Pets on a Mission to End Polio
Welcome to the PolioPlus Society Kennel Klub
About the Rotary PolioPlus Society Kennel Klub
The Rotary PolioPlus Society Kennel Klub is a worldwide community of Rotarians, animal lovers, and beloved pets united behind one important mission: helping Rotary end polio forever.
Kennel Klub members make an annual donation to Rotary’s PolioPlus Fund in honor or memory of a pet. Through their membership, photos, and stories, these animals become ambassadors for polio eradication—raising awareness and inspiring others to support the cause.
Although dogs inspired the Kennel Klub name, animals of every kind are welcome.
Our Facebook Group has over 500 members
How the Kennel Klub Began
The Kennel Klub began with Mollie Owen, the dog of Rotarians Greg and Valerie Owen. Several years ago, a Long Beach Rotarian saw a photograph of Mollie wearing her red End Polio Now bandana and asked permission to turn it into a flyer.
The flyer shared Mollie’s commitment to give up $10 worth of treats each month to support PolioPlus and invited others to join her. That simple message inspired more than 100 new PolioPlus Society members. Before long, the Rotary PolioPlus Society Kennel Klub was born.
From One Pet to a Global Movement
What began with one photograph and one simple invitation has grown into an international community of compassionate people and their animals.
In July 2026, the Kennel Klub celebrated its 400th member. At that milestone, the Klub included pets and their humans across 13 countries and represented 15 different kinds of animals—from dogs, cats, and horses to tortoises, owls, hummingbirds, alpacas, and more. Ten additional Kennel Klubs had also formed or were in the process of forming in Rotary districts around the world.
Each member demonstrates how a small act of generosity can grow into meaningful action. By sharing the Kennel Klub’s mission, inviting others to participate, and supporting PolioPlus, members are helping Rotary move closer to a world where no child suffers from this preventable disease.
How to Join
Joining the Kennel Klub is a simple two-step process:
Commit to donating $10 per month or $100 per year to Rotary’s PolioPlus Fund until the world is declared polio-free.
Complete the Kennel Klub membership form with information about the participating pet and its human.
Members receive a free End Polio Now bandana and Kennel Klub membership pin so their pet can proudly represent the fight to end polio.
A membership may be created:
In honor of a current pet
In memory of a beloved pet that has passed
As a gift honoring a friend or family member’s pet
Members are encouraged to share photographs and stories on social media using #PPSKennelKlub to help introduce more people to Rotary’s polio-eradication efforts.
Start a Kennel Klub in Your District
Rotary clubs and districts can support the movement by promoting the existing Kennel Klub or creating a Kennel Klub of their own.
Resources are available to help Rotary leaders introduce the program, recruit members, organize events, and incorporate the Kennel Klub into local PolioPlus fundraising and awareness campaigns. These resources include a detailed startup guide, marketing materials, presentations, promotional flyers, logos, and bandanas.
Together, We Are Ending Polio
Every Kennel Klub membership represents a pet, a person, and a promise to keep supporting PolioPlus until the job is finished.
What started as one small idea has become a global family of pets and people proving that everyone can play a part in making history—even our four-legged, feathered, finned, and shelled friends.
