Volunteer Profile:
Amanda Stevens

"Catherine" gets some much loved attention from Amanda

Amanda Stevens has always been an animal lover. As a young girl growing up in Reno, Nevada she was surrounded by dogs. This love of dogs has been with her ever since. When she attended college in Indiana, she was introduced to shelter dogs and immediately fell in love with them. From that point on, Amanda began participating in a variety of volunteer projects for local animal welfare organizations.

Of course you probably know what happened next to Amanda – she adopted a homeless pet of her own! Guinness, a black Lab Australian mix had been through some rough times and deserved some TLC – just what Amanda wanted to give. Of course once she adopted Guinness she realized he needed a buddy. She then adopted Sierra, a Siberian Husky Shepherd mix. Madly in love with each other, the two dogs act just like husband and wife!

After college graduation, Amanda’s husband was picked up to play soccer with the Kansas City Comets. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out, but lucky for us, they decided to stay in the area. As a way to get involved with her new community, Amanda joined Beta Sigma Phi International, a non-academic women’s sorority that supports volunteer service. A couple years ago, braving the frigid winter weather, Amanda and her sorority sisters held a hot chocolate/cider sale and HSGKC donation drive at Sam’s Club. Surprisingly, the warm and toasty drinks were not top sellers, but the donation drive was a roaring success! On their way out, shoppers dropped off bags of dog food and toys for the animals at the shelter.

“Even if I volunteer for just two hours the rest of my day is just better,” Amanda says. She also helps out at the satellite adoptions, and has assisted with the Golf Classic and Art Unleashed events. When not cooking up ideas to help the shelter, Amanda works as a physical therapist at Delmar Gardens. She even involves her patients in volunteering by having them “do newspaper flats” for use in the cat rooms!

Start snapping photos today of your pets for their entry into the 6th Annual Say Cheese Pet Photo Contest. The winning entries will have their photos featured by NBC Action News Chief Meteorologist Gary Lezak during the evening news, along with a bag full of pet and people goodies!

The categories this year are:
• Pampered Pooches
• Kitty Capers
• Friends for Life (photos with multiple pets and/or can include people)
• Wild Kingdom (pets of all kind)

Each entry is $5 per photo. Enter as many photos as you'd like. Entry deadline is September 15, 2008. Entries can be submitted online or mailed. For more information or to submit your photos online visit our web site's Say Cheese page.

All Roads Lead Home is an inspiring story of a young girl that follows her dream to help homeless pets. The film was filmed entirely in Kansas City and features many familiar landmarks. Watch the movie trailer online to find out more.

You are invited to the movie premier (seats are limited) on Wednesday, September 24 at the Palazzo Theater, 135th and Antioch in Overland Park. Tickets are $25 (includes admission, small popcorn, small drink and souvenir). For groups of four or more it is only $20 per person. Click here to purchase tickets or for more information.

If you’re not able to attend the movie premier, please go see the movie when it opens in theaters on Friday, September 26.

"Logan" shows off his gold medal pool maneuvers

Thelma & Louise, Clarence, Marbles, Hogan & Hunter and more! See what our dogs have been up to this summer! John Couture has created several new Summer Fun Videos featuring our shelter dogs having fun in the sun. This is the third summer John has created these videos for us and they've been very instrumental in helping us find homes for some of our harder to place dogs.

This Saturday, September 6
Mill Creek Park, 47th & JC Nichols Parkway on the Country Club Plaza
9 to 11am

Come join the fun (pooches optional) for the 2nd Annual Yoga in the Park fundraiser, proceeds to benefit our Humane Society. Spend time bonding with your pooch at the 9:30 am Doga (dog yoga) session or just contribute to the cause while doing your own yoga class at the 10 am Hot-Style yoga session (people only).The registration fee is only $5. Visit www.hotyogakc.com for more info.

Volunteers Needed for this event! We’re looking for two people to hang out with Robin at the informational booth, representing HSGKC. We’ll have a couple of dogs at the event as well. Setup is at 8:30am and everything should be over by 11. Contact Jo ASAP if you can help, 913.596.1000 ext. 22.

Art and animal lovers united for the 12th Annual Art Unleashed on Friday, August 22, presented by Petsmart and Banfield Pet Hospital, at The Uptown Theater. More than 300 original and limited edition pet-themed pieces of artwork were auctioned off during the event to raise $70,000 for the homeless pets of Kansas City.

Special thanks to this year’s Art Unleashed planning committee: Brandi Barnett, Jeri Couch, Amy Duke, Jo Hickey, Janet Hines, Kim Luken, Jennifer Lapka Pfeifer, Amy Mariner, Sharon Naquin, Cynthia Newbill, Dana Newsom, Vicky Paddack, Laura Schons, Jessica Scott, Jennifer Spaw and Susan Yeager-Chowning.

"Shelly" demonstrates just how fun wand-style toys can be!

You know how much the cats love wand-style toys. You also know how quickly the cats can shred these favorite toys from playing with them nonstop! This means we are always in need of new ones. We also like to send one home with each cat that is adopted from the shelter.

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

Do you want to help Kansas City’s homeless pets find a new family? Email Jana if you are able to help with our September satellites:

PETCO
Saturday, September 6
95th & Quivira in Overland Park
(north of Oak Park Mall and next to Toys-R-Us)
11am to 3pm
We'll bring several dogs and a few cats.

AMANDA'S DOG FESTIVAL
Sunday, September 7
Porter Park at 7301 Roe in Prairie Village, KS
Our dogs will be there from 1 to 4pm
(event runs from 12 to 5pm)
Dog agility demos, costume contests, pet adoption groups, fun things for kids.... and more! Visit our satellite adoption page for more info on this event.

PLAZA ART FAIR
Friday thru Sunday, Sept. 19-21
The Country Club Plaza
Our booth will be located at Central St. & Ward Parkway (just north of Brush Creek)
Volunteer Shifts:
Friday from 5:30pm to 9:30pm
Saturday 1st shift: 9:30am to 2:30pm
Saturday 2nd shift: 2:30pm to 7:30 pm
Sunday from 11:45am to 5pm

Our biggest satellite event! We'll have an adoption booth again this year at the Plaza Art Fair and we'll be bringing several dogs.

Chris Eagans, Rick Collins, La Shawnda Brown, Greg & Jennifer Garbos, Laurel Person, Jennifer Thomas, Lynn Sakl, Rebekah Brooks, Michael Page, Heather Pimental, Nicole Demaranville, Lesa Gutierz, Minger Bropleh, Derek Johannsen, Jerell Cotton, Kendra Folsom, Anthony White, Mikki Anthony, Devon Herbermann, Michael Stichweh, Ann-Marie & Chris Dennison, Fabiola Hernandez, David Ortiz, and Tabitha Bauer.

Abigail, Blackberry & Dudley (together!), Bridget, Catherine, Giselle

Keanu & Koshka (together!), Moe, Prescott, Regis, Thatcher... and several more!