To the KCMO City Council, Neighborhood and Community Services Department, and Mayor Quinton Lucas:

We, the undersigned, are calling for immediate action to address the serious issues within KCMO’s animal control system. The current contract has led to a failure in adequately enforcing ordinances and protecting animals in our city. It is time for accountability and change to ensure the well-being of Kansas City's animals.

The current Request for Proposal (RFP) process for a new animal control contract has closed and is under committee review. Soon, this committee will make its recommendation to Neighborhood and Community Services Director Forest Decker, who will present it along with his department’s recommendation to the City Council. The next steps have not been announced.

We demand transparency and accountability throughout this process and urge the City Council to give the public an opportunity to voice their concerns when the matter comes to a council vote or recommendation.

Kansas City residence are overwhelmingly in favor of returning animal services to Kansas City so animals and humans can be protected again for the first time since 2020.

The past four years have shown a failure in the privatized animal control model. The condition of animals reaching the Kansas City Pet Project (KCPP) shelter reveals the urgent need for change. KCPP has seen a high volume of animals arriving emaciated, sick, fearful, injured, and in other states of distress, showing a significant lack of proactive animal welfare management.

This ends now.

We are asking for:

Enforcement of Ordinances: Animal welfare ordinances must be enforced consistently. Without enforcement, neglect and abuse go unchecked, harming countless animals.

Public Input: Ensure that the community can provide input during the council’s review process, as citizens have firsthand experiences of the deficiencies in the current system.

Return Control to the City: Privatization has not worked. The City should take back control of animal services to ensure standards are met and the community’s values are represented. Because of Kansas City’s Failure to enforce the laws, humans and animals are in constant and consistent danger.

Transparency and Accountability: The public deserves updates and transparency throughout the decision-making process to understand how the City intends to address these concerns.

This past week, an innocent man was mauled and killed by multiple abused dogs. This tragic loss of life is one of hundreds of incidents that KCPP has refused to address. It is a direct result of Kansas City Pet Project’s refusal to enforce ordinances that maintain the safety and welfare of animals and residence in Kansas City.

Our officials have a responsibility to the citizens and animals of Kansas City. Animal Services MUST go back to the city.

We ask you to listen to our concerns, enforce current ordinances, and prioritize humane treatment and care for all animals in KCMO. This issue impacts everyone, from residents to business owners and property owners in Kansas City.

 

Sign this petition to stand with us for a safer, more humane Kansas City. Together, we can ensure our city treats its animals with the respect and care they deserve.

 

Keep calling and emailing local officials. Bring this department back to the city!

KCMO City Officials:
Mayor Quinton Lucas
816-513-3500
MayorQ@kcmo.org

City Manager Brian Platt
Brian.Platt@kcmo.org
816-513-1408

Neighborhood and Community Services Director Forest Decker
Aide: Shannon Dooley
816-513-1445
Shannon.Dooley@kcmo.org

Kevin O’Neill
1st District at Large, Councilmember

kevin.oneill@kcmo.org

Diana Radzevich

Legislative Aide

diana.radzevich@kcmo.org

816-513-6503

 

Nathan Willett

1st District, Councilmember

nathan.willett@kcmo.org

Annie Williamson

Legislative Aide

annie.williamson@kcmo.org

816-513-6505

 

Lindsay French

2nd District at Large, Councilmember

Lindsay.French@kcmo.org

Lisa Minardi

Legislative Aide

lisa.minardi@kcmo.org

816-513-6507

 

Wes Rogers

2nd District, Councilmember

Wes.rogers@kcmo.org

Amy Justis

Legislative Aide

amy.justis@kcmo.org

816-513-6509

 

Melissa Patterson Hazley

3rd District at Large, Councilmember

Melissa.Patterson-hazley@kcmo.org

Erin Royals

Legislative Aide

erin.royals@kcmo.org

816-513-6511

 

Melissa Robinson

3rd District, Councilmember

melissa.robinson@kcmo.org

Lisa Ross

Legislative Aide

lisa.ross@kcmo.org

816-513-6513

 

Crispin Rea

4th District at Large, Councilmember

crispin.rea@kcmo.org

Araceli Magaña

Legislative Aide

araceli.magana@kcmo.org

816-513-6515

 

Eric Bunch

4th District, Councilmember

eric.bunch@kcmo.org

Marissa Iden

Legislative Aide

marissa.iden@kcmo.org

816-513-6517

 

Darrell Curls

5th District at Large, Councilmember

darrell.curls@kcmo.org

Rita Berry

Legislative Aide

rita.berry@kcmo.org

816-513-6519

 

Ryana Parks-Shaw

Mayor Pro Tem

5th District, Councilmember

ryana.parks-shaw@kcmo.org

Keema McCoy

Legislative Aide

keema.mccoy@kcmo.org

816-513-6521

 

Andrea Bough

6th District at Large, Councilmember

andrea.bough@kcmo.org

Katrina Foster

Legislative Aide

katrina.foster@kcmo.org

816-513-6523

 

Johnathan Duncan

6th District, Councilmember

johnathan.duncan@kcmo.org

Madison Hays

Legislative Aide

madison.hays@kcmo.org