Were you looking for the best place to adopt a pet in Kansas City? What about the adoption process or adoption fees? We'll tell you all of the info you're looking for to adopt a new furbaby!
If you live in Kansas City, MO, and are ready to add a new furbaby to your family, congrats! Adopting a new pet into your home is an amazing experience, but it can be a little nerve-wracking to get started. There are several things you'll want to know ahead of time about the adoption process, locations to adopt from, and adoption fees. But we can help guide the way.
Adopting a pet from a shelter is a wonderful way to give an animal a second chance and provide them with a loving home. So let's get your adoption journey started today.
What Do You Need to Adopt a Pet in Kansas City, MO?
To adopt a pet from an animal shelter or rescue in Kansas City, you will need to meet specific requirements. Every shelter is different, but this can include things like providing proof of identification, filling out an adoption application, answering a questionnaire, and possibly undergoing a home visit.
Since the requirements will vary from one shelter to another, it's important to check with the specific shelter you are interested in. Here are the typical requirements for adopting a pet from most animal shelters and rescues.
- Age minimum to adopt
To adopt a pet from a shelter, you must meet the age requirement set by the specific shelter. This may vary, but you will typically need to be 18 years or older. Although some shelters may require you to be 21 or even 25 years or older. You will also need to present a valid ID when adopting.
- Fill out the online application
Before you can begin the adoption process, you will typically need to fill out an online application on the animal shelter's website. This application will ask for your contact information and may also inquire about your home situation, experience with pets, pet-parenting style, and the size of your home and yard. This information is used to ensure that you are ready to care for a pet and to help ensure the safety and well-being of the animal.
- Cost of adoption fees
There is a cost to adopt a pet from a shelter. This fee covers the expenses associated with housing, feeding, and caring for the animal, including staffing, insurance, mortgage, utilities, and medical care. Your fee may seem high, but it is significantly less than the actual cost of caring for the animal until it is adopted. Non-profit shelters and rescues often rely on volunteers and donors to help cover these costs.
- Have a "meet and greet"
Before you can adopt a pet, you may be required to participate in a "meet and greet" with the animal. This allows you to interact with the pet and see how you get along. It is also helpful to bring any family members or current pets you have to the meet and greet.
- Home visit
In some cases, the shelter or rescue may also require a home visit to ensure that your home is a suitable environment for a pet. This step helps to prevent any pet returns to the shelter in the future.
Cost to Adopt a Pet from an Animal Shelter in Kansas City, MO
The fees for adopting a pet from a shelter in Kansas City, MO, may include the cost of spaying or neutering the animal, any necessary medical treatments, and the cost of microchipping. Some shelters offer reduced fees for certain groups, such as senior citizens or military personnel, and may also have discounted prices for senior pets, pets who have been at the shelter for an extended period, or for adopting multiple pets at once.
The adoption fees at Kansas City animal shelters can vary, so it is important to check with the specific shelter you are interested in to get the most accurate pricing information. Keep in mind that it is always a good idea to inquire about adoption fees before falling in love with a particular pet.
KC Pet Project
Puppies and adult dogs
- Adult mixed breed dogs: $75-$150
- Small breed dogs and puppies: $150-$300
Kittens and adult cats
- Cats (6 months or older): $50
- Kittens: $75
Other
- Rabbits: $45
- Chickens: $25
- Other Pets: Price depending on species
Great Plains SPCA
Puppies and adult dogs
- HIPPS (High profile pets, purebred specific or high-demand animals/breeds): $350-$450
- Puppies: $350-$450
- Adult Dogs: $150
Kittens and adult cats
- Kittens (under six months of age): $180
- Adult Cats: $75
- Adult Dogs: $150
Senior Animals
- 13 years of age and older: 50% of Adult Price
Other
- Hamsters, Guinea Pigs, Rabbits, Gerbils, Parakeets, Mice, Rats, Chickens, and Small Reptiles: $25
- HIPP (high demand) Small Animals: Larger or exotic birds such as cockatiels and other parrots, larger or exotic reptiles (iguanas, tortoises, large snakes), Ferrets, Hedgehogs, Chinchillas, Sugar Gliders, other exotic or highly sought after animals: $100
Chain of Hope KC
Puppies and adult dogs
- Puppies 1 and under: $250
- Dogs between 1 and 10: $200
Kittens and adult cats
- Seniors 10 and up: $100
- Kittens and Cats: $85
Pawsitive Tails
Puppies and adult dogs
- Puppies: $275
- Adult large breed dogs: $175
- Adult small breed dogs: $225
Where is the Best Place to Adopt a Pet in Kansas City, MO?
There are several places in Kansas City where you can adopt a pet from an animal shelter. You'll find humane societies, government-funded organizations, animal shelters, and animal rescues. Check out some of the most popular, reputable places to adopt a pet in Kansas City, MO, below. No matter which place you choose, many loving dogs, cats, and more are ready for their new forever home.
KC Pet Project
KC Pet Project is a non-profit charitable organization that shelters and cares for more than 15,000 homeless animals annually. They currently have 14 different locations across Missouri and Kansas, where they try to find new forever homes for every animal in their care. They "focus on progressive programs to help people keep their pets through Lost and Found services, our Keep' Em Together, KC program, and pet safety initiatives like microchipping, pet identification, and more."
Great Plains SPCA
Great Plains SPCA is a non-profit organization whose mission is "to drive change in [their] community through innovative programs that promote adoption, outreach and a better life for pets and the people who love them." Their values are to treat animals and people with respect, compassion, and dignity. And to work with integrity and efficiency on a diverse team "with a solution-focused mindset that strives to be the best animal shelter in the Midwest."
Unleashed Pet Rescue & Adoption
Unleashed Pet Rescue & Adoption is a non-profit animal shelter founded in 2011. They work hard to save every homeless pet's life "and strive to improve the image of bully breeds in society." They work with local high-kill shelters to transfer the "unwanted" pets to their own animal shelter to keep them safe. And no matter an animal's age, health, temperament, or history, they give each adoptable pet an opportunity to thrive.
Chain of Hope KC
Chain of Hope KC is another non-profit animal shelter in Kansas City. It was founded in 2010 "with a primary goal of alleviating the suffering of abused and neglected animals within the urban core of Kansas City." Their goal is to break the chains of ignorance, suffering, and unwanted litters.
Wayside Waifs
Wayside Waifs is a charitable animal shelter in Kansas City that excels in pet adoption and rescue. They provide a sanctuary for abandoned, abused, and homeless pets, ensuring they receive top-notch medical care and rehabilitation. What makes Wayside Waifs extraordinary is their comprehensive behavioral program, which assesses and addresses the behavioral needs of each animal, preparing them for life in a permanent home.
The shelter is also renowned for its educational programs and community services, including pet memorial services and children's camps that teach responsible pet ownership. Wayside Waifs' devotion to creating a more humane society is evident in every aspect of their work.
Pawsitive Tails
"Pawsitive Tails strives to be something different in the animal adoption community." They are a non-profit organization that is focused on finding forever homes for dogs and puppies in Kansas City and Topeka. They do not have a physical shelter facility. But rather, all of the dogs in their care stay in foster homes until they find their new adoptive homes.
Second Chance Pet Adoption
Second Chance Pet Adoption is a no-kill non-profit organization that operates in the greater Kansas City area. They "are dedicated to helping homeless animals, and displaced dogs and cats find loving, responsible, safe homes." They sponsor adoption events at Petsmart to help find new adoptive homes for these pets. And between adoption events, these animals stay in foster homes until adoption.
Furry Kids' Refuge
Furry Kids' Refuge stands out in the Kansas City area for its dedication to saving lives of homeless cats and dogs by placing them in loving foster homes until they are adopted. This no-kill, all-volunteer network focuses on providing comprehensive veterinary care and ensuring each animal is ready for a forever home. Furry Kids' Refuge is unique because it operates solely on donations and the goodwill of animal lovers, without a physical shelter facility.
They pride themselves on a thorough adoption process that includes matching pets with suitable families to ensure long-term happiness for both. The personal touch provided by the volunteers at Furry Kids' Refuge creates a family-like atmosphere where every animal's individual needs are met. Discover more about their heartwarming work and how you can get involved on their online platforms.
Kansas Humane Society
Kansas Humane Society has been saving abandoned and homeless animals for over 133 years. Their "animal shelter has helped hundreds of thousands of Wichita's pets by providing them care, comfort, hope, and most importantly, a second chance at a new life." They are a community resource for pets and people and provide numerous services like "pet adoption, behavior consultation, pet supplies, social media outreach, spay/neuter, end of life services, classroom field trips, youth education, and community outreach."
PetFinder.com & AdoptAPet.com
In addition to these shelters, you may also be able to find pets for adoption through online resources such as Petfinder.com or AdoptAPet.com. You can view pictures of cats, dogs, and other small pets from numerous animal shelters and rescues nearby. And you can filter through the available pets to find what you're looking for based on species, gender, breed, size, age, and whether or not they are good with children and other pets.
Adopt a Pet in Kansas City, MO, today!
Now that you've seen just how many places there are to adopt a pet in Kansas City and know the potential fees and requirements for adoption, it's time to start searching for your new fur baby!
At Local Pet Care, we're here to help you not only find the best places to adopt but also the best dog-friendly restaurants and the best dog parks and dog-friendly parks in Kansas City, MO. Plus, we'll help you find the best local pet care professionals near your home. With all of these resources, you will be set up for pet-parenting success!
For more great articles about dog-friendly activities and pet-parenting advice, check out the Blog at LocalPetCare.com.