Normally, I’d just link to these newsletters, but I can’t seem to find full copies on Spay & Neuter Kansas City’s website. Keep reading for some upcoming volunteer opportunities and community outreach events in March.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Spay & Neuter Kansas City
Date: Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Subject: Invite to Join Pet Outreach Event!

Greetings!

SNKC has an incredible opportunity for our volunteers to help assist needy pets. We are seeking 25-30 volunteers to help with this special SNKC Pet Outreach Program event and hope you can join us for a day of rewarding work in our community.

Training will be provided for all volunteers who participate. Immediately following training, volunteers will work in groups with one appointed lead Outreach Member.

Volunteers will canvass assigned areas to help distribute our “spay and neuter kits”, which include educational material regarding our services as well as information on responsible pet ownership. A staff member will work with each group to sign up pet owners for spay and neuter appointments.

Resources will be available for pet owners who demonstrate financial need and are cooperative in helping improve the quality of life for their pet, including spaying and neutering.

SNKC Pet Outreach Event

March 7th, 2009

6817 Stadium Drive
Kansas City, MO 64129

12:00pm - Training (6817 Stadium Drive)
1:00pm-4:30pm - Outreach KC MO Area

Volunteers must RSVP for this event and will receive a special SNKC Pet Outreach T-Shirt on the day of the event.

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• Center for Biological Diversity: Endangered Earth Online, No. 449, Feb. 26, 2009
  "Endangered Earth: Better Times for Lynx, Polar Bear, ESA"
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• Sierra Club: Club Currents: Volume VII, #8, Feb. 24, 2009
  "Sierra Club: Email - Say "Cheese" for Clean Cars"
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• Sierra Club: Club Insider, Feb. 10, 2009
  "Sierra Club: Email - President Obama Delivers"
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• Bowl for Equality in Kansas City! - 3/7/2009 from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  "Join us for Kansas City's 5th Annual HRC Equality Bowl!"
  (tags: events kansascity hrc)
• Do you have your Fur Ball tickets? Don’t miss out on the fun! | Wayside Waifs Blog
  "Wayside Waifs invites you to join us for our 2009 Fur Ball on Saturday, May 9, at 6 p.m. at the Overland Park Convention Center."
  (tags: events kansascity waysidewaifs animals companionanimals animalrescue)
• Primates Shouldn't Be Pets - The Petition Site
  "The Captive Primate Safety Act would make it illegal to engage in interstate and foreign commerce with primates as pets - making it much more difficult for people to buy a chimp as a pet."
  (tags: takeaction petition wildlife conservation environment animals companionanimals primates)

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Update, 6/10/09: Someone just brought home a big, heaping plate of Beefcake. That’s right, Beefcake has been adopted!

At the risk of turning this feature into an orange tabby fetish column (Marvins I and II, anyone?), I’d like to introduce y’all to BEEFCAKE, an orange tabby and self-described “ladies’ man.” BEEFCAKE is currently busy charming the wimmins at Aid Animal Hospital, but with a little luck and a lot of love, maybe he’ll be willing to settle down with you?

Here’s what Aid Animal Hospital has to say about Mr. Beefcake:

BEEFCAKE……Yep that’s my name.

I’m a real ladies man.

I found myself in a carrier, left in front of this nice vet clinic one day. I had a note left with me that said I was a stray and could not be taken in at the house I wandered up to.

Lucky me…these ladies LOVE me. I have been FELV/FIV tested, Neutered and vaccinated and dewormed.

You can hear more about me where I am located at Aid Animal Hospital. 816-363-4922

If you are interested in Beefcake please call 816-363-4922. Beefcake is a courtesy post for Aid Animal Hospital and is not part of the PAWS program.

Everyone needs a little Beefcake in their life, dontchathink?

Just look at those beautiful green eyes - it’s like they’re peering into your soul!

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Hey all,

One of our moderators, Brooke, is stepping down after three years of helping to moderate Kansas City Freecycle. We thank her for all the help she’s given us over the years, and wish her well. Now comes the hard task of finding a replacement. Or two or three! She was that good, really.

So here’s the deal. We’re looking for at least two - preferably three - members to help us moderate the list. If you’re interested, keep reading; below I’ve outlined the “qualifications” we’re looking for in potential moderators, as well as the duties of a moderator.

If you’re not interested, we respectfully ask that you bear with us while we make the transition. We’re already stretched a little thin, and finding and training new moderators will no doubt take up more of our time. Please be patient while we get everything settled.

MODERATOR DUTIES

Moderators must be able to dedicate one day, possibly two, to moderating the board. By this, I mean: reading each message that’s posted to the board; reading and approving pending messages; sending out reminder emails as needed; and dealing with any questions or concerns that arise during the day. We don’t expect moderators to be glued to the computer throughout the day, but we would prefer that each moderator check the board periodically during his or her day - at least three times a day, ideally more.

Each moderator has his or her set day(s), during which s/he is expected to watch the board and answer emails; if a moderator is unable to perform his or her duties during his or her set day, we just ask for some advance notice so we can find someone else to cover that day.

Occasionally, moderators may be asked to pick up extra duties or days, such as when another moderator is busy, on vacation, etc.

Also, we ask that moderators check their email and the special, dedicated Yahoo group for KCF moderators every day or two, in case any issues or questions pop up among the moderators.

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• Please encourage Kansas City, Missouri to continue funding of the community recycling centers - The Petition Site
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• Carnival of the Green # 168!
  At My Zero Waste
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• United Animal Nations :: February Monthly News
  When love isn't enough, there's LifeLine
  (tags: newsletter uan animals companionanimals animalrescue)

(more…)

• Celebrating Kind Choices: Don't Forget Your Hidden Firewood Friends
  "This is the time of year when we are all lighting our fireplaces and woodstoves. The wood has been piled up all summer drying out, and it’s time to use it. The only problem is that while it has been piled up, it has become home to many little critters."
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• Rainforest Protection Issues: RELEASE: Ancient Forests Absorb 20% of Human's Carbon, Logging and Other Industrial Destruction of Old Forests Must Stop Now
  "The myth that primary and old growth forests should be "sustainably" managed is dealt a mortal deathblow. Members and funders of RAN, FSC and others greenwashing ancient forest logging called upon to withdraw support in protest"
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• Center for Biological Diversity: Endangered Earth Online: No. 448, February 19, 2009
  "Endangered Earth: Climate Law Institute Launches, Pikas on Path to Protection"
  (tags: newsletter centerforbiologicaldiversity animals wildlife conservation environment)

(more…)

• KMBC-TV: Video: KC Group Freecycles Items Normally Thrown Away
  See our own very own moderator Shelly explains the how-to's of Kansas City Freecycle!
  (tags: freecycle kcfreecycle kansascity video)
• Humane Society of Missouri - 2010 Pet Calendar Contest
  "Do you have a photo of your favorite pet-dog, cat, rabbit, horse, goat, etc.- who loves to mug for the camera? Don't miss this chance to honor your "best friend" in the beautiful calendar that celebrates cherished pets!"
  (tags: hsmo animals companionanimals missouri contest)

(more…)

• NRDC: Victory Timeline
  "Explore the historic victories that BioGems Defenders like you have already helped win."
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• New American Dream: New Dream News: Issue No. 65, Feb. 18, 2009
  Petition to Governors: Balance the Budget, Nix Bottled Water & more
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• Earthjustice: eBrief, February 2009
  Fixing A Broken Clean Water Act & more
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• Border Tour, April 24-26, 2009 - Responsible Trade - Sierra Club
  "On April 24-26, 2009, the Responsible Trade Program will convene its second annual Border Tour in Tijuana, Mexico."
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• Forest Ethics: Tell President Obama and Prime Minister Harper: Tar Sands oil doesn't fit in the new energy economy!
  "President Obama will visit Canada on February 19. His visit is an opportunity to show that both Canadians and Americans want to move towards President Obama's vision for a new energy economy based on clean, innovative solutions."
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• Sociological Images » THE SWEET SMELL OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
  "An article this week Scientific American draws attention to the environmental cost of the fetishization and commodification of flowers as a symbol of love."
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• The Sierra Club: Club Currents: Volume VII, #7, Feb. 17, 2009
  "Sierra Club: Email - EPA Takes First Step to Regulate CO2 from Coal Plants"
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(more…)

*smiles*

This week, when clicking through all the old ‘Featured Adoptable’ listings in order to update them with the hopeful happy endings, I was absolutely overjoyed to see that Gramby - who I’ve featured twice on this blog - has finally been adopted! (Click here and here for Gramby’s listings.)

Such a momentous occasion is Gramby’s adoption, in fact, that Animal Haven blogged about it as well:

Gramby was our longest term dog here at Animal Haven and was recently adopted. Gramby was found as a stray from a city with a breed ban on October 13th, 2006 when he was just a pup. Last week he was adopted out by a fantastic lady from Blue Springs. He has adjusted very well to life with his new mother and is having the time of his life now that he finally has his lifelong home. He even gets to cuddle with his mother’s baby granddaughter for nap time.

And, what a wiggler he is too! Our ants-in-the-pants pal Gramby is always on the lookout for something interesting. Who can blame him? Gramby’s dedicated friends here at Animal taught him a few things before he went to his new lifelong home, and he’ll sit for a treat (though he likes to be sure it’s abundantly tasty).

After almost 2 1/2 years at Animal Haven, Gramby has finally found his forever home. My heart sings for him, truly. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, anonymous “fantastic lady from Blue Springs,” for offering Gramby another shot at life. And thank you, Animal Haven, for never giving up on this dear boy.

Gramby’s mom, if you happen to be reading this, drop us a line in the comments. You’re my hero of the day, dontchaknow!

*smiles*, {{hugs}}, and all that good stuff!

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Update, 7/29/09: Bear & Fang’s listing is no longer available on Petfinder.

Meet Bear and Fang, a pair of ferrets from Kansas City, Missouri. The two were listed on Petfinder by the Kansas City Ferret Hotline Association and Shelter.

Unfortunately, their listing is rather sparse, but here goes nothing!:

Bear and Fang are two sweet males around two years old

Over on their website, the KC Ferret Hotline Association and Shelter details their adoption policy:

Please visit our PetFinder page to see our adoptable ferrets. Adoption fees are $70-$80 for singles, or $100-$120 for pairs that need to stay together. We don’t place them where there are small children and we don’t place them at holidays. Our adoptables change weekly.

Currently, Bear and Fang appear to be the only ferrets available for adoption in the KC area through Petfinder.

Of course, not all groups use Petfinder to place their animals. If you Google “ferret rescue” + “kansas city”, “ferret rescue” + kansas, “ferret rescue” + missouri, or “ferret rescue” + national, for example, you can find a number of local and national ferret rescue organizations.

Here’s a small sampling of the results my searches uncovered:

Kansas City Ferret Hotline Association and Shelter (Kansas City, Missouri)

FURRY Ferret Rescue (St. Louis, Missouri)

Fuzzy Furbabies Ferret Rescue (Springfield, Missouri)

The Ferreteer Ferret Shelter (Imperial, Missouri)

Coffee Creek Ferret Rescue (Versailles, Missouri)

National Ferret Rescue

Of course, some local groups may also be willing to adopt their ferrets across state lines; each group’s adoption policies may differ.

Have I overlooked a ferret rescue resource or organization? Feel free to drop a line in the comments!

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