What comes to mind when you hear our name – Spay & Neuter Kansas City? Probably something like this: “A non-profit organization focused on reducing pet overpopulation through spaying and neutering.” That answer is certainly correct, and continues to be our core purpose today.

Clearly, spaying and neutering addresses one of the basic causes for pet overpopulation. There is no doubt we are having a measurable impact on the number of unwanted pets entering our shelters and the number euthanized each year. At the same time, thousands of pets continue to be given up each year by their owners – often by people who love them and who are devastated at having to take that step. Why? Usually for the same reason they could not get their pet spayed or neutered – poverty.

While we cannot change poverty in our community, we can have a significant impact on this second cause of pet overpopulation. Our expanded Families Better TogetherTM program is designed to provide the education, wellness, and resources for pet owners in the most underserved areas of Kansas City, directly focusing on those most likely to be at risk of having to give up their pets.

A great example is the story of our client Tanitha, who adopted Precious 10 years ago. She said she just knew Precious was the cat for her. Precious had been abused before being rescued and "I felt an instant connection to her," Tanitha said. "When I'm feeling sick or sad, Precious knows, and she comes to be by my side." While Tanitha’s financial circumstances have changed in the last 10 years, her desire to keep Precious in her home and care for her certainly has not.

While your financial support continues to fund our low-cost spay and neuter services, know that it also helps to reduce shelter intake and pet homelessness by keeping pets like Precious in their homes – with the owners who love them.

P.O. Box 410303 | Kansas City, MO 64141 | 816-353-0940 | www.snkc.net

SNKC SCOOPSPRING 2016

FAMILIES BETTER TOGETHERTM

PROVIDES EDUCATION, WELLNESS, AND RESOURCES FOR PET OWNERS IN THE MOST UNDERSERVED AREAS OF KC

SNKC client Tanitha and her cat, Precious

WISHLISTSNKC thanks you for your continued and generous support! Don’t forget the items on our wishlist. This information can be found at snkc.net/snkc-wish-lists

Thank you to everyone who attended our 8th annual Spay-Ghetti & No Balls Benefit. What a Huge Success! Each year SNKC's Spay-Ghetti and No Balls Gala gets bigger and better. Over 400 SNKC supporters packed Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland on Friday, February 19, 2016 to celebrate in 1920’s style! You truly are the lifeblood of our organization and I’m pleased to report we raised a record setting $180,000 that evening. More importantly and most aptly, your funds will go towards preventing what would be a greater plight for the community and keeping shelter and homeless animal populations down.

In a world where instant gratification is the new norm, it’s often times difficult to measure one’s contributions to an organization like SNKC. We lack the rows of countless dogs and cats looking for a home that can pull at one’s heartstrings. This year, specifically, your generous contributions will be deployed towards our SNKC KCK endeavor. Opened in February of this year, we are already serving the community in a meaningful way, reaching untapped families and providing countless spay and neuter surgeries as well as desperately needed walk-in vaccination clinics.

I’m continually amazed at your ongoing generosity and words simply do not express my sincere appreciation for your continued and faithful contributions. Please know that you are saving the lives of thousands of animals and keeping countless dogs and cats with their families who love and adore them.

Nick & J�sica Langley — Event Chairs

SPAY-GHETTI AND NO BALLS GALA 2016

A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF OUR PRESENTING SPONSORS:Petco Foundation, Nick & Jessica Langley, Brian & Ilyssa Block, Mel & Pat Pheffer

We had a wonderful turnout for our

ribbon cutting ceremony and are

officially open. This clinic is performing

spay and neuter surgeries twice a

week and is open for walk-in

vaccinations on Fridays and Saturdays.

Thank you to everyone who helped

support our efforts to expand into

Kansas City, KS!

SNKC’S KANSAS CITY KANSAS CLINIC IS OPEN!

ANIMAL SHELTER

ANIMAL CONTROL

ADOPTION CENTER

FULL SERVICE CLINIC

YOURSUPPORT

SOLVES THE HOMELESS PET

PROBLEMAT ITS SOURCE

HELP DECREASEIMPOUNDS

HELP DECREASEPET HOMELESSNESS

HELP INCREASEPET RETENTION

HELP IMPROVEQUALITY OF LIFE FOR

PETS THROUGH WELLNESS & PREVENTATIVE CARE

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORWhat inspires you to give? You may have heard the expression “if it bleeds, it leads.” Not only in the general media, but in many fundraising efforts, stories of neglect, violence and suffering receive the most attention. But that is an approach I have long resisted. To me, that only makes people look cruel and sets us up as heroic.

In my experience, neglect and abuse, while it exists and is often exploited for fundraising purposes, is the exception, not the rule in terms of how people treat animals. Behind every pet we see is a person, a family, a story and a need. I have learned that when we focus on the family that owns that dog or cat and provide the right resources, whether it’s education, a dog house or access to our low cost services, we can impact generations long past their current pet’s life.

Every day we meet the real heroes of the animal welfare world. These are the owners who struggle, sometimes against heavy odds, to do the right thing for the cat or dog they have welcomed into their homes and families. Our community is full of inspiring, motivating and touching stories with honest and compassionate outcomes.

I hope you see yourself as a hero in these stories too, because you are. It is only through your support that we are able to help these families. The difference you are making by supporting our efforts is real, and has provided my team and me with some the most rewarding experiences we have ever had.

Together, we can bring about positive change that will leave a legacy in the KC community. And that’s truly a happy ending!

Michelle RiveraExecutive Director

CHANGE AFAMILY’S

LIFE!

DONATETODAY!

jasonshoemakerphotography.com

April 1, 2016 − June 30, 2016All proceeds benefit Families Better Together™

WINNER WILL HAVE THEIR PICK OF ONE OF THE OFFERED VACATION

PACKAGES BELOW!

DISNEYLAND FAMILY ADVENTURE

Disney Gift Card ($900) Redeemable for Admission & More, Hyatt Regency Orange County 4-Night Stay with Airfare for 4.Value: $10,255

JAMAICA ALL-INCLUSIVE

5-Night Stay at Hyatt Ziva or Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall Resort in Montego Bay with Airfare for 2. Value: $10,945

SIP & SOAR THROUGH NAPA VALLEY

Hot Air Balloon Ride, Private Winery Tours & Tastings, Chauffeur, Meritage Resort and Spa 3-Night Stay with Airfare for 2.Value: Priceless

NEW YORK BROADWAY

Choice of 2 Broadway Shows, New York Hilton Midtown 3-Night Weekend Stay with Airfare for 2.Value: $6,312

PUERTO VALLARTA ALL-INCLUSIVE

5-Night Stay at Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with Airfare for 2.Value: $10,645

Full details and rules at www.snkc.net/raffle

- Winner’s Choice -VACATION RAFFLE

- Winner’s Choice -VACATION RAFFLE

APRIL 1 - JUNE 30

VISIT WWW.SNKC.NET/RAFFLE AND CLICK ON THE RAFFLE TICKET

TO BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT SNKC’SFAMILIES BETTER TOGETHERTM

PROGRAM!

RAFFLE DETAILS: Not redeemable for cash. Winner is responsible for all other charges and or fees associated with trip. Federal taxes (25% of value) will be paid by organization unless winner desires to cover. Raffle runs from April 1, 2016 through midnight on June 30, 2016. Drawing will be held on July 5th, 2016 and will be announced on our Facebook Page at 10:00am Central Time. Winner will be notified by SNKC. You will receive an acknowledgment of your purchase and an electronic email with ticket receipt(s). All tickets must be purchased through this link. We cannot accept any mail in or walk in cash or any other transactions for purchase of a raffle ticket − it must be

done through our raffle program.

Spay and Neuter Kansas City can only continue our services for petsand their families through the generosity of our community donors.

All gifts are tax deductible. For secure online donations visit snck.net/donate

ENCLOSED IS MY SUPPORT TO HELP A PET AND FAMILY IN NEED:

$250 will help spay or neuter 5 dogs.

$150 will provide pet food and resources for a family in need for 6 months

$100 will provide vaccinations and spay or neuter for a litter of puppies or kittens

$50 will provide shelter for a pet in need

Other Any amount will help!

SPAY N EUTER KANSAS CITY

AND