11th Annual Project Puppy Awards 2019

Project Puppy 2019 Award Nominations

Thank you for taking the time to help choose the 2019 winners!! This year, we will have 4 weeks of voting. The top three nominees in each category will be recognized at Project Puppy on Saturday, October 26th at the Ramada Oasis Convention Center where we will announce your Project Puppy winners!!

EVENT DETAILS....

Our 11th Annual Project Puppy Gala will be held on Saturday, Oct 26th at the Ramada Plaza Hotel & Oasis Convention Center. Doors open at 6pm. Dinner and Awards will begin at 6:30pm. Join us for the Killuminati Foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year!!

Get all dolled up for this dinner, dance, silent auction, and live auction. We put a twist on the traditional fundraising event by featuring locally rescued dogs struttin' down the runway in custom designed outfits. (All the dogs in show are available for adoption and looking for their forever families.) Think Project Runway meets Killuminati!! Last year we had over 300 guests and raised thousands of dollars to help dogs suffering from serious medical issues.

At Project Puppy, we also get to recognize people in the animal community and show our appreciation. We will take nominations from the public for the following awards – Business of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Veterinary Office of the Year, and Rescue Story of the Year. We will also recognize someone in the community for the Hamaker Lifetime Achievement Award. The community will decide the winners through online voting, and winners will be announced at Project Puppy.

Project Puppy tickets are $40 per person or $350 for a table of ten - available on EventBrite during September - be sure to check back to our facebook page for the link and more details. If you’d like information about being a sponsor or have questions about the event, please email us at inspirelives@yahoo.com

IMPORTANT DATES & INFO TO KNOW....
*No animals/dogs are allowed in the event except for the approved rescue dogs in the fashion show.
*Voting round #1 - Ends on Sept 15th at 7pm - top 3 vote getters move on to round 2 and will be recognized at the event
*Final round of voting - Sept 16th - Sept 30th (ends at 7pm)
*Tickets on sale - Sept 15th - Oct 20th (limited seating available)
*11th Annual Project Puppy Gala - October 26th at The Ramada Oasis

LET THE VOTING BEGIN!! And be sure to SHARE your favorites to help get them more votes!!

Question Title

* 1. Who should be the 2019 Business of the Year?

THE BARKER SHOPPE - The Staff is so friendly and cares about their clients. They also work with the community to save homeless and unwanted animals. The staff volunteers their time and space to help rescues. They do so much to help Rescue One and take great care of their clients.

FETCH - I’d like to nominate Fetch as business of the year! The girls at Fetch are two of the kindest souls I’ve met. They donate not only their time but also their business and goods to so many local organizations and benefits. At my wedding this year, they donated some items to the adoptable dogs from Haven of the Ozarks to make them look a little more dapper! And boy did they all look great! A lot of their good deeds go without recognition, and that’s why I feel they deserve business of the year.

LEIGH'S LOST & FOUND - In the 7 years that Leigh's Lost and Found Facebook page has been established, the page has helped reunite thousands of lost/found pets with their owners. With over 61,000 followers; anyone that has lost/found a pet can be assured that many eyes will be watching out and many people will be there to assist them with their search for their missing pet or search for the owners of a pet they have found. Leigh's has helped reunite more than just the “typical” lost dog or cat. Their lost/found posts range from dogs/cats to snakes/turtles/spiders to guinea hens/fowl/rabbits/ferrets to goats/pigs/horses/farm animals. The page's resource lists (compiled by volunteer admins) are one of the most comprehensive lists in the area. The lists include vet assistance organizations; local rescues, wildlife help, low-cost clinics, emergency assistance organizations, a calendar of local events benefiting local organizations and so much more. Creating a post on the page has become one of the first suggestions on what to do when you have lost or found an animal. Leigh's amazing admins volunteer their time to do everything from running the page almost 24/7 to the occasional transport to help a dog get back to their rightful owners.

OZARKS FEHR TRADE ORIGINALS, LLC - This business has helped so many people & animals all over the world!! From custom-making wooden erasers for 4th Grader’s, to adopting or fostering many dogs, creating earth-friendly products that make all our lives better, saving pets, and designing custom baby items there isn’t anything these two can’t accomplish! They are a phenomenal business and definitely deserve Business of the Year!

NOMINATION #2 - Ozarks Fehr Trade is a great company that I would like to nominate for Business of the year. Ingrid and Gary are great people who have a great business that help animals all they can. They take in Foster pups and help to rehome them and they will help any animal that they know needs help. They have a fenced in yard and even work from home so the pups are almost never home alone. I think this company and this couple would make great representatives for Business of the Year.

NOMINATION #3 - I am nominating Ozarks Fehr Trade Originals, LLC for Business of the Year. I have been a customer of OFTO for several years. From the 1st interaction, the kindness, generosity, and excellent customer service of OFTO has been unparalleled. Their dedication to dog rescue and to providing for dogs and assisting shelters is amazing. Please consider OFTO!

OZARKS ENTERTAINMENT - I’ve worked with Marc for 1 ½ years with his OE Charity Poker events benefiting C.A.R.E. Animal Rescue. OE has helped raise over 1 million dollars for charities at events & poker tournaments, they have helped raise around $15,000 for C.A.R.E. this year. OE partnered with C.A.R.E. in weekly charity Texas Hold’em events at Schultz & Dooley’s Pub 3 days a week and Missouri Spirits on Fridays. Along with these weekly poker games, OE added an annual poker Tournament, Poker 4 Paws benefiting C.A.R.E. in 2018. September 21st OE will be holding its 2nd annual Poker 4 Paws Tournament. The tournaments for C.A.R.E. are separate from the weekly poker games and have added thousands of dollars to what OE raises for C.A.R.E. Marc and OE are a die hard combination for helping and giving donations to C.A.R.E.! Weekly games are very beneficial to C.A.R.E. to cover unexpected expenses for all the animals housed. OE started a weekly food drive for C.A.R.E. with the poker players bringing food or treats to receive an extra $5,000 in poker chips to play that evening. They have given 100’s of lbs. of food so far. Marc recently added two other OE weekly animal/veteran related charities; one from Joplin which provides trained service dogs to veterans and others with disabilities at no cost and a veteran related charity in Lake of the Ozarks both in the planning stages. Both are 501c3 organizations. What a blessing OE is to C.A.R.E. Animal Rescue!

SASSY'S GOODIES - I would like to nominate Sassy's Goodies for Business of the year. Nanette Willis has built the brand from the ground up and stands behind her products. She is always willing to setup and help whenever anyone asks and asks for nothing in return. It's a good feeling when you can pronounce the name of all the ingredients in the her products. Sassys Goodies also supports law enforcement and their K9 officers with handcrafted special K9 treats just for them, including some very special Greene County Sheriff's Department K9s featured on LivePD TV show!!

SASSY'S SPA - I would like to nominate Sassy’s Spa as business of the year. Ashley Richardson, owner and groomer, legitimately loves dogs and loves her job helping dogs look and feel better. The best business I would say is Sassy’s spa they groom the Greene County K9s and are always willing to help their clients plus they make dogs beautiful and happy. I would like to nominate Sassy's Spa as business of the year. Ashley and Pat always go above and beyond my expectations when I take my little Bentley there. They stay involved in community events and treat each client furbaby as their own. Amazing business ran by exceptional business owners.

Question Title

* 2. Who should be recognized as Volunteer of the Year 2019?

4 THE LOVE OF K9S - I’m not sure of a volunteer but the members of 4 the love of K9s Rescue are always amazing and willing to step up and help!

ELLIS NEWPORT - I’d like to nominate Ellis Newport for Volunteer of the Year. Ellis is a devoted pet lover, there is no doubt. But for her, volunteering is her way of helping as many pets as she can get proper care, love, and a great home. She has made a measurable impact as a passionate advocate for rescue dogs, especially Frenchies. Her volunteer activities are as varied as his skills, and they include: Fostering multiple dogs at once; Event Chairperson; public speaking and Missouri Leader for Bailing Out Benji; and District Leader for the Humane Society of the United States. She has also directly and personally raised thousands of dollars to help local rescues and her beloved French Bulldog community by leading fundraising events. No matter the task, if someone asks Ellis to help, or just needs help, Ellis will always cheerfully jump in and lend a hand or a hand up for her community and across the country. Ellis Newport puts in so much time as a volunteer, it would take several full time employees to replace her. Not only does she contribute to the pet community, she is a volunteer the local library.

JACKIE DECHEINE - If you've not heard the name Jackie Decheine , you aren't alone. Jackie is one of the amazing “rescue” people who keep their heads down but do so much for the community. Jackie has been an administrator of Leigh's lost and found facebook page for several years, in addition to helping reunite hundreds of lost/found animals in our local community through other pages. She is a wonderful sounding board and if she doesn't know something, she will find out and get back with you. She has done transports to help animals in need, paid for food for people in need of help with pet food, gone out in the middle of the night to check on an animal and so much more. She is one of the “unsung” heroes of the local community and deserves to be recognized.

JOY BUNSELMEYER - I would like to nominate Joy Bunselmeyer for volunteer of the year. She volunteers for a number of project all year long at Second Baptist Church. Excellent worker and friendly and loving person.

LESLIE SAWYER - I nominate Leslie Sawyer, who exemplifies kindness, as volunteer of the year. The unpaid cofounder/shelter director of Eden Animal Haven, she has rescued, provided care and found homes for hundreds of cats through the area’s first cage-free, no-kill cat shelter. She takes a personal interest in every cat, from the tiniest abandoned kitten to seniors whose owners have died, and dedicates herself to getting them into loving homes. She has rescued cats from roadsides (and even a cave), found foster homes, and done background checks on prospective adopters. She inspires volunteers and promotes EAH at every opportunity, in addition to her full-time job at Good Samaritan Boys Ranch. She took one special needs kitten to the ranch to teach boys that, although they are not perfect, they can find love and live productive lives. She is an ambassador for animal rights and works with other rescue groups to save as many lives as possible. She has served as a board member for SAAF Spay-Neuter Clinic, and takes every opportunity to work in the best interests of all animals.

PAM ADELMANN - I would like to nominate Pam Adelmann for the Volunteer of the Year award. Since moving to Missouri and retiring from a career of teaching and research in psychology, Pam has devoted herself to helping animals (and people) in need. She has been an active volunteer with Eden Animal Haven, a no-kill cat rescue/sanctuary, since helping with its formation into a nonprofit in 2013, and has served on the board of directors ever since, currently as president. She has been especially helpful with handling non-profit filings, writing grants, analyzing data, and producing the newsletter. Over the years, Pam has fostered many cats and dogs for several rescue groups, including Eden Animal Haven, Rescue One, and Watching Over Whiskers. Pam is also very active with other volunteer activities that help animals, including being an administrator on the Leigh's Lost and Found Facebook page, and being a regular overnight foster of dogs on transport with Kindred Hearts Transport Connection. She is a proponent of spay/neuter and served on the board of SAAF Spay Neuter Clinic from 2014-2017. Not only is Pam an advocate for animals, but she also regularly prepares meals for food-insecure people in Springfield through Gathering Friends for the Homeless. Pam has not lived in the area long, but she has made her mark with several animal welfare organizations, giving her time, expertise and financial support, thereby making a huge impact in animal and human lives alike. Pam is an inspiration to me and others, and I am honored to have her on our board of directors, as well as being my friend.

RESCUE ONE EMERGENCY TEAM - I wanted to nominate one of the amazing women from Rescue Ones Emergency Rescue Team. But it’s impossible to choose just one. I’d like to nominate them as a team. They are out almost every night, into the early morning hours, rescuing dogs from horrific situations. They sit with them at the emergency vet. They bathe them at 2 am so they can have their first nights good sleep without thousands of fleas and ticks. They don’t care if it’s pouring down rain, pitch dark, excessive heat or cold...they go when they get the call. These are all women with full time jobs and families. They are selfless and loving people whose hearts ache over the blatant disregard of the lives of animals in this community. They also are the first ones on the scene to try to find/trap a lost rescue one dog that has escaped the adopters. On lunch breaks, after work, middle of the night...these women are phenomenal and an asset to the rescue community.

RICHARD MORRISON - I would like to nominate Richard Morrison for volunteer of the year. Is he a grumpy old man, yes. Does he have one of the biggest hearts for animal rescue I know, absolutely. I first met Richard years ago while working to repeal BSL in Springfield. In the years I have know him and the years before he has been an animal advocate, a volunteer/foster for Rescue One and he now spends his time building safe traps, setting them up, monitoring them to save stray dogs that are living on the streets. It's probably a good time to mention that Richard is about 100 years old. Ok, maybe not 100 but real close. His recent rescue of a dog was a case he had worked on for over a year. These dogs are outside facing the danger of the elements, starvation, traffic and a number of other threats. Richard works to make sure these dogs are trapped in a safe manner and then they go on to be vetted and adopted into a home. Please give Richard Morrison your vote he is a hero to animals..even if sometimes he's a cranky old many to humankind. Ha!

SHERRY BRANDELL-LEE - It is my extreme honor and privilege to nominate Sherry Brandell-Lee for the award of Volunteer of the Year. I have known Sherry for 10 years and have fosters dogs for 4 The Love of K-9”s Rescue Group. I have never seen anyone give so selflessly of her time and resources to help animals in need. Sherry works a full-time position as a flight attendant and even while in the air traveling, she is networking, communicating with potential adopters, setting up adoption events, vet appointments and so many other logistical necessities in running a rescue. Sherry’s motto is that “all lives matter” from newborn puppies to seniors in their last days of life. She has stretched herself beyond limits this heart, taking on almost double the amount of pups over previous years. She participates in most meets-n-greets with the foster parent and potential adopter. Sherry is an advocate for animal rights. She has been there to conduct a rescue in the middle of the night and goes the extra mile ALL the time. Sherry is indeed a true leader whose goal is to save as many animals lives as possible, hoping never to loose one to euthanasia. Sherry has worked closely with Animal Control in Nixa and has gone to the personal expense of putting a dog in boarding while searching for the right foster home or family. I have not seen Sherry take much “personal” time when she is not flying. She hits the ground running as soon as she is back in town and never stops, even when boarding a flight. Her lay overs are monopolized with rescue business. For Sherry, this is always a 7/24/365 commitment. The foster volunteers that work with Sherry all speak very highly of her, and I, as a volunteer foster mom, which 12 fosters right now am honored to know and work alongside Sherry. I cannot think of a person more deserving of the award of Volunteer of the Year.

NOMINATION #2 - Sixteen years ago Sherry Lee began her volunteer rescue work while working Full Time for American Airlines. She has since established a 501c3 organization For The Love of K9’s. Sherry continues to fly full time while managing the entire foster based organization. Currently she manages 75 dogs health care, foster care and special training along with adoption events, adoptions and meet & greets along with the many volunteers she has working for and with her. She does all this as an unpaid volunteer and she is the acknowledged go to person for Nixa and Ozark. Many of the financial responsibilities fall squarely on Sherry’s personal shoulders and she does all of this with a sense of humor, professional attitude and immeasurable compassion. As long as I’ve known her she’s never said no to a dog in crisis. Where there’s a foster there’s a way! How she manages to be a full time volunteer and a full time employee continually astounds me. Her energy and her love for animals drives this tiny woman to do immeasurable good for our community.

Question Title

* 3. Who should be named the Veterinary Office of the Year 2019?

COBBLESTONE VETERINARY HOSPITAL

DIVINE VETERINARY CLINIC - I’d like to nominate Divine Veterinary Clinic as vet office of the year. Dr. Divine and his staff are nothing short of the dream team. Their selflessness and passion blows me away each time I walk into their office. Not only are they professional, but you know they truly care when they see your pet. Divine Veterinary Clinic is 15 out of 10 stars!

MCCLURE VET CLINIC - I’d like to nominate McClure Veterinary Clinic for Veterinary Office of the Year: Amazing is the word that comes to mind when you think of McClure Vet Clinic. An expert in her field, Dr. Meda McClure grew up in SW Missouri and has devoted herself to the care of all species of animals. She has chosen a staff that not only matches her talents, but her share her compassionate demeanor for treating geriatric pets, kittens and puppies and farm animals.

Rescue animals are a constant stream through the clinic and the foster parents are treated the same as if you bring your adopted pet in the doors. You will know the staff by name because they care about you as much as your pet. From puppies and kittens to surgery or geriatric care, Dr. McClure and staff are extremely knowledgeable. They are hospice experts, with mobile capabilities to handle vet visits and end of life services.

Expect this amazing team to laugh with you and cry with you as they walk with you to care for your pets every need. They make time for their patients and treat them as lovingly as their own.

ROUTE 66 PET CLINIC - I would like to nominate Route 66 Pet Clinic for veterinarian of the year. I have been very impressed with the “bedside manner” given by Dr Becky and her staff.

NOMINATION #2 - I would like to nominate Route 66 as the best vet in town. They are always happy to help and they definitely care and deserve to be noticed.

NOMINATION #3 - Dr Becky at route 66 pet clinic is the best vet I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. She has a compassion for animals and their humans. She is so passionate about animals and their care. She never treats you like you are second class if you can't afford a treatment and she will even go so far as to give advice on what to do in the meantime at home. If you call with a question it's always answered (usually the same day). She makes sure to check up on your pet the day after a visit and sometimes more if she is worried. The whole staff is amazing honestly. Everyone takes time to remember who you are and your pets. Going here is like going to see family.

NOMINATION #4 - I would like to nominate Pet 66 Pet Clinic for Veterinary office of the year. They are above all other veterinary places I have gone. Very good with all my pets and very accommodating if we have a problem. Friendly and courteous to everyone.

SPRINGFIELD VETERINARY CENTER - I nominate Springfield Veterinary Center for Vet office. They care so much about their clients and have gone above and beyond for our dogs. Drs. Wiseman and staff care about their clients. They always go above and beyond for their clients and their families. They truly care about animals and always do what is best for the animal.

Question Title

* 4. What is the BEST Rescue Story of the Year for 2019?

HENRY - Eden Animal Haven saved Henry from a hoarding situation involving 37 cats. He was covered in sores. Over several weeks they would seem to heal, then new ones would appear requiring stitches and antibiotics. Because his skin could tear just from running around like a normal cat, his activities had to be very limited.

After a veterinary dermatologist examined Henry, we learned he has a rare genetic disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a group of connective tissue disorders caused by a defect in the production of collagen.The bad news is that he will have this condition for the rest of his life. The good news: he can live a long and happy life in a safe environment, and it is not contagious!

Henry started wearing nail caps and kitty clothing to protect his neck and head from being damaged when he scratched himself or rubbed against things.

Then, things got even better for Henry! In April he was adopted by a kind man in Michigan who adores him and keeps his skin safe. Since then he has become quite the fashion plate, with his own Instagram account! Thanks to Eden Animal Haven, Henry was first saved from a miserable hoarding situation. Then he was saved again by persistent investigation into the cause of his skin sores, and finally he was saved by finding him a perfect home to live out his life.

RANGO – In 2016, Rango, a 3-year-old pit bull terrier – went missing from his Springfield, MO home. His family searched high and low for him but he was nowhere to be found. He was fixed, microchipped and registered with the city of Springfield under their BSL ordinances. In 2019, four years later, Springfield Animal Control picked up a stray grey pitbull with his microchip. Animal control tracked down the chip information to an owner's name, with an outdated phone number, a dog's name, and a lost report that the owner had put in with animal control 4 years ago when the dog was stolen. With a little detective work, and help from some amazing people on facebook, Rango's owner was tracked down through her facebook page. Sarah, the owner, was amazed that Rango had just turned up at animal control and immediately wanted him back. The problem? Sarah's husband was military and they now lived in Georgia. She didn't have the gas to drive there and back. Leigh's lost and found admins jumped to help, helping Sarah raise donations for gas money to get her halfway with the promise that some of the admins would bring Rango from Springfield, MO to Memphis, TN to be reunited with his owner. So on June 24, 2019, Rango was reunited with his family thanks to a microchip, Springfield Animal Control, and some amazing volunteers.

VIRGIL CAINE - Sweet soul, and needing a new home at 11 years old. Twice adopted before a year old, Virgil a black lab/heeler, spent the majority of his life as an outdoor dog, without much companionship. His elderly Mom was moving, without him.

Richard Brodie (2018 nominee) lost his best friend, Super Baby to bone cancer 18 months after finding his forever family after being a stray involved in a tragic hit and run accident that took his first best buddy. Devastated, Richard went on a quest to find a new best friend. The quest wasn’t easy. It was like a dog episode of The Bachelor, but not a single rose was offered.

Fate stepped in when Jeanna shared Virgil on Facebook.

When they met, it was the perfect match! Richard met dozens of dogs, but only Virgil made him happy. Virgil jumped in our truck and never looked back, cuddling with Richard on the way home.

Richard says, I’m nominating Virgil, because he has grown much since joining our family. He didn’t know his potential until given the opportunity to thrive inside his new home. He’s the first one to greet you, share his bed or play. His intuition is unreal as he walks with the ones that can’t see or hear and runs with the ones that need to spend some energy.