Observation 1 Monday, September 2, 2013 Time: 10:00AM-11:00AM Description of Location: The adoption center is consisted of a small inner room

located ithin !etSmart" This !etSmart can be fo#nd in the pla$a ne%t to &'(A" &nside this room, there are a total of ei)ht ca)es" *i)ht hen yo# al+ thro#)h the doors of the adoption center, there are a co#ple of chairs and a stepladder strai)ht ahead" A bin of clean beds for the cats is ,#st to the ri)ht of the chairs, hile the bins for dry food and litter are located to the far left" There is a trash bin and a co#ple of ater cartons a)ainst the all in the middle" -a)es are located to the opposite of all the above items listed" .o directly above the ca)es, there are several c#bby spaces for stora)e of miscellaneo#s items s#ch as: pens, post it notes, et food cans, toys, etc" Rules and Conventions: &n this orld, there are many sorts of activities that can ta+e place" The t o main activities e are loo+in) at today are the meet and )reet periods for adoptions and the cleanin) of the pet area" /ein) an animal resc#e )ro#p ithin a local !etSmart, allo s for traffic of all types of animal lovers" A)es can ran)e from the yo#n) to the elderly and races or )enders of all bac+)ro#nds" These c#stomers can p#rchase animals, stoc+ #p on s#pplies, and loo+ for animals to adopt ithin a !etSmart" 0et1s ta+e a loo+ at the first activity, the meet and )reet of animals" This local resc#e caters to both do) and cat lovers ali+e" All do)s in the system on-hand, are seen by appointment only" 2hereas for cats and +ittens, all are rotated o#t ee+ly and available to c#stomer anytime hen !etSmart is open" 2hen a f#t#re adopter or passerby al+s by and is interested in observin) the cats, he3she is allo ed into the room of cats" They are able to as+ the vol#nteer on hand hatever 4#estions may come #p" The vol#nteer available ill be able to assist the person, dependin) on their +no led)e of each animal" &f the vol#nteer has no previo#s +no led)e of the animal, the person interested, is then referred to the resc#e )ro#p leader for more information and3or for an adoption process" 0o#d voices are disco#ra)ed and caref#l approach to all animals is re4#ired hen interactin)" 5o# do not ant the adopter to mistreat the animal, for e%ample, to yell or hit the animal if the animal attac+s the adopter" &t is the vol#nteer1s d#ty to +eep both the animal and passerby safe" As for the ne%t activity, cleanliness of the adoption area is a m#st" 6ol#nteers are on shifts every time period: mornin), noon, and evenin)" 7irst, the vol#nteer m#st si)n in so that both !etSmart and the vol#nteers +no hen cats are tended to" .e%t, vol#nteers need to chec+ ater, food, and clean ca)es" &nteraction ith the animals is also a m#st" -ats are also social creat#res that do have emotions ,#st li+e h#mans" (specially for those animals that have been ab#sed, positive interactions and soothin) voices can heal o#nds inflicted in the past, both physical and emotional" Tric+s can also be ta#)ht to animals, b#t patience is also a virt#e" As a vol#nteer yo# need to prepare an animal to be adopted into a )ood and carin) environment"

Actors: Tim: Tim is a vol#nteer at the adoption center" 8e has been ith the center for abo#t si% months and his vol#nteer day is Monday evenin)s" Tiffany (Myself): & am also a vol#nteer ithin the center" & am in char)e of Monday mornin)s of every ee+ and have been at the center for abo#t a year and a half" Linda: Operation -A*( leader" 0inda is the one to )o to ith all 4#estions" She is in char)e of all adoptions and appointments that may occ#r ithin the adoption center" She is al ays illin) to help and has resc#ed many of the cats and do)s ithin o#r center" Jimmy: 9immy is a stray cat that has ,oined o#r center recently, so he is pretty ne to the environment, b#t he:s comin) o#t of his shell to become more social" Sunshine: S#nshine is also a cat and has been ith the center for abo#t si% months" She is a devoted and social cat, ho ,#st needs a )ood home" Silvie: Silvie is a cat that has ,#st been adopted o#t recently by 9ane" Jane: An adopter ho has ,#st adopted o#t Silvie" Artifacts: Cats: &n my orld, cats can play role as both actors and artifacts" As artifacts, cats are necessary to symboli$e ho and hat are bein) adopted, hile still bein) the main actors in this orld" Adoption Center Si n: Many adoption si)ns are located thro#)ho#t the !etSmart store to advertise adoption a areness, and the amo#nt of animals saved thro#)h adoption" !etSmart: &ndicates a company and3or store here animals can be fo#nd, as ell as necessary s#pplies s#ited for animal needs" This is helpf#l in brin)in) in c#stomers to come and see the cats or animals #p for adoption so that the animals may be adopted o#t 4#ic+er" Discourse Communities: Animals: /oth cats and do)s can be adopted o#t thro#)h o#r center" They come in all varieties and shapes and si$es" All of ho are ,#st in need of a )ood home" "olunteers: Are in char)e of animal health and elfare" Their )oal is to train and love to the best of their capability in order to adopt o#t every animal that comes into o#r care" -leanliness and helpf#lness for both the animals and the center ill )ive animals a hi)her rate of )ettin) adopted o#t" !etSmart Store and its (mployees: Are able to assist o#t by providin) necessary people illin) to adopt" Also provide necessary items to the adoption center, s#ch as food and litter"

The #irst $%servation: 10:00 AM: & enter into !etSmart and head to the left of the entrance to ards the adoption center, here the cats are" & )o ahead and as+ for a mana)er on hand to open the adoption door, since vol#nteers are not )iven a +ey" 10:03 AM: To the left hen enterin) in the adoption room, there is a clipboard to si)h in" & )o ahead and initial to let !etSmart and other vol#nteers that & as there" & then observe nameplates of the cats to see if all are listed properly" 10:0; AM: & then chec+ for any si)ns of physical sic+ness in all cats and ma+e a note of special foods or medicines each cat may need and administer accordin)ly" 10:10 AM: & then )o ahead and )et started on cleanin) ca)es one at a time" & first need to ta+e the food and ater bo l o#t of the ca)e and then slo ly interact ith the cat, ,#st eno#)h to let it +no that &:m not anythin) harmf#l" & also have to be caref#l, beca#se some cats are not sociali$ed yet so they may attac+ beca#se of fear" Once the cat is #sed to my scent, &:m able to proceed" & then ta+e o#t the cat and place it on the floor and ta+e o#t toys so the cat can +eep itself company hile & clean" &:m then able to move onto litter and scoop o#t the aste and refill ith fresh litter as needed" & then ma+e s#re that the r#) and toys are clean and then place fresh food and ater in the ca)e" Then & can )o ahead and place the cat bac+ inside the ca)e and move onto the ne%t ca)e" 10: 1< AM: & repeat and clean each ca)e" =s#ally there are a total of >-< cats to be cleaned" 10:?0 AM: Once & finish tendin) to the cats, & s eep #p the area and mop if needed" & then clean #p the litter scoops and ta+e o#t the trash to the bac+ of the !etSmart stoc+ room" 10:?> AM: & am no able to allo for more interaction of the cats" Some cats can be let o#t to)ether, hile others can be easily fri)htened and territorial hen ith others" @#rin) this time, & can teach tric+s #sin) treats to re ard cats" &:m also able to sociali$e shy cats and +ittens by c#ddlin) and or playin) ith them" 10:>< AM: & need to p#t all toys and cats bac+ into ca)es" 11:00 AM: & need to ma+e s#re to loc+ #p the room and then leave for the day" Another vol#nteer ill be there in the evenin) to ta+e one last loo+ and care for the cats before !etSmart closes, since that is the time that the adoption center closes as ell"

Observation 2 Monday, September 2, 2013 Time: >:00 !M- A:00 !M The Second $%servation: >:00 !M: & )o ahead and ma+e my ay to !etSmart a)ain for the day" Tim, the other vol#nteer for Monday1s evenin) shifts, is already there and tendin) to the cats" >:0> !M: & )o ahead and observe ho he e%amines each ca)e to see if the cats1 physical conditions are )ood" >:1> !M: Tim then ta+es a co#ple of +ittens o#t and lets them play aro#nd" Tim hands me a co#ple of toys so that & can +eep the +ittens distracted hile he cleans their ca)es" This allo s for me to have more interaction ith the cats and allo for them to )et more e%ercise after bein) cramped #p in their ca)es since &1ve been there earlier that mornin)" >:3> !M: Tim is almost done cleanin) #p all the ca)es" 8e has to refill all the ater and food bo ls" Since there is no more food in the stora)e bin, he has to r#n to the cat food aisle in !etSmart and brin) the ba) of food to the !etSmart mana)ement office to chec+ off that the center has paid for a ne ba) of food" >:?; !M: Tim refills the food bo ls and ater bo ls" 8e also cleans the dirty litter scoops and ta+es o#t the trash" >:>0 !M: Since Tim decides to stay a bit lon)er, he lets o#t a co#ple cats for some trainin)" 8e practices trainin) the older cats ho to sit for a treat, and he ta+es a laser pointer to interact ith +ittens" A:00 !M: & )o ahead and e%it and let Tim contin#e interactin) ith the cats #ntil he feels he has tired them all o#t"

Observation 3 Monday, September ;, 2013 Time: 1:00 !M -1:?> !M The Third $%servation: 1:00 !M: 0inda, the head of the adoption center, has called me in for help for an adoption" Since & as the one to refer the c#stomer to 0inda, & as allo ed to be present to see an adoption ta+e place" 1:0> !M: The c#stomer, 9ane, has ,#st arrived and as interested in adoptin) Silvie" 9ane anted more information on Silvie and her bac+)ro#nd" 1:0< !M: 0inda e%plained to 9ane that Silvie had a litter of +ittens b#t all ere attac+ed by a do)" Only t o +ittens and Silvie s#rvived the attac+" All three cats ere relocated to the adoption center abo#t a year a)o and Silvie1s t o +ittens had )otten adopted t o months after they came to the center" /en)al, the older of the t o +ittens, had lost a bac+ le) in the attac+, b#t he is doin) )reat ith 3 le)s and has a ne family" -inder, the yo#n)er +itten of the t o, is in )ood condition physically, ho also has a ne family" This leaves ,#st Silvie behind, aitin) for a ne home" 1:1> !M: 9ane is very interested and her heart )oes o#t to Silvie ho has been thro#)h m#ch" 9ane as+s if she co#ld be allo ed to interact ith Silvie" 'no in) Silvie1s personality, & )o ahead and )et Silvie o#t of her ca)e and )rab a co#ple of her favorite mo#se toys and hand them over to 9ane hile & place Silvie on the floor" 1:20 !M: Silvie has ta+en a li+in) to 9ane, and has allo ed 9ane to carry her off the )ro#nd and h#) her" Silvie is a p#rrin) machine and 0inda and & co#ld tell ri)ht off the bat that 9ane as the ri)ht person to offer a home for Silvie" 1:30 !M: 0inda is informin) 9ane that if she o#ld li+e to adopt Silvie today, then 9ane o#ld be able to ta+e Silvie home today" This is beca#se Silvie is #p to date ith her shots and spay s#r)ery" 0inda o#ld be able to also )ive a ne ba) of food and a co#ple of Silvie1s favorite toys" All 0inda o#ld need from 9ane, is for 9ane to provide a cat carrier, vet history records if possible, and an adoption fee of >0B" 1:?0 !M: 9ane has come prepared and is finishin) #p paper or+ for 0inda, hile & )et Silvie ready to )o home ith 9ane" & )o ahead and add a co#ple of Silvie1s old toys in the carrier, and & also )rab a co#ple of ne toys and a ne ba) of food and place these in a ba)" & lastly then say my )oodbyes to Silvie" &t seems li+e Silvie +no s that she1s )ettin) a )ood home and meo s happily hile r#bbin) a)ainst my nec+ and & finally place her into the carrier" 1:?> !M: 9ane than+s #s for o#r time and Silvie has finally been adopted, and e all say o#r fare ells" Another adoption s#ccess, ma+es a happy cat and a happy f#t#re for all"

&ntervie s Jimmy: 1.) 2hat is yo#r name and is there a reason as to hy yo# ere named thatC My name is 9immy" & am a cat of co#rse, yo# can tell by my his+ers can1t yo#C There is act#ally no real story to my name" They ,#st tho#)ht & loo+ed li+e a 9immy, so henceforth, 9immy became my name" 2"D Tell me a bit abo#t yo#rself EpersonalityDC 2ell, & do hear a lot that the vol#nteers say & am the class clo n of the b#nch" & li+e to ma+e others la#)h" 5o# see & li+e all the attention, and hen & say Fall the attention,G & mean FallG" & do hatever & m#st to demand yo#r attention hen yo# are aro#nd me" 0ets say for e%ample, yo# are cleanin) my litter bo%, ell, & thin+ it o#ld be nice to )rab yo#r attention, so hile yo# lean do n to scoop my, yes, yo# +no , & )o ahead and bite yo#r bottom, then & 4#ic+ly sc#rry a ay till yo# follo " & also ant to point o#t that, tho#)h this may seem as tho#)h &1m pic+in) on yo#, fear not, & ,#st ant to play" The vol#nteers say & am a /ombay mi%, beca#se & have a medi#m m#scle b#ild, b#t all from my nose to my his+ers to every strand of f#r on me, is blac+, a feat#re of all /ombay cats" 3"D 8o did yo# end #p at the shelterC 2ell, first of all, & as act#ally eatin) trash at the 2almart do n the road from !etSmart" 2hen & say eatin) trash, oh boy, & meant it" 0inda, than+f#lly, fo#nd me by the d#mpsters at 2almart and tried to l#re me o#t for a ee+" & did not b#d)e for the first co#ple of days, beca#se apparently & li+e d#mpster food more than cat food" & thin+ & even )re #p on d#mpster food, & don1t act#ally remember" 2ell, if yo# haven1t tried it, yo# m#st" &t1s delicio#s" 5o#1d be s#rprised hat yo# h#mans thro o#tH 2ell after a ee+ of seein) 0inda, & decided, ell hy not ,#st try cat food, it co#ldn1t be that bad" Once & tasted it, it felt li+e heaven, & foolishly and than+f#lly & follo ed 0inda and before & +ne it, & ended #p here at the center here & )et endless amo#nts of that heavenly food" ?"D 2hat +ind of home are yo# loo+in) forC & act#ally do not have a preference" & o#ld certainly love a home itho#t do)s, that is for s#re" @o)s and &C -ertainly notH That is absol#tely abs#rdH >"D Are there any traits or tric+s that differentiate yo# from the others at the shelterC 2ell, did & also mention that & am a c#ddlerC & am a perfect lap cat as ell as a perfect personal assistant" .eed & say moreC

Tiffany (Myself): 1" 2hy did yo# ant to become a vol#nteerC & act#ally ,#st moved into -harlotte, .- from -alifornia, and & had anted to be aro#nd animals" Since my apartment comple% did not allo for pets, & had came across an opport#nity to vol#nteer for local shelters instead" 2" 8o do yo# interact ith the animalsC & li+e to train the all the animals tric+s s#ch as sit, lie do n, and some co#ld even play dead" & believe that all animals ho are sociali$ed ith h#mans more often, ill be less afraid and more confident to approach others itho#t sha+in) in fear or start an attac+" -#ddlin) time and soothin) voices allo for shy animals to be ac4#ainted ith a h#man1s presence, hich allo s for more playtime hen an animal is most comfortable ith their s#rro#ndin)s" 3" @o yo# have a favorite animal at the shelterC &f so, ho and hyC There as a cat named 0o#ie" 8e as a blac+ /ombay cat and had )otten adopted o#t this past @ecember" 0o#ie as 10 years old and in h#man years, he is aro#nd >A years oldH 0o#ie has )ot to be the smartest cat &1ve ever met" 8e can be) for all his treats and play dead" 8e1s also the most patient cat" 'ids can p#ll his tail or po+e him, b#t he o#ld ,#st lay aro#nd li+e nothin) is ron)" &1m )lad he1s fo#nd a )ood carin) home to live his life" ?" 2hy do yo# thin+ people sho#ld adopt from a shelter li+e thisC As a vol#nteer, & believe that this adoption center allo s for a person to find his3her perfect match" (ach cat or do) that comes thro#)h o#r center, is trained and cared to the f#llest level" 2e are a no-+ill shelter, altho#)h, e can1t save all animals, e save the ones that e can" 2e strive to find the best people to save the lives of the animals that e have resc#ed" >" 2hat is the best re ard for bein) a vol#nteer at this shelterC & have to say, the chance to interact and )et to +no many of the animals in the shelter, is one of the )reatest feelin)s & co#ld e%perience in my lifetime" &1ve al ays had a soft spot for any animal, and +no in) that these animals are homeless and in need of a )ood home, my heart )oes o#t to them even more" (very animal, & believe, deserves a )ood home ith a )ood family at the least" & co#ld say this for #s h#mans as ell" 2hen an animal )ets adopted o#t, & feel as tho#)h &1ve contrib#ted to do somethin) to save their life"