Adopt to Stop

Hailey Mumpower
2A
10/28/2015

A. ABSTRACT
The title of my paper and my project is Adopt to Stop. I have selected this topic because
animals have a huge impact on my life. For at least four decades puppy mills have been one of
the most shameful embarrassments of the dog world said author Adam J. Fumarola. Not only are
animals being abused but they are being abused for a profit. Theses commercial breeders are
getting away with this behavior and in some ways are actually condoned by our government. The

worst part about this issue is that it is well-known, yet it's still happening. It makes people
uncomfortable to think about puppy mills yet they still support them. I want to inform our
community about the impacts long and short term of supporting puppy mills. My driving
questions are:

Why do many states still allow puppy mills?

Why, in the states that have laws against puppy mills, are there still these

factories?
How do the laws in the U.S. compare to those in other counties?
Why is the community not aware that certain pets store get there animals from

commercial dog breeders?

Why is it illegal to report animal cruelty in certain states?

I intend to host a adoption day. My event will be on a Saturday in April. It would be held at
Bayville Farms Park, located on 4132 First Court Road. They have great amenities including a
new dog park. Not only would it be supporting local animals shelters but we could also be saving
lives. I want to expose the residents of Virginia Beach to the issues I stated above as well as
introduce them to the other options, most importantly adoption. My consultant will be Mrs.
Weigl. My audience include the residents of Virginia Beach, or the bigger tidewater area. I hope
to generate interest and have 100 people attend and save at least 10 lives. I will advertise
throughout the community at SPCA, First Colonial High School, Big Sam's and other
organizations. For my materials I will need to create flyers about the issue and event. By hosting
this event I will keep my community informed and the residents of Virginia Beach will hopefully
learn the hard truth about commercial breeding.

B. LEARNING SKILLS

Skills to enhance

Writing
Planning/ Organizing
Communication
Advertising
Presentation
Brand new skills

Hosting an Event
Working with Professionals on my work
Time Management

C. PROJECT STEPS
Preliminary Steps

Send letters to SPCA and my

15 hours

venue informing them about

my project and requesting
their participation. Also
contacting any other
organizations about helping
out at my event like Lush and
other human societies. Make
sure I can host a adoption
event at my venue.
Midway Steps

Set date and time, make

flyers, get materials, contact
all the organizations helping
out to make sure there is not

10 hours

confusion.
Later Steps

Set up event, host event, and

8 hours

clean up.
Follow up

Write thank you letters to

3 hours

venue, companies,
organizations, students and
faculty.

D. PROJECT DOCUMENTATION
Photos
Videos
Flyers digital/paper
Emails/letters
Speech (paper copy)
Paper

E. PROJECT JUSTIFICATION
Throughout my time at First Colonial I have always studied animal cruelty laws, but never
before have I looked at commercial breeding. I have been thinking about doing this topic since
over the summer, and already have a list of back up venues and organizations ready. I have never
held an event before and now I want to hold an adoption day. Not only is this challenging but it
is also fun, no matter what happens I will be help lives in some way. Its saving animals at the
SPCA while informing the community about commercial breeding all at the same time. Senior
year is stressful, along with having to host a major event will make things potentially more
stressful. Therefore I must use my time wisely which is a skill I do not have. I want to
accomplish this project because I feel very passionate about my topic and it's a complicated

project which I am excited to start. My topic is well-known, but people do not think about it
because it makes them feel uncomfortable. I believe by hosting this event I will learn many
things but our community will also grow from this project.
F. PROJECT-PAPER CONNECTION
To accompany my paper on the Commercial Breeders, I will be hosting an adoption day. I will
also greater inform our society about the commercial breeders, saying it's better to adopt than to
buy a animal from a commercial breeder. My paper will talk about the laws in each state and
what the government is doing to protect these animals. The main connection between the two is
that in my paper I will talk about alternatives and in my project I will host an event about the
alternatives, which is adoption.
G. ACADEMIC HONESTY
I understand that any academic dishonesty by me on any part of the project will result in failure
of the Senior Project and forfeiture of the Legal Studies Seal on my High School diploma.

H. COMPLETION DATES
Preliminary Steps

Send letters to SPCA

and my venue
informing them about
my project and
requesting their
participation. Also
contacting any other
organizations about

15 hours

January 1,2016

helping out at my
event like Lush and
other human
societies. Make sure I
can host a adoption
event at my venue.
Midway Steps

Set date and time,

10 hours

February 18, 2016

8 hours

April 23,2016

3 hours

April 24, 2016

make flyers, get

materials, contact all
the organizations
helping out to make
sure there is not
confusion.
Later Steps

Set up event, host

event, and clean up.

Follow up

Write thank you

letters to venue,
companies,
organizations,
students and faculty.

I. FACILITIES IMPACT FORM - NA

J. PARENT AGREEMENT

As a First Colonial High School, Legal Studies Academy parent, I recognize all parts of the
Senior Project are graduation requirements and I intend to support my student throughout the
process.

I understand the physical project must be a product or performance which takes at least 20 hours
outside of class time to complete, and which challenges my son/daughters current skills and
knowledge. Additionally, I recognize I may obtain needed information via the Senior Project
Manual; posted online.

I fully understand this project selection decision is made independently of the staff and
administration of First Colonial High School. The project selection and approval is parent and
student-centered. Final approval for the project is governed by the Senior Project Advisory
Board.

Due to the importance of the Senior Project, submittal of a project without approval will result in
a failure or forfeit of Legal Studies Graduation. Thus, if the project or consultant is altered or
changed, a Project Revision Form must be submitted by November 21, 2014.

Parent/Guardian Signature ___________________________ Date _________________

Day Phone ____________________

Evening Phone _________________________

Student Name ____________________________________________________________

Student Signature _________________________________

Date _________________

Student E-mail ___________________________________

K. TEACHER AGREEMENT
I have read this Proposal Packet, asked for clarification when needed, and believe this project
will challenge the student.

Teacher ___________________________________ Block __________

Teacher Signature ________________________________ Date ____________

L. CONSULTANT CONTRACT
Student Name: ___________________________________________________________

Dear Prospective Senior Project Consultant:

To satisfy the requirements for First Colonial High Schools Legal Studies Academy (LSA)
Senior Project, each LSA senior must complete a project challenging the student and requires
20 hours to complete. The student must create a product or performance which is measurable
and corresponds directly with his/her Academic Legal Research paper. In order to carry out this
project, the student needs a project consultant, someone from the community with interest, time

and expertise to help the student complete the project. Project consultants have the unique
opportunity to help a student in a very meaningful learning experience.

Please read the list below to be sure you qualify as a project consultant, and you are willing to
undertake this service for the student named above.

The Project Consultant:

Must be an adult, 21 years or older

Must be willing to attend any project event(s) planned

Must be knowledgeable in the field the student has chosen.

Must be willing to oversee 20 hours or more of students work on the project via

personal, phone, or email contact.

Must be willing to sign this contract explaining the roles and responsibilities of the

student and consultant after reviewing project proposal and clarifying project with the student.

Must be willing to sign a log of students hours, progress reports or discuss students

hours via phone interview.

Must be willing to write an evaluation of the students project upon completion with

forms provided.

Must not help the student with writing the research paper or creating the final

presentation.

If you are willing to act as the students project consultant, please read and discuss with the
student his/her project description, explanation of personal challenge, and rough outline of the

project. The student is responsible for meeting all deadlines and completing the project. The
student should inform you of those deadlines and establish a schedule of meetings with you.

If you do not feel the student has met the discussed expectations, you may refuse to sign off on
this project. If this situation occurs, students will be required to meet with the Senior Project
Coordinator to discuss the completion of this project or possibly proposing a new project.

To help us ensure the student has an appropriate project consultant, please provide the
information requested at the end of this contract. First Colonial High Schools Legal Studies
Academy thanks you for your time and interest in our students. Please feel free to e-mail Susan
VanSchenck, the Senior Project Instructor, at susan.vanschenck@vbschools.com with any
questions about the project.

To the Project Consultant: Please provide the information requested and sign on the
appropriate line below.

Name _______________________________________ Phone (Day) ________________

Business/Organization __________________________ Phone (Evening) ______________

Address_________________________________________________________________

Email __________________________________________________________________

Would you be willing to advise other students in the same area?

YES

Please explain your qualifications in the project area to help this student:

What will be your role, your contribution to the students Senior Project?

NO

I have discussed the project proposal with the student. The project meets the requirements, and I
agree to act as this students project consultant.

______________________________________________Date______________________
(Project Consultant Signature)

I understand as the student, I am responsible for meeting all deadlines, for meeting regularly with
my Project Consultant, and for completing the Senior Project.

I understand my Project

Consultant will help me with the project phase and is not responsible for helping me with my
paper or my presentation.

_______________________________________________Date____________________
(Student Signature)