Kansas City Nonprofit Provides Support for Pets During the Holidays
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As many families focus on holiday shopping, a Kansas City nonprofit is reminding residents to consider their furry companions as well.
The Pet Resource Center of Kansas City has launched its “Pawlidays” event on Friday, November 29, which will continue through New Year’s Eve. The organization is providing discounted services to help pet owners keep their animals healthy.
For the duration of the event, the nonprofit is offering up to $25 off pet vaccinations, as well as spay and neuter services. These services are designed to address common pet care needs.
“This is kind of our Black Friday for pets,” said Madison Brown, the marketing manager for the Pet Resource Center, which helps approximately 40,000 animals each year in the Kansas City area. “One of the main reasons that we do this is we really want to help as many pets as possible.”
Since its founding in the early 2000s, spaying and neutering have been central to the Pet Resource Center’s mission. Brown emphasized that the need for these services remains high, noting the continued problem of unwanted litters and owners who struggle to manage their pets’ care.
Individuals interested in utilizing these offers must register in advance, as spots are filling up quickly. Interested pet owners can schedule spay/neuter appointments and pet vaccinations through the organization’s website.
Another significant event, the Santa Paws drive-thru clinic, is scheduled for Saturday, December 14. This clinic offers dogs and cats a complete set of vaccinations at a reduced rate, with pricing at $50 for dogs and $40 for cats. Puppies and kittens can receive the vaccinations for $25.
“A full set of vaccines for dogs would be upwards of $200. So, you’re really getting quite the discount here,” Brown added.
As the drive-thru name suggests, pet owners can remain in their vehicles, while staff members administer the vaccinations. The process is expected to take about five minutes, although wait times may be slightly longer given that the clinic served over 200 pets the previous year.
Additionally, each pet will receive a free toy at the drive-thru clinic, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon on December 14.
“Please, if you have any toys or you’re out shopping for Black Friday, please stop by our clinic at 59th and Troost and drop them off,” Brown said.
The organizers ask that dogs be kept on leashes and cats in carriers. The clinic is open to all, regardless of residency or financial situation, ensuring accessibility to necessary pet care.
To sustain its services, the nonprofit depends on donations. Its annual fundraising event, Tails of Hope, is currently underway and concludes on December 31. The 2023 campaign raised $95,000, allowing the Pet Resource Center to deliver urgent care, dental care, emergency services, and spay/neuter procedures to families in need.
“It helps our urgent care especially because those owners aren’t planning for this. They don’t know that their pets are going to get loose and get hit by a car or that their cat’s going to get in a fight with a neighborhood dog, you know? They don’t plan for this stuff,” Brown explained.
Several donors have committed to matching the fundraising goal from 2023, so donations received between now and the end of the year will be matched up to $95,000.
Kristin Roth, the CEO of the Pet Resource Center, highlighted the impact of the organization, saying, “Almost every day we’re seeing somebody who had never heard of us before and was so glad they found us so they could get that pet their rabies shot, get them spayed or neutered, or get on our pet food pantry to receive food each month.”
To make a donation, visit the organization’s website. As of the time of this writing, 55% of the goal has been reached, with $52,444 raised.
