Research Log #1 - Solutionary Project 2020

th
Date: Feb. 4 , 2020
Name: Kyla Billena
Essential Question: How do stray animals have a negative effect on society?

Three Points to Prove: #1: Stray animals spread diseases to the public.
#2: Stray animals cause traffic accidents.
#3: Stray animals attack local residents.

Point that this Source Proves: #1: Stray animals spread diseases to the public.

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove):

The website explains, “Human rabies cases in the United States are rare, with only 1 to 3 cases reported
annually. Twenty-three cases of human rabies have been reported in the United States in the past decade
(2008-2017)”.

The CDC describes that these diseases can be life-threatening, “The rabies virus infects the central
nervous system of mammals, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death”.

The problem of infected animals involves anyone that has come in contact with a rabid animal: “Despite
the control of rabies in domestic dogs in the United States, each year interactions with suspect animals
result in the need to observe or test hundreds of thousands of animals and to administer rabies
postexposure prophylaxis to 30,000 to 60,000 persons”.

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

The website explains, “Human rabies cases in the United States are rare, with only 1 to 3 cases
reported annually. Twenty-three cases of human rabies have been reported in the United States in the past
decade (2008-2017)”. The website emphasizes the importance of getting your pet vaccinated. Non-
vaccinated animals are likely to spread harmful diseases to other animals as well as humans. Stray
animals live on the streets without proper care. Since these animals are stray, they do not receive medical
attention therefore the chances of them having infections are high.Some diseases that are spread through
these strays are rabies and Cat Scratch Disease. The risk of diseases like these spreading is high because
they can be transmitted through a bite, scratch, or through an open wound.
The CDC describes that these diseases can be life-threatening, “The rabies virus infects the
central nervous system of mammals, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death”. Being informed
on how these infections are transmitted is extremely important. Rabies and other diseases spread by non-
vaccinated stray dogs and cats can be deadly. Out of the twenty-three cases of rabies found in humans in
the United States and Puerto Rico, only two people survived. The others died within the span of a couple
days or weeks. The youngest victim was an eight-year-old girl from California who survived, and the
oldest victim was a seventy-seven-year-old woman from Wyoming who sadly passed away. These cases
affect people of all ages.
The problem of infected animals involves anyone that has come in contact with a rabid animal:
“Despite the control of rabies in domestic dogs in the United States, each year interactions with suspect
animals result in the need to observe or test hundreds of thousands of animals and to administer rabies
postexposure prophylaxis to 30,000 to 60,000 persons”. The website also explains that children are more
susceptible to rabies as they can easily be bitten by non-vaccinated dogs. One of the ways a child can be
exposed is through a bite. If anyone comes into contact with a rabid dog, it is important that they are
seeking the proper medical attention and care needed to get rid of it. The website explains that the amount
of cases of diseases has decreased over the years, but it is still an issue. Devising a plan to get all pets and
stray animals vaccinated is ideal.

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

“Rabies.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17

Sept. 2019, Web. 5 Feb 2020, www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html.

This is a reputable and reliable article because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a
federal agency also known as CDC. They are the United States’ top national public health organization.

Journal:

So far for this project, we have conducted a large amount of research and come up with questions to ask

those who work and volunteer at the Hawaiian Humane Society. We want to talk to those who work at the

Hawaiian Humane Society because we believe that they are very well-educated on the topic of stray

animals in Hawaii. We also have been brainstorming ideas for better ways we can inform the public on

the problem of stray animals living out on the streets without proper medical care. We are currently trying

to plan out when is the best time for us to go and speak to them in person.