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The 2nd Chance Adoption Plan involves reforming current "Species Adoptions" to bring greater awareness to the environmental issues involving affecting our wildlife.

Many environmental sustainability problems are a result of ignorance related to these issues. People either don’t realize these environmental issues exist or they don’t know what can be done to stop or prevent them from occurring. Today, animal species are becoming extinct because of environmental disasters, deforestation, pollution, and littering. These human impacts are preventable issues that must be stopped in order to save our wildlife.

Several examples of wildlife affected by human causes are listed below:
 * More than 6000 birds have been killed by the BP Oil Disaster.
 * Below is preliminary data showing oil harmed animals from the oil spill [1. USA Today 2010]


 * ﻿ The orangutan population has declined by 50-90 percent over the past few decades. The major cause of this decline is due to deforestation for palm oil production.
 * “Palm oil is forecasted to be the world’s most produced and internationally traded edible oil by 2012. Malaysia and Indonesia account for 83 percent of production and 89 percent of global exports. Of Malaysia’s nearly 300 land mammal species, 6 are critically endangered and 41 threatened. “ [2. Ancrenaz 2010]
 * Marine debris is another form of pollution that is killing marine life. Over 100,000 sea mammals including sea turtles and 1 million sea birds are killed annually.
 * Plastic bags are a major factor contributing to sea turtle deaths because “they mistake their pale colors and gently undulating form for the jellyfish that they feed on. Once ingested plastics can choke the animal or, if it blocks the stomach, cause it to starve to death.” [3. Foundation]

__These wildlife issues involve many different stakeholders.__


 * Wildlife || Wildlife Conservations/Preservations || Plastic Producing companies || Loggers ||
 * Oil companies || Grocery Stores || Fisherman || Paper Production ||
 * Animal Rescue Volunteers || Zoo || Zoologists || Communities/locations of deforestation ||

There are many different wildlife protection and conservation organizations such as Defenders of Wildlife, World Wildlife Fund, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and The Conservation Foundation who are dedicate to helping save our animals and environment.

﻿These organizations look to get donation as a major source of funding to help achieve these goals. On World Wildlife Fund’s website it states, “Donate to WWF to represent your commitment to conservation with a symbolic adoption.” This is a method several organizations are using for program and support services as well as fundraising.

“The symbolic animal adoption includes the following items": [4. WWF 2010]
 * High resolution photograph of the species adopted.
 * (Non-personalized) Certificate of adoption for the species adopted.
 * Animal Fact sheet for species adopted.
 * Plush likeness of species adopted.
 * Species Spotlight card for the animal adopted.

__** 2nd Chance Adoption Plan **__ In order to effectively approach the problem with ignorance involving wildlife sustainability, the conservation organizations approach to “species adoption” should be reformed. This can be done by taking full advantage of “human-animal bond.” A mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and other animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essencial to the health and well-being of both.” [5. Wichita State 2005]


 * __How to Adopt __**
 * 1) Adoption via gift cards given to family, friends, etc. for use on the website
 * 2) Adoption directly from the website

Adoption involves donating money or using a gift card that will be used by a specific wildlife conservation to save the life of a specific animal that has been affected by an environmental issue. In order to adopt, a person will be able to go to the website and browse through a list of animals and select the specific one they would like to help save. Donating a set amount will contribute to a month long adoption.
 * __Adoption__**


 * __Why Adopt__**
 * 1) To help save the life of animals severely affected by environmental issues
 * 2) To help an animal without having to travel or spend your own time taking care of it
 * 3) To become more knowledgeable about environmental sustainability problems that are harming our environment
 * 4) It makes a great gift
 * Children’s birthday present without buying a pet to take care of
 * It’s more thoughtful than just money or a gift card to a store
 * Allows someone the opportunity to change the life a species


 * __Website__**

__﻿__

Once an animal is chosen to be adopted, the “new parent” will receive: 1. Detailed description of how the animal has been affected by environmental problems 2. Ways to help prevent that type of environmental problem from occurring <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. Status Updates of their Animal


 * __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Improvements/Benefits Over Other Plans __ **

In this plan, people will be connected to a specific animal as opposed to an animal species with other adoption programs. By creating this closer connection, people will be able to see how their money is specifically being used to help their adopted pet rather than just sending money to help a general species. This type of bonding is highly desired in our society if you consider the relationships and love we share with our pets, Webkinz, Ty Beanie Babies, and stuffed animals.

As each new adoptive parent becomes connected to their animal, they will also become more knowledgeable to the environmental issue that has affected their adopted pet. As each animal is adopted, the knowledge of these environmental issues occurring all around the globe will be heard. It only takes one person to become attached to their adopted animal to want to prevent the environmental issue that has affected it to not happen to another animal again.

This new plan called, 2nd Chance, will aim at increasing awareness of environmental sustainability issues by allowing people to “adopt” specific animals whose lives have been severely affected by one of these issues. The 2nd Chance intervention plan could face some barriers to its implementation. The sophistication of adopting a single pet and keeping track of its recovery is difficult and would provide a challenge; however, this is the key to increasing the personal connection between the animal and adoptive parent in order to bring greater awareness to sustainability issues. If an animal does pass away while it has “adoptive parents” it could be very disheartening to these parents to lose their animal. However, this could create stronger support and action by the parents to prevent the cause of their animal’s death from happening to others in the future.

**__ References __** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">1. Donna Leinwand. “Tallying BP oil spill on wildlife habitat,” //USA Today//. 2010 Oct. 31 Page 3A < <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">2. Ancrenaz, Dr. Marc “Orangutans vs palm oil in Malaysia: setting the record straight” Mongabay. 2010 Jan 16. < <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">3. Sea Turtle Foundation LTD < <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> > <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">4. World Wildlife Fund. Gift Center. 2010 <http://www.worldwildlife.org/ogc/index.cfm?sc=AWY1100WC912&CFID=46685965&CFTOKEN=bdeee752dfd90a0c-99BE1384-BED9-A39A-5D8C5A7307604FA5> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">5. Douglas, Deanna Kay. “Benefits To Pets From The Human-Animal Bond”. Wichita State University. 2005. <http://soar.wichita.edu/dspace/bitstream/10057/651/1/d05007.pdf>

__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">World Wildlife Fund __ <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">“WWF's unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature.” <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[]
 * __<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Additional Resources __**

__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Defenders of Wildlife __ <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">“Defenders of Wildlife is a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. We work to protect and restore America's native wildlife, safeguard habitat, resolve conflicts, work across international borders and educate and mobilize the public.” []

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 * Other References **