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

We hope to be selecting a new name in the next few days.

A motion to delay enforcement of the district court’s order was filed with the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and was denied April 12, 2012. “We are deeply disappointed by the court’s decision,” said CEO/Executive Director, Courtney Thomas. “There are hundreds of businesses in the Kansas City metro with the regional descriptor ‘Heartland’ in the name. To us, the moniker SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was the key delineator in our name that separated us from other local and regional organizations. The word Heartland simply described where our animal welfare organization is located.  Affordable veterinary services is but one of eleven community programs offered by our organization.”

An appeal is in motion, but as of April 16, 2012 Heartland SPCA has been prohibited from using the name “Heartland” to market any veterinary services in the Kansas City area. Repeated attempts were made to amicably settle with Heartland Animal Clinic prior to litigation, as well as throughout the process, to avoid funds needed to care for animals being used for legal fees. According to Dr. Sandler’s court testimony, she has not lost any customers or suffered any financial loss as a result of the formation of Heartland SPCA.

Heartland Animal Clinic is a private veterinary clinic and does not offer financial assistance to clients or provide discounted services to rescue groups.

Heartland SPCA was formed June 15, 2011 as a merger of Animal Haven and No More Homeless Pets KC. The nonprofit agency serves more than 18,000 pets every year and provides adoption and lost pet services, affordable veterinary care to families with financial limitations, high-quality low-cost spay/neuter services, programs targeting senior adults to provide pet food and veterinary care assistance, public dog training classes, volunteer and foster programs, Humane Education and Resource Officer outreach in areas of our community most in need of a helping hand, and more.

“Hundreds of people have come to our medical center after being told euthanasia or shelter relinquishment was the only option for their pet. We give people with limited financial resources hope. We enrich their lives because we provide the medical care necessary to keep their best friend alive and keep owners and pets together,” says Thomas.

What makes Heartland SPCA unique is its ability to offer lifetime, full-circle, comprehensive solutions for pets and their human companions.  Being prohibited from using the name “Heartland” takes away the agency’s key marketing platform.

Heartland SPCA is asking for the community’s help to solve this challenge and ensure there is no interruption of lifesaving services to pets in need.  The organization is launching a naming campaign on its Facebook page the afternoon of Monday, April 16th, inviting supporters to propose their ideas for a new agency name.  The list will then be narrowed to the top three options and supporters will be asked to cast their vote for their favorite choice.  Financial support is also needed from the community.

Heartland SPCA hopes to have a new name identified by the end of April and will begin rebranding all of the agency’s collateral and marketing initiatives. “This is an extreme distraction to our business operations and has significant financial impacts.  But, we are very encouraged knowing how many people in our community care about animals, care about our organization, and are grateful for the services we provide to keep pets and people together. Our supporters will help us rise above, and I am confident we will end up in an even stronger position tomorrow than we are today,” says Thomas.

Until the completion of the naming process, the organization will go by the name HSPCA.

Of the 36 dogs taken to HSPCA, several are in need of medical attention for the treatment of skin conditions and kennel cough. Many of these dogs would benefit from time in foster care where they can get the rest and attention needed to heal. If you would like to be a foster parent, please contact Foster Coordinator, Tish, at fostering@heartlandspca.org.

In addition to foster homes, donations of canned puppy food, Clorox brand bleach and Kong toys as well as monetary support are needed.

If you would like to be a HERO for these and other pets in HSPCA’s care please make a monetary donation or bring by an item from the wish list.

In 2011, our organization saved and improved the lives more than 17,595 pets in need – more than any other animal welfare agency in the Kansas City Metro. These lifesaving efforts would not have been possible without you!

Every day, the lives of our staff and volunteers are transformed through the impressions left by the people and pets we serve. Every pet has a story; every person in need has hope, and we are able to build a brighter future for those who are counting on us. Because of you, we are able to create new beginnings. We call you our HERO – the animals do too.

In 2012, we are looking for more HEROES – people just like you who care, who want to make a difference, and want to be a part of building new beginnings for pets and people in need. So far this year, we have taken in 20% more animals than the same time period last year; adoptions have increased 26%; public spay/neuters have grown by 35%; and we have served 82% more pets in our public, affordable wellness clinic than last year. We need your help to help us continue to meet the demand for our services. There is a way for everyone to be involved – even for people with a busy schedule!

During springtime, many people are looking for ways to get connected to the things they feel most passionate about. It is also a time when people are busy planning vacations or celebrations such as a wedding, graduation, birthday, or anniversary.   Whatever your plans this spring season, and regardless of how busy your schedule may be, know there are myriad ways to get involved to support HSPCA and create new beginnings. Here is just a snapshot of the “onsite” and “offsite” opportunities with HSPCA:

Onsite Opportunities:

• Enrich the lives of shelter pets by walking or socializing them
• Help recover pets who are waking up from surgery
• Answer phones and set veterinary appointments
• Stuff letters to thank our donors
• Laundry and dishes
• Take photos of shelter pets
• Assist the public wishing to adopt
• Administrative projects
• Special events

From Home Opportunities:

• Enroll in our Every Day Heroes monthly giving program. Every single dollar contributed makes a lifesaving difference.
• Become a foster parent and help prepare a pet for adoption
• Help write fun, descriptive website memos for our shelter pets
• Call adopters and wellness clients to make sure everyone is doing well and settling in
• Help us develop new community partnerships
• Special administrative projects

HSPCA would not be the organization we are today without you! Thank you for caring, thank you for acting on behalf of your love and interest for animals, and thank you for helping us to create new beginnings for so many! Every day you are our HEROES!

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.

MERRIAM, KAN. – It all began for Heddie Leger at a young age. She found a puppy in a garbage dumpster behind a school, emaciated and needing loving care. This experience fostered a deep desire to learn more about the human-animal bond experience. With her care, the puppy thrived and was fully restored to health.

“I was born with a love for animals,” HSPCA Director of Community Programs & Volunteers explains. “It’s part of who I’ve always been.”

HSPCA welcomed Heddie Leger, ADT, CHES, CPDT-KA as Director of Community Programs & Volunteers on Monday, Jan. 23rd. Since her start date, she has already introduced herself to dozens of volunteers, presented volunteer trainings, and coordinated new community engagement activities.”

“If we can help people understand pets and their language, the stronger and more successful the human/animal bond becomes,” Leger said.

Leger’s role will work to share the HSPCA mission that already serves nearly 18,000 pets each year. With her support, more pets will be served through well-known programs like “Doggone Safe,” “Dogs ‘n Storks,” Walk-A-Hound, Loose-A-Pound,” and more.

“We already have some really great programs at HSPCA,” Leger said. “And we continue to have new opportunities to reach the community.”

With nearly 30 years in non-profit, animal welfare or volunteer management experience, Leger brings a comprehensive background of community programs management and volunteer cultivation. Her many accolades feature the ABWA Who’s Who of Business Women, an International Association of Animal Behavior Consultant (IAABC) Excellence Award, and a Blue Ribbon Award for innovative programs from the Greater Kansas City Library Association.

Growing up in Western Pennsylvania, Leger began positive training techniques at the age of eight gentling and teaching horses.

“I was always given the crazy horses,” Leger said. “I learned very young that actions speak louder than words. Animals are going to read your body language.”

Her comprehensive experience includes the ability to effectively communicate with both four-legged and two-legged companions. She recognizes volunteers as crucial to the HSPCA mission and communication as a primary initiative.

“Volunteers are an essential part of the HSPCA,” Leger said. “They’re literally staff of the organization, but serve in a different function.”

In cultivating these volunteer functions, Leger will present additional volunteer opportunities, enhanced volunteer communication and standardized methods of tracking volunteer hours.

“Volunteers can save any organization valuable time and money,” Leger said. “From fostering animals to phone calls, each volunteer is key to the HSPCA mission and a positive human, animal bond.”

To learn about HSPCA’s Director of Community Programs & Volunteers, contact Heddie Leger at (913) 742-7321 or hleger@heartlandspca.org.

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HSPCA 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, HSPCA serves more than 18,000 pets each year. HSPCA 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. HSPCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

MERRIAM, KAN. – HSPCA’s Martinis Gala 2012: We Heart the ‘80s was a tremendous success in raising nearly $370,000 to serve its mission to save, protect and improve the lives of animals, while strengthening the relationship between pets and their human companions. But all that success would not have been possible without the amazing support of nearly 100 volunteers.

“There is no way a large event like Martini’s could run smoothly without the help of volunteers,” Director of Community Programs & Volunteers Heddie Leger said. “Volunteers rose to the occasion in running the very complex silent auction, staffing every table and helping with each item on the auction block, selling raffle tickets, and interacting with the animals.”

HSPCA would like to thank the Centurions group and alumni HSPCA volunteers for their support. A special thank you is also extended to Ann Thompson who coordinated the generous volunteer team from Sprint, as well as Sprint friends and family.

“Sprint came through in a huge way,” Leger said. “Ann’s leadership and the expertise of the entire Sprint team greatly impacted the success of this annual event.”

To learn more about HSPCA’s Community and Volunteer programs, contact Heddie Leger at (913) 742-7321 or hleger@heartlandspca.org.