JANUARY 2021
Ozarks Kat and K9 is a small but mighty NO KILL shelter operating in the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks for over 30 years
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Thrift store hours are Monday through Saturday 10am - 4pm.
Shelter hours are Monday through Saturday 12pm - 4pm.

*FACE MASK/COVERS ARE REQUIRED FOR ENTRY TO BOTH
THE SHELTER AND THRIFT STORE BUILDINGS*

Open dates/hours for both buildings are subject to change due to the current COVID-19 situation and state/local regulations. Please watch our SHELTER and THRIFT STORE Facebook pages for the latest updates, scheduling changes and weather-related closings.
PLAY YARD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IN THE WORKS
Two generous lake area couples are spearheading a project to improve one of our fenced-in dog play yards. The smaller of our two play yards is located between the back of the main shelter building and the quarantine building. As you can see in the photo, this yard is gravel and can be rough on doggie feet.

Mike and Christy Wright have teamed up with Mike and Christy Otten to raise money to have this play yard resurfaced in drainable, pet friendly artificial turf that will be more comfortable for the dogs and allow us to easily clean and disinfect the area. Paradise Lawn and Landscaping will do the work to remove the gravel, grade the area and install the turf. We are so excited about what this upgrade will mean for the dogs in our care!

If you would like to contribute to this project, Christy Wright has set up a Paypal link for donations HERE. 100% of funds raised will go to the project, with any extra being donated to the shelter.

The artificial turf has been ordered and is on its way, thanks to the Ottens. We can't wait to get started on this project and show it off after it is completed! Thanks so much to everyone who donates!
THRIFT STORE NEWS
The thrift store is looking for glass display cases for jewelry, along with jewelry busts and stands to revamp and add to that section of the store. If you have any displays that you would consider donating, please contact store manager Penny at 573-374-2639.

Don't forget - thrift store volunteers are always needed! All proceeds from the store go towards the care of our animals.
Help with spay & neuter costs for low income pet owners is available through our financial assistance program, with surgeries primarily done at Lake Dog and Cat Veterinary Hospital in Laurie, MO. Call 573-552-7743 and leave a message for information and referrals. Your call will be returned as soon as possible.
THE STORY OF LADY
Two year old shepherd mix Lady has been with us since November 4, after spending eight weeks on the run. She has made amazing strides in the past few weeks, but still has a long way to go until she will be ready for adoption. Her story is one that has involved much time and many faces. It is a prime example of how many individuals and organizations can come together to improve the life of one animal.

Click HERE to watch a video about the beginnings of Lady's journey with us. You might want to grab a tissue first!
If you wish to help support OKK9 at this time in a "social distancing" approved manner, monetary contributions can be made using the DONATE button on our Facebook page.
Our animals appreciate you!
ONLINE ADOPTION FORM!
Our online adoption application makes it easier for potential adopters to apply for a new family member! Click the "Adopt, Don't Shop" photo to fill out and submit the form directly from your phone or computer.
IN MEMORY OF MURPHY
Murphy was a handsome golden retriever, the pride and joy of Jeff and Diane Cooper, formerly of Sunrise Beach. Affectionately known as "Smurf", he was a beloved pet and award-winning show dog. The Coopers donated the money to establish Murphy's Spay and Neuter Clinic as a part of our organization, which was then known as S.T.A.F.F. Murphy was present at the clinic's groundbreaking, watching over the event from his seat in a bobcat. Murphy passed away at the age of 12, just two hours before the clinic's ribbon cutting ceremony in 2012. The Coopers liked to think that his spirit watched over the clinic and all the canine and feline clients there.

During the eight years Murphy's Clinic was open, thousands of animals, both shelter residents and lake area pets, were spayed and neutered each year. The OKK9 Board of Directors made the decision to close Murphy's Clinic last year because evolving technology and advancements in the field of veterinary medicine created the need for additional investments that were simply not practical for our facility. We formed a partnership with Lake Dog and Cat, LLC in 2020 to perform veterinary services for our shelter animals. We are still able to offer financial assistance with spay and neuter costs, thanks to various grants.

Without the generous support of the Coopers, OKK9 would not be where it is today. Thousands of lake area animals were helped because of their gift to us and the community. We will continue to honor Murphy by displaying his portrait and memory book at the OKK9 shelter building, so our visitors will be able to learn about and remember what a tremendous impact he and his family made.
PEOPLE OF OKK9 - EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
(by Angi Uber, Shelter Manager)

This month, we would like to highlight a VIP in our organization. Meri (Hall) Tilley is our superhero behind the scenes and on the frontlines. She began her growth here at the shelter in July of 2018 as an Animal Care Technician. Being the cat-lover that she is, it came easily for her to expand her knowledge in that area of animal welfare. Over time, her education has surpassed our expectations, and she has risen to every call to action. She has fostered several of our kittens, including special needs cases. She likes to call herself the “Meowmy” of our little purr boxes and now has 8 of our feline alumni in her own home. She was promoted to Feline Lead in November 2019. Just a few months later, in February 2020, Meri became the face of our Front Office. She handles all paperwork for our daily operations. She has also excelled at her new duties as Social Media Coordinator and as creator and editor of our monthly Newsletter, the OKK9 Scoop. Meri also has redesigned and manages our website. Her love of animals, computer savviness, and superb organizational skills are some of the many reasons we consider her our own version of Wonder Woman.
JOIN OUR NEW FACEBOOK FUNDRAISING GROUP
There are fun and games aplenty in our new fundraising group on Facebook! We have already completed several raffles for some terrific prizes. Come join us for chances to win while helping raise money for the animals of OKK9. Some events will be open to local members only, but we have plenty of things planned that will include our supporters that live away from the Lake area too.

Click HERE to join
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The OKK9 Board of Directors meeting is the third Wednesday of each month at 3:30pm. Meetings are held in the shelter building's assessment room and are open to the public.
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*COMMUNITY BARKS & MEOWS*
Rocky Top Bar and Grill owners Denny and Lisa Graue, along with several of their employees, visited OKK9 on January 4th to present a check for $1210 collected during their New Year's Day guest bartender event. We are honored and so appreciative to be the chosen recipient for this generous gift. Thank you so much to the Graues and their team and customers for helping our animals!
OUR ANIMALS THANK YOU!
Ozarks Kat & K9 Shelter
17290 Hwy 5 N
Sunrise Beach, MO 65079
573-374-2629 staff3@earthlink.net
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
The OKK9 Scoop is distributed monthly. Email okk9scoop@gmail.com with questions/comments on the content within.