Kansas City, MO –With a winter storm expected in Kansas City, MO, KC Pet Project’s Animal Services team has tips for your pet’s safety over the next few days:
- Pet owners will need to bring their pets out of the elements during the storm. If inside is unfamiliar to your pet, have a crate or kennel in the home or secure them in a room or garage.
- With extreme winter weather expected, make sure your pet has a safe place to be away from the elements (good shelter from the storm, door on a doghouse opening away from the wind, straw or bedding in the house).
- If KC Pet Project’s Animal Services Division finds animals exposed to the winter conditions, they may be subject to immediate seizure and impoundment of the pet to the shelter and prosecution of animal cruelty.
- If you are concerned about an animal in distress that is outside, you can report that to 311 or use KC Pet Project’s online portal to submit information, including photos, which are very helpful. Take note of the date, time, exact location and the type of animal(s) involved and write down as many details as possible about the situation. Video and photographic documentation of the animal, the location, the surrounding area, etc. are very helpful to Animal Services.
- Priority of calls will be assigned for responses to emergency services and for welfare checks for animals in distress.
- The American Veterinary Medical Association has some very helpful tips on cold weather animal safety for companion animals and livestock that you can read here.
- If your pet becomes lost, please come to the shelter to see if your pet is there and report the pet as missing online. For information on Lost and Found pet resources, visit our website at https://kcpetproject.org/services/lost-pets.
KC Pet Project’s Animal Services Division is working to provide resources to the community ahead of the storm and winter weather. Kansas City, MO residents can call the shelter at 816-683-1383 to inquire about available resources including wire crates, straw, and community cat houses.
KC Pet Project’s Animal Services team will be working around the clock to help animals in need. Adequate shelter means a structurally sound, properly ventilated, sanitary and weatherproof shelter suitable for the species, condition, and age of the animal which provides access to shade from direct sunlight and regress from exposure to inclement weather conditions. If you see an animal in distress, contact our Animal Services team. Any call in which an animal or human life is in immediate danger of imminent harm or death is classified as emergent. Those who do not follow the ordinance for adequate care and inspections, could be punished by a fine of not less than $75.00 and not more than $1,000, or by imprisonment in the municipal correctional institute for a term not to exceed 180 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, per KCMO ordinance.
For more information on Animal Services, including contact information, visit https://kcpetproject.org/animal-services-division/.
Our Animal Services team is delivering resources throughout the week to prepare families in need for the change in weather. This includes following up on dozens of cases and providing dog houses, crates, straw, and dog food.
On Sunday, December 11th, KC Pet Project’s Animal Services Division hosted their second annual Project Pet Warmth event to hand out supplies to keep pets warm during the winter months. Along with KC Pet Project’s Animal Services team, The Rescue Project, Great Plains SPCA HERO Team, and Heart of America Humane Society were able to give out supplies like pet food (over 2,000lbs), dog houses, crates, sweaters, pet ID tags, and more to 78 families with 275 pets.