Introducing Barbara Sharpe

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1 SPCA of SW Michigan August 28, 2012/Issue 194 VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER The SPCA is a non-profit animal rescue group based in Southwest Michigan. Thanks to volunteers like you, we have rescued over 11,000 dogs, cats, puppies & kittens since we started in 2002! *** UPCOMING ADOPTION EVENTS *** Subject to Change As Needed September 1st: Rescue Center: 11 am - 4 pm Oak Ridge Feed: 11 am - 3 pm September 8th: Rescue Center: 11 am - 4 pm Petco: 11 am - 3 pm September 15th: Rescue Center: 11 am - 4 pm Plus Every Friday: 5 pm - 7 pm, 336 S. Kalamazoo Mall (next to MLIVE). Introducing Barbara Sharpe my real passion is for nonprofit administration and fundraising. I can t wait to see where we can go as an organization. Over the next several months, I ll be working with volunteers to make plans for next year - and thinking about more long-term plans. You ll see me posting on facebook and twitter, as well. If you haven t already stop by and like us on facebook at and follow us on Twitter at I ve been working in nonprofits since 1997, when I got my first development job with the Girl Scouts. I feel like I ve been preparing for this job for my entire career. I think that a fund raiser is most effective when they have a personal connection to the mission of their organization. I have 2 dogs myself, Mikey and Nola. Mikey is a rescue dog and I m so grateful to the organization who saved him because he is my boy. Helping dogs like Mikey - and, of course, cats! - is a great way to spend my work day. I m excited to work with Katie. She has a passion for the animals and for the SPCA that is contagious - if I didn t have it before, I couldn t help but have it now! I think we ll work well together as she has the animal care piece and You all are the heart of the SPCA, so I want to hear from you. Tweet me or leave me a message on Facebook or send me an at sharpe@spcaswmich.org and tell me what your dreams for the SPCA are. I can t promise they ll all come true, but I d love to hear what you think. Barbara Sharpe Director of Development & Administration Dog-O-Ween will be on October 27th at Oak Ridge Feed, so please come out and join all the fun fall festivities!

2 Page 2 Adoptable Pet Focus By Holly Casteel When I hear the word, Kokomo, I m immediately reminded of the famous Beach Boys song. In the song, Kokomo is a fictional exotic location off of the Florida Keys. How appropriate then that the featured pet in this newsletter is none other then an exotic looking cat named Kokamo. Kokamo is a Pixie-Bob mix who is a longtime resident of Kitty City here at the SPCA of Southwest Michigan. The Pixie-Bob breed started out by a woman who noticed that some stray cats were larger than average and resembled the American Bobcat. From there the woman kept one of the kittens whose gene pool could be traced back to the American Bobcat. The woman named this kitten Pixie and from there, started the Pixie-Bob breed. Pixie-Bobs have intricate markings and Kokamo is no exception to this. I have a feeling that Kokamo acquired her very special name as a result of her exotic looks and the overall unique nature of her breed. While she loves Kitty City and is grateful for the staff and volunteers who take good care of her, she is ready to be adopted. Like any of the cats at Kitty City, Kokamo is hoping to find that special person (or persons) she can go home with. Kokamo is a very confident and independent kitty. Her confidence and independent nature means she would thrive as an only cat. Consider opening your heart and home to Kokamo and you will be rewarded with a great cat. Dog Fosters Needed We just received more dogs in last week from the Rescue Wagon. We have a lot of variety and several larger dogs. These dogs benefit so much from foster homes. Fostering is also a great benefit for people because it gives them the opportunity to have a dog without the permanent commitment. If you would like more info, please contact nancygail50@gmail.com. Due to the Labor Day Holiday, the next foster orientation will be the second Sunday of September. It will be held on the 9th at 2:00 pm. KBE Fundraiser On Thursday, September 13th, the Kalamazoo Beer Exchange will be donating 25% of all proceeds to the SPCA. This event will take place from 11:00 am - 1:00 am on Water Street, downtown Kalamazoo. Please join us for a fun night of dinner and drinks, all while raising money for a great cause. Outback Fundraiser Outback Steakhouse on Westnedge Ave. in Portage will be sponsoring a luncheon to benefit the SPCA from 11:00 am - 1:30 pm on October 20th. For a donation of $10, you will receive your choice of an Outback special (their signature steak) or Grilled Chicken on the Barbie. You can also choose one side: Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Aussie Fried, or Baked Potato. You also have your choice of a House or Caesar Salad. Dessert will be a slice of Cheesecake. WHAT A GREAT DEAL! You must purchase your lunch ticket before the event. They will be available at the Rescue Center. Contact Pat Rose at rose3713@sbcglobal.net with any questions or to purchase your tickets.

3 SPCA Volunteer Newsletter August 28, 2012 Page 3 Oshtemo Fun Days The SPCA celebrated a beautiful, sunny Saturday, August 18th, with lots of neighborhood families at Oshtemo Fun Days at Flesher Field on 9th Street. We have been invited to be part of the festivities the past couple of years by the Oshtemo Rotary. Granola Sue, Preston, and Peter helped welcome visitors to the SPCA tent and were gracious hosts. They took lots of walks with our volunteers Kelley, Angela, and Joyce around the park and enjoyed meeting other dogs and folks. When they were resting in their crates, they were happy to lick the fingers of children reaching trough to touch their noses. Nothing better than to lick a sticky lollipop finger. Most of the time they were welcoming visitors to our tent and helping Jo Harvey promote and support our mission selling her homemade crafts. Our pups didn t find their forever homes that day, but they sure did a powerful job of helping us spread the word about our mission, our beautiful rescue center nearby, and some of our upcoming events. Thanks Granola Sue, Preston, and Peter... fabulous SPCA ambassadors! And thanks to our volunteers for participating and making it all so fun. SPCA of SWMI 6955 West KL Ave, Kalamazoo, MI (269) info@spcaswmich.org

4 Page 4 I Stood Beside Your Bed Last Night I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep. I could see that you were crying, you found it hard to sleep. I whined to you softly, as you brushed away a tear. It s me, I haven t left you, I m well, I m fine, I m here I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea. You were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me. I was with you at the shops today, your arms were getting sore. I want to take your parcels, I wished I could do more. I was with you at my grave today, you tend it with such care. I want to reassure you that I m not lying there. close to you. The day is over... I smile and watch you yawning and say, Good Night, Sweet Dreams, God Bless, I ll see you in the morning. And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide, I ll rush to greet you and we ll stand together side by side. I have so many things to show you, there s much for you to see. Be patient, live your journey out; then come home and be with me. A poem from Our Best Friends by Phyllis Anne Smyth SPCA VOLUNTEER PICNIC I walked with you towards the house as you fumbled for the key, I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said It s me. You looked so very tired and then you sank into a chair, I tried so hard to let you know that I was standing there. It s possible for me to be so near you everyday, To say to you with certainty I never went away. You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew, That in the stillness of that evening I was very The annual SPCA volunteer picnic will be held on Sunday, September 9th, at 1:00 pm at the Rescue Center. Hot dogs, buns, condiments, and table service will be provided. Please bring a dish to pass, your own beverage, and chairs. RSVP to the Rescue Center at by September 5th.

5 Page 5 Sweetie Submitted by: SPCA & Scott & Angela Wilcoxson Sweetie is a special pit mix that was with us for a very long time waiting for the right forever family to scoop her up and bring her into their hearts. She was a loving mama to her gorgeous pups who were adopted quickly and just needed time to find the right home that fit for her big personality and big body. She now spends a lot of time on the road in her new family s big rig as they travel cross-country as a truck driving team. They say, Sweetie is doing great. We love her so much and can t imagine life with out her. Thank you so much. Ben Submitted by: Alyssa LaDuke This familiar face used to be Ben and is now Arlow. He is adjusting well and potty training quite well. Had his first vet visit the other day and didn t even flinch for his shot. He is coming around a lot more since the fourth of July ended and becoming very playful (he does not like fireworks). He is still enjoying his little cave under the bed but is much more apt to come out and play and he loves a good belly rub. He is learning how to sit and shake and loving his bacon flavored treat rewards. Thank you for bringing Arlow to my life and the lives of those around me he is an absolute sweetheart and is cared about very much. This is Arlows first day home... Piper Submitted by: Walter Long Arlow recently doing very good with sit... Piper in her new home.

6 Page 6 Blair Submitted by: Linda Granger her and will continue to work with her to learn her bowls versus the cat s bowls, and that the cats may drink from her water bowl and she has to be good with that. Hi everyone! Blair has been with me almost 3 weeks now. You may remember my mother and I drove from Lansing to adopt her. We have named her Milli. She is a combination of my last 2 dogs named Muffin and Billy, so we named her Milli. I took her to the Vet and she just needed some ear medication and otherwise, she is doing well and the Vet loved her. He said she was a really good dog when he trimmed out the inside of her ears. She is quite tolerant of being messed with, such as cleaning her ears. This week she gets groomed - just to clean up her trim job. I can see how she got away from her owners. When I was across the street at my mothers, she climbed the fence to get out. My previous dog did the same thing, so I know to leave her inside when I leave the house. She wants to be with me all the time and I know she gets exhausted following me in and out of the house and I do chores both inside and out. She has accepted the cats finally. She has had a few little issues with food aggression, but I have worked with Due to my back surgery, I sleep on the sofa most of the time and I have to sofa cushions next to the sofa for the pets. In the pic, she likes to sleep on the cushions a lot. I ll continue to keep you updated. I hope pet adoptions are going well! Thanks for your hard work to find these pets who would be put to sleep homes. Haven Submitted by: Veronica & Victoria Stewart Haven is doing very well. She is a very good dog. My daughter has spoiled her and we couldn t imagine life without her. Her vet believes that she is actually a mix of Corgi and English Springer Spaniel. Thanks for providing us with our precious pet!

7 Page 7 GET INVOLVED - MAKE A DIFFERENCE Everyone welcome. contacts for more info or to share ideas - Subject to Change As Needed WHEN at RC: NEXT: WHAT: WHY: WHO to contact: 1st Sun 2 pm Sept 2nd Foster Orientation Become a foster dogfoster@spcaswmich.org 1st Tues 6 pm - 7 pm Sept 4th Animal Care Quality of shelter time animal.svcs@spcaswmich.org 1st Wed 6 pm Sept 5th Fundraising Revenue projects fundraising@spcaswmich.org 2nd Mon Tentative Ad Hoc Marketing/Media Sub-Com Get the word out fundraising@spcaswmich.org 3rd Tues 6 pm Sept 18th Volunteer Recruitment Involving volunteers volunteer@spcaswmich.org 4th Tues 6 pm Aug 28th Grants - Research/Write Sub-Com Grant revenue grants@spcaswmich.org As Needed Ad Hoc Financial Tracking numbers kaylav@spcaswmich.org As Needed Medical Transport Wagging tail taxi vet.transport@spcaswmich.org Event Submit Form New Idea Approval, tracking & support Marketing, social media At RC or events@spcaswmich.org ADOPTIONS - THANKS TO YOU! CATS: Amelia, Charlevoix, CJ, Darth, Eaton, Emeril, Felicia, Jake, Larry, Leelanau, Lucas, Macomb, Moe, Morris, Nausau, Newaygo, Preston, Rainbow, Smudge, Tiger Lily DOGS: Alma, Angelina, Captain Planet, Hans, Janella, Jimmini, Laurel, Marloo, Olympia, Phil, Piper, Princess Ambrosia, Steve, Vernon Thank you for opening your hearts and your homes to these animals! See all our adoptable dogs, cats, puppies & kittens at Click on the link to view adoptable cats or view adoptable dogs. ~ Please send Volunteer Newsletter submissions to Jess volunteer_newsletter@spcaswmich.org.