Volunteer Profile:
Silvia Risner

Sylvia with "Skippy"

After watching this year’s 7th Annual Kansas City Pet Telethon, Silvia Risner knew that volunteering at the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City was her calling.

Inspired in part by Charlie, her shitzu-poodle mix, Silvia had been looking for a way to help dogs for some time. As soon as she saw Volunteer Coordinator Jo Hickey asking for help during the telethon, she knew what she had to do.

Now that she’s been volunteering since March, Silvia couldn’t be happier. “I love dogs,” she said. “I just love them.”

Silvia said that she has no doubt about where her fondness of dogs began. Born and raised in Mexico, she was surrounded by strays constantly. Though the situation in Mexico has improved, she still can’t help but recall how it felt to see so many homeless dogs.

“I felt so helpless,” she said. “Still, it’s nice to see people in Mexico slowly becoming more educated about pet care.”

Since moving to Kansas City in 2001, Silvia has made it her mission to help as many dogs as possible. Silvia volunteers nearly every Saturday and makes sure to attend special events like the 20th Annual Dog-n-Jog held on June 10. When she volunteers at the shelter, Silvia said that she likes to help socialize shy dogs and bathe them to prepare them for satellite adoptions, which she also attends.

When she’s not volunteering or working as a project coordinator, Silvia spends time with her two stepsons and attends their athletic events.

According to Silvia, the best part of volunteering at the shelter is seeing how much people care about animals. “I admire how these people take so much time out of their day to help out,” she said. “I just love to be surrounded by such positive energy.”

Get Your Photos in
This Weekend for the Calendar
& Photo Contest!

Say Cheese Pet Photo Contest

Submit your best photos of your furry friends in this year's Say Cheese Pet Photo Contest. The deadline has been extended to July 1! Categories this year include: Pampered Pooches, Kitty Capers, Best Buddies, Pets & People and Silly Critters. The first place winners from each category will win tons of pet prizes and the winning photos will be featured during Gary Lezak's weather show on NBC! The grand prize winning photo will be the cover model for the 3rd Annual Pets & Their People Calendar.The entry fee is $25 for the first image (includes a calendar) and $5 for each additional submission. Visit www.hsgkc.org for complete contest details.

Pets & Their People

Picture your pet in the 2008 Pets & Their People Planning Calendar, a heartwarming tribute to Kansas City's pets benefiting the Humane Society animals. The calendar includes beautiful, candid and professional photos of pets owners and their beloved companions, a memorial section to honor those pets that have left us, a business section for pet-loving companies and heartfelt quotes and inspirational stories. When you purchase a full-page tab in this one-of-a-kind calendar you are eligible to receive a free photo session with My Yuppie Puppy and have your professional photo included in the calendar. Visit www.hsgkc.org for more information. The deadline has been extended to July 1!

Dog-n-Jog Splashes to Success

More than $55,000 was raised at the 20th Annual Dog-n-Jog on June 10, presented by The Sheraton Suites on the Country Club Plaza. Hundreds of animal lovers from across the city gathered with their dogs on the wet streets of the Plaza to compete in the running and walking events, visit pet vendor booths, compete in the cutest dog and dog costume contests, get their pet micro chipped and visit with other dog enthusiasts. NBC Action News Chief Meteorologist and Honorary Humane Society Board Member Gary Lezak brought Stormy and Breezy to help kick off the event with KFKF radio personality Debbie Erikson.

Top pledge collectors were also honored during the event. Teresa Killough was the top pledge collector by raising $1,886 for the shelter pets. Stacey Reickman was the second place top pledge collector and Crissy Overcash was the third place top pledge collector. These women raised money for the pets through a variety of ways including asking friends, clients and co-workers for donations, having a silent auction and creating online fundraising web pages.

Visit www.thomasphotographic.com to view event photos from the 20th Annual Dog-n-Jog.

Summer is the busiest time of the year for volunteer activities. Let us know if you’re able to help with any of the following activities:

•Suds of Fun Dog Wash:

Volunteers will be needed Tuesday, July 17 to help wash dogs, assist dog owners, and collect donations during this fun event. It will be held at U-Wash Puppy located at 75th and Nieman Rd. in Lenexa. The event will take place from 4 to 8 p.m.

If you’re not able to volunteer but have a dirty dog – bring them out for a $5 dog wash. All proceeds benefit the animals here at the shelter. Email Robin to sign up to help.

• 10th Annual Art Unleashed:

Volunteers are needed for a wide variety of jobs during this fun event from 5-10 pm, Friday, August 24 at The Uptown Theater. Volunteer jobs can include: serving food, watching art tables, greeting, wrapping and more! If you can help, please email Vicky Paddack.

• 3rd Annual Humane Society Golf Classic:

This year’s tournament is Saturday, September 29 at Swope Memorial Golf Course. Volunteers are needed to assist with selling sponsorships and soliciting and gathering prize and auction items. If you can lend a hand with this annual event, please email Christine Salyer.

Satellite Adoptions

PETCO
Saturday, July 7 & 21
95th & Quivira in Overland Park
11 am to 3 pm

"Suds of Fun" Dog Wash
Tuesday, July 17th
U-Wash Puppy
75th & Nieman in Shawnee
Satellite Adoption from 5:30pm to 8pm

Email Jana Brunner if you can help at any of these satellite adoption events.

Trees for Pets Program

Ricky & Nicole Setticase planting "Trees for Pets"

The Humane Society has already begun to see the benefits of a new beautification program called Trees for Pets. Similar to Bricks for Pets, Trees for Pets allows individuals to donate a tree with a $100 gift as a personalized memorial to their pets, family members or loved ones and have it planted on the Humane Society's grounds.

Humane Society volunteer Ricky Setticase set the program in motion with help from Heath Piersel, owner of Gecko Landscape Creations and Humane Society Loyal Friends Donor.

“He came up with the idea and I was already doing landscaping at the shelter,” said Ricky. “The timing was perfect.” So far, five trees have been planted at the Humane Society.

Ricky said the goals for Trees for Pets are simple. “One is to raise money for the shelter,” he said. “The second is to provide some much needed shade and beauty for visitors, adopters and pets.” 

Ricky and Heath hope to plant five trees every spring and fall for a total of 10 trees a year. “If the program takes off and there’s a greater demand, we’ll try to accommodate that by planting additional trees,” Ricky said. “When our grounds get full, we can begin planting memorial trees on the donor’s property.”

According to Ricky, the best part of Trees for Pets is that 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit the animals.

“The generosity of Gecko Landscape Creations, Kokopelli Nursery, Farmers Insurance, Lawn and Landscape Solution, Johnson County Topsoil, Ironhorse Golf Course and the Earl May Store is incredible,” he said.
 
If you would like to purchase a memorial tree in honor of a loved one or pet, contact Robin Rowland at 913-596-1000 x 14 or send an email.

Welcome New Volunteers

Please help us welcome the newest group of animal lovers to the volunteer team: Ila Jean Ulrich, Lisa Merry, Joey O’Hare, Ivis Buckingham, Helen DeWolf, Karen Klein, Debra Johnson, Christy Schweiger and Brandi Barnett.

Brave, Carter, Chet, Dillon, Dolly, Gretchen, Kemper

Kingsley, Lucinda, Marsden, Melody, Monty, Patty, Penny

Shirley II, Summer, Taffy, Theo, Trevor, Willlow & Wilson