If the second half of 2023 is anything like the first six months, we will be looking at unprecedented numbers of pets and people in need across our community. Already in 2023, we’ve taken in 7,640 dogs, cats, and other pets at KCPP. Total intake of dogs and cats is still running at the highest level recorded in Kansas City’s history – with a 61% increase in the number of animals arriving in just the past 5 years. Numbers of pets arriving each month are still far outpacing the numbers of pets leaving.
- In June, we received and provided care for 1,421 new dogs and cats that arrived (656 dogs, 765 cats).
- Stray pets being brought in by the public are already up 37% over last year at this time (with a 71% increase in stray cats). We’ve taken in 355 more stray dogs from the public so far in 2023. Stray/lost pets being brought in by the public are arriving at the highest level ever recorded in Kansas City – up 122% from just 5 years ago.
- 850 pets were adopted in June (368 dogs, 472 cats, and 10 other pets). Adoptions of dogs and cats dropped significantly in June – with 124 fewer adoptions than last June.
- Our veterinary team performed 909 spay/neuter and specialty surgeries in June and have performed a record 4,020 total surgeries so far in 2023.
- In the first 6 months of 2023, we’ve provided 170 free spay and neuter surgeries for owned dogs that were reclaimed/reunited with their families.
- Animal Services Officers responded to 2,051 case activities in June, travelling a total of 16,014 miles throughout the city, impounding 279 animals, and returning an additional 21 pets back to their homes without having to impound them.
- In June,the work of our Animal Services Cruelty Investigators resulted in two Class-E Felony Animal Cruelty Charges being issued through the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office for criminal prosecution, setting an unprecedented milestone for the City of Kansas City, MO. These charges were announced by Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker in connection with two horrific animal abuse cases our Animal Services Division investigated and referred through KCPD.
- Animal Services Officers impounded 279 animals in June.
- On June 10th we held our first KC Pet Project 5K Race in Swope Park with a sold out 750 registrants.
- We had 217 news stories and broadcast mentions during the month of June, reaching an estimated 547,862,480 million people, including a national news story on MSN.
- In June, 902 volunteers gave 9,881.69 hours of service to KCPP – the equivalent of 57 full-time employees!
- We featured the heart-wrenching story of “Tail-less Tilly and her Tiny Tots” – a cat with three little kittens who were found locked inside a boxtrap that was tied to a large dog. The cat and kitten’s legs and tails fell through the openings in the trap while it was being dragged around by the dog, severely injuring Tilly and her kittens. But thanks to our amazing doctors in our vet clinic, Tilly and her kittens were able to be saved.
- $8,975.00 was subsidized by KCPP in Reclaim Fee Forgiveness for 82 families with 94 pets in June.
- An average of 172 shelter dogs participated daily in canine playgroups in June – including a day we rotated 204 dogs into canine playgroups in just 4 hours!
- We sent 230 dogs/puppies and 381 cats/kittens to foster homes in June.
July is already proving to be full of challenges, but our dedicated, hardworking team members are tackling each day as it comes. We’re at the height of our busy season right now for both sheltering and animal services, and we truly appreciate the work of every single staff member and volunteer as we navigate saving more lives and keeping people and pets together during these hot, busy days.
This Friday, July 21st, is KC Pet Project Day – the anniversary of the day in 2017 when our Mayor and City Council publicly honored the tireless work of our KCPP staff, volunteers, and board that enabled Kansas City, MO to establish itself as a No Kill Community. We will be partnering with Tito’s Vodka in an effort to raise more than $50,000 on that day to help us continue the important work we do throughout our community.
Teresa Johnson
President/CEO of KC Pet Project