These Kansas City area animal shelters are in crisis. Here’s how you can help

Eric Adler
·2 min read
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The Kansas City area’s animal shelters, overwhelmed since COVID, have hundreds of dogs up for adoption. The situation at KC Pet Project in Kansas City has become so critical that the shelter has now felt forced to euthanize dogs for reasons that go beyond obvious illness or severe behavioral issues such as unresolvable biting or aggression.

Leaders at several Kansas City area shelters offer ways the public can help ease the kennel crisis:

How you can help

▪ Adopt. Every area shelter posts online photos and stories of pets that need homes. See the list of shelters below.

▪ Foster. Volunteers willing to take larger dogs are in special need.

▪ Volunteer. More animals mean shelters need more help with tasks such as walking dogs or special events.

▪ Help lost animals get back home. If you find a stray, post about it on social media and on sites like Nextdoor, Facebook or Instagram. Getting them home on your own helps keep animals out of already-packed shelters.

▪ Donate. Greater need requires more resources, such as towels to clean up after cats and dogs, medicines and food. At KC Pet Project, the things most needed are kitten supplies, large and extra-large wire kennels, soft treats, and new or used leashes. KC Pet Project publishes its own online wish list. So do Great Plains SPCA and others. Money is always appreciated.

Kansas City area animal shelters

▪ KC Pet Project, 7077 Elmwood Ave., 816-683-1383, kcpetproject.org

▪ Wayside Waifs, 3901 Martha Truman Road, 816-761-8151, waysidewaifs.org

▪ Great Plains SPCA, 5424 Antioch Drive, Merriam, 913- 831-7722, greatplainsspca.org

▪ Melissa’s Second Chances, 11015 W. 75th St., Shawnee, 913-364-1822, mscrescue.org

▪ Human Society of Greater Kansas City, 5445 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas, 913-596-1000, hsgkc.org

▪ Midwest Animal ResQ, 10312 E. 63rd St., Raytown, 816-919-1364, midwestanimalresq.org

▪ Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter, 1356 Highway 9, Parkville, 816-587-0918, parkvilleshelter.com

▪ City of Liberty Animal Shelter, 2801 Riverview Road, Liberty, 816-439-4791, libertymissouri.gov.

▪ Independence Animal Services, 21001 E. Highway 78, Independence, 816-325-7207, ci.ndependence.mo.us.