It's been a while since my last post...

I finally presented my presentation and I'm extremely happy. I really wasn't nervous before the time I had to go in...but when I walked in and saw the panel my nerves started going. I really thought I did bad but it turned out that I got the highest presentation grade so far in our grade...which is really a confidence boost for me.

Today, I finished my final draft of my paper and started to touch up my finished website. I'm pretty much done with everything...

graduation project isn't really that bad ;)

:D

Well basically all I have to do now is wait to present. Which is really the hardest part of this whole process. Haha. But on a high note, I'm actually really excited to present! I think it's because I'm actually talking about something I enjoy talking about!! I'll be back!

:D yayyy

I'm finally done with my presentation so all I have to do really is practice.
I already practiced in front of Mrs. Fossum and thanks to her feedback my presentation will improve.
I'm actually pretty excited to present in front of the panel. I'm not nervous at all. But I bet that's going to change once Tuesday comes around. Mrs. Fossum told me that I should be more
enthusiastic when it comes to present time...hopefully that won't be a problem. I think I can at least smile a bit :P

:)

I visited the farm over the weekend but it was just for a day :)
I'm heading back up there the first weekend of March and I plan on staying for a few days. So I will be adding a lot of stuff!

Today, I'm going to add more to my power point, and my electronic portfolio.

Cow Recall

Last week was pretty crazy. We basically had 2 days of grad project in the whole week!

Over the weekend, I really had nothing to do so I figured I would get some of the website out of the way.
I've been working on it since last year when we had Mr. K teach us about dreamweaver. So far, it's getting along pretty well. I have a good amount of pages so far.

Thanks to Mrs. Fossum, I now have a new case to talk about in my project. The beef recall that just happened over the weekend...
I've read the article and pulled out some important facts...

CNN: Federal officials are trying to track down the 143 million lbs of beef
-Cattle that had passed pre-slaughter inspections but then lost the ability to walk were slaughterd w/o being re-examined for chronic illness by an inspetor. A practice he said violated federal regulations nd had been going on for at least 2 years.
-January: Humane Society of the U.S. accused Westland/Hallmark of abusing "downed" cattle.
-The Human Society released video that showed workers kicking cow, jabbing them near their eyes, ramming them with a forklift, and shooting high pressure water up their nose in an effort to force them to their feet for slaughter. :(

:-O

So...this morning was completely crazy. I don't understand why we didn't get a delay...when we had a snowday yesterday...which wasn't as bad as today. Anyway, I just got into class a little bit ago...so I'm just getting settled in.

Today, I plan on taking some more notes. Until I go to the farm again, I will work on my power point.

Todaaaayyy...

I believe we should of had a snow day due to a 3 degree temp. But oh well...we have Friday and Monday off so I guess I can live...:P

For as cold as it is...I got some work done surprisingly...as much as I want to sleep. I worked a little on my power point...and took some more notes on the Circus animals. I also just found a scholarship about Animal abuse...so I'm definately going to try for it.

I plan on having all the mind altering and stress working things done by this week. Once I find out who's coming with me to Hog Heaven...things will be free-flowing after that.

Puppymills

I just read a lot of information about puppymills. I never really looked into them that much so it was pretty surprising to me. It's horrible to tell you the truth. And what's even more horrible is that the United States is a puppymill state.

Most dogs that are born are usually born with defects, and diseases. They de-bark the dogs by shoving a metal rod down their throats and hitting it with a hammer. They have wire cages...even the floor of the cage is wire; so it is very common for dogs to get their feet and legs broken and sometimes cut off.

I have got a lot done

Yesterday, last night, and this morning I have been working on my power point. I have a lot of information on dog fighting, the circus and a lot of statistics and facts. I plan on getting that stuff out of the way and then working on putting information about Hog Heaven in my presentation.

I loaded some pictures and videos on my computer on Tuesday, so I can post some pictures on my power point presentation.

I hope to get pretty much finished with this by the end of tomorrow. Until I go back to the farm for the last time before I present, I will be adding new pictures here and there.

Hmm

Hello again.
I still don't have an exact date. I can't blame her for not getting back to me yet because taking care of a farm is an all day process. Hopefully I'll get the date soon. I'm excited to bring a few of my friends up. Hopefully I can get their opinions afterwards and use it for my presentation.

I'm just about done with my research paper and now I'm beginning to work on my power point. Tomorrow, I will bring in my camera and load the pictures and videos on my computer.

So far...

So far....everything's going to plan. I'm always excited about visiting Hog Heaven. I'm almost to the point where I have an exact date...but not quite. Erie gets pounded with snow...so transportation might be a little promblematic. So I'm gonna try my best to get a weekend where it's not so bad. Also, the Vet Tech students are up there a lot during this season because with all the snow they get...running the farm and keeping it up on it's feet is more complicated than usual. So she gets all the help she can get. So I also have to scheduel a date where there are no vet tech students up there otherwise...there would be no place to stay and no where to put us.

I have a feeling it will be in late Feburary. Which I know is cutting it close, but any other time might be more problematic than it has to be.

Abuse types

Most common types of abuse include...

1. Beating
2. Beastility
3. Burning- caustic subtances
4. Burning- fire or fireworks
5. Choking/strangulation/suffocation
6. Drowning
7. Fighting
8. Hanging
9. Hoarding
10. Mutilation
11. Torture
12. Neglect/abandoment
13. Poisoning
14. Shooting
15. Stabbing
16. Theft
17. Throwing
18. Unlawful trade (black markets)
19. Unlawful trapping
20. Vehicular

Dog fighting

Dog fights are the most common type of abuse today.

It happens all over the world. People believe that the pitbull breed should be shut down instead of the OWNERS who are the ones that TRAIN them to fight. I'm completely, and utterly amazed that people are trying to wipe out a whole population of a breed because they seem to be the ones who were born naturally to kill.

Animal rights

“During the past 2 centuries, the status of animals has changed from one of no rights, in which animals could be treated in whatever way the owner saw fit, to one in which animal rights activists and their opponents debate whether animals have the same moral rights as humans.”

According to a 1995 survey, commissioned by the Associated Press, 2/3rds of Americans agree with the statement- “an animal’s right to live free of suffering should be just as important as a persons.”
“The differences between humans and animals amount to difference of degree, not of kind.”
People think because we are humans, therefore we should care and respect only human rights.
Consider the right, ‘not to be tortured.’ Torture is the intentional infliction of pain and suffering. Do smart people suffer from pain differently than dumb people? If not they why do we believe the suffering of a dog is any different or less important than our own?


I. Yes animals have rights
A. Animals have the right to live free from suffering
- Animals suffer in the same why that humans do. Animals, like humans are entitled to the basic right to live free of suffering.
B. Discrimination of the basis of species is unjust
- The mistreatment of animals is currently justified on the grounds of specisism.
C. Humans are not superior to animals
- Opponents of animal rights often insist that the inherent superiority of humankind entitles people to complete dominion over animals.
- The myth of human superiority is used as an excuse for people to exploit animals for their own needs.

Types

Animal Abuse

Types of abuse-
Beating
Bestiality
Burning- caustic substance
Burning- fire or fireworks
Choking/strangulation/suffocation
Drowning
Fighting
Hanging
Hoarding
Kicking/stomping
Mutilation/torture
Neglect/abandonment
Poisoning
Shooting
Stabbing
Theft
Throwing
Unlawful trade/smuggling
Unlawful trapping/hunting
Vehicular
Reason-
To control an animal
To retaliate an animal
To retaliate against another person
To satisfy a prejudice against a species or bread
To express anger through an animal
To exchange one’s own aggressiveness
To shock people for amusement
To displace hostility from a person to an animal
To perform non-specific sadism

Foundation

Essential Question: What are the causes and consequences of animal abuse, and why do I oppose it and what can I do to help prevent it?

8 Foundation Questions:

1. Why is animal abuse a concern?
2. What are the causes of animal abuse?
3. What are the consequences of animal abuse?
4. Is there a connection between animal cruelty and human violence?
5. Who is usually abusing animals?
6. What kind of children abuse them?
7. What can you do to help stop the abuse of animals?
8. What is the rate of animals being abused?
9. What happens when authorities prosecute an animal cruelty case?
10. What are the steps of reporting animal abuse?

Abuse

Animal abuse is very common in the world today. And I believe not a lot of people care. I understand that animals are lower than us, but they we're still put on this world for a reason. And that reason is not suffering.

Hog Heaven

I've been working at Hog Heaven for a few years now. Hog Heaven is a rescue farm in Erie, PA. Reggie and Dave Altman are the owners of this fairly large farm. They are actually retired policemen from Pittsburgh and are now living their lives on a farm taking care of the animals almost every minute of the day.

They have a lot of pigs, and alpacas. Also very many horses and donkeys. Also a few protection dogs.

http://www.hogheavenrescue.org/
http://members.petfinder.org/~PA231/index.html
http://www.animal-friends.org/
http://www.animalrescue.org/
http://members.petfinder.org/~WV56/index.htm
http://www.hsus.org/hsus_field/first_strike_the_connection_between_animal_cruelty_and_human_violence/teens_fight_animal_cruelty/10_things_teens_can_do_to_help_stop_animal_cruelty.html
http://www.anyamaharaj.com/about.htm
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer
http://www.oregonhumane.org/news/PreventAnimalAbuse.htm