Lily and Noel pose in their kissing booth at the Hero's Hope Pet-Assist fundraiser on May 7, 2011.
Hero’s Hope Pet-Assist, a non-profit organization started by three women with a love for animals and people, held a fundraiser May 7, 2011, in Smithville, Mo.
Smithville resident Gina Westpfahl, Liberty resident Heddie Leger, and Edgerton resident Deborah Pack all have ties to animals in different ways. Through their work with animals, however, one thing became clear. People who are elderly, disabled or terminally ill need a way to get their health care needs met and know their animals will be alright in their absence.
“We take that burden off their shoulders,” Pack said. “We raise money to feed and care for the animals but also get them shots if the owner can’t afford them.”
The fundraiser was held in the parking lot of For Pet’s Sake with games, prizes donated by local businesses, a bulldog kissing booth and a dog fashion show. First place in the fashion show went to a Pomeranian named Chloe owned by Kurstin Martin, second place went to Bosco owned by Lawrence Dray, and third place to Pogi owned by Myla Davis.
The admittance fee was a bag of dry dog or cat food. Pack said the fundraiser garnered 95.5 pounds of pet food. The organization also received $238 in donations, and one dog was adopted.
“This is really good considering it was our first event in Smithville, and it was a weekend that landed on Mother’s Day, graduation and kids’ ball games,” Pack said.
K.C. Wolf was on hand to help usher people into the parking lot on U.S. 169 Highway. Smithville Mayor Brian Fullmer, members of the Smithville Police Department and the Smithville Fire Department made appearances at the fundraiser. Many of them, including the mayor, received kisses from Pack’s bulldog named Lilly.
Winners of the dog fashion show at Hero's Hope Pet-Assist fundraiser: (center) 1st place-Chloe with Kurstin Martin; (right) 2nd place-Bosco with Lawrence Dray; 3rd place-Pogi with Myla Davis.
Pack, a teacher at Outreach Christian School in Avondale, enlists the help of Lilly with her pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. The bulldog has attended class, sat with the children while they read, and will graduate with the students this month. But Lilly is different than most dogs the children have known – he is deaf. Pack said he has helped the young children learn to look past what’s on the outside and see what’s on the inside.
“Lilly doesn’t hear with his ears,” Pack said. “He hears with his heart.”
Leger, who is a certified dog trainer, owns the Rottweiler for which the organization is named. Hero is a therapy dog that was diagnosed with cancer. So far he has beaten the disease. Leger said she has one story she likes to tell that represents the kind of help that Hero gives to others who are sick. She said a woman who was in hospice wouldn’t speak to anyone until the day Hero came to visit her. Leger said the woman smiled and began talking to him. She improved daily until she was released.
“Not every patient has this dramatic of a recovery, but many will ask for a therapy dog such as Hero as part of their last wishes,” Leger said. “The dog helps them connect with their past life and good memories. The dog brings the world to them.”
Westpfahl is a cat lover, and she owns two cats, one of which was tortured. She said Olivia has no tail, is missing one-half an ear and only has one eye. Fiona is deaf. Westpfahl said she likes taking care of imperfect cats.
“I want to try to get people to see when you adopt an animal, it doesn’t have to be perfect,” Westpfahl said. “When you get it home, it can be the perfect cat.”
Pack said that all of these animals represent segments of the population that Hero’s Hope Pet-Assist would like to help: the elderly, terminally ill and the disabled.