were adopted on Saturday with the first two going right around 11. The staff left me in charge of the dog section for a little bit, and all of a sudden tons of people came in to look at dogs. I was a bit worried at first, but after these six weeks and my volunteering hours before that, I knew how to handle costumers. I was not able to get any people to adopt dogs, but a man did take home an application, so in my mind it was a success. At the end of the day, I cleaned out the two isolation rooms, put those dogs to bed, and said goodbye to all of the staff members and dogs. I am so glad I picked the Cape Ann Animal Aid to do my internship at, and it was the perfect way to end my senior year.

Week 6, Blog 2

Lately not too many dogs have been adopted at the Cape Ann Animal Aid, but today I was there to see two dogs go home. I absolutely love to see dogs get adopted, especially when I know that they are going to good, loving homes. I arrived at 8a.m. to help get the dog section ready for open at 11a.m. There was another volunteer to help take the dogs outside with me so that they could run around and eat breakfast. There were 25 dogs to take out, and 14 kennels to clean. There was a staff meeting right before the shelter opened, so I was in charge of the dogs for a little bit. I was told to make sure that everything looks decent for the public, which means making sure the dogs have not made a mess of their kennels. I also made sure to sweep and mop the floor before doing a few loads of laundry. Later in the day, I cleaned a whole bunch of plastic/rubber dog toys and restocked the dog and cat food. With no volunteers to help us around midday, a staff member and I began taking the dogs out in little playgroups. The dogs had an absolute blast outside in the (surprisingly) sunny, warm weather as they played and ate their lunch. One of my favorite puppies just had her kennel mate get adopted, so I made sure to give her lots of attention today because I could tell that she was pretty lonely.  

Week 6, Blog 1

I had some hours to catch up on, so even though today was my day off, I worked for five hours. I was able to work in the cat section, which is something I rarely do. There were five adorable kittens that I had to play with because they were the absolute cutest things. By the end of the day, I was told that four out of the five were adopted, which was no surprise. There was also a litter of kittens with their mother who were only a few weeks old, so they were just beginning to walk around. They were taken into foster care later in the day and will come back in a few weeks once they are old enough to be adopted. I was not in the cat section for too long because the dogs always require more work. When I returned to the dog section, one of the shyest puppies at the shelter was in the meet-and-greet area with a man who was interested in her, but she was so scared that she lay immovable and then peed all over herself. I felt so bad and once the man left, I picked her up in a towel and calmed her down. She has grown used to me, so she eventually resumed to her old, crazy self. She is actually one of my favorite dogs at the shelter and to see her that scared, breaks my heart. I mean I like working at the animal shelter, but I cannot handle seeing that day after day. 

Week 5, Blog 3

Saturday, I worked from 8 to 4. I started out by helping clean out all the kennels while also taking the dogs outside so that their kennels could be cleaned. I switch off between doing the two, and luckily there were three volunteers to help plus a staff member. It takes just about three hours to clean the kennels, feed the dogs breakfast, give them fresh water and clean toys, mop/sweep the floors, wash the food bowls, do some laundry, and walk all the dogs. Everything actually has to be done in three hours because at 11:00a.m, the shelter opens. I thought that since the shelter had so many puppies, the place would be packed with people looking to adopt, but there was not a single adoption on Saturday. Barely any people came in, which makes me hope that next Saturday, the shelter will be absolutely swamped with nice people who want dogs.

I also did lots of laundry yesterday because it was starting to pile up and cleaned many bowls and kennels. A few dogs came up from isolation that automatically trashed their kennels due to all their excitement. We had three dogs leave to go to another shelter in hope that they will have better luck getting adopted there. I was able to visit with a litter of very tiny kittens whose mom let me pat them. I had never seen kittens that small, and they were absolutely adorable. I think there were about five or six of them. 

Week 5, Blog 2

Since Thursday was such a beautiful, hot day, we decided to let a whole bunch of the puppies from different litters run and play outside together. We at first had an adult dog out, who had not really played with another dog for a long time, play with three other puppies to see if everybody got along. Once we felt it was safe to bring a few more out, we brought three more outside. They were all having such a great time, and the main source of all the fun was the plastic pool (actually three to be exact) that we filled up with water. The jack russell mix puppies absolutely loved the pool, which I was glad but surprised to see. Once a few puppies got tired, we would cycle them out with some more energetic ones from inside. It was nice to see all the dogs having such a great time and getting outside in the gorgeous weather. The only problem was that some of the puppies were white, so after they got wet in the pool and then played and rolled around in the dirt, they became very brown and muddy. Many dogs had to have baths.

Friday was also a warm, sunny day, so we were able to bring the dogs outside again to play in the pools. They had an absolute blast, and they even went in the pools again on Saturday. There are also four super shy dogs at the shelter, so we have been trying to get them outside as much as possible to help them overcome their shyness. They are not big fans of the pools. 

Week 5, Blog 1

On Thursday, I started out by cleaning the isolation rooms and feeding the dogs down there. Since it was 8:00a.m, I was the first to see the dogs in the morning, so every kennel/cage was very dirty, and the dogs were going ballistic. I first got the bowls of food ready (breakfast) and then I opened one kennel/cage at a time to let the dog out so that he could run around the room and eat breakfast. While the dog was eating breakfast and loose in the room, I put on gloves and threw out all the old, gross newspapers in the kennel/cage and cleaned the toys. I then made sure the kennel/cage was all cleaned before I put new newspaper in with clean toys and fresh water. When the dog was finished eating breakfast, I put him back in and moved on to the next dog. It is always tricky down there because right when I put a dog back in his clean kennel/cage, he goes the bathroom if he had not already done so on the floor.  Puppies are a very messy bunch. After I finished with each dog, I had to clean the bowls and the floor before taking out the trash.

There are a lot of dogs down in isolation at the moment who are ready to move upstairs to the “adoption” floor, but since there are so many dogs, there is not enough room for them yet. Luckily on Saturday, we were able to move seven dogs up, which led to seven very happy but crazy puppies. 

Week 4, Blog 3

On Saturday, I worked the whole day, which I actually like because the shelter is usually very busy on Saturdays, and a lot of dogs need to be adopted. However, barely anybody came in to look at dogs, and there are dogs in isolation downstairs that need to come up, but there is not any room for them. I walked a few dogs that were down in isolation that had not been outside in a very long time. There was this one dog that seemed super shy, but as soon as I got him outside, he was a completely different dog and would not stop happily running around. There is one litter of puppies down there that is super shy as well, and they would not leave the room. It was very sad to watch, but later in the day, they were able to move upstairs to the bigger kennels, so I am sure they are doing better. 

Yesterday I also swept the walkway going outside and cleaned the bins with all the dog toys in them and the shelves with the grooming supplies. I talked to a lot of really nice volunteers, and one lady knew a kid who is going to be in my college class next fall. At the end of the day, one of the staff members said she is not sure what she is going to do on Saturdays when my internship ends, which made me realize that my help is very needed at the shelter and that I will definitely help out over the summer.

Week 4, Blog 2

Friday I worked only with the dogs again, but I definitely prefer that to the cats. A few people came into look at dogs, but there were no adoptions. A very small dog was surrendered for adoption that day meaning some local people gave him up, so he was shaking and scared in one of the kennels. Apparently, he was not being well taken care of and was very sick, so the owner’s friends took him in and nursed him back to health. However, they could not keep him so that’s why he was at the shelter. Poor little guy.

The staff was very busy, so I was fully in charge of feeding the dogs, which I have never done all by myself before. It may not sound like that big of a deal, but I like being given that much responsibility.  All the dogs were in need of a walk or runaround, so I able to help get some dogs outside in the beautiful weather. I was able to get one load of laundry all the way through, but I wish I had gotten a few more. I cleaned up many messy kennels with the mop because the puppies are not housetrained and gave them clean blankets and fresh water. I am definitely starting to know more and more people around the shelter, so I do not have to explain the whole SCORE thing every time they ask me why I am there, which can get a little bit tedious.  

Week 4, Blog 1

On Tuesday, I stayed in the dog section at the animal shelter and worked from 2:30p.m. to 6:00p.m after my Psychology exam. I was able to get a few loads of laundry in, which is always helpful because it can really pile up. At first I thought the washing machine was broken because no water was coming out, but then I was told the water was just shut off. Why it was turned off, I had no idea. There is this one litter of five Jack Russell mix puppies who are absolutely crazy, so I was able to take them out with one other puppy to try and get some energy out of them. They love to be outside with one another even though sometimes they get all tangled up in their leashes. Then I had to feed all the dogs their dinner, which is a mixture of dry and wet food plus some warm water. Some new puppies were brought up from isolation, so I had to watch them eat to see if there were any food aggression problems. It turns out there actually was one with this tiny, brown puppy named Bimbo, so it was a good thing I was watching. I then picked up all the empty bowls in each kennel and washed them. Since I worked till closing, I made sure all the dogs had blankets, toys, and fresh water before the place closed for the night. I then turned off the lights and said goodnight to the dogs. 

Rough Draft

Human Race Increasing Species Extinction Rate

For the past 100 years, as the global population has risen so has the species extinction rate (see Fig. 1). The human race has driven species out of their environment directly and indirectly. For the first time since the extinction of the dinosaurs, humans are forcing species into extinction faster than new species can even evolve:

“Today the human species is driving a planet wide loss and fragmentation of habitats, overexploitation of populations, deliberate and accidental introduction of alien species beyond their native ranges, release of chemical pollution, and total global disruption of the climate system” (Hannah).

Throughout the 20^th century and into the 21^st, mankind has become guilty of participating in or inducing activities that are threatening numerable animal species’ habitats and thus increasing the extinction rate.

Extinction is when not a single member of a species is left living on the planet. The entire population is completely gone. This is different from being “endangered” because a species that is endangered is still living on the planet; however, its population is very low, and extinction is a future possibility. Many people believe that a species going extinct is something of the past like the dinosaurs, wooly mammoths, or saber-toothed tigers did and only occur from something rare and extreme like a meteor hitting earth or an ice age; however, this is sadly not the case. Fossil records reveal that the past average level of extinction is between 10 and 100 species per year; however, recent estimates now state that the extinction rate is 27, 000 or more species per year. Mammals alone are going extinct at a 45% higher rate than average (PBS Library). Additionally, Harvard biologist Edward O Wilson and other scientists estimate that the real rate of extinction is around 1,000 to 10,000 times the past average rate with between 2.7 and 270 species going extinct every day (McCarthy). According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, it assessed 63,837 plant and animal species in 2012 and found that 19,817 are threatened with extinction, 5,766 are “endangered,” 3,947 are “critically endangered,” and more than 10,000 are “vulnerable” (Knight). Also the IUCN estimates that out of the 5,491 mammals on the planet, half are declining in population, and a fifth are at risk of extinction with 1,131 classified as endangered, threatened, or vulnerable (IUCN):

“Of the myriad problems cited by critics of current efforts to conserve endangered species, few are biological. Nearly all relate to human systems and the dynamic patterns of interaction among people, worldviews, interests, values, organizational structures and cultures, processes of decision making, and many other aspects of human society,” (Clark).

Conservation experts have stated that the planet is in the “sixth great extinction” of species that is prompted mainly by the destruction of habitats, hunting, the spread of alien predators, and climate change (Jowit). If species continue to go extinct at such a high rate, the ecosystem is likely to loose a lot of its ability to provide valuable service to humans, such as cleaning and recirculating air and water, providing new sources for pharmaceuticals, and pollinating crops (PBS).

Habitat destruction is one of the main causes of the heightened species extinction rate because without habitats, animals cannot survive, and the human race is the leading contributor to the destruction. Deforestation is the demolition of massive amounts of forests and is the result of people logging for timber, clear-cutting for agricultural reasons, and building buildings/towns. About 46-58 million square miles of forest are lost each year (equivalent to 36 football fields every minute), which leaves the 70% of the earth’s land animals who live in the forest, homeless (World Wildlife Fund). Giant pandas who live in southwestern China have a wild population of 1,600 causing them to be an endangered species. This scary decline has a large connection to the loss of their habitat and main food supply, bamboo (World Wildlife Fund). Urbanization is another man-induced cause of habitat destruction because people are taking over forests, marshes, deserts, grasslands, and mountain environments by constructing things such as homes, roads, and factories. Species are being unjustly removed from their homes and have nowhere to go.  Another form of habitat destruction is habitat defragmentation. This is when a habitat is divided up into different sections caused by the development of agriculture, urbanization (roads), and even hydroelectric reservoirs (infrastructure). Animals are stuck in these now smaller habitats, which can become overpopulated by various species in a space that does not have enough resources available to provide for every animal. Other examples of habitat defragmentation include having a freshwater habitat that is already struggling through a drought be diverted of any water from the construction of a new dam or having a road go through a forest that cuts off the migration route for an already endangered species (National Geographic).

Overexploitation (overharvesting) has become a major factor in species extinction because animal products are very profitable in this struggling world. Overexploitation is the over use of wildlife by people for purposes like food, clothing, medicine, and sport (National Wildlife Federation). People are killing animals at an alarming rate for their fur, meat, skin, bones, and horns both for profit and recreational purposes. The natural population of a species cannot recover at the same rate that the species is being killed off. Tigers are an example of a species now endangered largely due to exploitation. Even with protection laws for the species, 97% of wild tigers have been killed in just over a century with only 3,200 in the wild today (World Wildlife Fund). Tigers are illegally hunted for their fur, meat, and bones. Another example is the African black rhino who is now an endangered species after many years of poaching (see Fig. 2). Between 1970 and 1992, 96% of Africa's remaining black rhinos were killed when a wave of poaching for rhino horn went through Africa. The horn is believed to be a kind of medicine to help with strokes, nosebleeds, and fevers (World Wildlife Fund). Illegal trade is a harmful factor of overexploitation because the species being illegally traded are the ones who are already protected for being endangered and cannot afford to be taken away from their habitat and struggling population. 

Pollution is able to negatively impact all essential aspects of life such as the water, air, and soil. These types of pollution are all equally harming to both the environment and the animals that live in them. Pollutants do not necessarily automatically kill an animal but instead cause it to become very sick and then eventually die off. Land-based sources (agricultural run-off, discharge of nutrients and pesticides, and untreated sewage including plastics) account for about 80% of marine pollution (UNESCO). Marine animals like the humpback whale, manatee, hammerhead shark, and Steller sea lion have all found themselves on the endangered species list, and a main cause of this is the pollution in the ocean. For example, these animals are eating toxic algae/fish, attempting to digest trash, getting tangled in old fishing nets, choking on plastic, and suffocating in the toxic, waste filled water. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) states that plastic waste is responsible for the death of about a million birds and more than 100,000 sea mammals each year. Then there is air pollution, which is filled with methane, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and chlorofluorocarbons that come from cars, factories, and the burning of fossil fuels. These pollutants harm the lungs, which can cause respiratory infections that usually do not allow an animal to survive untreated in the wild. Also in agriculture, it is estimated that 60-90% of chemical sprays do not reach their target (plant leaves, fruit, ect). Many of the products used dissolve quickly into the air after sprayed and go off into the environment (Granby Zoo). Animals are then exposed to these toxic substances in their food and water. Another form of pollution is in the earth/soil. Soil contamination results when hazardous substances (chemicals, factory waste, ect) are spilled or buried in the soil. Then the plants that take up the hazardous substances through their roots are eaten by animals who become sick. The contaminated soil can also affect animals by breathing it in through dust or absorbing it through the skin (National Geographic). Chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides are all used to remove unwanted plants/insects; however, these chemicals are very toxic and cannot specify which animal to fight against. Many innocent species are harmed and poisoned. The peregrine falcon became extinct only in Canada after a widespread use of the pesticide DDT. DDT built up in the tissue of the Falcon’s prey, and, after being ingested, began harming the bird’s reproductive system.  The female began laying very thin-shelled eggs that would break when she sat on them making sure no new falcons were born (Granby Zoo). Littering is another form of pollution that is caused by humans. It can kill many animals who eat the toxic substances in the trash (motor oil, detergents, pesticides, ect) or who ingest trash that blocks the animal’s intestinal track causing starvation and malnutrition. Animals also get entangled in items such as plastic soda rings, fishing nets, and string/rope, which can prevent them from living successfully by suffocating them or making them immovable.

An overlooked human activity that has heightened the species extinction rate is the introduction of invasive species to an environment. Ecosystems need to be balanced in order to function successfully. Balance is achieved when the natural animals, plants, and non-living components are all in harmony with one another. A problem arises when a new species is introduced to the ecosystem, which may upset this balance. New species are usually brought to a new ecosystem for farming, trade, tourism, pet, fishing, or hunting purposes. They are one of the main threats to biodiversity in the world because they are able to compete so successfully in their new ecosystems that the native species are dislodged, and the essential ecosystem processes are disturbed. Also the invasive species are able to outcompete for resources or become predators to the native species that have evolved without certain adaptations to deal with them. Of the 395 European native species listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 110 are in danger because of invasive species (European Environment Agency), and 42% of threatened or endangered species globally are at risk primarily because of invasive species (National Wildlife Federation). So just because humans bring a new species into a different ecosystem, food webs and entire ecosystems can change causing native species to live unsuccessfully and die.

            The last human-induced causation of the heightened species extinction rate is climate change or global warming. Greenhouse gases trap in heat in the atmosphere and regulate the earth’s climate. The burning of fossil fuels and the cutting down of forests cause a lot of extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that is trapping more and more heat inside. This entrapment continuously warms the planet and makes the ocean more acidic and less accommodating for organisms because it is absorbing the extra carbon dioxide. Researchers have predicted that due to climate change, 15 to 37% of plant and animal species will be committed to extinction by 2050 (Thomas). Due to the increase in global temperature, the ice caps are melting causing sea levels to rise, the ocean is getting warmer, and there is more extreme weather such as longer droughts or intense heat waves. Droughts threaten agriculture and both land and freshwater species because everything needs water to survive:

“Ecosystems are already showing negative impacts under current levels of climate change …which is modest compared to future projected changes…. In addition to warming temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events and changing patterns of rainfall and drought can be expected to have significant impacts on biodiversity” (Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity).

Increased temperatures can completely change species’ habitats into environments that are not suitable for the species and one that they cannot adapt into. For example, the polar bear has a sea ice habitat in the arctic, but with rising air and sea temperatures, the ice caps are melting (see Fig. 2). This leaves polar bears with nowhere to live or hunt, which is why in 2008, they were the first vertebrate to be listed on the U.S. Endangered Species Act as threatened by extinction primarily because of global warming (National Wildlife Federation). Another species at risk because of climate change is the koala bear. The koala bear population has decreased by as much as 80% since the 1990s in Australia’s Gold Coast region. Since climate change causes heat waves and drought, the species cannot handle high temperatures, and it is essential that they get water from eucalyptus leaves (Time). Species are so adapted to their habitats that if the climate changes prompting other negative changes, the species may not have the ability to survive.

            With so many human activities increasing the species extinction rate, people have realized that change and action is needed. In the United States, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 was passed, which offers official protection to endangered or threatened species, puts limits on hunting, and helps preserve the wildlife. The World Wildlife Fund is focused on saving endangered species from extinction, reducing humans’ impact on the earth, and preserving the environment.  Then there is the IUCN, which is the world’s first global environment organization that has conservation projects all over the world aimed at the sustainable management of natural resources and biodiversity. There are also many other organizations globally with the primary intention to save species and their habitats from extinction and destruction. What a single person can do to help lower the species extinction rate is make sure never to litter, take shorter showers, never cut down trees/destroy the environment, use less electricity and fossil fuels, and become involved in programs/organizations that are dedicated to saving endangered species.

            As the extinction rate rises, the more important it is for everyone to realize that the world is struggling with people’s way of life.  People can help erase their damage to the environment and species who live in it by changing their destructive ways (littering, cutting down trees) and promoting endangered species awareness. Humans’ actions will continue to increase the rate of species extinction, and the world will lose essential species unless these actions change for the better.

Week 3, Blog 3

So yesterday I worked all day, and it surprisingly went by really fast. I arrived at 8:00a.m. to help clean all the dogs’ kennels and take them outside before the shelter opened at 11:00a.m. Since they have a whole bunch of puppies, there was a lot of cleaning to do. It took about two hours to clean out every kennel, give the dogs time outside, and feed them.

On Saturdays, the animal shelter is very busy, so when 11 o’clock finally rolled around, people had been waiting outside for a while and all came racing up when the doors finally opened. There were two dogs adopted right away and then two more later on in the day. I am used to the shelter being pretty empty, so I like it when it is filled with people. There was a retirement party going on for one of the staff members, which was nice because I never really had a lunch break, and I was given pizza and cookies. There were 10 puppies brought up from isolation that were absolutely ecstatic to be out. They were running around everywhere in their kennels, and also making huge messes, so their kennels had to be cleaned more than once. My Saturday consisted of a lot of laundry, dishes, floor mopping, floor sweeping, and puppy holding. I was able to help out with two of the four adoptions and walk a dog that was “staff only,” so I am starting to feel like a true staff member. 

Week 3, Blog 2

It was a pretty typical day at the animal shelter today. I worked 2:30p.m. to 6:00p.m. There were not too many people looking to adopt dogs; however, I was able to see two dogs go home. One was a tiny, brown puppy and the other was a black Labrador mix from Puerto Rico. Watching dogs go home with great families always gives me a nice sense of satisfaction and happiness.

I was able to walk all the dogs that needed to go outside with the aid of some volunteers, and then I helped feed the dogs. There is one litter of a puppies that has some food aggression problems, so we had to spit them up, which became a little complicated because with a full kennel, there are not too many places to put a dog to eat alone.

I did not work at all today in the cat room because the dogs definitely needed more help. I completed a few loads of laundry, and I washed all the bowls after the dogs finished eating. I made sure every dog had a blanket to sleep on and had fresh water before the shelter closed for the night. I know the kennels I cleaned today will definitely be a mess tomorrow morning when I help open the shelter.            

Also since I drove to my internship right from my Calculus final, some puppy love was exactly what I needed today. Sometimes on a bad day, getting attacked my adorable puppies is a great mood booster. 

Week 3, Blog 1

Today was a normal, quiet day at the animal shelter. On Tuesday, the shelter is closed, so the shelter was pretty peaceful with the exception of the barking dogs. The shelter is still overloaded with puppies, so I played with them and took them outside for walks. There are about 26 dogs on the adoption floor at the moment with a whole bunch more in isolation. There is a volunteer who comes in to take photos of the new dogs for the kennel cards/website, and since she usually comes in on Tuesdays, I was able to help her take photos today. I would bring the dogs outside for her, and then she would try to take some cute pictures.

I also made sure all the kennels were clean, which is always a struggle because the dogs seem to dirty them up again right after I clean them. I did not work with the cats at all today, which was a bit surprising because usually I help in the cat area at least once during my hours.

A lot of the staff members were a little upset today because a dog that had been in the shelter for a while and then finally adopted was returned today. Apparently, he was not getting along with the family’s other dog, so they had to bring him back. It was a pretty bittersweet moment. I am really hoping a bunch of people come in to adopt dogs soon because there are so many waiting for homes

Week 2, Blog 3

Saturday is a big day for me at the Cape Ann Animal Aid because I work 8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m., so yesterday I worked for almost the whole day. Due to all the puppies up for adoption, the place was packed right when the shelter opened. About seven or eight dogs were actually adopted yesterday, so it was a very successful day. I actually completely lost my voice, so talking to people looking to adopt was tricky. I even bumped into a kid who is going to be in my college class next fall, and I could barely say hi.

This was the first time I helped open the shelter, so I was one of the first ones who got to greet the dogs in the morning. It was quite a sight. Almost all of the kennels were a complete mess, which took a lot of time to clean. I cannot image doing that every morning.

Saturday was also the first time I was needed to help out in dog isolation. The dogs in isolation are either sick or very new. I was told to clean the kennels/room and feed all of the dogs in one of the rooms, which had two young dogs and two litters of puppies. I had to wear a special gown, gloves, and booties to go over my shoes. The dogs were so happy to be let out of their kennels and run around the room. The puppies were absolutely out of control and peed everywhere. It got a little crazy, but I am glad I was finally trusted enough to work down there.

Week 2, Blog 2

On Friday, I worked 1:30p.m. to 5:00p.m. at the animal shelter. Since there were still a lot of puppies, I helped get some energy out of them by letting them run around outside and chase tennis balls. However, there is one litter of puppies that is too tiny to play with tennis balls, so they preferred to play with the little stuffed toys instead.

I took this dog named Querube for a walk because even though she may seem super shy, once she is shown a leash, her tail never stops wagging. She is also in the last kennel, so sometimes I feel like she gets forgotten about. We were able to go for a long, enjoyable walk in the gorgeous weather.

The shelter was also having a party that night for one of its staff members who was leaving, so we fed the dogs a little earlier and made sure they all got outside. This way the staff would know the dogs would be ready by 6:00p.m. so that they could close on time and set up for the party.

The laundry was pretty backed-up on Friday, so I did a couple loads of towels, toys, blankets, and mop heads. Doing laundry involves taking the trash barrel filled with laundry down the elevator into the laundry room. Then I have to put on gloves to put the dirty laundry in the wash because I never know what kind of things are on the dirty items. Once everything is washed and dried, I have to fold everything, take them back upstairs, and then sort them into dog and cat piles.

Week 2, Blog 1

On Tuesday, I returned to the Cape Ann Animal Aid after April break. At the moment the shelter is packed with puppies of all different breeds, so my day mostly consisted of cleaning up after messy puppies.

I was also able to give a puppy a bath on Tuesday, which was sometime I had never done at the shelter before. I learned how to get the bath ready for each type of dog and where the shampoo and conditioner are.  Afterwards, I was shown where the brushes are so that I could help brush out a Great Pyrenees/Husky mix puppy who needed a brushing after her bath due to her very thick fur.

Since I was working during the dogs’ dinner time, I was able to feed all the dogs, which always gets a little complicated because each dog has different eating habits. Most of the dishes I filled with puppy food, but there were a few adult dogs that needed their regular adult food as well. 

After finished up with the dogs, I headed over to help with the cats. They did not need too much help because they had already been fed and given fresh water. I like going over to the cat side of the shelter every once in a while because it is always so peaceful and quiet over there compared to the wild and crazy dog side. Even though I still prefer the rowdy dogs over the calm cats, it is always a nice break to go over and hang out with them. 

Week 1, Blog 2

Friday was actually supposed to be my second day of Score, but after a change in plans, I was able to return to the Cape Ann Animal Aid for the second time today. Since the shelter was open today, unlike yesterday, I was expecting more dog/cat-needing families to come in, but it was a fairly quiet day. Today mostly consisted of cleaning up many puppy pees off the floor because housetraining is still very unknown to them. Four dogs had come up from isolation meaning they had not had a good walk outside in a while, so I was fortunate enough to be the first one to bring them back out into the great outdoors. They were absolutely ecstatic to finally be outside again, and they sniffed every stick, rock, and blade of grass they could find. At one point, the staff member who was watching the dogs with me had to train new volunteers, so I was told that I was in charge of all the dogs. I was glad that the staff was putting that much trust in me even though the dogs were all sleeping and did not really need anything. 

My favorite part of today though was being able to continue playing with my favorite puppy Maddie who is a two-month old, chocolate Labrador mix. Even though my shoelaces and watchband are a little chewed up, I was (hopefully) able to teach Maddie a few manners, and I am hoping she will go to an amazing home.  

Week 1, Blog 1

Today was my first day of my SCORE project at the Cape Ann Animal Aid, and I already know it will be an awesome experience. The staff at the shelter want to treat/use me as if I were a fellow staff member, so I have already learned many new tasks and been in different rooms from when I was just a volunteer.  I have actually been volunteering at the animal shelter since the 8^th grade, so being allowed to enter a room that was usually off limits was pretty exciting.

At the moment there are 11 dogs either up or almost up for adoption while eight or nine are in isolation. The dogs in isolation are the ones that have either just come into the shelter or are sick.  Today the shelter had an overload of puppies that needed plenty of socializing and attention, so most of my afternoon was spent trying to wear them out. However, puppies have a lot of energy, so it was a bit of a struggle. There is one litter of Chihuahua Pug (Chugs) puppies named after the song that talks about a woman wearing an itsy, bitsy, tiny, weenie, yellow, polka dot bikini, so there is a Bitsy, a Weenie, a Dot, and a Polka. I am pretty the rest of the litter is in foster care. 

I was actually very lucky today because a volunteer needed pictures of the new puppies playing outside to put on the shelter’s website, so I was able to stay outside in the beautiful, warm weather to keep an eye on them as the woman took her pictures. Overall I had an enjoyable afternoon, and I am excited to go back.

Anna's Outline

Anna Tyler

S.C.O.R.E. Outline

Cape Ann Animal Aid

Research Question:

Have activities done by mankind in the 20^th and 21^st centuries caused the increase in the global organism species extinction rate?

Thesis:

Throughout the 20^th century and into the 21^st, mankind has become guilty of participating in or inducing activities that are threatening numerable animal species’ habitats and thus increasing the extinction rate.

Body 1-History on extinctions->prehistoric times, general knowledge on extinction of organisms

• ·      Dinosaurs’ extinction-not caused by man
• ·      Ice Age
• ·      Extinction (no more of a species) vs endangered (species almost gone)
• Body 2-What statistics show on extinction rates up through 2013 (Man has increased the rate)
• ·      As human population increases so does the extinction rate
• ·      What animals have recently disappeared-Western Black Rhino, Spix’s Macaw, Pyrenean Ibex, Zanzibar Leopard and why
• ·      Who is the most threatened (endangered)-Siberian tiger, Amur Leopard, Javan Rhino, Northern Sportive Lemur

Body 3-The human race is harming the environment and causing many different types of habitat destruction throughout the world.

• ·      Deforestation (tropical rainforest)-cutting down trees, no homes/nutrients for animals
• ·      Overgrazing-continuous grazing, no nutrients in soil, plants die, no food for animals
• ·      Urbanization-homes/buildings destroying habitats
• ·      Agricultural land conversion-forests are becoming farms, cutting down trees/vegetation
• ·      Habitat defragmentation-humans are dividing habitats, leads to inbreeding, babies can’t breed, population dies off

Body 4-Overexploitation is major problem in the world today because many are struggling for money

->do anything to get it

• ·      Killing animals for profit and recreational purposes
• ·      Killing for skin, fur, horns, etc
• ·      Overuse of resources for food, clothing, pets, medicine, sport, ect
• ·      Biomedical research

Body 5-Pollution is everywhere

• ·      Eating trash, oil spills, can’t breath in filthy air, water is not clean
• ·      Animals are becoming sick and dying off

Body 6- Introduction of an alien species to an environment

• ·      Creates an unbalance in the ecosystem
• ·      Disrupts natural way of life
• ·      Other animals might not have any food or become the food

Body 7-Climate change (human-induced)

• ·      Global warming
• ·      Changing water temps, environments (habitats)
• ·      Can’t survive in changing world
• ·      Polar bears->ice caps are melting, no where to go

Body 8-What is being done to prevent species extinction?

• ·      Endangered Species Act-official protection, limits on hunting, wildlife preserves
• ·      WWF’s actions (world wildlife fund)- “saving endangered species, conserving the world's most precious natural places, and reducing our impact on our only planet”
• ·      What you can do/What can be done differently-become involved in programs dedicated to saving endangered animals, use less electricity/fossil fuels, no littering

Conclusion

• ·      Mankind’s actions are increasing the rate of species extinction
• ·      Many species will disappear forever if humans do not change their actions

Bibliography

Baur, Donald C., and William Robert Irvin, eds. Endangered Species Act: LawEndangered Species Act: Law, Policy, and Perspective. Chicago: American Bar Association, 2009. Print.

CITES update: Mixed results for endangered species 9 Mar. 2013. Web. 10 Mar. 2013. <http://asiancorrespondent.com/101546/cites-update-mixed-results-for-endangered-species/asi>.

Clark, Tim W. Averting Extinction:Reconstructing Endangered Species Recovery. N.p.: Yale University, 1997. Print.

Hannah, Lee, ed. Saving a Million Species:Extinction Risk from Climate Change. Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 2011. Print.

Maisels, Fiona, Samantha Strindberg, and Stephen Blake. "Extinction Looms for Forest Elephants: 60 Percent of Africa's Forest Elephants Killed for Their Ivory Over Past Decade." Wildlife Conservation Society 4 Mar. 2013: n. pag. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130304211232.htm>.

McCarthy, Michael. "Animal Extinction - The Greatest Threat to Mankind." The Independent 30 Apr. 2007: n. pag. The Independent. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/animal-extinction--the-greatest-threat-to-mankind-397939.html>.

Schaul, Jordan Carlton. "Human-Wildlife Conflict: An Interview with Dr. Michael Hutchins." National Geographic 9 Mar. 2013: n. pag. National Geographic. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. <http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/03/09/human-wildlife-conflict-an-interview-with-dr-michael-hutchins/>.

"The Extinction Crisis." Center for Biological Diversity. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013. <http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/biodiversity/elements_of_biodiversity/extinction_crisis/index.html>.

"Threats to Wildlife." National Wildlife Federation. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Overexploitation.aspx>.

Wines, Michael. "Endangered or Not, but at Least No Longer Waiting." The New York Times 6 Mar. 2013: n. pag. The New York Times. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/07/science/earth/long-delayed-rulings-on-endangered-species-are-coming.html?ref=endangeredandextinctspecies&_r=0>.