Our group, the KC Pet Project, is gearing up to take full control of the Kansas City, MO Animal Shelter beginning January 1. It's weird essentially starting a new shelter organization with 20 new employees to inherit a completely full animal shelter that currently has about 250 animals in it.
But that's what we're preparing to do.
In 2010, the shelter impounded 7,250 dogs and cats. Of those, about 40% were killed. While this certainly isn't as bad as it is in many places, it is still plenty of killing, and way better than it has historically been in Kansas City. In 2009, the city made the decision to hire a private contractor to run the shelter as opposed to the city running it. That happened, and the shelter almost immediately went from one that killed 60% of the animals impounded to one that killed roughly 40%. Still high. But better.
Our goal is to lower that still. While getting to no kill is the ultimate goal, it may take us some time. The Kansas City shelter remains one of only a couple of open admission shelters in the metropolitan area, and some of the live-saving infastructure still needs to be built (we are blessed to have a very strong low cost spay neuter program operated by Spay/Neuter Kansas City which has helped lower impounds over the past several years). Also, about 20% of the dogs impounded at the shelter are 'pit bull' type dogs -- and with many of our surrounding suburbs having breed bans, they are more difficult to find homes for.
But we're going to be creative and find a way.
One significant thing that is helping is embracing the many very strong rescue groups and volunteers in this community. While they haven't always been embraced, we are embracing them.
For the past month, KC Pet Project has employed our Executive Director at the shelter to work with the city staff to help in a smooth transition. The shelter we inherited was above capacity. Our kennels are the two-sided kennels with the guillotine doors separating the two sides so dogs can be moved from side to side to ease in cleaning. Most of the kennels at the shelter are doubled down so there are dogs on both sides.
While there are a lot of reasons this isn't optimal, it does give us the ability to hold animals longer in order to give them a chance at findng homes. Unfortunately, it also gives us very little wiggle room for increased capacity.
Last Thursday night, Animal Control dropped off 30 more dogs at our shelter. We were officially beyond our maximum capacity. But instead of doing the "easy" thing, which would be to kill for space, we sent out a plea. We put the list of dogs that were on our "short list" and sent an email to rescues and our volunteers for help. While our volunteer base is relatively small, they are outstanding, and they responded.
Within 24 hours, we were able to secure several foster homes for our long-timers, get several dogs adopted, and get several others sent to local rescue groups.
We have a large transport coming up tomorrow, which will free up some space for us at the shelter. We also have a huge New Years Day Adoption Event planned (yes, a huge adoption event on the first with an almost entirely new staff -- should be exciting) which should help more. It will at least give us a little breathing room for a few days. So for now, crisis averted.
While I'm not going to completely change the focus of this blog -- I will, from time to time, post updates on our transition at the shelter. My hope is that giving real examples of our successes and failures can help others who also wish to transition their local shelters into No Kill Shelters also.
So here is a key learning from our small Christmas miracle:
In the No Kill Advocacy Center's Companion Animal Protection Act, there is a clause that requires shelters to give 24 hours notice before any adoptable animal was killed. This isn't a pain in the butt -- this is a huge opportunity. When we officially hit our "above capacity" situation, we provided all rescues and volunteers 24 hours to pull from our shelter. They responded by pulling enough animals to keep any from having to be killed. And that's pretty darn cool.
We may not always get bailed out -- but we're going to try. And isn't giving animals one last chance at adoption worth it?
Great news! I'm looking forward to updates and wish you all the best of luck!
Posted by: Cathy Briggs | December 27, 2011 at 01:21 PM
Way to go, Brent & Michelle & your fellow lifesavers in KC! You have a hard row to hoe, but YOU CAN DO IT! Looking forward to following your progress!
Posted by: pitbull friend | December 27, 2011 at 02:55 PM
Congratulations on your creativity and hard work to date. I know there is much more to come. It sounds like you have a wonderful community that is helping you -- looking forward to seeing your updates!
Posted by: Karen F | December 27, 2011 at 03:44 PM
How exciting! I look forward to following your efforts and learning from them.
Posted by: Central Ohio Dog Blog | December 27, 2011 at 04:11 PM
So thrilled to see the KC Pet Project assuming control of the KCMO shelter. With you all and the volunteers working side by side, great things will be accomplished.
Posted by: MDog | December 27, 2011 at 04:23 PM
That is great news Brent... I would love to volunteer some weekends if you could find some work for me.... Being from Olathe it should be a nice little visit across borders...
I would love to see you reach the ultimate goal....
Posted by: PetMOZ | December 27, 2011 at 04:32 PM
Thanks everyone for the support. It's a very exciting opportunity.
PetMoz, we absolutely have all kinds of tasks for volunteers and welcome volunteer support -- however often you can be there. On Sunday, we will have a volunteer coordinator starting who can help facilitate and help work around your interests and time.
Posted by: Brent | December 27, 2011 at 06:51 PM
Congratulations - KC Pet Project is to be commended for its efforts to make a difference. We have faith in you. I'd say the "pit bull" population being at 20% is a good thing - I would have anticipated it as being higher.
Keeping dogs and cats out of the shelter that don't need to be there in the first place (the ones that are seized for stupid reasons) will be a huge step in the right direction.
Posted by: kmk | December 27, 2011 at 07:46 PM
An adoption event on the first of the year - how cool is that. Looking forward to the updates. Will you be talking about this at the No Kill conference in August?
Posted by: Dianne R. | December 28, 2011 at 08:46 AM
Congratulations KC Pet Project! It sounds like you have challenges that your group will face with creativity and "volunteers". Glad to see volunteers will be embraced at the KCMO city shelter you have taken over.
One of the things I admire KCPP addressing, was the issue with KCMO ACO's mandatory sweeps that resulted in confiscation and impoundment of pets. Too many groups that take over city shelter contracts are afraid to address one of the big drivers of animals into shelters - ACO departments.
I am looking forward to your group becoming a National leader that is held up at a true No Kill example.
Posted by: As the World Turns in KCKS | December 28, 2011 at 11:51 AM
I saw Kim Staton on Fox News talking about the project. Excellent job guys!
Posted by: PetMOZ | December 28, 2011 at 12:02 PM
Diane -- we will be hosting a new session about taking over city shelter contracts at the conference in August. There have been quite a few attempts at this, some have failed, some have been successful. There is a LOT of red tape involved in this and we plan to give an overview of what we learned, what we wished people would have told us, and some of the things we feel like we actually did right. Should be (I think) an interesting session. We'll probably talk a bit about our success (I'm assuming we have it) at the end of the session...we'll see on that.
Posted by: Brent | December 28, 2011 at 06:22 PM