Protect Your Pet from Winter's Woes - As the cold winter chill descends upon us for another year, it's worth remembering that we aren't the only ones who feel the bite of Jack Frost nipping at our noses. In many areas, winter is a season of bitter cold and numbing wetness. Help your pets remain happy and healthy during the colder months by following these simple guidelines provided by HSUS. More Cold Weather Protection for Pets and Winterizing Your Pit Bull information.

Reminder from the National Canine Research Council - The excellent book The Pit Bull Placebo: The Media, Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression is available for free download at the National Canine Research Council website. Find it here.

Breed Discriminatory Fiscal Impact Calculator - Tool for municipalities in understanding the real cost of enforcing bans and restrictions on dogs because of their looks. The study that led to the calculator pointed out that dogs often identified as pit bulls may be, in fact, another breed entirely, which raises the question on how to properly identify animals that under the law might be banned.

Dog Training and the Myth of Alpha-Male Dominance - Victoria was profiled in a recent TIME Magazine article entitled "Dog Training and the Myth of Alpha-Male Dominance." In the article, Victoria helps highlight the differences between traditional dominance-based methods and her brand of positive reinforcement philosophies.

EXPECTING???? - Dogs Need To Be Prepared For Baby, Too - Shawnee Mission Medical Center Offers 'Dog & Storks' Class. Families preparing for a new baby may also want to consider preparing the family pet for the new addition, too. Dogs and Storks class is $29. For more information please see, Shawnee Mission Medical Center Classes

A valuable book called Pet Meets Baby is available in a free download from American Humane Association www.americanhumane.org/petmeetsbaby to help families safely introduce a new baby or new child to a beloved pet, and a new pet to their children. Too often, young families relinquish a pet when the first baby comes, fearing harm to an infant. But there are ways to prepare the pet for a safe introduction to children, and a gentle transition in a family's attention when a new child takes center stage. Read more

Rosie is just a sweet gal and ready for anything at anytime. When she really enjoys something she has this incredible grin. So if you like those dogs that have emotions that run all over their face, Miss Rosie is the dog for you!

Rosie just adores kids and soaks up all the attention she can get. She would be the ideal dog for someone with smaller children due to her amazing disposition and her small size. She is very gentle and sweet at all times, including play time. When she is ready for just a bit more attention she will gently paw at you to let you know. Rosie also has great leash manners and loves to go on walks. She listens well and is happy to do anything that you like. Play time, walks, car rides, or just some cuddle time in your lap. She is always ready for anything.

Rosie keeps a clean kennel, is crate trained, and knows sit, down, drop it, and left & right shake along with her great walking skills. She loves to cuddle on the couch too. Rosie likes to hop up on the park bench when told to get some lap time in.

Don't let this sweet, silly girl pass you by ... so APPLY today and let the smiling begin!

We're so very pleased this month to recognize the hard work and dedication of our wonderful volunteer, Liz.

My name is Liz Jeselnik and I became a volunteer with MPR over this past summer. I've been on disability for several years for chronic pain issues was more than ready to get my foot back in the door by volunteering. For me, it has always been more rewarding than a paycheck. I use PayPal quite a bit and have donated to MPR in the past when shopping online. A few friends have spoken about how much fun MPR's fundraisers are. Upon checking out our website, I fell in love with the dogs available for adoption and filled out a volunteer application. I have always felt that pitbulls were misunderstood and mistreated. Luckily, I have met some incredible pitties over the years who instilled those thoughts in me and working with the dogs and learning from other volunteers at MPR continue to back those beliefs.

My time spent at the mini shelter taking care of the dogs, playing with them and loving on them (and them loving on me!) brightens my day as much as it brightens all of theirs'. I have never received so many kisses and goofy grins in one day as I do with our MPR pups!!!

Liz, your caring, hard work and commitment are such an asset to MPR and the dogs. We are so very fortunate and thankful to have you on board. Thank you! ~ MPR Volunteers

   Happy Updates are the fuel that keeps rescuers going....

Jett (Joplin Courage) really is a good dog...totally spoiled lol...

I found Jett (formerly Curge) on MPR's site this summer and immediately fell in love with him! His owner was unfortunately injured in the Joplin tornado so his niece and nephew made the decision to contact MPR for help. Several weeks later, he had surgery on one of his back legs before he was ready to go. Even though I hadn't yet met him in person, I fell in love as soon as we got there to pick him up. They said he was a bit scared and uncomfortable riding in cars, but that certainly didn't last long! He's quite the little copilot these days. Being an outdoor dog, I don't think he knew what to do with sleeping in my bed every night or with the cat that was now his new sister. It didn't take long for him to learn that she rules the house though!

Recently, I was able to talk with Jett's former owner, his niece and nephew. They were so happy to see that Jett had a new home and was loved. And, fortunately his previous owner has recovered from the tornado as well. Hopefully one day, in Joplin, we can have a reunion so Jett is able to visit his other family again. His sweet and adorable face certainly hasn't ever met a person he didn't love. Rest assure that he gives plenty of snuggles and kisses! He thinks his innocent face is fooling everyone, but we all know how smart he is. In just months, he's learned many new things, including how to shake. Needless to say, I've been a proud mamma since the day I brought him home. Jett has definitely adjusted to being an indoor dog and living with the cat. He has absolutely no problem hogging my entire bed and stealing my covers each and every night!

Tink (Jelly Belly) likes to snuggle with us and nest in couch pillows. Plus she sometimes lays in that "dead dog" looking position. But when she gets a wild hair...she tears around the house for a bit, then crashes on the couch or chase lounge. She loves her walks, and now around 4-5:00 pm she starts "talking" to me to remind me it's time...and I tell her to talk to Maxine (my 15 year old, who was about 8 when we got Tink)...so she goes over and "talks" to her. She definitely knows the drill :)

Anyway, thanks again for letting us have her. My husband, who was in Iraq when we got her, loves her as well. She's such a lovey dog...raised in a house full of girls who kiss a lot. She won him over pretty quickly. The other dog we had, Buddy (a Schipperke) passed away a few years ago, so Tink is an only child now, except for over a year when my oldest daughter, who is now married and has a 2 yr old, and her husband, lived with us when they moved back from Denver. They had a dog. Tink let her know she was dominant, but they got along great. She's never been a problem with other dogs, or kids, other than licking them in the face :) Keep up your good work and thanks again!

~Barb

Hi all - Wanted to let you all know that Kane (Lil Big Man) is doing great and has come a long way in his submissiveness. His leg is doing better, we found out it is not a degenerative (nerve) disease or anything like that...it is caused by anxiety. The trembling does not happen much at all anymore - I think he was still pretty stressed for the first few weeks. We realized that by his initial actions and submissiveness that he was probably subject to an abusive original owner. We have only 2 incidents when him and Rylee had conflict and they both had to do with them fetching a ball or stick when I throw it; they seem to be competing for the object and want to be the one who brings it back. They did fight one time over this, but it is a very specific situation and we will never let it happen again. They are perfectly fine out in the backyard by themselves with intermittent supervision - they get along great. I just have to remember not to play fetch with both at the same time.

Over the last 2-3 months his true personality has really come out and his is just a downright silly pup. He is a very happy dog and we absolutely love having him. His energy level is high and he ALWAYS wants to play.... We have 3 terms for his excitement levels: Sillyman is when he first starts to get squirrelly, Wildman is when he is starting to bark/talk to us or his sister Rylee and Crazyman is when he starts running around the house and jumping over the couch - lol.These are all derivatives of his original name, Lil Big Man. He was about 15 other nicknames and sometimes we still call him Lil Man. He is such a happy little guy....again, this did take a while to become apparent but I think his confidence has greatly improved recently as well. He still is not a big fan of the leash and will usually lay down when we put collars on him. He is getting better at both of those though, too.

Rylee is 2 1/2 now and Kane is just over a year old. Hope you enjoy the pics and thank you so much again for the opportunity to adopt - we love him dearly.

~Gregg and Cherie

In the month I have had Bloo I have to say I have really grown to love him. He is such a fun pup, tons of energy I have learned to be careful with him when I am playing around with him cause I don't think he knows his own strength. I plan on enrolling him in a basic obedience course next month so he can learn proper manners he has some trouble jumping on new people he meets. He really is a great dog, super smart too. I have already taught him how to shake (with both hands) lays down and stay. I am so glad I chose to adopt him, my sister actually came in town for the holidays and after meeting Bloo and getting to interact with him she has decided she is going to adopt a pitbull of her own. Thank you so much for all your help.

Sincerely, Mark Brehm

I did change Knut's name to Jagger. He is doing great! I am so glad you guys gave me the opportunity to adopt Jagger, it really did change my life for the better.

~Cole