We’ve made it halfway through August, but the “dog days” of summer continue to bring us record numbers of animals and people in need of help. We received or provided care for 1,538 new dogs and cats that arrived in July (756 dogs, 782 cats). We also received 3 chickens, 9 guinea pigs, a lizard, a pig, and 5 rabbits. In the first 7 months, we’ve already provided care for 8,767 dogs and cats – with an increase in pets arriving fueled by a 31% increase in animals reported as strays being brought in by the public.
Thankfully, more families than ever before are coming to KC Pet Project to adopt pets. A record-setting 1,163 pets were adopted in July from all KC Pet Project locations – with pet adoptions at the highest level in our 10-year history.
Here are a few more notable accomplishments in this month’s Impact Report:
- Our veterinary team performed a record-setting 1,062 spay/neuter and specialty surgeries in July! We provided emergency medical care to 94 seriously injured animals that arrived (wounds, emaciated, fractured limbs, hit by vehicles, neurologic, degloving injuries, eye injuries, mange, etc.). Our doctors even treated and saved an injured piglet that fell onto the highway from a moving semi (check out the adorable photos in the report).
- We provided spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations for 130 community cats in July, with 500 pets from KCMO residents having received low-cost veterinary services at KCPP in 2022.
- Animal Services Officers responded to 1,377 calls for service last month. We saw an increase in calls for cruelty and neglect, enforcement (animals in hot cars, fowl/livestock, public nuisances, etc.) and stray/loose animals.
- On July 17th, Animal Services Officers were called to a home in the historic Northeast on a report of a large number of dogs being kept in very unsanitary conditions inside a home with no electricity. Once inside the home, officers found 13 dogs, many of whom were underweight and needed medical attention. The animal owner was overwhelmed trying to care for these dogs after having taken them in from a family member who had passed away. The dogs were brought to the shelter, and we vaccinated and neutered the owner’s outdoor cat.
- We had a total of 174 media stories and mentions during the month of July. Estimated media reach for the month for animal services and sheltering stories was 143,272,872 million people.
- We launched KC Pet Project Radio – a new streaming radio station that is accessible on the KC Pet Project website. The format features music from the 80’s to today’s hits.
- 505 volunteers gave 4,428 hours of service in July, the equivalent of 25 full-time employees. We launched “group volunteering” on the weekends and expanded our Court Ordered Community Service program.
- A record 264 animals were able to stay with their families in July instead of having to come into the shelter thanks to Pet Support Center resources provided – a 75% increase from June.
So many animals and people are being helped by the work we are doing — thank you for your incredible hard work and the leadership it takes to accomplish so much each month!
Teresa Johnson
President/CEO of KC Pet Project