PET ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SUCCESS STORIES
These are just a few of the many stories of how the Pet Assistance Program is helping dogs and cats in our community. Funds raised for this program help provide these animals better living conditions, necessary medical care and free spay and neutering. Please also visit our photo gallery.
Lucky Oliver (from his new owner)
November 18th, 2007 - another day of hope for the volunteer crew of the Pet Assistance Program. Armed with supplies and a detailed plan, our goal was to reach out to the community in hopes of creating goodwill concerning the welfare of abused and neglectedanimals. Little did I realize that a neglected animal would reach out to us, me in particular, and create a lasting bond of friendship and a fondness for the breed due to its loyalty, temperament and disposition.
 Cruising the midtown neighborhood east of Highway 71 and north of E. 59th St. the volunteer crew would make stopsat predetermined addresses to check in on dogs. Our stops usually consisted of providing food and straw. After a few planned stops we came across a mid-size dog chained to the side of a house.
From our viewpoint this dog had no shelter, food or water. We stopped to assess the dog's condition. As protocol dictates, we tried first to contact the inhabitants of the dwelling. To no avail, we ventured into the yard. We found not only the dog on the side of the house but also a dog chained in the backyard living in the same conditions, warranting a call to Animal Control.
Soon, in the front yard a fifteen pound Shih Tzu materialized. No tags, matted and malnourished, this little gray guy was definitely out of his element. Was he lost? Did he live close by and just happen to wonder out of his confines? A neighbor told us he had been wandering the neighborhood for several months. That was all the information we needed; we knew he needed a home.
At first approach this little guy (no name as of yet) growled and retreated. Trapped by the front steps of the house I scooped him up and gave him to one of the other volunteers who put him in her car. Now the question was what to do with this little Shih Tzu? After a few more stops the Pet Assistance crew headed back to SNKC to regroup and unload. We named our new friend "Oliver" and I decided I would take him home while we got him listed on several adoption websites.
Over the holidays I was dog sitting a "grouchy" Shih Tzu named Dolly for a 90- year old lady who was visiting relatives out of town. I initially thought of Oliver as a stray dog with no house training or socialization skills. I wanted him to find a good home, but subconsciously my hope was that Oliver and Dolly would bond and be playmates and Oliver could live out his life here. I had to take caution; Dolly can be dominant and I didn't want to create any unnecessary behavior problems for either dog.
The first few days Oliver was kept in a large crate, let out only for periods of exercise and potty breaks. On the second or third day I allowed Oliver to roam free in the house under strict supervision. Well, on the third or fourth day I accidentally left Oliver out of his crate while I was getting ready for work. To my surprise I found Oliver comfortably lying in the kitchen chair.
 The bond was forming! He had won over my heart and soul. And, even more surprising, he had won over Dolly's heart and soul. She showed no dominance or ill will toward Oliver. They were buddies, forever friends! It was evident that Oliver in his past life had been well taken care of. The question still remained: "Why was he where he was on that particular Sunday?" It didn't matter, he was now a member of a new household. But, that household would not be mine.
Dolly's owner had wanted to get Dolly a friend but was hesitant because of Dolly's dominance. Over the course of the ten days I was dog sitting I was sharing the tales of Oliver and Dolly as well as sending pictures. Dolly's owner was convinced that a match was in the making and the rest is history. Oliver has a sofa and bed to call his own and Dolly has a new best friend.
That Sunday before Thanksgiving was truly a day of hope and joy. Why did Oliver find his way into my life, into Dolly's life, into so many others lives? The question that I will ponder for an eternity is: "do we find the animals or do they find us?" I am almost certain that they find us. They know. Oliver knew that I would be there that day. He wandered until he knew it was time. I'm glad he waited. He has changed my life and the life's of so many. Though they have not met, he has changed the life of Dusti...another dog that found me. Thank you Oliver!
  Meet Lady
Rescued in Kansas City, Missouri, Lady was found at the end of a chain with no food or shelter from the elements. She is now warm and safe in her forever home!
 Meet Happy (a.k.a. Max)
Basically, Happy's story is that we were out doing outreach one day several months ago and came across this awesome boy chained up.  He belonged to an 86 yr. old woman who couldn't even get out to feed him and her daughter had to drive over about every other day just to put food out on an upside-down birdbath. I-70 runs right behind his doghouse and he just sat there, chained, lonely everyday, listening to the chaotic highway noises.
We assisted the woman and Happy for quite some time and asked her if she just wanted to relinquish him. At first she said no, but eventually she came to realize that Happy would be better off if he could move on to a family and be an indoor dog. SNKC neutered Happy and gave him his vaccinations and found him a loving forever home!
  Transition to a new life
Our outreach volunteers found this dog almost a year ago, in Jan. of 2007. As you can see, his living conditions were substandard. The volunteers made contact with the owner who was disabled and in a wheelchair. The volunteers began assisting the pet owner, providing better shelter, hay, food bowls, a new collar and tie-out. They would drop off food for this dog every once in a while and touch base with the owner. This dog was highly adoptable and could have had a much happier life living inside with people. Finally, after about a year, the owner told us that she had to move and she couldn't take this dog with her. She asked us if we could find him a home. We were able to get him into a rescue group, where he is blossoming and looking for his forever home. He doesn't have to live on the end of a chain anymore.
 No longer unmanageable
A caring mail carrier alerted us to this house.They had 6 dogs here. The limit in KCMO is 4, so they were over the limit. The conditions here were appalling. The outreach team began assisting these owners. They transported the rest of the animals that were not sp/n yet for their surgeries. There were two black Chows here, a mother and daughter.One of themwas pregnant again and one of them was heartworm positive. The outreach team worked hard on this situation and the Chows were able to get up to the Chicago area to Chow rescue. The outreach team also began working on the pit mix and the Rottie mix that had been chained in the backyard for years. Wayside Waifs was gracious enough to accept these boys into their shelter. That left two dogs at this house and they were both now neutered. SNKC also altered their 2 cats. It is now a manageable situation.
More pictures from this case
 Q-tip
Our volunteers were out one day in an alley assisting chained dogs when this darling little girl came wandering up to them! She was pretty thin and had hundreds and hundreds of fleas on her. She had obviously been on her own. The volunteers scooped her up, got her fleas all taken care of, spayed her and got her into foster care. She was later adopted into her forever home and is a happy girl! Her name is Q-tip because of her little white tip on her tail! It's because of your generous donations that we are able to help animals like little Q-tip. Thank you!
From "Killer" to "Kay-lei"
Our volunteers were out doing outreach one day when they came upon this beautiful dog then paradoxically referred to as "Killer" with 7 brand new puppies down in a dirt hole. She had given birth on the end of her chain.  The volunteers spoke with the owners and this was this dog's third litter!  The owners told them that something always happened to the puppies, they never survived.
The owners decided that they would try to fit the puppies into a rescue that would bottle-feed them. As soon as mom's milk dried up, we transported her into our clinic to get her spayed. She was such an adorable dog, yet she lived her life on the end of a chain.
Everyone at the clinic fell in love with her and we talked with the owners about getting mom into a rescue group as well and giving her a chance to live as an inside pet. They agreed and she has since been renamed "Kay-lei: and is now living a cushy life where she is very spoiled and loved!
 Misty & Rocky - Cruelty cases from Kansas City, MO
Misty and Rocky are two dogs found in the Kansas City area who's legs were severed - and the perpetrator was never found. SNKC was contacted to help these dogs with medical expenses and care so they could find new and loving homes.
Because of the support of many caring people, SNKC was able to cover their expenses. Both dogs are on their way to finding new and loving homes! Thank you for all those who made contributions on their behalf.
  Another embedded collar
This was a case that our volunteers came across while out one day. This house had two chained up dogs and the male had an embedded collar. We assisted the animals and educated the owner, who had just looped a chain around their necks. We gave themnew collars and tie-outs and set up a vet appt. for the next morning. They never showed up. We had to call animal control and the animals were removed. Citations were served against the owner and the dogs eventually ended up with a local rescue group, where they flourished.
More pictures from this case |
