Kansas City animal shelters are in a crisis: 'We have no kennel space left'

By Steve Kraske,

Published December 22, 2022 at 9:28 AM CST

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Four large dogs are seen confined in individual kennels with beds, blankets and toys. Two dogs appear to be barking.

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Every kennel is full at the Great Plains SPCA. The shelter has seen a "27% increase in dog admissions compared to 2021, but an 11%, decrease in dog adoptions," according to the shelter's director of operations.

Tracy Lewandowski / Great Plains SPCA

Brindle dog stands in green grass with ears standing tall, tongue out and tail pointed directly to the rear as the dog looks at the camera.

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Lonestar is a four-year-old dog that has been with Wayside Waifs for six months. Stressed by shelter life, Lonestar lives in an animal foster home where staff say he is thriving but looking for a permanent home.

Wayside Waifs

Small white dog with black and brown markings stands on artificial grass looking up towards the camera. A purple and pink ball rests near the dog's front feet.

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Link is a one-and-a-half-year-old Australian cattle dog mix who has been at the Great Plains SPCA shelter for more than five months. He loves toys, car rides and new people.

Samantha Pelletier / Great Plains SPCA

Tan with white chest pit bull mix lays with it's head up, in the corner of a room on a white blanket, with a black and white stuffed animal by it's side.

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Corbin is a two-year-old pit bull mix returned to the shelter after negative reinforcement training by an owner. Fearful and stressed by shelter living, Corbin lives in an office during the day and examine room at night, but Great Plains SPCA staff say the dog sweet, house-trained and has lots of dog playmates.

Tracy Lewandowski / Great Plains SPCA

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Calvin is a one-year-old boxer mix brought to the shelter as a stray. Calvin enjoys laps, toys and other dogs. Not having an outlet for his energy at the shelter he is responding poorly to shelter life and needs a permanent home.

Ashley Flores / Great Plains SPCA

Two Kansas City-area animal shelters say their kennels are full, and in one shelter, animals are living in offices and training rooms.

Inflation and residual effects of the pandemic have caused an influx of pets arriving to Kansas City's animal shelters.

"We have no kennel space left," said Tracy Lewandowski, director of operations at Great Plains SPCA.

More pet foster homes are needed to help open kennel intake space and remove animals from the stress of shelter living, according to Casey Waugh, communications and annual giving manager at Wayside Waifs.

Adoptions went up at the onset of the pandemic, but opportunities to socialize pets through obedience classes and dog parks decreased.

That lack of socialization has meant shelters are seeing more behavior concerns in dogs that have been surrendered, resulting in a longer average stay at the shelter.

Lewandowski and Waugh joined Up To Date to share how dire the situation is, what to do with a stray animal, and how they're working with the public to reduce the number of animals in the shelter.

Tracy Lewandowski, director of operations, Great Plains SPCA
Casey Waugh, communications and annual giving manager, Wayside Waifs