Name: Christina Nowicki
Date: Spring 2013
Understanding of
Content
Exceptional - 4
4 – I absolutely
feel I understand
this topic.
3 – I could’ve
improved but
overall well.
Evidence of
Critical Thinking
Evidence of
Content
Development
Evidence of
Creativity/
Audience Interest
Building
Evidence of Rich
Variety of Style
Evidence of
Grammatical and
Mechanical
Control
Evidence of SelfAssessment
Evidence of Best
Practice Choice
Commendable - 3
4 – I included the
argument for my
side as well as one
for the opposing
side.
4 – I used a heartwrenching story to
suck the readers in.
3 – Probably
could’ve used
more.
3 – I don’t
believe my
grammar is ever
perfect.
4 – I can’t write
enough about this
topic. I have so
much passion for it
and I truly feel it
shows in the essay
4 – Overall essay
was great. As
usual, always room
to improve
Acceptable - 2
Unsatisfactory - 1
Christina Nowicki
Mrs. Tammy Davis
Honors Comp II
25 April 2013
A Crowded Shelter is an Unhappy Shelter
Imagine a recent college graduate is making that proud walk to the stage as their name is
called to receive the always sought after college diploma. They are currently on cloud nine
because they landed their dream job in New York City and will be moving there in two weeks,
but there is one problem. All the available apartments do not allow pets of any kind. A tough
decision is made between the dream job and Stewie, their beloved dog of four years. What will
be the recent college graduate’s decision? Like many others in this situation, the choice is the
dream job. This leaves Stewie on the fast track to a miserable life stuck in a shelter constantly
looking at those steel doors hoping to see their master come waltzing through. Any second now,
right? Wrong. This scenario happens more times than anyone cares to think about and is one
main reason for overpopulation in shelters all across our country. This immense issue has been
ongoing for many years and cannot be resolved until change happens within our system.
The changes that need to happen are all simple, oddly enough. The simplest is all pet
owners must spay or neuter their animals. This solution seems so easy, but continues to plague
countless shelters everywhere. Hopefully, one day a light bulb will go off in all pet owners’
heads, and they will rush to the veterinarian’s office to get their pet spayed or neutered.
Regrettably, this scenario happening is about as likely as the Kardashian’s never appearing on
TV again, but we can still dream. Fixing pets does cost money but not as much as caring for a
litter of puppies for a year (ASPCA). Another simple change is potential pet adopters must
educate themselves on the different breeds available. A hyper breed such as an Australian
Shepherd belongs to an owner who has a backyard or lives on a farm instead of someone who
lives in an apartment. Potential adopters should also consider the added costs of owning a pet.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), “The
average cost of basic food, supplies, medical care and training for a dog or cat is $600 to $900
annually” (ASPCA). This is a substantial cost for an individual or family who are on a fixed
income.
One main problem for animal shelter overpopulation is that pets are for life, and pet
owners do not consider this before they adopt an animal. Healthy pets can live for many years
and need the care of their humans for the duration of those years. Many owners miss how cute
their pets were as a puppy or kitten and become bored with them as they become adult animals.
So, they chose to give their pet up to another person or an animal shelter. However, there are
good people trying to make a difference and help the issue of animal shelter overpopulation.
There is a system known as the “Underdog Railway”. This is where many volunteers come
together to transport a dog from state to state until they come across an animal shelter that has a
spot for the dog. According to a volunteer driver, “There’s a lot of coordination that goes on to
make this work” (Williams).
Another group of awesome individuals who are trying to decrease the overpopulation
problem is managers of an Austin, TX animal shelter. As their article states, “Apartment breed
restrictions are exacerbating the problem as the majority of dogs in their care are simply not
allowed by most apartment complexes. They know of only one property management company
which allows animals based on behavior rather than breed” (Stensland). If more apartment
facilities followed the lead of this one company in Austin, it would greatly decrease the number
of animals in shelters. Now, on the other side of the argument for the apartment complexes with
breed restrictions, the article declares their insurance companies do not permit so-called
“violent” types of dogs on their locations (Stensland). Most complexes will not make an effort
to argue with insurance restrictions, but the companies who do take a stand are extremely
commendable.
The issue of shelter overpopulation comes down to two possible solutions and both are
accomplished by the human race. The first solution is to rid the world of all puppy mills. To
achieve this, humans must never buy a pet from a pet store, flea market, or over the internet. All
these areas support puppy mills. As the APSCA website states, “A puppy mill is a large-scale
commercial dog breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well-being of the
dogs” (ASPCA). This sounds like a horrible place for a puppy to start their life and the chances
of the puppy to grow into a happy adult is less likely if they start in a puppy mill. The owners of
puppy mills are just in the business for the money and treat their adult dogs as puppy-making
machines. Puppy mills are the reason stores, such as PETCO, have adoption days, usually on
Saturdays. The store invites their local shelter to bring their adoptable animals to the store and
potential owners come by the store to see the animals. The second solution is to adopt pets from
animal shelters. Humans should realize there are so many amazing, wonderful dogs and cats at
numerous animal shelters just waiting for their forever home.
There is an opposite side to this overall argument which is there are many reputable
breeders available to the general public. Unlike puppy mills, responsible breeders treat their
adult dogs with love and care. Their dogs are not just there to give them puppies continually.
According to the APSCA, “Responsible breeders are well suited to educate and screen potential
buyers/adopters and provide follow-up support after purchase or adoption. Responsible breeders
take lifetime responsibility for the animals they have bred” (ASPCA). It’s obvious these
breeders take precaution about whom adopts their puppies and try their hardest to sell them to
forever homes.
As stated above, animal shelters are the best way to adopt pets. Animal shelters will not
put an animal up for adoption until they are spayed or neutered, so the adoption fee includes this
service. Contrary to what some people may think, shelter pets are just as smart and loyal as
purebred animals. In fact, about twenty-five percent of the dogs available for adoption at
shelters are thoroughbreds (ASPCA). This fact is good for anyone who wants a purebred dog,
but also bad because it means even people who purchase purebred animals still give them away
to shelters.
The reason to end all reasons why potential adopters should find their next pet at an
animal shelter is because it saves countless animals from being inhumanely euthanized every
day. What have these remarkable animals done to deserve such a horrible death sentence?
Absolutely nothing. They give unconditional love to their humans and make even the worst days
seem happy and cheerful. Pets contently stand by the door waiting for their owner to come
walking through just so they can shower them with endless kisses. Our beloved animals do not
deserve to get their lives cut short or spend the rest of it behind bars. Change cannot happen
until us humans decide to make a change. We have a choice. The choice is to adopt a puppy
form a pet store or the local animal shelter. Well, which is it going to be? Hopefully, the right
choice is made. If more people adopted their pets from shelters, it would help the ongoing issue
of animal shelter overpopulation. This issue has been ongoing for years and cannot be resolved
until changes are made within our system, and these changes will only happen when we decide
to take action.
Works Cited
ASPCA | The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr.
2013.
Stensland, Jeff. "Austin Animal Shelter Explores Ways to Ease Overcrowding." Austin.ynn.com.
N.p., 03 Apr. 2013. Web. 11 Apr. 2013.
Williams, Erica. ""Underdog Railway" Helping Overcrowding in Shelter." WBBJTV.com. N.p.,
29 Mar. 2013. Web. 11 Apr. 2013.
Author’s Note
I am Christina Nowicki. I’m a sophomore at Northern Oklahoma College. My major is
accounting and I currently work as a bookkeeper. As evident from my chapter, I am a huge
animal lover. I have two amazing dogs named Audrey and Stewie. Currently, I don’t have kids,
and right about now is where I should say I think of my dogs as my kids, but that is a lie. In
some instances, I feel they are better. Dogs love their owners unconditionally. Let’s be real
people, how many of you with children would say your kids loved you unconditionally no matter
what you did or said? If anyone said yes, I would like to talk to you and find out what your
secret is, but I digress. I suppose I should say something about myself instead of just my dogs,
although I feel they are far more interesting. I like to dance, but never, ever in public. I love
cooking and, if I don’t say so myself, I am pretty darn good at it. Life without music is a life I
want nothing to do with. I enjoy classic television shows and movies. I adore cold winter nights
with hot chocolate and taking my dogs for a walk on a delightful spring day. Smoothies and
strawberry snow cones make me happy. Fruit roll ups are my weakness and I’m seeing a
therapist about it next week. I value every mistake I have made in the past. In my opinion,
mistakes are the best way to learn. Is it me or is this starting to sound like a personal ad? To
sum up, I love my life and cherish every person who has been part of it.