Volunteer Spotlight:
Paula Kirkland

Paula with "Talc"

Paula spends much of her time volunteering for and supporting several pet-related causes. Aside from volunteering at the HSGKC (which she has done for about a year), Paula also supports Foxwood Animal Rescue, Mid-American Bully Rescue, Spay & Neuter Kansas City, and We Luv Paws (a Chinese Shar Pei rescue organization). The latter resulted from the situation that brought a special pet into her life.

About 12 years ago, Paula spotted an ad printed by someone selling Shar Peis and found one she had to have. She took the dog home and named her Pantera, but was still concerned about the questionable conditions in which Pantera’s brother was still living, so she called her friend, who gave the other dog a home. Later, while shopping at Petco, she met Mary Craston, president of We Luv Paws. Paula credits this experience as the beginning of her life in animal rescue.

As if all of this passion for animal rescue wasn’t enough, Paula decided a year ago to introduce a new kind of volunteer into the HSGKC community. After she graduated from Northwest Missouri State University (Go Bearcats!) with a degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice, as well as working 14 years in the Social Work field, she found herself working at Wyandot Center for Community Behavioral Health as a clinical social worker in the mental health field. Paula works with children who have severe emotional and behavioral disorders. About a year ago, she began bringing her clients with her to the shelter when she came to volunteer.

“I wanted to introduce my clients into a positive environment that teaches compassion, caring, and kindness towards animals and people in general,” said Paula. “Many of my clients have little experience with animals, knowing about responsible pet ownership or understand the concept of volunteerism.” Paula decided that the HSGKC would be a great place to teach her clients these important life lessons.

Paula is at the HSGKC with her clients at least once a week, but depending on their needs and availability, she may be in as often as three times a week. While there, she and her clients help with the cats and clerical tasks in the volunteer department. She believes that teaching kindness and compassion is the best thing that you can do for a child.

In the past, Paula has participated in Dog-N-Jog. She and her husband will be volunteering for the first time at the Pet Telethon. When she is not volunteering, the Gladstone native loves to spend time with her family and enjoys running her pet sitting business “The Pet Nanny.”

She tells her fellow HSGKC volunteers, “Keep busy and know that you’re making a difference regardless of what your task happens to be at the time.”

Make a Difference When
You Shop With Petgive.com

What could be better than donating to a good cause? How about saving money while you donate? Petgive.com makes that dream a reality. This remarkable website has partnered with thousands of retailers to give you deals that you can’t find anywhere else, and the best part is Petgive.com donates a portion of each sale to the HSGKC.

As you will see upon your first visit to the website, donating is as easy as 1-2-3. Sign up for free with Petgive.com, select the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, and then start shopping! Barnes and Noble, the Body Shop, Apple iTunes, and NFLShop.com are just a few of the participants on Petgive.com.

Thanks to Ron Sipple we have a working Dell computer at one of our intern desks. We are still needing one more working computer. If you have a computer to donate, please contact Jo at 913-596-1000 x 22 or email her.

The KC Pet Telethon is coming up on February 15th this year. Last year, HSGKC Volunteers raised money and made a Jumbo Check Presentation during the telethon. We chose our furry friend and satellite adoption event extraordinaire, Dustin, to be our mascot and he happily participated in the check presentation.

This year we've set up a FirstGiving fundraising page to make collecting donations even easier.  Our goal is to raise a minimum of $500 in order to qualify for the Jumbo Check Presentation. 

Visit the HSGKC Volunteer Jumbo Check Page if you'd like to make a donation and help us reach our goal. You can also go to this page to check on our donation totals and see when we reach our goal.

You may also vote for which dog you think should be our mascot this year and participate in the check presentation.  If you'd like to vote, just write in your choice for this year's mascot in the comment box when you make your donation. 

Your donation, no matter how big or small, is much appreciated and will help us meet our goal... or better yet, reach above our goal!  We've got an amazing group of volunteers and this is one more way we can show our support for The Humane Society of Greater KC.

We are still looking for prize donations and jumbo check presenters for the 9th annual Kansas City Pet Telethon on Sunday, February 15, airing 6:30-9:30 pm on 38 the Spot TV (channel 8 for Time Warner viewers). When you/your group raises $500 or more you can present your jumbo check to hosts Gary Lezak and Holly Starr during the Telethon!

We are also collecting prize items to be used as donor incentive prizes and raffle prizes. Items should be valued at $20 or higher. Multiples of the same items are especially needed, for example five $10 Starbuck gift cards.

Contact Robin at 913-596-1000 x 14 or send an email to present your jumbo check or donate prize items.

This month we are in need of nice black ink pens. If you have a few to spare, please bring them by the Humane Society.

For a list of other items and services we need, check out our Sit Up and Beg Wish List.

Welcome to our newest HSGKC volunteers: Lucy Beaman, Sandra Dark, Jasmine Day, Dana Wells, Brad Sullins, Shea Marsh, Beth Schwartz, Jim Marshall, Jordan Callier, Gail Stonebarger, Christy Rheinberger, Ro Rheinberger, Erin Rheinberger, Janie Hightower, and Jennifer Pritchard.

Caldwell & Carolina (together!), Charlie Brown, Gracie, Ivy, Jasmine

Jasper, Marbles, Peterie, Ruby, Sophie, Taft, Tommy... and several more!