These are the three papers that took me all semester to write, the first one is about assimilation in America, the second is about the possible racism in Disney, and the third is about my blog. Enjoy!
Writing Project 1
Writing Project 2
Writing Project 3
Monday, May 2, 2011
Reflection
Through the course of this class, I have learned alot about developing ideas and forming papers with those ideas. I have a problem with staying on topic and keeping my paper cohesive. By writing the many drafts we did, I was able to watch my paper develop into something really well written, at least for me.
While I was reading over my previous papers to revise them for my final copies I noticed that I jump around alot, and I don't stay on board with the whole "academic paper" idea. My favorite paper to write was the one about this blog. It was a topic that I got to pick, and because of that I feel that I put my best effort into it. I feel that it was my best paper and I feel very good about submitting it to Dr. Micer.
The things I learned in this class, like developing an effective thesis, using better transitions, and constantly developing my ideas, I will be able to take to my other classes to write research papers.
I think my strength in writing is my pathos, I show alot of emotion, sometimes too much for academic papers, but I like to be able to relate to my readers through pathos more than find definitive facts.
I enjoyed this class because there's alot of room for your mind to explore when writing. The prompts are specific yet vague enough to develop your own ideas. I don't like being told exactly what to write and how to write it. I also like being able to work at your own pace. I'm a slow writer and it takes a long time for me to develop a good paper. Working on the blog and then the outline broke up the long research paper so when it came time for actually writing, it all just came together.
I think this is a great class, and it showed me that writing papers doesn't have to be so stressful and there's many methods to get to the final outcome. Thank you Dr. Micer.
While I was reading over my previous papers to revise them for my final copies I noticed that I jump around alot, and I don't stay on board with the whole "academic paper" idea. My favorite paper to write was the one about this blog. It was a topic that I got to pick, and because of that I feel that I put my best effort into it. I feel that it was my best paper and I feel very good about submitting it to Dr. Micer.
The things I learned in this class, like developing an effective thesis, using better transitions, and constantly developing my ideas, I will be able to take to my other classes to write research papers.
I think my strength in writing is my pathos, I show alot of emotion, sometimes too much for academic papers, but I like to be able to relate to my readers through pathos more than find definitive facts.
I enjoyed this class because there's alot of room for your mind to explore when writing. The prompts are specific yet vague enough to develop your own ideas. I don't like being told exactly what to write and how to write it. I also like being able to work at your own pace. I'm a slow writer and it takes a long time for me to develop a good paper. Working on the blog and then the outline broke up the long research paper so when it came time for actually writing, it all just came together.
I think this is a great class, and it showed me that writing papers doesn't have to be so stressful and there's many methods to get to the final outcome. Thank you Dr. Micer.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Are Wild Animals Really Able To Be Tamed?
While I was looking for some expert quotes on this topics I came across this in a discussion forum. Judge for yourself if you think this is right or wrong.
Hi,
Speaking from experience, I can give you some helpful information. My dad has always kept exotic animals and I was raised the same way. I'll start with my opossum. My dad got me this opossum one year from a local animal dealer. It was a wild caught opossum and was very mean. I would open his pet carrier everyday with gloves on and pet him. I also fed him treats to gain his trust. The second day I was able to pet him with one bare hand (no glove) while the other gloved hand protected my bare hand. By the third day I could pick him up with gloves. The fourth day he was riding around on my shoulder.
When my dad was a kid growing up in San Diego, California, he had a weeper capuchin monkey. She was a wild caught juvenile when he got her. It took several days to tame her but he never got bit or had any trouble with her. He said the key to working with primates is to let their curiosity overcome them and wait for them to come to you. A treat or two also helps.
A few years ago I got two small raccoons that could easily take a huge chunk of your finger off. I let them out of the carrier into my bedroom and just let them run around while I sat down in the corner. As they looked around and check the room out, they would come up to me and sniff out of cuiosity. Never did they attempt to bite or show anger. Eventually they would ride on my shoulder. I got them to do that by playing with them in the bathroom.
I also had a kinkajou for 4 years. It was a bottle raised baby and was always tame. He was bonded mostly to my dad and dad could do anything with him. He loved to climb up to a high piece of furniture and dive bomb onto my bed with me right next to him.
The key to taming wild animals is patience and confidence. It does help to start with a baby that has its eyes and ears closed and bottle raise it. If you are dealing with an adult than all you can do is just try and tame it. Don't get angry and hit it or anything like that because that will only move your progress back.
This summer I am building a breeding cage for raccoons. It has two sides and each side is
4'x4'x4'. It is going to be all wire held together with j-clips and its elevated off the ground. The waste can fall through the wire and I never have to clean the inside of the cage. I plan to put wild raccoons in them so opening the door isn't the wisest thing you can do. Each cage is also going to have a 2'x2'x2' nest box hung on the outside of the cage with a hingable lockable top that way I can remove babies without having to go inside the cage. Its also going to have two feed stations so the animal can eat from the bowls inside the cage but can't flip the bowls over and I can fill the bowls from the outside of the cage without gettting bit. Lastly I am going to make an automatic watering system.
Drew (17) South Carolina
Hi,
Speaking from experience, I can give you some helpful information. My dad has always kept exotic animals and I was raised the same way. I'll start with my opossum. My dad got me this opossum one year from a local animal dealer. It was a wild caught opossum and was very mean. I would open his pet carrier everyday with gloves on and pet him. I also fed him treats to gain his trust. The second day I was able to pet him with one bare hand (no glove) while the other gloved hand protected my bare hand. By the third day I could pick him up with gloves. The fourth day he was riding around on my shoulder.
When my dad was a kid growing up in San Diego, California, he had a weeper capuchin monkey. She was a wild caught juvenile when he got her. It took several days to tame her but he never got bit or had any trouble with her. He said the key to working with primates is to let their curiosity overcome them and wait for them to come to you. A treat or two also helps.
A few years ago I got two small raccoons that could easily take a huge chunk of your finger off. I let them out of the carrier into my bedroom and just let them run around while I sat down in the corner. As they looked around and check the room out, they would come up to me and sniff out of cuiosity. Never did they attempt to bite or show anger. Eventually they would ride on my shoulder. I got them to do that by playing with them in the bathroom.
I also had a kinkajou for 4 years. It was a bottle raised baby and was always tame. He was bonded mostly to my dad and dad could do anything with him. He loved to climb up to a high piece of furniture and dive bomb onto my bed with me right next to him.
The key to taming wild animals is patience and confidence. It does help to start with a baby that has its eyes and ears closed and bottle raise it. If you are dealing with an adult than all you can do is just try and tame it. Don't get angry and hit it or anything like that because that will only move your progress back.
This summer I am building a breeding cage for raccoons. It has two sides and each side is
4'x4'x4'. It is going to be all wire held together with j-clips and its elevated off the ground. The waste can fall through the wire and I never have to clean the inside of the cage. I plan to put wild raccoons in them so opening the door isn't the wisest thing you can do. Each cage is also going to have a 2'x2'x2' nest box hung on the outside of the cage with a hingable lockable top that way I can remove babies without having to go inside the cage. Its also going to have two feed stations so the animal can eat from the bowls inside the cage but can't flip the bowls over and I can fill the bowls from the outside of the cage without gettting bit. Lastly I am going to make an automatic watering system.
Drew (17) South Carolina
Monday, April 11, 2011
People Don't Understand Animals Enough To Own Them
Looking up a googled article about an animal doesn't make you an expert on it. Just because a trained monkey at the zoo will dance for you doesn't mean the animal always acts like that. Animals are wild creatures with distinct insticts to survive no matter what it takes.
Even when thorough research is done, people don't understand that animals aren't meant to be your best friend or a show piece in your home. Dogs, "man's best friend", has been domesticated for over 5,000 years, but yet about 4.7 million dog related attacks are reported each year in the United States alone. Knowing this, why would someone think that an alligator, that is not domesticated, would make a perfect pet?
Even when thorough research is done, people don't understand that animals aren't meant to be your best friend or a show piece in your home. Dogs, "man's best friend", has been domesticated for over 5,000 years, but yet about 4.7 million dog related attacks are reported each year in the United States alone. Knowing this, why would someone think that an alligator, that is not domesticated, would make a perfect pet?
Friday, April 1, 2011
Not All Exotic Pet Owners Are Wealthy
With the way these animals are treated and transported there's not much money going into handling them, which increases the poacher's profit. Most of the poachers, as mentioned before, are extremely poor people from second and third world countries. These people are looking for a quick buck, so if the animal is bought straight from the source, they aren't that expensive. When pet shop owners purchase these animals from the poachers they hike up the price to make them appealing to those who want to stand out with a pet that no one else has. Anybody could get their hands on these animals. And pets that aren't all that exotic, but just unorthodox like raccoons and squirrels are easily attainable and easily hid from the government. Once these animals act out people will go to drastic measures to "tame" them.
Monday, March 28, 2011
People Love Animals
Exotic pets could be a psychological thing for people. Some people get satisfaction from owning something that not many others have. Others like feeling like they're giving the animal a better life than the wild could provide. Unfortunately, keeping these animals as a possession only hinders their species survival and creates a false atmosphere around them. Living in a nice house with humans isn't the natural habitat for wild creatures. If they ever get loose or get released, they won't know how to survive.
Context Statement Version 1.0
Not many people are aware of the increasing problem of owning an exotic pet. If more people were aware of the fact that only about thirty percent of the animals that are transported actually make it to the destination alive. Some people also don't realize the horrible situations these animals are put into. Not only is it unmoral to abuse these creatures, but the populations of species are being devastated in some regions due to the hunting for ownerships. Funds should be put in place for law enforcement to save these animals and prevent it from happening.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Laws Concerning Exotic Pets
Bornfreeusa.org is a website that lists current laws for each state concerning the ownership of exotic pets. I've listed the full information for Indiana, word-for-word from the site. I think most would be surprised at what one can adopt as a pet as long as they have a license.
INDIANA
Category: L
Summary of Law: All persons who possess certain wild animals must obtain a permit for each animal they possess. A wild animal possession permit is required for Class I animals (eastern cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, southern flying squirrel) Class II animals (beaver, coyote, gray fox, red fox, mink, muskrat, opossum, raccoon, skunk, weasel) and Class III animals: wolves (purebred), bears, wild cats (excluding feral cats), venomous reptiles and crocodilians (at least 5 feet long)
L = Requires the "owner" of the exotic animal to obtain a license or permit or to register the animal with state or local authorities to privately possess the animal (excludes states only requiring import permits)
As for the other states:
- Alabama, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, and South Carolina doesn't require an official license to own an animal, but may need some form of a permit or a veterinary certificate.
- Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming have a ban on the private ownership of any exotic animal.
- Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Texas require the exotic pet owner to require a license and/or register the animal with the state or local authorities.
- Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Virginia only allow certain exotic pets. Each state has their own specific species and types that are illegal.
- West Virginia and Wisconsin have no laws for exotic pets.
"When Miami airport inspectors asked a man arriving from Havana, Cuba to raise his pants legs, they were surprised to find 44 birds strapped to his legs. The man had denied he was bringing any wildlife into the United States. He was released the next day on $50,000 bond after being charged with lying on a customs declaration form.
The illegal trade in wildlife is second only to that of drugs in the United States, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). A former FWS chief of law enforcement said, 'There is no stigma attached to being an animal smuggler. If you get caught illegally transporting animals on a first offense, it’s possible you won't even do jail time. You can’t say the same for running drugs.'"
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Charles Bergman Goes Undercover
This piece is from an article by Lee Hughes, who explains how a man by the name of Charles Bergman went undercover as a New York pet shop owner to find out the dirty secrets of the animal trading world.
"Armed with a $500 wad of cash belonging to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, he quickly found a seller of exotic birds in an outdoor Hispanic flea market near the Rio Grande in Brownsville, Texas. The seller offered Bergman a look at the merchandise. Stuffed three to five at a time inside several filthy paper grocery bags were harassed and disheveled looking parrots, nearly suffocating in the hot trunk of a rusty car. Fish and Wildlife agents arrested the trafficker."
These things happen everyday. There isn't always a Charles Bergman to rescue them.
"Armed with a $500 wad of cash belonging to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, he quickly found a seller of exotic birds in an outdoor Hispanic flea market near the Rio Grande in Brownsville, Texas. The seller offered Bergman a look at the merchandise. Stuffed three to five at a time inside several filthy paper grocery bags were harassed and disheveled looking parrots, nearly suffocating in the hot trunk of a rusty car. Fish and Wildlife agents arrested the trafficker."
These things happen everyday. There isn't always a Charles Bergman to rescue them.
Animal Trafficking
The underground trafficking of exotic animals is a booming business. There is a lot of money to be made. Its worth an estimated $10-20 BILLION dollars. Many states have bans on certain species of animals, but people keep them hidden and are constantly finding ways around the regulations.
Many people don't do enough research about the animal before purchasing it, including how the animal is obtained. Poachers find theses exotic animals and sell them for a high price. The animal is obtained through any way possible. It can be hunted and tranquilized and taken right from its home. Another source comes from Ecuador, and the animals are caught by poor, uneducated people looking to make a quick buck. Some monkeys can be sold for $20. If they're this cheap then that means there's not much money going to good equipment and care for these animals before they're sold. It also can indicate how easily and abundant these animals are. If they're constantly being captured the wild population will decrease and extinction could occur. This, sadly happens to many species.
Even when people do the research and think they're ready for any one of these exotic pets, they're not. How could someone possibly be ready to have a wild animal live in there home as a pet. These animals have natural instincts to do whatever is necessary to survive. They can be combative and destructive. They can't just go from forging for food in the forest to sitting on your fluffy carpet in your living room. Some animals can get depressed from not being in their natural environment and will stop eating. For example, I found a young turtle in my backyard a few summers ago and I decided to keep it as a pet. I already had a turtle, the same type as the one I found, so I thought I would be able to easily take care of it. I bought it the tank, decor, filter, and heat lamp only to find out it refused to eat, or really even move. I thought it just needed time to adjust, but after a week went by I got scared it would starve to death so I released it where I found it. As soon as it touched the grass it ran so fast towards the woods I needed to take a second to process what just happened. It didn't ever move in its tank, because it's a wild animal, not a pet. It can't just be closed up in a piece of glass.
I think that people have the right intentions when wanting to purchase an exotic animal. They just love animals they want to keep them in their home. But too much love is killing these poor creatures. They need to be observed and loved from afar.
Many people don't do enough research about the animal before purchasing it, including how the animal is obtained. Poachers find theses exotic animals and sell them for a high price. The animal is obtained through any way possible. It can be hunted and tranquilized and taken right from its home. Another source comes from Ecuador, and the animals are caught by poor, uneducated people looking to make a quick buck. Some monkeys can be sold for $20. If they're this cheap then that means there's not much money going to good equipment and care for these animals before they're sold. It also can indicate how easily and abundant these animals are. If they're constantly being captured the wild population will decrease and extinction could occur. This, sadly happens to many species.
Even when people do the research and think they're ready for any one of these exotic pets, they're not. How could someone possibly be ready to have a wild animal live in there home as a pet. These animals have natural instincts to do whatever is necessary to survive. They can be combative and destructive. They can't just go from forging for food in the forest to sitting on your fluffy carpet in your living room. Some animals can get depressed from not being in their natural environment and will stop eating. For example, I found a young turtle in my backyard a few summers ago and I decided to keep it as a pet. I already had a turtle, the same type as the one I found, so I thought I would be able to easily take care of it. I bought it the tank, decor, filter, and heat lamp only to find out it refused to eat, or really even move. I thought it just needed time to adjust, but after a week went by I got scared it would starve to death so I released it where I found it. As soon as it touched the grass it ran so fast towards the woods I needed to take a second to process what just happened. It didn't ever move in its tank, because it's a wild animal, not a pet. It can't just be closed up in a piece of glass.
I think that people have the right intentions when wanting to purchase an exotic animal. They just love animals they want to keep them in their home. But too much love is killing these poor creatures. They need to be observed and loved from afar.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Common Exotic Pets
.JPG/450px-Genetta_genetta_felina_(Wroclaw_zoo).JPG) |
| Genets |
 |
| Leopards |
 |
| Civets |
 |
| Capuchin Monkeys |
 |
| Alligators |
 |
| Hedgehogs |
 |
| Foxes |
 |
| Skunks |
 |
| Wolf-Dog Hybrid |
 |
| Sugar Gliders |
 |
| Bears |
_1.jpg/220px-Raccoon_(Procyon_lotor)_1.jpg) |
| Raccoons |
General Inquiry
Exotic pets (animals not native to the land) are very difficult to take good care of. Most people don't realize that until they are too late. Then where do they go? The ASPCA and the Human Society get supplies taxed for abandoned exotic pets. Some animal shelters just don't accept the animals because they don't have the resources or expertise to care for them. If the owner has no place to take the animal, chances are, they'll just let it go fend for themselves.
The more extreme pets such as large cats or monkeys are an even larger issue. Those that want to have a leopard for a pet and get it when it's just a baby think that they're able to tame it like a house cat or obedient dog. Once that cat gets big and shows aggression the owner doesn't know how to react. They can decided to take drastic measures such as removing the fangs of the animal or even setting it free.
The more extreme pets such as large cats or monkeys are an even larger issue. Those that want to have a leopard for a pet and get it when it's just a baby think that they're able to tame it like a house cat or obedient dog. Once that cat gets big and shows aggression the owner doesn't know how to react. They can decided to take drastic measures such as removing the fangs of the animal or even setting it free.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Author Background
My name is Ashley. I'm almost finished with my freshman year at Purdue University North Central, and I plan to move down to the main campus in West Lafayette in the fall of 2011 to study Pharmacy. I currently have a part time job at a clothing place called Rue 21 in Valparaiso, Indiana.
This blog, as well as my previous one about the legalization of marijuana, is for my English class with Dr. Dominic Micer. I picked another topic that I'm passionate about and I plan to educate my readers about the importance of criminalizing exotic pets through this blog. I want to focus on the negative aspects of adopting a wild animal and trying to force it to be a pet. Not all animals are meant to be human companions. The cats and dogs that we adopt today have taken thousands of years to be house-tamed. Even with those thousands of years, many breeds still rebel against their owners, causing many problems.
This blog, as well as my previous one about the legalization of marijuana, is for my English class with Dr. Dominic Micer. I picked another topic that I'm passionate about and I plan to educate my readers about the importance of criminalizing exotic pets through this blog. I want to focus on the negative aspects of adopting a wild animal and trying to force it to be a pet. Not all animals are meant to be human companions. The cats and dogs that we adopt today have taken thousands of years to be house-tamed. Even with those thousands of years, many breeds still rebel against their owners, causing many problems.
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