Make Me Smile

The Make Me Smile Program Shelter Dentistry Grant was created to provide assistance to shelter organizations who provide medical services under the supervision of a veterinarian, for grant money towards purchasing the necessary dental equipment to help make pets more adoptable. Along with the funds to acquire the dental equipment, high-speed dental delivery and dental radiography for instance, the Foundation organizes a full-day of on-site educational and hands-on training event for the clinical staff with a Boarded Veterinary Dentist and Veterinary Technician Specialist (Dentistry) to ensure they are confident and competent in their clinical dentistry skills.

The Foundation’s Make Me Smile Program has performed similar missions for the last 10 years but has found that the funds to acquire the proper dental equipment is the main obstacle for moving forward with an otherwise motivated and enthusiastic shelter team who recognizes that providing basic dental care to their shelter population is not only good medicine but also helps improve the adoptability of their animals.

Grant applications are considered annually and awarded on a competitive basis based on deliberations of the Outreach Committee and Board of Directors of the FVD.  In 2024, the grant amount given was $20,000. 

The mission was conducted on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at the Kentucky Humane Society at 241 Steedly Drive, Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Patrick Odenweller, DAVDC and Scott Steele, RVT, VTS(Dentistry) lectured and instructed on basic extraction skills and radiography to staff members which included veterinarians and technicians. Local news stations as well as other media outlets were present to witness the event, here is one story: Kentucky Humane Society awarded grant to help provide animals dental care.

“We are so grateful to the Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry for their commitment to helping shelter pets,” said Dr. Emily Bewley, Veterinarian at KHS. “With this new equipment, we will be able to better serve Kentucky’s animals, many of whom rely on dental care for a better quality of life.”

The Kentucky Humane Society (KHS) is Kentucky’s largest animal adoption agency and spay/neuter provider. Through KHS’ Love 120 program – which aims to positively impact companion animals in all 120 Kentucky counties within the decade – KHS provides mentorship and assistance to smaller animal shelters. Since Purrfect Day Café opened in 2018, KHS has placed for adoption 10,000 cats from 37 Kentucky counties. All KHS cats are spayed or neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. Learn more about KHS at kyhumane.org.

The MMSP mission conducted on Sat 1-20-2024 was in support of the Auburn Valley Humane Society and held at their Northwest Spay & Neuter Center in Tacoma, WA, 6401 Pacific Ave Tacoma, WA 98408. (Dr. Emily Purvis is the Director of Veterinary Services and will send their PR releases to us once completed with photos etc.)

Dr. Amy Rossi and Nancy Stewart, LVT, RVT provided lectures and training in periodontal treatment to approximately 16 members of the staff at both locations which included veterinarians and technicians. Dr. Rossi has provided the following comment:

“The mission went well.  We had some lectures in the morning and then practiced radiographs in the afternoon. We did not do COHATS with the staff but went over all the steps. We and all the attendees had a good time”. 

Dr. Emily Purvis shared the following:

“I wanted to reach out to all of you and extend a gigantic thanks on behalf of the NWSNC and AVHS teams.  I have received so much positive feedback on the education event.  Dr. Rossi is an excellent teacher and creates such a welcoming and safe environment for learning.  Nancy is an incredibly patient trainer for x-rays, positioning, and industry best practice.  Everyone has been incredibly grateful for the opportunity. So many smiles and discussion even days after the event. The curriculum was perfect in teaching strong foundational learning for COHAT assessment and really left staff feeling confident and primed to take on additional learning.  I couldn’t have asked for a better day!”

Emily D. Purvis, DVM, MBA | Director of Veterinary Services
Auburn Valley Humane Society | auburnvalleyhs.org
Northwest Spay & Neuter Center | nwspayneuter.org
6401 Pacific Ave | Tacoma, WA 98408 | (253) 627-7729