Volunteer Spotlight:
Dana Newsom

Volunteer and art donor, Dana Newsom got involved with the Humane Society first by working a satellite adoption with friend, Janet Hines, a few years back. After the initial volunteer experience, Dana continued to spend time helping the Humane Society shelter pets by creating and donating art pieces for Art Unleashed. Set for August 28 this year, Art Unleashed is our live and silent art auction at Hale Arena (at the American Royal complex) and is currently being planned by Dana and the rest of the sub-committee.

Preparing for the event includes rounding up local artists to make and donate their original or limited edition artwork and organizing everything. “I love seeing all the artwork that comes in for Art Unleashed,” Dana said. Art is a great passion of Dana’s, as she also enjoys volunteering at the Plaza Art Fair each year. She loves playing with the dogs at the satellite events, and also watching as potential adopters build relationships with our shelter pets. “Pets just bring so much to human’s lives. You can’t help but smile at them. Your heart lifts, and all your worries slip away,” Dana said. It’s safe to say that we all feel that way about our pets and the animals in the shelter.

Dana and her family have a cocker spaniel named Maggie, along with several other cockers over the years. Maggie sticks to Dana and her husband Dan “like Velcro” when they’re playing ping pong which can get a little difficult, but they say they “wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Dana will be a busy bee planning the final details of Art Unleashed over the next five weeks, but hopefully she’ll make it out to a satellite adoption event soon. If not, we hope she’s making another great piece for Art Unleashed like the dog house picture frame that was a huge hit last year!

This week, we’re asking for donations of coordinating collars and leashes for medium and large dogs. We’ve got lots of doggies in the kennels and some of them need specific sized collars and leashes so having matching ones helps with coordination and organization. If you go out this weekend, pick up a few leash and collar sets and drop them off at the shelter.

For a list of other items and services we need, please check out our Sit Up and Beg Wish List. All of these items go to helping our cause become more successful and our animals’ lives become more enjoyable.

Volunteer Claire Ranieri brought in her dog, Piper, for a scrub in the tub during Suds of Fun.

Sage Hospitality offers a sweet deal for volunteers with their Give A Day, Get a Night program. Give 8 hours of community service and Get a complimentary night stay or 50% discount on hotel rooms at all 53 Sage hotels across the country. Visit the Sage Hospitality web site for details and a list of participating hotels.

Things are gearing up for this year’s Art Unleashed event. It will be held on Friday, August 28 in Hale Arena (the American Royal complex) from 7-10 pm.

You can enjoy the live and silent auction of pet-themed artwork, all donated by local artists. Each piece is either original or limited-edition artwork so you know it’s special. We even have a special piece autographed by golfing great Tom Watson. Come enjoy the night’s festivities by purchasing your ticket early for $25 or $35 on the day of the event! Go to www.artunleashedkc.org for more info on Art Unleashed and to purchase tickets.

If you’d like to donate artwork to the event, visit www.artunleashedkc.org for more info and email Janet Hines. If you have a contact with a local restaurant or caterer, please let us know. We are contacting local businesses to donate food platters to Art Unleashed or sponsor a food station at the event. Email Robin Rowland if you know someone that can help with the food.

We are searching for volunteers for Art Unleashed. If you love art and animals, Art Unleashed is the place for you! We’ll need volunteers for all sorts of jobs: set up, take down, food servers, greeters, art/table monitors, assistants, and floaters. Volunteers are needed for set up from 10 am – 4 pm (or so) on Thursday, August 27 and Friday, August 28 and during the event itself. Contact Jo if you’re interested in signing up for any of these positions.

We are in the midst of planning the 4th Annual Humane Society Golf Classic and we need your help. It will be held at Ironhorse Golf Course on Saturday, September 19. We are still looking for sponsors, auction items and teams to sign up. Four-person scramble teams cost $400 and a hole sponsor is $575 (includes a 4-person team). Lunch and dinner will be provided and spots are already filling up, so sign up now! View our Golf Classic flyer for more information or email Christine Salyer.

Mark your calendars now for the first ever Bark at the K event at Kauffman Stadium! The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City has teamed up with the Kansas City Royals, Wayside Waifs and Halfway Home Pet Adoptions (the new privatized KCMO animal shelter) to bring a fun-filled evening of furry friends to the baseball stadium. On Sunday, September 27, the Royals will play the Minnesota Twins for a 1:10 pm game and we’ll be registering pups to come enjoy it with their owners! Dog and people ticket pairs will be sold for $25 each. Additional people tickets are $15. Dogs must be spayed/neutered, 6 months or older, vaccinated, and registered to attend. Save the date today and check out www.royals.com/barkatthek for more information and to buy your tickets!

We've Been Adopted!
We're excited to share the news that some of our long-timers have recently found their forever homes:

Atlas, Becca, Fenton, Palmer,

Remy, Scooter, Talc, Trudy... and several more!