Blog 26 Senior Project Reflection

1.) One thing I am proud of during my senior presentation were my activities. I tried my best to get the audience involved with my topic by getting first hand experience in the rehabilitation field. 

2.) a On my presentation I would give myself an AE

On my senior project I would give myself a p

3.) What worked for me the best within my senior project were the interviews and research because I couldn't get much experience in the field it still was a great opportunity to talk to rehabilitators that are founder of their own organizations and have been in the field for many years. They also verified the countless research I have. 

4.) If I had the chance to change something in my senior project, I would have stuck with domesticated abused animals because although it was such a great experience to research wildlife a topic I am very passionate about- I couldn't find any real mentorship within this topic, because of my area and age.

5.) The senior project helped me gain connections and get in touch with people in my field that I would never have been in contact to begin with. I've got a broader view of the different aspects in the wildlife field as well as veterinary. 

Veterinarian Clinic

Today, I worked at the medical department of the shelter. I got to experience first hand the procedures for weighing the animal, shaving the areas that are about to be examined and worked on, and watch the incisions, stitches, and of course putting them under before any of that.

During treatment

This clinic is meant for spay and neutering but since they're taking care of stray animals, abused and neglected horrible conditions are brought upon us.
Today, there were a few gruesome cases of fox tails. They're those prickly weeds that detach into your skin. The problem with this is they keep burrowing deeper inside your skin until it can get inside critical organs.
In one case it went to the dogs spinal cord and paralyzed him.

After treatment

Cruelty Case- Pitbull Awareness.

This has been on ongoing case and it breaks my heart that people can be so cruel. This beautiful pit-bull was being tied to a post with no food and water, as the rope tore through skin the poor creature tore through his own arm. They had to amputate the leg off- the owner claims that he chewed it off himself and should not be one to blame.


He is currently not adoptable, but a few people are pledging for his care. He will be left as evidence of a cruelty case, and afterwards will be put in a rescue group.
He is such a loving, hopeful dog after all he's been through, and I wish I could adopt him! Unfortunately, he is not able to be socialized with either, for we cannot be certain of his temperament. Though I disagree with this completely and had a few arguments on the people that work there, I hope it's for the dogs beset interest.
I still sneak him some treats and pets every time I come in.

Pit bulls are always the most misunderstood of all dog breeds. It is completely the way you raise the dog that makes it turn out to the way it is. If you treat it physically and mentally in a loving environment then it will show as well as if you care for it in an unhealthy and unloving environment. It's always in the best interest of the owner to rethink giving puts up for adoption, most shelters are over run by these poor dogs. There are organization that offer free neutering, spaying micro shipping and food if you keep your pit. So take care of your animal and don't give it up as your first option. I have proof that the way you raise the animal is what matters-

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 

Cat building- Adoption day!

So, today was a rewarding day. I'm comfortable with handling the cats, (feral and adoptable) And made a great contribution in getting a few adopted! I brought the individual cats that beset suited their housing situation, and after some monitored playtime, and explaining the situation if the sweet kittens stay in the shelter too long, they decided to adopt them! I'm glad, I am sure they will have a great home by the way the family was caring and holding the cats. :)
A few animals went away to individual organizations that protect that specific breed if they didn't have much chance at getting adopted, so that's another thing I'm excited about!

Blog 25: Mentorship

  Literal

·     Log of specific hours with a total and a description of your duties

Mentorship Log

 

 

·     Contact Name & Number

Rhomy Reid (626) 962-3577

 

 

    Interpretive

     What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why?

I think the most important thing I've gained was the friend I made, the stories are heard and caring for these wonderful animals with such great spirits and life inside them. It's so sad and touching to see such beautiful animals that were abused by such cruel people, still have a chance at life. They still have a positive outlook and we try our best to them adopted.

 

 

   Applied

     How has what you’ve done helped you to answer your EQ?  Please explain

 

The whole animal shelter experience was a very great experience, but I didn't understand the importance of this until later on when I explored the roles o rehabilitation. The goal that we do at the shelter is exactly that- rehabilitating an animals mental and physical health so that it can be social with humans once again and be introduced to another loving home environment. Although the end product is difference from my topic- where the goal is to introduce them to the wild and avoid humans- it was a great insight on the specifics of caring for an abused and injured animal. I can better interpret fear and and stress of a strayed animal and how to handle them. This helped me find my most essential answer- initial approach.

Blog 24: Exit Interview Questions

(1) What is your essential question?  What is the best answer to your question and why?

 

• What is the best way to care for an animal that is to be rehabilitated back into it's natural environment? The best way to care for an animal is to have the correct initial approach on the animal to not stress it more and increase it's chance of survival. While habitat and records are essential as well in the rehabilitation process, you don't have to worry about habitat until the last stage of the rehabilitation process- says Debrah- a wildlife rehabilitator founder and director for 30 years.  Records are vital in recovery, but if you do not have the right approach on the animal, it will die before you make it to the last stages of record- and if the animal imprints- it cannot be released back into the wild. I would say the records come important in the treatment phase which would be somewhere in the middle, while as initial approach is essential through every step.

 

 

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?

• When I first discovered my first answer- through a multiple of articles as well as mentorship at the animal shelter- I knew that this would be my best answer. It just fit perfectly with every scenario of the rehabilitation process. Of course, habitat and records are essential; and my interviews conflicted me on which answer to choose- one didn't consider habitat much of an important factor while the other said to always keep it in the back of your mind through recovery. After I completed my animal handling and training course I had to check for signs of fear, stress, or contentness and determine whether or not I would socialize with the animal- it is important to socialize so when an important adopter comes in and wants to play with the animal- it will already be used to it. Even though this process is contradictory towards wildlife- they need to keep humans as predators where as domesticated animals need to trust humans- I think initial approach works on all kinds of rehabilitation methods towards animals . Without that connection you can never recovery the mental state of the animal and if it is wildlife- the over stress can kill it.

 

 

 

(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?

• I couldn't get the experience I wanted with wildlife- where organizations really needed help, and where there was actual wildlife rehabilitation centers- they were usually out of state. And for the few opportunities I did have- at a raptor rehabilitation center, migratory birds, etc, their was a specific age requirement to work with the animals. So, I settled with working at an animal shelter- which corresponds towards my eq because, I am helping rehabilitate domesticated animals who have been abused, and neglected both physically and mentally to a state where they can be adopted into a 'forever home.' Dogs and cats show similar signs of stress, fear, towards humans as wildlife do when they feel threatened- though the repercussions are far less severe.

 

 

(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?

• Dr wildlife by Rory C Foster and my third and fourth interviewee's. The book takes you on a journey of a man who built himself up as a rehabilitator and gave real life scenarios on wildlife and human encounters- what cases they discovered,  and how they educated the public on how to approach the animals as well as how they treated them. Also, my third and fourth interview with Terry and Debrah both founders of their organizations- focus on initial approach. Relieving stress and creating a border line is very important.

 

 

(5) What is your product and why

• My product would be the connections I made. I would never have known how many opportunities were out their to gain experience with wildlife and make a bigger impact on the world. It was such a great opportunity for me to talk to and interview wildlife rehabilitators most of which our founders of their centers! I applaud them for the hard work and dedication they set forth with their passion for animals every day. It is not a profession for money, it's a obligation for saving our creatures. Their are many possible internships that I am going to look up once the year is over and I am 18. I didn't have the opportunity to work with animals the way I wanted to because of my age, but I know where I would like to start.

Blog 23: 2014 Interview

Who did you interview and what house are they in?

I interviewed  Alfredo Pantera Nunez. He is in East house.


What ideas do you have for your senior project and why?

"Well i was thinking about two things, I'm not quite sure which would be easier or better. I was thinking Paintball because I love the sport and there's this small shop where i could possibly get an internship at for service hours. but I also wanted to do aeronautics because I love airplanes and flying, but i'm not too sure if i should do it from the engineering p.o.v or like a pilot kind of thing. I feel like aeronautics would be alot harder to find internships for though .

I replied,

There are some restrictions on what you can do, if the classes or equipment is too expensive or hard to get into. I would say stick with whatever you can be most passionate about in your two hour as well as for sure mentorship.


What do you plan to do for your summer 10 hour mentorship experience?

Well I have paintball equipment, and i mean i think i could probably play paintball as an independent component kind of thing, i'm not too sure what i'd do for the aeronautical mentorship. but i can find an internship at a paintball shop. And I think i can get pretty passionate with either topic.


What do you hope to see or expect to see in watching the 2013 2-hour presentations?

Hmm, that's a good question, I'd really enjoy watching my Cousins presentation? but i just want to see all the hard work and skills acquired over the four years at i poly.


What questions do you have that I can answer about senior year or senior project (or what additional information did you tell them about senior year or senior project)?

Think that's pretty much it,  I think the only question i'd have is a suggestion on which topic you think would make a better senior project.

I replied,

Well, You don't need to make a commitment over the summer, you're just trying it out and see if you like it/ can deal with it. I would stick with the paintball internship this summer and see how it plays out. You can look further into aeronautics, but it seems like a broad topic and very hard to get experience in.