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!

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!

Meet Rockey – a three-year-old Purebred Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund. Poor Rockey has had a tough time lately – his owner passed away, and he had nowhere to go! Well, he’s here now and ready to find a new family to love him. He is a real lap dog, happy to lounge with his people and cuddle the winter away. His hobbies include playing with his plush toys and a good game of tug-of-war. He likes other dogs, but he needs a home with no cats, please. So, if you have been searching for a snuggly little dog to join your family, look no further, Rockey is all set to be your new forever friend!

MERRIAM, KAN. – Heartland SPCA welcomes Skip Daiger as its new Manager of Behavior and Training. Daiger will add tremendous value to the community and Heartland SPCA’s life-saving mission through public classes, staff and volunteer training, enrichment programs for shelter residents, and behavioral support to adopted dogs and their new pet parents.

“It can be said that the leading (indirect) cause of death in dogs is due to unresolved behavioral issues,” Manger of Behavior and Training Skip Daiger said. “My desire is to teach with positive methods that are fun for both human and dog.”

Daiger completed his BA at the University of Maryland and graduate work at Pennsylvania State University. He has attended a full range of educational conferences and professional seminars in pursuit of his love of ethology and canine behavior. Daiger is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. He also serves as a professional mentor trainer for the Animal Behavior College and is a founding member of the Heartland Positive Training Alliance here in Kansas City.

“The Heartland Positive Training Alliance represents a philosophical niche, specializing in positive reward training,” Daiger said. “From reading programs and play groups to perfumes and play toys, my approach will emphasize positive training programs.”

More than 500 active volunteers and hands-on staff interact with Heartland SPCA’s adoptable and public pets each year. Daiger’s techniques will train both volunteers and front-line staff with tools and knowledge to work with homeless pets and answer questions from the public.

“We will save lives by providing resources to those interacting with pets,” Daiger says.  “Adoptable pets will now be directed in a manner that provides simple doggy life skills like basic commands and leash walking. Owners looking to relinquish a pet will be provided resources for common behavioral issues, and new adopters will be provided a firm basis for forging a long-lasting happy relationship with their pets.”

Heartland SPCA introduces both shelter and public pet programs this month. Shelter pets will receive an assessment of needs, along with a plan to increase their quality of life. Public training classes will feature puppy training to intermediate dog skills, including six classes spanned over a six-week session.

“People need to know how to understand dogs,” Daiger said. “We’ll show pet companions how to emotionally ‘dance with their dogs’ and bring enhanced programming to homeless pets awaiting forever homes.”

To learn about Heartland SPCA’s Manager of Behavior and Training and enrollment in newly-formed classes, contact Manager of Behavior and Training Skip Daiger at (913) 742-7308 or sdaiger@heartlandspca.org.

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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.