Annotated+Bibliography

Annotated Bibliography Graduation Project

James Weitzman Fall 2010


 * Annotation #1:**

Machan, Tibor. "Why Might Animals Have Rights?" //Opposing Views//. N.p., 2008. Web. 1 Oct. 2010. .

__Information:__ Author Credentials: Tibor Machan is a professor in philosophy at Auburn University. Machan holds the R.C. Hoiles Chair of Business Ethics and Free Enterprise at the Argyros School of Business and Economics at Chapman University. Along with being a scholar at the Cato Institute, he researches at Stanford University at the Hoover Institution. This source is a persuasive piece trying to decide whether or not animals should have certain rights.

__Summary:__ //Authors thesis//: When a right is considered natural, the freedom involved in having this right is supposed to be justified by reference to the kind of being one is, one's nature as a certain kind of entity. //Main Arguments//: The author uses laws passed by the government and examples in history to prove his thesis. //Evidence//: The author uses evidence from philosophers Thomas Taylor Jeremy Bentham and their work: Vindication of the Rights of Brutes

__Evaluation:__ //Evaluation of research:// The work of this author is well researched, has a clearly stated point, and is completely logical. //Evaluation of scope:// The author adequately addresses the topic at hand using original ideas of his own and using historical text from legitimate sources as evidence. //Evaluation of author bias:// The author takes an objective stance on animal rights. He believes animals should not be used as "sensible" objects at our dispense.

__Reflection:__ I learned many new ideas and beliefs from this piece of work and this author. I learned that this issue dates back farther than I could ever imagine. I realized that famous philosophers and authors are also writing for this issue.


 * Annotation #2:**

Semple, Kirk. "In Land Scarred by Violence, Dog Fighting Makes a Comeback." //SIRS//. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2010. .

__Information:__ //Author Credentials:// Kirk Semple is a respected Foreign Correspondent for the New York Times. Most of his work is about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

__Summary:__ //Author's Thesis:// In a impoverished nation terrorized with war and violence, dog fighting is still making a comeback. //Main Arguments:// The author argues that dog fighting is still occurring in Afghanistan even after being banned for being "non-Islamic". //Evidence:// The author tells about reports of men using their own dogs as fighters to settle bets and personal arguments.

__Evaluation:__ //Evaluation of research:// This author is a well respected report and writes a respectable speech on dog fighting that showed me a lot about the issue. //Evaluation of scope:// The author addresses the topic well and uses first hand reports to display his opinion.

__Reflection:__ I read this article and learned a different perspective on dog fighting and animal abuse in a different setting.


 * Annotation #3**

"NFL Quarterback Michael Vick Indicted in Dog Fighting Case - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com." //FOXNews.com - Breaking News | Latest News | Current News//. 17 July 2007. Web. 07 Oct. 2010. .

__Information:__ This is a news article citing the associated press as author.

__Summary:__ This article displays information on the dogfighting case that involved NFL superstar, Michael Vick, and a couple of his associates. The article also shows the process Vick went through before and after he was caught and arrested.

__Reflection:__ This article supplies sufficient information about the actions of Michael Vick and the consequences he had to go through after.


 * Annotation #4**

"Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Dog-fighting - 39 Pit Bulls Seized - Dayton, OH (US)." //Pet-Abuse.Com - Home//. Web. 07 Oct. 2010. .

__Information:__ This is more of a police report on a specific dogfighting case and does not display an author.

__Summary:__ This case is about two men who were arrested for being associated with dogfighting. Dayton police confiscated 39 pit bulls that were to believed to be involved in dog fighting. Montgomery County Resource Officers were also involved in the arrest.

__Reflection:__ This case provides great insight on dogfighting cases and why people commit these crimes.


 * Annotation #5**

Dudley, William. //Animal Rights//. Farmington Hills: Thomson Gale, 2006. Print.

__Information:__ Author Credentials: Dudley researched, edited, and written more than one hundred non fictional books including multiple on animal rights.

__Summary:__ This book discusses the debate of whether or not animals should have certain rights.

__Reflection:__ This book gives the reader a more factual look into the issue of animal abuse, animal neglect, and animal fighting.


 * Annotation #6**

Judson, Karen. //Animal Testing//. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2006. Print.

__Information:__ Karen Judson is an author of multiple books. She has written mostly about animal rights and animal testing.

__Summary:__ Judson's book gives sufficient information on animal testing. The book is mainly a debate on whether or not it is humane to use animals for testing medicines and operations.

__Reflection:__ This book gives me a different view on animal rights and even more information and awareness on the issue. It is a more broad view on the topic of animal abuse and neglect.


 * Annotation #7**

Bunch, By Joey. "Prosecution of Dogfighting Cases Kept on Short Leash - The Denver Post." //Home - The Denver Post//. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. .

__Information:__ Joey Bunch writes articles for the Denver Post.

__Summary:__ This article is about a taking more notice in dog fighting out west. Bunch believes the authorities were more occupied in the Michael Vick dog fighting case as they are in all of the dogfighting going on in the western part of the United States.

__Reflection:__ This article is filled with different facts, opinions, and views on the issue of dog fighting. The article is a more narrow look on my topic of dog fighting.


 * Annotation #8**

Peach, Ashley. "Psychology of Dog Abuse." //EzineArticles Submission - Submit Your Best Quality Original Articles For Massive Exposure, Ezine Publishers Get 25 Free Article Reprints//. Web. 27 Oct. 2010. .

__Information:__

Ashley Peach is a blog writer for the website This article explains how dog abuse effects the minds of dogs. Although physical, dog abuse leaves a psychological effect on the dog and sometimes it is hard for the dog to recover the trust in human it once had.
 * [|http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashley_Peach] ||  ||
 * __Summary:__**

__Reflection:__ This blog gives another aspect of the issue. Instead of strictly looking at the physical ramifications of dog abuse, I can now study the psychological effect on dogs.


 * Annotation #9**

Ronson, Gerry. "The-psychology-of-dog-abuse." //Doghistory//. Web. 27 Oct. 2010. .

__Information__**:** Gerry Ronson writes multiple blogs and articles on dogs. He also sells dog supplies and has a lot of experience with dogs.

__Summary:__ This article asks and answers the question: why do people abuse and neglect dogs? It talks about the psychology of dog abusers and their motivation to commit such a horrific crime.

__Reflection:__ I learned a lot about the psyche of a dog abuser. It gives me more insight on the reasons why people abuse and neglect dogs.


 * Annotation #10**

Vaknin, Sam. "Whether a Right or Not, Animals Should Be Treated Morally." //The Rights of Animals//. Ed. Auriana Ojeda. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Current Controversies. //Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context//. Web. 29 Oct. 2010.

__Information:__ Sam Vaknin is the author of many books on a wide variety of issues in America including dog fighting and dog abuse.

__Summary__: This article talks about whether or not animals should have rights. It also talks about that animals should be treated morally regardless of whether or not a person thinks they should have right.

__Reflection:__ This article was very helpful in finding a preliminary thesis.