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and The North Platte Animal Shelter
"Working together to do for animals, what they cannot do for themselves"
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Newsletter
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A Publication of the Paws-itive Partners Humane Society, PO Box 1145, North Platte, NE 69103
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January, 1999
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Naked Kaper 5000 A Success!
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Despite a controversial start, the Naked Kaper 5000 raised over $9,000 for the Paws-itive Partners Humane Society.
When the news broke, on August 9th, of Mayor Jim Whitaker's pledge to walk Naked down Dewey Street if $5,000 was raised for a permanent spay / neuter program, calls quickly came in asking if the Mayor was indeed going to walk Naked.
Concern for Mayor Whitaker's reputation led the Humane Society to let Naked, the dog, out of the proverbial bag. Naked, a poodle cross, was scheduled to be euthanized in just a matter of hours on the day PPHS adopted him from the North Platte Animal Shelter and dubbed him Naked.
Releasing the punch line of the fund-raiser to the public before the September 12th walk, scheduled during KELN's Fall Fun Fest celebration, left PPHS concerned that they would not raise the much needed funds.
Soon, however, local and national media had picked up the story. Calls came in from as far away as Quebec Canada and Mayor Jim Whitaker was featured live on CNN's Headline News.
Further, the story was told on Paul Harvey, featured in People Magazine and hit the newspapers as far away as New Zealand, Switzerland and London.
As interest poured in, so did donations. Envelopes arrived from around the United States simply marked "Mayor, North Platte, Nebraska." Other humane societies from across the U.S. sent donations or wrote notes of Thanks to the mayor and PPHS.
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Another was received from a New York resident who had passed through North Platte during World War II. Remembering the kindness of the Canteen, he wanted to repay the community.
Local donations came in too. Donations were received in the mail, in donation jars as well as from Sixth Street and U-Save, where people added donations directly to their grocery bills. They also came in during live radio remotes with KELN radio.
Several large donations were received as well. Five $500 donations were received including one from "Max," Vinton Jones' rescued dog, who gave the check to Naked himself. Other $500 donors were Coca-Cola Bottling, which donated a portion of the proceeds of the sale of Citra to the Naked Kaper, Joyce Tatman, Larry's RV Sales & Service and one anonymous donor who gave in memory of the pets s/he has had the honor of loving over the years.
"Several people wrote memorials on their donation vouchers to pets they have loved and unfortunately lost. These memorials meant so much to us that we hope to be able to do more with them in the future, " said Kandi Foster, PPHS President.
Naked has since retired from the limelight and is living a life of luxury with Edna Bevington in Des Moines, Iowa. His new name is Nate and he could not be happier even though we all miss him terribly.
PPHS cannot thank Jim Whitaker enough for his sense of humor and hard work for the Kaper and the animals of North Platte.
Thank You to everyone who donated!
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Paws-itive Partners and Wal-Mart Make a Difference
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The generosity of a $1,000 grant from Wal-Mart allowed Paws-itive Partners to make a difference for animals on Make A Difference Day on October 24.
In keeping with Paws-itive Partners goal to make a difference in pet overpopulation, the group offered 1/2 cost spay/neuter vouchers to interested pet owners. Approximately 42 vouchers were issued to alter 42 animals.
"Considering the fact that one female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in six years and one female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens in seven years, we are making quite a difference," said Kandi Foster, PPHS President.
However, spaying and neutering wasn't the only way PPHS made a difference.
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The Pet Protect I.D. System was also offered to pet owners to help them in the unfortunate case that their pet is ever lost.
This system consisted of a fact sheet listing the breed, sex, and distinguishable characteristics of the pet. The pet's photo was then taken by digital camera and printed directly on the sheet.
"Often times, when a pet is lost, people are so upset they cannot provide the information needed to find the animal. This sheet will help them provide the correct information," said Sheila Kelley, former PPHS president.
Over 12 animals were photographed. Many thanks to Wal-Mart and to the NP Telegraph for use of their digital camera and to NP veterinarians who worked with us on the spay/neuter program.
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Spay/Neuter Program In Place
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After much fundraising, the permanent spay/neuter program is now available to help pet owners who need financial assistance in getting their pets "fixed."
The program is easy to use. An applicant fills out an application, mails it back to Paws-itive Partners and then a committee reviews the application to determine how much the pet owner can contribute to the surgery and how much Paws-itive Partners will need to contribute to get the animal altered.
"Doing the program this way, instead of providing 1/2 off the cost of the surgery- period - does make a bit more work for us. However, in doing it this way, we are going to be able to help so many more animals," said Shelia Oestmann, PPHS Vice-President.
Over 150 animals have been altered as a result of the short-term spay/neuter assistance programs PPHS has offered throughout this past year. The goal is for the long-term program to double and even triple that number in the coming year.
So far, the program has been well received by the public, including areas outside of North Platte such as Stapleton, Maywood and Gothenburg.
Interested pet owners can pick up an application for spay/neuter financial assistance at any of the six NP veterinarian's offices, Ernie's Pet Store, All Pets or the NP Animal Shelter. If an interested pet owner lives outside of NP, they can call 308-532-5474 to have an application mailed to them.
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Paws-itive Partners Participates In Festival of Trees
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Hoping to draw the public's attention to the problem of pet overpopulation as well as to contribute to another charity, Paws-itive Partners decorated a tree for the KELN / Make- A- Wish Foundation's Festival of Trees, held November 21-22 at the Quality Inn in North Platte.
The tree was decorated around the theme of The Rainbow Bridge, a heart- warming poem of pets and animals separated from their loved ones by death.
Members Joyce Tatman, Kandi Foster and Laurie Tatman decorated the tree. Decorations were donated by Larry's RV.
"Every time I read this poem, I got tears in my eyes. It is such an eye opener and I wanted to decorate a tree to open people's eyes to the animals, future pets, that are being lost everyday in animal shelters. It also brings comfort to those of us who have lost pets we loved so much," said Joyce Tatman, PPHS member.
The tree was well received with many people asking for copies of the poem.
The decorated trees were auctioned off with proceeds going to Make-A-Wish. Lisa Bringewatt, owner of Lisa's Klassy Kanines, was the successful bidder of The Rainbow Bridge Tree.
Many thanks to Terry Tatman who made and donated the stained glass rain-bow tree top and to Custom Craft Signs who donated a portion of their materials and labor to the Rainbow Bridge sign, which accompanied the tree, and to Gary Anderson for use of the U-Haul to trans- port the tree.
Just this side of heaven is a place called the Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here,
that pet goes to the Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine and all our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor;
those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again,
just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are content except for one small thing -- they miss someone very special, someone who was left behind.
They all run and play together but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.
His bright eyes are intent, his eager body begins to quiver.
Suddenly, he breaks from the group, flying over the green grass, faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.
The happy kisses rain upon your face, your hands again caress the beloved head and you look once more into those trusting eyes, so long gone from your life.
Then, you cross the bridge together.
But sadly, not all animals are blessed with that special someone.
Alone and scared, unwanted and homeless, they pass prematurely to the Bridge:
- 1,067 animals were euthanized at the North Platte Animal Shelter in 1997.
- 10 million animals are euthanized each year in the United States... Of these, 2 million are purebred and half as many are puppies and kittens.
- Millions more never make it to animal shelters, but are left to die slowly from starvation, disease and accidents.
For these animals, their vigil at the Rainbow Bridge continues...
Until suddenly, one day, one looks up, then another and yet another.
For they see the person all the animals know about.
As they have waited at the Bridge, they have heard the story of this person who has given tirelessly to aid and comfort abandoned and homeless animals.
You, my friend, have been spotted and all the cats and dogs and other animals run over the fields to thank you.
For YOU are the person who showed them -- even the most scarred, scared and battered of them -- the greatness of kindness.
Then, ending their long vigil and leaving them never to feel alone,
unwanted or unloved again,
You cross the Rainbow Bridge together.
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Craft Shows Net Nearly $1,700
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Realizing that funds go fast and we have important programs to continue and many important programs yet to implement, Paws-itive Partners took advantage of Holiday craft shows to raise funds.
The first craft show, held at St. Patrick's church on November 14th, made almost $800 for the group. A two day craft show, during the Festival of Trees, netted almost $500 and a December 5th craft show at the United Methodist Church brought in close to $350.
Members Tami Eicke, Velma Carlson, Joyce Tatman, Laurie Tatman, Shelia Oestmann, Kandi Foster, Carol Booker, LeVaun Beyer, Missy Nicholson, Jeff Stewart and Don Haney, among others, donated either craft items or homemade dog and cat treats.
Craft items ran the gamut from holiday wreaths, shirts and changeable shirt panels,
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plastic canvas items, homemade potpourri and painted Christmas ornaments to lighted timber reindeer, soda can Christmas carolers, embroidered kitchen towels, baby sweaters, handpainted snowmen /dog /cat pins and magnets, dog bone reindeer, and dog/cat/penguin/snowmen cans filled with dog, cat and people treats plus much, much more!
Homemade pet treats consisted of Bark-B-Q, Peamutt Butter, Paw Lick'n Chick'n, and Garlick and Cheese dog treats to Bare Claws and Fish 'n Nips cat treats.
Naked Kaper, "What's the Fuss" T-shirts were also available. Anyone wishing to give a unique gift to friends or family can still call 532-5474 to get a T-Shirt for only $10.
Proceeds from these shows will be used to supplement PPHS' spay/neuter and veterinary care funds.
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Members Successfully Help Needy Animals
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Sunshine
We got the call from the Livestock Barn in North Platte. A cocker spaniel had been hanging around for a few days and had dug a hole next to the building for warmth. She was outside Animal Control's jurisdiction, could we help? We did.
Shelia Oestmann picked up this little girl and immediately took her to the vet. The open sores and the scabs on her head were just the outside signs of neglect. She was full of fleas, and her ears were so infected that her eardrums had calcified. Further examination showed her ovaries to be cystic. A good patient through it all, however, they named her "Sunshine" at the clinic.
After being spayed and after weeks of foster care, by Oestmann, Sunshine found a loving new home where she soon became known as "Sunny."
Duffy
His time had run out and he was marked for disposal at the NP Animal Shelter. A purebred Cairn Terrier that had been neglected for most of his life, he did indeed have some behavioral quirks.
His quirks didn't deter LeVaun Beyer from adopting him from the shelter and fostering him. A case of bronchitis that had to be treated with antibiotics didn't deter her either.
After being placed in two failed homes, Beyer continued to foster Duffy and patiently showed him love and trust and taught him how to co-exist with not only humans but other animals too.
Proving that sometimes all an animal needs is time, love and patience, Duffy now has a permanent home where his new mom sews him homemade toys!
Hope
This little black stray cat needed a friend and found two in Shelia Oestmann and Kelsey Gibson, employees of the Hampton Inn, where Hope lived in the field out back.
After months of sharing their lunches and providing her with cat food and shelter, they could not leave her as
the cold weather set in and Halloween approached. After all, this cat had repayed their kindness with a mouse she had caught and laid by their feet!
After a brief stay in a foster home, Hope now has a new home in South Dakota where she truly is a member of the family!
These are just a few of the animals we have helped this past year. Beyer has found homes for many shelter dogs. Missy Nicholson adopted Chewey, whose time had run out. Mickey Williams adopted Lucky the Lab and Oestmann adopted two special needs dogs. Currently, Velma Carlson is fostering Wally, a very spoiled cat!
Then there are the strays; the 3 legged heeler, the mama kitty and her five babies, the kittens rescued from outside of Wal-Mart, and so many more. Many, too, that we're not able to help because of a lack of foster homes.
Since we do not have our own facility, we rely on foster homes to help us provide these animals with the care and time they need to find good homes. If you are interested in being a foster home, please call 532-5474 or 532-4417 or fill out our contact form online.
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Paws-itive Partners Humane Society
is a non-profit organization separate from the North Platte Animal Shelter and receives no city funds.
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Paws-itive Partners
P.O. Box 1145 · North Platte, NE 69103
phone: 650-PAWS (308-650-7297)
http://www.pphs.com · Email
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