Hey all,
Recent changes have resulted in two new and one existing dog non-profits/enterprises that could use your help. One is going to be hugely dependent on help from the community to succeed, and the other two are organizations/individuals that do outstanding work and are facing some new challenges presently. First, as you may have heard, the KCMO shelter has privatized in an effort to do a better job of adopting out pets and reducing euthanasia rates. As I know two great individuals who are deeply involved in this effort (Dr. Steckelburg and Jennifer Shive formerly of Spay Neuter Kansas City) and will do their best to vastly improve the current state of the shelter, I am sure this change can be a HUGE success if well supported by the community. First, please consider making the KCMO shelter the first shelter you try (or recommend to others) if you adopt your next pet from a shelter. These pups, unlike low kill or no kill shelters, are literally on death row day one. Adopting these dogs at this choke point immediately gives another dog a better chance of getting out alive. And there are GREAT dogs there, I know from experience, one of my dogs (Fuzz) is a KCMO shelter rescue, and she has more personality, looks, and smarts (as well as ears) than 95% of the dogs out there (I may be a bit biased...:). See the email from Jen below, she can be contacted at jshive@sbcglobal.net:

Dear Animal loving friends,
You are receiving this email because you either know me from volunteering at Spay and Neuter Kansas City or you are just a fellow animal lover and advocate.
I’m sure you know by now that I know longer work for Spay and Neuter Kansas City as of January 19th, 2009 but I have a new job that I want to quickly tell you about. I have been hired as one of two Adoption Coordinators for the Kansas City Public Shelter. As of March 1st, 2009 the shelter is no longer run by the city and it will be privatized. What that means is that it is still a drop off site for Kansas City residents and Animal Control will still bring strays there as well as the public, but we are going to emphasize adoptions, educating the public, and decreasing euthanasia. Right now this particular shelter euthanizes 400 animals a month. My goal and the goal of everyone who has been hired to work there is to tremendously decrease that number by increasing adoptions, educating the public and working with rescue groups. You can help in several ways. If you would like to help here is a list of ways to get involved. Please email me if
you would like to get involved.
1) Volunteer Opportunities-the shelter is going to be open 7 days a week. I will need people to help walk dogs, play with dogs, play with cats, groom and bathe animals, clean, etc. I think we will start at 7am cleaning and feeding and end at 7pm. There are only 2 Coordinators so we need as much help as possible to make the biggest impact. If you’re interested email me and I’ll send you a application. Keep in mind, this is not a no kill shelter but as hard as it may be you can make a huge impact on the lives of these animals.
2) Donations-This list may grow but we will need blankets, dog beds, cat beds, bowls, treats, canned cat and dog food, cat and dog toys, bleach, paper towels, shallow cardboard boxes for litter boxes and litter. Our budget will be stretched to its limit so we would accept as many donations as we can get. Monetary donations will be accepted as well and will be a tax right off. We will be running a non-profit organization as well.
3) Email-I will be sending out emails about dogs and cats that I want to get out of the shelter so that they don’t get euthanized. If you want to receive those emails to forward let me know. Otherwise I won’t bother sending those emails to you. They may be frequent depending on how our adoptions go. I really need to hear from rescue groups who want to know what is at the shelter that needs to be pulled. (note- the DIG email list can't pass on all of these emails- please sign up independently if you want to get them!)
4) SPREAD THE WORD-We need your help promoting out shelter and encouraging people to come and adopt. We will get to screen and there will be an adoption process. I will do whatever I can to match these animals with responsible and caring people. We need your support. Please forward this email to anyone you think would like to help. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Shive

By the way, the Brookside Barkery and Bath

is doing a fundraiser for the new shelter in association with the Brookside St. Pat's parade, click here if interested.
---------------------

Another SNKC vet that is a true guardian angel for underpriviledged dogs is Kate Quigley, who is now running a new Pet Uplift Program (PUP) through No More Homeless Pets. Like the Pet Outreach Program she founded at SNKC (which is still going and also needs support), this program proactively goes out into the poorest parts of the community and looks for dogs in trouble, as well as those who need to be spayed/neutered. Kate is often the difference between a dog living a horrible life and going to an early death as opposed to getting rescued by Kate and company and finding a loving, forever home. Again, I have a testimonial to offer, my dog Chuck is a wonderful young fellow that would have spent a miserable life (assuming he survived the exposure to weather, lack of food, his crazy owners, and infrequent access to clean water) ignored in a backyard on a four foot chain if not for Kate. They and SNKC's outreach program always need supplies, money, and most importantly volunteers that have the courage to go out and save these dogs.

-------------------------------------------

Lastly, Spay Neuter Kansas City itself can always use help. SNKC is one of the most successful spay/neuter organizations in the area, and has saved thousands of puppies and kittens from short, unpleasant lives by making sure they were not part of another unwanted litter. SNKC is in a difficult spot right now, as they are stuck in a temporary facility until they can move into their new facility on Troost. Volunteers and donations are always needed! Another testimonial- volunteering for SNKC 'MASH' clinics is a lot of fun, and you feel GREAT afterwards for helping out. If you are wanting a little puppy time, or just to spend some time with a wide variety of doggies, a MASH clinic is a great place to get your 'fix' (bad pun intended).

Thanks, see everybody at the park!