Reducing unwated pet populations

Jasmine Putmon did her service learning project  at First Coast No More Homeless Pets. The mission of First Coast No More Homeless Pets (FCNMHP) is to eliminate the killing of dogs and cats in our community through free and low-cost spay and neuter programs.

"The reason the animal clinic helps the environment is numerous reasons. Some class discussions we’ve gone over are Darwinism, cross breeding, overpopulation, health, and animal rights. Darwinism is about the transmutation of species or of evolution. As far as cross breed, when inbreeding certain dogs they can pick up certain traits that will get rid of some health problems that were occurring. The animal clinic provides spade and neutering, which helps keep dogs and cats from becoming too overpopulated. Overpopulation is an upcoming issue in the United States. Finding ways to keep the population from exceeding its limit is very important, and a step that needs to be taken quickly and carefully. It also keeps animals healthy so there aren’t so many diseases going around. Diseases spread quickly and before you know it everyone could be sick which could wipe out a whole community. I believe animal rights is related to environmental science so the rights for abandoned and homeless animals, as well as those with owners, being in good hands and being taken care of is important. When animal rights have been broken and they have been abused or abandoned they may be rescued and sent here. At the animal clinic they are fixed up and put up for adoption where they can get a loving home that they deserve. 

Pace Water System

Taylor Harris did his service learning hours at Pace Water learning about the science behind and benefits of water treatment. Below are some excerpts from his journal:

"Wetlands provide many benefits such as slow runoff, reducing flooding, and recharging aquifers. Wetlands also provide opportunities for hiking and birdwatching. The Pace Water Plant Systems redistributes the water into the Pensacola wetlands. Not only is the water from the plant put back into the wetlands but also the biosolids are given to farmers to use as soil for crops. Therefore the water plant is not only helping out the wetlands allowing them to continue to produce benefits but also helps soil the farmers crops and harvest corn. According to chapter 12, a sewage or wastewater plant is a point source of water pollution. We treat our wastewater such as a mainstream practice. According to the book, wastewater is water used by people, just as the overview stated that was given by the Mr. Strength at the Pace Water Plant. The book explains the process of a wastewater plant, which is very similar to the Pace Water Plant, both use primary and secondary treatment...With the world’s  population increasing, there becomes more trash and waste each day. According to chapter 17, “Waste refers to any unwanted materials or substances the results from a human activity or resource.” The Pace Water systems deals with the waste water and regenerates it our to the wetlands. Reducing the waste amount in this way is a new modern method of waste management. The Pace Water Systems plant is also a form of recycling. In chapter 17, recycling is reviewed and explained in depth. “Recycling is one of the best environmental success stories of the late 20th century,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection agency. Recycling is a method of reducing waste and minimizing what goes into the waste stream. The recycling process begins when recyclable materials are gathered and collected. Then the materials are used in industry to manufacture new products. Finally consumers buy the products and conclude the process of recycling. The Pace Water Systems takes the waste water and filters it, then put it out to the wetlands or gives the sludge produced by the waste water to farmers to put on there crops to help in the growing process....