Every other Friday we will feature a different volunteer.  If you would like to participate, please email me at [email protected].  Thanks!

It takes a great person to be an avid volunteer, and we have a great guy for you today!  Mike Deathe is an avid pet lover who found his passion as a dog trainer in 2008. Since then he has trained hundreds of pet parents on how to live with their companion animals. He writes the keep it simple stupid dog blog (K.I.S.S.) and is a resident expert for Petocracy. He authored The Book of Pee and Poop, and Forever Home — Dog 101 and How to be a Better Shelter Volunteer. Mike is also co-host of the radio show It Happens. Mike has two great kids, Donovan and Dylan, who keep him busy when the four dogs and a cat are not J Mike’s biggest passion besides his kids, four legged and two, is helping folks just like you get a better understanding of just what your pooch is trying to tell you day in and day out!

He started volunteering simply to help people out.  “I’ve always believed in sending good stuff out into the world,” said Mike, “The more good stuff you send out, the more good stuff comes back to you.”  He executes that belief by volunteering at a few of his favorite organizations:  Humane Society of Greater KC (KSGKC) and Harvesters Local Elementary Schools with his dog Leo (they are a READ team).

Volunteering has made quite an impact in Mike’s life.  One of the best ways it benefits him is the change he has seen in his boys, Donovan and Dylan.  By watching him volunteer, they have started asking to volunteer themselves at food drives, for Boy Scouts, etc.  It also benefits him when he makes presentations at the HSGKC and can see the wheels start to turn.  He really loves seeing the excitement of the volunteers wanting to go make a difference in the dogs’ lives at the shelter and being able to give those volunteers the tools they need to help them help dogs find forever homes.

You can visit Mike at his blog: KISS Blog, or his website: KISS Dog Training.  Also, don’t forget to check out his books on Amazon.  (I’ve had the honor to start reading them and I highly recommend them!)

I’ll leave you with a quote from Mike:  “Every person in the world has a passion.  The question is, will you find a way to help others while enjoying your passion?”