Here is a look at some amazing pets we have looking for wonderful adoptive homes. Stop by our Adoption Center at 9800 W. 67th Street to take a peek at these pets.

Anne	Feliz
Tammy	Satin

Update: We are SO EXCITED to announce 273 pets from HSPCA are resting in a new home this week! This weekends Mega Match-a-thon was such a huge success for the pets of the Kansas City area. In total, 706 pets from all this area’ s participating shelters were adopted! Thank you Kansas City! We broke an adoption record!

###

HSPCA will be hosting the ASPCA’s Mega Match-a-Thon! Working with other area shelters including KC Pet Project and Wayside Waifs, we have a goal to adopt 500 pets in one weekend!

Adoptable pets will be available for $25 at each organization. The adoption fee includes  spay/neuter surgery, age appropriate vaccinations and permanent microchip identification. Trained adoption counselors will be onsite at each organization to help match prospective adopters with the pet(s) who best fit their needs and expectations.

See you this weekend at the HSPCA Adoption Center at 9800 W. 67th Street in Merriam, Kansas.

In accordance with leash laws, all pets must leave on a leash or in a carrier. Fees for leashes and carriers (if needed) are not included in the $25.

Please spread the word to help us reach our goal of 500 pets finding forever homes in one weekend!

HSPCA foster families allow us to care for the additional 25% of pets that arrive during this season. Foster families open their hearts and homes up to pets who are too young to be placed up for adoption, need a place to heal, a break from shelter life or that bit of extra care. The average stay for pets in foster care is three weeks; although some stay longer and others have a shorter visit. HSPCA will provide all the supplies and coaching needed to care for the pet.

Alongside the need for extra space, springtime brings the need of extra supplies. KMR kitten formula, bottles, and puppy pads are needed in addition to the canned pet food, clay kitty litter, treats and Kong toys that always grace our wish list. HSPCA relies on our generous donors to help supplement these extra supplies.

To be a foster family for a pet in need please email fostering@heartlandspca.org. If you are unable to foster but would like to donate items to help HSPCA to prepare for “puppy and kitten season” please visit our wish list.

Words by: Kim Antisdel
Photo: 435 South Magazine

Dogs give us kisses, laughter, unconditional love and a guaranteed snuggle if a bad dream make its way into our slumber. But what if that delicious doggy from the pet shelter proves to be a behavioral handful once you get him or her home? Thanks to professional dog trainer extraordinaire Skip Daiger, you won’t ever have to worry about a rambunctious pooch.

A certified pet dog trainer, Daiger has been strengthening the bond of dogs and their owners for six years through his gentle obedience training—and the results speak for themselves. Daiger coaches both dogs and owners in tandem, which he says helps to eliminate common behavioral problems such as chewing, barking, jumping, nipping and running away when the garage door is left open.

“Many people believe if they dominate their dogs, then everything will be fine,” says Daiger. “That’s not even remotely true.”Skip Daiger, manager of behavior and training for the HSPCA.
In fact, Daiger says dominating a dog can cause it to become even more aggressive, since it can come to fear its owner. Combining positive reinforcement for the dog along with a load of education for the owner is integral to Daiger’s process. “Utilizing and learning theory and counter conditioning is extremely effective and yields much more pleasant results in the long run,” says Daiger.

Counter conditioning simply means to re-teach a pet to have a happy or pleasing reaction toward something that they generally fear. For example, rather than yelling at a dog to hush when he barks, providing him a treat or a soothing belly rub when he is quiet is a positive reinforcement for good behavior. The action reinforces that good things indeed will happen when the dog is silent.

Daiger’s recent work with the HSPCA in Merriam is a testament to his enthusiasm for dog training. In January of 2012, Daiger was named the manager of behavior and training for the organization and dedicates his time to evaluating and guiding behaviorally-challenged dogs that arrive at the shelter. The goal is to train the animals to become more appealing and safer to the prospective owners who are considering adoption.

“We see dogs on both ends of the emotional spectrum,” explains Daiger. “There are reactive dogs who are aggressive, and dogs who are extremely shy or fearful. We want the dogs to first feel safe, and once that happens, we can often uncover the core behavioral issues.”It may seem that the training and evaluating of dogs in the shelter would be most beneficial to the owners who take them home, but in reality, the true benefit is to the animals themselves.

“In working with these dogs, we are uncovering past issues that can be very difficult to deal with,” Daiger explains. “Some dogs are perfectly fine and go straight to an adopted home. But the ones that need training are really evaluated and taught to control their emotions.” And though a trained dog is more likely to find a forever home, it becomes the owner’s responsibility to continue the process. Thankfully, HSPCA and Daiger maintain detailed records of each dog’s history, including what behavior training has been completed.

“Education is key. We want owners to know that they’re not just a treat Pez dispenser to get their dog to behave,” says Daiger. “We want to educate them on what we’ve done with the animal so they can maintain that behavior.”

It’s natural that anyone would feel proud for taming a behaviorally-challenged dog, but for Daiger, it’s something much simpler than vanity that inspires him.“Pairing a dog with a forever home is a gift,” he explains. “When you can make that happen, it’s a life-changing event. For the dog, for the human and for the family members. It is so very rewarding, and I’m glad to be able to be a part of it.”

For more information about Skip Daiger, dog training classes and the HSPCA, visit heartlandspca.org or daigerdogtraining.com.

Spunky is an older gentleman with a heart of gold. He loves to sit in your lap, greet you when you get home and be your best friend. Spunky arrived at  HSPCA when his lifelong owner passed away. Being so attached to his previous family, staff was concerned he may not do well in the shelter or with a new family.

Devastated and confused about all that had happened, Spunky went into a foster home. With the love and care he received at his temporary home, Spunky began to live up to his name. He was not only a mellow lap buddy, but a playful guy that flourished with his foster family.

We are happy to report that Spunky has been adopted and has transitioned well into his new home.  His story is one of many that remind us of the importance of foster families. They are true heroes to HSPCA pets.

________________________________________________________________________________

Just look into these eyes and you will see an older gentleman with a heart of gold. A real gentleman who loves to sit in your lap, greet you when you get home and be your best, most loyal and loving friend. Spunky came to the shelter when his lifelong owner passed away. Spunky was devastated and confused about what had happened to his life. But not for long. Spunky went into a foster home and was able to pick up where he had left off and continue doing the thing he does best… being the special friend you have always wanted! Spunky has adjusted well to his foster home which he shares with 2 other small dogs and several cats. Spunky can live up to his name; running around and playing, but will also be your mellow, lap loving buddy who enjoys watching television on the couch, taking walks or snuggling in bed. Spunky is housetrained and would love to be in a quiet home, perhaps with a person who is home quite a bit to pay him all the love and attention he craves. And Spunky will return all the love and attention in full, everyday, to his special person. If you would like to hear more about this wonderful little friend or make arrangements to meet him, please contact his foster mom Kay at 913 961-3146 or email her at kayeubank@aol.com.

Hi there, my name is Angel! I’m a two-year-old Purebred American Bulldog. I came to Heartland with a broken leg, a few open wounds and a leash around my neck tying me up at a used car lot. A rough start, but the kind souls from Heartland took me in for treatment, love and a chance to find my fantastic forever home! They call me “Angel” because even after all I’d been through, I haven’t felt the least hesitation in seeing good in the world. I’m coming through physical and mental recovery with an open heart, and I’m ready to give it to someone very special. Could that be you? I do have a few requests. You see, growing up with some hard knocks, I was used to a lot of running and figuring things out on my own. So I’ll need a lot of fun games to keep me from getting bored or frustrated. And I’ll be honest, I haven’t had the easiest time resting my leg while it heals. I am SO looking forward to getting back on all four feet and being able to run! My other modest request is that I be your one and only, as you will be mine. I think I would do a lot better in a home with no other pets, and the staff here agrees. I think people are wonderful to be around — all I do is love, love, LOVE! But other dogs are confusing, and I just don’t know how to handle myself. So please, set me up for success as a wonderful ambassador of the American Bulldog breed. I really think that if you and I put our best efforts together, we can help show people that big, powerful dogs are sweet potato pie on the inside! I would really love to meet you, so please come see me!