Janas Dog Grooming

Helping the Community and their Beloved Dogs

Jana Mckennon
Ms. Cowart
ENGLI 2311- online
April 5, 2016


Table of Contents


List of Illustrations……………………………..…………………………………………………  2


Abstract…………………………………………….…………………………………………….  3


Introduction……..…………………………………….………………………………………….  4


Body of Proposal…………………………………………..……………………………………...  5


Conclusion…………………………………………………….………………………………….  8


Glossary…………………………………………………………..………………………….…… 9


Works Cited………………………………………………………..……………………..……  10

List of Illustrations
Image 1: Baseball season dog …………………………………………………………………5
Image 2: Dog with heart ……………………………………………………………………….6





















Abstract

Euthanasia is a big problem nationally. This is also the case in Abilene. Being in the dog grooming business, I pride myself in making a dog look and feel better about themselves. This in turn would make a dog more adoptable. Unfortunately, adoption rates aren’t high enough to stop overcrowding at shelters and dogs are euthanized. This project will discuss how my dog grooming can increase the adoption of dogs. It will include the community by allowing troubled teens and the retired community to help in the grooming of the dogs and getting the word out about this service. Therapeutic advantages are addressed for teens and the retired volunteers. The purpose of this project is to educate the reader about the roles animals play in humans lives and to propose an effective way to include the community to lower the problem of euthanasia.












Introduction

It is estimated that approximately 3.7 million animals were euthanized in the nations shelters in 2008.   This number represents a generally accepted statistic that is widely used by many animal welfare organizations, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Unfortunately, animal euthanasia is needed because of the large number of dogs turned into shelters daily. Shelters try to control pet population with the spaying and neutering regulations they inforce with animals being adopted out, but this isn’t enough.   The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both. This includes but is not limited to, emotional, psychological, and physical interactions of people, animals, and the environment.
The purpose of this project is to discuss how allowing my business to groom the animals at your shelter by including troubled teens and the retirement community will get more dogs adopted and less euthanized. This project will also benefit troubled teens by giving them job qualifications, and help them to fulfill some of their community service obligations. The retirement community will be given a sense of purpose. It will also help keep them active in the community.








Body of Proposal
“The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and other animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both.  This includes, but is not limited to, emotional, psychological, and physical interactions of people, other animals, and the environment.” (Committee 1675).
    The purpose of this project is to combine my skills as a dog groomer, involve troubled teens in the city, and include the elderly living in the retirement communities. By making dogs housed at the humane society, more adoptable. It is estimated that 3.7 million in the nation’s shelters in 2008. This number represents a generally accepted statistic that is widely used by many animal welfare organizations, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. I am positive that if I were able to groom these dogs they would be more adoptable. Benefits of dog grooming include: “a pet that looks and smells nice all the time, feels great and behaves well. Reduced risk of eye, ear, skin, teeth and skin infections, ensure pets are free from pain and disease. Increased sociability and lower vet bills because regular grooming will prevent disease and catch many health issues before they become an emergency” (“Benefits…”  para. 11).     
    There would be no cost to you. My plan is to involve troubled teens that are on probation and have community service obligations to fulfill. This would be a great way for them to do so. In an article, “Troubled Teens and Shelter Dogs Find Their Way Together,” by Karen Pryor, it states that teens worked at the shelter without even being asked. They often stayed late to help clean the kennels or help adopters find the right pet. Pryor also said, “they knew the animals really well, and they ended up being great adoption counselors” (Caporal ltd. in Pryor, para. 22). The animals, in a very real sense take on the role as therapist with the troubled teens they work with as well. Animal-assisted therapy has the potential to reach clients who would not necessarily buy into traditional treatment methods. It will enable them to heal emotionally, develop self-confidence, become more empathetic, and develop a safe bond. All of these things will be evident to the potential adopter as well. Once the teen has proven trust worthy, they would be able to take one of the dogs to high school functions. The dog could have the school logo on it, and this would be good advertising.
    The therapeutic use of animals has increased in recent years as different professional and volunteer groups increasingly incorporate animals into therapy, programs and other activities that are meant to benefit a variety of populations. Involving the elderly in this project would be a great way to not only improve their quality of life, but to also show to the retired community how cute the dogs are at the shelter. It is a well-known fact that the elderly enjoy dogs as companions to help with depression, anxiety, and feeling lonely. There are plenty of seniors that would love to volunteer to help prepare the dogs.
    Using my pet expressions technique, I will be giving dogs a unique look. Chalking- temporary color accents that highlight the dogs and owners style. Stenciling- decorative stencils that create a fun way for your pet to share spirit! Feathering and fur extensions- that add flare to a dog’s coat, nail polish and stickers- the application of pet-safe polish or nail stickers in addition to jewels that add instant sparkle to a dog’s coat.
    In conclusion, this project would benefit the shelter by making the dogs more appealing. They will be happier because they are getting more attention from us as well. Troubled teens will pay off their debt to society, and seniors will continue their contributions to the workforce. My business will profit as well by showing off my grooming skills. But, my main goal is to help get the dogs adopted and try to help lower the estimated number of euthanized “man’s best friend.”









Conclusion

    The purpose of this proposal is to try to help lower the number of dogs being euthanized every year in the city of Abilene. My dog grooming services if added to the shelter, can be detrimental to the dogs mental well-being. My service specializes in Pet Expressions, a unique way of figuring out the dogs’ personality and grooming them to match it. I feel joining the shelter would lower the number of dogs being euthanizes significantly. My service will be including troubled teens that have community service obligations, and retired volunteers to the project, a great way to involve members of the community, without having to spend a lot on wages.















Glossary

Animal-assisted therapy is formally defined by the Delta Society as “a goal-directed intervention in which an animal that meets specific criteria is an integral part of the treatment process”

Pet Expressions is defined as the technique used in my grooming business to show off the dogs’ personality.















Works Cited

American Humane Association. “Animal Shelter Euthanasia.” Americanhumane.org. American
Humane Association, 2013. n.p. Web. April 2, 2016.
“Benefits of grooming.” RSPCA Victoria. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Victoria). 2016. Web. April 15, 2016.
Committee on the Human-Animal Bond. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Association 212.11: (June 1, 1998). 1675. Web. April 19, 2016.
Kruger, Katherine A., Trachtenburg, Symme W., Serpell, James A. “Animal-Assisted Interventions in Adolescent Mental Health.” Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society. Penn U. School of Veterinary Medicine. July 2004. Web. April 15, 2016