Defining KC Pet Project’s “At Risk” List

Defining KC Pet Project’s At-Risk List

In a spirit of transparency, KC Pet Project has been sharing dogs that are on our At-Risk List on social media and on our website. There have been some questions and misinformation around what this list is, so we want to define how we use this internally and why we are sharing this list publicly to help address your questions. We know that the term “at-risk” is concerning for members of the public, but we want to highlight why we have this list and what it is used for.

It’s important to note that due to record-high intakes, KC Pet Project must prioritize getting animals out of the shelter as quickly as possible to avoid having to make tough euthanasia decisions. We cannot hold animals for many months because we do not have the kennel space to do so. Having community support is vital to maintaining a 90% or higher save-rate for all the dogs, which is why we need your help and why we promote these dogs in an urgent manner.

What is the At-Risk List?

This is a list that is used internally by our team to make sure that we are doing all we can to ensure a positive outcome for each of the dogs on the list and to make sure no animal falls through the cracks. The Canine Operations Team utilizes this spreadsheet to track the canines in our care while having a system of checks-and-balances. Being “at-risk” does not mean a dog is going to be automatically euthanized, however, it is an opportunity for our organization to focus attention and advocate for at-risk dogs while finding ways to improve their quality of life or find appropriate placement alternatives. It is also intended to help all KC Pet Project stakeholders emotionally prepare in the event that tough decisions are made. It’s not impossible for a dog to bypass the at-risk list and move to humane euthanasia if the situation warrants it. Dogs with a bite history or a medical emergency might be an example.

All dogs that are on the at-risk list are eligible for fee-waived adoptions until further notice.

What do you track on the at-risk list?

Our team tracks a number of items to ensure we are doing all we can to help the dogs have a positive outcome, including, but not limited to:

Intake Date to track how long they have been in our care
Reason added to the list
Does dog receive daily in-kennel enrichment?
Do they attend canine playgroups?
Have we changed their kennel location or moved them to an alternate adoption center?
Have we pursued reclaim options or getting the dog home to his/her owners?
Does the dog have a bio on the website as well as photos?
When and how often the dog went on Dog Day Outs
Have we done a plea for a foster home?
Have we done a plea to rescue groups or other shelters?
When they were marketed on social media and how many times they’ve been featured

These checks-and-balances are monitored by members of multiple teams at KC Pet Project and by volunteers.

How are dogs added to the at-risk list?

Dogs are added to the at-risk list for a number of reasons:

Dogs are automatically added to the at-risk list when they hit their 30-day mark of their length of time spent at one of our adoption centers.
Dogs are also added if they have behavior or housing restrictions that may impact what kind of home they can go into.
Dogs that are exhibiting poor quality of life in the shelter.

This spreadsheet is for dogs that are currently available for adoption at KC Pet Project, dogs that are on evaluate are already “at-risk” due to being unavailable for adoption due to their behavior. This may limit the ways the dog can be advocated for as they may pose a risk to the community.

What else is done to help move these dogs through the shelter?

Each week, members of KC Pet Project’s Canine Operations team meet on Wednesdays to discuss the dogs that are on the at-risk list as well as the dogs that are unavailable for adoption due to their behavior. Dogs that are considered urgent placements or highlighted yellow have plans put in place for additional marketing and to work to get them out of the shelter.

On Thursdays, members of the canine operations team, along with the veterinary clinic, lost and found staff, and marketing all do Capacity for Care rounds to lay eyes on every dog in the shelter and ensure we’re doing all we can to get them out of the shelter.

Dogs that are considered urgent placements are highlighted blue or yellow on the list.

What is the status of dogs that are highlighted blue?

The blue highlighted dogs are dogs that need extra attention. Their quality of life in shelter has sufficiently decreased and they should be a priority to get out of the building. A blue highlight may be removed if the dog is showing improvement. Dogs highlighted in blue are eligible for placement through adoption, foster, or rescue.

What is the status of yellow highlighted dogs?

The yellow highlighted dogs are dogs scheduled for euthanasia. These decisions are typically made on Wednesday afternoons and they have a timeline through the end-of-business-day on Sunday to find placement. Dogs highlighted in yellow are eligible for placement through adoption or rescue placement only. They are not eligible for foster placement at this time.

The reason that they are not eligible for foster is that our foster team must prioritize getting as many pets into foster homes with hundreds of dogs in our care at any given time. When we announce that dogs are on a timeline, a lot of resources are diverted to helping those dogs find placement, and we have to continue to advocate for all of the dogs in our care at all times.

How can I help these dogs?

Advocacy happens in a lot of ways: writing a bio, marketing the dog on social media, spending extra time with the dog out of the kennel, facilitating in-kennel enrichment, Dog Day Outs, fostering, etc. Each of these dogs that are labeled as having a quality-of-life concern are a priority walk for our staff and volunteers.

Is KC Pet Project a No-Kill Shelter?

To be considered a No-Kill shelter is to have a live-release rate of 90% or more. As of December 1, 2023, KC Pet Project has a save rate of 93%. To learn more about what it means to be a No-Kill shelter, click here.

More Information

KC Pet Project, as an open admission municipal shelter, maintains a live-release rate over 90%. However, there are times when we must euthanize animals in our care. KC Pet Project is committed to lifesaving and works within certain parameters, policies, and protocols to determine with euthanasia may be necessary. Some of this criterion includes, but are not limited to, severe illness or injury, quality-of-life concerns, and/or public safety concerns. Quality-of-life includes animals that are too stressed in the shelter environment and/or have shown concerning behaviors while in our care—animals that continue to deteriorate while at the shelter, including losing weight due to stress, developing unsafe behaviors, or completely shutting down due to the environment.

No person, including staff or volunteers, wants to euthanize an animal, and euthanasia decisions are not made lightly. KC Pet Project employs diligent processes and practices when discussing and determining euthanasia as a humane outcome. These processes include several team members and departments, and several “checks and balances” such as exploring alternative options like rescue, being returned home, and targeted marketing campaigns.