KC Pet Project
KC Pet Project is a Kansas City, Missouri 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the region's primary open-admission animal shelter, caring for 16,000+ animals annually through adoptions, veterinary services, foster care, and a network of 13 retail partner locations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersKansas City, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What KC Pet Project does
KC Pet Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating the Kansas City Campus for Animal Care (KCCAC), the primary open-admission animal shelter serving Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 2011 and employing 101-250 staff, the organization cares for over 16,000 animals annually, delivering 10,436 adoptions, 9,482 spay/neuter surgeries, and 1,856 lost pet reunifications in 2024. It runs a broad service portfolio spanning adoption, foster care, volunteer management, community cat Trap-Neuter-Return, lost-and-found reunification, rehoming support, and a Keep 'Em Together KC retention program.
The organization's distribution footprint combines the KCCAC main shelter, a satellite adoption center at Zona Rosa, 12 Petco Cat Habitat locations across Missouri and Kansas, a PetSmart location, a Whiskers Cat Cafe partnership, and a foster home network. Technology infrastructure relies on third-party platforms including PetBridge and Petango for real-time pet listings, Lightspeed for e-commerce, and Volgistics for volunteer management. There is no proprietary AI/ML or platform technology development indicated.
Revenue is generated through adoption fees ($25-$250 depending on animal type and age, with senior pets fee-waived), monetary donations (including a Loyal Companions monthly giving program with a $5 minimum), retail merchandise sales, event sponsorships, and planned giving via the Love Always Society. The organization does not publicly disclose financials. Corporate and nonprofit partnerships span Purina, Petco Love, Maddie's Fund, Mars Petcare, Pets for Patriots, and Adopt-a-Pet. Effective July 30, animal control services transferred to the City of Kansas City's Animal Services Division, while KC Pet Project retained shelter operations and adoption functions.
KC Pet Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KC Pet Project
- Legal name
- Kansas City Pet Project
- Website
- https://kcpetproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- KC Pet Project is a Kansas City, Missouri 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the region's primary open-admission animal shelter, caring for 16,000+ animals annually through adoptions, veterinary services, foster care, and a network of 13 retail partner locations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KC Pet Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animal Shelter Services
- NAICS
- Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)
Keywords
Where KC Pet Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kansas City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices16 records
Markets served
KC Pet Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Adoption Fees: One-time fees charged for pet adoptions, varying by animal type and age. Includes adult dogs ($85), small breed dogs and puppies ($250), adult cats ($75), kittens ($150), senior pets (fee-waived).
- Monetary Donations: Direct monetary contributions including one-time donations, monthly giving program (Loyal Companions with $5 minimum), Roadrunner Medical Fund for emergency care, and event-specific fundraising campaigns.
- Retail Merchandise Sales: Online retail store selling branded merchandise including apparel, accessories, drinkware, and pet-themed items. Proceeds benefit shelter pets.
- Planned Giving and Estates: Love Always Society planned giving program allowing donors to include KC Pet Project in estate planning.
- Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship opportunities including event sponsorships and adoption sponsorships for businesses and organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult dogs (excluding small breeds) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Small breed dogs and puppies |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Senior dogs (7+ years) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult cats |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kittens |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Senior cats (10+ years) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Rabbits and guinea pigs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Chickens |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Early Bird Hold deposit |
| Subscription | Monthly | Loyal Companions Monthly Giving |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels6 records
KC Pet Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KC Pet Project operates one of the largest municipal animal shelters in the Kansas City region, providing pet adoption, fostering, spay/neuter, and veterinary care services. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it partners with the city to operate the Kansas City Campus for Animal Care and runs an in-house retail store and coffee shop, offering a comprehensive suite of services supporting surrendered, stray, and transferred animals.
Product overview
KC Pet Project operates as Kansas City's primary open-admission animal shelter, managing the Kansas City Campus for Animal Care (KCCAC) and multiple satellite adoption locations including Zona Rosa, Petco Cat Habitats (12 locations), and PetSmart. The organization serves over 16,000 animals annually with a portfolio of integrated programs: pet adoption services with an online search platform and Pet Alert system, foster care and rescue transfer programs, volunteer management, community cats TNR, and a Keep 'Em Together program preventing relinquishment. Supplementary services include spay/neuter and veterinary care, lost and found pet reunification, rehoming support, and an online retail store (powered by Lightspeed). Fundraising spans monetary donations, monthly giving (Loyal Companions), and annual events. The organization holds no-kill shelter status with a 2024 capacity of 16,028 animals cared for.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pet Adoption Services
- Online Pet Search and Pet Alert System
- In-Shelter Retail Store
- Foster Care Program
- Rescue Transfer Program
- Keep 'Em Together, KC
- Community Cats (TNR) Program
- Rehoming Support Services
- Lost and Found Pet Services
- Spay/Neuter and Veterinary Services
- Pets for Patriots Program
- Roasterie Coffee Shop at KCCAC
Quantifiable outcome
- 16,028 animals cared for in 2024
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use KC Pet Project
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
KC Pet Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature2 records
KC Pet Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- PurinaflagshipMajor partnership for FIFA World Cup 2026 pet-centered programming. Purina and KC2026 collaborating on Dog Days at FIFA Fan Festival, featuring interactive pet experiences, adoption programs, and exclusive merchandise on June 14, 21, and July 5, 2026. Positions Kansas City as pet-friendly host city.
- KC2026flagshipLocal organizing committee for FIFA World Cup 2026. Partnership with Purina and KC Pet Project for pet-centered programming at the FIFA Fan Festival in Kansas City, including adoption-focused area.
- PetcocorePartnership with 12 Petco stores across Missouri and Kansas for Cat Habitat program. Petco provides retail space for adoptable cats, while KC Pet Project provides daily cat care through volunteers who visit twice daily.
- PetSmartcorePartnership with PetSmart stores for Cat Habitat program, expanding lifesaving opportunities for cats throughout Kansas and Missouri by providing retail space for adoptable pets.
- Petco LoveminorNonprofit animal welfare organization supporting KC Pet Project's lifesaving mission. Recognized partner logo displayed on website footer.
- Maddie's FundminorAnimal welfare funding organization supporting KC Pet Project. Recognized partner logo displayed on website footer.
- City of Kansas City, MissouricoreMunicipal government partner managing animal services. Animal control transitioned to City Animal Services Division effective July 30, with KC Pet Project continuing shelter operations and adoptions.
- Adopt-a-PetminorPlatinum Certified Partner designation indicating high-volume adoption placements through the platform. Provides online visibility for adoptable pets.
- Mars PetcareminorPartnership providing 3-pound bags of pet food (Pedigree for dogs, Iams for cats) to new adopters for transition home meals. Mars brands provide coupons and promotional information.
- Whiskers Cat CafeminorPartnership with Whiskers Cat Cafe for cat adoptions, providing unique adoption experience location for KC Pet Project kitties.
- Pets for PatriotsminorAdoption program for active duty military, veterans, and Gold Star spouses. KC Pet Project is a shelter partner offering 30% adoption fee discount and ongoing member benefits.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
KC Pet Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Austin Pets Alive!: Large no-kill municipal animal shelter operating in a major Texas metro with comparable intake volume (~10,000+ animals/year) and adoption programs. Mirror use of foster networks, retail partnerships, and TNR programs aligns directly with KC Pet Project's operating model.
- PAWS Chicago: Prominent no-kill nonprofit shelter running Chicago's largest low-cost spay/neuter clinic alongside adoption programs. Similar reliance on donations, volunteers, and program-driven fundraising makes PAWS a strong direct peer in operating scale and structure.
- Arizona Humane Society: Major metro no-kill shelter serving Phoenix with a comparable integrated clinic, foster, rescue transfer, and adoption center structure. Comparable scale of intake, veterinary throughput, and donor-funded revenue mix.
- San Diego Humane Society: Large no-kill shelter and pet hospital operating multiple campuses across San Diego County. KC Pet Project's KCCAC plus satellite adoption locations mirrors San Diego's multi-campus fixed-facility model.
- Wisconsin Humane Society: Multi-location regional shelter operator with high intake volume, on-site spay/neuter, foster programs, and retail partnerships. Comparable operating structure to KC Pet Project at slightly larger geographic footprint.
- Seattle Humane: Nonprofit animal welfare organization serving the greater Seattle area with adoption, behavior, and veterinary services. Comparable mission, donor-funded revenue model, and metro-region focus.
- Houston BARC (City of Houston Animal Services): Municipal animal services contractor for a major Texas metro operating intake, adoption, and field services with comparable high-volume throughput. Despite differing kill-status policies, comparable intake scale and municipal contract dynamics.
Broad incumbents
- Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill advocacy and shelter operator with sanctuary and regional programming. KC Pet Project's local-shelter operating model and foster/adoption focus overlaps with Best Friends' regional network and shared goal of nationwide no-kill status.
- ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): National animal welfare organization funding and operating shelter, spay/neuter, and community programs. Operates at a much larger scale than KC Pet Project but shares nonprofit animal welfare mission and sheltering approach.
Others
- Petco Love: Petco's nonprofit welfare arm funding shelter partners including KC Pet Project. Relevant as both a direct funder and as the operating arm behind the Cat Habitat program partnership model that defines KC Pet Project's distribution strategy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
KC Pet Project social profiles
Digital presenceKC Pet Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KC Pet Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
KC Pet Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KC Pet Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KC Pet Project
What does KC Pet Project do?
KC Pet Project operates one of the largest municipal animal shelters in the Kansas City region, providing pet adoption, fostering, spay/neuter, and veterinary care services. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it partners with the city to operate the Kansas City Campus for Animal Care and runs an in-house retail store and coffee shop, offering a comprehensive suite of services supporting surrendered, stray, and transferred animals.
Is KC Pet Project a public or private company?
KC Pet Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was KC Pet Project founded?
KC Pet Project was founded in 2011. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is KC Pet Project based?
KC Pet Project is headquartered in Kansas City, United States, in the North America region.
How does KC Pet Project make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Adoption Fees are the primary driver. The others are monetary Donations, retail Merchandise Sales, planned Giving and Estates and sponsorships.
Who are KC Pet Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Austin Pets Alive!, PAWS Chicago, Arizona Humane Society, San Diego Humane Society, Wisconsin Humane Society, Seattle Humane and Houston BARC (City of Houston Animal Services). Broad incumbents are Best Friends Animal Society and ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). Petco Love is listed as an others.
Does KC Pet Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for KC Pet Project.
What industry is KC Pet Project in?
KC Pet Project's product category is Animal Shelter Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEALAB, Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations, with a secondary code of BPAGAIAA, Animal Shelters & Adoption Services. Its NAICS code is 81291 and its SIC code is 8300.