{Adoption Events} Cold Noses, Warm Hearts!

We're holding our second Mini-Super Adoption of the year and we need volunteers to help us out.

We will need volunteers help for the following positions, Bolded shifts are the most critical:

Roadies! THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITION: That’s right, people who are good at loading and unloading trucks and setting things up.

• Friday April 13, 8-9am Help needed at storage loading trucks in SLC, directions upon request
• Set-up: We need lots of help Friday April 13 starting at 9:30 am to set up the event at the Layton Petsmart, 750 N Main St.
• Sunday April 15, 4-6pm Tear-down and clean-up event, reload truck, follow us to storage if you can
• Sunday April 15 when we arrive a storage unload trucks in to storage unit in SLC, Directions upon request, we'll call you as we're on our way there

 Event Assistance: A good place for new volunteers; assist with event by watching gates, holding signs, cleaning up and directing people as needed.
• Saturday April 14th, 8-noon, noon-4pm, and 4-8pm
• Sunday April 15th, 7-11am, 11-3pm,and 3-6pm.(3-6pm also includes cleaning up.)

Cat Care: Cat care involves scooping litter boxes, making sure the cats have food and water, taking out trash and keeping the cat adoption area clean. You may need to help groups bring animals back and forth between event and trucks. Other tasks as needed.
• Saturday the 11th,8-noon, noon-4pm, and 4-8pm
• Sunday the 12th, 8-11am, 11-3pm,and 3-6pm.(3-6pm also includes cleaning up.)

Dog Care: Dog Care involves walking dogs, picking up poop, making sure they have water, shoveling up and replacing shavings that line kennel floors, taking out trash. Other tasks as needed. Not all groups will allow NMHPU volunteers to walk their dogs. Help rescue groups load and unload dogs as needed. Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Saturday April 14th,8-noon, noon-4pm, and 4-8pm
• Sunday April 15th, 7am - noon, noon -4pm

If you can help out please email me at kristinas@bestfriends.org as soon as possible! Let me know your full-name, phone number, email address and top three choices of where/when you would like to help out. We need the most help Friday and Sunday. All volunteers should come ready to help and be flexible if we need to reassign you.

Lucky in Love

The “Lucky In Love” Adoption Event at Salt Lake County Animal Services this past weekend was not only a ton of fun, but a great success as well! By the end of the weekend, 38 cats and 34 dogs had been adopted!

It always amazes me how choosing a fun theme for just a single weekend can have such an amazing impact on an adoption event.

With just a few lucky shamrock bandanas, an army of energetic volunteers, and an equally enthusiastic shelter and rescue staff, this event went off with great style! Kudos to Amber Randall, No More Homeless Pets in Utah’s Shelter Outreach Coordinator, and to Kristiina Stromness, Volunteer Coordinator at NMHPU, for assembling such a great group of volunteers to prepare all of Salt Lake County Animal Services’ cats and dogs for this weekend! An informational cage card, a bath or brushing, and a smiling human face to answer a potential adopter’s questions goes a long way.

On Thursday afternoon, I stumbled into Salt Lake County Animals Services as a happy staff helper, with not much of an idea of what had been prepared or what to expect. My first surprise was an auditorium FULL of volunteers, who had already assembled almost every cat tower needed to showcase adoptable cats for the weekend! (and that’s not an easy job-those towers are beat up, heavy, and often held together by a few zip ties!) I was so impressed.

Friday’s kick off to the weekend’s event was well-represented, with a special media spotlight with the

Salt Lake County Mayor, and a very proud, grinning from ear to ear, Salt Lake County Animal Services staff. This was the first time an adoption event I’ve attended had a start like that! Thanks, Mayor Corroon.

Throughout the weekend, I felt like I was floating through a dream; so many people coming in and out the doors, so many volunteers willing to help and talking to people and cleaning up litter boxes without even being asked, and keeping dogs busy with toys and walks!

One of my favorite things about these events is that every volunteer seems to pick an animal (or two,

or five) that they really connect with; and a new determination is kindled to find that one (or two, or five) dogs or cats a home during the weekend’s event. The excitement and passion at this opportunity to be the animals’ advocate is contagious, and it’s my favorite part about working with Salt Lake County Animal Services to help find shelter animals new homes in a new and fun way!


-Erin Olsen, Adoptions Coordinator

Volunteers Needed in Ogden for "My Furry Valentine" Adoption Event

Next weekend February 11th-12th we are hosting our first mini-Super Adoption event in Ogden! We’ve never gone this far north before and we need your help finding volunteers.

"My Furry Valentine" will be held the New Gate Mall in Ogden next to Mr. Mac. It’s open to the public Saturday February 11, 10am-7pm and Sunday February 2, 10am-4pm.

We will need volunteers help for the following positions, Bolded shifts are the most critical:

Roadies! THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITION: That’s right, people who are good at loading and unloading trucks and setting things up.
• Friday February 10, 8-9am Help needed at storage loading trucks in SLC, directions upon request
• Friday February 10, 10am-2pm or 2pm-6pm unload trucks and set-up at adoption event in Ogden
• Sunday February 12, 4-6pm Tear-down and clean-up event, reload trucks
• Wednesday February 15, 8-10am Unload trucks into storage unit in SLC, directions upon request

• Sunday February 12 around 6/7 pm Unload trucks in to storage unit in SLC, Directions upon request, we'll call you as we're on our way there

Event Assistance: A good place for new volunteers; assist with event by watching gates, holding signs, cleaning up and directing people as needed.
• Saturday the 11th,8-noon, noon-4pm, and 4-8pm
• Sunday the 12th, 7-11am, 11-3pm,and 3-6pm.(3-6pm also includes cleaning up.)

Cat Care: Cat care involves scooping litter boxes, making sure the cats have food and water, taking out trash and keeping the cat adoption area clean. You may need to help groups bring animals back and forth between event and trucks. Other tasks as needed.
• Saturday the 11th,8-noon, noon-4pm, and 4-8pm
• Sunday the 12th, 8-11am, 11-3pm,and 3-6pm.(3-6pm also includes cleaning up.)

Dog Care: Dog Care involves walking dogs, picking up poop, making sure they have water, shoveling up and replacing shavings that line kennel floors, taking out trash. Other tasks as needed. Not all groups will allow NMHPU volunteers to walk their dogs. Help rescue groups load and unload dogs as needed. Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Saturday the 11th,8-noon, noon-4pm, and 4-8pm
• Sunday the 12th, 8-11am, 11-3pm,and 3-6pm.(3-6pm also includes cleaning up.)

If you can help out please email me at kristinas@bestfriends.org as soon as possible! Let me know your full-name, phone number, email address and top three choices of where/when you would like to help out. We need the most help Friday and Sunday. All volunteers should come ready to help and be flexible if we need to reassign you.

Together we can save them all,

Kristina, Volunteer Coordinator

Meet Staff Member Ashley Farmer!

Hey there! I am Ashley Farmer and I am the new Voucher Program Specialist with No More Homeless Pets in Utah. In this position, I work to extend access to low-income Utahns for free spay and neuter surgeries through our Free Fix Program. I volunteered with NMPHU about 6 years ago at the Super Pet Adoption where I found Patches O’Houlihan—a half Irish Wolfhound, half standard poodle buddle of Iovin’. I count myself incredibly lucky to be working with this amazing group of people on behalf of all of these wonderful animals!

Let me tell you a bit about myself. I am a Virginian through and through. I was born in Richmond and grew up in Appomattox, VA (For you history buffs, that is the where the American Civil War ended.). Eight years ago, I found myself in Salt Lake City attending Westminster College (Go Griffins!) where I received my B.S. in Social Science with an emphasis in Political Science. During my time at “Westmini,” I really fell in love with the West. Everything is a bit more relaxed out here and open. In 2009 I made my way back to Westminster (Go Griffins, again!) and graduated in 2011 with my M.A. in Community Leadership.

My career aspirations have taken me into various positions within the Human Services and Nonprofit fields. I have worked with Salt Lake County Criminal Justices Services, screening those booked into Jail for pretrial release. I was the Grassroots Relationship Manager with the American Cancer Society, working with their Government Relations Department advocating for legislation for equal access to healthcare. I went over to The Road Home as worked as their Volunteer Coordinator. And then I was fortunate enough to be hired by NMPHU. There is a definite pattern in the positions I have held to advocate and provide services for those who are experiencing tough circumstance of various forms.

In my free time, I am an avid yogi. I practice Anusara Yoga and have started to venture to the hot world of Bikram Yoga. I try to escape often to Southern Utah for hiking adventures (I’m spoiled in that aspect since my Dad is a Utah State Park Ranger. I like to mooch off him to get into some really fun places.). I also love music and going to concerts (My first concert was Paul McCartney at 7 years old, thus, beginning a lifelong love affair with The Beatles.). Some of my favorite bands are the aforementioned Beatles, The Smiths, The Clash, Radiohead, The Pixies, and so many more. Plus, I have a great affinity for folky, bluegrassy, twangy, countryish music. (Sorry. Getting on a Music Soapbox for a sec.) I am also a firm believer that the only music worth buying should be on vinyl. I have the best group of friends that I like to get into various shenanigans with on a regular basis. I enjoy reading historical nonfiction and watching documentaries of the Ken Burns ilk. And finally, I am a volunteer with Catholic Community Services of Utah’s Refugee Resettlement Program and am having a blast working with a family from Bhutan right now as they adjust to life in the Salty City!

I have to say, I have had so much fun since I’ve started at NMPHU and am awe inspired by our dedicated staff and volunteers! Everyone is so nice, so funny, and have been so incredibly patient with me as a learn the ropes around here. Again, I count myself as being very lucky to be here and am very excited about the work we are all part of!