Johnson County, KS August 2024

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Kids & Pets Issue

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Kids & Pets Issue

Being a parent has been the greatest honor of my life. I think anyone with children would say the same thing. It is both rewarding and challenging and has pushed me to grow as a person more than anything I have experienced. The pure love you feel the moment you set eyes on them as they enter the world, or the joys of watching your children come into their own and grow into wonderful young adults is something I didn’t understand the full depth of until experiencing it firsthand. I remember being told when I first became a parent that having kids is like having your heart outside of your body walking around the world. If they hurt, you hurt more for them. That couldn’t be more true. As all mothers do, I have spent countless nights over the years worrying for them in one way or another (often in the middle of the night) about something they were going through. And at the same time feeling overjoyed for another child who was experiencing a big win in life.

The emotions of watching your child navigate through the ups and downs of life is something that I wasn’t quite prepared for, but it is so worthwhile. Some of my proudest moments as a parent are not necessarily when my kids have achieved great things, but rather when they have faced adversity bravely, and I had the privilege of having a front row seat at witnessing their strong character shine during those hardships. Oftentimes, the hard life lessons of the journey or health issues we face in life are the parts that refine us and make us better people. As a parent, it is so hard to not want to fix everything for your child so they don’t have to go through the hard times, but in doing so we would rob them of the very process of learning the life lessons obtained from those experiences.

With four kids, ages 15-21, I have had my fair share of watching my kids experience many facets of life from honors and great successes to disappointments and rejection, and it is not for the faint of heart. However, it is worth every bit of the journey, and there is no greater honor than to be there for every part of it.

My two oldest kids are in college now which brings its own set of unique experiences. I love the shift from a parenting relationship to that of a friendship, and thankfully they still need me and my parenting advice even though they are technically adults. I don’t think that ever goes away to be honest, because I still need my parents in my 4th decade of life. While I still have two younger kids, the shift in parenting has me thinking a lot about how fast these years fly by. Everyone told me it would go fast when the kids were little. It didn’t seem to at the time, but now looking back, it feels like those years of princess parties, legos everywhere and little league baseball flew by in a flash. I miss those days so much, but each new stage brings more richness and beauty, and I am thankful for each new milestone of parenting. What an amazing gift it has been that I don’t take for granted.

ANGELA BROOCKERD, EDITOR

@JOHNSONCOUNTYCITYLIFESTYLE

August 2024

PUBLISHER

Wade Kotarba | wade.kotarba@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Angela Broockerd | angela.broockerd@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Angela Broockerd, Allison Swan, Lisa Moyer, Judy Goppert

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Janie Jones, Jenny Wheat Photography

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Josh Govero

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsi Southard

Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.

Custom Homes

Barnhouse is a family-owned design + build company focused on new construction- from traditional stick-built or modified timber frame homes to pre-engineered steel or pole barn structures. Specializing in modern farm homes, Barnhouse harvests old barns to utilize reclaimed timbers and barn board to provide an enriching contemporary country feel. After building a foundation on open communication and honesty, Barnhouse helps bring visions to life.

The Adventures of Hattie and Hank

Teacher turned children's author publishes first book

ARTICLE BY ALLISON SWAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

Jordan Lowe's path to becoming a children’s book author is both inspiring and heartfelt. Holding a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, she spent five years nurturing a love for reading in first-grade classrooms. The spark for her book series ignited eight years ago when she shared photos from a New Zealand trip with her first grade students who were captivated by the images and eager to learn more.

“I tried finding grade level appropriate geography books to have in the classroom and noticed they were all geared towards intermediate readers with a lot of text and very few pictures,” says Lowe. “I wanted to create a nonfiction geography series that would bring the world into the laps of younger readers who are just starting on their reading journey.”

However, a career change, marriage and starting a family put this idea on hold.  In August 2023, dinner with her friend Chelsea Buchanan, an aspiring illustrator, rekindled the dream. They both worked corporate jobs and yearned to pursue their creative passions.

“That night, I asked her to illustrate the manuscript for the first book. Seeing the illustrations not only brought the book to life, but our dreams as well!”

They decided to self publish the series to maintain creative control, leading to the creation of Hen Hat Publishing. Over the past six months, Lowe and Buchanan have navigated the complexities of the publishing world, from formatting and editing to marketing and printing, all while cherishing the journey of creating something meaningful.

“The first book in the series, “The Adventures of Hattie and Hank”, introduces a geography obsessed girl, Hattie, and her trusty travel partner and family dog, Hank. Hattie’s love of geography, adventure and culture stem from her dad’s career as a photographer for a travel magazine. After years of settling for backyard adventures, Hattie and Hank finally get the chance to tag along on dad’s work trip. As the trip comes to an end, her dad accidentally sends his boss the pictures meant for her mom and they end up landing a gig as the faces of a brand new children’s travel magazine.

“This travel magazine is a non-fiction geography series that takes primary grade readers (kindergarten through 3rd grade) to places all over the world with their favorite tour guides, Hattie and Hank. The layout is picture heavy with grade-level appropriate text, so kids can confidently enjoy the content independently while laughing along the way. The books in the series are written as we travel to each place—the pictures are made up of photographs taken by me and hand-drawn illustrations created by Chelsea.”

She is inspired by her daughter and husband to bring these stories to life.

“I wanted to create a nonfiction geography series that would bring the world into the laps of younger readers who are just starting on their reading journey.”

“Seeing the world through Hattie’s eyes is a gift that I will never take for granted. Her curiosity for the world around her is inspiring! When Henry and I first met, we decided that we wanted to live a life full of adventure and love. He has shown an incredible amount of love and support for this book writing adventure. We’re expecting our second child in October and we can’t wait to have him join in on the fun!”

Preorders for signed first editions will start in August online.  For additional content, videos, free travel itineraries and more, visit Hattieandhank.com

THE PERFECT PAIRING:

Growing up in Kansas City in a house with two James Beard Award winning chefs, her mother, Debbie Gold and her father, Michael Smith, Misha Smith and her sister, Sophie, were raised surrounded by good food --- both at their parent’s restaurants and around the table at home.

Father and Daughter Chefs Michael and Misha Smith
Janie Jones Photography
"I learned early on that it was best to let Dad just order food for our table, because he always just knew what to get,” she explains.

“When I was young, I didn’t know that my parents were like known in Kansas City, until I would tell my friend’s parents who my parents were, there was always a big reaction,” remembers Misha.

Growing up she looked forward to Sunday suppers, a time she knew she would get to see her Dad. Whether they cooked together at home, or went out to eat, food was definitely their love language.

“I learned early on that it was best to let Dad just order food for our table, because he always just knew what to get,” she explains. “No matter what dish I ordered, I always

liked whatever my Dad was eating better than my own dish.”

While attending college, Misha found herself unsure of her future, so she dropped out. After her parent’s divorce, her Mom had moved to Chicago to start a successful new chapter in her culinary career, and that is where Misha found herself when she asked her Mom if she needed help at her restaurant. Misha had grown up in the business, so it felt natural to return to it while deciding what to do next. She enjoyed the fast pace, high energy, work with her hands. It made her feel useful and productive in a way college had not.

Jenny Wheat Photography

When the pandemic hit, it was her Dad, and his wife and business partner, Nancy Smith, who invited Misha to come back to Kansas City to work with them at their growing restaurant group. The couple have developed what has now become an entire block of restaurants in the heart of downtown Kansas City. They started with his namesake restaurant, Michael Smith Restaurant, followed by their Mediterranean tapas spot, Extra Virgin, and finally opened Farina, their rustic Italian concept. The space that was formerly Michael Smith Restaurant has recently been remodeled as an extended dining room for Extra Virgin, along with EV Grab n’ Go, a local market that is soon to be open to the public.

Proving that she was a quick learner with leadership skills, Michael soon promoted Misha to the sous chef for Extra Virgin. Yet, no matter who you are in his restaurant group, everything still has to be run by Chef Michael. Daughter or no, if you needed feedback, he was going to give it to you.

“When Misha mentioned that she wanted to cook, I had concerns. Although, I personally struggle with this, I told Misha, it is okay to ask for help,” says Michael. “We are a team here.”

Misha says she has learned a lot working with her Dad.

“The biggest lessons my Dad taught me in this industry is to stay humble, never ask someone to do something you aren’t willing to do yourself, and the importance of treating people like you want to be treated,” explains Misha.

Today, Misha, who is 27 years old, is working as the sous chef at Farina with Michael, who is 63. The two enjoy working together, even if they share their love for cooking in slightly different ways. Michael likes to pass along cookbooks he found influential in his career, while she shows him dishes from inspiring chefs she follows on Instagram.

Top: Jenny Wheat Photography
Bottom: Jenny Wheat Photography
“The biggest lessons my Dad taught me in this industry is to stay humble, never ask someone to do something you aren’t willing to do yourself, and the importance of treating people like you want to be treated,” explains Misha.

“If I could be cooking anywhere right now it would be with Chef Josh Niland, who lives in Australia, and has an amazing whole fish butchery book that I really love,” says Misha. “I have been working with my Dad for four years now, and I am committed to being here for at least another two, and then I think I’d like to move somewhere else and cook for a while.”

When you ask the father and daughter chef team about the future, Michael quickly mentions he plans to retire in 8 years and wants to leave the restaurant group to Misha if she wants it.

“I hope by then to have seen enough of the world that I would be ready to come home and take over the reins from my Dad,” says Misha with a smile.

TREAT YOURSELF TO A BETTERBEHAVED DOG

Whether your pup has the obedience of a dog show finalist, or social behavior that makes you want to play dead around others, you can develop more owner confidence with help from this expert trainer.

“Socializing your dog is beneficial for both dogs and their owners,” says Taryn Tyler, founder and owner of Teacher Turned Trainer LLC. “It creates confidence for both dogs and owners and displaces the anxiety we feel when our dogs aren’t behaving like we want them to.”

Taryn says that boundaries can be learned by dogs of any age.

“There’s a nasty perception along the ‘can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ line of thinking,” she says. “While you can’t take a dog with serious behavioral issues and completely turn them around 180 degrees, you CAN make improvements in how you understand your dog and how they understand you. Dog training isn’t just for struggling pups either. Creating a relationship between you and your canine based on confidence, reliability and reward can turn a good dog into a great dog.”

Taryn stresses that teaching a dog to sit or stay is less about tricks and more about the relationship that builds between animal and owner. “That, in turn, fosters an environment where the next time a family hosts Thanksgiving or has friends over, my clients and their dogs fall into the habit of obeying commands because of the confidence built through all the work put in beforehand.”

A native of Johnson County, Taryn went to Shawnee Mission Northwest High School and the University of Kansas where she received her degree in Elementary Education. She taught elementary school for five years in the Shawnee Mission School district before she changed careers. She began her certified dog-training business in 2022 and has seen huge success in only two years.  She and her husband live in Waldo and are the proud dog-owners of Sinclair (Staffordshire Terrier), Glenda (Great Dane) and Tallulah (Terrier mix).

Taryn is a positive reinforcement, forcefree trainer, rewarding positive behaviors and ignoring negative ones. Her sessions are in-home where behaviors are likely to present themselves. “It’s easy to learn in a clinical environment, but if you can’t carry the behaviors into the real world, then what’s the point? How does a dog respond when a spouse or kids come home, or when everybody’s silent family member—the Amazon guy—drops off a package? These scenarios happen organically through in-home training that are hard to replicate in a facility.”

Taryn’s Dog

Socializing Tips

• “Socializing is more than taking your dog in public. A guy can dump a bunch of mulch in your driveway and spread it, but he’s not a landscaper until he’s following a plan. When the doorbell rings or a visitor comes into the house, what’s our expectation for the dog? When we’re in public and the dog’s attention is diverted, what’s our plan to refocus them? Socialization is 99 percent working on small steps as part of a larger plan.

• Socializing isn’t about our dogs being the center of attention in public. Everyone loves seeing a dog, but our best outcome for the dog is to go unnoticed. Sitting by our side, ignoring external stimuli, remaining calm— those are things we strive for when socializing a dog.

• When socializing dogs with other dogs, I suggest starting small. Take a walk with another dog to get them to just exist in the same vicinity. Once they’re able to not be excited by the other dog, work on limited playing in controlled environments.

• If someone comes into your home, let them know what boundaries you’re working on with your dog. I even suggest asking them to carry a few treats and work on some of the behaviors your dog is already comfortable with.”

Taryn then meets clients for field trips in public places like parks or dog-friendly stores. She says she loves to see the “light bulb moment” in dog training.

“You can see the wheels turn in a dog's head when we’re working on a new skill or behavior, and they get so excited the first time they do it right without correction or redirection.”

Even dogs with a troubled history can achieve improvement.

“We all love our dogs, but they can be stressful when they can’t seem to click in our home environments. Working with my clients and dogs to just get back to a baseline of comfortability is so rewarding. Luckily, we usually move further than that pretty quickly.”

For more info, contact Taryn at: teacherturnedtrainer@gmail.com teacherturnedtrainer.com

How to throw a birthday bash for your four-legged friends

Once your dog is able to socialize with other pets, playdates are a great way to encourage good play behavior. One way to celebrate your pup’s birthday is to celebrate with their favorite furry friends. Here are a few helpful tips for making your gathering a success.

• Set up play areas for your furry guests to enjoy. This can include a doggy pool or splash pad, chew toys, frisbees, and don’t forget the pet-friendly bubbles.

• Offer party guests birthday attire such as a birthday hat, bandana or party outfit. Set up a photo wall for pet owners to get photos with their furry friends in their birthday outfits. Better yet, make it a costume

competition, and invite guests to come dressed up ready to show off their pup’s attire.

• Create a treat display with a pet-friendly birthday cake and various chewy snacks for guests to give their pups.

• Party favors are a must to end your festivities with a bang. Fill party bags with bouncy balls, treats, and petfriendly bubbles to send your guests off with a smile.

Explore Branson

The adventures are endless, and seasonal attractions are offered all year round.

Just a short three hour drive from Kansas City,  Branson is bustling with activities for all ages to enjoy. The beauty of the hill country, and the access to multiple entertainment options and outdoor adventure makes this a unique and adventurous getaway. Spend a day exploring all the strip has to offer from go karts, to bumper cars, specialty shops, dining, outlet malls and more, or explore a cave on the outskirts of town. If a country-styled theme park is on the itinerary, be sure to visit Silver Dollar City which is nestled in the heart of the Ozark mountains. This award winning adventure park has something for everyone for the young and the young at heart, to adrenaline junkies and  thrill seekers. The adventure doesn’t stop there, as the park boasts culinary country delights and a variety of popular treats like their famous salt water taffy,  and entertaining shows are offered at various times throughout the day.

After a day of exploring the sites and activities that Branson has to offer, wind down with a lakefront stay at Chateau on the Lake. This impressive resort offers breathtaking views of Table Rock Lake and access to a lakefront beach for swimming and sunbathing, or visit the marina for water sport rentals, boat rentals or fishing. Rental rates are reasonable and offer a way to spend time enjoying the expansive and clear Table Rock water. If spending time at the resort is more down your alley, Chateau by the Lake offers a large lakefront pool, indoor pool, on-site spa, multiple restaurants with expansive menus, bar

service, sports courts, movie theater room and an ice-cream shop. Enjoy watching the sunset at one of the many indoor or outdoor seating areas that offers breathtaking views of the pool and lake. If visiting on the weekend, be sure to stay for Sunday brunch from the award-winning chef at Chateau Grill. From the fine dining offerings at the Chateau Grille and casual dishes at Atrium Cafe to the snacks and espresso bar at the Sweet Shoppe and spirited drinks at the Library Lounge, you’ll find something for everyone.

Don’t forget to save time to take in one of the many shows Branson has to offer. One of the most popular shows, and for good reason, is seeing the Haygoods at Clay Cooper Theater. This electrifying, engaging and thrilling show is a must-see. The visual effects, lighting, array of musical instruments and smartly choreographed dances leaves the audience wanting more.  Bring the whole family for this one, because it is enjoyed by all ages. The 6 Haygood siblings embody talent and class. Another well-loved show is Dolly Parton’s Stampede. This dinner show attraction features horses and trick riders, special effects, and amazing performances while enjoying a 4-course meal.

The adventures are endless, and seasonal attractions are offered all year round. While spring and summer are popular times to visit the area due to the access to Table Rock Lake, fall and winter offerings are festive and the perfect location to make family memories and enjoy the sights, tastes and smells of the season.

The adventures are endless, and seasonal attractions are offered all year round. “ ”

JETGIRL’S ELECTRIC

OVERLAND-PARK LOCAL ANNA GLENNON SHREDS COMPETITION AS 9-TIME JET SKI CHAMPION AND 1ST PLACE ELECTRIC POWERBOAT RACER

Professional Jet Skier Anna Glennon, 28, cut her teeth on watersports when she was just a toddler at the Lake of the Ozarks, according to her grandmother.

“I have a picture of Anna with me on a Sea Doo with a pacifier in her mouth,” says Bonnie Glennon of Overland Park. “Now she’s a World Champion and 8-time U.S. and Canadian National Champion.”

ARTICLE BY LISA MOYER

Anna grew up at her family’s lake home, where she and younger sister, Jessie, learned to ride stand-up jet skis. Anna credits her father, John, with her start in racing.

“My father was a gear head growing up and studied to become a master mechanic,” Anna says. “His influence led me to find an interest in motors and powersports at a young age, and he made a point to teach me the mechanical side of things—I wasn't allowed to sit on my hands by any means. My younger sister raced for a short time, before she found her own passion as a musician. My mother is the glue that keeps us together and taught us to be kind and gracious. My parents did a great

job helping us find our passions and turn them into careers.”

Anna recalls her dad taking them to a race in Lawrence, KS when she was about 15.

“My sister and I saw 10-year-olds racing, and I jokingly told my dad that we could easily do this. That was the only sign he needed! He researched how we could compete in our first race, and we started piecing together our own program.”

In 2013, Anna won her first national championship. With her dad as her mechanic, Anna took the Men’s Classic Two-Stroke World Championship title. To date, she remains the only woman to do so in International Jet Sports Boating Association history.

“THE WHOLE TEAM IS FIERY AND PASSIONATE ABOUT RACING, YET WE’VE COME TOGETHER LIKE A FAMILY DESPITE BEING THROWN TOGETHER IN THIS UNIQUE NEW ADVENTURE.”

After graduating from the  University of Central Missouri (Warrensburg) in digital media communications, she moved to the Jet Ski capital of the world, Lake Havasu, AZ, to continue training and to focus on marketing and media in powersports.

Known as Jetgirl777, Anna is now the owner of  MotorActionMedia.com and Jet Girls Racing. Her work has been featured in nearly every personal watercraft magazine in the world, along with video production on YouTube’s Jet Girls Racing

“Unlike a lot of professional racers, I still maintain a day job as a PR executive,” Anna says. “I also build and maintain all my personal race equipment myself and do all

my personal marketing. It's a lot of work, but it all pays off.”

Her biggest payoff yet is her recent 1stplace finish in the E1, the world's first all-electric powerboat championship sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the world governing body of powerboating.

The championship features 12 mixed-gender teams competing in electric RaceBirds. Several celebrities have become owners, including NFL’s Tom Brady, Actor/Producer Will Smith, and Team Miami, owned by Musician Marc Anthony—five-time Grammy winner and minority owner of the Miami Dolphins.

Anna signed with Team Miami as a pilot, along with Erik Stark of Sweden. The competition began in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on February 2, 2024 and will conclude in Hong Kong in November at the Grand Prix Finale.

“Joining the E1 World Championship has been one of my favorite adventures of my career,” Anna says. “I was invited to participate in their Pilot Academy last year. I was trained by official UIM instructors in powerboat racing and tested the one-of-a-kind RaceBird in Lake Maggiore, Italy.”

Based on those results, Anna received offers from other race teams, but she chose Team Miami.

“It’s been a joy to be with Team Miami. The energy and environment have been wonderful, and it all starts with Marc. While he may be a superstar, he levels with us as human beings and lives every minute with us. The whole team is fiery and passionate about racing, yet we've come together like a family despite being thrown together in this unique new adventure.”

Anna says at the season opener in Saudi Arabia she was just hoping to run a good race. “We ended up qualifying 10 seconds faster than everyone else. It was eye-opening that we could be competitive in this championship.”

Then came Venice, Italy and more recently Puerto Banus, Spain, where they battled conditions the RaceBird had never experienced. Choppy waters, 10-foot swells and technical failures eliminated Team Brady and others, but Team Miami raced to 1st place in front of thousands of spectators.

Anna says the journey has been incredible.

“As a kid from Kansas, I cannot express how grateful I am for this opportunity,” she says. “Not only to represent my country, but to represent ‘the little guy.’ On top of living out a childhood dream, I’m also a part of something bigger. E1 Series works to preserve and restore precious waterways through charitable projects. As someone who grew up around the water—and whose life was ultimately shaped by it—it means a lot to be part of a race series that also doubles down on good causes.”

Anna says she’s grateful for support from friends and family throughout her career.

“These days I tackle a lot of challenges alone, but I feel confident knowing I have great people in my corner who care about me. As someone who grew up an outcast, an ugly duckling, and felt as though the world kept trying to beat me down— it's important for me to remind people to keep pushing. Hard work is rewarded, good people connect with good people, and at some point, a door will open for you to stick your foot in it. I'm very proud of the person I’ve become thanks to powersports. I used to be so shy and unsure of myself. Powersports has given me a new passion for life. To race around the world as part of my career—it’s a dream.”

facebook.com/jetgirlsracing https://linktr.ee/jetgirl777

CARING FOR ANIMALS BROUGHT MEANING TO THIS CEO

FINDING SOLACE

ARTICLE BY ALLISON SWAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

Sydney Mollentine is the president and CEO of The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City. She discovered her pas-

two feet, and for years I thought I was teaching them.  I guess you could say I was born to do this.”

"I FOUND REFUGE IN BEING AROUND ANIMALS. SITTING WITH A

SCARED ANIMAL AND HELPING THEM BUILD CONFIDENCE TAUGHT

HARD

THINGS, TOO."

sion for animal welfare at 13 when volunteering at a local animal shelter. She found solace and purpose in caring for animals, a refuge from the bullying she endured at school. Homeschooled by her mother, a leader in the nonprofit sector, her curriculum was tailored around nonprofits and animal welfare, fostering her desire to learn everything about animals and shelters. Her early experiences taught her invaluable lessons, shaping her into the dedicated advocate she is today.

“I found refuge in being around animals,” says Mollentine. “Sitting with a scared animal and helping them build confidence and getting adopted taught me I can do hard things, too. It’s funny, when I look back on my childhood I find myself coming full circle—those animals taught me more about how to be brave and how to stand on my own

ME I CAN DO

Over the past ten years, she immersed herself in every aspect of animal sheltering, learning the importance of each role within a shelter and how they contribute to running a successful nonprofit.

“My favorite quote that I have lived by for decades is by Mahatma Gandhi: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” I often tell myself, and my team, when an animal comes to us broken, discarded, abused, or on the brink of death, it is normal to feel a sense of anger, sadness, frustration— we must remember, when an animal shows up at our doorstep beyond broken, it is often one the hardest of days for us, but it is most certainly the best of days for the animal.  And that is why we show up every day. The work we do is truly changing the lives of thousands of animals so they can have a great life.”

In her current role, Mollentine serves the greater metropolitan area. This diverse community is united by a deep love for their pets. However, Kansas City is also one of the most underserved areas, with limited resources for affordable veterinary care and pet owner support. The Humane Society bridges this gap, providing essential care and resources to local pets in need.

Annually, the organization sees over 10,000 animals in its clinic, offering life saving vaccines, surgeries and emergency services. Since 1912, the Humane Society has been a constant presence in the community, committed to expanding its impact. Future plans include community outreach programs, a mobile veterinary clinic, and developing social work infrastructures to support the human-animal bond.

The upcoming Paws & Purrls Gala is set for later this year.

“Our Paws & Purrls Gala that will be held on Thursday, October 10th, 2024 at The Abbott, aims to celebrate the hundreds of thousands of pets we have helped as well as build support and donor funds to help us continue our mission into its next phase of growth and development. Our gala is vital to the success of our city and the people and pets within. We are the only resource available for thousands of residents, and the only affordable option for thousands more.  Our organization is growing at a rapid pace and we are wanting to bring on supporters and sponsors whose philanthropic mission aligns with our values. Together, we can make our city the place people and pets want to be.”

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