Our Mission is to Rescue, Nurture, and Adopt as many dogs and cats as possible into forever, loving homes. To promote the health and well-being of companion animals; to educate pet owners on the importance of spaying, neutering, and regular veterinary care; to encourage pet ownership as a lifetime commitment and to share the joy that our pets offer.

Here are some of the ways we help the animals of the Jefferson City Animal Shelter, and in our community…

We raised and donated $225,000 to the City of Jefferson towards the new animal shelter building, which opened in 2012.

Our volunteers landscaped the animal shelter grounds, and continue to maintain it and plant annuals.

The animal shelter veterinarian requested replacing the plastic cat kennels in intake, with stainless steel. The new kennels are easier to keep disinfected, and decreases the spread of disease.

We added a sound system in the building, and teamed with The Rescue Animal MP3 Project. Now there is music proven to be soothing to animals playing throughout, lessening their stress.

We purchased the lobby chairs and desk. We also added amazing photography of some past shelter residents! Sally’s Buddy Books lets kids read to the dogs and cats. In Loving Memory of Sally Bodenhammer.

We converted a storage room into an acquaintance room, so potential adopters can meet dogs in a comfortable home environment.

We converted two rows of kennels into cat condos, so that litters of cats, or bonded pairs can have more space to say together while they wait for their new homes.

Our volunteers built custom acoustic panels that line the walls in every dog area. They really help soften the sound of the dogs barking, and they look really cute too!

We purchased Karunda beds for every dog kennel to keep the pups comfortable during their stay.

We, in partnership with the Heart of MO Humane Society, donate 1,200 pounds of Diamond dog and cat food to our local Salvation Army food pantry every month. Providing pet food to people who cannot afford to feed their families helps keep beloved pets in their homes during hard times.

We sponsor puppy training classes with Dr. Doering that anyone with a dog under 1 year old can sign up for. A well trained puppy is less likely to be surrendered to a shelter later in its life.

We purchased an ID tag engraving machine. The public can create their own tags for only $5. And we give every adopter a coupon for a free tag for their new family member.

We purchased a dental machine so that the shelter veterinarian can give the animals the best care possible before going to their new homes.

We purchase Cat E Shack boxes for every cat on the adoption floor. It gives them a place to hide when they want to, and it converts into a carrier that they travel safely home in!

Wild Things is our Trap Neuter Return program. Volunteers work with people in the community who are feeding stray or feral cats, to trap them, and have them spayed/neutered and vaccinated, before going back their outdoor home. This important program keeps hundreds of unadoptable cats out of the animal shelter every year. TNR is the only humane solution for community cat population control.

Our primary focus is currently on spaying and neutering as many pets as possible. The biggest impact we can have on the JC Animal Shelter is to decrease the number of unwanted pets entering it. Spaying & neutering is the only way to end the pet overpopulation crisis. We offer 35 coupons a month for $100 off of a spay or neuter surgery for dogs, cats, and rabbits.

Since our inception in 2007 we have worked relentlessly towards our mission. We began by realizing the need for a larger, safer, and more accommodating animal shelter. Our volunteers raised $225,000 towards the new building, which opened in June of 2012. This new facility is well equipped to assist the animals and the staff. And it is beautiful, which increases the number of visitors and encourages adoptions. Distinct areas for the animals increase their comfort and their health while they await their forever home.

We have purchased many items for the enrichment and well being of the animals in the shelter’s care. Every dog has an elevated Kurunda beds in their kennel. While each cat gets a scratching disc, and a box/bed to make them feel safe. Those boxes transform into carriers to take them to their forever homes safely. We have purchased a dental machine for those animals that come in needing dental care. There is a sound system that plays calming music throughout the shelter to help make the animals feel relaxed. We recently upgraded the intake cat kennels to stainless steel kennels. They are easier to keep clean from germs and viruses. We’ve added another outdoor exercise yard for the dogs. These are just a few things that we’ve been able to purchase because of the generosity of our community.

Our big focus right now is on spaying, neutering and promoting veterinary care with our Low Cost Spay and Neuter program. We give a limited number of $100.00 vouchers each month. The voucher allows the holder to take their pet to one of twelve local veterinarians for a spay or neuter. The decreased number of breeding pets will also decrease the number of animals needing homes; while initiating a relationship between the pet owner and a local veterinarian.

We also provide trap-neuter-return services for feral and community cats, to reduce the number of stray and unadoptable cats entering the shelter, through our Wild Thing – Feral Feline Fix program.

The Friends do not work for the shelter, we work with the shelter. We share the common goal of bettering the lives of the pets in our community. The shelter employees do not have access to spend our funds, and we do not fund day-to-day operations at the shelter. When a suggestion or a request is made, whether by a volunteer or a shelter employee, our board votes it on. Due to the generosity of our animal loving community we have been able to make a big difference for the shelter animals and for other pets in the community. We hope this benevolent partnership continues to thrive for years to come.

Many animals have been saved by our compassionate veterinarians over the years. Whether it is a respiratory infection, leg amputation, or eye surgery, the animals are given a chance for a wonderful life in a loving home.

October 2021