Spay & Neuter Kansas City Offers $1,000 Reward In Case of Dead Puppies Found in Dumpster

3 Groups Also Invite Public to April 21 Moment of Silence - Kansas City, MO

Spay & Neuter Kansas City announces its offer of a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for abusing and killing two puppies and then throwing them in a Dumpster at the Key Lighting Inc. location at 901 E. 31st St. "It's obvious that these puppies suffered horribly," said Michelle Rivera, SNKC president. "Spay & Neuter Kansas City is deeply saddened by this. We hope the community will not tolerate this abuse, and will step forward to report information about those responsible.", Spay & Neuter Kansas City along with Wayside Waifs and Halfway Home Pet Adoptions invite you to join them in a gathering at 6 p. m. Thursday, April 21, at the southeast corner of 31st and Campbell, Kansas City, Mo., to participate in a moment of silence to remember the two puppies. Attendees are encouraged to bring their well-behaved dogs on leashes, and may leave a flower or note at the scene. Monetary donations or donations of dog food are also being accepted that will help local animal groups provide assistance to needy pets in the community. The purpose of the event is to bring public awareness to neglect and cruelty in the Kansas City area and encourage those who witness such horrific acts to immediately report information to authorities.

April 2011 - Prevent Animal Cruelty Month - How to Recognize Cruelty - Top Ways to Help Animals in Your Community.

April 10-16, 2011 - National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week

April 10-16, 2011 - National Volunteer Appreciation Week - National Volunteer Week reflects the power that volunteers have to "inspire by example" - volunteers both encourage those they help and motivate others to serve! - MPR volunteer opportunities!

April 12-18, 2011 - National Pet ID Week
April 17, 2011 - National Pet Parent's Day
April 24, 2011 - International Day of the Dog
April 29, 2011 - International Guide Dog Day
April 30, 2011 - World Veterinary Day
April 2011 - Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month
April 2011 - National Pet First Aid Awareness Month

Northland Pet Pantry - The mission of the Northland Pet Pantry is to provide short-term help in the form of free food and basic supplies for the companion pets of people who are struggling financially.

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

Beatrice, Nebraska - Public weighs in on new animal ordinance Measure will require breed-specific laws for pit bull owners - The city of Beatrice, Nebraska is considering an ordinance that would regulate the ownership of "pit bulls."  It was suggested, and some council members seemed receptive, that the breed specific language in the ordinance be removed.  Please send your POLITE, RESPECTFUL and INFORMATIVE letters to the Beatrice officials encouraging them to remove any reference to breed in the proposed ordinance, and to move forward with a breed-neutral ordinance.  Beatrice City Council, 400 Ella Street, Beatrice, Nebraska 68310, Phone: (402) 228-5200, Fax: (402) 228-2312; City Attorney contact/comment form; City Clerk contact/comment form; City Administrator Neal Niedfeldt

Seward County, KS - Pits bulls or No pit bulls - Seward County, KS has had a breed ban since 1991, and recently passed a resolution that eliminated the grandfather clause. Now, a resident has requested a new grandfather clause or elimination of the ban. The county commissioners have mixed opinions about it, with some supporting repeal, and others opposing. This may provide an opportunity to encourage the county to repeal the breed-specific portion of their dog law. Residents and others are encouraged to send polite, respectful correspondence in support of an effective breed-neutral approach to animal control to guide the county administators and commissioners toward reasonable, breed-neutral revisions.

Minnie Mouse is a total goofball, full of energy and happy drive... and super smart!!!

Minnie is house broken and crate trained. Mimo is very good in the car and loves to go for outings! Minnie's ideal home would be with an active family! She seems to be the perfect 'guy's dog'.

Minnie is very outgoing and thinks that everyone should love her! She loves when people come over and is so joyous! She also thinks everyone should want to run and play and wrestle with her at all times! She is a high energy girl that needs lots of exercise!

Minnie is extremely smart and can be taught pretty much anything with a little patience! She is very responsive and wants to please her master. This is the type of dog that would excel at canine sports!

Look at those ears... Those freckles. .. That silly face.... Mini is a very good girl and is longing for a home and parents to call all her very own! Please open your heart and welcome this bunny-eared bundle of joy into your home and family this Easter and let her fill it with her special fun and love.

In recognition of National Volunteer Appreciation Week, MPR wanted to do something a bit different for our Featured Volunteer of the Month by recognizing and being so very thankful for every one of our dedicated and hard-working volunteers.

MPR's volunteers dedicate so much of themselves and their time through fostering, fundraising, event planning, hosting and attending, application processing, screening, homechecking, web and server maintenance, providing breed education, transporting dogs, caring for MPR's boarded and shelter dogs on a daily basis, photography services, attending obedience classes, socializing MPR dogs, being available on an emergency basis to do whatever is needed and the list goes on and on ...

To all MPR Volunteers ... your caring, hard work and commitment are such an asset to MPR and the dogs that we wanted you to know we are so very fortunate and thankful to have each and every one of you on board. Thank you! You are all absolutely the best!

~ MPR

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

Raise your glass if you are a pitbull lover. If not, raise your standards. Love to all my friends who saved my life.

~Stevie Ray (aka Conquest)

Reece is doing great. She is Kate's little princess dog. Today Kate went back to school and Reece spent the day lounging in Kate's bed. She was so happy when Kate came home. I think she loves Kate and tolerates the rest of us. It took Buddy about 3 weeks to accept her. The day it happened, I knew he loved her. Now, they play all the time and their play has really evolved to a fun, mutually respectful level. They played tonight for about an hour and Claire and I just sat and watched them; it was so entertaining.

I do think she has some Visla hunting dog in her. She really likes running through the woods at my parents. When spring comes and it is warmer, she will have a blast up there. She definitely does not like the cold and I don't blame her. She wears her coat if it is below 50. Her skin and fur have improved, but she still gets red every once in a while. I love popcorn and so does she. I try not to give her any, but I give in to her look. I have noticed that she will develop a bit of a rash if she eats popcorn. It goes away quickly though.

One funny story about her. Reece and Buddy were in the back section of our expedition. It was night and misting. I was periodically running the wipers in the back. All I could see in my rear-view mirror was Reece's head following the wipers back and forth. It was hilarious. I was laughing so hard. I had a car full of girls and they were all laughing too. She really is a princess clown!

I promise to send pictures. Kate has some really cute photos of Reece. Hope your 2011 is going great!

~Bonnie

Yes, I did rename him. His new name is Duece (aka Slinky)....a friend of mine said it when we were brainstorming and I liked it other than that there is no real reasoning. Things with him are going great! My roommates love him and always want to play. I even got brave the other night and left him in my room without being in his crate for a couple of hours. He didn't tear up a thing, I thought for sure he would find something to chew on after he got tired of his bone. But he didn't. I don't even think he moved off of my bed!

He has been so good! I have taken pictures of him but they aren't uploaded to my computer just yet so as soon as I get that done I will send you some...I have a hilarious one of him in a chair at my parents' house that you will love!

Thanks again, Chelsa