HER BATTLE IS OVER
1959-2007
Theresa Sachsenmaier, 48, beloved Founder of KC Pet-Connect passed away peacefully at home on November 25th, surrounded by her devoted family, after a valiant four-year battle against breast cancer.
TC was born on May 3, 1959, in Brooklyn, NY. In 1969 she moved with her family to Thalwil, Switzerland where they took full opportunity traveling throughout Europe during the two years they lived there. The family later moved to Shawnee, KS, where TC spent her teenage years. After attending K-State, TC married Jim Knedlik, moved to Orange County, CA and started a family. With their second daughter on the way, they returned home to Overland Park. TC re-married in 1998 and they made her home in Spring Hill KS.

A lifelong pet advocate and amateur website designer, TC’s true passion became www.KCPetConnect.com, a non-profit Internet-based organization she and her father founded in 2003 for the purpose of reuniting lost pets with their families. A true advocate for all dogs and cats, TC is once again frolicking with her furry friends--especially Billygoat, her floppy-eared, sloppy-lipped giant, who lost his own battle with cancer last year.

Theresa is survived by her daughters Kacee and Ashley; her beautiful grandson, Dak, who she absolutely adored; her parents Dolores Duddy and Gene Sachsenmaier; her sisters Toby Sachsenmaier and Chrissy Baker with husband Mike; adored niece and nephew, Jordie and Nick Baker; and the father of her two beautiful daughters, Jim Knedlik.

TC’s family would like to recognize the incredible care and compassion given to her--always with respect and dignity--from her team at KU Med: Dr. Qamar Khan and Stephanie Rowlands; Dr. Mazin Al-Kasspoole and Dr. Allan Fleming: We salute you. Special thanks also to Dr. John Bernard, the family physician, who always had TC’s family foremost in his care.

Thank you for your help.
KC Pet-Connect is a
501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Corporation. Your donation
is tax deductible.


Theresa Sachsenmaier Memorial

From TC Sachsenmaier - November 2004

Hello, I'm TC Sachsenmaier, Founder of KC Pet-Connect, a non profit organization operating solely for the purpose of helping lost pets in the Kansas City Metro area find home, quickly. Our posting services are free.

My goal is for KC Pet-Connect to become a "household name" in Kansas City, sort of a "one-stop-shop" to search and locate lost pets or the owners of strays.

Currently, when a pet goes missing, searching for it requires multiple calls or trips to Animal Control Offices, Local Police, County Sheriffs, Animal Shelters, Wayside Waifs and other organizations This is stressful and takes what seems forever to us who dearly love our pets.

KC Pet-Connect wants to make the process much easier, much less traumatic and much more successful. We can't do that however if the public doesn't know about us so the best way anyone can help KC Pet-Connect to succeed is to simply SPREAD THE WORD. KC Pet-Connect will only be as successful as the number of people that know about us. Our recent increasing success rates clearly coincide with our growing audience.

Another huge way to be involved and to help KC Pet-Connect succeed is to register for our LASSIE ALERT PROGRAM. Registration is free, quick and easy and amounts to no more than agreeing to receive "All Points Bulletins" (Lassie Alerts) via broadcast e-mail that are distributed to registered recipients in the area in which a pet is lost and being searched for. These Lassie Alert e-mails contain details about a lost pet including contact information, pet description, reward information (if applicable) and most often a photo of the pet. Registering for our Lassie Alert program is simply agreeing to "keep your eyes open" for dearly missed, lost pets.

Many of us think of our pets as "family members" and losing one can be devastating, particularly to children. When a pet is missing, there are very few options available to us by way of an organized search. KC Pet-Connect is attempting to develop "organized search options" for the lost pets of Kansas City. It's an effort to get the pet-owners of Kansas City to depend on each other when a pet is lost and that what KC Pet-Connect's Lassie Alert Program is all about.

PLEASE register for our Lassie Alert Program because someday, it might just be your pet we're searching for.

I have always been an animal lover, my Mom says I was put on this earth as a "protector of God's animals" because I have always been one to "come upon" lost or injured animals and frequently brought them home. (grin). I have a gift...a "connection" with animals that is out of the ordinary. I seem to attract those in need and I never walk away.

I started KC Pet-Connect shortly after moving to "the country" and experiencing a string of "strays in need". I started to realize the magnitude of the need for a search service as I saw more and more telephone poles, Post Office and grocery store bulletin boards plastered with lost pet flyers. I once lost a dog... a few years back in Overland Park and I wouldn't wish that experience on an enemy.

I decided that I was capable of making a difference, if for no one else than me, thus... I learned about web sites and started the KC Pet-Connect site as a hobby. It has been the most rewarding hobby I've ever had and I'm learning that many of the pet-owners in Kansas City feel the same way I do about their pets and really appreciate a "place to go" when they lose a pet for help. I'm also learning that many of them want to help too. I think that's a cool thing... to be able to count on each other when in need. The people of Kansas City are making this thing work and for that I am grateful.


TC and her family learned that she had developed Breast Cancer in early 2003. She went through all the standard medical treatments for the diseatse. By early 2005 we felt - in fact were sure - that she had it beat. But soon the demon again reared it's ugly head and the fight resumed....


From TC Sachsenmaier - January 2006

Thank you Dad... for taking care of my website while I'm battling cancer...again.

As some of you already know, I am battling cancer... again. I am proud to be a breast cancer survivor (2003), and I am determined to survive round two. As I prepare for surgery next week, and as I receive treatment for weeks to come, my Dad will be temporarily running this website for me so that this valuable service won't be interrupted. The amazing thing about it is that my Dad is located in New York City. Thanks to this incredible age of technology and his own technical skills, I'm sure we won't miss a beat.