1. ctãá yÉÜ g{Éâz{à
The Pet
C o n n e ct i o n , I n c.
5 9 1 8 B ro a d m o o r , M i s si o n K S 6 6 2 0 2 9 1 3 - 6 7 1 - P E T S
www.thepetconnection.net Volume 3, Issue 3
03/01/2009
Written & Edited by Brandi Bruns
TPC Restructures Behavioral and Obedience Consultations
Inside this issue:
ercises. Each class allows dar of events page on our
15 minutes play time be- March Events 2
website.
fore and after with other Available Programs 2
The cost for these behavioral
dogs for socialization.
Happy Tails Seamus/ 3
consultation sessions are:
Roxy
The costs for these classes
Happy Tails Calvin 3
$0—pets adopted from TPC
are:
The Pet Connection has re-
& rescues (a donation is ap- Happy Tails Gus 3
cently restructured our be-
$0—pets adopted from preciated) TPC Available Pets 4
havioral and obedience con-
TPC $15—all other clients
sultations. Rest In Peace Big Foot 5
$5—Members of TPC
In Home Consultations Rest In Peace Percy
$10—Non Members of TPC 5
The number one reason why
people relinquish a dog or a Ask A Pet 6-7
In home consultations are
Behavioral Consultations
cat is for relatively common also available with our Volunteer Corner 8
behavioral problems. These If you have a more serious trained staff. Consultations Yappy Hour 8
classes help educate indi- issue such as dog aggres- will address any issues you Operation Regift 9
viduals on how to fix these sion, human aggression, are having with your pet. PetPalz 10
problems. The classes use excessive chewing, litter
TPC Recycle Program 11
positive reinforcement to The cost for an in-home con-
box behavioral problems in
TPC Wishlist 12
teach dogs how to live with sultation is $75.
cats, scratching post train-
their owners and to teach the ing, etc., we now offer
To schedule an in-home con- TPC 2009 Statistics:
owners how to communicate separate behavioral consul-
sultation, contact TPC at
with their dogs. tations scheduled on an as • TPC has spayed/neutered 670 pets in
913-671-PETS. 2009 alone!
needed basis.
Basic Obedience
• TPC has provided low-cost vetting to 727
Online Consultations
These sessions are held on pets in 2009.
We still host our open access
Thursday’s and Sunday’s You can also see online as-
classes Thursday’s at 7:15pm • TPC has placed 160 pets in homes during
and will be scheduled as sistance from our behavioral from January—February 2009.
and 8:30pm and Sunday’s
requested. Please call our team by visiting our filling
at 7:15pm. Our open access
facility at 913-671-PETS to out our behavioral question-
classes are geared towards
schedule. Hours of Operation:
naire at http://
basic obedience and sociali-
www.thepetconnection.net/ Monday: Closed
zation. Classes address Each session has room for
Tuesday: 9a-8p
TPC_Behavioral.htm
training basic commands, 10 people and 3 dogs (if Wednesday: 9a-8p
leash training, house break- dog geared class). Ses- Thursday: 9a-5p
Online consultations cost $25
ing, crate training, problem Friday: 9a-8p
sions already scheduled and can be paid online using Saturday: 9a-8p
behaviors, & leadership ex- can be found on our calen- PayPal. Sunday: 9a-8p
Pets can be shown Monday’s by appointment
only. Call 913-671-PETS to schedule.

2. Paws for Thought
Page 2
March Calendar of Events
March 4: Yappy Hour—A at TPC. Surgery only. Drop March 22: 2p-5p - Vaccina-
TPC benefit 5p-7p at Pete off 8a-9a, pick up 5p-6p. tion & Microchip clinic @
and Mac’s—8809 Monrovia Appointment required. Brookside Barkery & Bath—
Lenexa KS. Flyer on page 8. 14040 W 119th St., Olathe,
March 12: 6-7p On Demand
KS 66062
March 5: 6-7p On Demand Consult – Territorial Aggres-
Consult – Possession Aggres- sion & 6-7pm Dogs Chasing March 26: 6-7p—On De-
EVERY THURSDAY: Listen
sion towards other dogs & 6- Cats. mand Consult—Litter box
to us weekly at 7:30am on
7pm: Foster Care Seminar Issues
Jack FM 105.1 & at
March 15: 5-6p On Demand
7:45am on 94.9FM
Consult—Dog on Dog Ag- March 29: 5-6p - On De-
March 8: 5-6p On Demand
gression. mand Consult – Dog on Dog
For a space in our On De- Consult – Fear Aggression.
Aggression
mand Consultation
March 22: 5-6p On Demand
March 8: Spay/Neuter Clinic
Classes, call to reserve
Consult – Housebreaking
your spot: 913-671-PETS
TPC Available Programs
Behavioral Consultations: Pick up under 40 lbs
5-7p
Microchipping:
Walk in
TPC offers low-cost HomeA-
vaccines:
gain microchipping to the
8a -12p
public for $25. Bring your
Appoint-
pet in during open hours! No
ments required for surgery
Thursday’s: 7:15p & 8:30p appointment needed.
patients. Schedule appoint-
Sunday’s: 7:15p
Our building houses more than just an adop- ments by calling 913-671-
tion facility! We also have low cost vet *Free to adopters PETS. Prices vary based on
services, behavioral consultations, and volun-
*$5 TPC members p/session income.
teer opportunities!
*$10 non-members p/session
Adoptions: Recycling:
Volunteer Orientation: Includes Recycle
(Required for all volunteers & spay/neuter, for home-
community service workers): vaccines, less pets!
Sunday’s: 6:00p (excluding tested nega- TPC ac-
holiday’s; weather permitting) tive (FeLV/ cepts
FIV cats aluminum
Heartworm cans, ink
dogs), & toner cartridges, old cell
treated for fleas, worms, & phones, old laptops, and
micro-chipped. iPods. Bring your recycla-
*$25 membership for all + bles to The Pet Connection,
*$25 admin fee cats 5918 Broadmoor! Aluminum
Low Cost Vet Clinic: *$25 admin fee dogs can recycling is outside by
Mon-Tue-Wed-Fri weekly 40+ lbs the garage door. All other
Drop off: 8-10a for surgery *$85 admin fee dogs

3. Paws for Thought Page 3
Happy Tails—Meet Seamus & Roxy
Seamus & Roxy are thick as most perfectly matched in days and bought him a big,
thieves together and our cat size, weight, & strength so it is fluffy bed, which he most
has joined in on the fun. Tug truly anyone’s game each certainly enjoys. We hope
of war remains their favorite time they play. Seamus is so you enjoy the pictures of our
sport but they will not hold well trained that he refuses to silly happy dogs. Thank you
still long enough for us to take sleep on furniture. Since Roxy again for matching us with
a picture. It is really some- has no such qualms, we en- these two. They are a great
thing worth seeing and a couraged Seamus to hop on fit into our home and in our
source of great amusement up at night but he refused. family!
for our family. They are al- We broke down after a few
Happy Tails—Meet Calvin
Winter 2007 we adopted terscotch brothers. They all found a way to crawl
Sunkist who we now call Cal- play well together along with through the ceiling from one
vin. We love the little twerp our 7 year old dog, Kipper. room to the next. Calvin is
so much, and he fits into our Calvin is quite the explorer. also our little acrobat!
family SO well! Our 12 year We have 3 house rabbits who Sometimes when you hold
old cat Sammy and Calvin have there own room. We him he flops backward,
bonded immediately and are couldn't figure out how Calvin arches his back and throws
inseparable! We also kept getting in their room in his head upside down. He'll
adopted a little Chihuahua the basement. We'd find him let you hold him in this posi-
pug mix named Marco and curled up in one of the bunny tion for up to a few minutes,
all three pets are the same beds with one of the rabbits. completely trusting.
color so we call them the but- We finally figured out that he
Happy Tails—Meet Gus
When Gus came to TPC in walked up and down stairs. great w/his two feline broth-
September, he was in really He has grown healthier every ers.
bad shape. He was extremely day. He has gained weight Gus is a wonderful family
malnourished, had tapeworms, (perhaps even a bit too member. We love him very
a gash on the back of his much!). He has a thick, beauti- much and look forward to
head, mangy hair, ear mites, ful coat. He loves to go on making his senior years as
a bladder infection, arthritis, walks and take naps. He's healthy and happy as possi-
was not neutered, etc. even learned to enjoy the ble. Thank you so much for
It was clear when we brought challenge of getting a treat taking him in!
Laurie T.
him home that he had never out of his Kong. He follows us
been in a house before, never in and out of every room of
played with a toy, and never the house and he gets along

4. Paws for Thought
Page 4
Featured Pets Available for Adoption!!!!
Joe is likes to talk & is very pas- She would thrive in a home
a DLH sive. He is independent but as an only pet. She doesn’t
that loves being in the room with like cats & is timid w/ dogs.
was his human friend, but is not
born clingy. He followed his previ- Reggie was
in Oct 2008. He is sweet, ous owner all over the house. rescued as
loveable and playful. He He likes to play fetch and a stray ap-
was adopted from TPC, but comes when called. His fa- proximately
returned because their vorite toys are balls. JJ is 9 months
In our cageless facility, visitors find
daughter had allergies. Joe scared of children and of ago, but his
dogs and cats comfortably living in
a homelike environment while likes to snuggle and is great high heeled shoes (or shoes rescuers could not keep him
awaiting their forever home!!
with the kids. He would be a that are loud on the floor). in the fence so they brought
great addition to any family. him to TPC to find a new
Midnight is home. Reggie is a beautiful,
Chloe is ~1 y/o. high energy dog who is
an ex- She is shy sweet & loving. Reggie
tremely initially and knows how to sit & shake on
sweet does not command. He is good with
lap cat. like to be kids & dogs. He doesn't care
She loves everyone that visits held close for cats. Reggie is housebro-
her. She is good with other to your face. But once she ken & is approximately 1-2
One of our featured senior pets last
cats, but would probably warms up she is sweet as y/o.
month, Lacey, has found her forever
homes. prefer to be a only cat, & sugar and loves to be pet.
loves kids. Her owner tried to Midnight will play with other Nico was
dump her at the Humane cats & sleeps with them. She adopted
Society but they didn’t have understands the meaning of from TPC
SAVE THE room so they transferred her quot;Noquot; & quot;Offquot;. She has gor- 2 years
to TPC. Chloe is over-weight geous orange eyes. ago but
DATE & will need a diet & exer- was re-
cise. Due to her current size, Punkin turned
she requires assistance clean- was due to financial hardships.
ing herself. Chloe is front found He is a very loyal dog. He
What: 7th Annual Pet
declawed & is ~2 y/o. near a knows how to sit & down on
Humanitarian Awards
railroad command. He also knows the
Ceremony & Dinner
John track & command “easy” for taking
James had treats gently. Nico loves all
When: June 20, 2009
“JJ” been recently hit by a car. dogs & loves to play. His
was She is a little firecracker & favorite toys are stuffed with
Time: TBD
adopted has recovered about 95%. squeakers. He is a fear biter
from She occasionally limps on her with strangers. He is ~2.5 y/
Location: Theme Party
TPC 6 years ago, but was back left leg but loves to run, o.
Emporium—2420 Mer-
recently returned because his jump, & play. She loves
riam Lane in KCK owner was moving. He is meeting new people though
around 7 1/2 years old. JJ she is a bit weary of men.

5. Paws for Thought Page 5
Rest In Peace—Big Foot
I volunteer at The Pet Connec- mals. He also loved to drink me up to the front door (some
tion and 4 years ago I went in water from the sink faucet dogs don’t even do that!).
looking for a cat since my (or bathtub-wasn’t choosy)
Bigfoot was a master cat with
golden retriever and I had and he proceeded to teach
both patience and accep-
been without one for a couple my other two cats (adopted
tance that was extraordinary.
of years. I found Bigfoot and from fostering) to enjoy this
He was a great teacher to
never looked back. He was a sport as well! When he
not only me and my animals
golden yellow color with a would lay with me and I
but also to friends and family
heart of gold to match! He talked to him, he would put
who were blessed by his
walked into my home from his paw over my mouth as if
presence. His spirit is huge
day one as if he owned it. to say, “Enough talking”. He
and continues to offer bless-
My golden retriever and he had another very unique
ings.—Summer J.
became fast friends. I began manner. Whenever I had to
fostering cats and kittens and take him to the vet and we
Bigfoot took care and arrived home, I would open
groomed all of them. He was the car door and he would
fearless and loved all ani- happily jump out and follow
Rest In Peace— Percy
I had no intention of adopting could I leave him behind? I fire, which spread to the deck
a cat the day I walked in to couldn’t. The staff was so above. The firemen arrived
TPC 7 years ago. I just excited when I announced I before the fire spread inside
wanted to socialize them. In was adopting him. For years my house, and the smoke that
the window was a very fat after, I was known as did enter was sucked out
sleeping cat who quickly “Percy’s mom”. I’m very sen- before it reached dangerous
came to life when I wiggled sitive to the needs of cats levels. Very concerned for
my fingers are the base of and understood his fear re- my cats’ safety, the firemen
the glass. With the grace of garding touch. Slowly I con- made sure I located all of
Not painless for me. I can’t
a ballet dance, her pounced vinced him I would not hurt them to ensure they were ok.
begin to convey the sense of
my fingers. Charmed, I asked him and he gradually even Percy was hiding under my
bewilderment & grief to see
what his name was. “Oh let me pet his belly. Over bed. When he saw me he
a creature who was so full of
that’s Percy. He’s been in the years, we developed a ran to me with his tail up,
life to suddenly be devoid of
foster care for almost a year mutual bond. I could always relieved to see me & knowing
it. I still not adjusted to his
now. He was abused as a tell when Percy was sleeping that he was safe now. How-
loss. It feels as though I lost
kitten & is being trained not nearby because of his dis- ever, several hours later, a
several cats that day, he had
to bite”. Poor guy, I thought. tinctive “old man” snore. friend called to me to come
so much personality. I miss his
I’ll jus take him in the visiting And when he was particu- inside. Percy was lying on his
rumbling purr, his happy
room and play a bit. Once larly happy, he would grunt side, limp. It took me a min-
grunts, his snoring. But mostly
inside, he checked out the his unique Percy grunt. But ute or two to realize that he
I miss his wonderful Percy
room, then promptly crawled his most enduring habit was had already passed away.
face smooshes. I was blessed
into my lap, started into my when he would curl up close Most likely, the stress of the
with 7 years of joy with a cat
eyes, and purred his loudest & smoosh his forehead fire triggered some physio-
that most people considered
purr. “I adore you. Take me against my face, & just leave logical flaw resulting in a
“unadoptable”.
home & I’ll cherish you for- it there. On February 4, the heart attack or stroke.
ever”, he seemed to say. heater in my dog’s house Whatever it was, it ap-
- Julie P.
Tears filled my eyes. How malfunctioned and caught peared quick and painless.

6. Paws for Thought
Page 6
Ask A Pet… Squeak, Sela, Rufus, & Dudley Answer Your TPC Questions
Ask Squeak anything that you would like the vet to answer.....Squeak was a semi-feral cat
that came in for rehabilitation. He was so nasty that we decided to let him just hide and live
in the laundry room. What a sneak, that squeak!!!! Turns out, he is a rehabilitation suc-
cess....he's fat, sassy, and requires pets. It's amazing what you can do with a steady stream of
volunteers folding laundry and 10 tons of Salmon I Pity the Kitty treats. Squeak runs things in
our laundry area...and it's right outside the vet clinic. He hears all the gossip and learns a lot
about animal care from vets, vet techs, trainers, and The Pet Connection's herbalist.
Question: William Huff, volunteer and staff child, age 8: How many pets have had sur-
Squeak
gery at the spay/neuter clinic since we started?
Resident Vet Expert
Answer: We are currently at 4158....I'm planning to have a HUGE party when we reach
5000. I love clinic. Sassy and I get to meet a lot of new cats. We come down and say hi to
them if they are friendly. Some of them certainly have some attitude with us, so we reach our
paws in and try to steal food from cats that are just there for exams. It's so much fun because
we get to perch on their carriers and run around loose while they watch us. We feel like we
Submit questions for our are putting on a show all the time. Now, Starlight, she still only comes out when it's quieter,
experts to: but eventually she will have the confidence to join our antics. Our spay/neuter clinic is unique
for a variety of reasons. Many members of the surgery team have been working together
brandi@thepetconnection.net
since 2002. Because we offer other veterinarian services, we handle all of our own emergen-
cies with animals who come to spay/neuter. That means that Melody, Jason, Julie and Jules;
veterinarian team members, get to spend many late nights, early mor nings, crashed on the
laundry room table. I kept playing with Melody's hair the last time she stayed up all night
with a sick pet. I didn't let her get one bit of sleep......Come on over to TPC and help us out on
a clinic day. Every veterinarian to be should come and observe.
Ask Sela anything that you like about cats.....Sela is a permanent resident of our sanctuary.
She was transferred to us almost a decade ago from Animal Haven where she was scheduled
to be euthanized due to health. We were able to adopt her to a home, but it just didn't work
out. The owner had a family emergency several years later and Sela was homeless again.
Sela has had several homes, lived in a car, was impounded at a shelter, had foster care
homes, and was eventually transferred to home sweet home on 59th and Broadmoor. Sela
has good days and bad days, but her health has prompted us to make her a permanent resi-
dent. This last year has been a series of little things that happen when you have lived long.
Sela loves to be brushed and held. (Sela is always looking for a new lap to solicit.) If you
Sela
have time to sit with an elderly friend, she would be most grateful. Sela is also diabetic and
Resident Cat Expert gets daily insulin.
Question: Please submit your questions to brandi@thepetconnection.net

7. Paws for Thought Page 7
Ask A Pet (Continued)
Ask Rufus (Roo) anything that you like about dogs.....Roo is quite nervous and shy around new
people. He came from a local humane society when a local citizen claimed that he was keep-
ing them in a child's sand box, he was about 3.5 months old. The puppies had not had any
normal socializing and the individual had barely touched them. They were covered in their
own pee and poop. Roo does better all the time with getting used to new people, we thought
hat giving him his own column would be a boost to the ego. This beautiful Lab mix will love you
if you only will give him a chance. Ask Squeak and Sela....Roo cannot live with a cat....unless it's
a stuffed one or a picture on the wall.
Rufus
Question: Please submit your questions to brandi@thepetconnection.net
Resident Dog Expert
Submit questions for our
experts to:
brandi@thepetconnection.net
Ask Dudley anything and he will find someone that can answer the question. Dudley walks
the Mission community on a regular basis because constant walking helps him settle. Dudley
lived his life on a chain before being taken to the shelter to be euthanized. It's only because of
Beagles and More, local rescue group, (he's not a beagle) that Dudley was given a second
chance. When the foster home was having training difficulties with this adolescent puppy who
had never been treated like a pet, it only made since that he came to TPC. Beagles and More
volunteers and TPC volunteers have worked together to give Dudley some good training and
socialization so that he can eventually be re-homed. Because he's such a socialite, he often
Dudley
attends workshops, volunteer orientation, and rules the obedience center with a loud bay. He is
also one of Jack's Picks on 105 FM. This famous guy has a lot of friends and his social network Resident Expert on all
just keeps expanding.....ask him anything. aspects of The Pet
Connection
Question: Please submit your questions to brandi@thepetconnection.net

8. Volunteer Corner
I would like to thank all the April and would love for you walking them, etc. We want
volunteers who helped us set to check the volunteer board to include some fun facts as
a new record for number of or contact me at bvar- well so if you have any sug-
volunteer hours in a month. hol@kc.rr.com to send you via gestions of things you would
January was a great month email that list so you can like see in our volunteer let-
for volunteer assistance and check if you are able to help ter, please pass this onto me
the entire staff thanks you as out at any of these events. as well. We would also like
well as all of our animals who Please be sure to check the to include a volunteer of the
were recipients to your care. volunteer board each time month and will certainly take
I would also like to thank the you are at The Pet Connection any nominations from our
volunteers who helped out to see what new events are volunteer group.
with our 2/8/09 Sunday planned.
A huge thank you for all that
spay/neuter clinic. You
We are also working on a you do not only for our ani-
helped care for 37 animals
volunteer newsletter that will mals but also for our organi-
which are now no longer able
include several various stories zation in making it the best
to populate our world. Con-
and facts such as who was place in town!
gratulations!
adopted during the month,
- Barb Varhol, Volunteer
We do have several special who has special needs, tips on
Coordinator
events planned for March and dog commands when you’re
Recreational Resort for Pets
8809 Monrovia Lenexa, KS
913-888-8889
You are invited
to join us for 2 Hour Specials!
Yappy Hour. • Buy a Daycare Package &
An Adoption Event get 3 days free!
for The Pet Connection limit 1 per client
Wed, March 4th, 2009
• 25% of Retail Sales go
from
To The Pet Connection
5pm to 7pm
$5 suggested donation • $15 Dog Nail Trims – $5 to
at the door The Pet Connection
Your ‘fur-kids’ are welcome!
Raffle to Benefit Pet Connection Training Demo
Drinks & Hor Devours
Come. Stay. Mix. Mingle.

10. PET PALz
Monthly Donor Program
The Pet Connection
5918 Broadmoor, Mission KS 66202
913-671-PETS (phone) 913-362-8460 (fax)
Name_______________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________________________
Phone________________________Email_____________________________________
Amount ___$10 ___$25 ___$50 ___$75 ___$100 ___Other__________
ctç uç V{xv~
Please initial the transaction of your choice:
_____1st of each month _____15th of each month
Please attach a VOIDED CHECK from the account to be drafted.
I hereby authorize a bank draft to The Pet Connection on the account designated, for the amount agreed to above on the
date indicated above. I understand that it is my responsibility to notify The Pet Connection in writing if I wish to withdraw
from this program at any time. I further understand that if the check is dishonored or returned for any reason, that the
amount of the check plus a processing fee of $25 (legal limit) will be electronically debited from the account by CCF.
Signature__________________________________________ Date______________
ctç uç VÜxw|à VtÜw
Please initial the transaction of your choice:
_____1st of each month _____15th of each month
Type of card_______________________ Expiration date_______________________
Card Number______________________________________________
I hereby authorize a draft on the credit card account designated, for the amount agreed to above on the date indicated
above. I understand that it is my responsibility to notify The Pet Connection in writing if I wish to withdraw from this pro-
gram at any time.
Signature_________________________________________ Date_______________
The Pet Connection, Inc. is a licensed 501 (c) 3 organization. All donations are tax deductible.

11. Recycling—Go Green and Save Homeless Pets
The Pet Connection is pleased to announce that we have expanded our recy-
cling program! Recycling is an extremely important reality of the world we
live in. We must save our planet!!! Why not raise money to save homeless
cats and dogs while we’re at it!
Instead of throwing your cans away or taking them to the recycling center,
please bring them by The Pet Connection! Cans can be dropped off anytime
(open or closed hours) at our facility located at 5918 Broadmoor in Mission
KS. Our recycling bin is located on the south-east side of the building next
to the obedience center entrance.
We are also proud to announce recycling abilities for printer & toner
cartridges, old cell phones, laptops, & iPOD’s! Recycling boxes are lo-
cated in our main lobby “The Bratcher Lobby” and can be accessed any time
during open hours. Simply come in and place your product in the correct
box.
Want to do a fund raiser for The Pet Connection? Collect aluminum cans,
ink cartridges, or cell phones from your schools, your neighborhoods, your
clubs and bring them in! You’ll save the planet and you’ll save the lives of
homeless pets all at the same time.

12. The Pet Connection, Inc. is a licensed 501 (c) 3 organization. All donations are tax deductible.