Protective Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
Our Mission
KC P.A.W.S. (Protective Animal Welfare Society) is dedicated to rescuing dogs from cruelty and neglect, connecting them with loving families to ensure both have a happier, healthier life.
Our Story
Founded in 2007, we have grown from a small rescue into one of the Kansas City area's leading no-kill canine organizations. We have spent nearly two decades fighting for dogs others couldn't or wouldn't help, including those with complex medical or behavioral needs, and we never euthanize for space.
How We Care
We believe in the power of rescue and rehabilitation to transform lives. Our operations include a dedicated foster program that provides dogs with a safe home environment to decompress and heal, as well as a new, specialized facility in Raytown designed specifically to support our lifesaving mission. Every dog in our care receives comprehensive veterinary treatment, enrichment, and the personalized time they need to truly thrive.
Your Adoption Journey
We pride ourselves on a thoughtful, match-based adoption process that prioritizes finding the perfect fit for both your family and the dog. Our adoption counselors work closely with you to ensure a successful transition, and we remain a lifelong resource for our alumni through ongoing support and training services. Adopting from us means welcoming a new family member while directly supporting the medical care and rehabilitation of future rescue dogs.
Join Our Mission
Whether you choose to adopt, foster, volunteer, or join our PAWS Pack monthly giving community, you are helping us write the next success story. We invite you to explore our available adoptable pets, learn more about our upcoming events, or visit us at our Wornall Road location to meet our wonderful dogs. Every dog deserves someone who won't give up, and together, we can ensure every life is worth saving.
Trust Assessment
BronzeRated Sep 5, 2026
NonprofitVerifiedOperating 10+ years
FinancesOnline Review Highlights
- Caring staff
- Successful dog matching
- Inconsistent communication
Recent Videos
10/10 - 🐾💪 TODAY IS THE DAY! IT’S PCFF TIME! 🎉🐶 Come join us TODAY for the Paul Chaney Fitness Fundraiser at City Gym Waldo! ❤️ 📍 7416 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64114 ⏰ 8 AM – 12 PM 🐕 BRING YOUR PUP! Our friends at Dog Trax will be there with their dog treadmill for your four-legged bestie to try out! 🐾🏃 Plus, come meet some adorable adoptable dogs, check out our amazing vendors, enter our raffle, and help support dogs in need! 💪 Not into fitness? NO PROBLEM! You don’t have to participate in the workouts to come enjoy the fun and support the mission! Every bit of support helps KC PAWS continue rescuing dogs who need us most. ❤️ Adoptable Empire is living for this!!! 🐾 Grab your pup, bring your friends, and come see us! #PCFF2026 #PaulChaneyFitnessFundraiser #KCPAWS #DogTrax #KansasCityDogs #SupportLocalRescue #PlayingHardToSaveLives
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10/9 - 💔 365 DAYS. ONE ENTIRE YEAR. STILL NO HOME. 💔 PLEASE. WE NEED YOU TO MAKE ROCKY GO VIRAL. 🥺 365 mornings waking up without a family. 365 nights falling asleep without someone to call his own. 365 days of watching other dogs leave with their new families, while Rocky stays behind. Today marks ONE YEAR since Rocky was rescued. And somehow, he’s still waiting. 💔 One year ago, Rocky was given a second chance after being seized from a heartbreaking situation of neglect and abuse. We promised him that life was going to get better. And it has. He’s safe. He’s loved. He’s cared for. But there’s one promise we haven’t been able to fulfill. We haven’t found him his person. Rocky doesn’t know what 365 days means. He doesn’t know why people keep walking past him. He doesn’t know that somewhere out there, there’s a family who could change his entire world. He just knows that every day, he wakes up hoping for love. And every night, he’s still here. The hardest part? Rocky is an AMAZING dog. He’s incredibly dog-friendly, full of love, and has so much life left to live. He just needs a cat-free home, ideally with children 10 or older. He’s not asking for perfection. He’s asking for a chance. And we’re asking you to help us give him one. 🚨 WE NEED THE INTERNET TO SHOW UP FOR ROCKY. 🚨 If you’ve ever loved a dog, please don’t scroll past this one. ❤️ SHARE this post, even if you live nowhere near Kansas City. ❤️ COMMENT so more people see his face. ❤️ TAG someone who might be looking for their new best friend. ❤️ HELP us get Rocky in front of the ONE person who has been missing him all along. 365 days is long enough. Rocky has already lost enough of his life waiting. Please don’t let him spend another year wondering when it’s finally going to be his turn. Somewhere out there is Rocky’s happy ending. HELP US FIND THEM. 💔🐾 📍 KC PAWS Dog Rescue | Raytown, MO 🐶 Apply to adopt Rocky at www.kcpaws.org Meet and greets by appointment only #365DaysWaiting #RockysStory #StillWaiting #AdoptRocky #KCPAWS #AdoptDontShop #RescueDogs #ShelterDogs #OneYearTooLong #MakeRockyViral
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10/6 - Friends, remember this is a pick your own adventure kind of event. You can participate as much or as little as you like. Walk a 5k or 1 mile, do the group workout or cheer everyone on. It’s up to you. You can participate as little or much as you want. You’re showing up for a good cause and a good time. 💚⚡️ Register now, if you haven’t yet at paulchaneyfitnessfundraiser.com
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10/2 - Michelle from @kc.paws and I were on @greatdaykc this morning with the wonderful Sterling the pup. Did you catch us? We were promoting the Paul Chaney Fitness Fundraiser which is next Saturday, October 10th at @citygymkc! Speaking of the fundraiser, did you know preregistration includes two chances for early pickup of your PCFF materials? That’s right. More added bonuses for getting up and out early. You can do that on our website paulchaneyfitnessfundraiser.com
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9/29 - 🐾 STILL WAITING: ROCKY — DAY 355 💔 JUST 10 DAYS AWAY FROM ONE YEAR IN RESCUE. On July 7, 2025, Rocky came to KC PAWS after being seized by Raytown Animal Control in a neglect and abuse case and waiting there for far too long. We promised him a better life. And while we’ve given him safety, love, and a second chance, there’s still one thing we haven’t been able to give him. A family of his own. 💔 In just TEN DAYS, Rocky will reach an entire year in rescue. 365 days of watching other dogs go home. 365 days of waiting for someone to choose him. And we just can’t understand why. Rocky is an affectionate, happy boy who LOVES other dogs and has so much love to give! 🐶 Very dog friendly! 🐱 Needs a cat-free home. 👧 Best with kids 10+. ❤️ Ready to be someone’s best friend. Our new Raytown facility is an incredible new chapter for our dogs, but Rocky doesn’t need a better kennel. He needs a HOME. We have 10 days to try to make sure Rocky doesn’t have to celebrate his one-year rescue anniversary still waiting. Please SHARE his story. Help us find the person who has been missing out on this incredible boy. 📍 KC PAWS | Raytown, MO 🌐 www.kcpaws.org 🐾 Visits by appointment only. 10 DAYS. ONE INCREDIBLE DOG. ONE FAMILY THAT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING. ❤️ #StillWaiting #AdoptRocky #KCPAWS #AdoptDontShop #KansasCityDogs #RescueDog
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9/29 - ✨ FROM A DREAM TO REALITY. 🐾 What started as a vision is finally becoming our new home. 💗 From empty rooms and endless projects to a place where more dogs will find safety, healing, and second chances… our dream is coming true! We’ve poured our hearts, countless hours, and every resource we have into making this happen. We’re SO close, but we still need your help crossing the finish line! Every donation to our Build Their Future campaign helps us turn this building into a home for the dogs who need us most. 🏡 New home. Bigger dreams. More lives saved. Help us finish what we started. Together, we’re building their future. 🐾 🔗 kcpaws.org #KCPAWS #BuildTheirFuture #RescueTogether #DogRescue #KansasCity #RaytownMO #NoKillRescue
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9/28 - The Paul Chaney Fitness Fundraiser is all about challenging yourself, which is how I ended up in an ice bath this past Saturday thanks to our incredible partner, @plungehouse.leawood! They will be setup at City Gym next Saturday, Oct 2nd, for PCFF! Will you be there? We’ll be counting on it. You can register now via the link in the bio!
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9/15 - 🤍 What an incredible morning of community, compassion, and puppy cuddles! 🐶🧘♀️ We are incredibly grateful to everyone who came out to our Puppy Yoga Fundraiser this weekend! The turnout was amazing, but what meant even more was watching our community come together to support Bryan and his family during a time when they needed it most. Because of everyone who showed up, donated, shared, and helped spread the word, we were able to raise an incredible amount for Bryan and his family. 100% of the donations went directly to them. 🤍 A very special thank you to The Foundation 24hr Gyms @thefoundation_liberty and Prime Recovery & Wellness @prime.recovery for putting this event together and creating an opportunity for our community to rally around Bryan and his family. Your commitment to serving others and bringing people together is what makes events like this so meaningful. A huge thank you as well to KC PAWS @kc.paws for bringing out some of the sweetest foster puppies and to @cinderblockbrew for providing the perfect space for such a special morning. There were puppy cuddles, plenty of laughs, and a little yoga. But the most beautiful part was seeing so many people come together with big hearts and a willingness to help. ❤️ This is what community is all about. Thank you to everyone who helped make this day possible and showed Bryan and his family so much love and support. We are truly grateful for each and every one of you. When a community comes together, we can make a difference. 🙏 #PuppyYoga #fosterchildren #fundraiser #Community
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