About the Home Away From Home Program
As part of the Keep ‘Em Together, KC initiative, KC Pet Project offers a temporary care program for families in need of a temporary home for their pets during times of crisis. Reasons acceptable for participation in the Home Away from Home program include, but are not limited to:
- The owner and animal(s) are displaced from their home due to a natural disaster.
- The owner is the victim of domestic violence.
- The owner is temporarily hospitalized for medical treatment or rehabilitation.
- The owner and animal(s) are facing a temporary change in housing due to an extenuating circumstance such as the owner’s illness or loss of housing such as eviction or foreclosure.
Upon submitting a completed application, it may take up to 72 hours for an application to be reviewed. Upon review, a member of our Keep ‘Em Together, KC team will be in touch to discuss your application and your needs for support. KC Pet Project cannot guarantee placement for accepted applications within our program, despite our best efforts. As Kansas City’s municipal shelter, placement for pets enrolled in this program depends solely on the availability, skills, and willingness of our approved foster homes. Securing crisis foster placement for approved applicants may take several weeks.
Home Away from Home Program Qualifications:
- Applicants must be Kansas City, Missouri, residents – proof of residency may be required.
- Applicants may request care for a combination of cats, dogs, small animals, and exotic animals. Small animals and exotic animals include, but are not limited to, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, snakes, bearded dragons, turtles, etc.
- Animals must be spayed/neutered, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped. If the animals do not meet these qualifications, the Applicant must authorize KC Pet Project to perform these services prior to the animals entering the program.
- Applicants must agree to provide all requested documentation including vaccination records, medical information, care information, and/or estimates for care or medication(s).
- Applicants must provide an emergency designated contact and must agree to regular communication with an assigned case manager.
- Applicants must not have received assistance through the Home Away from Home program within the last six (6) months.
- Applicants must agree to the terms of the Home Away from Home Crisis Boarding Program.
- Applications are initially approved for a period of up to 30 days.
- Applicants may apply for an extension of an additional 30-days, so long as they find additional support with an outside social service agency and/or are actively making progress towards service goals to reunify with their pets within an approved extension period.
- Applicants may not participate in the program exceeding a maximum of 90 days.
- If appropriate, applicants may be requested to allow KC Pet Project to obtain photos of the animal(s) and the pet family including the Owner and/or Designated Contact to share with potential donors and/or sponsors.
Please provide the following information. We may use the information that you disclose to direct you toward any additional resources that may be helpful to you and your circumstance. Additionally, your information will help us learn more about demand for this type of service and how we can tailor the program to best serve our community.
Please note that the pet owner must be 18 years of age or older and the request for support must be made by the pet owner.