I love this time of year! All the winter celebrations…getting together with loved ones to enjoy special meals and feeling the anticipation as the holidays approach. This season fills me with gratitude for the blessings in my life, like our dedicated supporters. Thank you for your extra compassion for our community’s neglected pets as this year draws to a close. We couldn’t do this lifesaving work without you, and we need you even more during these cold months!

That’s because as joyful as the holiday season can be, the winter months also present a harsh reality for the pets we see. Frigid temperatures and colder weather conditions mean that we see extra needs and shifting demands in our shelters. In Jolene’s case, these conditions nearly took her life.

In February, our Animal Services Division received a call about an abandoned dog in distress. The responding officer came upon Jolene—unconscious, covered in semi-frozen feces, severely emaciated, and barely breathing. She had been left to die, exposed to the harsh winter weather in an open garage, her body frozen to the wire kennel she was locked in.

The officer rushed Jolene to our vet clinic, where our team dropped everything to provide several intense hours of warming efforts. Once they realized they had done everything they could, it was time to let Jolene finish the fight.

I’m thrilled to report that the next morning, our team found Jolene awake, alert, and happy—their efforts led to the remarkable recovery of this precious life! After a week of rehabilitation in our vet clinic, Jolene continued to recover in a foster home with one of the animal services officers who helped rescue her.

That’s not all! KC Pet Project’s Animal Services Division has also been working with the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office on this case. Our team saw the highest levels of justice and accountability served as state-level counts of animal cruelty were charged against the person who had custody of Jolene for everything she had endured.

Stories of survival like Jolene’s are gut-wrenching, but they also fill me with hope. These stories show the power of your support to not only save lives, but to pursue justice for all of our community’s animals in dire situations. Jolene’s survival and her healing journey are a true testament to the resiliency that we see with so many animals, and we’re so very grateful to everyone who makes outcomes like this possible.

Your continued support for pets like Jolene is critical during these cold winter months.

Will you give a gift today to support the specific needs that ramp up in the winter? Your gift will make such a difference to help pets who need things like extra bedding and warming services during this harsh season.

With Deepest Thanks,

Teresa Johnson

President/CEO & Chief Lifesaving Officer

Ways to support KC Pet Project this Holiday Season

KC Pet Project Gift Guide

Gift a gift that gives back. When you purchase items from KC Pet Project’s locations at the KC Campus for Animal Care or Zona Rosa, you’re supporting the pets of our shelter. We have many great gift options this year at a range of prices, and all purchases support the pets of our shelter. The retail store at the campus features a wide array of items for pet lovers and the pets in your life, and right now, all holiday and seasonal items are 15% off through the end of the year.

KC Pet Project also has an online store with lots of great items for sale that would make wonderful gifts. Many of the items listed are not available in our retail store or at our locations.

We also have KC Pet Project gift cards available for purchase that can be redeemed at our KC Campus for Animal Care and Zona Rosa locations.

Home for the holidays adoption special

It’s time for our annual Home for the Holidays Adoption Special, and this year, we’re going all out to close out 2023! From December 14th through Christmas Eve, all dogs 30 pounds or more and adult cats are $30 at our KC Campus for Animal Care, Zona Rosa Adoption Center, and Petco Adoption Center on 95th. Pets in foster homes qualify for this special as well.

Bring home the ultimate gift of a new best friend this holiday season, and help us clear out our shelter for the holiday.

Our locations will all close early on December 19th for our staff holiday party at 5:00pm and will close on Christmas Eve at 3:00pm. We will be closed for business on Christmas Day.

Holiday Hours apply to KC Pet Project at the KC Campus for Animal Care, Zona Rosa Adoption Center, and Petco Adoption Center at Overland Park.

Donate to Support the Pets of our Shelter

Gift the gift of hope to pets in need in Kansas City this holiday season. Your support of our organization and our pets helps us continue our lifesaving mission of caring for more than 16,000 pets this year.

More and more families and pet owners are coming to us in need of help. When you donate, you’re not only supporting our pets but you’re helping people as well in our community.

You can also send an egift card to a friend, coworker, or loved one when you donate in their honor.

Love Tags and Kennel Sponsorships

You have the opportunity to put your name on KC Pet Project’s new home at the Kansas City Campus for Animal Care! Your Love Tag donation will go directly toward the cost of the lifesaving care of our pets. 

These tags are permanently displayed at the KC Campus for Animal Care down the dog corridor. 

By sponsoring a dog or cat kennel, you will be providing the much needed funds that will handle the care, feeding and basic medical expenses for the dog or cat in your sponsored space.

Your contributions will be recognized with a plaque on the space you are sponsoring, and your plaque will be on the kennel for one year. Sponsorships are now available at the Kansas City Campus for Animal Care, the Pet Adoption Center in Zona Rosa or the Petco Pet Adoption Center in Overland Park, KS. 

Holiday Wish List

It takes a lot to care for more than 16,000 pets each year and you can help us care for them by purchasing items that are most-needed this holiday season. These include:

• Canned food for dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens
• Peanut butter
• Hot dogs
• Litter pans and litter scoops
• Martingale collars
• New and used leashes
• and more

See our Holiday Wish List at the link below or purchase our most-needed items for the pets of our shelter directly from our Amazon Holiday Wish List or Chewy Wish List.