HSGKC Enewsletter

Vol. 3 Issue 1

Volunteer Spotlight:
Larry Whittle

Larry Whittle with "Hattie".

Larry Whittle is a deputy for the Jackson County circuit court with a soft spot for animals. Larry has been volunteering at the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City for the past eight months, a relationship that began when he simply dropped by to make a donation to the shelter. At the time, Larry also had a part-time job that occupied most of his free time, but having quit that job he now spends his time volunteering to help animals at the shelter.

“I try to make it in [to the shelter] two or three times a week and I spend a couple hours here with the cats,” Larry said, “I have a soft spot for innocence – [for] babies and animals. I don’t like the idea of people tossing away a life.”

Apart from his efforts at the Humane Society, Larry cares for three cats of his own, including one with FIV. He is also the only volunteer at the shelter who creates his own cat toys. One such toy is constructed from part of a bamboo fishing rod with bits of ribbon and a fishing bobber attached to one end. Larry, a versatile volunteer, also donates various articles to the shelter from time to time, and has assisted with inspecting yards of potential adopters to ensure that they are fit for animals.

According to Larry, he enjoys working with animals and finds his work as a volunteer at the shelter very rewarding.

“They had an animal here that would not eat and was going to die. I hand-fed it and it ‘came around’ eventually. Later it was adopted out to an individual and that made me feel good about helping the shelter,” he said.

According to Larry, it is quite simple for individuals to become a positive influence in the lives of animals. He encourages others to get involved with the shelter in a way that is convenient for them.

Calling All Pets
of All Talent Levels

Your pet's big break from grainy home videos and 5x7 glossies to front billing on broadcast television is just a frisbee's throw away. Pete & Mac's is hosting the second annual Humane Society of Greater Kansas City's Pet Talent Search Contest from 1-4 pm on February 24, 2007 at Pete & Mac's Pet Resort, located at 8809 Monrovia in Lenexa, KS. The finalists will be featured on the Kansas City Pet Telethon, airing Sunday, March 4 from 6:30-9:30 pm. Call 913-596-1000 ext. 14 to schedule your pet's audition time.

If you or your pet have prior obligations and cannot make the audition, please send a VCR videotape or CD of your pet's talent to: The Humane Society of Greater KC, 5445 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, KS 66104. Your video/CD should include a one-minute introduction with your name, pet's name, city of residence and an explanation of your pet's talent. The talent portion should be no longer than two minutes, and each entry should include your name, address, and phone number. Videos and CDs will not be returned. Finalists will be contacted by phone on Monday, February 26.

For additional information about the Pet Talent Search Contest and the telethon visit the 7th Annual Kansas City Pet Telethon web site at www.kcpettelethon.org or send an email to Robin. You can also download a Pet Talent Search Contest flyer.

Last year's pet talent finalists included Victor the bubble eater; Baxter, who jumped through hoops; Bulova who exhibited his obedience skills; Luna showed of her frisbee abilities & Zodie played basketball, football & frisbee

Welcome New Volunteers!

Please help us welcome the newest volunteers who braved the January weather for orientation: Ryan & Laurie Strong, Doug Brown, Austin Garvey, Tom Garvey, Amber Rayl, Rebekah Benton, Bob Hauer, & JoAnn Boys. Our next volunteer orientation class will be 10 am to noon, Saturday, February 10 at the shelter. Have your animal-loving friends call Jo today at 913-596-1000 x 22 to RSVP for the volunteer class.

Volunteer Caitlin Raw spends her Saturdays with the shelter cats or helping at satellite events.

Get Involved!

• Beginning in 2007 we will be having monthly tours of the shelter for current and potential donors. We are looking for volunteers who would be willing to help be greeters, invite guests, and spread the word about this great new program. The next tour is Saturday, February 24 at 10 am. If you can help with any of these details or help plan a future tour please call Jo at 913-596-1000 x 22.

• Do you have experience with upholstery or know someone who does? Please call Jo at 913-596-1000 x22 to find out how you can help.

• Sign up for the February 3 or 17 Satellite Adoption Clinics from 11am to 3pm and help a homeless pet find a new home. Volunteers will need to meet at Petco, located at 95th and Quivira in Overland Park at 10:45 am. Email Jana if you’re able to lend a hand.

Above and Beyond

Month after month, volunteers go out of their way to help the animals at the Humane Society. Here are a few volunteers we’d like to publicly thank for their recent efforts.

Thank you to Rhonda & Steve Thieme for donating funds to purchase railroad ties to reinforce the fencing in the dog yards and purchasing the parts to repair the Kuranda Beds for the dogs in the kennel. In addition, special thanks to Rhonda for going above and beyond when she spent her Christmas vacation working on the HSGKC database. Bob Hauer repaired the Kuranda beds with the newly purchased parts, while Chuck Williams, Peter Dahl, and Mike Sands laid and secured the recently purchased railroad ties.

Volunteer & board member Eva Allen trying out the new paper shredder.

Thank you to Alyssa Koinzan and her father. Alyssa told her dad of our need for a one-inch paper shredder. Well, he designed and manufactured one to the shelter's specifications! Stop by to check it out or for a lesson on how to use it. Alyssa also spent her winter break volunteering with the shelter pets and doing much needed office work in the volunteer department. Debbie Kirschner continues to bring in Chicken with Gravy Gerber baby food for our finicky feline eaters. Ashley Roberts has designed the layout for our new donation boxes.

Extreme Makeover,
Shelter Edition!

After seeing the wonderful results of the paint makeover to the kennel area, the dogs at the Humane Society of Greater KC have been very busy remodeling the adoption room to their own specifications. However, their renovations are not up to state health and building code and we need your help to fix it. If you have been in there lately, I'm sure you have noticed the large holes in the drywall, that seem to grow larger everyday.

The estimate to purchase the sheet metal paneling we would like to use to repair our friend's handy work is $200 and those funds are just not in the budget. With your help, we can finish what the dogs have started! If you would like to make a donation to help purchase materials needed to bring the adoption room back up to shelter code please make your donation online at www.hsgkc.org and just make a note in the comment area on PayPal that it's for repairing the adoption room, or call Jo to let her know.