Journal

__** Journal Entry 1. **__ After doing some research for a few weeks now, I have learned a lot about puppy mills. This subject really hits home, as I have many pets, and I care for animals deeply. After hearing back from the SPCA, telling me that I am unable to volunteer there, I have been in touch with a few other dog rescues, where I am waiting to here back to see what exactly I would be doing at each. By doing this, I can see what rescue will benefit me most with my project. I have seen many videos that make me glad that I chose this topic. These videos, although they may be somewhat graphic, really get the picture across as to what puppy mills are really like. Over the weeks I have worked with my mentor, as she gave me some good information on other rescues that I can contact in which she feels could possibly help me with my project. She has also informed me that her husbands sister is an animal rights activist lawyer and she actually worked on the Michael Vick case when the Eagles had signed him. She has worked with puppy mills before, and she also has a book out, with my mentor has is going to give to me so I can look at it, and possibly get more information from someone who saw first hand what puppy mills are like. This topic, just be doing some research, has impacted me greatly. I always knew there were many cruel forms of animal abuse, but I didnt know puppy mills could get this horrific. Watching these videos, while reading and seeing what these puppy mill oweners and workers do to the dogs, upsets me greatly. Even the slightest news about animals being abused breaks my heart, but puppy mills take this feeling to a while new level. This experience so far has changed the way I view animal abuse. Although I was always agaisnt it, cause its cruel and inhumane, I had no idea that this abuse could get to such a high level. The things these workers do to their animals are above and beyond what I could ever imagine.

I recieved a phone call from one of the cat rescues that I had contacted about volunteering on Saturday, October 30th. She asked me a few questions as to what I would like to do with them, out of what they can offer. I will be fostering feral cat kittens, and feral cats after they are fixed. This saturday, November, 6th, she will be coming to my house to give me the cage for the cats, and to talk to me about going with her to feed the colonies of feral cats that they take care of. As of right now, I am not sure when I will be recieving the kittens, it all depends on how quickly they can get them. For this shelter, my job is to get these cats used to human contact, as they are feral, meaning they are undomesticated and may not be used to humans. Im very excited for this, because I love animals, and I am willing to do anything to help them, even if it just means giving them a temporary home until they are adopted, or let back out into the wild with their colonies after they are fixed. A few days later I had also heard back from another rescue that I had contacted. They asked me how old I was because I must be 18 years of age to work with the animals. This was perfect because I just turned 18th in september. I got back to them to let them know my age, but I have yet to hear from them since then. I am anticipating on them getting back to me, so I could possibly be helping 2 shelters at the same time, while still competing the hours needed for my project. This project has opened my eyes to many things, and I am planning on volunteering at these shelters in the future, even after my project is done.
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__**Journal Entry 3**__ I am going to pick up the foster kitten sometime this week. Im really excited to finally get started on my hands-on project. They caught the kittens over the weekend and are going to clean them up before they give them to me.I think this will be a great experience for me, and I think I will feel very good about myself knowing that I helped to save their lives. I still have things to do before they get here, like clean a spot in my room for their cage, and make sure there is nothing around that they could possibly get into that could harm them in any way. Im excited for this experience and Im waiting for spay and save to call me to let me know that they are ready to be picked up.

__**Journal Entry 4**__ I went to pick up the foster kittens on November 12th. After school we drove over to one of the other volunteers house. She was holding the kittens for us, as they had just caught them that weekend and took them to the vet to be cleaned, and to give them all of their shots. As we got to her house, we quickly realized just how many cats need foster homes. She opened up a door, and although the room was kinda small, the walls were filled with cages, one stacked on top of the other. she opened up the doors to the cages and all the cats ran out, where they were able to roam free. Out in the hallway in a cage, were the three (3) kittens I was going to foster. One calico, One orange tabby, and one black with white. They were all very scared at first, but quickly got used to human contact and became very loving, as they strived for affection. After seeing these kittens everyday and giving them the love and affection they needed, I had grown very attached to each one of them, and was very sad when the Calico and Orange tabby left for their new homes. Each one of these kittens quickly recieved a home, but with such a loving personality and their cute little faces, how could you not want to adopt one? A friend of mine took the orange tabby, and my aunt took the calico as a birthday present for my cousin, and I am happy to say that the black and white kitten has officialy become part of my family. After talking to the other volunteers, you realize just how many cats are left without homes, and left outside to fend for themselves through all types of weather. One of the volunteers actually uses her money and buys big bags of food. Every night she takes this food to ferral cat colonies to feed them. She spends about 2 hours doing this, no matter what type of weather might hit. She shows her dedication to these animals, and her dedication to saving them, and this really warms my heart. It makes me feel good to know that behind all of the animal abuse stories you may hear, there are still people who give alot to keep these animals safe, and to keep them alive. After fostering these kittens, it feels good to know that I helped save 3 animals lives. These kittens didnt know human contact, or what it was like to be in a warm and loving home prior to them coming to mine to be fostered. I feel good about helping them out, and I wish more people would be willing to help, and less people would abuse them. Im happy to say that I should be recieving another kitten soon, and I will be just as proud when I foster and find that kitten a loving home. **I am currently working with** [|spayandsave.org]