Ernest Otto
ENGL 1010
15 November 2012
Annotated Bibliography
Commings, Karen. "TNR – The Humane Alternative." ASPCA Animal Watch 23.3
(2003): n. pag. Web. 1 Nov. 2012.
The article was published in a journal sponsored by the ASPCA, a reputable animal
welfare organization. The author is a freelance writer who takes care of several feral cat
colonies. This article discusses the feral cat overpopulation issue. TNR stands for Trap,
Neuter, Return, and is a humane method of controlling cat overpopulation and reducing
euthanasia of cats. The article describes how and why TNR was started, and wants to
educate people about how to help humanely control feral cats in their area.
Fournier, Angela, and E. Scott Geller. “Behavior Analysis of Companion-Animal
Overpopulation: A Conceptualization of the Problem and Suggestions for Intervention.”
Behavior and Social Issues 13 (2004): 51-68. Print.
Many people do not realize how extensive the problem with companion animal
overpopulation is in the United States. This article appeared in a scholarly journal so it is
a high quality source. The intended audience is professionals within the companion
animal industry like veterinarians and shelter workers. It can also include citizens
concerned about animal overpopulation. First the authors describe what contributes to the
overpopulation problem, and different components of those factors. Then they write
about methods that can improve the problem and describe each one in detail. This article
provides detailed information about companion animal overpopulation and is highly
relevant to a paper about homeless pets.
Page, Jared. "West Valley animal shelter shakes off stigma, emerges as success story."
Deseret News. Deseret News, 1 Sept. 2012. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.
The article appeared in a reputable local Utah newspaper. The intended audience is the
general public of Utah, as it is seen as their success story for getting involved. After
outcry from the general public regarding problems involving the gas chamber at West
Valley City Animal Shelter, concerns about their euthanasia practices brought changes to
the euthanasia rate at the shelter. With assistance from Best Friends Animal Society, they
have been able to raise adoption numbers and turn their public image around. The topic is
highly relevant to a paper about homeless pets because it brings an interesting local
perspective to the issue.
"Puppy Mill FAQ." ASPCA. ASPCA, 2012. Web. 1 Nov. 2012.
This online article is produced by a well-known national animal welfare organization, the
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). This resource talks
about one of the major causes of dog overpopulation- puppy mills- in depth. These dogs
are bred with no regard for their health or demand for dogs, leading to many of them
ending up in shelters. In addition, when a puppy mill dog is purchased from a pet store
this takes a home from a shelter dog. The article intends to inform the general public
about where dogs sold by pet stores really come from and wants to motivate people to
take action against puppy mills.
Whitcomb, Rachael. "Understanding pet overpopulation.” DVM 360. DVM
Newsmagazine, 25 Mar. 2010. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.
Understanding pet overpopulation and taking steps to try and save the lives of adoptable
animals through successful shelter partnerships. The source of the material is reputable
within its field making the article of a high quality source, because it is a magazine for
veterinarians. The intended audience is the general public to be informed of what the
problem is, and what we need to do to start to take action as responsible people. The
article documents various animal welfare issues that plague our nation and the vastly out
of control animal overpopulation problem, with many statistics to support the claims. The
article also shows that great strides in professional social networking are getting animals
adopted at high rates. The article is extremely relevant to the topic of homeless pets
because it has current information about companion animal overpopulation.