NEWSLETTER
April 2004
 
 

What’s HELP Humane Society been up to?

For those that don't know, last year we lost our facility where we held mobile adoptions.  This was actually a blessing in disguise.  This event pushed us into a search that would yield HELP their own Adoption Center at 311 Main St (on the loop side) in Downtown Belton!  We have been securing sponsors to cover the overhead of the building.  (see page 3 for a listing of these wonderful people).  Ahhhhhh….a place to hang our sign!  This has boosted our adoptions to DOUBLE what they were at this time last year.  We are more visible and can be open for longer hours on the weekend. 

Last year our numbers were down on intakes because we took in many special needs cases.  Ones that wouldn't have a chance in a traditional shelter.  Many of these special needs animals are still with us, they deserve their own family.  Many are just shy and need time to trust.

We are still continuing our efforts in doing TNR of feral cats.  We are hoping to begin a project on Main St. in Belton as soon as funds can be secured from grants or private contributors.   

This past year, we have cultivated a wonderful relationship with Raymore Animal Control, namely Sharon McKinney.  This relationship has saved many lives of homeless animals.  She has been willing to work with us by transferring animals about to be killed to our rescue.  We are thrilled to be able to help these animals by giving them the extra time they need to find their family. 

HELP is also a member of the new “No More Homeless Pets in KC” coalition.  This umbrella organization is bringing animal welfare groups together to reach the goal of ending the killing of homeless animals simply because they have no home.  Their efforts will be in educating the public about spaying and neutering and responsible pet guardianship. 

Our Christmas card in 2003 brought in $2405.00 in donations.  What a wonderful thing when people team up to help the animals!!  (see page 4 for individual donators)
 

SugarBaby now Sarah, rescued and adopted in 2003 wanted to express her thanks too!

Upcoming Events

HELP Humane Society is planning many fundraisers this year.  Here is an incomplete list.  Please call us at 816.331.5291, email us at info@helppets.org or visit us at our Adoption Center for an update on any of the listed events. 

Saturdays/Sundays—10am-6pm Saturdays & 12-6pm Sundays. Adopt a Pet events 311 Main ST. (on the loop side) in Downtown Belton .        
May 15th—8:00am to 5:00pm - HUGE garage sale along with an Adopt-A-Pet at our Adoption Center 311 Main St (the loop side) Downtown Belton.
June 24-26 Belton Community Days - Look for our booth with lots of stuff for sale.  
July 10 - 1:00pm to 5:00pm - Low-Cost Vaccinations for Dogs & Cats.  This public service will be held at the Man’s Best Friend Kennel at 329 S. Mullen Rd. in Belton.

The Mystery of Feral Cats…

Many of you may not even know what the term “feral” means.  Feral cats sleep in our parks, alleys, farmyards, barns and abandoned buildings.  Tame unsterilized cats cast off by their families or lost during forays to seek mates band together in groups called colonies.   As they multiply, the mothers teach their kittens to be wary of strangers to protect themselves and they become feral.  Frightened of humans, they make their homes wherever they can find food, Half of the kittens born into these colonies suffer slow deaths.   Their mothers spend their lives pregnant and starving.  Unneutered Tom cats spend their lives fighting and seeking female mates and contracting diseases.  Animal Control has tried eliminating these cats but trapping and killing, it just doesn't work.   Killing only makes room for new cats to move in and begin the cycle again.  The root of the “problem” lies in humans neglecting or refusing to spay/neuter their cats.
Alley Cat Allies has been practicing and documenting TNR (trap, neuter, return) of feral cats for 14+ years.  It’s the only thing that has been proved to work.  By stabilizing the colony, the breeding stops and the colony becomes smaller.   Tame cats are removed and put up for adoption.  Kittens are also removed and socialized for adoption.  The final result is a smaller colony of cats incapable of breeding, vaccinations and testing is also administered.  Until people “get” the spay/neuter message, feral cats will exist.  HELP works with Alley Cat Allies in doing TNR when funds are available.  For more information on how you can help or get help with feral cats, please contact us.  info@helppets.org 816.331.5291

Smokey Joe has one of those unforgettable stories.  We thought Smokey Joe was feral, he was with a feral colony and had to be trapped.  When we brought him in for vetting, we found out that he was FIV+ and TAME!  While waiting to find an appropriate foster home for Smokey Joe, he escaped!   Out the door he bolted with his caretaker behind him, mortified!  In the darkness of night, she tried to keep up with him without getting the police called on her traipsing through backyards in the dead of night.  Even with all her effort, he escaped recapture.   Devastated, she returned home empty handed.  Almost one week later, the improbable happened, the caretaker of the colony he was originally trapped in called to say that Smokey Joe had returned to the colony.  Now folks, this is NOT an easy feat, he had to cross Hwy 58, 71 Hwy and Y Hwy, about 5 miles total!   Once again, Smokey Joe would stay out of arms length from the caretaker but this time we KNEW he was tame.  The caretaker gained his trust and was finally able to just bring him indoors to safety again.   Smokey Joe has decided to give up traveling and is looking for a home where he can unpack his baggage and give you the BEST head bonks!   Hands down, this is the best head bonker you will find!!  If you have room in your heart/home please contact us at info@helppets.org or 331.5291.  

Can Mosquitos Really Harm My Pet?

While we suffer from typical mosquito bites, our pets are not usually bothered with the itchy red bumps.  Our skin reacts because of an allergy to the mosquito’s saliva, designed to thin our blood to make their feeding easier.  Our pets face a different threat from these buzzing pests.  As the mosquito feeds on our pets they can inject a tiny form of a parasite into the bloodstream which later matures into adult heartworms.  The heartworm microfilaria moves through the circulation until it reaches the final destination, your pet’s heart.  Over time these “baby heartworms” grow into adults several inches in length.  They begin to reproduce and your pet’s bloodstream is filled with the microfilaria.  The entire cycle begins again as another mosquito feeds on your pet.  This is a life threatening condition which is very easy to prevent.  Symptoms of heartworm disease are exercise intolerance, coughing and weight loss but pets can remain asymptomatic for many months.  Testing is quick and easy and can be done during your office visit.  Then keeping your pet on heartworm preventative will safeguard your beloved pet from these nasty invaders. 

There is nothing better than a happy ending and those of us that love animals love a happy ending about an animal the best.  So often, there is a lot of sadness in helping homeless animals so we like to remind ourselves of the good endings.

For at least two years, Hope had been living on her own, she gave birth in the woods, twice that we knew about.  Everyone had a name for her and wanted so badly for her to get to safety.  Hope had been turned out when a family moved.  She was just undersocialized enough that she wouldn't let anyone near enough to help her.  Just before Thanksgiving of 2003, she was brought to safety along with 11 puppies.

So many people checked on Hope and her puppies once they heard the family had been rescued. 

Clifford, the first puppy adopted, didn't even make it out of our vet clinic before he was adopted by the receptionist’s family.  Sampson & Spike got to go home together with a HELP volunteer.  Marvin & Squishy also were placed together with a family.  Ruby, the tiny girl, was placed with a friend of the Belton Animal Control Officer who helped to rescue them. Nemo was adopted by a family with children.  Faith, Sweetie and Roxy are adored by their new families.  Jazzy was the last one to be adopted but got a FABULOUS family with a big canine brother named Skydough!  Hope will be staying with foster mom, Wendy Kendall, she has too many issues.

Hope and her babies all had happy endings to their story, however, it could have just as easily not turned out so well.  What if, while hunting for food, Hope had been hit by a car?  The babies would have been left behind to die slow, suffering deaths.  Animals have no voice, WE are their voice, those that love and care about these wonderful creatures.  There are many animal shelters/rescue and humane organizations to turn your pet over to.  Abandoning an animal is AGAINST the law, if you see someone do this, contact your local animal control officer immediately.

Thanks so much to Dave Myer, the Belton ACO, Debbie Brancado, Lori Crosby, Delores Gunn & Dr. Hecker for this happy ending and especially Wendy Kendall and her family (who fostered the 11 pooping/peeing/chewing machines).  They did this between Thanksgiving and the first of this year, THROUGH the 2003 Christmas season.  Not many people would have been willing to give up their homes at that time of the year time.

More Happy Endings....

In May of 2003, a woman in a truck pulled up to our mobile adoption center and wanted to give up some kittens.  We were mortified at what we found.  It was VERY hot that day and 12 kittens were stuffed in a small carrier that was sitting OUTSIDE in the back of her pick up truck.  On top of that, the kittens were under-socialized so they were doubly terrified!  We took the carrier from this woman and began to pull young kittens out, they were piled on top of one another.  I don't think anyone could believe that someone could be so cruel and thoughtless.  These kittens were so full of parasites and the stress of the ride alone brought on underlying illnesses.  In the first couple weeks of giving these little souls what that had long since needed, we lost the first one.   They struggled and we shed tears, but we didn't give up.  Almost one year later, we still have 2 of the twelve available for adoption.  Little Billy Bob wasn't strong enough to make it and we lost Starsky a couple months after being adopted & one has so many health issues she will have to stay with foster mom for her life and the other seven are in new families.  

Sergio & Quincy are still available for adoption, somehow they just seem to get looked over, we are not sure why.  Jenny went to a family in Nebraska.  Mimi went to live with a local librarian.  Hutch’s (now Clancy) new family is considering adopting another since Starsky aka Bubba was lost in January.  Sparkle was the first to get a home with a wonderful young boy who sent his allowance money to help the other kitties.  Jim Bob lives with a man that is just SURE he’s his last cat reincarnated.  Sammy is king of the house in his new home and is very loved.  JT went to live with a family and their young boy.   We are grateful to have helped this dozen kittens and even those that we lost, they knew the love and kindness of a 2 legged human.

Thank YOU Adoption Center Sponsors!

HELP us thank our adoption center sponsors by patronizing their businesses.  They are who pay the rent on the adoption center and allow us to have doubled our adoptions so far this year.   For more information on them, please contact us.

R          Barbara Linnell—Avon Rep.

R          Wildflowers

R          Dryden Drug Company

R          Belton Animal Clinic

R          Grandview Animal Hospital 

R          Bank 10

R          Mark- JD Reece & Kathy Altenbrand– Images & Hair

R          PAHS—Pet & Home Sitting

R          Heartland Designs

• Pawsitive Solutions Dog Training

“When you believe there is no love in the world, just gaze into the eyes of the cat in your lap or the dog on your hearth.”

-Traditional Welsh Poem

Big kitty purrs and doggie kisses go to…

HELP volunteers work very hard to help the homeless animals but one thing is for sure, without monetary donations, we couldn't do what we do.  With that said we would like to thank the following people:

Patricia Creemer (in honor of Gladys M. (Braton) Holland)/Susan Lott (in honor of Marilyn Crews)/Roger & Virginia Emley (in honor of Donna Wood, Lori Wright and their pets)/Marilyn Crews ( in honor of Josie Lott’s birthday)/Lorna Poston (in memory of Bug, Sidney & BooBoo)/Rose Ann Howig/Barbara Yardley/Doris Romero/American Self Storage/Casstel/Pat Boeh/Paula Bellchamber/Jerald Palmer/Carol Hestand/Robert Thomas/Michael Morby/Jane Cogan/Valerie & Timothy Jones/Martha York/Doris Rush/Brent & Christy Wineland/Linda & Greg Halford/Beth Cawood/Rockie Bernard/Thelma Jimmerson/Kelsey Brown/Loyd Wiseman/Lori Wright/Patti Beckers/Jerry Benson/Donna Johnson/Shane & Gretchen Petzold/Linda Stanley/Bobby & Annie Benezette/Jennifer Jenkins/Kathy Martin/Sandy & Wren Ballance/Michelle Griffen/Glen Singleton/Terry Moody/Elisabeth Henkle/Donna Byars/Sharon Herman/Mickey Miller/Thrify Reader/Pat Schneider & MJ O’Halloran/Judy & George Devenport/Deborah Hopkins/Albert Vaughn/Jim Davis/Kelley Seda & Mike Huddleston/Kellie White/Wilma Benjamin/Michelle Livengood/Ann Keeton/Gene & Lee Witt/Patti Stone/George & Barbara Marble/Dennis Schmidt/Kendra Parker/Margaret Martin/Doris Romero/Becky Caddell/Lucinda Foreman/Elizabeth Winchel/Leslie Henry/Pat Morris/Dave & Candi Scavuzzo/Rosalind Jacobs/Rich & Jodi Malmgren/Amy Allmon/Leslie Burt/Jim Auvighe/Eric Eyer/Dr. Bradley/Marilyn Anderson/Patricia Setser/Philip & Tina Shouse/Pansy Willis/Slvia Ketcher/John & Debby Cushing/Candy & Marie Kissee/Linda & Tami Powell/Myrle Blim/Bruce Chevalier, CPA/Mary Margita/James Miller/Janice McCollum/Harvey & Edna Fisher/Marjorie Rustvold/William & Virginia Barber/Dennis & Alisa Franklin/Barbara Littig/Cass County Telephone/Dan & Debra Hall/Cynthia Hunter/Susannah Brown/J Marr/Dick & Dian Turner/Sherri & Shelly Johnson/Connie Knox/Julie Coker/Cheri Crockett/Dr. Ewert/Larry & Marilyn Swift/Wayna Schwartz/Keith & Janet Donner/Mary Lynn Gosling/Kim Griffin/Dorothy Morgan/Mary Jane Hanson/Chris Butler & Rick Harkins/Marlene Johnson/Dewey Creach/Glen Heimann/Mr & Mrs J.M.Cole/Ronald Harness/Lyman, Smokey, Punkin & Harley Crutcher/George Lawson, Jr/Donna & Bob Vaught/Angie Walker/David Pasmore/Alan Johnson & his employer/The Martins/Armfield Tent Rental/D Gummersheimer/ Don & Elain Martin/Tracy & Darrell Bell/Dave, Paula & Mallory Cahill/R. Todd Ashby & Kerry Walter-Ashby/Sue Munsterman/Stacy Mangels & family/Tina & Mike Hedrick/Chuck & Lanna Bernard/Barbara Lowe/Dani Rouse/Barbara Verdoorn/Mataline Mabrey/Don & Lynn Rogers/Dr. Snyder/Helen Burchett/Cheryl Wulff/Mary & Phil Labo/Allison Fields/Michael Brostoski/Deloris Konwin/Bob & Helen Shipley/Laurie Plimpton/Esther Bridges/Norma Newman/Brenda Reed/Carol Coe/Harriett Krashin/The Bills/Rory & Jane Cameron/Lisa Carman/Spike at Jack’s Tune Up/Pamela Powers/Jared Rinck/Skyler Morris/Judy Abernathy/Pearce Photography

We apologize if we forgot anyone, it was unintentional, we appreciate everything that is done to help the animals!

HELP is a organization run completely by unpaid volunteers, they work very hard to help the homeless animals by fostering, fundraising and educating.  They are a special group:  Barbara & Linn Linnell, Tina Hedrick, Wendy Kendall, Lori Crosby, Laura & Eric Deatrick, Barb Martin, Amy & Steve Cichowski, Kelly Benbow, Jill Bradshaw, Lorna Poston, Sue Munsterman, Jessica Kirby, Tara Sands, Joy Chambers, Norma Lightner & Brandy Bowman, Christian, Ruth Leibau, Maureen Briggs, Debi Herman, Christy Wineland, Tracy Ellis-Maxwell, Cheryl, Mike, Robert & Jimmy Erickson, Kellie White, Lori Wright, & Bailey Wood….You guys are FABULOUS!!

Big thanks for Casstel for sponsoring our ads for the last 6 yrs...we will miss you!

This newsletter is dedicated to the ones that didn't get the chance they deserved:  Clancy aka Starsky, Berlin aka Uno, Oliver, Cosmo, Winter, 3 tiny Punkins, Billy Bob, Lola & Vivien.

  Foster homes & volunteers
  Monetary donations
  Collars/leashes
 Science Diet Cat & Kitten food
  Science Diet Puppy & Dog food
  Dog chew treats/toys
  Litter/ Litter boxes & scoops
  Blankets – baby and reg. Size, towels
  Fabric toilet seat covers
  Food/Water bowls
  Dog/Cat toys
  Office supplies (paper, ink, etc)
 Carrying kennels

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