Volunteer Spotlight:
Alyssa Koinzan

Alyssa with "Carlie"

Alyssa Koinzan works in the registrar office at KU Medical Center, but if she had her choice she would work at the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City full time. “I do what I can, I wish I could quit (my job) and be out there full time, but I haven’t won the lottery yet,” Alyssa said.

Alyssa began volunteering two months ago. She began with filing and office work, and stayed away from interacting with the animals. “I have an incredible love for animals, so much so that I thought it would make it hard for me,” Alyssa said.

One day a fellow volunteer urged her to come work with the dogs, and ever since then she has loved working with the animals. “It became apparent to me how much the dogs need the volunteers,” Alyssa said. “It is very rewarding, I make their lives a little better until they find their permanent home.”

As a “Humane Society ambassador”, Alyssa was recently able to involve her father with the shelter by asking him to make a one-of-a-kind newspaper shredder. This paper shredder saves the staff and volunteers a lot of time and effort. Rather than spending hours shredding newspapers by hand, the new shredding machine does a week’s worth of shredding in minutes. This time saving shredder allows the staff and volunteers to spend more time with the animals.

Alyssa is a volunteer who is always willing to do anything the shelter needs. Whether it is overcoming her apprehension about working with the animals, doing office work, or donating a new computer screen, she is always thinking of the shelter. According to Alyssa she is willing to do whatever it takes to help the shelter. “I do what I can,” Alyssa said, “I’ll do anything.”

THIS SATURDAY:
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: Lynne Sosna, Amy Perry, David Perry, Jeannine Klaber, Mia Power, Caroline Uhlig, Rebecca Hausser, Amy Liston, Carrie Hayes, Ally McNitt, Alysia and Natalie Herbison, Donald Meiners, Carrie Fields, Paula Cady, Will and Glen Garven. Our next volunteer orientation class will be 10 am to noon, Saturday, March 10 at the shelter. Have your animal-loving friends call Jo today at 913-596-1000 x 22 to RSVP for the volunteer class.

Extreme Makeover,
Shelter Edition!

Thanks to the generous donation of $200, from volunteer Wendie Hood, the adoption room is well on its way to a fresh new look. The money Wendie donated is being used to fix the large holes in the drywall that our animal friends made. By patching these holes we are able to bring the adoption room back up to health and building codes.

The adoption room could still use some TLC. If you would like to make a donation or learn how you can help, please call Jo 913.596.1000 x 22.

• Tail Waggin’ Tour! This year we are hosting monthly tours of the shelter for animal lovers in the community. We are looking for volunteers who would be willing to help be greeters, invite guests, and spread the word about this great new program. Our next one-hour tours are Saturday, February 24 and March 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.

If these dates don’t work for you and your friends, then follow in the footsteps of volunteer Ricky Setticase. Ricky has organized his own Tail Waggin’ Tour during the week. Ricky is involving his coworkers by organizing a separate tour that is more convenient for them.

• The Kansas City Pet Telethon is March 4 from 6:30 – 9:30 pm on 38 the Spot (channel 8 for cable viewers). We need everyone to help encourage their friends and family to watch the show this year. As you know, the winter months are financially the hardest for the shelter. We need support from the community so we can take care of our furry friends.

Visit www.KcPetTelethon.org today to make your donation today and register to win some incredible prizes.

• Sign up for the March 3 or 31 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.

• The Kansas City Pet Telethon is also in need of a company to lend us some living room furniture to use during the show. If anyone knows someone in the furniture business, please call Lauren at 913-486-4100.

• We are also currently looking for volunteers to help drop brochures and spread the word about the 2008 Pets & Their People Calender and the Pet Photo Contest. If you can help, please call or email Jo. We would like to know who can help by March 5th.

• The Pet Expo is April 28 and 29. We need volunteers to help with adoptions and the Wheel of Fun. Email Jana if you can help with adoptions and Jo if you can help with the Wheel of Fun. The Pet Expo is held at the American Royal Complex. It is one of our biggest adoption events of the year!

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 the team of volunteers who helped the shelter prepare 5,300 mailings for the spring News & Views Newsletter. These volunteers are: Bob Hauer, Larry Whittle, Amber Rayl, Glendra Riley, Eva Allen, Nancy Vreeland, Debbie Kirschner, Jeannine Klaber, Leslie Garven, and Boy Scouts, Will and Glen Garven. These volunteers helped by preparing the mailing which saved the shelter hundreds of dollars, money which can now be spent caring for the animals.

Thank you to Wendie Hood for her donation that will allow us to makeover the adoption room.

Thank you to Gene Benton and Jennifer Lapka Pfeifer who got “up and dirty” cleaning the lights fixtures and replacing ceiling tiles before the inaugural Tail Waggin’ Tour in January. (Imagine lots of dead bugs and lots of dust.)

Sheree' with "Howie"

Farewell Sheree'

In March we will be saying farewell to long-time volunteer Sheree' Schlueter, who is moving to Omaha. Sheree' has been a volunteer for the shelter for 8 years. A jack of all trades, Sheree' did a bit of everything at the shelter. She wasn’t afraid to get dirty at the shelter and found herself through the years cleaning the animals and the building. She was also a part of the volunteer crew who recently did a makeover in the cat and dog areas. Sheree' was also a regular volunteer at satellite adoptions, special events and a master at rounding up auction items to help raise money. Sheree's husband was offered a job in Omaha, where the two of them will be moving. Thank you for your eight years of dedication and service Sheree' -- we will miss you.

Movin' on Up!
Since January 19, these lucky pets have been busy packing up and moving into their new homes.

Betty, Clara, Comet, Ferguson, Gordon, Jilly

Julie, Lillith, Molly, Stella, Stevie and Tootsie!

~Not pictured: Taffy & Simon, and Mr. Pickles-- all are kitties.~