To the Members of the Portfolio Committee,

Coming into this semester, I was hesitant of my writing capabilities since the last time I wrote an essay was roughly 7-8 years ago. Brainstorming ideas has always been my strong suit, which I planned to use to my advantage for this class. However, putting those ideas onto paper is one of my biggest weaknesses, usually leading to unclear points. Keeping this in mind, I hope to be able to write college level essays by correcting my thought process, along with building confidence that my writing technique, style and ideas are clear. Knowing that these areas needed work, I decided to approach this semester with an open mind, allowing Holly Pappas to guide me and critique my work.

The first composition I’ve included is the Ethnography essay called “The Dog Park.” This essay was by far challenging but the most interesting this semester since we were asked to observe a subculture relating to our theme. After spending a day at the dog park, gathering all the information needed, I attempted to piece together my rough draft paying close attention to the minor details. At first, I gave too much detail of the background scene than the actual interaction between owners and their dogs. So with some adjustments, I was able to complete my final draft with confidence that each scene and interaction was spread out evenly with detail.

The next essay in my portfolio is the Argument essay called “Pet Overpopulation. In this paper, I decided to argue a topic in which I strongly agree with. After multiple days of researching topics, I chose to argue that spay/neuter facilities should be set up world-wide in order to prevent unwanted adoptable pets from being euthanized due to overpopulation. Finding credible sources became problematic at first, but it gave me a great understanding of the importance of researching reliable information. After using in-text citations and trusted sources, I believe this essay has increased my knowledge of writing the most.

Finally, the last piece I’ve incorporated is the memoir essay called “Wessie’s Home Coming.” I felt this essay was the most enjoyable throughout the semester as it allowed me to express the feelings I share towards my dog. Reminiscing the joyful memories of bringing my puppy home for the first time brought instant flashbacks to mind, allowing me to become detailed with my writing. The challenge I had with my rough draft was paragraph pacing, determining when to add a new paragraph when changing through events. However, with Holly’s help I was able to revise this paper into a better organized final product.

As a reader and a writer I can say with confidence that I have progressed significantly throughout the semester and I feel that I am ready to move onto the next level of writing. This class has given me the tools needed to finally be able to express my thoughts clearly onto paper. Success! I look forward to using the writing skills and techniques that I have learned, not only in my next writing class but throughout my career. I hope you enjoy reading my portfolio.

Nothing can stop a dog from enjoyment when spending a day at the dog park. Temperatures are in the single-digits with frigid winds blowing at what feels like 60 miles an hour, making the cold penetrate through to every last bone of my body. The day originally started off sunny with glistening murky-grey waters from the ocean that surrounded a majority of the park. But as minutes passed, grey and ominous clouds began to roll in from the distance warning everyone of yet another snow storm to come.

The edges of the ocean water are partially frozen over and the rocks are covered in snow but waves from afar are still heard splashing amongst docked boats, buoys and the bridge. The peaceful sounds of the ocean waves soon drowned out by the industrial noises of the busy highway behind the park. Ba-bump, ba-bump, the vehicles are driving over multiple potholes that are common on that highway. They are all headed to the busy city of Boston which can barely be distinguished just to the left-hand side of the park. A blanket of snow covered the nearby rooftops and lawns of beautiful houses in Quincy, which made it look like an image from a holiday card.

Despite the beauty and variety of sights I see from different sides of the park, the field itself is baron and covered in a foot of snow that had frozen over and crunched beneath the feet of pedestrians that struggles to walk through the park. A large wooden fence gates off the only entrance to the peninsula-shaped park, allowing the dogs to run freely. The wide-open area gives two paths, which eventually connects about half-mile on the opposite end. Small hills and valleys give the park character as the landscape dips and rises in unique patterns. Tracks of paw prints are stretched across the park making strange designs in the snow. There are small sections that reveal dirt and brown grass as a memento of the once-lush grass and fertilized soil that existed in the park before the cold took over. These spots were the most popular places to sniff for the many canines that were there earlier that day alongside their owners who decided to brave the immense cold for their dogs.

A woman with a long, brown coat lined with fur first caught my attention, walking her King Charles Cavalier. She has a wool hat and black gloves that matches alongside thick dark pants that are neatly tucked away into her heavy boots. She grasped onto her jacket tightly and followed her dog that led the way. The King Charles Cavalier is in a light brown jacket that has similar resemblances to the owner’s. Its long ears droop to its side when it sniffs the ground for the “perfect” spot to pee. It noticed a large clump of dirt and began to inspect it with its nose. The woman jerked the leash back and cried, “No, Muffin, that’s dirty!” and the dog retreated before it noticed something else to discover and ran towards it, pulling her owner along happily. She reached into her pocket to reward Muffin for listening, instantly causing the Cavalier to jump and claw at the woman with excitement, knowing it was about to receive a treat. When she finally sat down and wagged her tail, the owner gave her the treat and this look, as if to say, even though you are one crazy dog, you’re still my baby.

While sitting there observing with my dog, I glanced down to my West-Highland White Terrier, as she stared back at me. I reminisced about the many times I’ve been in the same situation where I give in to her. Some days I would come home to papers ripped up on the floor. My first reaction is to make her understand what she did was wrong but the innocent little face she gives me instantly makes me forgive her. No matter how severe the situation, I could never stay mad at her for more than a few minutes before saying “it’s okay, I forgive you.”

Soon after, a mid-aged Black Labrador came bolting across the snow, followed by a man dressed in a black North Face jacket half-way zipped, with blue denim jeans that cover most of his light brown construction boots. Without second guessing, the Black Lab ran up to the King Charles and they instantly began to sniff each other, causing the leash to get tangled around their paws. “Sorry about that!” the man said as he pulled the collar of his Labrador away. The woman however, was not the least bit aggravated and replied “not a problem.” As they engaged in conversation, the Black Lab crouched down on its front legs, insisting Muffin to play. Kicking up pebbles and creating a small cloud of dirt smoke, the King Charles raced towards the Black Lab and danced around until the owner let go of the collar so they could play. Throughout their conversation they watched their dogs run back and forth, playing and enjoying each other’s company. Both owners laughed at their dog’s actions, giving the park a cheerful atmosphere.

A jogger wearing a vibrant pink sweatshirt and swishy blue pants came into my view, running alongside her Golden Retriever with a chewed up tennis ball in its mouth. Their quick-paced steps seem to excite the other dogs as they grow closer. Approaching within feet, the Golden Retriever looked up at its owner waiting for an approval response, making sure it was okay to stop and sniff the other dogs. The jogger removed her headphone from one ear, jogged in place, and stated “you can say hi.” She gave a great big friendly smile and chuckle to the other owners as they each watched all three dogs grouped together wag their tails and sniff each other. “Alright lets go” the runner said, giving her dog a quick pat on the head. They began to jog away when the Golden Retriever stopped to turn around towards the other dogs, as if to say bye, then noticed the distance between its’ owner and picked up speed to catch up.

A day at the dog park resembles a getaway place that one can visit to not only bring joy to their dog but also to take time off from our rushed and busy lives. Dog owners feel that sense of relief and joy when they see their dog enjoying themselves with other canines after being cooped up inside. Rarely do you hear of a dog owner being depressed, which partially explains for all the positive energy at the park.  It doesn’t matter what the weather brings, owners are willing to suck it up and bare it for that fulfillment of happiness. On the other hand, as for dogs, they resemble their owners from matching outfits to identical traits, but somehow, when it comes to meeting other dogs, they are all ultimately filled with curiosity and excitement that they cannot contain. They share a leadership bond with their owners, looking for guidance during unsure situations, trusting they would never be lead to danger. With the constant need of exercise, dogs promote healthier lifestyles for humans as it encourages them to go on daily walks or runs in the park. They are also able to give their owners emotional support when needed the most, which creates more positive human interactions. Dogs have this kindness and loving nature that makes one wonder why we don’t live our lives like our companions.

Despite the efforts of many animal organizations in America, one of their greatest battles is animal overpopulation. According to pet overpopulation facts gathered by Trooper’s Team, each year roughly 5 million cats and dogs are killed in shelters (“The Cold Hard Facts on Pet Overpopulation”). This indicates that even if the stray animal population is controlled, shelters are still struggling to maintain their population within its organization. An achievable resolution to resolving the on-going issue of pet overpopulation would include setting up affordable spay/neuter facilities alongside encouraging individuals to adopt instead of buying their pets.

There are many reasons animals end up in shelters; some can be strays while others could be given up or removed by owners who were unfit to own a pet. Accidental pet pregnancies can also leave owners with no choice but to leave a litter of puppies or kittens at a nearby shelter, unaware of the possibility that these animals may not even have the ability to be adopted. Many U.S. shelters that cannot provide a home for these animals are forced to put them down, even if they are healthy and have the potential to be a wonderful pet. In recent statistics, in US shelters, out of 2.7 million adoptable pets, one is put down every eleven seconds because of overpopulation (“The Humane Society of the United States”).

Spay/neuter services are critical to both shelters and household pets in order to maintain animal population. Spaying/neutering animals will help prevent further animal reproduction. This in turn will help alleviate organizations from overexerting their resources in an attempt to better control and care for animals. There have been numerous clinics and programs set up to spay/neuter that have worked as a success. However, there are still a notable number of euthanizing procedures (Evans, 2007).

After researching concerns some people have against spaying/neutering, their greatest concern was the cost. In response to this issue, programs have been installed to help pet owners avoid paying an enormous vet bill for the spay/neuter procedure that they cannot afford. For example, there are associations that provide mobile spay/neuter services that are affordable. This includes the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) that sends out clinic trucks that perform spay/neuter services for up to a fraction of a cost. In addition, they also offer affordable microchip and vaccination services (“ASPCA Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic”).   There are other options for families that cannot afford spay/neutering such as state or national groups that may be able to help out, along with speaking with a veterinarian that could possible work out payment arrangements (“Pet Overpopulation”). In a recent article, by Jean McNeil, she discusses how a new facility built for spay/neuter procedures has significantly decreased the amount of pets euthanized. After years of approvals and construction, the New Hanover County Property Management became the project manager and was able to get the facility up and running with building costs of $58,000. In 2004 the facility was completely built, and by 2006 there was a total of 1,108 surgeries completed, preventing roughly 3,325-5,000 animals from being euthanized (McNeil,452).

Another common concern of pet owners who are against spaying/neutering is the possibility of their pets becoming overweight. This issue can be overcome by sustaining a better diet for their pets since nutrition is the greatest influence of their weight. Daily exercise for a pet will also help contribute to animal weight loss; giving roughly 20 to 60 minutes of exercise every day is recommended for maintaining a healthy pet  (“Spaying and Neutering Facts”).

Another option these programs have are links set up to help interested owners adopt these pets before searching elsewhere. Although many may not realize, adopting a pet can make a significant difference for these shelters, leaving more space for other animals to be taken in. One benefit to adopting is that some facilities include spay/neuter surgery fees if needed. Implanting microchips, heartworm medication, and flea/tick treatment are typically also included, which provides assistance for families with financial difficulties that cannot afford the extra add-ons to adopting a pet (“The Humane Society of the United States”).

As a nation we must continue to increase the number of spay/neuter facilities to help decrease pet overpopulation. Euthanizing helpless animals in my opinion should be illegal, and spay/neuter facilities should be set up world-wide. A recent article, “Animal Overpopulation,” by Joanna Zelman, states “Even in countries with laws against animal cruelty, there is suffering. PETA estimates that up to 4 million animals are euthanized in U.S. shelters each year.” This statement expresses that there is still a great deal of work to be done to this day to help these animals. In able to increase facilities, there should be more advertisement for donations from inside pet stores to television commercials. Donations from all sources should be put towards the construction of these new facilities, as most places have already started to do.

Ultimately, the road to successfully maintaining animal overpopulation will require an extreme amount of resources, commitment and time from both organizations and individual people. However, it is not impossible. By taking small strides as discussed, services crucial to the well-being of animals will no longer be just an option, but rather, a standard. And fewer animals will be forced to live without a proper home or worst, to be euthanized. With that said, it takes the efforts of more than just one and everyone must share the common goal which is to ensure the happiness and livelihood of animals.

 

Works Cited

“Adoption Fees.” Animal Humane Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2014.

“American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.” Special Interest Group Profiles for Students. Ed. Kelle S. Sisung. Detroit: Gale Group, 2001. Web. 6 May 2014.

“ASPCA Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic.” ASPCA. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 May 2014.

“The Cold Hard Facts on Pet Overpopulation.” Trooper’s Team, 13 Mar. 2012. Web. 06 May 2014.

Evans, Kim Master. “Estimated Number of Dogs and Cats Killed in Shelters, by Region, 2007.” Animal Rights. 2009 ed. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Information Plus Reference Series. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 6 May 2014.

“Healthy Dogs.” Weight Gain in Dogs: Why Is My Dog Gaining Weight? WebMD, LLC, n.d. Web. 06 May 2014.

“The Humane Society of the United States” RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 May 2014.

McNeil, Jean and Elisabeth Constandy. “Addressing the Problem of Pet Overpopulation: The Experience of New Hanover County Animal Control Services.” Journal of Public Health Management & Practice 12.5 (2006): 452-455.

“Spaying and Neutering Facts.” Spaying and Neutering Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 May 2014.

Zelman, Joanna. “Animal Overpopulation: What’s The Solution To 600 Million Stray Dogs?” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 18 May 2011. Web. 06 May 2014.

 

 

“BEEP, BEEP, BEEP.” It was 7:00AM on Sunday morning, a few days before Christmas and my alarm was piercing through my ears. I lay there, in my twin bed, up on the third floor of our apartment, gazing out the window. The brightness from outside instantly made me rub my eyes as they began to water. My first thought was where the hell is the snooze button so I can go back to sleep. When I came to, I realized today is the day I will surprise my girlfriend with a gift that will change her life.

As I grew anxious, I quickly threw on some clothes, headed for the car and before I knew it I was pulling up the long driveway to Puppies Galore. While walking through the door, the floors creaked from the old hardwood with each step I took. Looking ahead, I was surprised to see the extensive variety of puppies available. I thought, would I be able to stay focused on the specific breed my girlfriend has forever dreamed of; a West Highland White Terrier? There were three rooms total, each room gated off into small sections. As I stepped in the first room, unsure of what to expect, my eyes lit up and heart filled with awe. There she was, an adorable Westie, jumping up and down and clawing at the cage as if she already knew she was coming home. Her short, pointy tail wagged at the speed of light as she looked at me excitedly with her bright, wide eyes. At that moment, I knew she was the one. Without a doubt in my mind, I picked her up and held her for the first time; she was so light and fragile. Her fur was messy and soft as I rubbed her back with my fingers. She curled up into a ball within the palms of my hand and slowly closed her eyes as she decided that it was a good time for a nap. I brought her to the front of the building to start filling out the paperwork. Soon after, it was official, she was coming home.

While driving home, I looked at her falling asleep on my lap, I wondered, what would be the perfect name for the perfect pup— Fluffy, Snowy, Snowball…No, I needed something better…I thought about her breed and then it hit me—Wessie. My girlfriend was due back from visiting her family in New York so I began to plan out in my head how to surprise her with Wessie. As time slowly ticked by my nerves began to intensify. Soon after, I heard the car door shut and the front door open. Her quick- paced footsteps seemed to match my heartbeat as she swiftly came up the stairs. This was it. She covered her mouth, totally speechless, but completely filled with joy as she could not believe this little girl was hers. She knew right then, Wessie would change her life, but little did I know she would change mine too.

My girlfriend, being a full-time student, spent most of her day in class or doing homework, leaving me to care for Wessie. Normally, I was able to sleep in each morning because of working the second shift, but that all changed as my mornings consisted of waking up at 4:00AM from toys having their squeakers gutted out. Not being able to fall back asleep, I would take Wessie outside for a frigid, quick walk around the neighborhood. As I crawled back into bed, she cuddled up next to me and buried her face into my hands, suggesting that I pet her. She looked at me with her adorable eyes until she slowly drifted off to sleep. I spent most of my day training Wessie, teaching her commands such as sit, lay and spin. We built this bond with each other that gave her a sense of comfort with me, knowing that I was there to take care of her. Heading to work became dreadful; all I could think about was her sad little face as I walked out the door and hearing faint cries as I walked further away. I constantly thought about her—I missed her, and then it dawned on me, the main reason I bought her was to be a perfect gift for my girlfriend. But, in reality, she was a gift to me—I felt a sense of fulfillment and company through having her. I wanted to protect her and ensure she was not only healthy and happy, but knew just how much she was loved. She not only taught me to be responsible but also gave me a different view on life. She is my best friend, my little monster, my princess but ultimately, she is my little girl.