Running head: ANIMAL ABUSE AWARENESS

Animal Abuse Awareness

Yeselia Reynoso
Waxahachie Global High

ANIMAL ABUSE AWARENESS

Table of Contents
Overview...3
Purpose and Benefits.........3
Passion Behind Capstone Project..........3
Mentor...4
Research Topics....4
Audience...5
Milestones.............5
Measure of Success...7
Engineering Process..7
Inspiration.7
Citations...11

Overview
Animal abuse is a major issue with animals in the United States, from underground dog
fighting rings, hoarding of animals, to individuals who neglect their pets. According to humane
society, about 70% of abused animals are dogs, and less than 30% of abused animals are cats.
Knowing this, I would like to not only like to expand my knowledge on animal care health, but
help raise awareness of animal abuse to the community. I will be able to expand my knowledge
by shadowing my mentor (a veterinarian) and being aware of the different ways to raise several
animals. I will meet with my mentor every other Friday (A day) from 10am-12pm, and every
other Saturday from 8am-12pm.
Purpose and Benefits
The purpose of this Capstone idea is to raise awareness and to give a better understanding
of animal abuse in America. The benefits of doing this project is because I want to be a
veterinarian in the future, and it is also something that I am strongly passionate about. I will use

ANIMAL ABUSE AWARENESS

my passion and ambition to get a mentorship under a veterinarian and further my knowledge in
the care of animals.
The Passion Behind the Capstone Project
The reason why I am so passionate in area is because I have rescued and raised two
abused/neglected dogs, and I am thankful to have rescued them. When I first got my pets, I had
no clue how much work there is put into taking care of them. There is a lot of work that goes into
taking care of an abused dog such as properly training them, making them comfortable in their
new environment, and letting them get to know other animals. I have had experience in taking
care of my own animals and some other individuals animals. But, I am not a professional in
knowing how to care for any pets or animals. Raising my dogs helped me realize of how
passionate I am in the care for animals and pets. After I finish high school, I will carry on to
pursue my dream of becoming a veterinarian.
Mentor
DR. Del Walters
Veterinarian Practice Owner
University of Kansas School of Medicine
MPH Degree
D.V.M.

Research Topics
One of the ideas for a research topic is researching about animal abuse in America, and
the effects of it on the mental status of the animal, and how to care for abused or neglected
animals. Another idea that could researched about, is animal cruelty and the use of animal

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experimentation in beauty products. From this, research can be done on cruelty free products and
how different they are from animal cruelty products. My final idea can be about the use of
animals for entertainment, and how it affects the animal.

Audience
I would like to present my final project to any veterinarian or any persons who work in a
veterinarian clinic. Id also like to present my capstone to my mentor and the individuals who
work for him. I could also present my project to any animal lovers out there and raise awareness
about the effect of animal abuse on our animals. They could possibly take information from my
project and apply it to the real world and begin to help put a stop towards animal abuse. There
will also be documentations done on a blog with updates of what I have learned thus far. The
audience will be those who go visit the blog website. The final Capstone project will be
presented at the capstone showcase where anyone may come and learn about my project.

Milestones
Date

Milestone

Completed?

October 19,
2016

Get a mentorship at a veterinarian clinic.

Yes

October 28,
2016

Begin shadowing mentor.

Yes

October 28,
2016

Talk to mentor about constraints and confidentiality.

Yes

November 10,
2016

Begin researching about animal abuse and learn

about ways to help prevent it. Also, begin asking
mentor questions on how to raise an abused animal.

December 1,
2016

Begin to design a series of objects for raising animals

such as: treats, toys, beds, etc. (design care package)

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December 10,
2016

Get feedback from mentor on dog care package

design.

December 10,
2016

Possibly start researching about starting a drive for

dog/cat toys, dog/cat food, etc.

January 1,
2017

Research about how abuse and neglect affects an

animals behavior.

January 7,
2017

Research ways to make abused animals more

comfortable in their environment

February 2,
2017

Create two flyers where one discusses how to

properly raise an animal (which vaccines to get).
Another flyer will discuss the best way to raise an
abused or neglected animal.

February 11,
2017

Make final adjustments to animal care package.

February 14,
2017

Begin writing technical paper.

March 2, 2017 Make final adjustments to animal care package, and

make several animal care packages.
March 18,
2017

Finish writing technical paper.

March 20,
2017

Begin editing technical paper.

March 25,

Have technical paper finished and edited.

2017
April 10, 2017 Begin designing poster board.
May 2017

Present Capstone project

Measure of Success
To measure my success, I could meet with my mentor and ask any questions that I may
have, and discuss what I have done on my project thus far. I could also make surveys for the

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individuals who got a care package and ask how well it worked for them, and ask if there is
anything different I could do (5 good feedback results).

Engineering Process

Define the Problem: Lack of knowledge about animal abuse, how it can affect an animal,

and how to care for an abused animal.

Do Background Research: Research about: What animal abuse is, how animal abuse

affects the mental status of an animal, and how to care for an abused animal.
Specify Requirements: Cant meet with mentor on Sundays or during the week day.

Package must be able to suit all dogs.

Brainstorm Solutions: Outline a process of steps to help put a stop/aware animal lovers

about animal abuse. Also, outline a process of steps on how care for abused dog
Design and Build Prototype: Dog Care Package
Test: Get feedback from mentor. Test animal care package on several animals.
Refine the Prototype: Make any corrections on the click and treat if needed. Such as,
better treats that the animal would want

Present Findings and Reflect: Get feedback on dog care packages and present at the final
Capstone Showcase.
Inspiration

ANIMAL ABUSE AWARENESS

Image

of

Brookside Animal

Hospital

Inside of Brookside Animal

Hospital

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Blade: Blade is a husky-mix, I got him in the summer of 2014, he required many vaccinations
and medicine because of the lack of attention his old owner gave him.

Bon Bon is a Bichon Frise, I

got him during the summer of 2013.

ANIMAL ABUSE AWARENESS

Tiger is a Pitbull, I got him

summer of 2015. He was found roaming the streets, he showed signs of being a bait dog for dog
fighting rings. He required many vaccinations, and had a severe case of ticks.

Citations
Dodman, Nicholas (2014, September 14). How to Care for an Abused Dog.
http://www.petplace.com/article/dogs/behavior-training/understanding-your-dog/how-to-carefor-an-abused-pet.
The
Humane

Society

(2016).

Animal

Cruelty

Facts

and

Stats.

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/abuse_neglect/facts/animal_cruelty_facts_statistics.html