GRIZZ UPDATE: Heartland SPCA Volunteer Kathi Thies and Grizz started the journey last night and stopped for the night at a hotel. The hotel normally charges $10 for a dog… but the front desk heard the story and told them not to worry. The trip today is going well! They just stopped for gas in Dix, Nebraska, and she said Grizz is doing great! Thank you Kathi Thies! You truly are a HERO for pets!

Check out our facebook page for additional photos: http://www.facebook.com/heartlandspca.

Thank you to the area media and others for helping us share Grizz’s AMAZING journey!

http://www.kmbc.com/news/30355082/detail.html

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/01/3404552/montana-dog-heads-home-after-kc.html#disqus_thread

Jan. 31, 2012

MERRIAM, KAN – The Heartland SPCA Lost Pet & Intake Center accepted a lost dog on Wednesday, Jan. 25^th with a microchip registered more than 1,200 miles away. Within 24 hours the dog’s microchip connected Heartland SPCA with his owner in Butte, Mont.

“The phone number affiliated with the microchip was disconnected,” Intake Coordinator Wendy Blair said. “However, we were successful in contacting the animal shelter where the dog was microchipped, and they had valid contact information for its owners.”

During standard intake procedures at the Heartland SPCA Lost Pet & Intake Center, the dog was scanned for microchip identification. Microchips are small, rice size devices that are implanted just underneath the skin. The permanent identification tool affiliates with a national database of registered identification numbers.

“We were thrilled to see a microchip,” Blair said. “This is the most effective way for us to reunite a pet with its owner.”

As luck would have it, the microchip identified the dog as “Grizz,” a one-year old Lab/Pit mix, with a loving home in Butte, MT.

“Grizz immediately stole our hearts,” Blair said. “Our standard behavior assessment reinforced that Grizz is a great dog. He is very sweet, patient, curious and even housetrained! He’s just been hanging out with rawhides and squeaky toys as we figure out his journey to return home.”

Longtime volunteer and friend of Heartland SPCA Kathi Thies immediately volunteered to drive Grizz half way home. Grizz’s owner is eager to meet her along the way in Cheyenne, Wyo.

“This is an incredible story of one pet’s journey to return home – all thanks to a microchip,” Wendy said. “Whether down the street or across the nation, this is what my job is all about. Without the microchip, the dedication of our volunteers and Grizz’s owner, this reunion would not be happening. ”

Volunteer Kathi Thies will prepare Grizz for his return home at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1^st at the Heartland SPCA Lost Pet & Intake Center at 9827 W. 67^th St. in Merriam, KS 66203.

The media is invited to attend and is encouraged to RSVP. Please contact Heartland SPCA Director of Marketing & Communications Emily Amos at (913) 742-7319, (620) 272-1677 or eamos@heartlandspca.org for more information.

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Heartland SPCA is a recent merger of Animal Haven and No More Homeless Pets KC. As the Greater Kansas City area’s most comprehensive resource for pets and their human companions, Heartland SPCA serves more than 18,000 pets each year. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Heartland SPCA works to save, protect and improve the lives of animals, while strengthening the relationship between pets and their human companions providing humane sheltering, adoptions, and affordable spay/neuter and veterinary wellness services.

MERRIAM, KAN. – Twenty dogs were transferred to Heartland SPCA’s Lost Pet & Intake Center this afternoon, including a transport from MeadowBrook Safe Harbor in Wichita, KS and the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Recent strong adoptions for small breed dogs and puppies have opened up shelter space to give more pets the chance at forever homes.

MeadowBrook Safe Harbor transferred eight Labrador Retriever Mix puppies and seven adult dogs of various small breeds. The rescue organization felt that transferring the pets into a pet adoption program with high placement counts of puppies and small breeds would give the animals a new opportunity to quickly find forever homes.

“MeadowBrook initially reached out to our vice president inquiring about our available space. Today our HERO Program Manager met their representative in Emporia to complete the transfer,” Intake Coordinator Wendy Blair said. “They really wanted to use relocation as a method to quickly find these pets forever homes.”

Upon arrival to the Heartland SPCA Lost Pet & Intake Center, the dogs were immediately removed from the transport vehicle into clean kennels. The animals were then given an initial health examination and provided with standard intake vaccinations.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture also transferred three adult Keeshond dogs and two Weimaraner puppies from extreme situations.

“We were told that the puppies had been kept in a chicken coop,” Blair said. “They definitely need a good groom, but they look very social and happy to be in our care.

Pending healthy release to the Heartland SPCA Pet Adoption Center, each pet will receive the complete Heartland SPCA Pet Adoption Package including veterinary examination, age-appropriate vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, permanent microchip identification and flea and heartworm preventative.

During their stay with Heartland SPCA, generous donations of canned puppy food, puppy appropriate toys, paper towels and Clorox brand bleach are needed. To show your support, donations can be delivered to the Heartland SPCA Lost Pet & Intake Center at 9827 W. 67^th St. in Merriam, KS 66203.

For more information about animal transfers and pet adoptions, contact Shelter Director Joe Hinkle at (913) 742-7323 or jhinkle@heartlandspca.org.

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Melody can be summed up in one word — awesome! Melody is a three-year-old Maltese Mix and is just adorable! This pretty pooch was found in a local park by a nice gentleman who brought her to us. We have been unable to find her people, so she is all set to move into a new forever home. She is a happy, wiggly, playful girl with a heart full of love that she is ready to share with her new family. Just think about coming home at the end of a long day and being greeted by the joyful kisses of your snugly canine friend.

She recently enjoyed a spa day compliments of Cut n Cuddle in Overland Park, in celebration of Walt Disney’s LADY AND THE TRAMP coming out on Diamond Edition DVD on Tuesday, February 7th. Come by the Pet Adoption Center now through Valentine’s Day to register to win a Walt Disney Lady & The Tramp Diamond Edition DVD and see all of our wonderful pets looking for forever homes!

To learn more about Melody, check out her segment on Fox 4 KC’s Morning News!

Meet Shawn. He was abandoned at a local pet store, and now he is at Heartland SPCA looking for his forever home. He is very affectionate and greatly enjoys his lap time. Shawn will purr and purr and purr, amping it up as he makes muffins on your legs. He likes to put his face up to yours and give “kitty kisses” as he bumps noses or rubs on your chin. He will make a wonderful companion. Come visit Shawn today at Heartland SPCA!

Hi, I’m Pilot, and I came to Heartland SPCA as a stray with a wound on my neck. The staff here thinks I might have scratched it on a fence and truth be told, I don’t really remember what happened. They cleaned it up and held me in their Lost Pet Center for a couple of days saying something about “needing to give my owners a chance to find me.” Well, no one came looking for me, so they got me all ready for adoption and moved me to their adoption facility. They said something else about me getting all A’s on behavior. I can be a little loud when people walk by my kennel, but I am just trying to get your attention. There is a lot of action here and sometimes it can be a little difficult to relax. Are you looking of a younger dog who already knows some tricks, is good on leash and already knows where I should go to the bathroom (though I may have an accident or two at first). Well, look no further because I am your man! I’m smart, I’m lovable, I’m playful…what else can you ask for in a new dog?! Just look at that face, seriously, look at my picture. Aren’t I adorable? How could you ever say no to those eyes? Please stop by Heartland and meet me today! I would love to be settled into my new home by this weekend!

I’m a nice sturdy guy with a curious and affectionate personality. Hello there, I’m Martin! Take a look at my wonderful, expressive face – are you telling me you can resist me? You had better come in right now and spend some time with me – you’ll soon see what a treasure I am. Just let me hang out with you and you’ll feel relaxed and happy, too. I’m content to sit in your lap and watch TV with you or help you read the paper. Wouldn’t it be great to have a loyal little buddy like me in your life?