Animal cruelty in the United States is a growing problem, with millions of animals abused or neglected each year. The speaker volunteers at a local animal shelter and has seen many abused animals. They propose that students get involved by volunteering at shelters, fostering awareness on social media, and encouraging friends and family to adopt pets to reduce overpopulation. Working together, even with small actions, students can make a meaningful impact for animals that cannot help themselves.

1. HayleySkaggs
Problem-Solution Speech Outline
General Purpose:To Persuade
SpecificPurpose:The purpose of thisspeechisto make people more aware of animal crueltyandabuse,
and to propose differentwaysthateachpersoncanhelpto change the problem.
Thesis:Animal crueltyinAmericaisbecomingmore andmore commonthroughoutthe UnitedStates,
and itis our responsibilitytostandupfor the animalsthatcan’t defendthemselves.
I. Introduction:
A. AttentionGetter:How wouldyoufeel if youwere takenawayfromyourmotherthe dayyou
were bornand youhad to live ina cage-if youwere sentenced todeathbeinginnocent?How
wouldyoufeel if noone knewyourpainandyou were treatedasan object?What if no one
heardyour cry, leftdefenseless whenyoudependonothers?Welcometothe life of abused
animalsaroundthe world.
B. ListenerRelevance:Most of us have petsat home that we love andcare for,but not all animals
are as lucky.
C. SpeakerCredibility:Ihave beenvolunteeringatthe BowlingGreenHumane Societysince I
movedhere inAugust,workingwithanimalswithall differentstories.
D. Thesis:Animal crueltyinAmericaisbecomingmore andmore commonthroughoutthe United
States,andit isour responsibilitytostandup forthe animalsthat can’tdefendthemselves.
E. Preview:TodayI want to raise yourawarenessonanimal abuse andcome up withwaysthat we
can make a difference tothose thatdependonus.
II. First mainpoint:Most cases of animal abuse,neglect,andhoardingare neverreported andare
overlooked.The numberof reportsandarrestsare risingasthe crimesbecome more andmore
cruel. Numbersare risingandmore animalsare suffering.
A. Supporting Point1: Here are a few statisticstogive youa betterunderstandingof the reported
casesin the UnitedStates:
Data Point 1: Accordingtothe Humane Societyof the UnitedStates, of 1,880 casesreportedin
2007, 82.5% involvedcatsanddogs, the percentage of pit-bullsrose from13% in2001 to 25% in
2007, livestockfell victimto44 reportedcasesin2006.
Data Point 2: Accordingtothe AmericanSocietyforthe Preventiontothe CrueltytoAnimals,

2. 5-7 millionanimalsare putinshelterseachyear,more than20% of dogsleftat a shelterhad
beenadoptedfromashelter,the numberof straycats alone inthe UnitedStatesisestimatedto
be about 70 million.
B. Supporting Point2: Notonlyare numbersrising,butthe numberof casesreportedinthe last
fewyearshas increasedaswell.Here are three recentcasesIresearched.
Data Point 1: InJulyof 2012, Kaplanwrote an article forthe New York Timesontwo menwho
were chargedforbeatinga cat to death.The twomenhad beatenthe cat witha stickand leftit
on the corner of the streetto thencome back and place itin histrash can. The menclaimedto
have not ownedthe cat,but couldface up to 2 yearsinprison.
Data Point 2: Anotherarticle publishedinthe New YorkTimeswaswrittenbyUrbinainMarch
of 2012 onanimal hoarders.Atthe time thisarticle waswritten,only27 statesallowedcourtsto
ban convictedabusersfromowninganimals.Urbinaalsosaidthatone FranklinCounty,Ohio
case cost over$1.2 milliontorescue andtreatover170 dogsfoundonone property.Thisarticle
focusesonthe cost of rescuing andhow it affectsoureconomy.
Data Point 3: The lastcase I am goingto share withyouwas publishedinthe LosAngelesTimes
at the beginningof thismonth.A pregnantdogwas killed whenitstuckitsheadthroughthe
neighbors’fence tothenhave ahose pusheddownherthroat.
III. Second MainPoint:All of these animals,nomatterwhat,needtobe cared for.Thinkingabout
my ownpetat home I knowthat if anyone were toabuse herit wouldbreakmyheart.Livingin
a dorm and notbeingable tohave my own pet,volunteeringatthe Humane Societyof Bowling
Greenhas beenanamazingexperience.
A. Supporting Point1: Everyday I don’twork,evenjustforan hour,my friendsandIgo to the
Humane Societyandwalkdogsall day.
Data Point 1: Accordingtothe Humane Societyof the UnitedStates,withover11 million
supporters,everyextrahandcounts.The employeeslove the dogs,butthere are justtoomany
withotherthingsthatneedto be done.
Data Point 2: A.Put yourself inthe animals’shoes;after beingthroughsomuch,imagine being
able to walkoutside of thatcage forjusta little bitandhavingsomeone tolove onyouandcare
for youfor the time being.Manyof these animalsare scaredand helpless.The attentionmakes
more of a differencethan youwill everknow.
B. Supporting Point2: Notonlyare youmakinga change inthe dog,but it can benefityouinso
manyways as well.First,volunteerismlooksgoodonanyresume orapplication.Soevenif

3. you’re justinit forthe hours,itcan’t hurt.Not onlyisit the stuff youcan write on paper,it’sthe
feelingyougetknowingyouare changinga life.
IV. Third MainPoint:As college students,we feel prettylimitedtothe resourceswe are given
access to whenitcomesto thingslike this.Ipropose thatwe make all the difference thatwe can
start now,together.Startingsmall andworkingourwayintoour hometowns,andspreading
fromthere. Reportthingsthatlookwrongto you,always.
A. Supporting PointOne: I wishIcouldsay adopta petnow-I’msure mostof us wouldlove tohave
a cuddle buddytojust followusaroundourroom all day.But fact is,most of us can’t.If you
knowsomeone lookingforanew additiontothe household,suggesttheytake alookat a
shelterclose tothem.
Data Point 1: Adoptingananimal will reduce the amounteuthanizeddue tooverpopulation.
Alwaysspayor neuteryourpetas well.Spayingor neuteringananimal ischeaperthancaring
for a litterforjustone year.
B. Supporting PointTwo: Whenitcomesto us, eachother,righthere and now,workingasa team
not onlymakesvolunteeringeasier,butitmakesitmore fun.Some people maynothave cars.
Get a group of people together,some withcarsthatare willingtodrive,androtate,orpitchin
for gas everyonce anda while.Once aweek,take twoor three car loadsto the shelterforan
hour or two.
Data Point 2: All youneedisa photoID provingthatyou are 18, and be willingtohandle cats
and dogs.I have a car, time,anda passionforhelpinganimalswhentheycan’thelpthemselves.
V. Conclusion:
A. Summary of Main Points: Ananimal can be physicallyabused,neglected,leftasa stray and in
all casesleftto die.I,a freshmanhere atWestern,have made time with17 hoursand 2 part-
time jobsto volunteerandtomake a difference.Iammore than happyto helpanyone willingto
give upjusta little of theirtime tochange things.Together we can.
B. Closer:If youwere bornina cage,and neverknew whatitwas like outsidethe walls,wouldn’t
youwant a differentworld?Whatif youdidn’thave the power?Well we do.

4. References
“Animal Cruelty Facts and Statistics.” (July 21, 2011) The Humane Society of the United States.
Retrieved November 8, 2012, from
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/abuse_neglect/facts/animal_cruelty_facts_statistics.ht
ml
Kaplan, Thomas. (2012, July 23). 2 Men Charged with Beating Cat to Death. New York Times.
“Pet Statistics.” The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Retrieved
November 8, 2012, from http://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq/pet-statistics.aspx
Urbina, Ian. (2010, March 18). Animal Abuse as Clue to Additional Cruelties. New York Times, p.
A16
Watanabe, Teresa. (2012, November 2). Pregnant Dog Dies after Hose Allegedly Shoved Down
Throat. Los Angeles Times