KC Pet Project struggling to find space after Fourth of July

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The fireworks during the Fourth of July can be extremely frightening for dogs.

Some of which were startled and ran away. Now KC Pet Project says they’re running out of space.

“The last several months has been a huge challenge,” said Tori Fugate with KC Pet Project. “So, we’re struggling to find space for all of these animals coming in.” Unfortunately, they keep seeing more and more animals due to fireworks. “Just in the first 18 days of June we took in more than a thousand animals. So, it’s one in one out basically.”

She said that on Wednesday they took in more than 60 animals, on July 4 they took in more than 30 and when FOX4 spoke to her on Friday afternoon, they had already taken in 43 more animals.

“So, if you’re looking for your lost pet or are missing pet please come here to see if they’ve come in,” she said.

Reuniting the animals with their owners can be tricky, Fugate said. “It’s amazing how many pets come in that maybe have a collar on but there’s no tag,” she said. “So, there’s absolutely no way for us to know who this pet belongs to. Make sure your pet has identification on at all times, they have a collar and tag on that says who they belong to.”

Fugate said if you find a lost animal, the best thing to do it to walk them around the neighborhood, they may recognize the way home.

She mentioned that social media platforms like Facebook and Nextdoor can help reunite pets with their owners and also keep animals out of shelters.

“We want to save room for the animals that do have to come here that do have to come here versus the animals that can stay out in the community and they can get reunited with their families, it’s a huge win for us,” she said.

Adoptions are a big way that they free up space and they’re doing everything they can to make it as easy as possible.

Through Sunday, KC Pet Project is waiving fees on all adoptions for animals more than six months old. One of the adopted dogs, a dachshund, was just going to his new home with owners Andy and Nita.

“We came out last weekend looking for this little feller this is what she wanted,” Andy said.

He said they had looked at dogs for three hours and almost had their mind made up.

“That’s when I grabbed her and spun her around as they were bringing this little guy through the door,” Andy remembered. “And I said that’s it! that’s my Sheldon,” Nita said.

“I had always wanted one for years, so it was time,” said Nita.

She said a pet of theirs passed away and they were finally ready for a new dog.

“It was instant, love at first sight! I was like that’s it that’s my boy. He’s coming home with me,” she said. “He’s sweet, so he’s going to fit right in.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.