Volunteer Profile:
Ali Kelley

Ali with "Otis" (aka "Ziggy")

Ali Kelley has always loved animals. She credits her parents, especially her mother, that nurtured her love for animals. Growing up she had nearly every type of indoor pet she could have: dogs, cats, fish, gerbils, mice and birds! Her favorite pet was Chopper, a spunky Yorkie that was always by her side. She loved his “big dog” attitude. Now, as an adult, she and her husband watch over their own little pack of animals. Their pack includes three dogs – Petey, Finnegan and Otis (originally Ziggy while at the HSGKC) and two cats – Fatty and Squealer.

Ali began volunteering at the HSGKC in the Fall of 2007. She was drawn to the organization because of its no-kill philosophy. Most of her time volunteering involves socializing and playing with the dogs. She even has cute rubber boots that she wears when the dog yard is muddy!  Her favorite part about volunteering is when she hears about the pets that have been adopted recently. She was especially excited when Harvey, one of her favorites, was adopted. She tries to spend equal time with all the dogs, but admits that Shirley is her favorite at the moment and finds herself spending a little extra time rubbing her belly.

In addition to her duties with the dogs, she is using her business skills as a committee member for the 2008 Pet Telethon. She feels by helping to find sponsors and rounding up prize donations she is helping the shelter pets on a more broad scale.

When not at the HSGKC or spending time with her own pets, Ali splits her time between her full-time career with Sanofi Pasteur and Robo Wash, dog and car express wash, that she and her husband opened at 614 W. 39th St., KCMO earlier this year.

Santa Paws

Thank you to those who supported this year’s Photos with Santa. Despite the non-cooperative weather, we raised over $1,000! Special thanks to Piper Photography, Santa Alan Hood, Santa Al, Santa John, Jeri Couch, Coleen Kent, Lori Brown, Eva Allen, Kerri and Jeremy Lightwine, Lynn McMinnville, Diane Drew, Deb Hosty, Connor Hosty, Elise Hosty, Tommy Lawson, Sarah Maxey, Dalton Stene & Carly Stene who braved Mother Nature to make photos with Santa memorable for the pets and their companions.

Satellite Adoptions

PETCO
95th & Quivira in Overland Park
11am to 3pm
Saturdays, January 5 & 19
Saturdays, February 2 & 16

Do you want to help Kansas City’s homeless pets find a new family? Email Jana if you are able to help with any of these upcoming Satellite Adoptions at Petco. Volunteer time commitment is 10:45 am to 3:15 pm.

Pets & Their People

Start planning for 2008 with the Humane Society’s 2008 Pets & Their People calendar and planner. At just $20, they make gifts for anyone who may have difficulty remembering your birthday. You can order online or stop by the shelter to purchase your calendar.

Seeking Prizes-- Big & Small

It is Pet Telethon time again and we need your help in finding raffle and caller prizes. We are looking for big ticket type items (valued at $500 or higher) and small ticket type items in multiples (for example - 10 movie tickets or a weekend hotel stay).

We also are in search of a company to donate a “living room” for the night (a couch that seats four, rug, end table, and lamp). If you can help or know someone that can, please email or call Jo at 913.596.1000 ext. 22. Robin would really like to keep her “living room” at home this year.

Jumbo Checks for the Pets?

In 2007 a volunteer arranged for her employer to allow employees to donate $5 to the HSGKC and in return the employees were able to leave one hour early on a specific Friday. The “leave work an hour early” event raised $600 for the animals! Another local company organized a Jeans Friday event that allowed their employees to donate $5 to the HSGKC and in return they were able to wear jeans to work on a specific Friday. The “Jeans Friday” event raised $500!

Do these stories inspire you? We hope so! We are looking for animal lovers to arrange events like this between now and March 1. Each company/organization that does something like this will be mentioned during The 8th Annual Kansas City Pet Telethon. For those that raise $500 or more will be invited to come on during the Pet Telethon and present their “jumbo check” to Gary Lezak in person! If you are planning to organize something like this at your work, with your church group, bunko group, etc -- please send Robin an email or give her a call at 913-596-1000 x 14.

Fetch Fur Pets--
We Need Your Help!

We need your help to spread the word about the second annual Fetch Fur Pets contest. This contest is for students across the metro that love pets and want to make a difference. Please help us by forwarding the Fetch Fur Pets flyer to anyone you may know who is involved in K-12 education (public or private), a student organization, is a teacher, principal, administrator, etc. Participating schools/youth groups/organizations organize creative ways to raise funds for the homeless pets. The winning schools will appear live during the Pet Telethon to present their jumbo check!

Tees:
Your Size, We Have It!

The latest shipment of new HSGKC t-shirts are in (standard and fitted versions). We are now fully stocked and ready to take your order! Stop by the shelter, a satellite event or buy them online. T-shirts are normally $16, but are available to volunteers for $8 (standard fit) and $9 (fitted). Volunteer prices are not listed for online purchases so email Jo or call 913.596.1000 ext. 22 if you need your purchase mailed to you.

Trash Bags

Last month we were low on toilet paper – this month we’re running out of trash bags! If you can pick up a box or two the next time you’re at the store, we’d really appreciate it. We need both tall kitchen bag style and 33-gallon size.

Welcome to the Team

We'd like to welcome the new volunteers who braved the freezing rain to attend orientation in December: Amy Smith, Austin and John and Rachel Ward.

2007:
A Quick Review by Jo Hickey

Wow, has 2007 flown by. My first year at the Humane Society has been full of records. The clinic saw a record number of clients and out did themselves in spay/neuter surgeries. The shelter helped find homes for more displaced and misplaced pets than ever before. Fundraising was more successful than ever and we even added a new event, Bowling for Bones. Dog-N-Jog was soggy as usual and Art Unleashed was at the beautiful Uptown Theater.

We’d like to thank our volunteers for all the work that they do, because we couldn’t have a successful organization without you! Watch future issue of Cybertails to find out what is new, old and how YOU can help Kansas City’s pets in 2008.

Ashley, Bob, Camry, Clyde, Cookie, Denny, Dottie

Emmy, Ernie, Felicity, Fifi & Finn (together), Harvey, Herbie

Leon, Lexie, Lila, Linus, Lizzie, Nash, Ned,

Newton, Patches, Rascal, Shorty, Skippy, Ziggy, Zuke... and several others!