Wayside Waifs

Name

Wayside Waifs

Legal name

Wayside Waifs

Website

https://waysidewaifs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB), Pet Services (Grooming, Training, Daycare) (CRALAIAJ)

Keywords

• Animal shelter services
• Pet adoption programs
• Animal rescue operations
• Humane education programs
• Pet memorial services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Pet Memorial Services: Revenue from cremation and burial services for pets. Includes individual cremation ($165-$220), communal cremation ($70), cremation burial ($580+), and traditional burial ($740+). All proceeds from memorial services help fund shelter operations.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue stream from individual donations, monthly giving, memorial and tribute gifts, stocks, planned giving, and DIY fundraisers. Major annual event Strutt With Your Mutt generates fundraising.
3. Dog Training Classes: Affordable dog training classes taught by certified trainers. All proceeds go to help future homeless animals in Wayside's care.
4. Youth Programs: Summer camp at $250/camper/week and single-day camps at $75/camper/day for youth education programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wayside Waifs operates Kansas City's largest no-kill pet adoption campus, providing pet adoptions (dogs, cats, small animals), animal rescue operations, dog training classes, youth humane education programs, foster care, pet memorial services (cremation and burial), and a community pet food pantry. Services are delivered primarily from its Kansas City campus, supplemented by foster homes, transfer partnerships, and outreach programs, serving nearly 50,000 pets and people annually.

Product overview

Wayside Waifs is Kansas City's largest no-kill animal shelter offering a comprehensive suite of animal welfare services. The core offerings include pet adoptions for dogs, cats, and small animals; animal rescue operations responding to disasters and hoarding situations; dog training classes using positive reinforcement methods; youth education programs; foster care placement; pet memorial services; and community outreach including a pet food pantry. These services work together to fulfill the organization's mission of preparing pets and people for the bond of their lives, serving nearly 50,000 pets and people annually through adoptions, education, training, and community support programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 50,000 pets and people served annually
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Melcher Investment CompanyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 September 2026Presenting sponsor for the 36th Annual Strutt With Your Mutt event on September 27, 2026. A major annual fundraising walk/run event attracting 2,000+ participants.
• The BrooksiderminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 August 2026Partner venue for Pouring with a PURRpose event on August 5, 2026. Donating 15% of all sales from 5pm-midnight to Wayside Waifs.
• ASPCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWayside partners with ASPCA to provide support and medical care for animals in times of natural disasters, hoarding cases, and dog fighting ring seizures. ASPCA supports Wayside's rescue and disaster relief efforts through their partner organizations grant program.
• Animal Welfare Organizations (62+)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWayside partners with more than 62 animal welfare organizations to transport animals to their shelter. Many of these organizations are limited on space and resources. Animals receive life-saving medical care, behavior assessment, and socialization at Wayside.

Scale indicators7 records

Others

• Maddie's Fund: Major animal welfare foundation funding no-kill initiatives, community programs, and pet food support. Functions as a grantmaker to shelters like Wayside and competes for the same corporate and individual donor dollars.
• Petco Love (formerly Petco Foundation): National corporate foundation funding shelter and rescue partners, adoption events, and pet welfare grants. Operates upstream of Wayside as a sponsor/funding partner and competes for corporate donor attention.

Direct peers

• Kansas City Pet Project: The contracted municipal animal shelter serving Kansas City, operating adoption, foster, and pet support programs in the same metro as Wayside Waifs. Directly competes for the same adopter pool, donor base, and corporate sponsorships in KC.
• Humane Society of Missouri: Regional animal welfare organization headquartered in St. Louis, offering adoption, veterinary, rescue, and humane education. Directly comparable regional no-kill-style shelter operating in the same state and donor/market geography.
• Austin Pets Alive!: Large no-kill rescue and adoption organization running comprehensive programs including behavior, training, and transfer intakes. Comparable scale (~50K+ outcomes) and full suite of services, but in a different metro market.
• Pasadena Humane Society: Regional shelter offering adoption, training, humane education, and community pet support programs. Comparable mid-to-large no-kill shelter with a similar community-services breadth in a different metro.
• SPCA Tampa Bay (Humane Society of Tampa Bay): Regional SPCA offering adoption, training, veterinary, and community outreach including pet food assistance. Comparable full-service no-kill shelter model with diversified programs beyond adoption.

Broad incumbents

• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill advocacy and shelter operator running adoption centers, transfer partnerships, and lifesaving programs. Comparable in no-kill mission and large-scale animal transport infrastructure, but at much broader national scope.
• ASPCA: National animal welfare organization with which Wayside already has a partnership. Comparable in disaster/hoarding response, rescue field operations, and grant-funded partner network, but operating as a much larger national advocacy and grantmaking body.
• North Shore Animal League America: Large no-kill shelter and adoption organization running rescue, transport partnerships, and behavior/training programs. Comparable adoption-and-rescue integrated model with national transfer partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wayside-waifs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wayside Waifs