Hayley Nitz

Mrs. Debock
English 4
February 13 2015

Research Question: How can the government and citizens help dogs that have made it to a life in
an animal shelter?
Working Thesis Question: The public must be willing to provide more volunteer work to
rehabilitate dogs in shelters.
Refined Thesis Question: The public should take more of their time to help animals that reside in
animal shelters.

Annotated Bibliography
Hampton, Joy. "Experts say volunteers are key to animal welfare." Norman Transcript, The (OK)
09 Dec. 2014: Points of View Reference Center. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.
Joy Hamptons article describes the need volunteers in animal rescue establishments.
Citizens were asked about how they feel on the topic of volunteering and Joy discovered that
many feel very passionate about it. It was also discovered that fostering and volunteering efforts
have increased due to a heavy reliance on media and social advertisements. The volunteers
consider themselves as animals biggest cheerleaders and shelters say that people will only be
involved as much as you let them. Establishments encourage people to provide foster homes for
dogs because the animals have a high risk for catching or developing diseases in shelter
environments. The foster homes also provide social interaction which the animals may not
receive in shelters. This reduces the seventy percent of animals that have behavioral issues once

staying in a shelter. Hamptons article will support my claim on why shelter animals need
volunteers.

Johnson, Ruthanne. "To The Rescue." All Animals 17.2 (2015): 6. Middle Search Plus.
Web. 26 Mar. 2015..
Ruthanne Johnsons article describes some of the helpful deeds volunteers provide for
sheltered dogs. Many volunteers provide consistent routine care for shelter dogs in order to
provide assurance to the animals. This can include gentle talking or touching for the animals,
providing them with more access to a social environment. New dogs that come from puppy mills
or the street will receive a bath or groom to physically rid the dog of discomfort. When
volunteers go to puppy mills to seize the dogs, they can see a change in expression in the dogs
when they take chains or tight collars off of the dogs. Experts say that in order to establish an
efficient system to socialize every dog properly, there must be one volunteer for every five dogs.
Johnsons article will support my position that shelters need volunteers for help with certain
tasks.

Carter, Kaleb. "Volunteer group helps save an astonishing number of local dogs every year."
Athens News 14 July 2014: 20+. Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 26 Mar. 2015.
Kaleb Carters article describes how not only can local citizens help, but how
organizations and companies help support and rehabilitate shelter dogs. Many local shelters
attempt to help dogs found in shelters by preventing new dogs from coming in by spaying or
neutering them. This procedure can be very expensive so shelters often seek out local business
donations to provide the medical operation. Companies donate money to help the dogs and in
return get publicity for their business. Companies may also donate money or space to host

projects aimed towards educating the general public on improving the quality of life for animals.
Often times this attracts even more volunteers. Carters article will support my position that all
types of people are needed to help volunteer for the health of shelter animals.