Volunteer Spotlight:
Ronnii Whitley

Ronnii with one of her favorite dogs, "Benson".

If you volunteer on Wednesdays you’ll be seeing a lot of Ronnii Whitley. She’s a 16-year-old Cristo Rey High School student participating in the once a week Corporate Work Study Program. Every Wednesday she spends eight hours at the humane society volunteering her time while learning real-world skills to prepare her for college.

“The other kids at school were really jealous when they heard I was at the humane society,” Ronnii says.

Ronnii originally applied for entrance to Cristo Rey High School for their college preparatory classes. She wants to be an English Teacher and a Veterinarian.
This is Ronnii’s second year in the work study program. Last year she worked at the Plaza Library shelving books, filing and helping in the children’s section. This year at the humane society she’s been socializing cats, shadowing the staff during their KKFI Radio visits (she thinks she’ll be talking during the segment soon, but for now she’s just learning the ropes) and doing a lot of clerical work in the volunteer department. You can also thank her for keeping your volunteer vests washed!

“My favorite shelter pets are Benson, Talc and Earl because they are unique,” Ronnii says. “I like Benson because he is so cute and energetic. I like Talc because he jumps on my back and I like Earl because he drinks from the faucet.”

"Hunter" & "Dustin" had a great time at the art fair, with volunteers Derek Johannsen and Silvia Gunter.

"Penny", who was adopted from our Plaza Art Fair booth 6 years ago, came for her annual visit.

Thank you to all of the wonderful volunteers that helped at our Plaza Art Fair adoption booth. Six dogs have been adopted from the Art Fair already: Mandy, Oakley, Gretchen, Nina, Clarence and Grant. Plus, we raised nearly $3,000 at our booth from raffle tickets, general donations, pet photos, caricature drawings and dog toy sales. This money will help feed all of the shelter pets for the next three months!

Much thanks to Gayle Terry and Kara Breitenstein with Highwoods Properties for providing us with such a great opportunity again this year.

"Gretchen" got lots of attention (and a new home!). With volunteer Stacey Hsu.

Mark your calendar now for the 2009 Kansas City Pet Telethon on Sunday, February 15 from 6:30-9:30 pm on 38 the Spot TV. The Pet Telethon is the best three hours of live television in Kansas City (at least in our opinion).

Big Martini 8 will be from 5-10 pm on Wednesday, October 8 at McCormick & Schmick’s on The Country Club Plaza. Tickets are only $20 early or $25 at the door. Tickets include four drinks and passed hors d’oeuvres. Included in the evening is a DJ and live and silent auction.

Purchase your tickets online at www.hsgkc.org or by calling Robin at 913-596-1000 x 14.

12 year old Alex Stonebarger raised over $600 by selling her dog and cat toys at our booth at the Plaza Art Fair!

Alex Stonebarger needs your colorful used t-shirts. She uses them to create colorful dog and cat toys that she’s been selling all over town to raise money for the shelter pets. Please bring in your used t-shirts, jeans, flannels or felt for Alex and leave them in the volunteer room. Alex has already raised about $1,000 for the pets selling her one-of-a-kind toys!

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

The annual Pet Reunion and Open House is 1-4 pm, Saturday, October 25 at the shelter. You won’t want to miss this special day. If you can volunteer to help – even better and let Jo know. If you can’t volunteer, but still want to swing by, please do. The pet Halloween costume contest is at 2 pm. For those volunteers who have adopted from the shelter – come and bring your pet! When you bring a dog toy and donate it to the shelter you’ll receive a free photo of you and your pet taken at the party.

We need your help! We are looking for people to approach their employer, church, neighborhood association, etc. about “adopting” the shelter for the holiday. Adopting the shelter typically involves organizing an in-kind collection drive within your company, organizing and bringing in the donated items. We can provide the Wish List for distribution. Remember, any collection drive is successful – whether you bring in a bag of items or drive in a semi-truck! Let Jo know you are going to organize a group to adopt the shelter.

We'd like to welcome the new volunteers who attended our last orientation: Jessica Walker, Desirae Griggs, Katie Hagopian, Josh House, Alex Blatt, Paul Fujisaki, Windy Jensen Barsarge, Kathleen Mirocke, Katy Meyer, Nonelaci Her, Melissa & Madeleine Thomas, Stan Sakl, Teri Carroll, Chris Hermesch, Greg Bennett, Nikki Eskridge, and Monica & Scarlett McGraw.

Clarence, Darcie, Dorrie, Gretchen, Jack

Katia, Macon, Maggie & Porter (together!), Mandy, Nina

Oakley, Paisley, Pippi, Raquel, Rizzo... and several more!