When did you open?

We accepted our first dog, JW, on April 6, 2019.

How many dogs do you have?

Our house is rather small, and we want the dogs and volunteers to be comfortable.  We have had as many as 12, but a more realistic number is 8-10.

What type of dogs do you take in?

Though lifespan varies from breed to breed, we had to pick a cut-off age to avoid confusion.  So we only take in dogs that are 9 years or older.

We have kennel space for various sized dogs, so there is no target size.

Other than age, our goal is to target dogs currently in shelters or rescues, who have already spent time waiting to be adopted.  Shelters make heroic efforts to find families for dogs, but seniors can be hard to place, and it is not a good long-term environment for them.  We will give them a home, where they can live outside the kennel (except at night), and a family of volunteers to love them.

The one trait all our dogs must have, besides age, is that they get along well with other dogs.  Our dogs live together, indoors and out, so they must be compatible.  Aggressive dogs will not fit into our community.

I’m trying to find a home for an old dog. Can I surrender the dog to Shep’s Place?

The short answer is, no.  Shep’s Place does not accept dogs directly from the public.  Our mission is to provide a home for senior dogs in rescues and shelters who have been unable to find an adoptive family there.  So we only accept dogs from other animal care facilities.

We believe that being adopted into a caring family is the ideal outcome for a dog.  It is in their best interest, then, to first try the shelter adoption system.  If they do, and find a home relatively quickly, then everyone’s happy.  But if they can’t, and their stay drags on, then it becomes detrimental to the dog.  Our role is to find the seniors languishing in shelters and give them a home.

For people trying to find a safe place for an old dog, we know it is disappointing to be turned away.  Believe me, we would LOVE to help every old dog in need.  Each one tugs at your heartstrings, and every dog deserves a home.  Sadly, we only have a limited number of slots (and resources), so we have to be selective.

How are dogs taken care of at Shep’s Place?

The whole purpose of Shep’s Place is to provide senior dogs the quality of life they deserve, so their well-being is our highest priority.  The goal is to make Shep’s as much like a family home as possible.  During the day, the dogs are free to wander the house, play, sleep, or hang out with their volunteer family.

Senior dogs have health issues, so medical care is priority one.  Our dogs make frequent visits to the vet to ensure their well-being.

If I make a donation, is it tax deductible?

Shep’s Place is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, so any cash donations or donated items are eligible to claimed as a tax deduction.  We will gladly provide a receipt for your tax records.  You will have to itemize deductions in order to take advantage of this.  Donated services and T-shirt sales cannot be deducted from taxes.

I’m planning an event, and would like Shep’s Place to participate. Who should I talk to?

First of all, bless you!  We appear at many area events every year, to introduce our dogs to adopters and donors, as well as potential volunteers.  Being a small operation, we can’t make every event, but we try to attend as many as we can.  If you know of an event that might fit our mission, please contact our us at info@shepsplace.org

Can I adopt a dog from Shep’s Place?

Unlike a shelter, we are not primarily concerned with finding new homes for our dogs.  They are free to stay at Shep’s forever, if they want.  However, we are happy to place dogs in homes, if we are sure they will be well cared for.  We love our dogs, and their well-being is our first priority; we would never send them to a home where they would be neglected.  We therefore require potential adopters to fill out an application, followed by a home visit.  We’re not looking for perfection — dogs can be happy in many different homes and situations.  We just want to make sure that their basic needs will be met.

If you are interested in adopting a dog from Shep’s, please go to the Adopt page and fill out an application.  Our Adoption Coordinator will get in touch with you.

Can I foster a dog from Shep’s?

Because Shep’s Place provides a homelike atmosphere for our dogs, we don’t usually foster many dogs.  But there are some dogs who do not respond well to group living, and in those cases, we try to find a foster home for them.  So, yes, we can always use a good foster home!   If so, we will follow a procedure similar to adoption to ensure that the foster home will be able to take care of the dog’s needs.

Can kids volunteer at Shep’s Place?

Regular volunteers must be at least 16 years of age.  Those between the ages of 12 and 16 may volunteer with a parent or guardian.  Those from 16-17 may volunteer on their own, as long as their parent or guardian signs a form.

We plan to have special events for kids from 8 to 12, but the details have not been worked out yet.

I want to help, but I don’t have time to volunteer. Is there anything else I can do?

Of course!  You can donate items that we need.  Daily items, like canned food, poop bags, laundry detergent, dog toys and the like are always in demand.  Or, you can check out our Amazon Wishlist here

You could start a Birthday Fundraiser on Facebook.  You could also donate to us in more traditional ways; just click the Donate tab on the menu above.

And, you could also spread the word to your friends and colleagues. Like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram!   Mention us in a post!

Do you euthanize dogs?

Only if their health has deteriorated to the point where they can no longer have an acceptable quality of life.  We love our dogs, and we do not want them to suffer.  If they reach the point where there is no escape from suffering, then the humane thing is to release them from that pain.

We will NEVER euthanize a dog merely because we need space, or don’t believe they can be adopted.

What happens to one of your dogs if no one adopts them?

Nothing.  They can remain at Shep’s Place as long as they need.

Can I visit Shep’s Place?

We are not open to the public on a daily basis.  For the safety of the dogs (and volunteers), we do not allow unscheduled strangers into the house.  However, we would be glad to arrange a time for a visit, if you would like, especially if you’d like to meet a dog to foster or adopt!  Please contact us at info@shepsplace.org to set up an appointment.

Are the dogs kept in kennels?

Usually not.  Our goal is to have the dogs live in the house, where they are free to roam.  When dogs first arrive, however, they have to go through an integration process before we are sure they can live safely with the others.  Depending on the personalities of the dogs, integration may happen quickly, or it might take considerable work, so there are usually a couple of dogs in the kennels.

If I can’t bring my dog to Shep’s Place, where else can I take it?

If you live in the Kansas City area, your municipality will have a public Animal Shelter.  That is the first place to go.  They will take care of your dogs immediate medical needs, then try to find them a new adoptive family.

If the shelter is not an option, please consider the organizations on this list from the Friends of KC Animals website:  http://www.friendsofkcanimals.org/links/

If I donate money, what will it be used for?

The majority of our expenses go toward taking care of the dogs.  The biggest single expense is vet bills, which accounted for 43% of our 2024 budget.  Food and other dog supplies made up another 11%.  In addition to almost 100 volunteers, we have three part-time employees, which took up 25% of our budget.  The facility requires utilities, insurance, and maintenance, which added up to 12%, with all other expenses accounting for 10%. 

Is there a question you’d like answered that we forgot?  If so, please send it to info@shepsplace.org.  Thanks!